Alchemist

by Terry Reid

  For one of the first times and one of the few times she saw fear on his face. “Terry...”

  “Please don’t start.” She asked, holding a hand out to him. She was not in the mood. “I know you know how to work those things. You might not be able to build one, but I’m pretty sure you could break it.”

  He leant against the desk, levelling his gaze at her. “And then what? They will find another one and come anyway.”

  Terry raised her hand again to him, but this time it was gesture for silence. She was wary of unwanted ears listening in. Lowering her voice she said, “They’ve had ten years to find a temporal device and they never have but managed to in a couple of days. And no-one in this colony certainly knows how to build one.”

  Lyle shook his head. “That was different. Your father was honouring the agreement of your exile and your wishes for him not to start a war with the south. But that has now all changed. You have seen him lately. He even told you himself he would go to war with the Southlands if it meant he could keep you here. This time he won’t stop.”

  Terry walked to the desk, facing him from the other side. “What other choice do we have? There’s only two ways out of this and one of them is us sitting back and allowing an invasion to happen. This is the best we’ve got. We’ve dealt with Edward on our own before, we can do it again.”

  Reluctantly Lyle knew she had a point, no matter how much he begrudged with every last inch of his body betraying his King. The thought made him sick to the stomach, something owed to millions of years of instinctive obedience to the monarch that had been bred into his race.

  “If we do this and we get caught, you know I will be put to death.”

  “Then we’ll go. Just don’t tell anyone that we had this conversation.”

  He shook his head. “It won’t work. You know I can’t lie to your father even if I wanted too. He’ll order the truth out of me sooner or later. Besides,” he stood back, “I’ve taken care of you for these last nine years, I’m not going to let you go off and get killed now.”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  “Yes.”

  Terry smiled. “Thank you.” She turned to Connor, who had been watching the exchange.

  “Faye?” he whispered. “What do you want to do?”

  She lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. Swallowing the lump in her throat, her gaze hardened. “I want to kill that son of a bitch.”

  ******

  In the city high above, a guard nervously entered the King’s chambers. He turned from the fireplace, his eyes ablaze at the intrusion. “I said I did not want to be disturbed!”

  The guard bowed. “Forgive me my lord, but I come bearing a message, from your daughter.”

  Fallo stormed across the distance between them, his primeval incarnation inclining his head from where he lay. Snatching the letter from the guard, he ripped it open. His face drained of colour. Then he screamed. The primeval stood, roaring in outrage. Fallo threw the guard from his path and stormed passed, his primeval form destroying their quarters as it followed.

  In the catacombs beneath the city, the band of four ran, knowing that their absence would soon be realised and that a swarm of Alchemists would be hot on their heels. Reaching the cave where they had stored the temporal manipulator, Lyle dismissed the guards and ordered everyone working on the device out.

  One of his lieutenants questioned what was going on, but he was quickly silenced by shouts from his general and he hurried off without a further word. The temporal device was a ramshackle affair, with heavy duty cables running to all manners of machinery scattered everywhere. It had clearly seen better days.

  “Check all the cables are connected.” Lyle ordered as he ran over to the main conduit.

  Connor threw up his arms. “What if they’re connected to the wrong things?”

  “They’re colour coded!”

  The three of them set to work while Lyle began the arduous task of starting up the machine. Temporal technology was not an exact science and operated in four dimensions. But that alone was not enough. You needed to know your geography of where you were going and what that would calculate into in basic numbers.

  A few minutes later Connor shouted from a far that all the cables appeared to be ok.

  “Alright, stand back then! I don’t know if this will work!” Lyle shouted, waiting for them to retreat a safe distance. Punching in the final numbers, he activated the machine.

  A hot, bitter, copper taste filled Terry’s mouth as the hairs on her neck stood on end as the portal formed. Running toward them, Lyle shouted, “Let’s go!” Deliberately holding back while the others crossed the rippling threshold, he stopped and looked back. Then he followed, the portal closing down behind him.

  Terry struck the floor face first. Like last time, the portal had materialised several foot above where it had supposed too. “Why does that always happen?” she asked, picking herself up.

  “At least we are in the right place.” Connor said, wincing from a smashed knee. “At least we’re in the right place though.” Hundreds of lights twinkled on the coast below, the rising sun painting Edinburgh in hues of pink and orange.

  “I didn’t realise we would appear so far from the estate. We better get going.” Lyle said, turning away from the city and heading in the opposite direction into the hills.

  They entered the caves beneath the mansion via one of the underground tunnels. Fearing an ambush, they spent an hour scouting the building and immediate grounds.

  “Anything?” Lyle asked as he and Faye regrouped with Terry and Connor in the underground caverns.

  “Nothing, no-one has been here since we left.” Terry replied. Her stomach grumbled. “Excuse me.” She said, embarrassed. “I thought the place would have been raided.”

  “Darius might have got a good look for Edward while he was here. We weren’t watching his all the time.”

  Connor motioned to Terry. She appeared reluctant.

  “What?” Lyle asked picking up on the exchange.

  Connor and Terry looked at one another again.

  Sighing, Terry said: “We think we should go find Rufus. He could help.”

  Lyle’s expression darkened. “We’ve already discussed this...”

  “You’ll do as your told general.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare...”

  Terry lowered her voice. “I out rank you if you’ve forgotten and I’ve made my decision.”

  Lyle stared at her for the longest time. For a moment Terry did not think he would obey. Then, finally, he gave a slight nod. “My lady,” he said, his courteously dripping with contempt.

  Ignoring her uncle’s flippancy, Terry turned to Faye and Connor. “I think we should get some rest before we start looking for him.”

  “What if they get the machine up and running and come here?” Faye asked.

  “I don’t think they’ll be able to fix it that fast, if ever. Besides, my father doesn’t know exactly where we live. He’s never been here before.”

  “I thought he did visit once, years ago, or am I just imagining it?” Connor asked, struggling to recall.

  “Yeah, he did once, when they were still debating the terms of my exile. But that was still when we lived outside Dundee.”

  Realisation dawned on him. “That’s right, it was Dundee, I remember now.” His expression grew sombre. “I’m going to go see Jo.”

  Terry nodded understandingly. “Do you want someone to go with you?”

  “Thanks, but I think I’ll be fine. But I’ll let you know if I see anyone suspicious.” He declined. When do you want me back, by?”

  Terry looked at Lyle for his counsel but he was not forthcoming. She turned back to the Pyrovite. “A few hours would probably be best. We need time to track down Rufus before we do anything else.”

  “Alright then.” He looked at Faye. “Will you be ok?” he asked, putting a reassuring hand on her arm. He felt guilty about leaving her. “I’m sorry, I would s
tay, but I have to see her...”

  She covered his hand with her own and pressed it. She smiled but he saw the sadness in her eyes. “You don’t need to explain, I understand. I will be ok.”

  Giving her a cuddle, he said his goodbyes and left.

  ******

  Terry looked up and down the hallway before entering the bedroom. Certain no-one was around she shut the door. Checking the time on the alarm clock, she pulled a small, metallic, oval device from her pocket. Holding it to her mouth, she pressed the black button on its narrow side. Noisy static came over the intercom, so she adjusted the frequency until it became dim. “Hello?” Static was her only reply. “Is anyone there?” she asked, beginning to pace about the room.

  There was a crackle. “Daughter.” Replied Fallo, his voice muffled.

  “Father.”

  “Is everything going according to plan?”

  “Yes, there’s no sign him.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Lyle’s house.” A blood-curdling whining noise rang in her ears. “Dad, get away from the equipment!” she yelled, pulling it away from her face.

  The device suddenly fell silent. “Apologies child, I did not realise I was standing so close.” Her father said flatly, more matter-of-factly than an apology.

  Terry rolled her eyes. “Yeah thanks for that, I was nearly deafened.” She put a finger in her ear, convinced the ringing would never cease.

  Fallo glanced at his primeval incarnation who returned an equally unimpressed expression. “Remember you have until dawn in three days. If you are not back by then, I’m coming through.”

  Terry rolled her eyes again. “Yeah, you keep telling me.”

  “Then you better get looking daughter.”

  “Right, I’ll speak to you this time tomorrow then if I can.” She said, reaching for the off button on the device.

  “Daughter.”

  “Yes?” she asked, raising it to her mouth.

  “Take care.”

  Terry was surprised. “You too.”

  The link went dead.

  ******

  Connor’s cheek stung. His wife had slapped him. Jo’s face was streaked with mascara from the constant stream of tears that she had shed since he had walked through their front door. She covered her mouth, stifling a cry, before running into his arms.

  “Where the hell have you been?” she screamed, pulling away just as fast. Connor looked at her but did not say a word. He lowered his gaze. “Connor...” she muttered, little more than a whisper.

  “I can’t tell you...”

  She stood away from him as that point, staring at him with wide, terrified eyes. “You’re seeing someone else aren’t you?”

  He shook his head. “No. Never.” He reached for her, but she drew away.

  “You can tell me if there is...”

  “There isn’t, I swear! Jo honestly, I have not been seeing someone else, I would never do that.”

  She lowered her gaze, shutting her eyes to fight back the tears. Looking back up at him she asked: “Is it Terry?”

  “What?”

  “I tried ringing her when you didn’t come back from your trip. I’ve been round to her house. I’ve tried phoning her every day but there’s been no answer!” she shouted, pointing in no particular direction.

  Connor sunk his face into his hands. Drawing a deep breath he straightened up. “I swear to you I am not sleeping with her or anyone. But Terry was with me and so was her uncle. We had to go away and do something.”

  “Do what?” Jo screamed, her face turning red from desperation.

  He hesitated. “I don’t know how to explain it...you’d never believe me.”

  “Connor, what is going on? I just want to know!” she screamed, thumping the wall.

  Connor wiped his eyes, remembering how tired he was. He looked up, gazing back into the eyes of the woman he loved, across the chasm of suspicion that now separated them. “Ok.”

  ******

  Lyle’s armour sunk with the fall of his chest. The general had fallen asleep on his favourite white leather couch. Two hours earlier he has gorged his primeval form on more than two hundred pounds of fish and now he reeked of it. He shifted to get more comfortable.

  Connor peered around the doorway. He turned to Jo holding his finger to his lips, indicating silence. He led her into the room.

  Jo walked forward, her expression confused at the sight of the strange metal-clad man who lay before her. She looked at her husband, baffled.

  “It isn’t a costume.” He whispered, as if reading her thoughts.

  “What?”

  Lyle came awake at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. In an instant he was on his feet. He looked at Connor and then his wife. “What the hell do you think you’re doing bringing her here?” he demanded.

  Jo flinched, retreating half-way behind her husband.

  “Answer me!” Lyle shouted, taking a step forward.

  Connor backed off, raising a hand. “She had to know. I’m sorry, it was the only way!”

  Lyle blinked, incredulous. His vision darted between the Pyrovite and his wife. “Why? Why did she have to know? You’ve put us all in danger!” His gaze returned to Jo. “How much does she know?” he demanded, pointing a metal finger.

  “I’ve not told her anything yet! She wouldn’t have believed me! She had to see for herself!”

  Lyle stared in disbelief. “You haven’t told her what you are, yet you bring her here to see me?”

  “What does he mean?” Jo asked, stepping away from her husband.

  Connor could see the fear on her face. He swallowed hard, his throat raw. “I’m not human and neither is he.”

  “What do you mean?” she gasped, retreating even further from him.

  “Jo please...” He begged, reaching out to her.

  “Stay away from me...”

  Tears stung his eyes. “Jo...”

  “Stay away!” she screamed, backing into the corner.

  “What the hell is going on in here?” Terry asked as she walked through the door. She turned instantly to Jo when she spied her in the corner of her eye. The woman stared at her, terrified. Terry looked to the others for an explanation.

  “She knows about us.” Lyle offered, his eyes flashing with anger.

  Terry casually turned to Jo.

  “Keep away...” she warned, bumping into the wall as she backed off.

  “It’s alright. She’s fine.” Terry insisted, looking at her uncle and Connor as she approached Jo; only to be struck across the face with a poker.

  Terry stumbled back, holding a hand to her face. She hissed, flashing her fangs and mandibles. A deep gash ran diagonally across her flesh, revealing the black metallic skull beneath. Grimacing, she turned back to Jo, who got to see the Alchemist’s skin knit back together. Within a few moments it looked as if she had never been hit at all. “Please don’t do that.” Terry warned. The poker clanged to the floor as it slipped free from Jo’s grasp. She fainted.

  She woke to find Connor leaning over her, his expression grim.

  She felt her heart sink, remembering what had occurred before she blacked out. “It wasn’t a dream was it?” she muttered.

  Connor sat down on the bed next to her. “No...I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t understand...”

  Connor took her hand into his. “I promise I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

  She stared at him through tired eyes, but said nothing.

  ******

  Terry struggled to concentrate with Lyle pacing. She had been in the workshop for over an hour building something before he turned up. Instead of making conversation or being there for any other purpose, he had just started walking from end of the room to the other.

  Driven to distraction, Terry slammed the screwdriver down. “Is something wrong?”

  He turned to her, not appreciating the tone. “Yes, there is.”

  “You don’t need to get snippy. I didn’t ask you ten min
utes ago because the only reason you came down here was to get attention.”

  Lyle was taken aback. “I came down here because I thought you were just as angry as I was.”

  She threw her arms out. “Why must you always exaggerate? One person knows Lyle, who cares?”

  “I care! And so should you!” he shouted, pointing a finger at her. “All it takes is one. All she has to do is tell the wrong person and before you know it we’ll be hunted like wild animals.”

  Terry rolled her eyes. “And who is she going to tell exactly? No-one would ever believe her anyway.”

  “I think you’re missing the gravity of the situation here. Like I said, all it takes is a few words to the wrong person, someone who has maybe encountered our kind before.”

  “Well it’s not like it makes any difference anyway, we’re going home in a few days.”

  Lyle fell silent, his expression turning grim. “Do you really want to go back?”

  Terry sighed. “I don’t know...” She admitted, at a loss. “What about you?”

  Lyle shrugged, lost for words. Walking to the opposite end of the work bench, he drew up a stool and took a seat. “It doesn’t matter what I want, I go where I’m told.” He shrugged again. “That is the way it always has been.”

  “Yeah, but I mean, if you had the choice. If there were no orders or no-one else telling you what to do.”

  He shook his head. “I still wouldn’t know. When we first came here I hated the place but now...” he said, looking around.

  Terry rested her head on her arm. “I feel the same. I mean, I miss my dad and I miss home but...I have a life here now. We have friends and a job...well I did have, I’ve probably been sacked now that I’ve been off so long.” She laughed.

  Lyle laughed too, but it was a fleeting relief in the face of heavy burden that they both carried. “You know your father would never allow you to stay here.”

  “I know but he might have too. I don’t want to go home and start a war. I could never have that bearing down on my conscious.” She suddenly remembered something. “Oh aye, I spoke to dad this morning.”

  “Is he still coming through in three days?”

  “Yeah and we both know what will happen if he does.”

  Lyle nodded, knowingly. “We better get on with it then.”