“What the hell am I doing?” Embarrassed, he changed the channel. “I haven't cooked my own meals in decades.” He surfed for a few more minutes. Then he landed on CNN. What he saw made him feel much colder than the snow and ice outside.
Greece.
Wolf Blitzer sat on an overly-lit set constructed atop the White Tower in Thessaloniki. The night sky sporadically exploded in blasts of light and sound. But it was the man in the chair next to Wolf that concerned Wisdom.
“I’m here with Propates,” Wolf said into the camera. “He's the leader of the Council of Peacocks who, as we speak, continues to challenge the Greek government for sovereignty over the area. This is the twenty-third day of the occupation. Casualties have been extremely one-sided. Hundreds confirmed dead. Despite their best efforts, the Greeks have yet to win a single skirmish. The U.N. remains uncommitted, with no other country willing to commit. Earlier today, we were contacted by Propates. He wants the Greeks to 'stop fighting a war they cannot win' – his words. Propates, you claim your once-secret organization has found a way to forcibly evolve humans. Some feel statements like this prove you're a little, how shall I say…”
“Nuts?” Propates smiled at Wolf and winked at the camera. He was darkly handsome with an olive complexion and short-cropped black hair. His eyes were a shade of bluish-green that hinted of the ocean: the color of peacock feathers. “I’ll tell you what's nuts, Wolf. It's completely insane for people to see what me and the other Council members are capable of doing and continue to delude themselves.”
Wisdom clenched his fists, tearing at the sheets. His concentration flickered. Blood leaked from his wounds.
Propates turned back to Wolf. “There are hundreds of Council members around the world. Thirteen of us walked into Athens. We tore the city apart. Thirteen. I believe it was your network that showed the first images. And then there are my angels, the Edimmu. You can probably see some of them flying behind us right now. We have tens of thousands. This war is already won. To pretend it's not, that, my friend, is truly insane.”
Wolf swallowed visibly, his complexion pale despite the heavy makeup. “We have reports today, as I’m sure you’ve heard, from the Vatican.”
“Oh, yes. I’ve heard.”
“They declared you are Satan and that the Last Days are here.”
“I suppose I should be flattered.” Propates turned to the camera again. “But I'm not. Whether you call him Argus or Melek Taus, Christians have vilified my God for centuries. They're right about one thing. These definitely are the last days of the old regime. Big changes are coming. If the Pope has anything else to say, I'd be more than happy to pop on over to Rome for a private conversation.”
Wisdom shook his head. “Propates, what the hell are you doing?”
“Well, well, well.” On the screen, Propates slowly sat back in his chair and looked fully into the camera. “Wolf, I'm afraid I have to leave. I just got a message from an old friend.”
With a burst of bright light, the camera flickered and the TV screen filled with static.
Wisdom jumped out of bed. He waved his hand, calling up the thin threads of his power. White sheets leapt off the bed and coiled around his body. They twisted and mutated around from their original form into a blood-red three-piece suit. Fear threatened to overwhelm him. He thought of running but shook the thought away. He couldn't let Propates see how weak he was.
Darkness dripped like syrup down the walls, filling the room like a pool. Within moments the hotel room was flooded with shadow. He saw the face first. It surfaced from the murk, eyes and smile bright sparks. Then Propates stepped forward and he was fully in the hotel room. Behind him, there were hints of movement in the shadows. Propates had not come alone.
“Well, Wisdom, I was beginning to wonder when your father would tire of torturing you.”
Momentary doubt crossed Wisdom’s mind. He shook it away. “Your ignorance is tiring. Once again, you prove how little you know, Propates. My father didn't torture me. He wanted to drag me back to the Kaz. We fought. Then I killed him.”
“Really? Shame. Considering the deal we worked out.”
Doubt returned and settled firmly in Wisdom’s mind.
“You see, Wisdom, you're the arrogant one. That’s not an insult. It’s just the truth. You think you're so smart, but you've never been able to see the 'Big Picture.’ You always focus on the individual pieces, not how they mingle together. Did you wonder why your father chose now to come get you? Of course not. That would require forethought. Or maybe you just underestimated me. I'm not the Roman peasant I used to be. I outplayed you. This is check and mate. Concede.”
“Send all the Edimmu after me you want.” Wisdom took a step forward. He hid how much his knees trembled, but just barely.
Propates sneered and looked over his shoulder. “I didn't bring Edimmu. These are your precious Anomalies. You still don’t get it, do you? Echo did, in the end. And I’m afraid I do mean it was the end for her. You see, unlike you, she was an intellectual threat. So I tossed her into a volcano.”
Wisdom took another step forward. This time his knees didn’t tremble in the least.
“Relax, Wisdom.” The movement from the shadows behind Propates increased. “I'm not here to fight. The Council has big plans for this planet. You could still be part of it. You and I working together just like old times. Don't you see what we've already accomplished?”
“Spell it out for me.” Wisdom’s head pounded, his face flush with anger. “After all, I’m too stupid to see the big picture, right?”
Propates walked over to a burgundy chair by the window and, with a quiet chuckle, sat down. “I really have you to thank. What you did to me and Echo was the inspiration for the project. We perfected the process of Eyeness. It took longer than expected, but the results are remarkable. Just imagine the forced evolution of the human race, the things we could be capable of. So much untapped power. We used your Anomalies, but I'm afraid you may not recognize them anymore. The process does put the body through a few changes.”
Wisdom held his hand up. With a grunt, he pushed the shadows away. They retreated like soiled water flowing down the drain. The strain opened up several of his old wounds but he felt little of the pain. He was alone with Propates.
“Congratulations.” Wisdom wiped blood from his lip. “You’ve won. Touché and all that. I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming. Really, I can’t. I guess you're right. I did underestimate you. Fortunately for me, you’ve made two mistakes.”
“Really? And what would they be?” Propates beamed, the smile on his face showing no trace of fear.
“First, never make deals with my father. Djinn can’t be trusted. You see, if he really wanted you to succeed, he would have let you in on a little secret. Your second mistake. Remember the portals I can make? The ones that let me travel around the world? The ones I taught you and Echo how to make so long ago?” Wisdom leaned forward and lowered his voice. Now it was his turn to smile. “I didn’t teach you everything.”
“What are you getting at, Wisdom?” Doubt flickered across Propates’ face.
“Come now. You pride yourself on how smart you are. I could give you a hint, but from the look on your face, I think you’ve worked it out.”
Propates was on his feet moving toward Wisdom.
Wisdom’s eyes flashed bright orange. With a flick of the wrist he sent Propates flying; he crashed through the reinforced windows and fell to the streets below.
“See you soon,” Wisdom said. Then he opened a portal and traveled back through time.
Chapter Two
July 30th
Driving down the dirt road, Josh removed his sunglasses when the sun dropped below the tall pines. They had left Ottawa only two hours ago but this felt like an alien world: pristine and pure. Beside him, his girlfriend, Jan, admired the tree-covered mountains of the Laurentians. The six of them were going to the cabin Jan’s parents owned on Lac Manitou. The SUV was filled with enough food an
d alcohol to tide them over for the three weeks they planned to spend in the woods. Jan’s parents had paid for all of it. Money was no object as long as Jan spent it somewhere else.
“Jesus! You drive like an old woman. We should have been there, like, five hours ago.”
“What are you? Twelve?” Josh glanced in the rearview mirror at his best friend. Brian was a thick-necked brute with hazel eyes and short brown hair. On a good day, he verged on charming. Today was not one of those days. “Just chill and have another drink?”
“Way ahead of you.” Brian smiled and sipped vodka from a Tim Hortons' cup. “It’s not the same, though. These cups make the vodka taste like ass.”
Josh shook his head. “And yet you still drink it. Says volumes about you. Since I’m an old lady, did you wanna drive for a bit? Oh wait. You can't. Someone lost their license because they were stupid enough to drive drunk.”
“Correction.” Rebecca, Brian's girlfriend since 10th grade, looked up from her cell phone. Her long, curly brown hair was pulled away from her face to deal with the heat. She sat directly behind Jan. “Someone was stupid enough to get caught drinking and driving. I'm sure he's learned his lesson. Does anyone else have service? My phone just died.”
“Maybe it's a sign to put your phone away.” Matt stopped making out with his new girlfriend, Tonia, and leaned forward from the back row of seats. “And for the record, Brian’s not really the learning type. Anyone know exactly how many times he’s smashed his car into the garage? Anyone? 'Cause, you know, I can’t.”
“Twice.” Brian turned around in his seat and faced Matt. “I did that twice. And it’s not like I broke the garage. Bunch of puritans, that’s what you are.”
Josh reached over and squeezed Jan’s hand. She smiled and squeezed back. Then his smile slipped as he remembered the problems back home. For the last six months, his parents' fighting was on a whole new level. Mom accused Dad of having an affair. Dad claimed it was only work that took him away from home. Considering what Dad did, it was feasible.
“You’re doing it again.” Jan put a hand on his neck and massaged the tension away. She was nearly the physical antithesis of Josh. Every feature on her face hinted at prestige and class. Josh’s features were soft and boyish, almost feminine. She kept her black hair in a short bob; his was a thick, blond tangle. The only attribute they shared in common was their light blue eyes. “We agreed no wallowing until we return to civilization, remember?”
Josh turned to her and smiled. “Sorry. Thanks for noticing.”
“Not like you’re hard to read, Mr. Wilkinson.” She released his hand and checked her cell. “You’re easily the worst liar I’ve ever met, which is just fine by me. I have no signal either, Becka. Must be a dead zone.”
“Is there coverage at the cabin?” Tonia said as she checked her phone. “My parents will freak if they can’t contact me.”
“Unfortunately, there is.” Jan put her phone away. “We’re supposed to be getting away from all this crap. Otherwise, what’s the point in camping?”
Moments later, Josh reached down and turned up the music.
“Hey, what’s up?” Jan asked. “Don’t like my singing?”
“Were you singing?” He pretended to wince as Jan slapped him.
“You know I was. You always do that – turn up the music when I’m singing.”
“Really? Must be a coincidence. I just love this song.”
Brian kicked the back of Josh’s chair. “Since when do you like One Direction, man? Just tell her the truth. No? Fine, then I will. Every time you sing, Josh gets so blinded by his love for you that he just can’t drive straight. That’s why he’s turning up the music.”
“Oh please.” Matt threw a book at Brian’s head. It missed and hit Josh.
“Come on guys! Trying to drive here.” Josh yelled into the rear-view mirror. The horseplay wouldn’t normally bother him. Maybe Jan was right. Maybe he was letting things back home get to him.
“Oh yeah,” Rebecca said as she grabbed Brian’s cup. “All this traffic makes it really dangerous. What do you think you’d hit? A moose?”
“Either that or a tree.” Josh brushed his sweat-damp hair from his forehead. “I’m not trying to be a buzz kill. Just stop the flying shrapnel, okay?”
Josh turned off onto a road marked with a hand-painted sign. On one side of the road, he caught glimpses of the lake. The trees pushed in further on the road, blocking out even more light.
“Do people actually live up here?” Tonia pushed her glasses back into place and stared out the windows at tall pine trees on either side of the road. “We haven’t seen a car or house since we left that creepy gas station.”
“What’s the matter?” Matt put his arm around Tonia and passed her a wine cooler. “Afraid this is going to turn out to be a little Québécois Chainsaw Massacre thing? Of course people live here. And not the crazy hillbilly type. The guy in the cottage next to ours has a helicopter pad. Tons of celebrities and millionaires buy places out here. You couldn’t ask for a safer place. Or maybe,” he said leaning forward, fingers curled into claws. “Maybe there are cannibal fur traders just waiting in the woods to…”
The front two tires blew out. With a loud hiss and pop, the SUV swerved off the road.
A sudden rush of adrenaline negated Josh’s exhaustion. He fought with the steering wheel to get the SUV back on the asphalt. He knew it was a losing battle even before they hit the tree. Luckily, everyone was wearing their seatbelts. Aside from the burn of the seatbelts against their chests, there were no injuries. The vehicle, however, was totaled. The front end was wrapped firmly around an evergreen.
“Damn.” Matt’s voice was quiet.
The engine sputtered and died. The wind blew through the trees; birds called out from unseen places. Josh turned off the ignition. He looked over his shoulder at Brian and Matt. Without a word, the men got out of the vehicle to inspect the damage.
“This can't be happening,” Matt held his head with both hands. He looked up and down the street. There was still no sign of other cars.
“Your dad is so going to kill you.” Brian walked to the front of the SUV and stared at the crunched metal. Slowly and repeatedly, he shook his head.
“How bad is it?” Jan got out of the vehicle, rubbing her chest where the seatbelt had hit.
“Get back in the car,” Josh said. He inhaled deeply and knelt to inspect the tires. When he stood, he held two foot-long shards of metal. They were black and tapered, shaped like long feathers. On the wide end was an etching of a peacock.
Matt knelt down and inspected the front tires on the passenger side. “Crap. There’s some over here, too.”
Jan stared at the daggers still stuck in the passenger-side tire. “It's possible they were just lying in the road.”
Josh gave her a very steady look. Then he turned to study the woods.
“Crap.” Brian’s eyes went wide. “Rebecca, stay in the car.” He surveyed the woods on the other side of the road.
Matt looked at Tonia and just shook his head.
“Pull those things out,” Josh said. “You're going to need them.”
“Stop, Josh. You're freaking me out.” Brian’s eyes were red.
“Good. We need to be scared. They've done this before. If we don't think straight, we're as good as dead.”
“What about you, Josh?” Matt asked. “You’re smaller than either of us.”
“There’s not enough for all of us,” Josh said. “I can take care of myself.”
“But…?” Matt said.
“Let it go.” Brian took one of the daggers, all the while staring at Josh.
“Oh? Had many encounters with crazed woodmen who trap tourists?”
“Not exactly. Let’s just say I have a few secrets. We don’t have time for this. This is the point in the movies when the disposable teens split up.”
“And the body count starts.” Matt went pale as soon as he realized what he had just said. He backed up until hi
s shoulders were firmly against the side of the SUV. Tonia knocked on the window and he whirled around. Opening the side door, he passed a shard to each of the women. “We probably won’t need these. Just to be safe.” Matt smiled. It was thin and unconvincing.
“Safe?” Tonia pressed a hand against her stomach, repulsed as she took the blade.
“We can’t stay here,” Jan walked over to Josh and grabbed his arm. “We’re sitting ducks. They’re probably watching us right now. What if they have guns?”
Josh kissed her on the cheek. “If they had guns they probably would’ve shot the tires out.”
“You’d have to be a pretty good shot to hit the tires of a moving car.” Jan studied the metal in her hands. “Sharp objects on the road make for better odds.”
Rebecca stepped out of the car, blade in hand. “Don’t you think we’re, like, overreacting or something? Maybe these things just fell off a truck or something.”
“Shut up.” Josh held up his hand and whispered the word. It was enough to quiet everyone. He walked up the road, eyes down.
“Wait up!” Jan raced after him. “Where are you going? You know we shouldn’t split up.”
“They shouldn’t have gone into the tires like that.”
“What do you mean?”
Josh stopped and turned to her. “Sharp pieces of metal lying in the road would tear a hole in the tread. They wouldn’t get stuck in like that.”
Jan shook her head for a moment. Then she nodded and folded her arms across her chest. “They went in the side of the tires.”
Josh nodded. “I doubt they’d be in the sides if we ran over them. Help me look. If someone threw them, there could be others lying around.”
Brian walked over from the SUV. “What’s going on here, Josh?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is this like the last time?”
Josh stopped. “What last time? What are you talking about?”
Brian opened his mouth, then sighed and looked at the ground. “Never mind.”
“No sign of any others,” Jan said.
The Shadow Box: Paranormal Suspense and Dark Fantasy Thriller Novels Page 82
