by HDA Roberts
That last word said with a certain lustful dread that caught my attention.
"Gardenia?" I asked, "Never heard of it, should I have?"
"You're kidding," she said, "How have you not heard of Gardenia?"
"I don't know everything Tethys."
She sighed, "We really need to go through your knowledge and make sure that there aren't any more holes this big. Gardenia is to Las Vegas as Las Vegas is to Vatican City."
"What? It's the Isle of Wight, how can there be another Las Vegas on the Isle of Wight and I don't know about it?"
She sighed again, as if her very breath was calling me ignorant.
"When your people first came out to the world, there was a group of Magicians who didn't like it very much. They were certain that the government was going to descend on them with pitchforks and torches, so they bought up a whole bunch of land on the Isle of Wight and they fortified it against all comers."
"Survivalist Magicians... well, it takes all sorts, I guess," I replied.
"It didn't end there, though. There were a whole bunch of creatures and people thinking much the same way, and so they figured Gardenia was the best place to be; safety in numbers and all that. So one community became two then four then ten. They started building, bribing anyone they needed to keep themselves anonymous and threatening the rest. The dozen or so small villages became a town, and over the last fifteen years, it's become a city, right in the middle of the island."
I nodded along, this was certainly news to me. When I thought of the Isle of Wight at all (and that wasn't very often), I thought of farms, coasts and holiday resorts, not... this!
"It's... not a good place, Mathew. It's where you go when you want excess. Every sort of vice is available there. The police is in the Council's pocket, and not all of their officers are human. It's always dark there, there's an enchantment that draws in thick cloud that leaves it in perpetual night. It's got the largest population of Vampires and Ghouls anywhere; there are Shadowborn around every corner, Ogres under the bridges. And that's just the least dangerous threats.
"And I don't have anyone there, not really. I have a guy who owes me a favour or two, and of course Karina lives there, but I don't have any real resources. We're blind."
"We won't ask Karina, that's a terrible idea and I won't have your family put in danger. Who's your guy?" I asked.
"A Detective Inspector. He moonlights as an enforcer. Again, not a great guy, nobody there is."
"Can you arrange a meeting?" I asked.
"Absolutely not! You will not go to Gardenia, Mathew, understand me? They don't call it Gomorrah for nothing!"
"I'll be fine," I said breezily.
"No, I won't have it," she said, "It's simply not happening."
"Tethys, you know I can take care of myself, I'll be fine, and this needs sorting a.s.a.p.. We're looking at some pretty bad consequences if we don't, remember?"
"Matty, people die in Gomorrah, a lot of people. Even Magicians," she said, gripping my arm.
I squeezed her hand, "From the way our friends were talking, not dealing with this would be far worse for me than a little trip to a bad neighbourhood. Their sort don't draw attention to little problems, Tethys."
She grunted unhappily.
"Besides, I'm far from defenceless," I said, "and I can blend in."
"God, Matty, I don't like this!"
"Don't like what?" Cassandra asked, coming into the room at just the wrong moment. I swear that woman had something in her head that let her know when I was about to do stupid things.
"I need to take a trip," I said as casually as possible, "Gardenia."
Cassandra blinked.
"Out of the question," she said very finally.
"And I have to go alone," I added.
"Already said it's out of the question," Cassandra said, "I'm not changing my mind because you said something even more stupid."
"Cassie-" I began.
"Don't 'Cassie' me, Graves!" she said, stomping over to glare in my face, "I wouldn't let you into Gardenia with all the other Archons and half the S.C.A. standing next to you! You sure as hell aren't going alone!"
"Pineapple," I said.
"No, Mathew. You don't get to pull that crap on me. Not over this!"
I should explain that. I'd sat her down shortly after she became my Warden. I'd told her that there were certain things that I would have to do that she wouldn't normally let me do. I'd explained in as vague a way as I could that implied Rose and Gabrielle without confirming them (because certain knowledge of the afterlife is a no-no, apparently). We established that if a situation like that came up, I would simply say 'Pineapple' and she'd leave it alone.
"My plan is to go in during the day. From what Tethys tells me, they don't really have full daylight, but you can't really dampen non-human nature. They'll be less active during the day, when it will certainly be a bit brighter. I'll talk to Tethys' contact and follow up as quickly as possible. I'll be indoors at sunset, and that's where I'll stay until sunrise the next morning. The risk will be minimal. Once we have more information, we can take it from there. But I will take exactly no risks whatsoever, I promise."
"And I can't come because?" she asked.
"Because if I need to run, I'll be Shadow-Walking. Are you willing to do that?"
She shuddered, "For you, of course," she said, but her voice was shaky.
"My preferred Magic is Illusions and Shadows," I continued, "If I go alone, it's easier to do what I need to do. Nobody is going to notice another kid in a hoodie in a dodgy town. They will notice you."
"She could go to the hotel with you, that shouldn't be a problem. So she'd be close by if you needed her," Tethys said, tapping her bottom lip.
"Hotel?" I asked.
"Where else would you hole up during the night?" she said, "I'll book you adjoining suites under an assumed name, nobody will be any the wiser!"
"I might be willing to tolerate that," Cassandra said, daring me to argue.
Truth be told, I was relieved. I'd gotten used to having Cassandra close by. She kept me safe.
"If you're alright with me going out on my own, then that's fine with me," I said, letting out some of the tension I'd been holding in.
"Do I detect a little relief in your aura, Graves?" Cassandra asked, smirking at me, "Didn't want to go on your own, did you?"
"Shut up," I said, looking away, my cheeks colouring.
"You big girl," Cassandra said, patting my shoulder affectionately.
"I don't travel well, is all," I complained.
She smirked. Cassandra was a Life Mage. She could sense emotions; she knew exactly how I felt, and so she knew I was scared. But then I usually was.
My friends laughed at my discomfort. I wondered how many other Archons get laughed at that much...
Tethys made a few calls and arranged for her friend (whose name was Harrich) to meet us the following day. She laid on a car and driver for us, and we drove down to Gosport, which took about an hour and a half. Cassandra was dressed casually, in a suit and blouse, with sensible shoes. I knew she was loaded down with her usual weapons, but I couldn't see a sign of them.
I wore a blazer, shirt, jumper and black shoes. There was an Illusion covering my scars and eyes, tiny things, really, but they'd keep me anonymous. Tethys was wearing my Signet, so that if anyone asked, she was acting in my name while I was away. I had to put it on her myself and she giggled all the while, blushing hard (the Signet belonged to the First Shadow, and only the First Shadow could put it on a different person's finger).
We'd packed light, a flight bag each. Cassandra suggested taking a helicopter, but that would hardly fit a low profile, so we'd be taking a hovercraft from Gosport to Newport. I wasn't looking forward to that. You see, I wasn't lying before, I really didn't travel well...
And yep, the hovercraft was a nightmare.
I spent the forty minute ride throwing up over the side with my Warden simultaneously rubbing my back and laugh
ing her arse off.
Finally, I stumbled off that infernal machine and onto a pier in Newport, which didn't look like a happy place. It was only about three in the afternoon, but it was already dark. I could taste the spell far up in the air, drawing clouds to it, blanketing the whole island in a sort of gloomy twilight.
The few people we saw outside of the private terminal looked edgy, like they were expecting something to leap out at them. The terminal itself was clean and well maintained, with people falling over themselves to help us with our bags.
There was another car waiting for us, as promised, and we drove off through the decaying town and into the countryside.
"The human population of the island drops every year," Cassandra said, "the only ones not fair game to the predators are the ones working for someone in the city."
"Why hasn't anyone done something?" I asked, disgusted.
"Like who?" she replied, "It's a city full of monsters, you'd need an army."
"Or an Archon," I muttered.
She pulled my head around by the chin so she could look in my eyes.
"Not your fight," she said deliberately, "I mean it Mathew. You may be the First Shadow, but you're still so young. You're not ready."
"And how many people die while I wait until I am?"
She smiled at me, a little sadly, "Figures, I'd get the only Shadowborn with a conscience. No crusades, I will sit on you if I have to, and no you shouldn't use that as an opening for a crude joke."
Damn, she knew me too well...
I squeezed her spare hand. I didn't think that I could promise her I'd keep my nose out of that place's business, so I just kept quiet.
"Just remember, Matty, if something happens to you, it means that I died trying to stop it and failed. You understand that, right? Any risk you take risks me, and I'm not an Archon."
"That's just mean, you know I can't take a guilt trip."
"That's part of my point. This is not a city that treats that kind of decency well. The people here come at you sideways, and it's always ugly, Matty. You are alive as long as you are worth something to someone. The richer you are, the longer you last."
"I want to go home," I said, only half-joking.
"Then let's go," she said softly.
"What am I worth if I do that?" I asked, "If the idea of a place can drive me off? What sort of a man am I?"
"Not everyone is cut out for this life, Matty. You are a truly good person. I don't want this place getting its hooks into you."
"It'll be alright," I said, taking a breath as we drove into Gardenia proper.
The city limits were marked by an artificial river over which there were wide bridges. The one we drove over was higher than the others and offered a commanding view. Tall buildings, dozens of stories high, dominated the centre of the city, a dozen miles away, with incrementally smaller ones, getting less shiny and attractive as you approached the limits. There were some smaller plots with larger houses on them, all were walled and looked almost like strongholds.
The darkening spell was thickening as we approached the centre of the urban area; the sun was already barely visible. Horribly enough, that made the place more comfortable to something like me.
We soon dipped back into street level and the driver sped up a little. The roads were lined with shops offering a wide variety of rather extreme services. I won't repeat them, I wasn't happy knowing that such places existed. Suffice to say, any perversion or abomination you could imagine was available openly, or some close approximation of it.
I could see normal shops and restaurants, but not one major brand. That spoke volumes and worried me even further. Men and women wandered the streets, many scantily clad, many looking shifty. They seemed to be mostly normal people, just going about their business. But they all moved quickly, always looking around, like prey animals who knew that predators were nearby.
As we got closer to the centre, it became cleaner; more vibrant, less seedy. Euphemisms and ambiguity covered exactly the same services offered closer to the outside. The places looked more classy, the decor was more elegant; the men and women walking the streets became more attractive. The atmosphere was more relaxed and it didn't smell so much of desperation; the people seemed less afraid.
There was more Magic too, meaning that there had to be a sizable number of Magicians around, which rather infuriated me. I kept my power to myself, pulling my energy in close; no need to attract attention. I saw policemen in black uniforms, red bands around their arms, all carrying firearms, which was a shock.
Tethys had booked us rooms at the Hemmingway Hotel. It was one of the taller buildings, wide and silver, faintly glimmering in the half-light. There was a set of wide marble steps at the front and the car pulled up to them. The driver came around and opened the door. I stepped out and offered my hand to Cassandra. She took it, gripping hard enough to make me wince and provide a reminder of who wears the pants in my house. It reassured me, though, which was the idea.
I gave the driver a tip and he nodded his thanks before he drove away (at speed). I led us in and up to the reception desk, where there was an overly cheerful young man waiting for us.
"Hello!" he said, smiling wide enough to show all his teeth, "Welcome to the Hemmingway, how may I help you?"
"Reservations for Stone?" I said.
Grave-Stone, Tethys' little joke. I even had a slush fund in that name, with working cards and ID and everything.
"Lord and Lady Stone," he said, "Welcome. Your suites are ready, here are your keys."
"Two copies for the Red Suite," Cassandra said.
That was my room.
"You're already planning to steal my dinner, aren't you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
She blushed.
"No," she said, "It's for your own safety!"
"My breakfast, too, huh?" I said with a raised eyebrow.
She smacked my arm as the man got the extra key for her and we headed up.
Cassandra's suite was next door to mine, the Gold Suite, the bigger one, she informed me. The Red Suite was rather more opulent than was my normal taste. There was a big sitting room with a small dining table, sofa, recliners and tasteful art on the wall. At either end were two connected bedrooms, a huge bathroom and a balcony that commanded an amazing view of the city. I unpacked the few things I'd brought and sat on the sofa, looking through various brochures for local businesses.
There were casinos, gentlemen's clubs, companion bars (brothels, Tethys told me, wish she hadn't), Houses of the Senses (Sin-central, indulge all seven of the big ones and come out not quite the same as you went in; again, Tethys) and a whole bunch of other things from the relatively innocent to the downright disturbing.
Cassandra came right in and flopped down next to me.
"I have to admit, this isn't such a bad way to spend a few days," she said.
"Right? Seen these yet?"
She looked through the brochures, "You perv!" she said with a grin.
"I was thinking casino, what were you looking at?"
"Nothing," she said with a grin, "Casino, eh? You any good?"
"If I can use Magic? Unbeatable. On my own? I can play Blackjack pretty well."
I counted cards. It wasn't even hard, Cathy taught me.
"They may not like cheats in this town," she warned.
"It's not cheating, it's remembering."
She rolled her eyes.
In the end, she talked me into taking in a show instead. There were a couple of theatres close by, and the one we went to was actually quite good. We ate dinner companionably in the hotel's quite impressive restaurant before we left and ordered breakfast for the following morning. It really wasn't so bad.
It started out so well...
The next day dawned (well, dawn may be a stretch. It got slightly less dark), and Cassandra fussed over me before I left, reminding me over and over to keep in touch and not to talk to strangers. I promised I'd be careful before dressing casually in dark trousers, hoodie, sun
glasses and heavy walking shoes.
I stepped out of the hotel and into the gloom, hailing a taxi which I directed to somewhere called Hellion Plaza.
Tethys had told me I'd need money, so I had quite a bit of the stuff in my satchel, which made me even more paranoid about just wandering the streets. I thought I was carrying too much; I'd never seen that much money in one place before. But Tethys said that bribes in Gardenia were pricy, and that was that. Wonderfully enough, it didn't even put a tiny dent in the vast pile of cash Tethys was playing with.
Hellion Plaza was a wide open space in the middle of one of the more upscale districts, home to a moderately sized police station and some small businesses. The office building next to the station was where I'd be meeting Harrich.
I paid the cabbie and went up to the door, which was made of thick glass. I pressed the button for office four and waited.
"Who is it?" a gruff voice said.
"Mathew Stone," I replied, "Tethys sent me."
A grunt, then a buzz. I pushed the door open and followed the sign for the first floor. The place was clean and well maintained and it smelled like it was cared for. I found the office door, which was made of wood and looked a little worn. There was a plaque that said 'J.S.N Harrich, Private Security' in black on gold.
I knocked and was told to enter.
It didn't smell quite so fragrant in there...
It reeked of stale booze and cigarette smoke. There was a wide desk next to the window, covered in papers, a laptop, a clutter of stationary and what looked like a sawn-off shotgun within reach of Harrich's meaty right hand.
The man himself was standing next to his desk; he was tall, going slightly to fat, but with broad, strong shoulders. He wore a white shirt, stained with sweat, a dark tie at half-mast and dirty grey trousers. His eyes were unremarkable, brown and watery, his features might have been handsome, but there was too much stress in his features and posture. He looked weighed down by something, not that one could blame him for that, living in Gardenia.
"Detective Inspector Harrich?" I asked politely.
"Do I look like a copper to you, Kid?" he asked, his voice deep and gravelly.
