“Scott better get here soon” She says.
“Hopefully, he will bring help.”
“I’m not going to lie to you, Albritton. We’re nothing alike. You, my friend, are a failure. It’s ironic that your greatest failure will allow me to succeed in bringing about the next golden age of magic.”
“A golden age? Do you mean one where you get to murder and kill at will?”
He favors me with a patronizing smile. I don’t understand and he knows it. I hope my mind never gets that bent out of shape where I can see the world as Meredith does.
“When the Seven and their servants awaken, it will usher in a new day. Even you would welcome it.”
“Maybe he will talk me to death.”
Kara doesn’t laugh at my little joke. For what its worth, his henchman looks just as confused as I feel. I don’t know whether or not I should be comforted by that.
“Magic and technology have never been balanced. One has always been stronger than the other. When the Seven awaken, the balance will swing back in favor of magic. It will be a return to glory days when magic held dominion.”
I think about the idea and it does sound tempting but the price is too high. It would be like Meredith says. There would be a new golden age of magic, a renaissance. If Meredith is telling the truth about then technology would lose much of its power. That wouldn’t have been so bad a millennium or two ago but today, it would amount to the end of the world. There would be panic in the streets as things we take for granted just stopped working. The death toll would make the various world wars seem like border skirmishes. To make matters worse, the Seven would be free to do as they please. Who could stop them? Only a handful of people can use magic. From what Sol tells me, most of those don’t know anything about the First Magics. Meredith takes my stunned silence as encouragement.
“Yes. I knew you weren’t as short-sighted as some of the others. You can see the possibilities. The world would be free of the technology that is slowly killing it. Magical beasts long thought extinct would return. There would be a need for heroes again.”
Yes, there would be a need for heroes to replace all of the short-sighted individuals, like myself, who will be hunted down like animals. We would be the only ones besides the Seven, Meredith and his allies who could use magic. For them to have absolute power, we would need to die. I was wrong about Meredith. I didn’t factor in the possibility that he was a raving madman when I made my original assessment of him. I mean I knew he was insane but this is way out in la la land.
A thousand phrases come to mind. I don’t say any of them. I want to call him insane. I want to say he won’t get away with this. I can’t. He could do it. Who’s to stop him? One thing, one question must be answered. “Are you the one who tried to kill me?”
He laughs at me. I do a poor job at hiding my anger. His bodyguard takes this moment to remind me of his presence. I look down. The stun gun is close enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck and arms. I don’t doubt the man’s willingness to use it.
“Is that what’s on your mind? Excuse me if I don’t confess in public,” He pauses for a moment, considering me. “Dying in ignorance is a fitting punishment for you. Now Albritton, I want you to give me the Bloodstone.”
Kara doesn’t pipe up with any advice. She doesn’t have any. We both know I’m not about to give him the ring especially now that I know what is at stake. He’ll have to kill me first. Too bad, Meredith doesn’t have a problem with that. I am so intent on him and his man I don’t notice Scott’s arrival until he speaks.
“And why should he give you my property?”
***
I knew he was coming and I, like Meredith, am still surprised by his sudden appearance. He stands there leaning on his silver tipped walking stick, making him seem more like a product of the old world than this day and age. The coat he wears reminds me of something from the turn of the century.
His arrival gives me hope, not just of getting out of here but of stopping this maniac. I risk a glance at the door and window where I see his limo. There is no sign of Meredith’s men. Kara answers my question before I can ask it.
“Hagan isn’t here, if he is I can’t sense him.”
“Ah, Dorward, It’s been a long time,” Meredith’s surprise gives way to confidence. He slides over to make room for Scott as if he were expecting him. Scott declines the invitation with a shake of his head “I meant to call you after the break-in. I hope you weren’t hurt.”
If you were familiar with Scott, you could tell just how angry he is. He doesn’t raise his voice. That would be impolite. No, it’s his eyes that convey his feelings. They have nothing but contempt for Meredith. “I am doing tolerably well. Far better than the individuals who disturbed my privacy or for that matter the ones who accosted me outside.”
Someone laughs, a chilling sound filled with hate and malice. It takes me a moment to realize the laughter came from the innocuous looking walking stick in Scott’s hands. I press myself deeper into the booth and away from it not worrying about embarrassing myself. Meredith does the same while his bodyguard gets up and heads to the restroom. I don’t blame him, not one bit.
“Don’t let it touch you…. ever,” Kara says.
It’s a warning I plan on heeding. I also resolve never to ask Scott where he got that thing from and exactly what it does. I am sure I won’t like the answer. Kara is about to tell me something else when she hisses a warning.
There is no fire or lightning, just a sense of tension in the air as Meredith and Scott regard one another. There is a contest taking place and I don’t want to interfere. Seconds go by before Scott finally speaks. “I think it is time for you to go before my friend here feels like having desert.”
I know Scott isn’t talking about me. It doesn’t help my frame of mind. This is the first time I ever saw an object look eager. Meredith appears calm though his hand shakes as he reaches for his tea. After taking a sip, he murmurs “It seems that I have underestimated the two of you. I will withdraw for the time being.”
Scott nods, stepping aside so Meredith can slip out of the booth. As Meredith rises, he places a card on the table. Unfortunately, it’s not a credit card which means I get to foot the bill for his tea. I am about to toss an insult at Meredith when Kara fills me in on what just happened.
“Meredith tried to cast a spell and Scott countered it. I don’t think it was easy for him. They seemed evenly matched.”
That’s how most of these things go. To the most people, it would have looked like nothing more than a heated conversation or a stare down until someone passed out or in those rare cases died. It usually doesn’t go that far. Most sorcerers who are losing a magical battle will relent before it comes to that. Usually, the victor doesn’t press the issue. It’s frowned upon by the community when you do. It also means if you are ever losing a fight and your opponent heard about your last battle, you will come away with more than a headache.
I wonder why Scott didn’t use the walking stick. Actually, I’m glad he didn’t. I really don’t want to see it in action.
Meredith pauses in the doorway to give me the evil eye. “Albritton, you want answers. I’ll give them to you in exchange for the ring,” He smiles, confident he has found my price. “Think it over. You have my card, call me. The offer is open for a limited time.”
He leaves before I can hurl a curse his way. Damn him and damn me for being tempted to take his offer.
Chapter Ten
Scott’s limo isn’t very big. It is only able to fit four passengers in decadent comfort with room for two more people up front with the driver. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in style. His XCalibre is a classic. Its smooth lines and polished chrome bring to mind a different time and place where people were supposedly more genteel. They definitely don’t make them like this anymore, at least not in the US. That’s why Scott had his shipped from overseas.
Despite its age, the limo sported all the modern conveniences many larger
and newer limos consider standard. Scott had the car’s electrical system re-vamped to accommodate a 17” flat screen television, DVD player and state of the art sound system. As a final touch, a cooler and wet bar were added and placed within easy reach of the passenger side seats.
Neither one of us felt like talking much. Scott looked as tired as I felt. His battle of wills with Meredith had taken a lot out of him. My knee was still throbbing from the abuse I had put it through. His driver, also imported from overseas, handled the Xcalibre like a pro. He guided the vehicle through the streets of the Bronx and across the Willis Avenue Bridge without incident. The steel plates and renovations to the bridge usually made for a bumpy ride. Within the confines of the limo, I hardly felt a thing.
“You have to tell him,” Kara says and I do. I start off with the easy part, the stuff he already knows. It gives me time to frame my thoughts about the rest. It’s still fresh in my mind and that’s what makes it so hard. There is no time or distance to shield me from what I saw and felt in. I tell Scott everything I know and the scope of Meredith’s plans. I even tell him about my memory.
His expression hardens and I remember my friend is far more dangerous than he appears. Like the walking stick locked in the trunk of the limo, he is not to be trifled with.
“We will have to do something about Meredith before he can bugger us.”
I nod in agreement though I’m not sure what we can do about him.
***
Instead of dropping me off at home, Scott insists I spend the night over at his place. I’m too tired to argue. It’s a smart move. In my present condition, I wouldn’t be able to ward off Meredith or any of his merry men if they decided to pay me a visit.
Scott’s place takes my breath away every time I come here. It isn’t just the size. There’s a raw feeling of luxury and comfort permeates the entire apartment which would put many four star hotels to shame. From the little I have seen of it, his apartment is bigger than most houses. There were two kitchens, four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a dining room, study, living room and entertainment room that I know of. The rest of the apartment, Scott considered his private domain. I figured it was there he kept most of his toys and did the majority of his research.
He wastes no time setting me up in one of the guest rooms. I waste no time falling asleep.
***
It is early afternoon when I wake up. I stretch in the bed, unwilling to move more than necessary. I’m in pain. The all-over body ache coupled with the exquisite agony from my knee makes me feel years older. At least it gives me something else to think about. It keeps me from rushing out and doing something stupid. Kara is there, doing her best to soothe my injuries both mental and physical. The more and more I think about my options, I realize there is no way I can leave the city. I can’t run away from this man. Even though it might frustrate his plan, it would be too much like letting him win and I can’t do it. It’s that simple.
I reach for the remote control and turn on the television. Scott, bless his heart, put me up in one of the guest rooms with a television and private bath. He even has a change of clothes laid out for me in one of the chairs. Even though, Scott had gotten me into this mess, I’m not angry with him. He had no way to know things would fishtail out of control like this. He’s one of the guys in white hats and last night he got me out of a real tight spot. There is no doubt in my mind about what would have happened to me if he didn’t drop everything to come pull my fat out of the fryer.
As usual, there is nothing on but entertainment programs spreading gossip about the rich and famous and the news. I opt for the news hoping it will distract me from my problems. It doesn’t.
Scott’s bodyguard is being sought for questioning. Good luck with that one, Hagan is fairly good at avoiding the authorities. According to him, he’s had centuries of practice. He’ll lay low till things are cleared up. Two bodies are found near Tompkins Square Park in Alphabet City. I recognize both of them. One is the man I saw Meredith choke the life out of. The other is one of his men, the one who fell while chasing me. Hell of a medical plan, he’s got for his troops. I have a feeling a third body will turn up later tonight or tomorrow. Its description will probably match Meredith’s bodyguard from the coffee shop. The newsman comments on the second victim’s broken leg and how this is the first time two victims were killed within such a short time span. Police are looking for a connection and fear this might mean a rise in activity. I toy with the idea of phoning in an anonymous tip. It won’t do any good. With the amount of money and connections at Meredith’s disposal, someone will warn him and give him enough time to cover his tracks. That’s assuming he hasn’t done so already. Damn him and damn me. Maybe if I brought back up with me or told someone what I was doing, I could have stopped him once and for all.
Meredith is a killer and he’s going to keep killing unless someone stops him. That someone has to be me. It’s not about honor or being a hero. It’s about being able to look at myself in the mirror each morning. I have to face this even if it means risking everything.
The memory of the boy with the cord and the girl I tried to save rears its ugly head again. For a moment, just a moment, I wonder if Kara knew all along and kept it from me. No, I’m not going down that road. We’ve been through too much for her to ever hide something like that from me. I felt her surprise across the link when the memory surfaced. The link doesn’t allow for lies. You can hide the truth or omit it but we can’t lie to one another or hide our feelings. I’m not going to insult her by even considering she might hide such a thing. I trust her and so much more. Meredith might end up killing me before everything is said and done but he isn’t going to tarnish this.
Kara holds me tight and I murmur “I’m not going to let him win.”
“I know but I don’t see how we can stop him. He’s too powerful.”
I frown at that. Kara has a point but something isn’t right. I look at all the facts and think things through. No one and I mean no one can break the laws of magic. He almost fooled me. There is no denying his skill. He’s still incredibly dangerous but he is not all powerful. Scott proved that.
A lot of things make sense now. I should have seen it sooner. His little performance in the Bronx hammered the point home. Meredith has been sacrificing people to supplement his magic. It explains how he has been able to work his spells so easily. With enough extra power, you can cast your spells quicker and easier. It also explains why the Bloodstone feels the way that it does. I should have seen it sooner but Meredith has had me off balance from the start. All those comments about coming full circle and the one who got away were not just Meredith’s way of having some fun at my expense. He used them to confuse me and keep my attention focused elsewhere.
So how do I stop him?
“We could leave town. It will give you time to attune yourself to the ring” Kara murmurs.
That would be the easy way out. I slink away and hide under a rock somewhere while Meredith keeps on killing. I shake my head.
“No. That’s not an option. It wouldn’t stop Meredith. At best, it might delay him. He could always find me by tracking the ring like he did last night.”
Scott or Sol could shield the ring from his spells but it wouldn’t last long enough to do me any good. Hell, it might even be what Meredith wants me to do. If I run and hide, he could come for me at his leisure. I would be at alone, away from anyone who might be able to help me. Even if I was able to hide, there’s nothing to stop Meredith from trying something else. No, it’s better to confront him than run away.
“You hate him, don’t you?”
I don’t answer Kara’s question out loud. She knows what I am feeling. It’s one of those mixed blessings. There isn’t much I can or want to hide from her. Meredith has brought me down to a whole new level. Worse, he almost caused me to doubt the one person who has always been there for me. It’s something that makes me feel less human and ready to give into the dark impulses we are all susceptible to. He has to
pay.
A plan starts to form. It’s simple yet devious and most of all it will give me the satisfaction of beating Meredith. Kara listens as I start to outline my plan. It’s risky but doable in the little time we have.
“I don’t like it,” she says. That is an understatement.
“Neither do I but he’ll never see it coming.”
Chapter Eleven
The door to Scott’s study is closed so I knock and wait patiently for him answer. It doesn’t take long for him to admit me. The room reminds me of Sol’s library but on a much smaller scale. Scott sits there in his lazy boy reading another one of his novels. This one has Doc Savage on the cover. He sets it aside as he looks me up and down. I must have looked like hell last night. I probably still do.
“Well rested and ready for more adventure, I take it.”
“I need two favors.”
“Why am I not surprised?” He favors me with one of enigmatic smiles. This one lets me know he is willing to forgive me for not saying good morning. “Do they have something to do with Meredith?”
“Yes. First, I need you to shield the Bloodstone so he can’t track it again.”
“That will be easy enough to do. And what is the second favor?”
“I want you to get Sol, Nerva and Hagan here. We’ll need them for when we put the move on Meredith.”
The Gift of Fury Page 7
