Of Gods and Fae (3 page)

"You can handle what I asked you to do, right?"
I asked.

"I can," she responded.

"Ok, then. First, I want you to let the other Aurae
know that you are ok. I don’t need any other Fae out there looking for you.
Then complete your task. Take as long as you need but come back here with him when
you're finished. If I'm not back, just wait, you'll be safe here." I stood
up and refilled my cup. "You can use the bedroom next to mine if you get
tired."

She started to say something but I interrupted her. "One
more thing, take some clothes. I'm not sure what the reaction will be if you
show up naked. Oh, and lose the Tink stuff in public, it makes you too
noticeable."

I'm late, I thought to myself as I pulled into the back gate
of the Neptune's Landing. As usual, traffic on Dean Martin Boulevard had been a
mess and even though I was heading to the executive parking level, I still had
to wade past delivery trucks bringing supplies to the Hotel and Casino. Not
that I had been looking forward to this meeting with Eddie Milagre, the
casino's owner/manager. Oh, I had nothing against Milagre, it was just that the
meeting was to introduce me to a few other local VIP's, all of whom were Fae. Since
only a few of them knew that I was Fae, let alone a High Fae, we had set up a
few things to get their attention, if necessary. I can bullshit my way through
most things, but this time things could get interesting.

I would have been on time if it wasn't for Charlie. He almost
didn’t let me get in the car. He wasn't too happy about the attack. He'd wanted
to come with me in case it happened again. It's friggin' weird having to argue
a point with your dog, especially when he argues back. Luckily, I finally
convinced him that I needed him there. Of course, I did have to promise him
that I'd take him with me if I knew I was going into battle. But I guess that's
what you get when you have a Fae hunting dog, especially one his size. He'd
damn near knocked me over when I tried leave.

Anyway, I accessed the executive lot and pulled into a spot,
then headed for the elevators. Since I'd thrown my lot in with the Milagre's by
forming an alliance with Meredith, Eddie Milagre's mother, she being eldest of
the Nereid and therefore their leader, I had pretty much unrestricted access to
the hotel. Winding my way through the maze that exists behind the scenes of all
the glitz and glamour I found an elevator and headed up to the conference room
where we were meeting. There were two security folks standing by the conference
room. As I walked up they wordlessly opened the doors for me and I stepped into
the room.

"Good, you're here. We can start then." Eddie
Milagre said, standing next to one of several groups of individuals in the
room. I even recognized a few of them. Martin Chibeaux, leader of the
Werewolves in the area was here, as were several others of my friends and
allies. The rest of the group, for the most part, while I didn’t know
personally, I had at least heard of them.

"Sorry I was late… there were… complications," I
replied as I removed the arrows from my back pocket and threw them onto the
conference table."

Everyone stopped talking. Diantha, one of my closest allies
and the prior Oracle of Delphi, ran to my side. Picking up one of the arrows
she turned to me.

"These are Fae arrows, are they not? Yet different from
those we encountered before." Examining an arrow as she sat down in the
chair next to where I was standing. "I sense black magic, why did I not
foresee this?"

"By the Gods, Milagre, what have you dragged us into?"
one man exclaimed as he shot out of his chair "Who the hell uses Fae
arrows these days? For that matter where did they come from? We've never had
these kinds of problems in the human world before, never. What has this… thing…
brought down upon us?" Saying nothing else, he just glared at me,
accusingly.

"Sit down, Sergei, and be quiet. As usual, you have no
idea what is happening here," Milagre fired back. The other man sat back
down and whispered something to his partner as Milagre turned to me. "My
apologies for his outburst. Tell us what has happened?"

I wasn't sure what Milagre had already told the group. The
real reason for this meeting had been to inform the other higher ranking Fae in
the area about the attacks, as well as to introduce me. So I gave them the
short version, leaving out any mention of Sendy. The folks in the room began
talking amongst themselves. It was obvious that many, if not all, had the same
questions as Sergei did. Then I saw Siegfried stand up.

"Robert did not bring this upon us. This is not the
first attack, nor I expect, will it be the last," he said loudly to the
room.

That got everyone's attention. Siegfried was the Neptune's
chief of corporate security as well as charged with Milagre's protection. He
was also descended from Viking warrior Fae and one of my best friends and
allies. He and Diantha had been with me when we defeated, at least temporarily,
the other High Fae. He was also well respected in the Fae community.

"Gentlemen, and Ladies," Milagre announced to the
group with a bow to the few females in the room. "Let us not lose focus. There
is much to discuss, you will want to hear what Siegfried has to say." He
looked around the room and when he was satisfied he had their attention,
motioned to Siegfried. "Continue."

Siegfried went on to describe how we had discovered that
someone was attacking powerful Fae. He outlined the names and backgrounds of
those Fae that he knew had been attacked, including the attack on Milagre and
the death of one Chitose Shoda, a Fae from Japan, who was well known to the
local gaming community. There were a lot of interruptions when he got to the
part about the battle with the other High Fae. Temporarily forgotten, I just
sat back and listened. Well, at least until someone remembered I was still
here. It was Sergei that brought my name back to the forefront of the
discussion when Siegfried got to the part about freeing the Lilin.

I really didn’t know that much about him, except that he was
Russian and descended from the Vodianoi. (Oh, and don't believe that nonsense
about them being spirits of unclean male dead. They're really no different than
their female cousins, the Vila.) And while similar to the Fae Milagre and I were
descended from, he was, none the less, from a totally different branch of the
proverbial tree. Water Spirit, or not, he was also one of Milagre's biggest
competitors. The Fae may work together for the most part here on the human plane
but that doesn’t mean they have to like each other. He was also, at least in my
opinion, an asshole.

"He wants to what?" Sergei exclaimed as he jumped
out of his chair. I saw anger and disbelief on his face as he pointed a finger
at me. "I have only your word that this... creature... is what you claim
him to be and now you say he wants to free the Lilin! Already they act
strangely, much less docile than before. Bah, insanity, and a fool as well. I
sense no magic from this imposter. I have had enough of this nonsense."

One of the first things I had learned from Siegfried was
that strength was the key to power in the Fae world. Not human strength, but
strength in magic. While I hadn’t mastered everything about my Fae side I did
know a few tricks. Since many of the local Fae had not heard of me prior to
today, and because of what I was they wouldn’t be able to sense any magic until
I let them, Siegfried and Milagre and I had discussed just such a reaction and
I'd worked with Bernd, the dwarf, so that I could pull off just the right kind
of demonstration. Hell, I'd even practiced it with Meredith, the leader of the
Nereid and Milagre's mother. I stood up.

"Siegfried, excuse me for interrupting," I called
out. "And you, Sergei, is it? Perhaps you would allow me to speak before
you call me the fool." I added as I pulled the sword given me by Ouranos
from behind me and allowed it to burst forth from its hilt.

Sergei's eyes widened as he saw what I held. His expression
changed from surprise to anger.

"Are you challenging me?" he asked.

"If this was a challenge you'd already be dead," I
answered with a somewhat mischievous smile. "No, you said you sense no
magic. I mean only to show you that which you have not seen." Before he
could respond I raised the now flaming sword and a bright light burst forward
from it. As quickly as it came it was gone and we were no longer in the same
place.

We stood in a field amongst giant trees. I appeared as my
Fae self, as did Siegfried and Milagre. Both of them had known what was coming,
as did Diantha. The rest were still in suits, for the moment. Sergei, blinking
his eyes, turned his head towards me. Again, before he could answer, I raised
my sword and there was a flash of light, when it receded, everyone was in their
Fae persona.

"Behold the High Fae, Robert of the Dryad," a
female voice called out. It was, of course, Diantha. This time, I had approved
the script. "With your own eyes you now witness his power and position. He
wields the sword of Zeus and of Cronus, given to him by Ouranos himself. Do you
still doubt him?"

There was silence, and then one of the gathering spoke. It
was one of the females, I hadn't known her name.

"No mere Fae could wield the sword that spilt Cronus'
blood, nor force us to reveal our true selves. It must be as Siegfried has
said. I, Franxine of the Meliai, will recognize your claim."

"Fine, fine, so you are a God!" Sergei shouted
out. "I, too, recognize your claim upon those of your kind. But I am not
one of you. I am Vodianoi! Why should I bow to he that is not one of my Gods?"

"A fair question," I answered, lowering the sword.
"But I do not claim Godship, nor do I ask you to bow. I ask only that you
heed the words of Siegfried, son of Olafr. A darkness has come among the Fae and
she will not be imprisoned forever. Even now her followers spread evil and threaten
us. The attack against me is just another example of the danger we face."

"Since when do the Gods want nothing? And why the
Lilin? They are our ancient enemies, why free them. Let them rot," he countered.

"It is true that the old Gods were vain and jealous. Their
actions almost destroyed our kind, but I am not one of those Gods. I ask for
nothing except allies, and even then, only of their own accord.

"As for the Lilin, it was Demeter herself that decreed
their fate and as her heir I would have them free. Delia, one of their kind,
fought alongside of me against the other High Fae. We will need their strength
if we are to overcome the darkness Marissa spreads in her wake."

He looked unimpressed, but at least nodded without argument.
"I will consider your words," he finally said.

"I have a question," one of the other Fae
announced.

His name was Walter Ferrer and he also had ties to the
casino business. He was some type of descendant of the Roman God, Vulcanus. I'd
often wondered if that big volcano on the Las Vegas Strip had been his idea.

"Why now? From what Milagre tells us you've been in
town for years and this Marissa High Fae has ties to here as well. Why show
yourself now? You were what, a cop and now a P.I.? Hell, you could have run this
town with us for years."

"I showed myself when it was necessary," I
answered, not willing to let them know how new I was to this world. Milagre and
I had expected just such a question. "Like I said, I'm not one of those
old Gods… and… I don't need to run this town."

With that said and a smile on my face I raised my sword again
and with a flash of light we were back in the conference room of the Neptune's
Landing, everyone back in their fancy suits. Thank the Gods for smoke and
mirrors, I thought to myself.

"As leaders of your community I'm sure you still have
much to discuss," I announced, allowing my sword to magically disappear
back into the hilt. "Mr. Milagre, I return the meeting to you." I
swung my head back and addressed the others in the room. "While I believe
my little demonstration has answered your questions about who… and what, I am,
I also hope you will consider what Siegfried has told you. I am available
should any of you wish to discuss these matters further." That said I
walked over to the doors, turned and nodded to them all, and then left the room
before anyone could ask another question.

I swung by the casino and stopped in a coffee shop for a
cup, then took the long way back up to the executive offices to wait for
Milagre. I suppose I could have gotten some from his secretary, but I needed
the walk to clear my head. I wasn't sure if my little show had accomplished
much but at least I'd made my presence known. We'd just have to see if that was
going to be a good thing or not.

As I opened the door to Milagre's office, the sound of a
clap… clap… clap… greeted me. It was the attorney, Gerald Cornwall. He had been
in attendance before I stepped in and was one of the Fae I had met before. He
was also one of the most powerful attorney's in town and from what Bernd, the
dwarf, had told me, a descendent of Artemis, the huntress, although he wasn't a
High Fae as I was. Nonetheless I guessed he was pretty powerful in his own
right.

"A remarkable display of magic," he commented as I
walked into the room. "And you told them absolutely nothing, you should
have been a politician."

"Thanks, I think…" I replied. "Where are the
others?" I asked, meaning Milagre and Siegfried.

"Oh, they're still in the meeting. I left early to talk
to you."

I walked over to the bar behind Milagre's desk and poured
myself a small glass of Midelton, neat, then gestured at Cornwall who gave a
small nod. Pouring a second glass, I went back and handed one to him before
sitting down on the couch.

"I'm curious as well," he said. "Why haven't you
revealed yourself until now?"

I started to respond but he stopped me.

"I'm not trying to question your motives, call it
instead, an observation. I have followed some of your career. I remember when
you were a police officer and I did know that your business existed. But yet
there's never been even a hint of the Fae about you."

"If you're not questioning my motives then what's your
point?" I responded.

"Like I said, I find it… curious."

"And as I have stated, I had my reasons." I said with
a hint of agitation in my voice.

"Well then, let's leave it at that, for now. It was not
my intent to offend you" He moved over to the other end of the couch and
sat down. "The reason I ask is that you should know that this Marissa has
been here before."