Read The Syker Key for Free Online

going to close early to leave for the trip.
    The trip.
    Jessica didn’t know what to think about it. With the Key gone, she didn’t quite see the purpose of heading to the site of the eclipse. It seemed...dangerous. She hadn’t been without it in more than a few hundred years, and now felt naked with it out of arms reach.
    At the same time, whoever it was who was out there was probably capable of taking possession of the Key without her present when the eclipse peaked. She couldn't risk that. She had to go, and wanted nothing more than to be gone already.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed what could only be a rental car pull into the lot in front of the restaurant. Four large men got out of it.
    ***
    Sam knew the Key was gone, but he had an idea about that. If he was going to take control of it, having control of the current bearer was going to be his ticket in.
    Only four people in the restaurant, outside of the Walkers.
    He didn’t want to kill anyone, it would attract too much attention, but he was prepared to if it came to it. But his instructions to his men were no shooting; threaten yes, shoot no. That would be his decision, and his job.
    “Let’s go.”
    The four of them walked into the restaurant, and instantly drew weapons. The daughter, Jessica, was apparently ready for them.
    “Nobody move, nobody get’s hurt,” Derek said loudly, pointing his HK45 pistol directly at Jessica.
    Sam noticed she didn’t cower, but kept a wary eye as they spread out around the restaurant. Most people flinch when having a gun pointed at them, and she didn’t even appear to regard it as a threat. Sam moved to the kitchen and kept his weapon trained on the parents, who regarded him with steely glares. The other pistol was hidden under his jacket.
    “You don’t want to do this, trust me.” Jessica said to Derek, who was quickly approaching her.
    Sam had warned him that she was probably still dangerous, crystal or not. He was right.
    Jessica changed her focus to Derek’s gun. The magazine clip released, dropping the magazine to the floor, and at the same time the chamber slid back, releasing the live round. Derek stood dumbfounded, and with an empty gun.
    Jessica made a pushing motion at him, and suddenly Derek was flying through the air backwards.
    And it was just the distraction Sam needed.
    In one smooth motion he removed the second gun from under his jacket, pointed it at Jessica and fired.
    The blue dart struck her in the side, and she flinched, turning to Sam to try the same trick on him. Before she could, she collapsed on the floor. Sam turned his attention back to Jessica’s parents.
    “Don’t even think about it. If you don’t interfere, she won’t be hurt.” He could see the rage pent up in Arthur’s face. All he could do was dangle the promise of her safe return, it was the only way he knew that would keep him in check, because as sure as he was of Jessica’s power, he was also sure that Arthur had probably spent enough time with the Key to learn some of the same tricks. Of course, these were mere tricks indeed compared to what Sam was capable of.
    “If she is hurt, I’m not going to kill you, not quickly. But I will make sure you experience more pain than you can imagine for a very long time.”
    Sam grinned at him. He looked at a block holding several knives and focused briefly. All seven knives suddenly jumped out of the block and landed, stuck, into the floor between him and the Walkers.
    "If you think you can take me on, old man, you are welcome to try. At the risk of your daughters life, of course."
    Sam backed away, then motioned for his two men still standing to gather up Jessica. Derek was just getting up, dazed slightly.
    “Let’s go.”
    They left, the two men holding Jessica unconscious in the back seat.
    ***
    Catherine’s fingers almost clawed right through Arthur’s arm. “Arty, what are we going to do? We can’t leave Jessica!”
    “We’re going to the rendezvous.” Arthur