Sebastian knelt down beside her and gripped her hair, holding it tightly and pulling it until Asami felt it would tear from her scalp. He brought his face inches from hers and hissed as he spoke. “Don’t you see how hopelessly outclassed you are? Even with the power of a soulless creature like yourself, the three of you had no chance of success.”
Asami did something that caught Sebastian by surprise—she laughed.
“And what is so amusing?” he asked.
“Not so good at counting, are you?” asked Asami. “Didn’t notice someone’s missing, huh?”
Sebastian released his grip and nearly jumped to his feet. His eyes scanned the terrace and the property. Asami was at his feet, what remained of Roland was now blowing in the Caribbean wind, and he saw Lucas swimming to the shore from the ocean. But there was still one person unaccounted for.
He couldn’t find any sight of Elisa.
CHAPTER TWENTY
While her companions provided the means to distract Sebastian, Elisa slipped into the house and went up to the second floor. Sebastian had a study overlooking the terrace and the waterfront with a balcony. It was on that balcony where she began to set up, laying out the documents she had copied from the Dark Priest’s body. The balcony’s railing was solid concrete and provided enough of a barrier to hide her as she stood on her knees.
She held her arms out to the sides and began to speak the words of the spell. It had been a long time since she spoke Arabic and so she was worried whether her pronunciation was correct—one slight mistake and this spell could turn out very differently.
Elisa had her head pointed to the heavens, her eyes closed tightly. As she spoke the words in a low voice, the clouds gathered in the sky and quickly darkened. Thunder rang out in the distance.
The sounds of the battle distracted her. Elisa didn’t want to stop the spell, but she couldn’t help taking a peek over the balcony. Down below, she watched in stunned horror as Sebastian drained the very life from Roland. She then watched as he beat on Asami.
Time was growing short. Elisa knew it wouldn’t be long before Sebastian discovered her location and she had to move fast. She drew one of the kukri from its sheathes behind her back and held out her left hand. Elisa pressed the blade into her palm, slicing into her skin and drawing blood. The kukri was sheathed and Elisa coated her index and middle fingers in her fluids. She pushed the papers aside and with her blood, smeared a sigil onto the balcony’s stone surface.
Elisa stood and backed into the study, looking up at the sky. She finished the spell, reading off the last of the incantation. The thunder grew more fierce with lightning flashing across the sky. Torrential rain came down in buckets.
And the sigil burned.
***
Sebastian looked up and saw the skies change. He could feel the power of the Necronomicon at work, like there was something worming its way inside of him. Sebastian ran to the table where he left the pages forged from Hudson’s skin. But when he laid his hands upon it, it was like trying to take hold of red-hot coals. And for the first time since he had stolen the Dark Priest’s power for his own, Sebastian felt pain.
“Hill!” he screamed.
Pain wracked his body, radiating out from his intestines into every inch of his body. It caused Sebastian to fall to his knees. He cried out in agony, every muscle in his body tensing. There was a fire inside him, burning him from the inside out.
“No! You granted me power! You can’t take it from me!”
The cobblestones cracked beneath his knees, flames seeping out from them. Asami scrambled to get as far away from the fissures, which all radiated out from the spot on which Sebastian knelt.
Tremors rocked the earth and the thunder cracked with a loud boom. The cracks widened and Sebastian found the ground below him quickly vanishing. Between the fissures, something came through. Several things, in fact. Roots—or perhaps they were tentacles—that wrapped around his arms first. Then his legs. And his torso was next with his neck and head last. Sebastian’s mouth was still exposed and the screams echoed even as he was pulled down into a fiery abyss.
Once Sebastian vanished beneath the earth, the fissures sealed up with no trace they’d ever occurred. The storm ceased and the clouds parted, allowing the warm, tropical sun to bathe the now-vacant estate in its rays.
Elisa quickly ran downstairs and out the back door. She immediately went to Asami’s side and helped her partner to her feet. Asami limped slightly, leaning against Elisa for support. Lucas joined them a few moments later, soaking wet.
“You missed it,” said Asami.
“Caught it from the shore. Thought it was better to keep my distance,” said Lucas. He felt along the spot where Sebastian was sucked into the earth with his foot, shaking his head. “Did that…really happen?”
Elisa and Asami exchanged glances then snickered.
“What?” asked Lucas.
“We’ve seen crazier,” said Elisa.
Lucas turned and stared at the pile of ash and bone that was once Roland. He took solemn steps as he approached the remains. Asami and Elisa just watched silently while Lucas removed the pack of cigarillos Roland had given him. Lucas took two from the pack and held them both between his teeth as he lit them. He took one from his mouth and dropped it into the ashes. After removing the second and exhaling the smoke, he said, “Guess these aren’t that bad.”
“He was mostly an asshole,” said Asami. “But at least he came through in the end.”
“What about Clarke?” asked Lucas, facing the two women. “Think he’s really gone?”
“You saw what happened,” said Asami. “Think anyone’s walking away from that?”
Lucas shrugged.
“Clarke’s power was given to him by whatever those things were. I don’t think we’ll see him again.” Elisa glanced over her shoulder at the Necronomicon. “But we should probably make sure that thing doesn’t fall into anyone’s hands.”
“Sure about that?” asked Lucas. “Could probably be worth something.”
Elisa glared at him. “Don’t make me stab you, Davalos.”
Lucas sighed and took another drag on his cigarillo. “Right, right. Fair enough.” He strolled over to the Necronomicon and held the burning end of the tobacco leaves against its surface. It didn’t take long for the pages forged from human skin to erupt in flames. Lucas placed the cigarillo back into his mouth and puffed on it as he watched the fire devour the skin, the scent of burnt flesh filling the air as the pages were reduced to ash.
“Still planning to ride off into the sunset?” asked Elisa.
“Yup,” he said. “Still got people on my trail, so it’s best to go back off the grid.”
“Be careful from now on,” said Elisa.
Lucas grinned. “Hey Elsie, next time do me a favor and don’t do me any favors. Don’t think I can survive your particular brand of assistance again.”
“I’ll see you in Hell, Lucas Davalos,” said Elisa with a smirk.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The heads of departments for the Faculty of Humanities at Burroughs University sat in silence as they watched the clock. Max Finch was among them, staring down at the table. He heard the sound of throat-clearing from the man beside him. Max glanced over at Arthur Siminsky, who held out his watch for Max to see and tapped it a few times with his finger. Max sighed and continued to stare at the table.
The door to the room opened and Elisa Hill entered, drawing the attention of the entire review board. She was dressed in a dark suit with her hair pulled back into a bun and wore a pair of dark-rimmed glasses. In her hand was a large envelope. Siminsky rose from his seat. “Dr. Hill. So good of you to finally join us.” He gestured to the only empty seat at the table. “Please, have a seat.”
Elisa pulled out the chair and sat down, setting the envelope on the table in front of her. She caught Max’s disappointed stare but tried not to let it affect her. She knew what had to be said here.
“Now that our…gues
t of honor has arrived, we can begin,” said Siminsky. “Dr. Hill, this review board was assembled to discuss—”
“You can stop right there, Dean Siminsky,” said Elisa.
Siminsky balked at her interruption. “I beg your pardon?”
“I know exactly what you’re going to say—I’ve neglected my duties as an instructor and a researcher, my absences have been a hindrance to my work here, and this is unacceptable for a member of this faculty.” Elisa made eye contact with Siminsky. “That’s about the size of it, correct?”
“Yes, but given the recommendation of several faculty members, in addition to positive student evaluations, I’d like to propose a probationary status,” said Max.
“I appreciate the gesture, Professor Finch,” said Elisa, “but that won’t be necessary.”
Elisa looked at each member of the faculty board. “I’m grateful this opportunity to defend myself, but the truth is that the allegations levied against me have tremendous weight and this fine institution deserves better than I’m able to provide.” She slid the envelope across the table over to Siminsky. “That’s why I’m tendering my resignation from Burroughs University.”
Everyone at the table stared at Elisa—and the envelope—in stunned silence. Max watched his former student with equal amounts of surprise, anger, and disappointment.
Siminsky reached out and took the envelope in both hands. He looked at its blank, brown surface, then cast his eyes up at Elisa. “Dr. Hill, I hope you realize what you’re doing here. This will jeopardize your chances for future employment at this institution. Moreover, it could very well affect your ability to find employment at other schools.”
“I understand that, sir.”
Siminsky set the folder down on the table and pushed it into the center, but kept his fingers on it. “I’m going to give you one more chance—are you sure you want to hand this document to me today? Would you like some more time to think it over, perhaps listen to what your colleagues have to say?”
“Thank you, sir, but my mind is made up.” Elisa pushed her chair out and stood, keeping her hands on the table. “I apologize for wasting your time today and I’m sure that you will find someone far more qualified to fill my position. Have a good day.”
Elisa turned and walked out of the room. Siminsky pulled the envelope back towards him while sighing. “Well Max, I guess that settles it.”
“Hold on just one minute, Art,” said Max, rising from his seat. He ran out the room, letting the door shut behind him and saw Elisa walking down the hall. “Elisa!”
She stopped and turned to look at him. “What is it?”
“What are you doing?” asked Max. “You’re throwing away your one chance to save your job.”
“I know that,” said Elisa. “And I’ve come to terms with it. Now I need you to do the same.”
Max shook his head. “You’re asking me to stand by and let you throw away your future. I can’t do that—I won’t.”
“No, I’m asking you to stand by and let me discover my future for myself.”
“Just tell me this isn’t about Davalos.”
She scoffed. “Oh please.”
“Elisa…”
“It’s not,” she said. “Look, I spent half my adult life running away from the person my parents wanted me to be. And that was wrong. That time I spent with Lucas was a huge mistake. A colossal, monumentally huge mistake. And then after my parents passed away, I did everything I could to erase those years. That was every bit as wrong. We can’t change the past, Max. And we can’t forget it for that matter. All we can do is learn from it.”
Max sighed. “You’re sure about this?”
Elisa wrapped her arms around her mentor. “You’ve done a lot for me. But now it’s my turn to figure out what it is I’m supposed to do with my life.”
Max hugged her back and shut his eyes. A part of him felt a twinge of failure at this turn of events, like he hadn’t lived up to the promise he had made Elisa’s parents. But he also knew that she had to discover her own path. “Don’t think this is a goodbye. You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
Elisa broke the hug and laid a gentle hand on Max’s cheek, smiling at him. “Oh trust me, I’m still gonna bother you every chance I get. I’ve got no intention of making retirement easy on you.”
“Music to my ears,” said Max.
Elisa backed away and gave him a parting wave before she turned and walked out the building. She strolled down the stone steps and down the path that cut through well-manicured yards and students milling about in the warm weather. Some were studying, others were laughing. And a few of her students smiled and bid her hello as they saw her walk past. Elisa returned their gestures, feeling a little remorse at leaving it all behind. She walked out to the curb and turned, staring at the buildings that made up the campus one final time.
A horn honked. Elisa glanced over her shoulder and saw a black Stingray convertible pull up to the curb with a beautiful, young Japanese woman behind the wheel. Asami slid her sunglasses down her nose so Elisa could see her copper eyes.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re too old to be eyeing college boys?”
Elisa smirked and walked over to the car. Instead of opening the door, she laid her hand on the edge and hopped into the passenger seat. Asami held up her hands in annoyance.
“I just had this thing waxed. Don’t go putting your greasy fingers all over it.”
“Shut up.” Elisa undid the bun and let her long, dark hair shake out over her shoulders. She took off the glasses and slid them into the inside pocket of her jacket.
“So what’s next for Elisa Hill?” asked Asami.
Elisa just smiled and winked at Asami. “Let’s go find out.”
Asami snickered and cranked up the speakers. “Owaranai Uta,” a song by the Japanese punk band the Blue Hearts, blared through them. She shifted gear and hit the gas, speeding down the road and off campus.
EPILOGUE
A black, unmarked helicopter lowered down on an airstrip at what appeared to be a military installation nestled within the Colorado Rockies. The chopper’s door opened from the inside and a man with short, dark hair and a thin beard hopped out of the vehicle. He wore a waist-length leather jacket over jeans and a button-down black shirt with the collar opened. As he strolled from the chopper, some men from the base ran out to meet him. They were dressed in what appeared to be military uniforms, but no insignias were present on their clothing. All of them stood at attention and saluted the new arrival. He saluted back without missing a step and once he passed them, they turned and followed.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice, sir,” said one of the guards.
“Doesn’t seem like you gave me much of a choice,” said the man in the leather jacket.
He had clearly been here before, because he knew where to go in order to access the elevator leading down to the underground base. They rode the elevator in silence and the man in the jacket stood with his arms folded. Once the doors opened, the lead guard gestured forward and the guest stepped out.
The room they were in was extremely large with metal floors, walls, and ceilings. Several rows of bookshelves jutted out from the walls, far enough to leave just a narrow space to walk through. The shelves were filled to capacity with ancient volumes, each column of shelves enclosed in glass to preserve the contents. An older man in a suit with a bowtie stood in the room, arms folded behind his back, and clearly waiting. As soon as the visitor reached him, the old man extended his hand.
“Jason Shroud. A pleasure to meet you,” he said. “I am called the Curator.”
Shroud accepted the handshake. “It’s an honor, sir. Your work has been a boon to the Freemasons. I was told you needed to consult with me on an urgent matter?”
“Indeed I did,” said the Curator, returning his hands to behind his back. “We’ve discovered a mole within our organization.”
“A mole?” asked Shroud.
“Yes, we intercepted a tr
ansmission. Something about a successful acquisition,” said the Curator. “He was taken into custody and interrogated, as per protocol.”
“And?”
The Curator took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. “It appears he was working for the Order.”
“The Order?” asked Shroud. “But they’ve been quiet ever since the Lemuria incident. Why would they suddenly make their presence known now?”
“During our interrogation, our mole revealed that the acquisition in question was the private journals of Walter Horn. He had managed to smuggle them out of the repository and into the hands of the Order.”
“Dammit…” muttered Shroud, lowering his head into his palm.
“Mr. Shroud, I trust you know what this means?”
“Of course I do,” said Shroud. “The Order is after the Spear of Destiny. And now they may have the first clue as to its whereabouts.”
To be continued…
***
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