She was beginning to puzzle out as to why the cat might say something like that and the fact that the cat had spoken when Nina hit her with one of the large spanners from Fergus’s toolbox. She went down with a grunt.
“Holy Moses!” Fergus exclaimed. “I thought you said she was your aunt.”
“Just fix the window,” Nina said and made her way to the bedroom. Fergal rushed to help Morag. It was against his company policy to strike clients with spanners. He knew it was a sackable offence.
Nina was amazed to see the video feeds from the panic rooms. She wondered if Maedbh knew she was under observation. If she did it was a sure thing that she wasn’t shy.
“Fergal, get in here,” she shouted.
Fergal came fast, disturbed by the urgency in her voice.
“What happened to the cat? Is it a stuffed cat?”
“Never mind the cat Fergal, what is this?” Nina asked indicating to the video screens.
“Porn?” Fergal offered.
“No these are real but where are they?”
“Must be a panic room.”
“A what?”
A lot of these plush apartments have a panic room where the residents can hide if they are invaded by a burglar for example.”
“Where would it be?”
Fergal inspected the apple computer beside the screens. “This computer controls the system. Not good security leaving it running and on.” He hit a screen with his finger.
The door to the wardrobe swung back revealing a steel entry door in the wall. Fergal hit another point on the screen.
The door clicked.
“Should be open,” Fergal said.
Nina ran into the panic room and banged on the door of Maedbh’s room, too embarrassed to interrupt the loving couple. Then she opened the door into Oengus.
Following behind, Fergal asked. “Is it a plaster figure?”
“No, it’s Oengus. He’s under a spell.”
“A spell?”
“Fergus Morag is a witch.”
“That’s not a nice way to talk about your aunt,” Fergus reprimanded mildly.
“She’s not my aunt,” Nina admitted.
“Shit,” Fergus said, “you’ve been conning me.”
“Sorry, now help me get him out of here.”
Immobilized in sitting situation Oengus was difficult to maneuver. And he was held to the wall by a silver chain.
“The sword,” Nina said, remembering what Venus had suggested, “Maybe that is the key.”
Nina made to return to the living room.
Morag watched as Nina turned towards the exit.
She hit the controls on the apple. Her head hurt like hell but she was pleased she had recovered consciousness in time. She had the cat and the Puca immobilized and now Nina was trapped in the panic room.
Unfortunately so was Fergal, the man to fix the window. Still he’d brought all the fittings. Maybe the Greyman could finish the job when he returned?
Things were still going the right way, she thought.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The Greyman figured it out. If Dearg Due had smashed the window and flown away then she must have been in a panic.
He took a cab towards the Rainbow Grill. It was located on the sixty-fifth floor of the RCA building and had a fine piano bar. He knew the grill was a favorite of Dearg Due and he knew she’d like to be high up if she were scared.
He found her in a corner sipping a ‘bloody Mary.’
“Hi,” she said quietly as the Greyman slipped in beside her.
The Greyman ordered an Irish whiskey and settled before he spoke. Then he came straight to the point.
“Did you kill Leanan?” he asked.
‘Me!” Dearg Due was shocked at the allegation, adding, “Are you sure she’s dead?”
“Blood sucked out, every drop,” the Greyman felt he should point out.
“Fleas, millions of them. They came out of the air-conditioning. If I hadn’t moved fast I’d be sucked out on the floor.”
“What?”
“The boy Oengus. He’s some sort of a God. It was all my fault. Poor Leanan. I didn’t hang about to see what happened.”
“Your fault, how your fault?’ the Greyman asked.
“He said he was the God of Insignificant Things. I thought he was nuts. He said fleas were insignificant and that’s where I made a mistake,” Dearg Due said.
“Mistake, what mistake?”
“I agreed with him that fleas were insignificant as vampires. That gave him the power. He called them and they poured in.”
“Millions?”
“Like a living stream, Leanan was direct in line. I escaped because I moved quickly.”
“Morag has captured him in the apartment. She wants us to come back,” the Greyman said.
Dearg Due sipped her drink. “We are in too deep here,” she said.
The Greyman sipped his whiskey.
“We’ve had some great times since we were banished to earth,” he said.
“Until we couldn’t stand each other,” Dearg Due said with a laugh.
“Remember New Orleans,” the Greyman said.
“Great town for a vampire,” Dearg Due agreed.
“I loved the being a gangster and the gambling,” the Greyman added.
“Good times,” Dearg Due said.
They sat in silent remembrance.
“In too deep perhaps,” the Greyman said after a few minutes of considering the problem. “But if we have captured a Celtic God maybe we can ransom him?”
“For what? We don’t need money. We do what we like. We are pretty untouchable. We have a life style of choice. But if we upset the Gods, if Otherworld gets on our case, we could be in big trouble.”
“Dearg Due, what do you think we should do?” the Greyman asked.
“Run as fast as we can out of New York,” Dearg Due said vehemently.
They sat in silence again.
“What if this God decides to come after us?” the Greyman asked.
“We can’t kill a God. At least that is as I understand it. Only a God can kill a God,” Dearg Due said.
“What if we negotiate immunity. What if we can ransom him for the right to return to otherworld?” the Greyman suggested.
“Maybe. Maybe attack is the best defense. Are you sure Morag has him captured. If he calls the fleas, there are a lot of fleas in New York” Dearg Due said with a shudder.
“We’d need a contact route to Otherworld for negotiation,” the Greyman built.
“We are cut off from Otherworld, we have no connections,” Dearg Due said.
“But the witch Maedbh may have, or the boy Oengus.”
“Right, if he is a God he must have a way back to Otherworld,” Dearg Due agreed.
“So?” the Greyman asked.
“A negotiation would be good,” Dearg Due said.
“Let’s get back to Morag, I’m worried about leaving her on her own. We’re better as a team.”
“Dutronc?” Dearg Due asked.
“Forget him, he’s only interested in profit margins. He’s out on this one,” the Greyman said firmly.
They finished their drinks and when they reached the street the Greyman called a cab. Dearg Due knew she could have flown back but she was still shocked and she felt the need of company and she had every confidence in the Greyman, even though they’d had their falling outs down the centuries.
***
Morag secured the Puca by his collar to the leg of the table and undid the immobilization spell.
Puca gave a mild bark and looked expectantly at Morag.
“Talk, how did you survive?” Morag demanded.
“You
put us into the cauldron and threw us into the water system.”
“Right, how come you did not drown?” Morag asked.
“There was air in the cauldron and we climbed underneath. The current took us away. When the air ran out Venus suggested I save myself. I shape-shifted into a dancing bear with a collar and climbed out with Venus on my back.”
“Amazing,” Morag said.
“When we got free of the cauldron we came back but everyone was gone. So we legged it downstream, got out and found Nina.”
“Why Nina?”
“Venus was of the view that you would try to kill her just to tidy up. And this would be our opportunity to try find you.”
“Clever cat,” Morag said.
“With a roar Puca shape-shifted into a dancing bear and swung a claw at Morag. But Morag was quick and dodged to one side. Puca the bear swung the table, breaking the leg and threw it at Morag who had to duck before she could re-immobilize Puca.
Puca bounded into the bedroom. When Morag arrived in pursuit he’d disappeared.
“Where are you?’ she sang. Are you a rat, a pigeon or a mouse?”
Morag searched but then gave up. She knew Puca could be anything from a lamp-stand to a mouse.
She switched off the computer and left the bedroom, locking the door behind her. ‘Lets’ see what he can do,’ she thought with a grin.
“Is he breathing?” Nina asked.
Fergal examined the immobilized Oengus.
“No,” he said.
“I wonder will the spell wear off?” Nina said.
“He’s dead,” Fergal suggested.
“No, look at him. His eyes are not dead.”
“How can you tell Nina?”
Nina ignored the remark and explored their new prison. There was a good supply of water and tinned foods. At least they wouldn’t starve.
“Coffee?” she asked Fergal.
The Greyman came in first, followed by Dearg Due. Morag rose from the settee with a smile.
“Dearg Due are you alright?” she asked.
“Fine, and it wasn’t me who killed Leanan if that is what you think.”
“Have a look, she’s wrapped up in the floor rug,” Morag asked.
They rolled out Leanan and then rolled her up again.
“Would a spell bring her back?” Dearg Due asked.
“I don’t think even the waters of life would do it. Not a drop of blood, she’s a goner,” Morag replied.
“Sit and I’ll tell you what happened,” Dearg Due said.
“I’ll make coffee,” the Greyman said.
“There’s some fresh blood in the fridge,” Morag said with a smile towards Dearg Due.
They sat together on the leather settee and the Greyman went to the kitchen.
“Just let me sit with a line of sight to the bedroom. Puca is in there and he may come roaring through as a dancing bear. I need to be ready to immobilize him.”
“Turn him into a frog?” Dearg Due suggested.
“Immobilization is failsafe with magic creatures. We don’t need complicated, especially if there is a risk it won’t work.”
“Fine,” Dearg Due agreed.
“Now tell me,” Morag said in encouraging tones.
“Fleas,” Dearg Due began. “Millions of them...”
Chapter Thirty-Five
It took a while but the Greyman managed to fix the window using Fergal’s tools.
A further search of the bedroom failed to uncover the Puca. But they stayed on alert, not knowing when he might emerge and in what form.
“Leave it,” Morag said. “We need to talk about next steps.”
She was now fully briefed and up to speed on the events to date.
“I could undo the spell and mobilize Oengus,” Morag said as part of their discussion on the issue of Oengus and Celtic Gods.
“But if he calls the fleas?” Dearg Due said with a shudder.
“My spell will wear off soon,” Morag warned.
“Either we run or we negotiate. He is our prisoner,” the Greyman said.
“We have strengths. He cares for Nina and for Maedbh. He must believe they are under threat,” Dearg Due offered. “And you could re-immobilize him repeatedly I presume.”
“What we want is a conduit to Otherworld. Why risk activating Oengus? And Maedbh may be able to act as go-between,” Morag said.
“We need to be clear on our demands,” the Greyman said.
“We should isolate Oengus. Get Nina out of there,” Dearg Due suggested.
“Good start,” Morag agreed. “Watch out for the Puca.”
They went back into the bedroom. Morag tuned up the computer. They could see Maedbh and Peter, apparently having a cup of tea. In the other room Nina and Fergal were chatting over a coffee while Oengus lay upended on the floor, stiff and immobilized.
“I’m opening up the entrance door,” Morag said, opening the wardrobe and clicking the lock. The metal door swung open.
Morag gave a smile and indicated to Dearg Due. A small mouse was creeping around the door and into the panic room.
“Puca’s are loyal but not very bright,” the Greyman whispered as they watched the mouse on the screen as it scampered down towards Oengus.
Morag opened the access to Oengus’s room using the remote system control. As he entered Puca shape shifted and became Puca the poodle. He yapped a greeting to Nina.
“Puca!” Nina said. “They captured you too!”
A puzzled look crossed Puca’s face.
“Welcome,” Morag said over the microphone.
“Bitch,” Nina said.
“Well done Morag,” Dearg Due said. “all the eggs in one basket.”
They watched as Puca the poodle licked the face of the immobilized Oengus.
“Yuck,” the Greyman said. “I hate when a dog licks my mouth.”
“Shit!” Morag said. “A magic dog!”
Oengus croaked as Puca’s spittle hit his throat.
“Sword!” he managed.
They heard a loud crash.
The Great Fury came out blasting through the door of the safe, into the bedroom and through the steel door of the panic room and rested in Oengus’s hand.
The sword absorbed the spell and the silver chain fell off and clattered onto the ground. Feeling a little dizzy but fine, Oengus stood with the sword in his hand.
Morag, Dearg Due and the Greyman stared at the screens in horror.
“Hi Oengus!” Nina said, while Fergal just stared.
“Maybe you should get some clothes,” he managed.
“This is Fergal,” Nina introduced.
“Oengus!” Morag called down the microphone.
Oengus steadied himself, still a bit groggy and wondered where the voice was coming from.
“You are our prisoner,” Morag added.
“I don’t think so,” Oengus said giving the ‘Great Fury’ a wave. It pulsated red and then a blue steel.
Dearg Due took Morag’s hand off the microphone button.
“This is a game changer,” she said.
Turning the microphone back on, “Don’t make a move or Maedbh will get it!” Morag shouted.
“We want a deal,” the Greyman added into the microphone.
“What?” Oengus asked, feeling confused.
“It’s a negotiation,” Nina clarified.
“We want our team safe and left alone,” Nina said, addressing herself to the speaker over the door.
“I let you go, you let us go,” Morag said.
Nina looked at Oengus.
“We don’t want fleas and we don’t want you coming after us,” Dearg Due chipped in.
“Will you l
eave New York?’ Oengus asked.
“We’re out of here,” the Greyman agreed.
“Immunity for myself and Dutronc,” Morag asked.
“Dutronc? Is he here?” Oengus asked.
“No but he’s my man and I want him safe. And we want to stay in New York.”
“Tell you what, you set us free. Turn Maedbh free and Peter. No more immobilization spells and I’ll forget past offences. However I won’t promise in relation to any future evil.”
Morag looked at Dearg Due and the Greyman.
They nodded.
“Dearg Due and Greyman will leave New York. I leave the apartment long enough to let you out. I’ll set Maedbh and her lover Peter free,” Morag recapped.
“Her what?” Oengus asked.
“Just detail,” Nina intervened. “You stay way from all of us for the future and you undo the immobilization of the cat,” she added.
“OK, if we have agreement, I’m releasing the doors,” Morag said.
“See you,” the Greyman said as he and Dearg Due moved out.
“New Orleans?” Dearg Due suggested.
“Wait for me,” Morag said. “I’ve just remembered my hair appointment.”
With a bit of a search Maedbh, Peter and Oengus located their things and got dressed. Oengus was pleased to find his credit card intact.
“What now?” Maedbh asked. She picked up Venus and scratched her ear just like Maedbh knew Venus liked.
“I think I go back to Ireland,” Oengus said “I have the sword so I have achieved my mission.”
“There’s something that bothers me,” Maedbh said.
“What?” Oengus asked.
“Your uncle said something before he died when we were down in the water system,” Maedbh said.
“He betrayed us,” Oengus said, but without bitterness. He could understand his uncle was out of his depth and trying to survive.
“He said you’d killed your father,” Maedbh said.
“They only person I killed was the tramp and that was an accident. He grabbed my leg and I fell into him and the sword...”
The Great Fury Page 26
