The lighting inside the ship, combined with the darkness of space outside, made it easy for him to see through the thick, radiation shielded glass. Multi held Tapestry at gunpoint just beyond the hallway that led to the central chamber. There were at least three Multis on the ship, but another detail jumped out at Malcolm and almost made him grin with excitement.
The portal they’d used to come through to the ship was still open. Malcolm decided in an instant what he needed to do, and committed himself to doing it immediately rather than exploring alternatives.
He took a deep breath and summoned his power. Yes, he could feel Savior’s other powers, the ones that he used less often than his flight. Malcolm’s teeth began grinding together as he tried to form an energy blast.
A sudden cramp took hold in his stomach, as though a few of his internal organs were trying to make a jail break. Malcolm kept his mouth closed, fearing the horrors of what could happen if he left it open in the confinement of his spacesuit. He stretched his hand out and kept forming the blast.
His head was pounding now, his vision flickering and threatening to fade to black in time with the pulsing pain. The blast formed over his palm outside the suit, a quivering, bright blue ball of energy. As soon as it reached a viable size, the body load ceased abruptly, making him gasp at the contrast. Several of the Multis perked their heads up within the ship.
So… They’re listening to my audio feed.
“Quick poll,” Malcolm said into the silence of his helmet. “Raise your hand if you believe in karma.”
He slammed the energy blast into the ship’s viewport. It shattered into thousands of tiny, jagged pieces, all of which flew by him like bits of shrapnel as the inside of the ship depressurized. Several cut large gashes into his spacesuit. Malcolm ignored it, knowing he wouldn’t need the suit for much longer.
Tapestry and the Multis had been knocked off their feet by the sudden shift of air. Malcolm didn’t stop to fight any of them. He couldn’t have, even if he’d wanted to. The effort of switching from building the energy blast back to flight mode felt like trying to switch between dancing and juggling while sick with the flu.
He had just enough focus to scoop a surprised looking Tapestry up over his shoulder and hurl himself through the green portal while the Multis were still floundering in confusion.
CHAPTER 29
They landed in a familiar hospital room on the other side of the portal. Malcolm’s legs buckled beneath him as soon as they hit the ground, his body reacting to the reintroduction with Earth’s gravity. Tapestry fell beside him, alternating between coughing and taking heaving, gasping breaths.
There were two more Multis in the room, and one of them had already pulled out a pistol. Malcolm flung himself down, shielding Tapestry with his body. Gunshots ripped through the hospital room. He glanced over his shoulder to see that though the bullets had missed him, they’d struck Jade Portal, who was still confined to her hospital bed.
The sound of her flat lining filled the room. Malcolm glared at the Multi with the gun, raising a hand and flinging the man back with a burst of wind manipulation. His pistol went spinning across the floor. Several nurses rushed into the room, hesitating at the strange sight of Malcolm in his bulky, futuristic space suit. He helped Tapestry to her feet and pulled her out into the hallway.
The Multi who had opened fire was reaching to pick up his gun. Malcolm summoned the wind again, this time throwing him violently to the ground and knocking him unconscious. He heard footsteps and turned to see the second Multi slowly approaching them, hands outstretched.
He still looked similar enough to the boss Malcolm remembered that it caught him off guard. Multi was fully bald now, his misshapen head easily visible, but he was still recognizable. It was something about his eyes, which seemed to constantly analyze and assess, rather than just look.
“It’s you,” said the Multi.
“Yes, it’s me,” said Malcolm. He pulled off his helmet and slowly stood up. He grimaced to himself has he stood, still readjusting to the gravitational pull on his body. Multi’s eyes went wide when he saw his face, and only then did Malcolm remember something he’d nearly forgotten.
Right. I’m a demon now. I’ll be getting a lot of that.
A slow smile spread across Multi’s face. He reached into his shirt pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
“Can we talk for a bit?” he asked.
“Talk?” Tapestry took a step forward. “How many times have you tried to kill us, Multi? And you expect us to talk to you? Why would we even consider it?”
Multi looked as though he was barely even listening to her. He’d obviously directed the question at Malcolm, who was in the process of stripping off the bulky spacesuit, tossing pieces of it to the floor, heedless of what happened to them now.
“You can talk,” said Malcolm. “But the only thing I’m interested in hearing from you is where to find him.”
“Your copy, you mean?” Multi grinned. “The mighty Zeus. Yes… I suspect you won’t have to look far to find him. In fact, it’s more likely that he’ll find you. He’ll come looking for you as soon as I tell him about this.”
Malcolm nodded slowly, returning Multi’s grin with a smile of his own.
“Good,” said Malcolm. “That will save me time.”
He tapped Tapestry on the shoulder and started down the hallway.
“You didn’t rescue Savior,” said Multi. “Even as a demon, I don’t see how you’d stand a chance against him. Not after what he’s become.”
Malcolm contemplated showing off a little before deciding that it would be counterproductive. Multi wasn’t a threat to them anymore, but he could be, if he passed on knowledge of Malcolm’s new strength on to Second Wind.
“I’ll take my chances,” said Malcolm.
Multi laughed. “This is like poetry,” he said. “What’s the point of you even fighting him? You’re the same, both of you. Why does it matter who lives and who dies? You’ll go on to make the same choices, and have the same effect on the world.”
“We aren’t the same,” said Malcolm, after a moment’s hesitation. “We were once. And I don’t know what happened to him to change him. But…”
He frowned, lacking the words to explain how he felt about his renegade copy. It was something he’d tried to avoid thinking about for a long time. How could Second Wind have committed all of those atrocities? He’d wiped cities off the map and murdered innocents as though the value of human life meant nothing to him.
He shared all of Malcolm’s memories sans the better part of a year they’d been apart. What could have changed Second Wind, changed Malcolm so much to turn him into a monster in the truest sense of the word?
Do I want to know the answer to that question? Maybe finding the truth would do the same thing to me…
“Ask him,” said Multi. “When he comes to kill you, please, ask him why. See what he says.”
There was something about Multi’s tone of voice that made the hair on Malcolm’s arms stand up straight. He avoided Multi’s gaze, wondering if it was safe for them to leave him and his unconscious copy there in the hospital. Multi would have more copies, elsewhere, Malcolm decided. It changed nothing if he killed these two, or let them live.
“You should prepare yourself, Multi,” said Malcolm. “The day of reckoning has finally come. It’s time to set things right.”
“You both have that ridiculous dramatic streak,” said Multi. “Oh, what I wouldn’t give to see you two fight to the death. He’ll win, of course. You’re throwing your life away.”
Malcolm glanced at the demon who’d once been his boss and mentor. He’d been Malcolm’s enemy for far longer than he’d ever been his friend. But now, what was he? A simple demon, his powers far outclassed by Malcolm and Second Wind.
A sudden thought came to Malcolm. He walked over to Multi slowly. Multi didn’t flinch back in time as Malcolm reached out and took hold of his hand. His eyes widened as he realiz
ed what was about to happen.
“What… are you doing?” asked Multi.
“Testing something.” Malcolm concentrated on his power mimicry. That wasn’t the right term for it anymore. It had grown since he’d become a demon, turned into something more like power leeching.
Multi let out a gasp as Malcolm absorbed his power. He wasn’t doing it because he wanted Multi’s power. He’d already learned his lesson from using it once. And, given that Multi’s secondary copies were unable to use the copying power themselves, there was little real need for him to take any action against that particular Multi. All Malcolm wanted was to see if his suspicions were correct about what would happen.
Multi’s face paled, and the bumps on his skull dissolved into his skin instantly. The red tone that his skin had held as a demon faded to the slight tan he’d had as a normal man, and even the faint freckles on his cheeks became visible again.
I can turn people back to normal…
“Oh my god…” Tapestry came up beside Malcolm and squeezed. “Malcolm… Do you know what this means?”
He nodded slowly.
“I do,” he said. “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This won’t mean anything until I’ve dealt with him.”
Second Wind. Malcolm considered the fact that his copy had that same power. A fight between them might come down to who could get a bare hand onto the other’s skin first. Or perhaps it could even be done through clothing, as Malcolm had absorbed Savior’s power through the spacesuit.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”
CHAPTER 30
It was the middle of the night outside. Malcolm would have been surprised if his experience on the spaceship hadn’t been so traumatizing to his circadian rhythm. He carried Tapestry in his arms as he flew, first intending to bring them both back to his hideout. She elbowed him in the ribs after only a couple of seconds and pointed out that her car was still in Halter City.
He dropped down beside it and set her back on her feet. Tapestry was looking at him strangely, as though seeing him in the dark, back on Earth, was a different experience than seeing him in the sterile, surreal environment of the spaceship.
Seeing that I’m a demon. It’s real for her, now.
“Second Wind is going to come for me,” said Malcolm. “I’m going to need all the help I can get. Do you have a way of getting in touch with the other champions?”
Tapestry nodded.
“It might take me some time,” she said.
“That’s fine,” said Malcolm. “Better late than never.”
And better to have Tapestry as far away from what was about to happen as he could possibly send her. He kept a neutral expression on his face, hating himself for the deceit, but knowing that it was necessary. He had to face Second Wind alone.
“I’ll see what I can do,” said Tapestry.
“Good. Meet me at our old base when you find them.”
“I will.” Tapestry stared at him, her emotions showing through her serious and resolved expression. “Malcolm… I don’t know how they’ll react to what’s happened to you.”
“Well, then we’ll be in the same boat,” he said, forcing his shoulders into a shrug. “I’m still trying to react to it, myself.”
Tapestry nodded, still hesitating instead of getting into her car.
“After this, I’m going to have to go back to my old life,” she said.
Malcolm nodded, hearing the unspoken implication.
She can’t bring a demon into her world. Even if it’s me.
“Tapestry,” he said. “I understand.”
He wondered if he truly did understand, or if he was just saying the words to assuage her guilt. Malcolm had loved Rose, knowing that she was a spryte. He’d risked everything for her, and never judged her for something that hadn’t been her choice. But was it fair for him to expect the same from Tapestry?
“You should go,” said Malcolm. “Drive safe.”
He took off into flight before she could say anything more, opting to use his wind manipulation for lift, rather than Savior’s more complicated powers.
Despite his turbulent emotions, he was still able to find a deep pleasure in the feeling of the wind against his face. He wished all of life and all of the world could be that simple. But it wasn’t, and as much as he wanted to take his time in the air, he knew he needed to rush back to his hideout.
Malcolm landed outside the warehouse and immediately knew something was wrong. There was someone waiting for him. He’d gone as fast as he physically could, and yet still, Second Wind must have beaten him there. He gritted his teeth and felt for Savior’s powers as he faced off against the shadowed figure in the corner of the warehouse.
“…Malcolm.”
Rose stepped forward, close enough for him to make out the details of her silhouette, and know without a doubt that it was her. It was her… and she’d said his name.
“Rose…”
For a moment, he stood where he was, unsure of whether to rush forward to her, or let her come to him. It was like encountering a baby deer that seemed unafraid of humans. He smiled at the notion of comparing Rose to, of all things, a baby deer.
“You remember me?” Malcolm asked.
“I do,” said Rose. “I remember just about everything. Including… Brenden. And… what happened between the two of you.”
Malcolm felt himself tense up as he thought back to Rose’s former fiancé, who’d come to Vanderbrook intent on killing both her and himself. It was his way of getting retribution for the accidental death of their child at Rose’s hands.
She didn’t mention her daughter, Hope. Maybe she doesn’t remember that. Or maybe it’s just too painful.
“Are you okay?” asked Rose. “I didn’t mean to catch you off guard.”
Malcolm chuckled, knowing that there was so much he needed to explain to her, in so little time.
“There’s something you should know,” he said, slowly. He took a couple steps to the side, until his foot bumped into one of the little flashlights he kept in the warehouse in case of emergency. “I’ll explain how it happened when I have the time, I promise.”
He picked up the flashlight and used it to illuminate his face. He closed his eyes, waiting for a gasp, a shocked cry, or a desperate denial. It never came. Instead, Rose walked over to him, her arms folded across her chest pensively.
“Hmm…” she said. “Well, at least you’re blue instead of some weird color. Green would have made you look like a lizard.”
“Rose…” He turned the flashlight off and glared at her, though the expression was useless in the dark.
“Malcolm.” She brought her hand up to his cheek. “We have so much to talk about. Why don’t you invite me down into your cozy little hideout?”
So much to talk about, and so little time…
His heart twisted, and he hated himself and his situation for the necessity of the words he was about to say.
“I don’t have time,” he said. “Second Wind is on his way here. Rose, I need you to go contact Shield Maiden and Fantasy. I need you to see if they’ll help me fight against him.”
Rose didn’t say anything. Even in the dark, Malcolm could read the expression on her face. She was better at spotting his lies than Tapestry was, and perhaps that’s why things had gone so differently between them.
“I’ll go,” said Rose, quietly. “But not without a kiss.”
Her voice wavered as she spoke the words. Malcolm felt a part of his heart dying inside his chest. He stepped toward her, and in an instant, she was against him. He pressed his lips against hers, and for a moment, all was forgotten.
It had been so long. Malcolm had almost forgotten what kissing her was like. Rose was full of so much passion and emotion, and her body melded against his as though it had been made to match it. They kissed over and over again, each one deepening. Rose’s tongue pressed into his mouth and he responded with his own.
Malcolm took a slow breath a
s their lips finally parted. Rose leaned her face into the crook of his neck. He could feel hot tears against his neck, and suddenly the ache in his heart felt almost unbearable.
“If we were different people,” whispered Rose, “in different circumstances. A different world. We’d still… love each other. Wouldn’t we?”
“Rose…”
Stop it. Please stop, Rose.
“Malcolm,” she said. “Is this the last time I’m ever going to see you?”
He clutched her to him, wishing he could keep her there and never let go. Why hadn’t she just accepted his lie? Why hadn’t she believed him, like Tapestry had? Did she mean to tear down his resolve, or was it just a side effect of the intensity of what she felt for him?
“We’ll make it through this,” he lied. “And we’ll see each other again. I promise.”
He heard her let out a stifled sob, and then the wall of her composure broke. She pressed her face into his shoulder and wept.
“I don’t know how much time we have.” Malcolm forced his hands to push her back and away from him. “Go let Shield Maiden and Fantasy know that I need their help.”
Rose nodded slowly. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands.
“I’ll go,” she said. “I understand.”
There was so much more that Malcolm had to say to her. But he knew that if he uttered even a single word more than he already had, his determination would break and buckle, like a sand castle washed away by a wave. He looked away from her, listening as her footsteps disappeared out of the warehouse, and only turned back when he was absolutely sure that she was gone.
CHAPTER 31
The first thing Malcolm did was to find a pair of gloves amongst the clutter of his lair. He was still wearing one of the astronaut jumpsuits he’d found aboard the spaceship, and with his hands covered, there was very little skin left exposed.
Former Champion (Vanderbrook Champions Book 5) Page 13
