Isiah looked up at Herb’s earnest face and smiled. ‘I don’t think that’ll help right now, thanks.’
Herb shrugged. ‘You never know.’
Faith shook her head. ‘No, thanks. My brain is bent enough as it is.’
Herb shrugged again. ‘Fair enough. I’m hungry, so I’m going to make something to eat. You guys want anything? It’s no trouble to feed you all.’
‘Very kind offer, mate,’ Isiah said, standing. ‘But we need to move on.’ He looked at Faith. ‘So, you’re okay with what I’ve explained?’
‘I wouldn’t say I was okay with it.’
‘Right. But you understand?’
‘Sure. In theory. I understand what you mean, but not how you’ll do it.’
Petra patted Faith’s shoulder. ‘The details don’t matter. As long as you trust us, you can relax and let us take care of things.’
Faith nodded. ‘I trust you.’ She looked back to Isiah, missing Petra’s guilt-tinged wince. ‘I guess I’m ready to go.’
‘Now remember, you won’t be able to recall us or this encounter when you’re out of our company again. If you could, it would endanger you and us. What you will remember are the curiosities that I’ve put in your mind. You’ll ask Lars those questions. I’ll find you again on a regular basis and each time you’re with me, you will remember us and all that goes on between us.’
Faith frowned. ‘I don’t understand how you’re going to manage this.’
Isiah grinned sheepishly. ‘Neither do I entirely,’ he said with a wink. ‘Petra here is the mind magician.’
‘We’re losing time,’ Petra said, eyes narrowed.
‘Right. Let’s put the wards in place.’ He stepped aside to let Petra stand before Faith.
Petra took both of the young girl’s hands and closed her eyes. ‘Close your eyes, child,’ she said. Faith did so and breathed a deep, nervous breath. Silently, Petra worked on Faith’s mind, putting controls of her own in place, replicating those of the ONC. Eventually she opened her eyes and looked at Isiah. Her expression was sad.
Isiah smiled ruefully. He understood her pain. ‘Let’s go,’ he whispered. He turned to Herb. ‘Thanks again, Herb. I’ll see you soon.’
‘No problem, brother. Be good to see you any time.’
Isiah turned, leading Faith from the house, her eyes still closed. Petra took Faith’s other arm and they walked her together. She responded to their touch, but was otherwise completely removed from the present. They got back into the hire car, waving a farewell to Herb standing in the shadow of his porch, and drove away. After a couple of minutes they pulled up to the kerb and Petra hopped out. Opening the back door she helped the zombie-like Faith from the back seat and led her to a bus stop. It was busy on Bondi Road and a couple of people spared a moment’s curiosity before lapsing back into the oblivious state of most people in densely populated places.
Faith sat catatonic on the bus stop seat as Petra got back into the car. Isiah drove slowly away and Petra let her power slide out. As Faith’s eyes blinked, her body regaining a more natural posture, Petra swiftly locked down her aura and Isiah gunned the engine, driving out into the line of traffic, heading back towards the city.
They drove along in silence for a while. Eventually, Isiah broached the conversation. ‘I’m sorry.’
Petra shook her head. ‘I don’t like it.’
‘Neither do I. No one in their right mind would like it. But some things are necessary.’
‘What if I messed it up? I might have just sentenced that girl to death.’
‘Hey, that girl was already pretty fucked up. Don’t forget that.’ Petra flashed Isiah an angry look. ‘She was a lost and lonely young girl,’ Isiah continued. ‘There are millions of disaffected youth like that all over the world and they’re always getting in all sorts of trouble.’
‘This is hardly comparable!’
‘Why not? She was already roped into this ONC cult and that could easily finish her off. She was talking about how she’s being fast-tracked by this Lars character. What do you think that’s for? You think he really fell head over heels in love with her like he claims? These are bad people and she’s at risk all the time. Our using her is not necessarily putting her at any further risk.’
‘Not necessarily? If they discover what we’ve done...’
‘Then she’s probably dead. I’ll give you that. But we need to know more. For the greater good, we have to know more.’
Petra shook her head again. ‘She’s a young girl, intelligent, vibrant. She has a whole life ahead of her.’
‘Only because you know her.’
‘What?’ Petra was angry.
‘When you know someone, when you have a personal connection, it’s very hard to see the statistics any more. The truth is, she’s just another lost soul that, in this case, we can use for our ends.’
‘Fuck that! How can you say something like that?’
Isiah clenched his jaw. ‘Because I have to.’
Petra hung her head, staring at her hands in her lap. She said nothing.
‘Perhaps I’m just a bit more used to it than you are,’ Isiah said eventually, his voice distant.
They drove on in silence for a while before they arrived at the car rental business. It only took a moment for Isiah to return the vehicle, apologise for forgetting to fill the tank and pay the outrageously punitive rate per litre that the company deemed suitable for such transgressions.
Petra stood on the pavement outside watching the traffic go by. Isiah put an arm around her shoulders, squeezing her to him. ‘I am sorry, you know. I really don’t like it any more than you do.’
‘What if that horrible old woman’s prediction was true? That image she showed you, of Faith dead and bloodied. We may have just set that course in motion.’
‘We may. Or we may have prevented it. Or it may happen regardless of our intervention. There’s no way to be sure. I often have a little more access to that kind of knowledge than most, but right now I’m on my own.’
‘So we just wait and see?’
‘Yep. And we do what we can to help along the way and hopefully, all things in our favour, we may prevent the ONC from gaining power and keep Faith safe into the bargain.’
‘So what now?’ Petra returned Isiah’s hug, laying her face against his chest.
‘I guess we have some time on hand. Perhaps we should head back to your place and see what more there might be to learn.’
Petra nodded against his chest. ‘Carry me there, will you? You’re far more capable of travel than I am and all this work with Faith has made me tired.’
‘Sure. But we can’t go from here. Let’s find somewhere quiet.’
Gusting, icy winds buffeted Isiah and Petra as they arrived back on the broad courtyard before the main hall of the Temple of the Dragons. Bending against the weather they hurried to the doors and were let in by young, serious faced Magi.
‘Why can’t we travel to somewhere nice and warm inside?’ Isiah asked, brushing snow from his shoulders.
Petra smiled. ‘Everyone arrives outside. It’s safer from a security point of view and, well, it’s more polite.’
‘I suppose so.’
There was a cough from behind them. They turned to see Cai Wu standing inside the main training hall. He looked them up and down as they bowed to him, returning their bow with a smirk curling up one side of his mouth.
‘What?’ Petra’s expression was defiant.
Cai Wu chuckled. ‘Nothing at all, my dear Petra. I was just noticing how much more entwined you and Isiah appear to be.’
‘What do you mean, entwined?’ Petra looked down to make sure they weren’t holding hands.
‘I don’t mean externally, petulant one,’ Cai Wu said with a grin. ‘What brings you back? What have you learned?’
Isiah noticed a blush creep up Petra’s cheeks, her lips pressed into a thin line. Suppressing a smile of his own, he said, ‘We have learned some, but not much. Although we should have someone on the inside now. It’s risky, but worth it.’
Cai Wu nodded gravely. ‘Many a great deed is preceded by enormous risk. The mark of the hero is taking those risks without any knowledge of their outcome, perhaps even with the certain knowledge that they will fail.’
Isiah shook his head. ‘I can’t see myself as a hero, Master Cai. But Faith certainly is.’
‘Other Magi have arrived back to report. Tell me of this agent of yours as we walk.’ He turned and led the way towards his quarters, Isiah explaining the Faith situation as they went.
By the time they reached Cai Wu’s door, the old man had heard enough. ‘Good. I can see what you’re trying to do and indeed the risk is high. And maybe unnecessary. But the more information we have, the more chance we have to do something right. Knowledge is power, after all.’ He pushed open his door and gestured inside. ‘Go in, go in.’
Isiah and Petra entered and saw others sat on the floor as they had before. Some of them Isiah recognised and others were Magi he had yet to meet. They sat and waited for Cai Wu. He joined the circle carrying a tea tray with small china cups and an ornate pot. In silence he poured tea for each of them, handing the cups to his Magi and finally to Petra and Isiah. Then he raised his own cup and they followed suit. The tea tasted good, strong, revitalising.
‘So,’ Cai Wu said at last. ‘What more have we learned?’
Meera raised a hand, her skin dark and shiny in the low light. ‘The members from the Americas all appear to have moved on. It would seem that the massed migration is well under way.’
Another Magus that Isiah had not met before raised his hand. ‘The same can be said for Europe, Master.’ His voice was extremely deep, his accent a mish mash of several European sounds. ‘We have watched and those that have not left already are preparing to go.’
Cai Wu nodded. ‘It would seem that before long the entire ONC will be in Australia. But for what, exactly? This is the question. They are obviously gathering to perform some celebration or ritual. Our prophecies talk of a dark god rising and we know these people have such an agenda. But where and what are they planning?’
‘Hopefully we may know more about that soon,’ Isiah said. ‘If Faith comes through for us, we may get some valuable information.’
Cai Wu looked at Isiah for a long time. Long enough that Isiah began to get uncomfortable under the weight of that gaze. He raised a questioning eyebrow. ‘You are central to all this,’ Cai Wu said. ‘Regardless of this young girl that could supply us with valuable information, what else can we do. What would you do?’
Isiah drew a deep breath. He didn’t like being central to all this. He liked to work on the periphery, guiding and prodding those that were central to any given scenario. And usually his prodding would be done with the advice and guidance of the Balance. Now he found himself at the centre and the Balance conspicuous by its absence. What would he do? It was a good question. ‘I’d like to storm wherever this Sorcerer is and tear his head from his body,’ he said. ‘But the problem with that is twofold. One, we don’t know where he is and two, he has some pretty powerful and capable generals at his command.’
Cai Wu nodded, smiling, offering no response. The others sat still, watching Isiah. Petra put her hand over Isiah’s, apparently deciding not to be concerned with what Cai Wu or anyone else thought. Perhaps she realised Isiah’s position better than he had given her credit for. ‘Well,’ he said. ‘I suppose that the best thing to do in the circumstances is to watch those generals. We can only presume, but it’s a fairly safe presumption, that the Sorcerer is in Australia. Or will be soon. Presumably the Optimates, his generals, will rally their forces by his command and, at some point, they will all gather together. Ideally we’d prevent such a gathering from happening but, if we can’t prevent it, we can at least be aware of it as it happens.’
Cai Wu nodded again. ‘So, short of learning any more from insiders or any other source, we must watch. I will station a Magus to every ONC Optimates that we are aware of and have that Magus follow and watch from the shadows. They can report to me and I will be sure to inform everyone of developments. A time of trial and challenge is fast approaching and I believe that you, Isiah, will bear the brunt of it. But we will do all we can to support you.’
Isiah nodded as Petra squeezed his hand. ‘Thank you, Master Cai. I appreciate it. Petra and I will continue to watch the Sydney ONC and hopefully find out more about this Lars character that runs it. He appears to be quite high up in the organisation. And we will hopefully learn more from Faith in the meantime.’
Taking their leave from the meeting, Isiah and Petra walked along the stone corridors, hand in hand. Cai Wu was right; it seemed as though things were coming to a head, like a kettle coming to the boil on an open flame. Except this was a kettle that couldn’t be removed, so if the flame was inextinguishable, boiling over was inevitable.
‘We don’t have to go back to Sydney just yet,’ Petra said, almost a whisper. ‘It’s only been a couple of hours.’
‘What do you suggest?’
Petra smiled and turned around, leading Isiah back the way they had come.
Faith sat on a 380 bus, concerned by recent events. She didn’t really remember going to the beach or why she had decided to go. She sort of remembered being at the beach, then deciding to head back. She had walked up Bondi Road to get a bus. But how did she know where to go? Maybe she had asked someone. It was disturbing, but something inside told Faith it was all right. She was a bit burned out at the moment, a bit overwhelmed. And she was very tired.
No matter. She felt quite recharged by her afternoon on the sand, enjoying the summer sunshine and sea breezes. She had had time to think and she realised there were so many things she wanted to ask Lars about. Things she had taken for granted or assumed she would learn about in due course seemed somewhat more important all of a sudden. Why should she wait to learn? Lars was pushing her along, by his own admission he was fast-tracking her. Surely she deserved to know more about what was happening in that case.
She watched people from the bus window all the way back to Oxford Street. People fascinated her more than ever, her new perceptions feeding her information constantly. Keeping her own persona tightly hidden, a matter of habit now, she stepped from the bus and strolled through the streets to Lars’s house.
She could hear Lars talking animatedly as she let herself in. She followed the sound of his voice into the kitchen, smiling broadly as she walked through the doorway. Lars looked up and his expression was one of anger and relief rolled together.
‘I’ll call you back.’ He snapped his phone closed, ending the call, and strode up to Faith. He took hold of her shoulders and stared hard into her eyes. ‘Where have you been?’
She was taken aback, a little scared. She was also affronted that this should be the greeting he offered her. ‘I went to the beach. I had some fresh air and sunshine, that’s all.’
Lars was still staring into her eyes like he was looking for something. ‘You went right off my radar. Did you talk to anyone?’
‘Your radar?’ She was angry now. ‘You watch me when I go out? You, the disappearing man that fucks off without telling me where you’re going or how long you’ll be? You weren’t even here when I left. Again!’
Lars was angry too. ‘Don’t you dare think to take that tone with me, girl. Anything could happen to you. You’re in a dangerous place right now, with abilities that can get you into trouble but not enough skill to get you out of it.’
‘You watch over me?’ Faith asked again, not prepared to let that tidbit of information go.
Lars pushed her into a chair at the kitchen table. He took a deep breath, running one hand over her hair, took a seat opposite. ‘I am an Optimates of the Ordo Novus Cruor. With that position comes incredible power, but also incredible responsibility. Everyone that joins my Gather becomes tied to me. At any time I can feel where they are. I can’t tell much about them, but I know if they’re near or far, I know if they’re happy or sad or scared. This isn’t a Scout group, Faith, it’s a very serious and very powerful organisation. I care about you deeply and when I couldn’t feel you on my return I got very worried.’
Faith thought the concern in Lars’s eyes was genuine, but she still felt the need to ask questions. ‘I’m sorry. But I’ve been thinking and I have some things I’d like to ask you about.’
‘Where did you go, Faith?’
‘I told you. I went to the...’
‘Where did you go, Faith?’ Lars stood, leaning on the table to stare down at her. His eyes were angry.
Faith didn’t like where this was heading. ‘I went to the fucking beach! What is wrong with you?’ Lars shot out a hand and grabbed hold of Faith’s chin. He stared hard at her eyes and began to mutter under his breath. She pulled at his wrist but his grip was strong, her jaw felt like it would crack. ‘Let go of me!’
‘Hold still,’ Lars barked. ‘If I couldn’t feel you then you might have been compromised.’
‘Compromised?’
‘Just relax and let me look.’
She felt as if something was floating across her face, a silk cloth being drawn against her skin. Then the feeling sank sickeningly through her skin and she felt something drag through her skull, then her brain. It was not a painful experience, but it was disgusting, invasive. ‘Stop it! What are you doing?’
Lars’s expression was determined, his concentration complete. Then, with a noise of disgust, he let go of Faith, pushing her back in her chair as he did so. ‘Something has changed.’
Faith rubbed at her jaw, her eyes flashing angrily. ‘Did you spot a new found dislike of you in there?’ she snapped.
Despite himself, Lars could not suppress a slight smile. ‘You are such a feisty little bitch.’
‘And you’re a fucking blond mystery fucking... weirdo!’
‘Don’t be angry with me, love.’
‘Love? Fuck off. What did you just do to me?’
Lars sat again. ‘Someone has been looking at you. And I mean looking closely, like I just looked at you.’
‘I think I might remember that happening.’
‘You might not if they were good enough. But there’s no trace of anyone left there and I don’t know anyone that good. Not to say such people don’t or can’t exist.’
She stared across the table at him, not sure how to respond to that. What was he suggesting? That people had been looking into her brain without her knowledge? She didn’t like to consider if that was even possible. ‘I’m fine,’ she said.
Lars nodded. ‘Strangely enough, you do seem to be fine. I’m sure something has happened, but I’m damned if I can see what. Maybe I’m being paranoid. Why couldn’t I feel you?’
‘Maybe I was just in a place where it’s hard to get, you know, reception. Like mobile phones? They have drop-outs all the time.’
‘Hardly the same thing.’
‘I’ve been practising what you taught me in Sanctum a lot, hiding myself. Perhaps I’m getting better at that?’
Lars shrugged, dismissive. His eyes were dark.
Faith decided to change the subject. ‘So where have you been? What’s happening?’
‘I’ve been to the outback. Things are coming to a head.’
Faith nodded. ‘Really? What’s happening, Lars? What are you preparing me for? I was at the beach and I started to wonder about all this. Why are you moving me along so fast?’
‘Thinking at the beach, were you? I’ll tell you this much, love. The biggest Gathering in ONC history is approaching. We will bask in the glory of Yath-vados and a new age will be born. I’m moving you along so fast because I want you to be a part of it. I want you to be by my side.’
Faith looked at the window behind Lars for a moment, watching a big crow hop back and forth along the sill. That damn bird seemed to keep coming back. Maybe she should feed it or something. ‘Why do you want me by your side?’ she asked, without looking back at Lars. ‘Why me?’
‘You are beautiful. You’re young, keen, potentially very powerful. I see in you something that I rarely see in anyone and I don’t want to let you slip away.’
‘Are we really going to raise a god? Is Yath-vados really going to become strong enough to make change as drastic as you suggest?’
Lars leaned his elbows on the table, cradled his chin. ‘Have you read the Bible?’
‘Sure. Not recently though. And not really read it. I’ve skimmed bits of it.’
Lars smiled. ‘You should read it. It’s quite a tale. Especially the Old Testament. The god of the Old Testament is a bastard. He’s a wrathful, vengeful, egotistical maniac. He loved blood and sacrifice and he would empower his people to massacre entire tribes, razing their homes to dust. By the time the stories of Jesus were under way this god had transformed into some sandal wearing hippy of a god, completely at odds with the creature portrayed in the Old Testament.’
Faith looked back to Lars. ‘So what? What’s your point?’
‘Our god, Yath-vados, is like Yahweh of the Old Testament. He has passion and drive and will empower us as Yahweh empowered his people. He is a god of action and power, of might and retribution. Not some washed out shadow of his former self like the god of the Bible became.’
‘But are we really capable of making Yath-vados into a god like that?’
‘Yath-vados already is a god like that but his power has waned over time. He needs the power of our faith and devotion to regain his former glory. Our faith gives him power and his power gives us the ability to make this Earth our own.’
Faith stared at Lars, his words echoing around her mind. Even with all she had seen, all she had learned, this seemed so far outside reality. She knew people had worshipped gods for as long as there had been people. She prayed to her Pagan gods herself and was convinced that on some level, in some place, they heard her prayers. If this was true of Yath-vados too, then she could accept that, but was there really more to it? Was the power of this group really enough to change the world? Was this likely to be a new Crusade in the name of a new god?
‘You wonder, but you don’t dismiss,’ Lars said. ‘You’ve seen our power, at least in some small part. You know we are capable of more than most. You know we can do the things we claim to do.’
‘Can you really, though?’
Lars smiled an almost predatory smile. ‘Oh yes. We can do the things we claim and more.’
‘So when will all this happen?’
‘People are coming from all over the world. Our people, Faith. Our people are Gathering and the time will be upon us soon when we change the world forever.’
‘Where?’
‘Why all the questions?’
Faith shrugged. ‘You keep disappearing. It leaves me time to think. You want me to be a part of this. I want to know more of what this is.’
‘In time you will stand beside me and be integral to everything. In not much time at that. As for where, that doesn’t matter now. People are beginning their journeys and, when the time is right, I’ll take you there.’
She looked from Lars back to the window where the crow hopped ever more vigorously back and forth. It seemed angry about something. ‘I hope I’m up to it,’ she said.
‘Up to it?’
‘I hope I’m at least part of what you think I am, treating me like I’m special all the time, but telling me nothing. I’m not even sure why I put up with so much mystery from you.’
Lars stood and walked around the table. He crouched beside Faith’s chair, looking up at her. ‘You recognise the power and the truth of our way. And you recognise love.’
The familiar feeling that she had learned to associate with Lars swelled within her again. He was a powerful and charismatic man. He had shown her incredible things. What harm was there in seeing this thing through? It might all turn out to be bullshit and she could just walk away. But if it wasn’t, she might be a part of something truly wonderful. She couldn’t bring herself to be quite as passionate as Lars. She wasn’t so sure that this event would be quite as earth-shattering as he claimed, but you never knew.
There was a sharp intrusion of sound as Lars’s phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and flipped it open. ‘Yes?’ He listened for a moment, a grin spreading across face. ‘Excellent. I’m looking forward to it, my brother.’
As Lars slid the phone back out of sight Faith raised an eyebrow. ‘What’s to look forward to?’
Lars continued grinning broadly. ‘I can‘t remember the last time we were all together. That was Frank. He’ll be here soon. As will Jake and Chris. Raul will land in about an hour and Dieter is on his way from the airport right now.’
‘Who are all these people?’
‘Who are they? Second only to the Dominus himself, these people are the most powerful in the ONC. Optimates of the Eighth Degree. We used to be seven, now there are six of us. And we will be together for the first time in years. Which is just as well, as we have something to take care of.’
Four young men wearing leather wristbands with dark red spots gathered around a table in a pub in Adelaide. They drank bottled beer and laughed, speaking loudly in German to the annoyance of other patrons. A mobile phone beeped its tone to alert the owner that a text message had arrived. The conversation between the men died out as one of them read the message. ‘It’s time,’ he said, suddenly serious. ‘The Optimates has sent us a place to meet.’
‘Now?’ asked another.
The first man nodded and all four stood, draining their beers, and headed for the door.
In a Youth Hostel on the Gold Coast in Queensland a group of a dozen or so men and women stood around on the pavement, chatting and laughing. A minibus pulled up to the kerb and they all piled in. ‘Where are we going, Optimates?’ one asked cheerily.
‘We’re going to change the world,’ the driver replied. Among the laughter he added, ‘But we have a few more people to pick up yet.’
At Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport a tall man with craggy features emerged into the arrivals hall. He was approached by two young men. ‘Optimates Raul. Your flight was good?’ one said in Spanish.
The tall man shrugged. ‘Colombia to Sydney is a long journey, but it was uneventful. You are here to take me to Lars?’
‘We are. Please, this way.’
Along a strip of hot tarmac a rented coach raced through the orange desert. Forty ONC members aboard talked excitedly about where they were going and what would happen when they got there. After several hours of driving their enthusiasm waned, but assurance from their Optimates that the Dominus himself would greet them when they finally reached their destination revived their spirits.
Across the country, people began to move.