Page 60 of Bite of Passage
“I don’t understand what you’re asking about or implying.I don’t have an acting job.I’m a nurse at the hospital.”
Officer Milano leaned over the table.Her face got so close, Gemma could see the eerie blackness of her eyes.There were no whites around the irises and her gaze lacked emotion.It was a lack of life.Whatwerethese people?The woman intoned something in a foreign language.A spell?
Please, let the bracelet be real and work.Gemma’s voice wavered as she asked, “Are you okay?What language are you speaking?”
“Tell me the location of the crystal Skarde gave you.”
No compulsion took over.The bracelet worked!“You’re speaking as if the vampire is a real person.The only Skarde I’ve ever heard of is a fictional character on an old TV show, a show that’s been canceled.Hecouldn’t give me anything.”
In an instant the cop was around the table, yanking Gemma to her feet, locking her in a headlock.
Air.Cutting.Off.
Gemma tried to claw at the arm around her neck, but the cuffs, which hadn’t been undone, restricted her motion.
“When I return,” the cop said, “if you don’t give me answers, I’m going to shoot you.”She released Gemma.
She dropped to the floor, coughing as Milano exited the room, slamming the door.
Gemma tugged at her cuffs with no clue how to get out of them or how to get out of this room.
A new woman entered, also in a police uniform.Her eyes weren’t soulless black, but instead a light brown.She picked up the remote to change the input to something that looked like a reality show of rain in a forest… No.Impossible.That wasThe Legacy of Magic.But where was it airing?There was no DVD player in sight.An unfamiliar scene—anewscene—showed on the screen.No Skarde, but Cade was on screen, sitting down.Someone was talking to him.
“Gemma, you have to go through,” the woman said, her voice low.“You don’t belong here.You need to be over there.This is your last chance.We can’t open the portal again.It takes way too much magic.If you don’t go, Petra’s going to kill Skarde and Cade.She’ll win.You have to tell those two vampires to wake up.You’re their best hope.”With haste, she unlocked the handcuffs and dropped them on the table.
Gemma massaged her wrists.“Who are you?Pardon me if I’m low on trust right now.”
The woman lowered her voice even more.“I’m Val’s aunt.Serina.”
What?Talk about serious mistakes.This person obviously hadn’t done her research.
She said, “You can’t be.Val said her aunt was in her sixties.You’re maybe thirty.”
“Hon, I’m a witch.I can make myself look seventy or seventeen.”She took Gemma’s hand in hers.“There’s so much I wish I could explain to you, but I can’t right now.There’s no time.You’re so special.I’ve been watching over you a long time.”
“You’ve beenwatchingme?”
“Don’t freak out.Now listen closely.I only have time to say this all once.”After a furtive, wide-eyed glance at the door, Serina rushed out, “She’s on her way back.If things go south…if Skarde dies or the two of you don’t work out or you end up alone, go to the Vorche.That’s the dwarves’ region.Fontaine will help you find me.”
“Skarde doesn’t want me to go back.He wants me over here.”
“You’re right.He doesn’t.And yet he does.The dolt screwed up by sending you back.He knew it the second you crossed.The assassins were hired to get that crystal from you dead or alive.”
“Why should I trust you?You’re a witch.”
“I’m not a bad one.I’m closer to a mage than witch.Sort of like Val, but Val’s special too.”
“I don’t understand the difference.”
She huffed out a breath.“A mage is like a wizard.A mage needs no outlet for her magic.No staff or wand.She uses her hand and the magic comes from within.Witches and warlocks use an outlet or potion.Among witches, there’s good and bad magic…gray magic.It’s complicated.”She waved a hand to silence Gemma’s next question.“We don’t have time for questions.Ask me later.”
“Me going back there seems like something that benefits you, not me.”
“You’re the one who saw a psychologist to try to get Skarde out of your head.”Serina smiled, although it came off stressed.
“Why did you do this?Open a doorway into his fictional world?”
She emitted a frustrated snort.“It’s not fictional.You’ve been there three times.Did Skarde seem fake?”
