I was forced to watch my brother and his tech wizard, from outside their secret room, because it was simply too tight to fit all of us.
"So I've been doing as you asked," Enzo was saying, his fingers typing away while his eyes never left the screen. "Did a full sweep on the name. Business domains, underground networks, even the dark web."
"And?" I asked, leaning against the shelf with my hands crossed.
"Well, there's only one thing that matches. Especially since it has to do with an Altican." Enzo said.
I immediately blasted into my brother's mind at full volume .You told him about the Alticans?
Joshua winced. Only what was essential. Ease up brother.
"I found a company, it's based in Jersey." Enzo continued, oblivious to banter that was going on next to him. "Goes by the name Thaw incorporated."
He clicked on a button and a logo appeared on the central monitor, one which I immediately recognised. The thawing drop of ice.
"The Alticans had that on their drapes," Joshua turned to me for backup.
"You're not crazy Josh. Still want us to talk to them though?" I asked, with a smile.
"That's not all. It's currently run by Catherine Hedge." Enzo clicked his button.
A corporate headshot popped up next to the logo. It was her, the brown hair, the sharp features, the same eyes. But in the photo, she was wearing a power suit and a professional smile, looking every bit the billionaire heiress.
"When was this photo taken?" I asked, my voice dropping.
Enzo's hands blurred on the keyboard. "Uhm... thirty minutes ago."
My breathing hitched. Beside me, Joshua ran a hand through his white hair, his face pale. "That's not right. That's impossible."
Enzo shook his head. "It's real. Source is the Jersey Business Summit, currently in session. She's hosting the keynote."
"Oh my days... How many of her are out there?" Joshua groaned.
"Who else is on that guest list, Enzo?" I asked, finally forcing my way into the cramped space. I ignored the smell of old pizza and sweat as I leaned over the boy's shoulder.
Enzo typed for a few seconds, and a long, scrolling list appeared. One name, and one name only, caught my attention.
"Luis Altican," Joshua whispered.
"That's it Joshua. We're going to Jersey." I said, already making my way out the basement.
"The summit ends in an hour and fifty minutes. You're not going to make it in time!!" Enzo yelled from his tech cave.
He was wrong. Enzo might know a lot of things, but he didn't know about the Fenris.
***
The highway blurred around us, as the Fenris shot forward like a bullet, New York fading behind us. This time we didn't have to worry about not moving too fast.
It was just me and my brother.
I angrily listened as the phone rang and went to voicemail for the fifth time.
"He's probably busy with Catherine." Joshua offered, his eyes on the road.
"This doesn't make sense Joshua." I grumbled, throwing the phone down in anger.
"I know…I know."
"How's there three of her?" I yelled, the question more to myself than to my brother.
"We'll find out what we need to know when we get to Jersey." Joshua said reassuringly. I sighed and closed my eyes. The picture of a giant frost tsunami rushing towards me was all I could see. And for some reason, it felt more inevitable than it had two days ago.
"We've got five minutes until we hit Jersey," Joshua said, his gaze flicking to me for a second. I nodded tiredly.
"Good."
"Now's the perfect time to tell me," he continued, returning his attention to the road as he pushed the Fenris even harder.
"To tell you what?" I asked, my mind already wandering back to the ruins of the apartment.
"Everything," Joshua stated, his tone leaving no room for evasion. "The countdown. Layla. Whatever is going on between you and Father. I'm not going into a lion's den with you holding back, Magnus. Talk."
"What happened to waiting until I was ready to talk?" I asked tiredly.
"Well." Joshua said with a chuckle. "Knowing you, I'd probably have to wait forever."
I sighed, and leaned my head against the window, watching the road blur past.
"I don't know where to begin."
"The dreams are a good start for me."
I nodded, giving in."I started seeing them two weeks ago, just after the Milan job."
"When you grabbed that weird statue?" Joshua asked, flicking a glance toward me. A stupid, knowing smile was already creeping back onto his face. He always did enjoy the "treasure hunt" aspect of our work more than I did.
I nodded in annoyance, remembering the stench of that town. Two weeks ago, Father had received word of a "demon" terrorizing a small industrial district where he held significant assets. We had been sent to stabilize the area. We had killed the thing easily enough, but in the ashes of its remains, we'd found that miniature Statue of Liberty. Ever since that day…
"And what happens in your dreams?"
I hurriedly told him everything, including Layla's visions, but kept father's mind wipe to myself.
After a minute of silence Joshua finally whistled. "You think it's himm" he asked, his voice deadly serious.
I knew who he was talking about. It was the same question I had asked my father when I told him about my dreams.
"Father says it's impossible," I replied, staring out at the approaching skyline. "Askarion has been silent as well."
"Askarion isn't going to say shit even if we were supposed to die tomorrow," Joshua said, his grip tightening on the steering wheel until the leather groaned. "All he cares about is his stupid 'Destiny Flow.' He'd watch us freeze solid if it meant the timeline stayed neat."
I laughed. It was a dry, hollow sound, but it felt good to hear someone else say it.
The Fenris slowed down to normal speed, and a skyline rose up before us. New Jersey.