The Four Horsemen_Guardians

by LJ Swallow

  "Again, not news to us," replies Ewan. "We spend our lives dealing with chaos."

  "More than ever recently." Xander glances at me and away again. Since I arrived.

  Seth chews a finger, and I catch a hint of something I don't understand crossing his mind. The anxiety is the prevalent emotion, but there's a glimpse of relief.

  "Now we're together we can look at Seth's info." I gesture at the files. "We can compare what we know and discover who or what's behind the attacks. Can't we, Seth?"

  "Uh. I'm still trying to get my head around Joss reading poetry."

  Ewan breaks into a laugh. "Oh man, if you think that's the strangest thing we could tell you, you're in for a bloody big shock."

  "I suspect so."

  "And are you prepared to tell us what you know?" asks Xander. "In return for our protection against whoever wants to kill you."

  Seth pulls off his glasses and rubs them on his shirt. He can't deny he's on somebody's hit list. "Yes."

  Heath flicks through a singed manila folder. "Unfortunately half your information we salvaged is burnt, or missing."

  "Yeah, I need to get hold of a computer hard drive." He places his glasses back on. "The files in the hall were print outs with decoy information. We hoped to fool people that we didn't know as much as we did, or that we were following the wrong leads. The real info is on the drive."

  Xander looks down at his evidence. "So this is all bullshit? I almost burned my fingers trying to save this!"

  "Most of it." Seth's voice remains monotone and cautious. Each time Xander's tone becomes hostile the guy's anxiety spikes. "There's some information encrypted amongst there, in case something happened to us and another cell managed to retrieve the files. If I'd disappeared, and Vee looked through, she'd find something I'm sure." Seth looks to me again.

  "Where's this hard drive?" asks Ewan.

  "Somewhere secure. I hid a key card to a storage facility in my locker at work. If anybody steals the card, there's no indication which storage unit they'd need to look in. And if they locate the right premises, they'll have over a thousand units to go through and with no idea know what they're actually looking for. If we can get hold of the hard drive, that will help."

  "What's on there?" I ask.

  "Research. Downloaded files from Nova. Background on people." He glances at Xander. "On you all."

  Heath narrows his eyes. "What kind of information?"

  "Vee knows."

  "Information about you all killing," I say.

  "Did you tell him what we killed?" asks Joss.

  "No. How was I supposed to tell him and sound sane?"

  "We didn't kill your friends," says Joss. "Believe us. We're also trying to find the people who did."

  "I don't have much choice but to believe you."

  "Yeah, especially if you're asking for our help. You're not safe, Seth."

  "I'm aware of that." He lifts his arm and cringes. "And I'll help you in return but I don't want to stay around once I've shared the information I have. I'll go overseas and join another cell. I'm not safe in this country."

  "You won't be any safer over there," says Ewan. "I promise you that."

  He straightens his glasses. "Maybe."

  "What exactly do you research at Nova Pharm?" asks Joss. "What's so important there?"

  He shifts in his seat to face me. "Vee, you know from dealing with us online which organisations are highest on our radar right now. Pharmaceutical companies are growing in control, and there's money being siphoned from them. John infiltrated Nova Pharmaceuticals. Once he suspected something was happening, I took a job there as a cleaner too and started to hack into the systems at night. I've information we haven't shared online, especially since your Horsemen friend seems skilled at hacking into places he shouldn't." Seth flicks a look to Ewan. "Sorry."

  "Go on,” says Ewan, voice hard.

  "We're not sure where this is going but we've hacked into accounts of people whose names we don't recognise as connected to the company. We were on the verge of joining some dots when the disappearances began. I don’t think it’s coincidence John disappeared shortly after he handed me the information. There are layers and layers of names and organisations. Once I have that hard drive, we can go through what I know. Do you have any names or suspicions?"

  Good question. The Horsemen have been walking in circles since the deaths began, with two possible suspects. One was Seth, the other a powerful demon. I've spoken to Ewan about how carefully the demon hides himself, and where they think the guy is linked, but they thought the guy was out of the picture. If one of his many pseudonyms is amongst Seth's records, this could be a solid lead.

  "We need to get hold of that hard drive, stat," says Ewan. "Did John have anything at work we might need to find too? Notes?"

  Seth nods. "He has a duplicate key card to the same storage unit, but I'm unsure what else might be left at his work. I never went to collect his belongings. Casey was going to, but..." He trails off. "Yeah."

  "Cool. We can do that too when we visit Nova Pharm today," replies Xander. "Today. Seth, I want you with us."

  "What? Why?"

  "Because I think it's a good idea for whoever is watching you to see that you're with us now."

  I watch for Seth's protest, but he sinks back in his seat, defeated. I have some idea of the trauma he's going through, but his life holds worse fears than mine. I'm relieved he's decided to stay because, if he left, he'd have Xander pursuing him as hard as those wanting Seth dead.

  "And the other issue?" asks Heath. "Taron? We need to get to the bottom of that too."

  Ewan taps the table. "Yeah, I'm gonna get into that today. I'll have a dig around while you guys follow up Seth's leads. We know who he works with. We don't have a lot of contact with them. No fixed address, but don't worry, I'll find them."

  "Do you think these others are connected with the attempt to kill Seth?" I ask.

  A small sound escapes Seth's mouth, and I fold a hand over his, and squeeze.

  Ewan snorts. "I doubt it. You said he was paid a shit load for this? Like he'd share that job."

  "I bet they watch each other's backs. You're right. We need to track the pair down and talk to them."

  Xander touches his shoulder. "And the rune. Joss, can you look for that in your books?"

  Joss salutes him. "Yes, sir."

  "Give me the afternoon, and I bet you I find where Taron's associates are. You go with DoomMan and find his hard drive." He fixes his eyes on Seth, extends his arms, and cracks his knuckles. "I can't wait to see what he has for us."

  I hold the same reservations about Seth as they do, but they have to understand what he's been through. Do they think he beat himself up? Paid someone to attack him? The Horsemen don't understand humans as well as I do, but treating him like this isn't nice or helpful. If he brings them information that helps, life should get easier for all of us.

  10

  VEE

  Seth is reluctant to go with the guys unless I join them, which I understand and am happy with. I want to be involved. I'll be more help here than with Joss and Ewan. He’s wearing spare clothes Joss lent him: jeans and a plain grey shirt to cover his injured arm. Arriving at his workplace dressed in torn, bloody clothes wouldn’t be a good look. I sensed relief from Seth that he could change, after spending a long time in the shower.

  Nova Pharmaceutical’s huge complex isn't visible from the main road and is located close to a small town on the outskirts of London's main metropolitan area. Cheaper real estate and a ready workforce. Xander insists on driving, and when Seth enthuses about his Aston, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen Xander smile at him. I asked why we chose the most conspicuous car. Xander’s answer: he wants those who know the Horsemen to be aware they’re onto them.

  We approach along the tree-lined road and use Seth's card to enter the gates into the car park. At least a hundred cars surround us—possibly more—under the watchful eye of security cameras. We park close t
o the exit, but there's no point hiding Seth's arrival as it’ll be registered on the system now.

  The concrete and glass building has a 1970s look; a box like shape connected by windowed walkways. As the UK headquarters, the place takes up as much room as a whole street and it’s bordered by a high fence securing it from the fields between the compound and the road.

  Heath sits in the passenger seat running through notes Ewan dug up for us, while Seth sits in the back, slumped out of view and fidgeting.

  "And you're walking in and pretending to be detectives again?" I ask, eyeing up Xander's T-shirt and jeans.

  "No. No point. Someone will know who we are. Fae or demons will watch us sniff around and then probably send somebody to watch what we're doing after we leave. That's the usual process; it's almost predictable."

  "Yep. Then we often kill the demon spy and things quiet again," says Heath in a matter of fact voice. "A show of strength by us, and everything calms down."

  I pull at the seatbelt rubbing into my shoulder and stare into the dreary day. This isn't the usual state of affairs because they've no idea who they're looking for this time. And Heath knows it.

  The four of us head into the glass lobby, where the bright lights contrast the darkening afternoon and shine across the gleaming marble floors. A woman sits at a small reception desk to our left, beneath the metal company logo stretching halfway across the wall above her. Elevators face us, and stairs sweep up and around to the left.

  The atrium’s glass ceiling is high, and our footsteps echo as we head to the reception desk to engage her in conversation while Xander walks by with Seth. They again use Seth's ID card to access the lift.

  The girl behind the desk ignores me as she speaks to someone on the phone, and her pink nails tap on a keyboard in front of her. She reminds me of the Clone Club, all perfect hair and make-up. The call ends and she looks up, quickly assessing my outfit and pigeon holing me exactly the same way the Clone Club do.

  "Yes?" she asks.

  "I'm here to collect John Murphy's belongings."

  She eyes me doubtfully. "Have you made an appointment?"

  "I didn't realise I needed one." I swallow as if fighting back tears. "It was spur of the moment, I guess. Is that okay?"

  "Do you know him?" she asks.

  Heath approaches and rests an arm on the reception desk, switching on the smouldering look he saves for occasions he needs to charm girls. One he used on me early on in our relationship.

  "Hey," he says, mouth tipping at one corner into a seductive smile.

  The girl's disdainful attitude switches into interest and the smile transforms her face, as if Heath's the highlight of her day.

  He probably is.

  "I'm a friend of John's," he says in a low voice. "And this is his housemate, Casey. I’d be really grateful if you could help us."

  She rubs her lips together, unable to tear her gaze away. Heath's turning on his charm to achieve what he needs, but his flirting niggles. I shuffle closer so there's no doubt I'm with Heath.

  She rubs her reddening cheek. "I'll call his supervisor and see if he has time to accompany you."

  "That's very kind of you uh...?" He gestures at her with his long fingers.

  She pushes her chest out to give Heath a clearer view, and not just of her name badge. "Suzy."

  I cringe at the sultry voice. Good grief.

  "Thank you, Suzy. We'll wait over there." He gestures at a crescent shaped, leather bench seat beside a glass table, opposite. With one last smile to cement the deal, Heath places a hand on my elbow to guide me away.

  We sit on the bench, below a framed poster of a past advertising campaign for a heart disease wonder drug.

  "She didn't even offer her condolences," I whisper.

  "She probably doesn't know who he is. Maybe thinks he's someone who was fired. Big company."

  "You're very good at teasing the truth from girls."

  Heath shakes his head. "That's the only reason I'd ever flirt with someone, Vee."

  I attempt nonchalance even though jealousy clutches my chest. "It's fine."

  "I wish you hadn’t told her I was Casey. What if somebody asks me a question about her?”

  "Didn’t think about that. I just thought it might help.”

  Heath stares at his shoes as we sit in silence for a minute.

  "Vee. Joss spoke to me earlier."

  "Oh?" I ask in a light voice.

  "He told me what you asked him to do and blamed me." He frowns. "I didn't mean for you to interpret my words that way."

  "But it's true, isn't it? I need to become Truth."

  Heath places a hand on my leg. "I love you how you are, Vee."

  Even without my ability, I’d know he was speaking the truth.

  Love.

  He's never used that word before. I've seen my heart and soul in his eyes when we've been in bed, communicating in the moment that the connection between us is more than physical, but his words terrify me. Heath feels for me as Vee. Is Joss right? If I lose my human emotions, will I lose the ability to love them?

  I’m choked by the realisation what I asked of Joss. Am I impatient? Should I just wait to become like them?

  But I'm not like them.

  "Heath..." I squeeze his hand.

  Footsteps tap across the floor and a young guy approaches. He winds a lanyard around his fingers as he looks down at us, piercing blue eyes beneath slicked black hair. He's tall, wiry-framed and something about him screams one word: fae.

  "Are you John's friends?" he asks in a smooth voice.

  Perspiration breaks out on my back as the word no almost appears.

  Heath replies as I struggle not to speak. "Yes."

  The guy continues to twist the lanyard and doesn't offer a professional handshake.

  I hastily stand. "Hello."

  "I'm Kai, John's supervisor." A muscle in his cheek twitches as he glances between us. "And you are?"

  "Heath." He keeps his voice low, eyes fixed on the fae's. I watch for a reaction. None.

  "I've been waiting for you to visit." He flicks a gaze to me. "Casey."

  I smile. Why did the guys ask me to do this? I can't lie here, so no response is better than well, ‘no’.

  "Terrible circumstances." He inclines his head towards the lift.

  Heath stands too, and his look confirms it: obviously fae. We can't speak about this, as he's close while we walk.

  The elevator doors swoosh closed behind us, and Kai uses his staff card to operate the before pushing buttons with pale slender fingers. "John sometimes talked about you, Casey."

  Oh crap. "Really?"

  "But as a friend. He never had any photos of you on his desk."

  "Oh. They weren't close," puts in Heath. "Just friends."

  "Didn't he live with you, Casey?"

  I glance upwards and point at the numbers flicking up on the elevator screen. "This place is very big. A lot of floors."

  "Mmm-hmm." Kai flicks the card across his hand, the rhythmic tap matching the numbers counting up. Heath answering all my questions arouses more suspicion than I'd like.

  We step out into a grey-carpeted corridor and past an open plan area where desks are arranged in squares. Another uncomfortable reminder of my human past stabs. The room is smaller, but the drone-like workers stuck in their cubicles, surrounded by holiday pictures and photographs of loved ones, is an uncomfortable reminder of my old job and life.

  "My office." Kai gestures towards a closed grey door with his name on a silver plaque to the left. His role: Executive Sales Manager.

  He opens the door to a bright and airy room where a desk containing a laptop takes up most of the space with a large leather chair in front. A wide window covered with silver metal blinds faces out to the car park. The moment we're all in the room, Kai closes the door and rests against it.

  His demeanour switches.

  "What the fuck are you doing here?" he snaps at Heath.

  "You know why we're here.
" Heath pulls out a chair and sits. "And I can tell you're fae. Who are you?"

  He waves the lanyard at him. "Kai Fielding. I'm trying to keep on the lowdown. Departmental visits by the Horsemen don't look good!"

  "Who do you work for?" asks Heath.

  "Nova Pharmaceuticals," he retorts.

  "Who else?"

  "Nobody."

  "So why on the lowdown?"

  Kai scowls. "I can't talk to you."

  "Why?"

  Heath and Kai stand off, and I remain by the door.

  "Do you know someone called Seth?" asks Heath. "He also works here."

  "Seth Marks? Yeah, I've seen him and John together."

  "Really? Are you watching them?"

  "I wasn't watching him. I just had my suspicions something was off about John's death, so I've kept an eye on Seth. This is my normal job. I'm not investigating anyone!"

  "Nobody asked you about either of them? Any fae?" asks Heath.

  Kai pulls a square cardboard box from the corner of the room. "Do you want his stuff or not? There's nothing interesting in there."

  I peer inside as he drops the box on the table. His belongings barely cover the bottom—stationary, note pads, and a pencil case. There aren’t any photographs; not even of a pet.

  "If you're his supervisor, you'll have a record of where he went in the last few weeks." Heath unzips the pencil case and peers inside.

  "Yeah. Nothing unusual about his travels either."

  "Can we see?"

  Heath passes the pencil case to me, and I look inside. A key card.

  "What's going on? Why are you so interested in him? He hasn't any links to demons, I'd know about that."

  "Ah," says Heath. "You're here to keep an eye on the demon element?"

  "No more than the next fae. You know we work in most areas humans do, and tell our court when something is getting out of line. The fae authorities tell you; you deal with the problem."

  Fae? So who was fae at my company?

  "Not currently," replies Heath.

  "Why?"

  "We've had a disagreement with Portia.” Disagreement? That's an understatement. "Are you working for her?"

  "I don't 'work' for anybody, I just said. I work here, keep my head down, and if I see any trouble I report to fae authorities, just like the majority of us do. We keep out of this shit, as you know. So I don't like this visit. I don't want any links to the Horsemen; it's dangerous for me."