Conceal, Mosaic Chronicles Book Six Read online

  Coolidge smiled. “I didn’t sleep much. And I wasn’t married at that point. Actually, I met Hayla through Jacob.”

  Nicole blinked. Hayla wasn’t from this dimension of earth? Weird.

  He lowered his voice to a whisper. “The kid has been through a lot. I won’t go into the details—they’re his to share—but he’s had a pretty rough time of it because of a certain human-turned-immortal beast.” Coolidge sighed. “We thought Keitus had been taken care of, but if my suspicions are correct, he’s still a major problem we’ll be dealing with for quite some time.”

  No one said anything for several moments, and Nicole jumped when Jacob shifted in his seat, his eyes refocusing.

  He stared at Coolidge, shaking his head, his mouth working silently for several seconds before saying, “I don’t know how you figured it out, or how it’s even possible, but you were right. It was Keitus. He hired the Croent.”

  Chapter Two

  Coolidge paced back and forth as his students watched. Nicole’s hands were clasped tightly in her lap and she had to keep reminding herself to relax them. She still didn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the situation with Keitus, but she did know her professor, and she’d rarely seen him this anxious. It made her nervous and anxious too.

  “Jacob, did you see exactly where Keitus is hiding out?” Coolidge asked

  Jacob nodded. “It’s a weird place, covered in bones.”

  Nicole and Austin looked at each other. “Anna Morse’s dimension,” Nicole said.

  “And where my friend Robert is,” Coolidge added.

  “I don’t understand,” Jacob said. “How is he still alive? I was there when he was killed.”

  Coolidge ran his hands through his hair. “He’s dead—not alive. We’ve known for a long time that when people die, they’re not gone forever. Non-magical people—non-Aretes, that is—can’t move between dimensions very easily. Only Aretes are able to return to their home dimension, which is why you hadn’t heard from him in two years. But Keitus has obviously been up to something.”

  He paused, glancing at the three. “It’s up to us to find out what because most of the other talismans are on this dimension of earth.”

  “Do you know where any of them are?” Austin asked.

  Coolidge nodded. “Just one. It’s in Japan. At least, that’s where the owner lives.”

  “So, what do we do first?” Nicole asked.

  “We get my talisman back. That’s the most important thing right now.” Coolidge looked at Jacob. “What else did you see there? Was Keitus alone?”

  “Yes, except for the Croent.”

  “Then we should be able to take him.” Coolidge motioned to Austin and Nicole. “We’ve dealt with a Croent before. We’ll be prepared this time.”

  Nicole and Austin nodded.

  “So, why is this Keitus such a threat?” Austin asked.

  “When he was immortal, he personally killed millions of people,” Coolidge said. “And he’s proven over and over again that he’s capable of rising to power through deception and murder, regardless of whether or not he’s immortal. He was one of the most barbaric kings that Eklaron, the world he’s from, has ever seen.”

  Jacob nodded. “And once he learned about earth, he decided to rule it as well. He’s got the patience and intelligence to figure anything out.”

  “So, how do we find him?” Nicole asked. “And once we do, how do we get there? We know about the link in Ohio, but it doesn’t seem to open very often. And I’m going to guess we’ll need to act quickly.”

  Coolidge again looked at Jacob. “Jacob should be able to key us there.”

  Austin frowned, head tilted. “Uh . . . key?”

  Jacob nodded, pulling an old skeleton key out of his pocket. “With this.”

  “Oh, yes,” Austin said. “I remember. The Key of Ki . . .”

  “Kilenya. It creates links between worlds and dimensions. It’s how I got here.”

  “So, when do we go?” Nicole asked.

  “Saturday,” Coolidge said.

  As it was Thursday, that gave everyone time to prepare. After promising he’d let them know what to bring and where to meet, Coolidge asked to be left alone. Jacob put the key into Coolidge’s lock and muttered a few words. When he opened the door, the hallway wasn’t on the other side. Instead, what Nicole assumed was Jacob’s bedroom was there.

  Jacob stepped through the door, shutting it behind him. When Austin opened it up, the usual hallway was there again.

  “That’s pretty cool,” Austin said.

  Nicole could tell from the expression on his face that he was a little jealous. “Maybe we can find you your own key,” she said, teasing.

  Austin grinned at her. “I’d be fine with that.” He took her hand and led her out of the office, saying goodbye to Coolidge and pulling the door behind them.

  “You were really hot today,” Austin said, pausing at the foot of the stairs. He pressed Nicole against the wall, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers then straying across her cheek. “I love that my girlfriend has brains and doesn’t panic during stressful situations.”

  Nicole enjoyed the feel of his finger tracing patterns on her neck and collarbone. “Mmm . . . And I love that my boyfriend is attractive. And smart. And also doesn’t panic.” She paused, her thoughts back on the girl whose life had been destroyed. “I don’t know what I’d do if something ever happened to you.”

  Austin’s gaze didn’t leave Nicole’s. “Nor I you.”

  Neither said anything for a moment. Nicole was so grateful he wasn’t facetious by nature. He didn’t joke around when she needed him or when she expressed serious feelings.

  Austin’s eyes strayed to Nicole’s lips, and he lowered his head to kiss her.

  Nicole raised her arms, wrapping them around his neck, sighing inwardly. She would never take him for granted.

  The bell rang and Austin slowly pulled back. “I should get to class,” he said.

  Nicole nodded. “Me too. Maybe someday we’ll be able to take the same courses again.”

  Austin chuckled. “If you keep working so hard on your powers, we probably will.”

  “Except for the fact that you’ve already mastered Fire and Water—I have a long way to go with both.”

  He sighed. “Too bad, huh?”

  The two of them walked up the stairs hand in hand. After another kiss that made Nicole’s heart flutter and a promise to call her later, Austin walked to his classes, and Nicole to hers.

  ***

  Nicole dumped her backpack on the kitchen floor, then slumped on the couch in the adjoining living room, staring at her roommate and best friend, Lizzie.

  “Rough day?” Lizzie asked, glancing up from her textbook.

  “You’ll never believe what happened.”

  Lizzie leaned back in her seat, shutting her book. “Spill.”

  Nicole told her about the Croent impersonating Coolidge and stealing his talisman.

  “A Croent? Here? How’s that possible?”

  “Apparently, there’s this psycho old man who’s trying to steal all the talismans. We’re going to try to stop him Saturday and get back Coolidge’s thing.” Nicole rested her elbows on her knees, her hands clasped. “Want to come?”

  “Wish I could.” Lizzie closed her eyes, rubbing them. “I’ve got a ton of homework and have to go in to work on Saturday.”

  “Again?”

  Lizzie rolled her eyes. “Apparently, Dr. Taylor needed a file this morning. Instead of waiting for me to get there, he went looking himself. Made a huge mess of the office. He was super embarrassed when I arrived and apologized a lot. He promised to pay me time and a half to fix things this weekend.”

  “Weren’t you trying to get everything online? Aren’t physical files like, really old-fashioned?”

  “Heavens, yes. But he’s old-fashioned. He insists on keeping the physical files ‘just in case.’ I think he’s terrified to learn how to update the computer. He’s
an old guy, you know. These computing machines are intimidating things.”

  Nicole smiled. “Too bad. It would have been nice having you come.”

  Lizzie got an earnest expression on her face. “Promise me you’ll be careful. Those Croents aren’t exactly safe.”

  “I know. And we will. This kid Coolidge introduced us to seems very capable.”

  “Kid? How old is he?”

  “Probably seventeen. I’ll ask.” Nicole mock-glared at Lizzie, who was a notorious flirt. “Jail bait, girl. Stay away.”

  Lizzie snorted. “It’s far from my mind.”

  “Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

  Lizzie tossed a pillow at her friend. “I’m not a criminal, you know. And I like older guys anyway.”

  Nicole laughed and grabbed her backpack, preparing to dig into her homework. She had a lot to get done now that her weekend had filled up.

  ***

  Austin picked up Nicole Saturday morning, and they drove to Coolidge’s house, where they’d be meeting Jacob, Austin’s parents—Dave and Elyse—and whoever else Coolidge decided should go.

  Nicole was happy to see Dave and Elyse again, and she was especially grateful they’d be there—she’d worked with them before and knew they were capable and powerful Aretes. She loved that they frequently tossed home routines and comfort aside to be involved in things like this.

  Coolidge got to his feet once everyone was there and made the introductions. Then he briefed them on what to expect. Jacob had found an abandoned building not far from the cabin where Keitus was staying and would be “keying” them there.

  Nicole still wasn’t used to this new usage of the word “key.” It wasn’t supposed to be a verb. It was a noun. But she had to agree, it really was a convenient way to describe how Jacob got around. “Using a magical key to open a link to a completely different place” didn’t roll off the tongue as easily.

  Once they arrived in the other dimension, they would spend several minutes staking out the location while Jacob Time-Saw, watching for any approaching monsters or other “unfriendlies.”

  “We’re lucky he’s not blocking my visions,” Jacob said.

  Coolidge nodded. “He doesn’t know you’re aware of his existence. Hopefully, we’ll be able to keep it that way for a long time.” When everyone was ready, Jacob pulled the key out of his pocket and put it in the lock, whispering something. He opened the door to reveal a familiar landscape, and Nicole took Austin’s hand, glad they were together for this next adventure.

  Bones of every shape and size filled the terrain in front of them. Mountains of bones, canyons, valleys, everything. Nothing of any other color was visible.

  Nicole smiled when a familiar person stepped toward them, his feet crunching on the bones. “Robert! You’re coming?”

  He nodded. “Didn’t want to pass up this opportunity.”

  Robert was one of Coolidge’s good friends who had passed away months earlier while fighting monsters in one of the most epic showdowns Nicole had ever been involved in. She was glad he’d be coming along—he was experienced and knowledgeable. It still surprised her that he could actually be of assistance. She needed to get used to the idea that Aretes had access to their powers even after death.

  She glanced at Jacob, whose eyes were out of focus, waiting for him to give the go-ahead.

  He snapped back to the present and said, “All is clear.”

  Coolidge led the way through the door and into the other dimension. The rest followed.

  After making sure the link was closed behind them, Coolidge looked at Jacob. “Tell us where to go,” he whispered, “then you wait here. We can’t risk Keitus finding out about you.”

  Jacob nodded, then pointed at a canyon. “He’s in a cabin through there, about half an hour’s walk away.”

  “Okay. Be careful. Keep your Minya on hand, and have her check with me frequently.”

  Jacob agreed, then sat against the abandoned building, pulling a dark coat over himself. He blended in with the black stone of the building, and Nicole could only see the moonlight glinting off his eyes.

  Speaking of moonlight, did the sun ever rise here? Nicole couldn’t remember coming at a time when anything but the moon shone. Did they even have a sun? How could anyone or anything live here without one? And what was a Minya?

  She hoped she’d get the chance to ask these questions eventually. She tucked them away for the time being, staying close to Austin as they followed the others through the canyon. It didn’t seem to matter how many times she came here—the place was still creepy.

  Nicole and the rest stepped as quietly as they could, but each footstep produced a faint rustling and tinkling of bones. Hopefully, they weren’t broadcasting their approach.

  After about thirty minutes of walking, a rundown cabin made of pale bones appeared on the other side of a hill. Coolidge turned and faced the others.

  “Take them by surprise?” he asked.

  Everyone nodded. Nicole gathered her magic, preparing to create a windstorm if the need arose. It came easily, following her bidding, swirling around her like a river of water.

  Coolidge crouched, starting forward again, and the others followed suit. Nicole kept her eyes open, trying to spot the Croent that Jacob had seen. Where was it? And where was Keitus?

  As they neared the building, she saw a light in one of the windows. It was small, probably produced by a candle.

  Coolidge reached the window first and slowly raised his head until he was able to peek over the ledge.

  Suddenly, the hills that surrounded the cabin exploded.

  At first, Nicole thought a bomb had been dropped. But she gasped when she saw that the bones themselves had become animated. And they were charging her group at a fast pace.

  “Attack positions!” Coolidge shouted.

  Nicole didn’t need to be told twice. She gathered more magic, building as much pressure as she could stand, then forced it toward the huge monstrosities that approached. She sensed the others attacking similarly. Pretty soon, powerful pulses flooded through the air, pounding against the bone monsters.

  The monsters didn’t stop. Didn’t even pause. Warmth rushed over her, a sensation that only happened when she was pushing herself too far. She was still inexperienced and couldn’t hold her magic as long as Coolidge and Austin. She whirled, looking for something else to use instead.

  She felt the others push forward magically again and looked back. Once more, their powers did nothing. Why weren’t the elemental abilities stopping the bone monsters?

  Nicole searched the area, darting around the other Aretes. She didn’t even know what she was looking for—what would she find but bones? She glanced at the cabin and decided to look around it. She was searching along the wall nearest her when a slightly bent-over old man with a thin goatee stepped onto the porch. His white robe was tied with a brown rope at the waist, accenting the curve of his back. A smile crossed his lips when his eyes landed on her.

  “Good evening, my dear,” the man said, his voice cracking.

  “Keitus?” she asked. Her heart doubled in speed and she clenched her teeth, trying to keep herself from jumping at the man to strangle him. He’s already dead, Nicole.

  He tilted his head, frowning. “How do you know that name?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “You’re looking for a talisman, aren’t you?”

  “Not specifically. I’m looking for something to fight those things with,” she said, jerking her thumb over a shoulder.

  “They can’t be beaten. They’ve been built and strengthened with the best magic I could find. They won’t stop until I give the command.” He made a sweeping gesture with his arms. “And either way, as you can see, I’ll never run out of material to create more.”

  Nicole glanced back at her friends. They were much more powerful Aretes than she, and seemed to be fighting well. But if what Keitus said was true, they would eventually falter, and the bone monsters would consume them.<
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  “How are you animating the bones?”

  “Old magic—something I picked up years ago.” His pseudo-friendly persona disappeared, and he sneered at Nicole. “Why aren’t you fighting with them? Don’t you care that your friends will soon perish?”

  Nicole scowled. “Give me the talisman. I may not look scary, but I can definitely hold my own.”

  Keitus chuckled, his scraggly beard swaying slightly. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t, honey. It’s permanently bound to its location. The bone golems won’t stop fighting to protect it, ever, and even if I die, the magic holding the talisman in place and controlling the golems won’t disappear. I can’t even remove the talisman until I have all of them.”

  Nicole scoffed. “Nothing is permanent.”

  Keitus didn’t answer, but his gaze made her feel young and naïve. Had he really found a way to make it inaccessible?

  “What are you going to do with it?”

  “None of your concern.” Keitus looked up and his face paled in the moonlight. “How is he here?”

  Nicole looked back and gasped when she saw Jacob rushing toward them. “You mean, why is he here.”

  Jacob did something with his hands, and suddenly, the air in front of him shimmered. Just as he stretched his hands toward Nicole’s group, a massive bone golem stepped around the hill nearest Keitus’s cabin. With a huge leap, it dropped forward, intending to crush the Aretes with its body.

  Instead of smothering the humans, however, it stopped halfway, then slid to the side, its bones crashing to the ground. Nicole squinted, trying to figure out what had happened. It was like a shield had broken the creature’s fall.

  “Get up!” Jacob screamed at Nicole’s friends.

  Nicole could tell by the pulses in the air that the Aretes were struggling, barely able to hold onto their consciousness. She was surprised they’d failed so quickly—last she’d seen, they’d been doing well. Maybe she’d been too distracted by Keitus.

  Just then, the Croent rushed out of the building, stopping at Keitus’s side. Why hadn’t it come earlier? Was Keitus making it stay back to prove a point about the bone golems?