Shadow Kissed 03 - Shadowman

shredded Layla’s mind. It staggered her, then brought her to her knees as she gripped her head. A woman’s scream, sharp enough to cut glass. The sound scored like jagged lightning. Burned in her mind with horror and fear, a soul cry for help. The scream went on and on, and Layla had to work to remember how to breathe, how to speak, how to tell Adam . . .
    A grasp and yank on her shoulders had her standing again, Adam shouting soundlessly into her face. Though she couldn’t hear him, his mouth moved, saying, What’s wrong? What’s happening?
    â€œTalia,” Layla said, or hoped she said. She forced her voice louder, just in case. “Talia!”
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    An unearthly shriek of terror filled Khan’s mind. He dropped his work at the forge, the hammer sparking with impact on the cavern floor. He crossed through Twilight in a rage, baleful darkness riding his wake. If Talia called, she was in danger. If Talia screamed, she needed Death.
    No one touched his banshee daughter.
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    Layla saw Adam’s head jerk around as the lights in the facility changed from clean white to a deep yellow. She guessed the alarm had gone off, too late, though, to alert screaming Talia to danger.
    Layla lurched into a run toward the cells, in the direction of the exit, but Adam grabbed her and held her back. He shook his head no. Half dragged her through the double row of seats to the examination room. The facing wall seemed to be made of glass or plastic, but knowing Adam, she was sure it was made of much stronger stuff.
    The scream broke off suddenly.
    â€œIf she screamed, they’re inside,” Adam was saying, his voice distant as her hearing slowly returned.
    â€œThen go. Now! ” Urgency ruined her voice. Layla could take care of herself. She’d seen wraith action before. It was Talia and the children who needed Adam immediately.
    â€œKhan will go to her. He’ll already be there. Even now.” But Adam’s face was lined with pain. “We can’t risk you, not with the threat of the gate over our heads. If you die before Khan can dismantle it, the gate will stand forever. It’s too dangerous.”
    â€œBut . . .” How would Khan know he was needed? How could he get to Talia so quickly?
    Adam coded open the door to the examination room and pushed her inside. “You’ll be safe here. It’s wraithtight, but not a cell. Security goes both ways in this room. Audio only.” He rattled off a code. “You can get out if you need to, but don’t unless your life is at risk. Wait for one of us to come for you. The soldiers are still up front, just in case. I’m taking the back way.”
    â€œOkay.” Layla backed away from the door to show her compliance. “Go!”
    But he was already pelting around the corner.
    Please let him get to Talia.
    The door hissed closed, and a deep metallic clang signaled it was secure. Only the voice code, which she had cycling in her mind, would release her now. Drawing a huge breath, she turned to look around.
    The wraith examination room smelled brightly foul, like decay covered with bleach. The transparent wall looked out to an observation theater, and considering the thick metal slab and restraints in the room, she shuddered at the thought of what had been restrained and for what purpose. She pitied the wraiths. Was there any coming back for them? Segue research said no. The mutation was permanent.
    Layla rubbed her hands on her arms to fight a sudden chill. The silence this deep underground was eerie, almost as bad as Talia’s scream. What was happening? Layla couldn’t begin to imagine. At least here she wouldn’t be a liability.
    In each upper corner of the room, cameras looked down on her. And Layla caught the gleam of lenses on the other side of the partition. For once, she was the one being captured on film. She almost signaled her awareness but glanced away instead.
    Wait it out. Someone, eventually, would come for her.
    The metal cupboards and drawers were all locked, so to pass the time she decided to pick them to discover the contents. The first drawer contained scalpels of all sizes and varieties, what must have been a bone saw, flat metal things—retractors?—a pointy tong that looked like a corkscrew. None of it good. All made her nauseous.
    Adam Thorne, what goes on in here?
    She decided to keep the rest of the drawers shut.
    And that’s when she noticed