:O I know... you can't believe it. I updated. I'm not even going to hazard a guess as to how long it's been. Well, if anyone can still remember what was happening in this story, please read and enjoy! It's a nice long chapter to make up for my long period of crapness. Hope you like it.
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Chapter 18: Going Underground
"I don't understand," I said, once I had found my voice again. The ground suddenly didn't feel quite so firm beneath my feet. "What does he want with us?"
"I don't know," Ozan replied. "I just know that their preparations have been halted until your arrival. I cannot make contact directly with Karel; he is too difficult to reach, and it would be too risky – he might detect my presence."
"Who did you read?" Kurtis asked.
Ozan slipped off his glasses and began wiping the lenses with a cotton handkerchief. "One of his senior guards, down near the final door. And another of his colleagues, just to be certain. They do not understand why he wants to wait either, but they are doing as he ordered."
"Shit," Kurtis muttered, and looked over at me. I met his eye and read the concern there.
"There has to be a good reason," I said. "If he didn't need something he would have just got on with opening the door, before anyone could interfere. Like I did when I stopped him from using the Sleeper." I shook my head in frustration. "It just doesn't make sense."
"He's already taken the medallion from us," Kurtis argued. "We don't have anything else he wants. Unless he just wants us to watch," he added, grimly.
"And then get torn apart by the newly awakened Nephilim," I replied with a shudder. I looked back at Ozan, hopeful of some explanation. "Do you think it could be that simple? Is Karel really that arrogant?"
Ozan had replaced his glasses now, and was focusing on the stone floor thoughtfully. "He is certainly behaving that way," he said. "His staff are concerned that he is too confident, that he is taking an unnecessary risk. But... I cannot say for certain."
I began to pace back and forth anxiously, while Kurtis spoke up from behind me. "Ozan, have you picked up on anything at all that suggests Karel needs something else to complete the ritual?"
"No. As I said, it seems that he is ready, but waiting." He shook his head. "I wish I could tell you more. If you go down into the city, you will be in great danger. They will be waiting for you."
Kurtis and I exchanged glances. "Danger, we can handle," I said. "We just have to be prepared. If we can get hold of more ammunition, first aid supplies, some flares..."
"We can have the advantage here," Kurtis said, nodding in agreement. I could tell his adrenalin had started pumping. Mine was too. "I can use my farsee to scope out the passageways ahead, so we can avoid the guards or at least take them by surprise." I noticed the way his hand hovered close to the dormant Chirugai. Turning to Ozan, he continued. "And you can help us to pick the best route, and get down into the lower passages."
"Yes, that's true," Ozan replied hesitantly, the uncertainty lingering in his eyes. "Together we can get the two of you through the camp and down into the city without raising the alarm." He exhaled slowly. "But... I still have a bad feeling about this."
I sat down beside him on the couch and put my hand over his. Of course he was afraid of Karel succeeding in his plan, but I could see that he was also worried about Kurtis and I getting hurt. I squeezed his hand, touched at his concern for us.
"Yeah. Karel doesn't exactly give me the warm and fuzzies either," Kurtis said gravely. "But this is what we came here to do."
Half an hour later I was sitting cross-legged on the floor, looking over some rough sketches that Ozan had made of the layout of Karel's camp. Ozan sat close by on the couch looking through a selection of his books, brow furrowed in concentration. He was still trying to locate the meaning of the last symbol in Kurtis' tattoo. After our previous conversation he had got on the telephone to a contact of his who could provide us with ammo and other supplies, and Kurtis was currently out in the jeep meeting up with the contact.
"So from the south of the camp, we should make our way around to this area," I said, tracing the route with my finger. "The entrance tunnel will be the most heavily guarded, so it might be worth us splitting up and attacking from different sides." I tapped the paper thoughtfully. "Kurtis can use his Chirugai, and I can pick off the others from here..." I was talking to myself more than anything, but sensed Ozan watching me, and looked up.
"Kurtis is lucky to have you beside him. He can trust you more than anyone."
"Thankyou," I replied, pleasantly surprised by his words. "Have you told him that?"
Ozan shook his head. "That is not necessary," he said warmly. "He already knows."
I felt a swell of affection towards the man, and wondered how far we would have got without his help. "Ozan?" I said awkwardly, staring at the floor. "I just wanted to say – That is, I wanted to apologise. For this morning. We didn't mean to embarrass you." I felt my face reddening.
"There is no need to apologise," he assured me kindly. I looked up at his smiling face. "It is most rewarding to see the two of you happy. I noticed right away that there is a strong spiritual connection between the two of you."
I returned his smile, then my expression changed as an odd suspicion arose in my mind. "Hang on a minute," I said, narrowing my eyes at our host. "Last night, when told us you had to stay in Nevsehir. You weren't by any chance setting us up, were you?"
Ozan blinked at me innocently. "Lara, you think very poorly of me," he replied, but I caught the glint of amusement in his eye.
"Why, you sly old fox," I said, grinning. "'Spiritual connection' indeed."
By the time three o'clock came around, the mood in the house was a lot more sombre. Kurtis had returned, and I stood at the kitchen table loading supplies into my backpack while he talked with Ozan in the other room. In addition to extra ammunition for my pistols and his Boran X, Kurtis had acquired a small crossbow, a tube of antiseptic cream, and some bandages. Hopefully we wouldn't have any need for the latter. I fastened my holsters around my waist and bent to secure the straps around my thighs. Kurtis walked in behind me and gathered up his ammunition, checking that his gun was fully loaded before inserting the boxes into the pouch on his belt.
"I want you to take this," he said, indicating the crossbow. "The Chirugai is almost silent, but your pistols are likely to attract a lot of attention. If you use this we can get further before anyone knows we're there."
I nodded, sliding my backpack onto my shoulders. "I vote we take the motorbike. It's fast, and easier to hide when we get there."
"Agreed," Kurtis replied.
"Is Ozan ready?"
"Yeah. He's a little pissed that he couldn't find out what that last symbol meant, but I told him it didn't matter now. Oh, and it turns out he has a revolver, nothing fancy, but I said he should keep it close, just in case."
"Good idea," I said, pulling on my leather fingerless gloves. I picked up the crossbow and looked at Kurtis. "Well then. Let's do this."
We said our goodbyes to Ozan, who insisted on embracing us both tightly before we left.
"I can't tell you how grateful we are to you," I said as I hugged him back. "You've done so much." I pulled away and went to the front door. "Keep in touch," I said finally, tapping a finger against my temple with a smile, and closed the door behind me.
We rode to Karel's camp at a pace slower than our usual tearaway speed, both silently aware that the hours to come could possibly be our last. We weren't too eager to rush to that fate. Sitting behind Kurtis with my arms wrapped tightly around him, I tried to avoid thinking about how this was the last chance we would have for some time to be so close together. I wasn't nervous, or afraid, and I doubt Kurtis was either; but we approached the coming battle with a kind of grim anticipation, not wanting to lose sight of what was at stake.
Keeping a safe distance between ourselves and the camp, we rode around to the south where there was plenty of undergrowth to conceal the bike. Checking our weapons one final time, we nodded to one another before setting off in different directions. There was nothing we could say here and now.
I crept over the rocky ground towards the western part of the camp, crossbow at the ready, and once there took cover behind one of the smaller tents. I gave Kurtis a minute or so to reach his mark on the other side and scan around for guards. His time up, I moved at a crouch to the corner of the tent, where I had a good view of the area around the tunnel entrance. Several long, slow minutes passed by before I saw the familiar orange streak of the Chirugai ripping through the air, and heard voices raise in alarm. From my vantage point I couldn't see much of the damage Kurtis' weapon caused, but as planned, I was well placed to pick off the remaining guards as they ran towards their comrades' warning cries. Light clouds of dust flew up and then settled gently around the bodies of Karel's soldiers as they fell silently to the ground. When all was still, I edged between the tents, bow held out before me; once I was certain no more enemies were waiting nearby, I sprinted across the open stretch to the tarpaulin-draped shack that housed the tunnel entrance. I ducked inside and dropped down into the mouth of the passageway, a more or less vertical chasm several feet wide with a ladder against one edge. I descended the ladder into total darkness, finding solid ground again after a little time, and I waited there with baited breath for Kurtis to join me.
No more than a minute later a patch of sunlight appeared beyond the opening above, and I saw Kurtis lower himself onto the ladder. I waited until he had reached my side before lighting a flare, and we stood in the sudden glare for a moment, taking in our surroundings. A narrow tunnel sloped slowly downwards away from us, and with a quick glance at each other we set off down the dank path. This roughly made tunnel had obviously been carved out only recently by Karel's team, but as we progressed we were able to make out an intersection ahead, and smoother, more rounded walls. Emerging into a larger tunnel, I stared around in wonder at the ancient passageway, taking in the graceful curve of the ceiling and the small stone figures set into alcoves in the walls. Here and there the floor was worn down by the many thousands of feet that had passed along the tunnels through the ages.
Noticing my expression of awe, Kurtis smiled. "Pretty amazing, huh."
"Absolutely," I replied. "Just imagine, living down here with no sunlight."
"Yeah. Must be kinda like living in England," he teased.
Karel's diggers had tapped right into this tunnel at a right angle, and I looked to left and right wondering which way to turn.
"This way," Kurtis said, gesturing to me to follow. Seeing my puzzled expression, he smiled. "I've been here before, remember? When the very lovely Lara Karel kicked my ass."
The memory shook me slightly, bringing back to the forefront of my mind how much danger lay ahead – or rather, below. We made our way for some time through long, sloping passageways and down twisted stairways, Kurtis leading, and me sparking flares to life at regular intervals to light the way. Eventually we saw another source of light up ahead, and I ditched the flare I was carrying in favour of the crossbow.
"This is the church," Kurtis said in a hushed voice. "The one with the secret chamber, where Nikolajev's medallion was found." He slotted his fingers into the holes in the Chirugai and held the weapon out before him, blades exposed. Standing half-hidden by the doorway, we checked every visible corner of the church before moving inside.
"Wow," I breathed, gazing around in wonder. This was by far the most elaborate room we had seen so far. Huge painted panels hung on the walls, depicting Biblical images of saints and angels. Winged statues stood on either side of the stone altar, and more angelic figures were carved in bas- relief on the supporting columns, pointing towards the heavens. "These must have been added by Ozan's early ancestors."
A sudden odd sensation in my head knocked me slightly off balance, and I grabbed out at the wall for support. I was about to utter a word of surprise when another sensation joined the first; almost like sound, but within me rather than around me.
"Lara?" I heard someone say, and frowned in confusion at Kurtis. His lips hadn't moved.
I let out a sudden laugh of relief and comprehension, the sound echoing around the church walls. "Ozan? Is that you?" I said aloud.
Yes. I am going to guide you down to the lower levels, the strange voice echoed in my head. Did you reach the complex safely? You are not hurt?
"We're fine," Kurtis said this time, and I realised that Ozan was speaking to us both at once.
Excellent news. Very well. Do you know which way to go from the church?
"No," Kurtis replied. "Wherever Karel took me from here, I was practically unconscious."
Let me see... the doors behind you lead to more living areas... Ah! The archway to your left, Kurtis. Go through it. There will be a spiral staircase; follow it down.
I walked after Kurtis as he went through into the next gloomy corridor, and followed the light from his flare as he began to descend a deep corkscrew of stone stairs. He turned to check that I was close by, and noticed me smiling.
"What is it?"
I shrugged. "Oh, nothing. I'm just remembering my 'things to do' list for today. Number one: explore an ancient underground city with the help of a telekinetic Lux Veritatis warrior and a telepath. Number two: defeat an immortal part-Nephilim hell-bent on world domination. Number three: return library books..."
Kurtis laughed, and I followed the welcome sound as we made our way down, deeper and deeper into the bowels of Derinkuyu.
:) Whee! They're finally getting to the final stages! Pleeeeeease review and give me your much-appreciated feedback. I'll be writing more ASAP.