Legend of the Sorcerer (36 page)

He nodded.

“Prove it. Then I will show you the bliss that will be our future.” She ran her hand down the length of his torso. She smiled up at him and curled her fingers around him. He felt nothing but revulsion. So, it came as a rather horrifying shock when her fingers vibrated lightly and he stirred beneath her touch.

Fear stirred within him, too. Just what in the hell had he let himself in for? That she had done … whatever the hell she’d just done, terrified him like no threat of torture could have.

“Open the trunk.”

He was out of his league. He no longer knew what in the hell she truly was, but he knew that he didn’t have what it took to beat her at her own game.

Open the trunk. Use the one weapon you have. Aim it at her heart
.

Maybe he’d known from the beginning it would all come down to this.

It would all be decided on his ability to trust, to have faith. In Alfred. In Jordy. In what he could not understand.

In himself.

He moved back from her and shifted the trunk to face him. He wrapped his hand around the amulet. Now he purposely blocked Margaron from his mind. He thought of Jordy, of the many ways she challenged him. He thought of Alfred, and the many ways he challenged him still.

He didn’t have to understand. He only had to believe.

He said the words, quietly, under his breath. The amulet glowed, the light seeped once again from between his clenched fingers. The amulet released.

He closed his eyes for a moment as he rested his hand on the lid. It will be there. As it would have been for my father, as it has been for Alfred, and all the L’Baan men before him.

The trunk grew heavier. He opened his eyes, and lifted the lid.

Nestled in the deep folds of blue velvet rested a black pearl. Immense in size, stunning in it’s perfection and lustrous sheen. Cai was awed. Not by it’s beauty, which was doubtlessly unsurpassed.

It existed. The Dark Pearl existed.

He didn’t question it. He acted.

He lifted the Pearl and let the weight of it roll into his palm. It fit perfectly. As he somehow knew it would, should.

Margaron’s sharp inhalation drew him back to his purpose. He looked at her. Her naked beauty would humble most men. He was not most men.

He lifted his hand and aimed the Pearl at her heart.

J
ordy rested her hand on the chamber door. Her head thrummed with pain where Margaron had struck her when she’d tried to run. She hadn’t even seen what hit her. Her wrists and ankles stung and her body ached. Just thinking about that blade over her belly made her want to throw up. She had no idea what help she could be. But she could not leave Cai behind.

Dilys was gone. She’d taken the other two women to the closest medical facility. She’d begged Dilys to call the authorities. She’d agreed, but said, “By the time they arrive, what will be done, will have been done.”

She had no idea what help they’d be anyway. As soon as she’d stepped through the entrance toward where Dilys stood, she was once again in the ruins.

She hadn’t wasted time wondering about that, but demanded that Dilys get her back inside to help Cai. She’d been surprised that Dilys hadn’t argued with her. She’d given Jordy her jacket to cover up in, and said nothing else, as if she’d known all along.

She’d stood behind her and instructed Jordy to simply walk through the entrance, then she’d begun chanting words softly, under her breath. The air had shimmered, and Jordy had stepped back into the gaslit hall.

Now she stood at the chamber door. She could hear no voices through it, so she carefully, slowly opened it.

Her hand flew to her mouth. He’d done it!

Cai held the Dark Pearl.

And a very naked Margaron beckoned to them both.

It was hard to draw her gaze away from the young woman. She seemed to radiate such exquisite perfection, that it was difficult not to simply stand there and reflect upon it. But the Dark Pearl surpassed even her beauty and drew Jordy into the room as if in a thrall.

“Let me hold it,” Margaron commanded. “We will both hold it as you enter me. To ensure the passing of the right seed.” She stepped forward.

Frowning, Cai continued to aim the Pearl at her.

“Come to me, Malacai. The time we have waited for is here. Now.” She strode forward, hand outstretched.

Still frowning, Cai looked from the Dark Pearl to Margaron, seemingly transfixed. He shook his arm, his expression fierce, and yet nothing happened.

When Margaron was less than a step away, Jordy spoke.

“It’s not your time, Margaron,” Jordy said loudly. “Your time will never come.”

Cai jerked his gaze to her. “Get out of here, Jordy. This isn’t about you.”

Margaron hadn’t flinched in surprise, nor had she taken her eyes off the prize.

“This
is
about me.” Jordy ran to him, stumbling on shaky legs. “This is about us.”

Margaron made a grab for the Pearl, but Jordy leaped between them, knocking Cai’s arm aside. He held on to the Pearl, but Margaron managed to grab Jordy’s arms and throw her to the floor. She hit it far harder than seemed possible. Her head rang and pain sang up her arms as she broke the fall with her hands. Scraped and bruised, she didn’t stay down, but rolled to her feet.

“You can do this, Cai,” she said.

He didn’t answer, and he didn’t move. His expression was pure concentration and he held the Pearl as if his life depended on it. It very well might, she thought, gauging the dark look in Margaron’s eyes.

“You won’t win, Margaron. Not Cai, not the Pearl.”

Margaron didn’t take her eyes off the Pearl, but swung her arm wide and pointed at Jordy, who knew enough to duck.

Jordy came up behind Cai, using him as a shield, knowing Margaron wouldn’t risk hurting him.

“Do it,” she whispered to him.

“I can’t,” he said.

“Maybe not alone.” She slipped beneath his arm. “But we can.” Just as Margaron came at them, she reached out and placed her hand over the Pearl.

“NO!” Margaron’s scream echoed through the chamber.

“Yes!” Cai’s and Jordy’s voices rang out in unison. Hands joined on the Pearl, they lifted it, but looked at each other. “Yes.”

Margaron leaped at them, but as they repeated the vow, her body jerked hard and continued to spasm as she fell to the floor. She screamed in agony. “This will not be the end, Malacai,” she growled. She managed to lift her head, her smile was pure evil joy, even as her body continued to writhe in unimaginable pain. “It won’t end with me.”

Her threat was blood chilling and Jordy began to falter. Cai locked his gaze on hers, willing her to go on. To finish this once and for all. The Pearl grew hot in their hands, but they held on. Both their arms shook with the strain.

The room fell suddenly silent.

And just as suddenly, they were standing amongst the ruins once again, as if the chamber never existed. Cold wind whistled through the winter air. Margaron lay, still and naked, at their feet.

They both shuddered not only from the cold, but also from the shock of what had just transpired. The Pearl cooled and Jordy finally released it. Cai’s arm dropped to his side. He placed the Pearl in the trunk, then pulled her into his arms and held on as tightly as he had held on to the Pearl.

“Is she … dead?”

Cai went to bend down, but Jordy pulled him back. “It might be a trick of some kind.”

“I have to know.” He knelt and placed his fingers along the side of her neck. He looked up at Jordy and nodded. He pulled at the dress that was pooled beneath her legs and tossed the edges over her, covering most of her torso and head.

Jordy’s heart clutched. “Dear God, what have we done?”

Cai stood and shook her arms. “You know we did the only thing we could. She wouldn’t have let you walk out of here twice. Remember what she did to those women.”

“But how did she die? What exactly just happened?”

Cai shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m not sure we’ll ever know. But I know it was right.”

Jordy turned her face toward his chest. “Dilys took the two women to the closest medical facility. I don’t imagine that’s anywhere close to here, but she promised to call the authorities and send them out here.” Jordy buried her head against him. “Thank God you’re okay.”

He lifted her chin. “Are you okay? Did she— Did she do anything to you, Jordy?”

She shook her head, tears clinging to her lashes. “No. I’m okay. I’m okay.”

Cai walked several yards away and put the trunk on a rock, then pulled her tightly to him with both arms.

“The Pearl—”

“Has done it’s job. I thought I was going to lose it completely when you came back, Jordy.”

“I had to, Cai. I promised Alfred I wouldn’t fail you. I couldn’t leave you to do this alone.”

Just then two cars rounded the bend and came to an abrupt stop. Three men emerged, guns drawn.

Cai pulled Jordy behind him and raised his arms. “Don’t shoot, we’re unarmed.”

The men pulled back, but kept their weapons out. “Are you L’Baan?”

Cai nodded.

The men lowered their guns. One stepped forward. “I’m Special Officer Davies. We’re with a task force, adjunct to CID. We’re working with an Agent Kuhn over in the States.” He knelt and checked out Margaron, giving a quick shake of his head to the other two officers. “Is this the kidnapper?”

Cai nodded.

“What happened?”

“She took Jordy this morning, while she was out walking. I … I was able to follow her here.”

“You’re saying she had the victims here?”

He nodded. Jordy shivered under his arm. “Listen, it’s cold and she’s had a rough time. I’d like to have her checked out.”

“We’ll take care of all that, but we’d appreciate a few more answers.” He tipped his head to Jordy. “With your understanding, ma’am.”

Jordy nodded shakily. “She said she was Isolde Morgan’s granddaughter. That’s why she came here. It’s family property. She had the other two women with her. Have you talked to them?”

Cai caught her gaze and squeezed her. Neither of them was going to tell tales of shimmering air and medieval torture chambers, but they couldn’t control what the other two women said.

“We have men with them right now. I only know what I
got over phone, but one of them is in pretty bad shape. Hasn’t regained consciousness.”

Jordy shuddered at the news. Cai was right. It would only have got worse.

“The other seems pretty confused,” Davies went on. “She hasn’t been able to give a clear account.”

The officer checking out Margaron spoke. “No gunshots, no apparent blunt force trauma.”

“How did she die?” Davies asked. “And can you explain how she came to end up like this?” He was obviously referring to her state of undress.

Jordy spoke up. “Dilys had come with Cai. She took the other two women down to the medical facility when Cai got her to release us. He traded himself for us. She was delusional and thought Cai was a character from one of his books. When Cai told her they could never be together, that he and I were lovers, she stripped off her clothes, trying to seduce him. Then, she had some sort of seizure and collapsed. You got here minutes after it happened.”

Davies looked to the other officer, who nodded. “She’s still warm. No rigor.”

Just then another car pulled up. Dilys climbed out and ran toward them as quickly as the rocky ground would allow. She hugged a surprised Cai first, then Jordy. “So, it’s done.” She’d spoken so only they could hear her.

“How are the other women?” Jordy asked her.

“They’re being seen to,” she said. “It doesn’t look good for the one, but the other will do okay. She won’t remember much.”

Cai shot Dilys a hard look, but all he said was, “Have you been to the house? Margaron said she’d burned it.”

“The house is fine.” Her smile was smug. “It’s well protected, even in Alfred’s absence.”

Davies stepped in and motioned Cai and Jordy away
from the body. Dilys moved a few feet, but remained closer to the other officers, watching their activity.

“We’ll need to question you more thoroughly once we’ve had you checked out,” Davies said, escorting them to the car. “She said she was related to Isolde Morgan?” When they nodded, he shook his head. “She had a connection to your grandfather, didn’t she?”

Cai nodded. “She was a critic that reviewed his work.”

“Odd that they both died on the same day.” He tipped his hat to Cai. “My condolences.”

“Thank you. This whole thing took a toll on my grandfather. Perhaps it did on Ms. Morgan as well.”

“True. If this one really was her granddaughter, then I imagine the strain of dealing with one such as her might have been enough to put her over.” He opened the car door. “Here we go.”

As Davies walked to the other side of the car to talk to the other officer who had come with Dilys, Jordy tugged on Cai’s coat sleeve. “What about the trunk?”

Cai jerked his head around. The trunk was no longer on the rock where he’d placed it. “Get in. I’ll be right back.”

“No. I’m not leaving your side.”

Davies looked up as they moved away from the car.

“I’m just getting Dilys. Is it okay for her to come in with us?”