by Ken Lange
Andrew reluctantly got to his feet, and Isidore slowly followed, trailing several steps behind.
At the table, Andrew put the book he’d been reading aside and picked up another before instantly putting that one down as well, only to select another randomly.
Grabbing the tome he’d abandoned, I asked, “What are you searching for?”
Andrew cupped his forehead in his hand and sighed. “I haven’t the foggiest.” He gave me a look. “For starters, I’d like to know why you don’t give off a standard signature.”
Well, that was cryptic. “What does that even mean?”
Isidore picked up the nearest book and flipped it open with a grunt. “It means that no matter how hard any of us try, we can’t sense you.” He waved the book around with every word. “For all intents and purposes, you don’t exist on an energetic level. That’s why stupid people think you’re human.”
Andrew nodded as he gestured at Isidore. “Exactly.”
I sighed and waved for them to continue. “Okay…so, how does that factor into your search?”
Andrew laughed. “No idea. I’m basically compiling a list of what we do know and trying to search through the records to find abilities that match.” He frowned. “Only problem is, nothing does. According to everything I’ve read so far, everyone and everything has a unique energy marker.” Pausing, he rubbed his neck. “Then there are a number of other qualities that seem to be unique to you.”
“Such as?”
Andrew looked at me with wonder in his eyes. “Such as snapping an item of power and an enchanted dagger with zero repercussions.”
I gestured at the staircase. “You seem to be forgetting about the door and the rather large hole in the wall this morning.”
He gave me a dismissive wave of his hand. “That’s hardly significant.”
Shrugging, I said, “If you say so.”
Isidore chimed in. “What he’s trying to say is we’re not dead and you didn’t lose an appendage…in fact you look better today than when I met you…save for that melted hand of yours.”
I frowned. “That’s a bit of an overstatement. I’m exhausted.”
Andrew gave me an appraising once-over. “He’s right, you do seem…I don’t know…healthier.” He shook his head. “That’s not it. But there’s something more vital about you.”
Chuckling, I said, “It’s sleep deprivation catching up with you two. I haven’t changed at all, I’m just accustomed to missing my beauty rest.”
Isidore snickered. “Doubtful.”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “You shouldn’t make light of this. It’s these types of observations that’ll help us solve the mystery of who you are.”
I shrugged. “Is it all that important? You said it could take a couple of weeks for my abilities to fully manifest. What’s the big rush to find the ins and outs of what I can do?”
He laughed. “Because it’s a mystery, my boy. If my suspicions are correct, you might be something entirely new. That could be both a blessing and a curse.”
“Why’s that?”
Isidore frowned. “Because, if you haven’t noticed, the Archive isn’t big on things that are different or that they don’t understand.” He gestured at himself. “For instance, they have a hard time explaining weres…and thus, we became a slave race.”
Andrew nodded. “He’s right. We need to keep your abilities a secret until we fully understand them.”
I was about to say something stupid when Andrew’s phone rang.
Andrew lifted the receiver. “Hello… Good morning, Ms. Dodd… Okay… I see.” His tone turned to one of disapproval. “I think it’s a mistake to rush into this… Fine, if you insist, set it up for the twelfth. That should give everyone enough time to make adjustments to their schedules.” He sighed. “You’ve already made up your mind. Why bother asking if I approve or not… Of course you did… I’ll make sure the room is available. Have a great rest of your day.” He slammed the phone down in frustration.
Hesitantly, I asked, “What did she want?”
Andrew growled. “Elizabeth volunteered me to host a meeting to choose a new vigil in ten days.” He removed his glasses and rubbed his face. “It appears Robert has a few people he wants moved to the front of the line.”
The thought of Robert or any of his buddies assigning the new vigil made me sick to my stomach. But there was another option. Over the last three decades, I’d basically been doing this very job. This one, though, would allow me to make a difference while doing the right thing, instead of just following someone else’s orders. I wouldn’t be forced to sit on the sidelines watching people like Isidore suffer at the hands of a corrupt system.
With a decision made, I looked up at Andrew. “I read in the journal that the ranking member of the Archive could conduct the test. Is that true?”
Andrew wobbled his hand back and forth. “Yeah, but I’m sure Ms. Dodd will want to handle that on her own…and with the type of candidates she’ll have lined up, I’m all too happy to let her do it.”
“No, you don’t understand.” I gestured at myself. “I want you to test me…now.”
Isidore shook his head in disbelief. “What? Wait…you don’t understand what you’re getting yourself into.”
Andrew waved him off. “Let him speak.” He turned to me. “Are you serious?”
I probably should’ve been nervous, possibly even terrified, but I wasn’t. If anything, it was as if I was finally in the right place at the right moment. “Yeah. If I don’t do this, you know as well as I do that one of Robert’s thugs will pick up the mantle.”
Isidore closed his eyes and fell back in his seat. “That may be, but it’s not your responsibility to—”
I cut in. “If not me then who? It wouldn’t just be the weres I could help. It’s obvious the system is flawed, and I would be in a position to help correct such things.”
Andrew’s gaze hit the floor. “I wish I’d had such noble aspirations when I became governor…” His voice trailed off. “I have to ask again…are you sure?”
Without hesitation, I nodded. “I am.”
Andrew walked over and put a hand on my shoulder. “If that’s your wish, I can do little but accept.”
Isidore grunted. “Jesus, you’re really going to let him do this.”
Andrew sighed. “It would be irresponsible of me not to. Besides, think about the alternatives.”
Isidore frowned. “That’s a low blow.”
Andrew rubbed his temple. “But an effective one. Besides, there’s a chance he may not pass.”
Isidore huffed. “We both know that’s unlikely.”
His body tensed. “True.” He glanced down at me. “Give me a minute, and we’ll get started.”
He padded off down the hall and disappeared into his office.
Isidore ran a hand over his face. “I’m not sure you should do this.”
“Why not?”
Andrew reappeared before Isidore could answer. As he approached, he fiddled with a black velvet bag. “Please hold out your hand.”
Without a thought, I extended my right hand. “This is it? No ceremony, no badge?”
His smile was gone, and his face strained. “The ceremony will have to wait till everyone’s here next week, but I do have a badge, of sorts.” Andrew nodded at Isidore. “You’ll be my witness.”
Isidore grumbled, “Do I have a choice?”
Andrew shook his head. “Not really.”
Isidore rolled his eyes. “Get on with it then.”
Andrew pulled the string on the bag. A single silver denarius, with a wreath and crossed swords on one side and matching laurel leaves cradling the word Pax on the other, fell into my palm.
Seconds later, my body tingled as the coin spoke to the darkness in my soul, causing my head to swim as my pulse pounded out a strange rhythm. Each beat of my heart pushed an unnatural cold throughout my body. The veins on my arms surfaced, and brilliant blue flames erupted through the skin as they made
their way down to my hands.
There they turned into an inferno that melted the soft metal. I groaned in agony as the molten silver vanished beneath my flesh. Panting, I wrapped my ruined left hand around my right. The flames died, leaving an armored onyx gauntlet running from my elbow to the tips of my fingers.
As the denarius fully woke from its long slumber, it took stock of my being, and rejoiced. The tension inside it eased, its consciousness expanding alongside my own. It was comfortable for the first time since it had arrived in this world. In that moment, we found ourselves whole.
When I moved my gloved hand, an eastern dragon made entirely of blue flames burst through my palm. It sat atop my hand for a moment, its gaze locked on mine, then let out a roar that shook the house. It unfurled its wings and took flight, circling my outstretched arm until it was level with my shoulder. There it coiled and breathed fire as it dove into my deltoid and burrowed into the muscle. The impact was enough to knock me out of my chair and onto the floor.
Wincing, I went through a checklist to ensure that everything still worked…and it did. The only permanent damage appeared to be to my dwindling wardrobe as yet another shirt was ruined.
Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it ended. The denarius needed time to acclimate to its new host—me—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else wrong with it. For now, though, there were more immediate things to tend to. Such as my arms… But I’d no sooner given it a thought when the flames on my left died and the flesh on my right returned to its natural state.
What was left behind, however, was intriguing. On the back of my right hand were the crossed swords I’d seen on the coin, and on the flip side, the laurel leaves with the word Pax. It was hard to tell if it was a brand or an engraving, but whatever it was, I was marked for life.
Andrew’s face was full of concern as he rushed over to help me to my feet. “Are you all right?”
I held out both hands. “It appears fate’s seen fit to give me a matching set.”
Isidore set my chair upright and gestured for me to sit. “I’d like to point out that you didn’t answer the question.”
Shrugging, I said, “More or less… What’s the big deal? Haven’t you two seen this before?”
Andrew shook his head as he eyed my right shoulder. “I’ve attended a few ceremonies in my life and nothing like this has ever occurred.” He gestured at my arm. “Could you lift your sleeve?”
I pushed it up, and there, emblazoned on my shoulder, was the ancient Roman standard, Aquila, grasping crossed lightning bolts. Both men crowded around me to get a better view.
Andrew turned to Isidore. “Ever seen anything like it?”
Isidore blinked for several seconds. “Never.”
I tried my hardest to keep the duh out of my voice, but failed. “It’s an eagle.”
Andrew looked at me as if I’d uttered the dumbest words in the world. “I can see that.” He shook his head and fell back into his seat with a thud. “I’ve just never seen it appear on a vigil. Or anyone else, for that matter.”
Isidore’s eyes fixed on the ancient symbol. “Neither have I.” Raising his gaze to mine, he said, “It would appear you are an extraordinarily unique man.”
The little dragon shared its knowledge with me. Anyone could carry a badge, but only the vigil urbani could wear the mark. Looking over at my shoulder, it saw the Aquila through my eyes and squirmed in delight. I unrolled the sleeve and pulled the ruined cloth over it as best I could.
My mind expanded, and I felt the others who’d carried the coin before me, their knowledge just out of reach until the connections strengthened. Other minds popped into view for less than a second before fading into the background, to be sorted and filed later by my companion. A new consciousness rocked me back in my chair as it took hold and released me nearly instantly. It was pleased, and then it was gone.
Shaking free of the sensation, I shrugged sheepishly. “Sorry about the coin.” Curious, I asked, “Did you know it would vanish?”
Andrew nodded. “Not in that way, but yes, I knew it would disappear.”
“I thought so.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
Suddenly uncomfortable, I shifted in my seat. “The denarius… I really need to find him a name.”
It whispered in my mind. “My name is Kur.”
Andrew furrowed his forehead and turned to Isidore. “Could it be happening already?”
Isidore shrugged. “After what I’ve seen today, I honestly haven’t got a clue.”
It took a second for Kur to explain that the connection between the host and its coin can take years to fully develop. But for me, this would take a week or two at most.
I chuckled. “Cheer up, guys, the bond between me and the denarius will ease my learning curve.”
It didn’t seem appropriate to share his name with the others.
Isidore grinned, snapped to attention, and slammed his fist against his chest in a salute. “All hail the vigil.”
Andrew stood and repeated the gesture. “All hail Caesar!”
Isidore laughed. “Ms. Dodd and the triumvirate are going to be pissed.”
Andrew snickered. “Let them.”
I held up my hand to halt the conversation. “You two need to sit back and relax. Consider that my first order as vigil.”
The three of us sat there for several hours, talking about the rules and regulations for the Archive, both locally and globally. I was beginning to see why Isidore had tried to talk me out of it…but it was a little late now.
Chapter 14
Around two, Isidore mentioned that he needed to pick up a few things from home, and I was quick to ask if he could drop me off at Touro so I could check on Heather. I’d meant to stop by yesterday, but with the trip across the lake and all the reading, I’d lost track of time.
Andrew made several lame excuses for me to stay in. While his concern was touching, I really needed to speak with Heather. Andrew wasn’t thrilled when I waved and trailed Isidore out the door. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
Andrew followed us down the stairs, doing his best to talk me out of leaving.
On the other side of the gate, I turned to face him. “I promise to be careful. But please remember that, as the new vigil, my first responsibility is to save your life, and by extension, my own.”
Reluctantly, he agreed. Pausing, he said, “Do us both a favor and try not to get into it with Robert on your first day.”
“I’m not making any promises, but I won’t go out of my way to irritate him.”
It was a bright, humid afternoon, and the black pavement radiated heat like giant hotplates. We pulled up outside the hospital, and I thanked Isidore for the ride as I hopped out. I passed through the sliding glass doors and wound through the lobby until I found the information desk.
The elderly lady behind the counter was probably in her late 60s or early 70s, with white hair, thick glasses, and hands that shook. Her voice quavered as she spoke on the phone, and I waited until she hung up. The woman appeared tired but feigned cheerfulness when her bloodshot gaze fell on me. She flashed me a mechanical smile as she ran her arthritic fingers across the keyboard. “How may I help you?”
“I’m looking for Heather Broussard. Could you tell me what room she’s in?”
The insincere smile flashed again then she slowly typed Heather’s name. Her expression faltered before turning into a frown, and she looked back at me suspiciously. “She’s in a private room with strict instructions not to be disturbed.” She saw the look on my face and held up a finger. “In simple English, I can’t tell you where she is.”
That was odd, but then again, her father was the head of a department and her mother the head of another, so it wasn’t too far out of the question. Fortunately, I was able to catch the room number before she cleared the screen. “That’s all right, ma’am. Thank you for your time.” I turned to leave then stopped. “Where’s the ca
feteria?”
She instantly relaxed, thankful I wasn’t going to press her further. Her nose scrunched up as she pulled a face. Leaning forward, she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear, “You don’t want to eat there. The food is terrible.” Leaning back in her seat, she raised her voice and pointed down the hall. “Just follow the hallway till the end and make a right. You can’t miss it.”
I winked at her. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
When I turned to leave, she gave me a sly grin and raised a shaky hand to wave. “Have a wonderful day.”
I took the hall she’d pointed out, but instead of making the right, I turned left and hit the nearest set of stairs. Four flights later, I stepped out onto an old fashioned, tired-looking fourth floor landing. The carpets were threadbare, and the place smelled like an old folks’ home. Placards on the wall displayed the room numbers, and I followed them to room 404, second to last on the right. When I put my hand on the door, there were raised voices on the other side. It was clear from Heather’s tone that she wasn’t pleased with her guest, and seeing as I was the new vigil in town, it was my job to ensure she got her rest.
The door stuck a little when I pushed it open. As the gap widened, I caught sight of Heather sitting up in bed, red-faced as she wagged a finger at the man standing over her. Her friend looked to be in his mid-40s, with long black hair pulled into a ponytail in a vain attempt to be hip. But in the end, all it did was age him, and add to his already frail appearance.
He pointed a long, bony finger at Heather. “You should consider yourself lucky I’m even willing to take you back after you embarrassed me by taking a mutt to the wedding.”
Ah, so this was Brad.
Heather’s eyes bulged as she growled at the little man, making him wince. “We were never dating, you dolt.” She waved her hands in exasperation. “We went out a couple of times because Dad forced me to.” And then she finally processed the rest of the sentence and looked at him blankly. “What are you talking about? What mutt?”
