Wizard of Our Time

by C P Sennett

  The game had changed a lot with this missing girl as well. If you liken this to chess, which I do often, to me it felt as though I had returned from the toilet and my opponent had taken about five extra turns. Monika’s client now wanted me to pursue things and to get the girl back.

  Normally, I didn’t ask for client info but this time I did. I felt I had earned the right to this. Sadly, Monika didn’t agree, all she would tell me her client wasn’t the kid’s parents. She did say they may have been at the heart of it all but that wasn’t who she was directly dealing with.

  The client, though, had come into some new information. A name and an address of a vampire in Colchester. Some, low level runner among some Colchester based vampires who had a hand in the girl’s disappearance. I didn’t want to know how the client found this out but it was a good start.

  The Broker confirmed she had paid me for my first bit of work. A nice £150,000 as my first job was finished. I confirmed she was at the hotel and that she wasn’t there anymore, so that job was finished. Now there was another £300,000 on the table. For this though I had to follow this through to its conclusion and get the girl back, alive if I could.

  The Broker didn’t know why the girl was wanted, she didn’t ask. The client however, through Monika, had kindly offered me 50% of the fee upfront. Monika said they asked her to package this to me as an added ‘incentive’ to get things done.

  If truth be told it wouldn’t have sped me up at all and she knew it. Some poor kid’s life was at stake so that motivated me enough. However, it was always nice to have some extra green up front and now I had £300,000 from the two payments in my account with hopefully another £150,000 to follow.

  Monika gave me the address and told me she had looked it up. It was a normal residential address but she suggested I expect trouble, which I usually did. It’s fair to expect trouble when you’re making a daytime home visit to a vampire. They’re not keen on them.

  Chapter 6

  Well, now I’d got a decent lead it was time to chase it down. Vampires, though, I’ll be honest I hate them. Different types, different strengths and weaknesses means a whole bag of trouble for the unprepared. Still, it could be worse, it could be werewolves. Those big furry types are nothing short of one-man tanks and certainly not something I want to mess with.

  I left the house armed with my usual attire; my magical ring, my hidden Sentinel staff, a beautiful thing of my own design and the Amulet of Toroco. The amulet is a Tibetan device given to me some time back. The Amulet is really handy being the Suffolk Sentinel as it alerts me to hostile spirits and it can trap and bind one inside. It has a special binding spell in it which I keep meaning to research further. I’d opted to leave my normal silver rope chain at home, its specialty is shielding me and I hoped I wouldn’t need it here. This amulet, despite the alerting me to spirits, gives me a little extra magical muscle to throw around and I felt I might need that more.

  The Amulet of Toroco has a current resident inside it. A nasty spirit which I haven’t a name for but I trapped near to a small, often ignored graveyard in the old part of Felixstowe. Hostile spirits are often found in Suffolk, it’s one of the things this part of the country is famed for. Yes, you have your Borley Rectory which is a bad nexus for things like this. Sutton Hoo isn’t a good place to be at the wrong time either. There are many long dead spirits in Suffolk, ill at rest and desperate to terrorise the living. There are worse places as well in Suffolk if you know where to look. For now though, I’m keeping these a secret.

  I took my time getting ready, it wasn’t as if the vamp was going to be going anywhere. I readied my tools of the trade and then it was into my Range Rover and then out of town, down the A12 and back towards Essex.

  ****

  Essex, as I’ve said isn’t officially my patch. The past Sentinel Wilf Sonoman was killed there. Murdered by someone or something. The problem is the leaders of the Order, and I use the term leaders very loosely, are not telling anyone about what really happened. Not even me, the temporary replacement. Yep, I’m the poor sap who has been sent in to ‘cover’ the county until they appoint a new Sentinel.

  Still, I can’t moan too much, it’s a different area and new people to meet isn’t always a bad thing. If the info Monika had given me was right, then I can probably wrap this job up and find the missing girl, which would be nice. All I had to do was find some relative nobody vampire called Martin Stone.

  Monika, my Broker said this Martin Stone was an information dealer among the vampires. He should also be easy to find, especially since she had given me the lowlife’s address.

  It’s things like this that always makes me wonder about the Broker. Finding the location of a vampire isn’t the easiest thing and handing that info over is even harder. Vampires don’t like people handing out their places of rest.

  If Monika thinks this guy has something good to share about the missing girl, and she did, then I had better ask nice, real nice, especially as it’s really early in the day still.

  ****

  I watched as the sign for Colchester drew nearer. I turned off at the junction as it started. I made my way through the town’s roads, towards the University. Typically, this vampire, like many I suspected would be enjoying an all you can eat buffet of students most nights. Still, I wasn’t here to right this wrong, I was just here to find out about the missing girl and where she is now.

  The roads passed by until I got to the relatively small cul-de-sac where Monika said this Martin Stone lived.

  I drove past the turning and took a look down towards his house. It was like many other cul-de-sacs in the area but a quick drive by always helps. One of the problems at times with the Beast is its looks. The all blacked out drug dealer mobile can arouse suspicion.

  I really wanted to be as low key as possible in case Mr Stone had spotters on the outside. It’s not that uncommon for vamps to do this. If this guy does hold some important info then caution can never be a bad thing as he may be jittery.

  Illusions don’t often work too well on the undead, their senses can often be so strong and their minds are resistant to mind influencing magic.

  If you want to fool them with this sort of thing it’s a different school of magic, not the illusionary craft. Biomancy is a school of magic which specifically deals with physical alterations of the wielder. Things which don’t change what a person perceives they actually change the caster themselves. I’ve read up on some great uses of this school but it’s something which hasn’t come easy to me.

  I pulled up at the curb some way down from the cul-de-sac entrance. I then sat still, with the engine running and thought through what I had to do. It was an old habit which I liked to do to steadily calm my mind. Less pace often delivers more speed as the Indian shaman Ashok would say. Also, it helps to battle the inevitable adrenalin dump which fights to take control of you.

  I told myself it’s simple, find the vampire Stone, get the info and get out. The trouble is being the stand-in Sentinel for Essex does carry a bit of weight around here, but I am not ‘officially’ the local Sentinel. I’m kind of like a temp, so not taken seriously.

  Also, I’m an unknown around here. Nobody would recognise me so I can’t pull that card either. I wouldn’t be able to play the ‘do you know who I am card.’ No, this had to be done calmly and quietly. After all, when you break into a vampire’s home during daylight hours they are never pleased to see you.

  Then, I opened the door to the Beast and got out, moving to the back of the jeep.

  The big boot of the 4x4 helps a lot as I can cram in a fair number of things. Everything I felt I needed was where it should be and most likely I wouldn’t need any of it for this. Still, being a wizard is great, don’t get me wrong, but being a prepared wizard means you get to live a lot longer. So, when I can, I avoid traveling light.

  I rounded the corner and walked up. The light rain now dripping off my brown leather jacket and dampening my hair.

  I passed a few houses. It
was a Sunday and mid-morning so there wasn’t anyone about. No keen gardeners tending flowers, or people cutting their grass which was good. As I passed the first few houses I looked at the numbers to be sure I got the right house.

  The properties were all mid-sized three-bedroom semi-detached properties with in-built garages. They had the modern brick design on the bottom halves with their top halves all painted white.

  As I got further along the path I began to see the last house in this small close. Number twenty, which looked exactly as most of the others did. Albeit with one more vehicle than it could accommodate on its driveway.

  Everything seemed in keeping with the value of the properties in the street. Nothing unusual standing out. Number twenty had a single car driveway and parked on the sloping drive was an older silver, 3 series, BMW convertible.

  Parked across however was a cleaning company’s van with its engine still running. It was sign written in the most basic design possible. A new white van with black lettering saying Paulo’s Cleaners and a mobile number. The van was brand new though and this didn’t add up.

  Not that I know the costs for new Ford vans these days but I doubted it would be cheap. So, the owners spending as little as possible on the sign writing didn’t add up at all. Also, vampires as I’ve said are not big on callers during the day. Plus I didn’t think a normal trades person would park across a customer’s driveway during the day. There was adequate pavement to park on up and down the road so this did look out of place.

  I considered falling back and ringing the Broker to find out who this cleaning company was. Sadly though, time was against me so I pressed on. I had the element of surprise and it was up to me to make it count.

  I took big strides past the car and onto the drive. As I did I checked the car’s wing mirror to see if anyone was in the van’s cab. Thankfully it was empty but with the engine running it indicated to me that the guest didn’t plan on stopping long.

  I didn’t need a map to work this one out. Van running, day time visit, suspect van as well. It looked like Martin Stone, the vampire, was heading for a bad day. Who knew what I was heading into now.

  Still, I stopped, turned around and slid my jacket sleeve over my hand and tried the driver’s door of the van. It opened easily which was good. I reached inside and turned the key in the ignition before removing it. The van fell silent.

  I locked it and after a couple of quick beeps it was secured. At least that slowed any escape route for its owner and limited them to any additional toys should they choose to upset my meeting with Mr Stone. Also, if by some miraculous longshot they were not that bad, I’d just give them the keys back. I live, in the hope someone someday is at a meeting like this and they are actually here to help my cause, not hinder it.

  I then walked down the drive noting the curtains were closed and the front door slightly ajar. Again, not a good sign!

  I reached out with my senses to see if I could feel any latent magic, no, nothing, which was a start. I then recanted a less taxing shielding spell made even lesser by the missing rope chain I normally wore. This though was intended to be a ‘meet and greet.’ So, hopefully it would be sufficient enough.

  I pulled out my small stick and with my will and the command incantation my staff grew to a walking stick size. It’s never going to hurt much if you hit someone with it but as a full-size staff it can hurt. At this size though, it’s also good for keeping things away from you. Mainly though, it enables me to augment my magic and cast some handy spells quickly. A lot of magic is about planning and preparation but sometimes you just have to wing it.

  I tried the door and it opened. No point kicking down an open door, equally why would it be open though. At this point I’m starting to get a bit jittery, perhaps the van owner had it on the latch doing some work, yep, that’s plausible but not very likely.

  The hallway was sparse, no pictures or anything showing it was inhabited. There was a small wooden stand by the front door. An old magazine on it to make it look like it’s in use to postmen and the like. However, go inside a vampire’s home, or ‘nest’ as they are often called and you will find things put in plain view to give the appearance of normality.

  Their urges are strong, they sleep and wake, often for hunting. Then they party or cause trouble and finally go back to their nest to sleep again. Although, little of their activity actually takes place in their nests.

  No sign of dogs. That was good sign and something The Lost Boys movie got correct. Vamps love dogs as daytime guards. Many hold a strong sway over animals, particularly predatory ones.

  I listened but all was silent. No sounds of movement at all. I paused for a bit longer but still nothing. Then I got a hit, a door banged, likely the backdoor. It wasn’t loud but it showed that someone was up and about.

  It was likely that the someone was a human guard or servant or just maybe the cleaner from the van. After all, I had seriously doubted Mr Stone would be wandering about outside if he knew what was good for him. Often vampires do actually ‘sleep’ during the day in the lofts and sometimes in basements but I had a sneaky suspicion where Mr Stone would be, in the integral garage. It looked too good a choice given this type of house.

  As I moved through the house, it was quiet so I picked up my pace. I looked into the front room. Pretty much as expected, a barely used sofa and a new looking TV. The usual trappings of life for people with money but there was no homeliness to any of it. No pictures, no family photos, no receipts or items showing someone actually used this as a real home.

  I moved through the hall and past a door which must have led to the integral garage but it was shut. I then moved into the kitchen and caught sight of someone moving in the garden. I ducked as fast as I could, hoping not to have lost the element of surprise. Whoever was outside wasn’t a vampire, that much was for sure. Some vampires can be out in the day for very short periods but they are very rare and although it wasn’t sunny outside even the ‘day walkers’ didn’t like to go out in it unless they had to.

  Mr Stone, most likely, was inside the garage sleeping the sleep of the dead and the person outside was someone sent to find something, or Paulo the cleaner. Well, time to get myself acquainted I guess.

  I moved through the kitchen keeping myself lower than the worktops. No warnings from my ring or amulet which was good news. It meant nothing was tampering with my mind and there were no spirits about.

  I moved towards the backdoor which was still slightly ajar. Thankfully, it hadn’t slammed shut it had just hit the striker plate in the doorframe and stopped. I couldn’t hear anything unusual and when I looked carefully through the doorway from my crouched position, I couldn’t see anything of note. Just the back of the garage and another heavy outside door which was also an entrance into the garage but from the back garden. Otherwise, everything else as it should be, silent.

  Now, I didn’t know how alert the resident vampire was when he was asleep. It seems to vary from what I had read and I didn’t want to wake him. I needed to see who the person was outside and I didn’t have time to waste. So, I took my chance and quietly looked around the wall leading to the rear garden and there he was, the assumed Paulo.

  A man, around six feet tall, give or take, was in the garden. He had a workman’s overalls on him and at first I thought he was a genuine cleaner come tradesman. He had a tool belt around his waist with a few tools in it; a hammer, a wooden stake and a small pistol, well, one out of three isn’t so bad I guess.

  The man’s face was hidden as his back was turned. From my angle, he seemed to be looking at something, something on the ground, so, I stepped out into the garden.

  I coughed, the kind of fake cough you do to alert someone to your presence. Hopefully without startling him too much, I failed.

  The man whirled quickly and I noticed his right hand drop instinctively, resting ready on the pistol as he turned side on. This was to hide the firearm from view. You see guns are rare in the UK and I tend to notice them. I’ve only ever
encountered them once or twice before and I’m not much of a shot myself. In truth, I hate guns and this, this wasn’t good.

  Raising my hands submissively I spoke. “Hi, Sir, sorry your door was open as I guess you’re working here? My car has broken down, any chance I could use your phone?” I asked, sounding as non-threatening as I could as I leaned on my now walking stick sized staff a bit harder.

  “It’s broken. Sorry.” said the man with a degree of finality and in a thick Manchester accent. His eyes flashed to my walking stick as he took in my weakened posture.

  “Darn, just my luck, I’ve knocked on two doors now and nobody has answered. I’ve got this bad leg you see so I can’t walk far. You were kind of my last shot. I don’t suppose you have a mobile I could use. Sorry mister, I’m pretty snookered here and I can call my brother in law to come help me out?”

  “Sorry, Sir.” replied Paulo. “I’m just here cleaning.”

  I smiled, “Cleaning, with your hand on your pistol?” I asked coldly and stood up straight, ready for action and hoping my shield spell would hold.

  The man gave a steely eyed nod, knowing the game was up. Just before he could raise the pistol I raised my short, cane style staff and spoke its command work. “Tinzar-um.” The power coursed through the staff and stuck the man in the chest taking him clean off his feet causing him to land hard on the wet grass. He was obviously human and surprised by my actions thinking me unarmed. This power doesn’t seem to do much to the supernatural who are generally hardier. It works very well on the normal folk though. The pale white blast hit him in the chest, he grunted, staggered and fell to the floor. Paulo was out cold, thankfully, I got the drop on him and I now know for sure he was a hostile I needed to be careful.

  I moved over to him and needed to restrain him quickly. It’s always hit and miss as to how quickly people recovered from the staff’s magic. It could be anywhere between five and thirty minutes so I had to work fast.