The Catalyst of Corruption (The Final Formula Series, Book 4) (33 page)

I crossed my arms as I watched him rotate it. Well done or not, I would have donned a pair of gloves before I handled it with my bare hands.

Still chuckling to himself, Neil rubbed his hands over the object, knocking away more and more of the dull clumps of ash. The glossy black surface beneath was cracked, revealing a red interior.

I hugged myself tighter.

“Bizarre.” Without warning, Neil opened his hands.

I jumped as the organ shattered against the floor. The black fragmented like glass, exposing the red center I had glimpsed through the cracks.

Neil bent and scooped it up off the floor and cupped it in his hands. “Amazing.”

I stepped up beside him and gazed down at what he held. It was a slightly smaller version of the black heart, this one more perfectly sculpted in shades of red and orange.

“Touch it,” Neil said.

I gave him a frown. Was he trying to gross me out? Tentatively, I touched a finger to the translucent surface. I gasped and jerked my hand away. “It's cold, like marble.”

“I guess you were right.” The corner of his mouth curled. “It is a stone.”

“A stone?” Ian asked.

I stared at the object Neil held. “It was said to be a red stone.” Oh my God. Had we done it?

“Are you suggesting that's…” Ian hesitated.

“The Philosopher's Stone,” I finished. “That is why we were studying ash alchemy.”

Chapter 29

I
an stared at the stone
heart Neil held. “The Philosopher's Stone?”

“That's what it's supposed to be,” Neil said. “But we won't know until we use it.”

“Use it how?” I asked. “What exactly is it that you want to do with the prima materia?” I knew what I wanted with it, but I had never learned what Neil wanted.

Neil smiled, gazing down at the stone heart cupped in his hands. “The possibilities are endless.”

“Not as endless as you would think,” a voice said from the door.

We all turned like guilty children caught with our hands in the cookie jar.

I was shocked to find Era crossing the room to join us. Were the others with her? So much for hiding what I had done here.

“Era.” I stepped forward to intercept her. “What are you—”

Her amber eyes met mine, then faded, the color lightening several shades. “Move, alchemist.”

I sucked in breath. Ah, hell. “Alexander,” I whispered.

Era—no, Alexander shoved me aside. “Where's—” Those faded eyes settled on Neil. “Dunstan. Has Xander called back? I don't want to leave his home in case he returns, but he hasn't—” Era's brows rose. “Lory! What are you doing here?”

“Xander's dead,” Ian said.

“What?”

“Silence.” Neil glared at Ian.

Ian closed his mouth and gave Era-Alexander a shrug.

She abruptly gasped and doubled over to grip her knees.

“Era?” I took a step toward her, but pulled up short when a portal opened and Alexander stepped into the room.

“Do not give my brother commands.” He glared at Neil. “Tell me about Xander.”

“We used him as an ingredient,” I answered for Neil.

“What does that mean?” Alexander's pretty blue eyes narrowed as he glanced between Neil and me.

“He's been cremated,” I answered.

“What?!” Alexander demanded.

Era straightened, and suddenly, I was airborne. I flew a good ten feet before I slammed into the wall. The blow knocked the air from my lungs, and I slid to the floor.

“Lex, don't,” Ian said. “It wasn't her.”

I pushed myself up to my hands and knees. Era was staring at me, her faded eyes taking on that metallic sheen that indicated her magic in use. Yet I could see the recognition and concern in her eyes. She was still present even if she wasn't in control.

“It was Neil,” Ian finished.

Alexander spun to face Neil. “Explain.”

“If you wish me to be successful, it had to be done.” Neil didn't seem all that concerned about Alexander stalking toward him. “I think you can see the wisdom in that, Deacon.”

“I do not.” Alexander seized him by the throat and lifted him from the floor.

“Release me.” Neil wheezed, his eyes flickering white.

Alexander immediately complied, then stared at his open hand in shock. “How can you command me? You consumed my flesh. You are part of me. Your magic cannot be used against its own.”

As a lich king, Neil never had to fear Alexander possessing him. He was immune to a ghoul master's control. That was why he had willingly taken Alexander's flesh. But Alexander's magic still had an effect on him. Neil had been unable to control him the way a living necromancer should be able to control a lich. Apparently, that was no longer the case.

“Did you develop a potion?” Alexander demanded.

“No, Amelia did.” Neil gave me a wink. “I believe she calls it Necromancy Solvent. It's the same potion she used on Xander to break the bond between you.”

“You're working with Neil?” Era asked, her eyes on me. Apparently, Alexander had loosened his hold enough for her to speak.

“No.”

Era frowned.

“Well, kind of, but not on this.” I turned to Neil. “I never gave you that formula.”

“I believe you gave it to Elysia.”

Then I remembered. I had armed her with the potion the night she went before Alexander to be considered for Deacon. “You confiscated the potions I gave her before she went to the catacombs.”

“Yes, I did.” Neil smiled. “Thank you for that.” He held up the stone heart. “And this. I knew you couldn't resist finishing what we started.”

“So it's true,” Era whispered.

“What's true?” I asked the question, though I suspected I already knew the answer.

“He told me it was you… and him”—she waved a hand at Neil—“who took me last summer.”

My heart thumped in my ears. I should have come clean about that months ago. “Yes,” I admitted. “I—”

Her eyes widened. She hadn't truly believed it. “Do the others know?”

“They all know,” I admitted. “Even James.”

She stared at me, looking so hurt, it broke my heart.

“I'm sorry,” I said. “I should have told you.”

“And you're working with him again?” she whispered.

“It's just a temporary thing. A single project—”

“He nearly killed”—she hesitated—“my brother.”

“You can say his name,” Neil spoke up. “You may not remember it, but Amelia and I forced you to tell us all your names last summer.”

While Neil's attention was on Era, Ian leaned over and whispered something to Alexander, his eyes holding mine while he spoke.

I made an effort not to give anything away, but I wasn't comfortable about Ian and his brother teaming up—especially when Alexander gave him a small grin.

Era's eyes widened. “I bet my family doesn't know that,” she said to me.

“I'm sorry, Era.” There was nothing I could do now. Maybe once I had a chance to explain.

I turned to Neil. “What's she doing here? What are you really up to?”

“Let's just say it's a good thing your experiment worked,” Neil said. “Alexander found her nosing around his property and took her to the funeral home via the land of the dead.”

“And you let him.” I took a step toward Neil. “He nearly killed Rowan doing that.”

Alexander opened his mouth, but Ian touched his arm. To my surprise, Alexander held his tongue.

“The deed was done before I realized,” Neil said. “It didn't faze her, which confirmed that we were successful.”

“Successful at what?” Era asked.

“We tried to make you a necromancer,” I admitted.

“It wasn't a complete success,” Neil said. “She can only sense necromancy in use. Our formula needs some tweaking. Have you made any advancements on that formula for His Grace?”

Era started to speak, but I cut her off.

“What formula?”

“The one that will cure him. You'll need the prima materia.” He gestured with the Stone.

I frowned. “What makes you believe I'm—”

“I know how you think. I worked by your side for almost twenty years.” He walked over to me. “If the situation was dire enough, I knew you would do anything to save him. Even consort with me.”

Everything fell into place. “You,” I whispered. “You knew Rowan was slipping. You encouraged Alexander to torment him.”

“His encouragement wasn't really necessary,” Alexander confided with a smile. “Though I will concede that his assistance navigating the modern media proved helpful. My knowledge of the power structure was lacking. I would have wasted a lot of effort taking the wrong people.”

“Taking? You mean possessing.”

Alexander shrugged.

I saw red. With a growl that would make James proud, I launched myself at Neil—but I never connected. Ian could move surprisingly fast when he wanted to. He caught me around the waist and pulled me back.

Neil laughed. “I didn't even have to give him a command that time.”

“Let me go.” I tried to pry Ian's arm from my waist.

“A physical assault is not your forte,” Ian said, his voice level and calm, as if it took no effort to hold me in place.

I struggled against him a moment longer—more on principle than anything. I knew he was right.

I glared at Neil. “
That's
why you resurrected him.” I waved a hand at Alexander.

“The ghoul master blood gift is incredibly rare. If he were alive, I could use ash alchemy to take it from him, just as Ian made his daughter a soul reaper.” Neil gave Ian a nod. “Unfortunately, Alexander is a lich, so I can't take his gift via ash alchemy. I had to keep him intact.”

“You were using me?” Alexander looked shocked.

Neil laughed. “Why the surprise? You've used every person you've ever met.”

“I don't think he's ever been on the receiving end,” I said.

“Only once.” Alexander's gaze met Ian's, and something passed between them. I had no idea what that was about.

“I fully intend to give you what you want,” Neil said to Alexander. “And I can, with this.” He held up the Stone.

“And what is that?”

“The Philosopher's Stone.” Neil grinned. “Certainly you've heard of it.”

Alexander lifted a brow. He might have been impressed.

“It would be far easier to work
with
you than to force you every step of the way,” Neil said.

I remembered Doug's comment about how hard it would be to control Ian or Alexander, and suspected Neil was sincere.

“What is it
you
want?” Ian asked his brother.

“Life—for both of us.”

“That is not possible.”

Alexander turned to him. “You have seen the grim.” He walked over and took Ian by the shoulders. “You were right all along, Lory. This alchemy you so faithfully pursued has proven to be the answer. It will return us to the mortal world.”

No!
A voice spoke in my mind—in everyone's mind, judging by their expressions.

Suddenly, Elysia appeared beside us, and I realized she had stepped out of the veil. Her golden hair hung loose and a little wild around her shoulders.

“Bart, seize her,” Neil commanded.

The lich sprang forward, moving with a speed that surprised me, and caught Elysia before she could move. He shoved her back against the wall, and she collided with a grunt.

She gripped Bart's arm with one hand, but the other she held fisted at her side. Her eyes flickered white before returning to their natural shade.

“You won't be able to take him,” Neil said. “He's soul bound to a lich king.”

She regarded Neil with a cold stare. “I will not let you return them to life. Either of you.” Her gaze settled on me.

I met her golden-brown eyes, and a chill crawled up my spine. It wasn't Elysia looking out at me. Was she holding another bone?

“You don't say.” Alexander gave her a mocking smile. “And how will you stop us? You, a living necromancer who can't even defeat the hold of a century-old lich.”

Elysia's eyes went white and Bart… crumbled. I could find no other words to describe it. One minute, he stood there silently holding her, and the next, he fell to the floor, a pile of bones and a tattered robe.

“Elysia, no,” Ian breathed.

“That's not Elysia,” I said, watching her walk toward Alexander. It was satisfying to see how quickly he stepped back. “It's that ghost from Music Hall,” I told Ian. “She's a soul reaper, and I'm fairly certain, she knows how to use her magic—or Elysia's.” I held Ian's gaze with my own. “I think it's the girl you took from the asylum.”

“Hell's blood,” Ian whispered.

“This ends today,” Elysia continued, her golden-brown eyes still on Alexander. “You will not ruin any more lives, nor will alchemy.” Her gaze shifted to Neil and then, to me.

“You're going to take
all
of us out?” Neil asked, a smile curling his mouth.

“Yes.”

He slid a vial from a pocket lining his robes. “And how will you manage that.”

“Neil,” Ian said, his tone stern.

Elysia's eyes went white and Neil's eyes widened.

“No!” Ian stepped between her and Neil. “You'll kill her—if you haven't already.” He glanced over at the pile of bones that had been Bart.

“I know—and it saddens me far more than you even have the capacity to feel—but as I said, this ends today.”

“You mean her curse?” I asked. Was that what this was all about? Did this girl feel bad that her blood gift had been used as a weapon that ruined so many lives? “I'm pretty sure I can fix that,” I continued. “You don't need to kill her.”

“No. No more alchemy. It has destroyed far too much.” She took a step toward me. “And you, above all others must be stopped. You give him hope.” She glanced at Ian. “You have inspired him to work on things that should have been left alone centuries ago.”

“We're trying to fix things,” I said.

“There is only one solution.”

“No, really. I can fix this,” I insisted. “Let me try?”

She laughed, the sound nothing like Elysia's spirited laughter. “I have been watching you. You hide acts of falsehood and violence behind the veil of compassion and healing.”

“That's not true,” Ian said.

“You come to her defense so easily, as if she were your daughter.” Her smile was bitter. “Not that anyone would desire to be treated as your daughter.”

Ian frowned, but said nothing to defend himself.

“So this is all about vengeance,” I said. “There is no need to mince words, just say it. You intend to kill us all, Elysia included, to avenge yourself. That does make you far superior to me.”

“I have stood by for nearly two centuries, bound to the earth while my daughters die. No more.”

My breath caught. Had I been wrong? “Your daughters?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ian stiffen.

“Nine generations of soul reapers is enough, don't you think?”

“Mattie,” I whispered.