*****
George Martinez stood in the crowded ballroom of the Bellanca hotel, a magical port of call for social functions Such as the VMA annual charity event. He absently watched the variety of super naturals who mingled and laughed carefree, untroubled. All the while sipping champagne and eating canapés to the backdrop of soft lights, classical music and luxury furnishings. The expense of this endeavour seemed unimportant as George scanned the entrance and exit for the hundredth time waiting for his daughter.
His bodyguard and close friend, Karl stood a little closer, fiddling with his cuffs, clearly the were was on edge. George swung towards him and spoke in a hushed tone.
'I'm finding it difficult to believe that even Alex can be over two hours late Earl.'
He took a gulp from the bronze liquid in the crystal glass, the ice cubes clinked as his companion nodded thoughtfully. The board, tall Were eyed the crowd, always watching.
'As am I'
Earl made a hand gesture and the guard on the door spoke fanatically while holding an ear piece.
Several high contributors of VMA charity passed by Martinez and Earl speaking of their enjoyment and thanks to the cause decked in their expensive jewels and finery. Both men gave forced thanks and made polite chit chat as Earl's hand flew to his ear. He cursed loudly.
Martinez clutched his drink tight feeling the crystal groaned and crack in protest, a sudden feeling in his stomach leaving him unsettled. Both men nodded to the guests and stepped away towards the side of the room and prying eyes. Martinez grabbed Earl's arm tightly.
'Tell me Earl.'
'She's been taken, one of my guys pulled the driver from the De Monte river, the guy had been blasted bad and for a Were it had to be bad.'
Martinez nodded, Weres had exceptionally healing powers and quick senses. Martinez didn't want to cheapen the grief that Earl must be feeling about a member of his team, but his head was brimming with possibilities and worry. His heartbeat throbbing loudly against his temples. Right now calm needed to be his friend.
'And Alexis?' He prompted.
'Duncan, the driver, told the team she'd been taken before he took his last.'
'By whom?' George ran a hand through his hair.
'Dominic.'
'estimado dios ' Martinez cursed.
As he clasped Earl's arm in acknowledgement and shock. The man who'd abducted his daughter was one she trusted and loved. That was the foremost betrayal, the second was George knowingly trusting the orphaned boy. But then was he orphaned? Was it just some ploy?
As he scanned the dance floor looking for Paul, he found Alexis' twin almost instantly dancing with a variety of faerie that Martinez couldn't recall. He took a long breath and called to his heir telepathically. A skill which had been strong magically in the Martinez line for generations.
'Something has happened to Alexis.' Paul's head snapped up and around, he caught his father's gaze his eyes flashing a murderous glare.
Paul Martinez politely whispered something to his partner and whirled them to the side of the dance floor, murmuring a polite thanks for the dance. He strode to his father and Earl purposely, at sharp nod to the Were he spoke, 'Tell me' he asked between clenched teeth.
As Earl recalled all he'd been told and has consequently told his father, Paul felt his skin tightened.
'So' Earl took a breath, 'That's where we are now, I've got two of my best guys trying to track the car but with what Duncan mentioned Alexis could be anywhere and everyone in this room just made a list.'
'No' George interrupted placing his cracked glass on a passing waiter's tray and pinching the bridge of his nose. 'I don't think so.'
'George-' Earl started.
'I said no one here helped Dominic.' George met his friend's gaze and the two locked eyes.
'There's something you're not sharing here Martinez' Earl searched his friend's face with an agitated expression. Paul watched the exchanged and stepped forward to break the intensity of their gazes.
'I'll try telepathy, If she is still close we maybe able to connect.' He touched his father's arm and George nodded.
'Watcha need?' Earl asked urgently.
'Somewhere quiet' Paul answered as he spun on his heel and headed further into the hotel's inner structure through the ballroom's double door exit. A few staff members nodded in acknowledge as the men strode towards the elevator.
The doors pinged open and closed in an antagonising slowness as all three men eyed the slowly ascending box and increasing numbers on the small LCD screen. The doors finally opened into a cool temperature suite. All three stepped out and fanned out into the room.
In silence Paul dragged a high back chair from an oak desk into the middle of the room as Earl closed the blinds and drapes. George removed his suit jacket and flicked on a small table lamp near a leather sofa, illuminating the room in a soft relaxing glow.
'OK, for this to work my surrounds much be quiet, so Earl if you can clear your head of thoughts otherwise they may interfere. Dad you know the drill.'
George nodded and stood to move away.
'George?' Earl questioned.
'I board cast my thoughts loudly so...' George pointed to the adjoining doors.
Earl nodded and followed. Both men opening in unison one of two doors, entered the other room to stand on its threshold.
Paul took a long breath and tried to relaxing, imagining the anxiety and worry and every other emotion leaving his body until he felt light as a feather. When this objective was achieved as much as was possible and he felt almost detached from himself, he imagined Alexis' face. Drawing on childhood memories shared helping to enforce his quest.
Something flicked in his subconscious and distantly he heard himself call her name. 'Alexis?'
The path of communication was weak and the pull on Paul's power was extreme like walking in treacle. Each movement was weighty and difficult.
'Paul?' Alexis' voice was quiet. He tried to channel the union, to pick up sights and smells. He was instantly met with resistant, something powerful and unyielding. Unsure whether he'd actually heard right Paul tried again.
'Alexis?' This time his voice was spoken aloud as the thread of connection pulled and tightened making Paul sweat and gasp for air. Telepathy shouldn't have had this effect on a Martinez, Paul pondered, he excelled at this. Normally.
George and Earl darted into the room at Paul's gasps, crouching by his side. Paul felt the thread snap and the image he tried hard to conjure of his sister's location span and morph into a variety of hazy colours and random images uncontrollably. Like free falling into a whirl of space and time.
'Nice try, although it won't be that easy.'
Paul gasped loudly and choked for air as the accented words of a stranger floated in his conscious. His chest constricted as he clenched the chair arms feeling control over his own body leave him and his brain slowly switching off into blackness.
George palmed his son's cheek and looked straight into Paul's eyes as they flashed a variety of colours. 'Son look at me, focus on me.' he pleaded urgently before Paul became unresponsive and comatose.
Paul's body started to flap uncontrollable, his limbs like rubber. Earl moved forward, restraining the boy's arms. As quickly as it began the fitting like behaviour stopped and the young Martinez slumped forward in his seat, his head buried in his fathers shirt as he laboured for air.
'Some water Earl.' Earl moved to the mini bar and pulled a small blue glass bottle from it's inside. He moved back to the father and son, gently lifted the boy's head as George held his son protectively.
'Drink.' Earl told the boy before thrusting the bottle to his lips.
Paul took a long sip but most of the quenching liquid fell down his chin and onto his navy shirt, seeping through the cotton and spreading quick like disease.
'Paul?'
