Page 11 of Place of Torment

“Maybe we should start from the beginning.” Chester finally decided to join the conversation. Plopping onto the sofa he leaned forward, rubbed his face on a sigh like the weight of the world was on his shoulders and placed his forearms on his knees. The more he spoke the larger the pit in my stomach formed and all the blood was draining from my body. By the time he rehashed the last few months they could’ve pushed me with a feather from the armchair.

“A few years back demons started to go missing.” Pausing long enough to side-eye Echo in case he angered her with his retelling, Chester continued his story. “At first, we didn’t think anything of it, but when other species started to hire mercenaries to look for missing members we looked more closely into the disappearances. All the missing males were in prime health conditions, and they all vanished from the face of the Earth.”

I thought Echo was going to shut him up, but she sluggishly moved and sat next to him before adding in barely a whisper, “No sign of any of them. No one had seen or heard anything. All of them were keeping their heads low and none were looking for trouble. Especially with the Syndicate. We all know what comes from messing with you lot. And the Council laughed at us when we asked for an audience with them. Mocked us even.”

“We knew it was futile, but we had to try.” Chester bumped his shoulder on hers affectionately. “But we did notice the looks they gave each other, and we started investigating further. Their arrogance gave away their involvement.”

“The Council has done many unforgiveable things.” On a chance that I would sound rude, I had to push them to tell me what the point was of my kidnaping or we would’ve stayed there for days telling stories. “Echo, you said you accepted the job of killing me in hopes to talk to me. Unfortunately, I have unfinished business with the Syndicate, and I cannot allow you to complete your part of the deal. Which means they already have someone hunting for you as we speak.”

“We had someone enter the cages while you were there.” Chester rushed to say before Echo could speak. “We know you saw the abominations you had to fight. They shouldn’t have existed yet, there they were. And they were not the only ones. In the last six months we gathered enough information to be certain every missing male is taken in the pit, and they are being used for experimentation in creating the Syndicate army.”

My mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. At the end I leaned back in the armchair and watched the two demons mutely. Many things floated through my mind so I could argue with them and tell them it was not my problem but was that the truth? Could I turn a blind eye on this new information they shared when I knew first-hand how difficult it was to fight the mangled creatures Frederic was hoping would kill me?

“Army for what?’ was all I could dumbly ask to stall until I can wrap my mind around everything. “The Syndicate terrorizes everyone anyway. What do they need mutants for?”

“All we managed to hear was they are preparing in case some prophecy comes to pass.”

All the blood drained from my body and tingles spread through my extremities. “Prophecy?” I mouthed and they both nodded gravely.

“Yeah.” Echo said on a sigh. “Some very overfull witch is supposed to resurface that will create a new world order and the Council is gearing up to stop that from happening.” She eyed me for a second. “We are not making this up. We have no hidden agenda. The lives of my brothers are a testament to that. Brooklyn,” She leaned forward, reached over the table for my hands and squeezed my fingers tightly. “We are desperate. They started taking our females now. I think to breed them with those things.”

Bile filled my mouth and fear clawed at my insides. The raspy, raw voice of my savior from the cage next to mine came to torment me. Was it a female? Was that her fate if we did nothing? To breed with those abominations so she can populate the Council’s army? And if we do nothing what will happen to me or Alice when eventually the Syndicate becomes too powerful to conquer?

“We need your help, Brooklyn.” Echo clutched at my fingers. “We’ve seen what you can do and how you dispose of them. Please. I’m begging you. We will pay anything you ask. Give you anything you desire.”

“Anything.” Chester added, his eyes shimmering silver as he watched me solemnly.

“I don’t want payment.” A million thoughts were zipping through my head. Were the murders they ordered me to commit on the shifters connected somehow?

“There must be something we can offer in exchange for your help. Please.” Echo dropped on her knees in front of me and for the first time I could see beyond the warrior exterior she worked hard to portray. I saw the desperate, broken woman beneath. “Please.” Tears shimmered at the corners of her silvery eyes. “They took my little sister a week ago.”

“I didn’t say I will not help, Echo.” The hope that bloomed in her upturned gaze broke my heart anew. “I said I do not need a payment.” Glancing from her to Chester I made sure they could see my determination. “We need to go and tell all of this to Dominic and Samir. We will help you find your sister before it’s too late. And I have every intention of stopping the Council before they can destroy any more lives.”

“Thank you.” Echo dropped her head on a sob, but we had no time for sentiments like that.

“We need to go.” Jumping to my feet I pulled her up with me. “Grab anything you need, we are leaving. You two can stay with us for now until we have a solid plan.”

Watching the two of them rush around stuffing things in backpacks I paced the room. The prophecy they mentioned is the same one Samir told me about that involved Alice and my mother. It was important now more than ever to finish what we started. The Council must die.

“We are ready.” Chester called out from the front door down the hallway.

“Maybe you’ll know how to help my friend.” I told them as I followed them out the front door.” If they had an idea about the situation with Alice, it’ll be an added bonus.

“Anything you need.” Echo told me.

“If we can’t, we will find someone that can.” Chester added.

I wasn’t so sure, but I still hoped.

9

Brooklyn

What is it about males that the moment you leave them alone they manage to cause so much trouble and you are left with the dilemma if you should laugh from the insanity of it or strangle them because you are too mad to argue?

There I was, bringing not one but two demons to our present safe house - If we could call Samir’s multilevel monstrosity of a house that – and instead of being grateful that I’m at least trying to come up with a solution to our current problem, they glower at me. It didn’t faze me a bit, but I would’ve appreciated a little more enthusiasm for my efforts.

Which, I told them, in not so many words.

---