Find Jake, Nikki.
She reached for the watch. The metal was cold against her skin, but her hands twitched, burned by the images rushing from the fob. Her senses leaped away, following the trail that led to Jake. Shapes began to form. She felt a tremor of fear, only to have Michael chase it away.
Concentrate on Jake, Nikki. See him. Feel him. Become one with him…
…Pain throbbed through his temples. Jake cursed and ran a hand through his hair, only to stop when he felt the sticky dampness matting it all.
What the hell?He struggled into a sitting position and tried to remember what had happened. Cold stone nudged his butt, and a breeze pulled at his wet clothes. Where on earth was he? The air was heavy with age and the scent of decay. Somewhere ahead in the darkness he could hear the steady drip of water.
It had to be a cave of some kind. But how in hell had he gotten here—wherever here was?
"Hell is an apt enough description of this place, my friend."
The words came out of nowhere, reverberating around the walls. Jake tensed, studying the darkness.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"Questions." The stranger's voice dripped cold sarcasm. "Always questions from my captives."
Jake swallowed. He knew who had him. Knew why.
"Nikki won't be fool enough to fall into your trap a second time."
"We shall see." The darkness moved, forming shape. Became a man with the eyes of a demon.
It was easy to understand Nikki's fear, Jake thought, studying the muscular form warily. He wasn't psychic, but he could feel the power that oozed from the man. And those eyes… they were almost hypnotic.
Don't look, he thought with a frown.
"Interesting," Jasper murmured. "You have a certain… strength I did not expect."
Jake made no comment and studied the darkness beyond Jasper. There had to be some clue as to his whereabouts—some way to warn Nikki not to come after him.
"You will find no escape."
His gaze darted back to Jasper. He noted the insanity entrenched in the blue depths of his eyes, saw the gloating. Knew he was a man who enjoyed toying with his victims. No, not a man. A vampire.
Jake cleared his throat. "Where are we?"
"Underground. Deep underground." As Jasper spoke, a tremor ran through the ground, a vibration that shook the air and rushed wind through the darkness.
Were they in a tunnel? Did some sort of vehicle passing through cause the vibration? Maybe a train?
"Not even close," Jasper mused. "I could, of course, tell you, but I doubt it would do you any good."
"Nikki won't look for me," Jake replied, trying to sound casual, though tension knotted his gut and constricted his throat. "She won't run the risk of falling into your trap a second time."
"You lie, little man. I know her mind. I know how much she values your friendship."
Jake closed his eyes. "They will stop you," he whispered. "No matter what it takes.
"I like a man with confidence." Jasper smiled sharply. "What if the cost is your own life?"
Jake shrugged. He would die no matter what happened. He could see it in the monster's eyes. But he wasn't about to give Jasper the pleasure of his fear.
"I can read your mind, little man. I know what you feel."
"Then you know I loathe you more than I fear you."
The chill in the mad blue depths sent ice splintering down his spine. For an instant he regretted his rash words.
"Bravery must run in your profession," Jasper said. "As much as I'd love to stay and chat, I must go tend to my traps. But first, a drink is called for, I think."
The fiend lunged at him. Jake scrambled backwards, but talon-like fingers caught his arm, tearing into skin. Jake swore and kicked out. Jasper only laughed. Fear slammed through Jake's entire being, and no amount of fighting against Jasper's hold could stop the journey towards the gleaming white teeth and death.
"Struggle little man. Struggle as hard as you can. I like my meal accompanied by fear."
Teeth tore into his neck. Jake screamed as the warm gush of horror plunged him into darkness…
Nikki's scream echoed through Michael's soul. He tore her from Jake's mind and lurched forward, catching her as she fell sideways out of the chair.
"Easy, little one. We're safe. You're safe," he whispered and held her gently, one hand caressing the silky length of her hair.
She shuddered and wrapped her arms around him, holding on as if she'd never let him go.
Which was about as far from the truth as you could get. "I'm sorry, Nikki. I should have pulled us out earlier."
"Yes," she agreed softly.
Lightly linked as they were, he could see the visions running riot in her mind, felt her shudder as she remembered Jasper's teeth tearing into her flesh…
"Jake's memory. Not yours." It will not happen to you, Nikki. I won't allow it.
"My memories because we were there."
"Hush. It's over."
She sighed into his chest, her breath warm against his skin. "For us. Not for Jake."
True. He pulled away from her, though it was the last thing in the world he wanted to do, and held her at arm's length. "If we want to save him, we'll have to move quickly."
She sniffed then turned and sifted quickly through the papers of Jake's desk. "There's a map of the area
… here it is."
"Right." He stood, giving her no time to dwell, no time to fear. "Where are all the tunnels situated?"
She frowned, studying the map. "If it was a rail tunnel, there are three." She pointed them out with a trembling hand.
He ignored the sudden desire to comfort her again. They had no time, nor was it right for him to keep touching her like he cared. "What about old caves? Mine shafts?"
"This section of the mountains is literally littered with old mines. I know a lot of them were filled to stop people falling down them, but there are about a dozen that still remain. Jake could be in any one of them."
But Jasper couldn't. The shaft would have to be deep and long to provide the protection he needed.
"The tunnel was wet. We heard drips, remember?
She nodded, chewing her lip thoughtfully. "There are two old mines near the new dam they're building here." She pointed to an area on the western edge of the map. "I'm pretty sure one of them goes into the mountain rather than down."
He saw her glance at the watch in her hand, saw her fingers twitch against it.
"Is he there, Nikki?"
"I think so," she whispered. "But I've been wrong before."
And it had resulted in death, Michael thought. Too much of her young life had been affected by death, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. But he'd do everything it took to stop Jake dying on her as well.
"We'll need some supplies," he said.
"Out back."
She stood, but rather than brush past him, took the long way around the desk and walked across to the storeroom. He shook his head and followed her. She'd trusted him with her soul, but still wouldn't trust him with her heart. He wondered if she ever would.
But what in hell would he do if she ever did?
He leaned against the doorway and watched her collect some chocolate and a few cans of soda and throw them in a backpack. She pulled on a heavy coat and turned to face him. Fear was everywhere, in her thoughts and in her eyes.
"Ready?" he said softly.
Ready to dance with the devil himself? Never.Her thought ran through his mind like a frightened gazelle. Her gaze was grim when it met his "But for Jake I must," she said softly. "Let's go."