I felt a pulse of something, realized it came from Revik. Whatever it was, it was intense enough to startle me. I glanced over at his face, but his eyes were fixed on Maygar.
His voice flattened. “You should know...there’s a factional struggle happening within the Rooks. Terian’s making a play for the top spot. My guess is, he wants you to do it for him...or to use you as leverage, maybe. Maybe even to do whatever it is you’re planning to do...”
“I doubt that.”
“Allie,” he said. “All I meant is—”
“I know,” I said, cutting him off again. “I got it, Revik. You think he’s playing me. That he maneuvered me into whatever I’m doing. You think I’m part of his little game now.”
There was a silence after I said it.
I felt my face warm, but didn’t look at anyone around the table. Replaying my own words, I realized again how what I’d said probably sounded to them, after everything. A kind of futility washed over me.
Revik broke the silence.
“I didn’t mean what I said as an insult, Allie,” he said, quiet. “He’s good at that. Manipulating events. All I meant was—”
“I understand,” I said. “It’s all right, Revik. Really.”
I felt my jaw harden when I realized I’d cut him off again.
Avoiding his eyes, I looked around the table, forcing myself to take in their physical condition, to really see it. I replayed Revik’s words in my head, looking at Jon’s hand, the cut on Cass’s face, whatever was wrong with Revik’s neck. Suddenly, everything I’d been doing with the Seven seemed pretty childish.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said, speaking into the silence. “You probably are right, Revik.” I hesitated, looking around at them again. “...I guess I went after the wrong Rook.”
I felt my face warm again when I replayed my own words.
Shaking my head, I fought my voice.
“Look, I’m sorry. I really am. I’m not saying anything right. I guess I don’t know how to say how terrible I feel about what happened to all of you...”
“Allie,” Cass said, softly.
I glanced at her. Seeing the brightness in her eyes, I looked at Jon. “The truth is, it’s still not safe, being near me...you must realize that now. I wish that were different. I really do. But it’s not. It might not ever be.”
When no one said anything, I cleared my throat, wiping my eyes.
“When we’re done here, Maygar and I’ll clear out.” I hesitated, glancing at Revik. He wouldn’t return my gaze. Looking past him, to Cass, I said, “Revik can probably get you somewhere safe. I’ve got money now. Vash promised me funds...I could...” I glanced at Revik. “...Hire him, I mean. If that’s all right.”
Another silence fell. I felt them staring at me, everyone except Revik.
Then Maygar grunted in amusement. He glanced at Revik, tossing his napkin to the table.
“Hear that?” he said. “You’ve been dismissed, Rook-boy.”
“Shut up, Maygar,” I said.
“Oh, don’t worry...I approve, Bridge. And you’re right. He’s probably screwing the redhead...”
“What?” Cass stared at him, then at me. “What did he say?”
I shook my head, giving Maygar a hard look. “He didn’t say anything, Cass. Please, just forget it.”
I saw her open her mouth, then look back at Maygar. Her eyes narrowed at him, right before she seemed to make up her mind, folding her arms.
“Whatever.”
I stood up, unable to look at any of them now.
“Look, this isn’t personal. Maygar was assigned to me by the Council, so he’s stuck...but none of you are.” I looked at Jon. “I don’t want to leave any of you. I love you. I hope you all know that. I’m serious about the danger, okay? Revik knows...he’ll tell you.”
There was a silence, this one longer. Revik didn’t move in his chair.
The human servant, Eddard, finally broke it by walking into the room. He glanced around, one eyebrow arched in question at the silence.
Then he cleared his throat, looking directly at me.
“Ma’am?” He waited for me to turn.
For a moment I couldn’t take my eyes off the others around the table. Jon was staring at Revik, as if willing him to say something. Cass was looking at me, her eyes holding a kind of disbelief, but I saw anger there, too. She glared at Maygar then, but he only smiled, winking at her before he kissed the air with his lips.
When I glanced at Revik, I found I couldn’t look away. He was staring at the table, his face completely devoid of expression.
“Ma’am?”
I turned my head finally, realizing the words were aimed at me.
“What?” I said. “Eddard? What is it?”
“The military is outside.”
“What?” Maygar leapt to his feet, shoving his chair back. “Which one?”
Eddard looked only at me. “I believe all of them, sir.”
28
DESCENT
I CROUCHED IN an alcove by a long row of chimneys.
None of us were really talking, not anymore.
Without anyone saying much, Revik and Maygar took over once the military showed up. Within seconds they were using Revik’s secure network, contacting people in the Seven’s Guard, calling in a team to get us out through the roof.
Still, the silence was deafening.
I don’t know what the others thought, I didn’t want to read any of them, but I felt a kind of futility when I saw the line of military cars blocking off the street at the base of Revik’s building. Someone down there had a voice amplifier, too. They were shouting instructions we could hear more than eight stories up. I heard other languages besides English, so it was a good bet that SCARB and the Sweeps were down there, too.
I saw the feed vans pull up right before Maygar grabbed my arm, tugging me away from the window. I let him drag me up the stairs along with the others, then to a smaller, hidden staircase behind a small bureau in the master bedroom. Above that one, an even more narrow staircase lived, one that led up to a metal plated door and out on the roof.
All six of us now squatted in a low line, gazing at the same expanse of gray sky.
Revik leaned on the white-painted wall beside me. I hadn’t really thought through the order in which we walked that last piece of stairs, but now he was clearly too close to me. Clutching the edge of one brick by my face, I managed to close off my light from his, but my eyes drifted to him again and again.
He didn’t return my glances.
I focused on a fading welt that showed above his white collared shirt.
“I’ll tell you, Allie,” he said. “Anything you want. But not now.”
My throat tightened. He’d felt me looking at him.
He still had a construct over this place. Given our connection, he might even be able to hear me apart from that.
Maygar’s voice rose behind me and I turned, saw him talking on a headset. He used the seer language mixed with what sounded like French.
“They’re closing off the street,” Revik said, translating.
“Didn’t Maygar tell them we’d blow up the building?”
“Yes.” Revik still wouldn’t look at me. “They’d expect that.” I saw him glance at Maygar again. His jaw tightened.
Just then, Eddard shouted, “Sir! They’re coming!”
I followed the human’s pointing finger. In the distance, black, insect-like shapes rose above the skyline. For months I had them burned into my brain as things that brought death and guns and capture, but this time, I felt my heart lift as I watched the black dots grow larger. Maybe we really would get out of this.
I glanced at Eddard, studying his light inside Revik’s construct. Definitely human.
“Who is he?” I asked Revik.
Revik’s eyes followed mine. “He works for me. He said he wouldn’t tell the military unless I did something ‘untoward.’ He’s clean,” he added, preempting my next question. “...and
I’m paying him well.”
I nodded, watching the approaching helicopters.
Seconds later, sound came pounding into the alcove where we crouched. At first it came from the helicopters alone, then a whooshing noise ricocheted between buildings, soft at first then deafeningly loud. Revik tensed beside me. I barely recognized the flash of a pair of U.S. fighter jets, right before they fired.
The first missile hit the front helicopter and exploded.
I flinched back, unable to tear my eyes away even through Revik’s shielding arm. I watched as black smoke mushroomed up out of the tilting cockpit. Fire billowed out even as the second one came to its end a breath later.
I watched uncomprehendingly as gravity began to take its toll only a few hundred feet from the roof where we perched.
Rising abruptly to his feet, Revik withdrew towards the small stairwell, motioning the others back towards the access door even as I heard the crash and grind of metal and glass. I still sat there, numb, as the two helicopters completed their falls, smashing down into whatever had the misfortune of lying on the street below.
I could feel the seers inside the cockpits, dying.
I was still standing there when someone grabbed my arm, dragging me towards the open metal door. I didn’t realize until then that they’d all gone inside, that I was out there alone. When I glanced back at Maygar’s face, he only yanked on my arm harder, his eyes and mouth exuding impatience.
With a last look at the sky, I retreated back indoors with the rest of them, even as the jets’ trails flashed by in tandem overhead.
INSIDE THE BARRIER, winds whip, throwing to and fro the lit strands of billions of interconnected beings.
The height of the Pyramid stands over London, bending and crushing living lights as members of the Org, the Brotherhood...the Rooks...dive in and out of buildings, through lights and connections, in and out of military and paramilitary and homeland security agents for three different nations. SCARB ran operations by now, even over the local authorities...and even over the Sweeps, their more bureaucratic counterpart tasked with enforcing the Human Protection Act. Both departments had more seers than humans in their ranks these days, of course, but even the human authorities wanted that fact kept from civilians.
Human beings could be so reactionary, after all.
Above the mass of uniforms, vehicles and weapons, two light bodies stand alone, watching.
One directs no small part of the larger organism.
He does this in the background, using pieces of his mind and light that no longer need to pull from the bulk of his waking consciousness.
The other, standing next to him, is his oldest friend.
She’s shielded, Xarethe comments. Likely by Elan’s boy, Maygar. Or those kneelers back in Asia. Maybe even by Dehgoies himself, by now...
You are sure that Dehgoies is here? Galaith says.
Her only answer is a shrug as she stares out over darting forms.
He is alive, then, Galaith breathes, unable to hide his relief. Terian only took him from me. Likely to use him to get what he’s after...
The other seer doesn’t answer.
Both of them watch as drones weave a dense, Barrier structure over the tall, white building, focusing primarily on the top floor. The net will push the Seven out. It will keep any out who might try to help them from the Barrier. They will tackle Dehgoies’s construct, following that. Everything done by the Org is systematic, by the numbers.
It is the reason they are so rarely taken by surprise.
Xarethe asks, Isn’t it more of a risk, to kill her now? What if she simply returns? She studies Galaith’s light through the Barrier’s dark. We could bring her in alive now. Dehgoies, too. If we have her mate, she will have little choice but to cooperate with us. We could use her to bring the war when we’re ready. On our own terms...
Galaith smiles wryly. You are assuming this war can be controlled. War can rarely be controlled my friend...and a Displacement even less so than most. His light follows the swarm of drones. And anyway, the Bridge and Alyson are not precisely the same creature. Beneath her surface personality there exists a drive...a pre-programming, if you will. It is very difficult to persuade such an influence. She is not the Bridge so much as possessed by it.
...Still, he shrugs, gazing back out over the cloak woven by his drones. She was the first choice to fulfill this role. That does mean something.
Xarethe thinks about his words. Can it be stopped? In your opinion, Protecting Shield...is it able to be restrained?
Galaith nods slowly in return, pensive. Yes. I think so.
And Dehgoies?
Galaith chuckles. Ah, Dehgoies. What will we do with him? The smile turns affectionate. He deserves partial credit for all of this... He extends a hand over the cloud of drones. But Terian was wasting his time. It was not a temporary shield that we put on Dehgoies’s mind when he left...we broke him entirely.
He sighs, exuding pale light in a fountain.
He is purely an invention of the Seven now. More dead than alive...at least in relation to that which he once was. No... he says almost regretfully. We have nothing to fear in him, old friend.
Xarethe doesn’t answer.
Peace, Galaith says. It requires constant work, yes? His dark eyes burn like coals. ...I want no more talk of Displacements, or prophesied wars.
And Terian? she ventures. He is one of the Four, is he not?
Galaith’s eyes flash as he turns.
He is, he says, watching her face. Does that surprise you, old friend?
Somewhat, yes, she says. Does he know of it?
Galaith’s light form smiles cryptically. I believe he is beginning to suspect...
And what will you do with him? Xarethe persists. Does it not worry you, that he might start this war, even without your Bridge?
Galaith smiles once more, clasping his light hands at his back. After a pause, he turns, meeting the gaze of the other.
I promised my friend Xarethe that I would not exterminate all of her creations.
His smile grows harder, even as the black eyes turn sharp.
...But Terry, he says gently. Your time is up. It is fortunate for me that you are as obvious as you are insane...
The being calling itself Xarethe turns, its glowing eyes suddenly predatory.
Galaith adds, I hope, at least, you got the explanations you were hoping for, old friend...
A bolt of light strikes from overhead.
Terian sidesteps it, severing his connection to the Pyramid even as he leaves the false imprint of Xarethe behind.
The darkness disappears...
...AND TERIAN JERKED open yellow-gold eyes.
He lay in a cream-colored seat on a private plane, a middle-aged woman with a tennis player’s body. She was on her way to the Hamptons for a week, with husband number two and kids. When she blinked her eyes to clear them, a man appeared over her, holding a gun.
It was not her husband.
“Did you really think he wouldn’t hear what you’d been doing, Terry?” the seer asked.
The woman held up a hand. A diamond wedding ring sparkled from her third finger. “We can talk about this, my brother—”
The infiltrator fired. The skull of the slim woman in the five thousand dollar Chanel suit blew back from an entry point just at the inside of her right eye, decorating the seat’s upholstery with a sickening thump.
She slumped forward in the soft leather seat.
...just as a different man on another continent approached a girl patiently brushing a pony’s dark mane. She looked maybe sixteen, but the expression in her eyes flashed older as the infiltrator approaching her fit a silencer to the end of his pistol. Her long hair caught in a gust of wind as she struggled to mount the small horse. Before she could get her leg over, he fired...
...and now they are aware. All Terians, everywhere. He is on the run, in all his various forms, but Galaith had planned for that, too.
...A man in his tw
enties bolted down an aisle of slot machines, his eyes wide as he scanned for exits. He’d just about reached the cordoned entrance to the cocktail lounge when a security guard stepped directly behind him, stabbing him in the kidney multiple times with a straight-edged knife. Before he could cry out, the same guard jammed a syringe against his neck and hit a button to depress the stopper.
A crowd gathered as he convulsed on the carpet, but only the guard saw his eyes flash yellow before he expired...
...A businessman in Italy stepped out of his church, looking around frantically for his family’s chauffeured car. He crossed the street with his coat collar raised, lifting a hand for a taxi when unknown persons gunned him down in front of ten witnesses, including the secretary he’d met an hour earlier at a nearby apartment building, and who he’d been banging behind his wife’s back for over three months...
...even as with a jerk and a gasp, the Vice President of the United States, Ethan Wellington, sat up in bed.
For a long moment, he didn’t know what had wakened him, didn’t know what was wrong.
Then, receiving a number of flashes from the Barrier construct he’d erected over the room, he felt in the bed beside him for the body of his wife, feeling a faint rush of panic when he couldn’t find her. Seconds later, he remembered she was out, touring the Southern states on free school lunches, or one of the other social programs he’d asked her to support. As parts of him whispered in the dark, he found himself thankful for her absence.
He threw back the covers, shoved his feet into plush slippers and reached for the drawer where he still kept a small gun, like in that apartment he and Helen shared when they lived together in graduate school.
The door to his bedroom opened.
Ethan tensed, blinking up into the giant eye of a Maglite flashlight.
“Good,” he said, exhaling as he recognized Wes, the lead of his security detail. “Have them bring my car around. There’s been a family emergency, and—”
“Sir,” the agent said. “That won’t be necessary.”
It occurred to Ethan that he’d made a mistake, even as his eyes adjusted enough to see the gun his security chief held beside the long flashlight. Ethan’s mind toyed with regret—that this wasn’t a seer’s body, that he might have acted faster, that he hadn’t remembered to call Helen that night.
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