The Reckoning (29 page)

If the dark man was surprised to hear someone dressed so natively speaking in English, he didn’t show it. “I know the one,” he said, his English coming out with a British flare. “It is the tourist favorite. I, however, would recommend something with more of the rich flavor of Casablanca.”

“We’re meeting friends.”

“Ah, I see. Then to the Sofitel, it is.”

We didn’t speak at all on the way, the taxi hurtling through the streets that seemed too busy this early in the morning. Now that we’d left successfully, I was having second thoughts. Ever since Venezuela, facing Delia alone was exactly what I’d planned to do because I wasn’t willing to risk any of my friends, and learning of her real plan to take over my life had only increased my desire to protect them. If she succeeded, they would be completely at her mercy. How would they be able to kill my body, even if she inhabited it? Better that I died before that happened.

According to Keene, Morocco wasn’t one of the Emporium’s headquarters, and last night we had put what were probably most of Delia’s accompanying soldiers out of the picture—at least until they healed. That meant I had a good chance at challenging Delia without too much interference. She
wanted
to see me, after all. If I succeeded, my strength would hopefully be restored and getting out wouldn’t be too much of a problem. There were a few gaping holes in my plan, to be sure, but what difference did that make? There was hope, and sometimes only hope had gotten me through my previous confrontations with her. I also had Ritter’s trust to hold onto.

Yet going in with only Jeane for backup suddenly didn’t seem like such a good idea.

Because Delia had known for months what her plan was and would be ready for me. And she would want revenge for the stolen plutonium every bit as much as I wanted it for my grandmother. Delia seemed to know me only too well. Did that mean she had planned on my rashness? Maybe she expected me to come to her without proper backup.

As I thought it through again, I could still see no other option that didn’t risk my friends. If Ritter and the others weren’t here, Delia couldn’t use them to control my actions, as she had used my brother and his children in the past. That didn’t mean I wasn’t scared, because I was terrified.

The driver skidded to a stop in front of a skyscraper with a double-door entry and a mirrored section that curved around the lower part of the building and glistened in the rising sun. “Is this the hotel?”

“Yes.” There was no mistaking the white tower that reached into the sky far above its neighbors. I handed him my credit card, and he swiped it on a cell phone he had on the seat.

We climbed from the little red cab, and Jeane started for the entrance. “Wait,” I said. The walkway in front of the hotel was empty, though there were plenty of cars still zooming past.

“What?” She looked back at me over her shoulder, tossing her head for the invisible cameras. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts. There’s no other way to get that thing out of you except facing her. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’ll have to kill her.”

“I know, but we need to talk this through. This isn’t her stronghold, and I’m betting that last night we pretty much demolished the entourage she always drags along with her. But she’ll have others around. We have to make sure we’ll be able to get out.”

Her face darkened. “There’s nothing really to plan. We either succeed or we don’t. I can null her and her soldiers, and you can fight them or blast them with your mind or whatever. Getting out will be easy once we take care of Delia.”

Jace must have been bragging to her about me. “That doesn’t mean we go in completely blind.” I was thinking about calling Ritter to ask for his advice. Or was I only fooling myself? Did I want Ritter to convince me to tell him where I was? I felt for my phone, forgetting that I’d left it behind. Jeane returned to my side, stepping close. Something hard jabbed into my side.

“This is for your own good,” Jeane said. “Now get going, or I’ll shoot.”

“Really? This is what you’re doing? I’d think you’d want all the advantage we can get. I’m not going to be able to fight Delia half dead from a gunshot.”

“We have to get her now before she takes control of you. You’re my only chance.” She pushed at me, but I refused to budge.

“Only chance of what?” I asked. “Why do you want her so badly? You’re safe from her with us.”

She glared, her nostrils flaring and her face so tight she was shaking. “I’ll never be safe as long as she lives! Never. You don’t know the things she did to me. Now move!” She poked me again with the gun.

Dimitri had told me some Unbounded had damaged minds that he couldn’t repair. I’d seen for myself minds damaged from Delia’s experiments, and Jeane certainly seemed unbalanced since her dealings with the Triad leader. Maybe being almost dead for twenty years had something to do with it.

“Okay,” I said, taking a step forward.

She followed me, but with the next step, I twisted and slammed my right hand into the gun under her robes, jamming it into her body. I followed with a left hook to her head and she staggered, the gun clattering to the ground. She groaned and brought a hand to her ear.

I scooped up the gun, stepping close to her, one hand on her back and the other digging the gun into her belly. “This isn’t a game, Jeane,” I said tightly. “We’re either on the same team or we’re not. I’m not going anywhere with you at gunpoint. I’d rather you kill me and hand me over to Delia.”

She grimaced. “Fine. I just want this over.”

I stepped away, concealing the gun under my robe, noting that we had attracted the attention of a small group of early-rising tourists who had congregated at the doors to the hotel. They were alternately staring at us and looking back inside the hotel doors, as if debating whether we were very close friends consoling one another or if I was threatening Jeane.

I put an arm around her. “Smile,” I ordered.

She turned actress from one second to the next, leaning toward me with a little curtsey and giving a laugh that would carry all the way to the door. Feeling exposed with the many windows staring down at us, I hurried her inside. We both averted our eyes as we passed the tourists.

Inside, the motif was black and white, the white tiled floor decorated with lavish swirls of black. The life forces nearby burned brightly—so they weren’t blocking. We walked up to the black reception desk. “I need a room,” I said. “Do you have one available? Our luggage will be coming shortly with our husbands.” What I really wanted was a reason to be in the hotel, and we might be able to use a room in case we needed someplace to hole up for a while until we could completely escape.

We were turning away toward a waiting bellhop when the group of blocking life forces entered the hotel. I didn’t need to turn to know who they were. Jeane swore under her breath. “So much for low-key,” she muttered.

Ritter’s face was drawn in a scowl, his black eyes molten fury, and his dark hair uncombed. He wore a set of off-white robes, but I knew he only did it to hide the assault rifle and other assorted weapons. There was something intrinsically sexy about him despite—or maybe because of—the robes, and my heart did some kind of ridiculous happy dance.
Mine.
The thought wasn’t new to me, but it was the first time it was really true.

With him were Cort, Mari, and Keene, none looking too happy. In fact, Keene’s glower matched Ritter’s almost perfectly. Everyone except Ritter was wearing a jacket, and each carried a duffel bag that was probably full of weapons.

I headed to a set of couches by a black pillar, and they followed. “How did you find me, Your Deathliness?” I said in a low voice to Ritter, letting him know by the nickname that I wasn’t backing down from what I’d done.

He sat down next to me. “Why did you come here alone?”

“This is
my
fight.”

He scooted closer, squishing into me. “It’s all of ours.”

“You don’t understand.”

Ritter leaned close, his anger growing. “It’s
you
who doesn’t understand. We stick together. No one sacrifices themselves for the others.”

“I’ve seen you put yourself into much more danger.” Like entering an Emporium headquarters to rescue me. “Anyway, all bets are off now. Delia can control me.”

“I don’t believe it,” he growled. Any closer and he’d be on top of me, and despite all the robes between us, I felt naked under his glare. “My bet is on you.”

“I’m not willing to risk that you might be wrong.”

“After last night on the roof, it isn’t just
your
choice.”

“That’s exactly why it
is
my choice.”

Keene heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Look, you two. You can indulge in a lover’s spat about this another time. Because right now that bellhop looks ready to call the police.”

He and Cort were standing in front of us, trying to block the bellhop’s view, but the man did appear nervous at Ritter’s obvious aggression. Ritter eased back from me, making a motion with his head at Mari, who walked over to smooth things over with the bellhop.

I asked Ritter again, “How did you find me?”

His voice lowered. “You think I don’t know what last night was all about? It was goodbye. Or at least until you passed out.” He glanced around. “This hotel is just like you showed me. I knew you were headed here the second I realized you were gone. Luckily, I had Stella tag you again after that episode last night.”

I clenched my teeth. Of course. We’d been together, and he’d felt it when I was pulled into the blue light. He had come at least part of the way with me—I’d felt him, clung to him—and he was worried enough about what he’d seen to take precautions.

“Did you ever think,” he added, his voice growing rough and unsteady, “that maybe our being together is the reason you got back at all?”

I hadn’t. I only knew that Delia would murder him if given the chance, and I’d do anything to save him. “I have to face her.”

“I know, and this is as good a place as any. But I go with you.”

“I’m going too.” This from Keene, who’d stopped eyeing the bellhop.

Ritter shook his head. “No. You guys stay here and guard our exit. Make sure Delia doesn’t have backup. Protect Mari in case Erin needs to use her ability to shift out.”

“I’m going,” Keene insisted. “You stay. You’re no good to her. I am.”

“Oh, so you’re finally going to admit what you are?” Ritter sneered. “Not like we don’t already know.”

Keene glanced back at Mari and the bellhop, and I knew that she still didn’t know about Keene’s Change. Not yet. “I can make Erin stronger in ways you can’t,” Keene said, not backing down. “I don’t care what your ego says, but she needs me more than she needs you.”

“From what your brother says, you might just as easily blow everyone up.” Ritter’s voice was mocking, but I sensed he was masking worry that Keene might be right—that Keene could help me more in this situation than Ritter himself.

Keene inclined his head. “Maybe,” he conceded. “And maybe Erin would rather blow up than become Delia.”

That told me Stella had gotten into my phone and found my message. At least now they knew what we were really up against. I didn’t know whether to weep with pride or scream in frustration that both Ritter and Keene were willing to risk their lives for me.

Silence fell between the glaring men. Much as I didn’t want to admit it, Keene was right. He was more useful in this situation. As far as I knew, Delia could only force people to fight for her, not channel their abilities directly. That meant I wouldn’t need to channel Ritter because physically I should be more than her match, so Keene or Mari would be more help to me than Ritter if I had to shift or if I needed more strength.

At the same time I knew Ritter wouldn’t abandon me, because I’d never abandon him.

“I say we all go,” Cort said. “Stella’s coordinating with Ava, who is apparently on her way with Dimitri and more CIA. We only have to hold out for a few hours.”

I opened my mouth to reply when my brain suddenly flashed blue as the connection between Delia and her creature inside my mind flared to life. I wasn’t even using my ability.

Or was I?

I became keenly aware of each person’s thoughts around me. Ritter was angry, desperate, hurt, and protective; Keene was willing to sacrifice his freedom to save me; Cort was determined and infinitely curious at the new patterns he saw in the atoms making up my brain; Mari was afraid Delia would capture her, but just as afraid she’d fail me; and the bellhop was hoping he’d finish with us quickly so he could grab breakfast. All but Jeane, who was completely dark.

I extended a shield around the others, hoping that if Delia was aware of my arrival, she wouldn’t be able to sense their life forces. Unfortunately, I wasn’t altogether sure it worked because the two blue lights still seeped through the shield, perhaps even brighter with my effort. The pressure in my mind built to a painful level.

“We have to do this now.” I hoped my fear didn’t show in my voice. I didn’t know what would happen if the snake burst from the second box before the battle. “She might know we’re here. Or that we’re close.”

“Let’s go,” Ritter said.

Fortunately, Mari had finally convinced the bellhop that we didn’t need his services, the handful of American dollars she shoved at him doing more than any of her persuasions.

“Thank you for not bringing Jace,” I said to Ritter as we made our way to the elevator.

“He’s guarding the plutonium. Stella doesn’t want to get too close.”

“You could have left it with Shadrach.”

“Maybe. He seems distraught.”

Distraught? Every now and then, Ritter’s manner of speaking reminded me of how very long he’d lived. Regardless, I knew he’d left Jace behind for me. My brother had always been a little rash—a trait that apparently ran in our family, at least in those who had the active Unbounded gene—and I was worried that he didn’t understand well enough what was at stake. That once he met his birth father, something would change. Stefan Carrington’s charisma was overwhelming.

“So are we going to knock on her door?” Jeane asked as the elevator door closed.