Hathor Legacy: Burn (30 page)

Nadira waited until Jon was up the stairs and out of sight. Above her, the creaking of the old wooden floor sounded out his progress across the landing.  She wasn't going to wait for him to come back. If she had to fight, she needed him and everyone else out of the way.

As she headed out the front door, a feeling of resignation se
ttled over her. Confronting Dakar could end with her being detained with the rest of the Elders. Or it could end in her destruction if he overpowered her.

The transport that had brought them here was still waiting at the curb. What would Jon say when he saw she was missing? Knowing him, he'd be pissed, then he'd come after her with Dias in tow.

She only hoped that when they got there, it wouldn't be too late.

37
Betrayal

Twenty minutes later her transport pulled out of the traffic lanes half a block from Dakar's home. From here she could see what was going on before she went inside.

A transport was parked in front of his home. He had a visitor. Or maybe a lot of them. No way to tell. Was it worth it to risk going in there on her own? It was better than waiting for Captain Dias and the others.

Dakar's front door opened and someone rushed down the stone-covered path. The door of the parked transport slid back. A shaft of light from inside the cabin spilled out onto the street, illuminating a petite woman with bright red hair. She was wearing a grey suit. Talia? She matched Jon's description.

After a moment, the vehicle headed out into the traffic lanes. Nadira waited until it was out of sight before she got out, making sure to scan the street around her. Taking long strides, she approached Dakar's house. Light glowed from the downstairs window. She felt there was more than one person inside, but the other energy was weaker.

Off in the distance a night bird cawed, then she heard rustling of small animals in the shrubbery that bordered the house. Nothing to be afraid of, right? It was a cool night. That had to be why she was shivering.

Taking it one step at a time, she headed up the stairs and pressed the fingerpad.

The door opened, and she came face-to-face with Mikal. His eyebrows shot up in surprise when he saw her. "What are you d
oing here, Nadira? I was expecting someone else."

She forced the door open and brushed past him. The lamp by the couch cast a small circle of light, leaving most of the room in darkness.

"The Elder is very ill." Mikal closed the door. "Where are you coming from? I smell smoke."

"There was another fire. It was put out before it could do any damage." Nadira leaned against the front door, her hands behind her back. "Ron Duvol was killed. We found him there."

"We? You were there tonight?"

"Yes. Karin Luke called security to report the fire, and Captain Dias called me. And I'm here to tell Dakar that I know what he's done."

Mikal stiffened. "What do you think he's done?"

"Set up the other Elders to take the blame for the things he did with Ron Duvol." She glanced at the stairs. In the half-light, she could only see part of the way up. "Is Dakar up there? I want to see him."

Mikal followed her gaze. When he turned back to her, there was a half-smile on his face. "I have the answers you're looking for, Nadira. The Elder is not well enough to talk to you or anyone else." Mikal strolled over to the couch and sat down.

"I don't need your permission to talk to him."

"True, but I want you to understand what happened...and what must happen next." Mikal gestured towards the chair opposite him.

"No."

"I feel your fear." Mikal smiled. "There's no need for it. I won't do anything that you won't want me to." He patted the couch.

"I'm not afraid. I'm just cautious."

"Nadira, you have to know by now that I always get what I want."

"I want to talk to Dakar." Pressed against the door, she felt safe for the moment. But she knew she couldn't stay here. She'd have to make a move sooner or later.

"All right. We'll play it your way for now." He reached over and pulled on one of the red and gold flowers overflowing the vase next to the lamp. "Years ago after the Corporate Wars, Dakar's father used his alliance with Novacorp to crush everyone who went against him. If they protested, they were imprisoned or stripped of their power and possessions. My family lost everything and the company rewarded him for it."

"What has that to do with the fires?"

"Everything, Nadira," Mikal replied. "I was reduced to doing whatever I could so that my family could retain some property and status." He chuckled. "I did what I had to do, and owning a Service House was the quickest way to achieve it."

"The company owns them."

"Not when they're unregistered." Mikal continued pulling on the flower petals. "I needed credits and the Deshtu needed work. But Ron found out and he forced a partnership between us. He wanted me to bring in more people, or he'd reveal what I was doing," Mikal's voice grew softer. "My family had to be protected."

"Guardians are forbidden to do what you did," Nadira said.

"Yes, I know. We're not supposed to do anything other than fill the role Joachim created for us. So I had to be careful. Two of my associates went out to gather up Deshtu. Fools who thought they had enough power to be Guardians. But after a while, Ron wanted more and more of them," Mikal said. "He went on his own and brought in people who should've been trained as Guardians. When I found out, I knew it was a matter of time before we were all discovered. He was reckless and stupid."

"But how? How would you know where to get them?"

"That was the easiest part. Dakar is at the center of all decisions. Usually families or others will inform the local District Managers when someone shows abilities. They report in to Dakar. When they live in areas outside of the city center, they're more likely to trust someone who shows up and says all the right things."

Something about his calmness made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Reading him was a waste of effort. His thoughts were shut off from her. "But when Ron got them on his own, how did he know where to go? He didn't figure that out on his own."

"Of course he didn't. That DM-- that Denza Lezcov bitch. He paid her to funnel people to him. I'm sure she sent some Guardian trainees as well. And I knew sooner or later, someone would realize what was happening."

"You set the fires?" Nadira could barely get the words out.

"Not the first one," Mikal yanked the flower and watched as red and gold petals fell into his hand. "That was Ron. He panicked when I confronted him. But I did the second. It was time to cut our losses."

She heard the rumble of a transport passing by the house. By the sound, it was a large one, maybe even a security vehicle. Was it Captain Dias and Jon? If she could keep him talking, she could buy some time.

"People died, Mikal."

"Do you know how many people were killed during the Corp
orate Wars? They were innocent people, too." He threw the flower petals on the floor and wiped his hands. "You were almost killed at the warehouse because of Ron and the fools he hired. I sent security there because I knew he'd be there. But that plan fell apart just like everything else. You showed up."

Nadira's legs trembled as memories of that day flashed into her mind. She'd never be able to rid herself of the smells of burning flesh and the sounds of their cries for help. Swallowing, she i
nclined her head slightly, straining to hear if anyone was outside.

"You weren't supposed to be there, and the officers weren't supposed to be killed. I wanted Ron picked up with the people and the contraband he kept in that warehouse. He had to be found with the proof of his guilt. Otherwise his family connections would've protected him."

"Why not just report him to security?"

"Because I was no better. I had to lower myself to his level. Do you think I would be spared punishment because I'm a Guardian?" Mikal asked. "Besides, when I became the Elder's assistant, I no longer needed to deal with people like Ron. I had what I needed."

She glanced at the stairway. "You and Dakar worked together."

Mikal shook his head. "Nadira, haven't you realized it by now? I'm avenging my family and everyone who was punished when Dakar's father took over. Work with him? Dakar has been under my control for weeks. It surprises me how easy it was to gain his trust. He may be powerful, but he's also very weak. Just like his father, Joachim the murderer."

"Is Dakar still alive?" she asked.

"He is for now. But when he's gone, I'll be able to take up his responsibilities. It's not like I haven't been running things."

"You think the Guardians will let you take over?"

"Do they have a choice? When the Elders are gone, someone will have to take charge," Mikal replied. "I'm sure the company will have no problem with it. As long as things go on as they have been, they could care less what happens."

"This has all been about power." Looking back now, she could see it. From their meeting at the Gathering to everything in between.

"You know, that is true." Mikal stood up and smoothed out his jacket. "I would do anything to restore my family's position. Just like you'd do anything to restore your mother and father."

"That won't work on me now. You like preying on the vulnerable, don't you?"

"You're like me, Nadira. You have power and you enjoy using it." Mikal approached her, taking deliberate steps. "Don't fight it anymore."

"You don't know me," she said, sidestepping him as he reached for her.

"I know that you wasted yourself on Keel. Why did you bring him back, to be your pet? They can't be anything more to us, you know. He could never be your equal."

He came to the door but she moved away before he could reach her. Not daring to turn her back to him, she positioned herself with her back to the stairway. The only way out now would be out the back door, or up the stairs.

"I don't want to force you, Nadira. We want the same things."

She laughed. "You don't want love. You want control."

"Love? That's optional, Nadira." He took a step forward. "Haven't you thought of what we could do together? We could run all of it. The Guardians, and eventually, Hathor. It's possible, you know."

"You're already running the Guardians through Dakar." She took a step back.

"I know." He stepped forward. "But I've thought a lot about b
eing with you. Touching you again, like I did at the medi-evac."

"Shut up!" He was trying to get her to react and lose her focus. If she let fear or anger in, he'd have his chance. "I told you that would never happen again."

"Are you sure? I know you wanted more." He moved forward. "In fact, that's why you came here tonight. You want me, but you want to play these games."

She didn't know whether to laugh or blast him. Blasting would give her more satisfaction, but she'd be open to a rebound of e
nergy. At this point Mikal had most of Dakar's power as well as his own. Fighting him would take all her resolve.

"We're equally matched now," he said. "Neither of us is weaker. You can't undermine me like you did before. I suggest you surrender now."

This time she did laugh. "To you? No, Mikal. This has to end tonight. If you want anything from me, you'll have to take it."

His eyes narrowed. "If I do that, it won't be pleasant."

"For who?" She wanted to chuckle, but she knew that if she did, it would be the spark to set it all off. And she wasn't quite ready yet.

She stepped back again, closer to the stairway. There was a chance, if Dakar was still alive, to try to break Mikal's hold.

Mikal's hands balled into fists. "You don't know who you're dealing with."

No more sounds from outside. If security was here, they'd have stormed the house by now. She was on her own. Across from her, Mikal's energy was churning, like a vat of hot metal, bubbling and ready to explode. The more she pushed back, the more it churned. Everything in him was building up to come for her. To possess her and take everything she had.

"You belong to me. I've played this game long enough." He rushed towards her.

Acting purely on reflex, she sent out a blast that knocked him back on his heels. She ran to the stairs and was halfway up before she heard his feet bounding up behind her.

At the top of the landing she saw an open door. When she ran in, she saw Dakar reclined on the bed, his eyes closed. His face was sunken, and he looked physically smaller and frailer.

His body shuddered as though he was fighting for breath. The Elder opened his eyes and searched her face. "Nadira?"

"Dakar?" She reached over to touch him, but as she did, a force pushed her back and she hit the wall.

Mikal was standing in the doorway. "I would've preferred not to have to do this right here, but perhaps it's better this way." His eyes burned into her. "Dakar can watch."

She tried to move, but her body didn't obey her. It felt like she was stuck to the wall.

Mikal closed the distance between them. "I told you, we're equally matched. But you didn't believe me. You're so used to overcoming everyone else. You've never had to go to the edge of your ability."

His breath was hot against her cheek. Why couldn't she move? He was forcing his way into her consciousness. Battering her internal protections from all sides. Summoning all her strength, she shored up her emotional shields. She couldn't attack him as long as she was forced to defend herself.

"You were only able to control Dakar because the weak can undermine the strong," she gasped, straining to protect herself.

He gripped her throat, his thumb wedged under her chin. "Stop fighting me, Nadira. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

"Leave me alone!" She managed to bring down her internal shields and force him back. But he pushed through again.