“Hey mom, it’s Alex. Can we talk?” I was hesitant. Considering her stance on any topic related to Erika, she may hang up on me.
“Of course honey. What seems to be bothering you?”
“Is dad there?” I had to make sure that he wasn’t there to overhear us. No good would come of it.
“No, he went to meet with a new client for an early brunch. Why does it matter?”
“Because I don’t want him to know that I called. It might upset him further, and I don’t want that.” Not until we were on betting terms. I didn’t give her the chance to pry. “Mom, I have more questions . . . about Erika. So please don’t shut me out. If I didn’t think it was important, I wouldn’t have bothered you.”
“Alex, you are well aware that I don’t like discussing your sister,” sorrow lacing her words.
“I know mom, but please. It could help me find her killer,” I pleaded.
“Okay.” She sounded defeated. If my child had been murdered I wouldn’t want to talk about either. It was too soon.
“I need to know if Erika was meeting with anyone that she may have been keeping a secret. Or did you refer her to some specialist that could better assist her with all of those questions she had been asking you?”
“Well I’m sure that not all of those trips she took supposedly hanging out with friends were accurately depicted.”
“That’s probably true.” More than probably, she was going off with Serena to look for the dagger, or digging for clues to help narrow down the search.
“After using the same excuse over and over, I just assumed that she was sneaking out to see a man and didn’t want to tell us. I wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so.”
A woman actually, so she was half right. I wonder if I should tell her the truth. She at least deserved that from me. Any kind of comfort would be appreciated.
My eyes met Jared’s with a silent plea. Should I tell her? He nodded in agreement. His enhanced hearing had picked up on the dilemma.
“Mom I did some digging and found out that she was indeed seeing someone. Her name was Serena Kingston.” I let my bold revelation sink in.
“I see.” I bet her eyes were as wide as saucers. Mine had been. She let out a heavy sigh before resuming. “What do mean by was?
“Like Erika, she too was murdered. And all because of that nonsense you claimed to not believe in.”
I hated to be blunt like that. She already had suffered through two losses in her lifetime, but I saw no other way around it. I ripped the bandage off in one devastating swoop. Hopefully the blow wasn’t enough to take her over the edge.
Short, wheezing gasps indicated that she hadn’t hung up. That was a good sign at least.
8
Surprisingly my mom had remained on the line, however there was sharpness to her words when she deemed herself as able to speak again. I placed her on speaker.
“How . . . how do you know about this woman, and that they were a couple?”
“I met her brother, and together we found her body tied to a chair with her throat cut.” She probably didn’t want the grisly details. I could spare her that much. Though in the end, she needed to see the severity of what was going on. My sister had kept secrets. I would not.
“I suppose this brother of hers is on board with hunting down this mystical island nation as well?” Her skeptical resolve was hanging on by a thread. Against her better judgment, she wanted to believe.
“Yes mom, he has a bigger stake in this than all of us combined. That island nation was his home, which has rested on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean for the last 34 years because of a curse. Is that on board enough for you?”
“A curse? I don’t care what proof you have supposedly seen, that man is conning you Alex. Can’t you see that?” In fact I had seen irrefutable evidence of his claim.
“I most certainly am not in any way trying to trick your daughter,” Jared broke in. He hadn’t been able to contain himself any longer.
“And to whom am I speaking?”
“Jared Kingston, the brother who is helping Alex to find a way to restore my homeland. I can assure you that Azulyria is real, and the strenuous obstacles I had to face to escape are just as daunting as I remember them to be.” Conviction burned brightly within his icy blue pools.
“Assuming that you are telling the truth and this curse is keeping your home submerged, why was Erika so interested? She wasn’t a witch by any means, so I’m failing to see why she was so adamant about finding it.” She sounded puzzled.
“As we have explained to you, Erika and my sister Serena were involved, so you can imagine that they have shared a secret or two with each other.”
“What is your point Mr. Kingston?”
“Ever since she was old enough to comprehend what had happened to us, she has searched high and low for answers. She wanted to reverse the spell that had been cast, or at the very least, find someone who was capable of doing it.”
“No wonder Erika wanted access to the history archives.” I think my mom was beginning to come around.
“So you can see mom, that’s why we need your help. There is a dagger that we need to find.” I hoped I sounded convincing.
“A colleague of mine who specializes in historical relics and weaponry, that’s who she spoke with. I can give you his number.” She had relented, despite the personal risk to herself. I jotted down the number as she rattled it off.
“Thanks mom. Even after knowing that another had lost their life while pursing this, you came through.”
“Just make sure you bring Erika and Serena’s killer to justice, that’s all I ask. I got to go now, bye.”
“Bye mom.”
Dr. Blake Edgington, I hope you haven’t met a horrific end. You’re the next piece in the puzzle that we so desperately need.
9
Go figure that a guy who was fascinated by pointy sticks and other means of bodily harm, would spend his free time teaching in a dojo. Entertainment comes in many forms I guess.
I shouldn’t judge, swordplay had its uses. Like impaling an opponent, or slicing off a cheating ex-boyfriend’s family jewels. Okay, maybe not that last one. The creep wasn’t worth my time. Hmmm, wonder if he offered discounts to former law enforcement.
The physical training was only half the battle. You had to be mentally prepared in the face of danger. Hesitation could mean your death. The same logic applied to firing a gun. You either pull the trigger or you don’t make it home for dinner.
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“So what. You exploited my cross-reference searches. I asked you to break into the target’s house, nothing else. This little side quest of yours wasn’t in the contract. Would you like a gold star for your trouble?” the woman questioned snidely.
“I understand that you’re upset boss. We’ll do better next time.” My hired henchmen were eager for another big payday. Hate to break it them, that wasn’t going to happen. Damn imbeciles.
“I don’t think so. You and your team got lucky with that book, but since then it has been one screw-up after another. I have yet to see additional results. Consider our working relationship terminated.”
“But boss we˗˗˗.” The woman slammed her phone shut before the moron could finish begging. How pathetic. I should have known better than to ask for outside assistance. It just blew up in my face. This was a Stone Walker matter. No human should have been involved. I know that now.
I begrudgingly admit that they did provide me with a trail that should prove to be fruitful, if I can get my hands on that book, and ideally the woman who possessed Ivyssa’s power.
Since it worked in the past, I’ll just have to do what I should have done in the first place˗˗˗handle the problem myself. Sure, I wasn’t a spry young woman anymore, but it didn’t matter. Being a ruthless strategist didn’t come with an expiration date. I still had a few nasty tricks up my sleeve if need be.
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The Golden Crane . . . there it is. Standing out against
its neighbors, it was exactly as my mom had described over the phone, with an oversized Torii gate and all. You couldn’t miss the gleaming red posts in comparison to the more neutral hues of the surrounding shops. The curved upper crossbeam completed the structure, creating a bridge that connected the mundane with spiritual bliss. It was a symbol of a sacred space.
ABQ Uptown was bustling for a weekday. Droves of shoppers were responding to the sunny forecast. For an outdoor shopping district, there was an eclectic assortment of retailers. All lined up and ready to offer their wares to those browsing.
Malls in general weren’t among my typical hangout spots, so I had never actually been here. When Erika dragged me out, we had stayed local. Before leaving the bureau, the only occasion that brought me to Albuquerque was dropping by to see my mom at the University of New Mexico. When my schedule allowed for it anyway, I could never tell when a case might pop up. Between that and trying to check in on Erika, sometimes it felt like I had two full time jobs.
Had to give Dr. Edgington credit˗˗˗he went all out with trying to give visitors a truly authentic experience. The front doors, which were your standard glass push and pull type, were covered with a layer of rice paper. Framing the edges and smaller divided sections, thin strips of wood stained black decorated the doors, imitating the appearance of Shoji screens. They were a nice touch.
We were informed by the receptionist that class would be over in about twenty minutes, an encouragement to wait on her lips. She directed us to an empty bench for our comfort. She even bowed before walking off in her floral patterned kimono.
That’s okay. I just hope the doctor kept to a punctual schedule. We had a dagger to locate and a killer to catch.
10
Blake Edgington presented as a man most capable of wielding a blade. Pale gray hair tied back in a simple ponytail adorned his tall stature. Despite a mature look of perhaps early 60’s, he had the physique of someone half that age. I could tell that a finely sculpted machine waited beneath that Haori top.
He stood with his back to us, as his hands seemed to be occupied by some unknown object resting on the table in front of him. I was wary.
With the intent of climbing the shallow step that led up onto the Tatami mats, I lifted my leg to make the stride. Mid rise, I was halted by a reprimand.
“Please remove your shoes if you wish to continue,” his instruction warm in timbre. I should have seen that coming. Hopefully my lack of social etiquette wouldn’t be misconstrued as youthful disrespect. He had impeccable hearing.
Getting ambushed hadn’t even crossed my mind, or I was completely off base in regards to his character. No sooner had I tossed my boots aside and took a tentative step forward, Edgington’s hand was a blur from a flick of his wrist that curved in a launching arc. A sword was hurdling in my direction˗˗˗blade first.
A comforting tingle spread through my body. It felt nurturing, like a flow of energy guiding me. Call it instinct or maybe even magic˗˗˗I sidestepped to the right, my arm rising to stop the sword in its path. My fingers tightened around the leather wrapped pommel as the blade glided past my line of sight.
Jared got to him before I could. He had Dr. Edgington pinned to the wall by his throat. Holy hell on wheels, he threw a fucking sword at me. I was too stunned to react at first. That ended rather quickly.
“What is wrong with you? I could have been sliced to ribbons thanks to your stunt.” I was tempted to choke him out myself.
A muffled chuckle pushed from his strained lips. “I ha˗˗˗ . . . had to mak˗˗˗sure . . . it was . . . her pow˗˗˗power,” he forced out against Jared’s hold.
“Let him go. If I am going to get an explanation, a broken trachea won’t help.” He reluctantly pulled his hand away.
“Defending his queen like an honorable Masculirum should. Good for you,” a slight gasp dampening his speech. I knew that word. I had seen it in the old book I found in Erika’s apartment. The widening of my eyes did not go unnoticed.
“How do you know about the Masculirum?” Jared asked.
“My boy, calm yourself this instant and take a whiff. The answer is obvious.” As requested he inhaled deeply, his eyes locking with Edgington’s in camaraderie.
“Though I can’t identify which region, you are a Stone Walker.”
“Fegrusiad,” he replied.
“You metal workers and your love of all things sharp and deadly. No wonder you play with swords.” The playful jibe erased all traces of misunderstanding.
Edgington let his gaze drift, locking onto my relaxed posture. “I’m curious. How does your human lady friend over there know about our culture? Or is because of Ivyssa’s power, that you are privy?”
Enough! I wasn’t going to stand here while the two of them chatted about me like I wasn’t present. It ends right now boys. “The human lady friend you speak of is right here. And to stem your curiosity, I found a book that details much of what went on in Azulyrian society.” Jared has also graciously aided in my education.
“A book you say?” I had piqued his interest.
“Yes. This book also mentioned a necklace that can harness elemental energy.” The necklace I had purchased no longer stored that elemental power. It had been transferred to me.
“That explains why I can feel her power rolling off of you like a leaking sieve.”
“Yeah, the damn thing shocked me the first time I picked it up at the antique store I went to.”
His gawking turned thoughtful. “In that case, you’re going to need a weapon befitting of your station.”
“My station?”
“As the vessel controlling our fallen Azurina’s powers, you have an opponent out there who will stop at nothing to ensure that you fail. They will not think twice before killing you, should it become known what I assume you’re trying to do. Bringing Azulyria back to the surface will expose the treachery of the evil individual responsible.” He had quite the intuition, and nailed the purpose of our visit down to a T.
“You mean whoever sunk the islands?” I confirmed.
“Indeed. A sword for battle is what you will need.”
Edgington sure knew a lot about the plans we had in the works, without even inquiring that in depth. I would have accused him of being the guilty party, if not for his reassurance.
“Melina phoned me earlier, warning me that her daughter would be insistent on discussing what Erika had gotten involved in. That was, before her untimely demise. Goddess may her soul rest in peace.
“She told you about my sister’s role in this.” It saved me from having to do it, so thank you mom.
“She did, along with what she knew about this young man’s sister. Apparently they made a very proactive team, and are proof that you have an enemy. They’re probably tracking you down as we stand here conversing.” He spared a glance towards the door.
I guess I was getting a sword. Woo hoo (Insert false excitement here). The chances of me accidently cutting off a limb were pretty low I guess. Bloodstains are a bitch to clean. Or so I’ve heard.
11
They were gone, yet evidence of their presence tickled my senses. It was gradually fading, but undeniable. The remnants of elemental power still hummed with a resonating force. A distinct signature left no question as to the source. It was Ivyssa’s magic that emanated from a patch of dirt on a property that I used to frequent often.
No outward signs of disturbed soil were visible˗˗˗as it should be. Only my otherworldly connection to the land allowed me to detect what no human could. There was a grave here, and dug fairly recent if I went by the potent level of ritualistic spell casting that clung to the site.
Those fools I had hired were able to piece together a direct link between this place and a list of known associates. It was a well documented collection of data, that stemmed from the identity of who we thought at the time had Ivyssa’s magic. While methodical, it hadn’t been top priority, until after my associates decided to go off script. From what they told me, the subje
ct of their “interview” was uncooperative, and had to be silenced. At least someone else cleaned up the mess.
Public property records weren’t that hard to come by, it was just a matter of requesting and reviewing. I had simply inquired about the seemingly familiar address belonging to the house where our two prime targets had visited. However, the results had been mildly alarming.
Covert surveillance operations on both women had been conducted and confrontations ensued. And less than thorough canvassing led to collateral damage. Hence why I was out here now˗˗˗to see if there were any loose ends that might need disposing of. If they hadn’t been so impatient, perhaps I could have seized upon the opportunity to blackmail one woman in order to save the other. I could be quite convincing.
Sadly, that lack of finesse also led to another senseless death. A woman of great importance lost her life because my hired guns decided to freelance after their initial mission failed so miserably. If only Serena hadn’t insinuated herself into the wrong social circle, then maybe she would have been spared. I couldn’t let the loss keep me from losing sight of my end goal. The show must go on.
Further inspection of the surrounding landscape led to a discovery just as concerning as finding out Serena was dead. Jared had been here, and with the human woman that housed powers that didn’t belong to her. She must have seduced him into doing her bidding. It was the only logical train of thought.
What a pity it would be, if she found out that her companion had ties to someone indirectly responsible for killing her sister. That would knock her down a peg. Mmm, just the way I like my prey˗˗˗defeated and susceptible to my whims.
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“I couldn’t possibly accept this. You must have another sword that I can use.” The good doctor was being too generous.
“Only a blade forged using Azulyrian techniques will be able to withstand an offensive attack fueled by elemental magic,” he countered.
Threads of Blood and Silk: The stone Wielder's Legacy Trilogy Book 2 Page 3