by Martin, CJ
But then she said, “Ian, she is coming for you. Do not trust her.” Her face wrinkled as if experiencing a sudden spasm of pain.
“What?” Ian squeezed her hand. “What do you mean?”
But Catherine had already turned her head back with eyes to the ceiling. After several unblinking and silent moments, she closed her eyes and said no more.
“Who do you mean? Whom should I not trust? Suteko?”
Ian took her hand in his, squeezing a little harder. When she didn’t respond, he leaned over and grabbed her shoulders. “Catherine, please! I need to know what you mean—I need you.”
“Ian? Is she all right?” It was Suteko. She had returned to see Ian over Catherine, shaking her. “Did she say anything?”
“Yes,” said Ian, refusing to pull his gaze from Catherine’s sleeping face. “I mean, yes, she is all right. She said nothing.” Ian slowly released his hold on Catherine’s shoulders.
Suteko looked on. Catherine’s eyes and lips were closed; she seemed as unresponsive as she had been before Suteko had left the room. And yet, she had heard voices—perhaps it had been only Ian’s but why would he speak if she didn’t say something first?
“Did she move or make any sounds?”
Ian continued looking at Catherine’s face. She seemed so peaceful—so different from the pained expression she’d had when she looked at him, when she had spoken to him. “No,” Ian said, answering Suteko without much enthusiasm.
Suteko realized Ian was not going to leave. He had answered her without even looking away from Catherine. Perhaps he felt that he had wronged her somehow. He needed peace and Suteko’s presence was a distraction.
“I’ll step out. Let us know if she does anything.”
She paused a few seconds, waiting for a reply. When none came, she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Master?”
Kaileen knelt before the communication box before her. She was thankful this meeting was not in person.
“Your spy is working with them.”
“Spy? What spy?”
“Oh, come now, you did not think you could hide from me the fact that you had sent a Nephloc to do work of a Perazim.”
“I...was going to tell you my plan. It had been one of the four sent...”
“Your plan is a failure. It has told the Temporal of your Foundry. It speaks your secrets into Temporal ears.”
“I...I will hunt it down and kill it. It shall not breathe any more information.”
“No. Your mistake has opened opportunities for us.”
Kaileen was silent, waiting for her master’s command.
“You will feed this Nephloc false information, encouraging them to come together.”
“Yes.” The edges of Kaileen’s mouth turned upward into a smile.
“I want them dead. All of them—except Marcus as he is one of the three.” He paused before adding, “I would also have the one called Ian spared.”
“Master?”
“Ian shows particular promise, much as you once did.”
“But, he is Marcus’ most trusted ally.”
“He will be with me shortly. Feed your spy information that will encourage the gathering of Temporal. Once all have arrived, send all Perazim to attack. Kill them all—even your beloved young protégée.”
“But, master, if I may. I believe Samuel to be the fulfillment of the prophecy, and if he is, turning him will ensure your survival.”
“The blood tests were inconclusive.”
“But if he is the heir, he can be turned…”
“The prophecy is false. The original three will never be one; therefore the prophecy may never be fulfilled. But even if it is true, eliminating Samuel will be the best way to ensure my survival.” Preempting a rebuttal, he added, “You will not go against my will. Obey me and reap rewards; I have seen the fruit of victory which your obedience will bear. Deviate from our plan and I will not save you—you will die. Make no move until all Temporal have arrived.”
“Master.”
“Communicate with your traitorous spy. Tell him to return—he won’t of course. Tell him we are retreating and regrouping to the Foundry. It is quite safe. The Foundry is vacated and I will personally be there to greet the Temporal sent.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Berkshire House
“I hear you got that Nephloc to speak.”
Ian’s voice startled Sam. Even with his radar gift and duty to monitor Ian’s thoughts, Sam had been taken completely by surprise. Lost in thought, Sam was watching two talking heads on television argue various conspiracy theories regarding the unexplained explosions of US military aircraft around the world. Most were unconfirmed sightings that were vehemently denied by the military, but several blasts had been recorded with cell phone cameras, making the startling claims not as easily dismissed. The topic had been the lead story for the past week and the government still wasn’t giving answers good enough for the media to accept—training accidents at multiple military installations all within a short period of time stretched believability. All kinds of people were presenting their colorful theories. There was talk of dragging the Defense Secretary before a Senate Sub-Committee.
Sam concentrated again. Ian wasn’t blocking his thoughts or using any other technique to obscure his intentions. Sam had simply been distracted.
“Yes. Well, actually, no. I didn’t do much of the heavy lifting. We found out there is a factory—what Hikari calls the Foundry—for creating and training Nephloc.”
“Hikari?” Ian flashed a wide smile.
Sam shrugged his shoulders and inverted his hands outward indicating that he shared Ian’s amusement. “Suteko named him.”
At the sound of her name Ian quieted down. “Yes, of course.” The smile disappeared. “It sounds Japanese.”
Sam listened to the echoes and tried to center them on Ian. Ian was conflicted, but not angry. He was disappointed, but not seeking a fight.
“Ian,” Sam said carefully, but directly. “I would like to talk to you about her.”
“I’m listening.”
“I heard some of the story of what happened.”
“It’s just like Suteko to talk…”
“It wasn’t Suteko. Nor was it any other person here.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Ian said, turning around.
“Ian,” Sam said, speaking to the man’s back. “I...I know certain things. It is as if I read a book or saw a movie about something, but I didn’t. I just know. And this knowledge is so different from other real-life memories. It is as if the events were planted in my brain directly—similar to a memory, but vivid like a lucid dream.”
“So? What did this dream tell you.”
“That you had a very hard life. A kind of life that I can’t imagine. Ian, I just wanted to say this. I admire you. You have courage and strength and have helped many Temporal find their footing.”
Sam stood and was about to leave when he heard Ian say, “You are not that bad of a kid. I know I’m hard on you, but if you truly know my past, I think you understand why I have a hard time being around her and...him. And you probably also know about his past with Kaileen; the old fool went through nothing compared to what I did and I’m not half as screwed up as he is.”
Sam nodded and then continued past the door and into the hallway. Once out of earshot, he let out a long breath. Ian’s thoughts were quieter. Sam couldn’t tell exactly what was on his mind, but it was quieter.
And him...Sam understood Ian meant Marcus, but the exact reason was unknown to him. Maybe he would ask Marcus about his past connection with Kaileen. Maybe the vision would come again and fill in some of these blanks.
Ian was heading to the kitchen for a cold one when Marcus called his name.
“Ian, I just wanted to thank you for saving Maro. I know how difficult it must have been.”
“I didn’t do it for you, old man.”
Ian smiled despite himself.
“I do have something I want to discuss with you.”
“What is it?” Ian asked, dropping the smile.
“Suteko just gave me this from our little guest,” Marcus said, handing Ian a piece of paper.
Ian examined the paper. It was a crudely drawn map.
“Hikari claims there is a large underground training area for Nephloc.”
“The Foundry. Yes, Sam told me.”
“Suteko and Sam seem convinced he is telling the truth now, but I need confirmation. I know you just got back, but Sam and I are still busy with the evacuations…”
“I’m no longer your messenger boy, Marcus.”
Ian turned his head away, but Marcus, not sensing any hostility in those words, waited for him to finish his thought.
“But I can’t be here, not around her.”
“Good. If you find any evidence of Nephloc activity, come back and we’ll plan an attack. Do not make contact with the enemy. If you are spotted, get out of there quick. I’ll have two soldiers drive you there.”
“Where is it?” Ian was looking at the piece of paper, but the hand-drawn map would require some creative interpretation.
“It is an undeveloped region of the Shenandoah Caverns. He says there is a line of abandoned railroad track near a small creek.” Marcus’ fat finger pointed to a pencil squiggle representing the creek. “Following the north side of the creek about a mile, you will find a bluff thrusting up a few dozen feet.”
Marcus pulled out another sheet of paper with a satellite photo showing a snake-like stream surrounded by greenery with an area of red that appeared to be a clay bluff.
“At the base of the bluff, there should be a hole not much larger than a watermelon. The Nephloc do not use this entrance, but it will lead to Hikari’s Foundry.”
“Won’t I be spotted? I’ll need to carry a torch and I may make sounds as I enter.”
“According to Hikari, the Nephloc training area is still a quarter of a mile away underground but connected through a series of tunnels. That area of the cavern is largely used for storage. Should you find such evidence, that is all we need.”
“Sounds like a lot of fuss over few details.”
“Possibly, but Sam and Suteko are certain he is telling us the truth. And by the satellite photo of the area, there does seem to be a bluff right where Hikari says it should be. All I want you to do is find any evidence of Nephloc activity and then get out of there.”
“All right. I’ll go. I’ve always done your bidding. Why quit now?”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Suteko, what is their history? Marcus knew Kaileen, didn’t he?”
After leaving Ian, Sam was surprised to see Suteko outside Catherine’s room; Sam had seen little of her since the incident. But his question surprised her even more.
“Yes,” she said looking around and lowering her voice to a whisper. “It is hard for me to speak of it. I feel his pain as if it had been me living through it.”
“Please, Suteko, I need to know.”
She took him by the hand and led him to the veranda outside. Once there, she leaned in, keeping her voice low.
“I swore I wouldn’t tell anyone—not even Marcus—but it may be important for you to know. I spent months after my Extending not knowing what was happening, feeling utterly alone.”
Sam saw a tear trickle down her cheek. He, too, shared the memory of her loneliness. He knew exactly what that tear meant.
“Go on.”
“Sam, I spent months of torture and torment and above all, fear. I was all alone. My mother died and I didn’t know what was going on with me. And then, in my darkest hour, Marcus sent Ian to teach me of the Temporal, to show me that there were other people like me.”
She stood straight, taking his hands in hers.
“Ian saved my life. I had left my home—if it could be called that—to take my own life that very day. As I left, there was this gaijin calling for me by name. You must believe me when I say that I never harbored any feelings for Ian other than pure gratitude. The excitement of meeting him unleashed my gifts in a way that has hurt Ian to this day. The way he is...it’s all my fault.”
Sam was silent, unsure what to say. He nodded.
“Yes. I just wanted you to know. I was alone for months. But that was nothing compared to Marcus. Marcus was alone—utterly alone—for over a century.”
“A century without meeting any other Temporal?”
“Yes. Without being able to comprehend what was happening to him. There were others—two others, but they were unknown to him. He was alone and then he found her.”
“Kaileen? Where? Where did he find her?”
“All I know is she just appeared with him.”
“Is she older than Marcus?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. I only know that there were originally three Temporal and Marcus was one of them. Kaileen appeared and Marcus was overjoyed to discover someone like him. They became lovers and then were married.”
“Married?”
Sam’s face darkened. He had suspected she had been an important part of his life, but married?
“One day she just disappeared. Marcus was frantic and lost. She reappeared after a few days, but she had changed, turning hard, crass, and cold. Marcus, desperate to renew his wife’s affections, soon forgave her.”
“Where did she go?”
“After a few of his questions were met with a cold silence, he stopped asking.”
Sam began to understand the magnitude of hurt Marcus’ many years brought. Sam’s own problems, his Extending seemed easy by comparison. Marcus had been alone and would have done anything—swallowed any amount of pride—to have kept her near. She had been the one person who could make sense of the changes. Sam understood.
“Then one day she left again. This time for a month. The next time it was even longer. She’d return as before without telling him where she had gone and only agreeing to stay on condition he’d not ask. And so this went on for years until one day she left for good.”
Sam was incredulous. His first and last impression of Marcus was one of an unemotional recluse. “Marcus told you all this?”
“No. Let me finish. Marcus was distraught. He spent centuries scouring the world in search of his wayward wife. And then one day he found her. He had heard stories of a demon woman who lived in the Alps terrorizing villages, sucking the blood of women and stealing the men for her lusts.”
Suteko’s tears had dried. Her eyes were now red, filled with passion and anger.
“From that point, Marcus spent weeks tracking her. Reports of a fiery headed demon woman would crop up and off Marcus went. Then one day, he spotted her collecting firewood. It was winter and the mild snowfall almost masked her bright red shocks—almost. He followed her to a cave on a high mountain and confronted her.”
“What did she do?”
“She kissed him.”
Sam shook his head as he thought of his own ex-wife. He understood what Marcus had gone through more than most. Even after all his wife had done, his first impulse was to forgive the unforgivable in order to keep her at his side.
Suteko continued, saying, “After three hundred years of searching for her, Marcus was greeted by a kiss. The seduction, however, was not strong enough to mute the moaning from far within the darkness of the cave. Pushing her aside, Marcus discovered a dozen men chained to the rock, a dozen more had already perished. She fed them, took care of them to a point, and used them for her twisted desires.”
“Slaves?”
“She was playing with them, changing them into unspeakable creatures of darkness. Experimenting. Creating abominations.”
Suteko turned aside in disgust as Sam asked, “She made them into Nephloc?”
“No. S
he came close, but she had incomplete knowledge and was only mimicking her master—the one she left Marcus for.” Suteko looked back at Sam and continued. “Marcus pushed her aside and began freeing the slaves. Most were too weak to walk; some could hardly be called human anymore. She stood there and just watched him with a somewhat amused look as if she was beholding pure weakness.”
Sam remembered what happened to him in the kitchen, the vividness of detail and the feeling of being there. He had felt such compassion for Suteko as if he had been the one stranded and alone in nineteenth century Japan. Sam could only imagine this was how Suteko knew of all this.
“Marcus then returned to her. She stared at him. It was then that he realized her eyes had changed. He was fascinated by them. She pushed him. He looked deeper. She pushed him again. He looked deeper still. By the time Marcus realized where he had been pushed to, it was too late. She pushed him off the side of the mountain. As he fell nearly five hundred feet, he gave up and embraced death.”
“He fell off a mountain?”
“Yes, but there were others listening to the echoes. Bae Khan, a Korean Temporal one of the three—the original three, had arrived and caught him midair. He saved Marcus. Together they found her, covered her face to keep from her eyes, and after a great struggle, they sent her over the precipice of an erupting volcano.”
“How…” Sam stopped momentarily to consider the wisdom of asking a potentially sore question. “Why does Ian have it out for Marcus?”
Suteko sighed. “Ian spent years turning his anger away from me, redirecting it elsewhere.”
“Onto Marcus.”
“Yes.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I had a dream.”
“A dream? So you are not sure if it is true.”
“No, I am sure.” She turned to face Sam straight on. “It wasn’t like any sleeping dream. It was like pure knowledge flowing into my mind. I know it sounds silly, but I am sure that it happened exactly like I described.”