Alchemist (27 page)

He looked at Lyle.
“Have you managed to locate a temporal device?”

“Yes, I have.”

Connor sat up,
surprised, but refrained from speaking out of turn.

“Where did you
find it?” Terry asked keenly, asking the question everyone else
silently wanted to know.

Lyle
hesitated. “A
friend
. It was
originally going to be here in a couple of days but after tonight I
have asked him to bring it here by first light.”

Terry was a bit
suspicious of the explanation but let it slide. “So we can go after
him?”

“It’s not much
good if we don’t know where he is.” Lyle looked at the King. “The
last time we encountered him on Earth was in Edinburgh. He could be
anywhere now.”

Fallo began to say
something, but his daughter wasn’t listening.

Terry muttered
something to herself, lost in thought.

Everyone looked at
her. “Daughter?” her father asked, raising an eyebrow.

She snapped out of
her reverie. “I was just thinking...”

“Thinking
what?”

She shook her
head. “Nothing, it’s probably just my imagination.”

“Tell me.”

Terry looked about
the room. She waved a hand for him to come over. Darius leapt out
of his seat, something the King took without acknowledgement. He
pulled the up the chair. Lyle also drew closer to hear. “What is
it?” asked Fallo, lowering his voice.

“Edward always
seems to know where we are.”

Her father’s brow
furrowed. “I don’t understand. How?”

Terry closed her
eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t explain that very well. What I
mean is, no matter where we seem to be he seems to know.”

Lyle appeared
troubled by this. “What makes you say that?”

“When we went to
The Southlands, we found one of the tribes murdered, right in our
path. And a few days ago when we were in the mountains and we found
the Iok tribe, again, right in our path. They were miles from home
and there were no footpaths. Then there were the two attacks in
Edinburgh and tonight’s attack...”

“We don’t know who
killed the tribesman.” Lyle cut in.

“No but don’t you
think it’s strange that their bodies were conveniently lying in our
way both times? No-one could have possibly known that we were in
the Gyris Mountains. I think Edward put them there to try and scare
us and I think he used dead Alchemists to carry out the attacks so
that we would not think it was him.”

“What were you
saying about tonight?” interjected Fallo, returning to her
unfinished thought.

She looked at him.
“When was the last time the colony was attacked?”

Fallo had to think
about it. “Not for many years. Why?”

“Don’t you think
it’s strange that this is the first time we’ve been home properly
in nearly a decade and suddenly there is one? Why would Edward
suddenly decide to attack here and now when he’s had plenty of
other opportunities over the years if he’s still being alive?”

Fallo’s eyes
narrowed. “How could he possibly know where you are?”

His daughter’s
gaze slowly drifted across the table and Fallo and Lyle
followed.

The young water
elemental fidgeted uncomfortably as several thousand eyes fell on
him. “Why are you all looking at me like that for?” He looked about
nervously. “I haven’t done anything...”

Fallo stood,
drawing his blades. “No!” Terry shouted, running into his path. His
blazing eyes met hers, seeking an explanation.

“I don’t think he
knows.” She said softly.

The King slowly
shook his head. “You can’t be sure.”

Darius started
backing away from the table. “What the hell’s going on?”

“Calm down
Darius.” Lyle said, holding a hand out in an attempt to calm the
young man as he approached.

Darius backed off.
“Stay away from me...”

Lyle stopped. “I’m
not going to hurt you. But you might be infected with
something.”

“What? What are
you talking about?” He rambled anxiously. His gaze shot to Faye,
then to Connor and Terry, desperately seeking answers.

“Years ago we
found a spy in one of our colonies, an Alchemist, who had been
touched by a Phantom.” Lyle explained. “Those who are touched act
like a pair of eyes for them, what they see, the Phantom can see.
We think the same might have happened to you.”

Darius looked
about frantically. “But...but...I’ve never even seen a Phantom
before!” He began to sob, as the gravity of what the general said
sank in.

Lyle shook his
head. “You wouldn’t remember it. But you have to calm down and let
us help you.”

“Why? What are you
going to do? Put a blade through my head?”

“No. No.” Lyle
waved a hand at his brother. “The King was only trying to defend
his daughter, that’s all. He won’t hurt you. I know how to get it
out of you, but if you don’t calm down, it might take over.”

Darius suddenly
froze, his eyes shut and his head dropped. A few moments later his
neck straightened and his eyelids opened, revealing jet black
orbits. An audible gasp passed through the council hall.

“General.” Darius
said bluntly, but the voice was not his own.

“I don’t recognise
your voice.”

“But I remember
you general and the kiss of your blade that ended my last
host.”

Lyle’s eyes
narrowed. “Sigonna.”

A dark smirk
flashed across his face and then vanished.

If Lyle was
surprised to see a dead Phantom he hid it well. “You’re the second
one I’ve ran into who doesn’t stay dead.”

He barked a
humourless laugh. “Phantoms never truly die general, you know that.
We simply...move on, so to speak.” He cocked his head, staring
curiously at his killer. “I thought you would have killed me by
now.”

“And kill Darius
in the process?”

He smirked again.
“Very clever, I thought you were no more an animal than you’re
brethren.” His gaze shifted to the princess. “Like her, working it
out.”

Fallo bristled.
“You will hold your tongue when you are in our presence.”

“Dad, don’t.”
Terry said, grabbing his arm.

“Go on, do it!
Kill me! Send me back to the other side!”

Fallo held his
ground, but he looked poised to strike any second.

“Edward bought you
back, didn’t he?” Terry asked, getting his attention.

“Yes and this was
one of his conditions. Possess a being and be his eyes and ears for
him as Edward can no longer do it to a living host himself anymore.
He is weak, nothing more than a shadow than he used to be. That is
why he has never attacked you directly.” An evil smile peeled his
face.

“Why are you
telling us all this?” Lyle asked.

“Because I have
been caught and if you do not kill me then my master will send me
back to the nether for failing anyway. I have nothing to lose.”

“He could always
bring you back again.” Connor said, regarding him warily with lit
hands.

A mocking smile
creased his lips. “It is Edward we are talking about, you know he
wouldn’t. And if he catches me, he will torture me before he sends
me back.” He turned to look at Lyle again. “That’s the only thing I
like about you Alchemists, you are quick and swift in delivering
death.”

“We could always
torture you.”

The demon shook
Darius’ head. “But you won’t. I’m a Phantom in a colony of twenty
million, one of you will kill be sooner or later.”

“Can Edward see
what you’re seeing right now?” Terry asked, taking a step
closer.

“No, he has run
back to Earth and all the portals have shut behind him. But he will
create one again soon, looking for me. Then he will know what
happened here unless you kill me.”

Whilst distracted
talking to Terry, Sigonna did not see Lyle nod toward a few of the
guards behind him. Quietly, they signalled amongst themselves and
closed in. The next thing the demon knew he was being pinned to the
floor, by six heavily armoured Alchemists.

“Don’t hurt him!”
cried Faye, rushing forward and fearing the worst. Connor grabbed
her and pulled her back. “No! Faye! No!”

“Darius!” she
screamed, tears rolling down her face as she sunk to her knees.

The guards dragged
the possessed man to his feet. “What next general? Death at
last?”

Lyle approached.
He met Sigonna’s dark gaze, then turned to look at The King. “My
Lord, I can cure him. You know I have done it before, I can save
Darius’s life.”

The King stood
silently, regarding the request. Terry’s heart pounded like a jack
hammer, fearing he would choose the merciless option. It felt like
an eternity passed in the hall; the life or death of an innocent
man rested on her father’s whim.

He nodded. “Thank
you my Lord.” Lyle sketched a bow and led the guards away, dragging
the screaming man between them.

The tension in the
room broke and everyone began talking amongst themselves,
exchanging as much shock as relief. “Take care of her.” Lyle
shouted to Connor before he disappeared.

Connor gave his
back a silent nod. Faye sat on the ground, her head in her hands,
distraught.

“Father!” shouted
Terry, running into his quarters. She had lost him in the throng on
the way back and he had not answered her shouts.

“I wish to be
alone.” He said, facing the large brazier.

Terry’s heart
sank. Turning away, she whispered a thank you.

He did not
reply.

Chapter
19

“Terry.”

She jerked awake.
“When did I doze off?” she asked, angry that she had.

Connor sat down on
the stone bench next to her. “I don’t know.” He checked his watch.
“But we left about thirty minutes ago.” He handed her a small,
earthen cup of water. “Don’t worry about it, you’ve not missed
anything.”

“How’s Faye?”

He shook his head.
“Not good.” He wiped his face with his hands. “But there is nothing
she can do. I think sending her to her bed is the best we could
have done. Hopefully she won’t feel so bad if she gets some
sleep.”

Terry nodded, but
did not reply. For a few minutes the two friends shared a sombre
silence. A regiment of primeval Alchemists marched passed them
through the wide street, while others scuttled across the rocky
wall behind them, rather than lose ground on their comrades; an
activity that left them unfazed. They all called to their future
queen; a unique, high-pitched shriek. Terry ignored them as they
passed.

Normally she would
have responded, even if it was just a courteous incline of the
head. But her mind was on other things. She gazed upward to the
lights that shone from the spires that towered high above. She then
looked at her personnel guard who stood by at a short, but
respectable distance. They watched vigilantly for trouble, despite
the late hour. “I wish they weren’t following me everywhere.” She
muttered, nodding in their direction.

Connor followed
her gaze. “Your father’s jumpy. I can’t say I blame him.” He looked
back to his old friend. “Not after what’s happened.” He rubbed his
hands together, more out of boredom than cold. “Did your father say
what he intends to do now that we have found a way home?”

She shook her
head. “If he has he hasn’t told me. We’ve not spoken since what
happened in the council chambers.” She nodded towards the guards.
“Their captain just turned up at my quarters.”

Connor made no
attempt to mask his anxiety. “You can’t let him send an army after
Edward, it would be carnage.”

“You think I don’t
know that?” she asked bluntly. Checking herself she sighed, drawing
a hand over her face. “Sorry, it’s been a long night.”

He forced a smile.
“It’s ok.”

Neither of them
spoke for several minutes. Finally Terry said: “I wish Rufus was
here, he’d know what to do.”

Connor smiled.
“You know, I was thinking the exact same thing.”

“We need find him
when we get back. We need all the help we can find.”

“That’s
if
we are
allowed to go back.” Connor said dubiously.

The sound of heavy
footsteps cut off the conversation. They stood as a group of half a
dozen guards hurried toward them.

“My Lady.” The
leader gasped heavily, bowing. “I have been sent with a message
from General Lyland. The water elemental has died.”

It was all Terry
and Connor could do but stare at each other in shock.

******

A heavy silence
filled the office. The small, poky room, which had been fashioned
from a small cave, belonged to one of the prison deputies. This
evening though it had been commandeered by the general when he had
first bought Darius in.

Lyle sat behind
the desk, little more than a wooden table and chair littered with a
few amenities, staring blankly into space.

Faye sat on the
floor, her face buried in her arms, Connor with his arms wrapped
round her. A trail of silent tears trickled down the side of his
friend’s face but she had not made a sound since she had woken to
the news of Darius’s demise.

Terry sat slumped
in the corner, her gaze fixed in the distance. She had not spoken
since they had arrived in the office.

“I shouldn’t have
left.”

Connor looked at
Lyle, almost unable to hear what he said. “It wasn’t your
fault.”

Lyle shook his
head. “Yes it was. They are my soldiers I am responsible for their
actions.” His gaze fell to the desk. “I should have known one of
them would have got jumpy. They hate the possessed, they always
have.” His eyes narrowed. “Generations of superstitious nonsense,
fears that they will somehow become the same if they touch someone
who is possessed.” He muttered, slamming a fist against it.

Faye jumped and
Connor held her tighter. Lyle had the decency to look ashamed when
he realised he had scared her.