Running to the side of the store, Kendra sprinted along the asphalt toward the back. Upon arrival, she found the SUV parked crookedly, and saw Warren using a mop to fend off a furious owl. Civia was pinned to the ground as if by an unseen force. Raxtus.
"We've caused a scene," Bracken warned Civia. He stood over her, holding her switchblade. "Whatever our future arrangement, we need to get away from here."
"Fine," Civia spat.
"Into the car," Bracken said.
Suddenly able to rise, Civia hurried into the SUV. Warren claimed the driver's seat. Kendra took shotgun. Civia, Bracken, and the owl settled in the back. Warren started driving toward the street.
"A dragon?" Civia sputtered. "Really? Who are you people?"
Bracken took her hand. The act seemed to calm her.
"We're here to help," he said. "I can see that you've been running for a long time."
She jerked her hand away. "Get out of my head."
"Leave her alone!" the owl shrieked.
"Quiet the owl," Bracken said.
"Janan, be still," Civia said.
The owl turned back into a lapdog.
"I didn't mean to intrude," Bracken said. "It's just quicker if I examine your mind."
"I prefer words," Civia insisted. "You say the Society is after me. How do I know you aren't an enemy?"
"He really is a unicorn," Janan said. "They have distinctive auras."
"If we wanted you dead, we had you," Bracken reminded
her.
Civia closed her eyes and leaned her head back. "Involving others in my life leads to failure and heartache. Most of my near misses have resulted from relationships. I've gotten good people killed. I've done much better on my own."
"Until recently," Bracken prompted.
She opened her eyes. "I was in a small village in Ecuador just a couple of weeks ago. Way off the map. I ran a modest bakery. I had a few casual friends. Nobody knew my secret. I had been there three years. And I was ambushed. No warning. Until you mentioned the Oculus, I had no idea how they found me. I killed a couple of my assailants and escaped into the jungle. Had I not been well prepared, they would have had me. But I'm careful. I hide weapons in convenient locations. I hide motorcycles and watercraft. Even helicopters. I set traps. My job is to stay alive, and I take it very seriously."
"The rules have changed," Bracken advised. "Your enemies now have the Oculus. They possess vast resources, and they know what it takes to kill you."
"I have identities all over the world," Civia protested. "I'm fluent in over thirty languages, passable in thirty more. I have access to huge sums of money. I'm an expert at altering my look."
"Even if you stay in constant motion, they'll catch you," Bracken said. "You have to change tactics and get behind unassailable walls."
"No walls are unassailable," Civia muttered.
"But many afford better protection than a grocery store," Warren commented. "Do we have a destination?"
"Do you have an opinion?" Bracken asked Civia.
"I have a storage locker loaded with equipment. Hand me the GPS."
Kendra took the GPS off the dashboard and handed it to Civia. She began punching in a destination.
"Our dragon can fly you to Wyrmroost," Bracken said. "Agad will grant you safe haven once he knows the particulars."
"Who is wielding the Oculus?" Civia asked.
"A demon named Graulas has wrested control of the Society from the Sphinx," Bracken explained. "Another demon, Nagi Luna, has proven to be most adept at employing the Oculus. Two Eternals have died in the last week. An inside operative has confirmed that assassins are presently moving to eliminate you."
"The last one," Civia sighed. "Calling us Eternals was never very accurate. We are not immune to death. Anyone who can die, will eventually die. I always assumed I would be the last. I don't know how anyone else could have been more cautious than I. I've studied endless fighting techniques, I keep my body well conditioned, I avoid suspicious behavior, I eschew vices, I shun close relationships, I'm always on guard, always preparing for the worst. Still, I can hardly believe the others are truly gone. There was an added sense of security knowing they were out there. The Society has all of the artifacts?"
"All of them," Bracken said. "And they know how to get to Zzyzx. You're their final obstacle."
She turned and stared out the window. "It had to happen eventually. For so long, I've lived like I was the last impediment to the opening of Zzyzx. And now I am. It isn't much of a life, the way I live. I'm detached. An outsider. My only companionship comes from Janan, for which I will be forever grateful. But my life is unpleasant. Funny, for a long while now, I have quietly relished the thought of an end, looked forward to the day my enemies would finally outmaneuver me. That day has finally arrived."
"You're not dead yet," Warren assured her.
"We'll get you to Wyrmroost," Bracken pledged.
Civia shook her head sadly. "We'll try. Based on the scenario you described, I won't make it."
"The dragon--" Bracken began.
"The dragon felt small," Civia said. "Valiant, no doubt, but small. If this demon is as adept with the Oculus as you say, we will be intercepted and I will be destroyed. With the Oculus to guide them, if all of their attention is now focused on me, and they have the kind of resources you described, we have no realistic defense."
"We have to try," Kendra said.
"Of course we'll try," Civia said. "I'm sorry if I sound fatalistic. I try to assess my circumstances honestly. Experience and effort have made my judgment reliable. But maybe we'll get lucky. You're right that hiding at Wyrmroost could provide a temporary solution. At least we know Agad will be sympathetic to my plight. Having the dragon transport me there probably represents my best chance for survival."
"But you don't think it's much of a chance," Warren said.
"Not really," Civia said simply.
"You're right," Bracken said reluctantly. "They used wyverns against us in Santa Monica. Raxtus managed to slay them, but had trouble protecting his passengers in the process. Of course, the Eternal in Santa Monica had a death wish. Even so, our enemies are too close to their goal. They'll throw everything they have at us before they let you reach Wyrmroost. But what else can we do?"
"I'm not properly established here yet," Civia said. "I spent the last ten days on the move. I suppose we could try to find a spot to make a stand."
"Which creates the same problem as running with the dragon," Warren said. "They'll throw too much at us. But, unlike with the dragon, you'll be cornered."
Civia furrowed her brow. "I suppose if the dragon takes an erratic route, we might have a small chance."
"I'll come with you," Bracken offered. "I can help defend you if Raxtus ever needs to set us down. I'm handy with a sword. And Niko, the leader of the shape-shifters, will catch up before long."
"Don't forget me," Janan said.
Civia gave a nod. "The storage locker isn't far. Let's gather the appropriate gear." Her expression softened. She leaned forward and patted Kendra on the shoulder. "I'm sorry I reacted so harshly when you tried to approach me. You collided with centuries of habit. I see now that your intrusion into my affairs was warranted."
"Wow," Janan said. "Civia never apologizes."
"I do so," Civia replied defensively.
"Not when I'm around," the dog murmured.
"Thanks, Civia," Kendra said. "We understand how shocking all of this must seem."
"We were just happy to find you alive," Bracken said. "We'll do all we can to keep you that way."
"Lonestar Lockers?" Warren asked.
"That's the place," Civia said.
Warren pulled up to a keypad in front of an electronic gate. Beyond the gate awaited rows of squat, cinder-block structures. The evenly spaced blue doors made the storage complex look like a crowded neighborhood composed entirely of adjoining garages.
"Code?" Warren asked.
"Nine, seven, zero, one, pound," Civia recited.
Warren punched in the numbers and the gate slowly opened. Warren pulled into the complex. A wall topped with barbed wire surrounded the facility.
"Turn left," Civia directed. Following her instructions, after the first turn, he cut down the third aisle, then stopped the SUV about halfway down.
"Let's make it quick," Warren said. "We're on borrowed time."
Civia exited the SUV, and Janan hopped down after her. Bracken and Kendra got out as well. Warren remained in the vehicle with the engine running.
Producing a key chain from her purse, Civia opened the heavy padlock on her storage locker, then lifted up the door. The locker contained several trunks and tall cabinets. Kendra also noticed a pair of motorcycles, one big and heavy, the other small and sleek.
Moving around the locker purposefully, Civia opened a trunk and strapped a short sword around her waist, then added a dagger. Next she removed a compound bow from a cabinet and snatched a quiver of arrows. "What do you need?" she asked.
"Do you have swords?" Bracken wondered.
She opened a metal cabinet. "Take your pick."
Bracken removed a sheathed sword and pulled it from the scabbard. "You really are prepared," he admired.
"It's what I do. Kendra, would you like a shirt of mail?"
Raxtus landed heavily in front of the storage locker. "They're here," he said urgently. "Explain," Bracken said.
"Four black vans speeding toward this storage area. Three wyverns closing in by air, along with a firedrake. They all showed up together."
"Can you outrun them?" Bracken asked.
"I can try," Raxtus said without confidence. "The wyverns are coming from all directions."
"Can you take out the firedrake?" Bracken asked.
"I think so," Raxtus said.
"Go up alone, invisible," Bracken said. "Take care of the airborne threats, then return for Civia. We'll hold off the others."
Raxtus took flight, becoming invisible soon after leaving the ground. They heard the gate being smashed, followed by the sounds of tires squealing.
"Wait in here," Bracken told Civia and Kendra.
Sword in hand, he stepped out of the locker. Civia shrugged into a leather biker jacket and put on a motorcycle helmet. Kendra grabbed a second bow from a cabinet and a quiver of arrows. She nocked an arrow, her hand shaking. Outside, Bracken conversed with Warren.
"Is this it?" Janan asked candidly.
"I sincerely hope not," Civia replied, voice muffled by her helmet.
"Our fight is not with you," declared a magically magnified voice. "Give us the Eternal and you may depart in peace."
Kendra knew the voice! She peeked out of the storage locker. Black vans blocked both ends of the aisle, two at each end. In front of the vans to the left stood Mirav the wizard, wearing a richly embroidered robe that descended to his ankles. Behind him, Torina pulled an arrow from her quiver, flanked by a quartet of minotaurs wielding hefty axes.
At the other end of the aisle, the Gray Assassin drew his swords. Trask got out of a van, carrying his heavy crossbow. By his demeanor, Kendra could tell he must be under the influence of a narcoblix. Armored goblins clambered out of the vans as well.
Kendra glanced at the overcast sky. Apparently Mirav could withstand daylight with sufficient cloud cover. She wondered if he had summoned the clouds.
"Let's talk about this," Bracken soothed, now holding his shield as well as his sword. Still inside the SUV, Warren clutched a sword as well.
Overhead, a wyvern shrieked and fell from the sky, neck kinked disgustingly. Mirav glared upward. Mouthing strange words, he waved a hand upward, and Raxtus became visible as he swooped to engage what looked like a flying snake about the length of a telephone pole. Upon seeing Raxtus, fire bloomed from its fanged jaws, and the firedrake took evasive maneuvers, wriggling like a ribbon in a windstorm.
"You have chosen destruction," the wizard pronounced, yanking the horn of a unicorn from within his robes. The pearly horn was much larger than the horn Kendra had used at Wyrmroost, perhaps three feet in length. From either side of the wizard, minotaurs charged, armed with axes and maces. The Gray Assassin dashed toward them from the other direction, followed by goblins carrying swords and spears. The wizard pointed a long-nailed finger at Bracken and commenced chanting.
Laughing, Bracken threw his sword aside and extended a hand toward the wizard. "To me," he said. Although Kendra understood the meaning of his words, she felt certain he was not speaking English.
The unicorn horn leapt from the wizard's hand and streaked to Bracken, who caught it effortlessly. In his grasp, the horn immediately transformed into a sword with an opalescent hilt and a gleaming silver blade. Despite the cloudy sky, with the weapon in his hand, Bracken suddenly appeared as if standing in sunlight. A new glow suffused his countenance, and a sudden fire flashed in his eyes.
"The fool brought him his second horn," Janan murmured beside Kendra.
Mirav looked stricken, but continued his spell. As the wizard finished his incantation, sizzling darts of energy began to leap from his extended finger. They blazed through the air, only to reverse their course as Bracken held out his sword. Every dart Mirav launched returned to burst against him, knocking him backward and setting his robe on fire.