by Ken Lange
The name rang a bell, and I leaned forward to get a closer look. “Is this the same turd-nugget you’ve been telling me about”
Nodding, he said, “The very same.”
Isaiah got out of his vehicle and stalked toward us as we piled out of the truck.
Cole raised his hand in greeting. “Evening. What brings you out this way?”
Isaiah was a slight man with short black hair, brown eyes, and dark skin. There were a few things about the man that were impossible to miss, such as his smug demeanor and the general dickishness wafting off the guy in waves.
The icing on the cake, however, was when the douchebag opened his mouth, because his tone grated against my last nerve. “Like you don’t know.”
Cole shrugged. “Actually, I don’t.”
He huffed. “You sent Atsidi to plead with the council to get involved in one of your messes again.”
I cleared my throat. “That wasn’t his doing. It was mine.”
His gaze flickered over to me, and revulsion crossed his face. “I don’t deal with outsiders, and neither do the elders. Now stop speaking, while the grownups talk.”
Stepping past Cole, I pulled air in through my teeth. “Perhaps you don’t know who I am—”
He huffed out a derisive snort. “It doesn’t matter. You’re white, and as I said, we don’t deal with outsiders. Or are you too stupid to understand the concept?”
An old anger threatened to bubble up, but I forced it back down. “Again, you don’t—”
Isaiah held up a hand to cut me off. “I’m quite aware of who you are, half-breed.”
Unable to keep the annoyance out of my voice, I said, “Then you know that I’m a vigil.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t care what position you hold within the Archive. You’re still an outsider, no matter who your grandfather is, and as such I have no use for you.” Leaning to the side, he looked past me to Cole. “Whatever you’re mixed up in, you’ll need to handle it on your own. I’ve made sure the others won’t get involved.”
I moved to block his view. “Where is Atsidi?”
The disdain in his voice was impossible to miss. “That’s none of your concern.”
Cole growled. “Answer the goddamn question, Isaiah.”
His face contorted in rage. “He sought to overrule my decision by seeking out Łééchąą’í.”
Cole laughed. “That doesn’t bode well for you.”
Isaiah strolled past me and jabbed his finger against Cole’s chest. “Don’t test my authority, because you won’t like how it turns out.” He sneered. “I don’t care who your parents are supposed to be, so tread carefully.”
Cole batted the man’s hand away. “I’ve always been respectful of your position, but if you step out of line, don’t think for a moment I won’t end you.”
When he reached for Cole, I placed a hand against his chest, and an eerie sensation shot through me. It took me half a second to find my voice, but when I did, it came out flat and hard. “Easy now. You don’t want me getting the wrong idea here.”
Isaiah must’ve felt it too, because he jumped back and frantically brushed off his shirt. “Don’t ever touch me again, or I’ll be forced to do something about it.”
The creepiness subsided, but the feeling lingered. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to wash my hands. “You might be someone important on the reservation, but here and now, you’re just some strange little man standing in the way of me doing my job.” I gestured at his vehicle. “It would be in your best interest to turn around, and leave—now.”
He rolled his eyes. “Or what? Do you think I’m worried about squaring off against the likes of you?” His gaze darted from me, to Cole, and finally to Hayden. Licking his lips, he ran his hand over the top of his hair. “Evening, Miss, I’m Isaiah Jacob, tribal elder and spokesman for the Navajo people.” He straightened his shirt and offered her a pleasant smile as he gestured at me. “If I had to guess, this…pitiful excuse for a man has tricked you into spending time with him. You should be warned that he’s been harassing redheads in Grants. So, if you’re in need of a ride back to town, I’d be only too happy to accommodate.” He thumbed over at me. “You never know what psychos will do once they have you alone.”
Her eyes burned with blue flames. “You’re right. You never can tell what a sociopath will do once you’re alone with them.” She stepped closer, and fire coated her right hand. “Which means I’ll be turning down your generous offer.”
Moving back, Isaiah shivered. “Suit yourself.”
She folded her arms. “I think I will.”
He stumbled, pivoted, and stomped over to his truck. It took him two tries to get the thing started. But when it did, the glasspack mufflers echoed in the early evening as he drove off into the distance.
Once he was gone, Hayden growled. “Goddamn it.”
Confused, I turned to her. “What’s up?”
Her fists clenched and unclenched in an odd rhythm. “It’s jerks like him who remind me why my alter ego is so preferable.”
I blinked. “Huh?”
Cole laughed as he shook his head. “In case you missed it, she’s an attractive woman. You do realize she’s a woman, right?”
I furrowed my brow. “Yeah, but what’s that got to do with anything?”
Nodding, she grinned. “My point exactly, but did you see the way the guy looked at me?”
I gave the space he’d occupied a dismissive wave. “You cannot expect anything more from such a narrowminded piece of foreskin.”
She sighed. “Eloquent, and true. But for some reason, anytime one of those types sees a female, they instantly treat us like a helpless child.”
I sighed. “Well, that’s just messed up.”
She groaned. “No kidding.”
Cole turned to Hayden. “On behalf of my people, I’m sorry you had to deal with that creepy little shit.”
Hayden shook her head. “Not your fault, but we’ve got bigger problems to deal with than that asshole.” She pivoted on the spot and climbed into the truck.
I followed quickly and closed the door.
Cole idled down the drive and parked next to the trailer. It took a few minutes for us to use the head and wash up. After that, we settled in around the table to figure out our next step.
Gesturing at Cole, I asked, “Why is Atsidi going to visit Łééchąą’í?”
Cole rolled his shoulders. “He’s sort of the de facto leader of these parts. Not in the traditional sense, of course, but in times of dispute, the tribe will occasionally ask for his guidance. Whatever he decides is always adhered to by the tribe.”
I nodded. “Oh…okay.”
He let out a long breath. “The only thing is it’s one hell of a trek to get to him, which means Atsidi won’t be back for at least a couple of days.”
Hayden frowned. “Seriously?”
Cole grimaced. “Unfortunately.” He leaned back in his seat. “Not that I’ve ever made the trek myself, but from what I’ve been told, he lives about fifty miles out in the badlands. He supposedly carved out a labyrinth underneath one of the plateaus. Once you’ve found your way to the heart of the thing, you have to perform a ritual of some sort and hope and pray that he comes out for a visit… If he doesn’t, it’s in your best interests to leave.”
Shaking my head, I furrowed my brow. “Hold on—why leave? Wouldn’t you just go deeper in?”
He shivered. “Not if you want to live. There’s a story about two men who wanted to be chief, and the tribe couldn’t decide, so they were sent to speak with Łééchąą’í. When they arrived, they followed the protocol…at first. One of them got tired of waiting and stormed into the cave, demanding to be heard. A few minutes later, his corpse came flying out.” He turned to me. “So, no, you don’t go looking for Łééchąą’í. He either speaks to you, or he doesn’t. Simple as that.”
I leaned forward and cupped my face in my hands. “Well, with manners like that, I bet the Jehovah’
s witnesses have him black listed.’
That made him chuckle. “They’re pretty persistent, but probably.”
I grinned. “Let me guess, he doesn’t get out much either.”
Cole flinched. “Not even a little. The old man, if that’s what he is, hasn’t been seen since 1803.”
Furrowing my brow, I asked, “What do you mean if that’s what he is?”
He shook his head. “He’s supposed to have skin as dark as a starless night, violet eyes, and the head of a dog.”
Hayden glanced between us. “He’s a were?”
Cole pursed his lips and shook his head. “I don’t think so. For one, he’s too old, and he’s got power…a lot of power.” He placed his elbows on the table with a thud. “If I had to choose between going against him or the two of you at once…I’d ask you guys when and where, because there’s no way I’m ever going to fight Łééchąą’í.”
I scratched the top of my head and grinned. “Good to know.” Falling back in my seat, I harrumphed. “But it makes me wonder what made him drag himself from his lair in 1803 if he hates people so damn much.”
Cole winced as he bit his lip. “Well…that would be my fault.”
Arching an eyebrow, I asked, “How’s that?”
He pointed at himself. “That’s when Łééchąą’í carried me out of the desert, delivered me to the elders, and asked them to watch over me.”
Hayden dragged her nail around in a circle on the table. “I’m going to assume because of who your parents are.” She thumbed over her shoulder. “Douche-O-Rama mentioned something about them.”
Cole nodded. “Yeah, my mother is Na’ashjéii Asdzáá, and my father is Haashch’eezhini.”
She blinked, and her mouth fell open. “If the legends are true, that’s a pretty potent lineage.”
Cole shrugged. “It is if you believe it. I think someone abandoned me, and Łééchąą’í felt sorry for me. He made up the story to ensure that I was well looked after, if I had to guess.”
I shook my head. “There’s no reason to make up such a story. They would’ve taken care of you just because he brought you in.”
Cole glanced down at his hands. “I suppose, but since he did…all it’s done is create issues for me.”
Leaning my chin on my hand, I asked, “How’s that?”
He craned his neck. “There are those who’d put me up on a pedestal to worship me as spirit made flesh. Then there are the Isaiahs of the world, who resent me because they think it’s a lie. Any way you slice it, my world is more difficult because of Łééchąą’í’s personal involvement, and the story he told.”
I closed my eyes and opened them again as I let out a long breath. “I can see how that could cause problems.”
Hayden flicked the table with her nail and sat back in her seat. “I’ve seen that type of thing fuck up a person’s entire life… I’m sorry you have to deal with that.”
Cole forced a smile onto his face. “Thanks.”
She nodded. “You’re welcome.” Turning to me, she said, “With Atsidi out of the picture for a few days, that leaves the three of us to handle an untold number of undead, several badass necromancers, and this mysterious group they belong to.”
The distraction of Cole’s past had been nice while it lasted. “Thanks for reminding me… The way I see it, we need to deal with the local representatives of the Onyx Mind and their undead goons. As for the entire organization, I think that’s going to take a combined effort…and maybe, with luck, you could sway Viktor into helping us with what’s apparently a global problem.”
She ran her hand across her forehead. “He’s got his hands full for the next few days, but you can bet he’ll want in on this. I’ll make sure that the Pacis Gladius finds out as well.”
Confused, I leaned forward. “What’s that?”
Hayden chuckled. “They haven’t contacted you yet?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
She grinned. “I’m surprised, especially with them trying to fold in as many of the older organizations under one umbrella as they can.”
“Huh?”
Biting her bottom lip, she sucked in air loudly. “Well, are you familiar with the Krewe of Caesar?”
I nodded. “Isn’t that the Archive’s contribution to the Mystic Courts of Comus back in New Orleans?”
A smile crossed her lips. “Yes, and the MCC was created by Viktor in the guise of Comus, to help combat the darkness in the city. Over the centuries, other such unions were formed for the same purpose all around the globe. Thing is, their individual reach has always been limited. In an effort to combat this, they’ve banded together to form the Pacis Gladius, or the Sword of Peace. Under this new structure, they can share intel and resources, and thus respond to threats quicker than ever before.”
I blinked. “Wow, okay… How does the Archive fit in?”
She shrugged. “No idea, but they’ve already contacted the Ulfr and Warden Global, so you guys can’t be too far behind in line.”
Cole frowned. “It’s a shame they haven’t been in touch yet.”
Turning to him, I frowned. “Why’s that?”
He spread his hands apart in frustration. “Because we could use the additional manpower right about now.”
I shrugged. “Maybe, if it works as intended. Otherwise, it’ll be a bureaucratic mess and more of a hinderance than a help.”
Hayden ran her hand over her face and yawned. “Sorry. It’s just that I’ve been up for nearly thirty-two hours now.”
I checked my watch: 10:32. “It is getting late. Maybe we should turn in for the night.” Gesturing at the back, I said, “I’ll sleep out here, so you’re welcome to my room for the duration.”
She beamed. “Thanks, I really appreciate it.”
Stepping past her, I rolled my shoulders. “You’re very welcome. Let me get a few of my things, and it’s all yours.”
Ten minutes later, I had most of my things out, and she was quick to close the door. Cole had made himself scarce during the transition and, if I had to guess, was already asleep. That left me alone with my thoughts while I lowered the table to set up a third bed. I’ve never been fond of sleeping around strangers without a locked door between me and them, but tonight would have to be an exception.
My head was barely on the pillow when I fell asleep.
The first Reaper ruled over my dreams. He stood between this world and the next with violet flames covering his arms, with eyes to match.
He turned to me and whispered, “Greetings, child. I’ve waited an eternity for your arrival.”
Trepidation filled me, and it took a moment to find my voice. “You’ve been expecting me?”
He nodded. “I have. Your counterpart has been waiting for you as well, even if she doesn’t realize it yet.”
My curiosity quickly overrode my nervousness—mostly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He waved me over. “Come, child, and I will explain.”
After moving up to stand beside him, I stared into the abyss. Before me was a vision of the multiverse, and that which could be. Many of the possibilities were filled with alien machines, hybrids made of shadow and advanced technology that ended with the destruction of all life. There were a few, however, where a balance was found, and organic life coexisted with the machine gods that were ruled by the Svartálfar and Álfheimr.
Unwilling to believe what I was seeing, I turned to him in the hopes that I was wrong. “What’s this?”
Even though I couldn’t see his face, I knew he was smiling. “You already know what this is. It’s what could be. Much of how this turns out depends on you, and the choices you will eventually have to make.”
In other words, no pressure at all.
A shiver ran up my spine as I glanced back at the abyss. “That’s a lot of expectation to be heaped on one man, especially considering that I’m new to all this.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder, and blue flames engulfed my body before being
absorbed. “You’ll be fine. Give yourself time and learn all you can from Hayden.”
My curiosity once again overrode my good sense. “You know her?”
The billowing creature before me laughed. “Of course. I trained her, after all, and I’ll do the same for you when the time is right.” There was a deep sadness in his voice. “Her path is different from yours, and her fate is tied to this universe, but you are what is to come…the birth of something new.”
Like an idiot, I mumbled, “If you say so.”
He tapped one of the violet claws against my skull. “Listen to the little dragon inside you.”
Shuddering, I asked, “You mean Kur?”
The light in his eyes glowed brighter. “Really? You carry Kur’s essence?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
His voice was full of wonder. “Fascinating...”
The First Reaper pointed out at the abyss, and began telling me the story of how we came to be.
Long ago, something in this realm triggered a catastrophic failure in the dominion of the Machine Gods. While he wasn’t sure what had occurred, the Svartálfar and Álfheimr were infected with a virus. Their sickness caused a war to break out between their supporters, who’d been tainted by the plague, and those who’d proven resistant to its influence.
Even worse, the dragon lords—some of the oldest and most powerful beings among the machine gods—were partially affected by the disease. As the eldest, Kur was their leader, but he was betrayed by one of his most trusted allies, Zmey Gorynych. Because of that, the war created by the Svartálfar and Álfheimr raged on for untold eons. After they defeated Kur, the Idunn, and many others, they banished the fallen to this land to be trapped forever in stasis.
In time, Kur and the others were forgotten, but this didn’t stop the war, it just created a new enemy—themselves. The Svartálfar and Álfheimr fought one another for absolute power, and in the end consumed all their resources.
In order to survive, they sought out new allies, the first of whom were those in the land of mist. The Álfheimr gave them form, allowing them to exist as pure energy, or as physical beings known as the wraiths.