Clearly, Asgear was demented. A portal? Hedonistic pleasure? What the hell was he talking about? Fuck that. Sydney had no plans of going anywhere with this psychopath, let alone to some pleasure playground for dead people. She caught a glimpse of Luca and Kade, who were still pummeling against an invisible enemy. Sydney drew her pistol crossbow and fired twice, score. The darts tore through Asgear’s leg and shoulder. He tumbled to the ground, spitting obscenities at her.
But, as she attempted to approach him, he rose off the floor wickedly grinning at her. He was unharmed. “Did you really think a few darts would hurt me? You stupid, stupid little whore! I am done playing. This game is over!” He lifted his hands into the air mumbling chants that Sydney couldn’t understand.
A rush of confusion washed over Sydney as she began to feel dizzy. What was he saying? More importantly, how the hell did he get back up? Sydney started to waver as she desperately tried to retreat to Kade, but the pull of the air whirled around her immobilizing her limbs. Shit. This so can’t be good. She flailed her arms and legs struggling against the air current, but it was of no use. The air spun around and around stinging her face. Screaming into nothingness, Sydney hoped Kade could hear her. “Kade! Help me! I can’t move! Please!” She stole one last look at Kade before she faded into blackness.
Kade and Luca choked on the stale dust as they rushed to Sydney, but it was too late. She was gone.
“Shit!” Kade was outraged. “She’s gone. She’s fucking gone. My God. Asgear took her. They must have transported through a portal of some kind. We’ve got to find her.”
Luca searched the basement and returned to Kade’s side. “Sorry, Kade. There is no trace of her or Asgear. Think about what he said. Where would he take her?”
Kade rubbed his head. “I don’t know. Voodoo. Simone is going to use her as a doll. Something about using her spirit. I need to think. Simone wants me. She wants power. She won’t be satisfied by killing Sydney. No, she wants more. Asgear and Simone both want more. They want control over all the supernatural beings in New Orleans.” He started to pace, trying to think where Asgear took Sydney. “But where? This city is a hot-bed of supernatural activity. They could summon spirits literally anywhere.”
Luca blew out a frustrated breath, as Tristan, Etienne, Xavier and Dominique joined them in the basement. “She wants us to find her Kade. So she can get to you. Asgear, he said, ‘palace of Voodoo’. A Voodoo museum? Maybe he meant the field where you burnt down the barn where Simone tortured the girls?”
With ferocious intensity, Kade’s eyes met Luca’s. “The cemetery, St. Louis cemetery. Marie Laveau. Her mausoleum. It is the one place in New Orleans where even humans go to give sacrifices in the name of Voodoo. They could be anywhere on the grounds. Don’t ask me how she’s using the sacred cemetery to garner evil spirits, but that is where she’s going. I just know it.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sydney moaned in pain, realizing her hands were shackled in rusted, metal cuffs linked to a two-foot chain above her head. Her body, sans clothes, slumped against a cold, steel wall. A surge of panic rushed through her veins as she struggled to remember what happened. Asgear. Portal. Where the hell am I? She stretched her legs thankful that she still had on her underwear. Unable to reach down to her torso, Sydney jostled, hoping to feel the Kerambit knife still hidden in her bra. Hello, baby, still there. Not sure what to do with it yet and unable to reach it with her hands, she left it in place, saving that little surprise for later.
The room was pitch-black dark, and she sensed she wasn’t alone. She nearly gagged on the stench of urine and vomit that permeated the room. Hearing a moan, she called out into the darkness. “Hey, is there someone in here with me? Who’s there?”
A small, feminine voice answered. “Over here. I’m Samantha. Please don’t hurt me,” she begged.
“Willows. Detective Sydney Willows. I’m with the police. Listen, it’s okay. I won’t hurt you. How long have you been here? Are you injured?”
“I’ve been here a few days. Lost count after being beaten. I think I can walk, but I'm bruised. The cuts are healing. It’s hard to see,” she whimpered. “I was taken. My friends and I went to Sangre Dulce for fun. I’m not even from New Orleans. I was at a computer conference. It was my first time at that kind of club. We were just dancing. Then I met him…James...he seemed so nice. He bought me a drink. I don’t remember anything else except for being here…him beating me. Oh my God. I'm going to die in here.”
Sydney heard her crying. “Listen, Samantha, this is not your fault. There are some sick people out there who do bad things. I’m going to get us out of here. If they take me, just stay calm, okay? I promise I will come back for you.” She sighed knowing things were about to get worse before they got better, and didn’t want to lie to the young woman. “I’ll be honest, I'm not sure how this is going to go down, but my colleagues are coming for me. I’m sure of it.” I sure as hell hope they come soon. “I need your help though, okay? Who else is here? Who have you seen since you’ve been here?”
“James. He brings me crackers and water. I tried to hit him the first day, tried to escape. Then he beat me. I haven’t seen anyone else. But I think there might be a woman. I think I’ve heard her voice. I don’t know though. I haven’t seen anyone else. I feel like I'm going crazy...maybe dreaming it. Even though I hear a woman’s voice, I’ve only seen James.”
“Good girl, Samantha. Okay then, this is how I'm going to play this. When James comes for me, I'm going willingly. I don’t want him using me as an excuse to hurt you. You stay quiet okay? Just let him take me, got it?” Sydney had to keep the girl alive.
“Okay. Please don’t leave me here though. I've to get out of here. He is going to kill me. You promise you will come back for me?”
Sydney didn’t want to freak the girl out, but she figured she better warn the girl there were others, other supernaturals who were coming for her. “I promise. Now listen, I have some friends who are vampires. They won’t hurt you, and there's a very large, black wolf. They are friends. You’ll be safe. If they come for you...if I don’t make it back, you go with them okay? They're the good guys. “
Samantha sniffled in the darkness. “All right. Oh my God. Shhhhh. I hear him. The keys. You hear the keys? It’s him. It’s James. He’s coming.”
Silence fell over the small closet-like prison cell as the girls awaited their captor. Feigning sleep, Sydney lolled her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. The sound of clanging of keys was followed by a creaking door. “Wakey, wakey, little whore.” Asgear. Shivering, she felt his clammy hands on her skin, then the unmistakable feel of handcuffs on her wrists. Guess he wasn’t as stupid as she was hoping.
With a hard jerk, he yanked her up to her bare feet. “The Mistress was so pleased with my success. You are going to make a fine offering. Your smooth skin...ahhhhh.” He ran a wet finger over the swell of her breasts. She repelled from his touch. “Now, now, little whore. You will not get away from me so easily. Consider yourself lucky that I cannot take your body for my own carnal pleasures before giving you to my Mistress. So greedy she is...she wants you all to herself.” Asgear propelled her forward into the bright hallway. “Go. No funny business. I would hate to bruise your pretty skin before Mistress has her way with you.”
Shuffling ahead, Sydney squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. The cold linoleum floor appeared oddly clean. She’d take small favors at this point, given her lack of shoes. The hallway was only about twenty feet long, which indicated the space was small. A frigidness chilled Sydney’s nearly, naked body. What was this place? A basement?