The Kingmakers(111)

“Mamoru had such grand plans. When he realized your mother was not the one, he began to hope that her child would be. And that came to pass. Pareesa's daughter was the one he needed.”

“Needed for what exactly?”

“As you surely know, most geomancy uses the earth's energy like drinking from a fountain, like taking a cursory token. You, however, do not steal bits of energy here and there as most geomancers today do. You step boldly into the water of energy flowing along the spines of the Earth and swirling in the rifts. No person in living memory has those abilities. You are like the great mystics or saints. You can touch some level of the divine.” Sanah reached out toward Adele's face, but the young woman pulled away. The Persian's eyes saddened. “You look tired.”

“Running an empire doesn't leave much room for sleeping and spa treatments. Please get to the point.”

Sanah said, “The whole of the Earth wants to move within you, Adele. However, your body is but flesh and therefore a weak vessel for containing it.”

“Mamoru said I would master it eventually.”

“Perhaps in time. But he no longer has that luxury. He intends for you to cleanse the world of vampires now.”

“I told him that I wouldn't be a tool of genocide. I refused to do his bidding.”

“Yes, I know. However, he doesn't need your cooperation. He has the power to force you.”

Adele's breath left her. “How is that possible?”

“Do you remember the operating room incident at Sir Godfrey's home? The crystals Mamoru had you hold? He used them to initiate your reaction. It was a test of his control over you.”

“You were there?” Adele's anger was growing. Once more, she had been merely a pawn.

Sanah nodded.

“Even if he could do that, does he think he can drag me to every rift on Earth, assuming we could reach every corner of the globe? Even Mamoru can't be that blind.”

“No, Adele. You are the one Mamoru has been seeking because you are the key to unlocking every ley line across the Earth at a single stroke, from one rift. When he forces you to initiate the final Event, your fire will spread over the world. No vampire will be able to hide from the Earth's wrath. All of them, gone in a second. But in the process, you will be consumed.”

Adele felt sick and had to put a hand against her clammy forehead. “I…I don't believe you. He would really do such a thing?”

“He can and he will.”

“I won't kill Gareth.” Adele's face grew hard with fury, her voice lowering.

“If Mamoru has his way you will have no choice. His grief has made him mad. He thought only to save the world.”

“Why your sudden change of heart? You've been part of Mamoru's cabal. You've followed him all these years, as my mother did. As I have. You don't think freeing the world from vampires is worth one life?”

“Not against your will. I will not be party to murder.”

Adele sat quietly.

“There is no guarantee that Mamoru's plans will work. It is all theory, but there is no doubt that in the process of testing this theory, you will be killed.”

“And so what are you suggesting?”

“I'm afraid I have little influence with Mamoru now. But I'm hoping you may draw some knowledge from Pareesa's notebooks.”

“The scribblings, you mean?”

“Yes. Answers may lie there. She and Mamoru often clashed. She had many unique ideas about geomancy that he found fanciful and distracting to his goals.”

Adele said, “I can't read her code.”

“I can help you. Mamoru once showed me the notebooks shortly before he passed them on to you. I recognized the marks as Pareesa's secret writing, but thought nothing of it. Until recently, when I received a vision that your mother may have left a message for you.” Sanah squeezed her hands together painfully. “What I saw of the notes, I understood only parts of. Perhaps it is because I am not a geomancer. I will teach you what I know of the code and perhaps you can understand Pareesa's secrets. Maybe it will help save you should the worst happen.”

“And save Gareth.”

Sanah hesitated. “He may be long dead before that is an issue.”

Adele stood, her hand holding the pistol resolutely. “That will not happen either.”

“I understand. However, Mamoru has sent his assassin to Edinburgh, hoping the prince will come home to roost. Then she will strike. Nzingu is a most capable geomancer. Even I fear her.”

“I don't.”

Sanah's gaze softened. “Then you must go swiftly. She is most likely already waiting at the lair of your lover.”





NEVER A MAN of protocol, Captain Hariri offered Empress Adele a jaunty salute as she came up onto the quarterdeck of the airship Edinburgh. She returned it in a similar fashion, despite the anxiety she had felt inside since they left Alexandria three days ago.