In Darkness Reborn (10 page)

“As you've already said.”

“Well, it doesn't appear to have sunk in yet, has it? You're standing here arguing with me, and she's still acting like she has the right to be using these tunnels as her own private geology lab.”

It occurred to Barak that Devlin was ranting on and on because he'd been worried about the two of them. “I'm sorry we worried you. Next time we'll call.”

“Next time? Haven't you been listening? Hell, if you hadn't happened to hear those bastards coming right at you, it could have been a bloodbath!”

“
No!
I would have protected her!” Barak drew himself up to his full height and met Devlin glare for glare. He was willing to take a certain amount of bad temper from Devlin, but he had pride in his own abilities. Lacey would have been safe, or he would have gladly exchanged his life for hers.

“With what? That practice sword?” Devlin wasn't going to back down anytime soon.

“It's the only weapon you allow me. If you want to make sure I can keep her safe, then allow me the tools to do my job!” He rarely yelled, but dealing with an irrational Paladin sure called for a show of strength. “Give me a sword, and I will use it. You may be a Paladin, Bane, but I was considered a formidable warrior in my own world. I can be in this one as well.”

Before Devlin could respond, the ice-eyed Trahern stepped back into view. Barak knew without looking that Lacey was right behind him. He'd caught her scent on the air, and something else. Something that resonated inside his head and his heart. Before he could speak, Trahern did.

“If you're going to give him a sword, Bane”—Trahern shot Devlin a look daring him to contradict his words—“you might want to give him one that he knows how to use.”

Lacey stepped out from behind Trahern and held up a sword. Not just any sword: Barak's father's sword. He fought the urge to shout out his relief. He held out his hands, and Lacey's smile brightened as she gently placed it there.

“I've never seen a blade that wide or one curved like that. It's beautiful, Barak. Almost a work of art.”

He supposed it was, but its real value was as a weapon that had been handed down from father to son for generations upon generations. He would be the last of his line to own it.

“Where did you find it?” His voice sounded rough.

Trahern leaned closer to study the weapon. “Near where you crossed over, I would guess. Lacey spotted it looking for more places to put her toys.”

He got the predictable rise out of her. “Those ‘toys' might just save your life one of these days, Blake Trahern.”

Devlin had evidently gotten over his mad. “Yeah, they just might, squirt.” He ruffled Lacey's hair before crowding in to admire the sword, too. “The workmanship on that inlay is unlike anything I've ever seen.”

“Quit that!” Lacey batted Devlin's hand away from her head. “That blue scrollwork is beautiful against the dark metal.”

It was. Only someone with the gift for the blue stone could have worked the metal and stone in such a way. If Barak concentrated hard enough, he could make it glow, a trick he was not anxious to share with anyone.

“Thank you for finding it, Lacey. It is a piece of my home that I've missed.” He offered her a small smile. If Devlin demanded that he surrender it to his safekeeping, he would, but at the cost of much pain.

“We'd better get out of here before those men come strolling back this way.” Devlin held out his hand. “Give me back the practice sword, so I don't have to report it stolen.”

For the first time since his arrival, Barak felt balanced, with the familiar weight of the sword in his hand. If he and Lacey continued their work in the field and in the tunnels, he would carry a warrior's weapon that would keep them both safe.

He nodded in the direction of the elevators. “I would suggest we leave. We were lucky enough to avoid those gunmen once.”

As the four of them walked in companionable silence, Devlin glanced down at Lacey. “Next time you're ready to go down into the tunnels, schedule it with me. I'll send D.J. or Cullen with you to set up some cameras in the same area. I'd like to catch up with whoever you two saw today.”

“Barak and I can set up the cameras, Devlin. We don't need your guys for babysitters.”

“Damn, Lacey, did you have to inherit your brother's stubborness, too? I'm sending them because they can interface the cameras with our computers. You'll do your thing and they'll do theirs, but I'd like to make sure that there's more than one sword on hand if you cross paths with the gun-toting fools.”

Barak had told Devlin everything he could about the strangers that he and Lacey had encountered. Both he and the Paladin were certain that they were involved in the theft of the blue stones. The trouble would be in catching them in the act, because there was no telling how often they passed through the area.

A familiar sound caught his attention. He tilted his head slightly forward and closed his eyes. “Devlin, they're coming back this way.”

Neither of the Paladins questioned his word. Warriors all learned to trust gut instincts, or they didn't survive long. Devlin brought the practice weapon up into fighting position as Barak drew his father's sword.

“How far away are they?”

“I can't really tell, with the way that sound echoes in these tunnels.” He centered himself inside and reached out to listen with all his energy. “I'd guess not far, but we might make it to the elevators if we run.”

The three men automatically shielded Lacey as they took off, letting her shorter legs set the pace. As they neared the elevator controls, Trahern outdistanced them to enter the necessary codes to operate the elevator.

“Damn it, Penn left it topside!”

Keeping Lacey behind them, they counted off the seconds as the elevator made the long journey back down. Devlin stood beside Barak as they faced the darkened tunnel.

“I can't believe I was stupid enough to come down here unarmed.” Trahern looked thoroughly disgusted with himself.

Lacey set down her tool kit and lifted out the top tray, pulled out her handgun, and held it out to Trahern. “Are you any good with one of these?”

He didn't dignify her taunt with an answer. Instead, he checked out the gun with an efficiency that spoke of lots of practice. “Thanks.”

They could all hear the footsteps now. If the elevator didn't arrive in the next few seconds, the four of them would be trapped in the open.

“Let me distract them.” Barak separated himself from the others.

“I'll come with you.” Devlin started to follow.

Barak waved him off. “They'll think I'm a straggler from the last fight. If they see you, they're more likely to panic and start shooting.”

It was the only sensible plan, and they all knew it.

“Keep Lacey safe,” Barak murmured.

“Barak, no!”

Lacey tried to push past Trahern, but she might as well have been trying to move a mountain. “Stop him, Blake. He could be killed!”

The pain in her voice warmed Barak like nothing else had in a very long time, for he knew it meant she did care about him. It soothed the bitterness in his soul to know that if he was about to die, he would not move into the spirit world unmourned in this one.

He'd gone no more than about twenty feet when he heard the elevator doors open. A quick glance back verified that Trahern had dragged a struggling Lacey inside with Devlin offering what cover he could as they'd backed up. He waved to Barak, motioning him to retreat to the safety of the elevator.

But before Barak could slide back more than a step or two, the same three men he'd seen earlier charged into sight. If their guns had looked deadly when they'd worn them slung carelessly across their backs, it was nothing compared to how they looked aimed straight at him.

He screamed out a battle challenge and lunged forward, surprising them with his direct attack. The closest one fell back a step, stumbling into his nearest comrade. Evidently they had been cautioned against firing their weapons near the barrier, since they didn't immediately open fire.

He circled around to keep the barrier at his back, trying to take advantage of their reluctance. A single shot rang out, and the man farthest from him stumbled backwards as a circle of red blossomed on his chest, spreading fast.

One down, two to go, thanks to Trahern. The noise distracted Barak's last two opponents long enough for him to attack again, this time allowing him the exquisite pleasure of feeling his blade slice through human flesh. The man's scream was drowned out by Barak's own triumphant bellow. His sword, already dripping with bright red blood, thirsted for more of the same. He twirled around to his left, the blade singing through the air on its way to yet another target.

The last of the three men would have screamed if his throat hadn't just been cut. Instead, the only sound was a noisy gurgle as he tried to hold back his blood and breath with only his fingers. His bewildered eyes met Barak's only seconds before the life drained out of them, just as his blood had drained from the slit in his throat.

Barak stood still, waiting for his heart to slow back down to a rate somewhere near normal. It had been some time since he'd claimed a human life as his prize for a fight well done. The victory tasted sweet right up until he realized that he'd let the battle fever claim control over him again.

He let his sword drop down to his side as the familiar pain of regret filled his heart. Granted, these men had given him no choice, and had he not fought them, they could have caused great harm to him and his companions. Killing in self-defense held no sin, he knew.

But taking pleasure in it did.

A whimper cut through his thoughts, as sharply as his sword had cut through his enemies. Slowly, he turned to face the elevator, all too aware of the blood pooled on the floor of the tunnel, the scent of it metallic and pungent. All of the horror he should have been feeling—and wasn't—was there to be seen in Lacey's bright blue eyes brimming full of tears.

In a choke of sobs, she turned away from him, burying her face against Trahern's hard chest.

“Get her out of here.” Barak's voice came out little better than a growl. What had Trahern been thinking by letting the door open again? Finally the elevator door slid closed, hiding him from her pain.

“She'll get over it. She's tough.”

Barak jumped. He'd almost forgotten about Devlin. “How much did she see?”

“Enough.” Devlin knelt beside the man Trahern had shot and checked his pulse. “This one's still alive. Come put some pressure on this wound while I put in a call for the cavalry.”

Barak had to assume he meant he was sending for help. “I regret not taking at least one more prisoner.”

Devlin looked at him, his green eyes jade hard. “I don't. They got cocky. We'll get more out of this one, now that he knows we don't like to take prisoners.” Then his smile turned nasty. “Or keep them for long.”

Barak knelt down and held Devlin's handkerchief over the gunshot wound. He felt nothing at all for the injured man, not caring that his eyes were full of pain and fear. The bastard had threatened Lacey's safety; if he died, this world would not be any worse off.

He drew some pride from the fact that Devlin had included Barak in the “we” when he'd spoken. But that would do little to restore the innocence lost when Lacey had looked at him and seen him for the killer that he was.

S
on of a bitch! Penn kicked a can as far as he could. The small act of violence did little to ease his need to hurt someone, anyone, but especially that fucking Other. Penn had seen red the second he'd found out that the animal had followed his sister down into the tunnels.

What would have happened if Trahern hadn't intercepted them? Sure, everyone else thought of Barak as Laurel Young's tame little pet, but he knew better. He'd seen the same hatred in Barak's freakin' eyes that he'd seen in all the Others he'd crossed swords with over the years. The bastard might have fooled Bane and Trahern, but not him.

What if Barak's plan was to drag a human woman back into that nightmarish world he'd come from? He'd failed with Laurel Young, but now he had another candidate in Lacey. Well, that wasn't going to happen, not if Penn could help it.

The soft whir of a camera panning the alley reminded him that he wasn't really alone. No, Big Brother was always on duty. If he continued to act agitated, they were bound to send someone out to check on him. Rather than risk being relieved of duty, he slowed his pace as he walked back to his pile of blankets.

After rearranging them, he plopped down. For now he would man his post, counting off the minutes until his shift was up. Then he'd go home and take a hot shower, eat a big, bloody steak for dinner, then pay a courtesy call on his little sister to deliver a simple message.

Either she jettisoned her lab-rat Other, or he'd take pleasure in doing that little chore for her.

Two cups of tea and a handful of chocolates had done little to calm Lacey's badly shaken nerves. Finally, she'd added something a lot stronger than a teaspoon of sugar to the third cup of tea to see if that would work. So far, it had only further upset her already churning stomach.

She would have lain down, but every time she closed her eyes all she saw was blood, pools of it surrounding those dead bodies. She shuddered and took another sip of her doctored tea.

The doorbell was not a welcome interruption. It could only be one of two people, neither of whom she wanted to see, so she ignored it. But between chimes, she heard a woman's voice calling her name.

She pushed herself up off the sofa, letting her afghan drop to the floor. Her oldest sweats weren't exactly what she normally wore to entertain company, but right then she didn't care.

A quick look through the peephole had her fumbling to release the chain and throw back the dead bolt. What was Dr. Young doing on her front porch? Lacey ran her fingers through her still damp hair, trying to tame the curls a bit before opening the door.

Cold fear for her brother washed over her. “Dr. Young? Is Penn all right?”

Laurel looked puzzled at first, then horrified. “Oh, Lord, it didn't even occur to me that you'd think that. He's fine, Dr. Sebastian. I'm here because Devlin asked me to stop by.” She crossed the threshold to put her hands on Lacey's shoulders. “I'm sorry if I scared you.”

As a Paladin's sister, Lacey had lived most of her life knowing her brother could be killed for the final time with no warning. Laurel Young's dark eyes were filled with sympathy, reminding her that because of Devlin, she also lived on that razor's edge. Worse yet, she was the one who might just have to kill the man she loved.

It was a hard life, but one neither of them would give up even for a minute.

“Call me Lacey.”

“And it's Laurel, please. I get ‘Doctored' enough at work.”

Lacey mustered a bit of a smile. “Come on in. I just made a fresh pot of tea. Would you like some?”

“If it's not too much trouble, I'd love a cup. Today's been a real bear.”

Lacey gestured for Laurel to have a seat at the kitchen table. She poured her a cup of tea and set out a plate of homemade cookies. “Trouble in the lab?”

“Yeah, to put it mildly.” Laurel took a sip of the tea and sighed with pleasure. “Darjeeling! My favorite. But I'm not here to complain about my day. Devlin mentioned what happened down in the tunnel with you and Barak today. We both were worried about how it might have affected you. Are you okay?”

How could she answer that? She was alive and unharmed, at least physically. She'd known there'd be a certain risk in going down in the tunnels, but she'd never expected a scientific expedition to erupt into violence and death. Or a moment of passion. Would she have actually done more than kiss Barak if they hadn't been interrupted? She feared the answer was a resounding yes.

“I'm all right, or at least I will be.” She couldn't hide the shudder that ran through her, or prevent her confession, “Those men died because of me.”

“No! That's not what happened at all!” Laurel's expression grew fierce. “Those men had no business being there in the first place. Devlin told me everything, and nothing he said cast any blame on you. He was a tad upset,” she said, softening her words with a slight smile, “that you went down there without permission. But even if you had asked, that doesn't change the fact that those men could have killed all of you.”

“Instead, Barak and Trahern killed them. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't dragged Barak down there.”

By the time the elevator doors had reopened, two men had already been down, but she'd seen him kill the third. He hadn't even noticed the spray of blood that had stained his clothes, and she could've sworn he'd been smiling. How could anyone be happy about killing someone, even if they deserved to die? There had been a fierce joy in his expression before he'd looked up and seen her.

“He saved lives down there, Lacey. That's the part you need to remember.”

Lacey wished she knew Laurel better because she badly needed someone to confide in. “I don't understand Barak.”

Laurel sighed and took another long sip of her tea. “I don't think anybody does, Lacey. I certainly don't. Ever since I came to work for the Regents, all I've ever been told about the Others was that they were monsters. But I've never seen that side of him.”

Neither had she, not until today. “I've known Paladins my whole life. Each and every one of them is a fighter. Lord knows my brother Penn has a well-deserved reputation for being volatile. I guess I've just never seen any of them in their real role before.”

Laurel nodded. “That first glimpse is a tough one. I've patched them all up, mending wounds that would have put a normal man in his grave a dozen times over. But until Sgt. Purefoy kidnaped me, I'd never seen Devlin with his game face on. We were already lovers by that time, so it was a tad upsetting, to say the least. But despite it all, I knew he would never hurt me.

“Devlin did what he did because he loves me.” Then she reached out her hand to touch Lacey's arm again. “But Barak almost died down there in the tunnels with me. He laid down his sword and took a gunshot meant for me when he didn't know me at all. Keep in mind that his people hate us as much as we've been taught to hate them. And yet he's offered up his life not just once, but twice, to prevent harm to you and me.”

Yeah, but Lacey bet he hadn't kissed Laurel.

“I appreciate the reminder. I guess I didn't expect my expedition to end that way.” Lacey shuddered again, still unable to forget the pools of blood on the floor. She had a feeling that they'd be haunting her dreams for some nights to come.

Laurel refilled her cup. “Devlin also asked me to tell you that it might be awhile before it would be safe for you to go back down into the tunnels, even with an escort. Until they know what those men are doing down there, nobody is safe.”

“I figured as much, but it makes me mad. I've finally got a shot at making some real progress in my research, and this had to happen.” Lacey poured herself another half a cup of tea and left the rest for Laurel.

“I know just how you feel. I believe Devlin said you're looking for a way to predict earthquakes and eruptions more accurately?”

“So far without much luck, but I'm trying to develop a more sensitive monitoring system. That's the first logical step in the process. My boss doesn't seem to think it's possible, so he keeps me operating on a shoestring budget, which is why I was willing to take on Barak as an assistant. The extra money he brought into the department was a godsend.”

Laurel set down her cup so hard that it rattled the saucer. “What money was that?”

Oops! Was she not supposed to mention the financial bribe that Devlin had offered the Geology Department? If so, why hadn't Devlin warned her? “I, uh, meant that having them budget his time to work with me has helped me keep up with my research.”

Laurel's eyes narrowed, as if to indicate she didn't quite believe Lacey's explanation but wasn't quite willing to call her on it. As far as Lacey was concerned, if Laurel had questions about the money, she could bring them up with Devlin. And she wouldn't want to be in his shoes if he didn't have a good answer.

The idea of the big Paladin being brought down a notch or two by his girlfriend lifted Lacey's spirits.

“I really appreciate your coming over here tonight. It's really helped to have another woman to talk to.”

Laurel's smile was warm. “You're welcome. And we should do this again soon. We both live surrounded by these big, tough men—not that I'm complaining, mind you. At least not much. They need women like us and Brenna Nichols to help keep them grounded. I'm convinced that it makes a difference.”

“It must, because Trahern was almost chatty today. He even asked me about my work.” Lacey hadn't really thought about it before, but he
had
seemed different. Another memory surfaced. “When he caught Barak and me heading for the elevator in the records room today, he had a lipstick smear on his cheek!”

That set both of them off in a fit of giggles. Laurel snickered. “What is the world coming to? If it wouldn't embarrass Brenna, I'd give Blake a hard time the next time I see him. He has no idea how lucky he is that I'm not going to go straight home and tell Devlin.”

Then she looked at her watch. “Well, I'd better go. I left Devlin a note, but you know how these Paladins are. If we're five minutes late, they're ready to call out the troops.”

Having grown up with one for a brother, Lacey knew exactly what Laurel meant. If she hadn't learned early on to push right back, Penn would have kept her under his thumb forever.

After walking Laurel out to her car, Lacey was about to turn out the porch light when she spotted Penn heading straight for her. She was tempted to lock the door and pretend to be in bed or gone, or anything to keep from having to fight with him. But he had a key to her house, so there was no way to keep him out short of nailing the doors closed from the inside.

She didn't want him to feel too welcome, so she left the door open slightly and went back inside. After filling the kitchen sink with hot water, she was busy washing dishes when he came stomping through the door.

“Lacey!”

Before he could launch into whatever he had to say, she held up a sudsy hand to forestall him.

“I'm in no mood for any of your lectures, Penn. If you haven't eaten, I'll heat up some leftovers for you. Or there's a fresh batch of sugar cookies in the jar if you want something sweet.”

Then she turned her back on him and went back to scrubbing her skillet clean. Penn muttered under his breath before reaching for the cookie jar. He flopped down in the chair that Laurel had just vacated and prepared to wait her out. Well, he could wait for a long time.

After wiping down the counter, she decided to dry the dishes rather than let them sit in the drainer until morning. Then of course the sugar bowl needed filling, as did her salt and pepper shakers. She was about to alphabetize her spice bottles when Penn gave up and spoke first.

“All right, Lacey, this is the bottom line: I don't want you running around alone with that—”

She shot him a look over her shoulder to warn him to watch his mouth.

He tried again. “I don't want you running around alone with Barak.”

Penn still managed to say Barak's name as if it had been an obscenity. She rolled her eyes and braced herself for the fight she knew was coming. Reasonableness wasn't likely to work with her brother, but she'd give it a shot.

She turned to face him but didn't accept the chair that he pushed toward her with his boot. Like all of the Paladins, he towered over her. By standing while he sat, she at least had a small advantage.

“Penn, I understand why you worry, but I don't tell you how to do your job. I don't want you to tell me how to do mine. Though today didn't turn out exactly as I had planned, that was hardly Barak's fault. In fact, if I hadn't given him back his sword, I don't know what would have happened.”

Judging by her brother's thunderstruck expression, he hadn't heard about what had happened after he'd been banished back up the elevator. He sat up straight in the chair, his hands clenched in fists. “Back up and tell me exactly what the hell you're talking about.”

She might as well sit down now. There wasn't going to be any chance of glossing over the details when he could just go ask Devlin or Trahern and get the truth.