Tesser: A Dragon Among Us (A Reemergence Novel) (34 page)

"You alright, Sergeant Spooner? You look a world away."

"Yeah. For a minute there. Thinking of friends I don't have anymore."

The Commissioner let the room stay quiet for a minute, respecting Spoon's reflection. "Sergeant, when you're healthy there's something I want to talk to you about. An opportunity of sorts."

"Oh yeah?"
What the hell is this all about?

"Well, you've got a connection with this dragon, this Tesser. If he were to return to the city, to anywhere, would you be willing to try and talk to him? Be America's envoy to dragonkind? It might mean some travel. I understand if you don't want to go anywhere near that thing again, but there are people above my already high pay grade who think you should strongly consider it."

"Please stop saying 'that thing,' sir. He has personality. A sense of humor. Honor. He's a good person. Don't forget, he rescued a woman who was about to be raped, and the kid that got shot up and kidnapped."

"He caused several million dollars in property damage and managed to scare the shit out of a lot of people too. Call him what you will, Sergeant, but the government wants someone to talk to him, and your name keeps coming up as the best option far and away. I'm buying you,
we
are buying you time, but eventually, the men in black suits are going to come knocking, and by then it'll be out of my control. Just think on it. Until you're out of here I think I can protect you, but kid, you're in demand right now. This was a courtesy visit."

Shit.
"I appreciate that, sir. More than you know. I don't know if I'm qualified to be a dragon diplomat or whatever that job might entail. I can tell you, Tesser was a good person to me, and if there's anyone who might be able to talk to him, it might be me. Emphasis on might."

"Fair enough. We're also trying to wrap up the investigation into the shooting. We'd like to spring you from here and get you back on the job. And Sergeant, don’t take any goddamn book deals. You're a better cop than a writer."

"Maybe I'll do the morning show circuit. Bang some actresses."

The Commissioner grinned and shook Spoon's hand. "That's the spirit."

"Oh, and tomorrow, make sure you're watching the television at two. Something's happening down in DC. We were told to pay attention, so heads up. I think I'm going to fly down later tonight to attend whatever it is. I know the mayor and the governor are heading down. I figure there'll be enough space for me to stand somewhere and look important. When you're given a chance to rub elbows with the big folks, you might as well push for it. Advice you may want to listen to."

"Yeah, you bet. Have a good time if you go. Represent the force well. Thanks guys, appreciate the visit. Tell the men to stay frosty. Strange times."

"I will, Sergeant. Hey, what did you call those armored people from that night? Devils?"

"Daemons sir. Tesser said they were daemons. Creatures from Hell, I think."

"I wonder if you're the first Boston cop to kill a daemon? We're gonna need to draft up some kind of service award for that I think. The people love heroes, Sergeant. They love 'em, and right now, they're scared and they need a hero. You'll do just fine. Get well soon, kid. My office or an office much larger than mine will be in touch about the job offer."

"Of course, take care guys," Spoon said after another handshake. The Commissioner and his lackeys walked out of the room, all very animated and happy about how the strange visit went. The door shut with a soft medicinal click, and the wounded cop was alone again.

Ah shit. I wish Bobby was here. He'd actually make me smile.

Chapter Forty-Two

Abraham

I wish this little fucking button worked more often.

Abe was propped up in his hospital room. No longer in the Intensive Care Unit, he was on a recovery floor of the Beth Israel Hospital, and he had the controller for his pain medication in his hand. The smooth rubber depressor in the center of the plastic controller had a button beneath it, and the button only released so much of the pain relieving love so often. He pushed the button rapidly, trying to intimidate the machine into giving him an extra dose early. It was a cruel game.

I feel like there's a chainsaw inside my abdomen. A running chainsaw. Covered in lemons. Seriously. They should double how often I can hit this fucking switch, and that might let me get some goddamn relief. I haven't slept decently since I woke up in the ICU.
 

Abe heard Alexis just outside the door of his private hospital room. She was talking to the two suits in the hall. "Look, you two. You let me in. I was here this morning and I was here last night. I'm on the list. Look at the damn list." There was a pause. "See, right there. Top of the list thankyouverymuch."

The door opened, and the feisty redhead came through it. She was all smiles.

"Hey you," Abe said. It hurt to talk.

"Hey. How are you feeling today?" Alexis asked as she approached. Her arms were filled with sweet treats and soda, as well as a handful of books Abe had asked her to retrieve from his apartment. Apparently, there was no way she could get into Mr. Doyle's home. It was under heavy guard ever since the attack.

"I was just thinking of lemon coated chainsaws lodged in my large intestine."

"That bad, huh?" She stroked his forehead and gave him a kiss. He was the tiniest bit sweaty from the pain.

Abe nodded sadly, "Yeah, pretty bad. I'm still on a liquids only diet, babe. They won't let me eat that stuff. Thank you for bringing it though."

"Should I take it home and run it through the blender? Want a milkshake? Tell me what I can get for you."

"Just hang out with me while this thing happens on television. Supposedly, the President is announcing something to the world. Has to do with Tesser and all the weird shit he stirred up across the world."

Alexis pulled the uncomfortable hospital chair over to the side of his bed and sat down. "Okay. Put it on and let the President wow us with his intellect, charm, and power."

Abe grinned.
At least smiling doesn't hurt.
Abe popped on the television and found a station he liked. It seemed like most were carrying the 'event.'

"Jesus. Look at that." Abe swallowed down a wave of pain as he adjusted his bed upright. On the screen was a wide-angle shot of the Lincoln Memorial. Where the steps should've been was a massive tiered stage and grandstand, filled with hundreds of suit-wearing politicians, dignitaries, religious figures, and government officials. It was a who's who of important people and served as one of the most impressive gatherings in remembered history. Security in the background looked incredibly heavy, as was to be expected. Men wearing head to toe black body armor and carrying military grade weaponry were standing every fifteen to twenty feet.

At the foot of the stage stood tens of thousands of people, all huddled together against the bitter chill in the autumn air. They carried signs that ran the gamut of human emotions on the current state of the world. "God Save Us!" "The End is Nigh!" "Peace and Love!" "Dragon for President, '16" "Impeach! Elect a troll. They have tusks!" "I blame the GMOs!" And so many more. Hundreds of signs were held high, some proudly, with something real to say, others sarcastically.

On the stage was the podium of the President, flanked as always by his two panes of teleprompter glass. The camera pushed in on the podium as a chorus of cheers and jeers greeted the President's arrival on the stage. He walked with confidence, waving to the crowd as he walked up to the podium and microphone. Once there, he let the noise linger for a minute before talking.

"Today marks a unique occasion in history. As we know, the world has changed in many ways these past few weeks, marked by the arrival of a creature out of myth and fiction. Fear has been with us. Uncertainty lingers in the air. Many of you are now calling the creature the Great Boston Dragon." A round of applause came from the crowd.

"Many of you have seen the news since then. You probably have heard of all the bad-looking things that are starting to appear in the dark. Monsters, some say. New animals, some say. And we all know that our world has always been filled with wonder and magic, but now, that magic is here in a very literal and real sense. Many of you are excited by the opportunities this has afforded our civilization, but many of you are also frightened of this new world, understandably. I am pleased and so proud to be here on this American stage as all of humanity stands united with our planet Earth as we step into a new age."

These don't seem like scared people to me. They seem excited.

The President waited for the cacophony to die down. "Many of you listening to this, watching this moment of history on the television, aren't from America, and you're probably thinking and wondering, 'why America?' I want to tell our allies all across this world that The United States was approached by a very special person recently, and that person is here to address the public. I'll be honest: at first, I was hesitant to be the host for this event. I thought it would be safer to do it somewhere remote, somewhere we could contain it away from population. But I said no to that. To be unafraid of change is to show courage, and in order to change, we need to embrace this new world we live in courageously. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you America's, and the World's, newest friend, Tesser." The President stepped back from the podium and gestured to the side of the stage where he had stepped up himself just minutes before. A tall blonde man stepped onto the stage, and strode across it to the leader of the free world.

"Oh holy fuck, look at that. It's Tesser. Shaking hands with the President." Abe's heart monitor started to alarm he was so excited. Alexis took his hand into hers and the machine gave up its dismaying cry.

The golden-eyed, blonde man wore a sky blue button down shirt and slate gray slacks. He looked professional, but not political. With a thin shirt and slacks, he was underdressed against the cold wind of the day. His attire looked humble but intentional as he shook the President's hand firmly, thanking him away from the microphone. The President put a strong hand on Tesser's shoulder, showing firm positivity and holding him still in the moment as a hundred thousand camera flashes lit up. That image would be shared for years.

After saying his two cents to the new friend of the world, the President let go of Tesser, and the man in dragon form walked up to the podium. He was smiling, handsome and charming; he quickly and easily eclipsed the charisma the President had. He adjusted the microphone upwards.

"Hello, World. As the President said, my name is Tesser. It's a pleasure to be able to address so many of you in this way. I'm not accustomed to all this, so please bear with me as I stumble through this speech."

People were going hysterical cheering and Abe knew they had no idea why. If Tesser wanted to be elected President of Everything right then, he'd win in a landslide.

"The world has changed for what I know to be the better. You see, I come from a time when what you see as new and frightening is old and common. I see a world that has lost touch with its sense of wonder, filled with people who do nothing but wake, work, and sleep. There are too few fireside stories told and too few days spent lost in the warm summer sun. Too few fairy tales and too many school shootings."

Tesser had to pause. He was drowned out by raucous applause again. When it died down, he continued.

"This may alarm you. It may also scare you, but the world has been sculpted over time by a race of creatures that have stayed out of your memory for too long, and I come here today before you all to apologize for our lack of presence. On behalf of the seven dragons of Earth, and all that we hold precious and dear on this big blue world filled with magic and life and laughter, I say, I am sorry for the lack of effort we have put into making your world a better place."

The people lost their minds again. Some of the audience had expressions of shock on their faces. Disbelief was scattered in, but most were roaring with approval and admiration for the statements Tesser had made. So many people craved a change. Abe and Alexis watched it all, but after a minute Alexis turned to Abe.

"What is he saying? On behalf of the dragons? He's apologizing for them? Like he's a messenger?
 
Is he part of some ancient conspiracy or something?" Alexis was confused.

Abe sighed softly. "Alexis, he
is
a dragon. He's Tesser, the dragon of life. The same one who rescued me the night of the attack."

Alexis stared at him. "Fuck you."

"Really. He's a dragon, Alexis. The real fucking deal."

Tesser spoke again, and the couple fell silent. "The other night the city of Boston was taken by surprise by an entity that has forced its way across the Veil, invading Earth from a realm beyond reason, beyond hope, and polluted by evil. The Bible has referred to this entity as Legion. Some of you saw the end of the battle against Legion that night. You saw a dragon fight that battle."