Jameson leaned back and shook his head. “No, I have people who can do that for me.” He pulled a file from his desk and tossed it across to him. “Those are stills pulled from the video. I have a pretty good idea who it is.”
Bob nodded slowly as he reached for the folder. “And, uh…who is that, sir?”
“You tell me.” He smiled and Bob noted that his eyes appeared cold as he did it.
He opened the folder and picked through the images. They were dark and fuzzy, the person impossible to identify. “I can’t tell who it is, sir.”
“You can’t?”
Bob shook his head. “No, sir.” He handed the folder back and set it gently on his desk.
“Well, that’s okay. I have some of the best visual guys in the business working on it. I should have an answer sometime today.”
Bob gave him a weak smile. “Excellent, sir.” Jameson continued to stare at him and Bob felt an uncomfortable awkwardness. “Is there anything else, sir?”
“Yes, Stevens. Get out of my office.” Jameson spun in his chair and propped his feet on the corner of his desk. “Don’t you have a surveillance team to report to?”
“Yes, sir.” Bob stood up so suddenly that he threatened to knock over his chair. He turned quickly and exited, pulling the door shut behind him, breaking into a cold sweat as he made his way to the elevator.
Jameson watched him walk past the receptionist then picked up his phone. He dialed the number and waited for Ingram to answer. “The trap is set. Let’s see if he trips it.”
“What did you do?”
“I showed him some stills pulled from the video. Poor guy was about to shit his pants,” Jameson chuckled. “I’ll give him props though. He never broke. Never even broke into a sweat. He just kept playing dumb.”
Ingram grunted on the phone. “I guess we’ll see what he does next.”
“I’ll lay five-to-one odds what he does.”
“No thank you. When you start laying odds, that usually means you know more than you’re telling. But I do want to ask you…what if you’re wrong? What if it wasn’t him that broke into your office?”
Jameson pulled the file closer and looked at the person in the blurry image. “Oh, it was him.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because it just so happens that he and I had a little heart to heart that very afternoon about something he wasn’t supposed to see.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“Don’t worry. It’s taken care of. And even if he talks, he doesn’t know enough to hurt anybody.”
Ingram lowered his voice as he shuffled the phone closer. “What could he do with the info he has?”
Jameson chuckled as he propped his feet back on the corner of his desk. “The only thing he can do, trip the trap. He’ll either play along and we find somebody else, or he’ll go running to the monsters and try to warn them. Either way, they’re about to face a reckoning like they never knew existed.”
3
Mitchell sat nervously at the edge of his seat and stared at the screens above him. “What the hell happened? Where did they go? What happened to their coms?”
The communications officer turned to him and shrugged. “Colonel, Major Tufo was fully aware of the coms issue. I can’t believe he’d get so close as to lose communications.” He paled as he considered the possibilities.
Mitchell ground his teeth as he leaned back in his seat. “Get me a thermal on that place. I want to know where he went.” He punched up the command to place the satellite overview directly onto the big screen and sneered at the lack of heat signatures outside the building. “He went in.” Mitchell cursed and came to his feet.
“Sir, the drone is closing on the location.”
“Low elliptical orbit. See if it can pick up their coms. Relay to us.” Mitchell stood on the command platform, his hands planted firmly on his hips as he glared at the screen, wishing he could will each of his men from the building.
“Sir, we’re getting nothing.” The tech shrugged as the drone made for a second pass.
“What I wouldn’t give for an EMP right now. Put ‘em in the dark, kill their jammer…”
“It would kill our coms as well, sir.”
Mitchell turned and glared at the tech. “At least we’d both be blind and deaf.”
“Copy that, sir.”
“What I wouldn’t give for an operator that will follow fucking orders.” Mitchell plopped back into his chair and shook his head.
*****
Jack stood in shock when Loren stepped from the shadows. She was the last person he expected to be waiting for him when they returned. If he were completely honest with himself, her beauty still struck him with awe. The few times he spoke with her through the stone, he always left with a feeling of admiration towards her, but seeing her now, in person, he was reminded once more of the aura she had about her.
After the initial shock, he almost expected a dressing down for their failure to stop Lilith. She didn’t seem to pay his attempt at an explanation any mind, brushing it off. He could only assume that it wasn’t ‘the right time’ yet. He could never really tell with her or any of the elven people.
He was still recovering from her dazzling radiance when she took him by the arm. “I need to introduce you to someone.”
Jack did his best to remain professional as she wrapped her hands around his arm. “Of course. Who do I have the honor of…” Jack’s voice trailed off as he came face to face with the first griffin he had ever seen.
“I am Allister.” The beast’s head cocked side to side, measuring up the human as he stood next to the elven leader.
“I’m…holy shit. You’re huge.” Jack had to snap back to the present. “I’m sorry. I’m Jack Thompson.” He held his hand out without thinking.
Allister raised his clawed hand and displayed the talons. “I wouldn’t recommend it, Mr. Thompson.” His features twisted somewhat in what Jack could only guess was an attempt at a smile.
“Yeah, I see that.” He turned to Loren. “I take it you got tired of waiting on us to hunt him down.”
She gave a curt nod. “The elders implored me to locate Allister and convince him to assist us in…our endeavor.”
“In killing the she-devil Lilith,” Allister’s voice hissed with obvious disdain.
“I take it you’re not the president of her fan club.” Jack smirked.
“Chief Jack, Allister has been…out of touch for quite some time. Many of your colloquialisms may be lost on him.” Loren glanced over Jack’s shoulder. “If I may excuse myself, I’d like to speak to Kalen before I leave. Perhaps the two of you can acquaint yourselves better.” She gave the two a slight bow and stepped away.
Jack watched her leave and had to shake his head. “She’s not much for words, is she?”
“She says what it is necessary.” Allister sat and watched Jack closely. “You have feelings for her.”
Jack chuckled. “I’m married, pal.”
“It was not a question.”
He gave the griffin a confused look and shook his head. “I’m a wolf. I can’t…I mean, I can only…” Jack groaned. “I can’t have feelings for anybody but my wife.”
“Not so.” Allister stood and walked past Jack. “For a wolf, you have much to learn about yourself.” He slowed as he stepped closer to the brighter lit area of the hangar. “Where will we be working? I prefer darkness.”
Jack chuckled again, thinking of Azrael and Brooke. “Another one, huh? We haven’t really set up a spot yet. We pretty much just got here when we got a lead on Lilith.”
Allister spun on him quickly. “Where is she?”
“Gone now.” Jack threw his hands up. “We went in with a plan and it all went to hell. We were so close but…that damned angel.”
“What angel? Samael?” Allister bristled, his wings fluttering.
“I guess, yeah. He looked like a demon. Leathery wings, shredded ends…big sucker.” Jack sighed and ran a hand over his
stubbled face. “He scooped her up before we could finish the job and flew off.”
Allister growled low in his throat and Jack actually felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. “And nobody followed?”
“We have a gargoyle who tried, but the angel flew east into the rising sun. Azrael had to return before he turned to rock.”
“Azrael?” Allister stiffened. “A gargoyle you say?”
“Yeah. He’s part of our team. Along with a Nephilim. The son of Rafael. We also have an elf, a gnome, and a vampire.”
The griffin gave him a shocked stare. “Surely you jest.”
“Nope.” Jack hooked a thumb toward Loren. “It was the Wyldwood’s idea. I can’t think of a more ragtag team to have, but they do work well together.”
Allister narrowed his gaze toward the crowd of young warriors as they milled about, waiting for Jack to return to them. “And why a hybrid?”
“A…what?”
“The Nephilim. Why?”
“Oh,” Jack inhaled deeply as he glanced toward the Guardian, “He was put here to guard a horde of angelic weapons. We were told that they were the only things that would kill Lilith. He agreed to allow us to use them if he came with us.”
The griffin stiffened. “Who told you that only angelic weapons would do the job?”
Jack scratched at the back of his neck as he thought back. “I think it was Loren. She’s the one who told us where to find them.”
Allister turned and cocked his head to the side. “And millennia ago when Lilith was first defeated, did they use angelic weapons?”
Jack shrugged. “I have no idea. But if Loren tells me to use them, I use them.” Jack turned to the griffin and squared his shoulders. “I don’t know if they’re a requirement or not, but if it makes our job easier, I’m all for it.”
Allister nodded almost imperceptibly. “Perhaps they would.”
“If it’s all the same to you, I’m tired, and my team is tired. We’re all hungry, and we have demon splatter all over us. There’s nothing I’d like better than to stand here and have my every move second-guessed by you, but I need a hot shower, a meal, and a bed.” He pointed to the group of warriors and Kalen off to the side speaking with Loren. “And I know they need it even more than I do.”
“Very well.” Allister gave him a slight bow. “I am here only to assist.”
Jack sighed and pointed to the stairwell. “If you’ll go down a flight of stairs, you’ll come across an open area with a lab in the middle. There’s a vampire there named Doctor Peters. He’s our go-to guy for most things. Talk to him and I bet he can get us set up with a spot to use as a…I don’t know, a command center or central planning area or batcave…whatever you want to call it.”
Allister watched him walk away. The young warriors seemed to perk up at his approach and they only spoke for a moment before they broke up and exited. Allister considered the probability of this ‘team’ being able to defeat the she-witch and he shuddered again. He was going to have to dig deep into his bag of ancient magic if they stood a chance of pulling this off.
*****
Doc hung up the phone and began nervously digging around his lab. He had to find his notes. He had no idea what to expect when someone overdosed on the serum. On a healthy soldier…maybe, but someone who was ill and barely hanging onto life? He tried to think of the possibilities.
Evan forced himself to stop before he went into full panic mode. “Infection is infection,” he tried to reason with himself. “What difference would it make?” He began calculating in his mind. “If the serum were actually an infection, then…but wait, it’s not. It’s genetic engineering. One has to control the rate of conversion and meter it in small, regular intervals or…” He sat back down and pulled his empty notebook toward him. Pencil in hand he began to calculate the conversion rate, the cellular transformation, the rate of transpiration…all of which would be offset by the cancer. How sick was the subject?
He sighed heavily and stretched his neck. “Too many unknowns.”
“Doctor Peters?”
Evan spun at the unknown voice and nearly jumped from his seat. He heard a squeaky squeal and it took him a moment to realize the sound had come from himself. “Oh my…you…you’re a…”
“A griffin, yes. My name is Allister and Mr. Thompson sent me to find you.” Allister’s head seemed to almost twitch from side to side as he took in the lab in its entirety.
“Thompson? Oh, Phoenix. Yes…I…” Evan trailed off, his eyes darting about. He quickly closed his notebook and stood. “Um, how can I assist you…uh…did you say, Allister?”
“Yes. I am hoping you might assist in finding a place that we can utilize as a ‘command center’ as Mr. Thompson put it,” Allister sighed. “We need a place that we can plan and coordinate our attack against the demon Lilith.”
Evan sat back down, his imagination at work. “And what limitations do we have?”
“Some of the members, such as myself, prefer darker environs. I’ve spent a better part of my existence underground. We also have a vampire and a gargoyle to consider.”
Evan nodded. “Yes, I gave them physicals when they arrived.” He suddenly brightened. “I don’t suppose you would allow me to give you one as well? I’ve never examined a griffin and would love to study you.” His excitement was not well contained.
Allister stared at him blankly. “If I must.”
Evan’s face dropped. “Well, no. It’s not exactly required. It would just be…” his voice trailed off.
“It would bring you academic pleasure.”
Evan nodded. “Yes.”
Allister inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. “Very well.” He stepped up and into the lab, being careful not to damage anything within the cramped space. “Being an avid academic myself, I understand your desires.”
Evan turned to him wide eyed. “Truly?” A large smile crossed his features. “Thank you, sir.”
“Perhaps we can assist each other.” The griffin studied the vampire as he collected his examination tools.
“How so?”
“I will be your test subject for your studies, and you can bring me to the present.”
Evan paused and stared at him. “I’m afraid I do not understand.”
Allister averted his gaze and lowered his voice. “When I stated that I have spent the greater portion of my life underground, I should have said, I have spent the last few millennia underground. Reading ancient texts.”
Evan fell into his chair. “Millennia?” He swallowed hard. “You’ve been reading the same ancient texts for…millennia?”
Allister nodded. “I acquired the Library of Alexandria prior to sequestering myself to the caverns of…”
“Wait!” Evan interrupted excitedly. “The Library of Alexandria was supposedly lost in a great fire.”
Allister nodded. “Supposedly. As were the ancient texts locked away under the Sphinx. I acquired both collections prior to locking myself away.”
Evan collapsed in his chair and stared at him, a goofy smile crossing his face. “I could spend a hundred lifetimes just asking you questions about the contents of both.”
“And I will gladly share whatever you would like to know. But I would ask that you catch me up on what has happened in the world since.”
Evan shook his head. “Since…when?”
“Since I sealed myself under the mountain.” He stared at the vampire. “From one academic to another.”
Evan smiled and nodded. “Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes.”
*****
Laura pushed the door open to find her dad pulling on his shirt. He had removed the IV’s feeding fluids into his arms and already had his pants and shoes on. He finished buttoning his shirt and began tucking it into his pants when she quickly shot into the room and pushed the door shut behind her. “What the hell are you doing?”
“There’s no sense in me staying here. You and I both know it.”
“Dad, they need to…I don’
t know, run some tests or something. They need to say, ‘well…gee, Jim, your tests came back clear. Go home and wait to see if it comes back.’ You can’t just unplug yourself and leave!”
Jim Youngblood turned and gave his daughter a hurtful glare. “Watch me.”
“But, Dad, they think you’re going to die. You need to let them figure out that you aren’t.”
Jim pulled his jacket from the wardrobe and slipped it on. “Punk, it doesn’t matter what they test or don’t test. I’m not a prisoner here. If I want to go home, I’ll go home. If they don’t like it, then they can kiss my ass.”
Laura threw her hands into the air and cursed. “Dammit, Dad, why don’t you just paint a huge target on your head while you’re at it? No. Why don’t you paint a target on me? Just go out there and flag down the next doctor you see and tell him that I brought you the ‘cure’ and it makes you turn hairy in the full moon?” Tears started to form in her eyes as she considered all of the real ramifications.
He paused and turned to her. “Punkin, it don’t matter to them if I go home to die or if I die here. They don’t care if I live or die. Their job is to make me comfortable until the end.” He pulled her to him and stared down into her eyes. “As far as they’re concerned, if I feel good enough to go home to die, then so be it. Now, if I go home and I don’t die, I’ll give them all the credit and they can sprain their arms patting themselves on the back. I really don’t give two shits what they do.”
“Dad, I still don’t know the possible side effects from your taking that whole vial. Evan didn’t know. The only thing he could say was ‘oh shit’ and that didn’t sound too promising to me, does it to you?”
Jim hung his head. “Okay, I’ll admit, I may have screwed the pooch. And if I ended up giving myself parvo or rabies by doing it, then it’s my own fault.” He kissed her lightly on the forehead and let her go, turning back to collect the rest of his belongings. “But it was my mistake and I made it. It’s my responsibility.”
“And if it ends up causing you to do something you can’t control? If you end up…” She paused and stared toward the door, lowering her voice, “If you end up shifting at the full moon? If the bane doesn’t work?”
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