by Fletcher, MJ
“The Old Kind would be safe,” Jess said as if just realizing it.
“Yes, the Old Kind who’ve turned against us and are busy fighting amongst themselves.” Nightshade chuckled.
“You don’t think it’s worth it?” I asked him.
“They don’t trust me, why should I do a damn thing for them?”
“What other recourse do we have? Do we simply stand by and let the First Kind devour every last one of us? Do we watch as our heritage is wiped away because the Council leaders are fools? But most of all,” —I paused, my heart pounding as I stared into Nightshade’s eyes— “do we let them get away with what they did to us?”
His eyes searched mine and I could almost feel his struggle to remember. And I prayed and wished with all my thumping heart that he could tell easily, as he once did, what I was thinking... that they had robbed us of our love and that more than anything was worth fighting for. His eyes locked with mine and just for a moment I thought I recognized that familiar glint of his that preceded a wise crack that would tick me off simply because he knew me all too well. But it disappeared so quickly that I figured I imagined it, though I didn’t imagine his response. It came loud and clear.
“I’ll do it.”
Chapter 26
Status: For my friends I will risk anything.
Gavin walked swiftly down the stairs. At the bottom was an old metal door with a wheel lock. He grabbed it with both hands and twisted, the metal creaked and the door edged opened.
The room was massive. I had long ago realized that I was never going to know all the secrets of the Reliquary, though I wondered how I could have missed something this large and impressive.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“A map room.” Gavin extended his hand and it glowed a faint gold color. He pointed toward the floor and lines of energy poured from his fingers. Once it connected with the floor, lines of golden energy shot across in all directions. The room exploded with light as the lines crisscrossed the room, from floor, to walls and ceiling. Names and numbers popped up in spots all around us, like apparitions waiting for some command.
Gavin closed his eyes and lifted his hands level to his chest and as he did the lines on the floor floated upward and the room became a living representation of the universe. The lines of energy represented paths to different dimensions and portals. A living and breathing Map, the kind Edgar was so good at making. He would love this room.
I struggled to contain my emotions. I’d been good about not dwelling on how much danger Edgar was in or how he was holding up. But every moment that passed, every moment we delayed was another moment my friend could be made to suffer. Edgar was smart, probably the smartest person I knew, but even he couldn’t hold them off forever. Nightshade had bought us time by locking out Edgar’s mind so that they couldn’t use a Forget Me Not on him and have him under their command. But eventually they would break the lock or even worse, they would break Edgar.
I hoped and prayed we weren’t already too late.
“I discovered this place when I was looking for a likely area to work out the coordinates to access Storm Reach. I believe the Reliquary knew what I needed and directed me here.”
“You think it knew what you wanted?” I’d never thought of the Reliquary as anything more than a very cool secret place, but I was beginning to realize there was much more to it than that.
“This place contains a lot of secrets that one of these days may come in handy. With the Old Kind and First Kind after us, this ancient edifice is our only real defense. And I for one will take all the help we can get.”
I took advantage of the time I had alone with Gavin as we prepared to leave for Storm Reach to ask him something that had been on my mind. “What about Rosalita?” I hadn’t seen or heard from her in weeks and I knew she was up to something.
Gavin winced as if hearing a question he didn’t want to answer. “She figured you would want to speak with her, but she’s gone to ground. She did however give me a message for you.”
“What message?”
“She said she knows what you’re planning and she thinks you need to consider other options.”
“She does?” I asked annoyed. If she felt that way why hadn’t she told me herself?
“That was the message,” Gavin said playfully crossing his heart.
“Well, that’s just great, nothing else huh? She disappears and that’s all she leaves me... consider other options? Like maybe she should suggest some if she feels that way.” Damn if I wasn’t upset by her going off like that and leaving me nothing but a brief message. But then I should be used to adults in my family deserting me by now. I was pretty sure that she was my great-great-great—however many greats—grandmother. I thought, had hoped, that Rosalita would be different and stick around. It turned out that she’s just like the rest... not there when you need them the most.
“Chloe, there are some things you have to accept. Rosalita is doing what she needs to right now, just like you.”
“Is she related to me?” There I had finally asked the question that had haunted me ever since I had seen the old photo of my ancestor Bodie and her in the Cape May house. Now maybe I’d get the truth.
Gavin lowered his hands and sighed deeply, “This is a conversation you two need to have.”
“Well, she isn’t around and you are. Is she like my great-grandmother or something?”
He nodded with reluctance. “Yes.”
“Why the hell didn’t she just tell me?”
“Polymorphs can live very long lives. It sometimes means that we need to walk away from family and start over. She had to do that and it wasn’t easy for her. But you have to believe that she has your best interest at heart.”
“That’s what people keep telling me, though it certainly doesn’t seem that way to me.” I was more than frustrated; I was angry that she hadn’t told me herself. Gavin was right, she and I should be talking about this in person. Why hadn’t she told me? Why all the secrets? She was married to Bodie, she had to know more about the First Kind and what had happened back then.
I thought back to Paladin Academy and my class on temporal mechanics and how time and space worked. Somehow Bodie and I were able to communicate across time using the Looking Glass she’d given me. Had she known what was going to happen all along? Did she know about the plan Bodie and I had worked out? Was that what she was referring too that I needed to reconsider? There were way too many questions and not enough answers.
“I know you’re upset but you need to concentrate on the mission.” Gavin had returned to working on the Map. The lines of energy swirled around the room at break neck speed.
“I know what I need to do.”
“Good, my final calculations are done. If you’re ready, we can open the portal now.”
“I’ll get the others.” I walked out of the Map Room and back up the stairs. Everyone was gathered in the Great Room, Jess and Slade standing close and talking quietly. Declan was sitting next to Emory his Silver Star in his hand as if he was ready for a fight. Nightshade stood by himself staring off into the distance, as if his mind was elsewhere. “It’s time.”
Slade and Jess both nodded and moved out of the room. Declan stood and Emory shook his hand and smiled.
“Good luck and come back in one piece.”
“Yes sir,” Declan replied and left the room.
Nightshade walked to the couch and lifted a bag and slipped the strap over his shoulder cinching it tight.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Mapmaker tools and some things I thought we might need,” he answered walking past me, out of the room.
I turned to leave.
“Chloe?” Emory called softly.
I stopped and turned. “Yes?”
“Your father was very proud of you and so am I.”
I had to choke back tears with the mention of my father. “Thanks.”
“Just remember what you need to do, and above all, bring
your people home safely.”
“I intend too.”
“And yourself as well,” he added with a chuckle.
“I’ll do my best.”
Chapter 27
Status: Time to kick some ass.
Gavin lifted two keys high into the air and then swung downward slamming them into the floor of the Map Room. The ground shuddered, beams of light arched through the air hitting into one another in an explosion of gold and crimson. The room itself fell away underneath the archway as a portal opened. A chill wind gusted into the room with such force that we had to fight to keep our footing. The other side of the portal was pitch black and the sound of rain crashing on metal echoed around the barren Map Room.
“I’ll keep the portal open and defended as long as I can. But if I’m forced to close it, you’ll be on your own.” Gavin kept shoving his hair out of his face, the wind blowing in his eyes as he spoke to me.
“Understood.” I glanced around at my friends and gave them a confident smile. As long as we were together, we had a chance of rescuing Edgar since there was no way in hell we’d leave without him. “Everyone ready?”
They all nodded and I pulled my hood over my head and stepped into the portal.
The wind whipped around me and giant raindrops pelted me as thunder cracked in the distance. I gripped the edge of my hood and held it tight so it wouldn’t blow off and used it to shield my eyes from the rain.
The landscape was stark and jagged with broken rock and ground that was as hard as metal, the sound of rain hitting it sounding like machine gun fire that wouldn’t quit. I pushed toward a small outcropping of rock and turned my back into it as it offered a small amount of protection from the harsh conditions.
Everyone joined me as we formed a tight huddle so that we would be able to hear one another over the vicious storm. Nightshade dug into his bag pulling out a Map and began working on our exact location here at Storm Reach.
Slade gestured toward Declan. “Your people picked a hell of a dimension.”
“It is a prison,” Declan reminded with a smirk.
“It sure feels like one,” Jess said as she saddled up closer to Slade so they could share their body warmth.
“The weather is a pain but it helps to keep the prisoners in line. When you’re an HVO initiate you have to do a tour of duty as a guard here. I never liked this place, but it serves a necessary purpose.”
“Yeah, putting all the people that the First Kind wants to use in one convenient place.” Nightshade didn’t look up as he spoke. He was struggling to keep the map from blowing away as he attempted to configure his calculations.
I reached out and pushed one of the edges down, holding it for him. He glanced at me briefly, and then went back to working on the map.
“What else can you tell us about this place?” I asked Declan trying to keep my focus, and everyone else’s on the mission at hand.
“The main prison complex is vast. I have no idea how old it is but it’s easy to get lost in it. I recommend that we stay together as much as possible.”
“How many prisoners are housed here?” Slade asked.
“Last count I heard was fifteen hundred, plus two hundred HVO guards.”
“You don’t think all the guards have been turned to the First Kind do you?” Jess asked looking in my direction.
“We have to assume that they have, which means we don’t know who we can trust. Our main mission is to get Edgar and the Mapmaker Legend out of here.”
Golden light illuminated us as Nightshade was finally able to get the Map working. He slid his fingers across the paper, calculations and equations zoomed back and forth as he determined our exact location.
“We’re about two miles from the main prison. I think I know a good spot where we can enter unnoticed.” He pointed to an area on the map and Declan nodded in agreement. “It’s a sub-basement that connects to the sewer system. I doubt any First Kind will be down there. If you portal us in there they won’t even notice an HVO power signature.” Nightshade lifted the glowing calculations from the Map and let them hover in the air.
“I can do it.” Delcan reached out with his Silver Star and absorbed them. He pressed the center of his Star and silver light poured out of it, forming a star.
I’d never traveled by way of the HVO, all Old Kind powers working differently. Only DS and the Skeleton Key Guild are truly able to portal anywhere. All others have limited portal skills and rely even more heavily on Mapmakers than we do. HVO is good at creating prisons and shackles as well as tracking but as for portals, that’s another story.
I stepped through the Silver light and my stomach flipped upside down. I gritted my teeth and realized I was still in the in-between space of the portal. I had to take several steps in portal space before I saw the other end. I quickened my pace and stepped out. My breath caught in my throat and I instinctively grabbed my Doorknob, feeling the warmth and comfort of it calm me.
“What the hell was that?” Jess was bent over and Slade was beside her his hand on her back steadying her.
“Sorry, the way we travel is different from the Guild. It takes some getting used to,” Declan said with an apologetic shrug.
Nightshade stepped out last and didn’t seem to be affected by the portal. I wondered if perhaps that was because of his Polymorph training. I was going to have to talk with Gavin about that if I made it back.
“Why isn’t it bothering you two?” Jess asked Slade and Nightshade.
“I’ve done it before,” Nightshade said as he scouted the room.
“It’s not too dissimilar to how the Engineers travel,” Slade responded.
“You do that all the time?” Jess’ eyebrows looked as if they might permanently join her hairline.
I didn’t blame her for wondering why anyone would be nuts enough to go through that stomach-churning sensation more than once.
“It’s not that bad,” Slade said defensively.
“You and I have a vastly different definition of not that bad.” She chuckled and took a deep breath.
“Do you know where we are?” I asked Declan.
“Yes, we’re two levels beneath the HVO guard quarters. Now what?” Declan asked.
“Now I need a moment.” I took a fortifying breath and moved closer to the only door in the room. Nightshade stood beside it, his back resting against the wall. The others began looking around, giving me some space.
“There are a lot of energy signatures in this place. I can’t make out how many, not to mention some anomalies,” Nightshade said, even though I hadn’t asked.
I did however ask, “Have you got a better idea how to find Edgar?”
“Nope just pointing out what I think you need to know.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious, now if you’ll give me a minute?”
“I get that you’re planning to rescue Edgar, and I agree with imprisoning the First Kind. But you’re up to something else.”
Nightshade didn’t look at me. Good thing since I felt heat rush to my face no doubt turning it a bright shade of red. I gritted my teeth, frustrated. He might not remember us, but he could still read me like an open book and it was pissing me off.
“What do you care?” I snapped.
“I don’t, but I do care that we rescue Edgar. I want to make sure you’re focused on that first. Whatever revenge you’re after, can wait until then.”
“I would never risk Edgar’s life.”
“I’ll hold you too that, Masters’.”
“You don’t need to. You just make sure you get Edgar out of here. I’m leaving that to you.”
He titled his head to the side and looked at me oddly. “Why me?”
“I know you’ll get Edgar out of here no matter what.” Not to mention I couldn’t bear the thought of him being left behind again. My mind raced back to the image of Nightshade being tortured and the scars he carried on his back to this day... all to save me. I damn well wasn’t going to let that happen again. If anyone was going to
be left behind, it was going to be me. I wouldn’t let anyone give their life for me again.
“That’s all?” His eyes narrowed.
I could almost see his mind working, as if he was trying to remember something that was so close yet out of reach. “Yup.”
“If you say so, Masters.”
I gulped trying to keep my composure as Nightshade walked away from me. I shook my head, now was not the time or place for it. I wasn’t going to risk Edgar in a futile attempt to get back the man I had lost. All I had now was my payback, and I sure as hell was going to get it one way or another.
I pressed the palm of my hand against the door and concentrated. The energy began to tingle in my hand and I let it flow from the Universe through me. As Old Kind I could feel the pulse at all times as naturally as a normal person takes a breath. I focused all my thoughts on it, and Storm Reach came alive all around me. The HVO had chosen this dimension wisely. It was filled with the type of energy they could be manipulate.
It didn’t take long for my senses to feel the presence of both the First and Old Kind all around us. I also felt the anomalies that Nightshade had mentioned, there were almost as many as the First Kind. I pushed them aside and kept looking for the one signature I knew almost as well as my own.
The familiar energy suddenly surged all around me like a whirlwind, and I stumbled almost tripping from the power it emanated. I knew that instant that they were trying to access the Mapmakers Legend. I zeroed in on the source and then I felt him. Edgar was there and so was my mother. They were on the other side of the complex, but I knew how to get to them.
“I found him,” I announced.
Jess ran to me and threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “How do we get to him?”
“It’s not going to be easy,” I replied.
“It never is.” Slade laughed.
“Where’s the map?” I asked and Nightshade pulled it from his bag and opened it holding it out for me to see. I traced my finger from where we were across the entire complex to a tower on the other side. I poked the page and smiled. “Right there.”