Descent Unto Dark: The White Mage Saga #3 (The Chronicles of Lumineia)

by Ben Hale

  "So you didn't know about Rook?"

  "Of course not, but it explains how he managed to get so close to the president. Rook's reputation is well earned, unfortunately."

  "Do you know him?"

  They were approaching the White House again, and Pierce shook his head. "You can tell the president about Rook once we're inside. Now that magic is out, there's no point in keeping it from him."

  Now his anger was directed at her, and she flushed at his tone. "You don't think we should have revealed the magical world?"

  "No. I don't," he said, turning a cold gaze onto her. "Just because you are an oracle doesn't give you the right to make decisions for all of us. You're still just a sixteen-year-old girl."

  Before she could gather a reply, he'd turned on his heel and entered. Seething, she followed him inside. Instead of to the interrogation room he took her to a room that sat adjacent to the Oval Office. They entered to find the president sitting in a chair while a doctor stitched the shallow wound in his neck. Hawk and one other agent were present. The president looked up and frowned when he caught sight of their expressions.

  "That's enough, Bob," he said. "You can check on me later."

  The doctor placed another piece of medical tape and then gathered his things. "No sudden movements or you'll pull the stitches," he said. The president thanked him and then he left.

  The moment the door closed behind Bob the president turned to face Tess. "Did you learn anything?"

  Tess nodded, grateful that her healing spells were taking the sting from Rook's curse. At the same time she felt a flutter of pain in her arm where his last strike had impacted. In spite of her healing charms the ache did not ease quickly. What had he done to her?

  "The man was a mage assassin named Rook." The change in conversation helped her stay distracted. "He was quite skilled."

  Hawk issued a grunt. "Rook is one of the most feared mage assassins, and for good reason. For him to be working with the Harbingers does not bode well for us."

  "You think he will attempt to return?" the president asked.

  "Once they know you survived? I do—although not necessarily with the same man."

  The president rose and strode to the window, absently buttoning his shirt. Tess glanced at Hawk, but he seemed equally lost in thought. A moment later the door burst open, allowing a trio of people to enter.

  The first was none other than Vice President Kensey. General Branson and a primly dressed woman stood at his flanks. Without a glance at Hawk or Tess, he stalked to the president's side and spoke into his ear.

  Tess had seen him on TV, but only briefly. This was the first time she had gotten a solid look at the man, and she didn't care for what she saw. Even though she hadn't heard a single word from his mouth, he reminded her of a car salesman. Perhaps he would have been selling high-end Porsches and Corvettes, but that wouldn't change what he was on the inside. A peek at his energies confirmed her opinion.

  Annoyed at being left out of the conversation, Tess cast an echo charm that allowed her to hear it. As an afterthought, she applied the same spell to Hawk. He threw her a glance in gratitude.

  ". . . must be out of your mind to bring them in here. They should be in shackles and prepped for interrogation."

  "They are allies," the president responded evenly.

  "They're agents of a powerful foreign entity. We can't afford to—"

  "Antagonize them," the president finished. "We need them, David. We need the intelligence they can provide."

  Kensey growled and threw Tess a look of pure hatred. "These abilities of theirs have the potential to destroy our planet, and they were instrumental in releasing this . . . cloud. We have a duty to protect the American people from them."

  "I'm trying to protect the country, David," the president said.

  "But we cannot allow—"

  "Stop," the president said, using the word that had made him famous during the election.

  His voice was still calm, but the flash of warning to his eyes was that of a former air craft carrier captain. David glared at him, but fell silent. The president then turned to General Branson.

  "Bring the orb, General."

  Kensey nearly exploded. "You want to reveal the only piece of intelligence we have? The voters won't stand for it if they find out."

  The president turned on him, and the sheer force of his expression caused the taller man to retreat. "I intend to tell the people exactly what I am doing. This isn't a political game, David. These new enemies aren't like any other nation. We need help, and we need it now. Would you have me turn these two away for fear of being voted out of office? Branson, bring me the orb."

  The general nodded and departed. In the ensuing silence Hawk asked, "I assume this to be a magical item?"

  The president nodded. "It arrived within hours of the video being released. It just showed up on my desk and gave its message. While we wait for him to get it, why don't you explain how you knew about the spy?"

  Tess managed to contain her smile. "My parents—the non-mage ones that raised me—work for you. They're part of the Mage Investigation Office, and have been instrumental in eliminating several Harbinger threats to your nation's security. They were the ones to discover an agent had infiltrated the White House. Unfortunately, they didn't know who it was."

  Tess was surprised to realize that she no longer viewed the United States as her home. Had that much changed in her life? Had she changed so much since discovering her magic?

  The president's smile was in direct contrast to Kensey's scowl. "I'm glad to hear you already know about the MIO. When it was first formed there were plenty of people that thought it was a joke. I must admit that I was one of them."

  "Why don't you just go ahead and tell them everything?" Kensey muttered.

  "Excellent suggestion," the president said. Overriding Kensey’s protest, he said, "From the MIO we suspected that your kind existed, but precious little about what you could do. For several years the office seemed to struggle with computer glitches."

  Tess coughed. "That would be technology mages. Several were inside the MIO, preventing it from progressing very far. I believe they work for the mage government, but the ones within the MIO had joined the Harbingers."

  "So why did those issues stop a few months ago?" the woman asked.

  The president motioned to her. "This is my secretary, Anna. She knows everything I know. Go ahead."

  Anna nodded. "The MIO saw a marked increase in effectiveness with no apparent reason. The report of our analysts was that the bugs in their electronic systems were finally worked out."

  Tess was grateful that the president didn't seem perturbed by the revelation of mage spies within the MIO.

  "About two months ago I told my father everything I knew, and he transferred to the MIO. He began working with us to stop the Harbingers."

  Hawk nodded. "We managed to help him discreetly transfer the spies to other locations. Then we helped him improve his security so techno mages couldn't remotely control his network."

  The president frowned. "At some point I would like to get a full understanding of exactly what mages can do."

  They were interrupted by General Branson bearing a secure, steel encased box. He set it on a table and entered a pass code to unlock it. Then he opened it to reveal a handprint scanner. Applying his hand, he flipped the box open to reveal a glass orb. Tess recognized it as the kind used by mages for a dozen purposes.

  "Mr. President, I would like to remain, if you don't mind," Branson said as he stepped back.

  "Of course, Jim, please," he responded, and then turned to Hawk. "I hope you can explain this."

  Hawk stepped to the orb and picked it up. At his touch a shape formed in the glass. Tess flinched as Alice's cold features solidified into shape. It was the first time she had seen her since their battle on Mt. Elbrus.

  Has it really been just seven days?

  "Mr. President, I'm sure you know who I am by now," Alice said, "so I thou
ght it would be courteous to give you a warning. I now command an entity known as the Dark. It is a shadow that will expand from Mt. Elbrus until it swallows the whole of the Earth. It absorbs light and energy, so your weapons are useless.

  "This expansion presents you—and every other world leader—with a singular choice: submit to my rule . . . or be absorbed by the Dark. The countries that defy me will stand helpless as their people are swallowed by darkness. Those taken will have their souls destroyed, and their bodies will march with the expanding shadow, weapons to fight on the Dark's behalf. They will become Twisted, beasts slaved to my will, broken echoes of human beings.

  "If you submit to my rule the Dark will spread across your country but the shadow will remain at your feet, enacting perfect justice. Only those that disobey my law will be taken—before they can do evil. Killers will die before they can kill, criminals will be taken before they steal or cause harm . . . and even politicians will join the Dark if they attempt corrupt acts."

  Tess noticed Kensey shifting his weight at that statement.

  "In those countries that choose to join me, the Dark will act as judge and executioner. Your rampant selfishness and waste will be eliminated, and only those who choose rightly will live to raise their children. You have until the Dark reaches your nation's borders to publically accept my leadership. After that," her gaze narrowed, "your country will cease to exist. Its survival is your choice."

  Her ultimatum delivered, Alice's face faded from view and Hawk returned the orb to the box. A resounding silence followed until Kensey cleared his throat. "The Joint Chiefs believe we should launch an airstrike into the Dark now, and eliminate this threat before it can get much further."

  The president turned to Hawk and Tess. "Would it work?"

  They shook their heads in unison, and Hawk said, "I doubt it. I know firsthand the power of the Dark. If it isn't stopped before it reaches your shores, giving in will be your only option to save millions of lives."

  "How do we even know they are being truthful?" Kensey demanded.

  "Kensey, please gather the War Cabinet."

  The obvious dismissal caused the vice president to flush, but he left without another word. Casting a baleful look at Hawk and Tess, he shut the door behind himself with deliberate disdain. The president released a troubled sigh.

  "Mr. Hawk," he said and turned to face him. "What exactly am I supposed to do?"

  "Stay neutral, for now," Hawk replied. "If you aligned with the mages, it would declare war on Alice. You probably have a few months before the Dark reaches this continent. By then I hope to have a viable solution."

  "You want me to wait?" the president asked.

  "And prepare," Tess said.

  "For what?"

  "For the end of freedom," Hawk said quietly.

  Chapter 5: Echoes from the Past

  Tess coasted in the still night air while she waited for Hawk. Below her, he morphed into his phoenix shape in an abandoned lot several blocks from the White House. Once he'd joined Tess in the air they climbed until the night clouds obscured them. The sounds of sirens were loud as they ascended, echoing through the streets of the capitol.

  For a while neither of them spoke. Then Hawk issued a low rumble. We can't afford to lose the president.

  He used the mindspeak that was common to techno mages and higher-order animals. The mental tone implied much more than the statement.

  You don't think the vice president would be an ally, she responded.

  The vice president is a politician—the president is a soldier. With what's coming we need the latter.

  Tess issued a mental snort. Do we ever need the former?

  Hawk released a humorless laugh, but changed subjects. There is much to be done, and little time.

  The Dark has been unleashed, and is now controlled by Alice. What can we do? If he heard the worry in her thoughts, he didn't comment on it.

  Alice seeks to rob men of choice, and force obedience upon them. If she succeeds it will mean the end of free will. We cannot allow that.

  But I still haven't found the relics to defeat the Dark, she said. And I haven't unlocked the Oracle's Crest yet. She touched the amulet at her throat, wishing it wasn't so difficult to open.

  Perhaps we will not need to defeat it, Hawk said. In the First and Second Draeken Wars closing the portal caused Draeken's army of fiends to be pulled back to where they came from. I believe it's likely that closing the portal would eliminate the Dark from our Earth.

  She blinked in surprise and swerved under a small cloud, not wanting to be chilled by the moisture inside. Hawk flew right through it, his great wings shimmering with steam as he reappeared.

  But the portal Alice opened is deep in the Dark. We would be overcome long before we could reach it, and if you and I became Twisted . . .

  I think it's time you saw what happens to someone who is touched by the Dark.

  How would that help us?

  Because it's not the first time I've seen it.

  Tess shivered as her mind flashed to her first encounter with the Dark. Alice's former lieutenant, Ranson, had opened the portal in a rock troll village. She'd never felt such fear as when the Dark took hold of Hawk's mind and used him to try and kill her. Tess and her friend Derek had managed to stop Ducalik, but not before four Harbingers and one rock troll had been Twisted. Hawk had said he would take care of them.

  Hawk dipped toward the ground, and she followed in his wake. They'd traveled south of Washington, and the smattering of lights indicated only occasional residences. Hawk folded his reddish-gold wings and dropped into a dive.

  A thick forest materialized into view as they plummeted downward. Banking out of the fall, Hawk swept over the trees until a small homestead came into view. Directing his flight toward it, he bled off his speed and then backwinged to land. As he settled on his blackened claws, he began to morph back into his human form. Tess landed next to him as he began to walk.

  "What is this place?" she asked.

  "It was once my home," he replied, and gestured at the older style farmhouse and barn. "I used this residence throughout the American Revolution."

  "You lived on a farm?" Tess was once against struck by everything he had lived through.

  "I even tilled the earth," he said with a faint smile.

  Well into January, the ground was hard and layered with a blanket of snow. Unbroken until it reached the tree line, it glittered as it reflected the moonlight. The scent of frost filled her nostrils and an icy wind bit into her skin. She shivered and called on her magic to heat her body.

  Instead of heading to the two-story home, he turned his steps to the barn. At each step the snow melted, leaving behind a trail of dry ground for her to walk on. She couldn't be certain if the spell was intentional or not, and she wondered again how innate Hawk's magic was.

  He reached the barn and stepped to the small side door. It creaked ominously as it swung open, and he stepped into the darkened interior. Once she was inside he closed the door and sent a ball of fire to hover above them.

  "This way," he said, and strode to the rear of the barn.

  A pair of horses tossed their heads but didn't retreat at their presence. Hawk patted their noses affectionately as he passed. Reaching the haystack at the rear, he walked through the pile as if it wasn't there. Tess blinked as she realized that at least part of the haystack was illusory. She passed through behind him, and her vision became filled with fake straw. The disorientation lasted until the ground gave way beneath her.

  "You could have warned me about the stairs," she grumbled as she rubbed her knee.

  "Sorry," he replied, but it sounded like he was amused.

  The illusion ended at a door hidden beneath the floor of the barn. Hawk put a palm on its surface and it glowed with heat. Then it swung open. He glanced back before he stepped through.

  "The door is set to 528.83 degrees exactly. Any more or less and the entire stairwell will be incinerated."

  "I'll
keep that in mind," Tess said, and stepped into what appeared to be a castle corridor. The similarity to the Guildhall on Auroraq was striking enough to prompt a comment.

  "Is this place part of the Guild?"

  "It is," he said, "although it is actually much older than the Hall on Auroraq."

  "Why didn't you have the Twisted placed there?"

  He paused and met her gaze. "I did, but I had them moved when we returned from Mt. Elbrus. In fact, I evacuated everything to the other guildhalls."

  "Why . . ." Then she understood. "You think Alice would retaliate."

  "She already did." He said it without emotion, but his jaw tightened as he spoke. "The Guildhall on Auroraq was destroyed before we met with the president."

  "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. Her throat constricted with fear and anger.

  The Guildhall on Auroraq had been a secret underground castle. Only the Guild members had known of its existence—them and Alice, whom Hawk had brought in when it appeared she was a victim. Tess felt an ache of fear. She hadn't realized until now that it was one of the few places left that she had considered safe.

  "I learned while I waited to meet you in front of the White House," he replied. "I did not want to distract you."

  "Did everyone get out?" His look said it all. "Who didn't make it?" she asked, steeling herself for the answer.

  "I don't believe you had met them," he said, his voice suddenly weary. "But they were good friends of mine." He paused. "We will speak of this later."

  Tess saw the tension in his eyes, and realized that it didn't matter who had died. Hawk valued every member of the Guild. Their loss would hit him hard, especially since he'd tried to evacuate that location.

  Hawk turned a corner and then opened a side door. Leading her inside, he gestured through a translucent shield of energy. "I thought you would like to see the rock troll first," he said.

  Thick chains bound him to the wall of the cell. Standing at nine feet tall, the rock troll weighed more than a bull and was far stronger. Tattoos and scars lined his thick flesh, bearing testament to his skill in combat. All of these features she recognized—but it was his disfigurement that drew her attention.