The Compass (12 page)

“Impossible to believe you have any magick within you.”

Ice cold dread had her heart plummeting. She turned to see Lugus. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back. And just as he’d been the night before, he was impeccably dressed. She took a step back. He flashed a smile. Panic had her taking another step back. The blasting of a car horn made her jump. A driver yelled out to her, “You crossing here lady—or are you waiting for a particular shade of green?” Careful Ali, she chided herself, or you're going to be road kill. A wild thought almost had her call out to the driver, but that would only place him in danger. Lugus reclaimed her attention.

“Mortals, a pathetic host for something as strong as the Star.”

The venom in his voice sliced through her. Then, from somewhere, she didn’t know where, Tristan’s voice came to her, riding along the wind that had stirred.

“Ali—I’m going to draw Lugus’ attention from you.”

He was okay. Resisting a sigh of relief—she wasn’t even going to attempt to try and understand how he’d thrown his voice at her, Ali tried to keep Lugus talking. But conversing with a psychotic immortal was proving to be pretty limited. She prayed for Tristan to hurry, “I take it you don't like us—mortals I mean.”

Tilting his head at her words, Lugus gave the woman a thoughtful look. “You wish to engage in conversation?”

She tried not to laugh at the incredulous tone of his voice. It looked like immortals were prone to being caught off guard. Good to know. “To be honest, I’d rather not engage at all. I liked my nice, boring,
safe
, life. And I would really like to have it back.”

Lugus laughed. “What you want is of no concern of mine.” He raised his arm, “Enough of this.”

He was going to hit her with something whether she was facing him or not. That was Ali’s reasoning for turning and making a run for it—right into traffic. The squealing of tires, honking of horns and the curses of ticked off drivers gave her the most effective diversion. Behind her she heard a sizzle, but resisted the compulsion to look. She prayed that it meant Tristan had effectively stopped Lugus.

Chapter Thirteen

Finn watched as the men took off down the street. Once Drake had joined the fight, they had cut their losses and withdrew. Something wasn’t right. Using mortal puppets had proven useful for Mikel, so seeing that Lugus was using the same method of operation was not that great a surprise. However, these men had been of a lower skill set, telling him that they had been newly recruited. Lugus would have known with a Fragment discovered, all of Agrona’s warriors would protect it. Using such inept fighters didn’t make sense. Only one thing did. Lugus must have something—or someone else lurking close by. “We have to get to Ali—now.”

Finn, are you okay?

His heart tripped over hearing her voice in his head.

Ali—

Tristan was attacked; now he’s tangling with that Lugus guy.

He swore, and informed Drake, who left immediately.

Drake will go to Tristan, I am coming to you. Keep your mind open to mine.

Standing in the alcove of a shop, Ali rubbed her arms. She had lost her bag, her legs were on fire from the running, and she was exhausted and hungry. Tears pricked her eyes, she fought them back. It would do no good to cry. Finn was okay. The fact settled into her mind and she felt her body sigh in relief. She didn’t even have the energy to wonder about the way she had communicated with him—she was just happy that she had been able to.

Back at her building, when they had been ambushed, she had wanted to defy him. The thought of leaving him had been abhorrent to her. Nevertheless, she had complied because she had nothing to offer him in the way of help, and
that
, had made her mad. Where was this power she was supposed to have? She felt a pull, but didn’t have time to wonder about it because she heard Finn shout her name.

Turning to his voice, she ran to him. Before she could reach him though, the ground before her was hit by a blue light. It scorched the concrete and sent her crashing into the brick wall of the club. She heard Finn shout, his voice was distorted, due to her ears ringing. It was though a bomb had gone off. There was smoke and the smell of garbage burning. She heard shouts coming from the club. Waving her hands in front of her, Ali tried to locate Finn. But like her ears, her sight was a bit scrambled.

When someone grabbed her, she instinctively fought. Her hearing and sight cleared then, and she saw it was Finn. Relief had her grabbing on to him. Squeezing her eyes shut, she allowed his strength to seep in. The moment didn't last long. Finn took her hand and they were running. “What was that?”

He didn't look at her when he answered. He was too pissed that he hadn't sensed the new comers. His suspicions of Lugus had been dead on. He did have someone with considerable talents on the sideline. “Lugus brought along more firepower than I realized.”

Ali felt her stomach plummet. “Terrific, you don't happen to know who this more is, do you?”

“No, but whoever they are, their specialty is combustion.”

“Of course it is.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm.

Finn plowed them up the sidewalk. Ali ducked her head down as obscenities were hurled at them. The need to apologize to each and every person they bumped into, burned in her throat. The sky rumbled and flashed. There was a vibe in the air that had her skin pimpleling. Finn suddenly changed directions and they were running across the street, weaving in and out of cars waiting for the light to change.

They were going to die—correction—
she
, was going to die. She was going to be smeared on the streets of Manhattan. And, because she couldn't help it—’cause, you know, seeing if the light was going to turn green, was way more important than whoever was chasing them, she glanced at the traffic lights. Awesome, the eastbound lights were flipping to yellow. The horns were now sounding like an urban symphony.

They hit the other side just as the lights turned green. The whoosh of the cars passing them added to the pounding of her heart. Pulling her arm free, she shouted Finn. “Are you
crazy
?” Given what she had gone through—what she had seen, the question was completely redundant, yet she was way beyond thinking like a rational person. “I don't know how it works for immortals, but when we
mortals
run into traffic—we get squashed!” Her body heated up.

“Ali, now is not the time.” He tried to reach for her hand, but she dodged him. “We have to go—now.”

“Hand over the Fragment.”

Finn swore, too late, a lone man had caught up them. Finn had seen the man before—he was Nial, another defector. He wasn’t as tall as Finn, but he had a wider build. His hair was the color of snow with a streak of sliver shooting through the strands. His people were the brute forces of an army, rendering barriers into ashes. A sword would do no good against him, and what he
did
have as an immortal would be laughable. Finn pushed Ali backwards, gaining as much ground as he could, reaching back with a hand, he sought hers and held on tight.
Get ready to run

Not what she wanted to hear. Her body was already refusing the thought of more running. Yet, Ali prepared herself as she heard Finn’s response.

“Not going to happen. You bring shame to your people by joining forces with Mikel.”

The other man laughed. “I bring no shame—I chose the side that will be victorious.”

Nial advanced. Looking up, Finn focused on the tree branches that stretched out over the sidewalk. He pushed, giving all his energy. While felling a tree branch was a paltry effort at a diversion, it was all he had at his disposal.

Ali felt the energy course through him, felt it waver as he tried to concentrate it on the branches. Then she felt that familiar feeling she got when looking for a new case. Funny, she never thought to use her ‘quirk’ in other situations. Closing her eyes, she sought for a way to help Finn, not that he’d thank her for it.

The vision came to her clear as day. She needed to join her energy with Finn’s, but how? Pushing for more, she saw their connection, like links in a chain. Concentrating on her connection to Finn, she envisioned a wave of light flowing from her to him. At first there was nothing but the image. Then, her body began to heat up. It rose like the red bulb in a thermometer. The force of it was almost too painful, but she held on.

Finn felt the surge, and his first thought was to close himself off from it—from her. It would drain her, and because Ali had no control yet, she wouldn't know when to let up. It had nothing to do with pride and everything to do with protecting her. But her determination couldn't be swayed. He was awed by her strength.

The branches clicked together, bending and swaying as if a great storm was passing through them. Lightening stuck with so much force, that it not only sent branches crashing, it also sent Nial, Finn and Ali sprawling to the pavement. Using his body to protect Ali from the flying debris, Finn rolled until she was cushioned by his chest. But they didn't stay that way for long. In one motion, he gained his feet dragging her up with him. “Let’s go before he recovers.” He didn’t give her a chance to take in what had just happened. He didn't slow down. Fear the likes of which he’d never known pushed him on.

His grip on her hand was crushing he was sure of it, it couldn’t be helped, he was not a man used to fleeing from a fight. As they ran, he felt power pour into him, providing him with enough energy to transport himself and Ali to safety. He prepared to fade them both, felt Ali’s body resist, then he felt it jerk. A laser of light hit her in the shoulder. Her cry echoed, mixing with his bellow of outrage. Finn gathered her up into his arms, there wasn’t time to inspect her injury. He gathered his borrowed power and disappeared with an unconscious Ali.

*****

Lugus turned his face to the sky. He stood where Nail had hit the Fragment. He had been so close. Sending Nail back to Mikel with the news that he had failed, rested bitterly within him. He didn't turn as he felt the air shift, announcing Vega’s arrival. “What do you want, demon?”

“I merely came to see if you could use my assistance.” Vega strolled over to where the Fragment stood last. Crouching down, she placed a hand to the pavement. She absorbed the lingering energy, tasting it, “Hmm, very impressive.”

Lugus watched as the demon studied the ground. “I do not need your assistance.”

“Oh I disagree. Twice now you had the Fragment within your reach. You had enough man power, and yet, Finn and a mere mortal woman were able to escape.”

Lugus growled, and took a few steps in her direction. The desire to lash out at her strong, the last thing he needed was Vega pointing out the obvious.

Unimpressed, Vega held up a hand, stopping his movement with an invisible shield. Her exaggerated yawn let him know that it had taken little effort to hold him back “I may be indebted to Mikel, but you’d be wise to remember, I owe no such loyalty to you.” Bringing her hand down, Vega continued, “Why persist on using those useless puppets of Mikel's? Bringing along Nial was a brilliant strategy, but he’s nothing more than a hard headed brute, no finesse, certainly not a match for Agrona's warriors. What you need is heavier artillery—
I
can provide that for you.”

He was instantly suspicious. “I find it difficult to believe that you have come to offer your aid without a price, demon.”

She gave him a smile that reminded him of a bed of snakes. “While it’s true that we demons relish in ill gained rewards, there will be no price—this time.” Walking up to him, she let her fingers caresses his chest, feeling his reaction to her touch. “By joining forces, you and I can give Agrona's warriors a battle they'll never forget.” She made a pouting sound. “I know you dislike me Lugus, but surely you know just how much I can do.” Her voice dropped into a mesmeric purr. “Those women, they have what should be ours—the powers are from our world, and you know Mikel doesn’t like to share.”

Lugus knew what the demon was doing. And though he loathed her, and her kind, it was difficult to not be affected by her looks and seductive nature. If he gained the Fragments, he could have the power of the ancients. Once the idea took root, it began to flourish. Nothing would be able to stop him. The idea hooked into his soul. “Finn thinks he can hide the Fragment, but I can find them.”  When Vega’s eyes lit up with unholy glee, Lugus knew he had just signed his own death warrant. However, he found that he didn’t care. In the beginning, the promises Mikel had given him soothed his battered soul, like a salve for the wounds of grief. It had been the only tangible thing to hold onto.

Life as he had known it had been destroyed. The Light that he had fought hard for had given him nothing, and taken everything. The dark one had assured him that his son’s soul had merely been sent to the in-between realm that he could bring him back. Up until now, that promise was what had kept him subservient. However, if
he
were the one to unite the Star, he would be able to retrieve his son’s soul
and
have the power of the ancients.

She had him. Flattening her hand, Vega pressed down against his chest. She knew the full impact of her looks, her voice. Lugus may detest her, but he was a man, and all men react to a little ego stroking. Mikel was a fool to string along someone of Lugus’ rank for so long.

Looking back at the ground, she smiled. Mikel had said that she could enjoy herself, as long as it didn't interfere. Turning the tables wasn’t interference, not directly. It was just simply—changing course. He may control her, may have restricted some of her more intoxicating abilities, but she still had a few tricks that he knew nothing about.
All
demons possessed an exit plan. Her allegiance with Lugus, which of course, will be fleeting, would give her what she needed, a chance to gain the Fragments for herself. “The other warriors—they won’t be a problem for you?”

Lugus snorted, “Mikel has enough puppets to distract them. He trusts me to capture the Fragment.”

Vega purred. “Well then, let’s get started, but first, a little diversion.” Moving a few steps along the sidewalk, Vega began making a pattern in the air, particles of dust gathered until there was a small cloud in front of her. Tossing Lugus a smirk, she leaned forward, pursed her lips, and blew. The cloud dispersed. As it travelled, Vega turned back to look at Lugus. “I can feel your doubt, but those tiny pieces of dust will find their way to Mikel’s puppets, they will malfunction, go rogue. Our leader will be busy untangling their urges.”

Though her method was subtle for a demon, Lugus knew whatever she had wrought would be effective. There was just one more snag he needed answered. “And when he does?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Ah, so the unflappable Lugus’ anxiety was showing. How sweet. Slinking back towards him, Vega reassured him. “The dark one is consumed with setting up his new lair and regaining his strength.” She saw the surprise flash in his eyes before he banked it. “I know of our master’s—limitations. However, you’re right. We need to exert extreme caution. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun.”