“So what do...” Before Becki could finish, someone knocked at the hotel door.
I froze in confusion. Becki squeaked and jumped up. She squeezed past me and bounded for the door.
Belatedly, I reached out to grab her arm but missed. She opened the door. Chuck stood in the hallway, wraparound sunglasses perched over his eyes.
“Chuck!” Becki squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Hey, kiddo,” Chuck said. “You called. I came.”
I moved slowly, reaching into my pocket for a flare.
Chuck caught my movement and smiled. “You won’t need that.”
I stopped.
“Chuck?” Becki stood back from him, confused.
His smile widened, showing teeth. He looked at me. I couldn’t see his eyes behind those glasses but I knew he was staring at mine.
“You could have told me what it’s like,” he said. “The glory of accepting...”
I snorted. “Let’s see what he says when you’re not riding him, Shadow.”
I pulled the flare from my pocket.
Chuck, or the thing riding him, raised his hands.
“No fight,” it said, “just talk.”
I hesitated. With the flare I could keep the Shadow bottled up within Chuck’s body. Normally, having to deal with only a human host would give me a chance to escape. But with Chuck filling the doorway that would not be possible.
I glanced over at the alchemical supplies I had recovered from my apartment. Nothing I had in there would help. Unless...no, I did not have enough time to mix a sleeping powder or mist. I would have to correct that if I had a chance later.
Jeff groaned in his bed. “What’s with all the racket?”
“We have a visitor,” I said.
“Ch-Chuck?” Becki looked between me and Chuck in confusion.
I shook my head. “That’s not Chuck any more.”
“What? But...”
“Don’t be silly,” Chuck wrapped an arm around Becki’s waist. “Of course I’m still Chuck. I’m just...better.”
His arm clamped tight, jerking Becki to his side.
“Now,” Chuck said. “I’m sure you...”
“Chuck!” Becki squirmed in his arm. “Let go. You’re hurting me.”
Jeff rolled off the bed. I took a step forward.
Chuck held up a finger. “Ah ah.”
I could see Chuck’s arm tighten around Becki.
“Ch-Chuck?” Her voice was a half-strangled gasp.
“Don’t make me hurt the young lady.” Chuck was looking at me.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“It’s not what I want. It’s what you want.”
“What?” I was genuinely confused.
“I’ve seen the way you look at my girlfriend,” Chuck said. “Well, if you want her safe you’ll do what we ask. And you do want her safe, don’t you?”
Becki began to kick in Chuck’s arms. “Let go of me.”
“Ah ah,” Chuck said. His arm squeezed more tightly.
“I’ll scream.”
“Now we can’t have that.” Chuck shifted Becki in his arms. She struggled, but might as well have been a rag doll for all the effect she had. A moment later he had her held with her back pressed against his chest, his right arm around the bottom part of her ribcage and his left hand pressed firmly over her mouth.
I could see the panic in her eyes.
“What do you want, damn you?” I shoved my hands into my pockets, hoping he would interpret the motion as anger and frustration.
“It’s really rather simple, Johann,” Chuck said. “We...I mean they, want you.”
I drew a flare from my pocket and struck the igniter. Brilliant light flooded the room. Chuck backed away through the doorway, dragging Becki with him. He released her mouth for a moment, long enough to drag the door closed behind him. Jeff passed me before I could reach the door. Amazing how someone so large could move so fast. He yanked the door open and sprinted through it.
“Jeff...light!”
He ignored me.
Swearing, I followed him. By the time I got through the door, he had rounded the corner at the end of the hall. I charged after him.
I finally caught up with him in the parking lot of the hotel. A car was pulling out of the lot, tires squealing as it swerved into the tiniest of gaps in the traffic.
“Get your keys,” Jeff said as he headed up the street in the direction toward where I’d parked the Monster.
“Jeff...” I started.
“Get your keys!”
I grabbed him by the arm. It was like grabbing a moving telephone pole. “Jeff, it’s too late. He’s gone. We’ll never find him.”
“These Shadows, what are they going to do to my sister?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I suppose she’s bait for now. So long as they think they can use her to get me, she’ll be okay.”
I looked up at Jeff, realizing what I’d said. If Jeff wanted, he could fold me into an origami figure and hand me over to the Shadows and I would not be able to stop him.
He looked down at me, a dangerous glint in his eyes. After a moment, he looked away.
“Shit. Becki would kill me.”
I ventured a wan smile. “So, we’ve got some time. Maybe we can figure something out.”
Jeff looked thoughtful. “They’ve got Coach Ata and Darryl, probably other members of the team. So why didn’t they come down here as a group and just dogpile us? Why...” he waved a hand in the direction the car had gone. “This.”
I looked up at him. Apparently my surprise was evident on my face.
“What? You think just because I play football I’m stupid?”
I grinned, chagrined. While I had known better, the stereotype had stuck.
“So what now?” Jeff asked.
“If they didn’t, as you put it, dogpile us,” I said, “they probably won’t. So we’re probably safe here. Looks like we wait. I’m sure they’ll be in touch.”
I looked back over my shoulder at the hotel. “And in the meantime, I’ve got some more work to do.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Working through the night, I attempted to finish the lesser elixir. Something, however, had gone wrong. The movement and shaking had perhaps corrupted the preparation. So, for any injuries, even minor ones, all I had was my remaining half-vial of elixir.
I did manage to make three flares with the Tru-Magnesium. That gave me four total. Those four used up all of the Tru-Magnesium. I did not want to expend even one flare on a test, but if I was right, Tru-Magnesium would produce a far brighter light than simple burning chemical magnesium. Not just light, but essence of light, an alchemical light with properties beyond the physical. I did not know what those properties might be, but I hoped they might be useful.
Once I’d finished with the flares, I mixed up a sleeping elixir, just to keep my fingers busy.
Jeff sprawled across one of the beds, snoring.
A faint hint of sunlight began to creep around the edges of the room’s blackout curtains. The room phone rang.
I picked it up. “Hello?”
“Adrian?” Becki’s voice.
I felt my lips twitch with the hint of a relieved smile. “Becki?”
Jeff’s eyes snapped open and he sat up.
“Can you...can you put Jeff on?”
I looked into Jeff’s face and held out the phone. “It’s Becki.”
“I heard.” Jeff took the phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?”
He listened for a moment, then jumped off the bed.
“Wait a minute, you. Put Becki back on.”
He listened a moment more.
“You know I can’t do that. What do you really want?” Another pause. “Bullshit. You’re no more Chuck than I am. What do you want?”
His eyes opened wide. He waved a hand at me then made writing motions. I dug into the room’s desk and found a notepad and a pen with the hotel logo printed on the side.
Jeff wedged the phone between his ear and shoulder and took the writing instruments from me. He scribbled on the pad for a moment.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll try.” Jeff hung up the phone.
“Well?” I asked.
“I am to convince you to come to the stadium, of your own free will.”
“Come into my parlor...” I mused.
Jeff grinned. “I was thinking more ‘Welcome to my house. Enter freely and of your own will.’”
“I’m not familiar with that one.”
“Really?” Jeff raised his hands, his expression one of mock shock. “As old as you are and you’ve never read Dracula?”
“I bid you...velcome,” I said.
Jeff laughed. “Lugosi’s version. I preferred Oldman’s. But the book’s better than either.”
“Everybody always says the book is better.”
“Everybody is usually right.”
I started to laugh with him then stopped and shook my head. “So you were to convince me? Was that when you said you’d try?”
“Yeah. They’re supposed to call back at sunset to get the answer. So, will you go meekly to the Shadows who have Becki?”
“Meekly? No.” I said.
“Okay,” Jeff said. “I tried. Now, how do we kick these things’ asses and get my sister back?”
I sank back into an armchair and thought.
“I haven’t had a lot of success fighting them. Light holds them back. They hide from it. I’ve been able to use that to get away from them, but then I just ran.”
“They hide from it,” Jeff said, his face thoughtful. I watched as he chewed on his lower lip. “Suppose they had no place to hide?”
“They can hide in the very bodies of the men they take over.”
“Maybe,” Jeff said. “But...”
He pulled his phone from his pocket then reached over and turned off the room light.
“Watch,” Jeff said. A spot of light appeared on Jeff’s phone, a flashlight application of the LED “flash” for the phone’s camera. The light vanished, blocked by something, and then I saw red lines glowing dimly in the darkness. Jeff had placed his fingers over the light which was bright enough to show through.
“I’ve heard stories of a nuclear flash being so bright that people would see bone of their own arms in front of their eyes.”
“So we can set off a nuke?” I asked but then I thought. “Or...maybe.”
Tru-Magnesium should be much brighter than a regular magnesium flare. Bright enough? I did not know.
“Maybe,” I said.
#
We spent the day shopping and I made more magnesium flares. Twice now, electric lights had gone out near the Shadows without identifiable cause. My flashlight had failed at Tanaka’s appointment, then the lights had failed at the hospital. I did not know how they did it but they clearly had some way to disrupt electric lights. So far, my flares had always worked.
For good measure, I stopped at several auto supply stores and picked up some fusees. Not as bright as my magnesium flares, but longer lasting.
Two messenger bags, stuffed full of flares, plus some extras in our pockets in case we lost the bags.
Seven thirty-six PM. Sunset on the dot. Jeff’s phone rang.
“Yes,” Jeff said. He held a finger to his lips then activated the speakerphone function.
“Have you convinced Mr. Schmidt?” The voice had a strange, echoing quality to it.
“Who?”
“You know him as Adrian Jaeger.”
“Oh. Yeah. Just tell us where we need to be.”
“Come to the stadium. Once we see that Mr. Schmidt, Mr. Jaeger, has come to us freely, we will release your sister.”
“When?” Jeff asked.
“Half an hour should be long enough for you to arrive. And it will give you no time for any tricks.”
Jeff looked at me. I nodded.
“Half an hour.” Jeff said.
“Excellent, Mr. Pierce. Don’t be late.”
The phone disconnected.
“No time for tricks.” Jeff slung the strap of one messenger bag over his shoulder.
I grabbed the other. “None at all.”
We grinned at each other. I opened the door and gave Jeff a slight bow and an “after you” gesture.
Since the Shadows already knew where we were staying, I had not bothered parking the Monster away from the hotel. Security was already blown.
I spent the time of the drive in further fruitless speculation on why the Shadows had been after me for so long. There was my knowledge of alchemy, my blood which served as the Philosopher’s Stone, but did those really justify a pursuit of centuries? Immortality? The Shadows seemed to already have that. Transmutation? They clearly had access to wealth so what point in making gold?
If they feared that I could somehow challenge them, well, they could have killed me many times.
I did not know, and I had no more idea than ever by the time we reached the area of the stadium.
I pulled into a parking garage, taking a ticket and sticking it above the sunshade in the Monster. I managed to find a spot on the third level, not too far from the elevator. I shut down the car and pocketed the keys.
Before Jeff could get out of the car I laid a hand on his arm. I fished two of the special, Tru-Magnesium, flares from my bag and held them out to Jeff.
“These are special,” I said. “If they work right, they’ll be a lot brighter than the regular flares. But these are it until I can make more. Don’t be afraid to use them if you need them, but use them with care.”
Jeff nodded. “I understand.”
“So, do you have a plan?”
“No. You?”
I shrugged. “Go in. Throw flares around to drive back shadows. Grab Becki and get out.”
“So, blitz the quarterback, force a fumble, and go for the touchdown.”
I reached across and opened the glove compartment.
“Welding goggles.” I hooked them out of the compartment with a finger. “Darkest lenses they make. They should protect your eyes from the special flares.”
Jeff took the goggles and put them on his head, leaving them perched on his forehead.
“You?”
“I have my own.” I patted the satchel.
Jeff nodded. “Let’s go.”
#
A short walk took us to the stadium entrance. The moderate foot traffic paid no attention to us, just two guys walking with satchels. One passerby stopped and looked up at Jeff, noticing the goggles on his forehead then, he apparently realized how far up he was looking, and moved on.
Nobody paid any attention to me. I could get used to having a football player along to draw attention. They made excellent camouflage.
We climbed the steps to the entry. The door stood open. Nobody stood at it.
I looked at Jeff. “Enter freely and of your own will?”
“So it would seem.”
I flipped open the cover of the messenger bag and dropped one hand inside. My fingers curled around one of the flares. I met Jeff’s eyes and he nodded.
I stepped through the doorway.
The lights were turned off. The large windows allowed light from the streetlamps to stream into the entrance hallway. Between that and the big sign featuring the local professional football team’s logo, I could see well enough.
Still...dark. Dark enough for Shadows.
I jerked as a shadow fell on me from behind. A quick glance showed that it was merely Jeff, blocking some of the street lighting as he followed me inside.
I took a step forward. Jeff’s longer stride brought him alongside me.
A figure detached itself from one of the columns supporting the roof high overhead.
“You came.”
At my side Jeff stiffened. “Darryl?”
The shadowed figure ahead stepped forward. A shaft of light from one of the windows fell on him. I had last seen that face in a hospital bed. Darryl. Jeff’s roommate.
“Hello, Jeff,” Darryl said. “You brought him.”
Jeff nodded. “Are you...are you okay?”
Darryl smiled. “I’m wonderful, Jeff. Give it a chance and you can be wonderful too.”
I kept my mouth shut.
“I just want my sister back,” Jeff said. “That would be wonderful enough for me.”
“All business then? Very well, this way.” Darryl started to turn then paused, looked back, and raised one finger. “I’m sure you understand that it goes without saying that you are off the team.”
“You think I’m going to play for that...” Jeff’s voice rose.
“Ah ah ah.” Darryl smiled. “Think of your sister.”
Before Jeff could reply Darryl pointed down the hallway. “This way.”
He walked. We followed.
As we moved into the building we moved away from the street lights. Even with the huge windows along the outer wall the shadows around us grew darker.
No internal lights. Just what little spilled in from outside.
I bumped into a concession stand and ahead I could barely see Darryl turn back in our direction. I stopped, fumbling in my satchel for a moment before finding an LED flashlight. Not a high brightness unit, just a single LED penlight.
I flipped it on. Wonder of wonders, it worked.
Ahead, Darryl had removed his sunglasses. He shielded his eyes.
“Have to see where I’m going,” I said.
He slipped the sunglasses back on. “Of course.”
I glanced over to Jeff. His jaw was set, his face frozen in an expressionless mask. Game face, I thought.
“This way,” Darryl said and continued down the corridor.
He led us to a set of double doors. One door stood propped open. All I saw through the doorway was pitch darkness beyond.
“Locker room,” Jeff said.
“Go on through,” Darryl waved at the doorway. “Down to the field. Coach Ata will meet you there.”
“And Becki?” Jeff asked.
“She’ll be with him.”
I looked Darryl up and down ostentatiously. “What? Afraid to go with us?”
“Don’t be silly.” Darryl held up and jangled a set of keys. “I have to lock up out here. Can’t have the riffraff wandering in off the street.”
I looked at Jeff. He shrugged.
Looked like show time.
Alchemy of Shadows Page 9
