Remus (13 page)

He slumped over and leaned heavily against the wall. Whatever Harold had given him seemed to be working. With every moment that passed, he felt more and more like himself. But there was no way he wanted Agatha to know that. The more that woman knew, the less he could use this to his advantage.

“I’m glad to see the two of you getting along so well,” Agatha said and smiled at him. She watched him closely and then turned her attention to Jenna. “It’s too bad you aren’t truly bonded.”

Jenna shook her head vigorously and opened her mouth to dispute the claim.

“Romulus only confirmed what I had suspected,” Agatha said, cutting Jenna off. “No matter. You have still been of use.”

Rem glanced over to Jenna and thought about what she had done. Coming after him had been stupid. It put her in harm’s way, and that was the last place he wanted her to be.

“I can see that being near one another has returned some of your color,” she said to Rem, her eyes predatory as she spoke.

The conversation was far more polite than he would have liked. Something about her pleasant tone just didn’t sit well with him. Agatha wasn’t the type of woman to make small talk. She also wasn’t the type to just let things happen. If that were the case, she wouldn’t have gotten to where she was.

No, she was up to something, and he needed to figure out what that was.

“I’m particularly glad to see you have shown your true colors,” Agatha said. She gave him a wide toothy grin.

He paled at her comment. And there it was. Not even thinking about it, he had given her the incentive she needed. All these years of hiding himself only to let someone like her rule him.

“It was decided that you’d be of better use if we continued with the reversal,” she said, her eyes never leaving his. “Given your current talents, you’ll make a fine warrior for me. The greatest Glycon ever.”

Nero pushed into the room with several Glycons. The Glycons grabbed Rem’s arms.

Rem continued to feign feebleness. He needed to wait for his chance.

“No,” Jenna whispered and rushed to him. One of the Glycons snarled and snapped its mouth at her. She shrank back from the creature.

“Take him downstairs,” Agatha said, waving a hand at Nero. “Tell that sniveling man to get things ready.”

Rem struggled not to turn around. It broke him inside not to, but it wasn’t the time to break free. Jenna had to know that. He could only hope that she did.

“And you,” Agatha said to Jenna. “You have been spoken for.”

Jenna shook her head.

“I won’t,” she said quietly.

Agatha let out a sharp laugh. “You really think there’s a choice in this?”

The sharp woman was in front of Jenna in mere seconds. She grabbed her throat and squeezed lightly.

“Romulus wants you,” Agatha said. “And if that means I get him out of my hair, so be it.” She gave a harsh smile and let go of Jenna’s neck.

Jenna took in deep breaths.

“Besides, you should be happy,” Agatha said. “You are the first documented Vestal to have two men who are strong, viable matches.”

Jenna felt her stomach lurch. She leaned over, trying to breathe.

“It can’t be,” she whispered. Her body shook as she processed the information. Why? Why would she have the ability to bond with that monster? He was nothing like her Rem.

“I will get you for this,” Jenna said quietly. “You and your people have ruined so much. Hurt so many.”

“For the sake of progress,” Agatha whispered. “We will stop at nothing.”

Jenna clenched her fists as she struggled to maintain some composure.

“He will come for you soon,” Agatha said and made her way to the door. “If I were you, I’d ready myself.”

* * *

Rem leaned heavily on the Glycons as they made their way through the maze of tunnels in the cave. There were still so many places he hadn’t gone, and without Nyx or Magnus, he would have to find his own way back to Jenna. But first he needed to meet with Harold again. There was one bit of information he couldn’t leave without.

A distant rumble filled the halls around them, and he glanced around. Maybe there was some monster here that he hadn’t seen or heard.

“Underground rapids,” Nero said when he’d glanced over to him.

He wondered why he’d never heard of it before, but then, he’d never much had his brother’s full confidence. In truth, Rem had often wondered why he had been kept around. But then, in the end, they never had intended to keep him around, not as he was anyway.

Being captured by Vanessa hadn’t been coincidence. He had been told he was being sent on a secret mission to collect data. It didn’t take long for him to figure out that Romulus never intended for him to return.

In the end, it had been an opportunity, one he had been waiting for since he was a child. The chance to escape. The chance for freedom.

It wasn’t until he actually got that freedom that he knew what his true mission was. He needed to take down his brother and free Magnus and his people. With the other man’s help, they had all been able to escape Vanessa. Rem intended to repay that debt, no matter what.

They stopped outside large wooden double doors. The doors were old and worn. The metal handle looked worn, the design antique.

Nero pushed the doors open. Candles lit the inside of the room. They flickered with the wind from the door and cast eerie shadows on the walls.

“Bring him in,” Harold said quietly.

Rem watched the man closely. He had been willing to help him before, but would that be the case now? Things had gone far beyond what he thought they would, but maybe the sharp scientist had a better idea of the outcome.

The Glycons pushed Rem to a table, and they stopped abruptly. One command at a time was all they were good for.

“Let him go,” Harold said.

The two released him immediately.

Nero stood by the door, likely waiting for Agatha to show. When she came, it would be Rem’s only chance to get back the stone.

“Lay on the table,” Harold said.

Rem climbed onto the table and watched the scientist.

As he strapped in Rem, the man nodded. Rem still wasn’t quite sure why, but he couldn’t only assume it was Harold’s sign that he was on his side.

Harold turned around to the table behind him. Rem’s heart picked up at the sight of something blue on the table. Maybe Agatha had left the stone.

The stout man turned, and Rem could see it more clearly. He frowned at the sight. Several syringes containing clear blue liquid lay on the table.

Harold picked up one and stared at Rem.

Something hummed inside him as he looked at the liquid. It was the essence of Atlas.

Harold leaned over and smiled.

“Benigno numine,” Harold whispered and emptied the liquid into Rem.

The Latin words swirled in his head as the essence of Atlas worked though his body.

By the favor of the heavens.

* * *

Jenna moved swiftly around the tiny room. Like hell she was going to just wait around for that monster to come and take her. There had to be something she could use as a weapon.

She froze when a key clicked in the lock.

It was too late.

The closest thing to her was a chair, but it would be better than nothing. Maybe she could shove him out the door with it and escape that way.

She picked up the chair and held it in front of her body.

The door creaked open, and she took a deep breath. It was now or never.

“Jenna?” a feminine voice said.

She nearly laughed from the adrenaline that surged through her body.

“Oh thank God,” she whispered and dropped the chair to the floor.

Nyx stared at the chair.

“Death by chair?” She raised a brow.

Jenna shook her head.

“I don’t have time to explain,” she said quickly. “Romulus will be here soon.”

Nyx pulled the pack off her back.

“Then I think we’ll be needing this,” she said.

Jenna could have cried at seeing the pack. It was the one thing they had going for them right now.

Jenna grabbed the bag and pulled out her guns. It felt good to strap a gun on. She held up a gun to Nyx.

“You know how to use this?” she asked.

Nyx shrugged. “Point and shoot,” she said. “We had a little training in guns, but our education was a bit different than your friends at Luna Lodge.”

Jenna frowned, but didn’t have time to figure out what she meant. She was just going to have to trust that the strange woman would do what needed to be done.

“Where is Magnus?” Jenna asked, pulling dynamite out of her bag.

“Freeing the others,” Nyx said.

Jenna nodded and counted the sticks. They had to do this right, or they would all end up buried in this mountain.

“Does he have a way to get them out?” she asked.

Nyx glanced out the door. “Yes,” she said. “We need to move if we’re going to.”

Jenna nodded and grinned at the woman. “Ready to burn this place?”

Nyx laughed. “I knew you were my kind of woman. Let’s go blow shit up.”

* * *

Rem’s body seized on the table, and he felt like there was ice in his veins. He shook so badly his teeth rattled in his head. Talking became impossible.

That damn scientist had doomed him.

“What the hell is going on with him?” Nero shouted from the door.

Harold shook his head. “Just some pre-reversal jitters.”

He pulled out another syringe, and Rem groaned as it was injected into him. His lungs felt heavy, like they were filled with water. He tried to suck in deep breaths, but they came out more like gasps.

“What are you doing?” Nero shouted. He moved into Rem’s view.

His face was contorted in rage.

Rem’s body shook through the dose. It was getting better. Still, he wasn’t sure if it was better due to the shot or that he was just dying slowly. Maybe a little of both.

“Agatha has not approved this!” he shouted again and pointed a finger at the scientist.

“Yes,” Harold said quietly and looked down at Rem. “And where is Agatha?”

Rem raised a brow and looked over to Nero. His eyes had turned bright yellow.

Nero narrowed his glowing eyes at the scientist. “What have you done?”

Harold picked up the last needle and smiled at the beastly man. “It’s amazing what a little tranquilizer will do.”

Nero growled loudly. “If you’ve killed her, you’ll have the Council to answer to.”

Harold shook his head. “Not killed her,” he said. “It would take more than an elephant tranquilizer. She’s just taking a little nap.”

A loud boom echoed through the cave. Bits of rock and dirt crumbled from the ceiling and rained down on them.

“Is that your doing?” Nero said, glaring at Harold.

The scientist ran a hand over his head to brush the dirt off. His face far more pale than before, Harold shook his head.

Nero turned to Rem, who had stopped shaking but was still having trouble getting his mind clear to understand what was happening.

“Go see what that was,” Nero shouted to the Glycons.

The mindless tools raced out the door to do his bidding.

Nero stomped over to where he lay.

“This is your woman,” he spat out. “She came here to cause trouble, and that’s just what she’s done.”

Rem couldn’t disagree. Jenna had been stirring up trouble since she got there. He could only hope that the blast was from her and that she was fine.

“It doesn’t matter,” Harold mumbled next to him. “None of it matters.”

Nero turned and glared at the scientist. “Shut the fuck up,” he growled. “I’ll deal with you later.”

“No,” Harold said firmly.

Rem struggled to free himself from the straps that bound him.

“What?” Nero said.

“You are an abomination,” Harold spit out. “You were a mistake, and you should have never existed.”

Nero pulled out a knife and pointed it at the man.

“You shut your fucking—”

Nero’s words were cut off as Harold launched himself at the surprised hybrid.

“Dei judicium,” he shouted.

Rem watched in horror as the last needle slammed into Nero’s chest, piercing his heart.

Nero shook on the floor as Rem had.

Harold climbed off the hybrid, a bright red patch of blood on his stomach.

“Let the gods judge you now,” Harold whispered, Nero’s knife embedded in his stomach.

The man struggled to make it to Rem. Harold’s hands shook as he removed the straps one at a time. With his hands free, Rem sat up in time to catch the large man.

Another loud explosion rocked the cave.

“Go,” Harold whispered.

Rem struggled. Harold was a man who did much to help him escape, and yet he was a man who did so little for others.

“Go,” Harold said a little louder. “It is time I meet my own judgment from the gods.”

Rem fought within himself for a moment longer. Another explosion, this time closer, caused bits of the ceiling to cave in. If he didn’t move, it would all be for nothing.

He nodded to Harold and raced to the door. The whole place was unstable.

Rem paused as he passed Nero. The hybrid panted in pain, jerking and twitching. Rem could only guess that it was harder for him since he had less of the essence already in his system.

“I’m going to regret this,” Rem mumbled.

He reached down and heaved the man over his shoulder. The walls around them rumbled, and he leapt out the door. Rock crashed to the floor in the room behind him, burying it. He could only hope at that point Harold had not suffered.

Nero, still writhing in pain, twisted to be placed on the ground.

Rem stood him against the wall, his face resting against his arm as he leaned against them. It was strange for the hybrid to turn his back on his enemy like that.

“Why?” Nero managed to get out, his words nearly lost against the wall.

Another tremble raced through the cave, and this time Rem was sure the explosion was near. He ran to the end of the hall and looked down the way he had come. Smoke and debris clogged the air. There would be no way he could smell her this way.