The Wrath of Pan (The Inglewood Chronicles Book 2) (21 page)

**Liz**

It had been two long weeks since we returned to Arizona.  My first order of business was to inform Vic’s family of his death.  To my surprise, his father Callum took the news the hardest.  I offered my condolences and stayed for a small memorial service.

Following that, I made my report to Cristof about what had happened in London.  The loss of Vic was a great blow, but he suggested I make the witch Rosette my new chief inspector.  It took me a few days to follow through, but I did.

Finally there was the situation with Jonathan.  Cristof and I decided it was best to wait and see what clues Roderick would discover.  Hopefully he would be calling soon with something for us to go on.

“Ye called ma’am?”

Rosette entered my office.  Our relationship had improved considerably since coming back.  “Yes I did.  I got a complaint from a female vampire downtown that someone is stalking her.  I would like you to look into it.  Please take Phil with you as backup.”

She took the file and left.  She had been working with Phil since her appointment as Reno wanted nothing to do with her.  I knew he had been close to Vic, so I expected as much.

I held on to the vial of blood Vic gave me while we were in the catacombs.  It was all I had left of him.  My computer dinged, causing me to jump for a moment.  I pulled up my email and it was from Roderick.

Dearest Elizabeth,

Let me express my sincere condolences for everything this situation has done to you.  I have put my full attention on finding Pan and Jonathan.  A source of mine it appears was successful.  The two have gone to Ireland in the attempt to recruit a new witch to their cause.  If you want my help, please let me know and I will provide anything I can.

-Roderick

I re-read the email twice.  Finally, something that pointed us in the right direction.  I picked up my phone and made a very important call.  Nothing was going to stop me and my love’s brother from seeking my revenge.

I hurt all over.  If this was what being dead all was about, I hated it.  I still could feel where the sword plunged into my chest.

“Calm yourself, you cannot overdo it so soon.”

My voice was harsh, but I was able to spit out a few words.  “Liz, that you?”

“No my champion, it is not.  Your vampire mate believes you to be dead.”

I opened my eyes, the light was blinding.  It took a few moments for everything to come into focus.  “Do I know you?”

We were in a tent, I think.  I was lying on some sort of cot, naked, but covered up by a towel.  As for the lady talking, she was close.  Her face was really pretty and her smile could melt the hearts of a lot of men.  “We met, very briefly, but you made quite an impression on me.  I am the Sphinx from the catacombs.”

As soon as she said it, I recognized her.  “Am I dead?”

“You were close.  When I found you in the river, your heartbeat was feint.  It took a great deal of time and energy to bring you back from the brink.  Be thankful you have vampire blood in you.”

I wish I had more to offer than short questions, but it’s all I could muster.  “How long?”

The Sphinx seemed amused at my question.  “Time means little to me, but I would say you have been in my care for about a month, maybe?”

A whole freaking month?  I had to let that one sink in.  The Sphinx rubbed my hand with hers.  I hated the feeling I had, but I enjoyed it.  It was almost as if we were connected.

Reading my mind, “We are connected.  We made a deal in the catacombs, remember?  I let your group pass with the provision that one day when I needed you; you would have to say yes.”

“Thought the deal was with Liz?”

She put her head down on me.  “No, the deal was always meant for you.  Plus all the energy I funneled into you, we are practically lovers now.”

I tried to move my arm, but she stopped me.  “What do you need?”

“The gem… is it safe?”

“You did an admirable thing, taking the gem like you did.  It is safe, here with us.”

At least that wasn’t a total screw up.  I didn’t have the energy to say much else.  I closed my eyes again, ready to go back to sleep.

“Before I let you rest more my champion, do you not want to know where you are?”

Sure I did.  Maybe she was still reading my mind and wouldn’t make me ask.

“It is not mind reading my sweet.  Our connection allows us access to each other’s thoughts.  As for your current location, I have brought you to the one place you will be safest and also where I need your help.”

She opened a flap on the tent and I did my best to look out.  Were we in some remote tropical forest?

“Tropical forest no, but remote yes.”  She decided to pause for dramatics I reckon.  “The vampires used to call it Foreverland, but this island is much better known as Neverland.”

**Bernard**

It’d been a bit since Liz left, telling us that Vic was dead.  Dad hadn’t been doing so good, so I took more responsibility at the sheriff’s office.  Hell, it was pretty quiet as three quarters of the town was mourning my brother.

My youngest brother Felix was beside himself with grief.  I thanked the good Lord everyday that Michael Browne was in time.  The old pastor was working miracles in just getting Felix to open up to me and mom.

Chaz and Argent were due to visit dad today and hopefully they could break him out of his funk.  As for me, the quiet was what I needed.  No one needed to see me and my anger over what happened.

My brother died a hero, taking on some jerk calling himself the Hammer of Jehovah.  Before Liz had left, I told her when she found out where he was, I wanted in.  My brother’s killer would see no mercy.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, a Phoenix area code.  Grinning, I answered.

“Bernard, we found him.”

To be continued…

Here is a preview of the Ragnarok on Ice Series:

For many cycles, both races of elves lived in peace in the reaches of Alfheim.  High in the great tree, Yggdrasil, they prospered together, enjoying the fruits of their labor.  The light elves, fair skinned and golden haired, excelled in the arts and magic.  The dark elves, smokey blue in their complexion, preferred to work in crafting metal and using their creations for combat.

But, as all things that are different, they would not always see eye to eye.  At first, the complaints were small and easily resolved.  As time went on, the differences grew and the feelings between the races hardened.  No longer able to resolve their conflicts, the dark elves decided it was time for them to find their own land.  The light elf emperor was against this, stating that the dark elves were, in fact, to be common laborers for the light elves.  Angered by such arrogance, the dark elves took matters into their own hands.  What followed were the Elven Wars.

Cycles of bloodshed and turmoil plagued the realms.  In the midst of the chaos, the ice giants of Jotenheim used the distractions of war to attack Asgard.  It was only after Thrym’s defeat and exile back to Jotenheim did Odin get involved with the elves.  The new emperor of the light elves was willing to come to an agreement with the dark elves, but the feelings in the newly formed Svartalfheim were raw.  Odin forced his hand and the Pact was eventually signed and put into agreement.

The peace between the elves has held, but with the unexpected death of the light elf emperor who supported it and the unknown intentions of Alfheim’s new queen, the future is not clear.  Only The Norns truly know what is to come, but it is not in their nature to reveal that information so freely…

“Order, we need to have order.”  The voice of King Oor boomed throughout the assembly hall.  The dark elves fell silent and looked at him.  “I understand the less than pleasant attitude the Aesir have shown us lately is cause for concern.  However, unless we do our due diligence and find out why, the matter will only escalate.  We cannot afford to go to war with Odin over hurt feelings.”

Father looked over at me, quietly he murmured, “I am afraid he is right daughter, the Aesir have not attacked us or shown us any harm other than a cold shoulder.”

“But father, we also cannot let them bully us into submission.  We need to show them the Svartalfheim has a backbone.”

“So much like your mother…”  He snickered a little bit and turned his attention back to Oor.

Ever since mother had passed away, my father Hargna had taken me under his wing to become more of a politician and less of a warrior.  I had not liked it much in the beginning, but now I came to realize the political arena is almost as deadly as the battlefield.  When I focused back on Oor, it seemed I was in the middle of another dialogue.

“We need to continue to work together, as clans, and use our stealth to see what information we can spy.  The royal mage, Azmodeous, has already tried to make contact with the Aesir to set up a meeting.  While we wait for word to return, remember the tasks I have given each clan and follow.  For now, that is all.”

Just like that, we were dismissed.  I saw Oor go over to Azmodeous and the mage whispered something into his ear.  The sight of the elf was enough to give me chills.

“Come Rumil, we have much to do and do not have time for daydreaming.”

“As you wish father.”  I fell in line behind him.  I knew when we made it back to our stronghold; he would want to send out some more teams to see what we could gain from going back into the Great Forest.  Aesir activity was gaining in there, especially after Loki’s release.

It was a very weird time in the realms.  Cycles ago, my father had helped in the release of the wolf, Fenrir.  Prophecy stated when the wolf was released from its bounds that Ragnarok was to start.  The prophecy was not to happen though; Fenrir fled to Midgard and has not been seen since.  Before he left, he freed his father, Loki, from his prison and ever since everyone has been on edge.

“Father, do you think the failed Ragnarok prophecy is the cause of this uneasiness?”

He stopped walking.  It seemed like for a few moments I would not receive an answer, but when he turned to me, his eyes were deep in thought.  “The very same thought has been crossing my mind too.  It has been many cycles since that fateful day Fenrir escaped.  With the prophecy so many of us have lived our lives towards no more, it certainly does make for a rather unstable time in history.”

Ominous is the word I would use, but then father would just tell me not to worry.  I could not help it though, I am a natural worrier.  Every time I take a team into that forsaken forest, I worry that something will happen.  It also did not help that each time I was given new elves to take with me.  Father said it was because of my field leadership skills, but it did not help my anxiety.

We continued walking through Svartalfheim until we returned to our stronghold, the Cave of Fenrir.  We had lived with the wolf peacefully for many cycles, so it was just not the same knowing he was not here.  As we entered the cave, the Darklighter stronghold was as impressive as always.  It had taken a great many elves to carve the citadel into the side of the cave wall, but upon its completion it was by far the most impressive of all the dark elf clans.

The dark granite stone made our stronghold almost impenetrable.  Should Svartalfheim ever be invaded, our citadels would hold that I was sure of.  The most impressive feature was the towers that had been built in.  From the view at the top, it would take an individual of great skill to sneak in.

Father and I walked in and made our way into his library.  Books were never of interest to me, so I never came in unless I had reason.

“Rumil, you heard what Oor said; we need to continue doing our part.  As the clean chief, I would like you to take a scouting party in the forest and see what is going on.  The Dark Moons have discovered the location of Sif’s cabin out there.  I would send them out again, but with the strange happenings coming from Jotenheim, I feel sending them there is better.”

I knew it was coming, but that did not make it any easier.  “Father, you keep sending me out there, but nothing ever happens.  I truly think it would be better if we…”

He held up his hand to silence me.  “I know you want to take a more proactive role, but with your growing duties here at home, I cannot have you gallivanting across the realms.  I will assign a party to you and this time do not tell them how utterly useless they are.”

I did not even acknowledge his last comment.  I could not help it if most of the elves he assigned me were not up to my standards.  It was not their fault, but with our most skilled out in more dangerous areas, the pickings were slim.  Even worse, they all tried so hard to impress me that it was rather off putting.

“I will do my best father, as always.”

He smiled, “Good.  In fact, I think it would be a wise idea to take your new team on a hunting trip.  That would take you into the forest and you could learn their strengths.”

“As you wish father.  Is there anything else you need of me this evening?”

He could tell I was annoyed.  “No, I think that will be all.  Tomorrow, I will put together a team for you and when they are ready, I will send for you.”

With that, I left the library and headed towards my room.