We found Olivia, Matthew and Gordon huddled over a table in the dining room. It wasn't until I got closer that I could see the A3 sized print outs of the blueprints Olivia had said she'd find.
"How'd you manage to get copies of these?" I asked as I thumbed several sheets.
Olivia removed her phone from her jeans pocket and waved it in my direction. "I can access the LOA files for the building wirelessly. I knew we kept blueprints of where everything was. Now do you mind telling us all what you wanted them for?"
I flicked through the pages until I found one which showed one of the sub-basements. "Your LOA building is equipped with a similar system to the one Tommy uses. It removes the abilities of everyone who enters, unless you're wearing one of those anti-sorcerer band things," I said, bringing the sheet of paper to the top and pointing at one corner of it.
Everyone stared at where I pointed.
"That's the third floor security room," Olivia said. "There's nothing there except…" Olivia smiled. "You want to disable the security system allowing everyone to use their abilities inside the building."
"Bingo," I said. "There's no way in hell that Peter is going to come out and face us. That means we need to go in. Actually, it means I need to go in."
The shouting that followed was expected, but even so we didn't have time to argue. "Listen," I said over the din. "I have to be the person to go into the building."
"Why?" Olivia snapped.
"You promised me, Nate," Sky said. "About half hour ago, you said you weren't going to fight the lich."
"Okay, let's calm down and let Nate talk," Gordon said.
I thanked Gordon. "Right, Olivia you can't go into that building. For one thing you're the only one who knows the way to get into that security office, you're the only one of us who has been there." I removed another page and pointed to an exit at the side of the building. "You'll need to enter here, as you can't go down by lift. You know the combinations for any numerical locks. And Sky has to go with you, because she's the only one of us who knows how to disable this kind of system. It’s not like flicking a switch; you’ll need to break specific connections to the runes around the building. And you’ll have to do it in a specific order."
"It's similar to the one my father uses," Sky said. "In fact it looks like yours might be based on his. But that still…"
"Just wait, before you start yelling again," I said. "Sky knows how to disable the security and Olivia knows how to get there, that leaves me to get Tommy and Kasey away from the very dangerous lich before he kills them."
"You think the lich won't be affected?" Matthew asked.
"I doubt it, there's about one lich every few centuries, why would the LOA prepare for such a random eventuality? We have to assume that he has his abilities, otherwise, why bother attacking the LOA building?"
"Nate's right," Olivia said. "There's nothing in the security, that I'm aware of, which would stop a lich from using his abilities."
"So where will he be?" Gordon asked.
I searched for another blueprint and placed it on the top of the pile. "Olivia's office, on the top floor. This is about you, Olivia; he's going to want you to witness your destruction from where you find the most safety. He'll be there, I guarantee it."
"Why can't we all go in after we get the security cut?" Sky asked.
"Two things," I said. "One-the second the security is disabled he's going to notice something weird is happening when everyone attacks his citadel at once. And two — he's not about to let a necromancer stop him, and he actually wants Olivia to see Tommy and Kasey die in front of her, so the second he sees either of you, they're dead. He thinks of me as a mild annoyance, at best."
"You killed one of his ghouls," Sky pointed out. "That's gonna piss him off."
"Yeah, but I'm no threat to him. Even if I can do necromancy, I don't know how, and I doubt even if I did I'd be able to stop him. But I can buy you time, hopefully keep him occupied and try and get Kasey and Tommy away from being in danger."
"So what do we do?" Matthew asked.
"There's going to be several hundred barren inside that building and a few ghouls. We want them outside so we can work unhindered. That's where you and your wolves come in. You're there to get them to come outside and fight you, and then kill as many of them as possible."
"Now that we can do," Matthew said. "How long do you need?"
"Be ready to go in an hour. And make sure they know no biting. Barren and ghouls have poisoned blood; it'll paralyse anyone who ingests it."
"We'll be ready," Matthew said and he left the room with Gordon.
"Your plan stinks," Olivia said. "But you're right; if he sees me he'll think Christmas came early for him. You have to be careful though."
"I will," I said and watched Olivia leave the room.
"You are a pain in my ass," Sky said. "You're going to fight that lich and if you do that, you're going to die. You understand that, yes?"
"I'm not going to fight, but I do need to keep him busy… so, any chance of a few lessons?"
Sky's mouth dropped open in shock. "Learning how to use necromancy takes years, Nate. I can't show you how to use it in an hour. And even if I could, we don't know what type of necromancy you can use."
"That's fair, but when I fought with Randal in that pit I felt some sort of coldness over me, somehow I absorbed a spirit. I just need to know what I did, just in case."
Sky sighed. "I can show you some techniques with how to search out for a spirit, but there's no guarantee they'll even work."
"It's better than nothing."
"Nate, the better plan would be to get Kasey and Tommy out of there and then run like hell. Once that security is broken, I'll be with you as fast as I can, but until then you'll be basically human."
"Thanks for reminding me," I said with a smile.
"Don't, Nate. Don't make this out to be nothing. Until that security is cracked, you will have nothing to throw back at someone who would tear a werewolf apart with his bare hands."
"And once that security is down, I still won't have anything. That's why I'm asking for you to show me something that might save my life."
"Then let's get started."
Forty-five minutes later and I was no closer to actually reaching out to a spirit. I thought I'd managed it at one point. A coldness had settled inside me like before, but it vanished before I could use the technique that Sky had taught me, to use the energy of the spirit for my own needs.
A quarter of an hour after that, and I was watching fifty-six werewolves pile into five M35 cargo trucks. I didn't know where Matthew had appropriated them from, and quite frankly I probably didn't want to know, but they were probably slightly less inconspicuous for transporting large numbers of werewolves than having to use a fleet of cars. Only slightly though.
Of all the werewolves who turned up, maybe half of them had experience fighting outside of a pack environment, but all of them wanted to help rescue Tommy and Kasey. Besides, a werewolf with no battle training is still a giant killing machine, so I figured so long as they took care they should make it through whatever was going to happen with few casualties.
The massive engines of the trucks roared to life, and we were soon driving along the moonlight lit roads heading toward… hell, I didn't have a clue. War, probably. I sat in the back with Sky, Olivia, Gordon, Matthew and a couple more werewolves who were all, I hoped, prepared for whatever was going to happen.
In my experience, there are two ways that most people on their way to a conflict prepare. Firstly, there are the talkers; they joke and laugh and chat about anything and everything to keep their minds off whatever is going to happen. The second group are the quiet ones; they tend to find a comfortable spot in the transport, and read or sleep, or anything else that allows them to remain calm. I belong to the second group. I like to find a quiet corner and rest my eyes. I learnt a long time ago that if you have time in war to get some sleep, use it. The same goes with food and water. You never know when you're going to go a lengthy time without them, so I get them while I can.
I wasn't entirely asleep, though. It's hard to actually fall fully asleep while there are people around you making a lot of noise. Besides the last thing you want is to be in a deep sleep when someone attacks the transport, so I opened my eyes the moment someone tapped on my leg.
"Hello, Matthew," I said as the werewolf alpha sat opposite me.
"I have something for you."
He passed me a large bundle of cloth, which I unravelled and then stared at the contents. A sword that was roughly the length of my old Chinese Jian and a much smaller dagger that was about the size and shape of a Tanto, about a third the size of the longer sword. Both had black hilts with rope wrapped around them, in the style of a samurai sword. They were a combination of two different types of blade put together to create a very dangerous weapon.
"Where did you find these?" I asked.
"They were Elijah's," Matthew told me. "I appropriated them from his collection. They're made of carbon-steel, but they have silver in them, too. "
I unsheathed the smaller blade and noticed the small trace of blood on the edge of it.
"Let's just say that Elijah has been dealt with," Matthew said when he saw me glance at the blood. "Will they help tonight?"
I tested both in my hand, unsheathing them to get used to the excellent weight distribution, before tucking the dagger into the belt of my jeans and placing the sword across my lap.
"Thanks," I said. "Those are definitely going to come in handy."
"Just get Tommy and Kasey out of there safely," he said, then stood as the truck came to a halt. "And get yourself back in one piece, too. I'd hate to have to deal with a pissed off Sky."
I glanced over at Sky who smiled.
"You and me both," I said as I smiled back.
One of Matthew's wolves poked his head through the rear of the truck. "We're here," he said. "But this doesn't look good."
We all scrambled out of the truck as quickly as possible to witness the utter devastation of what used to be two thick, iron gates that barred the entry to the LOA compound beyond. The gates had been torn from their moorings, and the four guards who had been stationed in the two huts to either side of the entrance had been torn to pieces, their weapons still holstered.
"Ghouls did this," Sky said, as she glanced into one of the huts. "I'm sorry, Olivia."
"They were good men," Olivia said, her voice hard as steel.
I stepped over the ruined gates and stared up the driveway, which I knew ended at the LOA building. The open field behind the destroyed main gate was completely empty, both of the sniper huts had been destroyed, their remains scattered across the ground beneath where they'd once stood. Several large spotlights were lit up, illuminating everything in front of the massive LOA headquarters building.
"I don't see anything unusually suspicious," I said, and checked the time. "We've still got an hour before Reid is due to call."
"Speaking of him, you think he's in there, too?" Sky asked.
"If he isn't, we find him after," Olivia replied, as she climbed back into the truck.
"That is one very pissed off lady," Gordon whispered. "You think she'll be okay?"
"She's going to go through anything that gets in her way, so I'd say aiming her at those assholes in there is going to be cathartic for her."
"I almost feel sorry for them," he said absently.
I raised an eyebrow in question.
"I did say almost," he said with a smile "The bastards deserve whatever she decides to do with them. And I hope it hurts."
I glanced into the truck and found Olivia staring at the bare floor. She noticed me and wiped her eyes quickly.
I stepped up into the truck and sat beside her. "It won't be long before they're both back in your arms and you can take them home."
"I'm okay," she said softly, but I wondered if that would ever be true again.