Elusive Beings--A Shade of Mind--Book 3 Page 5

  She shook her head. “That’s not part of the deal.”

  Ciaran mumbled some words of disagreement, dismounted the bed, and walked toward the cabinet to get the antibiotics and painkillers Doctor Thomas had given him the previous morning. Madeline fetched a glass of water.

  Ciaran took the pills and winced. “Now I want serious compensation.”

  Madeline laughed. "Don't you dare tell me you hate taking medicine! Pharmaceuticals are your bread and butter."

  "Medicine is fine when I don't need to take it myself.” Ciaran winced again. “I have to tell the lab to make these pills taste better."

  Ciaran put the water aside and pulled Madeline into his arms. "Now, how do you plan to reward me?"

  Madeline smiled. She pushed at his chest, backing him up toward the bed. He lifted her, and before she knew it, she was lying on her back on the bed. Her pants were on the floor, Ciaran’s face was buried between her breasts, and his hands were very busy elsewhere on her body.

  Suddenly he slowed down considerably and flopped down, lying on top of her. For the first time, she resented the quality of the LeBlanc’s drugs and wished Doctor Thomas had given Ciaran a lighter dose. She gingerly pushed him aside. His voice slurred as he asked, “What’s in those meds?”

  She turned him so he lay on his back and pulled the blanket up over his chest. She kissed his cheek. “The sedative was in the water. Sleep tight, darling. I love you.”

  He grabbed her hand. “Don’t go,” he said. Then his face went totally lax, and he let go of her hand.

  She kissed him again, put on her clothes, and grabbed the car keys.

  Madeline parked the car outside the fence of Mon Ciel and remained in the driver’s seat. If things went awry, she would be able to drive straight back inside. Assuring herself that it was a well-planned and justified action, she left the car keys in the ignition and rolled down the window.

  Madeline stepped outside the car and waited. Nothing. Maybe this was too close to Mon Ciel. She got into the car and drove slowly down to the creek.

  There it was. She could feel it in every cell of her body. The tingle. The energy. Something was coming. Madeline stopped the car and got out.

  The air around her thickened. A blue spark zapped through the air, and Ayana appeared. Madeline stepped out of the car and glanced around, staying as close to the car as possible. “First things first . . . what's a Sciphil?"

  "You're Richard's successor. It’s not my place to give you the induction. He has to train you properly, or you might not pass the Daimon Gate."

  "What will happen if I can't get past it?"

  "You'll die."

  "Can I at least get a dictionary definition of Sciphil?"

  "It stands for Scientist Philosopher."

  Madeline laughed. "I wouldn’t consider myself qualified for either of those positions. Why did Grandfather choose me? Was it because you forced him?"

  "If you are not worthy, if your soul is not virtuous, then choosing you is equivalent to giving you a death sentence. Richard has been searching for you for a long time. He has confidence in you. Are you afraid?”

  “Does that matter?”

  “Yes. Yours was only a promise. You can still deny it if you’re not ready. But I have sealed Ciaran’s successor position. He can’t back out now.”

  “What the hell does that mean? Does he have to go through the virtuous soul deal like I do?”

  “Yes, but it was valid up until the point he gave his consent. And he did that when he was about two years old, Earth time. I think it’s a safe bet Bran asked him.”

  “Who’s Bran?”

  “The Sciphil that Ciaran is the successor of. I called you out here because Bran’s Sciphil position is the most important one and, because of that, many people will want Ciaran dead before he can become a proper Sciphil. To become a Sciphil, he has to pass the Daimon Gate tests, and without training, he has a minimal chance of surviving.”

  “What if he doesn’t follow through with the promise?”

  “I told you, his position is sealed.” She raised her palm. “The seal has given him more physical strength. But it has also marked his biological profile. If he stays on Earth, he’ll die.”

  “And if he can’t pass the Daimon Gate, he’ll die, too. Am I right?” Madeline put her hands on her hips.

  Ayana nodded.

  “So if I want to go with Ciaran through the Daimon Gate, I have to be pretty sure my soul is virtuous. If not, I’ll die. If I’m unsure, I can withdraw my promise and live my life on Earth without Ciaran.”

  Ayana nodded again.

  “Do you realize the stupid mess you’ve just put us in? Who are you, really?”

  “My name is Ayana Dee. I am a Sciphil . . .”

  “It really doesn’t help knowing your name and where you come from. The truth of the matter is . . .” Madeline waved her arms in the air. Should she even bother elaborating to this alien who doesn’t even have a human brain?

  “I want to talk to my grandfather.”

  “He is too weak to come to you at the moment."

  “What?"

  “Juliette hurt him. She’s changed in the last few weeks. She’s no longer conforming to our rules. Richard has lost a lot of energy. He'll recharge, but it will take time."

  “That means Juliette is out here? Right now?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Jesus Christ!”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I have to get back inside Mon Ciel right now.”

  Thunder exploded right next to Madeline, knocking her to the ground.

  Juliette turned around, smiling at the hologram of Ayana. “Too late, it seems.”

  Madeline stood up and felt waves of energy pulsing from Juliette, who was standing several feet away. She could feel the vibrations through her entire body. She understood what Tadgh had said—Juliette was not just a hologram.

  Juliette glanced at Madeline. The air around Juliette started to stir. "Who will protect you now? Let these stupid Sciphils come. I’ll crush all of you at once,” Juliette said as she strode toward Madeline.

  Chapter 11

  Madeline ran to her car while Juliette laughed maniacally. She jumped into the car and turned the ignition, starting the car. Juliette stirred the air. It spun around in the same way it had at the cemetery. Madeline backed the car out.

  "Coward!" Juliette laughed. Madeline floored the gas pedal and drove the car straight at Juliette. The wind wall had not yet built up strong enough to protect Juliette.

  Madeline felt the hit. Juliette's body was pushed backward, rolling on the ground, distorted. Madeline backed the car up and charged again. The second hit almost ripped Juliette in half.

  The distorted Juliette stood up, angry. She roared and tried to put her body back together.

  Juliette created the wind circle again.

  Madeline accelerated once more.

  Juliette took a stance and swung her arm. The car lifted up and spun around as if made of paper. There was no wind circle this time. It was a direct hit with the air pressure coming forth from Juliette's arms.

  Without her seatbelt on, Madeline rolled around inside the car like a rag doll. She had the sickening feeling that she had broken her neck and her limbs had fallen off and were scattered somewhere in the car.

  The car slammed down next to the creek.

  It was the creek where she had almost drowned with Stefan. Madeline heard the water running fast. She climbed out of the destroyed car.

  Juliette stood on a small hill, a smirk on her face. She swung her arms again.

  Madeline found herself spun up into the air, then thrown down and submersed in the cold water. The pressure kept Madeline under the water.

  From beneath the flowing creek, Madeline could see the light. It was the sort of light people who were dying would see. It was like being tied down in a cave in the dark, and looking up and seeing a faint spot of light, a spot of life, but knowing she would never get to
it. The light became dimmer. And dimmer. And then it was completely black.

  All of a sudden, the pressure lifted.

  A basic survival instinct told Madeline to push up. She gasped for air at the surface and coughed up a mouthful of water. She got herself to the bank of the creek and slowly staggered to dry land.

  On the hill in front of her, Richard and Ayana were fighting Juliette. Although there were two of them against one, it did not look as if they were winning.

  Richard took a hit and fell. Ayana stopped Juliette from using that advantage to kill Richard, taking a hit herself.

  She could run back to Mon Ciel like a coward right now, Madeline thought.

  Hell!

  Madeline dragged herself up the hill to where her grandfather and Ayana were fighting Juliette.

  She approached the light circle, but she hit an invisible wall—the same kind of wall that had locked her out in the hologame when Ciaran was fighting with Juliette.

  She couldn’t penetrate it. She grabbed a fallen tree branch and hit it, but the branch bounced back, further numbing her already numb arms, body, and mind. She stood hopeless and helpless, watching her grandfather and Ayana being beaten mercilessly by Juliette.

  The shadow of someone walked past her.

  It might not have been a shadow, but a person walking at an incredible speed.

  A man penetrated the invisible wall and charged at Juliette with a burning orange sword.

  This was not a typical sword fight. They were testing the strength of their energy. The swords were just outlets. Each swing of the swords created a wave of wind and electrical currents. Juliette stumbled and staggered when the man with the orange sword attacked her. But she regained her position quickly.

  She advanced and slashed at the man with the orange sword. His blood dripped on the ground. It looked like she was too powerful for him.

  Judging by the wind that blew around their faces, the force of the foreign objects that flew around them, and the damage caused by each blow of the swords, Madeline knew there had to be an incredible amount of energy being exchanged within the world surrounded by the invisible wall.

  "Please don't, Juliette. You don't have to kill everyone," Ayana said.

  Juliette turned to Ayana and snarled, " He attacked me first. He deserves to die. All of you do. All of those who are against me deserve to die.”

  Juliette walked toward Ayana. “Especially you."

  Madeline was so sure that Juliette would kill Ayana this time. But the man with the orange sword pulled out a dagger and lunged at Juliette.

  Juliette whirled around with incredible speed. Her claws were out, ready for a sure kill. She could already taste the blood of her prey.

  A ray of the morning’s first sunlight ran across the ground. It was the most beautiful sunlight Madeline had ever seen.

  In her rage, Juliette had neglected to notice the approaching rays. The light brushed against her holographic figure and sent her into flames. She hissed in pain and vanished quickly into thin air.

  “Saved by the sunlight! How cinematic!” Madeline mumbled.

  Although wounded, Ayana’s composure did not waver. She glanced at Madeline. "Attacking Juliette head on! You’re a brave woman, Madeline. The sunlight weakens Juliette, but it won't kill her. Wind is her strength, and sunlight is her weakness."

  Madeline wanted to ask what would kill Juliette. But the world around her started to fade.

  Richard managed to stand up.

  Ayana glanced at the man with the orange sword. "What took you so long to get here?"

  "You sent me to rescue four subjects on two different continents, Ayana. I am on Earth. I have to take some of their physical rules into account."

  Ayana cast a warm look at him. "Thank you. I know we can rely on you. How was the subject in Australia?"

  "He's strong. He actually saved himself. Good choice of a successor, Ayana.”

  Ayana's face brightened with a gracious smile. "Thank you Sciphil Nine. You will have a good one yourself one day.”

  Sciphil Nine nodded and smiled.

  Richard approached Madeline. She felt as if her body had transcended beyond suffering. She was numb and not at all sure she was still conscious. Yet she must be because she could hear them talking. But Richard said something, and she had no idea what he meant by it.

  She was drunk with her pain.

  Sciphil Nine walked through the invisible wall again. Ayana smiled at him from the other side.

  He approached Madeline. "I'll take you back to Mon Ciel."

  “I owe you one, Sciphil Nine. I know Zach isn’t an easy character to work with. If there is anything you need from me in the future, you need only ask,” Ayana told him from inside the light circle.

  Sciphil Nine looked at Ayana. “You’re wrong, Ayana. Zach Flynn is not only easy to work with—he could make quite a spectacular Sciphil. I’m jealous, to be honest.”

  “Who did you say is her successor?” Madeline asked.

  “Zach Flynn from Australia. Do you know him?”

  Madeline gave Sciphil Nine a blank look and then fainted into his arms.

  Chapter 12

  The sun rose high over the hill, casting a warm glow over the rolling hills and meadows. It was one of those rare days in the English winter where the sky was blue and clear.

  Unfortunately, the stunning weather did nothing to soothe Ciaran's mood as he walked down the long drive, approaching a tall man standing in front of Mon Ciel's gate. The man carried Madeline in his arms.

  In the darkest corner of Ciaran's mind, he wanted what his father had warned him against for so many years: destruction.

  He thirsted for blood.

  His need to destroy was as tenacious as his passion to create. Throughout his whole life, he had strived to maintain a balance between destruction and creation. That balance was off kilter now, tilted toward the negative.

  He knew Tadgh and Jo trailed behind him despite the fact he had asked them to stay in the house. Tadgh would never let him go outside Mon Ciel by himself, and Jo had been worried sick about Madeline since early in the morning.

  Ciaran adjusted his coat quickly, checking to see that his gun was still in place. It was.

  Based on the proximity of the gate and the man’s location, Ciaran speculated that he was one of those Sciphils who could not penetrate Mon Ciel's protective shield. The man appeared tall and strong. He carried Madeline as if she was a sleeping doll.

  Ciaran was sure she was injured. But if so, the damage had been done. Sheer willpower could play no role in fixing this. She had fooled him—and fooled herself—in order to go out there, and that had caused her harm.

  As they got closer, Tadgh said, “I recognize him. He helped us when Juliette attacked us at Mrs. Hanson's. I think he's friendly, Ciaran," Tadgh said.

  Ciaran didn’t respond. He trusted no one. Especially now.

  "Stay here," Ciaran brusquely directed as he approached the edge of the gate. Jo and Tadgh followed. Ciaran turned around.

  "Stay here." His repeat was more like a growl.

  Tadgh and Jo stayed back.

  Ciaran sauntered past the gate of Mon Ciel.

  The man observed Ciaran's every move. "You're confident, Ciaran."

  “And you are?”

  “I’m Pete Chandler, Sciphil Nine of Eudaiz.”

  Ciaran nodded. "Mr. Chandler, I'd like Madeline to be taken inside. I understand you cannot come inside Mon Ciel. I’ll stay out here and discuss whatever you want."

  Sciphil Nine laughed. "You're a businessman, or so I was told. On top of all the other qualities that set you up as a great ruler."

  "I'm not a ruler of any kind. Madeline needs to be tended to. Please let my brother take her inside. Then we can talk."

  Sciphil Nine nodded.

  Trusting, Ciaran thought. He could easily take Madeline inside and break his promise to this man. Ciaran approached Sciphil Nine. The energy coming from Pete Chandler was very different from the ki
nd that had emanated from Ayana. By Ciaran’s gauge, Pete Chandler was human, with a body made of flesh and blood.

  That meant Ciaran could put a bullet through the body and end all negotiations.

  Ciaran took Madeline gently from Sciphil Nine and walked back inside Mon Ciel to where Tadgh and Jo were waiting.

  "Doctor Thomas," Ciaran said.

  "Already called," Tadgh responded.

  A helicopter arrived, hovered in the air, and touched down on the helicopter landing pad in the adjacent garden. Doctor Thomas climbed out and made a beeline toward Tadgh.

  After a quick visual examination, he said, "Let's get her inside."

  "Thank you for coming quickly, Doctor," Ciaran said.

  Tadgh and Jo scurried toward the house.

  "You're not coming?"

  Ciaran nodded toward the gate. "Soon. But I have something to see to first."

  Doctor Thomas nodded. Before he turned away, his eyes caught sight of Sciphil Nine and held for a moment. Then he rushed toward the house. Ciaran had caught the odd gaze from the doctor, but he said nothing.

  Ciaran approached the gate but held back from stepping outside the grounds. He stood there with his hands in his pockets and observed Pete Chandler.

  "You are human, Mr. Chandler?"

  Pete nodded. "I have to go now. In fact, I should not be here at all. But I wanted to meet the man I would one day serve."

  Ciaran exited the gate and approached Pete Chandler.

  "How many Sciphils are there?" he asked.

  "Nine."

  "So you are the youngest?"

  "The number indicates the order of arrival of the very first Sciphils to Alphi more than five hundred years ago. There have been several generations of successors down the line. The order is no longer applicable."

  Ciaran nodded. "Who am I the successor of?"

  "Sciphil Three."

  "If I am his successor, why isn't he meeting with me?"

  Pete smiled.

  Ciaran nodded. “I understand. You can’t tell me. Since you helped Madeline, what can I do for you?"

  "Stay alive. Juliette broke the seal. She is no longer a Sciphil. But she has grown so strong. None of us can stop her.”