“Don’t make the mistake of letting my eyes fool you,” she whispered in his ear. “I see better than the both of you put together.”
Rico could only move his head a fraction of an inch to nod.
“I’ve killed for less,” she continued, her voice steel. “But I like you so I’m going to let you explain to me why you should continue breathing.”
Rico looked down at the gun but didn’t answer. After a moment, Franca moved it enough to allow him to speak.
“It’s Arthur Cross’s daughter,” said Rico as the words rushed out.
Franca holstered her weapon and grabbed Rico by the collar.
“Say again? And don’t you dare lie to me,” she said. “Who is this?”
“On my life,” said Rico, his voice shaking as he answered. “This is Raquel—Arthur’s daughter.”
Franca looked again at the body Snipe held in his massive arms. She turned her head to one side and exhaled. Snipe nodded.
“Well, shit,” she said. “Bring her inside, Snipe.”
She pointed at Rico. “You go tell Hiram I’ll do this because Cross saved my life more times than I’m comfortable admitting, but this goes no further,” she said. “The Deadeyes are long gone and better for it. You understand?”
Rico nodded as he stepped back and wiped the sweat from his face. “Yes, miss,” he said.
Franca took hold of Raquel’s wrist and let go after a moment.
“She wasting away,” she said. “Snipe, close the door and come with me.”
Without turning, she spoke to Rico who was still standing at the door.
“And Rico?”
“Yes, miss?” he said, startled.
“After you deliver the message, you tell Hiram he needs to come see me,” she said. “Go. Tell no one else what takes place here.”
“But the others will want to know that—” he began.
She turned to look at him and he froze mid-sentence.
“If I hear that someone besides Hiram knows about this, I can promise you that those will be the last words you chose to share,” she said. “Do we understand each other?”
“Yes, miss, only Hiram will know,” he said as he left.
She closed the door and turned to Snipe as she placed her hand on a panel and a section of the floor slid away, revealing stairs.
“Downstairs, Snipe. She doesn’t have much time left.”
“Yes, miss,” said Snipe as he descended the stairs carefully, feeling his way one step at a time.
What have you gotten yourself into, child?
FIVE
“WHAT IS THIS place?” I asked as I came through the portal into a barren space devoid of—anything. Everywhere I looked I only saw black sand and a starlit sky.
“This is an in-between space,” said Nina. “No one can find you here.”
I found that hard to believe considering who was doing the looking.
“This place is a null plane—an interstice,” said Meja with some surprise. “I can only sense each of us but nothing else.”
At her words, I let my awareness expand. For as far as I could sense, there was nothing. We were the only living things in this plane. It was disconcerting and I quickly brought my awareness back.
“Does time even flow here?” I asked. “I just sense emptiness. It reminds me of—”
“Aurora’s passage,” said Meja. “This isn’t the mirror. It’s more like a place between the planes and the mirror.” She looked around at the barren landscape.
She was right. I let my awareness expand again using Shadowstrike this time.
You should have done this the first time, Dante.
I’m still getting used to being bonded to a weapon that isn’t trying to kill me.
In the distance, I could sense something—a structure of some kind. The energy signature it was giving off was faint, but it was there.
“There,” I said and pointed in the direction where I felt the structure. “There is a building or something over there.”
Nina shook her head. “There is nothing here,” she said. “This place is in-between. Nothing lives here.”
I saw Meja take a breath and close her eyes. I knew she was letting her awareness expand as I had done moments earlier. I also knew she wasn’t going to find anything.
Her weapon is strong but not that strong. She will not be able to see it as you have, said Shadowstrike.
“I don’t sense anything,” she said, opening her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“”Yes, I’m certain,” I said and met her gaze.
She looked off to where I had pointed and then looked back at me.
“Doesn’t seem like we have much of a choice,” she said and gestured forward. “You take lead and find this place.”
I headed off in the direction where I felt the faint tug of chi and hoped I wasn’t leading us into a trap, or worse.
SIX
“THE HARBINGER IS loose again,” said Aurora.
She sat at her desk in her office. A fire raged in the fireplace, keeping the drafty room warm. Around her in a flurry of activity, different assistants in robes attended to stacks of paper on her desk. She pushed her chair back and stood, walking around the desk and the assistants.
“What do you mean, loose?” asked Roman. “Was he contained?”
“For a short time I couldn’t sense him in the hub,” she said. “For a brief moment I dared to hope he was finished. Now he has reappeared.”
Roman adjusted his hammer and rubbed his chin. “What do you want me to do?”
“I need to speak to him,” she said. “If he is free that means the ascendants—”
“Are in danger,” Roman said, finishing her thought. “Do you think he will go after them again?”
“There is nothing to indicate that his purpose has changed. He is the Harbinger: he exists to make a way for the Destroyer. I need to convince him otherwise.”
“What will speaking to him accomplish?” asked Roman. “Our best course is to destroy him.”
“So far any attempts to do that have been unsuccessful,” she answered with an edge to her voice. “The creature does not die.”
“He is powerful,” said Roman, looking down at his hammer. “Perhaps if I can use my weapon—”
“You will be dead before you can learn anything,” said Aurora. “And your death does not serve me or our purpose.”
Roman nodded silently. He remembered his last meeting with Rael.
“He doesn’t seem like the type you can convince, and I don’t think I can face him alone,” said Roman. “Even at full strength I don’t think I can match him.”
“You won’t face him alone,” said Aurora.
“You have an army hidden somewhere that I haven’t seen?”
Aurora remained silent as she looked at Roman.
“I forget my place. Forgive me,” said Roman, bowing his head.
She looked to the side and motioned with her hand.
“If I had one, you would be leading it. Besides, an army would be pointless against someone who cannot die,” she answered. “However, there may be a way.”
A masked figure entered the room. The mask—a white face with red symbols—covered the man’s face as he limped closer to them. Roman unslung his hammer and held it tightly. Waves of energy radiated from the masked man, charging the air around him as he leaned on his staff.
“There is a way,” said the figure, his voice a rasp. “But I don’t think you will like it.”
“Don’t you recognize him?” asked Aurora. “Remove the mask.”
The masked figure bowed his head and removed the disguise. Half of his face was disfigured and raw. Red welts crisscrossed one side of his face, making it almost unrecognizable.
Roman took a step back in surprise, keeping his hammer in front of him.
“Kenji?” said Roman in disbelief.
“In the flesh, or mostly in the flesh,” answered Kenji as he covered his face again.
“What happ
ened? Last I heard you were killed by the Reapers.”
“A chi erasure against a Reaper that did not go as planned left me with some…lasting scars,” said Kenji. “But we are not here to discuss my adventures.”
Roman remained silent for a moment. “You are different somehow,” he said. “Your energy signature has changed—stronger, it seems.”
Kenji nodded. “The erasure is based on an ancient glyph, a glyph of inversion,” said Kenji. “You could say this glyph is the framework for the erasure, which as you may know negates energy.”
“Negates energy?” asked Roman. “Any kind of energy?”
“Every kind of energy,” said Kenji.
“And you know this glyph?” said Roman.
“No, that knowledge has been lost. I know a segment of it,” said Kenji. “While I was in the midst of the erasure, I was able to unravel part of the glyph. It wasn’t complete, but it was enough to save myself from being completely undone.”
“Will it be enough to stop the Harbinger?” asked Roman.
“I don’t know,” said Kenji. “He is notoriously difficult to kill.”
Turning to Aurora, Roman slung his hammer over his shoulder again. “Do we even know where he is?”
“He’s in the hub. I’ll show you where,” she said and made her way back to her seat. “Find him and bring him here. If he resists, use what you know of the glyph and erase him.”
SEVEN
SAMADHI SMOKE KNEW he was running out of time. By refusing the invitation, he knew he had signed his own death sentence.
Invitation? More like command. Wheel is deranged if he thinks I am going to join him.
He looked down at the sleeping form of his granddaughter. She had just turned four and was sleeping in his arms fitfully. He ran a hand across her forehead to calm her down and she settled into a deeper sleep.
“Father, the preparations are made,” his only son, Aron, said. “Are you certain we must flee? There must be another way. We can fight them.”
Aron stood by his wife, Cara. Both looked reluctant to leave their master.
“Not now you can’t,” said Smoke. “You are both highly skilled Samadhi in your own right, but it will not be enough against them. Their numbers are too great.”
“We are masters of smoke, Samadhi. Numbers mean nothing to us,” she said. “They cannot harm what they cannot touch.”
Smoke shook his head slowly. “No, Cara. You and your family must leave this plane until this threat is removed and you hear from me,” said Smoke. He placed his granddaughter in her mother’s arms. “I will deal with this.”
“Yes, Father,” said Aron.
“I know you don’t like this, son, but it is the only way for now. Promise me you will not return until you have heard from me.”
“But I—”
“Promise me. On your word and family.”
Aron hesitated and sighed. “On my word and family, Father. I will wait until you contact me before I return.”
“And if you don’t hear from me?”
Aron’s gaze hardened, his hands becoming fists.
“Aron…” Smoke put his hands on Aron’s shoulders.
“If I don’t hear from you, I’m to assume the worst and remain hidden,” said Aron.
Smoke nodded. “That’s good, my son. Now you must go,” he said. He opened a portal, gave his granddaughter a kiss on her forehead and hugged his son and daughter-in-law, the last masters of his discipline, one last time.
“Now go, and remember your word,” said Smoke. “Keep them safe, Aron.”
He watched in sadness as the last of his family left the plane and his life, knowing in his heart that he would never see them again.
EIGHT
WHEEL LOOKED AROUND the large tent at the gathered Samadhi. Seated at the edge of a large tre, he took in the scene: twenty old men who were once important, clinging to the memory of power. Most were only Samadhi in title, earning their position by being the student of a revered master. Very few wielded real power and, out of those, none posed a threat to him.
Outside, a desert storm raged, blowing some of the flaps in. No sand entered the interior of the tent, with large rugs and comfortable cushions remaining undisturbed by the howling wind. Its sound remained a muffled whisper as the Samadhi spoke to each other in hushed voices. Contempt filled Wheel as he looked at the masters of their respective disciplines. For a brief moment, anger and hatred flitted across his face. Soon I will be rid of these fossils, he thought. He composed himself and stood before the gathered assembly. They had come to the plane at his summons. He knew many of them despised and feared him, and the power he wielded.
“Brothers, you honor me with your presence,” he said as he bowed.
Many of the Samadhi bowed in response to his words. Some remained rigid, unwilling to bow.
“You say that like we had a choice, Wheel,” said one of the Samadhi who had refused to return the bow. Wheel looked up at the voice and made a mental note. Samadhi Earth—strong but not strong enough, alone.
Samadhi Earth was a stocky man. His graying hair was cut short, which gave his round face an even rounder appearance. Despite his frame, his movements were fluid and graceful as he stepped toward Wheel.
“Samadhi Earth, I merely felt the need to be convincing,” said Wheel. “We’re facing dark times and it will require all of our skills to face them.”
Some of the Samadhi murmured assent. Samadhi Earth remained looking at Wheel. He sipped some of the liquid from the wineglass he held in his hand.
“What dark times, Wheel?” said Earth. “We are not at war. Is there a threat to our existence or to any of our planes? I don’t think so. This is just a pathetic attempt to force us to join you.”
A small show of force is needed, as usual. Wheel bowed and gestured, sending a mass of flowing tendrils of dark energy at Earth. Samadhi Earth spit out the liquid and formed it into a makeshift shield. It wasn’t strong enough, though, and shattered as the dark tendrils smashed against it. Tendrils enveloped Earth as he struggled.
“This is exactly what I am referring to, my brothers,” said Wheel as he entered the center of the tre. “We must work together. I do not wish to force you. I much prefer your cooperation. We should be in harmony.”
Earth gathered up the remaining liquid in his glass and shaped it into a blade, cutting through the tendrils and escaping their grasp. However, it was too late. Violet welts appeared all over his body.
“This is how he would like our cooperation,” said Earth, showing his arms to the others. “You don’t want us to help you.”
“There have been reports of Kriya loose in the planes,” said Wheel. “And if that were not enough to concern us, Reapers have been summoned as well. Do I lie about this? Is this not a threat?”
The murmuring of the Samadhi became louder and more agitated.
“And you stand there and claim to have nothing to do with this?” said Earth.
“Have we forgotten that the Destroyer still lives?” answered Wheel. “His Harbinger has attempted to reform the bridge to his plane of incarceration.”
Earth shook his head. “Lies and half-truths,” he said. “You want us to serve you. You brought us here to remove any threat. We’ve been fools.” Earth made a gesture and found that his ability to form a portal had been nullified.
“What have you done to me?” asked Earth.
“I would prefer you remain here with us,” said Wheel.
“You prefer? You do not lead us, Wheel. Your arrogance knows no bounds.”
Wheel smiled for a moment and then turned to face the rest of the gathered Samadhi.
“Earth is right,” he said. “I don’t need your assistance, but I am asking for it. The threats that face us now are greater than any we have seen.”
“We will never follow you,” said Earth. “You’re almost as delusional as Lucius was when we stopped him. We dealt with him and we can deal with you.”
With a thought, Wheel manifeste
d Maelstrom. The staff thrummed in his hands, resisting him. Earth narrowed his eyes at the sight of the dark weapon and took a defensive stance. Several of the Samadhi recognized the staff and whispered its name in fear.
“I don’t think I made my point clear,” said Wheel as his smile hardened. “What I need is your obedience. This will be your one and only opportunity. If you come with me, join me, I promise you real power, or you can die here, now.”
Eight of the Samadhi stepped closer to Earth in a show of solidarity. Earth began coughing, as the welts grew darker. The other Samadhi backed away from Earth and his supporters.
“When I procured this weapon,” said Wheel as he brandished Maelstrom, “I was told I wouldn’t be able to wield it. Some nonsense about being part of a bloodline.”
“How did you…How did you get that weapon?” asked one of the Samadhi, standing next to Earth.
“Don’t be naïve,” said Earth as he summoned a staff of his own. “He stole it and intends to use it against us.”
“Borrowed it, actually,” said Wheel matter-of-factly.
“Semantics, Wheel,” answered Earth. “You may have power, but you have clearly overestimated your abilities this time. Just like Lucius.”
“I am nothing like him,” said Wheel. The air around him charged with power.
“In that, we can agree. His justification—though twisted—is understandable,” replied Earth. “You just want power. Smoke was right.”
“Smoke,” said Wheel. “He will regret defying me.”
What began as laughter ended in a paroxysm of coughs as Earth clutched his chest. He spit out a thick, black, viscous liquid before speaking. “You may have killed me, but you will not beat him so easily,” said Earth, regaining his breath.
“Enough talk, old man,” said Wheel as he attacked again.
Earth stepped to the side as Maelstrom crashed down where he had stood just moments earlier. Wheel whipped a leg around in a devastating kick to Earth’s legs. Earth, with a word, sheathed his legs in stone. Wheel kicked through the stone and into the older Samadhi’s legs, shattering one of them. With a grunt of pain, Earth fell to the ground and rolled to the side, avoiding another crushing blow from Wheel. He slid back out of Wheel’s reach.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 72