The Great Fury (13 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Oengus tried to hide his embarrassment. He was chained in a darkened area in some sort of a cellar. They had taken all his clothes.

And then some hours later Maedbh had been brought in, and under the supervision of an older woman was stripped and chained in a chair. Had she not been blindfolded he would have been more embarrassed that she might have seen how he reacted to her being stripped to reveal her beautiful body.

Hugo took his men away with a withering glance in his direction and left them in the silence.

Now the woman was walking about inspecting the two prisoners.

She cackled. Deirdre liked to cackle. It was a witch thing.

She put her hand on Oengus's heart and felt it beat. Restrained by his chains, Oengus could only watch. Then she went and put her hand on Maedbh's heart. Maedbh squirmed and made a noise but she was equally helpless.

“Two magic creatures, what a prize,” Deirdre cackled.

“Two?” Maedbh said, realizing she might not be the only prisoner.

“It's me,” Oengus said.

After a silence Maedbh asked, “Are you chained and naked?”

“No talking,” Deirdre snapped.

“Yes,” Oengus said.

“Blindfolded?” Maedbh asked.

“No,” Oengus admitted, feeling embarrassed for Maedbh.

“I'll gag ye both,” Deirdre threatened.

She didn't want to gag them as in her long experience a gagged prisoner might suffocate or have a seizure from the stress. She wanted her prisoners relaxed breathing easily and stress free as far as possible.

“Take off my blindfold,” Maedbh asked, adding, “please.”

Deirdre cackled.

“You're a witch,” she said. “Witches have to be blindfolded lest they cast a spell.”

“I'm thirsty,” Oengus said to deflect attention from Maedbh.

“Be thirsty and stay quiet or you'll get neither drink nor food,” Deirdre said.

Oengus watched as Deirdre took out a key and opened the door to the room.

“She's gone,” Oengus said after a while.

“Where are we?” Maedbh asked with a sob in her voice.

“No idea, but I think we are in a cellar.”

“Oengus did you tell them where to find me?”

“Of course not. Remember they followed us yesterday. They were there when I met my uncle and they took me. But he got away.”

“They were waiting for me. A called man Hugo and two of his thuggish friends.”

“And Venus?”

“They put her in a cat basket. She's smart, she'll be ok.”

“And Puca Beag?” Oengus asked hopefully.

“No sign of him.”

“What do you think they want with us?” Oengus asked after a further silence.

“Probably want to eat our hearts.”

“What!” Oengus was shocked.

“The hearts of magic beings have special qualities.”

“Such as?”

“Oengus did they not teach you anything?”

“Nothing magic Maedbh. I grew up on a farm and then I was sent to New York.”

“Anyway a magic heart has a long life. If a witch eats one she can regain some of her youth. Of course good witches would never stoop to that sort of thing but there are bad witches, usually ugly.”

“You're not ugly,” Oengus offered.

“Oengus given my situation that sort of remark is not helpful. I'll thank you to avert your eyes and think of something else.”

“I really meant...”

“Oengus, you are a teenager. I know that but try to be a gentleman.”

“OK.”

Oengus wondered was he falling in love. This was his first ever view of a naked woman in the flesh. But then there was Nina.

Nina the betrayer. He felt a surge of anger. Oengus pulled on his chains. But it was to no avail.

“Are the chains made of silver?” Maedbh asked.

“Now that you mention it I think so,” Oengus replied.

“Then we are doomed.”

***

Lived Dutronc regarded Morag with benign tolerance.

“Tell me again. Did you say you have kidnapped two teenagers in New York, stripped them naked and tied them up in a cellar and that are holding them prisoner?”

“A witch and a boy of unknown provenance. Dearg Due says he is magic, but we have to run tests to confirm. The female is definitely a female witch, albeit young one, probably an apprentice.”

“An apprentice Morag? All apprentices have masters. What if you bring a witches coven down on us?”

“Deirdre the Kerry witch is holding them in a secure cellar on her premises. They are bound in silver chains and the young witch is blindfolded. They are helpless.”

“Morag do not let this sideline event distract from the main event. We are attempting to crash property prices in New York and hopefully the dollar on the currency markets. To do this we need chaos in New York.”

“The spell is in the water system. If it is left undisturbed it will last a week untended. By then all sewer dwellers will be driven out onto the streets and subways. There will be chaos.”

“I hope so Morag. We have taken sell positions in some key stocks and on the dollar foreign exchange. In addition our buy situation in environmental companies is looking good.”

“We just need to keep it simple Lived and it will work its way through.”

‘Call me sir, not Lived.”

“Yes sir,” Morag said. She felt a shiver of attraction. When he was cold it lit her fire and when he was domineering she wanted to surrender.

“The New York population is very resilient,” Lived added.

“The television reports sir?”

“Yes Morag. The Mayor has put a bounty on the heads of sewer animals. A dime for every rat. There must be at least ten million rats.”

“And a cent for every frog and twenty dollars per crocodile.”

“It seems gangs are being formed to slaughter these beasts. People are just getting together in their buildings and creating hunting parties.”

“As you say sir, New Yorkers are a resilient lot. But business is suffering and the economy will take a dip.”

Lived considered for a moment.

“Morag,” he said. “We need a big event to tip the scales.”

“Suggestions?” Morag asked.

“Work on it Morag and come up with something please,” Lived said.

As he spoke he waved his hand dismissively.

“Anything else sir?' Morag offered.

“Not today. But Morag,” Lived replied with a grin.

“Yes sir?”

“Make sure the teenage thing is not an issue. We don't want to be distracted.”

“Don't worry sir. And I'll keep you posted.”

***

Venus was unhappy. A witch's cat had status, respect even. But this Hugo had put her in a cat cage and given her to his mother.

“For the rats,” he'd said and his mother had taken Venus with gratitude to her caring son.

Now Venus was confined to the apartment and expected to patrol for rats coming in from the street. That said the food was home cooked and she liked the dollop of cream on the side of her saucer. So far, aside from the occasional scurry in the corridor, there had been no sign of a rat attempt to invade the apartment.

There was a tip tap on the window. Hugo's mother was watching a TV show and laughing at something.

Venus jumped on to the back of a lounger. From this viewpoint she could see Puca in full pigeon mode trying to get her attention.

Venus shrugged. The windows were sealed, the apartment door was locked.

Puca shrugged, he'd expected more initiative from the cat. Puca flew down to ground level. He was distracted for a moment to peck a few tasty bits on the ground but then remembered he had a mission.

Puca concentrated. It was exhausting. He concentrated again. Slowly he transformed into his best memory of Hugo, jeans and jacket included.

He looked at his reflection in the glass of the first floor apartment. ‘Cool' he thought, getting into the mood and the vibe.

He turned to face the stoop and was surprised to see Nina bounding up the steps.

Nina stopped in her tracks. “Hugo?” she asked, “I thought...”

“You thought what?” Puca demanded in his best Hugo accent.

“I... I thought I was speaking to you a minute ago up the street. You asked me to go check on your mother,” Nina stammered.

“I'm a fast mover,” Puca alleged.

Nina gave him a suspicious look.

“That's pigeon accent in there, are you the Puca Beag?”

Puca was shocked. He'd thought he'd got the accent just right.

“What are you going to do?” Puca asked anxiously.

“I knew it,” Nina said triumphantly.

“And how did you escape from Grand Central Station?” Puca demanded.

“I can't handle this,” Nina said.

Her shoulders drooped.

Puca made to put an arm around her. She recoiled with an expression of distaste.

As Nina turned to go Puca cried, “Help me please, I don't know what to do?”

“What were you going to do?” Nina demanded.

“I was going to try get the cat.”

“Venus?”

‘They took Oengus in a black sedan. I followed the sedan and they took Oengus into a house in the Bronx. Then I went back to the apartment to warn them. Venus said we'd have to wait for Maedbh to get back from her classes. I waited on the roof. Later Maedbh went into the apartment. They were waiting in ambush and I only realized what was happing when they pulled her out and into a Ford Pickup truck. Hugo also took Venus in his cat cage and some electric stuff. He took off in one direction and the Pickup in another. I followed Venus as I thought it was logical to conclude that Maedbh would be brought to where they brought Oengus.”

“Good thinking,” Nina said, showing respect.

“So?” Puca asked.

“So go get the cat,” Nina said.

“Don't go, help me please,” Puca asked.

“You don't get it Puca,” Nina said with a touch of sadness.

“What, like?”

“Like I'm not on your side.”

“What, I thought you and Oengus were friends. He trusted you.”

“Puca, it's complicated.”

“Help me get the cat,” Puca said.

Nina shrugged. “I should shout for help and get them to grab you. Then they'll have everyone,” Nina replied stiffly.

“I'll turn into a pigeon and every time you come out I'll drop some doody on your head,” Puca said more in hope to cajole rather than in threat.

Nina couldn't help a laugh.

“Listen, I think Hugo is in over his head. What with magic and all, it can't be good. If I help Hugo mustn't know and you must promise Hugo won't be harmed.” Nina said.

“As far as I can help, no harm will befall either you or Hugo.” Puca promised.

Nina went and knocked on the door of Hugo's mother's apartment.

“Who there?” a voice called.

“Nina here. I need the cat,” Nina replied.

There was a noise as the door bolts and locks were pulled back. Puca, still retaining a Hugo appearance, hung back by the elevator. If Nina could spot him, he didn't have the confidence to try fool Hugo's mother.

“The cat ain't much use, it just sleeps,” Hugo's mother said.

Nina followed into the apartment.

When Venus saw it was Nina he went into evasive mode, seeing her as the enemy. Nina and Hugo's mother spent ten minutes before the cornered her.

“Venus,” Nina said persuasively. “Please come with me. You won't be harmed.”

Venus gave her his haughty mixed with I'm trapped look.

Nina put the cage down in front of Venus.

“Your way or the hard way,” she said.

“That cat is stupid, you don't talk to a cat,” Hugo's mother said, but then stopped in amazement as Venus stepped into the cage backwards and pulled the door closed behind her.

“Clever cat,” Nina said.

Venus shrugged, anything would be an improvement on her present captivity, calculating that movement might give her a chance to escape.

Chapter Seventeen

Morag regarded her team with a benign expression.

“So far so good,” she said, and paused, her expression changing as she eyeballed the Greyman, “except the Fireman escaped.”

“Sorry boss,” the Greyman said with a shrug that caused his grey cloud to swirl. Leanan coughed and waved it away.

“Let me introduce a new associate,” Morag continued.

Deirdre was at the bottom of the long table slightly apart from the group and although they had seen her none had acknowledged her presence at the table.

Deirdre gave a nervous grin and could not repress a cackle.

“Deirdre, meet Dearg Due, The Greyman and Leanan Sidhe.”

Deirdre bowed her head in respect to each in turn as Morag gave their names. As a mere witch she knew of these creatures and their superior magical origins.

“Deirdre is in charge of spell placement,” Morag continued.

The group understood immediately. Deirdre was the fall guy should things go wrong.

“Welcome,” they all said more or less simultaneously.

“Deirdre is not on the direct payroll but is subcontracted.”

This confirmed the group's suspicions.

“And is holding the captured magic persons on her premises in the Bronx.”

“Excellent, I hope you blindfolded the witch,” Dearg Due said.

Deirdre made a face as if to say what do you think, am I a fool? But she replied with a meek “yes.”

“And the boy,” Dearg Due inquired.

“He's fine, both are held in silver chains in a dark cellar.”

“Hope the rats don't get them,” the Greyman joked.

“Rat proof sealing,” Deirdre replied seriously. “I am aware that New York has a rat problem at the moment.”

They all laughed at this and the twinkle in Deirdre's eye.

Morag was pleased, it seemed to her Deirdre would fit in.

“I'd like to have a closer look at that boy,” Dearg Due added.

“We need to capture the Fireman,” Morag said sharply. “Then we need to find out what is going on.”

“The witch is only an apprentice,” Deirdre offered.

Morag frowned, thinking Deirdre would need to know her place and not throw in extraneous remarks.

“That should make her easier to handle,” Leanan said.

“But,” Deirdre persisted, “an apprentice must have a master. So we may have more to do?”

This gave them pause.

“Deirdre is correct,” Morag said showing new respect for Deirdre's insight.

“Suggest question the witch and find the location of her principle,” the Greyman offered.

“And we need to find out what sort of creature the boy is,” Dearg Due added.

Morag held up her hands to call silence.

“The main focus of this meeting has to be on the Live Corp plan to crash property prices in New York,” she reminded them.

“I'd imagine this is already happening?” Leanan said.

“Lived Dutronc believes we need a big event to tip things over the edge,” Morag explained.

They absorbed this in silence.

“And he wants us to come up with something?” the Greyman offered.

“Ideas?” Morag said.

“We are not financial people,” Leanan protested. “If you need an evil act or a person made suicidal we are the team, but...”

“Poison the drinking water and not the sewers?” Dearg Due threw out.

Morag shook her head. “We need to keep low profile. If we poison thousands it will cause a long-term detailed investigation. Too risky.”

“We are lucky New York has several water systems,” the Greyman added. “But surely it just needs patience to let the infestation run its course?”

“Yes,” Deirdre agreed. “We are just in the first phase. The spell will spread. But the water will remain drinkable unless we change the mix of the contaminant spell.”

“Dutronc is concerned at the resilience of New Yorkers. They have started banding together and wiping out the rats and other sewer dwellers,” Morag explained.

“Lucky it's spring and not winter,” Deirdre said.

Morag frowned, worried Deirdre was not following the conversation.

“How so,” Leanan asked.

Deirdre tried not to meet Leanan's eyes. She could feel it already, the deep depression that emanated from Leanan Sidhe.

“Well,” Deirdre explained. “We have driven the various denizens of the sewers out into the streets and thereby to their destruction or will have once Manhattan folk get organized to wipe them out but they don't realize that actions have consequences.”

“Consequences Deirdre?” Morag prompted.

Deirdre smiled. It was a revolting smile but nobody minded. It was after all the smile of an evil witch.

“When the creatures that eat other smaller creatures are no more then the smaller creatures will prosper.”

“Such as?” the Greyman asked.

“Well, fleas, frogs that are frog spawn at present, cockroaches, you name it. Add lice, flies, crawling larvae etc. They will all infest Manhattan because they will have no predators.”

Good thinking Deirdre,” Morag said. The others nodded in approval and respect.

“Just tell Dutronc that the plague of rats will be followed by a plague of frogs and insects?” Deirdre suggested.

“Just like Egypt in the bible,” Leanan added.

“Most likely, but when winter comes and freezes everything it will kill masses of insects and then when the rat and sewer populations recover things will get back to normal,” Deirdre explained.

“Deirdre, you are a marvel,” Morag said, sounding very pleased.

“During that time the perception will be that New York is becoming uninhabitable,” the Greyman said approvingly.

“Yes and it will be so unless we can reverse the plagues,” Dearg Due said cautiously.

“This summer should be unbearable,” Deirdre offered, “but once the winter freeze comes the lower orders will be restricted and after we lift the spell out of the water reservoir the sewers will recover. It may take a year or two to get into balance again but nature is very powerful in the long run,” Deirdre added.

“I'll put the scenario to Dutronc,” Morag decided.

“Well done team,” she added.

***

“Don't let me see you here again,” Nina said as she handed the cat cage to Puca.

“Thank you,” he said.

“I don't know what's happened to Oengus or his friend Maedbh the witch,” Nina added.

“I do,” Puca said.

Nina stared. It was unnerving that Puca could resemble Hugo down to the belt on his pants.

“Me and Hugo did what we were paid for. We are out. We don't want to be involved,” Nina said.

“I'll just let the cat out,” Puca said.

“No!” Venus mewed fiercely.

“What?” Puca said in surprise.

“There are too many rats about. I might get eaten. Keep me in the cage. Stay in human form and get us to a safe pace,” Venus insisted.

“Have to go,” Puca said and walked down the stoop with Venus under his arm still in her cage.

Nina watched them go. Magic, maybe black magic, she thought with a shiver. But she had liked Oengus and she hoped no real harm would befall him.

“What's the plan?” Puca asked as he walked along.

“Back to Maedbh's apartment. Nobody will look for us there. There is a spare key Maedbh hides for emergencies. We can get back in have a saucer of milk and think about it.”

***

“Anything else?” Morag asked her team.

“Next steps?” Leanan asked.

“I think Dearg Due might pay a visit to the witch Maedbh's apartment. We need to see if we can get a lead on who might be her principle witch and her possible location.”

“OK,” Dearg Due agreed.

“I have her keys and effects,” Deirdre offered and took a plastic bag from under the table. “We stripped them both.”

“Great,” Dearg Due said. “I'll take them when I go.”

“Leanan you take charge of interrogation. We need to know what they know,” Morag continued.

“OK,” Leanan agreed with a sad smile.

“Greyman you find the fireman,” Morag instructed.

“OK,” the Greyman said doubtfully.

“Deirdre you continue to maintain the water spell,”

Morag added.

“No problem, it's located in the ...”

“Stop!” Morag said. “Need to know only.”

“OK,” Deirdre said, realizing she had become too relaxed in her desire to impress the company present.

“OK, meeting over. Report back directly to me.”

They tidied up their places and left together. Deirdre took Leanan in charge to show her the way to her place in the Bronx.

“There's trouble with rats in the subway, we'll take a cab,” she suggested.

“Dearg Due would you mind if I come with you?” the Greyman asked.

Dearg Due raised an eyebrow, “What?”

“I don't know where to start with the fireman,” the Greyman confessed.

“You think you'll find a clue in Maedbh's apartment.”

“Worth a look.”

“OK, but I'm in charge,” Dearg Due insisted.

“We'll take a cab.”

Dearg Due knew Maedbh's apartment from her previous attempt to visit. Now that she had the key she would need no invitation to enter.

On route she went through Maedbh's purse. Aside from a few dollars and a credit card there was little of interest. The absence of lipstick and makeup surprised Dearg Due. She concluded that Maedbh must be a very modern young woman. And young of course. You could get away without makeup when young. She took the keys and handed the purse to the Greyman.

“Enough for the fare,” he said with a wry grin as he palmed the cash.

Puca had decided to relax as a poodle so he could sleep in Venus's basket. Venus drank her milk and looked out at the sky and started to think out a strategy on what to do next.

They were startled when they heard the keys in the lock. Puca decided to run about and bark in doglike manner and Venus arched her back.

“Nobody mentioned a dog and a cat,” the Greyman said as they entered.

“Witches have cats,” Dearg Due pointed out.

“True. Just let me check something,” the Greyman added.

“Can you speak to me?” the Greyman asked putting his face up to Venus.

Venus backed away and mewed a meow and then hissed and showed her claws.

“OK, enough playacting. Let's do a thorough search,” Dearg Due said.

“I have heard it said that sometimes witches cats are magic.”

“Cats are cats, start with the desk.”

Puca continued to bark until Dearg Due threw him a bag of biscuits.

“She has a computer,” the Greyman said.

“We'll take that with us.”

“There's also an iPad. Maybe some emails?”

“Let's look at the paperwork first.”

Puca and Venus watched as they systematically searched the apartment.

“Should we kill the pets?” the Greyman asked as an aside.