Cross Waves, page 12
Geneva raised her brows. “You’re letting me go? After you nearly killed me this morning?”
“Yes, well, that was unfortunate. Clearly, you didn’t respond well to our tests. I would have preferred to keep you here for observation, but the CMU has ordered your release. You’re free to leave.”
Grimshaw detached the paper from the clipboard and handed it to her. “Here. Take this to the front desk. They’ll give you your personal items.”
She glanced at the scrawling handwriting on the release form.
“Is something the matter, Geneva?”
“Yes, I mean, no, I’m fine. But…does this mean I passed the examination? That I have control of my talent? Should I no longer be afraid of getting lost in colors when I track someone’s energy?”
“You were paired with a dark master. The incidents you experienced were triggered by your partner’s dark energy and magnified—by the vortex you visited and later through the use of crystals. Given the unusual circumstances, it’s my evaluation that you have yourself under control and aren’t a threat. Would you agree?”
“Of course, she’s not a threat,” Julia said. “I’ve known her forever and lived with her for four years. She’s never been a threat.”
Mauve and crimson streams of color swirled in front of Geneva. Julia’s anxiety mixed with the doctor’s regret. He didn’t want to let her go. And yet he did. Why?
She focused on Dr. Grimshaw. “What did they look like…the people who took Rolf?”
Grimshaw twisted his lips. “You’re not planning to do any sleuthing on your own, are you? That would be foolish. Very, very foolish. The CMU might reverse its decision. You might find yourself in a four-foot cell.”
Geneva refused to let his warning scare her. “You must have seen them. Were they hackers?”
Grimshaw narrowed his beetle brows. “Shall I call a guard to escort you back to the green ward?”
She shook her head. Challenging Dr. Grimshaw would not help her find Rolf. It’d only get her more of the doctor’s tests. “No, that won’t be necessary.”
“We’re leaving,” Julia said. “I’ll see that Geneva gets home safely. Thank you, Dr. Grimshaw.” Julia motioned in front of them.
Geneva followed but couldn’t stop from turning to observe the color surrounding the doctor—dark rays of mauve. Deep regret. Why did he let her go?
He gave her a skeleton smile. “Goodbye, Geneva. Let’s not have further incidents, shall we? I’d rather not see you back here. Next time, we might not survive.”
Was that a warning? What was Grimshaw capable of?
21
Crystals
“What are you doing here? Where am I?” Rolf had recovered from his earlier shock.
There was a click, and light flooded the room, blinding him. Rolf closed his eyes and opened them, squinting until his eyes adjusted. Cynthia looked down on him like some sort of avenging angel, her platinum hair circling her head in a shiny halo. His thoughts spun and shifted from one thought to the next.
He cast his gaze around what he could see of his surroundings. It appeared to be a laboratory of sorts. Shiny instruments lay on a skinny table, along with a microscope and some sort of clear fluid in a series of test tubes. His eyes caught and rested on a row of gems, lying on a blue cloth. Light reflected off their surface, giving them a translucent glow. Crystals. His gaze met Cynthia’s. She smiled.
“Yes, they’re crystals. They’ve been fabricated to absorb extreme amounts of energy. Your energy. You’re in a government-run testing facility, Rolf. You have unique abilities that could be lethal to the general population. The government will conduct a series of tests, and if you cooperate, you could be released in a week.”
He studied the crystals. They appeared to be ordinary stones. “And if I don’t cooperate?”
“That’s why I’m here.” She ran one ruby-frosted nail through his hair.
Was Cynthia threatening him? Was this payback because he’d rejected her advances? She’d made no secret of her attraction to him when he’d been ordered to protect her, inviting him home on several occasions. She was a news reporter, not a trainer. She possessed no psychic talent. What did she plan to do to him now, stab him with her pretty nails?
He might have laughed out loud if her touch didn’t make him lightheaded. Did she think he’d participate in some ridiculous government tests of his talent? Fat chance. Dark energy rushed from his gut to the tips of his fingers. Cold seeped into his bones. A low growl escaped from his throat before he could contain it. “What do you mean?”
Cynthia ignored the question, continuing to run a hand through the hair on his forehead, her fingers cool on his hot skin. They seemed to burn their way into his brain. His stomach took a nosedive. What was happening? He squinted at her, but the angel impression remained. The glow surrounding her was real and not some figment of his imagination. Crap.
Above him, Cynthia smiled. “Like you, I also have unique abilities. From time to time, in situations like these, my talents are needed. Now lie still. This will only take a moment.”
Rage, thick and furious, clawed at his mind, seeking escape. No way in hell would he be the government’s science experiment. He didn’t want to unleash the monster inside him. But if it gained his release, so be it. He wouldn’t lie here one second more.
He took a breath and let the dark energy infiltrate his body. Power, thick and heady, surged through his veins seeking to blot out the enemy. For the first time in a long while, he let the dark energy flow through and out of him. It rushed through cold fingers, flooding into the room and canceling out every speck of light it came in contact with, absorbing each molecule of energy.
Pshhhhzing. The bonds holding him stretched and broke. If he were to look into a mirror, he knew what he’d see. His blue eyes would be large and black. Merciless. As merciless as the rage that filled his heart.
He stood, focusing on Cynthia and the odd light surrounding her. She looked radiant. A strange thought to have in the moment. But it was true. The dark energy didn’t cover her—didn’t absorb her light. Instead, it reflected off her. She raised her left hand and shattered the dark energy into a brilliant display of every color in the spectrum.
His legs buckled, and he tottered forward but managed to stay on his feet. She moved toward him as if she’d done nothing. “Yes, my dear Rolf. Dark energy is useless around me. A strange talent to be sure, but it comes in handy at times. Now sit.”
Cynthia tapped one rainbow-tipped finger on his nose, eliminating the remainder of the dark energy in the room.
He sat.
“Peter says Rolf’s being held at a maximum-security center. It’s top secret. Even Peter doesn’t know the details.” Geneva pocketed her cell phone and dragged her suitcase behind her. The CMU feared those with dark energy. No one talked about them much, but she’d heard the rumors. Stories of dark masters who’d go on killing sprees before they were rounded up and killed by agents who specialized in that sort of thing.
She and Julia left the Institution, pausing outside in the parking lot to wait for an Uber. They’d booked rooms for the night at a nearby hotel because their flight back to Cleveland didn’t depart until the next day. Percy had gone ahead earlier but promised to meet them in the hotel lobby bar. Geneva had a few questions for him.
She took a swig from the water bottle she carried with her. My God, it was hot. She felt so helpless. Where was Rolf being held? Chicago? Or perhaps someplace else, someplace far away, someplace she’d not think to look. She pictured him as she’d last seen him, worried for her and protective. He’d not wanted to leave her side, but he’d done it when she asked him. And then he’d somehow heard her cry for help and saved her, knowing it would expose his secret. The government had locked him away somewhere…alone, possibly suffering and worried. She pulled her T-shirt away from her body, but it didn’t cool her.
Across from her, Julia’s dark eyes radiated concern. Her aura took on a dull red cast. “Why are they holding him?”
“The CMU knows Rolf channeled dark energy—Dr. Grimshaw reported it. They’re having him tested. Peter doesn’t think he’s being held at Corvey, though, since we’re here. That leaves any number of other government testing centers. The CMU has facilities all over the country. Until the tests are complete and it’s determined he’s not a threat, I’m being paired with your cousin Roland.”
Geneva had never been one to pace, but the movement helped to relieve the increasing pressure inside her. She needed action. Needed to get out of this relentless heat and find Rolf, wherever they’d taken him. Needed to reassure herself he was okay. Needed time alone to analyze and come to terms with her feelings for him.
She gestured toward the Uber car pulling into the parking lot. Ruby-red color followed her movements. “Let’s get to the hotel and talk to Percy. We need to figure out where they’ve taken Rolf. We must find him.”
Julia placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Think, Geneva. Even if we discover where he’s being held, you know he’ll be guarded. We’d need help to get to him, let alone find a way to escape.”
Geneva studied her friend, weighing the logic of her words. She released a shaky breath. Julia was right. She waved a sweaty palm, dispelling the sea of red in front of her.
“Have you tried to talk to him? You may not be linked, but you share a special bond. He knew you were in trouble. Do you feel anything? Anything at all?”
Geneva squinted at the colored air in front of her. According to Dr. Grimshaw, it was safe for her to use her talent. She took a breath to settle her mind, then closed her eyes and opened her senses. Colors seeped into her mind. Blues, yellows, reds, pinks, oranges, greens. She sorted through each shade, looking for Rolf’s energy. Lime, aqua, teal, and forest, but none of the deep green that resonated with Rolf. Rolf was no longer in Chicago.
She opened her eyes and shook her head. Nothing. She clenched her fists to keep her aching despair from exploding out of her. “He’s not here.” Her insides ached, and she shivered, unable to stop a small amount of energy from escaping. It shimmered in front of her until she sucked what she could inside with her next breath.
Julia stamped on a small fire igniting next to her foot. The heat, combined with the massive amount of energy surrounding them, proved to be a combustible combination. She grasped Geneva’s shoulders. “Snap out of it. Rolf needs you. Dark energy or not, he’s a good man. He saved your life. He cares about you.”
Geneva blinked, unclenching her fists. She breathed in the unique scent of dry air and hot asphalt to help regain her composure. She took another slow breath and another. Her heartbeat settled, pumping out a reassuring rhythm. Next to her, Julia dropped her hands to her side.
“He was here a few hours ago. Could they have moved him out of state that fast?” Julia asked.
Geneva straightened, defying the fear coursing through her body. “Anything is possible. It’s the U.S. government. They have unlimited resources.” She tapped her friend on the arm, letting her know without words she had herself under control. “Let’s collect your stuff and figure out what to do next. I’ll let Peter know Rolf’s not in Chicago. We’ll recruit Percy to help us find Rolf.”
They moved toward the driver, who’d pulled up at the curb. They would find Rolf, wherever he was being held, she vowed. And when she did, she’d stun his captors with one hell of an explosion or anything else she needed to do to save him.
22
Percy
The Uber driver dropped them at Julia’s hotel to regroup and talk to Percy. As expected, they found him at the bar nursing a beer.
“You’ve heard from Peter?” Julia asked, taking the seat to the left of him.
Geneva grabbed the one on the right and ordered an iced tea. She’d avoided alcohol ever since the “bar incident,” which was what she called the night Rolf had saved her from a drunken brawl, kissed her, then sent her home like a child. Alcohol dulled her senses, stripped her control, and made her dangerous. She could never lose herself in a drink like the majority of the population.
“Yeah.” Percy scrunched his face and stared into his glass as if it held answers. His aura shimmered a dull red, then gray.
“What’s wrong?” Julia asked.
Geneva relaxed into the stool and sipped the tea the bartender deposited in front of her. If she wasn’t mistaken, Percy was about to make a confession.
“I made a mistake.” He glanced at Geneva, biting the corner of his lip, and then back to his beer.
“Does this have anything to do with the crystals we were sent to recover?” Julia asked.
“Yeah.”
“Do they even exist?” Geneva wrapped her fingers around her glass.
“A few exist. I’ve held them. I was told there are more. They’re worth a ton of money. If we’d found them, I would’ve earned a large finder’s fee. A fortune. I could have quit my job. Never have to work another day in my life.”
“You were working with someone on the side?”
Percy hung his head like a dog who was caught in the act of eating the Thanksgiving turkey. “Yeah. I’m sorry. I had no idea he would drug and kidnap us. That wasn’t part of the deal.”
Geneva caught Percy’s eyes. Her next question was important, and she wanted to make sure he told the truth. “What do you know about where the government’s taken Rolf?”
Percy blinked. “I don’t. I swear it. I’m clueless.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his neck. He looked around the bar and lowered his voice to a whisper. Geneva had to strain to catch his next words. “I don’t care how many crystals there are. I never want to see the damn things again. But I don’t trust the guy I was working for. Calls himself the Gemcatcher. He’s dangerous.”
“Who is he?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never met the man in person.”
“How did you hook up with him?”
Percy lowered his head. “On a blog post. I’d heard about the legend of the crystals from my cousin David. I researched the topic. That’s when I ran across Gemcatcher. He claimed to have discovered a few and was advertising a large finder’s fee to locate the rest on a website dedicated to investigating ancient gems. You know I’ve a special talent for finding lost objects. I figured maybe I’d track them. I needed the money. I’d…accrued some debts.”
Percy paused and took a sip of his beer. His hand trembled. “I’m not stupid, you know. On a video call, I made him show me the crystals he claimed to have found. He only had a handful. Had them hidden in a safe. One of them contained illusion energy. Two of them had never been charged and were capable of storing our energy. I don’t know where he got the illusion stone or how the energy got into it. He claimed he found it that way. Said he’d figured out how to manufacture synthetic crystals, too, but they needed to be tested to see if they worked.”
Percy turned to Julia, who had both hands under her chin. “When you contacted me about partnering with you to find the crystals, I figured I’d gotten lucky. I’d help you find the crystals, and in return, I could make a little money on the side. The Gemcatcher said the crystals would be worth millions to hackers outside the U.S.”
“You’re slime,” Julia said. “You should have told me.”
Percy hung his head. “I didn’t know he’d almost kill Geneva. I agreed because I know how loyal you both are to the CMU. I knew you’d never cooperate otherwise.”
“Go on,” Geneva said.
“Peter knew I was good at finding lost objects. When Julia started dreaming about them and asking questions, he told me she wanted me to join her on the mission.” Percy looked to Julia. “I did plan to help you. I swear it. I just needed the money. I figured you wouldn’t need all the stones if we discovered more existed. I would keep some to sell to my new acquaintance. We’d both get what we wanted. Now I wish I’d never laid eyes on them.”
Geneva slid off the barstool and grabbed her purse. She tapped Percy on the shoulder, careful to block her energy. “You do know what this means, don’t you?”
“No, what?”
“Since you’re good at finding things, you’re going to help us find Rolf.”
What the hell had Cynthia done to him? Rolf dropped his head into his hands and took a few shallow breaths. One touch, and she’d drained his energy. My God, how come he’d had no idea she was one of them? And a beacon? Why hadn’t Peter told him? He’d been assigned to protect the woman, for God’s sake, and still he hadn’t guessed. How could that be?”
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”
“You work for the government?”
Cynthia gave him a throaty chuckle. “Of course not. I’m a news reporter. What would I be doing with the government?”
“Why are you here? What do you want from me?”
Cynthia plucked the long syringe from the table and pushed the plunger to remove any air bubbles. She shook her head and frowned, marring the smooth lines of her face. “You hackers are all the same. So intent on your mission, you miss what’s right underneath your cute little noses.”
Rolf eyed her. She came toward his bed, determination in her expression. She stopped in front of him. Rolf blinked. Her smile blended with her blonde prettiness and the strange glow surrounding her. “In the ordinary course of events, I would want nothing but your sexy self. I’m not ashamed to admit I am…attracted to you.” She laughed again and ran a hand along his arm, squeezing his biceps. She seemed to be enjoying herself. “I love strong, confident men. I believed your lack of interest stemmed from her…well, let’s just say my invitation still stands. But now I need more. Your talent for dark energy has made you extremely useful to me. Lie still, darling. This will be over before you know it.”
Her? Who was she referring to? He tried to lift his arms, but they remained at his sides, useless appendages. Weak. What was he forgetting? Her. He gasped. Pain sliced his forehead. The agony was so intense, he barely felt the sting of the needle.
