Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I shot an angry look at Mullins; I was sure that his crude words had upset my beloved. The incantation called for the consumption of the taken body parts, but it seemed that Milan hadn't truly realized what it meant until the Captain spoke.
Mullins grimaced and held up his hands. He obviously didn't mean to upset Milan; he was just venting his frustrations. While I'd gladly lay into him for his insensitivity, I needed to tend to my mate.
I flicked my wand and a small cloud formed, hovering above Milan and raining cool drops onto the back of his neck. I slowly stroked my hand up and down his back, hoping to soothe him as much as possible.
When he stood upright, I took him in my arms, making sure not to hug him too tightly and disturb his stomach. I felt his initial surprise in the way he flinched, but then Milan relaxed in my hold and hugged me back.
I didn't have the words to sympathize with what he'd been through, or what he was feeling. I wasn't the most empathetic man normally, but I wanted to support sweet Milan. So I held him and stroked his back, hoping he understood the words I couldn't find.
After some time (it could have been a few moments or a few hours; I lost track and didn't care), Mullins cleared his throat and Milan jumped away from me. Personally, I didn't care if the Captain was watching. I was proud to show my affection for my mate.
I took Milan's cheeks in my hands and looked into his eyes. "We're going to stop this, and we will avenge Micah." I pressed my luck and sealed my promise with a gentle kiss to his forehead. When I backed away, a peaceful smile danced on his lips.
"I hate to ruin the moment," Captain Mullins cut in, yet I doubted his words since he did it so often, "But we need to get back to the station. We need to fill the other detectives in on this information." I nodded, but I didn't drop my hands from Milan's face. The captain sighed loudly and said, "Okay, then, don’t mind me, I guess," before placing his hand on my shoulder.
I didn't move my eyes from Milan's as our surroundings faded away.
Chapter Seven
Milan
I was so lost in Nigel's gaze that I wouldn't have noticed our surroundings changing if it hadn’t been for the harsh light of the precinct striking my eyes. After being in the dim cave for so long, I had to blink several times to clear my vision.
“I’ll call a meeting with the other officers,” Mullins announced, rubbing his fists against his eyes. When he dropped his hands, I noticed how sweaty his face was. He was having a bad reaction, either to the clue we’d uncovered or the traveling we’d done. “And I’ll pass the information to all of the other local precincts.”
Just then, Officer Feeman, the young man who typically watched over the desk at the entrance to the station, ran down the hallway towards us. “Captain! We just received a call from dispatch; a defense attorney across town is needing assistance. He called his local station, but they passed it to us; he was in his office working after hours on a case and reported seeing a dark, shadowy figure. He swears it’s not human.”
I grabbed Nigel's arm as realization struck me. "The man is a lawyer…a manipulator."
"Blimey," he breathed before asking Feeman, "What's the address?"
"712 Broad Street, Suite B."
Nigel and I both looked at the Captain, who held his stomach and shook his head. It was obvious he wasn't well enough to make the trip with us. "You two go," he instructed. "I'll send backup immediately."
We both nodded and I nuzzled close to Nigel. He wrapped his arm around my waist and we were gone.
When our new surroundings built around us, an uneasy feeling settled over me. We stood in a large room, empty of any people, but full of cubicles. Along each wall were lines of closed office doors.
Everything was dark and still; not a single light bulb was lit, and there was no sound in the air. There was no air circulating through the vents, no hum of computer fans…nothing. All power had been cut from the building.
The atmosphere made me more anxious. I knew we had to catch the culprit. There was no time to waste; after the monster killed my brother, he waited a few weeks to attack the fortune teller. But not even an entire day separated her death and this reported attack.
Granted, all we had to go on was that this lurking figure “wasn’t human”, but judging from the spellbook and the intended victim, my gut told me that we were dealing with the same serial killer. He was moving more quickly now. He was already halfway through the incantation. He was either growing more desperate or excited. Or both.