A Temporal Trust (The Temporal Book 2)

by Martin, CJ

  While Marcus’ grip was unforgiving, Kaileen managed to wrap both of her hands around his wrist. She couldn’t squeeze with much pressure—she didn’t have to. From her fingers crawled hundreds of tiny worm-like creatures. In Marcus’ heart, he knew the creeping sensation wasn’t real; it was a projection from within her mind manifesting itself while he was inside her. But Marcus couldn’t help but watch in horror as he felt the worms dig and slither beneath his skin. Tiny bumps formed and began moving in every direction on his arm. He was able to hold fast solely because of Suteko’s warmth.

  Then, Marcus saw Sam appear. Despite his injuries and disorientated mind, Sam had been helped to Kaileen’s body and his hand touched Kaileen just as Marcus had done.

  Suteko’s powers were at best supportive, a healing element. But Marcus believed and now saw that Sam could directly aid in the otherworldly battle. Outside, Suteko reached with both hands, touching Marcus and Sam. Sam was inside Kaileen’s mind and had come to take the fight to the source.

  “Sam, Marcus is killing me.” Kaileen said to the new visitor within her mind. Her voice changed; it was no longer a dark whisper, but the whimper of a hurt and scared little girl. Sam couldn’t see the revolting insects crawling over and into Marcus; he only saw a strong man with his right hand around a young woman’s neck. Sam took a step forward and got a better look at the woman whose voice was so familiar.

  Marcus looked up and over the hundreds of crawling black horrors that were now covering his forearm. The woman he held had the appearance of Suteko.

  “Sam! It’s Kaileen, not Suteko!”

  “I...know,” Sam said, not quite convincingly.

  “Sam!” Her voice was urgent, pleading.

  Sam took another step toward the old man and the woman who had the appearance of Suteko.

  “Demon woman!” shouted Marcus as he squeezed harder, causing the worms to drop as Kaileen lost focus.

  “Sam—I can give you the world! We can rule—you as king and I will be your queen! I will submit to your every whim!” Her voice phased in and out according to the wavering strength of Marcus’ grip.

  “No,” Sam said even as he took another heavy step.

  Marcus saw the conflict in Sam’s eyes. “Sam, you must look beyond your eyes. You know who it is that I have. Do you have the strength to do what needs to be done? Or will Kaileen win?”

  Sam took another step. It felt as if gravity was increasing in strength even though true gravity did not exist in the mental realm. With each moment, he was pulled down deeper. He knew it was Kaileen, but he had been poisoned by her eyes.

  “Hurry, Sam...He’s hurting me...”

  “Sam,” Marcus pleaded with strain in his voice. “Don’t listen to her. Look at me!” The thin barrier of whirling wind that separated Marcus from Kaileen was strengthening, burning a ring into the flesh of Marcus’ arm.

  Sam took another step and continued facing Kaileen.

  “Look at me!” the old man shouted with a ferocity unknown to Sam. Sam jerked away from Kaileen and faced the man. In a normal voice, Marcus said, “Look at me, Sam. It’s me—Marcus.”

  Sam didn’t move, and he remained looking at the old man.

  “I need your help, Sam. We need to subdue her. Keep away from her eyes!”

  Sam shook his head. It seemed like his head was full of fog, preventing him from thinking straight. Sam tilted his head in the direction of the woman, but kept his eyes far from her eyes. The skin on her legs was changing; minute modulations were rippling throughout her body. The exposed skin and the dress alike were coming in and out of focus and color. Kaileen was losing control of her morphic state. What resemblance she had to Suteko was gone.

  Sam nodded and ran to the opposite side, grabbing Kaileen’s arm. Together, Marcus and Sam quickly had Kaileen’s face down on the ground. The whirlwind barrier ceased.

  Her appearance was gruesome. Scales covered previously smooth skin. Her beautiful, long red hair was gone, replaced by inch-long scabs covering the entirety of her scalp.

  “All right, Sam, go back to Suteko. Tell the lieutenant to have his weapon ready. I will be there shortly.”

  Sam’s mind obeyed and his outer body removed his touch from Kaileen’s body. In the real world, Sam toppled over, panting with some exertion. Suteko kept her hand on Sam and intensified her energy transfer.

  Once Sam recovered, he pushed Suteko’s hand off him, stumbled to his feet, and yelled for Lieutenant Harrison to be ready. Suteko had her eyes closed in intense concentration. Marcus still had his hands spread across Kaileen’s face and Suteko was touching Marcus now with both hands. Kaileen’s physical face was the same face he had seen in her mind—distorted and grotesque. Scales appeared and then fell off.

  With a cry that shocked Sam, Marcus broke away, sending him and Suteko rolling on the grass. Without a moment’s hesitation, Marcus leapt to his feet. More stumbling than walking, he leaned to his left and fell hard to the ground, disoriented.

  “Marcus!” shouted Lieutenant Harrison. “It’s over. Please stay still. I’m calling the medics right now.”

  Marcus shook his head and pointed to a twelve inch knife that had been brought by one of the Perazim. He only managed a grunt, but Sam understood.

  Sam lurched toward the object Marcus was pointing at. He quickly retrieve it and handed it to Marcus.

  Kaileen was beginning to squirm; the scales were fusing with skin and healing. Marcus knew he had seconds before she would regain enough strength to fight back. Some color had returned to her face.

  Once again on his feet, he stumbled toward the body of Kaileen, knife in hand. He fell, a few inches from Kaileen’s face. As the hand that held his knife dropped over his enemy, Kaileen’s eyes opened wide. Her hand stilled Marcus’ knife inches from her neck, its blade digging into her bloodied palm. The other hand grabbed Marcus’ wrist and was working to deprive it of its weapon. Blood poured from the cut in her palm, but her concentration was not broken. She even had a smile.

  It was all Marcus could do to hold onto the knife. Kaileen’s smile broadened as she slowly pushed the knife back toward Marcus.

  Marcus’ eyes widened with fear. His hearing was still affected; he groaned loudly as he pushed down without success. Even with the advantage of gravity and her injuries, Marcus was not able to move the knife down. Marcus’ groan turned into a growl and then a yell.

  Lieutenant Harrison hastily emptied his remaining rounds into her chest and legs. The momentary loss of strength allowed Marcus’ knife to fall. With both hands, he worked it deep, pulling and pushing in a seesaw motion until his hands were warm, sticky, and red. Under Kaileen’s morphic illusion was her physical body still in obedience to the laws of nature. She had not been Nephloc; she had not been Perazim; she had been Temporal—one of the first after the original three.

  The lieutenant had not lowered his now empty gun. He still held the trigger tight, his finger frozen in the trigger guard. Suteko approached him and placed her hand on top of his, bringing his attention to her. Sweat dripped down and around his nose. Seeing Suteko and feeling her positive energy coursing through him, he closed his mouth and tossed the weapon aside.

  Marcus dropped the knife and threw the severed head as far from the body as his little remaining strength allowed.

  “Burn it…” Marcus’ voice was weak. “Burn it now!”

  Marcus turned away with his dark brown hands covering his face. He fell to the ground, heaving his shoulders with each sob. Tears mixed with drying blood fell from his cupped hands. He had failed even in victory.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Suteko then hurried to Marcus. She was about to use her last bit of strength to transfer positive energy into Marcus when she remembered the Perazim that had slipped inside.

  “Marcus! One slipped inside.”

  It took a few seconds but Marcus’ mind was quickly back on target. He saw Sam half unconscious and being tended to by Lieutenant Harrison.

  “Suteko, Maro�
�all of you, go! I’ll be right behind,” Marcus said, pushing his arms to stand. His face was caked with blood and dirt; the tears only accented the dirt and did nothing to purify him, to make him clean.

  Not even pausing to nod, Suteko was inside. Vered and Sasha were on the stairway after exiting Catherine’s room. They had stayed with Catherine to protect the sleeping Temporal and the human Amato. They had exited only after Catherine told Vered that Kaileen was no more. Suteko turned toward Hikari’s room after Vered confirmed that they were fine.

  Turning the corner, she saw Ian standing in front of Hikari’s door. The door was closed and Ian appeared to be guarding it. Suteko breathed easier. Hikari was safe; Ian had returned in time to protect him.

  “Thank God you are here, Ian. Did you see it? One of the Perazim entered the house.”

  Ian smirked and tilted his head as if examining Suteko for some untold or hidden falsehood.

  “Ian,” said Maro as he dashed to Suteko’s side, “where have you been?”

  Ian answered without taking his eyes off Suteko, “Why don’t you tell him, Suteko?”

  “What do you mean? I have no idea where you were! We’ve been a little busy, Ian.”

  Ian’s eyes burned. “Enough games! Tell him! Tell him that I’ve been with you!”

  Suteko stood agape, speechless.

  “It wasn’t Suteko, Ian,” Marcus said, stumbling in behind Yehi and William.

  Suteko glanced back at Marcus with a look that matched the confusion she was feeling. Then horror overtook her as the truth became evident. “It...It was Kaileen. Ian! It was Kaileen pretending to be me!”

  Ian shook his head and banged the wall behind him. “No more lies! I was with Kaileen and you—at the same time.”

  “Kaileen?” Marcus’ voice was pained and his mind confused. “You were willingly with Kaileen?”

  Another voice behind Hikari’s door called out, “Ian, it is time.” The door opened on its own. As it revealed the space of the small room, Suteko glanced inside. Through the opening, she could see Hikari being strangled by the Perazim who had entered earlier. “Ian! In the room!”

  Suteko sprinted toward the room with only one object in mind, saving Hikari. She did not see Ian’s arm or his fist as the one stopped her forward movement and the other pushed her into a wall fifteen feet behind.

  “Ian!” Marcus shouted and began to approach him.

  “Not this time, old man.” Ian dissolved as Marcus reached his previous position. An instant later, Ian reappeared behind Marcus. Before Marcus could turn around, Ian had him in a chokehold. Ian’s left hand clasped his right fist and pulled in, shutting off the jugular vein and depriving Marcus’ brain of oxygen. Ian turned around, flinging Marcus with him.

  “You held me back, old man. See how powerful I’ve become!”

  The remaining Temporal had all bolted in for Ian as soon as they saw the attack on Marcus. A bright ball of light from within the room blinded them, but something else prevented them from continuing. Their motions had slowed and eventually stopped; the force stuck to them like a vat of tar. They were crippled. It had, however, no effect on their hearing.

  “And now, old man, you’ll get yours.”

  Suteko watched with the full knowledge she could do nothing as Ian pulled a knife from the holster on his leg. She saw Ian look up and at her. Instead of a reconsideration of his actions, she saw his will to kill only intensify.

  Then, she heard a voice coming from the blinding light from the other room. It was her own voice.

  “Ian, stay your hand. It is my desire that he lives. Now, come! Come, my love.”

  The voice was Suteko’s, strong and deep. Ian hesitated but kept his knife biting Marcus’ throat.

  “I will leave you here if you do not obey.” The voice became a growl. “Marcus must be kept alive.”

  Suteko was trying to process what was happening. Kaileen had the morphic ability to appear as her. But Kaileen was dead—decapitated. Ian had said he saw the morphic Suteko and Kaileen together. The creature that appeared as Suteko inside the room was someone different, a new and powerful enemy.

  She looked deep into the other room. Through the opened door, she could only make out dark shadows. The shadows were moving. Though distorted and hard to see through the tar-like substance holding her, she could just make out three figures in motion. One of them was Hikari; another was the assassin and the third was the origin of the voice and the terrible light. She couldn’t see, but she heard and it was her own voice speaking.

  Ian…

  She could not speak. She could not move. She couldn’t even position her eyes to see if Maro was still beside her. She felt as if she couldn’t even breathe and yet she was still alive.

  Ian had been tricked into betraying them and was choosing to continue even as he was shown it had all been a ruse. Worse, she was powerless to help Marcus and Hikari.

  Ian let out a long growl before dropping the knife and ramming both hands into Marcus’ back, sending him flying toward the captive group of Temporal. An instant later, the five were on the ground, free from the stranger’s hold, but terribly exhausted.

  Looking up, Suteko saw the light decreasing. One shadow lightened and shrunk until it disappeared entirely. The only other shadow left, presumably Ian, quickly followed suit. As that shadow disappeared, the surrounding light closed within itself until it too was gone.

  Suteko hastened toward the room, more crawling than running. Entering the room, she fell and slid, stopping only a few feet from the lifeless body of Hikari. His blood had been spilled in vast amounts across the room. The Perazim had questioned Hikari, torturing him until the last drop of blood took his life away. Nephloc have no blood. Hikari had completed the process of becoming human only to die.

  “Hikari!”

  Maro approached her carefully keeping an eye on the fallen Hikari and Temporal. “Suteko, Hikari is dead,” he said from the doorway, “Marcus is hurt. He needs you now.”

  She nodded. Her appearance was pitiful. Dirt and grime covered her from her feet to her blood-matted hair. She nodded and, taking Maro’s proffered hand, she carefully stood up.

  Hikari...I am so sorry.

  Epilogue

  The battered Temporal were seated around Marcus’ bed at the Berkshire House. The old man had spent the past twenty-four hours bedridden and mostly in silence. A muted television on a table scrolled headlines about the president gone missing. General Gordon was also missing; Ian had betrayed them; Hikari was dead.

  “The creature in the light,” said Marcus, breaking a long stretch of silence within the group, “the one mimicking Suteko’s voice was Kaileen’s master. It appears he also taught Ian to manifest himself within short distances—something I was not able to do.” The old man thought about the surprise that had almost cost him his life. “He was Bracker. His real name is Arthimas, one of the three.”

  “One of the three?” asked Sam.

  “The three original Temporal,” answered Suteko. “Marcus, why were we spared? We all were in his hands. It would have been a simple matter of having Ian slash our throats.”

  “He couldn’t have without a fight. The same field that held us captive also protected us from his attack.”

  Marcus gave a tug to his chin and said, “Still, there is some larger purpose in store for us. What it is, I cannot tell.”

  Sam could no longer keep it in. “Why didn’t we see this coming? Why didn’t I?”

  “Son, this is something new for all of us.” Marcus looked down and wiped his brow of sweat before asking, “Are we ready?”

  “Are you able to stand?” asked Sam.

  Without an audible response, Marcus moved his legs to the side and then down into the slippers waiting for his feet. With Sam to his right and Suteko to his left, he stood and nodded toward the door.

  Making their way around what was left of the porch, they were met by five other Temporal who had arrived since the battle. The solemn group was mostly congre
gated around two platforms covered by white sheets; all had somber expressions.

  Lieutenant Harrison and several others in the military had done a good job keeping the media and other interested parties away from the area, but the number of law enforcement vehicles made it seem a circus. They would need to leave. But before doing so, one task remained.

  Marcus stopped, squeezing Sam and Suteko’s hands tightly as he did. “Do it.”

  Two of the Temporal approached with two-gallon cans of gasoline. As the gas spilled, the liquid gave weight to the sheets spread over the two pyres, bringing out the contours of the bodies under it. One was a shriveled, tiny body; the other was a headless woman. Another Temporal lit a butane mini-torch and moved in.

  “Stop!”

  Sam looked up to see an Asian man who looked as old as Marcus. It was Bae Khan. Sam knew the name and face from his visions. The man had a stoic look and an ancient Fu Manchu mustache that wiggled slightly in the light breeze. His hand rested heavily on an ornately decorated wooden staff. Sam imagined the man could easily be cast for the part of some hermit guru living on top the Himalayas.

  Behind him were a few other newcomers. Lieutenant Scott Harrison followed behind them.

  “Bae—An nyeong ha se yo.” Marcus was pleased to see his oldest of friends but even this reunion could not coax a smile out of his face.

  “I,” said the Korean with a slight pause and no smile. “I must see for myself.”

  Marcus waved his hand permissively and sat down in a seat that had been provided for him. Together, they had hunted Kaileen down over a thousand years ago. Together they had sent her to her death—or so they had thought. It had been personal for Khan as well as Marcus. Kaileen, while away from Marcus, had attempted to seduce him into joining her. Failing that, she killed Khan’s non-Temporal wife and child.

  Those closest to the platforms pulled the sheets and revealed the pitiful remains of Hikari and the headless body of Kaileen, scaly and ill-treated by age.