by D. N. Leo
"Smoke and clarity really don’t belong in the same sentence, Tadgh. But sometimes I prefer a muddy head so I don't have to think at all."
Tadgh laughed. "Muddy head! What a description."
"What do you need a clear head for? Anything I can help with?"
Tadgh shook his head. "Nah. I don't even know what I need. Better go inside to see what Ciaran is up to."
“How’s your back?”
“Fine. Thanks.”
Madeline gazed into Tadgh’s eyes. “You can see people’s emotions, Tadgh. I’m sure you can see Ciaran’s gigantic concern about you being susceptible to Kyle’s control. If that’s the case, you have to tell us.”
“So that he’ll send me home?”
“Better than losing you to Kyle.”
“I told you I’d kill the bastard, Madeline. I saw what he did to the girl in London. I saw what he did to Jo. He might be invisible, but he’s not invincible. He’s not human, but I think he has flesh and blood of some kind and can be hurt. Especially judging from the fact he roared like a pig when you stabbed him. So I just need time to think. I’ll figure out how to kill him.”
Madeline nodded. “All right. But if he gets into your head, I will knock you out.”
“Deal.” Tadgh smiled. “Your grandfather said Kyle was a Sciphil, and he was dealing with Black Rock. Is that right?”
“Yes. Something happened in Eudaiz. I think he somehow snatched me and ran to Earth. He was exiled. So he can’t open the Daimon Gate and go back to Eudaiz himself. He has to tailgate us. But why kill people for their innocent souls?” Madeline asked.
Tadgh snorted. “Typical psychology of evil. I think it has to do with the Black Rock. Kyle betrayed Eudaiz for the Black Rock. He must have made some sort of deal—that he had to control and rape innocent souls. Some sort of a score.”
“That’s a scary thought. How did you figure that out?”
“Got it from my big brother. Ciaran uses the same principles to design evil guys in his hologames.”
Madeline shook her head. “Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction. Unfortunately, Kyle is not a character in a game. . .” She trailed off. “Tadgh, what is it? What are you thinking about?”
“Huh?”
“You just had that faraway look on your face. You thought of something?”
Tadgh nodded. “I just put some things together. I might have something—”
Madeline gasped. “Jesus Christ."
"What is that?" Tadgh instinctively pushed Madeline behind him.
"Kyle. Run! Go inside, Tadgh!"
Chapter 10
Tadgh and Madeline stormed into the reception room and almost trampled Jo. The breakfast tray Jo was carrying flew through the air and fell to the floor. Coffee cups, a teapot, croissants, bread, plates, and other sundry items scattered on the floor.
"My breakfast is ruined! What a start to the day." Jo scowled. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Then she saw the look on Madeline's face.
"Kyle." Jo clenched her teeth and grabbed the butter knife from the floor. Tadgh grabbed her and held her back.
"Jo, that's a butter knife you've got. Do you really think you can kill a beast with that?" Tadgh asked.
"Would you prefer I use my fingernails?"
"I won't let you go out there," Tadgh said.
"Put that the other way around, pal. I won't let you go out there. Kyle can’t get to me. But he can definitely get to you. So you’re staying right here." Jo jabbed her finger at his shoulder.
Tadgh grabbed her arm. "Don’t point your finger at me, young lady."
Jo mocked his British accent, “Oh, this lady is definitely pointing the finger at you!”
Ciaran walked into the room and saw the commotion. "What the heck is going on?"
"Kyle was out there. These two are fighting over who’s going to go out there and take the hit. Don't worry, Ciaran. I’m not letting either one of them go," Madeline said dryly as she pointed to Jo and Tadgh.
"And how do you plan to fight Kyle, you two? What weapons are you going to use?" Ciaran asked.
"She's going to use a butter knife!" Tadgh snorted.
"Better than your fists. You could barely hold a woman in check last night,” Jo ranted.
"I saved her life!” Tadgh raised his voice.
"Then who will save yours?" Jo squealed and threw the butter knife at him. Tadgh jumped out of the way.
"I’m convinced you’re controlled by Kyle right now, madwoman,” Tadgh growled.
"Stop your bickering, you two. I have a plan. If you want to help, then follow me to the library."
Ciaran turned around and walked quickly toward the library. Jo followed, stomping her feet. Tadgh glanced at Madeline, who was watching him closely. He put his head down and scurried toward the library. Madeline followed after taking a minute to glance around to be sure she sensed nothing from Kyle inside the house.
In the library, Ciaran opened a box. Inside the box were ten golden daggers.
"Holy cow, where did you get these?" Tadgh asked.
"I had them made for us,” Ciaran said dryly. He picked up a dagger and handed it to Tadgh. "Feel it."
"Heavy,” Tadgh said.
"They’re made of our family gold, and it's top grade. Juliette mentioned that the Daimon Gate test is a transmutation process. It's equivalent to the most stringent process used in alchemy to produce pure gold."
"Pure gold against pure gold,” Tadgh said more to himself than to anyone else. “Wow.”
Ciaran gave a dagger to Madeline and Jo. "I hope they’re not too heavy for you."
Madeline felt the dagger. "It's comfortable. Not heavy at all."
Ciaran spoke. "When I shot at Kyle, the bullets didn't seem to have much effect. The most damage Kyle sustained was in the swordfight with Richard. Ayana and Pete also fight with swords. I don't think Eudaiz’s technology is too primitive to make guns. But I speculate that metal causes more damage to people from Eudaiz than gunpowder."
"So we take two each?" Tadgh asked. He grabbed two daggers and weighed them in his hands.
"Sorry I'm late,” Zach said from the door. "Oh wow, haven't seen anything cooler than this in my entire life." Zach admired the daggers. "Are those for us?"
Ciaran nodded. "Two each." Ciaran handed two daggers to Zach.
"Wow, I could kill any creature with these," he said, obviously impressed.
“What can you tell us about the gate, Zach?” Ciaran asked.
"It's like a role play game, but it plays with your mind. My training was one-on-one. I was by myself with a lot of projections and reflections based on my own personal experiences. I don't know what will happen if a group goes through it. Will we each see different things?"
Ciaran shook his head. "I don't think so. I expect the scenarios will change for the whole group. But we’ll have to face individual mental challenges, whatever they may be. I’ll be leading and will need your support based on your roles. The ultimate goal will be to pass the gate as a group—or not pass at all."
"What about Kyle?" Zach asked.
"That’s an unknown variable. We were told he’s invincible. I don't think that’s the case, but I haven't figured out how to kill him yet except to pass the gate and kill him on the other side. Ideally, if Jo and Tadgh could stall him on this side, we could pass the gate, get the power from the other side, and deal with Kyle later. But I'm not sure that’s possible."
"It’s not dangerous from this side to stall him," Jo said. "At least not for me."
"Excuse me. If you think I'm a burden, you're mistaken,” Tadgh said.
"I didn't say that. But we’re still not sure if Kyle can control you or not," Jo responded.
Before Tadgh said anything further, Ciaran cut in. "I agree with Jo, Tadgh. I don't think you should deal with Kyle at all. I regret letting you go this far. I wasn’t thinking straight."
Tadgh lowered his voice. "You need me, Ciaran."
"I do. But I will not risk
your life for this."
"He might not be able to affect me at all. Just like how it is with all of you."
"But we don't know that for sure, Tadgh," Madeline said.
"There’s no way we can check this ahead of time, and before we are absolutely sure, I'm not willing to take the risk," Ciaran stated firmly. "I'm sending you home, Tadgh."
"The fuck I'll go."
Zach’s phone buzzed. He ignored it. It buzzed again. He drew his phone out and glanced at the text message. "Fuck. It's Chloe. She tailed me here."
Zach charged out of the room.
Chapter 11
Tadgh looked at his hands and saw them shaking slightly. Was it excitement? Anxiety? He’d just figured out how to kill Kyle. It was definitely a risk. But hell, he had to do it. Kyle wasn’t invisible at all. If he killed Kyle here, it would be a load off Ciaran and Madeline when they went through the Daimon Gate.
He followed everyone outside.
Chloe stood in the front garden. Her hair was tangled, her clothes were wrinkled, and she wore no makeup. Tears streamed down her face.
"There you are," Chloe said in a drunken voice. "You could have done better, Zach. We could have done better. You dumped me with a text? For her?" Chloe pointed toward Jo.
"No, no, Chloe. I . . . I don't know what to say."
"I know . . . You think I'm just a dumb blonde." She laughed through her tears.
"No, I don't think that at all, Chloe."
"But I love you, Zach," Chloe cried.
Jo approached. "You’ve got it all wrong, Chloe. I told you last night, I—”
Chloe whirled around, swinging her arms in the air. "You lied!” Chloe screamed at Jo.
Jo staggered back a step. Tadgh was right behind Jo. He snatched her and pulled her back. "Chloe, calm down,” he said. “Zach is in enough trouble. If you love him, don't do this. It won't help him at all."
Chloe seemed to calm down a bit. Zach approached her and embraced her. She cried into his chest. Madeline had never before seen so much pain on his face.
"Can you tell me where you’re going? Since when do we have secrets?" Chloe asked.
Zach bit his lip and said nothing.
Ciaran looked at Chloe's eyes. "Zach, be careful."
"He's here. Everyone, Kyle is here,” Madeline alerted them.
Chloe's eyes went wild. She grabbed for the dagger Zach had tucked into his belt.
"Oh, Jesus, put it down Chloe,” Zach said.
"Knock her out, Zach,” Ciaran said.
“What?”
Chloe brandished the dagger and attacked Zach. He staggered backward. She screamed and charged forward at him. It would be easy for Zach to wrestle the dagger from Chloe and knock her out, but he couldn't do it. He grabbed her hand, but he couldn't strike her head.
Chloe roared again and gave Zach a kick which sent him rolling across the ground. She lurched forward, about to stab him.
Ciaran darted toward her. He could easily take her out.
Tadgh felt the sensation again. He knew what was coming. When Ciaran restrained Chloe, it would be his turn. Kyle would come to him.
Tadgh grabbed Chloe from behind. "Get away! Get away from Zach, or you'll regret this."
Tadgh heard a voice in his head now. "Let her do it. Let her kill him. He's your enemy."
Tadgh ignored the voice. He pulled Chloe away kicking and screaming. He could handle this. He ignored the voice. Tadgh could feel his nose bleeding. The voice was pounding in his head.
Tadgh grabbed Chloe's arm and bent it until the dagger was pointing at her neck.
"Tadgh, what are you doing?" Zach screamed.
"He's getting to Tadgh," Ciaran muttered. Madeline and Jo heard him.
"Oh, no!" Jo charged toward Tadgh and Chloe.
"Tadgh, I told Chloe last night that I love you. Tadgh, listen to me. Look at me,” Jo said.
"I'm looking at you, goddamn it. He's not getting to me,” Tadgh growled. His nose bled more. He continued to focus on blocking the pounding voice from his head.
"Cut her throat. Kill her. Kill the bitch," it said.
Chloe was crying now. Tadgh could feel her body shaking with fear. Jo stood in front of him. Tears rolled down her face. He wanted to wipe those tears away, but he knew better. As soon as he let go of Chloe, Jo might be the next person the beast asked him to kill.
Ciaran, Madeline, Jo, and Zach now approached Tadgh and Chloe.
Tadgh dragged Chloe, stepping backward.
"You hear me, Tadgh? Are you there?" Ciaran asked.
"Fuck yeah. I told you—it's not getting me."
"So why don't you let Chloe go?" Zach asked.
"Stay back, or I'll slit her throat, Zach."
"I don't know if you’re still with us, Tadgh. The only way to prove that you understand what I’m saying and the implications of what you’re doing is to let Chloe go,” Ciaran said, stepping forward.
"Fuck it. Fuck you. Fuck all of this." Tadgh's head was pounding. His nose dripped blood.
"Slit her throat. She's a bitch. She asked Jo to leave you. Kill her,” Kyle said.
"No, no, no!" Tadgh screamed out loud.
"It asked you to kill Chloe, didn't it, Tadgh?" Madeline asked. "I know you're still in there. I know you can control it. Otherwise, you would have killed her already."
"Let her go. I'll take care of it, Tadgh," Ciaran said.
"You mean you'll knock me out, Ciaran. How the fuck do you think I can face that humiliation?" Tadgh shook his head, hoping he could shake the beast’s voice out.
"It's not a humiliation, Tadgh. It's a prize to let your pride go. You cannot take a life, Tadgh. You are the best fighter I’ve ever known. I’m proud of you. I can't lose you like this." Ciaran stepped forward again.
Tadgh dragged Chloe backward.
"Don't come any closer, Ciaran," he said.
"Kill her. Kill her. Kill her,” Kyle chanted.
"I'll let her go. Step back, Ciaran." Suddenly, Tadgh’s voice was calm and collected.
"Tadgh." Ciaran narrowed his eyes.
"I said step back. I'll let her go. But I won't let you knock me out."
"No," Ciaran said.
"You want her dead?" Tadgh asked.
"Kill her. Kill her. Kill her," the beast roared in Tadgh's head.
"Ciaran, step back. Please,” Zach pleaded.
"Ciaran, Tadgh might hurt you. Move back," Madeline said.
"Yes, big brother. I might pierce this dagger through your beating heart. I don't want to do that. Step back. I promise I'll let Chloe go."
Ciaran took a step back.
"More," Tadgh directed.
Ciaran moved back one more step.
"Kill her. Let her go, and you will die. Kill her,” Kyle roared again.
Tadgh released Chloe. She ran toward Zach.
As soon as Chloe left, a wave of sensation and sound took over Tadgh's mind for a brief moment. Then he blocked it out again.
"You fucking bastard. You will only get me in hell." Tadgh turned the dagger toward himself.
"No!” Ciaran yelled and charged at him. A wave of energy rushed past Ciaran, knocking him to the ground.
Tadgh felt a force of energy holding the dagger back an inch away from his body. Then on the blade of the dagger, blood appeared, dripping down.
It wasn’t his blood. Someone was holding the dagger back.
The voice was loud in his head again. "Stay alive. Let go of the knife."
Tadgh smiled. A smile of victory. “Didn’t see this coming, did you, Kyle?”
“Stay alive.” Kyle pulled at the dagger.
“Oh, I haven’t killed anyone on your command yet, have I? When your victim acts against your control, what will happen, Kyle? When your victims reverse your command, what will happen to your scores? If you want to know how to play the double-edged sword game, you should consult my brother. You’re doomed."
Tadgh pressed the knife further. Blood streamed from Tadgh’s body, soaking the ha
ndle of the dagger and revealing the hands of an old man.
Kyle roared. His image flickered. Flickered. Flickered. He revealed himself as an old man staring at the blood on his hands.
That was his real and true image in naked human eyes.
Kyle let go of the dagger. An electrical burning smell thickened the air.
"You are an ugly motherfucker,” Tadgh said before he slumped to the ground. The world in front of him started to blur. But Tadgh's mind was as clear as it had ever been.
Kyle had lost his power of invisibility. Tadgh could see that Kyle was no longer invincible. He could not control Tadgh's mind now.
Tadgh saw an opportunity. But he had to be quick.
He looked up. Kyle was still dazed by the loss of his power. Tadgh pulled the dagger out of his body and charged at him. He stabbed Kyle with the dagger stained with his own blood.
Kyle roared in pain and slumped to the ground. He looked as if he was going to burst into flames. His body was almost transparent with burning fire which appeared to ignite from within him.
Jo darted toward Tadgh. She pulled him away from Kyle.
"Tadgh, please stay with me. I love you. Please."
Tadgh could feel her tears raining down on his face.
The others hurried toward them.
Behind Jo, Kyle rolled and stood up. He roared like a beast with all he had left. He swung his arm and created a powerful wedge of wind that swept Ciaran, Madeline, and Zach several feet away. Then he snatched Jo, swung her over his shoulder, and zoomed away as if into another dimension.
Tadgh faded away on the ground.
Chapter 12
They rushed Tadgh into the house. The hospital was too far away. They did all they could to stop the bleeding. Ciaran used whatever drugs he had on hand to treat his brother—drugs that Madeline did not know about and did not want to know about.
He ordered more medical equipment and drugs from his lab. He had what he’d requested airlifted to the mansion. His money and his well-built business empire came in handy at times, Madeline thought. As long as Tadgh survived, nothing else mattered.
Where had Kyle taken Jo?
Madeline looked out the window, gazing into the late afternoon. The sun was burning. Or maybe it was the anxiety in her that was burning. Kyle could not control Jo’s mind, so what did he want? He seemed to have lost his invisibility. Maybe he’d lost his power. Madeline wasn’t sure.