Strange Currencies
Amanda Robertson
Chapter 4
He was no longer really living, he decided, but merely existing in the sea of pain. Adam was actually surprised he could continue to feel. It was just further proof of her level of control
Her. Lyssandra Claybourne, living proof that anything that beautiful was equally deadly.
"Thank you for the compliment." A voice emerged from the shadows, one that evoked visions of smoky rooms and dark jazz. "I adore praise, you know."
Adam opened his eyes slightly, exposing slits of amber-brown. Lyssandra stood directly in front of him, and she looked very much like she had when they had first met. Like a Celtic princess, he had thought fancifully when he had first met her. Her golden-red curls fell to her waist, and her eyes were a misty silver-gray.
She was out for revenge.
Not only had he refused to disclose the location of her latest fancy, a sixteen-year-old spiritual awakener by the name of Lisa Gallagher, but also she had somehow arrived at the correct conclusion that he was feeding information to her prey. That was something she would not tolerate.
The torture was supposed to have the dual purpose of punishment and breaking down his shields, but it had not yet accomplished the latter.
"Just a matter of time," Lyssandra commented calmly. "No one can hold out too long against this kind of treatment."
Her telepathy was becoming annoying. There was, Adam thought, something inherently irritating about having mental musings answered vocally.
"I think you're underestimating me." Adam managed. "And you're enjoying this far to much. Were you a dominatrix before you starting using your mental powers?"
"No." Lyssandra smirked. "But I think I would have been a natural at the job, don't you?" she asked as she flicked her whip over his skin.
Adam's inner thoughts were enough to earn him a nasty lash.
The redhead leaned over him. "Give me what I want," she stated, coldly enraged. "I don't want to play anymore games with you. You've become uninteresting." Lyssandra found the fact that Adam could block her extremely irritating. She was a strong telepath; she was used to simply pulling the information she desired out of people's minds.
That wasn't so simple with Adam; he had incredibly strong mental walls. She couldn't find Lisa Gallagher without him. Lyssandra didn't like depending on anyone like this.
It soon would not matter; Adam's walls were beginning to evaporate. After that, he would be unable to do anything else to help Lisa.
* * *
Aidan dozed on his pile of pillows beneath Lisa's bed. He heard a thump above him, for the fifth time that night.
"I swear," he muttered. "If I didn't know better, I'd think she was…"
"I wouldn't advise carrying that thought further," a harsh whisper came to his ear, startling him. Jordan clapped his hand over Aidan's mouth to muffle his scream.
After ascertaining that Aidan would be silent, Jordan motioned towards the door. "Come on. I think its time we met one of the other players in this game."
Aidan was confused. This was, unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence. He preferred to remain in oblivion whenever possible.
Jordan sighed as he saw the lost expression in Aidan's green eyes. He muttered to himself as he banged his head lightly against the wall. "Why do I have to explain everything? Haven't you been paying any attention to what goes on in that room?"
"Um, no?" responded Aidan. "It's not like it's overly interesting, anyway."
Jordan suppressed the urge to strangle. "I'm going to have to draw you a diagram."
* * *
"You know," Aidan drawled. "Most college guys who fantasize about mysterious dominating women don't automatically assume they're after their sisters."
Jordan narrowed his eyes. "Don't make me hit you."
"Fine," Aidan sighed, rubbing the headache from his temples. "So you see this woman in a dream, threatening Lisa. You have another dream"
"Vision," interrupted Jordan.
"Fine, 'vision,'" Aidan rolled his eyes. "You have a vision about a woman torturing some guy for information about Lisa. You want me to help you find this happy little situation, for the sole purpose of interrogating him about his relationship with your sister." At Jordan's nod, he continued. "You're insane, you know."
"Your point?" asked Jordan.
"I don't bother to have one in this household. I don't see the use in driving myself to increasing levels of insanity." Blowing out a breath, Aidan continued. "I take it we'll be leaving right now, at the wonderful hour of 2 AM?"
"Yes," Jordan stated. "And you will be driving."
"Why?"
"I have to concentrate on the vision," explained Jordan. "So I can't drive."
"Neither can I," said Aidan dryly. "Or were you under the impression that I came equipped with driving skills?"
"I'm sure we'll be fine."
Aidan thought those words had the potential of being both famous and last.
* * *
He was late.
It was unlike James to worry, but the lateness of the usually prompt Adam Nickerson was accomplishing that.
He had located Adam shortly after he first noticed inquiries about Lisa. Adam was the one making the inquiries, of course, and he seemed somewhat unsurprised that he was conversing over the 'Net with a sentient computer.
But then, Adam was an intelligent young man, and he had known who he was looking for. And what she could do. He was the unwilling ward of Lyssandra Claybourne, and it was for her that he was doing "research."
Not much liking his guardian, he had been more than willing to do a double-cross. Which was how he came to be working with both Lisa and James. He emailed nightly, updating the progress.
And his email was scheduled to arrive at 2:30 AM. It was now 3:30, Aidan and Jordan had both gone off somewhere.
Considering the fact that Aidan was involved, they were likely in difficulties in whatever they were doing.
James sighed mentally. He was going to have to wake up Lisa, and he'd be lucky if she didn't bash in his CPU.
Not for the first time, he contemplated how much easier it would have been if Lisa hadn't awakened him.
* * *
"I believe," Jordan said in a dazed tone of voice, "that I am beginning to understand lamp posts. We have, after all, had several close encounters with them tonight."
Aidan gave him a sidelong glance. "I told you I couldn't drive." He paused, looking up at the building before him. "This is it?" It was a very basic warehouse, like any other in the city. "It's so…ordinary."
"You were expecting a black castle, perhaps?" asked Jordan sarcastically.
"Shut up. Let's find the poor, tortured idiot and get the hell out of here." Aidan scowled. "The night air isn't good for my hair," he stated, tugged on his mistreated locks.
Jordan rolled his eyes. "Just follow me. We'll try not to malign your tresses further."
He led them through a labyrinth-like series of hallways and stairs until they arrived at an unmarked door with the faintest of lights coming out from under it. It was quiet.
Easing open the door, Jordan stepped into the room, leaving Aidan to guard the hall. He was met by a sultry female voice coming from the darkness.
"Well, you're a cute one, aren't you?"
The rescue mission had just hit one hell of a snag.