Chapter 10: On the Chancellor’s Secret Service - Part III

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Egad’s Castle

Later…

Everyone drove onto the castle’s grounds, getting out of the vehicles and going inside. Everyone was floored from the news that Cailus was alive and well. Though everyone had one question: How?

The coven were already throwing around possible ideas.

“Could the body that Cailus used in the attack on the train have been an android?” Jet asked.

“If so, it would have to possess the ability to hold and channel magicka and chi. In order to do that, it would need to have some sort of vessel to retain the magicka, such as a power gem. If it was an android with such capabilities, any of the magic users would have been able to sense it. Power gems give off a different wavelength than actual magic users.”

“So if it wasn’t an android, I can only think of one way Cailus could have survived.” Mick said. “Cailus must have had a clone body on standby, ready to take his place upon his demise.”

“But how could the clone be able to have the memories of the original?” Zarch asked, puzzled.

“Cailus must have had a transmitter implant in his body when he was KO’ed.” Mick explained. “The transmitter all the time was copying all of his memories and brain patterns to a computer, which was hooked up to the clone’s brain in some way. When Cailus died, the computer copied all the memories and patterns of the original to the clone, therefore transmitting Cailus’s consciousness from his old body to the clone, therefore allowing him to literally cheat death.”

Zarch shook his head, rubbing a temple with one hand. “Science and it’s mysteries never cease to make my head ache…”

After the van parked alongside Mick’s El Nino and Flond’s DB-32, everyone went to the Citadel Room as they continued to join the dots on how Cailus had come back from the dead, not to mention how he managed to rebuild a weapons industry empire under their noses.

“It just doesn’t make sense how we could have missed that.” Xen griped. “Building a weapons empire rapidly from scratch isn’t something that goes unnoticed in the news…”

“I know. We need to look into this asap.” Mick said.

A robo-guard then walked up to them. “A thousand pardons, Master Egad. But someone has just pulled up to the castle gates, asking to speak with you, Damion, and Gareth.”

Egad’s ears raised up. He had a bad feeling in his gut. “Did they say who they were?”

“The female identified herself as Sheila Brightstone.” The guard answered.

Gareth and Damion could not suppress a shiver upon hearing the name. Egad noticed at once.

“Gareth, Damion… Do you know this woman?”

Damion and Gareth nodded, as Damion explained. “When Cailus had me under the influence of his control chip, he forced me to arrange a betrothed marriage with her and Gareth. The Brightstones are also a very connected political family, which is why Cailus wanted it arranged. After the incident where Gareth and Eli were caught by me and Cailus, the marriage was called off, and Cailus forced me to exile and disown Gareth. That’s how he ended up on Sepharth with Bishop.”

Eli looked at Damion, wide-eyed. “Wait… You mean that my dream wasn’t just a dream, it was…?”

Damion nodded, a guilty look on his face. “Yes, Eli… That was not just a dream. It was one of your lost memories. You and Gareth were a couple back then, keeping it secret from everyone else. I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can say that will fix that…”

Eli shushed Damion, bringing him into a comforting hug. “Damion, it wasn’t your fault. Cailus had you under the control of that chip. Don’t blame yourself. I’m just happy that I’m alive now, with all of you.”

Damion shakily returned the hug, a few tears falling from his eyes, then he got control of himself. “We had better figure out why Sheila is here, and what she wants.”

“I suggest airing on the side of caution.” Flond recommended. “Shiela and her family have made recent purchases and business deals with C.A.I. Industries, so be mindful.”

# # #

Shiela drove her Ferrari into the castle grounds, parking in the designated parking area. Ryan Foxmoore, aka Egad Nob came out to meet her with Gareth, Damion, Eli, Bishop, and Tommy. Shiela already knew who they were. After all, Cailus had sent her some info and pictures from some stealth camera drones from when Egad and his coven had gone on their recent trips, including the one to Ganjour Loch.

Shiela saw a few people standing at the main doors to the castle. It was Mick Daniels, accompanied by Symon, Galen, Uniko, Zhal, Chaos, Hatred, Zarch, and a black panther dressed in a white dress shirt and tan slacks with a red tie. Sheila wasn’t stupid: Cailus had also briefed her on the possible involvement of the GCOC Secret Service, and she knew of Mr. Johnathan Flond’s exploits through classified files that her father, Mitchell Wolfengar Brightstone had in his possession. Being a daughter of a GCOC councilman did have its perks, after all.

“Ms. Brightstone, I presume?” Egad greeted, holding out his hand in a courteous gentleman way.

“Yes. Mr. Foxmoore?” Shiela asked, letting Egad take her hand. Egad gave the back of it a quick kiss, and nodded.

“What brings you out here?” Egad asked politely.

Shiela turned to Gareth. “Catching up with an old friend.” She crooned. Gareth had to struggle to suppress a shiver of disgust while keeping a straight face at the same time.

“So, you know Gareth, then?” Egad asked.

“Quite so.” Shiela said. “We go way back.” She then walked up to Gareth. “I like your outfit. Very causal, and cute as well. It shows off a lot of your… Definition.” Sheila ran a hand lightly and slowly over Gareth’s chest and stomach, who kept still. Irritation shined in Gareth’s eyes, as he forced himself to keep a straight face.

Bishop kept himself in check, but his eyes shined with murderous intent and rage upon Shiela’s provocative move.

(I swear, by the Creed, if she does anything to hurt Gareth, I will snap her in two if Master gives me permission!) Bishop thought.

Tommy, unfortunately, picked up on Bishop’s thoughts. (Just try to stay calm, and keep your cool, dad.) Tommy said in his mind, sending his thoughts to Bishop as he took a glance at him. (I know the creepy wolf lady is making you mad by touching pappa, but if you do try to hurt her here and now, it will only look bad on Master.)

Bishop reigned in his aggression. (I won’t do anything to hurt her… Yet. I will let her make the first move. She’s obviously nothing more than a ploy for Cailus.)

(You really think so?) Tommy asked via thought, looking at Bishop.

Bishop patted Tommy lightly on the shoulder. (As the old saying goes, “No game of Chess can be won without pawns,” and from what Cailus has shown, this may prove to be a very long game...)

“Is there something about me that has caught your attention, Shiela?” Gareth asked politely, causing Shiela to withdraw her hand.

“You’ve been working out.” Sheila replied. “Your arms, your legs, your entire body has much more muscle and definition than when I last saw you… You must have toughened up quite a bit over the years. We were just teenagers back then… How time flies.” She then turned to Eli. “It’s also been a while since I’ve seen you around, Eli. Didn’t you get shot, or something? I remember seeing something about it on the news.”

“I got better.” Eli replied simply, keeping his temperance.

“Quite so.” Shiela agreed. She then turned to Gareth again. “Well, it looks like we will have to catch up some time later, Gareth.” She slipped a small card into his hand. “I’ll see you later, handsome.”

Sheila then walked off to her Ferrari, got in, and drove off slowly, leaving the grounds.

Once Shiela’s Ferrari crossed the drawbridge and retracted, Gareth flashed a glare filled with bared teeth. “She was only making pleasantries and showing manners out of necessity, Master. Shiela has always been a deviant, a con, and a manipulator. The only reason she agreed to the betrothal back then was in order to try and gain access to my family’s funds. She’s no doubt up to something.”

“Indeed.” Egad agreed, not fooled by Shiela’s act. “I saw right through her facade as if it was a glass pane. She’s clearly a proverbial cobra, only working this to her advantage. Cailus must have made her quite the offer. May I see that card she handed you?”

Gareth handed the card to Cailus. It was a simple blank business card, with Shiela’s name, and a number written on it with an address.

“I hope you now realize why the Secret Service has assigned me to protect you, Mr. Foxmoore?” Flond asked as everyone went back inside.

“Indeed, quite.” Egad agreed. “We have much to discuss when your boss, M gets here.”