Return of the High Fae (Vegas Fae Story Book 1) (11 page)

I left the house around 7:30 p.m. and headed downtown to see
what Mr. Milagre had set up. I got off on Las Vegas Boulevard and drove down to
Oakey. When I got close, I drove around the neighborhood a bit to make sure
there was no one from the other night waiting for me. Everything looked ok, so
I parked next to the tour bus lot and walked toward Danu's.

I opened the heavy outer wooden door and then paused after
going through the inner doorway. I saw that Delia appeared to be working alone
tonight. She looked up at me as I walked in, but gave no hint of recognition. I
figured she had to remember me, but if she did, she wasn't acting like it. I
wondered if Siegfried had mentioned we were coming.

I took a seat at an empty table and watched her for a bit.
Damn, she looked good. Was she really some kind of Vampire? She was wearing a
red silk blouse with just the right amount of cleavage showing and creased
black slacks that fit, well, let's just say they fit perfectly. There was
something else about her, too. It wasn't just her beauty, although her green
eyes were definitely enchanting.

Just then, Mr. Milagre came through the doorway. As I stood
to greet him, I saw that he was accompanied by another, shorter man. He looked
to be in his 60's, with a full head of gray hair and dressed casually in
expensive clothes. He didn't seem the Vegas type, especially compared to
Milagre, who was impeccably dressed in a black tailored suit.

"Robert, I'm glad you could make it." He turned
toward his companion.

"William, this is Robert Hoskins, I believe he can
handle what you need."

"Excellent," the man said.

I knew Milagre was Fae, but William, although I could sense
some magic about him, appeared to be mortal. I wondered how they were
connected.

We sat down at a large table. At that moment, the door
opened again, when I looked over, I saw Siegfried and another man come in. I
nodded as he walked by and took a stool at the bar. His partner moved closer to
the door and sat down next to someone who was already here when I arrived.

"I hope you don't mind," Milagre said, as he waved
the bartender over to the table. "It seems that Siegfried likes to keep a
closer eye on me these days. They won't disturb us."

"Probably a good idea," I answered. "I don't
fancy a repeat of the last time just yet."

Milagre didn't comment, so I glanced over at William, but he
was quiet as well. The bartender chose that moment to arrive at the table.

Milagre stood up and gave her a hug. "Delia, let me
introduce you," he said, turning toward us. "William you already
know, and this is Robert Hoskins, a friend of ours."

William waved and I stood up.

"Hello. It's a pleasure," I said as I extended my
hand. Two could play at this game.

Delia took it and gave me a friendly shake. "A new
friend. Well then, Robert, Danu's and I welcome you." She was still acting
like the other night had never happened. She turned back toward the table as I
sat back down. "Now, my friends, what can I get you?"

We ordered drinks and as she went back to the bar, I turned
to William. "So, tell me. What can I do for you?" I asked.

"Straight to business. I like that," he said with
a laugh, then turned to Milagre. "What have you told him?"

"Nothing yet," he replied. "I wanted to leave
the specifics to you."

"Very well," he began. "Here's the job. I
need something delivered to a woman who ran the mitt camp, uh, the fortune
telling booth. She was known as Pythia, the Oracle. She and I worked the carny
circuit years back and all I know is that now she's supposed to live somewhere
around here."

"All right," I said. "But it would help if
you could tell me her name."

William looked thoughtful for a moment, and then replied.
"I knew her as Deborah but her real name was Diantha. She used to go by
the last names of Medea and Kent, but I can't swear that she still uses
them."

He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a leather
pouch. It looked old and well worn. He loosened the rawhide tie and looked
around the room for a moment, as if he wanted to make sure that no one was
watching. He pulled out what appeared to be a green oval stone on a fine golden
chain. It looked like jade but I couldn't be sure. As he lifted it out of the
pouch by the chain, I saw the stone had a design on one side, almost like an
eye. "I need to return this to her. It needs to be handled delicately, and
soon."

"Fine," I said. "You need me to find an old
fortune teller named Deborah or Diantha and give her back her property. So what
am I missing here?" Come on, there had to be more to this story.

William was about to answer when Delia returned with our
drinks. She served the two of them, and then placed a beer in a frozen mug in
front of me.

"This is one of the specialty brews we make here on the
premises. It's a light lager, but don't be fooled, the alcohol content is
higher than most. I hope you like it," she said.

I took a sip and answered back. "This is good."

She looked pleased and gave me a wink. "Let me know if
you want anything else."

First she ignores me and now she flirts with me. At this
rate, I was never going to figure this girl out.

"It was after the war, you see. The Great War mind you,
W W One," he said, pronouncing it just like that, W W One. William
continued as he put the pouch back in his pocket. "I was running this
little carnival. Nothing elaborate, you understand, but we did ok. We even had
a regular circuit in the New York area." He stopped to take another drink.

I was surprised to learn of his longevity. If what he was
saying was true, and I had no reason to doubt it, he had to be over 100 years
old.

"Anyway, as I was saying, I had this little carnival.
So one day, outside of Cooperstown, I meet this gal, Deborah. God she was
beautiful. She makes me a deal, you see. I let her join the show and she grants
me long life and prosperity. I gotta tell you, I thought she was some crazy
gypsy at first; even if she was pleasing to the eyes, if you get my
drift." He seemed lost in his memories for a moment but then went on.

"Anyway, she showed me things that I hadn't even
dreamed of and we did well together. Made a lotta scratch. Hell, I was even
happy for a time, when we lived together. I never grew older, just like her.
Everything was fine for a long time."

"So what happened?"

"It was like this. Debbie, I mean Deborah; well... she
liked to wander a bit. Do you understand?" he asked, waiting for me to say
something.

I assumed he meant she was unfaithful to him, so I said so.

"Exactly," he answered. "And it used to make
me angry. Times were a lot different then. But what could I do? She had
powerful magic and she could make people do things. But like I said, I wasn't
happy about it. After a while, we started to argue about it, a lot, but she
wouldn't change."

"She used to tell this story about the jewel around her
neck. Said she'd been given it by the Gods back in the old days. So, I figured,
that's where her powers came from. Well, one day, after one of her little...
excursions... I took it from her while she was sleeping. Just up and left her
behind, I did. That was about, oh, 60 years ago, I guess."

"Didn't she look for you?"

"She might have, but without the necklace, I don't
think she was much more than mortal. No, I grabbed a train and headed out west.
Changed my name and face and started working in the movie business. I never saw
her again."

"So why now?" I asked.

"Well, this necklace doesn't work too well for me
anymore. Aw hell, it doesn't work for me at all, you see. Truth is, I'm dying.
But I need to set things straight before I go."

"Why me?" I asked, knowing that Milagre, at least,
had a reason for choosing me for this job.

"Well, after I got to California I got married. Had me
some kids as well. Now, Deborah, she has got to still be pretty upset. Once she
gets this necklace back... well... there's no telling what she might do. She
could be quite temperamental." He almost looked embarrassed.

"Look, I'm not afraid for me. I've had a good life.
Longer than it should have been. But she may want revenge and I don't want my
family to suffer for my mistakes. They're as mortal as I was before I met her.
Do you know where I'm coming from?"

"I think I do," I nodded. "But I have a few
questions."

Milagre held up his hand. "Robert, before you go on,
let me tell you why I recommended you. It's my belief that the spell you carry
will offer some protection to you from anything this woman might do when the
necklace is returned. I'm not saying it won't be dangerous, but I believe you
offer the best chance of success, for both of you."

"There's always risk," I said. "But it sounds
as if you don't think she's lost all her abilities."

He shrugged. "I know William believes that, because she
never came after him, but my people are not as sure of that as he is. I don't
doubt that she lost a lot of power when it was taken from her. But I do believe
she may have retained some, at least as far as her ability to sway others, if
nothing else."

I thought about that for a few seconds before answering.
"Ok, so she may still be able to influence people. What else?"

"At the very least, I find it hard to believe this is
her only gift. William tells me she could foretell the future and had power
over men. She may have received other gifts over the years as well."

"Well, if that's the case, why was William able to
steal the necklace? Surely she would have foreseen that, or at least one would
think so."

"Not necessarily," Milagre continued. "You
may not be aware of this, but magic in mortals can be very specific. Especially
if the giver himself wanted to limit her abilities. No, I'm guessing she
couldn't see her own future."

"I get it," I chimed. "Someone may not have
wanted the student to become the master."

He chuckled at that. "A good way to put it. I also
believe that even when she gets the necklace back, she won't be able to
determine how powerful or even what, exactly, you are. That should give you the
advantage."

"What do you base that on?" I asked, eyebrows
raised.

He got a serious look on his face. "Because even now,
as when I first met you, I cannot sense anything extraordinary about you. I
have never encountered that before."

"Interesting. I take it that it's a good thing we're
friends then," I said, not sure how to take the look on his face.

Milagre just smiled. "That is true. I want you to know
that if either of you were not trusted friends, I would never have brought him
to you."

I turned back to William. "Okay, what exactly do you
want me to do?"

"Just return it and get her oath that she will not
harm, or even contact my family, ever. You'll need her oath. Nothing less will
bind her." William reached back and pulled an envelope from his pocket.
"Here's $5,000 to get you started. I'll pay you another 15K when you
complete the task. That should cover any expenses and your time. Everything I
know about her is in that envelope with the cash. What Eddy's people know about
her is in there as well," he said, handing me the envelope.

I opened it, ignoring the cash, and removed the papers
William had mentioned. "Hmmm," I said as I glanced through them.
"Ok, I'll need the jewel and a few more minutes of your time."

"Whatever you need," he replied, handing me the
leather pouch.

"What name did you go by when you were with her?"

"I used to go by the name of Billy Kent."

Something didn't feel right about this deal and it wasn't just
the obscene fee I was getting. It sounded like he'd done pretty well by her.
Too well. I hate to get moral but she deserved something for his theft.
"How would you feel about sweetening the pot a bit?"

"What do you mean? Isn't 20 large enough?" he asked,
glancing at Milagre.

Milagre just shrugged his shoulders. "What do you have
in mind, Robert?"

"Well, according to what I've read here, she's
supposedly lost her youth and is now an old woman. Seems to me she might be
owed something for, let's call it, William's use of her property. I'm also
thinking an incentive wouldn't hurt to make her forget about him."

"It might not be a bad idea, Will," Milagre
remarked, thoughtfully. "A token of good faith could go a long way and you
can afford it."

"Are you working for me or her?" William asked
indignantly, and then sighed at Milagre's impassive face. "Fine. Lemme
figure it out when we get back to the hotel."

"I'll discuss a fair amount and have it ready for you
when you need it," Milagre said, grabbing William by the shoulder.
"Now that business is concluded, let's get back to the hotel. We've taken
up enough of Mr. Hoskins' time."

They stood up, and Milagre gave Siegfried a small wave as
they headed to the door.

Siegfried looked over at the other two bodyguards, who got
up and exited in front of them.

I put the envelope and pouch in my pocket. Milagre stopped
and walked back to me.

"How much do you want him to ante up?"

"Whatever you think is fair," I answered. "I
just want some leverage if she decides to balk at anything."

"No problem. Besides, William really can afford it and
it may work in our favor if getting the necklace back restores her powers. I
would be very happy if she were to ally herself with us. She would be an asset
to my business."

"Good point. I'll see what I can do," I said,
thinking that I should have figured there'd be an angle.

He turned and left the bar, so I picked up my beer and
walked to where Siegfried was sitting.

"I take it you accepted the job?" Siegfried asked
as I sat down next to him.