Page 12 of Heir of Ashes

“Imagine, Miss Fosch, power with no limit.” He gestured grandly. “Riches with no end. For an entire eternity.” He took a step forward and paused to add, “Think about it, for when I return, we’ll discuss it further and set the rules.”

Whoa! Set the rules?“And if I decline?” Was it the reason that whoever I had reminded him of had died?

He waved a tiny hand in dismissal. “What I offer you are things you will not be able to refuse.” His gaze bore into mine, and my eyes averted of their own free will. “Imagine yourself free of those who seek you. Exacting vengeance for all the injustices they have caused you. Knowledge that has eluded all others. Power with no limit. You’ll never need to be alone. You’ll have anyone you choose to follow you like eager puppets. You will never ever yearn for anything again.”

I considered him, my eyes unable to focus. “And what if I decline?” I repeated.

The thought of storming the PSS and leveling the entire facility was undeniably appealing. Living my life with no fear and not having to hide and keep watch over my shoulder was my ultimate goal and, admittedly, I could feel that tickle now, stronger in his presence. But at what cost? My sanity, my soul? Eternal servitude? If he was willing to offer me such power, knowledge, and slaves to follow me, what was he getting in return? I didn’t believe, not even for a second, that to gain the aforementioned, all that would be required of me would be manning the phone and taking messages. Not that having eager puppets as followers or power beyond limit was tempting, not at all.

Like I’d said before, I’d give up all my abilities to take back my life where I’d left it ten years ago. The only tempting things he offered me was revenge and freedom. And … thefreedom … the freedom carried enough weight to have tempted me on its own. But would the price be worth it? I eyed him, still unable to hold his stare. The man just oozed menace, treachery, and danger like heat from an open furnace. Yet he looked like something a soft breeze could blow away.

How deceiving!

No matter how much I longed for freedom, if I accepted his proposition, I’d regret it greatly; I could feel it in my bones. No, no matter how alluring his offer, I’d never be able to live with myself. If I wanted my freedom, I’d get it by other means, even if they were impossible ones.God, I shouldn’t even be debating it. What kind of person was I becoming?

Remo gave me a sinister smile that sent cold shivers down my spine and said, “I can and will make you do my bidding whether you are willing or not.” He paused. “Of course, I’d prefer our dealings to remain amicable. I’d hate to have to resort to … unsavory methods to achieve my goals.”

It was then, at that precise moment, that his name jarred my memory. Remo Drammen, the infamous black sorcerer. I’d heard his name mentioned in hushed conversations among the Scientists, accompanied by tales of demon-summoning, plague attacks, and the darkest sorcery. And there I was, sitting in his living room.Come into my den, said the spider …

The energy crackling around us took on a new significance. It was no doubt the residual energy of his power, as if he couldn’t contain the whole amount and keep it from overflowing. If I could feel it when I was oblivious to preternatural beings much stronger than myself, how powerful could this fragile-looking man be?

And then something clicked. “If you want me to work for you, why send the Bad Boy Team to kill me?”

Remo cocked his head to the side and repeated, “The Bad Boy Team? You mean the Edmond brothers?” He dismissed thethought with a flick of his small hand. “Consider them your preliminary trial.”

But I wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for Logan. And Logan wouldn’t be there next time. Something told me the next trial would be worse than the Edmond brothers. My predicament just went from grim to grimmer.

A knock at the door behind me drew my attention, and I turned my head enough to see Giant enter and bow respectfully to Remo. When had he left? Maybe after Remo was gone, I could take my chances with the human—or whatever the hell he was—and the bulk beneath his jacket. Remo Drammen acknowledged the security guard with a small nod.

“It’s time,” Giant said with deference.

Remo stared at him with something akin to annoyance—the first expression he’d shown since my arrival—and I noticed that Giant couldn’t hold his gaze either. When Remo’s attention returned to me, his face was once again blank. “I apologize for having to leave you so soon,” he began, pulling a thin pair of off-white gloves from his suit pocket and putting them on. This man had a serious fixation with pastel colors. “My presence is needed downstairs. Please feel free to request any services you need.”

He turned to leave through one of the remaining three closed doors, not the elevator. “Ah, and one more thing, Miss Fosch”—Biz Fosch—“there is a ward at the door that will prevent anyone I haven’t cleared from leaving this room. That includes you.” He paused for a moment, studying me with a flat look, his dark eyes abnormally large behind his glasses. “Should you be foolish enough to attempt escaping, you’ll be reduced to cinders in mere seconds.”

With that threat delivered, Remo Drammen departed with the security guard in tow, a giant shadow trailing behind him, his black suit and imposing height contrasting sharply with Remo’s ensemble.

No one was left behind to guard me—just that buzzing, static-like sensation. God, what could someone as powerful as Remo Drammen want from someone like me? Who the hell was I?

Chapter 6

I tried to sit and strategize an escape plan, but I found myself pacing. My mind was a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts, each one more disjointed than the other. What now? What to do? What could this infamous black sorcerer want from me? Where were the missing pieces?

I approached the door Remo had left through and examined it carefully. I wanted to test his theory but was afraid to. But what if he was lying?

I strode back to the elevator shaft and inspected the door. Again, it had nothing but a keyhole. The only difference between this one and the one downstairs was the color. While this one was white, the one below was metallic gray. I tried sliding open the door, and to my surprise, it gave a crack! I renewed my attempt, adrenaline pumping through me.

I pushed and pushed, the thick beige carpet providing excellent traction. And then I was staring at a yawning, dark hole. The car wasn’t there.

I looked down. As far as I could see, there was nothing but a normal-looking cable. There weren’t even doors that opened on the other floors below—just smooth, gray cement walls all the way down.

It was a one-way elevator. How far down? I looked around for something to throw and decided on a whiskey bottle. I dropped the flask and waited. An eternity later came the tinkling sound of breaking glass.

Very far down then. After giving it one last considering look, I returned to the supposedly warded door and examined it.

I waved my hand over the doorknob, and the same energy buzzing off Remo vibrated off the door. I touched it with my fingertips and nothing happened. There was no heat either. Iclosed my hand firmly over the knob and concentrated. After a beat or two, that buzzing energy became a soft vibration, starting where the knob touched my skin and spreading up my arm like a slimy, icy creature. It moved from limb to limb until my whole body was vibrating with it. But that was all the reaction I got.

Thrilled and hopeful, my heart kicking with unspent adrenaline, I pulled open the door a crack. Still nothing, just the buzzing energy. Inch by inch, I moved until the door was gaping wide, my concentration tight on the vibrating energy. I waited a full minute, aware of the time ticking away but unwilling to rush something I didn’t understand.

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