Seal of Solomon (Journeyman Book 2) (22 page)

It was Henry and both arms were now swinging. It seemed that Jane’s gift of outfitting him with an automaton was successful, the seamless, silvery arm moving just as naturally as his real one.

“Oh gosh that looks great!” Marcus said happily, giving Henry a big hug. He withdrew and grabbed hold of the prosthetic, studying it keenly.

Henry felt good that he had been able to return the gesture properly, his grip improved from before. He laughed as Marcus was still holding him, captivated by the automaton. “Thanks much, Marcus. I really can't thank you all enough here at HQ.” His eyes glanced over to Joey. “And you must be Mr. Mosely! I've heard much about you!”

Henry extended his fleshy hand since it was free to move and Joey shook it.

“Oh really?” said Joey, feigning caution. “From who?”

“Nobody bad, mind you. Just that sod to your right there.”

They all laughed, Marcus finally relinquishing his hold.

“Well I won't keep you,” said Henry, “I'm anxious to get stuck in working with everyone from HQ as I promised. I don’t think the Noctis has a chance once we really get going.”

They all nodded and said their temporary goodbyes.

Marcus proceeded toward the lecture, Joey following behind finally wondering where Gage had gone off to and what trouble he was in. He didn’t have to wonder for long, as Gage’s distinct mass loomed into view. He was already sat in the café, halfway through a sirloin with asparagus for breakfast. He was in his typical attire, nothing too fancy, licking his fingers as they approached to say hello.

“Hey gents!” Gage said with gusto, the steak apparently hitting the spot. “You guys headed in for one of the talks?”

“Yep!” Joey replied. “Defensive spells right?”

Marcus nodded.

“Have fun with that!” Gage replied, indicating he had no desire to join them. “I might go later on before that dinner thing tonight, but right now nothing’s caught my interest. I mean there's a talk on aphrodisiacs in an hour and shit like that…” He pinched one of the remaining stalks of asparagus in his fingers – silverware a foreign concept to the man – and with barely a shake it drooped over to one side, limp. “But I ain’t got this particular problem so don’t think that talk is for me,” he said with a wink before devouring it.

IT WAS SIX O’CLOCK
and Joey and Gage were all of a sudden at the forefront, headlining the evening discussions at a dinner that would conclude the first day’s activities. They would resume tomorrow and continue for another day thereafter.

The two of them made their way through the crowds assembled in a large hall at the end of one of the three hallways behind the café. It was filled with many circular dining tables, clean linens, golden utensils, and fancy chairs. The late afternoon sun streamed through three large, arched windows at the back, the room inviting in its opulence while the amazing and exotic smells of the forthcoming courses added to the experience. This was such a far cry from the breakfast table at the Lodge.

In front of the windows was an elevated platform like a stage, complete with a podium in the very center.

Jane rose from her seat, wearing a wonderful red dress and simple jewelry. She was positioned near the stage and tapped the side of her glass with a silver and white cylinder the size of a straw. The sound it made rang out over the ambient noise, signaling everyone to take their seats. As they all did so, Jane addressed the assembly, the general noise falling away to respectable silence.

“Thank you all for coming, those of you here for this evening’s meal as well as those already off working towards saving our future. This has been an amazing first day of our Assembly and as you know, something we do not take lightly. We
must
work to get into the minds of our enemies and also understand what is happening in the world. This meeting has been the chance to do just that, my hope being that it will get everyone on the same page over the next couple days. As part of this understanding, this evening I wanted to introduce you to someone you may or may not have heard of before: Mr. Gage Crosse.”

There was much commotion after his name was mentioned. Joey was amazed while Gage seemed indifferent, but drinking in the attention.

“While he may be brash,” she continued to some light laughter, “he has certainly brought with him a flood of new information and updated insight into our enemies, for which we are eternally grateful. Before we begin to eat, Gage has agreed to demonstrate one of the demonic artifacts known to us as the Solomon Six, primarily so you are all aware of the power these items possess and why we so desperately need to have them in our hands and out of the hands of the Noctis.”

Joey leaned over to Gage, whispering low with hand over his mouth so the people nearby couldn’t see. “Are you sure this is in any way a good idea, my man? You do remember what you said happened the last time you used it… or it used you?”

Gage agreed that it was a dangerous thing to do. “Yeah, I know,” he said, “but the world is a dangerous place and if things go the demon’s way, nowhere will be safe – not even this place we are sitting in. This is far more than fighting in a vampire coven on a chilly night. I better get up there.” Gage promptly stood and proceeded to step onto the stage.

Marcus and Om watched from across the table as he swaggered effortlessly up there. Many were amazed that he physically matched his seemingly exaggerated descriptions. As expected, some found themselves unimpressed while others were visually smitten, their jaws hanging on by a thread.

“Thank ya’ll for having me,” he said. “I'm happy to be amongst colleagues who have the same goals as I do: putting a stop to the demons. To the Noctis.” Glancing to Joey, he sighed before looking over to Jane. “This item, now affixed around my neck, is known as the Devil’s Ire. It's one of six things the demons need to complete their plans for taking over. I'm not just referring to Hell, I'm talking about everything here on Earth itself and who knows what other places after that. We can't let them do this, else face extinction no matter what species we are. The chain ya see here that the amulet attached to? That's another one of the items. I don't know the full extent of what they do, but from what I've seen first hand, they're powerful.”

Without any more delay he demonstrated their power in front of everyone. Closing his eyes, he thought of the pain of Adrienne’s loss and the anger he felt towards Keli for that. At first nothing happened, some distant coughing echoing in the silent hall, but then there was a tiny spark from the amulet. It was followed by another and then another, until the entire disc looked like a sparkler. In an instant, a large fireball appeared and snaking tendrils of living hellfire thrashed around.

The crowd was in awe and at first Gage had control over the situation, but then struggled to maintain it. The flames were imparting an enormous feeling of hunger in his mind, wanting to eat… consume… destroy. The feeling grew like a pinpoint of light in the distance that threatened to run over him like a runaway train. He was being pressured into satisfying their urges, to which they promised euphoria unlike he had ever experienced before. That sounded so appealing. It wouldn't hurt at all… the crowd here was massive… and defenseless.

Gage?
came a voice not his own.
Now is not the time, man who does not fear death…

His eyes shot open and the flames screamed as they died, his clothes covered in sweat. He met with a hushed crowd, the demonstration so powerful that they were thankful the artifact was in their possession and now knew first hand of the urgent need to collect the other four.

Then the murmurs started to spread across the crowd – they were in awe, yet an undercurrent of fear pervaded the sea of voices.

“Can he take the artifact off?” they asked.

“What if he won't take it off?”

“Are we all in danger with that thing around?”

Fenran fed off the undertone, already highly suspicious. It wasn't clear if it was fueled by true distrust or simply his dislike of all things Gage. It was more than likely a combination of both, exceeding one hundred percent.

“How do we know that he is not here as a demon spy,” he said callously, “out to subvert everything we hold dear?” He threw an unsympathetic look up to the dais.

Gage caught it. “For cryin’ out loud, I’m the one here trying to bring y’all together! Which is a damn sight more than your pointy-eared ass has done.”

“Enough, gentlemen!” Jane snapped fiercely. “Let’s not forget who the true enemies are.”

Jeers of fear and pointed words of hate began to rise against them, Joey quickly appearing at Gage’s side, coming to his defense before those negative voices grew too loud.

“Hello everyone. My name is Joey Mosely and that’s my friend you are talking about. You all have no idea what it is like living with Gage,” he said, knocking his partner gently on the shoulder. “Yes, he's obnoxious – sorry big guy but you are – and sometimes speaks his mind too loudly. Truth be known, that’s all the time. But none of that changes who this man
is
at his core; in his damn soul.

“Listen, this man’s seen more death and destruction at the hands of demons than many of us… in some aspects twice! There's a reason he's known colloquially as the best damn Journeyman around and the demons are scared of him. He would never help them.”

A few nods appeared in the crowd, mainly from older Journeymen that had been in the field for some time.

“I can't tell you how blessed I am that he showed up in my life,” Joey continued, voice becoming upbeat and thankful, “literally just at the right time as we were being overwhelmed by a huge vampire coven, not to mention a Primal they had created. Without fear, that man standing right over there plowed his way through at least a hundred vamps, saving my ass and the asses of God knows how many others before and after that day. He even took down a bunyip with his bare hands for goodness sake. I truly mean it when I say there's nothing to fear from him, but everything to cherish.”

Joey paused to survey the entire crowd, his voice growing low and serious. “Now I know the words of some lowly field operative with little clout, heritage, or standing doesn't carry much weight, especially in these grand halls amongst such grand people, but that's how I feel. I would charge anywhere into battle with that guy because he is my friend, my family, and so much more. You're picking the wrong sides if you're against him and honestly, we need more like him to lead us to victory as a light against the night. I trust him with my life and know he will be there when needed least and most.”

Joey stopped there as he didn't want to embarrass himself with any tears; he was on the brink.

Tyrol rose from his seat and clapped. “Mr. Mosely, do not diminish yourself nor your accomplishments. Know that your words carry much weight with them and you are absolutely right.”

Many in the crowd seemed to agree, joining in applause and impressed with the spark of their relationship, that support – of friendship and family through a bond that could not be broken by outsiders or words alone because it was real – represented the true nature of the Journeymen. That was something that had been lost in history, lingering as faint embers in the dark of night that waited on the right winds to blow across them, either to extinguish what was once great in the world or rekindle it, blazing anew.

The clapping began to grow sporadic, then ceased as a guard rushed into the hall straight to Jane’s table. He leaned over, whispering something in her ear.

Gage was close and craned his neck to see if he could make anything out, but he couldn't as she said something inaudible back and he rushed out again. Those gathered were clueless, wondering what was going on.

Jane rose again as gasps filled the air at the far end of the hall, flowing as the crowd split for a man escorted toward the stage. He was surrounded by six guards, two in front and behind with the others to his sides. Obviously they wanted to keep him out of harm's way, or vice versa.

Soon they had ushered him into the stage and he collapsed to his knees not ten feet away from Gage. He stood at attention, ready to act in case anything happened.

Taking a few deep breaths, a touch of congestion rattled loosely in his chest.

“Sir,” said Jane, “I understand you're fatigued but please state who you are to the people.”

“The name’s Evans,” he said, coughing into his hand. Phlegm was there, which he proceeded to wipe uncaringly on his shirt. It vanished amongst the other stains on it. “Was the Head Vampire from a coven, one of three in fact, out in Durango, Colorado – or shall I say what's left of it.”

“You dare allow a vampire in here, Jane?” exclaimed Fenran, rushing the stage. Jane raised a hand, signaling the guards to intervene. They stopped Fenran and escorted him out, much to his embarrassment and chagrin. “Have you gone mad woman?”

She didn't answer, returning attention to Evans. He proceeded to tell everyone there about the attack in Durango and the Ifrit that was used. “Such wanton and careless destruction arose that night. The demons are not only dangerously cunning, the wild ranks within their monster alliances also pose a significant threat, especially with such stupidity at arms.”