Edward's face was stone. "And we would all burn like Hiroshima." He sat back. "I see. My world has shaken. I sit in the heart of my own domain, yet surrounded by enemies, threatened from within and without and nowhere to run. And I must help you and Carlos or I shall be lord of a blasted domain—if I survive at all."
"That's how I see it. You'll have to quell this bunch tonight with minimum damage. But I don't think you'll find that difficult if you get the right people on your side early. Once you neutralize the threat of the artifact, you're a hero. After that, the few enemies who remain will be anxious to either kiss the ring or fade into the woodwork. Then you mop up as you see fit."
Edward looked down, as if the plan lay on the table, then raised his eyes again. "I mend part of the rift between myself and Carlos and, of course, I solidify my position as a wise and just ruler by returning my protege to the fold—which also repays my debt to you, I suppose."
"It is the sort of gesture that would make you damn near unassailable."
He sighed and sat back in his seat, stretching his legs out. He folded his hands in his lap. Then he chuckled. "I don't know how much of this circumstance you brought to bear and how much you merely took advantage of, but I bow to you. You're a better tutor than Machiavelli."
I sat silent.
"Very well." He shot a glance to the side and I turned my head to see Alice, blazing fury and glaring ice at me. "If I retain my head next week, I will assign Cameron a mentor until he is capable of looking after himself to that mentor's satisfaction. Now, tell me what you require to lay this ghost and his infernal device."
I felt Alice's frozen heat edging closer as Edward listened to what I knew of the organ. Then he turned and speared her with a look.
"Alice, fetch Carlos here."
Boiling cold fury, she stalked off and returned with the necromancer. Edward brushed her aside and turned his attention on Carlos. "Tell me of this artifact."
Carlos remained standing, unresponsive. A cold wall shimmered between them.
Edward glared back a moment. Then he shrugged and sighed, the wall shattering. "Carlos, I have agreed to do this thing, and I humbly request your help. Please. Tell me what you know."
Carlos let loose his unpleasant, feral grin and told him, with a gleam in his eye. I sat back and waited as they worked out their uneasy alliance and laid plans. At last I stood up, noticing that Alice had drawn back a few steps, but not far.
Edward rose to his feet. "I am in your debt for timely warnings. And for delivering my enemies into my hands. I shall do as I've promised, but you should leave now."
I was tired and sore from the twisting and battering of being in their presence. I started to turn away, but he reached out again and caught my wrist. I spun back around, racked by the touch of waking nightmare.
"You could be an asset to me, you know." His thumb stroked over the soft spot on the underside of my wrist. I wanted to pull away, but I didn't dare.
I clamped down on my jellied nerves and managed to keep my feet. "Thank you," I whispered, "but I'm no good without my independence." I eased my hand from his and made my way to the door. Stares, speculation, fury, and curiosity ripped into my flesh as I went. I heard Edward say "Alice…" in a gleaming, razor voice, and I bolted the last few steps to put the door between myself and the swelling pressure of imminent violence.
Outside, a shadow clutched me and dragged me into its darkness. My knees gave. A clawed hand over my mouth stopped me screaming and I gagged as the bleak, ancient depths of the Grey closed in. He spun me into the dark, but the fire-outlined snake shape and bulking horror riding it were plain.
He let me go and loomed. "Lovely performance, Greywalker. You're advancing nicely."
"What do you want, Wygan?" I demanded, keeping myself upright only by clutching the stair rail at my back.
"Just came for the show, for the feast of their rage. Your little curtain-raiser was well done. My gift is serving very well. I'm pleased."
I croaked, "Pleased? I didn't do it for you."
He laughed obsidian shards. "Nonetheless."
A fury of sound shook the doors behind us, the Grey roiling and pitching in full storm. He laughed louder, washing himself in the roar and swell of chaos, fear, and anger flooding out of the merely material doors.
"Yes, you do well," he shouted over the tumult. "I'll look forward to our next meeting. You'll be everything I could have hoped!"
His laughter battered at me, taking on a drunken giddiness which rose to a shriek of delight. He stared at the doors, reaching out to them and drinking in the pandemonium that poured out on the flood tide of furious, twisting energy. I swung around the newelpost, shoving my way up from the Grey depths, and bolted, scrambling and stumbling, ripping my stockings, my knees, and my arms on the marble stairs.
I lunged upward, gasping, to escape whatever dreadful thing had come to life below. Arms snagged under my own and slammed me back into the other world's serrated blackness whipped by stabbing light and lacerating screams.
Cameron dropped me back to my feet across the street, huge maelstrom eyes staring into mine.
"Run!"
Chapter 30
We ran like two deer flushed from cover. I'd lost my shoes somewhere and my legs and arms were scraped and bleeding, but we never stopped nor turned back to investigate the storm behind us. In the office, I collapsed into my chair, shaking and gulping air. I felt sore, sick, wretched, and tired to death. Cameron sat still and kept quiet while I pulled myself back together.
Still shaking, but able to breathe, I looked at my bruised, bloodied limbs. "I'm kind of a mess." The world seemed unstable and prone to shimmer, lighting up with strange colors. I kept talking, just for the sound of a voice. "But I think we're all right."
"What do you suppose happened back there?" Cameron asked. "I had a weird feeling just before the screaming started."
"I think it was the opening salvo of the war. When I left, Edward was about to have a chat with Alice."
"Oh. You don't think she could take him out, do you? Then we'd be humped."
I shrugged, feeling pulped. "I doubt it. If Carlos chose to defend Edward, I'd expect it to get pretty nasty. That chaos might have been something Wygan did, too. He seemed to be expecting it, he was almost—" I broke off, gulping against bile. "You OK, Harper?" I jerked aside and heaved my dinner into the trash tan. This night was killing me. I hung there with my head down for a minute, waiting for the giddiness to pass.
Something crashed out in the hall and Cameron reentered the office carrying a paper cup full of water. I pulled myself up. He put the water on the desk and I took it with a questioning look.
He shifted from foot to foot. "Bathroom door was locked."
"Landlord'll have to fix it," I croaked. I really didn't give a damn. I rinsed my mouth and spat into the trash. "Thanks. And thanks for getting me out of there."
"I was afraid to touch you, because you always act like it hurts, but I figured whatever was back there was worse."
"You figured right. You'll make a pretty intimidating vampire someday." I coughed.
"I think I'd rather go the smooth and seductive route, thanks."
I eyed him, his blond hair a tangle, mustache ratty. He grinned. We both broke up in desperate laughter.