by James, Aiden
“I was,” I admitted. “Until the rose and note shit found its way here. There’s no way to protect my beloved wife and son, as well as you and Amy. Besides, the six airline tickets delivered to us the other day confirmed my hunch he views us as one big happy family. Trying to hide any of you from Krontos will do no good, and might make things exponentially worse.”
“Good. So, we’re definitely traveling with you to Germany. Right?”
“First to New York, and if that goes without a hitch, then yes, we’ll be on our way to Berlin,” I assured him. “Regardless how this turns out, we’re operating as a complete group going forward.
Cedric nodded. “I’ll never forget Paititi, man. Everything seemed perfect until news of the coming war with Bochicha and his son, Hurakan, reached King Bashaan. He dismissed that shit as if it would never get serious enough to worry about,” he said, glancing longingly toward the living room where Beatrice, Amy, and Alistair erupted into boisterous laughter. The tension release called to us both… although I needed to take care of our travel arrangements first. “If Krontos is successful in restoring his Silver Trinity of Death, I believe things will go very badly for all of us. Hell, the entire world will be up shit’s creek if it comes to that.”
Cedric’s voice cracked and he looked like he wanted to add something, but grimaced instead. With a nod, he left me to take care of our travel arrangements. I watched him move back down the hall to the living room, where more laughter drifted toward me.
Fun times, though perhaps not for long. My heart ached, as every decision from now until we reached a permanent resolution carried the potential for lasting happiness or perpetual hell. I muttered a prayer from my youth, asking The Almighty for wisdom and His mercy to envelope us all… and to make sure I didn’t screw this up.
Chapter Six
“What if we are never here again? What if he wins and we lose?”
Beatrice stood facing the sunset from the open doorway to the cabin at the western edge of the ranch’s expanse. Secluded enough to where she could feel comfortable in her negligee, where the sun’s dying rays revealed her taut nakedness beneath white satin lace. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watched goose bumps rise from the evening’s coolness seeping in from outside, wrestling with the warm blaze in the nearby fireplace. Or, perhaps her skin’s response arose from the mention again of our inevitable face-to-face confrontation with Krontos.
“He won’t win—not in the long run,” I assured her, coming up close behind. I placed my hands gently around her waist to pull her near. She relaxed against my bare chest, and I kissed her softly on the right side of her neck. A slight groan arose from her throat. “I pray we stop him, but unlike previous excursions, it is my foremost priority to keep all of you safe and sound. Then, when our business is done in Germany—and hopefully we win the coin by bid or some other means—I will bring you back to this wonderful place…. When it’s safe enough to be here, of course.”
“Hmmm…. I believe you mean it, William,” she said, her voice husky as my steady assault of tiny kisses resumed. Her native Scottish brogue comes through strongest when incited by heightened passion, be it sex or anger. “But what… what if he’s stronger than you think. He’s… he’s crafty, and I can tell that from my limited… limited….”
“Limited experience with him?” I finished for her, grinning slyly, though she could only catch a glimpse of the impish glow in my eyes as she glanced back at me. I gently brushed her loosened locks aside so she could better see me. “Am I distracting you?”
“You could say that.” She moaned, and tried to turn and face me. But I wasn’t done with her neck yet… time to move on to the other side. “What are you doing to me, my love?”
“Would you like for me to stop?”
“No… no, I don’t.”
“Good, then I’ll continue.” I moved up to her left ear, gently nibbling on the back of it.”
“Oh, my God… you are such a scoundrel sometimes, William!”
“You know… if I truly was a lesser man, and wanted to take advantage of you right now, I could damn near hypnotize you simply by seduction, and allay all your fears until we safely returned home,” I said, glancing in the mirror beside the door. Despite all we had been through lately, the virile intensity in my deep blue eyes remained, surely inspired by my wife’s closeness. “What do you think of that?”
“Ah… ahh… I think…. I think it’s bullshit, William.”
And just like that, she was out of my sensual charms and whirling around to face me directly.
“Well, that was fun while it lasted,” I said, wearing the smirk she adores almost as much as she loathes.
“You can pick up where you left off in a moment,” she said, holding me in her fiery gaze. Her emerald eyes burned easily through all my defenses, and now I was the sexually disadvantaged prey. The tables had turned in an instant. “But first, I want the truth about everything we can expect. No bullshit, darling.”
She brushed her hand against my chest, and a rush of tingles swept through me. I daresay had she threatened to tear my fingernails and eyelashes off one by one, as they used to do in Cambodia forty years ago, she wouldn’t have gotten as far as she did with those eyes boring into me. It was as if she could literally see inside my very soul.
“I think I need to sit down.” Truly, I did. Her heat was intoxicating, and I wanted to make sure I told her what she needed to know. Telling her more than that could keep her up the rest of the night. Not to mention, some things presently outside her awareness could prove dangerous if that knowledge influenced her decisions once we entered Kronto’s realm, or the realm of his Hungarian mafia cronies. “Let’s move back to the edge of the bed, and we can sit together while I tell you whatever you want.”
“You sure this isn’t a trick to get me to join you in bed?” She laughed softly.
“Well, we’ll have to see where your mood is once we have our little talk,” I said, and moved to close the door. I checked the lock to make sure it was secure. Meanwhile, she waited for me on the bed, and it took my strongest resolve to not ravish her on the spot.
“Was that necessary?” She cooed, pointing at the door. “I’m particularly fond of sunsets here, as you know. It does mean you’ll have to find someway to make it up to me. On my terms.”
Her deepening huskiness was driving me nuts… but I needed to stay focused on telling her enough of the truth to count as ‘no bullshit’. Not sure why I suddenly worried about uninvited guests showing up. Those familiar with my physical prowess know I’m unafraid of most predators, since it takes a direct hit to my most-vital organs to kill me. Then again, Beatrice’s remarkable return to full youth had admittedly heightened my protective instincts. No, she’s not a frail-bodied weakling by any stretch. Yet, as mentioned earlier, a mortal wound could kill her—same as it would kill Alistair, Amy, or any other vibrant twenty-something kid.
I worried some of what caused Alistair’s recent youthful perspective of invincibility might also occur in this gorgeous young woman who once managed a tough Scottish pub clientele at the end of World War II. Hell, it was the very thing that attracted me when I first laid eyes on Beatrice as a feisty barmaid.
To cloak the extent of my worry, I casually glanced around the two-room cabin, taking in every corner and potential breach while pretending to admire the rustic pine construction. Beatrice had said just a few weeks before that she looked forward to redecorating what had become our retreat from the others. She planned to begin with the stuffed moose head overlooking the mantel.
“It really is dreadful,” she said, after my gaze lingered on it for a moment. “But, I would keep everything else largely the way it is. Just add a blend of antiques and a more comfortable bed.” She patted the mattress as if afraid a coil might suddenly poke through.
I chuckled at the irony how she and Alistair insisted on the latest comfort designs available back in D.C., before their regeneration blessed them with the resilience of youth.
“What, you don’t think I can make it really nice in here?”
She feigned offense, with pouted Emmett Kelly lips.
“I think you’ll make it incredibly nice,” I said, realizing I was stalling. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Okay, I will try to give you everything as straight as I can. Do you want me to include our layover in New York tomorrow morning?”
“If you think it’s important, then include it,” she said, grinning as she noticed my gaze drifted more than once to her nakedness beneath her short gown. “Otherwise, try to stay focused. I’d hate to get dressed… but I’ll do whatever it takes to help you come clean.”
Such a smartass! She smiled demurely with a sugary tone as she said this last part. Two could play that game.
“As you wish, sweetheart,” I said, smiling playfully. But before she could call my bluff I jumped into the meat of it. “The biggest thing Roderick and I will be watching for is Krontos’ Hungarian hoodlums seeking to take us out, either in New York or in Germany. He’s not going to be pleased we’re defying his orders, and he might come after us. Or, he might not.”
I paused to make sure she was with me. Her expression had become somber, and she nodded for me to continue.
“I would be lying to you if I said there is no danger in this journey overseas,” I confessed, studying her eyes. Stoic, tough, and impossible to read. I could almost feel the steel armor closing around her heart. She was correct in indicating she could handle the picture I was about to paint for her. “Roderick and I will keep our eyes peeled, and you and Alistair will be our first priority—we will protect you both at all costs. Cedric has agreed to look after Amy.”
“He’s not an immortal… or is he now? If he’s not, then what good will he do her?”
“He’s still mortal,” I said, glancing again around the room. As far as I could tell, no one—namely Krontos—was peeking in on us. Then again, it’s not like he would give us a heads-up when he planned to drop by. “But he has over thirty years CIA experience, dealing with some of the deadliest criminals in the world. Add his newfound youth to a skill set like that gives her the best protection possible, outside of an immortal.”
She nodded thoughtfully. One less concern to address.
“When we get to Germany—if we get out of New York without a hitch—Roderick and I will likely leave the rest of you at the hotel while we make arrangements about the coin.”
“You mean, you want us out of the way while you and Roderick seek to steal it.” She eyed me knowingly.
“Yes… that is the plan.”
“What about the other two coins? Are you going to try to get them, too?”
Damn. I didn’t want to talk about that, since any plan to try and capture anything beyond the Stutthof-Auschwitz coin was secondary. In all likelihood, succeeding in our main objective would be all we accomplished. It would be a mad race back to the states. Eluding Krontos’ reach, whether his sorcery or his legion of mercenary crooks, was a tall order with dubious prospects.
“This is crazy… you do know that, right?” she said, revealing her misgivings. “I can’t possibly be the only one worried we might not all make it back safely. You feel it, too, do you not?”
Yes, I did. Worried sick about it, truth be told. But what other options were there? At some point, Krontos would come to call with bloody designs—likely I’d lose everyone I cared about, if we sat around waiting on his whims. Traveling as a group entailed more danger, for certain, and yet separating in order to try and shelter the mortals in our six-pack would likely never work. By now, Krontos had made connections to each of us, and we were stronger and more viable as a group, rather than divided into smaller cells.
“You feel it, too… right?” Beatrice persisted.
“Okay, you win,” I told her. “We are either sitting ducks or moving targets. Either way is bad. But if we can somehow get to the coin before Krontos does—and believe me, we’re worried he might try to do the same thing we’re doing—we will have the upper hand.”
She shook her head sadly.
“We have a chance, Bea, truly we do.” I started to take her in my arms, but she motioned for me to wait.
“I have another question, first, William,” she said, and then took my face gently in her hands, forcing my gaze to meet hers. I hate it when she does this. “Have you considered what might happen if you do get the Holocaust Coin and the other two blood coins, and safely add them to your collection?”
“They’ll be safe. And the world will be safer—”
“And you’ll only lack two coins before you leave us!”
What in the hell?!
“That’s not true.”
It’s what I said. But it felt like a lie as the words left my mouth. And, she knew it—whether in her heart or from my guilt-laden expression.
“It is true, my love,” she said. Tears welled in her eyes and her shoulders trembled. “I’m young again, which is wonderful. Wonderful, as long as you are here with me! With Alistair, and Amy, too. I’m even becoming fond of Roderick and Cedric…. But if you’re no longer here, I don’t believe I can bear it. It was hell the first time you left my life. How much worse will it be the next time?”
“I will never—”
“Shhhh!” She placed her index finger upon my lips to shut me up. “Yes, you will leave, William. Your long, incredible stay on Earth is nearing the end. Can you not see that? Your coins are coming up faster, and faster—Alistair is right about it. And, if you do recover three coins this time, it stands to reason that the last two coins to reach thirty are right around the corner.”
She looked as if she had more to say. But the terrible fear of losing me again became too unbearable to hold back any longer. A rain of tears poured forth, followed by terrible wails of grief. As if I had already died, or attained the very thing I had sought for centuries. Reunion with The Almighty. Finally.
It broke my heart to see her like this, and I overcame her resistance, taking her lovingly into my arms. I let her cry until the tears were no more, and then I held her close. She fell asleep before me, and I listened to her shallow breaths become deeper. The night sky lightened, and sometime before the early light of dawn reached Sedona, I joined her.
If only my rest came without dreams I would remember later. Dreams of sorrow… dreams of death.
Chapter Seven
Traveling to New York with Beatrice by my side fulfilled a dream we had talked about since our courtship nearly seventy years ago. She had wanted to spend a day in the heart of New York City. Just one day… and if I hadn’t bailed on her and Alistair in Scotland long ago, we might’ve fulfilled that dream by the late 1950s or early 60s. Definitely would’ve done so by the time she accompanied our boy to America to attend college.
Although we weren’t able to catch the Broadway show Beatrice had envisioned attending since our early days together, she was quite pleased with what we managed to squeeze into one afternoon and evening, on October 27th. Walking through Times Square, Central Park, shopping at the Tiffany flagship store on Fifth Ave, standing atop the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty. The list goes on, and was just as magical for Alistair and Amy, who alone joined us.
Roderick and Cedric had seen the sights around the city hundreds of times—as had I, admittedly. But seeing these points of interest with the woman and son I cherish above all others made the visit incredibly special. As for our two absentees, they spent the day finalizing our itinerary for Germany. Roderick had a panicked air about him, and I almost asked him about it. But things were a little tense between us, after I insisted on spending an extra day in New York to fulfill an overdue promise to Beatrice and Alistair.
“I hope it was worth it, Judas,” said Roderick, when we returned to our hotel that evening, the Hyatt-Regency. Some might have expected us to be foolish enough to stay in the Ritz Carlton, to thumb our noses at Krontos Lazarevic, since in all likelihood he was already back in Europe. “Costing us a full day t
o track down the coin’s possessor might come back to bite us in the ass. Michael told me this afternoon that Thomas Wilburn has made contact with the dealer, and will have everything we need concerning this guy once we arrive in Berlin tomorrow evening. But that could’ve been tonight.”
I expected him to wait for a response, but he turned and strode purposely to his room at the end of the hall. Cedric had already turned in, since our flight overseas was at 6:40 a.m.
“See you in the morning, Rod.”
“Yep.”
“What was that all about?” asked Beatrice, from behind me.
“Nothing, my dear,” I assured her. “We will see him and Cedric at breakfast.”
But it wasn’t ‘nothing’. And, I especially hate it when my druid buddy is clairvoyantly spot on with his misgivings.
Despite this encounter’s uneasiness, I kept things jovial with Beatrice, Alistair, and Amy. They needed a full night’s sleep, and everyone but me was out cold by nine o’clock. I pictured Cedric with a bottle of cognac in his suite, since liquor hadn’t been completely sworn off in his new life. Having faced many a day with zero sleep after a night of carousing from his late forties to the time of his transformation in his early sixties, I had no qualms about him burning through the bottle until dawn.
Roderick, on the other hand, worried me. Despite our shared ability to go days without rest, stress had always taken a bigger toll on him than on me. Dark circles had appeared beneath his eyes in the past few days, and now I had added to that stress by delaying our trans-Atlantic journey by nearly sixteen hours from an earlier available flight.
Did I worry about forgiveness if my lollygagging turned out to be costly? Not after nineteen hundred years of transgressions, one to another. But, certainly it could make things uncomfortable while I waited for his irritation to wane.
That’s what I expected. Here’s what I didn’t expect.
“There’s been a ‘development’,” he told me the next morning.
