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He contemplated his mediocre lab. Located in an abandoned house on a dead-end alley in the Shadow Zone, it was not what he had anticipated when he had been recruited. But he understood the need for secrecy and security. Tuck had promised that if the prototype was successful, there would be a state-of-the-art facility and all the liquid crystal needed to refine the invention.

Trenchard crossed the room, raised the shade, and looked out the grimy window. The fog was so thick at the moment that he could barely see the abandoned buildings across the way.

He despised the Shadow Zone, with its sleazy casinos, motels that rented rooms by the hour, and ever-present gray mist. But he had to admit Tuck was right. It had been critical to set up the lab in a location where it would not attract any notice from the authorities. The old warehouse on the fringe of the zone made for perfect camouflage.

Trenchard dropped the shade, clasped his hands behind his back, and considered how he would carry out the demonstration designed to prove the prototype worked. It could be done. He had just enough of the liquid crystal to make a suitable impression on the mysterious client.

Chapter Fourteen

The vortex of paranormal energy struck with very little warning. Otis sensed it first. He had been trotting along the narrow alley of the gray quartz city, darting back and forth, investigating small, glittering stones that captured his attention.

He abruptly froze, sleeked out, and growled a warning.

Lucy picked up the sense of gathering forces almost as quickly as Otis. She had been running hot, her talent at full throttle, ever since she and Gabriel and Otis had gone through the Coppersmith Mining portal located in the Rainforest.

Once safely on the other side, Gabriel had picked up the trail of the thief almost immediately. They had been moving quickly through the deserted Alien city. It was like walking through a dreamscape.

Every structure around them—the paving stones, oddly proportioned buildings, fountains, and plazas—was constructed of a strange, quicksilver-gray quartz. Paranormal energy resonated, whispered, andsparked everywhere. The light, shimmery fog that swirled in the streets and alleys had a muffling effect.

“Stop,” she ordered softly.

Gabriel glanced at her and then studied the fog that drifted in the alley. “Storm?”

“Big one. I’m sure I could take it apart, but it’s easier to just get out of the way. No sense wasting a lot of energy now. I might need it later for something more dangerous.”

“Agreed.”

Lucy glanced around. She had been noting possible emergency bolt-holes since entering the city. It was part of the job. Like a pilot who keeps an alternate landing site in mind, she kept track of options for storm shelters.

“That building over there will work,” she said.

The storm was sweeping down the alley toward them. It raised the hair on the back of her neck and filled her with a shivery excitement. Most people found the sensation of a big paranormal storm frightening or downright terrifying, but she got a rush out of it.

“Something wicked this way comes,” she quoted softly.

Gabriel gave her a knowing look. “You’ve got a weird idea of fun, lady. Let’s get out of here.”

Otis growled, reversed course, and raced back to Lucy. She scooped him up and plopped him on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “We’ve got about sixty seconds.”

“I’ve never liked the wordabout,” Gabriel said. “A little too vague for my taste.”

He grabbed her wrist. Together they plunged through the shimmering paranormal door that blocked the entrance to the building. There was some resistance, but the quicksilver door dissolved when they focused a little energy on it. The barrier re-formed immediately after they were safely inside.

Gabriel did not let go of Lucy’s hand. Otis crouched on her shoulder. The three of them pressed close together. There was strength in numbers when it came to dealing with dangerous paranormal energy.

The gray quartz walls glowed with an inner light, but unlike the pleasant, senses-lifting energy of the green quartz ruins aboveground and in the tunnels, the vibe was disturbing on several levels.

“Ever heard the old sayingIt feels like someone just walked over my grave?” Gabriel asked.

“I think so, why?” she asked with mocking innocence.

“That must be weather channeler humor.”

“Yep.”

“No offense, but it also sounds a lot like Guild boss humor.”