“Charon. I heard you were back on duty.”
The orbs floated away from me and vanished into his hand.
“Thank you,” he said and bowed. “The balance must always be restored.”
“No offense, but I don’t plan on seeing you anytime soon,” I said.
“None taken. I suspect it will be quite some time before I have to escort you, Simon.”
He gave me a short nod and disappeared. The temperature in the room increased instantly.
“You and Tristan have made some powerful allies and even more powerful enemies,” she said once Charon had disappeared.
“That sounds like I should retire. As far as enemies, Chaos was pretty bad,” I said. “If we didn’t kill him, what did we do—send him on vacation?”
“You did what some considered impossible. You destroyed his corporeal form. Granted you had help, but it is an impressive feat.”
“How soon before he comes back?”
I had this image of a pissed-off Chaos showing up at my front door and shredding it and me while I stood there in my underwear.
“About a century, give or take a decade. Plenty of time to prepare.”
“Prepare? Prepare for what?”
“There are others you need to focus on. Some bent on starting another war, and some just hungry for power. You will need to confront both.”
“Me? Isn’t that what the Dark Council is for?”
She smiled and patted me on the cheek without rattling teeth from my head. “Some of them are part of the Dark Council. Chaos spoke truth—war is inevitable. We can deny it or prepare for it.”
“That is an outcome I would prefer avoiding, if possible.”
“It’s not. It will be increasingly difficult for you and Tristan to remain obscure. Once Hades returns, he’ll want to see you.”
“Can’t say I’m looking forward to that,” I said. “I can’t help feeling he has some kind of agenda.”
“There is a saying: ‘You can always judge a man by the loyalty of his friends and the quality of his enemies.’ You and Tristan have made a great deal of both.”
“That’s good. Who said it?”
She stood, returned the clipboard to its holder, and smiled at me.
“I did—just now.”
“I thought that was Oscar Wilde.”
“And where do you think he heard it? I will see you soon, Simon.”
She vanished, leaving me in the room alone with my thoughts. The sun was hinting at rising as the clouds turned pink on the horizon. It was going to be a good day.
THE END
CAST OF CHARACTERS FOR TOMBYARDS & BUTTERFLIES
ALLEN MONTGOMERY-MEDICAL Examiner for the NYTF. Specializes in supernatural autopsies. Liaison for the OCME and the NYTF. If Allen hasn’t seen it, it doesn’t exist.
Andrei Belyakov-Olga’s eyes and ears at The Moscow. He handles the day-to-day affairs of the building and reports to Olga.
Angel Ramirez-Lieutenant of the NYTF and friend to Simon Strong. Cannot believe how much destruction one detective agency can wage in the course of one day.
Cecil Fairchild-Owner of SuNaTran and close friend of Tristan Montague. Provides transport for the supernatural community and has been known to make a vehicle disappear in record time.
Chaos-(AKA the chasm, the gap) Entropy personified. The ultimate undoing of order and balance in the universe. Wants to end it-ALL. Known to crash parties and events bringing them to a swift end.
Charon-(AKA The Ferryman) carries the souls of the newly deceased across the river Styx into the Underworld. Most senior of the psychopomps, occasionally given special projects to fulfill. Would really prefer a week off-with pay.
Corbel Nwobon-(AKA the ‘Hound of Hades’) Enforcer of the Underworld. Occasionally smells of fire and brimstone from frequent visits to the Underworld.
Ezrael-(AKA Ezra, Azrael-the Angel of Death, Death, Thanatos, Big D) the personification of Death. Feared, disliked, and respected by human and supernatural alike. Loves pastrami on rye and sitting in his favorite deli on 1st Avenue studying when he isn’t out “collecting” or in his office at Arkangel Industries.
Georgianna Wittenbraden-Vampire of a powerful clan who is currently shunned and being assisted by the Montague & Strong Detective Agency.
The Hack-Cybercriminal, security expert, and friend of Simon. He is feared and hunted by every three-letter agency on the planet. If it’s digital it’s at risk.
Hades-Ruler of the Underworld. Rules the dead and is generally seen around funerals and wakes. Favorite song by the Eagles is ‘Hotel California’-especially that part about checking out, but never leaving.
Ken Nakatomi-Michiko’s brother and elite assassin for the Dark Council. If you’re his target and you see him-it’s the last thing you ever see.
Kali-(AKA Divine Mother) goddess of Time, Creation, Destruction, and Power. Cursed Simon for unspecified reasons and has been known to hold a grudge. She is also one of the most powerful magic-users in existence.
Karma-The personification of causality, order, and balance. She reaps what you sow. Also known as the mistress of bad timing. Everyone knows the saying karma is a…some days that saying is true.
Michiko Nakatomi-(AKA ‘Chi’ if you’ve grown tired of breathing) Vampire leader of the Dark Council. Reputed to be the most powerful vampire in the Council.
Noh Fan Yat- Martial arts instructor for the Montague & Strong Detective Agency. Teacher to both Simon and Tristan. Known for his bamboo staff of pain and correction.
Olga Etrechenko-Simon’s landlord and current owner of The Moscow. She has an uncanny ability for tracking Simon down when the rent is due. You never cheat Olga.
Peaches-(AKA Devildog, Hellhound, Arm Shredder and Destroyer of Limbs) Offspring of Cerberus and given to the Montague & Strong Detective Agency to help with their security. Closely resembles a Cane Corso.
Piero Roselli-Vampire and owner of Roselli’s-an upscale restaurant and club that caters to the supernatural community. If Piero doesn’t seat you, you aren’t staying.
Robert Bellamy-Driver for SuNaTran and Cecil Fairchild. Formality is non-negotiable.
Roxanne DeMarco-Director of Haven. Oversees both the Medical and Detention Centers of the facility. Is an accomplished sorceress with formidable skill. Has been known to make Tristan stammer and stutter with merely a touch of his arm.
Simon Strong-The intelligent (and dashingly handsome) half of the Montague & Strong Detective Agency. Cursed alive into immortality by the goddess Kali.
Tristan Montague- The civilized (and staggeringly brilliant) half of the Montague & Strong Detective Agency. Mage of the Golden Circle sect and currently on ‘extended leave’ from their ever-watchful supervision.
Yama-Assigned bodyguard to Georgianna. A personal guard of Michiko Nakatomi. He is known to exhibit dizzying heights of eloquence in grunts and stares.
ORGANIZATIONS
CHRISTYE, BLAHQ, &DOIL-Law firm that shares the same floor with the Montague & Strong Detective Agency. Never seem to be open, but always ready for business.
New York Task Force-(AKA the NYTF) a quasi-military police force created to deal with any supernatural event occurring in New York City.
SuNaTran-(AKA Supernatural Transportations) Owned by Cecil Fairchild. Provides car and vehicle service to the supernatural community in addition to magic-users who can afford membership.
The Dark Council- Created to maintain the peace between humanity and the supernatural community shortly after the last Supernatural War. Its role is to be a check and balance against another war occurring. Not everyone in the Council favors peace.
AUTHOR NOTES
I WANT TO thank you for reading this story and joining me in this adventure. If you’ve read some of my other books, you will notice that while this book is filled with action it also contains generous amounts of humor and even hints at (gasp) romance.
This book was my way of taking a chance on trying something different and new (for me). I really enjoye
d discovering about Monty & Strong and their assorted cast of friends (and enemies). Writing this story for you was an absolute blast.
If you enjoyed it and would like to see more of Monty & Strong-please do me a HUGE favor and leave a review. It’s really important and helps the book (and me). Plus it means Peaches gets more chew toys to shred and we want to keep Peaches happy, don’t we?
I really appreciate your feedback. Let me know what you thought by emailing me at [email protected] or join the Facebook group titled Montague & Strong Case Files.
You can also find my other books at:
www.orlandoasanchez.com
You can follow Monty & Strong on twitter where they exchange ideas and quips and usually disagree about everything: Tristan can be followed here @MageMontague and Simon can be followed here @MontyandStrong.
I also wanted to give you something a little extra for getting my book. Included is the first chapter of the next Montague & Strong story here for you to read. Enjoy!
FULL MOON HOWL
A MONTAGUE AND Strong Detective Novel
ONE
“SHE TOLD ME you could help me. I need to stop this tonight—before the change,” he pleaded as he gripped the edge of the conference table. “Before I hurt someone else.”
I opened my mouth to speak and immediately regretted it. The stench wafting across the table sucker-punched me, forcing me to grimace as I held my breath. The smell hung on him—a shroud of illness that filled the room. Part of me wished Charon would stroll through the door or wall any second and claim him just to clear the air.
The other part realized we were dealing with a real threat. A sick Were was a dangerous Were. The snuffling and rumbling from under the table told me Peaches was having a hard time breathing too. Only Monty seemed immune to the putrid miasma crawling across the room. If he smelled anything, his sense of propriety would never let him outwardly display it. He was English, after all.
Douglas Bishop, our Were client, was a nervous, thin man of medium height. His pale skin glistened in the waning rays of sunlight that crept through the window.
A worn gray suit a few sizes too large draped itself over his body. He completed the ensemble with a sweat-stained off-white shirt and dark tie. His hands let go of the conference table and were clasped tightly before him. He would clench them into fists after every sentence, followed by pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Yes, it was driving me crazy. A pair of silver restraints sat on the table next to him. I had silver ammo in the Grim Whisper, and Monty as backup. Better to have it and not need it than the alternative.
“You have to do this—before the change,” he pleaded again. “You have to reverse this.”
“Lycanthropy is irreversible. It can’t be undone,” Monty said, flexing his fingers. “Weren’t you informed of this?”
“Then kill me before I hurt someone else,” Douglas said. “Please.” His body seized and he coughed uncontrollably. It was a wet sound that went on for nearly half a minute.
“Do you want some water?” I asked, but he waved me away and managed to get himself under control.
“We have plenty of pests in this office, but we are not an extermination service,” Monty said, his voice hard as he looked at me.
“You have to help me,” Douglas said and shivered. “I can’t go out. I’m not safe—no one is safe.”
“When did you first realize you were ill?” I asked through shallow breaths. “How long have you been like this?”
“Since the last full moon,” he said and coughed again, hacking a glob of phlegm onto the conference table.
My stomach clenched and I resisted the urge to revisit my lunch.
“I’m sorry,” Douglas said and wiped the phlegm with his sleeve, smearing it across the table. “I can’t control it.”
“This is what we get for listening to that vampire of yours,” Monty muttered as he stood to get disinfectant and a cloth to wipe down the table.
“If Chi sent him, it was important,” I said, taking my hands off the table. “What do you mean before the change? It’s not a full moon tonight.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve been changing every night since I felt like this,” Douglas said. “Don’t need a moon.”
“You’re changing without a full moon? Only very old and powerful Were can do that,” Monty answered, cleaning the table. “And you’re neither. This may have a deeper source. I don’t think it’s some Were infection.”
“Douglas, have you tried going to the Dark Council?” I asked. “They really are equipped to deal with this sort of thing.”
“The Dark Council told me they couldn’t help me!” he yelled, pounding the table. “They said it was hopeless and that I should just end it or have someone do it for me.”
A low rumble crept along the floor from under the table.
“Douglas, I need you to calm down,” I said, glancing at Peaches. “And I mean now.”
He took a deep breath and sat back in his chair. I looked under the table again. Peaches was no longer sprawled but rested on his stomach and focused on Douglas. He gave me a quick look as if to say ‘can I have him for lunch?’ I shook my head and he dropped his head, clearly disappointed.
“Sometimes the body can’t resist the turning and it has an adverse reaction,” Monty said, moving to the other side of the table. “Although I haven’t seen anything this severe. Have you been exposed to any strange magic?”
“You don’t understand,” Douglas said, and I saw him convulse. “I can’t control it. Once I turn, I’m a threat, a menace to anyone around me.”
“I get it, and right now turning is not a good idea,” I said, pushing my chair back. “Let’s think some calm thoughts and see if we can solve this.”
“It’s too late, it’s happening,” he said and clenched his teeth as he gripped the table. “You need to run. Get away while you can.”
I reached for the silver restraints that were on the table and attempted to put them on his wrists. I managed to get one on him and I received a hairy back-fist in return. I slid down the conference table and over the end.
I got to my feet and saw Douglas convulse again as his body shifted and began the transformation. The restraint had no effect. He shredded his oversized suit and went full werewolf.
“Monty, the restraint isn’t stopping the turn. Are you sure it isn’t a full moon?” I asked. “You didn’t schedule to meet a sick Were during a full moon, did you, Monty?”
“No,” Monty answered as he stepped back. “I wouldn’t have scheduled this meeting on a full moon, Simon. This is a forced change and looks like dark magic.”
“Well, he didn’t get the memo,” I said, pointing at Douglas as he turned. “What do you mean dark magic? He’s a werewolf not a sorcerer.”
I didn’t want to shoot Douglas. He seemed like a nice person and had come to us for help. The werewolf he transformed into, however—not so nice.
The smell intensified with the transformation, which I didn’t think was possible. It was now an essence of wet dog with a side of vomit. His bloodshot eyes fixed on me and he snarled. Peaches answered with a growl of his own.
“Hello, Tristan,” Werewolf Douglas rasped. “It really has been too long.”
“It’s for you,” I said as I moved back. “You know him?”
“I’ve never met him before today. Who sent you?” Monty asked Douglas.
“Looks like he knows you.” I shrugged.
“Oh, I do,” Douglas said with a snarl. “I’m coming and I’m bringing hell with me, Tristan.”
“Much better in Tombstone when Kurt Russell said it,” I answered. “Why don’t you de-wolf and we can speak like civilized creatures?”
“I have a message for you, mage,” Douglas said and raked a claw across the conference table—the very expensive mahogany conference table. Monty clenched his jaw, flexed his hands, and narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the marks.
I looked down and saw that the claw marks wer
e a design. It reminded me of crude Nazca lines. This one looked like a bird with wings outstretched.
“Whom shall I say is delivering this message?” Monty asked, his voice grim. “Do you have a name?”
“I’m going to start with the Weres first and then I’m going to erase all of the abominations,” Douglas rasped and coughed up more phlegm. “I’ll leave you and the golden mages for last, old friend.”
“I have a message for you, Doug—bath…posthaste,” I said, trying to breathe through my mouth and not gag. “Seriously, the reekage is strong with this one, Monty.”
“Do I know you?” Monty asked as Peaches bounded out from under the table and lunged at Douglas. He backhanded Peaches across the room, which only made him angry as he stalked back. Peaches, an offspring of Cerberus, was not your average hound.
Douglas jumped over the table and landed next to me. He raked his claws across my chest and got my attention in a hurry. Monty hit him with an orb of air, which punched into his chest and turned him around. He recovered fast enough to impale my arm with his other hand. He pulled me close and nearly knocked me unconscious with his breath.
“Douglas, would a breath mint be asking too much—ahh—?” I said as he squeezed his claws into my arm and pulled my face close to his. His bloodshot eyes gazed into mine as drool escaped the side of his mouth.
“Behold, I am coming quickly and my reward is with me. To give to each according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End,” he said and tossed me across the room.
I managed to twist my body midair and caught a glimpse of him closing on me. I pulled out Grim Whisper and fired twice as I landed on my back. The rounds hit him square in the chest. The effect was immediate. He transformed back into human form and died several seconds later.
“Shit, Monty,” I said, angry. “I didn’t want to kill him. The restraint didn’t work. Why didn’t it work?”
“I don’t know,” Monty whispered, and removed the restraint, inspecting it. “These restraints are designed to negate a Were turning. I’ve never seen them fail.”
Tombyards & Butterflies: A Montague and Strong Detective Novel (Montague & Strong Case Files Book 1) Page 20
