by A J Brahms
"Yes."
"Oh, most definitely," Aberdeen poured her a cup of tea and then one for me. "It's one thing to attack a member of the Faerie species—such as it is with the Night Walker who killed Miss Jazzi." He was referring to my old friend the Banshee who was killed by one of Jedediah's henchmen, unknown to Jed, nearly a month ago. "But for a Faerie to take another Faerie prisoner and do such a thing for profit?" He leaned against the counter and sipped his own cup of brew. "I'm afraid once The Mórrígan gets hold of him, there won't be anything left but a brown spot."
I nodded. So we have the motive—but most of the cases I worked on, the things I was asked to fix or find, never had a very straight forward trifecta of reason. For a human case to be presented, there had to be motive, opportunity and means. The most important of these, surprisingly, was the motive. A person can have a weapon, and the opportunity, but unless there is reason, there were many criminals in this country's justice system who got away because it lacked any solid reasoning.
This case had started out with looking into who killed Emmet. We know now who did, and that Emmet was actually a transformed Night Walker, made human, who sold for a Troll and had to have known about the captive Greenteeth. But now it all seemed to involved a cup that transmuted blood. Alchemy. And for answers on that and how there were two cups—if the one Mia stole from New York was authentic—I was going to have to take Ginny's advice and talk to an Ancient.
That brought back the realization that my Maker had killed an…
"Ren?" Aberdeen snapped his finger in my face. I blinked and looked at him. "Are you wondering if the cups are the same?"
"Yeah."
"But this Night Walker and Troll didn't talk about their cup being stolen, or even missing."
I shook my head. "It might be that at that moment Greybeard didn't know it. After all he did just come home from jail."
"Or there are two," Aberdeen said.
I pointed at him. "Which is what I was thinking about."
"So we need to find out more about this cup," Julie said.
"Yes," Aberdeen set his teacup down. "I could do more research on it. See if it has a twin."
"No—your initial findings didn't say much. What Ginny did suggest was that I needed to speak with an Ancient."
Aberdeen's busy brow arched up. "Did she happen to know where we can dig one of those up? From my recollection, they're a myth."
"Oh no…not a myth," I said, remembering Mille.
"Wait," Julie held up her hand. "Ancient what?"
"Nigh Walker," I said as Aberdeen said, "Vampire."
She smirked at us. "Your age difference is showing. So…are you saying they are real or they aren't?"
I started to explain it to her, but then differed to Aberdeen. In truth, he was much more educated on the Night Walker race than I was. I'd just been a servant. Property. And not kept informed of anything.
"Vampires live an exceptionally long time," Aberdeen said and took on his Professor voice. I continued enjoying my tea as I snuck in looks at Julie. "But they aren't unchanged, as I'm sure your SIS department has learned."
"We have. They do change in subtle ways. Most notably their hair, and the color and texture of their skin."
"Precisely. Their hair loses pigment, slowly turning white, and their skin takes on a polished look, like smoothed stone. Eventually they look like ivory, and move very little. And when they do move, you can't see them. A minute to us, an eternity to them. Not much is known past that, other than during a period of Civil War in the Vampire ranks, something known as The Purge, many of the known Ancients were destroyed."
"Damn—weren't they powerful?"
"Oh yes. And if they'd been paying attention, they could have killed the approaching mobs with little more than a thought, I'm sure." He gave a very tight, sardonic smile. "That is, if the stories are to be believed. But when you achieve that kind of age, it was a rumor their minds wondered. They sought out new experiences in bodies that could feel, settling in from human to human, knowing but never known." He held up a finger. "We don't know this for sure. The…Order I've taken an interest in that studied the Vampires, believed this, though there is no proof. But once they reach this age they do become both powerful, and defenseless."
"That would suck."
"Yes," Aberdeen said. Then he looked at me. "Do you know of any Ancients?"
And as if on cue, a light appeared in the air between us. It started out as a pinprick and then grew to the size of a firefly. It twinkled just a little as it flittered around and then hovered in front of me. I'd seen Messengers before. My Maker had used them. So I held up my hand. There was a flare of light and then a small, folded piece of paper appeared in the palm of my hand.
The light vanished.
"What…the fuck…was that?" Julie said, still blinking.
"A Sprite," I said as I unfolded the paper. It was a note of thanks from Ginny, and the name and location of an Ancient. Or the last location she knew of. I relayed the information to them, even the where. "Chattanooga, Tennessee."
Julie googled the address. "Uhh…Raccoon Mountain?"
"Never heard of it." I shoved the piece of paper into my back pocket. "So, road trip? It'll take about two hours or so to get there from here."
"About that." Aberdeen began cleaning up the tea.
"I'm going," Julie said. "I have to use the little girl's room. Don't you leave without me." And she disappeared down the hall.
That's when Aberdeen rounded on me. "What else is there?"
"Huh?" I stared at him. Damn he knew me. "My…Chevalier instructor—"
"The man who beat you and abused you."
"Him. He's dead."
"And you're upset?"
"He apparently died after training me."
He looked at my face for a few seconds. "And?"
"Apparently my Maker was the one who killed him."
"You get this from Greenteeth?"
"Yeah…she said all three Hunts were called on her. And it does make sense, that after I was registered, we moved around a lot. I never knew why, because I was conditioned to do what she said to do." I licked my lips. "Mille Le Court was an Ancient."
"Ah," he stepped back. "That's what has you rattled."
"The whole thing has me rattled." I ran my fingers through my hair.
"And?"
"Would stop saying and?"
"No. There's something else."
"Jesus," I said and I held up my hands when Aberdeen opened his mouth to chastise me for using the Lord's name in vain. "Sorry. Okay yeah. Emmet…Emmet was a human."
"Yes. We surmised that because the autopsy said as much."
"But he had been a Vampire."
Aberdeen stiffened. "That's not possible."
"Why isn't it?"
"Because Vampires don't become human. It doesn't work that way."
"Well it does. And it has something to do that cup, and Ginny's blood. I overhead them talking, in that shack boathouse thing." I searched his face. "Aberdeen, they both said Emmet had been a successful test case. He had been a Vampire. That was the thing I could never put my finger on. It was like…I could sense he was kindred but I couldn't…I just couldn't pinpoint it. Look, Ginny said this cup is the magic that changes her blood into an elixir that will de-vamp or de-ghoul."
"Ren, this is dangerous thinking."
"It's not any thinking, Aberdeen. I don't have proof."
"But you're building hope, Ren," Aberdeen said and moved back. "Don't hope, Ren. Your condition is irreversible. Nothing can make you human again." Then he paused and turned away. "I'll go get the cup." Aberdeen left the apartment.
Julie came back in and looked around. "Where's tall, dark and creepy nerd?"
"Ah, he went to get the cup."
She put a hand on my arm. "You okay? You two have a fight?"
I shrugged. "I don't know." But I got the feeling Aberdeen was upset.
I just didn't know why.
Thirteen
The two and a half hour drive to Chattanooga, Tennessee was an awkward one. At least for me. I drove. Aberdeen sat in the back and Julie beside me, but she spent most of the trip talking about the kinds of things Aberdeen researched, and I was pretty sure that by the time we rolled into what was called Raccoon Mountain, Julie Wallace was convinced Aberdeen was an even creepier dude than before.
But I was also sure she respected him for his knowledge. If she had any inkling of what he was? Well…I'd seen she and Luke accept a lot of things, but to wreck a bit of their preconceived understanding of Christianity and the role of Gargoyles in history might mess up a few much-needed paths of belief.
I wasn't the one who had a desire to disprove what gave others confidence and power. I wanted them to keep that faith and use it to survive this world. Why?
Because I'd had my own understanding of life ripped out from under me…and never really got back my faith in anything. Especially beings with powers greater than humans.
Including myself. I did some bad things during those first decades as Elizabeth's plaything. Things I don't ever want to do again.
The cave system wasn't the resort's most popular attraction. It was also a campground and RV Park. People could pan for gems and enjoy majestic views of Lookout Mountain and Raccoon Mountain. Though the cave system was an added draw, I overheard a young child commenting to her parent, "Mommy, it's too cold down there."
Which made sense. Listening to the one of the guides's spiel, the cave stays at a comfortable 58 degrees and spans about 5.5 miles. It's also one of the better preserved underground networks of naturally occurring formations, like stalactites, stalagmites, soda flows, flow stone, natural bridges… Yay. Sounded like fun.
"Can you sense him?" Aberdeen whispered to me when Julie started asking the guide more questions.
I nodded. "I can sense a presence." It was something that had grown the closer we got to the mountain. It did remind me of Mille. The subtle power, the constant drone of something throbbing within the earth. Whatever was here, it was still and quiet and maybe even listening. It made me nervous.
Which might be one of the reasons I'd become quiet. Which Julie had asked me about when we got out of the car. I didn't answer her. I didn't know what to say.
"You think he's in the caves?"
I looked at Aberdeen and gave a quick nod.
He put a hand on my shoulder. "I'll handle things. Why don't you take the detective out and look around." He turned and approached the woman behind the counter.
I approached Julie, who had moved from the guide to a map on the wall. The interior of the shop had that hobbled together look, where it had started at one size and had been built onto as the business grew more successful. I offered to buy her a drink and she shook her head, then to my surprise, she took my hand and led me outside.
We passed the gem-panning area and stopped beside a group of trees. I could see everything from my vantage point, but Julie was all I was looking at. Her eyes were hard and her lips were set in a thin line.
"Ren—"
I gave her a half smile.
"When are you going to trust me?"
"I—I do trust you."
"No. You trust Aberdeen more than you trust me, or Luke. We're your partners—it might not be an official partnership—but we're still here to watch your back. And I get the feeling Aberdeen would die for you. I don't know the story there—not sure I want to know—"
"Julie, there's nothing between Aberdeen and I. We're good friends."
"How? How is it you know someone like him? The guy's….creepy. He has this stillness about him. I can't put my finger on it. It's something I've only experienced with Night Walkers. And it's really not the same. I always think he's older than he seems, and that's the same with you." She put her finger on my chest. "I know you're older. I've seen your real birth certificate. But you're not a…you're not a Vampire. And you clearly have something to do with the Talmadge Family."
I wasn't prepared for Julie's sudden onslaught of questions, so I wasn't really sure how to answer. "I already told you and Luke, I have a rapport with Jedediah—"
"About that," and now she put her finger in my face. "Jedediah Talmadge is like a Prince in Atlanta. Other Families bow down to him. There are creatures out there who tiptoe around that…that creature. And yet, you talk to him like he's an old frat buddy."
Now I had to give her a half grimace. Jedediah and I were far from frat buddies.
"Now you're laughing at me?" She wasn't yelling, but she wasn't exactly holding in her emotions.
So I grabbed her hand and held it with both of mine. "Julie…what is it? What's got you so riled at me?"
She stared at me, and I watched as her gaze searched my face. "You don't know?"
"Hey," Aberdeen walked up and then stopped. "Oh my…have I interrupted a lover's quarrel?"
I actually felt myself blush.
Julie pulled her hands free and turned away. "Like that would ever happen," she muttered and crossed her arms over her chest. "What is it?
Aberdeen looked from her to me, to her and then back to me. I gave him a slight shake of my head. I just… meh.
"I've procured a measure of time for the three of us, with no questions asked."
Julie's angry face broke. "What?"
"He means he paid off someone so we could have time in the caves alone," I moved between them to the office.
Our benefactor was the woman behind the counter—apparently the one with the power to reschedule tours for about an hour while the three of us went in. We weren't to have a guide and the woman did look a little worried. I put my hand on her shoulder and smiled, turning on some of my charm.
Hey…don't laugh. I do have charm, and it's got nothing to do with Night Walker blood. "We'll be fine, and we won't disturb anything. Promise."
She agreed and the three of us stepped through the interior door and into another world.
The temperature dropped immediately. I wasn't sure I'd call this comfortable, but it was manageable. I could see where a Night Walker would find this enjoyable. Once we were well into the cave and at the center of what they called The Crystal Palace, Aberdeen nodded to me and I let down a few walls. The strength and power of this Ancient nearly knocked me off my feet. Julie touched my elbow and I looked down at her, but I wasn't seeing her. In fact, the only thing I could see was a direct path to the source of the power, the hum that vibrated beneath my feet. The entire cave system throbbed with the power. I was surprised any of the stalactites were still hanging and not broken on the ground.
After a deep breath, I led the three of us down a roped off path. The access became a crawl space pretty quick and though I didn't need light, Aberdeen produced a flashlight from his pocket and gave it to Julie. This cramped space lasted a good ten minutes before the path emptied out on a precipice. I held out my hands and whispered to be careful as they stepped out. There was a path down but I didn't want anyone to fall.
The sound of a waterfall was deafening below the high ceiling. Quartz crystals sparkled as phosphorescent chemicals illuminated the interior. I moved down the path, pulled to the direction of the waterfall in the distance. I wasn't sure how much time passed before we climbed a ridge of flowstone and beheld the fall in its grandeur. It cascaded off the edge of a shelf of something that might have been rose quartz. Colors weren't as clear in the dark, even with the added light of Julie's flashlight.
"Wait," Julie said and touched my arm. "What's that?"
She shined the light in an alcove beside the pool of bubbling water. It looked like a dome shaped stone, nestled among several stalactites. But it looked wrong, and in my Ghoul sight, it was wrong.
It was also, everything.
I made my way to it and once I was sure, I held up my hand. "Aberdeen, keep Julie back. I've…I don't know enough about Ancients to predict how he'll react to being woken." I looked at her. "He might try and feed from her. And if he does—"
"I understand." And I
knew Aberdeen did. If the Ancient did try to attack, Aberdeen would risk what he was to protect her.
As I approached, I realized it wasn't a rock at all, but something under a dust coated tarp. With a deep breath, I gently lifted the material and pulled it back.
He looked young. But they always looked young. It was the white hair over his shoulders that gave away his age. That and his pale, smooth skin. His open eyes were blue and dust covered, as was the rest of him. Looking at the plaid Norfolk jacket, trousers and knickerbockers, not to mention the newsboy cap perched on his head above the flow of white hair, I assumed this Ancient had sat down in this spot in 1915 and never moved again.
Since these caves weren't discovered until 1929 by Leo Lambert, I can only imagine what he thought if he found this well preserved corpse sitting here by the water fall. Someone had covered the Night Walker, and taken care to keep people out of this area since the place opened in 1931. I started to wonder if this Ancient had a Family still in the area, or at the very least, a Ghoul still in service.
Did Ancients actually have Ghouls?
"Holy shit," Julie said softly, though her voice did echo in the cavern.
She and Aberdeen had stepped closer than I wanted them too and I motioned them to get back.
"Is he dead?" Julie said, and she did move back, just not as far as I felt comfortable with. I also noticed Aberdeen's genuine curiosity visible in his expression. And why not? His Order had studied and documented vampires. Here was a…well, here was an Ancient. As to how to revive him—
I had no idea. Ginny hadn't exactly given me that piece of information.
Or had she?
I dug into my pocket and pulled out her missive. It had the address on it and a single sentence at the bottom. "In silence did he care to thrive, a single drop will hence revive."
Then there was a small note I hadn't seen before and it was only visible in the light thrown off in the cavern around us. "Show him this note. Ginny."