Give the Devil His Due (The Sanheim Chronicles, Book Three) (47 page)

Carol looked surprised and Buzz looked hurt.

“I know you find me eccentric, my boy,” he started. “But I promise you, I can get this done.”

It was Quinn’s turn to look startled.

“Buzz, it’s not that,” he said. “Quite the opposite. I need a general. Kate’s in charge, of course, and Clinton will help, but we need someone with more tactical experience.”

Quinn could see Clinton nodding.

“You were always telling stories at the paper about how the U.S. could have won Vietnam, or how Lee could have triumphed at Gettysburg,” Quinn said. “We can’t think of anyone better suited for the task than you. We’re facing an army much larger than ours, led by a commander with a lot more experience. You’re our ace in the hole.”

Buzz suddenly broke away from the group and hugged Quinn, almost knocking him over. Then he pulled back and put his hands on Quinn’s shoulders.

“I won’t fail you,” he said solemnly. “I swear that to you.”

“I know you won’t,” Quinn replied.

His eyes shifted to Carol.

“But that means you have to get the scarecrows,” Quinn said. “Are you okay with that? Will they listen to you?”

“They should,” she said. “I can bring them to you. I’ll have to leave right now, though.”

“Do you know the way back?” Quinn asked.

“I’ll draw another map,” she said, “but I should remember it. My mama always said I have a mind like a steel trap. Show me something once, and I can do it again.”

“A good talent to have,” Quinn said, “especially now.”

Carol looked at the four of them gathered around.

“I guess I need to get going,” she said and then hesitated. “Could I have a moment alone with Buzz?”

Quinn nodded, and the two of them walked away from the group. Quinn watched them talk, knowing how difficult it was for them to leave each other. It was hard enough to find someone in life. But to find someone to love in death? He watched as they kissed. Carol turned back to them and waved, while Buzz returned to the group.

You need to talk with her
, Kate’s voice said in his head.

“Oh, one thing,” Quinn called after her, and he ran to catch up with Carol. “Are you really up for this?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she said.

“Then I want to try something,” he said.

“Okay,” she said, giving him a curious look.

He put his hand on her cheek and closed his eyes. He felt almost an electrical spark flow out of him and into her. Carol jumped back and her eyes widened.

“What in the Sam Hill was that?” she asked.

She looked down at herself. Quinn thought she looked brighter.

“I’ve given you some of my power,” Quinn said. “I wasn’t sure how it worked exactly, but I think that did the trick. I think that’s what Sanheim did for Kyle.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because I need you to do something for me,” he said. “The scarecrows sort of worshiped Kyle, right? And he made them into scarecrows?”

Carol nodded slowly.

“I need you to change their religion,” he said. “I need them to follow a new leader.”

Chapter 37

Elyssa sat on a little hillside away from the army, contemplating what she should do next.

When Quinn found out what she had done, she had no idea how he would react. She knew how Sawyer would have responded. He would have seen her act as a betrayal. But Quinn? She didn’t understand him and that frightened her.

She could run, but that was never her preferred option. Her father had not raised a coward. Besides, where would she go? There was nothing here for her. She closed her eyes and lay back in the red grass. A part of her wished the earth would swallow her whole.

“She is sad,” a voice near her said.

“She is lost,” another one said.

“She is alone,” a third voice said.

Elyssa sat up and looked around the hillside. She saw nothing, but she got to her feet anyway.

“She wants to fight,” the first voice said.

“She wants to flee,” another one added.

“She wants to die,” a third one said.

Elyssa didn’t bother to question where the voices were coming from. Instead, she simply decided to conjure a weapon. She closed her eyes and when she opened them, she held a sword in her hand.

“Show yourselves,” Elyssa ordered.

She heard a strange sound that she then recognized as laughing. She was enraged, but she wouldn’t let her emotions get the better of her. Instead, she stood stock still and waited.

“She shows patien…”

The words were barely out before Elyssa pounced. Though she could see nothing, she acted with animal reflexes. She dashed over to where the voice came from and sliced the air. She didn’t know if a sword could hurt whatever was taunting her, but it was worth a try. The sword connected with something, however.

A strange creature suddenly appeared in front of her. It was skeletal, with long, stringy hair and a skull-like visage with hollowed out eyes that glowed yellow. She had pierced its shoulder and it screamed in surprise and anger.

“Got you, you little sneak,” Elyssa said gleefully.

Two more creatures appeared next to it. They had long claws extended and looked prepared to pounce. Elyssa laughed out loud. Even if she was just a human now, she knew she could take these things. Then she looked behind the creatures and noticed ripples in the air. Hundreds of similar creatures appeared behind the first three and she suddenly realized she was in way over her head. They all looked angry.

Elyssa stepped back into a defensive posture. She couldn’t hope to win, but she decided she could at least do a lot more damage than these creatures assumed.

The first one leapt into the air, forcing Elyssa to spring back. She dodged the second one as well, only to have the wounded third come straight at her. She could see its claws shining, about to tear into her.

“That’s enough!” a voice shouted, and the creatures immediately broke off their attack.

They turned away from Elyssa to face the voice who had spoken. Elyssa followed their gaze. Kate stood watching them with an angry look on her face.

“I was very clear,” Kate said. “No attacking our allies.”

“This one’s loyalty is suspect,” the first one said.

“This one tried to kill your love,” the second one added.

“This one…”

“Enough,” Kate said. She sighed. “I get the picture. But until I say otherwise, or Elyssa makes a hostile move against Quinn or myself, she’s off limits. Okay?”

The wraiths behind the first three all bowed and then disappeared as quickly as they had come. However, the initial three stayed, looking unhappily from Elyssa to Kate.

“We want action,” the first said.

“We want to fight,” the other said.

“We want death,” the third one finished.

“And you shall have it, I promise,” Kate responded. “A battle is coming, the most important one. You’ll get your chance then. I swear.”

One by one, the three vanished, but not before first giving Elyssa a cold stare. When they were gone, Kate casually sat down in the grass and gestured to Elyssa to sit with her.

“I think it’s time for a chat,” Kate said.

Elyssa sat down, but kept her distance from Kate. Now that Quinn had what he wanted, what was to become of her? Elyssa regarded Kate warily.

“I would not turn your back to those creatures,” Elyssa said. “I’ve come across their like once or twice in the past. They aren’t truly human anymore. You can’t trust them.”

Kate nodded and gave Elyssa a look.

“Ah,” Elyssa said. “You think the same of me.”

“Relax,” Kate responded. “I’m not here to fight you.”

“Then what are you here for?”

“Well, for starters, I wanted to thank you,” she said.

Elyssa looked surprised.

“Thank me?” she asked.

“In the amusement park, you saved Quinn,” she said.

“We saved each other,” Elyssa said.

“That is precisely why I’m thanking you,” Kate said. “Somewhere in there, you took a leap of faith. Given our past, that couldn’t have been easy.”

Elyssa shrugged.

“I admit I thought it might be an elaborate ruse,” she said. “But at a certain point it became clear we were on the same side, at least for the time being.”

“We still are.”

Elyssa studied Kate’s face.

“Are we?” she asked. “Quinn is restored to life, you two are once again the Prince of Sanheim. Your victory over Sawyer and me is complete. Quinn and I worked and traveled together for a time, but given your army, I can’t see why you need me anymore. You’ve already made it clear you don’t trust me.”

“Well, you did disappear while Quinn was fighting the Wyrm at Dun Cumhacht,” Kate said. “In our place, wouldn’t you find that suspicious?”

Elyssa stared out at the tents and watched as the soldiers geared up. As they got ready, the tents around them disappeared, vanishing into thin air. Everything that was here was literally thought into existence. When they ceased to need it, it was gone. It was fitting, she supposed. She felt the same way. She had been conjured up when useful and now would be left to fade away at the back of the line where she was unable to do any good, but also unable to betray anyone. Once again, she would be discarded by those who claimed to be her allies.

“It’s not like that,” Kate said gently. Her tone was more sympathetic than Elyssa expected. She turned back to her.

“You can read my mind?” Elyssa asked.

Kate shook her head.

“Not at all,” she said. “But I think I know how you feel. You aren’t exactly one for hiding your emotions.”

“Just tell me what you want from me,” Elyssa said.

“We just want to know the truth,” Kate responded. “Are you working for Sanheim?”

Once again, Elyssa was taken by surprise.

“No,” she said immediately, confused. “What gives you that idea?”

“Well, for starters,” Kate said. “You disappeared at a critical moment.”

“And reappeared when Kieran was ready to strike at Quinn,” Elyssa added.

“True,” Kate said. “But the question remains — where were you before that?”

Elyssa pushed off the ground and stood up.

“It’s been fun,” she said. “Give Quinn my regards, but I think I’ll go my own way from here on out. I hope you guys beat Sanheim, I really do.”

Elyssa brushed herself off and started to walk away. What Kate said next she said quietly, almost too softly for Elyssa to hear.

“Coward,” Kate said.

Elyssa came back, fresh anger on her face as she stood over Kate.

“What did you call me?”

Kate looked up calmly.

“I called you a coward,” Kate said, standing up. “Too afraid to just tell me the truth and maybe, just maybe, join a cause that will believe in you as much as you believe in it.”

The rage showed in Elyssa’s eyes.

“You dare to judge me,” she said. “You don’t know me. Your little questions here are a joke. There’s nothing I can say that you would believe. If I tell you where I was, why would you even believe that? If you think I’d work for that bastard Sanheim, then you don’t understand me at all.”

“And I don’t pretend to,” Kate said. “I won’t stop you if you want to go, but I won’t lie to you either. I’d rather you didn’t. I’d rather you be on our side.”

“Why?” Elyssa asked. “I have no powers anymore. I’m nothing to you. Did you know I tried to sleep with Quinn? Maybe that will change your mind.”

Kate rolled her eyes.

“Oh, please,” she said. “I’ve seen his memories, remember? I know everything you two talked about. I even know that he found you rather enticing.”

“He had a funny way of showing it,” Elyssa said.

“He’s devoted to me, as I am to him,” Kate said. “I’m not threatened by you, Elyssa.”

“So why do you want me around?” Elyssa asked. “So I can watch you two be all lovey-dovey around each other? No thank you.”

Kate sighed.

“Just tell me where you were,” Kate said. “I’m not going to judge you.”

Elyssa sneered at her.

“You want to know?” she asked. “Fine. I found Sawyer in that prison. While Quinn was desperately looking for Crowley, I found Sawyer. I stayed behind so we could have a talk.”

Kate nodded.

“I wondered as much,” she said.

“You knew?”

“Janus let out most of the other prisoners after Quinn was restored to life,” Kate said. “They’re in rough shape, but some are at least ready to fight. I questioned them and a few mentioned a creature that looked suspiciously like Aillen.”

“I should have guessed you would find out,” Elyssa said.

“You let him go,” Kate said. “That’s what took you so long.”

“I thought the entire place was going to collapse,” Elyssa said. “I couldn’t leave him there.”