The Catalyst of Corruption (The Final Formula Series, Book 4) (31 page)

“Why? And what's the PIA doing working with the magical?”

Waylon frowned. “At the National Office, they do things differently.”

“And the purpose of this necromancer?”

“Steadham,” Doug said.

I glanced at him. “Go on.”

“Doug has been accused of Making him,” Waylon said, “on Rowan's orders.”

“To get me a job,” I concluded.

“Yes,” Waylon answered. “The necromancer is being brought in to verify that Steadham is Doug's. They couldn't use a local necromancer because they all belong to the Deacon—at least on paper.”

“So? Let them bring him in.” I shrugged. “That's actually pretty stupid on Alexander's part. When it falls through…” I stopped. Alexander wasn't stupid. I looked at Doug.

“I did Make Steadham—or Dr. Dennis Everman.”

My mouth dropped open.

“It's not what you think,” Doug added quickly. “Dr. Everman wasn't a necromancer, but he had served as my father's physician and was devoutly loyal to the Family. When he learned he was dying of pancreatic cancer, he came to Father, asking to be Made.”

“And that task fell to you?”

Doug shrugged. “I was to be the next Deacon. It was my place to do it.”

To say I was stunned didn't quite cover it. “You had done it before? You've
Made
people?” I glanced at Elysia and Livie. Neither seemed shocked. Necromancers.

“I know what you're thinking,” Doug said. “But they were all documented situations like the one I described.”

“So this necromancer the national director is bringing will know you Made Steadham, or Everman. Whatever.”

“It'll be one of the Dunstans, out of Maryland. I guarantee you he'll have a blood gift and will have no trouble making the identification.”

I shook my head. The Dunstans again. No doubt this guy was a descendant of Isabelle's family, and maybe even related to Neil.

“I didn't have anything to do with this whole Steadham charade,” Doug said. “My father, or perhaps Alexander must have soul bound him after I Made him.”

“And I suspect that Neil gave him the Final Formula to hide that he was a lich,” I said.

“Why?” Waylon asked.

“The Final Formula restores the body and stops the aging process. In a lich, it stops the decaying process.”

“And that's why Bruner found a heart when he performed the autopsy on Everman,” Doug said.

“Yes.” I rubbed both hands over my face. “What a mess.” I dropped my hands and glanced over at Waylon.

“I'm sorry, Addie,” he said, “but this is out of my hands now. The evidence is stacking up.”

“But you were at the lodge—”

“For that one, I may be able to offer some help, but the rest of this…” He lifted a hand and let it fall. “I've told you again and again that I need hard evidence.”

“The national director is bringing in a necromancer. Clearly, there is some leeway for magical evidence.”

“Then stop sneaking around and breaking the rules. You can believe that Xander will report your presence here today. It will be hard to make
you
credible now.”

I crossed my arms.

“What's going on with Rowan?” Waylon asked. “Cora said something about some medical tests today.”

“Today?” I asked.

Waylon turned and gestured at Johnson. The big man left the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

“I assume I can speak frankly in present company,” Waylon said.

“Yes.” My heart thumped in my ears.

“I'm surprised you don't know this already, but I did just get off the phone with Cora.”

“I've been out breaking the rules,” I said.

Waylon gave me a wry smile that didn't meet his eyes. “Whatever tests Rowan had yesterday came back abnormal. They're doing more this morning.”

I gripped my hands, not knowing how to respond.

“Am I allowed to know what's wrong?” Waylon asked. “If I'm going to put off the national director, I'm going to need more facts.”

“I don't think Rowan wants anyone to know,” I said.

“Can
I
know?”

I took a breath. “Yesterday, Rowan's heart stopped.”

“Oh damn.” Waylon's expression turned sad. “The Fire?”

I didn't realize he knew that much. I nodded.

“Can you—”

“I'm trying,” I snapped, then immediately regretted my harsh tone. “Sorry.”

“No, I should apologize. What a thing to ask of you. I know that if you could help him, you would.” Waylon sighed. “Rowan's a great man and an incredible leader. I don't want to lose him.”

“Me, either.”

Waylon gave me a sad smile.

“None of us do,” Elysia spoke up. “And this stress isn't good for him. Can't you do something?”

Waylon spread his hands and let them fall. “They've gone over my head.”

James suddenly snarled, the sound so vicious, it made my breath catch.

A hand gripped my shoulder and jerked me backward.

“Addie!” Elysia shouted.

Darkness closed around me, but I was aware of movement. An instant later, I stood on the black plain of the land of the dead.

I whirled around and came face to face with Alexander.

Chapter 27

I
met Alexander's angry gaze, just
visible in the dim red glow of the land of the dead.

He turned his head, looking out across the featureless plain. “I lost him in the veil. It'll take time for him to pick up the trail again.” I assumed he referred to James.

Alexander's eyes met mine once more. “So, you think you can take Xander from me?”

“The plan was to free him, but apparently, you've screwed him up too much for that.”

Alexander gave me a cold look. “No, alchemist. He knows the honor he has been given.”

“So he was screwed up from birth?”

Alexander took a step toward me, and I took a hasty step back. I should probably shut up.

“I will go to him and return him to his former glory, and nothing you do will diminish that.” His smile only emphasized the manic look in his eyes.

“Okay.” Whatever. “So what are you up to? Do you think you can just have the Elements locked up and then you can take the city?”

“Sometimes, it takes a show of force to make people see your worth.” He shrugged. “Neil has explained that it would be pointless to remove them—though my temper almost got the better of me at the parade.” He sighed.

“Neil is advising you?” I asked. He had told me that he thought his uncle foolish for trying to take out the Elements. He must have told Alexander the same.

“He is a product of this world. I would be remiss to ignore good advice freely given. I am not so egotistical to fail to see that.”

“I'm impressed.”

“Besides, it is best to deal with the enemy you know rather than something entirely new. That is why I gave the task to Xander. He knows these Elements well. He also knows Douglas.” Alexander shook his head. “It's ironic. Society puts so much emphasis on the ethical, yet they are the weakest among us. I think you can appreciate that.”

I frowned. Was he just making an assumption or had Neil told him about me? Well, the old me.

“But that attitude makes you extremely dangerous. Far more dangerous than those Elements.”

I laughed. “You can't honestly believe that. I'm not even magical. I'm just good at playing the game. Certainly
you
can appreciate
that
.”

“True, but it gets so tiresome after a while.”

“Really? I rather like the challenge.”

It was his turn to frown. “What game are
you
playing? Or should I ask who are you playing?”

“Your advisor and I have the same, ah, upbringing. I'll let you draw your own conclusion.”

“I think you'll say anything to get out of this situation.” He lifted his hands, indicating the dead plain around us.

“Damn, you're good.” I knew I couldn't fool him, but I was pretty sure I could flatter him. “Would you not do the same?”

He dipped his head. “Or I would just seduce the opposition, but I don't think that's an option you have.”

“Nope. Which means I don't have your weakness, either. I truly couldn't care less if you slam me on my looks or clothing choices. Nothing so vain or materialistic means anything to me.”

His eyes narrowed. “Yet you are full of pride.” He studied me. “Pride in your ability. Neil tells me that alchemists are arrogant by necessity, and I see you follow that formula.”

“Was that a pun?”

He moved so fast, I almost didn't see it. Suddenly, my jaw was caught in his impossibly strong grip. “You think you're so smart, so witty. That the rest of us are beneath you.”

“As you see those who are not as attractive as you.” I ground out the words, able to do little more than move my lips to speak.

His cheeks dimpled. “But my pride is warranted.”

Damn it. That was my line.

“I remain assured of my original opinion. You are far too dangerous to be allowed to live.” His grip tightened.

“Lex,” I whispered, my eyes watering.

“Do you wish to beg for your life? Or is that beneath you as well?”

“Please don't damage her, Deacon,” a new voice said.

I couldn't turn my head, but I was able to see Neil out of the corner of my eye.

“I need her to help unravel the mystery.”

Alexander frowned. “You admit your weakness before me—and her?”

“Potion creation is her forte. Mine is adaption. Together, we designed the potion that has returned you to the mortal world.”

If I could speak around the vice on my jaw, I would have called Neil on that.

Alexander's frown turned thoughtful.

“She has studied the grim lore in depth and knows the secret alchemical formula that created him,” Neil continued. “Once I adapt it, you will have what you desire. Then I will break the curse on Elysia, as you commanded me.”

Alexander released my chin, but I ignored him. I opened my mouth to demand Neil explain, but he spoke before I could.

“My uncle called. He was a little out of sorts.”

“Where is he?” Alexander demanded. “She has done something to him. A potion.”

“He's fine. She merely dissolved the bond between you.”

“How does that make him fine?” Alexander demanded.

“You can bond him once more,” Neil said.

“But not using one of your potions made from my flesh. I am confident Xander will not hesitate to take my flesh in its pure form. Besides, you might fail again.”

“Just because the potion didn't work on His Grace doesn't mean it failed. Old Magic and New Magic are not compatible.”

“I knew it!” I stopped rubbing my jaw and glared at Alexander. “You
were
at Music Hall that night.”

Alexander ignored me, his attention still on Neil. “Where is Xander?”

“I suggested my uncle return to his home and wait for you there, Deacon.”

Alexander tugged his sleeve straight, reminding me so much of Ian that it gave me chills. “I will leave her in your care. I expect progress, Dunstan.”

Neil dipped his head.

Alexander opened a portal. I got a glimpse of polished black tile and a burgundy area rug. Alexander stepped through and was gone.

“What was—” I began, but fell silent when a portal opened beside us.

“Come,” Neil said.

I couldn't stay here, so I followed him through the portal. We stood in the makeshift lab in his father's old funeral home.

“Release me,” a voice said from behind us.

I turned with a gasp and found Neil's lich holding Xander in its arms. “Neil? What's going on?”

“It is yet another example of how you help me, even when you don't intend to.”

“But I just saw him.” I waved a hand at Xander.

“He called my cell phone, desperate to find Alexander.” A smug smile curled Neil's lips. “I can travel—and so can Bart.”

I frowned at the lich holding Xander.

“This
is
our destiny, Amelia,” Neil said.

“This?”

“You found us a test subject. A powerful, yet manageable test subject. He's the perfect ingredient.”

“You mean—”

“The prima materia.” Neil shook his head. “I would never have imagined that this piece of shit would be the gateway to everything we've worked for.”

I glanced over at Xander, understanding. Neil intended to cremate him. Alive.

“You're not going soft on me, are you?” Neil asked. “Certainly you can find no reason to spare him. Who do you think advised Alexander on his media campaign?” Neil waved a hand at Xander.

“What are you talking about?” Xander demanded. “I have been a faithful—”

“A faithful puppet, yes, we know,” Neil said. “Bart, take him in the next room and bind him to the gurney.”

“Damn it, Neil,” Xander protested when Bart began to pull him toward the door. “What did I ever do to you?”

Neil glared after him. “Delusional bastard. Gag him, Bart,” he added.

Bart dragged Xander into the hall, though Xander's shouts carried back to us.

“Did you stunt him?” I asked, wondering how Xander could let a lich get the better of him.

“No. I'm a lich king. Bart is blood bound to me. My uncle cannot break that. No one can—except maybe Elysia.” Neil shrugged.

“Huh.” I stared after Xander, still hearing his inarticulate shouts from the next room.

“Amelia?”

I pulled my eyes from the empty doorway and met Neil's intent golden-brown gaze. “What were you telling Alexander about me knowing grim lore and you breaking Elysia's curse?”

“He has seen James.”

I frowned. “He wants to be a grim?”

“Not so much that as to have the same semblance of life.”

I grunted. “I don't know the formula that created the grim. I just know that it was ash alchemy.”

Neil held my gaze, but didn't speak.

“You think I know the formula.”

“I think you did.”

I just stared at him.

“One of these days, you will have to take the Final Formula.”

For the first time, I was tempted. “What's this about you breaking the curse on Elysia?”

“Alexander wants his line to propagate—without the soul reaper taint.”

“Oh, hell no. I won't let you use her like that.”

“I'm just placating the bastard. What do I care about such things?”

“I still don't see why you're going along with him.”

“We've discussed that. It is simply my way of getting vengeance on my family.”

“I hear there's a Dunstan flying in with the national director today.”

“A cousin.” Neil smiled.

“You set all this up with Steadham to get Doug.”

“I didn't set it up, my moronic uncle did that, but I did use what he gave me.” He winked.

“You gave Steadham the Final Formula to hide that he was a lich.”

“Yes.”

“But he looks middle-aged. Did you alter the Formula or use an aging potion?”

“It's hair dye.” Neil laughed. “You complicate things too much. You don't always need to devise a master level alchemical formula to solve your problems.”

I studied him. Was it that simple?

“But enough of that,” Neil cut in. “You have a decision to make. We have the perfect ingredient waiting in the next room.”

I frowned.

“Are you ready to make alchemical history?” he asked.

I took a breath and released it. Xander had sent Gavin after the world's Elements; he had Made Colby, and used Steadham to keep me from helping others. He had been a thorn in Rowan's side for years. Beyond that, Xander was an incredibly powerful necromancer, lacking only a blood gift to put him in the same league as Alexander and Ian. Neil was right, he would make the perfect vessel to capture the perfect ingredient. An ingredient that might enable me to save Rowan.

“Well?” Neil asked. “Is Miss Goody Two-Shoes going to back out now?”

I lifted my head and looked him square in the eye. “Let's make history.”