by D. N. Leo
The chilly breezes crept inside her jacket and made her shudder. Feeling a warm coat wrapped around her shoulders, she turned around and smiled at the sinfully handsome face of her husband—a face God had created when he was in the mood to forgive all mortal sins.
His striking gray eyes smiled back at her. “You’re cold, first councillor.”
Every time he called her first councillor, she wanted to swoon. But it didn’t happen this time. A perk of being a mind reader was that she could occasionally peek into his mind, and those occasions tended to coincide with negative events—such as now.
A looming, dark cloud hovered over his mind. Deep concern about Arik’s trip inside Mon Ciel was eating him up. Ciaran wasn’t psychic, but he had excellent instincts. Whenever he sensed trouble that he could not fix, she saw those dark clouds in his mind. She made a mental note to do something about this when they returned to Eudaiz. She needed to train herself to see his mind when he was happy.
Behind them, other cars arrived and parked about one hundred yards away from Mon Ciel’s fence. Arik, Dinah, Cooper, Jenny, and Lindsay exited these cars. This was a major event for people from the multiverse. However, because people on Earth were oblivious to it, Ciaran wanted to keep it low key.
Madeline entwined her fingers with Ciaran’s and felt a slight squeeze from his hand. They both looked toward Mon Ciel. Not long ago, they’d fought supernatural creatures together, and Mon Ciel had been a safe haven for them. Now, looking at the palace from the outside, they saw a shield hovering over it like a dome.
The very shield that had protected them now prevented them from entering their own home.
Ciaran turned around. He rubbed his thumb over the dimple on her left cheek and smiled at her. “We have a new home now.”
She nodded. “Yes, I love our new home. So whatever you do, make sure we return there. Our children are waiting.”
“I’m sure we will.” He kissed her lightly and turned toward the approaching group of people, leaving her standing there with a gigantic knot in her stomach.
Ciaran approached Lindsay.
Madeline recalled vividly the night she was attacked just outside London when Ciaran came to the rescue, a trip that had cost him his head of security and best friend’s life. Lindsay was Ciaran’s right-hand man at LeBlanc Pharmaceuticals. After that incident, he had tightened security and had always been there for Ciaran without fail. For Ciaran, Lindsay was more than just a subordinate. Lindsay was a friend—a part of his inner circle.
“I appreciate you helping me with this, Lindsay.”
“Do you have to say that, Ciaran?”
“I understand it’s difficult for you to escort Arik inside Mon Ciel given what happened in the past. But I don’t trust anyone else to do this job.”
“Understood.”
Ciaran patted Lindsay’s shoulder. “I owe you one.”
“Don’t mention it.” Lindsay pulled out his cell phone and gave it to Ciaran. “Guard it with your life! My wife gave it to me.” Lindsay grinned and returned to his car.
Ciaran walked toward Arik. “Once you’re inside, I’ll give you instructions on what to look for.”
“How? Are you going to give me one of those fancy wrist units of yours?”
“No, it would be wiped clean when it goes past the protective shield. Lindsay has to leave his cell phone with me. You see?”
“Bloody hell, how much security do you need for a palace?” Arik exclaimed. Then he saw the look on Ciaran’s face. “All right, I’ll get in and out in one piece.”
Ciaran nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Once you’re inside, Lindsay will get you a primitive piece of technology called a cell phone. Then I can call you from his phone and give you instructions.”
“All right.”
“Just to be sure, when you look at Mon Ciel now, you don’t see a glowing, dome-shaped shield, do you?”
“Nope. It looks like just another castle in the English countryside. I’m not suicidal. If I saw the shield, I wouldn’t put my neck through it. Trust me. Just out of curiosity, what would it do to you and other space creatures?”
“Electrocution. Burned toast. Barbecue. However you want to describe it.”
“I get the picture.”
Ciaran snapped a wristband onto Arik’s wrist.
“Ouch!”
“If his band flashes, back the car right out. Don’t go through the shield,” Ciaran told Lindsay, who had settled into the driver’s seat and started the car.
“Copy that.”
The car moved slowly toward the gate, which automatically opened and cleared them in. Before the gate closed, Arik turned around and gave them a thumbs-up.
“Phew!” Cooper exhaled loudly.
Jenny chuckled. “I didn’t know you cared about my brother that much.”
“Oh, I don’t. I’m just worried about the car.”
Madeline wrapped her arms around Ciaran from behind. She didn’t sense him feeling any easier. “What’s wrong, Ciaran?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Dinah looking anxiously at her wrist unit. She looked as agitated as Ciaran.
Ciaran’s unit beeped, and he engaged immediately. “Talk to me, Jake.”
Jake was head of intelligence in Eudaiz. He was very young to hold such an important position. But Ciaran trusted Jake’s capability and integrity. Jake had proven Ciaran correct on several occasions.
“I’m calling you because the wristband you’ve used has been compromised. It’s just been activated now, and it flashed on my screen.”
Dinah rushed over. “What does that mean, Ciaran?”
“Which part was compromised, Jake?” Ciaran asked.
“The broadcasting function.”
“It’s going to broadcast manipulative frequencies!” Dinah teared up. “Can you call Arik now, Ciaran?”
Ciaran shook his head. “It’s too late. I have to go in.”
“Ciaran!” Madeline exclaimed although she knew Ciaran would ignore her.
He looked at Jake’s image on the screen. “Send me TX25.”
Jake’s eyebrows shot up. “But it’s a prototype.”
“It’s been tested. Park the capsule in the cross-dimension.” Ciaran’s face hardened, and his eyes were as cold as steel. Madeline knew there was nothing she could say that would stop him from going inside. As she had done countless times before, she closed her eyes, concentrated, and forced her precognition and mind tracking abilities to work hard, hoping to find a solution.
4
Arik’s mouth hung agape for a moment when he saw the magnificence of Mon Ciel from the inside. In front of him were endless marble hallways, columns, decorative statues, and splendid works of art. But unlike other castles and palaces he had seen in England, behind the grandeur of Mon Ciel was a sense of home.
Now he understood why Juliette had no hesitation in calling this place home after she married Ciaran. He sighed. Dinah was right, opening old wounds was never easy. He should get past that state now. But for the purpose of the task at hand, he let the feelings linger.
He was supposed to channel Juliette’s emotional energy. Normally, he would laugh at the ludicrous suggestion. But based on what had happened in the last few weeks, it might be the most sensible solution.
Something in his mind just clicked. It felt as if a pathway had been cleared. His mind’s eyes saw a light at the end of the hallway. Whatever it was that Dinah had suggested seemed to work. Arik concentrated.
The light flickered a couple of times and then vanished. He shook his head and tried to relax, thinking about the palace and Juliette. The light appeared again.
“Arik!” Lindsay called out.
“Yes.”
“We need to go and get the phone so Ciaran can give you instructions.”
“Okay, you go. I’ll stay right here,” Arik said and focused on the light. He didn’t want the vision to go away, and he was sure
Lindsay didn't see it.
“I can’t let you stay here by yourself. I promised Ciaran I’d get you out in one piece.”
“No one’s here. You think these marble statues are going to jump out and bite me? If you need to get the phone, go get it.”
“Why can’t you go with me? The equipment room is in the upper wing.” Lindsay pointed toward the left.
Arik glanced to the right and saw the hovering light. “Where is Juliette’s lab?”
“At the lower end.” Lindsay pointed toward the light he couldn’t see. “I can get you there after we get the phone. You need to talk to Ciaran because I don’t have the code to get in.”
“Right,” Arik muttered and turned to follow Lindsay. But as soon as he turned, the light disappeared. “Oh no! Okay, how about I go to the lab now, and you go and get the phone.”
“What’s wrong with you? I told you I can’t let you go to that wing by yourself.”
“All right, why don’t we go to the lab, and I’ll see if I can figure out a way in and take the information myself. If I can’t, then we’ll come back for the phone.”
“Why?”
“Can’t tell you why. But I’m going to the lab now.” Arik turned toward the right and walked along the corridor.
Lindsay muttered in protest but then followed.
Beside an imposing steel door was a keypad that glared at Arik in challenge. The light had taken him here, but it hadn’t given him the code. Maybe he needed to go with Lindsay to the equipment room for the phone after all. A tingling sensation shot through this body, coming from the wristband Ciaran had given him. This must be one of Ciaran’s tricks, giving him the code without telling him.
Arik stared at the keypad. A short moment later, the code illuminated on the keyboard. Arik followed the prompts. When he pressed the last digit, he heard a click, and the door slid open.
“Well, at least I didn’t have to say open sesame,” Arik muttered and entered the lab. Hundreds of colorful jars, tubes, and God knows what kind of lab equipment filled the room. Now he was seriously considering getting Ciaran’s instructions. He squared his shoulders and concentrated.
He let his mind wander back to the time he and Juliette were lovers. It was a good time. He could see her beautiful face and flaming red hair. They were so young. She smiled at him. He remembered the vibrant energy that emanated from her body. She loved life, art, and nature.
He could see her walking through the field of wildflowers when they visited her hometown in Ireland. She inhaled the fragrance of the grass and flowers. She looked at them as if she knew them. She could talk to the wildflowers. She whispered something he couldn’t hear.
“What’s that, Juliette?” he asked.
She smiled and picked a bunch of wildflowers. “These are my favorite.”
“Okay, let me get some more for you.” He reached out to the flowers, and his hand hit a cold jar. He jerked his hand back, and the jar fell from his hand. Then his world went black. Soon after, he opened his eyes and found himself on the lab floor.
Lindsay held a jar of potion in his hand, looking at him with concern. “Are you okay? You just passed out and almost dropped this jar on the floor. I don’t know anything about these potions. But I know we don’t want to be near a broken jar.”
Arik sat up. “Let me try again.”
“Try what? Let’s go get the phone.”
“No, I have a sensation. Like a feeling of what might be the right potion. If we leave now, I’m not sure I can get that sensation back.”
Lindsay nodded. “All right, I’ll stay right here to make sure you don’t break anything.” Lindsay went and stood next to the door as if ready to jump out of the way if Arik broke anything in the lab.
Arik nodded and concentrated again. Images of Juliette flooded back to his mind—so fresh and so real. It felt like only yesterday that they were together.
He could feel his own movements in the lab. In a while, the memories seemed to subside. He didn’t feel the need to remember or do anything more. His mind was flung back to reality.
He looked down at the lab table. Several jars of potions and powders were opened. There were signs of an experiment completed. He saw traces of colored powder on his hands. And he was holding a jar of liquid potion.
He knew this was the compound they needed. He stared at the light blue and purple liquid in the jar.
Then Arik felt a gun muzzle pressing against his temple.
“Put the jar down,” Lindsay said.
5
Madeline paced back and forth and around. Her psychic abilities had once again decided to abandon her when she needed them most. Jake had delivered TX25, the prototype capsule. Although she couldn’t see the vehicle because he had parked it in the cross-dimensional section, she was sure it would be like the other capsules in Eudaiz—egg-shaped, the size of a minibus, and made of an unusually resilient material she didn’t know the name of.
Ciaran had designed this model for combat, though, so she figured it would be smaller in size to maximize its flexibility. It would most likely be able to tolerate weaponry attacks more than an ordinary capsule. But Mon Ciel’s shield wouldn’t be easily breached. Ciaran’s family had designed and built it, and for decades, it had deterred numerous space creatures.
Ciaran crossed in and out of this dimension, adjusting his wrist unit and utilizing a portable keyboard. She knew he was navigating the capsule. She wished she could cross dimensions to see what he was doing on the other side. But at the moment, all she could do to help was to will her psychic ability and precognition to work so she could partially predict what might happen.
Ciaran stepped back into the current dimension, his eyes focused on the portable control panel to make further adjustments. Dinah lurked close by, asking to join him. But when it came to critical moments like this, Ciaran trusted only himself.
He looked up from the control panel as if he had finished his preparation. His eyes scanned quickly over the group standing nearby. Madeline knew he would be looking for her, so she made sure she was right there for him.
She approached quickly, kissed him lightly, and smiled. “I love you.”
He didn’t smile back. As usual, his striking gray eyes grew intense. He wiped away a tear on her face she didn’t know had fallen. “I love you, too. And I’m sorry for doing this.”
“You have to do what you have to do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be the man I love.”
“I haven’t tested this. But in theory, a cross-dimensional detour would get me past the shield. Do you trust me?”
She shook her head and looked straight up into his eyes. “Not this time. But I trust my instincts. My precognition always flares up if you’re in trouble. It’s been quiet, so I believe you’ll be fine.” She smiled at him.
He kissed her then said, “I'll be back shortly. Wait for me here, first councillor.” He strode toward the left, and then, in a flash, he vanished into the cross-dimension.
Madeline turned around, rubbing her stomach absently.
Dinah approached. “You couldn’t get your psychic abilities to work, could you?”
Madeline wiped a tear away. “No.”
Jenny said, “Thank you for letting Ciaran go inside for my brother.”
Madeline shook her head. “Don’t thank me too soon.”
She looked toward the horizon. Something flashed in her mind.
“To the creek!” she shouted, pointing toward the creek at the base of the hill. She had been to that creek several times. She had just seen a flash of light in her precognition. She couldn’t quite make sense of it yet, so she just followed her sixth sense—another perk of being a psychic—and figured the shiny flash was the water.
In the lab, Arik looked sideways, straight into the gun’s muzzle. “A toy gun?” he scoffed.
Lindsay used the gun barrel to swing at Arik’s temple, sending him staggering back and almost causing him to pass out.
“It’s plastic, designed for me to pass t
he shield. But I can guarantee you it’s not a toy. I suggest you not try my temper again.” Lindsay grinned crookedly and brandished the gun. “Now put the jar down.”
“No.”
Lindsay pointed the gun at Arik’s leg, but before he could shoot, Arik wagged a finger with his free hand.
“You’re smart enough to know who is holding a more dangerous weapon here. If I drop this jar, we’ll both die. So I suggest you not try my temper. I’m known to have one, if your memory is good.”
Arik raised an eyebrow in challenge. When Lindsay didn’t make a move, Arik continued. “Ciaran trusts you. Why are you doing this?”
“I have never betrayed Ciaran. But you and I don’t stand on the same ground. He can only choose one of us. Apparently, he chose you. And that’s a huge mistake.”
“So all this is just to prove a point?”
Lindsay fired at a wall. The silenced gun dug a large hole in the solid brick. “My sister isn’t a point to prove.”
“It was an accident.”
“The hell it was. If you hadn’t seduced Liz with that pretty face of yours just to get back at Ciaran for taking Juliette, my sister would still be alive. She was sixteen. Do you have any fucking compassion?” Lindsay fired at the wall again.
“As you said, Liz was sixteen. I couldn’t stop her from having feelings for me. She OD’d, and that had nothing to do with whatever happened between Ciaran and me . . .”
Lindsay fired at Arik’s left shoulder. Arik staggered back, his arm swung up, and the jar slipped out of his hand. Lindsay darted over and grabbed the jar midair.
Lindsay looked at the jar and smirked. “Who’s the loser now?” he asked. He aimed the gun at Arik’s head. “I’d let you live if you showed any sign of remorse about my sister’s death. But I know you have no regrets about letting my sister die.”