The Blood Eagle in the Big Easy

by K. A. Lange

“Not at all.” Try as I might I was unable to release my grip on the stone and free myself from my paralytic prison of flesh.

  Surprisingly the darkness that surrounded me started to fading as my body seemed to respond to my commands once more. After blinking my eyes several times the world around me came sharply back into focus. The only hitch was that I was no longer sitting in the study at home. Instead I found myself standing in the midst of a well traveled dirt path somewhere deep in a dimly lit forest. The overgrown evergreens created a heavy canopy, allowing only the occasional shaft of sunlight to break through unimpeded. Snow and ice blanketed everything around me except for the trail. I felt I should recognize this place yet I just couldn’t place it.

  The wind howled through the trees that sang as the icy branches brushed against one another. Pulling my old overcoat I’d woke up with all those years ago tight to keep the chill out, I felt at home for the first time. I knew this to be an illusion, or perhaps a dream, but it seemed much too vivid. The details were too precise making it hard to distinguish this from reality which just set me on edge. Delusions this vivid meant I’d either finally cracked or perhaps something bigger was at work here. I had little choice at this point but to cooperate with this ‘Mir’. Deciding to play along. As I took my first tentative step, I could feel the frozen earth crunch with each step. Like I said every last detail was precise. Mir was certainly pulling out all the stops for whatever game he was playing.

  Shoving my hands back in my pockets to keep them out of the elements I trudged onward. Eventually I caught sight of a very large being which I’d like to say was a man, but was much too large, walking towards me. He was perhaps three hundred yards away, partially hidden by the long shadows cast by the evergreens surrounding us. He wore some type of black body armor akin to medieval knights yet it glowed and pulsated with a life all its own. My mind screamed at me that this being was dangerous beyond measure so the closer he came the slower I walked. Everything about the man said to proceed with the utmost caution. His every move denoted a predator who was long accustomed to violence. I looked around vain in hopes of finding something that would at least improve my odds of survival. Finding nothing I firmly planted my feet and waited.

  He stopped a few yards away pulling off the visor, and giving me a big smile. Something about him spoke a familiarity yet try as I might I couldn’t place him. His features resembled rough cut granite, giving him a look akin to an ancient masterpiece that was yet unfinished and somehow still handsome. His face bespoke of something ancient yet unchanged by the ravages of time, from what little I could see of his flesh he was heavily scarred from untold battles. His most imposing feature was his right eye which glowed. It took me a few seconds to realize it was the same gemstone I’d held onto all these years.

  His long gray hair hung well past his broad shoulders, and the matching well kept beard only accentuated his rough features. “It is good to properly meet you....” He bowed with a flourish. “I’m Mir, humble servant of the Allfather.”

  Keeping a close eye on the man I gave him a slight bow. “Good to meet you Mir.” Glancing around I tried to find a way out of this nightmare. “Like I said earlier, the name’s Viktor.”

  Tilting his head to the side as he chewed on his lower lip he tried to place me. “I believe you’re mistaken...” Mir shrugged his massive shoulders as he stepped forward. “You need a name I suppose, and Viktor is as good as any...” Mir looked confused. “Since I cannot recall your proper name, I guess Viktor will just have to do... for now.”

  That old hunger to know who I was overrode my trepidation and good sense. “You seem to think that we know each other.” Stepping around Mir, who stood probably twice my height, I eyed him carefully. “I would think I would remember someone as...”

  “Handsome as me?” Mir joked.

  Yeah, like I’m going to piss off the giant in the room. “Sure, let’s go with that.” Thinking that it was better to placate him than be squashed like an ant underfoot. He was simply too powerful for me to even consider trying to fight. If that’s what it came down too I planned to run like hell. It isn’t cowardice if there isn’t a reason to fight. Besides I couldn’t see gaining anything from something that foolish.

  “So how is it we know each other?” I waved at the forest around us. “And where the hell are we?” Holding up my hand quickly I stopped the snarky remark I was sure he was about to make. “Other than in my apartment! I’m fairly sure this is all taking place somewhere within the confines of my own mind.”

  Mir seemed at once disappointed. He was unable to make a smartass remark, yet pleased that I’d guessed the truth of the situation. “This forest is in your homeland as it was long ago before it was ravaged by progress.” Mir paced around me slowly stroking his chin as if trying to decide where to start. “Has something happened that has damaged us?”

  Confused by the question and the inclusion of ‘us’, I stammered. “There’s a lot I don’t remember.” Waving my right hand in his general direction. “You are just one of many things I can’t explain.”

  Mir stopped moving and I felt the raw power of his gaze as it fell upon me. That eye glowed with an intensity as it mutated and changed colors from the brilliant blue to a sickly yellow. Tension built throughout my body and I fell to my knees in pain. “That is unfortunate.”

  Gasping for air, I tried to crawl away. “Please stop...”

  The pain faded quickly and his eye returned to what I could assume was its natural shade of cobalt blue. “You were somehow damaged.” His voice was full of concern as he gave me a helping hand as I struggled to my feet. “Your injuries seem quite extensive...”

  “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” Rubbing my forehead trying to clear away the pain. “How? I suppose would be the best question.”

  He nodded at me as he continued to appraise my situation. “Head trauma of some sort just behind your left ear.” He gently poked the spot. “It would seem that the nanites have been working to repair the damaged regions for a very long time.”

  “Nanites?” I sank to the ground finding comfort in the solid earth below me. “I’m lost.” I confessed. “Could you please help me find my way?”

  Mir looked at me with such tenderness in his eyes, taking a seat beside me and draping a giant hand over my shoulders. “I’ll do what I can.” He hung his head in desperation. “I may not be able to recall your name just now but there are other things I do know about you.”

  I was so tired and weary from the experience all I could do was shrug at him in response.

  “To understand your nature is paramount in your recovery.” Mir stood and walked around me in a large circle. “You were found by the Allfather in the heart of a dying star.” Images swam before me of a sleeping infant being scooped up by oversized hands as they rescued it from some long forgotten star. “You were raised by the Allfather’s son who had no children of his own.” Another vision of an exaggerated version of a large handsome Viking sprang to life in my minds eye. “You were the balance between might and wrath, wisdom and intellect...” Another vision of me sitting atop a throne shocked me as it rocked me back on my feet. “Something has happened?”

  “I hate to be rude but the history lesson will have to wait till another time.” I told Mir. I stood slowly as my body ached. “I have to deal with the problems in the present.” Sadness and greed nearly overtook me because I wanted to know more.

  “What could be so important?” Mir asked indignantly.

  “A creature known as Gullveig...” The words caused Mir tremendous agitation as he started to pace.

  “The witch lives?” Anger poured off him in waves as he stormed towards me. “She is yet alive? What have you done?”

  I shrank back from the angry giant. “I don’t know?” My emotions ran away with me as I felt ashamed. “I only remember glimpses! She was to go to ‘The Pit’ but something went wrong.”

  Mir shook with anger. “She was to die with the others!” He seethed.
“You tried to rescue her?”

  “I don’t remember!” I growled and to my surprise Mir jumped back. “I only remember little pieces of what happened.” As I paced I realized that I was glowing ever so slightly. “She was to be punished!”

  “We agree on that point at least.” He growled looking at me with a mixture of anger and worry which stormed across his ancient face. “You will need to tend to the witch while I work on re programming the nanites and repairing whatever damage was inflicted upon you.” He stomped through the frozen earth as he paced. “I will stay in touch.”

  “Oh I doubt that very much!” I stormed over to meet him. “I have no intention of picking up your eye anytime in the near future!”

  Mir smirked. “The eye has done its work and we are now one.”

  That took me aback. “I’m sorry? When did we get married?”

  Mir’s anger faded slightly. “Those things you call gemstones throughout your body are actually command centers for the nanites. The largest one in your ear is a communications device.”

  Images flooded my mind on how they worked in unison. When I was injured many went dormant allowing only the most basic of functions to be made available until repairs could be made. The one in my ear canal was actually one of three major informational hubs within my body; the other two were in my optic nerves. Mir, as well as members of the royal family, were equipped with similar devices and were used as a way of communicating between members wirelessly. Why I had been equipped with these three devices along with millions more throughout my body remained a mystery.

  War broke out long ago killing many of the royal family. More images came streaming into my mind. An old enemy infected the remaining bloodline, though while not killing them caused infertility. When I was found it was a miracle. I had been immune to the virus and blessed with enormous power, which I was sorely wishing I had at the moment to free myself.

  Gullveig was a being of spirit and myth even to the Allfather. She carried with her a trophy from the great war between her people and ours. It was the silver cane that traveled with her everywhere. The handle of the cane was actually a severed hand from one of the royal family which she gilded in silver before using it to accentuate her own power.

  Mir didn’t even so much as say goodbye before I felt the eye cool in my hand and I found myself sitting comfortably in my chair. Opening my hand I watched as the Eye melted into the palm of my hand and vanish. At that moment Katherine walked just inside the room, smiling as she stretched languidly against the door frame.

  “Is everything alright? It isn’t like you to leave me in bed alone.” She was standing there wearing nothing more than a smile.

  “I couldn’t sleep and thought I would come in here and do a little thinking.”

  She smirked. “Who said anything about sleeping. Now why don’t you come back to bed.”

  Like any other man in my position I quickly forgot about Mir and practically everything else that weighed on my mind as I quickly crossed the room, pushing her against the wall as I kissed her. She pulled at my clothes as we slowly made our way back to bed, and I was quickly upon her. Kissing her hard as her hair tangled in my hands, slowly pushing myself deep inside as she dug her nails into my back. She bit my lip as she thrust her hips into me with a hunger. Wrapping one arm around her shoulders I slid the other down her back cupping her in my hand, gliding in rhythm with her as we lost ourselves in each other. The morning would find us much too quickly!

  Chapter 12

  Katherine kissed me as she walked out the door around six thirty the following morning. She was quick to dodge my question about what she had planned for the day, which meant she was probably going out on a date. Finishing breakfast shortly thereafter and heading for the shower I thought about my meeting with Mir. For the first time in as long as I could remember I no longer felt alone in the world and maybe there was someone, even if it were a figment of my imagination, that understood what I had been through. On the other hand I was unsure whether I should be creeped out or happy about the fact there were possibly billions of nanites running around my body fixing things I hadn’t known were broken.

  The information Mir had provided me with last night was invaluable even if I didn’t completely understand it all. He mentioned that the royal family, with the exception of the Allfather, were born with only four of these ‘command centers’, each with enough power to snuff out the sun, and my body contained more than I cared to count. The nanites on the other hand were like locusts, a vital part of the hosts body, preventing diseases, healing wounds, and even slowing the aging process, making us nearly immortal. The nanites had so many functions it was hard to fathom them all.

  It had also crossed my mind that I may have passed this gift/ curse on to my daughter. I made a mental note to consult with Mir the next time he saw fit to get in touch, since I didn’t exactly have his number and the eye was no more. How would she respond to such a gift? As it is her mother is a magical creature known in popular myth as a Siren and her grandmother was Helen. Yes, that Helen! She was infamous for her role in the destruction of Troy. While Katherine was two generations removed from such things she was still infuriated by the stories, not to mention the movies! Katherine had never been honest about her age with anyone, least of all me, but I could guess she was a couple of centuries old.

  We met in the early late seventies in Greece where I had the misfortune of meeting her great grandfather Achelous, an ancient being of immense power. Katherine had thought I was your average everyday mortal but Achelous knew differently. I had a run in with one of his less reputable relatives only a few years prior. Not wanting to invite the wrath of his kinsmen upon his house, Achelous forbade Katherine to see me. That went over like a lead balloon and she ran away to America to marry me the following year. I still remember how sad she was that no one from her family had come to visit when Kira was born. She was alone for the first time in her life, a feeling that I had long since become accustomed to. It wasn’t long after that things started to slowly fall apart for the two of us. When Kira choose to work at Warden Industries right graduation that was the final straw. We divorced less than a year later.

  Much to my displeasure neither of us ever discussed our heritage with Kira. It wasn’t my place to tell her about Katherine’s dirty laundry, but there would be a time that she would need to know. And now with this extra bit of weight to bare I didn’t know how well she would react to my news. How do you tell your child that your great grandmother was Helen of Troy and on my side of the family god only knows since I can’t remember them, and by the way we’re probably immortal to boot. Have a great rest of your day!

  The water continued to wash over me as thoughts rolled through my mind unimpeded. What were the chances that these silver plated parts would realize that they were not in their original hosts body? And is that why Gullveig had used them? To increase the power of her followers? If that were the case I suddenly realized she may be inhabiting a body which could support the nanites naturally without the need to imbed the gilded bones in her body. If that were true she too may have found the secret to creating one of the crystals within the new host body giving her access to enough power to destroy the world! But if that were true what kept her from using it and why did she need the hand reassembled? These were the unsettling questions that continued to haunt me as I turned off the water.

  Dressing absentmindedly I grabbed my phone to call the office when the doorbell rang. Opening the door I was surprised to find Zulu and Rex.

  “Gentlemen,” Quickly moving to one side I waved them in. Zulu strode past with Rex limping in his wake pulling a portable oxygen tank. Well isn’t this a curious way to start my morning? “Please make yourselves comfortable.”

  Rex sat back in my recliner and put his feet up, making himself right at home. “Don’t mind if I do” he wheezed.

  Zulu found refuge across the room on the sofa as he pulled on his suit coat making sure it remained crisp. Taking the remaining r
ecliner I leaned back, waiting for what was surely bad news from the looks on their faces. “I take it this isn’t a social call.”

  Zulu sniffed as he looked around the room keeping his back so stiff he reminded me of one of those mannequins you see in a showroom window. “Hardly!” It was hard to tell if he hated my home or just me so I settled for both.

  Rex opened his mouth to speak but his emotions got the better of him robbing him of his oxygen bringing on a coughing fit. Wiping his eyes he took a puff off his inhaler before giving Zulu a nasty look. “Leonard...”

  “The Gatekeeper!” Zulu corrected automatically.

  Rex rolled his eyes as he tried to ignore his counterpart. “The ‘Gatekeeper’ wants your head ripped off so he can shit down your neck-hole.”

  Zulu’s mouth suddenly dropped open as he slowly turned to look at Rex. After a few seconds he shrugged his shoulders and nodded his approval. “That does sum it up nicely, if not a little to visually for my tastes.”

  “That isn’t exactly breaking news” I said as as I stood. “He has been trying to drum me out of the courts since 93.” “I don’t foresee it happening anytime soon.” Grabbing my drink off the bar behind me I turned my attention back to them. “Would either of you care for a drink?” offering up a glass in their direction which they refused.

  Zulu leaned forward as I took my seat. “You could be wrong on that account.” He shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “He has been recruiting some of the other Krewes with special favors to be awarded to them after your removal.”

  Rex raised his feet another click making himself more comfortable. “It would seem he nearly has enough votes to cast you out even without Comus’ blessing.”

  Leaning back in my seat I took a long drink. “I take it that you two were the swing votes?” They both nodded. “So he is forcing you to be his mouthpiece.” I chuckled at the thought. “He is much more clever than I had given him credit for.”