AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Physical ones? What kind?”
“Like the ones my parents had, to fix and repair things that break.”
If the tools had been out here, they were legal to have Outside, and I should get no argument from Silver. Why she wanted them was a question for another day. “I promise you I will.”
My stomach rumbled, audible to all.
The man laughed and pulled a leaf packet from his apron pocket. He tossed it to me. I opened it. Dried fruit and nut bars, handmade.
I glanced back up. “Thank you.”
They were already gone, Tuuli, the hairy people, the two greater spirits. Between one moment and the next. Without me sensing any magic used.
Ordering my priorities, I recorded my report and commed it to Silver. I moved away from the sacrificial area, seeking cover and shelter in the surrounding forest. I’d agreed to leave the comm on for three minutes after sending before I left.
It buzzed within seconds.Stay in place.
I rolled my eyes at the screen as I powered the comm off. Not being an idiot, I didn’t plan to roam around a Ridden infested forest and head for the headquarters of a traitor to humanity.
The back of my head exploded with pain and the world went black.
TEN
Alys
My head throbbed, the pain centered on the back. It was almost as bad as the time that Silver had kicked me unconscious. My mouth was dry and tasted like dirt. Intense light leaked through my closed eyelids.
The air was chilly and had a distinct antiseptic overtone to its scent. Judging by the pressure against my back legs and shoulders, I was in some type of chair tilted at a slight incline. My wrists and ankles had tight straps pressing against them.
All signs pointed toward deep trouble. To make things even more fun, my talent decided to take a vacation so that I could enjoy the headache all by myself. I had no idea how many entities were in the room with me.
“She's awake Mr. Cohen.” A woman's voice, husky with precise diction.
No point in keeping my eyes closed. When I opened them, I winced. The oversized light bulb was far too close to my face.
The woman staring down at me was the woman who had been standing next to the Greenes and the president at the Ball. Instead of a sleek knot, her hair was braided in the front, leaving most of the mass to tumble down her back. Her chilly hazel eyes were fixed on me with an expression that made me wish I had a knife in hand.
“Find out anything she knows, Annabelle. Feed yourself on her, then kill her.” I shifted my attention to the other speaker. Based on the family resemblance, this man was either Ross Cohen or another close relative. I knew which I was betting on.
He was sitting in a recliner with a bored expression. I was in a similar recliner with much less padding that had been equipped with restraints. I flexed against them. I wasn't getting out of them anytime soon.
“What's going on?” I put a quiver in my voice. It wasn't exactly hard, my head ached like hell.
“Thank you, Sir,” the woman, presumably Annabelle, said, ignoring my question.
Movement on my other side caught my attention. A mage-Ridden stood there, staring down at me. I recognized him from the hospital. This was the gaunt man with the glowing eyes.
I glanced back at the woman.
Her thin smile was more worrisome to me than the mage-Ridden’s blank eyes and inhuman expression. “Why are you here?”
“Hiking,” I said.
“That’s a lie,” said the mage-Ridden, his tenor voice a monotone.
Damn it. If he was a battlemage and a mindmage, I was in even more trouble.
Annabelle sighed and let the thin gleam of a scalpel shine in the light that beat down on me. “You know, this will hurt if you cooperate. It’ll hurt more if you don’t.” The thick enjoyment in her voice oozed like spoiled syrup.
