by Ken Lange
The air was still, thick, and hot. The stench of death hung all about the house as if it were seeping out of every broken and battered board. As I stepped closer, the little hairs on my arms and neck stood on end. I pulled the gladius from the bag, pounded on the door, and waited like an idiot for something to happen. Nothing did. The hilt of the gladius became uncomfortably cold when I turned the knob, though, and with a push, I let the door swing open on its own.
The place was a mess and stank of feces, death, and vomit. Slowly moving inside, I allowed my eyes to adjust to the gloom, and my uneasy feeling about the place ramped up into something otherworldly. Cautiously, I cleared the first room before proceeding.
When I stepped into the kitchen, a shiver ran up my spine. Instinct forced my eyes up, where something shimmered into view and dropped with claws outstretched. Diving to the side, I slashed out with the gladius. There was a hiss like steam as the blade bit into flesh, followed by the unearthly howl of a deranged beast.
I scrambled to my feet and got my first good look at the thing. It was a filthy, twisted version of a woman, with razor-sharp talons on both her bony fingers and elongated feet, sharp pointed teeth, feathers for hair, and a hard, beaklike mouth. One of her golden eyes was missing, and there was a long, jagged scar across her throat.
Kur whispered in my mind, “This pitiful creature is all that remains of a harpy.”
Her movements were slow. I’d managed to cut through several muscles on her right thigh, and thick black blood ran down her leg as she stood defiantly between me and the final room. She swiped out with her overly long arms, her claws narrowly missing me. I kicked her in the chest, deflecting another blow with the gladius and nearly slicing one of her hands off in the process.
Stepping back, I held my right hand out. “I don’t want to kill you, but if you continue, I’ll have no choice.”
Her one good eye fixed on the blade, and she charged. Lifting the gladius, I caught her full in the throat, the force of her weight pushing the point through her neck and out the other side. For the briefest of moments, a smile found its way onto her face…then death took her.
I gave the blade a hard jerk to one side, freeing it from the harpy’s neck and decapitating her as her corpse hit the floor with a splat and a thud. I checked the room for anything else, and…nothing. Approaching the final room, I found it padlocked shut. My patience for this shit at an end, I slammed my boot against the door, and it splintered open.
I discovered the source of the smell. A small man lay slumped over a desk, and it was clear he’d been dead for a while. When I moved the bloated body aside, the thick chain around his leg rattled, and the stench made me gag. He was leaking onto the papers on the desk, but it was easy to see that they were blueprints. For what, I didn’t know. I snapped several photos before dialing Alexander’s number, which was quickly becoming a habit.
He answered on the first ring. “Good evening, Gavin.”
“Evening,” I replied. “I’m in need of your services again.”
There was the sound of a door closing before he answered. “Okay, tell me how I can help.”
It took several minutes to fill him in on where I was and what was going on. He seemed surprised, for the most part, and flat out didn’t believe I’d encountered a harpy within the city limits, since they weren’t known for being city folk, or even indoor folk. Personally, I was starting to think she’d been just as much of a prisoner as the man. Alexander agreed to bring a few guys out to secure the scene and clean up the bodies. This was one of those times where ignorance was bliss because I didn’t want to know how they disposed of them.
Sifting through the wreckage of the room, I uncovered several drawings of the dagger that the shapeshifter had used at the wedding. I would’ve bet good money that the dead man was the missing enchanter, Aaron Lopez. I took the diagrams of the dagger and folded them up, stashing them in my bag.
Digging through the papers that weren’t stuck together with human fluids, I didn’t find any other weapon designs, which could mean he’d only made the one. Then again, maybe this was the prototype and they’d made a ton of others. God only knew at this point.
Thirty minutes later, Alexander showed up with half a dozen clan members. He stepped inside, and I guided him through to the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks, stunned to see exactly what I’d described lying dead on the kitchen floor.
He shook his head in disbelief. “Goddamn. You’ve had a real interesting first few weeks on the job. First Marcus, and now a harpy. Jesus Christ, you like your prey on the lethal side.”
All I could do was muster a weak smile and nod. “I don’t go looking for fights.”
He couldn’t take his eyes off the fallen creature. “Maybe not, but you sure as hell finish them.”
Waving him back to the last room, I showed him what I’d found. “I’m betting this is the missing enchanter Martha was looking for.” Pulling out the blueprints, I let Alexander look them over. “I’m not sure what these belong to.”
He studied them for several minutes before looking up at me. “Appears to be an old set of prints of Charity Hospital.”
The name didn’t sound familiar, but then again, I was new to the city. “Never heard of the place.”
His smile was bitter when he caught my eye. “Not surprising since it closed after Katrina ten years ago.”
“There ya go.” I shook my head in frustration. “Fat lot of good that’ll do anyone.”
He nodded. “Want me to send someone to check the place out?”
“I’d rather you didn’t. If anyone’s there, I want first crack at them.”
Alexander glanced back at the kitchen. “You’ve got a knack for making a hell of an impression.” He sighed. “You going back to Andrew’s?”
“Probably.”
“Good. I’ll catch up with you there when I’m done here.”
I got into the car, turned the key, and drove home.
Chapter 29
Tuesday June 9th
Rousing myself from bed, I glanced at the clock: 4:30 a.m. I’d spent the majority of last night going over blueprints for Charity Hospital. Much to my displeasure, it was a massive complex. The one good thing about the evening was that I’d turned in at a decent hour, rested well, and hadn’t had any freaky dreams.
I picked up my tablet and clicked through the Wikipedia page for Charity Hospital. The place had gotten its start in 1736, making it the second oldest in the nation. It had gone through several incarnations, the sixth and final being in 1939, with 2,680 beds making it the second largest at the time. From the sound of things, they were all about being second to everyone else.
Katrina had inflicted heavy damage on the hospital in 2005, and it had never reopened. The presence of Tulane Hospital, practically across the street, would make it tough for anyone to just walk in and take over a section of the abandoned monument without discovery. Then again, stranger things had happened.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have access to real time satellite feeds or even basic intelligence on the place. What I did have was a bunch of notes, some blueprints, and a ton of ground to cover. Basically, blind as a bat who’d lost its voice.
After a quick shower, I got dressed, headed for the kitchen, and found it overly crowded. Heather, Kimberly, and Andrew were sitting at the table, while Isidore prepared sausage, eggs, and toast for breakfast.
Isidore glanced over his shoulder and thumbed at the table. “Find a place to sit, and I’ll bring you something shortly.” He flashed me an evil grin and looked back at the pan. “Hope you like scrambled eggs.”
Someone was full of themselves this morning…the joke was on him, though. Let’s face it, going to find an evil bastard who could summon spirits from beyond the veil was shitty. Scrambled eggs, not so much.
While I wasn’t sure who, someone had stocked the kitchen with several metal folding chairs, which made for a tight fit. Andrew scooted to one side, allowing me to move my seat between him
and Heather. I caught the sly smirk on his face as he and Kimberly exchanged knowing glances. Great. Now they were playing matchmaker. That was the last thing on my mind at the moment.
Isidore broke the scowl I shot Andrew when he leaned over to serve me a plate with two fried eggs, three sausages, and a couple of strips of bacon for good measure. When I glanced up at him, he waved with a flourish at the plate. I mumbled my thanks, and he turned to finish breakfast.
Thankfully, the others were busy talking amongst themselves, leaving me to eat my feast in peace. Well, most of them anyway… Heather was noticeably quiet. Every now and then, she’d catch my eye before glancing between Andrew and her mother. Kimberly and Andrew couldn’t have been more obvious about their intentions without taking out a full-page ad announcing our engagement.
When I finished, Andrew put aside his attempts at matchmaking and steered the conversation into a fishing expedition. “So, what’s on the agenda for the day?” He paused. “Anything I can help with?”
Trying to sound disinterested, I said, “I’ve got a couple of boring errands to run. If you really want to help, you could check the local DMV and see what I need to do to get a driver’s license.” I softened my tone. “I know this is hard for you, but you running around out there only gives Walter a target. Besides, leg work rarely produces anything interesting.”
Andrew scowled. His voice loaded with sarcasm, he said, “If that’s what you call your visit to the Bywater or even the river, then yes, by all means, don’t bore me.”
I did my best to play it off. “That’s a little unfair…you can’t watch a football team’s highlight reel and see all the hard work that got them there.” Crossing my arms, I did my best to appear offended. “Those incidents are the exceptions to the rule. Most of my time is spent pouring over paperwork, stopping at libraries, and generally spinning my wheels. But if anything important turns up, I’ll tell you.”
Andrew cocked his head to the side. “What about Charity?”
Goddamn Alexander.
I huffed and grabbed a piece of bacon. “What about it?”
Andrew wasn’t deterred. “It’s a massive place. It would be difficult for anyone to search it thoroughly on their own.” He gave me one of those casual shrugs, like he was doing me a favor with his next words. “If you wanted an extra set of hands, I’ve got plenty of time.”
He had to go and fight with logic. What an ass. “While I appreciate the offer, I couldn’t possibly let you go anywhere near that place. On the off-chance Walter’s there, it would be the equivalent of walking you straight into the hangman’s noose.”
Isidore cut in, anger rippling through his words. “You aren’t going. Give it up already.”
Andrew shoved his dish into the sink hard, breaking it. “I’m not a helpless old man. I can handle myself.”
This whole dealing-with-family thing was far more difficult than I remembered. I hated telling him no, but it had to be done. Holding my hands up in surrender, I sighed. “I never meant to imply that you were, but if you’re out there, it would make what I have to do that much harder.”
The fight left him, and his body sagged. “All right, but if you need me, promise you’ll call.”
Putting a steady hand on his shoulder, I said, “I will.”
Andrew reached over and patted my hand. “I suppose that’s the best I can hope for.”
“For now, I suppose it is.”
With that, I was out the door and back into the blissfully quiet hallway. I had no immediate plans to visit the abandoned hospital. If necromancers were strongest at night, the sun being at its pinnacle should negate some of their power. And then again, it might not do shit, but it would provide me with enough natural light to search the place without too much trouble.
I turned around and stuck my head through the kitchen door. “Andrew, there is one thing you could do for me today.”
His eyes lit up and he stood a little straighter. “And what’s that?”
Damn, he was getting his hopes up. “I’m going to need George’s services for a special project.”
Andrew’s face fell, his expectations dashed. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Any specifics I can give him?”
My cheeks flushed, and I found myself unconsciously tugging at my shirt. “It appears I’m hard on clothes. So, I was thinking he could design a uniform and perhaps some work-specific gear.”
Kimberly gawked at me. “A uniform? Why?”
I shrugged. “If I had one, I could destroy that instead of my street clothes. And if they were perhaps more rugged, they’d last longer than a week.”
Andrew chuckled. “I’ll make the call.”
“Thanks.”
Stepping back, I let the door swing shut behind me. A couple seconds later, it swung open again. Heather had followed me out. “Good morning.”
She beamed, caught up quickly, and kissed me on the cheek. The touch of her lips against my skin sent a rush of blood through my body.
Heather’s eyes fixed on mine. Pulling back, she sucked in her bottom lip in a way that let me know she’d enjoyed herself. She glanced over her shoulder before locking her arm around mine as we made our way down the hall. “Those two old biddies need to mind their business.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I know you don’t have any intention of calling him for help, and I think that’s a mistake.”
Tugging her closer, I tsked. “Okay, and?”
She clucked. “And have you thought about Alexander?”
I smiled then opened the door to her room. “I’ll call him if the need arises. I’m not above asking for help, but I won’t put Andrew in harm’s way when he’s their target.”
She slipped past me and sat on the edge of the bed. “You never said anything about my mother and Andrew playing matchmaker.”
“Not much to say about it. I’m with you, though. They should mind their business.” Daring to push my luck, I said, “I’m also sort of hoping their involvement isn’t necessary.”
She bit her lip, blushing hard. “It isn’t…”
Well, there you go. I was a grown man who’d just asked a girl if she likes him. “Good to know. Maybe once this is over, we can go out on a proper date. You know, one where you don’t end up getting stabbed.”
Her mouth fell open in shock then she giggled. “Ass.” Still beet red, she nodded. “I’d like that.”
This felt odd. I’d spent most of my life without friends or girlfriends, and here I was picking up both in a couple of weeks. The years I’d spent doing the hard things people didn’t want to talk about suddenly seemed far away. Life was changing, and all I could do was hope I could keep up.
Her amusement faded, and she frowned. “What’s on your mind?”
It was alarming how observant she was. “I was just thinking how different the world is here on the outside.”
She didn’t press, simply stood, and gently kissed me on the lips before wrapping her arms around me in a powerful hug. “I hope the change is a good one.”
I’m not sure my heart skipped a beat, but it certainly sped up. Stepping back, I placed my hands on her shoulders. “That was never in question.” Cocking an eyebrow at her, I grinned. “Get better fast, and maybe no drinks at our dinner.”
She smirked. “I can do that.”
“I should go,” I stammered.
With that, I turned, grabbed my gear out of my room, and made my way out to the car. Five minutes later, I was out on 4th Street heading for Elmwood. But the massive unknown that was Charity Hospital was eating away at me, so in that moment, my destination changed. How could I make a plan if I had no frame of reference for what I was getting myself into?
Andrew was right about one thing—I’d need help containing the situation, so I pulled out my phone and dialed Alexander’s number. The call itself took less than five minutes. He and his men would secure the perimeter, ensuring no one escaped while I cleared the building. He assured me he would have a crew there in twenty and set up in thirty. The
man was efficient, I had to give him that. At this rate, I’d need to put him and his people on the payroll.
The ride back through the city took nearly half an hour, but I found my way to the front of the hollowed-out hulk that had once been a place of healing. It took another twenty minutes to park.
I didn’t see any obvious signs that Alexander and his people had arrived, but taking it on faith, I made a quick perimeter check of Charity Hospital. The place was massive. The gray cement walls jutted some twenty plus stories out of the broken and overgrown medical campus like a crumbling monolith. Everything about it gave off waves of pain and death. Even if Walter wasn’t here, there was enough misery in this place to fuel the nightmares of anyone near a state of sanity.
Thunder rolled through the sky above as a storm moved in. Just what I needed…rain and a cloudy day to boot. Whatever added benefit high noon might’ve offered me was probably off the table now. On the other hand, the pouring rain and added darkness made it easier for me to cross onto the property, hopefully unseen.
Walking up to the ambulance ramp, I found a metal door slightly ajar. I pulled it open just enough to duck inside. The dark hall was hot and humid, and the air stale. I secured the swords before pulling out an LED flashlight from my pack. It took me a good forty-five minutes to sweep the vacant first floor. At first, I thought the knocking sound was some random piece of metal on the side of the building caught in the wind, but it didn’t take me long to find the rhythm of it.
Following the sound up and up, I cleared floor after floor in quick succession. I couldn’t shake the sensation of being inside a corpse. The building was dead and had been that way for years.
On the twelfth floor, I found a functioning server room with Internet access, along with a security station. Multiple cameras were trained all over the building, including one that would’ve caught my entrance. Damn. Not only did this mean I’d been seen, but someone was most likely waiting for me.