by Candace Sams
He sighed heavily, then stared at her for a very long moment. “Let’s get back to Bloodnight Castle. I want to get out from under this crazy moon! I don’t ever want to go through another night like this.”
“Me neither.”
* * *
Just a few yards more and they would have made it into the castle, with their prisoner ready to be incarcerated in the basement holding cells. Those cells had long been present, in case surrendering rogues in the area had to be incarcerated, out of human site. Mac understood that quite a lot of rogues had spent a night or two in the bowels of Bloodnight Castle, before they were transported to London.
The gray stone of the castle, and all its turrets, stood out in the unholy moonlight, but not as a harbinger of doom. It looked more like an old, waiting friend. Hundreds of people could live under its roof. Thousands had over the centuries. And now its place in history was assured. At least to the few who knew history had been made this night.
Mac shook his head when he saw the gathering in front of the castle doors. Every immortal and Ethereal who’d been involved with the fight stood there. Garrett Bloodnight was speaking to a Druidic, white-robed woman he’d seen earlier that night, on distant hill.
Anna Gast, Merlin’s sister, was in the center of this new intrigue. Everyone around her seemed to wait for whatever she had to say. Merlin was conspicuously absent.
“Christ almighty! What now,” he muttered as he and his small band joined the group.
All of them waited to hear what Anna might say. Mac just wanted, for the first time in a very long while, to get inside a building. He wanted to get warm, get some hot food, and try not to think about what had and hadn’t happened. It was all so strange.
“Ah! There you are,” Anna said as she turned toward Mac and his small assembly. “We were waiting for you. I see you found a missing rogue.”
“What’s happened now?” Mac prodded, ignoring her statement of the obvious. He waited to hear what the tall, older brunette would say. Like Merlin, Anna was very old indeed, though her age at becoming an Ethereal was somewhere around fifty. She still walked and carried herself with a regal air, like any queen.
Merlin might be of a similar age, but no one was sure. He had always appeared so much older. Mac assumed that was by design. The obviously absent wizard had never spoken of his entry into the world of an immortal, magical life. Not even when asked. Anna, unlike her sibling was far more honest. She had always been very open about her business. Still, even she had never mentioned how their near-death experiences had brought them to this point in history. It wasn’t any of his business, nor did he care to hear their story now. Anna’s place in the agency was, as Merlin’s, always very secret. They had always skirted the law, just like all the other Ethereals. Mac had never liked that arrangement, but understood it. Having immortals in the world was one thing. Having those who could wield magic posed great problems in that they might be used, or threatened into using, their gifts inappropriately. At least, with immortals, there was only strength and physical longevity to worry about. No immortal ever used magic or could.
It was Anna that they’d turned to when Merlin’s sojourn into darkness took place. That she had some announcement to make on this night — when he sensed that everyone standing nearby desperately wanted to get into the castle, and away from the magical goings on — was particularly taxing. But, stand they would. Anna’s age and position within the agency demanded that she be attended.
The woman slowly turned and gazed at all those present, including the rogues that had given themselves up. “I will make one offer to those of you who stood with Morgan LeFey. Of you who are still living, if you have never broken any laws having to do with taking human lives…if you will consider registering legally, as British law requires, certain accommodation might be made for your future. Otherwise, you will all be locked away for the rest of eternity.”
Mac watched the faces of the surrendered rogues nearest him. They all glanced at each other as though actually considering the offer.
“I will not have anything to do with your laws!” Effrin angrily spat out. “Morgan will return. And when she does she will wreak vengeance of old on all of you…”
Frankie lifted the pommel of her sword again, ready to do what she’d been doing to her old man for most of the evening.
“No, Frankie!” Anna shouted. “He was not one of those considered worthy of the offer.”
“I don’t accept your dominion over me, woman!” Effrin loudly announced. “Only one woman has my complete devo —”
Whatever he might have said was lot to history. Anna simply lifted one hand, shot a green energy orb straight into Effrin’s chest, and felled him like an old tree. He lay on the gravel limp, but still bearing his head. Effrin was alive, but as unconscious as he’d been most of the night.
Frankie and Trey both grinned.
Mac simply waited to hear more. He knew it was coming, and he knew that Anna’s announcement would be monumental. She’d always been very compliant within the ranks of the organization. That she took such a prominent role this night meant something.
“Before that fool wakes up, lock him in the dungeon,” Anna ordered.
A few British immortals carried out that command and hauled Effrin away.
Anna turned to the other rogues. “You rogues have a choice to make. You can live a life working to help humanity, or you can exist through eternity as one of Her Majesty’s prisoners. Before you decide, know that I will sense whether the decision you make is in earnest. Do not think you can fool me. Do not think you can hide any murders you’ve committed. Again, I say, this offer only applies to those haven’t killed.”
A murmured discussion began among the rogues. As it ebbed, one of them stepped forward. Apparently, he’d been elected to speak for the others.
“Ma’am…I never wanted to be what I am,” the tall man told her. “Having had this existence inflicted on me, I never wanted to harm anyone. I ran away, and didn’t follow the law because I never wanted to be listed in some public registry. I didn’t want to have anything to do with Morgan or her fight with the crown. She threatened to kill anyone we cared about if we didn’t do what she said. Then, she made us wear those damned stones around her necks,” he told her. “With them, she drew powers from us that weakened our will and gave her strength. Strength stolen from us!”
From his pocket, Mac pulled out the stone he’d found after fighting the first rogue. He now understood its purpose. When Frankie saw it, she put out her palm and he placed it there.
“It’s magical,” she whispered. “I think these rogues might be telling the truth.”
Anna patiently nodded. “I can make an offer of anonymity to those who will work a century within the organization, in menial occupations meant to prove your loyalty. After that period, if you have fulfilled your obligations without incident, you will remain anonymous, and will be given training as covert operatives.”
The rogue who’d spoken turned to the others, apparently considering the offer. It was magnanimous in the extreme. Mac wondered that Anna had the power to subvert the law that way. Then again, Merlin had been doing just that for centuries.
Trey stood beside him as one of those agency reps who wasn’t on any radar, and who had never been outed to the public. The anonymity had worked for his friend. Therefore, Mac would not challenge it.
Mac then counted the rogues and saw that only nine remained. None of them were known to be on any official record. In fact, he didn’t recognize any of them at all. As proof of their representatives’ claim, some of them seemed very new indeed. He easily sensed their fear and their confusion. Just as he had when he’d seen them surround Morgan, attempting to protect her when they hadn’t wanted to.
“We agree,” their leader acknowledged as he faced Anna once more. “None of us wanted this. Most of us have only been immortal for a couple of years. We’ve got family still alive. We just didn’t want anything to happen to ‘em. Like
I said, Morgan’s threat was bad enough, but we were also afraid of other rogues who’d hurt our kin if we didn’t do as we were told.”
Mac understood their reasoning. He’d done the same thing, but without the pressure of family safety being added into the mix. He’d fled rogues and the authorities. His reasons had to do with not serving many of a long line of English crowns that had been abusive. Laws and times were different once he’d finally joined the agency. He had no reason to believe the rogues before him were lying. If they didn’t fulfill their end of the bargain, they would be outed to the public, and they’d never know peace from either the rogues or POSI.
Anna moved through the ranks of the immortals on the allied side, and briefly touched the shoulders of a few. He was one of them. At first, Mac didn’t understand what she was doing, but her actions soon became readily apparent.
“Those of you with whom I’ve made physical contact may stay here. All the rest of you immortals shall take the former rogues to the basement. They must agree to be incarcerated until we can get them to agency safe houses, make arrangements for their futures, and obtain their real identifications.” She gazed at the rogue leader once more. “I ask one last time, so that you understand the gravity of your choice. Will you agree to this?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the rogue front-runner told her.
The other rogues also added their willingness to do as Anna asked.
Anna gracefully waved one hand. The rogues were marched away by those immortals whose shoulders she hadn’t tapped.
Mac kept his mouth closed, finally understanding why Anna hadn’t used names to denote those with whom she’d privately speak. Jean Long was an Ethereal. As such, she was unknown to anyone. Anna was making sure that Jean’s status, as a magical immortal, remained anonymous, by not mentioning her name. The rogues had seen Jean, but didn’t know who she was and very likely never would.
Then, there was Trey and Frankie to consider. As an American, Frankie was unknown as an immortal, except to those she chose to tell. She wisely hadn’t spoken in front of the rogues, so they didn’t know she wasn’t from Britain. Trey had already violated British law because Merlin had exempted him from reporting his status. Like his sister, Trey was also unknown, and had remained silent. Only Garrett and he were known to the rogues as agency reps. Still, Anna had used great tact in not using any names of anyone immortal, not when speaking with any of the rogues, at any time. It was quite likely that the rogues, by use of magic, would never even know who Anna or any of the rest of them were. He could easily see Anna casting such a spell on their behalf.
Mac now firmly believed that any Ethereal or group of them might be able to enchant the entire world, and thus hide their existences. Maybe this entire situation was something contrived through magic, though he hoped not. Why would anyone go to the trouble of altering reality? He silently prayed that no one had that much magic, or could wield it with such devastating impact on the timeline.
As they watched the American and British immortal agents march the rogues away, no one spoke a word.
While taking care of this chore, Mac noted that not one of the Americans had used their real accents. Even now, every one of them were very professionally keeping their country of origin secret. If they’d arrived at Bloodnight Castle pretending to be French or Italian or Swedish, that was what they’d be in front of the rogues. Let the rogues believe they’d been bested by legally operating immortals from many other lands.
Again, if Anna Gast’s magic allowed the rogues any memory of what had happened this night, Mac believed that would be the true miracle. Until Morgan’s former fighters proved their loyalty, through a century of hard work, they’d get no information about any ally.
There they stood. Anna Gast, Garrett Bloodnight, Jean Long, Trey Seward, Frankie Radcliffe and him. He waited to see what would happen; what would be said.
Anna sighed and lifted her hands in a supplicating gesture. “I must tell you the truth that my brother didn’t want told. Obviously, I couldn’t say what I’m about to, to any other agents.”
Mac simply swiped one hand over his face. Having heard too many lies from Merlin he could barely stomach one more. Hopefully, Anna would tell the truth, as he’d known her to do in the past.
“Merlin is still drifting between lucidity and the darkness he absorbed. It will take a very long time for him to relinquish that darkness. As you know, using any kind of evil sorcery has consequences. My brother is facing his, and will for a very long time,” Anna told them.
“Why did he go there in the first place?” Garrett asked. “He knew what it might do to him. He’s warned Ethereals for centuries to never make use of dark powers.”
“He did it for you, Garrett. For all of you,” Anna replied.
Garrett tilted his head. “Explain.”
“Some time ago, Merlin had a vision of the battle. He saw several of you dying…as well as several of those other agents who are now incarcerating the rogues. In that vision, Morgan was very powerful indeed. Though my brother saw the allies winning the fight, he saw that battle as lasting much longer and with terrible consequences.” She looked at Frankie. “You, my dear…he saw you and your brother dying, in many of his visions. As well as you, Mac.”
Mac didn’t respond. There was more to hear.
“Merlin has deep, familial feelings for every ally here. He knows or has trained many of you. Including the Americans. Their knowledge of these events was why they were chosen. Correct, Frankie?”
“Yes. That’s true,” Frankie confirmed. “They’ve all worked with Merlin during the war. That’s why they’re here.”
“Merlin couldn’t stand to see any of you dying. Whether his vision was accurate or not, he wouldn’t take any chances. So…he decided to use dark magic to try and glean Morgan’s plans. He was somehow able to force knowledge that was incorrect, into her consciousness. Because of Merlin’s finagling, Morgan has thought, for many years now, that she would win, when we knew she would not. Not if she fought beneath a Celtic Moon. Indeed, Merlin could plant seeds of doubt into Morgan’s mind so that she would show up on such a celestial event. This would assure the allies a victory. Moreover, Merlin also began to see her strategies, as a series of maneuvers mapped out. They were in his head. Though he still couldn’t see Morgan’s location, he had a good working idea of what she might attempt.”
“In using dark magic to find Morgan, he succumbed to it himself,” Garrett stated.
Anna nodded. “Yes. He began to do something else, however. Something that made his personality of late…unpredictable. Quite nonsensical even.”
“Which was?” Mac chimed in.
“Absorption. He began to slowly drain Morgan’s powers and take them into himself. A very little at a time. He’s been doing this for the past year, possibly for far longer. Just as he neglected to tell you what he was up to, he didn’t tell me. I only learned the full truth of his plans these past few days. But Merlin’s slow drain on her power is why Morgan has been looking for magical objects. She needed to bolster her powers. She realized her conjuring skills were waning, but never understood why. She probably thought the relics she found were far less significant than those she needed to find. Another reason why Merlin asked the president to keep you hunting magical artifacts, Frankie.”
Frankie simply nodded.
“Is that why I beat her so easily tonight?” Garrett asked. “Is that why the battle was far less severe than we’d all been led to expect?”
“Yes. Merlin meant for every one of the allies to walk away with his or her life. He didn’t want just a victory, he wanted all of you to be safe. He couldn’t protect Arthur’s knights. He didn’t know how to those many centuries ago. But he found a way this time around. That was why he did what he did.”
“By the time the battle began tonight, Morgan must have known her powers wouldn’t sustain her. But she came anyway.” Garrett shook his head. “Why? Why not wait until she could regroup?”
“F
or the reasons just cited. She believed she could win, even with depleted powers. All her skewed prophecies…those that Merlin had told tampered with…were her truth. By the time she arrived tonight, she was drained. In her insanity, and with Merlin having crawled around in her brain, she could not accept that she could lose. As drained as she was, she still thought she would win. After what Merlin did to her, a great allied force was hardly needed. Nor was his presence. In the end, he realized his own mind was diminishing. He made the choice to let all of you to take this victory for yourselves. Without his help. This is testament to the amount and depth of the power that Merlin had so carefully and craftily drained.”
“With consequence,” Garrett reminded.
“Indeed,” Anna agreed. “The drained dark power my brother took into himself is what you speak of. It made him appear suspicious, conniving, irrational and power-mad. But all of you must admit, these were character traits Merlin never displayed previously. As to Morgan, her last act of magic before the battle, was to use those amulets made from the Preseli Hills, to drain power from her own rogues.”
“I don’t understand their function,” Frankie blurted.
“Preseli blue stones were used at Stonehenge,” Anna explained. “In their natural setting, blue stones gently drain power from the land, and deliver it to those whom Nature deems worthy. Like so many other magical tools in her life, Morgan used the stones’ powers wrongly. With them, she drained the rogues’ energy. It would not help her, though she thought it a great act of magic.” Anna paused and clasped her hands. “No matter what any of you think, I do feel that there was no other course of action. Not if all of you were to come out of this fight intact. Your survival…all of you…was paramount in my brother’s heart. Without intervention of some kind, Morgan would have had a terrible presence this night, and she would have caused much more damage than what has been witnessed in previous history. All the Ethereals believed that, if she fought under a Celtic Moon, she would be defeated. As stated, she was eventually led to believe otherwise, though this magical interference took a great deal of time and skill to accomplish. My brother deemed that, even to the cost of his own safety, all your lives were worth saving. You all mean that much to him.” She sighed. “He lost friends during Arthur’s time. He did not want to go through that again.”