The Templar's Legacy (Ancient Enemy) (18 page)

The sound of movement brought my attention back to the gorilla. It got up and parked itself next to the door of the cage. The intensity with which it examined the lock and latch of the door was spooky. It occasionally looked at me over its shoulder as if making sure I wasn’t sneaking up on it.

I wondered what it felt like for the Wendigota to suddenly find itself within the mind of a gorilla. Would it remember its previous hosts as clearly as it did when it was a part of me? What sort of change in perception and thought would it experience? Would it somehow dull the hunger that made its existence such a living hell?

I would destroy the shadows in an instant, without remorse, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. They seemed doomed to live forever with an overwhelming hunger that they could never sate. If that wasn’t hell, I don’t know what was. What kind of god would create such a damned creature? I ruminated about this for some time before I was interrupted.

“Mr. Vincent, it smells like a sewer in here.”

The new voice startled me awake. I would have leapt to my feet if Colette’s head weren’t still in my lap. A short, thin guy, in another lab coat with Coke bottle glasses and frizzled gray hair was standing just inside the room. Even without the setting, I would have dubbed him “The Mad Scientist.” He was practically a walking cliché. I knew instinctively that he was the reason we were here, and I immediately wanted to kick his scrawny little ass. The lack of snarky agreement from Spring threw fuel on that particular fire. If she were hurt, this guy would pay.

The young lab tech from earlier, who looked more like a “Vinnie” than a “Mr. Vincent,” cringed at his side. “I’m sorry sir, but the gorilla charged me. I couldn’t get into his cage to clean it out.”

“That is the smell of fear, Mr. Vincent. Something scared the poor thing half to death.” I found myself surprised at his precise, accent-less voice. I would have bet money he talked like a cheesy Hollywood German.

“It wasn’t me, sir.”

Dr. Crazy crossed the room and leaned forward to examine the gorilla from a foot away. “I think you are correct. It seems to have picked up a leech. Big one, too. I wonder if one of our new guests brought it. Fascinating.” He put his hand out, palm forward and brought it a few inches away from the passive gorilla’s blackened aura. As he did this, his lab coat hung open a bit and a very familiar black stick swung forward, hanging from a string around his neck.

“That’s mine!” I shouted with a surge of anger.

Mad scientist man jumped up and back. When he met my eyes, the fright on his face turned into a smile. He knew exactly what I was talking about. “No, Mr. Morgenstern, I’m afraid stewardship of this rather priceless artifact has now passed to me. You need not worry about it anymore.”

Anger and desperation flooded through me. Without the Caduceus, I’d never be able to wake Spring out of her winter-death again. I’d never be able to hold Wendigota in check. “It’s mine! You have to give it back.”

“I think you’ll find, Mr. Morgenstern, that neither of those statements are correct.”

I fought to control my distress. “How do you know who I am?”

“It was Mr. Sampson that first brought you to my attention.”

“What? Uncle Mark? He wouldn’t do that.”

“Another incorrect statement. He would and he did. Though he has failed me in the past, we have long shared a common interest.” The little man had a greasy thin-lipped smile that I already hated. “He’s told me all about you and your fascinating exploits.”

He was obviously mad
and
insane. “My uncle doesn’t hang around with thieves and kidnappers.”

“Incorrect again. He is a thief, kidnapper, and mechanic of the highest caliber. I begin to wonder if you know anything at all, Mr. Morgenstern. You certainly do not live up to the picture Mr. Sampson painted. Allow me to introduce myself.”

He bowed with a theatrical flourish. “Dr. Matthew Smith at your service, Mr. Morgenstern.”

That name did sound familiar. Uncle Mark had mentioned this guy. He’d been the head of a government lab trying to prove the existence of psychic phenomena. They shut it down due to lack of repeatable, concrete results. My heart sank as I realized that he had found the nuclear power-plant of psychic abilities.

“Ah, so you have heard of me.”

I glared at him. “Yeah, he said you were a pathetic, delusional little man.”

Smith’s eye’s narrowed and his lips curled in anger. “Pathetic? Let me show you pathetic. Stand up, then stand still.” Even though I hadn’t been using my second sight on him, it came up as he flared a brilliant mind-dazzling green.

I stood up, dropping Colette’s head onto the straw covered floor and receiving a stab of pain from the barely healed hole in my thigh. I tried to reach down to Colette, but because I had to remain standing still, I couldn’t. I glared at my captor. Lesson number one. Don’t piss off the mad scientist. I tried to think. I had to find a way to get him to take back his command and allow me more freedom of movement.

“Mr. Vincent, open Mr. Morgenstern’s cage.” The tech, or I guess lackey would be a better term, emerged from the background with a set of keys. His hands shook as he opened the door and stepped back. Perhaps he’d already learned lesson number one.

“Okay, Mr. Morgenstern, drop to your hands and knees and crawl to me.”

I didn’t have a choice. I dropped and crawled through the nasty straw. I crawled out of the cage and right to him. The movement caused me more leg pain, but I didn’t seem to be bleeding or anything. It occurred to me that he hadn’t told me what to do when I got there. That’s when I would make my move.

“Once you get to my feet, you will put your head down and lick my shoe until I tell you to stop.”

Aw crap, there went my loophole, now I was going to have to lick the guy’s shoes. I crawled up to him and crouched down to lick his Birkenstocks.

“Stop Mr. Morgenstern. I don’t actually want you to drool all over my shoes. Just stay there and don’t move.”

He didn’t say anything about talking. “Bite me, you asshole!”

“Oh my, such a cutting wit. I’m devastated. Be quiet. You stupid over-privileged jocks think you’re god’s gift to the world. Let me tell you something, your days of being at the top of the heap are over. Under my rule, intelligence will reign supreme over brute force. The intelligent will rise to their proper place, and dumb brutes like you will have to deal with our scorn.”

I couldn’t say anything, but sheesh. Was this guy in junior high or something? And where did he get off calling me a jock? No one with half a brain would ever make that mistake. If he weren’t cackling mad, he’d be my kind of people. I was being held captive by an old, bitter nerd.

“Crawl back to your cage, Mr. Morgenstern, and make sure to close the door and lock it.”

I did exactly as he commanded. Was there some way to subvert his command? Maybe I could take a long circuitous route? No, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to do it, so I didn’t try.

Once I crawled back through the cage door, I saw Colette still lying on the floor. Shame swept through me. I had forgotten her completely. I didn’t even try to get help for her. I mentally kicked myself as I shut the gate behind me and snapped the lock back on it. Once done, I stood up and couldn’t say a word. I’d forgotten he’d commanded me to silence. I scowled at him and then pointed at Colette.

Smith rolled his eyes. “You can go ahead and talk, but be polite.”

“Thank you, sir. Could you please get some help for Colette? She is really in bad shape. I’m afraid she has a concussion or something.”

“She told you her name was Colette? I’m afraid, Mr. Morgenstern, that your beliefs about your world continue to be woefully incorrect. Her actual name is Marie Delacroix. Her family has appointed itself the guardians of magic.” He snorted in derision. “They’re on a mission from God, and claim that the psionically resonant artifacts they possess are actually pieces of the holy cross. In reality, these people are just dangerous, self-centered fanatics playing with loaded guns.”

Psionically resonant artifacts? Damn, this guy really was a goob. I’ll bet he played D&D. I wasn’t allowed to snort or sneer at that remark. Instead, I said, “I don’t mean to be rude, sir, but why should I believe anything you say?”

The bastard snorted at me. “Why should I lie to you? Marie, you don’t have to be passive any more, please answer all of Finn’s questions fully and honestly. Just don’t try any mental tricks, or miracles as you like to call them. In fact, do not try to escape.”

Behind me, Colette said, “Don’t listen to heem, Finn. He is a coward and a murderer.”

I turned around. Colette was sitting up and glaring at Smith. I looked back at him. “Sir, did you hoodoo her into passivity?”

“Hoodoo? Ha! I like that. Hoodooed. Yes Mr. Morgenstern, she and her family can be cunning and dangerous. I had to make sure she was neutralized. I’m afraid your excellent healing abilities made her all too feisty.”

“Please excuse my shock, but I find it hard to believe that you would treat a human being this way. You didn’t even allow her to relieve herself! What sort of monster are you, sir?”

Smith smirked, put his hand to his mouth and said, “Oops. Did I do that?” Definitely five neurons short of a brain over there.

He laughed with delight. “Never let it be said that I’m a poor host. Mr. Vincent, please get our guest a new and clean smock. Oh, and bring them a roll of toilet paper, too. Once you’ve done that, see to cleaning up this room, and do something about that stink. Use the tranq gun if you need to control the ape.”

He turned his goggly eyes towards us again. “I’m afraid I have more important matters to attend to, so I must be on my way.” A vice clamped down on my brain. “You two behave. Don’t leave your cage or cause any trouble. Do what Mr. Vincent asks of you, quickly and fully, but do enjoy our facilities and your, undoubtedly overdue, conversation with Marie.” He walked out the door.

I found myself looking at the mad doctor’s lackey. “Excuse me, but you actually work for that discourteous man?”

Mr. Vincent looked a little abashed. “Well, he’s my uncle. He’s really not a bad guy once you get to know him. And, he pays really well.”

A thousand snaps, zingers, comebacks and retorts tried to come out my mouth. What I managed was, “For your sake, I should really hope so. Now, could I bother you for a change of clothes for my friend and maybe get some clean straw? It would be most appreciated.”

The temptation to bite my own tongue off waggled its thang in front of me, but it wouldn’t have been polite to shock Vinnie like that. I turned back to a wide-eyed and disheveled Colette and said, “Dearest Colette, I don’t mean to press, but do you think you would be up for a talk? Or, should I call you Marie?”

Colette sat up and motioned for me to sit. “That man is a pig. Please call me Colette.”

I squatted down.

Colette’s red-rimmed eyes were wide and vulnerable when she said, “I am so zorry Finn. I never wanted to hurt you.”

I had to assume that every expression she put on was an act. She had obviously played me like a...well...someone who played people really well. That thought really hurt.

“May I ask why you felt it necessary to stick me with your knife?” It felt strange to scowl when my words were so non-confrontational. “Why did you attack me?”

“I was very scared. When you compelled me to be still, I had never felt zo much of the power. I was afraid for my life.”

“May I also ask why you would think that I might harm you? Have I ever done anything like that?”

“
Non
, but I was not certain. When both Pietro and Fergus were killed, I panicked. I thought perhaps you were behind their deaths, and I was to be next.”

“Colette, please tell me why you think I would kill either of them.”

She chewed on her lip for a moment. “Someone has been killing the members of my family. Both Pietro and Fergus were family. Their deaths were upsetting and frightening.” Her voice filled with venom. “But, now I know it was that foul little man.” She nodded her head toward the door.

“Would you be so kind as to tell me more about your family?” Incredibly, I found my anger waning. It was difficult to stay upset when I had to make every sentence be polite.

Colette hesitated, wrapped her stained lab coat more tightly around her and then crossed her arms over her chest. “We are the Delacroix. We are the Bearers of the Cross.”

“Bearers of the... Wait, I believe you said that Pietro was your boyfriend and his last name was Portatori. Am I perhaps misremembering?”

She dropped her gaze. “He was not my boyfriend, Finn. He was my cousin. His part of the family live in Italia. They are called the Portatori. Fergus McCormick is another of my cousins. His part of the family come from Ireland.”

This further lie re-stoked the embers of my anger. I tried to think through what I was hearing and what I would say. This was definitely not the time to be cursed with politeness. All I really wanted to do was swear and shout. “Could you please just summarize for me what has been happening instead of forcing me to ask? If I have to keep talking like this I’m afraid my head will explode in a most unpleasant manner.”

Colette’s mouth twitched and the corners of her eyes crinkled. I really didn’t want to be laughed at any more. I tried to head her off. “I do not find this the least bit amusing. If you mock me madam, I shall be quite devastated.”

She looked back down at her legs and then cleared her throat. “I guess I must tell you. He will probably kill us, anyway.” That was alarming, but I held my tongue. For some reason the mad doctor’s idea of politeness included extreme verbosity. She continued, “The Delacroix are the protectors of the Holy Cross. We are the stewards of its holy power. We are...”

She paused, and I clenched my teeth. I’m sure the exasperation I felt at her for dragging this out wouldn’t come through any comment I made.

“About five years ago, our Bearers—ze ones who bear a piece of ze Cross—they began being killed. Someone was hunting us and taking our pieces of the Cross. We had no idea who was behind this, and we became afraid. For the last year and a half, our family has been broken apart. No one trusts the others. Our family has been secret for centuries and many of us believed that only another family member would know to attack our Bearers.”