Into a Dangerous Mind (40 page)

Cassidy looked down at the ring sparkling against her finger.
 
“And if we can reach Zach’s subconscious, we may be able to help him struggle to wake up.”

Kathy nodded and slapped both her palms down on her thighs.
 
“Okay then, I’m in.
 
But I’m not sure how can I help.”

“Just hold my hand and Zach’s—sort of like a psychic circle in case I need help breaking back out.
 
A thought struck Cassidy and she involuntarily leaned back away from Kathy.

“What is it?”

“We can’t do this.
 
There could be some danger to you.
 
Zach usually does the circle with me, and he always monitored the strength of the power flow between us.
 
Since you have some psychic sensitivity, I run the risk of forcing open your powers if things get out of control.
 
I won’t risk your powers being blown open because of my inexperience.
 
It’s too dangerous.
 
I won’t trade you for Zach.
 
I’ll find another way.”

decision and mine alone.”

Tears burned in the back of Cassidy’s throat, and she swallowed them away.
 
How could she even risk losing Kathy after everything that had happened?
 
Fear rose along with the memory of how Kathy looked slumped over in a chair, unconscious and in the Reaper’s power.

“Kathy, you don’t know what you’re asking.
 
Forcing open someone’s powers is how the Reaper killed those women…and Dix.”
 
Her voice broke, and the sentence ended on a watery whisper.

Kathy’s gaze softened.
 
“I know all of that.
 
But I also know, you’re the only family I have and I would do anything for you.”

“But I would never ask you to risk yourself like this.”

Kathy reached out to touch Cassidy’s arm.
 
“I know you wouldn’t, which is why I can freely offer it without reservation.
 
You would throw yourself in front of a bus for me without a second thought.
 
Don’t you think I’d do the same for you?”

The determination in Kathy’s gaze stopped Cassidy’s next outburst.

“I know how much you love Zach.
 
If you could’ve done anything to help Dix, I know you would’ve, and so would Zach.
 
I’m in.
 
And that’s final.”

Defeat settled firmly on Cassidy’s shoulders.

“I don’t have to be psychic to know what that stricken look means.
 
Don’t worry, we can do anything as long as we stick together.”

“Are you sure you’re only sensitive?”
 
Cassidy met Kathy’s smile with one of her own.
 
“Because you’re pretty damn good at reading me.”

“That’s called being your best friend.”

Cassidy stood holding Zach’s still hand in hers, with the ring cupped in her palm between them.
 
She held Kathy’s hand across the bed, and Kathy rounded out the circle holding Zach’s hand.

“All right, I’m not quite sure what to do.”
 
Kathy glanced over at her.

Cassidy took a deep breath.
 
“Since this is a little outside anything I’ve ever tried, I can’t give you facts.
 
I’m going to concentrate on the ring, open my powers and go searching for Zach.
 
Beyond that…we wing it.”

“Wing it?
 
Is that a technical term?”

Cassidy laughed and sent her a saucy wink.
 
“Not exactly, but most great discoveries were made in this very non-scientific manner.”

“Okay, sounds like the best plan we have.”

Cassidy looked down at Zach’s still form and then over at her friend.
 
“If you feel any pain or I tell you to break the circle—break it.
 
No arguments.”

“I’ll be fine.
 
Concentrate on Zach.”

Cassidy looked down at Zach, his dark hair falling over his forehead.
 
His handsome face still bruised, but serene.
 
She squeezed his hand, and the ring gently bit into her flesh.
 
“I know you can hear me, Zach.
 
Help me bring you back to us.”

Closing her eyes, she opened her power and let it flow through the ring held between their joined hands and into Zach.
 
The warmth of the ring steadily increased until it vibrated waves of heat against her palm.

The hospital room slowly faded away to be replaced by a forest.
 
The crisp scent of pine rose to greet her.
 
Her cheeks stung from the cold which rose from the blanket of snow lightly coating the ground.
 
Sounds of scurrying animals, birds, and the crunch of pine needles surrounded her.

Cassidy turned in a full circle and realized she stood in the center of a small clearing.
 
She sensed Kathy close by, but couldn’t see her.

Just then, a small dark-haired giggling boy ran into the clearing.
 
An older woman followed him.
 
Cassidy recognized her as Zach’s grandmother.

“Look, Grammy, lots more pine cones!”
 
The little boy stopped short as he saw Cassidy.
 
His brows knitted together, and a look of confusion marred his perfect features.

“Cassidy?”
 
His voice suddenly sounded like the man she knew.

“Zach.”
 
Relief rolled over her in waves.
 
This was no memory vision if he spoke to her and knew her name.
 
Her brow furrowed as she tried to puzzle it out.
 
It also couldn’t be the future, because Zach was a child, and his grandmother was alive.

“Well now, let me have a look at her.”
 
Zach’s grandmother stepped past Zach to look Cassidy up and down critically.

“You’re Zach’s grandmother.”
 
Cassidy tried not to fidget under the inscrutable gaze.

“That I am, young lady.”
 
She took both of Cassidy’s hands in hers.
 
A brilliant smile bloomed across the older woman’s face making her serenely beautiful.

“You’re the true love,” she said matter-of-factly as she held up Cassidy’s left hand.

Cassidy gasped as the diamond and sapphire ring glinted against the sunlight on her ring finger, and she realized Zach didn’t know she wore it.
 
Would he mind?
 
“But…”

“No buts now, dear.
 
My grandson loves you or it wouldn’t be on your finger.”

“Grammy?” the boy asked.
 
“What’s happening?”

The woman let go of Cassidy’s hands and knelt to fold the boy into her protective embrace.
 
“It’s okay, Zachary.”

She brushed a lock of thick black hair away from his face in a gesture Cassidy remembered doing so many times.
 
Her eyes burned with tears at the memory of Zach alive and well and in her arms.

The woman took Zach’s small chin in her bony fingers.
 
“You’re not supposed to be here, my love.
 
You’re fighting to stay with me because of guilt over Dix and so many other reasons.
 
But it’s not your time yet.”

Cassidy started.
 
This woman knew Dix?
 
How could that be?
 
What kind of vision was she in?

“But, Grammy, you don’t even know Dix.”
 
His voice sounded petulant.

His grandmother smiled at him and then laughed.
 
“So stubborn.”
 
She tapped his temple with her index finger.
 
“With all of the gifts you’ve got locked up here, you should have more of an open mind.
 
Dix is here with me, but you shouldn’t be.
 
Not yet.”

Cassidy’s heart broke a little as she noticed tears welling up in the liquid golden eyes she knew and loved.

“Am I…dead?” he asked in a small voice.

The warm energy of laughter flowed across Cassidy’s skin as the older woman laughed again.
 
“No, you’re not.
 
You’ve things yet to do.”

Cassidy tried not to smile as a familiar look of stubbornness formed on Zach’s face.
 
“But I want to stay here with you.
 
And I want to see Dix.”

“All in good time, love.”
 
The woman stood, holding Zach’s small hand in her own before she pierced Cassidy with a look.

“You don’t belong here either.
 
You’re powerful, but you’re playing with dangerous things.”

“I came for Zach,” Cassidy blurted, not sure how she was supposed to respond.

The woman looked her up and down again, and then as if she’d decided something, nodded once.
 
“It’s still up to him if he goes or stays.”
 
She held up a hand to forestall Cassidy’s objection.
 
“Let me finish.
 
It’s up to him, but believe me when I say, I’m on your side.”

Cassidy breathed a small sigh of relief at the woman’s words.

“I’ve missed him.
 
Even though time in this place is fluid, I’ve felt his absence most keenly.
 
But I want him to enjoy a full life before he joins me, so I’ll do what I can.”

Cassidy read compassion and understanding in her level gaze.
 
She turned away from the woman and knelt to be at eye level with Zach.
 
“Will you link your mind with mine, so I’m not so worried about you while you decide?”

“I’ll try.”

Pain seared through Cassidy’s head as a spark of Zach’s power flared against her.
 
She staggered under it, until she realized it wasn’t her pain.

The forest flowed away from her to be replaced by the cold, sterile hospital room.
 
A nurse stood just inside the door and gaped at them.
 
Cassidy opened her mouth to explain when Kathy dropped to the floor like a rag doll.

Cassidy reached Kathy first and gently lifted her head to place a rolled up blanket under her.
 
“Kathy?” she said through a sheen of tears.