Not Just Another Fae (Vegas Fae Stories Book 4) Read online

"Viking shield," Michael explained, seeing what I was looking at. "Means I'm Norse. Yours is an oak, Dryad or Wood Faerie, take your pick. Meredith's will be three wavy lines in blue, symbolizing a Water Fae."

  "How come I didn’t see these last time I was here?" I asked.

  "You weren't cleared," Browne said, pulling his out of his jacket and clipping it on to the pocket. There was a simple M symbol on his. He flipped it over to reveal a standard I.D. badge. "We don’t wear them when someone unknown is in the building since they identify the core group and source of magic the wearer represents. Not everyone can sense that, so this just makes it easier. Last time, we had the three of you here, and since we didn’t know what you were, it was better to keep it simple, just in case. Can't have the regular folk thinking this is anything other than your everyday, top secret government office, and we do have a couple human contractors that come in from time to time."

  "If you say so," I replied.

  Like I said, I'd been here once before. That time had been a test, to see if I really was a Fae, and if I was a friend or an enemy. The test had also included my kids; something I had not been happy about at the time. But that was then. I'd passed and so had the kids, so here we were.

  "Come on," Browne said, and opened the door next to the partition, leading us into the back.

  We followed him down several corridors and into a conference room, already partially filled with agents. As we walked through the doorway, Siegfried, seated at a table on the far side with Meredith, waved us over. Ray O'Malley was sitting at the next table with Amadeus, the Were. I should have guessed he'd be here.

  This place was a little nicer than the one I'd been brought to before. This time, the chairs were comfortable leather, and the tables, set up in a square, were made of granite. The place was obviously designed for the higher levels of government employees. It appeared that even here, your position granted you more comfort.

  "We the only non-governmental Fae here?" I asked, whispering to Michael. "Other than the agents, I mean."

  "Yeah," Michael replied. "But that's normal. As the ranking Fae in the area it's our responsibility to pass information along."

  Michael and I sat down at Meredith's table, after having met some of the others. The room began to fill. It wasn't crowded by any means, only twenty or so. All agents except for us. Almost all were in business suits. Many were, according to their badges, part Demon. But there were several other Mages and Fae in the group. Seated at the head table were Samson and one other person. This was the Sorcerer, Michael pointed out.

  He didn't appear any different than any other human, although I'd guessed he was somebody important just because of his style of dress, or lack thereof. His blue jeans and t-shirt stuck out in a room filled with business suits, and business casual dressed folks like me. At least I no longer felt underdressed. He reminded me of the eccentric scientist on a Discovery Channel show. Of Latin descent, he had long black hair, streaked with grey, tied in a ponytail. An ageless face, with piercing blue eyes and thin, but not overly so, lips and nose. Just a regular academic; but one that smelled of magic, and he was looking at me.

  "Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Samson said, standing as the rest sat down and the room quieted. He, of course, was impeccably dressed in a custom tailored suit. "I'll get right to the point. This will be a quick briefing. For the agents, most of what you need to know will be in the folders in front of you. But for those of you who were just assigned, we'll cover some basics. For our guests, there have been some changes in our personnel, so I wanted everyone to meet you and know who you are."

  He made some quick introductions, recognizing us by our line and titles, asking us to stand as he did so. Siegfried and Michael, not surprisingly, were identified as warriors. That completed, a projection appeared on the wall. It was a picture of the portrait from Stockton's house.

  "All right, now to the matter at hand. A few days ago, we raided a hidden mansion in the Mount Charleston area. The owner was an unregistered Wizard by the name of Frank Stockton," he said, pointing to the image. "He was found dead at the scene after conjuring several Demons, one of which killed him. The female is believed to be his... accomplice, for lack of a better term. There's a file in your material, but she is believed to be a Dark Fae, known as Marissa. She is currently a resident of Tartarus, the Greek Hell.

  "We believe that Stockton, who, incidentally, was also an Alchemist, was trying to open a gateway to free her, but failed. Instead, he was killed by a Demon that he summoned. Additionally, we discovered that Stockton had several followers; one of which was also able to bring a Demon forth. These Demons have since been eliminated. Since that event, we have had a chance to evaluate the articles recovered from Stockton's residence, as well as identify more followers, who, after an operation last night, were taken into custody. I'm going to let Dr. Ordunez take it from here."

  "Thank you, Director Samson. For those of you who don’t know me," the Sorcerer said, in crisp English with a slight Spanish accent, as he stood. "My name is Dr. Javier Ordunez. As the Director indicated, we have evaluated the items and information obtained from Stockton's residence, as well as partially reconstructed the summoning spell that he used. What we have been able to discover is that Stockton opened up some form of gateway to one of the Hells of the Underworld. In doing so he accessed a portion of one long closed, allowing ancient Demons, believed to be Mesopotamian, to escape.

  "This is not the first time that something like this has occurred. Some of you may recall from your academy days, my lecture on the Etaples, France, incident of 1918. In that case, a dark Wizard, working for the Imperial Army, attempted to conjure a Mesopotamian Demon to use as a weapon against the Allied Forces. He was only successful in summoning the Demon here for a few minutes. Unable to bind him further, the spell collapsed. Unfortunately, that Demon, one of destiny and fate, also commanded disease. Through some quirk of the Wizards spell, the Demon was able to curse and infect the Wizard. Through that curse, and its transmission to the general population, 3% to 5% of the world's population ultimately died. Human history may recall this as an influenza pandemic, but the truth is, it was started by a rogue Wizard dabbling in places he should not have been.

  "Although we have concluded that the same Demon was not in evidence here, the outcome could be just as dangerous. As you are aware, Stockton's spell has released at least four Demons, all of which were later killed by our Fae partners. A fifth, which has yet to be identified as a Demon, or other Spirit, appeared here after the original four, and was also dispatched by the Fae. What you may not know is that at least three other beings who are not Demons, nor Mesopotamian, have also been freed from their Hells as a result. These... humans, are being debriefed as we speak. What that means is that Stockton's spell is still active, and the doorway he created on the other side is unstable."

  He paused as the room digested what he had said, waiting only for the buzz of voices to quiet down before continuing.

  "Teleportation, whether by spell or design, is nothing new. Wizards and Mages have been summoning Demons for as long as history has been recorded. In most cases, once the spell has been cast the Demon appears and that is that. Another spell must be used to bind the Demon to this world. To open a gateway to any of the Hells, by itself, is not that difficult, but what Stockton did went beyond that. It was not a summoning. Instead, he created an actual doorway into the Underworld. One that appears to be moving between the various Hells; including those of cultures long dead and once thought lost and inaccessible.

  "Hell is a relative term. There are as many Hells as cultures to serve them. Some are places of punishment, such as Tartarus. Others, places of reward, such as the Elysium Fields. They are also supposed to be a one-way street, to coin a phrase. With very few exceptions on record, one is not simply able to waltz in and out of the afterlife with ease. In any case, access to a particular Hell is limited to the people it is bound to. Once they are gone, the Hell is closed off. Only a p
owerful summoning can call a Demon forth once that has occurred." He stopped and looked around the room, then smiled and shook his head.

  "My apologies, I did not mean to turn this into a lecture. Suffice it to say, that while we do not know exactly what Stockton did, we have been able to determine that he used a talisman, most likely one belonging to this Marissa, or Mary Aiken, as she is also known, and teleported it into the Underworld, attempting to create a portal to free her. Obviously, it did not materialize in Tartarus. Instead, his spell went awry, and now this same talisman is somehow jumping between the various Hells, including those once thought lost. While it could eventually make its way to its intended destination, which is a problem in and of itself, we have no idea what else will appear in the meantime. While we cannot track the spell at that end, if we can have a team close by the moment a gate opens here, I believe I can craft a spell to close it permanently. But timing will be critical. These gateways do not stay open for long. Fortunately, this phenomenon seems to be contained locally, so we have an area small enough to monitor."

  "Agent Mark Browne will be leading the teams of Mages and Wizards assigned to that task," Samson said, getting up from his seat. "The rest of you will be coordinating with Lieutenant O'Malley and Siegfried Dorvaror of the Neptune to handle anything else that appears until we can get this gateway closed. Remember, should you be confronted, magic alone may not be not enough. Therefore, your teams will also be armed with weapons specifically chosen for this case. Your particular assignments and team make up are in your files."

  "There is one more thing," Ordunez said, before Samson could dismiss the meeting. "As Director Samson indicated, last night's sweep identified several more of Stockton's followers. Two of which had these." He pulled a cellphone out of his pocket and held it up. "This one has been modified and contains a rather sophisticated enchantment. One used as a transportation spell. That is most likely what was used to convey the Demon to the boy after Stockton summoned it. We know that there are more of his followers carrying these out there. Once the spell, is cast, the phone is rendered useless. Do not take chances. It could be used to escape, or to bring reinforcements when confronted."

  "That's it then," Samson said. "Agent Theno will be available to discuss additional resources if needed. Dismissed."

  There were a few minutes of greetings between us, as many of the Agents stopped by to introduce themselves. Jay and I had a moment to speak before he was called away as well. He was going to be pretty busy today, so he'd probably grab a room at the office tonight. They had a number of single rooms for use during long operations. After he told me he'd see me tomorrow, I left him to his duties. As the room started to clear up, Samson and Ordunez approached.

  "Do you two have a few minutes to meet in private?" Samson asked, indicating me and Meredith. "It'll be quieter next door and our agents will be meeting with your people to discuss coordination of assets."

  She looked over and we both nodded. Samson then led us to a smaller conference room just next door.

  "I just had a few things," Samson said as we all sat down. "I also wanted to introduce you to Doctor Ordunez."

  "A pleasure,' I said, getting up and extending my hand as Ordunez stood.

  "The pleasure is mine," he replied. "I had heard that the High Fae had returned. Pardon my saying so, but you are not quite what I expected; even after hearing about you from the Director."

  "I get that a lot," I said, with a chuckle. "And I expected something different when I heard a Sorcerer was going to be here."

  "No doubt someone wearing robes and a hood, carrying a staff, perhaps?" Ordunez said, chuckling as well.

  "Something like that," I replied. "So how can I be of service?"

  "To begin with," Samson continued. "We received word that one of the Keres made an appearance here."

  News travels fast, but it wasn't surprising. Meredith, still the coordinator for Fae activities in the area, was also responsible for keeping the government abreast of any new Fae that came into the area. While I doubted that she passed everything along, the arrival of the Keres would certainly warrant a report.

  "That's true," I replied. "One showed up after I had a run in with a local Mage and his troupe. That's the first time that one has been seen here, from what I've been told."

  "The Keres do not normally socialize with other beings," Ordunez remarked. "As Angels of Death, their... interests, do not coincide with the rest of the Fae. However, as a High Fae, it has occurred to me that she might be drawn to you. If only to watch for your victories, expecting there to be many, as there were for the Gods of old. Should she appear again, we were hoping that you might be able to garner information from her."

  "About what?" I asked, glancing over at Meredith who was suppressing a smile.

  "While it is not known if they enter the actual Hells themselves, they do deposit souls at the gates," Ordunez replied. "I had hoped it would be possible to convince her to let us know if they see anything out of the ordinary. Such as the appearance of the talisman, or even a gateway or portal. With such a warning, we would be better prepared to find its location here. It is highly unlikely, but every bit helps."

  "I thought you said you couldn’t track it," I said. "What good would watching Hades do?"

  "We believe the Keres travel to many Hells," Ordunez replied. "Warriors that die in battle can be from anywhere. If that is so, it is possible that she could have access to many such places in the Underworld."

  "There is one more thing," Samson said. "You are the heir of Demeter, which means you are also the heir of Persephone. Is it possible that you could go there and return?"

  "I've considered that option," I replied. "But I've been to the gates, at least those of Hades, and I don’t know any way to enter, let alone get back."

  "That is correct," Meredith said. "We have been there together. Even if one of the Fae could get inside, they would be cut off from their source of magic. Even Robert would have to deal with that issue. As best I know, there are none now living that can do such a thing."

  "That is unfortunate," Samson said. "But it is the same with my kind. Banished from both Heaven and Hell, we cannot make such a journey."

  "Wait a minute," I replied, Meredith's response made me think. "Let's say I could get into one of the Hells. Where would I even start to look for this thing?"

  "That is something I have been thinking about since I heard that Stockton was tied to a dark High Fae," Ordunez said. "I had hoped that since you both are bound by your Fae prophesy, whatever talisman of hers he used might call to you as well. If it does, then perhaps you could locate it. Assuming, of course, that you could travel there."

  "That's a pretty big if," I said. "And even if I was drawn to it, how would I get from one Hell to another?"

  "I'm still working on that," he admitted. "You would need something that would get you past the gates."

  "And we have already agreed that it would be impossible to test this theory," Meredith said. "It would be a fool's errand."

  "I never said I was going," I said, raising my hands in defense." I was just curious."

  "Thank you for at least considering it," Samson said. "It was something we had to ask."

  "Yes," Ordunez said, lifting one eyebrow. "As I explained, it was just a thought."

  "I understand." I replied, aware that he knew he had gotten my attention. "I will at least try to talk to the Keres. As you said, it's a long shot, but what do we have to lose?"

  Chapter 16

  "I can’t believe you would even consider such a thing," Meredith said as the four of us exited the compound. With Browne involved in the search for the gateway, we'd hitched a ride back with Siegfried and Meredith.

  "Well, I had to at least act like I was considering it," I said.

  "What are we discussing?" Siegfried asked, without turning his eyes from the road.

  "They wanted him to go to Hades," Meredith explained. "As if it were that simple."

  "An interesting
idea," Siegfried replied. "Unfortunate that it is not possible."

  "Even if you could get there," Michael said. "What makes them think you could find the portal, or even which Hell it is in?"

  "Ordunez seems to think I would be drawn to whatever object that Stockton sent there," I replied. "He thinks it was something of Marissa's and thinks we are both linked by the prophecy of the High Fae."

  "Sounds like he's grasping at straws," Michael said. "Did he have anything to back that theory up?"

  "Not that he mentioned," I said. "But he's a Sorcerer. Who knows what his thought process is."

  "Sorcerer or not," Meredith said. "That was an irrational thought. It is one thing to risk one's life, it is another to do so foolishly."

  "I agree," Siegfried said. "There is still the issue of crossing multiple gates. How did he expect you to travel between the worlds?"

  "We didn’t get that far," I replied. "So what are you two going to be doing?"

  "Coordinating any future sightings," Siegfried replied.

  "Not much will change," Michael said. "We'll still use the current system of notification. The only difference is that we'll field a few more Fae and pair them up with some of the locals and Feds. I've already talked to Martin and he's in. Hopefully, the Wizards and Mages will find some way to give us a heads up when a portal appears."

  We spent the rest of the drive discussing policy. Meredith's people knew what they were doing, so I didn't worry too much about the specifics of the operation. I'd had my fill of Demon slaying, so sharing the responsibility was just fine with me. When we arrived at the house, I said my goodbyes and went in through the gate. Charlie was already waiting.

  "You didn’t miss anything," I said as he followed me into the house. "Let me get some sleep. I'll let you know what we're going to do next."

  A couple hours later, and only a little bit more refreshed, I went downstairs and started the coffee, deciding on a God does not protect fools mug that I'd found at a garage sale. I tried to figure out my next move, but my caffeine starved brain refused to cooperate. Instead, I waited for the coffee to brew before making any decisions.