The Maiden Medallions: Beastkeeper

by Edward Shawn

  “And where is Charmington?”

  “Near Vancouver.”

  Jeremiah was pleased to see the serum working as intended. Now it was time for him to ask the questions. “Thank you, Grace. That will be all for now. I’ll take over from here.”

  Grace stared at him. She opened her mouth and started to object but seemed to change her mind. “Sure, whatever you want. You’re the boss.”

  “I am indeed.” He reached for his cane leaning against the wall. “I have one more thing I need you to do. Could you return in an hour to make sure she receives a bath and a change of clothes? Have the guard assist you. I’ll make sure he returns to his post when I’m done here.”

  “That’s not within my realm of expertise.” Grace was clearly annoyed by the imposition.

  “I realize that, but the need for discretion is paramount. I want to keep the number of people that know she’s here to a minimum. Besides, this task needs a woman’s touch. I won’t trust the men to carry this out for me, not without your supervision at the very least.”

  “Fine–I’ll do it because you asked so nicely.”

  Jeremiah noted the sarcasm in her voice. It didn’t bother him. He knew she would do what he asked. “Thank you. You can send Therese to pick up new clothes for her. And make sure they’re appropriate attire for cold weather. It’ll be freezing where we’re going.”

  “Is that it? Anything else?”

  “Actually, there is. I want her brought to my private chambers when you’ve finished cleaning her up. Make sure she’s sedated and bring her in the wheelchair. It’ll be easier to travel that way.” Jeremiah walked over to where Grace stood. “This woman is important to me. I’m trusting you to carry out what I’ve asked. Make sure it gets done.”

  Grace looked away from Jeremiah’s penetrating stare. “I will.”

  He smiled at her before she turned towards the open cell door. Listening to the click of her heels fade down the hall, he waited a moment before making sure he and Susan were the only ones left in the hall of cells.

  She was not pleased.

  “That doesn’t matter. She’ll do what I ask.” Stepping back into the cell, he shut the door, then turned around to find Susan staring at him.

  “Where am I?” she asked.

  Surprised by her sudden clarity, Jeremiah thought the serum Dr. Sanborn supplied had failed. Whatever the case, he still needed to press on. “You’re safe here, Susan. May I call you that?”

  “Yes,” she said, her head drooping forward once again.

  “Thank you. I have some questions to ask you, Susan.”

  She failed to respond but raised her eyes to meet his.

  “You have any children?” he asked.

  Following a brief moment of silence, she answered the question. “Yes, I do.”

  “How many?”

  “One.”

  “I’ll guess you have a son,” he said with a smile.

  “Yes, James...James is my son.”

  Jeremiah was mistaken. The serum was still working. “Where is he now?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Her answer wasn’t unexpected considering James had seemingly vanished in the middle of nowhere during Evelynn’s pursuit. If his estate didn’t know his whereabouts, how could she? But it didn’t matter; this line of questioning was over. It was time to move on to the more important issue at hand.

  Kneeling before her, he reached into his suit and pulled out the medallion he’d been carrying. “Susan, I need you to look at something for me.”

  Lifting her red and tired eyes, tears began trickling down her cheeks.

  “I miss him,” she said, her voice quivering.

  “I’m sure you do. You’ll see James again, but for now, I need you to look at this.” Holding the medallion in front of her face, he waited for a reaction. To his disappointment, she failed to do so. She behaved as if she never saw one before in her life.

  Let her touch it.

  “How? She’s cuffed to the chair!” Standing up, he looked down at the woman seated before him.

  I understand. Let it touch her. Place it on her lap.

  Jeremiah nodded, following Ebondust’s instructions. A golden light immediately erupted from the medallion and filled the prison cell with an unearthly glow.

  His hands on his hips, Jeremiah raised his head towards the ceiling and laughed.

  You are pleased, as am I.

  “We’re one step closer, my faithful companion. She may not know what it is but I’m sure it knows who she is.” Picking up the medallion, he curled his free hand into a fist as the golden light faded from sight. “You can try to keep your power from me,” he scolded the circular piece of wood in his hand, “but there are other ways to wield the power you possess.”

  Slipping the medallion inside his jacket, he grasped the crystal orb on top of his cane and spun it hard. Letting go, he watched his cane spin in place. Wobbling as gravity took hold, he seized it before it fell noisily to the ground. Swinging it upwards, the tip hovered only inches from Susan’s face. “Thank you, my dear. You don’t know how happy you’ve made me. We’ll see each other again very soon.”

  Susan didn’t answer. She didn’t even look up as Jeremiah exited the cell.

  31

  “That’ll be twenty-nine ninety-five,” the cashier said.

  Taking out his wallet, Falconer removed some bills and handed them to the woman handling his purchases. Placing the items in a plastic bag, he left the store and started the short walk back to the condo.

  Enjoying the glorious sunset, he sensed Talon’s presence for the first time since his hasty departure. Looking up, he searched the skies but failed to see the young falcon; he could be perched on a ledge of any building along the way home.

  But he didn’t need to see Talon for his presence to have an effect. Just knowing he hadn’t abandoned him lifted Falconer’s spirit and lightened the heaviness he carried around these last couple of days. After the violent confrontation with the gun toting woman and the deaths of Riff and Castle, he needed a positive occurrence in his life.

  He entered the grounds of the condominium complex. Following the winding roadway looping around to the lobby entrance, he reached for the front door just as a shadow passed overhead. Looking up, he watched a large crow touch down on the hand railing of a gazebo nestled inside a cluster of nearby trees.

  Screeching loudly, the black bird stared at him while shaking its wings. Utilizing his medallion’s power, Falconer tried communicating with it but his attempt proved unsuccessful. Striding from the front entrance, he stepped onto a woodchip path leading over to the gazebo. But the crow didn’t wait for his arrival. As he drew closer, it flew around the side of the building.

  Falconer felt compelled to follow. He suspected it wasn’t a bird but a message from Micah in the form of one. Rounding the corner, he spotted his jeep parked near the rear entrance of the building. It was a clear sign Galen had returned; he borrowed the jeep the night before last.

  The crow landed on the hood of the mud smeared jeep. As Falconer approached it, two young women exited the condo’s back door, causing the crow to fly off. The women muttered and glanced at the filthy vehicle, then something caught their attention and they suddenly stopped. Whispering to each other, they stared at something inside of the jeep. Seeing Falconer walking up, the women continued on their way.

  Stopping alongside his vehicle, he saw what they were looking at: a young man he didn’t know lay curled up in the backseat. Wearing only blue jeans and black running shoes, he was naked from the waist up. His right shoulder bandaged in gauze soaked with blood, he shivered in the coolness of the coming night.

  Falconer couldn’t fathom why Galen brought the injured man here instead of taking him to a hospital. At least he dressed the wound and probably applied his healing salve, he mused.

  The man was cold and his blood loss didn’t help matters. He needed immediate help or his condition would worsen. Retrieving a blanket stashed
in the back of the jeep, he covered the injured man up. Unsure of what to do next, Falconer stood beside his jeep and stared at the young man with long dark hair and tanned skin. If he had to guess, he would say he hailed from the same place as Micah. They may even be related; his features were similar to those of the shaman.

  And where was Galen through all of this?

  The keys were in the ignition. If the injured man was related to Micah, he had to do what he could to help him. Even if he wasn’t, he still had to do something. Dropping his groceries onto the passenger seat, he slipped in behind the steering wheel.

  “Who are you?” the man asked weakly.

  He was awake. Turning the key, Falconer revved the motor before glancing at the man struggling to get up. “Keep still,” Falconer ordered. “I’m going to help you. I’m taking you to a hospital.”

  “No! No hospital!”

  Falconer was surprised the man found the strength to yell so loudly. “You’re hurt and should see a doctor.”

  “My wound is healing,” the young man said. “Where is Galen?” Pushing himself up from the backseat, he looked around in search of the strange old man.

  “I don’t know where he is.”

  He pulled the blanket tightly around him. “He is nearby. I can feel him.”

  “You really should go to a hospital,” Falconer said as he scanned the loading zone and garbage bay in hopes of seeing Galen.

  “No, I won’t. I don’t trust your medicine or your doctors.”

  “My? Wait a second...” Falconer’s suspicions were correct; he did come from the same place as Micah. Realizing this, he also understood that taking him to a hospital was no longer an option. His intentions were good, but now that he had a moment to think, he knew the doctors would have questions regarding this man’s identity and how he received his injuries. He was also sure the man didn’t have any identification. Considering his injury and lack of I.D., the law could become involved. It was a complication Falconer didn’t need. The young man he felt obligated to help didn’t need it either.

  Shifting the jeep into drive, he headed for the underground parking lot. Driving down the ramp, his mind occupied by the crisis he faced, he failed to see the crow flying in behind him.

  Arriving at his parking space, he switched off the engine, then jumped out of the jeep. The young man watched him through moist and tired eyes. Reaching out, Falconer attempted to assist him from the vehicle, but he hesitated to accept his help.

  “I’m here to help you,” Falconer said, trying to reassure him. “If I wasn’t, why would Galen bring you here?”

  The two men stared at one another. Falconer could see him pondering his words. Nodding his head in agreement, he relented and accepted Falconer’s help.

  “What’s your name?” Falconer asked as the young man leaned against him.

  “My name is Wren. Where are we going?”

  “I live here. We’re going up to my condo.”

  Still wrapped in the blanket, Wren moved unsteadily on his feet, his uninjured arm around Falconer’s shoulder. Leaving the parking space, they were startled to find Galen standing next to the concrete pillar.

  “Dammit, Galen,” Falconer shouted.

  Galen looked at him and then at Wren, his expression unchanged by Falconer’s outburst.

  Before Falconer could question him, a slamming metal door distracted the group. They glanced in unison towards the direction of the sound. A security guard, one Falconer was familiar with, walked towards them while chatting on a two-way radio.

  “I will assist Wren. You talk with him,” Galen said.

  The old man stepped forward to support the injured man. Standing in front of his companions, Falconer nodded at the large, dark-complexioned security guard sauntering up to him.

  “Hi, Mr. Carter,” the guard said with a friendly grin. “Everythin’ okay here?” He glanced at Wren and Galen, his eyes lingering briefly.

  “Yep,” he answered with a tight smile. “My friend had too much to drink while we were out.” Falconer was thankful Wren was still wrapped in the blanket. It hid his injuries from prying eyes and kept the guard from asking questions he didn’t have any answers for.

  “Man, your jeep is just covered in mud,” the guard said.

  “Yeah, we were off-roading. What’s the point of having a jeep if you don’t get it dirty every once in a while?”

  The guard nodded. “Sure, I get it.” Removing a small notepad from his jacket, he started jotting things down.

  Galen assisted Wren past Falconer and the curious security guard. He looked them over once again, but regardless of what he was thinking, Falconer knew he wasn’t interested in creating more work for himself unless he really had to, and he wasn’t about to give him any reason to do so.

  “Have a good shift,” Falconer said, leaving his parking spot.

  “Thanks, boss.”

  He hadn’t gone more than five steps when the guard called out to him. “Hey, Mr. Carter, did ya see a large black bird anywhere down here?”

  “A what?”

  “I saw some huge bird fly inna the garage on the surveillance cameras but lost sight of it. It came in right behind ya.”

  “No, I didn’t see anything like that.” Falconer didn’t have time to think about the bird; there were more urgent matters to deal with.

  “Okay. I’ll keep lookin’. Have a good night.”

  “Thanks, Earl.”

  The guard moved off in search of the bird. Falconer joined Galen and Wren by the entrance into the condo. Letting them in, they entered the elevator bay, summoned one, and waited for it to arrive.

  “How are you feeling?” Falconer asked.

  Wren smiled weakly. “I am tired.”

  Falconer looked at Galen. He had questions for the old man but wasn’t in the mood for his cryptic responses. Besides, this wasn’t the time or place. Once they were settled upstairs and Wren taken care of, there would be time to speak with Galen.

  An elevator arrived and a family strolled out before the men went inside. Pressing the button for the penthouse floor, Falconer hoped for a nonstop ride to the top. But the elevator stopped at the lobby, the door opening wide to allow additional riders in. The couple standing there took one look at the trio within and politely declined with apologies.

  Riding the rest of the way uninterrupted, they exited onto the penthouse floor. Slipping a key into the lock of his apartment door, Falconer entered first followed by Galen and Wren. Flipping on the lights, he beckoned his companions to follow him to the bedroom.

  “We need to change his dressing,” Falconer said.

  Galen dropped Wren onto the unmade bed. Moaning from the jarring stop on the firm mattress, Wren shut his eyes as he grappled with the pain shooting through his shoulder.

  “Hey!” Falconer glared at Galen but soon realized he was oblivious to his carelessness.

  The old man knelt next to the bed. “I will change it. You prepare nourishment,” he said as he began removing the bloody bandages from Wren’s damaged right shoulder.

  Thinking about what to prepare, Falconer remembered his bag of groceries. With all the distractions since returning from the store, he had accidentally left it behind in the jeep. There were some items he bought that Wren would probably appreciate. Shaking his head at the oversight, he started to explain the situation but decided against it.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said. It was all they needed to know.

  Descending to the underground lot, he walked briskly to the jeep. Picking up the bag of groceries, he saw the blood Wren had left across the backseats. His vehicle needed a thorough cleaning, both inside and out.

  Scanning the interior for further bloodstains, he spotted something jutting out from underneath the passenger seat. With all the chaos since Galen’s return, it was hardly surprising he hadn’t seen it earlier.

  The object lay partially exposed for all to see. If Earl glanced inside the jeep during his rounds, he would notice the blood and see
the broken black bow stuffed beneath the seat. He could only imagine where that would lead.

  He didn’t know Wren but the bow had to be his; he just couldn’t imagine Galen using or even owning one. Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, he turned around and saw Earl coming over once again.

  Having lost the opportunity to dispose of the bow, he headed back to the condo in hopes of drawing the guard from the jeep. Earl joined him as Falconer suspected he would, and they entered the condo together.

  “Did you find the bird?” Falconer asked, summoning an elevator.

  “Nah, I didn’t see it anywhere. Probably got out same way it got in.”

  The elevator arrived and the two men entered the empty compartment.

  “Oh, I almost forgot,” Earl said as the door closed. “A girl came by earlier lookin’ for you.”

  “Really? Who?” His body began slickening with sweat.

  “She didn’t leave a name. I asked, but she didn’t wanna leave a message. Said she was gonna surprise ya.”

  Falconer shivered involuntarily as a bolt of ice spread through his stomach and into his chest.

  The elevator door opened on the main floor. Falconer followed Earl into the lobby. He planned on heading upstairs, but after hearing about his mysterious visitor, he needed to confirm what his guts were trying to convey. If he was right, then he and his companions were in grave danger.

  “What did she look like?” He tried to remain calm but his expression betrayed him.

  Earl raised an eyebrow, his smile changing to a frown. “Somethin’ wrong, Mr. Carter?”

  “Earl, please! What did she look like?”

  “Cute white girl, long reddish hair tied back inna tail. She had this cool leather coat on, one a’ those long ones, ya know?”

  “Oh, no...”

  “Kinda hot to be wearin’ it, though.” Earl gave him and inquisitive look. “Who is she?”

  Falconer ignored the question, asking one of his own instead. “What did she say to you? I need to know exactly.”

  “She came in and asked for ya, that’s it.”

  “By name? She asked for Shane Carter?”

  “Yeah, she did. What’s goin’ on? Are you in some kinda trouble?”