by Steve McHugh
Shane looked somewhat crestfallen, which made a part of Elias feel ill. “Fine. But when we’re home, I’ll need to go play.”
Elias shrugged. He wouldn’t be there, so he didn’t care. He’d never liked Shane’s need to indulge his less palatable passions, and the bodies he’d left behind at several locations had caused unnecessary complications on more than one occasion, but he was good at his job, so Elias allowed it. Everyone had a vice; it just so happened that Shane’s was murdering people for fun.
Elias walked off toward his room, still thinking about Shane. He could understand killing out of necessity, or because it was his job, or even for revenge, but doing it for sadistic pleasure wasn’t in his make-up. He paused outside of his room. Killing for food was important too. He sighed. It was one of the less pleasant aspects of who he was, but like everything else in his life since he’d become a redcap, he accepted it without complaint. He pushed open the door.
21
When Layla woke back in her hospital bed the following day, she found Rosa by the window, ready to continue her lessons. Rosa had been teaching her all through her sleep too; apparently it was easier to learn control when asleep. The fact that the demon occasionally interjected didn’t make it a fun experience.
Layla had woken with an aching body and an exhausted mind, due to the stress the training had on her. She took a deep breath. Learning was important, even if it brought pain. Besides, that pain was only for a short time, and although a short time is subjective when in pain, she could push through it. Once she’d learned how to use her abilities to a half-decent degree, she would be in a better position to become more powerful, which would mean she would find some of the mental conditioning and concentration much easier.
Layla certainly hoped so anyway. She had spent most of the morning practicing turning the coffee-table legs into various shapes and forms as quickly as possible, before moving on to more taxing lessons.
After putting the table back together, Layla was given the task of changing several coins on the table in front of her into origami-type models. She’d been doing it for the last ten minutes—this one was a swan, although the bronze-colored two-pence pieces didn’t exactly look as swan-like as Layla would have liked. But she hadn’t found any silver coins when she’d looked in the drawer beside the bed, just the half-dozen twos.
“Do you feel better now that you know the truth?” Rosa asked.
“I feel better about Tommy. And Diana. And I’m angry with Chloe. And I know I shouldn’t be. I know that being angry with her is pointless, that she is my friend and she only wants what’s best for me. But she lied, and I can’t get past that. Tommy and Diana weren’t a part of my life for the last two years. I know it sounds crazy, I just . . .”
“The lies from her hurt because you expected more.”
Layla nodded.
“Have you thought more about accepting the spirits and demon?”
“Is Terhal really a demon? You know, a full-on biblical demonic entity? A denizen of hell itself?”
“No, as much as he—although I know Terhal shows as a female to you now, so maybe ‘she’ is more appropriate—might like you to think that, she’s not really a demon. I’m not sure biblical demons actually exist in any form. Her species is called a drenik. I learned that when she let it slip. She doesn’t like to talk about herself much; she prefers to talk about what she’s going to do to ruin your life.”
“And she’s only evil? There’s no good there?”
“I don’t know originally, but I do know that after being forced out of her realm and trapped in a scroll, she isn’t keen on helping people. She likes to hurt them. Whether that’s a by-product of what happened to her, or if her species are all like that, or whether she’s just a psychopath, I don’t know. I know two things about her for certain: she cannot lie outright, and she will hurt people you love given a chance.”
“You know, I’d like to be able to say that this is all my father’s fault. That everything awful that has happened to me has something to do with him. But Tommy’s right, his evil isn’t an inheritance. I can’t blame him for everything, no matter how much I want to.”
“You want to talk about him?”
Layla was about to say no, then she paused. “I loved him. That’s why it hurt so much, that’s why it still hurts now. He betrayed my mom and me so he could go off and kill people. He enjoyed it. He kept a journal on each murder and handed them all over to the FBI when they came to our house. He kept hundreds of these journals in a lockup. My mother and I were questioned, and I didn’t quite understand what was happening. He never said sorry. He never told us why he did it. Not once.”
“You’re still afraid you’ll become him?”
Layla nodded. “Terrified. I know Tommy told me it doesn’t work like that, but a few hours of being told I’m not a psychopath doesn’t really compete with a decade of thinking I am.
“And then there’s Terhal. I want to punch his face in. I want to show him the anger inside of me, but then he shows me all of those things and it’s like I’m incapable of fighting back. I’m tougher than that, damn it. But he just makes me feel scared and alone, and . . . and like I felt the night the FBI or LOA or whoever busted into our home at three in the morning, and I hid under the bed because I thought the bad people my father told me about had come to get us. Terhal makes me feel like I’m that fourteen-year-old girl again, who had been taught to do all of these insane things to defend herself, but just ran and hid when push came to shove.”
“You were fourteen.”
“Yes, I know. And it’s the same feeling I had when Blake raised his hand to me. I froze. But then the last few times, when those thoughts bubbled out, I hurt people. And I liked it. I liked showing those bullies and thugs that they can’t scare me, that I’m stronger than them.” She rubbed her face with her palms and sighed. “My brain feels muddled.”
The door flung open, and Chloe and Diana came in.
“What’s going on?” Layla asked, when she saw the look of concern on both women’s faces.
“We’re leaving the hospital,” Chloe told her.
“And we’re going where exactly?” Layla asked, feeling the anger in her voice.
“I know you think I lied to you.”
“Think?” Layla interrupted. “You lied to me.”
Chloe nodded. “We need to get somewhere safe. Please.”
The group left the room and met Harry as they walked along the corridor.
“Hey, gang,” Harry said. He glanced between each of the three faces in front of him. “What happened?”
“Shit,” Chloe whispered. “Well, you’re here now, and frankly, if you don’t come with us, they’re going to come after you, so you might as well be in on the chat.”
Harry looked confused. “Who is them, and what are you talking about?”
“Turns out Chloe isn’t the person we thought she was,” Layla said.
“I’ll take Harry to the lift,” Diana said. “Make this quick.”
Chloe stopped and turned toward Layla. “Yes, I’ve been lying to you. I’ve known Tommy since I was twelve. His daughter Kase and I went to the same school. A few years ago, I went through a really hard time—my mother murdered my father and almost got me killed in the process. I wanted away from the life that I was getting sucked into, and so I moved to Southampton and was going to get my head straight. Tommy asked me if I’d look after you instead. He asked me to keep an eye on what you do, just be friendly and nice.
“I figured out where you went to the gym and what martial arts classes you took, and I joined them. I set up a coffee shop as a cover, which I didn’t exactly expect to become a hit, but you started going there and I went from being nice and keeping an eye on you to actually liking you.
“We grew close, and I now consider you one of my best friends. But for the entire time I’ve known you, yes, I’ve also worked for Tommy. I’m twenty years old and I’m not human. I’m an umbra, like you. I’ve been
one for three years. Unfortunately, I ended up befriending you.”
“Unfortunately?” Layla shouted.
Chloe immediately realized her mistake. “No, not like that, no, shit. No, Layla.”
It was too late. Layla saw red, and everything she’d been thinking about since Tommy had told her the truth the night before spilled out in one rush of anger. “Screw you, Chloe. Screw you and your damn lies. You fed me bullshit for the last two years. You say you’re my friend, but friends don’t lie to one another, friends don’t hide who they really are, or spy on their friends. Friends don’t let each other go through everything I’m going through right now and not say anything. You know how I feel about being lied to, about being let down by people I trust, and you just carried on like it was fine.
“Tommy told me about you last night in an effort to make me trust you all. And it’s made me realize that you are an umbra, Chloe. Instead of being here helping me go through all of this, you’ve been off doing who knows what. I’m not sure a friend would lie so convincingly for so long, or that they’d let someone go through all of this alone, when they could have helped.”
Chloe took a step toward Layla, her hands out. “Please.”
“If you touch me, I’ll break your arm,” Layla said, her voice almost a snarl, the words out before she could stop herself.
Chloe stopped and took a step back. “I want to keep you safe.” Her voice was low, barely above a whisper. “I don’t want you to get hurt. And more than anything in the world, I wanted to tell you who and what I was. You have no idea, Layla.”
“You lied to me for two years, Chloe. Telling me you wanted to be there for me but couldn’t be because you had to talk to the person you’re really working for isn’t much of an excuse in my book. You fabricated our entire friendship because it was your job.”
The pair walked away in silence, finding Harry next to the set of lifts. “Diana went on ahead, told me to wait here for you both.”
Harry looked between Layla and Chloe, clearly noticing that something was amiss. “So, why am I here?”
“Elias and his people will try to get to Layla by going through us,” Chloe said. “We have people watching your home right now, but they could still try. They tried to kill me this morning.”
“Are you . . .” Layla started, and then stopped. The concern in her voice for Chloe made her angry again. She didn’t want to feel concern, or sympathy, or anything else, she just wanted to be furious and aim that rage and anger at the person who had lied to her.
“I’m fine,” Chloe said, glancing at Layla, before looking down at the floor between them. “I killed three of the blood elves and one of the women—Dara, she was an alchemist.”
The lift opened and the three of them got in, and Harry pressed the button for the ground floor.
“You’re talking like you’re all playing some really heavy Dungeons & Dragons,” Harry said. “Alchemists, umbra, blood elves? Anyone want to bring me up to speed?”
“Monsters are real,” Chloe said. “Every mythology you’ve ever heard of, every pantheon you can think of, they’re all real. Some are the same person in different guises, but the myths are real. They’re not gods or goddesses, but they are creatures with incredible powers. Sorcerers, witches, umbras, ogres, you name it, it’s probably real. And many of them just live normal lives, so you’d never know they were there, but some . . . well, some like to let the humans know they exist. They think humans should be on their knees praying to them as they believe they deserve. Those are the ones who hunt, hurt, and kill without remorse.
“Elias Wells is one such person. He’s a redcap; a nasty little man who feeds on the souls and blood of his victims, and it makes him terribly powerful. Probably not so powerful now that he got hurt, but still problematic.”
“Ghosts?” Harry asked.
“Real. Also, a little weird.”
“Werewolves?”
“What do you think Tommy is? He’s several centuries old and one of the most powerful werewolves in the world.”
“Dragons?”
“A few years ago, in London, there was a report of an accident on the Millennium Bridge? Remember it?”
“They said it was an accident with a boat hitting it. A few people online say that they have footage of a creature landing on it, but I’ve seen that footage, it’s totally CGI bullshit. Same with the video of a supposed dragon flying around the city.”
“Dragon landed on it, and not a good landing. The dragon flying through the city is true too. Her name was Tiamat. She was not happy and she wanted to tear the city apart, until friends of mine killed her. Even so, dozens died, dozens more injured. Lots of things to cover up, video removed from anyone who uploaded it, that sort of thing. They made it look like anyone hurt or killed was in an accident or a victim of crime.”
“Who could cover all of that up?” Harry asked.
“Conversation for later. Right now, Elias knows where you are, Layla. He’s on his way here, and he will kill innocent people to get to you. We need to move you.”
“To where?” Layla asked.
“Winchester,” Chloe said. “We have some friends who work there, and you’ll be safe. Elias wants you, but he’ll think twice before attacking somewhere where there are a lot more people around you who can fight back.”
Layla wanted to say no. She wanted to tell Chloe exactly where she could put her protection, but she wasn’t an idiot, and her ability to stay away from Elias without Chloe was almost zero. She didn’t trust Chloe, not after her revelation, but she believed that she didn’t want to hurt her, or see harm come to her. Everything else could be dealt with when she wasn’t being hunted.
Layla looked between Harry and Chloe. “Harry comes too.”
“Yes,” Chloe said. “Don’t argue, Harry. You come, or I knock you out and you come. Either way, it’s too dangerous for you to stay here.”
Harry sighed. “Fine. I need to stop for some clothes and my laptop.”
“Everything you need will be brought there once we’re at the destination.”
Harry turned to Layla. “I know you’re angry, but I really don’t want to be caught up in whatever this guy has going. And if keeping you safe means I have to be whisked away, then so be it. When do we go?”
“Now.”
22
The group made their way down to a black Range Rover, where Diana was waiting.
“You all took your time.”
“I don’t think we’ll be escaping from a lot in that,” Harry said.
“Engine has been modified,” Diana assured him, patting the car’s side panel with affection. “This thing will do just fine.”
Layla paused at the open door. “Wait, it’s just dawned on me that if you knew about my father and you know who I am, you also know that my name isn’t Layla Starsmore.”
Chloe nodded.
“Wait, you’re not Layla Starsmore?” Harry asked from inside the car. “Who are you then?”
Layla climbed in and buckled up. “My last name is Cassidy. I changed it to hide from people like Elias Wells, and people who would use me to get to him.”
“Chloe, you drive, I’ll take shotgun.”
Layla wasn’t sure if Diana had offered Chloe the chance to drive to give her some time apart, but she was grateful. The car journey was going to be uncomfortable enough just having to be in close proximity to one another; sitting in the same row would have made it almost unbearable.
Chloe drove the car out of the hospital car park and through the Southampton streets, as Layla looked out of the tinted window beside her. It didn’t feel like everything had been normal only a few days ago; it felt like weeks, like her whole life had turned into craziness once again and had been that way for as long as she could remember. She was exhausted, but she knew it wasn’t over yet.
Eventually she managed to drift off to sleep, and thankfully her dreams didn’t include anything to do with spirits, murderers, or drenik.
She woke
with a jolt as the car slammed on its brakes, and she was momentarily disoriented. “What happened?” she asked, fearing that they’d had an accident of some kind.
“We’re being followed,” Chloe told everyone. “Ever since the General. We’re on the A31 heading into the New Forest, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to stay here for much longer.”
“I thought we were going to Winchester?” Harry asked. “That’s in the other direction.”
Layla looked out of the window and noticed that the signs gave the distances to cities in the opposite direction to Winchester.
“Yeah, well, plans change,” Diana explained. “We’ve changed direction to try to lose the tail, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work. This car is made to go off-road, so hopefully we can lose them on some of the dirt roads further ahead. It means a bumpy ride. We’re going to meet up with some friends.”
“I’ve contacted Kase and told her to meet us,” Chloe explained. “We’ll be there soon. I imagine she took the helicopter to get there, so we’ll have a means of escape that doesn’t involve being on the ground.”
“Hopefully she has an army with her,” Harry said.
“If Kase is there, we won’t need an army,” Diana explained.
A few seconds later, the Range Rover lurched to the side as the car following them sped up and tapped the right side, just above the back-right wheel.
“Shit,” Chloe snapped. “Any chance you can help us here?”
Layla looked through the rear window, trying to pinpoint the car behind them. “I’m not sure I can use my power while holding on for dear life back here.”
“She was talking to me,” Diana said, her voice a deep rumble. “How far from the meeting point are we?”
“A few miles. The turn-off is in about six hundred yards.”
“Get the car off the road and then stop. You’ll have to get out and run the rest of the way. Let me see how they like my surprise.”
Layla watched with a mixture of anticipation and fear as the car slowed and made a sharp left turn down a road that was barely more than dirt and trees. There wasn’t even a sign to say it was possible to make the turn.
