Winter Halo (Outcast 2)

“Which might just result in them shutting down the projects and erasing the evidence,” I said.

“I doubt it. They have too much invested in all this now.”

I hoped she was right, for the sake of the kids still missing. And if her expression was anything to go by, she was hoping the very same thing.

Sharran’s gaze was moving between us, her expression confused. “Look, what else do you need to know? Because I start work soon, and if this is going to happen—”

“It’s okay.” Nuri’s voice was soft, unthreatening. Yet her energy fell like a cloak around the other woman, the feel of it soothing, calming. Sharran relaxed almost immediately. “Just tell us everything you think we’ll need to know about Winter Halo and your position within it.”

“But first, give me your hand,” I said, holding out mine.

“It’s okay,” Nuri repeated, again in those soothing tones. “She’s a seeker, like me. She’ll get images of the places and people you know in Winter Halo as you tell us about them. That way, no one will suspect she isn’t you.”

Sharran grunted and somewhat tentatively placed her hand in mine. Images and emotions instantly began to flow, thicker and stronger than such a touch usually allowed. She was, I thought, either a latent seeker or an untrained, unregistered psychic.

She took a deep, somewhat shuddering breath, then began. As she spoke, images flowed into my mind, crisp and clear. I saw the people she liked and those she didn’t, the places she could go and those she couldn’t, the various codes she needed to know—everything. It took about twenty minutes and by the end of it, my body was trembling and my head booming with both the intensity of the connection and everything I’d learned.

When she finally stopped, I pulled my hand free and leaned back in the chair. For several minutes I didn’t speak; couldn’t speak. Every part of me felt drained and weak. Fighting vampires, I thought, wasn’t half as exhausting as reading this woman.

Of course, fighting vampires was a whole lot more dangerous.

“We really appreciate you doing this, Sharran,” Nuri said into the silence. “Hopefully, by the time you return, we’ll have sorted out the source of the attacks and eliminated them.”

“You can really get rid of ghosts?” Sharran said, doubt in her voice.

“Yes.” Nuri once again sent out those reassuring vibes. “Ah, here’s Ela now. She’ll take you down to Crow’s Point, where we’ve arranged accommodation for you.”

I forced my eyes open and watched Ela striding toward us. She was a strong-looking woman with brown skin, brown hair, and the most intense blue eyes I’d ever seen. She met my gaze evenly and gave me a polite nod, which was more than Branna had ever done. Maybe he was the only sourpuss in the bunch.

“Is it safe to leave now?” Sharran’s jittering returned full force. “It’s dark and all, and the vampires—”

“Have no hope against a fully armed ATV,” Ela cut in, her tone warm and rich. “And if the bastards do get too close, we’ll just run them over. They crunch rather delightfully, let me tell you.”

Sharran’s expression suggested she wasn’t a fan of macabre humor. “But we have to get out of here first—”

“The ATV is parked right outside the door,” Ela said, and unslung the rifle sitting at her back. “And I have Boomer with me, just in case.”

Nuri reached out and clasped Sharran’s hand. As she did, energy surged, fierce enough that my breath momentarily caught in my throat.

“It’ll be all right,” Nuri murmured. “Just relax and enjoy your time in Crow’s Point. You won’t remember your problems or any of this when you return, that I promise you.”

Sharran opened her mouth, as if to protest, and then the cloak of energy settled around her and she froze, her expression briefly blanking. Then she smiled and nodded. “Thank you,” she said, rising. “I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

“No problem, my dear girl,” Nuri said.

Ela caught the other woman’s arm and escorted her out. Jonas closed the doors, then walked over to the autocook, collecting several waiting plates. One he gave to Nuri, and the other he handed to me. Hers was rice and stew; mine was not.

“You have steak in the autocook?” I said, surprised he’d take creature comfort that far. The portable units tended not to have a lot of refrigeration space and meat was generally reconstituted rather than fresh. And this was definitely fresh.

“Only a couple,” he said as he walked away. “But you looked as if you needed decent sustenance.”

“I did. I do.” I plucked some cutlery from the container in the middle of the table and tucked in. “Is Sharran really being taken to Crow’s Point?”

Nuri’s smile was wry. “What do you think?”

“Then where is she going?”

“Up to my kin in the Broken Mountains.” Jonas deposited another plate of stew and rice as well as a loaf of bread on the table, then sat down. “They’ll keep her sedated and under watch for however long we need.”