He sat now before a mirror, slowly peeling away the clothing that had burned itself to his skin. His metallic mask lay on a table beside him, its dented surface gleaming in the lights of his bedroom. If he had wished it, a dozen or more attendants would be at his beck and call, soothing all of his wounds. He had sent them all away, however, because at the moment he wanted solitude.

  Launching twin offensives against Thunder Jim Wade and Lazarus Gray had been audacious but he’d felt confident that he could wipe them both from the game board. Unfortunately, both had proved far more deadly than he’d anticipated.

  Mobius had risen through the ranks of The Illuminati, displaying a charming persona and a cold-blooded ability to dispatch his enemies. But he had always known the importance of maintaining an empire outside of the shadowy secret society: chairmen had been targeted for assassination throughout the group’s history and he’d always known that he might need to sneak away into the dim recesses of the world.

  The story of Leviathan had been floating about for years before Mobius had seized hold of it. Whether or not it had ever been based in fact was something that not even Mobius knew for sure. It had worked perfectly, however, as Mobius had expanded the idea of Leviathan into something even greater than the original myth. Hallucinogenic drugs, combined with the occult powers Mobius had mastered, allowed him to amass a huge fortune.

  And thanks to Richard Winthrop – or, as he liked to call himself now, Lazarus Gray – the Leviathan identity had become a vital necessity. Assistance Unlimited had uncovered a cache of information from one of The Illuminati’s Parisian bases8 and had used it to begin a series of strikes at Mobius and his allies. Within a year, The Illuminati had been broken into dozens of small factions, all squabbling for power. Mobius had vanished into the gloom, allowing others to pick at the carcass of the once-proud cult.

  Mobius had lost himself in the role of Leviathan. It had been good for a time but eventually Mobius realized that he was delaying the inevitable. Men like Lazarus Gray and Thunder Jim Wade would find out about him and they’d come with guns blazing.

  His plan to begin systematically eliminating his enemies had seemed so perfect in the planning phase but the execution had gone horribly awry. He hadn’t counted on facing either of them directly so soon and Thunder Jim Wade had nearly killed him. He’d escaped a fiery death only by throwing himself from the plane at the last second.

  A rather dangerous planes-walking spell had allowed him to escape into a small corner of Hades, from which he’d emerged into his home in Berlin.

  “You’re playing a dangerous game, Leviathan.”

  Mobius gritted his teeth in annoyance. Without turning from the mirror, he replied, “I thought I locked the door.”

  The young woman who moved to his side had shoulder-length red hair and freckles. Her cupid-bow lips and wide eyes gave her an innocent appearance that didn’t suit her nature at all. Wearing a tight-fitting emerald dress, she was like some male fantasy come to life. Her name was Alexa Kincaid and she was the closest thing to a confidante that Leviathan possessed. “You look like hell.”

  “The door?” he prompted.

  “You locked it. I picked it.”

  Mobius stood up and finished stripping out of his garments. His body was cracked and bleeding but he ignored the pain as he stepped into the bathroom and began running a bath. When the water was sufficiently warmed, he sat down in the tub and grimaced as his burned flesh sank beneath the waterline.

  Alexa stood watching him from the doorway. When he finally opened his eyes and looked at her, he saw that she wore an infuriating smirk. “Go ahead,” he hissed. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m thinking that if you’re serious about surviving as Leviathan, it’s time to stop just playing the part. It’s time to take the next step.” She sauntered into the room, crouching alongside the tub. “Thunder Jim Wade – alone – nearly killed you. How are you going to fare when he comes back, with both his aides and the members of Assistance Unlimited?”

  “No one else would dare speak to me the way you do,” Mobius said. “I’ve had men killed for much less.”

  Alexa’s impish smile grew wider. “You can’t kill me.”

  Mobius stared at her for a moment, his emotions twisted into knots. He had never taken this woman to his bed and probably never would, but he desired her in a way that he’d never felt before. But he was simultaneously revolted and disturbed.

  “I remember the night you came into my life,” he whispered. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

  Alexa reached out and brushed the hair from his forehead. “I wasn’t what you were expecting, was I?”

  “No. No, you weren’t.” Mobius had been desperate for something to hold onto. The Illuminati had been in disarray and he’d been reluctant at the time to admit that it was time to go, to dive into the shadows and recreate himself. One night, in a fit of drunken stupor, he’d drawn a pentagram on the floor of his apartment and performed a summoning spell. He’d had no real idea of who he hoped would answer his call but when the candles in his room had gone dark and a foul odor had assaulted his nostrils, he’d felt genuine fear and realized his mistake: One didn’t go casting about randomly in the realms of the spirit.

  He’d heard something moving in the darkness, skittering about like some massive spider. And then, on the edge of the pentagram, he’d seen her: Alexa, nude and dripping wet. Her supple skin was covered with flecks here and there of some sort of gelatinous substance that frightened him, despite him not knowing what it truly was.

  She’d smiled at him then, much as she was smiling now. “Hello, man of Earth,” she had said. “I am here to give you counsel.”

  It was that easy. He’d stepped out and embraced her, her body cold in his grasp. She’d aided him ever since, telling him the things that he needed to hear, whether or not he wanted to. Always, she remained aloof from him, however, never letting him touch her in any kind of intimate fashion. The closest to sex they’d come had been that first embrace… which Mobius knew had sealed some sort of awful pact between them. He refused to ask what she would eventually want in return for her assistance.

  Forcing himself to focus on the present, Mobius stood up and accepted a towel that Alex fetched for him. He gingerly toweled off his wounds and asked, “What did you mean by its time for the next step?”

  “You play with being a powerful, demonic figure, but you’re not. 99% of everything you do is trickery or minor magic that you’re drumming up as more than it is. But I can help you achieve your full potential.”

  “How?”

  Alexa leaned close, her lips almost brushing against his ear as she whispered, “Let me take you on a little trip. I promise that when it’s over, you’ll be everything you’ve ever claimed to be. Power, immortality and more will be yours to call upon.”

  “I have to confess, Alexa… that you frighten me at times.”

  “That’s because you’re human. Fear is something that’s innate to mortals. It comes with your short lifespan. Every moment, every second for you is fraught with peril. Miss even a few breaths and your body begins to seize up, adrenaline starts to flow. So much of your existence is wrapped up in the nuances of simply living and not giving in to the ever-present threat of death. I can free you from that.”

  Mobius stared into her eyes and he felt a stirring in his loins, as he always did when their proximity was so close. He leaned in to kiss her, lips already parted, but she put a finger up, pressing it hard against his mouth.

  “Not yet,” she said with a teasing tone. “I know what you want and I’ll give it to you… but not while you’re like this. Humans are disgusting.”

  “If we’re so horrible, then why are you here? You could have left this dimensional plane and gone back to your home, wherever that is.”

  “I think you have potential.” Alexa moved away from him. “If you’re tired of confronting your limitations, get dressed and come with me.”

  Mobius watched her leave, wondering what he should do. After a moment, he realized there was no choice but to do as she wished. Wade and Gray would be coming for him and they would eventually find his base, no matter where he chose to hide.

  He strode to the closet, where a fresh suit and an undented mask were waiting. It was time for the lie that was Leviathan to become real.

  Chapter IX

  Death Waits In Berlin

  Dawn on Thunder Island brought sobriety and painful hangovers. Red Argyle stumbled into the kitchen, clad in a frayed robe that was comfortable but not entirely presentable for company. Nevertheless, he proudly greeted Samantha Grace when she entered the room. She looked fresh as a daisy and Red unleashed his most charming smile in the hopes of stealing her gaze away from the robe.

  “Can I make you some eggs?”

  “That would be nice,” she said, hopping up on one of the barstools that lined a small bar. “How long have you worked with Mr. Wade?”

  “Don’t call him that.” Red laughed. “He’s Jim or Thunder Jim.”

  Samantha smiled. “Very well. How long have you worked with Jim?”

  “Sometimes it feels like forever,” Red said, avoiding the specifics of her question. He grabbed a couple of eggs and cracked them open. “He and Dirk are like my brothers. I’d die for either one of them.”

  “I feel the same way about my friends.”

  Red glanced over at her. “Is it weird being the only girl in the group?”

  “Not really. The boys were a bit overprotective at first but I’ve proved myself. We had another woman on the team for a little while, actually. But she’s… we don’t know where she is, to be honest.”

  “I’m sorry,” Red said and the sincerity in his voice made Samantha smile. He blushed in response and looked away. Dirk was the one who was good with the ladies, though Thunder Jim wasn’t too bad, either. Red always felt a little too big for his own body, like he was a clumsy ox locked in the china shop that was romance.

  Red had just begun scrambling the eggs when Lazarus Gray came down the hall. He was wearing the grim mask of determination that Red was already beginning to associate with him.

  “Eat quickly,” Lazarus said to both of them. “I’ve already talked to Thunder Jim and we’re going to be leaving in half an hour.”

  “Where are we going?” Samantha asked.

  “We have a lead on Leviathan. If we’re lucky, we’re going to put an end to this.”

  ***

  Less than an hour later, the entire forces of Thunder Jim Wade’s operation and Assistance Unlimited were crammed into the confines of The Thunderbug, which was soaring toward Europe. Lazarus Gray had stared at the marvelous craft in astonishment before boarding. He had inquired about its design but Wade had been evasive, obviously preferring to keep its secrets to himself.

  The fascination with the aircraft had faded quickly, however, as details about the group’s mission had been divulged.

  Morgan adjusted his tie and cleared his throat. As the oldest member of Assistance Unlimited, he frequently found himself being the spokesperson for Eun and Samantha. “Chief, can I be Frank for a second?”

  Lazarus gave a quick nod.

  “This is insane!” Morgan blurted out. “Going into Berlin – into the heart of the Nazi movement?! We have too many enemies over there!”

  “I share your concern,” Lazarus replied, his even tone betraying no such hesitation. “But if I’m right and this is Anthony Mobius that we’re facing, then he could be in one of two places in Berlin. He owns a home there and then there’s also the abandoned remains of The Illuminati. Once we’re in the city, we’ll split into two groups and examine each for clues. With luck, we’ll find him in one of those locations. If not we still might find useful information.”

  Samantha spoke up then. She was sitting with her legs crossed and her gloved hands folded atop them. She looked like she could have attending a society function, rather than discussing a life-or-death mission. “You boys see the newswire before we left?”

  “Didn’t get a chance to look at it,” Morgan answered. “Big news?”

  “Hitler gave a speech to the Reichstag last night. He withdrew the German signature from the Treaty of Versailles9.”

  “He’s a lunatic,” Morgan said with a shake of his head. “How can anybody support him?”

  “You remember what Jakob used to tell us,” Samantha said, referencing another of the team’s missing members. “He said that Hitler restored the German people’s pride. He gave work to the unemployed. People there were so desperate for hope that they’re willing to overlook a lot.”

  “And some of them share his views,” Eun said, the expression on his face making it clear what he thought about The Third Reich in general.

  “All that’s well and good but how are we going to get past the German authorities?” Dirk asked. “It’s not just you guys who’ve crossed paths with Nazis. Thunder Jim put a stop to one of their schemes just last fall. They’re scouring the globe, looking for occult artifacts.”

  Jim Wade shouted back from the cockpit. “The Thunderbug will get us into the city, don’t worry. Once we’re in, it’s just a matter of not drawing too much attention to ourselves.”

  Morgan grunted. “Yeah, we’re a bunch of wallflowers, this crew.” Glancing at Dirk, he said, “I don’t know about you guys, but we’ve never gone anywhere without somebody shooting at us and things getting blown up.”

  “Same here,” Dirk added with a chuckle. He leaned forward, running a hand through his blond hair. “Say, Samantha, wanna make sure we’re in the same group once we set down in Berlin? I think we’d work well together.”

  Samantha smiled, looking past him to Red, who was staring out the window. “I was thinking I should pair up with Red, actually.”

  Red turned quickly and it was hard to tell who wore a more shocked expression: Red or Dirk. Samantha turned away so they wouldn’t see her stifling a laugh.

  Morgan, very familiar with both the allure of Samantha and the frustration of the resulting chase, silently wished the best to the two men – they were going to need it.

  ***

  True to Thunder Jim Wade’s word, The Thunderbug was able to set down within the city limits of Berlin, seemingly without detection. The strange vessel landed in a clearing located within a park, having hidden its arrival behind a cloud of smoke. Wade further disguised the ship by retracting its wings and draping a camouflage sheet over the roof.

  “Here’s the plan, boys,” Thunder Jim Wade said, standing next to the ship and looking up into the cloudy skies over Berlin. “And lady, of course,” he amended, giving a country boy smile that soothed any hurt feelings that Samantha might have suffered. One of us needs to stay here with The Thunderbug – if it’s found, they need to take it airborne. No flight knowledge is needed since there’s an autopilot setting that will take it straight up and circle in the clouds until it receives a signal from me. Any volunteers for watch duty?”

  Wade felt a swell of pride for all the people standing in front of him. No one wanted to be left behind – they all wanted to be at the forefront of danger. “Okay, then. We’ll draw straws unless someone has a better idea.”

  Lazarus cleared his throat. “Morgan, I think it would be best if you stayed with the ship.”

  Morgan blinked in surprise. “Listen, Lazarus, if it’s because of the way I mouthed off back on the ship, I--”

  “There’s four of us in Assistance Unlimited and three from Wade’s group. It makes sense for one of us to remain with the ship. Eun’s fighting skills might be very useful and Samantha has a way of defusing situations if something goes awry--”

  “She has a way of blowing people’s heads off!” Morgan protested.

  Lazarus stepped closer and lowered his voice. “You’ve suffered several injuries over the last year that have left you more easily winded than before.” He patted Morgan’s shoulder. “Besides, if The Thunderbug is discovered, whoever’s here is going to be in a lot of danger. Would you rather have Eun or Samantha here by themselves?”

  Morgan sighed. He hated to admit it but the logic was impeccable. He wasn’t able to gallivant around with quite the same vigor that he once had – the Die Glocke affair had seen to that. “All right.”

  “Good man,” Lazarus said. He turned to the others. “We need to break into two teams. Wade and I will each lead one of them.”

  Within seconds, the groups took shape: Lazarus would take Dirk and Eun with him to the home of Anthony Mobius; Thunder Jim would oversee Red and Samantha as they explored the abandoned Illuminati base.

  Agreeing to keep in touch via the Assistance Unlimited radios that were standard issue for Gray’s assistants, the two squads split up, each eager to track down Leviathan.

  Morgan walked back onto The Thunderbug and closed the door behind him. He sat down heavily in the pilot’s seat, flipping on the radio. The state-owned station was blaring propaganda crafted by Josef Goebbels, who oversaw such things in the name of The Fuehrer. Morgan’s German was sketchy at best but he could pick up references to Hitler’s speech and to his announcement of a special alliance with their friends in Italy.

  Disgustedly, Morgan flipped the dial until he found a station that was playing classical music. At least there, he was free from The Fuehrer’s message of warfare and hate.

  Had he realized that he was listening to the work of Richard Wagner, he might have felt differently. Referred to as “The Master” by Adolph Hitler, Wagner’s music was everywhere in the Third Reich.

  ***

  “Creepy,” Red muttered, as the trio walked down the halls of The Illuminati’s former base. The place had been picked clean, leaving no sign of inhabitation. There was no furniture nor any decorations left to be seen. In fact, it looked like it had just been built and was fit for a king. Marble floors, ornate arches and gold piping on the trim were all signs of the fortune that had been spent to build the place and Samantha couldn’t help but be impressed.

 

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