by MJ Fletcher
Was this something Dad and his friends had been working on for a while, and if so how long? And was this the inevitable he had referred to?
“But that isn’t true of you and your friends.” Emory leaned forward as he spoke. “You’re all from different Societies but you work together like a well-oiled machine. You stopped them from getting the first Artifact. And since we are gathered here now, I’d say that there’s more going on.”
My father nodded and quickly told them about my mom’s visit and what we had learned about the Chronicle page. Mr. Miller seemed the most upset, visibly shaken at the mention that the First Kind was after the Chronicle page.
“That the First Kind is demanding that the Chronicle page be turned over to them is of grave concern.” Levi winced holding his side as he moved slightly in his chair. He obviously was still recovering from his run in with the First Kind.
“Chloe,” Emory smiled at me. “When your father was kicked out of DS we set up this shadow assembly to try and fight against what we saw as a growing darkness in the Old Kind. We tasked your father with finding the Artifacts and that’s why you two were always running all over the globe. You’ve been involved in this fight far longer than you realize.”
“But now with the First Kind revealing themselves, the Societies are in total disarray and the Council reigns with its head buried in the sand,” Levi sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, pain written across his face. “Each of us is working within our own Societies to try to organize and stop the threat, but I fear it may be too little too late.”
“These two,”—Dad nodded at Levi and Emory— “have been trying to convince me for months to bring you into this little circle.”
So what had suddenly changed his mind? That was an easy one to answer. Mom had put the final nail in the coffin when she tried to recruit me to her side
“Chloe, we want you and your friends to hunt down all of the Artifacts for us,” Emory said. “You’ll bring them to us, not the Council. We’ll figure out the best way to use them to defeat the First Kind and hopefully restore the Old Kind to their former glory.”
“You’re serious?” I asked not believing what I was hearing.
“Yes,” Levi said.
“You bet your ass we will,” I agreed in a heartbeat.
“What do you need?” Emory smiled at my response.
“My friends.”
“Done.” Dad grinned.
“This is going to be very dangerous,” Levi said giving me fair warning.
”That’s nothing new; it’s been dangerous since day one. Besides, the First Kind are coming for me anyway. And with my friends help I’ll at least have a fighting chance.”
“I agree,” Emory smiled. “I’ll go collect your friends.” He got up and disappeared through the door with the Silver Star etched into it. So what did you mean that the Reliquary is where the First Kind was born?” I asked.
“The Reliquary was created by all of the Groups when they broke with the First Kind, like the Paladin Academy; it exists between dimensions. Residing mostly in shadow realms, it connects with over a thousand portals, constantly changing its position in the universe as it moves. In the beginning it was a storehouse for powerful Artifacts and an armory. It fell into disuse by the Old Kind centuries ago until finally the last map leading to it was lost for decades until a crazy DS member found it.” Levi laughed and jabbed his thumb toward Dad who smiled in response.
“Aren’t you worried the council will find you here?” I asked.
“No, the Reliquary is unique in the universe. It is undetectable and can only be accessed from the doorways already attached to it. Even if they were looking for it, they wouldn’t be able to locate it.” Levi leaned back taking a moment to calm himself.
“That’s pretty cool.”
“Yes, it is very cool. We’re still learning the secrets of the Reliquary but for now we are going to use it as our base of operations. If something happens or if you find yourself in danger do what you have to and get to a doorway that will lead you here.” Dad walked around the table to me smiled and gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
“No problem. I do have one question though?”
“What?” Dad asked.
“If we’re working outside of the Old Kind does that mean we still have to follow all their rules?”
Dad tilted his head as if considering my question. “I suppose not, why?”
“An idea I have and need to think about it.”
“Let me know when you work it out.” Dad pulled me to him and hugged me. “I love you, kiddo.”
After all I had been through with Mom today; I really need to hear that from my dad and getting a hug from him wasn’t so bad either. “I love you too, Dad.”
“I take it this means all is well in the Masters’ house?” Jess laughed as she stepped out of the portal with Emory and Nightshade. Nightshade looked around the room his eyes lighting up at each turn.
I nodded. “Yes, it’s all good. But you guys aren’t going to believe this,”
Edgar and Slade showed up a few minutes later and Dad showed us to another large room where our little group could sit and discuss the situation privately. I ran through how Dad, Levi and Emory wanted us to not only get the Chronicle page, but also find not one, but all the remaining Artifacts.
“But how can we go against the Council?” Slade asked and ran his hand through his hair as he looked to each one of us.
“It’s not as if they’ve had our best interest at heart?” Nightshade rolled his eyes and leaned back.
“I’m wondering why of all the groups, only three are involved. I mean why aren’t Mapmakers and Guilders represented here?” Jess furrowed her brow and shrugged.
“Come on, it’s simple. They don’t know who to trust in either organization,” Nightshade commented as if bored with the whole discussion.
“The Mapmakers have always been neutral. We’ve never taken a side in any of the conflicts between other Societies. I would guess that’s why no one from my Society would be here,” Edgar offered as he fingered the maps hanging out of his satchel.
“I don’t like it,” Slade said.
“Shocker, Slade doesn’t like something, let me set the world on fire with that tweet.” Nightshade sighed.
“You seem to have it all figured out, Nightshade, don’t you?” Slade said with a sarcastic tone.
“More than you, Slade. I doubt that your mentor Mr. Miller would be part of this if there was the slightest chance that it would destroy the Impossible Engineers. Emory is one of the only HVO members who isn’t a nutter and everyone knows it. As for Masters, he has the biggest axe to grind but if what Chloe says is true about her mom he has a pretty good reason to want to stop the First Kind. My vote is we throw in with this lot. It’s a damn sight better than hoping the Council gets their act together before the First Kind overruns them.”
“The Impossible Engineers are a well-oiled machine. They don’t have the problems that the other Societies do,” Slade said.
“Is that what your daddy told you?”
“Watch your mouth, Nightshade.”
“Or what?”
“You want to find out?” Slade stood and took a step toward Nightshade who didn’t move or flinch.
“Would the two of you knock it off? This isn’t helping us to make a decision,” I yelled at both of them annoyed with Nightshade for antagonizing Slade and for Slade refusing to acknowledge the situation for what it was.
“Listen to your girlfriend, Slade. She’s looking out for you.” Nightshade winked at me and I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“That’s it!” Slade rushed across the room and grabbed Nightshade by his jacket slamming him into the wall. Nightshade eyes flared with anger and the room filled with energy as they both activated their powers.
“Stop it!” Jess and I both screamed as we reached them and started tugging at Slade’s massive arms trying to dislodge them from Nightshade.
“You�
��re always yapping Nightshade, why not do something instead,” Slade accused.
“Did I upset the little Impossible Engineer?” Nightshade leaned in closer sneering at Slade. It seemed that I wasn’t the only one who knew how to make a bad situation worse.
Slade released one hand and brought it back as he cocked it and threw a furious punch at Nightshade.
“No!” Jess yelled.
I could have sworn Nightshade grinned as he twisted and spun into Slade’s arm still holding him. The punch sailed past him and Slade’s fist slammed into the wall with a resounding crunch.
Slade let out a painful yell and let go of Nightshade to cradle his injured hand. I immediately went to his aid, turning his hand over to see the damage. The knuckles were scraped and bleeding and already beginning to bruise. I didn’t think there were any broken bones, but then I couldn’t be sure.
I turned my anger on Nightshade. “Damn it, Nightshade, why do you have to be such an ass?”
“If you didn’t notice I was the one who got attacked?”
“Maybe if you weren’t such a bastard it wouldn’t have happened. Can’t you just keep your mouth shut?”
“Sorry, I don’t have it in me.”
“Well find it, if we’re going to do this I need to be able to trust you.”
“Trust goes both ways, Masters.” Nightshade turned and stepped out of the room.
I turned to Slade. He was flexing his hand as if testing for broken bones. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” He didn’t look at me and I didn’t want to push it.
“I’m on board for this,” I said wanting to get back to the matter at hand and settle it. ”I think we should do it.”
“Me too.” Jess agreed.
Slade crossed his arms, making sure to rest his injured hand on his arm and leaned back against the wall, the scowl on his face growing darker by the minute.
“What about you Edgar?” I asked.
Edgar shook his head dragging his attention away from a section of the Reliquary he had been studying. “I’m up for it. I mean how could I say no to this place?” Edgar smiled and motioned around the room and then stopped as if he’d just notice something was amiss. “Where’s Nightshade?”
Jess stifled a laugh and I just shook my head at Edgar’s obliviousness.
“He’s around, don’t worry.” I took a deep breath and turned to my boyfriend. “Slade?”
He looked at each of us, his eyes lingering on me. “Fine, whatever.”
“What about it Nightshade?” Jess asked as he stepped back into the room without looking in my direction.
“I’m in.”
“Good, then the next step is getting the Chronicle page. Any updates?” I asked.
“Jess and I went to see Gavin,” Nightshade said. “He’s made progress on the container. He’s broken through three layers of traps and has several more to go. He estimates it’ll take about two weeks.”
“Who’s Gavin?” Slade asked as he came to sit beside Edgar who was busy scribbling on a map.
“Gavin Brimstone, a former Guilder is working on the container that holds the page,” I explained and the scowl on Slade’s face grew more pronounced.
“Do we have a decision?” Emory walked into the room, his hands buried in the pockets of his trench coat.
“We’re going to do it.”
He smiled at my answer. “I never doubted you would, kid. Okay, so the way it works is we’re going to supply your Mapmaker with maps on how you can access the Reliquary. I’m going to be everyone’s point of contact, no talking to your dad or Levi about any of this from now on. Only when we are in the Reliquary should you consider it safe to speak. Once you find an Artifact, bring it here immediately and we’ll take it from there. Everyone clear?”
“Yes.” I spoke for the group. Emory nodded and waved Edgar forward and he ran toward him with a huge smile. Edgar would be thrilled for days with new maps to pour over.
“I’m going to take a look around. You want to come, Jess?” Nightshade headed for the door. Jess followed after him sliding her arm through his as they left the room. I turned back to Slade who sat across the room, his scowl targeted at me.
“This isn’t a good idea,” Slade said.
“Why?” I asked walking over to him.
“We need to trust the Council.”
“Why? Jordan was on the Council and you saw what he did to my family.” I didn’t need this right now. I was still upset about my mom. Not to mention I couldn’t stop thinking of how badly I had hurt Val. Who, I was slowly realizing to my utter amazement, had turned out to be my best friend.
“My dad is second in command of the Impossible Engineers do you really think he would not do what’s best for us?” Slade threw his hands up, actually only his good one.
“Your dad isn’t exactly my biggest fan and what... my dad doesn’t care at all? The Old Kind is better at fighting one another than outside forces. The last time they fought someone rather than one another was hundreds of years ago.” I seemed to remember reading something about a splinter group that my family had fought against other than that I wasn’t sure when the Old Kind had fought anyone but themselves.
“That’s not fair; your dad was just reinstated. You know my dad was just looking out for me. He’s worried about my future.”
“And my dad isn’t? Oh wait, isn’t he doing this for all of us?”
“Chloe, I don’t think you’re looking at this clearly.”
“Tell me how I’m supposed to look at it, Slade?
“My dad is a Council member and one of the leaders of the Impossible Engineers. How can you ask me to keep this from him?”
I thought about dinner at Slade’s house and how his father had voiced his concerns about me doing something just like this. I worried that I was turning into some manipulative woman who pulled everyone’s strings and had them dancing to her tune. I thought about my mother and her cold demeanor when we had talked. I didn’t want to become like that, like her.
“You’re right, Slade, maybe it’s better if you’re not a part of this.”
“That’s not what I’m saying, I want to help but I think we should trust the Engineers.”
“No, Slade, we do this on our own or not at all.”
“I think your dad might be too close to this.”
“What does that mean?”
“He has a history of not following the rules that’s all. Maybe he can’t get used to trusting others to help.”
“As for my dad not following the rules, if you forgot Jordan betrayed him. It’s not like Dad doesn’t trust. Levi and Emory are here and they both agree with my dad.”
“Mr. Miller is a great guy but your dad and Emory are old friends. Maybe they convinced Levi to join them.”
My stomach turned at the mere suggestion and a surge of anger ran through me. It sure as hell sounded like he was attacking my dad. Not a good idea.
“What? Do you think my dad is a devious bastard who can’t be trusted? If you don’t want to be here, no one is forcing you to stay,” I snapped annoyed that my boyfriend, the guy who supposedly cared and trusted me, was not only attacking my dad but was being downright belligerent when I needed him to understand.
“Look I’m not trying to fight with you. But the truth is that your family doesn’t have a great track record with the Old Kind. I mean your dad did get kicked out and now your mom turns out to be a traitor too.”
“What the hell did you say?” I screamed and jabbed at Slade who stepped back.
“I’m just saying—”
“You’re saying that my dad is a traitor too just like my mom right? That’s what you’re saying isn’t it, Slade? I’m sorry my family isn’t perfect like yours but if you don’t like it, it’s too god damn bad. You don’t want to help, then get the hell out.” I turned and started storming from the room when I felt Slade rush up behind me. He grabbed my arm and spun me around.
“I didn’t mean that,” he said his eye
s wide and pleading.
If only he knew how much I hated when he pleaded. I’d rather he fight than fold so easily like that. I glared at his hand still gripping my arm. He saw where my eyes settled and instantly released my arm, pulling his arm up to his chest submissively.
“Stay the hell away from me,” I snapped and walked out.
Chapter 15
Status: I go to hell (or shopping depending on how you look at it).
“Are you ready?” Jess yelled from downstairs as I sat looking in the mirror. It had been a few days since we had been brought to the Reliquary. I hadn’t talked to Slade or Val since that day and now Jess was dragging me dress shopping to buy something I was pretty well convinced I would never use. Considering the fact that I think Slade and I broke up. Not to mention the fact that I wasn’t really a dress or dance kind of girl. I mean here I was dark eyeliner and multiple rings, wearing my ever present hoodie. Dresses and I seemed like a bad combo, though I didn’t think that excuse would fly with Jess.
”Never in a million years,” I mumbled. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad, I thought to myself as I walked down the stairs. Keep deluding yourself, a little voice in the back of my head laughed.
Jess was at the front door, a smile plastered across her perfect face. Jess wasn’t only one of the beautiful people; she was also a top-notch fashionista and let’s not forget a whiz at applying makeup just the right way, which of course added to her already gorgeous features. She and I would always turn heads when we were together, mostly I assumed, because people thought I was kidnapping the prom queen.
“Here I am,” I said a little too melancholy.
“My goal today is to break you out of this funk that you’re in.”
“Then we better do something besides dress shopping.”