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But Merl’s chin dipped a couple of times as he looked up at Samuel. “The grayle comes from the locks. Your boy was experimenting on you, trying to create what apparently he succeeded in creating. ”
“A freak?” Merl shook his head. “Sharav made a Third Earth Warrior from basic Second material. But it looks like his plan must have backfired. ” The pronouncement set a vibration in Vela’s bones as her gaze drifted to Samuel. Her instincts boiled, running at her with critical information, that his
status as a Third Warrior had great significance in her world and that her darkening power, fully able to engage in Third Earth, meshed with his.
“And when did Sharav capture you?”
“Eleven years ago and I spent a decade in that hellhole. ”
“Then they’ve been here awhile. ”
“What does that mean?” Vela asked.
Merl met her gaze. “The only access through normal folding has to occur through the Gateway to Third Earth, the one that Warrior Leto now guards. Which means, that one or more of the factions has found a way, through the darkening, to move back and forth between dimensions with no one the wiser. ” Vela shifted in her seat. “Are you able to travel through the darkening?” Merl once more shook his head.
“When I lived on Third, I could, but not from this entrance point and believe me, I’ve tried. Once I set up this gate, I couldn’t go back. ” Vela glanced around his living room.
The house looked settled, like it had been inhabited for a long time. The bookshelves opposite had papers stacked on them. A flat screen TV sat on a table by the wall to her left with three ashtrays lined up in front of it. The furniture resembled Danish modern from fifty-years-ago with a lot of light colored wood and simple lines. “So, who are you in this world, on Second Earth I mean?”
“I’m part of a small group of outcast Third Earth ascenders. I’m going to have to meet up with them in about a half-hour and talk over this turn of events. In the meantime, you’ll have to stay put. If you’ve been tagged, as I think you’ve been, spies here on Second will track your movements. Right now, you’re invisible and you should stay that way until I can get you more info. ”
“One question,” Samuel asked. “If Sharav has been moving around on Second Earth, why hasn’t he come for me?” Merl’s lips curved slowly. “Could be a dozen reasons but my guess is that he’s afraid of you on some level, maybe of that part of your power that he can’t control. Doesn’t mean he won’t kill you if he gets the chance.
“And you have to remember, he won’t want his presence on Second known. Any overt operation could blow his cover, which works in your favor.
Trust me. ” Vela frowned. “But won’t they come back here, to your gate?”
“Unlikely. Your ability to see the gate is extremely rare and this part of the grid continues on like I don’t even exist.
The best the darkening grid operators can do is look for anomalies and investigate.
But the grid is so vast, some speculate it’s infinite. ” He frowned before adding, “Now, who’s your mission contact, because I take it you discussed this with your superiors?”
“Madame Endelle. ” His eyes glinted. “She’s one tough hombre. ” His gaze slid away, staring at nothing in particular. “God, I loved that whole Mardis Gras thing. If I was just a little older and had more essential power —” He broke off, giving himself a shake.
“You should contact her and tell her that we’re here, we exist, and we apologize for not letting her know. She won’t like it, but we agreed early on that the only way we’d survive is to remain incognito.
“In the meantime, the kitchen is that way, as well as a guest suite that I’m turning over to you for the duration until this shitty mess gets sorted. My rooms are on the opposite side of the house. Just sayin’. ” He jerked his head behind him.
“When you talk to Endelle, block the communication then let her know that you’ll get back to her by midnight and yes I realize that’s six hours from now. But I promise that I’ll do what I can to help you get Warrior Duncan out of that cell before his time’s up. How does that sound? We good?” He rose from his chair and stubbed out his cigarette.
As Vela pressed her thoughts against Samuel’s mind, he turned abruptly in her direction. What do you think? Do you trust our host?
After a moment, he smiled, if ruefully. Yeah, I do, the bastard. To Merl, he said. “It’ll work. ”
“Now grab a bite to eat, you two.
You have a long night ahead of you on every possible front. Understood?”
“Got it,” Samuel said.
Vela rose as well.
By now, Merl’s smirk, and all his ridiculous flirting, had disappeared. “I’m heading to my rooms then I’ll be gone within the next fifteen-minutes or so. ” He glanced at Samuel. “You’ll have the place to yourselves. ” But the smirk made a reappearance just as he lifted his arm and vanished.
Vela’s mind took a couple of quick spins then landed on the one fact that put butterflies in her stomach: six hours alone with Samuel.
And the breh-hedden.
