The Adversary

by Lindsay McKenna

  Victor’s soldiers had watched Vesica Pisces Foundation’s headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, twenty-four hours a day, but there seemed to be no team leaving to hunt for the next sphere. And then, he got it: the sphere had shown him the next location, it had not sent that same information to the Taqe foundation. Sitting at his desk, Victor laughed long and loud. The joke was on them! Finally, things had taken a turn for the better. The Taqe were probably in high drama over receiving no instructions.

  Victor, who had been the Dark Lord of the Tupay for a long time, knew better than to rest on his laurels over this realization. It was entirely possible that those in the Taqe stronghold, the Village of the Clouds, could find out this information another way. Victor never misjudged Taqe inventiveness nor their reach to acquire information. Further, only the Taqe were allowed into the Akashic Records, not the Tupay. As he rubbed his chin, he wondered if their leaders, Alaria and Adaire, were already looking through the records of time that recorded every soul’s thousands of incarnations. They might search there for hints or clues to the location of the sixth sphere.

  VICTOR GUERRA LIKED the body of Trip Nelson. He’d possessed the athletic young man an hour earlier. He was blond and blue-eyed, and he worked as a guide at the world-famous Fairmont Château Lake Louise.

  Guerra had followed the two Taqe that Yellow Teeth had led him to earlier. Victor had watched from a safe distance, assessing the red-haired woman and the black-haired man. Each had the silver in their auras. He couldn’t get close because he saw that they both had strong paranormal skills in place. The male had a protective shield, as well. Both had the Vesica Pisces birthmark on the back of their necks. Indeed, as Yellow Teeth had said, they were Taqe. If he got close enough to eavesdrop on them, they’d get wary. The real question was, were they highly skilled enough to detect him camouflaged as he was by the human body? After all, his true aura was not visible. The Taqe couple would only perceive the aura of the human he had possessed. In Victor’s thousands of years of experience, most Taqe could not perceive a possession. But he couldn’t underestimate their powers. Yellow Teeth had already warned him the male was a powerful medicine man, not to be trifled with.

  Victor stood with his hands in the pockets of his brown corduroy pants. Lothar was at his side, along with Jeff. After Lothar had spotted the Taqe team, he and Jeff had possessed twin American brothers who were visiting Lake Louise for a week. They were in their twenties, strong and fit.

  “Well?” Victor said to Lothar. “What do you think?” He watched as the two Taqe got up from the bench and walked toward the hotel.

  “My lord,” Lothar said, turning to him, “I would counsel patience. Let us follow them and sit in the lobby and just watch and wait. We can press one of the hotel people for details about them later.”

  Jeff pushed the toe of his hiking boot into the dirt just off the path that wound around one half of Lake Louise. “My lord? I’m in training and I don’t know if you want my thoughts on this or not.”

  Victor looked into Jeff’s eyes. They had been smart to choose the bodies of healthy young men. “Of course I want to know what you think.” His voice sharpened. “You’re in training to do this work on your own someday. The only way to get good is to allow us into your thoughts.”

  “If we sit in the hotel lobby and they see the three of us, will they know who we really are?” Jeff asked.

  “No,” Victor said, pleased with his question. “So long as we remain in possessed bodies, ninety-nine percent of the Taqe cannot detect us.”

  “But our auras? Surely they can tell who we are by reading them,” he pressed, frowning.

  With a shake of his head, Victor said, “No, the aura of the person we’ve possessed remains intact. Some of the colors of the aura may change or darken. That cannot be helped. Most Taqe who read auras are only as good as their experience. And an aura can have a million different combinations of light and dark colors. I am counting on them to not realize who we really are.”

  “Chances are these Taqe will see some darkness in our auras and think we are either sad, depressed or worried about something,” Lothar told the student. “They probably won’t pick up on the fact we’ve taken up residence in these bodies. Until we know for sure, we can’t assume. We must remain conservative and not press them too closely.”

  “All right,” Jeff murmured. He rubbed his square chin and enjoyed being back in a physical body. “And so, we stalk by waiting and observing?”

  Lothar nodded. “I see exhaustion in Colt Black’s aura. He came from Arizona, a long journey. The woman lives in a town about fifty miles away. My guess is they are going to rest for a while.”

  “Let’s go in and observe,” Victor said. Yellow Teeth remained in the fourth dimension and at a distance after identifying the couple. Victor did not want to put the male Taqe on guard by detecting the witch’s presence—not yet.

  The men fell into step behind the Dark Lord. The day was sunny and the temperature was a wonderful eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Jeff enjoyed his human body. Never mind that he had stolen it from its owner whose spirit was now squashed inside. This was his first assignment. Since his last incarnation as a U.S. Army Ranger in the Second World War, when he had died on Omaha Beach, he had remained in Tupay training school. He was determined to do his best for the Dark Lord.

  Inside the hotel, Victor inquired at the busy desk about the Taqe couple. Lothar gestured to Jeff to sit down on one of the overstuffed chairs in the spacious lobby. From their vantage point, they could see not only the stairs but the elevators. Victor came over and stood between them.

  Keeping his voice low, he said, “I read the clerk’s mind. Their names are Colt Black and Shelly Godwin, just as Yellow Teeth told us. They’re in rooms 204 and 206. They are tired and went up to rest.” Twisting a look toward the elevators, Victor added, “My bet is they will take a nap and then meet down here later for dinner.”

  Lothar nodded. “That sounds reasonable.”

  “Which restaurant?” Jeff wondered, looking through the throngs of people moving through the massive hotel. “I think there are three or four restaurants in this place.”

  Victor shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Jeff, you stay here for two hours and watch. Then Lothar will relieve you. I’m going back to my residence. Trip lives in a building near the hotel. Call me telepathically if you spot them. Follow them discreetly and see which restaurant they choose.”

  Rubbing his hands, Lothar grinned. “A stake-out.” He turned to Jeff. “You get first watch, my boy.”

  “Of course,” Jeff said. He was, after all, the underling here. Lothar was a famous Tupay knight. As his bosses left, Jeff settled into the chair. How good it felt!

  Jeff’s host-body was that of a botanist, which could turn out to be useful if the Taqe needed help. He could present himself as a helpful tourist and not rouse their suspicions. Smiling, Jeff watched the nonstop flow of people. Fourteen million people visited this place every year. For Jeff, who had been in spirit since 1944, this was a liberating experience, being among the living. He truly loved drinking coffee, eating real food again and being able to appreciate all those things the third dimension offered.

  Watching the children and teens with their families brought an ache to his heart. Jeff knew he was supposed to be immune to such things. Perhaps he just needed more time in spirit. Jeff had never lost his desire to be back in this world. He’d loved being alive. He’d always regretted that a bullet had ripped through him while he climbed a cliff with his squad. As he fell and lay dying, the panic overwhelmed him. Never would he be able to love again, smell a flower, savor his parents’ Iowa farm home during Thanksgiving. Small things, but so important to him.

  Right after his death, his wife, Janet, had had twin boys. He’d watched them grow up without his presence. His sons went on to marry and now Jeff saw five new grandchildren in his Earth family. The one that he felt closest to was Mary Anderson. She was twenty-eight years old and very metaphysical.

&n
bsp; As a quilt designer with a hobby of drawing Middle Ages churches in Europe, she was famous for her designs and artistic renderings. Mary was an introvert—shy, excruciatingly sensitive to the harsh world she lived in. And, like Jeff, she had a strong sense of faith in the unknown. Yes, it was a pleasure to follow the lives of all his family, whether he was with them or not.

  Jeff realized that he wasn’t fully a Tupay yet. Those that had made the transition did not miss Earth, their last family or their five senses as he did. For whatever reason, the Dark Lord himself had chosen him for this assignment and Jeff was grateful. Above all, he’d never let his bosses know how much he liked coming back here. If they found out, he’d be booted off the mission schooling assignments for good. No, best to keep his secret exactly that.

  Jeff’s brows rose as he saw a couple come out of one of the elevators. It was them! Excited, he sat up. Then he remembered to remain slouched and seemingly oblivious. The woman wore jeans, a white short-sleeved blouse and a straw hat to shade her face. She had on hiking boots and carried a red day pack. Her partner wore similar clothing except his was a long-sleeved white shirt with the cuffs rolled up to just below his elbows. Where were they going? The clerk had said they’d gone up to rest. Had they changed their minds?

  Sitting up, sweaty from fear of being discovered, Jeff did not make eye contact with the Taqe. They passed within five feet of him, and he was thrilled that they didn’t seem to notice his aura or its colors. Jeff waited until they’d passed him. As they got to the revolving doors that would lead out into the beautiful summer day, he stood up. He pulled the cell phone out of the pocket of his jeans and quickly dialed as he walked to the doors. Lucky for him, Lothar had introduced him to the twenty-first-century gadget. As he walked outside into the sunshine, he stopped. How stupid. He didn’t need to call the Dark Lord on a cell phone! All he had to do was send him a mental message. Being in body again in a different era caused him confusion, though it was understandable. Moving off to one side of the entrance, he focused his mental energies as he’d been taught at Tupay school and sent the Dark Lord his information.

  Chapter 4

  “This is a gorgeous lake,” Shelly remarked as they stood on the flat dirt path at the shore. The waters were more emerald than turquoise because of the slant of the afternoon sun. Breathing it all in, she sighed. “I love the smell of pine trees. Don’t you?”

  Nodding, Colt didn’t feel so nostalgic. He felt on edge for no discernible reason. Maybe he was tired, and knowing that Yellow Teeth’s spirit had arrived earlier compounded his exhaustion. Shelly seemed completely at ease, her hazel eyes shining with excitement. They stood off to one side of the path as groups of people ambled by. “Did you feel anything odd in the lobby?” Colt asked.

  Shelly glanced back toward the hotel. “No. Why, did you?”

  Colt grimaced. “I’m not sure. I’m tired and when I’m down like this, I can’t access what I sense very easily.”

  “Oh, that.” She slid her fingers beneath the nylon straps of her day pack. “I’m like you—too tired to be on.” Trying to talk with Colt was like getting a stubborn mule to move. He seemed just as tense as before. Talkative, he was not.

  “That’s what I thought. Maybe we should just snoop around but not do any serious exploring today. Get a good night’s sleep before we start this grand adventure?” he suggested in a clipped tone. He noticed his gruff tone hurt her, and every emotion registered on her expressive face. If she only knew just how much he secretly wanted her—in his arms and in his bed. This mission was the last thing he needed, especially with Yellow Teeth breathing down his neck. Being with Shelly, soaking up her lively, bubbly energy, made it bearable. He just didn’t want to cause her pain.

  As Shelly watched him deal with some internal struggle, she felt the soft breeze graze her face. The sunlight dappled like gold coins across the lake. The breeze created ripples here and there across the emerald surface. Surrounding the lake were snow-clad mountains with a cobalt sky above them. Truly, this was a magical place. It always had been for her as a child when she’d come here often with her parents. Shelly had never lost her awestruck feeling about Lake Louise. But now, seeing the worry in Colt’s blue eyes, she forced herself to pay attention. It was far too easy to be taken captive by the raw landscape of the Canadian Rockies.

  “It’s hard to stay focused when you have this kind of beauty surrounding you.” Shelly gestured to the lake and the magnificent granite Rockies swathed in snow at the higher altitudes. “Look at this. I never get tired of coming here just to sit and enjoy it.”

  “It’s like Flagstaff, Arizona, in some ways,” Colt said. The nonstop laughter and talking from the tourists were making him edgy. He was used to silence. Just the wind, the birds and the howl of an occasional coyote around him. Taking Shelly by the upper arm, Colt guided her off the path until they stood next to the pebbly lakeshore. Some of the discordant and disruptive noise floated away from them. He forced himself to drop his hand from her elbow.

  “It’s all the noise, isn’t it?” Shelly asked, giving him an understanding look. Her elbow tingled wildly in the wake of his rough touch. It had been unexpected. For a moment, that facade melted and surprise flared in his eyes.

  “How did you know?”

  A warmth cascaded through Shelly. She felt like cheering. At last, she’d glimpsed the real Colt Black beneath that heavy, protective armor he wore. “I’m the same. I think all sensitive people become raw over nonstop talking.” She smiled softly. “Most of the places I go to find vortexes are out in the country, although they are found in cities and suburbs, too. I love hiking the trails of the countryside. I have birds who sing to me.”

  “We’re more alike than I thought,” Colt said, a little stunned by her admittance. Shelly had the disconcerting ability to throw him off stride. But then, Colt reminded himself, she was not a Navajo from the reservation. Those who lived outside the res had an entirely different way of communicating with one another. It was actions, not words, that were important to Colt.

  “You think you’re the only one who loves peace and quiet?” She chuckled and smiled up into his hooded blue eyes. For a moment, Shelly felt as if he were going to sweep her into his arms and kiss her. What a thought! Yet, when her gaze settled on his very male mouth, a host of riffling sensations were triggered from her throat down to her lower body. Colt would be a wonderful kisser. Yet, with the heavy armor surrounding him she wondered if he let anyone get too close. Why did it matter to her? Chastising herself over her feminine curiosity, Shelly realized how powerfully she was drawn to this intense, quiet man.

  “Excuse me!” a voice hailed them from the trail above.

  A frisson of warning shot through Colt over the man’s loud intrusive voice. Whirling around, he stared up at a young man who had a guide badge on his shirt, along with his name, Trip Nelson. The guide gave them a toothy, welcoming smile as he made his way down to the lakefront where they stood.

  “Hello. I’m Trip Nelson, a guide from the hotel. You two look ready to hike. Can I possibly be of help?”

  Colt opened his mouth to say no.

  “Sure,” Shelly invited.

  Giving her a warning look, Colt felt the hair on his neck rise in warning as the tall, robust youth joined them. Despite the man’s gaiety and big smile, Colt saw flat and lifeless eyes. This was just the beginning of their troubles. Colt stepped forward to keep the guide from coming any closer. His stomach churned and knotted as he stared into the man’s eyes. Something was terribly wrong here. But what? Colt had never encountered this sensation before.

  “We’re just fine by ourselves,” Colt said in a snarl, standing between the man and Shelly. He visualized white light in the form of a huge, thick bubble around himself and her. And as he did this, Trip’s brows rose in surprise. Did the guide feel the protective action?

  Shelly frowned. She couldn’t understand Colt moving in front of her. Peeking around him, she said, “That’s not true. Trip?”
r />   “Yes, ma’am,” he murmured, giving her a slight bow of deference.

  Shelly tried to navigate her partner’s moods, all while entreating the help of this perfectly friendly guide. Trip’s hair was short and straight. He held a green canvas hat in his left hand. Everything about him shouted that he was a rugged outdoors type. His skin was deeply tanned and she liked the apparently ever-present smile on his wide mouth. “We’re looking for trails around Lake Louise.”

  Victor laughed silently as he stood next to Shelly. Neither Taqe sensed the possession. That was good. The red-haired woman didn’t have a clue. The thrill of the hunt made Victor giddy. However, her partner, the strong silent type, glared at him with a level of threat that made him wary. Victor could see the combativeness in Black’s aura. Since his walls were in place, Victor knew Black could not access his thoughts to find out his identity. “Well, I can help with that.” He pulled a map from his back pocket and quickly opened it up before them.

  This would give Victor a valuable chance to assess them. Shelly seemed curious but absolutely stupid. Black, on the other hand, was tense and didn’t trust him at all even if he didn’t know why. Opening the map fully, Victor had them hold the corners so that it was open between them.

  “What type of trails are you looking for?” Trip asked with enthusiasm.

  “I want to know if there’s a trail all the way around Lake Louise,” Colt said. He didn’t like Trip. Alarms were going off inside him. The bubble of protection would hold for another thirty minutes. It frustrated Colt that he didn’t understand what the hell he was picking up on. He kept giving Shelly looks, but she seemed completely unaffected by this guide’s strange aura.