Taken (Breaking the Darkness) (23 page)

“They rushed the office with fire extinguishers and put out the flames. It was hard to acknowledge seeing both my office and Anton’s body lying on the floor when the smoke finally started to clear. His body was charred pretty badly. I thought he was immortal.” He pushed his plate forward, removed the napkin from his lap, and threw it on the table. “I still don’t understand how this happened.

“Then the worst part was the local authorities showed up poking around and asking questions. The nettlesome pigs were there almost immediately. There was no time to deal with Anton’s body. The medical examiner’s crew wasted no time removing it. I spent the whole next day entertaining some know-it-all human cop. The questions were endless. We need to get access to his body before they perform an autopsy.”

Ziona listened with an emotionless look on her face. It was challenging to distinguish if she believed what he was slinging. She looked at the swirling dark-mahogany wine in her oversized goblet before taking a slow sip. She took great care in placing the glass back in its proper resting place on the table. She held her gaze on the glass before looking up at Graven.

“So, let me get this straight. Two people that are immune to fire get locked in a room and one of them burns to death?”

“When you put it like that…” Graven was very matter of fact.

“When I put it like that it sounds like a load of crap, Graven. Something is not adding up here. Either you are lying to me or we have a really big problem.”

Graven’s posture elongated. “I plan to get to the bottom of this. I am afraid that we do have a problem, a potentially huge problem. Someone or something was able to breach all my security. They locked me in my own office. Somehow they immobilized Anton. That in itself had to be quite a feat. In a matter of minutes, maybe even seconds, they killed him, I have to imagine before the flames ate away at his existence.

“You think I’m not pissed?” He spouted. “My agitation has reached a new height. I know how bad this makes me look. I do not take kindly to being made a fool of, and I especially do not appreciate someone pulling a stunt like this on my time and in my club.”

The flicker of the small white candle hidden in a small glass jar on the table highlighted the tension at the corners of Graven’s jawline. I noticed the masseter muscle contracting as he clenched his teeth.

Although Ziona looked at him like a piece of meat, I doubt she took notice of him. She was focused on her own hand as she ran a perfectly manicured nail around the rim of her glass. “We need to find out how they managed to kill Anton. Who would know how to kill his kind? I certainly don’t know. Do you?”

“I’m not sure, maybe a mystic of sorts? Maybe one of those pesky story keepers would have access to the history of the Leviath family. We all like to think we are immortal, but death will and can take us all. There is no true forever. The only true constant is the energy that binds us all together. There is a reason he was the last known of his bloodline.”

Ziona raised an eyebrow and looked like a thought just came across her mind. I could almost see the light bulb over her head.

“Ziona there’s a distinct possibility that Anton was individually targeted. It is no secret that he has made plenty of enemies over the years. Of course, most never survived long enough to do anything about it, but the truth is that as much as no one wants to mention it, there are opposing dark forces trying to increase their power. This could be the beginning of a power play. Any one of us could be the next target.”

“At this time, you should not be worrying about any other factions.” Ziona’s face shifted to authoritarian. “Our superior is at the top of the food chain. He is not going to allow that to change. I advise you to not even speak of such things again, especially not in front of him.

“If you have ideas about how this happened, I suggest you do your investigating carefully and quietly. Answers will be expected. Accountability is an absolute. Just be careful at whom you point your finger before you know all the facts and the implications that will come along with the accusation.”

Graven relaxed his posture a little, suggesting a less formal approach to the conversation. He leaned in across the table slightly.

“Aww, Zee, are you worried about me?”

I might have seen Ziona blush a little. Her eyes definitely flashed red. I could tell she was trying to control her emotions, but I think when her passions were heightened, her red glow exposed her. This worked in her favor when she was filled with rage and trying to intimidate someone like me.

After adjusting herself in her seat, she crossed her legs in the opposite direction to disguise her awkwardness.

“Take it easy. I am warning you. Don’t do anything stupid, Graven.” She shook one of those red fingernails in his direction.

“Who, me?”

They both chuckled a little. I never thought I would see her let her guard down enough to laugh. Their amusement and lightheartedness enraged me. How dare they be laughing it up!

How well did they know each other for them to share an unspoken joke? I felt my hands curl into tight fists. Tension grew in my chest.

“So, Graven, why don’t you tell me more about your thoughts on these story keepers?” She took a sip of her wine, her eyes never faltering away from his handsome face. She moistened her lips before rubbing them together.

Graven looked at her for a moment before speaking. “How about we get out of here instead?” He tipped his head in the direction of the glowing exit sign.

I saw her lips curl up ever so slightly in the corners. She had another agenda with Graven for sure. I got the impression she’d had it for some time. She was ready to jump at the chance to go anywhere with him.

“This was a great meal, but I’m bored here. This place is a bit bland and quiet for my liking. Where are you staying anyway?” Graven asked, practically inviting himself over.

“Around. You know I never leave my work far behind. In fact, I need to check in on something.” She waved over the server and informed him they would be leaving. He had her sign something and he cleared the table.

Graven got up and moved around to pull out Ziona’s chair. He looked up at me, knowing from this angle she wouldn’t notice his distraction. He smiled and winked at me.

She didn’t deserve to be treated with such respect and chivalry. He must have had a plan up his sleeve. As she got to her feet and led the way out of the restaurant, I just stood there. I couldn’t bring myself to follow them. I had seen enough.

I TOOK A breath and just looked around the empty restaurant. It was hard to digest seeing Graven walk out with Ziona. I certainly had no claim to him, but jealousy plagued me nonetheless.

I again felt as alone as I truly was.

My mind wandered, thinking about my bleak situation. Replaying what I just witnessed, a jolt of worry shot over me. I was so worried about myself and my sudden intense attachment to Graven that I almost missed the topic they headed off to discuss.

Graven knew nothing about my connection or relationship with Patience. I could only assume she was one of the “pesky story keepers” he referred to. How many story keepers could there be out there?

Now I regretted my decision to not tell him she was out there trying to help me—the only friend I had. Gram’s advice to not trust anyone might be the one thing that actually put Patience and her family in danger.

My thoughts of Patience were so strong that before I consciously decided I needed to find her, I was already standing in her kitchen.

She and Phaela sat at the table, sipping on some herbal concoction while turning the pages of ancient books. Worry was plastered all over Patience’s face.

“Kasha!” Phaela exclaimed. She looked surprised to see me.

Axel was still nowhere in sight. I always pictured him and Patience to be inseparable, but I couldn’t remember the last time I saw him. Probably at The Flea. There was a nagging voice in my head suggesting a need to speak with Patience in private. I needed to find a way for Phaela to communicate my mistrust of the situation without actually coming out and saying it directly in front of her.

I conjured a smile. “Hi. How are you lovely ladies doing?”

“You seem chipper. How are you doing dear?” Phaela asked.

“Honestly, I’m okay. My body’s healing. I’m just trying to get out and keep my mind off of my desperate situation. How about over here? Have you found any new information that can help me escape my impending doom?”

“No, dear, we have made no new discoveries since our last meeting,” replied Phaela.

“Can you please tell Patience that I miss her? It’s frustrating that she can’t see and hear me. I wish we could just sit and share a scone and a cup of black lightning.”

“Sure, sweetheart.” Phaela looked upon me with sadness in her eyes, probably knowing there was a distinct possibility that would never happen.

Phaela relayed my words almost verbatim to her sister. I hoped Patience would be able to read between the lines. The last time she and I found each other in the astral plane, it was outside my favorite coffee spot. I knew she wouldn’t forget that encounter. I was pretty rude dashing off after some guy in the middle of her talking to me.

Patience smiled, looking off at nothing in particular. “Oh, darling Kasha, we will be able to catch up and relax before you know it. Things seem like they can’t get much worse, but I know you have greatness inside you. You have a destiny that awaits you.”

“Tell her I said thank you. I’m trying to stay hopeful. It’s hard to have faith in things I cannot even begin to wrap my mind around.

“I’m here to try and focus on the positive. I could be trapped in that cage of darkness with no escape at all. I figured I would just get out in astral form because I can. Lucky for me I have this gift of projection. I might just go sit on the beach or at the top of a mountain and just enjoy the view for a bit before I’m thrust back into another horror scene.”

“That is a great attitude to have. We will keep up with our reading and researching.” Phaela tapped her hand on one of the closed books sitting on the round tattered table. “Since we do not have a way to contact you, make sure you keep checking in, in case we find something useful.”

Phaela put her hand on Patience’s shoulder. “We are here for you.”

Patience started to rub her little back and gave a big stretch in her chair. “I am beat. I need to take a short break to charge my battery. Forgive me, but I have to lie down. This old thing tuckers out faster than I used to.”

I giggled a little. Phaela nodded in understanding.

“I guess that’s my cue to take off. Thank you both for believing in me.”

I WENT STRAIGHT to the area by the coffee shop in hopes that Patience got my message. I didn’t know how much time I had before I would have a visitor back at Ziona’s. The thought turned my stomach and I couldn’t bear to let my mind even start to imagine what Graven and Ziona were doing.

I decided to try and hang around for as long as I could. Who knows? Maybe I would get lucky and Kaden would pop in for a refreshment. I would certainly find it invigorating to see his delicious face. While I was waiting for Patience, I considered dipping inside to make sure he wasn’t in there.

I didn’t know how much time passed by while I was projecting, but it felt like I’d been there forever. After pacing around a while, I decided to park my caboose by the fresh herb planters just off to the left of the front door.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pearly shimmer approaching me.
Finally!
A wave of relief came over me when I realized she got my message.

“Patience!” I hurried to her and wrapped my arms around her. It was a strange sensation—like hugging a giant blob of gelatin charged with loving energy.

“Hi.” Her laugh was gentle and almost childlike. “It’s nice to see you too. I am glad you’re here. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining that you were hinting for me to come here.”

I felt a burst of energy knowing I was able to connect with her at that level. I had so much I wanted to talk to her about.
Graven…