Visions of Skyfire

Chapter 22

Kellyn was on hold.

On hold.

Her fingers tightened around the cell phone until she was surprised the tiny device didn’t simply shatter in her hand.

The Presidential Suite at the Ritz-Carlton, D.C., felt claustrophobic as she waited, listening to silence, wondering what the hell was going on at the damn lab. The mortals in her little cadre were getting completely out of hand. They were treating her as if she was one of them. As if she didn’t have enough power in her little finger to send them all into a caldera.

Which she just might do if someone didn’t answer the bloody—

“Henry Fender speaking.”

She huffed out a breath as the familiar masculine voice came on the line. “Dr. Fender,” she said, congratulating herself silently on the calm, even tone she maintained.

“Kellyn,” he replied. “How nice to hear from you.” Nice?

Henry Fender was the head of the Seekers. A national organization that ostensibly existed to find a way to steal magical abilities from the witches it captured. In reality, of course, Henry was looking for so much more.

The fact that the membership of his organization actually believed that Henry would share one iota of power with them only gave credence to just how convincing Henry could be—or, she thought with a smile, just how gullible humans were.

She drew his image up in her mind. He looked like everyone’s fantasy version of a lovable grandfather. Though he was only in his fifties, he had a full head of flyaway gray hair that fed into the appearance of geniality. His cool blue eyes were hidden behind round glasses and his voice, always soft and caring, gave the impression of gentleness.

Amazing just how far off impressions could be from reality.

Of course, Kellyn had known just what kind of man Henry Fender was the moment she met him. But then, she had powers of perception that most didn’t. Lucky her.

She pushed off the sofa and walked barefoot to the private veranda off her suite. The view of Washington was spectacular and as she stared at the city lights shining below her in the distance, she said, “I’ve been waiting for an update on your latest acquisition, Doctor. And I’m sure I don’t have to remind you that I’m not a patient person.”

“No, of course not.” He paused, as if measuring his words. “I was preparing my notes before calling both you and our associate.”

Careful, she thought. At least he was intelligent enough to be careful about what he said over an open phone line. With federal agencies forever expanding their snooping policies, one just never knew when a line might be tapped. She could spell the line to protect their conversation, but frankly, she simply didn’t care enough to do that. If Fender was caught, it wouldn’t affect her. And what could any federal agency do to her?

Although no sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she was reminded of how she’d once been captured and imprisoned. She’d needed the aid of an Eternal, of all things, in order to break free. Fine. She would be as circumspect as Fender.

“Excellent,” she said, laying one hand on the cool iron railing. “You have news, then?”

“A few nuggets of information, but sadly, our latest … guest … was devoid of anything interesting involving our ongoing project.”

Fabulous, Kellyn thought. The man was the most gifted torturer she had ever known and considering her background, that was truly saying something. If Doc Fender couldn’t get information out of a captured witch, then there was nothing to be found. Another dead end. Well, there were plenty of witches running around out there.

“Do you have any other guests scheduled to arrive soon?”

“Yes,” Fender told her carefully. “As a matter of fact, I’m expecting two friends later this afternoon.”

“Good. Be sure to tell me if they give you anything special.”

“Of course,” he said and his tone was even more unctuous.

Kellyn rolled her eyes and told herself she wouldn’t have to deal with him forever. “You’ll see that your current guest is taken care of?”

“Naturally,” he said, a whisper of insult creeping into his voice. “My assistant will see that she gets to her destination safely.”

Translation: One of Fender’s henchmen would kill the witch and dispose of the body. Apparently this latest witch wasn’t even worth holding on to at Fender’s lab. She knew very well that the good doctor had a holding area where at least a dozen witches were kept in captivity. They were the rare few whose genetic memories could be mined again and again through the judicious use of drugs and physical encouragement.

Those unfortunate witches would be held indefinitely as Fender searched for clues that would lead Kellyn and her partner to their own holy grail.

The focus needed to channel demonic power.

The Artifact forged by witches and fired by the flames of hell itself.

Once that priceless relic was recovered, there was simply no limit to what Kellyn would be able to accomplish. The world would be hers. Billions would kneel in supplication. Adoration.

And all that stood between her and her goal was a few paltry earth witches.