Chapter Seventeen
All around her, people were falling, crashing to the floor, glasses smashing.
A splash of scarlet across the room drew her eye; the woman Lauren, sprawled on the floor unconscious or dead. Beside her, Ethan gave a cry and collapsed to his knees, and then the floor. He lay on his back, his eyes closed. Panic kicked in, forcing her to move.
Sadie sank down beside him, put a trembling hand to his throat, felt the flutter of his pulse, and some of her terror receded. Hopefully, the rest were also just unconscious. Though it did occur to her that if they were all dead, Kane would be happy. Bloodthirsty fucker.
What the hell had happened?
Were they under attack? But by who?
The pain in her head had gone, but something hovered at the edge of her mind, trying to push into her thoughts. Something strange and yet familiar. She stayed crouched down and searched the room. Only a few people were left upright. Josie stood amongst the bodies as if petrified. Ethan’s father was beside her, looking around, and then close by, Travis, his attention fixed on his wife. As she watched, he hurried over, spoke to her, and she nodded, clung to his arm.
Common denominator. Either Tribe or reflector device. So it was some sort of psychic attack. But she’d never come across anyone with even close to this much power.
What to do.
Something was going to happen. She sensed it.
She felt too exposed in the middle of the room, so she grabbed Ethan by the shoulders, dragged him across the marble floor until they were behind one of the long tables holding food. It was the best she could do for now.
She wanted to call to the others, to Rose or Jake, but maybe they were behind this. She didn’t know, and frustration clawed at her.
At least she could try and bring Ethan around. She reached into his pocket, found where he’d stuffed the reflector device, and pulled it out, placing it around his head. He twitched a little, but his eyes remained closed.
She got his cell phone next, punched in Rose’s number, but something was blocking the signal. She breathed slowly, forced her panic down, and concentrated hard.
“Rose?”
“I’m here.” Her voice was faint but understandable.
“Something’s happened. Almost everyone is unconscious…or dead.”
“Should I come in?”
“No, you’re more use on the outside. I’ll take a look around, see if I can see anything. But it was some sort of psi attack.”
“Let me know if you find anything. I’m ready to come in if you need me. Oh, and Jake has found Kaitlin and the others.”
“That’s wonderful. I have to go now.”
“I’ll be waiting. I’ll keep watch for anything moving out here.”
She breathed deeply, forcing back the panic, getting her mind to function. In…out. A measure of calm returned. First, she needed a weapon. She peered around the edge of the table. No one had moved, they appeared frozen in place. Though, as she watched, Travis crouched down beside the nearest body and put his finger to the woman’s throat. “They’re alive,” he said. “Something must have knocked them out.”
“Gas?” Ethan’s father asked.
“I don’t know. But I suspect not.”
He’d probably also made the connection with the reflector device.
He looked around, searching the room, as if only just realizing that she and Ethan had vanished. She looked past him, up to the balconies, and saw the crumpled body of one of the snipers. She needed to get up there. Get a weapon, but she didn’t want to leave Ethan.
Reaching across, she checked his pulse; it was stronger now, steady.
Time to go.
But as she made to move, the double doors were flung open and two figures stood in the opening. They looked…she couldn’t put her finger on it, but not quite right. They wore black, close-fitting military uniforms—she’d never seen anything like them before—with some sort of weapons in their hands, and masks over their faces.
Time seemed to slow. They looked around, their gazes settling on the only upright people. As they raised their guns, aiming at the little group, Travis pushed Josie, sending her crashing to the ground. One of the soldiers opened fire and a bolt left the weapon, cutting Travis down so he almost pitched to the floor, hitting it hard. He lay still. The other aimed for Ethan’s father, but he was already on the move, diving for cover.
“What the hell is happening?” Ethan spoke in a low voice from beside her.
Thank God, he was awake. “Shh,” she whispered. “We’re under attack. Almost everyone is down and unconscious. And they’re shooting everyone else.”
“Who is?”
“I have no clue.” If this was Kane’s work, he would die for it. But she didn’t believe that. They would have warned her. And she knew all their people, and these two were strangers. She’d swear it, even with the masks. Besides, while this had been a psi attack, it was beyond anything they could do. Plus, they were going after the people who remained conscious, not the Conclave who were out cold.
Sadie peered around the edge of the table, focusing on the two soldiers. She reached out with her mind, but hit a wall when she tried to get into their heads. At each body, they checked the pulse, but left them alone when they realized they were unconscious. Josie was still on the ground where Travis had thrown her. She wasn’t moving. One of them reached Travis and crouched down. They removed the reflector device, studied it for a moment, and then shot him between the eyes.
She had to stop them before they reached Josie. “I need a weapon,” she said to Ethan.
“My father will have a gun,” he replied. “He’s the only one allowed to carry at this thing, and he never goes anywhere unarmed.”
They were moving methodically around the room, checking each body. It was only a matter of time before they reached Josie, or found their hiding place. She searched the room, saw the slightest twitch of movement from behind the table opposite them.
“Stay here,” she said to Ethan. “I’ll be back.” She waited, holding her breath until both of the soldiers had their backs to her, and then she sprinted around the edge of the room, keeping low behind the cover of the tables.
She found Ethan’s father, lying behind the table. He’d been hit several times, and his white shirt was soaked crimson. His eyes widened as he caught sight of her. She knelt beside him, tore back the shirt, and knew there was nothing she could do for him.
“Bad?” he asked, pain contorting his features.
She didn’t attempt to lie. “Yeah.”
“Is Ethan alive?”
“He was knocked out, but he’s coming around.”
“Tell him to be strong. That he can be anything he wants to be.”
“I will.”
She peered around the edge of the table. They were still crisscrossing the room, right now facing her direction. She couldn’t move until they looked away, and she turned back to Ethan’s father.
Blood bubbled up from the corner of his mouth. He choked, spluttering, and she knew she had to silence him. But something stopped her. This was Ethan’s father. But there was something she could do. Reaching across, she made to slip the reflector device from his head. At the last moment, she hesitated. How long would she have? Long enough?
“What happened to Ethan’s mother?” she asked as she slipped off the device and slid into his mind. She saw the answer straight away. But he was losing consciousness fast.
“Shit,” she said. Not what she was expecting.
“Will you tell him?” he asked, his voice fading.
“I don’t know.”
And then he was gone. Not yet dead, but thankfully unconscious, though, he wouldn’t last for long. As she crouched beside him, fingertips at his throat, she felt the last flutter of his life force leave him. She reached beneath his jacket, found the pistol in a holster at his shoulder, and tugged it out. She checked to see that it was loaded, and then held it at her side while she waited for an opportunity to get back to Ethan.
Finally, they turned the other way and she sprinted across. Ethan was sitting up now, back against the wall. It occurred to her that she might have been better to leave him unconscious. But it was too late now. Beside she wanted out of there. She wasn’t leaving without Ethan, and she doubted she could carry him, so he had to stay awake.
“My father?”
“He’s dead. I’m sorry, Ethan.”
“Are you?”
Not really. The Conclave had so much to answer for, and Ethan’s father had been in charge. Whether directly or not, it was down to him.
She thought about what she’d learned from him, whether to tell Ethan. But that was something to think about later. Right now, she needed him to concentrate. His eyes were still slightly unfocused and tinged with sadness. Whatever else he had thought of the man, he’d loved his father. Would that love survive if she told him the truth about his mother? Again, something to consider later. Now, they needed to get out of here. And get her sister out of here.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Like I’ve been hit with a truck.”
“Can you run?”
“I’ll have to.”
“Rose?”
“Yes?”
“I need a diversion. How long?”
“Two minutes.”
“Good, I’ll be ready.”
“Two minutes,” she said to Ethan. “Be ready to go. We get Josie on the way, and then we’re out of here.”
…
“I can’t reach her,” Jake said. “What did you hear?”
“I’m not sure.” Kaitlin concentrated hard, but Sadie had gone silent. “But I think I heard her call out. She’s in trouble, and we need to get to her. Do you know where she is?”
“Yes. Rose is backup. Wait, I’ll contact her.”
He pulled his cell out of his pocket and punched in a number. He was silent for a minute, a frown forming between his eyes. “There’s something wrong, I can’t get hold of her.”
She blew out her breath. What to do. “Let’s get out of here.”
Jake turned and headed down the corridor at a run, and she followed, the others behind her. Fergus brought up the rear—they’d given him the choice to tag along or to stay here. He’d decided to come with them.
It was slowly sinking in. They were all safe. There was a chance that they would get out of there alive.
Jake paused where the corridor split as an alarm screeched to life, and a flashing red light turned the corridor to an eerie crimson. “I guess someone has noticed we’re here,” he muttered. “This way.” He swerved and ran back the way they’d come and then took a right, skidding to a halt at an open door. Inside, she could see a bank of screens along one wall, most lit up, and she recognized the inside of her cell. This was the control room. Two guards lay unconscious or dead in the middle of the room.
Jake stepped over the bodies and came to a halt in front of a keyboard. “Stefan?”
The other man stepped up close and leaned down, tapping the keys, swiping his hand across the screen. “The exits have all been sealed. And there are guards on the outside.”
“We need to find another way out,” Jake said. “Can you pull up the plans for the place?”
“Of course.” Stefan was a technical wizard. He could literally talk to computers, and a minute later, the plans were up on the screen. “What am I looking for?”
“Anywhere we can blow through.” Jake tapped his backpack. “I came prepared.”
Stefan studied the layout then enlarged an area of the screen in front of him. “That’s the weak spot. There’s access into the old maintenance tunnels.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They slipped out of the control room and made their way downward and through a corridor of cells.
“Shh,” Jake said. “I hear something.”
Someone was coming the other way. They backed up against the wall, guns ready as a figure hurried around the corner. “Don’t shoot,” Kaitlin said.
It was Walker. He skidded to a halt as he caught sight of them, his eyes widening.
“Who is he?” Jake asked.
“My doctor.”
“You want to kill him?”
Jake had changed. He was more ruthless than he had been before. Maybe he’d had to be. “No,” she said. “Don’t kill him.” She turned to Walker. “Just make sure you bring your daughter up to be a better person than you are.”
He didn’t answer. He still wore the reflector device.
She thought about taking it off, but she’d seen enough of the inside of his head to last a lifetime, and she waved a hand at the nearest cell. “Get in.”
Once he was inside, she slammed the bolt. “Let’s go.”
Five minutes later, she didn’t even cover her ears as the walls exploded around her. The dust cleared, revealing a jagged hole in the wall. She stepped through.
She was free.
…
An explosion sounded somewhere outside, and the two soldiers stopped their search. They swung around to face the door. For a minute, they didn’t move.
“Come on, come on,” Sadie muttered under her breath.
Finally, they turned as one and headed out the main doors.
Sadie exhaled, then focused on the spot where Josie lay. Her sister still wasn’t moving.
“Let’s go,” she said to Ethan.
He pushed himself to his feet, swayed a little but steadied quickly. She straightened, holding the gun out in front of her, then crossed to Josie and crouched down. She still couldn’t believe her sister was alive. Except she wasn’t sure there was anything left of her sister inside this body. What had they done to her?
Could it be reversed? Not likely. She suspected that something had been taken from Josie that could never be returned.
She couldn’t think about it now. At some point in the future, she would have to mourn her sister all over again. But right now, she had to get them all out of there. Reaching out, she shook her sister’s shoulder. “Josie.” Nothing. “Joelle?”
Her lashes flickered open and she sat up. There was no recognition in her eyes as she looked at Sadie. “What’s happening? Where am I? Where’s—” As she turned her head, she caught sight of Travis, dead on the floor, and she screamed.
Shit.
…
A scream pierced the fog filling Ethan’s brain.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
This was not good.
Bodies lay everywhere. Sadie had said they were unconscious, not dead, but no one was moving. Who had done this? Was it Sadie’s people? He didn’t think so.
His father was dead. His mind couldn’t process it. Later. He had to get out first.
Sadie grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her to her feet. She fought against the pull, her gaze fixed on Travis. His cousin was clearly dead, his eyes wide and staring.
“Travis!” Jerking herself free of Sadie’s hold, she ran to her husband, and fell to her knees.
Sadie strode after her, jaw locked, hands fisted at her sides, and Ethan followed.
“He’s goddamn dead, and we have to go.” Sadie’s voice was quiet but her tone fierce. Her sister took no notice. Ethan crossed to her, grabbed her upper arms, hauled her to her feet, and tossed her over his shoulder.
“Lead the way,” he muttered.
Nodding, Sadie glanced around. There was an emergency exit at the rear of the room. She raced across the space, dodging the bodies, and Ethan followed, the struggling woman still in his arms.
Sadie opened the door, peered through, then shut it softly, shaking her head. No way out that route. The only other option was the French windows leading out into the garden, but they would have to cross an open expanse of grass before they reached any cover.
They had no choice. There was still no sign of the two soldiers. Maybe they’d get lucky. But he didn’t believe in luck.
She opened the French windows, stood staring outside for a second, then looked back and gave a nod. They exited onto a tiled terrace. Then a stone staircase led onto a lawn. Light from the ballroom behind them illuminated the area.
“Go,” he said as she hesitated. They couldn’t stay here. Who knew how many more of them there were. She was silent for a moment, with that faraway look she got when she was communicating and not bothering to hide it.
Then she was off, running across the terrace. He stayed close. Then they went down the steps and onto the grass. They were going to make it.
The bullet took him in the shoulder, spinning him around, and the woman dropped from his hold as he crashed to the grass. More bullets whizzed past him, and Sadie flung herself down beside him.
He felt no pain. Just a numbness seeping through him, and a dampness. He was losing blood. A lot of blood. They were pinned down. This was it.
And he realized he didn’t want to die. That was a new thought.
His mind was growing numb, but he forced his brain to keep functioning. Raising his head, he caught sight of two figures in black striding toward them, guns in hand.
Something touched his arm, and he looked to see Sadie beside him, staring into his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“What for?”
“I don’t know. But something.” Her hand slipped into his.
Darkness encroached on his mind. Ice froze at his core, spreading outward, coldness seeping through his veins, his bones…
Then gunfire thundered behind them, and the two figures dived for the cover of a small wall. Beside him, Sadie scrambled to her feet. “Goddamn it, get up.” He realized she was talking to her sister. “Josie! Now.” He was vaguely aware of the woman getting up, running into the darkness. Sadie shook his shoulder.
“Come on, Ethan. Just a little farther. You can do it.”
He wasn’t sure he could. “Go.”
She gritted her teeth. “Not without you.”
“I can’t make it.”
“I know about your mother.”
Shock reverberated through him, pushing back the darkness.
“I know what happened to her. And I’ll tell you. But not here. So if you want to know, get on your goddamn feet and move.”
Was she telling the truth? She didn’t lie. He gathered his strength, and pushed himself up. A continuous volley of shots was pinning the two soldiers down. Sadie grabbed his good arm and half pulled, half dragged him along. Finally, they were into the cover of the trees, but she didn’t slow her pace.
His vision was blurring and he stumbled, but somehow managed to keep on his feet. A stone wall ran around the property, over six feet high, but they were heading for a narrow gate. Open. A figure stood beside it, a semi-automatic rifle in her hands, shooting back at the house. It was the brunette he’d seen with Sadie at Forrester’s.
They almost dived through the gate, and she was behind them, slamming it closed. A van was parked at the edge of the road. The back was open, and he almost fell into it. Sadie jumped up beside him and dragged him the rest of the way. Then the door slammed shut.
He looked up into her face.
“Tell me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Later.”
“Now.”
But he knew he wasn’t going to hear anything, because the darkness was enveloping him, wrapping him up in its icy coldness and pulling him under.