There were a series of unhappy murmurs of agreement around the table.
“We all know that we can expect little overt assistance from the government, the establishment media or the mainstream law enforcement community,” Guerrero added. “Officially, at least, most people in this country still hold the view that the paranormal is the province of science fiction, fantasy, quacks, gurus, talk-show guests and frauds. Convincing them that a secret, dangerous conspiracy comprised of psychically enhanced individuals exists and must be taken seriously is probably beyond our ability, at least for now.”
Without exception, those around the oval table sat tight-lipped and grim-faced.
“And so we welcome to this Council chamber a new Master who is uniquely qualified to lead us through these perilous times.” Guerrero fixed Zack with piercing eyes. “We ask you to take the oath of office and assume the Master’s Chair, Zackary Gabriel Jones.”
Zack rose but made no move to go to the head of the table. Instead, he looked at each of the ten members in turn. Then, very deliberately, he set a folder down on the polished stone table.
“Before I take the oath,” he said, “I am going to introduce you to my fiancée, Miss Raine Tallentyre, daughter of Judson and Miranda Tallentyre.”
The name hit the room with the impact of a meteor. Jaws dropped and eyes widened. Zack knew that some of those present had served on the Council when Tallentyre was kicked out of the Society. The rest were well aware of the name.
Before anyone could say a word, Bancroft opened the door to the chamber and ushered Raine into the room.
She stopped just inside the doorway and gave everyone a cool, self-possessed nod. She was at her most austere and untouchable today in a sculpted black Armani jacket, trousers and high heels. Her dark hair was pulled straight back into an elegant knot at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were pools of mystery behind the lenses of her black-framed glasses.
How in hell did I get so lucky? Zack thought. I will love her for the rest of my life and beyond.
He walked around the table and took her arm, making no attempt to conceal his pride.
“Welcome, my dear. Allow me to present the members of the Governing Council of the Arcane Society, USA.”
He went through the names quickly. Heads nodded stiffly. There were a few mumbled greetings. Most of the members were still speechless.
Raine gave them all her dazzling screw you smile.
“What a pleasure to meet all of you,” she said in a perfectly neutral tone.
Zack managed, just barely, to suppress a grin. Fortunately, none of the Council members seemed to grasp the fact that they had just been dissed.
“As many of you will have guessed,” he said, “my fiancée is the daughter of the Judson Tallentyre who, many years ago, was investigated by J&J for unauthorized research. That investigation led to Tallentyre being thrown out of the Society. All records of his work were destroyed.”
No one moved. They all knew the story.
“What neither the Council nor J&J was aware of at the time was that the focus of Tallentyre’s research was not on the founder’s formula but on an antidote for it.”
That garnered another round of startled murmurs.
“The only reason Tallentyre created a version of the formula was so that he could run experiments on it with his antidote,” Zack said.
The faces around the table assumed various expressions ranging from confusion to dawning comprehension. At least three of the people in the room were high-level intuitives who were no doubt starting to sense where this was going.
“I’m sure all of you realize what a great strategic advantage an antidote would provide us in our battle against Nightshade,” he continued. “Among other things, it would weaken the organization’s hold over its operatives.”
“An antidote would be a huge asset,” Paul Akashida observed. “Currently, the penalty for failure or betrayal within Nightshade brings an automatic sentence of death or insanity. The existence of an antidote would make it possible to attract defectors.”
Janice Forster brightened. “It might also allow us to plant a spy within the organization.”
At the far end of the table Conner Price spoke up. “Hell, just the rumor of an antidote would damage the Nightshade power structure.”
More excited conversation erupted around the table. Bancroft stood quietly, hands clasped behind his back, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. He winked at Zack. The strategy was working precisely as they had planned.
Wilson Everleigh ended an animated conversation with Akashida and turned to Zack, dark features alight with anticipation. “Are you telling us Judson Tallentyre really did discover an antidote?”
“It’s not perfect,” Zack said. “There has been only one human trial and it was only partially successful. But preliminary analysis by our experts indicates that Tallentyre succeeded in overcoming the most critical of the technical problems that have prevented us from coming up with a true antidote.”
Bancroft spoke up. “Dr. Jameson has informed me that Tallentyre’s work points in an entirely new direction. He believes that there is a very high probability that his people will be able to create a stable, effective drug to counter Nightshade’s version of the founder’s formula within a few months.”
“This is a huge breakthrough,” Guerrero announced. “It will be the first real weapon we’ve had to use against Nightshade. But why are we hearing about it now? Tallentyre died years ago.”
Zack had been waiting for the carefully planted question. “The secret of the antidote was lost after Tallentyre died. In the course of a recent J&J investigation, however, Fallon Jones made the decision to reopen the old file on Judson Tallentyre. It turned out that there were a lot of loose ends in the case.”
Bancroft took up the carefully tailored story. “Tallentyre intended to turn over the antidote to the Society but he died in an auto accident before he could tell J&J about his discovery. Most of his files were destroyed by the agents. The formula for the antidote, however, was salvaged by Tallentyre’s sister. Given the manner in which her brother had been treated, she had no incentive to hand it over to us. She took her secret to the grave.”
Zack looked at Raine. It was her turn.
She studied the group around the table. “That folder on the table contains copies of the final report of J&J’s new investigation into my father’s activities. It is true that he was consumed by his research and followed his passion into unauthorized areas. But J&J has determined that he never intended to use the formula for criminal purposes.”
“All Tallentyre cared about was the science behind the drug,” Zack said. “It was his in-depth understanding of the biochemistry of the founder’s formula that allowed him to do the groundbreaking work on an antidote.”
“Hold on here,” Janice Forster interrupted. “You said the antidote was lost.”
“It was until after Vella Tallentyre’s death,” Zack said. “But a few weeks ago it turned up among her personal effects, all of which were left to my fiancée.”
Everyone’s attention was suddenly riveted on Raine.
Raine gave the group another smile. This one was a lot warmer, Zack noticed.
“I have decided to hand over the formula for the antidote to the Arcane Society,” she said. “I trust you will all see that it is used wisely. It is what my father would have wanted.”
The table was engulfed with another burst of excited conversation.
Zack leaned a little closer to Raine.
“That, babe, is how you rewrite history,” he said into her ear.
She laughed. “I do love you, Zackary Gabriel Jones.”
“I love you, Raine Tallentyre.”
He kissed her in front of his grandfather and the entire assembled Council. A round of applause went up. He felt the vibrant energy of love shimmering in the air, knew that Raine felt it, too. They would share it for the rest of their lives.
Jayne Ann Krentz, Sizzle and Burn
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