Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Five Bad News

‘How could this have happened yet again?’ Ryker thought pacing back and forth across the small motel room. The action caused dust to stir swirling upward and dancing under the dim light of the lamp. The worn carpet let the debris fly freely into the air.

Every time they seemed to be making headway with new recruits the old man swooped in and stole them away. ‘What is he planning?’ Ryker wondered stopping at the corner of the full-sized bed closest to the door. Lilith sat on the edge of the far bed watching his every move.

Lowering his hand from his chin Ryker turned toward Lilith his hands falling to his sides to rest on his hips.

“You’re sure Ellsworth got her?” He knew his most trusted wouldn’t come to him with this news unless it was true but he had to ask.

“Yes, Ryker. She was picked up in the same black town car that got the recruit two towns over.” Lilith informs him dropping her gaze for the first time since she entered the room.

Ryker sighs scrubbing his hand over his face. “f**k, there's no way this is a coincidence. We need to set up surveillance.” He says moving to pull his phone from his pocket.

Quickly dialing the number the sound of the phone ringing came twice before the line connected.

“It’s late Ryker what do you want?” The girl on the other end huffs sounding annoyed.

“Raven you know I wouldn’t call you if it wasn’t important,” Ryker tells her releasing a deep breath. His twin sister is one of the best that’s why they had formed their own teams and separated. Working together had become too much. They were both strong-willed and didn’t take direction well. Neither liked playing passenger to the other's orders and ideas always believing theirs was better.

“If it was so important you would’ve told me what it was already!” Raven sassily replied clucking her tongue.

“Ellsworth has taken six of the possible recruits.” Ryker grounds out his annoyance at his sister's nonchalance and attitude coming to the surface. He wouldn’t call her for help in any other circumstance.

“How the f**k did you allow that to happen?” Raven yells. Rustling comes through the phone as she moves from her seat throwing clothes on and waving her hand in dismissal of the man who had been occupying her bed.

“I didn’t allow s**t!” Ryker screams his anger growing by the second.

“Then how did he end up with them?” Her derogatory tone pushes all Ryker’s buttons. She knows exactly how to piss him off.

Taking a deep breath he forces himself to lessen his grip on the phone. The sound of crunching glass had alerted him he would need a new one after this call.

“We were working on getting the recruits into safe environments as all were underage when he swooped in. He adopted one of them. We’re not sure how he acquired the others. I don’t need a lecture on how I f****d up Raven. What I do need is for you and some of your team to help me fix this before something bad happens.”

“Aww, my baby bro needs me. Don’t worry sissy will clean up your mess.” With that, the line went dead. Raven is only five minutes older not that she has ever or will ever let Ryker live it down.

“Well, that went better than I thought it would,” Lilith pipes up from her spot on the bed.

“Start gathering the rest of the team.” Ryker orders ignoring her comment. Lily had been around the twins for a long time prior to the split. Ryker knew the only reason she chose to join him was because of her crush on him.

He however had never reciprocated those feelings and she eventually moved on while still choosing to stay as his second in command.

Lily stood walking towards the door she stopped just short of Ryker meeting his deep-set dark chocolate-colored eyes. They were divine and one of the reasons she so wanted him as her own. Her breath caught for a second as she pushed the feelings away fighting the urge to run her fingers over his strong brow bone.

“We’ll get the girls back Ryker.” She finally said there was a hint of longing still etched into her voice although she tried to force it down. He didn’t respond to her, his eyes still faced forward locked on the wall. He was deep in thought.

Lily moved passed him clasping her hand gently on his shoulder as she looked back at him, her eyes tracing the side of his face. Dark stubble was prominent on his strong jawline. His hair was slightly longer than usual curling slightly at the base of his ear. Dragging her eyes away she walked out the door pausing outside the large window beside of it. Her back now faced the door but her eyes betrayed her turning to get a final look at Ryker. She could easily see him through the thin curtains.

Inside Ryker hadn’t moved, he was angry and worry etched itself into the fine lines around his mouth. A frown was plastered on his handsome face. He unclenched his fist examining the once-new phone. Now it was shattered, pieces of glass from the screen dug into his palm and he tossed to phone into the small trash can by the table before making his way into the bathroom.

He stepped in front of the sink, his reflection wasn’t one he was used to. Since starting their group Ryker hadn’t been in a predicament like this and he rarely worried that they would lose a recruit. He spent long hours on the road and was used to seeing his eyes grow tired, the lines marring his tanned complexion were new to him.

Turning his attention to his hands he began plucking the small shards of glass from his skin, one piece had gone deeper than the others causing him to wince as he used his pocket knife to open the cut a little to extract it.

The small wounds would be gone within an hour such was his gift. He and his sister had been blessed with enhanced senses, healing, and strength. It made them the perfect sleuths and assassins. Ryker felt a set of eyes on him and noticed Lily near the window. Her bright blue eyes betrayed her at times like this, always shining in the darkness.

Catching his gaze Lily quickly scampered down the steps and to her parked car. Once inside she let out a shaky breath. How long could she keep pining after him when he never saw her as anything more than a sister? Removing her phone from her pocket she enter the address to the location one of her group members had been sent to. The GPS voice came through the car's radio instructing her to proceed to the route and she headed away.

Showing up to collect the others in person would give her time to explain the situation they were in before she had to pull them from their own tasks.

Ryker stood in the window watching as Lily’s car exited the parking lot. He knew she was proud of the vintage firebird coupe. He had to admit its sleek body and matte black paint job blended into the night well.