Chalice of Life

by R. A. Rock

  “Nobody except maybe those Shadows. Any idea who they could be?”

  “You mean if they aren’t human?” Tess said, thinking. “No idea. I mean they could be sent by the King from Ahlenerra except that they're using Dark Magic.”

  "Yes. That rules out the King. And the Dark Magic would definitely point to Ransetta but no Fae can use Dark Magic that way, can they?"

  "Not that I've ever heard or seen."

  “And the ring isn’t even that valuable,” Finn pointed out. “So they couldn’t have been there to get that. Plus, how many humans would actually know it was even there, right? Nah. It couldn't be the Shadows.”

  “Ignis knew. But he has sources. And he’s not human.”

  “Right,” Finn agreed.

  “But getting back to this Jayde person, websites have this ‘About’ section.” She pointed and Finn clicked on it.

  “There’s a link to an article. This is from before she got fired.” Finn scanned the page. “When she was still an up and coming archeologist.”

  “Up and coming?”

  “That’s what it says.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Dr. Jayde Flett,” he read. “Born and raised in Nelson House, Manitoba.” He started reading in his head.

  “Read out loud,” Tess said, impatient.

  “Her father was Cree but died in a car accident not long after she was born. Tragic, really.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Her mother was an archeologist, too, and traveled a lot. So Jayde stayed in Nelson House most of the time with her grandmother, who is Cree. Sounds like the mother was gone a lot, traveling, lecturing, that sort of thing. And Jayde followed in her footsteps and became an archeologist.”

  “Got it,” Tess said, surveying the table and the delicious snack foods on it. She picked up a bag and tore it open. A sweet smell wafted out of the bag. Mmm, cookies.

  “So… what are we going to do?”

  “What else?” Tess said, biting into another cookie and chewing, the sweetness bursting across her tongue. “We’re taking the Passageways to… Where did you say she is?”

  “Calgary. She’s studying the Medicine Wheel that was in that picture.”

  “That’s perfect then,” Tess said, opening another bag of chips. “We leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Sure,” Finn said. “I wonder if they’ve got any movies in this hotel.”

  Chapter 23

  Ethan picked up the folder with the information for his tour that Doyle wanted him to look at and approve. He stared at it for a long moment, then set it back down on the desk in his study.

  He stood up and stretched his arms overhead. Maybe he should go for a run before he started work. Or he was kind of hungry. He thought about getting some lunch from the kitchen. Nah, he wasn’t that hungry.

  He sighed, walking to the window. Los Angeles stretched out before him. His office had a stunning view of the city. But not even the beautiful view could bring the least bit of interest.

  Things hadn’t felt right since Tess and Finn had left yesterday. For so damn long, he had been quite content with his life. Sure, it hadn’t made him happy—not unless he was playing music—but it had been straightforward. It had been predictable. It had given him some small comfort.

  He could have everything he wanted.

  And throughout his entire long, long life, he had wanted so many things. Objects, status, states of mind. Happiness, really. But he had never really ever felt satisfied. No matter what he acquired, it was never enough.

  For a few hours, or days, or weeks, or sometimes even months, he felt happy and good. Then it would fade and the desperate hunger for something else, something more, would come roaring back.

  Music had lasted a long time. Had given him the most comfort and satisfaction. Had not yet faded. Was he finally getting tired of this and moving on to the next thing? He didn’t want to give up his music. No. Of course not.

  But the touring? The performing? The traveling? The crazy lifestyle? He had to confess that for a while now, he had been getting tired of all that.

  Still, he wasn’t about to give up his career. He needed it. It was the only thing keeping him sane. And no one wanted an insane immortal. That wouldn’t be good. Just look at Kayne.

  Not that Kayne was crazy.

  But he always seemed like he might snap at any moment. Or that was how he seemed to Ethan. Ethan considered himself fairly chill and he didn’t want to change that. He liked being easygoing and laidback. He didn’t want to go crazy. Music kept him on an even keel and he wanted it to stay that way.

  He sat down at the desk, determined.

  He opened the file folder, took a glance at the pages of text, and blew out his breath.

  Nope. Wasn’t going to happen.

  He closed the file again.

  There was a knock.

  “Come in,” Ethan said, spinning his chair back and forth.

  Doyle walked in. “Have you finished with finalizing the tour details?” he asked, using the mildly stern tone that he adopted when he wanted Ethan to do something.

  Ethan didn’t answer, thinking about what Tess had said when he’d first met them and refused to help them.

  “Doyle, do you think I’m selfish?”

  Doyle merely gazed at him and Ethan could tell he was unwilling to answer.

  “Do you?”

  “You protected the humans from evil for centuries, sir. That’s selfless, not selfish.”

  That was a good point.

  But he hadn’t said that Ethan wasn’t selfish now.

  He stood up and looked Doyle in the eye. “You didn’t answer the question.”

  Doyle sighed. “Sir, I’m sure that spending some time in the music scene, doing what human musicians do, and giving in to what you want after eons of thinking only of protecting the humans is not that selfish. Plus, you are immortal. Isn’t the time you’ve spent as a musician like the blink of an eye for you? Meaning that even though it seems to us like you’ve spent years this way, it’s only been a short time to you?”

  “It doesn’t exactly work like that,” Ethan said. Then he studied Doyle, still worried. “You’re not just saying all that to boost my ego, are you?”

  Doyle pulled himself up to his full stature and assumed a mildly disgruntled expression.

  “When have I ever told a lie to make you feel better, Ethan?”

  “Never,” Ethan said.

  “Sir,” he said, and Ethan felt like Doyle was suddenly getting real. “You’ve spent so long thinking of the humans that I feel that when you stopped doing that, you had a reverse reaction and you just had to simply take care of yourself for a while, of your wants and needs. I don’t always approve of what you do, sir, but I believe you are a good man. With a good heart.”

  Ethan suddenly had to blink back tears. Not many people had ever told him that.

  “You are who you are. And I would not work for someone who was selfish and self-serving.”

  “Thanks, Doyle,” he got out past the lump in his throat.

  “That said, sir, I can’t say that the Faerie wasn’t right, too.”

  Ethan thought about that. So Doyle thought he was a good man, but he also believed that he could be a better one. That sometimes he made bad decisions. But he could make different ones.

  Ethan couldn’t help but agree with his old friend.

  “And now that we’ve got that cleared up,” Doyle said, all business again. “What are you really worried about?”

  “I just can’t get into planning this tour. And I know we need to confirm all these things.” Ethan tapped on the file folder. “But I’m just not interested.”

  “In music?” Doyle inquired.

  “No, I’m still interested in music. I just don’t know if I want to do the whole crazy tour thing anymore. And maybe that’s selfish but—”

  Doyle interrupted him. “Being tired of touring doesn’t make you selfish, sir. It makes you normal. I can’t believe you’ve done it this long. It
is a terrible way to live.”

  And with those words, Ethan felt a wave of relief hit him. He dropped down into his chair again.

  “Perhaps, you can focus on writing and recording new material and never mind about the touring,” Doyle suggested. “There would still be plenty of money from that. And you don’t need money anyway.”

  “That’s a good idea, Doyle,” Ethan said, pointing at him. “Do I pay you enough, man? If I don’t, give yourself a raise.”

  “You pay me more than enough, sir. And you give me yearly raises. Don’t worry. Besides, the longevity treatments that you’ve paid for have given me an unusually long and healthy life. And I will always be grateful for that.”

  “I did it for selfish reasons, though, Doyle.” He stood up and walked around the desk. “I couldn’t imagine life without you, my friend.” Ethan clapped Doyle on the shoulder.

  The human smiled at him. Ethan was entirely sure that his life would completely collapse without Doyle running things. And what would he do without his starched and pressed personality taking care of him? The thought was incomprehensible. He didn’t know what he would do when Doyle eventually died like all the others.

  “Organization is my forte, sir. And I enjoy doing it for you. Some of my reasons might be selfish, too, as I make a lot of money working for you and have access to the best health and longevity practices and doctors on the planet. I’m eighty-one and I look like I’m in my forties. Not many men born before the second world war can say that.”

  Ethan might have used just a little magic to keep his friend even younger than what the humans could manage. But most of his good looks were due to Doyle’s healthy lifestyle and the longevity practices and treatments that Ethan had gotten him access to and paid for, so he didn’t bother correcting him.

  “Heard anything from Tess and Finn?” Doyle said before picking up the folder off the desk that had the tour information and tucking it under his arm.

  “Nah, I mean, it’s not like we’re friends. They don’t have to keep me informed of their whereabouts. And Finn seemed pretty eager to leave.”

  Ethan stared out the window when he spoke, afraid his old friend would see in his face how lonely he had been since they left.

  “I’m sure if you had a chance to spend more time with them, sir, you would become friends,” Doyle said, being his usual forthright self. “The three of you had good rapport.”

  “Good rapport?” Ethan turned away from the window to meet Doyle’s eyes. “Do you think so?”

  “Definitely, sir. I also spoke with them a little and I can attest that they both seemed rather intrigued by you.”

  Intrigued?

  Ethan gave an internal shrug. He’d take it. After his conversation with Ignis, he was feeling pretty poorly about himself. If they didn’t hate him, that was enough. He frowned. It had been a long time since he had to work for anyone’s interest and friendship. He had the human population generally falling at his feet. They were tumbling over themselves to be his friend or lover.

  “What is it, sir?” Doyle said, seeing his frown.

  “It’s been a long time since I actually wanted to make friends with anyone, Doyle.”

  “It has, sir. I fear I am not very good company. You ought to have more real friends.”

  “You’re great company, Doyle. It’s not that…”

  Doyle waited patiently. He couldn’t find the words to express what he felt about the two faeries that had unexpectedly come into his life. He wanted to be friends with them. But it felt like it was more than that.

  “It’s almost like we were… destined to meet.”

  “It’s quite possible, sir, considering who you are.”

  He was right.

  “I wonder how their quest for the Chalice is going?” Ethan said. “Maybe you could look into it for me, Doyle? If you find anything that might help, I could bring them the results. Give me a real reason to see them again and find out if this feeling about destiny is real or I’m just pathetic and lonely.”

  Doyle smiled fondly at him, an expression that Ethan rarely saw. “I can do that, sir.”

  “Check both human channels and use your Hunter contacts as well.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Ethan had tried to break him of the habit of calling him sir, but he would have none of it. In spite of his youthful appearance, he was an old-fashioned man. Born and raised in an era when politeness and keeping up appearances was everything. No matter how many anti-aging treatments Ethan got him, the doctors couldn’t remove Doyle’s outdated mindset. But Ethan was used to it. He found it comforting.

  “They can probably use all the help they can get,” Ethan said, thinking of how little they knew. “Two Fae in the modern human world.”

  “I can’t imagine it will be easy for them, Ethan,” Doyle said, leaving and shutting the door almost silently behind him.

  Chapter 24

  The sun balanced on the Rocky Mountains to the west of Calgary, its final rays coloring everything orange. From most places in the city, the mountain range was visible as long as it was a clear day. Tessa thought that maybe—just maybe—she might actually like the Earthly Realm a tiny bit, in moments like this anyway.

  “It says she lives on the fifth floor of this apartment building,” Finn said, glancing at the phone in his hand. They gazed up at the five-story building in Southeast Calgary. Then they opened the door and went in.

  “Where are the stairs?” Tess said, looking around. “This realm is so weird.”

  “And these doors don’t open,” Finn said, pointing at two metal double doors that were closed. He felt around for any way of getting them to open but found nothing.

  They glanced at each other in consternation. Was it that you couldn’t get to the fifth floor from the ground floor? That would be strange.

  Tessa was about to make a more thorough search for the stairs when suddenly, the doors in front of them opened and a man in a suit stepped out, giving them a nod and walking away.

  “Quick, go through,” Tessa said, zipping in.

  Finn followed. “This doesn’t go anywhere,” he said, disgusted. “It’s just a closet.”

  Without any warning, the doors closed again on their own.

  “What the…”

  “Hey, look here, Finn,” Tess said, showing him all the round buttons on her side.

  “It’s magic,” he said, glee on his face. “I miss magic.” His tone was nostalgic. “Okay, press five.”

  “It’s technology,” Tessa corrected him, pressing the button, which lit up. The closet started to move upward. Tess put her hand on her stomach, immediately queasy. “Not magic. Didn’t you listen to anything Ethan said?”

  “I listened to a lot,” Finn confirmed. “We talked about women. And trouble with women.”

  “Ha,” Tess said. “Short conversation for you two.”

  Finn ignored this sarcastic comment. “He was kind of hung up on this Immortal Huntress chick, Rebekah. But he says he’s never been in love.”

  “Never? How is that possible with someone as old as he must be? An immortal immortal. Can’t kill him no way, no how.”

  “You know that?”

  “I listened to him, too,” Tess said.

  “He thinks he’s incapable of love.”

  Tess snorted. That seemed typical of Ethan.

  “I told him he just hadn’t met the right woman yet.”

  “Yeah, he’d meet her a lot faster if he wasn’t so damn selfish. If he wasn’t completely focused on what he wants.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Tess shrugged.

  “No, really. Tell me.”

  The closet opened with a soft chime and they moved quickly out, afraid that the doors would close on them again. Tess breathed through her mouth as the stale odor of fried onions hit her nose.

  “It’s just he really is selfish. He wants? He gets. That’s how it’s always been for him because he’s powerful, handsome—”

  “Okay,
” Finn tried to interrupt her.

  “Immortal, hot—”

  “Yeah, I get it.”

  “A skilled fighter, great body—”

  “I’ve got the picture,” Finn said, annoyed.

  “Etc., etc., etc.,” Tess finished as if he hadn’t spoken. “You get the picture.”

  “I do get the picture,” Finn said as they walked down the hall, looking at numbers. “Are you going to make a point anytime soon?”

  Tess glanced at him with a smile. “I feel like our banter is better in English.”

  “Good old Earthly Realm,” he said, with a contented sigh. “But your point is?”

  “That when he wants something, he gets it. He’s never had to work for it. He probably doesn’t even try with women. They just fall in his lap.”

  “You didn’t,” Finn pointed out.

  “Of course not. My point is that he’s never learned how to treat women or probably anyone else the way he ought to. That’s why he’s never fallen in love. He probably never got far enough into a relationship to fall in love. Probably either him or her bailed before they got anywhere close to love.”

  Finn considered this. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “I’m right,” she said. “What’s the number? This one says 38.”

  “Uh,” Finn checked the address on his phone again, “apartment 44.”

  “There.” Tess pointed, her heartrate picking up.

  “Here goes nothing,” Finn said, amused at his words. “English.”

  Tess lifted her hand and knocked.

  “Sorry, who are you again?” Jayde Flett squinted at Tessa, suspicion all over her face.

  Jayde was a pretty woman. Shorter and slimmer than Tessa. Her skin was a lovely brown color, like the coffee Ethan liked to drink with only a tiny bit of cream. She was wearing a pale pink tank top and grey sweatpants. And her black hair was hanging down around her face, slightly messy as if she hadn’t done it yet today.

  “I’m Tessa Callahan and this is Finn Noble,” Tess introduced them.

  “Right. And why are you at my door?”

  “It’s about the Medicine Wheel,” Tess said.