Page 96 of In the Dark

CHAPTER 23

Synthetic rope bit deep into his wrists until the scent of blood filled the air. Leo slowly surfaced toward consciousness, his head swimming, lolling back on his neck.

“Wha…” The sound of his own groggy voice startled him. He grimaced, eyes squeezing shut. A swell of pain burst through his temples and down his neck. “What the hell is this?”

The bite of the rope brought him closer to the surface. Shrugging off the last of his foggy-headedness, he fought against the restraints. Immediately he reached for his magic, intent on manipulating the bonds. And was left frustrated when he realized he exerted no power over the plastic. He sent his magic seeking, recognizing the burlap over his face, the sturdy plastic chair and wooden floor. Binding runes on the walls, ceiling, and floor to keep him from using his gifts.

The thought had him struggling until his fingernails broke from scratching into the chair and his breathing was labored.

“I really am sorry for this.” The female voice came out of nowhere, and Leo zoned in on its location. “I didn’t want to. He made me.”

At once the bag lifted and silky blue light registered. He winced at it, his eyes struggling to adjust. The room swam in front of him after who knew how long in the dark. He made out a blurred figure somewhere in the distance and blinked.

“What is this?” He continued to struggle against his restraints. “What the fuck?” Fists clenched, he fought anew against the restraints, flexing his muscles until they ached. “Show yourself, asshole. Someone better start explaining this to me, and fast!”

With his vision restored, in the dim light of the room Leo took note of the plastic and polymer walls containing him within. Scrawled in red were the binding runes developed by mental dominants, meant to keep his magic under control. He knew where he was.

The Vault.

“I meant what I said,” the female said again. “I’m sorry.”

It took Leo another half a second to place the voice. He recognized the mousy brown hair and ubiquitous cardigan odd on a woman her age. The downcast eyes darting back and forth as though they couldn’t decide on a place to land.

He cleared his throat. “Kelsi, I swear to God, if you don’t let me go right now, there will be hell to pay.”

“No offense, Mr. Voltaire, but I am much more afraid of your father than I am of you. He told me to bring you down here. Do you know what he’ll do to me if I disobey?” She wrung her hands and refused to meet his gaze.

Her words gave him pause and Leo tensed. “My father?” he blurted. His jaw tightened and his eyes darkened in anger.

“I’m not at liberty to tell you more. He simply told me to stay here until you woke and then report back to him.” Kelsi bit her lip.

“Report back on what? He’s gone too far this time.” Leo thrashed again, and still the chair refused to budge. “Kelsi, you need to let me go right now. Right now!”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Voltaire. Leo,” she said sadly. “Try to stay comfortable until he comes down. Maybe you can talk to your friends. They’ve been a little upset. A familiar face may help. I put you in the same room instead of the solitary cells in the back. It was the only thing I could do. I’m sorry.”

Kelsi turned to leave, her shoulders hunched. She flipped several switches on a series of panels before exiting. Fluorescent lights crackled to life and the two other holding cells flashed into view, along with their occupants.

The same kind of chair in the center of a similar room, the corners sharp plastic. Leo writhed and squinted to make out any familiar features of the man’s severely bruised face. He noted the ligature marks on his wrists, a pattern of bruises along the lines of his cheeks and near the hairline. At last, the pieces clicked into place and Leo put a name to the face.

“Zenon? Is that you?”

The man gasped and his split lip began to bleed again. He craned his neck, straining to see. “Who is it? Who’s there?”

“It’s, ah, Leo. I’m a friend of your sister Astix.”

“If you’re in here too, then that doesn’t mean much to me, does it? At least I’m conscious. The guy next door hasn’t said a word since I woke up hours ago. And when did you get here?”

“The guy next door?”

Zee swallowed and winced. “Yeah. I hear breathing but I can’t see who it is.”

Leo once again tried to move his body and found he could not. The chair remained solidly rooted to the floor without an inch of give. He caught sight of a salt-and-pepper beard and felt his gut sink down to his feet.

“Oh crap. I know who it is.”

“Mind letting me know?” Zee worked up a mouthful of blood-tinted saliva and sent it flying.

“It’s…” Leo sighed. “It’s your dad.”

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