Dark Star, page 10
“Not unless you count the air ducts.”
“Good. Lock the door, and we’ll come get you when it’s safe.”
Harlan looked as if he were about to protest, but instead just nodded.
Nahum raced back up the stairs, pausing as he considered which way to go. Should he help Shadow, or his brothers? Deciding that Shadow could cope admirably on her own with one opponent, and not knowing how many his brothers might be facing, he ran to the main reception hall, but both Gabe and Niel were standing over the bodies of their dead assailants, breathing heavily.
Gabe frowned. “You’re covered in blood.”
He glanced down, noting the blood spatter across his ripped t-shirt. “I’m surprised there’s not more. So are you two. I don’t think our attackers were fully human.”
“Neither do I,” Niel said, crouching to turn over the man at his feet. “Their eyes look odd.”
“Let me guess, matte black, shark eyes?” Nahum asked.
“Something of the sort.”
“Not this one,” Gabe said, pointing to the man at the bottom of the stairs. “His eyes turned silvery. How many did you face, Nahum?”
“Two—brothers, by the look of them. Both huge, with matching beards. Both expert fighters.”
Gabe examined the man in the corner of the room. “These were, too. Shadow killed this one. Is she okay?”
“Of course I am,” she said, entering the room. Shadow looked none the worse for her encounter, although her hair had fallen loose from its knot on her head, and coils of it tumbled down her back. “Although, I lost the woman. She got out through a rear window and made it to a van on the street before I could catch up to her.” She nodded to the dead men on the floor. “What are they?”
“Enhanced humans?” Gabe suggested.
“Or weird shifters?” Niel countered.
“Either way, they were strong,” Shadow said. She looked at Nahum. “I take it the two huge guys out back are your work?”
“They are. Anybody else out there?”
She shook her head. “Not that I could see, but we should check the perimeter, just in case.”
She had voiced Nahum’s next plan, and he said, “I agree. Come with me, Shadow. Let’s make sure they’re all gone.”
“We’ll check in here,” Gabe said, and he and Niel left the reception area together, leaving Nahum and Shadow to exit through the rear again.
“Did you see them arrive?” Shadow asked Nahum, as he edged down the alleyway.
“We noticed a large black van on the road, blacked out windows, very suspicious. We kept an eye on it, and noticed someone exit and head to a side window. Then the others exited and walked around the back. That’s when me and Niel spilt up, and I called Gabe.”
They had reached the end of the alley now, and Nahum looked around the corner and then headed to the road, checking for unusual activity. “There’s nothing going on out here, and the van isn’t in sight.”
Shadow stood next to him, surveying the street, thoughtful. “So, we killed five, and one escaped. The woman headed to the passenger door, which means they had a driver who wasn’t involved. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a look at whoever it was. Did you?”
“No. I didn’t have time. My priority was getting in here,” Nahum said, annoyed with himself.
Shadow exhaled heavily. “We’re going to have to call Maggie Milne, aren’t we?”
Despite the situation, Nahum laughed at her bleak expression. “Yes, we are. But we acted in self-defence, and to protect others. Let’s hope she’s okay with that.”
They circled around the front of the building for good measure, but the road was quiet, and the late afternoon light was dim as clouds thickened overhead. Nahum sighed, satisfied. “I think we’re good for now, but we shouldn’t linger. For all we know, they’ve gone for backup.”
“They won’t come near the place with police here,” Shadow said. “But I agree. They’ll surely try again. And Caldwell may not be so lucky next time.”
Harlan studied Caldwell, who sat on the floor of the safe room in obvious shock. His hand was clutching his head, pushing his hair back off his face as he stared at Harlan.
“Were all those people sent to get the astrolabe?”
“It seems so. You’re lucky we were here, because you would have been dead by now. Although,” he frowned as he thought through the sequence of events, “they would have known we were here. They must have wanted to kill us all. That’s why they sent so many. They underestimated us.”
In fact, Harlan had to admit to himself, if he’d been without the Nephilim and Shadow, he might be dead, too. He’d felt useless as he’d snuck past Gabe and the others. They moved so quickly they were a blur, and when he’d seen the woman waiting at the top of the stairs, his heart almost failed him. He owed them all his life.
Aubrey looked a little more composed, clutching the astrolabe as he took deep, calming breaths. “I thought the rumours that surrounded this thing were exaggerated, but maybe I’m wrong.”
“Maybe?” Harlan snorted with scorn. “That thing must lead to something pretty special. You gonna hire an army to keep it safe? Because those people meant business.”
Caldwell looked up, sharply. “You think they’ll be back?”
“Of course! It’s a miracle you still have it. And,” he added thinking quickly, “you should tell all of your members to stay away from here for a good week, maybe longer. You don’t want to risk your members being kidnapped for blackmail purposes.”
“Shit.” Caldwell’s head dropped onto his knees. “I had no idea we would be risking so much for this thing.”
“Well, I suggest you give it more thought, because clearly there’s a lot at stake. Of course, if it’s all too much, you could always hand it over.”
“What?” Aubrey was apoplectic. “After all I’ve done to get it? I don’t think so! This is ours!”
“Well, Black Cronos thinks it’s theirs.” Harlan looked between them both. “Who’s right?”
“We are!” they said mutinously.
Harlan sat down too, leaning back against the wall, the soft carpet comfortably warm beneath him. The attack had certainly made up his mind. He was not giving the astrolabe to JD, and he was going to have to face the consequences. Perhaps JD would be glad of it when he found out about the attack. Harlan groaned to himself. Who was he kidding? JD would be furious.
When Gabe was satisfied that the building was secure, everyone gathered again in the reception room off the main hall. He’d left Nahum and Niel covering the front and rear doors, and he could hear Harlan out in the hall talking to Maggie Milne.
He felt sorry for Caldwell and Aubrey, who still looked shocked. “You need to take the astrolabe and hide it somewhere, and you should keep away from this building. They’ll try again.”
Caldwell rubbed his face as he paced the room. “But what are we supposed to do?”
Gabe shot Shadow an impatient look. She was leaning against the wall, watching nonchalantly, but he knew she was listening for any signs of attack. She raised an eyebrow, amused, and said, “Caldwell, you stole this. You must have expected repercussions.”
“Not like this, I didn’t.” He rounded on Aubrey. “You said you were discreet!”
He looked affronted, drawing himself up to his full height. “I was! No one knew I took it.”
“Wrong!” Gabe said dryly. ”Someone knew! Either Madame Charbonneau knew and has tracked you down. Or you have a leak…which I suggested the first time.”
“No one would betray us!” Caldwell insisted. “I trust the Inner Temple implicitly.” He might have sounded sure, but a flicker of doubt crossed his face.
“It could be a newer member?” Gabe suggested. “Or an older member, perhaps, who feels they been passed over for something?”
Aubrey and Caldwell exchanged questioning glances, but simultaneously shook their heads.
“No,” Aubrey answered. “I’ve known these people for many years, and they’re as committed to this action as us. It has to be someone else.”
“Madame Charbonneau, then?” Gabe persisted. “You were seen leaving the house, or perhaps left a clue behind.”
Aubrey looked like a petulant child. “No. I planned the theft well, and knew exactly where I was going.”
“If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t exactly look like a thief, or strike me as being nimble.”
“Well, you are clearly misjudging me!” Aubrey shot back, suddenly furious.
“Enough!” Caldwell shouted. “Whatever happened, we must deal with it.”
“Yes, you must,” Gabe said. “But we’ll be leaving as soon as we’ve spoken to Maggie Milne, so make sure your plan is a good one.”
Harlan’s head was already pounding, and as Maggie started to shout, he felt it start to escalate.
“Five fucking dead bodies!” she yelled. “What the fuck is the matter with you guys?”
“They attacked us,” Harlan pointed out, trying to stay calm. “If we, er—well, actually they—” he pointed to Gabe, Shadow, Niel, and Nahum who all stood in the reception room looking amused but trying to hide it, “hadn’t killed them, we would be dead! And we’re pretty sure they’re not human.”
“How do you know that? Did you ask them before you left their entrails all over the bloody floor?”
“It was the way they moved,” Gabe said, his voice low. “They were too fast, too agile, too hard to kill.”
Maggie rounded on him, looking him up and down scathingly. “Too hard to kill? What are you, a fucking assassin? Do you kill a lot?” There was a dangerous edge to her voice.
“Once, I did, but not anymore,” Gabe said evenly.
Maggie’s eyes slid to Shadow. “I knew I’d be meeting up with you again!”
“And once again, it’s a true pleasure,” Shadow said, her violet eyes mischievous. “Like Harlan said, we acted in self-defence!”
“Think it’s a fucking game, don’t you, with your smirks and cockiness? Well, it’s bloody not! You have killed five people.”
“Two escaped,” Shadow pointed out blithely.
“That doesn’t count!” she yelled. She looked at Nahum and Niel, quiet up to now, although covered in blood, and Nahum still wearing the remnants of his t-shirt. “And you two! I presume you’re toeing the party line?”
“We had no choice,” Nahum said calmly. “They arrived intending to kill all of us. They were heavily armed, organised, deadly, and competent, but they underestimated us. Harlan is right. We’d be dead if they weren’t.”
Maggie fell silent for a moment, and then turned back to Shadow. “Did you get a number plate?”
“No.”
“I did,” Niel said quietly. “I made sure to before I ran inside.”
Maggie’s attention swung back to him. “Good. You did something useful, then. Who did you say these guys worked for again?”
“Black Cronos—we think,” Harlan told her. “Heard of them?”
“Nope, but you can be sure I’ll be looking into them.” She glared at Caldwell and Aubrey. “I’ll need full statements off you two, as well, so you all need to stay put. My SOCO team is on the way, and they are very used to the paranormal, so we’ll be able to find out whether they’re human or not. And,” she jabbed a finger at the Nephilim and Shadow, “that means you, too! I want statements, fingerprints, DNA, the works.”
Maggie strode out of the room banging the door behind her, but leaving a constable in the corner of the room.
Gabe glared at Harlan. “Fingerprints? DNA?”
“Those are the rules, Gabe. Maggie will treat you better than anyone else.”
Nahum nodded. “We have to expect this, Gabe. Harlan is right. It’s the world we live in.”
“The rules in the paranormal world are muddier than most,” Harlan added. “Fortunately for us.”
“I’ve made a decision,” Caldwell said suddenly. He was sitting on the worn sofa, and had been quietly talking to Aubrey. “I would like to retain your services.”
“My services?” Harlan asked. “Or Gabe’s?”
“Don’t you work together?” Aubrey said, confused.
Harlan saw his chance to distance himself from this, and therefore keep JD at arm’s length from the astrolabe too. “Sometimes, but you can work with Gabe and Shadow’s team directly. You don’t need my help.” He turned to look at the Nephilim and Shadow, hoping he’d said the right thing.
Gabe nodded. “Yes, you can employ us directly. But to do what?”
“Be our bodyguards. Help protect the astrolabe.”
Gabe looked at his companions, who answered with nods or shrugs, and he said, “Okay. But not here. We keep you on safe ground, somewhere Black Cronos won’t know. But I want full disclosure. No secrets. You must share everything you know.”
Without hesitation, Caldwell said, “Deal. Where?”
“Cornwall. We leave tonight.”
Eleven
Harlan was not looking forward to his conversation with JD. It didn’t help that he’d had to delay it either, because of the interviews at the order’s headquarters, and it was now well past eight that night.
He was relieved that Caldwell had asked Gabe for help. Without it, Harlan wasn’t sure they’d have lasted until morning. He had reservations about his own safety too, but hopefully Black Cronos wouldn’t know of his involvement—yet. He’d taken a long, circuitous route to the guild as a precaution, and pulling up outside, he saw the lone light on in the upper flat. With a sigh, he entered around the back, as he’d done earlier that day. He’d worked out what he was going to say on the way here, but he knew it wouldn’t make any difference. JD would still be very angry.
JD was pacing in front of the unlit fireplace when Harlan entered the apartment, and he looked up eagerly, his eyes traveling across Harlan’s body. “Where is it?”
“I haven’t got it.”
“Why not?” JD’s hands were on his hips. “I’ve waited for hours!”
“Because we were attacked this afternoon, and only just escaped with our lives. I wasn’t about to wrest the astrolabe from Caldwell at that point. It’s theirs, and I wasn’t about to risk my life to bring it here, either.”
JD almost snarled, his hands clenched into fists. “Your life is worth nothing compared to that!”
Harlan looked at him, astonished. “It is to me!”
“You are employed by me, and my wishes should override everything!”
“Even my life? Are you insane?” Harlan strode across the room, wanting to shake some sense into JD, but in the end he just stood over him, satisfied at seeing him step back. “You risked everything for immortality, and still do to accumulate knowledge. How dare you think my life is yours to risk, too! I choose what risks I take. And like I said this morning, I don’t back out on deals and double-cross my clients, and neither do Gabe and Shadow.”
“It’s a fine time to earn a conscience,” JD said scathingly. “Where is it now?”
“Somewhere you won’t find it. Caldwell has retained Gabe’s services privately to protect them. It’s out of my hands now.” He stepped back, suddenly needing to put more distance between him and JD.
JD looked feral and half-mad as his eyes narrowed, a calculating look sweeping across his face. “They’ve gone to Cornwall, haven’t they? I have their address.”
“You think you can take an astrolabe from Gabe and his team? You’re madder than you look.” A sudden certainty struck Harlan. “You know much more about the Dark Star Astrolabe than you’re letting on. What does it lead to?”
JD tutted. “Oh, no. You haven’t earned the right to that knowledge. The order has no idea what they’re dealing with.”
Was he bluffing? Harlan wasn’t sure, but he decided to brazen it out. “It’s theirs! I’m pretty sure they know what it leads to, and they certainly know the risks now. And none of it has anything to do with you. I’m leaving, JD. This is over. Let it go.”
Harlan turned and headed to the door, but on the threshold, JD called, “It is far from over, and if you think I’m letting it go, then you don’t know me at all.”
Harlan stared at him, suddenly spooked by JD’s tone and the vicious look on his face, but he resolutely turned and left, not slowing until he was on his bike and well away from the guild. It was only then that he allowed himself to slow down and think about what JD had said, as the cool evening air washed over him. You don’t know me at all.
He was right. None of them did, expect for maybe Mason, and he doubted he did, either. JD’s obvious age made him seem fragile, physically incapable of acts of violence, but it didn’t make him any less unpredictable or dangerous. He had five hundred years of knowledge stacked up…mystical, powerful knowledge. He had mastered immortality. And he summoned an angel at Angel’s Rest when he led Gabe to believe he hadn’t summoned them for years. He’d been prepared to risk Gabe’s life, and had told Harlan much the same. Your life is worth nothing. When JD had fixed those sharp, hazel eyes on him, he felt a shudder of apprehension run through him. What else could JD do? And had he just made an enemy of a man with dubious morals and unknown powers?
Harlan tried to calm himself down. He was tired, and JD was angry. Everything would be fine. However, he knew a few charms and amulets that could offer protection, and he decided once he got home, he was going to ward his flat and himself. Then he’d warn Gabe, and tomorrow he would see Mason.
Niel was relieved to be home. The drive to Cornwall had put them all on edge, wary of further attack.
It hadn’t helped that they’d needed to return to Chadwick House for their bags, as well as wait for Caldwell and Aubrey to pack and make arrangements for the headquarters, even though it was now going to be sealed for days while the paranormal division combed it for evidence.
He and Nahum were in Aubrey’s car with Aubrey and Caldwell, following Gabe who travelled ahead with Shadow. When they pulled into the farmhouse’s courtyard, it was after midnight and the lights were on. Their brothers were still up.
