Lies Ripped Open

  The helicopter behind us took off as we reached the prison doors, where the warden was waiting for us.

  “You’ve brought me a whole load of trouble,” he said. “Avalon is going to be angry about what happened here. And you,” he pointed a finger at me, “need to go. Alan killed a guard; whether it was in self-defense or not, that’s going to take some explaining. You shouldn’t have allowed him to do that.”

  “He didn’t allow me to do anything,” Alan retorted. “I didn’t exactly give him a huge chance to argue with me. And your guard was a corrupt piece of shit.”

  The warden glared at Alan. “Not exactly the point, you’re a prisoner and you killed a guard. Exactly what am I meant to do about that?” He took a deep breath. “Sorry, I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do.”

  “Tell people I killed the guard,” I suggested. “Tell them he felt so guilty over what he’d done he killed himself, get Olivia to help you sell it. Alan’s coming with me. I’ll bring him back when we’re done.”

  “We have another helicopter coming from the mainland. It’ll be about twenty minutes. Then I want you all off my prison. Don’t come back unless it’s to drop off Alan. And Alan, get these bastards.” He turned and walked off. I certainly didn’t envy his position.

  We each took a chair and I began to relax. Remy closed his eyes and was asleep a moment later.

  “You know this is going to get worse,” Alan said. “The second we find Felix, whatever Reavers they’ve sent there are going to tear through anything to come at us.”

  I nodded. “I know. But I can’t go back to Avalon and wait for them to come to us.”

  “I just want you to know that this is nowhere near over.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “You told me that Fiona was safe, that Lucie was looking over her. How did someone drag her memories out of her?” Alan had gotten angrier with every word, almost shouting the last sentence.

  “I don’t know,” I told him, and then paused. “Kay and his Faceless were in the room with Fiona too.”

  “Kay?” Alan asked. “Why would Kay be in there?”

  “I assume he wants to be there when Fiona wakes up so that he can get the names of those who attacked her.”

  “Covering him in even more glory when he single-handedly takes them down.”

  “Something along those lines, yes. And before you say anything, Kay doesn’t have mind magic, so he’s certainly not dragging anyone’s mind.”

  “What about his Faceless?” Ellie asked with a yawn.

  “If his Faceless was doing it, it would be on Kay’s orders,” I said. “I just can’t see Kay betraying Avalon.”

  “Could the Faceless be controlling Kay?” Ellie asked.

  I paused. It was theoretically possible, although I’d never heard of a Faceless betraying his master. Some of the Faceless were rune-scribed to ensure that their loyalty was total. “I don’t know,” was all I could answer. “He did say there’d be retribution for when I killed another Faceless. We need to see what Felix has. In the meantime, I’ll get Lucie to keep an eye on Kay’s Faceless.” I walked over to the reception area as the doubt about the Faceless gnawed at me. He could very easily be involved, he could be going against Kay, although I’d never heard of a Faceless going against his master. There’s always a first time for everything. I grabbed the phone, but the line was dead.

  “Standard protocol to shut down all outside communications,” Alan said. “I’d have called them myself otherwise.”

  I tore the phone free and threw it across the room. It hit a wall, leaving a bit dent. “Fuck!”

  “You okay?” Ellie asked.

  “Tired,” I said and rubbed my eyes. “Haven’t slept for a while now.”

  “As soon as the helicopter lands, we’ll use their radio to contact Avalon island,” Ellie said.

  “There’s a soldier there, Hendricks,” I told him. “He’ll get in contact with Lucie; let her know that someone went through Fiona’s memories.”

  “You haven’t told me I should never have mentioned Felix to Fiona,” Alan said.

  “No point really, what’s done is done.”

  A helicopter—identical to the one we’d arrived in—landed on the helipad outside, and it wasn’t long before we were in it, readying for takeoff. Remy immediately went back to sleep. Ellie asked the pilot if she could use their radio, so she sat up front to contact Hendricks. Alan remained awake; the intensity on his face made it clear he wasn’t interested in talking.

  “You know, it would be much easier if phone calls could be made directly through realm gates,” Alan said.

  “We’ll get right on that,” I told him and then closed my eyes to rest them.

  “We really do have to stop meeting like this,” a voice said.

  I was sitting in some sort of deck chair in front of a serene lake. Birds fluttered over its still, dark surface. It was pleasantly warm, and a table sat beside me with a clear drink in a tall glass. I leaned forward and picked up the glass, smelling the liquid inside. Ice clinked together as the alcohol scent reached my nose.

  “It’s got vodka in it,” my own voice said from behind me.

  I turned and found myself walking toward me. Except it wasn’t really me. Darkness spilled out from his eyes, covering most of his face.

  “Erberus,” I said. “It’s been a while.”

  “No, it hasn’t,” he said and then paused. “Oh actually, I guess it has for you. We talk quite often when you’re sleeping, but you don’t remember it.”

  The news came as quite a shock. “How often are we talking about here?”

  “Once a month. It’s nice to touch base. I am, after all, you.”

  “You live in my subconscious, but you’re not actually me, Erberus. You’re just my magic given form. My n—”

  “Don’t call me a nightmare, it’s really a terrible name.” he removed the drink from my hand and sat opposite me. “Do you know why you’re here?”

  “I’m asleep, aren’t I?” Panic sank in. “The venom in me will kill me?”

  “Oh please, as if I’d let you die when I have a chance to stop it. I’m controlling your magic right now, and giving your conscious brain a little rest into the bargain. You know you’ve been using an awful lot of magic in the last few days.”

  “Are you telling me that because you want out?”

  “Of course I want out, that’s the entire reason for my existence. I get out and take control, giving you power beyond your dreams.”

  “Not interested.”

  “You will be one day. At least you will be one day when those damn marks on your chest go, and I can actually do more than take control for a few minutes.” Erberus took another drink. “Anyway, that’s not why you’re here. At some point, your magic use is going to do one of two things, either you’re going to have to let me out, or you’re going to kill yourself.”

  I didn’t have to let Erberus out to control me, no sorcerer had to let their nightmare out. They did because they wanted power, or because they were convinced to.

  “I’m not going to kill myself,” I explained.

  “You’re so stubborn. Sorcerers keep using magic and we pop up and give them the chance to use us to lessen the damage on their bodies. They say no, and keep using magic, guess what happens.”

  “I know what happens. We die, or you force your way out and take control.”

  “Can’t do that. We have to be invited. Otherwise it doesn’t work. If you keep using your magic to the extent you’re currently using it, you can either let me out to relieve some of the pressure, or you’ll die.”

  “And if I let you out, what guarantees do I have that you’ll go back, or not kill anyone?”

  “None. But then out of all the times you’ve let me out, have I ever stayed out longer than agreed, or killed people I shouldn’t?”

  I didn’t trust Erberus, but I had to admit that he was telling the truth. He’d never outstayed his welcome, or killed those who weren’t an immediate thr
eat to me or people I was protecting.

  “Did you bring me here just to tell me I’ve used too much magic?”

  “Primarily, yes. At some point soon, you’ll need my help and I will give it.”

  “You can tell the future now?” I asked with as much sarcasm as I could manage.

  “No, I just know you. I know you’re not going to slow down. You’ll find Felix, the Reavers will find you, and you’ll fight. It’s what you do.”

  “Do you have any advice?”

  Erberus nodded. “Don’t die.”

  “That’s not advice.”

  “It is. It’s gloriously good advice too. I know what you know, Nathan. I can’t tell you something you’re not already aware of. Let me ask you a question that no one has bothered to ask yet. Answer honestly. Do you think Merlin is involved?”

  “I don’t know. No one wants to bring it up because, let’s be honest, no one wants to suggest that he’s even further gone than we’d expected. If Merlin had been involved, if he were trying to consolidate power or something, he’d have removed Elaine first. He hates how much power she has, but is unwilling to do anything to rectify it. All he does is spend time in his home. At least that’s what I last heard. Maybe he’s become more proactive, or insane, since I last spoke to him.”

  “Well, we’re about to land, and you need to be awake. To be honest, you needed the sleep.”

  I swung my legs over the chair and stood up. “Thank you for that.”

  “Just be careful in Doncaster. The Reavers are probably waiting.” He took a long drink. “Bye, Nate.” And he clicked his fingers.

  CHAPTER 23

  I opened my eyes as the helicopter touched down. The bump woke the other passengers too, although Remy appeared to have been wide awake and was watching me with interest.

  Once we were all out of the helicopter, Alan and Ellie walked off together, leaving Remy standing beside me. “You went to sleep,” he said as the helicopter lifted off and began its ascent.

  “So?”

  “Your glyphs remained powered. How did you do that?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  Remy stared at me for a moment and then shrugged, walking off toward the waiting Alan and Ellie.

  I caught them up a few seconds later. “So, where is he?” I asked Alan.

  “He’s near St. George’s Minster.”

  “I’m sorry,” I asked, unsure I heard him right. “Are you telling me that you put Felix near a church?”

  “Seemed like the safest place at the time.”

  “How far is it from here?”

  “Well, this is Robin Hood airport, so a half hour drive,” Alan said. “If we had a car. Which, from the expression on your face, I’m going to take a guess and say we don’t.”

  We left the airport using a private entrance staffed with Avalon employees, one of whom gave us a set of car keys to a baby blue Ford Kuga outside. We all climbed inside, with Ellie in the driver’s seat, as I sat in the back with Remy.

  “See you should have some faith,” Ellie said dangling the keys in front of Alan.

  “Faith in Avalon?” he mocked.

  “Avalon does good too,” Remy said.

  That stopped the conversation dead.

  “Hopefully, we can get Felix and arrange transport to Avalon Island before Lucie even needs to contact us,” Remy continued.

  I buckled my seatbelt. “Let’s get going then.”

  I looked down at Remy “I think we may have to get you a disguise,” I told him. “I think an upright walking fox might create a few questions.”

  Remy buckled his seatbelt. “I’ll stay in the car in crowded places, these windows are tinted.”

  “We can’t leave an animal in the car,” I said. “Not even someone who looks like an animal. If anyone spots you, they’re liable to call the police, or smash a window to try and get you out.”

  I turned and moved the divider for the boot aside. It revealed some emergency supplies, such as lights, a first aid kit, and some blankets. “We can cover you.”

  Remy’s eye’s narrowed, but he nodded anyway. “I’ll get on the floor behind the seats if it’s really necessary. No one should be able to see me. But if there are no crowds, I’m not staying here. If we meet anyone, they can think I’m going to a costume party.”

  “As what?” Alan asked while Ellie navigated getting us out of the airport car park.

  “Fantastic Mister Fox,” Ellie said.

  “There you go, problem solved.”

  “It’s not really—” Alan started.

  “I said, problem solved,” Remy snapped.

  Everyone was quiet for the rest of the twenty-five-minute journey, until we reached the Minster and pulled up outside it. While not a massive building, it’s still a very impressive piece of architecture.

  “Did you know this is the same spot as an old Roman fort?” Alan asked. “And at some point it was a Norman fort? Both well before the church was built, obviously.”

  I shook my head. “How do you know that?”

  “I once used the place where I put Felix as a safe house of sorts. I did a lot of research on this whole area during one of my stays. This church was destroyed by fire one night, although that had nothing to do with me. I gave money to have it rebuilt. As did Queen Victoria for that matter.”

  The sun had set some time ago and the lights around the church—illuminating only parts of it from the darkness—gave it a more imposing appearance than it would have had during the daylight.

  “So, how do we get to your hiding place?” Remy asked, as a few people walking by gave him an odd look, which he returned with a wave.

  “Follow me.”

  We did as Alan asked and followed him around to the opposite side of the church, where several large trees stood. A little further on, and down a steep hill, was a small stone wall, which led to a drop of several more feet.

  “Where are we?” I asked as we made our way around the wall to the pavement below.

  “Well, all of this used to be woodland, so it was easier to keep the entrance hidden. But over time people cut down a lot of the trees and instead of being able to keep the entrance hidden from view with some simple tricks, I had to arrange for something more permanent.”

  We walked for a short time more until we reached Grey Friars’ Road. A hundred meters up from there was a seven-foot-tall fence, with a metal gate painted blue with a 5mph sign on it. Oddly enough, the gate and fence only appeared to be protecting a small brick building with a metal door on one side. I couldn’t have imagined that either the fence or the gate was much of a deterrent. There didn’t appear to be a lock on the gate.

  Alan touched his hand to the gate and the otherwise very large and permanent gate slowly swung open.

  “Runes?” I asked

  Alan nodded. “Better than a lock. I had an enchanter I know arrange them so only Felix or I can open the gate. It keeps people out.”

  The small brick building had a sign on the door that said Do Not Enter. Danger of Death written on it in big red letters.

  “What is this?” Remy asked as he tapped the door with a nail, creating a hollow noise.

  “This is the entrance to my little hideaway.”

  “Danger of Death?” I asked.

  “A few kids have climbed the fence in the past. Some paint graffiti on the walls, but very few people want to open a door that says danger of death on it.”

  Alan touched the door and it began to vanish as if disintegrating before our eyes. “That’s some expensive level rune spells,” Remy said.

  “I used to have enough money,” Alan pointed out. “Then I met Nathan and that all went to shit.”

  I ignored Alan’s taunt and looked inside the small brick hut. There was a ladder that led down into the darkness beyond, but that was it.

  “Where does that go?” I asked Alan.

  “There are catacombs under here. You pay enough public servants enough money over the years and they tend to lose the m
aps and original documents that prove it. They’re older than even the Roman settlement that was here.”

  “How old?” I asked.

  “You’ll see,” Alan said and began his descent down the ladder into the darkness.

  I ignited my night vision and began climbing after Alan. I was about halfway down when light exploded all around me and I had to slam my eyes shut for a few seconds as I removed the night vision and stopped the brilliant white spots from being all I could see.

  “Little warning next time,” I said when I’d made it to the bottom of the ladder, which was easily fifty feet in length.

  I looked around and found myself in a tunnel. Lights hung every dozen or so feet from wooden pillars that had been placed there. “What is this place?” I asked.

  “It’s perfectly safe. I think it was made by an earth elemental. I put the lights in about thirty years ago; I was fed up with carrying a torch everywhere.”

  We waited until Ellie and Remy had made the descent—the latter of whom did not stop complaining about it the entire way down—and then we followed Alan once again, as he led us down the tunnel that seemed to move deeper and deeper underground.

  Eventually we all stopped again, this time at what appeared to be a dead end. Cold, wet stones were all around us, with no obvious exit in site, bar going back the way we’d come.

  Alan placed his hand on the wall and, like the door above, the wall began to disintegrate before us. Beyond was a cavernous room that stretched maybe forty feet above us and a hundred feet in diameter. The room itself held a large pool of water in the center, but that was it. I walked over to the pool; the water was clear and inviting. I touched it and found it was cold enough to have just come straight from the fridge.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  “Like I said, this place is old,” Alan said. “I’m guessing druids used it for something or other. That water, I have no idea where it comes from. Deep underground is the best guess, although there don’t seem to be any noticeable holes to an underground reservoir. The water never goes down, no matter how much you use. There are runes carved into the rock inside it.”