“Darwin’s got a lot to answer for.” Finch tutted. I could almost have commended him for trying to bring some levity to what was otherwise a hugely depressing situation.
“As I was saying.” Remington shot him a cold look. “The covens have been fighting a losing battle up to now, and so has the National Council. With that in mind, you need to be careful whom you trust. Nobody is impervious to Katherine’s influence, not even the higher-ups of magical society. The cult has clearly infiltrated pretty much everywhere, at this point, and no security measure is foolproof. Katherine prides herself on her discretion and sneakiness when it comes to her operatives. She saves the amateur dramatics for herself, since she’s the lead in her own vision.”
“What’s your point?” Wade had gone back into stern mode. Even Remington seemed taken aback by his abruptness. I kept trying to convince myself that it was just nerves and stress, but I’d never seen him like this before.
“I was getting to it,” Remington replied. “I will do what I can to get the word out about Echidna, to the others on the Mage Council and the coven directors, at least. Meanwhile, we have to hope that the National Council members really are starting their secret recruitment of an army.”
Isadora frowned. “Although, in light of recent developments, an army might not do much.”
“Sis and the Grimoire, on the other hand… Am I right?” Finch grinned at me.
“Yes, you’re right.” Isadora held my gaze. “Harley may well be the only one, now, who can find a way to stop Katherine before she ascends.”
No pressure…
Twenty-Three
Jacob
I sat at Krieger’s workbench. I was supposed to be focusing on the magical detector, but I kept looking at Suri instead. She was still a bit dopey from the meds. But at least she wasn’t crying anymore. I didn’t want her to feel sad or scared. Even if we had just been to an interdimensional world and faced a psycho with an overgrown cat for a sidekick.
Krieger was tinkering away with the device, which looked like a big block of metal pieces that had been thrown together, straight out of a steampunk world. Cogs. Wires. Bronze panels. Little buttons and levers. And a thing in the middle that looked like a metal eggcup. It had a glass orb for the egg. Inside, that little scrap of my ability swirled around, like someone had dropped a paintbrush in water.
Isadora examined the pieces. “It won’t be much use if it’s not portable. How far does this reach from here?”
Krieger frowned. “It has some range, but I understand what you’re saying. I’ve been thinking about the size of it for some time, trying to think of ways I could make it smaller. Most of the device is simply there to power up the detector. It requires a vast quantity of energy, and I can’t quite decipher a way to make it smaller without compromising on the power aspect. It simply won’t work if it’s not suitably fueled.”
I didn’t have much of a clue, either. If it needed a power supply that big, then it needed a power supply that big. There was no way around that. Not that I knew of, anyway. But Isadora had a glint in her eye. An idea seemed to be forming. She was good at that. And she always got a little hyper when she had a good idea.
“How about speaking to an alchemist? It’s their job to make powerful things in small sizes, right? I know Bellmore consulted Jacintha when she made the pouches for me, so I’d have something small enough to wear.” She tugged at the one around her throat. It was there to deal with the lasting effects of the hex that Katherine had put on her after she’d been captured. Remembering Jacintha took the smile off Isadora’s face. The coven hadn’t forgotten her.
Krieger nodded. “I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose, with this being so practical, I’d neglected to consider alternative methods.” He tapped his chin in thought. “Yes, perhaps it might be a good idea to get Rita Bonnello’s advice on this. She is a highly gifted alchemist, with many accolades to her name. And there is a great deal of energy to be found in alchemical procedures. Perhaps Rita may know of a suitable substitute for… well, all of this.” He waved his hand across the bulky device.
“Can I come?” I asked. I didn’t want to leave Suri, but I had to get out of here for a bit. The walls were closing in slightly. I called it the “foster kid effect.” Too long in one room, and we got antsy.
“Of course.” Krieger smiled at me. “I was just about to suggest that, especially as Levi has asked that you don’t leave my side. With sleep and meals being the obvious exceptions.”
Suri blinked at me. “Do you have to go?”
“Isadora will keep you company.” I grinned at Isadora. “She’s not as bad as she looks.”
“Cheeky.”
Suri nodded slowly. “Okay then.”
“I won’t be gone long, I promise.” I offered her a reassuring smile.
“I’ll keep her safe, Jake.” Isadora put her hand on my shoulder. “I can’t promise I’ll be very entertaining, but you’re in good hands, Suri.”
I left the infirmary with Krieger and headed for Rita Bonnello’s office. I kept thinking about Suri the whole way. I couldn’t help it. She was fixed in my mind. Honestly, I didn’t know if it was what had happened in Lethe, or if I would’ve been like this anyway. She’d appeared in my life, and I didn’t want her to go anywhere. Even though I knew, eventually, Krieger or someone would have to wipe her memory, for her own sake. It was probably a little selfish, but I didn’t want her to forget me.
Krieger knocked on Rita’s door.
“Come in.” A silky, Mediterranean voice echoed back. I hadn’t been around the new preceptor much. Things had gotten crazy after she’d been introduced, after all. She was probably wishing she’d never accepted the position here.
I followed Krieger into the room. It smelled crazy good. Candles burned everywhere. They filled the place with this sugary, spicy scent that made my mouth water. Rita sat at an elegant black desk on the far side of the room. Everything had been stamped with her vibrant flavor. There was a red velvet couch in front of the fireplace. And a fluffy rug that had likely been torn off the back of some bear. The wallpaper was a deep red, with golden designs on it. And there were fancy statuettes everywhere. I’d never seen so many boobs in one place. Not that I was complaining.
“Ah, Dr. Krieger, what a pleasant surprise.” She lifted the tiniest cup I’d ever seen to her red lips and sipped it like she was in a coffee commercial. I realized my mouth was hanging open and quickly stared at something else. Only to find boobs. Dammit! This room was a minefield.
“I was hoping you might help me with something,” Krieger replied. He went to sit opposite her, but I stayed where I was, trying to find a safe spot to look at.
“Oh?” There was a hint of a laugh in her voice. Not mean, or anything. It was just part of the way she sounded. Like everything was a little bit funny. She effortlessly fixed a flyaway strand of her long, dark hair as she spoke.
“As you know, Jacob and I have been working on a magical detector to help us trace magicals. More specifically, at this point, Katherine. However, we’ve been having some difficulties with the size of the device. It’s too large.”
“Can there ever be such a thing?” She chuckled. However, it didn’t sound like a genuine laugh to me. It sounded like she was covering a different feeling, like she was forcing it, though I didn’t know what that feeling might be. Discomfort, maybe?
Krieger fumbled in his chair. “Uh… in this case, yes.” I was embarrassed for him. Rita was a force of nature. Smart, sexy, sassy. Formidable. This was her power play. My gift for reading people was coming in handy. This was how she asserted herself, by making others feel uncomfortable. Men, I guessed, mostly. So they knew who was boss. But it was subtle enough that it wasn’t obvious.
“Well, what seems to be the problem?” She sipped her espresso like she hadn’t said anything rude.
“The power supply is much too… uh, excessive.” Krieger stumbled over his words. “And we need to make it much, much smaller if the detector is g
oing to be viable. It has to be made more portable to extend the range.”
Rita set her cup down. “I’m not sure that I’m your woman, Dr. Krieger.”
“You don’t know of any alchemical way in which this could be achieved?”
“It’s not that. It’s more of a question of morality.” Rita glanced at me, making me look away. “While I agree with the principle of the device and the practical benefits, I worry that such a machine might end up in the wrong hands and be used for the wrong purposes. I’m not suggesting that your intentions are skewed, Doctor, but there would be countless individuals who might lust after such a device.”
I cleared my throat. “I’ve already spoken to Krieger about that. I thought the same way you did, but he changed my mind. If it’s regulated, and it’s protected at all times, then nobody can get it. We’d make that happen, for sure. Plus, with everything going on with Katherine, this is pretty much the only way to identify her. Nobody can track her down. This device is the only way to get ahead of her.” I squirmed as she stared at me. “I don’t need to tell you how important that is right now. She’s on the final sprint. We don’t want her crossing the finish line. The device gives us a shot—one we really need.”
Rita kept her gaze on me. A small smile crept onto her lips. She let her fingertips trail around the rim of her espresso cup. I could see the faint smudge of her lipstick on the white ceramic. She was trying to gauge me. Figure me out. Beautiful people were always the trickiest to read. They bamboozled you with their looks, male or female. But I looked back at her, just so she’d know I meant business.
She sat back in her chair. “I need some time to think about it. As I said, there are many ethical implications to contemplate. You say you will protect the device, and that you will regulate its use, but such things are not assurances. You don’t have the ability to promise that.”
“Perhaps we could add a failsafe of some kind, if that would give you peace of mind?” Krieger asked.
She paused, glancing over him. “Alchemy is complex, and it offers many solutions—but it does not offer all solutions. Once I have had the chance to think, I will speak with you again. Then, and only then, will I conscientiously be able to give you my answer. I understand the time restraints involved, so I will do what I can to give you your reply before any deadline has passed.”
I wanted to say more to convince her. But what could I say? I understood where she was coming from. And she made a bunch of good points. Plus, Rita didn’t seem like the type who did anything she didn’t want to. Me pushing her, or begging, wouldn’t change anything. Krieger seemed resigned, too. His shoulders were slumped.
“Well, I hope you’ll make the right choice,” I said. That was all I could do for now.
* * *
Back in the infirmary, we told Isadora what Rita had said. She didn’t seem too surprised.
“I suppose it’s understandable, but I wish she could’ve given us a clearer answer. Does she know that we’re running out of time to do this?” She looked up at me. It wasn’t an accusation about our ability to persuade Rita. She just wanted all the facts. That was her style.
I nodded. “She said she did.”
“I don’t like all this uncertainty,” Isadora said. “It’s not like she’s the only one with concerns, but we’re all finding a way to look past them, to see the bigger picture. We could go to Levi and get him to make her help us, but I get the feeling she wouldn’t take too kindly to that. I wouldn’t, either. If I know one thing, it’s that you don’t want to piss off an alchemist, or you might end up with a nasty surprise. One that makes a cherry bomb look like a party popper.” I got the sense she had some firsthand experience of pissing off an alchemist.
“So, what? We wait?” I looked between Krieger and Isadora.
Krieger shrugged wearily. “What else can we do?”
“Suri’s in the quarantine room, if you want to go and talk to her. She looked tired, so I told her to go and lie down. It’s the only place with no windows.” Isadora gestured to the ward outside. “Astrid’s got the CCTV covered, so we shouldn’t be getting any unscheduled Levi visits anytime soon.”
I nodded. “What are you guys going to do?”
They exchanged a look. “Figure out if this can be done without alchemy, I guess,” Isadora replied.
“I might be able to detach some of the power cells, but it’ll require a great deal of testing.” Krieger looked pale and sweaty. I guessed he’d had his hopes set on Rita. And now everyone was back at square zero. After all, a magical detector with limited range was as good as useless. Especially for catching Katherine.
Twenty-Four
Jacob
“Knock, knock.” I tapped on the metal door of the quarantine room and peered around it. Suri lay curled up in the farthest bed of four. I’d never seen anyone use this room. Then again, there hadn’t been a disease outbreak since I’d been here. A Bestiary near-collapse, sure, but nothing as human as a contagious sickness.
Suri didn’t move, but I knew she wasn’t sleeping. Her body language was too tense. I didn’t know what to do. Did she want me to leave her alone? She hadn’t said so. Taking that as a good sign, I stepped into the room and walked over to the bed. With her back still to me, I sat down on the bed next to her.
“Hey, you okay?” It was a totally stupid question. Of course she wasn’t. But I didn’t know what else to say.
She snuffled into her pillow. “Mm-hmm.”
“I just wanted to come and talk to you about everything. You’re probably wondering what’s going on and who we are. Maybe even what we are, in case Isadora didn’t cover that when she was taking care of you. You probably think we’re aliens or something, but we’re not. We’re human… mostly.”
“Mostly?” Her lip trembled as she slowly turned over. She wiped her eyes. She’d been crying again. Her face was a little puffy, her eyes red-rimmed. But she was still cute as heck. After what she’d seen, I guessed the last thing she wanted was to have to deal with another unknown entity. Naima and Echidna had been enough, probably. And a glowy, superpowered Katherine wasn’t likely to have been a comfort either.
I smiled. “I am, but I have some… extra stuff. Magic is the easiest way to put it.”
“You’re a wizard?” Her eyes widened.
“Not quite. I’m a magical.”
“That isn’t the same thing?”
“Magical is the word we prefer. Wizards and witches sound a little too… cutesy.”
She pulled her blanket up to her mouth. “Is that how you opened that thing—that big hole?”
I nodded. “Yeah, that’s one of my abilities. I’m what’s known as a Portal Opener.”
“What about that crazy woman?” She looked panicked.
“She’s another magical, but she’s one of the most evil ones you’ll ever see.”
“Where were we?” Her hands were shaking on the blanket, making it quiver.
“When I came to get you?”
She nodded.
“It was a place called Lethe—an ‘otherworld.’ It isn’t exactly part of Earth, but it’s joined to it. It’s like an interdimensional place that exists beyond the normal rules of nature and stuff. Normally, nobody goes there, but Katherine and Naima—that cat-like creature you saw—were hiding out there, with that scaly monster woman. She was their captive. She was part of something important, and Katherine used her to gain more magic. Basically.” I knew I wasn’t explaining very well, but I was doing my best. Anyway, she didn’t seem to want to run off screaming. That had to be a good thing.
“And where are we now?” She glanced nervously around the quarantine room. “Your friend said this was a hospital, basically.”
“This is the infirmary in what’s known as a coven.”
She reeled back. “Like American Horror Story?”
“No, stuff like that gives us a bad rap in the human world. It’s why we keep ourselves secret. I mean, could you imagine if humans knew about us?” I chuckled
. One look at Suri’s startled face and I quickly changed the subject. “This coven is more like a community center, I guess, for magicals. People live here, people learn here, and it’s a place where magicals can belong. Most magicals join a place like this. Even if they don’t, covens keep tabs on them. It’s for safety and security, really.”
“That sounds kind of cool,” she said, taking me by surprise.
“It is.”
“Are we still in San Diego?”
I nodded. “Covens are usually hidden inside these interdimensional bubbles, so humans can’t see them. This one is hidden inside the Fleet Science Center.”
She gaped at me. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. That’s why I was in the Science Center when I first saw you. I was taking a walk outside the coven, to clear my head. I do it to calm myself down if something’s getting to be a bit too much in here. Some of the magicals here even work in the Science Center, as a cover.”
Her eyes twinkled with awe. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“So I might have met one of you before?”
I shrugged. “If you’ve been working in the Science Center for a couple of months, it’s pretty likely. Although, most magicals who work there prefer to take roles behind the scenes. Archives, admin, that kind of thing.”
“What else can magicals do? Can everyone open portals, like you can?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s actually pretty rare. Isadora can do it, too, but we’re the only ones we know about—who are still alive, anyway.” I thought of my dad and swallowed the thought. Otherwise, there’d be two crying teenagers in this room. “The most common ones are Elemental abilities—Fire, Water, Air, Earth. Every magical has at least one of those. Some have more than one ability, some don’t. It’s luck of the draw. One of my friends has about a million.”
Harley Merlin 7: Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix Page 19