Tesser: A Dragon Among Us (A Reemergence Novel) (38 page)

Tesser agreed. "It'll be difficult. But if I can just get the scent of one of his bodies… I can track him down. It was foolish of me to kill all of them that night."

"And to be clear, you've gone on record and said that the only way to kill this Legion daemon thing is to destroy ALL of his bodies, at the same time? Isn't that like saying the only way to kill an ant colony is to kill each and every fucking ant? Isn't there a Queen Legion we can kill? A brain Legion?" Abe asked.

"There is an executioner's stroke that can be done. But it could be as much of a challenge as attempting to exterminate all of Legion's bodies."

"How would one perform this 'executioner's stroke?'" Mr. Doyle asked.

"No daemon may cross the Veil without being beckoned first from this side for a specific reason," Tesser said. "They must be summoned intentionally and willfully. That desire to have them here serves as an anchor. The more substantial the desire, the more power the daemon can exercise on this side."

Abe wrinkled his nose. "This side?"

"Creation. This plane of existence," Ellen added through the open window softly.

"Our reality. Our dimension. Existence. Whatever you wish to call it. For Legion to able to manifest so many bodies here and to be so established as to have vehicles, armor, and guns, it means he's strongly fettered to this world now. Bound. Contracted."

"Contracted?" Mr. Doyle asked, already knowing the answer.

"A written contract. Some form of physical document. Often done in blood or feces, most effectively on stone. Tens of thousands of years ago when humans were only barely taking their first steps with me my kind fought against the daemons periodically. The humans would trade something to the daemons for a service. To control the daemon and to give it more power, they would document the task at hand. Some of the ancient cave paintings your scientists are finding are actually daemonic contracts. Help my tribe hunt mammoths. Teach us how to make beer."

"No shit. So what's the killing blow?" Abe asked. "Destroy the contract?"

"No. Once written, the idea of the contract survives its destruction. It
did
exist; therefore, it still has some validity. It will weaken the daemon certainly, which is something still worth trying for. The true killing stroke is to remove the person with the desire.
 
If we can find and remove the person who holds the other end of Legion's contract, then Legion becomes unfettered and must return across the Veil until able to return, and beckoned again. And I assure you, if I send him back across the Veil, it will be a good long time before he's able to return."

"So how do we find this person?" Alexis asked.

Tesser stood up and went to the window of the Beacon Street home. He and Ellen exchanged pained glances. They knew the stakes of the state of events at hand. The government cordon remained strong outside. Metal fencing blocked the street and heavily armed guards kept watch. Half kept their eyes pointed towards the home that Tesser stood in.
They say it is for our protection, but I wonder what the real goal is? Here they hope to keep me contained, observed. They sleep better at night thinking that they have some control over me. They think asking me to stay here means they are safe. The path of every human civilization seems to be the same. They wish to control what they fear.

Headlights came onto the early evening street heading their way. The lights emanated from a large, dark-colored SUV, very similar to the one Legion arrived in. Tesser saw the plate and recognized it as belonging to the government. The men at the fencing spoke to the driver and front seat passenger, and after some credential checks, the gate was moved aside. The vehicle drove up to Mr. Doyle's home. A second SUV parked behind it and all eight doors opened. Men with suits got out. Tesser recognized one of them.

That's Sergeant Spooner. He looks good. Hurt still, but good.

Tesser turned and talked to his gathered friends, "Everyone prepare for company. I think we are to be visited shortly by Uncle Sam."

Mr. Doyle got up and looked out the window. "Yes. Those men are with the FBI, I believe. Perhaps the NSA."

"Spooks? Fuck. I have some real crazy shit on my laptop guys. They might be here for me," Abe said half-jokingly.

Alexis slapped him on the arm. "Freak."

"Half of it is there because
you
put it there. Who's the freak now?" Abe said bluntly. Alexis turned an even brighter shade of red.

The men made their way to the door of Mr. Doyle's home and knocked. The British sorcerer was waiting for them. He pulled the door inward on the second knock.
The last time I saw that door open a daemon was on the other side. Ironic that a government agent stands there now?

"Good day, gentlemen," Mr. Doyle said. "What brings you to the Back Bay this evening?"

"Mr. Doyle, I'm Director Roger Fisher. I work with a department in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. We were wondering if we could have a few hours of your time?" Director Fisher was average in height and wore a blue suit. His hair was dark brown with flecks of gray, and was slicked to the side in a style that seemed more fitting for the 50's. He had wrinkles at the edges of his eyes that gave away some of his age.

"A few
hours
, Director? Don't you people normally say 'a few moments?' Being upfront more than usual tonight?"

The Director smiled a real and good smile
. I like him. He has sincerity.
"Mr. Doyle, this is a new day. Things have changed. I don't want to waste your time any more than I have to, but we do have some interesting things to go over with you and these folks who are staying with you. Tesser most of all, as you might imagine."

Tesser was in full view of the Director and stood with his arms crossed. Mr. Doyle turned back to the dragon and with a nod of his head, Tesser granted permission for the audience.

"Come in, gentlemen. But be warned. I've prepared wards against treachery. Should you attempt to mislead us in any way, you'll find yourself paying a price for it."

The Director looked at Mr. Doyle like he thought the sorcerer was kidding, but when the Brit didn't flinch or smile, the Fed simply nodded and came in. On his heels was a cane-wielding, suit-wearing Spooner.
 

Tesser grinned and walked up to greet the injured cop. "Sergeant. I thank you for all you've done. I am in your debt." Tesser stuck his hand out to shake Spoon's.

The limping cop took Tesser's hand and shook it firmly. "It's not Sergeant anymore. I left the force. I'm with the Bureau now. Well, sort of. I don't know what we're calling it yet. I'm federal. For how long is up to you, they tell me."

"Up to me, eh? That makes me feel like I have them by the short hairs."

Spoon chuckled as more suit-wearing feds poured in. "You have the world by the short hairs, my friend. I need to go beat up some assholes in an alley too. Apparently it pans out for you."

"I don't know if all of this could be considered 'panning out.' There have been repercussions since I came to beneath this city. People have suffered. People
are
suffering."

Spoon nodded. "I'm here to help you do something about that."

"I'm listening."

Chapter Forty-Six

Matty

"You will be a mother soon," Kaula said softly, stroking Matty's hair. Matty had her head in Kaula's lap. The two were on a bed of soft green grass in a meadow. It was night in the dream world they shared and the air was still warm. It felt like a perfect summer evening.

God that feels good.
"How long? I feel like I just found out."

"Many months still. You need to get fat with the baby first. That time will pass fast, so long as everything falls into place," the amethyst-haired woman said. A warm breeze came through, rustling their hair.

I suppose she's right.
"What things need to fall into place?"

"I've summoned my brothers and sisters. They will be arriving soon. After this, I'll use what's left of my magic to summon Tesser. I've almost none left. But we were fortunate. Something very useful has managed to fall into our laps. It has spared me enough energy to have this last conversation with you. I'm very thankful."

"Is Tesser coming to rescue me? I mean, rescue us?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes, to both of your questions. But I need some help from you for all these things to happen, Matilde. I've an important question."

I hope I can manage the answer.
"What is it?"

"I'll be sending for Tesser soon, but I've no way to tell him where to go to find us. Is there someone I can tell him to seek out to find where we are? Someone we can trust?"

Well, the only person who might know is Alexis
. "I assume we're at the Amethyst building. They drugged me before I got here. If not, then I think sending them to that place would be the best place to start. Tesser might have to face Mr. Host, or Alec, but worse things have happened. I think Tesser can handle himself," she said optimistically.

"He most certainly can."

"Well, I guess Alexis is the answer. My old boss. She works for Fitzgerald Industries in the Boston office. She knows the Amethyst Project is north of the city. Maybe she can get them into the Boston office and dig around to find the address?"

"What does Alexis look like?" Kaula asked.

"She's a feisty redhead. Short, pretty. About forty. She was dating Abe, Tesser's friend. That's how I met Tesser, sort of. I miss her."

"I'm sure she misses you as well. My hope is that this Alexis friend can help lead them back to us. She must. We've not much time to spare."

Matty felt a small wave of relief as Kaula continued to stroke her hair. "When will they come?"

Kaula pondered, running her purple fingernails through Matty's dark hair. She looked down at the glossy strands and seemed to approve of them. "Two, two and a half days. It's hard to say exactly with Tesser. He can be so impulsive. Unpredictable. Like the life he creates.
 
I've tried to orchestrate everything and everyone around him, but it's taken so much effort and people only rarely do what you think they will when they're guided by sorcery. This will be my last act of magic for some time, speaking with you here."

"Magic? Is this more dream-speak? Anything is possible while you sleep?"

Kaula smiled, and Matty suddenly felt the weight of her immense age and wisdom.
Good lord, she's old. Really old.

"No, Matty. I've been here, fighting against the daemons that brought you here as well for very long. They've kept my body still, but my mind has been too strong for them. I have been able to gather some resources from this hole in the ground, and now, with you here, I'll be able to send the final message to Tesser. Then, my dear Matilde, he shall come for us. You shall be set free, those that have oppressed us shall experience justice, and I shall have the release I've yearned for, for so long now."

I miss Tesser. I shouldn't have been so angry with him the other day
. "Kaula? The other day when we spoke you said Tesser was a special person. One of a small group? What did you mean by that?"

Kaula smiled again. "Look into my eyes. What color are they?"

Matty tilted her eyes up from Kaula's lap and looked up. The woman's eyes were a radiant and bright purple. Almost too glimmering and deep to be real. "You have amazing purple eyes. They remind me of Tesser's gold eyes."

"As they should.
 
Tesser is my brother, of a sort."

"You don't look anything alike. You seem Asian, and he isn't. I mean, your eyes look similar, sort of."

"Not all families look alike, Matty. Some of your ancestors look nothing like you do now. Though they'll recognize you for who you are when they finally meet you. You're going to be very well known soon. You are a bridge in more ways than one."

"My ancestors? Who are they?" Matty sat up on her elbows.

"Tesser is a dragon, Matty. One of Earth's seven. An orchestrator of will and the creator and guide to all living things on this world. Your schools call what he has done evolution, but we dragons call it his will."

A dragon? That makes no sense and yet doesn't sound strange in the least.
"I had sex with a giant dragon?"

"You made love with a dragon who became a man. He has spent so much time away from his natural form. At first to explore your kind, but then, to be with you."

"Does he love me?"

Kaula nodded. "Yes, though he doesn't know how to love the way you want him to yet. He has never given himself to anyone before. He has always done his deed selflessly, wishing nothing but improvement and change for the better of anything he has come into contact with. Though at times, a father must be wrathful."

"Has he killed? Is that what that means?"

Kaula nodded again. Her choice to not speak on the matter chilled Matty. After a minute of silence, Matty pressed again.

"Will I have a baby dragon? Is my child… my girl as you said, will she be a dragon?"