Chapter 38

I couldn’t decide between doubt and elation. My sense was at war with my heart. Albert was dead, wasn’t he? Then again, they only thought that because he’d vanished in the Spratlys, just like me.

“What, no hand up? I thought you’d be happy to see me!” Despite his reproachful tone, he smiled warmly at me as he rose to his feet.

He stood half a head taller than me, and unlike Zack, he’d never quite filled in. His red locks were wild, like always, and he had the same freckles under his eyes that I saw in the mirror. The beard was new, but there was no mistaking it; my brother was back.

But why here? Why now? This has to be a trick, but it’s darn convincing.

“Rose? What’s the matter, orc got your tongue?”

I stayed quiet, not trusting what I’d say. Everything in me wanted to rush over and embrace him, but I’d seen too many magical disguises to believe my eyes or ears. Disguise fabricata fooled the viewer into seeing or hearing what was programmed into it, but it would never be perfect. There was always a flawed angle, like a glitching video game, or a mismatch when the wearer was the wrong height. I tilted my head and slowly circled him, looking for the flaw that would expose the ruse. He was filthy, and the old jumpsuit looked like what I’d worn in Haven, though in rougher shape.

His face fell, the look of betrayal wounding me. “Rose? Come on, sis, you’re scaring me.”

“What are you doing here, Albert?”

“Same as you, I imagine,” he said, flashing me a cocksure grin that was all too familiar. “My plane went down in the middle of a storm I couldn’t do anything about, and I’ve been stuck here ever since.”

“Where? I’ve been here a month, how have I never seen you?”

“I’d ask you the same question,” he said. “I can’t believe my little sister’s all the way out here. Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“Albert I…” I couldn’t resist anymore. Even if it was a disguise, nobody else could match every little detail of his body language and facial expressions. I rushed in, embracing him wholeheartedly. “We thought you were gone.”

“Well, I was,” he said, his smarm making me want to hug and strangle him all at once. “I get what you mean, though.”

His arms wrapped around me, and for a moment, I felt like I was back at home again. “Why are you in the Master’s lab?”

“To repeat myself, same as you, I imagine. I heard my mate Zack was getting hauled in, and I wasn’t going to stand for that.” He took me by the shoulders, breaking off our reunion. “Now’s not the time for that. We need to get him out of here.”

“Virgil, too,” I said.

He scrunched his nose like he’d smelled something foul. “What, you want me to help a devil?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but he rescued me.” I decided to leave out the favor I owed him, since Albert didn’t have any warmer feelings for devils than me or Zack. “I tried to take off those helmets, but they’re boobytrapped.” Breaking away from him, I went over and severed their leather bonds. “No sense leaving them tied down, though.”

“Those helmets are tricky; we won’t be removing them without the right key.” Albert scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Bloody heck, I can’t wait until I can get a proper shave; this thing’s so itchy!”

I caught something out of the corner of my eye and cursed internally.

“Well, the Master isn’t here,” I said. “He isn’t in either of the villages either. If anyone can free them from those helmets, it’s him.”

“Agreed,” said Albert. “We’ll have to come back for them later, unless you feel like carrying Zack.”

“Right, this is going to be hard enough,” I said, the beginnings of butterflies in my stomach.

“I bet I know where he’s hiding at.” He reached out his hand for mine. “Come on, sis. Let’s go show them what we Coopers are made of.”

“You lead the way,” I said, retrieving my sword. I’d need it soon enough. “You’ve been here longer than me.”

“Righto,” he said.

The second “Albert” had his back to me, I twisted my fingers into a casting position. “Magic Bludgeon!”

The blue block of magical energy slammed into his back, sending him bowling over and slamming into one of the workbenches face first. A rain of tools and half-made fabricata fell upon him, and I winced in sympathy. I had pulled my punch more than when I’d used it to break down doors, but not by much.

He whirled round, blood flowing freely from his nose. “What the hell?” demanded the imposter in a nasal voice that stabbed at my heart.

I didn’t let up, though. “Spectral Web!” I poured on the energy, making sure he couldn’t so much as twitch a finger. The spell wouldn’t last too long, but I didn’t need much time. “To Me!” With a pull of magic, the sword returned to my hand. “Alright, you faker, where is the real Albert?”

“The hell are you talking about? I’m right here! You’ve gone mental!”

I shook my head. “You thought I wouldn’t notice one of those coffins was wide open?” I pointed to where the wooden lid lay a good body’s length from where it started. “You didn’t even try to hide it!”

“That’s a hell of a conclusion to jump to! I’m trapped here, just like you! I could hear your voice. I just barely was able to escape, but knowing you were there gave me the strength!”

“Bollocks,” I said. “Who would have told you Zack was here? Plus, you knew Virgil was a devil.”

“Context clues!”

“Maybe, but you’re acting off. If you had just escaped, you’d have bragged about it when I asked where you’d been.” Despite it all, I couldn’t help but smirk. “I’m Albert’s little sister. I know how he thinks.”

He winced. “Seems like you have it all figured out.”

“Then get talking.” I leveled my sword at him. I only had a few more minutes before the thick blue energy rope dissipated. “Where is he?”

“Right here,” he said.

“You don’t have time to waste on lies,” I said, drawing closer.

He shrugged, or at least tried to; I had him pretty well tied up. “I’m telling the truth, but I’m happy to answer as many times as you like.”

“Fine, be that way,” I said. “Where’s the Master?”

Albert’s face cracked into a feral, toothy grin, the first time he didn’t seem like my brother. “He’s here, there, everywhere. He gets around, and that’s the truth, too.”

I almost kicked him, but I held back. I’d only get my foot caught in the sticky mass around his body. “I have magical energy for days, you imposter. I can keep making Spectral Webs until you start talking sense.”

He shook his head. “Nah, you’re not going to have time for that. Though, you aren’t asking the real question.”

“What’s that?”

“Why didn’t I make any noise getting out of that big heavy storage chamber? That’s actually thanks to your spy buddy, Lieutenant O’Connor.”

A dozen questions came to mind, but the first one to reach my mouth was, “He’s here? Where?”

“Closer than you think,” came a familiar voice from behind.