Page 102 of Soul Sucker

Alexei followed him out of the room, his expression petulant, his Fae-Web flashing like a thundercloud. Vadim stood back to let Liz and Ella enter ahead of him and then followed them in. The whiteboard had yet another picture attached to it. This one was a gruesome snap of Trini Yamada in her party hat, her dead eyes fixed on the afterworld.

He hardly listened as Feehan rattled through the details of Trini’s short life, her decision to come to San Francisco and the tragic consequences of that choice. Ella doodled flowers on her yellow notepad. Even without trying, he knew it was a front and inside she was grieving for all of her classmates and fellow empaths. She wouldn’t allow him to comfort her and he didn’t want Alexei picking up any stray communications between them. His Fae colleague was already too suspicious.

“So we have to assume that the Siren isn’t murdering his victims in alphabetical order,” Feehan concluded.

“I also want you all to know that I’ve alerted the other empaths who graduated with Ella and sent her twenty-four-hour protection. She’s not going to do anything but stay at home until I give her the all-clear.”

Ella looked up. “Has anyone contacted the two male empaths yet?”

Sam stuck up his hand. “I did. They are both alive and happily mated.”

“Good for them. But just because they are mated doesn’t mean they couldn’t have killed.”

“That’s true—” Vadim drew a black box on his legal pad, “—and they do know all of the American victims, which might explain why no one has put up a fight. Can we trace their movements for the past few weeks?”

“I’ve already got someone on that,” Feehan said. “I’ll let you know the results as soon as I get them.” He looked around the table. “So what else do we have to go on? What are the Fae-Webs telling us?”

Liz looked stricken. “That Ella will be next.”

“Oh great, thanks,” Ella said.

“The Fae-Web can be wrong, Ms. Walsh.” Vadim glared at Alexei and Liz.

“That’s right, and the way isn’t clear yet. Death is near Ella, but we both feel that she is the key to solving this mystery.”

“Over my dead body, right?”

“We’ll try and make sure that doesn’t happen, Ella.” Feehan’s smile was strained. “Now, is there anything else?”

Everyone shook their heads.

“Well, let’s call it a wrap until tomorrow then.” Feehan beckoned to Vadim. “Could I speak to you for a moment, in private?”

Vadim could see no way of avoiding the request and reluctantly followed his superior out of the conference room.

* * *

Liz reachedover to take Ella’s hand.

“I’m so sorry. That came out all wrong.”

“It’s okay. It’s not as if my chances were looking good anyway.”

“But to just blurt it out like that!”

Ella squeezed her hand. “It’sokay, really.”

Liz’s expression cleared and her Fae-Web glittered brightly. “You feel different.”

“Really?” Ella tried to sound disinterested. She was all too aware of Alexei leaning in to overhear their conversation.

“As if you’re lighter or something.”

Ella winked at her. “I’ll tell you all about it later. We can do lunch.”

“That would be awesome.” Liz moved in closer. “Do you have a new man?”

“I think she does,” Alexei said.

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