“Stop running,” Gan said as he gave chase. “All you’re going to do is die exhausted.”
“You have to catch up first, old man,” Rafael called out as he sped ahead to the bridge. “If you really cared about Sepia, you wouldn’t have lost her.”
Gan roared from behind him.
“That may have been a bit much,” Rafael muttered to himself as he ran across the bridge. Then he yelled, “She’s just over here, if you think you’re brave enough to get her!”
Gan caught up to Rafael instantly.
“Where is she?” Gan asked as he grabbed Rafael by the arm and squeezed. “I suggest you tell me before I rip your arm off.”
Even though it was a mental battlefield, the pain was real. What was pain if not electrical signals conveyed to the brain along neural pathways? Everything happening in Gan’s mind existed along the neural pathways of both men due to the ward bond and ward bridge that connected them.
“If you promise to make it quick,” Rafael said. “I’ll take you to her. She’s just over there.” Rafael pointed to the other end of the bridge. “She’s right over there.”
“If you’re lying to me, you’ll suffer before the end.”
“We just have to cross over, and then you’ll see her,” Rafael assured him. “Just over the bridge.”
Gan ran across the bridge, pulling Rafael like a rag doll, his grip never lessening in intensity. He crossed over to the other side of the bridge and looked around.
“Where is she?” Gan asked, getting angrier by the second. “Where is she?”
“Right here,” Rafael said, striking Gan in the temple with one hand as he slashed down at the bridge with the other. “Closer than you think.”
Rafael came to with a start and opened his eyes. Deborah lay on the floor, groaning. He went over to where she lay and helped her up and into the chair. Gan groaned from the bed.
“Where’s Blueberry?” Gan asked, holding his head. “Oh, my head. What did you do?”
“I second that question,” Deb said from the chair. “My head.”
“I had to sever the bridge forcibly,” Rafael said. “Apologies.”
“Can we not do that ever again?” Deb said, rubbing her temples. “My brain needs medication, stat.”
“Where did you say she was?” Gan asked, with another groan. “What the hell did you do?”
“She’s in the Park,” Rafael said with a sigh. “I did what was necessary to bring you back.”
“Rafael, why do I have this overpowering desire to pummel you?” Gan asked, and then looked at Deborah. “Who’s this?”
“When is that different from any other time?” Rafael asked. “This is Nurse Stern, the future head of this department. She helped facilitate your recall procedure and current retrieval—at great personal risk, I might add.”
“I’m in your debt, Nurse Stern,” Gan said, gathering his clothes. “I have a few matters to tend to. If I survive those, I’ll be back to repay my debt. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Deborah said, regaining her composure. “The Director and I have an agreement.”
“Don’t you think you should stay here and recover for a few hours at least?” Rafael asked. “You just underwent a recall procedure.”
“Was it a success?” Gan asked, looking at Deborah. “Did the doctor pull it off?”
“Absolutely,” Deborah said. “We just didn’t understand why you wouldn’t regain consciousness.”
“Defensive mechanism,” Gan answered. “It seems I overcompensated and went too deep, but I’m fine now.” He looked at Rafael. “Are you coming, or do you need to recover?”
“The thanks I get,” Rafael said, before turning to Deborah. “Thank you, truly. We really must go, but I won’t forget what you did here today.”
Deborah nodded and left the room, slightly shaken.
“The Nameless is in play,” Gan said. “We need to get to Sepia before it’s too late.”
“Do you know a fast way to the Hunter’s Keep?” Rafael asked. “We would be approaching in daylight.”
“Safer than nighttime,” Gan answered. “I know a few ways. Just let me get back to Gray HQ.”
“About that,” Rafael said, putting a hand on Gan’s shoulder. “You may want to reconsider that visit.”
“What happened?”
“After Velos made off with the Nameless, you weren’t exactly hailed as the conquering hero.”
“There are other ways,” Gan said, “without contacting the Gray. Whatever we do, we can’t let that sword fall into the hands of the Unholy.”
“We have to accept that as one of the possibilities,” Rafael said. “You’ve been out for some time. Sepia…”
“Tell me,” Gan said, his voice hard. “What happened to her?”
“There was an immense energy spike in the Park recently,” Rafael said. “I think Sepia may have transformed into the Jade Demon.”
TWENTY-NINE
Cade met with Hep at the entrance to the Park at 59th Street and Columbus Circle. Hep was carrying a small briefcase and had a long storage tube strapped to his back, matching the one Cade wore.
“Thanks for moving so fast on this,” Cade said as they stepped into the Park. Even during the day, no one ventured into the Park without risking their lives. “I’m impressed. I know you could’ve used more time. There just isn’t any.”
“I understand—even though I was somewhat sidetracked by that pair of Sisters you had me escort home,” Hep said. “Did you know one of them had faced a Drinker?”
“Which was why I called you,” Cade said. “The aftereffects of tangling with a Drinker can be severe. She’s lucky to be alive.”
“I heard some of that luck had to do with a well-placed shot by a certain gunman,” Hep said, glancing sidelong at Cade. “I made sure they got back to their compound in one piece. You ever meet their leader, Anna?”
“No, thanks. I’ve heard the rumors about her,” Cade said, shaking his head. “So, did you
