Cross Waves, page 19
She drew in air to argue, and he raised a hand to silence her. He gestured to Danny. “Let’s go.”
They walked to the door, but Nate paused and turned. “Listen, Geneva. If Jorgensen contacts you again, we need to know. Understood?”
She sighed and sat on the bed as weariness took over. What good would it do to argue? She rolled her head in a slight motion, which she supposed Nate interpreted as agreement because he didn’t press her.
“Try not to worry about Julia. Get some rest, and Danny will be over first thing in the morning to check on both of you. You’ll be safe here—the door will lock behind me. It’s a special door, impervious to the use of your talent, so don’t try to force it. We don’t want anyone going out or in.”
She opened her mouth to protest and shut it again. The click of the lock reverberated in the small space.
35
Puzzle Pieces
My God, her brothers had locked her in this room like a prisoner. Could she blame them? They believed she had lost her reason and would open the door for Rolf if he managed to get by the staff. And perhaps they were right. She didn’t quite know what she would do.
“Rolf, are you there?” Geneva wasted little time attempting to contact Rolf. Where had he gone after their brief discussion?
She waited, her stomach twisting. Silence. Maybe he’d been re-captured by whoever held him. Maybe she’d imagined his familiar, cool voice in her head. Maybe it had all been wishful thinking or a trap.
She put on her PJs, removed her makeup, brushed her teeth, turned off the light, and slipped into bed. The normal routine calmed her fears. But even with her eyes closed, she couldn’t erase the image of Rolf as she’d last seen him in Coffersations. His soulless eyes tore her heart from her chest and ripped it in two. What if Rolf tricked her? What if he lied to earn her trust, so he could kill both his girlfriend and his sister in one swoop?
Geneva rolled over and punched her pillow before falling into a fitful sleep. A few hours later, she woke to—what? She opened her eyes, got up, and turned on the bedside lamp. Something disturbed her psychic senses, interrupting her dreams. She turned toward the corner, her gaze sweeping the room—the door, the dresser, the nightstand. Her eyes returned to the corner to the right of the window before moving on. Nothing. Her imagination. She sunk onto the bed.
A glimmer caught her eye. A green light in the shape of a man materialized and stepped through the wall, shimmering in the corner. Adrenaline tunneled through her body, and she backed against the headboard. Who the hell was it? Gemcatcher? But no. The hologram shifted, hardened, and took solid form. A man stood in front of her in his full physical form, gazing at her with a devil-may-care smile she’d recognize anywhere. “Holy shit! Rolf, is it really you?”
She scampered off the bed. He raised two fingers in a cocky salute and grinned.
Geneva expected to feel his anger or fear or madness, but calm reflected from the dark figure still giving off sparks of green energy.
“Yes. Sorry to startle you.” This wasn’t a disembodied voice in her mind but the real thing. He needed a haircut, a shave, and probably a shower, but otherwise—dear God, he looked good. She couldn’t remove her eyes from him. A warm wave of relief washed over her, followed by a rush of cold fear. Earlier today, Rolf had tried to kill her.
She would have stepped back, but the bed was behind her so instead, she sidled sideways toward the door. Rolf made no move to stop her but spoke out loud, his deep voice sending chills through her body.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“How are you doing this?”
He took a step toward her. “I’m not sure. It’s never happened before. At least, not that I recall. It’s the effect of the dark energy I’ve been forced to channel. Nonna told me this was possible. I didn’t believe her at the time.”
“Where did you come from?”
“Beneath your window.”
Geneva walked to the window, making a wide arc around Rolf and looked at the ground below. A tall figure shifted and lifted a face toward the window. Clouds parted, and the moon shone on a mane of golden hair. A woman. She gazed at Geneva, giving nothing away in her expression. Harsh yellow-green light drifted around her body. The color seemed familiar.
“Who is she?” Geneva whispered, putting a hand to her chest, as if the pressure could stop the jealous pang hitting her heart. Colors flew to her from every corner of the room. She wanted to absorb their energy and fling them at the woman beneath her window. Irrational. The woman wasn’t a threat.
Before she could do anything stupid, Geneva closed the window shade. She breathed in, using the meditation techniques she’d mastered years ago to slow her breathing and heartbeat. When she was convinced she had herself under control, she turned back to study Rolf, who lingered in the corner.
So what if Rolf traveled with a beautiful woman and was capable of transporting himself through walls? He lived. That’s what mattered. Except the CMU believed he’d turned from a good guy into a serial killer. Maybe his appearance in her room was an illusion meant to trick her. She crossed her arms. “What are you doing here?”
His aura shifted from green to mauve. Her words had caused him pain.
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m relieved to see you alive. You know I am. But why did you never tell me about your dark power?”
“I tried to tell you, remember? When we were in Flagstaff. Before then, I swore to keep it a secret. I never meant to use it.”
“How can I trust you? How do I know you’re not here to kill me?”
He sighed in response, and the sound carried such a wealth of weariness and heartache Geneva wanted to touch him. Instead, she took a step backward.
“I would never hurt you. You’re the only thing that kept me alive when I was trapped in the dark.”
“You were held against your will? How did you escape?”
“I distracted my jailer and took off.”
She filled her lungs and stared at the window. An odd choice of words, distracted. And his aura had shifted to a steel gray. Rolf didn’t want her to know the details of his escape. Why? She shifted her gaze back to Rolf. “How’s the bump on the back of your head?”
Rolf winced. “Bump? He touched the back of his head as if he remembered it for the first time. “It’s fine.”
“Who’s the lady with you?”
“Kaitlyn Girard.”
“Kaitlyn Girard? Isn’t she dead?”
He must have sensed her disbelief because his glowing figure drew closer. His voice softened, causing her to strain to hear him. “She was a prisoner like me. We depended on each other to escape. If not for her, I’d still be there, trapped in the dark.”
She cocked her head at the green in his aura, examining it for any hint of color revealing a lie.
He took another step toward her. His voice deepened. Flecks of purple light twinkled and disappeared. “What kept me from going stark raving mad was you.”
“Really?” She sucked in another deep breath. Sweat dampened her brow. Why was it so hot in here?
Although she’d seen Rolf this morning in Coffersations, he had been an illusion. They hadn’t spoken. Not like now. All she wanted was to fling herself into his warm energy and rejoice at his presence and these sweet, sweet words. But what if he had turned? Could she be certain he told the truth? Auras didn’t lie, she reminded herself. Still, Geneva sat on the side of the bed and clutched the mattress so she didn’t do something stupid. Like reach for him.
The green figure sat next to her. Sparks of energy surrounded her. Rolf raised a hand to turn her face toward his. His touch vibrated against her skin like the gentle hum of a low-powered electrical wire.
“Yes, really. You help me contain the dark.”
Geneva turned her face to the side.
“What’s the matter? Please don’t be afraid. I’d never hurt you. Ever.”
“I want to believe you.” Geneva turned toward him, alert to any change in his energy. “What happened in Coffersations last night? Who held you prisoner? And why?”
Rolf made a sound—a low rumble. “You aren’t going to like it.”
Geneva’s heartbeat accelerated; her muscles tightened. “Try me.”
He sighed but didn’t lower his eyes from hers. “Cynthia Torra.”
Geneva straightened and frowned, rising from the bed and moving toward the door. “Now that’s unbelievable. I mean of all the incredible events to transpire. Why would your ex-girlfriend hold you captive? Quit playing me. What the hell is going on, Rolf?”
Rolf followed, stopping when he reached her. “She’s not my ex-girlfriend. There’s only one woman for me. Ever. You, Geneva. I’m telling the truth.”
Why should she believe him? It all sounded so fantastical. The glass shook in the window behind her. “What would Cynthia hope to gain? Kidnapping is a serious offense.”
He grumbled. “Money. Power. I don’t know. She’s not acting alone.”
Geneva glanced his way and injected sarcasm into her voice. “Is that how she was able to kidnap you? A helper? Who was it? A hacker? Someone with extraordinary abilities who could knock you out?”
His hand fell away from her. “Please believe me. I need you on my side. I don’t have all the answers. But I’ll tell you what I do know. Cynthia’s working with a man. I don’t know who. I heard the man yelling when I broke free. He had a gun and fired at me. Have you ever been shot at?”
She frowned.
“No? Well, let me tell you, I didn’t wait around to figure out his identity. I sorta figured running away with a bullet in my side would make escape harder.”
“Rolf, you’re a dark master. How could anyone kidnap you?” Geneva watched Rolf’s aura for any change in color. It remained a steady, loyal green.
“I was drugged. Whatever was in it made it impossible to remember anything. Even my own name.”
“Did it prevent you from using your talent? Is that what happened?”
Rolf shook his head. “No. I kept my talent. They needed me to have it, you see, so it could be channeled into crystals they’ve fabricated. They’re selling the crystals to other countries for profit, as we suspected.”
Storing dark energy in crystals and selling them? Geneva’s legs shook. She returned to her bed and sat. Rolf followed her.
“Why couldn’t you stop them? Jesus Christ, it’s Cynthia Torra we’re talking about. She couldn’t hurt a fly.”
“She’s one of us.”
“She’s—what? What do you mean?”
“She’s got talent. Loads of it. She’s a beacon. One touch from her, and I was useless.”
“You mean to tell me she has the ability to stun you?”
Rolf gave a short nod.
Geneva stood tall. Fear froze her insides for an instant before her blood flowed, cutting a chugging iceberg toward her heart. The too-bright yellow light in the coffee shop. She knew it seemed familiar. Cynthia Torra’s aura, of course. Cynthia forced Rolf to use his talent against her and Julia. He’d tried to kill her. But he didn’t remember or know what he’d done. Maybe that’s what this late-night visit was all about? Cynthia was manipulating him now. Or maybe it was the woman below her window. What a fool she’d been.
Shivers erupted, shaking her small frame. A rushing sound formed in her ears. Her heart lunged forward and beat a rapid rhythm, urging her to take action. A crack of sound split the air. A giant fissure appeared in the mirror. She pointed to the window. “Get out of my room.”
Rolf held a hand toward her. “You have nothing to fear from me. I wasn’t in the coffee shop. I swear it.”
“You’re under Cynthia’s control, Rolf. You just don’t know it.”
Rolf approached her.
She held her hands out. “Don’t come any closer. Don’t make me hurt you.”
Rolf stopped. “I left Cynthia back in the Cleveland Flats in an abandoned factory. I’ve been on the run ever since. She’s not controlling me. If she were, I would’ve never escaped.”
“Maybe she let you escape. If she’s controlling you, she knows your thoughts. She would know what you planned. She would know you are here, in my room, wouldn’t she?”
She swiped one hand across her cheeks to stamp out the tears flooding her hot eyes. Peter had warned her Rolf was dangerous. Her family, too. She hadn’t wanted to believe them. Foolish, foolish, foolish girl. Now she’d be forced to stop him with the only means she had at her disposal.
She held up a hand. “Rolf, I love you. But if you don’t get the hell out of my room right now, I’ll be forced to make you leave. Don’t make me do it.”
Rolf remained immobile, but the color in his aura flared into a brilliant display of lime, yellow, and red. Joy, knowledge, worry. He tipped his head back and laughed. But it was not a happy laugh. This laugh sounded surprised and anxious and angry.
“Dammit, they’re good. Geneva, my love, I wasn’t at Coffersations. They didn’t need me—they had the crystals.”
36
Trust
“I’ll kill them for attacking you and Julia.” Rolf’s form rose large in her room, dominating the open space. He paced from side to side, his figure in the lamplight casting bits of shadow on the wall. “If Julia dies, I’ll find Cynthia and her partner and kill them with my bare hands.”
“Rolf, stop. You’re scaring me.” A solid wave of darkness infiltrated Rolf’s aura, dominating the green. His eyes, however, were still his. They didn’t have the black, soulless look she’d seen in Coffersations.
He turned to her, his soft tone in direct opposition to the tension in his aura. “You have nothing to fear from me, Geneva. You never have.”
He held one arm out as if she were a butterfly about to take flight. “You don’t understand what you mean to me. And what they’ve done. They’ve used the crystals they’ve been making to create a believable illusion—the illusion I was there in Coffersations, trying to kill you. And they activated another crystal containing dark energy to make it real.” His voice vibrated with sincerity. “Make no mistake, if you had not attacked the illusion, you and Julia would both be dead. Your error was in trying to save me. Why didn’t you listen to Peter and aim to kill?”
“Because I couldn’t. I knew it wasn’t you. Someone was there with you, making you act. I couldn’t bear the thought of attacking you. I didn’t think at the time it was an illusion.” She frowned. “Wait, where did Cynthia get a hold of illusion energy? The only one I’ve known capable of producing illusion energy is, oh my God, Rolf. The woman. The one you’re traveling with. I remember now. She’s an illusion talent.
Rolf put a hand to his forehead. “Yes, I remembered earlier tonight.”
“You mean you didn’t know before then?”
Rolf nodded, his hair flopping in his eyes. He sat on the bed, looking dear and familiar and tired.
“It’s the drug they gave me. It makes it challenging to recall certain memories without pain. But it came to me earlier. Kyle Williard’s sister was imprisoned after his capture. You’ll recall they were twins but went by different last names, to disguise their connection. The woman told me they killed her brother. I had no idea at the time who she was talking about.”
Geneva sat on the bed next to him and gripped his hands.
“Kaitlyn Girard. The kidnappers must have been holding her for months, making crystals capable of creating illusions.”
“It appears so.” Rolf gripped her hand, and a reassuring warmth filled her. Not dark at all.
“That explains how they were able to create the elk and make me believe Julia was being attacked by a security guard. I wonder how many other illusions they’ve created?” Geneva placed a hand on his shoulder. His muscles and bones were the real thing. “I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
“Understandable under the circumstances.” He tipped her head up to his. His intense blue eyes flashed a mix of contrary emotions—frustration, tenderness, fear, desire. “Did you mean what you said? Do you really love me?”
She couldn’t look away from him. “Yes.”
His eyes flamed with purple light. “You don’t know how many years I’ve longed to hear you say that. I didn’t think I had the right.”
Before she could respond, he bent his head so their lips touched. His spirit filled her as sure as his tongue filled her mouth. She lost herself in a tide of emotion. His, hers, and everything in between. Where did he end and she begin? She didn’t know.
“Mine.”
“Yes.” But a dark suspicion reared its ugly head and hissed in her mind. Remember the dark masters. They cannot love.
His mind locked on hers, a question in his thoughts. Every molecule in her seemed to scream at her to establish a portal between them, an instantaneous gateway between their minds allowing them to link whenever and wherever they desired. It was the link of lovers. It could only be established when the deepest trust existed between two people.
Dark masters cannot love.
“You doubt me.” He pulled away without establishing a portal. Strange how she missed his lips on hers and warm breath on her cheeks.
“No, Rolf, it’s…”
“You forget I was in your mind, privy to your thoughts and desires.”
“God, Rolf, I want to connect with you like that. I don’t know why I can’t. It’s what they say, about dark masters, they aren’t capable of loving another.”
“Yes. Believe me, I know what they say.” His deep voice sent a tingle through her body. “But I’m not like that. I have you.”
“But you walk through walls. What am I supposed to think? The legends say dark masters can’t be held. Once they turn. Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” The tone of his voice was a whip, lashing her from all sides. He dropped her hands and rose from the bed. “Like I’m disappointed? Like I don’t understand why you doubt me? Why you don’t feel what I feel for you? You want honesty between us? Let me be honest.”
