KnightForce Damian (La Patron's KnightForce Book 4) (19 page)

"Seems I am to die either way. You, the wolves, or the town." Agatha threw up her hands with a shrug.

Ivona split her attention between the women opening the back of the van and Agatha, who stood a few feet from her. "What do you mean the town?"

"Not your problem." Agatha crossed her arms and watched as the four walked next to a gurney similar to the one ambulances in the states used. From a distance Ivona saw something was wrong.

"What'd you do to him?" She looked at Agatha, who looked smug.

"He's cursed and I will not remove it now that La Patron broke faith." Agatha turned to the women. "Leave, you know what to do. I suspect the wolf pack is close, get as far away as you can."

"Come with us, Agatha, there is still hope that things will change," one of the women pleaded.

Ivona couldn't pull her gaze away from Raoul's face covered in blisters. It wasn't right. Something clicked in her mind and she sensed he was in pain. Did this bitch say she cursed him and he'd remain like this? Her hand moved and if asked what she'd done, she'd have no recollection. When the echo from the last bullet died, all five women lay on the ground moaning and begging for their lives.

Agatha, who'd spoken words of a true martyr before, begged the loudest as blood ran down her shoulder from the gaping wound.

Ivona tilted her head to the side and stared at the woman. "Remove the curse or die." Her gaze took in the other women lying on the ground bleeding from wounds in their arms or legs. "Next bullet hits your heart."

Chapter 28

Fortified after a night of mind-blowing sex and a healthy breakfast, Gem watched the cam of the cell where Lamia resided. Security had taken a large plate of food to her and waited in the hall for her to finish. Determined to steer the conversation toward freeing the child, Gem went through several options. One, Lamia could return to the spirit world and hang out with all of her old friends. Two, Lamia could enter one of the witches and stay with the coven. Three, the spirit could inhabit an adult with their permission. Staring at the monitor, Gem realized that other than number one, all of those options sucked and doubted Lamia would go along with them.

How do you know?

The question crystallized in her mind. She didn't know for sure because she didn't know Lamia. Discovering what drove Lamia, or what she wanted most in the world would be the best place to start their conversation. Once they understood Lamia better, decisions could be made, but they'd need to make this fast, Raoul's life was on the line.

She frowned. Had the time elapsed? She couldn't recall. Dread rolled down her back at the idea of what would happen if Raoul had been harmed. The witches would need to scatter and even then she was sure Lord Barticus would find them. She shook off the dark thoughts and focused on her part of the job, gathering information for La Patron.

Since she saw the heaping plates enter the cell, she was surprised to see the guard take the tray with the empty ones and then lock the cell. Despite Lamia's childlike appearance, her appetite was all adult. Gem finished her tea, wiped her hands, and headed toward the door. Dressed in gray sweats, white tee-shirt and sandals, with her hair pulled up in a pony-tail, she keyed in the code and headed down the hall.

"
On my way
," she told Damian.

"Okay, I need to check out a noise. Security heard something that could be gunfire. Could be the witches, I don't know."

Gem stopped.
"It didn't happen on Lord Barticus' property, did it?"

"No, further down."

"Why are you going to check on it?
" She continued toward the cell.

"Gunshots close by I want to know what's going on. Lord Barticus is my grandfather and I don't want anything weird happening while we're here.
"

Gem's brow rose. She'd forgotten Damian was like royalty. His father was the top scientist in the wolf-nation, probably in the human world, too. Everyone had heard of Asia and her exploits. Someone had created a comic book series featuring her as the wolf version of Wonder Woman. His parents lived in the compound with La Patron and his den. Asia's parents, Lord Barticus and Amynta, were Alphas to the largest pack in Europe. To hear him speak of his beginnings in a lab was jarring given his pedigree.

"Okay. Talk to you later.
" She tried to keep the disappointment from her voice, but she'd wanted him to watch and give her feedback.

"
Soon as I get back, I'll be down there."

"Thanks.
" She inhaled, recognized Lamia’ and Daphne's scents, and pulled up a chair. "Good morning."

For a few seconds there was nothing. Then the door opened and Lamia, dressed in the same torn dress she'd worn yesterday, stepped out, her lips curled in a half smile as she pulled up a chair and sat. Today she resembled the young child Gem had helped, and not the older one from last night. That had to be a good sign, right?

"Can you walk?"

With her mind on how best to get the conversation started, Gem didn't think about the question and simply answered. "Yes, why?"

Lamia chuckled. "After all the pounding you received, you ask me why?" She sighed and stretched her arms over her head with a satisfied smile. "It has been centuries, way too long since I've heard the sounds, or felt the energies of two people engaged in wild, passionate sex. Oh, how I've missed it." Eyes closed, she crossed her legs. "There's nothing like being held in the arms of a strong, powerful man and receiving so much pleasure it tingles just remembering."

Heat pulsing in her cheeks, Gem straightened in the chair. "You were listening?" It was a given the full-bloods heard her and Damian, but they were pack and it was normal. But knowing Lamia had been a silent voyeur seemed creepy.

"Yes, yes, yes, and thank you." She pointed at Gem. "You look all stuffy and bookish, but you're not, and I like that. A woman can be smart and entertain a man in her boudoir without fear of punishment. There was a time a woman had to choose, her mind or pleasing her body." She clapped her hands as if she'd just been awarded the ultimate gift. "I love this time period, and the freedom you have."

"Women have had their struggles and in certain places it's still not okay to have sex with any man you want, especially if they are married."

"Married? As in bound to another?"

"Yes, marriage is legally binding I suppose. In my culture, we mate and it's permanent."

Lamia waved her hand. "I have no interest in men in chains. Jealous wives can be evil."

"If I could give you what you wanted most in the world, what would you want?" She asked.

"What? Do you have this ability?" Lamia's brow rose.

"It's a question, think about it. What would make you the happiest? What's the most important thing in the world to you? Just think about it for a moment," Gem said when Lamia grew silent. The quiet stretched and Gem watched various expressions cross Lamia's face.

"No one has ever asked before. I need an extra moment to think. And while you have no powers, your Alpha does. It's possible La Patron's Goddess can assist, so I will give the questions deep consideration." She stood and walked into the cage and closed the door.

Gem stared at the door for a few seconds and hoped she'd done the right thing. La Patron never said he'd intercede on anyone's behalf, but Gem never said he would. Did her silence make her complicit in a lie? Not really, because La Patron might do as Lamia requested. She threw up her hands and stood.

"Don't leave," Lamia said.

"Okay." Gem walked up and down the corridor a couple times before re-taking her seat. Her thoughts traveled to Damian and last night, and their argument this morning after talking to La Patron. Thinking of her Alpha made her sit straight and focus on the interview. "Do you need anything to drink? Or something to nibble on?"

"No." The steel door opened and Lamia looked even younger. She returned to her seat and folded her hands across her lap in a demure fashion. "I have thought on your question." She looked at Gem. "My children. They were the center of my world and I have searched everywhere for them with no success. Can your Alpha find them?"

In a million sunsets, Gem couldn't imagine this was Lamia's driving motivation, but she should've. "History says Hera killed your children. The children you had with Zeus."

"Who's his-story? That's not my story. I was told she took them, but I'm not sure she did." She swallowed and met Gem's gaze with hope blazing in her own. "I would like to see my progeny, my line. That's what has driven me for centuries."

"That's what I get for not going over my strategy with a wide awake mind," Gem thought. "Can I ask a question? Don't get angry or anything, but I have to ask."

"What if they died as children and there's nothing left of me in the earth?"

"Wow, I wasn't going to say it like that."

"But that's what you wish to know?"

"More like, what if... yes, you're right," Gem said, feeling the heat of Lamia's excitement.

"If my children died, as his-story suggests, then I will... I no longer have a reason to remain on this plane." She looked at Gem. "A mother was granted permission to search for her family and over the years I've forgotten my purpose. Things became muddy or cloudy, lines were crossed, and a lot of blood shed for greed." Lamia shook her head. "I bear most of the blame for the horrendous things I've done."

Gem waited a moment, wondering what she could offer. "I think the first thing we need to do is a family tree on you."

"A what?"

"Picture a tree with several limbs which have several limbs. You'll tell me the names of your children, and all the information necessary to build a tree. That will provide the start." She paused. "I cannot promise we will find your children, but we will search for them, is that fair?"

Lamia smiled wide. "Yes, and I will owe you a favor. Not your Alpha since this is not his idea, but you, Dr. Gem." She held up her hand, stopping Gem's protest. "It is my way."

"Alright, alright, don't get testy." Gem pulled out her cellphone and sent the security guard a message. Moments later he strode in rolling a cart with a monitor and keyboard. When he saw Lamia seated, he frowned but didn't say anything, which Gem appreciated. She'd forgotten to tell Damian the cells couldn't hold Lamia; he'd be more concerned with her alone in here.

"What is that for?" Lamia watched as Gem logged in and scooted closer.

"I am going to search for your family or see if there are any records of them."

Lamia snorted and leaned back in her seat. "To do it this way is a waste of time. Nothing but lies about me in there, I've seen what they say." She pointed her finger at Gem. "But I've never eaten a person, especially a child." With an earnest expression she crossed her arms over her chest, leaving her fingertips on her shoulders. "Think about it... I lost my children, why would I kill others?" She shook her head. "It makes no sense, but these lies, they are still there."

Gem didn't have time to discuss the inaccuracies of mythology. The entity sitting next to her would never be accepted in the human world and that's who wrote the descriptions online. "I'm not going to those sites, there's another site with our history. What year did you lose your children?"

"Year? I'm not... I do not know."

Gem typed Lamia to run a search and five hits returned. "You may not know, but someone in pack history remembers." She clicked on all five to download. Soon she and Lamia read the account of a woman found roaming a town north of Athens searching for her children. There were two pictures of Lamia. Gem turned the monitor and Lamia traced her face, long red hair, and green eyes. She'd been a beautiful woman.

"Goddess above," Lamia whispered. "That's me." She looked at Gem with a look of sublime wonder and gratitude. "I remember, that's me." She pointed to the picture. How... why is it in here? Who drew this?"

Gem explained how La Patron had created a team of historians whose only job was to catalog everything pertaining to pack. "This was one of the portraits found, a copy was made and uploaded. It's an unsigned drawing so I don't know who created it. Read the articles beneath. When you're finished, I'll click on each one so you can get an idea of what was happening during that time."

"Yes, yes." Lamia leaned forward and read each one. Tears rolled down her cheeks when she finished the last one and leaned back. "See, not a monster."

Gem had read each article along with Lamia. Her heart twisted over the story of a mother denied and her journey to find her children. According to the reports, she was always looking, always asking questions and followed every lead. "You must've met the witches after that, because there's nothing else on you in our records."

"Yes, they claimed to have answers in exchange."

"Exchange? For what?"

"Power. I would do things for them, open portals and other things, I don't want to think of that now." She touched her picture. "I should've died in that body," she whispered.

"Is that what you want?" Gem asked softly.

Lamia looked at her for a few seconds and sighed. "My children are long dead, are they not?"

"I don't know. What does your heart tell you?"

"Heart? I have no heart."

"Yes, you do. Calm down, ask yourself that question and then listen. You're their mother, you will know," Gem said, hoping her statements were true, she didn't have much luck with her own mother and doubted the woman knew if Gem lived or died.

Lamia stared at the portrait for several, long moments. "You are right. I suppose I’ve always known they are no longer here. Perhaps I will find them on another plane.” She closed her eyes and then looked at her picture again.

Gem couldn’t imagine what Lamia was going through and kept quiet.

“There's a way to end this, to free me, but we must force it. Give her no choice. I will take her and rest," she murmured. Her chest heaved as her eyes went glassy.

A low, mournful sound erupted from between her lips. Goosebumps rose and traveled up Gem's arms and across her chest. Lamia's small chest took huge gulps of air as she bent forward in her chair with her arms wrapped around her waist, moaning.

Startled by what sounded like a chant, Gem placed her hand on Lamia's knee. "Lamia?"

The chant increased in speed and volume.

Gem shook her. "Lamia, wake up."

Heart racing, Gem tried to remove her hand but Lamia took hold and wouldn't release it.

"
Damian
," Gem called.

"On my way, we've got…"

"Lamia is doing some kind of chant, I can’t get through to her. Her eyes are changing."
Gem couldn't look away from the yellow-green eyes as they morphed into slits. Her beast howled in displeasure as the chant moved inside her head, taking on a sinuous rhythm.