“Okay, I’ve heard you out. What now?”
“That’s all I wanted.” The fire began to disappear into the distance, the sphere of nothingness expanding.
“Wake, damn you!” The tone of voice was changing, softening, sounding more like a woman’s voice, like Persia’s voice. “Wake, you selfish bastard!”
Chapter 8
Wednesday 14:10
Persia hurried along the sidewalk, her short legs driving her forward in a quick trot. She hated being small—and that was a good thing, not the being small part, but the hate part. Hate was a strong emotion; it energized her. A lifetime of having to keep up with those with longer legs meant she could trot at a fast pace all day long without breaking a sweat. Being small was better than being weak.
When she arrived at the safe house, she did a quick look around, and—upon seeing nothing unexpected or out of place—climbed the steps to the door. She knocked, a series of quick sharp raps, then she waited impatiently. Before long, footsteps approached, then a muffled voice spoke. “Identify yourself.”
“It’s Persia Hastings.”
“And you want what?”
“Just get me to whoever’s in charge.”
“I’m not sure that will be possible.”
“Find out what is possible. I’ll wait.”
The footsteps retreated.
She tapped the toes of her left foot against the ground while a coiled tension in the pit of her stomach burned at her insides. After all this time, Rune Russell had just walked back into Noah’s sickroom. She had often imagined a different scenario of how Rune returning would play out. Usually, he had grovelled at the foot of Noah’s bed, telling her how much he had agonized over what he’d done, how he’d been tormented by guilt. And it turned out that, in actuality, the bastard hadn’t even known—hadn’t cared to find out—about the state he’d left Noah in.
In her imaginings, she’d always laughed at his attempts to apologize. Did he realize how close she’d been to shooting him dead?
The door clicked open. “Enter,” the muffled voice said. “Then close the door behind you and wait for instructions.”
She did as directed. When the door shut, darkness engulfed her. A cold shiver ran down her body. Not long ago, she’d been a powerful sentinel with nothing to fear; that had been taken from her. She curled her hands into fists. She hadn’t been a coward before her sentinel powers had come to her, and she wasn’t going to begin now.
A warm presence came up behind her. Hands touched her head, then fumbled against the side of her face as a blindfold was put in place. Fingers touched her left hip, and her hand snapped out and grabbed the wrist. “I’m not carrying any weapons,” she said.
“Give me your cell phone. It’ll be returned after.”
“Is the cloak and grope act needed? A giant dragon is perched on the highest tower of our city. His style is to burn buildings down, not place spies in his opponent's networks.”
“Cell phone,” the voice repeated.
She took her cell phone from her pocket and held it out. It was taken from her. The man then took her arm and turned her around. Persia heard the door open, and the man guided her forward. “Steps going down,” the voice said.
The blindfold was slightly askew, and by looking downward, Persia could just about make out the steps she’d ascended early. That was enough for her to confidently walk alongside the man as he guided her forward. When they came to a stop, Persia saw the base of a tire pressed close to a pavement, then she heard a car door opening. “Inside,” the man said, pressing down on her head and guiding her into the car.
The door was shut behind her, then she heard the front car door opening. The engine purred into life, and the car accelerated forward. Persia settled back in the seat to wait. She wished that Harriet Ashley was still in charge of those who continued to resist the dragon. Persia didn’t know why, but she had trusted Ashley. But, as far as Persia knew, Ashley wasn’t in Lusteer, and the guy currently in charge was an old smoke sorcerer called Flavini. She hadn’t been much involved with Ashley’s organization since Noah’s coma, but she had stayed up to date with what was going on, so she and Noah could rejoin the fight once Noah recovered.
The two of them had of course known the dangers they would face, known that they were outmatched, known that the fight against Walker and the Sentinel Order would likely mean their deaths. Many times they had promised each other that neither would give up.
Except Noah had broken that promise; he had stopped fighting, and he wasn’t yet dead.
Some nights, Persia had screamed at Noah as he lay in the bed, demanding that he wake. Once she had even hit him, slapped him hard across the face, though she had burst into tears immediately after.
The doctors said he was brain dead, that he would never return, but others had come out of worse comas. If anyone could do it, Noah could, beautiful strong wonderful Noah. If he’d still had his sentinel powers, his healing abilities would have had him up and running around in no time. The young fire sentinel hadn’t just taken away Noah’s consciousness, he had taken away his ability to cure himself.
If she’d killed Rune earlier, would this angry stew still be bubbling in her stomach, she wondered. Perhaps it would have been worse.
Hot emotion she knew and could deal with. Worse than the moments when she’d raged against Noah’s inertia had been the hours of despair, with nothing to do but to stare at his blank lifeless face.
The car came to a stop. Car doors opened, and she allowed herself to be guided briefly into fresh air, then inside a dwelling of some kind. The sliver of light through the bottom of the blindfold didn’t allow her to know where she was going, but meant she could walk without requiring blind trust. After passing through a few doorways, the man nudged her to a stop, then she sensed him leave. A door shut behind her.
A voice, a different voice, commanded her to remove the blindfold. She took it off to reveal an elegant study with wood paneling on all four walls. Sitting behind a heavy mahogany desk was an old man, obviously Flavini, wearing a white shirt with wide lapels and a pin-stripped black suit—the only thing missing from the ridiculously-archaic outfit was a cravat around his neck. His sparse gray hair was combed back behind his ears.
Flavini crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in his armchair. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
What had the world come to? Lusteer was being bent to the will of a dragon and this ponce was leading the resistance. “I wanted to meet the coward who now leads,” she said.
“Coward?”
She held up the blindfold. “A real leader leads from the front. He doesn’t hide behind natty clothes and antique wooden desks.”
“Someone who leads from the front? Like your husband Noah, you mean?”
Her jaw clenched. “Haven’t you enough enemies without attacking those who have come to help.”
“How was the reunion between yourself and Rune Russell?”
How did he know about that? “I shot him with a titanium arrow.”
Flavini’s eyebrows rose. “He’s not dead though, right?”
“No.”
Flavini nodded. “He nearly got himself killed earlier today over by Verge Plaza. He’s a survivor, that one. A huge idiot, of course, but his mistakes haven’t yet cost him his life. He’s become more important than ever now. After all, he’s the only remaining fire sentinel. And possibly more than that, much more.”
“More?”
“I suspect him to be Beacon.”
“A beacon? What are you talking about?”
Flavini gave a small smile. “We are getting ahead of ourselves. What’s the real reason you came here?”
“He returned to stop the dragon. I thought he could be useful,” Persia said.
“So why didn’t you just send him to me?”
“Because.” Persia bit a lip. Why hadn’t she just directed Rune to the safe house while she stayed with Noah? “Because I can help too.”
“Can you?” Flavini looked her up and down.
Persia took a half a step forward, then stopped herself. She swallowed a half-formed shout, and acidic bile rolled down her throat. “Sentinel and shades aren’t the only ones who can fight. I’ve been training with the same weapons that shadiers use, weapons designed to fight supernaturals. If I’d wanted to, I could have killed the fire sentinel earlier.”
“Will you be able to leave your husband on his own?”
“I can’t…” She made a choking sound as she struggled to get words out. She couldn’t do anything to help Noah, and she knew that. She just had to accept it. “I didn’t get dragged here and felt up by one of your stone-fingered oafs for nothing. I’m here to be part of the fight.”
“Against who though? You came to Lusteer to oppose the Sentinel Order, but the most obvious threat has become the giant fire serpent.”
“Both. My enemy’s enemy is not my friend.”
“The greater danger must be prioritized, doesn’t it?”
“We must look to the more immediate danger,” Persia said. “A massive fire-breathing city-conquering dragon should at least serve to concentrate focus.”
“And possibly lead us toward winning a battle while losing the war,” Flavini said. “The problem is that neither the Sentinel Order or the dragon is the greatest danger. That lies hidden, continuing to influence matters via others.”
“Sounds like you,” Persia said.
“I only wish I was that powerful. No, the real danger is, of course, the powerful elemental called Uro. The present leadership of the Sentinel Order are right about that, if nothing else. He—I find it easier to think of Uro as a he, though elementals have no gender—has been influencing events from Brimstone for several years now, and he is almost ready to move to Earth. From what I’ve heard, a key part of this move will be via Uro’s avatar on Earth, a person who has been called Beacon.”
“And you figure Rune to be this Beacon figure?” When she had pointed her crossbow in Rune’s face, he had closed his eyes and expressed a willingness to pay for his sins; she had a hard time reconciling the seeming sincerity of that gesture with someone destined to be a servant of evil. “How do you know all this?”
“Because of who I am. Long before Uro’s influence caused the division which saw fire sentinels expelled from the leadership, I was a key figure inside the Order, and due to recent events, I’ve come out of retirement. But I was never someone to fight in the open field. Others are better at that. My skills have always been more about information gathering, strategizing, moving pieces around the board. Even while retired, I dabbled. You know I gave Rune his necklace. I’m still not sure if I should have done that.”
“The barbed-wire necklace?” Persia had noted it, but it hadn’t registered beyond that. “What significance does that have?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t spoil the surprise.”
“Just tell me. That’s why you brought it up, I’m sure.”
“Inside that necklace is an elemental from Brimstone, quite a powerful one, one who I know for certain longs to reside inside an actual body.”
“Noah.” A pressure built up in Persia’s chest. “You mean that Rune is planning to have his pet elemental possess my husband.”
“I’m not sure Rune is skilled enough to do it by himself. Simply cutting the necklace open will unleash the energy of the elemental in an uncontrolled explosion. With precision and magical skill, though, the elemental could be transferred into someone else.”
Rune had said he hadn’t known about Noah’s state, but what if that had been a lie? What if he’d come to the sickroom for a specific reason? Perhaps she’d been horribly naive when she’d said that Rune had already done his worst. Persia turned and raced to the door. She grabbed the handle and twisted. It was locked. “Let me out!” She shook the handle violently, rattling the door. “Let me out now!”
“I can have you blindfolded and returned to where you started.” Flavini stood up from his desk and came around to stand in front of it. “Are you really giving up already, though?”
“It’s not about giving up. I’ve got make sure—”
“I was under the impression that you decided to invest your energies into fighting our enemies instead of nursing your husband.”
She took a breath; she could either be someone Noah would be proud of or someone who cared for the shell he had become. Not both. Persia released the door handle and turned to face Flavini. “What do you need me to do?”
“There is a plan. And Rune would be helpful. But, because I fear he is Beacon, involving him is risky. We require someone to keep an eye on him, perhaps someone who has already proven themselves capable of shooting him.”
Persia didn’t hesitate. “I’m your man.”
“Good. Do you know Rune’s friend, Jo Collier?” Flavini asked.
“I’ve met her.”
“She knows the details of our plan, and Rune will want to meet her in any case. She’ll be in the JC prison.”
“Hasn’t that been reduced to rubble?”
“Not completely. Don’t delay; I’ll need to check, but perhaps it’s possible to put everything in motion in time for the reception Duffy is holding tomorrow night.”
Flavini moved back to his desk. “I’ll call the stone-fingered oaf to have you taken back.”
Persia wasn’t sure what Flavini expected of her. “Wait.” Things were moving fast. “What exactly do you expect me to do about Rune?”
“If things go according to plan and Duffy is defeated, then I want you there to make sure that Rune doesn’t slip into Duffy’s place. A sudden power vacuum could be just what Uro needs to springboard straight to domination.”
“Stopping him by what means? Capturing him? Killing him?”
“Whatever is required. After what he did to Noah, surely you have no scruples about giving the fire sentinel what he deserves.”
“Could you be a little more subtle in your manipulations?”
Flavini smiled a greasy smile. “Sometimes a hammer is the correct tool for the job.”
Once again Persia wished Harriet Ashley was still in charge. Flavini was competent, more than competent, but could he be trusted not to have an ulterior agenda? “How sure are you that Rune is this Beacon person?”
“Sure enough to have grave doubts about involving him. Will you be able to handle the situation?”
She hated Rune for what he had done, but was he her enemy? If she didn’t kill him for what he did to Noah, could she kill him based on Flavini’s suspicions? She’d always prided herself on being a straightforward person—could she pretend to be on Rune’s side, then betray him?
“You can rely on me.” Persia didn’t allow her doubts to show on her face. “Beacon can’t be allowed to usurp Duffy’s power.” She’d just have to find out for herself whether Rune was in league with Uro. Once she was sure, she’d do what needed.
Chapter 9
Wednesday 16:05
“Wake, damn you!” I saw Persia in front of me. “Wake, you selfish bastard.”
“Beelzebub!” I jumped out of the armchair. “What’s going on?”
Persia moved across to check on Noah. “He’s still breathing. Not that you care. You couldn’t stay awake for a couple of hours, could you?”
I shifted unsteadily, feeling groggy. With memories of the dream still strong, I reoriented myself to a world without ambient flames. “I stayed with him. In the room, I mean.”
“Wow. Such self-sacrifice.” Persia’s words dripped with sarcasm. “Come with me.” Persia gripped Noah’s wrist, leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, then swept out of the room.
“Wait. Where are we going?”
But Persia was already gone. I hurried to follow, and didn’t catch up until we were both outside. She had a taxi waiting at the curb and immediately took the passenger seat. I sat into the back.
“Are you sure you know what you are doing?” the taxi driver asked Persia.
“Just
drive,” she told him.
The taxi driver did as she asked, pulling out into the street and merging with the traffic.
“What about Noah?” I asked, putting on my seat belt. After rebuking me for falling asleep, was she just going to leave him on his own?
“A nurse sometimes minds him. I gave her a call on the way over; she’ll be arriving shortly.” The way she stared fixedly ahead while she answered suggested that she wasn’t inclined to talk. Nevertheless, I tried again. “Where are we going?”
I received no reply.
“I had better conversation alone in the wilderness,” I said.
“Perhaps you should have stayed there.”
The journey continued in uncomfortable silence until the taxi driver decided to speak. “Well, if the young lady won’t speak of it, I will. She wants me to take the two of you to the prison. Perhaps you can talk her out of it.”
“Which prison?” I asked.
“The shade prison,” the taxi driver said, not looking across at where Persia was glaring at him.
“Hasn’t that been reduced to ash?” Duffy had marked his arrival in Lusteer by destroying the symbol of shade oppression.
“Pretty much. And monsters now dwell there,” the taxi driver said. “Everyone knows not to get too close.”
“It’s okay,” I told the driver. “No need to talk anyone out of anything. We know what we’re doing.”
“I’m not driving to the gates,” he said.
“Just bring us as close as your shivering backbone will allow,” Persia said. “We’ll walk from there.”
That killed the conversation for the remainder of the trip. In the end, the taxi driver drove all the way up the driveway to the main gates, though his gaze shifted nervously back and forth. He gave Persia a look that suggested he wanted an apology for impugning his bravery. All he received was payment for the journey.
Beyond the gates, we could see the blackened ruins, but that wasn’t what held my attention as the taxi drove off. I pointed at a section of grass close by, remembering. “It was here that we were ambushed and Pete was killed,” I said.
Fire Serpent Page 6
