The honey-and-wine voice of the Seeker filled her veins, pulsing through her like a second heartbeat, enticing her and drawing her closer—but another, darker power kept her from succumbing.
She pulled the sphere out and clutched it, letting the cool metal ease the feverish state of her body.
The Seeker was good, but not as good as he thought.
Chapter 49 – Drake
Drake crouched in the dark Montana wilderness and rubbed his hands to keep warm. Sam shivered beside him despite the many layers he'd insisted she wear. This part of the country had skipped fall altogether and gone straight to winter. An early snow dusted the land around them and enveloped them in the kind of silence only the cold could usher in.
Sam held up the drawing she'd made from her dream. Her teeth chattered as she spoke. "There are guards by the front gate, and guards in and around each building. The Seeker is likely located in what was once the main office. We need to get in and find him."
"I have a plan for that." Drake knew she wouldn't like it, but he could see no other way. "We take control of the guards' minds and pretend to be prisoners. They'll take us directly to the Seeker."
Sam didn't reply, but Drake could practically hear her mind as she tried to think of any solution other than mind control.
"It's better than fighting our way through," he reminded her.
She flinched and pulled away from him.
His heart sank. It was bad enough that she would never forgive him for beating that man, but he had to battle his own self-loathing as well. He would do anything to protect his family—even if that condemned him in the eyes of the one he loved most—but it did little to ease his conscience.
"Sam, we won't hurt them. We need a way in, and this is the easiest and safest way for all."
"What if they're like the men who came after us, and we can't use our powers on them?"
"I'm going on the assumption that the Seeker can't control everyone all the time. It made sense he would protect the minds of those he sent after us, but he probably doesn't waste energy on every guard here. It's a risk we have to take."
Sam stood and stretched. Each day her stomach grew, the baby inside getting stronger and bigger. Drake caressed and kissed her belly before he rose to lead them into danger.
Dressed all in black, they blended into the night, but they couldn't silence the crunch of snow underfoot, no matter how stealthy they were.
Before they exposed themselves, Drake and Sam linked minds and took control of the two men on patrol.
Drake commanded them mentally. 'When we walk up to you, take us through the gates safely and show us to your leader, the one called Seeker. Alert no one else to our presence. Deflect any inquiry about us. Act as though we're captured, but defend us with your lives if it comes to that.'
The compulsion waned with the last statement as Drake felt Sam pull away, repulsed by the thought that these men might die for them.
They maintained their mental control and approached the guards. Drake stepped in front of Sam, to protect her if things went wrong.
The guards' glazed eyes stared at him, offering no resistance. Without waiting for further commands, they led Drake and Sam through the electrified gates and onto the school grounds. This early in the morning, few staff or students were up and about. They walked to the main office without conflict or question.
Uneasiness stirred in Drake. He'd hoped for easy, but this was too easy.
The guards guided them to a white door and turned to leave. Drake mentally stopped the guard closest to him and compelled him to give up his gun.
"Drake, what are you doing? We don't need guns. We aren't killing anyone."
'I'm not taking any chances, Sam. If we can't use powers on this guy, then bullets will have to do.'
With gun in hand, Drake turned the knob on the door. While still connected mentally to Sam, he sensed her scan the room. They found no trace of another mind.
The darkness temporarily blinded them. Drake felt Sam reach for his hand. "Something doesn't feel right."
A flick of a match startled them both. The soft illumination of a candle revealed the Seeker, dressed in a flowing white robe, with long, pale hair, sitting in a chair. His translucent skin and fragile body reminded Drake of a vampire.
The Seeker smiled at them and lit a few more candles. "You will have to forgive the low lighting. My eyes have become very sensitive as of late, and anything more than candlelight is simply intolerable."
Sam stepped forward from behind Drake. Her voice didn't quaver at all as she addressed their enemy. "You're the Seeker, then?"