Rogue Belador: Belador book 7 (26 page)

Chapter 24

VIPER Headquarters, North Georgia Mountains

Quinn forced himself to stride through the bowels of VIPER headquarters with a confident carriage, stifling the turmoil inside him at facing Veronika once again. He still shuddered at how the vicious witch had exploited his grief over Kizira.

No one had ever controlled him, not with his powerful mindlock ability.

But she had.

In one fleeting, vulnerable moment, Veronika had almost gained control of thousands of Belador warriors under Quinn’s command. The disastrous possibilities sent chills up his spine. Drawing a deep breath, he shoved away his concern.

This was not the place to ever show weakness.

Adrianna’s heels clicked against the stone floor close behind him, reminding him this meeting had nothing to do with him.

Veronika and Adrianna had faced off over Witchlock.

Veronika had lost that battle.

She waited on a Tribunal sentencing and stood to spend the rest of her life in lockup beneath the North Georgia mountain that housed VIPER headquarters.

On occasion, the justice system put in place by their coalition actually functioned properly.

It would be nice if he could go to a Tribunal and ask for help locating his daughter, but that would be expecting too much of the self-centered gods and goddesses.

He no longer trusted Macha enough to ask for her help with anything, especially this. When she’d found out about his past liaison with Kizira, Macha had taken it personally. He would no more trust the goddess with his daughter’s welfare than he would with Brina and Tzader’s.

He slowed for Adrianna to catch up with him. When she did, he said, “I want to ask you about something, and no is a perfectly acceptable answer. I do not wish to impose on you, but I’m looking for someone to help me with an issue.”

A foot shorter than he was, she looked up without slowing down. “Evalle mentioned your
issue
to me recently in private, and said she’d gotten your okay for the conversation.”

Thank goodness for that, since Quinn didn’t want to mention Phoedra’s name in here.

“Good. That simplifies things. If you could touch something or ... someone ... connected to a missing person, would you be able to locate the person in question? I’m concerned about your being harmed by residual majik.”

“I don’t think that would happen, in particular with the object in question, but as to the more extreme measure, let’s just say ...” She paused and lowered her voice. “I’m not a necromancer, and I’m too unfamiliar with Witchlock to know how that power will react to someone with ... extreme levels of residual majik.”

She meant because Kizira had been a Medb priestess.

“You must understand
all
the risks if I try this,” Adrianna added. “If anything I deem deadly rises up, I would be forced to destroy the host to prevent that power from lashing out at everyone around.”

“I understand what you’re telling me.” Quinn got that Adrianna would have to blast away the corpse, and the dark energy with it, if something arose from Kizira’s body when Adrianna touched it. He’d have to think on that.

When he heard her steps tapping faster than his, he slowed his long-legged stride even further.

She commented, “I’ve never been in this part of VIPER headquarters.”

“That’s because this is reserved for the deadliest criminals. VIPER prefers few visitors in this area even though it’s heavily protected against escape.”

Her gaze swept from side to side. “The energy running through here is ... unusual. Do you feel it?”

“Yes, but I doubt that I sense it as strongly as you do. I’m guessing the visual evidence is for those who may not pick up the power flowing across these walls.” Quinn had been down here only once before. He glanced at the luminescent color that rippled across the rock surfaces forming the corridor, twelve feet tall by ten feet wide. No, now that he thought about it,
across
wasn’t the right description.

The color didn’t appear reflected but rather a part of the wall, a living energy similar to bioluminescence emitted by organisms such as fireflies.

This undulating glow, however, was not of the natural world.

Adrianna commented, “I assume this is some kind of security put in place by Sen, correct?”

“Yes.” Quinn explained, “As I understand it, only one guard is required in this area. He or she has but to touch the wall for a second and shout of a prison break, which Sen will then hear. At that point, Sen activates the energy along these walls to prevent an escape.”

“Prevent? Or disintegrate the escapee?”

“Good question. I’d put my money on disintegrate.”

Sen allowed no majik or power except his to be used inside headquarters.

It took a full minute to traverse the tunnel. At the end, a floor-to-ceiling gate formed of silver crossbars prevented access past this point without authorization.

The minute the Belador guard realized Quinn approached, he straightened his stance and drew his shoulders back. That pulled his collared shirt tight over the bulky upper body. Warm brown eyes peeked respectfully from the guard’s pale face, and freckles dotted his nose, softening his lethal look. But that appearance would deceive only those unfamiliar with him.

“I didn’t know you were down here, Lionel,” Quinn said, greeting the twenty-eight-year-old warrior. Turning to include Adrianna, Quinn said, “Adrianna, this is Lionel Macaffey, one of our Belador warriors who normally runs surveillance along the Chattahoochee River.” In explanation, Quinn added, “VIPER sets up a rotation so that most of the field operatives spend one, perhaps two days at most, down here each year.”

Adrianna asked, “Why not assign one group to guard this area? Wouldn’t that be more efficient and allow them to become familiar with protocol?”

Lionel answered, “That’s actually the reason we each take a turn. If no one is here more than once or twice a year, there’s less chance a guard will become vulnerable to an inmate’s influence.”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

It had been a while since Quinn had spoken with Lionel. The Belador’s voice was a little deeper than Quinn remembered, and the fuzzy carrottop he’d last seen on this man was now buzz cut to a manageable quarter-inch length. Ready to get this dog and pony show moving, Quinn said, “We’re on a tight timeline. I’m taking Adrianna to speak with Veronika. Did Sen inform you?”

“Yes, Maistir. He alerted me just ten minutes ago.”

That would have been right after Quinn had convinced Sen that his people had picked up a tip that Medb were going to be targeted. As the Belador Maistir, it was imperative that Quinn be allowed to take whatever action necessary to prevent that from happening, or the Beladors being blamed.

When Sen had balked, Quinn added that he would be willing to discuss this with the Tribunal if Sen lacked the authority to grant them audience with Veronika.

Sen had given him a cold stare and said, “I don’t want to hear a word from anyone if that witch spins your heads around. Literally.”

Lionel faced the gate and spoke three strange words with long vowel phonemes, which sounded almost Asian. Another mysterious component of Sen’s background.

The gate opened into the cellblock.

Quinn asked, “Do you know what those three words mean in English, Lionel?”

“No. Sen made me repeat them until I had the enunciation perfect. I’ve never heard it before. The code changes daily, and I’m betting none of us knows that language. Just another of Sen’s secrets.”

“True.”

Lionel told Quinn how to find his way to Veronika’s cell, adding, “Both sides of all the walkways will appear solid until you reach her. The corridor wall to her cell will vanish as you approach and reappear as soon as you walk away. A ward prevents her from exiting, but allows conversation. I’ll remain here unless you need me for anything.”

“We’ll be fine on our own.” Stepping aside, Quinn waved a hand. “After you, Adrianna.”

Once they were inside, the gate closed behind Quinn. He prepared himself to meet the witch who had shifted herself into Kizira’s image the last time they’d met. But she would not get to him this time.

If not for Adrianna being on the VIPER team, and now a friend of Evalle’s, plus Tzader needing his help, Quinn wouldn’t consider spending a minute in any witch’s company ever again.

He took the lead again as they navigated the endless corridors lit by a stingy strip of light glowing along the ceiling above them.

At one point, Adrianna flinched and stopped, looking to her left.

What had she sensed? “Adrianna?”

She shook it off and said, “Sorry. It’s just that I’m constantly experiencing different things since taking on Witchlock.”

“Did you feel something even through that stone barrier?”

“Yes. Whatever is on the other side is ... disturbing.”

Quinn didn’t know if he should be impressed or terrified at her ability to breach Sen’s security shields. Sen would definitely not be impressed. Once they were out of here, Quinn would warn Adrianna to be careful allowing anyone else to realize she could do that. He continued to the third turn and, as he rounded the corner, a wall twenty feet ahead on his left began to disintegrate.

That bastard Sen had better have the mother of all wards on Veronika’s enclosure.

A wicked laugh started, building in volume as they approached.

Quinn slowed, then picked a spot in the center of the viewing area. He didn’t know what he’d expected, but not this.

Veronika’s long, dark hair had not taken well to prison life. Limp black locks fell past her shoulders, knotted with matted clumps. Her hands and feet were encased in stone gloves and shoes, all four limbs shackled to the wall behind her with fifteen feet of chain. A sink and commode had been tucked into the corner.

Her red robe hung on her, tattered and dirty, much like the skin clinging to her emaciated body.

The only part that had changed not one bit was the cruel gaze.

She sat on the ground, hunched and broken.

Adrianna’s lips quirked.

Quinn had no sympathy for this woman, but neither did he find the situation humorous.

Evidently, Adrianna did. “How sad, Veronika,” she said, sounding anything but sympathetic.

The wretched prisoner grunted. “What do you want?”

“I had hoped to offer you a chance to gain some relief while here, but clearly all you need is a bath. If Sen is alerted to your poor hygiene, he’ll bathe you himself. I doubt you’ll enjoy that, but maybe he’s more fun than he appears.”

Quinn wanted to caution Adrianna to curtail the taunting, but she’d asked to do the talking once they faced Veronika.

Veronika scowled and rose to her feet without even struggling. The chains fell away. A red cloud whirled around her, then the pristine robe returned. Her skin no longer sagged. A vicious beauty stood proudly before them, just as she’d been when she’d plotted to rule the world.

Except for the stone gloves.

The witch had been manipulating her audience even before Quinn and Adrianna laid eyes on her. She’d been setting the scene to gain sympathy. Such a fool to believe Quinn would drag up that emotion for this malicious bitch. Adrianna had not only seen through it, but had known how to handle it.

She impressed Quinn more by the minute.

Adrianna arched an eyebrow in amusement. She was the picture of calm, standing with her hands behind her back and her usual stoic composure. She watched with nothing more than mild interest showing on her face as Veronika finished her machinations.

So at ease. He envied her that poise in the face of his nemesis.

Or so it seemed, until Quinn’s gaze slid down to where he caught sight of Adrianna’s white-knuckled grip hidden behind her.

Maintaining his own blank mask, he focused his attention on the drama queen now standing in the center of her stage.

Veronika floated around. Now that she had an audience, she appeared ready to show off. “I know why you’re here. You need my help to figure out Witchlock.”

The comment had been directed at Adrianna, who said, “It must be crowded in there, living with an ego the size of an elephant.”

Swirling to face them, Veronika twisted her face into a snarl. “You should take care how you speak to me. I will not be in here long.”

“Oh?” Adrianna chuckled lightly.

Veronika said, “There is
always
someone who craves access to a power such as mine.”

Releasing a soft sigh, Adrianna acknowledged, “Maybe, but Witchlock trumps anything you have.”

Quinn held his breath, wondering if Adrianna’s plan was to infuriate Veronika to the point that she tried to break the ward.

But Veronika surprised him by smiling. “You can’t fool me. I spent years studying Witchlock. I know what it demands of you. I was ready to accept it and willing to bind myself to it, but you? You never wanted it. I heard your sister’s thoughts while I milked her majik. She wanted to save you, and you wanted to save her. But she was gone, already turned into a power vapor. You both lost. And now ... you need me.”