I tripped up the steps that led over the dune to her gardens. She had her eyes set on Lilith. A woman who’d been caged once and would never be again. Fear struck me again with thoughts of this woman controlling Lilith. I had to do something and quick. I had to protect anyone else from become a hostage or being killed, especially my friends who deserved freedom and joy after everything they’d been through.
“You OK?” She helped me up and I nodded.
“Yeah, just felt a little lightheaded. I’m very eager to get back in the garden, too. It’s been so long. I feel that edginess inside me. Maybe it’s making me feel off, too.” I hoped she understood where I was going with this.
“Oh, you know I hadn’t thought of that. When we repress our powers, it makes us crazy.”
The light bulb went off in her head and I hoped she’d give me my powers back.
“I’m not sure, though . . .” She eyed me suspiciously.
“You can tell me to only use them in the garden and not escape.” I knew I wouldn’t be going anywhere. Even if I did escape, she’d corner me somewhere and drag me back with tighter reins. We walked toward her mansion and then stopped by the gardens. They didn’t need much tending to, but I’d take what I could get.
“True, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you from keeping them inside.” She chewed over her thoughts, and I repressed a smile from forming on my face.
“Fine, Hazel. You may use your powers in the garden, but you will not try to leave nor harm me or my guards.” She leaned in close, letting the power of her words have a stronger effect on my will.
I’d learned she had to really mean what she said for her power to work. She couldn’t just randomly say for me to do something, and I wouldn’t have a choice. She had to purposefully use her gift when speaking.
My fingers tingled and the blossoming inside me felt like home. I crouched down to the ground and touched the dirt. “Oh, I’ve missed you.” I spoke to my powers as a little flower broke free and blossomed before our eyes. I loved creating life and beauty. Two more buds popped up, and I smiled gently at their blue-and-purple coloring.
“Very well, I’ll see you at dinner. Don’t do anything stupid, Hazel.” Her words were a true warning despite the smile on her face. I nodded and continued to release bits of my power into the grass. It felt so good to take a little of the growing pressure off myself.
Once Imani was gone, I looked around for inspiration on how to get the word of my location out. I walked to each rose bush, and red blossoms grew in my wake. There were some tall trees a few meters away from the house. Maybe, I could make some sort of sign at the top for AJ and his satellites.
It may be a dumb idea, but it was the only one I could work with and not arouse suspicion.
Chapter Thirty- Eight
Maddox
“Tell me where she is, or we’re going to turn you into the little spineless jellyfish you are.” I glanced at Asher, the warlock who loved this kind of fun.
“Maybe I’ll just let my woman eat you.” He grinned and nodded toward the black-and-white wolf snarling in the room. It was a tough pill to swallow seeing the beautiful woman Echo turn into an animal, but all our gifts were unique and served a purpose. Hers was scaring the shit out of Roy the tattoo artist, who had a secret to spill. Hero Society members Asher and Echo had shown up and figured out who knew something in the joint, then held him until I arrived. I blew the doors right off with heavy winds and everybody scrammed.
We’d been talking to Roy for ten minutes, and he had yet to give us any insight other than if he blabbed, he’d die.
“I’m telling you, I can’t say it. She told me not to, and I can’t, man!” Roy shook with real tears rolling over his tattooed ones.
I slowly took away his breath, and he gasped for air. My phone started ringing, and I instantly gave him back his air to answer the phone.
“Tell me.”
“I’ve found her. Such a smart and sexy woman that Hazel!” AJ hollered, and my phone vibrated with a notification. I peered at the screen to see what he sent me, and my heart raced rapidly.
On the tops of two trees near a large house were the letters AJ spelled out in purple flowers. Only Hazel could do that.
“I’m sending you the coordinates now. I’ve been searching the property for a signal I can tap into but haven’t gotten it yet. Soon though, then I can get an eye in there.” I could hear AJ’s fingers tapping away on his keyboard.
“They found her,” I told the other two and saw Roy instinctually relax.
“Great, let’s go.” Asher’s determined smile gave me a sense of camaraderie, like my old team. I never thought it would happen, but Hazel dragged me into her Hero Society family, and it felt like home, too.
“We’re heading there,” I said to AJ, and he told me he’d keep me updated with new info as we drove.
“You still confessed to hurting people. The police are on their way.” I smirked at Roy before leaving the room with him tied up in his tattoo chair with Asher and Echo following behind me.
“She’s in a compound on the north side of Seahill. Echo, can you fly ahead and scope out the place while AJ searches for their camera feed?” I looked to the wolf and she nodded her head. In a flash, she changed into a peregrine falcon. She knew we lacked time, so she became the fastest bird in the sky. She screeched once, then took off.
