by Frank Morin
“You started bleeding heavily,” the medical officer said, urging him to lay back. “You shouldn’t rise yet.”
Bastien peeled back the bandage, despite the man’s protests. The ugly wound was already scabbed over. “I will be fine,” he insisted. “Although a few seconds more, and things might have gone bad, no?”
Sarah was relieved to see him doing so well. He didn’t have quite as much control over the memoryscape as Gregorios, who had instigated the memory, but he’d controlled enough to heal himself before the wound radiated back fully to the real world.
“How did it go?” Harriett asked, handing Sarah a huge blueberry muffin. “Eat. You need your strength.” She grinned and took a huge bite out of a poppy seed muffin in her other hand, adding around the mouthful of pastry, “And so do we.”
“How was the drain?” Sarah asked.
“Intense, but not severe,” Alter said.
“Thanks to you, tough guy.” Francesca slipped up to Alter and touched his arm. “Keeping us all safe with that pure soul of yours.”
“I almost had him,” Tomas exclaimed, standing up from his chair, fists clenched in frustration. “A fraction of a second and I would have taken his head.”
“That’s a lot of time when you’re dealing with a Cui Dashi,” Gregorios said, leaning back and biting into a double chocolate muffin. Sarah hadn’t even noticed Harriett pass it to him. She was fast with those things.
Eirene shook her head. “You would’ve needed more than that. He would’ve abandoned the host.”
“How does that work if his mind is in the memoryscape?” Francesca asked.
“That’s not entirely clear,” Gregorios said. “Even though we didn’t kill him, Tomas hurt him.”
“A lot,” Tomas interjected with a grin.
“And we blew up Paul and pumped a few hundred rounds of fifties into him,” Sarah added.
“He may feel sore,” Bastien agreed.
“Excellent.” Alter laughed and leaned forward. For a second, Sarah thought he was going to kiss her. He was aiming that way, but realized what he was doing and looked terrified, changing the move to a quick hug.
Sarah hoped no one else had noticed his initial intent, and hoped he didn’t forget himself again. She’d hate to have to punch him so soon after an almost-successful memory hunt.
Eirene sat on the seat beside Gregorios and took his hand. “Did you learn anything more about Spartacus?”
“I did. He’s not the man he once was.”
Gregorios’ description of his encounter with the ancient gladiator fascinated Sarah. How would she handle being stranded outside of her body for centuries, blind, and forgotten by a world that had moved on?
“There’s a possibility he’ll make contact,” Gregorios added. “He owes Paul an honor debt, but doesn’t appear to agree with Paul’s methods. We might be able to leverage that.”
“We’ll take any advantage we can get,” Eirene agreed. “Any scrap of information might prove critical.”
“I learned something about Paul too,” Sarah interjected. “He’s Chinese. He’s Mai Luan’s brother.”
That got everyone’s attention.
Gregorios nearly choked on his muffin. When he spoke, his voice sounded a little strained. “Say that again.”
“Paul. He said he was Mai Luan’s brother,” she repeated. “He was in Berlin.”
“Impossible,” Alter said, but lacked his normal conviction.
“Remember the bluetooth she was wearing?”
“That finally makes sense,” Gregorios muttered.
“He’s been shadowing us from the beginning,” Eirene said. She took a piece of Gregorios’ muffin and popped it into her mouth.
He looked like he was about to object, but she added, “Thinking food.”
Gregorios rolled his eyes, but turned back to Sarah. “I lost track of you after the Greek Fire strike. What happened?”
With Bastien’s help, Sarah related how they sprang the trap on Paul.
“I love that ghost ability,” Francesca cried when Sarah explained how she’d lured Paul onto the kill zone.
“I don’t know what I’d do without it,” Sarah agreed.
Bastien related how he detonated the explosives, despite reservations about blowing them with Sarah still in the blast zone. “She floated like a vision in the night,” he said, saluting her with a giant cookie. “While Paul tumbled away, badly hurt by the blast.”
“It wasn’t enough, though.”
Alter cheered when Sarah told about gunning down Paul. Tomas reached her before the hunter could try embracing her again. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Wish I’d seen that.”
“It was a beautiful moment,” Bastien said. “Sarah fired the minigun from the hip. Would have made the Valkyries proud.”
“Don’t bring them into this,” Eirene said with a frown.
“Sometimes bad girls are good to have around,” Bastien said with a grin.
“Bad boys are more fun,” Francesca retorted, jabbing Alter in the ribs as if inviting him to agree. He just scowled.
“Are you saying there are real live Valkyries?” Sarah asked, not quite sure what kind of answer to expect.
“Not exactly,” Gregorios said. “And we’re losing track of the discussion. Back to Paul.”
Sarah related how he turned the fight against them and wounded Bastien.
When she tried to describe how she’d fought him off using the powers of her two runes, Francesca interrupted with a laugh, clapping her hands loudly in the enclosed room. “You have two superpowers? Not fair.”
Tomas gripped Sarah closer. “Awesome, but I don’t think I really understand.”
“It’s hard to explain,” she admitted. “I don’t entirely understand it myself.”
“You should erase that rune,” Alter said, looking troubled. He mouthed the word ‘abomination’, but Sarah noticed.
“No way,” she retorted. “Without it, he would have killed me.”
“We’re going to have to find a memory to test the extent of that rune,” Gregorios said, looking intrigued.
“We expected to see other aspects of that design,” Eirene added. “But these effects are unique.”
“It’s the memoryscape,” Sarah said. “Things work differently there. We can bend the laws of nature.”
“But none of the rest of us are turning into superheroes,” Francesca said with a frown.
“I want a super power,” Harriett said.
“Paul first. Superhero discussion second,” Gregorios said.
Sarah explained what she’d learned from Paul about his connection with Mai Luan.
“He lies,” Bastien said.
“He seemed pretty sincere,” Sarah said. “He got really ticked when I insulted Mai Luan.”
“Maybe he sees her as a soul sister,” Harriett offered. “Since they’re both Cui Dashi.”
Sarah shrugged. “He said sister. They’re both Chinese, so I took it at face value.”
“Let’s assume you’re right,” Gregorios said. When Harriett and Bastien protested again he added, “just play along. How could it be possible?”
“I do not think it is,” Bastien insisted. “It took you and mother centuries to conceive each of us, and that is just for the nevra core. Factor in the rarity of the Cui Dashi powers, and I say it would never happen.”
“Baladeva managed it,” Eirene pointed out.
“Maybe he had some dumb luck,” Francesca suggested.
“Or lots and lots of heka women, yes?” Bastien countered.
“One Cui Dashi is bad enough,” Alter muttered. “An entire family of them is entirely different.”
“Don’t assume there are others,” Harriett said.
“Don’t assume there aren’t,” Alter shot back. “If they’ve found a way to breed Cui Dashi, there could be more.”
“You’re usually so sweet,” Francesca said, “but that’s depressing.”
“Maybe they’re cheati
ng,” Alter added.
“More forbidden runes?” Eirene asked.
“Perhaps.”
“There’s a rune for breeding Cui Dashi?” Gregorios asked, his tone doubtful.
“Not that I’ve ever heard,” Alter said, “But that doesn’t mean one couldn’t be discovered.”
“Are there runes for other types of breeding?” Bastien asked.
Harriett slugged him in the shoulder.
“Ow. Just asking.”
“I’m liking this conversation less and less.” Sarah didn’t want to think about more people like Paul loose in the world.
Eirene paced around her chair. “Keep an open mind until we know for sure the connection between Paul and Mai Luan. Did you learn anything else?”
Sarah hesitated and Eirene prodded, “Don’t keep anything back, my dear. Not now.”
“He could have killed me,” Sarah said softly. “Near the end, just before he rushed off to save John. He chose not to.”
“I’m glad he didn’t,” Tomas said, his arm a comforting weight on her shoulders. “But what changed his mind?”
She took a deep breath, drawing strength from his presence. “He said he found a different use for me, some kind of service.”
“Did he specify what he meant?” Gregorios asked.
“No. That’s when he had to leave.”
“That’s why he called you his chosen vessel,” Gregorios said.
“Eww,” Francesca said. “That sounds gross. Pervert.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Sarah said.
Tomas’ arm tightened around her shoulders as he tensed with anger. Not much touched his face, but she felt the rage boiling in him.
Alter didn’t bother to restrain himself. “I’ll tear his filthy head off!” he cried, fists clenched, face red with rage.
“All in good time,” Gregorios said. If their suspicions of Paul’s intentions bothered him, he showed no sign.
“If indeed his intentions have changed,” Eirene said thoughtfully. “Perhaps we can use that against him.”
“How?” Sarah and Tomas asked together.
“Killing you is fairly straight-forward,” she said. “He intended to do that in the memoryscape, with a pretty good chance of success.”
“He could have killed me today,” Sarah agreed.
“Using you for some other purpose is more difficult,” Eirene added.
“He’d need to make contact in the real world.” Francesca picked up the train of thought.
Sarah shivered. She didn’t want to meet him in the real world. At least in the memoryscape she could draw upon the unique powers of her enhancements, or even inscribe the escape rune and get away.
“If we could locate him,” Tomas said. “We could bring the rain and take him out.”
“Mai Luan almost killed us when we met her in real life,” Sarah reminded him. “You nearly died. We can’t regenerate here.”
“Neither can Paul,” Tomas said, trying to sound reassuring. “We know how to take down a Cui Dashi.”
“Perhaps there is yet a way to leverage our strengths both inside and out of the memoryscape,” Bastien said.
“We’re listening,” Gregorios said.
“If we can determine his location in Rome, for he must be here somewhere, then we can plan a strike.”
Tomas frowned. “We risk a lot of casualties fighting a Cui Dashi in such a heavily populated area.”
“Not if he is sleeping, yes?” Bastien said with a sly grin.
“Lure him into the memoryscape and confront him again.” Eirene sounded pleased.
“And destroy his body while he’s distracted,” Tomas added. “That could work.”
Sarah tried to share their enthusiasm, but the part they hadn’t mentioned was the one part she couldn’t ignore. For any such plan to work, she had to act as bait. Again.
She needed more runes.
Chapter Forty-Five
To surrender the city to you is beyond my authority or anyone else’s who lives in it, for all of us, after taking the mutual decision, shall die out of free will without sparing our lives. Come with your heathen hordes and we will contend in the sight of Almighty God and prove whose runes receive the divine blessing.
~Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos, last Byzantine Emperor, in a letter to Sultan Mehmed II at the commencement of the siege of Constantinople, 1452
Sarah shared a taxi back to Quentin’s with Tomas. She leaned against the seat, focusing on the feel of wind on her face and his hand in hers. The buildings that passed no longer looked so incredible. She had seen parts of Rome in its ancient heyday and the sight of ruins filled her with a lingering sadness.
When they arrived, Tomas escorted her to her room, and they shared a lingering kiss.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you,” Tomas said, caressing her face.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t hold Paul off another second,” Sarah replied.
He kissed her again. “You’re amazing. You held him off longer than anyone had a right to ask. Even I don’t go against Cui Dashi alone.”
“I had Bastien.”
“Even so, it’s a miracle you accomplished so much.” His expression darkened. “We never should have asked so much of you.”
“Why? You think I’m not up to the challenge?”
“It’s not that,” he said quickly. “You’re tapping into powers I’ve never imagined and I’ve been bonding runes for centuries.” He touched her face again, gently. “You introduce me to whole new worlds.”
She toyed with the idea of tempting him into her room to introduce him to another new world, but she didn’t want to deal with another rejection. So she gave him a tired smile. “Sometimes I don’t know who I am or what the real world is. I’m glad I have you to help me figure it out.”
She kissed him then, a passionate kiss full of her need and her desire. He responded with fierce passion that took her breath away and left her feeling a little more secure.
“I’ll see you later,” he said when they broke for air. “I need to check on a lead the legion’s been running down.”
“I hope it pans out finally.”
It would be nice to get actionable intelligence. The Tenth had been stymied trying to find Paul and his clandestine heka cell. They were due for a break.
Only after he left did she realize how exhausted she was. So she threw herself into her huge, four-post bed and slept like the dead for several hours. After enjoying a long soak in the giant jet tub in her bathroom, she felt almost like herself again.
Eager for dinner, she dressed in slacks and a cotton tee and went looking for food. She ran into Alter pacing one of the lower halls, a phone at his ear.
“No, Father. We’ll all be at Quentin’s in the morning… All right…I will.”
He didn’t sound happy as he hung up, but smiled when he saw her. “How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good. I crashed all afternoon.”
“I’m not surprised. You had a busy morning.”
“And I’m hoping it’s dinner time,” she said.
“I’ll join you.” Alter eagerly fell in beside her and together they headed for the art gallery dining room. They were a little early and found the room deserted, the long table empty.
The call button still worked, and a young staffer appeared almost instantly. He assured them he could bring them whatever they wanted, and disappeared to fill the order.
“I could get used to this,” Alter confided.
“I already am,” Sarah said. “I’m going to hate returning to my apartment.”
Quentin entered the room, dressed impeccably as usual in a custom tailored suit, his salt-and-pepper hair recently trimmed. “Then you should stay.”
“I’m not leaving any time soon,” she assured him, touched by his never-flagging hospitality.
He bowed over her hand and kissed the back of it. “I heard about your memory hunt. Did you really fire the GECAL 50 from the hip?” His eyes sparkled with
mirth.
“It was awesome,” she said, grinning. “I just wish it’d been enough to take him down.”
“I’m working on some ideas,” he said. “I hope to offer some new options in the near future.”
She squeezed his hand, grateful to have him as a friend. “We need your mad genius invention skills more than ever right now.”
He chuckled. “Mad genius. We shall see about that, my dear. Perhaps we will get the chance to take Paul down together.”
She liked him more every time they met.
“Get in line,” Alter said to Quentin. “I want dibs on the Cui Dashi.”
“A team approach then,” Quentin said without missing a beat. “It took all of us together to deal with Mai Luan.”
“Paul’s worse,” Sarah said, shivering at the memory of his iron grip and his ominous final words.
The food arrived, and Quentin added an order of his own. The three of them spent a quiet hour together, eating and talking about non-lethal things. Sarah relaxed slowly as they chatted, and started to feel herself again.
“I’m expecting a delivery from my family,” Alter said finally. “By special courier, probably some time tonight.”
“I’ll notify the gate guard,” Quentin said.
The door at the far end of the room opened and Tomas strode in. “Quentin, I need to know…”
His voice trailed off when he caught sight of Sarah, and his smile faded.
He was wearing Carl’s body.
She recognized it instantly. That was the body he had used to infiltrate Alterego when they first met. He hadn’t looked nearly as handsome, but his heroic efforts to help her escape had drawn her to him. Now that she knew what he really looked like, she had never wanted him to change.
“What did you do?” she exclaimed, rising from her seat.
“Devils,” Alter muttered.
“I thought you were asleep,” Tomas said, slowly approaching.
“So? How does that equate to swapping bodies?”
“I would’ve stayed away longer if I knew you were awake.”
“Why?”
“You have enough to worry about,” he said, taking her hands in his. “Why burden you with something unimportant?”