Page 11 of Circle of Death
When Jessica and Bando head off down the hall, I ask Maddy to follow me into the library. “Maddy, you’re right. I should have brought you into this earlier. I should have told you who was coming, and why they’re here.”
“Well, now that I knowwho,” she says. “Tell mewhy.”
I stop and look her in the eye. Might as well get right to the point. “There’s a new threat in the world, Maddy. Very serious. It hasn’t touched us yet, but it will.”
Maddy shakes her head. “What could be more threatening than Shiwan Khan? He was planning to poison the whole damn world before we stopped him! Remember? A year ago. We all almost died in the process!”
“I know. You don’t need to remind me. But Khan’s threat was to the underclass. He wanted to eliminate the poor to make the world safe for the rich and powerful. The evil I’m talking about is a threat toeverybody. Rich, poor, and in between. Around the world.”
I can see Maddy is still irked. “And why is this something the Shadow has to deal with?” she says. “What about governments? What aboutarmies? Why does it always have to be you?”
“This cabal is playing governments and ethnic groups against one another. Nobody trusts anybody else to take charge. And nobody understands how bad this can get.”
“So these experts—Jericho, Moe, Burbank—you brought them here to help you?”
“That’s right. I need them for the same reason I needed their ancestors. They’re people with specific skills. People I can depend on no matter what. People who are loyal only to me.”
Maddy sits down on the sofa. “Okay. So who’s running this evil cabal? Who are you up against?”
“Not sure who he really is. Right now, all we know is that people call him the Destroyer of Worlds.” Just saying it, I realize how unreal it sounds. Maddy stares back at me with her mouth in a little curl.
“Destroyer of Worlds.Really? That seems a little… over the top.”
That’s enough. I’m used to Maddy’s moodiness, but I’m in no mood for teenage sass. Not today. I reach down and pull her off the sofa. “Come here.” I lead her over to the video player in the corner and press Play.
“What’s this?” she asks.
“You’ll see.”
I watch her face as the images flicker by. After about thirty seconds, she turns pale. After a few seconds more, she turns her head away. I stop the video. “What wouldyoucall him?”
“I’m sorry,” says Maddy softly. “I get it.”
I’m not quite sure how to bring up the next topic. Because it involves Maddy directly. And I already know she’ll fight it. But before I can start to explain, the room starts to vibrate. A shimmer appears in the corner near the fireplace. Maddy turns, her eyes wide. She glances over at me.
Dammit. Bad timing. My guest is a little early.
CHAPTER 12
THE SLIGHTLY BUILT man materializes next to the fireplace and rests one hand gently on the back of a chair. Amazing! It’s been a very long time, but he’s just the way I remember him. Old. And timeless. Small boned, gaunt cheeks, big eyes. Wearing a burgundy robe with saffron-yellow trim. He looks totally at ease.
Maddy does not. She spins around, clearly baffled. “Who the hell isthis?”
I take a deep breath and try to serve it up gently. “Maddy, this… is Dache. He’s a Kagyu high priest from Mongolia.”
Maddy shifts her feet anxiously, hands at the ready. “He’s not dangerous?”
“No. He’s a friend. From a long time ago. Ten thousand years.”
Maddy blinks. I know she still hasn’t adjusted to my true age. Or the fact that I learned my basic skills many centuries ago. It throws her at times—like now.
Dache steps forward and gives Maddy a silent bow.
“Why is he here?” she asks.
I look at Dache, then back at Maddy. “He’s your new teacher.”
Maddy reacts exactly like I expected. She waves her hands, like she’s trying to erase the whole scene. “Nope. No way. I alreadyhaveteachers. Lots of them.” She looks at me. “I’m in college, remember? Full course load.” Dache stands still and alert, just watching her.
