The Blood Eagle In The Big Easy Part 8

"a.s.s..." Katherine chuckled.

"Just Kidding. You're her mother and she will always need you." I consoled her. "But she eventually had to go out on her own."

"I just wish it had waited another decade or three when I wouldn't be around to watch." Katherine wiped her face across my s.h.i.+rt.

"What the h.e.l.l woman?" I pushed her back as I looked at my s.h.i.+rt. "Did you really just wipe your nose on me?"

She shrugged and laughed. "What if I did?"

"Then you're was.h.i.+ng it for me." I grabbed my jacket.

"Not in my washer, I'm not!" Just look at you! You're covered in blood and G.o.d knows what else." She grabbed her purse. "I will wash at your place or I won't wash at all!"

She looped her arm through mine as we walked out of the office and down the stairs. I was much too tired to drive anywhere and thankfully my condo was less than half a block away. The real estate developer tried to convince me the sixth story flat was the penthouse. I for one think a building needs more than six floors to have a penthouse, but I bought the entire building anyway. My apartment consisted of the entire floor. Can we say very happy real estate agent?

Chapter 11.

November 30th It was just before midnight when I woke, Katherine naked form sleeping soundly next to me. Not wanting to wake her I took my time to slowly slip out of bed unnoticed. Looking down at her I realized that old habits die hard. We hadn't been married for nearly a decade yet familiarity and a few gla.s.ses of wine... well let's just say this wasn't unexpected. Even though we were both single, we just weren't compatible for the long run. Not that we hadn't tried. While we loved each other, it wasn't enough. Our personalities clashed during our marriage in such a way that it became unhealthy to stay together. So we parted ways amicably, mostly anyway. While it was wonderful to be with her again we both knew it was nothing more than a physical release.

We both wanted more out of our lives than the occasional tryst. While temporarily enjoyable, it was less than satisfying. To find someone who completed us in such a way that we were content with our lives was the ultimate goal. We were many things when we were together; content was not one of them. In my mind I had a romantic notion of one day finding a woman that I could not only love but also completed me in such a way that I was content with my life.

It was a dream that motivated me to get out of bed some mornings, to actually find a woman who would still love me even after she got to know me. Someone who met me as an equal in all facets of life, emotionally stable and content with who she was. Contentment isn't the dirty word everyone tells you it is. Being content allows you to maintain normalcy in your life without the manic highs and lows of most relations.h.i.+ps. Contentment was the one thing that has always eluded me throughout my long embattled existence and the one thing I longed for almost more than life itself.

Wrestling myself from my reverie I grabbed a pair of pants and a s.h.i.+rt on the way out of the room, tugging them on as I went. Stopping in the kitchen I grabbed a drink before heading to the far end of the apartment to my sanctuary. It was a museum and library all rolled into one large room which occupied a full third of my sixth floor apartment. Books lined the shelved walls throughout the room. The shelves were intermittently separated by archaic weapons or armor, jeweled boxes or some other item I had admired over the years and added to my collection. The center of the room contained a large fire pit that burned twenty four/seven thanks to the modern wonders of natural gas. Around the pit were several overstuffed wing chairs with side tables. There were other chairs and tables strategically placed throughout the room when I wanted to work and not get lost in memories.

Pa.s.sing through the maze of shelving I stopped when I found the book *The Lost Chronicles' which I promptly opened. It was no longer just a book, but now had a tablet hidden inside of a book that I hadn't really cared for. Unlocking the screen and entering the access code I waited for the marker to show me the way to the safe hidden in the room. The safe was on a hiddenconveyer belt which looped through all the shelves in the room constantly moving, only stopping when the proper code was entered. It would then be shunted to the nearest access point. I knew that it was a particularly useless security feature when I designed it but it amused me.

While waiting for the metal safe to appear I picked up an old battle axe that had seen better days. The aged wood handle was cracked, the once sharp edge was nicked and chipped from use in battle. Holding it tightly, I felt the wood shaft creak as it objected to being called into service again. Smiling I placed it reverently back on the shelf letting it rejoice in its well deserved retirement. Turning my attention to the safe I entered the digital combination and waited as the door slowly opened. Pus.h.i.+ng a few leather bound tomes aside I pulled a black velvet bag from the safe's dark recesses. After closing the safe door it soon vanished from view to continue its never ending journey.

The bag was warm to the touch as I made my way through the room to the fire pit. I sat down and leaned back in the overstuffed leather wing chair taking solace from the glowing flames before I opened pandora's box. Pulling the side table around in front of me I carefully coaxed the contents out of the bag and onto the wooden surface before me. It appeared to be a beautifully cut teardrop twenty four carat diamond that was utterly flawless, gently rocking back and forth on the hard surface of the table for a few moments before coming to rest on one of the thousands of facets.

Tilting my head slightly I admired its beauty as it glowed a deep cobalt blue. Today not only was it glowing but strange symbols seemed to boil to the surface as if trying to escape. Over the years I had spent untold hours gazing at its normally transparent glittering surface, only to change about a year ago just before the MRI. The only way to describe the symbols were to compare them to the runes J.R.R. Tolkien made famous on the covers of his books, except these were more p.r.o.nounced and lavish than anything I'd seen.

Try as I might I couldn't resist the urge to hold it in my hands. Stretching my hand out I slowly wrapped my fingers around its smooth warm surface. Warmth flooded my body as I pressed it hard against my palm. Involuntarily closing my eyes I slipped back in my chair as a sense of comfort and well being overwhelm my senses. Something on the outer edges of what I knew to be reality tugged at my consciousness. Suddenly causing me to panic, I tried to release my grip on the stone. It was then I realized that my body had betrayed me, as it refused to obey even the simplest of commands! I was paralyzed, sitting upright and blind and thoroughly helpless.

A voice boomed beside me. "I can't have you releasing the stone just yet." Pain wracked my mind. I desperately wanted to clap my hands over my ears to block out the booming voice, barely understanding the words that seemed several decibels too loud. "My apologies, I have slept for far too long." Came the deep baritone voice at a more reasonable level.

After a few seconds of uselessly scanning the room hoping for some sign of my new visitor I gave myself over to the universe and accepted whatever fate was about to be dealt. As the words formed in my mind I could hear them spoken aloud. "I suppose good morning is in order?" I sounded calmer than I thought I would. "It would seem I am at a disadvantage as I don't know who you are."

"Ah yes where are my manners?" The voice cleared his throat dramatically. "I'm Mir, humble servant of the Allfather and you would be..." He hummed as he seemed to be lost in thought.

"My name is Viktor..." I responded.

"No, no that's not it..." Mir replied. "Don't worry dear boy I'll remember your name sooner or later."

"I don't mean to sound rude but who are you and what are you doing in my house?" I tried to keep the anger out of my thoughts. Nothing like being in the dark and paralyzed to bring out the more polite and well mannered me.

"Oh my..." Mir started as he sounded nervous. "It would seem that we're off on the wrong foot already."

"Not at all." Try as I might I was unable to release my grip on the stone and free myself from my paralytic prison of flesh.

Surprisingly the darkness that surrounded me started to fading as my body seemed to respond to my commands once more. After blinking my eyes several times the world around me came sharply back into focus. The only hitch was that I was no longer sitting in the study at home. Instead I found myself standing in the midst of a well traveled dirt path somewhere deep in a dimly lit forest. The overgrown evergreens created a heavy canopy, allowing only the occasional shaft of sunlight to break through unimpeded. Snow and ice blanketed everything around me except for the trail. I felt I should recognize this place yet I just couldn't place it.

The wind howled through the trees that sang as the icy branches brushed against one another. Pulling my old overcoat I'd woke up with all those years ago tight to keep the chill out, I felt at home for the first time. I knew this to be an illusion, or perhaps a dream, but it seemed much too vivid. The details were too precise making it hard to distinguish this from reality which just set me on edge. Delusions this vivid meant I'd either finally cracked or perhaps something bigger was at work here. I had little choice at this point but to cooperate with this *Mir'. Deciding to play along. As I took my first tentative step, I could feel the frozen earth crunch with each step. Like I said every last detail was precise. Mir was certainly pulling out all the stops for whatever game he was playing.

Shoving my hands back in my pockets to keep them out of the elements I trudged onward. Eventually I caught sight of a very large being which I'd like to say was a man, but was much too large, walking towards me. He was perhaps three hundred yards away, partially hidden by the long shadows cast by the evergreens surrounding us. He wore some type of black body armor akin to medieval knights yet it glowed and pulsated with a life all its own. My mind screamed at me that this being was dangerous beyond measure so the closer he came the slower I walked. Everything about the man said to proceed with the utmost caution. His every move denoted a predator who was long accustomed to violence. I looked around vain in hopes of finding something that would at least improve my odds of survival. Finding nothing I firmly planted my feet and waited.

He stopped a few yards away pulling off the visor, and giving me a big smile. Something about him spoke a familiarity yet try as I might I couldn't place him. His features resembled rough cut granite, giving him a look akin to an ancient masterpiece that was yet unfinished and somehow still handsome. His face bespoke of something ancient yet unchanged by the ravages of time, from what little I could see of his flesh he was heavily scarred from untold battles. His most imposing feature was his right eye which glowed. It took me a few seconds to realize it was the same gemstone I'd held onto all these years.

His long gray hair hung well past his broad shoulders, and the matching well kept beard only accentuated his rough features. "It is good to properly meet you...." He bowed with a flourish. "I'm Mir, humble servant of the Allfather."

Keeping a close eye on the man I gave him a slight bow. "Good to meet you Mir." Glancing around I tried to find a way out of this nightmare. "Like I said earlier, the name's Viktor."

Tilting his head to the side as he chewed on his lower lip he tried to place me. "I believe you're mistaken..." Mir shrugged his ma.s.sive shoulders as he stepped forward. "You need a name I suppose, and Viktor is as good as any..." Mir looked confused. "Since I cannot recall your proper name, I guess Viktor will just have to do... for now."

That old hunger to know who I was overrode my trepidation and good sense. "You seem to think that we know each other." Stepping around Mir, who stood probably twice my height, I eyed him carefully. "I would think I would remember someone as..."

"Handsome as me?" Mir joked.

Yeah, like I'm going to p.i.s.s off the giant in the room. "Sure, let's go with that." Thinking that it was better to placate him than be squashed like an ant underfoot. He was simply too powerful for me to even consider trying to fight. If that's what it came down too I planned to run like h.e.l.l. It isn't cowardice if there isn't a reason to fight. Besides I couldn't see gaining anything from something that foolish.

"So how is it we know each other?" I waved at the forest around us. "And where the h.e.l.l are we?" Holding up my hand quickly I stopped the snarky remark I was sure he was about to make. "Other than in my apartment! I'm fairly sure this is all taking place somewhere within the confines of my own mind."

Mir seemed at once disappointed. He was unable to make a smarta.s.s remark, yet pleased that I'd guessed the truth of the situation. "This forest is in your homeland as it was long ago before it was ravaged by progress." Mir paced around me slowly stroking his chin as if trying to decide where to start. "Has something happened that has damaged us?"

Confused by the question and the inclusion of *us', I stammered. "There's a lot I don't remember." Waving my right hand in his general direction. "You are just one of many things I can't explain."

Mir stopped moving and I felt the raw power of his gaze as it fell upon me. That eye glowed with an intensity as it mutated and changed colors from the brilliant blue to a sickly yellow. Tension built throughout my body and I fell to my knees in pain. "That is unfortunate."

Gasping for air, I tried to crawl away. "Please stop..."

The pain faded quickly and his eye returned to what I could a.s.sume was its natural shade of cobalt blue. "You were somehow damaged." His voice was full of concern as he gave me a helping hand as I struggled to my feet. "Your injuries seem quite extensive..."

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean." Rubbing my forehead trying to clear away the pain. "How? I suppose would be the best question."

He nodded at me as he continued to appraise my situation. "Head trauma of some sort just behind your left ear." He gently poked the spot. "It would seem that the nanites have been working to repair the damaged regions for a very long time."

"Nanites?" I sank to the ground finding comfort in the solid earth below me. "I'm lost." I confessed. "Could you please help me find my way?"

Mir looked at me with such tenderness in his eyes, taking a seat beside me and draping a giant hand over my shoulders. "I'll do what I can." He hung his head in desperation. "I may not be able to recall your name just now but there are other things I do know about you."

I was so tired and weary from the experience all I could do was shrug at him in response.

"To understand your nature is paramount in your recovery." Mir stood and walked around me in a large circle. "You were found by the Allfather in the heart of a dying star." Images swam before me of a sleeping infant being scooped up by oversized hands as they rescued it from some long forgotten star. "You were raised by the Allfather's son who had no children of his own." Another vision of an exaggerated version of a large handsome Viking sprang to life in my minds eye. "You were the balance between might and wrath, wisdom and intellect..." Another vision of me sitting atop a throne shocked me as it rocked me back on my feet. "Something has happened?"

"I hate to be rude but the history lesson will have to wait till another time." I told Mir. I stood slowly as my body ached. "I have to deal with the problems in the present." Sadness and greed nearly overtook me because I wanted to know more.

"What could be so important?" Mir asked indignantly.

"A creature known as Gullveig..." The words caused Mir tremendous agitation as he started to pace.

"The witch lives?" Anger poured off him in waves as he stormed towards me. "She is yet alive? What have you done?"

I shrank back from the angry giant. "I don't know?" My emotions ran away with me as I felt ashamed. "I only remember glimpses! She was to go to *The Pit' but something went wrong."

Mir shook with anger. "She was to die with the others!" He seethed. "You tried to rescue her?"

"I don't remember!" I growled and to my surprise Mir jumped back. "I only remember little pieces of what happened." As I paced I realized that I was glowing ever so slightly. "She was to be punished!"

"We agree on that point at least." He growled looking at me with a mixture of anger and worry which stormed across his ancient face. "You will need to tend to the witch while I work on re programming the nanites and repairing whatever damage was inflicted upon you." He stomped through the frozen earth as he paced. "I will stay in touch."

"Oh I doubt that very much!" I stormed over to meet him. "I have no intention of picking up your eye anytime in the near future!"

Mir smirked. "The eye has done its work and we are now one."

That took me aback. "I'm sorry? When did we get married?"

Mir's anger faded slightly. "Those things you call gemstones throughout your body are actually command centers for the nanites. The largest one in your ear is a communications device."

Images flooded my mind on how they worked in unison. When I was injured many went dormant allowing only the most basic of functions to be made available until repairs could be made. The one in my ear ca.n.a.l was actually one of three major informational hubs within my body; the other two were in my optic nerves. Mir, as well as members of the royal family, were equipped with similar devices and were used as a way of communicating between members wirelessly. Why I had been equipped with these three devices along with millions more throughout my body remained a mystery.

War broke out long ago killing many of the royal family. More images came streaming into my mind. An old enemy infected the remaining bloodline, though while not killing them caused infertility. When I was found it was a miracle. I had been immune to the virus and blessed with enormous power, which I was sorely wis.h.i.+ng I had at the moment to free myself.

Gullveig was a being of spirit and myth even to the Allfather. She carried with her a trophy from the great war between her people and ours. It was the silver cane that traveled with her everywhere. The handle of the cane was actually a severed hand from one of the royal family which she gilded in silver before using it to accentuate her own power.

Mir didn't even so much as say goodbye before I felt the eye cool in my hand and I found myself sitting comfortably in my chair. Opening my hand I watched as the Eye melted into the palm of my hand and vanish. At that moment Katherine walked just inside the room, smiling as she stretched languidly against the door frame.

"Is everything alright? It isn't like you to leave me in bed alone." She was standing there wearing nothing more than a smile.

"I couldn't sleep and thought I would come in here and do a little thinking."

She smirked. "Who said anything about sleeping. Now why don't you come back to bed."

Like any other man in my position I quickly forgot about Mir and practically everything else that weighed on my mind as I quickly crossed the room, pus.h.i.+ng her against the wall as I kissed her. She pulled at my clothes as we slowly made our way back to bed, and I was quickly upon her. Kissing her hard as her hair tangled in my hands, slowly pus.h.i.+ng myself deep inside as she dug her nails into my back. She bit my lip as she thrust her hips into me with a hunger. Wrapping one arm around her shoulders I slid the other down her back cupping her in my hand, gliding in rhythm with her as we lost ourselves in each other. The morning would find us much too quickly!

Chapter 12.

Katherine kissed me as she walked out the door around six thirty the following morning. She was quick to dodge my question about what she had planned for the day, which meant she was probably going out on a date. Finis.h.i.+ng breakfast shortly thereafter and heading for the shower I thought about my meeting with Mir. For the first time in as long as I could remember I no longer felt alone in the world and maybe there was someone, even if it were a figment of my imagination, that understood what I had been through. On the other hand I was unsure whether I should be creeped out or happy about the fact there were possibly billions of nanites running around my body fixing things I hadn't known were broken.

The information Mir had provided me with last night was invaluable even if I didn't completely understand it all. He mentioned that the royal family, with the exception of the Allfather, were born with only four of these *command centers', each with enough power to snuff out the sun, and my body contained more than I cared to count. The nanites on the other hand were like locusts, a vital part of the hosts body, preventing diseases, healing wounds, and even slowing the aging process, making us nearly immortal. The nanites had so many functions it was hard to fathom them all.

It had also crossed my mind that I may have pa.s.sed this gift/ curse on to my daughter. I made a mental note to consult with Mir the next time he saw fit to get in touch, since I didn't exactly have his number and the eye was no more. How would she respond to such a gift? As it is her mother is a magical creature known in popular myth as a Siren and her grandmother was Helen. Yes, that Helen! She was infamous for her role in the destruction of Troy. While Katherine was two generations removed from such things she was still infuriated by the stories, not to mention the movies! Katherine had never been honest about her age with anyone, least of all me, but I could guess she was a couple of centuries old.

We met in the early late seventies in Greece where I had the misfortune of meeting her great grandfather Achelous, an ancient being of immense power. Katherine had thought I was your average everyday mortal but Achelous knew differently. I had a run in with one of his less reputable relatives only a few years prior. Not wanting to invite the wrath of his kinsmen upon his house, Achelous forbade Katherine to see me. That went over like a lead balloon and she ran away to America to marry me the following year. I still remember how sad she was that no one from her family had come to visit when Kira was born. She was alone for the first time in her life, a feeling that I had long since become accustomed to. It wasn't long after that things started to slowly fall apart for the two of us. When Kira choose to work at Warden Industries right graduation that was the final straw. We divorced less than a year later.

Much to my displeasure neither of us ever discussed our heritage with Kira. It wasn't my place to tell her about Katherine's dirty laundry, but there would be a time that she would need to know. And now with this extra bit of weight to bare I didn't know how well she would react to my news. How do you tell your child that your great grandmother was Helen of Troy and on my side of the family G.o.d only knows since I can't remember them, and by the way we're probably immortal to boot. Have a great rest of your day!

The water continued to wash over me as thoughts rolled through my mind unimpeded. What were the chances that these silver plated parts would realize that they were not in their original hosts body? And is that why Gullveig had used them? To increase the power of her followers? If that were the case I suddenly realized she may be inhabiting a body which could support the nanites naturally without the need to imbed the gilded bones in her body. If that were true she too may have found the secret to creating one of the crystals within the new host body giving her access to enough power to destroy the world! But if that were true what kept her from using it and why did she need the hand rea.s.sembled? These were the unsettling questions that continued to haunt me as I turned off the water.

Dressing absentmindedly I grabbed my phone to call the office when the doorbell rang. Opening the door I was surprised to find Zulu and Rex.

"Gentlemen," Quickly moving to one side I waved them in. Zulu strode past with Rex limping in his wake pulling a portable oxygen tank. Well isn't this a curious way to start my morning? "Please make yourselves comfortable."

Rex sat back in my recliner and put his feet up, making himself right at home. "Don't mind if I do" he wheezed.

Zulu found refuge across the room on the sofa as he pulled on his suit coat making sure it remained crisp. Taking the remaining recliner I leaned back, waiting for what was surely bad news from the looks on their faces. "I take it this isn't a social call."

Zulu sniffed as he looked around the room keeping his back so stiff he reminded me of one of those mannequins you see in a showroom window. "Hardly!" It was hard to tell if he hated my home or just me so I settled for both.

Rex opened his mouth to speak but his emotions got the better of him robbing him of his oxygen bringing on a coughing fit. Wiping his eyes he took a puff off his inhaler before giving Zulu a nasty look. "Leonard..."

"The Gatekeeper!" Zulu corrected automatically.

Rex rolled his eyes as he tried to ignore his counterpart. "The *Gatekeeper' wants your head ripped off so he can s.h.i.+t down your neck-hole."

Zulu's mouth suddenly dropped open as he slowly turned to look at Rex. After a few seconds he shrugged his shoulders and nodded his approval. "That does sum it up nicely, if not a little to visually for my tastes."

"That isn't exactly breaking news" I said as as I stood. "He has been trying to drum me out of the courts since 93." "I don't foresee it happening anytime soon." Grabbing my drink off the bar behind me I turned my attention back to them. "Would either of you care for a drink?" offering up a gla.s.s in their direction which they refused.

Zulu leaned forward as I took my seat. "You could be wrong on that account." He s.h.i.+fted in his seat uncomfortably. "He has been recruiting some of the other Krewes with special favors to be awarded to them after your removal."

Rex raised his feet another click making himself more comfortable. "It would seem he nearly has enough votes to cast you out even without Comus' blessing."

Leaning back in my seat I took a long drink. "I take it that you two were the swing votes?" They both nodded. "So he is forcing you to be his mouthpiece." I chuckled at the thought. "He is much more clever than I had given him credit for."

Zulu s.h.i.+fted in his seat again. "Tell me about it."

"You have a message for me then?" I asked.

"Indeed we have." Zulu smirked. "The Gatekeeper has foolishly ordered that anyone who is in your employ plus a member of the courts must choose within the next forty eight hours."

"Choose?" That little sack of s.h.i.+t couldn't possibly be that stupid. Could he?