Captive: Hopeless

Chapter 33 - Pawns

"Our opening gambit sent a tremor through the underworld, rumors are flowing fast and wild, and speculation's going from one extreme to the next," Claudia reported at their next meeting. "Azera cordially invited Linda Tolliver to her home. She tortured her extensively, killed her, and placed her head on a pike in her castle's atrium, turning the shockwave into a tsunami."

When they framed Linda, Kay suspected Azera would kill her, but it was something they were willing to live with. 

She was ready to do anything to bring an end to the dark fae queen, and while that should have scared her, it didn't. Her loathing for that woman had become embedded within her spirit, and if not for her new family and the delicate new sensation of love in her heart, it may have consumed her.

"By killing her closest friend, Azera broadcasted her intolerance of betrayal to her underlings in no uncertain terms and made herself as clear as crystal. The dark fae queen has spies everywhere, and the underworld shudders with fear. Paranoia has become rife, but Azera is the most unstable, and her insanity endangers those closest to her. As we predicted," Marcus said, toying with his pen.

"She mercilessly eliminated all of Linda's closest confidants with some malice. They proclaimed their innocence and that of Linda, but their mistress did not believe them," Claudia concluded.

"Glad to see our spy network is thriving. Hopefully, they will remain smart about it," Darius said.

Every dark fae leader Azera eliminated was one less threat they had to worry about.

***

Azera toyed with a small gold pendant that rarely left her hand since she ripped it from its owner. A medallion with her crest engraved on one side dangled from its tip, and it was something she only bestowed upon those she favored among her chosen minions.

The fae queen kept seeing that dark warehouse in her mind where it had been discovered. Snagged on the button of a torn piece of fabric that lay in a pool of drying blood.

Too much blood for anyone to survive losing, spattered, and smeared in a telling pattern. The smell of terror and pain still lingered in the air when her guards discovered it. She would have never guessed what truly happened if it were not for this little piece of jewelry.

She had struggled to insert young Denise into Thane's household and personal staff. Keeping the white fae girl in her power by threatening her with her daughter's death. It allowed her to know every move Thane made, every person he spoke to, and every decision he made.

Thane trusted the girl, and that link was severed by killing her. Denise promised her news that would finally give her a handle on Thane, and Linda was present when she spoke to the girl and agreed on their meeting place. She thought nothing of it at the time, never dreaming Linda would choose to intercept their spy, acquire the information, and kill Denise.

Such a deed required no explanation, Linda must have struck a deal with Thane, and the only thing Thane could offer a woman like that was power. With him at her back and Linda's knowledge of her mistress' life, her sole purpose could have been betrayal, and when he finally destroyed Azera, Linda would have been a good choice to take her place.

A frown tugged at her brow, her lips setting in a hard line. How had she not known Linda wanted to replace her? Dahlia or Tanner, she could have understood, but unlike Linda, her two best frenemies had neither the skills nor the brains to do so.

Linda insisted on her innocence but having often watched Linda do "her thing" and knowing her "way with people"—how she got them to trust her before mercilessly betraying them—Azera did not believe her.

Not after all the times she had seen it. If not for that, she would have believed the hurt and pain in Linda's eyes, the disillusioned betrayal, and silent tears.

Although age blunted some of Azera's impatience and rashness, her temper never mellowed. If the baby had not disappeared without a trace from Linda's home, she would have been more inclined toward understanding and leniency.

The woman's security system was like a bank vault; only Linda could have removed the infant from the premises.

Despite wanting to know what Denise told Linda, her former friend never caved under pressure, and in the end, she did the only thing she could—offer Linda what she would not have given another, release from her pain.

Linda's death sent a message to the dark fae.

***

"Lady Azera?" The computer guy trembled in her presence and dared not look her in the eye.

"Did you find something?" she demanded, and he swallowed audibly.

"That virus nearly destroyed her computers, but I managed to restore a few files," he stuttered, handing her a thumb drive.

"I copied the files onto that, but I only opened the first, and it contained personal information on some of your staff," the tech looked ready to pee himself, and she savored his fear, feeding off it.

"Thane?" she asked, and he swallowed again.

"There was an extensive file on him, and although I restored some of it, it's worthless."

If he wasn't the best she could find, she would have killed him for what he might have seen. As things stood, she had known him for years and would not have dared do more than he said.

She nodded, took the drive, and walked away.

***

The tech's obsequies manner disappeared the second she turned her back, and hatred flashed through him as he smiled to himself, patting his pocket.

He quickly wrote a new code into the security system, knowing he would return at midnight to let himself into the secret room.

When he did, there were no guards, the security system negated such measures, and he had already looped the cameras. He did not linger, going straight to the wine cellar, entering his new code, and emerging moments later carrying a small bundle wrapped in a blanket.

"You'll be home soon enough," he muttered as the baby stirred, trying not to think of the young woman he left in that room where she would never be found, lying in a pool of her own blood.

He left the bundle on a park bench and called a number on a burner phone. A phone rang somewhere nearby, and pushing the end call button, he glanced toward the seat, but the package had disappeared.

Dennis crushed the phone, tossed it into the bushes, and walked into a spot of darkness. Azera would not have recognized his face or scent when he emerged on the other side.

His was a rare breed, even among immortals. Shifters like him were thought of as a myth, and it suited him since he made a handsome living from his unique skill.

The remains of the real Dennis Grisham would never be found, and no one would be the wiser.

With him having created disposable identities for himself by being able to manipulate his face and his scent, he could disappear as if he had never existed, and his hacking skills opened the world to him.

If he were without conscience, he could have been a powerful man. Instead, he was a man of integrity, and that honor lent itself to only one master.

The one who had once saved him from his horrible fate. To that end, he would play this game until it was done, even if it lasted until his death.

Don't know who you are, not Dennis, but you got balls. Newest Version ©2014-2023 All rights reserved. If you find this on any other platform but Wattpad under @CSDreamer, please report it. No part of this book may be copied or reposted without the author's permission.