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meridian_roseThis is a multi-post fiction; please refer to the index post for a full description of content/warnings.
JENNSEN RAHL
Cara went home and ate before changing her clothes. Black shirt, black jeans, navy woollen coat. She wasn't sure yet what she was going to do, but she had to do something. The security breach at the Lab gave her an excuse to be there if anyone dared question her. Woe betide anyone who did, because the leather thong at her neck remained in place, as did the keycard on her lapel and the Taser at her hip. She slipped the secondary Taser into her coat pocket and glanced at herself in the mirror. She fluffed at her hair, then settled her face into a calm mask of authority. She was Mistress Cara.
She hesitated outside the building. There was no easy way to get, even with her keycard, save the front door. Any other entrance would sound the alarm and that was not acceptable. So she strode boldly up to the doors, using her keycard where necessary. The security officers were on their patrol and she wouldn't be seen by them, having timed this just right. She'd be seen on the CCTV cameras though, up until she was in the elevator, which couldn't be helped. After that there were no cameras; Rahl and Giller were too paranoid about footage being stolen or hacked into somehow. It was a minor blessing and it was how the theft had occurred from the vault in the first place.
She'd half a mind to see what was in the mysterious vault, though just sitting in her old place of work where everything had seemed simpler, or going through Garen's computer and the security report on the lockdown were other things she was considering. When she stepped out of the elevator, all such thoughts were pushed out of her mind.
Jennsen looked up guiltily. Garen's desk was a mess, Jennsen kneeling on the floor rifling through files. The security officer's desk was similarly disturbed. Cara took out her Taser.
"What do you think you're doing?" Cara demanded.
Jennsen held her chin up proudly despite the danger she must know she was in. "Looking for the truth."
"What truth would that be?" Cara asked. "You know what goes on here. You are complicit in what crimes are committed here."
Jennsen nodded. "I know. But the Book of Shadow Accounts will bring Rahl down once and for all."
The blessed book. Cara rolled her eyes. "The one that was supposedly stolen even though it doesn't exist?"
"It does exist," Jennsen said fiercely. "Michael Cypher kept it. And it's still here somewhere. I know it."
Cara ought to have rendered the girl unconscious by now but she hesitated. She tried to remember the last time she'd seen Michael Cypher upright. The night he'd come to the vault. She'd moved away to her desk to give him privacy while he accessed the vault, but she'd glanced over a few times. He'd brought his PDA and knelt on the floor using it, before putting something back into the vault and then closing the vault and the covering double doors over the safe.
"Why would you want to bring down Lord Rahl?" Cara asked.
"He killed my father," Jennsen said, adding, "Piers Rahl."
"Piers Rahl is your father?" Cara asked sceptically. "You have proof of this?"
"Not yet."
"You think evidence of this is in the book?"
Jennsen shrugged. "I'm not after recognition as a Rahl. My mother never wanted that either. But I want justice." She reached under her shirt and pulled out a pendant. It was a sword that hung, point downwards, with a green cabochon gem at the crossbar. Justice was inscribed on the hilt. "He gave her this and now I wear it to remind me of my goal."
That's where she'd seen the sword before, Cara remembered. The sword brooch Richard wore with its blue stones was a match for one she'd once seen Lord Rahl wear. His pin had red stones and lies was inscribed along its hilt. She only recalled it so well because Garen had been looking at the photos of the press conference and zoomed in on it. She'd thought it appropriate that a politician would wear something saying "lies" so brazenly, though the cursive script might have said Lees – Darien's mother's maiden name. Which raised the question, if Piers had fathered another child, why not two?
"Piers told my mother he wanted to put a stop to some of the projects he was overseeing," Jennsen said. "That he was turning over a new leaf. But then he died. In rather suspicious circumstances."
Cara bit her lip, using the pain to focus.
"This book," she said at last. "Did it ever occur to anyone that it might not be a book at all?" At Jennsen's questioning look, she said, "A flashdrive would be much easier to hide."
Jennsen's mouth fell open. She closed it quickly. "How could we find something so small?"
Cara shrugged. "I'll help you look."
"Why?" Jennsen asked.
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Cara said sharply. "We've got a lot of work to do."
They spent three hours searching the lower level. Every filing cabinet and storage closet was opened and searched, as was every drawer, every archive box – any box in fact. Cara tore apart the kitchen, pulling out the spare mugs from the back of the cupboards and looking inside them, even searching under the sink for fear the drive could have been taped to the pipes.
Cara seriously thought about cutting open the furniture but finally decided against it. Whoever had taken the drive had hidden it but probably had to hurry to do so. They wouldn't have had time to neatly cut open and then repair the shabby armchair in the kitchen, for example. She closed her eyes. Where would she hide something precious?
She went to the vault and pulled open the double doors to reveal the metal stronghold behind them. She swiped her keycard. Nothing. One of the few things in Rahl's empire she was denied accessed to. Perfect, she thought angrily. Because maybe the drive was hidden within the vault's expanse.
"You have to put the code in," Jennsen helpfully. She was trying to tidy up the mess with no success. The place looked as if a tornado had been through it.
"Code?" Cara's brow furrowed. Of course, the keypad was there for a reason. But she hadn't been given a code. Pressing buttons randomly would only trigger an alarm.
"Giller's is his birthdate," Jennsen went on blithely. "I've seen him enter it. But I've never been able to grab his keycard to try it. I don't know if the codes have to match or any code with any card will do."
"We're about to find out," Cara said. "Come and enter it."
Jennsen did so, nimble fingers dancing over the keypad. The vault's electronic lock turned green, beeped. There was the sound of a bolt sliding back. Cara tugged on the handle and the door opened.
"You really think it's still in here? Denna searched it twice," Jennsen said.
Cara scanned the shelves. "I needed to see for myself." She shivered. "It's cold."
"The vault is refrigerated to protect the samples."
It made sense. Cara let her eyes travel over the shelves. The top two held various test tubes and bottles. Some were transparent, others in dark coloured glass that hid their hue, while others were various shades of milk white and chardonnay yellow. One was an almost luminous green. Cara picked up a syringe, pre-loaded with a purplish liquid, and raised her eyebrows.
"That's what Giller uses to put people in the comatose state for testing," Jennsen supplied.
Cara examined the cover over the needle and, satisfied it was intact, slipped the syringe into her coat pocket. She continued to search the vault, opening up every book, and rifling through all the papers. At last she had to admit defeat. She closed the vault door but not the wooden covers.
"What about the patients?" she asked with renewed inspiration.
Jennsen frowned. "Giller would have found anything hidden by now, or I would have. I change the bedlinens regularly."
Cara tipped her head. "How well do you clean the place?"
"I dust. I mop," Jennsen protested.
Cara walked over to Michael's bed and lay down on the floor, sticking her head underneath the bed. She ran her fingers along the metal frame – and drew a sharp breath when she found an unexplained bump. She got one finger and her thumb around it and pulled the object loose. Holding it tightly in her palm she scooted back out and sat up. Hardly daring to look she opened her fingers.
"You found it," Jennsen said in delight.
Cara nodded, stunned. A tiny flashdrive with double sided tape affixed to one side was sat in her hand. BOSA was scrawled on it.
"What now?"
"We need to see what's on it," Cara said. She got to her feet and strode over to Garen's computer.
The alarm sounded, lights and sirens as before.
"You didn't close the vault properly!" Jennsen pointed an accusing finger at the flashing amber light of the vault keypad. "The alarm sounds automatically if it's left open too long."
Cara shoved the drive into Jennsen's hands. "Hide this," she said. "Come on."
The elevator would be locked, Cara knew, and this was a basement with no windows to the outside world. She led Jennsen to the emergency stairwell and together they headed up the stairs. At the ground floor, Cara tried the fire door but it refused to budge, in contravention of all safety regulations.
"Lockdown," Jennsen reminded her fearfully. "Protecting the facility's secrets is more important than saving our lives."
Cara pulled out her Taser and pressed it to the electronic lock of the door, activating the Taser's drive stun. The lock squealed, sparked, and went out. The lights flickered in the stairwell. Cara pushed at the door and it opened.
Shoving Jennsen ahead of her, Cara exited the building. Her breath showed in the chilly night air. Shouts of the few security guards could be heard nearby. They were at the side of the building, away from the front entrance, which might buy them a few seconds. Cara pulled out her cell phone and gave it to Jennsen.
"Run," she said. "I'll be in touch."
Jennsen nodded fervently and dashed away over the grass. To Cara's surprise, the girl disappeared under the bushes lining the perimeter fences. There must be an exit route that she was unaware of.
"Halt," yelled a male voice, shining a light in her face.
Cara lifted one hand, the one with the Taser in it, to shield her face. The other she used to flick back her back and draw attention to her neck. "Report," she ordered.
"Mistress," the man replied automatically. He lowered the flashlight. "There's a security breach. Unless this is a drill?"
Cara refused to answer. "Check the front entrance," she ordered and he went obediently. Cara walked as quickly as she dared to her car and drove away, blood pounding in her ears. What the hell had she done? And why? It was much too late now to change her mind though.
*
Jennsen didn't dare go home. She walked for what felt like miles until she came to a café. Right now she wanted to be surrounded by people. Rahl feared bad publicity more than almost anything else and hurting her in front of witnesses would certainly count as that.
Cara had made her leave without her car keys, her purse, or even her coat. She'd dumped her lab coat in the first trashcan she'd come across. She used Cara's cell phone to call a friend and waited.
Jennsen then waited, sipping coffee she wouldn't be able to pay for. She sat near the counter, keeping watch on the door. Occasionally she put her hand to the pocket of her jeans where the precious flashdrive was nestled against her hip.
Thirty minutes later Sean arrived and took the seat opposite her. "Are you all right?"
"Fine. I just need some money and the laptop." Sean was the closest thing to family she had in the city, being an old friend of her mother's. Jennsen had briefed him on what to do if she were ever in trouble. She'd never believed she'd one day be finally in possession of the Book of Shadow Accounts nor sitting in a café without so much as pocket handkerchief, but she'd taken precautions and was now glad she had.
"Lucky I had your spare key." Sean handed over a rucksack. "Your laptop and a change of clothes are in there. And here's your emergency cash."
Jennsen took the wallet and tucked it into her other pocket. The waitress brought Sean coffee and he sipped it while Jennsen booted up her laptop. She typed frantically.
"Please be there, Kahlan," she begged. A moment later there was "ping" in response.
"I have it," Jennsen typed. "BOSA."
"Where are you? Are you safe?"
"Safe for now. We need to meet. I will come to you." Jennsen hit send. It never hurt to be too paranoid where Rahl was concerned and she'd rather go to a location she could check out for danger before entering rather than alert anyone reading the messages to her current location.
The response gave the address of a motel and a request for her to "be careful." Jennsen smiled and turned off her laptop, slipping into the rucksack. She gulped down the rest of the coffee.
"I need your car," she told Sean.
"Let me come with you."
"No. You've got a daughter to take care of and this is my problem, not yours. You've done more than enough. Just let me borrow the car and then go home."
He sighed and handed over his keys. "I'll pay for the drinks and get a cab home," he said. "Please be careful."
"I will." Jennsen slipped the rucksack on and dashed out of the café.
REVELATIONS
Kahlan was reading her emails when the message came through.
"Richard, it's my source," she called excitedly. She was in his room, sitting at the coffee table, while he sprawled on the bed. Zedd was sitting on the only other chair, eyes shut. The boxes of Chinese takeout they'd been enjoying until a few minutes ago were scattered around them.
Richard sat up immediately and Zedd opened one eye at her announcement. Richard came and looked over her shoulder as she typed.
"He wants to come to us," Richard said.
"She," Kahlan said, sending the address. "Some of the things she's said, the choice of words, I'm fairly certain my source is a she."
They tidied up the motel room as best they could. It seemed inappropriate that they'd greet someone risking their life bringing them the book in a messy room. Kahlan paced nervously while she waited.
There was finally a knock at the door. Kahlan took a deep breath and flung it open.
"Kahlan Amnell?" the girl asked.
Kahlan nodded. "I am. Come in. I saw you, didn't I, at the Lab?"
"Yes." She entered, looking uncertainly at Richard and Zedd. Kahlan saw her discomfort and smiled warmly.
"This is Richard Cypher, you remember? And Zedd. They're on our side."
Jennsen nodded. "I need amnesty. I've…I've helped Giller, but if it wasn't me it would have been someone else. And I've been trying to find the proof to destroy my brother."
"Brother?" Richard asked with a frown.
"Half-brother." Jennsen pulled out the flashdrive. "Piers Rahl was my father."
"Sowed his oats far and wide, didn't he?" Zedd commented, earning himself a glare from Kahlan.
"He was my father too," Richard said. "Or so I've recently been informed. The book has proof of it."
Jennsen handed Kahlan the flashdrive. "Then it's on there. That's the book."
Kahlan stared at it for a long moment and then laughed. "We were being so literal," she said. "Remember what Sharona said? Books being replaced by technology? She was more right than she knew."
Kahlan crouched down and put the flashdrive into one of her laptop's USB slots. She frowned. "It's encrypted."
"What did you expect?" Zedd asked. "Let me. I know a thing or two about security software."
While Zedd worked his technological magic on the drive, Jennsen told Kahlan everything she could about her connection to Rahl. She also apologised to Richard for her part in Michael's punishment.
"It's Rahl and Giller I blame," Richard said. "And Michael should have let Verna help him, should have come to me. Rahl cannot be taken down by just one person. He's too powerful, too dangerous."
He sighed then smiled at her. "Besides, we're family. I've never had a sister, not even a half-one."
"Jennsen, how did you find the book?" Kahlan asked, still unable to grasp it being called anything else after all this time.
There was a furious knocking at the door. Richard stood and went to stand at the door, ready to fight. Kahlan put Jennsen behind her. Zedd put one hand to the drive, ready to snatch it from the laptop.
"Who is it?" Richard demanded.
"Cara Mason.".
Richard grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be a table lamp, to act as a weapon. "Rahl's security-intern?" he whispered.
"No, no, she helped me," Jennsen said urgently.
Richard hesitated but at a nod from Kahlan he opened the door. Cara tipped her head.
"Richard Cypher," she said. "Hello again."
"Mistress Cara," he responded.
"Probably not for long," she said, pushing past him.
"How did you find us?" Richard asked.
"Jennsen has my phone; I traced the GPS chip."
"So you're on our side now?" Richard asked suspiciously, circling Cara. She stood stock still, completely unfazed.
"I think you have a chance to take Rahl down," she said. "I don't intend to go down with him."
"That's the truth," Kahlan said, studying Cara's face. "Though she's very hard to read."
"Aha!" Zedd clapped his hands in triumph. "Not bad for man who remembers when a gramophone was the height of technological advancement!"
Kahlan went to him and watched as he opened up file folders. "My God," she said softly. "Accounts. Employee Records. Drug Trials. It's all here. And look – this latest folder, Cypher. That must be about Richard."
Zedd opened the file folder and the documents inside. Scanned images of adoption paperwork and a birth certificate were inside the folder, along with a text file containing Michael's notes on Piers Rahl's other children.
"That's you, Jennsen," Kahlan said in amazement. "The missing daughter."
She nodded and remembered something. She tugged at the chain around her neck and showed them her necklace. "It matches your sword, Richard."
"Rahl has one too," Cara said. "It says Lies, as far as I can make out, though it might be Lees."
"Truth," Richard said, pointing to his own sword, "Justice. Yes, lies would be appropriate for Rahl. Sharona said the sword was my symbol, standing for justice. Looks like we have a whole suit of them."
"This is all very fascinating," Cara said. "But can we use this information, which we've risked our lives and ruined our careers to get, to bring down Rahl or not?"
"Absolutely. We could do with printing some of this off, and backing up the information to another drive though," Kahlan said. She began searching the internet for local late opening print shops or computer suppliers that could supply them with a way to get hard copies of the vital files.
"And find another motel room. Keep moving for the moment. But then what?" Zedd asked. "Who do we trust?"
"We make it public," Richard decided. "Tell as many people as possible at once."
"Lord Rahl is holding a press conference in the lobby of his headquarters tomorrow morning," Cara said. "Would that suffice?"
*
Rahl stood in the Lab, staring at the destruction. His cheek twitched in agitation. Denna took a careful side step, trying to stay more than an arm's length from him.
"Denna," he said with deceptive softness. "You are my head of security, are you not?"
"Yes, Lord Rahl."
He turned to her, eyes blazing with rage. "Then explain to me how the vault has once more been breached!"
Denna bowed her head. "I do not know, Lord Rahl." Her cell phone buzzed insistently but she didn't dare answer it.
"Where is Cara?" Rahl bellowed. "I want her here, now!"
"She was here last night," one of the male security officers said. "I thought she was conducting a security drill after the lockdown."
"Fool!" Rahl screamed.
Denna had taken the opportunity to answer the phone. Now she nodded grimly. "Lord Rahl, we are picking up chatter from our online spies about what could be the Book of Shadow Accounts. It seems someone claims to have it and has taken it to a third party. I suggest, giving the timing, Cara has betrayed you."
Rahl grabbed a paperweight from Garen's desk and flung it across the room where it shattered, spilling glass shards over the floor. "Find her!" he ordered.
Denna nodded. "Lord Rahl, a moment?"
*
"How will we get past security?" Jennsen asked. "He'll be watching out for us."
They were all sat in Zedd's van, parked a short distance away from the headquarters. Richard was using binoculars to spy on the people gathering for the press conference.
"We'll go first," he said. "Cara has her ID, it might get us in. We'll cause a distraction. Then Kahlan comes in with the files."
"No. I'm coming with you. My accusations will carry more weight. The press know me," Kahlan argued. "Jennsen and Zedd should come in last."
Cara rolled her eyes and said nothing. Richard debated it a little longer but everyone knew Kahlan was right about this. Richard's brother had been Rahl's campaign manager but Kahlan Amnell had been Chase Brandstone's right hand and had been in the public eye herself.
"We should have weapons," Richard said.
"I do." Cara pulled out both her Tasers. Richard stared at her. "What? You've seen a Taser before?"
He nodded slowly. "They're a weapon of sorts," he said as if working something out. "I was thinking too literally about it, assumed you would be male. And then, when you said Rahl had a sword brooch too I wondered…"
"What are you talking about?" Kahlan asked.
"The Tarot. Cara, you're the Knight of Swords."
"I'm what?" Cara asked.
"We'll explain later," Kahlan said. "The conference is about to start. Let's go."
*
Cara flashed her ID at the security guard; the woman wasn't a Mistress and barely looked at it once she saw the leather thong of office. Kahlan and Richard followed her closely and edged their way through the crowd that thronged the lobby. Cara led them to one side. Rahl was at the podium, Denna nearby. Cara ducked instinctively, gesturing for her companions to do the same.
Cara stopped by a pillar and waited, grabbed at a passing employee. "Tell Mistress Denna there's a disturbance at the fire exit," she hissed, pointing away from her. The woman nodded and hurried off to talk to Denna. Cara risked a peek. Denna strode off away from the podium and away from Cara's position. Quickly, Cara hurried forwards. She Tasered the only remaining security officer close enough to stop them before Richard could be noticed by the press.
Rahl was in mid-speech when he was accosted. Richard leapt onto the podium.
"Lord Rahl," Richard said loudly. "I am Richard Cypher, adopted brother of Michael Cypher who you ordered drugged to prevent him from telling the truth about you."
Richard blinked as cameras flashed wildly and he had to speak louder over the buzz of excitement he'd caused. "I am your brother too. My father was Piers Rahl!"
"Lies!" Rahl snapped.
"I have proof! And proof you are using human test subjects in your pharmaceutical research!" Richard was now yelling at the top of his voice to be heard over the clamour from the press. Denna was heading back towards them as were two other officers. Rahl reached under the lectern that held his speech and pulled out a gun.
Cara stepped up behind Rahl, thumbed the Taser to maximum and applied it to his back. With her other hand she stabbed him with the syringe she'd stolen from the vault, depressing the plunger and then tossing the needle away behind her. Rahl convulsed under the electricity but Cara didn't stop until Richard stood up and called her name. She withdrew her hand and Rahl slumped to the floor.
"Arrest her!" shrieked Denna as she and now the local law enforcement officers present moved in.
"He had a gun," Richard yelled, wrapping protective arms around Cara who was staring, seemingly dumbstruck, at her fallen leader. "She was protecting me. I, too, am Lord Rahl!"
And then Kahlan was there then, arms spread in front of them, defending them both. "We have proof," she said. "I, Kahlan Amnell, previously of the DA's office finally have the evidence that Chase Brandstone died trying to procure."
With impeccable timing, Zedd burst in through the double doors, brandishing the hard copies of the paperwork, Jennsen at his side. "I've got it," he yelled. "The Book of Shadow Accounts!"
Denna was already backing away, slipping into the excited crowd. A police officer secured Rahl's weapon while another beckoned for the paramedics who were in attendance at the gathering.
"Is he dead? Did I kill him?" Cara asked.
"Even your modified Tasers aren't supposed to kill," Richard said.
Cara leant in close so none could hear and said, "I didn't just Taser him. I gave him the drug they used to incapacitate Michael Cypher."
Richard stared at her. "Rahl's my brother. I want justice but I don't want him dead."
"He would never have let any of us live," she whispered. "He had to be put out of action."
Richard struggled with his emotions at this news. He couldn't condone what she'd done, but part of him was grateful. Now Rahl's evil empire would fall. Now he would be recognised as a Rahl himself, something that still made him taste bile. Perhaps he could be the benevolent leader neither of his brothers had been.
He glanced at Kahlan, standing in front of them and bit back a smile that would have looked inappropriate under the circumstances. She sensed his gaze and turned, gave him a nod of affection.
He was suddenly exhausted and wondered if he were holding Cara up or if she were supporting him. Maybe a little of both, and that was okay with him.
AFTERMATH
The hotel suite was luxurious, which was good, because they weren't going outside for a while. Reporters and angry Rahl supporters were besieging the hotel.
Zedd was reading the paper which was carrying the story while Kahlan had the TV on mute, watching the news, and reading through a ton of paperwork while making notes all at the same time. Lucinda, the new DA, sipped coffee. Richard was sat on the sofa, toying with his brooch. Jennsen was curled up in one of the chairs while Cara was sat cross legged on the floor despite the abundance of soft furnishings.
"And Cara's immunity is guaranteed?" Kahlan asked.
"As promised," Lucinda said mildly. "She and Jennsen will gain immunity for their testimony."
"Her assault on Rahl?"
"Defence of others," Lucinda agreed. "Rahl's weapon was loaded and his fear of Richard usurping him obvious from Cara's statements. My office agrees that he intended to kill Mr Cypher."
"I didn't kill him." Cara's tone was neutral.
"No. Though it seems he was somehow exposed to the one of the pharmaceuticals he was testing in that damn facility of his. Somewhat ironic. I suppose you have no idea how that happened?" Lucinda asked with one raised eyebrow.
Cara met her gaze steadily. "None."
"Do they think they can save him? My brother?" Richard frowned. "Either of them, I suppose I mean."
Lucinda spread her hands, at a loss. One of the test subjects had died but the other two unfortunate victims along with Michael and Darien were alive if not well.
"Some of the best scientists are working on that right now," Zedd said, not looking up from the newspaper. "Oh, for the love of –"
He held out the newspaper for them to see. Shota was pictured above a double page spread article. Bullet-point headlines were given below:
• Revealed: I am the Sharona of Zorander's erotic poetry
• Amazing: How my Tarot reading predicted Richard Cypher's success
• Exclusive: The truth about Richard Rahl's upbringing
Richard laughed out loud. "She was right about everything," he said. "Let her have her moment of glory."
ELIXIR OF TEARS
Denna knelt on the floor, bare concrete rather than the luxurious wool carpet of their previous base of operations. The photographs and papers scattered around her told the story of Rahl's fall from grace. Rahl, comatose, a criminal, had lost everything. Except her. Which is why the stinging at her slapped cheek hurt even more. Didn't he realise she was the only one who still cared for him?
Rahl paced angrily. "I will have him dead for this," he swore. There was a smell of damp in the basement, the only furniture comprising one battered plastic chair and an old mattress heaped with several off-white sheets.
"Yes, Lord Rahl," Denna replied. "And it is better the world believes you as good as dead in order for to take your revenge on the pretender and his cohorts." She wanted Cara for herself, though she doubted Rahl would allow that. She'd betrayed him and Rahl hated betrayal.
"The only bright spark in this whole affair is that I'm not being pursued by the police" Rahl muttered. "That, and my offshore accounts. I'm not completely ruined, though it will take time to gain access to my funds."
Denna nodded. "I did well, did I not? To find a double who looked so like you and arrange enough cosmetic surgery to ensure he would pass scrutiny?"
He crouched down, caressed her where moments before he'd struck her in anger.
"Yes, Denna. You did well. Poor Walter. Still, better him than me." Rahl leant forward and kissed her. Denna closed her eyes in pleasure.
There was no finesse in their lovemaking. Rahl channelled his anger into this act, fingers bruising Denna's shoulders as he thrust against her. Denna didn't care. He was hers now, would have to rely on her, something he hadn't fully grasped yet.
She wound her fingers into his hair, tipped her head back in ecstasy. This was her rightful place, in the bed of and in the uttermost confidences of Lord Rahl. Ready to help him regain his position of power. Poised to take the reins if the opportunity were to present itself.
*
Later, as she pulled on her clothes – white t-shirt, black skirt, the thong discarded, and her hair loose about her shoulders, for she was in disguise now – she said, "There's one more thing, my Lord."
She'd been saving this surprise for when she was sure he was convinced of her worth.
"Yes, Denna?"
"I took the liberty of removing a vial from the vault before the press conference. It's in a safe deposit box for when you're ready to begin your experiments again."
Rahl, still sprawled on the mattress, his nakedness only half-covered by the tangled sheets, lifted one eyebrow. "You saved a sample?"
"No, my Lord," she replied. "I saved the most recent version of the Elixir of Tears. Project S-zero-T, if you recall."
Rahl's lips quirked into a smile. "Giller always did have a habit of giving his projects overly romantic names," he said. "Our social compliance project, it's finished then?"
"Giller hadn't had time to test it fully but given the results of the previous version and that this is an improvement even on that, I would say so."
"Oh, that will do nicely, Denna," Rahl said, pleased. "With the vial of Tears, we will do better than win some ridiculous election."
"My Lord?"
"If the drug is as promised, Denna, we will rule the world."
Darien laughed and Denna thought that the nickname Darken Rahl had never seemed so appropriate.
index post /PART ONE / PART TWO /
If you've made it this far, thank you for reading! Comments are welcome :D
JENNSEN RAHL
Cara went home and ate before changing her clothes. Black shirt, black jeans, navy woollen coat. She wasn't sure yet what she was going to do, but she had to do something. The security breach at the Lab gave her an excuse to be there if anyone dared question her. Woe betide anyone who did, because the leather thong at her neck remained in place, as did the keycard on her lapel and the Taser at her hip. She slipped the secondary Taser into her coat pocket and glanced at herself in the mirror. She fluffed at her hair, then settled her face into a calm mask of authority. She was Mistress Cara.
She hesitated outside the building. There was no easy way to get, even with her keycard, save the front door. Any other entrance would sound the alarm and that was not acceptable. So she strode boldly up to the doors, using her keycard where necessary. The security officers were on their patrol and she wouldn't be seen by them, having timed this just right. She'd be seen on the CCTV cameras though, up until she was in the elevator, which couldn't be helped. After that there were no cameras; Rahl and Giller were too paranoid about footage being stolen or hacked into somehow. It was a minor blessing and it was how the theft had occurred from the vault in the first place.
She'd half a mind to see what was in the mysterious vault, though just sitting in her old place of work where everything had seemed simpler, or going through Garen's computer and the security report on the lockdown were other things she was considering. When she stepped out of the elevator, all such thoughts were pushed out of her mind.
Jennsen looked up guiltily. Garen's desk was a mess, Jennsen kneeling on the floor rifling through files. The security officer's desk was similarly disturbed. Cara took out her Taser.
"What do you think you're doing?" Cara demanded.
Jennsen held her chin up proudly despite the danger she must know she was in. "Looking for the truth."
"What truth would that be?" Cara asked. "You know what goes on here. You are complicit in what crimes are committed here."
Jennsen nodded. "I know. But the Book of Shadow Accounts will bring Rahl down once and for all."
The blessed book. Cara rolled her eyes. "The one that was supposedly stolen even though it doesn't exist?"
"It does exist," Jennsen said fiercely. "Michael Cypher kept it. And it's still here somewhere. I know it."
Cara ought to have rendered the girl unconscious by now but she hesitated. She tried to remember the last time she'd seen Michael Cypher upright. The night he'd come to the vault. She'd moved away to her desk to give him privacy while he accessed the vault, but she'd glanced over a few times. He'd brought his PDA and knelt on the floor using it, before putting something back into the vault and then closing the vault and the covering double doors over the safe.
"Why would you want to bring down Lord Rahl?" Cara asked.
"He killed my father," Jennsen said, adding, "Piers Rahl."
"Piers Rahl is your father?" Cara asked sceptically. "You have proof of this?"
"Not yet."
"You think evidence of this is in the book?"
Jennsen shrugged. "I'm not after recognition as a Rahl. My mother never wanted that either. But I want justice." She reached under her shirt and pulled out a pendant. It was a sword that hung, point downwards, with a green cabochon gem at the crossbar. Justice was inscribed on the hilt. "He gave her this and now I wear it to remind me of my goal."
That's where she'd seen the sword before, Cara remembered. The sword brooch Richard wore with its blue stones was a match for one she'd once seen Lord Rahl wear. His pin had red stones and lies was inscribed along its hilt. She only recalled it so well because Garen had been looking at the photos of the press conference and zoomed in on it. She'd thought it appropriate that a politician would wear something saying "lies" so brazenly, though the cursive script might have said Lees – Darien's mother's maiden name. Which raised the question, if Piers had fathered another child, why not two?
"Piers told my mother he wanted to put a stop to some of the projects he was overseeing," Jennsen said. "That he was turning over a new leaf. But then he died. In rather suspicious circumstances."
Cara bit her lip, using the pain to focus.
"This book," she said at last. "Did it ever occur to anyone that it might not be a book at all?" At Jennsen's questioning look, she said, "A flashdrive would be much easier to hide."
Jennsen's mouth fell open. She closed it quickly. "How could we find something so small?"
Cara shrugged. "I'll help you look."
"Why?" Jennsen asked.
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Cara said sharply. "We've got a lot of work to do."
They spent three hours searching the lower level. Every filing cabinet and storage closet was opened and searched, as was every drawer, every archive box – any box in fact. Cara tore apart the kitchen, pulling out the spare mugs from the back of the cupboards and looking inside them, even searching under the sink for fear the drive could have been taped to the pipes.
Cara seriously thought about cutting open the furniture but finally decided against it. Whoever had taken the drive had hidden it but probably had to hurry to do so. They wouldn't have had time to neatly cut open and then repair the shabby armchair in the kitchen, for example. She closed her eyes. Where would she hide something precious?
She went to the vault and pulled open the double doors to reveal the metal stronghold behind them. She swiped her keycard. Nothing. One of the few things in Rahl's empire she was denied accessed to. Perfect, she thought angrily. Because maybe the drive was hidden within the vault's expanse.
"You have to put the code in," Jennsen helpfully. She was trying to tidy up the mess with no success. The place looked as if a tornado had been through it.
"Code?" Cara's brow furrowed. Of course, the keypad was there for a reason. But she hadn't been given a code. Pressing buttons randomly would only trigger an alarm.
"Giller's is his birthdate," Jennsen went on blithely. "I've seen him enter it. But I've never been able to grab his keycard to try it. I don't know if the codes have to match or any code with any card will do."
"We're about to find out," Cara said. "Come and enter it."
Jennsen did so, nimble fingers dancing over the keypad. The vault's electronic lock turned green, beeped. There was the sound of a bolt sliding back. Cara tugged on the handle and the door opened.
"You really think it's still in here? Denna searched it twice," Jennsen said.
Cara scanned the shelves. "I needed to see for myself." She shivered. "It's cold."
"The vault is refrigerated to protect the samples."
It made sense. Cara let her eyes travel over the shelves. The top two held various test tubes and bottles. Some were transparent, others in dark coloured glass that hid their hue, while others were various shades of milk white and chardonnay yellow. One was an almost luminous green. Cara picked up a syringe, pre-loaded with a purplish liquid, and raised her eyebrows.
"That's what Giller uses to put people in the comatose state for testing," Jennsen supplied.
Cara examined the cover over the needle and, satisfied it was intact, slipped the syringe into her coat pocket. She continued to search the vault, opening up every book, and rifling through all the papers. At last she had to admit defeat. She closed the vault door but not the wooden covers.
"What about the patients?" she asked with renewed inspiration.
Jennsen frowned. "Giller would have found anything hidden by now, or I would have. I change the bedlinens regularly."
Cara tipped her head. "How well do you clean the place?"
"I dust. I mop," Jennsen protested.
Cara walked over to Michael's bed and lay down on the floor, sticking her head underneath the bed. She ran her fingers along the metal frame – and drew a sharp breath when she found an unexplained bump. She got one finger and her thumb around it and pulled the object loose. Holding it tightly in her palm she scooted back out and sat up. Hardly daring to look she opened her fingers.
"You found it," Jennsen said in delight.
Cara nodded, stunned. A tiny flashdrive with double sided tape affixed to one side was sat in her hand. BOSA was scrawled on it.
"What now?"
"We need to see what's on it," Cara said. She got to her feet and strode over to Garen's computer.
The alarm sounded, lights and sirens as before.
"You didn't close the vault properly!" Jennsen pointed an accusing finger at the flashing amber light of the vault keypad. "The alarm sounds automatically if it's left open too long."
Cara shoved the drive into Jennsen's hands. "Hide this," she said. "Come on."
The elevator would be locked, Cara knew, and this was a basement with no windows to the outside world. She led Jennsen to the emergency stairwell and together they headed up the stairs. At the ground floor, Cara tried the fire door but it refused to budge, in contravention of all safety regulations.
"Lockdown," Jennsen reminded her fearfully. "Protecting the facility's secrets is more important than saving our lives."
Cara pulled out her Taser and pressed it to the electronic lock of the door, activating the Taser's drive stun. The lock squealed, sparked, and went out. The lights flickered in the stairwell. Cara pushed at the door and it opened.
Shoving Jennsen ahead of her, Cara exited the building. Her breath showed in the chilly night air. Shouts of the few security guards could be heard nearby. They were at the side of the building, away from the front entrance, which might buy them a few seconds. Cara pulled out her cell phone and gave it to Jennsen.
"Run," she said. "I'll be in touch."
Jennsen nodded fervently and dashed away over the grass. To Cara's surprise, the girl disappeared under the bushes lining the perimeter fences. There must be an exit route that she was unaware of.
"Halt," yelled a male voice, shining a light in her face.
Cara lifted one hand, the one with the Taser in it, to shield her face. The other she used to flick back her back and draw attention to her neck. "Report," she ordered.
"Mistress," the man replied automatically. He lowered the flashlight. "There's a security breach. Unless this is a drill?"
Cara refused to answer. "Check the front entrance," she ordered and he went obediently. Cara walked as quickly as she dared to her car and drove away, blood pounding in her ears. What the hell had she done? And why? It was much too late now to change her mind though.
*
Jennsen didn't dare go home. She walked for what felt like miles until she came to a café. Right now she wanted to be surrounded by people. Rahl feared bad publicity more than almost anything else and hurting her in front of witnesses would certainly count as that.
Cara had made her leave without her car keys, her purse, or even her coat. She'd dumped her lab coat in the first trashcan she'd come across. She used Cara's cell phone to call a friend and waited.
Jennsen then waited, sipping coffee she wouldn't be able to pay for. She sat near the counter, keeping watch on the door. Occasionally she put her hand to the pocket of her jeans where the precious flashdrive was nestled against her hip.
Thirty minutes later Sean arrived and took the seat opposite her. "Are you all right?"
"Fine. I just need some money and the laptop." Sean was the closest thing to family she had in the city, being an old friend of her mother's. Jennsen had briefed him on what to do if she were ever in trouble. She'd never believed she'd one day be finally in possession of the Book of Shadow Accounts nor sitting in a café without so much as pocket handkerchief, but she'd taken precautions and was now glad she had.
"Lucky I had your spare key." Sean handed over a rucksack. "Your laptop and a change of clothes are in there. And here's your emergency cash."
Jennsen took the wallet and tucked it into her other pocket. The waitress brought Sean coffee and he sipped it while Jennsen booted up her laptop. She typed frantically.
"Please be there, Kahlan," she begged. A moment later there was "ping" in response.
"I have it," Jennsen typed. "BOSA."
"Where are you? Are you safe?"
"Safe for now. We need to meet. I will come to you." Jennsen hit send. It never hurt to be too paranoid where Rahl was concerned and she'd rather go to a location she could check out for danger before entering rather than alert anyone reading the messages to her current location.
The response gave the address of a motel and a request for her to "be careful." Jennsen smiled and turned off her laptop, slipping into the rucksack. She gulped down the rest of the coffee.
"I need your car," she told Sean.
"Let me come with you."
"No. You've got a daughter to take care of and this is my problem, not yours. You've done more than enough. Just let me borrow the car and then go home."
He sighed and handed over his keys. "I'll pay for the drinks and get a cab home," he said. "Please be careful."
"I will." Jennsen slipped the rucksack on and dashed out of the café.
REVELATIONS
Kahlan was reading her emails when the message came through.
"Richard, it's my source," she called excitedly. She was in his room, sitting at the coffee table, while he sprawled on the bed. Zedd was sitting on the only other chair, eyes shut. The boxes of Chinese takeout they'd been enjoying until a few minutes ago were scattered around them.
Richard sat up immediately and Zedd opened one eye at her announcement. Richard came and looked over her shoulder as she typed.
"He wants to come to us," Richard said.
"She," Kahlan said, sending the address. "Some of the things she's said, the choice of words, I'm fairly certain my source is a she."
They tidied up the motel room as best they could. It seemed inappropriate that they'd greet someone risking their life bringing them the book in a messy room. Kahlan paced nervously while she waited.
There was finally a knock at the door. Kahlan took a deep breath and flung it open.
"Kahlan Amnell?" the girl asked.
Kahlan nodded. "I am. Come in. I saw you, didn't I, at the Lab?"
"Yes." She entered, looking uncertainly at Richard and Zedd. Kahlan saw her discomfort and smiled warmly.
"This is Richard Cypher, you remember? And Zedd. They're on our side."
Jennsen nodded. "I need amnesty. I've…I've helped Giller, but if it wasn't me it would have been someone else. And I've been trying to find the proof to destroy my brother."
"Brother?" Richard asked with a frown.
"Half-brother." Jennsen pulled out the flashdrive. "Piers Rahl was my father."
"Sowed his oats far and wide, didn't he?" Zedd commented, earning himself a glare from Kahlan.
"He was my father too," Richard said. "Or so I've recently been informed. The book has proof of it."
Jennsen handed Kahlan the flashdrive. "Then it's on there. That's the book."
Kahlan stared at it for a long moment and then laughed. "We were being so literal," she said. "Remember what Sharona said? Books being replaced by technology? She was more right than she knew."
Kahlan crouched down and put the flashdrive into one of her laptop's USB slots. She frowned. "It's encrypted."
"What did you expect?" Zedd asked. "Let me. I know a thing or two about security software."
While Zedd worked his technological magic on the drive, Jennsen told Kahlan everything she could about her connection to Rahl. She also apologised to Richard for her part in Michael's punishment.
"It's Rahl and Giller I blame," Richard said. "And Michael should have let Verna help him, should have come to me. Rahl cannot be taken down by just one person. He's too powerful, too dangerous."
He sighed then smiled at her. "Besides, we're family. I've never had a sister, not even a half-one."
"Jennsen, how did you find the book?" Kahlan asked, still unable to grasp it being called anything else after all this time.
There was a furious knocking at the door. Richard stood and went to stand at the door, ready to fight. Kahlan put Jennsen behind her. Zedd put one hand to the drive, ready to snatch it from the laptop.
"Who is it?" Richard demanded.
"Cara Mason.".
Richard grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be a table lamp, to act as a weapon. "Rahl's security-intern?" he whispered.
"No, no, she helped me," Jennsen said urgently.
Richard hesitated but at a nod from Kahlan he opened the door. Cara tipped her head.
"Richard Cypher," she said. "Hello again."
"Mistress Cara," he responded.
"Probably not for long," she said, pushing past him.
"How did you find us?" Richard asked.
"Jennsen has my phone; I traced the GPS chip."
"So you're on our side now?" Richard asked suspiciously, circling Cara. She stood stock still, completely unfazed.
"I think you have a chance to take Rahl down," she said. "I don't intend to go down with him."
"That's the truth," Kahlan said, studying Cara's face. "Though she's very hard to read."
"Aha!" Zedd clapped his hands in triumph. "Not bad for man who remembers when a gramophone was the height of technological advancement!"
Kahlan went to him and watched as he opened up file folders. "My God," she said softly. "Accounts. Employee Records. Drug Trials. It's all here. And look – this latest folder, Cypher. That must be about Richard."
Zedd opened the file folder and the documents inside. Scanned images of adoption paperwork and a birth certificate were inside the folder, along with a text file containing Michael's notes on Piers Rahl's other children.
"That's you, Jennsen," Kahlan said in amazement. "The missing daughter."
She nodded and remembered something. She tugged at the chain around her neck and showed them her necklace. "It matches your sword, Richard."
"Rahl has one too," Cara said. "It says Lies, as far as I can make out, though it might be Lees."
"Truth," Richard said, pointing to his own sword, "Justice. Yes, lies would be appropriate for Rahl. Sharona said the sword was my symbol, standing for justice. Looks like we have a whole suit of them."
"This is all very fascinating," Cara said. "But can we use this information, which we've risked our lives and ruined our careers to get, to bring down Rahl or not?"
"Absolutely. We could do with printing some of this off, and backing up the information to another drive though," Kahlan said. She began searching the internet for local late opening print shops or computer suppliers that could supply them with a way to get hard copies of the vital files.
"And find another motel room. Keep moving for the moment. But then what?" Zedd asked. "Who do we trust?"
"We make it public," Richard decided. "Tell as many people as possible at once."
"Lord Rahl is holding a press conference in the lobby of his headquarters tomorrow morning," Cara said. "Would that suffice?"
*
Rahl stood in the Lab, staring at the destruction. His cheek twitched in agitation. Denna took a careful side step, trying to stay more than an arm's length from him.
"Denna," he said with deceptive softness. "You are my head of security, are you not?"
"Yes, Lord Rahl."
He turned to her, eyes blazing with rage. "Then explain to me how the vault has once more been breached!"
Denna bowed her head. "I do not know, Lord Rahl." Her cell phone buzzed insistently but she didn't dare answer it.
"Where is Cara?" Rahl bellowed. "I want her here, now!"
"She was here last night," one of the male security officers said. "I thought she was conducting a security drill after the lockdown."
"Fool!" Rahl screamed.
Denna had taken the opportunity to answer the phone. Now she nodded grimly. "Lord Rahl, we are picking up chatter from our online spies about what could be the Book of Shadow Accounts. It seems someone claims to have it and has taken it to a third party. I suggest, giving the timing, Cara has betrayed you."
Rahl grabbed a paperweight from Garen's desk and flung it across the room where it shattered, spilling glass shards over the floor. "Find her!" he ordered.
Denna nodded. "Lord Rahl, a moment?"
*
"How will we get past security?" Jennsen asked. "He'll be watching out for us."
They were all sat in Zedd's van, parked a short distance away from the headquarters. Richard was using binoculars to spy on the people gathering for the press conference.
"We'll go first," he said. "Cara has her ID, it might get us in. We'll cause a distraction. Then Kahlan comes in with the files."
"No. I'm coming with you. My accusations will carry more weight. The press know me," Kahlan argued. "Jennsen and Zedd should come in last."
Cara rolled her eyes and said nothing. Richard debated it a little longer but everyone knew Kahlan was right about this. Richard's brother had been Rahl's campaign manager but Kahlan Amnell had been Chase Brandstone's right hand and had been in the public eye herself.
"We should have weapons," Richard said.
"I do." Cara pulled out both her Tasers. Richard stared at her. "What? You've seen a Taser before?"
He nodded slowly. "They're a weapon of sorts," he said as if working something out. "I was thinking too literally about it, assumed you would be male. And then, when you said Rahl had a sword brooch too I wondered…"
"What are you talking about?" Kahlan asked.
"The Tarot. Cara, you're the Knight of Swords."
"I'm what?" Cara asked.
"We'll explain later," Kahlan said. "The conference is about to start. Let's go."
*
Cara flashed her ID at the security guard; the woman wasn't a Mistress and barely looked at it once she saw the leather thong of office. Kahlan and Richard followed her closely and edged their way through the crowd that thronged the lobby. Cara led them to one side. Rahl was at the podium, Denna nearby. Cara ducked instinctively, gesturing for her companions to do the same.
Cara stopped by a pillar and waited, grabbed at a passing employee. "Tell Mistress Denna there's a disturbance at the fire exit," she hissed, pointing away from her. The woman nodded and hurried off to talk to Denna. Cara risked a peek. Denna strode off away from the podium and away from Cara's position. Quickly, Cara hurried forwards. She Tasered the only remaining security officer close enough to stop them before Richard could be noticed by the press.
Rahl was in mid-speech when he was accosted. Richard leapt onto the podium.
"Lord Rahl," Richard said loudly. "I am Richard Cypher, adopted brother of Michael Cypher who you ordered drugged to prevent him from telling the truth about you."
Richard blinked as cameras flashed wildly and he had to speak louder over the buzz of excitement he'd caused. "I am your brother too. My father was Piers Rahl!"
"Lies!" Rahl snapped.
"I have proof! And proof you are using human test subjects in your pharmaceutical research!" Richard was now yelling at the top of his voice to be heard over the clamour from the press. Denna was heading back towards them as were two other officers. Rahl reached under the lectern that held his speech and pulled out a gun.
Cara stepped up behind Rahl, thumbed the Taser to maximum and applied it to his back. With her other hand she stabbed him with the syringe she'd stolen from the vault, depressing the plunger and then tossing the needle away behind her. Rahl convulsed under the electricity but Cara didn't stop until Richard stood up and called her name. She withdrew her hand and Rahl slumped to the floor.
"Arrest her!" shrieked Denna as she and now the local law enforcement officers present moved in.
"He had a gun," Richard yelled, wrapping protective arms around Cara who was staring, seemingly dumbstruck, at her fallen leader. "She was protecting me. I, too, am Lord Rahl!"
And then Kahlan was there then, arms spread in front of them, defending them both. "We have proof," she said. "I, Kahlan Amnell, previously of the DA's office finally have the evidence that Chase Brandstone died trying to procure."
With impeccable timing, Zedd burst in through the double doors, brandishing the hard copies of the paperwork, Jennsen at his side. "I've got it," he yelled. "The Book of Shadow Accounts!"
Denna was already backing away, slipping into the excited crowd. A police officer secured Rahl's weapon while another beckoned for the paramedics who were in attendance at the gathering.
"Is he dead? Did I kill him?" Cara asked.
"Even your modified Tasers aren't supposed to kill," Richard said.
Cara leant in close so none could hear and said, "I didn't just Taser him. I gave him the drug they used to incapacitate Michael Cypher."
Richard stared at her. "Rahl's my brother. I want justice but I don't want him dead."
"He would never have let any of us live," she whispered. "He had to be put out of action."
Richard struggled with his emotions at this news. He couldn't condone what she'd done, but part of him was grateful. Now Rahl's evil empire would fall. Now he would be recognised as a Rahl himself, something that still made him taste bile. Perhaps he could be the benevolent leader neither of his brothers had been.
He glanced at Kahlan, standing in front of them and bit back a smile that would have looked inappropriate under the circumstances. She sensed his gaze and turned, gave him a nod of affection.
He was suddenly exhausted and wondered if he were holding Cara up or if she were supporting him. Maybe a little of both, and that was okay with him.
AFTERMATH
The hotel suite was luxurious, which was good, because they weren't going outside for a while. Reporters and angry Rahl supporters were besieging the hotel.
Zedd was reading the paper which was carrying the story while Kahlan had the TV on mute, watching the news, and reading through a ton of paperwork while making notes all at the same time. Lucinda, the new DA, sipped coffee. Richard was sat on the sofa, toying with his brooch. Jennsen was curled up in one of the chairs while Cara was sat cross legged on the floor despite the abundance of soft furnishings.
"And Cara's immunity is guaranteed?" Kahlan asked.
"As promised," Lucinda said mildly. "She and Jennsen will gain immunity for their testimony."
"Her assault on Rahl?"
"Defence of others," Lucinda agreed. "Rahl's weapon was loaded and his fear of Richard usurping him obvious from Cara's statements. My office agrees that he intended to kill Mr Cypher."
"I didn't kill him." Cara's tone was neutral.
"No. Though it seems he was somehow exposed to the one of the pharmaceuticals he was testing in that damn facility of his. Somewhat ironic. I suppose you have no idea how that happened?" Lucinda asked with one raised eyebrow.
Cara met her gaze steadily. "None."
"Do they think they can save him? My brother?" Richard frowned. "Either of them, I suppose I mean."
Lucinda spread her hands, at a loss. One of the test subjects had died but the other two unfortunate victims along with Michael and Darien were alive if not well.
"Some of the best scientists are working on that right now," Zedd said, not looking up from the newspaper. "Oh, for the love of –"
He held out the newspaper for them to see. Shota was pictured above a double page spread article. Bullet-point headlines were given below:
• Revealed: I am the Sharona of Zorander's erotic poetry
• Amazing: How my Tarot reading predicted Richard Cypher's success
• Exclusive: The truth about Richard Rahl's upbringing
Richard laughed out loud. "She was right about everything," he said. "Let her have her moment of glory."
ELIXIR OF TEARS
Denna knelt on the floor, bare concrete rather than the luxurious wool carpet of their previous base of operations. The photographs and papers scattered around her told the story of Rahl's fall from grace. Rahl, comatose, a criminal, had lost everything. Except her. Which is why the stinging at her slapped cheek hurt even more. Didn't he realise she was the only one who still cared for him?
Rahl paced angrily. "I will have him dead for this," he swore. There was a smell of damp in the basement, the only furniture comprising one battered plastic chair and an old mattress heaped with several off-white sheets.
"Yes, Lord Rahl," Denna replied. "And it is better the world believes you as good as dead in order for to take your revenge on the pretender and his cohorts." She wanted Cara for herself, though she doubted Rahl would allow that. She'd betrayed him and Rahl hated betrayal.
"The only bright spark in this whole affair is that I'm not being pursued by the police" Rahl muttered. "That, and my offshore accounts. I'm not completely ruined, though it will take time to gain access to my funds."
Denna nodded. "I did well, did I not? To find a double who looked so like you and arrange enough cosmetic surgery to ensure he would pass scrutiny?"
He crouched down, caressed her where moments before he'd struck her in anger.
"Yes, Denna. You did well. Poor Walter. Still, better him than me." Rahl leant forward and kissed her. Denna closed her eyes in pleasure.
There was no finesse in their lovemaking. Rahl channelled his anger into this act, fingers bruising Denna's shoulders as he thrust against her. Denna didn't care. He was hers now, would have to rely on her, something he hadn't fully grasped yet.
She wound her fingers into his hair, tipped her head back in ecstasy. This was her rightful place, in the bed of and in the uttermost confidences of Lord Rahl. Ready to help him regain his position of power. Poised to take the reins if the opportunity were to present itself.
*
Later, as she pulled on her clothes – white t-shirt, black skirt, the thong discarded, and her hair loose about her shoulders, for she was in disguise now – she said, "There's one more thing, my Lord."
She'd been saving this surprise for when she was sure he was convinced of her worth.
"Yes, Denna?"
"I took the liberty of removing a vial from the vault before the press conference. It's in a safe deposit box for when you're ready to begin your experiments again."
Rahl, still sprawled on the mattress, his nakedness only half-covered by the tangled sheets, lifted one eyebrow. "You saved a sample?"
"No, my Lord," she replied. "I saved the most recent version of the Elixir of Tears. Project S-zero-T, if you recall."
Rahl's lips quirked into a smile. "Giller always did have a habit of giving his projects overly romantic names," he said. "Our social compliance project, it's finished then?"
"Giller hadn't had time to test it fully but given the results of the previous version and that this is an improvement even on that, I would say so."
"Oh, that will do nicely, Denna," Rahl said, pleased. "With the vial of Tears, we will do better than win some ridiculous election."
"My Lord?"
"If the drug is as promised, Denna, we will rule the world."
Darien laughed and Denna thought that the nickname Darken Rahl had never seemed so appropriate.
index post /PART ONE / PART TWO /
If you've made it this far, thank you for reading! Comments are welcome :D
