The Darkest Touch

CHAPTER TWENTY

Demons surrounded them. Between the mist and the number of demons coming at them out of nowhere, Ryder was firing so fast he could only hope he didn’t hit his own people.

He saw Dalton’s face, though, and pivoted, just as demons rose up in a thick cloud and surrounded Angelique.

Shit! He raised his gun, but they enveloped her and disappeared before he could get a shot off, before he could take a step to get to her. In an instant, they were gone, taking the swirling mist along with them.

As well as Angelique.

“Sonofabitch!” He turned again, hitting the lightningquick pure demons with round after round of laser fire, fury fueling him as he stepped over their melted forms to pump more rounds of sonic bullets into a few hulking hybrids who’d popped up as backup to the purebreds.

Smoke filled the air, taking over where the mist had been. Ryder and the other hunters hit the demons with a barrage of laser and sonic blasts, until the remainder of them disappeared.

Not that it mattered. There was no victory here.

The Sons of Darkness had gotten what they came for.

Angelique, and the black diamond, were gone, swallowed in the mist of those new breed of demons. They hadn’t had a chance to save her.

Ryder holstered his gun and shouldered his rifle, ignoring the bodies around him.

He did a quick head count, relieved that at least the rest of the hunters were accounted for and seemed to be unharmed.

“That was a smokescreen. Literally and figuratively,” Michael said.

“No shit. Angie’s gone.” Ryder’s gut twisted. He should have held tight to her, even when the demons attacked. He should have taken the bag with the black diamond so the demons would come after him. But he hadn’t. He’d been more concerned with being on the lookout, with acting as a shield just in case. .

They hadn’t expected the demons to hit them here. Goddamit. This was a church. Hallowed ground. It wasn’t supposed to happen here.

Stupid mistake. Costly fuckup. Where the hell were his brains?

“How are we going to get her back?” Ryder asked, already knowing the answer.

“I don’t know.”

“Caught with our goddamn dicks in our hands,” Dalton said, grimacing. “They made it look easy.”

“I didn’t expect this. Not here, not so close to hallowed ground.” Michael brushed his fingers through his hair, blew out a breath. “It hurt those demons to be on this church property. They wouldn’t have survived it anyway.”

“They survived it long enough to grab Angelique and the black diamond,” Mandy said. “Maybe your notion of them being unable to step foot on sanctified ground is wrong. Maybe they’re able to overcome it somehow.”

There was a silence as the reality of that sunk in.

“Isabelle,” Dalton said.

Ryder saw the look on Dalton’s face, knew what he meant. They jumped in the SUV and Michael tore out of the church grounds, speeding back toward the castle.

From Dalton’s grim expression, Ryder knew what they’d find when they got there.

An hour later, his suspicion was confirmed. The guard was unconscious, the chapel doors were wide open, and Isabelle was gone.

Michael crouched in front of the guard, and roused him. He rubbed his head, started to stand up, but Michael held him by the shoulders.

“Looks like a concussion,” he said.

“She was like a crazed animal,” the guard said, sitting up and leaning against the wall. “Came barreling through the doors, drenched in sweat, her face flushed. Her eyes were wide and she looked at me like I was the Devil himself. She threw me against the wall like I was nothing.” He shook his head. “I cracked my head on the stone and went down. Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. None of us expected this,” Michael said, helping the guard to his feet. A couple medical personnel rushed down the hallway. “Take him to the infirmary. He needs X-rays, maybe a CT scan.”

After the guard left, Michael turned to them. “I’m not sure what happened to Isabelle, but if I had to guess, it sounds like she was lured outside by the Sons of Darkness.”

“So we fucked this one up but good,” Trace said. “We couldn’t protect either of them. Or the black diamond.”

“Yes. They’ve made us look inept. Obviously they knew exactly where and when to hit us. Which isn’t a good sign. They’ve grown stronger.” Michael shook his head. “I’m going to have to report this to the other Keepers. And the first thing we’re going to have to do is figure out where the Sons of Darkness are holding Isabelle and Angelique.”

“If we can even find them,” Dalton said.

“We’ll find them.”

“How?” Ryder asked. “Are you going to gaze into a crystal ball and zoom into their whereabouts? Do you have some kind of sixth sense that links you to them? Tell me, Michael-how exactly do you plan to find them? Are you going to form a committee to discuss options?”

Ryder knew he was this close to losing it. Patience wasn’t his strength. He didn’t want to stand around and analyze this. He didn’t want to discuss it with the other Keepers. He wanted to get out there and find Angelique and her sister.

Frankly, the Sons of Darkness could keep the fucking black diamond.

He just wanted Angie back.

“Ryder, we’ll find them,” Michael said, his voice lowered. But Ryder knew counseling tactics when he heard them.

“I’m not going psycho on you, Michael, so you can quit using that tone with me. But I’m not going to sit here and wait. Come up with something or I’ll start digging holes in the earth and go down there and get her myself.”

“Ryder.” Michael approached, stopped in front of him. “We have people who can find them. Our Keepers and others in the Realm have certain. . talents.”

Ryder didn’t care if they were circus clowns, as long as they could locate Angelique. “Good. Find them.”

“Yes, sir. We’ll get right on that,” Michael said, his expression flat.

Ryder knew he was being insubordinate. He didn’t care. He felt responsible for Angie being taken. He’d take whatever punishment the Realm wanted to dish out for his defiance, as long as they located her-fast.

Dalton threw his arm around Ryder’s shoulder. “How about I take you upstairs for a drink?”

Ryder let out a sigh. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Michael said. “You both could stand to unwind. As soon as I know something, I’ll let you know. One drink only, though. We might have to move at any minute.”

“Gotcha,” Dalton said, spinning around with Ryder and leading him down the hall. “How about the rest of you?” he asked.

Mandy shook her head. “I’m going with Michael. I’ll let you all know what the Realm has in mind to find them.”

“I’d like to know that, too,” Ryder said, veering toward Mandy.

Dalton held firm to his shoulder. “You need to unwind a little. Mandy will keep us informed.”

Ryder hesitated, then nodded. “You’re probably right. I’d just be in the way right now.”

Trace shrugged. “I’m heading into the lab to see about weapons.”

“Guess it’s just you and me and that drink, then,” Dalton said.

Ryder felt the tension coiled inside him, ready to strike. He knew he was a danger to everyone around him right now, and Dalton was protecting the team by doing whatever it took to distract him.

Fine. Tequila. Whatever. He’d give Michael a few hours at most, then he was going hunting for Angelique on his own, and no one would stop him.

They headed upstairs to the library, where the wet bar was located.

“Shots?” Dalton asked.

“Hell, yeah.”

Dalton grabbed the bottle and two good-sized shot glasses from the wet bar, and poured to the top.

“Thanks for not skimping.” Ryder took his glass, lifted it in a toast, and drained it with one gulp. The thick liquid burned on its way down, but felt good, instantly relieving some of the tightness in his chest.

“Better?”

“It will be after one more.”

Dalton poured. Ryder tossed it down, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Okay, now I might not kill someone.”

Dalton grinned. “Glad to hear it, since I’m the only one close by.” Dalton grabbed the bottle and they took their glasses, sitting in the two chairs by the window.

“We fucked up,” Ryder said, staring at the sofa where he and Angie had made love last night. He could still feel her skin under his hands, could still smell her. She was embedded in him-in his head and, goddamit, in his heart.

He cared about her. Did he love her? Is this what it felt like, this anguished pain deep in his gut? Like part of him was missing when she was away from him?

He didn’t know love. He hadn’t seen much of it in his lifetime. His mother protected him, but all he’d really seen from her was fear. But with Angie. . she’d shown love to him. The caring, the respect, the warmth and tenderness. She brought out a side of him he hadn’t known existed.

Love. The thought terrified him, yet he wanted Angelique back so he could explore more of it.

“The Sons of Darkness wanted that black diamond bad,” Dalton said, jolting him out of his thoughts.

Ryder stared at the shot glass. “I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t expect to see demons on the grounds of the church.”

“None of us did. It’s not your fault, Ryder.”

“Why would they take Angie? They already tried their experiment on her and the diamond in Australia, and it didn’t work. Isabelle I can understand, but not Angie.”

“I don’t know. Maybe they’re using her as leverage to gain Isabelle’s cooperation.”

Ryder nodded. “It’s possible.” He looked at Dalton. “Do you think the Realm will be able to pinpoint their location?”

“Yes, I do. They have people who can tune in to specific individuals’ psychic signatures. I’m sure Michael is working with them right now. We’ll find them.”

Ryder didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure he believed it. All he felt was a sense of emptiness, of guilt. He should have taken care of Angie. Instead, he had let the demons take her. It was the same as thrusting her into their hands.

What was she thinking right now? What were they doing to her? Was she okay?

He lay his head in his hands.

“Ryder, if they don’t. . we will.”

That’s what he needed to hear. He lifted his head. “We’re destroying the black diamond. No experiments. That’s our leverage. Without it, Angie and Isabelle are unnecessary to the Sons of Darkness.”

Dalton’s gaze met his; he nodded. Just like that, they had an understanding. That was solid. Real. He believed Dalton.

The clock was ticking.

He grabbed the bottle and poured another shot.

“Okay, we have something.”

Ryder put the glass down and turned to Michael. “You found them?”

“One of our people picked up Angelique’s signature.”

“Isabelle?” Dalton asked.

Michael shook his head. “Nothing yet, but they’re still working on her. It’s possible they have her hidden beyond what we can pick up. We’re assuming they’re in the same location, so let’s start with Angelique.”

“Fine,” Ryder said. “Where?”

“It’s a remote castle, up the coast, much like this one.”

“Isn’t it unusual for them to be aboveground?” Ryder asked. “I thought they dwelled underground.”

“They do. And yes, it is. We don’t understand it, either. So we’ll just have to go check it out.”

Ryder hated when the bad guys didn’t operate according to standard. That signaled a trap. He didn’t like this.

“The castle is well protected,” Michael continued, “so we’ll need reinforcements. I’ve already alerted Lou. He’s bringing a few of the others. We’ll meet them at the castle.”

“Let’s weapon up,” Ryder said, already feeling the rush of impending battle, glad to be doing something other than drinking to drown the misery and guilt. Inactivity sucked.

Action rocked.

They were going to get Angelique.

“You know they’re coming,” Badon said.

“Of course I do.” Irritated, Tase let the flames lick out, one tendril of fire slapping like a whip toward his brother. Badon stepped back, avoiding that which would cause him excruciating pain.

Tase hated being second-guessed. His brothers needed to learn their place.

“I feel their power.”

“You underestimate ours, Badon. And especially mine.”

He knew exactly what he was doing. Of course they were coming.

His plan was working perfectly.

The Realm was stupid.

And in many ways, so were his brothers-the reason they had not been successful so far.

Was no one fit to lead but him? Could no one match his skills, his cunning? Could they not see what he was doing?

The Sons of Darkness were going to win. The Realm was chasing ghosts.

They’d figure it out soon enough.

“Go back to your assigned tasks, Badon. I have this covered.”

Badon hesitated as if he would speak further. Tase let him know of his displeasure by flaming the entire room. His brother made a hasty exit. Badon would have wounds from this.

Tase was sure his laughter rang in his brother’s ear all the way down the corridor.

Ryder studied the castle from their position several hundred yards away. A typical touristy-type place, built over an open, sandy beach, the crystal blue waters of the Ionian surrounding it.

From a battle perspective, it was well guarded. The beach was easy to watch, so no doubt the castle had been intended as a lookout for attacks from the sea. No one could bring a boat up onto the beach without being seen from the castle turrets. Water on three sides, a hilly expanse of brush, cactus, and insurmountable wall on the other.

Not impossible, but not easy, either.

“We come at it from the hill,” Ryder said. “Through the brush.”

“Cactus,” Dalton pointed out.

“Yeah. Sucks, but doable. It’s dense, but we can weave our way through it, especially if we stay low. There are fewer stickers near the ground.”

“Sounds delightful,” Mandy said. “I’ve always wanted cactus stickers in my ass.”

Trace snorted. “I can pull those out for you, love.”

Mandy rolled her eyes. “Keep dreamin’, stud.”

Ryder checked his watch. “When are the others arriving?”

“Soon,” Michael said.

They’d already been up the hill as far as they could, looking to see if there was an outpost of guards. Nothing. The castle was deserted, or so it seemed. Ryder knew better. It wasn’t like the Sons of Darkness were going to post demons outside in the hot sunlight. Though the thought of demons liquefying in the sun made him smile. He’d pay money to see that.

A sharp crack of someone stepping on a stick made him pivot, lift his weapon.

He relaxed when he saw Lou, the Keeper who’d brought him on board to the demon hunters. Behind Lou were some of the other hunters-ones he knew-Derek and Gina, Rico and his brother Rafe, and Punk.

“I’m glad to see you guys.”

Lou nodded. “Sorry it took us so long. We had to come down from Rome.”

“Anything going on there?”

“Demon hunting,” Punk said with a smart-ass grin.

“Kill any?”

Punk shrugged and ran a hand over his dark spiky hair. “Don’t we always?”

Gina grinned. “I hear you’ve got some new breed of demon.”

“Yeah. Lou fill you in on them?”

Derek slung an arm around Gina’s shoulder. “Something about them appearing in the mist-our standard weaponry doesn’t work, but silver hurts them.”

“You got it.”

“Fun stuff,” Punk said. “Let’s go kill something.”

“You’ll get your chance, Punk,” Lou said. “Patience.”

“Lou, you know that’s not my thing.”

Ryder fought a smile. He liked Punk. Probably because Punk enjoyed killing demons, and that’s pretty much what made his day. Ryder understood that concept. He couldn’t disagree with Punk, either. That’s exactly what Ryder was in the mood for. Get in, kill demons, and get the women out of there.

Along with destroying the black diamond.

Lou had moved over to Michael. Their heads were bent together and they were whispering.

Keeper strategizing and sharing of secrets, no doubt. Which was fine. They could do whatever they wanted as long as the end result was getting Angie out of that castle. Ryder’s rifle rested in the cradle of his arms, his fingers itching to pull the trigger. It couldn’t be soon enough for him. But he understood the need for patience and strategy. He hated it, but it was necessary to the success of a mission.

Michael turned to them. “Though we hate to wait until nightfall because we know the demons are more active then, it’s too risky to try to make a move on the castle during daylight. As soon as the sun sets, we’ll crawl through the cover of the cactus field, then use the brush on the hillside to disguise us. We’ll come up the front and get in that way.”

“Are we using stealth to make our way in, or blasting?” Derek asked.

“There are three entries from the hillside,” Lou said, spreading the map out. “Front door, side kitchen entrance, and servants’ over here on the west.” He slid his laptop around to show them the outlay of the house. “We’ll split the teams, create a diversion at the front door, then slip in hunters through the other two entrances.”

“Looks like a cellar or basement here.” Ryder pointed so they could all see what he referenced.

Lou nodded. “Exactly. My guess, since demons prefer underground, is that they’re holding Angelique and Isabelle somewhere down below. Focus your team’s efforts there, Ryder. Derek, you and Gina take the main floor. Punk, you’re on the upper floors with yours, and for cover for Ryder’s team.”

“Got it,” Punk said.

Their assignments in order, they spent time discussing possible scenarios, how to handle what could go wrong, and then Michael opened up an oversized duffle bag, handing out pistols and clips along with boxes of ammo.

Ryder took the ammo and slid it open, then looked up at Michael. “Silver bullets?”

Michael’s lips curled. “Yeah. In case we face any of the new types of demons.”

“Just like silver kills werewolves in the movies,” Punk said, using the heel of his hand to jam in the clip. He cocked the slider back and loaded one in the chamber.

“Hey, I did that in one of my movies,” Gina said with a wide grin.

“Only this time you get real silver bullets,” Derek added.

“Sort of,” Michael said. “Only these aren’t werewolves. They’re much worse.”

“Do we have any idea what they are?” Punk asked. “I like to know what I’m fighting.”

“They’re not any kind of demon we’ve seen before,” Michael said. “And we haven’t had nearly enough exposure to them to know where they came from or what their purpose is. We’re lucky enough that Ryder and Angelique have had some one-on-one time with them so we at least know one of their weaknesses and how to combat them.”

Punk shoved an elbow in Ryder’s ribs. “Yeah, lucky you.”

Ryder arched a brow. “You jealous?”

“You know it.”

“Angelique saved my life. She took on a demon with her bare hands,” Ryder threw out there.

Punk grimaced. “Damn. I might like that woman.”

Ryder laughed. “Forget it. She’s mine.”

And just like that, he realized he’d claimed her, had stated his feelings about Angelique. Right in front of all these people, without second thoughts about saying it. It had just fallen out of his mouth. Easily, without any effort.

He waited for the stares, the questioning looks, even the questions.

“Too bad. She sounds more like my type. When a demon kills you, I’ll be sure to be around to comfort her. A few days with a real man like me, she’ll forget all about you.”

There were times Ryder was really thankful for Punk’s bizarre sense of humor. Now was one of them. He laughed and turned away, hoping that was the end of talk of Angie and him.

If anyone else had thoughts on the topic, no one said a word or gave him a strange look. They just busied themselves with their weapons. A few smiled at Punk’s comment. Derek just nodded and gave Ryder a knowing smile, then resumed checking his weaponry.

Maybe the only one it had been a big deal to had been Ryder. Hell, for him to say what he’d said had been freakin’ monumental. Of course no one would know that but him.

“Hey.”

He looked up at Punk.

“Yeah?”

“If you’re through mooning over your woman, how about we go kill some demons so you can get her back?”