by Mac Flynn
Our host pressed the down button and twisted in his chair to look at us. His eyes fell on Dolf and me, and he jerked his head towards us. "Looks like you're getting yourself a baseball team, Simon."
Simon smiled. "A team, yes, but not for baseball."
Sarpa chuckled. "Yeah, I've heard what you've been up to lately. You've got a lot of balls doing that. Basileus is just about ready to throw the book at you."
Simon bowed his head. "I will risk his wrath to amuse myself."
Sarpa sighed and shook his head. "Aren't you ever going to grow up?" The elevator doors swung open and we all stepped, or wheeled, inside.
"I merely wish to keep myself occupied during these long nights," Simon countered as the doors shut and we flew up.
Sarpa leaned back in his chair and frowned. "I'm serious about Basileus. He's had his eye on you for a while now, and that last stunt you pulled really ticked him off. He guaranteed the safety of that shipment himself, and for you to steal it from his jaws was a little too far."
Something diverted my attention from their squabbling. It was the blanket draped over his lap. I know I saw it move, but not normally. It sort of rippled, especially when Sarpa's eyes narrowed.
He leaned over the arm of his chair and glared at Simon. "Listen, Simon, I've known Basileus a lot longer than you. That's why I know there's trouble on the horizon for you." His eyes fell on me. "And I don't think you want to be involving certain people in that much trouble."
Simon frowned. "You concern yourself too much in my business."
Sarpa sighed and leaned back in his chair. "This coming from someone who barges into my restaurant smelling like they came out of a shit storm and holding noses hostage so he can speak to me."
"Simon has a way with hostage negotiations," Dolf spoke up.
Sarpa's eyes flickered to him. "And bringing some very unusual company, even for a vampire."
Dolf grinned and bowed as well as he could considering the cramped quarters. "Dolf Fortis, at your service."
A flicker of light flashed through the man's eyes. "Perhaps that might be arranged." The doors opened and revealed a short hallway with a few doors.
Sarpa led out small group to the door on the right, and we stepped inside his square office. The windows at the back of the room looked out on the busy street and the people who filtered into his restaurant.
He wheeled to the side of the desk in front of the windows and turned to face us. "I hope you won't mind if I stretch out a little." He stood and the blanket fell off his lower body.
My eyes bulged out of my head as I beheld a long, slithery snake body starting at his waist and ending in a pointy tail. Sarpa slithered off his wheelchair and to the other side of the desk where he stood in front of the windows. He clasped his hands behind his back and studied us like I gawked at him.
The snake-man chuckled and turned his attention to Simon. "It looks like your friend there has never seen a naga before."
Simon smiled. "I believe not."
I whipped my head between them. My mouth flopped open and I pointed at the snake guy. "A-a what?"
Sarpa leaned his scaly back against the windowsill. "I am a naga, a very ancient species of king cobra native to the Indian subcontinent. My ancestors were considered gods by some ancient religions, but-" he gestured to the office around us, "-as you see times have changed. We've been forced to take up employment or risk extinction."
"Did I forget to mention this minor detail?" Simon mused.
I spun around and glared at him. "Could you start warning me about all these weird people?"
Sarpa pushed off the sill and arched an eyebrow. "I'll let that comment pass this once, but just remember you're the strange one to me." He glanced down at my legs and shook his head. "What an impractical way to get around."
Simon stepped between us with his usual sly smile. "It would be a pleasure to continue this conversation, but our business is pressing. An item has been stolen, and we seek its return."
Sarpa folded his arms and pursed his lips. "I'm listening."
"It is a golden fleece. Georgina informed us she sent the thieves in your direction," Simon told him.
Sarpa shrugged. "Haven't seen them, but I am interested in this fleece." He set his hands on the desk and leaned forward. For the first time I noticed his pupils were slitted and held a bright yellow color. "This doesn't happen to be the one from myths, does it?"
Simon chuckled. "You would know that better than I."
Sarpa frowned. "I'm being serious here, Simon. Is this the fleece with the Midas curse?"
Simon's good humor fled and he eyed the naga with narrowed eyes. "What is it?"
The naga's eyes flitted from one of our faces to the other. "I'm sure you're all well-aware of the benefits of the fleece, but like all good things this one ends. If used too much by the same person,the user is themselves turned into gold."
Simon arched an eyebrow. "Is this condition irreversible?"
Sarpa straightened and nodded. "It is. And should the user cease to use the fleece they merely slow down the inevitable. Their fate is still sealed."
Dolf furrowed his brow. "I guess that's why a lot of people don't know about the fleece's other power. They're all got turned into gold statues."
Sarpa slid back to his wheelchair and drew the blanket over his snake body. "Precisely. If you're trying to avoid an alarm going up in the city about people turning into gold I recommend you find this stolen fleece and hide it where it can never be found again."
Dolf shrugged. "Good idea, but we don't know where it is."
Sarpa wheeled his chair towards the door, but paused beside our group. "I would start with the depositories in the Midnight Bank."
Dolf frowned. "Never heard of the place."
Sarpa chuckled and drew past us. "Then tonight is a good night to learn about it. But if you'll excuse me, I have clients to attend to. I'm sure you can show yourselves out after you've finished discussing the matter."
With that he left us, and more confused than before.
CHAPTER 8
"So what now?" Dolf spoke up as he looked around our little group. "Do we trust the old snake guy with this bank shit or what?"
Simon turned to him and nodded. "He is to be trusted. It is Georgina who we must investigate."
I frowned. "Why? Do you think she got to the thieves before they got to Sarpa?"
He shook his head. "No. In fact, I don't believe they ever left her office. Or rather, the vicinity of her office."
I started back. "You mean they're down there?"
He nodded. "Yes. Georgina is not particularly interested in wealth, but the power behind such wealth as the fleece would prove too tempting for her to ignore."
I clenched my hands into fists at my sides and narrowed my eyes. "You mean that snake tricked us?"
Simon pursed his lips. "More than once, and through her Phantoms she is aware we survived. However, she will not be aware we hold the information provided to us by Sarpa. That is our advantage."
"Are you sure we can we trust that snake?" Dolf persisted.
A smile curled onto Simon's lips. "If he had wanted to eat us, he would have started with you. Werewolves are a delicacy for the naga."
Dolf crossed his arms and glared at Simon. "That isn't very funny."
"But very true," Simon added as he turned to Certus. The silent servant stood close beside him. "Have we any plans of the Midnight Bank?"
Certus nodded. "Of the interior, but not for the extensive security system."
Simon glanced at Dolf. "Then we'll need the nose of our furry friend here."
Dolf narrowed his eyes. "This nose is going nowhere until it knows where it's going."
Simon chuckled and passed by him to the door. "As I said before, the Midnight Bank."
Dolf turned to follow the vampire. "That doesn't tell me anything."
"Ditto," I spoke up.
Simon paused at the door. He wrapped his hand around the knob and half-turned
to face us. "The Midnight Bank is an exclusive depository for the wealthiest of paranormal creatures. It is where they store their most precious valuables."
Dolf arched an eyebrow. "So how come you haven't had us rob it yet?"
Simon smiled. "Because the resale of such rare items would be nearly impossible, and I would rather not clutter my penthouse with more books." Simon glanced at our werewolf friend. "There are thousands of boxes in the depository. We will need a powerful nose to lead us to the fleece."
Dolf cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Sounds like my kind of job."
Simon's eyes fell on me. "Now we should leave before Faith's better instincts take control."
Dolf blinked at him. "Her better-" his eyes widened. "Oh, that." He stepped away from me and sheepishly grinned at me. "You don't happen to have a taste for werewolf, do you?"
I glared at him. "I don't have a taste for anything except steak."
Simon chuckled and opened the door. "We will see if we can't procure a rare steak at a less crowded venue."
Simon led out small group out of the office and down the elevator. We stepped out of the elevator into the side hall. A young man in a black vest and pants, and a white shirt greeted us with a smile and a bow.
He gestured to a hallway that led around the elevator and to the rear of the building. "If you would, Mr. Sarpa has requested that I was to show you to the back door."
Simon smiled and bowed his head. "Then lead the way."
The young man led us down the dark hall filled with doors and to the back entrance. He grabbed the knob on the door, but Simon set his hand on the man's shoulder.
"A moment," Simon requested.
The young man half-turned and blinked at him. "Is something wrong, sir?"
Simon's sharp eyes studied our guide. The corners of his mouth turned down. "Is Sarpa aware of your being a werewolf?"
I whipped my head from Simon to the young man. He blinked and his eyes revealed the yellow hue of the werewolf.
A sly smile slid onto the young man's lips. "He isn't even aware I'm here."
The man spun around and jumped backwards. His back slammed against the door and both tumbled into a dark alley behind the restaurant. The door clattered against the puddled ground, and the young man flipped and deftly landed on his feet atop the door.
He stood and gestured to Simon. "If you want to know what Georgina has planned, then fight me."
"Don't mind if I do!" Dolf yelled as he rushed past us.
Simon stretched out his hand, but missed catching our wolfy friend. "Wait!"
Dolf leapt off the short cement porch just outside the doorway. He transformed mid-leap and aimed his landing at the man atop the door.
A shadow flew from the side and knocked Dolf off course. The shadow and Dolf tumbled to the ground and stopped on their feet in a hunched position. Dolf curled his lips back and growled. The shadow did the same, and I realized it was a werewolf.
I heard doors open and bang against the walls behind us. I spun around and my eyes widened as I watched a small army of werewolves burst from the side rooms. They stampeded down the hall on all fours with their teeth gnashing and their claws clacking against the hard floor.
"Out!" Simon yelled as he grabbed my arm and dragged me into the alley.
Certus was behind us, and he took a defensive position in the open doorway. The first werewolf met his hard fist, as did the second, but the others behind them slammed into him, knocking him into us. I was knocked loose from Simon's hold and stumbled into the middle of the narrow alley. More shadows with yellow eyes dropped from the roofs above. Their long faces filled with sharp teeth snapped at us.
One of the werewolves dashed towards me and scooped me into its furry arms. I swung a hard punch that connected with the side of its face. It yelped and dropped me rear-first onto the ground. I climbed to my feet only to be picked up by another werewolf and slung over their shoulder. The position gave me a great view of the fighting.
Simon was held down to the ground by a pack of six while Certus and Dolf had their hands full with the other half dozen. Simon's eyes fell on me and I saw them blaze with a strong red light.
"Faith!" he screamed.
I stretched out my arm to him as the werewolf ran away with me. "Simon!"
My werewolf captor rounded the corner and ran to the curb where a long gray limo awaited us. The rear passenger door opened, and I was unceremoniously tossed inside. I tumbled to the other door and slammed my head on the handle. The door slammed shut behind me and the car sped forward.
I righted myself and rubbed my head. "God damn werewolves. . ."
"But they are so very reliable."
I sat up and whipped my head around. My eyes fell on a shadow seated opposite me. I felt my heart skip a beat when I recognized the hideous hat atop their head.
Georgina switched on the overhead light and leaned forward. A sly smile covered her lips as she studied me. "Good evening, Miss Luvena. I hope your journey through the sewers was not as unpleasant as its smell on you." I lung for the door on my left. Locked. I froze as Georgina chuckled behind me. "You can try the other one, as well, but you'll meet with the same results."
Thoughts flew through my mind as I tried to recall high school history and what Simon had told me about gorgons. A light bulb clicked on. I slammed my eyes shut and turned to face her. "W-what do you want with me?"
She sighed. "I'm hurt. You trust me so little."
I frowned. "That doesn't answer my question."
I stiffened when I felt her move from her seat to the one on my right. She set her hand on my arm and leaned close to my ear. Her hot, whispered breath brushed against my skin and sent shivers through me. "What I want is for you to open your eyes and see the world as it truly is."
I snorted. "What you want is for me to turn into a statue."
Her hand stroked my left cheek. I jerked away from her touch. "What I want is for you to understand that I only wish to help you navigate this strange world Simon has thrown you into. He is your enemy, not I."
I rolled my eyes behind my eyelids. "What a bunch of bullshit."
She chuckled and pulled away from me. "Is it? Am I the one who's watching you die and doing nothing to stop it?"
I frowned and turned my face to her. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all," she replied as she removed herself back to her seat. I cracked open one eye. "I was just trying to tell you there was another way out." Her eyes studied me. "Another way to free you from this so-called 'inevitable death.'"
I narrowed my eyes. "How?"
She leaned back in her seat and shrugged. "It's really quite easy. I don't know why Simon didn't tell you before." She paused. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my. I think-" Her face took on a sly look as she turned back to me. "I think it's because you have to destroy him."
I started back. "Wait. Killing him will free me?"
She laughed and shook her head. "No. Vampires can't be killed. They can only be destroyed." She leaned towards me and set one elbow on her crossed legs. Her whispered voice floated towards me. Its tone was tense, excited. "You see, the secret is a human bitten by a vampire must destroy their creator to free them from the curse of the undead. That is the only way to save your soul from undeath."
I leaned back and frowned. "Why are you telling me this?"
She straightened and shrugged. "I thought I was doing you a favor, but it appears you still don't trust me."
"You tried to kill me with your Phantoms," I reminded her.
She laughed and waved her hand at me. "They weren't trying to kill you, Miss Luvena. I summoned them to destroy Simon. You were merely present during the attack." The car slowed to a stop. Georgina glanced out the window. Her eyes lit up. "Ah! We're here. It seems our conversation has made the time fly by. Now the fun truly begins."
CHAPTER 9
The door to my right opened and Georgina stepped out. I leaned
forward and caught a glimpse of a large, bank-like building situated twenty feet from the curb. The glass front on the ground level revealed a large, lit lobby.
Georgina leaned in and smiled at me. "Coming? Or do you wish to wait for your kind master in the car?"
I pursed my lips, but stepped out. Two other short black sedans were pulled up to the curb in front and in back of the limo. They were like clown cars as men-in-black stepped out and inspected the area. I didn't have to guess what kind of paranormal troopers they were.
Georgina set her hand on my back and guided me to the sliding glass doors. The entourage followed us. We stepped inside and I saw there was a long line of teller booths at the back of the lobby. A teller stood behind the single open window.
He smiled at us and bowed his head. "Good evening. How can I be of service?"
Georgina led me over to the window. She drew a card from her pocket and slid it over the counter to the man. "I wish to have this box brought to me."
He read the card and pursed his lips. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but this box can only be opened without the manager present, and he's not here at the moment."
Georgina frowned. "When is he expected to return?"
"I'm not sure. He was called away quite suddenly."
"But I want my box now," she persisted.
He shook his head and slid her card back to her. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but because the box you chose is the most secure type we offer I must wait for the manager. Only he has the keys."
Georgina leaned one elbow on the counter and smiled sweetly at him. "Is the vault werewolf-proof?"
The man smiled and nodded his head. "Yes, ma'am."
Her eyes flickered to me. "And what about human-proof?"
The man blinked at her. "I'm not really sure I know what you mean, ma'am."
Georgina raised one hand and snapped her fingers. "Oh, you will."
The werewolves behind us rushed the window. They leapt over the divide and dragged the teller out of sight beneath the counter. The men reemerged, but not the teller.
Georgina looped her arm through one of mine and guided me around the counter to a large, barred wrought-iron gate. Beyond the gate was a long hallway. She grabbed her hat and smiled at me. "You might want to shut your eyes."
My eyes widened before I slammed them shut. I heard hissing noises and a light sound of crackling like ice breaking on a lake.
