by Tom Keller
"More accurate than the old ways," he replied, smiling. "One cannot deny the efficiency of modern human technology."
I saw now that the map was one of Dixie Forest in Utah. The spot marked was not too far from Panquitch lake. I knew the area a bit. It was a popular getaway place for folks from Vegas. Camping, skiing, fishing, all were available nearby, depending on the season, and I'd been there a few times with my kids over the years. There was something else I knew about the area as well. The oaks in that forest were small. Too small for the Hamadryad to populate. In effect, were I a regular Fae, my resources would be limited.
I laid the map down on the table and he pointed to the X.
"He will meet with you tomorrow at that location. In accordance with tradition, the use of magic is forbidden unless agreed upon during the meeting. That includes within 32 kilometers of the meeting place, both before, and immediately after," he said, then chuckled. "The actual distance was stated as 6.66 Roman leagues, but that distance of measurement is seldom used these days."
"He wants me to walk 20 miles there and back to see him?" I asked. I wasn't even going to mention the mark of the Devil reference. But this was sounding like a bigger pain in the ass then I first thought. Not that I couldn’t run that far, but without magic, it was risky. There was a lot of open space to go through, and like anyone, I wasn't sure how far I could trust the Devil, tradition or not. There was an upside, of course. You're a lot harder to track when you don’t use magic, at least by anyone that counts.
"Use any conveyance you wish," he replied. "As long as you do not use magic. A camel would be acceptable, or in this case, perhaps a horse."
"Okay," I said, shaking my head at the rules I had been asked to follow. "I'll be there."
"Then I will pass your agreement on to Anubis," he replied, raising his glass. "My duties here are concluded. Perhaps in the future, we can meet again."
"Maybe we will," I agreed, raising my glass in return.
We spoke for a few more minutes before he excused himself, saying he had other duties to attend to. As for me, I sat for a while, mulling the whole thing over. All in all, it had been an interesting meeting, even if the reason behind it was still a mystery. While I would have liked to learn more about what the Egyptians had been up to all these years, that wasn't something I could get to today. Well, at least he had gone to some trouble to follow decorum in asking for the meeting, but the question remained… What was I getting myself into… and why?
Excuse the pun, but what the hell? It's not like I wasn't gonna go, right? I just needed to figure out the best way to get there. 6.66 leagues my ass. Suddenly, I had an idea. I waved the waitress over and ordered a rare porterhouse to go for Charlie, then made my way to the dining room to see if my earlier friend in the four-wheel drive vehicle was still around. As I went by the bar, I nodded back to the ghost of the old miner, who tipped his glass as I passed.
Chapter 7
"Mr. Hoskins," the man behind the counter said as I presented my identification. He reached down and picked up a manila folder and held it up before placing it on the counter. He removed the paperwork and then placed his card on the table. "We've been expecting you. I was able to outfit your unit with the accessories you wanted. I've got the ownership papers right here and the bike's outside ready to go. Here, let me go over them with you."
"That won’t be necessary," I replied, looking over the documents before putting them back in the envelope. "I'm told we've done business with you before. I'm sure everything's fine."
"All legal and proper," the man said, coming around the counter and holding out his hand. "Mr. Cornwall is a regular. Has a cabin up here and stops by when he's in the neighborhood to say hi. He's ordered a few things from us, although I think this is the first time we've sold one over the phone sight unseen. By the way, I'm Ed. Come on out back and I'll show you what you bought."
I shook his hand as he held up the keys with the other and followed him through the side door outside.
The Cornwall he was referring to was Gerald Cornwall. A high-end Las Vegas attorney and a Fae himself. His firm handled most of the legal and accounting issues for a lot of the Fae in Vegas and was my attorney as well. The nice thing about dealing with Gerald's office was that they didn't ask too many questions, but they'd let you know if you were doing something that would get you into trouble, or noticed, which was the more dangerous in my case. After my discussion with the four-wheel drive owner back at the Pioneer, I'd called Gerald's office and told them what I needed. By the next day, they'd handled the transaction and another day later I was in Duck Creek Village, Utah, picking up a brand new UTV. A four seat SXS (Side by Side), 4X4 off- road vehicle for my latest trek through the woods.
UTV's were Utility Vehicles and an ATV was an All-Terrain Vehicle. UTV's usually had a side by side configuration, like a car, whereas ATV's, like quads, were more like motorcycles, with a driver and their passenger sitting behind. Modern versions were quick and sporty, and an entire industry had been spawned by their popularity. It gets even more confusing since any off-road vehicle with at least four wheels that can do over 30 mph is also called a ROV. That's a Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle for those of you that like to know what the acronym stands for. Anyway, I'd found it curious that so many people called the lot of them bikes, but the fact that they had motorcycle engines apparently explains it.
I'd transported Charlie and me into the forest not far from the store. We walked a short distance through the forest and then crossed the road and walked in like any one of the other dozen or so folks that were frequenting the only gas station and convenience store in the area. The UTV dealership was in the back, so I'd left him sitting by the front entrance when I went in. Lots of folks brought their pets up here and he didn’t look that out of place. Okay, maybe he did look a little out of place, but that was only because of his size. I whistled and he came bounding around the corner as Ed pointed out my new ride.
"Is he yours?" Ed asked, his eyes wide as he handed me the keys.
"Yeah," I replied as Charlie placed his head on one of the doors to look over the inside. "But don’t tell him I said that."
The big dog barked and then wandered off as the salesman gave me a quick overview of the machine. When he was finished, I looked to see Charlie towering over a small girl with reddish blonde hair. She was accompanied by her 20-something parents a few rows over. She was laughing and giggling as he licked her in the face and then waltzed back to me. I swear, he can be such a big lug at times, especially around kids.
"Sorry about that," I said to the child's parents. "He can be overly playful at times. Sometimes I swear he thinks he's a lap dog."
"It's fine," the woman said with a laugh, her own red hair blowing in the breeze. "Ireland loves animals, although I'm not sure she knows he's a dog. She keeps calling him horsie."
"She wouldn’t be the first," I replied, chuckling. "You folks buying one of these too?"
"Nah," the man said, eyeing my SXS. He pointed to two smaller machines with helmets sitting on the seats that were parked between the road and the lot. "Can't afford one just yet. But the quads are just as fun. They'll do for now."
I picked up my map and asked directions to the main trail I was planning to use. He pointed to a path that led out from the Village and into the forest through the area they were dry camping at.
"Got it," I said, picking up my own helmet and gloves from the seat as Charlie got in. I put them in the back seat for now. "Maybe I'll see you out there."
"Probably," the man agreed. "We're not too far from the main road. Just look for the red and white toy hauler."
I waved and the two of us took off, driving slowly along the small path that cut through the trees and led out of town. I followed the dirt trail down until I hit the intersection of Highway14 and Strawberry Point Road. Then turned left onto a wider dirt trail and further into the forest. From past experience and what I'd been told, Utah was very off road friendly and this area was k
nown as a great place to go camping, as well as a haven for off road enthusiasts. I passed several campsites, mostly populated with trailers and fifth wheels with ATV's and UTV's of their own, then pulled over in a secluded spot to let Charlie off.
"This is far enough," I said, getting out to open the door. "What do you think?"
"I do not like it," he said, sniffing the air. "But I sense no danger."
"Yeah, well…." I replied, getting back into the vehicle. I pulled on the gloves and picked up my helmet. "I don’t like it either. But this is just too frigging weird not to follow up on. Anyway, keep your nose in the air. I'll call you if I need you."
"I will be waiting," he said with a snort.
With the afternoon sun at my back and looking like any one of a dozen other riders, I put it in gear and continued up the trail, alone in my thoughts.
I'll say one thing. The SXS was a helluva lot of fun to drive. Besides being in an absolutely gorgeous forest, a lot of the trails I drove on were just big enough for larger four-wheel drive vehicles, but some were smaller, and contained little hills and curves that were just a blast to drive on. I saw now why these things were so popular. I'll tell you one thing about this ride. If there's ever a Zombie attack, you need one of these. This thing could go anywhere. Unfortunately, I wasn't here to have fun. So, keeping an eye on the map (and the road), and using my phone as a GPS, I eventually closed in on my destination.
I wasn't that far from Panquitch Lake when I turned off onto a side road and followed the GPS track deeper into the forest. A few minutes later, I spotted a nice campsite just off the trail I was riding on. I took the path between the pine trees and came upon a decent sized trailer. There was a small campfire blazing a few feet away from the RV. Next to it, a dark-haired man sat on a zero-gravity chair holding a cup in his hand.
He didn't look like the Devil. At least not like any version of the Devil you'd normally read about. Not that you can trust the history books. I mean, come on, whoever heard of a Lord Robert running Hades? Anyway, in his current persona, he could have been anyone. Not that that meant anything either. I wouldn’t have expected him to be in horns and wings. Instead, he was sitting by the fire, dressed in jeans and a plaid woolen shirt, much like I was. He raised his cup as I pulled in behind the trailer. I took off my gloves and helmet and set them on the seat, then walked over to the fire.
"Robert," he said with a smile. "Call me Lucifer. It was good of you to come."
"Thank you for inviting me," I replied, warming my hands on the fire. "Although I'll admit to being surprised at the invitation."
"Did you know that Hades and I were acquainted?" he asked. "The God that is. I will also admit to having visited your realm once or twice as well. Though that was many years ago, as you might imagine."
"I did not know that," I replied.
"I am not surprised," he said, getting up and walking over to the trailer. He bent down, taking two bottles with swing top caps from a cooler next to the steps. He tossed one over to me before popping the top of the other and returning to his seat by the fire.
"What's this," I asked, grabbing it out of the air.
"Private reserve," he replied. "By a particularly gifted brewmaster. A monk who traded his soul for the recipe. As good as any you'll find in your own lands. I think you'll find it worthy."
I swung open the cap and tasted it. If he was trying to impress me with his choice of libations, he was doing a good job. Not quite as appealing as Elf ale, if I say so myself, but much better than any Demon brew I'd ever sampled before.
"Not bad," I said, taking the bottle from my lips. "Now, you were saying something about having met Hades?"
"Yes," he replied. "We had many conversations, he and I. That was before the Fall, of course. In truth, I thought your land was closed off forever. Imagine my surprise when I heard that the realm was open again and that a new God ruled there."
"Yeah," I said, tipping the bottle in his direction. "I'll admit to it being a bit of a surprise to me as well. Although, if we're being honest, the place does need a bit of housekeeping."
"That is most likely an understatement," he said with a chuckle. "I imagine things were a bit in disarray since Hades demise so long ago."
"A bit. But nothing a new broom and a little elbow grease can't handle," I replied. "Not to be rude, but I don't usually get to meet with two Gods of an Underworld in a week. May I ask why I'm here? Certainly not just to talk about the old days."
"Straight to the point," he replied, tipping his own bottle back at me. "As you wish then. Know that we are not in competition, you and I. Hell and Hades are two different realms. Separated by their very nature, they will never compete with one another."
"Beelzebub certainly didn’t share that opinion," I said, taking another drink. "Trust me, he made that perfectly clear last time we met."
"No," he agreed. "He would not have. But then he was a Demon. Such is their nature."
"I'm sorry," I replied, shaking my head. "Now I am confused. Aren't you a Demon too, or did I miss something?"
"You of all beings should know you cannot believe everything you read," he replied, chuckling again. "As I recall, images of me as a Demon didn’t even crop up until sometime around the fourteenth century. Although knowing of your friendship with Rael, I cannot blame you for thinking that my fate was the same. While her appearance was changed after our little… insurrection… you could say. Mine was not. Although I doubt you would recognize me in my true form. Hellfire has a way of doing that, if you must know. But I did not ask you to come here to discuss the inaccuracies of ancient texts."
The reference to Rael was interesting. She was also a fallen Angel. But one that had not suffered the same fate as the others. While she had been transformed into Demon form, she had been allowed to remain on Earth when the others were sent to Hell. She had even rescued several of the Nephilim, at least from what I'd been told. Although other than some vague references to not playing an active part in their rebellion, the exact reason for her escape from further punishment was not known."
"Then I'll ask you again. Why am I here? And please don't tell me it's about Souls."
"Souls…," he repeated in a sarcastic tone as he shook his head. He got up from his chair and walked back to the cooler, grabbing two more bottles. He handed me one as he opened the other and returned to his chair. "While I'll admit that Souls are the currency of Hell, they play no part in my reason for asking you to come. Besides, I have Souls aplenty, and based on the activities of today's humans, I doubt there will be a shortage any time soon."
"Oh, come on," I replied, popping the cork on the new bottle. "They're not that bad."
"Please," he drawled. "Don’t misunderstand me, I am the Devil. Not only that, it is what I do. But I take no joy in their sentence. You should know that. As in your own realm, they choose their fate by the life they lead. All I am saying is that when it comes to Souls destined for Hell, there is a glut on the market these days, and I doubt that's going to change anytime soon."
"If you say so," I replied, setting down my bottle. I wanted to say that there was a difference. It's not like we helped them along in their path in my world, but that would have been bad manners. "Let's put the issue of humans and Souls aside for the moment. If, as you say, we're not in competition, then what can I do for you?"
"I require an introduction," he said, positioning himself to face me. "In exchange, I have information that will be of value to you in that which you seek."
"Let me get this straight," I replied. It was my turn to laugh. "You want me to make a deal with the Devil? I gotta be honest, that doesn't usually work out so well for most folks?"
"You need not fear the loss of your Soul," he said. "You are not human. Fae Souls cannot reside in Hell."
"Maybe not," I replied. "But I was raised Human, and some things hit a little close to home. But I'll admit you have me curious. Who do you want me to introduce you to?"
"Your son," he said.
&n
bsp; "You're kidding, right?" I asked, almost spitting out my beer. "What possible reason could you have for wanting me to introduce you to him? Better yet, he's a big boy. Why didn't you just contact him yourself?"
"I tried," he said, sheepishly. "I sent my daughter to present him an invitation. She may have been a bit… overzealous. Her intent was misconstrued. I understand he slew several of her best Demons before she decided it best to withdraw."
"Kicked some ass, did he?" I said, laughing again. "How did you expect him to act when the Devil's daughter shows up? Especially with a slew of Demons in tow? He's a friggin Demon Hunter, for God's sake. I can just imagine his response. Must have been quite the show!"
"I was told his skills in battle were quite impressive," the Devil agreed. "Hence my decision to contact you directly."
"I got it," I said, still chuckling. "This just keeps getting better and better. All right, and I can’t believe I'm even asking this. What is it exactly that you want from my son?"
"He was there to witness Beelzebub's treachery," he replied. "In fact, had he not interfered, we would not be discussing this today. Had he succeeded it would have been the end of us all. Not even the Gods of old would have escaped Armageddon had the gates of Heaven been breached."
"So, what? You want a blow by blow," I asked. "From everything I've heard, both Beelzebub and his not so heavenly Angel friend are both gone for good. Finding out where they disappeared to is way above my paygrade, if you know what I mean."
"I agree," he said, pointing his finger up in the air. "But it is not their disappearance that interests me. What does is the fate of Azazael. That is what I wish to speak with your son about."
"Azazael!" I exclaimed, almost spitting my beer out again. "Are you kidding me? No one knows what happened there. For all we know he went to the same place. If this is about some ancient dispute, I can guarantee you that my son isn’t going to want to get involved in any scheme that concerns your problems with Azazael."
"There is no scheme," he said, staring into the fire. "I have no dispute with him. There are only questions. Questions which must be answered, for both of our sakes."
