The Blood Eagle in the Big Easy

by K. A. Lange

  Chapter 15

  Opening the door for Katherine I waved her in as I gave her a slight bow. That at least garnered a smirk as she swept past. I was of course left in the dark as to what she was feeling as her mood swung between anger and understanding. Last I heard they made pills for such a condition but I doubted I would be lucky enough to have a doctor prescribe them for her. Catching sight of Samantha on the second floor Katharine gave her a wave as she made her way up the stairs. Thankful for the distraction I stopped off at Justine’s desk, who without a word handed me several dozen pieces of paper with messages from Kira. After the first three I skipped to the last one which brought a smile to my face.

  “You know they make these things called computers these days.” I advised her. Not able to keep the mirth out of my voice I pocketed last the message before dropping the others on the counter. “A single email could have saved a tree or two. We’re supposed to be going green, remember?”

  Justine looked at me knowingly. “Please! If I sent you an email you would have junked all but the last message without even reading them.”

  I had to admit she had a point. Kira was demanding combat pay for transporting Owen! She was being particularly colorful about her demands. “I can’t imagine that babysitting someone would require combat pay.” Mumbling more to myself than Justine.

  “She thought you might say that.” Justine pulled a thumb drive off the counter in front of her and handed it to me. “After I watched the video I have to agree that she more than deserves the extra pay.”

  Leaning forward I dropped my voice as I became concerned. “Did she have to discharge her weapons?”

  Justine rolled her eyes as her cheeks turned crimson trying not to laugh. “I would have if I were her!” Picking up the thumb drive I stuck it in my pocket as she teetered on the verge of laughter. “This Owen character is a full blown diva!” She wiped tears from her eyes as she spoke. “He has promised to sperm her as a special favor to bring her back to the world of men.”

  My mouth began to quiver as I tried not to laugh at the absurdity of the comment. “Who says that shit?” Coughing to try and hide my amusement I leaned over the counter and whispered. “Please tell me you are recording the live feed on the dashboard camera.”

  Justine’s face was nearly purple as tears rolled down her face. “Wouldn’t have passed on that for the world.” She shrugged thoughtfully as she spoke. “I thought streaming it in the cafeteria would get me shot but I was sorely tempted.”

  Now that would have been funny, but costly for everyone involved, especially my bank account which from the sounds of things was going to suffer immensely. Kira was many things including daddy’s little girl and she would make me pay for the indignity of someone promising to sperm her as a favor. “Thanks for using good judgement for the both of us.”

  “Oh,” Her laughter faded as she grabbed some paperwork from under her desk. “Billy dropped by earlier and insisted on leaving a blank check for the deposit on the apartment.” She handed me the check with a shrug.

  Taking the check I tore it in half and handed it back to her. “Please mail this back to him with a note that I cashed it will you?” She nodded as I crossed the room to the stairs. It wasn’t long before I heard Katherine and Samantha talking.

  Samantha was sitting at Kira’s desk quickly taking notes as Katherine leaned over her speaking quietly and quickly. “Make sure to reschedule all my appointments for sometime next week.” Katherine caught sight of me and waved me over. “Just a sec, I got a few things to handle with Samantha and then we can get to our business.”

  “Take your time.” I was in no hurry for her to put me or herself through the turmoil she was about to delve into.

  Katherine was many things to many people but at her core she was a creature of great power. I suspect it was for that reason alone that she was able to bear my one and only child. One of the many talents she inherited from Achelous was the innate ability to use blood magic in ways that most mortals could not even begin to comprehend. There was a cost though. It forced the user to mingle their soul with whomever’s blood they were using. Sometimes this was a wonderful bonding between two people or it was as simple as the oath I had taken a few hundred years earlier to serve those under Hustahli protection. Other times however, it was darker if not nearly perverse, and using someone’s blood to track them landed somewhere in the middle between the two. It was dangerous, filthy and absolutely wrong to perform such magic but somedays it was the only choice.

  “Don’t forget to feed the cats.” Katherine finished, Samantha nodded as she scribbled the last of her notes and giving me a weak smile as she left to fulfill her bosses wishes.

  Katherine followed me into my office and took a seat opposite me. Hanging my head in shame my voice shook. “You know I wouldn’t ask you to do this if I had a choice.”

  Katherine’s smile was genuine as she leaned back in her chair. “Of all the people I have ever known, you are the only one who has never asked for anything for themselves.” I started to object but she waved me off as she chuckled. “Even now you hesitate to ask when you need me the most.” Leaning forward her eyes twinkled with magic. “You should leave the blood on your desk and give me until morning. After that he will be all yours.”

  Pulling the ziploc bags containing the bloody mattress samples out of my jacket, I placed them on the desk and stood up to leave. As I walked toward the exit I stopped and put my hand on her shoulder. “Thank you...” Again such a simple phrase that seems so inadequate to express my gratitude. She took my hand gently and squeezed, exchanging glances with each other and understanding what this had cost each of us .

  I assigned two of my best agents to stand guard outside my office door until morning to ensure Katherine wasn’t disturbed, then I headed for my car to pick up the Staff of Gungnir before heading home. Gungnir had returned to its normal size and demeanor as the Scepter of Comus before leaving the MCC, but even so I quickly gave up trying to conceal it under my jacket. So I just marched up the street and through the doors leading to my apartment garnering more than few surprised looks from those who recognized it.

  Not wanting to wait for the elevator I took the stairs two at a time until I was standing outside my front door. A I turned the key and let myself in Gungnir sprang to life once more as I registered a rather large shadow resting on my couch in the darkness. “After the day I’ve had, you have a free pass.” Nodding at the patio door that stood partially open. “Leave now and I won’t even bother chasing you.”

  The lights flicked on of their own accord. Mir was sitting there in all his grandeur, perhaps a few feet shorter than the last time we met, but still more than impressive. He had abandoned his living armor for more mundane blue jeans and an overly tight t shirt. “Now that would hardly be sporting now would it?” He answered.

  Closing the door behind me I walked to the kitchen as the Staff of Gungnir returned to a more manageable size. “So now we are corporeal?” I waved in his direction as I grabbed a tumbler and poured myself a three finger shot of whiskey.

  “Not as of yet my lord.” Mir bowed his head slightly as he eyed Gungnir. “You know that Gungnir has many shapes and sizes depending upon your need.”

  Downing the first glass of whiskey, I poured myself another. Thankfully I never have hangovers, which I suppose I owe to the nanites that were running rampant through my body. “I suppose the implants in my retinas allow me to see you?”

  Mir gave me an approving look as he walked over to join me in the kitchen. “There is a lot of history stored in the archives.” He continued to eye my whiskey hungrily as he spoke. “With all the head trauma I wasn’t sure you were capable of figuring that part out.”

  There was a twinkle in his eyes when he spoke and the sides of his mouth quivered. “I’m sorry but did you just make a joke?” Grabbing the bottle and another glass we moved to the library. Taking a seat next to Mir I poured two glasses and sat them on the table between us.

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nbsp; Mir eyed the whiskey enviously. “Thank you for your generosity.” He hung his nose over the glass as he inhaled deeply. “I can almost remember what it smells like.”

  Putting my glass down I looked curiously at Mir. “You weren’t always...”

  “A hologram? Otherworldly being that only you can see?” He leaned back in his chair as he smiled wistfully. “No, no I wasn’t always like this. Long ago I was like you in many ways.”

  “You were a royal?” Leaning forward as curiosity took over. “Do you remember anything other than what you told me?”

  Mir hung his head as he sighed, weariness clouding his face as he leaned back. A glass appeared in his hand full of what appeared to be whiskey. “I can’t let you drink alone!”

  “What the hell?”

  Mir chuckled after he took a long drought. “Its an illusion yet it reminds me of what a good aged whiskey would taste like.” He held the glass in his hand and took another drink from a glass that never seemed to empty. “To answer your question, yes I was a royal, or at least a part of one.”

  Pouring myself another glass I shook my head. I had to wonder how you could be part of a royal and not be one of them. “How does that work exactly?”

  Mir’s face relaxed for the first time since we had met. “Exactly?” He shook his head and laughed. “I have no idea! I just know that it does.” The Eye appeared to hover a few inches above his outstretched palm. “I am the eye and the eye is from the Allfather, thus I am only part of a royal.”

  I wondered what it must be like to be pure energy. “I see you have adapted to the current dress code. I take it you’ve been watching Simon Cowell to find a shirt that tight.” Mir shrugged his huge shoulders as he leaned back.

  “The man has good taste!” Mir chuckled. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game!” His face contorted with discomfort at the last few words.

  Face palming myself I shook my head. “Oh, dear god in heaven don’t ever say anything like that again.”

  “Not to worry I won’t.” He shook his head and his long hair shifted around his face. “That was entirely disconcerting.”

  “Yeah for the both of us.”

  Mir took another drink as he lost himself in thought. “I’ve missed this.”

  “Missed what?”

  He stood and paced around the fire. “Even though I slept through what appears to be several hundred lifetimes I was still aware of my loneliness.” The words hit me like a freight train. I had never considered the fact that he was a living being, let alone had feelings. “It’s good to speak with someone even if we are practically strangers.”

  As much as I hated to admit it I could understand more than most the feeling of not belonging and constant loneliness. Something in his voice tore at my soul. He was more alone than I had ever been. “I am always available to talk if you want.”

  A smile broke across his face making the scars across it to ripple in the firelight. “A generous offer and one I will take advantage of once I am through with my research and repairs.”

  “Speaking of ‘repairs’,” using the air quotes around the repair as I still found it a completely foreign concept, “I noticed a few enhancements in my abilities.”

  “Ah yes, I do hope you approve sire.” He raised his glass in my direction as he inclined his head.

  “That’s the second time you have addressed me in such a manner. Is there something I should know?” Tilting back my fourth glass of whiskey, warmth spread through my body as the alcohol finally took effect even if it were temporary. “It’s a pretty serious one eighty from how our last conversation ended.”

  “To be fair, few peoples manners are where they should be when they first wake.” He took yet another sip of his imaginary brew as his mind worked quickly to explain. “While I may not know who you are exactly, only the Allfather or his appointed representative can wield Gungnir.” His eyes looked past me as he recalled things I could not. “You are the starborn and as such I owe you respect.”

  “Starborn?” Something about the name struck a chord deep within me but it was a tune I couldn’t remember the rhythm to.

  “Less of a title than a fact.” Mir rubbed his chin as he struggled to convey it’s meaning. “You were to be our savior from the darkness yet in the end they still came.” His hands trembled as the pain and sorrow overtook him. “Many were saved, but many others were lost. I don’t know how or why we are in this place but I can only hope that it will help us in our fight against Jormungandr, the world killer.”

  “Jormungandr? Who or what is that?” As I spoke the words images suddenly raced through my mind of a heavily armored serpentine machine large enough to wrap itself around the sun, terrifying me. Somehow I knew that this is what destroyed my worlds. It had to be the alcohol clouding my mind because rationally nothing like the beast that I had seen in my mind could truly exist and for the first time in my life I was the one who wished to remain in the world of fantasy. As Mir closely watched me he leaned forward, cupping his face in his hands as he did so.

  “As you say the truth of something can’t be undone, no matter how much you wish it to be.” Mir’s voice bespoke of regret and pain for having to burden me with this particular memory. “I am truly sorry my liege, I wish there was another way to convey this information to you.”

  Pushing the whiskey bottle to the side I stretched. It was my turn to pace around the fire. “Thank you for understanding.” Trying to wrap my mind around the situation I needed to understand what was happening. “Let’s start at the beginning shall we?” Mir leaned back as he nodded for me to continue. “You mentioned something about catching up on the last few millennia, how does that work?”

  Mir looked away quickly as if he were slightly ashamed before looking back in my general direction even if it were at my feet. “All those crystals throughout your body are not only hubs for the nanites but they are also more akin to what you call a black box.” Holding up a hand as he stood to keep me silent for a moment longer. “Within each of them are millions of terabits of information about everything you have ever encountered throughout your life.”

  “Everything?” I felt both terrified and excited by the prospect, not to mention highly embarrassed. “Feel free to skip over some of the more seedy parts if you wouldn’t mind.”

  Mir’s face turned several shades of crimson as he paced opposite of me. “While some have been self repairing, many more were damaged or have been dormant since your accident.” Turning his head away from me he wrung his hands, trying to choose his words carefully. “It is good to know that the Starborn has such a healthy labido but would it kill you to tone it down a bit?”

  It was my turn for my face to burn as blood flooded my cheeks. “Wasn’t exactly planning on having anyone sifting through my memories.”

  “Point taken.” He stopped suddenly as if something weighed on his shoulders. “It will take time my lord but I will have the answers you seek.” He kneeled down and casually stuck his hand in the fire as if he were desperate for some type of sensation, even if it were pain. “We will find out who you are, how far you’ve come, and where and whence you came!”

  I felt homesick for the first time in my life as something called out to me, pulling me back to the place of my birth. “I miss them and I don’t even know who they are!” A wide array of emotions washed over me, confusing me as they mixed together, leaving me stunned and hurt with their arrival. “It’s stupid, I know! How can you miss people or places you don’t even remember?”

  “Not to worry sire all will be revealed in time.” He intoned trying to inspire my confidence. It worked believer it or not. I needed to believe in something and right now a promise, even one as vague as Mir’s, was all I had. The world serpent would have to be dealt with sometime later for now Gullveig was my main concern. Short of having her head on a stick I would have to settle for Creepy George. Mir and I sat silent long into the evening, broken only occasionally to remind ourselves that we still had the power of speech.<
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  Chapter 16

  December 1st

  Mir stood and gave me a slight bowas I got to my feet. “Thank you for sitting with me tonight.” His voice was hollow as the loneliness stirred deep within him. “Be well sire.”

  It was a feeling I knew all too well. The world around me had changed and only I remained the same. Mortals had such a limited amount of time allotted to them yet they were able to make such an impact upon the world. Over the centuries I’d fallen in love only to have them taken away by the relentless march of time which had never shown me the slightest of mercies. People I’d called friends fell victim to the same fate as my lovers and yet only I remained. It was my own personal hell in which I had no possible hope of escape.

  For the first time since I woke up on that mountainside I felt as if I finally had a friend or at the very least a cellmate. “Not to worry, I’ll return shortly.”

  Mir bowed once more as I headed to the bedroom for a fresh set of clothes before leaving for the office. Trying to find anything resembling sleep at this hour would be more harmful than helpful. Freshly showered and wearing crisp clean clothes I was out the door and heading to the office by three thirty a.m.

  Walking through the brass doors I took notice of Justine who simply nodded and smiled at me as I passed. Rounding the desk and up the stairs I could see that the office door was standing open. Scanning the area the two guards I had assigned to keep watch over Katharine were nowhere to be seen. Which could only mean that she had sent them on there way. Before I got halfway to my office I could hear Kira and her mother speaking in hurried whispered tones. Entering I found them sitting there smiling and having much too good of a time about something to do with me. From their devious expressions I was sure to be in for a very long day or perhaps year depending upon how long they decided to punish me for.