Viking Sensitivity (Night World Series Book 2) (27 page)

He turned his attention to the backseat. "The plan is to catch up with her and take her back to the shop to the interrogation room. Do you think you two can come up with a spell to separate that thing from her? Or at least get it out of her long enough we can trap it in the interrogation room?"

There wasn't even a pause before Marco answered. "Yes, absolutely. The shop has more wards on it than that office building did. And we reinforced the wards on the observation room after that things seeped through a couple weeks ago. I'm sure we could come up with something to separate that thing from Mia. Or at least, get it to leave her body long enough for Gwen to deal with it. But Lucia is better at that than we are. I'll give her a call and let her know to meet us at the store."

Viking knew Lucia would be capable of it. He had seen her do something similar to the thing connected to the kidnapper weeks before. All he kept thinking was at least they had a solid plan. They had a way of getting this thing. Even if it wasn't ideal and attached itself to his mate.

He would not make the same mistake as last time. He would not let it sacrifice his mate so it could escape.

Pushing the accelerator farther down, Viking started eyeing vehicles on the freeway, looking for one that matched one of their vans.

Viking had no idea how fast he was going. But when he finally saw their van a moment later Raider confirmed that it was indeed right in front of them on the GPS. He couldn't help the predatory smile on his face. They were going to corner this thing. Once and for all. Though it had only been a problem for a few days, it felt longer.

He followed the van but kept a discrete distance so the being wouldn't notice they were following him. Sure enough, just as Gwen predicted the van pulled off at a Renton exit. Viking sent a mental note to Gwen that they were tracking Mia via GPS and let Gwen know to prepare the interrogation room for when they arrived.

After another five minutes of tailing the van they were in a residential area. Viking started to get an odd feeling.

"I'm not sure why, but I think we're headed for Mia's aunt's house. Her aunt is a sensitive too. That would be the quickest way to mount his army. Simply go after people Mia and her aunt know. If I'm right, we have to grab her before she knocks on the door."

No one else in the car said a thing. They were probably hoping Viking was wrong. After a few more minutes, the van pulled over to the side of the street. Viking passed it and pulled over a couple cars further down the street. As he opened his door he turned to look at the MPs.

"I need you to throw a spell at her that will knock her unconscious. As well as keep that thing trapped inside her. I have a sneaking suspicion she herself is already unconscious. We need her immobile to make it easier for us to carry her."

"Not a problem." Answered Barrett.

With that, they all got out of the car. Mia was already heading up the driveway by the time Viking made it to her. Luckily his Warrior speed moved so fast he had already picked her up before she noticed it.

Before she could scream he put one hand over her mouth, the other around her waist as he lifted her towards the car. As soon as he got there the MPs started chanting over Mia. He didn't release her until he felt her go limp in his hands. Then he lifted his hand away from her mouth. He turned slightly so he could see her face. Her eyes were shut. Her body wasn't moving other than to breathe. He turned to the MPs.

"Thank you. Now let's get back in the car."

He opened the passenger door, got her seated and put the seatbelt on. He dug into her pockets until he found the keys. He then turned and threw them at Raider. "Will you do the honors of driving that back to the shop?"

Raider caught the keys and gave a swift nod before turning to head back to the van.

Viking and the MPs climbed back into the car. No one spoke until they were back on the freeway. He heard Barrett's voice come from the backseat.

"Is it just me, or did that almost seemed too easy?"

"Shut up. Don't jinx it. I don't think having to follow her down to Renton counts as easy. We haven't rid her of the thing yet. I think the thing is just desperate. It's down to one body. By the way, Viking, Lucia texted me. She arrived at the shop around the time we pulled over. Turns out she was heading for the shop anyway after we had been there all day." Marco chimed in from the backseat.

Viking didn't respond. There really wasn't anything he needed to say. They rode the rest of the way in relative silence. Viking sneaking glances at Mia. Making sure she was still out. She looked peaceful, as if sleeping. He wasn't sure how the MPs had done it. But they seem to have knocked her out enough that even the being couldn't move.

When they got to the store he removed Mia from the car as gingerly as possible. He didn't want to injure her or throw her about. The last thing he wanted was for her to be injured in any way because of this being.

Barrett reached the door before Viking. He knocked on it to get someone on the inside to let them in since Viking couldn't necessarily reach his keys. A few moments later Raider opened the door.

As they all shuffled inside. Viking made sure to stand behind off to the side of everyone else so as not to jar Mia. When Raider looked at him questioningly Viking answered his unasked question.

"We're putting her in the interrogation room. I realize she's passed out. But it's the only room we know for sure has the spells we need." He knew how ludicrous it sounded. He couldn't believe that he was putting his mate in interrogation, especially when she was unconscious. But there was no other choice.

Raider looked away before he turned and walked ahead so he could open the door for Viking. The two MPs continued to walk and entered the small observation room.

Viking strode into the room and could see Carter and Deuce already in place. He set Mia down on the chair gently. Rope already sat out on the table.

Viking didn't dare let anyone else tie his mate up. He slowly and carefully tied her arms and her lap so she would sit in the chair properly without assistance. The being wouldn't be able to get up and cause problems once she woke up again.

When he was finished, he backed away. Only a step at first, making sure she could sit on her own. Once he was sure she would stay put Viking tapped his earpiece and went to stand in the corner of the room. He didn't dare leave. It almost felt like abandoning her. Even if he was just next-door.

Viking tapped on the glass. "Lucia, I'm assuming you're in there. Either come in here or let me know if you can do the spells through the mirror."

There wasn't even a pause. "If you will give me the okay I will wake her up from here. I also have Barrett and Marco on standby to knock her out again if need be."

Viking rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Do it."

There was a beat or two where nothing happened. Then it was as if Viking could see the magic working its way through the mirror to Mia. It was one of the non-Warrior gifts he inherited from his mother. He couldn't describe it to anyone if he needed to. It seemed as if there was a light fog moving from one area of the room to another.

After a moment or two Viking knew it wasn't Mia who woke up. The posture was wrong, the expression was wrong. This was the being,

It did not look happy. In fact, it looked rather pissed off.

"Where am I? What have you done? Let me go this instant! You filthy humans don't know we are dealing with."

Before the being could say anything else Deuce stepped forward and leaned on the table. "That, is where you are wrong. Those you see before you are Warriors and a Werewolf. We are a force to be reckoned with, not simple humans. Also we are not alone. So you see, it is you who does not know who you are dealing with. Now, tell me. Are you searching out the Sensitives as some bigger plan? Or are you doing this just for the fun of it?"

The being gave an angry growl that did not fit coming from Mia. "Oh, don't be stupid. One should never give away their motives. Now, let me go and I'll be on my way or I will start doing damage to the girl. Like I did the last body you trapped me in."

Viking believed it. He wasn't entirely sure what it could do to Mia. But he didn't like the idea of finding out. He was about to respond when Lucia came over the earpiece.

"Viking we're all set in here. Even if it just hovers above her Gwen will be in there as soon as it happens. It won't be able to get out of the room. So if we can get Mia and it away from each other before he climbs back in then it will be stuck."

Hope bloomed in Viking. But he tried to keep it down to not gain the being's attention. It was weird to see something else stare at him out Mia's eyes. It made him angry and worried. It made him want to protect her more. It also made him want to rip the being apart even though he knew he couldn't. Or just didn't know how.

"That's enough of that. In this body or the last one. You could very easily have left on your own. Of course that is unless you're not strong enough to survive outside the body."

The anticipation was thick in the observation room. Viking could almost hear the room hold their breath waiting on the beings’ response.

"You insignificant little…" not even a second later the being began to separate from Mia.

Viking schooled his face so he wouldn't show his excitement. It was separating itself. It was almost like watching a horror movie. As the being started to form above Mia it was as if a shimmering plate of glass formed around Mia's feet and slowly moved upward like a wall preventing the being from entering Mia temporarily. The being solidified and sent Viking a malicious smile.

Gwen was suddenly on their side of the wall standing next to him. Her arms stretched out and her power surged around her. "Ajax, I send you back to where you came from. You will not come back. Your will stay in the Spirit World. You will not help others on the side of the rebellion. We will tell others the same. You will not attach yourself to a human or Night Worlder again." Gwen's power surged forward and swirled around the being. Creating a vice that seemed to tighten with every rotation.

At first it seems to fight back. "You're not supposed to be here. You're supposed to be off in some Warrior fortress. You are not yet strong enough to control me. Are you?" It sneered and the swirl lessened.

Gwen's arms fully extended and she spread out her fingers, pushing more power at the vice. "You will do as I say."

Viking's adrenaline spiked. He wasn't sure if Gwen could handle it. He focused on Gwen and shoved as much of his power at her as he could. He watched as she seemed to stagger a little bit. Presumably as his power hit her. But she recovered quickly, concentrating on the being in front of her.

"You will also have nothing to do with this woman ever again. You will no longer ever visit any being in their dreams. You will leave humans and Night Worlders alike completely alone."

So much power surged from Gwen. Viking didn't know where it came from. In that power he saw a glimpse of just how strong of the Lady of the Dead could be. Maybe it was the combination of his family powers, their family powers. As well as the Lady of the Dead's. But as far as he could tell, she might be one of the most powerful the Night World had seen. He watched the fight between her and the being.

Then magic, presumably spells, started shooting through the windows at the being. As the MPs lent a hand. Those spells seemed to tip the scales a bit. Because the being started to shrink and fade. Viking couldn't move his eyes from the being. As if to look away would endanger Mia. He watched the being disappeared.

His relief was so strong his legs almost gave out. The room fell silent. Mia was still passed out on the chair. Unaware of anything that happened.

It was Deuce who broke the silence. He looked at Gwen a little wary. "Don't take this the wrong way, since I've known you most of your life. But that was downright scary. This being terrified, injured and terrorized dozens of people and you stepped in and basically vanquished it. Look, I never actually dealt with a Lady of the Dead. I was sort of considered beneath them most of the time. From what I know, they were never all that strong. It's a good thing you're on our side."

It was the first time in the century or two he had known Deuce that he saw the other man actually evaluating someone else as a predator. He wasn't entirely sure how he felt about the fact that the other person was Gwen.

Gwen watched Deuce from moment. Almost as if unsure as to how to respond. Finally she turned to Viking. "It wasn't all me. I had help. I think it best if Mia wakes up in bed. Not in the interrogation room."

Viking couldn't agree more. As if Gwen's words freed him from the floor, he sprang into action. Mia was free. That being was gone.

He could now woo her the way he intended. Happiness welled up in his chest. Things might just be okay. Viking couldn't help the smile on his face as he untied Mia. He picked her up as carefully as he could so as not to jar her awake.

Lucia came over his earpiece. "There's no need to be so careful. Marco tells me that this is a side effect of the spell they used. She'll be out until they wake her up. And even after that she might just stay asleep until she reaches her eight hours or however long she naturally sleeps."

He simply nodded. He wasn't about to be rough with Mia. Even if he wouldn't wake her up. Carter beat him to the door and promptly opened it for him before heading down the hall and opening the staircase as well. Viking smiled in acknowledgment of the other man's kind gesture before heading up the stairs.