Lost Soul (DarkWorld: SkinWalker Book 2) (12 page)

But he had come around. He was trying and I couldn't fault him for it.

I broke through the tree line and headed for my old house. My father still lived in our old home, as did Iain. Made sense since all the women in the family had deserted them.

Now that I was done being so angry with Dad, I worried about him a lot. How did he manage without Mom? Especially after Grams' explanation of what had happened to make Mom leave us.

I entered using my key and strolled through the house to his study, but the room sat empty and silent.

I found him in the kitchen with Iain. Both fair heads bobbed up as I entered, and Iain grinned. "Cappuccino double shot please."

Dad looked at him funny and then something clicked because he too smiled and said, "Make that two."

"You're both hilarious, you know that?" I shook my head and headed for the coffee machine, setting about making their orders. "Why is it that every time I come home I end up making coffee?"

" 'Cos you're the only one who can tame that stupid ancient piece of crap."

"Shush. Be nice or you'll get sand in your coffee."

Iain laughed and Dad smiled, the sun streaming in the window and giving his hair a kind of halo glow.

"You look tired," he said.

"I am. Logan did his fire magic treatment on me night before last but it's already fading."

"Why? Is it not working?" My father frowned.

"I'm not sure. I suspect the poison is stronger than we ever expected."

"At least you're up and about." Iain gave me an enquiring glance.

"You could say that," I said drily.

"What have you been up to?" he asked.

"I had an interesting visit with Grams." I looked pointedly at Dad, who scowled.

"What did she say?" Dad's scowl didn't budge.

"Oh, not much." I paused, keeping my voice neutral and my eyes on the coffee. "Just a little trip down memory lane with Corin and Celeste and Sentinel." I raised an eyebrow and he paled. "You should have told me, you know. It would have been so much easier if you had."

He sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Sometimes people take the more difficult path in life. And even when the going gets too tough to move ahead anymore, we still don't turn back. Perhaps it's pride, or ego, or pigheadedness, but we end up stuck."

I knew what he meant, but his omissions had affected me in too many ways. Affected my actions, my behavior, my emotions. "But I said so many things I shouldn't have."

"Who says you shouldn't have said those things? Perhaps I needed to hear them," he said. The silence was awkward as Dad smiled at me and Iain concentrated on his sandwich, looking very guilty about something.

"And what's the matter with you?" I asked as I placed his mug of coffee in front of him.

He cleared his throat. "So what exactly did Grams say?" I went over our conversation only leaving out the part about the Niamh. "Is that it?"

"What do you mean? What more did you want her to tell me?" I stared at him, my eyes narrowing. Something was up with Iain and it had to do with Grams' revelations about Mom and Dad and about Sentinel.
As I stared at his face, now reddening so much even his ears were pink, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. "I get it. You also work for Sentinel, don't you?"

Iain spluttered as he took a sip of the coffee. "No. What gave you that idea?" His splutters turned into a bout of choked coughing that had Dad pounding Iain's back until my brother was even redder in the face than before.

"Son, perhaps it's time we stopped lying to each other in this family." Dad gave him one last thump in the middle of his back and I had a feeling that was not for his coughing fit. I hid a grin.

"But I wasn't—"

"It's a lie by omission and it still counts." Dad faced me. "We both still work for Sentinel. But I do much less fieldwork these days."

"How do you manage with all your Alpha work?"

"It's called delegation," Iain said, putting on a haughty air.

I snorted. "You must be an awful boss."

"Why?" He was serious. As if he really wanted to know.

" 'Cos you're a pain in the ass."

Dad laughed loudly. "She's got you there, son."

Iain just shook his head, scowling.

"So there's something else I need to ask you. I'm going to check with Grams too, but I thought the more information I have the better."

"What is it?"

"It's about hunting. Can you remember anything about when Mom used to hunt? Did you ever see her work or did you ever go with her?"

"Yes. I went with her on her hunts for almost as long as she hunted." There was a reminiscent look on his face that told me he missed the old days.

"So did you ever see Mom's hands glow?"

"A golden, shimmering light you mean?"

I nodded.

"Yes. It was a power she used against the demons if they ever got too close or she couldn't use her weapons. I preferred she killed from a distance, so did she, but there were times when things didn't go according to plan and she had to use the glow."

"So what did the glow do?"

"It killed the demons, whatever they were, Wraiths, spirits."

"Do you know how it works? I need to train myself but I have no idea where to start."

"I don't recall your mother doing any practicing. I have a feeling the glow only ever happened when she was physically touching a demon. There wasn't much opportunity to practice."

"Damn." My shoulders slumped.

"What happened?"

"I fought a Wraith last night. Killed him. But there was a moment when I needed to use the glow and I had no idea how to call it."

"It has happened before?" Dad leaned forward.

"Only once, and then it happened when the Wraith had me by the throat and was very close to killing me."

Dad paled, but to his credit, he didn't argue against my job. "The power is probably too young and weak. You might need more time and you most likely need practice using it."

"Ugh. You mean I need to get more up close and personal with those things." I made a face.

"Not what you want to hear, but I got nothing else."

I sighed. "Yeah. I guess I knew that already. I'll have plenty of practice soon enough."

"Why? What are you planning?" I got Dad and Iain up to speed on Greer and her location and our plans to retrieve her and by their expressions they were none too happy. "Kailin, that sounds too dangerous."

"I don't really have a choice."

"There must be another way," he insisted.

"There isn't. We've explored every possible option. And this is the only viable one. As long as the Death-talker High Priestess will give me a seal, we are good to go."

"I hate the thought of you going there alone." Dad said the words but his expression told me he knew he had no choice.

"I won't be alone. I have a djinn coming with me."

"Is that one of Logan's people?" Iain broke in, frowning. I nodded. "How do you know you can trust him?"

"I've met him but I can't know if I can trust him. I will just have to trust Logan's judgment." I scanned Iain's face. It made so much sense now why he'd been so suspicious of Logan. Did the operatives within each organization take sides? Would they fight each other in the name of their employers? Hopefully we'd never find out.

"I guess that's all you can do." Iain scratched his chin. "Have you been practicing?"

I nodded, slightly amused. All this time I'd been hunting Wraiths, practicing alone with guns, knives, and my crossbow, and here was Iain acting all responsible and bossy. Almost as if he wanted to train me or something. I didn't say anything though. It was nice to have both him and Dad around in a non-confrontational way.

And when I looked at them, I realized too why a hasty decision to join Omega would probably be a bad idea. Sentinel seemed to be a family thing, and if the agencies were really in opposition to each other, would I just be asking for trouble going with Omega?

I put it out of my mind and soaked up the midday sunshine in our family kitchen.

***

My phone rang as I walked to my apartment door just before seven that evening.

Logan. "What's up?" I answered.

"Nerina called. We have an appointment with Kira. At eight tonight at their estate." His response was curt, as if he really didn't want me to be doing this

"Estate?" The Death-talkers had an estate.

"Yeah. They have a secluded place a few miles out of the city. I'll pick you up in ten minutes."

"I'm ready already," I said as I shoved my key into the lock and rang off.

Ready as I'll ever be
.

***

The drive out of town was serenely beautiful. Oaks, maples and elms flitted by and the colors of fall, the reds and golds and rusts blanketed the landscape as the sunset repeated the russet and bronze tones high on the horizon. But I barely registered the view. My mind was still on the Wraith I'd killed and the golden glow that was useless to me until I figured out how to use it. I glanced at Logan out of the corner of my eye. Dark shadows circled his eyes, confirming he'd also had trouble sleeping. He looked haggard.

I chose not to tell him about my encounter with the Gus-Wraith. He'd probably warn me about the dangers of doing missions alone. Something I didn't want to hear. Dad had restrained himself from nagging, but I wasn't sure Logan would have the strength to stop himself.

Forty five minutes later, we turned onto a dirt road and followed it deep into the forest. Five minutes later, the road ended in front of a set of tall, imposing iron gates.

Logan braked and I searched for a speakerphone somewhere on the wall beside the entrance but found nothing. Instead, the gates creaked open of their own accord. A security camera swiveled as we drove into the grounds.

The drive passed well-manicured lawns and led to a large fountain set before a gigantic stone mansion, complete with dark, eerie windows and three turrets that would give most people the shivers.

Logan parked and headed up the slate steps. I felt the weight of the building pressing down on my shoulders and my gut screamed to be very careful. I didn't see Nerina as being dangerous, but that didn't mean the High Priestess or her guards weren't.

But there were no guards. The grounds seemed empty and the entrance remained unguarded. Logan knocked and a Death-talker answered, her eyes downcast, thin, pale-grey hair hanging down either side of her pearly white face.

Her eyes flitted from Logan to me and she didn't move.

Logan cleared his throat, meeting my eyes, unsure of what to do next. "Logan Westin and Kailin Odel to see the High Priestess Kira."

The Death-talker tipped her head and allowed the door to swing open. She led us down the hall and took the left wood-paneled passage to a small waiting room furnished with dark mahogany coffee and side tables and chocolate-brown leather sofas.

"Please wait here. Someone will be with you shortly." She inclined her head and glided away.

I sighed and leaned against the sofa. My arm throbbed beneath the sleeve of my jacket, and I made a mental note to speak to Logan about it once we were done here. I needed another round of treatment.

"You okay?" Logan looked at me, frowning.

I shook my head. No point in lying. "The poison's taking over again. I might need a blast of your fiery magic very soon. Preferably before I keel over."

He patted my hand. "Sure. Let's get this over with and I'll do another round. I'm so close to perfecting it, Kai. I'm nearly there."

I nodded, suddenly feeling far too exhausted to face down the head of the Death-talker clan. I breathed deep.
Just got to get through it and get home.

Someone walked up the passage toward us and Nerina came into view. She smiled and came to stand before us, her hands clasped before her, a look of serenity on her face.

"Greetings. I trust you have not been waiting long."

Logan shook his head. "Just a few minutes."

Nerina tilted her head. "Logan, please do not take offense, but Kira has left instructions that she will only receive Kailin into the meeting."

Logan stiffened. "But she knew I was coming too."

"Kira is aware that you have accompanied the Hunter. But she wishes to only see Kailin. And Kira is not to be trifled with." A shadow darkened Nerina's pale face for a moment before she forced a smile to her lips. "And you need not worry. Kailin will not be far and she will be safe. I will stay with her."

Logan sat back, scowling. He gave me a resigned glance.

I had assumed she was here to announce us, but Nerina glided to the seat beside me and sank into the leather, seemingly content to wait for her mistress to call on us.

Twenty excruciating minutes later, the door opened. Making us wait could have been strategic on Kira's part. Show us who's boss. It worked. Logan had been sufficiently pissed off and waiting had eaten away at more of my energy.