The Emerald Key (19 page)

“And shattering windows and healing with a thought is real?” He set two cups of hot cocoa on the coffee table, and sat next to her, gathering her into his arms. “Cass, I can’t say I believe in everything that’s happened, but I do know this—whatever the next day brings, I will be with you.”

“Because you have to?”

“No. Because I want to.”

“Nic, are we going into this too fast?”

“How can you say that after what we’ve just seen? We may have only known each other a few days here and now, but I’ve known you far longer.”

“Do you think William is still the leader of the Brotherhood?”

“It seems likely. At least we know what he looks like. We know we can fight him. And we know we can win. He’s never been able to open the doorway.”

“But at what cost, Nic? Our lives? Our love?”

“A small price to pay to save a world or two, don’t you think?”

Cass laid her head against Nic’s shoulder, and together they watched the fire in silence until the sun rose.

Nic fixed breakfast while Cass stoked the fire. They didn’t have much in the way of fresh produce, but Nic had no problems with what they had in storage. And they only had to make it one more day. The others would be here tomorrow, and they would have the security of numbers, and the power of the keys.

One more day.

“Nic? I’m going out to get some more wood.”

“Do you want me to get it?”

“Nah. I’ll just be a minute. But those pancakes better be ready by the time I get back. I’m famished.”

Her heart fluttered at the sight of his smile. She grabbed the wood sling and went out to the barn. And walked right into the arms of William’s thugs.

Before she could utter a sound, a heavy hand holding a cloth covered her mouth. Thick arms imprisoned hers. She struggled, but with each gasp, she inhaled more of the sickeningly sweet smell. Her vision grew blurry and faded.

* * * *

Nic flipped the last of the pancakes onto a warm platter and set it on the table.
What was taking Cass so long
? He stepped out onto the back porch. “Cass?”

The wind blew flurries at him and he shivered—but not from the cold. He sensed something—something evil.

“Cass?” He stepped from the porch, and studied the light dusting of snow covering the ground. Her tracks headed for the woodpile on the side of the barn. But other tracks joined, then covered hers.

Nic reached for his gun and followed her path, cursing himself for his stupidity. He’d let his guard down—again. And now Cass was in trouble. He reached the woodpile and stopped. Multiple prints muddied the snow but one thing shone out—a symbol had been burned into the wall. A triangle with a jewel in the shape of an eye in the center. The Brotherhood had Cass.

Nic’s blood chilled, then heated as anger took over, before cold logic finally settled into his veins. He wouldn’t get anywhere running off unprepared. He went into the barn and pulled a large leather case from behind the seat of his truck. He hauled the case into the house, sat it on the table, and spun the coded locks. When they popped, Nic opened the flaps revealing a long saber, leather arm protectors, a heavy leather vest, and knee-high boots—Minerva’s gift to him.

He tugged on the gauntlets and the boots and strapped on the scabbard, then took the sword out and swiped the blade through the air a few times. The balance was perfect. He also checked the load on his gun. Just because he knew how to use a sword didn’t mean a gun wouldn’t come in handy.

Outside, he tracked the footprints through the woods to the end of the lane and saw fresh tracks from an SUV.

He went back to his truck and took off. He’d not be able to find them now, but he knew who could.

A short time later, he pounded on the door of Minerva’s apartment. “Minerva! If you’re in there, answer the damned door! Cass is gone!”

The door flew open and Nic stepped inside. “Minerva?”

He walked through the empty rooms, his footsteps echoing. Two days ago, these rooms had been filled with furniture and the stuff of life. Now, nothing—not even a dust bunny.

Except for four pictures on the wall. He studied them. He’d seen exactly the same ones in Cass’ apartment and in the cabin, except these showed snow on the ground so realistic he reached out to touch one just to see if it was wet and cold.

“Nicodemus?”

He pulled his hand back as Minerva emerged from a room he’d just searched—and found empty.

“She’s gone, Minerva. I’ve lost her. Again.”

“Not yet, Nicodemus, but you may if you don’t act soon. The Brotherhood has her.”

“Do you know where?”

Minerva closed her eyes. “I cannot see them, but she is safe for the moment.” Minerva chuckled. “She is angry. I can almost feel sorry for them.”

“How angry?”

“I’d start looking for places without windows, wood doors, or anything else of the earth.”

Nic pulled a local map out of his coat pocket. “They left the cabin less than an hour ago. That’s still a lot of territory to cover. Can you give me anything else?”

“No. But you have a connection with her. You will find her.”

“Me? I’m a fighter. I don’t have any power.”

Minerva stared at him, and he got a brief impression of her standing in a dark room in front of a large loom. The image disappeared as soon as it hit him.

“You…I know you.”

“Yes, Nicodemus. But you know Cassandra better. Use your senses. Use your gift. You will find her if you believe.”

A loud bang outside had Nic drawing his sword and spinning around. By the time he realized the noise had been nothing more than a car backfiring, Minerva had disappeared.

“Minerva?” He searched each room—each closet and even banged on the walls looking for hidden doors. Nothing. And the pictures had disappeared as well.

“What the hell is going on? And now what do I do?” he asked the room. Silence echoed back at him.

He sighed. “She told me to use my gift. What gift? How am I supposed to find her? Cass! Where are you?”

“Nic?”

Nic spun around. Nothing. “Cass? Where are you?”

“Nic? I’m here. With you.”

Nic closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. He heard her in his mind. How? “Cass? Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you?” He bounded down the steps and got in his truck.

“I don’t know. It looks kind of like a hotel room. But I don’t know which one. They all look the same. I do know it’s not the one where we stayed or the inn. And it must be a recent building. It still has that ‘new’ smell.”

“How upset are you?”

“Mad enough. Why?”

“Mad enough to break a window or two?”

He could sense her humor.
“I’ll see what I can do.”

Nic pulled out his local map. Two chain hotels in town—on opposite ends. Several others a little farther out. Plus all the ones in the nearby towns. But no new ones. “Cass, can you see anything in the hotel that gives you a name? Or anything that will tell me which one you’re at?”

“There’s not really anything I can see from my position. I’m tied up.”

“With rope?”

“With nylon rope and plastic binders and tied to plastic pipes. Nothing I can do to get loose.”

Nic played a hunch and headed north. “Start bursting windows. I’ll find you, Cass. I promise.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“Is anyone there?”

“Not at the moment. But he was. His name is William. He had the nerve to apologize for binding me in this room, claiming his room wouldn’t do. Too many breakables.”

Nic sensed the waves of revulsion coming from her. If that bastard had touched her…there would be no remorse for what Nic would do. “Keep breaking what you can. I’ll be there.”

Nic pounded the steering wheel. There were six traffic lights on the main street in town, and he managed to catch every single one of them red. Plus holiday traffic added to the usual congestion. He kept in contact with Cass as he drove.

“Nic? The windows are broken. And my guards took off. Guess the breaking glass scared them.”

“That’s good.” He pulled into a hotel parking lot and circled the building. All the windows were intact. “Damn. Cass? Is there an easier way to get across this blasted town?”

With Cass directing him, he managed to make the return trip in half the time it had taken him to get out. He drove around the second hotel. All intact. Nothing. He pounded the steering wheel again.

“Cass!”

“Nic! I am here! You…you have to calm down. Please. I can’t—I can’t contain…”

Nic halted in midpound as an explosion rocked his truck. There. Across the road, hidden behind a screen of trees and a low construction fence. A large sign announcing extensive renovations to an older hotel and new building. He tore out of the parking lot and drove as close to the construction site as he could. Two black SUVs sat to one side of a partially constructed building. Nic had a feeling the structure had been a lot more constructed a few minutes ago. He parked his truck in the shelter of the trees and scaled the fence.

“Cass?”
he yelled in his head, but kept his voice silent. He didn’t know who else would be around, and didn’t want to risk getting her in more trouble.

Using what cover he could, Nic dashed to where the destruction looked the worst. Her lack of answer scared him. What had happened? What had she meant? What couldn’t she contain?

“Cass?”

Two men sat on the bumper of the front vehicle. One held his arm close to his chest while the other held a bloody cloth to his head. Nic crept close to listen to them.

“William will have our heads for this.”

“What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know, but this is getting too weird for me.”

“Yeah. The money’s okay, but when he started talking altars and sacrifices—”

“Think we should get out?”

“Think we can?”

“We’ve got the car and he won’t be back for a while. We can get pretty far.”

Nic heard enough. He stepped out, his gun in one hand, sword in the other. Both thugs just stared at him, their faces as white as the snow on the trees.

“Before you go, tell me where the woman is.”

“Don’t know who you’re talking about,” the one holding his arm said.

Nic flashed the sword so the tip caught the man below his chin. “Try again.”

“She…she’s in there!” The one with the bloody cloth pointed at the rubble. “It all blew up around us. We barely got out.”

“Where’s William?” Nic pressed the point a little harder when the man seemed reluctant to answer.

“Don’t know. Said something about going after the other three.”

“What about the second car? Who’s it belong to?”

“Other two guards. One’s dead. Other’s out cold.”

Nic pulled the sword away from the thug. “I ought to run you both in, but I’m feeling generous. Get your sorry asses out of here, and don’t stop until you hit the ocean.” Seeing as the closest beach lay a good four-hour drive away, that should give him some leeway.

“But my arm…”

Nic aimed the sword back at his throat. “Your choice—William or me. Got it?”

“Yes, sir. No problem, sir. The ocean, sir.” They scrambled into the SUV and tore off in a shower of dirt and stones. Nic checked the other two thugs. One had no pulse; the other, breathing but unconscious. He found a length of wire and secured the man’s arms and legs. Nic turned to the pile of rubble, his heart pounding, his breath refusing to come. “Cass?”

He started at one corner and pulled away debris. He’d barely made a dent before the police, fire trucks, and an ambulance pulled up, followed by Greg’s truck.

“Nic?” Greg ran up to him and yanked him away from the rubble. Steve followed two steps behind him. “What happened? Where’s Cass?”

“She’s in there. I have to find her.”

Nic barely heard Greg calling to the others, and kept digging until his hands bled, and Greg once again pulled him away.

“Nic, stop. Let these guys do their job. They’ll find her.”

“What if…” He couldn’t even think the rest of the sentence.

“We’ve got something!” one of the men yelled from a different section of the debris.

Nic shouldered his way through the workers, shoving Steve aside as well. A bloody hand with long thin fingers and a ring on the index finger stuck out from beneath the rubble. He could also see plastic binders around her wrist. “Cass!” He reached for her, fighting when Greg and another man held him back.

A med tech knelt and took her wrist. “I’ve got a pulse.”

“Let me go!” Nic struggled against the men.

“Nic! Stop! Let them work. They know what they’re doing.”

Greg’s words got through and Nic stopped fighting. “I can’t lose her, Greg. Not again.”

“I know, buddy. I know.”

Nic stumbled as a meaty fist came out of nowhere and caught him on the chin. His training kicked in and he instantly went into fight mode, then he saw who’d hit him. “Steve?”

“This is all your fault! If anyone should be arrested for kidnapping, it’s you! You forced her to go to some sleazy hotel, then this happened. You should have stayed away and let her alone. She’d be fine if you’d never come.”

Steve reared back to hit him again, but Nic easily deflected the blow. Nic didn’t want to fight the man, but he had no chance to refuse as Steve aimed a flurry of blows. Nic retaliated, but held back as he didn’t want to hurt the man.

“I’ll get you for resisting arrest, too!” Steve yelled.

Nic kept stepping back as Greg and several other men tried to calm Steve down. To his surprise, a rather curvaceous, but very pale blonde wearing an expensive fur coat and spike-heeled boots sidled up to Steve, taking his arm and hauling him around to look at her with surprising strength.

“Steve? What’s taking so long? Just arrest whoever you need to arrest and let’s go. I’m getting cold.”

Steve turned to the blonde, a frown on his face. “You’re supposed to wait. You don’t belong here. Not yet.”

The woman rolled her eyes at him. “Shame, really. It would have been a great place.” She looked around the destruction. “You can’t fix this mess and the others are waiting for us. We need to go.”

“You know nothing. I’ll take care of you later. Go wait by the car. Now.” He turned to Nic, studying him with narrowed eyes. “Greg, this man is carrying deadly weapons. I want you to confiscate them.”