Emily's House (The Akasha Chronicles) (31 page)

Just as they were about to be hauled off again for another stint of detention, there came a loud shout above the noise of the crowd.

“Sir, Sir. You gotta’ see this. You’re not going to believe it,” said one of the security guards at a monitor on the other side of the room.

The whole crowd shifted to the other side of the room where the guard was watching a security tape.

“What have you got?” asked the lead scientist.

“Here is the tape from the camera focused on magnet housing number two, the one that exploded. Look here at two minutes, ten seconds before the explosion.”

All eyes stared at the screen as it clearly showed a tall, dark haired man walking toward the magnet. The camera was trained on the magnet housing so it showed the man only from behind. But clearly there was a man walking toward it.

Within seconds, a more extraordinary thing showed on the screen. There, in the magnet itself, a small hole was forming. It wasn’t a hole from an explosion, but was instead like a window opening that appeared to look into another world entirely. As each second passed, the opening grew larger and larger as what appeared to be fog billowed out.

And then, clear as day, Dughall ran right into the center of that opening and disappeared. Poof! Gone from our world. Their only chance to stop him gone.

Within seconds of Dughall’s disappearing act, the portal that he had created exploded. The camera picked up the fire and shrapnel coming toward it then. . .nothing. The explosion knocked out the camera too.

For a second time in less than ten minutes, you could hear a pin drop in a crowd of no less than twenty-five people. And then all eyes turned to Liam, Fanny and Jake. There was an awkward, stunned silence until the lead scientist spoke in a hushed voice.

“I don’t know how you knew these things, Mr. Adams, but all that you stated appears to be true. I’ve seen the evidence for it, but I still can’t believe it. But somehow this man. . . or thing. . . was able to breach our security, obtain a willing partner to enter his malicious code, and enter a facility cooled to minus -271° without freezing to death.

“And to top it off, he created an anomaly that somehow. . . and I’m not sure I understand yet how – created what appears to be a wormhole or transportation device of some kind. The perpetrator of this horrendous crime, now fled from justice!”

“Sir, I don’t mean to stop you, but the other truth is that what he created down there, it’s extremely unstable. I’ve done some calculations while in your holding tank and, well, we need to act fast to get this thing under control. We’re wasting precious time here.”

“You’ve already started calculations?” he asked.

“Yes, well, as I said, I had a pretty fair idea what he was up to. I started working out calculations for what would likely happen if he succeeded and, well, it’s not a pretty sight.”

“Mr. Adams, I sincerely apologize for all that you and your kids have been through. I need to impose on you again though and ask if you can please work with my team here. Share with them all that you know – bring them up to speed – so that we can nip this thing in the bud before it causes more damage.”

This was the invitation Liam had been waiting for. Working on a problem, solving equations – he was in his element. He had felt so helpless and incompetent at helping Emily. Now he could be of use and maybe – just maybe – his work would bring Emily back safely.

“I’m happy to help however I can.”

“Okay then, let’s get going,” said the lead scientist as he immediately started creating teams and divvying up work.

Liam dove right in and got to work with his team. But after a few minutes, he remembered Fanny and Jake. Liam went over to the corner of the room where Jake and Fanny stood, their eyes tired and their faces pale with lack of sleep.

"You guys are dead on your feet. Why don't I see if there's an expendable intern or someone here to take you to town, get a hotel room with a comfy bed and some warm food?"

"I'm not going anywhere," said Jake firmly.

"But Jake, there's no reason for you kids to stay here. You've done everything you can. Besides, it's safer back in town."

"I'm not leaving," said Jake.

"Yeah, we've come this far. We want to be here if Emily comes," said Fanny.

"She'll be here Fanny," Jake said testily.

"Okay, okay Jake. Don't knot up your panties again. I'm just sayin', I thought she'd make it here in time to stop him. I'm worried about her," said Fanny.

“Look, I know you want to do everything you can to help Emily. We all do. But right now, there’s nothing you can do here. This is work for an old fart scientist like me,” Liam said with a wink. “The best thing for you to do right now is to get some well deserved rest and food.”

"Look Mr. Adams don't you get it? I'm not leaving without Emily," Jake said between clenched teeth.

Liam knew he'd lost the battle. "Okay, okay. You can stay. But just hang out back here, out of the way. And promise me if there are more explosions that you'll run, okay? Run as fast as you can out of here and don't wait for me or for Emily. Do you promise?"

Both Fanny and Jake nodded.

Liam wasn't sure it was the right thing to do to let them stay.
Maybe I should have fought harder to get them to safety
. Not only did he feel responsible for them, but after all they'd been through together, he had begun to think of Jake and Fanny as part of his own family. He just wanted them to be safe. But if he didn't get back to work and find out how to stop the anomaly, they wouldn't be safe even at a plush hotel in town. No one would be safe.

58. Dughall and the Portal

Dughall expected pain or at least some discomfort from passing through the portal like he had felt going to the Umbra Nihili. Instead, it was simply like walking through a door. At one moment, he was running through the collider corridor toward the large magnet, the next he was running in a land made entirely of silvery mist and fog.

The entities of the Netherworld – thinking they can send a mere child to stop me! What fools they are. And where is she? The whelp didn’t even make it to the collider.

Dughall briefly considered that he should go look for her, but he quickly dismissed it. He didn’t need to worry about her or anyone. No one knew where he was going. All that was left to do now was to still his mind and focus on the time and place he longed to be.

Dughall had remembered it, thought on it, obsessed about it for so many years that it was easy to put himself there in his mind. All he had to do was close his eyes and picture the scene.

It’s a bright, sunny day in a small village in the south of Italy. He’s a thirteen-year-old boy walking home from his morning duties for his master, ready to enjoy his midday meal with his beloved mother. He can smell the scent of the cedar trees mixed with the smell of olives and honeysuckle climbing the walls of the cottages he passes. He is jubilant for this is the day that they will cease to be slaves. Today is the day they escape.

Dughall knows exactly where he wants to jump into the stream of time. He has dreamt of it for years. Dughall wants to see the eyes of his mother’s attacker when he takes the man’s life. His joy is boundless as he imagines twisting the knife in that man’s chest, watching him suffer agony.

Dughall took a deep breath and opened his eyes. Before him was the familiar room of the confinement of his youth. A small hearth but there was no midday meal cooking this day. He knew this scene. He knew the action was in the next room.

Just as he had done so many years before, he walked as quietly as a leopard, taking care not to show himself. But this time he heard no whimper of his mother’s broken body. Good, he was there in time.

His knife was at the ready. Dughall could have brought with him a very sharp, excellent hunting knife from the future time. He chose, instead, to use the same type of dull work knife of his youth. Anything too sharp and precise would hasten the jackal’s death.

He turned the corner, knife in hand, ready to take the man by surprise. But as he entered the room, he didn’t see the man who he intended to kill. What he saw instead was a surprise to him, and a most unfortunate complication.

59. His Deepest Desire

I don’t think Dughall could have looked more surprised. His dark hair and heavy eyebrows rested over a gaunt face that looked like it had been chiseled out of stone. His eyes landed first on me. His look of surprise quickly gave way to a look of pure anger and hatred. I think he would have leapt upon me and killed me on the spot if his mother hadn’t spoken.

“Is this. . . my son?” she asked incredulously.

Dughall’s eyes immediately shifted to the woman standing across from me. At over six feet tall, his frame towered over her mere five-foot body. Her jet-black hair was matted to her face by sweat and she looked care worn. But beneath the wear was a woman of incomparable beauty in any time.

“Mother, oh dearest mother,” Dughall said at last. He had a softness in his voice that seemed impossible from such a hard and brooding face. He went to her and knelt down, resting his head against her stomach and embracing her wholly. I watched as she gently caressed his hair.

“My son, look how you’ve grown. I don’t understand what magic brings this angel who has slain my attacker or you to me, but of both, I am most glad,” she said.

It was at that moment that Dughall looked down beside him and finally saw the dead body of the man that had been his mother’s night ‘companion’. Instead of being pleased that I had taken the jerk out for him, Dughall looked on me with rage.

“How dare you come here and defile my childhood home? You witch!”

“Dughall, mind your tongue,” his mother said. “This angel of the future came just in time. That man was set on doing me great harm. I don’t think I’d be alive if she hadn’t come when she did.”

“I know he was going to do you harm, dearest mother. That is why I came back to this time, to stop the brutal slaying of my own mother.

“Oh mother, you have no idea what I have been through. . . of my own suffering, all to come back and prevent this jackal from taking your life. This. . . simple whelp from the future has ruined it – ruined my moment!”

“Dughall my sweet, nothing is ruined. Be glad for the help dear son and now you can go peacefully back to your time knowing that I am safe.”

“Back to my time! Mother, I have no time. Don’t you see? I belong here, I always have. I waited, mother, oh so long I’ve waited. . .”

I could swear I saw tears coming to his eyes.
Is it possible that Dughall has feelings?
Is
it possible that he could be human again?

“Dearest one, don’t fret. You can stay then, we’ll figure it out. Don’t worry any more dear son,” she said as she continued to stroke his hair.

“Yes, mother, and together we’ll rule this land. Oh, I have dreamed it and planned it for so long and now, all the forces are aligned. Now is the time mother. You’ll be a slave no more but a queen.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that dear one. With the help of the angel, our slavery will end today, to be sure. But a queen? Why I have no such sights.”

“This child save you? But mother, I will free you. And together we will rule, I promise you that. I will make those who have held us suffer, as we have suffered. Revenge will be ours!”

She took his head in her hands, one palm on each side of his face and looked long and deep into his eyes.

“You are my son, that is true, but a part of you has surely been lost.”

“What are you saying mother? I am your son, as I’ve always been.”

“I did not teach my son to seek revenge and glory.”

“But you did, mother, you always told me that I was exceptional and destined for greatness. Mother you taught me to bide my time until I could prove myself.”

“Yes, I know of the potential for greatness in you but not by revenge and inflicting suffering on another. Is that what you thought I wanted for you? My poor son, all these years that is what you thought I wanted for my dear son?”

“Of course mother, to rule over the land. We will have all the riches and power. And with all I have learned from the future, we will rule over a vast empire. The entire world will be ours. Don’t you want to be a queen mother? To have all that you desire?”

“Dughall, my son, all that I have ever desired, my heart’s only desire, is to see you happy. And not happy from gold adornments or beautiful women on your arm or power. No, all I’ve wanted for my son is that he know happiness within himself,” and she put her hand over his heart as she said this.

“What are you saying mother? Are you saying that you will not come with me? That you will not help me as I conquer this land then rule by my side?”

“No Dughall, I have no desire to build an empire with you. I am content to receive the help of this angel to escape my captivity then live with my son, young Dughall, in an honest life. That is all I’ve ever wanted.”

Dughall’s face looked as crestfallen as a dog that sat and begged and stayed and rolled over then didn’t get the promised treat. While still kneeling, he looked away from us both for a moment then slowly rose.

Dughall may have learned a lot of things while in the Umbra Nihili, but he apparently didn’t learn to close his mind to the sight. In a flash, I knew what he meant to do.

All then was a blur of action. My jeweled dagger, the one Hindergog had given me, was sheathed at my waist. I reached for it but fumbled as I tried to unfasten the hook that held it in place.

As I tried to get my fingers to cooperate with my brain, I saw Dughall lunging for me with a large knife. I knew it was now or never and finally the small dagger was free.

In one of those rare moments of clarity and focus, in an instant my mind knew that at the angle he was coming, I needed to thrust upward. My hand was at the ready, and as I was about to thrust that little dagger into the belly of my enemy, he fell in front of me in a heap.

There were two bodies then littering the floor of the tiny dark room. And standing in the midst of it all was a tiny woman, Dughall’s mother, her hands still trembling from the action she had just taken.