“We were lucky,” said Rory.
“When I bury all who have fallen, I’ll remember how lucky we were,” she said as she walked away.
TWENTY-FOUR
MEJA PULLED THE arrow out of her side. She could feel the poison burning through her. She needed to act fast. In moments her vision and reflexes would be compromised. The Black Lotus used a specific toxin with nasty side effects. One of them was chi suppression. If she didn’t stop the effects of the poison soon, it would be too late. She wouldn’t be able to access her chi to cause a stasis, stopping the poison. Tracing symbols with her hand, she began. The first time, she missed the sequence.
“Shit,” she said and began the sequence again. The edges of her vision were going dark, tunneling in.
The second time she forgot a symbol causing the trail of colors to fade midsequence. Goddammit Meja, focus. You can do this. You must do this, she thought. She did the sequence again, forcing herself to go slowly. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast, she thought to herself as her throat started to constrict, making it hard to breathe. She was glad she had paid attention in her symbology class. It was why she was a senior monitor. She never understood why it would be important to put her body in stasis, until now. The third time worked and she felt herself being able to breathe as the effects of the poison were lessened.
Holding her side, she went over to where the others lay and repeated the sequence for each. This will buy us some time, but not much, she thought as she cleaned and bandaged her wound.
“Monitor, how bad is it?” said Samir.
She treated his wounds, pulling out the arrows and doing her best to clean out the poison. The Lotus always used poisoned weapons. No one knew the antidote, and she wasn’t sure there was one. It was what made them so fearsome.
“It’s bad. I stopped the poison for now, but it’s not an antidote. I don’t know if there is one,” she said. “I can’t open a portal, much less manifest my weapon. The poison is too far along for that.”
She felt for the short sword she carried on her thigh. Monitors were trained not to rely solely on chi weapons. Its presence calmed her somewhat. At least I’m not totally defenseless, she thought as she adjusted the thigh straps holding it in place.
“How are the others?” asked Samir.
Samir appeared to be doing better than the others even though he was covered in sweat and his speech was slurred. He moved to a seated position on the floor.
“Luna is in the worse shape. It could be because she’s Rah Ven and her body is reacting differently to the poison, I don’t know. Zen seems to be doing better. Maybe Monique uses less poison on her daggers.”
“How long do we have?” he said.
“Does it matter? I don’t know the antidote!” she said. How could I have been so stupid? Of course they would be waiting for him to use his inner sight. It’s what I would have done. I underestimated them. That won’t happen again.
“I understand our situation is dire, monitor.”
“I’m sorry. I just can’t believe I didn’t anticipate that ambush. Now Dante is gone. They have him god knows where and the ascendants and Rael...” said Meja.
“Let us deal with the immediate, monitor,” said Samir.
“You’re right, we need to stop this poison or none of that will matter. We have about two days with our bodies in stasis then things start to break down,” she said.
“The effects will get worse?” said Samir.
Meja nodded. “Yes, stasis only slows the poison. It doesn’t stop it. In two days stasis won’t be effective and the poison will run its course.”
“Perhaps the Karashihan can assist?” said Samir.
“Well, if you can bring him here with a cure before the authorities show up to investigate the damage, that would be great. Help me move the others to the next room.”
They stood up slowly and pulled the bodies of Luna and Zen to an adjacent area away from the meeting room.
“I will try and find the Karashihan. If he is on this plane I can find him,” said Samir sitting in a meditation pose. He slowed his breathing and closed his eyes.
“You are full of surprises for a syllabist,” said Meja. How can he even access his chi? The poison seems to be affecting each of us in different ways.
“The cover does not always tell the story of the book, monitor. I was not always a syllabist, even though it is my primary calling. Please give me a moment.”
Meja remained silent while he continued his breathing exercises. You and I may have unfinished business, but I really hope you know how to reverse this, she thought as Samir searched for Sylk.
*****
Sylk had remained awake all night. It was the only way to maintain this type of circle. He thought he had heard the Watchers several times in the night. The image of the Mikai being undone was enough for him to stay awake for several nights.
“Master,” said Mara as she opened her eyes slowly. He had her head cradled in his lap.
“You did well. You saved us from the Watchers,” he whispered. Most of his focus remained on maintaining the circle.
“Thank you, Master,” she said.
“We need to go,” he said.
“Didn’t you say they could follow us across planes?” said Kal who had woken up.
“Yes, but Mara will leave a chi projection behind. It should serve as a distraction long enough for us leave unseen,” he said as he looked at Mara. “How do you feel? Are you up to the task?”
“One projection?”
“Yes, but with enough chi to last after we are gone.”
She nodded. “I think I can do that.”
“In case we are followed I would rather be someplace I know than having them chase us in unfamiliar territory. We are going to the hub.”
“We aren’t going to the Rah Ven? What about the Mikai?” said Kal.
“Mikai? How are they involved?” said Mara.
“I don’t know yet. Let’s get to the hub first, then we can travel there and ask,” he said.
Sylk began to execute a different set of symbols. It was a difficult process requiring various levels of focus.
“Can he do this? Keep the circle and open a portal?” Kal asked Mara.
“It is difficult. He once told me it is like trying to play the piano, read a book and count backwards all at the same time.”
“That doesn’t sound difficult, it sounds impossible.”
“He has had a long time to practice,” said Mara as she sat down opposite him and began to focus her chi. A projection appeared beside her, seated in the same position.
“Mara,” said Sylk. His voice was strained.
“Yes, Master.”
“I will undo the circle. The Watchers, once activated, remain vigilant for several days. They will appear once the circle is gone. You send your projection into the forest as soon as the circle is gone. I will open the portal in the next moment and we will leave this plane. Do you understand the sequence of events?”
“Yes, Master.”
Sylk undid the circle. In the distance they could hear a roar of destruction.
“Send the projection now. Make sure it will remain after we leave,” he said.
The projection of Mara ran into the forest, heading toward the sound. The next moment a portal opened.
“Inside now,” Sylk said as he saw the image of a Watcher begin to materialize.
They entered the portal as the Watchers followed the projection of Mara.
TWENTY-FIVE
“I HAVE FOUND him. It appears he has just entered this plane,” said Samir.
“Can you get a message to him somehow?” said Meja.
“I can try, but this poison. It is interfering with my ability to focus.”
“I know, but try, Samir.”
“I will do my best, monitor.”
She could only hope it was enough.
“He is close now. Beneath us? How can that be?” said Samir.
“The subway. He must be in t
he subway. There is an old entrance to the subway not far from here. We can access it from here.”
“I have attempted to place an image of our surroundings in his mind. I do not know if I was successful. I need to rest,” said Samir, his voice tired.
“It’s the poison. I’m going to try the subway entrance and see if I can see him. Wait here,” said Meja.
Samir nodded as he rested against a wall. Meja rested a hand on her sword as she made her way into the library proper. She headed down the south passage and found the old subway entrance that led directly into the building. Without access to her chi she couldn’t operate the mechanism that would open the door. She looked around, making sure she was alone and removed her sword and wedged it in the space between the door and the frame. She managed to open it. Good thing this is an old door. The passageway led to the old unused portion of Grand Central-Public Library station that had been closed decades earlier. She saw several figures on the platform. That can’t be right. This platform hasn’t been used in years, not even by us, she thought. The next moment the figures were gone. The poison. It’s getting worse.
“Meja!” She heard a voice but couldn’t see anyone. The platform had gone pitch black.
She held her hands out before her, feeling around. She didn’t want to fall off the platform. Without her chi she couldn’t sense her surroundings.
“Kal?” she said.
“And Sylk and Mara. We found you!” said Kal as she hugged Meja.
“What’s wrong, monitor?” said Sylk.
Meja turned to face the voice. “Dante’s been taken by the Lotus.”
“What’s the matter with your eyes?” said Kal.
“We’ve been poisoned, and it seems I’m blind,” said Meja.
TWENTY-SIX
I DON’T KNOW how much time passed before the door opened again. I was in total darkness. My only companion was the constant thrum of pain that accompanied every movement. I tried to access my chi in degrees and found that below a certain threshold I could access some of it. It was enough for me to ‘see’ in the dark. It didn’t mean much since the room was empty.
I tried to reach out with my sight to see if I could get an idea of where I was being held. At first I didn’t feel any pain and then it was upon me. It felt like a hot poker shoved into the base of my neck and pulled out through the top of my skull. I doubled over in agony, dry heaving as nausea took over my body.
Nothing came up since I hadn’t been fed anything except manar. I wasn’t hungry, but I could tell I wasn’t being nourished. Manar gave you a false sense of fullness. I was slowly starving to death.
The door opened. The rectangle of light filled the room.
Unless her leg had healed since our last talk, I knew it wasn’t Monique. Judging from the build this was a male. The figure had a small cup in his hand— more manar. He placed the cup on the floor beside me. I stood up to get a better view of who was serving me. The pain threatened to knock me down again.
“Hello, warrior. Here is your meal,” said the figure. That voice. I know that voice.
I used what little chi I could to try and get an impression of him. He punched me in the stomach, sending me to the floor.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said.
The haze of pain fell on me as I looked up from the floor.
“You will rot in here,” he said. He drew close to me and pretended to be sitting me up so I could drink the manar. They made sure I drank every cup. If I spit it up they would bring more and convince me to drink it usually with repeated blows. I learned to drink the first cup.
I tried to focus on his face but he kept his hood down.
“You must try to get past the defenses of the bands. Only you can remove them,” he whispered. “That is your only hope of getting out of here.”
He straightened me up and handed me the cup. I sipped the liquid while trying to get a look at his face, but he kept his back to me.
“Who…who are—” I started.
He backhanded me across the face. “You will not address me unless ordered to do so,” he said. I could feel the blood running down my nose, but I was in too much pain to care. He handed me a napkin for the blood.
I spilled some of the manar, so he took the cup and left the room, coming back a few moments later with another cup.
“Drink it,” he said.
I drank it with trembling hands. As he drew close to get the cup he brought his face to my ear.
“I told you I would see you soon. Now find a way to get out of the bands, I left you a tool. I won’t be able to get back here again without drawing suspicion. It’s up to you now,” he whispered.
I slumped over on my side, trying to keep the manar down. He pulled back his hood slightly and I saw his face, but I didn’t trust my eyes. He left the room and I still had the napkin. They never left anything with me. Inside the napkin there was something solid. I stayed slumped over and held the napkin to my chest. I don’t know how they could see me in total darkness but I had a feeling they could. I felt around the napkin and a small stone fell into my palm. As I felt around it I could tell it was a prism.
I couldn’t believe it. I saw him take several blows of Roman’s hammer. I saw him die, but in my hands I held a prism. A tool that would allow me to focus my chi.
I had just been served by Devin.
TWENTY-SEVEN
“TAKE US TO the others, monitor,” said Sylk.
“Do you know of an antidote for Lotus poison?” said Meja as she led them back to the entrance. “I came through here. We are two passages down and one to the left. The room is sealed from the inside. Samir can open it, I hope.”
“I didn’t know an antidote existed,” said Sylk.
Meja accepted this news in silence. She knew it had been a slim chance. No one had ever recorded an antidote to the poison. They arrived at the door and Samir opened it after a few tries. He had grown weaker since Meja had left.
“Welcome, Karashihan,” said Samir. “I fear we are in most unfortunate circumstances.”
“How did you find me? I saw this room in my mind although I have never been here before,” said Sylk.
“It was him,” Meja said as she pointed in Samir’s direction. “He used one of his abilities.”
“It was my limited ability. The poison is doing much damage.”
“You managed to put them in stasis? How long?” said Sylk.
“I thought we had two days, but I went blind on the platform so it would seem to be much less than that.”
“It could be just the way the toxin is affecting you. Samir can still see,” said Sylk.
“So there is no antidote to this Lotus poison?” said Samir.
“None that I know of. It’s what makes the Black Lotus so feared by their enemies. The effects vary but it always starts with chi suppression, then loss of motor skills, blindness and usually asphyxiation.”
“Master, the guardian is not doing well,” said Mara. She had gone to each member, assessing how far the poison had advanced. Sylk went over to where Zen lay. He was cold to the touch.
“The guardian doesn’t have much longer. It looks like he may be in the final stage,” said Sylk.
Luna stirred behind them and mumbled something. Kal went over to her.
“What is it?” Kal said as she propped her up.
“We have an antidote. The Rah Ven have encountered this toxin before and we have defeated it,” said Luna.
“Where is the antidote? Can we make it here?” said Meja, her hopes rising.
“In order to make it we must go to my plane,” said Luna. “There is a blood healer there that can do this. We will need what we call a blood change. Blood from a healthy Rah Ven will need to enter your system.”
“A transfusion? This will work? Will it reverse the effects?” said Meja.
“I don’t know,” said Luna.
“We do not have much of an alternative,” said Sylk. “We do not have the luxury of time. Luna, I need
to put us as close to this healer as possible. I need you to fix this place in your mind and give Samir your hand. Can you do what you did before, Samir?” asked Sylk.
“I will try,” said Samir as he took Luna’s hand and closed his eyes.
“Do you have it?” asked Sylk.
“It is a faint impression, but I think it can be enough to take us there, “said Samir as he projected the image to Sylk.
“That should be enough,” Sylk said as he opened a portal to the Rah Ven plane around them.
TWENTY-EIGHT
RAEL STOOD OUTSIDE the dojo. He found that most ascendants practiced a form of martial arts. It was usually the older styles, the more traditional and obscure arts that were out of favor with the modern students, that attracted the ascendant. It also helped that he could sense an ascendant once he got close enough. He sniffed the air as the Gyrevex stood around him. It was late and the last class would be ending soon. It was almost always the sensei or head instructor. He noticed there was no sign outside of the school.
“Perfect. Let’s go take a class,” he said to a Gyrevex. “You two stay here and make sure we are not interrupted.”
He headed up the stairs to the dojo where he could hear the sounds of solitary practice.
“I’m pretty certain that when you woke up this morning you did not imagine that this is how your day, and life, would end,” said Rael as he stepped on to the dojo floor.
The sensei, his uniform covered in sweat, turned to face Rael and assumed a fighting stance. He was a short, muscular man with strong features. His dark eyes glistened at this challenge. There was some grey around the temples framing his black hair. His knuckles were gnarled from years of conditioning. He extended a hand to the side and a long staff, a bo flew off the rack against the wall and into his hand with a resounding thump. The sensei tapped the bo once on the floor and raised it in a defensive stance.
“I like that, no denial, no excuses, just right down to business,” said Rael.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 30
