No Mere Zombie: Deathless Book 2 (49 page)

“I don’t have long,” The Director said, glancing over his shoulder. “I still have a few people loyal to me, but that’s not going to save me.”

Jordan went cold as the implications set in. “You’re a prisoner?”

“The Old Man had me arrested. I’m being transported to London to meet his 'master.' Someone he calls Usir,” The Director explained, shooting another glance over his shoulder. He turned back to his phone. “I don’t know who or what he serves, but whatever it is this thing controls Mohn Corp through the Old Man. Something big is going down in London, and I have no idea what.”

“We’re not in a position to launch any sort of rescue,” Jordan replied, still reeling with the news. He was aware of the others clustered around him, totally silent as they listened to the conversation.

“I’m not expecting you to. Apparently, this master is something called a draugr. It can control minds, and I don’t expect to be myself for much longer,” The Director replied. His face went grim. “From here on out, you need to consider me and Mohn as a whole the enemy.”

“Acknowledged,” was all Jordan could muster.

“One last thing. Other Arks have returned. The one in Egypt is the largest, and it’s also the center of a lot of activity. Whoever controls it is gathering a massive army of the dead,” he continued.

There was the rustling of fabric, then the phone canted at a crazy angle. It tumbled to a metal floor, and went black for a moment before it was picked up again. When it stopped moving it showed a different face. A familiar face. “Ahh, Commander. I’m so pleased to see you survived your encounter with Irakesh.”

“Mohn,” he growled, eyes narrowing at the triumphant smile on the Old Man’s face.

“Mark is indisposed at the moment. You’ll have to try again in a few hours, after I’ve introduced him to…an old friend,” the Old Man said. His eyes twinkled, then the phone went dead.

Jordan turned to the others. There was a moment of silence before Blair spoke. “Usir is a name I know. It’s ancient Egyptian, a synonym for the god of the underworld. Most people know him as Osiris.”

Epilogue

Steve waited until Blair and the other fools had strode up the corridor before turning his attention to Irakesh. He studied the deathless, an unassuming black man about an inch shorter than he was. Well, unassuming if you didn’t count the razored teeth or glowing eyes.

“I’m guessing you don’t want to be here when Isis arrives,” Steve said, rising to his feet. The deathless didn’t answer. He paused for a long moment, then continued. “I’m not eager to be here, either. So I’m leaving. You’re welcome to join me, for a price.”

That got his attention. Irakesh’s head came up, eyes narrowing as he stared hard at Steve. “How exactly do you propose to do that? We’re locked behind a stasis field. Any energy directed at it will simply rebound back at us. There’s no way to escape.”

“No way that you know of,” Steve shot back. He crossed to the bars, raising a hand to within inches of the crackling energy that surrounded them. “Humor me. Let’s just say that I had a way to get past the bars. Would you be willing to help me escape?”

“Very well, I’ll indulge this folly,” Irakesh said, rising to his feet. He stalked to the bars, folding his arms as he stared up at Steve. “Let us say you have a way to open the bars. How would you escape the Ark? We’d be crushed by the ocean if we sought escape.”

“Are you familiar with an ability called light walking?” Steve asked, giving Irakesh a sly smile. The deathless's eyes widened.

“I know it, but only Ark Lords possess the ability. How do you even know of it? No one in this age should,” Irakesh asked, eyes narrowing again as he eyed Steve with a calculating gaze.

“I
am
an Ark Lord, thanks to Blair,” Steve said. “I delved the mind of Isis while she slept, and learned a great many things. Blair is new and untrained. He has locked us in this cell, but if we light walk, then the bars won’t matter. We can bypass the stasis field.”

“Why would you bring me? We’re enemies, you and I,” Irakesh replied, but his expression had softened. He was curious.

What you suggest is madness, Ka-Dun. Repent, and the Mother will spare you. Continue with your mad plan, and she will hunt you to the last corner of the world. There will be no escape.
His beast rumbled. Steve ignored it, as he often did. The creature was noble, possessed of a morality he simply didn’t share.

“We
were
enemies,” Steve replied, smiling. “Now we are allies, like it or not. As you can see, Blair and the others are no friends of mine. Nor do I wish to be here when Isis arrives. I’m willing to take you with me, but as I said, there is a price.”

The deathless was silent for a long moment before speaking. “Name it.”

“Your mother rules the Ark of the Cradle in Egypt, does she not?” Steve asked. He knew the answer, of course, but Irakesh would be less reticent if he felt on equal footing.

“She does, and I begin to grasp your plan,” Irakesh said, finally smiling. “You wish me to accompany you, so that my mother will not slay you upon our arrival.”

“Precisely,” Steve replied, giving his most devious smile. It felt good not having to hide it. “This new world is a far different place than the one you came from. There is much I can offer the mighty Ra, not least of which is the key to the Mother’s Ark.”

Irakesh blinked once, then extended a hand. Steve shook it. Blair thought he’d won this little encounter, but he was about to find out how wrong he’d been. Steve reached deep into his well of energy, and willed the two of them away from the Ark of the Redwood.

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