Slow Burn by Sascha Illyvich Read Free Book Online Page B

last time someone
kidnapped her when they were on tour in Norway. A rabid black metal faction
took responsibility for the incident after she lambasted their form of metal.
    People were so stupid.
    Sucking in a breath, Sonja exhaled slowly and relaxed her
shoulders. A slow buildup of power could bend the metal around her ankles and
free her. It’d take a few minutes; she hadn’t learned to be as quick as her
brother yet. But she could free herself and find a way back to civilization.
    If she ran into trouble, she could throw a spell at her
assailants and catch them off guard, make them forget what they were doing and
who she was. It’d be temporary, but it would buy her enough time to get away.
    Sonja concentrated. Within seconds, power built around her,
stirring nerves and senses. The air took on a different weight and became
tangible. Pressure changed, reality began to alter. The steady creak of metal
let her know that her power was concentrating on the right spot in the alloy,
the weak point that all metal had.
    She began to worry it with magic. In a few seconds, it’d
snap and free her.
    Just…
    A…
    Little…
    More.
    The door flung open, shattering her concentration.
    Sonja screamed, but a hand quickly covered her mouth.
    “We’ll have none of that,” the tall Russian said in a thick
accent. “You’re special, gifted, and our employer warned us of your vocal
talents, Miss Sonja. So you’ll talk when we tell you to. Otherwise, you’ll say
nothing. Or you’ll die.”
    She met his gaze and nodded. Beady eyes narrowed. Thick
eyebrows furrowed together in worry as his lips pursed together in a thin line.
    The black shirt clinging to his chest gave away his scrawny
figure, but a quick read of his aura told her he would follow through on any
threats he made.
    “Now…” He eased his hold on her. “You’ll only repeat what we
tell you. We’ve decided there is more to this case than just stealing you for
what powers you may possess. There are others who would pay us for you—more
than our current employer—so we have contacted them and left a message.”
    Her shoulders slumped. No one needed to rescue her. She
would save herself. Besides, she had to keep this quiet.
    Another man stepped into view, saluting.
    The Russian returned his salute was and handed him a phone.
“Dial this number. Then tell them we have what they want.”
    The second soldier nodded and obeyed. Within seconds, he
spoke in a Russian dialect Sonja didn’t recognize.
    She read the soldier’s aura, too—picked up on all the
sadness surrounding his family. She hated that men like him were forced to make
these choices. But they were, and she had to deal with it.
    Her captor mouthed something in Russian to the soldier then
turned to her. “We will escort you to a video room where you will give a
statement, proof that you are alive and so far undamaged. If you do not
cooperate, we cannot guarantee your well-being when returned. Nod if you
understand.”
    The angry spirit in Sonja wanted badly to rebel, to stand up
and fight, but she had to comply. It was in everyone’s best interest.
    Slowly, she nodded.
    “Very good.” He reached into dark green camo pants and
pulled out a key. “We will undo your chains, but hear me now. There are guns
trained on you. You may be as powerful as they say, but not even a so-called
witch could take a direct shot to the head. Do you understand?”
    He didn’t believe her powers, not quite. Interesting. Again,
she nodded. What could she do? He stood before her. She couldn’t heal from a
direct wound to the head. Nothing on this planet held that much power.
    “Are you cold?”
    She nodded.
    He sighed. “Fine. This will warm you, I suppose.” He reached
for Derrick’s coat and helped her into it.
    The man pulled out a piece of cloth and tied it around her
head, blindfolding her.
    When the time was right for her escape, she’d have to guess
her way out and work her magic fast.
    The metal unlocked around