Personal Demon (Otherworld 8)

I watched Paige walk toward me, her face tight with worry and guilt, and I knew then that I was dreaming. Still drugged and lying in the back of that car, lost in my thoughts. In my dreams.

"I'm so sorry, Hope," she said. "I'm so, so sorry."

"It wasn't her idea."

Another voice. I looked over Paige's shoulder to see Lucas.

"It was Benicio's plan," Karl said, a growl underscoring his words. "If I'd known--"

"But he didn't. Yes, it was my father's idea, but I agreed with it and I talked Paige into it." Lucas stopped beside me. "We couldn't see any other way, Hope. It was a cruel ruse and I sincerely apologize."

"We had to stop them," Paige said.

I shook my head. "No. I saw you. The hole--That was real. You were dead."

"A glamour spell," Lucas said. "Cast on a Cabal prisoner awaiting execution for murdering her parents. My father--" He inhaled. "We offered her a deal. If she went along with it, and it succeeded, she'd be granted a pardon. If it didn't..." He let the breath out and, in that second, seemed to age a decade. "Then the writ of execution was carried out."

I looked from him to Paige. To sacrifice a life--even to stop a killer--would have taken a lot of soul searching and, from their expressions, the decision still didn't rest easy. For most people, the choice would be simple--the woman had been condemned to die so her death might as well serve some higher purpose. But Paige and Lucas weren't most people.

"You're right," I said. "It was the best way to get to them. The only way probably. It was fair. She'd earned her death a

nd you gave her a chance to beat it."

Neither spoke and I could tell, as sincere as my words were, that they didn't really help.

"Speaking of executions," Karl said. "I trust Jasper Haig is going to be taking that woman's cell, and her slot on the schedule."

Lucas pushed his glasses up and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You know Benicio's plans, Karl," Paige said. "Lucas argued strenuously against them, and he'll continue to argue--"

"You can't let him live. The man can impersonate his jailer. His lawyer. His doctor, for God's sake. If he comes into contact with any person--"

"I don't think it's that simple, Karl, and we will take every precaution and security measure--"

"He's already pissed on all your security measures! He got into your father's house. Shot his bodyguard. Killed your brothers--"

"Because we didn't know what we were dealing with."

"Do you really think it's going to matter? He's an accomplished thief who can steal any identity. He will escape. And when he does, the first place he's going is--" He glanced back at me and stopped.

"Paige is right," Lucas said. "I will fight this, Karl. I could not agree with you more on every point you've made. Jasper Haig should be treated as a criminal, not as a research subject." His voice dropped. "But getting my father to agree, even under the circumstances, may be beyond even my influence."

AND, FOR NOW, it was.

Lucas argued. Paige argued. I argued. Karl threatened. Benicio would not budge.

All this had begun with one woman's paranoid delusions, convincing her sons that they had to spend their lives running because, if they stopped, the Cabal would pounce on them and they'd live out their days as laboratory rats. In trying to escape that fate, Jaz found himself living it. For now...

Would he stay locked up? Karl didn't believe it. Neither did I. Jaz would never throw up his hands and say "guess you got me." While he could draw breath, he'd be plotting his escape and his revenge. Karl had killed his brother. He'd never forget that.

Lucas had promised to keep us updated on his situation and we'd continue fighting for his execution. For now, though, that had to wait, and I had to concentrate on getting back to the life I thought I'd lost. My job, my family, my home. It was all waiting for me. And Karl. Most of all, Karl.

Hours later, Karl and I stood outside Cortez Cabal headquarters, staring up at the morning sun.

"Another sunny day," Karl said.

"I'm tired of sunny."