Phobia (Interracial Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria) (13 page)

“
Shut up.” Sabine tazered him in his ribs.

“
D’cara
.” He fell to the ground.

“
It’s either you speak English or you say nothing.” Sabine kicked his stomach.

“
Don’t, he’s not an animal.” Wisteria pulled the woman away.

“
You’ve witnessed what his people do when they capture free-minded humans,” Sabine replied. “This is nothing compared to that.”

“
We’re better than them,” Wisteria implored.

“
Oh no, we’re worse.” Sabine swore. “Know that Enric. We’re going to find a way to destroy your race.”

“
You are wrong.” Moaning, he struggled to get to his feet. “Humans will never destroy the Family.”

“
What did he say?” Sabine turned to Wisteria.

“
He said he wants to speak to me alone,” Wisteria answered.

“
Nope.” Sabine shook her head.

“
You’ve given him so much bean vine that he’s powerless to hurt me,” Wisteria reminded her. “You said my baby brother could even knock him out.”

“
You’re a lot smaller than he is.  In case he thinks he can try something use this.” She gave Wisteria the tazer.

Nodding,
Wisteria never considered herself to be small. Yes, she was short, but not small—well maybe compared to Enric?

Even among the Family, he stood as
a big guy. At least six foot eight standing and over 200 pounds of pure muscle, he looked more like he could be thirty rather than twenty.

“
Use the tazer if he even glowers at you funny,” Sabine added.

Wisteria didn
’t like the fact he’d been poisoned, because it reminded her of the times Bach was almost killed by Red Phoenix. On the other hand, Enric couldn’t hurt her in his current state. “Thanks Sabine, but I won’t torture him.”

“
Don’t worry, the tazer won’t kill him and even if by some wonder you did, we don’t need him. Jason’s the key to stopping the Family, so Enric will be no loss. Have fun seeing Enric suffer for what he did to you and for that girl, Piper, whom he sent to her death.”

Enric
’s brow flinched for a second at the mention of Piper.

“
No.” Wisteria shook her head. “Felip beat Piper and eventually sent her to die. Enric simply didn’t care enough to help her.” She returned the tazer. “I won’t need it.”

Sabine opened the heavy door.
“Come on, do it. I can tell, you want to. After all, you are your mother’s daughter.”

“
Sabine—” Wisteria started.

“
Or I stay in here?” She tossed the tazer at Wisteria and left.

Wisteria sat at the table opposite Enric.
“We need to—” she said in the Dialect.

“
Why did you not come sooner? Do you think this is a game?” he scolded in the Dialect. “You are—”

“
Listen.” Wisteria stuck her hand in his face. “First, you’ve got to listen to me or I’m gone.”

“
Release me from here and then we will get Bach,” he demanded.

“
Enric, I
said
shut up.”

His green eyes darkened
as he rose, towering over her.

“
Sit and stop being an ass, or I’ll leave.” She placed her hands firmly on the table. “And you’ll be left with Sabine and her tazer.”

“
I am your prisoner.” He sat back down. “I do not expect to be treated with dignity.”

“
Wait? You don’t like being held captive? Since you dragged me halfway around the world against my will, I figured you enjoy being mistreated.”

“
I had no choice.”

“
No choice? That’s all you have to say after everything you did me?”

“
Were you not happy helping Bach? I was actually confused you fought so much against making his life better.”

“
All you’ve ever wanted was for me to
not
be a part of his life.”

“
And I still do not believe you deserve to be bonded with any Famila, not to speak of a Sen-Son. You are beneath Bach in every way.”

“
I saved your life. Have you forgotten that?” Her hand itched to slap him.

“
I remember and it shames me.”

“
I was wrong to come here.” He’d reminded her that no matter how badly her mother had treated her, the Family was always worse.
Why did she think he would even be a better option?

“
Do not leave—I—I regret what I put you through.” He seemingly forced the words out. “You are not my choice for him, but I respect Bach and therefore ensured you were not hurt when—”

Ignor
ing him, she continued to the door.

“
You smell,” Enric called out to her.

Now she
was
going to use the tazer. Marching to the table, she picked it up and then dropped it. “Goodbye Enric.” She couldn’t hurt him.

“
Burnt molasses, you smell of burnt molasses. Do you know why?”

“
What are you talking about?” She paused. “I don’t smell like burnt sugar.”

“
I recognize the scent of burnt molasses and the swelling around your eyes. You find reading and aiming your weapons difficult?”

“
My aim was good enough to save your life.”

“
Yes, you did that. I still do not understand why, but your symptoms, they aren’t side effects of Coia’s serum.”

“
Okay.” Turning back to him, she folded her arms, but she started feeling tired again. “What is it?”

Enric smirked at her suggestively.
“Eat a lot more acidic foods and your symptoms will lessen.”

“
What is wrong with me?”

“
Everything you need to understand your condition and about how to help Bach is in the Hall of Ages in our home realm. Get there and you’ll have your answers.”

“
Tell me how to get there?”

“
We are going together.”

“
No, maybe if Jason trusted you I’d consider it, but he’s kept you detained down here. That speaks volumes.”

“
Jason needed my help to escape from the home realm. He’s concerned about helping the humans, not Bach.”

“
Ironic, as you’re not bothered the humans.”

“
True, but I will do both if you open the Hall of Ages.”

“
Jason is amazing at creating artifacts, he’ll find a key.”

“
Nothing he creates will work. My father was the Lord of Jarthan and spent years trying to unlock the Hall of Ages, but failed every time.”

“
Why do you think I can open it?”

“
The structure was built by the First Pillar only to be opened by one of them. You unlocked the Room of Ages and got that wahr chart working without even understanding the written language. You are First Pillar.”

“
And what’s in this Hall of Magic?”

“
The Hall of
Ages
is thousands of times larger than largest human library and museum. It is packed with millions of maps, charts, books and artifacts. Something there will break Coia’s hold on Bach and seal the thresholds.”

“
You are certain of this?”

“
Someone told me. All I have to do is get you in.”

“
Who is this someone?”

“
My friend is someone who believes humans are—equal to us.” His words came out like bile as if he couldn’t stand saying them. “My friend was friends with Hemlock Zey and will be able to tell you about him, but wants to meet you.”

“
My father?” Wisteria closed her eyes to conceal her shock. “Enric, tell me how to get there.” She felt dizzy. “I’m not going anywhere on a promise that may turn out to be nothing.”

“
At the very least, do you not want to tell Bach, your moon will reflect in his eyes?”

“
What did you say?” The room spun as she dropped into the seat in front of him.

“
Are you okay?” Sabine rushed in. “What did you do to her?”

“
Nothing. I need to go home.” Wisteria rose.

“
Get him back in his cage,” Sabine ordered as she ushered Wisteria out. “You shouldn’t let him get you so aggravated.” She took Wisteria back upstairs and sat her down in Cheung’s now empty office. “Rest here for a few minutes and I’ll take you home.”

“
Don’t bother.” Coles appeared at the doorway. “I’ll make sure she gets back.”

“
Elliot, before you have a heart attack. Nothing happened to her. She’s got a bit dizzy from the serum that’s all.”

“
You took her to see Enric! Are you out of your mind Sabine?”

“
He couldn’t do anything to her.” Sabine forced an uncomfortable laugh.

“
We’ve had a member of the Family secured and sedated here before, but he escaped.”

“
Well, Tom Hindle oversaw that patient and Tom, rest his soul was bloody thick. He got into Oxford because his father was the Lord of nowhere.”

“
I’d like to talk to you.” Bottling his rage, he pointed. “Come with me.”

Sabine marched out
, slamming to door behind them.

The pair
argued in the hall. Most of what they said Wisteria couldn’t hear as they spoke in hushed tones.

“
Whatever, Major Coles. If you want to arrest me, do it, but that girl in there isn’t a kid and she can handle a lot more than you think,” Sabine hollered.

“
Sabine, stay away from Wisteria,” he threatened.

“
I’m not one of the brain dead women in this town,” Sabine retorted angrily. “Who trembles at your feet? You don’t scare me. I’m not leaving you here with Wisteria. Not in your mood.”

“
My mood? You think I’m going to hurt her?” He growled. “You’re the one who has to worry about my mood. Cross me and you’ll wish you’d fed yourself to the biters years ago.”

“
Are you threatening to hurt me?”

“
I’m promising you what will happen if you ever—”

“
Go Sabine.” Wisteria opened the door. “I’ll be fine.”

Sabine opened her mouth to speak then nodded.
“I’m going to get Lara.”

“
Go won’t because she’ll do worse to you.” Coles re-entered the room, closing the door in Sabine’s face.

Wisteria dropped down into the sofa in Cheung
’s office.

He stood at the door with his eyes closed and his fists clenched.

She expected him to yell at her.

“
What did Enric tell you?” He finally spoke.

“
Not much.” She wasn’t sure what to make of what Enric told her, but it was a lot more than anyone else had.

“
He’s trying to drag you back into the madness going on in his realm. This will be the last time you see him.”

“
I get it you’re mad, but he’s one of the few people who understands what’s going on and will actually tell me anything. So, unless Mum’s going to change her mind, I’m going to come back.”

“
You think it’s that easy?”

“
I expect to get my rations cut and given additional shifts at the wall or whatever punishment you or the leadership council deemed fit. But you can’t stop me from getting—”

“
You’ll never get back in to this building while he’s
alive.
Once we’ve taken care of him we’ll see.”

H
e wasn’t a killer. The encounter with Charles proved that. “I’m sorry.”

“
For what? Going behind my back or allowing Sabine to manipulate you?”

“
That wasn’t her fault. I made her—”

“
Half our scientists want to dissect his brain as well as run some more colorful experiences. I wasn’t sure I was going to allow them to do that.”

“
You won’t do that.”

“
At this point, I honestly haven’t decided what I’ll do.” He opened the door. “Let’s go home. My car is parked out in front. If you’re not up for walking, I’ll carry you out.”

“
I’ll try to walk back now.” Placing one hand on the arm of the chair, she forced herself up. “Don’t punish him because of me.”