19 - Scriostóir

 

Cerdic listened to the reports on the boys from Gebhard and Mr. Shadrick. “So,” he said when they’d finished, “everything is well, with the possible exception of Rick.”

 

“Something is obviously bothering him, but he wouldn’t tell me what,” Gebhard replied. “He said he was just feeling cooped up, which is normal, but I think there’s more than that. You might have better luck talking to him than I did, Cerdic.”

 

“You didn’t get any feeling that he was thinking of leaving, or something like that?”

 

“Not at all, although we didn’t talk long enough for me positively say. I honestly think it’s something else; perhaps because he’s at that age when hormones are running rampant. He might just be feeling the need to release his frustrations. My suggestion, for what it’s worth, is that you loosen his leash a bit. Maybe take him out to a club. That should be safe enough as long as you or one of us is with him.”

 

“Maybe I will. It would give me a chance to find out if that’s really what’s going on with him or if it’s something I should worry about.”

 

With that said, Cerdic dismissed the two men, telling them that he was tired from his long trip and needed to rest. As soon as they’d left the office however, he began to pace. Gebhard’s information on Rick had only served to deepen the feeling that there was something off about the boy, and he didn’t think it had to do with raging hormones.

 

Every time Cerdic had spoken with Rick he had felt the tension rolling off the boy. It was as if he was trying to keep something hidden from him. Cerdic had checked his background and what he’d found had meshed with what Rick had told him, so it wasn’t that. And, according to what Manny had said, he was more than willing to do the jobs assigned to him, even when they involved letting a man or woman have their way with him so that Manny could steal the information they were after.

 

Cerdic smiled as he thought about that. It was a good pairing, one he had never considered before. It meant there was no chance that Manny would be caught breaking into a hotel room because Rick was there with the person in question or one of their subordinates. It never ceased to surprise Cerdic how sexually obsessed humans were, and how easy it was to use that to entrap them or distract them.

 

Turning his mind back to the problem at hand, Cerdic made a decision. He would take Gebhard’s suggestion, but carry it one step further. Rick and Manny had earned a reward for jobs well done. He would take them up to his private retreat for the weekend. Then he would watch, analyze, and decide what, if anything needed to be done about young Mr. Ward.

 

18 - Scriostóir

 

Frustration had Godric pacing the second floor hallway at the house. He was no closer to achieving his goal even though he had been here for two months, and he knew his time was winding down. Too soon he’d be called back to his real duties. Ealdgyđ might have been willing to lend him a hand setting everything up, but that was it. As a campealdor, she had other things that took her full attention, to wit keeping a watchful eye on the Scriostóir under her command. She had only assisted him because an ancient Scriostóir campealdor had ordered her to. There was bad blood between the man and Cerdic, so when Godric had approached him with his idea, he had seen Godric’s quest as a possible way to eliminate Cerdic permanently without it coming back on him.

 

“Rick, why aren’t you in class?” a deep voice asked from behind Godric.

 

He spun around to find Gebhard standing there, his arms crossed over his massive chest. “I’m too antsy to give Mr. Shadrick my full attention, so he sent me to work it off.”

 

“And walking the halls will do that? I think not. Come with me.”

 

An hour later, Godric collapsed on the mat, feeling as if he’d been put through the wringer. Gebhard stood over him, sneering as he looked down at him.

 

“You are a weakling, boy. Even Jakie can last longer than you.”

 

Sitting up, wrapping his arms around his knees, Godric muttered, “Sorry,” keeping his eyes lowered. He was surprised when Gebhard sat down behind him and started to massage his shoulders.

 

“Do you want to talk?” the workout master asked. “It’s been evident for the last week that something’s bothering you. Is it the work Mr. Wyndham has you doing?”

 

Godric tensed, not certain how to reply. “The jobs are okay. Easy enough to do. I’m just—I’m still not used to not being able to get out and do what I want. You know what I mean?”

 

“I do. Most of the boys felt that way for the first month or two. After all, like you they all came here after running free on the streets. It’s a trade-off, Rick. A loss of some freedom in exchange for safety and protection.”

 

“I guess.” Godric turned around to look at Gebhard. “Don’t you get tired of it too? It seems like you’re always around.”

 

“Not always. I get time off, just like Mr. Shadrick, but only when Mr. Wyndham is in town.”

 

Godric kicked himself as he made mental note of that. Somehow he hadn’t been aware that there were times when Cerdic’s two human employees weren’t on the premises. I’m too focused on the details, not seeing the larger picture, he admonished himself. “So you’ll be getting a vacation soon, lucky you,” he said aloud.

 

“Not a vacation,” Gebhard replied, chuckling. “A day off is all, but at least I’ll be able to go uptown and see my parents for a few hours.”

 

“Nice,” Godric said as he stood up, stretching as if his muscles still were feeling the pain of the workout Gebhard had put him through. “I guess I should get back to class, although now I’ll probably fall asleep instead of being restless.”

 

Gebhard laughed. “Somehow I don’t think Mr. Shadrick will let that happen.”

 

“Probably not,” Godric agreed as he headed out of the gym.

 

Gebhard watched him leave, a frown on his face, and then with a shake of his head he went back to his duties.   

 

 

17 - Scriostóir

 

 

Cerdic was relieved, as always, to be off the plane and on solid ground again. Even though the air was heavy and the heat stupefying, he would take that any day over the canned air he’d been breathing for the last twenty-four hours.

 

As he stood at the exit to the airport, his bags at his feet, a man hurried over to him.

 

“Masa el-kheir. Esmi—“

 

“I know who you are, and I’ve been told you speak English, undoubtedly better than I speak Arabic. I would suggest we get on our way. There is much we need to do, and only a few days to accomplish it.”

 

The man gave a small bow before beckoning to another man, pointing to Cerdic’s luggage. A few minutes later they were on their way from the airport to one of the larger hotels in the city. As they drove, Cerdic and the man discussed the troubles in the city and how to keep it edging towards full out chaos.

 

“We have the police and armed gangs attacking the dissidents,” the man told him, “which is forcing them to fight back. Their pages on some of the social sites have been blocked since they began using them to protest the death of a popular university professor at the hands of the police.”

 

Cerdic nodded, smiling slyly. “Now it the time to step up the activities. Do so.”

 

Six hours later he was seated in a hotel suite half way across the city from where he was officially staying. The man responsible for keeping the dissidents working towards their attempt to overthrow the government sat in another chair, sipping a glass of tea while he talked. As Cerdic listened to that man’s plans he occasionally interjected suggestions of his own. When the discussion was finished, Cerdic went into another room, returning to hand the man a small carry-on bag. The man opened it, his eyes widening when he saw that it was full of bills in the local currency. He thanked Cerdic profusely and then, at Cerdic’s command, left the suite after making certain no one was watching. Five minutes later Cerdic did the same.

 

The following afternoon, Cerdic was having a late lunch in a good restaurant in the heart of the city. He watched with interest through the large plate-glass window at the front of the restaurant as a squad of policemen in riot gear started to break up a large group of protestors. The protestors fought back and soon the street was a bloody battleground. He lifted his glass in a sardonic toast to the man sitting opposite him. The other Scriostóir, a recent newcomer to the ranks, returned the toast. And then they got back to the business of what the younger man would do to keep things at a fever pitch within the city and the outlaying countryside.

 

“With good planning,” Cerdic murmured when they were ready to leave, “there will be an all out civil war here by the end of the month.”

 

“You words to—“ The young Scriostóir chuckled. “I don’t know quite whose ears they should go to.”

 

Cerdic smiled. “To those of the one who brought both of us back to do his will.”

'The Midnight Detective' is out today!

 The Midnight Detective

 

https://www.jms-books.com/edward-kendrick-c-224_229/the-midnight-detective-p-4743.html

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8M7G26C/

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-midnight-detective-edward-kendrick/1143678569?ean=9781685504915

 

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-midnight-detective   

 

GENRE: Gay Paranormal Mystery Erotic Romance
LENGTH: 36,096 words
RATING:

What is Wyn to do when he can't find his five-year-old daughter Celyn because she and her mother Marianne have disappeared with Marianne's new boyfriend? He hires a detective.

The detective is Christoph Andreu, owner of Andreu Detection Agency. What few people know is that Christoph is a vampire, thus his definitely strange working hours. Wyn knows, however, but his need to find Celyn overrides the few concerns he might have that Christoph is more than human.

Christoph was willing to take Wyn's case. More than willing when two men attack Wyn, believing he knows where to find Marianne's new lover. Despite the fact Christoph abhors physical violence; he deals with the men to save Wyn.

Christoph finds himself drawn to Wyn, especially when he learns the man is not as straight Christoph believes, given the circumstances. In fact, Wyn is bi, which he readily admits. Bi, and drawn to the power and raw sexuality Christoph emits. As their search for Celyn intensifies, so does their immediate attraction for each other.

Can Christoph find Wyn's missing daughter? And how will the two men handle their becoming lovers in spite of the fact Christoph is a vampire and Wyn isn't?

EXCERPT:

Wyn was halfway to the lot next door when he got the weirdest feeling that he was being watched. He started to turn in an attempt to find out if he was crazy or not then decided if he did, and if someone was watching him, they'd know he was on to them. He picked up his pace, though; glad to reach the entrance to the lot. Aside from the fact he was only a few steps from his car, it also gave him a reason to turn and glance around. The only people he saw, other than the normal pedestrians on their way to one of several local restaurants, were two men standing outside the club across the street. They were leaning against the wall, smoking and talking. From their postures he was quite certain one of them had picked the other up at the club and they were trying to decide whether to go back inside or on to where one of them lived. He'd been there and done that, on nights when he wasn't ready to go home and face Marianne.

I cared for her. I wouldn't have lived with her if I didn't. But there were times when I need something else. He was bi, unrepentantly so, and she knew it. He supposed it was at least part of the reason she'd decided to dump him and hook up with Paul who was as straight as they came and homophobic as well. Something he hadn't mentioned to Christoph.

He was about to continue on to his car when the two men started across the street in his direction. Did they make up their minds to go home together and their cars are here? He would have accepted that as the explanation if it wasn't for the fact they were looking directly at him and taller one slid his hand inside his jacket.

"We need to talk to you, Mr. Meyrick," the taller man said as they got closer.

Swallowing hard, Wyn retorted, "I don't need to talk to you," then spun around, dashing for his car, praying they wouldn't shoot with other people around.

He barely got the door open when they were on him, the taller man pushing him against the rear door while the other one slammed the open door shut.

"We're looking for someone and we think you know where to find them," the taller man said, pulling out a gun which he pressed against Wyn's side.

"Who?" Wyn managed to ask.

"The guy calls himself Paul Evans. The woman is supposedly his wife," the second man said, showing him a photo. "Recognize them?"

Wyn sucked in a shocked breath. The woman was definitely Marianne and the man was the one she called Paul. "Unless you're stupid you know ..." He didn't get to finish because someone grabbed the taller man's arm, twisting the gun from his hand before slamming his wrist against the top of the car so hard that Wyn could hear bones break seconds before the man screamed in pain. A knee to his groin lifted the man off his feet momentarily before he fell to the ground and passed out.

The other man tried to run but Wyn's savior stopped him with a well-placed kick to the back of his knee followed by a blow to his temple which knocked him down and out.

"I do hate violence," Christoph said, obviously appalled that it had been necessary. "Sometimes however there's no other recourse." He put his hands on Wyn's shoulders, looking at him with concern. "How are you doing?"

"Scared shitless if you want to know the truth."

"I'm not surprised. Guns will do that to a person when they're the target. What did they want?"

"You didn't ...? Okay, I guess you got here a second too late, but right on time, too. They were asking if I knew a guy called Paul Evans and his wife. They showed me a photo of him and Marianne." Wyn saw it on the ground and pointed.

Christoph picked it up by one corner and to Wyn's surprise, put it in a plastic evidence bag he took from his pocket. "Good thing I was passing by when they decided to confront you."

"By accident?" Wyn asked, feeling it might not have been.

With a shrug, Christoph replied, "I saw them from my office window when they spotted you. Decided they might not be up to any good unless they were looking for a third bed partner, which was definitely doubtful. So I figured I should come down and see what they did have in mind."

Wyn had stopped shaking by then, and managed to say, "I bet you didn't take the elevator."

"Nope, too slow. Took the window exit and made a short flight over here. Not to worry, if you were going to, no one would have seen it happen." He took Wyn's elbow, starting to steer him toward the street, saying, "I think you need a good stiff drink right now."

Wyn didn't disagree but he resisted long enough to ask, "What about them?" nodding toward his fallen attackers.

"Your car is hiding them from anyone walking by," Christoph pointed out. "Still, if you're worried about it ..." He went over to the men, grabbed the collars of their jackets, and unceremoniously dragged them into the alley.

Wyn followed and saw him heave them into an open Dumpster. If he hadn't known what Christoph was he'd have been amazed at his strength. As it was, he said with a trace of amusement, "Putting out the trash?"

"Indeed," Christoph replied. "Now, about that drink."

 

16 - Scriostóir

 

“It’s unfortunate that they are probably aware by now of what was taken,” Cerdic commented somewhat acerbically. “Still, you two did well. You seem to make a good pair if today is any indication. Off with you now, I have work to do.” He tapped the folder and the other items Manny had gotten from the suite.

 

“So he’s all right with the fact that you had to save my ass?” Godric asked, once he and Manny were well clear of the office.

 

“Yeah. He likes it when we look out for each other. Says it makes us more of a team. He’s good people, if a bit rough at times if we fuck up, but he deals out punishments to fit the crime as they say.”

 

“Does he ever deliver them himself?” Godric was thinking that that could be one way to be alone with the Scriostóir and thus end his existence.

 

“Nope, never. If it’s physical he has Gebhard take care of it. Otherwise it’s more homework, more chores, more anything that will make us think twice the next time.”

 

“Whew,” Godric replied, putting a strong measure of relief he didn’t feel into his voice. “I don’t think I’d want him whipping my ass.”

 

“I’m with you on that one,” Manny agreed as they arrived at the kitchen. Checking the refrigerator, he found that their meals had been saved for them.

 

While they ate, Godric asked, “Does Mr. Wyndham have a wife or a girlfriend somewhere?”

 

“Nope. No girlfriend, no boyfriend as far as that goes. I swear the man is celibate. But he doesn’t mind if we have one, as long as he gets to meet and vet them first.”

 

Godric frowned. “What if he doesn’t like them, or think they’re right for you?”

 

“Then you drop them and move on. Not like we’re ever likely to meet someone anyway, but it happens. A guy who used to live here met this chick about three years ago while he was working a job. They hit it off and he brought her home to meet Mr. Wyndham. They’re married now.” Manny paused then laughed. “The guy and the girl, not the guy and Mr. Wyndham.”

 

“He still works for him?”

 

Manny nodded, giving Godric a serious look. “Once you start, you don’t leave.”

 

“Hey, you never told me that and neither did he. What if I decide I want to move on?”

 

“Don’t,” Manny said succinctly as he finished his lunch and took his plate to the sink to rinse it before putting it in the dishwasher.

 

 

 

 

15 - Scriostóir

 

 

The moment the hotel room door closed behind him Godric knew he could be in trouble. The man looked him over like he was a prime slice of beef, his for the eating.

 

“Looks like someone screwed up,” the man said, his eyes dark with lust.

 

“Screwed up?” Godric moved the service cart to the table and began setting out the meal. He was stopped by strong hands on his shoulders as the man twisted him around to face him.

 

“The hotel has orders to send only females with my lunch. I have—a reputation.”

 

Godric looked up at him from under lowered eyelashes. “A reputation, sir?”

 

“I like boys, the younger the better. You are just perfect.” He chuckled low as he started walking Godric backwards towards a door leading to one of the bedrooms. “I wonder if my boss arranged this as a reward for a job well done.”

 

“Please sir…“ Godric put just the right amount of fear and trembling into his voice, some of it very real.

 

“Don’t tell me you don’t let men do you?” There was an evil, anticipatory look on the man’s face as he spun Godric around, putting one hand over his mouth while wrapping his arm around his waist, half carrying him into the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him.

 

As soon as the man released him, Godric shook his head. “I’ve been with lots of men. I just prefer to have a choice in the matter, not have it sprung on me like this,” he said, standing as tall as his five foot eight would allow. If he was going to do this, and it seemed that he had little choice at the moment, it was going to be on his own terms. Swiftly he dropped to his knees, reaching for the waistband of the man’s slacks, undoing the fastening and sliding the zipper down in one smooth movement. If he played it right, he could give Manny enough time to do his part of the job and then get out of there before the man reamed his ass.

 

As he took the man’s thick shaft into his mouth, he heard what the human couldn’t, the slight sound of the outside door opening and closing. Manny was in.

 

It was a while later when the man abruptly pulled out of Godric’s mouth, yanking him to his feet, throwing him bodily onto the bed, face down. Godric let out a shout of surprise, fighting against the man’s grip as he tried to roll over.

 

The loud slam of a door from the other room broke the man’s concentration. He leapt off the bed, grabbed his slacks and pulled them. Then, after taking a small pistol from the dresser drawer, he flung open the bedroom door.

 

Godric was beside him seconds later, shoving past him into the living room of the suite. As he raced for the exit the man ordered him to stop. He ignored him, flinging the door open and dashing into the hall. He saw the elevator door open a few yards away and raced to it. Manny pulled him inside and let the doors close, pressing the button for the lobby.

 

“Heard you shout, figured you were in trouble,” Manny explained, leaning back against the elevator wall.

 

“Thanks. I could have dealt but… Yeah, thanks. You get what you needed?”

 

Manny nodded, patting his backpack. “Let’s blow this hole and get home.”

 

 

14 - Scriostóir

 

 

“Keep a good eye on him,” Cerdic ordered Manny once Rick had been dismissed.

 

Manny frowned. “Don’t you trust him?”

 

“So far I have no reason not to, but still there is something about him that worries me. I just cannot put my finger on what.”

 

Manny smiled a bit. “You say that about everyone, sir, and then they prove you wrong.”

 

With a chuckle, Cerdic nodded in agreement. “I suppose so. It’s the nature of what I do.”

 

“Being deep undercover has to be hard,” Manny replied, wondering as he always did if this time Cerdic would use the comment as a way to confirm the supposition all the boys had that that was exactly what the man was, a government agent gathering information for his superiors.

 

Cerdic smiled, knowing what Manny was trying to do. “Just watch him. If he carries through with the plan then perhaps we have found a replacement for Hamlin. If that turns out to be the case you will be amply rewarded for discovering him.”

 

Manny grinned ear to ear. He knew what that meant, a chance to get out of the city for a while and stay at Cerdic’s private retreat up north. “He’ll come through, I know he will. Now,” he inched forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees, “what exactly am I looking for while Rick is entertaining that man in the bedroom?”

 

A few minutes later Manny left the office to look for Rick so that they could make their plans for tomorrow’s job.

 

Cerdic turned back to the desk with a small feeling of foreboding. Yes, Manny was correct, he never quite trusted a new boy until he had performed several jobs satisfactorily. This time however there was something more that bothered him. He wished he could figure out what it was. Something about Rick niggled at the back of Cerdic’s mind. With a sigh he pushed that thought away. He knew he was probably just overly stressed what with all the irons he had in the fire.

 

And if there really was something more to Rick than what he seemed to be on the surface, Cerdic knew that he would find it out eventually. He hadn’t lived as long as he had by being careless. For now though he had work to do. With that thought in mind he set to it, an evil smile gracing his lips as he plotted out the next step in the most important scheme he was in the midst of setting up.  

 

13 - Scriostóir

 

Cerdic kept careful track of the new boy for the next two weeks. He seemed to fit in well although he kept his distance from the others to an extent. But that was how they had all been when they’d first arrived, wary of forming any sort of alliance for fear it would come back to bite them at a later date.

 

At the start of the third week Cerdic decided it was time to put Rick to his first real test. He called him into his office, telling Manny to come too as what he had in mind would require both boys services.

 

“Sit,” he ordered them after the boys arrived. When they had, Cerdic said to Rick, “You seem to be doing well here, all told. But now it’s time for you to start earning your keep just as the other boys do.”

 

“Who do I have to fuck?” he replied seriously, though there was a slight uplift to the corners of his lips.

 

“Someone close to a person who had information that I need.” When Rick started to reply, Cerdic held up a hand to silence him. “Why I need it is no business of yours. I do, and you and Manny will retrieve it. Normally this would be a one-man job but I want Manny there just in case. The person we’re dealing with rarely travels alone and always leaves someone in their suite when they’re not there.”

 

“So I get to seduce this—woman, man?—and while I’m screwing them Manny comes in and lifts this info you need?”

 

Cerdic smiled. “Very good, that’s exactly what I had in mind.”

 

“So how am I supposed to do this? I can’t just knock on the door and throw myself at this person.”

 

“Room service. The person, the man who’s left there, always orders lunch which arrives at precisely noon. You will be the one delivering it. From there, well you’re on your own but I’m quite certain that you can handle it if you’re a good as you’ve claimed.”

 

“Better,” Godric replied, smirking slightly to cover the feeling of panic that hit him. What he had told Cerdic, and what Manny had seen for himself, had been a ruse to gain him entry into Cerdic’s life. A ruse he’d set up with the help of people Ealdgyđ brought into the game. He hadn’t actually considered that Cerdic would use him in quite that capacity.

 

If the truth were told, he hadn’t figured doing that would have played into the picture at all. He had thought that by now he would have dealt with Cerdic. Would have ended his existence and moved on. But that had been impossible to achieve. He was never alone with the Scriostóir and, he had quickly discovered, the man’s personal quarters were so well secured that even a flea couldn’t have gotten in without being discovered and destroyed.

 

It was times like this he again wished that he had gained more than just immortality when he chose to live again. Yes, he’d heard of a few who had for some reason gotten some extra ability to help with their work. He was not one of them. Probably, he’d decided long ago, because in the grand scheme of things his sin, while a deadly one, was close to the bottom of the ranking. Now if he’d murdered someone… He shook his head, bringing his thoughts back to the present.

 

“When are we going to do this, sir?” he asked Cerdic, dreading the answer.

 

12 - Scriostóir

 

Cerdic’s inquisition continued for another fifteen minutes, Godric replying as he knew a boy in his present position would, sometimes truthfully, sometimes defiantly refusing to answer as if wanting to keep some part of his past life secret.

 

Finally, Cerdic leaned back, staring thoughtfully at the ceiling for long moments. Then he said, “Would you like to get off the streets and move in here?”

 

“Depends. I mean yeah, sure, but what’s the catch?”

 

Cerdic chuckled. “No ‘catch’. You live here with me and six other boys. You’ll share a room with Manny, share the chores with everyone, attend classes, and work out in the gym daily. If you accept, the first thing that will happen is that you’ll be taken to get new clothes and whatever else you need in the way of sundries.”

 

“Sounds—okay I guess.” Godric glanced at Manny. “You okay with my invading your space?”

 

“He has no say in the matter,” Cerdic said sharply before Manny could reply. “This is not a democracy. What I say goes. Until you get the hang of things you’ll need a mentor and since Manny found you, he gets you.”

 

“Yeah, and if I don’t want to obey your orders?”

 

“You will be punished.”

 

Godric jumped to his feet. “That’s why I ran in the first place. I’m not going to let myself in for more beating. So thanks, but I’ll pass.” He watched Cerdic’s face, hoping he hadn’t just thrown his chances away, even though he knew it was the sort of response the kid he was supposed to be would have made to what the man had just said.

 

Cerdic smiled, turning his attention to Manny. “Take him upstairs, show him around.”

 

“I just said I’m not sticking around,” Godric said defiantly.

 

“Then you’d be passing up a good opportunity, Rick,” Cerdic told him. “You’ve passed all my tests, I think you’ve got what it takes, and for your information, and you can ask the others, I never beat any of them. There are more ways to punish than that, ways that teach the lesson much better.”

 

“Truth?” Godric looked at Manny for confirmation.

 

“Yeah, truth. So you sticking around?”

 

Godric nodded. “Yeah, sure. At least for now.”

 

 

11 - Scriostóir

 

Cerdic listened as Manny talked, tapping his pen on the desk. When the boy finished, Cerdic asked, “What makes you think he’d be interested, and if he were that we can trust him?”

 

“You should have seen him, sir. He looks like he hasn’t eaten in forever and while his clothes are clean they’re more than worn in places. I’m betting they’re the only good ones he has, for when he’s letting someone pick him up. If he wasn’t so cute he’d probably be shit out of luck trying to make what money he does the way he does.” Manny paced the office, turning to say, “He reminds me a bit of Hamlin. And he does the same thing only for a hell of a lot less.”

 

“You’re sure he’s telling you the truth?”

 

“I’ve been watching him big time. He goes into a room with who ever. Sometimes he comes out a few minutes later and splits fast, but sometimes he’s in for a while. So yeah, I think so.”

 

“Interesting. You can find him again?”

 

“Yeah. I told him I might have a proposition for him. He said he’d hang around.”

 

“Good. Go get him.”

 

* * * * *

 

“Damn,” Godric said as he looked at the outside of the house. “You live here?”

 

“Yeah. Me and some other guys and my boss I guess you’d call him.”

 

“Sweet.” Godric waited for Manny to open the door and then followed him into an entry foyer. From there, Manny led him up a flight of stairs to the living room. It was modern and bright, with a window taking up the entire far wall with sliding doors leading to a terrace.

 

A man sat watching them. He looked Godric over carefully before standing, coming over to offer his hand. “I am Cerdic Wyndham,” he said by way of introduction.

 

“Rick Ward,” Godric replied, hesitantly shaking Cerdic hand. It took everything within his power not to react to his first view of the man he’d been searching for for the last thirteen centuries.

 

Cerdic nodded, eyeing the young man thoughtfully. “Tell me a bit about yourself, Rick,” he said, going back to sofa, indicating Godric should take a seat in the chair opposite it. “Manny, you may stay as well,” he said when the boy seemed about to leave the room.

 

“There’s not much to tell, sir,” Godric replied. “I ran away when I was thirteen, learned how to survive on the streets.” He shrugged, being careful not to meet Cerdic’s eyes.

 

“Using your body from what Manny has said,” Cerdic commented.

 

Again Godric shrugged. “When you need money—“

 

“I understand. How old are you, Rick?”

 

“Almost seventeen, sir.”

 

“Why did you run away?”

 

 

10 - Scriostóir

 

“Hey, man, you all right?”

 

Godric looked up and nodded. “Better than all right, dude. Got what I went after. Just needed to take a breather for a sec.”

 

Manny stayed where he was, watching Godric. “Sounds like maybe you didn’t come by whatever it was legit.”

 

“Maybe, maybe not. What’s it to you?”

 

“Nothing,” Manny replied with a shrug. “Just that I’ve been keeping an eye on you for the last couple of days, whenever you were around. You’re sorta in my territory.”

 

Godric grinned. “Yeah, I know. Gonna do something about it?”

 

“Depends what you’re going after, and where.”

 

“Mostly whatever cash I can get my hands on. A guy’s gotta eat you know.”

 

Manny moved closer to the loading dock. “From hotel rooms? Cause I saw you going into a couple. Those are off limits.”

 

“Says who?”

 

“Says me. Like I said, my territory.”

 

“You seen me, you know I don’t go in alone.”

 

“Yeah, noticed that too. They pay, or you just steal from them? Or both?”

 

“With luck, and stupidity on their part, I make it out of the room with their cash and cards, and my ‘innocence’ intact. Sometimes I gotta put out.  Either way I got lunch money.”

 

“Ever get caught?” Manny was now within touching distance of Godric.

 

“Nope, not by the cops, not by someone thinking of jacking me off either.” Godric balled his fists, ready to fight if necessary.

 

“Hey, relax, I’m not interested in what you got on you. I probably pick up twice what you do on any given day, and I don’t have to fuck someone to do it.”

 

Dropping his hands, but keeping an eye on Manny just in case, Godric nodded. “You just break in? How the hell you manage that?”

 

“That’s my skill, just like yours is seducing your target.”

 

Leaning back on his hands now, Godric studied Manny. “Ever find anything real interesting, since you don’t have to worry bout someone being in there with you?”

 

“Interesting how?”

 

“Don’t know. Was just thinking. I found some pics once. Coulda used them for blackmail I bet.”

 

“You keep them?”

 

“Naw. Like what would I do? Say ‘Hey, bring me cash to the third dumpster on the left down such and such alley.’?” He laughed. “All what woulda got me was a visit from the cops at my classy domicile.”

 

Manny nodded, quite obviously thinking about something. When he stayed silent, Godric jumped down from the loading dock. “It’s been fun,” he said, a bit caustically, “but I gotta get moving. Got some cash, got an empty stomach. Gonna use A to fill B.”

 

“Hang on. I got a proposition for you. Maybe.”

 

Godric paused. “Like?”

 

“I gotta talk to someone first. You gonna be in the neighborhood for a while longer?”

 

“Eh, I was thinking of going downtown, getting dinner at Delmonicos.” Godric laughed at his own joke. “Yeah, I’ll be around and about.”

 

“Good. I’ll be back, one way or the other.” Manny turned on his heel and walked out of the alley.

 

“Hope so,” Godric muttered softly. “You’re my in.”

 

9 - Scriostóir

 

Ealdgyđ looked at the man standing at attention in front of her. As she did, she tapped one black nail against her lips pensively, eventually breaking the silence by saying, “You are aware of what you are asking?”

 

Godric nodded. “I am. It is time for me to face my demons and deal with him. When he slew his family in his bid for power he also murdered my sister. It has taken me this long to find him. I have no intention of letting him wander free any longer.”

 

Shaking her head so that her thick black hair spread for a moment like the wings of the raven she was in her other form, she said, “He is quite powerful, a formidable Scriostóir.”

 

“I am not without power of my own, as I am certain min campealdor, excuse me, mo ceannasaí has told you.”

 

“Either one works, I speak Old English as well as Gaelic,” Ealdgyđ told him with a smile. “And yes, you come quite highly recommended. I suppose the question is how you will ingratiate yourself into his life. He must know who you are and may recognize you even after thirteen centuries.”

 

Godric shook his head. “When we last saw each other I was a mere boy of fourteen years.”

 

“I see. You don’t look all that much older now. What on earth was your sin?” Ealdgyđ knew the answer but wanted to hear it from the young man’s lips.

 

“A lying tongue,” Godric admitted. “I was young, a callow youth then of three and twenty, and allowed myself to be influenced by those who were bent on using me to entrap their enemies. One of the enemies caught me in a lie that would have been the cause of his death had he believed it. He slew me even as I persisted in saying it was the truth. Therefore,” he smiled, “I was given the choice all of us are. I had no interest in suffering eternally for my stupidity.”

 

“A wise choice, in my estimation, but then I am prejudiced.” Pointing to the chair on the other side of her desk, Ealdgyđ waited for Godric to be seated before saying, “The question still remains as to what trick you are going to use to get close to Cerdic. The man is no fool. He has no friends and few weaknesses. He’s asexual or at least has no known sexual contacts, lives in a private home in the West Village in New York City, travels often, always alone, is extremely manipulative, and has, believe it or not, never killed anyone by his own hand that we are aware of.”

 

“He does have one weakness, young people. He uses them for much of his information gathering and they are always kids who are throwaways.”

 

“I’m not quite certain if that would be considered a weakness or an asset. Everyone of them that we know of, both past and present, adores him and would do anything for him despite the fact that he can be very severe in his punishments should they foul up in any way.”

 

“As it should be. A boy does not become a man by being coddled.”

 

Ealdgyđ lifted an eyebrow at that comment but refrained from saying anything. “Are you thinking of trying to become one of his boys?”

 

Godric nodded. “That’s my intention. He has lost, well not lost but sent one of his boys off for the long term, and presumably might need someone to replace him. I have skills that he could use, and I can pass for sixteen if necessary, one of the perks as they say of being smaller in height than most men of today.”

 

“You have given this some thought I see.”

 

“I’ve had many centuries to do that.”

 

“Very well, I shall give you whatever help is necessary. I would presume you will not be using your given name. It is a bit distinctive.”

 

“No. I will become Rick Ward. I sincerely doubt he will associate that with Godric Aylward.

 

 

8 - Scriostóir

 

As Cerdic walked into the room, the two men sitting in deep discussion at a table looked up. One of them nodded slightly before returning to what he had been talking about with his companion.

 

“Trouble in paradise?” Cerdic asked, lifting an eyebrow as he joined them.

 

“We have the plans in place, however my esteemed colleague here seems to be having second thoughts on the wisdom of implementing them at this time,” the man who had nodded when Cerdic arrived explained, his accent thickening as he spoke.

 

Cerdic turned to the other man, letting a trace of an Irish brogue color his speech. “If we are to accomplish our aims we must strike while the iron is hot. To put it off, even for a week, will weaken what we are trying to accomplish.”

 

“Aye, that’s the truth, I know, but my people—“

 

“Need your strong hand at the helm to make them move. If you waver they will know you are not the man they think you are. Is that what you want? Think of the power you will have once this has been done.”

 

The man nodded pensively, fingering the lapel of his well-cut suit. Finally he said, “I must leave, now. There is a flight out soon that I need to be on.” He smiled tightly as he stood, raising his hand in salute. “Watch the news tomorrow,” he stated firmly before walking quickly from the room.

 

Once he’d left, the other man shook his head. “I don’t know how you managed that. I have been arguing with him for the last hour to no avail.”

 

Cerdic gave him a knowing smile. “It’s all in the tone of voice I think. I brook no argument when it comes to accomplishing our aims. Now,” his voice hardened, “you are to go after him to be certain he makes his flight. If he does not you are to eliminate him and if possible make it seem as if the Brits are responsible.”

 

“Then what, if that happens?” the man asked even as he headed to the door.

 

“You will meet with his people and make quite certain things move forward as planned.”

 

The man nodded sharply before leaving. Cerdic’s smile was vicious as he stepped across the room to the window, arriving just in time to see the first man step into a car that was sitting at the curb. As it pulled away, the second man came into view. He got into a car parked a few yards from the front door of the building. Seconds later he was skillfully following the other car.

 

“Perfect,” Cerdic murmured to himself as he made a phone call that would send the first man off on a wild goose chase, thus setting into motion Cerdic’s secondary plan, the killing, apparently by British Intelligent forces, of a known RIRA agent in the country on a peaceful mission. “And that should keep the pot boiling,” he remarked as he hung up and strode purposefully from the room.

 

 

 

7 - Scriostóir

 

By the end of his week in London, Cerdic had narrowed down his plans to the point that he only had to make the decision on which person he would manipulate into augmenting them. To that end, his next instructions to Hamlin were to continue what he had been doing, using all of his contacts in the city to his best advantage, but concentrating only on the two people in question.

 

Now, as he finished packing for his return flight back to New York, he watched Hamlin who was sitting at the table going over the notes he’d given him. Eventually the young man looked up with a taut smile on his face.

 

“It won’t be easy, but I’ll get what you need.”

 

“Of course you will. I wouldn’t have chosen you for the job if I didn’t have implicit faith in your abilities. I shall expect daily reports from you, whether you find anything or not. I want to be kept appraised.” Cerdic handed Hamlin a cell phone. “Keep this in a very safe place, but not on your person, perhaps somewhere here in the hotel.”

 

“I know just the place. I’m assuming this is a safe phone?”

 

“Extremely.” Cerdic spent a few minutes showing him exactly how to use it and then Hamlin stood, gathering up the papers he’d been studying. Cerdic stopped him, putting one hand on his shoulder. “Be safe, stay safe. There are few in this world I care about, you are one of them.”

 

Hamlin nodded, surprised that Cerdic had let down his walls enough to say that. “I’ll be careful. I’d really like to be around to see you accomplish your agenda.”

 

Cerdic smiled in reply, for a brief second wishing he could explain everything to Hamlin. That however was not an option; it never had been in all his long life, it never would be. Scriostóir were by the very description of their responsibilities, loners. The fact that Hamlin had even figured out as much as he had was somewhat worrying, but Cerdic hadn’t lied when he said he trusted him. If ever the young man betrayed him, Cerdic would personally put the knife to his heart and plunge it in.

 

Reverting now to his duties as an employee of the hotel, Hamlin picked up Cerdic’s bags, standing by the door as his mentor made one final check of the room to be certain he’d forgotten nothing. Then the two men left, walking down the hall to the elevator. When they reached the lobby, Cerdic stopped at the front desk to sign out while Hamlin went to get him a cab.

 

“Sir,” the desk clerk said, “this message came for you just moments ago.” The desk clerk handed Cerdic a slip of paper.

 

After reading it, a frown creasing his forehead, Cerdic thanked her. Taking a deep breath to regain his composure, Cerdic went to join Hamlin. “I shall expect to hear from you tomorrow,” he told the young man quietly.

 

“And every day thereafter, I won’t forget.” Hamlin held the cab door open for Cerdic. “Have a safe trip home, sir”

 

“Thank you, I shall,” Cerdic replied, not telling him that his plans had suddenly changed. After Hamlin closed the cab door, Cerdic gave the driver the address of his new destination.

 

 

6 - Scriostóir

 

A light rap on the door to the suite announced the arrival of room service. Cerdic smiled as he allowed the man, pushing a cart laden with food, to enter.

 

“Hamlin, it has been a while,” Cerdic said, clapping the young man on the shoulder.

 

“Indeed it has, sir,” Hamlin replied, he face lighting up with pleasure.

 

“Please call me Cerdic.”

 

“I—alright but it’ll seem strange.” He started setting the meal out on the table, then stood back at attention when he’d finished, a quirky grin on his face. “Will there be anything else?”

 

“Yes. Join me for supper. I need to know everything you’ve managed to find out. If staying is going to be a problem I shall call down and let them know that I ordered you to.”

 

Hamlin shook his head. “I’ve been assigned to you for the week, as per orders from the hotel’s higher-ups.”

 

“Then sit, damn it.” Cerdic sat, waiting for Hamlin and then filling two plates with food, sliding one to his underling. “Eat, and then we’ll talk.”

 

Eat they did, Cerdic passing on messages from the boys and telling Hamlin how they were faring. Hamlin was especially happy to know that Jakie was doing so well. He had been the one who had recruited the boy into the group. He’d found Jakie, half-starving on the streets, just two months before he’d been sent to London and had taken him under his wing like the younger brother he’d never had.

 

Once they were finished and coffee was poured, Hamlin filled Cerdic in on the information he’d gathered. When he’d wrapped up his report Cerdic nodded, reading over the papers in the file Hamlin had handed him.

 

“You have done an excellent job, young man. I knew I was correct, placing my faith in you.”

 

Hamlin thanked him before saying, “May I ask just what you’re going to do with all this information?”

 

Cerdic lifted one eyebrow as he studied him. Then, having made a decision, he asked in turn, “Given what you brought me, what would you think it would be used for?”

 

“Well,” Hamlin said slowly, “there is a royal wedding coming up. If something were to happen to disrupt that, and said something was caused by one of the persons on that list, all of whom will be in the city at that point,” he tapped on of the papers spread out on the table in front of them, “it would certainly increase tensions between the British and the home country of whichever person is involved.”

 

“A very logical conclusion.” Again Cerdic studied Hamlin before saying, “If, and it is only ‘if’ that was the reason I had you collect this information, how would you feel about it?”

 

Hamlin shrugged. “I’ve been with you long enough that I have no illusions about you. You are not some super spy trying to save the world. On the other hand, you’re not a terrorist in the usual sense of the word. Best guess, you like manipulating people so that they cause problems that increase local or world tensions. It’s almost as if you were trying to throw the world into turmoil, one country at a time.”

 

“That still begs the question of how you feel about it.”

 

Resting his elbows on the table, Hamlin looked at his mentor. “I have no reason to care what you do one way or the other. I’ve got no love for people in general. I was used and abused from day one by everyone around me. Until you found me I didn’t believe that anyone gave a damn about me or anyone else for that matter. In general, I know that’s the truth of the world. Kill or be killed, use or be used, rule or be ruled, every man for himself. Even you use, but at least what we, the boys and I, get in return makes it worth it; a home, three squares a day, friendship among us which none of us had before.”

 

Hamlin paused, chuckling low. “Sorry, didn’t mean to go off on a rant like that. Anyway, bottom line, if you want to try to set people on each other until the world explodes and countries wipe each other out, have at it. It’s no skin off my nose.”

 

5 - Scriostóir

Cerdic was quite relieved when the plane touched down on the tarmac at Heathrow Airport. He abhorred long flights even though he knew they were a necessary evil. There were times when he wondered why one of the benefits of being a Scriostóir hadn’t been the ability to teleport from place to place. The only time that perk was allowed was when traveling through the veil, going from one time to another, something he hadn’t had to do since the seventeen-hundreds when he’d been permanently assigned to what eventually would become the United States of America.

 

Unlike Caomhnóir, the Scriostóir were kept in one place once they had proven their worth. That way each one knew his or her territory and was able to respond at an instant’s notice when something occurred that they could use to their advantage. In Cerdic’s case, it was the US, primarily New York City with its international community. He was devoutly glad that he had not drawn Washington, DC. Having to deal with the politicians there would have driven him crazy, even though manipulating them was very easy, according to his colleague there.

 

Now, he was in London, or would be once he found a taxi to take him to the heart of the city and the Savoy, where he would be staying for the duration. The cabdriver, when Cerdic finally got one, was a taciturn man, much to Cerdic’s delight. He hated chatty cabbies; they distracted him from his contemplation of the drive into or through a city.

 

Upon his arrival at the Savoy, he was greeted warmly by the doorman then quite effusively by the woman at the check-in desk.

 

“Mr. Wyndham, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” she said. “Your usual suite has been prepared just as you like it. I’m afraid Minnie is no longer with us, but we have a new young man who took her place. I’m certain you will find he is very well trained and he will take care of all your needs.”

 

Cerdic chuckled, replying, “To anyone overhearing you, one would think you were setting me up with someone from an escort service, not one of your excellent room service persons.”

 

“Oh my, yes, I suppose it did sound like that. I’m so sorry.”

 

“It’s nothing to worry about. We know, and what others think is of small importance.”

 

After that, he finished with the business of signing in, paid her, and then with the bellhop in tow, went to his suite. It was just as the woman had promised, perfection with all as he expected. Once he had unpacked, he sat down in the wingchair in the living room and placed a call to room service to order a late supper. With that taken care of, he rose again, crossing to stand at the window and look out over the Thames. He was in his homeland now, and the only place forbidden to him was the town where he had died. That was the one law that both Caomhnóir and Scriostóir had in common. There was no return to the place of their demise.