Made to Suffer (Journeyman Book 3)

by Golden Czermak

  A round of applause filled the scene and the little bit of hurt Gage was feeling suddenly didn’t feel so bad. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it, never wanting to be away from her again, the brightest star in his sky growing even brighter that night.

  THE MORNING SUN beamed through the windows of the lab, streak free except for the tiniest of smudges caused by an errant bug splat. Unnoticeable by most, it drove Henry’s OCD absolutely mad when he found it, caught several times as he feverishly tried to scrape it away, despite it baking on the outside surface of the glass.

  Regardless, the gorgeous day continued to bloom and the doors to the workspace whooshed open. Gage walked in first, Adrienne by his side as Joey and Marcus brought up the rear. Their moods had all been set on high, as soon as Marcus received word from Henry not an hour ago: the compass had slowed and they were able to trace a line out to the west.

  “Good morning everyone!” welcomed Henry. “While we wait on Jane to arrive to approve any course of action, I’ll fill you in on the progress. As you already know, it’s been extremely good!” He motioned for them to follow as he walked toward the far end of the room. “The team has been working diligently on this and, at last, we made some progress. Like I told you in my update this morning Marcus, we were able to determine the precise direction the compass was pointing out west, but there was more.”

  Joey looked over to Marcus with child-like glee. “More?”

  “A surprise,” he said, not really clarifying at all. “Ah here we are, feel free to take a look for yourself.”

  Marcus approached the workstation cautiously, seeing the compass once again laid out on the glowing rectangle, though it was moving much more slowly now. It continued to spin around, stopping at two distinct positions around the edge. Marcus’ eyes grew wide.

  “No way!” he said ecstatically. “We know the location of both the remaining artifacts? I expected one of the signals to drop off since we have the Ring of Dispel now. This is amazing!”

  That was a signal for the rest of the team to crowd around, Gage and Joey working hard for the title of most selfish as they jostled for a better view. Adrienne slipped by both of them and stood beside Marcus, staring inquisitively.

  “Well we know the direction they’re both in,” Adrienne clarified. “Though it’s no less of an achievement! Well done Henry!”

  “Well, it wasn’t just myself, Miss Elkins. The entire team had plenty to do with this success.”

  She nodded graciously, returning her attention to the thing with her mind racing on where the items could be and which one was where. Of course, Marcus had been doing the same thing since he saw it, too.

  Just then, the doors again slid open and the clicking of heels entered the room. The team turned to see Councilor Jane approaching, dressed elegantly in a sleek dress and stylish shoes that literally swept the years away.

  “Radiant as ever,” Henry observed.

  “Why thank you, Henry,” she replied, the staunchness that normally surrounded her having dissipated. “I’ve a presentation to give this morning on ‘The Diversity Within Monsterdom’ at the Beekman. I know it all sounds quite riveting and you would much rather be in attendance for that than about to set off on the next leg of your adventures.”

  A chorus of laughter made its way around the room.

  “So sorry to interrupt,” she said. “Please continue from where you were.”

  “No bother,” said Henry, grasping the top left corner of the glowing rectangle. It peeled up like a sticker, passing through the compass as if it weren’t even there; the edges formed from the directional analysis stuck right to the shining sheet. Henry proceeded to flick the whole thing into the air, where it gently ebbed and flowed across to a black block in the middle of the room. Upon touching the surface, spiky ripples spread across the entire top and a display screen appeared above, hovering in mid air.

  “There we go!” Henry proclaimed proudly as a map overlaid itself on the display.

  The traced lines flung out from the center in two directions – one heading southwest over the continental United States and the other flinging itself eastward over the Atlantic and right across Europe.

  “Well, that narrows it down,” Joey said with an undertone of disenchantment.

  “It’s much better than it was before,” Gage said. “At least now we have a sort of direction to the needles still in the haystack.”

  Jane strolled up to the display and looked at it closely. “To help with that issue Gage, might I suggest we focus on one of these at a time? I suggest the one that crosses the States first; after all, there is a large possibility the other item is somewhere at the bottom of that great, big ocean.” She turned her attention to Henry. “Are there any points of interest the path crosses domestically?”

  “Hold,” he said as he nimbly worked his fingers on a nearby keyboard. “I’ve tied the map to our databases to…” He stopped speaking when the screen filled with dots, massive numbers crossing the projected path. It looked just as overwhelming as before. “Ah, well that didn’t seem to help in the slightest.”

  “Can you narrow the search parameters; lighten the load a little?” Adrienne probed, though admittedly she was unsure of what they could trim. The fact they didn’t know which item they were looking for helped keep it all vague.

  “Given this,” Marcus began, stepping away from the display and over to Gage. “I think it best for us to follow the trail in the Odyssey, taking the compass with us.”

  “Are you suggesting that you’ll take the compass out of HQ?” Henry asked, aghast at the idea of sending their best tool back out into the field.

  “That is exactly what I am saying,” Marcus continued, catching an assertive gaze from Joey. “If there were any other way I would suggest it, but there isn’t. The only way to ascertain the physical presence of an artifact is the compass. When the shard does a turnabout, then we’ll have our destination. In theory that is.”

  “Right, just in theory! Marcus, you’re an intelligent fellow. You cannot think that this is wise.”

  “Far from it Henry, but please, tell me what other choice we have.”

  At an impasse all looked to Jane, contemplative in her deep thoughts. After a few minutes of mental deliberation she looked back at them, simply saying, “See it done.”

  “MY LORD,” A LESSER called out from his workstation in the opulent offices of Warminster, cutting through the silence like a dagger. Other demons momentarily peered over the tops of their screens or over the smallest portion of their shoulders before whipping their eyes back to work.

  Dajjal spun around, eyes locking on the young host who'd interrupted his thoughts.

  “My… Lord…” he repeated, stuttering with nerves. Wrenching his eyes away to the safety of his personal display, he continued, “Crosse’s ship is on the move. We were able to detect it for a short time on a trajectory that will…”

  “Well?” Dajjal prodded. “That will what?”

  The demon gulped then said cautiously, “That will take them directly over Bennett Peak, assuming they do not deviate from their last known course.”

  “At last you’re making your move, Crosse,” Dajjal muttered as he approached the weary demon, looking over his shoulder at the monitor. The Odyssey was a small, yellow blip over a topographical map of North America and she was speeding along at top speed before vanishing from the trace. “What are you playing at, human, and where are you headed in such an apparent hurry?”

  From what he knew, neither Gage nor the Journeymen knew of their hideout in the mountain, even with its proximity to the Devil’s Highway. If they did cross over Bennett Peak, it would be the perfect opportunity to launch an ambush. Gage and that fucking barge of his would have no idea of the dread that would come their way.

  He looked around to the one of the demons manning a sleek communications center. “You there, with the red glasses. Not… yes, you. Send word to our sanctuaries for reinforcements. I am ordering you t
o cast as large a net as you can, given the time. Bring as many beasts and riders here as can possibly be done in secret. We only have hours and I want to ensnare that goading piece of shit and finally end all fears of the Crosse.” His smile beamed as those red eyes flared. “At last, we have the upper hand.”

  “My Lord,” said another suited demon as she entered from the main doors. “We have word from our new sources within Journeyman HQ. The ship does indeed bear Gage Crosse, along with his entire team and a couple shifters. Apparently, they are seeking one of the treasures, following a direct path to it.”

  “Which one of them?” Dajjal asked with great interest, nearly salivating at the thought. “And where is it?”

  “They do not know, so we are in the same situation.”

  Dajjal stood taller in his pristine suit, rubbing the top of head while he approved of his new methods. Threatening Journeymen and their families was proving to be quite rewarding. “Which of our contacts provided you this information?” Dajjal asked the messenger.

  “Adkins is his surname, My Lord.”

  “Thank you very much, Mr. Adkins,” Dajjal muttered to the floor before returning his deep gaze to her. It penetrated her in a way that she could not look away. “Please, send him my regards and also, have his family killed as a thank you present. You must be sure to sign it on my behalf.”

  THE SUN PEEKED through a heavy layer of cloud, casting a dappled show of light and shadow on the Parisian streets below.

  A young woman stood on one side of Rue Drouot, poised to cross, the brim of her floppy hat curling in the breeze. The rest of her ensemble was also black: a sleek dress tight against her mocha skin, shimmering as her long legs shifted atop a pair of designer heels.

  A manageable gap appeared in the traffic and she glided across the street, checking the time on a slender gold watch when she reached the other side.

  It was a quarter past five.

  She breathed softly, shoulders dropping in relief.

  An auction had started fifteen minutes earlier, one that included rare relics and other historic collectibles from around the world. The antiques community across Paris and beyond had been brimming with anticipation for this day, the promise of the wonders to be purchased unrivaled in recent times. Though she could tell some hype had been thrown in the mix, there was one item in particular that leapt off the catalog pages like a beacon. It was why she had come and was cautious that others might have arrived, too.

  The clock was still ticking, so with a quick yet comfortable pace, she ascended a short flight of stairs into the contemporary building ahead. Adjusting her hat, she entered a lengthy hall, footsteps clicking noisily against the marble tiles as she proceeded down to the far end.

  It was bustling with activity there, noisy people spilling out of a large room into the hallway, all clamoring for a sliver free space inside. Confidently, she walked up to the living wall and tapped the closest person on the shoulder.

  The gentleman spun around, suit as old as he was, with quite an ungentlemanly look on his face. Obviously offended by the bother, his expression soon faded away, charmed off by her glossy, red smile.

  “Oh, my apologies for any disrespect,” he said coyly while bowing. As his head lowered, he noticed the absence of a bidder name tag. “Miss, my apologies again but I don't see your name badge. You do know that you are only allowed to bid in this auction if you have one from preregistration?”

  “That’s quite alright, Mr. LeBlanc,” she replied, her well manicured fingers resting on her breast. “You know who I am and I know you will let me by. That silly little thing though, it must’ve fallen off somewhere.”

  “Ah, yes!” LeBlanc replied assertively, as if his memory had been jogged. “Miss Kahli! It has been quite a hectic event.”

  Kahli nodded impatiently. “Most definitely! Now, not to be rude myself, but may I enter?”

  Saying nothing more, he shuffled backwards, jabbing an elbow right into the man behind him. A few choice words flew his way as a prize, but that man’s irritation also fell away as he began to move out of her way. That behavior spread like wildfire across the entire crowd, everyone shifting awkwardly to let Kahli pass by effortlessly.

  Unbeknownst to her, a solitary figure sat in silence amongst the masses, watching the strange events unfold.

  Kahli continued through the sea of people none the wiser, taking a seat in a recently emptied chair on the right side of the room. Once she did, it was like a spell had lifted and the crowd returned to its previous frenzy.

  Crossing her legs, she looked to the lanky auctioneer to determine what item was currently up for bid.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” the man said in French, “presenting Item Twelve in your catalog, this magnificent necklace and faceted talisman from the Middle East. We shall open the bidding at ten-thousand Euros.”

  The mention of an amulet made Kahli perk up a little in her seat. Surely not, she thought to herself while she studied the item from afar.

  A hand shot up in the crowd, followed by another across the gallery, the price increasing steadily as the assistant showed off the gorgeous gold necklace and striking ruby amulet. It was a truly stunning piece, sure to warm the heart of any serious collector, but for her it was of no further interest.

  “Twenty-five thousand is bid, do I have twenty-six?” the auctioneer asked as the bidding slowed. He surveyed the room, gavel positioned to make the sale. “Twenty-six? No? Sold then for twenty-five thousand to Mr. Allard of Allard & Savatier.”

  The crowd murmured as the gavel came down. The amulet and chain were whisked away and the next item prepared.

  A chill settled between Kahli’s shoulders and she shivered; it was an odd sensation; one she hadn't felt before. It was like she were being watched up close, yet also from miles away. Calmly, so as not to draw too much attention to herself, she glanced around the room yet didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. That is, until she spotted him sitting across the way.

  He was an imposing man, obviously muscular underneath the dark blue suit he wore; it probably cost more than the previous few bid increments combined. As he sat there in his matching striped shirt and vibrant red tie, his cobalt eyes radiated a power that she couldn't explain.

  The auctioneer’s words cut in between them, ending the stare-down, if only temporarily. “Presenting Number Thirteen ladies and gentlemen: this wondrous ceremonial blade from Sri Lanka, which has been dated back at least two thousand years.”

  The assembly began enthusiastic rumblings as the assistant produced the artifact from a wooden case, rushing it to the front of the auction block. Upon seeing the item, the crowd quickly slumped into a disinterested hush. Though old, the blade was in very poor condition: blotchy and worn, haggard from years of apparent misuse.

  “There is an absentee bid to start,” the auctioneer stated, clearing his throat before continuing. “Fifty-thousand Euros. Do I have fifty-five?”

  The whole group remained quiet, Kahli pitching her eyes over to the mysterious man. She found his already waiting for her.

  “Fifty-five, ladies and gentlemen?” repeated the auctioneer, somewhat dismayed. “This particular piece does date back to the first century, quite legendary in its own right despite its… slightly used condition.”

  There was still nothing, the auctioneer lowering one side of his mouth before offering up a smaller increment to entice a response. Kahli raised her hand, much to his relief.

  “I would like to bid one-hundred thousand,” she said.

  Immediately, whispers filled the air.

  A large hand rose, followed by a powerful voice like a storm. “Two-hundred,” bid the man, his eyes never parting from hers.

  By now the congregation, assistant, and even the auctioneer watched with mouths on the floor as Kahli continued to battle it out with the mysterious man for purchase of this item. Upwards the price went.

  “Six-hundred thousand!” the auctioneer exclaimed, barely able to keep his glasses on his fa
ce. “My, my, do we have seven?”

  The entire assembly looked on anxiously, the man next up in this little duel.

  However, he didn’t bid again, instead bolting out of his chair which sent it straight to the floor with a weighty slap. Breathing heavily amidst gasps from the crowd, his chest heaved while fingers twitched, resisting the urge to point them at her. Instead, he offered her a look of contempt before marching down the row of chairs. His stare never wavered from Kahli, even as he bumped the knees of patrons still planted firmly in their seats. When he reached the end of the line, he stopped and Kahli noticed that he was also without a name tag.

  “Fun and games aside, this is not over, woman,” he said to her menacingly. “By far. Watch yourself; I am watching.”

  “Well then, as you said yourself: bring on more fun and games,” she retorted.

  He turned toward the entrance, muttering something in a language she couldn’t immediately recognize, and the crowd parted for him – not due to serenity like they had done for her, but out of fear. It then dawned on her where she had heard that speech before.

  Unbelievable! Why would they be here?

  Once he disappeared into the corridor, the wall of people closed behind him, all eyes returning to the victorious Kahli.

  “I… um…” the auctioneer stuttered as a distant rumble like thunder made it hard to regain composure. Coughing, he readied the gavel once more. “Well then, we should resume the auction. Ladies and gentlemen the, um, preceding bid for the blade was at five, no excuse me six-hundred thousand Euros by the lovely lady in the black dress. Do we have any more bids in the gallery? No? Going once… twice… sold!”

  The hammer sealed the deal and the associate efficiently swooped the article back toward its case. Before he had made two steps, Kahli was already in his personal space, graceful arm outstretched expectantly.

  “I’ll take that for you, Antoine,” she requested kindly.

  He blinked a few times, first wondering how she knew his name but then how she covered the distance so quickly. Antoine wasn’t given too long to think on it, his thoughts floating away on a cloud of tranquility just as he began to hand the blade over to her.