Lily’s hands slid between Ceri’s thighs. ‘Like I said, convenient.’
Ceri let out a groan. ‘Have you g-got hornier since becoming my p-pet?’
‘No. What else did he say?’
Well, learning to concentrate while distracted was valuable training for any sorceress… ‘Uh… Not a lot. It’s really hard to concent-trate when you’re stroking…’
‘Try.’
‘There wasn’t any-anything much about the… mmm… thing he f-found. Just, like, ancient writings carved into m-metal shhhheets!’ The last word came out a little high pitched as Lily’s fingers got more intrusive.
‘So basically, there wasn’t much in it?’
‘F-feels like there’s s-something in it,’ Ceri groaned. ‘You’re d-definitely hor-hornier.’
‘No, but I can’t hurt you now, so I can let myself act hornier.’
Ceri let out a moan and buried her face in her arms.
~~~
Ceri stepped back as her opponent’s staff swept at her ankles. Her own staff jabbed forward toward his chest, but he twisted aside, giving her a slap on the shoulders in passing.
‘That’s good, but you’re still too focussed on your immediate target.’ The instructor, dressed in a full kamishimo, was a big man with close-cropped hair and a handsome, rugged face. Ceri had seen his thighs once; they were like tree trunks.
‘She’s a lover, not a fighter,’ Lily commented from the staircase.
‘I bet,’ he laughed. His name was Ray and he apparently worked as an instructor for the Metropolitan Police. Ceri could not imagine any criminal standing up to him for longer than a minute, so why he was not on more active duty was a mystery. ‘Again,’ he said, swinging his staff at Ceri’s head.
She blocked, putting a twist in it to push his weapon aside, and then swept her own staff across in a snap-strike at his thigh. She connected, though he barely seemed to notice, and turned, swinging around for a blow to his torso. He blocked and counterstruck, she blocked and tried a sweep. The exchange of blows continued, the clatter of wood on wood loud in the hall. After thirty seconds or so, Ray jumped backward, holding up his hand.
‘Excellent!’ Ceri noted with some relief that he was breathing harder too. ‘I think we should probably call it a day there. You’ll practice with that great club of yours during the week?’
Ceri grinned. They did not use her actual staff for practice. Ray claimed she might cripple him if she hit him with it. ‘Yeah, I will.’ She took a deep breath and used her staff to hold herself up straighter. Ray nodded and headed for the utility room to get changed.
‘You look like you’ve been through a wringer,’ Lily commented.
‘I feel like I’ve spent a night with you,’ Ceri replied.
‘I’m hurt,’ Lily said.
‘You and Michael?’
Lily rolled her eyes. ‘You seem to be getting better anyway. You might actually be able to hold your own in a fight, if you had to.’ Ceri sucked on her teeth and then gave Lily a slap on the shin with her staff. ‘Hey!’ the half-succubus yelped. ‘No fair, I don’t have a stick.’
‘Should’a thought of that before you suggested I couldn’t fight.’
Lily pouted. Luckily for Ceri, Ray emerged in jeans and a T-shirt, and with a bag slung over his shoulder, before the pout could have its full, lethal effect. Ceri walked to the door with him. He stopped in the open door, frowning. ‘You know that guy across the street?’ he asked.
Ceri looked around the door and across the street. The man was tall and looked well built. He had a mane of dark hair around his face. ‘Possibly,’ Ceri replied. ‘Use the side gate on the way out. If he decided to mess with you, you’re not equipped to handle him.’
Ray raised an eyebrow, but nodded and walked around to the south side of the house to head across the park. Ceri watched the man across the street for a few minutes, making sure Ray was not followed, but all that happened was that she was watched back.
‘What’s up?’ Lily said from behind her.
Ceri turned her head. ‘There’s someone across the street. Come see if you recognise him.’ But when she turned back, the figure was gone.
Soho
Carter handed Ceri an envelope as she walked in. ‘Our mutual… friends isn’t the right word, but you know what I mean. They sent this, directions to the meeting. Tuesday night, Parliament Hill.’
Ceri took the envelope and nodded. ‘Thanks, Carter.’ She frowned. ‘How much trouble is this causing you?’
He glanced around. ‘Come into the office,’ he said.
‘As long as you don’t mind me hanging my coat in their,’ she said, following him.
‘I think I can cope.’ He waited for her to enter behind him and closed the door, then walked over to one of the sofas and sat down. Ceri hung up her coat and sat opposite, waiting for him to speak. ‘You’ll have gathered that they don’t like me very much?’ he said.
‘I’d got that impression.’
‘They leave me alone out of self-preservation. There are several people I know I can trust who have envelopes and instructions to deliver them if I… come to some untimely end. I achieved reasonable rank in the Order and I know a lot of things they would rather not have come out.’
‘Basically, you’re blackmailing them into letting you go?’
Carter nodded. ‘However, I also think that they believe I’ll eventually fall again and go back, cap in hand. When I came to them about you, they saw it as an opening. I’m not sure how they’ll react when you say no.’
‘That’s why you mustn’t have anything to do with me getting out of this.’
‘They’ve requested that I be there on Tuesday.’
‘That shouldn’t be a problem. You’re the intermediary. With you there I’ll be at my ease and they’re probably thinking I’ll agree, due to the threats, and then they can make a play for you.’
‘A fair assessment.’
‘The one wild card in this is Lily’s father,’ Ceri said, frowning. ‘He was watching the house this afternoon and I don’t know why.’
‘I think it would be wise to ensure that he is removed from the picture once this is over.’
Ceri nodded, but she had the feeling it was not quite as simple as that. She had the feeling that the incubus was trying to make things right and was not sure how. ‘Time to start work,’ she said.
May 8th
Desmond Wren turned up just after midnight, his girlfriend and a couple of suited men with black souls in tow. ‘I’ll take them,’ Ceri said as Carter started for the lectern to seat them.
‘You’re sure?’ He looked at her closely, his expression concerned.
‘I think he’s here for a reason,’ Ceri replied. ‘I’ll take them.’ At Carter’s nod she turned and headed for the party, her best waitress smile forming as she walked. ‘Good evening and welcome to the Jade Dragon,’ she said as she arrived. ‘I’m Ceri and I’ll be your waitress tonight. Please follow me, Mister Wren.’
‘You know who I am?’ Wren asked as they followed her through to their table.
‘Of course. I’ve seen you here before, and in pictures of course.’
‘Ah yes, of course.’ Ceri stood aside while they settled into the booth; Wren and his empty-eyed girlfriend on one side, the two suits on the other.
‘What can I get you?’ Ceri asked.
A minute later she was walking back to the bar feeling a little dirty. ‘Three red wines, one white, please,’ she said, setting Alec to the task.
‘I don’t like them,’ Michael said from his position at the corner of the bar. ‘The way those men were looking at you…’
‘Try it with my Sight,’ Ceri replied. Carter raised an eyebrow at her. ‘They’re here to get a good look,’ she explained. ‘Trying to judge how powerful I really am. Don’t worry, I’m keeping them guessing. I learned a few things about obscuring myself from Twill.’
Carter chuckled softly. ‘That should confuse them.’
Ceri picked up her tray and started back toward Wren’s table. ‘They didn’t look too pleased, no,’ she said.
~~~
Ceri emerged from the staff room and started down the corridor to the main floor. The door on the gents’ toilets opened as she approached and one of the men from Wren’s group stepped in front of her. She stopped, looking at him, her Sight revealing the black veins twisted around his Chakral Median and the power beginning to build through it.
‘Have you considered our offer, Miss Brent?’ he said. His voice was entirely neutral and he had a blank expression on his middle-aged, average sort of face. His eyes, though, were a piercing blue which she suspected was probably intimidating for most people. She was too busy being disgusted.
‘I’m considering,’ she replied flatly.
‘You understand that we make very useful allies, and very powerful enemies.’ A statement, not a question.
‘Carter made that quite clear, yes.’
‘He can’t protect you. We can get to you anywhere, as you can see.’
‘Protecting me isn’t his job,’ Ceri replied. ‘Carter just did me the favour of seeing if we could resolve whatever problem you have with me without violence.’
‘Then join us.’
‘I’ll give my answer on Tuesday.’ Ceri moved to step around the man and he raised his hand to block her. His palm held a ball of flame.
‘Join us, or…’
Ceri reached out and the fire jumped from his hand into hers. ‘I won’t ask Carter to throw you out,’ she said, ‘but he would be displeased if I told him you’d done that. And threatening me before I’ve given my answer is not a great way to persuade me. Especially when you aren’t very good at it.’ She closed her hand, extinguishing the flame. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.’ She pushed past him, heading for the front.
Behind her, she could feel his anger and the growing power. She was almost surprised when he bit it back without attacking her. Apparently he was brighter than she had given him credit for.
Kennington, May 9th
‘They’ve selected a tactically advantageous site,’ Stefan commented looking at the map Ceri had spread out on the floor of the study. ‘There’s a band of trees to the north here. They’ll station people in there to come out when you give them your answer.’
Anita nodded. ‘After dark it’ll be hard to see anyone in there and the open ground around the meeting is supposed to make you feel secure.’
‘Yeah, well,’ Ceri said wryly, ‘they couldn’t make me feel secure if they tried.’
‘Good attitude to have,’ Stefan replied, ‘as long as you aren’t too nervous to function. Frankly though, you’ve faced off against two of Remus’ wolves. These guys should be easy.’
‘This is different,’ Ceri said. ‘With Remus we all knew where we stood. They were coming to kill us so we killed them first. No one was going to complain about it aside from Remus himself and both he and I knew that it was going to come down to one of us dying. With this lot it’s all politics’
‘I hate politics,’ Anita stated flatly.
‘I’m not enamoured,’ Ceri replied, ‘but that’s how I have to play this. They don’t consider me a threat. I need to make sure I’m enough of a threat that they’ll leave me be, and leave all of you be.’ She looked between the two werewolves. ‘Your Alphas are both okay with this.’
‘Alexandra considers it both a matter of protecting friends,’ Anita said, ‘and protecting the pack. They did threaten us.’
Ceri nodded. ‘There was no threat against the Royals.’
‘Catherine would be dead if it wasn’t for you,’ Stefan said. ‘The pack would probably be dead. Frankly, we sent people to talk to the Serpents and the Marshwallers. They know who you are, word got around about what you did to Remus. They would turn out for you if you asked them. Every werewolf in the country owes you for last winter.’ Anita nodded in agreement.
Ceri blinked. ‘Oh,’ she said. Gathering herself she leant forward slightly. ‘Okay then, here’s the plan. Feel free to make suggestions, you’re the tacticians.’
Northern Line Tube, May 10th
‘You know,’ Ceri said, ‘they’ll have your father there.’
‘Faran,’ Lily said. ‘He calls himself Faran.’
‘Thanks, I was worried I would have to call him “Lily’s dad” the whole night. How’s your acting?’
‘You want them to think he’s still affecting me?’
Ceri nodded. ‘That’s kind of part of the plan.’
‘Okay… well my acting experience is more in horizontal postures, but I think I can do it. He’ll know though. He knows we broke his mental bond with me, if not the meta-genetic one.’
‘Meta-genetic? Have you been reading again?’
‘You have access to all those cool academic papers through the university and you’ve been busy, planning. I was bored.’
‘Always pays to learn, but that metaphysical genetics stuff is pretty dense.’
‘Yeah,’ Lily said, grimacing slightly, ‘it kind of was.’
‘It’s not my speciality, but…’
‘What?’
‘Well, I know there’s a research group at UCL that look into that stuff. If you were willing to help with their research, they might be willing to explain some of that stuff.’
‘Why are we discussing this now? I mean, before the big showdown with the villain.’
Ceri grinned. ‘Helps take my mind off it. Why do you think we spent the last three hours in bed?’ She glanced at the scrolling sign at the end of the carriage. ‘Hampstead,’ she said. ‘Show time.’
Parliament Hill
They had been watched the entire time on the walk from the tube station to where they had met Alec and Carter near Hampstead Heath train station. Then they had been watched as the four walked up through the park to the site of the meeting.
‘I see one man,’ Alec said as they approached in the darkness, ‘but I can smell more. And a demon.’ He glanced at Lily.
‘They’ll make sure there’s nothing untoward before their emissary comes out,’ Carter said.
The lone figure at the meeting place was a pacted wizard; Ceri could see the black tendrils around his spine. Her hand gripped her staff as he prepared and cast a spell, but all that happened was a swelling of magic; a knowledge spell of some sort, checking that no one else was about, she guessed. Apparently satisfied, he lifted his wrist to his mouth. ‘They’re clear, come down.’
Three figures emerged from the tree line about a hundred yards north and uphill. Ceri thought she knew who two of them were; there was the stooped figure of Tanner and the tall form of Lily’s father. The third was new. As they got closer Ceri could see a man of perhaps Carter’s age, but showing it more. He was aging well though, his hair still dark aside from grey at the temples. There was the look of the handsome, elegant uncle about him and Ceri might have considered him attractive if it was not for the thick mass of darkness which almost entirely obscured his Chakral Median.
They stopped alongside their compatriot, about ten feet from Ceri and her friends. The older man nodded to Carter. ‘Fleming.’
‘Sharpe,’ Carter replied.
Sharpe turned to look at Ceri. ‘We said nothing about you bringing a werewolf.’
‘Alec is my bodyguard,’ Carter stated.
Sharpe shrugged. ‘Very well. Miss Brent, I’m sure you’ll think I’m being condescending, but it is actually a pleasure to meet you finally. And with Makelo’s Staff.’
‘It makes a nice walking stick,’ Ceri replied. It was the first time she had heard anyone name the staff and she hoped she sounded suitably nonchalant.
‘Indeed. I can see you aren’t here for small talk, and your pet is finding her father’s presence uncomfortable. You’ve considered our offer.’
Ceri glanced at Lily. The half-demon’s fists were clenched and her jaw looked tight. ‘I’ve heard a lot of threats,’ Ceri said. ‘What, exactly, do I get out of joining
you people?’
‘Safety, security, untold power. We hold the secrets of the sorcerers of ancient times. A great man, Markus Devall, brought them back from a hidden location in France following the Shattering. Through them he became the most powerful sorcerer since Merlin himself and we have followed in his footsteps. You can do the same.’
‘By handing over my soul to a demon?’
Sharpe smiled. ‘We have learned to manage the power the demons give us, we…’
‘You need to learn harder,’ Ceri interrupted. She could see that annoyed him and wondered what kind of demon he was pacted with. ‘You’re almost gone. You see, I can see the effect the demon has on you. I could see the effect it had on Barnes. He was one of yours, wasn’t he? Just like Desmond Wren is.’ She reached into her coat and pulled out an envelope, tossing it toward Sharpe.
The guard moved forward far enough to pick it up, handing it to his boss. Sharpe pulled out a set of photographs and began leafing through them. His face darkened more and more as he went. ‘What is this?’
‘Members of your Order, going in and out of the Archmage Club,’ Ceri replied. ‘I’ve identified enough of them to know that you have people in various parts of the government, and I know Wren is pacted so I’d imagine several others are. Really, all I have is proof of a load of gentleman’s club members in positions of power, but add in the pacts and someone is going to scream “conspiracy.”’
Sharpe nodded at the guard and he raised his wrist to speak into the hidden microphone there. ‘You won’t live to…’ Sharpe began.
‘The people you have hidden in the trees are not going to help you,’ Ceri said calmly. ‘By now they’re all unconscious or having a really bad time with a werewolf.’ She watched as Sharpe gathered his power. The guard and Tanner were doing the same, but Faran just stood there, watching with a slight grin on his handsome face. Ceri raised her staff and brought it down. The crystal at its head flared brightly and a wall of shimmering energy divided the space between the two groups. Sharpe tossed a fireball, but it struck the wall and vanished in a flare of light. ‘That’ll be quite enough of that,’ Ceri snapped. ‘You’re not the most powerful practitioners in the world. Hell, your wonderful Markus Devall died in a house fire! How useless is that?’
Thaumatology 03 - Legacy Page 18