“Is that fear I hear in your voice?” Monty asked after finishing his salad. “You are, after all, the ‘Chosen of Kali’ aren’t you?”
“Hell yes, it’s fear,” I shot back. “She wasn’t the one that came up with that title, I’m sure. She probably sees me as the Hemorrhoid of Kali.”
“Colorful, but probably accurate,” Monty affirmed. “I doubt she holds you in a position of high esteem, much less her ‘chosen’ anything.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “We only really met once, and trust me, she made quite the impression; it wasn’t one of warmth and kindness.”
“I recall,” Monty said. “I was there, remember?”
“So we nix the Kali trip?”
“No, think about it,” Monty said with a head shake. “She is the perfect one to offer you assistance.”
“I think you and I have different ideas about what ‘assistance’ means,” I said. “Every thought I’m having regarding Kali leads to pain and death…Elaborate.”
“Fate, or whoever it was, clearly knows about your connection to Kali,” Monty started. “They referred to your curse in no uncertain terms. It stands to reason that if they know about Kali then…”
“Kali may know about this fake Fate,” I finished. “We can’t get that information without paying Kali a visit? Give her a call, shoot her an email, maybe?”
“Somehow, I think a goddess of her stature would be beyond regular technology,” Monty said. “However if you have her number, perhaps we should call her?”
“You know very well I don’t have her number,” I answered. “But this is Kali, I’m sure it’s something catchy like 1-800-DESTROY.”
“I’m not understanding your trepidation,” Monty said, raising a Spockian eyebrow. “It’s not like you haven’t faced gods or goddesses before. Most of the time, they want to actively, vehemently even, obliterate you, but you haven’t shied away from confronting them.”
“True, but this one—”
“Is it the potential for mind numbing, excruciating pain, beyond your imagination or description?” Monty mused. “You’re practically an expert in pain management by now; a little more shouldn’t faze you.”
“Your mad scientist is showing again,” I said. “It’s not the pain, but thanks for the reminder. It’s—”
“I highly doubt she can curse you further,” Monty continued. “Although, she is a powerful goddess. She could probably double or add conditions to your curse, making it more pronounced. I’ll have to study that aspect of divine curses: amplification and modification of curse conditions and their expression.”
“Sounds like a wonderful afternoon of brain-melting,” I scoffed. “Glad I could give you study material, but that’s not it.”
“Then what is it?” Monty asked, throwing up a hand. “Where is this fear coming from?”
“It’s loss,” I admitted. “Loss.”
“Sorry? I think you lost me there.”
“Exactly, I would lose the only family I have,” I said. “Peaches, Roxanne, Michiko, Dex, LD, TK, even you. I would lose the only world I know, my world, everything.”
“Glad to see I made the list,” Monty said with a brief smile. “But I think I understand.”
“Do you?” I asked. “If she wants, she can remove the curse and then blow me away. Can you stop her?”
“No…I can’t. I could try, but I would fail spectacularly,” Monty said after a short moment of silence. “If it’s any consolation, I don’t think any being could stop her, if she really wanted to follow that course of action.”
“That’s really encouraging.”
“Among deities, Kali is held in great esteem and in even greater fear. No one would dare oppose her. I doubt few could, except maybe Shiva, and we saw how that ended.”
“Not so good for him.”
“Exactly, few in their right mind would stand against her with any hope of overcoming that particular goddess.”
“But you would oppose her?”
“Correction—no one sane would dare stand against her,” Monty said. “I’m sure my uncle, Michiko, Roxanne, LD, TK, your creature, and I would try, but even combined, we would still fail.”
“She’s that powerful?”
“However powerful you think she is…multiply it a thousandfold,” Monty answered. “According to my research, entire pantheons avoid her.”
“I didn’t realize you were doing research,” I said surprised. “Since when?”
“Since she cursed you alive,” Monty answered quietly, “Chosen of Kali.”
“Now you know why I would rather we solve this one on our own,” I said after downing the egg cream. “Besides, after this lunch I’m going to need a few days to recover. I need a nap.”
“I correct my earlier statement. You’re worse than your creature.”
I looked under the table to see a sprawled-out Peaches hugging his empty titanium bowl. He had achieved meatvana and was snoring away in his pastrami-induced coma.
“No one is that bad,” I said with a smile, quickly becoming serious. “There’s not much of a choice, is there?”
Monty stared at me for a few seconds before sighing, folding his napkin, and placing it next to his plate, just so.
“You aren’t alone, you know,” Monty said. “Everyone you mentioned would risk their lives for you, and have in the past. If Kali wanted to strike you down, she’s had ample means and opportunity to do so, but hasn’t.”
“Not exactly convincing, this argument of yours.”
“You know we have to go see her,” Monty said. “But I understand your reluctance. If you’d like, I’ll go see her on my own and—”
It was my turn to stare. I’d like to think I gave him a four out of five on the glare-o-meter, easily achieving the Clint Glint, because he stopped speaking.
“I know you’re an unstable mage—”
“I’m not unstable. I’m merely trying to respect the inordinate amount of bone-chilling fear you are currently exhibiting, while giving you an opportunity to save face.”
“Bone-chilling? Wait a second.”
“Evidently, the idea of a bloodcurdling encounter has you paralyzed with horror,” Monty said. “I’m sure I can pass on a message when I visit. Anything you’d like me to tell her?”
“I can deliver my own messages thank you.”
“I was merely thinking of your delicate constitution,” Monty replied, while adjusting his sleeves. “I’d hate for you to have nightmares for the rest of your prolonged life. That would be criminal.”
“You’re not going to see Kali alone,” I said. “That sounds like a suicide mission.”
“Dangerous yes, suicide, unlikely,” Monty said, brushing off his pants. “Unlike some, I possess tact and have thus far refrained from soiling my undergarments from sheer terror.”
“Are you saying I’m scared shitless?”
“If the briefs fit,” he shot back. “Staying or going? I’m going.”
“You aren’t the Chosen One.”
“Neither are you,” Monty answered. “You’re the Cursed of Kali, big difference.”
“Ouch, doesn’t matter,” I said. “I’m not letting you go see her alone. You and Kali both sound unstable. I may be the only voice of reason when we meet.”
“If that’s truly the case, we are in deeper trouble than I thought,” Monty said, standing. “I suggest you let me do the talking. Every time you engage these beings, we end up nearly dying.”
“Like your method of ‘diplomacy before destruction’ has netted any positive results,” I answered. “I’ll keep it civil. It’s not like she cursed me, upheaved my entire life, and made me a target for beings out to destroy me or anything.”
“Perhaps you should stay here,” Monty said as stood to leave Ezra’s. “I have a feeling this isn’t going to go well.”
“Give me a moment,” I said, peeking under the table. “Unless you’d like to carry a passed-out hellhound?”
“Wake your
meat-filled creature,” Monty said, without turning as he headed for the door. “I don’t think Ezra would appreciate your beast snoring away the patrons.”
I crouched down and patted Peaches on the side slowly, careful not to shock him awake. Last thing I needed was one of his barks tearing through Ezra’s. After a few pats, he stirred, waking from whatever meat induced dream he was having.
Peaches walked ahead of me as we stepped out of Ezra’s, setting off the runes at the door as we left.
“I don’t know what gave you that impression,” I said, unlocking the Dark Goat and catching up to Monty. “Me and Kali, we’re just going to have a friendly conversation.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
NINETEEN
We sped up the West Side and headed to the Lincoln Tunnel. The Holland Tunnel, which was closer, was also a parking lot at this time of day. The Lincoln, though congested with traffic, at least moved.
“Who would subject themselves to this every day?” Monty asked, looking at the lines of vehicles on 11th Avenue lining up to enter the tunnel. “This is madness.”
“This…is…traffic,” I said in my best Leonidas Gerard Butler voice. “Madness is going to Jersey to find a door that leads to a psycho-goddess.”
“I strongly urge you not to open with ‘psycho-goddess’ as a form a greeting.”
“Pissed off psycho-goddess?”
“We are going to die, and it will be entirely your fault,” Monty said. “Why not let me do the greetings?”
“Chosen of Kali here,” I said, pointing to my chest. “I’m sure I can handle a meet and greet. Do you know how many divine beings I’ve met to date? I got this.”
“What I do recall is that every one of those divine beings wanted to blast you to oblivion shortly after meeting you, Kali included.”
“They just didn’t get to know the real me.”
“Knowing the real you would have only sped up their decision-making process,” Monty said. “How did you manage to live this long?”
“Skill and charm,” I said. “Just wait, Kali and I will hit it off.”
“I seriously doubt that,” Monty replied as his phone rang. “It’s Roxanne. Restrain yourself.”
I waited until he connected the call before screeching the high note of The Police’s famous song which emphasized her name. I was no Sting, but I liked to think I was close to the original.
“Please excuse Simon,” Monty said with a wince. “He seems to have permanent brain damage.”
“It’s not permanent,” I countered loud enough for Roxanne to hear me. “It comes and goes.”
I heard Roxanne respond but I couldn’t make out her words.
“When?” Monty asked, ignoring me, his voice suddenly grim. “How far?”
Monty put the call on speakerphone. The sound of rending metal followed by a loud hum and a crash filled the Dark Goat.
“What the heck is that? When did Roxanne start listening to metal?”
“The wards around the facility have activated,” Roxanne said. “The defenses have kicked in. There’s a…there’s an entropic sphere. Tristan, hurry, I’ll meet you at the junction.”
“Is the sphere active?”
“No, not yet, thank goodness,” Roxanne said, hurriedly. “We’re evacuating personnel as we speak, but the sphere is covering the entire supernatural wing.”
“Is the detention level affected?” Monty asked. “Does the sphere impact that level?”
“The top floors of the detention level are in the sphere. I have a team on their way down to relocate the recent detainees to the lower levels.”
“Detainees?” Monty asked. “I thought Haven Detention was empty for the time being, after the last incident.”
“You mean your last visit?”
“Yes, that.”
“It was,” Roxanne said. “We had some temporary transfers from Sheol. They were scheduled to leave in a week.”
“Since when does Haven do favors for Division 13?” Monty asked. “That’s irregular.”
“We don’t, usually, but this group needed immediate confinement,” Roxanne answered. “We were the only facility available who could accommodate.”
“Did you say a week?” I asked. “It was specifically a week?”
“Yes,” Roxanne answered, as another screech of metal drowned her out. “The containment is being stressed. We’re running out of time.”
“We’re almost there,” Monty said. “Stay away from the sphere. No matter what.”
“No promises,” Roxanne answered. “Our contingencies didn’t take this kind of attack into account. Who can even cast one of these things anymore?”
“Don’t touch anything,” Monty said, his voice tight with emotion as he glanced at me. “We’ll be right there.”
“We tried augmenting the wards around the junction,” Roxanne said, over the commotion. “They’re holding, but I don’t know for how long. The entire structure is runically unstable, but the sphere seems inert for now.”
“Did you see any of them?” Monty asked. “Were any of the Orchid there?”
“Tristan,” Roxanne said with a sigh. “They’re all gone. This must be the wards reacting to something else. You did make them quite sensitive. Perhaps they were tripped by accident?”
“Unlikely. Did you see any of them?” Monty asked again, this time his voice hard. “Answer me.”
“No, of course not,” Roxanne answered, clipping her words. “They’re all dead. The Black Orchid was wiped out during the war. You should know this…you…you were there.”
“Some may have survived,” Monty said. “We survived.”
“We had help, remember that,” Roxanne said. “It wasn’t your fault. That blood is not on your hands.”
“We’re on our way,” I said, accelerating the Dark Goat. “Hold on.”
“Call me if anything changes,” Monty said. “Get everyone out of that sphere as soon as possible.”
“We’re working on it,” Roxanne said. “Your assistance will be appreciated.”
Roxanne ended the call.
I had swerved off the line to the Lincoln Tunnel and was headed across town before she hung up.
“How bad is it? Why would the wards activate? Who or what is the Black Orchid?”
“The Black Orchid is a special sect of battle mages, an elite force created during the war,” Monty said, gripping the door handle. “It was a clandestine group. Disavowed. That sort of thing.”
“Mage Navy Seals?” I half-chuckled, then realized he wasn’t smiling. “Black Ops?”
He nodded.
“We were given the missions too risky, insane, or deadly for the regular forces,” Monty answered. “Presently, they are the ones who deal with renegade mages and abuses of power. When a mage goes dark, the Orchid is notified and tasked with bringing them in or termination. It’s usually both.”
“A mage hit squad?”
“Closer to mage police now,” Monty corrected. “They exist to deter mages from delving into the darker aspects of the power we wield.”
“Seriously? You were part of this group?”
“Seriously,” he said. “During the war, I led a small team. We were ambushed. Everyone in my group except for myself and Roxanne was killed...Uncle Dex managed to get us out in time…barely.”
“You think fake Fate is part of this dead group?”
“The wards around Haven are keyed to a group of specific energy signatures,” Monty said. “It could be as Roxanne said, something else entirely. A false alarm.”
“But you don’t think so.”
“The energy signature from Fate earlier today was familiar…I just can’t place it.”
“In the meantime—”
; “Haven, Roxanne, is under attack,” Monty said, flexing the muscles of his jaw. “Can we go faster?”
“I don’t think Cecil installed a hyperdrive, but the Dark Goat can burn road when needed,” I said as I stepped on the gas. “I’m guessing teleportation is out of the question?”
Things had to be desperate if I was suggesting the digestive destruction of teleportation, but I had never seen Monty this concerned.
“It would be pointless and dangerous,” he said. “The wards and the sphere would react to any teleportation circle in their vicinity.”
“What are the wards she was talking about?” I asked. “Who is after her?”
“There is an entropic sphere around the facility,” Monty said, “specifically around the supernatural side.”
“Roxanne said it’s inert.”
“Thankfully,” Monty said, rubbing his face. “If it were active, our options would be limited. Teleporting through an active entropic sphere would be…difficult.”
“How hard would it be?” I asked, speeding across town on 34th Street. “If Haven’s under attack, we should get there right now.”
“We can’t,” Monty said. “I doubt even my uncle could manage it, although he is mad enough to try. The qualities of the sphere would cancel out the cast, killing the caster. Even while it’s inert. This is no ordinary cast.”
“Whoa, this is some serious shit.”
Monty nodded.
“An active entropic sphere is lethal,” Monty said. “I haven’t heard of their use since the war.”
“Are you sure they’re after Roxanne?” I asked, hoping against hope. “Maybe someone is just pissed at Haven? Didn’t like their stay there and didn’t want to submit a complaint to HR…Bam! Unleash an entropic circle, problem solved.”
“This world of yours, the one where your brain roams freely, must truly be a fascinating place,” Monty answered, staring at me. “Entropic spheres are not quite that easy to unleash. They are intricate and time consuming. Whoever did this, knows what they’re doing. The target is Haven and Roxanne.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why is Roxanne a target?”
“The fact that it’s a sphere and the wards have activated, narrows it down somewhat,” Monty said, after a moment of silence. “I may have an idea of who visited us this morning.”
Dark Glass: A Montague and Strong Detective Agency Novel Page 12
