Gates of Rapture (The Guardians of Ascension) (34 page)

Only then did Casimir smile. “Your forgiveness.”

“Aw fuck.”

Fortunately, Endelle showed up and ended what would no doubt have turned into one of those really awkward moments.

Casimir greeted Endelle but then made his excuses and left.

Leto watched him leave, thinking that he didn’t know what to make of the man. But it was getting harder to stay mad at him when he admitted he should never have gone after Grace, and even apologized for it.

When he turned back to Endelle, he did a double take and he couldn’t help but laugh. For a while, Endelle had actually worn a flight suit and a weapons harness, showing that her warrior side was ready to do battle.

But the other side of her that had fully embraced the spectacle aspect of their plans had clearly taken over. She wore some kind of strange spotted-fur bustier that looked similar to leopard but the spots were too small. Civet cat came to mind. Probably. A large red pendant bounced against her breasts.

She wore black-and-white-striped, and very snug, leather pants.

When she reached him, he said, “Thought you’d given up your fashion sense for the duration.”

Endelle smiled. “Are you kidding? We’ve got a spectacle to put on. This is just the beginning. I have my seamstresses working on a coat with several trains, perfect for flight.” Endelle was leading the review. Unlike Greaves, who had waited ceremoniously in his concrete grandstand, Endelle meant to be the opening act.

For some reason, he found her enthusiasm comforting. Endelle had always taken the war with Greaves in stride, something necessary for a conflict that went on for centuries. Her pleasure in her absurd clothes had no doubt been a tremendous release for her, perhaps even a passionate avocation.

“How’s the army-hunting going?”

“Good. Real good.”

She met his gaze and, for a moment those ancient lined eyes filled with compassion. “Damn, I missed you Leto. You and Marcus had been with me longest, and for decades both of you were AWOL. But now you’re here. And you’re bringing me an army. I’ll bet James’s announcement wrenched your heart.”

“More than you’ll know.” Leto was moved. He would never have believed that his service to Greaves would have taken this turn.

Endelle added, “And you know that if any of the other generals had built the army, this couldn’t have happened.”

“I’ve been thinking about that. I think you’re exactly right. Greaves’s generals are almost as power-hungry as Greaves is. They won’t have treated their Division and Section Leaders well.”

“So, what do you think Greaves’s strategy will be? You probably know him better than anyone.”

“Thorne and I have talked about Greaves a lot. Over the decades, I heard a number of scenarios discussed. However, because I’m in your camp, he’ll probably change things up. One thing I’m convinced he’ll do is attempt to eliminate the hidden colonies, because he has no idea what threat level the colonial militia presents. By now, he’ll have learned that I trained the militia force and he’ll do what he can to neutralize it.”

“How do you think he’ll do it? I mean what’s your take on it?”

“At some point, he’ll attempt to move his death vampire force into place all over Mortal Earth, burn the mossy mist away, and attack all at once. And trust me, I know this because that’s how I would have advised him. He doesn’t do anything without measured thought. That’s why he’s still around.”

“Have you got any idea about how to handle the colony sitch?”

“Every colony has a militia force ready to fight, but you know the odds: one death vampire against four militia warriors. He’s been building his death vampire force for decades, feeding them from his blood slave facilities, so that they are a very powerful force. Our effort must be to keep him from burning away the mist. The death vamps can’t get in otherwise.”

Endelle nodded. “You’re thinking the triad will have to help.”

“Facing Greaves on multiple fronts when the time comes will absolutely require that the triad protect the colonies. And it makes the most sense. Grace is like Alison. Neither is built for straight-on battle. Tell me you know that.”

“Yeah, I do.” She sounded resigned.

Endelle released a deep breath. She rubbed her chest. “Wish I had my weapons harness back on. As hot as that damn thing was it gave me more comfort than I realized.”

He glanced at the oversized red pendant. “What’s that made of?”

She looked down and flipped the pendant up and down with her index finger. “Dead ladybugs. Don’t worry. Kaitlyn, who’s been working with me, is into all that organic shit. She actually went to a ladybug farm and collected some dead ones. Fucking waste of time if you ask me, but, hey, it’s her time. Besides, this pendant rocks.”

*   *   *

Grace stood in the desert beside Thorne, looking at the warriors the triad had been moving from place to place, just to practice the mass-folding skill. Everyone was taking a break. Marguerite had headed to the rehab center to check in on her Seer teams, to make sure they kept blocking every aspect of the spectacle event from Stannett. Fiona sat in a camp chair talking quietly on her phone to one of the blood slaves she’d been counseling for a few months now. The warriors were rehydrating.

For the past several hours, Grace and the triad had been working with her newly acquired mass-folding ability, and she was still astonished. Seriffe had ordered a thousand of his warriors to be at the triad’s disposal for the afternoon, and Endelle had created her own version of the dense mossy mist to sustain the secrecy of their practice here in Apache Junction Two.

In addition, Endelle had set up a second location in North Africa Two, also cloaked beneath a mossy dome of mist. It was to these two separate locations that half a million warriors each would be sent. Right now, Gideon was at the second location, with Brynna reporting in constantly over the success of each practice fold. Everything had gone perfectly, which of course made Grace nervous.

“I wish we could try a larger force, just once.”

Thorne nodded. “I know what you mean. But I can feel the power, Grace. It’s there.”

“I know, but…”

He slipped his arm around her waist. “I’m with you. Let me see what I can do.” He stepped away from her and made a phone call. When he returned to her, he smiled. “Will another five thousand do? Seriffe has them on maneuvers at the desert below Endelle’s palace.”

Grace’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes. Five thousand would be great. Do we dare try the fold from that position?”

“I don’t think a single fold of a large contingent will arouse too many suspicions. Greaves will probably think Endelle was trying out her skills.”

“But I don’t want to bring them here. I think we should send them to North Africa Two.”

“Good idea.”

With the plan set, Thorne made his phone calls in order to ensure that the five thousand were in a solid formation, everyone standing in squads of four and ready for a fold. He then folded straight to the McDowells so that he could mentally share with Grace the location and structure of the five thousand warriors.

Grace sent a quick message to Marguerite via their shared obsidian pathway, then let Fiona know what was going on.

A few minutes later, after Marguerite had returned, Thorne returned to download the location and image to Grace. Once she could see exactly what they would be doing, she placed her hand on Marguerite’s shoulder and Fiona’s.

Thorne moved several feet away. This was the biggest change that had occurred. After working together through the afternoon, the massive obsidian power had settled down and Thorne no longer needed to touch any of the women in order to dissipate the excess power.

This time, as the circle closed and the power began to build, Grace let it flow. She focused on her folding ability and could sense when Fiona was ready to receive her. She slid easily within Fiona, taking possession, and with a single mental effort the massive fold began. Even though the triad was at Apache Junction Two, and the five thousand warriors were in the McDowells, Grace could sense the fold as it happened.

The shared obsidian power grew stronger and stronger, flowing upward toward the dome of mist. Grace could actually see within her mind’s eye as the fold took place, all five thousand warriors being moved to North Africa.

Thorne’s voice spilled over all that power. “Seriffe reported that the fold was successful at the McDowells. Gideon just reported in as well, and the warriors have arrived in perfect formation.”

Grace cheered. Fiona and Marguerite joined in.

“Shall we do the reverse?” Thorne asked.

“Yes,” Grace said.

Both Marguerite and Fiona responded in the affirmative as well, and without a single break in the flow of power, Grace reversed the fold.

Afterward, though Thorne gave his confirmation report from Seriffe, Gideon, and Brynna, Grace already knew the mass fold had been successful. She could feel it.

When she disengaged from Fiona and reentered her body fully, she drew back from both Fiona and Marguerite. “Did you both have a sense of what we’d done? When it happened?”

Marguerite nodded. “Yes. For the last few folds, I could feel it when it happened.”

“This is new,” Thorne said.

Fiona added, “It came on gradually, but Grace is right. I could feel the fold. I could feel the landing in North Africa, then the return fold to the McDowells.”

Thorne smiled. “Shit, that’s the best news of the day.” His head bobbed and he glanced at his watch, then at Marguerite.

She moved quickly in his direction and slid her arm around his waist. “Tell me we’re done for the day. I’m ready to put my feet up. Really ready.”

He kissed the top of her head. “We’re done and it’s now seven thirty. I did promise a couple of warriors I’d get their
brehs
home.”

He started herding them in the direction of the landing platforms. Even though the team had been doing this work outside, Seriffe had a strict policy in place about folding. If you were anywhere at Militia Warrior HQ, inside or out, you had to use the landing platforms.

On the way, Leto was suddenly in her mind.
Coming back to the villa anytime soon? It’s seven thirty-one.

Even though she knew his sudden presence in her mind was the result of the
breh-hedden
—and because of it, much stronger than telepathy—she was startled.
Hey, how about a warning. You weren’t there, then suddenly you were practically shouting inside my head.

Sorry. It’s just … well, I’m at the villa.
Did she hear a low growl again? How could he do a growl telepathically? But it made her smile.

She realized she’d been blocking his physical sensations, so she lowered her shields. Too fast, apparently, because she was overwhelmed by the feel of his bare feet on the wood floor of the villa, the muscles of his legs tight and tense, his body in partial arousal, his arms flexing and unflexing.

She even stumbled. Thorne caught her arm. “You okay?”

She looked up at him and felt a blush on her cheek. “Yes, of course,” she said quickly.

But he looked concerned so she added, “I’m getting used to the
breh-hedden
’s quick form of communication. Leto suddenly jumped inside my head, and he surprised me.”

Thorne smiled and let go of her arm. “I know. It can be jarring when you’re not used to it.”

“You can say that again.”
Jarred
was the least of what she felt.

To Leto, she sent,
Heading to the landing platforms now, but this is a long walk.

Can’t wait.

Because she felt him shudder, she blocked him once more so she could finally breathe. But she walked faster.

He spoke the vows that moved my heart,

I turned and opened my robe.

He split the continents wide once more,

And took the spoils he had won.

—Grace of Albion, “The Convent Years,” from
Collected Poems,
Beatrice of Fourth

CHAPTER 14

Greaves arrived at the Illinois Two Seers Fortress, and, yes, the situation with Stannett seemed to be well in hand, at least for the present. The redheaded Militia Warrior clearly hadn’t spared her whip. Stannett had only his leathers on, and his upper torso was still cut up if not bleeding. But at least Stannett looked sobered.

Still, Greaves really needed to impress on his servant the critical nature of the hour that fast approached. He backhanded him and sent him flying across the room so that he landed hard against one of the black marble walls. Stannett crumpled to the floor.

Greaves strode to his position and looked down at him. “Do I need to explain to you what has happened while you were squirting all over yourself today?”

Stannett tried to blink, but he listed sideways. His eyes showed a lot of white.

“Do you wish for my assistance, master?” The female Militia Warrior’s voice soothed him.

“No, I thank you. And again, I value how much you were able to contribute in so short a span of time.”

He reached down to Stannett and placed a hand on the man’s thick hair. He shuddered slightly at the strange stiff texture. Despite his fury, he allowed the healing waves to flow. He needed Stannett’s brain functioning so that he could get back in the future streams and do his job.

In quick stages, Stannett pulled himself upright and began to focus his eyes. When he looked up at Greaves and flinched, Greaves removed his hand and stepped back.

He folded a document into his hand and waved it at Stannett. “Do you see this paper?”

Stannett nodded.

“Good. I’m going to show it to you, and I want you to absorb what you see.” He lowered the sheet to Stannett’s eyes. It was a printout of the obsidian triad photo, all three women in full-mount, displaying the unique flame pattern of their wings.

The Seer scanned it thoroughly. A frown between his brows grew deeper and heavier with each passing second.

“Over the past few hours, have you seen anything about this in the future streams?”