by Holly Hook
“No, she won't,” I told him.
“She'll kick me out.”
“She--” I wasn't sure about that. I could see what Xavier's Aunt Primrose, the only remaining daughter of Leon and his favorite, would do. She wouldn't want someone about to turn into a Shadow Wraith in her home. It would be too horrible and might shame the family more. “Your sister will be here with you.”
“She thinks I'm an idiot.”
“That's because she's your sister,” I said.
“No,” Xavier said. “She really thinks I'm an idiot. She hates me just like the rest of my family. I think I really am one.”
“Stop saying that,” I said. “It's the sickness making everything seem like it's bad.”
“Well, it is bad,” Xavier said.
He was right that it was, but the Shadow Sickness was magnifying everything.
I could hear Nora's faint voice coming down from upstairs as she delivered the news, even though I couldn't make out her words. Janine and I sat in two chairs by the bed, waiting, waiting in silence, until at last a light pair of feet thudded down some stairs outside. I guessed that it was coming from somewhere to our left and behind us.
The door to the guest room burst open and Liliana, Xavier's thirteen year old sister, burst in. Her magenta dress flowed around her as she ran into the room.
“Xavier!” She about crushed him in a hug as she lay half-over him, squeezing as hard as she could. “Don't turn into one of those things. Please! You might be an idiot but you're my brother!”
It was heartbreaking, watching her clutch onto Xavier like that. I could see the regret in her eyes, the guilt. Xavier squirmed, groaned and tried to buck her off, but it was no use. I could only sit there while the two siblings remained in a painful embrace.
It did not take long for the others to arrive.
Trish was first. It turned out she had listened to the Elders' order to return to the Underground and Nora had found her in her hole-in-the-wall clinic. She trained her reddish eyes on me as she walked in, complete with her Victorian dress and her lab coat. There was no anger in them, only fear. I hadn't had anything to do with this and even Trish knew that.
I didn't care about the break. Xavier hadn't improved any and even with Trish sitting next to his bed, rubbing her hand up and down his arm, he wasn't comforted.
“I let her get turned,” Xavier said, over and over. “I let Lisa get turned into one of them.”
“You did not,” I reminded him. “Allunna is at fault.”
Allunna had been plotting against Xavier all the time, bringing me and Xavier together and eliminating Lisa, his old battle partner, so it could happen. She had been working with Thoreau to make sure I became what he wanted, and getting access to a Lovelli's magic was just one of the five steps. Trish's eyes got wider and wider.
“I knew about Lisa,” Trish said to me. “I knew Lisa. Those Shadow Wraiths she sent were waiting for her right outside the Lovelli's place. That's why Xavier beats himself up when he remembers.”
“I didn't know that,” I said. Xavier had mentioned that she'd been ambushed, but he hadn't given me any details. “Did Lisa use to live here?” I remembered the half-finished portrait of her, kissing Xavier on the cheek.
Trish nodded. It was almost like she was trying to distract herself from the horror that was unfolding. “She did. The Lovellis won't let you live here because you and Xavier made an illegal Bond. I encouraged it, though. I knew Xavier was in danger of Shadow Sickness and I thought that taking a new battle partner would stall it from happening or stop it altogether. I was wrong.”
“You encouraged him to make a bond with me?” I asked, shocked.
“I wanted him to make a bond with someone appropriate,” Trish said, “and not an Imposter.” The disappointment was back.
“I'm not an Imposter anymore,” I said. Imposters were Abnormals that were trying to be Normal. Trish would call George one for sure. “Besides, why do you hate Imposters so much? They're just trying to avoid the ATC.”
“Because one made me the way I am and took away my career." She leveled a glare at me. “It just might have been the same one who did this to you. Back in my time, Russell Fox used to specialize in looking Normal so he could get into hospitals and take all the blood he wanted. I had the misfortune of being his physician.”
“Oh,” I said. “Oh.” That was a revelation.
“Enough with this,” Trish said. She leaned over Xavier and hugged him as he groaned again. He was talking less and less. In fact, he seemed to have slipped into a troubled sleep that was no better than being awake. “There is no known cure for Shadow Sickness. He will turn in a matter of days.”
“Wait,” I said. “I think there might be a way to cure him, but I'll have to go alone. I need to.”
“I know this is not your fault,” Trish said. “I've been unfair to you. You had nothing to do with this Allunna plot. If she wasn't dead, I would kill her myself.” The red in her eyes was more intense than ever. She was bloodthirsty, even though demon blood was the worst blood out there and no sane vampire would think of touching it. I would never think of sampling it.
“Allunna's not dead,” I said. “Well, she was, but not anymore. I saw her at the airport.”
Trish shot me a shocked look as Xavier turned over. She sat up all the way, making the chair squeak.
“It was thanks to social media,” Janine said. “Everyone knew Alyssa and Xavier were at the airport, being held.”
“Explain,” Trish demanded.
I did. I told her about how Xavier and I had to stop Thoreau from unleashing all of Leon's magic on the Underground and about the Elder who was going to betray everyone. Then I told her about my having to go to Death to save Xavier. I wasn't sure if it was possible, but Trish paled.
“I will tell the others,” Trish said. “I am not sure if they will believe me, but if it's true that Elder Thurton is working with Thoreau and Thoreau lives, then we are still in danger if Leon dies again.”
“Exactly,” I said. “But make sure everyone knows Xavier is here. Thoreau won't nuke this place with Xavier in it and he can't come in here easily, if at all.”
“That's true,” Trish said. “I need to warn everyone about Allunna, too. So you are going to go out and seek Death.”
“Yes,” I said, standing up. Janine and Liliana both stared at me. They had gone mostly silent while Trish spoke. Trish had an air of command around her that no one messed with. Maybe she could convince the War Mages that they had a traitor in their midst. I sure wouldn't be able to. I was just an illegal battle partner who had done a stupid thing by going out to the Dark Council on a suicide mission.
“I did not know that Death was an entity,” Trish said. “I thought it visited me when Russell Fox sank his fangs into my neck over a hundred years ago but maybe I was wrong. Alyssa, if you visit Death, you may very well die and take Xavier with you.”
“I don't have a choice,” I said. “Xavier is about to suffer something worse than death. Either way, he would be doomed. The only chance for me to cure him is to visit Death and beg for it. And I won't die. Death is part of the Dark Council and friends with Thoreau. Thoreau wants me alive.”
Trish got up as well, leaving Xavier to groan on the bed. He looked horrible, pathetic and powerless. This wasn't the funny, sometimes obnoxious Xavier that I knew and loved.
I loved Xavier. Maybe as a friend, maybe as something much more, but I couldn't deny it now that I was about to lose him.
“I suppose you are right,” Trish said. “You need someone to go with you. I will do so.”
“No,” I said. “I don't want anyone going to see Death with me. I just might be descended from her, but you probably aren't, so you won't have any protection.”
“I'm more worried about Thoreau,” Trish said. “The fact that he died and returned due to your mistake concerns me. He is still out there, able to twist you into whatever monster he wants to help him take over the world.”
&
nbsp; Monster. The word stuck, growing bigger.
Maybe I was the ultimate monster, the rarest type.
“What choice do I have but to go?” I asked.
Trish ignored me. “How are you going to find Death again? Going back out the Turkey might work, but going through airports remains your only option now.” Trish glanced at Liliana. “You are not adept enough at Transposing to get even close to there.”
A brief look of hurt came over Liliana's features, but she wiped them away with her hand. “I know I'm not,” I said.
“Xavier nearly killed himself getting us there,” I said. “And I don't think I can use Beatrix's portal again.” The crime boss wanted to murder us both because we'd played a part in Leon's first death. She and Leon had worked together and were friends, a fact that most people didn't know.
“The Elders will not transport you there,” Trish added. “They are too busy in their own affairs to do such a thing. They will write Xavier off as a minor loss.”
Xavier turned over and muttered something that I couldn't make out. It was babble. Trish was right. The Elders looked down on Xavier and I like we were smudges that had to be wiped away. Leon had succeeded in making his grandson look like a stain on the family honor in an attempt to regain his own, an attempt that hadn't worked very well.
“I know how to get in contact with Death,” I said. “I'm sure the person I'm going to ask will be more than happy to let me see her.”
“Who are you speaking of?” Trish asked.
I gulped. “I have to go to Thoreau himself.”
Chapter Nine
Everyone's mouths fell open when I said that. Trish paled even more and Liliana almost came off her chair. Janine turned her gaze from Xavier to me and started to say something.
“I know. It's stupid,” I said. “But the only other option is to let Xavier turn into a Shadow Wraith and then the same thing might happen to me. Or worse.”
“But Thoreau will awaken whatever is left inside of you to awaken,” Trish said. “Then he will use you to merge the worlds and the Dark Council will rule this world again. Trust me, that does not sound like a happy time for Normals and Abnormals alike.”
“I know,” I said. “One of the things Thoreau wanted was for Shadow Wraiths to awaken whatever's inside of me that's related to Death. I'm sure of it. That means that Xavier turning might do the same. If it's destined to be, I might as well save Xavier.” It hurt to speak those thoughts out loud. I didn't want to be destined to be anything I didn't want to be. I just wanted to be plain old Alyssa Choy, who had a family and people who cared about her.
Trish thought. She gazed at Xavier and then at the ceiling.
I had to decide whether to sacrifice Xavier or sacrifice myself and possibly the world.
This might even be part of Thoreau's trap. He knew this would happen to Xavier and knew I would have no choice but to go to him.
Trish's bottom lip quivered. It was the first time I had seen it. Even Janine's eyes were tearing up. I hated this. Everyone was in pain. This must be how people around someone's deathbed felt. I had never been at a deathbed, but this had to be the same.
Thoreau would love this.
I stood up. “I have to leave,” I said.
“You're not going!” Janine yelled, standing up and grabbing my arm. “You can't go. Thoreau wants that.”
“I know he does!” I shouted.
“Alyssa,” Xavier said. “Don't. Please.”
I broke away from Janine. My limbs were shaking. I was hungry and desperate. I leaned down and kissed Xavier on the cheek because that was all I could reach. He had his face half-buried in the pillow.
He groaned when I kissed him. There was no smile there.
“You're going to get better,” I said. “I won't let Thoreau make me into whatever. He can't go all the way with the Dark Pentagram thing. Not without you there, anyway. I would have to bite you for that to happen. I think the best thing right now is for us to separate.”
“No,” Xavier begged.
“We have to,” I said. “I don't think Thoreau will let you turn into a Shadow Wraith. He will allow me to cure you. If your power vanishes, so does his plan.”
I kissed him again, closer to his lips, and Xavier reached out and pulled me close. I let him and he turned until our lips met. I wasn't sure if this was real or desperation like before, but I took it. I would worry about that later...if there was a later.
“Don't do anything stupid,” Xavier said, eyes barely open.
“I won't,” I said, knowing it was probably a lie. This whole thing was stupid but I was trapped. We all were.
“I'll stay here,” Xavier said. “The Underground needs to be protected.”
“It does,” I said, “Until we know different.”
I couldn't deal with it anymore. I turned and ran out of the room, leaving everyone there. Janine yelled my name. I ran as fast as I could through Xavier's home that wasn't a home, past Aunt Primrose who stood there in the entryway talking in a low voice to Elsina. She said something about what might happen if Xavier turned inside the house, confirming my worst fears.
I stopped right next to them. I was shaking. Both Elsina and Aunt Primrose faced me. Aunt Primrose had that same angry, intolerant look that I remembered, with her hair pulled into a tight bun that was as severe as her thin lips. Elsina, the old Seer Mage, looked uncomfortable standing here. It was clear that she had never been in the Lovelli home before. The huge underground mansion was imposing and didn't take kindly to poor people of any kind.
“Alyssa,” Primrose said.
“Take good care of Xavier for me,” I said. “Now is not the time to treat him like a dirty dog that just rolled in something. I know that's what you want to do, but believe me, you'll have to go through Trish and Janine first.” The two of them wouldn't let her boot him out—especially Trish. I was starting to get some respect for the doctor.
“You have no right to speak to me that way,” Primrose said. “Not after you embarrassed me in front of the Elders, you don't.”
“Xavier deserves better than you,” I said. “Did you ever think the reason he's so messed up is because of you? I don't blame him for never wanting to be at home.”
I left Primrose with those words. She was part of Xavier's pain. She deserved to think that fact over for a while.
Once I was out of the house, I ran.
I ran and ran through the underground streets, past smaller and smaller homes and finally, rooms where some of the less fortunate Abnormals got to stay. The scent of werewolves and even some Normals who had just eaten mixed together. Cool air mixed in on a faint breeze.
It must be early night on the surface.
I would have to go to Thoreau and face him.
Alone.
I clutched my sword tight and slowed to a walk. I was getting tired. Hungry. I found myself jogging towards Trish's little office. She wasn't there right now. I could raid her food stores before heading to the surface. I would need it.
Only Thoreau could lead me to Death.
Maybe. He could always just throw some Shadow Wraiths at me, too. That would be more like him. The Wraiths would bring out whatever horrible traits he wanted in me and then he might force me to lead him to Xavier.
My thoughts spun as I ducked into Trish's little office. It was so quiet around here, with Elsina gone from her alcove. It barely still held her scent. She might have just returned to the Underground when she heard about Xavier. Trish's office still had the steel table lying out with candles lighting the busted vanity mirror. Some still clung to life on the floor. Well, this was where I had been Bound to Xavier while unconscious and given no say about it. I imagined Trish and Elsina willing to do anything to save Xavier from his delayed fate, willing to do what it took to save their surrogate son. Now I understood the real reason our bond was illegal and rushed.
I had been angry at Xavier when I first found out we were Bound.
Now I regretted it.
I
rummaged through drawers and cabinets, only to find metal medical supplies and even a leather doctor's bag that smelled as old as Trish herself. I sniffed, trying to figure out where she kept her blood bags for Imposters like me, but blood bags gave off little, if any, scent. Only fresh blood from the source carried much at all.
Then I spotted the old steel door on the other side of the room, reflecting candle light. I hadn't noticed it before since it was hidden behind cardboard boxes and other stuff that was full of what looked like paper charts. I yanked the door open to let cool air spill all over me. The room was packed with plain old ice bags from a gas station and a wooden crate full of blood bags, all stacked on top of each other.
It was what Trish told me to avoid before battle, but I had no other alternative.
“If you didn't want me to do this, why do you have this stored?” I asked. It seemed pretty hypocritical.
At least no one was here to watch. I did what I had to do and when I was done, I felt stronger...but not as strong as after I had attacked the bus driver and the librarian.
Something in me had changed.
I stood there in Trish's office for a while, thinking. Death was out at the temple in Turkey again--maybe. But an entity like that, as old as life itself, would probably be able to travel anywhere it wanted, when it wanted. Death wouldn't be limited to airplanes or anything else that people used. I was.
The only person who could call it was probably either Gaozu or Thoreau. I didn't want to face either of them again.
But I had to.
I thought of going back to Mack, to see if he could contact Death, but if he could, he would have for us already and probably would have shackled us into another bad deal. Either way, I figured that Death would be somewhere around Thoreau and the other Dark Council members whether or not they had changed the date of their big meeting.
And the end of the world was near. There was no way Death wouldn't want to be around for that.
I made sure I had my sword--check--and left Trish's office to head to the surface. The Underground was getting more populated now. I passed several people of all types walking around the underground streets and some meat smells told me that the market was open once again. Life was returning here and I had to keep it that way.