The Lily Harper 8 Book Boxed Set

by HP Mallory

  Now there’s only one left.

  “…that fear of the dire burning vanquish’d the desire…”

  -Dante’s Inferno

  TWELVE

  LILY

  Back on my feet, I noticed the final remaining adversary was a human who was wielding a sword of his own. He came at me, holding his sword high above his head. There was definitely evidence of training in his swordplay but nothing compared to what Tallis had taught me. Even as he drove me into retreat, I managed to block each stroke. The sparks were a little too close for comfort, however.

  The man tried to get behind me but I easily sidestepped him before landing a hard blow on his right knee. But he didn’t go down. Instead, the pain seemed to ignite his anger and he came at me with renewed vigor. The sparks kept flying off our blades as they clashed repeatedly. I noticed it was getting harder to pull my blade away from his, almost as if my blade had a mind of its own and was going in for the kill. That seemed even more the case when my blade cut his sword in half.

  Even though he was momentarily stunned, he tried using the broken half but it was no use. All he could do was hold his ground. And that was a position that wouldn’t last long.

  A shot rang out, cutting the man down before I could land my killing blow. While trying to figure out where the shot had come from, another shot came a couple of inches from winging me. I dove for cover behind a pile of rubble as I studied the situation.

  The guy who’d been fighting me now had a hole in his forehead. The blood leaked down his cheeks while his eyes stared up at the sky blankly. The couple I’d charged in to rescue were now nowhere in sight. For all I knew, they might have fled the scene the second fighting broke out. It would have been the smart thing to do.

  A third shot ricocheted off the top of the rubble, putting a quick end to my thoughts. The muzzle flash from the building’s roof told me I was dealing with a sniper. Wracking my brains, I tried to figure out what to do. The shooter had the advantage because he was high above me and I had no idea exactly where he was or how I could access him.

  The next shot went wild and entered the chest of the guy I’d brained. My attention, however, was fastened on the sounds of a struggle near the sniper’s perch. Figuring I should take the opportunity while I could, I ran out from behind the rubble. Staying as low as possible, I darted to the opposite corner from where I’d just come. The welcome sight of a fire escape awaited me once I reached that side of the building. Sheathing my blade, I climbed up the metal staircase as quickly as my rubbery legs would take me.

  When I reached the top, I saw Manfred tying up a man with boot laces. The man was wearing what appeared to be a Nazi uniform and a quick glance at the bound man’s feet revealed the laceless boots beside him. The rifle that had been firing at me was at Manfred’s side, leaning against the slightly raised roof edge.

  When I came close, he glanced up at me. “Ah, there you are, Fraulein Harper. I trust this assassin did you no harm?”

  I nodded at him. “Not a scratch, thanks mostly to you.”

  He waved off my gratitude and finished tying up the unconscious shooter. “Bitte… I am merely appreciative that I arrived before one of those dreadful bullets found its way into your vital organs.”

  I chuckled at that brutal but poetic statement. “Yeah, me too.” I took a deep breath as another thought occurred to me. “Did you see your friends while the fighting was going on?”

  Manfred let out a frustrated breath through his nose. “Nein, unfortunately… but I have every reason to believe they are not far.” Manfred snatched up the sniper rifle and aimed it at me. “With sincere apologies, fraulein, I am afraid my time as your captive has drawn to a close.”

  I instinctively raised my hands and backed away as I cursed my bad luck. At this range, there was no way he could miss me. Circling to the left, he began walking between me and the roof’s edge. “Now, if you would kindly drop your sword in front of me…?”

  I pulled my sword out very carefully and looked in the reflection of the blade. I wondered why my Self had told me I could trust him. My emancipated prisoner cleared his throat and gestured with his rifle at the ground. I tossed the sword his way and he promptly kicked it over the roof edge. I could hear the faint clank of metal hitting rock a few seconds later.

  I looked past him to where the sword disappeared. “I’m surprised you didn’t take it with you.”

  “You have treated me very well, fraulein. Leaving you defenseless is a poor way to thank you for your courtesy.”

  “So is pointing a gun at my face.”

  His lips twitched a little then he shrugged, inching ever closer to the fire escape. “I forbid you to follow me. If you do, I shall be forced to kill you though I do not want to.” He paused another moment and then sighed, his eyes never leaving mine. “I really do not want to harm you… Lily Harper.”

  I took a deep breath.

  A voice behind Manfred startled us both. “Do not harm her, Manfred.”

  The flying ace’s combat reflexes kicked in. He swung the rifle around and pulled the trigger once he turned it away from me. I was on the verge of tackling him when I heard the bullet striking glass. An instant later, the whole rifle exploded in Manfred’s hands, blasting him backwards and throwing him to the ground.

  Standing on the fire escape was the couple I’d just rescued. Directly in front of them were shards of glass, a scorch mark, and some sort of liquid that was collecting in little puddles.

  The male half of the couple, an elderly man with a full beard, clucked his tongue. “Well, at least I can say how gratifying it is to know that this particular compound works as it was originally intended.”

  The woman, younger than the man by about twenty years but still older than me, gave me a concerned look. “Are you unharmed, mon enfant?” she asked in a pronounced French accent.

  It took a minute for me to get my mouth to work. “Uhm, yeah, I’m-I’m okay. Thanks.”

  The man chuckled. “Fair exchange! It is only in reciprocation for saving our lives a few moments ago.”

  He walked over to the fallen Red Baron, who was shaking off the blast that wrecked his weapon. The old man offered him a hand up. “Now, truly, Manfred, is that any way to treat a lady or greet an old friend? I keep saying you are far too fond of your firearms.”

  The appropriate adage popped out of my lips without me even thinking about it. “When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.”

  The couple laughed as Manfred accepted the man’s outstretched hand, and the woman clapped. She held onto her smile after her laughter died down.

  “Just so, mon enfant, just so. And thus, by this logic, every problem that our dear Manfred encounters looks like a target that must be shot down.”

  Manfred looked at me. “Fraulein Lily Harper, allow me to present Lord Nicolas Flamel and Lady Perenelle Flamel.”

  The lady gave him an indulgent smile as I fought to understand why the name Flamel seemed somehow familiar to me. “Shall we agree to ascribe Manfred’s lapse in decorum as a side effect of the phlogiston blast your compound inflicted upon him?” Lady Flamel asked.

  Nicolas shrugged and made a thoughtful hum. “Perhaps, dear wife, but how would you explain the blind shot Manfred took at me instead of saying hello?”

  Manfred turned a little red in the face. “While I appreciate your quick wit as always, it has been a rather trying day,” he grumbled. “We should make our way back to the nearest Malebranche encampment.”

  The second he finished speaking, I started calculating the odds of running past them to reach the fire escape. The last thing I wanted to do was accompany them to the Malebranche because I was more than sure I’d be doing so as Manfred’s prisoner. Perenelle drew back her head with a stunned expression. Clearly, she wasn’t wild about the idea either.

  “And just why on earth would we do that?” she asked.

  The flying ace looked at her as though she’d lost her mind. “Protection, of course
! The Council of Simon will send more troops momentarily.”

  “But what about the Malebranche forces?” I asked. “Won’t they show up at some point?”

  Nicolas pursed his lips and gave me a respectful nod. “Given our positions as premier alchemists affiliated with the Malebranche, you would certainly think so, mademoiselle. However, I believe I speak for both myself and my dear wife when I say that assumption fails to play out in practice.”

  Perenelle smiled at her husband. “For once, your theory is entirely supported by the actual facts, my husband. This marks the third such raid by the Simoniacs within the last month. Every time, we called for aid. Every time, we were ignored.”

  There was something adorable about the way these two played off each other. It made me wonder why they’d stayed with the Malebranche so long. “So it’s a case of three strikes and you’re out?” I asked.

  Perenelle gave me an indifferent shrug that could only be called French. “A peculiar metaphor, but one that is also factually true. N’est-ce pas, Nicolas?”

  Nicolas didn’t seem as casual about the proposition. “You will recall, Perenelle, my reservations regarding performing such a drastic course of action. One does not walk away from the Dukes of the Eighth Circle without consequence.”

  Manfred’s face lit up. “And that is why it is so vital that we go to the nearest camp now. If we stay here too long, we shall officially be declared deserters in absentia.”

  Perenelle glowered at this idea. “And what precisely is Mademoiselle Harper’s fate?”

  Manfred looked at her like she’d suggested he take to the air by flapping his arms really hard. “We take her back as our prisoner, of course! To leave her behind would be a violation of the—”

  “I won’t be your prisoner!” I railed at him.

  He turned to look at me and sighed as he shook his head. “I do not see another way, Fraulein.” He paused. “And it is not safe for you to remain here… alone."

  “It’s safer for me to become a prisoner of the Malebranche?” I insisted.

  “I would ensure that no harm befell you,” Manfred said and by the expression on his face, he meant his words.

  “As soon as Alaire realized I was prisoner, he would see to it that I was returned to him,” I said as I staunchly shook my head. “And I won’t let that happen.”

  Nicolas’s loud sigh cut off whatever Manfred had to say like a chainsaw hewing through a twig. “Oh, Manfred! So very concerned with doing right by those who have never and will never do right by us. Such an extremely noble sentiment, matched only by its utter naiveté.”

  Manfred bristled and replied, “You have just said yourself that there are serious consequences for breaking ties with the Malebranche.”

  “So I did. However, I never said that such consequences were compelling enough for me to stay in the Malebranche’s employ any longer, non?” Nicolas glanced over the side of the roof and continued as he looked over at me, “I am happy to report that your blade is still very much intact and lying exactly where Manfred so gracelessly kicked it, mademoiselle.”

  I sighed with relief. “That’s good to know… thanks.”

  Perenelle studied my face for a minute before saying anything. “Would you be interested in gainful employment on our behalf?”

  I didn’t understand and frowned to show as much. “I’m afraid I’m no good with chemicals, neither in the real world nor down here.”

  Nicolas laughed as he looked at me again. “That area of expertise is quite adequately covered by both of us, so have no fear. But we now find ourselves in need of reliable protection.”

  Perenelle took up the thread her husband dropped. “And we were quite impressed with your exceptional fighting skills against the six Simoniac soldiers. An expert warrior such as yourself would be most welcome to serve at our side and of course, the cost would be at your discretion.”

  My one-time prisoner looked at Perenelle again like she’d lost her mind. “Let us not be so hasty as—”

  Nicolas waved Manfred off. “There is no haste in good negotiation. After all, the lady has yet to admit if she is interested in the position being offered her.”

  His wife smirked with a knowing expression. “Well, there is still the aforementioned matter of an acceptable price for such services, husband.” She turned back to me. “Perhaps now is the time to speak of money, non?”

  I already had the price in mind. “I’m searching for two friends of mine whom I was separated from. If you could help me find them, that’s my price.”

  Perenelle looked at me in mock shock. “You would sell your unique services so cheaply?”

  “My friends mean more to me than anything else you could offer,” I responded.

  She placed a motherly hand on my shoulder. “Ah, pardonne-moi, mon cher.”

  Nicolas raised his finger. “Be that as it may, I must agree that such a price is far too small. May I propose a compromise? In addition to the aid you ask, we shall also allow you one favor of your choosing, something that is within our power to accomplish?”

  Manfred looked a bit shocked. When he spoke to me, his words came out shaky. “As appalled as I am by this very conversation, fraulein, it is no small offer Lord Nicolas is extending. You are one of the rare persons he has ever offered such a favor.”

  “Just as long as I can leave the Underground City after we find my friends, that’s all I care about,” I answered.

  Perenelle patted my cheeks before kissing both of them. “That is very much our plan as well, I assure you.”

  Manfred looked at the three of us with alarm. “You can’t do that—you… you are risking your safety! If you are caught...”

  “We shall be put to death… again,” Nicolas finished for him.

  “Or worse!” Manfred insisted. “I did not come here to rescue you only to see you place yourself directly in harm’s way!”

  Nicolas sighed and put a fatherly hand on Manfred’s shoulder. “If you must insist on returning to the same superiors who will never repay your undying loyalty to them, I only ask you have the good grace to devise a plausible explanation for events leading up to this point. One that does not involve myself, Perenelle or Mademoiselle Harper. Are we agreed?”

  Manfred hung his head in defeat. “Jawohl, Vater.”

  Nicolas smiled and patted Manfred’s shoulder. Manfred turned and offered me something I didn’t expect, a salute. “Fraulein Harper, you have been an outstanding and honorable opponent. I hope that our paths may cross once again someday, but under vastly more pleasant circumstances.”

  “Thank you,” I said and didn’t know what to make of it as Manfred closed the distance between us until he was maybe a foot from me. Then he paused and appeared completely uncomfortable before he opened his arms wide and threw them around me, engulfing me in the most rigid of hugs I’d ever experienced. I brought my arms around him and patted his back as he pulled away from me. He didn’t drop his arms but just looked at me with something akin to longing in his eyes.

  “I wish we had met in different circumstances, fraulein,” he said in a soft voice. Then he cleared his throat and dropped his arms as he took a step back and nodded at me. “Auf wiedersehen.”

  Words were suddenly unavailable to me but I saluted him in return. He turned to the fire escape and descended it. Nicolas looked over the roof edge again and nodded.

  “Your blade,” he said as he eyed the object in question. “Not that you require it in light of your excellent unarmed and improvisational fighting skills.”

  It seemed like a bad time to tell them about Donnchadh. “Just the same, I’d feel better having it by my side again.”

  Perenelle marched over to her husband and took him by the shoulder. “Yes, allow her to retrieve that exquisite blade while we gather the necessary reagents to meet her reasonable price of employment.”

  “Reagents?” I asked, frowning.

  Perenelle smiled at me in a knowing way. “As alchemists, we have different ways of
doing things, my dear.”

  I wasn’t sure what that meant but decided not to question her and reveal my doubt. Instead, I started after my sword and felt an incredible sense of relief suffuse me as soon as I closed my fingers over the pommel. I resheathed it around my waist and started back up the fire escape.

  “I believe Manfred was quite taken with you,” Perenelle said as she looked up at me slyly.

  “Oh?”

  “Oui,” Nicolas added with a nod. “I’ve never seen him willingly embrace someone before. It was quite… awkward.”

  That was a good word for it, actually. I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing at all.

  “Perhaps you could be a good reason he leaves the Malebranche?” Perenelle continued as she faced me with that sly expression.

  “I don’t think Manfred is ready to break ties with the Malebranche yet and I doubt anyone will change his mind.”

  Perenelle shrugged. “Do not underestimate the power of your feminity,” she said. “Do you find Manfred… handsome?”

  I could see where this was going. “Yes but my heart belongs to someone already.”

  “He is a lucky man,” Perenelle said though I could tell she was disappointed on behalf of her friend.

  Nicolas looked over his shoulder at me. “It would be helpful to know the identity of your friends.”

  I trailed behind them. “Well, there’s my guardian angel, Bill and Tallis Black.”

  Tallis’ name brought them both to an abrupt halt. Perenelle looked over her shoulder at me. “You mean to say the very same Tallis Black who was once Master of the Underground City?”

  By now, we’d all reached the fire escape. “Uh, yeah, that’s him.”

  “Finding them will be a great deal easier than I feared,” Nicolas said. “Black is not a man easily hid.”

  “And an angel!” Perenelle added, from where she stood right behind her husband on the stairs. “They stand out like beacons on a cloudy night.” Perenelle grinned up at me. “You are quite fortunate that our supplies come not from the Malebranche but from the current Master of the city, Alaire, himself. He appreciates the value of good quality.”