Lycans and Legends

Chapter 17: Secrets, Storms, and Things that go Bump in the Night

The following morning, we packed up our things for the return trip to London.

“I’m sorry to see you go so soon,” Mister Reeves told us. “I suspect this means you found what you were looking for, Agent Louvel?”

“In a fashion.”

“And you, young man. I wish you well,” Mister Reeves told Jericho.

“Thank you, sir,” the boy replied shyly.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” I said.

“Of course,” Mister Reeves replied with a kind smile.

I nodded to Jericho then helped him into the car while Lionheart said goodbye.

“Mister Reeves is very nice, but I don’t like this place,” Jericho told me.

“No? Why not?”

“It’s too high up,” he said, referring to the Tor on which the house sat. “And there are too many fairies here.”

I chuckled. “It is high up. And I wholeheartedly agree about the fairies. Shall we head back to London then?”

Jericho nodded. “Clemeny, why don’t you live at Temple Square?”

“Because I am not part of the pack.”

“Do you have to be like us to live there?”

“Yes.”

“But I want you to come live with Sir Richard and me.”

I looked at the boy. “Are you unhappy there?”

“No. It’s not that. I just want you to come stay with Sir Richard and me. So we can be together. Just the three of us.”

“Perhaps we’ll find a way.”

“I’d like that.”

“Me too.”

Lionheart slipped into the driver’s seat. He glanced at me.

“Why are you grinning?”

“No reason.”

Lionheart looked back at Jericho who was also grinning.

“I missed a good conversation,” Lionheart said.

“That you did,” I told him.

“Whatever the two of you are plotting, include me.”

“That’s the plan,” I said, winking at Jericho who chuckled.

I reached across the seat and took Lionheart’s hand. He smiled at me then started the steamauto, which let out a hiss.

I waved to Mister Reeves who was leaning on his cane. He nodded to me, then we drove away from Glastonbury.

As we went, I eyed the ruins. In the morning light, they were beautiful. The sunrise glowed magnificently, the sun a massive orange ball that lit up the sky with shades of tangerine and deep purple. The color cast a hue on the ruins. I knew that if I focused, I could see the world beyond, the deeper plane. But I didn’t want to. Despite the fact that I was leaving Glastonbury with some of my oldest questions answered, those very answers left me feeling oddly indifferent. I couldn’t change the past. My mother and father were gone. The druids told me I had some special job to do, but I had been doing that job before they decided to poke their heads out of the mist and give me a fancy title. I didn’t need or want to be Lady of the Lake, as mysterious as that sounded. I was happy as I was. In fact, everything in my life was finally falling into place. I didn’t need the druids to tell me to save my Queen and stop the bad guy. I’d do that on my own. Because it was the right thing to do. Because I was a Red Cape. And because protecting my world meant protecting everyone and everything I loved. And I would stop at nothing to do that.

* * *

Lionheart drove us back to Temple Square. London was very quiet. A storm had settled in over the city. The sky overhead rumbled with thunder as dark clouds rolled across the sky. There was a strange feeling in the air. I got the distinct sense that something bad was coming.

“I need to go to headquarters,” I said, eyeing the sky.

Lionheart nodded. “Yes. I feel it too. I’ll meet with the pack and see what’s happening. When I left, Conklin was stirring up trouble.”

“What’s going on? Is it going to storm?” Jericho asked, looking up at the clouds.

“It may. But it will pass,” I said then knelt to look him in the eyes. “In the end, it’s all just water. Right?”

He nodded, but he eyed the sky skeptically.

“I’ll see you soon,” I said, kissing him on the forehead.

“See you soon,” he replied, leaning in to hug me. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Sir Richard, I’m hungry,” Jericho said, giving the sky one last skeptical glare.

“Of course you are,” Lionheart said with a chuckle. “Why don’t you go to the hall? I’ll be there in a moment.”

Jericho gave me a little wave then ran off.

Lionheart eyed the clouds then stepped closer. “Be careful,” he whispered.

“You too,” I replied.

We linked our hands together. “We have a lot to sort out,” Lionheart said with a smile.

“At least they’re good things. But it will have to wait a little while.”

Lionheart nodded. “After the storm.”

“After the storm.”

“Please be careful.”

“Always.”

Lionheart shook his head then kissed me. “See you soon.”

I kissed him once more then turned and headed away from Temple Square.

* * *

I slipped down an alley and into the back door of a tavern called The Rusty Cog. The cook, who was preparing a ploughman’s platter, looked up from his work. He nodded to me then turned back to the plate. I opened the door to a pantry and slipped inside. I stood in front of a wall of shelves lined with pickles and beets. Sliding my fingers under the uppermost ledge, I tugged on a latch. Something inside the wall clicked, and the pantry wall wagged open to reveal a narrow tunnel. I slipped inside, closing the door behind me. Crouching, I worked my way down the tight space to a small corridor at the end where a lift waited.

I slipped into the lift, closing the gate behind me, then activated the lever to lower me below the city to the waiting tram system. My thoughts turned like a whirlwind. I needed to check in with Agent Greystock to confirm what the druids had told me about the artifact. If Melwas was using this device to enter our world, then the solution to our problem was a simple one. Retrieve the device and destroy it. Or, destroy Melwas. Given what I knew now, killing Melwas seemed preferable. I also needed to find out if the other pieces of the artifact were, in fact, in the Red Capes’ hands. And if so, why would the agency be foolish enough to allow such a device to exist? Perhaps they had thought that taking it to one of the colonies would protect it. My father…hadn’t my father warned them? Maybe he never had a chance. Either way, it was foolish to keep the pieces of the devices in one place. Evil finds a way. Every time.

My mind also tumbled over more pleasant thoughts. Richard had asked me to marry him. And I had said yes. I had actually said yes. Without hesitation. Now what?

After. After the storm.

As the lift lowered me below the city, I started to feel the tale-tell prickle in the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. My stomach clenched. The lift came to a stop at the station, the gears overhead activating to open the doors.

On a normal day, the small tram station would be lit with gaslamps, the metal trams waiting for their riders.

But not today.

All the lights had been extinguished, and the device box to activate the tram had been smashed.

Not good.

I stayed inside the lift and debated what to do. I could just close the gate and head back up. Or…

I lowered my goggles and activated the night vision.

My senses awakened. I breathed slowly, steadily. There was someone or something not far away. Pulling my pistol, I narrowed my gaze and glanced around.

There was a strange growl, and a moment later, I spotted a pair of flashing eyes emerge from the tunnel. A beast barreled toward me. I stood frozen, staring at the monster. The creature advancing on me was mostly lion but had lizard-like scales and a menacing scorpion tail. Its face, however, was disturbingly human in its features. I had never seen anything like it.

And, of course, I was still standing in the lift carriage.

And, of course, it was headed straight toward me.

“Hell’s bells.”

I quickly timed the beast’s movements. There was no way I could get out of the lift in time. I jumped and grabbed the pipes overhead, swinging myself up over the creature, and out onto the platform. The monster smashed head-first into the back of the lift.

I spun to face the beast. Pulling my pistol, I shot at the creature. My aim was true, but not lethal. Angered, the beast turned and pounced at me. It was incredibly fast. I quickly dashed out of the way as the monster struck at me with its tail. I dodged the strike just in time. Snarling, the creature swiped at me. I pulled my dagger and struck at the monster. My blade connected, slicing the creature, but it merely growled at me.

Dammit, what was this thing that nothing seemed to have much effect on it?

Hedging my bets, I pulled the star metal dagger. I turned and advanced on the monster, surprising it. It paused a moment then reared up on its hind legs as it prepared to launch an attack once more.

But when it did so, I struck, plunging the dagger into the beast’s chest.

The monster shrieked then stiffened. A moment later, it fell over dead.

I pulled the dagger from the monster’s body. A gush of blood came along with it, soaking my boots.

“Dammit.”

Gripping the faerie dagger tightly, I went to the edge of the platform and jumped down onto the tracks. Pulling my pistol, I set off into the darkened tunnel toward headquarters.