Tearing The Shroud (36 page)

BOOK: Tearing The Shroud
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Vinni said to Jule, ‘I like that option. Care to model it for me later?’

She grinned. ‘Stop that. You’ll embarrass Mr Brown.’

Their benefactor shook his head good-naturedly. ‘I also have several harnesses for wearing under a loose blouse or jacket. I believe you’ll find them reasonably comfortable.’

‘Let’s try them out.’ Jule’s eyes lit up.

In the garage, she adjusted the backpack and carefully drew and sheathed the blades. ‘Finding them easily will take practice, so don’t rush,’ Mr Brown said.

‘Now, let’s remove the pack and have you try to throw them, shall we?’

She handed him the pack and threw four knives. Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk; they stuck within a palm-sized space.

Flea whistled. ‘Man, Vinni, you weren’t kidding.’

‘My goodness, Jule. You’ve never done this before?’ Mr Brown stood stiffly.

She grinned at him and shook her head.

‘Well, let’s try it with the pack.’

The pace was slower, but only due to the time it took to draw each blade. All four were nearly touching.

‘I was nervous the first time,’ she said.

‘Remind me not to get on your bad side,’ Knife said.

Mr Brown waved his pipe. ‘I’ll leave all the accoutrements, and you can try them at your leisure. Very impressive, Jule.’ He pointed with the pipe.

Jule hugged him. ‘Thank you for everything.’

‘I am all too happy to help, especially when it makes you safer.’

‘Thanks, Mr Brown,’ Vinni said.

Flea waved, and Knife said, ‘Sir.’

‘Before I leave, there’s one more thing. I’ve been giving that domino some thought.’

‘Oh, yeah, I’d almost forgotten,’ Vinni said. ‘Come up with something?’

He sighed. ‘I’m afraid our suspicions may be correct. It occurred to me that the word domino translates from Latin as “For the Master”.’

The four friends looked at each other, and Jule’s face paled.

Mr Brown frowned. ‘It seems there
is
another power at work.’

Chapter 31

A Vision

Knife stood near the path; a salty breeze scented the night air. The tops of the tall eucalyptus trees and a huge oak nearby disappeared into the low-hanging clouds. ‘The twenty-fifth. Man, this week’s gone by fast.’

‘I know, huh? I keep wondering when the next shoe will drop, ya know?’ Flea said from nearby.

He nodded. ‘It’s good to feel that way, though. With our happy couple’s starry eyes to distract them, we can’t afford to get complacent.’

Flea sighed. ‘Two attempts on him already, and there’ll probably be more. You ever feel like we’re in over our heads?’

‘Every day.’ He grinned. ‘Makes life exciting, doesn’t it?’

‘Yeah.’ Flea looked at him. ‘I gotta admit though, Vinni kinda scares me.’

Knife sighed and nodded. ‘Me too. The whole possession thing still seems...wrong. You know?’

‘All that speed and power. I’m no little guy, and he sent me flying, while lifting Mr Brown
over
a counter.’ Flea shook his head. ‘What if that gets directed at us?’

They fell silent.

‘Where are they?’ Flea asked.

‘They’ll be along any time now.’

Flea looked at the corner of the building. ‘Did you see that?’

Fear nipped at him. ‘No, what did it look like?’

‘Something moved.’ Flea pointed at the corner as Jule came around it alone. They tensed, waiting anxiously for her to arrive as she walked along easily, entering the shadows of the trees. ‘Psst,’ Flea said. She altered her course, heading toward him. When she drew close Knife asked in a strained voice, ‘Where is Vinni?’

‘You’re not supposed to be alone,’ Flea said with quiet intensity.

‘I’m not.’

‘Then where’s Vinni?’ Knife asked.

‘He’s sitting right behind you.’

Knife turned. ‘Right. We would have heard...’ Vinni smiled, lounging on the grass next to them.

‘Hi, guys.’

‘How did you
do
that?’ Flea whispered.

‘Practice then some practice. Then after that I — ’

‘Practice, yeah, yeah, I know,’ Flea said.

Knife grinned and shook his head. ‘At least he didn’t sneak up and scare us.’

Flea nodded. ‘I might have had to change my shorts if he did.’

‘Too much information.’ Jule giggled. ‘Come on, let’s get back to the house.’

Vinni stood and took Jule’s hand. The moment made Knife feel good, almost normal, and he could use some normalcy right now.

Vinni wondered if anything would ever be normal again. Would he even survive to walk with Jule on a moonless night? He looked up at the cloud-filled sky.
If the weather ever clears.

‘You want me to get out a flashlight?’ Knife asked.

‘Nah, I’m good.’

‘You mean you can see now?’ Flea asked.

‘Clear as a bell — benefit of the Joining. Just follow me.’ He led them unerringly to the cul-de-sac.

‘Hang on a sec,’ Jule said as they reached it. Her peasant skirt had caught on a bush.

‘Let me get that.’ Vinni knelt beside her and worked the fabric loose.

‘No peeking up my dress.’

‘There you go.’ He stood. ‘Hey, so are you wearing the leg sheaths today?’

She tilted her head and arched an eyebrow. ‘If you’d peeked, you might have found out.’

The guys snickered.


Yeah, I think I have my hands full with her.


Vincent chuckled.

The dim, old-fashioned streetlights always gave Vinni an odd sensation, as if the lighted area was the only current reality.

‘Do you think we can go to Samedi Gras?’ Jule asked.

Each year on the Saturday before Halloween, the university held a costumed celebration. The clubs, fraternities, sororities, and departments vied to outdo each other with the most outrageous or profitable booth. The night bordered on chaos and was a highlight of the year. Vincent envisioned it for Coleman.


‘Coleman is up for it.’

‘If that tenseness in the garage is any indication, it might be good to blow off some steam,’ Flea said.

‘Yeah, Flea, I’m sorry about that,’ Vinni said.

‘It’s cool.’ He answered softly.

‘Listen.’ Knife said. ‘We’ve been going to classes and
acting
like everything’s okay, but it’s not. I’m always wondering what might step out from behind a bush or something. It’s got me totally on edge. I could use something really, actually
normal
about now.’ Knife nodded.

‘I was thinking the same thing earlier,’ Vinni said.

Flea nodded. ‘It’s only a few hours, plus we’ll be surrounded by tons of people, so it should be safe.’

‘It’s settled then, let’s go,’ Jule said.

‘What should we wear?’ Vinni asked.

They walked on, thinking.

‘How about a band?’ Jule suggested.


‘Maybe a rock band,’ Knife shrugged.


Vincent bit back a laugh.

‘Hey, if you don’t like the idea, all you gotta do is say so.’

‘No, it’s Coleman. He misunderstood your idea.’

‘Ah.’ Knife nodded.

Jule sounded excited. ‘How about a warrior band but dressed all punk. You know, like
Mad Max
.’

Vincent provided visuals for Coleman. ‘I guess. That way we can wear weapons and not get hassled.’

‘It could work,’ Knife said.

‘Oh, come on guys, show a little enthusiasm. They’re costumes. It’ll be fun, trust me.’ Jule smiled.

Knife opened the door and Flea disabled the alarm.

‘We’ll wear our blades; you guys can carry baseball bats. It’ll be cool,’ she said.

Vinni put his arm around her shoulder. ‘You’re right, it will.’

Flea said, ‘Hey, it’s Wednesday night. Since we’re stuck here, how about we have our own Dollar Movie Night?’

‘I have a term paper that needs some polishing, but I can hit that afterward.’ Jule said.

‘Sure, sounds good,’ Knife replied.

‘We can watch
Mad Max
,’ Vinni said.

‘Cool, I can get costume ideas,’ Jule said as she walked into the hall.

He followed her, and reality suddenly twisted. The corridor beyond her stretched into infinity. Jule’s movements became jerky and exaggerated; her arms lengthened pendulously. Everything tilted, and he put a hand out to steady himself. The torturous screeching of ripping metal layered over a low groan that threatened to tear him apart. He covered his ears, crashing into the wall and onto his knees. Someone grabbed him, and Jule turned, her smile gone. In the distance behind her a pinpoint of noxious green light appeared, rushing at them with incredible speed. The vile, toxic flame engulfed her and swept over him.

Someone was screaming in a terrified moan.

Then...it was gone.

All of it.

The hall was as it had been. Jule was at his side, but someone still screamed.

‘Vinni, sweetie, it’s okay.’ She put a hand on either side of his face, forcing him to look into her eyes. ‘Focus on me,’ she said calmly.

It was him.

He was screaming.

It might have been moments or minutes later, he didn’t know, but the knowledge allowed him to stop. His throat was raw from the strain, and his eyes darted past her fearfully.

‘Vinni.’ She shook his cheeks gently. ‘Look at my eyes, nothing else.’

As he did, the fear dissipated like water through a sieve.

‘Are you here?’ she asked softly.

He breathed deeply. ‘Yes. But so is the Tearer.’

Chapter 32

Tearing the Shroud

Justus hobbled from room to room, dressed in soft flowing robes that gave no comfort for his restless anticipation. He’d tried reading, but his mind wandered.
Who would the Master find in such a short time?
Justus didn’t like releasing control of situations. The variables were too numerous.

‘Bah.’ He thwacked his cane on a padded stool. ‘Pae, you feathered rodent, why did you stand there like a piece of prized taxidermy?’ He waved the cane like a wobbly sword.

‘Kee awe.’

‘Fine, you didn’t want to end up stuffed, but you could have done something.’

Justus gazed out the window; after a few moments, he said, ‘Whatever will you do without me?’

‘Ree mmm.’

‘Yes, I suppose the house is as much yours as mine after all these years.’

The bird bobbed its head rapidly.

‘Let’s sit in the sun.’ He exited the library. ‘The solarium is just the thing we need.’

The bird walked and hopped beside him, easily keeping up. The solid glass room was the most costly to construct in the mansion. Justus had demanded large sheets of the clearest possible glass; after seeing them beyond the Shroud, he would settle for nothing less. The arduous task had proved impossible for a dozen glassmakers who claimed to be up to the task. One particularly proud artisan, who had called Justus’ idea idiotic, now fertilized the rose garden. ‘In the end I was right, was I not, Pae?’

‘Mmm.’

The room was a wonder of the Realm and as large as a dining hall. Its position had been determined by sending riders into the surrounding city to spy out where the masses would see it best. As the sun set each day, the orange light refracted from it like a beacon.

Justus settled into a soft chair. ‘Yes, this is just what’s needed.’ He sighed and promptly fell asleep. At sunset, he awoke under an umbrella Laurence had placed to shade him while he rested. Pae had apparently sought his own devices after a nap on the nearby perch.

‘Laurence,’ he called.

‘Yes, Sire?’ The manservant’s voice came from the entrance to the main house.

‘The hour is nearly upon us, is it not?’

‘I believe it is, Sire.’

‘And he would be entirely correct.’ The Master’s melodious voice came from the chair next to his.

‘If you give me a heart attack, our contract is null and void,’ Justus said.

‘That would never do.’ The Master wore white and truly looked like a creature of the Eternal Realms. Justus had to catch his breath; the man was beautiful beyond imagining. He inclined his head.

‘Shall we retire to the laboratory?’

‘Wherever you desire; we can do it here if you prefer.’ The Master waved magnanimously.

‘Then let’s adjourn to the room where I will rest, so Laurence doesn’t have to move me.’

‘Shall I retrieve the rolling chair for you, Sire?’ Laurence asked, apparently unaffected by the Master’s sudden appearance.

‘No, I’ll walk to the chamber an old man and walk out as one in my prime.’

‘Very well, Sire.’ He bowed and preceded them into the Eastern wing. They walked slowly through a large billiard room and into a cleverly constructed music chamber with panels that concealed the exit when shut. Justus always enjoyed the discomfort it caused guests. The gallery always pleased Justus’, making him feel at ease, two of his favorites in particular. A canvas with a dreamily painted garden and one next to it titled
The Tree of Life
, which depicted a bleak landscape with a single barren tree. Upon close inspection, the viewer would see that it consisted of various mutilated body parts. After the gallery, they turned into an alcove that wound gently upward into the structure. ‘Might I ask a question or two, Master?’ Justus asked.

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