Deathstalker 05 - Deathstalker Destiny

as Wormboy Hell, the Mater Mundi had created a mental link between Jenny and Finlay Campbell and Evangeline Shreck. It had only ever been intended as a one-off thing, and none of them had tried using the link since, but theoretically there was no reason why Diana shouldn't be able to reestablish the link. She was, after all, much more powerful and focused now. She closed her eyes and broadcast her thoughts as loudly as she could, on an unfamiliar level.
    Finlay! Can you hear me?
    Bloody hell, said Finlay Campbell. I've started hearing voices. I didn't think I was that far gone. You're not going to tell me you're the Devil, are you, and I have to go running through the streets with my underpants on my head?
    This is Diana.
    Bloody silly name for the Devil.
    Shut up and listen! This is Diana Vertue, once known as Jenny Psycho.
    I think I'd have been better off with the Devil.
    Shut up, dear, and let her talk, said Evangeline Shreck. So this is telepathy.
    How fascinating. Not quite what I'd imagined, but… Correct me if I'm wrong, Diana, but I'd always understood telepathy was only possible between people carrying the esper genes.
    Usually, yes. But these are far from normal circumstances. Let's keep this short and to the point. I'm in deep shit, and I need somewhere safe and secure to hide. Somewhere even the most powerful telepaths couldn't find me. Any ideas?
    My old apartment under the Arenas, said Finlay immediately. Very secure, and no one knows the access codes but me.
    And the constant raging emotions and sudden deaths should make a powerful cloak for you to hide behind, said Evangeline.
    Who's after you? said Finlay. Anything we can do to help?
    No, said Diana. I have to do this myself. Tell me what I need to know, and I'll break contact. You have enough problems of your own without adding mine.
    True, said Finlay. Can I just ask how you knew I wasn't dead?
    I didn't, said Diana. This idea came firmly under the heading of pure desperation. But I always knew you were too mean to die that easily.
    Finlay laughed, and told her what she needed to know. Diana broke contact, then steeled herself, and went to tell Crow Jane that she wouldn't be staying after all.

    There was something very wrong with Grace Shreck's town house. The old stone building looked even more uncared for than usual, if that was possible, and the
    surrounding gardens had been allowed to run riot. No lights showed at any of the closed windows, save for one high up and to the side. Both house and garden were utterly silent, as though listening or waiting… for something. Toby Shreck and his cameraman Flynn huddled together before the front gates, peering dubiously through the black iron bars. Flynn's camera hovered by his shoulder, as though afraid to go off on its own. Toby glared at the dark house.
    "I told you, Flynn. Something's wrong here. Very wrong. Grace is still in residence, along with all of her servants, but the only light showing is at Clarissa's bedroom window. So why are they all sitting around in the dark?"
    "Good question, Boss. This is definitely spooky. Reminds me of one of those old houses they always put on the covers of Clarence's favorite gothic romances. You know; the ones where there's a batty old ex-wife living secretly in the attic, sharpening a hatchet when she thinks no one's listening."
    "Will you shut up, Flynn? This is disturbing enough as it is. And look at the garden. Grace would never have allowed it to get into such a mess. She's always been red hot on keeping up appearances."
    "Could be money problems," said Flynn.
    "No; she'd have talked to me by now if that was the case," said Toby. "And I can think of at least a dozen antiques in her front room that are each worth more than the house and grounds put together. No… I don't like this at all."
    "Then why don't we do the sensible thing for once, and go home? And not come back till we've arranged for some heavy duty backup, body armor, and maybe an exorcist. Just in case."
    "Clarissa's in there," said Toby grimly. "Her messages have been growing increasingly short and vague over the past few weeks. I want her out of there. I
    also want a few urgent words with Grace about something I turned up while checking the Family expense sheets."
    "Hold on," said Flynn. "Since when have you started investigating your own Family? And keeping it a secret from me?"
    Toby looked at him. "Since I found myself wading through matters so murky that just discussing them might be