Elemental (16 page)

“Yeah…well…you did. You didn’t have a choice.” David’s tone was getting louder. “We all know you’re innocent—and they’re too stupid and stuck in their ways to notice.”

Kara hit her head against the wall behind her. “Well, haven’t you noticed? It doesn’t matter what you guys think. What matters is what the council believes. And right now, I’m nothing but a demon in their eyes—an evil one.”

“Stop that.” David frowned. “You know you’re not evil. Those douche bags that sit on the council chairs all day have shit for brains. We’ll just have to prove your innocence somehow.”

Kara felt consoled by the kindness in his voice.

“Besides, how else are we supposed to look for your mom if you’re locked inside a giant Rubik’s cube?”

Kara stared at the ground and didn’t answer. She tried to remember her last conversation with her mother. She hoped it had been a good one, but she couldn’t remember. She knew the council weren’t about to help. She was her mother’s only hope—she had to do something.

“Listen,” said Jenny, “my scout friend thinks he has the location of your mother’s soul.”

“What? Where?”

“In Paris.”

Kara took a step closer to Jenny. “In Paris!”

“Shhh!” Jenny looked over her shoulder. “Be careful. There are spies everywhere. After they tried to stab you, you can’t trust anyone anymore.”

Anger flared inside Kara. “Did they ever find the Death Blade?”

Peter shook his head. “No. I don’t think they even really looked. They didn’t believe you, Kara.”

They didn’t believe her
, thought Kara. It wasn’t a surprise. She was a demon to them now, her claims were a waste of time. She clenched her fists so the others wouldn’t see her shaking hands.

“So my mother’s soul is in Paris.” Hope filled the emptiness inside her. “But—Paris is huge. Do we know where in Paris?”

“I couldn’t get that information without attracting suspicion. You’ll have to go there and meet with him.”

“It’s better if Jenny and I stay in Horizon anyway,” said Peter. “We’ll keep our ears open and feed you information from the inside.”

“Did your scout say who was keeping her?” Kara shivered as she remembered Tom’s angel essence disappearing down the new breeds gaping mouth. How could her mother’s soul survive its acidic black blood?

Jenny glanced sideways before speaking. “No. Like I said, I couldn’t get any more information. Peter and I are already being watched by Cassiel. I think he suspects something.”

Kara nodded. “It’s fine. This is the break I’ve been looking for.”

“You know it’s a trap, don’t you.” David sighed wearily. “They’re using her soul as bait. You know that.”

Kara shrugged. “I don’t care. I have to try. I can’t just sit here and wait for things to happen. They might never happen. I have to do something.”

David touched his hand to Kara’s shoulder. “I’m going with you. You can’t have all the fun—”

“THERE SHE IS! GET HER!”

A group of first officers pushed their way out of the multitude of newly dead and pointed straight at Kara. A five hundred pound silverback gorilla was with them. It snarled, revealing rows of sharp yellow teeth, pushed itself on its back legs and rose to its full height. Kara could hear the loud thumps as it hit its powerful chest with its great muscular arms. It threw back its head and roared. Kara could see the glare in its intelligent black eyes. Then it took a giant leap towards her.

Kara froze, like a deer caught in headlights. The silverback ploughed through the crowd, knocking them down like pins in a bowling alley.

“Get out of here!” Jenny pushed on Kara’s back. “My scout will find you. Get to Paris, hurry! I’ll create a diversion. Go!”

David grabbed Kara by the arm and pulled her with him as he ran.

She heard a great commotion behind her. She turned her head. Jenny jumped in the air, flailing her arms and yelling, “Look! It’s Elvis! He’s over here!” Crowds rushed over like a giant wave and Kara could see the officers’ heads disappear in the crush

But the silverback was still coming. It jumped over the crowds of angels and came down with a thundering crash. Its predatory eyes were locked on Kara.

David yanked Kara by the hand. “This way!”

They ran northwards through the crowds and reached the Orientation offices down a hallway. They turned a corner and stood before an ancient looking door. A brightly lit neon sign read:
Oracle Division # 745-5678, Orientation
. David pushed open the door without hesitating. Kara followed closely behind him.

A tiny white haired man sat above his great crystal ball. He flipped through papers from a file. His white flowing beard brushed the tips of his toes. He looked up as they came in.

“Oh…hello! I’ve been waiting for you.” He gave them a kind smile. “Please, shut the door behind you.”

Kara slipped her hand out of David’s grasp. The floor vibrated beneath her feet, and she knew the silverback was close by. She took a step back and shut the door. The door had no lock. She prayed that the gorilla would run past it. She approached the oracle cautiously, glancing over her shoulder to David every chance she had.

“What do you mean you were waiting for us?” she asked. She looked over at David who shrugged.

The oracle clapped his hands excitedly. “I have seen it! I’m supposed to help you escape! How electrifying! I haven’t had this much fun in over a thousand years!”

He started to spin on his heels, the giant crystal ball revolving with him like a spinning top.

“I think the oracle sniffed a little…” David wiped his nose, “…you know.”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” exclaimed the oracle. He rolled himself to the far end of his office. He crashed into the pool in the corner. Water spilled on the floor. “I am assisting a
fugitive
. How delightful!” He grabbed his beard and swung it over his right shoulder, like a plush feather boa.

David snorted and raised his eyebrows. “He’s definitely on something.”

“Or it’s a trap.” Kara felt uneasy. She glanced at the door behind them. It was still shut. No officers. No ginormous gorilla. No one.

“Trap!” expressed the Oracle. “Nonsense. Quickly now! I have seen it—the first officers will be arriving soon looking for you. And that dreadful gorilla. It’ll stink up my office—oh dear! I almost forgot!” He rolled himself to his desk and grabbed a forest green back pack. He gave it to David.

“Weapons,” said David as he opened the bag and pulled out a blade.

Kara walked towards the oracle. “Why are you doing this? Why are you helping us?”

The oracle was silent for a moment. He smiled. “Because it is the right thing to do. It is what is to come. I have seen it—you are to go to Paris—it is the beginning of the events that will follow. You must go to Paris.” The oracle waved his hands impatiently. “And you better go quick! They are coming!”

David and Kara ran arm in arm to the pool. They stepped up to the ledge. David threw the backpack over his shoulders and grasped Kara’s hand.

Kara glanced momentarily at the oracle. He stood above his crystal ball grinning with satisfaction.

“Thank you.” Kara felt a deep affection for the oracle. He believed her.

“Au revoir!” the oracle waved.

Kara and David plunged into the water. A moment later, they were gone.

Chapter 12

Paris

KARA AND DAVID WALKED ALONG
Avenue de la Motte-Picquet in their M suits. The wave of humanity around them was oblivious to the supernatural. They passed majestic brown stone buildings with small cafés and gift shops terraces that were packed with people sipping coffee and talking on their cell phones. Kara smiled. Compact cars raced along the street and disappeared into the traffic. Parisians cursed the young people on scooters who zipped along the cobblestone sidewalk, knocking down chairs and tables as they went. And Kara loved it. She had never been anywhere in Europe before. This was utterly fantastic. Even the stench of dog poop and last week’s garbage didn’t spoil her mood. They were right in the heart of the city. And Kara rejoiced at its splendor.

She wished she had her M-5 series suit with her. They weren’t sure what to expect, and she might have need of its extra strength. It would have been impossible, she knew, to get an M-5. They were lucky to have escaped from Orientation at all.

The dark jagged walls of Tartarus flashed momentarily in her mind. She shuddered. She never wanted to go back to the angel prison. A degenerate cell that sucked the happiness from you, it laughed and watched you wither away.

How could the council have put her is such a place? Why didn’t Gabriel stand up for her? He must have believed her? Kara sighed. Peter had said that the High Council was very angry. She wondered if the Legion were looking for her—probably, she concluded. She was a demon spawn. She was sure they would have spared a few guardians to search for her on Earth.

The moon cast a soft light over the city. A smooth breeze prickled against her M suit’s skin, like a feather brushing against an arm. It relaxed her a little. The Bronze lamp posts had curved iron tops from which dangled oval glass spheres. They looked like crippled old men holding lanterns. The street was alive and packed with tourists and locals.

They arrived at a clearing with parked cars. Even in the moonlight, Kara could make out the greenery and manicured bushes of a great garden beyond the parking. Paris reminded her of her the aged buildings in Montreal’s old port. She missed her city.

“What are you smiling about, hot inmate?” David laughed at his new nickname for Kara.

Kara shoved him. “Stop calling me that. I’m smiling because we’re in Paris. I’ve always wanted to come here.” She gazed out over the city. “It’s incredible. There’s so much history.” A sudden wave of sadness washed over her. “My mother would love it here…how are we going to find the scout?”

David scratched the back of his neck. “Beats me. Jenny said
he
would find us. Guess we just have to walk around until that happens.”

Kara stared at the mortals wandering the streets. She searched their faces. “He could be anyone. There are so many people here, how the hell is he going to find us?”

“I just did.”

Kara jumped back in surprise. The voice came from below. She looked down. A short, thick white and fawn colored dog with a huge square head and floppy ears looked up at her.

“What? You’ve never seen a dog before?” said the dog in a sarcastic tone.

Thick folds of skin furled about its brow. Its jowls hung low, with drool spilling out in droplets. Around its thick neck was a red and white polka dot collar. It had a short squished face with a black squished nose, and under bite jaw that revealed tiny pointy teeth. Kara noticed it had no tail.

“I—I just wasn’t prepared to see one talk. I mean…the primates in Horizon talk, but I wasn’t expecting to see a dog speak here on Earth.”

“Please try to keep your voice down—we don’t want the mortals to get suspicious, now do we—talking dogs don’t exist.” The dog raised his left eyebrow.

David kneeled down beside the dog. He grabbed his collar. “What’s up with the collar dog? Are you a girlie dog?” David looked under the canine’s belly.

The dog sat. “I’m a male dog, thank you very much. An English bulldog to be precise.”

Kara looked at David. “I thought scouts were angels—like us.”

The dog let out a growl. “We
are
angels—just not in human form. We need to be able to blend in without attracting suspicion. My small physique and cuteness gets me into a lot of places unnoticed.”

The dog scratched behind his ear with his back leg. He shook his head. Beads of drool splattered all over Kara’s pants.

“Gross.” She shook her leg and dared not to touch it. She kicked David playfully when he laughed.

The dog gazed around before speaking again. “And I believe it’s time we find a quiet place to continue this enlightening discussion. The mortals are starting to notice something’s not quite right with me.” He slanted his head towards a group of mortals gawking at them with scowls upon their faces.

“Now—if you’ll follow me.” The bulldog lifted his head in the air and waddled away like a proud peacock.

“It’s a doggy dog world.” David laughed and followed the dog.

Kara jogged over next to David. The bulldog pranced between the two of them. He barely reached their knees.

“So…what’s your name, scout?” asked Kara, her voice low. She had always wanted a dog. An English bulldog would never have been her first choice, but then again she had never realized how cute they were.

“It’s Thor.”

David let out a loud laugh. He slapped his thighs and broke out in hysterics.

“Are you serious? Your name can’t be Thor! If you were a Great Dane or a Saint-Bernard, or even a big Doberman—that would work. But not this…”