The Syphon King (Bayou Bishops #16)

Chapter FIVE

Zodak realized his library wasn’t far enough from her and headed to Nidev’s office.

He stopped in his tracks. He needed to go back for his phone. He turned around then paused again. No. He couldn’t be near her until he found out what was going on.

Seer. He had to call him.

“Is King Nidev available?” he asked the secretary upon entering his office.

“He’s in a meeting with the other Kings in the Sanctum.”

“Regarding?” he wondered.

“King Rukem’s sleepwalking episode.”

Sleepwalking. “When did this happen?”

“Last night.”

He lowered his head, thinking. Why didn’t Nidev tell him about this earlier when they talked? “Thank you,” he said, hurrying out to get that answer.

Rukem sleepwalking and him malfunctioning. Coincidence, or the coins? Were they to affect him too? The girl drew him and Seer across all the images which seemed to give him the answer.

He quietly let himself into the Sanctum, hoping to obtain information before being seen.

“Brother,” Nidev called, as Zodak took a seat next to the main floor. “Glad you could join us. We’re discussing possible reasons for Rukem’s sleepwalking. I would’ve informed you earlier, but you had weightier matters to attend and didn’t want to burden you until we had more details.”

“Understood,” he said. “Anything discovered yet?”

“As with such events, he has no memory of performing things.”

Zodak wondered, “What things is he performing?”

“He created an entire program in the Dreamscape that we cannot unlock, only observe as he builds.”

“Builds what?”

“Bridges. To what, we’re not sure. Only that there are four. One branching off another, connected. Resembling the beginnings of a tree with limbs.”

“What about you?” Rukem called. “You look like a man who knows something.”

Zodak considered his words carefully, feeling like it was necessary while not understanding why. “Something is amiss with me.”

“Bloody hell,” Vex muttered, knowing that could be a very bad thing.

He had no actual clue just how right he was. He suddenly stood as premonitions of horror hit his biosensors, grabbing hold of his muscles. He looked at all his brothers as darkness gradually seeped from this abyss into his pores. “I’m not safe. Help me.”

BISHOP’S PHONE BUZZED against his ass, and he set the welding wand down, removing his helmet. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his shoulder and pulled it out.

Bart.

“You’re gonna need to sit down for this,” Bart said quietly the second he answered, his tone jacking his pulse.

Bishop glanced around the shop, making sure it was empty. “Tell me.”

“Thinking we got some coin action. Three days ago, thirteen car dealerships were sabotaged. Day after that, thirteen clubs were burned to the ground. And yesterday? Thirteen banks were hit—accounts drained.”

Bishop made his way out of the shop when Nickles entered. “And you think the number means something?”

“Not just the numbers,” he assured eagerly. “But who. Every one of these places? Owned by the elite—richest of the rich. Fancy golf clubs, yacht clubs, restaurants, shopping malls, car dealerships, jewelry shops but the biggest one is the banks. Thirteen rich ass banks get hit and all the funds were drained from it. Who did it? No idea. Where did it all go? Nobody knows. Yet.”

“Ego,” Bishop said. “The wealthy surely have plenty of it.”

“It’s starting, brother,” he said, with a dark hunger. “They are burning the stage to the ground.”

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Bishop barely muttered. “Who all knows?”

“Just me and 8-Bit. Now you.”

“I’ll call the Kings. We need to meet. Gather the Twelve in the box while I do that.”

“On it, boss.”

“I WANT every test immediately performed that you can. I must be on full lockdown,” Zodak insisted to Alerik as he paced inside the containment room. “I need my phone. I’ll need to talk to Zeen and explain things to her. Has the Seer been reached?”

“He’s on his way here. I’ll get your phone and you can call her.”

“She doesn’t have a phone,” he remembered. “Bring her here. I have to see her.”

“I’ll see it done,” Alerik said with a curt nod, turning with an urgency only his keen intuition could bring. He returned his attention to the darkness churning in him, measuring it again. It hadn’t acted yet, but he felt like it was building up for something. His mind went back to Zeen. What would he tell her? And why did he want to see her more than he needed to breathe? And this dread boring into every cell in his being... what was it?

While waiting for the Kings to finalize preparations, he raced through everything he’d learned in all his years, searching for clues and answers as to what was happening and what he could do to control it if not stop it.

She had to be tested.

He banged his fists on the glass till Lore came in. “She needs to be tested. We have no idea what her gifts are, and I suspect it’s integral to what I’m experiencing.”

“Shall we contain her as well?”

“Yes. You must. I will speak to her first,” he remembered. “And explain to her. She will comply.”

“Consider it done, King,” Lore assured. “I’ll prepare another room for her tests.”

The door opened and Zeen raced in, placing both her hands on the glass before him, the terror and worry in her delicate face waking a hungry rage. “I’m so sorry, Zodak,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have done this. But I’ll never be sorry for needing you,” she gasped, shaking her head and wiping her tears.

The darkness in him lurched for her with a hunger, bringing his own terror. “Listen to me, Zeen,” he hurried. “Something is not right with me, and I fear I may hurt you.”

She shook her head a lot. “You wouldn’t.”

“What is in me, I fear I cannot control. My brothers will run tests and I need you to let them do the same for you too. Will you do this for me Zeen?” He pounded the glass with his fist when a thick lust for her pummeled him.

“I will do whatever you say, my King,” she wept. “I’m here, I’m yours, I won’t leave you.”

“I need you to be strong Zeen,” he said, unsure of what was coming.

She nodded quickly. “I will be so strong for you.”

“I want to taste you, feel you,” he seethed quietly, fighting not to look into her desperate gaze even though all his gates were locked down tight. “I want to see you with all that I am.”

“Your brothers will help you. They love you very much, I see this.”

“What are your gifts, Zeen?”

She gave a sob, looking helpless and confused. “I don’t know. I’m so sorry.”

His chest burned with her sorrow while the need to touch her crushed his bones. “Do not ever be sorry for being you, my pretty Zeen.”

“I’m scared, Zo,” she gasped, pressing her hands against the glass. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Nothing will happen,” he swore, pressing his hands on hers. “My brothers will do whatever it takes to ensure it. You will see.” He watched as tears poured from her tormented gaze while agony crimped her forehead.

“What if...what if I have a bad gift?” she barely whispered, her pain and fear stirring the darkness in him as if were its food source.

“It does not matter, Zeen. I will always protect you. I will never forsake you.”

She fixed her bright eyes right on him. “Can you see it?” she wept. “Can you see how much I love you? I don’t remember things, but I know I’ve never loved anybody before you. Do you believe me?”

The confession brought a crippling dark vice that dropped him to his knees. “Leave Zeen,” he gasped, not wanting her to see it. “Let my brothers help you!” he growled, clenching his eyes shut when his siphoning powers salivated for her. He bared his teeth as he fought it. “Go!” he roared at her.

She ran out with a sob that burned every atom in his body. Dalk and Gauld entered. “Do not open the cell,” he warned through thick heaves. “You must subdue me before entering.”

“The Seer is here. Do you wish to speak to him prior to proceeding with chemical restraints?”

“Yes,” he blasted, the sudden hope almost immediately devoured by the darkness. “Hurry.”

“Zodak.”

Seer’s voice gave him strength to stand and face him. “See that she is protected. I don’t know what’s happening or what’s coming.”

“What can you tell me?”

“I know that when I was intimate with her, something occurred. Something with her gift. They’re going to run tests. I don’t think I siphoned everything from her,” he barely said, never wanting her to hear that.

“I’m praying, son,” he assured. “God will direct us.”

Zodak put his right hand on the glass, remembering he was free to stare into his blue gaze. “Thank you, brother. And...thank your God for me.”

He nodded solemnly. “I’ll let you thank Him yourself. It’s all gonna work out, one way or another.”

Zodak felt a multi-verse in the meaning of his words. Yes, it would all work out one way or another. But not without great cost. “Tell my brothers I’m ready.”

“I’ll be here praying till it’s done,” he said.

“PERMISSION TO CONTINUE helping our brother,” Thakx said. “The time or manner of learning this news our Marsh brothers have won’t change it.”

“Agreed,” Nidev said, emphatically, his bright gray eyes scanning them. “You, Lore, Alerik and Kael. Do you need more?”

“If we do, I’ll let you know.”

He nodded. “Any theories?”

“With the latest recon done, we think the intimacy they’re sharing is opening whatever gift she has that allows her to contain negative energy. Theoretically, keeping her a virgin and locked away ensured the evil she held remained in a single location, allowing them to tap into it whenever they wanted to. But the scars on her body tell a gruesome story.”

Nidev’s scowl intensified. “Tell me.”

“Scans show she endured numerous traumas no doubt attached to the darkness he siphoned. If we find more, that means her gift is related to neuro-partitioning which would explain why she has no memory of it,” Lore said.

“Zodak thinks he over-siphoned and took her memories,” Nidev reminded.

But Thakx was unsure now. “We’ll know in a moment.”

“So, she was some kind of power bank for these people,” Vael said in low disgust.

“We’ll get them both hooked into the Synapse Monitor and see what type of neural connections they’ve formed and go from there,” Thakx said.

“He’ll want her clean if we find any darkness remaining,” Alerik assured.

“We need to see what we’re dealing with first,” Gauld said.

“Which reminds me,” Thakx remembered. “I’ve received word back from our good Dr. Ubaldo via email and he’s sending me everything useful to consider for Zodak’s situation.”

Nidev eyed him. “Been a minute since we last had dealings. How’s his work going?”

“Whatever it is, it must be spectacular,” Thakx said. “He’s currently in hiding.”

“Really.”

“One of his projects went off the rails. His words. But it led to a phenomenal break through.”

“Like what?” Nidev pressed, eager.

“Don’t know.” Thakx grinned. “Figured you’d be in touch to see if he needed anything.”

“Good,” he said. “I could use him in our laboratories.”

“You’ll have to email him for the rest of that story if he can tell it.”

“No phone number?”

“Not yet. I was thinking you’d make special arrangements to get something he’d feel safe giving.”

“Right,” he mused, heading out. “I’ll meet up with all of you later for updates on Zodak.”

“Bye-bye Poppy,” Gauld said when the door shut.

Thakx peered at Zodak on the monitor. “How’s he doing?”

“Out like a light,” Alerik said, fingers flying over his keyboard as Thakx regarded the screen next to their brothers.

“And his girl?”

“Same.”

“How soon before we have the readings we need?” Thakx wondered, taking a seat at his station.

“Initial assessments are finishing now. Once we have the readouts on their individual stats, we can hook them to the emotional resonance scanner and introduce stimuli to measure their responses and interconnectedness. If we find what we suspect, we’ll move to finding safe extraction measures.”

Yeah. That one would be interesting.

BETH’S INSIDES KNOTTED in excitement when her beautiful husband entered his office where she finalized class material. She couldn’t wait to tell him what she... “What’s wrong?” she demanded when he began pacing.

“We need to talk.”

Panic hit her. “Is everybody okay?”

He pulled up a chair and sat across from her. “Everybody is fine. You can sit, Ma Petite.”

She slowly lowered back to her seat, eyeing the strain lining his handsome face. “Okay.”

“I was hoping all this...coin bullshit was just...bullshit.”

“Oh boy, what’s happened?”

“Bart and his team called me with a disturbing report that means the coins aren’t bullshit, they’re real. And it’s happening.”

“Oh my God, tell me.”

“All across the US in the past three days, there have been strategic attacks on categories of businesses—thirteen on each,” he added. “All ego related.”

“How?”

“Yacht clubs, fancy golf clubs, jewelry stores, high priced car dealerships, but the biggest thing are the thirteen banks that got hacked, draining the accounts of the very rich with no clue as to anything.”

“Oh. My. God,” she whispered, her pulse hammering as she stood. “It is happening. What did this cause?”

“I’m not sure of the extent but would imagine the very beginnings of chaos. Which means we are meeting with the Kings to discuss stepping up all these plans we’ve made.”

“What can I do?”

“For now, pray about what we’re supposed to do. What who when where how.”

“Should I cancel the classes?”

He stood and went to pacing again. “Not yet. And right now, we only tell those who must know. I don’t want to panic the entire Hoard.”

The door rattled with a loud knock. “Boss, you in there?”

“Bart,” he muttered, opening the door.

“Everybody’s gonna be here at seven tonight,” Bart said. “We meeting virtual?”

“Feel like we need to do this in person.”

“Easier to see body language,” Beth offered.

“Oh, hello!” Bart said glancing around Bishop.

“Hi yourself. Did you get the update on the class details?”

“I did and... sorry, but there’s nobody I’d like to take to it at this time.”

She smiled, standing. “Well. I tried.”

“Keep doing that, I don’t mind. Maybe you can find your doppelganger and compel her on over.”

One of her embarrassing laughs escaped while she made her way around to them. “God help the world if there’s more than one of me.” She smacked Bishops shoulder at the roll of his eyes.

“I take it she knows?” Bart asked.

“I just told her.”

She eyed the curious look Bart held on her. “I think we’ve got a list of questions we might want to make before this meeting. Am I going?” she wondered, realizing she might not be. “I don’t have to if you prefer I don’t.”

“All hands need to be on this deck from here on out,” Bishop said. “Minus those we’re protecting which is all of the Hoard.”

“What kind of questions you think we need?” Bart whipped out a small notepad from his back pocket and found a clean sheet.

“How far spread is it,” she wondered. “Is this worldwide?”

Bart shook his head, writing with his little midget pencil. “Not yet.”

“My big wonder is what action has been taken and what are these rich people doing in the aftermath of losing everything?” Bishop said. “What are their theories, if any.”

Bart wrote eagerly. “The blame game is surely afoot. Many are saying it’s political warfare.”

“It may be,” Bishop thought.

Beth got her own pen and paper. “Are there any other patterns found besides the obvious ones?”

Bart flicked his eyes at her. “Just the number so far and the places and people being related to the coin’s message.”

“I’ll write any questions down that I think of,” Beth said when Bishop looked caged. “How are we getting there?”

“We’ll take our land dragons,” Bishop said.

Crap, she wasn't ready for that kind of meeting. “Do I have time to go home and shower?”

“If we leave now,” he said.

“Okay, well...I’ll grab my things.”

“Take your time, Ma Petite. I need to talk to Bart a sec.”

“Come get me when you’re ready.”