Dorian made a choking sound.
“Is that understood?”
Dorian struggled to nod his head.
“Good.” The man released him.
Dorian coughed, catching his breath. “You’re a lunatic!”
“A lunatic who will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.”
“I hope so,” Dorian coughed again. “because what we’ve been doing has been practically…”
“…criminal?” The man finished before laughing.
“I’m glad you find the idea of prison funny.”
“And I,” the man walked to the door, “am so glad we had this conversation.”
The man was gone and Dorian poured himself another drink. At this rate it would be another year before he could afford that private jet. Why did it always have to be so hard to get ahead? He hated having to make deals with such annoying people but he needed that man. At least for now. He looked at the door again.
“Damn you, Caskus.”
Chapter 11
Time itself is one of the most relative of concepts. Sure, it can be measured. Hours, minutes, seconds, all are subjective. The sun, the best means of measurement, changes its exposure from day to day. Only when you look at the big picture does the pattern emerge. Everything changes, that is constant. Even the greatest order is vulnerable to chaos. The greater the order, the faster it collapses when faced with anomalies.”
“You mean like the Grigori?” Gerard asked.
“Yes, exactly that, quite right.”
The two men were seated in a booth set in the back of the bustling chain restaurant. The television screens mounted around the bar were showing a local football game that was holding the attention of the majority of patrons. Gerard had never understood this strange adaptation of rugby. A young woman approached their table and handed them menus.
“Hi, my name is Cindy. I’ll be your server tonight. Can I get you guys something to drink?”
“Whisky.” Dr. Suriel ordered.
“I’m sorry sir but we don’t serve hard liquor.”
“But there’s a bar right there,” he noted
“Yes, we have a wide assortment of beers and things like giant margaritas.”
“Fine then, I’ll have one of those.”
“Okay, what flavor? We have…”
“Lime will be just fine, with a looped straw, thank you.”
“Okay, and you sir?” She turned to Gerard.
“I’ll have a Diet Coke.” Suriel looked at him accusatorily. “What? I like the taste. Besides, it’s only six.”
“Alrighty, I’ll be right back with those.” Cindy smiled and left.
“I still don’t know why we’re here, professor.”
“She was nice enough, what about her?”
“What about her?”
“Human lives are short.”
“And?”
“And you need to start procreating.”
Gerard stared at his mentor blankly. “Is there a reason I should hop to it?”
“Well, I should think it would be obvious.”
“Right, human lives are short. Are you worried I’ll get old before learning all your lessons?”
“Some are shorter than others, you won’t live nearly long enough to learn all I have to teach.”
“I won’t?”
“I’m afraid that as you become more aware of what is hidden, it becomes more aware of you.”
“So you’re saying that even if I try to ignore everything, it’s too late.”
“Shark’s out of the bag, my boy.”
“That’s just brilliant.”
Cindy returned and placed their drinks on the table. “Here you go, boys. Have you decided on what you want?”
“I’ll have the appetizer sampler and one of those fried onion bloom things.” Cindy wrote it down and as she was about to get to Gerard, Suriel continued. “And 2 orders of your spiced steaks, with fries, rare as you can get them.” The humans waited. “That’ll be all, my dear.”
“Ohhhkay.” Cindy shook her head and scribbled on the ticket before turning to Gerard. “And what can I get you…”
“…The gentleman will have your blackened Ahi tuna, with sweet potato fries.” Suriel interrupted before his student could speak.
Cindy smiled at the younger man.
“Yeah, sure, why not?” Gerard surrendered.
“Is that all?” She asked.
“My companion was also wondering if you’d be available for intercourse with the explicit goal of procreation.”
“What?!” Both humans were shocked.
“I never, I mean, I didn’t say that.” Gerard fumbled. “I would never…” He tried to recover. “Not that you aren’t attractive, it’s just…”
“…just look at her hips.” Suriel pointed with the crazy straw from his margarita . “they’re magnificent, she could easily bear eight or ten children.”
Gerard’s mouth hung open.
“Umm, thanks?” Cindy said with a confused face.
“So how about it, young lady? I’m sure my student here could satisfy your every…ow!” Gerard had kicked the professor under the table. “That was highly uncalled for, young man.”
“I think it was. Miss Cindy, I apologize for the professor. I think his age is getting to him. He’s positively ancient.”
Suriel laughed. “Very amusing, boy, but maybe you should at least wait until she says yes or no first.”
“Sorry gentlemen, I’m not on the menu.” Cindy turned away and left to place their orders. Shortly after she reached the kitchen opening, laughter could be heard.
“Are you trying to get me into trouble, professor?”
“Of a kind, yes.”
“Why? What is wrong with you?”
“Just looking out for my protégé, nothing wrong with that.” He licked some salt from the rim of his large glass.
“You’re going to get me thrown out by a bouncer, or worse yet arrested for harassment.”
“Oh stop being so dramatic, my boy. You’ll be facing far worse things than embarrassment in the years to come.”
“So you want to make sure I suffer plenty before I face the unimaginable terrors you’re preparing me for.”
“It’s not suffering if you enjoy it.”
“I’m not enjoying this.”
“You will.”
“Right then, any actual lesson to teach me today? Besides that I should never be around you in public.”
“Of course, but you’ll have to wait for it.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Patience is a virtue, my boy, and she’s beautiful too.”
“Patience is beautiful?”
“Remember, Mr. Donne.”
“Yes, of course. The symbolic order of the Aeviternity.”
“So you were paying attention. That’s good. Focus your skills of observation and prepare to be humbled, my young student.”
“As long as you refrain from your earlier antics.”
After a time, Cindy approached with full hands and placed their meals on the table. She took Gerard’s Diet Coke with her to refill it. Large rain drops began to hit the windows of the restaurant.
“So,” he asked, “when is it I’m supposed to be humbled?”
“Just wait for it. Patience, I said.”
Cindy returned with Gerard’s drink before heading off to other tasks.
“Check that coaster.” Suriel commanded.
Gerard lifted his glass and sure enough, under the coaster was a piece of paper with Cindy’s number on it.
“Behold, the first of many skills I will teach you, my boy.”
“I, I don’t believe it.”
“I know, better than a card trick.”
“But, how?”
“I presented a situation where the topic was on the table, so to speak. One that also let you seem abnormally charming, if also befuddled. She couldn’t help but think about you.”
“Wait, why are you enco
uraging me to…fornicate?”
“I’m not an Angel, my boy. It’d also be a tad hypocritical if I told you to get married when I never did.”
“You didn’t?”
“Nope, I played the field in my day.”
“That’s hard to imagine.”
“Only to those with limited imaginations. How else do you think I learned such wonders?”
“I have no idea.”
“That’s what made this so much fun.”
“I’m just having a hard time understanding why you’re so set on me getting on with the waitress. Sure, she’s pretty but I hardly know her”
“Aside from the procreation business and that biblical meaning of ‘know’ you mean?” Suriel took a long drink of the green fluid. “You’ll be doing many things, great things, to help mankind. Things that will outweigh any minor character flaws you may have. There’re worse things in the forecast than rain or thunder.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“It’s not pleasant, that’s for certain,”
“Professor?”
“Yes, Mr. Donne?”
“Am I going to die?”
“Yes.”
“I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have been so curious.”
“Eat your tuna, lad.”
“How can I eat when I know I’m going to die?”
“You’re dying now.”
“What?”
“You’re human.” The professor took a large bite of steak and looked at him like he was daft. “You had a death sentence the moment you were born.”
“That’s not what I asked!”
“I’m pretty sure it is.”
“I meant,” Gerard leaned in and spoke more quietly. “Am I going to be killed by something horrible.”
“Well I should think that anything that kills you is horrible.” The first steak was already gone and Suriel started in on the fried onion.
“You know what I mean, professor,” Gerard accused as lightning flashed through the windows.
“Once we finish up here, we have work to do.”
“So you’ve been telling me all day, what kind of work.”
“We’re going to open a small hole to one of the worlds between worlds.”
“Right, is that all, then?”
“Hardly.” Suriel popped a deep-fried piece of cheese into his mouth.
“There’s more is there?”
“Someone’s going through it.”
Chapter 12
The rain fell and lightning pierced the sky. The mountains themselves were barely visible in the distance. Thunder made the mortals jump. She loved thinking of them as mortals, it marked the great distinction between her and them. Hecate looked at the two high school girls they had enticed to their current abode. They were pretty, and young. Caskus would be pleased.
Her sisters lounged on the other side of the room, watching the electric looking-glass. This house belonged to one of their pets, but the parents would not be home for weeks, some sort of business that allowed them to neglect their only daughter. People trusted so easily. Such wonders of the modern world suited their needs more than in any age past.
She waited patiently for their immortal lover to return. Watching the rain fall against a large window. Pulling the bronze sickle from the wide sleeve of her blood-red robe, she traced the familiar designs. The blade that had silenced old king Pelias, that had seen centuries of sacrifices to the three goddesses.
The blade that could kill an angel.
The front door opened and closed. Without looking she gestured to the girls with a nod.
“We thought you might…”
An unexpected yet vaguely familiar voice interrupted. “…I seriously doubt you thought anything about me.”
She raised her head and looked me strait in the eyes. I wasn’t Caskus. I looked like an attractive man with a long jacket. No, not a man. Her sisters took note as well. “You really never learn, do you?” She was attempting to ascertain my strength discretely.
“I’m glad you remember me.”
“How could I forget?” She smiles.
“It seems the ravages of old age have yet to affect your mind.”
“Old age?” She laughs. “You always did have a quick mind and a sharp tongue, unlike so many of your brothers.”
“They all have their virtues.”
“Oh, I know.” She plays with the bronze sickle in her hands. “We’re still enjoying the benefits of poor Bezaliel.”
“It was never meant for you, none of you.”
“Are you going to lecture us on following the rules?”
I look to Sephirah. “What about Samyaza?”
“Thanks to my sisters and our friend,” she brushed a stray strand of hair back into place, “I can wait for him. Even if it takes another ten millennia.”
I can sense her doubts, even after all these years. I know where to apply the truth. “And what will you tell him when he returns? That you helped murder his brother? Or maybe you’ll tell him about all the lives you’ve cut short.”
“He abandoned her!” Callista intrudes.
“He only wanted to save her.”
“He was always more interested in his concoctions than her.” Hecate captures my sight once more. “He gave up what little time they had for a fool’s errand.”
“And Azael?”
“He was just a fool.” She says it with a hint of regret and avoids my gaze.
“We were all fools.” I was worst of all.
“It wasn’t all bad.” She looks at me with those eyes that could soften stone. “It doesn’t have to be now either.”
She steps closer and places a gentle hand on my face. I feel her influence.
“We could bring such joy to your sorrow.” Her words are filled with promise.
“What about Caskus? What about the Egg.” I ask.
“None of that has to matter. You could deal with Caskus, you could free us.”
The silence as I consider her words is only broken by the rain. I can sense her intent. “You desire me.”
“I do.” Her face is full of earnest.
“So that you can betray me next?” Her expression changes to one of scorn. I grab her hand with the blade before she can move. She drops it.
“Why are you even here?” She protests. “You never interfere, you’re a Watcher!”
“I was a Watcher.”
“In a few moments, you’ll be nothing. We’re going to do the same thing to you we did to Bezaliel.”
“I rather doubt that.”
“Maybe you should keep an open mind.” She smiles.
I turn at the sound of wood breaking. A door is smashed open, the pieces I could not see before have strange markings on them. Stepping from a room filled with bodies is what was once a man. His flesh is like pitch, his eyes burn without smoke or heat. It appears more stable than the last one, more focused. Whatever they have done differently cannot be taken lightly. “Maybe I should.”
“He’s already killed for us.” Callista cannot contain her pleasure at the words. “His best friend, his mentor.”
“No doubt that is meant to provoke some kind of response.” It steps closer to me, snarling. “It does not.”
“Not on the surface, perhaps.” Sephirah speaks.
I turn Hecate’s arm behind her, placing the witch between myself and the others and holding her close.
“Is this how you always wanted it?” She asks, mocking me.
I make her take a few steps towards the door, twisting her arm to force compliance. Unfortunately she seems to enjoy it.
“You’re not going to outrun him, not carrying her.” Sephirah points out. “You should just give up, we’ll make it quick.”
“Maybe he’ll taste better than the last one.” Callista practically salivates.
I swing Hecate over my shoulder and jump through the large window with a crash, landing on my feet. Without hesitation I bolt down the empty street, ignoring the rain. I c
an hear a roar from the house as the chase begins. I know that whatever I do, I will not get far.
Luckily, I don’t need to.
Chapter 13
Julia sat in the old abandoned church with the two men she had never met before. One was an old man busily drawing symbols on the stone floor. The other was only a little older than her and kind of cute, in an intellectual kind of way. He had a great accent too, Australian or something.
“I’m afraid we haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Gerard.” He reached out a hand and she shook it. “The professor’s Dr. Suriel.”
She gives him her name as well. “Julia. So do you guys know Variel from like, work or something?”
The old man didn’t slow in his writing. “You could say we’re like family.”
“You mean you’re family, professor.” The cute one corrected. “I’m more like…the help.”
“No need to be so degrading, boy.” The professor stood up. “There, finished.”
“What is it?” Julia asked.
“It’s a gate to another world,” Gerard informed.
“Is it where those things are coming from?” She asked.
“Some of them came through like this.” The professor checked his watch. “Now we just wait.”
“You’re taking all of this rather well, Julia” Gerard looked at the circular pattern on the floor. “It’s still a bit of a shock for me.”
“I guess it’s easier when you’ve seen one…and when you had an angel using you as a duck-blind.”
“I’m sorry, a duck what?”
Suriel answered for her. “It’s a small tent or structure used by humans to hide from ducks so that they can more easily hunt them.” The professor gave him a disapproving shake of his head. “You should know such things.”
“Well I’m sorry, professor. I grew up in a city. We never hunted ducks.”
“I’m sorry you feel the need to take that tone with me. I didn’t deprive you of duck hunting.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Julia did nonetheless. “But your circle’s glowing.”
“What?” The professor hopped and then examined it with his glasses more carefully. “Yes, quite right. It’s supposed to do that.”
Eyes of the Watchers (Codex Grigori Book 1) Page 6
