30

Adam

Adam hadn’t moved since John had fled. Without the car he didn’t know how he’d ever catch up or what he’d do if he did. The former druid, and Adam knew now that John had forever lost any claim to that title, had all the power here. Adam couldn’t win unless he was willing to do the same terrible things and meet the same awful fate.

One glance around at the carnage and the distraught ghosts affirmed that he could never bring himself to kill John in cold blood, no matter how much the old man might deserve it.

“But what choice do I have?” Adam asked aloud.

If he could get John out of here, stop him from doing more damage, he still had to be dealt with. The promise was still binding. The oath had to be kept.

Something slammed into Adam’s chest, sending him to his knees. It hurt like hell, but it felt familiar too.

“Vic?” he gasped.

No, not Vic, or at least not only Vic.

There were other colors and sensations in the connection, cold and warm. Coffee brown and purple worry.

Magic, not his own, filled him, threading through him, filling every vein in Adam’s body.

He burned even as the underworld began to fade.

For a blink he was back nowhere again, floating outside it all.

So was John. Still naked, he thrashed, panicking that he’d return to the tree.

It was a risk. Adam might lose this chance, but he could not leave John to tear down a world.

Adam took the power coursing through him and tossed a line, wrapped it around John, and pulled them together.

“Got ya,” he said as the druid slammed against him.

“What is happening?” John asked, struggling against the magic even as Adam wrapped him in a bear hug and willed every bit of the power he’d been fed to tie them together.

“My ride’s here,” Adam said. “And you’re coming with me.”

John struggled, but he hadn’t had brothers. Adam knew how to fight dirty. He didn’t have to win. He just had to hold on until they were out.

The oath was binding, and Adam would bind him.

John started kicking, Adam kicked back. The old man had more strength though, all the magic he’d consumed gave him an edge.

He was nearly loose when Adam punched him in the skull.

“Calm down, asshole!” he shouted. “This is happening.”

John tried to head butt him but Adam shifted his arm in time to block it.

That proved to be a mistake. John was wriggling free. They kept rising, reeled in by the cord woven through Adam.

He had no time to watch the world go by.

Wrenching his arm free, John reached, fingers clawed for Adam’s eyes.

“Oh no you don’t,” a voice said.

Jimmy. His ghost leaped onto John’s back and gripped his arm.

John wailed as Jimmy twisted it behind his back.

He kept kicking. Adam was losing his hold.

Then John stopped, his legs pinned.

Noreen had appeared beneath them. She held John’s legs. She faded as Adam watched, expending what remained of her energy to help him.

“We have you, Adam Lee,” Sue said in Adam’s ear. “We all have you.”

Adam blinked back tears and tightened his grip, getting both arms around John again.

The old man fought, but more ghosts came, Binder after Binder, holding him still, keeping him in place so Adam could carry him out.

John screamed as they tumbled out of the sky.

Adam twisted in time to land atop him, slamming his full weight against the older man. Something crunched, probably ribs. Adam wheezed, but the pain was mostly John’s.

Adam spat, stood, and lifted his boot.

“I said I won’t kill you. I didn’t say I wouldn’t kick you in the head.”

“I like your style, Adam,” a voice said as the tip of a blade appeared at John’s throat. “But I’ll take it from here.”

“Give me an excuse,” Argent said, eyes flashing. “Please.”

Adam took a heaving breath and stumbled backward. Arms had him before he could register it. He started to fight—

“Easy,” Vic said. “Easy.”

“Vic?”

“Yeah.”

“Are they going to do that every time?” Jodi asked as they kissed.

“Probably,” Vic said, breaking it off.

“Definitely,” Adam said, burying himself against Vic’s chest.

“It’s okay,” Vic said. “It’s over.”

“The hell it is,” Seamus said. “There’s still the matter of your debt to me.”

He pointed to John.

“I’m quite happy to do it, Adam,” Argent said. “Just say the word.”

“And there’s the problem of the underworld,” someone said.

Adam turned to see Sara step forward, into the bright lights of—Liberty House? He blinked at the building before turning back to where Mel walked beside Sara, lending her arm for support. Death held a cane in her free hand.

That worried Adam more than anything else he’d seen.

“How do we fix it?” he asked. “How do we help?”

“They want you to kill the demons,” Vic said.

“Wait, what? We just saved them from Grandpa Shithead here.”

The warlock eyed them all, looking for an out. Argent smiled.

It would be easy to say yes, end him now, but it also wouldn’t be any different from Adam doing it himself, and it would be a lot more cowardly.

Tilla looked ready to do it, and Adam was glad she wasn’t the one with the sword.

“They can’t stay down there,” Sara said.

“Then we move them,” Adam said. “Relocate them. We put them somewhere else.”

“You can’t let them loose,” Bobby said. “They’ll feed on the living.”

“Not exactly,” Vic said. “On their experiences, on their emotions, their pains and fears. It’s not all bad. It might even help some people.”

Adam looked at him and knew this was a later thing, something they had to talk about, but Vic seemed sincere. Adam couldn’t read his feelings now. The spell, the link between him and these people, the people who loved him, had already dissolved. Adam would have to take it on trust. He could do that.

“Start with John,” Adam said. “Everything he’s done he did out of fear. I’ve felt his terror, where he’s coming from. There’s enough there to keep the demons happy for a long while.”

“This is a new prison we’ve built,” Argent said, nodding to Liberty House.

Adam looked to the restored building. It shone, bright and new, yes—but it wasn’t just paint and fresh mortar. Magic cascaded off it, rippling and green, almost blinding in its intensity.

“A watchtower?” he asked. “You turned it into a watchtower?”

“An anchor, yes,” Silver said. “The new one for the east, but it is more than that, more than a prison. It will be a school, and Vran will be our first student.”

“You can’t lock him up,” Adam said. “Please, Silver. He didn’t help the Sea Elves. He quit when they tried to make him.”

“I said student, not inmate,” Silver said, his expression gentle. “But he is hurt. We will help him. I promise.”

“He can come and go as he pleases?” Adam asked.

Silver lifted an eyebrow in thought. He looked a little older than he had before. Adam could find no trace of Perak in his features.

His old love had changed. He wasn’t the boy with the purple hair anymore. He wasn’t the beautiful and mysterious prince. He was a king.

Adam forced aside the need to bow.

“Let’s call it a probation,” Silver said. “Will you vouch for him, Adam Binder, be his warden?”

“What does that mean?” Adam asked.

“He’s partly of your world now, of every world, I suspect. He’ll need to spend time in it, learn its ways. When he is not here, you will be his guardian.”

Adam looked to Bobby.

“It’s fine,” Bobby said. “Vran’s welcome at the house.”

“Is that what you want, Vran?” Adam asked. “To go to school here and live with us when you’re not?”

Vran ducked his head. He was older too. A little hair poked out of the V of his shirt. The black veins were worrisome, marks of the underworld, but his eyes were the biggest change. Black, they were full of stars, strange, but beautiful.

It fit. Vran was strange, but beautiful.

“Yes,” he said. “Please.”

“We have a deal,” Adam said to Silver.

“Has everyone forgotten that you owe me his life?” Seamus demanded, pointing at John.

Adam felt the charge of magic, the binding of the promise. It wrapped around him, constricting him like thorny vines. Seamus was calling his marker.

“Then kill him yourself,” Adam said. He softened his tone and added, “I know what he did to her. I saw it, and it was horrible. I also know what’s waiting for him when he dies, and I felt his terror. I promise you that the fear of it is worse than dying.”

Seamus looked to the ground.

“If it helps,” Silver said. “I’ll assume Adam’s debt to you. You can decide when the warlock dies.”

“At what cost?” Bobby demanded. “What will you take from Adam in exchange?”

Adam gave his brother a nod of approval. He was learning.

“Be my page, Adam,” Silver said. “That is the price I set.”

“You still want me, after—after what I said?”

“Yes, and even if I did not, it seems foretold. Your cousin has already read your fate.”

Adam blinked. He hadn’t tensed at the suggestion. He didn’t freeze or want to run screaming into the night. He met Vic’s eyes.

“You trust him?” Vic whispered.

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I do.”

“Me too,” Vic said. “Take the job if you want it.”

“I will,” Adam said. “But we discuss terms before it’s official.”

“Agreed,” Silver said.

“You can’t do that,” Seamus said.

“Yes I can,” Silver said.

“I want him dead,” Seamus spat, pointing at John.

“What’s your hurry?” Adam asked. “Without descendants to feed on he’ll be gone in a couple of years.”

“And he’ll pay for what he’s done, reliving his crimes over and over,” Vic added. “I’ve been there, gone through what the demons do to their victims. It’s not pleasant.”

“It’s torture,” Jodi added.

And maybe, Adam thought, though he didn’t say it aloud, maybe he’ll learn to fear it less, make other choices, find another fate if he’s not so scared.

Adam could never forgive John, not for Sue, for Noreen, or Jimmy, but maybe, just maybe, John could find a way to atone.

“Will it work?” Adam asked Death. “If we evacuate them?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Can we even do that?” Vic asked. “Look what it took to get Adam out.”

“Your spell burned a path,” Sara said, looking to Vran. “And you have a key. Guard him carefully.”

“What about the ghosts?” Jodi asked. “What about my mom?”

Adam didn’t mention Noreen’s part in his rise, in helping him to trap John. He didn’t know what it meant for her life among the awoken. He didn’t know what it meant for Jimmy and his newfound love of wrangling the dead. He didn’t think Life had made that part up. Jimmy had found a purpose in death, something that had been denied him in life.

Adam would probably never know how much of his conversation had been with Jimmy and how much had been with Life. Immortals and powers liked their secrets and mysteries. Primordial Chaos clearly was no exception.

“They’ll let go when they’re ready,” Mel said. “Pass on when they’re ready. Without Shepherd it may happen sooner, but that is what’s meant to be.”

Sara nodded approvingly.

Jodi let out a long breath.

“Okay,” she said.

“We are in agreement?” Silver asked.

“Yes,” Adam said.

“Yes,” Seamus agreed.

He still looked pissed, but Adam could live with that, so long as everyone lived. Life was about choices. The more you had, the more you could make. He’d made more than a few in the underworld. He’d made a few tonight.

“Then it’s done,” Silver said.

“You did this on purpose,” Adam said to Sara. “To us.”

“Yes, I did,” she said. “I sent John to where you would have to find him.”

“You risked everything,” Vic said. “All of reality. You made it worse by sending us there to get her back.”

“Wouldn’t you?” Sara asked. “Wouldn’t you risk everything?”

“Yes,” Adam said. “I did, and I would do it again.”

“Are you still dying?” Vic asked.

“Melody was the source of the infection. It is already better,” Sara said. “With the living demons extracted I will remain a while longer.”

“How long?” Adam asked.

“As long as I am supposed to.”

Mel inched closer to Sara’s side.

“I know why you did it,” Adam said. “I understand. I really do, but I can’t ever trust you, not after this.”

“As well you shouldn’t,” Sara said. “It’s nice to see you all grown up, Adam Lee.”

It stung a little. Sara had been one of the first beings he’d met. Sue had introduced them on a spirit walk. Losing her was like losing a bit more of Sue.

“I’d like to go home now,” he said to Silver. “Please.”

The king nodded.

“We will speak soon,” he said. The world washed to white, and in a blast of cold they stood atop the little hill above the trailer.

“Here,” Jodi said. She held out the bundle of tarot cards, the family heirloom she’d wanted so badly.

Adam reached out, put a hand over the bundle. He met her eyes and pushed them toward her.

“They’re yours now, Jodi. You keep them.”

She blinked, opened her mouth to question him, then snapped it shut.

“Just don’t do anything shitty with them, okay?” Adam asked. “No Internet scams or stuff like that. Sue would kill me.”

“I won’t,” she said. “I promise.”

“What are you going to do, Jodi?” Vic asked. He still hadn’t let go of Adam’s hand, and Adam had no complaint.

“I don’t know,” she said.

Adam could see it all settle onto her. She had nowhere to go, no home, no mom. He didn’t think he could convince Tilla to take her in and wasn’t sure he should try. But even after all Jodi had done, Adam did not like the idea of her being homeless or without prospects. She sucked pretty hard, but she was still family.

He’d dodged a bullet with John and having to kill him. Sue had been right. Adam was too tender-hearted for this world. It was a good thing one of his jobs was on the Other Side. Working with Argent was bound to toughen him up.

“You could go back to school,” Vic suggested. “Get your teaching certificate.”

“I don’t—I wouldn’t even know where to start,” she said, looking at the bundle clutched in her hands.

“I’ll help you,” Bobby said. “I know what to do. Come back to Denver with me.”

She looked at him, eyes shining.

“I mean it,” he said. “But no drugs, nothing illegal, and especially no kidnappings.”

“Sure,” she said. “Whatever.”

She tried to sound like she didn’t care, but Adam could see she was flustered. Maybe that was all she’d needed, a choice.

And if she stabbed them in the back, Adam would be there.

“What about you, Mom?” Adam asked Tilla. “There’s no reason for you to stay out here anymore.”

“You’ve seen my house,” Bobby said. “I’ve got plenty of room.”

“I call the basement,” Adam said.

Vic stiffened a little at that.

“What?” Adam asked. “Did you think I wasn’t coming back?”

“Later,” Vic said, smiling.

The laters were really piling up.

“I like it here,” Tilla said. “I’ll stay for now.”

“Maybe spend some time with Sheriff Early?” Adam teased.

“Adam Lee,” his mother snapped. Blushing a little, she added a muttered, “Maybe.”

Adam took in the worn trailer. He had the feeling he wouldn’t be back here. It wasn’t a sense of dread, like when he’d left Sue’s.

This was different. It wasn’t running away. It was letting go. It was closure.

This place had been his parents’ dream, then his mom’s place. Adam realized he didn’t want it, not like he’d thought he might want Sue’s, though he could see now that she’d been right to leave it to Noreen.

He didn’t belong in Guthrie anymore. It left him a little blue at the edges, but mostly warm, in the core, where it counted.

For now, he belonged in Denver.

Adam smiled. The Page of Swords meant new ideas. Curiosity. And Adam was curious. Tomorrow he’d borrow a shovel and go dig up the family grimoire.

For now, all he wanted was sleep and Vic safe in his arms.

“We’ll take the couch,” Adam said when they reached the door.

“It’s narrow for two,” Tilla protested. “I have your old sleeping bags. You could make a pallet. One of you could sleep on that.”

“Like you’re going to pry them apart,” Bobby said.

“They’ll have to shower eventually,” Jodi said.

“We can do that together,” Vic countered, squeezing Adam’s hand.

Adam didn’t even blush. It was true. He’d saved Vic, and Vic had saved him back. Given the chance he’d never let go of Vic again.

“What about peeing then?” Jodi asked.

That, Adam would do alone.

He felt his eyes start to shine as something welled up in his chest.

They’d all saved him, even Jodi.

Silver. Vran. Argent. His family. Blood and found, they’d come for him.

In the end, the dead had saved him too. Sue. Sue had been there.

The tears fell then.

“Hey. Hey,” Vic said, wrapping him back in his arms.

“Sorry,” Adam said.

“Don’t be,” Vic said. “You’ve had a long day. You’re a little overwhelmed. We all are.”

Adam nodded and took one more look around the room at his tired family. They were all close to dropping but questions remained.

“What’s with the sunglasses?” he asked. “Also, where’s my car?”