Geist (19 page)

I could hear Mephistopheles' voice echoing Jason's thoughts. 

And then I thought of my dad's face. 

The utter horror and fear I'd seen there. 

"What if," I said and looked at each of them. "The Seraphim isn't worried about something getting in...but something getting...out?" 

I thought I heard distant laughter at that moment. And felt a chill. 

"You mean the Geist?" Tel said. "But it's already out." 

"Not really," Dags piped up. Everyone turned to look at him. "Think about it—Alice said it came with Zoë from the Abysmal. But Zoë's not really out of the Abysmal. Everything everyone's said about this thing points to its body also being in the Abysmal—in whatever form that is. It's nothing more than what Zoë is—an astral projection at the moment." 

"But why is it so terrifying to them?" Tel said. 

"I don't think we'll know until we get the Dioscuri files, ladies and gentlemen," mom said. "And I can't think of a better time than now to do it." 

-30-

It's Complicated

"This thing's starting to sound like a computer." I said while in the kitchen with Dags. Of course I didn't need to eat—not like this. And I was glad I couldn't smell the meal Dags was cooking up with Alice. Clams, linguine, freshly shaved parmesan cheese, crisp salad with fresh carrots, walnuts, apples and bacon bits. And mom had cooked the bacon so it was real bacon. 

I missed bacon. 

I made garlic toast—my kind of garlic toast—which involved a lot of butter, garlic and cheese. Thick pieces of Texas toast. My mouth watered just thinking about it. 

"A computer?" Dags said in a disinterested voice. Well of course he was disinterested. He was cooking. 

"Say, is there a spell or something that's making all the Revenants not remember the Thrones?" 

Alice turned from where she was filling glasses with ice. Not all of the Revenants could eat but the ones in the newer bodies, at least 150 yrs old or less that could would be thirsty as well as hungry. And Dags said Alice made really good sweet tea. 

Nah. Nobody can make it like my mom. But she wasn't in the kitchen. She was talking to Daniel, Manuel and Umayma. And we weren't invited. Rhonda—well—last time I saw her she was still out on the patio watching the sun set. Said she had to make sure the wards were still up so the penthouse couldn't be seen. 

"I'm not sure, but I guess it is possible," Alice said. "It would explain why none of them remember how the Thrones got there. But it also begs the question—why?"

"We got a lot of those," Dags said as he tonged linguine into the sauce pan with the garlic, oil, clams, parsley and juice. "Pesky questions." 

I actually had a lot of answers. I just wasn't sure I liked them or which questions they belong too. "Mom's really hinging a lot on getting those Dioscuri files. Are we even sure what we need is in there?" 

Everyone shrugged. I sensed tiredness all around. It'd been a long day. 

We'd just finished setting the dining room table for dinner when Mom and the Revenants stepped into the living room. "Zoë—we need to see you, Dags, Alice and Joe." 

"What about me?" Rhonda stepped in from the patio and closed the door behind her. "I want to help." 

"No...not this time," Nona waved at her in a dismissive manner. "I have something else for you to do. You'll be with Jason."  

Rhonda's body tensed up—and I mean it was a visible tense. I thought for a second she was going to run at Nona and take a swing. Instead she moved past her and up the stairs. 

"Mom..." I gave her a disapproving look. "Did you have to be so stern?" 

"Yes I did. Rhonda's gone through more than she'll admit. And whether she likes it or not her power's still developing and we can't have something really bad happening tonight." 

I got the impression from her tone and her expression there was a bit more than that. But I also figured I'd ask her later. 

"Tonight?" Me, Dags, Alice and Joe all said in unison. We sounded like a chorus. 

Jason stepped forward and handed Dags his iPhone. "I just got this text from Zachary—" 

"Who?" 

"His First Born is Dagda." 

Oh. I peered over Dags' shoulder to read the text. 

Confirmed. Domas records still in previous location. High security. 2200 Garden Escape.

I pursed my lips. "What does that mean? What's twenty-two hundred?" 

"Ten o'clock. And it means the Dioscuri files are where we left them," Jason said. "Still in the compound." 

"I thought the compound was destroyed?" 

Joe shook his head as he pulled out his own phone and began texting. "It was infiltrated. It's now become a head quarters for the CCE." 

CCE... I moaned. "Are you serious? The Church of Celestial Enlightenment?" 

"Dead," Joe said as he finished texting and looked at me. "Zach's still there. Been there the whole time." 

I held up a hand. "Wait a minute—you mean they've had a Revenant under their noses and they've never noticed?" 

"Very few of them even know what to look for to spot one," Jason said as he tucked his phone back in his suit jacket. He always looked well dressed even when he wasn't. "And this new host of Zach's is newer than me so fitting in is easier. The night we busted Dags out Zachary was with me; slipped into a uniform and never left. Zachary's been feeding the Old Man information ever since about their movements." 

"Oh my God," I laughed. "You guys rock." 

Yes. We do. 

Dags grabbed up a piece of the garlic bread and took a bite. "So I take it," and he lowered his voice as he spoke around the food. "
Elle ne sait pas?
" 

"No. I thought it better that the only people who knew," Jason grinned. "Was me." 

And me. 

I nudged Mephistopheles. "Who doesn't know? I can speak a little French you know." 

Rhonda. 

"Why keep this from Rhonda? Why keep anything from her?" 

It's...complicated. 

Man I didn't like those words together. "Well you can un-complicate it and tell me later." 

Mephistopheles didn't answer. Smart First Born. I put my hands on my hips. "So what's the plan?" 

Joe put his hands on his hips. "We go get the files...and hope they have what we need." 

I looked at the food longingly. It was bad enough that I wasn't gonna get to eat it—but neither was anyone else. Joe reached over and patted my head. "Don't worry—someone will eat it. And if it's here when we get back, I will." 

Jerk. 

He likes you. 

Shut UP
Old Man
. 

-31-

Society House

From the activity in the underground garage something told me these guys had been planning this for a while. Joe, Daniel, and Manuel all donned black clothing in the van after we parked and then stuck those little communication buds in their ears. 

Joe did a radio check. They'd made contact with Zach inside. He'd left the back garden escape route open—apparently the same one they'd used to get Dags out. 

"Zach's in position. Dags," he looked at us. "I want you to stay here—"

"But—"

"No buts. We need the Familiars. Especially Zoë. But you have to stay safe in the van got it? We can't risk you getting taken or killed. Manuel is staying here with you. He'll protect you with his life."

"Well if they were that worried about his safety why did they bring him in the first place," I muttered. 

"Because there is still a limited range for us, Zoë," Alice said. "He has to be nearby for us to manifest. If Dags still had access to the
Grimoire
—things would be different." 

If he did still have access to all that magic these guys wouldn't stand a chance. 

I turned and put my arms around Dags. He kissed me hard and I promised myself again that once this was over and I was really in his arms again—I was going to do very naughty things to him. 

Very
...naughty things. 

:)

On the beach. 

On a remote island. 

Where no one knew who or what we were. 

That was something to come home for. 

We filed out of the van and I turned back and gave Dags a final look, right before I glanced at Manuel. "You take care of him." 

"I will." 

I understand love, Zoë
, came a female voice, deeper than Inanna's.
More than you know
. 

Morgan spoke to me! 

The house was even bigger than I remembered and my memories of having been here before were during the day. Being on the grounds at night with a bunch of Revenants was cool. One minute they were there, the next minute—

Poof. 

It was like watching shadows slide into shadows. The grounds' lights were on—illuminating the garden and the parking lot. The grand front with it gazebo-like entrance and double winding staircase had a new sign draped over the landing. 

"The Church of Celestial Enlightenment." 

Reminded me of sneaking into Reverend Rollins' house that night. And well we all know how well that went. 

I stuck close to Alice and Joe—both she and I changing our clothes on the fly to match theirs. All black. Even my hair had gone blacker—except for that damn white streak. There was no getting away from it. Keeping to the outer parts of the hedge maze Joe motioned for us to get down. Alice remained where she was and I realized not everyone could see us. Joe could but he was special that way. 

Once around the corner we ducked under and through a piece of the hedge. I glanced back and wondered if it was spelled to give like that for us? It would make sense. One of Rhonda's defenses. 

Rhonda. I hoped she was doing okay. And I really wanted her to get past this jealousy thing. 

We followed Joe through a set of twists and turns until we were at the back of the house, beneath the first set of tiered balconies. I stared at the wall with the ivy growing along it. "It's a wall." 

"Sshhh," Joe hissed. He reached up and flattened the palm of his hand on the wall. I stepped back when I saw a circle form in blue white light around his hand. In that circle was a pentagram and several other symbols I didn't recognized. Two more circles formed outside of that one, each with their own markings and then each circle spun in opposite directions. It was like rolling tumblers in a lock. 

Abruptly the wall split into a plank that slid back like an old fashioned pocket door. 

Another guy in black stepped through and grinned. I recognized him from Lex's wake. And then the duel between Lex and Jason. His hair was professionally braided in strands and held back by a band. His skin was the prettiest mocha color and his eyes were amber. I remembered him as the most striking of the Revenants—that is if you can get past Tel's piercings. 

This was Zach— Revenant, Dagda. Were any of the girl First borns IN girl hosts? 

No time to really count. 

"C'mon, mate," he said and I hadn't remembered him having an accent. "'Bout time I saw you blokes again." 

Daniel stepped up with Joe. "Have you spoken with everyone?" 

"Aye—we got everything down. Now," he pulled an iPad from a bag slung around his chest. "Raziel's here—he always has his night tea about now in this room. And two of his Powers are usually there." 

"How many powers are in the building?" 

"About thirty. But there are about 10 regulars here." 

Regulars I figured were the non-magical folk. Or the non Outer Planes people. 

I raised my hand. 

He grinned at me when he looked at me. "Blimey Zoë. You really
are
here." 

"Not really but I was curious," I pointed to the side. "The banner says this is CCE. So is CCE—"

"A front for the Virtues." Zach said. "It's a perfect ruse. And it works for them. Now," he pointed to his screen. "You all know where the files are—they haven't been moved. But the security's been beefed up. And it's been rigged to look for invisibles as well." 

"Then we're screwed." I blurted out. 

"Not necessarily," Zach held up a finger. "Over here there's a duct that I checked out for a few weeks. It's little used and maintenance on it was done two days ago so I know they won't be back at it any time soon. If you can get in here," he pointed to a small opening in a wall. "And go through the duct to here, then you'd be able to get in without setting off the sensors." He looked around. "I just got one question. How do you people plan on getting all those bloody things out of here?" 

Joe smiled. "We're not here to steal the actual set of diaries, Zach. We're here to get the scans and translations Rhonda Orly created six months ago." 

"You serious?" Zach looked shocked. "You mean I did all that for nufin?" 

"It's in the same place—so the danger's the same," Daniel said. "I know what the drive it's saved on looks like. So," he held up his rifle. "Let's go." 

-32-

Lions And Tigers And Powers, Oh My!

Zach joined us as we made our way down the escape tunnel to a door. Alice slipped through the door first. When she did she armored up and I followed behind her, making sure my helm covered my face. Didn't want to be too recognizable. 

"It's clear but I am sensing people nearby." 

Zach grabbed his iPad and everyone gathered around the schematic. "Heat sensors detect three guards here—human. Not Powers." 

"Is there a difference?" Joe asked. 

"Unfortunately when the Virtues create a power it kills the human...so their body temperature drops." 

Creates a Power? Kills the human? "Whoa, exactly how do Virtues create Powers?" 

Daniel gave me a very kind but a very sad look. "You don't want to know right now, Zoë. But I will tell you later. First—" he held up his hand. "Is it with you? Now?" 

"It?" I frowned a few minutes before I understood. He meant Geist. "No. I haven't felt him in a while. I haven't wanted to talk to him."