by Sariah Skye
“You wouldn’t have, we stay hidden until we’re needed. And right now—you need us,” Finnian said.
“Is that so?” Mathias was wholly unconvinced.
“Long story short, we exist to keep the balance between all the worlds and all the realms. Right now, the fates are in favor of a Camelot takeover; it’d plunge all of Earth into chaos. We cannot allow that to happen,” Finnian spoke with authority.
“Then where we ye when we were trying to figure this shite out?” Trystan demanded, most unhappily.
“We couldn’t intervene until now. It would unfairly shake the balance too much in your favor,” Link explained. “I know it doesn’t make much sense.”
“Nope, sure doesn’t,” I said, scowling.
“So since you know now, can you tell us how we can steal the tablet,” Mathias asked, “and not freak out the town when it’s gone?”
“Eh, tough shit. So a city loses its tourist trap. Big deal,” Trystan barked with indifference. “In the long run, it’s less important than this.”
“He’s right,” Bash agreed.
Finnian stepped away from Link and came towards Bash. “I know this might seem hard to believe, but I’ve been looking out for you—” he tossed a friendly glance at Xander, who seemed very uncomfortable with the attention, “—all of you for a long time. That’s how and why you were… urged to come here, because eventually, you’d be needed for this. You all are essential, and you,” he turned back to Bash, “your potions would give my alchemist a run for her money. You already have a way to solve your problem.” He smirked expectantly, and I eyed him. He was fairly attractive in an old-world, glamorous way. Not my type, but I could definitely see it—for someone else.
Bash suddenly smacked his forehead. “Illusion spell.”
“You can do that?” I asked, impressed.
“All it does is it basically takes a magical ‘picture’. If done right, no one will even know the tablet is gone,” Bash said, with a grin. “It won’t last forever, but hopefully long enough until we can put a nice fake in its place.”
I squeezed his shoulders into me. “You are a genius, aren’t you?” He blushed modestly.
Finnian turned to Xander. “I’m sorry if I have been deceptive, but it was essential. As your cambion has already figured out, I am an incubus. Or, was mostly, before I became a Loremaster. But we can get more into detail on that soon. No time right now; your shadow fae has a head start on you already. I must go. You have a spell to find, and I have a rather distraught dragon queen to handle.”
“A what?” I caught Trystan’s eye and we both shrugged.
“That’s partially why we came. We figured you could use our help. Link will remain here, if you’d like and… keep watch. He is trustworthy, I promise. If not he’ll still be helping with the club, but I’m afraid I need him with me more often so he’ll be away more than usual.”
“We’ll deal,” Mathias insisted. He held out a firm hand to him, and they respectfully shook hands. “Thank you, Finnian… for everything.”
Finnian bowed his head quickly. “In the next few days I’ll be in touch, and we can talk in length more about everything.” His glimpse traced over to Rhys, who was quietly hiding behind a chair. “I haven’t forgotten you, Merlin. You still owe me one-hundred gold pieces.”
“Shit…” Rhys said sheepishly. “Get right on that.”
“If you’re leaving, I need to unarm the wards,” Bash said.
“No need. Do you have need of Link’s assistance?” He asked.
“I don’t mind, really,” Link promised.
Mathias nodded. “We could, just in case…” he trailed off, not wanting to state the worst. In case we don’t come back. “There is a spare bedroom upstairs you could use.”
“Appreciated, but we don’t really sleep much so… I’ll be all right.”
“Best of luck to you all.” Finnian tossed something on the floor and it erupted in a burst of purple and black. When it subsided, he had disappeared.
“The hell was all that?” Trystan still appeared thoroughly confused.
“I think it’s clear what’s next. Nimue has a head start on us,” Mathias said. “So we better hurry. I’ll make something to eat real quick.”
“Potions. I’ll get ‘em.” Bash gently bent over to kiss my cheek before tearing off to his nerd laboratory.
“I should get changed into something more… well something else,” I said, with an uncomfortable chuckle. I looked towards Xander, who still appeared somewhat shaken. “Xan, I could use some company?” I wasn’t even hinting at anything sexual, for once. He just really looked like he needed someone to talk to.
He shook himself out of daze. “Sure,” he said. He placed his hand in mine and I led him upstairs to my room. He sat on the edge of my bed silently as I roamed about, looking for clothes. I paused for a moment to stand before him, cupping his face in my hands to lift it upwards. “Are you okay, dearest?”
Xander smiled wryly, setting one hand on mine. “I’m fine. Just… weirded out.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, as he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulled me into his lap and his lips met mine. It wasn’t a sexy or passionate kiss, but sweet, with affection. “I’m also sorry your Sunday got ruined.”
“It’s okay,” he said with his cute sideways smirk. “There will be more. Now go get dressed, we have a fae bitch to deal with.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
After a very quick dinner of sandwiches, cheese, and a large salad, we all piled into Mathias’ Suburban for the long, tense drive to Alexandria, after bidding the dogs good-bye, and thanking Link for his help… and hoping that we’d see him again.
Thinking sneaky thoughts, we were all dressed in black from head to toe; hoodies, pants, boots—everything. The museum we were about to break into didn’t have tough security, but there could be cameras, so we needed to be careful. My invisibility shield would help some, but I still wasn’t sure if I could use it on everyone for longer periods of time, and I hadn’t had time to really instruct Bash on how to use it. Hopefully, he could figure it out. He did so with Mathias’ strength, and Xander’s storm magic.
The nervous energy inside the vehicle was so thick you could cut it with a scythe, and no one spoke. Even Rhys was abnormally serious and quiet. He sat in the middle seat, staring out the window somberly. Mathias and Trystan were in the front; Mathias of course was driving, the steering wheel gripped so tightly in his hands I could see his white knuckles in the dim streetlights we passed under. Bash, Xander, and I were in the very back; Bash with his laptop and mobile Wi-fi connection. He was looking up information on the museum, trying to find a layout. Xander and I were curled up against each other tightly; me, because I wanted vomit from the trepidation I felt, and Xander was clearly still shaken about the Thomas Alexander/Finnian development. I guess it would be pretty surprising to think that the man that changed your life, and thought was dead, really wasn’t.
“So, what the hell is the plan?” Trystan asked finally, to break the uncertain tumultuous silence. “I mean, are we just going in, guns blazing, or do we have some sort of… method?”
Xander’s retort was droll. “Yeah, try not to die.”
“Hey!” Rhys, in an unusual display of sincerity, postured himself in the center seat so he was easily looking at everyone. It wasn’t just the glow of the passing streetlights that casted a dark shadow on his face; his expression was stern, and unusually determined. “Look, I have been around a long time. And, yes… I am a little unbalanced. We know this. But once, I was a lot more… sober, I guess you can say. I have met a lot of people. I have seen a lot of relationships. In all the years of my existence, I have never once seen a connection like the five of you have,” Rhys eyed each of us in turn. “And, it’s not merely the connection with Avalon—and Ava—but the link you four have.” He gestured to each one of the guys. “Even in the short time I’ve been here, I have seen it grow tenfold. There’s a love there, yes, even you
Trystan, I know how you avoid those words,” he smirked pointedly at the shifter, and I swear under his scrutiny, Trystan shrank in his seat. “Just because you don’t say it, doesn’t mean you don’t feel it, you cocky bastard.”
I snorted. “He’s got you pegged.” Trystan had been the lone guy I still hadn’t heard those words from yet. I thought it didn’t bug me but… Rhys reminded me that it actually sort of did, I just blocked it out. Damn him. Trystan grumbled a series of Gaelic swear words.
“Avalon is all about love, in all of its forms. Sexual, romantic, familial… all of that. In that love comes healing of all kinds. And because of all that, I know that without a doubt you will succeed, not just with this, but in preventing Arthur’s domination. So enough negativity.” Satisfied, Rhys turned back to the window he was staring out of.
The guys and I all gaped openly, like a tutu-wearing pink goat with a mohawk came streaking in on a unicycle on the road, singing “I Will Survive.”
“But if you don’t make it, can I have your house?” Rhys’ impish grin was apparent in the mirror’s reflection. Ah, there, he’s back!
“Fuck no,” Mathias said tonelessly, but I could see him smile in the rearview mirror.
Grinning widely, I leaned over the center seat, put my arms around Rhys’ shoulders and squeezed tightly, giving him a rather exaggerated peck on the cheek. He beamed.
“Does that mean I’m part of your harem now?” he retorted.
I rolled my eyes. “Welcome back, Merlin.”
“This is not what I expected,” Mathias mused, shortly after entering the town of Alexandria and being on the main drag for a few blocks.
“Aye, definitely not like a place that holds one of the biggest artifacts in history,” Trystan agreed, shaking his head. “It’s so… normal.” He was right; there were normal banks, convenience stores, schools, and gas stations. Nothing out of the ordinary.
“Did you expect them to have big spotlights that say, ‘huge historical secrets here! Come see!’,” Bash scoffed. “What better way to keep a secret, then by pretending it actually isn’t one?”
“Good point,” Trystan said.
“Bash, have there been any more missing person reports?” Mathias inquired, while we were paused at a red light, glancing up at him in the rearview mirror.
“No,” Bash replied, closing the lid on his laptop; the sudden lack of light made me wince as my eyes adjusted to the new darkness. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”
“It might mean she got sidetracked or caught,” Xander suggested hopefully.
“Or that she has what she needs already,” I said bitterly. “What the hell does she need people for anyway? And do we have any idea if they’re actually supe?”
Bash sighed thoughtfully. “No idea. Blood sacrifices, energy pulls, or just cruelty. All are possible.”
“Sounds great,” I replied sarcastically.
It was nearing 11 P.M. and in September, this tourist-attracted town was pretty sleepy. For that, we were all thankful.
“Is this it?” Mathias asked skeptically. “This looks like some kind of grocery store, not a damned museum.” He wasn’t wrong, the so-called museum was just a simple, one-floor building, with a very normal looking white sign that could have been advertising a liquor store or a bar maybe that said “Runestone Museum”; it seemed to be attached to some sort of visitors’ center as well. Definitely wasn’t anything special.
“This is it,” Bash said, obviously underwhelmed.
“This should be easy, then,” Trystan said.
“I’m going to drive around a bit. We shouldn’t park right outside, obviously,” Mathias said, passing the building. About a block down was a very cheesy, brightly painted statue of a Viking, claiming this was the “birthplace of America.” Beyond that was a tree line and a very large lake. In fact, the entire small city was full of lakes.
Xander chortled with disdain. “That’s a pretty bold damn claim.”
Bash sort of half-heartedly shrugged. “I don’t know, it’s not entirely wrong. The Vikings were some of the first settlers of North America. Despite what some of the history books say.”
I chuckled lightly. “You’d know, huh?” I said, nudging him.
Unamused, Bash said flatly, “Yes, I would.”
Xander and I exchanged guilty glances. “But, this far in, though? We’re in the center of the damn continent,” I protested.
“They sailed their boats through the Great Lakes and probably drove caravans in,” Bash said.
“Oh. You really do know everything, don’t you?” I was hoping to mollify him with a compliment.
He grinned slowly. “Well, yes. And what I don’t know, I make up.” I laughed gently at him. “That though is actually common knowledge; or it should be, anyway.”
“Shit. Everything is just so out in the open, I’m not sure how to hide the car,” Mathias cursed as he drove past parking lots. “Or where security cameras are.”
“Security cameras don’t matter. We just need to not be identified and we have magic for that. Just pull over there in that lot by the lake,” Bash instructed, and Mathias obliged. “Get ready, guys.” Bash shrugged out of his leather jacket; there wasn’t anything that stood out about it terribly except it was restrictive should we need to move fast. Underneath he wore fitted black jeans and a tight black athletic, long-sleeved shirt that hugged every sinful curve of his muscles. He pulled out a black bandanna and tied it around his head to cover up his hair, tying it at the back of his neck, and tucking the edge under the knot. He shot me a sidelong grin, when he noticed I was touching my neck lightly, and licking my bottom lip gently watching him. I was in a large black hoodie, borrowed from Xander—it still smelled like him so much it was distracting—and black leggings, I hope the extra fabric wouldn’t make it hard to move, or get caught on anything. Just in case, I had a black tee underneath, and I tied my hair up in a tight bun on top of my head.
“We should have stocking caps like the burglars do on TV,” Xander said, rolling his shoulders out; he seemed slightly uncomfortable in his black jeans and tight black thermal. The hell was with all the tight clothes? I was about to combust, admiring the guys’ strapping physiques.
“I’ll remember that, the next time we commit a felony,” Bash quipped sardonically. He was pulling potion after potion out of his bag, shoving them in pockets, and sticking them in his socks. He handed a couple to me, each with different colored labels. “Yellow for confusion, blue for explosion, green for acid. Just in case.”
I rose a brow, stuffing the sweatshirt pockets. “I’ll save that one for Nadina.”
“Let’s get this over with,” Mathias said grudgingly.
Climbing out of the vehicle, we prepared ourselves; Xander tied a bandanna over his head like Bash and slipped on a pair of black sunglasses. Rhys was simply dressed in black sweats and a t-shirt; his long hair tied back and out of his face. Trystan slipped a fitted hoodie—seriously again with the tight clothes—over his black, long-sleeved tee and black cotton pants, and slipped the hood over his head. Mathias didn’t bother with anything over his head, just sunglasses and black trousers and t-shirt. I patted my side underneath the hoodie to make sure Excalibur was still sheathed there around my ribs, in knife form, and pulled the hood over my head. Mathias handed me the key to the Suburban. “Can you, um…”
Chuckling, I took it and shoved it in my bra, adjusting everything to make sure nothing fell.
“Can I help with that, luv?” Trystan’s russet brows waggled over the top of his glasses. I just rolled my eyes and slugged him gently in the side.
“Let’s go,” Mathias instructed. Since Rhys and I were the most vulnerable—they thought—the guys flanked us; Xander on the side of me, Bash behind, Trystan to the left of Rhys and Mathias in front. We attempted to be casual, sauntering down the road like we weren’t about to break into a building and steal a centuries-old artifact. Xander was snuffing the lights out of the streetlamps as we passed with
a jolt of lightning magic.
I stopped dead in my tracks when a car started to drive by and began to throw up my invisible shield. Bash set a hand on my shoulder and shook his head. “It’ll look even more strange if we randomly disappear.”
Realizing he was right, I dropped my hand. “Should have been doing it all along,” I muttered grimly.
“That kind of magic, over all of us that long period of time wastes too much energy,” Rhys said. “Save it for inside; we may need it.”
Pressing my lips into a firm, disgruntled line, I complied. Goddammit I hated when they were right. Only because that meant I was wrong and… who liked that?
The museum’s entrance was even more unremarkable up close. A quick peek in the glass door revealed a small corridor, some kind of gift shop behind glass walls… basically just an entirely normal, kitschy little tourist trap.
“There has to be a back entrance,” Mathias said, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
“It doesn’t matter. Just… do what you gotta do.” Bash clutched a vial in his hand, and I eyed it questioningly. “Blur spell; no one will be able to see in.”
“Brilliant!” I grinned. If I ever under-estimated Sebastian… well the gods knew I didn’t now, and he crashed the vial onto the concrete; the air around us turned misty and shimmery. It was hard to focus on the street before us. Which meant no one from the street could focus on our felony-making. Genius!
Mathias grasped the metal handles of the doors in both hands and shook them gently. “It’s just a simple lock, should be easy to pick. Bash?”
“I got this,” Xander piped up. We gathered around the door, and Xander tossed his hand back, closing his eyes momentarily. He started speaking softly in Chinese, and a whirl of icy wind came swirling around us, smelling of fresh snow and air. I cocked a brow. “No…” I said slowly and skeptically. Xander smirked smugly as the wind whipped around his body, tousling his hair before concentrating on his arm; I shivered violently at the sudden chill. He flicked open his hand and a chunk of snow and ice appeared, hovering over his palm.