Not Just Another Fae (Vegas Fae Stories Book 4)

by Keller, Tom

  It must have worked. It wasn't too much time later when a black cloud appeared. At first, I thought it was Kyras, but it turned out to be another of the Keres. As the cloud settled, I saw that it was one of the ones I'd met before. Nosia, I think, was her name.

  "Where is Kyras?" I asked as I got up from the ground.

  "She is... indisposed," she replied. "As Queen, there is much she must attend to. But the Dark Elf told her you would seek us out if you could. Many were tasked to listen for a sign that you still lived. I was closest to this place, so I came in her stead."

  "The Dark Elf? You mean Bernd? So he made it back safely?"

  "I do not know his name," she replied, matter of factly. "But he was of the Svartalfar. Come, I must return. It is not wise for one of my kind to tarry here too long."

  She stepped closer to Charlie and me and the smoke that surrounded her billowed outward. It wrapped around us, and then, a moment later, we were back at the cemetery where all this had started. It was after dark and this time there was no moon.

  "Thank you," I said as the black cloud dissipated. "Please give Kyras my thanks as well. Tell her... Tell her I appreciate all she has done and I look forward to seeing her again."

  The Keres said nothing as we backed away from her. Then the dark side of her flickered onto her face for a moment.

  "Of that I have no doubt, noble Fae," she said with a grin.

  Before I could ask her what she meant the smoky mist curled up around her and she was gone.

  "What was that about?" I asked aloud.

  Charlie didn't answer.

  I stripped off Hades' armor and my weapons and piled them on the shield, carrying it the short distance to the house. When we arrived, I saw that the lights were on and Diantha's Mercedes was parked in the driveway. This was going to be interesting, I thought as we came in through the gate.

  Lucinda was waiting as I opened the door, her tail swishing back and forth.

  "You have returned," she said. "Bernd waits inside with the others." She turned and ran further into the house, announcing us as she entered the kitchen.

  A moment later Bernd and Lucius came around the corner to greet us, accompanied by Diantha, who ran up to hug me. Charlie followed Lucinda out the back door.

  "What happened?" Bernd asked as Diantha let go.

  "Honestly, I don't know," I replied. "I screwed up. It was Sendy's sister that had been forced to carry the necklace. I should have stopped her when I had the chance, but I hesitated. She tried to cross the river but she was nothing but flames by the time I got close enough to throw the Queller. I'm pretty sure she's dead, but I have no way of knowing if she was stopped in time, or if the stone made it to the other side. By the time the smoke cleared there was nothing left to see."

  It was then that I realized Lucius was bruised and battered and a fresh scar trailed down his cheek. "What happened to you?"

  "Harpies. We weren't the only thing gathered up by the whirlwind. When we appeared here we had to fight our way out of the flock that had been transported with us. Some of your local warriors were waiting, though. With their assistance we made short work of them. But not before their claws did this," he said as he fingered the scar on his face.

  I reached up and touched the place where the Harpy had grazed me. "Yeah, I can relate."

  "Your healer friend left a few hours ago," Diantha said with a wink. "She tended to his wounds after your son brought him here."

  "Jay was here?" I asked. "I probably need to call him to let him know I'm okay. What about the portals?"

  "Closed," Bernd said, reaching up and slapping me on the back. "There is no doubt that the spell is broken. It died with the Faerie when she tried to cross the river. As for the stone reaching Tartarus? Who can say? Do not be too hard on yourself. Your enemy has many allies. If it survived, that is a battle for another day."

  "Easy for you to say," I muttered.

  "True," the Dwarf replied. "But that does not change the fact that there is nothing you can do about it. At least for the moment. Come. Rest, and allow your wounds to heal."

  Diantha pushed a mug of coffee into my hands as I sat down at the table. Bernd was right. I'd deal with whatever came next when it happened. What else could I do?

  "I am off," Bernd said, walking to the back door.

  "Off?" I replied. "But I just got here."

  "True. But I have been here many days and I have other things to attend to. Grerin does not yet know I have returned from the abyss and there is much I must do before we meet again. Now that I know that you and Charlie are safe, I can return to that path."

  He was out the door and gone before I could argue. Dwarves. Nothing ever changes. Well, maybe it does. This was not the same Bernd that I knew before we rescued him from Helheim. He still carried the sword on his belt for one thing. I'm thinking Grerin isn't gonna know what hit him. I turned to Lucius and Diantha.

  "How long have we been gone?"

  "A couple of weeks," Diantha said. "Siegfried and the others have been besides themselves worrying about you two. If you hadn’t appeared when you did... Well, I think Siegfried was trying to find a way to rescue you himself. He's on his way here, by the way. I called him when we heard you were okay."

  "You heard? How did you find that out? We didn't even know we were going to be rescued until the Keres showed up."

  "Bernd told us," Lucius replied. "He just returned about 15 minutes before you did. He must have been in contact with them all along."

  "Why doesn’t that surprise me, " I said, getting up from the table. "Okay. I need a quick shower and a change of clothes. Fae or not, I've been living in these for a while."

  "A good plan," Diantha said, wrinkling her nose. "I was going to suggest that myself, but I was trying to be polite."

  I lifted my arm and took an audible sniff. "Just like the old warriors of Greece, right?" She stuck out her tongue at me as I picked up my mug before heading upstairs. I gave Jay a call and let him know I was all right before stripping down and hitting the shower. I had just finished putting my shirt on and made it to the bottom of the stairs when I was swept into a giant bear hug.

  "I was just about to set out to find you!" A voice yelled as I was almost crushed in his grip. "What in the nine worlds where you thinking?"

  "I wasn't," I quipped. "If I had been I probably wouldn't have gone."

  "Ha!" Siegfried said, slapping me on the back. This time I almost did fall over. "That damn Ordunez. It was his words that put the thought into your head, wasn't it?"

  "Just for the record," another voice said. It was Michael. "I wasn't worried. But I thought Meredith was going to rip the sorcerer's head off when she found out where you went."

  "Yeah... Sorry about that guys," I said as I led them into the kitchen. Diantha had already set out the coffee and I filled the empty mug at the head of the table, having left the other upstairs. It was an old favorite, When I say run, run. ... RUN!, and made me laugh. "But seriously. It wasn't Ordunez. It was a little bit of everything. Not to mention some prodding from Gaea."

  "Yes," Siegfried replied. "Lucius has told us of your meeting with the Goddess, and of your rescue of both him and Bernd. But tell us, we know the gateways have been closed. What of the dark Fae?"

  "I'm not sure if rescue is the right word, at least where Lucius is concerned," I said, tipping my mug at the Roman. I went on to tell them what had happened. It was the short version, but it still took a while to tell. I finished at the part where I saw the Faerie burst into flames.

  "After that we just wandered a bit, trying to stay away from the beasts. We eventually made it to the Gate of Ivory, where we met up with the Keres. That's about it. I wish I could be sure we stopped her from getting the jewel across, but I just don't know."

  Everyone was silent. Then Michael spoke up.

  "Don’t be so hard on yourself," he said. "It could have been worse. Besides, you rescued the Dwarf. That's gotta be worth a few points."

  "And you should
consider me rescued as well," Lucius added. "I would have been bored to tears had I stayed in that place."

  "If you say so," I said with a chuckle. "But I still wish I knew for sure." I poured myself another cup. "Oh, almost forgot. I have something for Siegfried."

  "For me?" he asked.

  "I met a Viking over there. In Helheim. Asked me to give something to you." I walked into the living room where I'd put down the shield and other things I'd brought back. Picking up the sword that Gunnvor had given to me, I turned to see the four of them standing behind me.

  "Is that Hades' bident?" Diantha asked, eyeing the twin bladed weapon.

  "Yes," I replied. "And his armor. Well, a spare set anyway. But that's not what I want to show him." I held out the worn scabbard, and slowly pulled out the blade. As the inscription came into view, Siegfried's eyes widened.

  "Is that?"

  "An Ulfberht sword," I replied, holding it toward him. "There was a Viking warrior with Bernd in Helheim. He asked me to give it to you"

  "Me?" he asked as he took the blade. "What was his name?" He seemed mesmerized as he turned it in his hands and then pulled it out, testing the weight. The sword swished through the air as he swung it.

  "Gunnvor Tryggvason," I answered. "Have you heard of him?"

  "Tryggvason?" Siegfried said. "There was a King by that name."

  "King Olaf," Michael said. "He died in the battle of Svolder. Drowned himself rather than surrender his ship to his enemies."

  "But why me?" Siegfried asked as he sheathed the blade.

  "He knew of you," I replied. "From Bernd. Said he'd told the story of a great Fae Viking warrior that still lived, and that this deserved to be where it could best be used. He said it was handed down from his father and that he was the last of his line. He wanted you to have it."

  "I am honored."

  "What? Nothing for me?" Michael asked, feigning disbelief.

  "Sorry my friend," I said with a laugh. "I tried to find a gift shop down there; but the place has really gone to hell, if you know what I mean."

  "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride," he teased, shaking his head.

  We all laughed and went back to the table. We finished our coffee and they told about the Demons they'd fought while I was away before the two of them said their goodbyes. Lucius had been staying here since he'd returned and I told him he was welcome to continue to do so. At least until he figured out what his next move should be. Losing the Lilin part of him was still confusing him, and he yet to make contact with them. He was still trying to decide what to be, I guess. I think he was glad to have a friend around until he sorted it out.

  There was one more thing I had to do. I asked Diantha and Lucius to wait in the other room as I summoned Sendy to let her know what had happened. She appeared a moment later and I had her sit down. I told her the story of her sister's role in Marissa's plan. She did not take it well, although she forgave me for what I'd had to do. She knew what evil the dark Fae had wrought on her family, as well as my part, although unsuccessful, to find them. When we were done I called Mal and let him know what had happened, asking him to keep an eye on her. She'd lost a lot since she'd decided to search me out, and even though she told me she understood, and didn’t blame me for what had happened to Maia, I only hoped she could forgive me for any part I might have played in her loss.

  After I sent her back to Mal, Lucius retired to the downstairs bedroom and Diantha helped me clear the table. I'd been quiet after Sendy departed, and surprisingly, so had she. When I finished getting the pot ready for next time, I felt her snuggle up behind me.

  "Do not be so melancholy" she said, whispering into my ear. "There was nothing you could do but try. Even you cannot save all the Fae. Now tell me of your meeting with Gaea."

  "I guess I'm on call," I replied, after telling her of the scythe and most of our conversation, glad for the change of subject. I hadn’t mentioned the hero part to the others, but I figured I might as well tell her. She'd pry it out of me one way or another. Besides, I was probably going to need her for whatever was still to come. She particularly enjoyed the story of Harrison's fate. She even made me repeat it several times. Not that I blame her. Her eyes sparkled each time I described the carnival.

  "Maybe I should have business cards printed up. Hero for hire, or something like that."

  "Why not," she agreed, her arms around me.

  I turned to face her and she leaned forward and kissed me.

  "Now, if you are done gallivanting with the Keres and the Weres, perhaps you would allow me to give you a proper welcome home."

  "Jealous?" I asked, kissing her back. That was one thing Diantha wasn't.

  "Hah," she replied, then led me toward the stairs. "But I did miss you, perhaps a bit, and there is one more thing." She took one step up the stairs and then turned and gently put my face into her hands.

  "You were my hero first." she said, and then pressed her lips to mine.

  I wasn't going to argue with that.

  The End

  About the Author

  Tom Keller is a retired cop and former computer forensic expert who's also spent time as a Federal Public Defender investigator. Back in the early days he was a busboy, a cook, and a shoe and real estate salesman. He's taught courses at the local Community College as well as lectured to others in his field on a variety of topics. These days he works as a P.I. in Las Vegas, Nevada. A place he's called home for over 40 years.

  He had a website design business back in the days when you still accessed the Internet by modem. He's sold model airplanes and electronics on the web and eBay. He even had his own TV show for a season or two (okay, it was really low budget, better call it no budget, and it was on UHF for those of you that remember those kinds of things. But, hey, it did snag a 2.0 share one episode). He collects toy space guns, lunch boxes, and coffee cups, among other memorabilia. If he had a personal card it’d probably say something like ‘specialist in generalities,’ or as his brother would say, polymath.

  Tom is still married to his college sweetheart and spends his free time with his family and spare time writing. Not Just Another Fae is his fourth book in the Vegas Fae series. His other books are also available on Amazon.

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  tom@tomsbooks.com