She drew fast and easily over the small rift. Then she lifted both castorcas and spun her hands to blur the symbol.
“Esme? Don’t we need that to get into the malevolenci world?” Owen came to stand beside her. “Wasn’t that the whole point of–”
“I know how to open one for myself now. We don’t need this one. This place…” She thought about the dead ancients in the cavern beyond. “This place should be left in peace.”
The symbol crackled and sucked in the small rift in under a minute, and soon the pile of smoke flakes was all that remained.
Esme turned to see Max and Dax exchange a look, but she ignored them and led the way with her ball of light.
Once they stepped into the bright sunlight of Meramec Cavern’s parking lot, Owen allowed himself a moment to soak in the warmth. It looked to be midmorning, and families of tourists climbed out of cars and headed for the shops and restaurant. He looked toward the end of the lot and saw their cavali truck. Tank, from the driver’s seat, spotted them and waved before climbing out.
Owen looked down at Esme with a small smile. He couldn’t help noting her distracted scowl, but he left her alone and headed toward the truck and the rest of their waiting team.
What the hell did Trent’s memories show her? She was sobbing when she came out of that trance, and I don’t think it was because the ancient was dead. She’s overwhelmed. I’ve seen that look on her face before, but this is worse.
Still, he didn’t push.
Trent left those memories for her. Have any kings ever felt this useless?
The phone in his pocket buzzed.
Reception is back.
As they neared the truck, Owen pulled out his phone. He heard Dax’s phone buzz as well, and the big man pulled out his own phone. Then Max’s buzzed.
What the hell?
Owen checked his messages and saw he had several from Hakim, a few from Lexi, and one from Loukas. He scrolled through his texts and found twenty, all insisting that he call immediately.
Tank, leaning on the truck, frowned. “Esme, are you okay?”
She nodded at the half-troll, then glanced at the men with their phones. “Tank, can you tell us what’s going on?”
Piper ran up from wherever she’d been on watch. She somehow still looked fresh, unlike the rest of them, but her frown matched Tank’s. “My lord, you can explain whatever happened to you guys on our way back to the Capiti, but we need to leave ASAP.”
“What’s happened?”
Tank shuffled his feet and glanced at Piper. “My lord, it’s Roman. He… He’s dead.”
Esme gasped. “What?”
“How?” asked Owen.
“He was found in the lab.” Tank made a face. “His chest was shredded. There was blood everywhere.”
Owen ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath of shock. “Did malevolenci get out of their cages? How could this–”
“No,” said Piper. “All the cages were closed and every demon in the lab accounted for. Someone did this to him, my lord.”
His mind racing, Owen scowled. “Murder?”
Piper glanced at Tank. “Yes, my lord. Loukas started an investigation, but… I think it was the fairies.”
Esme’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Yesterday they demanded that the conjuri find a way back to our home world. They’re starting a rebellion.”
Esme flinched at Piper’s last word.
Owen couldn’t wait and turned with his phone raised to his ear. He walked to the back of the truck to be alone, and he played Hakim’s messages.
“Owen, your mom and I sent out a public statement to the Order about everything we discussed with the paranormal leaders. I emailed you the statement to look over. But I know you wanted it distributed right away, so I approved the statement and sent it out. Hope that was okay.”
“Owen, I radioed Tank and heard you’ve reached Meramec. I assume your phone doesn’t get reception underground, but call me when you’re out. Roman is back from Italy, and he’s not happy you told the paranormals the truth. Shocker. Let me know how to handle him until you get back.”
“Hey, Tank said you still weren’t out of the caverns but that you’d found the vampires. I guess that’s good. Anyway, the scouts discovered three new rifts in the suburbs tonight, but Lexi sent teams to put down any malevolenci until Esme gets back to close the rifts. I assume Lexi called you with the info too, but… Well, I’m getting antsy not hearing from you guys. Okay, bye.”
“Fairy dust, Owen, Tank says you’re still in there? Call me.”
“I didn’t want to bug you all day, but more rifts opened tonight, Owen. We really need you and Esme back here. I hope you’re finding something good in those caves.”
The final message was from an hour ago, and Hakim’s voice sounded shaky. “Owen, you need to get back here. Roman’s been murdered. By now Piper’s probably told you who we think is responsible. The fairies have gone into hiding and covered their tracks, but Joe found out that they’d demanded the conjuri send them to their home world. Since Roman was back from Italy, he handled the fairies’ complaints himself, directly confronting them. Witnesses say they didn’t take his response very well. We need Piper back here to look over the body and tell us what she thinks, but… I saw his body. It looked like fairy bites to me. I’m sorry, Owen. I know you and Roman had your differences but… No one deserves to go like that.”
Owen sighed and pinched between his eyes.
“I hope you’ve found something in those caves,” Hakim went on, “but we need you back here. Mirth has met with the paranormals and doesn’t think there’s anything else afoot, but it’s hard to know for sure. We need you here to figure shit out. Let me know when you’re on your way.”
Owen looked at his phone, then put it in his pocket.
Troll dung.
He collected himself and realized he was completely exhausted. He turned to rejoin the others but stopped in his tracks when he saw they’d come to stand at his side.
Say something reassuring.
“Let’s get back and figure shit out.”
Or quote Hakim.
The team seemed satisfied with this, and Tank returned to the front of the truck. Owen opened the doors at the back and stood aside as Piper, Dax, and Max climbed in. As Esme moved to climb up next, Owen gently took her arm to whisper in her ear.
“Please tell me you learned something that can end this war.”
She turned her purple eyes up to him and hesitated, then nodded. “We can win this war. But I’m exhausted, Owen. Trent’s memories… I feel like I’ve lived a million years in the past two days. I need to sleep. And…” She glanced to where the others were settling inside the truck. “Can you and I wait until we’re back before I tell you what I saw? Privately?”
He managed a small smile. “Okay. I’m sure everyone could use some sleep. We’ll talk when we’re back.”
If there’s time. Are we going back to a rebellion? This is horrible. Whatever Esme learned, Roman could’ve helped her sort it out more than anyone. Damn fairies!
With a quick peck on the top of Esme’s wet hair, Owen motioned for her to climb into the truck ahead of him. He climbed in after her, looked back one last time at the parking lot of Meramec, and closed the truck doors.
Sitting with his team as Tank started the truck, Owen saw he’d been right about everyone needing sleep. Max already had his head tipped back with his eyes closed. Dax was shifting to match his brother’s position. Piper sat scowling at the floor, her arms crossed, too pissed to sleep.
Esme kissed his cheek and snuggled into his side, and Owen lifted an arm to drape around her. He felt her breathing grow steady against him, and despite the cold and wetness he was calmed by her nearness.
What the hell did she learn? I don’t think it was entirely good. But she said it can help us win the war… Why am I so nervous?
He rocked as the truck started up the road. For now, he’d let Esme sleep and hold
her secrets to herself. He had a whole new problem to deal with.
Esme hadn’t slept more than ten minutes, and she knew she was ready to collapse. But as soon as their truck returned to the Capiti, she’d gone with Max and Dax to close the rifts that had opened around the city. Fortunately, because of the time of day, no malevolenci had attacked. But driving from rift to rift, performing the termino, and trying to reassure the anxious cavali and scouts they encountered had only added to her weariness.
Now back at the Capiti, Esme had never seen the conjuri this tense. A group met her as soon as she stepped out of the elevator from the garage, all asking questions at once. Esme thought she handled the frightened conjuri calmly, telling them that Owen, Loukas, and Lexi were looking into Roman’s murder to find the culprits immediately. The conjuri knew this already, but they left her alone when she said she needed a hot shower and rest. She had showered and changed into jeans and a sweatshirt that she kept in her Capiti locker, but she had no intention of resting.
As Esme stepped out of the elevator into the long marble hall of the library level, she took a moment to soak in the silence.
I feel so conflicted about Roman. He drove me nuts. He hid all sorts of things… But I understand why now. And I’m not sure he was wrong. How much did Roman take to his grave? If I’d been able to talk to him now…
She walked to the library door and pushed to enter. This enormous room had been her safe place ever since her first time here. She felt that sense of comfort now, but she also felt a new apprehension about what she might find.
Esme strolled to the open center of the room, and she stood on the rich carpet, rotating to look at the long, high bookshelves. The wooden stairs leading to the upper level had been recently polished, and she saw the tall window’s sunlight stretching to shine against the warm wood.
Where did Roman hide his secret stash? The origini letters have to be here somewhere. I need to see them. I have to see them.
She heard someone walking across the wooden boards of the balcony above, and she turned to the stairs just as white robes came into view. As the conjuri descended the stairs, Esme relaxed in recognition.
“Ada.” Without warning, Esme started crying again.
The older woman hurried down the stairs and rushed to Esme, surprising the alterni by opening her arms and pulling her into a hug. Esme rested her head on the woman’s shoulder and let her tears spill, but then she tried to collect herself.
“Shh.” Ada patted her back. “It’ll be okay.”
Esme stepped away and wiped her eyes. “I can’t believe Roman’s dead.”
“Nor can I. Roman was an old bastard, but he’ll be missed. What those fairies did to him is unforgiveable.”
Esme felt guilty for how selfish her next thought was, but… “He’s gone right when I need him most. No offense, Ada, but…”
Ada nodded and glanced at their usual table. “Roman knew more than any of us. But, my dear, I must confess that he brought me into his confidence once we learned you were the alterni endi. He showed me things that I think will help you now. It’s time you knew, since I suspect you uncovered the truth in Meramec?”
Esme took a breath and nodded.
Ada looked sad, but still her interest sparkled in her eyes. “What did you find?”
“Trent Simons’ memories.” Esme gulped. “All of them, Ada.”
Ada lifted an eyebrow above her glasses. “Oh, you poor dear. I imaging that was a shock.”
Esme managed a dark chuckle at this understatement. She studied the older woman. “So… Roman told you about the origini? The malevolenci? The truth of this war? All of it?”
Ada frowned but nodded. She motioned to their table. “I’ve already brought Roman’s collection here for you.”
Esme turned to the table and felt her heart skip a beat. “Is that allowed? I don’t want you to get in trouble for showing me–”
“I’m the Master Conjuri now. And I say you deserve to know everything.”
Ada walked to the table. Esme gaped a second before following.
Well, who else would be Roman’s successor?
She hurried to sit at the table beside her mentor, and Ada set an old book in front of her. It was the Chronicle of Origini.
Esme gulped and looked at the serious woman’s face. “These are their letters?”
“Yes. Each origini from Ares – or Omet, as we knew him – to your origini wrote a letter. Even Trent eventually sent a letter from Italy, although all he said was, ‘Tell Owen the truth, Artemis. You know what you have to do.’ That crafty old man was wise to do things his own way. He was right about Roman and your origini, I’m afraid.”
Esme swallowed and looked at the book. “Did she leave me a letter?”
Ada hesitated. “You can read what she wrote. I’ve read all these letters, and I think the others can wait until you’re ready. You have quite enough to digest for now.”
Taking a breath, Esme turned pages until she came to the last entry. She felt tears rising again, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. Shaking, she read her origini’s letter.
When she was finished, Esme broke down crying. She rested her elbows on the table and sobbed into her hands. She felt Ada put a hand of comfort on the back of her sweatshirt.
Sometime later, Esme’s sobs faded and she sat back in her chair, staring blankly at the open book. Then she tipped her head and looked at the mural on the ceiling. Her gaze drifted over the scenes of gods and demons, heroes and monsters, hells and utopias.
Ada sighed, also looking up. “I understand why Roman hid the truth. I really do. Our world wasn’t the original. The malevolenci hell was a paradise when existence began, and all our worlds are copied versions. The destroyers are trying to take back their creation, and we’re fighting our own gods for survival. Many people wouldn’t be able to handle that. Some might give up. Some might even side with the gods in a warped kind of worship.”
Esme nodded. “Roman didn’t tell Owen or me because he didn’t want to burden us. He wanted us to stay strong.”
“Yes. At first I thought maybe he’d given up, but I believe now that he was trying to save you from this terrible knowledge. It wasn’t Omet’s orders Roman was following – he cared about the king. And you. He tried to find other ways to teach you how to fight.”
“But Roman’s ways never would’ve been enough. Trent was right – these are desperate times.” Esme swallowed. “I’m not only the last hope for this generation. I’m…”
Ada nodded.
Esme took a breath. “I wonder how many destroyers are left.”
“Impossible to know, even after everything we’ve learned. But I pray we’re…” Ada chuckled darkly. “Pray. Who do we pray to now? It makes me sick, thinking of these greedy, heartless… They’re trying to murder their own creation.”
Esme had no answer.
They sat in silence, the cheerful sunlight shining into the room that held so many answers and so many mysteries.
Ada sighed again. “Are you going to tell the king?”
Esme looked at her origini’s letter, snuffled, and sat up. “I have to.”
Ada glanced at the last page. “This might break him.”
“He deserves to know.”
Ada nodded. “I agree. The days ahead… If we’re to end this war, those of us who are left need to stand together.”
They sat in silence, each in her own thoughts.
Ada’s as exhausted as I am. This is all too much! How can we keep the Order united enough to win this war? Even if I can now open a rift and attack them, we’re screwed if we don’t work together. The fairies are rebelling. The jinn might follow their lead. The conjuri are freaked out. Roman’s dead… And I’m the only alterni left. If I die, there’s no one else to use creator magic against the destroyers. They’ll overrun this world and use it to suck the alt-worlds dry. And on top of this horrible war, now I know the truth about who’s trying to destroy us. I have to tell Owen. But if the Order
finds out, they’ll freak out even more than they already are. We… I’m so tired. Ada’s tired. Owen’s tired. We’re too exhausted and broken to fight.
Ada rose from the table. “It’s my responsibility to prepare Roman’s funeral arrangements. If you encountered any of the younger conjuri, I’m sure you saw their fear. I have to do what I can for them. I’m sorry I can’t stay longer, but…”
“No, I understand.” Esme pulled it together and also rose from the table. She took a breath. “I should find Owen, anyway.”
Ada folded her hands under her sleeves and bowed her head to Esme. “If you need me in the days ahead, of course let me know. You are my top priority, now more than ever.” She glanced at the book on the table. “We’ll read through that when you’re ready.”
Esme took another breath and nodded.
Adam smiled reassuringly. “Talk to Owen. Try to rest while we have the safety of daylight. If any gods are still watching over us, maybe they’ll give us one night of peace.”
Not likely. As soon as the sun sets, the malevolenci will be at it again.
Esme bowed her head back to her mentor. “Thank you, Ada. Good luck with the conjuri. Please, let me know if there’s anything I should do for Roman’s funeral.”
With a small smile, Ada turned and headed for the door.
Esme paused, trying to soak in the comfort that this library had always offered. She couldn’t help another glance at the ceiling. Then, with a frown, she left to find Owen.
Owen lay with Esme on her couch. He had one arm wrapped around her, one arm hanging down to pet Bethy where the beagle lay contentedly on the floor. He’d agreed with Loukas’s findings, and Lexi was putting out an Order-wide warrant for fairies. Owen had worked with Hakim to release an official royal statement. Still, he knew he’d have to meet with the paranormal leaders as soon as the jinn got back in town from…wherever they’d gone.
Deal with the rebellion later, he thought as he held Esme against his side. Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be. She’s ready to tell me whatever Trent’s memories showed her. I have to be ready to hear it. Then we can figure out what to do next.
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