04 Last

by Lynnie Purcell

  “I will go,” Preacher volunteered immediately.

  “Me, too,” King said.

  River looked at King then at Preacher. Her blue eyes were full of concern. She didn’t argue with their choice, but she couldn’t let her worry go without saying something.

  “Are you sure?” River asked them.

  “As sure as can be,” King said.

  “Fine, that’s settled,” Reaper said. “Just be careful. Don’t take any risks.”

  “I normally would,” King said. “But you know Preacher. He was born careful.”

  Preacher smiled at the teasing, and did not try to correct King’s assessment of him. It was true. He moved through life with more caution than most anger-obsessed Watchers.

  “Anything else?” Reaper asked.

  Everybody shook his or her head in a ‘no.’

  “Fine,” Reaper said. “We’ll meet back here when I have new information to share.”

  The others stood and started to make their slow way out of the galley. Beatrice and Han came over to us and gave warm hugs of welcome, but they didn’t stay to chat. I got – from the distracted expressions on their faces – that they were in the middle of an experiment of some kind and wanted to get back to it. After their months of imprisonment, I would have thought they would be against continued experimentation, but they couldn’t repress their love of science. Not even after such a traumatic event.

  “I need to speak with you,” Daniel said to Reaper.

  Reaper nodded, as if he had expected as much, and sat down on top of the long table, his legs crossed in front of him. When the others were gone, Daniel held out his hand for Reaper to take. Reaper looked surprised that Daniel wanted to talk so privately, but he didn’t ask questions. He touched Daniel’s hand and listened carefully as Daniel shared his vision of the end of the world. Reaper’s expression grew increasingly troubled. When Daniel dropped his hand, Reaper seemed to come to a decision.

  “How often have your visions been wrong?” Reaper asked.

  “Wrong? Never…visions that I haven’t seen the whole truth? Often,” Daniel replied.

  “Then I will take that as hope,” Reaper decided. He gestured at me. “What did the historian say about your training?”

  “She said to come back after my birthday,” I said. “I don’t know if she intends on training me more or what. She didn’t say.”

  “I have a feeling we should be prepared for whatever changes happen to you,” Reaper said.

  “Why do you sound so scared?” I asked.

  “I’m not scared,” Reaper replied. “Cautious…I’m cautious.”

  “Because you’re afraid I’ll turn crazy or because you’re afraid nothing will happen?” I asked.

  “Clare, you ask a lot of questions,” Reaper said.

  “That’s not an answer,” I said.

  “It’s as good as one as you’re going to get,” he said. “Are you going to stay here or somewhere else for the change?”

  “Somewhere else,” Daniel replied.

  “When will you leave?” Reaper asked.

  “At dusk,” Daniel said. “I don’t want to take any chances.”

  “Fair enough,” Reaper replied.

  As he spoke, Sara and Moira appeared near the back of the galley. Moira had a man I recognized by the scruff of his neck. The weasel face, the gold around his neck and the horrible clothes were familiar – they had found Sevier. I knew he was as much a weasel as his face suggested. His eyes were shut; he looked unconscious. Seeing him reminded me of the first time we had met. I had put a knife to his throat in order to get Han and Beatrice’s location from him. He had also had my necklace – it had been sold to him by a cloaked figure, who had stolen the necklace from me in New Orleans. My pulse started to race in anger at the memory of him circling me in a predatory way.

  Reaper looked at Sevier then at the galley. The galley was not brightly lit by any stretch of the imagination, but it also didn’t strike terror in to the heart of men. It was too warm a place for that.

  “I don’t think this is the best place for a conversation,” Reaper said.

  “What did you have in mind?” Daniel asked.

  “I know a place,” Reaper said.

  He held his hand out to Daniel then Sara, to share the location. Then, still holding on to Sara’s hand, Reaper, Moira and Sevier disappeared. Daniel took my hand and put the image Reaper had left in his mind in to my brain. The image was strange – all steel and water, but I accepted the image and felt my body move toward the place Reaper had shared. I knew it would be the beginning of a different truth. The truth of what Marcus was up to next.

  Chapter 13

  The room we found ourselves in was round, with square windows spaced at regular intervals. The green Atlantic surged in violent time to the harsh wind blowing around the structure. I saw four other similar round structures and a bridge that spanned all five buildings, like a spoke on a wheel. The round structures were on top of tall stilts that protected them from the ocean. Waves broke against the steel in an endless pursuit to topple the structures.

  “Where are we?” I asked.

  “Near England,” Reaper replied.

  Reaper focused on Sevier, who was still out cold. He went to him and made him sit in a chair in the center of the room. The chair looked innocuous, but I saw silver handcuffs Sevier would not be able to escape. Reaper put the handcuffs around Sevier’s wrists and placed him in the chair. Then, he tapped hard on Sevier’s face. Sevier woke with a jolt. His black eyes searched our faces for an answer to his odd location; he looked disoriented and afraid. Sevier visibly tensed when he saw Daniel and me standing together. I waved at him, and his eyes darted to the windows and the door separating us from the outside. His eyes darted back to Daniel’s green eyes, and I saw fear that had nothing to do with being held captive. He was terrified of Daniel in a way that he was not terrified of me.

  “Glad you could join us,” Reaper said, forcing Sevier to refocus on him.

  “You’ll pay for this,” Sevier threatened in a weak voice.

  “Sure,” Reaper agreed easily. “But right now, I need some information.”

  “About what?” Sevier asked.

  “Marcus, and what he is planning,” Reaper said.

  “I can get you girls, guns and a fun night out, but anything else is out of my league,” Sevier lied.

  “Really?” Reaper asked. “You’re going to play that game?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sevier said. “I’m a business man. I don’t know what kinds of things Marcus and his Seekers get up to. It’s not my place to know. I just supply them with all the things I just mentioned.”

  “Sevier…last chance. What is Marcus planning?”

  “I don’t know!” Sevier said, his voice breaking with his fear.

  Reaper sighed and shook his head regretfully.

  “I really didn’t want it to come to this, but you leave me no choice,” Reaper said.

  Sevier’s eyes moved back to Daniel and me. He was obviously worried about us more than anyone else in the room. It made me wonder what kind of history Daniel had with him. The fear in Sevier’s eyes was proof it had not been a happy one.

  “What? What are you going to do?” Sevier asked.

  “Moira is going to have a little talk with you,” Reaper said, gesturing at her. “After that, we will see what you can remember.”

  Sevier sized Moira up. He paid special attention to her lack of shoes and her soft, flowing dress; she wasn’t as big a threat as me, who was glaring at him in hate. Sevier’s face was not nearly as frightened as it should have been. Reaper opened a heavy door and went outside, gesturing for the rest of us to follow. Sara, Daniel and I followed him out to a small balcony overlooking the ocean. The waves crashed beneath us and the spray covered our clothes in moisture.

  When the door shut, I heard Moira’s low tone speak to Sevier, giving him one last chance to speak. He refused to give in. He flirted
with her, offering her wealth beyond her dreams. Moira did not reply. Then, the screaming started. I focused on the sound of the waves, so I wouldn’t have to focus on the screaming. The others were not as bothered by the screams; they were just a means to an end.

  “How did you know about this place?” Daniel asked conversationally.

  “A girl,” Reaper said. “I thought I was madly in love. We ended up here once.”

  “Ah,” Daniel said. “What happened with her?”

  “She was insane, and totally addicted to being crazy,” Reaper said. “I admit willing to the impulse to do risky and dangerous stunts. I’ve done a lot I’m not proud of. But I couldn’t handle it. She was just too insane. Realized it wasn’t love after all.”

  “Proof that even higher beings do stupid stuff for love,” I said.

  “It’s worse for us,” Sara added. “When we decide to go crazy, we do it well.”

  “I’ve noticed,” I said.

  The screaming died down at my words. I heard Moira’s low tone again and the sound of Sevier begging. In his begging, he agreed to tell her whatever we wanted to know. Reaper turned at the words and went back inside. Daniel’s hand in mine prepared me for what I was about to see.

  Sevier’s face was covered in silver blood. It looked as if blood had seeped out of his very pores. There were no marks on his body to suggest Moira had even touched him. I shivered at the idea but kept my eyes glued to his face.

  “Marcus is planning an attack,” Sevier said in his quick voice.

  “What kind of attack?” Reaper asked.

  “The usual kind,” Sevier said. “Violent. He brought me a special order a month ago. Wanted materials to make a bomb, said it was to cause some mischief in the human world…make the humans realize their world was not as safe as they thought.”

  “And you sold him this material?” Reaper asked.

  “Business is business,” Sevier said.

  “Did he say why it was important to make the humans know their world was not safe?” Reaper asked.

  “Of course not,” Sevier said. “He doesn’t confide in me. It’s Marcus we’re talking about.”

  “But you know where he plans to begin his attack,” Reaper said.

  There was a beat of silence. Sevier looked afraid to answer, but one look at Moira convinced him otherwise.

  “I did a little digging around,” Sevier admitted. “Got in contact with some sources. The Seekers in New York have been buzzing with the news. They’ve been preparing something there…I got news only yesterday that they’ve stepped up their operations there. My guess is that they’re done preparing, if they are being so transparent. They are ready to move. If Marcus has attacked the council, then you can bet he will move soon.”

  “Do you have a place or a date?” Reaper asked. “Where in New York?”

  “I don’t know!” Sevier said. “I swear!”

  Reaper looked frustrated that Sevier seemed to be telling the truth. He didn’t know anything else. Moira’s talent had persuaded him to be honest. Reaper nodded.

  “I believe you. Is there anything else you can tell me?” Reaper asked.

  “You won’t stop him,” Sevier said. “He will win.”

  Reaper’s mouth lifted in to a dangerous smile.

  “We’ll see about that,” Reaper said.

  Reaper went to Sevier and pulled him out of the chair. Reaper then marched Sevier over to the door and the balcony beyond. Without another word, Reaper threw Sevier in to the ocean. I heard a ‘splash’ from down below and gurgled curses from Sevier as he fought against the salty water. Sevier had nothing beyond the chains binding his hands and the harsh waves of the water to keep him company. We all stared at Reaper in shock. He turned back to us; his smile of satisfaction turned mischievous.

  “What?” Reaper asked. “I thought he looked thirsty.”

  “Won’t he die?” I asked.

  “Nah, rats make great swimmers,” Reaper said. “Besides, maybe next time he’ll think about who he sells explosives to.”

  Daniel was the only one who didn’t look shocked by Reaper throwing a man in to the sea. He looked as if he would have done more than just throw Sevier to the sharks.

  “We should get back,” Daniel said. “If Marcus is preparing a bomb in New York…”

  “We have to stop it,” Reaper agreed.

  Reaper held his hand out to Sara. Moira did the same. They disappeared in to the darkness beyond. Down below, I heard the continued splashing of Sevier and the brutal waves attacking the structure. Sevier’s curses were drowned out by the waves and the wind blowing like madness over the landscape. Daniel held his hand out to me, and I erased Sevier from my mind. He would find his way – vermin always did. I focused on the ship and felt the tug of travel take me to my destination.

  At the ship, Reaper decided it was best to keep the bomb as quiet as possible, until we knew more. He made his rounds to the people he thought should know and left the others to think there was nothing wrong. The time to take care of the attack would come, but Reaper didn’t want people to get worked up before there was something to get worked up about. It was sound logic, though I wondered if there was really any way to keep that sort of thing secret. Secrets always were found out. It was their nature.

  Daniel and I decided to tell our people ourselves. We found Han, Beatrice, Margaret and Jackson first and told them the news. Han and Beatrice looked more bothered by the idea than Margaret and Jackson. Margaret and Jackson simply looked determined to stop the attack. They would do what they could to help. Our other friends were harder to find. We finally tracked Spider down at a poker game in the ship’s hold. One look in Spider’s eyes told us he already knew about the attack. The look in his eyes also suggested something else was wrong. It was a personal pain I thought I recognized.

  “You okay?” I asked him as he collected his winnings from the center of the table.

  “Peachy, doll,” Spider said. “What could be wrong with me?”

  “Is that a rhetorical question?” I asked.

  Spider’s face was sarcastic as he looked up from his winnings. Then, he lost the sarcasm and looked up at the top railing. I followed his line of sight and saw Eli watching the game with a veiled expression on his face. Eli turned away as I caught his eye. I instantly knew that Eli was the source of Spider’s pain.

  “Did he talk to you?” I asked.

  “Tried to,” Spider said.

  “What did he say?” I asked.

  “Not much of anything,” Spider said. “He definitely didn’t apologize. Just said he wanted to explain. Like he could have a good reason for doing what he did…”

  “Maybe not a good one, but a reason all the same,” I said.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Spider said, not interested in hearing excuses.

  Spider’s eyes moved to Daniel, who was watching us with concern on his face. For some reason, the concern made Spider shift awkwardly. It was if he didn’t know what to do with the emotion – it made him feel conflicted for a reason he didn’t feel like sharing. Spider avoided Daniel’s eyes and put a hand on mine.

  “I’m fine, doll…” Spider assured me. “If you need help, don’t forget about me,” he said.

  “I won’t,” I promised.

  Daniel and I moved away from the table and went in search of the last person on our list to tell: Alex. We searched the lower levels then moved on to the upper levels, figuring she would be somewhere talking to one of the many Watchers who came to her for a friendly, caring ear. We searched every room that we could think of, but she was not to be found. As we reached the door to the outside, I felt worry settle in to my chest. Where was she? I was about to mention my worry to Daniel when I heard her voice. It was muffled and sounded as if it were carried away by the wind, but there was no mistaking it.

  “It’s easy for you to say that now,” Alex said. “Hindsight is 50-50. My emotions aren’t your plaything. You made your choice.”

  “I never intended for them
to be,” I heard Eli say in his quiet voice. “I was wrong to leave.”

  “Yes, you were,” Alex said.

  “I left because I was afraid. I was afraid to hurt you and afraid to face the truth. It’s been so long since I’ve had anyone in my life that could…” He hesitated. “Is it too late?”

  Alex didn’t reply. The silence was oppressive.

  “You don’t have to answer now,” Eli said. “Just know that I’m sorry, and I never meant to hurt you.”

  I heard footsteps cross a hard surface, and then the door to the outside was thrown back. Daniel and I stared at Eli. His strange eyes were full of sadness and doubt, but, in the depths, I also saw hope. He stifled his hope as he looked at us; he thought we had not heard his conversation. He didn’t speak; he merely passed us and went his solitary way down the hall. Daniel and I shared a questioning look. His eyes asked me if I wanted to talk to Alex in private. I nodded a ‘yes,’ and Daniel followed Eli’s path down the hall.

  The second I stepped outside, I was met by a harsh wind. It tore in to my flesh with unrelenting cold and threatened to knock me overboard. Alex was standing at the railing, on the same side of the ship as the door. She was oblivious to the wind, though it whipped her hair around her face with angry vengeance. She didn’t seem to notice me as I stepped out and joined her at the rail, but I knew she was very aware of my presence. We stood in silence for a long minute. In that minute, I realized she was crying. I put my arm around her shoulders and waited for her to speak first.

  “This is so stupid,” she said.

  “Yeah,” I agreed.

  “Why couldn’t he have kept his mouth shut?” she asked.

  I was wondering the same thing. I had warned him about pulling Alex in to an emotional crisis, but he had obviously not heard me. Or was it that the emotions were too strong for him to ignore? It was difficult to tell with him; he was the king of keeping his emotions personal.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “What are you going to do?”

  Alex’s blue eyes shone with the moisture of her tears as she turned to look at me. The question had caught her off guard. She looked startled I had thought to ask such a thing.