Dark Star, page 20
Shadow had been considering what they were going to do if—once, she corrected herself—they found the chamber, and she voiced her concerns now. “I get the impression that this isn’t just about finding the chamber. It’s also about enacting the alchemical experiments. Is that something they do when we open it? Or can they just come back and take their time after that?”
“Providing Black Cronos doesn’t swoop in and seal it off, you mean?”
“Or JD? Yes, absolutely. Because,” she dumped the chopped onions, tomatoes, and cucumber into a bowl, “wouldn’t that mean they need their Inner Temple?”
Barak stared at her, perturbed. “That’s a good point. But surely the time scale for using the astrolabe is just finding the damn place. Once they find it, they can do what they want with it. And don’t forget, our flights are booked to take us back home in a few days.”
Shadow nodded and turned back to her preparations. “Good. But maybe we should clarify that, because by that reasoning, they could stay here for ages, and they might want to move to the first place they reserved. They surely can’t expect us to guard them for months.” As she spoke, Shadow felt a rush of magic sweep up and around her, and saw Estelle walking outside, her hands raised and her lips muttering. “Did you feel that?” she asked Barak.
He nodded as he watched Estelle’s progress. “I know you’re not a fan, Shadow, but I think she’s useful to have around.”
She smiled at him, noting his admiring glance. “Sure, Barak. But she probably doesn’t glare at you as much as she does me!”
He gave his familiar, booming laugh. “I wouldn’t say that! You heard about how she blasted me across the warehouse the other day?”
Shadow watched his big grin, amused. She knew he liked Estelle, for some unfathomable reason. “Is this a type of mating ritual for you? A sort of trial by combat?”
Barak laughed even more and then winked at her. “Maybe, Shadow. I think I’m thawing her frosty exterior.”
“Yeah, well, let’s hope one of your valuable assets doesn’t get frostbite!” She glanced at his groin meaningfully, pleased she could tease him. She liked the fact that he didn’t dissemble, and was planning to be open about his pursuit. It would also give her some entertainment over the next few days.
He had a wicked glint in his eye as he stepped closer, lowering his voice. “So, seeing as we’re sharing intimacies, I’m going to address the elephant in the room. What’s happening with you and Gabe?”
“That is a ridiculous saying. And nothing is happening!”
Barak shook his head. “Don’t come that with me. You two have got a thing. He watches you, you watch him. There’s this—” he wiggled his hand, ”heat between you. What happened in Oxford?”
She scowled at him, her fingers itching to fly to her knives. ”Nothing happened!”
“Really?”
“Has he said something?”
He grinned again. “So, something did happen!”
“Nothing happened,” she repeated, loftily. “And if you repeat such slander, you’ll find my knife somewhere unpleasant.”
Barak backed off, arms raised in surrender, but still looking hideously pleased with himself. “Suit yourself. But I know Gabe, and I know what I see. And for the record, I approve.”
He turned around and marched to the fridge to get another beer, leaving Shadow seething.
“For the record, I don’t need your approval!”
“Good for you. Beer?”
“Yes!” She snatched it from his outstretched hand, wondering how she’d let Barak get the better of her. But she couldn’t stay mad at him. He was too funny. “Are we going to get on with the food before we all die of starvation?”
“Yes ma’am!” He scooped up the meat with one arm, his beer in the other hand, and led the way outside, heading to the BBQ to prod the charcoal.
Shadow followed him with a large bowl of salad and the bread, and once she’d placed everything on the table, she surveyed their surroundings. The sun was sinking into the west, but it was still hot outside, the heat lying heavy across the landscape, with no breath of wind. The cicadas were deafening, but the heat was delicious. The other Nephilim were gathering, settling into seats around the table, and Ash, Aubrey, and Caldwell put aside their books.
Gabe emerged from the house, still brooding, and he drew her away to the edge of the terrace. He looked good, his skin already darkening from the sun. His sunglasses were pushed back on his head, and he scanned the grounds before looking at her.
“You’ve heard about Aubrey talking to Barnaby, their bloody Secretary?”
She nodded. “He’s either an idiot, or ridiculously trusting.”
“Or he’s been working for Black Cronos all along.”
Shadow considered his words and then shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would they launch a full-on attack when he already has the astrolabe? No, he’s just an idiot.” She turned to watch them all chatting easily around the table. “And they looked too terrified the other night.”
Gabe nodded, relieved. “Good. One less thing to worry about. Any news from Harlan?”
“No, but I imagine he’s following up on a lot right now. What do you think of Jackson’s involvement?”
“Unexpected! It seems everyone has secrets.”
Shadow’s gaze fell on Estelle, who was walking through the park towards them. She must be completing her protection spells, because her arms were still raised. “I wonder if she has any. I just hope she hasn’t been working against El and the others.”
“Estelle may be headstrong, but I doubt she’s that devious. The trouble is,” Gabe said, suddenly amused, “that you two are very alike!”
For a second, Shadow couldn’t get her words out. “I am nothing like her!”
“Occasionally superior, brimming with self-confidence, scathing of lesser mortals, impatient, wilful, and very skilled. Am I wrong?”
“I haven’t got a resting bitch face!”
His eyes travelled across her face, heat building in his eyes again, and she swallowed. “True. And generally, you are very positive, unlike the very unhappy Estelle.”
Mollified, she changed the subject. “Have you heard from our brothers back home?”
“It’s all quiet, fortunately. Neither Zee nor Eli have seen anything unusual in White Haven, and Niel says the farmhouse is quiet.” His eyes settled on the horizon. “They’re coming here. They’ll have their own intel.”
“We’ll have to keep one step ahead,” Shadow reminded him. “Come on. Let’s get a beer.”
Twenty
Harlan had spent a hot and sweaty afternoon tramping around Soho and had just emerged from the shower after an evening dip in the hotel swimming pool, when his regular phone rang. He wrapped a towel around his waist, quickly drying his hands before picking it up.
He frowned when he saw the overseas number. “Hello? Harlan speaking.”
A voice with a French accent but excellent English addressed him. “Harlan, thank the Gods someone has answered. It’s Jean, from the Paris branch. We met a couple of years ago.”
Harlan had a sudden recollection of a slender man with light brown hair. “I remember. The hexed ring case. How are you?” He tried to sound relaxed, but he was anything but. He put the phone on speaker and continued to dry off.
“I’m good, very good, but look—we’ve had trouble booking JD the place he wanted in Bordeaux, and we’ve arranged something else. The only thing is, I can’t get hold of him, or Mason. Or even that Smythe man. Can you contact them?”
Shit. JD was going to France. “Maybe they’re on the flight and they can’t answer?”
“Non, non. He should have arrived hours ago. If they are heading to the wrong place, they won’t get in. I’ve left messages, and now I’m starting to get worried.”
Several options raced through Harlan’s mind, none of them good. “Was Mason traveling with him?”
“I think so. He turned down any offer of help from our agents.”
“Mason hasn’t been on a job in years!” Harlan said, incredulous. “Are you sure?”
“I am sure of nothing, mon ami. But we had a group call, and Mason said he would visit the Paris office, all being well, before he flew home. Of course, his plans may have changed, oui?”
Harlan rubbed the towel through his hair, raking it dry. “Did he tell you what his plans were? I mean, I suspect it’s some new acquisition.” He was intentionally cagey. “He mentioned something to me before he left, but I’ve been working on another case.”
“He said he was researching the origins of an old order. He didn’t say what.”
Harlan should have known he wouldn’t give up, regardless of whether he had the astrolabe. Had Mouse travelled there, too? And did he know where Gabe was? “I can try his number, but I have the same one you do.”
“Fantastic, thank you. And of course, if I hear from him, I will let you know.”
“Do me a favour, Jean. Send me the two addresses—the old one and the new one. I may be able to track him down with the help of some friends.”
“Certainement. I’ll text them.” He paused, and then added, “Was this dangerous? He didn’t indicate it was.”
“Possibly,” Harlan said, unwilling to mention Black Cronos by name. “I’ll see what I can find out. But in the meantime, don’t send anyone after them, okay? Leave both houses well alone.”
As soon as he ended the call, he stood motionless, wondering what to do. Perhaps Black Cronos had kidnapped them. Maybe it was some blackmail attempt—a plot to swap JD and Mason for the astrolabe?
His phone beeped with addresses. Time to phone JD. And then, perhaps, Gabe.
Having eaten his fill of barbequed meats and salad, Gabe finally started to relax. He felt more confident now that Estelle had extended a powerful wall of protection around them, and that they had checked the house and grounds thoroughly. Even if that idiot, Aubrey, had revealed the new address to Barnaby, he’d be surprised if Black Cronos could get through. Unless, of course, they had a witch of their own, or other magic in hand.
He leaned back in the comfortable wicker chair, sipping his beer, and studied the collection of individuals around the table. They all seemed relatively relaxed with each other. Although Aubrey and Caldwell were opposite each other, they chatted easily enough to Nahum and Barak who sat next to them. Estelle sat next to Nahum, in easy conversation with him and Caldwell, and Shadow was next to Barak, half-listening to his conversation with Aubrey while twirling her knife. She and Estelle were civil with each other, but neither directly engaged the other in conversation, Gabe noticed. Gabe was at the end of the table, opposite Ash.
“Have you had a productive afternoon?” Gabe asked him.
Ash pushed his plate away, nodding. “I have. I think I have an idea as to the type of chamber we’re looking for, but I haven’t discussed it with Aubrey or Caldwell yet.” His voice was low, but they were chatting so animatedly at the other end of the table, they couldn’t hear him anyway. “I think this has to do with Mithras.”
Gabe leaned forward, puzzled. “That name sounds familiar.”
“He was around in our time. A Persian God whose worship ended up spreading far and wide.”
Gabe nodded as his memories flooded back. “I recall he was called a Sun God.”
“Amongst others.” Ash glanced at Aubrey and Caldwell again. “It may be that they know this. In fact, they must, considering the amount of research they’ve done on it, but they haven’t mentioned it yet. Perhaps they think we don’t need to know.”
“Is it a problem?”
“Hard to say.” Ash pulled a hair tie from around his wrist and bound his hair up on his head. “I have not experienced this heat in a while. It feels good.”
Gabe smiled. “It does. It makes me miss home…our old home, that is. But go on. Why haven’t you talked to them about it?”
“I wanted to be sure of my facts first, and having done some more reading, I’m fairly convinced this astrolabe will lead us to a Mithraic chamber.”
Gabe held his hand up. “Before you go on, should we discuss this with everyone?” He nodded, and Gabe resisted the urge to ask more questions. He tapped his glass, calling everyone’s attention. “Ash has some news. Things to confirm with the order, too.”
“Is there a problem?” Aubrey asked straight away.
“Perhaps,” Ash said cautiously. The low sunlight was slanting in now, casting long golden rays across the terrace, and it seemed to Gabe that a stir of unease rippled around them, disturbing the calm. “I’ve translated that French passage you were having trouble with, and well, to be honest, it sent me down a rabbit-hole, as you say. This chamber that is at the end of our search—it’s Mithraic, isn’t it?”
Aubrey and Caldwell exchanged a wary glance, and Aubrey said, “We think so. Nothing that is alluded to directly, except for in the passage you read. The name crops up a couple of times.”
“Hold on,” Shadow said, confused. “Explain Mithraic.”
“Mithra, who was later known as Mithras,” Ash began, “was an ancient God of Persia. In fact, he was also called Mehr in the early days. He was a Zoroastrian angelic divinity.”
“Angels again,” Shadow said, shooting them an uneasy look.
“He wasn’t one, though,” Ash assured her. “It was because he was associated with light and truth, as many angels were.”
“I’ve heard of Zoroastrianism,” Estelle said. “It’s one of the world’s oldest religions, isn’t it?”
Ash nodded. “Based on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster.” Excitement filled his eyes as he warmed to his subject. “The religion is the forerunner of many other religious systems, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It was based on good winning over evil, judgement at death, and a type of heaven and hell. It’s very old. That’s why some believe that Mithra was the inspiration for Jesus Christ.”
Estelle rolled her eyes. “No surprise there. Christianity was cobbled together from all sorts of religions. Most of them pagan.”
Nahum smiled. “You could argue that the old Gods have many different names. They reinvent themselves for new generations, for new theories and philosophies.”
“But,” Ash continued, “Mithraism changed over time. Its history is long and very complex. Eventually, it was adopted by the Romans. He was particularly worshipped by soldiers.”
“But, by the sound of it, he was a force for good?” Shadow asked.
“Absolutely,” Ash agreed. “Mithraism became a Roman mystery religion, which essentially means their rites were private, belonging only to initiates, much like—” he gestured to the end of the table, “private orders, like The Order of the Midnight Sun.”
“But we are not a religious group,” Caldwell pointed out testily. “We are an organisation devoted to alchemy, philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and many other things.”
“But you seek knowledge,” Barak rumbled out with his deep voice. “The power to unlock the universe and the secrets to life itself. It is a type of religion, as well as science.”
Caldwell’s lips tightened into a thin line. “Not at all.”
“Maybe not for you now,” Ash conceded, “but for your predecessors, maybe? Merely small degrees of separation. I am Greek, and our most powerful mystery religions were the Eleusinian Mysteries, veiled in secrecy. And then there was Isis later on, a female deity, and another religion that rivalled Christianity.” He shrugged. “There is nothing new in this world, not really.”
“What’s this leading to?” Shadow asked.
Ash gestured around him. “There are probably several Mithraic chambers hidden in this area. Some may be long destroyed, but others could just be sealed. I think the order’s ancestors found one and used it for their experiments. All places of worship carry power to be used—if you know how.”
Estelle steepled her fingers, putting them under her chin. “Interesting. You think the alchemists found a source of power to explore. Or exploit.”
He nodded, a frown crossing his face. “And it went horribly wrong. Somehow.” He looked sharply at Aubrey and Caldwell again. “And of course, symbolically Mithras was linked to a few things, one of them being Mars, the God of War. I thought it an interesting link to the planetary alignment tomorrow. Perhaps it’s Mars that the reading is taken from.”
“We thought the same thing,” Aubrey said, nodding. “But we could take readings off them all, just to be sure.”
Ash tapped the old book that was at the end of the table, well away from the food, and drew it closer. “Once you have taken the reading, I presume you wish to go straight there?”
“Of course!”
Gabe grunted, thinking this was bearing a horrible resemblance to the search for The Temple of the Trinity. “You assume it will be so easy! That the directions will lead us straight there. But what if it’s still hidden? Or directs us to an inhabited château?”
“The astrolabe is the key,” Aubrey said confidently. “All will be revealed.”
“I was talking to Shadow earlier,” Barak said, thoughtfully. “We wondered, if we do find the chamber, what then? Surely you can’t be planning to do some kind of experiment straight away?”
Aubrey looked relieved to be asked something else. “No, of course not. This is all about finding the chamber. Once it’s found, our Senior Adepts will join us here. We will explore it fully. We hope to find more details on the experiments performed in there. As I told you,” he looked at Gabe and Shadow, “those will be the building blocks on which to base our own research.”
Shadow sipped her beer and gave Gabe an amused, sidelong glance before turning back to him. “And the Dark Star? The monster within? What if he’s still there? And if he’s not, how do you keep it safe from Black Cronos?”
Caldwell cleared his throat. “We wish to keep it hidden. Only we will have the coordinates.”
“And you’ll be on the run forever from your enemies? Of course. Sounds so logical.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
Gabe sighed. Shadow was right. This problem would not be resolved easily. His phone rang then and he left the table, taking his beer with him and glad to be stretching his legs. He walked over to the end of the terrace and watched the countryside disappear into a hazy purple twilight.
