The Blood Eagle in the Big Easy (19 page)

“Oh I doubt that very much!” I stormed over to meet him. “I have no intention of picking up your eye anytime in the near future!”

Mir smirked. “The eye has done its work and we are now one.”

That took me aback. “I’m sorry? When did we get married?”

Mir’s anger faded slightly. “Those things you call gemstones throughout your body are actually command centers for the nanites. The largest one in your ear is a communications device.”

Images flooded my mind on how they worked in unison. When I was injured many went dormant allowing only the most basic of functions to be made available until repairs could be made. The one in my ear canal was actually one of three major informational hubs within my body; the other two were in my optic nerves. Mir, as well as members of the royal family, were equipped with similar devices and were used as a way of communicating between members wirelessly.  Why I had been equipped with these three devices along with millions more throughout my body remained a mystery.

War broke out long ago killing many of the royal family. More images came streaming into my mind.  An old enemy infected the remaining bloodline, though while not killing them caused infertility. When I was found it was a miracle. I had been immune to the virus and blessed with enormous power, which I was sorely wishing I had at the moment to free myself.

Gullveig was a being of spirit and myth even to the Allfather. She carried with her a trophy from the great war between her people and ours. It was the silver cane that traveled with her everywhere. The handle of the cane was actually a severed hand from one of the royal family which she gilded in silver before using it to accentuate her own power.

Mir didn’t even so much as say goodbye before I felt the eye cool in my hand and I found myself sitting comfortably in my chair. Opening my hand I watched as the Eye melted into the palm of my hand and vanish. At that moment Katherine walked just inside the room, smiling as she stretched languidly against the door frame.

“Is everything alright? It isn’t like you to leave me in bed alone.” She was standing there wearing nothing more than a smile.

“I couldn’t sleep and thought I would come in here and do a little thinking.”
             

She smirked. “Who said anything about sleeping. Now why don’t you come back to bed.”

Like any other man in my position I quickly forgot about Mir and practically everything else that weighed on my mind as I quickly crossed the room, pushing her against the wall as I kissed her. She pulled at my clothes as we slowly made our way back to bed, and I was quickly upon her. Kissing her hard as her hair tangled in my hands, slowly pushing myself deep inside as she dug her nails into my back. She bit my lip as she thrust her hips into me with a hunger. Wrapping one arm around her shoulders I slid the other down her back cupping her in my hand, gliding in rhythm with her as we lost ourselves in each other. The morning would find us much too quickly!

Katherine kissed me as she walked out the door around six thirty the following morning. She was quick to dodge my question about what she had planned for the day, which meant she was probably going out on a date. Finishing breakfast shortly thereafter and heading for the shower I thought about my meeting with Mir. For the first time in as long as I could remember I no longer felt alone in the world and maybe there was someone, even if it were a figment of my imagination, that understood what I had been through. On the other hand I was unsure whether I should be creeped out or happy about the fact there were possibly billions of nanites running around my body fixing things I hadn’t known were broken.

The information Mir had provided me with last night was invaluable even if I didn’t completely understand it all. He mentioned that the royal family, with the exception of the Allfather, were born with only four of these ‘command centers’, each with enough power to snuff out the sun, and my body contained more than I cared to count. The nanites on the other hand were like locusts, a vital part of the hosts body, preventing diseases, healing wounds, and even slowing the aging process, making us nearly immortal. The nanites had so many functions it was hard to fathom them all.

It had also crossed my mind that I may have passed this gift/ curse on to my daughter. I made a mental note to consult with Mir the next time he saw fit to get in touch, since I didn’t exactly have his number and the eye was no more. How would she respond to such a gift? As it is her mother is a magical creature known in popular myth as a Siren and her grandmother was Helen. Yes, that Helen! She was infamous for her role in the destruction of Troy. While Katherine was two generations removed from such things she was still infuriated by the stories, not to mention the movies! Katherine had never been honest about her age with anyone, least of all me, but I could guess she was a couple of centuries old.

We met in the early late seventies in Greece where I had the misfortune of meeting her great grandfather Achelous, an ancient being of immense power. Katherine had thought I was your average everyday mortal but Achelous knew differently. I had a run in with one of his less reputable relatives only a few years prior. Not wanting to invite the wrath of his kinsmen upon his house, Achelous forbade Katherine to see me. That went over like a lead balloon and she ran away to America to marry me the following year. I still remember how sad she was that no one from her family had come to visit when Kira was born. She was alone for the first time in her life, a feeling that I had long since become accustomed to. It wasn’t long after that things started to slowly fall apart for the two of us. When Kira choose to work at Warden Industries right graduation that was the final straw. We divorced less than a year later.

Much to my displeasure neither of us ever discussed our heritage with Kira. It wasn’t my place to tell her about Katherine’s dirty laundry, but there would be a time that she would need to know. And now with this extra bit of weight to bare I didn’t know how well she would react to my news. How do you tell your child that your great grandmother was Helen of Troy and on my side of the family god only knows since I can’t remember them, and by the way we’re probably immortal to boot. Have a great rest of your day!

The water continued to wash over me as thoughts rolled through my mind unimpeded. What were the chances that these silver plated parts would realize that they were not in their original hosts body? And is that why Gullveig had used them? To increase the power of her followers? If that were the case I suddenly realized she may be inhabiting a body which could support the nanites naturally without the need to imbed the gilded bones in her body. If that were true she too may have found the secret to creating one of the crystals within the new host body giving her access to enough power to destroy the world! But if that were true what kept her from using it and why did she need the hand reassembled? These were the unsettling questions that continued to haunt me as I turned off the water.

Dressing absentmindedly I grabbed my phone to call the office when the doorbell rang. Opening the door I was surprised to find Zulu and Rex.

“Gentlemen,” Quickly moving to one side I waved them in. Zulu strode past with Rex limping in his wake pulling a portable oxygen tank. Well isn’t this a curious way to start my morning? “Please make yourselves comfortable.”

Rex sat back in my recliner and put his feet up, making himself right at home. “Don’t mind if I do” he wheezed.

Zulu found refuge across the room on the sofa as he pulled on his suit coat making sure it remained crisp. Taking the remaining recliner I leaned back, waiting for what was surely bad news from the looks on their faces. “I take it this isn’t a social call.”

Zulu sniffed as he looked around the room keeping his back so stiff he reminded me of one of those mannequins you see in a showroom window. “Hardly!” It was hard to tell if he hated my home or just me so I settled for both.

Rex opened his mouth to speak but his emotions got the better of him robbing him of his oxygen bringing on a coughing fit. Wiping his eyes he took a puff off his inhaler before giving Zulu a nasty look. “Leonard...”

“The Gatekeeper!” Zulu corrected automatically.

Rex rolled his eyes as he tried to ignore his counterpart. “The ‘Gatekeeper’ wants your head ripped off so he can shit down your neck-hole.”

Zulu’s mouth suddenly dropped open as he slowly turned to look at Rex. After a few seconds he shrugged his shoulders and nodded his approval. “That does sum it up nicely, if not a little to visually for my tastes.”

“That isn’t exactly breaking news” I said as as I stood. “He has been trying to drum me out of the courts since 93.”  “I don’t foresee it happening anytime soon.” Grabbing my drink off the bar behind me I turned my attention back to them. “Would either of you care for a drink?” offering up a glass in their direction which they refused.

Zulu leaned forward as I took my seat. “You could be wrong on that account.” He shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “He has been recruiting some of the other Krewes with special favors to be awarded to them after your removal.”

Rex raised his feet another click making himself more comfortable. “It would seem he nearly has enough votes to cast you out even without Comus’ blessing.”

Leaning back in my seat I took a long drink. “I take it that you two were the swing votes?” They both nodded. “So he is forcing you to be his mouthpiece.” I chuckled at the thought. “He is much more clever than I had given him credit for.”

Zulu shifted in his seat again. “Tell me about it.”

“You have a message for me then?” I asked.

“Indeed we have.” Zulu smirked. “The Gatekeeper has foolishly ordered that anyone who is in your employ plus a member of the courts must choose within the next forty eight hours.”

“Choose?” That little sack of shit couldn’t possibly be that stupid. Could he?

Rex wheezed. “Indeed, they must choose between working for you or remaining with the courts.” Rex took out his inhaler and puffed it. “He can’t touch you but he will force the others out one way or another.”

So that was his plan. The man had no idea what he’d start with such a demand. Standing there I was amazed at his ingenuity. If these were not the men and women I had trained he might have had a chance. Sitting my glass on the coffee table I lost myself in thought. “Again clever, stupid, but clever.”

Zulu raised an eyebrow, his voice rising an octave as he spoke. “How so? I have several members of my court who work for you and I for one am not going to lose them over this particular pissing match.”

Zulu’s arrogance was usually tolerable but I was all out of patience for it today. Leonard was playing with fire and if he wasn't careful he would topple the entire courts in his quest to be rid of me. It made me angry that both Leonard and Zulu were so very short sighted but it did explain why criminal organizations rarely expanded beyond their leaders immediate supervision. “I provide the courts with willing soldiers, who want to serve their fellow citizens!” Not trying to hide the anger and hate in my voice Zulu involuntarily flinched as he shrank back into the cushions. “No matter how much sway you think you may hold, this is a matter outside of your understanding.” Zulu turned his head away as he refused to meet my gaze as I strode toward him. “You have no idea what these men and women have sacrificed to be where they are today!” Stopping just a few steps from him I leaned down to look him in the eye. “You should consider yourself honored to have such men and women in your employ and stop thinking of them as pawns in these petty games that you and Leonard have played over the years.”

Rex’s laugh was a cross between a wheeze and a cackle as he watched Zulu shift in his seat uncomfortably. “I tried to tell you that you didn’t understand the scope of things.” Rex leaned forward in his chair. “If Leonard forces them to choose we’ll all lose!”

Zulu glared at Rex as he adjusted his shirt. “What are you going to do when the Gatekeeper strips you of your authority for helping him!?” he yelled, pointing at me.

The smile slowly slipped off the old man’s face as he spoke the next words. “The Gatekeeper can kiss my wrinkled ass.” Rex closed the recliner chair and he hobbled to his feet. “My loyalties are with Viktor, not with Leonard.” He waved his hand dismissively at Zulu as he sneered. “Leonard has overreached his authority. The proclamation he has sent out to our foot soldiers has already met with less than dismal results.”

Zulu looked as if he’d been punched in the gut. “He already sent it out? I thought he would give us time to finish up here. What is happening that you haven’t told me about?”

Rex smiled as he relished in his constituents discomfort. “Any team containing an employee or former employee of Warden Industries have all turned in their resignations.” He hobbled over to stand next to me. “That means ninety percent of the MCC’s forces are now on the road home and their jobs unfinished.”

Zulu grabbed his phone from his jacket checking his emails. His face sank as he opened email after email. “This isn’t possible.” He whispered.

The doorbell rang just as I was about to tear into Zulu once more, but after seeing the defeated expression upon his face I lost the heart to do so. Answering the door instead I found Justine standing there clutching several sheets of crumpled paper. She looked past me to see Zulu frantically reading his emails and Rex sitting there not even trying to hide his admiration of her beauty. “Sir I didn’t mean to catch you at a bad time... I can come back.”