Chapter Twenty-Eight

 

Kuma sat on the back of the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. He found it hard to believe the tale that Choo-Choo and Vasilisa had returned with, even as he knew they were telling the truth. Pandora paced along the back side of the room. As Lady Saha she wore a terrifying visage even as he knew who was beneath the disguise. The others kept glancing back to her as if they expected her to burst into uncontrollable rage.

"Tell me again about what you felt when you were in the labs. Every last detail down to how it made you feel," said Pandora.

Choo-Choo spread his arms. "Haven't we gone over it enough?"

"Tell her," said Kuma, sensing what she was thinking. The idea was making his stomach hurt.

"It was like being around a generator that was unbalanced and going to explode soon," said Vasilisa, shaking her head softly. "I didn't like it. Made me feel a little ill. Nauseous. I know this sounds weird, but I thought whatever it was, it felt hungry."

When Pandora closed her eyes, inhaling through her nose, Kuma said, "You don't know for sure. It could be a lot of things. You said it yourself many times. Your grandfather collects artifacts. The Undercity has a lot of old magics hiding in the shadows."

Her eyes burst open as she shook her fist. "It wasn't just any area of the Undercity. That was a maetrie compound. They probably placed the portal there so they could come and go as they pleased from the Eternal City until something happened."

"Are either of you going to explain what the hell you're talking about?" asked Yara.

When it was clear Pandora was too angry to speak, Kuma said, "I'm not saying this is what it is, but there are these weapons. Maetrie weapons."

"Abominations," said Pandora, continuing to pace.

His friends stared back with concern. "Tears of the Gods. Plazkabog in their language. Made from obsidian and magesteel. They were made for, I don't know why they were made, but they can destroy an entire realm. Trap it inside and give its power to the wielder. Hylakane had one. Zhinzi. The assassin Kavano has another. Supposedly there's another in the city."

"And now another," said Pandora, her jaw pulsing with anger.

Kuma clasped his hands together. "We don't know that."

"We know it was stolen and it disappeared. What if the thief took it here, escaped through the portal and then destroyed it behind them, but fucked up and the entire place collapsed on him," said Pandora.

It was what he'd been thinking, but he hated speaking it out loud because that might make it true.

"Am I getting this right?" said Vasilisa. "The maetrie can make weapons that will destroy an entire realm? What the fuck. How can we compete with that?"

"They can't make them anymore. The knowledge is lost to time, but there are eleven of these weapons. Four of them haven't been used yet. The artifact in the Dark Depths could be one of them. If that's what it is."

Pandora had her eyes closed and her fingers massaging her forehead. "I always knew my grandfather was ambitious, but he's not like this. He's not a mass murderer."

"You said Hylakane had one?" asked Tick quietly.

"He did. I never liked being near it."

"He was your teacher?"

Kuma wanted to convey that he wasn't like that, but he could understand the disgust on Tick's face.

"He regretted what he did and then his Court was wiped out by one of the Tears. If any of them have paid the price, it's him."

"Fuck me," said Yara. "This could be worse than the invasion."

"We don't know he has designs on this realm," said Pandora. "Why destroy what you've been working so hard to subdue?"

"That doesn't exactly make me feel good," said Choo-Choo. "And you don't know that, Pan. I'm sorry. I know he's your grandfather, but we can't take that chance."

"What can we even do?" asked Tick.

"We have to kill him," said Pandora suddenly.

"Kill. Him. Your grandfather?" asked Tick.

Pandora's eyes were wet. "Yes." She swallowed. "Taking over the Undercity is one thing, but acquiring a Tear. An unused one. There are no good things that can happen with it. Even if he never uses it here."

"We don't know he has it yet," said Choo-Choo. "Maybe soon, but I don't know when."

Kuma shifted off the couch. "Could we take it from them?"

Choo-Choo and his sister shared glances before they both shook their heads.

"Both camps, above and below, were armed to the teeth. And if they're near, that means Titus will probably be on site with his crew. We don't have the numbers, or the firepower," said Choo-Choo.

"What about another hit on the Alliance HQ?" asked Tick.

Kuma shook his head. "When I visited their Academy, it looked upgraded. It was hard enough last time, and that was with Duro and Brazio. I don't think we have enough for that either."

"Then we're fucked," said Tick, slumping into the couch. "The whole city, above and below, is fucked."

"I've already said what we need to do," said Pandora tightly.

"Yeah, but how? He's surrounded by guards at all times," said Tick.

"We have to win the contest. Or at least get into the top eight. There'll be a ceremony," said Pandora, eyes darting all directions. "The winners will have access."

"Are you sure?" asked Kuma. "Despite everything we know, he is your grandfather."

"Family isn't the people who gave birth to you," she said, staring into the distance as she mumbled under her breath. He wanted to put his arms around her and tell her everything was going to be okay, but he couldn't do that in front of the others. Nor was he sure he believed it.

"We don't have to decide anything now," said Kuma. "We're still trying to win the contest and we know that Dominion is planning something. Might not have anything to do with our realm, but either way, we don't like it. For now, let's focus on what we can deal with, namely, the contest. Tick. Yara. What's the word on our opponents for tomorrow? And do we have an idea what's going on with the arena?"

Tick pulled out a notebook, licked his finger, and paged through it as he crossed one leg over the other.

"First is Lady Saha. She will be matched against Adriana Kuinin. She was the one who got the last rod. Nigerian born. Like everyone who's left in the contest, she has some supernatural abilities. Moves fast, hits hard. Probably hiding her real powers, but hard to say. You should win, but don't take her lightly."

Pandora looked like she was barely listening. She startled slightly, nodding in Tick's direction.

"Now for Aman Crownline. Your match is against the person who goes by Dream. We don't know much about them. The only thing I can say about the matches is they appeared to be more about the Dream's opponents making stupid mistakes. I worry what that means."

"I'll figure it out when I get there. What about the arena?"

Tick looked to Yara, who frowned. "The gates are blocked so you can't see inside, but I did see them hauling large round beams through the back entrance. There were boxes and other crap that gave me no clue to what's inside, but I have a feeling they're going to add obstacles to the arena."

Kuma thought back to his training with Instructor Kaz when he'd first gotten his emerald. He'd run the course hundreds of times until he could do it with his eyes closed.

"I think it's time to use our stones."