It was a logical setup, but annoying as hell. One guard wore the magic-dampener, while the other carried the magic-sensing amulet, enchanted pistol, and other goodies. As long as they kept their distance from one another, they could cover the other’s vulnerabilities.

I’d broken one of those pearls before, back in Virginia. I did it faster this time, though it was no less painful. Once I’d torn the magic-suppressing field aside, I repeated the same hypnotrick I’d used on his partner.

Someone would eventually realize the amulet had gone dead, but I intended to be finished before that happened.

After what felt like hours, the truck pulled forward into New Millennium and drove slowly around curved roads until we reached Scot Tower, the admin building. The instant we stopped, Lena pushed the branches aside, opening a door from our cage. She lowered us to the ground and jumped after us, broken branches showering around her. We waited in the shadows beneath the truck as uniformed soldiers climbed from the back.

“Welcome to New Millennium, gentlemen.” The voice belonged to Russell Potts. I fought the urge to vaporize the man right then. “You’re here to bolster our own security staff. We want to be certain nothing happens to our guests from the United Nations. We’ve been advised of a potential insider attack.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong. I gritted my teeth and gathered up pebble-sized grains of sand while we listened.

“You should have been briefed on our facility and the abilities of our various enemies,” Potts continued. “You’ll be outfitted with additional equipment before beginning your rounds. On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, I want to personally thank you for your service.”

He led the men away, probably to receive their black pearls and enchanted handguns and whatever else Potts had decided they needed. Or more likely, he’d keep the pearls for himself and his chosen collaborators. If anger and outrage were what he was after, the murder of our National Guardsmen would be a bonus.

I crept to the edge of the truck to look around. Armed guards stood at the entrance of Scot Tower, one human and one sparkler. Barriers blocked several intersections. Soldiers patrolled in small groups along the edge of the roads. They’d turned New Millennium into a military base on lockdown.

‹I’ve made contact with Vince and Charles,› said Talulah. ‹They’re in research. They’ve got a security escort, and their access to New Millennium systems has been restricted to almost nothing.›

‹Give me a direct link to them?›

‹Done.›

‹Vince, Charles, this is Isaac. Has Talulah filled you in on the plan?›

‹Hell, yeah!› exclaimed Vince. ‹Nice to know you’re not dead, Boss!›