Dahlia: A Novel of Dark Desire

Chapter Fourteen

The next morning she rose, gathered her barrack and proceeded to recount the events around the attacks. She left out only her connection to the journal and the session in which Macada's mind had been destroyed. Their faces became sober and serious as she recounted it all. When she opened the floor for questions Sabir stepped forward first.

"It seems hard to predict the enemy's moves. What's the plan?"

"It is indeed, Lieutenant Sabir. Watches will be doubled from here out and we'll be volunteering to help increase the watch at night. To keep you all rested, training will be minimal during this time and you are to catch up on rest during the day. I expect you all to stay alert during routine checks of the grounds. Take your nightly set up seriously by placing weapons in reach and be diligent about your shields. We've encountered psychic tactics already and I expect we'll see more. In that case I, and thus you, will be prime resources and likely targets."

"Be prepared to answer an immediate call to arms," she continued. "With a denser guard we are more likely to be alerted in time to respond. I will be expected to offer surveillance similar to the trap used to brand the first traitor. As it has become evident there are multiple enemies I must make it a more permanent monitor. That will take me most of the day. Lieutenant Sabir, you are to structure the guard shifts in the meantime and send someone to find out about coordinating to assist the watch at night. Then review preparatory measures and drill a night alert."

"Genji," she addressed her third ranked officer, "be prepared to have your tracking abilities called on."

Her barrack members bowed. She dismissed them and returned to her room to prepare to lay her trap.

The preparations were familiar and comfortable. When she'd first started training she'd adapted them from the standard rituals she'd been taught and had used them for almost any of work she did. As time had gone on and her skill had developed she'd had less need for them. She had progressed to the point that she could perform complex maneuvers in chaotic situations. When she had high-risk or difficult work that she needed to do though she would borrow strength, stability, and clarity from the preparation rituals.

First she renewed her perimeter, cleaning out any metaphorical cobwebs and strengthening the bond between the beeswax candles. Then she burnt sage to cleanse any lingering energies from the air and dressed herself simply in one of her loose, clean linen wraps. She removed all items from her work area except for her tools and she dusted. Finally she bolted the door, rubbed some of the ash from the sage onto her fingers to draw a focusing pattern on her chest and forehead. Then, she began.

The trap she created used the same mirror as before. The residual energy and resonance from the previous trap enhanced its ability to receive her energy and intent. This time the section of the labyrinth she drew would be larger and contain additional traps within. This trap would scan and capture memories and thoughts, but she could also use it to capture minds.

As she fed energy into the construct her mind entered the maze. She roamed the twists and turns, keeping track of where she was effortlessly. As she went she added enhancements: traps within the trap, illusions to befuddle, and bindings to slow down any attempt to thwart her ensnarement. At last she came to the exit. She went out then turned to face it. She began to draw up energy and fed it into a recreation of the wall she'd seen in Macada's mind. She put her own signature on it as she built. Instead of the spikes she built in pressure bombs that targeted only the one attempting to dismantle it. Instead of the sickly green quality the other had possessed hers took on a flat black that would suck anything that touched it inside. She then created a version of the concealment she'd seen. Anyone looking for her exit would slide their eyes over it.

She set two triggers, one to scan for a combination of thoughts relating to the missing researcher, a surety of how he'd gone missing, and disloyalty to the force. If it located one it would scan the mind for the others and snap if it found all three. The second trigger she placed in her own mind. She would have to be near enough to the person to use it but the effect would be potent. She would be able to pull their conscious mind into her trap and hold it there.