by Tom Keller
"I can bring the boat here and we can sail it to the Acheron if you can hold them off for a little while," she said. "It is risky but I do not trust these things to not be dangerous."
"Shouldn’t be a problem," I replied. I grabbed my sword in a two handed stance and started swinging, the blade shining with blue fire as heads began to roll. Like I said, they weren't too bright. They didn’t even try to avoid my blade. I wasn't even sure what they could do to us if one did grab hold but better safe than sorry. After a few minutes, I was standing knee deep in body parts and this group wasn't an issue anymore. I turned to see what progress she'd made.
She was ankle deep in the water, arms outstretched with a faint glow surrounding her. Against the twilight it was almost angelic. Like I said, almost. When I turned back I saw another group coming our way. Taking the offensive I slogged across the muddy field and started batting heads. When this group was down I stood back and since there were no more coming our way, made my way back to the shore. Moments later, she returned to the bank and I saw the boat appear out of the mist.
"Nice job," I said as I leapt onto the bow.
"You as well," she replied as she pushed the boat into the river and joined me.
"Not exactly a visual I'd care to remember," I said, sheathing my sword. "Why didn’t we just sail here in the first place?"
"I felt it was too dangerous. If for any reason the spell failed the boat would lose form and we'd be in the river. Should you ingest even a drop of this water, you might forget all that you are," she answered as she threw me a blanket. "Cover yourself and stay in the center of the boat, avoid any water that comes in. Although as a Nereid I am immune, I cannot say the same for a Dryad, God or not. I am leading us out of here as fast as I dare."
I could feel the boat change direction several times over the next fifteen minutes or so before she told me it was safe.
"I see we're still in one piece. Where are we now?"
"Still in the Stygian marshes, the River of Woe is just ahead. We must cross there by the gate."
"The gate? I thought we were staying away from Hades."
"I said we wouldn’t pass through it," she replied. "We seek the Mnemosyne springs and the pool of the Titan by the same name. In all this dreadful place, there we will find beauty and I can rest for a time. Now be quiet, keeping this vessel in form has been much harder on me than I expected and I must concentrate the rest of the way."
"Yes Ma'am," I replied with a salute, then sank back into the cushions to wait it out.
I must have dozed off again as I realized she was calling my name. Standing, I saw her point and looking that way I saw a great cave that appeared in the mists like a giant mouth swallowing the waters it reached out from the shore. Something about it was mesmerizing and it was a moment before I realized that Meredith was shaking me.
"It calls you, does it?" she asked.
"I don’t know if calls is the right word, but there's definitely something about it."
"I forget sometimes that you are a God and are not bound by the same rules I am," she said, the boat now moving toward the shore on the far side of the cave. "Perhaps you could enter and yet return."
"I'm not really keen on finding out," I replied, feeling a sudden shiver down my spine. Suddenly, the deck beneath my feet disappeared and the next thing I knew I was waist deep in water.
"You ok?" I asked Meredith as I pulled her head out from beneath the river.
"I'll live," she said groggily. "This journey has taken more out of me than I thought. My apologies."
She stood and began to sway so I picked her up and carried her to the shore.
"Where to now?" I asked when she was able to stand on her own.
"The spring flows into Hades. We must climb to the top to find its source."
"Ok," I replied, sarcastically, looking at the lichen covered rocks and boulders we were going to have to navigate through to get there. "Let's get it over with then."
Leading the way we began to climb the side of the cave. It was slow going and handholds were sometimes hard to find. The rocks were wet and slippery as well. Meredith was pretty tired at the end but eventually we made it. When I scrambled over the top I grabbed her hand and pulled her the rest of the way.
"Ah, now I see," I said looking at the shimmering veil of magic that stood in front of us.
"You can see it?" she asked in astonishment.
"Sure, don’t you? Come on," I said as I led her over the magical threshold and into the bright sunlight. In front of me was a small pond fed by spring water that bubbled out of the rocks ever so slowly. The area was much smaller than the one I had visited in my own lands, but seeing this was scooped out of a pocket in the Underworld, I guess it was supposed to be like this. Still, I'm not sure how a Titan ever fit in the place. It wasn't much bigger than your average back yard and you know how small they can be these days.
"Actually, no, I can’t. I just knew that it was here," she replied. "Tell me, what do you see?"
"Well," I said. "To me it looks like a shimmering, glowing veil of starlight. Not against a night sky, mind you, but almost like the stars were just barely bright enough to be seen in the day. They twinkle and glow as I move my eyes over them."
"I'd like to see that sometime. It must be beautiful," she replied, now sitting down on the grass that grew around the pool. "I cannot see the veil; I just feel the water's presence. It pulls me toward it when I seek it out." Then she lay back. "I should rest a bit. Then we can collect the water and return home."
"Let me try something," I said, as I laid down beside her "Give me your hand."
She put out her hand and I took it. Using the same magic I had used with Delia, I let the magic flow through me and into her, allowing her to see the veil as if through my eyes. Suddenly she smiled a wide grin.
"It's beautiful," she said. "And here I thought you didn't like to do magic."
"It's not that," I said letting go of her hand after a moment or two. "It's just that I don't always know what I'm doing."
"What do you mean?" she asked, now turning towards me and lifting her head, resting it on her hand.
"What you just said, you feel the water's presence. I guess that's what doing magic is like for you. I mean, it's just something you do, right?"
"I suppose."
"Well, I still have to think about it," I continued. "Oh sure, it’s easier since those Dwarves started playing with my head. But I didn't grow up with it. I have to think about it to make it work. Except, of course, when my subconscious takes over. Like when I'm threatened or fighting. Then the magic seems to remember what to do on its own. Although the Dwarves did say it would all come back to me in time."
"What about what you just did?" she asked.
"That? That one was easy. I do that one at home and have used it several times. Mostly though I feel like the Six Million Dollar Man without an instruction manual," I said, turning to face her.
"Who?"
"You know… We can rebuild him… We have the technology?" I said. How could she not know who Steve Austin was? "Never mind, old 80s TV show. The point is you all were born with it. I was fiftyish before all this happened and it's like being back in grade school. Oh, I know the instructions are in there. I just have to figure out where they are, I guess," I said as I laid my head back down on the soft grass.
"So if it is within you," she reiterated. "Then you just need to remember it, like your subconscious does. Is that what you are saying?"
"Yeah. I guess."
"Then I have an idea," she said, leaning over and kissing me. "Take your clothes off."
"Excuse me," I retorted.
"Not that," she exclaimed as she started stripping. "Although we'll have time for that later. Just take them off."
"Ok," I said, not clear where she was going with this. I barely had my pants off before she was dragging me across the small ribbon of sand and into the pool.
"Don’t you see? It's like a memory! One you just need
to remember!" she exclaimed, her fatigue forgotten. "This is the source of the Mnemosyne. The pool of the Titan herself. If I'm right, you will not be immune to its power and it will help you remember the magic as well."
Before I knew it we were in the pool and she was laughing as she cupped her hands and filled them with water.
"Drink," she said, lifting them to my lips.
So I did, the cool water running down my throat. Then I started to remember things. This time it wasn't with the shock and rush of images that flooded me when the Dwarves had done their magic. No, it was just there. For the first time since all this happened I actually knew who and what I was. Then I started laughing.
"What's so funny," she asked. "Did it not work?"
"No," I replied, moving closer to her. "It worked. It's just that the first thing I remembered was where I put a 20.00 bill I stuck in the brim of my hat some 10 odd years ago."
"I don’t understand," she replied. "What about the magic?"
"Oh, yeah… that, too, and I'm not even angry or threatened," I said as I turned and reached up to the bank to where I'd left my sword. I raised it straight up in the air. Blue fire formed just above the hilt and then shot straight up to the heavens.
"What did you just do?" she asked, a surprised look on her face.
"Just a little announcement. Something like 'Robert was here' for all to see."
"Was that wise?"
"Seemed like a good idea a second ago. At least it's not some lame excuse for Zombies like those creatures we had to get through. Besides, I'm not hiding from anybody. If I'm lucky it could be seen in Tartarus. That ought to give Marissa a thrill."
"That it would," she responded.
"Well, now that that's done, what do you think about your earlier observation about there being time for that later," I asked as I pulled her closer and cupped her breasts.
She led me out of the pool without saying a word and kissed me as she pushed me down onto the cool grass. When we were finished she fell asleep in my arms.
After she awoke we got dressed and she filled the other goatskin with water directly from the spring. When she was done she wanted to go back down and create another boat for the journey back.
"What if I called Sendy instead?" I asked. "She could return us one at a time to your office. It'd be quicker."
"That would be nice," she replied. "It is exhausting to maintain that level of magic for so long, especially here in the Underworld."
"Alright then"
"Wait," she said before I could summon her. "Before we go I wish to tell you something."
"What's that?"
"I like you Robert," she said.
"I like you, too," I answered.
"I just want you to know that while there can never be anything formal between us, I have enjoyed the times we spend in the Fae realms together."
"As have I," I replied, not too sure where she was going with this.
"Perhaps I am saying this wrong, but I wanted you to know that when we return I will once again, be Meredith, the Matriarch of the Milagre's, and not the Fae you know here."
"I think I understand," I replied.
"Good," she said, kissing me again. "But if we should ever come back…. Well, summon your Aurae, if we do travel to the Fae realms together again we will just have to see what happens."
I was still chuckling when Sendy appeared.
Chapter 16
For the first time since all this Fae crap happened to me I was actually feeling pretty good about things, myself included. Oh sure, there were still Fae trying to kill me, but that was no big deal. The last few attempts were half ass at best and would have almost been funny if they weren't actual serious. I wasn't sure if it was because Marissa was in Tartarus or what, but let's face it, if not her, then her subordinates were either amateurs themselves, or at best, surrounded by them.
Of course, they had called me a half breed, so maybe it was just because they underestimated what I really was. Not that they had any reason to think I was anything else, yet. But they'd find that out soon enough, especially since Eddy Milagre had finished whatever potions he'd been working on and we were ready to see just what was hidden in their magic hidey hole.
As I pulled into the abandoned lumberyard off of Sahara and Sandhill, I saw several Escalades and the like parked just inside the gate in the back. I headed towards them, parking next to Siegfried who was pulling some gear from the back of his SUV. I saw Delia and Lucius walk up and Siegfried handed her a bow, quiver, and sword.
"Looks like the gang's all here," I remarked as Siegfried buckled his own sword on.
"Just waiting on a few more," he responded.
Lucius was all decked out in Roman armor from the waist up. Below, he wore some type of heavy leather pants. Michael and most of Siegfried's team were dressed all in black, carrying both swords or bows, as well as MP4's and other modern weapons. There were several dressed in what I considered Fae armor. Pants and vests of some type of leather, as Delia was wearing and armed with swords. I had already switched to my Fae persona as Siegfried and his folks had done and wore the armor Meredith had given me. Charlie, of course, was at my side. I'd tried to get him to stay home but he wasn't having anything to do with that. All in all we looked like the SWAT team that time forgot. Fortunately, looks can be deceiving.
A moment later I was bathed in headlights as a white van pulled in and shot through the lot, parking beside us. The back opened and Martin Chibeaux and several others climbed out and joined us. The Weres had arrived as well.
Michael came up and stood next to Siegfried, as Malcolm, who'd arrived with Sendy, spread out a map on the asphalt. We all joined in to see what he had.
"Ok," Mal began, pointing at the map. "Some of you have seen this but for those that haven't the flood channels are a quarter mile down Sandhill and to the South. There's a metal bridge you can cross here that leads right up to the boundary of the area. That's probably the easiest way in. It's only paved a portion of the way but there's a path that leads right to it. The county planted some big trees along the path and there's a patch of overgrown scrub that you can use for concealment just before the bridge. Oh, and there's one more thing I should probably mention."
"What's that," I asked.
"Well, I'm not sure if it matters but this area is supposed to be haunted. I don’t know if it's part of this spell, or what."
"Haunted?" I repeated, then looked around. There were several chuckles but it was Michael who spoke up first.
"Ghosts are no problem," he replied. "We deal with them all the time. And, no, they wouldn't be part of the spell. Ghosts are merely souls who have lost their way. They would not be working for the enemy."
"Ok," I said. Nice to know… I guess. "Just out of curiosity, what kind of ghosts are we talking about?"
"There's supposed to be some old lady that chases you down the dirt roads and then just some rumors of a guy and a gal moaning down in the tunnels."
I looked over at Michael.
"Like I said," he affirmed. "Not an issue. Zeke'll take care of them if they become a nuisance." He pointed to a handsome black guy that had arrived with Siegfried's hotel team.
Zeke gave a head nod and I turned back to Mal.
"That's it," he said, now standing up.
"I will lead with Robert behind me. The rest of my people and the Lilin single file after that," Siegfried said. "Martin, if your people would guard the rear and flank us, I think we're good as to position."
"Not a problem," Martin answered. Gesturing to his group they moved to the back of his van and started getting undressed. It caught me off guard for a moment but then I remembered that they were Werewolves. It's got to be hell on your wardrobe to shift fully clothed.
"Mal's going to stay here and watch the vehicles and other equipment," I added. "Sendy, do a quiet flyby and tell me what's out there. But don’t get too close."
She popped out of sight and I looked over at Siegfried.
"Wha
t about the potion Eddy made up?"
"Ah," he replied, walking to the back of his SUV. "I have that here." He reached in and pulled out a large squirt gun. The kind that holds several quarts of water and handed it to me.
"A Soak-Em-Up 10,000?" I asked, reading the label on the side.
"Believe it or not, yes," he answered with a laugh. "We fill them with holy water for use against Ghosts back on the property. But this will work here just as well. Mr. Milagre says that once you have identified the doorway you need to spray it fully with the potion before you open it for entry. Then, you must keep the doorway open till we pass through. The waters should counter any of the magic of forgetfulness. Of all of us, he believes only you will be able to access the door."
"I guess I can do that, then," I replied, feeling just a bit silly. At least I was able to strap the squirt gun on my shoulder without snickering.
"I also have several on my team with medical training. Meredith has provided them with a small amount of the water from the Mnemosyne should it be needed."
"Smart," I replied. "I have the Fae healer, Elithia, at my place as well." At that moment Sendy reappeared.
"There is some sort of encampment at the entrance to the land," she replied, pointing to a spot on the map. "A tent and two male humans, although they are clearly endowed with some form of dark magic. I could sense it. They are a ways in from the bridge next to the path," she reported.
"Probably disguised as vagrants," Malcolm added. "I saw several when I walked through here before."
"We could send two of the Weres in," Siegfried said.
"We can do that," Martin replied. "But I can’t guarantee they won’t get an alarm out. Even as quiet as we can be they may see or hear us as we cross the metal bridge and we cannot jump it for the same reason."
"I will take care of them," Delia said.
"What did you have in mind?" I asked.
"Oh, you know, feminine wiles and all that," she said, taking off her jacket and opening a few buttons on her corset. "I think I can keep their mind off any alarm."
"Works for me," I replied. "OK, stay up front with Siegfried and me and we'll stop at the scrub brush just this side of the bridge. You can go ahead from there. Charlie, stay at my side. As for the rest of you. Just a heads up. Siegfried may have briefed you in our past dealings with these Mages but here's what I know. In addition to Mages and their wands we've also encountered sown men. Spartoi, they're called. They're kind of a caricature of a person that pop up from enchanted Dragon's teeth. Not too bright but they're armed and damn hard to kill with anything short of a magic sword. If you come across them, decapitate them and cut off their limbs, I can finish them later."