FORTY-TWO

Squat turned toward the jagged opening. As he moved, Thomas realized that even the wizard’s clothes had changed. The grimy olive overcoat was now a rich green cloak that shimmered in the half-light. His once-scraggly beard was trimmed and neat, his dark hair groomed and smooth. He turned around and met Thomas’s gaze. His eyes were the same, green and fiery, the only part of him unchanged by the transformation.

“What you see now, just as what you saw before, is only skin deep,” said Squat. “A man is more than his appearances, and more, I hope, than his past mistakes.”

“Scott Alpheus! My oldest friend.” A figure materialized in the entranceway, backlit by the afternoon sun, his voice rich and melodious.

“Arius.” Squat’s voice was tight, his posture tense.

“Scott Alpheus?” whispered Enrique. Thomas shrugged, his eyes locked on the silhouetted figure at the mouth of the cave.

“I hear you’ve been playing homeless again.” The tone was friendly, almost jovial, but was laced with an undercurrent of contempt. “Why? You and I could still be doing great things together. Changing the world.”

“What do you want, Arius?”

“You know what I want and how important it is that I get it,” said Arius. “Come, step into the light so we can talk like civilized beings. All of you, so that I’m not forced to do things we’ll all regret.”

Arius disappeared from the mouth of the cave without waiting for a response. Squat looked from Thomas to Enrique, his eyes pained but hopeful. “Remember what you promised. No matter what you hear or see or think, Arius does not get the crystal. No matter what.”

Thomas nodded. Enrique followed Squat through the jagged opening and into the light. Thomas followed, shielding his eyes against the onslaught of brightness. As the world came into focus, his heart nearly pounded out of his chest. An enormous man was holding Huxley in one hand and Professor Reilly in the other. Both had tape across their mouths and dangled like rag dolls. Their toes barely skimmed the rock ledge, but the giant showed no more strain than an ordinary person lifting a glass of water.

“Thomas Wildus. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

The rich voice brought Thomas’s attention to the man standing just a few feet away. His brain skipped. This was Arius Strong? He’d expected a monster, but Arius was handsome, with dark-hair, smooth skin, and hazel eyes. In spite of their situation, his posture was relaxed, his smile easy, as if they were old friends meeting for a pleasant afternoon. His eyes sparkled. He looked genuinely happy.

“You recovered the crystal,” Arius continued. It was a statement rather than a question, and his tone conveyed sincere appreciation. “Very impressive. Arianna was certain this would be the hardest of the three, and the others were anything but easy. A truly remarkable accomplishment. You should be extremely proud.”

“Where is she?” asked Squat. “I know she’s here.”

“Let’s not worry about Arianna,” said Arius. He turned his gaze to Squat, his expression holding a hint of contempt. “I think it would be more appropriate to take a moment and focus on you. How much do our young friends know about you, Scott? Have you bothered to tell them anything important at all?”

“Like what?” said Enrique. “That you’re an evil bastard?”

“Enrique Rodriguez.” Arius’s smile returned, widening until he positively radiated joy. “What an extraordinary and wonderful surprise! Young men with abilities like yours are extremely rare, Enrique. I wish the circumstances were more fortuitous, but I couldn’t be happier to meet you.”

Enrique crossed his arms, but his scowl softened.

Thomas felt an unexpected twinge of envy. I thought I was the special one. A muffled grunt brought his attention back to the canyon ledge. Professor Reilly writhed, his face red and his voice muted by the duct tape. The giant silently swung him until his feet dangled over the canyon ledge. The professor looked down, his eyes bulging, and stopped struggling.

“I’m sorry, Professor, but our young friends deserve to know the truth about the company they keep,” said Arius. “It seems that a few important details have been neglected, and it is only fair that they have a complete picture before making such a monumental choice. The crystal is far too important to risk on partial information. Once I’ve had my say, Heinrik will happily return you to your friends. You as well, Alchemist.”

“They do deserve the truth.” Squat looked at Thomas, his green eyes imploring, his face pained but determined. “Try not to judge me too harshly.”

“Very well,” said Arius. “First, I must apologize. Thomas, Enrique, I’m sorry for using your friends as leverage like this. It’s unfair to put you in such a position, but it is imperative that you hear me out. Please, accept my most sincere apologies.”

Thomas felt helpless, confused. Arius was so different than he expected. He seemed so genuine, so sincere, and yet he was threatening to kill Huxley and Professor Reilly. These were people he had chosen to trust—people his mom believed in so deeply she let them take him from his home and help him unlock his magical powers. Then there was Squat. He was an enigma, far more complex and deep than Thomas had imagined. He had obviously kept his past hidden, but why? Nothing was clear. Nothing made any sense.

“I understand how you must feel,” Arius continued. “Secrets can be confusing. If these people are truly your friends, why have they kept so much from you? One has to wonder if they are just using you to get what they want?”

“And you aren’t?” said Enrique. The defiance had returned to his eyes and voice.

Arius looked at Enrique and laughed gently. “Very insightful, Enrique. You’re quite right. Yes, of course, I’m trying to get what I want. We all are, aren’t we? You, me, everyone. The question is what do you really want, and whose interests are best aligned with your own?”

“Then what are you trying to get?” asked Thomas. “What are your interests?”

“I want the crystal,” said Arius. “And I want it because I want the power to shape the future of this planet. We have allowed weapons and war and environmental destruction to dominate for far too long. The time has come for a new era, and I want to be part of bringing it forward.”

“Why? So you can take more for yourself?” said Enrique. “Being a billionaire isn’t good enough for you?”

A look flashed across Arius’s face, dark, dangerous. He composed himself quickly, but his smile took on a new, almost wolfish quality. “Money has nothing to do with it, but we’ll come back to that shortly. First, let’s talk about your friend and teacher. How much do you really know about Scott Alpheus? Or should I call him Squattapus?”

“He taught us magic,” said Enrique. “That’s more than you’ve done for us.”

“Of course. Scott is a magician of unparalleled ability. In a life spent seeking out extraordinary people, I have yet to come across anyone with more innate talent,” said Arius. “Until today, perhaps, but that is still to be seen. Unfortunately, he is also a traitor, and worse. Far, far worse. He’s a—”

“That was a long time ago, Arius.” Scott sounded pained, almost desperate. “I’m not that man anymore.”

“You will always be that man.” Arius’s voice was hard, sharp. “Some sins cannot be simply washed away. Some sins are forever.”

Scott looked at the stones near his feet, the lines of his face suddenly deeper, more pronounced. His hands hung at his sides, loose and helpless, but he didn’t argue.

Arius shifted his gaze back to Thomas and Enrique. “Are you sure you want to know the rest?”

Thomas felt himself nodding, unable to resist. Enrique’s head lifted and lowered at the same time.

“Scott Alpheus,” said Arius, leaning forward and lowering his voice to a near whisper, “is a murderer.”

The final word twisted from Arius’s lips like poison, saturating the air with venom. Thomas stared at Squat—Scott—his mouth open, revulsion roiling his gut. The look on Scott’s face was as much an admission of guilt as anything he could have said or done. The magician didn’t even try to protest.

“Oh, yes, a murderer,” said Arius. “When we were younger, Scott was my closest friend and most trusted advisor. Our work together was extraordinary, and our goals perfectly aligned. We were going to change the world, create a better future for all of mankind.”

“That’s BS. The only future you care about is your own,” said Thomas. But his voice was weak, uncertain. He felt sick, confused. Nothing made sense.

“Is that true, Thomas?” asked Arius. “The Alchemist and his wife have lived far beyond the years nature intended, using their craft for long life and financial gain. Your professor’s research has been used to create weapons of mass destruction, and Scott is a weapon of mass destruction. How sure are you that you have chosen the right side in this exchange?”

Thomas’s brain felt scrambled, overloaded. He looked at Professor Reilly and Huxley dangling from the hands of the giant, at Scott standing in shame, at Enrique, who seemed just as confused as he felt. Then there was Arius. Handsome, confident, composed. What if he hadn’t chosen right? What if he was on the wrong side? He didn’t know what to think or believe.

“Good. You should be questioning your alliances,” said Arius. “Did you know Scott had a family once? No? He didn’t mention that, either? Interesting. Well, he did. He was married to a lovely woman, Maritza, and together they had a son. Jamie was a beautiful boy, bright and full of life. Jamie was like a son to me, and for Scott, he was far more than that. He was the center of the universe, the sun and moon and stars.”

“Enough,” whispered Scott. “Please. Enough.”

“One day little Jamie got sick,” continued Arius. “When his fever rose, Maritza took him to the doctor, as any good mother would do. And as any good doctor would do in the same situation, the good man prescribed antibiotics. How was he to know? How were any of them to know?”

A cry pierced the air, the forlorn call of a bird lost above a distant sea. Scott dropped to his knees, a trail of tears dripping silently down his cheek.

“By the time they realized that Jamie was allergic, it was too late. He was gone.” Arius paused for dramatic effect, pulling Thomas closer. “In her agony, Maritza took her own life, then and there. When Scott came home, he found them together, cold and lifeless. His whole life, suddenly shattered. I can’t possibly imagine the horror he felt in that moment. So much pain would be enough to drive any man mad, but knowing Scott’s power, can you imagine what happened next?”

Thomas shook his head, but his mind danced with dark suspicions.

“No, no,” Arius continued, shaking his head. “No, it is far worse than you can possibly imagine. By the time I arrived, the doctor’s entire building was in ruins, crushed to dust and rubble. My friend, your teacher, had destroyed everything and everyone. Not just the doctor but also the nurses and staff. More than a dozen dead, and not a single survivor. That is the person your alchemist calls upon to teach magic to children.”

Thomas stood in shock. He had seen, through Arius’s speaking, a reflection of the destruction Scott caused. The scene played through his mind like a movie. Dust filtering through the air above a building that had been completely leveled, neighbors streaming into the street to see what had happened, the sounds of shouting and terror. The heartbroken wails of those whose family members had been inside.

“Heinrik, please set them down,” said Arius, addressing the giant. “Now you know the truth, Thomas, and it is time to make your choice. Will you stand beside a murderer, or will you join with me and help to truly change the world?”