Age of X01 - Gameboard of the Gods Read online

  Justin and Mae exchanged glances. “That’s becoming more and more of a possibility,” he muttered. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t it.”

  Leo still looked a little put out that his brilliance wasn’t being lauded, but he made no more protests. “I can keep trying.”

  “I don’t know that it’s needed,” said Justin. “What we really need is to find an unlicensed cult serving a Celtic death goddess.”

  “Isn’t that what you do all the time?” asked Dominic, a challenge in his voice.

  “A little harder when they’re not licensed,” Justin retorted.

  Leo didn’t seem so sure. “Didn’t you used to be tight with some groups in the underground?”

  “Very tight,” murmured Mae.

  “My best source couldn’t help,” Justin said.

  She suddenly frowned. “What about your other one? Geraki?”

  “I—no.” The suggestion momentarily stunned Justin, then he shook his head adamantly. “No. Definitely not. He’s not a source. He’s a stalker at best.”

  “I don’t like him either, but he’s wired into that stuff, right? And he claims he wants to help you. He even did kind of help you.”

  “He’s crazy,” Justin told her. That, and Geraki wasn’t like Callista. Superficially, they shared a lot of the same traits. Both were cunning and charismatic. Both were smart enough to command others without calling attention to it. But there was something about Geraki that made Justin’s skin crawl.

  Because you’re connected, said Magnus. And he knows things about you.

  He could help if you’d give him a chance, added Horatio. Probably with this. Most certainly with your calling. You need to start learning the craft.

  “Justin?” Mae leaned toward him, eyes concerned. He realized he’d spaced out. With a feeling of dread, he made his decision. He had only a few days left. Desperate times and all that.

  He sighed. “Excuse me a moment.”

  He went outside, leaving the rest of them looking confused. “Call Demetrius Devereaux,” he told his ego. “Voice only.”

  “Justin,” boomed Geraki when he answered. “Look at that. And here I thought I was going to have a boring day.” Even without seeing him, Justin could imagine the smug look.

  “You claimed you wanted to help me last time. Is that still true?”

  “No small talk, huh? What kind of help could a megalomaniac like me offer?”

  Justin gritted his teeth. “I’d like to know if there’s an unlicensed religion in the Pan-Celt grant. One serving the Morrigan.”

  “Haven’t heard that name in a while. Why would I know anything about unlicensed religions? You’ve made some mistake—a rarity, I know.”

  “Goddamn it! We all know you’re lying. I’m not asking you to give up anything on yourself and whatever nonsense you’re running.” Justin paused to take a deep breath. “I won’t say anything to SCI. But I need to know about this group. They’re killing innocents, and even if you’re crazy, I don’t think you want death on your hands.”

  “‘Crazy’ is an arbitrary term. And someone like you isn’t in a position to judge sanity.” But Geraki didn’t outright refuse. “If I could do this—and I’m not saying I can—what would you give me in return?”

  “What do you want? And don’t ask for something illegal.”

  “All I want is for you to do what I asked the last time we met.”

  “You asked for a lot of things. Most of which I didn’t understand. Because they made no sense.”

  “You understood what I meant by yielding your stars and flowers.” Geraki’s voice was low and dangerous. “That doesn’t sound too bad to me. A good bargain for information about a group you claim is killing people. If I can even find out such things, of course.”

  Something in Justin’s chest tightened as Geraki’s previous words rang in his head. Yield your stars and flowers and accept the clever compromise.

  “I know what the stars and flowers mean but not the rest. I can’t do what I don’t understand.”

  “I’m sure our master will make it clear. When he does, promise you’ll do it.”

  “Fine,” said Justin, wondering just how much he’d regret this. “I’ll do it—if you can even find out anything.”

  “Swear you’ll do it,” said Geraki. “And that this isn’t being used as entrapment.”

  “I swear it,” said Justin promptly.

  “What do you swear by?”

  “Does it matter?”

  He could tell Geraki was smiling. “No. Your word will hold you, so don’t try to break it. Hang on, and I’ll call you back.”

  The call disconnected, and Justin wondered exactly how long he was supposed to “hang on.”

  He got his answer a few minutes later, one that was surprisingly detailed, if slightly ridiculous. But Justin made note of all the information Geraki gave him, promised to make good on the enigmatic deal, and then returned to his friends inside.

  “Well,” he declared. “I may have our hit. Turns out there’s a grain warehouse in the Pan-Celt grant we might be interested in.”

  “Classy. Are you going to call in a raid?” asked Leo.

  “I don’t know.” Justin leaned against the wall and passed his ego from hand to hand. “I could, but if nothing shows up, I’m going to face a lot of heat for sending military to a grant based on circumstantial evidence—especially if I really do keep Geraki out of it. I had a pissed-off voice mail this morning from Cornelia about what happened last night with the Nordics. Public shootings don’t go over well. If I do something else spectacular that doesn’t pan out, I could be in a lot of trouble.”

  Mae met his eyes, knowing what was on the line, despite how angry she was with him. “What if we did a preliminary visit?” she asked. “Unofficial. It can’t be that hard getting into a warehouse. We look, and if you get your proof, then you go in for the kill. If nothing’s there, we quietly leave.”

  Leo gave a harsh laugh. “Bold, but how exactly do you plan on breaking in? Do you have some technical expertise we don’t know about, prætorian? Even a grain warehouse has a security system.”

  “One that’d be easy for a technical genius like yourself to crack,” said Justin. It was a crazy plan, no question, but they’d passed the point of sanity a long time ago.

  “You and I have different definitions of ‘easy,’” said Leo.

  “Leo…” Justin’s voice cracked a little. “I don’t want to sound melodramatic, but getting to the bottom of this might be essen—beneficial to my job. I wouldn’t be suggesting something this drastic otherwise.”

  “She suggested it.” But everyone could tell Leo was considering it.

  Dominic nearly choked. “You’re all crazy! Do you hear what you’re saying?”

  “We’re saying we potentially have the chance to crack open this case and bust a cult that’s killing people and conducting illegal genetic procedures.” Justin shifted into sales mode. “All we need is one hint of that. Hell, if we just find evidence of an unlicensed religion, it’ll be a good day’s work. That video becomes irrelevant. We’ll see what schematics we can get in advance about the place. It should give you an idea of what we need to get in, Leo.”

  Dominic still looked dumbfounded. “If you’re going, then I’m going. Not that you should be going.”

  He and his husband locked eyes for several tense seconds. “Okay,” said Leo at last. “We’ll take a car. Dom doesn’t like public transportation.”

  All of Justin’s dislike for Dominic returned. “A car will take forever!”

  “Just twenty-four hours,” said Leo. “We’ll sleep along the way.”

  Justin tried to size Dominic up. “What do you have to offer in this zany adventure? Drinks for the road?”

  “Dom’s a good person to have your back. Let Mae do the heavy lifting, and keep him around just in case.” Leo smiled, but there was a nervous edge to it. “Besides, I’d like the company.”

  Once the fateful decision was made, th
e four of them huddled together to hash out plans. They spent the rest of the day analyzing what satellite and land records they could get ahold of on short notice, as well as planning the logistics of such a feat. When evening fell, they had as solid a plan as they were going to get. Unfortunately, it was going to take Leo nearly two days to get some necessary equipment—putting them in the grant the day before the full moon.

  Cutting it close, said Horatio as Justin and Mae rode the train back to Vancouver.

  Nothing to be done but wait and see how it unfolds, Justin told him.

  You’re the one who’ll be waiting, said Magnus. She’s going to be doing all the work. She’s risking herself for you.

  Justin glanced at Mae out of the corner of his eye. She sat next to him, reading on her ego, her hair hanging around her face in a golden wave.

  “Mae…” She glanced up too quickly, making him think she hadn’t been reading. “Thank you for this. I know what a big risk you’re taking for me.”

  Her face was carved of marble. “It’s for my country.” She looked back down again, and his stomach sank.

  I guess I have to take what I can get, he thought.

  You can help her, said Horatio.

  How? I’m no prætorian. I’m not even a tank like Dominic.

  You have the potential for power beyond physical strength, said Magnus. If you’d just open yourself to it.

  I’m not interested in your mystical training. I’m not serving any god.

  What harm is one spell? Horatio paused for impact. One that could keep her safe.

  The only way she’d be safe is if she stayed at home. But Justin was intrigued, and he dared another covert look at her. What would I have to do?

  He could feel the ravens’ excitement. Close your eyes, said Magnus. And concentrate on the symbol we’re about to show you….

  CHAPTER 33

  MORTAL WEAPONS

  “Honestly, who doesn’t take public transportation?” asked Justin for what had to be the fifth time during his and Mae’s journey two days later. “How does he get around?”

  “He doesn’t,” she reminded him as they rode to their hotel. Two flights had just delivered them to Sioux Falls, the largest plebeian city outside of the Pan-Celt grant. “He stays at home and grows grapes.”

  Justin shook his head. “It’s the sex, right? That has to be the only reason Leo would put up with that—though Dominic doesn’t really strike me as the creative type.”

  Leo and Dominic had left by car last night and were due to rendezvous at the hotel in a few more hours. They couldn’t have pulled off this escapade before nightfall anyway, but Justin was still incredulous over what he saw as a waste of time. Mae was weary of hearing about it but had a feeling it had become a way for him to cope with the stress of their upcoming task. Complaining about Dominic saved Justin from agonizing about the possible fallout if they failed. Tomorrow was the full moon, and neither knew what would happen to him if another murder slipped by.

  They scanned their egos at their hotel’s front desk, and moments later, an attendant returned with two room keys and a box. She split the keys and gave the box to Mae. “It arrived for you this afternoon.”

  Mae thanked her and studied the package as she and Justin walked to the elevators. A printed label clearly identified her name and the hotel, and the postage tracking code said it had been shipped express. The return address was for a bulk shipping facility, with no sender’s name.

  “What is this?” she asked Justin.

  “How should I know? I didn’t send it.”

  “Who else knows we’re here?”

  “Callista,” he admitted. “Don’t look at me like that. She wants them taken out as much as we do, so I’ve kept in touch. Now open it.”

  Inside, Mae found a knife. Or rather, a dagger. The handle was wrapped in three bands of yellow amber, and the guard was embellished with an inlay of multicolored stones. Carefully, she lifted the weapon out and found it had a good weight and solid craftsmanship.

  “No silver here,” she said, running her finger over the sharp steel blade. This was a recently constructed item, no ancient artifact, despite the embellishment. “The Morrigan’s servants would have an easier time with one of these.”

  “They seem to be doing okay,” he reminded her. “Any note or explanation?”

  She checked the box. “Nope. Maybe Callista felt bad about keeping my other knife. I never got it back after I threw it into Raoul Menari.”

  Although Mae didn’t want to accept any gift from Callista, she was struck by the weapon’s beauty and strength. It also fit easily in the sheath she’d had sewn into the inside of her boot, almost as well as her old one had. Mae decided to keep it, much to Justin’s amusement. As Tessa would say, you could never have too much protection.

  “You want to get dinner once the luggage is settled?” They lingered out in the hall by their rooms, which were next door to each other. “Still a couple of hours before Leo and Dominic show up.”

  Mae deliberated for a long time. “Okay.”

  Later, she wished she’d refused. She couldn’t muster any of the easy banter they used to share, not after what had passed, and Justin’s constant attempts at conversation grated on her. All she kept thinking about was that Nordic hotel room. Once I’ve been with a woman, there’s no mystery. No novelty. There’s no reason to go back once I know what it’s like. And…. I know what it’s like with you.

  It was a relief when Leo and Dominic showed up. After checking in, the two left for their room, promising they’d be right back down. Justin looked forlorn.

  “Do you see how tired Leo is? No one can get any real sleep in a car.”

  “Dominic looks okay.”

  “Yeah, but we don’t need his technical genius sharp and alert.”

  The foursome ended up taking Leo and Dominic’s rented car out to the grant and used Mae’s credentials to get them in. As a fellow patrician, she had short-term access for herself and up to four guests. Justin could’ve obviously gotten them in as well, but he was afraid identifying himself as a servitor would attract too much attention—not that an armed prætorian was exactly low-profile either.

  Once they were finally inside the borders, they ended up at another bar and simply waited for the clock to tick down. Leo had some of the satellite images of the warehouse that he went over with Mae, pointing out the most likely surveillance areas. Although she had more respect for his skills now, the “most likely” part unnerved her a little.

  The appointed departure time came just before the bar closed, when most people were winding down and going to bed. Mae and the others drove to the warehouse, which was situated outside of town, and parked in a spot that kept the building in sight but was too far away to show up on any cameras. The thick trees and lack of lights on the road also kept their car well concealed.

  “I should come with you,” growled Dominic.

  “I’ll keep pinging you.” Leo, sitting beside him in the front seat, rested his hand on Dominic’s. “The fewer people here, the better. If we’re caught, I don’t want you taken out with the rest of us.”

  “You won’t be caught,” said Justin in what Mae recognized as his I’ve got your back voice. “As long as you don’t get picked up on surveillance, you’re good. Get in, get our evidence, and get out.”

  Mae looked at him and saw that although his words were glib, his face was drawn and tense. Noticing her scrutiny, he started to automatically smile but then faltered.

  “Be careful,” he told her. “I wish you didn’t have to do my work for me.”

  “It’s what I’m here for. We don’t want to get you dirty.” When he didn’t smile, she added, “It’ll be okay.” She wasn’t sure it would be okay but needed him to think it would. Seeing Leo and Dominic engaged in their good-byes, she lowered her voice. “Maybe you can get to know Dom better.”

  The look of distaste on his face was far more in line with the Justin she knew. “Don’t count on it,” he sa
id. “And, Mae…” He started to reach out his hand to her and then stopped. After several moments of contemplation, he astonished her by snaking forward and kissing her on the cheek.

  She had no chance to be outraged. She was too awestruck by the kiss itself. It had been light, but her skin literally burned where he’d touched her—and not with desire. There’d been actual heat in his lips. A fiery image flashed into her mind of a strange symbol, like a Y with an extra vertical line running through the top. Even after that flash, the afterimage of the symbol occasionally appeared in her vision as she blinked. She stared at him, aghast.

  “What did you just do?” she exclaimed.

  He had no time to answer because Leo was already getting out of the car. “You coming?”

  Mae gave Justin one last questioning look and then opened the door. Her cheek was still warm, and that symbol kept popping in and out of her mind. What did he do? she wondered frantically. There’d been power in that kiss, but she didn’t understand it. When had he started using supernatural means instead of just documenting them? That unsolicited show of power was just as unwelcome as the Morrigan.

  The almost-full moon peeked through the clouds as Mae and Leo trekked across the field. She saw no signs of life anywhere, and all the building’s windows were dark. One light shone near the entrance, lighting up the door. She’d worn all black tonight as the obvious camouflage choice, though it made her feel strange, like she had on a parody of her uniform.

  “How does it feel to be a soldier of the Republic who’s breaking its laws?” Leo whispered. He shifted a bag on his shoulder. Allegedly, he had a whole technological arsenal with him.

  “Bigger laws say murder and runaway cults are worse,” she replied. She didn’t give voice to her fears about Justin. Her whole purpose in suggesting this break-in, aside from the obvious, was to help him. Cornelia’s threats still hung heavy in Mae’s mind, though she never would admit it.