The Black Madonna (The Mystique Trilogy)

  I shrugged, maintaining my playful manner. ‘I’m still deciding.’

  He was amused by my response, but as he moved in to kiss me again I walked on. All seemed quiet and calm in the site camp; the project team were yet to arise. My first priory was to find my mother.

  ‘Hey, not fair,’ Killian protested. ‘Don’t I get the chance to prove my worth?’

  I rolled my eyes and looked at him as he caught up with me. ‘I don’t measure worth by a person’s—’

  ‘Labontè! Tamar!’

  The call came from the site office. We looked in that direction to see Emmett Rich running towards us, distraught. ‘Thank God you’re back!’ As he came closer it was plain to see that he’d been crying. ‘Everyone is dead!’ he blurted out.

  ‘Everyone?’ I panicked for my parents.

  Killian was more concerned about his project. ‘What do you mean, dead? How?’ He took hold of Emmett as if to shake information out of him.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Emmett said. ‘I went out yesterday looking for you,’ his gaze turned my way, ‘and when I came back…’ He choked up and shook his head, unable to say the words. ‘See for yourself.’ He pointed towards the site accommodation.

  Killian released Emmett and ran over to the sleeping quarters.

  ‘My parents?’ I said, preparing to race off myself.

  ‘From what I can tell, they’re not among the dead.’ Emmett allayed my worst fear. ‘The last time I saw your mother she was heading into the caves.’

  I set out in that direction.

  He came after me. ‘It’s no use. The entrance has been filled in.’

  I stopped. ‘It’s collapsed?’

  ‘No,’ he insisted. ‘It’s as if the caves never existed.’

  I frowned as I thought on the situation. Perhaps Mother succeeded in opening the Signet station? The notion almost brought a smile to my face, but for the sound of violent vomiting coming from the accommodation area. ‘Oh dear,’ I said, and headed towards Killian, now slumped on the ground outside one of the residences.

  Again Emmett came after me. ‘I don’t think you should go over there,’ he said.

  It was very sweet of him to attempt to spare me the horror, but it only made me more determined to see for myself what had happened.

  ‘Please, Tamar.’ He grabbed my hand to pull me to a stop, but Killian, now recovered somewhat, called out, ‘Let her come.’

  I went over to see the bloodbath for myself.

  ‘They did this, didn’t they?’ Killian was seething with rage at having to add his business partner and crew to the Nefilim fatality list.

  I nodded, wanting to throw up myself until my Anunnaki sensibilities kicked in. My heart chilled, stifling my repulsion and allowing me to be more analytical. ‘There can be no doubt about that,’ I said.

  ‘They? Who are they?’ Emmett asked.

  Killian and I looked at each other a moment, considering how much he should be told.

  ‘Look, I’m not an idiot! I know no human being could have done this,’ Emmett said. ‘So just cut the bullshit and tell me who they are.’ As we were still hesitant, he became more demanding. ‘I deserve to know!’

  ‘The Nefilim,’ I replied bluntly, aware that he knew quite a bit about my fallen kindred.

  ‘The Nefilim?’ He took a step back, more shocked than sceptical. ‘Why would the lords of the spook world want to do this to us?’ Clearly he remembered nothing of the André incident yesterday.

  ‘Apparently, it’s me they’re after,’ Killian said, lifting his designer T-shirt to reveal the mark of Cain upon his chest. ‘They’ve killed my parents, my friends, and now this.’ He dropped his shirt and looked at the blood drying on the dwelling’s step, his eyes filling with tears of remorse.

  Emmett looked shocked when he saw the mark of Cain on Killian. He was silent a moment, thoughtful. ‘But I saw your mother only yesterday,’ he said eventually.

  ‘No,’ Killian corrected, ‘you saw an evil being wearing the guise of my mother.’

  Emmett looked ready to take out his anger on the playboy he despised. ‘You knew there were evil beings loitering about but you—’

  ‘I only suspected,’ Killian assured him. ‘My fears were only confirmed last night.’ He frowned and looked at me. ‘Or was that the night before?’

  I shook my head; we weren’t permitted to explain why we had missed a day.

  ‘You don’t know?’ Emmett barked.

  ‘I’ve been a little out of it.’ Killian tried to gloss over his slip. ‘I seem to have lost a day somewhere.’

  ‘While my father and everyone else here was being mutilated,’ Emmett shoved Killian in the chest with both hands, ‘you were getting stoned!’

  ‘No, I wasn’t stoned!’ Killian shoved him right back. ‘Where were you anyway?’

  ‘I told you, I was looking for Tamar. I was concerned for her well-being.’

  ‘But she was with me,’ Killian said with a frown; he knew Emmett had known my whereabouts.

  ‘Exactly,’ Emmett said, and Killian suddenly realised he had a rival for my affections.

  ‘Jealous?’ he accused with a grin.

  ‘Concerned,’ Emmett replied.

  ‘Frustrated!’ I interrupted them both. ‘This is getting us nowhere. Neither of you could possibly have foreseen this or prevented it from happening. So stop arguing and let’s get on with finding out what’s going on here.’

  I wondered if my mother knew. There was no point checking my parents’ quarters; she would never leave a message lying about. But if I could just get a moment to meditate, I could see if she had left any thought transferences for me.

  ‘I need a change of clothes,’ I said, counting on my companions not following me into my room.

  ‘What if they’re still lurking about?’ Emmett said, moving to pursue me.

  Killian held him back. ‘She’ll be fine, believe me.’

  ‘You’re a regular knight in shining armour, aren’t you?’ Emmett brushed Killian’s hand away in disgust and kept going.

  ‘You think I’m afraid?’ Killian grabbed Emmett’s shoulder and swung him around to pursue the issue.

  ‘Please!’ I called to them, and their punches froze in midair. ‘Try not to kill each other before I get back. Emmett, why don’t you tell Killian what’s happened to the caves,’ I suggested, thinking that ought to keep them distracted until I’d had time to meditate and change, for the situation demanded that I don the Amenti staff uniform.

  Finally in the privacy of my room, I put on the full body suit, which was made from etheric fibre and allowed me to mould it into whatever attire I chose. For the present, I’d selected a pair of jeans, a singlet top, a leather jacket and biker boots, all with the resilience of Orme-based metal.

  ‘That ought to keep the rain out,’ I said, eyeing my reflection with a grin of approval.

  I sat down to see if I could make contact with my mother or any of the Dragon Queens. I breathed deeply to shut out the external world and focus my attention inward.

  ‘Where are you going?’ I heard Emmett yell from some distance away.

  ‘No more!’ Killian yelled back. ‘Not one more human being dies on my account. If the Nefilim want me so badly, they can have me!’

  Uh-oh, I thought. I’d best go see what’s happening; but before I’d even opened my door, I heard Killian’s car start up on the road above the site camp where we’d left it several days ago. ‘Shit!’

  I ran out into the main clearing, where Emmett was still standing, looking livid.

  ‘Where the fuck does he think he’s going?’ he said. It was a fair question given the mess Killian was leaving behind.

  ‘I’d say he’s going to pay dear old Dad a visit. Have you got a driver’s licence?’ I asked hopefully.

  ‘Only a learner’s permit.’

  ‘Not to worry.’ I shrugged it off as a minor detail. ‘Is André among the dead?’

  Emmett nodded.

  ‘Then he w
on’t mind us taking his Humvee.’ I headed towards the vehicle.

  ‘You can’t drive!’ Emmett insisted. ‘You’re only thirteen!’

  ‘Oh, come on,’ I said. ‘Who on Earth is going to believe that?’

  I climbed into the Humvee’s driver’s seat and, reaching under the steering wheel, willed the engine to life.

  ‘How did you do that?’ he said as he crossed in front of the car to get to the passenger seat. ‘Do you even know how to drive?’ He climbed in and slammed the door closed.

  ‘Sure I do,’ I lied. You didn’t need to actually learn how to drive if you were psychokinetic; you just had to make a good show of it. ‘Do you know the Labontès’ home address?’

  Emmett nodded and I directed him to the global positioning system. ‘Then punch it into the GPS and let’s go.’

  ‘Whoa!’ Emmett was thrown back in his seat as the vehicle took up off the road at my mental bidding. I just hung on, pretending to steer.

  Our destination was the Loire Valley region of France where the Chateau Labontè was located. I was worried about Killian rushing off to confront the Nefilim on his own; what on Earth was he thinking?

  ‘What did you say to Killian to get him so incensed?’ I asked my passenger, who was sinking further into shock by the minute.

  ‘I didn’t say anything,’ Emmett insisted. ‘I just showed him what had happened to the caves and the next thing I knew he was storming off.’

  ‘Weird,’ I commented. ‘Perhaps it was just a delayed reaction to the carnage.’

  ‘How can you be so cool with both your parents missing?’ Emmett asked.

  ‘Why did you come looking for me, Emmett?’

  ‘Well, when three members of Daddy’s Bitch showed up dead yesterday morning, and you were last seen with them, I naturally…Where the hell have you been?’ he blustered when I appeared surprised. ‘It was all over the papers yesterday afternoon. Their fathers are appealing for information pertaining to the whereabouts of Killian Labontè and his mysterious new girlfriend.’

  I’d been wondering how the Nefilim were going to handle the disappearance of Killian’s band members. They must have kept their victims’ bodies on ice in the spook world for just such an occasion as this.

  ‘They obviously want to find Killian and me very badly,’ I said.

  ‘They?’ Emmett was taken aback. ‘Are you implying that Taro Yamamoto, James Marx and the man who may be the next President of the United States are Nefilim?’

  ‘It’s a strong possibility,’ I replied. ‘Morell Labontè definitely is.’

  ‘All right!’ His eyes came to rest on the gearstick, which was changing gears all by itself. ‘Who the hell are you, Tamar?’

  ‘Not a very good mimic, that’s for sure.’ I sat back and openly allowed the car to drive itself. ‘How much do you know about the spook world, Emmett?’

  He shrugged. ‘I consider myself fairly well read on the subject for a mere mortal. But I’m not letting you change the subject again until you explain exactly who you are.’

  This rescue was going to be a hell of a lot easier for me if Emmett knew the truth. I placed my index finger onto his third eye and returned the memories I’d stolen from him a few days before.

  When he’d recovered from the influx of information he was excited, and angry. ‘You knew! And you’ve got the power to have stopped this slaughter.’

  ‘I’m sorry—’

  ‘Sorry doesn’t cut it!’ he yelled, and moved to open the car door.

  I gave the mental command to lock the doors and drive faster.

  ‘Let me out of this car!’ he shouted.

  ‘I couldn’t take down my best lead to the lord of spook world.’

  ‘My father is dead!’

  ‘And every other human being on the planet will join him if I don’t succeed in taking Ill out!’ I said harshly. ‘Either you help me rid the world of those responsible for your father’s death or you can just get out of my way!’

  Emmett was stunned to silence by my outburst.

  ‘So,’ I adopted a more civil tone, ‘how much do you know about the spook world? Is Irkalla still the capital?’

  He nodded. ‘It’s run by Erragal and his consort, Ereshkigal—’

  ‘Ha! In my day Ereshkigal ran the place,’ I said. ‘Even in the Underworld women have been forced into subservient roles.’

  ‘In your day?’ Emmett was confused, then his memory of me whispering in his ear returned. ‘Kali,’ he uttered, white as a sheet, and promptly lost consciousness.

  ‘Some help you are.’

  I wondered if I should just drop him on the side of the road and spare him from the nightmare I was about to lead him into. But it didn’t seem fair to leave him to face the mountain of questions that would have to be answered in the wake of the massacre at the dig site. And as fate had seen fit to spare him from that awful demise, the least I could do was protect him until he found his feet. Killian was far more of a worry. He knew how much danger he was in; could he really be so selfless that he would invite his own damnation in order to stop the killing? There was only one soul I knew to be that selfless, for he felt he owed this world nothing less: Mathu.

  With Emmett out to it, miles of road to cover and the car on automatic pilot, I decided to go into a meditative state and touch base with my mother and the other Dragon Queens.

  Once I had removed all thought of the future and the past and sat centred firmly in the present, I called out to my mother. When there was no response from her, I began to convey my mental account of the last few days to her anyway; she would discover it when she found time to rest and seek within. However, my transmission was interrupted by my mother’s far more urgent conveyance.

  Praise the goddess you contacted me, Tamar. Now you must listen intently to what I have to say—our continued association depends on it!

  So listen I did as she disclosed to me the staff of Amenti’s intention to change the past twice over, firstly to save my father from torture at the hands of the Nefilim, and in the second instance to open all the Signet stations over a decade sooner. The news tore my heart in two. I had to find Killian quickly, for if the Signet station at Montségur was opened and secured at a much earlier date, he would never discover the caves and we would never meet. I’d only just found him and now was about to lose him when history rewrote itself. The only way to prevent our separation in this current reality was to get Killian out of this physical time-controlled plane of existence and into the Otherworld. I needed to get us both to the Amenti complex beneath Giza as soon as superhumanly possible or we would both lose touch with this reality, and the events and people within it.

  CHAPTER 13

  ILL WILL

  The Chateau Labontè looked very dramatic against the night sky. At a guess the forbidding castle-like structure dated back to the sixteenth century, but the dark energy emanating from the site was cultivated much further back in time.

  The gates were open and I spied Killian’s Porsche parked at the end of the long drive.

  Emmett was sleeping like a baby in the passenger seat, so I locked him inside the Humvee and moved to feel the bonnet of Killian’s car. It was still warm.

  I raced to the front door and blasted it from its iron hinges. A large foyer appeared before me, a curved staircase rising each side to the upper level; obviously of a much later period than the exterior structure. Directly ahead, beneath the landing where the staircases met, was an archway and there stood one of my fallen kindred, with an Orme spike poised at Killian’s neck.

  ‘I’m just bait for you,’ Killian tried to warn me.

  The spike grazed his neck and my heart almost stopped beating, but I couldn’t allow my foe to sense that I gave a damn.

  ‘Namtar,’ I said, for even in his wretched state I recognised him, ‘given up wearing Morell Labontè, have you? There seems to be a mass shedding of identities going on at present.’

  ‘There are plenty more where those came from,’ he assu
red me, shaking Killian to include him in the equation.

  ‘Nice suit,’ I commented. I knew from my mother’s advice that his glittering gold cape and wide-brimmed hat would deflect my weapon’s liquid-light darts.

  ‘I wouldn’t confront you without it,’ he bantered, and gave me a devilish smile.

  ‘I think it’s going to take more than a piece of fabric to protect you from me, cousin.’

  ‘I have your father up here, half-caste.’

  The voice came from above, and I looked up to see Ishtar on the landing. She was wearing a glittering gold evening gown and was still in the shapely form of Sabine Labontè.

  ‘Honestly, I’ve had him and had him and had him,’ she boasted, and Namtar chuckled at my dismay. ‘Just smell me if you don’t believe me…’ She caressed herself between the legs. ‘His heavenly scent is all over me.’ She giggled and my rage welled to bursting; I wanted to kill her!

  ‘How dare you ruin so great a spirit!’ I yelled.

  ‘Tamar, they’re going to damn my soul!’ Killian pleaded.

  I’d avoided telling him that little detail about the fate of his friends and family, not wanting to add to his grief and distress.

  ‘You can’t save both of them, my darling,’ Ishtar said, and an Orme spike extended from the wristband she wore. She went back upstairs, while Namtar disappeared into the downstairs shadows with Killian.

  At this point I had no idea whether my hunch regarding Killian Labontè was true, but my father was definitely an Amenti staff member and I couldn’t risk his damnation. I launched myself towards the upstairs landing, and was amazed to achieve enough height to vault the banister and land in the hallway behind Ishtar.

  ‘Come, princess,’ she beckoned, leading the way into a room ahead.

  I was almost upon her by the time she made it through the door, but she teleported herself instantly across the luxurious bedroom to the stone wall where my father was chained. I found her ability remarkable, as my fallen kin were supposed to have lost their supernatural powers.

  ‘Albray, my darling, I’ve brought you a gift,’ Sabine crooned.