Ibenus (Valducan series)

by Seth Skorkowsky

  Gerhard winced as the door thumped. He squinted as Chaya came inside wearing a baggy shirt with no sleeves. Curly strands of hair poked awkwardly from her thick ponytail.

  "What happened?" she asked.

  "Have a seat," Master Turgen said. "Did you find everyone?"

  "They're on their way," Sam said, following Chaya into the room. She took a seat at the computer by the front.

  The others filed in shortly after, all asking what the emergency was.

  "Now that we're all here," Turgen gestured toward Sam.

  "Right." She tapped her mouse. "This hit the boards this morning."

  Heavy metal blasted from the speakers along the wall, setting Gerhard's teeth on edge. He couldn't look at the video, having endured it once already. Instead, his gaze moved to the knights now seeing it for the first time.

  The music faded down to be replaced by TommyD's angry voice, blaring out just that one decibel too high. "Welcome back, cryptozoologists. I've been on a fishing trip and I'm happy to say that I've caught us a big one."

  Allan and Orlovski's eyes widened as the video progressed, their faces falling with each second. Disbelief. Anger. Fear. Eyes locked onto the screen, Victoria's hand slid to Allan's knee, her open mouth a mixture of dread and pain, then closed into a scowl of the purest hatred. Luc watched the video for the second time, his expression cold and unreadable, as if he were listening to a doctor read a prognosis from a chart.

  All eyes save Turgen and Schmidt's turned to Luc as his name was spoken, but the big man remained impassive.

  "What the hell do we do?" Chaya asked as the video wound to a close.

  "We fucked up," Orlovski muttered.

  "First things first," Master Turgen said after the screen went dark. "I want that van gone. Destroy it. I want no trace that it ever existed."

  "Right away," Allan said. "It's not traceable to us."

  "Good. Taras, secure a replacement vehicle. Make the necessary modifications."

  Orlovski nodded.

  "Luc, I'm sorry. We always knew this was a possibility. You're off the Paris team."

  Luc's lips tightened to a flat line.

  "How could they ID him?" Chaya blurted. "Just a photograph? How could he put that together so fast?"

  "It only takes one person to recognize him," Allan said.

  "Yeah, but that guy doesn't exactly look like a rugby fan."

  "Maybe one of his contacts is."

  Gerhard squeezed Umatri in his lap. "What do we do about this man?"

  "Him?" Master Turgen asked, motioning to the screen. "Nothing. He's an irritation, but hardly the first to identify one of us." He turned to Schmidt. "Remember that British exposé in `92?"

  Schmidt harrumphed humorlessly.

  "This man is extremely dangerous," Allan said.

  Turgen rested both hands on the cane between his knees. "I agree. He's just outed one of our knights. Luc will need to relocate. We'll get him out of Europe."

  "But my family," Luc said, breaking the silence. "My nieces. I can't leave them."

  "Nothing permanent, Luc." Turgen raised his palm. "But for the moment you need to go away. You can't visit them, either. This TommyD is surely watching them."

  "He isn't charged with anything," Victoria said. "The video said no bodies. The most anyone could get him on is criminal damage for the lights, and they'd have to prove it was him. The picture proves nothing."

  Schmidt shook his head. "It's not worth the risk. It could link him to the rest of us if he's spotted again."

  "What happened to the bodies?" Gerhard asked. "Did he move them?"

  Allan shook his head. "If TommyD knew what was in there he wouldn't have gone inside."

  Chaya snorted. "He might have. He has no idea what he's playing with."

  "Doubt it. He'd have shown that if he could. I'm sure the mantismeres reclaimed them once we'd left so no one would find them."

  "The bugs hid them?" Gerhard asked.

  "Don't let appearances fool you," Turgen said. "Demons might resemble animals, but they're not. They're extremely intelligent, retaining all the knowledge of everyone they've ever possessed. They'd know the bodies would lead people toward them. I imagine they've disposed of or eaten them by now."

  "But why would they care?" Victoria asked. "The police can't hurt them."

  "They can't harm the spirit, but destroying the body is quite possible. Fire. Explosion."

  "Train," Orlovski added.

  The old man bobbed an approving finger at him. "Destroying the body simply requires punishing it enough."

  "So without Luc," Orlovski said, "what does that leave us?"

  Schmidt blew a long sigh. "You'll have Allan, Chaya, Gerhard, Malcolm, and yourself with Samantha and Victoria running support. Five knights killed Tiamat and an army of demons."

  "Naked," Allan added. "Don't forget that we were naked."

  "I have full faith you can handle it." Schmidt said.

  #

  "That's rough," Matt said with a groan. His short sandy hair jutted out in every direction in a spectacular achievement of bed-head. "How's he taking it?"

  Allan shook his head. The little window of him in the lower corner of the screen mimicked the movement, though opposite. Whether real or imagined, he could still smell Victoria's scent in the bedroom. Normally he'd have these chats with Matt in the Library, but Allan needed privacy for this one. He needed his best friend. "Not well. He hasn't said anything to me yet, but… Remember how he looked when the chateau was burned and we had to empty it out?"

  "Ooh," Matt said with a wince. "So volcano pissed?"

  "Yeah. He met with the Masters privately after the meeting. Not sure what they talked about, but I can promise he's still going to have to leave Europe."

  Matt sipped from a giant gray coffee mug shaped like an Easter Island head. "Sucks that it happened, but we'll be more than happy to take him."

  "Master Sonu has first dibs."

  "Bullshit. Seriously, can you imagine Luc in Asia? He's like six-seven. Just picture him trying to blend in."

  Allan laughed. "I'm not saying he'll go there. They just have first call. Their territory is the largest."

  Matt flapped his thumb and fingers together like a talking hand. "Dude, we've got four people in Chile. We don't even have a Master here. We're like the bastard children."

  "That's not always a bad thing."

  "No," he conceded with a slight shrug. "It's not. Once this Paris thing is over you should come down, give us a chance to meet this apprentice of yours."

  "Love to," Allan said, grateful Matt had given him the opening he needed. "I, um, wanted to talk to you about something."

  "What's up?"

  "It's Victoria…last night, after the knighting…well—" A pang of terror shot through Allan's nerves as a baby's wail came through the speakers, invoking the memory of screamers surging up the hole.

  Matt turned and looked at the camera. "Crap, hold that thought." He stood and left, leaving Allan the view of the Chilean Archives. They were smaller, only a few metal bookshelves and a glass case of visible artifacts.

  Allan let out a long breath. Just say it. He'll understand.

  A minute later, the crying slowed, then puttered out. Continuing to wait, Allan cemented his resolve.

  "Here we go," Matt said, returning to frame, a fat-cheeked baby with olive skin and raven black hair in his arms. "Sorry about that, man." He waved the baby's hand at the camera. "I'm sorry, Uncle Allan."

  "It's all right, Gabi," Allan said, his voice that high soothing tone he reserved only for children and animals.

  Gabi seemed more interest in her toes.

  "So," Matt said adjusting his hold on the infant. "Where were we?"

  "I'm in love with Victoria."

  Matt just stared at him. Then an amused smile curled at the corner of his lips. "What?"

  "I'm in love with her," he repeated, enjoying the sound o
f it, enjoying telling someone. God, he needed that.

  "You've known her a week."

  "I know." He licked his lips. "I know how it sounds."

  "It sounds flat fuck crazy." He gave an exaggerated grimace and looked down at the baby. "Sorry."

  "I know. And if you had told me the same thing a week after you met Luiza I'd have said the same thing to you. Believe me, I know how this sounds."

  "Good. Have you told her this?"

  "She said it first. We, um, had sex last night."

  "Hmm. Okay. I think there's an unwritten rule about doing your apprentice, but saying you're in love…I'd call the screwing the least of the problems."

  "I know," Allan said a bit more forcefully than intended. "But just hear me out." He drew a breath. "I've been in love before, at least I thought I was, but that was different. Teenage boy chock-full of hormones, all that. But with Victoria it's…it's so…different. This is more like how I feel with Ibenus than I ever have with a person. I mean, the fact I asked her to be my squire right off was weird, but I just had to. Like, I couldn't not do it. You know me. I'm not rash. Does that sound like something I'd do?"

  Matt shook his head.

  "At first I assumed it was a crush. I was thinking about her all the time. But then last night… When you bonded with Dämoren, like fully bonded after Clay died and you inherited her, did you have this feeling like you were unraveled and then…" he circled his hands, trying to formulate the words, "more entwined when you came back together?"

  Matt leaned back, seeming to chew on it. He was probably the worst knight to ask that question to. Matt had bonded as a child when a bullet from the holy revolver lodged in his chest. To save him, Dämoren had done something no other holy weapon had ever done. It possessed him, bonding directly to him instead of simply through the weapon. The angel had once even manifested in Matt, transforming him into the living embodiment of itself. Finally, he said, "Sort of, I suppose. It was kind of like that."

  "Have you ever done that with Luiza?"

  "No. Well, it's different. I love her. We love each other very much, but the weapon bond is…different."

  "So never the unmaking?"

  "No," he said, obviously a bit uncomfortable with the subject. "I can feel that she loves me. We do connect."

  "I don't doubt that, Matt. But last night, with Victoria, it was that same feeling." He twined his fingers. "We merged. And Ibenus merged as well."

  "Ibenus was in bed with you?"

  "No! Oh God, nothing like that. She was in the room."

  "Oh good. I was about to say…" He had a grimace.

  Allan laughed. "But, even then, I could feel her as well. I'm saying that Ibenus was in that merging. Spiritually," he clarified.

  Matt frowned. "So Ibenus bonded with Victoria?"

  "No. At least I don't think so. We haven't talked about it. This morning we got interrupted when that video hit the web."

  "Have you told anyone else about this?"

  "Just you, mate."

  "And Gabi."

  "Of course."

  "Don't worry. She won't tell." He grinned and kissed his daughter's head. "Will you?"

  Gabi peered up at him like she just realized Matt was there.

  "Well you need to talk to Victoria," Matt said after a while. "But don't just outright ask about Ibenus. Watch her. Watch how she looks at it. Sidelong glances, maybe a need to touch the blade, anything like that. She might not know if she's bonded, so don't point her that direction. If she is, she'll naturally go there. Got it?"

  Allan nodded. "Have you ever heard about anything like this?"

  Matt shrugged. "No, but the weapons are all different. My whole life has been a first-case scenario, so who knows. But don't jump to conclusions just yet, man. Let it happen. And for Christ's sake don't let Turgen or Schmidt hear about this."

  "Of course not."

  "Good. This is dangerous territory, man. You be careful."

  #

  Victoria zoomed in on a photograph of an arched tunnel burrowed into a low hill, checking it in relation to a street view image in an adjoining browser window. "This one looks promising."

  "Which one?" Allan rolled his chair beside hers. The back of his hand found her leg, his fingers giving a subtle caress.

  She read the grid points they'd laid over the city map. "Location G 21." Victoria gave him a quick smile and wink. Despite the calamity starting their day, they'd found every opportunity for secret smiles and gestures. Touches, even a few quick, stolen kisses when they were alone and out of view of the mansion's cameras. It felt like primary school. Childish, true, but each moment of affection, given or received, filled her with an unbelievable joy. She'd never felt anything like this before. Though, she did wonder if she had thought that every time she'd felt love but knew it wasn't true. This was something more.

  "Got it," Sam said at her own desk. "Oh, this definitely could work."

  Allan reached over to Victoria's mouse and zoomed out on the image. "Not the best escape but I definitely like it. We'll put it on the options list."

  "Best contender so far," Victoria said.

  "As long as there's no high buildings looking down on it," Sam growled.

  An angry pang of guilt killed the moment's joy at Allan's touch. Victoria hadn't known Luc was a former athlete. She'd only given his name, all their names, at least the ones she'd gleaned. TommyD's stunt put her at risk. What if they figured out she'd tipped him off? Would they kill her? Would Allan hate her? Fuck TommyD. The bastard had known she was still with them, yet he had to flaunt that he knew something about them. Now the world knew and Luc was suffering for it. Luc had been kind to her. He was Allan's friend, and now he was leaving. No seeing his family, just headed off to wherever they decided.

  Now she was trapped. She couldn't tell Allan. Turgen already didn't trust her and hearing that she'd shared their information would be the end of her there. No doubt about it at all. Even if she expressed regret, it was still too late. The damage was irrevocable now. She wanted to tell TommyD exactly what he could do with that camera of his, but he had her cold. If she threatened to cut off his intel he could spill everything he already had and the Valducans would know she betrayed them. She glanced at Sam. Her friend. Sam who forgave her and made Victoria laugh with her stupid jokes and funta and whispered confidences. No telling how many pictures TommyD had of her in the van.

  You really screwed this one up, didn't you? If she'd just waited to make her report, waited until she'd gotten to know them, to know Allan and Sam or Luc she'd have done it different. But it was too late now.

  Allan gave her leg a quick squeeze before he rolled back to his monitor.

  She smiled at him and he winked. Maybe he'd understand. If she couldn't stay, would he leave with her? They could go back to England together. Hell, they could go anywhere they wanted, just the two of them. They—

  Ibenus' hilt glinted at Allan's belt. There'd never just be the two of them. It would always be the barrier. The other woman. Any fantasy of Allan running away with her withered to dust as she eyed the smooth golden metal sandwiched between black wood grips, seeming to call her hand. Last night she'd noticed how beautiful the bronze weapon truly was, but Allan's…obsession with it. He'd never run away with her. He'd say that Ibenus wouldn't let him. A sword. She'd lose him to a bloody sword.

  Ibenus wouldn't betray him, either. The bitter words rang through her head. Fuck TommyD.

  Victoria licked her lips. She needed to focus. Dreaming of running off with Allan or pounding TommyD's head in wouldn't help. She needed to keep him from posting anything else. Get him to back off. There was no chance he'd stop altogether, but maybe for a little while, long enough for her to gather herself. She could tell him they suspected her.

  But he might just tell her to leave. No, she needed time. Time and an excuse why the updates would stop.

  She sipped her cold tea and leaned back, mind racing. Her gaze
passed over the open weapon vault. The weapons. She'd tell him she was reaching the inner circle. Say that she would get a weapon. That'd shut him up. 'Don't blow my cover, I'm about to get access to the prize.' Yeah, that could do it. Slip him right into her pocket until she could figure out what to do about him. She'd keep the message short, rushed, say she might be off the radar and not to make waves until he heard from her again.

  There. Victoria grinned, staring at the screen with the G 30 entrance but not seeing it. She just needed a few minutes alone to send the message.

  The library door opened, breaking her train of thought. Victoria looked up as Master Schmidt stepped inside. A man carrying a metal briefcase followed closely behind. Tattoos traced up his dark tanned arms, disappearing beneath the rolled up sleeves. A machete with white carved handle hung at the waist of his jeans.

  "Mal!" Sam said, springing to her feet.

  "Hey there." He gave her a one armed hug lifting her off her feet as she wrapped her arms around him.

  "If it isn't the prodigal son." Allan rose and gave him a strong hug. "It's good to see you."

  "You too, brother." He patted Allan on the back. "How have you been?"

  "Busy." Allan turned to Victoria who was rising from her chair. "I want you to meet my apprentice, Victoria Martin. Victoria, this is Doctor Malcolm Romero, protector of Hounacier."

  Mal looked at Victoria, then back to Allan. He smirked as if about to say something but decided against it. He extended his hand. A bright orange and blue tattooed eye filled his palm. "Pleasure to meet you."

  She shook his hand. "Likewise. I've heard a lot about you."

  He grinned. "Hope it wasn't all bad."

  "Not all of it."

  "So what's this about?" Sam flicked at the short black ponytail high on the back of Malcolm's head.

  "That? Tasha asked me to grow it out again, so I'm giving it a shot. Finally long enough to pull back. It's been driving me nuts, falling into my eyes."

  Sam frowned, almost imperceptibly. "I like you better without it."

  "If I could still grow one, I would." Schmidt ran a hand across his wispy gray hair. "Enjoy it while it lasts."