It was what Marcus was good at. Even when his body was sleeping, he could reach out with his mind. I should know because I’d had some awfully good “dreams” that had come from him.
“Not if they had shield implants,” Dean explained. “For the last couple of months, the bio med unit of Lodge InterPlane has been developing implants that shield the brain from outside influences. They’re ready to roll it out. I wouldn’t be surprised if they let their security team try them first.”
Quinn got back to his feet. “The trail ends here. I don’t understand it. It’s obvious they came out here on some kind of vehicle. That’s what that indention in the ground is, but it’s flat. Where are the wheels? We should be able to follow the trail.”
“Because whatever it is flies.” It was the only viable answer. The indention on the ground was big enough for two at least, maybe a third, and there were two of them. Two vehicles could definitely have carried away both Marcus and Summer.
“Hoverbikes.” Dean was pulling out the tablet again, his fingers working to bring up the camera. “They’re fast and super quiet. Summer likely didn’t even hear them coming.”
Or they’d been busy doing other things. Marcus had to be so freaking pissed. “Okay. Where would they take her? How far behind are we?”
Dean cursed and I moved in close to him. “They’ll take her to the Vampire plane. They’re doing it right now. The bikes can go a hundred and twenty an hour easy.”
“Then we need to get to the door to the vampire plane,” Quinn said. “Which way do we go?”
I took the tablet and watched as a couple of flying motorcycles swept past the door. It was the weirdest-looking thing, as if someone had ripped open the sky and unveiled something else entirely. There was forest on either side, and then I could see metal and lights and lots of smoke. “Is it safe for them? It looks like there’s a fire.”
“It isn’t a fire. It’s smog,” Dean explained. “A lot of the ground is covered with it. It’s why all wealthy vampires live on the upper levels. We have whole communities who never actually touch the surface. I mean never. Birth to death spent above the clouds. That’s where they’ll take her. High above Dallas.”
“That’s Dallas?” It hadn’t looked like any Dallas I knew.
“I don’t care where it is,” Quinn said. “We need to get there and now.”
“It won’t work.” Dean shoved the tablet back into the satchel. “The door closes at sundown and we won’t get there in time. There’s no way to open it. How could I let this happen? I’m going to try to transport. I might be able to get through.”
“Can your father help us out? Is there another me on this plane?” Dev asked. “I can talk to myself, right? We’re going to need money and someone influential to talk to this Taggart. We’re likely going to have to break her out. I’m not leaving my daughter here.”
Dean’s eyes had closed and his forehead broke out in a sweat.
I had to think. No one else was going to think logically. “Or we need backup and that means finding our way home and bringing the king back with us. He’s got power. We can open negotiations. He likes talking. He’s great at taking meetings and shit. You said the Earth plane is hard to get to, well, maybe we can trade some stuff.”
“They seem far more technologically advanced than we are. I highly doubt they need anything we have beyond companions. I assure you my wife won’t allow her people to be used, even to free her own daughter. She will more than likely form an army and try to take her,” Quinn said.
“Damn it, it’s not working,” Dean grumbled. “I can’t clear my mind.”
“Take a deep breath.” If Dean could get to her in time, I would let him go. It sounded like his adoptive father had some power in this world. We could use that. In the meantime, I would find a way to get help. “Stay calm. Panic helps nothing.”
His eyes opened and he shook his head. “I’m not strong enough. I used up all my power getting here. We should start for the village. The door won’t open again until sometime tomorrow morning. It’s usually close to noon. We’ll have to leave in the morning