by TR Cameron
“No, Miss Caliste. This is where my knowledge of his location ends.”
“Okay.” She pushed her magic outward and easily found the hidden doorway. After a brief moment in which she wondered why she hadn’t thought to try this in all the other rooms, she redirected her focus to the matter at hand. It unlocked at her magical request and she strode through. The chamber inside was bare stone, illuminated only by another of the arcane balls resting in an upper corner. A heavy sarcophagus like the ones she’d seen Egyptian mummies in on television stretched lengthwise along the left wall and left barely enough room to get beside it on the right. It was unadorned, merely white stone in the vague shape of a person. A crack marked the intersection where the lid and the box below it met.
She blew out a breath and wished once again that telekinesis was among her magics. Since it wasn’t, she focused inward and increased the strength in her arms, then pushed hard on the head-shaped part of the lid. It scraped, the sound loud in the modest room, and a small amount of dust swirled into the air. She peered inside and found her brother beneath what appeared to be a force shield created of undulating color. Her heart jerked and she was shocked at the sight of him and how similar he looked to her reflection. His expression was peaceful and she wondered what it would be like to lose consciousness as a child and wake up as an adult. She imagined she would find the experience horrifying.
Tentatively, she touched the shield, which didn’t give at all to the pressure. “I’m not sure if you can hear me, Atreo. If what mother said is right, you shouldn’t be able to. But, just in case you can, know this. One way or another, I’ll free you. I swear it.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tanyith hadn’t been shocked when the stranger appeared at the door. Somehow, it made sense in the grand scheme of things that he’d be pulled away when Cali couldn’t support him, exactly like he’d been separated from her when she was challenged.
The contact—a dour-looking guy with white hair, a lined face, and hands with thick, arthritic knuckles—hadn’t said much. His worn clothes suggested he wasn’t quite as prosperous as many of the people they’d seen so far.
“They’re ready for you. Let’s go,” he had said simply. Tanyith had agreed and gestured for Fyre to join him. The man had looked at the Draksa like he would protest but had remained silent.
Good call. He might have found himself suddenly frozen.
They followed as he strode toward the outer section of the city. He offered no more conversation and the couple of times Tanyith tried to ask a question, their escort growled, “Just wait. You’ll get your answers.” He didn’t cackle like a villain in a movie but it was easy to picture him doing so.
It’s too bad I can’t talk telepathically to Fyre. I bet he thinks this guy is as big a jerk as I do.
Their path took them to the outermost ring and they turned right and followed that road until the next cross street, where they turned left. A sign proclaimed Privateer Pub over the door the man led them to, and Tanyith rolled his eyes, expecting something kitschy. Inside, it was more attractive than he’d expected with booths along both walls and tables in the middle. Everything was wood in mismatched random shades. He tried to look at the list of beers chalked behind the bar and his escort pushed him toward the back.
“Hey, dude, that wasn’t called for.” He caught his balance and turned to walk in the direction in which he’d been propelled. A glance over his shoulder confirmed that Fyre was still with him, and he took comfort in the Draksa’s dependability. A door stood at the end of the row he followed and he pushed through it to find a small room at the back.
A rectangular table was set with six seats but only two people were present, both of them seated on the opposite side from the entrance. The man on his left said, “Sit down,” and pointed to the chair across from him. His face was pockmarked and his goatee and mustache could use a trim but otherwise, he was reasonably handsome. He wore something that looked like a fisherman’s sweater but of an unidentifiable material.
Tanyith obeyed but couldn’t resist saying, “So, what are we having? Nachos maybe? At least a beer, right?” The sound of the latch being thrown on the door inspired an unexpected amount of anger to surge through him. “All right, then. How about you tell me what the hell it is you want from me?”
The woman who occupied the other seat across the table laughed. She had a wide face with dark freckles on tanned skin, thin blonde hair, and the kind of body that came from hard work. Her oversized work shirt had a patch at the breast with a logo he didn’t recognize.
“Now that’s more like the person we’ve heard about. Word was you were some kind of badass idealist, willing to stand up against the other people in the gang. Imagine our surprise when you came back and did exactly nothing useful.”
He scowled. “Insults aren’t really necessary, are they? If so, I could mention a few words about the stupidity of your plans thus far. I mean, if your goal was to completely fail to gain a foothold in the city, you’re right on the money.” He knew after he’d said it that he shouldn’t have, but they’d struck a nerve. The truth was, he was disappointed in his lack of accomplishment. He felt like he was treading water, a non-factor.
But that’s not for anyone else to say. Jerks.
The man raised his palms to each of them. “Stop. This accomplishes nothing.” He lowered them and stared at Tanyith. “The fact that you journeyed all the way to New Atlantis at our request should be a sign of how little power you have here. Quit pushing buttons or you might find you don’t like the outcomes.”
He nodded. “That’s a fair point. And speaking of points, could you get to yours?”
The woman shook her head, obviously exasperated. “Sure. You work for us from here on out. You’ll report on anything and everything. If you learn about it in the morning, we know by noon. Get it?”
“Given the boring life you think I lead, I don’t imagine that’ll bring the results you’re looking for.”
The man tapped his fingers on the table. “Focus. We’re not done. In addition to that, you will take any action we order you to, up to and including eliminating our enemies. Of course, we wouldn’t ask you to act against any members of the crew you run with. We know you’d find that unethical.”
The stress on the last word made it mocking and Tanyith growled his annoyance. “And what if I tell you to go to hell?”
The man shrugged. “We’ll kill your ex-girlfriend, your current girlfriend, and anyone else you care about. Then, you’ll be sent back to Trevilsom and the warden will be paid enough that no one will ever hear from you again. You’ll receive the best medical attention so your insanity lasts for a long, long time.”
Tanyith sighed. They had his number, to be sure. Fyre pressed against his leg and he was sure that if he attacked the others, the Draksa would be right by his side. But of course, these weren’t the only people who knew about him, and so killing them would merely mean he agreed to endure all the terrible outcomes they’d listed. No, he had to play for time until he found a way to turn it all on its head.
“Okay, I hear you,” he replied evenly after a long moment. “And I agree to those terms, to the degree I can execute them without getting myself killed. If it comes down to that, I’ll die coming after you instead.”
They both nodded and the woman replied, “Of course.”
He didn’t trust them at all but no other option presented itself. “So, are we done here, then?”
The two looked at one another again, and the grim smiles on their faces suggested they weren’t finished. The man said, “We’ll need an act of good faith from you when you get back to New Orleans. To prove your bona fides, like.”
Immediately, he scowled. “What?”
The woman grinned. “Nothing big. You merely have to steal a few things from the Atlantean gang for us.”
“Not from their headquarters. There’s no way I’ll get in there.”
They shook their heads and the man replied, “No, from
their dealers on the street. We want samples of the magical drug they peddle. They’re entirely too careful about who they sell to and we haven’t been able to get any.”
“Fine. How do I deliver it to you?”
“Your redheaded girlfriend should be allowed to portal to the city. She can drop it off at the docks.”
“She’s not my— You know what, never mind. Fine. Consider it done. Now, unless you have something else for me, I’ll head out.”
The man nodded. “You and your pet can get out of here. But when we ask you a question, you answer it right away, got it? And when we tell you to do a thing, it gets done right away. We are now your first, second, and third priorities.”
Tanyith pushed to his feet with a scowl but resisted giving voice to all the things he wanted to say. “Understood.”
What’s also understood is that you’ll both pay for this one day. He turned and headed to the door. The wrinkled man pulled it open before he got there. And you, too, pal.
He worried all the way to the manor that he was now a liability and promised himself that if they asked him to do anything even close to a line he didn’t want to cross, he’d return to New Atlantis and eliminate them, consequences be damned. The people around him had suffered enough and he would not be the catalyst for more.
In the Malniet manor, the woman who’d been at the table sat in a large leather chair, in discussion with a distinguished-looking man in a business suit. His dark hair was cut short but was perfectly styled and didn’t move when his head shifted. The space around them was luxurious with heavy furniture of dark wood and crystal, overstuffed couches, columns that supported exquisite statues, and lavish paintings on the walls.
Most of the books had never been read and were simply there for the joy of possessing them. Styrris Malniet enjoyed his treasures, each of which he’d selected for some reason that mattered at the moment of acquisition. He felt comfortable there among the evidence of his family’s sophistication.
His voice was deep and authoritative. “So, did you accomplish it?”
She nodded. “He was none the wiser. I wrapped the spell within an ancient cloaking spell. It should hold.”
Malniet smiled. “So now we have a spy in the enemy’s midst. And the best kind—an unwilling and unwitting one. Delicious.”
The woman basked in the praise. “There are limitations, of course. I can’t make him do anything truly against his will. But I can nudge him when matters are close.”
“I understand. There’s no need to worry about him while he’s in New Atlantis. We have plenty of other eyes on the girl here. But when he returns home, it will be necessary to keep a careful watch. He is uniquely positioned to wreak havoc on both our targets.”
She nodded and rose, sensing the dismissal in his words. When he was alone again, he gazed out the large window with a smile.
“Soon, the loss of her people will weaken our Empress and the House of Leblanc will cease to exist. The circumstances will be ripe for the rise of a new monarch—an Emperor. Styrris, first of his name.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cali made her way to the kitchen in search of caffeine. She looked at her watch, did some quick math that was harder than it should have been, and realized she’d slept into the early afternoon. She stretched and yawned.
Well, yesterday was a big day. I got to meet the Empress, see my brother, and talk with my mom. That kind of thing can tire you out.
Tanyith stood at the center island, propped on his elbows. He smiled at her approach but it was forced. “Hey, Cali.”
“Hey yourself. Do I have a story for you.” While she made the coffee they’d bought from one of the nearby shops, she told him about her experiences. He looked shocked at the revelation about her brother and more so at the Empress’s pledge to support a move against the Malniet family.
“It makes sense and all. It’s to her benefit to keep the nine squabbling so they don’t turn their attention her way. It definitely feels like gamesmanship, though. You can’t trust her,” he said firmly when she’d finished.
She nodded and sipped her drink, then pushed the second mug she’d poured closer to him. “I don’t and I won’t. I’m sure she has me on a line with more information that I’ll have to know about my brother or something as the bait to keep me hooked. Speaking of which, it’s your turn. Tell me about your encounter with our shared scumbags.”
He shook his head. “Threats and demands, as I expected. They’ve promised to kill Sienna and Kendra, at least, if I don’t do what they want. They did throw me one bone, though. I won’t be asked to kill you. Well, not directly, anyway.”
That brought a quick burst of laughter. “Did you tell them where they could stick their requests?”
“No. I said I’d go along to keep the others safe. And I will, right up until the moment they try to cross a line. Then I’ll come back here and wipe them out.”
“Then I guess our goals overlap again. Because even if she’s playing me, the Empress is right. I need to turn the fight with the Malniets into a ritual battle so they don’t keep attacking the city to draw me out. And that means I get to beat one of them down before we leave.” A wave of aggression struck her from Fyre, who was clearly within earshot somewhere, and she laughed. “Because Fyre wants to get to the two-on-two as quickly as possible, apparently.”
Tanyith frowned. “I can’t see how they would use their hold on me to mess with a ritual battle but you might need another option when you reach the third round.”
“I guess that makes sense. We’ll work it out. I’m still counting on you against the gang, though.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She drained the rest of her coffee. “Good. So, you go out to get some food and I’ll see if I can find out how the whole challenge process starts. I may be crazy, but I doubt that ambushing people who don’t know what’s going on like the gang did to me is the approved method.”
He straightened with a groan. “Dang, I’m sore. I’m not sure why, though. It wasn’t that long a walk.” He left the room, shaking his head, and she filled her mug again. She looked upward, which seemed to be the natural thing to do when addressing the spirit that oversaw the house. “Hey, Jenkins, what do you know about ritual challenges?”
As always, he sounded pleased to have a request made of him.
I guess he really does love his work. But generations of post-life service might be a little over-committed.
“A fair amount, Miss Caliste. How may I be of assistance?”
As it turned out, the way the Atlantean gang had started their conflict wasn’t actually out of bounds. Jenkins had provided a very wide-ranging history lesson on ritual combat, and the challenger set the conditions for the first battle. The only thing omitted was the formal written declaration, which was supposed to precede the fight. They probably thought they’d simply kill me and fake it afterward. Ha. The joke’s on them. Losers.
She shook her head at her own stupid sense of humor and signed the letter on the wooden surface in front of her. “Caliste, Matriarch, House Leblanc. It has a nice ring to it. I’m clearly very fancy now.” At her feet beneath the desk, Fyre snorted. “No one asked you, scale face.” She stroked his back and he stretched so she could reach more of it. “Yeah, love you too, you little hedonist.” The Draksa had ventured out on his own seemingly at random, which made her value the moments they spent together all the more.
When she’d done the wax seal routine to finish, she held the note out. Fyre climbed out from under the desk and took it carefully in his teeth.
“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” she asked and he nodded. “Try not to drool on it, would you?” His eye-roll was eloquent and made her laugh. “Okay, let’s go.” She led the way to the front door and opened it for him, then knelt so she was eye to eye. “Listen, I don’t know or care what the rules are here. If you sense a threat, you get away however you need to and that includes flying. We can deal with the fallout
after.”
He mumbled around the paper. “Gotcha boss,” which made her laugh again. She hugged him, then rose.
“Go, ya mangy lizard.” She watched him scuttle away and closed the door, shaking her head. “Okay, I have two hours to prepare and get to the venue.”
Tanyith had gone out again after they’d eaten to secure neutral ground for the battle. Combat was both a sport and a way of life for the Atlanteans, and a significant number of businesses existed to serve the associated needs. She’d asked for a simple arena and he’d come back with access to one and a wealth of information about other options for future battles.
As a reward for his hard work, she’d immediately dispatched him to the palace to notify the Empress’s staff of the impending challenge, as was required by the rules. It would have been permissible to wait until after the battle according to the letter of the law, but she saw no reason for delay. Alone in the empty mansion, the reality of it all descended upon her.
Before, I’ve fought for ideals and survival. Now, I’m fighting for the primacy of my house—although it’s against people who are total scumbags, so that’s okay, right? She wasn’t sure how to feel about the big picture but at a personal level, she was ready to claim payback for the Kraken attack.
She strode toward the stairs and headed to her mother’s dressing room. “Jenkins, any advice?”
His response held a note of humor. “Try not to get hit, Miss Caliste.”
“Well, that’s helpful.” She shook her head with a grin. “You rock. Thanks.”
Cali had unpacked the contents of her waterproof backpack the day before and all her equipment other than her bracelets lay spread on the tops of her mother’s furniture. She pulled her jeans and t-shirt off and checked the burn in the mirror. It’s almost healed. It reminded her that she’d wanted to search the house for more charms but there hadn’t been enough time. She was fairly sure she’d only explored about half of the main building and had yet to visit any of the others in her family’s section of the city.