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During the train ride back to London that night, Kismet told them the whole story, beginning with his first encounter with Prometheus and the man he now knew to be his estranged brother. The first glimpse behind what he called “the shroud of heaven” had set him on a path of discovery—not only about the true nature of reality and spirituality, but also of a mystery that began the day of his own birth.
He revealed that his father, Christian Garral, was not his true biological father. The man had adopted him shortly after his birth and subsequent abandonment. He had known that much even as a young boy, but it was only much later that he learned the unusual circumstances of his birth and parentage. Adam Garral was not, so far as Kismet knew, a blood relative.
The man Maddock called TBH, and who had identified himself to Kismet as Ulrich Hauser, was actually Kismet’s fraternal twin, and while Kismet had grown up as the son of a globe-trotting adventurer and yacht racer, his brother had been groomed to lead Prometheus, an education overseen by the mother Kismet had never met.
“Your contact on the inside,” Maddock realized aloud.
Kismet just nodded.
It was not merely inevitable that the two men would cross paths again, but foreordained.
Kismet also told them of his other adventures, such as his descent into the Black Sea to find the Golden Fleece of Greek legend, or his battle against a diabolical monk to control the Judas rope.
“Wait,” Bones interrupted. “Judas, as in Jesus’s bro?”
Kismet nodded. “According to the story, it was the rope Judas Iscariot used to hang himself with after the betrayal. I don’t know if it’s true, but sometimes it’s easier just to go with the devil you know.”
Bones and Maddock exchanged knowing looks, but kept their silence.
Kismet’s final confrontation with his brother—though now it seemed not-quite-so-final after all—had involved a search for the secret of immortality itself. Though he had been a skeptic at the outset, subsequent events had made him a believer.
Bones shook his head in disbelief. “You’re immortal?”
“I honestly don’t know,” replied Kismet. “The effects may wear off someday, but right now... Yeah, I guess ‘immortal’ sums it up. I look about twenty years younger than what is says on my driver’s license.”
“If I ever settle down with a hot, young number, maybe you can give her a bit of what you’ve got,” Bones said.
“You’ll be settling down with your left hand,” Jade said.
“I heal quickly,” Kismet went on. Even from very serious injuries.” He nodded in Jade’s direction. “And if I don’t get a haircut at least once a week, or I start looking like Cousin It.”
Bones wagged his head again. “Kismet, means luck, right?”
“Luck. Fate. Serendipity. Take your pick.”
“Well, I think you must be the luckiest son-of-a-bitch on the planet.”
“Fortune favors the bold,” said Jade.
Kismet gave a mirthless chuckle. “Believe me, I don’t feel particularly lucky.”
“And your brother got a dose of it, too?” said Maddock.
Kismet shrugged. “I didn’t think so at the time, but based on what you’ve told me, that’s about the only conclusion I can draw.”
“So he’s just going to keep coming?” Bones said. “Like Arnie?” He dropped his voice and affected a comically thick Austrian accent. “I’ll be bah-ck.”
“Until he gets what he wants. The Philosopher’s Stone.”
“So we get it first, yeah?” said Jade. “Use it against him. If it can give immortality, maybe it can take it away, too.” A guilty look came over her and she quickly glanced over at Kismet. “We’d be careful with it, of course.”
Maddock looked over at Rose, who held the backpack containing the orb and mirror on her lap. “First we have to find the fourth elemental. The Emerald Tablet.”
Kismet stared at Maddock. “You don’t have to, you know. This is my fight. And, not to put too fine a point on it, but I’ve got nine lives. You don’t.”
Bones laughed. “Not to put too fine a point on it, but you’d be nowhere without us. Stopping bad guys from taking over the world is kind of our thing.”
Kismet glanced at him and then the others. “Does he speak for all of you?”
Jade gave a derisive snort and shook her head. “God forbid. But I was on board before he showed up, so I’ve already got dibs.”
“I don’t want to think about what will happen if Prometheus wins this fight,” said Maddock, “but I know we’ll stand a better chance if we stick together.”
Kismet nodded slowly. “All right. Then let’s do this.”
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The End
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The adventure concludes with Magus, the final book of the Elementals trilogy!