“Antichthon is another name for Counter-Earth, which some people used to believe exists on the other side of the sun, perpetually hidden from us. A mirror of our own planet. There’s no way it could exist, of course.” Lazarus brushed himself off and turned his gaze upon the Soul Stones.
Sporrenberg held up a battered backpack that belonged to Marshall. Inside were a variety of supplies and a leather bound book embossed with the name STANFORD. “I imagine this is the book he was referring to. Might make for some interesting reading, particularly if the Circus is intending on using Die Glocke to journey there.”
A new voice made everyone come to an abrupt halt. “I imagine that it will, Herr Sporrenberg.”
It was Eun who whispered the name that everyone in that cave had learned to hate: “Lunt.”
Stepping into the now cramped confines were Lunt, Miya and Femi. A group of ten mummified undead shambled in behind them, preventing any hope of escape for Assistance Unlimited and their ally.
Lunt held out a gloved hand. “Hand over the book and then step out of the way,” he commanded. “When all of this is done, I look forward to your explanation about what you’re doing here, in the company of our enemies.”
The S.S. officer said nothing at first, his expression completely neutral. Then he handed the book to Lunt and moved towards the wall, folding his arms behind his back.
Eun muttered under his breath to Samantha, “I knew it. Once a Nazi, always a Nazi.”
Lazarus studied the man who had been his mentor at one point, prior to his realization that a life with The Illuminati was not for him. “Why are you here, Lunt? You can’t seriously believe you could control the Circus. And the Soul Stones won’t do you any good.”
The German nodded at Femi. “Why don’t I let the Princess answer that for you?”
Femi smiled like a Cheshire cat. “We’re here to kill you, Lazarus Gray. Slowly and painfully.”
Lazarus sighed, realizing that there was nothing more to discuss. “If that’s how it has to be,” he agreed. “But I’m amazed you’d squander another chance at life, Femi. Are you really that anxious to return to the grave?”
Femi snarled in response, ordering her mummies forward with an impatient wave of her hand. The lumbering undead staggered forward, arms outstretched. They smelled of dank tombs and rotting flesh but it was the barren expression in their eyes that was most disturbing.
The members of Assistance Unlimited responded in kind, each in their own unique way.
Morgan drew a pistol and took careful aim at Femi. He knew his bullets would be next to useless against the mummies but their mistress was another story. He fired off three rounds, the first two both striking the Egyptian beauty in the left shoulder. The third just missed her, instead clipping one of the mummies in the hip. Femi let out a cry of fury and staggered back, taking refuge behind her mummified horde.
Eun and Samantha found themselves also dealing with the undead. Both of them used their martial arts skills to drive the creatures back but as in the past, the mummies mostly ignored their blows.
Lazarus charged through the horde, knocking them aside like a running back diving through the defensive line. He lowered his shoulder and slammed into Lunt, hitting the German so hard that the man left his feet. Lazarus kept moving forward until he threw Lunt right out the mouth of the cave. Lunt skidded across the ground and nearly fell over the side of the mountain, saving himself with one well-timed grab.
While Lunt was fumbling to get back to his feet, Lazarus whirled on Miya, who was focusing her attention on Morgan. The two of them were exchanging gunfire, with Miya crouching next to a large boulder that was set just inside the cave. When Morgan saw that Lazarus was headed towards his opponent, he turned his gun on one of the closest mummies instead. He emptied what ammunition he had left into the thing’s skull and was pleased to see that it fell to the ground with a curious mixture of bone dust and sand exploding from the wound.
Lazarus snatched up Miya and threw her hard against the wall. His face was only inches from hers and his mismatched eyes — one a glittering emerald and the other a dull brown — shone brightly. “Kelly told me that you saved her,” he whispered between clenched teeth. “So I’m going to give you one chance to avoid being thrown into hell with these other two. Where is Agnes?”
“Back at a hotel in Kalgan.”
Lazarus nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “Do you want to come back to America with me? Despite everything you’ve done, I’d welcome you into Assistance Unlimited.”
Miya’s lips trembled and for a moment, she wasn’t sure how she should answer. She had loved this man, despite the fact their relationship had begun as nothing more than a way to prove her loyalty to The Illuminati. And now, after all the lies and deception, he was willing to offer her redemption.
A feminine roar caused Lazarus to let go of Miya. He spun about just in time to see Femi raised an Egyptian dagger into the air, obviously intending to bury it in his neck. He threw up his hands and caught her wrist, straining to hold back the blade. A clear fluid dripped from the tip of the knife and Lazarus knew that whatever poison it had been dipped in would surely kill him instantly.
Blood oozed from Femi’s bullet wound and Lazarus risked moving one of his hands from her wrist so that he could dig his thumb into the ragged hole. Femi screamed and Lazarus twisted his thumb, ripping the bullet hole even wider. Femi jerked away from him, the knife now resting against her leg as she stared bloody murder at him.
“How do you manage to do it?” she asked. “Evade death again and again? You must have the blessings of the gods.”
Lazarus withdrew a knife of his own: a hunting blade that had become a staple of his own arsenal. Its razor-sharp edge gleamed in the glow of the Soul Stones. “I’ve wondered that myself,” he admitted. “All I can think of is that I was reborn on the shores of Sovereign City for some purpose that I haven’t figured out yet. And until I’ve done whatever it is I’m supposed to do… people like you are going to end up very disappointed. And frequently dead.”
Femi turned to run but Lazarus hurled the knife with deadly accuracy. It struck Femi with such force that the point of the blade ended up protruding from the front of her throat. She reached up to touch the blade, her eyes open wide with surprise. As she swayed and fell to the ground, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, her mummies began to do the same. Each of them collapsed, their bodies immediately beginning to break down into ash and bone. Within moments, they were nothing more than cloth-covered skeletons. Femi herself was no longer young and beautifuclass="underline" her corpse looked like all the moisture had long ago been drained from it and her eyes were now empty sockets.
Lazarus stepped out of the cave, confirming his worst suspicions: Lunt had taken the opportunity to escape. There was no sign of him whatsoever. He turned just in time to see that Miya was attempting to do the same. She was creeping out of the cave when he spotted her. “Decided you didn’t want to accept my offer?”
Miya tensed, having wanted to avoid this conversation. “It would never work,” she said. “You know that.”
“Do I?”
Miya rushed towards him, pressing her lips against his. Lazarus stiffened but then put his arms around her. Their kiss was filled with desire and regret, mixed in equal parts.
When she pulled away, she whispered, “Let’s not fight. Not today.”
“If you go back to The Illuminati, all you’re doing is delaying it. We’re going to be enemies. They’re going to order you to try and kill me.”
Miya sighed, looking away. “You don’t know how tempting this is.”