by Tom Keller
"How much do you want him to ante up?"
"Whatever you think is fair," I answered. "I just want some leverage if she decides to balk at anything."
"No problem, besides, William really can afford it and it may go a long way if getting the necklace back restores her powers. She could come in useful. I would be very happy if she would ally herself with us. She would be an asset to my business."
"Good point; I'll see what I can do," I said, thinking I should have figured there'd be an angle.
He turned and left the bar so I retrieved my beer and walked to where Siegfried was sitting.
"So I take it you accepted the job," Siegfried asked as I sat down at the stool next to him.
"I did, but I'm not sure it made William very happy. I changed the terms a bit." I shook my head. "I suppose he'll get over it."
"I believe it's not the type of matter that just anyone will be successful at. Besides, you are taking all the risk, therefore, you set the terms," he said, draining his glass.
"So what's the deal with William, how do they know each other?" I asked, waving at Delia for another round.
"William Harrison, retired Hollywood financier and entrepreneur," he recited, rising and placing money on the bar top. "Delia, thank you, but none for me, I've got to get back to work." He turned his attention back to me. "Mr. Milagre has known him since the 50's. He used to run clients to Las Vegas from Hollywood when this was still a small town. They partnered up in the junket business, Mr. Milagre here in Vegas, starting a small casino, and Harrison in Hollywood, sending actors and other industry professionals here in a fleet of small planes. They did very well."
"I guess they did," I commented as Delia placed another beer on the bar.
She smiled and went back to the other side to clean some glasses.
"I've got to get back to the property," Siegfried continued. "I wanted you to know that everything my people could find out about the woman will be in the envelope Harrison gave you. We still have a few queries out but the rest is up to you. Please be careful. This is your first step into a world that as you have already learned can be very dangerous. Things are rarely what they appear. If you need anything, and I mean anything, please contact me. I will do what I can to assist you."
I peered into my mug and then looked back at him. "Thanks Siegfried, I appreciate it. I have a few tricks up my sleeve as well, I'll be careful."
"Ha! Excellent," he said, slapping my back, "Then I bid you farewell. Duty calls."
As Siegfried left, Delia came back over to my side of the bar. Putting away some glasses, she glanced over at me. "You want another one?"
"Sure, and thanks for not saying anything."
She poured a mug and slapped it down on the bar in front of me. "Hey, the less I know the better. I want no part of any dispute Milagre is involved in."
"Dispute, what dispute?" I had no idea what she was talking about.
"Fae," she uttered with an air of contempt. "You never change."
She put her hands on her hips. "I don't know why Milagre has you screwing with the Weres and I don't want to know," she said, throwing down her towel and walking away.
"What the hell are you talking about? A minute ago you're being nice and now we're fighting. What is it with you?" I asked loudly.
She spun around and came back, leaning over the bar with her finger in my face. "I can't afford to have Milagre mad at us so I played nice, this time. I will only say this once. Never use me as an excuse again! At least it makes some sense now, why can't you just leave us alone?"
Well, shit. She thought I'd used her as part of a plan of Milagre's to screw with the Werewolves. No wonder she was pissed. How was I supposed to deal with that? Should I even bother? The real bitch was I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I couldn't let her think Milagre was planning some coup against the Werewolves, God only knows what that could lead too. On the other hand, Vampire or not, I liked her and I didn't want her to think I used her either. I gulped down my beer, ale, whatever it was. Women...I must be nuts, damn green eyes!
"Delia, wait!" I said in my best commanding voice.
She didn't turn around but I'll be damned if she didn't stop. I stood up and walked so that I was across the bar from her.
"Just listen," I offered. "Things are not what they seem. I need you to believe that."
She swiveled her head and looked at me. "Why? I ask you again, what has changed?"
"I don't expect you to understand but you have to believe this. Milagre didn't send me after the Werewolves and he isn't my boss." I wondered if I should have said master, damn supernatural crap. "It's exactly what I said, there's no conspiracy." I paused a moment, trying to decide what to say next.
"Look, I know you won't believe me but I really don't understand all this Fae versus Lil stuff. But I will make you this promise; I'll do what I can to make things better. I just need some time." What else could I say? She either believed me or she didn't. I doubted anything I did was going to make a difference tonight. "We'll see each other again," I said as I walked out the doorway.
Chapter 11
I had just pulled into the driveway when Charlie came bounding up to greet me. That's the greatest thing about having a dog; they always act like they haven't seen you in a month, even when they can talk.
I went into the house and threw my keys on the counter and then headed into the office to put William's jewel and the cash into the safe. As I opened it, I noticed the scepter I had taken from the young Werewolf the night I had first met Delia. I had forgotten all about it. I was just reaching for it when I heard something.
"Bernd is here."
"Do you have to do that?" I asked, rubbing my head where I had hit it on the safe door when he startled me.
"You have been busy," he exclaimed, walking to the safe and picking up the scepter and bag. He held each up and examined them. "Tell me how you acquired these."
"Just like that, huh?" I replied as I stood up. "Who are you anyway? I mean really, what are you? Did you really know my grandmother or are you just Cacilia's watchdog?"
He just stared at me with his hands out.
I walked up to him and took back the items, holding them where he could see them. "If you must know, this one I got as part of a job from another Fae," I said, holding up the pouch containing the jewel. Then I held up the scepter. "This one I took away from some punk ass kid that turned out to be a Werewolf. A week ago I'd only read about them in fairy tales, mind you, and now, well let's see...now I got Werewolves, Fae, Lil, and God only knows what else crawling up my ass. Oh yeah, I also got Dwarves."
I knew I was ranting, but sometimes when you get angry you just have to get it out. Once I stopped yelling I looked at him. He looked a tad irate, well shit, that couldn't be good.
He rose to attention, his body straight and tall, or as tall as his 3 foot or so would allow him. For a second it was almost humorous but then I got a good look at him. He didn't look like some lawn gnome you find in the back yard anymore. He looked tough, like some creature you read about in an epic adventure. There was a light in his eyes and his voice was proud and he spoke clearly.
"From the earth my people sprang and for ages we have watched over the lands and water. I am no mere Dwarf and I am not a spy. We were here before you came and we will be here after you are all long gone. We do not offer our guidance to just anyone. I am Bernd! I have counseled your family since the Dryad first walked this Earth and I counseled Maria, your grandmother, whom I called friend. It was her wish that I come to you when you needed me and I am here. Do you doubt me?" he asked, walking over and looking straight up at me.
I didn't know what to say.
Then his face grew less stern and his appearance changed back to what it had been before.
Charlie chose that moment to come into the room. He sat down next to Bernd and I heard him say "Bernd, friend."
How could I argue with that? Besides, I had to believe him. Dogs are great judges of charact
er.
"I'm sorry. It's just been a tough week. Maybe you are what you say. But this is all new to me and I'm beginning to wonder who I should trust," I exclaimed. "Hell, I'm not even sure what I've become."
He gestured towards me. "It is not what you have become, it is what you have always been. It was just hidden from you. The world turns and we turn with it. I cannot change the past but know that we all have a destiny even when we do not realize it. Let me help you to where yours leads as Maria would have wanted me to."
Damn, now I had a destiny. What do I say to that? Especially after the week I just had? I put the two objects down and sat down on the ground, my back to the safe. "Alright Bernd, what do you want to know?"
He picked up the scepter. "Tell me again how you acquired this?" he asked, examining it with his gnarled hands.
I told him about the fights with the Werewolves, and about Delia.
"She is a Lilin and yet you came to her defense, interesting."
I stood up and walked over to my chair and I sat down. I watched as he picked up the jewel and walked over beside me, leaning on the leather couch.
"What's the deal with that anyway? What happened between the Fae and the Lil? Siegfried said there was a war but isn't it long over? Why does it look like everyone still hates them?" I asked.
"So many questions and we have just begun," he answered. "I will try and answer them all in time, but first, this scepter." He held it up and twisted it in his hands. "This is a staff of office. You say you took it from a boy?"
"Well, a young man I guess you'd call him. He was carrying it in his pocket. When he started to shift I stopped him. How did I do that?" Damn, not even a minute and I'd asked another question. I looked down at him and just shrugged my shoulders.
"Do not be so hasty, there is much to learn. Let us deal with this first," he lectured. "As I was saying, this is a symbol of power. I do not believe that the true owner would let it go so easily."
"What exactly is it?" Oh, damn, more questions.
"Werewolves are pack creatures and as such only one can lead. This is an ancient symbol of command. It symbolizes the bearer's rule without having to bare fang and claw over every disagreement. Interesting to find it here, it is one of the old ways. Much has changed since The Fall. He must come from an ancient pack. I doubt the true owner will be glad to see it missing." He looked thoughtful.
"Wait," I interjected, "when I was fighting at the bar, the father...I could sense his line. I remember it was something from France, old, I remember something like 300 B.C."
"You sensed his line, very good, Robert. That explains much about the scepter, and about you. It is indeed very old. Why the boy carried it, I cannot say, as only one who leads can wield it. Perhaps it was stolen. Whatever the reason, it could be a useful tool to exchange for the pack's allegiance, especially now that you have bested three of them."
"What do you mean it can only be used by one who leads? It worked for me."
He gave me a funny look, twisting his head. "Did it now? What did you see?"
"It was during the fight, right after I took it from the second kid, the one that was taunting Delia. It burned with blue fire."
"Indeed, well, that is interesting. Such things are possible after all. Now, about this stone," he continued, picking up the leather pouch.
Why did I get the feeling he wasn't telling me everything?
"This is a dragon's eye," he said, emptying the pouch into his hand and lifting up the stone and its golden chain.
"A dragon's eye? You don't mean a real dragon's eye do you? Like from a real dragon?"
"Where else would a dragon's eye come from? They are rare, very rare indeed. This one has been gifted at least once. Return it you must." Looking closely at the stone, he continued. "While a scepter may be passed in succession, this cannot. It truly can only be used by the one to whom it was gifted as it is the magic that binds it. Since it has already been bound to the one that it was given it will be safe to deal with."
"I kind of figured that since William didn't seem to have much luck with it"
"Yet another link to your line. It is said that Apollo slew the dragon at Delphi and gave the eye to the Oracle. In doing so he granted her the gift of youth and long life as well as other powers over men."
"You mean, the Apollo, the Greek God?"
"Yes, the twin brother of Artemis. But he was no God, although he was worshipped as one. A powerful Fae was he but this is a story for another time."
"What happened to him?"
Bernd sighed and then walked closer to me. "Faded during The Fall, as did the others when the magic dwindled and their followers deserted them. That is the fate of those who aspire too high and fail. Even the Gods are not immortal. A good lesson, is it not?"
"I guess so," I said, thinking I knew what faded meant. Cacilia's comments about the Fae had been similar. "I had planned on returning it. Any tips you care to share?"
"She will be cunning. If it is a bargain you must strike be cautious of her words. She must have been exceptionally gifted in her own right. Apollo would not grant such power to just any mortal. He must have thought greatly of her. If there is a ritual, you must follow it, but forget not her cunning. I must leave it to you, a fine test of your abilities, as well as your craft."
A ritual? That was helpful — not. My disappointment must have shown.
"If she is indeed the oracle she could be a valuable ally. But she will know the Fae. You must charm her as Apollo did," he said with the hint of a laugh. He handed me back the pouch and scepter. "You will know what to do when the time comes."
Charm her? What did that mean? "Whoa, whoa...Where are you going, I thought we were going to talk?" I yelled as he started to walk toward the doorway.
"Come, I have something you must see," was all he said.
I started to put the scepter and jewel back in the safe, but the Dwarf interrupted me. "…and bring the scepter."
I scrambled to follow him. We were in the backyard when he stopped and turned back towards me.
He raised his arms chest high, his palms pointing outward. "Within these walls and trees is your land. I have claimed it for you. Here is sanctuary as best as can be offered. Outside these walls there is danger. The Mages you killed will not easily be forgotten. Others may want vengeance, there you must be cautious, but this land I will make as safe as I am able. I have whispered to the earth. It and the trees will guard their gates from outsiders."
Charlie took that moment to appear, Bernd reached over and petted him. "Charlie, too will guard, as he always has, and there is another...one who sees the worlds that he cannot."
"Another?"
"Lucinda," Bernd called out.
I looked around not knowing what to expect. Suddenly a black cat jumped out of the oak on the other side of the pool. "A cat?" I asked, caught off guard.
"But of course," said Bernd. "Who better to guard you from evil?"
The cat ran over to him and rubbed up against his legs.
Bernd bent down and looked at it. "Lucinda, do you accept the charge?"
She walked around his leg, then sauntered over to me and sniffed. She began to twirl around me, rubbing her head against my leg, as cats do. "I do," I heard her say in the same loud type whisper as when I heard Charlie in my head.
What do you say to a cat? "Ok, Lucinda, thank you, I guess. I hope Charlie doesn't mind sharing."
I looked over at the dog and felt only a mental shrug. Not exactly an endorsement, but then again, he wasn't chasing her across the yard either. I took that as a good sign. Then Lucinda trotted off around the corner of the patio with Charlie following.
"The scepter, Robert," he said, motioning to me. "Try it now."
I held it out in front of me and concentrated but nothing happened. I tried it again a few times but it remained cold. So much for a repeat performance. "It was only when I felt the rage about me that it worked before," I commented.
Bernd just grunted. "Kneel," he c
ommanded as he walked over to where I was standing.
I knelt down and bowed as he placed his hands on the sides of my head. I heard him muttering something but I couldn't make out the words. I felt pressure in my head, like I would have if I had a head cold. Suddenly, it became unbearable, but then he let go. "What was that about?" I asked as I shook my head, the pain and pressure subsiding.
"Maria's spell was like a dam, holding back the magic within you. The attack by the Mages has pierced a portion of Maria's spell; I have opened this gap a little wider. Magic is like water and begins as but a small trickle. Eventually it will flow faster until it becomes a mighty river. Do you understand?"
"But what about when I fought the Werewolves? That was no trickle."
Bernd took my hand and pulled me up. "Sit," he said as he gestured towards one of the pool chairs.
I walked over and sat down.
He took a stance that reminded me of a college professor lecturing his student. Ok, so he was short and dressed funny, but you get the idea.
"Even though you were not aware of it, the magic has always been part of you. Once hidden, it is now free and will respond when called upon. That is what occurred when the two began to shift into their other selves. The magic sensed the danger and answered your call."
"My call, what? But I couldn't control it, how did I call it?"
"Even untamed it is part of you. Time is needed for you to adjust to it and it to you. I have done what I can to aid that adjustment." He stood in front of me and gestured toward the scepter. "Let us see what you can do now. Do you remember what it felt like when you used it before?"
"Yeah, sort of," I said, looking down at the scepter. "It was like it became an extension of my hand."
"Good, good, then that is what you must make it become again. Try it now."
I held up the scepter and tried to will the jewel to light. Nothing happened. I tried to concentrate harder but still nothing happened. Finally, I willed myself to calm down and then just tried to feel the wood in my hand. Still nothing, wait...slowly I felt something happening. It wasn't the red rage feeling like I had had before. This time is was gradual. Then the awareness of everything around me began seeping in as well. I felt the scepter in my hand and it did become part of me. I opened my eyes and saw the jewel glowing. Ok, so it wasn't as strong or as bright as it had been the time before but it was glowing with a steady flame.