Return of the High Fae (Vegas Fae Story Book 1) (7 page)

Delia got out of the car and looked over at me. "You
coming in?"

"Let me park the car. I'll be there in a
minute."

She closed the door and I pulled around next to the
machine shop, still trying to figure out where the building had come from. I
couldn't get all the way into the back, so I parked next to the fence and
walked back to the entrance.

I opened the heavy wooden door and walked into a small
hallway. There was another set of doors about 5 feet into the place. I went
through this doorway and took a look around. The place did look like an old
English Pub. It was all wood and brick with a fireplace in the far corner that
had lion's feet, legs and a hardwood mantle. The hearth was raised and made of
antique brick. The bar was U shaped and looked like it came out of a museum.
The stools and tables were of heavy wood and all appeared hand crafted. It was
definitely unique.

It was also quiet. There were only a few people in the
place, assuming they were people. I didn't recognize any of them. There was a
young couple in a booth and a few others sitting at tables in groups of two or
three. Delia was behind the bar talking to a blond haired guy. He reminded me
of Siegfried in a way, but not as hardened. She waited till I was almost at the
bar.

"What'll you have?"

"What do you recommend?"

"Well," she announced. "We brew our own ale
here."

"That'll be fine." I responded, taking a seat in
front of her.

As she poured the beer from a tap, the blonde guy leaned
over the bar and stuck out his hand. "I'm Bart."

"Robert," I replied. "Nice to meet
you."

As he let go of my hand, his expression started to change,
but before I could tell what it was, he caught himself. It almost seemed like
he had expected something more when he touched me, and was surprised when he
didn't get it. "I don't recall seeing you in here before."

Well, at least he hadn't asked me what I was. "Nope,
first time," I remarked as Delia placed a frozen mug down in front of me.

"A new customer," he beamed. "Well then,
allow me to buy the first round."

Delia told me she would be right back, then the two of
them went to the other end of the bar and began fiddling with some bottles. I
couldn't hear what they were saying, but the way they glanced over from time to
time, I assumed they were talking about me.

The beer was marvelous, by the way. It reminded me of a
Belgian beer called Chimay that's brewed by Trappist monks. But somehow I
doubted that monks were involved in the brewing process here. As I savored my
beer, I went over the events of the last two days in my mind. I was just at the
part where the naked Faerie, or Elf, or whatever she was had come in, when I
heard the door open and I saw Bart rush to the other end of the bar.

"You're not welcome here," he said, loudly.

Delia stood right behind him. She started to say
something, but never got a word out.

"Back off, bitch!" A male voice yelled out. Oh
great, another asshole. I started to turn to see who it was.

"That's him, Dad. There's the guy."

Damn, that's all I needed. As I looked toward the door, I
saw Mr. Beat It standing next to a tall, well-built man with dark hair and a
beard. Shit, he was big.

He took one look at me and started coming. "How dare
you side with her kind over my boy," he yelled.

I was just getting to my feet when the world slowed down
again. I watched as he came toward me. With every step his body changed, his
clothes ripping away, as a large wolf replaced his human form. I don't know
what I had expected, but it certainly wasn't this.

I should have been scared but the power that overtook me
earlier once again surged through me, the moment he began to shift. My vision
turned red again, and I saw and felt everything that was happening around me.
At first, it seemed as if someone else was controlling me, but I knew it was
coming from within. I was accessing some part of me that had lain dormant. When
he shifted something had awoken it and information and power flooded my being.
Damn, if only I could control it.

I shouldn't have been able to do it. As he leapt toward
me, I raised my right hand and caught him by the neck, before his jaws could
snap at me. His momentum and weight forced me back a few steps, but I pushed
him forward and down. He yelped, and blood splattered onto me as the force of
my movement slammed him to the ground.

I bent over him, holding him down like a raptor examining
his prey in his talons. I could sense the others in the room, frozen, watching
us. Their faces registered shock, not believing what was happening. It felt
like I was hearing their thoughts. How did he do that, what is he? The smell of
his blood surrounded me and memories flooded in with it. Suddenly, I knew more
about him than he probably knew himself.

"Loup-garou," I heard my voice say.
"Alsace, 300 B.C., Gaul. Yours was once a mighty bloodline, yet you have
become... something less." Then I felt myself willing the wolf away and
watched as he shifted back to human form, a look of utter surprise and defeat
on his face. He was gasping for breath, so I released my hold a bit.

"How did you...," he choked.

"You vex me," I hissed. Damn, I was using those
old words again.

"I warned your whelp," I said slowly, as I
turned my head and nodded toward his son, who was now cowering against the wall
by the door. "This female and this place are under my protection. If you
or your kind come near here again, you will die. Do you understand?"

He struggled a bit before answering. "Yes," he
said, weakly.

"Do not think to confuse my compassion for weakness.
Leave this place, now." As I said the word "now," I flung him
toward the door.

When he was done sliding, he got to his knees, his now
naked human form bruised and bloodied. He looked over at me briefly, rubbed his
neck, then jumped up and grabbed the boy, pulling him through the doorway.

As soon as they scampered out the door, I felt the power
withdraw. Damn, it had been such a rush, yet now I felt only exhaustion. It
took me a moment to reorient myself. I stood up and went back to the bar,
dropping onto the stool. I heard shuffling behind me, and I turned to see the
other patrons leaving quickly, but quietly. They were whispering amongst
themselves as they made their way out the doorway. They looked afraid.

I grabbed my mug and gulped what was left. Maybe they
should be afraid. I know I was. I had no idea what was happening to me. Sure,
it had saved me, twice, but I had no clue about how the hell to control it. Who
knows what could happen the next time.

Bart appeared across the bar from me, glaring. "I
don't know how you did that, but if I'd known Weres were after you, I would
never have let you stay."

"Yeah, well, live and learn," I said as I pushed
my mug towards him. I was too tired to care what he thought.

"You shouldn't have brought them here," he
persisted.

"Bjartr, stop," Delia appealed. "It was my
fault. I never got to explain. He was involved because of me."

"You? By the Gods, Delia, are you trying to start a
war? What did you do?" He looked horrified.

"Hey! Back off! It wasn't her fault. If you want to
blame someone, blame me. The two of them were pawing her. I couldn't let that
continue," I said, angrily. Damn... these people, creatures, whatever they
were. They were as bad as regular people, if not worse. "I've had enough.
If that's the way you treat each other maybe, you need a war!" I reached
into my wallet, pulled out a twenty and threw it on the bar. "I'm outta
here," I exclaimed, heading for the exit.

When I got outside, I paused, making sure no one was
waiting for me. I didn't have the increased senses that the rage had given me,
but everything looked quiet. I started to walk back to my car when I heard the
bar's door open.

"Wait," Delia begged, grabbing my arm. I stopped
and turned toward her. "I'm sorry, Bart worries, it's just the way he
is."

"Well, with assholes like those guys, I can see why.
But that doesn't excuse their behavior. Why do you put up with it?"

"It's complicated, and difficult to explain. I can't
understand how you don't know. Where have you been?"

How do I answer that one? I couldn't tell her I didn't
know about this world till yesterday. Shit, I still didn't even know what world
I was in. "I don't get out much," was the best I could do. I started
to walk away, but turned back. "Look, I'm sorry. It's kind of complicated
for me as well. Listen, would it be all right if I came back, so we could
talk?"

"I don't know. It's probably not a good idea."

I just tried to look innocent as she stood there.

"All right, but it'll have to be a night that Bart
isn't here or when I can get away. Can I call you?" she finally said.

That didn't sound too promising, but I pulled my card out
of my wallet and handed it to her anyway. "I look forward to hearing from
you."

"I'll try," she whispered. Her face brightened
and I might have seen her smile before she turned back towards the door.
"And thank you."

Word of advice: Just because you can kick a Werewolf or
two's ass when you switch into a superman, or you can figure out how much
change someone has in their pocket, don't get cocky. I still didn't know how
this shit worked. On the way home last night, I tried my luck at slots and lost
$100.00 for my effort. I couldn't wish my way into a pair, or even a cherry.
Well, I should have known better than to stop when I was so tired. So much for
my knowledge of magic.

I sat there sipping coffee out of my
terrifying space
monkeys
cup, attempting to wake up while I tried to plan my next move. I
didn't have one yet, but I could hope. Up until last night, I'd had a nice
life. My kids were grown and doing well. Sure, I was divorced, but we still got
along. Business had been steady and the money was good. I owned my house and my
investments were paying enough to keep me happy. But it's one thing to have
fantasies; it's another to wake up living them.

Ok, I'll admit it; some of it was really cool. I got to kick
some ass and save the pretty gal. Of course, the pretty gal was a Lil, whatever
that was. I was sure my name was mud in the Werewolf community, assuming they
even had a community. But I knew enough about real wolves and had read enough
books to be able to guess they ran in packs. That did not comfort me, at all.
For someone who hadn't even known about this world of magic until last night, I
was knee deep in it.

I needed answers. I figured Siegfried from the Neptune owed
me something for saving Milagre's life. It would have been bad for business if
his boss got whacked on his shift, so I started with him. I gave him a call and
made arrangements to meet him at the coffee shop a little after noon.

Milagre must know what he was doing. The place was way too
busy for a week day. I parked in the garage, the public one this time, and
hiked what seemed like a city block to the elevators. Once inside the casino, I
dodged the horde and made my way to the coffee shop, dropping Siegfried's name
to the hostess.

One thing I liked about the place was that it was old school
Vegas. The second I mentioned Siegfried's name, the hostess grabbed a menu and
led me to an oversized booth in the back, calling me sir several times on the
way. In the old days, they would have called this the executive area.
Siegfried, wearing a suit, was talking into a house phone. He nodded as I sat
down. Cups and glasses were set down in front of me and Siegfried's glass was
refilled. A pretty waitress took our order and Siegfried took another call.

"My apologies for the interruptions, but duty calls.
So, Robert, how may I be of service?" Siegfried asked, as he hung up the
phone.

"I just had a few questions. Things have been a little
chaotic since the other night."

"How so?"

"Let me lay my cards on the table, Siegfried. Maybe you
can give me some advice, or at least help me make some sense of it." I
didn't want to get into too much detail, since I still wasn't sure where he fit
in into all this; but I had to start somewhere.

"Certainly. How can I help?"

A weird sensation pinged in my head as he answered. I turned
around and saw Meredith coming out of a side door, with another woman in tow.
She looked surprised to see me. I could tell Siegfried noticed it also, but he
hid it well.

"Hello, ma'am," I said, rising as she approached.

"Please sit," she replied, motioning to the two of
us. "How nice to see you again so soon, Robert. Is everything all
right?"

"Yes. I just asked Siegfried to meet me for
lunch."

"Wonderful. How have you been doing since we last
spoke?"

I wasn't sure how to answer. I certainly wasn't going to
tell her everything. Once again, the truth was best. "Actually, I've
started seeing some strange things. That's why I'm here. I Thought I'd try and
get some idea about what to expect," I answered, hoping that that would
satisfy her.

She gave me a skeptical look, but she didn't inquire
further. "Please let me know if I can help. Bill this to my account,"
she said to Siegfried, then turned and walked away.

Siegfried took a drink and watched her make her way through
the restaurant. When she exited to the casino, he returned his gaze to me.
"Interesting. She did not know you were here."

"... and your point is?" I asked, wondering what
that meant. I knew they had cameras everywhere, but I doubted surveillance knew
everyone that came into the place.

He looked around cautiously before leaning over the table.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation later. Some things are best
not spoken aloud," he whispered.

Now that comment was interesting. I thought he was Milagre's
boy. Had I had missed something?

Straightening up, he gestured to the waitress. She returned
with our food and refills and we ate while we talked. "So tell me, what
exactly have you been seeing?" he asked.

I told him about the winged Faerie girl at
Darlings
.

"Hmm, winged Faeries are not uncommon. Nymphs and
Faeries are known to be attractive to humans. However, they cannot see their
true form as you did unless they wish them too. Still, they are easily
influenced. Did you notice the crowd after her performance?"

"No, why? What should I have seen?"

"It depends. If she was just using her magic to seduce,
then nothing. But some beings feed on the desire of others. If the crowd
appeared weak or confused, she may have been a Succubus. They can appear as
anything. But since it was only because of your magic that you could see her
true form, I doubt that is the case."

"I never knew such things existed. What else is out
there?

"Ha, the world of the Fae has many beings. Even I do
not know them all," he told me as he chuckled. I must have looked
dejected, because Siegfried stopped laughing. "I am sorry, Robert. It is
easy to forget that this is so new to you. I have been of both worlds since I
was born. Let me give you an overview. We can discuss more when we meet
again."

"That would be great," I admitted.

"First, there are humans and then there are the Fae.
Just as humans are different shapes and colors, so are the Fae. All magical
creatures, with the exception of Demons and a few others, such as the Lil, are
said to be of the Fae."

"There are Demons... and what's a Lil?" I
interrupted. Here was something I could at least relate to. Well, not the Demon
part, but I did want to know what a Lil was.

"Yes, there are Demons. But do not think of them as
humans do. They are not minions of the devil, although some are indeed evil.
Think of them as a separate race of beings."

Well, that helps. Not!

"Ok... and the Lil?"

"The Lilin are another separate branch. They are
related to both human and Demon kind. They are the descendants of an ancient
being: Lilith. You have heard of Vampires?"

"Of course. Who hasn't?" I answered, trying not to
look excited. Was she a Vampire? Wait, I hadn't seen any fangs. Besides, aren't
Vampires supposed to be stronger than Werewolves?

"The Lilin are the beings behind the legends," he
continued. "But they are not dead, nor do they bite their victims with
fangs. It is said that the Lilin and the Fae once battled one another for
dominion of the Earth. I am not familiar with the entire tale, but eventually
the Lilin were defeated. Most of the Fae still regard them with disdain,"
he explained. "There are actually several in the area, but you need not
fear them. It is forbidden for them to drink of the Fae."

"That's a good thing." I think…it also explained
something about the rules, but Delia? A bloodsucker?

"Indeed," he agreed, glancing at his watch.
"As I said, there are many creatures in the world of the Fae." He
began using his fingers to keep track. "The Were are shape shifters.
Faeries, Dryads like you from the oak. Meliai from the ash. Nereids from water,
like the Milagre's." He stopped and laughed again. "There are just
too many clans to count."

"I can see that," I said with a smile. Ok, so he
thinks I'm a Dryad, whatever that entails.

"Here in the new world the Fae are sparse, but in this
area there are a few clans that have made their presence known. Due to this,
there is significantly more activity between the Fae than would be normal. It
is the magic here that attracts them to Vegas. I do not know if that helps, but
suffice it to say that I will help you on your journey if I can." He got
that serious look again and leaned forward a bit more. "Others will offer
the same," he whispered, scanning the room with his eyes. "Be careful
who you trust."

With that said, he put down his napkin and stood up. Taking
a card out of his jacket, he wrote something on it and handed it to me. "I
must go. It was good to meet with you. I put my direct line on the card. Please
do not hesitate to call," he said, reaching to shake my hand.

I followed him into the casino where we parted ways. I
walked back to the garage to my car. Once I closed the door and started the
engine I glanced down at the card. On it was the message," meet," an
address and a time: 8:00 p.m. So much for an early day.

So she's like a Vampire, I thought. Bummer. I put the car in
gear and headed for my office.

The office was a madhouse. Hailey had half her runners out
serving subpoenas on some big civil case, while the other half was running
paper between lawyer's offices. I had to make a dash for the coffee pot when I
got there, and then wade through the bodies just to get to my office. I took it
as a sign that it would be a good day to get some paperwork done, so I locked
the door and finished a stack of online research requests and my billing.

I spent the rest of my time researching Dryads and other
so-called myths. It was interesting, but I wasn't sure how helpful it was going
to be. I really didn't know how much was real and how much was bullshit, but at
least it was a start.

The Lilith history was also interesting. There are stories
about Lilith that date back to ancient Sumerian writings. There were some
references to the drinking of blood, as well as her seductive nature. But there
are so many different legends, it was hard to figure out just what Delia could
really be. I must have gotten carried away. I was reading up on Vampires when I
looked down at my watch. It was already 7:30 p.m. so I shut everything off and
headed out for my rendezvous with Siegfried.

I punched the address into my nav and followed the car's directions.
I wound up at a diner on North Jones Road, in an older section of town. I'd
seen the place before, but it was buried in the back of an old strip mall, and
I'd never been inside. To be honest, I'd thought the place was closed.

The place appeared to be new inside, if you disregarded the
fact that it looked like it had been transported here from the '40s or '50s.
The place reminded me of a restaurant in an old drug store picture. The bar was
long and had stools. The booths were red leather. The ceiling had old style
fans and aluminum tiles; the floor was red and white checkerboard. There was
even a jukebox and glass displays for the pies. It must have cost a fortune to
recreate.

I saw Siegfried in one of the back booths waving at me. I
walked over and joined him, sliding into the booth.

"Nice place. I thought it was closed."

"The owners prefer it that way, as do the
patrons," he replied with a grin.

The waitress took that moment to come over. "Hey, Sig,
who's your friend?" she asked, giving me the once over.

"Shayla, this is Robert, Robert, meet Shayla," he
answered, introducing us.

"Pleasure to meet you," I said, leaning over and
doing my best to stand.

"Well, isn't he the polite one?" she snickered,
winking at Siegfried. "What'll you have?"

We both ordered coffee, and she swiftly returned with a
carafe and cups.

"So, Siegfried, why are we here?" I asked,
deciding to make the first move.

It was Siegfried's turn to give me the once over. He took a
moment before he spoke. "First, you must understand that my loyalty to the
Milagre's is not in question. I am in their employ, and as such, I will not do
anything that betrays that duty." He looked serious.

"I understand."

"I asked you here because we have a kinship and I also
have a duty to that."

"A kinship? What kind of kinship?" I asked,
interrupting him. This was definitely interesting, even if I had no clue what
he was talking about.

He pulled out his cell phone and showed it to me. On the
screen was a picture of the oak leaf symbol from my gun. Then he startled me by
putting a knife, almost a short sword, on the table. He pushed it toward me.

It was long, maybe 18 or 20 inches in length. The blade was
highly polished and single edged, tapered to a sharp point. Below the guard, a
symbol was etched into the blade, an oak leaf almost identical to the one on my
gun. The blade itself appeared to be made of a number of layered metals and had
a pattern of leaves on the top. Siegfried watched me as I examined it.

"That is a seax. This particular seax has been in my family
for many generations. The symbols you see are my family's."

I inspected the blade, surprised at the similarities between
the crests. Sure, a leaf is a leaf, but these were almost identical in design.
"So what does this mean?"

"The oak was a sacred tree to the Gods. Thor's chariot
and the handle of his hammer, Mollinir, were crafted from it. It is said that
Thor once visited Jotunheim, the land of the giants, to recover Mollinir, which
had been stolen. To aid him, the oaks offered a score of their kind to be
transformed by the dark Elves into warriors. They became his personal guards. I
am a descendant of that line. While my line is not of the Dryad, I am still of
the Fae. In a way, we are kin." He reached over and removed the weapon
from the table.