“Thank you, Finch,” he gasped. “That was a good thing you did just now.”
I nodded, sweating. “No worries.”
“I mean it.” His face contorted, struggling with some buried emotion. “I can’t lose this chance.”
“Yeah, you and me both.”
He got to his feet and held out his hand. I took it and let him drag me up, feeling how sandpapery rough his palm was—the hand of a guy who’d worked hard his entire life. I didn’t know what this meant, exactly. Were we pals now? Either way, at least I’d helped the guy out. He clearly wanted into the monastery for a deeper reason than he let on. Everyone else’s desires were about money and glory and long life, but I wasn’t sure about Mr. Abara anymore. Maybe he had something else in mind. And I wouldn’t find out unless we made it into that building.
As the sirens faded to a quiet vibration, everyone returned to their task with gusto, aside from Melody. She took a break and sat on the grass, panting hard. But Luke stepped things up a notch. His hands pressed right up against the door now, his Magneton abilities trying to bend and break every bit of metal that held the thing together. Just like the windows, the metalwork resisted, evidently laced with some kind of secret strength. A damp patch soaked the back of his shirt as he toiled. Must be nice, having someone to do the heavy lifting.
“We need to work together!” I yelled again. Maybe they’d listen to me now. I’d saved Mr. Abara—that had to give me some trustworthy points, right?
“Shove off, Finch.” Oliver smirked. “Nobody’s going to help you, you couch potato. You’re on your own, the same as the rest of us.”
Couch potato?! I’d started the day breaking into the Fountain of Youth and fighting the slimy blobfish, Davin Doncaster. I bet he couldn’t say the same. I was running on empty already—I had no energy to waste here, trying to chip away at this monastery and hope for the best.
I tried to stay cool. “Working solo isn’t going to get us inside! We need to find a weak spot and focus on it, TOGETHER!”
“They won’t listen,” Mr. Abara said. “People like this, they aren’t used to working as a team. I would join you, but I understand their reluctance. We don’t know the rules of the game. What if only one of us gets the chance to enter? It’s not a risk any of us will take. Sorry, my man.”
I watched him go, my exasperation rising. The spot on the window where he’d tried to carve out the glass had repaired itself, meaning he was back at square one. Etienne hadn’t said anything about allowing only one person inside. He’d said, “otherwise none of you will get in.” That suggested there was room for more than one student, but it’d be a waste of good air trying to explain that to the others.
I covered my ears as another siren went off, the screech threatening to burst my eardrums. Each new blast was worse than the last. This time, Luke got the full hit of the security measures. He shot backward like a bullet from a gun, heading right for disqualification.
Melody’s head whipped around as he sailed away from her. She chanted something under her breath and lifted her palms. A rainbow of glittering Chaos spiraled out of her hands and splintered through the air. The moment the tendrils touched Luke, a pair of enormous, multicolored wings sprouted from his back. They flapped of their own accord, bringing Luke to a halt. He looked startled to find these new appendages sticking out of his shoulder blades. He craned wildly to get a good look at them. Before he could, they brought him back to earth. He landed delicately on the grass, the wings shrinking and falling away in a flutter of tiny feathers.
What the—? Where had that come from? I knew body manipulation spells existed, using the raw materials of magical flesh to add something, but they were notoriously hard to pull off. Especially viable ones that could make a person friggin’ fly! Maybe it was the fact that Melody had a bodyguard, or the vibe she gave off, but I hadn’t expected her to be formidable. She seemed the type of girl to need protection, not be the protector. What other tricks did she have up her fluffy sleeves?
“This is—”
“—ridiculous!” The twins threw a temper tantrum, now that things weren’t going their way.
“We’re famous magicals,” Shailene complained.
“We deserve to be let in!” Fay scowled at the building. I imagined they were used to having the red carpet rolled out for them. Welcome to the real world, kiddos.
Oliver nodded. “Why isn’t magic working? What kind of joke is this place?”
My mind cogs whirred as the others got back into it, giving the task all the brute force and magical attacks they possessed. They didn’t understand. This was a puzzle, a riddle. If it was as simple as using impressive magic, then it wouldn’t have been much of a game, now, would it?
I walked around the right side of the monastery and headed down the wall.
Rounding the corner, I noticed another door. Smaller than the main one, and less obvious than the side door Blanche had commandeered with her Ice tricks. Ivy that looked like it’d been growing there for centuries sprawled across it. The leaves were massive. I crouched and waited for inspiration to strike. It didn’t look like anything special. Solid metal, with a narrow gap at the bottom and a thin outline where it fit into the doorframe. I’d seen a million doors like it.
I waited for the next siren to pass before I edged closer, then pushed aside the swathe of ivy to find the keyhole. Sticking my eye right up to the hole, I frowned. I should’ve been able to see right through into the room beyond. But something blocked my line of sight.
All of the doors only open from the inside…
I slammed my palms into the door, and something jostled slightly. It was a key. The business end of it, blocking the hole.
A shiver of excitement pulsed through me as I put my hand on the door and fed a thin tendril of Telekinesis into the hole. I waited for it to grasp the end of the key, feeling for that familiar tug. But it didn’t come. My Telekinesis skirted right past the key, like oil and water repelling each other. Whatever had stopped the diamond from cutting the glass and the gemstones from breaking affected this keyhole, too. Magic wasn’t an option in any way, shape, or form.
An idea came to me. I reached up for the largest ivy leaf I could find, about the size of a piece of paper, and pushed it through the narrow space under the door, right underneath the keyhole. Now, I needed something to poke the key with.
I spied a shrub nearby. I hurried toward it, then snapped off a twig and headed right back, jabbing the end into the hole. I wiggled it until the key loosened, then gave it a firm shove. Not too hard, not too soft. A true Goldilocks wiggle. The key fell and hit the ground—and hopefully the leaf—with a quiet clink.
A sound made me turn. Blanche stood at the corner of the monastery, watching with interest. I waited for her to say something, but she didn’t. She just kept right on looking.
Didn’t expect this curveball, huh? I had one of those faces, I supposed, that made strangers underestimate me. Then again, they didn’t know I was a Merlin. If they did, maybe they’d have been a little more willing to listen to what I had to say. There was power in a name, but it wasn’t always a good sort of power. My surname elicited both responses—good and bad—and, until I knew these folks better, I wouldn’t give them the chance to make a kneejerk impression of me.
Feeling slightly pressured now that I had an audience, I tugged the leaf and pulled it out. I almost squealed at the sight of the key resting on the ivy. Blanche stared at me in disbelief. I resisted the urge to punch the air, or whoop, or gloat. After all, I still had to find out if the key worked.
Picking it up, I slotted it into the keyhole and turned it. The door clicked and opened wide, smooth as butter. I nearly lost control of my sphincter at the sight of a man looming in the doorway. The shock made me tumble backward and land awkwardly on the ground. My butt cheeks would definitely bruise.
Tall and impeccably dressed, with sweeping black hair and dark, beetle-like eyes, the man smiled down at me through thin lips.
“Félicitations, Monsieur,” he said, his tone almost impressed. “You finally found your way in. Though I would have preferred you to be quicker.” He lifted an orb of pure light to his mouth and spoke again, his voice amplified. “The riddle has been solved. All those who remain may enter through the back door.”
I frowned. “How come they get to enter?” I didn’t mind the likes of Mr. Abara, Blanche, Melody, and, to a lesser extent, Luke, coming in, but I would’ve preferred to leave Oliver and the Basani twins on the cliff. Their egos could’ve kept them company.
“This is a team exercise, and all have tried their best. If they have not fallen beyond the perimeter, then they are permitted entry. You would deny them that?”
“No, I guess not,” I replied. After all of Oliver’s harping on about doing the hard work for me, there was a bitter irony to this outcome. Oliver would be allowed in when I was the one to solve the puzzle. And I doubted I’d get any credit for it. Not from him, anyway.
The others rounded the corner and gaped at me.
“There’s no way he—”
“—found the way in!” The Basani twins didn’t pull any punches.
I smiled sweetly. “Actually, I did. You can send a thank you however you like—gift card, carrier pigeon, smoke signals.”
“Fair play to you, mate.” Oliver gave a respectful nod in my direction. “It’s always the quiet ones you’ve got to watch out for, isn’t it?”
Huh, whaddya know… I hadn’t expected any congrats from him, and I didn’t know how to accept them.
“Well done.” Mr. Abara gave me another mighty clap on the back, almost dislodging a lung.
“Yes, well done, son. You’ve done us all a great favor today,” Blanche added.
“How did you do it?” Melody stared at me in awe.
I shrugged. “I figured if magic couldn’t cut it, we needed to use something a bit more old school. Nothing a twig and a leaf couldn’t handle.”
“Of course, because wood isn’t conductive, especially not where magic is concerned. I suppose we’ve all come to rely on our Chaos, haven’t we?” Melody nodded excitedly. “You must have a very sharp mind, Finch. You could see what we couldn’t, though it seems so obvious now that you point it out. I feel like such an idiot.”
“Hey, it took some time and observation, that’s all. I’m sure someone else would’ve figured it out if I hadn’t,” I replied. Even though I’d seen Melody make wings sprout from Luke’s back, there was something about her that inspired kindness. A childlike quality.
“No need to be—”
“—condescending,” the Basani twins muttered, clearly bitter they hadn’t done what I had.
“He’s being nice,” Blanche chided. “It’s not a common trait these days.”
I turned to Etienne. “What’ll happen to the disqualified folks? They won’t drown out there, will they?”
He shook his head. “Do not worry over them. There are boats waiting to return them to the mainland, though I suspect nothing will ease their disappointment.” He gestured inside. “Shall we proceed? We’ve wasted enough time.”
I led the way into the building and met the scent of spicy incense mingled with stale stone. Relief washed over me. Maybe I’d finally learn why Erebus sent me here.
Five
Finch
My jaw dropped as we edged into the belly of the monastery. It felt ancient, with its pristine white walls bordered by vivid blue and gold. Domed ceilings let in the fierce sunlight.
Everything looked like it’d been there for centuries. An artist had painted directly onto those pristine walls, the frames drawn right on the stone, and statues lined the hallways, crafted in the images of famous magical explorers and mapmakers. I recognized Ponce de Léon in the mix, with his pals Sir Walter Raleigh, Marco Polo, Leif Erikson, and Jacques Cartier keeping him company. Small golden plaques hung below the statues, introducing them.
Underneath the domes lay pseudo-courtyards with metal chairs and tables. Many had fountains in the center, water tumbling from a variety of mouths, jugs, and the like. The figures in the middle were easily recognizable as ancient Greek gods and goddesses, in various states of conflict and undress.
“Is it just me, or is it bigger on the inside?” Blanche whispered. This place had the same effect as libraries and cathedrals—everyone slipped into a stifled hush.
I nodded. “It must be an interdimensional pocket.”
“This is so exciting! I’ve read so much about this place,” Melody gushed. “Apparently, there are hidden rooms and corridors all over, leading to secret and lost treasures.” She paused. “Why do you suddenly feel apprehensive, Mr. Biset? Is one of your treasures in here? Or should I call you Monsieur Biset? My French isn’t very good, so you’ll have to forgive me if I butcher the pronunciation.”
Etienne shot her a disapproving glance. “You should not poke your nez where it doesn’t belong, Miss Winchester. I would have thought you of all people would know better, given your own history.”
She’d clearly used her Empathy and let the words spill out without realizing she should probably keep quiet. Etienne didn’t look pleased about having his emotions publicly ruminated over.
Melody blushed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Biset. I didn’t mean anything by it. I have a problem with saying things I shouldn’t, but I promise, I’m working on it.”
Luke put his hand on her arm and sent a searing look in Etienne’s direction. “It’s okay, Melody. He knows you didn’t mean any harm.”
“Let this be your first lesson.” Etienne pursed his lips. “This place is a sanctuary. No stealing. No lying. No cheating. And no poking your noses where they do not belong. Oh, and most importantly, no violence. It will not be tolerated, and you will be sent back to the mainland without hesitation.” He addressed the last to me.
“Hey, I won’t be hurting anyone. I only get violent in self-defense, and even then, as a last resort.” Why did he single me out? Luke, with all his bulging muscles, looked more likely to go ape on someone than I did.
“And why would anyone want to hurt you, Finch?” Etienne arched an eyebrow.
I shrugged. “Occupational hazard.”
“Ah, you mean your association with Erebus?” he replied, taking me by surprise.
“Pardon?”
“Are you speaking of your association with Erebus? I know you were enlisted in his service. I imagine that comes with its fair share of difficulties.” He eyed me curiously. Ah, so you don’t mind other people’s secrets being uncovered. I held my tongue. I didn’t know this guy well enough yet to get smart with him.
“Uh… well, that tends to come with a few hairy moments, for sure.” The others stared at me. “But here’s a question for you—how come you know so much about us?”
“My defensive shield scans everyone who enters, and my monks are swift in their research,” he replied. I knew it! “Now, back to you. Did Erebus send you here?” Etienne’s voice hardened.
“No, this is all me.” I knew I had to lie. “We parted ways after the last job I did for him. Deal done. I won’t go into details, but you don’t get much choice when it comes to Children of Chaos. They say jump, you say how high.” I wished the ground would swallow me up. “Anyway, there’s always a chance someone might pick a fight with me. Even if I’m not working for Erebus anymore, I wouldn’t want to get soft, right?”
Melody gasped. “Wait… you’re… Finch Shipton!”
“Merlin,” I corrected. “I don’t go by Shipton anymore. I’m sure it’s not hard to understand why.” I gave a nervous laugh. Everyone was really staring now.
“You’re that Finch Merlin?” Shailene gawped.
Fay frowned. “I thought you’d be taller.”
“Six foot isn’t bad,” I muttered.
“No way you’re Katherine Shipton’s son.” Oliver shook his head in disbelief.
“Do you want a birth certificate?” I shot back.
Mr. Abara tilted his head to one side. “I
f you’re him, then that means you killed Katherine.”
“Exactly.” Oliver snorted. “This can’t be him.”
“Do you want a death certificate?” These reactions made me uneasy. I didn’t like talking about my dear old madre at the best of times, but revealing it all to a bunch of strangers amplified my paranoia. My mind gremlins were having a field day. They’re not going to like you after this. I might’ve saved the world, along with my sister, but folks heard the name Shipton and everything that came with it, and I never made my way out of it looking rosy.
“You almost wrecked the San Diego Coven with a—”
“—horde of gargoyles, didn’t you?” The Basani twins went on the offensive.
I held my nerve. “That was a long time ago, before my sister came along and made me see things differently. The cult brainwashed me before that. It’s not an excuse, but it’s the truth. I was exonerated for that after I killed Katherine.”
“Have you told that to the people affected by your crimes?” Oliver narrowed his eyes.
“Hey, I’ve been on trial once. I don’t need another one,” I snapped. “I know I did wrong back then, and I’ve been trying to make amends for it ever since.”
Mr. Abara took a step closer. I froze, terrified of what he might say.
“A man can only be judged by his efforts to change himself and the world he walks in,” he said firmly. “If we judge a person on their past, none of us would appear innocent.”
“Yeah, but not all of us have worked for the Cult of Eris,” Oliver replied.
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Mr. Abara looked to Oliver. “Is your conscience clear? Can you say you’ve never done anything you regret?”
He shrugged. “Like I said, I’ve never been part of a cult that tried to destroy the magical world.”
“I saved the magical world!” Desperation bristled in my voice. If I ended up stuck in this place, the last thing I needed was a barrage of suspicion and hatred at every turn. I realized with a sinking feeling that the SDC had sheltered me from most of the skepticism surrounding my character and my role in Katherine’s demise. And man, was this a hefty reality check.
Harley Merlin 11: Finch Merlin and the Lost Map Page 4
