Phoenix Contract: Part One (Fallen Angel Watchers Book 1) (6 page)

Katsue gnashed her teeth as the Greek woman laid her bony hands upon it.

“What is it?” Desdemona asked. Ever cautious, she studied the case but did not open it.

“A sword,” Troy said. “Thrash left it with a friend for safekeeping. That was the night before he went missing. We talked to the friend. Thrash knew someone—”

“Or something,” Katsue interrupted.

Troy shot her a quelling glance. “Or something was after him. Aside from that, though, the friend didn’t know anything else.”

“It’s an enchanted blade,” Katsue said, the positive proof in her throbbing burnt hand.

Desdemona glanced at Katsue, clearly skeptical. “What makes you believe it is enchanted, Ms. Ishimura?”

“See for yourself.” Troy indicated the case.

“Hmm.” Desdemona carefully removed her glasses from her pocket and put them on. Then she reached for the case and opened the latches which produced a resonating
snap
in the otherwise quiet room. Watcher Leromenos lifted the lid, and the overwhelming power of the sword immediately spilled into the room. The palpable force hooked spectral talons into everyone present.

Desdemona stared at the sword intently. Her eyes shone with avarice and cunning. It took her a moment to regain control of her expression, but she once again schooled her features. To Katsue’s immense relief, Desdemona made no move to touch the weapon.

“Excellent craftsmanship,” Watcher Leromenos said finally. “The draconic hilt appears to be Celtic, and the runes are written in angelic script. The blade appears to be made of bone. You’re quite correct. It is enchanted.” Then she snapped the lid closed on the case.

“What are you going to do with it?” Troy asked.

“It appears dangerous,” Desdemona replied, “especially since we know nothing about it. The sword will be locked up and kept for further study.”

Katsue gnashed her teeth, an audible sound that drew a grin from Troy and a disapproving glance from Desdemona.

“Are we done?” Troy asked.

“One last thing.”

Both Alastors aborted their move to stand.

“Have you asked Aiden to perform a divination in an attempt to ascertain the location of Thrash?”

Katsue and Troy traded a glance.

“Aiden’s gift of prophecy doesn’t work like that,” Katsue said. “She always says things go awry when she tries to force it.”

“I’m well aware of Aiden’s limitations,” Watcher Leromenos said sternly. She gave the impression of disapproval, as if Aiden’s failure to perform on command was a deliberate act of disobedience. “However, is there any harm in asking her to try?”

Katsue opened her mouth to give the old buzzard a piece of her mind when Troy’s foot connected with her shin.
Hard.
Distracted, Katsue snapped her jaw shut and glared at him across the table.

“Of course not, Watcher,” Troy responded, his tone properly respectful. “We’ll ask Aiden to attempt a divination.”

Desdemona stared down her nose at Katsue, waiting to see if the Alastor had anything else to say.

Through an act of will, Katsue held her tongue.

“Very well,” Desdemona said. “Give Father Bunson my regards.” Her nod concluded the meeting.

Katsue waited until they were in the library before she seized hold of Troy’s arm. “What the hell was
that
? Aiden isn’t some trained dog who performs on command. You know that as well as I do.”

Troy rested a reassuring hand atop hers. “I know that, Kat, but while Father Bunson’s incapacitated, Desdemona’s in charge. Thrash is still missing, and we might need her help. Sometimes you need to consider the politics before you speak.”

“You’re calling me a hot head?” Katsue glanced sideways at him.

Troy grinned. “If the shoe fits...”

Katsue hesitated at the entrance to the ICU room which had modular walls and a door composed of a thick curtain. Behind her, Troy also halted, standing too close, so he literally breathed down her neck. Annoyed, Katsue shoved her elbow into his ribcage and pushed him back.

“Aiden, we’re here,” Katsue announced before entering. She didn’t want to startle her friend.

Occupying the room’s only chair, Aiden curled with her head on her arms, legs tucked beneath her. Eyes closed, she appeared to be asleep.

Aiden opened her eyes and looked up, then smiled in greeting. “Hi, guys, thanks for coming.” She rose from the chair and approached them. Clearly tired, the redhead, who usually moved with lithe grace, stumbled with clumsy and slow steps.

“I’m sorry it took us so long to get here,” Katsue apologized. She stepped forward and hugged Aiden.

Troy edged into the room behind his partner.

“It’s okay,” Aiden said. “I know you guys have been busy trying to locate Thrash. Any luck?”

“None so far.” Katsue shook her head.

“Hey, you.” Troy pulled Aiden into a hug.

Aiden immediately flushed with pleasure. Troy didn’t notice or acknowledge the infatuation on her face. Katsue’s gut twisted with sympathy for Aiden as Troy awkwardly pulled away. Aiden’s longing was painful to behold.

“Hey, how’s he doing?” Troy indicated Matthew with a nod.

In the only hospital bed in the room, Matthew lay unconscious and attached to an assortment of devices, including an oxygen mask, an IV drip, and various monitors for blood pressure, heartbeat, etc. His skin tone jaundiced, the priest looked terribly frail, smaller than Katsue had ever seen him. He produced a dry, raspy wheeze as he struggled for breath.

Aiden bit her lip and looked up with luminous eyes full of unshed tears. “They performed an angioplasty almost immediately last night. The doctor has him listed in critical condition which is why he’s still here in ICU. If he stabilizes, then they’ll move him to a regular room.”

“How are you?” Katsue asked out of concern for her friend.

Aiden had dark circles under her eyes, all that much more noticeable because of her pale complexion.

“I’m okay,” Aiden lied. The redhead was the worst liar Katsue knew. Aiden’s every thought and feeling was reflected in her expression. “Last night after—” Aiden bit her tongue, cutting off whatever she’d been about to tell them.

Katsue’s brow shot up.

Troy caught it too. “What happened last night?”

Aiden’s face went blank, and then she grimaced. “Nothing,” she said. “Nothing happened last night.” Then she dropped her eyes and stared at the ground.

Katsue and Troy exchanged a meaningful glance, but Katsue made the executive decision, deciding the matter wasn’t worth pursuing. They were all tired and overwrought.

“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep, hon?” Katsue patted her friend’s arm. “Troy and I will take shifts sitting with Matthew.”

Aiden hesitated, obviously tempted but torn between weariness and loyalty.

“Go on, it’ll be fine,” Troy assured her. “Kat and I can handle things here.”

Finally, Aiden gave a nod of agreement. She gathered her bag. “Thanks, I’ll have my cell on. Call me if anything happens?”

“We will,” Katsue assured Aiden and hugged her friend again.

Troy cleared his throat. Both women glanced at him. Seeing her partner’s expression, Katsue shook her head, but Troy ignored her.

“One last thing,” Troy began tentatively.

“Yes?” Aiden asked, puzzled.

Katsue scowled at Troy but remained silent. She refused to have any part of Desdemona’s machinations. Troy met her gaze with eyes of steel. He had no intention of backing down.

“Watcher Leromenos has requested you attempt a divination,” Troy explained. “To see if you can find out anything about what’s happened to Thrash.”

Aiden blinked. Uncertainty played across her mobile features. “I don’t know,” she said. “You know what happens when I try to force a vision—things get muddled. Remember the last time? You lost a hundred dollars on that bet.”

Troy grinned. “Yeah, I did.”

“Look, Aiden, we know you can’t force a vision,” Katsue interrupted, unable to hold her tongue any longer. “Maybe you could just make an attempt? If it doesn’t work, then we’ll tell Desdemona that you tried. And if it does—”

“Then we might finally have a solid lead on Thrash,” Troy finished.

Silence fell among the three friends. They shared a mutual sense of desperation and urgency. With each passing day, it seemed less and less likely that Thrash would be found alive.

Aiden sighed. “I’ll try, but I’m not making any promises.”

“No one is asking you to,” Katsue assured Aiden. The Japanese woman shot her partner a hard stare.

“Thank you, Aiden,” Troy said, wisely complacent.

Phoenix Contract is available in all parts via Kindle Unlimited.

Click here to read Part Two.

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Melissa Thomas breathes life into her dreams, bringing imaginary characters and fantasy worlds into our reality. She loves her characters so much they become her alter-egos, enacting the exciting adventures she envisions for them. She is a resident of San Francisco, California and adores the picturesque city by the bay. Her hobbies include surfing and scuba diving.

Phoenix Contract is her debut novel.

You can learn more about Melissa at
http://thephoenixascending.blogspot.com/