The End of Darkness (8 page)

Not the time to be sassy.
 “I said, 'Excuse me.'“ 
 

She turned back to the bistro, using the glass's reflection to keep an eye on the man. If he made a move, she was ready to use the point of her turquoise boot to introduce his balls to his kidneys. At five-foot-ten, she could kick ass if she needed to. He stared at her as though he were considering going after her. Over nothing! She lunged for the handle and stepped inside, facing him from inside. He stalked away, his body tense and rigid. 

She'd sensed that dark energy just last week in a man who was staying at Cheveyo's house. Magnus had been gorgeous, polite, staying out of her way while she cleaned, but that eerie energy had wigged her out.

This was where it paid off to sense people's energy and moods. Most of the time, it was a pain in the ass.

“Table for one?” a woman asked from behind her.

Suza spun around and nearly choked at sensing the same energy in the petite hostess. Except she was smiling, though the smile didn't reach her eyes. 

“I'm meeting someone.” Suza searched the room full of tables. “There she is. Thanks.”

Carlene stood and waved, wearing one of her kitschy cat sweaters. Her blond hair was frazzled, and she wore no makeup. Suza held out her arms to embrace her but paused. Oh, no, she had the energy, too. 

“What's the matter?” Carlene asked. “You look like you saw a monster.” Then she laughed. “Oh, it's me, isn't it?”

Suza blinked, speechless at the admission. 

“I just didn't feel like putting on makeup or doing anything with myself. But look at you, that peaches-and-cream complexion I'd kill for, as beautiful as ever.”

Suza completed their hug, holding her close for a moment. “Something strange is going on in this town.”

Carlene stepped back. “You feel it? Well, of course you would.” She gestured for Suza to sit and took her own seat. 

“What's going on around here?”

“Tremors. Earthquake tremors. We've been experiencing them for the last month, and they're getting worse. Everyone's on edge. We've had fights, road rage, domestic violence. Even a serial killer. It's like Strasford has reverted to the Wild West days.”

“Yeah, some guy was about to tear my throat out, and 
he
 bumped into 
me
.” But this wasn't just tension. She stared into her friend's eyes. “How are you feeling?”
 

“Tired. No, more like run down. I feel hopeless and I don't know why. My job's going good, even if my boss has been a butthead lately.”

“You haven't been angry? Had any violent outbursts?” A little worrisome considering Carlene's comment about killing her over her complexion.

Carlene laughed and picked up her menu. “Of course not. You know me, still a…what was it you used to call me when you were trying to rile me up? A dishrag?”

“Only trying to get you to stand up for yourself.” Suza had no appetite, but she perused the menu. Or pretended to. Instead she checked out the bistro's patrons. Holy hell. Most had the same dark energy. 

The waitress's arrival jarred her out of her freaked-out thoughts. Suza ordered the first thing her eyes found, stir-fried tofu nuggets, and focused on her friend again. Except Carlene was looking beyond her to the entrance with a blank expression and pushing to her feet. “Excuse me.”

A man stepped outside, holding the door for Carlene. He appeared to be in his thirties with pale skin and blond hair combed straight back. He spoke to her for a minute, handed her a tote bag, and then she simply headed down the sidewalk beside him. No wave to Suza, no 
I'll be right back
. Suza launched to her feet and made it out the door in time to see Carlene walk into the Strasford Bank right behind the man. 
 

Suza followed in Carlene's footsteps, spotting the man exiting the bank a moment later and crossing the street. Angry shouts drew Suza closer, where several people were fighting in the bank's lobby. The security guard stood near the door like a statue, completely ignoring the scene. Two women were bickering over deposit slips at the island counter. Suza spotted her friend—holding a gun to the teller! A squeak came out of her mouth. Now the security guard took action—to keep Suza from entering the bank.

“You cannot enter here.” He had that same blank look Suza had seen in the others, and they all had the dark, evil energy. 

“Carlene!” she shouted, trying to get around the guard. 

Carlene turned, but not in response to Suza's shout. She was a zombie, clutching the tote Suza suspected contained cash and heading toward the door. In her other hand she held the gun. 

The guard opened the friggin' door for her! 

The alarm pealed as Carlene bumped past Suza and headed across the street. Suza grabbed her sleeve, and Carlene pointed the gun at her. “Leave me alone,” she intoned like a robot. Then she turned and continued on, where she approached the man she'd spoken with earlier. She handed him the bag and walked away.

Down the road, another alarm pealed. Another zombie'd person, a young man this time, came down the sidewalk and handed the man his satchel. Then another woman came out of a jewelry store and handed the man a box. He said not one word as he took each parcel and then disappeared around the corner.

A moment later, two police cars came screaming down the road, splitting off in two directions: to each of the banks. The teller who'd handed Carlene the satchel stood by the door, one of the few people who weren't in a fugue state. 

She pointed to Carlene. “That's her!” 

Suza was only a few feet behind them as they approached Carlene, guns out.

“Drop the weapon!” they both shouted.

Carlene blinked, looking as though she'd just woken up. She stared at the gun, then the cops, and dropped it. They rushed in, shoving her to the ground and cuffing her.

“Wait!” Suza ran up to them, but the younger cop held out his weapon toward her. 

“Back up, ma'am.”

“That's my friend. She's not a bank robber.” The mere notion made a hysterical giggle erupt. But she had seen it. She also saw that both cops harbored the same dark energy. Hell. Literally, like hell had crept into this lovely town.

“She's been identified as one. The only thing you can do for her is call a lawyer.” He hauled her to her feet and pushed her toward the patrol car. The other cop entered the bank, which was still in a state of chaos. People inside pushed and shouted at each other as though they were oblivious to what had just happened.

Because they were.

Three more police cars joined the scene, one breaking off toward the other bank. Then the jewelry store's alarm added to the cacophony.

Suza approached the car in which Carline sat, looking shell-shocked. Her eyes met Suza's, her voice muffled by the glass of the closed window. “What happened? Why was I holding a gun?”

“Because you just robbed a bank.”

Suza saw the shock on her friend's face.

“Move away from the car, ma'am,” one of the officers shouted from the bank's entrance.

“She was in a trance,” Suza said, approaching him. “Like she'd been hypnotized. She handed the money to a man.” 

“You're saying that your friend robbed a bank and just handed off the money? Then stood there while we arrived on the scene?”

“Yes, that's exactly what happened. Look around. These people are all in some kind of trance.”

He glanced around, but Suza could see that deadened look in his eyes, too. The same way Carlene's eyes had appeared before she'd gone off with that man. “Everyone looks fine to me. Please remain nearby so we can take your statement.”

Suza took a step back. “Sure. I'll do that.” 

What was that movie where the aliens took over people's bodies and then hunted down everyone who hadn't been infected? 
Body Snatchers?
 

She hated to leave her friend, but she needed to get help. Who could she call?

Why Pope's name popped into her head, she didn't know. Well, maybe because she'd been thinking about him. Because if he had a dangerous job, that meant he was used to dealing with dangerous people.

She got into her car and maneuvered out of the snarl of cars and people now crowding into the downtown area. More than half of the people had that same dull look and dark energy. 

Alien invasion? Demon possession? It was going to sound crazy to Pope, but if she could get him out here, he'd see for himself.

She pulled off the road once she cleared the area and called him. “Pope, it's Suza.”

“Is everything all right? You feel—er, sound, upset.”

Her voice trembled with every word. “More like freaked out.” She gave him a rundown of what had happened. “And the strangest part is Cheveyo's friend had a similar feel about him. Not tranced out, but dark.”

“Magnus,” he confirmed, oddly not reacting to her assertion. “Where is this town?”

“You don't think I'm nuts?” Relief suffused her. She thought she'd have to wheedle and convince him. 

“I have quite the open mind about things of a bizarre nature.”

“I'm in Strasford, in the northwest corner of Arizona. Not far from where we met in Flag.”

She heard noise, and then what sounded like the crinkling of a map. “Ah.”

“Ah, what?”

Silence for a moment. “You must be aware of the places of strange energy out there. Sedona has the Bell Tower, for instance. The people I work for have been investigating those areas for some time. Strasford isn't far from one of them.”

Who did he work for? Questions crowded into her mind about the mysterious Pope, but the biggest one she spoke aloud: “Does this mean you're coming out?” More than relief bombarded her at the thought of seeing him again, of having him help her figure this out.

“I, uh, no, I'm afraid I can't get away from my current location in Maryland. My brother, however, is very close to you. I'll ring Cassius up and send him your way. You'll be hearing from him soon.”

“Will you come out at all?”

“I'm sorry, Suza. I cannot.” 

She released a breath. “All right, thanks for sending Cassius out.” What kind of name was that? “I'll be waiting for his call.”

“Get somewhere safe. Talk to no one, not even the police.”

She smiled. He cared about her, dammit. That's what frustrated her the most. “I will. And won't.” She remained in her car, twisting her silver rings on her trembling fingers and waiting for the phone to ring.

CHAPTER 8

Pope studied the map for another minute. Strasford was situated between two finestras, portals to the dimension he used to call home before he became an outlaw. That couldn't be a coincidence. 

He called Magnus's cell phone to see if he'd sensed anything, especially considering what Suza had said about the energy being similar to his. No answer. Then he called Cheveyo. “Have you heard from Magnus lately?”

“A couple of days ago he had a question about the area. Why?”

“Suza just called. She's picking up some dark energy that's affecting a large part of the population of Strasford. If it were anyone but Suza, I'd think she was paranoid. Since she accurately senses feelings, I've got to investigate.”

“I've been through the town a few times but never sensed anything off. Let me know what you find.” Cheveyo paused. “And will you be seeing Suza?”

Pope's chest tightened at the thought. “I will, but as my brother.”

“Can't you change your appearance back to your old one? It's been six months since Yurek killed you.”

Yurek had been assigned to bring Pope back to the other dimension for a death sentence. Unfortunately he'd also discovered Cheveyo and Petra. 

Pope shook his head. “I can't chance it. If Yurek sees me, the false memories you implanted of him killing us will be for naught. It's possible that there are other Callorians in the area who could recognize me as well. If they figure out I didn't die, they'll know you and Petra didn't either, and someone will come after us again.” He would do nothing to endanger the only family he now had. “Besides, Pope and Suza can never be, for obvious reasons.”

“Yeah, getting involved with ordinary humans can be tricky. Petra's fine with me turning into a jaguar, but I'm guessing most women would have a slight problem with that.”

“You're being sarcastic,” Pope said with a nod. “
Slight
 problem.” He was trying to master the way humans used language, but it was only 'slightly' easier than figuring out emotions. “As Suza would have in finding out I come from another dimension and that my human façade covers a body 'slightly' different from hers.” Not in form, as he still had all the basic components. But his body's composition was beautifully opaque. “Imagine how difficult it would be to explain that I changed my façade.” 
 

That he had grown out his brown hair wasn't a big deal, but he was not as tall. Both his facial structure and body mass was different. This time he opted for a look that blended in better, though women often gave him admiring looks—and feelings. The only woman who had captured his fascination was Suza. He felt something that was likely grief at the hopelessness of the situation. “I must go now, as she's in a tense situation. However, I will need to 'port to you and borrow your phone, as my brother cannot have the same number as I.”

“Sure—”

Pope stood in Petra and Cheveyo's kitchen, his hand over his eyes. “Is it safe to look?” Once he'd come in without warning and found them in a most interesting position. He'd learned quickly to alert them before popping in.

“I'm alone. Petra's with Amy, getting ready for the baby shower.” Cheveyo handed him the phone. “Which you're going to miss, by the way.”

“Tell Amy I'm sorry, but I will see her soon. Here, use my phone.”

He focused on Suza, her sunny energy that outshined the heartache she'd suffered in life. Her black hair with bangs that framed eyes the color of a storm-tossed night. The memory he visited often of her posed in her leopard underpretties. It stirred him in places he had never felt a stirring in. 

In the next instant, he stood behind her truck. If he 'ported to an unknown location, he activated his visual shield in case anyone happened to be watching. People wandered along the street off of which Suza had parked. He walked around the back of the building that housed many shops and then dropped his shield.