We both share a laugh at that. I hope he is still able to do so when he hears my plan.
***
As Scott said, the spell was easy enough to do. I can go out without having to worry about Meredith or his goons using magic to track me down. I take the opportunity to splurge and spend time with Kara. It will give Scott plenty of time to contact the others via messenger.
It’s just after noontime when I arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is a rare treat for Kara. I’m not one for museums but she loves them. I do admit it is more fun to visit them in her company. I enjoy Kara’s commentary more than the sights as I stroll down the halls. She’s better than most tour guides when it comes to pointing out this or that about an exhibit.
As always, my first stop is the Arms and Armor display before moving on to the various art exhibits. Each one takes us back to a different time and place while Kara shares a story from some legend or myth she knows. The past comes to life around me.
I quicken my pace slightly as I pass a drawing of a Viking warrior who looks vaguely familiar. Kara tells me he was a champion of King Hrolf. If I remember right, Hrolf and his champions figure prominently in a number of Scandinavian legends. Maybe there is something to this immortality business after all.
It’s close to 5 pm when we leave the museum to get a bite to eat and to rest my knee. I say we because it feels like Kara is here in the flesh with me. I treat us to filet mignon at Morton’s. Kara likes her steak rare while I like mine well done so we compromise and settle for medium well. The steak, like everything else today, is superb. Even though I am tempted to have some wine, I decide against it. We have much to see and do tonight.
The streets of the Village call to us. We hop from bar to bar sampling the flavor and music of each establishment. We listen to sweet sultry jazz in the Blue Note. The Bitter End rocks with live music. I do a shot with the bartender in Polly Eshters as the sound of the 70s fills the bar. And so it goes. We visit places we haven’t been to in ages. This is the night I wanted to have when this whole mess started.
Around 1 am, we find a party that has just gone into overdrive. It has all the hallmarks of a good time: sex, drugs, music and alcohol. I pass on the drugs and avoid the sex. The alcohol and music are more than enough for me. I make a few new friends and slip out before the police arrive to shut the party down.
We end the night in Automatic Slims. Kara heads off, wishing me a good night. The kiss she leaves me with keeps me smiling long after she has gone to bed or to do whatever it is she does. I am just finishing my drink when I hear Nerva behind me.
“I knew I would find you here” she says.
I glance over my shoulder at her. The tight leather outfit brings to mind all of my boyhood fantasies of Emma Peel. It takes me a moment to get my mouth working.
“How did you find me?”
I had intentionally avoided any place Hagan or Nerva might be since I wanted this to be me and Kara’s night out. She answers me with a smile and a slight toss of her hair.
“You always end the night here when you’re about to do something dangerous.”
I shrug. There is no point in lying to her. She knows my habits too well almost as well as Kara does. She leans close and reminds me I still owe her.
“One drink and that’s it,” I tell her.
***
One drink turns into a couple. Afterwards, we head back to Nerva’s place. I may never be known as Saint Albritton but I somehow manage to keep from doing anything that will get Kara mad at me. We spend the rest of the night talking. It keeps my mind off of what Nerva is probably doing to me. I learn Nerva likes to cook. It’s something she does when she’s in the right mood. She whips me up a breakfast fit for a king. When I offer her one of my pancakes, she laughs and tells me she’s already eaten.
It’s 7 am when I leave Nerva’s flat. On the way back to Scott’s place, I use my cell phone to call Meredith. The conversation is short and straight to the point.
“Is your offer still open?”
Chapter Twelve
It’s mid-afternoon when everyone arrives. I have recovered from my night out on the town. As I go over everything I know about Meredith, I glance at each of my friends in turn.
Before Scott learned about Meredith’s plans, he considered the man’s actions a breach of courtesy and respect. Gentlemen do not resort to deceit and violence to achieve their aims. Meredith was simply a rival who needed to be put in his place. Once Scott learned the extent of Meredith’s plans and what he’s been doing, that changed. Meredith went from being an annoying rival to his antithesis. Here was a man who was abusing his power, willing to tear down the world for his own gain. Scott felt it was his duty to help stop Meredith. It is part of the code he lives by, a kind of "Noblesse Oblige". Some might call the concept outdated or silly but that is the sort of person that Scott is. He believes with wealth, power, and prestige comes a certain amount of responsibility. The flipside is that Scott expects a certain amount of respect and courtesy from those around him. There are worse codes to live by.
Hagan can’t stop smiling. He is looking forward to when the talking stops and the hitting begins. First and foremost, Hagan is a warrior. He is also my friend. Like Scott, he lives by a code. For him, this is simple. He’s probably wondering why we didn’t kick down Meredith’s door in the first place. This man tried to hurt Scott, the person who hired him and his friend. He then tried to hurt me, another one of his friends. It doesn’t matter what his plan is. Good and evil, right and wrong don’t enter into it. Meredith tried to harm his friends, he has to pay. Loyalty to one’s friends is something I can understand. It’s one reason why we get along so well.
Sol sits there silent and stone faced. Meredith hasn’t threatened him directly. That doesn’t matter. He, more than anyone else here, has a good idea of what will happen if Meredith’s plan is successful. Even more important is how Sol sees the world. Certain practices are way out of line. For him, it is a matter of right and wrong. It is about doing the right thing. Like some wizard from a fantasy novel, he is ready to confront what he sees as evil. Meredith fits the bill perfectly. He has to pay. It is something the two of us can agree upon. The difference is Sol has no qualms about “taking out” Meredith or anyone else for that matter. In his way, he can be as bloodthirsty as Hagan. I want Meredith ‘dealt with’ just as much, probably more than Sol. How far am I willing to go? The answers surprise me.
Finally, there is Nerva. None of this is fun for her. In fact, she looks especially grim when she hears the whole story. Of all my friends, I would say she is most complex and hardest to figure out. It is easy to forget the beautiful woman in front of me is a predator. She didn’t have anything against Meredith. Even though he hurt me, she might not have taken a direct interest in matters unless I asked her for help. Now that she knows what is at stake, everything has changed. It’s become a matter of self preservation. If it’s a question of her or Meredith, you don’t need to be a brain scientist or rocket surgeon to know what her answer is going to be.
It doesn’t take long to outline my plan. As far as plans go, it isn’t much. As expected, the only one who likes it is Hagan. Everyone else, Kara included, says it is too simple. They forget sometimes the simple plans are the best ones. A simple plan executed perfectly is far better than a more complex plan that fails. Sure, a lot could go wrong. That’s true with anything I could come up with on such short notice. The strong point of this plan is my friends. I know each one will do their part. They know as well as I do that there isn’t room for failure. I trust these people, they are like family.
***
Scott Dorward and Solomon the Wise working magic together, many aspiring sorcerers would kill to see this. They are deep into their preparations for tonight. A study in contrasting styles, Scott’s tailored suit is spotless. He chants in Latin and uses complex hand gestures combined with precise movements he has learned from his years of study to forge his part of the spell. Sol sits motionles
s on the carpeted floor in his dark sweats, his shirt stained with a bit of sauce from his meatball parmigan hero. His eyes have that far away look of someone who isn’t all there as he concentrates on doing his part. He draws on his years of experience to guide him in weaving the rest of the spell. The only time he speaks is to signal Scott when he is ready for whatever step they need to do next. Scott’s chant and gestures would change while Sol turns his attention to whatever it is that he is seeing. When these two masters work magic together, no one can touch them. Scott’s knowledge and Sol’s experience make them the perfect team. Next to my job, theirs is the hardest. I’m relying on them to bend the rules so they can tap into the Bloodstone. In theory, Scott thinks it will work while Sol doesn’t see a problem with this part of the plan.
Nerva stands close by watching the two men work their magic. She smiles in admiration, enjoying the show as if she were watching Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton playing alongside Jimi Hendrix. Her senses can better appreciate what the Scott and Sol are doing. Nerva’s job is the easiest but no less important. Timing will be everything. Too soon and everything will fail, too late and it will cost me. That’s what galls Kara the most about this plan, relying on Nerva. Kara is a good judge of character but her vision is clouded concerning the vampire. Maybe it’s jealousy or something else. It doesn’t matter how many times I refuse Nerva’s invitations to party, maybe it’s the temptation.
In comparison, the moment and what the two sorcerers are doing seems to be lost on Hagan. The big guy just sits there sharpening his sword. I don’t know how he is going to get away with carrying a sword around with him in the middle of the city. That’s not my problem. Hagan wouldn’t bring it if he thought it would get in the way. It takes a certain type of person to thrust a length of steel into a living breathing person or to use it to slash apart someone. It’s the sort of thing you would expect from a red handed Viking. Even though, I can use a sword I don’t have a love for the blade or bloodshed. This is what Hagan does, what he lives for and he’s welcome to it.
I glance at my four friends then turn my thoughts inward to spend the time with Kara. We relive the past and some of our adventures. It’s another one of those things we do when I knowingly flirt with danger. It focuses me and gives me my edge. It’s the same edge all professionals have over amateurs. There is a big difference in how you perform when something is just a hobby or for fun and when it’s your job or life on the line. That’s why the pros are so good at what they do. I have no desire to die and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure it’s not going to happen. There are still things I want to see and do. Memories of past adventures steel me for what lies ahead. As I said, my job will be the hardest. I get to take care of Meredith.
Chapter Thirteen
It is after midnight. Tompkins Square Park is closed. Many consider this historic place, the heart of Alphabet City. It has been marked by as many concerts as there have been riots. During the day, the elm trees and playgrounds provide a welcome change from the busy city streets. It is a place where you can walk your dog, people watch or play with your kids. At night, the park changes for the worse. Though it is no longer a safe haven for criminals and the homeless, it is not the sort of place you want to be in after closing especially when there is a killer on the loose.
True to his word, Meredith is there waiting for me. There are no police watching the park. He said he would come alone. I’m not stupid enough to believe him. His people are somewhere close ready to come to his aid at a moment’s notice. I don’t bother looking for them. They aren’t my problem.
I look at Meredith in the dim light. There are very few people I have ever cared enough to hate. He has made that very short and exclusive list. His dream dies tonight, whether he does as well is up to him.
“Albritton,” His new smile looks almost like the old one except the center tooth is a bit too white. Someone not looking might not notice it. Despite what he probably considers, my minor accomplishments, I am nothing. He knows I am up to something but he isn’t worried. Meredith is confident there is no way I can beat him. He might be right.
I remove my hands from my pockets. As usual, I’m unarmed. Meredith doesn’t bother to make sure. He thinks he knows me. To meet me here and like this, he doesn’t know me well enough. Still, I go through the motions and play my part. “You know what I want.”
“Of course,” He says, enjoying the moment and this quiet darkness. The sounds of the city fade away as well as that of the animal life scurrying about the park. “And what happens when you get your answer?”
I pull out the Bloodstone, letting it catch what little light there is. Kara grows even more uneasy, if that were possible. At this distance, Meredith might be able to use the ring for a spell instead of just focusing energy into it.
“We both know how this is going down. Now tell me the truth.”
Meredith waits. He knows how much I want this. How much I need to know. The seconds tick by all too slowly while I struggle against the urge to attack him now. “It’s true. I did try to kill you all those years ago. It wasn’t personal. You just got in my way. It’s a bad habit you picked up from somewhere.”
He favors me with a smile as he reminisces. “I was young back then, an amateur in so many ways. My father taught me the arts but for all his knowledge he lacked the drive to do what it took to get ahead. Me, I had too much drive. I moved too fast. It caused me to make a mistake with you and the girl. My actions frightened my father. My mother thought sending me away from the city would change me for the better while my father wanted to avoid a scandal and the police. It was the best thing they could have done for me. There, I learned patience and perfected my magic. The result is what you see here today.”
A small part of me wonders how someone could be so bent out of shape. The larger and more important part of me doesn’t care. When you get right down to it, Meredith had a choice. He had everything; fame, fortune, and most importantly the freedom to choose what he wanted to do with his life. A lawyer or a social worker might be able to make excuses. They might blame his parents or his environment. They could say he is insane and they would be right. They will say all this in an effort to avoid the truth. People have been hurt. Others have been killed and Meredith is responsible. No one forced him down this path or made him do any of this. This is what he choose and he would do all of this over again without a shred of remorse or guilt.
There is no turning back now. I toss him the Bloodstone. I know he has no intention of letting me leave this park alive. Either, I’ll be the next victim of the Alphabet City Strangler or Meredith’s fall guy but not before he wrings every bit of life and magic from my corpse. I let him enjoy his victory. I even say the words he’s been expecting me to utter since coming here.
“You’re not getting away with this. I’m taking you out.”
Meredith just laughs. It’s the sort of laugh you reserve for a clown in a circus that is more pathetic than funny. “You can’t beat me, even if I were to indulge you infantile mano a mano heroic fantasies. The park is surrounded by my men and you are unarmed,” Now, his smile turns nasty. “Your adventures end tonight, Count. Think of it as payment for the tooth that you knocked out.”
I don’t bother to check my watch. Enough time has passed to get this started. It’s time to spoil Meredith’s moment of triumph. “Your men won’t be troubling us. Hagan is dealing with them right now,” That gets his attention. Hagan is no joke and Meredith knows it. He has a reputation for being very lethal and good at what he does. Meredith’s men, wherever they are hiding, will be too busy dying to come help him. Even better is the look he gives me, part accusing and part disbelief. He actually thought I would come alone and without backup. Sure, I have a reputation as being a stand up guy and always keeping my word but I’m not stupid. Not everything you hear about me is true. I’m not above cheating and playing dirty when the stakes are this high. If Meredith had come alone, Hagan would have stayed out of it. His code won’t perm
it him to disrupt a duel or a personal challenge. I knew Meredith wouldn’t play straight with me. Why would he? In his opinion, I am beneath him. A lot of sorcerers think they are above anyone unable or unwilling to use magic. They figure anyone who believes in magic and doesn’t study the art is stupid. It’s why I am not friends with many of them. In my case, I don’t practice sorcery because my own talent interferes with any spells I might try to cast.
Now, Meredith is angry; it shows in his expression and posture. He’s underestimated me but he still isn’t worried. He’s got the Bloodstone. He can use its power. I push a few more of his buttons. “And don’t think you’ll be able to use the Bloodstone, it’s been shielded against your power.”
“Impossible. You and your friends didn’t have enough time to work such a spell.”
He’s right. There wasn’t enough time for a spell like that. Instinctively, Meredith draws on the ring as I surge forward. Kara whispers a warning to me and I laugh. I don’t know what sort of spell he is trying. With the ring backing him up, it will probably be enough to get past my talent. Scott and Sol spring my next surprise on him.
For all Meredith’s skill, he has been getting by using raw power; power he has gotten from sacrificing people. It was all part of his strategy to keep up the pressure. This time the strategy backfires on him. The problem with relying on brute force is it can make you lazy and sloppy. Thanks to Scott’s knowledge of counter magic and Sol’s experience the First Magics, Meredith falls into my trap. My friend’s magic works through Meredith’s spell using it as a conduit to safely tap the ring’s energy. It allows them to release the energy stored within the Bloodstone in a controlled manner.
Usually there are no visible effects when magic is at work. This time my friends don’t care if they waste power. In fact, the more power wasted the better. A cold blue fire erupts from the ring bathing Meredith and me in its light. The grass around me withers and dies from the spell. I am unharmed as my friends release the ring’s stored power and send it skyward. It arcs out of sight, heading for Meredith’s building in the Bronx. Sol and Scott didn’t know what to use the excess power for. I suggested they use it for a little urban renewal. When this is all over, Scott will see to sealing up that place up permanently assuming I am able to do my part.
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