by T. A. White
Tate folded her arms across her chest. This should be good. “Why don’t you explain it to me?”
“In my father’s time, we called it the proctor of an Ijiri. One of their agents who did their bidding and carried out their will. They seeded them throughout the world in the short span before they sought their sleep, in the hopes of paving their way back to power. The proctor could take on the appearance of a human for a short time to feed. From what Christopher told me, and the things I inferred, it was one of the last the Ijiri left behind and had used the temple of the guardians as a hunting ground for centuries.”
Tate straightened, interested despite herself. “Why didn’t he kill Christopher?”
“I think he planned to but when he scanned Christopher’s memories to assume his place, he found some interesting information that distracted him. Christopher had stumbled on a story related to the Creator’s offspring. He took advantage of the proctor’s surprise and managed to escape. While on the run, he also woke me.” Peter allowed himself a self-deprecating smile. “He offered me a deal. I help him and in return he’d release me. It wasn’t until much later that I recovered my memories. Even then I didn’t see much issue, given how my so-called father sent me into sleep without ever asking me if I wanted to go.”
Tate considered Peter as she ran her fingers along Rath’s spine, ignoring the pleasure and contentment she could feel coming from the dragon. Peter’s words made for a pretty story, wrapping up all the loose ends rather nicely.
That was the exact reason she felt she couldn’t entirely trust the other man.
“Why did you save me?”
A faint trace of rebelliousness flashed across Peter’s face and for a long moment Tate thought he wouldn’t answer.
Night scraped his claws against the floor in an obvious threat.
“Because you’re the Apportens Mortis. The only thing that can move the ship,” Peter confessed. “You were partially right earlier. Nathan does want to find the Creators, but not to resurrect them. He plans to kill them and absorb their power. I have no intention of letting that happen. Without you this ship goes nowhere.”
“Safer to let me die if that’s the case.”
Peter gave her a tight smile. “Something tells me we wouldn’t fare well against the Ancient if you weren’t here.”
Finally, a motivation Tate could believe.
“What are you going to do?” Peter asked, breaking the silence that had fallen after his revelation.
“First, I’m going to rescue my dragon man. Then I’m going to kill the traitor.” Tate tilted her head. “Any questions?”
TWENTY TWO
“Are you insane?”
“You already asked me that.” Tate would prefer he stopped. Maybe focus on what could be done instead of the obstacles.
Peter straightened from the wall in a jerky movement. “Did you not listen to a word I just said? You have no plan to get there. Zero idea of how you’ll deal with the Ijiri halfling once you do, or even an inkling of how you’ll kill Nathan and shut down the power drain at the Rift.”
Well, when he put it like that it did seem inadvisable. Still, Tate didn’t care. No matter what he said she was going to save Ryu and all the rest. After that—or maybe during—she was going to stop Nathan.
“Are you going to say anything?” he asked loudly when she stayed silent.
Night released a husky, snickering laugh as Tate raised an eyebrow at Peter.
Just as she was about to respond with a sarcastic remark, a hazy form took shape directly to Tate’s left.
Peter backpedaled as Tate summoned her relic’s armor. It responded sluggishly, perhaps due to the energy used up in sustaining her life for healing. Night jumped nearly a foot into the air, reacting like a startled feline, before landing and facing the unknown threat.
Tate hesitated in the act of retreat, squinting at the figure. “Roslyn?”
The hazy figure’s image wavered before steading. The startled expression on Roslyn’s face changed to one of pure relief at Tate’s voice. “You’re alive.”
“Uh huh.” Tate scanned Roslyn’s insubstantial body.
Well, this was unexpected.
“Are you—” Tate started.
“Ghost.” Night looked atypically freaked out at the thought.
“I’m not a ghost.” Roslyn held her hands up to stare through them. “I’m not sure what I am, but I’m still alive.”
Tate circled her image. Different than Ai’s, who could also appear out of thin air and wasn’t really there. Roslyn’s image held a more transparent quality. You’d never mistake it as being real like you would with the minor goddess.
Honestly speaking, she looked like the ghost Night and Tate had assumed her to be. Only she wasn’t dead.
“Is this what you received from the pandora’s box?” Tate asked. It was the only explanation for the odd reality she could think of.
Roslyn nodded. “I think so. It’s taking some getting used to.”
There were so many questions Tate wanted to ask, avenues to explore with this new relic of Roslyn’s.
“Have you ever seen anything like this before?” Roslyn asked.
Tate pursed her lips. “There were relics that allowed you to attack someone mentally. Some even allowed you to cast illusions. I’ve never seen one that could divorce you from your body and allow you to travel in this way.”
Roslyn looked down in disappointment.
“That’s not to say they don’t exist. The pandora’s box is known for the oddities it bestows.”
“You found the pandora’s box?” Peter asked, coming out from the spot where he’d hid himself on Roslyn’s appearance.
Tate frowned at him. She was beginning to see why he had thrown his lot in with Christopher. He had the same instincts of self-preservation.
“You know about it?” Roslyn asked.
Peter looked at Tate. “It was only an idea Dad and the others were toying with as a possibility for leaving their relics to the next generation. I didn’t know they’d actually done it.”
“What happened after the idiot over there made off with me?” Tate jerked her head at Peter.
Anguish filled Roslyn’s face. “We were taken.”
“All of you?”
Roslyn hesitated before nodding reluctantly.
Tate was silent as Night moved closer, chuffing softly. She breathed deep and then released it slowly, trying to shake off the tight, trembling feeling in her stomach at that news. As awful as the idea of Ryu and the rest being held captive by Nathan, it was not as bad as them being dead already.
“That’s not all,” Roslyn said softly. “The ancient has sent some of his monsters to find Dewdrop. They’re getting close.”
Night was restless as he shifted in place, his hands clenching into fists before releasing. Tate was no better, the urge to get out there and do something was nearly overwhelming.
It was better to wait rather than mindlessly running around and getting caught themselves. Then they’d really be in trouble.
Tate looked up to find Roslyn’s gaze distant, as if she was debating whether to share something or not.
“What is it?”
Roslyn’s struggled to meet Tate’s gaze. “He’s hurting Ryu.”
Tate made a small sound before clamping down on her emotions. Losing her head wouldn’t help anyone and would just jeopardize their chances of rescuing the rest.
Ryu wasn’t the only one in danger, Tate knew.
Roslyn huddled in on herself, crossing her arms over her front as if she physically needed to hold herself together. Tate suspected others were enduring the same treatment as Ryu. Roslyn’s father most likely. Perhaps even Roslyn herself.
It made it all the more imperative to move fast and carefully.
For that reason, Tate took all of her emotions and stuffed them into a box. The urge to act impetuously. The fear she wouldn’t be in time. The looming specter of failure. All locked away behind cold rational
ity.
“Peter, tell me exactly how you managed to steal me right out from under Nathan’s nose,” Tate instructed.
She had an idea but it’s implementation would depend on what Peter had to say.
Peter grimaced at her, his expression full of reluctance and unwillingness.
Night let out a snarl and snapped his teeth at Peter, chuckling when the other man flinched.
So good to see the Veles hadn’t lost his touch at intimidation even if his form was currently that of a human’s.
Peter took a marble the size of a pebble out of his pant pocket, holding it up grudgingly so they could see. An emerald shimmer danced along its surface as if saying look at me.
“A warp stone,” Roslyn gasped. “I thought the academy was still decades from replicating those.”
“They are. I stole a prototype and made a few modifications.”
“How did you know how to do that?” Tate asked.
Peter’s hand dropped. “Dad taught me a little.”
“Dad, as in Kenneth?”
Peter sent her a dour look. “I don’t have another dad.”
Roslyn looked between the two with a curious expression. “Are you talking about the Savior Kenneth? I thought he didn’t have any descendants.”
“He was sent to sleep, which is probably why there aren’t any records of him.” Tate gestured at the two. “Kenneth’s descendant meet Jaxon Kuno’s descendant.”
Roslyn bobbed forward in a mini bow before straightening.
Peter sneered at her. “At least you’re not as arrogant and cocky as Jax’s children. I’d say time bred that trait out of your line, but your father is every bit as annoying as they were.”
Roslyn’s mouth snapped shut as an expression of affront spread across her face.
“The warp stone can get us where we need to go without alerting Ai’s systems,” Tate said before the two could snipe at each other further.
“It won’t matter. As soon as you appear, she’ll know. You won’t even get the chance to raise a hand, let alone save anyone, before she stops you.”
“You know, you have the same habit as your father of pointing out all the things that could go wrong with a plan.”
He was every bit the pessimist Kenneth once was.
Not waiting for a response, Tate looked at Roslyn. “We’re going to create a distraction.”
The other woman looked startled while Peter frowned.
“And how do you think you’ll do that?” Peter asked. “Don’t think I’m sticking my neck out for these people. Not when they’re just as prejudiced against the Creator’s products as the people in the old era.”
“You don’t have to. Roslyn can handle that.”
Roslyn’s expression was puzzled but willing. “How?”
“Blade. Something tells me he and the Lucius’s are biding their time on the edge of the tunnels where Ai’s influence is less. If you can get to him and convince him to help it’ll give us a fighting chance.”
“That will only work for a short time,” Peter argued.
“That’s all we need to kill Nathan.”
Tate was still working on a plan to deal with Ai afterward.
Roslyn took a deep breath. “I’ll try.”
“That’s all anyone can ask.” Tate’s gaze was firm and confident. “Come back when you’re finished.”
Roslyn nodded as her figure slowly faded from sight.
“I don’t care what you do. I’m not getting involved in this,” Peter said.
Tate sat down on the bed and swung her legs up to lie down. “Yes, you are. Otherwise, there is no use for you.”
At that, Night inched forward to stare at Peter from close up. He didn’t posture or threaten in any other way, but he managed to convey his message. If Peter didn’t help, Night would deal with him in a very final way.
Although Tate wasn’t a fan of forcing others into dangerous situations, she couldn’t let him stay behind. For one thing, she didn’t trust him not to get up to something while the rest of them were distracted with Nathan. Second, he was the only one who knew how to make the warp stone work.
“Fine, have it your way,” he snarled.
Tate wiggled on the med bed, trying to find a comfortable position.
“How can someone like him be related to the Saviors,” Night asked.
Peter curled his lip at him. “Bravery isn’t an inherited trait.”
Tate didn’t listen any longer as she rested one hand on her stomach and the other on Rath’s curled up body next to her. His ribs expanded and contracted under her hand with his steady breathing. Tate closed her eyes, letting her mind go.
All that was left to do was wait.
* * *
To pass the time, Tate napped, allowing Ilith’s warm presence to embrace her as Rath kept them company. Tate rested, emptying her mind as she mentally prepared for the battle ahead.
There was a chance she or others might not survive, but that didn’t change what she had to do. She could only prepare herself for every eventuality.
This was the lull before battle. The period between planning and action. Seemingly lasting an eternity and an instant at the same time. Where you couldn’t help but anticipate and dread the unknown.
Despite the silence around her, Tate could feel Night nearby.
“Do you have a problem with the plan?” Tate asked without opening her eyes.
“The plan where we’re up against terrible odds with little chance of success?”
Tate smiled. “Yup. That one.”
Night made a feline harrumph. “We’ve been through worse.”
Tate waited, knowing that wasn’t all he had to say.
“Do you really think he is who he says?”
Tate opened her eyes and stared at the white ceiling above. “I don’t know.”
And the only person who could have verified his identity was long dead—not withstanding Tate’s encounter with his fragment. Something she still wasn’t sure was dream or reality—or perhaps some combination of the two.
“But you’re going to trust him anyway?”
Tate rolled her eyes to look at Night. “Who said anything about trust?”
Night stared before a sly smile spread across his lips. There was nothing cute about that smile. Only pure wickedness. “I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”
“How do you feel in that form?” Tate asked, changing the subject.
He tilted his head and rolled his shoulders. “Odd, but I’m getting used to it.”
There was a shimmer in the air announcing Roslyn’s return.
Tate caught Night’s arm as he turned to go. “Night, the warp stone can get us in, but it can also get us out.”
Tate waited, hoping he caught her message. After a moment, he inclined his head in understanding.
“If the others are incapacitated and you see your chance, get them out.”
Tate’s request came from a selfish place. As much as she didn’t want the city to fall, she wanted to watch her friends die even less. If there was even the remotest chance they could live, she’d take it. Even if it meant Night wouldn’t be able to fight at her side, thus reducing their fighting force.
Dewdrop, Night, and Ryu were her heart and soul. The reason she hadn’t taken Suze’s offer to remain in that between place.
Besides, if they were truly incapacitated, they wouldn’t be much help in the battle and might even be used against her.
Night’s nod was somber as Roslyn’s image flickered into existence. “I will.”
Roslyn moved toward Tate quickly.
“How did it go?” Tate asked.
“I managed to make contact. They’re timing their attack for five minutes from now.”
That should give Tate and the rest enough time to stage their own.
Tate shifted Rath into her arms as she sat up. It was concerning the way he didn’t move or wake. His place in her mind felt quiet, despite the fact she could feel him as clearly as she did Il
ith.
Her senses told her even with her supplementing his bond, he was rapidly losing strength.
“Let’s get you back to Ryu.” There was no response from him as the tattoo of Ilith climbed onto her shoulder, looking down at the still dragon with concern. She made a small warbling sound in the back of Tate’s mind. Heartache and misery filtered through their bond along with worry. “He’ll be fine, Ilith. We’ll make sure of it.”
He better be, or I’ll devour this world.
Tate decided not to address that apocalyptic statement, not really wanting to know if Ilith was capable of such a thing. Bad enough the dragon hadn’t listened any of the times Tate told her sentient creatures were off the menu.
“Peter, what do you need from us?” Tate asked.
“An image of where we’re going to warp to would be a start,” Peter responded. “I’m not sure if this will work since Roslyn’s not actually here, but if it does, she’ll need to visualize the spot where we want to appear.”
Tate glanced at Roslyn. “Is that going to be a problem?”
Roslyn shook her head and held her hand out to the stone Peter offered.
“Remember, pick a spot out of sight lines of Nathan or his people. We want to pick our time of attack.”
Roslyn’s nod was shaky. “I think I have an idea.”
“I hope so,” Peter said in a snarky voice. “All our lives are counting on it.”
Roslyn didn’t waver, instead closing her eyes and concentrating as her hand hovered over the warp stone. There was a brief flash before it dulled.
Peter nodded at Tate. “It’s working. The coordinates are locked.”
Tate took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s get going.”
Peter sent her a sideways glance. “What? Now?”
“No time like the present.” Also, Tate was concerned about how long Blade and his people could hold out against Ai.
“Fine.”
“See you in person soon,” Tate told Roslyn.
The other woman nodded. “Good luck.”
Roslyn disappeared from their side as Night and Tate moved closer to Peter. They paid attention as the other man closed his fist around the stone and concentrated.