“Nyxia White,” Mura said, as the sound of my name filled the entire reception area.
“State your business.”
“You have a breach,” I said. “Someone jumped me and Acheron in the labyrinth.”
“Yet, here you stand,” Mura answered, still looking at me like an annoying ant. “Did you see who it was?”
“No, an orb to the face prevented me from a positive ID.”
“Are you saying a sorcerer infiltrated the eternal labyrinth?”
“And took my partner…or worse,” I said, tamping down my anxiety over Acheron. “I need to go find him.”
“That is not your business; that is a series of situations that have recently occurred,” Mura said. “Why are you here?”
“Did you just not hear what I said? Acheron is gone.”
“Yes, I heard,” Mura answered, pressing some buttons on her desk as she disappeared from view, shrinking down to normal human size. She stepped around the desk and faced me. “That doesn’t tell me why you are here, Otherkin.”
“I need to see Victoria,” I said, “right after we find Acheron.”
“The search for a demon will not take precedence over a meeting with Victoria,” Mura said, staring at me. “Does she know you’re coming?”
“She’s expecting me,” I said. “She’s always expecting me.”
Mura answered with a silent nod.
“I have sent agents out to the labyrinth to locate the demon or his remains,” she said. “Follow me, please.”
“He’s not dead.”
“Irrelevant,” Mura answered. “He’s a demon in the labyrinth. He knew the risks. If he’s alive, he will be escorted to Victoria’s office. If not, his remains will.”
We walked down the enormous corridors. I always felt small in Seven HQ. I figured the corridors were extra-large to accommodate Mura when she was in her industrial-sized mode. No point in having a giant security person who can’t navigate the area she was securing.
I knew Mura wouldn’t react to Acheron going missing. To The Seven, demons were the enemy or sources of information and power to exploit. The fact that one of them was lost, trapped, or worse, in the labyrinth, meant nothing to them. Acheron was expendable. He didn’t matter in the larger scheme of things.
He mattered to me.
Acheron was my friend and partner. I would ask Vic for help. If she refused, I would find Acheron on my own. It was familiar territory for me. The only person who ever stood by my side was now trapped in an eternal labyrinth, defenseless.
Mura walked off to a side corridor; her footfalls were surprisingly silent for someone made of stone. I didn’t expect her to go clomping around, but I didn’t expect her to be ninja-silent either. I filed that away for future reference.
She opened a door at the other end of the last corridor.
“Wait here, please,” she said like I had a choice. “I will inform Victoria of your presence.”
“Sure thing,” I said, pointing to the floor. “I’ll just wait right here.”
Mura raised an eyebrow at me, nodded and went inside.
TWELVE
The door opened a few seconds later.
“She will see you now,” Mura said. “Do I need to remind you that comportment befitting an agent of The Seven is expected of you?”
“You just did,” I said, walking past her. “I’ll behave…mostly.”
“See that you do,” Mura answered and started increasing in size as she walked away. “I would hate to have to collect you.”
“Me too,” I said under my breath as she rounded a corner. “Not now or ever.”
I closed the door, turning to face the short corridor that led to another door.
This corridor looked empty, but I knew it was the most secure corridor in all of The Seven HQ. The defenses in this sigil-covered corridor were beyond anything I had ever seen. The one time I had tried to ‘see’ what they were, I nearly fried myself on the spot.
I learned that day. Some secrets are better left undiscovered.
This corridor was the same height as the others I had just walked with Mura, but the stone was slightly darker, with a reddish hue. There were no overt design elements; it was a short, barren corridor with a door at the end.
The dim lighting originated in the stone itself, light enough to see where you were going, dark enough to hide the lethal sigils covering every surface.
I reached the door and knocked.
The door opened, inviting me in further. I kept my emotions in check. Victoria was a significant threat. I needed to approach her calmly. I stepped into the room, beyond the door.
Victoria’s office was an understated space but still impressive. Two walls held floor-to-ceiling bookcases, requiring one of those rolling ladders to reach the top shelves.
An undercurrent of power, originating from Victoria, filled the room. I could see the softly pulsing sigils on the walls and floor, indicating this room was as—if not more—secure than the corridor outside. Behind a large wooden desk sat Victoria, going over several piles of papers.
Three computer monitors, one on each corner, and one in the center dominated her desk space. On the wall directly behind her, I could see a large, amber holographic image of the world map in a Mercator projection, with red blips flashing on every continent.
A few feet to the side of her desk, in front of the bookcases, sat a large, leather chaise. Opposite that, on the other side of the room, were three large chairs arranged in semi-circular fashion, which I assumed were for visitors to her office. The space directly in front of her desk was empty of all furniture or obstruction. I figured she wanted a clear line of sight in case she needed to blast someone.
On the other side of the space, near the entrance, sat a medium-sized, circular conference table covered with folders. Seven chairs were situated around it, with a monitor sitting in front of each chair. No one was currently occupying any of the chairs at the table.
I wondered if there were really seven Directors, or if it was a myth to give the impression of a group of sorcerers running the organization. My money was on Vic being the head sorceress and the only sorceress in charge of The Seven.
Victoria wore a slate gray suit with a white blouse. She looked more like a CEO than a powerful sorceress heading a secret society. Her hair, peppered with gray, was cut short, in an almost severe hairstyle with the sides shaved close and the top fairly long.
“Liv called me,” Victoria said, placing a sheet of paper down without looking at me. “Show me the sigil you found.”
“Acheron—”
“Can wait,” she said, cutting me off. She looked up and gave me a stare. “Liv tells me this sigil almost killed you.”
“She was exaggerating,” I said. “It’s just a—”
“Liv has never, to my knowledge, exaggerated anything,” Victoria answered. “If I’m going to start my day speaking to a demon, even one that is currently allied to us, I want to know why. Show me the sigil.”
She pushed a piece of paper forward across her desk.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “The last time I did this, things went sideways…dramatically.”
“I’m certain,” Victoria answered. “Draw it.”
I drew the sigil, held my breath and passed the paper back.
“That’s it,” I said, exhaling when the office didn’t go up in flames. “It nearly barbecued me with soulflames.”
She picked up the sheet of paper, examined the sigil and typed something on her keyboard. She looked at the center monitor for a few seconds, nodded, and then focused on me again.
“Soulflames?” Victoria asked. “Where did you learn this sigil?”
“It was buried in a summoning circle of some third-rate sorcerer who nearly killed himself when he summoned a Minoras.”
“What happened to the Minoras?”
“I ended it.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Alone?”
“Acheron helped,” I said
, “but I did the heavy lifting.”
“This is an ancient, forbidden sigil,” Victoria said, pointing to the paper on her desk. “One designed to eradicate your kind. Who was the sorcerer?”
“Don’t know,” I said, losing my patience. “He was picked up by the OSA. Can you have Rodrigo disable the labyrinth so I can go find—?”
“Your demon partner is no longer on the premises,” Victoria said, leaning back in her chair. “He was removed shortly after you two were separated.”
“What?” I asked as my anxiety and anger mixed into a volatile cocktail. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I just did.”
I did my best to keep my anger in check, but my claws were slowly extending.
“I could’ve used a hand in the labyrinth, you know. Someone blindsided us.”
“Really, you could have used a hand?” Victoria asked. “I seem to recall you not needing anyone’s help. You were very vocal when you expressed this sentiment to me the last time we spoke.”
“I was pissed.”
“When aren’t you?”
“I need to go,” I said. “He needs my help.”
“Sit down,” Victoria said, looking at my hands. “Are you in a rush to get yourself killed? Retract your claws. I don’t need holes in the chairs…again.”
I pulled my claws in and sat.
“I need to go find Acheron. I don’t know who has him or why they took him.”
“This has the Black Cleavers written all over it,” Victoria said. “Few know who and what you are.”
“It doesn’t make sense,” I said, confused. “They don’t have the firepower to banish Acheron. Especially if they removed him from the labyrinth.”
“The reason is simple. You’re just too close to see it.”
“Reason? This makes no sense,” I answered. “I mean if it’s the Cleavers, I can see it on principle; but this seems personal.”
“They want you and are using Acheron as bait.”
“Me?” I asked. “Why would they want me?”
“That is the real question,” Victoria said. “Why would they want you?”
Acheron’s words came back to me.
“What is a Darkin?”
“Excuse me?”
Victoria was visibly surprised—which was rare. Her expression usually varied between serious, displeased, and seriously displeased. I had never seen her surprised by anything.
“A Darkin. What is it?”
“Where did you hear that term?” she asked. “Who said this to you?”
“Acheron did, right before we split up in the labyrinth,” I answered, wondering why this was getting her worked up. “He said you needed to give me the Darkin.”
“Those were his exact words?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Tell Victoria it’s time to give you the Darkin. Care to elaborate?”
“Not particularly,” she said, resting both hands on top of the desk. “It seems your partner knows more than I anticipated.”
“What is the Darkin?”
“A Darkin cannot be ‘given’—it can only be coaxed out, with great risk for everyone involved.”
“That explains a large amount of nothing,” I said, tired of the deflections. “What exactly is a Darkin?”
“A weapon catalyst. One designed to be used only by Otherkin,” Victoria answered, after a pause. “It causes an altered state in your kind.”
“Altered state? What kind of altered state?”
“The actual weapon can be traced back to the chakram in history,” Victoria said. “This particular weapon, when wielded by Otherkin, has the potential to make them Darkin. It makes them incredibly lethal and highly…dangerous.”
I didn’t like how she said that last word.
“I’m already dangerous.”
“Not like this,” Victoria answered. “How did Acheron know we possessed it?”
“I’d like to ask him that, too,” I said. “As soon as I locate him. Why didn’t you tell me you had a weapon designed specifically for me?”
“Because it’s deadly.”
“It’s a weapon; they’re supposed to be deadly.”
“Deadly for you,” Victoria answered slowly. “Every Otherkin who tried to wield it, perished…horribly.”
“They weren’t me,” I said. “What kind of weapon is it?”
“The kind you don’t get to use,” Victoria said. “You can barely control your claws. You think you can control an ensorcelled weapon?”
“I won’t know until I try.”
“Or die in the process. You need to let this go.”
“I will, as soon as you let me try my weapon,” I said, my voice harder than my claws. “Where is it?”
“The Vault.”
“You placed a weapon meant for me in the Vault?”
“Yes, I prefer to see you breathing,” she said. “This weapon is dangerous. Rodrigo placed it in the vault, for safekeeping.”
“And you let him?” I said, letting my anger get away from me. “Without telling me?”
“I didn’t let him. I instructed him,” she said with a small sigh. “I don’t require your approval to conduct Seven affairs, contrary to your over-inflated opinion.”
I stood and glared at her.
“Tell Rodrigo I’m on my way. I expect him to release the weapon,” I said. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“Yes,” Victoria answered. “There is a very real chance of it killing you when you try to use it.”
“I’ll take my chances,” I said. “It’s not like you or The Seven are tripping over yourselves to help me find Acheron. If the Cleavers have him—”
“He’s just a demon, Nyx,” Victoria answered. “It’s time you dissolve that partnership. Grow up. Associating with a demon will only shorten your life expectancy.”
“Someone wants me dead, and your advice is to cut off the only person that has my back?” I asked. “That’s just twisted.”
“It’s pragmatic,” Victoria said, giving me a hard look. “If someone is after you, giving you that weapon and having a demon partner will only make matters worse.”
“Let them come,” I said, heading for the door. “Tell Rodrigo to open the vault, or I’ll open it myself.”
“You’re strong, but not that strong,” Victoria said. “Wait.” She picked up the phone. “If you insist on this course of action, I’ll call Gryn.”
“I can do this without Gryn.”
“No, you can’t, and you won’t,” Victoria answered her voice as soft as iron. “You want the Darkin? It comes with Gryn. No Gryn, no weapon. You wanted a choice? Choose.”
“Tell Gryn to meet me at the vault,” I said as I opened the door. “Anything else you’re keeping from me?”
“Plenty,” Victoria answered with a smile. “When I deem you to be ready for the information, I will share it with you.”
“This is why I love The Seven so, it’s the transparency.”
“It’s to keep you safe.”
“No”—I turned to face her—“don’t insult my intelligence by lying to me,” I said. “It’s to give you plausible deniability in case I go psychotic and you need to shut me down.”
Victoria gave me a hard look, then a tight smile.
“You are a clear and present danger, Nyx,” Victoria said, steepling her fingers. “When you turned, everyone wanted you exterminated on the spot. Everyone, except me.”
“Are you saying I should be grateful?” I asked with venom. “The Seven let this happen to me.”
“I’m saying you should tread carefully,” Victoria answered. “The Seven is not a charitable organization. You either have a use, or you don’t. You’re either an asset or a liability.”
“What are you trying to say?” I asked, knowing what she was trying to say. “Are you saying I’m a liability?”
“Partnering with a demon can be viewed as such. They are our enemies.”
“Might have something to do with the banishing and kil
ling of their kind.”
“They do worse to us,” Victoria answered. “Don’t be fooled. Acheron is not your friend. He is bound to you. There is a difference.”
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
“Precisely. Every contingency is planned for, Nyx,” she said. “This is The Seven. We don’t like or entertain surprises. You do good work, in spite of a demon partner, which we, which I, tolerate—within reason. I’d suggest you don’t become a liability.”
“Liabilities are removed,” I said. “Right?”
“Like the cancer that they are,” Victoria said with a slight nod. “You want the weapon? Go meet with Gryn. Otherwise, we have nothing more to discuss.”
“I’m guessing that’s a ‘no’ on the assist to locate Acheron?”
“I just provided you with a weapon and a trainer,” Victoria said, picking up another sheet of paper. “I’d say that’s plenty of help—if you want it.”
I glared at her and left the office, trying my best to shatter the door as I slammed it closed. I took a few steps and got my breathing under control. Somehow, I managed to avoid putting my fist through the corridor wall in rage.
I was going to find Acheron; then we needed an exit strategy from The Seven.
Before I tried to kill everyone.
THIRTEEN
I drove Eight uptown until I reached the Vault.
Located on 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, the Vault was situated inside the building that housed the Museum of Illusions. With locations in most major cities, the MOI buildings made it easy to hide artifacts in plain sight. More of the subtlety The Seven excelled at.
To the general public, the building was an old bank converted into a museum. For The Seven, the museum was the perfect cover to house artifacts of power. This was going to be a difficult meeting. Rodrigo and I didn’t really see eye to eye on things.
He thought I was a menace to The Seven, and I thought he was an arrogant ass. It was only going to become more complicated by having Gryn there. Gryn Dell was a cranky, ancient sorcerer and weapons master. He worked with The Seven in what he liked to call a ‘freelance’ capacity.
He was free to do as he pleased, and they were welcome to shove a lance up their nether regions if they didn’t agree. Rodrigo didn’t like Gryn either, but he couldn’t challenge him. Rumor was that Gryn was as powerful as Victoria and as proficient in attack magic. I had only seen Gryn in action once.
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