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Now what was I supposed to do? How had they found me? And where was the actual psychic I was supposed to find? It seemed unlikely I’d be able to help anyone else if I couldn’t even keep myself out of a cell for a full day.

I’d have to use my abilities to get out. It wasn’t like they didn’t already know about me. I made my way awkwardly to my feet, my body sore and sluggish. I wondered if everyone I used mind-bending on felt this way after. Just another tick in the guilt box when it came to my abilities. So many times in my life I’d wished I was a normal witch like my mother and sister.

Glaring at the door, I jerked my head to the side. It didn’t budge. Impossible. There were no physical limits to my abilities. They were based on energy movement, so it shouldn’t matter. It was the science of magic.

Don’t panic, I told myself. Just…try something smaller.

I waved a hand at the bars. Nothing.

Okay, the panic was unavoidable. I started pacing, tears squeezing from the sides of my eyes until the sound of footsteps echoing on the stone had me backing up against the wall.

The door swung open on its own as if to mock me. A woman strode in flanked by the same vampire and shifter from the shop and Tabitha trailing behind. She wouldn’t meet my eyes, but the blonde woman in front certainly had no problem staring me down. Her hair, drawn tight into a bun, looked as severe as the rest of her with her own shiny black boots and brown camouflage fatigues. She was the only one in a uniform, but I got the strange impression it was for intimidation purposes more than to actually represent something since she was the only one of the group wearing one.

I chewed on my cheek as I waited for her to speak.

Hands clasped behind her back, she approached until she was an inch from my face. The too-strong scent of roses filled my nose and nearly made me gag.

Lay off the perfume, lady.

“Why are you posing as a missing psychic?” she demanded. Her southern accent startled me slightly. I guess I hadn’t expected it here in Sedona.

It took me a moment to figure out what she meant. I’d introduced myself as Char, but I’d taken Zoe’s chameleon charm. Okay, so I had one thing going for me, they still didn’t think I was who I was.

The slap came at me so fast I nearly fell back to the floor from the combination of shock and pain.

“You will answer my questions. I have no time for bravado. No one has ever escaped these premises. The only way out is with my permission. Understood?”

I swallowed and pressed the back of my hand to my lips. I’d bitten my cheek when she’d slapped me, and blood filled my mouth. The vampire behind her hissed lightly, his eyes burning scarlet.

The woman smiled and it was chilling. “Wonderful idea, Tomás. If she is less than forthcoming, we will put her in the cell with the starving vampire.”

I couldn’t help but glance at Tabitha since that sounded too much like her prediction. She still wouldn’t look at me, but she seemed to pale slightly.

“It was a coincidence,” I said, my voice thick. “I don’t know who that psychic is, but my name is Char. My full name is Cheryl Harrison.”

“I see.” But she didn’t look like she bought it. “You are a mind bender.”

I nodded, still bringing my hand away with fresh blood.

“Then who did you attempt to bend when no one else was in the room?” she asked, tilting her head and leaning in until I could smell the coffee on her breath.

“I…I…what?”

“You’ve been injected with a suppressant to prevent you from using your powers. But when you attempted it, that signaled an alarm which alerted me that you were awake and ready to chat.” She gripped my chin in her hand, nails digging into my skin. “You have multiple powers.”

Fear spiked through me. But I couldn’t respond with the grip she had on me. I supposed it wasn’t a question as much as a statement.

“There’s only one way that’s possible, and we’ve been trying to track down Dr. Devaux for a very long time.”

Dr. Devaux? That was me… My head spun.

“Clearly, he’s perfected his research on increasing strength and number of psychic powers in an individual. You’re going to tell me where to find him.” She tightened her grip and lifted until I was stretched on my toes.

What did my father’s research have to do with having more than one ability? I was born this way…wasn’t I?

My stomach turned and she backed up just in time for me to lose its contents at her feet. I clutched my abdomen in complete shock and horror.

No. No, he couldn’t have.