Scala (7 page)

“Come on. What's the joke?”

Erik pulls on his ears, removing what ends up being a magical stone bust of himself. “Is this awesome or what? You wear it once, and then you have a living, talking statue of yourself forever. You can wear it as a mask, too. That's what I was doing. Cool, huh?”

The statue-Erik winks at the original. “Quite cool,” it says. And dang, it even sounds like Erik.

“Put that thing away, now. We need to find the Orb.”

“Fine, fine.” Erik sets the bust onto the floor and then rests his hand atop the statue's head. “Sleep, friend.” The fake-Erik closes its eyes and starts to snore. I'm beginning to understand why Lincoln stopped hanging out with these guys after age ten.

Lincoln approaches us, spies the statue on the floor, and half-rolls his eyes. “Let's get started.”

“We were only waiting for you two,” explains Erik. “We can start any time.” He pulls the small tin bluebird from the pocket of his white lab coat. “Who's got the rest of the stuff we need?”

Three other Alchemists step forward, each holding one item: the torquetum, the old-fashioned spectacles, and the Thigh Master. Lincoln and I share a sly look. The Thigh Master guy looks really embarrassed-slash-confused. Those things don't seem to be standard parts of the medieval lifestyle in Antrum.

Erik steps over to the torquetum. “This is the first link in the magical chain that leads to the Orb. We'll start off the bird here, and then it should follow the path of magic through all the warehouse until it reaches the Orb at the end.” He twists the key in the bird's side and sets it free. The tiny tin creature hops onto the torquetum and pecks around its flat, circular surface. After that, it jumps onto the
spectacles and flaps it wings. Finally, it paces along the Thigh Master before taking off in flight.

Erik bobs on the balls of his feet. “It worked!” He and Walker exchange a high-five.

“Looking good,” I say. “How long before it finds the Orb?”

Walker purses his lips. “By my calculations, tomorrow morning at 6:17AM.”

“Really?” My eyebrows rise with surprise. “How can you be so certain?”

Walker scratches his neck with his right hand. “Do you want a lesson on stuff like energy signatures and the laws of probability, or do you want to take my word for it?”

Walker can be such a smart-ass sometimes. “Your word is fine.”

“How likely is it that you'll really find this thing tomorrow?” asks Lincoln. “Give me a percent chance.”

Walker makes a great show of rubbing his sideburns as if he's lost in thought. “Oh, one hundred percent.”

“Yeah, Walker!” My tail does a happy-dance over my shoulder. If Walker says one hundred percent, you can take that to the bank. The mood in the warehouse turns downright giddy.

“We should make this an diplomatic event,” says Cissy cheerfully. “An inter-realm gala, even. Invite the press to the warehouse. The people will love it.” She opens her arms like she's picturing a new sign above the warehouse door. “Lucifer's Orb, the Grand Unveiling.”

I hate to burst her bubble, but that's so not-going-to-happen. “I like the way you think, Cis, but it's too risky. Let's just find the Orb and get that shizz out of here.” Once we find it, Dad's agreed to transfer it personally to some super-safe vault in Heaven. “Sorry to ruin your fun.”

“No worries, quasi girl. Once this is all over, I'll think of another Diplomatic-something to celebrate our victory.”

Our group launches into excited chatter about finding the Orb, restarting Soul processing, and my first iconigration as the Great Scala. We're so loud, it's hard to hear someone pounding on the warehouse's back door. Erik and I don't miss it, though.

“I'll get it. We're expecting a delivery.” Erik jogs away.

I watch him rush up to a door at the end of the aisle, open it, and stare out into space. The skin on my arms prickles into gooseflesh. Something's wrong here.

Who opens a door and stands there like a statue?

I move closer to Erik. He looms in the doorway, blocking my view of the alley beyond. I can't see his face, but there's a crimson glow around his cheeks, almost like his eyes are glowing red. Erik's voice comes out in a strange monotone. “Please come in. I'll show you around.”

I step closer. “Stop right there, buddy.”

Erik flips around to face me. “Stop what?”

I do a double-take. Erik's eyes are the typical thrax mismatch of brown and blue. No sign of demonic red. Any trace of a monotone is gone from his speech, too. I shake my head. This morning has been a lot of excitement after an intense all-nighter. My mind must be playing tricks on me.

“Look, Erik. You were about to invite someone in and give a tour of the warehouse. Not acceptable. This place stays on lock-down until we find the Orb.”

Erik looks at me like I'm nuts. “I wasn't talking to anyone. Look for yourself.”

I pop my head through the opened doorway and into the alley beyond. It's empty. Huh.

“See?” asks Erik. “No one's there. The knocks were probably a prank from some kids.”

I scan the alleyway again. Still empty.

“A prank, eh? One of yours, Erik?”

“Not this time.”

I'm so sure.

Still, the situation with the mystery knock-and-run brings up a good question. This is a huge warehouse, and we definitely need to keep it secure between now and tomorrow at 6:17AM. As Minister of Infrastructure, Walker's in charge of providing guards for all government buildings. I seek him out and pull him aside.

“Hey, do you have enough security folks for this place?”

Walker tilts his head to one side, thinking. “Enough to cover through tomorrow, sure.”

“Cool. And however many you'd normally put on a high-risk building, can you double it?”

“That won't be as easy, but I think I can manage it.”

“Thanks.” I watch the little tin bird flap around the warehouse, landing from box to box. “This is way too important to leave anything to chance.”

“Agreed.” Walker's mouth thins to a worried line. “I'll take care of all the plans personally.”

Lincoln and I stand in the warehouse, alone. The Alchemists and Cissy are gone, having done an awesome day's work. Walker's waiting outside for us. Lincoln and I take a quick stroll around the warehouse interior, double-checking that all the new guards are in place. Tomorrow's a huge day, and we want everything to be secure.

As we make our rounds, some of the tightness and anxiety fades from my body. The warehouse looks good. Really good. Walker gave us some top-notch guards. I'd even like to fight a few in the Arena, just to see how they'd do.

After one last check, Lincoln and I step out the back. It's not even six o'clock yet, but since the alley's bordered by tall buildings, it gets pitch dark out here pretty quickly. A bare light bulb hangs above the warehouse door, casting a dim glow onto the cracked asphalt. I scan the darkened alley.

No guards are here, only Walker. That's odd. The building's exterior should be secured by now.

Walker leans against the opposite wall, his thumbs hooked into the belt loops of his jeans. A strange gleam dances in his eyes. “Are we all ready to go?”

I tilt my head to one side. “Mmmmmmmmaybe.”

I've known Walker my whole life, so I can tell when he's up to something. And the way he looks now? It's the exact face he'd give me before sneaking my teenage tuchus into the Arena. He knew Mom hated the thought of me spending time watching demon battles, so he always played it cool. Even so, he could never hide the odd glimmer in his eyes from me.

Something is so up. “Where are all the guards, Walker?”

“I've asked them to hold off for a while.” He rocks a bit on his heels. “Are you two ready or what?”

I glance over to Lincoln. He's got his Señor Sneaky face on, which means he's caught on to whatever's up with Walker, too.

“Almost, one last thing.” Lincoln wraps me into a deep hug and whispers in my ear. “Adair's here. Walker held off his guard so we could do a little recon, find out what she's up to. Care you join us?”

“Oh, yes.” One of the many advantages of being in a serious relationship with a demon hunter is that you never get surprised in a deserted alley.

“Excellent.” Lincoln steps back from our embrace and faces the darkest part of the alley. “Lady Adair, as your High Prince, I command you to halt and speak with me.”

Three figures scramble in the darkness: Lady Adair and two huge ghouls, one of whom is taller and has a limp. I'd know that tall guy anywhere; he's the Ghoul Diplomat to Purgatory. What a creep. A low hum sounds, the unmistakable mark of a ghoul portal opening and closing.

After that, silence.

“They're gone.” I say with a sigh. “We missed them.”

“Not at all.” Lincoln turns to me, his eyebrows bobbing up and down. “I'm sure that Adair
thinks
she's given us the slip, but few ghouls are so talented at reconstructing portals as Walker. How about we continue our recon mission? I for one, am still curious as to what she does in her spare time.”

“Are you kidding? I'd love to find out where she goes when she's not stalking me. Sign me up.”

Lincoln jogs towards the end of the alley; Walker and I are close behind. Within a few seconds, we've reached the spot where Adair and her ghouls were hiding.

“Need you, buddy,” says Lincoln. “Where'd they go?”

Kneeling down, Walker touches the ground where the portal once stood. “Ghost Tower Four. Not the ideal place for a portal. What do you say, Myla?”

Walker's right to be cautious. Our Ghost Towers are jittery enough without people portalling in and out. Still, as long as we're careful, we should be fine. Besides, I really-really-really want to find out what Adair's up to.

“We'll be alright.” I tap the baculum holster on Lincoln's thigh. “Don't spark this baby up by the Carrier wall. It can break the containment field.” I take Walker's hand in my left and Lincoln's in my right. When travelling by portal,
you have to hold onto your ghoul or you'll fall through darkness forever. “Let's hit it.”

A new black door forms on the same spot where Adair disappeared; only this time, the portal is Walker's handiwork.

Together, we all step into the black doorway, tumble through empty space, and then re-emerge in the middle of a heavy, ivory-colored mist. A loud droning-sound fills the air, like we're standing beside a huge waterfall or jet aircraft engine. Actually, we're standing near some of the most powerful power generators in the after-realms.

Ghostly shapes move through the mist. Men, women, old, young, human, quasi. These spirits should be sleeping peacefully, but instead, they're all meandering around, wide-eyed and agitated. Spectral whispers carry on the air.

Where am I?

Get me out of here.

Help me.

Each reedy voice sends a shudder through my stomach. I force myself not to meet their gaze, as that only freaks them out…And a freaked out ghost is a dangerous ghost.

I pause, the full impact of our location sinking in. The Lead Warden left a cloud on the Tower floor. Most likely, that means the entire Carrier's at risk. Long story short, we're surrounded by a bunch of quite-possibly-homicidal ghosts. My heart kicks harder in my chest.

I let go of Lincoln and Walker's hands. The din around us is so loud, I have to yell every word I say. “Can you portal us out of here, Walker?”

“I wouldn't risk another one,” he replies. “The containment walls could have been weakened by my first portal. How about you use igni to lead us out?”

I shoot Walker a thumbs-up. “Will do.”

With all my heart, I call out to the igni, asking them to lead me to Adair. The light igni respond to my summons, their twinkling and childlike voices echoing through my mind. I open my eyes to find their tiny silver bodies diving and spinning about my palms. I lower my hands, and the igni understand my wishes. They tumble down, creating a trail of lightning bolts that flash along the floor, creating a zigzag path over the spectral fields.

My gaze moves between Walker and Lincoln. “Okay, follow the igni. Keep staring at the ground and we'll all be fine. And, whatever you do, don't look in their eyes.”

Lincoln still has to speak-shout to be heard. “What happens if we do that?”

“You'll wake them up. Ghosts get cranky in the Carriers. They don't like to see anything alive. If they get angry enough, they can tear you apart.”

Lincoln lets out a high-pitched ‘harrumph'. “So, if you look in their eyes, they'll wake up and kill you.”

“Yup. That's pretty much what happens. Don't step on them, either.”

A snarky grin rounds Lincoln's mouth. “Helpful safety tips. Thanks, Myla.”

We march along, careful to keep our gazes fixed on the ground. Tension tightens up my legs and spine. One look from those ghosts and that could be it,
not only for us, but for the containment wall, too. Our pace stays steady with the igni as their little bodies slowly form a winding path beneath our feet.

The ghosts start to get anxious. Spectral hands pull at my hair. Others tap my shoulder insistently. I've seen how quickly they can change from a sweet grandmotherly type into a bloodthirsty banshee. My palms turn slick with sweat. Step by step, we creep across the floor.

Although it's only a few minutes, it feels like hours pass before we emerge from the mist into the concrete Tower itself. I exhale a long sigh.

We made it.

On reflex, I set my palms against my ears. If anything, the background noise is louder here than in the Cloud Carrier itself. Beneath my feet, the igni flicker and disappear, their work now done.

I scan the containment wall behind us. It shifts oddly in some places. “Walker, can you talk to the engineers in the Control Room? Now that we moved through, they'll need to re-calibrate the containment field. Oh, and have them go on lock-down, too. Who knows what Adair's doing here? I don't want any escapees.”