The Curse of Oberon (The Inglewood Chronicles Book 3)

by Croston, Jeremy

  “Victor,” Gregory was back. “With Roderick dead and Jonathan this close to success, be extra careful. These are dark times and they might be getting worse.”

  I’d heard that before. “I will. You guys too.”

  So with that nugget of info, Isa and I went back to the original scene of the crime. The dank little bar was still alive and kicking when we got there. It was just after eight and it looked like things were not quite picking up yet. I went inside, the stench of booze and body odor couldn’t even deter me.

  “Any idea of who this Toby is?”

  Who did she think I was, John Walsh? “No clue, but we’re going to do something outside the box and ask someone.”

  I got a dirty look, but rolled with it. The bar had two people working it, an older man and a younger lady. Not wanting to seem creepy, I walked over to the guy. “Can I get a long neck?”

  He reached under the bar and pulled one out, cracking the top open in one smooth motion. “Anything for the lady with you?”

  She put her hands up as if to say no thanks. “Turns out she doesn’t drink much. A shame really.” That got a real laugh from him, not one of those fakes ones bartenders use to earn better tips. “I could use some help though. A friend of mine told me Toby could help me out of a tight spot. Is he here yet?”

  Why did I smell fear on him so quickly? “Who sent you?”

  It dawned on me; this must be the guy Rissa told me about. “Marissa Crosby, I helped her out a few months ago and she’s returning the favor.”

  He relaxed a bit. “I heard about her, came damn close to dying. How’s she doing in America?”

  “She’s good, living with a nice guy who keeps her in line.”

  “I doubt that, but if she’s vouching for you, I’ll do what I can.”

  We agreed to meet outback in thirty minutes. In the meantime, Isa and I took a seat in one of the corner booths, trying to keep our profiles low. According to her, London was the place for vampires and we didn’t want to be recognized, at least not yet.

  I couldn’t help but notice she was being a bit weird. She was sitting rather close to me, but not making any eye contact. “You okay over there Ice Queen?”

  “I guess you are happy to hear that your Liz is still alive?”

  Oh damn. “Yeah, that’s a good feeling, but who knows what’s changed since then. I want to help her, make sure her and Bernard survive whatever the hell it is they’re doing and then go from there.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “Hell I don’t know.” That was the God’s honest truth. After being stuck on an island for so long, my feelings were very complicated. “Ask me again after this is all over, okay?”

  She took that as a reasonable request and we waited in peaceful silence. I was a bit relieved when it was time to meet Toby behind the bar, as it meant no more chances for awkward questions. At least for right now. The older man was waiting for us with a lit cigarette and a concerned expression. “So, what kinda tight spot are you in?”

  The truth wasn’t an option, but something close, that I’d manage. “Before you go freaking out, I’m an undercover fed. I’ve been burned and it’s just me and Isa.”

  “Whoa, a fed – from what agency? Is this a set up?”

  His eyes were darting all over the place. I knew Isa was getting ready to charm him but I wanted to handle this if I could. “I’m a U.S. Marshall and my investigation led me to London. A couple of bad spots happened, but if I don’t make it to Turkey soon, a lot of people are going to die.”

  “Are you serious?” He turned to Isa for confirmation. I couldn’t tell if she charmed him or not (I had my suspicions), but afterwards he was a lot more relaxed. “What do you two need?”

  “At this point a miracle, but whatever you have, we’re willing to pay well.” Isa stepped up and opened her purse. Inside was quite a bit of cold, hard cash. Yeah, it came from Roderick’s personal stash. Don’t make me feel any worse than I already do. “All of it is yours if you can help us.”

  The allure of the cash was working. “I got a method, but I don’t know that you’ll like it.”

  “We’ll take it.”

  I should’ve thought more about my choices, but it got us a plane ride. Turns out Toby knew a guy that worked at the airport and had access to the shipping jets. For even more of Roderick’s money, he snuck us aboard the first flight to Istanbul. The plane departed at six in the morning and thanks to the time zone difference we were landed at eight. I still hated flying, but I hated it even more from the cargo hold.

  Don’t even ask how we survived that. There apparently was a contact here that was in on the scheme, but not taking any chances, Isa charmed the guy unloading the plane and we bolted out of there. Sneaking through an airport was taxing, but once we were out on street level, I began to calm down.

  With the coordinates I found in Roderick’s desk, we had a pretty good idea where we needed to do. The only problem I saw was according to the map Isa got us, there was no direct access to the place. “It looks like the only way to get there is by boat. Where the hell are we going to find a boat?”

  “I suggest we make our way down to the ports nearest the Black Sea. Maybe someone would be willing to let us borrow one.”

  This time I let Isa do all the dirty work. Apparently she knew the language and could communicate with the locals. She got us a ride down there, using her vampire eyes on the poor driver, but it saved us time. Anxiety was working its way into my head and stomach, and a few times I felt a bit out of whack. I did feel better though once we got out of the car and the Black Sea was in front of us.

  “This is the marina, let’s see of luck is still on our side.”

  Not many people were out, even though it was early afternoon. Maybe they were taking their lunch breaks or something. We continued to walk around, hoping to see someone who might be willing to talk to us. We were closing in on our second loop around, and I was close to giving up on this idea. Maybe it was the fish smell getting to me too, but I was annoyed. “How much longer are we going to waste our time?”

  Then my ears picked up the sound of creaking wood. It was coming from a ferry boat a few slips down from where we were standing. I ran off in that direction, leaving Isa just to follow.

  A man was coming up from below deck. He looked to be one of those born to live on the water types. I waved over at him and he waved back. Forgetting about the language barrier, “Hey there. I’m looking for a ride, can you help me?”

  It looked like he was chewing on his words. “I speak little English.” The words were slow and calculated.

  Fortunately Isa was there and started jabbering in I guess the native language. Pleased that this good looking woman was talking to him in words he could understand, the two of them engaged in a few minute long conversation. When they were finished, “He said he gave a ride to two just like us earlier this morning. He can get us there, for a price of course.”

  Everything about this venture was costing me a price. “Either by hook or by crook, we’re going there.”

  Chapter 33

  **Liz**

  The three of us entered the tower through a small crack I doubt either Bernard or I would have spotted. Apparently Kai was the one who found it; no surprise given how resourceful she was. Inside, the narrow corridors were pitch black, strange given how much light should have come in from the sunlight just on the other side.

  Bernard was confident he could lead us to the source of the magic. “A wolf never loses a scent once he has it.” So Anders and I followed him, unsure of what might be waiting for us.

  Our first test came on the first landing we came to. The pathway continuously curved around, giving us no vantage of what was just ahead. One minute we were in total darkness, and the next we were back out in the sunlight. The landing was about two stories above the sand below. The problem was it was a dead end. In front of us was a solid wall, with no way to go onward.

  “Well this seems unfortunate.” Anders h
ad this very dry, matter of fact tone to him. “We must have gone the wrong way.”

  Bernard, just like his brother, ran hot. “There was only one way to go buckshot, and that was up.”

  There was no time for these two to get into anything, so I quelled it immediately. “If Lemoyne can navigate this tower, so can we. Let us use our heads and find a way forward.”

  With room to walk around, the three of us each took different spots to investigate. The stone wall seemed too obvious to me, but Bernard thought otherwise. Anders looked outside, as if the answer was to climb the side of the tower. If that was the case, would Lemoyne and Kai not have signaled to him when they had the chance?

  That left the little alcove off to the left. There was nothing particular about it, but my endless years of experience told me something would be found there. I pushed my hands against the smooth walls and let them discover the secrets.

  “This is freaking useless!” My concentration was broken by the loud werewolf now slamming his fists into the wall. “Open up already!”

  I ignored his tirade and went back to my own idea. Maybe getting some of his frustration out was a good thing; if we find Jonathan, I would need him in control.

  My hand stopped. I felt just the tiniest flaw in the rock, so small that unless you were looking for something, you would never notice. I added pressure and it moved in ever so slightly.

  Bernard jumped back from the wall he was trying to break down, a section of it slid to the side, revealing the pathway. “I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.”

  Anders also seemed a bit taken aback that I found the way forward. “Well done Elizabeth. I guess it goes to show the simplest answers are often the best ones.”

  His subtle quip notwithstanding, Bernard still had the scent and hurried along. The light, which had been a key tool in figuring out the tower’s first challenge, was left behind as we reentered the darkness of the interior. There was something very unnatural about just how deep the blackness was. Each of us kept a hand on the one in front of us, just as a precaution.

  The second landing we came to, about four stories up from the beach, was quite different. It was here a chill went down my spine, telling me we were close to the end of our journey. Bernard confirmed my fears. “The stench of that magic is strong.” He pointed to the heavy door at the opposite end of the clearing. “I think we’ve reached the end.”

  I got close to the door, sensing no magic left to bind it shut. I reached out and grabbed the handle, only to feel a hand stop me. “I would not do that Elizabeth.”

  “Anders, what are you going on about?”

  The South American vampire calmly looked down. “There is a good chance Lemoyne and Kai are dead and Cain is among us. Turn and leave, I will tell them you never came.”

  “Say it is not so?” Anders, working with Jonathan? “Whatever he promised you, it is empty.”

  He looked neither happy nor sad about the predicament he was in. “It matters not. I have been charged to make sure this operation goes-”

  Maybe he underestimated the Red werewolf or maybe his heart truly was not in keeping us away. I will never know the answer as while we were talking, Bernard fully transformed. In one jaw snapping instant, Anders head was no longer attached to his body. It fell all forty feet to the sand below, landing with a thunk.

  Shifting back into a man, “Let’s go. I’m tired of waiting.”

  The abruptness of everything was still fresh in my mind. I had not even had time to wrap my head around Jonathan getting to Anders, let alone his corpse lay at my feet. No matter, I grabbed the door again and pulled. It slid open rather easily, revealing the horrors within.

  To the right, Lemoyne’s body was lifeless, impaled on spears sticking out of the wall. Not far behind it, Kai and Jonathan were engaged in a sword fight, neither giving ground. Finally, at the far end of the room, a witch was kneeling in front of another door, deep in her spellcasting. Cain was still trapped, we were not too late!

  “Bernard, take the witch! We cannot let her be successful!” He instantly transformed and sprinted down the room. I thought it was be as quick as Ander’s passing, yet the witch was ready. She turned in a snap, her chanting stopped and in mid spell.

  Jonathan was quick to see the new arrivals. Kicking Kai in the face with a vicious roundhouse, he welcomed me. “My dear sister! How I wondered if you were ever going to find me?”

  His taunting face, the same smugness he wore the night he killed Vic, well that drove me too far. I took the tanto off my back and walked over to him. Kai was getting to her feet, ready to strike too. “No, help the werewolf with the witch. This battle is mine.”

  As she did as I asked, Jonathan began clapping. “Bravo for such a wonderful performance Liz. I actually almost believed you loved that creature.”

  “Shut up.” Hate dripped like venom from my words. “You will not disrespect his memory anymore.” My voice, I could not bring it to yell at him. No, it was low, cold even. I wanted him to know just how far out of bounds he stepped.

  He brought my father’s blade to the en garde position. He obviously still carried the delusions that my parents thought of him as more than the toy my mother brought home. I had been the only one who truly cared for him.

  The joking and arrogance were gone. “Your death will mark the end of this pathetic time in vampiric history. No longer will we hide from the humans.”

  “You delusional fool. Just like my parents, you will meet your end at my hands.”

  “How little you know sister.”

  Our blades met in midair, neither of us faster than the other. I was a pureblood and with it more natural ability. Jonathan was a skilled fencer, over centuries spent crafting his excellence. One cancelled out the other.

  His movements were fluid, like a dancer on stage. It took all of my speed to keep up with him. Each time I thought I had an advantage in position; he turned the tables on me. The longer blade of Drakel’s sword offered him a bit of leverage the shorter tanto did not provide.

  At the same time, my superior speed would not allow him a chance to hit me. Being shorter, more flexible, I could twist my body into spots to avoid the rugged blade. I might not have looked as neat with my movements, yet they offered me exactly what I needed.

  A spell from the witch caused us to back off each other. Flames from her hand spun out of control around the antechamber to Cain’s prison. Bernard and Kai were still alive, but the O’Byrne that was with Jonathan seemed especially powerful.

  He looked sinister over the flames separating us. “You cannot win sister! Soon all of you will be dead and Cain will no longer be hidden away.”

  Behind him, light from the sun filled the front of the room. I had an idea, a rather stupid one, but my only chance to catch him unprepared. With all my strength, I threw the tanto at him. It cut through the air like a bullet, the point aimed right for his forehead.

  Like I knew he would, he brought his blade up to knock the projectile away. As the two pieces of metal collided, I tackled him around the waist, driving him out of the room. The momentum from my desperate charge carried us further out on to the landing than I anticipated. So far in fact, it took us over the railing, down the forty feet to the wet sand below.

  Twisting and turning midair, fighting for an advantage, we both crashed into the sand. I had been the one who was on top, but the jolt from the hard impact pushed me away. Sand filled my vision, but as I looked up, two people were walking this way. The one to the right, male by the looks of it, took off in a sprint when he saw me.

  “Liz!”

  That voice! No it couldn’t be…

  Chapter 34

  The kindly old captain was a decent guy. He rowed us to shore, regaling Isa with old sea stories I imagined. Hell he might’ve been trying to pick her up. I didn’t understand any of what he was saying.

  The cool weather of the morning was gone, replaced with a pleasant afternoon day. The sea wasn’t that rocky and I was kinda sad to see our new friend
row back to his ferry, leaving us on this beach. The tower was just up ahead, half of it looked to be swallowed us by the water. Only one portion of it butted up against the sand and I figured that was where our investigation should start.

  “So, ever seen this place before?”

  Isa looked really taken in by the old world beauty of it. “No, never been here. I’ve heard rumors of such a place, but to see it with my own eyes, unbelievable.”

  I thought it was pretty cool, but I guess the awe didn’t translate from vampire to werewolf. Either way the two of us kept walking. We were getting pretty close when something from above caught my attention. From the top of the tower, two bodies came flying over the railing. As the sped towards the ground, I got a good look – it was Liz and John!

  I looked back up at where they came from. Fire followed them, from God knows where. Taking off towards them, “Isa, my brother must be up there! Help him!”

  Without even a second guess, she took off towards the tower while I went to Liz. I saw them land, with her falling a few feet away from him. When she tried to get up, her eyes met mine. “Liz!”

  Nothing was going to stop me from getting to her, well except maybe Jonathan. Between us, he too got to his feet. “You! You are supposed to be dead!”

  He cut me off. He looked exactly the same as the night he sent me into the Thames. “You smug son of a bitch. I killed Pan, now I’m going to kill you.”

  Taunting him with Pan’s death, he hissed and attacked. With no sword this time, he used his fangs and claws. Unfortunately for him, I’d gotten an upgrade. The Warg, who had been waiting patiently inside me for another chance to come out was no longer disappointed. Johnny boy got one clean hit on my face before he found out my newest secret.

  He watched mortified as my body shifted from man to beast. He recognized this was no ordinary wolf and backed up. Liz looked on as well, stunned that this was happening.

  An internal conflict blew up inside me. I heard the voice of Oberon’s curse, begging me not to embrace the darkness of the Warg. “Please wolf, use your own strength for this battle!”