The 7th Relic, page 9
“I still don’t get it.”
“What he’s saying,” interrupts Andrew, now at my side with Haro. The old man has his hand on a cart handle attached to a large strapped trunk. “Jeffery is nowhere near the magician this guy is, and this guy is not even close to Vilzen’s league.”
“We should go.” Haro’s eyes roam the crowd.
Andrew turns his head to the side as if catching a sound, a sound he hears above the din. I recognize that look. He places a hand on my back, leading me away from Reiko, and pushes me forward. “Yeah, we should go.”
Forty-five minutes later we are in a rental car on our way to the Strip. Reiko is driving with Haro at his side, while Andrew and I ride in the backseat. Other than a visit to San Francisco years ago and the last three days in the city, I have never been anywhere outside of the Ranch. Everything I have learned about the outside world I learned from the people I trained with, the staff and teachers, or from magazines Konè allowed Lana to have. We read them over and over again until a new one arrived. There were TV sets in all the lounge areas, but with the training and studies, there was little time to be too engaged in them. Still, they provided entertainment and news of the outside world. But here, in this place, it’s all so much larger than life. It’s so wide, so open, overexposed and overwhelming.
We ease our way to the Strip in no time. The traffic of cars and people are a spectacle of noise and sight that rush at me from everywhere. We stop at a stoplight on Las Vegas Boulevard and I try to take everything in; rows of casinos continue forever along both sides of the boulevard. I concentrate on the immediate sights, taking in the large rollercoaster of the New York, New York Casino Hotel. Then my eyes dart to the Excalibur, which caught my attention from afar with its Disney-like castle. And as big as it is, I almost missed the MGM golden lion.
I don’t know when it hit me, not so much a pulling sensation but more of a calling. A slight tremor runs through me, my eyes scanning the streets, everywhere at once. The vibrations become more violent, emitting a high pitch, and suddenly I’m deaf to everything around me.
And then it stops.
My vision is tunneled to a spot at New York, New York’s version of the Statue of Liberty. A lone figure stands among the crowd of passersby, dressed like a derelict, but I know he isn’t. Something about the way he stands, the way people seem to go around him without seeing him. His face is clean, a contradiction to his clothes. His blond hair seems to float about him, his golden eyes intense and clear. If there were angels on earth, they would look like him, and yet would never be his equal in beauty. And then he smiles. Our eyes lock and I now feel the pull—tense, strong and insistent—as he stretches his hand out to me, gently urging me to take it.
“Grace!” Andrew catches me before my face smashes into his window.
The car swerves as Reiko pulls to the right, heading toward the hotel’s parking lot. There are flames at my throat, and Andrew throws me back into my seat, taking off his coat in one swift move. He throws it over me, patting me down around my neck and shoulders. The seat catches fire and Andrew attempts to put it out with his hands. Outside noises slam into me and I cover my ears, pushing my hands hard against them.
Reiko drives to the far corner of the parking area and pulls to a stop. Andrew yanks me from my seat, pulling me out of the car. He’s practically carrying me to the other side of the garage. I turn and see Reiko helping Haro remove his large trunk from the car. They run to catch up. When Haro reaches me, he pulls my hands from my ears and replaces them with his own. The noise subsides, the nausea I was feeling eases and I gasp, trying to suck in air.
The panic sets in. “Was…was I on fire?” The image of the Blue Demon flashes before me, and along with it I feel the heat from the fire at the Ranch.
The old man takes my hands, rubbing them gently. “It’s all right, Grace. Calm down, breathe. You’re all right.”
I do as he orders and find him standing uncomfortably close to me. His sharp eyes search my face, then drop to my neck. My hand automatically goes there, feeling the burned area before it turns to smooth skin. I look down, pulling at my shirt. The entire collar has been burned off, exposing more chest than I’m used to. What the hell just happened?
“Interesting.” His eyes still intent on my neck.
“Where’s Andrew?”
Reiko places a hand on my shoulder. “He’s searching the area.”
I stand panting, confused at my panicked state and unsure of what to do.
“So…he didn’t go up in flames?” I stare at the car.
“He’s okay.” Reiko looks me over, concerned.
Haro steps up, removing Reiko’s hold on me. “Please, calm yourself. Andrew will return momentarily.”
“Okay, I’m sorry.” I cross my arms, rubbing them. Andrew is okay. Not burned up.
Reiko places a hand on my shoulder again. His touch is warm and comforting, but I’m unable to meet his eye. I should be happy about his show of affection; I mean I’ve been waiting for it for a long time now. “It’s okay, Grace.” He pulls me to him, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
I relax into his embrace, relieved when I sense Andrew’s approach behind me. I turn to him. “Thank God, you’re okay.”
There is a strange look on his face. Is he angry with me? “Yes, I can see how worried you are. I also see you’ve recovered from your ordeal.”
I step away, feeling a little odd that I should worry what Andrew thinks when it comes to Reiko. In fact, the whole idea that it should matter irks me a bit. I step in again, awkwardly placing my hand on Reiko’s chest. I turn to Reiko, and see a surprised look on his face. He clears his throat and, drops his arm. He steps back as if to speak with Haro. The old man speaks first.
“Grace, tell us what happened.”
I clear my throat, thankful for Haro’s interruption. “I don’t know—you tell me. One minute I’m in the back seat, the next minute Andrew is beating the crap out of me.” I turn to Andrew. “How did you disappear so fast? I thought maybe you were hurt. I…I didn’t mean for it to happen, it just…I don’t know.”
Andrew’s attitude changes at my distress. “We know it wasn’t you. The relic must be triggered by your emotions. What made you want to jump out of the car?”
I blink at him. “The what?”
“You have the relic on you, Grace,” says Haro. “That’s what caused the fire in the car. It came from you, from around your neck. The last piece of the relic is a necklace with a medallion that ties all seven pieces together. I had my suspicions, but what just happened has…” He doesn’t finish, just shakes head. He looks at Reiko, then Andrew. Something passes between them.
“What?” I’m not sure I really want to know. “Tell me.”
“Grace.” Andrew steps up while Haro and Reiko step back. “We believe you have the relic. Did Konè say anything to you, give you anything?”
I try to remember beyond the Blue Demon, beyond the flames. “No. He was drawing something on my chest. The water spell and then…”
“And then what?”
I stare at him for a moment, thinking maybe I’m still at the Ranch and everything that has happened so far is just a dream.
“Grace?” Andrew takes a hold of my arm. “What did Konè say?”
“I…he said there was a traitor.”
“Damn it.” Reiko turns from us. He spins back, facing Andrew. “I knew it. I told you this was the case. How else did they find the Ranch?”
“I believed you then, and I believe you now,” says Andrew. “The question is, who?” He turns to me. “Did he give you a name?”
“Konè didn’t give me anything and he didn’t say who the traitor was.” I try harder to remember but all I see is the fire and the demon’s eyes. “I don’t remember much, but I know he didn’t give me anything.” When they seem unconvinced, I step back and open my arms. “I swear, search me.”
“We won’t find it,” says Haro. “It’s under your skin, around the neck area where a necklace would be.” I touch the burned collar and despite the heat, I zip up my hoodie. He might be right. “It makes sense it would be triggered when Jleroh confronted her. Being awakened, the relic would try to protect its carrier. Konè’s fleeing spell or the water spell, or both, probably triggered it.”
“But my skin is healed. If Konè gave me the relic, wouldn’t it have kept burning…and also just now in the car?”
“Yes,” replies Haro, “But each time it was stopped, its process interfered with, first by Konè and just now by Andrew.” He turns back to Andrew. “We need to get it back to Kalorii and put it back into its dormant state. Otherwise it will eventually burn Grace alive.”
Oh great, that’s just what I wanted to hear.
“What I don’t understand,” continues Haro, “is what happened in the car. What ignited it?”
I shrug. “Maybe it was the homeless guy?”
“What homeless guy?” they ask in unison, setting the hair on my arms on end.
“He was standing in front of the New York, New York hotel, on the corner. He was just standing there, staring right at me.” I look at Andrew. “Didn’t you see him?”
He looks about then turns to Haro. “Who?”
“Describe him,” says Haro.
“He was dressed like a homeless person, but his face was clean, fresh. He had blond hair, gold eyes, about Andrew’s height. He was beautiful.” There was something else, but I can’t seem to remember.
Reiko smirks. “Well, it doesn’t sound like our blue-skinned friend.”
“Did he have any scars, tattoos?” asks Haro, continuing his interrogation.
“No. He was just there, and his hair…”
“What about it?”
“I don’t know, I might have imagined it, but it was like, dancing around him and it looked like…never mind.”
Haro’s eyes become intense. “Looked like what, Grace?”
I look at each of them, steadying myself. “His hair, it was on fire.”
~ * ~
Chapter Fourteen
~ Andrew ~
“You know who she was describing, don’t you?”
It only took minutes for us to feel the Nevada heat and we quickly retreated inside the casino. I watch Grace as she takes in the milling of tourists, players, hosts and hostesses, the multi-level of noise and the flashing distractions. She seems to be able to take in more of her surroundings better than she did at the airport. I can see the confidence return in her steps, her shoulders relaxed—no sign of stress in how she carries herself as she walks easily beside Reiko.
Haro nods in response, his eyes missing nothing as we weave through the crowd. The large trunk is easily pulled along behind him. “I do, but it can’t be who we think it is.”
“She was describing Karas, the Sun God.” I scan the entrance area, noting the movements of the visitors going in and out, the valet staff and the rows of taxis waiting just outside the glass doors. “Unless there’s another deity you know of with a head full of fiery hair.”
The Cumro stops to adjust the cart when its wheel catches on the carpet. Once righted, he moves on. “There’s nothing at the Ranch of the sun god or of Aeyan. But, I can tell you that was not Karas.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because of the relic. It knew she was in danger even when she didn’t.”
“Jleroh?”
“Maybe.”
“Which gives credence to what Konè told Grace about a traitor in our midst.” I watch Reiko reach over and take a hold of Grace’s hand. She glances over her shoulder at me with a smug grin. “So, we have a wannabe sun god impersonator, a blue demon who just happens to be the leader of the Skytes and a human-possessing-whatever-the-hell that thing was.”
“Manuko.”
“Of course it was.”
Reiko holds the door for Grace, then waits for Haro and his trunk to go through, with me following behind it. He catches my attention, then slants his eyes at the valet directing traffic in the middle of the hotel’s four-lane driveway. I nod, barely noticeable to those around us, with the exception of Haro, who misses nothing.
“What time are we meeting your man?” I ask the Cumro, feeling a little exposed.
“Tonight, 9 p.m.”
“No way to meet him sooner?”
Haro stops to face me. “You don’t give the first cousin to the king orders unless you are the king.” He glances at the valet. “Something wrong?”
“Bad memories causing bad vibes.”
The valet looks more like a linebacker on steroids than someone who directs traffic. A valet or a killer, it’s our business to know how to tell the difference and this guy is one of the baddest kinds of private henchman.
The bruiser casually holds his hand up to an oncoming Bentley. He tips his hat and waves a younger team member over to assist the senior couple with their valet needs. He continues to make his way toward us, pulling his gloves off. I can’t help but notice how big his hands are, more knuckles than hand. I casually take off my coat. Reiko and Haro do the same. Grace, unaware of what’s happening, keeps hers on, despite the heat.
She stops, looking about her, unsure of which way to go. She turns, giving us a “where to?” look.
I smile at her and point north. “We’re heading toward the Strip.”
She turns back and literally bumps into the valet. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She looks up at the giant with genuine concern. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
He stares at her for a moment with a bemused look. Reiko pulls out his Glock while Haro moves his lips, chanting a spell, ready to release it. I place a hand on his shoulder, stopping him, then shake my head at Reiko. He hides his gun under his coat, now draped over his arm.
“Pardon me, Miss. I should be the one to apologize. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” The valet’s voice is a deep and coarse. He glances my way, letting me know he recognizes me with a nod, then smiles and tips his cap at Grace. “Have a wonderful day, Miss. Enjoy your visit to our beautiful city.” He walks past Haro and Reiko and when he reaches me, he stops. “Will we have any problems, Prince?”
I shake my head, looking about me. “Problems? On a beautiful day like this? No…no problems. It’s too bad we’re only here for a day.”
“I see. Then have a pleasant visit…unless I should see you tomorrow.” He nods one last time, then moves past me, disappearing into the casino.
Haro steps close, eyes on the valet’s back. “Ah, the Monroe job you and Reiko did a few years back. I thought Konè smoothed things over?”
“He did, with the main boss, not the main boss’s head henchman. He promised if we ever show our faces here again, he would tear them off and have them for breakfast. Not really looking forward to that.”
“Since you still have your face, I take it that wasn’t him?”
“No,” says Reiko. “That was his head henchman.” He looks at Haro, then adds, “Thugs have a hierarchy within their ranks, too.” He shrugs, then makes his way to a waiting Grace. She looks like she’s burning up in her jacket, but she makes no move to take it off.
Haro moves to join Grace. “I wouldn’t worry about it. That happened years back; I am sure it’s water under the bridge. Besides, no one will dare harm the next ruler of Kalorii.”
Reiko stares after Haro, not finding his words funny. I join them as they talk quietly, a concerned look on Grace’s face.
I notice the sweat on her forehead and upper lip. “What’s wrong?”
“I need water,” she replies.
“I’m going back in to buy some at the magazine stand.” Reiko takes off, not waiting to see if Haro and I want anything.
“Take off your jacket,” I reach to help her out of her hoodie.
She steps away, grabbing at the opening. “No.”
“Grace, it’s almost triple digit temperature here. You’re not use to this type of heat. If you don’t try and cool yourself down, you may have heatstroke. Take off your jacket.”
“No.” She takes another step back. “How can it be so hot here? It’s mid-September. This heat is insane.”
Haro places a hand on her arm. “Why don’t we go back inside while we wait for Reiko and the drinks? I remember passing a clothing store or two, maybe we can go and see what they have?”
Ah, one of the lessons taught to the young students, boys and girls, was the lesson in propriety. Grace’s shirt. It was burned at the collar and front area. By the time I put the fire out, a good part of her chest was exposed. Not that that image hasn’t played through my mind more than once since it happened.
“Thank you, Haro, that would be nice.” She gives the old man a grateful smile.
Haro turns to me, hand extended, with his palm up.
“What?”
When he remains quiet, hand still out, I sigh and reach for my wallet. “Fine. And get her a hat. That red hair of hers is like a beacon.”
She pushes past me, giving me a disgruntle look. “It’s not as if it’s a bright red.”
She follows Haro back into the casino, leaving me standing with the trunk. Before going back in, she pulls her hood up.
I decide to wait for Reiko’s return. The heat here is stifling, but it doesn’t seem to stop the horde of visitors from trampling along the Strip. Although the end of summer tourism has slowed, the September convention crowd has filled the Strip with constant buzz. The season will end sometime in late March, early April. By the end of next spring, this city will have hosted millions of attendees of citywide conventions.
Reiko returns ten minutes later. “Where’s Grace and Haro?”
“They’re back in the casino.”
He takes a bottled water from a plastic bag and hands it to me. “We’re exposed here. We need to move.”
I nod, taking a swallow, the liquid a cool relief. “I know. As soon as they’re out, we’ll get going.”
“I take it you and Haro have discussed Grace’s burning man? If I’m not mistaken she was describing Karas. So, what’s up with that?”
I finish off what’s left of my water before answering. “An illusion, a fake, another trick of Jleroh’s?”
