Chapter 26

Aquila

The Green Motorlodge had rooms enough that they could’ve have one each but no one wanted to be alone. Derek shared with Merlin and Nick. Rachel paired up with Alex. Nick insisted on second story rooms, because height was an advantage. It was noon. The sun was shining here and it was warm for the time of year. They ate lunch in the diner down the street then, despite Derek’s earlier decision to stick together, decided to split up.

Aquila would go with Nick, Rachel and Alex out to the wilderness to start their familiarization with the area. Derek and Merlin would stay in town to play out the pretense of buying digging equipment. In effect, they were the rearguard and were on lookout for the enemy. Reuben wouldn’t sense Merlin without Aquila, and Aquila could protect the others if Reuben showed up where they were.

Nick had rented a vehicle capable of dealing with the rough terrain and it was a wild, bouncing ride with him at the wheel. Aquila was unaffected but Rachel and Alex clung to the safety roll bar, the seat in front, the sides of the vehicle as it headed into the wilderness of the Badlands.

“We can’t drive the entire way,” Aquila told them as they bounced around a bend in the road. Rachel was rather glad until Aquila went on, “It means a climb. Are you ready for that?”

“Work up an appetite for dinner,” Rachel stoutly declared.

“And a sweat,” Aquila added. “For you, at least. I don’t sweat.”

“Pleasant thought,” Alex commented.

Rachel leaned forward. “Do you remember anything of .. the old days? I can understand Peri not having any recollection but you’re the spirit and I’ve never thought to ask a spirit about what it – she – can remember. Everyone has what’s called a race memory, instructions which are throwbacks to earliest man. What do you remember, Aquila?”

Aquila frowned. “Nothing of day to day events. But .. I feel more at home in the open. Not just outside a building but in the open, like this. It’s strange but, to me, it seems safer somehow.”

“An’ does that come from your earliest beginnings?” Rachel inquired.

“Maybe. Maybe it’s more that the spirit is elemental and feels better without all the trappings of civilization. Out here .. there’s sky, land. Not much else. It’s basic. No frills. It’s calm yet it has a power of its own. Nick, you need to pull off the road just up here.”

Within five minutes, they had left the vehicle and were moving cross country, picking their way along a winding, narrow trail between two rocky outcrops. Aquila was in the lead, Nick brought up the rear.

Aquila rounded a bend. “Climb starts here,” she said.

Rachel looked up, and up. She felt her heart sink a little. At this rate, by the time she got back to town, she’d have a healthy glow and enough appetite to eat three dinners.

*****

Derek handed over his credit card. Merlin watched him, her eyes full of curiosity.

“I thought this was a pretense,” she whispered, leaning in closer.

“It is, but these tools will be useful in other areas of our work. They’re very sturdy, can take a lot of punishment, yet are fine enough to cope with delicate subjects.”

“Oh. Well .. I’m glad this trip’s been useful for you.”

Derek smiled at the rather edged humor. “It’s a bonus.”

“And if you die?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Then I don’t have to pay this credit card bill.”

Once outside on the street again, she pointed. “That’s the bar he was in.”

“He may not return there – I would be surprised if he does, after what he said to the barman – but I could try to pick something up. Show me where he was sitting.”

Merlin crossed the road and hurried down the sidewalk. As she neared the entrance, a man emerged from a store and collided with her.

“Hey, excuse me,” he said. “You okay? Did I hurt you?”

Merlin looked into the eyes of Reuben Meyer. “No. I’m fine.”

He smiled warily. “Do I know you from somewhere? You seem kinda familiar.”

“We’ve never met. I’m sure we’d both remember it if we had.”

He glanced at Derek. “The name’s Rube,” he said.

“Derek,” Derek replied, glad that Reuben had stuck with first names.

“Mary,” Merlin added. He wouldn’t pick that up as a lie because Mary was another name she used often enough for it to be the truth.

Derek saw the bag in Reuben’s scarred hands. “Oh .. another enthusiast?” he remarked, lifting his own bag. “Do you know the area, Rube?”

“Once, yeah.”

“Can you recommend somewhere for us to go looking? There’s a group of us. Amateurs. We’d appreciate some advice.”

“Be glad to. How about we all meet up later? There’s a restaurant called Bronto Burgers’n’Ribs. Say .. seven?”

Derek glanced at Merlin who nodded. “Sure. Seven o’clock.”

“Happy hunting,” Reuben grinned and strolled away.

“A stroke of luck?” Derek murmured.

“Maybe.”

She seemed withdrawn. “Are you all right?” he asked quietly.

“He isn’t what I expected,” Merlin replied.

*****

Aquila halted, looked around and nodded. “This is the place. As you can see, there are places to hide. It has an outpost up there with good all round visibility. And this area is large enough to be an arena.”

“Plus the only way in can be defended from above,” Nick added. “It’s good.”

He went off to examine the bunkers where Derek, Alex and Rachel would sit out the showdown. They had easy escape routes so, if things did not go well, they could get away quickly, either back down to the road or into deeper cover, yet those same routes were not easy to climb to.

Why am I not scared ..? Well, it sure isn’t because this is a great spot for a fight.

The question was starting to irritate him now. Because I’m not was starting to sound lame even in his ears. It was the truth, but it sounded trite and a little like he was bragging.

Maybe Michael did give me a courage pill. I mean, I’m still alert and cautious. I’m preparing well despite the fact I’ve had little training and we still don’t have what I’d call a plan of attack, but .. I feel so calm. And I’m not scared of that either because it feels right. I’m where I’m meant to be, doing what I’m meant to do. I know that. Ask me how I know .. I couldn’t tell you. What did I reason before? Oh yeah .. I’ll find out when the time’s right. Guess it isn’t the right time yet. But it can’t be much longer. It’d be a bit pointless to find out once I’m back in the city. Or once I’m dead.

Alex followed him into one of the bunkers. “Nick .. this might seem like a really dumb question but .. the big showdown,” she said, “do you have any idea how long it’s likely to last?”

“Why?” he frowned.

“Rachel and I were discussing possibly getting in some supplies. Food, a blanket. I’m not so sure. Every time I’ve seen Peri in action, it’s been over very fast. Blink and you’d miss it. Rachel thinks this could be more drawn out. After all, they are both Enforcers .. if you know what I mean.”

He thought it over. “Rachel’s right. It could take more time than usual. We’ll head back into town, get some supplies, I’ll come back tonight an’ prep these bolt holes for you.” He looked round. “Aquila chose well for you guys.”

They climbed back into the arena. “We’re heading back,” Alex called.

“You go on,” Aquila said. “I’ll stay and plant a few tricks.”

Nick led the way back to the road. “What did she mean?” Rachel frowned, steadying herself with one hand as she skidded down the slope. “Tricks?”

“Kinda like landmines but not, that’s my guess,” Nick replied. “Even if we’re pursued all the way up here, we’ll still have the advantage, thanks to proper prior planning.” He grinned. “Aquila’s always thinking of ways to take out the evil guys.”

*****

“I’m glad you’re back earlier than anticipated,” Derek told them. “We’re having dinner tonight at the Bronto Burgers’n’Ribs. Seven o’clock.”

“We went scouting in the wilderness, an’ you looked for places to eat?” Rachel queried.

“We went shopping,” Derek corrected, “and ran into someone willing to help us find a place to look for fossils. As he’s been here before, he is more aware of places to look. I suspect he has his favorite place.”

“Derek, that was just a – ” Alex began.

“The man we ran into is Reuben Meyer,” he interrupted.

“I won’t be able to make it,” Nick said after the moment of startled silence. “I’m heading back to the Badlands. You guys could need supplies to keep you going. I’ll get ’em in place for you.”

“Keep Aquila there as well,” Merlin said. “I don’t want her coming into town.”

“Won’t you need her?” he asked.

“No. As far as he’s aware, I’m a regular woman. Nothing unusual for him to sense. An’ I won’t be alone with him. I got three people with me who wanna do this.”

“What about you, Nick?” Rachel frowned. “Don’t you wanna be there? Meet this guy, up close an’ personal? You got all night to prepare supplies an’ get ’em in place.”

Nick paused, trying to put the strange sensation into words. “It isn’t time yet. I don’t feel ready.”

“None of us feel ready for this,” Alex pointed out. “This kinda thing isn’t something you’re ever completely ready for.”

He shook his head. “You don’t understand. I’ve been trying to figure out why I don’t remember what Michael said to me. I mean .. you don’t get much bigger an’ more important than this, yet .. I can’t even swear it was Michael who met with me. I just don’t know. But .. it feels like it was him an’, so far, everything’s turned out as I’ve expected it would. Why would I expect it? Because I was warned in advance. And I only seem to .. recall things when I need to know. I don’t know what it is I’m meant to do .. so the time can’t be right yet. You guys meet with him, try to .. get to know him, if you can and if you want, then you can brief me later.”

“You’ll miss dinner,” Derek remarked.

“I’ll grab something to go,” Nick grinned.

“All right. Take care,” Derek cautioned. “The one thing about combat arenas, in my opinion, is that there is usually only one quick way in and one quick way out. And they are the same path. Don’t let yourself get trapped there.”

“You take care of Peri,” Nick ordered. “Aquila might be the powerhouse an’ the muscle but Peri’s the brains. Catch up with you later.”

He headed away at a jog and the others remained silent till he was gone.

“So .. you met the enemy,” Rachel began. “What was he like?” Professional interest had sparked the question. Rachel wanted to see how accurate the profile she’d put together was in regard to the living man.

Merlin smiled thinly. “Y’know that saying – we have met the enemy, and it is us? Applies here. He’s a lot like me.” She shrugged. “An’ all this time I’ve been arguing that he is nothing like me. I was wrong.”

“Nick said that the only difference between you and him was that you hadn’t lost your self-control,” Alex commented.

“I guess that’s true .. plus, of course, he’s as evil as all Hell rolled into one. You just .. wouldn’t know it to speak with him. I can see why my grandfather was friends with the guy for such a long time.”

“Don’t get suckered in to the image he’s wearing,” Rachel warned. “He’s very dangerous. Still waters, an’ all that.”

“I won’t. I haven’t forgotten what he did. He still owes me blood debt. He’ll settle it.”

Rachel nodded, curiously uneasy about Merlin’s reaction. She’d expected vitriol and raving fury. If anything, Merlin was calmer than Nick.

“Well, I have to grab a shower an’ a change of clothes,” Rachel announced. “Aquila was right about working up a sweat .. in both directions.”

*****

They arrived at the restaurant at a few minutes before seven. Derek had briefed them on their roles as amateur fossil hunters and told them to give first names only. If one of them, by accident, gave a last name, it might prove awkward, especially if Rayne had then to be given. Similarly, no one was to specifically state they’d come from San Francisco. Reuben was smart. Rayne, San Francisco. He could do the math.

Merlin added that, no matter what they said to him, they had to believe it one hundred per cent. He’d be able to sense a lie.

It was just as well he had briefed them as they walked to the restaurant because Reuben was already there. He waved cheerfully when he saw Derek and beckoned them over.

“Hey, glad you turned up,” he greeted as they sat down at the table. “I’m Rube. I know Derek an’ Mary, who are you two ladies?”

“I’m Rachel.”

“And I’m Alex. Pleased to meet you.”

“Likewise. So .. you guys are amateur fossil hunters, huh?”

“That’s right,” Rachel nodded. “I think we all have the dream of discovering a new species of extinct dinosaur an’ having it named after us.”

“Well, yeah, that was my dream too, once upon a time. I was only ever here for a week but I really loved it. Always promised myself I’d come back .. an’ I never break my promises.”

“Never?” Merlin queried.

“Not the important ones. Not the ones I make to myself,” Reuben replied, smiling. “I mean .. if I broke those, I’d be letting myself down big time. What about you?”

“If I know I can’t deliver, I don’t promise,” Merlin replied. “That way, I don’t let anyone down.”

“You’re an honest person,” he remarked. “Rare, y’know?”

“I’m honest about my limitations, Rube. More people should be. World would be an easier place to live in if we were all more realistic.”

“So, Rube,” Derek began, drawing the conversation away from Merlin, “we’re heading into the hills tomorrow. Is there anywhere in particular you’d recommend?”

“Tomorrow ..?” He frowned. “I’d leave it another day, if I were you, then, hey, I’ll be happy to come along with you. Tomorrow’s gonna be difficult for me. I’m expecting company to show up an’ I’m gonna be a little busy.”

“Oh,” Alex said and sounded disappointed.

“Hell, it won’t take long an’ I’ll be as free as a bird. Have plenty of time to give to my friends.” He smiled around the table at them. “An’ you’re my friends, right? You don’t wanna be my enemies,” he laughed.

“We don’t wanna be anyone’s enemy,” Rachel responded. “Life’s too short to build up that kinda hostility.”

“That is very true, Rachel. You should live each day as if it were your last cos, one day, you’re gonna be right. I lost so many chances when I was younger. Y’know how it is. First up, you do everything to please your parents. Do what they say you should, even when you don’t want to. How many guys in this world wanted to be .. I don’t know, firemen or something an’ ended up being attorneys or doctors. Then, you do what your friends think you should, or you do what your friends are doing – getting married, having kids, settling down – an’, before you know it, you’re at the end of your life, not happy, not who you wanted to be, none of your hopes fulfilled, none of your wants met. You wasted the life you were given.” Reuben shook his head. “And we die, an’ people say .. he had a good life, a long life. They never say but he never got to do the things he wanted. An’, if you try to make a break from the norm, they say you’re .. eccentric. Weird. Or just plain dangerous. Can’t be trusted.”

“Is that what happened to you?” Rachel inquired and he looked sharply at her. “I only ask because it sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

“Yeah, it happened to me. I got branded as a misfit. They just couldn’t see I was different. Better. I had ideas .. but they wouldn’t listen. But .. that’s all in the past now. Soon, they’ll see I was right.” He smiled again. “We ready to order?”

*****

“You’re back,” Aquila remarked.

“Nothing wrong with your eyesight,” Nick commented, crossing the bare rock of the combat zone and shrugging out of the backpack.

“I heard you walking up the trail.”

“Your ears are pretty sharp as well.”

Aquila was used to humor but not in situations like this. She found it slightly confusing.

“Why?” she asked.

“Why do you have sharp senses?” Nick queried, grinning, then saw her expression. “I’m prepping the bolt holes. I can’t do much to rig the arena but the ordinary stuff, no problem.”

Aquila watched, her arms folding. “Of course, if Derek decided to take the sensible course of action, bolt holes wouldn’t be necessary.”

Nick paused. “I would’ve said that you’d be the one to really understand why he’s doing this. It’s obligation. And that’s something which is buried deep inside you, so deep it’s instinct. With him .. he knows he has to do this.”

“Risk his life? He doesn’t have to do that, Nick. He’s done enough. He may yet have a part to play afterward, when it’s all over. But .. standing beside us ..? I don’t see how that settles a debt.”

Nick sat back on his heels. “This is symbolic on top of everything else. You an’ Peri are every Enforcer to have lived. Derek, the others, they’re every Legacy member. Thousands of years, you’ve stood beside us because we said you had to. Now we’re standing by you because .. it’s something we want to do. It does pay a debt, Aquila. An’ you have to let Derek pay it.”

“I don’t remember the past, Nick, but I am sure that Legacy members never stood beside Enforcers during combat. Behind them, yes, but not beside them. All this will achieve is more people will die.”

Nick ran a thumb along his jaw. “You don’t know that. You can’t see into the future. You can only work with what is an’ draw from what has been. In this, you have no experience of a colleague turning rogue. Derek has. Okay, so the Legacy people who’ve sold out never had special powers like you .. at least, not to start with, but the principle’s the same.” He resumed sorting the supplies he’d brought into three heaps. “I guess this proves, more than anything, that you guys really are ordinary human beings. Don’t get defensive,” he laughed softly. “Peri says she’d always wanted a chance to be normal, that working with Carl and with us as she does is the closest she can ever come to that. One of you fell from grace. You’re not immune to temptation .. just like everyone else, and, just like everyone else, you gotta work at staying above it. I think the others should know about Reuben, know his story, learn from it. It’s proof that you’re nothing special, that you don’t have immunity, that you can make mistakes. What more incentive do you need? If it’s kept secret .. in time, you’ll get complacent, and Reuben Meyer will happen again.” He glanced round. “Just my opinion.”

“We have never said that we’re perfect.”

“Sure,” he agreed. “You’ve never said it but that isn’t the problem. It’s what you think. I’m not saying it’s you. I know Peri is the first to state her limitations .. such as they are. But you can’t see into every mind, can you?”

Aquila looked away. “Perhaps that is why Michael blocked it from Peregrine’s mind. I will never be totally sure about them, not now. The trust is damaged.”

“Doesn’t have to be. This is a warning shot across the bows. Just knowing the punishment is real and can happen isn’t enough. Now you know it has happened. If one of the others starts showing strain, you can do something to help.”

“Peregrine tried to help.”

“But Reuben was the first to do this. Maybe he’ll be the only one. Now, you’ll have the experience to deal with it. You can use Reuben as an example, because you’re not perfect.”

“Why have you brought blankets?” Aquila asked, changing the subject.

“You know how long you an’ him are going head to head?”

“No.”

“Gets cold out here at night. I brought blankets.”

“Night? We’ll be done before nightfall.”

“You sound sure of that,” Nick commented.

“I am. I don’t know exactly how long it will take to beat him. I don’t suppose it’ll be over quickly but it will be done by nightfall.”

“Just in case it starts to rain then,” Nick amended. “Nothing’s guaranteed.”

She shrugged, letting it go. “If Derek is doing this thru obligation, why are you doing it? Are you here as a member of the Legacy?”

“No.”

“Now you sound sure,” she remarked.

“I am. I’m here because Michael ordered me to be here. I’m Enforcer back up. I’ve a right.”

“Yes, but not the weapons.”

Nick shrugged. “You do, but that’s no guarantee either. Maybe that’s why I’m here. To give you another option.”

She frowned as she thought about this. “Use you ..?”

“We’re all being used, Aquila. Michael’s using us to put an end to this threat. He’d do it himself only his place isn’t in the world until the endgame. If Reuben had stayed on the other side, Michael could’ve dealt with it but Reuben came here .. an’ that means it’s down to us.” He rose to his feet. “What’s the alternative? Reuben wins, everyone gets Hell on Earth. I’d prefer to be used.”

“I hope it won’t come to that. I’d feel bad using you as a diversion.”

“Whatever gets the job done,” he dismissed. “Wanna give me a hand?”

“Sure.” She picked up the first heap and began to walk to one of the bunkers. “Where is Peri? Why didn’t she come with you?”

“She said to keep you outta town.”

“Why?” Aquila demanded.

“She’s having dinner with Reuben Meyer,” Nick replied.

*****

“Who wants dessert?” Reuben asked.

“Not me,” Rachel sighed, wiping her fingers on a napkin. “I’ll stick with coffee.”

“Same here,” Alex agreed.

“I’m game,” Merlin replied. “Ice cream. Chocolate ice cream.”

“Good choice,” Reuben smiled. “Derek?”

“Coffee only. I want to sleep tonight and I’ve eaten quite enough.”

Reuben nodded. “Then it’s just us two, Mary.”

“Guess it is,” she responded.

“Rube, can I ask you .. what makes you think you’re a misfit? You seem an ordinary guy to me,” Rachel commented.

He halted as if she’d slapped him. For a moment, he couldn’t speak a word. Then he swallowed.

“Thank you, Rachel. I think .. that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” Reuben laughed quickly. “Makes me sound a real lamebrain, huh? But if you only knew … It’s what I wanted my whole life – to be normal. Hold down a regular job. Complain about my pay an’ conditions. S’why they branded me a misfit.”

“Who’s they?” Alex queried.

“My peers. My .. so-called friends.”

“You didn’t have any true friends?” Merlin asked.

He hesitated. “Yeah. I had one. Great guy. He was always there for me. Even when I really fouled up, he never raised his hand. I miss him. Perry was my one true friend in the whole world. I’m hoping to see him again real soon.”

“He’s coming here?” Derek inquired.

“I hope so. If he doesn’t, I’ll go find him. We got some unfinished business. He could’ve been like me. He just lacked the courage to take that final step.” Reuben shook his head, his expression one of sadness. “We could’ve done a lot, the two of us. Had a ball doing it. But Perry was old school. He was used to the rules. He never did evolve, not like me.”

“Excuse me, I have to visit the ladies’ room,” Merlin said.

“I’ll come with you,” Rachel murmured.

They left the table and Rachel had to hurry to catch up with the other woman’s stride. The door closed behind them.

“You okay?” Rachel asked.

Merlin let out a taut breath. “Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just glad Aquila isn’t here to listen to this crap. Look, this is gonna sound like I’m crazy but I’m really not. It’s the start of the game plan. It begins tonight. I want you an’ the others to leave me alone with him. I have to talk to the guy.”

“Derek – ”

“I don’t care what Derek wants, Rachel. Tomorrow, I have to fight an’ kill that guy. I need a way in. I can do that better on my own.”

Rachel shook her head. “I’ll try. I do think you’re crazy but I’ll try.”

“Thanks. And don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Go back to the motel an’ brief Nick when he finally hauls his ass home.”

“Okay. I’ll .. see you later.”

“Sure.”

They returned to the restaurant where the coffee had been served and the desserts were waiting. Rachel drank her coffee quickly, yawned, and looked at her watch. “Is that the time? I really have to go. I’m sorry, Rube, but I have to call my daughter. Derek, Alex, you set to leave?”

Derek blinked. “I … ” He saw the pleading light in her eyes. “I believe so. Alex?”

She took her lead from him. “Sure.”

“Mary?” Rachel ventured.

“Night’s still young. How about I buy you a beer, Rube?”

“I’d like that. Thank you. Let me pay for dinner. You guys have been really great company. I’ve enjoyed tonight. And I will see you again soon.”

They rose to leave. “Catch you later,” Merlin said.

Derek waved a hand in farewell and went out. In the parking lot, he turned to Rachel. “What is all this about?”

“She wants to be alone with him, Derek. She asked me to get you both to leave. No, I don’t think it’s a good idea but now is not the time nor the place to start second guessing Peri. She doesn’t need that from us.”

He was silent, his dark eyes searching, then he sighed and briefly shook his head. “I hope she knows what she’s doing.”

“So do I,” Rachel breathed.

*****

“She’s having dinner with ..?”

Aquila sounded shocked. Nick felt a little sorry for her.

“It’s no big deal. She isn’t alone with the guy. Derek, Rachel an’ Alex are with her.”

“I should be there,” Aquila said. “She’s vulnerable. What if he attacks?”

“In a restaurant? Would he do that? You know what we’ve found out about him. He might brag without actually saying but he’s done nothing beyond – ”

“Gutting his childhood home and causing an entire town to vanish.”

“No one saw anything. There were no witnesses. That’s hardly making an exhibition of himself.” He caught her arm and flinched slightly at the stab of electricity which numbed his hand. “Aquila, you go there, he’ll sense you. Yes, right now, Peri can’t defend herself .. but she’s coming across as a normal woman. He won’t get defensive because there’s no perceived threat. You turn up, there will be.” He tightened his grip. “Leave her be.”

“How can you say that? How can you let her do this?”

“Because I trust her,” Nick replied, releasing his hold and wringing his hand to get some feeling back into it. “Show me what tricks you’ve put in place, then we’ll head back to the motel. By the time we get there, they should be done an’ have more information for us.”

*****

Merlin strolled along the sidewalk, occasionally glancing up at the stars.

“Can I ask you something?” Reuben began.

“Sure.”

“It’s personal.”

“Okay. Thanks for the warning.”

“That ring on your finger. Does it mean anything?”

Slowly, she nodded. “Yes, it does. Why d’you wanna know?”

Reuben shrugged. “Lady offering to buy me a beer … I just wondered, that’s all. Not that I’d make any moves on you. I’m a gentleman.”

She walked in silence for a while. “You could tell, couldn’t you?”

“Tell what?”

“That the others were lying.”

“About being fossil hunters? Sure. Of course, that only makes me wonder why you are here.”

“We’re looking for you. They’re Legacy members from San Francisco. Derek is Winston Rayne’s son.”

“Is he? Wow. I should’ve realized that. Now you mention it, there is a strong likeness.” Reuben looked at her. “If they’re Legacy members, what are you?”

“I’m the Flamefall they’ve sent to take you back to Hell,” Merlin replied. “The white streak didn’t give you a hint? C’mon, let’s get that beer. We need to talk.”

Reuben led the way to a bar and didn’t say a word till they were settled in a booth. “You look familiar,” he commented.

“I should. Peregrine is my grandfather. Joe’s my Dad.”

“I can’t believe so much time has passed,” he sighed. “So, this’ll be a family reunion, huh? They sent you on ahead to scout, check me out. Then the three of you will gang up on ol’ Rube. Blood debt.”

She lit a cigarette. “No. Won’t happen. Peregrine died .. fifteen years ago. I was twelve. My parents died six years back. Car wreck. There’s just me left.”

Reuben shook his head. “Damn, I’m sorry. I really wanted to see Perry again. An’ your Dad .. he was a great kid. I learned a lot from him. But .. it can’t be you.”

“It is.”

“No.” He shook his head again. “I’m not sensing anything. An’ I would. You know that.”

Merlin drank some beer. “Well, Rube .. you were right,” she said as she put the bottle back on the table. “You had evolved. You were the first. And I’m the second. I’m different to all the others. An’ they don’t like that either. I think you were treated unfairly. At first, when I learned what you’d done, I was ready to take you down however I could so long as you suffered. But now I’ve met you .. I don’t think I can. We’re too alike. What you wanted all your life .. is exactly what I wanted too. Normal. Regular. To be treated just the same as anyone else on the street. I don’t see why that’s so bad. Yes, what you did to Ox was wrong but what drove you to it … I understand.”

Merlin shrugged slightly. “I won’t fight you. You deserve to live. I’ll help you get your chance.”

*****

Nick got back to the Green Motorlodge just after eleven. Aquila had been restless the entire journey and that made him a little restless too. In Desert Dunes, surrounded by evil, she’d been like a rock. Nothing had been able to shake her. But this … It was setting Nick’s teeth on edge.

Rachel and Alex were in the room when he arrived. Derek was pacing in the available space. Nick halted, looking at them.

“Where’s Peri?” he asked, beating Aquila to it.

Rachel looked guiltily at Derek. “We thought she’d be back by now. She .. told us to leave. She wanted to be alone with him.”

“An’ you let her?” Nick exclaimed.

“She knows what she’s doing. At least,” Alex added, “we hope she does.”

“Nick, calm down,” Derek ordered.

“I told you to keep her safe! Right now, he could kill her. She has no defenses. You were there as her shield, an’ you let her down. What happened to repaying the debt? You let her go off with him. D’you at least know where they’ve gone?”

“To get a beer,” Rachel replied. “Nick, she said this was the start of the game plan. Tonight. She said she’ll be fine.”

“And you believed her cos Peri never lies to us, does she?” Nick countered.

“I have to find her,” Aquila said and sounded anxious.

“Talk to her. Find out what the hell’s going on,” Nick instructed. “Then we both go.”

“Aquila,” Derek began and she glanced at him. “Why are you so anxious?”

“Because none of you fully understand this enemy and Peri is especially at risk. Reuben Meyer can trick us. He wears masks. He can hide his words behind a veil of mist. He is subtle and sly. He can pull her into his darkness and she will not know until it is too late.”

Rachel bit at her lip. “She did say earlier that he was very similar to her.”

“Exactly, Rachel,” Aquila confirmed. “Consider what she has done with her life – I do not mean offence but .. she married an outsider. She works for the Legacy. She has a job at the university. She is not a typical Enforcer. Without me, her senses are a little dulled. Without me to be her strength, she is weak. She is normal. And normal people find temptation harder to resist than we do. Reuben Meyer is black and rotten to his core. His aura smothers him like a black cloud of putrefaction .. but she cannot see that. All she will hear are his words, gently spoken, of the wrongs he has suffered, the ills he has been forced to endure. Believe me, she is at risk of joining him.”

“Talk to her now,” Nick ordered in a tight voice, feeling guilty that he’d hadn’t gone along with them to meet Reuben for dinner and he had defended it to Aquila. She half turned away. Nick turned to confront his Precept. “How could you let this happen, Derek?”

“Don’t blame him,” Rachel begged. “This is my fault. Peri asked me an’ I went along with it. She sounded perfectly rational, Nick. She admitted it sounded a crazy idea but it wasn’t. Tomorrow, she would fight him an’ kill him, an’ she needed a way in. She needed to be alone so she could talk with him.”

Aquila was listening distantly to this. Nick reined in his temper. “Sure, I understand. But that was then. Who knows what he’s saying to her now?”

Alex shifted slightly. “Don’t take this the wrong way, please, but we still have Aquila and Aquila has the weapons.”

“Oh, so, even if we lose Peri, we’ll be okay. That’s makes everything all right.”

Alex shook her head. “I knew you’d take it the wrong way. Nick, listen to me. None of us are here for our health. We are here because Reuben’s here. He is the threat. Whatever it takes to end that threat is what we should be remembering, not who we might lose doing it.”

“Alex is right,” Derek agreed heavily. “We must keep the big picture in mind and set aside the personalities.”

“And if that means Aquila has to kill her own shell ..?” Nick inquired coldly. “Won’t that make her another Reuben Meyer?”

“That would depend upon whether Peri has changed sides.”

“I don’t believe this,” Nick muttered, turning away and raking a hand thru his hair. “I don’t believe you could even think such a thing,” he flared.

“I’m being realistic,” Derek responded. “Aquila believes it is possible. I hope it doesn’t happen but I can’t rule it out completely. Yes, we made a tactical error in going along with what Peri wanted but arguing it out in front of Reuben would have given us away.”

“Have you spoken with her yet?” Nick asked Aquila.

Her eyes troubled, Aquila shook her head. “I’m calling but she won’t answer me. I don’t know why. It’s as if .. I’m cut off.”

She looked round at them. “I’ve lost her.”

Continue to Chapter 27 Return to Home