Author's Note: Gonna keep this short and sweet: my apologies for not updating in like...6 months. I had some bad health issues, then my family had bad health issues, on top of a very desperate financial situation. Needless to say, since I was going to school and working two jobs while taking care of the family, I was not only very busy, but sick too. With the summer within my grasp, I plan to write as much as I can, because I've missed this story very much.
Thank you: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed in the past and during my months of inactivity. I'm so happy that you've all enjoyed it! Also, a special thank you to the-fish92, who pimped my story something awesome at the end of a chapter of It Must Be Nice to Be The Sun. Although I haven't gotten around to reading the fic in its entirety yet, it looks really good, so go check it out!
Revisions: For those of you interested, I rewrote and reposted the first 10 chapters of this story. They've got much better grammar/spelling and some more details, but nothing that changes the story drastically, so you don't have to worry about re-reading if you don't want to. Eventually all of the past chapters will be revised!
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It had been a long time since Bookman had seen Kevin Yeegar.
When they had last met, the two of them had shared a drink at a cramped tavern in Germany called Tucherbrustberl. It had been a brief meeting, wherein Kevin had informed Bookman of his elevated status within the Order, earning him more gray hair and an even more burdensome responsibility to humankind. Six years ago, Yeegar's eyes had been heavy with that weight; by the firelight in that current moment, Bookman could see that the crow's feet and ancient laugh lines were deeper than ever. The man who had been a mere schoolteacher with only the intention of relating important information to young minds was not meant to wear that crest. He had seen too much sorrow. Bookman knew that the kind-hearted Kevin Yeegar did not deserve such a life.
"How have the years been treating you, Bookman?" Yeegar asked, when their clasped hands released one another and fell to their sides again.
"Certainly you can tell by using those eyes of yours, "Bookman said. Beyond the General's elbow, Bookman could see Seeker whispering ardently to Jahaar. Beside the other Bookman, Sagira's eyes were like two black, abysmal wells in the firelight.
"You haven't changed, it seems,"Yeegar said, his tone teased with amusement.
"And neither have you," Bookman replied, gesturing for the other man to have a seat before their erected tent. He did so, while the men in khaki regarded their surroundings with a look of unease. Bookman saw their hands tighten on the straps of their packs when some of Jahaar's men began openly sharpening their machetes in an imposing manner. However, no one made to come over to them, leaving Bookman and his guests to semi-privacy.
"Strange group you're affiliated with," Yeegar ventured in conversational German
"Not by choice, I assure you," Bookman replied easily, despite not using the language since his last rendezvous with the man across from him. Kevin's white brows knitted together, his sharp gaze moving from Bookman's face to the main cabana to their right, where Jahaar and Seeker were still in heated discussion, their attention focused on Bookman's small group.
"Are you in danger?" Yeegar asked, concern softening his consonants.
"Not I," Bookman answered, looking down at his apprentice. Darpan, not understanding the language, appeared confused as to why everyone in the group had suddenly turned their attention to him. Across from him, Yeegar's expression tightened. He, much like Bookman, had issues with people who targeted children with violence.
"I could protect him," Yeegar said quietly, his tone earnest. He truly hadn't changed. Yeegar did not even understand the situation, and yet he was more than willing to put himself out there to protect a boy he scarcely knew. That kind heart of his was going to do him in one day.
"They would kill you," Bookman replied, making sure that his voice did not carry. Even in German, it was possible that someone nearby could understand and would be able to relate the information to Jahaar. "And him."
"What do they want from you?" Yeegar asked.
"They require my services," Bookman said.
"For what purpose?" he inquired.
"For the same purpose I deduce you yourself have come to this place," Bookman replied. Yeegar's gloved hand touched the golden crest on his cloak in realization.
"Innocence?
"Indeed."
"But it is impossible for a non-compatible host to utilize the power of Innocence. The effects could be disastrous"
"I am well aware.
"What could he possibly want?"
"What do you think?"
A stony silence fell over their conversation. Many men had destroyed themselves in the past seeking the power of God while others struggled onwards fighting to protect the power of God.
Exorcists are...the saddest creatures aren't they? Bookman mused, looking at the man across from him. Continuously in the middle of a battle they will never win... Humans. Demons. Some humans were as malicious as demons, blurring that line between the black and white. Powerless, the Exorcists were left in that stage of gray permanently. Aren't you there, Yeegar?
"It would most likely be the best option for you to leave while you are still able," Bookman said. If there was one thing he could do at that moment, it was preventing Yeegar from becoming involved in yet another battle that should not have been his to fight. Yeegar's face was soft, lined with sadness. In contrast, across the camp, Jahaar was reminiscent of a feral animal and his body language indicated that Seeker had explained to him the circumstances in which Yeegar had come into their company. With the knowledge that the General was there to collect Jahaar's beloved treasure, the Arab looked positively murderous that someone would stand in his way. "Our paths will undoubtedly cross again."
"When that time comes, I will aid you in any way I can," Yeegar said, standing up; the two Finders beside him did the same, their faces revealing the relief they felt with the impending departure from such a hostile environment. Kevin put forth his hand again for Bookman to shake. In his palm was a small, black orb that Bookman allowed to slide into the sleeve of his kuzhe. Yeegar released his hand and said in English: "It was good to see you again, Bookman."
"And yourself, General," Bookman responded; Yeegar's mustache lifted lightly in a smile at the cordial tone. Beside him, Bookman was acutely aware that Darpan had drawn closer. It was no mystery why, as Jahaar was making his way towards them, flanked by the largest members of his entourage. Seeker lurked behind them as a silent threat.
"Bookman," Jahaar said, his voice only a pretense of geniality, "Will you not introduce me to your acquaintance?
Yeegar looked at Bookman out of the corner of his eye in a cautious manner.
"My guest is truly none of your concern, Jahaar," Bookman responded easily, "But since you've come in all your splendor, perhaps it would be the considerate choice to introduce yourself instead." Jahaar's fake smile flickered for a moment, but did not fall from his lips entirely.
"Of course. How dreadfully rude of me," he said sharply and Seeker smirked from beyond their gathered circle. Behind him, Bookman heard Darpan utter a muted, choked sound, allowing the old man to ascertain precisely the reason why Seeker appeared so pleased. As Jahaar introduced himself to Yeegar, Bookman glared at Seeker; the other man's hard eyes met his with unwavering intensity. Apparently too many years of bitterness had built up to the point where the lines between duty and personal revenge had become non-existent. If Bookman and Darpan were to die there, would anyone even know there had been foul play? Pondering these thoughts, Bookman moved his hands slowly beneath his cloak so that they were behind him, fingers pointing outwards. He did well not to breathe a visible sigh of relief when he felt the heavy weight of Chi's dagger placed in his waiting palms by his apprentice's shaking hands.
"Ta ma de...*" Darpan muttered weakly, his presence moving away from Bookman and towards the tent. He heard the flap lift and then close, then nothing at all from the inside.
(*Lit. "Fuck me")
"What brings you to this region?" Jahaar was inquiring pointedly when Bookman turned his attention back to the conversation at hand, after safely securing the dagger onto his belt. Yeegar's focus was on the Arab, but his two Finders had been watching the scene between the Bookmen with confusion. The younger of the two glanced concernedly at the silent tent behind Bookman, but did not make a sound.
"Business," Yeegar replied professionally, "and if you will excuse me, I will now be on my way."
"Of course," Jahaar said, and stepped aside for the General and his men to pass. "Be careful out there, good man. The desert at night is not the place for the inexperienced." Yeegar only smiled at the thinly masked threat before leaving. Bookman was certain that the old gensui did not miss the two men who followed behind his black carriage as it sped off into the dark, sandy dunes.
"He will not interfere," Jahaar said. His men dispersed back to the places they had held previously. The Arab did the same, returning with Seeker to the campfire in the center of their temporary establishment. Sagira was nowhere in sight.
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The moment that everyone had gone their separate ways, Bookman ducked into the tent. Darpan was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the floor, staring blankly at nothing. Even when Bookman stepped in front of him, his apprentice gave no reaction. This lasted for a few unblinking moments until consciousness returned to Darpan's green eye and he looked around, confused. Seeker must have had quite the grip on his mind, judging from the disconcerted expression on his young face. It turned to chagrined realization within seconds.
"He got me again, didn't he?" Darpan asked with a sheepish tone.
"Unfortunately so," Bookman replied, handing Darpan's dagger back to him, "but that is to be expected. Even with the most advanced of training, it is difficult to resist Seeker's abilities."
"I didn't try to kill anyone, did I?" Darpan inquired, holding the dagger in his upturned palms. He looked as if he did not want to have it on his person if he had attempted homicide.
"No. You disarmed yourself before then," Bookman said. Outside, he could hear the conversations among the men about the traveler; about Jahaar's invaluable treasure they would have within days…
"That's good. I didn't want to hurt anyone," Darpan said with a relieved sigh as he strapped the weapon back onto his belt, "but what are we going to do now? Jahaar didn't look too happy back there..."
"That he did not," Bookman agreed, sitting cross-legged on a floor cushion. Instead of smoking from the hookah in their tent, Bookman lit a cigarette and took in a long drag while thinking about the situation and its ever-increasing complexity. Inside his sleeve, the black ball was heavy, pressing Bookman to remove it and hold the orb up in observation. The center of the circle opened in the form of a diamond, revealing a single, searching eye. It blinked at Bookman, before two wings shot out from side panels and began flapping.
"What..." Darpan said, not asked, as he looked at the creature. "Is that a bat?
"It's a golem," Bookman replied.
"A whatsit?" Darpan asked.
"A golem," Bookman repeated, allowing the device to hover in the air between them. "It is a communication system that the Black Order designed to keep their agents in contact with the main branch headquarters."
"So that guy really was from the Black Order," Darpan said, his tone turning confused when he asked: "Speaking of which, aren't we supposed to be hiding from them?"
"We are not hiding," Bookman replied.
"Avoiding," Darpan amended.
"That man can be trusted," said Bookman. Darpan seemed to accept that answer, perhaps still missing parts of Lavi's hazy memory from the incident back in Greece with Cross and his abusive habits. Taking another drag from his cigarette, Bookman thought, staring at the device with contemplation. Perhaps taking Yeegar up on his offer would not be such a bad idea. Bookman was getting a bad feeling about their traveling group and it was his duty as Darpan's mentor to keep him out of the way of danger.
"Yeegar," Bookman said aloud. The golem's eye turned red and it made a few clicking, processing noises before a voice came through the speaker.
"Bookman," came the response.
"Stop your carriage," Bookman said in German, "you'll be taking on some precious cargo."
"I'll set the tracking device on the golem now," Yeegar said quietly, "it will bring you right to us."
"I will be staying," Bookman informed him.
"Staying," Yeegar repeated, "but why?"
"There is something that must be done first," Bookman said, "and I do not want my apprentice to become involved in whatever aftermath there may be." Yeegar was silent for a long few moments before he replied.
"Understood. We will wait for the boy."
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The next day dawned bright and scorching over a sea of golden sand. After an early breakfast, the caravan set out once more in a line that stretched for so long that Bookman could not distinguish where it began and ended. Although the original party had been only fifteen or so people, more of Jahaar's men appeared in the night, silently adding to the weight of a near inescapable situation. In front of him, Seeker and Sagira rode on their camels side-by-side, like a barrier between Bookman and the rest of the hostile group; or maybe as a guard to keep him in check. Every now and then, Bookman noticed the girl glancing back at him, but her expression was unreadable. Seeker did not look back once.
"Your little brat's been quiet all morning," remarked one of Jahaar's men behind Bookman.
"He had a bit of a rough encounter last night," Bookman answered, lying easily. In the saddle in front of him, Bookman had a small bundle wrapped in several blankets. It leaned against him much like a tired child would have. However, there was nothing inside of it aside from a few floor cushions that Bookman had molded into a more human like shape the night prior. It would not be able to fool anyone for very long, but it would do the trick for that moment. When the truth was discovered, Bookman would be in serious trouble, but Darpan would be safely with Yeegar and out of Seeker's persistent grasp.
That night, however, Bookman found himself to be in luck. He remained on his side of the camp, out in the open by the small fire so that he could be observed. If anyone asked, he told them that the child was ill and in bed. Seeker seemed to be pleased by this, as if his meddling had worn Bookman's apprentice down to the point where he was too weak to walk. It only furthered his belief that the boy was an inadequate choice for the position. Sagira was the only one who seemed different. Her mood was subdued, cautious, and Bookman caught her looking more than once at the dimly lit tent behind him that night. When their eyes met from across the camp, Bookman was sure that, in a sudden passing second of clarity, she knew what was really happening. But if she did, she said nothing, and remained dutifully by Seeker's side.
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In the morning, Jahaar called Bookman into his tent. He was smoking from a hookah and lounging on his silk cushions like a king before his court. His small serpent had wrapped itself around his hand, clinging to him like a morbid piece of royal jewelry. A few of his loyal servants were in his company; Seeker sat on his direct right, the highest honor. Sagira, however, was nowhere to be seen. Apparently, she had been neglected from the group of men that sat before him. Whether because of her age or her gender, Bookman was unsure, but it made him slightly suspicious that she was not present. The feeling of impending discovery increased exponentially.
"Tonight is the night of the full moon," Jahaar began, in a tone that reminded Bookman of the Chancellor at the beginning (and all the way through the entirety of) one of his long-winded and boring speeches. "According to our research, we are within fifteen yards of where this structure is to appear. You will accompany us inside to decipher any additional scriptures. Seeker will also be joining our party, to make sure that you keep your end of the bargain.
"I will be sure to be on my best behavior," Bookman said scathingly, comment directed at the white-bearded man on Jahaar's right. He merely chuckled, unmoved by Bookman's act of defiance. The old man thought that he held all the cards in his hand; Bookman wanted to smirk, imagining the expression he would make upon realize he wasn't playing with a full deck.
"I'll make sure of it," Seeker replied.
"Do your very best," Bookman retorted, knowing the banter would aggravate him.
"We will remain here today and wait for nightfall," Jahaar said, ignoring them as he spoke directly to Bookman. "We will fetch you and your apprentice at dusk."
"Very well," Bookman said, standing up. When he left, he did not turn his back to the men in the room, especially Seeker, whom he was the most aware of. Sometimes, when walking in such a manner, it proved beneficial to prevent any sudden attacks from one's enemies who would otherwise be facing his back. But other times, it served as embarrassing segue. When Bookman was just making to turn around upon emerging from the tent, he ran directly into a smaller body, which fell backwards from the contact. He was going to apologize, but then he realized who it was, and instead looked down at the pair of dark, angry eyes that glared into his from the ground without uttering a word.
"You didn't have to push me down, you know," Sagira said.
"My apologies," Bookman replied to her, though he did not mean it. In his eyes, Sagira was just as ridiculous as her master, whom he harbored a great dislike for.
"Are you going to help me up or just leave a lady in a state like this?" she asked. Bookman once again had no choice in the situation, and begrudgingly held out a hand to help the girl up. She latched onto him, her hand hot and covered in grains of sand, not releasing him upon standing. Her eyes looked into his without blinking, almost as if she were searching for information behind Bookman's own gaze. Like a smaller version of Seeker himself. "I was just looking for Darpan.
"Is that so," Bookman said, trying to release his hand from her grip, but she held on tightly. He had a creeping feeling curling around his lower spine. She knows.
"I looked in the tent, but he didn't seem to be there," Sagira continued, still staring. Bookman did not keep eye contact with her for too long. Able to use hypnosis himself, he knew all the tricks. But she being Seeker's ward, he did not want to take any unnecessary chances. There were secrets of the mind that even Bookman could not begin to fathom; that was Seeker's playground.
"He must be out getting water," Bookman offered.
"I didn't see him by the trough," Sagira said.
"Then perhaps he's off exploring," was his only reply. His hand did not shake in her grasp and eventually, she let him go.
"I doubt it," Sagira said, and began walking away, "since he's been gone for two nights." Bookman followed her, leaving behind the main tent in lieu of his own. Seeker's apprentice stood outside for a moment, bending down to fiddle with her sandal as a few of Jahaar's men passed by. When they were gone, Bookman watched as she made her way into his tent stealthily, the flap fluttering shut behind her. Not knowing what her game was, Bookman took the same path through the sand and entered into the cool, shady retreat of his cabana. Sagira was sitting on the cushions that he had used to fake Darpan's presence the previous day.
"Where did he go?" Sagira asked. Her tone wasn't menacing or rude like it had been so many times before. It was softer, more curious. When Bookman looked at her eyes, they seemed darker, almost sadder.
"It is none of your concern," Bookman said, pulling the flap down on the tent. But then he stopped, recalling the meeting he had just attended. Seeker's attitude and body language had been consistent with what he had observed in the past. "Seeker doesn't know."
"I didn't tell him," Sagira replied, crossing her arms.
"Why not?" Bookman asked. She looked up at him through crooked bangs that had been hacked by Darpan only a week prior.
"Because my master is wrong," Sagira said. Hearing her say it like that made Bookman sit down, curious at the girl. Perhaps he had found an ally within the hostile group.
"And how did you come to this conclusion?" Bookman asked, lighting a cigarette. Although he agreed with her statement, he had to hear her expand upon it more. Then, and only then, would he be able to judge if the girl meant what she said.
"After I heard him agree to a contract with Jahaar," Sagira explained. "When we first came across his group, we entered merely to observe his movements, as he's been very active in the northern regions recently in terms of politics. We suspected him of selling arms between tribes in Algeria, which has spurred wars between them. Because of that, there's been more activity from the Europeans, like King Leopold II. In any case, Seeker wanted to make a log investigating him, as he seems to have been instrumental to these developments. It was purely that at first. Then we came across you."
Bookman remained silent at her accusation, puffing on his cigarette with a stoic expression, waiting for her to continue.
"For someone who preaches about remaining impartial, he's a real hypocrite," Sagira said, looking at him, "the both of you are."
"You know what they say about people who dwell in glass houses," Bookman replied.
"I'll throw stones if I want to. The both of you are ridiculous," she answered. Bookman raised an eyebrow at her, unamused by her insinuation.
"And about this contract," Bookman said, to steer her in the right direction again. Between Sagira and his own apprentice, Bookman was convinced that the younger generation could never focus on something for more than five seconds without being distracted.
"Jahaar and Seeker came to a concord," Sagira replied seriously: "Seeker said that he would keep you in Jahaar's hold by controlling Darpan...in exchange for your quiet termination." Bookman listened and the words processed in his mind correctly, but even though he understood, the old man truly could not believe it. Despite their differences and life-long animosity, Bookman could not imagine Seeker wanting to kill him. Perhaps it was some elaborate set-up to force Bookman into believing such a tale, only to find himself deeper entangled in a trap he had been trying to avoid.
"Believe me or not, I don't care," Sagira said, standing up. She brushed off her desert trousers with angry flicks of her wrists. "I just wanted to let you know."
"Considerate," Bookman replied, flicking his ashes to show he was unmoved by her speech. With nothing else to say, the girl made for the exit, pausing before the flap. She did not turn around, just stood there with her back to Bookman and the messily cropped hair against her shoulders.
"If I ever see Darpan again, I promise I won't hurt him. It's my duty, after all, to protect him, isn't it?" she said rhetorically, voice soft and thoughtful. Convincing, but Bookman still held his suspicions. Anyone affiliated with the Clan had to be a good actor by nature.
"You did not hold this value before," Bookman said.
"That was before I found out," Sagira replied.
Thinking about the journey, Bookman analyzed every memory he had collected of Sagira. The first one was of she and Darpan bickering, but not too roughly, pulling at hair and throwing a few insults. Then there were the scattered images where she flitted in the background, watching with an intense stare but nothing more. The day prior came to mind, where she and Seeker had been riding in front of them and her looks kept coming back to him, searching. If Bookman focused enough, perhaps those dark eyes of hers had been trying to tell him something without words. But because Bookman did not understand, Sagira engaged as she had originally and although she was always by Seeker's side, she continuously kept Bookman and Darpan under her surveillance, almost as if she were concerned.
"In any case, I must act like a Bookman here, since it seems my master is in no condition to do so," Sagira said, "so, I will try to help you when the time comes."
And with a slant of sunlight and a warm breeze, she was gone.
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Jahaar was furious.
This in itself would have been hilarious, if not for the dire situation. After all, when people became enraged, they tended to turn an array of different colors while making entertaining faces. In fact, Bookman liked to consider it one of his fondest past times to see exactly how infuriated he could make people become. However, with Jahaar, the rage became less amusing and more dangerous, which was why Bookman found his hands tied behind his back with coarse rope and the tip of a machete blade pressed against his throat.
"You thought that you could trick me?" Jahaar asked, threatening, but not able to press the steel further into Bookman's neck to draw blood. After all, Bookman was still needed, so Jahaar could not so easily kill him. Not yet, anyway. And when that time came, they would not be prepared for what would be unleashed.
Bookmen, although Watchers, were also skilled fighters.
"I did nothing of the sort," Bookman replied nonchalantly.
When the sun set that night, a group of guards had come to collect Bookman from his tent. Upon arriving, they found that Bookman was the only one they were going to receive, as the apprentice in question was currently elsewhere.
"Do not lie to me, Bookman. I am not a patient man," Jahaar said.
"I am not lying to you, Jahaar," Bookman replied. "I used no trickery. I merely took a useless figure out of the equation. I myself stayed behind to honor the concord we established, by which my apprentice had no part in, and therefore, no responsibility to remain here."
"I am warning you, Bookman. I am a very dangerous man," Jahaar threatened. Although his eyes were a little bit wilder and expression a bit more fanatical, Bookman experienced no semblance of fear. Jahaar was not even close to his level.
Nowhere near him.
"I am a very dangerous man myself," Bookman answered. The long stare that followed ended in Jahaar's retreat and his machete was sheathed onto his belt.
"Tonight, we will find these ruins," Jahaar said, looking down at Bookman with almost an air of indifference. "When I have my treasure, I'll let you leave with yours: your life."
"Kind of you," Bookman replied.
Jahaar wheeled around on his heel, hand raised above his head, as if he were planning on striking Bookman. But the old man did not waver or flinch from Jahaar, who turned back around in disappointment at the lack of reaction.
It was going to be a long night.
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The dunes were blue in the night, looking more like an ocean than a sea of sand. They rolled full and triangular, over and over one another, all the way into the indigo distance. Their regularity was interrupted by one thing that could be seen from atop a sandy crest: a structure that stood directly between two sand valleys. Its tall pillars supported a sloped roof that resembled the great pyramids at Giza. Below it, the cornices were elaborately decorated with familiar pictographs and hieroglyphics: the sun, the moon, the wind, the sky...the characters went on and on around the top portion, down the main pillars that stretched six by six on all sides. Perfectly square, it was a huge building that sat with only one protruding feature: a plateau of stairs that jutted out from the structure almost like a tongue, beckoning them inside the stomach of a hungry lion. It seemed to whisper with evanescence.
"This wasn't here earlier today when I went out on patrol," whispered a man behind Bookman to his companion on a nearby camel. "I would have seen something like that among the dunes, that I would have." Others spoke quietly among one another in hushed voices of awe before the temple that had appeared out of the night. Beside Bookman, he heard a small exclamation emit from Sagira's lips, unnoticed by the others.
"We will enter now," Jahaar said. The men got off their camels and split into two groups: those that would remain outside and those that would travel into the interior. Bookman was brought, hands bound, to the front by Manesh, before left in the secure care of Seeker. The other man looked as if he was truly enjoying the manner in which Bookman was treated and did nothing to stop the situation. Sagira stood by Seeker's side, but her eyes were focused on Bookman.
Jahaar lit a torch and began his journey inside, taking several strides to cover a single stone step of the temple. The rest of the group followed, lighting torches and lanterns to guide the way into the dark. Seeker held an old oil lamp for their small group of three and made Bookman lead the way. The one thing he hated more than anything was having his back to that man, who kept him in a strong glare that Bookman could feel, hot and hostile on his neck, with each step.
"You'll regret this, Seeker," Bookman said.
"You think that, Bookman, but you're wrong," Seeker answered calmly as they walked beneath the moonlight, into the darkness of an ancient, fleeting place. "Just as you think your apprentice is safe with that man from the Black Order." Bookman's did well to not let his pace slow. He should have realized how intelligent his enemy was. The one to fear was Seeker, not Jahaar.
"You will not be able to control him from afar," Bookman said.
"No," Seeker replied, tone a bit put out. "And here I thought it would have been so interesting to make Junior kill his Master...oh well. I'll have to find a more creative way then, won't I?"
"Master," Sagira said in a whisper.
"Quiet," he ordered her, and her voice did not return as they stepped into the true entrance of the temple. It did not smell rank with antiquity, as Bookman had expected, but like the wind and the dust of the desert. The cool wind that blew through the darkened tunnels was as chill as the evening air outside, almost as if they were standing in a structure whose walls allowed everything to flow right through. It was a strange feeling that made Bookman feel even more unsure about the situation at hand than he had previously. Not only did he have concerns over the group that held him captive, but now of the location as well.
Inside the heart of the temple, Bookman could hear the sound of the Wind.
"We must search as quickly as possible. This temple will disappear at dawn. With us inside it, if we are not careful," Jahaar said when they entered a small antechamber. It reminded Bookman of Thoth's domain, although the ceiling a bit lower and with more doorways. In the square room, there were approximately six of them, black, unknowable portals all leading to different parts of the temple.
"Surely there must be a faster way than searching all of these passageways," said Manesh, crossing his arms. He didn't look excited at the prospect of running around an unknown area in the dark all evening.
"Bookman," Jahaar barked, scaring some of his men, but not the old man, who patiently stood to the side, observing.
"You need not shout, I am right here," Bookman said, just because he knew that it would bother the Arab.
"Are there any indicators in this room as to which doorway we should take?" Jahaar asked, ignoring Bookman's previous statement. With that as much permission as he was going to receive, Bookman broke away from the group and walked towards the large openings within the antechamber. The Egyptians had a complex system of coordination and structure, wherein passageways could go on for days and lead to a dead end, while others had trick walls and rooms that could lock people inside. Using pure observation, Bookman deduced that each path was identical, with the same symbol above each doorway. Nothing had any sort of meaning or purpose as far as he could see, but there was one doorway that spoke to him. It was as if he stood on the threshold between This World and the Next when a voice like silk against his eardrum whispered leave this place.
"I see no markings upon any doorway that proves to be of significance," Bookman replied, ignoring the warning and the feeling that he received from that pathway that smelled like the northern winds.
Jahaar looked even more furious than he had earlier that evening. At this rate, Bookman thought he might have an aneurism, judging from the way a certain vein protruded outwards from beneath the skin of his forehead.
"Nothing?" he asked, voice indicating that his patience was being stretched thin.
"Nothing at all," Bookman replied.
"Ridiculous," Jahaar muttered, swearing under his breath in a whole slur of dialects that Bookman could not decipher completely. They were saved from the possibility of a long lecture or pointless shouting when there came a sudden cry from the outside.
"Boss!"
The call came with a sound that tunneled through the entrance, echoing loudly in the cavernous space. Footsteps followed and more torchlight joined them when a group of men from guard appeared. Inside of their five person guard stood two figures bound at the wrists with thick cord. Bookman couldn't believe his eyes: there stood General Yeegar and his own idiotic apprentice, now Jahaar's additional prisoners. When Bookman made eye contact with them, Darpan shrugged his shoulders as if bored and Kevin smiled a bit sheepishly.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," Seeker said, like a happy drunk.
"We found them loitering at the top of the western dune," said one of the men.
"We weren't loitering," Yeegar said with a sniff, like he was offended at being accused of something so criminal. "We were sightseeing."
"Sightseeing?" said some of Jahaar's men dubiously. Bookman and Darpan were included in this incredulous question.
"I actually came to return some of your men. You see, they followed my carriage for quite a ways and I thought they might lost so—"
"Regardless, how convenient," said Seeker, in a tone that Bookman understood quite well.
"Why are you here?" Jahaar asked, stepping closer to the bound general and the redheaded boy. Yeegar's expression became one of serious concern.
"I came to warn you to cease your search. The substance you seek is Innocence. It cannot be tamed by someone who is incompatible to use it," Kevin explained, with all the patience of a teacher who had gone through countless multiplication tables and vocabulary drills. "If you pursue it, you will only meet disaster. Without the proper control, Innocence can be extremely destructive."
A ripple of fear traveled through Jahaar's men, but the Arab remained calm.
"You say these words to me as if they are amiable best wishes," Jahaar said with a sneer, "but I know your true motives. You and your church are trying to rob me of what is rightfully mine. I am the one who discovered this hiding place and therefore, I am the one who will take control of the object in question. You, good man, have no power here."
The wind traveled softly across the air, like perfume, fluttering through Bookman's cloak with a caress against his arm. Leave this place it said again, in a voice that came out like a sigh in the night. It came from the doorway that Bookman had felt strange standing in front of before. He refused to look at it, taking the advice whispered to him.
They were but transient guests...
Darpan caught Bookman's attention when he realized that the redhead was not paying attention to the general and the Arab, but staring to the side at the doorway where the breath of Innocence exhaled its warnings. His single green eye was gold, flickering in the torchlight, fixed upon the square door frame of stone and air. Jahaar's machete flashed a similar color to Darpan's eye, resting beneath the boy's chin with speed that Bookman found unprecedented to his earlier maneuvers.
"Boy," Jahaar said, in a voice that resembled a cougar: low and dangerous. The tip of the blade slid along Darpan's jaw, then down the curve of his cheek. Bookman quelled the rush of protective instincts that coursed through him, replacing it instead with pride that his apprentice did not flinch beneath the touch of the sharp instrument. When Darpan did not answer him, Jahaar used the blade to force the boy's chin towards him, meeting a dark, almost mesmerized gaze. Looking over his shoulder, the Arab directed his silent question at Seeker, who stood next to Bookman. Even the other historian appeared confused by the child's actions, which signified it was not his doing.
"Leave this place," Darpan said, in a voice so hollow that it sounded as if someone else had taken hold of him. Yeegar looked towards the same doorway Darpan had been so intently staring at, before dropping his gaze to the floor. His eyes were closed, as if listening to something.
For something.
You're all but transient guests.
Bookman heard it, felt it, as if a voice full of light had grasped onto every nerve ending in his body. Humans were nothing but fleeting glimpses of life and death upon a radar that stretched for hundreds of thousands of years. Nothing was as evanescent as the human existence, not even the temple that appeared solely on the night of the full moon. This feeling swept over him like wind, like waves on a beach, or the sand that rippled on the blue dunes. It was the voice of the Universe, of unknowable and incomprehensible age. That was Innocence.
"So it's there," Jahaar said. His voice brought Bookman back to the present, where he realized that not only he, but also Darpan and the general were staring at that doorway with unwavering stares. "Very well. Manesh, take the old man."
Jahaar's body guard looked at Bookman and then at Yeegar in a silent question as to which old man had been referred to.
"I'll make it easier for you," Seeker said, pointing at the gensui while he himself stepped a bit more threateningly towards Bookman.
"You'd better watch it," Manesh said, under his breath, "because you're old too."
"Sagira," Seeker barked, making Manesh jump closer to Yeegar (who, the kind old soul, was trying to introduce himself to his captors with polite language and the promise to make them something delicious to eat after they had gone on their "adventure") and Sagira stand at attention.
"Yes," she said.
"Watch the boy," Seeker ordered.
"Yes," Sagira replied.
"Anyone but her," Darpan complained.
"I'll give you something to complain about, Cyclops," she promised.
"Once again, I'm going to bring up your apparent ineptitude when it comes to referring to famous Greek epics, as you don't seem to understand your insults in their literary entirety," Darpan said. Sagira pushed him, but—Bookman noticed—not with the usual amount of bruising force. The redhead seemed to realize this as well, and looked over his shoulder at her with a passing, questioning glance.
"Just keep walking, idiot," she said, her normal sting missing. Seeker did not notice, fortunately, and pushed Bookman along as well in the direction where Jahaar was leading them towards the doorway.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Darpan said quietly, as they entered through the dark portal. Even their torches did nothing to combat the darkness that crept in from all sides, pressing in, further and further the deeper they traveled.
"You're telling me..." Bookman heard Sagira say. They walked in silence for a while, breathing in the heavy, dusty smell of the place, trying not to think about where they were being forced to walk. To the heart of a temple, where death awaited? It was very likely that the threat of the Wind had not been a jest...
"Ow!" Darpan let out in a harsh whisper.
"Shut up," Sagira said. Her voice shook only slightly in the blackness.
"You stepped on my foot," Darpan whined quietly.
"You deserve it," Sagira replied.
"Don't be such a wench," said Darpan. Bookman heard her slap the back of his head.
"I told you to shut up!" Sagira said.
"That's my girl," Seeker praised in a proud tone from behind Bookman's right shoulder.
"Crazy bastard," Darpan muttered; Sagira hit him again. "Ow! Damn you!"
"Now, now, let's all be calm here," came Yeegar's voice of reason from behind all of them.
"Tell that to this crazy—"
Darpan's exclamation cut off when the tunnel opened up slightly, allowing for people in the group to stand side-by-side instead of one directly behind the other. As they walked further, the space grew larger and the darkness less oppressive. Finally, they came into a perfect half-circle of a room that curved with beautiful simplicity in a wide arch above their heads. Their light threw the smooth walls into a gentle illumination. Despite the craftsmanship that had to have been a great achievement in the days of the chisel and hammer, there was nothing inside of it except for a sandy floor. No other doorway led out and only the entrance in which they had entered served as an exit.
"What is this...?" Jahaar asked, stepping into the room, disbelief in his voice.
"It's...a big round room?" Darpan offered quietly so that Jahaar did not hear his sarcastic remark. As the rest of the party filed into the space, Jahaar walked around and around in circles, searching every inch of the place in hopes of locating his treasure. Apparently not only was the place a big, round room, but it was an empty, big, round room.
Jahaar looked as if he might pull his hair out.
"What is THIS?" he shouted loudly. His men tried to console him, but they were pushed aside and given chores to search the ground completely for some sort of clue: a trap door or sun dial similar to that in the temple of wisdom. Really, Jahaar was looking for anything that might be a clue to the existence of the object. While this occurred, the captives stood off to the side, leaving Manesh and Sagira as guards while Seeker spoke with Jahaar across the room from them in a frantic, north-African language that Bookman did not understand.
"So is anyone else thinking that this was just a big waste of time?" Darpan asked at an attempt at humor. "Oh, c'mon, let's have a show of hands. Oh, but wait. Never mind." With everyone bound they way they were, Bookman did not think it was funny.
"You were supposed to keep him away from here, you know," Bookman said to the General in quiet, northern-dialectical German.
"Quite aware," Kevin replied easily, "but he's quite the smart lad. Probably could figure his way out of things Harry Houdini couldn't manage..." Bookman did not want to know by which methods Yeegar had been attempting to keep Darpan from coming along, and instead continued:
"Well now we're in quite the predicament. Did you allow yourself to be captured?'
"Absolutely. And yourself?"
"Of course. Do you have a course of action?"
"Not in its entirety as of yet, but I am one to 'go with the flow' as they say."
"I do believe that we may be in trouble now."
"Oh, nonsense. We'll get out of this easily, along with the Innocence."
"You think so?"
"I cannot leave without it." Yeegar's tone was serious and Bookman knew that the general meant his words.
In the half-hemisphere shaped room, a voice murmured like silk over a mahogany floor in autumn: You only live in half the world.
"Half the world...interesting," Yeegar mused in English.
"Are we all collectively hearing voices?" Darpan asked; Sagira gave him a weird look while Manesh stared straight ahead, ignoring them completely. Bookman's kohl-rimmed eyes narrowed. Truly, he and Darpan were like Yeegar: the both of them could hear Innocence as plain as day. And that meant—
"Do you think it may be relevant?" Bookman asked the general, ignoring Darpan while hoping that Yeegar did not think too much on the fact that they could hear what the general heard, resonating inside the temple.
"Perhaps it might be," Yeegar said, but with no definitive answer. Beneath his cloak, Bookman rubbed his wrists together, using his fingers to attempt to undo the knot that kept him bound.
"Is all Innocence this talkative?" Darpan continued, mostly speaking to himself as he shrugged, raising both his hand in the air as he finished with: "because Hell if I know what's going on."
There was a moment in which it took Bookman a moment to realize what he was seeing: that Darpan was no longer tied up. Sagira noticed as well, and grabbed his arm to pull it down, out of sight. But it was too late, as Manesh saw, and was about to raise the alarm to the rest of the group when Sagira kicked the man in the back of the knee, bringing him down to the ground. Once down at her level, she swiftly knocked him unconscious with a well placed jab to the solar plexus. It took about fifteen seconds, maybe less.
"Nice," Darpan said in a complimentary manner.
"Thanks," she replied, throwing her hair over her shoulder as Darpan pulled out his dagger and cut the ropes binding Yeegar and Bookman.
"And thanks for untying me," Darpan added.
"Do me a favor and don't suck, okay? It's bad enough you have horrible timing," Sagira said. And she was right. By this time, they had drawn attention to themselves and Jahaar was beside himself with rage. Not only was his plan not going smoothly, but now his captives had escaped. Surrounding their small group of four, his men held out their weapons to keep them from getting away. Standing next to Jahaar, Seeker was livid.
"Sagira!" his voice boomed, loudly echoing in the dome. The girl did not answer him, taking on a fighting stance beside Darpan, who mirrored her movements. At least her loyalty had not been a farce as Bookman had presumed.
"Nice to know you're on our side," Darpan said, and added, "so don't suck, okay?"
"Don't get too comfortable, Cyclops," Sagira replied.
"Really, you're still rolling with that insult?" Darpan asked, incredulously.
"Is this really the time to be bitching like a woman?" Sagira inquired, her position not wavering from one of complete concentration.
"Oh, if you weren't a woman, I'd put you down so hard right now," Darpan said.
"Now, now, let's not fight, children..." Yeegar intervened gently, like the mediator he had probably been during fights in the elementary school level.
"Just stay out of this!" both the apprentices told to him.
"Now please, there's no need for violence, from any of you," Yeegar said, directing it mostly at the people surrounding them. The group of desert men watched on with disbelief at the scene, probably wondering how one of their own had been done in so quickly by a child. Meanwhile, Jahaar remained in a difficult place, as he couldn't kill them because he still thought he needed Bookman. Seeker, on the other hand, was not bound by any decree, now that he had discovered his apprentice's treachery. Truly, that man was the only one that they had to worry about.
"Kill the priest," said Jahaar in a commanding tenor, "and capture the old man. The children...do whatever you want with them." With that order, the men came at them with clear intent. On the right side, the two apprentices began fighting in efficient, hand-to-hand combat. Just like the time Bookman had first seen Lavi in action back in Headquarters, he watched as Darpan fought with expert skill. Half-way through the fight, Darpan switched from his usual tactics and mimicked Sagira's fighting style to synchronize their movements, thereby creating a success percentile range that doubled from its previous figure. Meanwhile, on Bookman's left, Yeegar was trying to keep the peace from the advancing fighters by evading their attacks. He would not use his weapon until the last moment, when there was no chance for reconciliation without bloodshed or injury. Bookman himself faced the attackers from directly in front of them. Although he rarely used his skills, Bookman had been trained in several prestigious, ancient schools of martial arts in China as well as the Nepali side of the Xiziang Province. He put four men down without even breaking a sweat. In fact, it was a bit invigorating to feel so young again...
You tip the balance in half your world...
The center of the room dipped into a perfect circle and sand began to swirl into it, like a drain, leaving a bare floor beneath their feet. An ornate design of hieroglyphics created a spheres within spheres of text and drawings, moving towards the hole that had formed in the middle of the room.
...and you...
So consumed with watching the shift in the space they occupied, Bookman hadn't noticed the sudden proximity of a body in front of him until the steel of Darpan's blade was pressed against his throat. An single, unseeing eye stared up at him from under red, red fringe.
...cannot see without looking.
pqpq
Finished, darlings. Not really a big cliffhanger (in fact, this chapter was kind of boring? Nothing really happened?) and there is more to come! My goal is to update at least twice a week while I'm out for the summer break (AKA Tomorrow)! Would that make up for all the lost time? I hope so, because all of you have been so wonderfully patient! Thank you so much for your continued love and support.
~Dhampir72