A Division of Souls - A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe (47 page)

Nick worked his jaw and stared at the table.
“What if he willingly goes through interrogation?” His eyes
brightened as the germ of a plan imbedded itself in his mind. “That
could be an advantage for us.”

“Advantage? How?”

Nick did not answer, but only smiled.

“You’re an insane man,” she said flatly. “I
hope you know that.”

A third voice entered the conversation
behind them. “Oh, that he is.”

Sheila perked up and turned to see a woman
behind her, about to sip from a large flask of water she’d pulled
out of the satchel draped over her shoulder. She was tall with a
long tangle of curly blond hair tied back, and offered her a wide,
inviting smile. Sheila did a double take, amazed by the presence of
this enigmatic woman she’d last seen nearly six months ago.
Christine Gorecki was the last person she’d expected to see.

Christine ran a private investigation firm
in the lower half of the Waterfront District, just a few blocks
from this warehouse. A former ARU agent, she went freelance some
six months ago after a case she’d taken on had become extremely
personal. Sheila did not know what had happened exactly, and had
never brought up the subject. Christine had maintained minimal
contact, mostly with Poe, but she’d been scarce the last few
weeks.

“Christine!” Sheila exclaimed as she sprang
up to give her a hug. “Have a seat! Pashyo, I haven’t seen you in
ages!”

“I’m only stopping by, but thanks,” she
said, genuinely happy to see the two of them. She reached over and
gave Nick a hug as well. “I’ve been keeping busy the last few days.
Getting the vibe, doing a bit of recon since it’s so close to
home.”

Sheila nodded. “Got it. You working on
anything new? Last I knew, Poe said you were taking some downtime
between cases.”

Christine shook her head in amusement.
“Downtime is not an adequate description, but to answer your
question…I’ve been doing a few things here and there…soulreadings,
a bit of reiki, what have you…nothing impressive.”

“You still down on Haden Street?” Nick
asked. “Near Bosko’s Music?”

She nodded. “Still in the same apartment.
You guys should stop by once this all blows over, have a party or
something. It’s been too long.”

“That it has,” he said.

“Right,” she said, and hitched the strap of
her satchel higher on her shoulder. “I really hate to take off so
quick, but I prefer to keep moving in situations like this. So hey
— do me a favor? If you run across Alec or Caren, have them call me
as soon as they can? Nothing too important, just thought I’d offer
help if they needed it.”

Sheila smiled at her. “Of course. Goddess,
it’s good to see you, Chris, you’re looking great. We all miss you
down at HQ!”

Christine barked out a laugh. “Like hell
they do!” She waved at them and began to turn away. “Take care, you
two.”

Sheila watched her disappear into the crowd
before turning back to face Nick. She greatly respected Christine,
even if they hadn’t become close friends or even close coworkers.
The woman was extremely intelligent, strong, and soft-spoken, and
one hell of an impressive former ARU agent. She lived under her own
rules, however, shunning authority wherever possible. Sheila
remembered a particularly sticky incident between Christine and the
Assistant Director that had nearly gotten her fired because of her
refusal to go along.

“Think she’s doing her own research?” Nick
asked. “Certainly seems that way, doesn’t it?”

“Of course she is,” Sheila smiled. “We’ll be
hearing from her soon enough.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Approach

Poe left the car idling as he got out and
climbed onto its hood so he could get a better view of the street
ahead of him. Traffic had been rerouted off Holgate Street as far
back as Chapel Avenue, a good ten blocks away from Moulding
Warehouse, and had ultimately caused the bottleneck of a six-lane
boulevard emptying onto a four-lane side street. He was at least a
good mile before Chapel, closer to Sculler’s Crossing than the
warehouse itself. If he was somehow able to cross two lanes and
take the next left, he might be able to park at the market garage
there, though he was unsure if the others would want to make the
nearly two-mile hike.

“It’s up to you,” he offered, once back in
the car and relaying his idea. “If we’re stuck here any longer, I
can’t promise if we’ll get there by four.”

Caren sighed noncommittally, not caring
either way. “
Denni
will be there, Poe. That’s inevitable. I
just want to be there with her.”

“We all do,” he said with an even voice,
choosing not to argue a moot point. He pulled out of the line of
traffic and cut down the side street. With each stolen glance at
her from his rearview mirror, he could tell that this was
definitely not the path of fate she’d expected. She had finally
accepted the reality of her situation, that her little sister was
someone so important and special to so many people, she felt
powerless in her attempts to keep her protected. Her gaze out the
window was disconnected from the real world, as if she was trying
to take in the last few calm moments of her life before the chaos
took over. A few times she caught his reflection in the mirror,
offering a weak smile or a roll of the eyes. No words were
offered.

Poe could read Denni’s mind as if it were
his own. Although she had quietly preoccupied herself by watching
the pedestrian traffic, inside her thoughts were racing, competing
with each other for attention. While he could not read them, the
tension they bore was intense. She was questioning her actions as
the One of All Sacred…she believed in them, trusted them, used them
to the best of her abilities, but deep within she was doubting. Was
she truly doing the right thing? Could she truly be a savior when
she could also cause so much pain? These rampant thoughts of hers
left her emotionally drained. The only thing keeping her going was
being surrounded by those she loved, and those who loved her.

Dehndarra Né hra nyhndah
, he thought.
The duality and the individual, existing at the same time.

For a brief moment, the concept of dualities
made perfect sense to him. After all, wasn’t he a duality himself?
A cho-nyhndah, both Mendaihu and Shenaihu in blood and spirit? He
understood the concept and the fact that Denni’s case was not just
unique but wholly special in and of itself. She had become a deity
among the mortals here on Gharra…yet here she was, still just a
young, beautiful and ultimately confused girl.

But did she have to choose one over the
other? Could she be like him, forever fighting that internal
battle? Could she be both at the same time?

“Poe?”

He shivered. “Yeah? What is it, kiddo?”

Denni leaned forward and touched his
shoulder. “Drop me off here at the corner. I can make it the rest
of the way myself.”

Caren grabbed her sister’s arm. “I’m coming
with you.”

Denni let out a shaky breath. “Caren,
please, you can’t, not right now. Your place is here with everyone
else.”

“I’m not leaving you, Denni! I don’t care
who
you are!”

Denni sullenly sat back in her seat and
faced her. Poe bit his lip as he began to slow the car up to the
curb. The two sisters glared at each other for a long moment, Caren
in barely contained anger, Denni in pity. “You don’t understand,
Karinna,” she said softly. “I cannot take you. You must find your
own way there.”

“You’re damn right I don’t understand!” she
cried. “Damn it! Don’t do this to me, Denni! I can’t…I just…”
Further words died on her lips as tears began to form.
I can’t
lose you too.
Poe knew those were the words she would have
said.
I can’t lose my entire family.
He felt her pain as
deeply as anyone else in this car would have felt it. Rising above
that, slowly and deliberately, was her sense of logic. One way or
another, Denni was going to be at the Moulding Warehouse at four.
Wordlessly, Caren let out a long, choking breath and opened up her
door. Amna squirmed in the front seat, and Kai quickly let her out.
The girl was her protector now.

Kai climbed back in without a word or a
glance in Poe’s direction, but dark concern had crossed her face.
Then a stray tear fell from her eye, quickly wiped away before it
even passed her cheek. “We all have to make the decision
eventually,” she said. “One way or another.”

Poe nodded, knowing that truth all too well
now.

Outside the car, the two sisters were
holding each other tightly, talking within, consoling and soothing
each other and reaffirming their safety. Poe respected their
privacy and did not listen in.
Goddess,
he thought,
shivering and fighting back tears himself. For all anyone knew,
this would be the last time they’d ever be together.

That dark thought fell away as Denni’s hand
reached through the open window and rested on his forearm. He
managed to face her, but stopped just short of looking her in the
eyes…he was too afraid. “Love, Peace and Light to you,” she said.
“…and thank you for being there.” She touched his arm, squeezing
it. “Please take care of my sister, okay?”

His hand dropped on hers as he forced
himself to gaze upon her. He offered a weak smile as he squeezed
her fingers. It was a pathetic attempt at consolation, but at the
moment he wasn’t sure
what
he was supposed to feel. “You
know I will,” he said.

She bent down and kissed him on the
cheek.

Thank you, Alec
, she said within him.
I love you.

He laughed, despite the tears.
Love you
too, kid.

*

“She comes within the hour,” Anando
said.

Nehalé shivered unintentionally at his
words. “You’re sure about this?”

Anando remained at his perch on the
warehouse roof and avoided Nehalé’s eyes, instead watching the
storm clouds as they rolled and rumbled past the Mirades Tower. Its
mass had doubled since earlier this afternoon, expanding outwards
in all directions, covering first the southern districts then
moving northeast, and would reach them within the next few hours.
Already it had obscured the sun, casting unnaturally murky shadows
over the city.

“I am very sure,” Anando said. “I can sense
her. She’s not too far from here. I felt her presence ten minutes
ago. She’s walking towards us. I’m surprised you haven’t picked up
her signature yet.”

Nehalé ignored the taunt. “I only wish I
could connect with her, Anando,” he said. “I only wish I could
speak
with her before she comes…”

“She won’t speak with
anyone
, Nehalé,
except those closest to her,” he said. “Believe me, I tried. She’ll
hear you, I don’t doubt that, but whether or not she’ll answer is
something else entirely.”

Nehalé cocked an eyebrow at him. “My student
is teaching me,” he said. “I suppose this is what happens when I
leave the party for a few moments. Anything else I should know,
sehndayen-ne?”

“Well, she has a friend with her, a
Protector, about her age. She’s a self-trained Mendaihu. I believe
she’s…” he paused. He closed his eyes and listened to the whispers
of his spiritsense. “She’s part of the Ehramanis clan…which means
she’s loyal to her, if she’s anything like her ancestors.” Nehalé
seemed relieved by this news, so he pressed further. “Nehalé…” he
ventured. “Do you have any idea what will happen once she
arrives?”

Nehalé pondered over how he would answer. He
had done everything according to plan: awaken the One of All
Sacred, awaken the Warriors, and gather them all together. Not once
had he questioned why it had to be done. He only understood that
the One of All Sacred needed to be awakened at this time…at the
same time as the Rain of Light. Kindeiya Shalei’s prophecy had
demanded it. And yet…he did not dare to question why. He just knew
it was part of the path. Faith was all he needed.

“She will lead us towards the next stage of
spiritual ascendance, Anando,” he said truthfully.

Anando’s face drained of color.
“Ascendance?” he sputtered. “
That
is the reason for this
bloodshed, Nehalé? For this chaos? Are you even remotely aware of
its consequences? This is going to lead to an even bigger war, you
know that.” Enraged, he pushed away from the edge of the roof
stalked away from him. “Goddess! You might feel the pain of spirits
taken by force, Nehalé, but your prophecy is making that happen.
Who gave you the right to decide who gets to sacrifice themselves,
anyway?”

Wordlessly, Nehalé caught up with him and
spun him around, grabbing him by the arm. Forcefully he pulled him
back to the edge of the roof and pointed towards the clouds above
the city and their slow movement towards them.

“See those clouds, Anando? They have quite a
bit to do with this,” he growled. “Those clouds are Lightbodies,
manifesting themselves. We are seeing spiritforms gathering above
us. Spirits being born and reborn. They’ve been there for the past
few days, ever since I began the awakening ritual. The Rain of
Light is a spirit dance. These spirits gathered the very next day,
rejoicing in the fact that the One had returned. However…”

He paused as he saw Anando’s skepticism
dulling his original shock.

“I see you do not believe,” he said. “Or at
least, do not understand yet. But you will soon. The One already
understands this. She’s not here just to fix the balance the
Mendaihu and the Shenaihu, not like the last Embodiments. She’s
also here to raise the stakes.”

Anando crossed his arms and turned, leaning
against the ledge. “Please explain.”

Nehalé complied. “Normally such a
manifestation would be little more than thin clouds, perhaps a bit
of precipitation. However…something is not quite right. Yes, just
like all the previous seasons of Embodiment, there is a severe
imbalance between the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu that needs to be
adjusted. A spiritual imbalance, both individually and as a
collective. The spinning top is coming perilously close to its last
revolutions before it falls.”