Dealers of Light

by Lara Nance

  Cara tipped back on her side. “Okay, Emmie. I’ll try.”

  The old woman’s skin crinkled at the edges of her eyes when she smiled. “That’s what I wanted to hear. Now, be a good girl and don’t be gettin’ in such a fret again.” Her image faded in a hazy mist.

  Cara rolled into her back, staring at the ceiling. Emmie made everything sound so simple. Maybe to her it was. But Cara had to meet Rolf in a few minutes, and she didn’t know how to keep her feelings from getting in the way.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Cara splashed cold water on her face in the bathroom, hoping to jolt some composure into herself. Time to meet Rolf. Grimacing at the remaining bruises on her neck, she patted her face with a towel.

  Rolf and Amber waited in the salon, engaged in discussion about crystals and how to make amulets for energy shields. The talk stopped when Cara entered the room. Amber glanced at her, brow wrinkled. Rolf’s face remained blank and unreadable.

  “We should try again,” she said to Rolf, hoping the turmoil in her heart did not show on her face. Whatever it took to make the shield work she would do.

  A flicker of something passed through Rolf’s eyes, maybe relief. Good. He knew they had to focus on stopping the enemy, too.

  “Very well. Amber and I have been working on using the crystals in personal shields. I think we have a good plan, but we’ll need more supplies. If we make it through tonight, I think we should head for Bermuda. We can pick up whatever we need there.” Rolf stood and nodded to Amber. “Please feel free to use the books in the case there for your research.” He gestured to a bookcase set into the wall behind the bar.

  “Cara?” Amber started to say something else, but Cara put up a hand.

  “I’m fine. Work on the crystals. Rolf and I need to make this link happen. We don’t have much more time.”

  “Shall we?” Rolf gestured to the stairs.

  Back to his stateroom. Cara swallowed, but she squared her shoulders and managed to give him a smile before preceding him down the steps.

  When they were inside, he closed the door behind them and stood with one hand on the knob. “Cara?”

  “We need to get to work.” She motioned for him to join her on the settee. The allure of being close to him brought heat to her skin, and she moved as far to the arm of the couch as possible.

  He stared at her for a moment, then released the door knob and walked over to sit beside her. “Very well. Let’s give it another try. This time, once the link is obtained, think of the strong, deep part of your center. Focus on it. The shield is powerful. Allow it to rise and expand.”

  She nodded, determined. I am going to do this. Holding out her arms, she gave him a confident smile. He paused a second, studying her, then raised his arms and they gripped wrists.

  This time the link happened quickly. She found herself in the comforting gray void, floating and serene. Her focus last time had been frantic and disorganized, leading to a break. Now, she rested in the contentment of the connection and the strength it brought her. Instead of searching, she waited. Through the joining, she felt Rolf’s stillness.

  Out of the void, a glow sparked. Warm, like a flame, it blossomed and spread through her being. The surge of energy surprised her, but Rolf’s steady presence was reassuring. She allowed the shielding Light to encompass her and radiate outward. Rolf answered with a gush of power, which met hers and expanded. Together, their energy swelled and burst forth to form a bubble around them. The shield worked. A bolt of joy suffused her being, not just with the success of the shield, but with the realization of her core of power.

  They maintained the bubble for several minutes, letting it settle. She instinctively knew that inside this invisible field she was safe. A fission of the energy reflected back to her, touching her skin like a gentle electrical current.

  Rolf’s energy retracted and she followed his example. The shield deflated to a wisp of nothing, leaving only the shelter of Rolf’s presence. The hairs on her arms stood on end from the passing of the energy.

  You did it, his voice echoed in her head.

  We did it, she responded.

  Time to dissolve the link, his silken voice intoned.

  The gray retreated from her mind and she opened her eyes. Rolf stared at her with one brow raised.

  “So that’s what we need to do tonight?” She pulled her hands back and rubbed her tingling palms down her thighs.

  “Yes, we’ll extend the bubble to encompass everyone.” He stood and crossed to his desk. “We’ll practice one more time this afternoon if it’s okay with you.”

  “Sure.” She rose, exhilarated, not dizzy like last time. “I’m going to help Amber.”

  “Good, I have to talk to the captain about our course change to Bermuda in the morning. I also need to come up with some passports for all of you.”

  “How will you do that?” Cara asked. It hadn’t occurred to her they might need passports on this journey, but he was right. Bermuda would not allow them to enter the island without proper identification.

  Rolf gave her a crooked smile. “Sean’s a resourceful guy.”

  ###

  Cara returned to the salon to find the gang picking over trays of cold cuts, salad and bread in a buffet over the long dining room table. There were subdued murmurs as they circled the spread, making sandwiches or salads for lunch.

  “Cara,” Shana exclaimed as Cara approached. “Where have you been, girl? I’ve been kicking the crap out of Marc and Tor. It’s a lot of fun.” She piled turkey and ham on a slice of bread.

  Tor rolled his eyes, and Marc shook his head.

  “You should have been taking Tor’s classes all along, Shana, you’re a natural.” Marc sat on the couch not eating, eyes red and face pale.

  “Well, I guess I’m too busy healing people to learn how to beat the crap out of them.” She tossed a slice of cheese on the bread and added some pickles.

  “Any luck, Alistair?” Cara asked, picking up a plate and eyeing the offerings. Forming links made a girl hungry. Rolf entered the salon from the pilot house and nodded to her.

  The professor clenched a book under his arm as he placed a small salad and turkey slices on his plate. “I’m not sure yet. I’ve found some interesting stories that might have relevance to current events. It’s hard to say until I know more.” He carried his plate to the couch and settled down, tossing the book beside him. Rambo ran over and jumped against his leg, eyeing the food on his master’s plate. Alistair slipped him a piece of turkey.

  Cara made herself a sandwich and joined the others in the sitting area, choosing a chair away from Rolf. He’d made it clear he didn’t want to be close to her. Dusty flopped down at her feet. “Tell us the stories. Maybe one of us will think of something new to help you theorize.”

  Alistair shrugged. “Very well.”

  He chewed a mouthful of food and swallowed. “I’m genning up on the history of the Incan gods. The Takers are going to need some way to join their energy from such great distances. There has to be a catalyst. Their normal energy alone would not be enough to accomplish the web they hope to achieve. Since Rolf tells us this Desmond person was involved in Incan deity worship, there may be a chance he’ll use some mystical element from that time. Of course, I’ll be a jammy bastard if I figure out what it is.”

  “You mean some sort of magic?” Shana frowned. “Hocus pocus?”

  “Don’t look at me like I’m barmy. I’m talking about the use of mystical elements of which the knowledge has been lost over the centuries.” Alistair paused to hand another bite of turkey to Rambo.

  “There is power in nature we don’t understand,” Amber said. “Like the globe Rolf constructed. It’s made of natural elements, but, when combined in the right way with the runes, they create something powerful.” She raised her hands and her eyes gleamed brightly.

  Shana shook her head, but made no further comment.

  “But what sort of elements, Alistair?” Marc asked.

  �
�In ancient history, most often you are looking at either what something is made of, such as gold or gemstones, or shapes of items. Take the pyramid shape, for instance. It had great meaning back then, but we’ve lost much of the truth of its power over the centuries.”

  “But there must be thousands of possibilities, how will you ever narrow it down?” Tor crossed his arms over his chest. He sat on the floor, his plate in his lap.

  “I’m seeking for references to anything that could expand a person’s power or talents and any mention of such energy being related to objects. Statues, jewels, stones…anything.”

  “Wait a minute.” Rolf stood beside the table, frozen with a slice of bread in one hand and a plate in the other. “I may have the answer.”

  “You know what the element is?” Alistair’s eyes lit.

  “I was able to sneak into Desmond’s house when I first arrived.” Rolf dropped the bread on the plate and placed it on the table. “I remember seeing a golden statue carved in the image of an Incan God. It was about two feet tall and a milky blue stone the size of my fist was embedded in the top of it.”

  “Brilliant!” Alistair exclaimed. “That fits with an old legend I uncovered.”

  “Tell us,” Amber said.

  “Well, there are a bevy of differing histories of the Incan people, which many put down to myths. But, basically, there was the sun god, Inti, in the beginning, and he sent his children out to start the Incan nation. Some stories say he had many children, but most indicate the predominant figures were two sons. Their names were Manco Capac and Ayar Cachi. To make a long story short, Manco was the good brother and Ayar the evil one. Some histories say Manco was prompted by the people to get rid of his bother because of his evil deeds against the populace. So, Manco tricked his brother into returning to the cave of Puma Orco where they first came into the world and sealed him inside. Manco went on to become the founder of the Incans and was frequently worshiped as a god of fire and sun.”

  “What happened to Ayar?” Shana asked.

  “Ayar escaped his rocky tomb using a powerful stone, by all accounts an Andean Opal. Some stories link Ayar to the Huaca who later emerged as a demi-god. Possibly the one who required sacrifices, needing to take Light from others.”

  “Wait a minute. Desmond is the Huaca?” Amber’s mouth fell open. “So, Desmond is Ayar?” No one spoke.

  A shock of fear knifed through Cara. If Desmond is this demi-god, he must be powerful. Could it be? The whole idea seemed too fantastical, but, at the same time, all the pieces fit.

  Cara gasped as a picture formed in her mind. “Alistair, do you still have the book you showed me? Remember the drawing of the sacrifice?”

  “Yes, yes, it’s in my cabin.”

  “Can you get it? I just remembered something.”

  Alistair hurried below, and when he returned he had the leather bound book in his hands.

  She pointed to the book. “Where’s the picture?”

  Alistair flipped through a few of the stiff yellow pages until he came to the drawing of the sacrifice. He placed the open book in Cara’s lap.

  She hadn’t imagined it. “Here.” She pointed to the feathered headdress of the person committing the sacrifice. The headdress contained a large stone set in the carved center area from which feathers sprouted. The squiggly lines from the stone showed its interaction with the Light.

  Alistair leaned over her shoulder. “Oh dear, I missed that like a bleeding amateur.”

  “This is extremely valuable information.” Rolf crossed the room and lifted the book from her lap.

  “Do we stand a chance against a dude like that if he has such a powerful weapon?” Tor asked.

  “Not without a plan,” Rolf replied.

  Alistair raised his eyebrows but did not comment.

  “You can’t be serious.” Shana threw her hands in the air. “Now it’s not only some ancient dude, it’s an ancient god come back to suck the life out of people?” She shook her head. “This just gets worse and worse.”

  “But we’re not talking about things that make sense anymore,” Cara said. “The normal order flew out the window when we realized the truth about those murders.”

  “Ancient or not, we have to stop them,” Tor added. Shana glared at him but said nothing. She grabbed her sweatshirt and stalked out onto the deck. Marc gave them an apologetic shrug and followed her.

  “We can’t have a weak link in this team,” Rolf said, staring at Cara.

  “She’s not a weak link.” Cara glared at him. Shana would fight harder than any of them.

  “Then you’d better talk to her.” He returned to the table and picked up his plate.

  “Damn it,” Cara said under her breath and rose to go after them.

  Chapter Twenty

  Desmond paced across his study, stroking the Andean opal in his hands. He wiped sweat from his forehead and glanced at a clock on the mantle. In only a few minutes they would form the Net, the integral piece in his ability to control the masses. All of his plans pivoted on the success of this linking.

  He rested one hand atop the icy blue stone radiating the heart of his power. It remained cold despite the fact he’d held it in his hands for the past half hour. He hoped his calculations of the stone’s power were accurate. He lifted it and stared into the milky surface swirling with turquoise, so full of mystery and energy.

  Carlton entered the room, followed by the others, all in their black hooded cloaks. They carried the golden statue on a wooden platform between them, eyes wide and glowing.

  “Place it there.” Desmond pointed to the small table in the center of the room. He lifted his hood. The time had come to reveal the power of the stone. A quiver of excitement ran up his spine. Soon he would realize his dream.

  Carlton helped position the two-foot high statue in the center of the heavy oak table and stepped back. The others gathered around the table in a circle. Desmond stepped forward, holding out the glowing stone then placed it into a hole in the forehead. Perfect fit.

  Desmond murmured the ancient Incan words to connect to the stone, and a humming vibration filled the room. His lips peeled away from his teeth as he moved backward to complete the circle. Glancing at the clock, he nodded to the others. He lifted his right hand toward the statue and placed his left hand on the shoulder of the man next to him. The others followed his example, completing the circle. In the target cities, the other allyus of Takers formed links as well. But this stone held the power source, and only Desmond could focus the energy of the joined links.

  The stone began to glow an eerie, fluorescent blue. Desmond called forth his Light to connect with the pulsing energy, and a clear, blue bubble formed about the stone. He drew on the Light of the others in the circle and the bubble expanded, slow, slow, then an explosion of power. It burst past the walls of the study into the night.

  The throbbing force coursed through Desmond, a hot intensity so powerful his body vibrated. His spirit rode on the wave of the bubble as it spread out past Norfolk, racing for the other cities under his control. The pace slowed after several seconds, reaching the limits of the link’s strength. He clenched his teeth and sweat drenched his face. Yes, there! Tendrils of power snaking out from the allyus. He took a breath and pulled them to him.

  Slowly, the slithering trails of Light slipped toward him, snaking out from their sources of joined Takers. Then snap, they flew free, connecting with him like iron to a magnet. He threw his head back. Glorious power like he’d never experienced pulsed through him. Sweat popped out of his pores and flowed down his back and chest. He spread his feet, steadying himself against the vibrating throb of energy that fought to consume him.

  With a final, mighty push of his inner core, he subdued the force of joined Light, bringing it under his control. Sending his thoughts through the link, he commanded the other Takers. They began the delicious drain of energy from anyone unlucky enough to be within the perimeter of the link.

  The Net was complete.

 
; ###

  Rolf squeezed her hand. “You can do this.” He looked down at his watch.

  “Now, everyone start making circles around us. Get as close together as you can. We’ve got five minutes until nine o’clock.”

  Marc and Tor positioned Shana, Amber and Alistair closest to the chairs where Rolf and Cara sat facing each other, then they joined the other men in pressing close behind them. Dusty and Rambo crawled under the chairs, not to be left out.

  Heat radiated from the bodies circling them and Cara felt Amber trembling, pressed against her back. Sweat popped out on Marc’s face and his eyes had dark circles under them. Only Shana glared, angry instead of frightened.

  Cara held out her arms and Rolf looked at his watch again, then nodded and gripped her wrists. Cara forced her breathing to slow and the gray void rose to surround her. She had only a moment to enjoy its strengthening comfort before the surging sensation of Rolf creating his shield reached her. Relaxing, the glow of power from her core came forth, welling up like a sizzling wave of energy.

  Good, Rolf told her. Here we go.

  They merged their shields and pushed outward as one. Their shield surged too quickly and Cara gasped as the strands of Light slipped, beginning to unravel. But Rolf steadied her and helped her regain command of the surge. The power within her fought to escape. She bit her bottom lip and pressed it back.

  A little more. Rolf sent her soothing thoughts of pride in her accomplishment.

  Once again, she struggled to slow her breathing. The effort to control her power made her hyperventilate. Her breaths became deeper, and her lightheadedness diminished. Bodies shifted against her, but she kept her focus on the Light. It was easier now to keep the energy contained. She joined Rolf and coaxed the edges of the bubble outward.