8
Stellans's pov
I heard the steps long before the doors opened. The fact that they were too fast for normal speed walking was the first clue.
The lack of manners that Will showed when he just burst throw the doors was the second clue.
The panicked expression laced with worry and anger was all I needed to stand from the chair. So by the time Will said a little out of breath "The danger rating around Raven and Kurt just skyrocketed" I was already half way to the door.
"Will you're with me, Hiroshi and Megan you take the car and follow us. I will keep you updated, other than that stay back before I tell you otherwise." I was already walking towards the graze. I didn't need to look back to know that they were following me and if they weren't they would be soon enough. In this sort of situations strait forward command are the best way to avoid panic. I just have to make sure to keep mine in check.
Raven. I called out, giving the voice in my mind enough power for it to travel to her supposed location. The sweets shop.
But I couldn't feel her. It's like her mind had completely shut down.
"William, how big is the threat?" I asked giving my voice the authority that I used in board meetings.
"It's high, they are probably getting attacked, or they have resaved close to life-threatening injuries." He said, his voice didn't seem as panicked as it had been before; having to follow orders given by an authorial voice has that effect on most people.
"How good is mr. Voss at self-defense?" I know Raven can hold her own even in a five-on-one fight, but if she has to protect someone at the same time the odds aren't that good. She's used to fighting alone, so if she has to look out for someone helpless the number of opponents she can effectively fight would drop to two.
"He doesn't have any special training like you two, but he knows the basics and he works out three times a week. He has good reflexes too." Will said, having caught up with me.
Three then. If they are non-savants.
"Tell me if anything changes" I said throwing my helmet to him.
"What about you?" he asked indicating to the helmet as he was climbing on behind me.
"It's a hindrance to my séances which, at the moment I cannot allow" I said taking off.
"And is that what you will tell the cops?" he asked mostly out of reflex.
"They owe me" I answered curtly, not pothering to sugarcoat it.
"Aha" there was amazement in his voice but I was tuning him out now concentrating on everything around me. If there was a fight, I would pick up on it.
I followed the rout that I'm certain Raven and Voss took judging by the distance that they had been from the house at the time that I asked Ray to get the biscuits. Since this bike isn't that big it was easy to take the road a pedestrian would have taken. I sent Hiroshi and Megan to go around so that they could get as close as possible with the car.
"I can feel that the threat has lessened a bit, but it also feels like it could go up again any moment." Will said from behind me as I made a turn, and came to a halt.
There on the ground glistening from the streetlamp a few meters away were three long black strands of hair.
I jumped off the bike leaving Will to deal with stabilizing it.
Having picked the strand from the ground I knew instantly that they were Ravens, having brushed throw it on countless occasions.
Hiroshi, see if you can find any distressed sound waves near my current location, Isaidandadded after a thought, land vibrations will to as well.
I'll get on the land vibrations as soon as Megan stops the car, but I can't hear Ray or Voss if they were making noise I could pick up on the sound instantly, but that is not the case at the moment I'm afraid.
I could tell from the link I had with my partner's mind that Megan was driving. She's a good driver, but like, me she tends to not pay attention to the speed limits. Good for situations like this but bad for Hiroshi's motion sickness.
"Did you find anything?" Will asked, walking over from the bike.
I held up my hand "these are Ravens" I told the man.
"How can you tell?" He now asked, more curious than criticizing. I could tell that he had almost completely calmed down by now. That's good, somebody has to keep a level head and I can feel mine slipping as the minutes pass by. So I launch into the explanation more to distract myself from the lack of sings that suggest a struggle than anything.
"There is some blood on it, most probably from the paper cut, Raven sustained yesterday when she was helping me with the company's paperwork." I said tracking the place on the hair strands.
William still looked confused so I went on "Ravens blood type is Rhnull - it's one of the rarest blood types that are currently known. Meaning her blood lack's all Rh antigens" I could guess the question that I would resave next so I answered it before Will could ask saving both our time "I can smell it. Because of my gift all of my senses are heightened so I can make out blood types simply by tasting them. But it's simpler with Ray because she completely lacks all Rh antigens so I can just relay on my sense of smell. I have bandaged her wounds enough times to know the scent of her blood by heart."
Will blinked at my explanation looking at the strand in my hand "I'm not sure if I should be impressed or discussed" he finally said.
I looked over at the man having finished shearing for clues "one does not exclude the other" I said as Hiroshi entered my mind.
I can't find them, there is too much traffic to locate them by their breathing alone and I don't know what kind of vehicle I should be looking for. He said I could tell he was out of breath, looking for the airwaves that are created by breathing was taxing on him on its own and the best range he could use it at was a circle with a radius of 900 meters, and that's for people who are standing still and are conscious. Judging by the fact that I can't feel my sisters mind at all she's eider been knocked out to a state near comatose or she is purposely blocking out all contact from outside.
I'd look for Voss but I don't have he's mind signature seeing as we have never spoken telepathically, and I haven't had the time to actually converse with him without the other members of the band present. Also looking for an unknown unconscious savant mind signature is going to take too long when there are still things I could pick up with my gift.
It's fine, lets regroup and see what we know. The word's didn't sound right, how could I just walk away when my sister had been attacked and kidnapped again. I could feel the panic taking over. So I turned back to Hiroshi.
On second thought, I'm going to go and take a drive through the city. Can you two pick up Will and tell me if he feels something change. I walked back to my bike going over the map of the city in my head.
Sure, that's fine but are you sure that you won't lose it? I know you Stellan. I know you are a snap away from breaking. Hiroshi asked out of concern but I could care less at the moment.
I'm going to patrol to make sure I didn't miss anything. Whatever happened here, right now is the moment to act. If I can't find anything eighteen minutes after the crime took place then what chance to we have? The people responsible might make a mistake and if they do I will be there to see it. I leave no room for argument as I took off in the most likely direction the abductors left in.
I'll be on the roof. My partner said indicating that I won't be the only one on patrol.
Kurt's pov
As we rounded the corner we faced a girl crying on the street. She looked no older the eleven and was currently crouched down crying her eyes out while clutching what looked like a set of headphones. Before I could do anything Raven was walking towards the girl pulling me along. She fell into a position mirroring her and asked something in Japanese.
The girl hiccupped, and looked up from her knees eyes red. She tried to speak but tears flew down her face again. Raven said something again. I could make out her name so I'm guessing she introduced herself to make the girl more comfortable.
This time the girl managed to get out a few words of her own, her voice sounding hoarse from crying. As she talked Raven nodded and let out sounds to indicate that she was listening. As the girl went on gesturing to the headphones Ravens concerned smile grew into a smirk, her gaze landing on me for a second before going back to the girl.
When she spoke this time I could make out my name, but not much more as we hadn't actually learned the language before we came here, because we were supposed to have an interpreter with us at all times.
Condemning myself to whatever was to come I faced the now widely grinning artist.
"Did you just sell my sole to the devil?" I asked her.
"Nothing that drastic this time" she assured me and went on "it's just seems that this girl here is a fan of yours, and when she heard that you and the guys had been sighted around here she wanted to meet you and have you listen to one of her songs. But as it has gotten quite late now she was losing hope and thinking that her friend were right and she shouldn't pursue music after all. Her dream is to become an idol as popular as you, you see" she finished the explanation.
"That's stupid of course she should follow her dream and be an idol, why would anyone's opinion matter?" I didn't quite understand because in my opinion if you have a dream you should follow it.
Raven's smile was gentle as she said "kids here are encouraged to do well educationally, parents usually only encourage creative careers if the kid is obviously talented."
My face must have showed my shock because the raven-head went on "Anyway I sort of promised that you would listen to it and say what you think"
"Sure" I said out of lack for a better response.
Raven smiled said something in Japanese and extended her hand for the headphones, which she then handed to me.
Even though I couldn't understand the words, the notes were spot on. If obvious talent was what they were looking for, than this kid had it clear as day. I felt someone poke me and looked down to see my host's expectant impression. Taking the headphones off I said "she's good"
After relaying the message to the girl Raven but on the headphones herself. I could tell that she liked it too.
Then as she was about to take them off, her eyes went wide and she grabbed her head falling to the ground.
"Raven what's wrong?" I tried to help her, but she threw up one of her arms, an universal sing to stay back.
There was a whistle accompanied my clapping.
"Well, well I didn't really expect you to collapse right away but nobody has ever stood their ground so long, to think that this little gadget that the ASM made works so well I'm mean they are only human after all." said a voice in a low tone, as a man walked into the light from one of the darker spots in the ally.
The man was average as much as I could tell, short black hair, average build and height, casual close and there were no distinguishing features. If I saw him on the street I would forget him instantly.
Raven was staring at him tears running down her face and I didn't need a translation for the words coming out her mouth. Her tone was enough of an indication she was cursing him to hell but more colorfully, I'm sure. My gut telling me that the fact that she has lapsed into her mother thong even though she was addressed in English is a singe of great pain.
"Now, now" the man said still talking in English for some reason "we can't have that, after all if I didn't have you as a bargaining chip your big brother would mop the floor with us no questions asked" he had crouched down and taken a hold of Raven's chin tilting her face up.
When he yelped and pulled his hand away I could see the skin on the fingers that had made contact with Raven were missing a few lawyers of skin, blood tripping, but he didn't let it fall to the ground instead pulling out a tissue to rap around the appendixes.
"You little bitch. I'll show you how to act around your betters" then he locked eyes with Raven. I could feel the ill intent radiating from him. How did I not sense it before?
Her face fell changing from pain to agony. She started struggling gripping her hair, but no sound escaped her mouth even though she was clearly screaming. It looked like she was struggling to bereave, but that doesn't make sense.
Rushing forward I felt aril leave my lungs. Everything felt heavy. I grasped trying desperately to get air in my lungs. There were black spots in my vision as I felt two pairs of hands grabbing me.
There was a forth man injecting something into Raven's neck, making sure not to make skin to skin contact. She gradually stopped moving hands dropping to the ground, face relaxing ever so slightly.
"That's enough Hanna, we only want them knocked out not dead" and with dose words my own consciousness fell.