Rebirth of the Seer (34 page)

Jesse cleared his throat. “Beg your pardon, but this is all rubbish. If we’re so bloody insignificant, why did you come out to face us?”

“Such a good question with yet another obvious answer.” Ian turned his attention to Jesse. “Mr. Owens. I know all about you. And you, too, Mr. Shinto.” He nodded in Mark’s direction. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. That is the motto you humans like to repeat. To answer your question, for two reasons, really. You finally trod in the middle of my business, for starters, and my poor would-be protégé told you too much about our brief encounter. But you also did something which supremely pissed me off.”

“And what was that?” Wesley asked.

Ian sneered. “You killed my second-in-command. And I was very, very fond of Virgil.” His footsteps slowed, becoming predatory. The smile which surfaced on his face was toothy; nearly maniacal. His fangs slid downward as he spoke. “Trivial little pests. And all of you are the same. One moment, you will rush to somebody’s aid, and the next you will stab them in the back when something about them doesn’t strike your fancy. I imagine he warned you away from here, but you didn’t like it, did you
? His true ruse being revealed –
the penitent vampire who was posing as a human to fight the noble cause with you. Better for him that he saw your true colors.” He froze in place. “But not so good for you.”

Wesley lifted the crossbow and aimed directly for Ian. The latter did not register the action, however. A shadow cast itself across his countenance in such a frightening manner, my eyes widened and Jesse and Mark hazard
ed
a glance for any other exit. Ian had placed himself between them
and the double doors, though, and
stalk
ed
forward to intercept them.

“Inferior beings,” he said. “Distrustful. Egotistical. Paranoid. The assassin should have shredded you to bits and granted you a much more merciful death than I have in store for you. His reckoning will come, as will his witch’s, but for now it is the four of us and I intend to collect on a debt.” The diabolical expression on his face contorted further. “Now scream for me. Scream and run and make your last seconds matter. Because after I rip out your vocal cords, you won’t be able to scream any longer.”

Ian leaped into th
e air. His demand
came tearing through the throat of Wesley, who emitted such a blood-curdling sound it should have shattered the windows. The octave transformed from masculine to high-pitched and feminine in
such a queer manner. I wondered
…

… u
ntil I realized what was happening.

“
Peter!!
”

I ripped my hand from the wall, replacing the macabre vision with a scene equally as chilling. Monica yelled at me, her arms outstretched in my direction as someone held her from behind. “Monica!” I called back, starting a mad dash for where she stood. I stopped abruptly, however, when her captor pressed a blade to her throat and moved his face away from the cloak of her hair.

Ian smirked. “Welcome back, Flynn,” he said. “My, but it’s been a busy night. First your friends and now, you. Well, truth be told, you’re the one I’ve been waiting for, I’m simply stunned at how good my fortunate has been today.”

My grip tightened around the hilt of my sword, one hand still freed and poised for a telekinetic attack. I narrowed my eyes. “If you wish a swifter, kinder death, you shall release her at once,” I said.

“Oh, I don’t doubt that would ensure me a swift demise, but I’m not of the mind for any form of death just yet, dark one.” His grin broadened, fangs elongated to full extension. A threat was implied within the gesture. Steal the dagger and he would still have his teeth to end my watcher. “Your lovely lady will have to help this negotiation run more smoothly.”

“Peter, just get him,” she said, her eyes pleading with me. Her hands fell to her sides. “Remember, bigger things.”

“Oh, how sweet.” Ian shook his head and laughed. “She doesn’t understand the way this sort of thing works, does she, Flynn? The dashing hero doesn’t push the damsel in distress into the blazing fire, even if it would save the world. Of course, part of your problem is you have no idea what ending me will do. I might only be a cog in the machine.”

I hesitated. “You keep alluding to this machine
while telling me nothing of it.”

He shrugged. “Maddening for you, I suppose, but this is what they call playing your cards close to your chest. If I thought there might be a peaceful discussion to be had, we could do this without threats and blades and magic. You’re still blinded, though, and I’m afraid you’re going to have to come around the hard way.”

“Would you start making sense, damn it?”

“This is all a primer. The rehearsal before the show. There is an easy way to do this and a
difficult
way, but I already see it in your eyes.” He tilted his chin. “You still hold some delusion the humans will come around and see you as their champion. That they will recognize your divine calling the way the Fates wish they would.”

“I hold no such delusion.”

Ian laughed again. “Of course you do. You still march to the beat of their drum. They presented redemption on a platter, then shifted the plate each time you tried to reach for it. And what has it gotten you?”

I drew a deep breath inward, struggling to form a response. Ian
s
mile
d
devious
ly
. “Tut tut,” he said. “What’s this I see? A moment of epiphany perhaps?”

“The humans are myopic. They shall
see
their folly when my path is realized.”

“Oh, that is rich, Flynn.” He shot a quick glance at Monica. “Tell your darling beau just how merciful your Order is. That father of yours who oversees them all with such wisdom – how much did he listen to you all those years when you spied on Flynn?”

“Drop dead, asshole,” Monica said.

Ian looked at me. “She would make a delicious vampire, if she could be convinced to turn. So much spirit.” While his eyes danced with amusement, the undercurrent to his gaze
was deadly
serious. “You have me all wrong, Flynn. I don’t think you should be nearly as afraid of me as you should your friends. Do you think they would hav
e been any happier to see you than
they were me?”

“What did you do to them?” I asked.

“What had to be done. I would ask for a thank you, but I know you don’t see it that way yet.” His eyes shifted to Monica and returned to me. His grip on her tightened. “This doesn’t have to end poorly, Flynn. But the more you refuse me, the deeper into this conundrum you place yourself and trust me when I say this is about to get very ugly for both of you. Don’t be foolish. Place the sword down, and we can talk like civilized immortals.” He paused, but only for a beat. “I will lay all of the cards on the table. Simply agree to pocket the seer gifts for the time being. I will tell you stories your own
immortal mother kept from you. T
ales even your brother Michael wouldn’t have shared.”

My stomach dr
opped at the mention. M
y mind
briefly
returned to my days in the coven, the veiled talk of second sight and talent. I thought it had all been answered by Monica.

Perhaps there was more
than even she knew
.

Slowly,
I crouch
ed
, extending my sword toward the ground with my free hand rising in surrender. Just as I did, however, Monica shut her eyes. “I think he owes you one,” Monica said, before whispering a few indistinguishable words under her breath. I only belatedly realized what she meant to do.

‘
I’m sorry for this, Peter
.
’

A violent force knocked Ian from Monica, the blade in his hand nicking the side of her throat, but failing to draw more than a few drops of blood. Ian spilled onto his back and Monica backed away from him, looking me in the eyes as the world stopped for the briefest of moments. Struck mute, I could not fashion a thing to say as I had no idea what should be done. My mind had already been compromised. The words which escaped my mouth were the only ones which could break through the madness. “Get out of here,” I said. “Swiftly. Run.”

Monica nodded once, then spun around and sprinted for the doors.

Ian growled
and rose
to his feet. He pocketed his knife, his gaze
meeting
mine once he s
teadied himself. “So be it
,” he said. “We wander down another maze.”

I took hold of my sword’s hilt with both hands and stalked forward, my fangs descending. “You leave her the fuck alone. This is between you and me.”

He laughed, his eyes narrowing in return. “Yes, it is, dark one. Yes it is. But this lesson must continue.” The predatory sneer enveloped his countenance once more. “Now, come and rescue your witch.”

With a salute
, he spun around and dashed
toward the doors where Monica had disappeared. Inspired into action, I ran for the room’s entrance as well, arriving there well behind Ian and just in time to see Monica turn down a corridor and speed deeper into the building. I frowned. “Foolish woman,” I said. As Ian gained on her, I heard her heart race from more than
exertion
. It pushed me forward, pursuing them with all the drive I had in me.

Reaching the end of the corridor, I whipped around in time to see Monica crash through a set of double doors. Ian followed directly behind her and as the doors whipped shut behind him, I saw what looked like a set of stairs on the other side. This was confirmed to me moments later when I burst through the barricade. Upon reaching the staircase, I heard commotion from below me. Vaulting the railing, I jumped onto the landing below and spirited down the final set of stairs. Another set of swinging doors separated me from the chase, but as I raced into the adjoining corridor, I saw I had closed in on them.

Ian shot a glance at me over his shoulder and winked.

I scowled and resumed my sprint. Monica turned down another hallway, with Ian nipping at her heels. For a fleeting second, I considered sheathing my sword in favor of closing the distance more swiftly, but no sooner did the thought occur to me than a collective of vampires emerged from one of the open rooms, a large one which resembled a kitchen at first glance. I skidded to a stop mere feet away from them and jumped back when they each drew swords. Five of them. They sneered at me with fangs exposed and vicious looks on their faces.

Ian disappeared where Monica had headed. I spared as much a glance at them as I dared and looked back to my antagonists to see them circle me and grin. Anger bubbled to a full-boil rage as I surveyed the lot of them and flipped my blade to ensure the sharp end faced them. This would be no mere beating. My steel would taste vampire flesh tonight.

Just the same, I let out a growl to ensure they knew I was not trifling with them. “Get out of my way now,” I cautioned, my eyes jumping from one immortal to the next. They snickered in response and closed in on me, swords raising and preparing to engage. Impatience spurred me into action when they dared to claim one more pace forward. I swung my sword at the first duo and with this, our fight commenced.

They charged at me in response, leaping in a feat of gymnastics unlike any I had witnessed before. Astonished though I was, I sensed the urgency of my watcher calling for me and focused on that far more than I did their exhibitionist behavior. When the first creature landed, I dodged a punch he threw and kicked him onto the ground. My blade slid through his back, but I had no time to relish the victory as he turned to ash. His partner made his move and two others behind me ensured this would not be an orderly battle.

One narrowly missed me. He
had attempted a diving tackle, but
fell to the floor when his arms caught nothing but air. Anot
her’s sword cut through the air as
I slid to my knees and arched my back, avoiding its sharp edge. The third, I caught off guard. I sprang to my feet and whipped my blade
upward before he could block the
blow. His head wa
s severed in one slice,
his body ashes at my feet within seconds.

The downed one, I dec
apitated in mid-air when he spra
ng for me again. The fourth met his end when I kicked him down and impaled him through the chest. As I tore through each c
reature
, the symbiotic union I had experienced while holding my katana
taunted me again, a hum gaining
volume. The sensation became stronger
when
the fifth vampir
e charged forward to engage me. T
he focus of the seer united with the training of the assassin. Both Peter and Flynn spoke with one voice
, the fissures of my psyche in one accord if just for a short time
.

For the first time, I connected with Peter.

The seer; the one who had been bestowed these gifts in the first place. The brief moment of contact threatened to taunt me into further examination, but the last vampire fell and left me with the hallway and the knowledge that my watcher was in peril. At the same time, I also became aware at how deathly quiet the world had become, a notion which caused my heart to sink. “Monica?” I called out, running for the end of the corridor. “Monica, damn it, speak to me!” I both thought the command and spoke it. “Call to me so I can find you.”