Masks and Mirrors: Book Two: The Weir Chronicles

by Sue Duff

  He swept his hand across several leaves. Each one shriveled and closed upon itself. Ian stood back. Similar to its Jamaican cousin, the leaves spread open a moment later. “It reacts to my core.” Ian worked furiously, beginning at its base. At shoulder height, one of the closed leaves revealed a metal corner. “Here.” He touched the area surrounding it. Behind the branches, a metal plate, a little more than a foot square, was embedded in the wall. To Ian’s dismay, its surface was smooth.

  “Where’s the handle?” Rayne asked, pushing in for a closer look. “There’s no hinges.”

  Ian pressed at the sides and corners, then in the middle of the panel, but he was greeted with solid resistance. He shut other leaves within arm’s length searching for a lever or a switch, but found none. He pressed a palm against the plate and summoned a variety of natural energies. Nothing. Fed up, he stepped back and allowed the plant to conceal its mysterious treasure.

  “Maybe it isn’t a safe at all,” Rayne said.

  Ian pondered his next step. He pulled out his cell. “If it is the safe, and we can get inside, it might lead us to Jaered, or maybe even Eve.” He swiped the screen, scrolling through the list of numbers although he knew Marcus’s code by heart.

  “But what about Bryant?” she said.

  “Donovan had my medical records, Rayne. Bryant has a core. Are you betting they aren’t connected?” Ian pressed the screen.

  {55}

  Entertained by their futile search, Jaered’s amusement vanished the second the Heir stumbled upon the safe.

  Sitting in the tree taxed his already strained muscles. He dropped down and stood behind the thick trunk, flexing his better shoulder. The butchered one offered lightning strikes of pain whenever he lifted his arm above his chest. The thought of wearing a sling hadn’t occurred to him when he woke up that morning.

  When he looked back at the house, two people had joined the Heir on the patio. Jaered raised his binoculars, then pulled away with a start.

  A large man held onto Vael.

  Jaered’s head reeled. The Heir led them to the hidden safe. Jaered tightened his grip on the binoculars. Vael’s arrival wasn’t a coincidence.

  A knock at the door. Rayne rushed in and opened it a crack.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Carlene announced from the hallway. “Is Ian joining us?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Rayne said. She glanced at Ian from over her shoulder.

  “Go,” he whispered. “Buy us as much time as you can.” Rayne slipped out, and Ian locked the door when their foot-steps faded. He returned to the patio.

  Marcus stepped away from the plate. “How can you be sure it’s a safe at all?”

  “I can’t.” Ian regarded Vael. “Can you get inside?”

  Vael shrugged. “Getting in isn’t the problem. But without any obvious gears or levers, I have no idea what to do once I’m inside. Do you know how thick this is? I lose feeling in my hands and arm when I use my power. I could go all the way through and not know it.”

  “We’ll judge by the thickness of the outside wall,” Marcus said.

  “But how thick are the safe’s walls, one inch, two, three?” Vael regarded Ian. “Do you have X-ray vision along with that lie detector?”

  Ian shook his head.

  Vael plopped down in a patio chair. “I’ll do this for you, but I have to know how far to reach and what to do once I’m in there.”

  Marcus pulled his cell out of his pocket. “I’ll connect with the boys. Maybe they can research the type of safe it is and get some specs.” He left them on the patio and settled in the desk chair.

  Ian sat down across from Vael and rubbed his face. Weari-ness gripped him, and he leaned back absorbing energy from the elements.

  “Guess the almighty Pur Heir isn’t so mighty after all,” Vael mumbled. “Or just want the fuck-up to do your dirty work? How are you any different from Jaered?”

  Ian dropped his head. It pained him to admit that Vael had a point. “What’s with you and your dad?”

  Vael scoffed. He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. “I was the first Pur Sar to be born in almost twenty years. I didn’t have the mark of the sun, but at least one Pur Sar held out hope.” Vael regarded Marcus through the open door. “Then you came along . . . suddenly, I didn’t exist anymore.”

  Knuckles rapped on the office door. “Ian?”

  He bolted from the chair, mindful of his steps as he hurried through the office. He gestured for Marcus to stay back. Ian opened the door a couple of inches.

  JoAnna gave him a concerned grimace. “Are you sure you can’t join us, even if just to meet Bryant? Carlene was so hoping.”

  Ian slipped out into the hall and closed the door behind him. “I don’t want to risk getting anyone else sick. He headed for the foyer and withdrew his car keys. “I think I’ll just slip out quietly. Please give Carlene my regrets. We’ll make plans to get together again when I’m feeling better.

  JoAnna squeezed his arm. “Drive safe. I’ll call before I leave town to see how you’re doing.”

  Jaered shyfted behind the large man. When he made to turn, Jaered struck him with a heavy bronze statue from the bookcase. He slumped to the floor.

  “What the fuck!” came from the doorway. Vael stared at him with a slack jaw.

  “Am I glad to see you,” Jaered said and headed toward him. Vael slugged him, hard. It knocked Jaered on his butt. “Ugh!” He grabbed his arm.

  “You son of a bitch! You have some nerve showing up here,” Vael hissed.

  “I guess you’re still sore about how we parted.”

  “What, the other day?” Vael snorted. “Try all last year when you used me like you did. What are you in the middle of, Jaered? Who did you get me to do your dirty work for?”

  “What are you talking about?” Jaered grabbed the edge of the desk and pulled himself to his feet.

  “Don’t play the dumbass. I’m talking about that Belgium bank job. You returned to the vault and stole the Heir’s records.”

  Jaered froze. “How did you—”

  “There’s more to it, isn’t there?” Vael stepped out onto the patio.

  Jaered followed. “It’s a long story, Vael. We don’t have time at the moment.” Vael’s gaze fell to the growing red patch at his shoulder. “A nasty by-product of getting shot,” Jaered said.

  Vael shook his head. “I overheard the guards say they grazed someone during the raid at the pharmaceutical building. Were you really shot saving my life in Belgium, or was it all an act?”

  Jaered unbuttoned his shirt far enough to reveal the scar. Vael’s furrowed brow softened.

  “Can you get into the safe?” Jaered said.

  “It is a safe?”

  “Yeah, but only the kid can open it, and that’s not going to happen in the next thirty seconds.” Jaered touched the plant. The leaves shriveled. “It’s an inch thick and the left side corners are spring activated.”

  Vael hesitated. “Why should I help you? What’s going on?”

  “Not now, Vael, there isn’t time.”

  “Make the time, Jaered.”

  “Remember what I said at Donovan’s office?”

  “The crap about saving the universe?” Vael said.

  “I’m not exaggerating.” He touched the leaves. They shriveled under his hand. “I’m working with rebels trying to stop Aeros from ripping this planet in two. The egomaniac who created that serum, had ties to our rebel leader. There could be records in this safe that, if found, might expose her and the rest of us.”

  Vael scrutinized Jaered. He released a tremendous sigh. “Then why knock out my dad? He might have been able to help.”

  Jaered weighed his next words carefully. “Not all of the rebels . . . are Pur.”

  “The Duach from the other night?” Vael asked.

  “The Pur aren’t alone in caring for this planet. Not all Duach are bad. Eve is trying to unite the Weir—all Weir—and put an end to the feud before it’s too late.”
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  “They can’t be trusted,” Vael hissed.

  “There’s plenty of Pur that can’t be, either. Your Primary among them,” Jaered said. He looked over his shoulder toward the office. “Your father may be in more danger than he realizes.”

  Vael stared at Jaered as if weighing more than his words. Jaered may not have shattered Vael’s beliefs in what he’d been raised to believe about the Pur and Duach, but from the look on his face, Vael was willing to question it. “We’re running out of time,” Jaered said. “Are you going to help me, or not?”

  Vael’s hand transformed into a swirling light show. “This isn’t over . . .”

  Jaered swiped across the leaves and exposed the panel. Vael pushed his translucent fist through the metal. “If my hand becomes solid, I swear to god I will find you and beat you to death with my stump.”

  At a low, muted sound, Jaered glanced over his shoulder. The sound didn’t repeat itself. “How was the family reunion?”

  “Piss off.” Click. Click. Vael jerked his hand out. The door popped open.

  Jaered withdrew the contents. Two CD’s. One wasn’t labeled. The other read, Heir. The center of his chest turned frigid. He spun around. Vael’s dad held a remote in his hand.

  {56}

  Ian’s core grew numb. He rushed past JoAnna, and burst through the door in time to see a man jump over the patio railing with Vael close on his heels. Ian flipped the dead bolt on the office door at the sound of running footsteps in the hall.

  Marcus grabbed a patio chair and pulled himself to his feet, moaning. Ian ran to the railing. The two men disappeared around the corner toward the front of the house.

  The doorknob rattled. Knocking. “Ian, if you’re going to throw up, the bathroom is two doors down, dear,” JoAnna shouted.

  “Marcus—” Ian said.

  “What are you waiting for, go!”

  Ian leapt over the railing and took off in pursuit. When he rounded the corner, he paused. Vael stood on the front patio. Alone. Ian surveyed the area. The front stoop was wide open, it didn’t offer any hiding places.

  Vael held his hands up as if in surrender. “Jaered showed up.”

  Ian slowly approached. “Why help him?”

  “I figured he’s as good an escape plan as any.” Vael’s chest heaved. Ian couldn’t tell if he was gulping air from the dash or if it was from fear. “There’s something you’ve got to know. This isn’t about the feud between the Pur and the Duach. This is bigger, scarier than that,” Vael said.

  “What’s worse than the Duach using science experiments against the Pur?” Something jammed into Ian’s back. He closed his eyes in defeat. Jaered controlled the remote. Ian had been so intent on Vael, he’d failed to notice the fluctuating changes in his core.

  “The Pur aren’t as innocent as you think.” Jaered leaned in from behind. “The Weir’s war is going to be the end of this planet. It’s been the perfect distraction, blinding all of you to the greater threat. What you should all be uniting against.”

  Ian held his hands up and slowly turned. The man’s bruised lip struck a nerve. Jaered was Rayne’s stalker. He held the remote. Ian made to grab it, but Jaered jerked it out of reach. A spreading pond of bright blood stained the man’s shirt at one shoulder. “You were the one the Pur guards shot the other night,” Ian said. The breeze carried a scent that scraped across Ian’s memories. His stomach lurched at recognizing the odor. He’d passed it on his way to find Tara. Jaered had been at the zoo.

  “Wake up before it’s too late,” Jaered said. “The Weir should be focusing on Aeros, not each other. What he’s begun to do to this planet may already be irreversible.”

  A plume of heat rose from Ian’s core and burned his throat. “Who are you?”

  “An ally, protecting this planet,” Jaered said.

  “Bullshit.” Ian clenched his fists to control his blistering chest. His hands glowed. “Who do you work for? Aeros?” Jaered’s expression never changed, but the beat of his heart and the set of his jaw told Ian that Jaered had likely crossed paths with the Duach leader, and not in a good way. Warm. He ventured another guess. “You work for Eve.” Shock flitted across Jaered’s features. His heartbeat soared. Warmer, Ian decided. Much warmer.

  Jaered jerked his chin at Vael. “Come on, we need to go.”

  “Like hell.” Ian slammed his sizzling hand against Jaered’s bleeding shoulder.

  Jaered wailed and dropped the remote. He knocked Ian’s hand away and stumbled back. It was a feint. A swift kick and Jaered nailed Ian in the center of his chest. He crashed into the concrete railing with such force that it punched the breath out of him. Ian pushed off and lunged. The two men landed on the floor of the front stoop. A fist as solid as a bowling ball connected with Ian’s jaw and sparks sizzled behind his eyes. He rolled to the side, then twisted around and caught Jaered’s head in a crushing vice between his thighs.

  “I want the contents of that safe,” Ian snarled. When Jaered didn’t comply, Ian squeezed harder. Jaered’s face grew a deep crimson. He groped at Ian’s legs and tried to pull free, but Ian grabbed the railing and hung on tight.

  Jaered stopped resisting and reached into his pocket. He withdrew a CD case and dropped it. Thousands of needles penetrated Ian’s hand. He cried out. Vael stepped away from the railing with a glowing hand.

  Ian released Jaered with a growl and groped at his hand, fused to the railing. Vael pulled Jaered to his feet. “Wake up, or Earth will succumb to the same fate as Thrae,” Jaered said and grabbed Vael’s arm. The air shimmered around them.

  “No!” Ian screamed and scrambled to his feet. White sparks surrounded the two men, and their images faded. Ian froze. Jaered’s corona boasted no hint of color. It wasn’t emerald of the Pur, nor crimson of the Duach. He strained to break free, desperate to jump into the man’s corona and not lose him. But Ian remained cemented to the railing. A second later, Jaered and Vael were gone.

  “Shit!” Ian stared dumbfounded at the chunks of concrete blended with his living tissue. Without knowing how to control Vael’s power, he couldn’t undo it.

  “There you are.”

  Ian swallowed a wail full of pain and frustration. He glanced over his shoulder. JoAnna stood at the front door.

  He kept his back to her. Vael hadn’t told Ian how his power worked, but Ian had asked a few questions that morning at breakfast. He had seconds to put the pieces together.

  Ian concentrated on drawing pure electrical energy. Static cling sucked his clothes tight to his skin and puffed up his hair. It filled his core. Ian directed it into his hand.

  “Is everything all right?” JoAnna asked. “When you didn’t answer earlier, I went to find the girls. They’re searching for you inside.”

  “It felt like I was about to throw up. I wasn’t going to make it to the bathroom. I couldn’t do that in front of you.” His fist didn’t change. The needles stung worse than ever.

  “Ian, I raised an anxious child,” JoAnna said with a glint of amusement in her voice. “I’m hardly affected by a little throw-up.”

  He switched his strategy and drew only electromagnetic energy. His fist chilled to the bone. “The fresh air is helping it to pass.”

  “Is there anything I can get you?” JoAnna’s voice grew closer.

  His hand transformed into a swirling orb, resplendent with sparkling light. He turned, keeping it behind him.

  She grabbed the crook of his loose arm. He stiffened. “Come inside. We’ll get you another cup of tea.”

  Ian took a deep breath to ease his heart back in his chest. He gently lifted her hand from his arm and ushered her toward the door. “I’ll be another minute. I think it best that I say my good-byes and leave soon.” He stepped away from the railing and stuck his sore, but intact hand into his pocket. Rayne and Tara approached from the side yard. They held up at JoAnna on the patio with Ian.

  “I’ll let Carlene know,” JoAnna said. “We’ll throw together a to-go bag for you. You can at least sample
her wonderful meal once you can keep it down.” JoAnna took a step. Scuf-fling. Her foot knocked the CD case and sent it scooting across the front stoop. She picked it up. “Music bands have such silly names, don’t they? Who would ever call themselves the Heir?”

  Ian took it from her. “It’s mine. I must have dropped it.”

  “Don’t leave without meeting Bryant. Carlene really had her heart set on you two connecting.” JoAnna let herself into the house.

  The girls met up with Ian on the steps. “What happened?” Tara asked. Rayne grabbed the remote from the top step.

  “Jaered showed up.” A racing pulse wasn’t the only thing that gave Rayne away. Surprise—something more profound—flooded her crystal-blue eyes at the mention of his name. Heartache squeezed Ian’s core and denied him breath.

  “I’ll get Patrick.” Rayne rushed off. “He’s with Bryant.”

  “Rayne!” Ian shouted.

  “I’ll be careful,” she tossed over her shoulder. Thanks to the Curse, she retreated to the one place he couldn’t follow.

  Tara stared at him. “Ian, what’s wrong?”

  The setting sun cast the surroundings in a warm glow. Nature’s dying, brilliant burst as the day shed its radiance before draining into the grays of night. He rubbed the center of his chest with his fist, but it didn’t dispel the throbbing ache.

  Ian’s core ignited. He didn’t suppress the blistering heat as it seared something as precious to him as her love. Trust.

  {57}

  Jaered led Vael into the apartment and shut the door.

  Vael wagged his head. “I can’t believe we got the best of the Heir.”

  “I’m weaker than I want to admit.” Jaered grabbed his arm and held on tight as the ache took its time to ease into a stuttering throb. “He’s used to using his head, not his powers. That’s the only reason you got the slip on him.” Jaered grabbed a fresh shirt from his packed duffle and stepped into the bathroom, then locked the door. He perused his shoulder. The fight had torn several stitches. He slapped on a fresh bandage and changed out of his bloody shirt. He removed the back panel to the medicine cabinet and verified that the serum vial was where he’d left it. He returned to the outer room. Vael took a swig from a beer he’d found in the refrigerator and handed Jaered one.