by Siegel, Alex
"What are you doing?" the leader of the Circassians yelled. "Get up, you lazy sobaki!"
Walfred staggered to his feet. "Look for tracks!" he mumbled. "Check all around! Figure out which way the girl went!"
His men shuffled off to comply.
Chapter Twenty
Jia was hurrying through the woods with a piece of luggage in her hand. It was her second hike of the day, and it was even more miserable than the first. This time, everybody was scared.
"Did you tell anybody where you were going?" Rachiel said.
"Just our boss," Imelda said, "but she's in Chicago."
"And you trust her?"
"Absolutely."
Rachiel paused. "Are you talking about the woman with red hair and green eyes? The one who brought Olivia here last time?"
"Yes," Imelda said.
"The Lady of the Night."
"Why do you call her that?"
"It was a vision," Rachiel said. "I saw an immortal spirit full of wrath. A restless, unstoppable agent of death."
Imelda shook her head. "She's scary, but she's not that scary."
Jia wasn't so sure.
"Stop," Rachiel said.
The large group immediately stopped hiking, and Jia was glad for a chance to catch her breath. They were crossing over a rocky ridge. Rachiel stared at the large rocks as if trying to read them, and then she crouched down to lick one.
"What are you doing?" Jia said.
"Creating a problem for those men."
Rachiel retrieved some herbs from the supplies slung over her shoulder. She packed the leaves into the cracks between the rocks using her finger. Then she took a silver knife and held the tip over her palm.
"I hate this part," she muttered.
Her coven appeared uneasy.
Rachiel cut her palm, and the blood dripped onto the rocks.
"From blood to blood," she murmured, "from chaos to chaos. Let the Great Mother's anger settle in this place."
She closed her eyes and swayed for a moment.
"Is that it?" Imelda said. "Can we go?"
Rachiel shook herself back to alertness. "Yes! Hurry!"
The group continued its arduous hike across the steep terrain.
* * *
Walfred leaned down and touched a footprint in the dry, powdery dirt. The enemy had left an easy trail to follow. They were a big group walking in almost a straight line over terrain that showed tracks well. Walfred's expert hunting skills weren't being tested at all.
Chasing people in the wilderness was a familiar game. The Warriors of Dagda had kidnapped devout Christians on several occasions and had set them free in wooded areas. Then the Warriors had hunted their victims for sport. Those enjoyable outings had concluded with pagan blood rituals.
"This way!" Walfred pointed up a steep hill.
The large group of men climbed until they reached a rocky ridge. The view of the surrounding valleys was spectacular. Redwood trees shot up to impossible heights, and there were multiple layers of foliage beneath the canopy. The landscape was dry, but there was still an abundance of green. Walfred caught glimpses of squirrels and birds.
The ground abruptly shifted beneath his feet. He managed to grab a tree branch, but some men weren't so lucky. A landslide of rocks and dirt carried them down the mountain. He heard screams over the rumbling of falling stones. He held his branch with both hands as tightly as he could.
When the landslide finally ended, he looked at the devastation. Debris had formed a pile at the bottom of a valley. Entire trees were mixed in with boulders and dirt. The men down there were either badly injured or already dead.
Walfred performed a quick headcount. Five more Warriors were gone along with several Circassians.
The landslide had also wiped out the enemy's trail. Locating it again would require a painstaking search of the hillside.
"Warriors," Walfred said, "spread out and find the footprints. Circassians, go down there and dig for survivors. If a man is too injured to hike out under his own power, perform the coup de grâce. We don't have time to play nursemaid. The Goddess is counting on us."
* * *
Iris opened her eyes. "It's one disaster after another. A landslide just took out a bunch of them. It will be a while before the hunt continues."
She and Laurence were still sitting in the black McLaren. Her back was stiff from staying in a trance for hours.
He looked into the forest. "Do you think they'll find the girl, ma'am?"
"Maybe." She glanced at the sky. "They need to catch her before sunset. They won't be able to follow the trail once it gets dark."
"The longer this goes on..."
"You don't have to tell me. I'm surprised the Society hasn't come for us already."
"Maybe Erika's operation in Chicago is keeping them busy," Laurence said.
"I suppose I should be grateful for that."
"Grateful enough to thank her?"
Iris snorted. "No, but I do wish I knew more about her project. It could seriously affect us." She sighed. "If the girl isn't killed very soon, we could be in big trouble. Our luck has been running the wrong way lately. It's time to start moving towards the exits."
"Really?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Drive towards the airport. Call our pilot and make sure the plane is fully fueled. We're not leaving yet, but it could happen at any time. We should also call my friend in Rio and warn him he may have two new houseguests very soon."
"Yes, ma'am."
Laurence started the car and drove off.
* * *
"There it is." Rachiel pointed ahead.
Jia peered into the shadows. Trees and bushes almost concealed an opening in a sandstone cliff. She had expected the cave to be nice and round, but this one was jagged. It certainly didn't look like a nice place to hide.
"Flashlights," Imelda said.
Two flashlights were dug out of the luggage. Rachiel took the lead with one, and Imelda followed with the other. They proceeded into the cave.
Olivia was practically hanging on Jia's leg when they entered. Jia wrinkled her nose at a foul odor. Something had died in the cave and not too long ago. The uneven floor forced her to twist and bend, and she was still dragging a piece of luggage. She scraped her back on the sharp roof.
"Ow!" she said. "Why did you pick this cave? It's awful."
"It's a secret place," Rachiel said, "shielded by Mother Earth. There is ancient magic in these living rocks."
Jia frowned.
The group proceeded until they came to a dead end deep inside the mountain. She wasn't claustrophobic, but the tight spaces, stale air, and darkness were unnerving. It was too easy to imagine this hole becoming her tomb. The air was definitely warmer than on the surface.
"We're probably safe," Imelda said, "but we can't count on it. Let's set up a defensive formation. Grab a gun, folks."
A bag containing guns was dumped out. Jia grabbed a .38 caliber semiautomatic from the pile, and she confirmed it had a full magazine. It was the biggest gun she could comfortably handle. Yang had taught her too much gun was as much of a problem as too little. She found a position among the rocks where she had a good firing lane while also being well shielded.
Olivia huddled against Jia. The girl had a .22 caliber pistol which looked big in her little hands. Jia had seen Olivia practice, and she wasn't bad. Memories of the brutal deaths of her parents provided plenty of motivation during the long sessions in the gun range.
The witches began to chant in low, somber tones. Jia didn't understand the words, but the music was both relaxing and invigorating.
"Cut the lights," Imelda said. "Go dark."
The flashlights were turned off.
Jia sighted down the barrel of her gun at the light from the cave entrance. Let them come, she thought. We are the Gray Spear Society. We don't fear them. They fear us.
* * *
Yang was pacing nervously. He was deeply worried about Jia and Olivia even though he kne
w they were safely hiding in the mountains with Rachiel. Nobody could find his friends there. Even he didn't know where they were.
Staring at the same shiny walls all day hadn't helped. He felt like a prisoner. There was nothing to do but talk to the other inmates and worry, and he was tired of doing both. There would be plenty of time for conversation after he was immortal. Right now, he just wanted to go through the aperture and see what was on the other side.
A commotion on the far side of the room drew his attention. He eagerly walked over. Any distraction was a good one at this point.
It appeared the legate of Africa was about to do something interesting. His back was bent with age, and he was probably the oldest person in the room. A ring of white hair around his skull looked like a crown. Like most of the legionnaires, he was wearing advanced body armor, although in his case, it seemed inappropriate. A man of his dignity and seniority didn't fight his own battles.
The legate rubbed his hands together, crouched down, and formed his fingers into a spear. He abruptly shoved his hands into the metal tiles covering the floor. Yang couldn't believe his eyes. He had heard those tiles were made of an exotic alloy which was nearly indestructible. The legate separated his hands like he was opening a curtain, and the result was even more incredible. A passage opened leading straight into the ground. The tunnel had wet, muddy walls, but an invisible force kept it from collapsing.
Norbert and Hanley went down the hole. Yang had talked to Norbert earlier and had discovered he was a legionnaire in Chicago. He had recently been promoted to Wesley's protection team. Norbert had brown, curly hair and a slightly puffy face. He had struck Yang as a very sincere, nice guy.
Yang walked over and looked down the dark hole. He couldn't see what Norbert and Hanley were doing down there.
"What did you do, sir?" Yang asked the African legate.
"My gift is making passages," the legate said.
"Through anything?"
"Yes. I create space where there is no space. I can even make a hole in you."
Yang raised his eyebrows. Amazing, he thought, but that's why he's a legate.
After a few minutes, Norbert and Hanley climbed out of the hole. Hanley was carrying a crown made mostly of silver. As soon as the two legionnaires were clear, the African legate withdrew his hands. The passage snapped shut without even a seam to show where it had been.
The legate of South Asia approached the crown. His name was Sight, probably because he had a third eye in the center of his forehead. The extra eye glowed a little and had a tiny pupil.
"I know what that is," he said. "I read about it in the tabella."
"What?" Hanley said.
"The original crown of North America."
Hanley appeared confused.
"All the legates used to wear crowns," Sight said. "It was a tradition until the mid-nineteenth century. When Native Americans controlled this continent, their legate wore this crown. The European settlers thought it looked barbaric, so they made a new crown. The matter ended in bloodshed, and the natives lost. They obviously buried this crown afterwards to keep it safe."
"It was sitting on the head of a skeleton."
Sight smiled. "That was probably Black Deer, the legate at the time. According to the tabella, he had supernatural wisdom. It can't be a coincidence that his grave is here. He probably knew this was a place of enormous significance."
The crown was passed around for everybody to see. When Yang took it, he was astonished by the quality of the workmanship. Intricate battle scenes were etched into the silver plates. Rubies, sapphires, and other jewels provided colorful highlights. Strands of gold were somehow woven into the silver.
The plate on the front of the crown shocked Yang. It clearly portrayed Aaron and Marina posing as rulers. Her eyes were made of emeralds, and his eyes were black diamonds. Yang couldn't believe it was a coincidence.
Marina came over and took the crown. "It's beautiful. Those damn Europeans had no idea what they were talking about. Hey, what's this?" She took a closer look. "It looks like me and Aaron!"
Sight nodded. "I think you should wear the crown, ma'am. You would be honoring the memory of Black Deer, one of the great legates of North America."
"Sure." Marina gently placed the crown on her head. "I love it."
Yang felt a tug on his hand. He looked down and discovered Wesley was standing there. Seeing the boy's blue sparkling eyes at close range always intimidated Yang. The Voice of Truth was more than just a prophet. He was an axis upon which the entire world spun, and getting caught in his orbit always changed a person's life.
"Come," Wesley said in a low voice.
He gestured for Yang to follow, and the two of them walked off to a quiet corner.
"What?" Yang said nervously.
"When the aperture opens, make sure you're the first one through after the twins. Go straight to Olivia and your friends. Rescue them."
"But I thought they were safe."
"Nobody told you that," Wesley said. "They're in great danger, and if you're slow, they'll die."
"But how will I get all the way to California?"
"A legionnaire of the new Society will have the power to instantly travel anywhere. You just have to think of a place, and you'll be there." Wesley touched his head.
"That's convenient," Yang said, "but I don't know where Olivia is. I never met the witch. How will I find them?"
"Your love for Jia will be your guide. Just follow that connection to her."
"Follow love?"
"Yes." Wesley nodded. "It's the most important thing."
"OK. I have to believe you even if it sounds strange. As long as we're talking about Jia, I have a question. I'll be immortal, and she won't be. That's a problem for our relationship. What should I do?"
"You'll have to work that out on your own. I don't have all the answers. Remember, be first and be quick!"
Wesley walked off.
Marina came over. She looked much more authoritative in her silver crown, and Yang bowed instinctively to her.
She smiled and appeared regal. "What was that about?"
"Wesley wants me to rescue Olivia and the assistants, ma'am," Yang said. "After the twins go through the aperture, I'm next. Apparently, time is of the essence."
"Oh." She furrowed her brow. "That's not good. I'll make sure nobody gets in your way."
"He also told me to follow my love for Jia. It will guide me to her."
"Sounds a little dodgy."
He shrugged. "I'll give it a shot."
"All this assumes the aperture opens on time. That's far from certain."
Marina looked across the room at the aperture, and Yang followed her gaze. Bethany, Leanna, and the fifteen scientists were still struggling to make the thing work. Yang sighed anxiously.
* * *
Walfred checked the angle of the sun. It was setting, and the light was fading fast. The landslide had cost him precious hours. The Circassians had refused to leave until all their injured had been dug out of the rubble and all the dead were buried in some fashion. Now Walfred was almost out of time. Once night fell, he would have to give up the chase until morning.
At least the enemy had left a clear trail. The dry, dusty ground retained footprints perfectly. His quarry had doubled back a couple of times in an attempt to throw him off, but he was very familiar with such tricks and hadn't been fooled.
The pursuit had taken Walfred deep into the wilderness. He hadn't seen any sign of civilization for miles, not even a hiking trail. Big, old trees crowded so closely together, only a fraction of the sunlight reached the ground. Rocks, gnarled roots, and sudden drop-offs forced him to step carefully. He always had to keep one eye watching for poison oak. It was untamed land, hostile to human encroachment.
The footprints were leading Walfred towards a sandstone cliff. He looked up and saw a rough opening almost hidden by the trees. It was a cave.
He grimaced. The cave was full of dark, dangerous question marks.
The first men who entered might get ambushed, but he saw no alternative. He needed to know for sure whether the target was in there. That meant somebody had to get shot at, and it wouldn't be him. Others would enjoy that honor.
Walfred waited for the rest of the Warriors to catch up to him. Only fifteen of his men were left, and they had anxious expressions. Everybody was desperately hoping for an end to the bloody nightmare. Their brown camouflage let them blend into the shadowy, wooded environment.
The Circassians were further back, and Walfred didn't even look for them. They were motivated by money, not faith, and were therefore completely unreliable.
He pointed towards the cave. "Check it out," he whispered, "carefully."
Four Warriors crept forward on their bellies.
* * *
Jia could only see a glimmer of light ahead. As the sun set outside, the dark cave was becoming even darker. She could barely tell where the opening was.
She was surprisingly calm though. The witches had maintained their slow, rhythmic chant which resonated with the walls. Hard rock shielded Jia on all sides. The gun in her hands was an instrument of divine retribution, and she intended to put it to good use. There were much worse ways and places to die.
She saw a beam of light dance in the cave. Somebody was shining a flashlight into the opening.
"Wait," Imelda whispered. "Let them get a little closer. Make sure you get a clean kill."
The witches lowered their voices, but they continued to chant.
Jia saw four flashlights entering the cave, but the men were just silhouettes. She sighted down the barrel of her gun and put a little pressure on the trigger. She had been taught the proper procedure for killing a man. Smooth pull. Don't jerk or flinch. Keep an eye open. She had never actually shot anything not made of paper though.
When the enemy was about half-way down the cave, Imelda whispered, "On my mark. Three... two... one... fire."
The four assistants and Olivia all opened fire at once. The gunshots echoed from the walls and deafened Jia. Muzzle flashes left purple splotches in her vision. Her second and third shots were blind, but she was hoping to get lucky.
The barrage ended after just a few seconds.
