Blue Ruin (The Phoenix Series Book 1) Read online

  Anger tears her hands from her sides, stretching them over the destruction of her home, of her life. In one mighty scream, she releases every trapped emotion. It swells in the smoke-filled air. Maura thought she would tear in two from its force.

  She cried out when the last memory barreled through her system.

  Her first scar – bearing the weight of her dead family – curls around her left arm, black and tainted like her future.

  Get. Up. She thought.

  Maura sucked in the power of the professor’s spell. It spun in her center, awakening the chained Void. It rumbled deep within, pleased at its conjuring.

  Harnessing the spiraling energy from the professor, Maura twisted it in different directions. With it, she controlled what memories she relived and veered the professor down an untraveled path.

  His probing stilled when he pried apart the memory.

  Maura winces with every slice of the blade against her ribs. A cry lingers on her tongue. Tears well on her lashes. The thought to stop occurs to her every time she digs into the weeping wound. But she had to erase herself. She had to disappear. She had to stay hidden.

  Blood oozes down her side, staining her skin dark red. It pools on her thighs and makes contact on the floor with a splash. The sting of the gash rides her nerves. Shooting pain runs down her left arm, followed by tingling numbness.

  She feels the edges of the mutilated skin.

  Thick cries rock her chest but stop when the movement tears open the wound.

  Calming herself with a shallow breath, she draws the enchanted blade over her ribs again, gnawing away at her Signet.

  Ready? Maura sneered, releasing every memory over him.

  The heat from the fire that claimed her family disintegrated his stream of magic. The pain of watching them burn shattered his Shield. The agony of peeling layers of skin to protect her lineage diminished his strength to defend. And the cold emotions that accompanied being lost brought him to his knees.

  Maura flicked a dull force at his front, knocking him over. She pried his mind and swam into the heart of his thoughts. The block over his mind reformed. Its strength competed with hers, bringing her to her knees. She surged more energy into the charm, and his block crumbled.

  Every name he had flooded her head. They cycled from Derek to Fredrick, from Timothy to Anthony, finally stopping at his true name. Kyle Hawthorne.

  Pictures of a blonde woman flickered before her eyes. She danced in a field of flowers, twirling her dress in the sunlight. Every shimmer of her golden hair captured Maura’s attention. Each carefree laugh filled her with love.

  Theresa. Kyle whispered her name as he fell into the distant memory of the one he'd lost.

  Theresa’s pink smile, slender form, and sparkling green eyes spoke of her beauty. And the chewing desire pounding in Maura’s chest spoke of Kyle’s restraint.

  Students sat silently as Maura stood and took a step forward. She extracted the light, turning the room dark. Playing with the orbs in her palms, she threw a dome over their bodies, blocking the students from seeing them. She filled the Shield with the stolen light.

  The Void purred, slipping past her lips as a soft coo.

  She stalked forward, sliding her hands down her sides and swaying her hips to the flow of her curves.

  Maura projected Theresa’s image over her own. Her golden hair cascaded to her sides. Feeble arms replaced her toned muscles. Dainty legs shortened her height. Theresa’s floral dress – lace at the collar and ruffled at the hem – blew with the unnatural breeze.

  The professor stared wide-eyed and cowered when Maura came close. She licked her lips and caught the points of her fangs. She crouched beside him, taking his palm into hers. His staggered heartbeat sounded in her ears. He stopped breathing.

  Maura traced the faint creases of his palm. Hidden black scars rose to the surface of his skin. Her fingers danced with the emerging lines, circling around his neck. She relished in the power they gave off. It tickled and electrified her system.

  The professor leaned in, staring at her lips.

  Maura skimmed the tip of her nose against his cheek. She breathed him in deep and moved to the crook of his neck. Cinnamon wafted through her head, feeding the dark. The cold touch of his skin chilled her body. Heat played in the depths of his cold and implored her to dig deeper to relish in its tempting warmth.

  The want to wrap her arms around him and pull him close was overwhelming. Her arms shook at the restraint as she lingered above his throat. She parted her moist lips, the sound of his blood drumming in her ears like an ancient song.

  Murmurs broke out in the classroom. Lights from cell phones blinked in the distance. Others collected magic in their palms to create a soft illumination.

  Kyle lit a spark between them, breaking the Shield apart and flinging Maura to the other end of the room. She rolled to the side. Students swarmed around the shielded glass. They clambered over each other, pressing their faces in the turquoise matter.

  Kyle shook out his shoulders and clutched his head. Confusion lit his eyes.

  She smirked.

  “Class dismissed,” he breathed, wobbling as he walked.

  Students muttered in disappointment. They collected their things, lingering at their seats in hopes of catching the aftermath.

  Kyle straightened his suit jacket and slicked his hair back. “Join me in my office, Miss...”

  Maura dusted off. “Hart.”

  “Miss Hart.” He forced a smile. “Yes, well come to my office.”

  “Raincheck, Professor Hawthorne.” Kyle.

  His breathless laugh melted the tense air with its warmth. “I’m holding you to it.” Maura.

  Chapter Nine: Crossing Paths

  Heidi sat in her office, feet on the desk, nail file in one hand. She preferred a room over a cubicle. She didn't have to pretend to work. After last night’s ritual in the conference room, Sayer agreed to give her the vacant office at the end of the hall.

  The blinds are closed. Door locked. Office empty. A small lamp on the other end of the room between two unused chairs sheds pale light to the edges of the desk. Strewn clothes are hidden in the shadows. Bodies face the moonlight that pours through the large window of walls that overlook the rest of The Keep.

  Heidi stares into the night sky. The reflection of Sayer wrapping himself around her blocks her view. He kisses and bites her neck as he thrusts harder into her. His moan irritates her skin. She looks at the clock. She’d promised him an hour. She scowls, realizing it’s only been ten minutes. She wraps her legs tighter around him, meeting his thrusts with added force. She smiles as he quivers, his moan deepening, his lips loose on her neck.

  A hard knock on the door pulled her from her nails. An intern – his hair combed back, an armful of paperwork in his grasp – stood in the doorway with an uneasy smile.

  Heidi stared, waiting, nail file in mid-swipe across her thumb. “What?”

  “John needs to see you in his office,” the intern stammered.

  Heidi wrinkled her eyebrows. “Who?”

  “John…?” The intern pointed down the hall to an all-glass office, caddy-corned between the lounge and cubicles. “Lead investigator of Adrian’s case now.”

  Heidi scowled and returned to her nails. “What does he want?”

  “To talk to you.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “He wants you to file a witness report for the Riley case.”

  “I wasn't there,” she sighed.

  “You called Aegis.”

  Heidi glared at the intern, his face reddening. “What's your name?” she asked.

  “Matt,” he stammered.

  “Well Matt, you tell John he knows where he can find me.”

  Matt tripped from the room, and minutes later John entered without knocking. He sat across from Heidi, reports in hand, and dropped them in front of her. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, adjusted his tie and pulled a pen from his pocket.

  Heidi dropped her legs from the desk an
d twisted in her chair. “I'm of no help.”

  “You're our biggest help.” John slid the paperwork and pen across the desk. “You're the last one standing.”

  “I wasn't there.”

  “Doesn't matter.”

  “I'd think it does.”

  “You were first on the scene. I need to know what you saw.” John sat back. “Fleeing cars, auras, remnant spells. Survivors.”

  “Like you said, I'm the last man standing.”

  “Phone records show you called Aegis ten minutes after the last distress call went out.”

  Heidi leaned forward. “You looked at my records?”

  “We're investigating all possibilities in this case.”

  “All possibilities?”

  “An entire team – an elite team – was wiped out in a matter of minutes. It's not uncommon for Adrian to–”

  “You aren't looking for a witness report,” Heidi interrupted, stiffening. “You're looking for a rat in the department.”

  “A flat tire spared you. Your name is second on the case, and Adrian isn't hunting you down?” He raised an eyebrow and looked around the room. “Nice upgrade.” John rose, a smug smile on his face.

  “You can't prove anything.”

  “We can pay more. I expect the files on my desk by five.”

  Heidi cursed when he left, the door slamming closed behind him. She'd have to call Adrian to get John off her back and pay off a few more agents. She snatched the paperwork and marched to Sayer’s office.

  “It's been less than a week,” she said, throwing the file onto his desk. “I thought you were going to wait a month before hiring someone else. Adrian needs that time to move without some bastard on his back.”

  Sayer sighed and looked up from his writings. “Erewhon Headquarters needed me to fill the position.”

  “Since when do you take orders from Erewhon?”

  “Since I work for them.”

  Heidi sneered. “They aren't the only ones you work for.”

  “Heidi,” he groaned.

  “I'll take care of it myself. If Adrian found out, you wouldn't work for anyone. He'd bury you.” She turned to leave. “By the way, I was told I had a secure line. How did John get ahold of my phone records?” She flashed a suggestive smile. “Erewhon might’ve given you your throne, but remember who will take it from you.”

  She returned to her office, satisfied.

  A little green light on her touch screen desk flickered. She tapped the notification, and a message box alerted that Beth Hollings’ ID card had been swiped at the main entrance. Didn't take very long.

  Heidi had spent the morning following Beth’s movements through Aegis. She watched their flight depart and land, and their taxi pick them up and drop them off. Heidi figured Beth would return to work to gather her files. The woman never went home without them. However, she didn't expect Beth to show her face anytime soon around the department.

  Foolish.

  Heidi slipped on her heels, combed her blonde hair, and walked down the hall to Beth’s office. The blinds were closed, lights on, door shut.

  She smiled.

  Inside the office, Beth sifted through boxes and piled files high on her desk. Her blonde hair had turned black, her eyes brown instead of baby blue. Two inches had been added to her height, ten years shaved off her face.

  Heidi leaned against the door. “I thought I recognized your aura.”

  Beth pulled jammed files loose from a cabinet, using her foot as leverage to wiggle them free. “You’d think by now someone would’ve created a paperless system.”

  “It’s called a computer.” Heidi tapped the blank screen at the desk that collected dust.

  “Okay, a paperless and reliable system.” Beth shot her a side-glance. “What are you doing here? Aegis didn't put you in hiding?”

  Heidi rolled her eyes. “I just got out of their stupid meeting. What are you doing back here, Beth?”

  “It’s Vera Hart now,” she said. “I need my files on Adrian.”

  “What for?” Heidi flipped through the top file. “You know them front to back.”

  “Maybe so.” Beth heaved another pile onto the desk. “But I’m not taking chances.”

  “Then you’ll need these.” Heidi tossed a thin red folder into the mix.

  “What’s that?”

  “The last file we’ll ever have on Adrian.”

  Beth ripped it open. She splayed out the contents to take them in all at once. The file consisted of a list of possible hiding locations. They ranged from safe homes scattered around the city to deserted islands in other dimensions.

  “Why?” Beth asked.

  “Adrian wiped out our entire team.”

  “Except us.” Beth looked up after reading the last page.

  “They’ve recruited Rookies. They can’t reject the mission unless they’re looking to be out of a job.”

  Beth grunted. “Sayer is treating this like child’s play.”

  “You know he has the last say.”

  Beth huffed, rubbing her eyes. “You don’t put inadequate Collectors on a case like this.”

  Heidi slid a bag across the desk. Inside, white powder caked the plastic.

  “Amnesia Dust,” Beth groaned.

  “Adrian stuck it to a Rookie’s jacket. He couldn't tell me what month it was. We brought him to an Elixir, but we couldn’t recover the night’s memories.”

  “Adrian is taunting us.” Beth dropped the sack. “Where did Sayer send the Rookie?”

  “Viper.”

  “The nightclub?”

  Heidi nodded. “Sayer isn’t sending anyone else there.” She looked at her vibrating phone, pausing while she replied. “Which is why this assignment will be shut down by the looks of it. With no able bodies, there’s no use in putting Rookies in harm’s way.”

  “There’s us.”

  “Don’t even think about it.” Heidi waved a finger. “I’m glad we’re done with that Adrian case. I had to get my nails done every other day digging through that mess.”

  Beth rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t roll your eyes at me. And don’t let me catch you at that club.” She smiled and blew a kiss. “Enjoy retirement, Vera.”

  “Hey,” Beth called out.

  Heidi froze in the doorway.

  “Where can I get a drink? A real drink.”

  Heidi tapped her finger to her lips. “There's this place outside of town. The Boathouse Bar. It's hard to get reservations, but I know a guy. For one?”

  Beth stood, tossing papers into her bag. “Two. At eleven.”

  Heidi cooed. “Got yourself a hot date, eh?”

  Beth rolled her eyes. “You could call it that.” She moved around the desk and slipped into the hall. “Thanks, Heidi.”

  “No problem.” Heidi waited until Beth disappeared in the elevator to retreat to her own office.

  She locked the door, closed the blinds, and called an outside line.

  “Heidi,” Adrian’s silk voice greeted on the other end. Pleasurable shivers slid down her body at the way he uttered her name. She squeezed her legs together. Six more hours and she'd see him.

  “Beth is going to The Boathouse Bar tonight. She's bringing someone with her.”

  “Who?” his voice tickled her skin. She imagined his hands gliding up her calves, along her thighs, beneath her lingerie. Her skin flushed red, warm from her imagination. She squeezed her legs tighter together, twisting them at the ankle.

  “She didn't say,” she moaned.

  Adrian chuckled. “I'll send my brother.”

  “We have a new investigator on your case. Take care of him,” Heidi said. “And quit using your Allure over the phone. I'm not seeing you for another six hours. I'm already hot and bothered.”

  “I'll see you tonight, Heidi.”

  Chapter Ten: Raincheck

  Maura returned to the academy with a boxful of paperwork. She steered clear of Jessica, who spoke to a group of unhappy teenagers, and turned int
o the corridor beside the library. Students swarmed into the hallway from the outside soccer field, making it impossible to pass. She squeezed into an alcove, waiting for the rush of pupils to trickle off. She huffed and dropped the box to the ground. The hard thud echoed in the dead end corridor, bringing curious gazes her way.

  “Ah,” a familiar deep voice came from the crowd. Kyle emerged with a brass key in hand, a smile on his face. “I'm glad to see you here.”

  Maura turned to the plaque with his name scrolled in elegant, faded script. Shit.

  “Raincheck, Hawthorne.”

  He raised an eyebrow and unlocked the door. “Do they give rainchecks for rainchecks?”

  She picked up the box. “When I said raincheck, I more or less meant never.”

  “I don't bite.” He leaned on the door to open it.

  Scents of autumn – cinnamon, apple cider, and pumpkin – tumbled from his office, inviting and soothing. It reminded her of home, and she found herself not wanting to be anywhere but there.

  “I have a lot of work to do,” she said.

  Kyle chuckled and shuffled into his office. He stopped beyond the door with a smile and a slight wave of his hand. “Come, take a seat. I think we should talk.” He rounded the large desk in an alcove constructed of floor-to-ceiling bay windows. Dying sunlight streamed into the room in harsh red and pink rays. Maura inched toward their warmth, hand outstretched, the sunlight showering her skin. Before she realized it, she was sitting in a large green velvet chair in front of Kyle, her box on his desk. She scowled at his innocent, yet advanced Allurement spell that coaxed her into his office. She kicked her legs onto his desk, crossing them at the ankles.

  Kyle rose and moved to a small corner where a tea kettle and china sat. He poured two cups, broke several crackers, and returned. He handed the plate over.

  “Are we going to talk, or just aggravate my bladder with tea?” Maura said.

  “You're quite crude.”

  She shot him a sarcastic smile.

  Kyle motioned with his eyes to the untouched tea. “And your manners have undoubtedly suffered from being away from Abysm for so long.”