“You know, when Miro told me you were alive and had joined the Winters, I couldn’t decide if I was more surprised, hurt or angry, but now that I see you, I can truly say I’m just glad to see you healthy.”
Farrow glanced at Creed and Gavil—trying to figure out the answer to her question. What the hell is happening? Why hadn’t they killed Williams?
Feeling like this was a funhouse with mirrors distorting reality, Farrow didn’t know what to say or do. It was Gavil who spoke next. “Who’s Miro?”
“Oh, how rude of me,” he turned to Slider and said, “It’s time to hear the ‘music of the spheres.’”
Slider’s eyes blinked heavily for half a second having heard his trigger. His alter, Miro came forward, taking control of the body.
When his eyes opened, they were changed. Slider’s formerly amber eyes—a striking brownish-gold—changed into a dull black. He was standing four feet to Farrow’s left and even she leaned forward to try to understand the blackness in his eyes. She knew this was no longer Slider.
His whole posture changed, the muscles in his face pulled differently. The changes were subtle in and of themselves, but taken as a whole, it became very clear the man standing in the room was absolutely different. When he spoke, the shift in personalities became even more pronounced. A distinctly Russian accent came from the thin lips of the man formerly known as Slider. He only said, “I am here, Director.”
“Creed and Gavil Young, Farrow Schone, may I introduce my Monarch slave. You know only one part of this man’s complex system—‘Slider.’ Through diligent training and consistent teachings beginning at a very young age, Miro has become one of my most valuable assets.”
Creed stared, jaw agape at Slider who now held his gun rock still pointing directly at Farrow’s temple.
Williams sighed deeply and shook his head as though amazed and exhausted at the same time.
“You have so much yet to learn, my dear children.” He walked casually to his still warm cup of tea and lifted the expensive china to his bloody lips to take a sip. He hummed happily, savoring the flavor. “You know, with more money than God, I could afford any tea I want. I could even develop a new flavor if the thought suited me,” he chuckled and shook his head as he placed the cup back onto its saucer. “There’s just something about the familiar flavor of this Earl Gray. Why would I want to change what is already so beautifully made?”
He looked up thoughtfully at Creed and nodded. “Do you see what I’m saying, my boy? Once I find value and worth in something, I treasure it above and beyond all others. I consider myself a very loyal soul.”
He flipped the laptop open again and sighed loudly when the image reappeared, visible only to his eyes due to the angle of the screen. “Meg is beautifully made, Creed. She is mine.”
He turned the laptop abruptly so it faced the others in the room. Creed’s already pale face curled in anguish at the sight.
“It’s time for you to go, Creed.” Williams nodded to Miro/Slider. Creed tore his eyes from the screen and instinctively jumped to the floor, his gun moving with the body memory of years of weapons training.
Miro shifted his aim from Farrow to Creed. They shot simultaneously.
Chapter 44 The Children
Meg felt the pull.
She spun on her heels and sped back down the stairwell they’d just exited following her empath’s heart.
Alik had been watching his sister and was running right behind her when she took off.
“Meg, where are you going?”
“They’re down here!” She breathed, taking steps two and three at a time.
“It’s just the lobby.” Alik tried to reason even as he leaped down steps himself.
“I can feel them, Alik.” Her voice cracked with desperation.
They arrived at the ground-level, breathing deeply and spinning in place looking for a way down into the basement.
“Let’s try the elevator. Maybe that’s the only way down there.” Alik offered, already hurrying on silent feet to the doors and jabbing the button.
Meg was right behind him, frowning with concentration, trying to feel where the children were.
When the doors opened, they saw looked at the panel and saw a flat space marked “B” but there was no button beside it; only a key hole.
“There’s a basement, but how the hell do we get down there?”
As if on cue, the elevator began to move, startling both Alik and Meg.
They were going down.
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do this.”
Meg sighed deeply and pulled her gun out of its holster on her waist. “Evan, are you there?” she spoke into her comm mouth piece at her throat.
“Almost done.” He sounded winded.
“We’re in some deep shit, little brother. No matter what happens, you stay back,” she ordered, sure the doors would open any moment.
“Where are you?” Evan’s voice was instantly angry and scared. Meg could sympathize.