The Vigiles Urbani Chronicles- Year One

by Ken Lange

“But—”

  Cutting me off, he said, “You wear the Aquila, do you not?”

  I frowned. “Yeah.”

  Raising his sleeve, he revealed a similar mark on his forearm. “This is the mark of our office. Please give me a moment to tend to a few things then we can discuss the matter further.” Lazarus’s gaze fell on Andrew. “Step forward.” Andrew did as he was told. Lazarus gestured toward me. “I understand that he was to be one of your vigiles.”

  Andrew nodded. “He was to take over the position from Martha O’Neil, who passed away recently.”

  “I also understand that Gavin is new to the Archive.”

  Andrew grimaced. “A recent recruit due to circumstances beyond my control.”

  Lazarus smiled. “You’ll need to find a suitable replacement for Martha, but in the meantime, Gavin can do the job while you train him in our ways.” He waved Ms. Dodd over as he shook his head. “Ms. Dodd, as you can see by Gavin’s actions today, you can be removed from your position, and if you continue to harass me with petty disputes, that’s exactly what will happen. Am I clear?”

  Ms. Dodd swallowed hard. “I understand.”

  Lazarus swept the room with his gaze once more before waving a languid hand at them. “The rest of you may go about your business. I need to speak with Gavin alone.”

  Other than Isidore and Andrew, people couldn’t exit the room fast enough, but even they left without a word. Caesar had spoken, and they could do little else but comply.

  Lazarus gestured for me to take a seat, and he did the same. “Did you know it’s been nearly a thousand years since I’ve had a vigil?”

  Giving him a slight shrug, I did the half-nod, half-shake thing that made no sense whatsoever. “I’d heard it was something like that.”

  Lazarus leaned back in his chair. “It’s been longer since I’ve left Rome.” He was curious as he eyed everything. “Do you have any idea why that is?”

  This time there was absolutely no hesitation. “No, I don’t.”

  He turned his full attention to me. “Because your arrival in the Archive has created an unforeseen change. That made me curious, and I simply had to meet you.”

  “Huh?”

  He laughed. “I have the gift of sight, but when you bonded with the coin, the future changed. Everything has become new, and your arrival has broken a cycle.”

  I frowned. “That made even less sense to me.”

  His voice filled with joy. “Don’t worry about it…it’s a good thing.”

  We fell into an easy conversation. About an hour later, I guided Lazarus into the living area to find Andrew, Isidore, Heather, Kimberly, and Alexander waiting for me. They all took a knee at the sight of Lazarus, who quickly told them to get to their feet.

  He glanced around the room. “Have you got something to drink?”

  Andrew looked a little pale. “Like what?”

  Lazarus licked his lips and beamed. “A good red wine…no, how about something else. Something harder.” He clapped me on the back with surprising strength. “I’ve got cause to celebrate.”

  Kimberly stepped up to Lazarus. “I’m sorry for the trouble that Robert has caused.”

  He waved off her concern. “It’s not your fault. He was an awful person through and through, from what I understand.”

  Kimberly nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  Lazarus gestured for Heather to step forward, and he held out the old Roman coin I’d dislodged from her father earlier. “Sorceress, I’d invite you into the circle, if you are willing.”

  Heather paused before stepping forward. “You believe I’m worthy?”

  Lazarus laughed and shook his head. “I see power in you the likes of which your father never possessed. I also see a heart that’s been wounded.” He placed the coin in her hand and clamped it shut. “You and your mother are far better people than your father.” Lazarus smiled once more and turned to Andrew as he patted his stomach. “I’m starved. Any chance of dinner?”

  Andrew grinned and nodded. “I’ll have to order in for all of us.”

  Lazarus smiled. “Sounds good. In the meantime, drinks?”

  Andrew ducked out of the room only to reappear moments later with several bottles of Dalmore in hand. Isidore was close behind with a tray of sparkling crystal glass tumblers. Andrew poured for everyone, and for the first time in fifteen hundred years, Lazarus relaxed and let his hair down, so to speak. It would’ve been great to see if he hadn’t scared the shit out of everyone.

  The evening grew late, and Kimberly and Heather were the first to leave, returning to their home to deal with their loss. Lazarus didn’t leave as much as vanish a few hours later, with a promise to be in touch soon. Alexander and Isidore shrewdly left Andrew and I to sort through our issues alone.

  Chapter 32

  Monday July 13th

  Over the last month, things had slowly returned to normal. Well, as normal as they could be now that Lazarus was out walking the earth again. It’d taken me a while, but I’d made Alexander and his entire clan centurions. As big as the Elmwood facility was, it wasn’t big enough to house all of us, so we’d commandeered Brad’s place to help with the overflow. Lazarus had taken a special interest in Gabriel, and insisted on helping with his training, which meant he was in Rome for the foreseeable future.

  I’d have to fly out in a few days to join him, but today, there was another problem to solve: housing. Elmwood was packed, Andrew’s place wasn’t much better, and I needed some peace and quiet before I lost my mind. Which was why I was on Julia Street in the CBD about to buy a condo.

  My phone rang as I got out of my car. When I glanced at the screen, Heather’s name popped up. “Hello.”

  She sounded tired, but cheerful. “Hey there, how are you?”

  I leaned against the Tucker. “Can’t complain. And you?”

  There was a beep of a horn in the background. “Sorry about that, I just got in…and I wanted to call. I’ve been trying to work everything out since…that day.”

  By that, she meant, the day I’d ripped her father’s soul apart. The day that everyone learned about the Grim. The day she’d become a member of the triumvirate. That day was a lot of things.

  “I understand.”

  “You still owe me a dinner,” she said quietly.

  “I do.”

  She snickered. “There’s a great little place I know in Gentilly. Do you like sushi?”

  “I love it.”

  Her voice was cheerful as she spoke. “Meet me at Good Time at seven tonight.” She paused. “That is, if you’re free.”

  That made me laugh. “I’ve got some paperwork to finish up, but other than that…see you at seven.”

  Heather’s voice carried the smile I couldn’t see. “It’s a date.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  I hung up the phone, walked up three flights of stairs, and signed for my new home after handing the realtor a big fat check. Being the Caesar’s vigil came with nearly a thousand years of back pay. Who knew?

  Dust Walkers

  Book 2

  When newly minted vigil Gavin Randall is summoned to a small town in New Mexico, the last thing he’s expecting is to have to fight a cartel of necromancers. Their undead horde tests the limits of his powers and shows him just how vulnerable he really is…and that’s not the worst of it.

  His enemies have spent centuries preparing for a war no one within the Archive has foreseen, and he has yet to learn to control his abilities or figure out his place in this ancient conflict. With time running out, will he be able to forge the alliances he needs to survive the coming storm?

  Dust Walkers

  Ken Lange

  Published by Ken Lange

  Copyright © 2018, Ken Lange

  Edited by Danielle Fine

  Cover Art by Danielle Fine

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be constr
ued as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Acknowledgments

  Special Thanks

  To Rick G., Steve W., and James N. You’ve all been so very helpful, and supportive, which means a lot to a newbie.

  Thank you.

  To my editor and designer Danielle Fine for being patient with me while it took me next to forever to get this book completed.

  Dedication

  For my better half, thank you for always being there for me.

  Chapter 1

  January 17th

  My living room—along with the rest of my house—was a complete and total wreck. This was in no small part due to the NOPD, who’d been traipsing through my house for the last six hours. Because of that, it had been one of the longest, and most frustrating, days I’d been forced to endure since returning stateside. But if the slow trickle of officers filing out of the door was any indication, fate was turning in my favor.

  I leaned back in my recliner and waited for their so-called boss, Captain Hotard, to make his way over with some shitty comment about…well, anything. This was his third such visit since I’d bought the place, and it was becoming a bit too routine for my tastes. I glanced down at my watch. 4:15 p.m. With a little luck, I might be able to make my dinner date with Heather, her best friend Justine and Justine’s other half, Viktor Warden. Which was a good thing, because Heather would probably murder me if I screwed it up.

  An officer I didn’t recognize handed a report to Captain Hotard, who frowned and nodded. He waddled over and pointed at my wrist. “Got someplace to be, Randall?”

  I shrugged. “Nothing that can’t wait while I entertain New Orleans’s finest. Can I offer you a beverage?”

  He jerked his head back in revulsion. “I wouldn’t contaminate myself by having a drink with your kind.”

  I grinned. “Aw shucks. And here I was thinking you made these frequent visits to my home because you enjoy my company.”

  His cheeks turned crimson. “Being this close to one of you is about as much fun as being circumcised without anesthesia.” He waved a pudgy hand around the room. “This place is disgusting. It’s no wonder your neighbors think you’re a criminal.”

  I frowned. “It was clean until you guys came in and ransacked it.”

  He shrugged. “That’s not how I remember it.”

  Rolling my eyes, I ran my hand over the top of my head. “Of course it isn’t.”

  Captain Hotard stepped forward and stabbed a chubby finger into my chest. “Watch your tone, boy.”

  My gaze flicked down to the offending appendage. “Are you done here?”

  Beads of sweat trickled down his face, and he jerked his hand back. “For now.”

  I pointed at the door. “Then go. I’ve got things to do.”

  He snorted. “Careful, boy, you’re not your uncle.”

  I shook my head. “No, I’m not…that’s something you should keep in mind. He’s a lot more lenient than I am.”

  Laughing, he spun on his heel. “Uh-huh. Have a good evening, Mr. Randall. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

  A moment later, he was out the door, and I strode over to lock it behind him. Goddamn, that guy was a pompous little prick. My phone beeped, letting me know I had a message. Heather.

  Change in plans. We’ll be meeting Justine and Viktor at his place…something came up, and he has to work late, so I’ll pick you up at 6:30.

  That gave me roughly two hours to put the apartment together, get cleaned up, and dressed. At 6:20, I made my way downstairs and waited on the corner. Five minutes later, Heather pulled up and waved me in. It appeared we’d opted for a similar look, a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but she, of course, made it stylish. She gave me a disapproving once-over before turning into traffic, headed for Warden Global on St. Charles Ave. A little while later, we were through the security gate, and a guard pointed us to one of the visitor spaces on the side of the building.

  Leaning over, Heather brushed her hand up and down my chest several times. “That’s the cleanest shirt you could find?”

  I shrugged. “I pulled it out of the dryer this morning.”

  She folded her arms. “Would it have killed you to wear a button up and maybe a pair of slacks?”

  I grinned. “That would’ve required me finding an iron after Captain Hotard and his crew left, and I wasn’t exactly in the mood. Anyway, do you really think Viktor or Justine will give two shits how I’m dressed?”

  She frowned. “Hotard was at your place today?”

  “Yeah, he left about the same time you texted me the change in plans.”

  Sighing, she shook her head. “Goddamn it. That man is such an asshole. You’d think he would’ve found a new hobby by now.”

  That made me chuckle. “If only that were the case.”

  She dusted off my shoulder again then popped her door. “Let’s go…and be nice.”

  I stepped out and laughed. “Aren’t I always?”

  Heather arched an eyebrow. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

  Squeezing my eyes closed, I sighed. “No.”

  Eight months ago, I’d burned her wannabe boyfriend to a crisp and executed her father in front of her…so she was keenly aware of my shortcomings.

  Christ, I was a dumbass.

  I followed her into the lobby and stopped short at the sight of the place. The expansive room felt ancient, yet modern at the same time. Someone had taken great care in the design, creating a sleek feel heavily influenced by some eastern temple. Everything centered around a beautiful fountain that seemed to act as the life’s blood for the structure itself. Several plants and trees were strategically placed throughout the space to give the feeling that this had somehow occurred naturally…which clearly wasn’t the case. After all the stories I’d heard about Viktor, and his company, a sense of peace emanating from their headquarters was the last thing I’d expected.

  Before I could contain my awe, Heather walked over to the reception desk and showed her ID. A moment later, an attractive woman made her way out of a back office to hug Heather. The newcomer was considerably shorter, with dark hair and green eyes. They stood there talking for several seconds before meandering over.

  Heather was practically bouncing on her heels as she waved a hand at me. “This is Gavin.” She turned to me and gestured at her friend. “This is Justine.”

  Justine smiled. “Pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

  I bowed my head slightly. “Likewise.”

  Justine stepped back and held her hand out toward a nearby hall. “You okay with taking the elevators?”

  I shrugged. “Sure, why do you ask?”

  She frowned. “Viktor hates the things.” She patted her butt. “On the plus side, fifteen flights of stairs means I get to skip part of my workout.”

  I chuckled. “I bet.”

  Heather huffed out a breath. “That’s just great. You’ve known my friend for less than five minutes, and you’re already talking about her ass.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Hey…she brought it up.”

  Justine nudged Heather. “God, he really is easy.”

  Heather nodded. “I know, right?”

  Glancing between them, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Wow, okay, if this is the way you two act when you’re together…Viktor and I are in trouble this evening. And to think, you wanted me to be on my best behavior.”

  Heather straightened her shoulders. “I still do.”

  Justine rolled her eyes. “I told Viktor the same thing…we’ll see if either of them can actually pull it off.” She looked up at Heather with disappointment on her face. “I’m betting the answer is no, but let’s find out.”

  Heather frowned. “You’re probably right…but it’s too l
ate to back out now. We’re here.”

  Justine nodded. “That you are.” She stepped toward the elevators and stopped short. “Sorry about the hallway in advance. It’s a bit of a mess due to a remodel.”

  I shrugged. “If I had to guess, we won’t be eating there…will we?”

  Justine snickered and shook her head. “No, we won’t.”

  Grinning, I said, “Then I’m not worried about it, or the state of the house, for that matter. The only thing that concerns me at the moment is food, since I had to skip lunch today due to visitors.”

  Justine glanced over at Heather, who shook her head. “Oh, not me…Captain Hotard paid him another visit.”

  Justine pulled a card out of her pocket and walked around the corner. “Seriously? How many times does that make in the last six months?”

  “Three.”

  She pressed the card against the scanner and punched in a code. “That man needs to get a life.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  There was a ding when the elevator arrived, and the three of us stepped inside. Justine placed a key into the control panel, and turned it. Less than a minute later, we were on the fifteenth floor. It wasn’t as bad as she’d made it out to be. While the corridor was a bit of a wreck, it was a managed chaos. The walls were partially painted. Half the light fixtures were a brushed nickel while the rest appeared to be gold. Drop cloths lined the floors, and a great deal of scaffolding sat at the far end of the hall to give us access to the only door about a dozen yards away.

  We were halfway down the hall when the door opened, and a rather large man stepped out. He looked familiar, and when he’d passed, I glanced over at Heather and whispered, “Wasn’t he the chef at that wedding?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “I think so.”

  Justine held the door open for us. “Oh, you’ve met William?”