Elixxir (The Brethren Series)

by Remiel, Deena

“Hey.”

  “I know this is a lot to take in. It’s not every day you learn that angels exist and that by drinking a liquid you can become immortal. I get it. I’m hoping we can move forward, though. That Elixxir must be found and secured as soon as possible. Can I count on you to help me?”

  She turned around and raised a brow. “Oh, now you’re asking me for help? Tell me, you’ve known, since I found you at my doorstep, that I had the Elixxir.”

  “Yes, I can’t lie. So yes, I did know. And what about you? You knew all along the men were after the Elixxir, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  He got up, moved down a couple of stairs, and turned so they were face to face. He leaned against a raised knee. “Then you are no different than me. We are both secretive and have very good reasons to be so. I am protecting the world, and you, well, you are protecting the remnants of a life so radically changed from what it should have been.”

  “No, I guess in that sense we’re not that different. So, when we find this Elixxir, what do you plan on doing with it?”

  “I have to take it back to the Beyond where it will be secured for eternity.”

  “And what if I don’t want to give it to you? What if I want to keep it? What would you do?”

  “I would have to find a way to convince you to give it to me. It can’t remain here. It’s not meant for this world.”

  “I don’t want it anyway,” she said dismissively. “It’s caused me nothing but suffering and pain.” She nudged him out of the way and walked up the steps at an unhurried pace. “We need to go to a novelty shop and get an invisible ink kit. I know it sounds silly, but that’s what I’m sure my father used to write the rest of the letter. That’s what he was telling me when he wrote about us writing notes to each other. We always used invisible ink.”

  “That should be easy enough to find.”

  “My father’s store had them in a section for kids. What do you say we tempt the fates and go there?”

  He charged up the stairs and grabbed her by the arm to stop and turn her toward him. “I don’t know if you’re a bold, kickass woman or just one with a death wish.”

  “I’ve been wondering what Uncle’s done with the place. And who knows, if we decipher the letter, it might lead us back there.”

  “There’s not a chance I’m letting you go there yet. Not until we know who’s a part of this death plot. We can find something at one of the shops around here.”

  She shrugged. “It was worth a shot. You know, if I remember my father well, and I think I do, he’s not going to make this easy for us. He loved puzzles, and if he thought danger surrounded this thing, he could have cloaked its whereabouts in a riddle or something like that.”

  “Well, we’ll see soon enough. Come on.” He held out his hand to her. “This is one clue the bad guys don’t have. Hopefully, the note they took doesn’t tell them everything.”

  She nodded and put her hand in his as he turned to walk back up the steps.

  “Nathanael.”

  “Yes?”

  “Stop a minute.” He did as she bade him, and waited for her to reach a few steps above him.

  “All my secrets are revealed. My cards played. How about yours?”

  Her gaze sought an assurance he couldn’t give her. She would have to understand there were things he could never share with her. “As far as the Elixxir goes, I have told you everything I know and what I need to do. Beyond that, I can’t promise to tell you everything about me, about the Brethren, about the world beyond. It is too much of a risk. But you must know that what I do share with you, I’ve never shared with another human. I am trusting you with our existence and the safety of its secrecy. Think you can handle that?”

  “You can trust me. I’ll never tell.”

  He smiled and they continued back to their room. Raphael can always do a mind sweep if you do.

  ***

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  Classical music lilting in the background did nothing to soothe his irritation. Ariana still lived. His men would arrive shortly with the envelope they’d found in the wreckage of her apartment. He suspected it contained information about the Elixxir flask. Ruminating about the plan he’d conceived years ago, he grinned for the first time that day. She would be brought to him, alive. Then, she would be forced to watch as he drank the Elixxir. Finally, she would die and he would live. Forever. At least that was the plan for now. Things could always change.

  “Mr. Murati, there are two gentlemen waiting in the foyer to see you.”

  “Send them in, Clara. Thank you.” He swirled the brandy in the snifter and took a swill. Ah, sweet. But revenge would be sweeter. He relaxed into his wing-back chair by the stone fireplace.

  Two well-dressed men entered the library and stood before him. “Please, gentlemen, take a seat. You have something for me, Johnny?”

  The man with the shiny, charcoal gray Armani suit answered. “Yes, sir. As I told you over the phone, we found the envelope in a safe. There’s a return address on it for a law office here in Vegas. It’s sealed. Looks like it’s never been opened. Here.” He handed it to him.

  “Good, good. Nice work, you two. Stay here while I open it. I may have another assignment for you.”

  He took the letter opener that rested on a side table and sliced through the flap, imagining it to be Ariana’s neck. He took out the note and painstakingly unfolded it. “Son of a bitch!” He tossed it to the floor.

  “What is it, Mr. Murati?” Marco spoke up this time.

  “It’s a damn puzzle! A friggin’ clue! Even from the grave Joseph toys with me! I don’t have time to play his stupid games.” He swallowed the rest of the brandy in one swig.

  “So now what, boss?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? As much as I loathe what he’s done to me, we must solve the puzzle and go from there. Johnny!” He held out his glass. “Pour me another brandy. Marco, pick up the damn letter and let’s get started figuring out the answer.”

  Chapter Ten

  Callie found a novelty shop not far from their hotel. Although within walking distance, given the fact it neared midnight, taking the bike seemed a safer bet. It made for easy getaways, if necessary. As they pulled up to the storefront, she had second thoughts. It looked like a tiny hole in the wall. But as she dismounted, she mustered up her optimism and put a smile on her face. It didn’t matter what the place looked like, really. Having called beforehand, she knew they had what they were looking for.

  As she opened the door, the ear-piercing jingle of a bell alerted the world they had arrived. The young girl at the counter near the front of the store immediately looked up from her book and blew a bubble with her gum.

  “Hi, we’re having a sale on crystal balls today. Forty percent off. And if you’re interested in fake vomit, it’s buy one, get one free.” She went back to reading and chewing like a cow.

  “Thank you.” Nathanael sidled up next to Callie, leaned on the counter, and smiled a toothy grin. “We were actually interested in your invisible ink kits. We have a nephew who’s into all that spy stuff. Can you help us find one?”

  And help we’re gonna need, Callie thought to herself as she looked around. The minuscule store had only two aisles and floor-to-ceiling shelves crammed with all sorts of magic and comic paraphernalia. It suffocated.

  The girl gave him a sour smile in return. “Invisible ink kits are down aisle two, all the way at the end, right side, second shelf from the bottom.”

  Following the clerk’s directions, Callie eyed what she needed and turned to say so, but when she did, she found him still standing by the counter, watching her. After giving him a quizzical look, she finally understood. He motioned with his hands that the width of the aisle was narrower than the width of him. She laughed, picked up the kit, and headed back toward the front. He paid, and they headed back to the hotel, stopping only to pick up a pizza and drinks.

  ***

  “I’m so glad we stopped for something to eat. My stomach
growled something fierce the whole time we were in the store.”

  “I know. I heard it.” Nathanael put his hands against his ears, and she smacked his arm with the back of her hand. They shared a mushroom pepperoni pie, picnic-style, on the bed.

  “You know something? I think pizza tastes better the later the evening gets, don’t you?”

  “I can eat the damn stuff morning, noon, and night. Don’t know why, and I don’t question it.” He smiled back. “Do you want to do the reveal now? I can tell you’re utterly exhausted at this point.”

  “I am, but I want to know what my father wrote. So, let me at it. Where’d you put the kit?”

  “On the table. Where’s the letter?”

  “In my bag.” She grabbed it and sat down across from him.

  He read the directions on the back of the package. “Hmm, says here we’re supposed to spray this liquid on the paper and the chemical reacts with the ink. Here.” He took the small spray bottle out of the plastic cover and handed it to her. Would the ink still react after all this time? Nate looked dubious, but she disregarded his cynicism and hoped for the best.

  “Thanks. Here goes everything.”

  She spritzed the paper with a fine coating and waited. Not ten seconds later, a message appeared. She sprang from her seat. “Here it is! Nate, it worked!” She calmed herself and sat back down. “Listen to this. With a find such as this, I’d be foolish to disclose its whereabouts plainly. There are clues to be found and rules to be followed. Here’s your first clue: Where the lions sleep and roar is a marquee with a trap door. A quarter past noon is the best time for you to open it and solve Clue #2.”

  “You weren’t kidding when you said he liked puzzles, were ya?”

  “Nope. God, reading his words, I…. It’s like I can almost hear his voice again.” She shook herself from her reverie. “Well, I know exactly where we need to go. It’s a place we used to go all the time as a family. The Big Cats Safari Refuge. It has a lion habitat in it. We have to find the right marquee and wait until a quarter past noon to retrieve the next clue!”

  “Respectfully, I must say that as much as your father meant for this to be a game, it’s not. Your life is in danger. I’m sure with my skills I can get the next clue regardless of time and without a problem.”

  “Okay, well I’m really bushwhacked and my brain could use a break for a couple hours. I’m gonna turn in for a bit. You must be tired as well.”

  “Angels never sleep.”

  “What? That’s crazy! How do you keep your energy up?”

  “We meditate for a bit every now and then, but that’s all we need.” He picked up a napkin and gently wiped the corner of her mouth. “You had some sauce on ya, sorry. Didn’t want you to be embarrassed later.”

  “Thanks.” Callie brushed her hands off over the empty box and closed it. They’d polished the whole thing off in about fifteen minutes. “So what are you going to do while I sleep?”

  “I’m gonna go work out. I’ve been carrying a lot of pent-up energy since the bus station incident and need to get rid of it.”

  “Pent-up energy, huh?” She smothered a giggle.

  “Yeah, I need to pound on something hard and long, or I’m gonna burst.”

  “Nathanael, sweetheart, let me clue you in.” She shook her head. “You don’t go telling a girl something like that and then leave for the gym.”

  “I don’t know what the hell you are talking about.” He got up from the bed and headed toward the door.

  “Think about it as you’re heading downstairs, okay?”

  “Whatever. Don’t answer the door or the phone for any reason. I’ll be back in about a half hour.”

  “Okay. Have fun sweating it up, alone.”

  He knew exactly what Callie had alluded to upstairs, but the energy he’d kept a lid on all day and night could not be controlled once let out. He’d hurt her. So he chose to call his friend to box him to a pulp instead. At least he would be able to recover from it, like any immortal. Joe showed up at the world-class fitness room, as requested, and Nathanael proceeded to pummel the immortal crap out of him. Joe returned the favor.

  “Wow, you’re definitely wound up tighter than a jack-in-the-box. What’s up?” They sat on the floor, sweat pouring down their faces, guzzling water from their bottles.

  “Had a little run-in with some jerk-offs at the bus station earlier. Laid them all out flat in like five seconds. Got my mojo going strong and had nowhere to put it. Nearly knocked Callie flat on her ass.”

  “What? That’s no good, man.”

  “I didn’t, Joe. She said my name, and I stopped. She pulled me out of my crazies.”

  “You used to be able to do it yourself.”

  “I know, I know.” He took a long draw on his water bottle.

  “Dude, you don’t want to go there.” He put a hand on Nathanael’s shoulder. “Trust me. I didn’t turn from my demon ways because I’m a pussy. Nothing good can happen if you follow that path. It’s pure Evil, through and through.”

  “I don’t know what to do, Joe!” He threw his bottle across the room. “I can’t just stop. I have a job to do. Not only the bounty hunting, but Brethren business. I’m a freakin’ Warrior and I kill evil people. The rush fills me. It charges me up. It gives me something I can’t get from anything else.”

  “But you’re not in control anymore. It’s controlling you. That’s serious. That sounds like addiction to me.”

  “Are you saying I’m a violence addict?” He shot up and started pacing back and forth.

  “I’m saying you’re addicted to the rush of adrenaline you get every time you battle. And it’s getting worse. You gotta do something about it.”

  “Like what? Go all peace activist?” He snorted. “That’s not realistic.”

  “No, but you can cut down on the amount of scuffles and battles you engage in.”

  Nathanael stopped abruptly and kneeled down in front of Joe. In a hushed voice he spoke. “He gets to me. When it’s over, Satan gets right to my heart and my head and toys with me. Teases me with promises of infinite power and glory, and an end to my guilt complex over my abilities. And I want to succumb. How the hell do I break away from that?”

  “You need to stay away from violence. And you need a sponsor. I can be that for you. Think about it and get back to me. But don’t wait too long or something dreadful is bound to happen. Now, I gotta go. Time to scour the streets to save some possessed souls. Call me, bro. Sooner than later.”

  “Yeah, yeah….”

  Working out should have done him well, but instead, after talking with Joe, he bristled like a caged lion all over again. Two by two, he took the stairs all the way up twenty-two flights. When he reached the door to his room, he slid the key in the lock and quietly opened the door. A shower was definitely called for at this point, so he entered the bathroom, stripped, and started the water running. When the steam enveloped the room, he stepped into the hot rain falling from the ceiling, closed his eyes, and wondered how long he’d been fooling himself. Every time he killed in the name of Brethren justice, Satan sneaked into his subconscious and tested his resolve, filling him with the sense of infinite power. And he reveled in it! But like a drug, the euphoria lingered only so long, and each time, it lessened in duration.

  Frustration overwhelmed him and he banged a fist against the shower wall, letting the steady stream pummel his already pounding head. Why had E.L. refused to help him? Hadn’t asking him what he should do months ago been enough proof that he wanted to stay Brethren? Did he have to test his resolve now as well?

  Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the shower curtain undulate and heard the door click. Damn, he hadn’t heard it open!

  “Nate? Are you okay?” Callie’s voice slid seductively in between the pelting water music.

  He wasn’t.

  And he couldn’t lie. He wouldn’t. Not to her.

  “No, I’m not.”

  She moved the curtain aside, but he refused
to turn around, choosing to remain leaning against the back wall. He sensed her step in behind him and rest a gentle hand on his back.

  “What are you doing?” His voice shook with restraint.

  “I’m here to see what’s wrong. Nathanael, tell me what’s wrong.”

  The insistent tone broke through his crumbling defenses. He reached behind him, grasped her hands, and pulled her close to wrap her body around his like a safety shroud. He held on, as though he would fall into an abyss otherwise.

  “Jesus!” As she spoke, she clutched him even tighter. “What can I do? Just tell me. What?”

  “Tell me I’m good.”

  He waited. The crashing of water against his shoulders filled the space meant to reassure him of his worth. Even should she reply so, would he believe? Satan had been messing with him for so long now, he didn’t believe in much of anything anymore.

  “Holy shit, Nate. You are! You’re all that is good and right in this world.”

  “No, no I’m not. You don’t know me. I don’t know me. Not anymore.”

  Callie pulled away from his grip and turned his body around to face her. She swiped his hair away from his face and caressed his cheeks. “What’s gotten into you?” Her gaze sought understanding from him, but he had nothing comforting to give.

  “Evil! Evil’s gotten into me, and I don’t know how to get it out! Or even if I want to let it go!”

  She stood silent and staring, her soaked T-shirt and boxers like a second skin, her matted hair streaming in wet bands of brilliant red, an oasis for his eyes. And then the unexpected came. She slapped him so hard across his face it stung.

  “Snap out of it! You’re a freakin’ Brethren Warrior, for Christ’s sake! Kick it the hell out of ya!”

  He rubbed his cheek, surprised by her tactics. “It’s not that simple. I could have hurt you today.” He rested his arms on her shoulders and clasped his hands behind her head. She lowered hers and then looked up at him with a sage’s eyes.

  “Nothing ever is easy, is it? We just gotta fight the good fight every day. And you didn’t hurt me. You stopped.”