Chapter Fifteen #2
“I found an opening at the side of the house,” I start tensely. “I counted fifteen men. I could see six women, but they talked about others. There are other bodies throughout the house. Not many though.” I pause, and Archer leans forward.
“There’s something else,” he says.
“Besides all of them being sick fucks who need to die, there are two shifters. The owner made an appearance. He’s as bad as the reports insinuate.
If my gut wasn’t urging me to do this now, I would take you back home and come back by myself.
I need to protect you, and I don’t want you to see what happens in that house.
” Mara touches my forearm. “There will be no justice for men like that, unless we do it.”
“Then we do,” Mara whispers.
“Should I stay here?” Lace asks.
“Yes.” I glance at her gratefully, and she guessed my thoughts.
Her spells are hiding, and she has no way to defend herself.
“I need you to stay in the car. I can’t shield you.
It will take more power to deal with the shifters.
There may be more that I couldn’t sense or see.
Call Gavin. He was hanging back, but I need him close.
” Asking him for help goes against everything I am. “Stay in this car.”
“I will,” she says softly.
“I mean it. These guys are worse than the last place. They won’t hesitate to take you. Wait for Gavin. Don’t let him talk you into going in with him,” I say firmly.
“I understand.” She nods. “Take care of Mara.”
“He won’t have to,” Mara says, squeezing her hand. “I won’t do anything reckless. My spells are gaining power by the minute. What is the plan?”
“I gained entrance through a window. The room isn’t being used, and I spelled it to be our safe space.
We start there. We remain invisible until we are in place.
The main room is located on the ground floor, down the hall from where I entered.
It seems it is the gathering place. Most of the men are in there.
It will be easier for me to freeze them there, all at once.
The problem is the others in the different rooms. I can’t tell the exact numbers.
It will take more concentration and magic for me to hold them all.
And even more to take control of the shifters. ”
“I will help,” Mara says. “I haven’t tested all my skills, yet they come when I need them.”
“Do what you can. Follow your instincts,” I instruct and turn my head. “I need your power, friend.” He tenses. “You have to use it on the men if we lose control.” Archer hardly puts all his magic to work, and I know the demons he faces every time he does.
“I’m with you,” he says.
“Prepare yourself for everything you will see,” I warn, hating that they have to witness it. “Davis has enough money to throw around; if we don’t end it, he will go on.”
“Rome, we won’t let him.” Mara smiles and glides her hand up my arm. I feel her spell replacing mine, protecting me. I grin and protect Archer. Mara grabs Lace’s wrist. “Only Gavin will be able to see you.” Magic falls over her sister, giving her extra protection if she is forced to leave the car.
“I love you,” Lace says, her eyes filled with anxiety.
“We’ll be back soon,” Mara responds. “Love you.” She reaches for the door, and we get out at the same time.
Pulling Mara close to my side, we walk quickly toward the house.
I wish my magic didn’t have limits. It would be easy if I could keep them frozen the whole time, kill them, and get out.
Magic takes massive amounts of energy, and I can’t do it all.
I’ve never drained so many at once, and I’m unsure how it is going to affect me.
The energy is high, so I should be able to take all of my power from it.
Having Mara at my side, concerned about her safety, and keeping track of all the bodies will be a challenge.
No one will be safe if something happens to her.
We reach the side of the house, and I lead the way down to the window.
Archer stays close behind Mara. I don’t have to explain to him to keep one eye on Mara; he knows what she means to me.
I can feel his spells, which he usually keeps a tight rein on.
He likes to pretend he isn’t that powerful, but I know differently.
Yes, he can change memories. He isn’t that skilled in some areas, but most of his power comes from deep inside.
He uses it as a last resort, knowing how out of control it can be.
“Our voices shouldn’t travel far,” I whisper, stopping underneath the window.
“But keep the talking to a minimum.” They nod, and I grab the windowsill.
Dropping to the floor inside, I move close to help Mara, but have to jump back as she lands silently beside me.
I'm torn between pride and fear of the night.
Archer enters a second later, and I watch their faces as the room comes into focus.
Mara frowns, and her hand presses to her mouth.
Archer grits his teeth, and his eyes meet mine. He exhales harshly and nods tightly.
The room is still secure. I move to the door and pause.
I close my eyes and reach out with all my senses.
Laughter and the beat of the music are all I hear.
Nothing is directly outside the door, so I open it before I change my mind.
Once Archer is through, I close the door and take the lead.
As the noise from the main room increases, so does my anger.
The emotions of the house fuel it, and I clench my jaw, trying to control how much I let leak out.
Mara’s hand is steady in mine, but when we can see the main room, her fingers twitch.
During my absence, many of the clothes the women wore ended up on the floor, and the men had become uncontrollable.
One man has a woman over his lap. Another is doing drugs as he watches the woman in front of him.
Davis is in the center of the room, but against the wall, a lewd grin on his face.
His elbows are propped on his knees as he stares at the naked woman on the floor in front of him.
I look at Archer and nod at the hallway beside us.
I will control the men here, but he needs to watch our backs.
Centering myself, I glance at Mara and nod.
I release her hand and remove our invisibility.
The men barely react before I freeze them.
The shifters were able to stand as they caught sight of us, and their bodies took longer to stop.
When I know they are all controlled for the moment, I step forward.
“Archer, check the rest of the house.” He walks away. “Mara—”
“Davis first,” she says, moving past me.
“Which one?” She looks back at me, and I nod at him.
I don’t want her to touch him for any reason, yet she wants to show him the pain he inflicted.
She carefully moves around the woman on the floor.
She doesn’t hesitate to touch his arm. “Unfreeze him,” she demands, and I hesitate.
“Rome, I’ve got this.” I pull back my spell, but keep it engaged slightly, ready to control him if necessary.
“What the fuck?” Davis sputters, shocked to see Mara bent over him. “Who—”
“You’ve been very bad,” Mara hums. His face drains of color as she begins to take his emotions.
My soul bond is a quick study. I don’t see any effect on her face or body.
“You murdered several women.” He tries to pull away.
Mara’s grip is firm, and just like the woman who flirted with me, his skin under her palm starts to sizzle.
“You drug the women here and use them to make money.”
“How?” He blinks and sways in his seat.
“You deserve more than death,” she states, pulling him out of his seat. She backs him against the wall beside the chair, holding him captive. “Many women’s lives were ruined or cut short because of you. I want you to feel what they felt.”
“What are you?” he grits out, his eyes wide.
“Your executioner.” Mara smiles. I gaze at her in wonder. She flicked a switch inside herself, and her voice was filled with her spells. Thunder cracks outside as if the universe is encouraging her to keep going. “Do you have any regrets?” Her power flows from her hands.
“Shit, I haven’t done anything,” Davis insists.
“We both know that is a lie. I can see. Your life is in my eyes. Look,” she commands, and their eyes connect. The flow of his memories and emotions begins to transfer. His mouth drops open when he feels it. His eyes are wide, and his hands claw at the wall.
“No. No. How is this possible?” Davis asks weakly.
“I’m a witch,” Mara sings, and energy sparks in the air.
“Not…possible,” he whispers.
“It is. Take what you inflicted,” Mara hisses, pushing him harder.
The air is filled with her power, and the hair on my arms stands on end.
She is beautiful. “You think you are above the law and decency. Thriving on the pain of the innocent gives you joy. Another woman you employed died at your hands. You used a knife on her.” His shirt is shredded by the force of the memory, and slashes appear on his chest. Claw marks join the marks.
“She fought.” Fear moves through the room.
I look over my shoulder as I hear fighting in another room.
Archer will have to deal with it for now.
My priority is Mara. Davis can no longer speak, lost in memories, staring into Mara’s eyes.
He sags against the wall, the only thing holding him up is her hand, which she transferred to his neck, forcing him to remain connected.
His skin is covered with blood, but underneath it, he is a sickly shade of blue.
His life is draining quickly without my influence.
“He’s done,” I say.
“Not yet,” she grits out. “There is another memory he needs.” I tilt my head, watching his face as the force of her power slams into his skull. He gasps his last breath as it takes effect. “Now he’s done.” She reels back, and he falls to the floor. “Next.” She faces me, and her eyes are glowing.
“Mara, I can do the rest.” Her eyes have never done that before.
“No. They deserve it,” she hisses. She pivots and sees the shifters.
“They are stronger,” I mention.
“We’ll see.” I watch her in fascination. She moves confidently toward them and cups the bear's shoulder. “Fuck,” she gasps.
“Talk to me,” I urge.
“He’s resisting, but I’ve broken through. Let him go.” I remove my spells, allowing the bear to have control of his movements, but not for long. “You enjoy all the sick things you do to the women here.”
“Bitch, what are you doing to me?” he growls, showing his teeth. “Witch.” He flexes his jaw and takes a step forward.
“Mara.” He could strike her in an instant.
“Trust me, Rome,” she says and shoves him to the floor.
“No. How?”
“Look at me,” she demands, standing over him.
“Your gifts aid you in inflicting pain on women, and I can’t allow that to happen again.
” She crouches, tilting her head, and their eyes connect.
He jerks when the emotions start to flow, and his teeth recede.
“There is a woman who died here after a night with you. Take her pain. Take her humiliation. Take her fear.” Mara leans over him further, and a black fog surrounds them.
I feel Mara’s fury and the man's sins. My magic flares, and it becomes easier to control the room.
“Rome,” Archer yells, and I turn. A man is running toward me, and I smile.
“Stop,” I state, and his body freezes mid-step. “Are there others?”
“Three,” he says, coming to a stop next to the man. “I took care of them. The women are fucking terrified. I had to influence them.”
“I sense Gavin.” I turn back toward the room.
“Her eyes are glowing,” Archer says.
“Yeah.”
“The bear is—”
“Dying quickly, yeah.” I lift my shoulder. His emotions are giving me more fuel for my spells.
“Is that the owner?” Archer asks, looking at Davis.
“It is.”
“Good,” he says, leaning against the doorframe. “The coyote will be a problem.”
“Not for Mara,” I say softly.
“I didn’t have to use my other power,” he says lightly.
“What did you do?”
“Influenced them. They are wearing the cuffs they used on the women. I thought it was poetic.” He glances at me.
“Very.”
“Holy fuck.” Gavin skids to a stop behind us. What pisses me off is that he brought someone with him.
“Gavin, did you forget the rule?” I snarl.
“Danny’s with me. He knows how to keep his mouth shut.”
“He better or I will shut it permanently,” I hiss.
“How?” Danny asks. I glare at him as he pokes the man frozen beside us.
“Control him,” I command.
“Just curious,” he mumbles, and I grind my jaw. I focus back on Mara. She finishes the bear and stands. The unwelcome distractions cause my spell to slip on the coyote, and he grabs Mara’s arm.
“No.” I move forward, lifting my hand and pushing out my magic.
It hits him in the chest, and he levitates.
He crashes into the wall, and I hold him there.
“Come here.” I look at Mara, and she moves toward me.
“Gavin, do your job and take care of the women. Archer, watch the human with him. If he steps out of line, control him.”
“Who is he?” Mara asks as she stops next to me.
“Gavin brought him.” I pull all the energy from the coyote and release his body. “This is why I don’t trust shifters. He was to come alone.” She wraps her hand around my arm, and I look at her.
“My eyes feel funny.”
I shouldn’t laugh. I’m pissed and running high on adrenaline.
“They’re glowing,” I inform her.
“Huh, weird,” she whispers.
“Can I kill the rest?”
“Yes. They are all the same.” She looks around the room. “I’ll start burning the bodies.” Taking their lives is easy. My skin begins to vibrate because of the overload of power. I move toward the man next to the coyote.
“You're a witch.” I look over my shoulder at the annoying human.
“You are really pissing me off.” I remove the spell from the bad guy in the hallway behind Danny.
“Shit,” Danny squeals as the man launches himself at him.
“What the fuck? Danny,” Gavin growls. I freeze the bad guy again. His fist is cocked, ready to punch Danny.
“I warned you. We are the only reason you are alive right now. Gavin, take him out, or I’ll let the evil men finish him off,” I grit out.
Danny slides out from underneath the man suspended in the air, his eyes wide.
“If this is the quality of men you have working with you, we will never do you any more favors.” I turn away, but I am caught by Mara’s gaze directed my way. She’s not disturbed by my behavior.
She fucking likes it.