by Ian Somers
‘And this,’ the newsreader said as the picture switched to footage that had been recorded on a cell phone. ‘Words fail me …’
There were over a dozen gifted people fighting in a shopping mall. Numerous gifts were clearly identifiable. This would change everything for the gifted people of the world. Hunter and I sat in silence as more footage was shown. Some of it was recorded by film crews, some on phones and some were still images captured by cctv cameras.
‘And if this street battle was not enough,’ the newsreader said soberly, ‘dozens more innocent people were killed today in the north. Again, this footage is genuine. It has not been altered in any fashion.’
We then watched a montage of short clips that had been recorded by those who had been unfortunate enough to be on the M62 that afternoon. The gifted world had been revealed at last to the public.
‘This stuff is on every news channel across the world,’ Canavan said as she turned the TV off.
‘Then the war has begun,’ Hunter said, ‘whether we like it or not.’
‘It won’t last long if it continues in this vein,’ Canavan sighed. ‘This week has been an unmitigated disaster for us.’
‘That’s because there are traitors in our group who are supplying the enemy with inside information. We’ve been tricked into waging this war, Marie. Sending agents to attack Golding is as good as sending them to their death.’
‘Traitors?’ Canavan asked, leaning over the table towards Hunter. ‘Who are these traitors?’
‘That remains unclear. It started when Bentley and myself were working on an investigation that led us to Dublin. We set ourselves up at a hotel and were watching two gifted people who’d been working as spies.’
‘Yes, I remember,’ Canavan nodded, ‘you were sent out to track down Malcolm Wilson.’
‘Wilson, yeah. We picked up his trail, thanks to Bentley’s time-scanning trick, and followed him to Dublin. It didn’t take long to find out that he was allied with Elina Brofeldt.’
‘I remember her,’ Canavan said. ‘She was a very talented mind-switcher.’
‘Her gift of pyrokinesis is far more impressive,’ I added.
‘After a couple of days,’ Hunter continued, ‘Brofeldt and Wilson were joined by Vanev and your gifted civilian, Verbannk. I felt at that point we were outmatched and I called Ballentine for help. He said he’d send in the Belfast team to take over from us. The next thing we know we’re under attack.’
‘You think Dominic betrayed you?’
‘There’s a strong possibility that he’s the one who sold us out.’
‘Michael, are you sure you’re not allowing your personal feelings about Ballentine to cloud your judgement?’
‘I’ve given you the basic facts of what transpired. What’s your opinion?’
‘You might be right. I would still rather be certain of his guilt before calling for his head.’
‘We are running out of time, Marie. Bentley found some documents at Brofeldt’s apartment. One set of files contained a hit list. Dozens of the top Guild agents were on the list, and it included information that could only have come from within the highest ranks of our group. When we questioned Brofeldt she said that she and many others are in league with The Master and that he has been plotting against us for years. She also claimed that they are now in control of Golding Scientific.’
‘Not to mention the assassin who nearly killed us both on the M62,’ I added.
‘Yes, they’ve employed Boxer. He’s the one who was behind the carnage on the motorway this afternoon.’
Canavan was quiet for a long while. She’d been cautious, even fearful, as she entered the house and had become more and more agitated as Hunter told her of the rogue group that were working against us. But she’d held up pretty well until Boxer was mentioned. Now she was just sitting there staring into space, hunched over, hands quivering.
‘I don’t know what to do, Marie,’ Hunter admitted. He was pacing the tiled floor and had a pained expression on his worn face. ‘For the first time in my life I can’t protect the Guild and the people who are dear to me. There are enemies hidden everywhere. And the ones I face cannot easily be destroyed.’
‘You cannot destroy Boxer,’ she said. ‘There are only two people I know of who would stand a chance: Armitage and Sterling.’
‘And Sterling is hidden away and can’t be contacted,’ Hunter replied. ‘I’ve tried Armitage and there’s been no answer.’
‘Armitage has been working on a very important case.’
‘What could be more important that this war?’
‘She’s been hunting Janice Powell …’
‘Janice?’ I said incredulously. ‘Janice Powell is one of us. She’s a really good person.’
‘She used to be,’ Canavan said dryly as she turned to look me in the eye. ‘She is no longer herself, though. Janice has been doing intense training with her tutor, Martina Kuhr, and has been pushing her gift of space-rupting to the limits.’ Canavan swallowed hard and gave a slight shake of her head. ‘Three weeks ago she went beyond the known limits of that gift.’
‘That gift is dangerous,’ Hunter said. He’d stopped pacing and was standing next to me, his eyes wide and fixed on Canavan. ‘Kuhr should know that!’
‘Kuhr craves notoriety. She always has. I fear now that she will become notorious because of what happened.’
‘What happened?’ I asked.
‘The most gifted space-rupters can break the barrier of the known universe, slip through it into an alternate existence – a parallel universe. There are no restrictions in terms of time and space in that parallel universe and that allows them to move great distances in a split second, before they re-enter our universe. That’s how the pure gift is used. The problem is that we know very little of the other side that they enter momentarily. Even the best space-rupters only enter that place for a second or two.’
‘There’s a five second rule, right?’ Hunter asked. ‘Anything over five seconds in the parallel existence is deemed unsafe.’
‘That was the rule. In truth, very few are strong enough to remain there even that long. Janice is different. She’s the best space-rupter we’ve ever encountered.’
‘She went beyond the five seconds?’ I asked.
‘Way beyond. Janice, under duress from Kuhr, spent three minutes on the other side.’
‘A three-minute jump?’ Hunter bawled. ‘I’m surprised it didn’t kill her.’
‘It would have been better if it had. Janice returned from the jump and was … not herself. She murdered Kuhr and some of the other students she had been with. The ones that survived said she had peculiar powers and was crazed and violent.’
‘So, the jump broke her mind,’ Hunter said. ‘That’s hardly surprising.’
‘Her mind was not broken. Her mind was overcome by some unknown force. The Guild believe that a life force from the other side latched itself onto her and gained control over her mind.’
‘An alien?’ I asked, stupidly.
‘We have no idea what it is. All we know is that she has powers that have never before been witnessed and that she is bent on destruction.’
‘Seems far-fetched to me,’ I said. ‘There has to be a more plausible explanation.’
‘Elizabeth Armitage believed it. And she is not the whimsical kind.’
‘Do you know where Armitage is now?’ Hunter interrupted. ‘We need her with us if we have any hope to bring this to a successful conclusion.’
‘I have no idea where she could be.’
‘Then there is little hope for the Guild.’
‘I never thought I’d see you give in so easily.’
‘I like a straight fight!’ Hunter shouted. ‘All this cloak and dagger nonsense makes me weary.’
‘They will lose in a straight fight,’ Canavan said with a smile. ‘They work in the shadow because they fear warriors like you.’
‘Stop trying to make me feel better,’ Hunter said. ‘I’ll only feel
better when this is at an end.’
‘How can we bring this to an end?’ Canavan asked. ‘It’s too much for the three of us to contend with.’
‘You know,’ Hunter grunted, ‘I think I preferred when you were trying to make me feel better.’
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Secrets in the Dark
All the talk of betrayal, plots and super villains made Canavan very agitated. By midnight she was so stressed that she cut off the conversation and used her masterful skills of light-tuning to weave a cloak around the house and the surrounding grounds. We would still be visible to thermal imaging devices but it would provide us with some added security. I felt confident enough that we would not be tracked down that night. Beyond morning was a different story; I knew our enemy was clever and determined enough to find us sooner or later, whether we were cloaked or not.
Later we convened in the sitting room and discussed the shadowy group that had waged the clandestine war against the Guild. Hunter and Canavan argued over who they really were. My Scottish friend claimed they were nothing more than a band of lost souls and mercenaries that had been joined together and galvanised by a charismatic leader. Canavan believed there had to be a more structured organisation responsible for it all. She went on to suggest that JNCOR might be the ones who had orchestrated the attacks. She also thought that some remnant of the Eastern Shadow could have been responsible. Hunter dismissed her suggestions. I remained silent until they discussed the identity of the mysterious leader.
‘I’ve given this question quite a lot of thought,’ Hunter mused. ‘I can’t figure out how someone that strong, persuasive and evil could go unnoticed.’
‘He must be very cunning,’ Canavan added. ‘Anyone who could infiltrate and seize control of an organisation like Golding’s must be a master of disguise and extremely intelligent. Let’s not forget that Golding is very calculating, suspicious and ruthless. The Guild have tried to place a spy in his organisation for years. We failed every single time thanks to Derek Shaw.’
‘But he’s been dead for a couple of years,’ I pointed out.
‘He has,’ Canavan answered, ‘but he had set up a complex system of security checks that still remains. Golding Scientific is as impenetrable as it’s always been.’
‘So how could the enemy do it if we could not?’ Hunter wondered. ‘This leader must be a bloody genius.’
‘This person must be known to us,’ his mentor replied. ‘It has to be someone we’ve encountered before. It would take influence to be capable of placing spies in both Golding Scientific and the Guild of the True. Could it be Kondo? He liked to place his minions in competitor groups.’
‘Who’s Kondo?’ I asked.
‘Former leader of the Jin Assassins,’ Hunter answered. ‘He’s a brutal man – so brutal that his own followers turned on him and sent him into exile. He hasn’t been heard of for almost five years. He does have a maniacal streak and is very persuasive. He never had much of an influence or an interest in the west, though.’
‘There could be a more obvious explanation,’ Canavan said. ‘Perhaps this master is the traitor within the Guild.’
‘I have considered this,’ Hunter nodded. ‘It is plausible. That makes it imperative that we identify and execute this traitor. It’ll be like killing two birds with one stone.’
‘Maybe it’s the Kematian,’ I blurted out. ‘Everything would point to him. I can’t see why you don’t discuss that possibility.’
‘That’s not a name I thought I would hear today.’ Canavan gave a nervous chuckle then cast her worried gaze at Hunter. ‘I can safely say it’s not him.’
‘Why are you so sure?’
‘He’s dead, Bentley,’ Hunter answered for her. ‘And so will you be if you mention his name again! Anyway, I’m sick of guessing the name of this phantom. He’ll reveal himself soon enough. What’s more important right now is that we plan our next move.’
‘What can we do?’ I asked.
‘We have to find out if Ballentine is the traitor or not. If he is, then we can kill him and wrench the Guild from the grip of these spies. If he turns out to be clean, we will have a powerful ally in the heart of the Guild.’
‘How can we uncover his true motives?’ asked Canavan.
‘We go fishing,’ Hunter smiled mischievously. ‘Bentley and I will be the bait.’
‘I don’t like the sound of this,’ I said, nervously rubbing my forehead. I hated when Hunter smiled like that. It usually meant we were to put our lives at risk.
‘Marie, you will travel to the Palatium at dawn. Go there and do everything you can to find Armitage. I will contact Ballentine again. I will tell him exactly where we are and to come alone.’
‘Fat chance of him coming here alone,’ I said. ‘Why would he?’
‘He will come here alone if he is genuine. If he is the traitor, then Boxer will be the one who shows up.’
‘That’s not a good plan!’ I exclaimed. ‘We lure Boxer here so he can kill us both?’
‘We can evade Boxer if he does arrive. Then we will go to the Palatium and deal with Ballentine.’
‘The Palatium is full of people who believe you to be an enemy assassin,’ Canavan argued. ‘It would not be wise for you to go there and challenge a high ranking agent.’
‘That’s why I need you to find Armitage. She will trust me over Ballentine.’
‘Sounds like a fantastic plan,’ I said, getting to my feet. ‘Now, I’m going upstairs for a nap. Wake me up in the morning.’
‘A nap?’ Hunter asked. ‘How can you nap at a time like this?’
‘I’m tired and will be stronger in the morning with a good sleep behind me.’
‘Let him go,’ Canavan told her former pupil. ‘The boy probably hasn’t slept properly in days.’
‘In almost a week,’ I corrected her as I left the room. I gave an exaggerated yawn as I passed into the hallway just for good measure. ‘See you in the morning.’
I was not in the least bit tired. It would have been impossible to sleep in such a circumstance, but I wanted them to believe I was exhausted. I knew they were holding things back from me and would not speak openly in my presence. I needed to hear what they truly wanted to say to each other. I needed the truth about what was really going on.
I stomped noisily up the stairs and into the bedroom above the sitting room. I then made quite a racket as I climbed onto the bed. I sat motionless for almost half an hour before using my gift to levitate into the air and across the room to the door. I never once made the slightest sound as I hovered over the banisters and stairs into the hallway below. I’d performed this manoeuvre before, when I was living in Scotland. That time I overheard Ballentine and Hunter talking about the Zalechs. This time I was hoping I’d eavesdrop on a more revealing conversation.
I floated along the hallway then gently eased myself onto the floor, right next to the door that I had purposely left ajar.
‘A dark time,’ Hunter was saying. ‘I’ve never known such evil days.’
‘Nor I,’ I heard Canavan say. ‘There is evil everywhere. I am starting to think those apocalyptic prophecies of Sarah Fisher’s may actually be true.’
‘She’s had more?’
‘I won’t burden you with them. They are too dark to contemplate right now.’
‘Yeah,’ Hunter sighed. ‘I don’t need any more on my plate.’
‘You have too much on your plate, Michael.’
‘You mean Bentley?’
‘Yes, I do …’ There was a long pause before she spoke again and for a moment I thought I’d been busted. I was just about to levitate back to the staircase when she spoke once more. ‘He keeps speaking of the Kematian. Why is he so hung up on it?’
‘He’s grown obsessed with that tale. I curse Romand for having told him in the first place.’
‘That was part of Romand’s orders. He had to say that to the boy.’
‘I know, I know. It’s just very unsettling. For Bentley, of all pe
ople, to keep asking about the Kematian. I’m starting to think he knows more than he admits.’
‘You think he knows the truth?’
‘No. There aren’t many who know, and none of them would tell Bentley.’
‘So why does he keep asking?’
‘I don’t know why! Sometimes I think he’s more trouble than he’s worth, Marie.’
‘He’s worth all the trouble in the word, Michael.’
‘Is he? Is he really?’
‘You would rather him dead?’
‘I didn’t say I want him dead. He’s like a little brother to me now. I would fight to the death to keep him safe. I argue with him constantly, but that’s only because we spend almost all of our time in peril. We’d be the best of friends if we saw a few months of peace.’
‘He’s very fond of you. I can see it every time he watches you speak.’
‘Bentley’s a good kid to have around. But the pressure of protecting him is becoming too great for me, Marie. You cannot begin to understand the strain I’ve been under since I took him under my wing. He should have been brought to the Palatium two years ago. It’s too much of a burden for one person to bear.’
‘He has to find his own way in the world, Michael. You know this. If he had lived at the Palatium he might have come under the influence of the traitors. Hasn’t it worked out better that he has lived uninfluenced?’
‘He’s hardly uninfluenced, Marie. His every step has been guarded and guided.’
‘But he is becoming his own man. It had to be that way.’
‘I know. He’ll be a good man, too. I’m sure of it.’
‘And the headaches you spoke of, are they getting worse?’
‘He’s starting to remember things now. That worries me.’
‘It will be all over soon. I know it will.’
‘It better! And I will need a long vacation after it is done.’
‘And you’ll get it. The Guild owes you a great deal for the service you have given this last year.’
‘The Guild may fall before it pays me back.’
‘We’ll get through this. Even if we have to rebuild the Guild.’
