A Modern Mage 2, page 9
I put my back to one of the trees.
Zoe dropped down to a knee and pricked her finger with a cleansed knife.
“His name’s Lazarus,” I told her. “Repeat after me. This is in Latin, so it’s going to be a bitch to remember, but make sure you get the words right.”
I went through the chant with her for two minutes until she had it perfect.
Zoe was a fast learner. She prepared herself just the way I’d taught her.
Calm, steady breaths. Pure focus. She was the anchor. Our intent was to reach the Order. And I’d already bulletproofed the circle.
Zoe let a single drop of her blood drop into the circle.
She spoke the words.
Golden fire erupted from the stakes. Bright yellow light seeped out of the stones at the edges of the ritual. My ears sang at the brand-new touch of my apprentice’s magic.
Our visitor appeared less than four seconds later.
9
The Order’s messenger spirit appeared in abrupt silence.
He hovered a foot off the ground. White priest’s robes hung off him, and he gently descended to the grass below. A long hood hung off his head. White eyes sparkled with curiosity as his feet touched the ground.
Zoe let out a quick huff of surprised breath and shot me a questioning look.
I nodded to her, and she backed away from the edge of the circle.
“Ezekiel,” Lazarus said.
His voice was warm, lightly accented with something European, and there was a gravity to it that made my ears hum.
“Lazarus,” I replied. “It’s been a long time.”
“The blink of an eye,” he assured me. “The Order was under the impression that you had no interest in joining our ranks.”
“I still don’t,” I assured the spirit.
The priestly spirit strolled closer, and his eyes flickered over me.
“The angel Kaselyn has touched you again, I see.”
Dark tattoos under my skin itched at the name of the angel.
“She did.”
“And she has left her mark. Summoning now lies beyond you.” Lazarus turned his eye down to the golden runes keeping him hemmed into the circle. “But not your lovely companion, it would appear. You have powerful potential, child.”
Zoe offered him a courtly bow that she’d learned from Gwen.
“A pleasure, sir,” my apprentice greeted him.
“Ezekiel taught you the summoning, but it appears that you’ve learned manners elsewhere,” Lazarus murmured. “What is your name, young sorceress?”
Zoe glanced at me, and I gave her another nod.
“Zoe Collins. I’m Zeke’s apprentice.”
“Apprentice? With your potential?”
Lazarus let out another laugh that made my teeth itch.
“Surely you could do with a better teacher, child. Ezekiel has many great qualities, but he lacks a deft hand when it comes to true power.”
“He’s the one I’m staying with,” Zoe replied firmly.
Her words made my heart flutter a little.
“Lazarus, I seek a meeting with the Order,” I said. “The Chosen have overstepped their bounds. They summoned the demon Carnius ten days ago and attacked humanity outside of Shiloh. I intend to do battle with them.”
The spirit’s eyes snapped to me.
The playful light in his eyes vanished.
“Now this is a development I did not expect,” Lazarus said. “The prodigal son seeks to strike down those that raised him. My fellows will be most interested in this information. What is it that you seek from the Order?”
“Information,” I echoed. “The Order may pretend like it’s above petty squabbles over the States, but I know that you keep tabs on the Emissaries. I haven’t been amongst the Chosen for years now. I don’t know where they’re holed up.”
“This information is known to us, yes.”
Lazarus’s eyes tracked between Zoe and me.
“I believe that a meeting could be arranged. A Contract drawn up. But it will require more than a simple intention to fight, Ezekiel. You know this.”
“I do. I’m willing to do the Order’s dirty work for them and credit you with any victory that we can wrestle from the situation,” I said. “Deeds are big currency with your networks. I’m happy to kick you the fame and the influence. I just want these people dealt with and out of my life.”
“And you are willing to take the consequences upon yourself?”
“Absolutely.”
The spirit tilted his head at the steel in my tone.
“Much has happened to you since we last spoke.”
“I got sick of waiting around for a knife in my back, Lazarus.”
The Order’s patron inclined his head. “Very well. Meet with Father Sandwell in Atlanta, two days hence. The Cathedral will suffice to this end. But there will be questions asked, Ezekiel. Especially regarding your new apprentice.”
“I’m counting on it,” I assured him. “Thank you for taking the time to see us.”
Lazarus dipped a finger down toward one of the flaming stakes. Golden magic suffused his silvery outline, and his eyes widened in appreciation at the touch of Zoe’s magic. He turned, bowed to her, and then to me.
“You are welcome,” Lazarus told me.
He meant it. Which was a strange feeling.
An unnaturally-warm wind gusted through the clearing in the trees, and the spirit vanished just as quickly as he’d arrived. Zoe released her hold on the summoning, and the golden fire winked out.
“Ask me on the way back,” I said.
I dropped to a knee and touched the edge of the circle.
Residual power hung in the air. But Lazarus hadn’t brought any hangers-on with him. Zoe rubbed her mouth on her sleeve with a grimace. I straightened up and winked at her, and we headed back to the Ford.
“Important questions first.” I started up the engine.
“He didn’t know about me,” Zoe said. “Right?”
I shook my head. “A spirit that powerful has probably heard whispers, but no. He had no idea what he was walking into. And before you ask, you did great. Better than great. Even Gwen couldn’t have whistled him up that fast.”
Zoe blushed. “Hate to say it, but it was easy.”
I grinned at her.
“Confidence looks good on you. All right, hit me.”
“Why did he just agree? He didn’t even ask anything of us in return.”
“Lazarus’s job is to carry the message. He’s the spokesman for anyone trying to reach out to the Order, but he doesn’t make the calls. That’ll be this Father Sandwell he was talking about.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. I could tell how powerful he was—close to Gwen, if not more so.” Zoe frowned. “Why wouldn’t he run the Order?”
“Because humanity does the heavy lifting,” I reminded her. “Spirits are intelligent enough to know that they’re vulnerable to being trapped, contained, and used by people who know what they’re doing. They can’t force us to do their bidding. That’s more a demon thing. So the good ones work with people that they know can get them what they want.”
“So spirits can only really encourage?”
“That’s a good way of thinking about it,” I agreed.
I pulled the Escort into the shed.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Zeke, but the last time you got involved with a Contract, things got out of hand. Are you sure this is the right way to go?”
We left the Ford behind, and I slung my kit over my shoulder.
“The Chosen broke their word first,” I reminded her. “I slid under their agreement, but they summoned a demon to kill me and came after me personally.”
“Which lost them some chops on the spooky side,” Zoe realized. “They shot themselves in the foot by not honoring the deal.”
I grunted agreement, and we made our way back up to the Farmhouse.
“I should talk to my parents,” Zoe said. “Let them know that I’m leaving.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
Zoe shot me a radiant smile that made my belly do acrobatics.
“That’s really sweet of you,” my apprentice told me. “But I think I’m going to do a better job of convincing them on my own. Go ahead and tell everyone what you’re planning to do. I’ll catch up.”
She caught my arm, stopped me mid-stride, and kissed me.
God, she was so damn gorgeous. Her lips reminded me of how pent-up I still was, and my girlfriend gave my ass a suggestive squeeze as she pulled back.
“I’ll find a way to make this morning up to you,” Zoe promised.
“Hopefully without an audience this time?”
“Definitely.”
It took me another ten minutes to get back to the Clarendons’ study. Bonnie had left by the time I got there. I filled in Clark and Vince on the details of the plan as quickly as I could. They offered counterpoints and decent tactical advice.
Clark leaned back in his chair after I repeated the adjusted plan back to him.
“I think I owe you an apology,” Clark told me. “About this morning.”
Heat stung my cheeks. “You didn’t do anything.”
“Bonnie did, and she should’ve known better. I think it’s obvious enough to you that she’s a little too close to you emotionally. And that it’s affecting her better judgment.” Clark shifted uncomfortably in his leather-backed chair. “I know that you work well together, but the last thing I want is for you three to find yourselves in an impossible situation.”
“I’ve got it handled,” I said.
Clark gave me a strange smile.
“I can barely keep her under control these days, Zeke, and she’s known us a lot longer than she’s known you. I won’t pull her off this op—I’d never hear the end of it—but I want you going in with your eyes open. Keep us in the loop.”
The honest, blunt approach to the situation just made me appreciate the man more. Clark could’ve danced around the subject, but he was laying out information to me, man to man. He knew that his niece was a serious asset.
Hearing that Bonnie liked me aloud was a strange feeling.
She hadn’t exactly tried to be subtle about it. I already had my hands full with Zoe, but I would’ve been lying to myself if I said that I didn’t find Bonnie attractive. There was a knowing look in Clark’s eyes as I tried to find the right way to respond.
“I’ll call our locals in Atlanta,” Clark continued. “You’ll have hardware, cash, and a place to stay when you arrive. They’re not trigger-pullers, but they’ve got sharp eyes. If there’s anyone watching the place or tracking you, they’ll let us know.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Zeke.”
He rose, and I shook his hand, then did the same with Vince.
A flutter of nervous excitement rattled around in my ribcage as I headed downstairs to prep for the drive to Atlanta. Taking all three of us in the Escort would save fuel, but I wasn’t sure that I was ready for that particular conversation after what Bonnie had pulled on us this morning.
I found Bonnie in the barn beside the Escort.
Her eyes snapped up to me as I lifted my keys off their hook.
“Zeke.”
“Hey,” I said.
She gave me a shamefaced look.
“About this morning—”
“I’m willing to write it off as a prank,” I interrupted. “One time thing. You’re testing the boundaries, seeing what you can get away with. I’m pretty sure that Clark already chewed you out about it, so I don’t need to pile on with him.”
Relief washed over her expression.
“If you’re going to apologize, save it for Zoe,” I suggested. “We are taking one car, or do you want to bring your truck along?”
“Two vehicles means better coverage if we’re doing recon,” Bonnie said.
I nodded, and I spotted Zoe out of the corner of my eye. My girlfriend had changed out of her jeans and button-down into something that reminded me more of the college girl I’d rescued. A sweatshirt with thumbholes, tighter-fitting exercise pants with pockets, and her sorcerer backpack slung over one shoulder.
She beamed at us.
I frowned. I’d expected her to be a little more pissed-off at Bonnie.
“I wanna ride with Bonnie,” Zoe announced.
Bonnie’s jaw dropped, and I blinked.
“We’ve got some things to talk about,” my apprentice said. “Big-girl stuff.”
My paranoia cranked up a notch, but I nodded, and we dispersed into our vehicles. I checked the time, planned out the route, and took point out of the Clarendons’ Farm.
It was a half-hour drive to Shiloh, then another two hours into Atlanta.
I filled up on the necessaries at a truck stop halfway along the highway, and we hit the capital before noon. I’d been all over the US, but I’d never found myself wandering around the sprawling streets of Atlanta before. I slowed down, let Bonnie’s F-150 overtake me, and followed her out to the Clarendon safe-house.
We pulled into a suburb called Candler Park two hours after we’d left Shiloh. Wide streets framed with handsome old town-houses met my eyes, and Bonnie steered up into a driveway ahead of me. I took the Escort around the block, and combed the area for any traces of supernatural energy or watching eyes.
Nothing.
We were alone, at least for the time being.
I pulled up to the curb, stepped out of the Escort, and went up into the house. The place was owned by an older couple called the Essexes. They had the same open, honest features that I’d come to associate with most of the Clarendons’ people. A subtle hum started up in my ears as they took us inside.
Zoe and Bonnie were all smiles as they introduced themselves.
I had no idea what they’d spoken about on the trip to Atlanta, but apparently they’d been able to smooth out whatever tension there’d been from the morning. Zoe didn’t have that wary, jealous look about her.
The Essex family brought us coffee, and Mr. Essex took us downstairs into a renovated basement. My eyes widened as the wards stepped up a notch. I couldn’t place exactly where the ritual was centered, but it felt rude to ask exactly how our hosts kept their place protected against supernatural nasties.
Mr. Essex led us over to a two-yard-squared corkboard fixed to the wall. An enormous map of Atlanta covered the board. Pins, newspaper articles, and even overhead drone spots speckled the map.
“I’ll leave you all to it in just a moment,” the Clarendon’s ally said. “But before I do, I should warn you. You’re not out in the country anymore.” He gestured to the red pins in the map, all of which corresponded with clippings of Dawn’s Chosen from the local news. “I got the brief from Vince. He assured me that you would handle this as quietly as possible. If there’s any kind of crimes committed, and they come back to us—”
“That won’t be a problem, sir,” Bonnie assured him.
“I’m just here for a meeting,” I added.
Mr. Essex nodded. “I’ve got people to protect in Atlanta. I can’t do that if I’m implicated in a murder investigation.”
He gave Bonnie a knowing smile, shook my hand, and made his way back up the stairs. I glanced around the basement with professional curiosity. A prayer shrine sat in a corner of the room, and a steady pulse of magical energy buzzed in my ears as I stepped closer toward it.
That was the anchor, then.
I’d never seen it done with Catholic icons, but there was real power flowing through the house. Enough to repel any Carriers who had an interest in breaking inside. I turned my attention back to the map and found Bonnie tracing her fingers over it.
“Zoe said that the meeting is in the cathedral,” the Blonde Bullet noted. “It’s right in the middle of the city. Lots of ways to see us coming in and out. How tight is intel within the Order?”
“Watertight,” I replied. “Our ears to theirs. We’ve got a day to kill before we have to meet them. Gives us some time to figure out how we’re going to approach this, and iron out any kinks in the Contract.”
“Looks like we’re staying here until then,” Bonnie agreed. “There’s mattresses in that closet—we can pull them out and camp out until we’re ready to move.”
Zoe gestured to a reinforced-steel door beside the floor-to-ceiling map.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Gun locker? You betcha,” Bonnie replied. “Everything a professional might need when it comes to punching holes in bad guys.”
“How do you know the Essexes?” I asked.
Bonnie smirked.
“You trying to get a peek under the hood at the Clarendon Railroad?”
“Still doesn’t make sense to me how you have access to so many people and resources if you’re just a big happy family parked down on the farm,” I said. “We’re talking the kind of connections that the Chosen could only dream of.”
“Sources and methods,” Bonnie told me with a laugh. “You’ll get a peek behind the veil soon enough, Zeke. Don’t you worry about that.” She started toward the stairs and winked at Zoe. “I’m going to help them with dinner—I’ll give you two some time to catch up.”
Bonnie slunk up the steps and left the implication dangling in the air behind her. Zoe rolled her eyes, but the comment didn’t bother her. The door at the top of the basement swung shut behind her.
I turned to my apprentice.
“Okay, what went down on the way here?” I asked.
“We kissed and made up,” Zoe assured me.
“Zoe, I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on women, but I’m pretty sure you were ready to break her nose this morning,” I said.
“I was,” she admitted. “We talked it out, Zeke.”
“How?”
Zoe slid away from the map, circled around me to a dining table surrounded by comfortable-looking chairs, and pulled one of them out. She gestured for me to sit down in it, and I gave her a steady look.
“This is serious,” I growled.
“It’s going to take a bit of explaining, and I think you’ll understand it better with a clearer head,” my apprentice said in an innocent tone.
