I paid the twenty ebs fee to gain entrance into the public library so I could do I a quick research evaluation on my potential client. The client had had a sixteen runners to go for the job in the posting sense the moment I saw it this morning but so far no had been able to get the job done. Which I found remarkable. I was at a computer terminal doing an advanced search on Victor Adams and his networth. It wasn’t long before I was wondering how the hell was this dude even allowed to do a post on the forum.
This was growing problem a lot of young runners and Solos were having with the black market lately. To many losers posting shitty jobs with no background check from the operators of the forum to check if the client was trustworthy enough to pay up when the time came. A bust was what we called them. Assholes that wasted a runner’s time and energy on a job that was either illegal or the client thought they could get away without paying up to the runner or solo on delivering on the goods. Coporate executives were known for this shit and red flag to work for but paid big on a contract granting upward movement for a low grade runner toward the big checks in the solo ranking. It was still a mystery why though. Only those with Solo ranking knew and those old assholes were willing to share on trade secrets to young runners.
Victor Adams was a bust. He looked good on the surface. Corporate Executive from a long line of them from a family of one of the oldest corporations in the city but when you dug deeper that’s when the shine wore off and saw the shit.
He owned nothing. Well maybe not nothing. He owned one thing and it was the very one thing that someone wanted destroyed. I looked into the insurance on the thing and saw it was pretty high. It was a recent upgrade six months ago.
Hmm. It was clear who the hell the client was then. I just didn’t know if I would get any money from the situation. The answer wasn’t likely with a cooperate type doing business with the underground. It was a roll of the dice on whether or not they would pay you for your trouble or threaten you with time in the pin with a charge from the authorities.
I decided to go another route. I looked at the people he owed money to and the people trying to nail his down long enough to get the money. To much of a long list. I saw who had given the biggest I.O.U to and messaged them with offer that if I could find and trap him I wanted a hundred grand ebs. They gave me the waiting game but I decided to put in a few more pitches to people wanting to get money from this clown.
I got several offers and one dude that sent me a image of a nice rifle I could pick up now as finder’s fee. It was several hours later when I had a plan going that I finally got a summons from a corporate office for a meeting as I was on the go on a digital meeting.
I stared down at the image of old man in a expensive suit who looked not at all pleased to talk to me or be in a conversation with him. I got to the point right quick with him. “You pay me a hundred grand ebs and up grade my rank to Fixer then I’ll set up the moment for you to get Adams. If you’ve seen my track record I can get it done. Yes or no.” I said.
“I’ll offer you a job in my corporation in security forces only. You’ll have a decent pay grade of 50k ebs a year. descent enough for your ignma status. But you have to burn your mark away.” He said.
“Your negotiating with me. Alright 80k and work pro bono for your company.” I said.
“80k and you work full time with benefits but you must burn your mark before the job is done. Deal or no deal? Five minute offer.” He said.
I glared at the old man. Greed got the best of me. “Deal.” I said.
His face disappeared from the screen and all I could do was stare at my own image on the black screen. Damn. I really must be desperate. Just like that I gave up my dreams to be the slave for a cooperate asshole. A deal was a deal. I had given my word. Now it was time to pay up or go back on my word. It was time to set up the sting operation.
– Good evening Newark citizens. This is Anna Moore here to give you a daily update on the business, politics and gossip and the kings concerts.-
I woke up on the floor on a dirty smelling matress on the floor with a headache and my head was bandaged up. The sounds of machines beeping a steady rhythm and a newsfeed from Newark daily news played on a vid screen somewhere in the room. I stared up at the dirty floor and wondered for a second where the hell I was.
“Mr. Cage. Your awake. Close call there. You’ve been asleep for seventy-two hours. You made it though. Do you remember what happened to you or who tried to kill you?” Fixer Michell Grey said.
“No. I don’t even remember what the hell I was doing before I got hit.” I said.
I realized was in my old mentor’s lab and I knew instantly what had happened to me. “Someone tried to kill me then? That’s a little surprising. I thought they would wait for when I turned seventeen next week.” I said.
Mitchell snorted. “They sure did or at least they tried to. I found you in alley in a city garbage dumpster. Your mother said you can return home if you came awake.” He said.
I sighed. “Thanks for the pick up?” I said.
“Thanks for what? You did pay me to keep a watch out for you in case something happened. It’s good you kept that tracker on you.” He said. “Your rite of passage is coming. You plan on taking it or faking your death and leaving the city?” He said.
I sighed and attempted to rise but found I couldn’t just yet. I stared up at the ceiling. “I’m taking my rite of passage. I told my grandfather I would and no nobody is making leave the city to leave as an outcast. I ain’t running. I got a plan.” I said.
“What’s your plan then Mr. Cage?” Mitchell asked with a funny serious tone to his voice.
I had no intention on telling him anything. I didn’t trust him in the least. Though I had an idea. “I’m going to be the king of the underground business district.” I said.
Mitchell’s hysterical hiccup laughter at my words was enough for to me know.
“A boy’s dream. It’s good to have dreams. Mr. Cage. The underground of the red district is a criminal black market. The underground has no rules or kings. You would be better suited to make your bread and butter in the purple district.” He said.
I had already tried doing that. That’s what got me in trouble. It came back to me slowly. I was in this place because of a former client.
One thing was for certain. I needed a job and some money. No way was I going to go back to my tribe. So now I needed to find a job, housing and connections. “You got my detapad?” I asked him.
“Sure thing. Sure thing. As per the contract we made. You have one detapad. Oh I got a message from your Pops I was paid to give you.” He said.
I groaned as I reached up for my detapad as Mitchell handed it to me. “He doesn’t want me to come home.” I said.
“That is the second part of the message. The first part is he advising you to make the most of your time and start early on your rite of passage in to Nomad adulthood.” Michell said.
I frowned and then thought of something as I looked at the shirt I had on. It wasn’t mean. “Did you find me naked in the dumpster?” I asked.
“Yes. Luckily I had some spare clothes. When you make your way. You can pay me back.” He said.
I sat up slowly and stared at Mitchell. He was short bald mam with enhanced hyper advanced eyes. He had a lab jacket on a dress shirt stained with coffee on the front and red bow tie. He smiled at me and his thick red mustache curved around his thin lips. “You don’t remember what happened to you right?” He asked.
I stared at him. “No. I don’t. I feel fine.” I said.
“Good. Good. You can leave now. I suggest you leave this city. It won’t go well for you if you stay. Your an ignma. A man with dark fate. A powerless man. I saw the mark under your forearm.” He said.
“Did my family group try to kill me?” I said snarling at him.
Mitchell shook his head. “The ignma don’t live long in this fucked up world of magic and cruelty. If you head into the outlands at leasr you’ll have a chance of survival. You best leave if you can’t crave yourself a place of power.” He said.
“I asked you a question.” I said.
“Yes. They did. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Michell said.
Damn. I should have expected this but, damn. “What do I do?” I said.
Mitchell put a cherry red cigarette to his lips and lit it with red lighter. He blew smoke out the side of his mouth. “You got two options. Try to survive on the streets or join the authorities or head out into the outland and maybe you’ll live for a year until magic elemental freaks come for you. Those are your options. Either way you won’t live the year out in the dream disk world.” He said and blew smoke in my face.
I turned my attention to my detapad and searched for the black market forum page. I reviewed through the runner freelance job listing until something caught my eye.
Search and destroy: Hunt down and destroy Pike Cruiser owned by CEO Victor Adams.
Rewards: Instant Solo status upgrade. 200 ebs. Bonus in a twenty four hour time period of posting. High powered rifle or business license.
This was it. Everything I needed.
I started to get up and take off the bandage on my head. Mitchell frowned at me.
“Where the hell are you going?” He asked.
“I got a job to do before some other asshole beats me to it.” I said.
“Mr. Cage. Shouldn’t you be getting the hell out of the city before you get yourself killed.” He said.
I ignored him as I got up and looked through his weapons case and took out a P.E. pulser blaster. “I’m borrowing this. I’ll give it back to you. I got to jet. Thanks for fixing me up. You might need to fix me up again when I get back. Later.” I said and walked out of the doctor’s laboratory.
“Mr. Cage! Mr. Cage. Sean. Come back.” Michell called after me.
All four were seated at a table with James and Angus seated together and Ava and Nickolas facing them. James used to hiding his emotions in front of strangers smiled but he was quiet as the atmosphere felt strange but bot Angus and Ava acted like old friends reconnecting.
Angus turned to Nickolas. “Count. Your letter was rather vague on details of the item that was stolen from you. If you could give me just a little more details on what it is and when you noticed it stolen then I can get to finding the item and the possible thief or thieves that stole it from you.”
Nickolas studied Angus’ face closely and he nodded his head. “Of course I meant the letter to be a little vague being I didn’t want to entirely trust the details the relaying of it into letter no matter the magical protection and wards you have on your owl. Ava if you would be so kind as to present the file to Mr. Potter.”
Ava bowed to him slightly and with a twist of her a few whispered words barely heard her wand appeared in her hand. She spoke barely above a whisper again and a document folder appeared in Angus’ hands.
“Thank you, Ava. Alright. Let’s see what we have here.’ Angus said almost to himself as he unfolded the document and started quickly scanning the contents humming lightly. He stopped on one page frowned and brought it out. It was large page moving photo of private home museum that was wrecked while men in dark scarlet trench jackets looking around the area scanning it with their wands.
“How many Aurors do you have on your case currently?” Angus asked carefully.
“I have five. A great many value items and relics of the past were taken from my private collection. None as important as the one you will be seeking and the wizard and killing for the annoyance he has caused me.” He said firmly.
The Count glanced at James. “Mr. Potter. I found it very odd that your father introduced you as James Potter. Yet, your mother has referred to you as Harry Potter. A name sake of your ancestor the one lived and slayer the Dark Lord.”
James was used to this type of behavior. “My father named me James Potter Heir to the house of Potter, defender of the old true ways, The last Hallow of the past.. So that is my official house name and title. My mother can call me whatever name she pleases. It is her right. It is the name she gave me in respect to my ancestor and her hopes for me becoming a great Auror as my ancestor was in his day.”
He said speaking in calm tones. Though his voice didn’t carry the same echoing power as his father it was clear and direct. The Count nodded stiffly and tried for a social smile. “Yes. Yes. I did forget that his career in the ministry as a Auror had been impressive after his defeat of the Dark Lord. Would you or your father care for a drink or something to eat before you and your father head off to your task for me?”
James looked at his Angus was smiling but shaking his head at The Count. “My apologies, Count but we’ll have to get going so we can handle your case.” He said.
The all started to rise from their seats. The Count shrugged and waved them outside back the way they had entered the restaurant. “I will live you to it then. Oh. I do apologies if the announcement of my engagement to Ava came as a surprise to you Mr. Potter.” He said addressing Angus.
Both James and Ava looked toward Angus. Angus shook his head. “No need to apologies Count. Ava is her own woman and entitled to her own happiness. I wish you both well.” He said with nod of his head. “We’ll be off then.”
James felt it again. Unease. He glanced at his mother one last time to her smile. “Mother. I will see you soon.” He said and leaned toward her. Ava met him half way the distance and he kissed her cheek. “I love you. Obey your father.” She said to him.
James nodded. “I will. I love you to.” He said and followed Angus out the way they had come in.
Angus wrapped his around James pulling him close while James notice his father hand a hand on his peacemaker. His father shook his head. “Close your eyes son. Nothing bad is going happen to you.”
James obeyed and they went into apparition. The feeling twisted apart to being pulled into yourself was worse because short period he had to rest his mind from it but soon enough they were somewhere else. James forced his eyes opened as Angus took his hand leading him into a store front shop.
James head hurt but kept quiet about it because seemed physically upset about finding out about Ava’s engagement. “I didn’t know mom was getting married.”
“She isn’t getting married, son.” Angus said in a distracted voice going to the front of the store and started looking around the small bookstore. James froze. “What do you mean? Your not going to do something to him are you?”
Angus looked at him and shook his head. “What?! Of course not. Son. Listen. We’re going to finish this job as fast as humanly possible send the item to that jackass by Owl and hopefully your not going to be connected to anything related to him. Remember son. You only met that man once in passing. We have nothing to do with him and ill feelings for him. Understand?!”
James stared at him. “Dad. You looked you were going to kill him.”
Angus snorted and shook his head. “Son. I don’t care about that little shit. He’s an obvious jealous hater and an annoying fan boy still whining and moaning about his idol being blasted to hell by my grandpa when he was seventeen. What a joke?!” He said laughing loudly.
James stared at his father and then burst out into laughter. “Dad. You can’t be serious.”
“Son. Riddle’s fanboys always call him the Dark Lord or refer to us as the descendants of the slayer of Dark Lord. They never call it for what it is. They all have the same damn pattern. They simply just don’t get.”
“What is it then?” James asked paused in middle of his laughter.
Angus had that glint in his eyes and stared at his son with a spark gaze and a funny grin on his lips. “Tom Riddle was a middle aged psycho that had been taken out by a seventeen year old wizard because he was a loser. His fanboys can’t accept the facts. Grandpa Harry beat him in the duel but Albus Dombledore and Severus Snape assassinated his ass with a daring nerve and a cunning planning.”
James nodded silently and patted his chest with his fist at the same time Angus did in memory of the true heroes that saved the wizarding world in the last war. He looked around the book store in question. “Why did you bring us here? Where are we by the by.”
“London!” Angus grinned. “Where here to get some information and visit an old friend while we have the time.”
“What’s noise?”
They turned to the back to see a two elderly females one with wild orange and gray long hair with large glasses on her in brown dress on and her companion a slim woman with blond hair and gray blue eyes that studied them both in surprise.
Angus grinned coming over as they’re stared at him in shock. “Aunty Hermione. You’re looking good. I wasn’t expecting to see the wonderful Luna with you as well. I’m back.” He said coming over to them.
They cried hugging and laying kisses on his face and head as they cried. James stood in place surprised and not knowing what to do. Though he hadn’t met his great great aunt in-law before he had met Luna.
Luna looked over at him and put a finger to her lips giving him a wink and waved him over. James nodded and quickly over to join in the greeting.
James sat by the fireplace waiting as an image of a beautiful woman in her early forties appeared in the flames of the fireplace. She smiled at him.
“Happy Birthday Harry. Today your real journey begins today.” Ava Nightingale said in voice filled with warmth and pleasure.
James smiled at her. “Hello mother. Your looking well. Dad tells me you have some job offers to talk to me about. I’m up for hearing them but I also have somethings I wish to discuss with you.”
Ava’s image blinked in confusion at him and then studied his face closely and her smile faded away. “Something happened. Are you alright? Is your father with you?”
James nodded and tried to keep up his smile on his face in order not to overall worry his mother. “Yes. We got a visitor to our home looking for dad. He and I dealt with it there was also something else that happened.”
Ava shook her head. “Can you give me a little bit more detail on what or who came looking for your father?”
James looked over at his father who was now busy repairing the large hole left by the destruction of the Dementor. Angus glanced back at him and smiled and waved him back to his conversation with Ava.
James looked back at his mother. “It a creature Dad had been hunting for the-his boss. It was a dangerous creature. He had to use his hybrid weapon on it. I used my Patronus. We destroyed it so now we’re all safe now.”
“Hybrid weapon? Is that what he calls that silly monstrous weapon now?”
Angus started laughing in the background as he started to his work with some plywood, hammer and nails. He said nothing else so James focused on his mother.
“No. That’s what how I think of his 1911SC. A hybrid of magi craftsmanship and non-magi technological advance. It is very powerful weapon he uses to focus his power.”
“Angus allowed you to go into battle with him?” Ava asked in a strange tone.
James nodded. “Yes. I am of age. I told him so and he accepted me as an adult.”
“Harry. Your father did not need your assistance. He is a powerful wizard in his own who has not yet even reached his full measure of his powers. He will become the most powerful wizard in the modern era. You come a long line of powerful lords of magic and you are his heir. You have decades to go before you even touch his level and you are his heir.”
James nodded but still stared at his mother. “I know. But I am an adult now. I am a man. If I am to achieve me promise then I must-”
“-If?!” Ava said at him in shocked surprised. “You are Harry Potter. You will become every bit of strong wizard as your father and his fathers before him. Why are you doubting yourself at the beginning of your rise?”
James looked away. “I-I felt dad’s power when he took hold of his weapon. It was like a blanket of raw power and intent to destroy anything that got in his way. I don’t know. I know if I can live up to it.” He said honestly.
“James.” Angus called out to his son.
James looked up toward his father. Angus stared at him. “You are your own man now I’m proud of who you right now.. But, your still my son. Your mother and I didn’t leave nothing out in raising you. You hear me?”
James stared at his father and then nodded. “Yes Sir.” He said and then turned back to his mother that was studying him.
Ava was quietly staring at him as he finished explaining to her his thoughts on his father’s weapon. “Indeed. Did something else happen before the Dementor arrived.”
James frowned. “Yes. I had a dream about the night you sent me to live with father.” He said calmly.
Ava stared at him. “Did your vision involve me or my parts of the events that night.”
James grimaced but shook his head. “No. The dream was centered around Professor Longbottom, Tan Tan and dad having a short chat before they handed me over to dad and left. It doesn’t make any sense. Why am I having dreams like this now of all times?!”
“It wasn’t a dream. I made a mistake and underestimated how jealous people are of the Potter name and how many enemies your father has. Your father is a powerful wizard. Your father could have had any woman he wanted before after me.” She said staring at him.
Angus snorted in laughter and James looked at him. “What? Mom likes you a lot.”
“Tell your mother if she’s so grateful toward me then she can come around the house and I can provide her couple more kids for my grand legacy.”
James stared at his father. “Dad. Are you serious!?”
“Tell her!” Angus ordered.
James turned his head back to Ava’s concerned face. He smiled. “Dad says sense your so grateful to him for giving you a child then he would gladly provide you with more children if you were so inclined.”
Ava stared at him. “Harry. Now that you are in your adulthood. You’ll have to decide the course you need to take in life. I have positions in my company in the entry level of magical spell engineering. You can have it any time you want?”
“James. What’s her answer to my question.” Angus asked.
James’ face flushed with heat. “Mother. Ah Dad would like an answer to his question.”
Ava sighed. “Tell your father I will consider it when you have figured out your course in life and gone off on your own however, I will be around later in the week to have a cup of tea with him when I have finished my work. Remind him I still have the port key he crafted for me.”
James turned to his father. “Mom said she has to finish up some stuff at work and send you an Owl when she’s freed up but she also still has the port key your gave her so be ready when she comes by for a cup of tea.”
Angus nodded. “Alright. That’s good. I’ll do my best to convince your mother in bed when hit the sheets. Does your mother know about the Horn Serpent Patronus of yours?”
James nodded his head silently. “Yeah. Dad could give us a moment.”
Angus held up his hands. “Alright. Alright. I’ll leave you and your mother be. I got to go get other tools in the back down go near the front until I get back.” He said and then held up his hand a magical shield went up around the front of the entrance before he turned and left.
James turned back to his mother to see her smiling at him again. “What?”
“Your not coming to London.” Ava said with a nod her her head. “Your staying in the States?” She said with and assurance in her voice of it.
James sighed. “No. I’m not sure right now about it. I’m interested in getting an Auror position here. The plan will still be the same. I’ll work my way up the ministry and then head into the position of President like we’ve planned out.” James said.
Ava nodded. “I hear a but somewhere. What do you want?”
“Power.” James said softly. “I want what Dad has. Mother. Dad is powerful. He has real power.”
Ava pursed her lips but nodded. “Yes he does.”
“Have you seen him use that weapon he has. He killed a Dementors with it. He shoot fireballs of lightning out of it without being drained of any energy it seems. It was wicked. I have seen or read about anyone do what he does without using a phoenix core wand. He’s even the president here. How is that possible.”
Ava shrugged. “Maybe you need to ask him but at this point I wouldn’t ask him why he never chose to become the President of the American Congress of magic.”
James froze. “Why wouldn’t you?” He asked her.
Ava narrowed her focus on him. “Because it’s not a good question. Your father has his own reasons for why he’s in the position he’s in. Your a back sight you have the power to see into the past events of peoples and hear their thoughts. It’s a gift that takes time to develop over time and your going to end up working out the gift backwards and and present. No. I can’t explain it to you. You’ll have to experience it yourself. You’ll eventually find out the reason for that question but a better question that serves your purpose of gaining power is-”
Ava paused to give James time to think of the answer. He frowned shaking his head. He couldn’t think of it the only thing that came to his mind was-”
“Say it!” Ava said.
“Why did he stop using a wand?” I asked. “Did you ever use your back sight to see into his past? Did you ever find the answer?”
Ava shook her head. “No. No matter how many times I’ve tried. I can’t figure it out and I don’t know the reason he chose me. It’s like he walks outside of our reach to see into the events and patterns of the past or the power of oracles to see into the future. I don’t know. But, if you want to become like your father or gain his level power then you need to ask him or-”
“-I need to ask him to teach me become just as powerful as he is.” James said softly.
Ava nodded. “Yes. You can become his apprentice and shadow him and you’ll find your answer.”
“Mother. I read letter. Do you still think that way about yourself?” James said.
Ava stared at him. “It doesn’t matter.”
James pursed his lips. “I think your a powerful and a brilliant wizard. I think that’s the reason Dad choose you and wanted to start a family with-”
“-I have to go Harry. I love you. If your father approves of taking you on as his apprentice then you must obey his ever command and never doubt any decision he makes is to protect you because he loves you. We both love you and that is the only thing that matters. Remember that.” Ava said before her image disappeared and the fireplace became empty.
James stared at the empty fireplace and wondered if he had gone to far but then he knew that nothing was going to stop him.
James jumped at the sound of someone knocking on front door. He noticed that Angus didn’t move but his focused had locked in the direction of the front entrance.
“Are you expecting a guest?” James asked.
“No one but your mother or Professor Longbottom are welcome on my property and both them have a key so they wouldn’t be any need for them to knock. Hold on!” He said and walked over to his bookcase easing a book from the shelf and removing it. He looked inside and opened it to remove his 1911SC and silver magazine.
He checked the magazine that was loaded with ruby glowing bullets and then he eased it inside the weapon. James noticed that the hybrid magi/non magi weapon glow for a second before it returned to normal.
The presence of danger around Angus intensified making the hairs on James arms and neck stand up. Angus had changed.
James took out his wand, that was blue Horn Snake core but Angus held up his hand. “That won’t work. Put that away. I need you to stay in here. I’ll deal with it and come back.”
James frowned. “I got top marks in dueling and mother paid to have me tutored by retired Aururs in London. I can help.”
Angus smiled looking at his son. James stared at the cold stare. James stared back holding his father’s steal gaze. Angus nodded then as the knocking continued. “Your man now. So you got your say. Just remember. Follow my orders. Don’t use any any disarming spell if your going to use that thing then you better intend on harming or to kill because whoever is at the door is intending on doing the same to you.”
James nodded. “Yes Sir.”
Angus started forward with his Hybrid weapon aimed in front of him and that level of dangerous energy around him expanding out as he went on the hunt.
James frowned as new strange understanding of his father came to him from where he didn’t know but he trusted in the knowledge knowing it to true. They came to the front as whoever was at the door continued knocking with persistent knock though not overall pushy.
“Turn around and leave my propriety you are not welcome here.” Angus said in a commanding and dominating voice.
“Angus! It’s Ava. Honey my key doesn’t work. Will you let me in.” Ava voice called from the other side. Angus stopped James from going to the door with a raised hand. “If you have the key it should work just fine for Ava. I need you to turn around and leave my property. I will not repeat myself.”
“Angus I-”
The door was blown apart. Angus fired his weapon. A fireball of gold flames and electrical energy came out the nose of his weapon hitting whoever it was in the chest and sending them flying backward outside. James stared in shocked surprised. He had never seen anything like that show of raw power in duel or sparring match.
“Easy son. It ain’t over. It’s coming back.” Angus said calmly.
“It?! What?” James began but stopped as feeling fear shook him to his core at the tall figure that came back inside through the whole in the front of the house. The creature was in the figure of a tall man but wrapped up in a cloak of darkness and then suddenly it was Professor Longbottom stood before them.
“James I came to-Ah!” The creature screened as Angus fired another fireball of lightning hitting it in the body and setting it on fire this time. The creature screamed and screeched out in horrible blood chilling sound of pain and rage.
“James. You going to use that wand or pick your nose with it?” Angus said in deadpan serious voice that woke up James from his stupor.
“Dad. What the hell is it?” James asked.
“Dementor of course.”
“What?!”
Angus nodded as he studied the creator. “The court of Owls sent me to hunt down the last remaining of their new breed that had come over from the old country. I thought I got them all that’s why I came back early form my job. Well if you not going to do anything I’d best.” James straitened up away from his father and thought of one spell. Raising his wand he pointed at the focusing his mind on the happy memories of he had of being with his mother and father all together and shooting at the gun rang home.
“EXPECTO PATRONUM!”
Ah loud bang came from his wand as a pale blue horned snake flew out of his wand’s end and slivered around the room and around the Dementor wrapping around it smothering it in it’s body before biting down on it. The Dementor roared in pain before exploding into pure light as Angus fired one more time at the deadly creature and exploding it into nothing. Angus finally turned to face James and nodded to him. “A bit slow but you did good for your first battle. A horned Serpent Patronus. Nice. You’ll make a fine Auror.”
James stared at his father. “Who are the court of Owls? Are they a magi para-military group in the Magical congress of magic?” Angus grimaced but he shook his head. “Yes and no. The President is the primary Chief of the court.” He said in a somber tone. James frowned. “I’ve never heard of the Court of Owls. They must have been established recently.”
Angus smiled shrugging his shoulders. “In a way yes. Listen son. I think you should have a talk with your mother today and hear her out on her job offer.” He said.
James studied his father closely. “Okay so does Mother know about the Owls?”
Angus sighed. “I don’t believe so. But, son I think it would best you didn’t mention anything regarding the Court to your mother. It’s not that I want you to keep secrets from your mother but I’m not really ab liberty to reveal any of this to the general magi public.”
James stared at him. “Okay. But would it be okay for me to ask you questions regarding the Court of Owls?”
Angus stared at him. His lips shook a little. “If your new gift you’ll find out eventually and your witness to me finishing a execution order then it’s okay. But, please remember not to reveal this to anyone else outside of you me and a member of the Court of Owls. I got your word on it.” Angus said and held out his hand.
James smiled taking his father’s hand. “I promise not to tell mother or anyone else not associated with the Court of Owls. I got one more question though. How do I use back sight?!”
Angus opened his mouth then closed it. “Ask your mother she’s much more smarter on the subject and I got a lot of repair work to do now on the house.”
It was late into the night but I could feel the dawn of a new day arriving soon. I opened my eyes to the sight of Aaron moving in a strange dance on the deck of the ship. He was silent and I could barely hear his foot steps and spinning turns on the deck. A sword was in his left hand and a piece of moving rock spun around his body that he was attacking.
“The dirty mud boy is awake.” A soft voice said from my right.
I turned to see Adora floating an inch off the deck staring past me to Aaron who was still dancing around the rock he was cutting to pieces. I looked down at Aaron’s feet to see dirt and dust had gathered around him. He had been at his dance for a while yet.
“I’m not dancing.” Aaron said again hearing words in my head I had not yet spoken. He turned to me dropping from his dance to stare at me. “I’m practicing using ground magic and what fighting skills I have learned from my time training in the western Kingdom. We are arriving soon into the borders of our pack lands. Do you feel it?”
“He is nothing Aaron. Nothing but a slave. You are counting to much on father’s instincts. He won’t be able to take what plans you and father have for him. I have a better-“
“Silence.” Aaron commanded her. “Muddy. Come to me.” He said softly. There was something strange in his voice.
I got to my feet and walked over to Aaron. I froze and turned toward a patch of land that was glowing. I felt it. I felt energy from that small patch of land. I heard foot steps behind me and I knew Elmo was behind me. I walked over to stand beside Aaron. He pointed at the land that seemed to vibrate with energy that I felt.
“That is the Sharo. The land of the Sharo pack. The pack your are now apart of now. As long as Elmo of the Sharo exist the Sharo exist.” Aaron said.
“You would be wrong on one point. The Sharo is the land. It’s the people but more importantly. It’s the pack.” Elmo interjected. “As long as there is a Sharo pack and a male Dan, we will always exist. The power of the Sharo however is only for the Dan of Sharo. The Sharo follows the Dan. The power. It is the unexpected thing in a room filled with endless treasures. The one thing that signifies the Dan, set apart from everything else. It is not given to a man. It is taken. Only the true male master can see it, control it and dominant.”
I held out my hand and started to feel it. The energy of ground and land called out to me. “The land is calling to me?” I said.
“Then go to it.” Elmo said. “Aaron. Give Muddy his first lesson.”
Aaron took my hand. “Let’s go. Muddy.” He said and then started running for the edge of the boat. I felt a spark of fear and at the same a feeling of thrill of the pulling from the Sharo to bring me inside. Inside what?
Aaron led me forward and off the edge of the boat. We fell dropping from the sky and then I still felt that pulling grow tighter around my body and jerking me down. Aaron still held my hand tightly in his grip.
“Do you feel it, Muddy?” Aaron asked me.
I nodded. “I do what-“
“Reach for it. Do it NOW!”
I did. I reached for whatever it was that was pulling. I caught it with whatever spark was in me. “I’ve got it. I’ve got it.” I said in excitement.
“Good. Let’s test out your theory.” Aaron said before he let go of my hand.
I felt something drop from my hand as I started falling like a rock toward the Sharo. I raced and raced down to the ground to the back of large house and then I landed in thick mud. I wasn’t hurt but my body shook as I heard laughter above my head.
I looked up in time to see Adora descending down slowly to the ground with her father beside her shaking his head at me. “Look at the little Mud boy. He’s probably broken every bone in his mortal body.”
Aaron was the first to touch down on solid ground. He wasn’t smiling. He just looked at me with his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Are you hurt? Any broken bones? How’s your head?” He asked me calmly.
I sighed but shook my head. “I’m fine. Strangely I don’t feel hurt at all. I feel good.” I said. I frowned and started rising out of the mud easily to stand in front of my new master and his children. The mud around me became more solid under my feet. I was dirty again but I felt good.
Elmo stared at me and then he nodded his head. “You will learn from Aaron now on all that I have taught him and you will become stronger and master all my tools. You have five years to become something worth living or by the end of that time you will die. Do you understand me?”
Some of the good feeling faded away as it was replaced with fear but I stared up at Elmo and nodded my head. “As you wish master.”
Elmo nodded his head. “Good. Good. I like your acting. You’ll do well until realize what you are. Until then always remember. Power is not given. It is taken. Always remember. Now sense you failed your first test. You will make the attempt again until have successfully come down to the Sharo in the proper manner of a Sharo. Let’s try this again.” He said and held out his hand toward me. His hand glowed red and then I felt a gust of wind knock into my chest.
I was lifted up and up into the sky and high above the large red house then I stopped when Elmo held me up staring at me with his glowing magical eyes.
“Remember. Reach for it. Take a breath and descend. There will be no stopping of this test until you get it right Muddy.”
Elmo dropped his hand and I started to fall again. I screamed as I fell down to the Sharo.
The journey to the boat that would take us to the Sharo wasn’t a long journey. We had walked barely a mile when Elmo stopped short in front of a rope ladder that was floating down from the sky. I wondered if we were going to ride on the boat made of clouds for a second. I heard Aaron snort in laughter at me and pointed up past the trees as if hearing my thoughts.
I looked and stared up and my grew wide at the side of large ship seemingly to float in the sky by a large white cloud holding it up by thin strings of rope. I saw the words printed on the side of the ship but I couldn’t understand them. I frowned just staring at the wonderous thing in the sky. I didn’t even know such a thing could ever be in this world.
Aaron dragged me forward toward the rope bridge as Elmo was already climbing up the ladder ahead of us up to the strange dream like boat in the sky. I was afraid and shaking as Aaron kept forcing me up the ladder up and up. My body shook some times in fear as I felt the strong winds blowing against my open flesh. I shivered.
We neared the top. I lost my grip on the rope ladder and started to fall. Aaron caught my wrist and held me easily. He then wrapped me up in his arm and lifted me up holding me close as he climbed up to the deck of the ship. Aaron set me down. I still couldn’t believe I was standing bare feet on the ship’s deck.
The wood seemed to vibrate with energy like the ground but it was a different energy then I was used to and I was still confused.
“Who the hell is this little shit you brought up to my ship? Adopting strays now are you or are you now playing your strange little games again huh?” He said.
I looked to the back of the back of the ship to see a man dressed in a blue long jacket standing behind a large white wheel. He stared at me with silver blue eyes frowning at me. His eyes glowed for a second and then he grimaced at the sight of me. His eyes then returned to normal mortal eyes. “Strange. You are a strange little shit. Never seen em this young before but then again you won’t live long enough for anyone to remember the like’s of you.” He said almost to himself in an echoing voice.
He was another immortal just like Elmo. What were immortals!? Why were there so many of them in this world? The question was something I had to find out now. It was the first time I had wanted to learn something beyond what I would eat or drink today. My stomach growled loudly and the man behind the wheel scowled at me shaking his head. “Fucking earth elemental. Your lot is forever hungry. Elmo. What the hell is this slave boy doing on my ship?” He said turning toward Elmo was walking up a short stair way leading up to the man.
“Never you mind about my business. Where the hell is my daughter?”
The immortal’s face softened into a genuine smile as he nodded upward. We all looked up and then a red haired her goddess floated down dressed in a dark red dress. Her eyes were mortal sky blue but the energy surrounding her as she floated down to stand beside Aaron was something else. An immortal. This time a female one. I could feel the strange magical presence surrounding her vibrate with energy and then it was gone like a cool breeze on a warm day. It feeling left me wondering if I had indeed imaged the whole thing.
The Scarlet angel smiled up at Aaron and I could see a ghost of a smile similar to that of Aaron’s in her expression. They must be siblings. I looked up at Aaron to see him smile warmly at the girl and pet her head gentle with a warm close affection. “Hello Sweets. You’ve been having a time learning Sky craft from your future father in-law I see.” He said warmly.
The girl grinned up at him ignoring me and everyone else around us now that she was his full attention now. “What did you bring me Aaron from the city. Show me. I must know. I must see it. I must have it now.”
Aaron chuckled and reached inside his leather armored pocket to present her a silver glowing necklace with a silver heart attached to it. The girl snatched the necklace up out his hand and hugged his waist tightly before hurrying away to her father’s side. Her steps were light and almost didn’t seem to touch the floor boards of the ship. I shook my head at her. “What kind of goddess is she?” I whispered softly.
“Her name is Adora. She is your master’s favorite daughter and well beyond your reach and your senior by five years if not ten whatever the hell your age is.” Aaron spoke in biting voice.
I looked up at him to see him staring down at me with interest and heat in his gaze. “I meant no offense young master.”
Aaron shook his head. “I am not your master. I am your teacher and for the moment Elmo is your master. That will not be the case forever if you prove yourself and show the promise Elmo expects from you. What you should be asking is how she was able to come down from the bird’s nest of the ship at such a great height without falling to her death. Ah! There it is. Yes. It is as your thought a form of spell air magic that you can learn as well. It is a power you can learn to. That is far more interesting. First, I want to show you something. It looks like we’re getting under way. I can feel the master of the ship taking up the Anker to begin our journey back home.”
I felt the ship shift now right as Aaron pointed it out to me. I fell into his solid side. He took a hold of my shoulder and guided me over to the side to look out over the land as the ship moved forward gaining speed quickly and moving. I felt my eyes grow wider as I stared over the different lands and looked seeing grey buildings off to the north west. I pointed to the buildings. “What is that place?”
“That is the kingdom of the western pack lands all ruled by the Western Flower. A strong immortal grand Dan of the area that recently dominated the area in a string of challenger bouts and won the lands. He is one of the four strongest immortal Dans. Elmo being the forth and lowest in rank.”
I looked to the back of the ship and stared at Adora a few seconds before I looked at the master of the ship as he was focused on guiding the ship on course. “Is the Master of this flying boat second strongest?”
“That is an interesting question. The answer however is a simple one. He is a master of Sky craft as it is called currently and a merchant of trade as is his son Clint Jr. Mr. Clint is grooming his son to take over his business one day. Adora is promised to Clint in name all but for the contracts to be signed and Adora to agree to it. They will make a fine match. Forget your foolish dreaming and look out over the pack lands.”
I turned back to the view of the different bordering lands. I saw the western pack lands and the different bordering types of lands all entirely different from one another and seeming to be like not at all a like in any way to each other. I felt a strangeness to them and I could glimpse the lines that divided them. “What is this place?” I wondered a loud about this world I had been born into for the first time in my life. Even as my hungry belly growled at me for attention. I ignored it for now as the subject of what this place took hold of my full attention.
“These are the pack lands.” Aaron said. “Five fallen worlds all grafted and brought together by the hands of the Titan Clocks and the imagination of the immortal Lucas of the East.” He paused letting me take in his words. “Do you see the lines?” He asked me.
I nodded. “Yes. What are these magical lines holding everything together around the pack lands. Look at that line just disappeared.” I said and pointed to where a line among the pack lands had suddenly faded away and seemed to make one pack land larger because of it.
“Hmm. You see the lines. Your life will not be as easy as you might have wished. The lines are the handy work of the Titan Clocks doing. The packs are still being formed as the war between the pack lands are in consent flow. The lines separate the packs that own those lands and the strength of lines signify the power of Dans’ ownership of those lands. One day when the Pack lands come into their prime a tower will appear and then things will get very interesting.”
I shook my head still trying to wrestle with this new knowledge about the world presented to me and still all the more knowledge that I wasn’t aware of at present. “How can such a place like this come into existence so easily by chance?”
Aaron shook his head. “Not easily and not by chance. As I said The Titan Clocks made this realm for one purpose as the legends say. To determine the strongest to rule and one to fight to protect this realm from forces far stronger that seek to destroy or harvest the power of the packs and the pack lands. You have more questions I know. Save them for later.” He said and then handed me a large piece of bread. Real bread. I snatched it from his hand and bite into it surprised by the taste and fat meat was also inside it.
They called me Muddy the slave. They said, I was born in the mud when my parents were barely adults while both my parents worked in the mud pits crafting bricks from straw, hey and the sands of THE SIN. I don’t even remember my parents. All I could remember was my uncle, Straw boy raising me up to form the bricks that would be sold at the market by our masters. I was chained to him along with two others who could have been my male cousins or just slaves sense the days I started to care to remember things. Very few of us got a name from our current master Drakes Moore. We had had several masters over the years sense before and after I came to existence on the farm.
I lived the first part of my life on a mud slaver farm on the farm making bricks with uncle and two other slaves. We lived in the mud. We worked in the mud. We slept in the mud and ate mud cakes and pig slop. I don’t remember what age I was when they called me Muddy but I got the name because I had finally got sick for the last time of eating pig slop and hard brick mud cakes.
I had broken my tooth on a hard cake that was dipped in pig slop that my uncle had made for me to eat so I would shut up about being hungry and make bricks faster. He had laughed in my face only with the other slaves who were busy eating and working at the same time near the end of a work day.
“That out a learn ya to keep to your work boy. Now get back to making those bricks Muddy. It’s about the only thing your good for anyway. We got to get finished for the day or the master will crack the whip against our backs for the delay in our working.” Straw boy said.
“To work.” Quiet Slave said. “The master is bringing someone with him. It looks like he’s to sell another one of us off. To work everyone and be on you best show behavior Straw boy. Muddy get to work.” He said ducking his head down and started working.
I spat out a tooth and threw the mud cake down. I was hungry and angry at Straw boy for the joke he played on me. He held up a brick he had crafted from the mud and straw easily in a few seconds. “Get back to work or I’ll knock out your other teeth.” He warned me.
It was never an empty threat. Straw boy didn’t like me and he enjoyed giving me my extra due of pain more then our master did when ever one of us got out line we all got the snap of the bull whip against our backs. My stomach growled in pain but I turned my face to the mud and started forming the brick mixing it with the sand of THE SIN and straw and threw the brick into the cart. I was only getting more angry now and I was still hungry. I went to work faster then I normally would and pretty soon I was just grabbing up mud and throwing it into the cart and forming it on the cart just to save time.
Straw boy hit me with a mud rock and started beating me like a mad man screaming curses at me. The other slaves tried to calm him down but shook them off him and continued beating me with the brick. I was confused and I didn’t understand what was going on until he pushed my head down in the mud and tried to kill me. Straw boy had attempted to kill me a few times when he lost his hold on his black rage but he always came out of it after a few moments. This time was different though. I could feel it. I realized quickly enough that he wanted to really kill me this time.
I reached for the mud with my mind going into it. I relaxed and let the mud heal my wounds until finally I felt Straw boy’s hands on head slipped away and I could finally raise up and knock him in face the with a heavy sharp rock. Straw boy screamed loudly and fell back and then I felt the crack of the whip hit my back and I fell to my knees. Straw Boy was on me now hands around my throat and choking the life out of me.
I was released finally because Straw boy was being pulled off me. I watched as he eyes grew wide as the bull whip around his neck started choking the life out of him. I saw tears flow from his eyes as he pleaded for mercy in what breathes he could get out. I heard the unfamiliar laughter of another male.
“The boy is a sharp one for working decent enough ground magic. I’ll take em.” He said.
I turned toward the voice of a man. I froze at the sight of tall muscled man with grey hair and dressed in dark brown leather armor. I stared at his burning glowing ruby eyes of our master who stared at me. A slow smile formed on his meaty red face.
A Dan. The other slaves all bowed as he strangled Straw boy to death and then with a quick jerk of his whip the Dan snapped his neck with his bull whip. This was the first time I have seen an immortal. He stared back at me and gave me a nod. “Hmm. Got some spirit in you ya Muddy. I am your new master. They call me Elmo, Dan of Sharo. You are now Muddy of Sharo. My slave.”
Muddy of Sharo. Hmm. This was the first time I had been given a pack name to denote who I was and what pack I hailed from. I bowed to him. “Hello, master. What would you have me do?”
Elmo stared at me and then I felt the brand on my neck burn and change. The chains on my wrists glowed and changed to silver gauntlets. He grinned and then he snapped his fingers another male with a younger face similar to Elmo walked up to stand beside him. He came over and yanked me out the thick mud and walked me over back to Elmo who stared at me as I stared up at him meeting his strange magical powerful gaze.
I remember suddenly that I was supposed to look away out of respect and I did so but Elmo put his fingers under my chin to lift my head up and stare at me. “You’ll do fine for what I intend for you. Aaron my eldest will be your teacher. You will learn from him well or you will die and be of no damned use to anyone but the crows and warms to feast on your dead body. Come. Let’s go.” He said releasing my chin and turned his back and walked away.
Aaron’s hand was still on my arm. He gave me a tug and led the way as we followed Elmo out of the mud farm. I can remember passing my old master who had been bowed to the ground his face pressed down on the mud as we passed. I didn’t look back I just wondered at the strangeness of the Elmo the Dan of Sharo.
Why does his eyes glow so brightly?
“Oh that’s an easy enough question to answer. He’s an immortal.” Aaron of Sharo said answering my question and making me frown in surprise because I hadn’t remembered speaking the question aloud.
I looked at him. Aaron but his eyes were staring at his father’s back. “What is an immortal?” I asked instead of asking about how he knew what I was thinking.
Aaron laughed shaking his head. “Oh no. That is a long story and we haven’t the time to get into it. You have much to learn and I have more then enough things to teach you. Be patient and be attentive because you must learn or you indeed will die.”
I had a job to do. My only problem was the Immortal I had been sent to find was about to die. Aaron of Sharo lay on his death bed with a smile on his face. His mansion was quiet, his servants had left him alone. No lover. No wife. No sons. No daughters. No family to gather around him to wish him well unto the final abode of his immortal soul. He wondered a loud about strange journey of his life for the first time in his existence. Where would his soul go to? What spirit of the continuum would arrive to carry his soul on into the holding area of the mortal soul resting place. He felt a spirit in the room now waiting for him to finally give up his grasp on life and give up his ghost. I was quietly patient and didn’t interrupt his thoughts. Though I remained hidden to him not taking my mortal form I know he could sense me. That was more then most mortals or immortals could do in the pack lands.
Aaron settled back in his bed put aside those thoughts with a careless shrug. He had won in life much to the annoyance of his many enemies both mortal and immortal of the federation of pack lands. He suffered lost but he had had a grand adventure in his life. He smiled again and turned back his mind to the beginning of his life when he was a young slave working the land with his earth powers for his master Elmo Sharo.
“What are you grinning about, Master?” A voice spoke from drifting breeze of sand earth at the entrance of the door of the room.
Aaron frowned and looked to the door to see a tall young man with a black mask over his mouth. The young appeared in gust of sand and wind at the entrance. The young man’s amber glowing eyes were filled with love, friendliness and brotherly love for Aaron. “Ghost? What are you doing here? I thought you would be busy fighting some young upstart challenging you for your high position of the pack lands or some other nonsense like that.” He said.
“I finished that business early. I wanted to return to you as soon as I could. I needed some conversation. Is this about that little cough you had this morning. Are you trying to fool yourself into believing your going to die now?” Ghost said with a shrug.
Ghost walked over with a lightness to his steps and sway to his hips and snapped a apple into his hand offering it to Aaron before he sat down on chair of earth he formed out of the sand and earth. Aaron took the apple but sat it aside him on the bed and sat up in his bed.
“Ghost? You came by this morning and we talked all morning. Why are you here? You know I’m about to die. I thought you could give me a bit of alone time to myself. I’m an old man. I’ve done my bit. I’m ready to move on.”
Ghost rolled his eyes. “Your being over dramatic. What were you thinking about? Was it about that time you conquered the plains of Winslow or battled the dark sages of Darma? Tell me?”
Aaron sighed rolling his eyes. “I was thinking about the time I was a slave and then you-“
“Ah. Yeah. Your rise to power from your humble beginnings. I haven’t heard that story in a while. Remind me about it. I do like to hear how you tell the story.”
Aaron gave him a narrowed eye look of annoyance. “You know the story well enough. You were there and I’ve told it before. Many, many times over. What is your game? Your trying to trick me again. It won’t work.”
Ghost held up a finger. “You’ve told it before but I wasn’t always there and you never did tell me what your thoughts were when all those events were happening and what the hell did you do to that asshole from the west. You never did tell me what you did to him to warrant him being so angry with you after he stole your precious love.”
Aaron’s face became heated in embarrassment at the mention of Aaron’s precious love. “I have no precious love. Your trying to trick me. I know your running some sort of game. I just don’t know the why of it or purpose. I will be a dead man in a few hours. Can’t you just leave me alone until then. The spirit guide is here to guide me away.” He said waving a careless hand in my general direction. I knew he could see me but still wondered what this whole play between them was about.
Ghost stared at him leaning forward on his throne of sand and granite earth. “What were you thinking about doing during those times? You’ve never told me. You’ve never told me not once what you were doing even on the day your master and my father had died in the last match against that bastard Endurance. Tell me. I want to hear the story. You owe me that much. Master. I’ve been real good to you. I followed all your orders for the last, what a couple of centuries now.”
A couple of centuries?! Interesting.
Aaron sighed dramatically. “So be it. You’re running a game of some kind. You are forever playing your games and leaving me in the dark about where the hell I am supposed to end up. I don’t know where this game is going or what it is about but I do owe you. I owe you quite a bit. You did provide me with a grand adventurous life from the beginning to this end. Where do you wish me to start then sense this will be the last time I tell the tale.”
Ghost leaned back in his seat and I could see a ghost of grin behind vail behind half his face. “What were you doing and thinking during the very day you knew your master had died when the trumpets sounded. You must have felt a sense of wonder when the Dan magical wards fell. Then the loss of the protection powers of your ancient home lands were captured by that thieving bastard Endurance?”
Aaron frowned and then couldn’t help grinning like a fool as he remembered as clear to the day so many years ago that day and the proceeding days of his the first steps to his adventure. “I was trying to break into Elmo’s locked treasure room. I thought….Well damn. That happened sooner then Ghost said it would. I better get to doing what I should to get this damn plan going before something else goes to hell. I only had one problem?”
Ghost stared at Aaron. “You were trying to break into your master’s treasure room during his fight to maintain his titled power over our former enchanted lands?!”
Aaron nodded his head stiffly. “Yes. I was. It took me some doing finding the damned spare key but I found it, well I found it on accident really when I was cleaning Lord Sharo’s private rooms under his reading lamp by his bed. It was a bit of a surprise. I had had a time deciding what I was going to do with it for a few seconds before I headed to the treasure room door.”
Ghost smiled. “You sly dog. Now I finally get the real story. Go on. I’m all ears for this shit.”
Aaron smiled. “I’ll tell you.”
I crossed my legs and sat back interested to hear the tale the old man had to tell. I had heard the rumors of course but I had never really heard the story behind this mortal’s rise. Now I would discover what were the facts, and fantasies behind Aaron of Sharo’s rise before I took his mortal soul to the wild soul lands. I snorted at the notion. These mortals are funny bunch.
Roberto Glassgo stood at the back of the room entertaining his guests and holding the focus of every eye and attention in the room. He was a man in his early fifties with a presense of power and control around him with a edge of something dangerous behind his clear obesdian black eyes. The black ear ring on his right ear was a call back to a past life when things weren’t as easy and noted that he was in always a self made man from the sands of the Outlands to the silver streets of the purple district.
Only the few old money in the room knew what that black ear ring meant and what Nomadic group it was associated to. The youth and new money in the room had no dream realm idea how dangerously savage this man could be without the money and position that put a civilized mask over him.
I had no intention on getting anywhere close enough to him to find out. Though Glassgo smiled politely enough to seduce and put most in the room at ease around him those obsidian eyes and ear ring put me off. I did a scan of his body with my cybernetic eye and breathed a sigh of relief when the item I had come to collect wasn’t on him.
That was good. It was here though. Somewhere in the penthouse. I just needed to locate it, grab it and get the hell out of here before those obsidian eyes locked on me.
Luckily Glassgo was busy entertaining his guests he was slightly distracted by the explosion that had occurred outside. I would say I had fifty to forty minutes until they either traced it to me or gave up and then Glassgo turned his focus to the penthouse suit then eventually he would see me and game would be up.”
I scanned the penthouse living room. The floors and space taking in the details and sections in the space for guests entertainment. There was a bar with a flat screen AI monitor that showed depictions from tourist attractions around the dream realm, a card table live music playing from a Rocker Boy, Eddie Williams impersonator playing a cheery red light stream guitar. I continued scanning, moving on to the walls and then I found the side office and entrance in out. There was a tall big painting in the office. It was a portrait of a black hair beauty with a alien elemental glowing sword in her hands and nothing else. Hmm.
I felt someone watching me. My eye locked on the source of the pair eyes to see it was Glassgo who was studying me closely. Damn. I looked around the room until my eyes locked on a pair of long legs by the bar. The legs were attached to a auburn hair lady with amber honey eyes that were focused on Glassgo as she sat at the bar sipping on her glass of white wine. She wore a slick semi formeral business dress suit with a silver blue pin on the right breast pocket of her jacket. A female CEO apart of the executive class.
I started toward her. She glanced once at me then looked away back to Glassgo. I smiled and took a seat behind her to add a challenge to the game.
“Are you nervous or obsessed with the host and his money. I can understand why. Money and danger are attractive qualities.”
She half turned to glance at me. “I’m not interested in a drink or anything you would have to say. So save your voice and my ears the attention.”
I nodded my head. “Your nervous about approuching your target.. Otherwise you would have ignored me in favor of looking at your secret crush. Do you need coaching on closing the deal? I am available assisting you in your adventure.”
She stared at me and then laughed in my face. “You’re a comedian?! You seem to be trying to hard to catch me on a charity day. Again, I’m not interested cowboy. How did you get into this party anyway?”
I smiled. “I had an invitation so I walked right inside like everyone else here. I’m only interested in a bit of spicy conversation for the moment and information to feed my mind and keep me from being bored. Tell me about interests you in Glassgo?!”
She frowned at me now. “On Roberto?! That information is easy enough to come by in the morning E-zine Gallup magazine or a twenty-four hour news stream the media talk about him with a faithful devotion of lightning devoted worshiper. What did you really come over here for then?!”
I shrugged and pointed over to digital screen over the bar. “Tell me about the AI screen. It changes at odd rate and the pictures show even odder locations.”
“That’s not why you came over here.” She said with a smile.
I shrugged. “I lost interest for a bit so are you going to tell me something about the AI screen.”
“Your serious?!” She asked no unsure.
I smiled. “You can’t be serious all the time. I’m consultant Charlie Kent by the by. So do you know anything about the AI screen?”
She sighed and turned her body fully toward me. “I’m CEO Eva Sandra. I know more then a little.”
I moved in close to my target cover and fell into my new persona of Charlie Kent. Mr. Kent? Old money. Black sheep of a family group. Charming. Adventurous.
The feel of the crowd was quiet yet they were all excited to get a pass into the famous and rich Roberto Glassgo’s inner circle private invitation only party.
I made my approuch and my target turned and he stared at my eye wide eyed. I smiled. “I know. I know. I’m a handsome devil am I not old boy.” I said adding charm and whit to my tone and body language.
I felt a few heads turned my way as they heard my distinct accents in my voice.
The mark blushed as he realized what he had been doing. He started to open his mouth to apologize but I shook my head. “No troubles old Boy. The name is Charle Kent. You not have heard of me but trust me that is extreme intentionality by design from my family group.” I said offering him my hand in a upward facing
The jester got more then a few odd raised eyebrows and side glances. It was a uncommon jester of greeting and I completely made up on the spot. The mark mimicked my jester off-handedly. “Hello, the name is Joel Lee. I am the CEO of Data Trades Ink. A pleasure. Ah what do you do,if I may be so bold to ask?”
I laughed loweringly my hand and following into step with him. “I specialize in consulting. I also buy and sell secrets here and there. My family group only permits me to have a small little business. I can’t become an embarrassment on the old money family you know. Does your lovely wife with you manage your clients well?”
Joel stared at me wide eyed in surprise. “I-I ah. Yes. My wife Amanda does so. How did you know that?”
I chuckled. “Like, I told you I buy and sell secrets as well as I do a little consulting work for the authority, ah no. I meant the purple district clients.” I said with a fake smile of embarrassment at the intentional slip up.
Joel stared at me. “Your a sp-ah!” He stopped because his wife gave him a little kick.
Amanda offered her hand to me. “Pleased to meet you executive class Kent.”
I bowed my head over her hand for a second. “Charmed. But please call me consultant Kent. How is the managment of Deta trades now-a-days?” I asked as we neared the front doors to the building.
Amanda laughed. “Are you interested in our company secrets Consultant Kent?”
Security druids checked invites and let in a few guests and herded several others away that failed the test. Tight security. Hmm. I figured as much.
I shook my head and I reached into my pocket. “Not really. I’m just interested in a casual conversation with interesting people. Nothing big. Joel. What deals are you planning on making tonight? Feel free to lie to me. I enjoy good stories.” I asked and then I hit the switch on my remote trigger before I removed a soft candy and unwrapped it slipped the candy into my mouth. I rolled the candy in my mouth staring at him and waited for signal to go out to the box I put in the trash bin a ten feet away.
Joel frowned at me. “Is Charlie Kent your real name?”
I gave him a sincere smile. “You are new here aren’t you? I like how adorable you are. Why would I give you the real name to my family group in a public setting?! What fun would that be? Not to mention the hell my dear grand mother would raise if I did so gives me pause because of the hold she has on my allowance this month.” I said and heard a few chuckles from the nosy gentleman and ladies listening intently to our conversation.
Joel blushed and even his wife hide a smile under her hand. He frowned at me. “Why the fake name then?”
I stared at him. “You believe everyone here is who they say they are?!” I snorted loudly in real laughter as an explosion went off behind me distracting everyone in the crowd.
My window of opportunity was open for a short period as panic and disorder spread like a virus through the crowd. I turned as the others did but I quickly snatched up Joel’s free arm and jerked him forward to the doors. “It looks like we had better hurry inside before what is going on outside catches up to us old boy.” I said adding a little bit of nervous tone to my voice that kicked Joel in to moving forward.
We quickly moved toward the druids flashing over our cards as some of the druids hurried out to secure the area of danger. We were let inside with little interaction between the security detail and guards. I walked inside the building walking quickly to the elevator with a smile on my face. I saw the camera inside in the corner overhead. Hmm. Can’t avoid everything. The camera would get my image. Have to figure out how to handle what comes of that later.
