“Let him go! I’m here, just like you wanted. Please! He’s dying! Hudson, I’m here, love.” Tears stung Shaney’s eyes, his stomach churned and he was about to lose what little breakfast he’d had, all over the damn circle. Maybe puke would neutralize its powers. Hudson’s head lolled on his shoulders, eyes fluttering. “Let him go. I’ll do whatever you want!” Panic drove Shaney’s heart to beat faster, and the energy rose and crackled around him.
Silas sneered with self-satisfaction. “Oh, you will do whatever I want. He’s not dead yet, but that can easily change,” Silas warned. “Cassie, please fetch our other guests so we can start.”
Cassie nodded and left.
Silas held up his palm and another ball of brilliant red appeared. Shaney eyed the ball with wonder. Within the sphere, red streams, massed together, much like the blue streams he himself produced. Shaney mirrored Silas and focused on calling his energy forward. Blue streams appeared and snaked around his hand. Shaney mentally pulled on the streams, coalescing strands, guiding them. A gasp of glee came from Silas at the sight of Shaney forming his own energy ball. Shaney’s hatred for the man amplified when he glanced at Hudson strapped to the pole, fighting to raise his head again.
Hold on, love, not long now.
Behind Shaney, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Shaney raised his chin and surveyed Silas, contemplating throwing the ball of energy at the evil son of a bitch. Even before he saw Todd, Shaney could feel the effect on his energy, and the ball grew in size and brilliance. To Shaney’s left, Caleb and Todd came into view, trailed by Cassie. Caleb’s gaze darted about, rapidly assessing the scene. His face turned the palest shade of white Shaney had ever seen.
Caleb said Shaney’s name. The sound was barely audible.
“Impressive, aren’t they, Caleb?” Silas asked with a smirk.
“Shaney, don’t,” Caleb warned. “Those are Nesaris Circles. Access to their creation is well guarded. They’re used to amplify and contain power. Any energy targeted inside of these circles with be magnified ten times and anyone within the three intertwined circles will feel the effects. You and Silas and Hudson are connected through those circles. If you throw that ball at Silas, it will be as if you threw the energy at Hudson as well as yourself.”
Silas pouted. “Caleb, you sure know how to ruin a good time. You’re not as ignorant as I took you for.”
The energy ball in Shaney’s hand extinguished. Shaney’s gaze flew to Caleb and then to Silas. The motherfucker grinned as if he’d won already. Hudson had managed to raise his head enough for Shaney to see the anguish in those blue eyes. The look stabbed right into Shaney’s heart. Shaney smiled and filled the gesture with as much hope as he could muster. He reached up and crossed his heart. Hudson closed his eyes, then opened them slowly in acknowledgement before his head bowed again. Shaney could feel the force of his energy wavering. He had to do something, or Hudson was going to die.
“Really touching,” Silas snarled as his ball of red grew brighter.
More footsteps on the stairs and Michaels appeared, yanking Maximus behind him with a rope. Shaney was amazed the man was upright and even more amazed when Maximus growled and charged for Cassie. Michaels jerked the rope, hooked to what looked to be a real fucking dog collar secured around Maximus’ neck. Maximus crashed onto his back on the floor and Michaels trained his gun on Caleb. Despite the threat of being shot, Caleb attempted to approach his man, but was thwarted when Cassie knocked him in the back with the heel of her hand. Caleb landed on his knees. The death glare he threw at Cassie was fucking scarier than anything Shaney had ever seen.
“You will die, bitch,” Caleb gritted out.
“Yeah, because you can do anything about it,” she snarled back.
“Enough!” Silas bellowed. “Cassie, where’s my other son? You know the useless one.”
“I’m right here,” Dan said, with a tone of disgust.
The Antichrist appeared around the corner from the stairs. Shaney scowled as he walked past. Dan averted his eyes, ducking his head as he stopped next to Hudson.
“Shaney, son. Welcome to the place of your birth. Here, twenty years ago today, you were born.”
Shaney frowned and thought about what Silas had said and then rolled his eyes. “Shit, it is my fucking birthday. You really didn’t need to go to all of this trouble, Dad.” The vehemence in the words didn’t appear to be lost on Silas as he narrowed his eyes. “Ever hear of a fucking gift certificate?”
While he was all bravado on the outside, inside, Shaney scrambled to find a way out of this mess. He needed to take Hudson out of the equation. Short of walking over there and yanking him out of the circle, Shaney had nothing. Yeah, Shaney was Superman, all right.