Cross Waves, page 11
Geneva rubbed her eyes, blocking out the colors gathering in front of her. “What happened to me?” She blinked at Julia. The red color strengthened, overcoming the violet.
Julia approached, her eyes narrowed in concern. “Rolf—he saved you. But he was steaming mad Dr. Grimshaw left you alone. They went off somewhere to talk and have been holed up together ever since. While you were out, Percy and I were released from care. Once we knew you would recover, the nurses brought you to this room so you’d be more comfortable, and I’ve been with you ever since.” She placed a hand on Geneva’s forehead. “You’re still warm, but much better than earlier. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” Geneva pulled the blanket off her overheated body. “I need to find Rolf.” She made no move, however, to slip out of bed. Whatever had happened had almost fried her. She’d take her time getting up. She glanced at Julia, who clutched her hands in front of her. “Julia, you need to tell me what happened—why are you so frightened?”
“Do you remember being with Dr. Grimshaw—losing control?” Julia deflected with a question of her own.
Geneva ran a hand through her hair and tugged, as if it could help her remember. She’d been talking to Grimshaw—he’d wanted her to do something—something she shouldn’t. He’d given her a shot. Some drug. Whatever it was had unlocked her full power. Oh God. She groaned, covering her face with her hands. What have I done?
Energy rushed toward her from the four corners of the room. She drew in deep breaths and met the waves with mental imagery. She imagined herself a rock, steady and unchangeable. Waves of energy crashed into the rock but couldn’t penetrate its hard surface. Her pulse softened, slowed. She removed her hands from her face. “Grimshaw gave me some sort of shot. It must have erased my memories. I called for Rolf, and he…he—Julia, I’m worried. For Rolf.” A dark, depressing heaviness covered her. “Something’s wrong—I think Rolf is gone from here. We need to find him. Now.”
She took a deep breath and pushed herself up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. The room spun, coming in and out of her vision like she looked through a bad set of binoculars. She lowered her head and closed her eyes. “I may need a minute.”
“I’ll go look for him. You stay here and rest.”
“No. I can’t. Not if Rolf’s in trouble.”
Julia placed a cool hand on the back of Geneva’s neck, soothing her aching head.
Geneva opened her eyes and breathed deep. “Tell me about the crystals. Do you know where they come from?”
“I’m not certain. I’m not even sure any more exist.” Julia got up, turned on the light, and fetched Geneva’s clothes from the previous day. “You’ll feel better once you get out of that hospital gown.”
Geneva held out a hand for her clothes, but Julia ignored it. Instead, she crouched in front of her and held the shorts out so Geneva could slide into them, first one leg and then the other.
Geneva’s head thumped with every movement. God, she hated the recovery period that followed overuse of her talent. “More crystals exist, all right. David had one. I never did learn where he got it.”
“Where is it now? Here let me help you.” Julia slipped Geneva’s T-shirt over her head.
“He hung on to it, I suppose. Once it served its purpose, it could no longer be used. It didn’t look like anything special—a red, heart-shaped piece of glass. At the time, I thought him crazy. But it worked. He stored her memories, and later, when her brain was pretty much wiped, he gave them back to her. He saved her life. What I want to know is how?”
“I’m not sure.” Violet energy sparked with gray.
Geneva stilled. “Don’t keep secrets. Not from me.”
Julia sighed and handed Geneva her sandals. “You and your psychic antennae. I’m not sure of anything anymore.”
She twisted so her back was facing Geneva, the play of violet and gray in her aura at odds with her statement. Her aura shifted, becoming a solid hue once again. Geneva waited for the truth to emerge. Her friend was not good at secrets.
Julia turned, two red spots high on her cheeks. “I’ve been having dreams again. You know how it is.”
Geneva schooled her features. “About my mother. I know. Peter mentioned it when he sent us to find you. That’s why you didn’t tell me what you were doing. You didn’t want to upset me if your dream turned out to be a false lead.”
Julia twisted her hands. “That’s right. A man in my dream told me there were more crystals in Arizona. That if I searched for them, I might find your mother’s killer. And then Percy got a tip the missing crystals were at the gem show. The last thing I remember, we were on our way to the airport. I’m sorry you and Rolf had to come after us.”
Geneva didn’t move. Many in their world thought dream talents were a teensy bit crazy. She knew better than to give a reaction that might be misinterpreted. Not if she wanted to learn what had Julia so alarmed. “What about the man in your dream?”
“He’s a fantasy; he’s not real. He calls himself Caleb. He comes into my dreams whenever I or someone I love is in danger.”
“And?”
“He warned me you were in grave danger. Said there were more crystals that could be used in ways not intended. I didn’t know whether to believe him, but he’s been right before. I was worried for you. He told me that Percy was onto something. I thought if I worked with Percy to find the other crystals, it might lead me to your mother’s killer. Instead, the bad guys found us, stored our talent in crystals, and then wiped our minds so we have no memory of them. At least that’s what I’m told happened.”
Geneva stood. The room no longer spun. “Is that what Rolf used to save me? A crystal?”
Julia opened her mouth, her aura reflecting more gray than violet. “I don’t know how he did it.”
Lies again. What was going on? Julia never lied to her. Unless she protected someone. Someone she loved.
Geneva moved forward. “I know you love your brother. But I can’t help him unless you tell me the truth. What did Rolf do to save me?”
“He— Oh God.” Julia turned, covering her face with her hands. Her dark hair spread over them, as if they, too, could conceal the truth. Her muffled voice had Geneva straining to hear. “He channeled it, the dark energy.”
Geneva stilled. Impossible. She couldn’t have heard correctly.
Julia raised her head, her eyes pooling and glistening with unshed tears. “I never suspected. He never let on.”
Geneva filled her lungs and tried to move, but her legs were bolted to the floor. “You must be mistaken.”
“No, I’m not. I’m still having trouble believing it myself. But I saw what he did. He pulled the dark waves out of you. He took them inside himself.”
Geneva’s legs half-collapsed under her, and she fell to the bed, her heart stopping and stuttering. She fisted her hands in the blanket. My God, how had she not known? “He never told me.”
Pain bubbled up from the empty shell that was her heart, piercing her lungs. The blood in her veins went from hot to cold in an instant, freezing what remained of her insides.
“I’m as floored as you.” Julia sat next to her and curled an arm around her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Geneva.”
She should have known. There had been clues if she’d only paid more attention. The secret he refused to tell her in the dream she’d been thrown into at his cabin in Flagstaff. How women seemed to fall over themselves to be near him. How he tempted her at every turn. How he never feared her power like the others. The flashes of dark light she sometimes thought she saw around him.
She tightened her fingers around the bedding as if it could keep her insides from coming apart. Keep the frozen pieces from shattering into a million tiny slivers.
Every story she’d heard, every manual she’d read said dark masters were dangerous. There was always the risk the dark energy would consume the master, forcing death and destruction on anyone in their path. No woman with any sense would fall for a dark master.
Legend had it they could not love.
Her heartbeat raced, loosening her hard-fought control. A rainbow of colors swirled in front of her. A single thought replayed in her mind. They cannot love. They cannot love. They cannot love.
I love him.
The truth exploded in her head like a grenade. A glass on a nearby table popped and shattered. A rumbling shook the air. She sucked in a shallow breath. Hadn’t she always loved him?
My God, she should have known. She understood so much now. Why he pushed her away from him. Why he always seemed so remote.
Julia grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Take it easy now. Deep breaths. We’ll get through this.”
Geneva willed her mind to a blank, which was kind of like putting a small, wet blanket over a forest fire. Her feelings could never be returned. Rolf could not love another. Energy shimmered in the air, begging for release.
“Are you linked?”
She shook her head, careful to avoid sudden movement. A dangerous amount of energy danced before her eyes. “No.”
“How is it you each seem to know when the other is hurt, then?”
Breathe. One, two, three. Breathe. “I don’t know.”
“Geneva, Rolf isn’t a monster. He cares for you. I know he does. He saved your life.”
One, two, three. Breathe. “Yes.”
“And you have feelings for him, too, don’t you?”
Geneva unraveled the first energy ball until it dissolved. “Yes.”
Julia wrapped an arm around her. “I dreamed of a wedding. Yours and Rolf’s. Nonna always said your lives are intertwined.”
Geneva removed herself from Julia’s embrace. She stood, eliminating the remaining ball of energy in front of her with a careless flick of her fingers. Rolf could never love her. No wedding dream or odd remark from Nonna could change that fact. “He must be here somewhere. We have to find him.”
Julia tugged on her arm. “Geneva, what are you thinking? You can’t chase after Rolf. You nearly died today. You need to rest. I’ll go.”
“No way will I lie here when Rolf’s in trouble. Stand back.”
She pulled energy from the room and focused on the door lock. A sharp crack sounded. Geneva twisted the knob, and the door opened. She could lose her job and be permanently incarcerated for this, but it didn’t matter. Rolf was in trouble. She wouldn’t stay in this room while he was in danger.
She didn’t wait to see if Julia followed.
20
Kidnapped
The biting pain woke him. Rolf gasped, trying to remember how he got here. He lay on a cot—he could feel the thin mattress under him and the bedding with his fingers. He tried to move, but his wrists and ankles were bound with some sort of canvas strap. This was not happening.
Where am I? A familiar darkness swirled inside him, threatening his control. He strained to see in the dark room, but whatever it was holding him prevented movements left or right. What the hell? Some small noise alerted him to another’s presence. “Who’s there?” His raspy voice sounded strange to his own ears. Did he smoke? He couldn’t recall.
“Don’t try to move,” a woman’s voice called out. “It will only hurt more.”
“Who are you?” His eyes swept the space in front of him but could not make out a shape.
“I’m not sure. They never told me.” The voice moved closer.
“They never—you don’t have a name?”
“No. I thought maybe I had one, but I can’t remember. Do you know your name?”
“Of course, I’m—” Stinging pain lanced his forehead, causing him to close his eyes and clench his fists. I don’t remember. I don’t remember my own name. He had one. That much he was certain. What was it?
Cool hands touched his forehead. “Don’t try to remember. It’s easier. Less painful.”
He opened his eyes. “Why is it so dark? Why can’t I see you?”
“The darkness deadens our abilities. When they need them, they’re stronger.”
“Deadens our…” That was it. The strange ripple inside him. The constant battle he fought to not let the dark energy consume him. This, at least, was familiar. He could not let the darkness out, or it would…what would it do? He gasped. Once again, pain sliced into his skull.
“Try and rest. After the exercise tomorrow, I shouldn’t be exhausted. I might be able to take the pain away for a spell in exchange for conversation. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone to talk to.”
“You can take the pain away?” He latched onto her words.
“Yes, for a little while.”
“Do you have anything to loosen these straps? My hands are tied.”
“Try to stay still. And don’t think. It’s the thinking that makes the pain worse. They don’t want you to remember.”
Not remember? What didn’t they want him to remember? And who were they? He didn’t recall speaking, but he voiced his thoughts aloud because the woman answered like he had.
“The government, of course.” The woman felt for his hands, caressing the straps that bit into his skin. “What’s your talent? You must be dangerous for them to bind you like this.”
My talent? Dark energy rose in the pit of his belly, a lethal gas seeking escape. He gritted his teeth, forcing the energy inward. When he didn’t speak, the woman continued. Her cool voice washed over him, calming the seething waves.
“You should sleep while you can. You’ll need to conserve your strength to meet their demands.”
“What do you mean? What do they want from us?”
“Our talent. They want our talent. They can’t take all of it, though. If they did, they’d kill us.”
The woman laughed, a high tinkling laugh. Is she crazy? Being in this blackness day in and day out would drive anyone crazy. He cleared his throat. “How long have you been in here?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. A while, I think.”
“How are you able to move around in the dark so easily?”
“I’ve memorized the room.”
The cot shifted with her weight as she sat next to him. The feather-light touch of her fingers stroked his hair.
“Why aren’t your hands bound?”
“They used to be. When they first brought me here. I tried to escape and they hurt me. They took the straps off.”
“You never tried to escape again?”
“No.” The woman’s voice sounded low and stiff, as if she feared her kidnappers would leap out from the darkness and torture her for speaking. “I don’t try to escape. I don’t like to remember anymore. They killed my brother. He went mad.”
He stiffened. “Your brother…? Did they torture him?”
She sighed and stood again, as if his words disturbed her. Her voice moved away from him. “I don’t know. That’s all I ever remembered. Trying to remember anything more is painful. I’d prefer to forget.”
“Where are you going?” Irrational fear slammed into his gut, disturbing the dark energy. “Don’t go, please.”
“They’re coming. It’s time.”
Panic hit him with the force of a sledgehammer. Adrenaline flooded his system. He had to get out of here. The hair on his arms rose. Dark energy moved in his belly. A door opened, followed by a blinding light. He closed his eyes then reopened them, squinting. A woman stood over his bedside. Her golden hair and heart-shaped face struck a familiar chord. Who was she?
“Hello, Rolf.” The woman’s lips curved into a dazzling Marilyn Monroe smile. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember me.”
Rolf! Yes, that was his name. He blinked at the vision in front of him. How did she know it?
“Oh, come now, Rolf. Shall I jog your memory?”
A knifepoint of pain shot into his temples, forcing his eyes closed. Don’t try to remember. It’s easier. The earlier woman’s words echoed in his head.
Warm breath landed on his cheek. Firm lips touched his. A memory struck with blinding clarity. Cynthia Torra? He turned his face away and gasped, clenching his fists, unable to deaden the jackhammer pounding into his brain. He was dreaming. Or was he mad?
When he raised his head, she smiled, her expression triumphant. “I knew the kiss would do it.”
Geneva kept a brisk pace through the corridors of the vast institute, searching every room she passed for Rolf. Soft footsteps trailed hers. Julia.
Fear was her companion, driving her forward with each step. By the time she found Dr. Grimshaw, the energy around her body had reached alarming levels.
Grimshaw was in the far west wing. She suspected it housed severe cases based on the ugly combination of sienna and bright pink streaming from the walls. He’d probably been visiting a patient, because he held a clipboard in his hands.
“Where is he?” She didn’t waste time on pleasantries.
Grimshaw didn’t pretend to not know who she meant, although she could tell by his aura he wanted to. “Good to see you’ve recovered from your little episode. If you’re speaking of your partner, he’s not here.”
“Where did you send him?” Pencils rattled in a canister on a desk nearby.
“Calm yourself, my dear. Must I remind you, you’re breaking CMU rules leaving your room and being here right now? I didn’t send him anywhere. Government officials came. He’s out of my league. I don’t manage the dark ones.”
“Rolf isn’t a threat.” Energy vibrated in the air around her. She waved her hands in a futile attempt to dispel it. “He’s not dangerous. He used dark energy to save me. He would never have done it otherwise. Where have they taken him?”
Grimshaw’s fish eyes watched her, blinking rapidly. Julia placed a firm hand on her arm and squeezed, drawing Geneva to her side, communicating a silent message. She must stay calm. If she didn’t, Dr. Grimshaw could label her a threat and lock her away forever. Geneva forced air into her lungs, scattering the seething energy surrounding her.
“I don’t know.” Grimshaw pursed his lips and scribbled something on the clipboard. “They wouldn’t release that information. You, however, are free to go. I’ve signed your paperwork.”
