Invisible Dawn Page 14

  The operative hesitated and would have shied away, had he not been singled out. “Samson, sir.”

  Leodenin suppressed the coals burning inside and attempted to sound more personable, almost conversational. “Okay, Samson, where’s this portal?” A puzzled look appeared on the young man’s face, but he led the shifter to chimney.

  Maybe Marlin was right, a little kindness will go far … at times, thought Leodenin, although he would never say as much aloud.

  “It isn’t there now but it was, I swear,” admitted the young operative, an edge of panic underlying his words.

  To Leodenin, the scarred reality stood out in stark contrast to the fading light. “I believe you. Now, go see to your comrade.”

  Once he was out from under the father’s gaze, Samson allowed an audible sigh of relief.

  Good, thought Leodenin. They still fear me.

  Leodenin knelt next to the scar and traced it with a magic finger. Each line hid just beneath the surface. Separate stripes attempted to rise at his touch, allowing him a brief sense of the world it led to. He thumbed through the alternate realities, his fingers working as though searching files in a cabinet. Each one, while different from the last, failed to give him the familiar sense he knew to be Madelin’s.

  The tall man lowered himself to one knee and peered closer at the planar webs. His lengthy bangs fell into his face, but he did not notice. His fingers delved further into the depths, leaving behind all worlds with any semblance to this reality. Seconds passed like days before his forefinger caressed a blood-red string hidden amongst the others.

  Astonishing, how did she go so far?

  The distinct touch and smell of Madelin clouded his senses and pushed the question aside. Again, there was something dark in its touch, a lingering taint from Madelin’s rift. The first time he suspected it was specific to the plane, a remnant separate from the shifter, but this was not coincidence. Running his thumb and forefinger along the scarred tissue, the muted red filament rose to his touch, enhancing the taint reminiscent of Madelin.

  This had to be part of her ability, but it’s so peculiar. How could an innocent girl have such a presence, and what does it mean? Her essence feels stronger, more developed than before. She’s learning fast, but how? He added yet another question to his broadening list as the sound of sirens grew in the distance.

  Without removing his eyes from the pulsating string, he shouted, “Marlin. Get over here.”

  Minutes passed before the commander trudged around the chimney. “What is it, Leo?”

  The stooped man forced down his annoyance, then asked, “Are we ready to go?”

  “Well, from the sound of things, we better be. More importantly, are you?”

  “Yeah, she chose a very different one, so be ready for some surprises.”

  “Great, that’s just what we needed. More surprises.” Marlin barked with a sadistic laugh. “Line up. We’re leaving.” Within seconds the remaining operatives were organized behind him, including a half-dressed Frank.

  One thing I have to give the old man, thought Leodenin, his guys respond at a moment’s notice. Not once have I heard a complaint from them, at least none about their commander. There’ve been a few regarding me, but that’s nothing. What does it matter what a few stiffs say anyway? So long as they do their job, that’s enough for me. Machiavelli once said, ‘It is far safer to be feared than loved.’

  He returned his attention to the bricks and searched for his diamond blessed steed. It did not take long for the stallion to appear. The horse sensed his impatience, bounded up to the edge, and leapt out onto the wall. Leodenin traced the scar, highlighting the chosen thread as it pulsed under his finger. The miniature animal followed his directions without fail. It ran along the indicated path, its hooves slicing through the scar before retreating into the depths of the wall.

  Leodenin stepped back to gaze through the hazy partition. A forest stood beyond the window. He nodded to the rift and lifted one side. This time, the men did not hesitate. After each had passed through, Leodenin lifted the tail of his duster and followed, leaving the authorities to deal with the bodies below.

  The sudden sensation of water filtering into his boot was a revelation. His injured leg was still numb, but the other spoke volumes about the differences between worlds. He knew it would be unlike his world, but he had not expected this. Turning around, he sealed the rift and watched the scar form over the opening. Then, he looked to his surroundings. Each man appeared as ghosts of different shades depending on where they faced. And not one, but three moons stood tall in the night sky. One was an all too familiar yellow, while the others were new.

  The first was blood red and matched the cord that led him here. The other stood tall but shadowed and cast a mottled blue hue upon the world. The three moon’s rays intermingled across the waters. A rainbow of cascading colors rippled across silent waves. Even the insects shone under the moonlight, shifting colors with each turn they made.

  This is more than I expected. The foliage looks the same, but it’s hard to believe that once this world and mine were one. What happened to change it? Marlin’s voice brought him back to reality?

  “Dammit!” the older operative muttered, smacking the device in his hand. The screen flared back to life, but refused to acknowledge Madelin’s signal. He slapped it again. “Son of an illegitimate whore,” he swore, as though the mother’s legitimacy mattered. This process repeated itself before Marlin realized he had an audience.

  Marlin froze and Leodenin guffawed, as did most of the men. Those not caught up in the scene were new recruits, Samson and another man with a youthful complexion. They stared at the others, uncertain how to react.

  Marlin slipped the mobile tracking unit into his pocket and wiped his sweaty palms on his jacket. “It isn’t funny Leo. This damn thing’s broken. It can’t pick up on that girl of yours at all.”

  “It’s okay,” Leodenin replied, attempting to subdue his own laughter. “I can find her.” The words came out self-assured, as though he knew something no one else did. After a few minutes, the laughter was reduced to sporadic chuckles and Leodenin assumed his businesslike temperament.

  Two auras drifted through the forest ahead. One, a vibrant green, somehow reminded him of Madelin, while the other, a muted gray, remained unidentified. Maybe this world has some unforeseen advantages, thought Leodenin with a smile. He pointed at her aura and led the march through the six-inch-high water.

  “There, she’s that way.”

  Seeing nothing but dim forest and swaying shadows, Marlin quirked an eye and cracked his lips, but thought better of questioning the father in front of the men. Leodenin did not wait. Marlin motioned the men to follow and joined the shifter as he high stepped through the muck.

  “How do you know,” he murmured. “You didn’t even check the area.”

  “I just know. A quirk of this world is that I can see her, even at this distance.”

  Marlin sloshed through the murky swamp with skepticism creasing his face, but it hid in the varied lights of the moons. The PASTOR operatives followed Leodenin through the night.

  A couple of hours into the trip, the father muttered, “She’s noticed us. They picked up the pace and are veering off.”

  “How the hell can she see us?” Marlin hissed.

  “I told you. I see her, so I’m sure she sees me, too.”

  Leodenin could tell the commander wished to say something more, but Marlin kept his opinion to himself. The silence of the swamp was only disturbed by their footfalls and the night life fluttering around them. The shifter quickened his pace and the others matched it. If they moved fast enough, they could intercept the fugitives.

  The marshy terrain sloshed around them and threatened to consume their boots with each step, but the men plodded on. Startled insects leapt away as they jogged past. Each hour they altered course, veering with their prey. The long haired father’s thighs burned with the grueling pace, but he tried not to show it. None of
the agents were visibly fatigued, so Leodenin gritted his teeth. Somehow, they were gaining on the two runners, even through the torrential rainstorm that sprung up in the night. The men were astounded by the multicolored droplets illuminated in the moonbeams, and the bone shattering thunder that accompanied the deluge.

  It’s a test of wills, thought Leodenin, reveling at the challenge. Gusting wind and sheets of rain enveloped him. A dense fog rose from the waters.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 14: Forming a Partnership

  The alley looked just like it had in Jedd’s dream and the scar glinted in the sedan’s headlights.

  Roger’s lilting Cajun broke the silence. “What are we doin' here?”

  Jedd nodded down the alley. “Can you see the reflection, over on the wall?”

  Roger squinted where Jedd indicated, but nothing appeared out of place. “You mean the trash cans?”

  “No, not the cans,” Jedd spat. He opened the door and stepped into the arid night. “Come with me.”

  Before Roger could act, Jedd strode into the headlights and toward the far wall. Roger hesitated, but his curiosity got the best of him.

  “What do you see?” he shouted, unsure if this was the product of a disturbed mind. “I don’t see it.”

  Jedd squatted in front of the foot-high scar in the wall and admired it from end to end. In his dream, the rip had healed six inches on either end, but it had progressed further over the last couple hours. While the web of lines shone deep blue in the headlights, the seam of the tear had two edges. Each one was imbued with a different color: one deep purple, while the other shimmered emerald.

  One must be Father Leodenin’s and the other Madelin’s, he thought. It’s kind of like a fingerprint.

  The discovery surprised him. He could tell they had both accessed the same world; the same string lay beneath both seams. He poked the blurred scar. The surface was slick as ice but colder, and froze his finger at a touch. He jumped back and examined the wound.

  Roger approached from behind and leaned over his shoulder. The end of Jedd’s longest finger was black, as though dead. “What the hell? How did that happen, you barely touched the damned wall?” asked the Cajun, his accent thickening. Unconsciously, he took a few steps back.

  Jedd could not take his eyes from the blackened skin, but was amazed when the splotch began to shrink. In seconds only a speck anointed his finger. Jedd waited for the last bit to disappear, but it never did.

  It happened so fast. As soon as I pulled my hand from the scar, the pain vanished.

  He rubbed a thumb over the spot and noted the absence of sensation. Jedd glanced at Roger and muttered, “Roj, look here.”

  He held up the finger and Roger’s brow furrowed. “I could have sworn that thing was a hell of a lot bigger a minute ago.”

  “It was. It healed to almost nothing.”

  The hair on Roger’s arms stood up. “What the hell caused that?”

  “This’s all that’s left when someone shifts, like I told you before.” Jedd pointed at the wall. “See, it’s healing as we speak. There’s hardly anything left, but I think we can get through if I open it back up.”

  “What do you mean, ‘we’? How do you know it won’t kill you or shrivel your damn head, just like your finger?” The words came out rushed and unfiltered. “Besides, I can’t see it, so even if it does work, how in the hell am I supposed to get through?”

  Good question, thought Jedd. But maybe if I open it, you’ll see it, too. He had to try. If he waited too long, Madelin would be lost.

  “We don’t have time to test different theories. It’s closing and given another hour or so, it’ll be sealed.” Jedd tried to discern where the healed scar was, but it was as though it never existed. “I can’t even see the parts that have permanently sealed. Stand back, Roger,” Jedd ordered, summoning his courage.

  Roger walked back to the car and watched with skepticism. Jedd reared back with the same hand and thrust the edge of his flattened fingers through the scar like a samurai sword. The front half of his hand disappeared into the wall. A banshee’s wail resounded through the alleyway in a voice that was and was not Jedd’s.

  Roger watched as time slowed, leaving Jedd exposed like a snapshot. The scene violated the laws of science. Jedd’s hand was somehow half inserted in the brick wall.

  Bright light flooded the night around his fingertips, illuminating his anguished face. His lips drew back, teeth clenched, in a cruel guttural scream. The taint on Jedd’s finger flowed up his arm and under his shirt, blackening it entirely in an unstoppable wave. Time returned to normal as the dreadful howl persisted, but with added strength. He curled his flattened palm around the bright edge. Then, shifting his weight, he ripped the rift wide open.

  Jedd let go and stumbled to his hands and knees, heaving up all he had eaten that day. Deep waves of nausea racked his body, but as the minutes passed, the shuttering side effects faded. Roger watched his bowed form, unsure what to do. Each haggard breath came at a cost as Jedd attempted to regain his composure. The gambler’s attention was drawn to Jedd’s arm, where the sickening infusion was somehow abating.

  The infection drained out the way it had come, leaving his arm half healed. A dark stain still covered his hand and wrist. Glancing back at the wall, Roger admired the four-foot rip. It fluttered in place under unusual wind currents. Through it, he saw the wonders of another realm. The edges of the tear glistened in the temporary light that remained.

  The Cajun’s attention returned to Jedd and his amazement was overshadowed with concern. He stepped up to the prone man and went down on one knee. “How you feeling, Jedd?”

  Jedd gave a labored reply. “Better … I … think I … can … get up.”

  Roger placed his hand under Jedd’s arm and helped him rise to one knee. After a brief pause, Jedd pushed himself to his feet. He wavered in the shadowed alley. Unable to maintain his balance, he placed his damaged hand on Roger’s shoulder for additional support.

  Roger’s wary eyes glanced at the blackened skin. Seeing this, Jedd’s gaze shifted to his hand, and his eyes widened. The headlights of the car illuminated both hands in contrast. It was like day and night and the numbness had spread throughout the blackened area. He poked it, then flexed his fingers and wrist, happy to find them operating as usual. However, there was still an absence of sensation. Jedd looked back at his new companion, who was watching his every move.

  “What does it feel like?” asked the Cajun.

  “It still works fine, but it’s numb and cold to the touch.”

  Roger lifted his own hand and touched the affected skin as though it was a contagious disease. It was slick and the strangeness of its arctic temperature sent a visible chill through his body. He looked from Jedd to the tear hovering against the brick wall and back again, unable to express his inner turmoil.

  “You did it,” his voice echoed.

  “You can see it?” A smile crept onto Jedd’s lips.

  “Yeah.”

  “You believe me now, don’t you?” he asked, energized with the discovery.

  “Damn straight. I’m not sure how you did it, but … damn.”

  “Yep, and we have to go through.”

  Knowing Jedd was right did not stop another shiver from slithering down Roger’s spine. “I know,” he whispered.

  Jedd ran to the car, shut off the engine, and retrieved their bags. He threw Roger’s to him and stepped up to the unorthodox window. After a few deep breaths, he stepped through.

  Roger searched the depths of his mind for a question or some way to postpone the inevitable, but failed to speak before Jedd disappeared. Roger stood in place, petrified by the idea. Jedd’s hazy figure moved like a shadow beyond the blue film. A few seconds later, Jedd’s disembodied hand emerged from the portal and waved him forward.

  Roger closed his eyes and swallowed his fear. Hoisting his bag over a shoulder, he stepped into the veil covered portal. A cold shiver ran across his body as he passed fr
om one world to another. It was like stepping into a pool of water, but emerging dry. Once through, a columned courthouse greeted him. His eyes scaled the building to its peak before assessing his new environment. Jedd stood next to the rift, examining it with his blackened hand while his other massaged his chin.

  “What is it now, Jedd?”

  “We have to close it or people might follow us.”

  “Well, shit,” Roger mumbled. “Can we get back?”

  “Yes, we just have to find Madelin. For now, I have to close it.”

  He grasped the rift’s edges between a blackened thumb and forefinger. Roger winced in anticipation of another horrible scream, but it did not come. Jedd grimaced at the subtle pain that stemmed from the touch and they watched the black circle around his wrist creep higher, but slower than before. When he finished, the split disappeared. Only a shimmering scar hung before them. It looked identical to the one he had opened from the other side. The edges were already beginning to dissolve.

  “Where’d it go?” Roger asked.

  “I closed it.”

  “So what do we do now?” The Cajun peered around the vacant street. There were no digital displays and far fewer lights than in his world. The distant lamp poles gave off an eerie yellow glow and the absence of night life was comforting. The only sounds were those of romantic crickets chirping a quiet symphony.

  Jedd reached into his bag and pulled out a small flashlight. The bright beam illuminated the rock filled yard at their feet. Sweeping the light back and forth, he found yet another creature working on this arid night. Black ants swarmed over what appeared to be crimson footprints.

  Jedd leaned closer and became certain they were Madelin’s. He took off on her trail. “Here, this way.” His words echoed over his shoulder.

  Roger followed across the vacant street and down the sidewalk. The further they went, the more people they came across, walking in pairs and enjoying the night. Some spoke a similar language to the Spanish Maria used in their world. Ignoring the strangers, they continued their fast-paced search to find Madelin. He caught her backtracked trail as the paths crossed and wasted no time searching further.