All Chapters of Esmerelda Sleuth: Beyond the Portal (Book 3): Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

For the next few days, we incorporated telepathy and psychic impressions into my training.  Both Killian and I were accustomed to – and appreciated- a certain amount of structure in our routine.  Because of this, we’d set a time and date for our rescue mission to begin.  With a deadline in sight for the use of my skills, it gave me a stronger determination to focus on what I was learning and how well I was learning it.By the time we were ready to travel through the portal in search of Nora, I had to admit that I felt a little like a super woman.  I could pull the particles of energy that were all around us out of the atmosphere and use them to create a decent electric ball that radiated so much energy as to become fire.  Hence, it was called a fireball.  I’d even built up the strength in my arms so that I was able to achieve a decent distance when throwing it.I had the ability to make myself invisible if the need arose.

Killian was careful to park the car behind the shed where it wouldn’t be easily seen.  Bypassing the spot where my captors had parked on that horrific night helped me to push the memories deeper into the recesses of my mind so that I could focus on what lay ahead.I slowly pulled my body from the front passenger seat of the SUV.   Even though the sun was peeking over the horizon, the tall pine trees prevented it from illuminating our surroundings with much more than a fine, hazy glow.  We would have to rely on the small flashlights that we’d brought along with us to light our way to the portal.“Do you remember where you came out?” Killian asked as he pulled at the collar of his coat in hopes of more warmth.I shook my head.  “Not exactly.”“She should be able to see the portal,” Gail said with a voice that hinted of disdain mixed with jealousy.  “She has the ability.&rdqu

Instead of bringing clarity to the situation, Marduke’s tale made me all the more confused. He told of how he’d been a member of the society centuries earlier.  He personally knew the founding members, including my parents.  His claim was that he held a position of authority, but was overthrown and banished when he disagreed with and refused to admit certain practices and policies into order.  These practices included allowing couples to syphon magic from each other’s shine.“What harm is there in couples sharing their magic?” I asked.His lips formed a weak smile. “Is it really sharing?  The stronger one is always the syphoner; thus, weakening the weaker one.  Without restrictions, the weaker one could be permanently altered.   Yes.  There is much harm.  You know, firsthand, how it temporarily depletes the body’s life force.  I am aware of how Jason repeatedly syph

I found myself tucked into my very own shabby chic bungalow a few hours later.  It was just as well.  Although the place felt cold and lonely, it at least spared me the company of Gail and her rapist lover, Jason.Sleep eluded me until, succumbing to the overwhelming heaviness of my heart, I cried myself into the depths of dark oblivion.  When I awoke to a faint haze outside my window -which I interpreted as the sun rising over my gloomy horizon- my eyes were still red and swollen.  I pulled a washcloth from the well-stocked linen closet and, after soaking it in cold water, pressed it against my throbbing eyelids.  It brought a semblance of comfort and normality back to me.I found the kitchen just as well stocked as the bathroom had been.  In fact, I was forced to admit that the place lacked for nothing in the line of needs and comfort.  If only it wasn’t so shabby in appearance.With a cup of freshly brewed coffee in on

I was glad for the early start the following morning.  My body was overly tired and sore.  Starting early gave me an opportunity to set a pace that wasn’t  terribly taxing on my overused muscles.   I hadn’t spoken to Jason since he’d fed me that aphrodisiac tea.  It was a wicked trick to play on me and I wanted to get my point across about it.   I’d already learned that complaining to him about things that he did, that I’d prefer he didn’t, met with deaf ears.  Perhaps silence was the better approach.The amount of sex that we were having weighed heavy on me.  It couldn’t  be healthy.  Even if it was fine on a physical level, it was eating at my emotions during the infrequent downtimes.  I couldn’t understand how Jason could keep at it like he did.  I, for one, needed to be free from it. Prior to meeting Lance, I’d had minimal sex and didn&r