Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Harley Merlin, #6)

“Two pints from each person is two pints too much. Looked impressive, though,” I replied, finding my voice at last. Well, Volla’s voice.

Kenneth seemed satisfied with Finch’s response, pushing his nose into the air like he’d smelled something rancid. I had to hand it to Finch: he was doing an incredible job of keeping his cool, considering he probably wanted to knock seven shades of crap out of Kenneth. He was already making a good impression, which would work in our favor. A few of the cultists had even laughed with Finch about the polar bear situation.

However, I got a mixed vibe from the rest of the group that had gathered. Shinsuke, in particular. He had a shifty wariness about him that set me on edge, my Empath senses feeling concern and fear brimming through him. Bit off more than you could chew? I sort of felt sorry for him. He looked like a lost kid who’d gotten in with the wrong crowd and didn’t know how to get out again. Plus, if what Naima said was true, there was no way out. I wondered if he would be ready to renounce the cult, if given the opportunity.

While Finch entertained the masses with a fantastical tale of polar bears and hiding out in a snow cave, I took a moment to really look at the people surrounding us. In all the chaos of arriving and being bombarded with grim news, they’d all become a bit of a blur. I spotted a young woman at the back of the crowd, her hands bandaged. Finch followed my gaze while giving a dramatic pause, halfway through a story about the Northern Lights and an over-amorous penguin. He cast me a knowing look and suddenly said, “The sky was electrifying.” A hidden signal to me, letting me know that this was Thessaly Crux—the one who’d tried to disable the Bestiary with that Gemini device.

“Enough of the welcome brigade. It is time you began your first trial,” Naima announced, surveying the crowd with her amber eyes. It was strange how much she resembled Tobe, and yet the two of them were worlds apart.

“Which is?” I replied, giving it my best Volla Mazinov blasé attitude.

“An aspiring member must face the cult’s current members. It is Thessaly Crux and Shinsuke Nomura’s turn.” She flashed me a grin. “Although, since Tess is indisposed with an injury, the duty shall fall to Kenneth Willow instead.”

Kenneth smirked. “Even without the injury, I’d beat her anytime. How you getting on there, mummy-hands?”

Tess snickered. “Listen, you’ve got enough of an Oedipus complex without bringing me into it.”

“You best be careful, or it’ll be more than your hands giving you trouble,” Kenneth replied, his eyes narrowing. I watched him shoot dark looks at those who dared to laugh, and I was struggling to stifle a laugh myself.

“Oh yeah? I’d like to see you try it, suck-up.”

“You want to go, Crux?” Kenneth snapped, though he made no move to attack her. It was all for show, as far as I could tell. He clearly hated Tess, but I sensed he was also afraid of her. To be honest, I’d have liked to see them duke it out, and my money was firmly on Tess—bandages or no bandages.

“Ha, in your dreams.” She cast him a butter-wouldn’t-melt smile. Judging by the unsurprised reactions of the other folks who’d gathered on the bridge, this confrontation wasn’t a rare occurrence.

“The trial, Naima?” I tried to get the focus back on us. The sooner we finished these stupid trials, the sooner we could finish the mission at hand: rescuing my mother’s spirit before All Hallows’ Eve.

Naima nodded. “We shall depart to the battle arena, where you will face your opponent. Cult members, prepare yourselves for the ceremony.” She led the way, her black cloak swishing like a movie villain’s as we followed her along a network of suspended metal bridges. I looked back just in time to see Tess, even with her bandages, strike a sharp jolt of Electro energy into Kenneth as she passed him. It looked like it caused her pain, but that had to be worth it. Kenneth juddered violently, his body going into spasms, while his eyes rolled back into his head. I could see him fighting to say something, but the jolt made it impossible. By the time he stopped shaking, Tess had already stalked off in the opposite direction.

After ten minutes of walking, we arrived at a clearing with a raised platform in the center. It was crafted from a single block of volcanic stone so smooth and shiny it almost looked like a disc of black glass. A band of tiered seats ran around the edge, where spectators could watch, but there was a significant, sheer drop between the arena lip and the seating. I guessed that was where the cult members would take up their positions whenever they came back from their “preparations.”

As if reading my mind, they appeared from the trees, sweeping out of the shadows. This seemed to be the cult uniform—a long, silken robe of deep red, with golden patterns sewn into the fabric. They wore their hoods low, as any good cultist should, their heads dipped. They took their seats around the stone arena, using a different walkway than the one Naima had led us up.

“Aspiring members, you may take your places,” Naima said, gesturing to Finch and me. We looked at each other. Since Shinsuke and Kenneth hadn’t come back, we figured we were supposed to stand at the end nearest Naima—anything to put distance between us and them when they appeared.

In one swift display of athleticism, Naima leapt from the black disc and landed on a smaller, square platform opposite. It had two seats on it, but the other remained empty as she sat down. Katherine’s throne, perhaps? We’d yet to see the woman herself, but I guessed we’d only get the chance if we made it through these trials.

“The trials have changed,” Finch whispered to me as we moved closer to one another.

“Huh?”

“The trials. They’ve changed. This never used to be part of it.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Finch shrugged. “Depends on what nasties Kenneth is getting ready to use. Remember to dodge the puffs of colored smoke—they’re hexes, and he’s probably been working on some pretty gross ones.”

“Oh yeah, I remember those,” I muttered. Flashbacks of Purgatory and Giverny Le Fay bombarded my brain, making me remember Wade’s blindness and the flurry of smoke bombs that had gone off all around me.

“I don’t know how strong Shinsuke’s abilities are going to be, but he’s a Nomura, so—go figure. Just keep watching for Kenneth. He’s probably got the least skill but the most tricks up his sleeve. Literally.”

I smiled. “Watch my back, I’ll watch yours.”

“Deal.” He shot me a grin. Not for the first time, I wished I could sense him with my Empathy. I wanted to know what was going on in that head of his. Was this all an act, or had he really changed? It would make things so much easier if he had. Maybe I could relax into this newfound warmth toward him, if I only knew whether he was genuine or not.

Five minutes later, Shinsuke and Kenneth made their way up the walkway to the stone disc and came to a halt at the far end. They kept some distance between them, unlike Finch and me, who were pretty much glued to each other’s sides. Had they discussed tactics during their brief absence? I doubted it. Kenneth was acting as if Shinsuke wasn’t even there, showboating around the edge of the arena as if he were putting on a matinee. Shinsuke, on the other hand, looked focused and very Nomura-like.

“I will begin my countdown,” Naima roared, silencing the crowd. “When I reach one, you may begin. And remember, new recruits are not allowed to kill cult members.”

I stared at her. How was that a fair fight? So our enemies could skewer us if they wanted, but we couldn’t unleash our full powers in case we accidentally killed their guys? Biased, much?

Shinsuke bowed to her, while Kenneth merely shrugged.