Devil Inside, page 40
Castor sighed heavily into the phone. Night had just fallen so she knew he was tired but she also knew that the dip in his mood wasn’t just because of the darkness. “I figured you would eventually ask me to do this.”
Harley didn’t apologize or make excuses. “Can you do it?” Castor, as much as everyone else, knew that this was important and as long as the Vigilum and the Nocte had the same goal, they would need to work together.
“Yeah, I am sure I can make it happen. I will need to make some calls. I will have to wait until morning though.”
“Of course.”
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The next morning Cas had called and said that he and two other Lux would meet them that evening at the small restaurant in which they were now gathered. Nya had arrived just before they left. Harley wasn’t sure what to expect from the Lux. She knew that they wouldn’t be happy being out at night and their attitude could be affected by it. So, they had arranged the meeting just before the sun went down to compromise as much as possible. As they entered the dining room Harley could easily recognize that she was the only one who wasn’t affected by the time of day one way or another. Nya didn’t seem as bothered by the sun as Levi was but they both still looked tired, and the three Lux looked tired and strained as well. Sundown or sunrise afforded the most common ground they would find for either group so both sides had to compromise.
Harley entered the room ahead of Levi and Nya and saw that the Lux had arrived already. The three of them sat around the large round table in the middle of the room. Castor sat to the left of a blond man who was short and stocky while at the same time looking fit and strong. To that man’s left was a woman with black hair and was built like a model. Both the man and woman looked, to Harley, as if they wanted to be anywhere but where they were. The three Lux looked up at the Nocte’s arrival and Harley noted that Castor kept his face carefully neutral and she followed suit.
The Lux studied the group of Nocte carefully. They looked cautious but curious as Harley, Nya and Levi sat at the table. Harley sat down next to Cas and Levi sat on her other side and Nya beside him. Harley couldn’t help but notice that Cas studied Levi longer than he did Nya. Levi, for his part, didn’t look at Castor at all even though he had to be able to guess who he was. There weren’t any formalities or pomp surrounding the opening of the meeting. They began the introductions right away.
The six supernatural beings introduced themselves one at a time. The female Lux was named Alice and she spoke with a faint Midwestern accent. The blonde man was Randall and had no discernible accent at all—but his voice was nasally and generally unpleasant. He introduced himself as a Commander of the Lux, which was apparently the Vigilum counterpart of the Nocte general. Nya and Levi introduced themselves and the two new Lux seemed notably impressed. Harley caught it in the slight widening of their eyes. Harley had never gotten much of Nya or Levi’s history with the Nocte, but considering everyone’s reaction to them she decided she needed to add that to her “To Do” list.
When Harley introduced herself Randall and Alice studied her for a long while. “So, you are the Day Hunter?” Randall asked.
“I didn’t know I had a title, but it would appear that I am,” she kept her voice neutral. Something about Randall crossed her the wrong way. She had always been a good judge of character and her first impression of this guy was one that suggested arrogance. It was a different dislike from Rafe. With Rafe, it was a matter of annoying personality. With Randall, she simply didn’t trust him. Alice seemed nice enough—aloof but not immediately unpleasant.
Nya had been studying the menu while Randall and Alice sized Harley up. She looked up with a smile on her face. “How are the milkshakes here?”
The three Lux turned to stare at Nya as if she had just burst out into song. Levi was looking over the drink menu and Harley could swear he was trying not to smile. A waiter came in shortly after to take their orders. Nya ordered a chocolate milkshake, Levi ordered a bourbon and Harley figured she was going to need it and ordered a pitcher of rice liquor. When the server asked the Lux if they wanted anything they declined. The tension in the room had grown thicker and Harley suspected it was because the Lux didn’t appreciate their ordering drinks as if this were a social gathering. It actually almost made her laugh, but she didn’t want to start a fight by seeming totally disrespectful so she refrained from doing so. After the server brought their drinks they got down to business.
“OK,” Nya said after taking a large drink of her milkshake. “We can share our information first. Levi?”
Levi rolled his glass between his hands and surveyed the Lux across from him. When he met Castor’s eyes, Cas looked away quickly. Harley could imagine the stoniness of Levi’s eyes. And she knew it wasn’t directed at Cas specifically—it was just the result of the situation, but Cas would take it personally. “Starting from the beginning—about eight months ago the first known Rogue murders occurred in Italy.”
Randall and Alice looked at each other and then at Castor. Harley wasn’t sure how much information Cas had shared with them already, but apparently the Vigilum was still about a month behind on their knowledge of the Rogue.
Levi continued. “The murders seemed random. It was hard to pin down what was responsible. Most of us thought it was an Ignis at first. The human murders occurred day and night. But then Ignis started being killed as well and, unfortunately, the Ignis rarely kill their own. The Burners were being killed day and night. Most of the early information indicated that the Ignis were killing humans and the Lux and Nocte were killing Ignis. But then there were enough Ignis killings that it was noticed that no one claimed them. At least on the Nocte side—it’s been hard to gather much information from the Vigilum side.” Randall raised his chin a bit slightly, seemingly proud of the fact that information didn’t get out of the Vigilum very easily.
“The first the Rogue was heard of in America was a little more than seven months ago,” Levi continued ignoring Randall’s reaction. “There was a rash of murders in Miami—Ignis and humans that we know of. So, honestly, we weren’t too alarmed until word traveled from Italy that this might be the same creature. I only became personally involved about 6 months ago.”
Nya took up the story. “I sent a couple of Nocte to Miami to investigate. That was when we began to suspect that the Rogue was a Lux.” Randall and Alice looked uncomfortable at that but didn’t interrupt. “Our investigators came across a couple of human bodies. There were burn marks on the head. As you know, a Lux feeding would cause these marks. I think we would have found the same sort of marks on a Nocte or Lux had we come across the body before they burned.
Levi picked the story up again, “When I began my investigation, I traveled first to Miami then to Italy. In Italy I worked with Dotori. He’s the General in Venice,” Levi explained. “Through a lot of investigation, intimidation and charming and even some bribing and violence, we eventually found rumors of a cult.”
Huh? Harley thought. This was the first she had heard of a cult.
“The Sol Invictus.” Harley’s Nocte growled a low deadly growl at the mention of the cult. If Harley hadn’t caught herself in time she probably would have growled out loud. “We think it is a corruption of an ancient cult that worshiped the Roman sun god. Our theory is that they have managed to create a bond with a Lux that is unlike any other Lux we, the Praesidio, have ever seen.” The Lux that sat across from them looked even more confused and uncomfortable.
Randall finally spoke first. “If this is true, why have we never heard of this—this cult? And why have we never heard of some new kind of Lux?”
Nya finished her milkshake with a loud slurp before answering the question. “How often do you investigate the Vigilum? How often have you ever had a reason to?” Alice started to protest but Nya kept going. “I don’t think it would be so hard to not know about this. I know the Vigilum keeps tight control over their Lux, but is it really hard to believe that a group, acting independently, could do something like this?” Alice and Randall began to doubt themselves. Castor continued to remain neutral. “But,” Nya emphasized the word with a raised finger. “We don’t think it is a cult made up of Lux.”
Even Castor looked surprised at that and Alice looked at a loss for words. Randall was the first to speak. “What are you saying?”
“We are pretty sure that the Sol Invictus is a group of humans,” Nya explained.
“So, you are saying that a group of humans got together and recreated some ancient, sun worshiping cult? That they managed to create a Lux more powerful than any other Lux?” Alice asked.
“More or less,” Nya answered her with a smile that was out of place in its brightness. A part of Harley wanted to laugh. She knew that the Lux would have no idea what to make of Nya.
“And what proof of this do you have?” Randall asked growing angry in his confusion and surprise.
“Well,” Levi spoke up. “We found evidence of sacrifice in Italy. It was in a cave near the eastern coast of Italy. Carved into the wall was the figure of an emperor wearing a crown made of the rays of the sun. That same symbol was found burned into one of the victims in Miami.” Levi paused to let that knowledge sink in. Harley felt goose bumps rise on her arms and the back of her neck.
Levi took a deep breath before continuing. “Besides the evidence of sacrifice that we found in Italy? Besides the evidence of a group of humans dabbling in the supernatural? Besides all of that—which I can show you the evidence by the way—you are sitting at a table with your biggest piece of evidence.”
Everyone at the table turned to look at Harley and her mouth went dry. She knotted her hands together on top of the table to stop from fidgeting. She forced herself to meet everyone’s stares calmly. Randall and Alice looked doubtful and curious, Nya looked excited and Levi’s face was unreadable. Castor was the only one who looked like he might realize how Harley—and not her Nocte—felt. His face lost its neutrality just long enough for Harley to recognize a kind regret on her behalf. It wasn’t pity and for once Castor’s softness didn’t annoy Harley. She was grateful for it. She looked away before the look could weaken her resolve to not react in front of everyone.
“That would be me, I guess,” she said with more self-confidence than she felt.” Harley had thought this whole situation through and knew that she was right. But that still didn’t mean that she was indifferent to being placed in the spotlight.
“And what are you exactly?” Randall asked with a sneer. Harley and her Nocte both bristled at his attitude. He clearly did not like Harley and the feeling was mutual. Castor’s eyes narrowed at the shorter man and Harley could feel Levi stiffen next to her.
Harley looked at him evenly. “I’m the one who can stop the Rogue.”
Nya smiled at Harley conspiratorially. She knew how annoyed Harley was and she obviously still enjoyed watching drama unfold. “Harley is the Nocte answer to the Rogue,” Nya explained. Harley felt her skin prickle and her Nocte fluff up in agreement.
“What are you saying? That you created a Nocte more powerful than others to fight a Lux that is more powerful than others?”
It was rare when Nya lost her temper or showed annoyance. This was one of those times. “Did we discover some way to create ‘special’ Nocte? No. Did we have the arrogance to try to do that? No. After the bond we realized that Harley’s Nocte was different. We didn’t realize how different and why until recently. I had my suspicions. But it was Harley herself who figured it out.” Nya’s voice was steely and a complete 180 from her normal humorous self. It was easy to forget just how powerful and strong Nya was when she was letting her madness shine.
Everyone looked back to Harley. She realized how tense she was when she could feel her nails digging into the backs of her hands. She forced herself to relax and regain her control. She could feel her Nocte working to steady her and help her hold her resolve. She knew she wasn’t going to share everything with the table, but she was going to explain the important parts. “Pretty much from the beginning I have been able to communicate with my Nocte directly. Not whenever I want, but subconsciously I guess you could say.”
Randall and Alice’s mouths fell open and they looked at each other in shock. “I’m guessing this isn’t normal for Nocte, either?” Alice asked.
“No,” Nya answered simply. “I have never known anyone to actually ‘speak’ to their Nocte.”
Randall recovered from his initial surprise. “And how exactly do we know this is true? And not just your imagination?”
“Take my word for it?”
“Humpf,” he scoffed.
Harley didn’t wait for him to say more. “Most recently I spoke to my Nocte while recovering from an injury.” She saw Castor’s hand clench. “She let me know that I have been focusing on the wrong thing since joining the Praesidio. An Ignis by the name of Cutter…caused me great personal trouble.” When she spoke his name Alice and Randall’s reactions told her that they knew of the Ignis. “My first goal since becoming a Nocte has been to eliminate this…piece of shit.” Nya laughed at Harley’s word choice. “My Nocte has been determined to go after the Rogue from the beginning. But I didn’t listen.” The Lux looked doubtful again.
“And so you’ve changed your mind?” Randall asked narrowing his eyes at her. “Now you see the bigger picture and want to give up your crusade for vengeance and help eliminate a creature that is dangerous to everyone?”
Harley tilted her head and examined Randall. He didn’t just dislike her personally. While that was true, he disliked all Nocte because he assumed that they were creatures of darkness. She could see it in the arrogant way that he looked at them all. The way he expected the worst from them. Nya’s behavior seemed even funnier to Harley now. There was no doubt in Harley’s mind that Nya was aware of what she was doing and the reaction she was causing.
Harley smiled at Randall. “Yes. You are correct.”
“And why you?” he asked. “What makes you so special?”
“I am stronger than other Nocte. The sun doesn’t affect me. I can fight in the sun or the dark.”
“And what exactly is your plan?” he asked her, clearly still doubtful.
“We go to California. We pool our forces and confront the Rogue. I will fight him. One on one. I’ll put an end to this with as few casualties as possible.” As she spoke she could see Cas slowly stiffen in response to her plan. His back stiffened and his relaxed neutral posture turned into one of growing outrage.
“No,” he said and his voice was like ice.
Everyone turned to look at Castor but no one was as surprised at his words except for Randall and Alice. Both of their eyes narrowed at him. But he ignored them as he glared at Harley. “That is a terrible idea.”
“No, it’s not,” Harley answered. “It’s the best idea any of us have.” She laid out the facts. That she was the only one who could fight him at any time. That if they could get the Rogue to agree to fight her one on one then fewer people would die than in an outright war. “I think this—fighting the Rogue—is the whole reason I am here.” She felt the rightness of those words when she felt her Nocte agree with her. “I’m pretty sure that my Nocte is in this world for this very reason. We all know that there is a balance. That there is both light and dark. I am sure that my dark is the opposing force to the Rogue’s light.”
Castor looked like he wanted to argue more but Levi interrupted him. It was the first time that he addressed Cas directly. “I don’t like this idea either,” he said pointedly. “None of us do. But I am confident that Harley is right. And I’m confident that she can do this.” Castor opened his mouth to speak but Levi interrupted him again. “And we can all argue with Harley’s logic as much as we want, but that won’t change the fact that she has a good argument. And besides,” Levi looked at Harley with a small smile. “I’m pretty sure that Harley is going to do what she wants to do—what she believes is right—whether we go along with it or not.”
Harley couldn’t help but return Levi’s barely perceptible smile. He was right. If everyone came out of this meeting not agreeing to this idea, she would just go to California herself. It would be better to bring reinforcements. But she would go with backup or not. Her Nocte huffed in agreement.
Throughout this exchange the other Lux had been quietly staring at Castor and Levi. Randall’s eyes were narrowed in suspicion and Alice just looked sad. Castor looked down at the table refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. He wasn’t looking down in shame or embarrassment. The only way that he was going to be able to keep his mouth shut, and not give away just how mad he was, was to not look at anyone. She knew he wasn’t going to agree to this—but she also knew he would go along with it because he wouldn’t let her do this without him.
Nya addressed the Lux across from her. “So, your turn.”
Randall tore his gaze away from Castor. He took a deep breath, deciding where to begin. “We didn’t realize that the Rogue had been active for as long as you have found. You are right,” and Harley could tell he hated admitting that. “We have strict rules, but we don’t spend a lot of time investigating our own. Maybe we should,” he trailed off thoughtfully for a moment. “But that is neither here nor there now. The only thing that we have to add to what you know is the drug aspect.”
“This Ignis that you mentioned—Cutter. He is notorious for dealing and manufacturing and distributing drugs. Mainly meth and cocaine. But, lately, he has added bath salts to that list. We have been tracking him for a while.” At this Cas finally looked at Randall in surprise. Clearly, he hadn’t known that there was a primary investigation into Cutter. Randall ignored Castor’s look and continued. “We began making a connection between Cutter’s shipments and the murders. It seems that there is a correlation. Where Cutter ships—the murders soon begin.”
“Do you have any suspicions as to why?” Nya asked the Lux.
“Yes. Factoring in what you have told us—I have a pretty good idea. Both meth and bath salts have two things in common. They are cheap, powerful and highly addictive. The more humans you can get addicted to drugs the easier it is to create Ignis. The more Ignis you have the better chance you have of getting around the Vigilum and the Praesido. Whatever the goal of the Rogue and this cult, the Sol Invictus, they are well aware that both of our groups will be working to put an end to them.”
