“I have an intimate relationship with pain,” Sepia said. “You knew my mother?”
“The question is…did you?”
“No, I don’t remember much about her,” Sepia replied. “She died while I was still young.”
“Pity, the Jade Demon was a worthy adversary,” it said. “You share many qualities with her. I see you bonded with Perdition.”
“How do you know that name?” Sepia asked.
“Surprising for someone at your level,” it replied. “That sword and its name are before you and your mother. Of course I know its name. It is a dark blade.”
“Who are you?” Sepia asked.
“You were closer the first time,” it replied. “I am not a who but a what. I am the essence of the rift. I am what gives the Unholy their power.”
“You’re sentient?”
“Evidently so,” it said. “Now, back to my question. How do you propose to get through me?”
Sepia stood upright and flexed her left hand. She moved her left leg and put weight on it without collapsing. The light from her eye had become a dim glow.
“You power the Unholy?” she said almost to herself. “If I finish you, the Unholy are done?”
The figure laughed again. “You’re thinking that you can face me because you’ve become acclimated to my presence?” it asked. “You are missing the deeper significance of your condition.”
Sepia drew her warded knife.
“What condition?” Sepia asked. “What do you mean?”
“Your mother was known as the Jade Demon, you wield a dark blade and your eye glows…well, like me,” it said as it gestured to itself. “Do you think this is all a coincidence? You are one of us.”
Sepia advanced on the figure.
“I am not Unholy,” she said as she jumped into the flames and light.
TWENTY-FOUR
Nathan led the way down the stairs since the elevators were inoperative. Cracks appeared in the floor and walls in several places along the staircase. Every few minutes a creaking and groaning could be heard all around them.
“This place looks like the Home archive,” said Marks.
“It should, since Home was modeled after this one,” Nathan answered as he navigated down the stairs. “They made Home larger, though.”
Nathan sneezed as the musty smell of age reached them. At the bottom of the next flight of stairs, Nathan stopped and looked down. He brushed the last step and then looked up the stairs. On each stair, wards could be seen. They were lifeless and dull. Each ward was etched into the step in an intricate design, making them easy to overlook.
“Stop,” Nathan said with an edge in his voice.
Marks froze in place on his step. “What is it?”
“Don’t step on those,” Nathan said as he stepped over the designs. “I don’t know if they are active or not so let’s treat them as active.”
“What are they for?” Marks asked as he followed Nathan’s example.
“They are supposed to fry you where you stand,” Nathan said as he kept going down. “Doesn’t seem like they are active.”
“And if they were?”
“We wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Nathan answered. “The last step activates a cascade of liquid fire that would make napalm feel pleasant. I thought they banned this sort of countermeasure.”
“Seems like they didn’t,” Marks said as he arrived at the next landing. Before them, a large door prevented descent into the lower levels. It was an imposing sight, covered with ornate ironwork and intricate filigrees. The rust-colored metal shone in the low light. There were no handles to be seen on the door.
“That’s the entrance to level B,” Nathan said. “It’s not too bad. Mostly harmless items were kept on this level.”
“Mostly harmless?” Marks asked. “Which were the dangerous ones?”
“Lots of old Order weapons,” Nathan said. “Some before they started recording the purposes of the artifacts. Just don’t touch anything and we should be fine.”
“And the door, how do you suppose we open it?” Marks asked. “There is no panel for my hand and I don’t see handles of any sort.”
“It’s a blood door,” Nathan said. “And my blood won’t work.”
Marks thought he saw the hint of a smile cross the old man’s face.
“You’re telling me this ancient door will be able to tell my blood from yours?”
Nathan nodded and Marks drew his gun.
“You must take me for a fool, old man,” Marks said. “Your turn to open the door.”
“Not a good idea, trust me,” Nathan said. “That will get us killed faster.”
“I don’t trust anyone,” Marks answered. “Here,”—he handed Nathan a knife—“start bleeding.”
“If I do this, anything can happen,” Nathan answered. “You need to do this.”
Marks leveled the gun at Nathan.
“You have a choice,” Marks said. “You do it voluntarily or I shoot you and make it involuntary.”
Nathan pulled the knife across his palm, cutting himself. He placed his bloody hand on the door and winced in apprehension. After several moments, the door whispered open, revealing the second level. Marks took the knife and entered the level.
“What did I tell you?” Marks said. “Any blood would work.”
Nathan looked around warily as he bandaged his hand. He followed Marks slowly into the level.
“That was too easy, Overseer,” he said. “We need to be careful.”
Behind them, the wards on the steps they had used came to life, glowing with full force.
TWENTY-FIVE
Kala and the Black Hunters surrounded the Sisters’ compound and waited for the helicopter to land before initiating the breach. Once the helicopter touched down, the weight of the craft on the series of pressure plates Kala’s men had placed around the roof detonated the explosive attached to the walls of the compound. Several men rappelled off the side of the building as explosions traveled the length it.
Glass shattered as the shockwave expanded through the structure. Bernice and Jas barely made it off the helicopter before it was under fire. Bullets ricocheted off the roof surface and the helicopter as the Black Hunters fired at the Black Hawk. Bear reacted immediately. He pushed his stick forward hard and to the right as the helicopter first lurched forward and then took off. His copilot lay slumped forward in his seat.
Bernice and Jas ran for the stairs as gunfire erupted around them. Several Sisters had reached the roof and were returning fire as the pair made it to the safety of the stairwell. Anna was advancing on the roof, followed by Shanti.
“What the hell is going on?” yelled Bernice. “Who started a war?”
Anna handed Bernice an extra weapon.
“This is courtesy of Overseer Marks. He feels we’re no longer needed,” she said. “What are you doing here?”
“We had to evac the park,” Bernice said. “Things went south in a hurry.”
“Where is Wake…and Sepia?” Anna asked, looking around. “Where did you leave them?”
“In the park,” Bernice said. “Sepia went to find the rift, and Wake went to find Sepia.”
“It can’t be helped. Do you know if they found the rift?” Anna asked.
“No clue,” said Bernice. “But if anyone can find it, it will be Wake.”
Jas fidgeted behind Bernice. She tried to make herself as small as possible but failed.
Anna gave Jas a brief look of disapproval. “You’ll answer for your actions once I deal with this incursion,” she said. “Get below and stay out of the way.”
“But I can help—” Jas began. “I mean—”
Anna’s icy stare silenced her.
“You will wait until summoned,” Anna said. “Now, go to the safe room with the rest of the trainees.”
Jas raced downstairs as Anna headed up to the roof.
“What are we facing here?” Bernice asked. “Is this a full-scale assault or is this just
to prove a point?”
“Black lace,” Anna said as she opened the door to the roof followed by Shanti. “They don’t leave the compound alive.”
“Shit,” said Bernice as she brought up the rear.
Anna ran out onto the roof and dodged a hail of bullets. She slid behind some ductwork. Shanti arrived a second later.
“I count six on the roof and at least twenty rappel lines—five on each side,” Anna said. “We need to secure the roof and get downstairs.”
“Do you see him?” Shanti asked. “Is he on the roof?”
“No, which means he’s gone inside,” Anna said. “You secure the roof with Bernice, and I will handle downstairs. Cover me.”
Shanti checked her guns, making sure they were loaded and ready. She nodded to Anna. “I’m ready.”
Anna took a deep breath and sprinted to the roof’s edge as Shanti stood behind her. Bernice remained in the stairwell and took aim from behind the door. Shanti counted to five and then sprinted after Anna.
Black Hunters began shooting at Anna, but it was short lived as Shanti ran a parallel path to Anna, firing her guns. The six Hunters so focused on Anna missed Shanti as she mowed them down one by one. Anna reached the parapet and jumped over the side, grabbing one of the ropes at the last second and sliding down the side of the building.
Bernice joined Shanti as they both looked down at Anna run down the side of the building.
“She’s insane,” Bernice said with a smile as she shook her head.
“Check the Hunters and make sure they are dead,” Shanti said. “Some of them were wearing body armor. I will return shortly. Keep the roof secure.”
“Where are you going?” Bernice said. She turned to face her, but Shanti had leaped over the side as well. She looked down to follow Shanti’s progress as she descended and didn’t notice the Black Hunter to her side that raised a rifle in her direction. At the last second, she registered the movement, but not before several bullets punched through her. She managed to get two shots off, finishing him as the force of his barrage spun and sent her over the edge of the parapet.
*******
Anna walked the halls silently as she descended. She knew Kala and his Hunters would kill every Sister they encountered. She would return the gesture and then have a conversation with Overseer Marks about the futility of his actions.
A Black Hunter came around the corner and leveled his rifle at her. She ran at him and slid, firing her silenced pistol before he had a chance to react. He crumpled to the floor and she double-tapped him for good measure.
Kala is slipping. His men are sloppy.
Anna spun a split second later and pointed the gun at the figure coming into her field of vision. Only her reflexes and training prevented her from shooting Shanti.
“Thank you for your restraint,” Shanti said. “I prefer not being shot.”
Anna nodded and lowered her gun. “Have you seen anyone else?” Anna asked.
Shanti shook her head. “I have encountered no one,” she said. “Which means—”
“The safe room,” Anna said.
They both took off at a dash.
“Will Lexa be able to hold them off?” Shanti asked as they turned a corner and jumped down a flight of stairs.
“Anyone else, I would say yes,” Anna said as she ran down a corridor and kicked open the door to another stairwell, “But that bastard is clever—he will find a way in.”
They reached the thirteenth floor. Anna looked at the wall panel and saw it had been bypassed. The floor didn’t officially exist in the building. Anna looked down the hallway and saw the smoke.
“No,” she said as she stepped closer to the safe room.
An image of horror greeted her. Everyone in the safe room lay dead.
Shanti stepped forward but Anna grabbed her and pulled her back. The strong smell of almonds filled the room and spilled out into the corridor.
“Cyanide,” Anna said. “He poisoned them.”
Lexa lay in the center of the room with several gunshot wounds to her chest.
“Not all of them,” Shanti said as she stepped into the room. She cradled Lexa’s head and wept. Lexa coughed and opened her eyes. She grabbed Shanti’s arm.
“He took her,” she wheezed. “He took Jasmine.”
Anna stepped to her side and crouched down.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Gas,” she said. “He used a gas and killed most of the girls. We didn’t have enough masks. I’m sorry, I should have planned for something like this.”
“Hush, you did what you could,” Anna said and grabbed her hand. “Where did he take her?”
“He was looking for the Hunter, for Sepia—said she was the priority,” Lexa whispered. “Jas told him she knew where she was.”
“That would mean the park,” Shanti said. “Lie still, I will do what I can.”
Lexa gripped her hands and shook her head.
“Please, let me try.”
Shanti placed her hands on Lexa’s body and manipulated several points. After a few minutes she stopped.
“You knew,” Shanti said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lexa smiled and blood escaped the corner of her mouth. Shanti dabbed it away as tears fell down her face.
“I didn’t want you to feel bad,” Lexa answered and coughed up more blood.
“What is it?” asked Anna. “Can you help her?”
“It’s too late,” Shanti said. “You gave the girls the masks, didn’t you?”
Lexa nodded, not being able to answer.
“The poison he used has done too much damage,” Shanti said. “Why did he shoot her?”
“Because this is what he is,” Anna said, looking around at the dead girls. The ones with masks had been shot. “He exists to kill and destroy. He takes pleasure in it.”
Lexa rested her head back and stared lifelessly at the ceiling. Shanti closed her eyes and laid her down.
“Jas probably saved the rest of the compound,” Anna said. “He would have slaughtered everyone here.”
“That would explain the absence of Black Hunters,” Shanti replied. “But how did she convince him and why did he believe her?”
“Irrelevant right now,” Anna said, her voice hard. “Find whoever is left alive, and secure the compound. Treat the wounded and move the dead to the morgue.”
“Anna, what are you going to do?” Shanti asked. “We need to formulate a plan.”
“I have a plan,” Anna said as she stood. “I’m going to get Jasmine back and I’m going to kill Kala for this. After that, I’m going to end the Overseer.”
TWENTY-SIX
Sepia opened her eyes and looked at the stone ceiling with confusion. She winced as the light hit her eyes. Across from her, she saw two hospital beds. Both were occupied. She grabbed the railings and tried to sit up only to let go and lay back in her pillow as the room tilted and spun.
“I wouldn’t try that if I were you,” a voice said from behind her. “You have been exposed to the rift for a prolonged time.”
“Where am I?” Sepia asked. “Where’s Calisto?”
A man stepped into her field of vision. She could see he wore handcuffs as he stepped closer to the side of her bed. He wore a gray cloak typical of the agents who worked with Gan.
“Hi,” he said and raised a hand up in greeting, jangling the handcuffs. “I’m Reed.”
“Okay, Reed, where are we?” Sepia asked. “The last thing I remember was that chamber and then—”
“Then you should have been dead,” Reed said. “At least that’s what Gan says.”
“Gan is here?” Sepia asked, suddenly energized. “Where is he? I need to speak to him.”
“He said he would be back soon,” Reed said.
Reed looked at Sepia and cocked his head to one side and then the other.
“Huh, no glow,” he said. “You were a neon sign earlier.”
“What?” Sepia said. “What do you mean?”
&nb
sp; “Well, it’s just when I first saw you, you had this glow all around you,” Reed said, gesturing with his hands. “But it’s gone now, even your eye looks normal.”
“My eye looks —I need a mirror,” Sepia said. “Get me a mirror, now.”
Reed opened a few drawers and came back with a handheld mirror. He handed it to her and stepped back. She took the mirror and stopped suddenly—holding it away from her. She lifted it slowly to her face and looked at her reflection.
“You’re right,” she whispered. “It’s gone.”
I’m not Unholy.
“That’s what I said,” Reed answered. “You lost your glow.”
Sepia looked at him and narrowed her eyes as she noticed his wrists. “Why are you in handcuffs?”
Reed gave a short laugh and cleared his throat. “That’s actually a long story,” he said. “This isn’t what it looks like.”
“What did you do?” she asked. “You look like you’re part of the Gray.”
“He disobeyed a direct order and got a team killed,” Gan said as he entered the room. “In addition to other things.”
Reed’s face fell as he heard Gan’s words.
“It wasn’t like that, sir,” Reed started. “If you just gave me the chance to—”
“Out, now,” Gan said, cutting him off, and then looked at Sepia. “I’ll be right back, blueberry.”
*******
Gan followed Reed out of the room. Gan walked down the corridor and sat on a stone bench. Reed remained standing.
“Sit,” Gan said and motioned to the bench next to him.
Reed sat down and stared straight ahead. The flexing of his jaw betrayed his anger. Gan sighed and rubbed his face.
“Reed, you’re a good agent, one of my best in the Gray,” Gan said. “You’re also undisciplined and reckless.”
“Yes, sir,” Reed said, still looking ahead.
“Do you recall I told you that the sword you lo—the sword that was taken belonged to someone close to me?”
Reed nodded.
“That person is lying in that room, wondering why her eye isn’t glowing like it always does,” Gan said. “Her first question is going to be where is her sword—the sword she inherited from her mother.”
Sepia Blue-Sisters: A Sepia Blue Thriller Page 9
