One Last Breath

by S. C. Stokes

  "More time, Kasey. This is insane. Have you seen the news? They're saying you killed a bunch of tenants in some building downtown. What the hell is going on?"

  "More lies, John. I thought you knew me better than that. The building we hit was a drug house run by one of the local gangs. We needed some resources. With the ADI breathing down our neck, we couldn't afford to go to anyone. So, we borrowed a little cash from someone who shouldn’t have had it in the first place.”

  "A regular Robin Hood.” He let out an exasperated sigh. “What is it you want, Kasey? Why call now?"

  "Like I said, John. I just wanted to warn you, let you know I was okay. I'm sorry that I disappeared without saying anything. There wasn't time and frankly, the last few days I've been fighting for my life.”

  "Sounds about right, but I'm betting you need something. You only seem to remember my number when you need something. Like info on the council, my dad, or some case. Just leave me out of it, okay? Whatever crusade you and Sanders are on, leave me out of it.”

  The blow struck home. Kasey knew he was right, and it hurt. She'd taken him for granted and called for a favor one too many times. It was bad timing and she knew it. But, in spite of everything, her warning was genuine. She wanted him to be safe and right now, no one was in more danger than him, mere paces from the master of a death cult bent on the destruction of the city. If John discovered his father had been replaced by the Master of the Shinigami, he would end up just like Getz.

  Kasey wasn’t willing to risk it.

  "John, it’s not like that. I called because I didn't want anything to happen to you. You might have trouble believing that. After all, you have the ADI protecting you. They aren’t hunting you with a license to kill. In the last few days, I've been beat, raided, shot at, threatened. I was nearly murdered by a mob enforcer this morning. I haven't even stopped to stitch myself up, and here I am, calling you to try and keep your sorry ass safe. I guess this is the thanks I get. It’s probably about what I deserve after everything I’ve screwed up.”

  She took a deep breath. “Look, John, my timing might be worthless, but at least take a moment to see how wrong you are. You might not believe me but turn on the news. Doubtless there will be coverage of a thug being wheeled out of the Hyatt with a knife lodged in his chest. He's the man who was trying to kill me only minutes ago. Whatever you think I've done to wrong you, rest assured I'm doing the best I can in a crap situation. I haven't tried to hurt you since the day I broke three of your ribs. If you can't see past that, I get it. But if you can, I’d like to talk. I’d like to see you."

  There was a heavy silence at the end of the phone

  “John, are you still there?”

  "Where, Kasey? I'll come to you."

  Kasey knew it was as good as she was going to get. Hopefully she could get the truth out of John without having to tell him everything, but it wasn't going to happen without seeing him. The phone just wasn’t going to cut it.

  "Central Park. The jogging circuits. Come on your own, John. I’ll find you."

  "I'll be there soon."

  Kasey wound her way through Central Park. In her disguise, there was little chance of being recognized but still, she preferred to meet John somewhere neutral. She wandered along the paths until she found a bench that was shielded by the surrounding greenery and took a seat.

  As she waited, she replayed the earlier conversation with John in her head. He was upset and she could see why, but it wasn't as if she had been wantonly trying to cause him harm. More than anything, he seemed blinded by her connection to Sanders, which was understandable after Sanders’ attack on the manor. John had spent the night in the Administorum. Magic may have healed his physical wounds, but it appeared the brush with death had left a different kind of scar.

  Kasey wondered just how she was going to get him to disclose the Chancellor's whereabouts. Asking about Arthur directly would surely raise his suspicions. She couldn't share her plan with him. If he knew the truth, he was liable to do something rash, and him dealing with the Master of the Shinigami on his own was an unhealthy proposition.

  No, she would have to extract the Chancellor's whereabouts far more subtly than that.

  When she had visited the manor, the ADI had been keeping both John and Arthur there. There was safety in numbers and combining their protective details made sense. She thought it likely that the two might both be sheltering in the Arcane Council. After their incursion, security had definitely been raised. Kasey didn't relish the thought of another direct assault on Council Headquarters. They had barely made it out alive the last time. The only reason they had stood a chance was that they had taken the ADI by surprise. They wouldn't get that luxury a second time.

  She wondered if John would bring his detail with him. They would certainly pose a challenge for her. John had managed to give them the slip once before, and she knew that he would do so again.

  As she pondered her choices, the familiar figure of John Ainslie strode down the path. He was scanning the park, likely looking for her. His gaze locked on her for a moment then darted away.

  Kasey smiled. If the illusion was good enough to conceal her identity from John who was actively searching for her and knew where to look, it boded well for her ability to evade others.

  She stood up and fell into line behind him. Lengthening in her pace, she sought to catch up with him. She glanced over her shoulder. There didn't appear to be any sign of his ADI escort.

  If John was willing to leave them behind, it showed that he still had some degree of trust in her. If he feared for his life, then he would likely have brought them along.

  As she reached him, she whispered just loud enough for him to hear, but quiet enough that the other pedestrians had no idea what she was saying. “Keep walking, John. Don’t look back.”

  "Kasey, is that you?" In spite of the warning, John looked over his shoulder.

  Kasey shook her head. "I told you not to look. People could be watching."

  John forced his eyes back to the path ahead and continued walking. “I would never have recognized you. I thought using magic to alter to your appearance is illegal?"

  Kasey brushed her blonde hair out of the way. “It is, but with the ADI hunting me, this is the lesser of two evils. It might be breaking the law, but it buys me enough time to stay ahead of them."

  "Then why bother meeting me? Surely this puts you at even greater risk," he said.

  "I wanted to see you, but I wasn't sure if you’d be able to slip your detail, so I used an illusion. Don’t worry, though, no one is hunting Lisa Strauss."

  “Lisa Strauss? Who on earth is that?”

  “Just some lady I ran into in a hotel the other day. I figured hers was as good an identity as any. She was a normal, so the ADI won’t look at me twice.”

  John shook his head. "This is madness, Kasey. How long do you think you can keep this up for?"

  Kasey lengthened her stride so that she was almost beside him. "I don't need to keep this up for much longer at all. We’ve almost got Theo's killer. As soon as we do, Sanders will be cleared, and everything should go back to normal. If we can get the ADI to stop hunting us, I can go back to my life. This isn't what I want, John."

  They wound their way along Central Park's jogging path. Kasey eagerly scanned her surroundings, looking for anyone paying them undue attention. There were hundreds of other exercise enthusiasts out and about. Some stretched as they took a break, others worked their way along the parks’ circuits. Nearby, on a patch of lawn, a pair lay sleeping under a tree. No one seemed to give them a second thought.

  "What is it you want, Kasey?” John asked. “You called me out of the blue after days of nothing. What's going on?"

  "I just wanted to see that you're okay. In spite of everything you seem to think of me, I do care about your well-being. I wanted to make sure you are alright."

  "Sanders hasn't tried to kill me recently, if that's what you're referring to. I guess I have you to thank for tha
t?"

  Kasey gritted her teeth "He wasn't trying to kill you at the manor. His spell just got out of control."

  "Could have fooled me,” John replied with an edge. “If you knew Sanders is leaving me alone, then why would I be in any danger?”

  "Theo's killer is still out there. It isn’t Sanders, but the threat is very real. We’re making progress in catching them. It’s why we broke into the ADI. I needed to see the body to see if I would have a vision."

  John slowed his pace, almost stopping. And did you?"

  "Yes," Kasey replied. “It's how I know Sanders didn’t do it.”

  "Then who did?”

  Kasey shook her head. “I can't tell you. It’s not safe. If I tell you and you say something, anything at all, you’ll be dead like Theo and twice as quick. You're safer not knowing for now, while we deal with the killer.”

  John stopped, whirling around to face her. "How is that your call, Kasey? You ditched me and ran off chasing a killer. Theo was my friend. I have a right to know who killed him.”

  Kasey looked in John's eyes. He was hurting and frustrated.

  "I know, John, but I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you. We are so close to ending this, all we need is a little more time.” She paused. “A little more time, and I'll tell you everything. Just make sure that you stay safe. Stay with your detail, be surrounded by as many people as you can. Make sure that no one gets a chance to do you harm."

  Her mind raced as an idea presented itself. "Come to think of it, you should stick with your father. The Chancellor's security detail is substantial. There is no safer place than at his side. Speaking of your dad, is he safe?"

  "Yeah, he's fine. Since the cathedral, there have been no other attempts on his life. He is holed up in council headquarters. He hasn't left in days. With Sanders on the run, I believe he is personally heading up the task force to catch you both.”

  Hearing that the Master was hiding in the council headquarters was a blow. Doubtless Arthur had upgraded and changed the security protocols. If they were to succeed in killing the impostor, they would need to lure him out of the council headquarters and make the attempt outside.

  “I need you to keep our conversation to yourself, John. Particularly don’t tell your father. We are so close to clearing our names, we can’t afford to be caught now.”

  "I wasn't planning on telling him we'd met, Kasey. I just wanted to see you and hear your side of things. I just couldn't understand how you could team up with Sanders after the attack on the manor.”

  "I told you, it’s not like that. Sanders was just trying to get your father to call off the hounds, so that he could clear his name. Now we’re forced to do it the hard way with the Arcane Council and the ADI hunting us like rats.”

  "When does it end? When can we put all of this nonsense behind us?"

  “As soon as we catch the killer. Then Sanders can have his job back and I can go back to my life." She stood there, looking at John’s expectant face. "I'm sorry, John. I mean it. I didn’t want to put you through any of this.” She reached out and took his hand in her own. "This isn't how I thought anything would happen. I'm sorry. Just be patient with me, please.”

  John's pensive expression softened, and the corners of his mouth turned up almost into a smile.

  She caught his stare. His warm brown eyes bored into her own, as if he could see into her soul. She wanted to linger, but knew she had to get moving. The knowledge that they needed to bait the Shinigami into the open meant it would take time for them to plan. Hades’ hit men wouldn’t wait forever.

  But right now, in this moment with John, the world seemed to stand still. Her worries all seemed to melt away as he held her hands in his.

  Tearing her eyes from his, Kasey saw a woman pushing a stroller toward them. Something seemed off. The woman bopped along to the music playing through her earphones. Kasey’s gazed settled on the earphones, and she realized what had drawn her attention. Tucked behind the woman’s ear was an earpiece.

  Kasey glanced over her shoulder. The man lying underneath the tree had his eyes open now and was looking at her. She couldn't see the earpiece from where she was standing but she suspected he wore one also.

  She turned back to John, narrowing her eyes. "John, what is this?”

  "What are you talking about?" he asked, forehead creased.

  "Did you tell anyone you were coming to meet me?"

  “I didn't tell anyone anything!” John replied. “I swear."

  Kasey's gaze darted around, and she caught sight of another jogger making their way along the path towards them. Kasey scanned the undergrowth, and in the distance, she could see two men in suits crossing through the park. Another two closed in from the north.

  It was the ADI. They were here.

  She looked for an exit, but as one, the other park goers turned on her.

  They were all ADI.

  She was sure of it now. Whether on purpose, or inadvertently, John that led her straight into a trap. One that was closing in by the second.

  "Kasey, what's going on?” John asked. “What are you looking at?”

  "The ADI. They’re here. They are everywhere. They must know who I am, or at least suspect it. You led them straight to me.”

  “Kasey, I would never do that to you. You have to believe me," John pleaded.

  "It doesn't really matter now,” Kasey replied. “They’re here all the same.”

  She let go of John's hand, turned, and ran.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kasey ran for all she was worth. As her feet pounded the pavement, her mind raced.

  How had they found her so quickly? If it wasn't John, then what had given her away?

  Was it possible that they had followed him without his knowledge? He certainly seemed legitimately surprised by their presence.

  The park seemed to come to life around her, and Kasey realized the enormity of the trap that had been laid. The jogger running toward her had his eyes locked on her as he reached behind his back.

  Kasey had to assume he was armed, and that he was in fact ADI. She swung with all her might. Before the man's hand cleared his back, her right fist caught him in the jaw. He went down like a sack of bricks. As he rolled onto his stomach, Kasey saw the holster that was hidden in the small of his back.

  Good instincts.

  They had kept her alive for weeks, why start doubting them now? She couldn't check if he was unconscious. She had to keep running. The cordon of agents closed on her, but she pressed on. If she could slip through the net, there was a chance she could escape into the city. All she had to do was slip out of sight for long enough to change her appearance and she would be free once more.

  Two agents in suits stepped out of the foliage. Their weapons were drawn. Kasey expected to hear the report of the gun shot at any moment. The Shinigami masquerading as Arthur Ainslie had been more than clear with his directive. They could shoot her on sight and face no recourse.

  The man hesitated.

  Kasey sprang forward. Summoning her power, she chanted, “Daeargyn!”

  The shock wave rippled outward from her like the epicenter of an earthquake. The two agents were cast aside like rag dolls.

  Kasey left the path and went cross-country. Her breathing grew heavier with each loping stride. All about her, there was movement, but there was no time to stop and assess her options. Her one hope lay in breaching the perimeter before they could bring their numbers to bear.

  As she ran, another agent stepped out from behind a nearby tree, attempting to clothesline her as she ran past. Kasey ducked under his arm and delivered a blow straight to the man's kidney. He stumbled and fell, sprawling onto the grass.

  Kasey ran on, her heart racing. She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears with every step she took.

  Why aren’t they shooting me?

  Then it struck her. She was alone. If they shot her, there was no way to gather information on Sanders’ whereabouts. It seemed they were intending to t
ake her alive so they could interrogate her. Knowing they were trying to take her alive gave her confidence.

  It seemed they were still hesitant to use magic in the midst of so many potential onlookers. Kasey didn't share their hesitation. After all, she was fighting to survive.

  She glanced over her shoulder to see a man in a suit running after her. She lengthened her stride, but he gained on her. She darted through Central Park’s dense foliage. As her pursuer reached the bushes, Kasey chanted an incantation.

  At her command, the shrubbery behind her took on a life of its own and started to grow. Thick vines and branches snapped at the agent, coiling around his limbs and dragging him down, trying to root him to the spot.

  Kasey grinned as the man fought back against the vegetation. With a nod, Kasey sent one of the low hanging branches sweeping towards his legs. The bough knocked him off his feet and soon he was entirely incapacitated by the entangling shrubbery.

  Kasey broke into a clearing. Two more agents closed in.

  Kasey sucked in a deep breath. Her legs were burning with every stride. The exertion in the hotel room had already drained much of her energy. She had not been prepared for her current predicament.

  She raised her hands and chanted, “Trydan!”

  Lightning arced from her outstretched palm toward the two ADI agents. The first raised his hands and shouted in a language Kasey didn't recognize. The blue barrier that materialized before them was all too familiar.

  Kasey's lightning played across the surface before earthing itself in the dirt at his feet.

  The man's partner countered with a spell of her own. “Lumiere Aveuglante!”

  The French syllables rolled elegantly off her tongue as a blinding glare emanated from her.

  Kasey shielded her eyes, but it was too late. Everything went white.

  She was blind.

  She tried to shake away the brilliant light that seemed to have seared itself into her retinas. Amid the chaos, she could hear the sound of footsteps approaching.

  "Over here, quick,” a man said. “We have her now."

  Kasey blinked furiously, but to no avail. She opened her eyes but all she could see were colors swimming before them. A series of footsteps to her right warned her that someone approached.