Path of the Heretic (The Beholder Book 2)

by Ivan Amberlake

  Those bullies. They used to make fun of him, but a couple of years later he made them regret it. First, he broke Drake Connor’s neck and made it look like an accident. No one even suspected that it was a murder. No one except Coy and Johnson, of course. Every time he passed them by on the street, he cracked a smug smile. With a morbid fascination he stared into their eyes, seeing there nothing but fear.

  They’d never dared touch him since, giving him a wide berth, but the hurt they’d caused Tyler was so deep-rooted he couldn’t let them get away with it. He waited another year before he avenged himself completely by pushing both off the cliff.

  Tyler smiled in the dark. They’d gotten what they deserved. He came over to a tree with branches that writhed in all directions and grasped the lowest bough, pulling himself up. His hands remembered the days when he could scamper up a tree in seconds. He worked his way through the dark and found a safe spot in the greenery where no one would see him.

  More memories gushed. How Pariah had found him and shown the Sight to him, the most fascinating reality he could never imagine existing. As much as teaching Tyler the laws of this magnificent world, Pariah taught him how to kill by using the Energy. After a few tasks he realized he was trained as a merciless killer, with not an ounce of compassion for his victims. His physical strength combined with Energy never gave them a chance to escape.

  If not for that accident. What happened after it came as a haze. The faces had blurry outlines. Jason, Matt, Debbie. These names meant nothing to him. The more he thought about them, the more they irritated him.

  Tyler closed his eyes, listening to the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze, the hooting of an owl in the distance, the soft steps of a young deer that strayed into a dangerous zone without knowing it yet.

  There were someone else’s steps there. “Woods, climb down! We’re leaving.”

  It was Cryer’s hoarse voice echoing through the dark expanse.

  Tyler looked down and spotted a dark figure approaching the tree where he was sitting. With swift movements, he hopped off one branch, then another, and landed on the ground in front of Cryer.

  “It’s time,” Cryer said and turned to go back to the estate.

  Anticipating his first task since his return, Tyler was excited to be back with the Darksighted. Pariah was right. Darkness was where he belonged.

  Chapter 24

  When Jason got back to the apartment, Violet was tending to Matt’s cut lip, dabbing at it with a tissue. Alice was sitting next to him, hugging his big arm and leaning against his shoulder.

  “You’re back,” Violet exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

  Alice let go of Matt’s arm and ran towards Jason, giving him a hug. Jason responded with a warm embrace.

  “Glad you’re safe, man,” Matt said, his thumbs up.

  “How are you?” Jason asked. “How’s Tonia?”

  “He didn’t touch Alice and me,” Violet said, giving Matt ice wrapped in a cloth. “Matt’s worse.”

  “Yeah, my head’s still buzzing,” he said, applying the cloth to the bruise.

  “The guards arrived just in time, so Tyler didn’t touch me and Alice,” Violet said. “Tonia got hurt, but she said she was okay and needed some rest.”

  “What the hell happened to him?” Matt asked. “Never saw him this way.”

  Jason sighed. “I’m afraid Pariah changed him when they were fighting.”

  “What do you mean, changed?” Matt asked. He and Violet stared at him with apprehension. Only Alice wasn’t concerned much, playing with Matt’s fingers.

  Jason told them what had happened at Piccadilly Circus, and how Tyler didn’t remember either him or Debbie.

  “So Tyler is one of them now?” Matt scratched the back of his head with his free hand. “Unbelievable.”

  Violet came over to Jason and gave him a comforting hug. “What are you going to do now?” she asked.

  “I’m leaving for a day or two.”

  “I’m coming with you, man,” Matt said.

  Jason shook his head. “No, you’d better stay here and watch over Debbie. She needs someone beside her.”

  “Then I’m going,” Violet volunteered, giving him a resolute look.

  “And what about Alice?”

  “Tonia and I will take care of her.” Matt put his arm over Alice’s fragile shoulders. “We are great friends, aren’t we?” He winked at her.

  The girl looked up at him, then at Violet and Jason. She leaned her head again Matt’s shoulder and giggled. “Yes, we are.”

  Matt turned to Jason. “See? Best friends forever.”

  Jason raised an eyebrow. “All right, but I warn you, Alice, Matt is very strict. Will you behave yourself?”

  The girl grabbed Matt’s hand playfully. “I will.”

  Matt stroked her hair, smiling.

  “We’ll set off in the morning then,” Jason told Violet.

  “Okay. Now you need some rest,” she said. “It was a hard day.”

  Jason sighed. “It was a hard day for everyone. You should get some sleep as well. I’m afraid our journey is not going to be easy.”

  “Where are you going?” Matt asked.

  “I need to try and find Emily’s estate.”

  Matt nodded. “Good luck then. And be careful.”

  Jason took another look at Debbie, at the empty bed where Tyler used to lie, then he and Violet left.

  “Are you sure you want to go?” he asked her, hoping she’d reconsider.

  “I’m going with you. Period.”

  They wished each other good night, and then each paced to their room. Jason was worried about Violet. If something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.

  He plopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, Tyler’s face imprinted on his mind. He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

  Chapter 25

  Damien sat in the dark of the main room, peering out of the window. It was early morning, the sky above a curtain of black, gray sunlight peeking through cracks between the trees. Ghost-like silhouettes weaved their way through the underbrush towards the estate. The taller of the two was Cryer; Damien recognized him by his impressive build and the cigarette smoke he occasionally puffed into the air. The other one was Tyler.

  Staying at Pariah’s estate was too dangerous. Any moment Tyler’s memories could return to him, and that would be the end of Damien. On the other hand, he couldn’t get the idea of taking another look at Pariah’s vial out of his head. He’d have stolen it if it wasn’t for Laura and Jessica. He was worried that lately he’d lost connection with them. They’d just vanished, and Damien couldn’t find them anywhere. For now he’d have to keep pretending that he was Darksighted through and through.

  The two silhouettes were drawing near when Catherine appeared on the front porch, her arms crossed in front of her. By the satisfied look on her face Damien figured out she had gone hunting. She always did before another task. Hunting turned her on; it spurred her to be even more relentless and efficient than she actually was.

  Cryer and Tyler joined Catherine, and together they entered the main hall. Passing by Damien, Catherine tilted her head, indicating that they were going upstairs and he should go with them.

  Damien pushed himself up from the comfy chair and followed them. When they reached Pariah’s office, Björn Iwers was already there. Pariah rubbed his wrists, then wrapped his fingers around his vial while outlining their strategy. They were going where Damien and Cryer had once found the entrance to Emily’s estate.

  “I know Walker’s going to be there, and he’s likely to have the girl with him,” Pariah added with a smile.

  No one asked him how he knew that, but Damien decided to keep his mouth shut. To his dismay, Pariah hadn’t changed his mind about Damien teaching Iwers, and ordered them to start right away. All six of them exited the building and Damien watched Pariah, Cryer, Catherine, and Tyler dash towards the forest and disappear among the trees.

  To Damien’s disappointme
nt, Pariah had the vial with him. No chance to find out more about it.

  It felt weird to be left alone together with the new one.

  “I didn’t introduce myself properly last night. Damien Bale.” He stretched his hand to Björn. With a smug expression on his face, the Swede looked at his hand, then squeezed it reluctantly.

  Not that Damien enjoyed the pleasantries. He didn’t. Especially when it came to sons of bitches like the one before him.

  With the handshake Damien was able to procure all the information he needed about the guy. And there it came: the images of the person’s past he thought he’d better not know. New Darksighted were as dangerous as the old ones, only in different ways. New ones couldn’t often handle the gift they were given. Their lack of control could lead to massive destruction, and quite often even experienced Sighted couldn’t do anything to defend themselves.

  The man before him wasn’t like that though. The wish to destroy overwhelmed him. He stank of blood, pure blood that had been shed not more than a day before. And also that morbid fascination in his eyes. It caused shivers to run over Damien’s hands.

  “Björn,” he barked back. “Björn Iwers.”

  Looking at Iwers, Damien realized Pariah wished to solve two problems at once by making him deal with this newbie. First, he made sure Damien wouldn’t get away to warn Jason Walker of the impending danger. Second, Pariah was now free to put an end to the Beholder and other Lightsighted, with no one to interfere. No wonder both he and Catherine were so cheerful.

  “Behind the estate there are training grounds,” Damien said. “Let’s see what you can do. Then I’m going to show you how to control your Energy and kill your enemies in a more efficient way than by using guns.”

  Björn’s eyes sparkled with maniacal glee. “About time,” he said gruffly and walked first.

  Damien looked back to the forest. Pariah’s trail was gone; there was no one here except him and Björn. When they walked behind the estate, Björn slowed his pace and asked, “Where are the training grounds?”

  Damien knew he had to do it now. He grabbed the back of Iwers’ neck, pushed it down and kicked him hard in the face with his knee. Iwers toppled to the ground, unconscious.

  “Rule number one: Never turn your back on anyone you don’t trust.”

  Leaving the Swede lying on the ground, Damien strode briskly towards the gate and broke into a run. He had to find a way to warn Walker and Violet Jones. It might cost him his life, but he’d never let Tyler ruin what they’d been preparing for so long.

  ***

  Jason’s eyes fluttered at the light seeping in through the window. He’d never thought it possible, but he felt fully rested for the first time in ages. He was sitting on the same chair where he’d first sensed the other reality.

  Someone stood next to the high arched window, playing with a stray lock of dark brown hair. She looked too much like … Emily.

  Jason looked around. It was Tyler’s estate. And yet it looked somewhat different. Is it because of the light seeping in through the window? Maybe all that happened was just an illusion, he hoped, his heart beating wildly. Maybe it was a nightmare, and I’m finally back?

  He shook his head. No, it doesn’t happen like this. You can’t just snap your fingers and change the world.

  He removed the quilt Emily had covered him with, grabbed the armrests and pushed himself up.

  Even though he moved quietly, still afraid she’d disappear, Emily turned her head. The sun hanging low over the horizon caressed her beautiful curls with its ochre rays, made them glow, giving her flawless skin a golden sheen.

  “So beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked with a sweet voice.

  At first Jason didn’t realize what she was talking about. Then she looked back out of the window. The sun touched the fields with its rim, turning the skies into a rich palette of pink, orange, crimson, purple, and other colors.

  Not as beautiful as you are. Jason couldn’t take his eyes away from her. Her amber eyes glowed bright. Before him was the Emily he’d fallen in love with, the Emily who had never betrayed him.

  “I’d do anything to make this,” he waved his hand around, “real.” He stepped closer to her and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. Emily responded by closing her eyes and smiling.

  “Isn’t it real?” she asked.

  “No, it’s not.”

  She opened her eyes, and some of the amber scintillation died in them. “How do you know?”

  That’s an easy one. “Through the pain you’ve caused me,” Jason replied bitterly.

  For a moment she lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to happen this way.”

  Jason scoffed. “No, no, no. You haven’t done anything. My subconscious created you, and it projected this dream. There’s another Emily who did it.”

  “Have you ever considered that you might exist in two worlds?” She looked at him expectantly.

  “You’re talking in riddles.” Jason sighed. “I should’ve gotten used to it by now. Can’t you just tell me where to find you?”

  Emily smiled mirthlessly, then took him by the hand, her fingers entwined with his. Jason basked in her proximity, unable to look away from her.

  “I can’t,” Emily said. “You just said I’m the projection of your subconscious. I say and do whatever you want me to.”

  “Damn it.” Jason looked out of the window, contemplating the green pastures stretching far and wide like silken fabric. “I do have a question that you can help me with. Do you know where I can find Aaron Sloane?”

  Emily’s hand twitched, but her fingers didn’t let go of Jason. “You wanted to forget about me so badly that you’ve forgotten the answer. It’s in between Light and Darkness. You’ll just have to find the Ethan tree.”

  Emily stood on the tips of her toes and brushed her lips against Jason’s.

  Jason closed his eyes and snapped out of the dream, wide awake, thoughts rushing through his head. In between Light and Darkness. Why didn’t I figure it out earlier?

  What worried him was that the wound on his right hand hurt worse than ever before.

  ***

  By the dark and the silence occasionally broken by a quiet snoring coming from Matt’s room, Jason knew it was early morning. Trying not to make too much noise, he scrambled out from under the blanket, dressed, and wandered out of the room. In the Sight Violet’s aura burned bright, and it was easy to find her sleeping peacefully, her chestnut hair falling down in tangled curls. He squatted down next to her bed and shook her lightly by the shoulder. “Violet, wake up. It’s time,” he whispered.

  When she didn’t move, he gave it another try, and she jolted out of sleep, her eyebrows knotted in confusion. She probably couldn’t see Jason in the dark so he whispered. “It’s me. Jason. It’s time to go.”

  Violet groaned then turned over to face him. “I’m coming,” she murmured, but lowered her head on the pillow and stayed put.

  “Yeah, right.” Jason smiled.

  First he considered not taking her with him, but then he knew she would be furious, so he scooped her in his hands and pulled her up. Violet twined her hands around his neck and rested her head on his chest as he walked out of the room and then out of the apartment and down the stairs. The street was empty, but Jason cringed at the idea of anyone seeing him taking Violet from the underground like this.

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to walk from here,” he said, chuckling softly. “People might think I want to kidnap you.”

  Violet opened her eyes just a crack, suppressing a yawn. “Okay, put me down.”

  “I’d like to check on Dave first before we set off,” he said.

  Violet nodded, leaning against Jason’s shoulder and yawning as she rubbed her eyes.

  Jason enjoyed having Violet around, someone to care about. He put his arm around her—in a friendly way, he told himself, but the gesture made his heart thump faster. It had been too long since Emily was close by, and he had started to forg
et what it felt like. He looked at Violet.

  After a few minutes they reached Dave’s apartment. A guard—the man who had kept firing questions at Jason before—stood outside with a grim expression.

  “How’s Dave?” Jason asked.

  “Better. Turns out you were right. The wound doesn’t bother him when no one’s around.”

  “I’m leaving for a day, so I’d like to have a word with him.”

  The man shifted his weight from one foot to the other, uneasiness in his eyes. “He’s resting. I’m not sure you should disturb him.”

  “Who’s there?” a voice came from behind the door.

  “It’s Jason Walker, sir,” the man responded.

  “Ah, let him in.”

  Still wary of Jason, the man stepped aside. Jason and Violet entered the apartment to find Dave sitting on the bed, covered with a blanket, a book in his lap.

  “Glad you decided to drop in before leaving,” Dave said.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Much better, thanks. Now will you sit down,” he pointed to two armchairs in the corner of the room, “and tell me what it is that you wanted to ask of me?”

  Both took their seats.

  “We’re going away for a day or two,” Jason said. “I suppose the entrance to the underground is going to shift to another place soon, and I was wondering how we can find our way back here. There’s always one person who knows where the entrance is. It used to be Emily before.”

  Dave gave Jason a stern look then put the book onto the bedside table. “I’m afraid you’re not gonna like it, but after Emily was gone, Tyler became the one who knew how to find the entrance, so he knows how to get back here.”

  Jason’s heart sank. “It’s weird that when I tried to stop him, he didn’t recognize me.”

  “That was temporary memory loss,” Dave said. “It happens sometimes when a Sighted changes sides, but it doesn’t last long.”

  Jason puffed in frustration. Nothing boded well for them. Leaving the City of Tranquility unprotected might be too dangerous for everyone within. Violet shifted in her seat. “That means Tyler may show the Darksighted where the tunnel is?”