Realizing Genghis was moments away from Jonah and Mavis in the heart of the chamber, Shakespeare dug deep and redoubled his effort. Teeth clenched, feratu boiling, he leaned lower and poured on more energy, willing himself to catch up with the monster ahead. Yet still there was a gap he couldn't bridge. Genghis stayed two steps ahead, showing no signs of fading.
Then, suddenly, Genghis stumbled while whipping around a pillar. His feet jumped out of sync for just an instant, stuttering in the layer of mummified feratu. He caught himself instantly, resuming his full-bore dead-heat charge.
But the stumble was just enough for Shakespeare to cross the gap. Hurtling forward, he grabbed Genghis by the shoulders and heaved him off balance, slamming him into a pillar.
Genghis went down hard, and Shakespeare wasted no time pressing his attack. Again and again, he hammered Genghis with furious blows, letting fly with all his vampiric strength. Each blow would have been more than enough to kill an ordinary man, and even Genghis was left bruised and stunned.
But he didn't stay down for long. Coiling up under the relentless assault, he seemed ready to surrender...and then suddenly sprang. Before Shakespeare could dart away, Genghis lunged and seized his wrists. He flipped Shakespeare overhead, slamming him into a pillar, then turned the tables and proceeded to pummel him with a storm of lightning blows of his own.
Genghis' bestial fury exceeded Shakespeare's, blasting him with such speed and force that Shakespeare couldn't recover. Face shining with rage and joy, Genghis split Shakespeare's flesh and broke his bones, then stopped when Shakespeare lay heaving and limp among the dead feratu.
"Don't worry." Genghis laughed and kicked Shakespeare in the side. "I'll be back. Wiping you from the face of the Earth will be so much more satisfying when I have the powers of a god."
With one last crushing blow, Genghis rendered Shakespeare unconscious, then bolted across the crystalline field toward his target. At the middle of the chamber, he nimbly dodged Stanza's gunfire and leaped onto the pillar leading to the locks of Empyrea.
The pillar Jonah clung to, hanging like a ripe plum at the distant ceiling, waiting to be plucked.
*****
Chapter 93
When Mavis looked down, she saw Genghis climbing Jonah's pillar, fast approaching. If she didn't get Jonah moving soon, the mission would quickly end in failure and death.
"Jonah!" Mavis shouted to focus and hold his attention. "Jonah! You have to do it now! You have to get to the next bar!"
"I can't do it!" His voice shook with unreasoning fear. "I won't do it!"
"Now listen to me," said Mavis. "Do you want to die? Right here and right now?"
"No!" said Jonah.
"Then you've got to move! Get to the next bar! Now watch me!" Leaning to the right, Mavis stretched out a hand and grabbed the next pillar in the circle. Keeping her foothold on the first pillar, she shot her other hand over, then uncoiled her legs and swung them to the second pillar. "See?" She planted her heels on new footholds, then waved for Jonah to follow. "Now you do it!"
"Shit," said Jonah. "Shit, Mavis! I don't know if I can..."
"If I did it, you can." Mavis focused all her will on him, trying to beam as much confidence as she could in his direction. She gestured urgently with one hand, summoning him toward her. "Now come on. Just like I did."
"What if I slip?"
Mavis needed to take his mind off the danger. "Duh-duh duh-duh-duh duh!" She sang the same snippet of a Jethro Tull song intro that had worked before. She gestured again, waving him over.
Suddenly, Jonah freed his left hand and swung it out to grab the next pillar. "Duh-duh duh-duh-duh duh!" Legs locked around the first pillar, he lashed out his right hand, flung it over to join the left. Then, with his hands holding on to one pillar and his legs wrapped around another, he seemed to get stuck. He hung there for one beat too long.
"Don't look down!" said Mavis. "Just hold on and bring your legs over! You can do it!" Her heart pounded as she watched, not knowing for sure if he would make it.
Down below, Genghis roared and continued to scramble up the pillar. He was well over halfway up and moving fast, propelled by his vampiric strength and stamina.
Suddenly, Jonah unwrapped his legs from the first pillar, swung them over to the second, and caught it clumsily between his knees. He fumbled for a moment, finding a foothold, steadying his grip...and then it was done.
"I did it!" He grinned wearily at Mavis. "I made it!"
"I knew you could," said Mavis. "Now we have to keep going! We still have two more to go!"
*****
Chapter 94
"Master? Master Shakespeare?"
When Shakespeare heard James' familiar voice, he drifted toward consciousness...and agony. As awareness slowly sifted back into his mind, he felt great draughts of pain throbbing everywhere within him. He remembered the beating Genghis had given him, and his heart filled with tides of shame and anger.
I'll see him dead, I swear it. I'll give back what he's given me this day with double the interest and more. His screams shall make the cries of God giving birth to the universe sound like the chirps of crickets in a field of hay.
"Master?"
Shakespeare opened his eyes and managed a pathetic smile with his battered and blood-caked face. "Where is he, James? Where is Genghis?"
"You look terrible, Master," said James. "Did Genghis do all this?"
"Where is he?" Shakespeare tried to sit up, then fell back to the floor. "He must be stopped."
"You need help," said James.
"Forget me!" Shakespeare grabbed James' shirt and weakly shook him. "If Genghis is first through the gate of Empyrea, the power of a god will be his. Armageddon will overtake us all!"
"We won't let that happen," said James. "Thomas has already gone after him."
Shakespeare felt a rush of cold fear. "You must help him!" As much as he hated sending James against Genghis, he knew Thomas alone wouldn't stand a chance of surviving the great beast, let alone stopping him. "Hurry! Go now! Everything I've taught and told you comes now to bear upon this pivotal instant! Go on without me and tap the greatness we both know blooms within your noble breast."
James nodded. "I'll do as you say, Master." Then, with the speed of a ghost or an angel, he whirled and was gone, racing off toward his fate.
*****
Chapter 95
Jonah screwed his legs tightly around the fourth pillar and stuck there for a long moment, aching and soaked with sweat. Looking up, he saw the second set of locks directly overhead, crimson plates mounted on the rim of the innermost circle on the ceiling.
I made it. I can't believe I made it.
"I knew you could do it!" said Mavis.
"Thanks," said Jonah, but his relief was short-lived. The moment's peace was shattered by the sound of another voice rumbling from below.
"Hello, precious children." It was Genghis, cooing with self-satisfied wickedness. "Daddy's home!"
Jonah gaped at Mavis. He couldn't look down, but he could tell from Genghis' voice that he was a few bars away.
Mavis seemed to read his mind. "Don't worry," she said. "He's on the bar you first climbed up on."
It didn't make Jonah feel better. That's just ten feet away. Genghis can probably cover that in a heartbeat.
"Don't mind me, guys," said Genghis. "I'm just here to watch, okay? And help, if you need me."
"Come on, Jonah." Mavis reached up for the second set of locks. "Let's keep working while he runs his mouth."
"By all means, yes!" said Genghis. "We are totally on the same page!"
"What do you mean?" Jonah stretched to reach the lock panels. Mavis counted to three, and the two of them pressed their bloody palms against the smooth, crimson panes.
The familiar tingling kicked in after a moment. Sparks swirled and danced under the surface of the panes—bright yellow this time instead of red.
"I mean what I say, sweetheart." Genghis chuckled. "The sooner you kids cra
ck open Empyrea, the happier I'll be. I wouldn't dream of getting in your way."
Mavis lowered her hand from the open lock, and Jonah did the same. They met each other's gaze with looks that were equally heavy with disturbed realization.
"So you're not here to kill us?" said Mavis.
"Heavens, no," said Genghis. "I'm here to protect you."
"At least until we open all the locks," said Mavis.
Genghis shrugged. "I can't wait to see paradise, can you? I keep imagining what it'll look like." He shook his head and smiled. "Of course, my paradise and your paradise ought to be quite different, don't you think?"
Jonah dropped his voice for Mavis. "Maybe we shouldn't open the last lock. He'll just kill us when we're done, right?"
"Stanza said we have to open all three," said Mavis.
Jonah thought it over. "What if we just wait to open the third?" he whispered. "Maybe someone will help us by then."
"I don't think either of us wants to be up here any longer than we have to be." Mavis looked down and frowned. "Anyway, it doesn't look like anyone'll be free to come to our rescue anytime soon."
"Are they okay?" Jonah had to force himself not to look down. "Stanza and Arthur?"
Mavis nodded. "Just really busy right now." Looking up, she met Jonah's gaze. "I think we should get in position at least. It'll take us a while to work our way around to the last lock."
"Why don't we just wait right here?" said Jonah.
"Come on now, Jonah!" said Genghis. "Quit being such a coward. Get over there and open that lock, son!"
"Forget about him." Mavis gestured for Jonah to come with her. "Focus on me, okay? Just like before." Leaning right, she reached for the next pillar.
Jonah hung back, unconvinced they should move to the third lock—and deathly afraid of climbing between pillars again.
"What's the matter, Jonah? Having a problem?" said Genghis. "Well, just hold on. I'll be right there."
Looking over, Jonah saw Genghis leap effortlessly from one bar to the next, bringing him closer. Red robes rippling, he jumped again after that, landing one bar away from Jonah.
That was enough to push Jonah into action. "I'm fine," he said, turning to follow Mavis. "Everything's cool!" He reached out to make a grab for the next pillar, the one Mavis had occupied until a moment ago.
Then, suddenly, something knocked him from his perch. Drove him away from the pillar across thin air, flying backwards. Watching Mavis call his name and grab futilely at empty space, as if that might somehow bring him back to her.
*****
Chapter 96
"Hey, dumbass." Those were the first words Jonah heard from the person who'd hauled him off the pillar...the person who propelled him through midair, dragging him helplessly away from the center ring of crystalline structures.
Thomas. Jonah recognized the voice instantly but was too terrified to squeak out a single word. Then, suddenly, his backward flight ended with a jarring impact.
He didn't put the pieces together until Thomas hoisted him up by the back of his black t-shirt to face him. Only then did he realize Thomas had grabbed him single-handedly and carried him to another pillar in one incredible leap, fueled by vampiric strength and agility.
"Finally." Thomas grinned. "We get to bond."
Jonah stared into his brother's tattooed face, so strange yet familiar. He looked for some sign of compassion but saw only mocking cruelty.
What does he plan to do with me?
"Thanks for getting me away from Genghis." Jonah tried to be optimistic about Thomas' intentions. "He can't steal the power of Empyrea without me to help open it up."
"Like I give a crap about that." Thomas hauled Jonah in so close that they were almost nose to nose. "Like I care about anything other than paying you back."
Jonah became increasingly conscious that he was hanging from a t-shirt clutched in one of Thomas' hands. "I'm so sorry, Thomas. I swear to God, I'm sorry."
"Payback's a bitch, you coward. Dying at the hands of family is a bitch," said Thomas. "How's it feel, having your own brother screw you over?"
"Not so good." Jonah closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to force back the panic that was building inside him. Trying not to think how high up they were and how far he had to fall.
"Welcome to my world," said Thomas. "Only this time, I get to be the one doing the screwing over."
"I'm so sorry." Jonah opened his eyes and met Thomas' gaze. "I couldn't help you."
"Save it," said Thomas. "All that matters is you totally screwed up my life. James's, too."
"I froze," said Jonah. "I wanted to do something, but I froze."
"And I wanted a life," said Thomas. "I wanted to not have to drink blood. I wanted to grow up like a normal person instead of being thirty years old and looking thirteen. I wanted to be able to look my parents in the eye without having them think what a monster I am."
"But you could have," said Jonah. "They were vampires, too."
Thomas scowled. "What kind of bullshit is that?"
"The truth," said Jonah. "They were vampires, and they were part of the vampire church, Cruentus Estus."
"What the hell?" Thomas' scowl deepened.
Jonah kept talking, hoping something he said would save his life. "They were members of the Scarlet Council of Cruentus Estus," he said. "At least until they were killed."
"Killed?" said Thomas. "But you said they died in a car accident."
"It was made to look like an accident," said Jonah. "I just found out."
Suddenly, the hate dimmed in Thomas' eyes. He looked more hurt and confused than angry. "But why?"
"They wanted to keep the power of Empyrea out of the wrong hands," said Jonah. "Other members of the Scarlet Council wanted them dead."
"When was this again?" said Thomas. "When was the car wreck?"
"A few weeks ago," said Jonah.
"What kind of car?" said Thomas.
Jonah thought the question was strange, but he answered it. "Maroon Honda Civic."
Thomas' eyes widened with a look of tragic realization. "Oh no!"
"What is it?" said Jonah. "What's wrong?"
"That son of a bitch." A knot of cold rage appeared in Thomas' expression. "That evil son of a bitch!"
"Who?" said Jonah.
Thomas' gaze locked with Jonah's...then darted past him, toward the center ring of the chamber. "Him." He turned Jonah so he could see the person he was talking about.
And Jonah suddenly understood. "Genghis."
"He made me do it. He made me like you." Thomas snarled and growled like an animal. "He's dead."
*****
Chapter 97
Mavis kept moving along the central ring, climbing from one pillar to the next as Genghis pursued her. Her lead quickly melted away, and then he was there beside her. Before she could twist away, he lashed out a hand and clamped it around her upper arm, digging his claws into her flesh.
"Let go of me!" Mavis tried to wrench free of his grip, but his claws only sank deeper.
"I'll be happy to," said Genghis, "just as soon as you and your cousin open Empyrea."
Mavis squirmed, then screamed as Genghis dug his claws in with sudden, clenching force. Genghis laughed and dug in harder. He looked at Thomas, who was perched on a pillar fifty feet away, dangling Jonah like a scarecrow by his distended t-shirt.
"Thomas my son!" Genghis called out across the distance. "What say we share the spoils?"
"You want me to share?" said Thomas. "With you?"
"Either that, or get nothing." Suddenly, Genghis tore Mavis away from the pillar and dangled her in midair by her upper arm. "If I can't have Empyrea, I'll make sure no one else gets it, either!"
Mavis couldn't help screaming. The pain in her arm was excruciating, and it only got worse as he shook her back and forth. Looking down, she saw Arthur far below, battling a horde of vampire warriors—and her heart sank. He was her knight in shining armor, her savior, her love, and he wasn't comi
ng to her rescue anytime soon.
"You expect me to help you, after what you did to me?" said Thomas.
"What? What did I do?" Genghis sounded innocently perplexed.
Thomas glared at him. "Three weeks ago." His voice was ice cold. "Remember that job you had me do?"
"You'll have to be more specific," said Genghis.
"I planted a hemoform under the hood of a car," said Thomas. "A heat-activated hemoform designed to ruin the engine and wreck the car."
"If you say so," said Genghis.
Thomas' glare darkened. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what?" said Genghis.
"It was a Honda Civic," said Thomas. "A maroon Honda Civic."
"Why? Are you allergic?" said Genghis.
"You know why." Thomas' voice was a snarl.
"Why don't you tell me?" said Genghis. "It seems you're dying to, anyway."
"That was my parents' car!" said Thomas. "You made me kill my mother and father."
"Oh, come on!" said Genghis. "You knew. You're a vampire. You must have picked up their scent."
"How could I?" said Thomas. "I haven't seen them since I was eleven."
"Oh, get over it," said Genghis. "I'm more of a parent to you than they ever were! I made you what you are today! I gave you power and purpose! You will always be my son!"
Just then, Jonah spoke up. "It was you? Oh my God! It was you?"
"You'll have to more specific," said Genghis.
"You were the one who took them?" said Jonah. "You were the one I saw that night?"
"Yes, it was me." Genghis sighed. "So I suppose you're pissed at me too, now?"
"Why us?" said Thomas. "Why ruin our lives again and again?"
"Careful planning," said Genghis. "Everything was meant to bring us to this moment—to put the keys in my hands at the gates of Empyrea!"
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