Chapter 19: The First Salvo

Annike turned Jewel and got her to sit in the chair next to Cody. He turned to face her but did not reach out to make contact.

“Jewel,” he said in a defeated voice, “I have been living a lie and need to tell you something.”

Her eyes flared and her back stiffened as she stared at Cody without saying a word. When he did not continue she said, “Have you been having an affair? Are you breaking up with me less than a week before our wedding?”

Cody quickly and vigorously shook his head. “Oh, no! Nothing like that. I wish it was that simple.”

Jewel’s nostrils flared with that response. She stayed quiet and glared at her fiance.

Another deep breath, followed by a slumping against the back of the chair, was all Cody offered.

“Cody, tell her,” urged Heidrick.

Cody looked him with a sullen look, then back to Jewel.

“It started before I met you. I was somehow picked by this group known as The Onyx to be one of their members. The catch was that I had to kill one person every day.”

Jewel’s mouth dropped open. She wanted to say something but what could she say? You’re some kind of mass serial killer?

“After a year I got promoted. Now the shit has hit the fan and they want to promote me again but to do so means I have to be almost dead. Basically in a perpetual coma, a vegetative state. Annike and Heidrick know about The Onyx and they are going to help me fight. You need to know because this fight is going to get bad and you could be hurt. Not to mention, I could be effectively killed.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” demanded Jewel. “Is this some kind of prank? Is there a hidden camera somewhere?”

“It is no joke,” said Annike softly.

Cody said, “Look at my hand.” He held out his arm and extended his index finger. He waved his finger and said like a magician, “Abra...”

The next instant Jewel’s bra was dangling off Cody’s finger.

“ ... cadabra.”

Jewel’s hands went to her chest to confirm that she was not wearing her bra.

“What the hell?” she muttered. “How ... what’s going on?” demanded Jewel.

Cody dropped the undergarment in front of Jewel.

“It’s part of The Onyx. I can stop time, which I did to remove your bra. I can also teleport to new locations or become invisible.”

Cody knew that by using an enablement to show Jewel what he could do he was doubling-down on the assumption that Heidrick had secured this location and Elaine would not be able to track the recent time stop.

With Jewel watching, Cody tented his fingers. In an instant he vanished. A moment later she heard him from behind saying, “I’m here.”

She spun in her chair and saw him standing in the corner of the room.

“OK, now you’re freaking me out. What the hell kind of magic is this?”

“No magic,” he said, “other than a real otherworldly power that I don’t understand. Some monk hundreds of years ago did some voodoo shit and made it possible. Said monk’s son got pissed that he didn’t get the secret and created a second group. That’s where they come in.” Cody nodded toward Annike and Heidrick.

Jewel stared in disbelief. Cody’s earlier comment then registered.

“And you have killed people for this group?”

Cody calmly nodded. “Yes. If I did not kill someone every day I would be tortured and killed. I created a system to try and kill only people that hurt others, like a drug dealer. After one year, the need to kill daily was dropped and I became an assassin and only killed the targets The Onyx identified.”

Jewel looked from Cody to Annike to Heidrick. When she returned her gaze to Cody she shook her head.

“Fuck this. Fuck you. I’m out of here.”

She rose and stormed out of the back room.

“I’ll go get her,” said Annike as she sped after Jewel.

“She’ll be OK,” said Heidrick. He sat across the table from Cody.

While Annike went to calm Jewel, Heidrick and Cody reviewed what they knew and what they could do to prevent Elaine from practically killing Cody.

“So can you stop her?” asked Cody.

“No, not completely, but we may be able to make it a bit more difficult.”

Any confidence Cody felt faded quickly.

Heidrick stood and reached into his pocket. He produced a crude wooden talisman.

“This may be your lifesaver,” he said while studying the small wooden form.

“What is it?” Cody asked flatly.

“We cannot stop Elaine from stopping time or carrying out her plan. But, and this is an unknown but, but this talisman should give a heads-up that something is happening.”

Cody shrugged.

“What I mean,” said Heidrick quickly, “is that it is possible for Elaine to stop time and you would never know it, just like when you stop time and no one knows it. However, if you are wearing this, you will have a perception that time has been stopped. How aware you will be is unknown, but you should know that something is happening.”

Heidrick passed the talisman to Cody. He dropped it over his head and pulled his shirt forward to hide it.

“I don’t feel anything,” said Cody.

“You will. When Elaine uses an enablement you will know. If she stops time, you’ll feel it and will have an idea of what is happening around you. It will give you a very brief moment, maybe a second or two, to plan a counter move.”

“Really, this is your fucking lifesaver?” Cody slumped back in his chair again. “I guess it’s better than nothing,” he quickly said to appease Heidrick.

“One more thing,” said Heidrick.

“Shit, I should have known there was more.”

“The first time the talisman alerts you and you prepare a defense, Elaine may not realize what happened. It is highly unlikely she will think of Orion, but the Gurus will instantly know that we have made contact and you have some kind of defense. They will tell her and the war will start.”

The door opened and Jewel walked into the room. She looked ten years older and a heavy weariness was evident on her face. She sat in the chair farthest from Cody and stared at the floor. Annike stayed standing near the door.

“I was just talking with Cody and we think we have a defense planned.”

Annike nodded her understanding. Jewel did not respond.

Annike approached Jewel. She took a talisman similar to what Cody was wearing out of her pocket. She draped it over Jewel’s head.