Page 101 of Rose and Shadows
“The lava blocks… scenting. Even from… the best. And as for magic… blocked by your daddy.”
“Morien is aware of the army?” I asked, stepping forward.
“Yes. But… not where. Gave me his… magic to… ward and protect. But if he wants to… seek it out… he could.”
I eyed Remnant and he shook his head. “He speaks the truth. There is no hint of a lie.”
“What aboutGenexis? Where is that disgusting extermination facility? Where is the entrance point to the pocket dimension?” I pushed.
A sinister smile spread over his face, somehow in spite of the agony, as he held my gaze. “Glasswake Settlement.”
I jolted, my magic flaming unstably.
No.
It was just the sudden and unexpected mention of the place. Nothing more. It couldn’t impact me in the severe way it used to. I’d been dealing with it, seeing to the guilt and regret, the grief. I wasn’t… raw to it like I used to be. I’d seen to that.
I snuffed my power out and cocked my hip, regarding Victor steadily.
He went on, “Perfect place… under the radar. After it was forsaken, abandoned… considered tainted ground. Because of you… the massacre you… perpetrated.”
“The massacre Corvin Morvain engineered,” Remnant corrected him.
“Not how it feels, is it?” Victor asked, grinning at me, between gasping and convulsing.
“Wrong,” I ground out. “You’re the only one being tortured here. The only one who is powerless, a powerlessness that you’ve brought upon yourself with your vile actions.”
As Victor went to utter another ruthless retort, Remnant intercepted with a burst of speed forward, snagging Victor’s jaw with one hand, then shoving his hand against his forehead with the other.
“Ah!” Victor cried, trying to jerk away, but failing in his weakened state,andthe mental hold Remnant had clearly just activated. He was reaching into his mind using their sire link.
Victor’s eyes flickered wildly for several moments, before Remnant abruptly released him, and the nightmare collapsed in a heap shuddering and whimpering.
Remnant came to me, informing me with absolute certainty shining forth, “The entrance truly is currently at Glasswake. If any high-ranking members are compromised, however, there is a schedule in place that marks the move to another location. I was able to pull it from his mind. Although Victor has been removed as aPuritasmember, they have still not moved the entrance from Glasswake, likely because they believe Morien can protect it should Victor lash out and attempt to destroy the facility. They don’t know Morien is playing both sides. Victor’s death will be felt. He is an Ancient with much power, much blood on his hands. That will not go unnoticed by those attuned to influence and power. It could pushPuritasto not only move the entry point, but to also revise their schedule.”
“And we wouldn’t know where the hell they move it to next. Back to square one.”
“I’ll mobilize The Shadowed. They will take Victor’s army. You meet with Ryker Morgan, give him the coordinates toGenexisand allow the Guardian Movement to see to that.Andbroker the deal he wishes to make with us both.”
“Yeah? You’re on board with his proposal that I showed you?”
“It’s the way it needs to be.”
“For now?”
His lips quirked. “We shall see. For now, at least, it will provide both you and I with what we want, what those we love need from us also.”
“All right, yeah. We’re in agreement.”
He nodded. “Very good.”
And then I saw him tense.
In the next moment, he was holding his hand out expectantly. “If you will.”
I knew well what he was asking for, and I conjured forth the stake imbued with holy water and magically-infused sunlight, that which had the means to take the life of an Ancient.
Just as he clasped it, I heard scuffling behind him, where his body was blocking my view of Victor.
