“The one your friend contacted?” Jordan asked.
“No,” I replied with a sinking feeling. “The one I contacted.”
The others turned toward me.
“Caroline received your message,” Osgood told me. “Per her directive, I’m to deliver you and your crew into the time catch.”
“So you withheld this information?” Jordan asked me, nostrils still flaring.
We were back at the table, but no one was sitting. I’d brought the team up to speed on my activities that morning, including my letter to Caroline. Needless to say, tempers had spiked, especially Jordan’s and Seay’s.
“The possibility seemed remote,” I said. “I didn’t even think my letter would reach her.”
I glanced over at Osgood, who was strolling the apartment, hands clasped behind his back as though to give us space. He’d hung his coat upon entering, apparently, and now the field telescope jutted from a pocket. He hadn’t described his exchange with Caroline, and he didn’t appear prepared to now.
Had the letter spoken to her reason? Her emotions?
Seay faced me, hands on her hips. “And yet you sat there acting like my fae plan was the stupidest thing you’d ever heard.”
“Hey, I didn’t even like my fae plan,” I shot back. “I was exploring the least bad options.”
“Which you withheld so you could circle the discussion back to Arnaud,” Jordan said.
I caught my fists clenching. “Regardless of what you two think happened, I put forward what I still consider our best option.”
“Well, that’s tough,” Seay said, “because we’re still bonded by the old vote, the one about using the fae to access the time catch.”
“That’s right,” Jordan said. He didn’t wait for Malachi or me to respond before turning to Osgood. “So, what’s the plan?”
Osgood nodded as if coming out of a pleasant reverie and walked over to us. “The best time to cross over will be twilight. I’ve identified a location that offers the least bumpy ride. An old fort on Governor’s Island.”
“Where the mercreatures ducked out,” Gorgantha said.
Though still simmering over the accusations against me, I nodded, not doubting there was a connection. Was Demon X using the time catch as a kind of cubby hole to move his Strangers and their hosts in and out?
“Your magical implements should make the journey fine,” Osgood continued, looking from Jordan’s quarterstaff to my walking cane. “However, I would keep them to a minimum. Perhaps two items apiece. I would also strongly discourage you from carrying anything volatile. This includes combustibles, electronics, most potions. If they were to discharge in transit, the consequences would be … well, tragic. The lighter you travel, the better. No more than five mundane items and something for carrying them, so choose wisely.”
“I have an interplanar space I use for storage,” I said. “Will I be able to access it from the time catch?”
Osgood confirmed what I’d already guessed with a head shake.
“Can I assume by your threads that you’re coming with?” Seay asked.
She appeared to have taken an interest in Osgood, despite that he would have been centuries her senior. He gave a soft laugh that sounded more amused than condescending. “I’m afraid I have other duties that I must be getting back to, Miss Sherard. I’ll escort you as far as the island and ensure your entry into the time catch.”
“And what do we have to give you in exchange?” Malachi asked.
Osgood showed his empty hands. “Not a thing. I’m simply following orders.”
“We were under the impression it worked differently,” Jordan said to Osgood while shooting me a sidelong look.
“It does,” I said.
Only the bargain hadn’t been struck between Osgood and us, but between Caroline and the fae. Once more, I wondered what had compelled her to grant my request, no doubt at a cost. I caught Osgood watching me with his knowing eyes.
“Do you happen to know where this time catch is set?” I asked.
“Why, yes,” he replied, surprising me. “New York City, circa 1776.”
I paused. “During the American Revolution?”
“That’s correct, Mr. Croft.”
22
With only a few hours until twilight, I picked up the tuna steaks I’d promised Tabitha, stopped at a used bookstore, and returned to my apartment. While Tabitha ate, I launched into final preparations. Twelve years earlier, I’d thought packing for a trip to a lost monastery in Romania was a challenge.
Try a trip to eighteenth-century New York, kid.
Head buzzing, I grabbed an old backpack from my closet and signed my cubby hole open. From the void, I pulled out my go-to casting book and dropped it inside the pack. I then added a book on New York history that I’d bought at the bookstore, mainly for its 1776 survey maps of the city.
That’s two.
Osgood told us not to worry about era-appropriate attire or money. He would take care of those. I decided to use my three remaining slots on spell implements. In the upstairs lab, I dug through my plastic bins. My pre-made potions were a no go, unfortunately, the suspended gems inside too unstable. Instead, I packed a vial of copper filings and two of my rarer ingredients, both inert: chameleon scales and slug essence. I would have to trust that the remaining ingredients for the potions I had in mind would be available in 1776 New York.
Now for the two magical items.
My cane sword was a given. Osgood had already assured me the two parts could count as one—he would bond them for the journey. But now came the tough choice: Grandpa’s ring, my mother’s emo ball, or Gretchen’s cold iron amulet. They all had their utility against beings we might encounter.
I consulted my magic. Sometimes it gave me answers, but now it only shifted around, seeming to indicate none of them. The ring made the most sense, I decided. It would protect against vampires and, assuming the interfaith charge held, demons. And since we were going there to take on the second…
I checked to ensure the ring was secure at the base of my finger.
“Tabitha,” I said, climbing down the ladder with my loaded pack, “I’m leaving you in charge.”
She looked up from her plate and licked her grease-wet lips. “For how long?”
“If all goes well, I should be back later tonight.”
“So soon?”
“We could be days, even weeks, in the time catch, but little time will pass here.”
“I won’t pretend to understand that, darling, so I’ll just say good luck.”
I couldn’t resist a little teasing. “Sure you don’t want to come along?”
“You said you’re leaving from an island?” She scrunched up her face. “You know my feelings about water.”
“Well, you wouldn’t be swimming there. Vega’s arranged for a police boat to take us over.”
“Be that as it may, the answer remains no.” When she caught my smirk, she said, “Make that, hell no.”
“Suit yourself.” I checked to ensure I had everything I intended to bring, then paused, a hand on the doorknob. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
She looked back at me blankly.
“About the demon apocalypse stuff?” I prompted.
“Oh, much better, darling. Almost back to normal.”
“Great to hear.”
With Tabitha acting as a canary in the demonic coalmine, her response suggested we might already have disrupted Demon X’s plans by capturing Finn and purging half his pod. Now it was a matter of finishing the job. Then I could get back to pursuing Arnaud, hopefully as soon as tomorrow.
I gave Tabitha a final wave, locked up, then called Vega to tell her the Upholders and I would be heading to the dock soon.
The sun was just setting as the police boat cleared the southern tip of Manhattan and sped toward Governor’s Island. Malachi, Seay, and I sat in the back with the packs. Jordan flew off the boat’s port side in his raven form, while Gorgantha was in the bay, she and h
er pod acting as underwater escorts. Vega had offered to send the Sup Squad along, but I told her we had enough firepower for the short crossing.
And then there was Osgood.
The mysterious fae being stood at the head of the boat, peering at the approaching island through his field telescope. The tails of his long brown coat flapped behind him, enhancing his whole adventurer look.
“Can you trust him?” Vega had asked on the phone.
“Yeah,” I’d replied after a moment.
“Okay, then why the hesitation?”
Because the question wasn’t whether I trusted Osgood, but Caroline. “Because fae are fae,” I answered instead. “But I think they realize this is in their interest too. The demon master is targeting half-fae.”
“Well, listen to your gut,” she said. “If it’s telling you something’s off, don’t ignore it.”
“I won’t. I’ll see you later tonight.”
“I’ll be waiting, babe.”
The police boat slowed into a back churn of water as we approached the old dock. Up ahead, dense growth glowed in the twilight. Like with most of New York’s parks, the funding for Governor’s Island had been eliminated post-Crash and only recently restored. A long way from rehabbed, the island remained closed to visitors for the foreseeable future.
As the boat throttled to a stop, the three of us in back stood and gathered the bags. Jordan flew ahead to scout our end of the island. I thanked the two officers as we disembarked and joined Osgood on the dock.
Moments later, the boat was backing out and speeding toward the New York City skyline. Only eight hundred yards from southern Manhattan, and I felt like we were standing on the edge of a wilderness. As my gaze ranged past the distant figure of Lady Liberty, Gorgantha’s head broke from the water below.
“Bay’s clear,” she announced, pulling herself onto the dock.
In a burst of druidic magic, Jordan dropped beside us in his human form. “The way to Fort Jay looks good.”
I’d carried his leather pack from the boat and now handed it to him. He took it with a nod and slung the single strap across his torso. With the voting behind us, he seemed to be softening his stance toward me.
Yeah, ’cause he got what he wanted, I thought, not without bitterness.
Osgood led the way along an old road, the asphalt ravaged by roots. A former boathouse stood in ruins to our left. Beyond a failing retaining wall, we entered a band of woods. “The fort is just ahead.” Though Osgood spoke with his usual decorum, I sensed he was enjoying the outing.
We were well into the trees when a series of hog-like snorts sounded. Osgood held up a hand. The rest of us stopped and peered past him. It took me a moment to spot the two hulking figures hunched over the ground, no doubt foraging for animal carcasses.
I turned toward Jordan. “Hey, I think you missed something.”
“What are they?” Seay whispered, fae light glowing around her hands.
Jordan shot me a scowl. “Ghouls.”
“Ugh,” Gorgantha muttered. “Hate those things.”
Though Mayor Lowder’s eradication program had rid the city of most of the foul creatures, survivors turned up from time to time, usually in remote places like this one. And by the direction of the wind, they were going to know they had company in about three, two…
One of the ghouls threw his body upright with a sudden moan and thrust his lump of nose into the air. The other stared our way with dumb eyes. Judging by their large but not quite massive builds, these were juveniles. They were still going to be a pain in the ass to put down. And here I’d been hoping to save my magic for the time catch. I’d already drawn my sword when they let out a pair of yowls.
Osgood cleared his throat. “Would you like to handle them, or should I?”
The creatures broke into a charge, trees crashing around them.
I opened a hand toward the ghouls. “By all means.”
“Very good, sir.”
Osgood turned and faced the onrushing ghouls. They were easily twice his size. Within moments, they were breaking through the final trees, one of them lashing a clawed hand at Osgood’s head. I was opening my mouth to cast when a soft light pulsed, and both creatures disintegrated without a sound. Osgood looked at the spot where their dust was floating to a rest, then peered over a shoulder.
“Shall we continue?”
I couldn’t help but smirk. He was definitely enjoying this.
He led us along the broken swath left by the ghouls, and we soon emerged from the trees. An outer wall rose before us. We passed through an arched tunnel to access the fort’s central quadrangle. Crumbling buildings stood on all sides. The energy was different here, and my wizard’s senses showed why. The fort’s star-shaped design was focusing the ley lines into the middle of the quadrangle.
Osgood stopped where two intersecting walkways formed a cross. As we gathered in front of him, I peered around, wary of the dimming fort and what could be lurking inside.
“You will be entering a city under British rule,” Osgood said. “Further, you will be entering during a time of war against the Americans. When you arrive, take the most direct route to the water and procure a rowboat.”
“Under the nose of British soldiers?” Malachi asked.
“I will address that,” he said. “But your time will be limited. Row straight to the mainland. You can find lodgings in one of several inns along Nassau Street. If your allegiance is questioned, I advise you to answer loyalist to the King’s soldiers and the wealthy and patriot to the common man in the tavern. It should avoid complications. In general, though, it will be best to avoid people altogether.”
I wondered how much of this info was coming from Caroline, whose areas of expertise at Midtown College included urban history and affairs, and how much from Osgood’s quiet knowledge of All Things.
“Also, your magic will create larger ripples in that place. If you wish to go quietly, forego its use.”
Great.
“Can you tell us anything about the Stranger we’re hunting?” I asked.
“I’m sorry, I cannot.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Jordan pressed.
Osgood’s faint smile suggested that while the fae had green-lighted his involvement with our mission, they had him on a short leash. “I trust your collective skills and intelligence will be up to the task,” he said. “What I can do is send this along with you.” From his coat, he retrieved a small leather pouch, which he offered to me. A layer of silvery magic, the color of starlight, moved around it.
“What’s inside?” I asked as I accepted the supple pouch. Seay leaned toward it, her perplexed look telling me she had no clue either.
“Assistance, should you require it,” Osgood said. “But please, only open it as a last measure.”
Apparently it wasn’t too volatile to make the journey, whatever it was. I stored the pouch in my pack. Per Osgood’s instructions, I was carrying nothing in my coat pockets, and the coat now felt strangely light.
“The best way to return will be from this location,” Osgood said, tapping his foot twice. “Note it when you arrive.”
“Will we need to signal you?” I asked.
“That will not be necessary,” he replied without elaborating.
Gorgantha made a doubtful face. “And if for some reason we can’t get back to this spot?”
“The British troops,” Malachi put in, clearly bothered by the idea of their presence.
“Yes, a backup plan would be wise,” Osgood agreed. “Is there a location in the here and now you can suggest as a focus? It must hold a high concentration of energy.”
“How about the townhouse?” Jordan asked.
“The energy is too diffuse, I’m afraid.”
“Too diffuse?” Malachi echoed.
“As are your safe houses,” Osgood added, preempting him.
I cleared my throat. “There’s a cell in 1 Police Plaza that—”
“Yes, that will do,” Osgood decided b
efore I could explain further. I was already connected to the empty cell through my own magic, but now I felt a new bonding take hold. Subtler, yet stronger. One I sensed would maintain its connection across time and space. And Osgood had done nothing more than make eye contact with me.
“That will not be the safest method of return,” he said, “especially for all five of you, so you must not rely on it. Make every effort to come here, preferably after dark.” He peered up at the sky, whose deep gray color now mirrored his eyes. “Quickly now, gather into a circle around me and join hands.”
We did as he said, my mind scrambling for final questions but not coming up with any. I consulted my gut, as Vega had urged me. The entire thing felt surreal but not off. We could trust Osgood.
I had ended up between Gorgantha and Seay. The mermaid swallowed my left hand in her webbed grip while the half-fae slid her slender hand inside my right. She gave it a playful squeeze, which I found reassuring.
“Close your eyes,” Osgood said.
I did so without hesitation. This is it.
“Open them,” the fae being commanded.
When I did, my breath caught in my chest and I stared around.
“What in the…?” Gorgantha muttered.
“Holy shit,” Seay breathed.
We had arrived, and we were right in the middle of a group of—
“Soldiers,” Malachi gasped.
23
We dropped each other’s hands and moved into defensive postures. I pulled my sword at the same time Jordan’s quarterstaff appeared from his cloak. Faint light glowed around Seay’s fists.
But as I recovered from my initial shock, I noticed our attire had changed. My trench coat had turned into a long greatcoat. Underneath, I was wearing what looked like a linen shirt and waistcoat. My pants, meanwhile, had become form-fitting breeches tucked inside a pair of leather boots. Similar clothing showed below Jordan’s cloak. Seay’s hair fell in golden ringlets over the shoulders of a dark green gown, a frilly stomacher accenting the swell of a bodice. Malachi, meanwhile, wore a priest’s robe.
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