KEEPERS BOOK 2: THE HUNT FOR SONJA

Chapter 19

Bringing Sonja and kibble with him had never been Jason's plan in the first place but the two had insisted to join him in his rescue mission.
It began when Sonja suddenly dropped her glass of wine, her sudden gasp made him jump from his chair and bolt into action. She had been frantic, claiming that Garrick and John were in danger. Her actions reminded him of his sister Shyra and he was never one to ignore such a foreboding.
Jumping into a cab they raced into Oxford street, however the traffic was unexpected, they ended up having to disembark into Baker street and walked the rest of the way.  Thankfully the females had adjusted well to the crowd. Before entering the club he had warned Sonja to shield herself and Kibble from the noise they would encounter.  He had become immune to the sound owing to his tenure in the human realm.
It wasn't a difficult task to get passed they bouncer, he had a free pass whenever anyone of them recognized him.  As they walked into the crowded club, he almost lost the sisters but he could sense them immediately.
"He's not in this room" Sonja said, looking through the crowd with her preternatural vision. "They took him somewhere else."
"What is this place?" Kibble asked, her shock was clearly evident. She looked about her in stunned disbelief not understanding where they were. Her vision adjusted to the dim surroundings watching the humans move in an almost ethereal way.
"It's a club Kibble. The humans like to come to places such as this for entertainment." Jason explained, the laughter in his voice was evident.
"This is really strange" she continued to say. She looked around her, people jumping and moving to the wild sound while others laughed and drank.
"Imagine what they would feel if they went to the realms?" Jason added.
Nodding her understanding Kibble remained close, her hear pounding to the rhythms of the music there was something about the beat that was refreshing. Back in the realms she had always been fond of dancing, listening to music and even singing with her sisters every now and again. Being in a different realm meant having to understand their beat.
She had been used to live musicians, as she looked about for the origin of the music, she found someone, cast in the shadows, he was jumping behind a podium, people surrounded him as he moved to the beat.
"Uncle Jason, that mortal " she pointed to the man "the sound is his making yet he has no instruments."
Sonja swiveled her head to the direction that Kibble pointed "They have machines that can make the sound sister. Remember what I told you about their world being so far removed from ours?"
Kibble nodded "this is what you meant when you spoke about technology?"
Sonja smiled and nodded her head "isn't it it magical? They make their own own magic."
Kibble nodded her agreement. Her gaze shifted to the grinding bodies on the dance floor and her foot started to tap on the ground "At first the rhythm sounds strange but it makes sense."
"Speaking of sense, have you managed to locate Garrick?" Jason shouted though the noise.
"He's here but somewhere that I cannot sense him. There is a block between our connection."
She heard Jason curse before he grabbed her hand "hold on to Kibble, we will have to pass through the mass of bodies. I think I know where he is"
The trio pushed their way through the crowded dance floor which seemed to go on forever until they finally came to a dark corner, that's when Jason let go of Sonja's arm and turned to Kibble for her to follow. She walked behind him looking at the deep dark mahogany walls there were only a few lights but they managed to walk single file until Jason pushed into a door and she finally saw her mate and son.
The night crawler that grabbed Jason was not of the realms, the weakness in her energy enable Sonja to control her mind but her attention was quickly captured by the female immortal, her energy was bursting from within. Her flaxen hair reminded her of someone she had met a long time ago but it was such a deep memory she did not know exactly where she had seen the female before.
She turned back to Garrick as soon as the female released Jason and called out to him .
"I know, I cannot sense you either." Garrick told her.
"There are wards in this room" she admitted before turning to the male night crawler who was within inches of her. He could sense, and she could feel a strong and deep energy that was quelled. "You are not of the realms either but I know you" she frowned trying to think of why she did.
"Yes you do" he smiled fully, revealing even white teeth, his incisors hidden "I met you while you were with the nuns. I came with your Uncle, as I recall he introduced me as his chauffeur. Very annoying that was. The name is Engin by the way. And who might this one be?" Engin turned to Kibble and granted her an arresting smile.
"This is my sister Kibble" Sonja politely introduced as Kibble moved closer to her sister. She looked at the night crawler with interest but decided to remain silent. She stared into his perfect face, noting the clean features and arresting blue eyes that seemed to glow as they looked at her. He was perusing her from head to foot, cocking his head to one side, his gaze transferred to Garrick before raising his eyebrows at Jason.
"This one in quite interesting"Engin declared
Jason gave him a warning look "Sonja had sensed Garrick was in danger, was he?" Jason asked pointed
Engin shrugged "not from me. Perhaps your should ask Iona, she's the one with an axe to grind."
"Iona, now I remember, you were at my mother's inquisition" Sonja remarked as she swiveled her attention to the Lycan female.
"Oh right, you must have been a youngling then."Iona replied casually but the underlying sarcasm was unmistakable. "So Engin is this party about to end? We do have a performance to think about" she continued gesturing to Hulya who still remained catatonic. She then moved to the far corner of the room to pour herself a drink.
"Oh yes, might I request for the return of my daughter.  I think her fuse is a bit loose but once you get to know her she is quite harmless." Engin continued to smile easily as he addressed his request.
"Oh I beg your pardon" Sonja released her hold on Hulya's mind and as the female came to, she looked at everyone in the room with astonishment. "More of your kind I presume?" She turned to Jason but her annoyance was no longer present.
John, who had remained silent throughout the exchange had started to piece the details slowly.  Those around him certainly knew each other or at least of each other except for the sprite that attacked Jason.  He was not impressed by her behavior but clearly if he needed a lead to his investigation this was the best place to go hunting.  Each character in the room had something hidden that was clear but of all of the woman with the flaxen hair was the one that interested him the most. Her connection to Garrick and his past was clearly evident.  Furthermore, there was something about her aloofness that told him she did not particularly like the presence of Sonja and Garrick.
"Get going Hulya the show is about to start" Iona barked.
Hulya gave Iona the finger before turning to Engin "I don't have to go if you need me" her tone was formal and concerned.
"They are harmless luv, go" he grinned.
Hulya pushed passed Jason but she stood stock still when she saw Kibble looking at her in what seemed like awe.  The female was quite interesting.  Her amber hair and pixie face reminded her of a fairy in one of her fairy tales. She stared back at Kibble and for once her smile was genuine and full of mischief .
"Would you like to see a show?" Hulya invited.
"A show?" Kibble asked in confusion turning to Sonja and Jason "what does she mean?"
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt if you stayed and watched ?" Engin continued to stare at Kibble. "Hulya is set to perform, that is the show young Fae.  It would please us greatly if you could stay and watch."
"Can I?" Kibble asked Sonja who turned to Garrick.
"Can we?" Sonja asked Garrick but her question had an underlying meaning, it stemmed from confusion regarding the scene and John's silence.
Garrick could sense it as well as John's withdrawal. Glancing briefly at Iona who remain guarded but watching him he finally turned to Jason "No harm in just being a casual observer." He shrugged turning to John "Right?"
John could only nod. Staying close to these weirdos would certainly give him a better chance at coming closer to solving the riddle of his investigation. Something told him to stay close to the immortals but first he had to go find his partner and make sure she was alright.
"Come, let me be your guide" Engin smiled at Kibble who returned in kind placing her hand on the crook of his arm she walked out of the room with him.
"What is a show?" She asked pointedly hoping Engin would explain.
Jason was the last to leave the room following closely behind Iona. "Did you have a pleasant reunion?"
Her resounding snort made him grin as he walked behind her. All of them followed Engin to the dance floor which was cleared of all dancers except for two women hovering by poles. They were scantily dressed in what seemed like belly dancers costume.
Kibble watched in fascination as the music man played some noise on his mechanism, the dancers by the pole began to move to the beat when suddenly Hulya leaped down from the ceiling and landed perfectly kneeling before the crowd before she started to shake and move to the rythmn. More humans came from behind a darkened wall and joined her.
Sonja turned to Garrick exchanging glances as they turned to search for John who seemed to have disappeared among the crowd that watched.
John spied his partner Kate by the bar, clearly oblivious to the show, she stood speaking to a man way too big and perfect looking to be normal. They were busy chatting to each other when John slithered to the bar and motioned for a drink. His eyes remained fixed on Kate. Finally spying him she excused herself from the man and joined him at the bar.
"Any luck?" He asked as he received his drink.
" None yet, you?"
He shook his head "There's a show. The coeds are watching"
"And what will you do?" Kate asked as she turned to look at the crowd who had gathered toward the dance floor.
"Check the alley in case something happens" John nodded and walked away leaving Kate to return to her guy friend.
He walked toward the men's room and entered. Noting the graffiti on the wall, he discovered it was empty. He searched around until he came across a window . Testing the hinges he managed to push it open and climb through the opening when he did come across the back alley. There were large garbage dumps outside, he could smell the pungent odor of rot as he slinkered slowly. He could sense something was not right, walking further into the alley he heard scraping on the ground and a whimper of someone.
Catapulting to action he started to search frantically for the origin of the sound when he heard a large crash and he ran toward the noise. He fought the tapping of footsteps and the back of a dark cape. Ready to chase he suddenly felt a strong grip on his shoulder. The power of the grip halted his flight, turning to shove the offending body he came face to face with Iona. Her feral eyes bore down at him, her face a stoic mask as it stared right into him.
"Going somewhere?" She asked pointedly.
The power of her grip was beyond human strength and it kept him immobilized "what the hell are you doing here?"
His harsh words made her grin but it never reached her eyes.
"The human you seek is huddled by that corner" Iona gestured toward a wall behind them near a dumpster "if you need to be the hero " she shrugged and let him go.
John found the girl sobbing , her red hair was in disarray and as he knelt to find out if she was okay, he saw that she was holding a palm to her neck as blood gushed from what looked like a gaping wound.
"It's alright I have you now"
The girl who looked no more than twenty slumped against him. Her anguish was muffled by her sobbing as she hid against his shoulder. John had no choice but to make sure the girl was safe, all desire to chase after the perpetrator had vanished. Turning to Iona who remained standing with her fists against her hips watching him he glared.
"Where can we take here, she's distraught"
Iona looked at him balefully before turning back toward the alleyway and opening a door that led straight into the room of Engin.