Council of Peacocks

by M Joseph Murphy

  “Annisa? Roma?” She called out to the two servants who cared for the house in her absence. No response. She glanced at the alarm clock beside her bed. It was mid-afternoon. Perhaps they were in town getting supplies.

  “Whatever. I need a shower anyway.” She pulled her hair free of the elastic and slipped out of the rest of her clothes. In the bathroom adjacent to the bedroom was an extravagant shower: concrete and stone came together to create an artificial cliff. When she turned on the taps it became a waterfall. To each side of the shower, tropical plants in terracotta pots rose to the ceiling. They reinforced the illusion of bathing in the jungle. She kept the water cool as she washed the dirt and oil from her skin.

  She toweled dry and walked back to her bedroom. As she dressed, she admired the room. In every direction, windows offered stunning views of the ocean. The water seemed to take over the rest of the world. From here, there was no sign of any other piece of land. It made it easy to believe she was on a completely different planet. Planes rarely flew overhead and, being so far from a major port, few ships dotted the horizon. Of all the homes she maintained, she chose this one now because of its isolation. For the moment, she wanted nothing more than to be alone.

  “I’m sorry, miss. I must not have heard you come in.”

  “It’s been too long,” Echo turned to find Annisa in the doorway. She embraced her warmly. “It’s good to see you. Unfortunately, I’m only here for the night. Can you get my blue suit ready? I’m heading to Toronto tomorrow to see Wisdom.”

  “Begging your pardon, ma’am, but Mr. Wisdom is not in Toronto. He’s here.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, ma’am. He arrived last night with a young man.”

  “That bastard. Where was he when the Edimmu torched my home? Tell him I’ll be down in a minute.”

  “Yes, ma'am. Would you like me to prepare something for you?”

  “No. Wait…yes. I’d love a mimosa. Several mimosas actually. And a quiche. What is he wearing?”

  Annisa giggled, hiding her smile behind her fingers.

  “Never mind. I’ll be down in a minute.”

  Annisa curtseyed and left without another word.

  ***

  Josh stared at his cell phone and chewed on an ice cube. He knew he should call his parents, but what could he say? Everything about yesterday seemed impossible. Still, every drop of sweat forced him to admit where he was.

  ‘Barely slept last night,’ he thought. ‘That and this heat is making it very hard to stay awake. Every time I close my eyes all I see is blood and darkness. And wings.’

  ***

  Back in the Laurentians, Josh wanted to chase down the remaining kidnappers. Wisdom stopped him.

  “Bad idea,” Wisdom said.

  “We can’t leave them,” Josh countered. “You never leave guys like this alive. They always come back.”

  Wisdom narrowed his eyes, studying Josh. It was like he was truly seeing Josh for the first time. “Normally I’d agree with you. However, we have no idea what they are doing. They could be setting explosives or getting reinforcements.”

  “All the more reason to act quickly.” Jan grabbed Josh by the chin and pulled him closer, making sure he only focused on her. “There are other people down there, people who need help. We cannot leave them.”

  “We can,” Wisdom said. He looked Jan squarely in the eyes. “And we are. Call the police when you get home if you want. There are more important things at stake.”

  Jan grunted in frustration. “What kind of monster are you?”

  Wisdom glared at her impassively. Finally, Josh looked away.

  Wisdom created a disk of light.

  “What is that thing?” Matt asked.

  “Localized low-gravity wormhole,” Wisdom said. “You can think of it as a teleportation disk. We can use this to get you home.”

  After a little coaxing, everyone stepped through the portal. Jan and Josh worked together to carry Matt since his shattered kneecaps made it impossible for him to walk. Rebecca moved stoically, as if walking through a passive dream. On the other side of the portal was the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital. As soon as Josh and Jan placed Matt on the ground, Wisdom closed the first portal and opened a second one.

  Josh looked at Wisdom and nodded, understanding the ramification. He turned to Jan, kissing her on the lips.

  “You can’t go with him,” she pleaded.

  “If I stay, you won’t be safe.” With a look of apology, Josh turned away as Wisdom opened a second portal. “The Edimmu are after me. You saw that.

  ***

  Josh glanced over at Wisdom. He stood on the veranda staring out at the ocean. Still dressed in the same red suit, Wisdom hadn’t moved since breakfast. Then, Wisdom motioned to Annisa and whispered something in her ear. They both looked at the ceiling. The servant nodded and then headed toward the stairs that lead to the second floor.

  When Annisa returned, she wasn’t alone. Beside her was one of the most beautiful women Josh had ever seen. Long brown hair fell down over her shoulders in waves and curled around her face. It was hard to determine her nationality. She had high cheekbones and a delicate chin with large amber eyes. She wore a tight, white jacket buttoned over a cream-colored bustier. Along with loose white slacks, she wore matching white pumps.

  “Found yourself another stray, I see,” she said. She crossed her arms over her chest and fought the urge to scream at him.

  “Something like that.” Wisdom smiled but kept looking out at the ocean. “I’m sorry about your condo, Echo. You must be thrilled to see me.”

  “Well, somebody’s having delusions of grandeur.”

  “I know you’ve been to see Propates.” Wisdom stopped smiling.

  “How?”

  “You know me. I have my ways. We don’t have much time. Events will move quickly now. I’ve tried to slow them down but nothing I do works. I could explain more to you but it would only make things harder.”

  “Christ, is it your father again? Did you have another dream?”

  Wisdom frowned. “Didn’t I just say ‘no questions’? I’m fairly certain I just said that?”

  “Zip it.” Echo walked over to Wisdom and put a hand on his shoulder. “Cut the tough guy act. You’re scared. I can see it in your eyes. What is going on?”

  Wisdom turned and brushed a curl of hair out of Echo’s face. “Just the thought of losing...” He stopped and pulled his hand away. “I can’t stand losing, you know that. It is bigger than I expected. The Council made a deal with the Djinn. I know, I know. No need to hyperventilate. I have a few tricks up my sleeve yet. The boy over there is Joshua Wilkinson. He’s an Anomaly, like the others but somehow different. I did not find out about him the first time. As far as I know, neither did Propates. He’s a wild card, and I hope it’s enough.”

  “What do you mean ‘the first time’?”

  “Just trust me, okay? It’s for the best that you don’t know any more. I need a favor.”

  Echo exhaled slowly and stepped away from him. “Of course you do. Not enough you get me to spy on Edimmu. Now you show up, tell me the end is nigh and not to ask questions. This isn’t my thing, Wisdom. I gave up all this Illuminati nonsense nearly 200 years ago. I like my nice quiet life.”

  “I never stopped loving you. You know that.”

  She stopped, bit her lip and crossed her arms again.

  Wisdom cleared his throat and looked back out at the sea. “I just wanted to tell you at least once before things get hectic.”

  Echo bit harder into her lips. “Bastard,” she said as tears built up in her eyes. Then she walked back into the house.

  ***

  Echo did not reappear until supper. Josh looked up occasionally from his seven-layer lasagna, unable to fully concentrate on eating with the tension in the room. Wisdom kept his eyes averted from everyone and barely touched his meal. Echo ate slowly, each forkful a statement louder than words.

  Echo turned to Josh. “What are you
staring at?”

  “Umm...” Josh looked away.

  “Echo,” Wisdom said. “This is childish.”

  “Excuse me?” Echo’s eyes flashed bright blue. Behind her a vase exploded. Her face went red and she placed her fork back on the plate.

  “Thank you for proving my point.” Wisdom stared at the space where the vase had been. “I need a favor and I can’t wait any longer for you to calm down.”

  “I am perfectly calm. If I wasn’t, it wouldn’t have been a vase that exploded.”

  Wisdom shook his head. “Always the same. Such a drama queen. You know…”

  Echo jumped up. “You did not just call me a drama queen!”

  “Sit!”

  Echo flinched as if struck. Tears fell down her cheek.

  ‘Has he abused her?’ Josh thought. ‘The way she’s looking at him, she looks terrified.’

  “What do you want?” Echo glared at Wisdom. Each word she said was measured and overly precise.

  Wisdom sighed and sat down. “You know what I want, Echo. I want to stop hurting you. It’s why I left years ago and it’s why I’m leaving right after dinner. But what I need is for you to take this boy to my London offices. The Council has seen him with me. They may be able to track my movements. Propates won’t be expecting anything from you. Not so soon after he’s caught you playing spy. Unless I’m mistaken, they plan to use Josh for something, some purpose I have yet to work out. Somehow his existence has been kept a secret from me. That’s a story in itself. I’m heading to Toronto to meet a new arrival. I know you have questions. I would in your shoes. But believe me, I can’t tell you. No good would come from telling you.”

  Echo seemed calmer now. Her eyes were dry.

  “Is that it?”

  Wisdom shook his head. “One more little thing. Another delivery I’ll tell you about later.” He looked around the room. “Just in case the shadows here have ears.”

  After a deep breath, Echo continued eating her lasagna. “Fine. But when this is over I don’t want to see you for at least a hundred years.”

  Wisdom flinched and stared at his plate. “I pray you get the chance to stay angry at me.”

  Chapter Seven

  August 2nd

  David stared out the window of the Greyhound bus at the streets of Toronto. The view overwhelmed him. There were piles of garbage and throngs of prostitutes in one neighborhood followed by mansions hidden behind high walls and security cameras in another. Restaurants, their names written out in Chinese characters, cluttered entire neighborhoods.

  ‘So many people,’ he thought. ‘It’s like a zombie invasion. It was never like this back in Dartmouth.’

  It was also much hotter than anything he had experienced before. He overheard other people on the bus saying it was the hottest summer on record in Ontario. The windows kept fogging over because the bus’ air conditioning was on high. David cleared the window with the palm of his hand so he could watch the city slide by him. He tried to do the tourist thing, to keep his eyes on the busy and well-lit areas, but that was not who he was. At his core was something else. Again and again, he was drawn to the dark alleys, the vague hostility in the eyes of the homeless. In a city like this, it was easy for him to believe the world was filled with evil.

  That made him feel a little less alone.

  His reflection stared back at him from the foggy window, like a different person he was trying to ignore. He had not showered in days. It had been much longer still since he had slept through the night. His coppery red hair hung limp and greasy, an inch longer than he would have liked. His right ear was pierced with a small hooped earring constructed of surgical steel. The only other jewelry he wore was a simple medallion with the symbol for his birth sign – Aries – bound around his neck with a thin piece of raw leather. He had worn the same loose-fit jeans and light blue T-shirt for three days now. His face was pale and bloodless with dark circles around his eyes. It made his bright green eyes seem all the more unnatural.

  When he stepped off the bus, he saw a six-foot tall woman standing beside a black Hummer. She had broad, imposing shoulders and her skin was nearly as pale as David’s. Her hair was a sharp blond crop cut, making her look militant and feminine at the same time. Despite the heat, she wore a dark blue turtleneck that matched the bruising on her face.

  ‘That’ll be Wisdom’s assistant,’ he thought as he struggled to pick up his canvas bag from under the bus. According to the letter David had received, her name was Elaine Radegund. As he walked toward her, she opened the door to the backseat.

  “You’re late,” Elaine said. She grabbed his bag with one hand and threw the bulky weight effortlessly into the backseat. “Get in.”

  David tensed, thought of a thousand ways to respond to how rude she was, but in the end said nothing. He slid in and let her close the door. His eyes fell on the driver and he held his breath. The driver was well over seven feet tall, with shoulders like a human pit bull. There was nothing vague about his hostility. As soon as Elaine snapped her seatbelt, the driver took off.

  They drove in silence for several blocks before David’s skin started to itch.

  ‘Someone is watching me.’

  He turned slowly to look behind him. Two prepubescent girls stared back at him. They wore identical black skirt suits. One was Asian, the other Caucasian with blond hair and blue eyes. He saw in their eyes why they were there. ‘Protection.’

  “This one can read our minds,” the Asian girl said. “He’s stronger than he looks.” She looked to be about ten years old. David noticed she was wearing lipstick and mascara. He hoped that his employer was not using them for more than one type of job.

  “Don’t be a pervert,” the blond girl said. “We work for him the same way you do.”

  “She means the way you might work for him if you pass the test.” The Asian girl jutted out her chest in a way that would have shown off her breasts if she had any. There was something monstrous about the two of them.

  The Asian girl spat at him.

  He wiped it from his cheek.

  “We’re no more monsters than you are. Now stop talking to us.”

  ‘They heard my thoughts,’ David thought. ‘How’s that possible? Are they like me? Wisdom said he knew all about me, what I could do. He said he could train me but I never expected this. How many others like me are there?’

  He turned back to the girls, questioning them with a look.

  They stared at each other for a moment, as if holding a detailed conversation. Finally, the blond-haired girl turned back to him. “You’ll find out soon enough. Now stop talking to us. Don’t make me say it again.”

  “Play nice,” Elaine said. “Back down and keep up the surveillance.”

  The blond-haired girl, Jessica, glared out the window. The Asian girl reached out and held Jessica’s hand. After another silent conversation, Jessica nodded and closed her eyes.

  “I’m not a monster,” he whispered to himself. But he didn’t believe it. He was a murderer. The first time was two years ago, an accident like a gun going off when you least expect it. Still, he knew there was a gun, knew it was loaded with no safety. He was just as responsible as if he had willfully pulled the trigger.

  ***

  Prom. He stood by the punch bowl, uncomfortable in his tux. Around him, classmates danced, making fools out of themselves even though most were completely sober. His date, Ramona Straub, was a cheerleader with large lips, a small waist and long brown hair. He hadn’t seen her in an hour.

  When she first left, he assumed she was just in the restroom. Later, he assumed she must be just chatting with friends. Now, he knew something was wrong. Punch drink in hand, he made his way through the crowd of familiar faces. Quickly, he realized people were looking at him. Pointing. Snickering behind their hands.

  He leaned up against a wall, took a sip of punch, and tried to stop his head from spinning. In the darkness behind his eyes, he saw everything so clearly. She was in the backseat of a car,
topless with another man. Paedrag Lucki.

  David dropped the cup of punch and walked out to the parking lot. He was furious. Ramona was cheating on him and everyone would find out tomorrow. Forget tomorrow; most of them knew now. Face flushed with anger, he wiped tears from his eyes.

  He wanted them both dead.

  Ramona and Paedrag didn’t see him coming. They were too focused on each other. He stared at them through the foggy windows of Paedrag’s car. David clenched his fists.

  An explosion knocked people to the ground.

  Car parts flew in all directions. People screamed, ran and cried. Everything around David dissolved into chaos and flames.

  But inside, David was calm.

  ***

  “You killed your girlfriend,” Jessica said. “I knew you were a monster.”

  David’s eyes flew open and he spun round to question them.

  Jessica smiled and tapped her forehead.

  “It was an accident.” He turned around and stared at his feet. The first two times, he hadn’t meant to use his abilities to commit murder. The last time, though, he knew exactly what he was doing.

  The last time.

  Maybe that did make him a monster.

  In the back seat, the girls snickered behind their tiny hands.

  The Hummer pulled into the parking garage of a tall glass skyscraper on Bay Street. David saw two armed men in the attendant booth. The show of strength was unnerving. It spoke of a back-story he knew nothing about. They pulled into a parking spot and Elaine opened David’s door. He reached for his bag but Elaine shook her head.

  “Leave that,” she said. “I’ll have it brought to your room. Wisdom will want to see you first. Girls, hurry back to class. No detours.”

  “Class?” David watched as the two girls walked away, hand in hand. He hoped he’d never see them again.

  “You’ll see in due time, Mr. Ross. Come.”

  Standing in the parking garage, David felt even more removed from reality than before. It was like an alien world, filled with concrete and too many shadows. There were no other cars on this level, nor were there any grease stains on the floor. With the exception of the soft rumble of the ventilation ducts, everything was quiet and still. Even in running shoes, his footsteps echoed loudly back through the empty garage.