Slow Burn (20 page)

He stepped toward Carmela with both hands up to show they
were empty. With the gun still tucked in the waistband of his jeans, he kept
walking very slowly. “If you don’t calm down, something very bad is going to
happen.”

Carmela continued to shake worse as she thrust the gun
upwards. “She better not lose it. Or not only will you three die, but her band
mates will also be killed.”

Sonja’s eyes widened. “What?” Her jaw dropped.

Derrick felt the punch in his gut from Carmela’s words.
Sonja’s energy rose and poured over Derrick hard enough to knock him down. But
he steadied himself and managed to reach for her, trying to still his mind even
though the crazy bitch lady had a gun on them, two goons behind them were armed
with higher caliber firepower, and it appeared that crazy bitch lady had
captured the rest of Ark-KaotiK.

“She gets over here now.” Carmela narrowed dark-green eyes.

Derrick held his position, seeing the flames of cold hatred
in Carmela’s sunken eyes. He kept a lock on Max from the corner of his eye.

Max the human did nothing. But Derrick saw the vision of
Max’s puma in his mind, formulating a plan to hunt, poised to strike once the
situation presented itself. Shifters usually used methods irrational to humans
to attack, but to animals, those methods made perfect sense. The only clue
Derrick had about the wheels spinning in Max’s mind was his brother’s deep,
even breathing.

The puma inside Derrick wanted to attack, end the torment,
and kill Carmela. It wanted blood.

The way Carmela’s hand shook around the gun made him
nervous. Sonja stood too close; a fatal wound would kill her. Derrick or Max
could take the hit, it’d slow them down, but he wasn’t sure either of them
could move fast enough to get Sonja out of harm’s way before the two idiots
holding semi-automatics opened fire.

“So what will you do, witch?”

“You only want me.” Sonja’s breathing slowed. She blinked,
stepped closer, hands up in a defensive position. One foot carefully in front
of the other, her gaze locked on Carmela’s.

“I only want you. Your brother is of no concern to me. You
only have to do one thing.”

Derrick clenched his fists, digging his nails into his
palms.

Sonja’s jaw ticked and an eyebrow rose. “How do I know
you’ll let my friends go if I surrender?”

“You don’t. You simply have to trust me. It’s easy to trust
those you hate. Hell, even I could do it, though it was halfhearted with the
bastard bear over there. Now, come here and give me the one thing I want. Your
friends die now or they live to fight another day if you surrender.”

Again, against Derrick’s wishes, Sonja took another step and
he swore he felt himself losing her.

“What is the one thing you want?”

Carmela twitched, more from a physical ailment than out of
annoyance if Derrick had to guess. She smelled off, her scent tainted. “Very
simple. You’ll play a show at our request at a place we choose.”

“We don’t do private audiences or requests. That’s what—”

“It’s not a private audience. It’ll be a large gathering of
shifters who all like the noise you play.” Again Carmela spat the last few
words out, indicating her immense disdain for death metal.”

Sonja’s shoulders tensed visibly. “Why?”

“You’re entertaining the idea, Sonja?” Derrick couldn’t hold
the frustration from his voice but he kept his energy in check. Sonja could
have that nervous breakdown and it’d only cause the deaths of another six
people here and now, himself included.

He’d seen into her soul earlier. When she came into his head
to pull out the dead weight and emotional baggage, she left a piece of herself
there as part of the new bond between them. What terrified her was the
screaming of those who died accidentally at her hands. Since she couldn’t be
held accountable, every time she murdered someone in a situation like this
where local authorities couldn’t get involved, she felt guilty.

It also proved her love, even if she wouldn’t say it out
loud just yet. She’d have to trust him.

“Yeah. What choice do I have? My band is at risk here and…”
She let the unspoken words hang between them.

Her sacrifice required Derrick to trust her. He didn’t like
that option but saw no other way. Max’s actions mirrored his own. “Fuck.” He
gritted his teeth together. Blood had begun to trickle down his hands and drip
onto the ground from the cuts his nails made into his flesh.

Sonja looked back over her shoulder, worry etched into lines
of her beautifully stressed face. “You need to get that looked at. Besides,
I’ll be fine.” She looked back at Carmela. The weapon had lowered slightly but
still pointed at a vital point on Sonja’s body.

Too high risk, it prevented Derrick from making a move.

And the drugs still affected Rob. Derrick smelled the scents
around him; whatever they’d used to knock Rob out was strong enough to do some
serious damage to Max, but shifter blood worked faster than human blood; their
cells replicated at forty-eight times the rate of humans. So Max could purge
the poison out quickly, but Rob…Rob wouldn’t need an antidote, but he’d need a
long nap. Hospital care would probably be a good idea, just in case.

“Fine.” Sonja interrupted the silence with her one word of
acquiescence.

“You’ll play where we tell you. We’ll provide the road crew.
Just you and the band to set up. You can do this, I assume?” Carmela’s legs
remained shoulder width apart and the gun in her hand shook slightly less when
she held it with her other hand.

“That makes no sense. We simply play a show to a large group
of shifters and—” Carmela’s plan dawned on her. Sonja glared. “This isn’t
right.”

Carmela put a hand to her ear. “It’s like my give-a-fuck is
broke.” She shot Sonja a dirty look. “Oh wait, it is. You’re going to do this
or you’re all going to die and I’ll find another fucking way.”

“What purpose does our playing serve? You hate us.”

Carmela nodded. “Let’s say I have some people who want to
see what hypocrites the shifters are when they start watching your band murder
them.”

“You’re starting a war among the humans and shifters, aren’t
you?”

Clapping her hands, Carmela stepped back, a satisfied smile
on her wretched face. “Bravo. Give the ex-spy a fucking cookie. Damn right we
are. And since humans far outnumber the shifters, this will be a blood bath,
yes, but one that’s righteous and will deliver us from the evils of your kind.”

Angry now, Derrick shook a fist. “You’re responsible for the
deaths of those Spetznaz, aren’t you? How do you like having blood on your
hands?”

She threw her head back in laughter. “I am indeed
responsible, you pathetic fool. They were shifters just like you, had as much
bullshit pride as you do. And after I sent them to kidnap your little
girlfriend here…” She waved the gun at Sonja. “I sent them in to guard the safe
house. Unfortunately a nosey spy…” She shot daggers at Max. “…found us and
brought some friends. So I pulled the plug on my end.”

“And let them all die while you robbed them. How nice.” As
Max spoke, the drowsiness in his voice was evident.

“Fuck you. They were worthless, just as your entire species
is. They’ve contaminated the human gene pool and created a bastardized version
of what should walk this earth. This land belongs to those who can take and
lead, not those who seek a false sense of safety with animals. And you’re
nothing but animals, all of you. I smell him on you.” She narrowed her eyes on
Sonja. “I can’t believe you’d sell out humanity to be with a filthy animal.
Have you no pride?”

Sonja didn’t reply.

“Answer me!” Carmela raised the gun at Sonja’s head.

Derrick swallowed the bile rising in his throat and felt the
lead weight in his gut sink. Those men were not shifters. They were regular
humans. If they’d been animal in any way, shape, or form, Derrick would have
smelled it. Something was definitely wrong with Carmela.

“It was never about pride. We’re not a band that preaches
subjugation of anyone for any reason. I’m not a witch who serves evil. I
believe in the beauty of all things.”

Carmela rolled her eyes. “Dirty, wasted speech. But pretty.
Now come on.” She waved a hand toward Sonja. “And if they try to follow,
they’ll be spitting lead if they wake up.”

Derrick swore softly. “Fuck.”

Sonja turned to face him as she backed up slowly toward
Carmela. “Don’t worry,” she mouthed. “I’ll be fine. And I love you.” The last
part she whispered just loud enough for his sensitive hearing to pick up.

The puma inside raged violently with the desire to kill
Carmela but the human knew better. “Dammit!”

Then he watched Carmela swing the butt of the gun against
Sonja’s head, knocking her out.

She fell into Carmela’s arms and was dragged out of the
warehouse, leaving Derrick, Max, and Rob behind with two armed guards.

Chapter Eleven

“Wake up, bitch.”

Sonja groaned and touched her head. She rubbed the sore
spot, opened her eyes, and found her vision still slightly blurred. Gray stone
walls formed the prison room that held in the dank, cool air.

Behind Sonja, light streamed in through a tiny barred
window. Where was she?

“Wake up, you fucking whore,” the feminine voice shouted and
kicked Sonja.

The boot to her ribs hurt and probably cracked a few of them,
knocking the air from Sonja’s lungs. Thank Goddess she had Derrick’s leather
jacket to blunt some of the pain, but damn did that hurt. “Fuck you,” she spat.

Her eyes opened fully and she saw Carmela standing above
her. If she were quick, she could take her down and run.

Dressed in blue jeans that hid nothing and a form-fitting
top that revealed plenty of unappealing cleavage, Carmela stood with her hands
on her hips. Her hair was pulled back into a tight braid that emphasized the
hatred in her eyes. The faint smell of bitterness tickled Sonja’s nose
unpleasantly. Perhaps the magic signal Carmela projected; one of hatred,
betrayal, and jealousy. A gun rested in a strap on her hip.

Sonja picked up the fiery scent of gunpowder.

Carmela’s beady eyes widened. “You’re brave now. But if you
want to live, you’ll do as you’re told. And that includes joining your band
mates in the cell next to you.”

Sonja’s nerves shot to high alert. Every violent emotion
reared its head and threatened to overwhelm her. Sadness at her defeat sent
bile to her throat and the pit of her stomach. Hopelessness weighed heavily on
her shoulders and forced her to send energy through her body to remove the
excess pressure.

Yet her power built and the bars began to shake.

Carmela’s eyes narrowed and she frowned. “Remember the deal.
Magic when I say, otherwise you all die. Connected to the ventilation in the
cell containing your friends, is a tank full of poison. If you make one false
move, it gets released into the air and they’ll die within minutes. Then I’ll
have to find another way to eliminate the majority of the shifters in this area
and start my war. And that, bitch, would seriously piss me off and I’d have to
let Bruno have his way with you.” She motioned behind her with her head to a tall
giant of a man who looked like he didn’t hold much in the way of intelligence.
Close -cut hair gripped his square-shaped skull. Beady black eyes narrowed as
thin lips curved upwards in a sneer. He dressed in a white wife-beater with
blue jeans tucked into scuffed and well-worn boots. He towered a good foot over
Carmela.

“I’d like that.” The tone of his deep voice gave off clues
to his lack of intelligence.

Sonja tried to rein in her magic. It took a moment of deep
breathing and focus but she managed to clear out the air and let some state of
calmness settle over her. “Great, he’s big, dumb, and has a dick. Fine.”

Carmela leered. “I’m going to open this door and you’re
going to come with me. Can you sing?”

Sonja nodded. “But if you keep hitting me and knocking me
out then, no, I cannot.”

“Too bad.” The bars slid open. “Come. You’ll have a day to
heal while we promote the greatest show your stupid band has ever played.
You’ll literally be able to bathe in the blood of every shifter in the audience
if you so choose. And why not? You do play a horrid style of music.” Carmela’s
eyes slanted as she spat the last words out.

Sonja scowled, pulled the trench coat around her, and strode
forward, keeping an eye on Bruno. Up close, he looked even less intelligent. “You
were in football in high school, weren’t you?”

He grunted. “Middle school. I never got to high school. Now
move.” He shoved his hand on the center of her back, giving her quite a push
down the poorly lit hallway.

She stumbled forward and resisted the urge to retaliate with
a ball of fire to his face. Or even a fist.

Her band mates would die if she used magic now.

Hell, Carmela might be well connected enough to have had
others outside find Derrick and Rob. Sonja had to wonder though, how had they
fared? It pained her to think they were dead, and she let out a gasp at the
thought.

No, they couldn’t be. Her heart ached for Derrick, more out
of longing than despair at his life being over.

Shit. She’d really become a liability.

But the bond would make it easier for him to sense her. She
neglected to tell him that part. If she did die, he’d know it regardless of
where in the world he was.

That thought made her heart ache. He’d been good to her in
the few days they’d known each other.

The bond served a purpose. Her brother warned her earlier,
but what had she done? She got herself involved, because ultimately she was
selfish. She’d found the one person who balanced her, kept her even, and washed
the magical despair away. There, she admitted it. Sonja wanted something in
this world to call her own and she’d managed to find it, only it made her an
even bigger liability by the nature of her existence as a witch.

She had heard Erick’s words of caution and acceptance. That
guy definitely possessed something more than just a puma. He had intrigued her
enough to listen to what he had to say to Derrick before she was brought into
Derrick’s private territory.

Then he said nothing further. Yet he’d made himself known to
her last night; she was certain it was his beast looking in on them. Why?

A hand gripped her elbow and forced her to turn to her left.
She saw a heavy metal door, heard the clank of the lock, and watched it open.

Her stomach sank when she saw her other band mates in the
small space.

Dez, Corey, Raj, and Jacob sat spaced apart on two small
mats on the floor. “Hi.” Corey waved.

She offered a faint grin before that large brute’s hand
shoved against her back again and jolted her forward.

“See you in a day.” Carmela cackled and slammed the door
shut.

She stared at all of them, read their expressions. No one
appeared hostile toward her but she still felt responsible. “Guys, I’m sorry. I
think once we’re out of here we need to really talk about finding you a new
lead singer—”

“Ugh, no. I won’t be havin’ it and neither will they.” Jacob
straightened his shoulders and turned those pale blue eyes on her. “We’ll git
outta here and we won’t be breakin’ up because some nasty whackos out there
think they can manipulate us or you.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she met each one of their
gazes. “Do you all feel this way?”

Corey stood and started toward her. Slightly taller than
Sonja, with broader shoulders and a barrel chest, he set a hand on her
shoulder. “You’re family. We know. We understand what’s at stake. And what
they’ve asked us to do. It’s not right. But…”

She started to speak.

He held up a hand. “But we’ve studied magic. I think it’s
time we tell her.” He looked over his shoulder at Raj and Dez. Neither of them
said a word, but their silent agreement hung heavy in the air. “We all have our
specialties. None of us possesss the same type of power you have; we’re human.
Not like you and Rob. But the reason this band works, the reason you’re not so
tired is because we do all we can to support you through healing chants
beforehand.”

Her eyes widened in amazement. “When I’m alone before show
time?”

He nodded. “Yeah. After the first incident, we realized
something deeper had gone on. Rob explained the basics of your power to us and
told us how to help you through use of focused chants. He told us that the
reaffirmations of power from us would strengthen your clarity. Granted, our
efforts don’t work as well since none of us are your mate. But…” He sighed.
“It’s all we can do. And we’re not backing down. You’re family.”

She wanted to cry. For the first time in her life, she
didn’t feel one hundred percent alone. Being Derrick’s mate gave her hope and a
future she could believe in. Her band backed that up with their confession. She
never noticed the impact of their power; combating jittery nerves before show
time took all her focus. It made sense though, the reason she’d been less than
a wreck many a time after a show when she should have been wasted.

Raj and Dez stood, both towering in front of the one tiny
window that remained only inches from their heads.

Corey’s arms circled around her. He nuzzled her cheek with
his, then backed off and released her. “How are we going to get around playing
without killing anyone? Is it possible for you to target an attack on the bitch
that’s forcing us to do this? Maybe gather the energy and send it her way?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been with…” Should she tell them? They’d
just called her family so, yeah. “Derrick has been helping keep my power in
check.” She shook her head. “I’ve never tried to focus a large amount of energy
on something so small. Will we even know if she’s in the building with us?”

“This could make for an interesting DVD.” Corey coughed.

She punched his shoulder. “No.”

“It would be brutal.” Jacob snickered. “But staging
theatrics is much more entertaining than the real thing. What would happen if
you did try to target all their anger on Carmela?”

Sonja paced to one of the gray walls, set a palm flat
against it, and sighed. “I don’t know. I imagine the results would be disastrous.
We’re talking about taking the angry feelings from a rambunctious audience of
maybe a few thousand and shoving all that into one person. I’m not sure it’s
our best bet.”

“Aye.” Jacob nodded. “You canna shove an ocean inna
thimble.”

She sighed. “How long have you been here?”

“About two days. Just before that, we were sitting in a
private area of a bar. They ambushed us with men. Russian men, from the sound
of things.” Corey kicked the stone wall.

She swore. Those men captured her then went after her band.
And Max and Derrick had only known about her. Her ire rose. “They’re all dead.”

There was a collective gasp.

“Yeah.” She clenched her fists and let out a long, slow
breath. “Carmela hates all the shifters of this world. She used and abused ex-Spetznaz
operatives to conduct the bulk of this operation and kidnap me…
us
now.”
She lifted her head back, ran her hands through her hair, and turned on one
heel to face her band mates. “This mess with my life has already led to at
least thirty deaths.”

Raj lifted his head and opened his eyes. He inhaled slowly,
let out an even slower breath. “This has caused more than that. There has been
a large cat in my dreams, stalking, praying. Is this your puma?”

She stiffened, uncertain of Derrick’s true abilities. She’d
seen into his head and found him to be resourceful, strong, resistant to a lot
of the crap in the world, but all she’d seen of his power came out in strength
and heart, not magic. “I don’t think Derrick can interfere with the dreams of
others.”

Raj closed his eyes.

Torn between frowning and smiling, Sonja touched the cold
wall beside her and felt a chill. She hoped that imagining warmth would calm
her nerves.

It didn’t. The fact that she might be responsible for so
much blood disturbed any peace she might have felt.

She turned toward Raj.

Raj settled against the wall. He breathed in a steady
rhythm, indicating he’d gone into a trance.

She wished she could do that now. Emotions ran high, despite
everyone saying they were okay with however things played out. Fear still
singed the edge of anything else they felt.

She couldn’t alleviate their pain or fear either. To do so
would contaminate her, and without Derrick’s help, she couldn’t cleanse herself
without spending a day or two alone. The band always played shows with a day of
rest planned between them to avoid overloading Sonja’s ability to function.

But now, she had nothing. The results of the concert would
be disastrous. She’d start singing once they played. She’d probably be forced
to play an abbreviated show which meant the half-hour warm up the band used to
still the crowd and create single focus would be out.

Jacob huffed, clapped his hands on his thighs, and let out a
long slow breath. “What will they call the show?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’d rather not think about the
fact that they’re also bringing in television crews and broadcasting the show
live.”

“Under normal circumstances our lawyers would handle this
and we’d end up with TV rights but this has none of that. What’s the reason for
this shit?” Corey blinked.

“Carmela’s hoping to start a war between the humans and
shifters, not only eliminating the audience that attends our show, but seeing
as there are already so few shifters in the world, she figures it’ll be a good
cleansing.”

“Fuck.” The band collectively gasped, Raj even broke from
his trance.

“That about says it all.” Sonja looked around the room, saw
the sad expressions on the others faces. She really didn’t want to do this.
Bile rose in her throat, her stomach buzzed with millions of insects, not
butterflies. “How can I do this?”

Jacob shuddered. “Can we create the illusion of death?”

She shook her head. “I’ve never tried. I’m not confident
that I could skillfully pull off that high level of magic just yet.”

“Just what’s the most powerful thing you’ve done?” She
didn’t miss the bitterness in Corey’s tone.

Jacob held a hand up. “Hold up lass, donna have to answer
that.”

She glared at Corey. “No, he’s right. I need to face facts.
We need to face facts. Everything I’ve done with magic has been for the greater
good, except incidents which I’ve…ended lives. I freak, I get caught up in
thought and stuck in patterns of fear. Then, boom!” She clapped her hands
together for emphasis. “Next thing I know I’m being woken up in a hospital and the
threat has been killed. I’m not proud.” She spat the words out, glared daggers
at Corey. “But people have died at my hand because I couldn’t control my
emotional reactions to all the threats on my life.”