Other Places 3: Detours (27 page)

"You're
that Greater Demon, aren't you? The Line Walker?"

"Right.
So, have everyone ready in an hour and please have them know where they're
going? We don't have room for everyone here."

She
made a sound that was even more freaked out then and slammed the phone down.
Whatever that meant. Zack set the black hand piece down on his desk, only to
have the thing ring again. He was worried that it was Chicago being hit too,
but the voice on the other end didn't sound all that worked up.

"Hello?
Zack?" It was oddly familiar, but no one he recognized off the top of his
head. Except that, after a moment, he worked it out.

It
was his own voice. Since, by some odd turn of fate or coincidence he looked
like Xenses used to, that probably told him who was on the phone. Dear old,
monstrous, dad.

"Xenses?"

"Exactly!
I wasn't sure you'd take my call, but I saw the news and wanted to make certain
you were all right? We do have an agreement in place still, don't we? I wasn't
sure if it would hold, after I woke your memories like I did earlier."

Which
explained
that
part of things, if nothing else. It also meant he hadn't
done his father from behind, just some other Greater Demon. That was, he
decided, good enough.

"For
now. I'm not happy about it all, and I might still change my mind, but I'm
holding things together. Say, you don't know anything about these attacks do
you?"

There
was a brief silence, but after a few breaths, a soft chuckle.

"Not
at all. I could see about finding out? If you have anything to trade for
it?"

Zack
wanted to be scared himself now, but he laughed instead. After all, what else
did he have?

"Information
for information? If you can find out who's behind this, I'll try to find out
what Keeley and Darla are up to, in regards to killing you. They'll probably
figure it out and then change their plans, mind, but some news is better than
nothing." It didn't sound like a great bargain to him, but the voice on
the phone made a considering sound.

"Agreed.
Information for information. Try to be timely with it?"

"Agreed.
I'll call and ask right now. Then I need to be off to get people out of the
attack zones. This is pretty messed up, you know that?"

The
man on the other end of the line chuckled, sounding very happy.

"I
know! Isn't it great? Here I thought today was going to be all boring, too.
Well, it's always something. Tootles. I'll get back to you as soon as I know
something."

Zack
hung up, not waiting for him to say anything else. After all, the less he had
to deal with the Demon, the more likely it was that he'd survive, in the end.

Then
he got to work, since people needed his help.

It
was, of course, an unmitigated mess. The only saving grace, as the day
stretched into morning across the nation was that there was only one bomb in
L.A. and nothing else went off at all. He still ended up moving hundreds of
people all over the world, and, for some reason, had twenty Alede in his
bookstore by nine in the morning. The problem there was that they hadn't all
eaten, and just getting them blood from Rebekah wasn't going to work at all.
Erin Probest had called up all her friends in the city, so they'd literally run
to be gotten out. They hadn't gotten with anyone else, but thankfully, after a
fashion, the Vampires
had
, so there was that. It made them look good,
even if the Alede were paying him for L.A.

They
were nervous, which meant that all of them, man, woman, boy and girl, were
spewing sexual energy out into the air. It was so thick it was cloying. Worse,
they didn't have a homeland at all, which meant that going to a relatively safe
node was nearly as good as they could manage on short notice. For a bit he was
at a loss, to tell the truth. What was he supposed to do with them all? Palma
came in, and made food for them, but that, he was certain, wasn't going to
really help.

At
about ten thankfully, Valerie came in, which got him to open the front of his
shop up and chase her down. Foolishly, she didn't try to run, but rather bravely
turned to talk to him. He gave her a serious look.

Then
Zack waved at his place.

"We
have twenty of your people, evacuated from L.A. I should just send them over to
your store?"

She
sighed, and then nodded.

"That
sounds right. How did they get out? I thought that all the planes were
grounded?"

"Oh,
I was called in by one of them. She's paying for it all. Modeling work? I'm
starting an agency, I think, so looking for talent. She'll still get paid, of
course. Really, if you have anyone else that's looking for that kind of work,
let me know?
After
you take these away, and feed them." He didn't
add in please, since that would have seemed a little desperate.

Val
seemed very serious though and leaned in to him, touching him on the arm,
lightly. It was actually less flirtatious than she normally was. Desperate and
edgy, for once. That was actually refreshing, to tell the truth.

"Is
this the Vampires?"

Zack
actually had some news on that one, at least, "I don't think so. Really,
I'm guessing that it's some kind of Human group right now. Regular old
terrorism. I'm having that checked out and will let everyone know what I find.
For now... Really, we need to open up the mall, and, I don't know, hold a
candlelight vigil for the people attacked, tonight? Something like that. We
need flags on all the stores too. I... really, I'll pass the word on that one,
since you're going to have your hands full with this lot for a bit."

Then
he walked away, calling out to the Alede in his place. Not all of whom left
right away. Some were actually reading books and a few sat in the Cafe. The
rest scurried away like he had super cooties or something. Though, tellingly
enough, Erin stayed, her pretty face almost too good looking for what they'd
need.

"I
guess I'm your slave now? Master..." She didn't kneel at least, which was
good. They were right out in the open, and if she did that, it was both going
to be hard for him to deal with, and really hard to tell her no.

"Um,
no
. That isn't my thing. Slaves. I might be able to get you some
modeling work? So, stay ready for that. Part time, no doubt. I want to go into
plus sized women, eventually, since the current skinny look is hurting too many
girls. For right now, why don't you go and help Valerie, the Alede Ambassador?
If you see Kaitlyn, or Kyle, send them over here please? We have a lot to do,
and a lot of directions to go in. For instance, we need to get things opened
up. I really doubt that we're at risk here, and hiding behind closed doors
makes it look like we're scared."

Of
course, most people were.

On
the good side, some of them addressed that by acting very brave and tough,
which was pretty nifty, all things considered. Zack took a deep breath and
started at the far end of the Mall, tapping on the front of the Vampire embassy,
first. Lenore and Edom were both there, as well as Bey. The rest of the council
wasn't, but that made sense. Being in one place would leave them all vulnerable
to attack, a single bomb possibly taking them in a few moments. This way only about
a quarter of their power base could be taken out.

It
was why they weren't at the summit after all, right?

Lenore
opened the door, looking around like she was expecting attack.

"Zack?
Do you need something to eat, or..."

Bey
walked from the back, carrying his distinctive warping of space along with him.
For his part, Edom just started making treats, pushing a rather hastily made
thing toward him, over the counter, with a long handled red plastic spoon.

Zack
took it and then shrugged.

"We
need to get things open. I can't prove it yet, but this seems to be a Human
action, against their own kind. It's stupid, but not our problem that way. We
have an investigation going. The, um, Greater Demons do. So, I'll share that
information, if we find anything? We should give away free food. I'll pay for
it. Can you put out a sign? Say something about America and standing together.
There's a vigil for the fallen later tonight, in the parking lot."

Bey
looked at him as if he'd lost it, but Edom started nodding.

"Right.
Good plan. I was in the country on nine-eleven, and that really worked then.
People will want to get together." It was, clearly, enough for the other
two, since Lenore didn't wait for orders to come in, just opening things up,
and then, oddly, going to the phone. After dialing, she spoke loudly.

"Vaughn?
We need to open things up. Everything. All offices, if possible..." Then
she explained what Zack had said and who the information had come from.

He
left, going to Mage Embassy, since it was directly across the way. Bob was in
the back, answering the phones with his wife, so Zack had to use his front door
key. That he still carried it all the time probably meant he was holding on to
the past too much, but he'd noticed that they hadn't changed the locks, either.
Of course, locks wouldn't stop
him
, if he was coming in, would they? It
was probably a money saving thing then.

They
both looked up at him, as if they were going to be eaten at first, but then
Evelyn smiled. Her hair had started to grow back and while she looked like a
thin teen boy, she was clearly not dying anymore. That was good, since Wu-Li
hadn't been certain they'd gotten to her in time.

"Mr.
Hartley? Have you come to help out?" Then she answered the phone,
"Embassy... no, we don't know. No one..." She looked desperate, and
Bob gave him a slightly darker look.

So,
while they were on the phones, he spoke anyway. Going over the whole spiel he'd
given the Vampires not three minutes before. Then he dialed Jennifer. It was a
school day, but he found her at home.

It
was her mother that answered, sounding like she was in shock, really.

"Get
down to the Candles and More. Bring friends. Um, you know, protection spells
for all, and that kind of thing? Get with Bob. Here..." He passed the
phone over and left, not telling the man who was on the other end.

After
that he went from store to store, finding people ready to fight, but no one
actually attacking him, which was nice. The three Kobolds all offered to go and
fight the terrorists themselves, which Zack didn't take off the table.

"If
I can find them, we might need to go in. Can you all stay ready for that? I'll
try to let you know beforehand." He sounded serious, because he simply
was. Not that he was in charge of North America.

No,
that Greater Demon was Gregor.

Which
meant giving him a call as soon as he got near his own store again. The instant
the phone picked up and older male voice spoke, sounding gentle and a bit
saintly.

"Cleric?
This is Zack Hartley?"

"Line
Walker. Are you calling in the debt I owe you?"

Zack
blinked, and smiled a bit. "
That
would be poor timing, wouldn't it?
No, I was just checking in to see what you might need done? You're in charge of
America, and I live here, so, you know, marching orders and all that?" It
wasn't how things normally happened, but he was young and stupid, right? There
was a soft hiss from over the phone.

"Thank
you, Line Walker. If only all that lived in this land were as dedicated. Do be
careful however. Too much of this kind of thing and the others will leave you
in charge. For now, I could use some help, sending emissaries to different
locations? This seems to be the followers of Radical Islam again. That or my
own people making it seem like that. Would you be available to aid in their
transportation?"

"Right.
I just need their locations and where they need to go. I should also get some
people back from the Ettarian Summit." It felt like a lot, but Zack didn't
bother worrying about it. In the end he only had to do what he could. "Oh,
I, um, have Xenses out looking to find who did this. So there may be some news
coming in that way. If we can locate anyone, do you want in on the takedown? We
should get with Richard Swerlin too." Because he was part of the official
U.S. Government. That made things like that practically his job.

"Xenses?
What price does this come at?"

"Information
about what The Technician and The Mistress of Souls have planned for him. I
already have it, since I called up Darla and told her all about the agreement.
I even mentioned that would be what I was doing to all sides. I'm sure that
means there will be eighty-seven levels of traps involved and no one showing
up, but
that
isn't my problem. Not at the moment." Not at all.

There
was a low sound that he realized after a bit was a creepy priest style chuckle.

"Very
well. Please share that with me, if it's allowable, once you have the data? I
would, indeed, be available for that clean-up work. Mr. Swerlin as well, you
say? He's one of your Vampires, isn't he?"

Zack
was about to explain the nuances of the situation, but then shrugged, almost as
if without meaning to at all.

"Yes.
I'll set that up. I'll see to your list of people."

Which
didn't take long at all. Really, as long as he wasn't all that polite about
things, he could do the transfers faster than the phone calls. There was a strange
situation that arose, at the mall and even the other places he went that day.
About half of the people were running around, working frantically and seeming
ready to fight or run, and the rest barely caring at all.

The
Elth and Hsreth for instance, didn't think much of the distant attacks at all.
They spoke to him, but that was only to ask if he wanted food. Which he didn't
need. Merry and Conrad listened to him carefully however, and rather cutely
marched out of their Chinese food place in the food court, holding large bronze
knives.

Conrad
explained, looking up at Zack, dressed in his normal cooking outfit, complete
with white apron. He looked very tiny, standing there. Perfect though, like his
sister. It was almost as if they were simply standing a good ways off, rather
than being physically small.

"We
will go and fight these beings of terror, at your command. We owe you our
lives." He spoke so proudly that Zack knew he'd be offended if he said
they weren't needed.

"Good.
For now though, we should feed everyone that comes in. Set up a buffet in the
middle and let people know that it's free? I'll cover it, so it won't be a loss
for anyone." Not that a lot of people were eating yet. People were still
too tense. Some did come into the Mall though, since people had collected in
the parking lot, to hold signs. Most just said; God Bless America.

It
didn't hurt that Edom and Lenore had taken treats out and handed people some
flags to wave.

For
most of the day, he played delivery boy. It wasn't that big of a deal, but he
certainly got to practice his people skills. No one was all that unpleasant
though, until Calley came in, along with Catherine, her boss. The Shifter
Ambassador.

Zack
saw the moment coming, as if in slow motion, with the feline woman moving to
the front, her right fist clenched halfway, showing she was predisposed to
being aggressive for some reason. Calley was looking down, her face red, and
eyes wide behind her thick glasses. It normally would have been fine, dealing
with the attitude that was no doubt coming, since, he realized, it was mainly
due to fear on the cat woman's part. Fear of losing too much, or, in this case,
her assistant being more effective than she was. He got that from her before
the lady managed to get ten feet into his book store.

Her
face set, she marched over, seeming prepared to harm him, if he didn't give in
to her demands.