Broken (Otherworld 6)

"Someone's been here. I can't smell anyone, but my papers--" He gestured at a stack of notes he'd brought on the trip. "Someone's flipped through them, and straightened them up."

I pulled open the dresser drawer I'd been using for my clothes. They were still haphazardly stuffed in, but the piles were separated, neater, as if someone had rifled through, and made some effort to cover his tracks.

I walked to the door, dropped to all fours and sniffed. I did the same at the connecting door into the next room.

"Our scents, and the cleaning woman's from this morning. That's it."

As Clay did a quick check of the room, I picked up the phone and called Jeremy's number. There was no answer. When I went to try Antonio's room, Clay shook his head.

"I'll find them." He strode to the connecting door and opened it. "Nick?"

A muffled answer from the bathroom.

"When you're done, get in here," Clay called. "Stay with Elena for me."

I grabbed the door from Clay. "Go on. I'll wait in there."

Clay left. I stepped into Nick's room, then realized I had a call of nature of my own to answer. A word to Nick through the bathroom door, then back into our room.

The bathroom door was half-closed. Hadn't I just watched Clay shove it open, glancing inside as he'd checked the room?

I crept closer to the door and inhaled. Nothing. Another step, and I could see into the bathroom. Empty and still no scent.

Okay, now I was getting paranoid.

I walked in, and pushed the bathroom door shut behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a blur through the mirror. I started wheeling, fists flying up, but an invisible force hit me with a werewolf-strength uppercut to the jaw. As I fell, my head cracked against the toilet and I blacked out.

My eyelids fluttered, and I saw a figure hunched over me. I punched, but a hand closed around mine before I could make contact.

Still dazed, I struggled to get up and throw my attacker--

"Elena."

That voice slapped me to my senses. I focused and saw Jeremy over me, his hand still gripping mine. Clay was behind me, cradling my head.

"What happ--?" I tried to jump up, but Jeremy's grip held me back, letting me rise slowly until I was sitting on the bathroom floor.

"Someone hit--" I looked around. "Did you catch--?"

"He's gone," Jeremy said.

"I heard you yell," Nick said from behind Jeremy. "I ran in here, but he was already in the hall. I took off after him, but all I saw was...I don't know. Like a blur, I guess. I probably should've chased him but I was worried about you..."

"The right decision," Jeremy said.

"Is there a trail?" I asked. "Maybe we can track--"

"No trail." Antonio's head popped through the bathroom doorway. "I checked to the elevator and the stairs. This floor is practically empty, and the only strong trails are ours."

"No scents in here. No scents out there. That's not possible--"

"Shanahan," Clay said. "Potion or spell to cover his scent. A knockback spell to hit Elena. A blur spell to escape."

"So he knows what we are. Damn it. But if he was here--either lying in wait for me or looking for the letter--I bet his zombies are nearby. And no potion or spell can cover their stink."

I pushed my feet, wobbled for a second, then steadied myself.

"Can we Change?" I asked Jeremy.