Blood Is Thicker A Montague & Strong Detective Novel (Montague & Strong Case Files Book 3)

by Orlando A. Sanchez

  “Two days, three at most.” Monty finished the remaining half of the wafer. “Depends on how it’s tested.”

  “Two days to find Chi and get her back in one piece.” I rubbed Peaches behind the ears. “We don’t even know where they have her.”

  “Erik knows and he will tell us.” Monty brushed the crumbs off his shirt and put on his jacket. “In the meantime we’ll go see why the Golden Circle is so eager to see me dead.”

  TWENTY-NINE

  THE LAST TIME I visited a pocket dimension I had made a trip to Japan to see Quan. This time we were headed to some unknown location “in the mountains,” which was the only information Monty would share when I asked about the location of the Sanctuary.

  We entered Erik’s office, behind the Harlequin holding the sword case. He placed the case on his desk and opened it.

  “Tristan, are you sure this is the copy?” Erik held the sword in his hand. “How did you manage this?”

  “Seventy-two hours on the outside and then it reverts.” Monty answered, pointing at the case. “The less it’s handled the better.”

  Erik returned the sword with a shake of his head. “Your talents never cease to surprise me,” he said, closing the case. “The portal is waiting, as is Aria. I take it you wanted to speak to her?”

  “Yes, about this.” Monty fished out the keepsaker. “She would know who requested them.”

  “The Blood Hunters, I would assume,” Erik said and sat behind his desk. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to cancel this trip to the Sanctuary?”

  Monty shook his head. “The Blood Hunters wouldn’t have access to the Smiths to make the request, and no, you can’t,” Monty answered, replacing the box in a pocket. “She may be able to shed some light on who is behind this.”

  “The anchor will retrieve you in thirty minutes.” Erik poured himself another glass of the clear liquid. “I figured that was enough time for you to find out why your sect wants you gone.”

  “Retrieve us?” I looked from Erik to Monty. “What does he mean?”

  “Creating a pocket dimension into the Sanctuary requires an immense amount of energy due to the runic defenses,” Monty said, walking over to the door on the other side of Erik’s office. “Once that energy is expended we will be brought back here.”

  “This is a terrible idea, Tristan.” Erik steepled his fingers as he leaned back. “The Elders have never been big on conversation and once an edict is given it’s never reversed—no matter how wrong it may be.”

  “It has to be done,” Monty said, standing in front of the door. “If you don’t mind.”

  Erik stood with a sigh. “Your funeral.” He smoothed out his pants and stepped over to the panel next to the door. “The meet with Anastasia will be set by the time you return—if you return alive.”

  Monty gave him a short nod.

  “Where are they holding Chi?” The door clicked open and I grabbed the handle.

  “You two come back in one piece and I’ll share that with you, but you won’t like it,” Erik said, placing a hand on the door and gesturing. Runes floated into the wood as it opened. “If I were you, I’d start accepting she’s gone.”

  “When I see that with my own eyes, then I’ll accept it.” I turned the handle and the door flew open as a wind blasted us. “What the hell?”

  Erik gave me a tight smile. “Enjoy your trip. Remember, you have thirty minutes.” He closed the door behind us as we stepped through. The wind died down almost immediately.

  We stood on the summit of a mountain that was covered in grass and shrubbery. A few feet away I could see a pool of clear water. Next to the pool, a pathway led down the mountain. A woman sat in front of the pool with her back to us. The energy signature around her was intense. This was a mage as powerful as Monty, if not more.

  “Hello, Tristan,” she said without turning. “It’s good to see you again.”

  Monty glanced at me with the ‘refrain from pissing her off’ look, which I usually disregarded. Except that we were standing on a mountain and I had the distinct feeling that getting her upset would result in us taking the express route down the side of it. I opted to let Monty do all the talking.

 

  “Is that all you think about?” I grabbed Peaches by the scruff and pulled him to the side, away from the woman. She unfolded her legs and stood gracefully as she turned to face us. Her long black hair cascaded behind her as she approached. She wore a long white robe covered in silver runic brocade. I recognized the design from the last gate of the Hellfire Club. Syght had worn the same robes. Unlike Syght, this woman lacked irises.

  “Hello, Aria.” Monty pulled out the keepsaker from a pocket. “I believe this belongs to you.”

  Aria extended an arm and Monty placed the box in her open hand. It flared blue for a second and then reverted to normal.

  “This was created by a wordweaver, but not an adept.” She returned the box to Monty. “This is a crude copy of our boxes. Serviceable, but inferior.”

  “What happened to your eyes?” I said as Monty sighed next to me. Sometimes the words just escaped my lips. “Who are the wordweavers?”

  “You must be Simon.” Aria turned to me with the hint of a smile. “Since your time is limited, I’ll leave that explanation to Tristan. As for my eyes”—she cocked her head to one side as she examined me—“some things are best left unseen.”

  “Can you tell me who made this?” Monty held up the box.

  Aria shook her head slowly. “No, I can only tell you it was an Exiled.” She stepped back and placed a hand into the pool as she murmured words under her breath. “No Smith would make that kind of box without the appropriate defenses. That one”—she pointed at the box—“is incomplete.”

  Monty nodded his head and put the box away. “Thank you, Aria.”

  “Are you ready?” She moved her hand through the water as an image began to form in the pool. “The bridge is prepared.”

  Monty nodded and stepped to the edge of the pool. “This will be keyed to my father under the usual rules?” Monty stepped into the pool as the water parted around his feet.

  Aria nodded. “Your ability to cast will be greatly reduced while anchored,” Aria said and made another gesture as the image became clearer. “Any large expenditure of energy can sever the bridge, with unpleasant results.”

  “Understood,” Monty said and dived in, disappearing from sight.

 

  “You don’t have much of a choice,” I said and stepped to the edge of the pool with Peaches next to me. “Is this like a teleportation circle?”

  “Are you referring to the discomfort after teleporting?” Aria gave a short laugh. “Nausea and the like?”

  I nodded. “Exactly. This seems like a long trip and I don’t think my body can take it.”

  “I can assure you, this is nothing like a teleportation circle,” she said as the water parted around my feet.

  I sighed in relief as the water raced up my legs. I saw Peaches disappear. The water came up to my neck before it stopped. I looked around and saw her focused on me.

  “Make sure Tristan doesn’t lose control,” she said, gesturing to keep the water from moving. “If he severs the bridge, it could kill him.”

  “Have you met Monty?” I tried to move, but the water felt thick, holding me in place. “Control is his thing. I don’t think he has any emotions.”

  “Be that as it may, he’s a mage and he’s going to see his Elders.” She moved her hand and the water began to slowly rise again. “They have a way of eroding that control. Oh, one more thing, a Smith bridge isn’t like a teleportation circle—it’s much worse.”

  The last thing I saw before the water covered me entirely was her smile. Mage humor needed serious work. I felt a pulling on my body as the world went black.

  THIRTY

  THERE WAS NO way to tell how long I was in the darkness. I opened my eyes and felt the cool stone underneath.
I was about to get up when a hand kept me down.

  “Wait,” Monty said as my stomach and intestines seized. “This is going to be painful.”

  “Fu—” I started, when my breath left me. My intestines felt like they were being ripped out of my body an inch at a time. I looked down to make sure I didn’t have a gaping hole in my abdomen. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth against the agony. After about a minute, the pain subsided and I was able to breathe regularly. Peaches licked my face once he saw I wasn’t groaning in pain.

 

  “Your drool therapy isn’t helping.” I pushed him away and sat up. The world still felt wobbly but my insides felt like they were going to remain inside. “Stop licking me.”

 

  “What I am is a slobbered mess, thanks to you.”

 

  He padded away as Monty helped me up. “We need to go see my father and then exit as soon as possible,” Monty said as I steadied myself against the wall. “He should be in his chambers.”

  “Is the trip back going to be like this?” I clutched my stomach and took a few deep breaths. “Because if it is, I’ll catch a plane from wherever it is we are.”

  “There are no airports near here.” Monty looked down the corridor we stood in. “We need to move—now.”

  We walked down the narrow hallway until we came to a large door off to the right. I could see the runes glowing faintly around the doorframe. Monty took a deep breath and pushed the door open. I felt the energy wash over me as we crossed the threshold. The dimly lit room was spacious judging from the echoes of our footsteps.

  “You never could take a hint,” a voice whispered from the darkness. “Stubborn as your mother.”

  A trail of runes floated in the air and the room was bathed in a soft golden light. A figure dressed in black robes sat cross-legged on a large cushion in the center of the room. A large hood covered his face.

  The room resembled an open-plan loft. A large bed dominated one corner. In the opposite corner, I could see a desk covered with papers and documents. Along one wall, I saw a tall table similar to the one where Monty transformed the fake katana into kokutan no ken. In the rear, a doorway seemed to lead off to another room.

  “Hello, Father.” Monty approached the older man, who stood and pushed back the hood. “You’re looking well.”

  “Tristan…” The old man looked Monty up and down. “What the bloody hell are you doing here? Have you learned nothing? Who’s this?” the old man said, looking at me and then pointing at Peaches. “And what’s that?”

  “Father, this is Simon, my friend.” Monty extended a hand in my direction. “Simon, this is my father, Connor Montague, Elder of the Golden Circle,” Monty said. “That is Peaches, Simon’s companion.”

  Monty had his father’s features down to the scowl. The resemblance was unmistakable.

  “It’s an honor to meet you.” I held out my hand. “These are some impressive quarters.”

  Connor just stared at my hand before turning to Monty. “Are you daft?” Connor said and gestured quickly, his fingers leaving trails of golden light. “He’s not even a mage. What were you thinking?”

  “Who gave the kill order?” Monty said quietly. “How long have you been held here?”

  “Held here?” I said, with a look. “These aren’t his quarters?”

  “An Elder has quarters five times this size, with several apprentices to assist his work.” Monty looked at the space we stood in. “This is a cell.”

  “All the more reason you need to leave—now.” Connor gestured again. “Once you came in here you set off the defenses. They will be here shortly. You used a Smith bridge?”

  “Yes, but—” Monty started.

  “You need to leave.” Connor placed his hand on the floor and a teleportation circle materialized around us. “I sent Dex for a reason, Tristan. Listen to him.”

  “I’ll be back.” I could hear the edge in Monty’s voice. “I’ll come back and release you.”

  “Don’t you dare.” Connor grabbed Monty by the arm. “Oliver has taken over the Elders. If you return, really return, they’ll cut you down the moment you set foot on the mountain. He’s the one who gave the order—he’s the one sending the Ghosts.”

  Monty clenched a fist, and I could feel the air around us charge with energy.

  “Monty?” I heard the approaching footsteps. “Maybe we should listen to your dad? Those footsteps sound angry.”

  Black energy formed around Monty’s fists. “Let them come,” Monty whispered as the energy raced up his arms.

  “We can’t find Chi if we get shredded here.” I unholstered Grim Whisper, and Peaches entered ‘pounce and destroy’ mode. “We can come back for your dad once we get her safe. I think this calls for a strategic retreat while we still can.”

  Monty glanced at me. “Your word.”

  “We will come back and free him.” I looked at Monty and he nodded. “You have my word.”

  “You’re both fools.” Connor grabbed Monty’s shoulder. “You stay away, son. They can’t hurt me, but they will kill you.”

  “They’ll try,” Monty whispered as Connor stepped back, gestured, and activated the teleportation circle. “I’ll come back for you.”

  The circle flared bright, blinding us as the room disappeared.

  THIRTY-ONE

  WE ARRIVED IN Erik’s office and this time I ejected the contents of my stomach all over his polished wooden floor. When I looked up, I noticed the office was Harlequin-heavy. I counted no less than six of them standing around the room. I dry-heaved a few more times and made my way to one of the wingback chairs. Peaches came over next to me and sat on his haunches.

 

  I shook my head and rubbed his. “Not this time, boy.”

  “That wasn’t the anchor.” Erik sidestepped my gastric contributions to his office and signaled to a Harlequin, who left the office and returned a few moments later with a large transparent towel. She placed it on the floor, and in seconds, the towel evaporated, removing all traces of my digestive destruction. “How did you return?”

  “My father,” Monty said, his voice tight, “who is currently being held against his will. An Elder, my father, treated like a criminal.”

  “You can’t even think what you’re thinking, Tristan.” Erik raised a hand and the remaining Harlequins left the office. “The Sanctuary has an army of mages, many of them several orders of power stronger than you. Not to mention the other Elders, who can and will erase you before you move a finger.”

  “What time is the meet with Anastasia?” Monty fished out another one of his wafers and bit off half. Erik raised an eyebrow.

  “Dawn tomorrow.” Erik walked over to his desk, retrieved the sword case, and handed Monty a piece of paper. “I don’t know how you did it, but it passed her test. She’ll meet with you there, but you know this is a trap. Once she gets the sword, you’re both dead.”

  Monty nodded, read the paper and handed me the case before finishing the other half of the wafer. “I need to find an Exiled—one of the Smiths. Where are they staying these days?”

  “The same place Anastasia wants to meet.” Erik sat behind his desk and leaned back. “She’s on Ellis Island,” he said, looking at me. “That’s where she has Michiko, if she’s still alive.”

  “Ellis Island?” Monty rubbed his chin and sat in the other wingback. “That complicates matters.”

  “Complicates matters?” Erik said, raising his voice. “The island is a death trap. The runic defenses are so thick you’ll be lucky if you could create a spark. Do you understand now what you’re facing?”

  “We need to get her back.” I looked at Monty, and he nodded. “Any way around these defenses?”

  “Around—around the defenses?” Erik stared at me and shook his head. “The island—the entire island—is configured with runes. Anastasia didn�
��t pick it by accident. It served as a mage detention site during the war. When it was decommissioned, the Council just shuttered the entire island. No mage is crazy enough to set foot on that island.”

  “This place is a mage prison?” I glanced at Monty. “You won’t be able to cast there.”

  “Your curse probably won’t work there either.” Monty looked at the case holding the fake sword. “The illusion I cast on the blade will dissolve faster there as well.”

  “You’re both certifiable.” Erik threw his hands in the air. “I don’t even know why I bother.”

  I reached into my jacket and pulled out the pouch holding the battle armor Ken gave me for Michiko. “Do you have anything like this?” I slid the pouch across the desk.

  “This is Daystrider Armor.” Erik held the fabric between his fingers before sliding the pouch back. “Where did you get this?”

  “Ken gave it to me—for Michiko,” I said, putting the armor away. “Do you have a mage equivalent or a tank we could use?”

  “I’m fresh out of tanks, but I have something close.” Erik made a gesture. “Daystrider is the only armor I know that can stop blood arrows.” A Harlequin silently stepped into the office a moment later. “Two sets of battle armor. Tristan, do you still remember how to use the blades?”

  Monty nodded. “It’s been a few years, but it should come back to me.”

  “And a pair of Sorrows,” Erik said, looking at the Harlequin. The Harlequin bowed and left the room.

  “Speaking of blades,”—I tapped Ebonsoul’s sheath—“will this work on the island?”

  “That weapon predates the island defenses by a few centuries. If any weapon will work there, it should be that one—considering its purpose.” Monty stood and pulled on his sleeves. “We need to get back to the office. If we’re going to Ellis Island I’m going to need a few things.”

  I stood up. My stomach felt much calmer. “Thank you, Erik,” I said, picking up the sword case and then bowing. “Your help means—”

  “I never helped you.” Erik stood as the Harlequin entered the office again, holding a narrow bag. “You were never here and we never spoke.”