The Vigiles Urbani Chronicles- Year One

by Ken Lange

  It was getting late, and if Charles was going to make it to sunup, he would require a hospital. That took some doing since Hayden had to remake her Ignatius construct before returning to Scotland. There, the Ulfr could tend to their wounds while they were being questioned.

  That left me on my own to check in on Cole, who was still recovering. The cocoon had started to fade, leaving him encased in a soft, glowing silver light. The only thing I could gather without burning out my retinas was that he wasn’t bleeding any longer. Other than that, I hadn’t a clue.

  Chapter 19

  February 28th

  When I fell asleep, the first Reaper was quick to overtake my dreams.

  We were standing on the edge overlooking the abyss once more when an enormous double-headed axe materialized in front of me. It had deep grooves along the blade that wound their way to the face, creating a Celtic shield knot in its center. A moment later, four symbols shimmered into view: the crossed swords of my office, a glowing red scarab with gold highlights, the interlocking triangles I’d seen at Viktor’s place, and the wagon wheel design we’d found on Mikhail’s chest… Except this one was slightly different, with ten spokes instead of nine, and the extra one didn’t have a symbol carved into it.

  There was a gentle wind, and the Celtic knot glowed. The four symbols leaked power—red from the scarab, blue from the triangles, black from the wagon wheel, and silver from the swords. Each of these touched the axe and followed the grooves to its heart to fill the knot.

  Pointing, I asked, “What are those?”

  The Reaper gestured toward the axe. “The crossed swords represent you, the triangles belong to Odin, as for the scarab…I do not know.” He waved a hand, and everything save the wagon wheel vanished. “This, however, is the symbol of the lich lords.” Tapping two identical symbols inside, he said, “This one is repeated.”

  “Why?”

  He sighed. “In the beginning, there were only nine, but one of them accidently created a copy of himself when he performed an unholy ritual to steal something from a dead man.” He pointed at the blank spoke. “This was one of the originals. He was killed about ten years ago by the Storm Bringer, which is why it’s no longer marked.”

  I blinked. “Okay…I wish that this made some sort of sense to me, but it doesn’t. How exactly is any of this supposed to be helpful?”

  He laughed. “No idea, child. I am what was, Hayden belongs to the now, and you are the future. This is your mystery to ferret out. Maybe Kur can help you.”

  I shook my head. “Perhaps in time, but he’s been hibernating due to an injury…probably from when he was banished.”

  The old Reaper tapped the ring Atsidi had given me. “This will help him heal. I can speed the process along, but you won’t like it.”

  He cupped my face in his hands and blew black mist with blue flames into my mouth. My body tensed, and Kur writhed in my mind. Pain flooded my senses, my knees buckled, and my vision narrowed.

  The Reaper whispered, “There is yet much to do in the now to reach what will be.”

  Darkness took me, and there was nothing more to hear or see.

  My head pounded, and I felt sick to my stomach as the vision faded. When I opened my eyes, I was more than a little grateful to find myself alone. The last thing I needed at the moment was people gawking at me. There was only one thing I could think of that would help with my foul mood and that was a shower. After that, maybe some breakfast would be in order…maybe.

  An hour later I’d eaten, washed dishes, and gotten bored sitting there. On that note, I decided to step outside and watch the sunrise. Just as the first rays of light broke over the horizon, the Aquila on my shoulder burned. The shock of it caused me to stumble back against the trailer. I clamped my hand over my shoulder and massaged it, hoping the pain would subside. After a while it either felt better or I’d adjusted to the discomfort.

  Frustrated by all the weirdness over the last few days, I made my way inside to check on Cole. When I stepped into his room, he was sitting up in bed, trying to check his shoulder.

  I motioned for him to sit back. “Take it easy. If you’re that curious, I’ll find you a mirror.”

  He grimaced. “Did you fix me up? Is that something you can do?”

  Not knowing what to say, I shook my head. “That wasn’t my doing.” Hesitantly, I sat on the edge of the bed. “It was your mother. Na’ashjéii Asdzáá showed up, and placed you in a cocoon of sorts.”

  Cole poked at his new scars and winced. “My mother? You’re sure it was her?”

  I shrugged. “Ah, that’s what she said, and I’m inclined to believe her. I mean…there aren’t a lot of people who’d pop in out of nowhere, save your life, and chastise me to boot.”

  Irritation flashed in his eyes as he let out a long breath. “Well, that’s just fucked up.”

  That was a weird response to finding out that your mother was who you thought she was, and that she’d saved your life. “Huh?”

  His expression was one of joy, and sadness. “Nothing…I just can’t believe you met her before I did.” Running his hand over the three fresh scars, he sighed. “But I’m grateful for her help.”

  I grinned. “Me too.” Gesturing for him to follow, I got to my feet. “Come on, I’ll make you something to eat.”

  Cole shook his head. “That’s not going to happen today.” He gently tapped the new tissue. “They may be sealed, but it took me half an hour to work my way into this position. I don’t see me walking anywhere unless it’s really necessary.”

  Rubbing my side, I nodded. “Being shot sucks. I had four slugs pulled out of my chest twenty something years ago, and it still bugs me from time to time.”

  He stifled a laugh. “Thanks for the pick-me-up.”

  I gave him a big smile. “No worries. Sit tight, and I’ll bring you something to eat.”

  Before I could get food out of the fridge, there was a knock at the door.

  I turned, picked up my pistol off the counter, and aimed it at the door. “Come in.”

  While it was doubtful the bad guys would announce themselves first, I wasn’t taking any chances.

  The door swung open to reveal Hayden. She jerked back and gave me the finger. “Seriously? That’s how you’re going to greet me after the night I’ve had?”

  I shrugged and returned the weapon to its holster. “Sorry, but I don’t want to get caught off guard.”

  She nodded. “Fair enough.” Blowing out a long breath, she shook her head. “Apologies for being grumpy. It took a lot longer to get those two assholes stowed away with the Ulfr than I’d anticipated.”

  I gestured at the table. “Take a seat, and fill me in while I cook.”

  After making breakfast, I brought Cole some food. A few minutes later, I was about to step out and assess the damage to the truck when there was another knock. Glancing over at her, I leveled my gun at the door and stepped over to open it.

  To my great surprise, Alexander was standing there with a big smile on his face. His voice was gruff, and the bags under his eyes said he hadn’t gotten enough sleep. “Morning.”

  Blinking, I put the weapon away. “Not that I’m unhappy to see you, but how did you find me?”

  Alexander tapped the Aquila on his wrist. “When I stepped through the gate this morning, I realized I didn’t have a clue where you were staying.” He shrugged. “That’s when this little fella started to burn like hell. Once it cooled off, it guided me here.”

  Hayden glanced between me and Alexander. “I’ve seen a lot of shit in my life, but I’ve never seen a brand guide someone. How is that possible?”

  I shrugged. “No idea.” Stepping back, I waved him in. “Hayden, this is Alexander, a friend.” Turning to Alexander, I said, “And this is Hayden. She’s a new acquaintance, and someone who can be trusted.”

  She stepped over to the counter and held out her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, but I’d still like an answer.”

  I nodded. “So would I.”<
br />
  Alexander squeezed through the opening and shook her hand as he made his way over to the table. “Bear with me. I know this is going to sound nuts, but after my mark stopped burning, I just had this sense of which way to go. The closer I got to this place, the stronger it became.”

  Turning to Hayden, I pulled up my sleeve to reveal the Aquila. “Mine started burning just after sunup.”

  He nodded. “That’s when I arrived.”

  Hayden frowned. “I don’t get it. Isn’t that just a brand?”

  I shook my head. “Nope, it’s one of the marks of my office.”

  She leaned over and ran her nail along the lightning bolts. “Okay, but…how?”

  Pulling my sleeve down, I rolled my shoulders. “No clue. If I had to guess, there’s more to the coin than even I know.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “And just what do you know?”

  Kur whispered in my mind, “If she’ll reveal the name of the Star Born, you can tell her about me.”

  Puzzled, I asked, “Why, what does that matter?”

  Kur’s tone carried hope. “Because the Star Born is allied with the Idunn.”

  Understanding came to me. “Your old allies in the war against the Svartálfar and Álfheimr.”

  He squirmed in my mind. “Yes. Our only hope of standing against them is with the aid of the Star Born and the Idunn.”

  I folded my arms and eyed Hayden. “I’ll be only too happy to share if you tell me who the Star Born is.”

  She bit her lip and shook her head. “I’ve already said it’s not my place to tell you about him.”

  I nodded. “You did, but that’s the deal.”

  She frowned. “Then hold onto your secrets for now.”

  Kur sighed. “Patience, we will learn the truth one way or another.”

  An uneasy feeling came over me. “How did you guide Alexander here. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”

  “It was. I think it’s in your best interests that your centurions are able to find you in times of need. This is only one of many abilities bestowed on you and your people.”

  Grimacing, I said, “I’m not sure I like it.”

  Kur chuckled. “If you don’t wish to be found, that can be arranged, but given the current situation, I thought it prudent to guide him here expeditiously.”

  “You were right, but maybe give me a heads-up next time.”

  His form wriggled inside my brain. “I’ll try.”

  I had to wonder what other special gifts I’d unknowingly given to those under the centurion banner. It would be pointless to ask Kur at the moment; I sensed he’d gone back to sleep.

  Hayden thumped my chest. “You all right?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, sorry…I was distracted.”

  She snickered. “No shit.”

  Alexander shrugged. “He does that. I’ve gotten used to it.”

  Shaking my head, I asked, “Are you two finished?”

  Hayden shrugged. “For now.”

  The three of us moved into Cole’s room, and I spent the next hour going over what had happened since we last spoke—minus the part where Hayden was actually a drag king who’d adopted the Ignatius persona for the last fifteen thousand years. I did my best to gloss over the fact that she was a reaper, and I was a flaming ice monster.

  It turned out Alexander’s team wouldn’t be here for another two or three days, so it was just the four of us. Well, three; Cole was in no condition to get around. Thankfully, Alexander had rented a massive SUV when he arrived, which meant we wouldn’t be crammed into the front seat of a truck that had recently been ventilated.

  Cole sat up in bed. “Would you guys mind if I got some rest? I’m still pretty whipped.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, sorry about the intrusion.”

  He gave us a dismissive wave. “It’s cool. If I’d wanted you gone, I would’ve said something.”

  Hayden grinned. “I think you just did.”

  He chuckled. “Yep. Now get.”

  Alexander stopped at the front door and asked, “Do you think you could show me where Mikhail was staying?”

  “Sure. Let me grab a few things first.”

  Hayden checked her watch. “While you two do that, I need to check in on Timur and the boy.”

  I frowned. “You literally just got back from there. Can’t that wait?”

  She shrugged. “I’d rather do it now while we have some downtime. Who knows when that’ll happen again.”

  Reluctantly, I agreed. “True.”

  Hayden gestured at Alexander. “Besides, it looks like you’ll be in good hands while I’m gone.”

  Alexander beamed. “Absolutely.”

  She grimaced. “Plus, it’s been several hours, and there’s a chance the others may have some new information for us. They are very efficient.”

  Alexander furrowed his brow. “Who’s they?”

  Her eyes glowed blue. “The Ulfr.”

  He blinked. “Seriously?”

  She nodded. “Yeah.”

  He turned to me. “Let her do her thing. If anyone’s going to get something out of those two, it’ll be the Ulfr.”

  There was no point arguing; she was going regardless. “All right, but could you hurry back? I’d like to have all hands on deck if things go haywire.”

  She sighed. “I’ll do my best, but it really depends on what happens when I get there.”

  I frowned. “All right.”

  Without another word, she walked back to my room and disappeared in a ball of flame. Alexander and I made the half-hour trek into the desert to Mikhail’s home-away-from-home. Now that we weren’t in a rush to fix the truck, I took my time and sifted through the place with a bit more care. Alexander, on the other hand, went straight for the bed, pulled off the blanket, and stepped outside.

  I searched through the books in shelves made out of wine crates. Most of them were written in Russian, but there were a few popular fiction pieces in English. The box near the center was loose, and with a little coaxing, I was able to remove it. There, in a cubbyhole carved into the rock, was a black, leather-bound, handwritten journal.

  Paperclipped inside were a few photos of Mikhail, Timur, and three others I didn’t recognize. After leafing through several pages, it became clear that this wasn’t a diary, but possibly notes for a book…or so I hoped.

  The main character was a woman named Jade Baker. She was an oddity, being the child of one of the lich lords and an archangel, with the powers of both. According to the myth he was creating, this was an impossibility somehow turned reality.

  She was sent to America to be reared by a prominent member of the Onyx Mind. A special team of handpicked individuals were sent to ensure not only her safety but her education. This was where Mikhail had inserted himself into the story as the leader of this group. The first few chapters were a little off-putting, but then things turned downright disturbing, as he developed an interest in the young girl.

  Unable to read any more of that section, I skipped ahead several pages to Jade’s twenty-sixth birthday. She’d been sent to Siberia to train under Ke’lets, one of the nine lich lords. After spending ten years under his tutelage, there was a great battle against the mad god that ended with Ke’lets’s murder at his hands.

  Leave it to a necromancer to make a lich lord out to be the good guy in this scenario.

  Anyway, that was when Inna, the leader of the Onyx Mind and Jade’s honor guard, scooped her up, saving her from certain death. Once they were safely away, Jade returned to America, where she was to stay until she was ready to take her rightful place as one of the nine.

  There were hundreds of pages of notes, sappy passages, and a shitty love story that would’ve made even the worst romance author cringe. The further into the text I got, the more deranged Mikhail’s writings became. While I couldn’t be certain, I really hoped this was a work of fiction. Because if this were real, the necromancers had themselves some sort of messiah on their hands, and that would make them all the more danger
ous, which was the last thing anyone needed at the moment.

  Alexander tapped me on the shoulder. “Did you find something?”

  I shook my head. “Not unless you’re into bad fiction.” Stuffing the book into my bag, I gestured at the small treasure trove of personal items. “There are some photos, drawings, and other stuff in here that may prove useful in the long run. But for now, it’s mostly junk.” I gestured at him. “How about you? Did you turn up anything useful?”

  He held up the blanket. “I think so.”

  I eyed the filthy thing. “Care to elaborate?”

  Tossing the bedding onto the cot, he said, “There were at least five different people staying here.”

  I glanced over at the bed, and sighed. “And?”

  He tapped his nose. “If I get close to one of them, I’ll be able to identify them.”

  That made me laugh, even though I couldn’t say why. “Okay…and how does that help us?”

  Shrugging, he sighed. “Maybe we should visit Grants, and let me poke around to see if I pick up their scent.”

  It wasn’t like I had any better ideas. “Sure, why not?”

  Chapter 20

  Not having a clear target made things difficult. Which meant that we spent the morning stopping at every gas station and grocery store we came across, hoping that Alexander would randomly pick up a scent he could track. That went about as well as you’d expect. It was nearly noon, and we were both grumpy, hungry, and more than a little tired.

  We’d passed a sign for La Puerta Steak House earlier, and that was when I’d decided that we were having steak for lunch. Mainly due to the fact I wasn’t up for another round of fast food. No matter what Hayden said, I couldn’t see how clogging my arteries with grease was a good idea. According to the sign, they were just opening, and the lot was empty, so I pulled up next to the long, tan adobe building. It had a strange, lifeless vibe to it, but the brightly colored mural on the front promised steaks and booze…and as they said in Jerry McGuire, they had me at steak.