Gabriel Tarque has been on the run for the past two days. He blew it and he knows it, his victory was assured and he got over confident. He's glad he set up that magic anchor in the van. With a mystic anchor if he needed to open a portal he could lock on to it and telaport with ease. It is the easiest way to set up a transportation spell. Given his mental state when he created the portal he probably would have killed himself if he did not set the anchor up in advance.
While Tarque wanted to leave Albern right away he knew he had to cover his tracks first. He returned to the shop and quickly removed the illusion that made it look like a fully stocked store. It makes clean up easier when most of the items are not really there. The few real items he packs into a bag being careful not to leave anything. Tarque already had the foresight to clean up the apartment and most of his belongings are in a storage shed in Albern, he does not have to worry about Sharp and team finding the shed. If they by some chance to there is nothing incriminating in it. The one thing he was unable to move were the chains that were bolted on the wall. He did not have the tools or the time to remove them so they had to stay. It was a risk he had to take.
He spent most of that time on the road, driving his van for eighteen hours straight high on caffeine pills, and pain relievers. He could not afford to think about his pain, he could not deal with his bloody hand and the thought of it made him shiver. Once he crossed into Texas he finally had time to calm down and think. Traveling these desert roads, Tarque was avoiding thinking and avoiding his duty. He knows that sooner or later he will have to contact the Power Broker, eventually he has to pay the price for his failure. Tarque does not see what he did was a failure. He thinks that Thanatos was disposable, that he is more important. However he's not dumb he knows the Power Broker and the forces it represents don't agree with him. They held far higher value on the mindless werewolf then then did Tarque.
He also failed to kill Sharp and his son. Tarque knows it was his pride, his ego that lead to is Sharp surviving, there is no excuse there. There was also the loss of his staff, an object of power he was given. He already feels much weaker without it. All Tarque can do is hope that his value is still there, that he can prove to his employers that he still has worth. Tarque is thinking ways to prove his worth. That is part of the reason he has been avoiding answering the crystal, he wants to have an advantage. So during the whole drive he kept the glowing blue crystal locked in the glove compartment and had ear phones on and the radio cranked up to drown out the humming.
Eventually Tarque needed sleep, after driving for thirty hours with only a three hour nap at a truck stop he has on the verge of collapse. He finds a cheap motel and pulls his van in. His bloodied hand is wrapped up in bandages from the van's first aid kit and when he parks he wipes off the blood from the wheel. Grimacing at the sight of his own blood he throws it in the back of the truck. He opens up the glove compartment and a faint blue light radiates in his eyes. He grabs the crystal and pockets it. He knows he has kept them waiting too long as it is but they have to wait a little longer.
When Tarque is done getting things together for the night he walks into the front door of the motel. He is not wearing his black jacket filled with mystic items but is still wearing the same frilly write shirt and gaudy black pants. He looks like a dark skinned pirate. He took off most of his gaudy oversized jewelry and only has on a couple rings and one earring in each ear. It was a halfassed attempt to pass himself off as normal. It does not work. The three people in the reception area stare at him. He ignores them as he walks up to the counter. “I would like a room.”
The old Mexican fellow behind the counter looks at Tarque and sneers at him, “One night?” Tarque nods, “That will be fifty bucks.” He looks at the wall behind him and grabs a key. He takes Tarque's money, “Have a good night.”
Tarque nods and looks at the key card, '313' it says. Tarque turns around and a big white man is standing there, e bumps into him, “Sorry.” Tarque says looking up.
The white man is only a couple inches taller then Tarque but is likely a hundred and fifty pounds heavier. The man has a dumb yet tough face and a smile that only his mother can love. He is a prime example of a 'red neck' “Ya were born sorry.” The man says in a low southern drawl. He pushes Tarque down, “Say out of my way if you know what's good for you.”
Tarque smiles at the man, “I do my good man.” He then walks away with a smirk on his face. Tarque does not plan to stay out of his way. He has gone on for too long with out a slave, while that white man will be no challenge for him he can find use for dumb muscle like him. First though Tarque has to deal with the Power Broker. He walks out of the reception area and into the main part of the motel. There he walks past some busted pop machines and ignores a couple fighting in the hallway as he reaches the third floor and his room 313. There he opens the door and walks in.
“What a filthy pit. I am use to so much better.” He sneers. He drops his bag on the floor and then locks the door. Taking the small crystal out of his pocket. The crystal's glow is blinding and the hum is very loud, it's also shaking and smoking. “Impatient little thing.” He activates the crystal, sets it on the ground and steps back.
The crystal shakes and a glowing blue image emanates from in. Instead of the normal humanoid shrouded in shadows with a blurred form Tarque is use to the Power Broker appears in a much larger towering form. He shown this form to Tarque once before when he dared to call Thanatos expendable. The hulking thirteen food demon with two arms, cloven feet and a large misshaped head with two twisted curved horns hovers over him. The beast's eyes are glowing and it opens it mouth and spews flames as it speaks. Even though the fires are not real Tarque can feels the heat of them as they touch his exposed skin, “Tarque, you dare show your face now? After your abysmal failure I expected you to throw away the contact crystal and hide your sorry hide. You have less sense then I thought.” While the anger is there Tarque can't help but sense that maybe the Power Broker is not that angry.
Tarque falls to his knees, “I know I failed them and I beg them for another chance.”
“Another chance?” The demonic entity laughs, “You got Thanatos killed. You were told to make sure he lived. You will not go unpunished for that. You also failed to kill the Sharp kid. You had Chris Sharp in your hands and you did not kill him. Do you deserve another chance?” The Power Broker swipes at Tarque with claws mainly a just to prove to the voodoo practitioner how powerless he is. “You are lucky that they did not just have you killed. Yes you might just have another chance if I decide you're worth it.”
“I am worth it.” Tarque does not believe he needs to defend himself. “I have served loyally. I have done everything they said. It was Thanatos own fault he died.”
“You could have watched him closer. Remained in contact with him, yet you did not.”
Tarque nods, “I had to leave, I had to complete the rest of my mission. I thought Thanatos could take care of himself.”
That was not what the Broker wanted to hear, “Yet you blotched it big time.” The demonic form bursts into flames of anger, “You let the Sharp boy live. What excuse do you have for that?”
“My pride. I look back now and yes I should have killed him right away. I thought I already won. I thought Sharp was no match for Thanatos so I celebrated my victory before I killed his boy. However I got them the book.”
The power Broker seems to shrink which is a good sign but does not revert to a human form. He's still a four armed monstrous demon, “Even then you did not do what they wanted. You were suppose to secure the book, not release it.”
Tarque stands up slightly, feeling a bit more confident he clears his throat, “What's the difference, they wanted it back in play right?”
The demon jumps at Tarque with it's clawed hands. He slashes at his neck and while it causes no real pain Tarque can feel it, “Yes but the way you did it well it could be years before the book returns to the mortal plain and can be retrieved. They were hoping to be handed th
e book. Also that was the third and least important of your goals. You just did not completely screw it up.” The Broker takes a step back, and changes back to a human form. There is no more need to intimidate Tarque further. “However our mutual employers still have a use for you. They do see your potential which is why I am talking to you. That is why you are not dead.”
Tarque is looking at his hand, he should be seeing blood as it felt like his throat was ripped open. There is no blood and if that happened he would dead. Yet the pain was real. The Power Broker is far beyond his own power and he just now realizes it. Still on his knees Tarque forces a smile, “That is merciful of them.”
“They have no sense of mercy.” The Power Broker bellows, “Unlike you they don't believe in wasting a resource when it still has use. You are going to take on Sharp again, this time on your own.”
“My own?”
“Yes they offer no assistance, no power upgrade only the resources you have now. This is your chance. Kill Chris Sharp and scare off Valmont or kill Valmont,do it however you like. Just don't expect any assistance, any guidance.”
“I lost my staff, could I at least have a replacement?”
“No you lost it yourself, they won't assist in any way Tarque. Be happy you were given a chance to redeem yourself.”
Even without the aid of his staff he can pull off the plan he has in mind. He is honored to have this chance. He will prove his worth and maybe they will give him true power. They have given him a taste and he wants more. “Thank you Belial,” Rarely does he call the Broker by name.
“Do not talk to me like an equal.” The broker says in anger. “Save your thanks to after you succeed. If you fail them again they will have your life. It will not be a quick and merciful fate. For your sake you better succeed or die by the hands of your enemies for they will show you more mercy then our employer's will. Then again you owe them your soul right?” Tarque weakly nods, “I know I booked the deal.” The power Broker laughs. “You will suffer even if Sharp kills you. So you have no choice but to succeed. They will contact you after your job is over, do not try to contact them or me. Remember the Luminares are off limits.” The glowing light fades and the Power Broker fades away. The crystal then turns a dull blue and shatters into dust. They will not be contacting him again, not through the Broker anyway.
Tarque is shivering, he has never felt such fear. His heart is racing and feels like it's on the verge of bursting. He just stays there on his knees looking at the crystal dust in shock, “I... I...” He stands, he has never felt such fear before. At first he thinks that he has been such a fool but after a minute the feeling passed. “Ha.” He hands up, “I won't fail not this time. I am Gabriel Tarque and I am chosen, chosen with great power. My enemies will fall, first Sharp and later Counsel of Higher Lifeforms.” His ego is back in full force, no one holds Gabriel Tarque back.
He sits down on his bed and thinks, he has to prepare for his next plan. “What to do?” The answer is clear, he has dozens of servants across five different states and besides he already knew where he was going. “I can always turn my homecoming into a death trap for Sharp.” He smiles wide, it is a sinister smile.
He is feeling better already and stands up from the bed and heads to the door. “I think I should find that meat head I bumped into earlier.” Yes that will make him feel better. Someone he can break down and torture, not a replace mend for Rast though. “I need a new toy though. I doubt that idiot will be mush more then a distraction.” He reaches for the knob and walks out. Tarque has a lot of things he has to get ready for, “Just wait Sharp, it's my show now.”
To be continued in Book 2: Village of Lost Souls.
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 41