by Sarah Blair
Dimitrius pressed his fingertips to the table, an act of grounding his thoughts, as well as a literal illustration of his intent. Mitch waited.
“The world was a very different place when I entered it, two-thousand years ago.” Dimitrius checked for a reaction from Mitch, but now it was his turn to remain impassive.
Except, his adrenaline surged, because he’d suspected Dimitrius was something not entirely human, but now it was confirmed, and his inadequate human brain simply couldn’t process anything being that old.
“Though civilization had already greatly advanced in the time of the Roman Empire, humans remained quite deeply intertwined with the natural world. Our gods were the planets and stars. The elements we could touch and feel surrounding us—that which sustained all life; earth, water, air, fire—were cherished and powerful gifts bestowed on us by the Goddess. The ability to harness the life and energy held within these elements was sacred, but not astonishing.
“There was no such thing as supernatural. Lines didn’t exist between real and unreal. No one questioned the existence of strange and unusual beasts in the world, because strange and unusual was simply an ordinary part of our existence.” Dimitrius shrugged. “So, when the leader of a tribe of raiding warriors slew a werewolf one night, and his starving men feasted on the meat, we none of us stopped to question how or why it was possible for an army of werewolves to suddenly rise up. We only took action to stop the plague from ransacking and destroying everything in its path.”
“Sorry, did you say army of werewolves?” Mitch leaned in a little. This was definitely nothing close to what he’d expected to hear when he’d practiced in the car.
“Indeed, sir. Dire measures had to be taken before all of Britain succumbed to their insatiable hunger.” Dimitrius stood and paced a slow circle around the patio while he told the story. “Our local goddess of the waters, Sulis Minerva performed a ritual on the most capable warriors we could muster. She imbued us with immense strength, the ability to heal, and eventually—we discovered—a lifespan that would continue indefinitely, though not infinitely.”
Dimitrius stopped and swept his arms around in a vague but grand gesture. “And here we remain. Tyran, Argus, Malcolm, Beatrice, and myself. The last of us. All upholding an ancient vow to use these gifts in service to the Goddess.”
The pieces of the puzzle slid into place, and Tyran’s ramblings the other night made a whole lot more sense. Mitch stared at the gleaming sun reflecting off the towers of lower Manhattan.
“I have a lot of questions.” Mitch shuffled though the information in his brain, but the shadows deepened quickly and he was getting cold.
“All in good time.” Dimitrius nodded. He wasn’t going anywhere, apparently.
Mitch stuck with the most important inquiry for now. “Is the agency included in this mission? An extension of the vow you made?”
“An extension of our vows is an excellent way to phrase it, yes.” Dimitrius nodded and leaned heavily against the back of the chair. “In this ever-changing world, information has become more readily available than it once was. It’s much more difficult for us to remain conspicuous. For now, I maintain the persona of an eccentric billionaire, if you please, and it’s simple enough for most people to believe and accept. But it’s vitally important to maintain our secrecy. No one can know our true agenda, what we are, or the power we possess. No one. It would be disastrous.”
“I understand. You have my word,” Mitch nodded. A feeling expanded and grew inside his chest, the idea of how huge this was. Immortals. Magic. Ancient vows. He breathed in the first full breath he’d taken since the conversation started. “This is a lot.”
“Then you grasp why the knowledge must be guarded most dutifully? For all of our sakes.” Dimitrius fixed him with a steady gaze.
“Of course.” Mitch nodded hard. It felt like there was something else he’d wanted to say, but his brain buzzed like the nearby beehives. He took a few deep breaths and sat with the knowledge for a moment.
“Does this alter your decision to remain?” Dimitrius asked.
“Now that I know,” sweat broke out on Mitch’s forehead, “if I did decide to leave, would you have to kill me?”
Dimitrius dropped his chin. His hair and the silver pendant he wore around his neck fell forward. Mitch scrutinized it closer. It wasn’t just any pendant, but an ancient coin in the Roman style, matching coins he’d seen at the MET.
Dimitrius remained quiet, head bowed, until he lifted his head and Mitch discovered he was laughing.
“Dear, boy. It has been quite some time since anyone new joined this sacred trust.” It felt strange being called ‘boy’ by someone who, on the outside at least appeared to be half his age. Mitch also noticed he didn’t answer the question.
“We are truly grateful for your service.” Dimitrius came around and squeezed his shoulder. “For our first order of business, have you come to a decision about Ms. Lake?”
Mitch’s stomach plummeted straight out of his ass. Eyes everywhere. He should have known. He should have been more careful.
“I know the idea is frightening.” Dimitrius strolled away and turned back. Vivid rays of golden sunlight illuminated him from behind, turning him into a majestic and intimidating figure. “She is still so young.”
“But, it’s what she wants.” Mitch fumbled, resisting the urge to backpedal, to go on the defense. They were both consenting adults. There wasn’t anything to defend. “It’s what we both want.”
“Excellent. You are most intimately acquainted with her, after all. I trust your judgment.” Each word felt specifically chosen, like a nail being driven into Mitch’s chest. Dimitrius nodded, satisfied. “It’s decided then. Agent Lake does have a lovely ring to it, after all. You’ll partner her with Mr. Williams?”
“Yes.” Mitch paused, playing back the words in his head. Understanding dawned on him. Relief washed through his veins, making him dizzy, lightheaded. “They’ll do well together.”
Dimitrius stared out over the concrete landscape, the sun warming his olive complexion. A dark shadow passed through his gaze, but he shook himself out of his reverie, cheering up again. “I’m quite anxious to see what she’s capable of, when given the opportunity to prove herself.”
Mitch’s phone buzzed in his pocket before he could respond. He checked the ID and it was Sidney. “Speak of the devil.”
At the same time, one of the burly brothers rushed out onto the patio. Mitch wasn’t sure if it was Argus or Malcolm. He conferred with Dimitrius quietly in private, giving Mitch a chance to answer Sidney’s call.
“Hey, did you make it back?”
“Yeah, I’m with Williams. We’re on our way to Lenox Hill, can you meet us?” Her breath came quick and light over the line and it set his pulse racing.
Dimitrius listened to his own phone call, turning his back on Mitch. Beatrice came out, and Tyran joined them, too, fully dressed now, eyes set on Dimitrius like a hawk.
Lenox Hill. Her words sank in. The hospital.
“Are you okay?” Mitch asked Sidney.
The same feeling that he’d gotten on the phone with Deirdre’s housekeeper the other morning hit him again. He braced for impact.
“Fine.” Her voice was thready and he didn’t believe her. “Megan’s baby is coming. Can you meet us?”
“Oh! Yes. I’ll be there.” Mitch’s breath left him in a rush. It wasn’t bad. It was all okay. “I’m on my way now.”
Dimitrius handed off the phone to the hulking brother, and he met Mitch’s gaze.
They spoke at the same time.
“You heard?”
“I have to go.”
“Good man.” Dimitrius nodded and waved him on. Mitch rushed for the doors, but Dimitrius called him back. “Mitchell?”
“Yes?” He turned back. The group all fixed their eyes on him. Unwavering.
“Do not accept this duty with a light heart or reckless intention.” Dimitrius’ voice filled the space between th
em, rich and frightening in its intensity. “You must guard Sidney’s life as your own.”
The weight of the decision came down on him, and he made his choice without hesitation. “I will.”
Twenty-Seven
Walking into a hospital always put a hard knot in the pit of Mitch’s stomach, not unlike an oyster worrying a grain of sand. Except, he never got the reward of a pearl at the end. The antiseptic tinge in the air tasted bitter, and numbed his tongue with uncomfortable memories he’d spent a lot of time trying to purge.
His mother, fading from the chemo into nothing more than a skeleton with a pulse, slipping softly out of this world amidst a tangle of tubes and wires. Deirdre, collapsing into a pile of ragged screams when the surgeon delivered the news about her father’s failed bypass. A team of nurses sedating her. Then worse, the silence and resignation from her after the third miscarriage.
Nothing good.
The elevator opened into a closed lobby and the security officer behind the desk stopped him.
“Driver’s license, please?”
Mitch handed it over. He checked his phone for the twelfth time since he’d tossed his keys to the valet downstairs, but there was nothing. Traffic was bad and the updates from Sidney had been short and far between. The guard squinted at his computer.
“You the grandfather?”
“I, what? Jesus. I’m not—” It struck him like a bolt of lightning. “Oh, shit. I’m old enough to be a grandfather.”
“Happens quick, huh? Sorry, gramps.” The officer slid his ID across the desk. “Fill this out.”
Mitch wrote down his contact information on a clipboard.
“Thumbprint.” The officer held out an electronic device, and Mitch rolled his thumb across.
“You need a urine sample, too?” Mitch asked.
“You know what? I wouldn’t be surprised. This is the VIP floor. They can make you do whatever they want, man.” The officer shook his head. He scanned an electronic bracelet and handed it over. “I had to sign a twelve page NDA and give a blood sample just to get this job. Keep that on at all times. It unlocks the doors. Room One.”
“Thanks.” The elevators opened behind him and a familiar figure stepped off. Mitch stopped with his hand on the door. “Detective Delarosa.”
“Mr. Harris.” She raised her dark eyebrows and flashed her badge to the officer at the desk. “I’m here for an interview.”
The base of Mitch’s spine tingled where he usually kept his service weapon. Only he didn’t have it now. It was locked up in the glovebox in the car. But he was overreacting. It was a coincidence. There was no way she was here for anything to do with his agents.
The officer handed over a bracelet without the same ceremony he put Mitch through. “Room One.”
Shit, he thought.
The detective came behind him and he held the door for her.
“Here to see family?” She asked as they headed down the hall together.
“Close friend,” he told her. He wouldn’t lie, but he didn’t have to say more than he needed to.
Delarosa didn’t have to say anything either, and she remained tight lipped for a few steps. “How are you holding up?”
“Okay. Thanks for asking.”
“Sure.” She glanced up at him. “Circle of life moves us all, doesn’t it?”
“Sorry?” He paused.
“The Lion King. Circle of life? Your ex-wife passed. Now there’s a baby coming. Death. Birth. The circle of life continues. It’s a song about hope.” She tilted her head back. “For new beginnings.”
“That’s profound.”
“Never let it be said kid’s movies can’t be deep.” She shrugged. “My daughter watched it non-stop as a kid. You either get something out of it or you let it drive you insane.”
“Right.” The words sank in.
She waited and then motioned to the door when he didn’t move. “After you?”
He knocked and then opened the door a crack. The lights were dimmed down low. Hushed voices made him slow his step and approach with caution.
The room opened up into a stylized lounge area, with a white modern couch and plush velvet side chairs. A kitchenette sat in a nook on the right with a snack bar, coffee maker, and a mini-fridge.
VIP rooms, indeed.
“Chief!” Williams tackle-hugged him out of left field. He nearly brought them both down. “I’m glad you came.”
“Not soon enough, I see. Sorry, there was traffic.” Mitch set eyes on Sidney sitting on the edge of the bed with a tiny bundle in her arms. She smiled, wilted like the other night after the incident at the zoo, but in a happy way this time. Then she glanced up and met his eyes with such intensity, he nearly melted right in his shoes.
Williams let go of him and turned to the detective. “Hi, who are you?”
“Jennifer Delarosa. NYPD.” She showed her badge attached to her belt. “Sorry, to intrude, but I have a few questions about the incident earlier this evening at the wharf.”
Mitch dragged his gaze away from Sidney before he gave himself away, and turned his attention back to Williams and the detective. Incident. He frowned. Williams’ eye puffed up, red and swollen, with a small cut underneath.
“What happened?” he asked.
Lake and Williams exchanged a glance. Mitch silently braced himself. Oh, hell.
“He wasn’t fast enough with the ice chips,” Megan intervened. “Sorry, babe.”
Williams didn’t miss a beat. “Those kickboxing classes are totes paying off, sugar pie.”
Megan grinned.
The detective didn’t appear to be convinced. “In the hall, Mr. Williams?”
Williams followed the detective out like a kid on the way to the principal’s office. Not sorry he put the cherry bomb in the toilet at school, only sorry he got nabbed for it. Mitch wondered if placing him and Sidney together was such a great idea after all.
It wasn’t something he could do anything about right this second, though, so he refocused on Megan.
“Hey.” He came over to the bed. Megan smiled and tilted her cheek up. He gave her a kiss. “How you feeling?”
“A lot better, now she’s on the outside,” Megan answered. “Rachel took so long. This one decided she was on her way, and practically crawled out on her own. She’s not going to wait for anything. I think we’re in big trouble.”
Mitch studied the curve of Sidney’s oval face, the upward tilt of her pink mouth, the way she focused so intently on the baby in her arms. His hands shook a little, and his chest expanded. “Yeah, I can attest to that.”
“Want to hold her?” she asked.
Fear struck through him. “I don’t know.”
“It’s okay.” Megan told him.
“She’s like a little burrito.” Sidney handed the baby over.
“Oh,” he held his breath. He’d never had his hands on anything so small and delicate before. She hardly weighed anything, and the blanket warmed in his hands. He relaxed a little. Started breathing again. “Wow. Okay.”
The girls exchanged a look and smiled. All he could see of the actual baby was a tiny pink face. Little lines for the eyes and mouth. A button nose. Everything else was covered by a pink hat and tucked into the blanket.
“I think she has your nose, Megan.” The baby sighed and made a little noise. It was like holding magic in the palms of his hands.
“She’s a grumpy little potato right now. But she’ll straighten out.”
“You calling my kid a spud?” Williams returned.
“She does look like you,” Megan said.
“Sucks for her.” Williams hiked his thumb in the direction of the door. “Lake, you’re up.”
Sidney sighed and avoided Mitch’s questioning gaze. She got up and went to meet the detective, who was waiting just inside the door.
“Hey, what if we named her Pomme de Terre?” Williams asked Megan. “Pomme for short.”
“Gweneth Paltrow already named her kid Apple.”
Mitch handed the baby off to Williams.
Megan scrunched her face, matching her newborn’s expression. “I thought we agreed on Samantha.”
“Babe, I’m just not getting the Sam kinda vibe from her though.”
“Not Sam,” Megan corrected. “Samantha.”
“Everybody’s gonna call her Sam.”
Mitch left the two arguing and slipped out into the hall to join Sidney and the detective.
“Rats.” Delarosa stared at Sidney.
“Huge.” Sidney held her hands out. “Chihuahua size. At least. Probably. Like I said, it was really dark. I didn’t see much.”
“What brought you to the wharf in the first place?” Delarosa asked.
Mitch tuned in, curious to hear the answer himself. Sidney glanced up at him. He leaned against the wall to give them some space, but all he really wanted to do was put his arms around her.
“I thought it was going to be a Halloween party.” She shrugged. “There were supposed to be snacks.”
Delarosa massaged her forehead and sighed. “Is there anything else you’d like to add? Anything at all you remember?”
“I think that’s it?” Sidney shook her head. “It was really dark. Everything happened so fast.”
“Sure.” Delarosa tucked her phone away. “Thanks. I’ll let you know if I have any further inquiries.”
Sidney gave her a friendly smile. “Anything I can do to help.”
Delarosa passed Mitch on her way out, and shook his hand again. “You take care.”
“You do the same, detective.” Mitch waited until the Detective disappeared through the doors. Then he turned to Sidney. The friendly and open façade she’d maintained for the interview was gone, replaced with utter exhaustion. Two strides and she was in his arms.
Finally.
Her body sagged into his. He kept her upright while she squeezed her arms around his waist. He buried his face in the top of her hair, hanging onto her, doing whatever he could to make her feel safe again. What had she even been through?