Page 36 of Truth
“There’s more. She was in charge of selecting who would die in the gas chambers or be transferred to Uckermark.” Oak added.
“Still, I don’t understand.” Ellis replied.
“If she worked for the Nazis and was in charge of transferring and killing people, those who she transferred might have been those she wanted to keep alive for the future. If I had to guess, I would conclude that the camp location would either be near or directly under Uckermark. It’s an excellent cover up for her real motives. According to this, she was hung for her crimes.”
“She’s dead, then?” Justice summarized.
“You and I both know that death doesn’t stop people like her.” Oak pointed out as he enlarged an image, pointing it directly at Justice.
Justice blinked a few times and even from where I sat, I could hear his heart beating rapidly. “That’s her. Though she appeared younger when I met her. If that was even possible.”
His hands were shaking as he viewed images of the woman he trusted and trapped him for a full human-length lifetime, “She takes the youth of others, that’s how.”
“Look up Uckermark.” Lenin demanded.
Oak looked down at the tablet as he read, “It was a camp for the women.”
“A great deal of the paranormal are females.” I reminded them.
“You think that they are there, underground? Under the ruins of the horrid camp?” Ellis asked, “what about the others? Any idea on their locations?”
“I guarantee you will find people behind the heads of Mount Rushmore.” Michelle's voice cut in.
“And the other location? Where is it?” Liberty asked, her head cocking to the side.
Oak’s entire body turned, his muscles taut as he delivered the news, “Behind the Lion of Lucerne.”
“That’s –“
I cut her off, “Switzerland.”
Her necklace pulsed when the words were spoken, illuminating the room with an unnatural light. “Then we go there first.”
Chapter 17
LIBERTY
It tookan additional two weeks before Lenin thought I was strong enough to use my powers. He was right. Over time it got easier. Harder in some ways, but the flow became second nature. I no longer had to pull from the energy outside of me. It now flowed toward me with the tiniest of calls and wrapped around my body like a second skin. It made me feel alive, made my skin tingle and my body hum, and although I was just a human – well, sort of – the feeling felt right. Natural. Like maybe this was my calling.
Oak and I worked together seamlessly, and if Michelle was the fire to my ice, Oak was the other half of my power well. I could draw from him, balance using him, absorb his energy as flawless as if it were my own. He could ground me, pull me back from over exertion, force me to sever the connection of energy if things got out of hand.
Lenin knew a lot more about magic than both of us and watching him demonstrate and teach was a treat in itself. He was powerful in the most unique way. He didn’t have to ask the energy to come to him, it nearly begged him to be in his presence. It sought him. It clawed its way towards him. And he used it like a masterpiece. An art so beautiful it stole my breath and made my heart race.
“We leave tomorrow. I think you are ready.” Lenin said as he brought out a tray of tea and a snack for Oak and me.
“I hope so. I don’t think we could ignore the world around us for much longer.” I replied as I grabbed a cracker and added a cheese slice. What I didn’t say was that I was afraid. Not just for my men and this mission we were about to embark on, because I know they are strong enough to make it to the other side, but for myself, because although I was strong, I knew I was also their weakest link. I felt my body changing, becoming more sensitive, the desire to curl up into a ball in the center of bodies becoming more intense and I knew the men could sense it. I knew that they knew what none of us were willing to voice, that the time was closing in and we needed to do this before it was too late. Before I was held up with need, begging them to satisfy me.
“I have felt many pushes against our wards and I suspect that Greta is waiting for us to leave so that she can attack.” Lenin added.
“I’m not shocked. She’s never attacked us at the manor before, but maybe that was because of the wards James already had in place?” Oak spoke as he grabbed a grape and popped it into his mouth, “The moment we leave, we need to all be on guard.”
“We should always be on guard, even within the manor.” Lenin grabbed his own cracker and took a bite, “You never know when she will break the wards. I am strong, the strongest among my people, but it would be foolish to assume that there is not someone stronger than me in this world.”
“Is there anything else I need to do to prepare before we go? Like light a candle? Do a dance? Spin naked under the moon?” I sipped my tea, nearly moaning. It wasn’t coffee, but there was something about the tea Lenin made that made my senses spark with happiness.
“Why would you spin naked under the moon?” A look of confusion was plastered across Lenin’s already too serious face, “Is that a mating dance for your culture? Do you wish to mate beforehand? Because I do not think you need to search for more mates, they will find you if the fates decide.” He paused, “And I think that if you only wish to copulate, then you do not need a dance.”
I tried not to laugh at his seriousness. “Was that a compliment, Lenin?”