“There are no other patients here,” Penny told Jane as she secured the heart of the altar in her bag. “Don’t you find that odd?”
“His treatments are experimental. It requires solitude. However, if it works, we can use it to help many afflicted. It is one of his many areas of research. As I said, he intends to transform the world in all ways.”
The light in the chapel dimmed as someone entered. Malcolm spun about, yanking his Lancasters. The tall broad frame of Gaios was silhouetted in the doorway. Malcolm’s stomach fell.
“Gaios!” Jane called out with relief. “These are my friends. They came to see me because they are worried about me.”
“I see.” The fiery gaze of Gaios instantly took the measure of the situation. “There is no need for them to fear … for you.”
Chapter 17
Malcolm thought he felt the ground quiver under his feet. He had never been this close to Gaios before. There was something inhuman in the elemental’s eyes. He could understand why Jane had mistaken it for zealotry. Gaios seemed to fill the chapel and diminish the others by his mere presence. The white hair and beard gave him the patina of an Old Testament prophet.
Gaios spoke with a voice that resonated throughout the building. “Did they interrupt your prayer?”
“No,” Jane replied quickly. “I was finished for today.”
“And you feel well?”
“I feel marvelous, as I always do after prayer.”
Malcolm eyed the layout of the chapel, making overly hopeful contingency plans. He wondered if he could pull a gun and fire before Gaios could react. “Why don’t you tell Jane what you’re truly doing to her?”
The elemental scowled angrily. The chapel shivered. Jane looked alarmed. His eyes flicked to her and the tremors ceased. He made an effort to relax his features.
Jane showed no fear of the great magician, which was both disconcerting and comforting. However, she acted embarrassed as if from harsh words spoken at a polite dinner. “Please don’t be angry, Gaios. Mr. MacFarlane is a friend of mine from London. He was concerned for me and my father, not knowing where we had gone.”
Gaios nodded and came across the floor. Malcolm purposefully refused to move as he approached, forcing the white-haired demigod to step around him.
Gaios took Jane’s hand. “You do understand that our work must remain secret for now? No one should know until we are ready to share it with the world.”
“Yes, I know.” Jane sighed with self-reproach. “I’m sorry. I’m sure Mr. MacFarlane won’t say anything.”
Malcolm glanced at Penny, who clutched her rucksack. She seemed on the verge of doing something rash, so Malcolm smiled and winked as if this was a chat with the vicar after services.
Gaios continued to stare at Malcolm, but said to Jane, “They disturbed your father in his room. I managed to calm him, but he was quite unsettled by the incident.”
Jane spun to Malcolm with hurt surprise.
Malcolm retorted, “He told us where you were. He was calm when we left. He still thinks I’m Captain Perry.”
Jane softened and smiled. “Bless his heart. Father liked you very much despite his misapprehension.”
Malcolm noted the growing rage in Gaios’s eyes, which the elemental struggled to contain in front of the sensitive Miss Somerset. The ancient magician had constructed a complex ruse and needed for her to continue to believe in it. So Malcolm pushed a bit more. “Jane, I’d like you and your father to come with me.”
Jane gasped with pain as Gaios inadvertently crushed her hand. He bowed his head apologetically and patted her fingers. “She will, of course, go nowhere with you.”
Jane looked as if she was about to upbraid Gaios for speaking for her, but she bit back the impolite words. “Mr. MacFarlane, I cannot leave. Our work is not yet done. You can clearly see I am in no danger. Whatever ideas you had are obviously incorrect.”
“Obviously.” Gaios smiled. “I will have one of my boats take you back to London.”
Malcolm could see that Jane had no intention of leaving. There seemed no way to break her faith short of goading Gaios into killing. That seemed a senseless ploy although Malcolm could see from the old elemental’s annoyed features, barely frozen to cover his burning rage, that it wouldn’t take much effort. The Scotsman signaled to Penny and they started slowly toward the door. Gaios followed a few steps behind.
Jane called out quietly, “I do thank you, Mr. MacFarlane. I am grateful for your concern.”
Malcolm paused in the doorway to look at the winsome figure standing in front of the altar. Then the fierce countenance of Gaios blocked his view. The Scotsman said, loudly enough for Jane to hear, “If you harm her, I will kill you.”