“If you want to convince the leader of the Politic Bodywalkers to let you do this,” Bella said, “you better meet with him alone. There are too many people here who think the worst of you and will shoot you down before you can say boo about it.”

“I am aware of that,” Kamen said grimly. “But getting Jackson alone will not be an easy trick for me.”

“It would be for me,” Leo said. “He’s my best friend after all. If I ask him to meet me alone, he’ll come alone. Bella, you can stay here and work,” Leo said, indicating the mounds of books that had been brought into the library for her and Kamen to go through together.

She nodded and let them go. She crossed her fingers though. There were too many variables that made it a bad idea all around. But she had a feeling Kamen was going to convince Jackson…or die trying.

—

When Jackson entered Leo’s rooms, answering a summons to meet him alone, he was extremely curious. He was surprised to find Kamen there with Leo. As they laid out their plan and the reasoning behind it, Jackson found himself agreeing with them.

“So, you think it’s a good idea?” Leo asked, shocked it had been so easy. For Jackson to trust Kamenwati…well, they had barely let the man leave the property since he had defected.

“Actually, I think it’s a great idea—one a long time coming. Time is growing short, I think we all feel that. We have to convince these other Nightwalkers it’s in their best interest to join us. Who better than the man who created the problem and who understands it better than any of us?”

“Well, when you put it that way,” Kamen said wryly.

“It’s the truth isn’t it?”

“Very much so,” Kamen admitted readily. “I know where my responsibilities lie. I have all along. It’s why I came here in the first place. I am aware I have a lot to atone for…and not just this crime. Allow me to do it.”

“All right, you have a deal. But take one of the house cellphones with you and check in every couple of hours like clockwork. This way we’ll know if you’ve been wasted by the Wraiths as soon as possible and can start concocting a plan B. Actually, I think we’ll concoct one anyway, just in case you fail at any aspect of this.”

Kamen nodded in agreement.

Jackson continued. “So, we’re straight then? Start with the Wraiths…they’ll be the toughest and most deadly. Then you can go to Brazil and handle the Phoenixes. They’re the farthest away. Then, while you’re doing that, we’ll get in touch with Grey. Last I checked he had a Mystical Pegasus in his stable. Maybe she can point us to where the leader of her people is.”

“As I understand it, she is the leader of her people,” Leo said. “At least I think that’s what Grey said. Anyway, he went to a lot of trouble to rescue her from the Wraiths. She must be very important. That’s provided she can be persuaded to change out of her Mystical form and into that of a speaking being. I know Grey’s been trying to do exactly that but last I heard he wasn’t having much luck. She doesn’t seem to trust all that easily. Then again, would you if you’d been taken prisoner by the Wraiths? Grey’s been treating her like gold ever since he organized that rescue, so hopefully that will count for something.”

“Hopefully,” Jackson said, before turning back to Kamen. “Do you know how you’ll find the Phoenixes?”

“Their main colony is in Brazil, as you said, though no one really seems to know where,” Kamen said. “But I have a locator spell that should allow me streak right to them. Or reasonably close. It takes me to a place with a high content of power located in one area. It was often how we located your Politic cell houses.”

“Nice,” Jackson said. “I wondered how you were able to do that. It seemed no matter where we moved you still found us.”

“It only works for high concentrations of power. Phoenixes have a lot of power. I’m hoping that finding the colony will help lead me to the leaders.”

“It should. So far we’ve had no luck getting to them. You’ll have your work cut out for you.”

“I’m not afraid of a little work.”

“But you should be afraid of the Wraiths. They can phase right through you, wrap their hands around your heart and solidify, touching you from the inside out. Even without that, all it takes is a brush against your skin and you’re done for. That deathtouch of theirs…there’s no avoiding it.”

“I am aware of the risks, Leo, thank you.”

Leo frowned. “Just watch your back. Honestly, I don’t see you succeeding here. I kind of think it’s a death wish. But hey, you do what you feel you need to do. I’m not going to stop you on the off chance this crazy idea works. My wife is going to be on the front lines of this if and when it comes to an all-out battle. Her ability to shield and deflect is so powerful, it already hurt Apep once when she deflected his own power back on him. And so far it’s the only thing that has hurt him. I don’t see anyone else around here with the power of a god so we better come up with a game plan and fast.”

“This is the game plan. When we get everyone else on board then we’ll come up with the next stage. Meanwhile, I’m going to keep running our people through battle drills like we’ve been doing these past seven months. I want everyone battle ready,” Jackson said.

“I think we are battle ready. The trouble is coordinating our attack with the attacks of a group of people you can’t even see,” Leo said.

“That means depending on humans to relay between the two sides and frankly, I don’t want weak humans anywhere near that thing when it comes.”

“Hey!” Leo said, taking offense at his best friend’s words.

“You’re a mercenary, Leo, which makes you good against human targets. The best even. But Apep isn’t human. And if you think he is coming alone, you’re wrong. He won’t make that mistake twice. He’s going to bring followers, and a lot of them.”

“We’ll need more Nightwalkers if that’s the case,” Leo said. “And the main house is already packed to the brim.”

“We’ve got the two other houses on the property. They’re much smaller, but they’ll hold a few people. Leo, talk with the First Faction and see who else they can bring in. We’ll fill one of the houses with First Faction and the other with Second Faction. Here’s hoping we don’t confuse the hell out of each other in the process.”