by AR DeClerck
“I worry about you, Cora.”
The smile slipped into a frown. He rubbed the tip of his finger over the turn of her lip. “It's not healthy to believe so strongly in one man's nobility. I am deathly afraid of proving you wrong.”
He pulled back his finger as she snapped at it with her teeth.
“Then don't.”
“It's not that easy. We both know what I've done. What I am about to do on this very night to the people of this village.”
“Icarus!”
They stepped apart at the sound of Icarus' mother's voice. Cora grabbed his hand and pulled him around the corner of the hut to the street.
“Do you remember this?” she asked.
“No.” He frowned as his mother ran in her nightclothes down the street, her hair streaming loose behind her.
“Leave the boy, Samantha.” Victor's voice was imperious as he stepped from the hut, half dragging the boy with him. Icarus' mother ignored him and took Icarus into her arms, dropping to the ground with him in her lap. Her voice was venomous as she stared up at Victor.
“Monster! Your own son!”
“Who better to carry such a gift? Why else would I lay with a brood mare such as you? I needed a strong boy, and you're of strong stock.”
“You will rot in hell, Victor.” Icarus' mother spat on the ground at Victor's feet as she rocked a nearly unconscious Icarus in her arms.
“Save your mothering, Samantha. When the boy comes to he belongs to me.”
“I'll die first.”
Victor's smile was sly as he turned away. “You just might.”
Icarus watched his mother brush the hair from his forehead. “I don't remember any of this.”
“You were hurt.” Cora wrapped her arms around his and leaned against him. “She loves you.”
“Icarus, my darling son. I am sorry I ever let that man come here.” Icarus' mother whispered to him as she wrapped his hand in a strip of her gown. “I'll never let him hurt you again.” She kissed his forehead and Icarus swore he felt the press of her lips against his forehead even seventeen years later. “I love you.”
Icarus could not make his legs hold him up as guilt washed over him. Cora was by him in an instant, taking his face in her hands.
“I killed her, Cora.” The words were ash as lightning lit up the sky and the storm swept them up again.
***
I blinked hard as the maelstrom of light and sound died away. I still held Icarus' face in my hand, and his eyes went from dazed to clear as I shook him.
“What happened?”
I looked around. We were no longer in the street. It was dark out, a pale moon shining over the same field I'd first seen when I appeared in this world. The crackling of burning wood made me look over my shoulder at a bonfire burning high behind me. “It appears we've moved ahead in time.”
Icarus' face was paler in the moonlight, the dark circles of exhaustion more apparent under his eyes. He appeared gaunt and fragile. I squeezed his chin.
“I know when this is.” His voice was barely a whisper.
I stood and shook out my skirts, but he stayed on his knees, his eyes roving over the field of foxglove. I grabbed his shoulder and tried to pull him to his feet. I was becoming scared now, my heart thumping in my chest. I'd hoped that I could help Icarus face his guilt and that we could return to reality quickly. The longer we were here, however, the more it seemed to drain him. His vital essence that usually shown from every pore was gone now, replaced by something dark and broken. Where his guilt had once revitalized him, giving him purpose and pushing him on, now it seemed to be killing him. More and more he was becoming a shell of the Icarus I loved.
“Get up!” I commanded, shaking him again. “Do not give up on me Icarus.”
He raised his face to me, the moonlight caressing the sharp angles. His eyes glittered cobalt with unshed tears. My head snapped up at the sound of screams in the distance.
“This is the night we killed them all.”
“Come on, you galloot.” I kicked at him with my boots, angry to the core of me. He was Icarus Kane, the strongest man I'd ever known. He was more stubborn and harder to kill than a freight train, and there was no way in Hell I was allowing him to lie down and die now. “Get up and fight this. Do not leave me like this.”
“I can't.”
I bent close to his face, ignoring the stink of the dark aether clinging to him. I had to get him to wake up, to shake off the damnable stench of the dark magic before it killed him. “Get up, Icarus Kane, or so help me I will kill you myself.”
He smiled a little then, just a quick lift of his lips, but it was better than his morose self-loathing. He'd always been a little melancholy, but it added to his charm more often than not. It tempered his abominable ego on the best of days. This sad sack that sat before me was not the Icarus Kane I loved.
I looked around as two men led a group of townspeople into the clearing. They were tethered by some kind of spell, moving as if in a trance. The men positioned the villagers around the bonfire, and in the light I saw that one of the men was Victor Kane.
“This is it, isn't it, Icarus?”
He nodded, and his eyes locked on the shock of blonde hair at the end of the line of villagers.
“Is that you?”
“Yes.”
I tugged on his arm, and without taking his eyes from his younger self he allowed me to help him to his feet. He leaned on me, and I let him. I wrapped my arm around his waist and watched as Victor and the other man, whom I could only assume was Percival Croft, positioned more villagers around the bonfire.
“What's wrong with them? Why aren't they fighting back?”
“A somnolence spell. They're completely under my father's control.” Icarus shook, his muscles seeming to spasm.
I waited until he stilled. “Icarus, look at yourself.”
The boy moved with stilted movements, his steps stuttering.
“Here, boy!” Percival Croft swatted at young Icarus with his cane, pointing to a row of prisoners who'd moved out of position. He shook his head with disgust as he turned to Victor. “You're sure we need the boy, Victor? Another to run off to the High Coven with a story of blood magic.”
“He won't remember what happened here, Percy.” Victor muttered to himself as he walked the circle painting runes in blood. “I've marked him with the rune, and if his mind remains intact after the spell he'll remember only that he helped us kill an entire village.”
“You've implanted false memories?” Percy tapped his cane on the ground, a dark grin splitting his matted beard. “I say, Victor, maybe you should do the same for my Robert!”
Icarus' eyes went wide as his mother broke from the group to grab his younger self, shaking his shoulders. “Icarus! Wake up!”
Percival snatched her away, muttering the spell and sending her back into her coma-like state. “Watch your spells, Victor!”
Victor muttered and ignored the man, continuing his counting. Icarus' mother blinked and seemed to break from the spell again, turning her face, streaming with tears, back to her son. “I love you, Icarus Kane. Never forget!” She fell as Percival struck her, cursing her and grumbling the spell into her face again. Young Icarus stood idly by, his face impassive.
“Are we ready, Victor?” Percival called, still holding Samantha in his arms.
“Burn them!” Victor commanded, and I tensed to turn away as Percival moved to toss Samantha bodily into the roaring fire.
“NO!”
I gasped as young Icarus seemed to break from the trance, tackling Percival and knocking his mother back from the flames. He kicked and railed at the man on the ground. I felt Icarus tense as Percival struck his younger self with his cane, knocking him to the ground unconscious.
“Your boy is strong.” Percival wiped blood from his lip as he stared down at Icarus' prone form.
“Leave him.” Victor waved Percival on. “Burn the rest.”
I looked at Icarus, whose pale fac
e began to blaze with dark color. “Icarus?”
“I heard them, Cora.” His voice was stronger, imbued with a little of the anger and vibrant spirit of my beloved.
“You didn't kill your mother and your sister.”
“It appears that I did not.”
I stepped between him and the horror of the dark spell his father was preparing to cast. He looked down into my eyes and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He was careful to tuck his left hand into his pocket before his right arm went around my waist.
“Thank you, Cora. Once again it seems you've saved me from myself.”
I smiled at some of the old Icarus' haughty arrogance. “I did.”
“Why do you fight so hard for me, Cora? Even when I didn't want to fight for myself?”
“You don't know? Truly?”
He looked away, and I knew that saying the words was hard for him. He'd fought against the idea for so long that giving in to us now would feel a bit like a surrender. I touched his cheek and brought his eyes back to mine.
“I love you, Icarus Kane. Madly.”
There was still a dark shadow in his eyes, and I knew it might always be there. Despite what he knew of the events in Longmoore, a guilt as long-lived as his wouldn't disappear in an instant. But the spark of happiness at my words pushed back the dark, and I grinned.
“You could say it back, you know.”
He chuckled, lowering his head so that his lips brushed gently against mine. He closed his eyes as the sound of screams made us both wince. “I think we're done here.”
I nodded, not letting him pull away. “I love you.” I would never tire of being able to say it out loud without the fear that he'd run screaming in the opposite direction.
He kissed me then, my alchemist. It was all the passion and fervor I'd ever wished to feel, and then some. He melted me from the inside with the heat of his desire and the delicious taste of his sensuous kiss. I never noticed as his past melted away around us like rain on a windowpane.
We kissed until a throat cleared in obvious discomfort. I laughed as Machiavelli sent us a glare from his spot at the end of the bed. I rolled away from Icarus and smoothed back my hair.
“I see your mission was a success, Adept Jenkins.” The Grand Master's voice was amused. The bird turned its gaze to Icarus. “Good to have you back, Grand Adept.”
“Thank you for intervening, Grand Master.” Icarus' hand slid across the bed to wrap around mine.
“I trust you discovered the answers you've been seeking.” The raven ducked its head when I nodded. “Very well. But we have experienced an unexpected development.”
I froze. “Where's The Hand?” I threw back the duvet and moved the pillows, looking for the twisted metal talisman.
“And that is the development I mentioned.”
Icarus sat up, tucking in his shirt and pulling on his waistcoat. “My father has it. How?”
The raven bobbed its head. “Merlena, the witch who cast the somnolence spell. She must have taken it.”
“There are dark wizards in the High Coven?” Icarus raised a mocking eyebrow in the direction of the raven.
I smiled despite my anger. My Icarus was definitely back.
“A snake in the garden indeed.” The Grand Master's voice was dry, but a warning underlay his words. “This has become an issue I can no longer remain apart from, Adept Kane. Your father destroyed the sanctity of this office once, and it took me years to regain the trust of the world. I will not see him ruin us again. Find him. Retrieve The Hand and destroy him once and for all.”
“I assure you, Grand Master Orrin, I have every intention of doing just that.” Icarus held out his hand to me, and I took it, a thrilling shiver racing over me as his fingers closed on mine. This was what we'd always been capable of. A magic more powerful than The Hand echoed between our palms. I could feel the aether as it bounced between us. It was tangible, and the raven hopped closer.
“That is an interesting turn of events.” Orrin said thoughtfully. The raven looked at us. “God speed, Adepts.”
“Thank you, Grand Master.” I petted the raven's head, even as Icarus rolled his eyes at my gesture.
“Now go.” Orrin said, barely contained laughter in his voice as it issued from his familiar's throat. “Machiavelli will keep watch over you. I will assist when I can.”
Icarus let go of my hand long enough to throw on his duster and pull on his boots. He smoothed down his curls and took up my hand again.
“How do we find your father and Croft?” I asked him, stepping closer.
His smile was grim, but we were connected by the magic between us and I could feel his angry anticipation for revenge as well. Any shred of fear he may have had for his father was burned away now.
Machiavelli flapped his wings and flew up to land pertly on Icarus' shoulder.
Icarus flipped down the collar of his duster. “I have a feeling I know exactly where they'll be.”
CHAPTER TEN
We left the Grand Master's house by way of the front door. His estate sprawled before us in the late afternoon fog that hung wetly over the emerald grass. I clutched my coat around me, glad I'd taken the time to stop in the commode and straighten my hair and smooth out my dress. Just standing in the palatial gardens was daunting.
“My man Rivensbrow will be around shortly. I've taken the liberty of securing transportation for you.” Orrin looked at me from Machiavelli's eyes. With his perch on Icarus's shoulder we were nearly eye to eye. “I think you'll find it most suitable for your needs.”
The sound of steam accompanied the acrid smell of magic as a motor car roared around the corner of the yard at top speed. Pebbles flew from its wheels as it came at us. I clutched Icarus' arm as the thing bore down on us with great speed.
The Grand Master's laugh was mischievous. “He does like to show off.”
The shiny metal contraption puffed smoke and water vapor as its steam and magic driven engine rumbled. The driver executed a turn with great precision, stopping the car directly before us.
“What the devil is this contraption?” Icarus glowered as a slim man in black jumped nimbly from the driver's seat.
“She's a Marcasian 225, sir.” The man's thin mustache wiggled with his wide grin. He ran his hand lovingly over the hood of the beast of an auto. He bowed low to me, a gentleman's bow from a man so obviously not a gentleman, which made me smile in delight.
“So even the Grand Master is dabbling in science.” Icarus shook his head in disgust. “Is there no such thing as a good levitation spell anymore?”
“Times are changing, Grand Adept.” Orrin's voice was tired, as if the argument was one in a long line. “We must keep up or be left behind.”
“Come along then,” Rivensbrow opened the door and waved us inside, “if you've a mind to get where you're going in a hurry.”
Icarus muttered under his breath, curse words I'm sure, but he climbed into the automobile anyway. Rivensbrow held out his hand and helped me into the auto, pushing my skirts inside before closing the door with a snap. His face was narrow, his eyes a bit close together but full of life as he peered at us through the window.
“Where is it we're headed, Adept Kane?”
“The steam mills.”
The click of my fan was audible in the silence as I let the flutter push air over my cheeks.
Machiavelli pecked the top of Icarus' head. “He's going to try to reenact the Druid spell.”
I could hear a note of dread and disgust mixing in the Grand Master's voice.
“Downtown it is.” Rivensbrow climbed up into the driver's perch, pushing levers and turning knobs even as his magic powered up the engine. I could feel its subtle tingle on my skin. It reminded me that The Hand was no longer with me. I reached for Icarus' hand and clasped it. The connection instantly sharpened my focus on the aether around us. The tingle became the caress of the sentient particles.
Icarus' eyes met mine as our connection clicked into place, and Machiavelli
hopped from his shoulder to the seat beside Rivensbrow.
“Really,” Orrin huffed, as the raven ruffled its wings, “the two of you together put off far too much interference. I can barely connect with Machiavelli when you're touching.”
“Interesting.” Icarus looked down at our hands. “Cora's magic seems to have grown stronger, even without the talisman.”
“It's not her magic.” The raven rolled its eyes, a perfect impression of what the Grand Master must have done. “It’s the amplification of your connection to the aether that interests me most. I can almost feel the magic rushing to do your bidding.”
Icarus looked out the window as the motorcar began to roll, picking up speed as we flew over the pebbled lane toward London. I felt nary a bump to alert me that we moved at all. “If it would rush to do our bidding against my father we might stand a chance.” His eyes were dark with dread and anger when he turned back to us. “As it is we have no way of knowing what Robert Croft may have been up to. Or how this all figures into my father's plans.”
“We know your father hopes to strip the barrier between aether and our plane. We know that Croft devised the Dielectric sphere to insulate a wizard from the aether, thereby cutting off his access to magic.” Orrin looked at us from the eyes of his familiar. “Something Croft was working on must be important to Victor's plans.”
“We need to find Croft's lab.” Icarus' thumb stroked over my fingers absently. I wasn't sure he even knew he was doing it. “I don't want to walk blindly into the middle of my father's spell without an idea of how to stop him.”
“If I may, sir.” Rivensbrow's face appeared through the window that separated the driving space from the rear of the motorcar where we sat. “I may have an idea of how to find the lab you're looking for.”
“How's that, Lawrence?” The Grand Master's voice was dim as the raven stretched its wings. I was amazed the wizard had managed to keep the connection between them for so long.
“There's a meeting place where the lacking get together, and a lot of scientists and the like show up there to drink and carouse. We might find someone who knows the lab we're looking for.”