CHAPTER 160: BLOOD

At the courtyard Claire Aguillon watched Tom with hungry fascination.

The giant man's casual displays of magic, enhanced strength and transmuted hands, represented something the Aguillon family had sought for generations. Their great-grandfather's dream made flesh.

Marcus noticed their glares but didn't give much attention. He needed to finish the portal and get back to his planet as soon as possible before anything else happened.

"You are in a good mood." Numan said while passing the welding machine.

They were in the courtyard of Hasan's house, trying to build the portal while Beau was away fetching the remaining parts. Marcus had transferred him the money that morning.

"Yeah Marcus... I mean my counterpart hit the jackpot and provided me with the money."

"Good. We can dive in fully then." Numan wiped sweat from his brow. "And I am assuming that is why Beau is away?"

"He volunteered to get the rest. And I have a little experience with welding and simple parts." Marcus winked. "I learned when I was crafting my rifle."

"Your what?" Numan asked.

But Tom intervened while carrying a huge package of metals across the courtyard. His muscles bulged but he moved as if the load weighed nothing.

"Where should I put this Marcus?"

"Tom stop showing off your powers. You are already drawing eyes." Marcus glanced toward the Aguillons. "Put it over there."

"You noticed that too?" Numan asked quietly.

Marcus took another glance at the Aguillon family's residence across the courtyard. Philippe stood in the shade watching. Claire had her phone out, recording something. Matthieu was nowhere to be seen.

"Yeah. Something is up with them."

"I know right."

"Keep this an absolute secret." Marcus said, lowering his voice. "But I shot their grandpa."

"What?"

"Their grandpa Victor Aguillon is the two-worlder taking over my world. Malachar."

"No way?" Numan got up from his crouching position. "How? He must be two hundred years old?"

"I had a mentor in Valdris. Master Thymon. He died at one hundred ninety. There are ways to prolong your life."

"Do they know?"

"No of course not. They think he died in Ephus trying to save the planet."

"And you shot him?"

"Yeah." Marcus's eyes grew distant with the memory. "I spent nearly a year working in a gun workshop. Together with asking around and testing I managed to make a weapon. Just simple tools and easy molds a crafty blacksmith can forge."

"Wow." Numan's eyes widened. "You are not just a bystander on that planet, huh? You are a real hero. I could be your sidekick." He finished with hope still in his voice.

Tom dropped another heavy box and arrived beside them. "Marcus I don't understand any of this. Can you give me your phone? I need to play my game. My Pikachu needs feeding or it will die."

Tom was completely addicted to simple games and dopamine-feeding videos. His simple mind, never trained to resist such things in Ephus, couldn't stop itself.

"Okay Tom." Marcus handed over his phone.

Numan glanced at Tom as the giant wandered off to play. "I can't be as useful as him. But I can be something."

"Numan bringing you there might break something in the cosmos. I can't take that risk. Also my other Marcus is in Chicago. Your grandpa will hold him responsible."

"I can leave a video message for him."

"I don't know Numan."

At that moment Philippe approached them. He was carrying two glasses of wine, his silver hair gleaming in the afternoon sun.

"You seemed to figure out quickly what to build." Philippe said with forced casualness.

"Yeah I found trails in old writings and I am trying to recreate what I saw at Malachar's lair."

"Good. I hope you will be successful." Philippe smiled, showing his stark white veneers. But his smile was so fake it could be seen from a mile away.

He turned to Tom who was absorbed in his game, tongue poking out in concentration.

"Your magic," Philippe said, approaching Tom with the wine. "How does it work? Is it in your blood?"

Tom didn't understand all his words but caught the interest in the man's eyes. He had seen that look before. People wanting what he had.

"Magic is... everywhere." Tom said in broken English. "I just... pull."

Philippe nodded, filing the information away. His eyes gleamed with something predatory. "If magic is biological it might be heritable. Our great-great-grandfather tried to bring magic to Earth and failed. But if we had access to actual magical genetics..."

Marcus stood and walked between Philippe and his cousin who was still playing games.

"You know what I noticed reading memoirs of two-worlders? At the time of Göbeklitepe I think humans had magic. But two-worlders at the time somehow reprogrammed the Earth seed. It changed our DNA, unlike Ephus, so we cannot be born with powers that can tap into Earth anymore."

"Good theory." Philippe pulled back his wine glass. "My grandpa had similar theories. He theorized that if Victor had a chance to come here like you, he would still have had his magical powers and would have changed the world."

"I am sure he would have." Marcus said. To make it bow to him, Marcus thought. Without powerhouses like Master Thymon he would have captured the planet in a century.

"I was thinking with the help of Tom we can resurrect magic in our world." Philippe suggested. His casual tone didn't match the intensity in his eyes.

"I don't think so." Marcus tried to cut the conversation before it went where he knew it was going.

"Why not?" Claire Aguillon joined the argument. She had appeared beside her father, phone still in hand.

"We are hopefully leaving in a very short time and can't spare his time."

"He can talk for himself. He's come further along with his English." Claire said.

"No. This bringing magic thing has to happen without us."

"Why not? We helped you so much. Why can't you help our planet? Life would be so magical with magic." Philippe's voice hardened slightly.

"My counterpart has your number. He will text you. Send him your bank account. He will pay you back." Marcus was getting angry now.

"Come on don't be like this. I didn't mean it like that." Philippe raised the wine glass. "We just need a little blood."

Marcus was now furious. "I knew you would go to that just like your...."

Numan stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"What do you mean?" Claire asked with a frown.

"Nothing. Please calm down everyone." Numan tried to calm the situation.

Tom was still unaware, looking in confusion. He couldn't follow the fast-paced argument.

Marcus walked outside trying to calm himself. His fists were clenched. His breathing heavy.

"Freaking seeds of Malachar," he muttered to himself. "They are all the same. I will recognize your ulterior motives from two miles away."

Beau's car pulled up while Marcus was trying to calm himself while talking to himself.

"Hi Marcus. I bought nearly everything. We're only waiting for the quartz." Beau noticed after he finished that Marcus was upset. His face was red. His posture rigid.

"What is it Marcus?"

"We have to hurry." Marcus's voice was strained. "I need to know if this is going to work or not. Or else I need to buy guns to protect my family. I am afraid."

Beau looked at him for a long moment. Then nodded.

"Let's get to work then."