Thaumatology 03 - Legacy

by Teasdale, Niall

  ‘You’re still planning to do that full time gig?’ Lily asked. Ceri nodded, and Lily headed off toward the bar.

  ‘Full time gig?’ Cheryl asked.

  ‘I’m going to spend a full day with the pack,’ Ceri said. ‘Wednesday night through to Friday morning.’

  ‘Aren’t they mostly homeless?’ Cheryl asked. ‘I don’t see you sitting on a street corner with a tin cup.’

  Ceri shrugged. ‘I want to know what their life’s like, and I feel like I owe them something for what they’ve taught me so far.’

  ‘You seem a most conscientious woman,’ Ed remarked. ‘I don’t quite see how you ended up with a werewolf as a mate. The term implies two werewolves…’

  ‘I turned myself into one,’ Ceri said. Ed raised an eyebrow; the ability to transform into other creatures was very rare magic. ‘I’m an honorary member of the pack and Michael claimed me as a mate. He’s Welsh, though you can hardly tell. He grew up in the Brecon pack.’

  ‘She’s into younger men,’ Lily said as she appeared and started placing drinks on the table. ‘Hot, eighteen year old, wolf-hunk she totally seduced with her inability to say a word when they first met.’ She placed a cocktail of some sort down in front of Ceri. ‘You’ll like that,’ she said.

  ‘Are you planning on having to carry me home?’ Ceri asked.

  ‘Oh no,’ Lily replied with a thoroughly mischievous smirk, ‘you’ll be quite capable of walking.’ She turned and headed back toward the bar.

  ‘She’s up to something,’ Cheryl commented.

  Ceri nodded and tried the drink. ‘Mmm… Yes, she is, but she’s right about the cocktail.’

  ~~~

  ‘So how did the test go yesterday?’ Carter asked. He had joined them in the booth, sitting beside Ceri with a tumbler of whiskey. Generally he had a couple of drinks during a night, when he was being sociable with a regular or some celebrity, or a girl he was busy converting from customer to conquest. Ceri had never seen him drunk, even at private parties.

  ‘We got over a megawatt out of it for thirty minutes,’ Cheryl said. ‘We should be able to at least double the power output once it’s tuned.’

  ‘There is one small issue though,’ Ceri said.

  ‘Cheryl told me about maintaining the circle,’ Carter said, ‘and about your suggestion for an emergency generator application. It sounds very promising.’ His face suddenly darkened. Ceri followed his gaze to see a man in his late twenties settling into a booth at the back of the club with a tall, attractive woman.

  ‘Something wrong?’ she asked.

  ‘That,’ he said, ‘is Desmond Wren.’

  ‘The guy Petra was going out with?’ He nodded in reply. ‘Who’s the woman?’

  ‘Presumably, that is Petra’s replacement.’

  Ceri looked the woman over; a typical model-type, tall, slim, attractive, possibly with no personality. ‘He downgraded,’ she said. As Carter chuckled she almost automatically cast her Sight over the pair. The woman was wearing some sort of cosmetic charm, quite why would forever be a mystery. Ceri’s eyes were drawn to the black tendrils twisting around Wren’s Chakral Median. She had seen that kind of thing before, on the mages who had assisted Remus. It was a sign that the man had a pact with a demon, and used it.

  Carter probably saw the colour drain from her face. His hand landed on hers under the table and he squeezed her fingers. ‘You see it, don’t you?’ he said quietly.

  ‘I see why you warned Petra off him,’ she said. She shook her head and turned back to the people on the table, smiling. ‘Luckily I have much more pleasant company. What’s the university like in Aberystwyth, Ed? I vaguely remember driving through there once with my parents.’

  ‘Well,’ Ed said, sitting back with his beer, ‘the town isn’t big. Half the population are students. The university was founded in eighteen-seventy-two, the first university in Wales and the original building is down on the sea front still. The main university buildings are up at the top of the hill these days, though since the hill is subsiding down toward the sea it may be back in town eventually.’ He took a drink. ‘We took over the old Chemistry Department building when they shut them down in the eighties. Huge, stone building, huge staircase in the foyer. Plenty of lab space. You should visit sometime.’

  ‘Ceri doesn’t travel well,’ Cheryl said.

  ‘Like fine wine,’ Carter added.

  ‘I see where you get your reputation from,’ Ed said, smiling as Ceri and Cheryl giggled.

  ‘Oh, these two know me far too well for that to be anything other than entertainment,’ Carter said.

  ‘I say you should visit,’ Ed said, pushing the conversation back on topic, ‘because there’s a young historian there who has done an excellent thesis on your namesake, Ceridwyn.’

  ‘The sorceress?’ Ceri said, hoping her slight discomfort did not show. Her parents had named her after an ancient sorceress for a very good reason.

  ‘Indeed. Young Vivian has amassed quite some evidence that she was a real woman. It’s a fascinating read.’

  ‘Speaking of which,’ Carter said, ‘when do I get to read your thesis, Ceri?’

  ‘Now that it’s been vetted,’ Ceri said, thankful for the subject change, ‘your personal copy will be delivered as soon as possible. Friday, probably. I’ll bring it to work.’

  ‘Work?’ Ed asked.

  ‘I’m a waitress here Fridays and Saturdays.’

  Ed smiled. ‘Your talents, it seems, are limitless,’ he said.

  April 21st

  Ceri had moved up to the bar when Cheryl and Ed had left. Ed was catching a relatively early train and Cheryl wanted to make sure he got back to his hotel all right. From the look she had given Carter on leaving, and his non-audible reply, she would be back before the club closed.

  Lily was walking back from one of her tables as Ceri sipped the latest of a long line of cocktails she had been presented with throughout the evening. This one had a rather sweet, strawberry flavour and it was making her feel warm in some very intimate places. She was vaguely wondering what Lily, and Alec since he mixed the drinks, had been feeding her all night, but she was mostly thinking how lucky she was to have the gorgeous creature walking toward her for a lover.

  Ceri looked up at Lily, who was grinning far too much. ‘What’s in the drinks?’ she asked.

  Alec leaned over the bar. ‘Touch of a liquor distilled from fae wine,’ he said, ‘essence of ginger and basil, a hint of saffron, and a little caraway.’ Ceri blinked at him. ‘Prepared in the right way, and I know someone who prepares it just right, it promotes strength and makes you less susceptible to the draining powers of succubi, but it also has the unfortunate side effect of making you randy as hell with barely any inhibitions.’

  ‘And you’ve been serving it to me all night?’ Ceri said. Her brain was the kind of brain which could point out to her that her lack of outrage at this notion was probably the result of the inhibition inhibiting effect. Another part of her brain pointed out that “inhibition inhibiting” was a funny sort of phrase. Hilarious, in fact, which was why she was giggling.

  ‘Well,’ Alec said, ‘I’d normally consider it akin to slipping someone something dodgy in a bar, but considering it was Lily’s idea and I think she knows what she’s doing…’

  Ceri looked at Lily. ‘Why have you been drugging me all evening, pet?’

  ‘Oh, that’s easy,’ Lily said, beaming at her. ‘You’re going to need all the strength you can get when we get home. Drink up. You’ve time for one more before we close.’

  ‘You’re both very bad people,’ Ceri said, before downing her cocktail.

  Kennington

  Ceri opened her eyes. It was still daylight, but the dull light coming in through the curtains suggested it was getting late. Hardly a shock considering that they had finally gone to sleep well after dawn. In fact, she was a little unsure what had woken her until she felt Lily shift against her back. The half-demon usually slept soundlessly, unmoving, curled ag
ainst Ceri’s back as though it were a safety blanket. Ceri slid sideways a little so that she could turn and look at her friend.

  Lily’s brow was creased into a frown. Her eyes were tightly closed, almost as if she were in pain rather than asleep. It seemed as though she became slowly aware that Ceri had moved and her arms reached out, fumbling.

  ‘It’s okay, Lil,’ Ceri said quietly, ‘I’m here.’

  Lily’s eyes flew open and she cut off a sharp cry. ‘Oh, Ceri. Oh, I’m sorry I… must’ve been having…’

  ‘I thought I was the one with nightmare problems,’ Ceri said. Reaching out, she pulled Lily close against her side.

  Lily laid her head on Ceri’s shoulder. ‘I was dreaming about my father,’ she said softly.

  For a long time, everything Lily had ever said about her father had suggested that some demons got undeserved bad press. It would come out in little anecdotes. Her father had taught her a little of the commonest demon language, Devotik, for example. Admittedly, most of the words he had taught her were rude, but it was the thought that counted. He had educated his daughter in a little demonic culture, since she might have to deal with them. He had sounded like a fun sort of dad.

  Then Ceri had discovered Lily had a pair of demon-bane daggers which she had obtained in case her father came back looking for her. It had been his influence which had turned her from a cute teenager into a sexual predator. Even after he had been banished, his effect on her had led her to run away from home, and had been well on the way to turning her into the kind of supernatural who hung out at the Dubh Linn. Ceri had sworn that if he ever tried to control Lily again, Lily would have to fight her for the opportunity to kill the bastard.

  ‘Do you get that a lot?’ Ceri asked.

  Lily shook her head. ‘I haven’t dreamed of him since he was banished.’

  ‘You… don’t think he’s back, do you?’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Lily replied. ‘I’d know. I think I’d know.’ She frowned. ‘I’m sure…’

  Ceri looked at her. ‘You’ll be okay going to work and stuff?’

  Black eyes sought out Ceri’s blue ones. ‘Of course I will. It was just a nightmare. Not even much of a nightmare.’

  ‘What happened in it?’

  Lily closed her eyes, frowning as she tried to recall the dream. ‘It’s… mostly gone. I remember his face. He was talking to me. I… no, I don’t remember any words, just that he was talking.’ Her frown deepened. ‘He looked concerned… I think there was someone else there. Just a shadow… A man with a head like a rat. Some kind of were-rat?’ She shook her head and opened her eyes. ‘I’m sure that’s meaningful in some way. Or just a dumb dream element.’

  ‘Probably the latter,’ Ceri said, grinning. ‘Were-rats are a myth.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Lifting her head, Lily gave Ceri a soft kiss on the cheek. ‘You go have fun with Michael. I’m sure he missed you last night.’

  ‘I’m quite sure he did,’ Ceri replied. ‘I wonder if that cocktail mix of yours is still working. I could use the added vitality.’

  Battersea

  Anita was briefing her troops. She had actually shifted her briefings from Mondays to Thursdays to be sure that Ceri would be there for it. She gave her briefings in human form, because it was easier to get the more complex information across that way. Despite the fact that the weather was less than glorious, she stood there in the drizzle and chill wind wearing nothing but a stoic expression. Ceri had started wondering whether the woman had nerve endings.

  ‘Evening troops,’ Anita said to the somewhat motley crew of werewolves sat around on the grass and the odd cardboard box or fallen branch. Anita held her meetings in the large, grassy area on the north side of Alexandra’s favourite island. They were mostly greys, but there were a couple of browns, and Ceri. ‘There’s not too much to go over this week,’ Anita went on as the growls and grumbles of greeting subsided. ‘So let’s get this over with quickly. I’m freezing my tits off here.’

  Everyone settled. Ceri was a little surprised no one jumped on the “freezing my tits off” remark, but they were a fairly disciplined bunch. And also it was a fairly disgusting night to be sitting about in the open. ‘All right, things are continuing fairly quiet with the lousy weather, but Alexandra says it’s going to perk up next week so we’ll see more foot traffic in the park soon. Usual rules. Make sure everyone is behaving themselves around the humans.’ Her gaze fell upon her one black-furred soldier. ‘Some of you will know we’re going to have Ceri here next week from Wednesday night through to Friday morning. We finally get a chance to see what she’s like in daylight. As normal, she’s to be treated like any other pack guard.’

  The big woman waited for the slight murmur of noise to fade before continuing. ‘We have had a couple of reports of unusual activity in various areas around our territory. Mostly people getting bad feelings off humans they’ve seen. Probably nothing major. You all know what humans can be like around us. Just keep your eyes open.’ She looked around. ‘Any questions?’ No one said anything, and she nodded. ‘Right, I’m going to get into fur while my nipples are still attached.’

  Michael’s hand touched Ceri’s shoulder and, when she looked around at him, he waved for her to follow as he set off toward the water. It was a cold swim, but shaking the water away on the other side was always fun, and then they were running and she was soon warming up again. He took her north to the river bank and they leant against the wall there, watching the pedestrians and the river traffic. It was kind of romantic, but Ceri could not get into the mood. The people walking past saw to that.

  Me not like Man kind. Ceri’s growled comment made Michael turn to look at her. Man stupid.

  You Man kind, he replied.

  She shook her head. Not Man. Not Wolf. Other.

  He regarded her closely with his orange-brown eyes. His growl said, You good Wolf.

  She was about to reply when she saw the man sitting on a bench perhaps twenty yards away. At first glance he was just staring at the pair of werewolves. Plenty of people were staring at the werewolves; despite the fact that were-creatures were not exactly uncommon, people stared. This one was staring differently, however. Her brow furrowed and Michael’s head turned a little so that he could see what she was looking at out of the corner of his eye. He turned back.

  Watching us, Michael growled.

  Ceri stopped looking directly at the man. There was no word she knew for “observing,” so she growled her agreement. However, they were being observed, not watched. She flicked on her Sight out of habit. The man was wearing charms, several of them, but she could see no sign of the darkness associated with a pacted magician. On the other hand, like this she could see the double image which suggested that at least one of the charms was a disguise spell. Certainly something designed to obscure the man’s real nature.

  Something odd, she growled. Report.

  Later. Go bridge. He pushed off from the wall and started walking toward the bridge at the corner of the park.

  They were not followed, but there was another dark figure standing opposite the park beside the bridge. They moved into the shadow of the trees and looked out at the man as he stood there, leaning against a lamppost and smoking.

  He see us, Ceri growled.

  Man eyes not good in dark, Michael replied.

  Magic. He see us. She could tell from the way the figure’s head moved. They watched as he raised his hand to take a drag on his cigarette, but paused, his lips moving, before sucking in the smoke. Either a hidden radio or a telecommunication spell. Whoever they were, they were acting in concert.

  April 23rd

  ‘We found six of them,’ Ceri said. She was sat beside the fire in Alexandra’s clearing, wrapped in a blanket.

  ‘And from where you described them,’ Anita said, ‘there were at least another eight dotted around the outer edge of the park.’ It was late, or early, and even the Captain of the Guard had chosen to wrap a blanket around herself to lessen the cold. />
  ‘I’ve sensed no threat to the pack,’ Alexandra said. ‘Perhaps the police are checking up on the werewolf population after last year.’

  Ceri considered for a second. ‘Well, if it’s just that, I might be able to get Kate or John to admit it. I’ll see if I can talk to them tomorrow.’ Michael grumbled something. ‘No,’ she said, ‘they didn’t feel like cops to me either. If they were mages they were quiet about it, but they had a lot of charms on them.’

  Alexandra looked at Anita. ‘No need for immediate alarm, I think. However, we’ll make sure everyone keeps their eyes open. Oh, and make sure everyone goes out in at least pairs.’ She looked toward Michael, sat pressed against Ceri, his chin on her shoulder. ‘Michael, you’ll escort Ceri back to her house tonight. Don’t come back alone until it’s light. I’m sure neither Ceri nor Lily will mind you staying over.’

  ‘That’s not necessary,’ Ceri started.

  ‘We don’t know what this is about,’ Anita said. ‘You’re under pack rules as well. You don’t go out without a partner. That’s an order.’ The amazon-like woman had a smirk on her face as she said it.

  Ceri grinned. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘If it’s an order.’

  Kennington

  Ceri picked up her satchel full of clothes from the tree as they left, but the couple stayed in wolf form all the way back to High Towers. Michael had not bothered to grab anything to wear, and it seemed pointless, and slower, for Ceri to change back. Besides, she loved running with her mate. It was one of the things she liked most about her times as a wolf.

  Lily seemed very pleased to see the two of them. She gave Michael a tight hug while Ceri was transforming back to human, and then crushed Ceri half to death. ‘What’s got into you?’ Ceri asked when she could draw breath.

  ‘I’m feeling… twitchy,’ the half-succubus said, ‘and also horny.’

  ‘You’re horny?’ Ceri said. ‘After what we got up to last night, you want more?’ Michael growled, a hint of humour in his tone.

  ‘Michael’s happy enough with the idea,’ Lily giggled. ‘I can’t help it. Half succubus, y’know?’