Authors: Richard Jackson
Nerva opts for flight. She is already opening a window to facilitate our escape. Her choice is the middle ground between Hagan and Jennifer’s choices. It would take time but not as much time as being locked up by the police and waiting for Jennifer to spring us. It’s not as fast as Hagan’s solution but it is far less violent. I would be in favor of it except for one nagging detail. We’re on the fourth floor. She and Hagan might be able to walk away from a fall this high. The only place I would be going is back to the hospital or the morgue.
“
We have to fight,”
Kara says. Given a choice, she would have me avoid a fight and danger. This time, she doesn’t think there is a choice. She shares my suspicion. Someone sent the police here. We can’t waste time with them. If that means people have to be hurt then she is fine with it. I see another way.
“Aleric, we need you!”
As the door shatters, Aleric emerges from the bedroom. They don’t bother with stun or gas grenades. The police rely on speed and brute force. Jennifer finds herself clubbed down before she can show her credentials. That’s when they see Hagan and the sword. They aim their weapons at him and yell for him to drop the sword. It’s not going to happen. In another second, there will be blood. Aleric doesn’t let that happen. With a wave of his hand, he calls upon the Glamour and his birthright to defuse things before they can get any worse. The officers lower their weapons, looking confused. They move about the apartment as if we don’t exist for them. A disappointed Hagan lowers his sword as he realizes there will be no battle.
“Nicely done” I say with a smile.
For his part, Aleric nods at the compliment. I didn’t know what he would do but it had to be better than chopping them to pieces. Still, it couldn’t have been easy for him. I don’t know what it cost him or how long he can maintain his spell. To his credit, there isn’t a hint of strain or tension in his voice as he speaks.
“Fitzgerald has a holding in the Bronx. It’s not a residence, just a cave he discovered in Van Cortland Park.”
I try and fail to keep my voice neutral. A hint of dread creeps into my words. “Near the Yonkers’ border.”
Aleric confirms my fear. “That is very astute of you, Count. He is there now with Meredith making preparations.”
“
I should have seen it earlier,”
Kara says. “
It’s a place of power.
”
We both should have seen this. Meredith knew about the Bloodstone. It only stands to reason, he would know a little about its origins. It’s another little detail that fell by the wayside. We should have had the place sealed up. It makes me wonder what else we missed during those early cases.
“And what do you plan to do about it?” Nerva asks.
“Nothing more than what I have already done. The Unseelie have relinquished their claim on the cave and transferred ownership to Count. It seems Lord Fitzgerald disagreed with the edict,” The Fae Court is not a democracy. They take a dim view of those who refuse royal edicts. “He has been disavowed. You and your friends may deal with him accordingly when you go to claim your property.”
It’s my turn to ask a question. “Why not arrest him?”
Hagan answers for Aleric. “Because pointy ears doesn’t want to risk any of his precious kin in a battle with Meredith or his pet.”
“I would have put it another way but essentially Hagan is correct. I will not hazard my people against this Servitor unless there is no alternative,” Aleric pauses to offer Hagan a smile. “Unless you need me to fight your battles for you.”
Nerva steps between Aleric and Hagan before more than words can be exchanged. When she leans close and speaks, Aleric forgets all about Hagan. “Thank you” and in a slightly lower voice she says “I take back all the things I was going to tell your girlfriend.”
Aleric doesn’t give me a chance to ask what those things might be. “I will stay here and hold these gentlemen and their friends outside till you depart. Just make sure you deal with Meredith and Lord Fitzgerald for this inconvenience.”
“No worries about that. Just take care of Jennifer for me.”
“
You’re not taking her with you?
”
“
She’s hurt and I don’t know how badly. Moving her might do more harm than good. Anyway, she’ll be safer here.
”
Jennifer is a part of this now. I feel bad about leaving her behind but she will be a lot safer with Aleric. When she wakes up, she can come after us and coordinate things with the authorities. To be honest, I didn’t want a law enforcement or government agent with us when we confronted Meredith. This time there wasn’t blood and violence. When we meet Meredith, it will be a different story. The three of us leave the apartment behind. Only Hagan speaks. His voice is almost too soft to be heard.
“I’m gonna miss that place.”
Chapter Twenty Six
Things are moving faster than I like. I’m sure Meredith feels the same way. The pressure is on. Both of us are acting quickly. It’s the only play either one of us has left. I’ve lost the element of surprise. Aleric’s investigation tipped Meredith or Fitzgerald off. The police were meant to delay us. They can’t be certain how much time it brought them. Meredith will have to cast his spell tonight. Tomorrow will be too late. He can’t give me time to plan or gather allies. Too many people, mundane and magical, want him. I’m in the same boat. I can’t give him time to cast his spell and awaken the Seven. If that happens, there won’t be anything I can do except offer him my throat. We both have to act now. We’re no longer racing against each other. Instead, we are racing towards each other. The inevitable crash is not going to be pretty.
Nerva is driving hard and fast, playing loose with the rules of the road. I’m not about to complain, we’re making good time. In the back seat, Hagan looks out the rear window expecting pursuit. The big man has been silent since we piled into Nerva’s car. Something is on his mind. I could ask him but he won’t talk until he is good and ready. The moment comes when we pass the Gracie Manor.
“Do you have a plan?”
The plan I have is an ugly misshapen thing. Like some sort of Frankenstein monster, it is a jigsaw puzzle that still needs to be stitched together and electrified. It’s just pieces and fragments. I could try and stall for time but my friends deserve better than that.
“Hit fast, hit hard. Take out Meredith and anyone in that cave before he can kill us.”
“That’s your plan?” Hagan asks. When he realizes that’s the extent of my plan, he just smiles and says “I like where your head is at.”
Nerva and Kara both make disgusted sounds that prove the two can actually agree from time to time.
***
This part of the park hasn’t changed much. I am looking forward to and dreading what’s coming. Kara takes my mind off of it for a moment. She nestles comfortably in my thoughts. The cave isn’t in sight from our vantage point but its image is burned into my mind. If the Fae were interested in defending their holding, it would be a tough nut to crack. Luckily, Aleric did us a favor when he had Fitzgerald disavowed. Someone in his position would have retainers and bodyguards. We no longer have to worry about them. None would be willing to aid Fitzgerald. The consequences would be too great. Unfortunately, Meredith is still a sorcerer and he has the Servitor on his side. My gift can keep me safe from magic but it can only do so much to protect me from his pet. Kara doesn’t know how much and I am not eager to find out. Hagan and Nerva wait for me to say something. Neither one of them is a model of patience. Hagan is spoiling for a fight. He knew it would all come down to this when he first gave me the ring. Nerva wants to get this over with. This is personal for her, as personal as it is for me. Whatever Fitzgerald did is way beyond him just casting a spell on her.
“Are we ready?” I ask. It’s a stupid question. Hagan is always ready for something like this and for a change Nerva is just as eager. “After we take out the Servitor, we can deal with Meredith.”
“
It’s not much of a plan.
”
I nod slowly. It is simple and far from elegant. I wish I could come up with something better but I’m out of ideas. Kara doesn’t voice an objection. Hagan does.
“No. It won’t work if we do it that way.”
I look at him, waiting for an explanation. It’s not often he disagrees with a plan where he gets to do what he loves doing. “I’ll handle the pet while you and Nerva deal with Meredith.” He says.
“But….”
“It has to be this way. We don’t have a sorcerer and we can’t give Meredith time to work his magic.”
I’m about to argue but I can’t think of anything to say. With no Dorward or Solomon, we have no one who can match Meredith in the magic department. We give him enough time and he might be able to use it to get out of this or worse. Hagan’s reasoning is sound but I don’t like it. I look to Nerva for an opinion. Her expression remains carefully neutral. From Kara, I get the sense she agrees with Hagan but is just as uneasy about it as I am. Whatever I do or say, I know they will back me up. I go with my instincts and trust Hagan’s judgment. I don’t have many friends. I trust each one implicitly.
“We do it your way. You lead and I’ll follow.”
There is a brief moment when Kara seems to leave me and Hagan smiles. It is the closest that I have ever seen him to being at peace. The moment doesn’t last long. Kara flows back into my thoughts. “
What was that all about?
”
Kara murmurs “
Just keeping a promise I made to him.
”
I still have some misgivings about splitting our strength but I can’t think of a way around it without wasting time we don’t have. “When we get to the cave, I’ll head inside. It isn’t that big. There won’t be any place for Meredith to hide.”
Chapter Twenty Seven
Out of sight from the city streets, we wait in the darkness. I’m not sure who has the best senses. It’s definitely not me. I can barely make out the twisted trees around me. I can only sense the danger that lies ahead. Meredith’s pet is here. It waits somewhere ahead ready to devour us.
“
It looks like the Fae have widened the trail.
”
“
Good, I won’t have to worry about breaking my neck when Hagan gives the word.
”
It will be easier to navigate but no less perilous. The Servitor will not let us by. To get to Meredith, we have to get past it. When Jennifer asked me how I can deal with this sort of stuff, I dodged the question. It was easier to introduce her to the other side of magic. That way she could find her own answer, the one that works for her. My answer has always been “with a little help from my friends” and “keep on moving forward”.
The word “Now” is barely out of Hagan’s mouth when he starts to move. The big man takes the lead, pouring on the speed. On my best day, I can sprint faster than Hagan. This isn’t one of them. My knee is still on the mend and I need to conserve my strength. I’m going to need to fight at the end of this run. The Servitor coalesces around us to smother Hagan’s rush. The ash grey cloud comes at us from every direction, even seeping out of the ground. It smells worse than Meridith’s building, bringing to mind trash day in the meat packing district during the height of summer. Nerva slows and I narrowly avoid slamming into her but Hagan doesn’t stop or change course. He deals with the horror, the only way he knows how. The draw is too quick for me to see in the darkness. His sword flashes, cleaving the cloud as claws of smoke slash at him and shadowy tendrils seek to snare him. Hagan’s sword does the impossible. It cuts the Servitor. The thing draws back in pain and surprise, clearing a path for us. As it rises up behind us, the Servitor doesn’t utter a sound. There is no scream of pain or rage, no cry of frustration. It is silent and implacable, already renewing its assault. The Servitor flows after us, licking at our heels.
I see the crack. The light shining from within the cave makes it easier to see. Like the trail, it too has been widened and made easier to navigate. Hagan spins, placing his back to the opening while Nerva and I dart inside. I don’t like this but it’s the way Hagan wants to play it. There is no time to wish him luck or say goodbye. I’m not sure he would hear it. His attention is riveted on his opponent.
Nerva yells and asks “Where to?”
The cave is bigger than I remembered, lit by flickering torches. At the rear of the cave, a tunnel beckons me deeper into the earth. I point towards it and Nerva takes the lead. I spare a moment to glance back at Hagan. It’s a mistake. The Servitor pulls itself into a rough humanoid shape towers over my friend. It is the stuff of nightmares. The Servitor’s form is never at rest, always in motion like a dark miasma while at the same time being unsettling solid. In this form, it is more disturbing and terrible than the cloud I have come to associate with it. I hesitate.
“Go!!” he yells.
Hagan must have seen me. I can’t do it. I can’t leave him alone against that thing but Hagan is right. Someone has to deal with Meredith while he fights it.
“Kara, can you help him?”
“
Yes but ….
“
I cut her off. I know the rest of it. She is about to say “but who will help you.”
“
Go help Hagan. I’ll be fine.
”
And Kara is gone. The link is still there but it is a tenuous thing. I curse and hurry to catch up to Nerva, running away from the image of Hagan rushing to meet his foe and the flash of claws and blood that proceed his screaming.
***
Down into the darkness we descend. Was this passage always here or did the Fae dig it? It doesn’t matter. I don’t need Kara’s senses or a spell to tell me this is the way to Meredith. Nerva slows her pace as the tunnel widens. I brush past her into the cavern that opens before us. There in the center of an inscription carved into the cold rock floor is Meredith. He stands there as if he has been waiting all his life for this moment. His singsong chant nearly falters when he notices our arrival. Chalk one up to the big guy. It looks like Meredith was expecting the Servitor to buy him some time. It doesn’t matter. It’s time to finish this. I take a step forward when Nerva cries out a warning. How many times can I be wrong? This time, it is going to cost me. I had forgotten about Fitzgerald. The Unseelie flashes me a sharp toothed smile as he darts towards me. I am caught flatfooted and too close to avoid his sudden rush. The knife in his hand catches the torchlight. I have no doubts as to its sharpness. There will be no avoiding its caress. Nerva saves me. She slams into my attacker and the two go down in a heap. They roll around, the knife rising and falling in counterpoint to the sound of flesh tearing and bones breaking. I am about to go to Nerva’s aid when I realize Meredith has stopped chanting. He finished his spell, whatever it was.