Scorched Shadows (The Hellequin Chronicles Book 7)

by Steve McHugh

  “I had to. With Elaine gone, so was my chance of being safe. I had to hedge my bets.”

  “The same thing you did with us. Why didn’t you tell them about the tracker?”

  “I had to hold some things back, just in case Elaine turned up again.”

  “You were trying to play both sides. Shame you were so damn bad at it. You betrayed her people; you betrayed me and my friends. You got people killed. Horrifically butchered by a group of frankly evil bastards. I can’t just let that go.”

  “You’re going to kill me?”

  Mordred shook his head. “Nope.” He stood and walked over to Viktor. “That’s too easy.” He hit Viktor in the face with a fist wrapped in air, dropping him stunned to the ground. He removed a pair of handcuffs and put them on Viktor before dragging him out of the house and down the steps just as the rest of Mordred’s group arrived.

  Diana left the car first. “You want him dead?”

  Mordred shook his head. “I have another plan.” He removed a detonator from his pocket and pressed the trigger. The explosion inside the house blew out the windows downstairs and made the ground shake. “Okay, that was a bit bigger than I’d expected.”

  The fire took the house quicker than even Mordred had taken into consideration, and within seconds angry flames leapt from broken windows.

  “Why?” Viktor almost screamed.

  “You sold people when I first met you, and I burned your house to the ground and took your hand, but I still left you with enough to continue on. You had the others in the village; you had Avalon, who was unaware of your crimes. Now you have nothing. You have no money, no house, no friends, no allies, and the second Polina arrives, no hope of ever seeing natural light again.”

  Everyone stood and watched the flames consume the house until part of the structure collapsed in on itself. Polina and her people arrived soon after and took Viktor into custody.

  “Why?” he screamed again as he was led away. “Why not kill me? That would have been easier. That would have been quicker than what will happen to me once I’m taken into custody. You’ve taken everything else, why not my life?”

  Mordred walked over to Viktor. “Because this way you know I took everything from you. I’ve left you a broken man. You seem to be under the impression that because I’m no longer full of murderous hate that I’m one of the good guys. I’m not. I’m the man who people like you should be very afraid of. I didn’t kill you for three reasons. One, it’s too easy. Two, you’re now officially a cautionary tale for those who would ever betray me and my new sensibilities. And three, I did this because it’s the cruelest thing I could think to do to you. I want those flames to be etched into your mind for the rest of your miserable existence. I want you to know that I spared your life, not out of kindness, but out of a desire to watch you crumble.”

  Viktor was dragged away by Polina’s people and almost thrown into the back of a car.

  “We’ll take care of him,” Polina said, offering her hand, which Mordred shook. “You are not what I expected.”

  “Yeah, I get that a lot these days,” Mordred said.

  “I hope you find Elaine, all of you,” Polina said. “Be careful in Siberia. There are places there where Avalon’s law is considered the enemy. Try very hard not to come back to Moscow anytime soon. I’m not sure we can take the excitement you bring with you. Besides which, there are rumbles of Avalon declaring open season on anyone who isn’t affiliated. I don’t want to give people an excuse to go after you for your past transgressions.”

  Mordred watched Polina and her people drive away.

  “I have a friend who lives near the Siberian-Chinese border,” Diana said. “She might not be thrilled about helping Avalon, but then she’s not thrilled about anyone these days. She’ll know the area.”

  “My husband is in a Siberian gulag,” Fiona said. “Damn it all to hell.”

  “We’ll find him,” Remy said. “Obviously, we’ll find him without the use of all those weapons we discovered. Thanks for setting them all on fire, by the way, Mordred. Very helpful.”

  “I like to give you a challenge,” Mordred said. “Also, I forgot all about them. I was a bit angry.”

  “It’s a good thing we’re awesome without them,” Remy said.

  Fiona walked away without another word.

  “She’s close to cracking,” Diana said.

  “Do we have transport to this place?” Remy asked.

  “Already being arranged,” Nabu said. “Another helicopter will take us as close as possible. We might have to hike some of the way, though.”

  “That’s fine,” Mordred said. “Let’s just get going. I plan on finding these people before they can try to hide.”

  “Are you okay?” Morgan asked him as everyone else bundled into the car beside them.

  “I should ask you the same thing.”

  “I’m fine,” Morgan assured him.

  “I’ll be good once we’re there. I just want this done. Elaine knew I’d come after her. She knew that if she didn’t make our meeting in New York I’d track her down. I just hope we can get there before they decide she’s too much hassle to keep alive.”

  “We’ll find her,” Morgan assured him. “Alive and well. She’s too valuable to kill.”

  Mordred sat in the car without a word. He hoped that Elaine was too valuable to hurt. He needed to find her, not just because she was family, or because he cared, or even because she could help stop Avalon from falling into disarray, but because Nate’s life depended on her information about the prophecy. Mordred would gamble with his own life—he was used to it—but not with the lives of his friends. He’d go through hell to keep them safe, especially after having done so much to hurt them over the centuries. On the other hand, he was certain that Alan and Mac were not valuable. And if their captors had murdered either of them, he was going to bury those responsible. That’s the thing about Siberia: there’s an awful lot of places to make people vanish so that they’re never seen again.

  CHAPTER 18

  Nate Garrett

  En route to America

  We were over halfway from the Wolf’s Head compound to America when more details of the atrocity of what had happened in North Carolina came through to us. Several sorcerers had assaulted those watching an American football game, killing several hundred as the human police tried to stop them.

  I watched the news on the BBC as it unfolded, with more and more information coming in about the terrorist attack. “The humans aren’t prepared for this,” I said. “They’re getting slaughtered.”

  “Olivia sent me a message,” Selene said from the seat across the aisle from me. “Several off-duty LOA agents were in attendance and managed to stop the attack. If not for them, the death toll would be in the thousands, not hundreds.”

  I rubbed my eyes. It had been a long few days. “Even so, the humans will be less than happy at having Avalon involve themselves. We’re meant to protect them—that’s sort of the first thing about them not knowing we exist. Now they know we exist, know we can kill them, and can’t do anything to stop us. I’m guessing they’re going to be clamoring to do something about it.”

  “The human governments will calm things,” Lucifer said. “They’ll say the right things and let Avalon do its job.”

  “You hope,” Zamek said, opening his eyes for the first time since we’d taken off.

  “Avalon has to do something,” Sky said. “Otherwise what’s the point?”

  “Not really sure how much worse it can get,” I said. “I know, it can always get worse.”

  I looked out the jet window as time slowed and Erebus appeared sitting across from me.

  He waved.

  “Now?” I asked. “Seriously?”

  “There are some things I mentioned you needed to know. Well, now is as good a time as any.”

  “Fine,” I said, exasperated. “What is it?”

  “You remember that your mother told you I was created by her and your father?
”

  “Yes. I remember asking you about it, and you dumping me back in normal time.”

  “Well, now is the time. The information that has been gathering in my head has had time to settle, and I need you to know some things. Some things that might be important in the coming future.”

  I looked over at Selene, who was seemingly frozen in place. “And what things are they?”

  “The last mark on your body—it isn’t what you think it is. The hidden one, the one on your soul, that’s for another time, but that last mark needs unlocking. And it’s going to happen soon.”

  “Why? Why now?”

  “Because it is. Some things just happen when the time is right. And this is one of those things. I can feel the mark’s power ebbing away. I can feel what’s inside of me wanting to leave, wanting to join with you.”

  “And then you’ll vanish?”

  “Not for a while yet, no. You’ll need to have your full power, and you won’t have that at least until that last blood-curse mark on your psyche is gone.”

  “Okay, so what is this last physical mark?”

  “It’s what will unlock your last omega magic. But more than that, it contains information.”

  “About what?”

  “A lot of things. Information that will slowly trickle into your mind over the coming months. Information about the past, about people, about different ways of using your magic. There’s a lot in there, and it can’t all come at once. You’ll need to be patient.”

  “So if this last mark unlocks my last omega magic, and it contains info, what does the one on my psyche do?”

  “Presumably it’s the last mark that will give you full access to everything you should have as a sorcerer. You were born to be a weapon. A weapon so powerful and horrific that no one would ever want to use it. You were the nuclear option of the day. And Hera and her companions discovered this and forced a change in everything. They tried to have you killed, and then for some reason they stopped. I don’t know why. I assume whoever they work for forced them to allow you to grow.

  “Your parents created me. They wanted someone who would protect you, and they were aware of a nightmare’s true identity. They came to me and asked for my help.”

  “To you?”

  “Erebus. The actual Erebus.”

  “You’re alive?”

  “I was. I have no idea if I still am. I was a sorcerer. Like you I could use shadow magic, but I could also use mind magic. And when you were born, I agreed to place a piece of myself inside the nightmare that inhabited your body. Neither you nor the nightmare would be aware of it until you’d gained enough power that the nightmare was close to being able to take control and move you on to the next level. Your parents believed that by doing this they would help the transition from a normal sorcerer to a sorcerer on a level that you were destined to be. Unfortunately, instead of just leaving a piece of myself, I merged my entire mind with your nightmare. The level of power inside you was just too much to only give it a piece. So, I’ve been in here ever since, unable to know who I really am.”

  I stared at Erebus for several seconds. “I’m so sorry for what you’ve lost.”

  Erebus waved my words away.

  “The Fates said I would turn into a monster who killed a lot of people,” I said. “You think that Hera found out about that possibility and figured it would help her in the long term?”

  “That is possible. On a happier note, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

  “And you couldn’t tell me this earlier because my marks ensured you could only tell me a portion of what you knew?”

  “You had to be ready.”

  “And what makes you think I’m ready now?”

  “I don’t get to decide that; your body does. And your body wants those marks gone. You’re angry, and hurting, and you want someone to unleash that on. They’re using your name to murder people, they’re hunting you and your friends, and now these people are using Shadow Falls and Galahad to spread terror. I’m positive you’re close to losing your temper.”

  I cracked my knuckles. “I can’t afford to lose my temper.”

  “Why? You think that doing so will make things worse?”

  “Is that what will remove my last mark, losing my temper? Because I’ve lost it plenty over the years and no marks vanished.”

  “I don’t know exactly what will cause it to go; I just know that it’s happening. I know how you’re feeling, and I know that I needed to talk to you. Once the mark is gone, there will be one left, and I have no idea how you’re going to lose it. It’s not like the others; it’s not affected by memories or power. It’s something else. And I don’t know what it will take to finally make yourself whole. But you’ll figure it out. I have that faith in you.”

  “Do you know who my father is?”

  “No. I believe that’s locked behind whatever is in your head. Your mother loved you, Nate. I was there when you were born. She loved you so much. She left with you, moved to Constantinople to keep you safe. When this is over, you’ll need to find her.”

  “If she’s alive.”

  “I’m sure she is. She has your tenacity, and your stubbornness.”

  “So, we’re not going to pretend that you’re just me anymore?”

  “No, I am Erebus, and I am a primordial god. Or was considered one.”

  “You kept the secrets of sorcery from people. Told them that nightmares were dangerous.”

  “I did. Or at least I helped. It was for the best, or we thought it was for the best. A lot of people turned into nightmares and couldn’t handle it. They went insane, murdered, committed suicide, and other things that we needed to try and stop. Telling people that nightmares were a curse, were evil, was the best way to do it, even if it meant that a large number of sorcerers would never achieve their fullest potential.”

  “What happens to you when you vanish completely?”

  “I have no idea. I imagine I’ll fade from existence. I don’t even know where my body is.”

  “If I can find your body, can I put you back in it?”

  “Still unsure. Lots of questions still to be answered. For now, I remain. And now you know the truth about who I am, and how I came to be here. You have to fight, Nate. You have to fight everyone who would destroy everything your parents sacrificed to keep you safe.”

  “Merlin wasn’t the best candidate to put me with.”

  “Merlin is not the man he once was. I do not know how or why he changed, but there is something dark inside of him that was never there before. I sensed it when you fought in Camelot. I didn’t know how I sensed it, but with great power comes great sensory abilities. Isn’t that how it goes?”

  “No.”

  “Well, I can’t be perfect. I’ve got a lot of your memories in here.” Erebus tapped his head. “Tommy has said a lot of pop-culture references over the years. They jumble up a bit.”

  “I don’t know if I can do this.”

  “Of course you can—you’re Nathanial Garrett. Your mother was essentially the greatest warrior the Norse ever knew. I once saw her punch out a troll. She was the kind of person you didn’t cross unless you’d decided that breathing was best done by other people. She terrified her enemies. And you did the same as Hellequin. You didn’t have her power then, you didn’t have her knowledge of so much, and yes, Hellequin is now forever dead to you, but that just means that people need to know who Nate Garrett is. Make your enemies tremble, Nate. Make them fear you.”

  Erebus stood and walked over to me. He bent down and kissed me on the forehead. “In a different time, I would have been called your godfather, I think. I would have loved you like a son. I am proud of you, and what you’ve become. Your parents would be, too. I think you’re ready. Go forth and conquer, Nathanial Garrett.”

  Erebus vanished, and I gasped as pain wracked my body.

  “Nate?” Selene asked. “Nate, are you okay?” She moved over to me as the pain subsided.

  I pulled up my T-sh
irt and watched the last mark vanish. “We need to land,” I said. “Really fast.”

  “We’re a few hours from being able to do that,” Sky said. “What’s happening?”

  “The last visible mark is gone,” I said as my vision began to change. The world around me took on a purple haze, with dots of various sizes all over it. I looked down at the table in front of me and saw dozens of small dots. I instantly knew what they meant. They were weaknesses. The larger the dot, the larger the weakness. I placed a finger on one of the dots and pushed, but nothing happened.

  “Nate?” Zamek asked, tapping me on the shoulder.

  I turned to him and discovered that, unlike everything else, he had no purple haze or dots, and neither did Selene, Sky, or Grayson.

  “Matter magic,” Grayson said, looking at the purple glyphs that adorned my arms and hands. “What are you seeing?”

  “Purple. Everything is purple.”

  “You okay?” Selene asked.

  I nodded. “I’m sleepy. My brain has taken a lot in all at once. It’s difficult to compute.” I looked around the cabin. “I see weaknesses. Hundreds of them. Each one a way to break something if enough force is applied at that exact spot.”

  “Like this jet?” Sky asked.

  I nodded. “Your father needs to have that hairline crack in the wall looked at. It’s not dangerous, but even so. It looks like someone punched it.”

  Sky looked a little sheepish. “I had someone fix it.”

  “They did a bad job, then. Or a good job, and I can just see the imperfections. Not in you, though. None of you have any weaknesses. I think this magic only works on nonliving matter. And I can’t tell how much force exactly will need to be applied to break it, just that it would break with enough force.”

  “You sound a bit out of it,” Selene said. “Like you’ve been awake for a week.”

  “I feel like it, too,” I told her, and closed my eyes. “Just wake me up when we get there. I’ll try not to blow the jet up on the way.”

  “Can you do that?” Zamek asked. “Because that sounds like something we should be worried about.”