by Peach, Hanna
Dianne changed the image on the MemoryViewer so that it now showed Marin’s memory of the Basilica Cathedral in Lima. Like Jordan and Alyx, Marin had pretended to be a tourist, strolling through the Plaza Mayor of downtown Lima as he approached the cathedral. From the front, the pale stone cathedral had three entrances with two towers on either side of the outer entrances. Around the sides were fourteen side chapels. The grand main entrance was set in with holy statues and ornate stonework. Alyx felt her jaw drop as Marin walked inside.
The nave of the cathedral stretched so far that Alyx could barely see the altar. Marin walked down the aisle, passing large white pillars that held up the tall ceiling decorated with golden arcs. The painstaking and exquisite detailing of the carvings, the stonework and the brightly-colored stained glass windows brought tears to her eyes. Finally, at the front altar stood the large Black Stone crucifix.
Marin explained that the cathedral wasn’t alarmed, but there were priests and nuns who lived onsite that they would have to avoid. The doors remained open for midnight mass every night, then closed to the public at about 2 a.m., reopening again at dawn. This was a very limited window of opportunity. And the only way to get that crucifix out was through the large front entrance.
“Any ideas?” Tobias asked. After a few moments of mumbling and concentrated faces, Tobias said, “Okay, we’ll come back to this.”
Alyx stiffened when Dianne showed Vix’s memory of Israel and her soaring over the monastery. The monastery was walled off from the forest surrounding it, set above a large lake and perched upon the steep slopes. Within the complex stood various buildings separated by gardens, each building becoming more sacred as they moved towards the center. The monks were mostly silent, walking around the temples, meditating among the various gardens set within the monastery walls. But it appeared that these monks were up at all hours, the surveillance memory showing a constant vigil of mortals entering and remaining within the temple even during the depths of the night.
Vix explained that the Black Stone in the monastery in China had been carved into a great door which stood in the innermost temple of the monastery.
Marin grumbled, “We may have to take this one by force. It doesn’t seem like we can get to that door without one of the monks being there.”
“Wait,” said Vix. “There’s more.”
The image went black for a few seconds while Dianne changed memories. An image came on which brought a weight of apprehension to Alyx’s stomach. The image looked down over a roof into one of the large courtyards of the monastery. In the courtyards, rows and rows of monks, dressed in dusty orange pants and matching short robes tied off with red rope, were performing a series of katas with long thin swords, crying out in unison at the end of certain movements. They moved like a single entity, as if controlled by a single mind. Their swords glinted as they moved, scattering the air with splinters of light.
“What the hell are we looking at?” came from Jordan.
“These are the monks who live onsite,” said Vix. “They train three times a day. All of them are skilled in Kung Fu and all Eighteen Arms of Wushu, the eighteen main weapons of Chinese martial arts. Here you can see them training with the jian, a double-edged straight sword.”
Alyx watched the army of mortals in silence. After Vix’s memory was finished, the room was silent.
“We can’t take them on,” said Vix quietly. “They’re not our enemy. And they’re so skilled that if we were caught stealing their Black Stone door we would not come away without casualties. But this is good for us. It means that the Darkened will be hesitant to attack them. The monastery is extremely remote and very hard to find. I lived in this province for several decades and even I had trouble finding it. The safest place for this Black Stone is exactly where it is.”
Alyx slowly processed what Vix was saying. She could almost hear everyone else doing the same thing.
“It does sound logical,” Tobias ventured. “You are sure we are best to leave this location alone?”
“Wouldn’t it best to alert these monks to the potential danger though?” said Alyx.
“And say what?” scoffed Marin. “Excuse me. Yeah, hi. So there are a bunch of demon guys who want to steal your door because the material can bypass our healing powers thereby giving them an advantage in the war to take over Earth.”
Alyx bristled as she heard Dianne snort in an attempt to hide her laughter. Alyx was about to retort when Vix interrupted her. “Israel and I thought about this. While we were there we made a few weak attempts to breech their gates. The monks didn’t catch us of course, but now they are alerted to the fact that someone is trying to get in. They increased their watch while we were there.”
Tobias nodded. “Good thinking. I do think it is safest that we leave this Black Stone alone. Unless anyone disagrees, we shall move on with the last memory.”
No one disagreed.
As Jordan’s memory of Florence played, Alyx glared at Vix instead of watching the screen. “Israel and I thought about this.” How presumptuous of her to say “Israel and I”. There wasn’t an “Israel and I” when it came to Vix. Was there? And how dare she take Israel with her without consulting Alyx. Alyx was his Guardian. She was responsible for him.
Alyx glanced over at Israel and realized she had been caught glaring at Vix. Israel looked back at her with a frown on his face. Alyx dropped her eyes into her lap.
Deciding that her best course of action was to pretend like everything was fine, she looked back up to the screen and thrust her chin in the air, instructing herself not look over to Vix or Israel for the rest of the meeting.
On the screen, Alyx and Jordan were walking from painting to painting. But something didn’t look right.
She leaned over to Jordan. “I recognize that painting. But the image... it’s… backwards.”
Jordan nodded. “Well spotted.”
“But why is it the other way ‘round?”
“Dianne took a copy. They always come out mirror image.”
Alyx frowned and watched as the screen showed the two of them weaving through the Galleria. Finally the statue of the Three Archangels filled the screen.
“It’s huge,” Vix gasped.
The image on screen circled around the statue.
“That is a large piece,” agreed Tobias. “They must have a large entrance, perhaps for staff only, to get their collection in and out.”
Jordan nodded. “We found a large door further back in the Galleria. The differences in the external dimension and internal dimension of the building suggest that there is a large space between it and the large external door leading to the small lane. We think that there is an unloading dock back there. Both doors are watched with security cameras and most are probably alarmed.”
“So how do we get the statue out?” asked Vix.
“Get it out?” Marin said. “How the hell do we get in without setting off enough alarms to alert half the city?”
Israel spoke up, “We need to disable their alarms.”
“Thank you, Mr. Obvious,” Marin muttered.
Alyx watched Israel. She recognized that look on his face. He had an idea. For a moment she forgot that she wasn’t supposed to be paying him any attention. “What are you thinking?”
“It’ll be even faster if we get someone to help us hack into the security mainframe,” said Israel. He seemed to be choosing his words very carefully. “We need to disarm the security system for a few minutes so that we can get in and get the sculpture out.”
“Hack a security system? Where the hell are we going to find someone who can do that?” asked Marin.
Israel paused. “I may know someone.”
Most of the stares directed at Israel were of disbelief.
Vix’s eyes widened in obvious respect. “Not just a pretty face, huh, mortal?”
Alyx forgot her promise not to glare at Vix. Pretty face. Vix had some nerve flirting with Israel in front of everyone like that.
“I’
ll need your help in getting to him, Alyx,” Israel said. “We should leave tonight.”
Alyx blinked, breaking out of her thoughts. “Me?” Did this mean that they were okay again? Had she been forgiven?
Israel shrugged. “You’re the only one here who can help.”
The only one here who could help. Of course. Silly girl. Israel would only ask for her help at the moment if he had no other choice.
“Sure,” Alyx said, trying to sound upbeat even though her heart began to pound, knowing full well that they would have to talk. “Whatever you need.”
Chapter 27
That night, Alyx and Israel stood in the back garden of Aradale. The moon had all but disappeared. The smallest sliver gave off a dim, icy light. It was enough, however, for Alyx to see the discontent on Israel’s face.
“If you just told me who it is, I could go and you wouldn’t have to,” said Alyx.
“I told you,” Israel said, sounding frustrated, “I made him a promise that I wouldn’t reveal his secret to anyone. It’s not my story to tell, it’s his.”
“But it’d be safer if you stayed here,” said Alyx. “I’m sure he − whoever he is − if he’s a friend of yours, would understand.”
Israel frowned at her. “You’re a hypocrite, you know that?”
Alyx started. “What?”
“You get angry when other people question your ability to deal with things yourself, yet you think it’s perfectly fine to keep treating me like I’m this useless child. I’m not a complete idiot, you know. I mean, okay, maybe I was a bit stupid when I was running around fighting the Darkened by myself, but I was angry and everyone does stupid things when they’re angry. And back then I didn’t think I had anything to left to lose, but now... things are different.” Israel stopped speaking and stared at Alyx.
Her frown softened and the angry retort fell away from her lips as the words he just said sank in. Suddenly, she could see the hurt in his face hiding under the angry lines, and she wondered how long it had been there without her noticing.
“I...” she said. Her mouth gaped as she tried to think of something else to say, something that would reassure him. Something that would begin to make things better. “I... don’t think you’re useless.”
Israel sighed. “We have things to talk about, Alyx. Unfinished things. But not now. Now we have bigger things to worry about. Bigger than you and me. Like finding this guy who could help us break into a gallery. So can we just do this?”
Alyx flinched when she heard his tone. “We have things to talk about. Unfinished things…” Alyx nodded, trying not to read too much into what Israel was implying. He wanted to finish things with her. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Israel stepped towards her. Then he looked uncertain. “How do you want to do this?” I mean, should I hold you from the front or...”
The realization of what he was asking caused her mouth to go dry. “Um, yes. Sure.”
He stepped up close to her. So close she could feel the warmth coming off his skin. The smell of him, sweet and musky, made her eyes close under the flood of memories from the last time they were this close. He slipped his hands gently, as if she were breakable, under her arms and around her waist. She had to bite her lip so as not to gasp. Her heart began to beat faster and her body tingled as if she were about to go into battle.
Oh wretched heart, oh weak heart, to still react this way at his touch. Even a touch with only practical intentions behind it. Damned heart for being a thing that wouldn’t be told what to do.
“Are you okay?” Israel’s voice ruffled across her hair.
“Fine.” Alyx straightened up. “Hang on.”
Soon they were hovering over the familiar skyline of Saint Joseph. Alyx felt her nerves winding and coiling like springs ready to pop. It was a bad idea coming back here.
Israel directed her towards a quiet but dirty area of the docks and they dropped down the side of a quiet warehouse, unnoticed by anyone. Their shoes made the slightest clatter as they stepped down to street level. Alyx felt her body grow cold when Israel pulled away from her.
Israel moved along the walls, through the skinny lane towards the street that travelled parallel to where the edge of the docks met the water. Alyx unsheathed a small dagger just in case and followed.
Israel came to where the lane met the street. He glanced both ways. Then moved quietly to the center of the road. What was he doing? Alyx moved quickly to follow him.
When she came up beside him, Israel was pulling at a manhole. Alyx raised an eyebrow at him. “Seriously?”
Israel snorted. “When have I ever joked about going down manholes?”
Israel pulled a small torch from his pocket and shined it into the dark hole. The light seemed to be swallowed by the blackness. “Ladies first,” he said.
“God, the smell doesn’t get any easier to deal with, does it?”
They dropped down into the dark. Alyx guessed that they were heading towards The Saint’s Revenge, an abandoned subway station which Israel’s old street gang, the Clan of the Saint’s, had converted into a hideout and home. This meant that the hacker must be one of them.
“Razorback?” Alyx asked some way down the tunnels. His name conjured memories of the tall, slim but muscular pirate with a mohawk colored haphazardly in green and blue pieces. The image didn’t gel.
“I’m not saying.”
“Terrapin?” Alyx tried to imagine the rough-looking, tattooed but speechless giant being a world-renowned hacker, but she couldn’t.
“Alyx, seriously.”
Alyx growled in frustration. Israel was still refusing to name this mysterious hacker whose assistance they were seeking. “It’s not like I’m not going to find out soon anyway.”
“So you can wait just a little bit longer then. We’re here.” Israel’s torch shined on a grated door ahead. Through the grates Alyx could hear the hum of noise and yelling. Israel pushed open the door, which squeaked on its hinges.
Terrapin spotted them first and he lumbered towards them like a happy bear. Soon Alyx and Israel were surrounded by the rest of the Saint’s clan with hugs for Alyx and backslapping and rough-housing for Israel. Alyx giggled as Razorback recounted an outlandish story for her, punctuated by nods and wild hand gestures by Terrapin.
“Didn’t think we’d be seeing you again so soon.” A booming and familiar voice caused a rush of joy in Alyx.
“Mason,” Alyx detangled herself from the group and launched herself at the stocky, bearded leader of the Saint’s Clan.
His rough hands closed around her. “How are yer, angel?” he whispered. “Keeping this one out of trouble?” He nodded to Israel, who was approaching them.
Alyx raised an eyebrow. “Really? You think I have any chance of controlling him?”
Mason grinned. “You have more hope than the rest of us.” Mason stepped forward to greet Israel.
“Can we talk, Mason? In private?” Alyx heard Israel say in a low voice to Mason.
Mason? Really? Alyx stepped closer to them.
“Don’t like the sounds of this, kid,” she heard Mason say. “And here I thought this was a social call ‘cause you missed us.” Mason turned and started walking to his room in one of the abandoned carriages. Israel and Alyx followed.
Mason closed the door and locked it behind them. His compartment, surprisingly enough, wasn’t any bigger or grander than the compartment that Alyx had been allocated when Israel and she were first down here.
“I would have thought that you’d have the biggest compartment, Mason,” Alyx said as she looked around.
“I wear the title of Captain only because the men here want me to. I direct them and manage them, but in no way do I command them. We’re all equals down here.”
Mason went over to a small cupboard and lowered the door. It would have been a cupboard that had once stored liquor, but as Mason didn’t drink, the space was now filled with enamel tins and a kettle. Israel started to speak but Mason shushed him. “Not ‘t
il we’ve settled in with some tea, Scrapper. I can tell this conversation is going to require tea.”
Mason served Israel and Alyx their tea in mismatched china cups. Alyx’s teacup had a tiny chip in the handle. Then Mason settled against the edge of the small desk with his own cup looking mighty out of place in his thick hands. “Now, what’s this about?”
“We need your help,” Israel started. “The Darkened are going around stealing this substance called Black Stone. This stuff is bad, Mason. Real bad. We can’t let them have any more of it. We’ve found a large chunk of it which has been turned into a sculpture. If we could, say, get control of the gallery’s security system, just for a few minutes, then we have a chance of getting our hands on this statue so we can relocate it to a safe place before the Darkened get hold of it. And you can bet that when they attempt to take the Black Stone, it won’t be as subtle as what we’re trying to do. Mortals will die.”
Mason looked startled, then his face began to contort with what looked like anger. “I see. You want me to...” his voice trailed off and he growled and rubbed his face with his hands. “What you’re asking me to do...”
“I’m sorry, Mason. We’re fresh out of luck on this one. Otherwise I wouldn’t have asked.”
Mason lifted his face from his hands, glaring at Israel, then he looked over to Alyx with a questioning expression on his face.
“I haven’t told her, Mase. I didn’t think it was my place.”
Alyx could see the struggle playing out on Mason’s face and knew that he needed to work this out in silence.
“How bad is this stuff?” Mason asked.
“Bad.” said Israel. “It stops the healing powers of Alyx and her kind. It makes them so much easier to kill. The Darkened are turning it into weapons. They’re looking to mount a full-on war. If Alyx’s people can’t protect us then... Earth is doomed.”
Mason sighed and pressed his lips together in a grim line. He turned to Alyx. “I may have left out some facts when I told you my sob story last time you were here, lovey.” He paused for a moment to gulp at his tea before continuing. “I used to work in IT security. I was the youngest Head of Security for the Deitepalom Bank. I did something stupid and got fired. I was bitter about the whole thing. I tried to hack the system that I built, to show them that they needed me. I got caught and did jail time. That’s when my wife left me and took everything. I vowed never to do it again. So you see, even after you’ve told me the reason behind why you want to do what you want to do... I... I want to help. I do,” Mason took a deep breath, “but I have a record. If I get caught, they’re locking the cell and throwing away the key. Do you understand?”
