“What is it?” Andrew whispered.
“A figment.” Godlin stood up and snapped his fingers once. The squirrel leapt into the air and darted down the hallway. It went through the motion detectors, but nothing happened.
Andrew lifted his eyebrows. “Tech said your dagger was a Quester Stone, but I didn’t know it could do that.”
“It has a few tricks.”
“It’s not setting off the alarms,” Andrew said.
“That’s because it doesn’t produce any body heat for the sensors to detect.”
Andrew heard Godlin stand and step forward. As soon as he crossed the invisible beam, a sharp alarm went off.
The squirrel reached the end of the hall and turned around, heading toward Godlin and Andrew.
A hand touched Andrew’s chest, then reached up and grabbed his collar. Godlin pulled him out of the way as a pair of guards came from around the corner. When they saw the squirrel, they chased after it, stooping over and swiping at it with their hands.
Grinning to himself, Andrew said, “That worked.”
A shriek and a loud “Nope, nope!” came from down the hall. One of the guards dashed back into view, the squirrel chasing him.
Behind the squirrel, came a second guard. “Stop running and just turn around and grab it,” he yelled.
“It might have rabies or something!” The first guard turned around to face the squirrel. He kicked his foot out at it, but the squirrel kept coming. The guard stumbled backwards.
Andrew had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing aloud.
The second guard leaned over to try to grab it by the tail. The creature did not seem to exist entirely in this world. The squirrel flicked its tail and faded just a bit, causing the man’s fingers to miss. It turned around and jumped toward his feet.
The man leapt back, drawing his arms up to himself. He growled, “If this is the intruder, I’m going to punch whoever called this in.”
Andrew smiled to himself. Godlin led him down a hall to another door, different from the others they had passed. A gold plaque hung in the middle of the door. Printed on it in black letters was the name “Abraham.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Resting a hand on the door handle, Andrew sucked in a breath and turned the knob.
Godlin whispered, “Go slowly and study your surroundings.”
Andrew opened the door, peering around the corner. A white sofa sat near the doorway with a small bistro table across the room, a wooden desk rested in the center, and a long bar was situated at the back.
“We need to search quickly before we are found,” Godlin muttered. “Start with the desk.”
Moving over to it, Andrew opened an upper drawer. Not wanting to break anything, he removed things and stacked them carefully on top of the desk. He found pens, paper, a stapler, but nothing stood out to him as suspicious.
It was a little nerve-racking to dig through someone else’s things.
Andrew replaced the items he had taken out of the desk exactly where he had found them. He glanced at the doorway, wondering if at any moment it would fly open and Venom would step through.
“Don’t be so careful,” Godlin said. He yanked the drawer out of the desk Andrew had just searched. He tipped it upside down on the floor. Pens and paper flew all over the place.
Andrew jumped back from the mess. “But won’t he know we were here?”
“He invited us. We don’t have time to be delicate,” Godlin reminded him.
Even though Andrew knew Godlin was right, he could not bring himself to be as callous.
When they finished searching the desk, they made their way to the bar. Bottles of liquor lined the wall behind it. Suddenly, the glass containers started to shake. Andrew stared as the wall behind the bar swung open. Godlin grabbed Andrew and pulled him away from the doorway.
Venom entered the office. Behind him followed a short man wearing ugly brown clown shoes. They surveyed the disheveled office with disapproving frowns.
“Keepers,” Venom muttered as he brushed lint from his suit. “Tor, find them.”
Leaning over, Tor grabbed a piece of paper laying on the ground. He brought the edge of it close to his nose and closed his eyes halfway, taking a deep whiff. He opened his eyes and pointed right at Godlin and Andrew.
Andrew felt Godlin’s arm lay across his chest. He took a breath and held it, not knowing if Tor could see them or if he was bluffing.
Venom grinned, following Tor’s motion. His eyes narrowed for a brief moment as if thinking. “Ah, Godlin. It is good to see you again. Is that Walker with you?”
Tor stalked over to where the Keepers stood.
Grabbing hold of Andrew’s arm, Godlin pulled him silently along the wall.
Once Tor reached the wall, he kicked out, but hit nothing. He growled and stomped his foot.
Andrew’s heart raced in his chest.
Venom let his eyes sweep across the room, waiting in the silence. He said in a sharp tone, “I know you two are here. Do not think that I cannot see you.”
Everything suggested thus far that Venom was lying, but Tor was another matter. The man had already pointed them out once, even if he had lost track of them for the moment.
“You know,” Venom continued. “I had really wanted Raptor to come. I had such plans for her.” He scanned the room as he spoke.
Andrew gritted his teeth. He could feel Godlin beside him tightening with anger.
“She has such a strong spirit. I wonder how long it would have taken me to make her cry.” He flashed a cold smile as he reached up to stroke his chin.
“How could you!” Andrew blurted out before he could stop himself, unable to contain his rage.
Tor leapt toward Andrew, but he ran smack into an invisible Godlin and ended up prone on the ground. An invisible hand lifted Tor into the air by his collar and threw him into the wall hard enough to leave a dent in the drywall. The small man collapsed to the ground in a heap.
Venom drew a gun from under his jacket and pointed it in the direction of Godlin. He sneered, but did not fire a shot until Tor dropped out of the way. The shot missed, a bullet hole appearing in the wall above Tor’s head. Andrew heard Godlin’s growl as he charged forward, slamming into Venom and sending the gun skidding out of his hands and across the floor.
Unzipping his invisibility suit, Andrew pulled out his gun from its holster. He zipped it back up, concealing himself again.
“Point and shoot,” Andrew muttered, his voice shaking. He took a deep breath and steadied the gun in both hands, pointing it at Venom. The gun floated in the air in front of him, much of the grip missing from view where he held it.
He waited for a clear shot, but the fight dragged on, agonizing to watch. Godlin was losing. Worried he would hit him, Andrew aimed at their legs, just in case he missed.
Venom scowled and brought his arms up, blocking a hidden attacker. He then reached forward and grabbed hold of something that stood about eye level with him. Andrew aimed in Venom’s direction and pulled the trigger. It surprised him how easy the gun was to fire. He shot again.
Venom shifted his body as he put another hand on Godlin, twisting him into the path of the bullets.
Nothing happened. Andrew had missed by a mile, the two bullets striking the wall behind Venom.
Venom’s eyebrows knitted together as he turned to look at the two holes. He barked out a laugh.
“Stop shooting, nitwit,” Godlin growled.
Andrew lowered the gun. Shooting a gun was not as simple as Tech had made it out to be. His body quivered, and a cold sweat poured down the side of his face. Andrew held the gun off to the side, not knowing what to do.
Venom let go as Godlin wrenched away from his grip. He ducked to one side and reached out again, seizing something, probably Godlin’s arm. With his other hand, Venom made an open palmed strike toward the invisible Godlin and connected with a solid smack. Venom twisted an arm around a large object and wrenched his other arm upwards. “You s
hould know better!”
Godlin yelled in pain.
The fight had been one sided. Raptor’s warnings about Venom jumped into Andrew’s mind. He was good at planning, and they should be on guard at all times.
“Get that suit off,” Venom said, shoving Godlin forward, out of his reach.
“Run!” Godlin shouted toward Andrew.
Springing into action, Andrew flew toward the door, but Tor beat him to it by a second. The man must have come back to his senses while Andrew watched the fight.
Andrew skidded to a halt, but Tor leapt forward, knocking his legs out from under him. As he toppled to the ground, the gun went sliding out of his hand across the floor. Venom stepped over to it and kicked it farther away.
Andrew tried to fight back, but Tor leapt on top of his chest and punched straight down. The body armor protected him from most of the blow, but he still lost his breath for a moment.
Tor reached down and ripped Andrew’s mask off, exposing his face.
Jerking his head back, Tor gave Andrew a puzzled look. He shifted his attention over to Venom.
“Why are you dragging this boy around with you?” Venom asked.
Godlin did not reply.
Venom snorted. “Typical.” He peered down at Andrew. “Who are you?”
Andrew had had enough of Venom’s harassment. He clenched his hands at his sides as he threw his head back, glaring at Venom. “Your replacement.”
“Be silent,” Godlin barked at Andrew.
Andrew ignored him. He felt too angry to care anymore. Pressing his hands into Tor’s chest, he tried to shove the man off him, but he was too heavy.
Giggling, Tor backhanded him in the face.
The hit stung. Andrew rubbed his face and stopped struggling.
“Do not lie,” Venom hissed in anger, his nostrils flaring.
Tor leapt off Andrew as Venom reached down and grabbed him by the throat. He forced Andrew to stand. “Now you will tell me the truth. Or I will squeeze the life from you.”
Godlin had not stayed idle. He picked up one of the drawers from the desk and came up from behind Venom, slamming it into the back of his head.
Letting go of Andrew, Venom stumbled a step to the side. Godlin moved, putting himself between Andrew and Venom. He pulled the hood of the invisibility suit off, his disembodied head floating in the air, and gave Venom a nasty glare.
Venom rubbed the side of his head, taking a moment to recover. He changed languages to the Keeper tongue. “Prove it,” he said.
“Tell him nothing,” Godlin warned Andrew in English.
“I am your replacement,” Andrew said in Keeper, spitting out the words. He wanted to hit Venom in the face, but he stayed rooted in place. After having watched the fight between Godlin and Venom, Andrew knew he had no chance, despite the anger boiling inside him.
Godlin gave a low growl and muttered, “Next time, play stupid.”
Letting out a coarse laugh, Venom said, “Earth does have a sense of humor.”
Godlin lifted an eyebrow. Andrew took a step back in surprise, confused by Venom’s reaction.
“The suits, if you please? You waste what little time you have fighting me.”
The fight was over. All he could do now was play along. Andrew unzipped the suit and pulled it off. He stuffed it into a small pouch hanging on his belt. Casually smoothing his shirt down, he hoped the body armor was not too obvious under it.
Godlin returned his dagger to his belt and then removed his invisibility suit, putting it into the pouch.
“Now, hand them to Tor,” Venom said, nodding his head to the short man.
Andrew gulped and removed his pouch, offering it to him.
Sticking his tongue out at Andrew, Tor reached up and snatched it away.
Godlin wrenched his pouch off and tossed it on the ground. Tor hobbled over and scooped it up, shooting a hateful glare at Godlin.
“Better,” Venom said, his stance wide and chest puffed out. “I see you have not changed, Godlin.” Then he turned to Andrew, “But you are nothing.”
“Where’s Christine?” Andrew snapped.
“You will see her soon enough.”
“And the Stone of Power?” Godlin asked, narrowing his eyes at Andrew.
Venom smirked. “I assume you two were sent by our dear Raptor to try to stop me. You have no idea what is going on, do you?”
Andrew looked to Godlin, his eyes pleading for his help in understanding this lunatic. Godlin shrugged in return, seeming uncertain. Hopefully, Venom did not know about Tech and Tran. It would be great if the two showed up for a rescue right about now.
“Venom,” Andrew began, thinking to buy them some time for that rescue.
Godlin hissed at him, “Hush, boy.”
Venom waved him off. “No, no, let him speak. I want to hear what my replacement has to say.”
Swallowing hard, Andrew hoped this was a good idea. “Why are you doing this? Aren’t you supposed to protect Earth?”
Venom laughed, causing Andrew and Godlin to frown. “Long ago, yes, that was my job, but things change. People betray one another.” Glowering at Godlin, he said, “How quickly loyalties shifted when the others joined.”
“That was your own fault. You never could accept Earth’s judgment,” Godlin snarled. “You sound as if the Stone has corrupted you already.”
“Do not be ridiculous.” Venom stepped over to the desk and picked up the papers from the drawers scattered all over the floor.
“It is the Stone of Power, after all.”
Venom spun around to face them, slamming his fist down on the desk. “Do not lecture me! I discovered the true nature of Quester Stones. I know what they are capable of.”
“I know them, and you, just as well.”
Crumpling the papers in his hand, Venom sneered. “We shall see about that.”
“Why? Why are you doing this?” Andrew could not fathom how someone could betray Earth.
“Because I can,” Venom said, flicking the wad of papers down on the desk.
“That’s not a reason; that’s an excuse,” Andrew snapped. He ignored the look of warning from Godlin.
Venom moved away from the desk toward the two Keepers. As he came close, Godlin shifted himself, standing between Venom and Andrew.
“Already loyal to him? That was fast.”
Wrinkling his nose, Godlin snorted in response.
Venom shifted his attention to Andrew. “Fine, you want a reason? I want Raptor.”
“So you can hurt her again?”
In a casual tone, Venom replied, “No.”
“To get control of Earth?”
Venom smiled, folding his hands together just below his chest. “Earth needs guidance, not puppets, like Raptor insists you should be. The planet cannot see what is out there. It cannot see there is another planet coming for it.”
Andrew bit his lower lip, not sure what this meant for Earth. He threw a sideways glance toward Godlin.
“We checked!” Godlin snapped at Venom. “We searched for it, and there was nothing.” He slammed a fist into his open palm. “All the evidence was circumstantial. Bloody hell, Venom, give up this obsession before you get someone else killed.”
Venom’s jaw was set, and his eyes held a glint of defiance. It was not the stance of a liar; Venom believed his own story.
Curling his lip, Venom let out a slow breath as his hands relaxed and a smile returned. “If you are quite finished, I want to play a game.”
Tor came out from behind the desk and went over to Venom. He held his nose at Andrew and Godlin, waving a hand in the air as if he had just passed by the city dump.
“Give us the Stone,” Godlin pressed, keeping his attention fixed on Venom. “You know what’s at stake. Let us do our job.”
“And Christine,” Andrew added.
“Patience, patience.” Venom flicked a hand at them. To Godlin, he said, “All you have to do is complete my test. You cannot leave anyway. You have no idea where
either the girl or the Stone are.”
With a loud scoff, Godlin turned his body away from Venom.
“What you will do,” Venom held his hands out, “is fight one of my men. Win and I will give you the girl.”
“No deal. We’ve come for the Stone,” Godlin replied. “We don’t have time for this, as you pointed out.”
Venom clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Of course you do not have time for this. A pity. Since your time is important, you will fight two of them. If you win, you get the girl and the Stone. If you lose, you and the other Keepers will leave here, immediately.”
Unable to think of another plan, Andrew said to Godlin, “Unless you’ve got a better idea.”
“Not really,” Godlin muttered.
“Good.” Venom clasped his hands in front of himself. “Let us begin.” He hummed a merry tune as he walked behind his desk and pushed a hidden button. A panel in the far wall slid open, leading outside.
Godlin and Andrew went through the secret passage, stepping into an area enclosed on all sides by buildings. The arena had been cleared of any snow, exposing bare dirt. The eastern horizon glowed a faint red and yellow, the sun just beginning to rise.
A short distance behind them, Venom hung back, talking into a small object in his hand. Andrew tried to slow up to eavesdrop, but Venom pointed to the center of the arena. Andrew ducked his head, feeling sheepish for having tried to listen in, and turned to follow Godlin.
Venom put the small object away. He motioned for Godlin to keep going farther into the yard, but said to Andrew, “You stay with me.”
Godlin took a few more steps into the arena, turning in circles. “Well?” he asked when nobody appeared.
“Give them a minute,” Venom said coyly.
A shadow moved in the corner, or so Andrew thought. He double-checked his peripherals before shouting, “Drop!”
Godlin threw himself to the ground and flipped over, kicking upwards. Something solid connected with his feet, though Andrew could not see it. Godlin grunted under the new weight and threw it backwards. He turned over and brought his feet under him.
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