Taken by Sin

CHAPTER SEVEN

Your twenty-four hours are almost up, Mandy.”

Michael cast an impatient look in her direction. Mandy ignored him. They’d spent the past twenty-four hours without sleep, barely eating. Instead, they’d scoured the city, searching for any sign of demons. So far, they’d found nothing. They’d been downtown, to the beach, had even driven around the suburbs. Michael had used his tracking system while Mandy drove.

“They aren’t going to appear on your super-secret decoder map there if they aren’t hiding out underground. I told you, the guy I saw wore a business suit. He walked in the sunlight. He didn’t appear different from any other human walking the streets downtown.”

Michael didn’t look up from the infrared sensors and whatever gadgetry the Realm had them using. “You just keep driving and let me worry about the technology.”

She shook her head. “Whatever. But there’s got to be a better way to do this. I say we hang out near the alley where I first saw the guy. It’s nearly the same time we were here yesterday. I might be able to pick him up again.”

“Drive over that way and see if you can spot him,” Michael said.

They were only two streets away. Mandy turned and headed in that direction, parking on the street this time. She got out and fed the parking meter, then climbed back in the car and waited, convinced she was going to see him again.

Michael kept his head down and scanned his laptop.

“Anything?” she asked.

“No. I don’t think I’m going to see anything on the scans here.” He looked up at her. “There’s nothing to see. There are no demons here, Mandy.”

“You want me to be wrong.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I do. But not for the reasons you think.”

“I understand.” She really did. She wished she hadn’t seen it, hoped it was an illusion. But she knew what she’d seen. It was real. She stared out the window.

And spotted him. She blinked, looked again, needing to be sure.

She grasped Michael’s wrist. “There he is!”

“Where?”

“Navy blue suit, pale blue shirt, red tie. He’s just crossing the street at a pretty hefty clip, at the light.” Mandy had her hand on the door handle, her backpack crushed in her hand.

“All right. Let’s cut him off.”

She slid her comm unit into her ear and slammed the car door shut. Michael climbed out on his side and met her on the sidewalk.

“I’m heading through the alleyway,” Michael said. “We’ll intercept him there. Stay in touch via the comm.”

She nodded and headed fast down the sidewalk, trying to appear normal, like she was late to work. Fortunately, the people she brushed by were intent on their own destinations. They were probably used to this morning rush of bodies zooming past them and didn’t even notice her fast pace. Even if they did, she didn’t care. Mandy’s attention was focused on the man, who was also in a hurry. He was about a hundred feet ahead of her. No way was she going to lose this guy. Not this time. She quickened her pace to a jog, her heart thumping with the adrenaline rush. Finally, she was beginning to catch up to him. Now she had to hope he didn’t turn around and notice her, though he kept his attention straight ahead, obviously with a specific purpose or destination in mind.

“I’m just inside the alley entrance. Where are you?” Michael commed.

“He’s about a hundred yards from where you are. I’m twenty-five feet or so behind him.”

“Hurry the hell up.”

“I’m not going to stroll hand-in-hand with him, Michael. Trust me. I’ve got the timing covered.”

For every one step the man took, she took two. The alley loomed closer and she knew she was only going to get one chance at this. Fortunately, the crowds had thinned. She’d have a few seconds at most to get this done, and hopefully no one would notice.

Almost on his heels, she slowed her pace, keeping her head down but her gaze fully on her quarry. A few more steps and he’d be at the alley. As soon as he crossed it she’d have him. She had to watch everything now. Nobody was around them as he stepped into the alley. She made her move, quickening her step as if she was going to pass him, then seemingly losing control of her backpack.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, knocking into him. As soon as he was off balance, bending over to reach for her fallen backpack, she gave him a shove, pushing him farther into the alley. He stumbled and fell and she checked to see if anyone had noticed, but no one was paying attention. Nothing like an eagle-eyed public keeping watch over one another. She almost laughed. She darted into the dark alley, where Michael was waiting.

The guy was on his hands and knees, glaring up at Mandy “What the fuck!” he said.

“You sure this is him?” Michael asked.

“Positive.”

Michael didn’t hesitate, just plunged a syringe filled with clear liquid into the guy’s neck. His eyes widened with surprise. He jerked a few times like he was having a seizure, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. Finally, he went pale as death and dropped to the ground.

“Did you kill him?” she asked.

Michael shook his head. “No. Let’s get him out of sight.”

They dragged him into the darkness of the alley, behind some boxes.

“Hang tight while I go grab the SUV.”

Mandy nodded, pacing back and forth in front of the unconscious demon for what seemed like an eternity until Michael pulled in and popped open the back of the SUV.

Michael grabbed his upper body and Mandy went for his legs. Even through his clothes she could tell he was icy. “This guy’s cold.”

“He was that way before I injected him. As soon as I put my fingers on his neck I knew he wasn’t human.”

Mandy didn’t feel the need to mention she’d been right. They loaded the guy into the back of the SUV Michael threw a pile of clothing and bags on top of him and pulled the shield over the back, then closed the hatch. They climbed into the SUV and Michael took off.

“What did you inject him with?” she asked as Michael turned onto the highway heading out of town.

“A freezing agent. It’ll drop his temperature to a near coma state.”

“So basically he’s dead.”

“For the most part, yeah. But I don’t want him dead. Not yet, anyway.”

“Where are we going?”

“To a Realm headquarters. We’ve never caught a demon alive before. And since this one can wander around in the daylight, we need to find out more about it. And ask some questions.”

“You don’t really think he’s going to give you any answers, do you?”

Michael shrugged. “Having a live demon to examine will give us more than we have now.”

“Yeah, if we can keep him from disappearing into a mist.”

“We’ll make sure he doesn’t disappear.”

But they’d made it past the initial hurdle. They’d captured the demon. Mandy hadn’t been wrong. This could be a huge breakthrough for the Realm.

For the first time since Lou’s death, Mandy felt a spark surge inside her. She was working again, hunting demons instead of one of their own.

It felt good.

Dalton left Isabelle with Georgie that day, saying he needed to make a run into town for some supplies, which was fine with her. And fortunately, Georgie seemed to instinctively know she wanted time to herself, so she kept busy in another part of the house and left Isabelle alone.

Isabelle needed some distance after everything that had happened between them early this morning. Dalton had been pleasant enough, acting as if nothing at all had happened between them, which was nice of him, all things considered.

She just couldn’t handle being near him. It made her feel hot and itchy, like she constantly needed to take a cool shower.

There were a few magazines and books lying around, so she flipped through a couple but she couldn’t concentrate. She’d asked Georgie if she could help around the house, but Georgie told her to rest and relax. She didn’t want to rest. She always preferred doing something more physical rather than sitting around. She wasn’t a television watcher-not that there was one to be found even if she was. When she wasn’t out on a dig, she was typically on her laptop, researching. Right now she could do neither, which meant she spent the day pacing the house, bored out of her mind.

By late afternoon she’d had all she could handle of being cooped up inside. She wandered through the house in search of Georgie, but didn’t find her, so she headed outside toward the docks.

Ugh. It was hot, sticky, so humid just breathing took effort.

She found a shady spot by a group of trees near the dock and took a seat on the ground, content to be outside, even if she was sweating. She’d mostly worked in desert heat. Dry heat, not this unbearable humidity that threatened to suck the very air from her lungs.

She closed her eyes and thought about what Dalton had told her, about working her mind. If she was honest with herself, the idea frightened her. The thought of setting the demon inside her free … the havoc it could cause …

She hated not having control over herself-all of herself. But maybe if she practiced, a little bit at a time, strengthened her mind, tuned into her psyche, she could do it. She really wanted that control back.

She leaned her head against the tree, closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, reminding herself that she was human, that she was strong, that she could do this. She had done many important things on her own and she could do this, too. She could be triumphant. She was powerful …

Isabelle.

She stilled at the sound of her name, opened her eyes, and looked around.

No one was there. The water was calm, lazily lapping against the old wooden dock. The back of the house was quiet and when she looked up and down the walkway, she didn’t see anyone.

Maybe she’d imagined hearing her name. She shrugged and leaned back, closed her eyes again, employing the same focus and mental exercises, visualizing herself as strong and powerful.

Isabelle.

Her eyelids shot open and she leaped to her feet.

Okay, she wasn’t insane. Someone had definitely whispered her name. And it was coming from across the water, where the thick woods hid darkness.

She shivered. Great. Now she was scaring herself, and probably for no good reason other than her overactive imagination.

“Is someone there?” she yelled, then waited.

Nothing.

She crossed her arms, irritated with herself. She was not going to be scared. She slid back down the tree and sat again, this time keeping her eyes open, chanting to herself that she was strong, that she needed no one, that she could do this on her own.

Isabelle.

It wasn’t real. She didn’t hear it.

Isabelle.

Oh, God, yes she did. And she knew that voice, finally recognized the lilting, sickening sweet quality of Tase’s voice calling her name.

Tase, the leader of the Sons of Darkness.

Stricken with fear and unable to move from her spot on the ground, she inched her gaze in either direction, afraid at any moment she’d see his black-clad form materialize in front of her, that he’d sweep her away to Hell before she ever had a chance to change who she was.

Come with me, Isabelle.

Her heart pounded, adrenaline pumping. Tears pricked her eyes but she refused to give way.

“You can’t have me. Not this time.”

A soft laugh, so evil it made her shiver. She raised her knees to her chest and buried her face in her hands, ashamed to feel such fear.

I’m not strong enough to fight this.

“Isabelle!”

Dalton! She looked up. He was there, at the back door, searching for her. In her spot against the tree he hadn’t yet seen her.

He will kill you. We can save you.

No. She would not listen to Tase. He was evil. She had to move and do it now, no matter how afraid she was that they were going to snatch her the minute she left her place there on the bank.

“Dalton!” she screamed, panic blanketing her as she pushed off the ground and tore off running.

He saw her, the smile dying on his face immediately. He pushed through the door and flew off the back stairs, running to meet her. Her legs shook so badly she could barely put one in front of the other, but she had to. She had to get to Dalton. Falling apart wasn’t going to help her get out of this mess.

He can’t help you.

She shuddered, the voice like a snake slithering over her.

They wanted to scare her. It was working. She couldn’t allow it.

Behind her, she heard laughter. Dark, demonic, coming closer.

You’ll never get away from us, Isabelle. We’re always with you.

Her breath wheezed in and out, her throat desert dry as she fought to swallow. She had no saliva left. Her fear had sucked it all up.

But only a few more feet and Dalton would be there.

That’s it, run. More laughter. We’re coming for you, Isabelle.

She took a diving leap and fell into Dalton’s arms, panting from exertion and utter terror.

“Isabelle. Christ, what happened?” He wrapped his arms around her.

She couldn’t speak, her throat raw, her heart pounding so hard she was afraid it would leap out of her chest. All she could do was stare up at Dalton’s concerned face and thank God she was safe.

They hadn’t gotten her.

Not this time, anyway.

“I was bored,” she said, trying to breathe normally again. “I came out here to sit underneath the shade tree and work on my … mental exercises. I heard someone call my name. At first I thought it was you. But it wasn’t. It was like a voice in my head, but not in my head, if that makes sense.”

“No, not really. But I understand.”

He probably didn’t. “You think I’m crazy, that I’m hearing things.”

He looked down at her. “Honey, you’re not crazy. If you heard it, then it happened.”

It was nice that he believed her. Especially since she wasn’t certain she believed herself. “I don’t know, Dalton. Part of me thinks the voice was just in my head. Then again, it seemed like it was all around me.”

“Did you see anyone?”

“No. I looked everywhere. No one was around. And I thought it had to be my imagination, especially when I realized it was Tase’s voice.”

His face was grim as he nodded. “Let’s get you back to the cabin.”

They went inside the house. Dalton grabbed a bag and went to talk to Georgie for a minute. Then they walked back to the cabin.

“I’m sorry I left you today,” he said, sitting her down on the sofa.

“It’s not your fault.”

“Are you sure it was Tase’s voice?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“That he wanted me to come with him. That you were going to kill me, and that only they could save me.”

Dalton blew out a breath.

“Do they know where we are?” she asked.

“No. If they did, they’d come for you.”

“But didn’t they just do that?”

He swept a tendril of hair away from her face. “No. Their contact with you is on a psychic plane, not tangible.”

“So it’s like making a phone call but the number is blocked. They can reach me but they don’t know where I am.”

He smiled. “Something like that, yes.”

She stood, paced the living room. “I was scared out there.”

He watched her. “I don’t blame you. They’re hoping to frighten you, weaken you so they can penetrate your defenses.”

“They don’t think much of humans, do they?”

His lips lifted. “No, they don’t.”

She inhaled, blew it out. “They think we’re cowards, that we scare easily. That pisses me off.”

“Good. Your anger will give you power over them.”

She dragged her hands over her sweat soaked hair. “I didn’t say I wasn’t afraid. I think I’m more pissed at them than afraid of them, though.”

“Good. Keep it that way. I’m going to take a shower.”

Isabelle needed one, too. A fresh start, for both her body and her mind.

While Isabelle was showering, Dalton worked on modifying the disposable cell he’d purchased in town. He intended to make a call to Lou tonight, especially considering what had happened to Isabelle this afternoon.

Damn Sons of Darkness, the relentless bastards. Why couldn’t they go pick on someone else?

You know why. They want her. And probably you, too.

There wasn’t much he could do about that, other than fight them when the time came. And the time would come. He only hoped the Realm of Light would be there to back him up. Or, if he was lucky, he’d find a way to make the Sons of Darkness lose interest in Isabelle, and the only way to do that was to take away the threat of her turning into one of their strongest demons.

Which meant he needed to talk to Lou.

“What are you doing?”

He looked up at Isabelle. Her hair hung in soft wet curls over her shoulders, her skin pink from her shower. She pulled up a chair at the kitchen table and Dalton inhaled her scent, the clean washed smell of her shampoo and soap, and felt the tightening in his gut from being near her.

Deciding that focusing on work was better than drooling over Isabelle, he said, “I need to call Lou.”

“The Realm? Why?”

“A couple reasons. I trust Lou. I want to feel him out, find out what’s going on there.”

“You mean, related to me.”

“Yes.”

“Won’t they be able to track us down once you call him?”

“No. I’ve rigged this cell phone so it’s untraceable.”

She looked at the phone and frowned. “You hope.”

He offered an encouraging smile. “I know.”

“I guess you know what’s best.”

“Trust me.”

“Famous last words.”

He laughed, but he realized he was asking a lot of her. “I’ve brought you this far. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t. And I do trust you. I’d be dead if not for you.”

The way she looked at him, like he was wholly responsible for her life, made him decidedly uncomfortable for a lot of reasons. So he focused on the phone instead, finished rigging it and put the pieces back together, then stared at the buttons.

“Are you going to call him?”

He lifted his gaze to hers. “Yeah.”

She pushed her chair back. “Do you want me to leave?”

He reached out and grasped her hand, holding her there. “No. I don’t have any secrets from you.” Which was a huge lie, but he could only reveal so much. She wasn’t ready. Not yet. She’d already dealt with enough.

He punched in the buttons, dialing Lou’s number, then brought the phone to his ear, listening to it ring once, twice, three times, then four.

“Hello?”

That wasn’t Lou’s voice.

“Hello?”

It wasn’t anyone’s voice he recognized. None of the other hunters.

“Is someone there? Who is this?”

Dalton clicked to end the call and laid the phone on the table.

“What’s wrong?” Isabelle asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Did Lou answer?”

“No. Someone else did.”

“Who?”

He dragged his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t recognize the voice.”

“Is that unusual? I mean, for someone else to answer his phone?”

“Yes. Lou’s a Keeper, in charge of other hunters. He always had to remain in contact with his team. He would never leave his cell unattended or give it to someone else. He’s a decision maker. It would be one thing for him to not answer if he’s indisposed, another entirely for someone I don’t know to answer it.”

“Maybe they’ve brought on new hunters since you’ve been gone.”

He sidled a glance at her. “I haven’t been gone that long. And I know all the hunters on Lou’s team.”

He stared down at the phone again.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking I need to call Derek.” Before he changed his mind, he picked up the phone and dialed Derek’s number. It rang once, twice …

“Yeah.”

Dalton hesitated.

“Hello?”

“Derek. It’s Dalton.”

Now it was Derek who hesitated. “Dalton. Where the hell are you?”

“I’m not ready to tell you that just yet. Where’s Lou?”

Derek didn’t say anything.

“Dalton, you need to come in. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I tried to call Lou’s cell but someone else answered. A voice I didn’t recognize.”

“Shit. Dalton, you really need to come in. Where are you?”

Ignoring Derek’s plea, he asked again, “Where’s Lou, Derek?”

“Lou’s dead.”