Fire Sorcerer (The Sentinels Book 1)

by David J Normoyle

  It was from RedWhiteandTrue. So much for that account not replying to direct messages. I clicked to read. “Tell me about Rune Russell. How is he involved in all this.”

  I loudly cleared my throat.

  Duffy glanced across at me. “Something interesting?”

  “Not at all.” Of all the things RedWhiteandTrue could have asked, it wanted to know about me. When did I become so important, and how did I leave the limelight? I pocketed my phone, deciding I’d figure out how to reply after meeting the Reds’ leader.

  “Do you know what Yarley wants with me?” I asked Duffy.

  He shook his head. “He didn’t tell me.”

  “What about Alex and Jo? Is he no longer interested in them?”

  “They are still the only lead for finding RedWhiteandTrue.”

  “I talked to them. They were behind the JusticeWarrior11 handle, but they know nothing about RedWhiteandTrue. They are just two dumb kids.”

  “Considering what they are involved in, what they know, they are both very smart and very dumb,” Duffy said. “A bad combination.”

  “Young enough to deserve a second chance for being dumb, right? Surely Jace wouldn’t have been sent to attack them if the Reds knew how old they were.”

  Duffy shrugged. “It’s not up to me. Hugo Yarley is the one you need to persuade.”

  I glanced down at the outline of the phone in my pocket. Since I was now in contact with RedWhiteandTrue, I might have something to bargain with.

  Chapter 20

  Wednesday 16:45

  Duffy found a parking spot outside a bar called Burgundy’s. The street itself was quiet and residential, and stairs led down to the entrance of the bar.

  We climbed down the steps and Duffy knocked.

  “We’re closed.”

  “It’s Connor Duffy.”

  The door was pushed open by a thin short man with black hair gelled back. He wore a navy sports jacket. He allowed the jacket to swing open, showing a bright red inner lining and a gun holster. “Who’s he?”

  “Yarley wants to see him,” Duffy said.

  “You better watch yourself in there,” he told me. “You’ll have me to answer to if you don’t.”

  Duffy slapped the man on the shoulder, Duffy’s powerful arm causing the smaller man to stagger backward. “Don’t worry, Gio. It’s under control.”

  Duffy turned to me. “Gio is the last of the Machet family still working for the Reds. Where is the rest of your family, Gio?”

  “Florida. I’m too young to retire though.”

  “Gio the Kid. Still have a name to make for yourself, right?”

  Gio nodded rapidly. “That’s right. Hugo sees my value.”

  “What are you packing these days, Gio?”

  “Walther PPK.” He took out the gun from his shoulder holster and showed it to Duffy.

  Duffy nodded. “James Bond’s gun. Nice.”

  Gio grinned broadly. “You like it. White pearl grips.”

  Duffy slapped Gio on the shoulder again. “Keep up the good work.”

  As we walked down the dim corridor beyond Gio Machet, Duffy leaned close, speaking low. “Gio loved guns so much when he was younger, the Machet family thought they’d have a great enforcer when he grew up. That’s where the name Gio the Kid came from. Unfortunately for Gio and the family, it turns out that Gio could never use a gun in real life situations. He melted under pressure. His nickname became ironic. When the Machet family was forced out and decided to leave Lusteer, they left him behind. I’m not sure exactly why Yarley keeps him around.”

  At the end of the corridor, a second door opened into the main part of the bar. The name Burgundy’s had evoked an impression of luxury and power, but the bar didn’t live up to its name. It was a place of blackened wood and low lighting with minimal fittings.

  Over a dozen people were in the bar, most sitting on high bar stools, nursing flat beers. Two stood over an old pool table near the back, cues in their hands. Everyone sported at least one tattoo, most of them several.

  When we entered, everyone turned to stare at us, then followed our progress as we walked across the bar. Our hollow footsteps sounded overloud. Having such an avid audience gave me an urge to take a bow, but I resisted. Other than the tattoos, the other commonality among them was the strangely shaped clothing. They all wore sarongs or robes or loose billowy trousers. I remembered how Jace’s purple robe had been able to stretch out but not break when she’d transformed. Did that mean each person in the bar was a shifter?

  Behind the bar stood Heff, the man with the spider tattoo in the center of his face. I shivered at the thought that he might transform into a giant spider. Giant eagles and werewolves were bad enough, that... I swallowed hard at the thought.

  When Heff came out from behind the bar I took two swift steps back. Duffy frowned at my skittishness. Heff opened a door across from the pool table and gestured us through. We walked into a small office. Yarley sat behind a desk with Jace standing behind his right shoulder. Heff came in behind us and shut the door.

  Yarley stood up and held out his hand. “Rune Russell. Welcome. Wait.” He let his hand drop and turned to Jace. “This is him? Are you sure?”

  Jace nodded. “Certain.”

  “It can’t be,” Yarley said. “I am sensitive to shades, and he isn’t one. What exactly did you see?”

  “He used fire magic.” Her voice quickened. “If he can do that and isn’t a shade, means...” Smoke gathered around her as she began to transform.

  “Sentinel.” The roar came from behind me. I felt heat and turned to see flames whirling around Heff. I threw myself away from him, terrified.

  When the flames fell off him, to my great relief, a giant bird stood where Heff had. He wasn’t a spider shifter.

  Idiot, Jerome thought. The giant birds will kill you quick as a spider.

  That was true. It still seemed a better death.

  Idiot, Jerome repeated.

  The room darkened as Jace lifted her wings, blocking out the light from the basement windows behind the desk. My back hit a wall. Heff was a bird with red and yellow feathers. He had a thin beak and a wingspan much less than Jace’s. As he flapped his wings rapidly, sparks shimmered and he rose into the air. A gale of hot air sent papers swirled through the room. Heff opened his mouth and emitted a series of screeching sounds, his long thin tongue vibrating.

  “Wait. Wait,” Yarley said. “Calm down everyone.” He looked to me. “You didn’t come here to attack us, did you?”

  My arms and back were plastered to the wall and sweat dripped from my forehead. I shook my head back and forth slowly, my insides quivering.

  “See,” Yarley said. “Transform back. This office isn’t big enough for both a giant eagle and a giant phoenix.”

  “Not if I’m in the room too.” Duffy had crowded back into the corner. It would normally be difficult to make a three hundred pound man fade into the background in a room this small, but not in this situation. Duffy didn’t look scared at all; he took it all in his stride. It gave me hope that I might get used to... everything. One day, perhaps.

  You aren’t doing too bad, all things considered, Jerome thought.

  Thanks.

  Ha ha, only kidding. You came within the width of a nose hair from soiling yourself.

  Shut up.

  Flames gathered around Heff, and smoke wrapped itself around Jace as they both transformed back into their human forms.

  “If he’s a sentinel, why aren’t we killing him?” Jace asked.

  “You are a sentinel, right?” Yarley asked me.

  “It’s a definite possibility.” My voice squeaked. “What exactly is a sentinel?”

  Yarley looked at Duffy, who shrugged. “He’s as clueless as he seems.”

  “He’s not a shade. And Jace saw him using fire magic. That means a sentinel is the only possibility,” Yarley said.

  “You told us it’s us against humans,” Jace said. “And the sentinels are the guardi
ans of the humans.” She was determined to discover why she wasn’t allowed to kill me.

  Still, I was glad to be back on the side of the humans again. Though it was getting hard to keep track.

  “Us against humans, yes,” Yarley said. “But others can be on our side. Duffy is human. Uro has promised that sentinels too will be our allies. Rune could be one of the first since he hasn’t yet been corrupted by the other sentinels.” Yarley held his hands out before him. A ball of flame appeared between them, then disappeared again. “And if he goes against us, we will make him regret it. So, sentinel, what do you want from us?”

  I hesitated and Duffy answered for me. “He wants you to leave alone the two kids behind the JusticeWarrior11 Twitter handle.”

  “JusticeWarrior11?” Yarley asked.

  “It was our lead to finding the identity of RedWhiteandTrue,” Jace said.

  Yarley waved his hand dismissively. “Finding RedWhiteandTrue is nothing compared to having a sentinel ally.” He studied me. “What do you really want?”

  “I didn’t come here to be your ally.”

  “You came for?” he pressed.

  I hesitated. It was risky to tell him about Jo, but at the same time he did seem anxious to help me, and I wasn’t sure I’d get a better offer. “A friend of mine. She has an elemental inside her that I want removed.”

  “How did this happen?” Yarley asked.

  “I’m...I’m not sure,” I said.

  “After you attacked me on top of the parking lot, right?” Jace asked. “I was thinking that if he was a sentinel, he shouldn’t be able to do that. The sentinels have been neutered by what Uro did.”

  “Who’s Uro?”

  Yarley had a wide smile on his face. He stood up and moved around his desk to put his arm on my back. “As soon as I saw you, I had a good feeling about you. You have birthed an elemental into the world, haven’t you?”

  Had I? I supposed I must have. “I didn’t mean to.”

  “Of course not.” Yarley opened the door. “You are new to your powers. I can help your friend, but first I must find a vessel to take the elemental presently inside her.”

  “What should I do?” I walked out of the small office and back into the bar.

  “Wait for me to contact you.” Yarley gestured Duffy forward, whispered in his ear, then Duffy followed me out. “Duffy will take you home.”

  “Okay.” Something didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t put my finger on what.

  Duffy saw me hesitating. “Come on, kid. You’ve got what you came for. Don’t ruin it.” He laughed harshly. “Don’t Rune Russell it.”

  Chapter 21

  Wednesday 17:10

  The hit of fresh air when I walked outside felt like victory. As I ascended the stairs, the surge of relief told me how much I had truly feared I’d never walk out of that bar again.

  Duffy and I crossed the street to his car. I sat into the passenger seat and Duffy slid in opposite me and pushed the button to start the engine.

  “Do you want me to take you back to work or, where do you live again? Fenster Street, right?” Duffy asked.

  “Leave me off at work.” The Vespa was still at Transkey. I’d be able to zip through traffic the rest of the way once I had that.

  “Fine.” Duffy gave the car too much gas as he pulled into the street.

  “I’m still alive,” I said to him. “What are the chances?”

  “Being alive is easy. Staying alive is harder. Especially for those who choose dangerous paths.”

  “That’s why you have turned into an errand boy for the shades?” I hadn't liked Duffy when I’d first met him, but at least he’d been his own man.

  “When faced with a powerful force, one either bows before it or is consumed.” Duffy shrugged. “It’s easier to straighten your back at a later date than come back from the dead. That’s something you should remember.”

  I didn’t intend to bow down to anyone. “Some things are worth fighting for.”

  “And dying for?” Duffy asked. “You only get to die for one thing, so you better be mighty sure you have found it before you do. No second chances on that one.” He switched on the radio, and the sounds of orchestral music filled the car.

  “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a classical music listener,” I said.

  When he didn’t reply, I leaned back into the comfortable seat and stared out the window. Cars droned past as Duffy traveled at a sedate pace, not even bothering to break red lights. I relaxed, letting weariness drift through me. One’s body can only stand being on alert for so long.

  I considered the reply I’d got from RedWhiteandTrue. Why the interest in me? Did the person behind the handle know what I was?

  “Tell me about sentinels.” I said to Duffy.

  While he thought about his reply I looked around, suddenly noticing our location. I lurched forward. “Where are you taking me? What’s going on?” We weren’t going toward Ten-two or back to the office.

  “Don’t worry,” Duffy said. “I mean you no harm.”

  “You mean me no harm.” But someone else? Jo. Why had I trusted that Yarley was playing me straight? “Pull over.” I yanked the handle of my door. Locked. “Let me out.”

  Duffy ignored me.

  I grabbed the steering wheel and wrenched. The car swerved across two lanes of traffic. Cars on either side dodged around us, beeping, and one skidded violently to avoid us.

  Duffy wrestled control of the car away from me. “Are you trying to get us both killed?” he shouted.

  “I don’t care.” Jo was more important. “Just pull over, damn you!”

  “Didn’t you hear anything I told you? Live to fight another day.”

  “Why would I listen to you? You don’t give two figs about me.” Duffy was all about numero uno.

  He indicated and pulled over to the right. “Good advice is good advice, no matter who gives it. You don’t mess with these people, sentinel or no.”

  When the car stopped, I pulled on the handle several times in quick succession. “Let me out!” I shouted.

  Duffy reached a fat arm across and shoved me against the back of the seat. I threw myself forward, but he was stronger, wedging me against the seat with an iron grip. “Stop struggling. I’ll let you out once you calm down.”

  I stilled.

  “One of the children has an elemental inside them?” he asked.

  I nodded.

  “The boy? The girl?”

  “The girl.”

  “She’s one of them now. You just have to accept it. It’s just the way things work.”

  I shook my head. “I won’t let that happen.” I couldn’t. I had brought the elemental upon her, and I wasn’t going to let it take her.

  “It’s too late. Choose your battles.” He pressed a button on his side of the car to unlock the doors.

  I pulled on the handle and shoved the door open wide. I stepped out, then ducked my head back into the car. “You’ve heard how they talk. Shades against humans. Yet you help them.”

  “I don’t like the way it is. If I knew how to put a stop to it, I would. These shades are growing ever more powerful.”

  “Don’t lie. You are on their side.”

  “I’ve no choice, kid. Doesn’t mean I don’t wish it was different.” Duffy shrugged. “Plus, it’s not just humans versus shades, whatever Yarley thinks. Things are more flexible than that.”

  “Everything’s flexible with you, isn’t it? You used to be a gangster slash cop. Now you’re a shade slash human.”

  He shrugged again. His indifference made my blood boil.

  “If Jo becomes one of these shades...”

  “What? What will you do?” Duffy demanded. “You need to work on your threats, kid. Are you going to burn me to a crisp? Create another shade or kill some innocents by using that power of yours? You like to blame others for what you do. When the Colliers died in a fire you created, you wanted it to be my fault. And now you want to blame me for what happened to the girl
when it was you who put the elemental inside her.”

  My fingers curled into a fist, and I slammed it into the side of my leg. The worst thing was that he was right. Duffy might be heartless scum but it was I who was ultimately responsible.

  I slammed the door shut and took off at a jog back the way we had come. I waved at several taxis before one stopped. I jumped into the passenger seat. “102 Fenster Street,” I said, “And pump the gas.”

  The taxi driver laughed.

  “I’m not joking.”

  “This isn’t the movies.” He indicated, then pulled out into the traffic.

  “It’s a matter of life and death,” I told him.

  “You know what’s a matter of life and death? Reckless driving. It kills people every day.” He rolled to a stop as the lights changed from green to yellow.

  Just perfect. I had to find the only taxi driver in Lusteer who stops at yellow lights.

  I considered where we were and how long it would it would take to get to Ten-two and came up with a new plan.

  “Take me to the Transkey Office on Kane Street,” I told the driver.

  “And this new location is also a matter of life and death?” the taxi driver asked.

  I nodded, ignoring his smirk.

  With time to kill, I remembered the Twitter message I had received and decided to try and engage RedWhiteandTrue again. I took out my phone and tried to think of a compelling response. Should I mention that I was a sentinel? I didn’t want to and couldn’t think of anything else, and finally just sent, “Rune Russell is at the center of everything. We need to meet.”

  A few minutes later I got a reply. “As I suspected, you know nothing. Don’t message this account again.”

  I threw my phone to the floor. The taxi driver threw me a look, and I picked the phone up again and returned it to my pocket. Unveiling RedWhiteandTrue wasn’t that important, anyway—Yarley hadn’t really cared.

  Protecting Jo, that was all that mattered. If Yarley wasn’t interested enough in RedWhiteandTrue to release Jo in exchange for information about it, then communicating with the Twitter handle wouldn’t do me any good.