Tethered Pair

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

“Stop looking at your feet,” Todd said.

“Then how will I know where to put them?” Nick stumbled…again. “You learned to do this when you were a kid.”

Todd sighed and smiled, arm around Nick’s waist, and tightened his hold. “Nonsense, just go with the music and follow me.” He stopped and bit his lip, trying to hide a wince when Nick tripped, his foot crunching over Todd’s toe.

“Oh God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“Nicky.” Todd cut him off. “It’s okay, really. The lady who taught me to dance swore I was some sort of secret weapon against footwear.” Nick chuckled and Todd felt him relax. “You’re a graceful, athletic man, try to remember that. This is supposed to be fun, so have fun, damn it.”

That earned him an outright belly laugh from Nick. They’d moved all the furniture in their suite to the sides, and Todd was attempting to carry out on his long-held threat of teaching Nick to dance. He’d imagined it going much more smoothly, that they’d be skimming around the floor in no time.

Reality was taking slightly longer.

Todd let go of Nick and stepped away, holding up one finger as he crossed to the table with the small music player on it. He shuffled through the available scrolls for a minute before he replaced the current scroll with a different one. He gave the power crank another few turns. It was connected to the solar panels on top of the upper deck but needed some extra power to play for any length of time.

“Let’s try other music.” This tune wasn’t quite as slow and had a more pronounced beat. Positioning Nick’s hands, then his own, Todd leaned forward far enough to brush a light kiss over Nick’s cheek. He whispered into Nick’s ear, “Listen to the music and try to follow it…and me…and relax…and—”

“Have fun, damn it!” Nick grinned, pressed his head close to Todd’s, and used his tongue to swipe a wet path over Todd’s ear.

“Damn straight!”

“Anyway, launch is in a few hours, and there’s a party in the formal ballroom after that,” Todd said. He snickered when he got his foot out of the way of Nick’s just in time. “Don’t look down.”

After they practiced for a little longer, they prepared for the boat’s launch.

Todd hustled Nick out of their suite, and they headed toward the main deck. They could have watched the launch from the small balcony off their room, but Todd wanted to see everything. He’d never understood why launches were always at night, but once they reached the main deck and the companionway that ringed it, he understood immediately.

Slave porters were moving along the deck, lighting small oil lamps and cranking Faraday lights that were hung in strings along the rail. The engines hummed. Todd could feel the vibration under his feet. Todd glanced sideways at Nick, took his hand, and pulled him closer to the rail so they could lean over and look.

Nick’s face split into a brilliant smile when he looked out. The river was dark, lights from the boat reflecting off the water. He turned and leaned back against the rail, facing Todd and looking up.

“That is worth this whole trip,” Nick said, motioning to the upper part of the boat.

Todd twisted around and followed Nick’s gaze with his own. The steam stacks were ringed with polished metal—it looked like brass, from the coloring. Red and black streamers flowed in the gentle breeze. The horn blared, and Todd could feel how the engines rumbled, their power ramping up.

Nick’s eyebrows rose as he looked down at his feet, then back up at Todd, and grinned. “Wow.”

“Yeah,” Todd agreed.

“Okay, now I get why you are so fascinated with these boats and wanted to see this for yourself,” Nick said.

Other passengers cheered and waved to people seeing them off on the pier as the paddle wheels came to life and the boat began its journey. As it pulled away from the shore and docks, it picked up speed until, once in the center of the river, Todd could actually feel a slight breeze from its movement on his face.

Todd twined his fingers through Nick’s and tugged his mate in for a light kiss. “This is how I always imagined it would be,” he said. He’d dropped his voice so it was low and husky. It had the desired effect on his young mate. Nick sucked in a breath.

Nick pressed close, shivering, his lips curled into a smile against Todd’s mouth. “This is pretty amazing,” Nick said softly.

They wandered back to the promenade on the main deck, walking casually amongst the people.

“So far just normal passengers,” Nick said. He abruptly stopped dead in his tracks, gripping Todd’s hand hard enough to almost hurt.

“What?” Todd asked.

Nick glanced to his right, near the bar entrance. “Our gambler friend, he’s got his pyrahni with him and two others. That guy on the right, in the white suit?”

“Yeah.”

“Same thing, he’s human, but Todd….” Nick’s words faltered, and Todd gave his hand a squeeze. Rarely was Nick this rattled by anything.

“What?” Todd prompted gently.

“There’s something inside him, black and evil and…I can feel it from here.”

“So, those two with something unknown in them, and three pyrahnis?” Todd asked, voice low enough only Nick would hear. Nick nodded but didn’t say anything else. Pulling in a deep, calming breath, Todd nodded. “Ready?”

“No. But that never stopped us before,” Nick said. He offered Todd a small, thin smile.

Separating by a few steps, Todd let his fingers slide from Nick’s. He adjusted his hat, and as they moved in toward the group of men near the bar. He raised his voice just enough to be heard. “I take care of you. So don’t be giving me those little-boy-lost looks of yours.” Todd turned far enough to run the palm of a hand up Nick’s thigh and across his groin. “You just be sure you’re lucky for me tomorrow night, and you’ll get all you can handle and more. Now, mind your place. Heel.”

Todd turned smartly on his heels and sauntered through the entrance, knowing Nick was scrambling to keep up. He stopped one of the waitresses. “Little lady, who do I see about ordering two cases of your finest whiskey? See, I’m pretty particular about what I drink during a game.”

“The bartender can help you with that, sir. It will be a cash only sale. Company rules about the liquor,” she said.

“I understand completely.” Todd pulled out a roll of bills. “I came prepared.” Without looking behind him, he marched to the bar, then slapped his hand on its polished wooden top. “Barkeep, when you’ve a minute, I wish to purchase whiskey.” He held the wad of cash up, and the man behind the bar hurried over.

Nick dropped to his knees behind Todd, wound two fingers in his trousers, and tugged lightly before letting go. Two men, the gambler and the man wearing the white suit they’d seen in the tailor shop, walked through the bar. They leaned against the bar on either side of Todd and Nick. Ignoring them, Todd continued. “I’d like two cases of whiskey delivered to my suite, then, as I need them, provided to me during my—” Todd plastered on his oiliest smile and reached behind him, running his fingertips over the top of Nick’s head before leaning both hands on the bar again. “—breaks. I’ll need just those bottles made available during any games as well.”

“Yes, sir.” The bartender rattled off the brands of whiskey they carried on the boat. Todd chose one of the most expensive. The man nodded. “Just give me a moment, sir, and I’ll be back with your total.”

“You’re a poker player?” the man in the darker suit asked. He leaned his elbow on the bar and turned so Todd was blocked from anyone else.

Todd smiled wide and sure. “Tyler McCabe. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

“These games aren’t for just anyone. It takes cash to buy in. A lot of it.”

“Does it, now, mister…? Gee, I never realized that.” Todd narrowed his gaze and shook his head. “Most games can’t afford me.” He pulled his jacket back far enough to expose the two handguns in holsters on his belt.

The man’s gaze slithered to the handguns, and then his eyes tracked Todd’s right arm as he reached out so his sleeve rose just enough to expose the small gun strapped to his wrist.

The bartender picked that moment to return. He held out a slip of paper. Todd took it, pulled out the roll of bills, and counted some off. “And an extra hundred for your trouble. I expect they’ll be delivered to suite seventeen within the hour?”

The bartender scooped up the cash and smiled broadly. “Absolutely, sir.”

“Oh,” Todd said, reaching out and grabbing the man’s arm. “And be sure the cases are sealed.”

“Of course, sir.”

“You do well for a gambler, Mr. McCabe. That’s a lot of cash to carry around,” the stranger said.

Todd shrugged. “In my work it’s always best to be prepared for any deal that comes along.” He fingered the small gun strapped to his arm, then tugged his sleeve over it. “Particularly in a war. If you catch my drift.”

“I do.” The man looked down at Nick.

“He’s not part of any deal,” Todd said smoothly. He tucked the rest of the cash into his inside breast pocket.

“Of course. Your reputation precedes you, Mr. McCabe. I look forward to lessening that load of cash you carry.”

When the man held his hand out, Todd looked down at it, then up into the man’s face, his own expression firm and set. “Don’t shake a man’s hand whose name I don’t know first.”

“Simon Benning.”

Todd shook the proffered hand. A cold chill arched between his hand and Benning’s when he gripped Benning’s hand. It shot a path along his arm and down his spine to settle in his gut.

Benning smiled. It was cold and evil, and for a split second, Todd thought his eyes glinted red. “I look forward to our game tomorrow night, Mr. McCabe.” A minute later, Benning and the other man were leaving the bar.

Todd gripped the edge of the bar with both hands, leaned down, and took a few deep, shaky breaths. “Shit.”

Nick’s hand came to rest softly on the back of Todd’s calf. “Todd, are you okay? What the hell is with that guy?”

Shaking his head, Todd straightened. “I don’t know, but we sure need to find out. Come on, we’ve got work to do before dinner.”

They stopped at the tailor, and Todd picked up his suit. Then they returned to their suite. Nick pulled the trunk containing some of his reference books out of a closet and settled on the couch, flipping through them. Todd tracked the coffee cart girl down and ordered a carafe of coffee with cream for them, and three pitchers of iced tea. She gave him a dubious look, but smiled at the tip he handed her and nodded when he pressed his finger to his lips and nodded back at the room.

“What color did you say Benning’s eyes turned?” Nick looked up. He took the mug of coffee Todd held out. “Thanks.”

Todd sighed. “Crap, Nicky, I’m not even sure of what I saw. It was so fast. Hell, it might have been the lights.”

A knock on the door cut off their conversation. Todd crossed the room and opened it, then stepped aside for the porter to wheel in two wooden cases of whiskey bottles, seals intact, and leave them where Todd indicated. After the porter was gone, Todd shut the door and checked the lock.

“This is going to hurt,” he said.

Nick glanced up from his book and chuckled. “You’ll survive.”

“Still hurts, though.” Todd pried open the first case and pulled the bottles out. He uncorked one and took a swig of the amber liquid. “Oh, that’s good.”

Leaning back, Nick threw one arm over the back of the couch and watched Todd, an amused expression slowly spreading over his face. “You’re supposed to get rid of it by dumping it, not drinking it.”

“I just want to taste. It’s not like I’d normally get this stuff.” Todd took another small sip, set that bottle to the side, and walked to the bathroom carrying the rest of the case. Shaking his head, he dumped the majority of each bottle into the sink, running water after it. “There’s going to be a whole bunch of drunken crawdads and fish.”

Nick chuckled, and Todd could see he’d gone back to flipping pages of the reference books they’d brought. Once finished, Todd took the bottles back to the main sitting room. The bottle he’d set aside was put with their bags. Of the others, he set all but one back in the case, then took it and the pitcher of tea back into the bathroom, refilled the whiskey bottle with tea, and tried some. “Ugh, that’s just awful. It should be illegal.”

“I think it is,” Nick said from the other room.

Todd had started on the second case when Nick stood and crossed the room, one of the books open and held in one hand. Standing beside Todd he asked again, “Red eyes?”

“I think so.” Todd stopped, closed his eyes, and thought for a minute, trying to dredge the image to the forefront of his mind. “Yes. Red eyes, but only for a split second. It was like…ah…a…glint or almost a reflection of light, but there was nothing red to reflect off his eyes. You were there. Did you see any sort of red light?”

“No.” Nick shook his head. He leaned down and held the book out so Todd could see as well. “I think we have a really big problem.”

“Yeah?” Todd corked the bottle he held, took a sip from the next one, and began pouring tea into it. “Unlike other times when we only have, what, mediocre problems?”

“Well, yeah. Will you stop drinking that! You’ll get us killed,” Nick snapped.

It wasn’t Nick’s words so much that made Todd set the bottle he held down, twist on his heels, and look up at Nick. It was his tone. Todd had a beer or two occasionally, a whiskey even less frequently. He wasn’t by any means what anyone would classify as a drinking man. Nick liked beer; he’d never developed a taste for whiskey and preferred brandy. Not once in the years they’d been together had Nick ever complained or even seemed to take notice of the little bit of alcohol Todd might drink. They both preferred coffee.

“Nicky, what is it?”

“I…uh…I didn’t mean….”

Todd waved him off. “Nick, what did you find that’s got you so rattled?”

“Demons.”

“Huh? What do you mean demons? I’ve never heard of any sentry who dealt with them. I mean, those I really thought were…. Are you sure?”

“I brought four reference books, I’ve looked through all of them, and they all describe the same thing. A human taken over, possessed by a demonic force, has one outward sign: a red glint or tint to the eyes. Sometimes….” He stopped and took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and opened them slowly. Todd thought Nick’s hands trembled slightly. “Sometimes, if the demonic entity is seen, it appears as a darkness entering or…or leaving a body. Once the demon enters a person or animal, that creature’s mind ceases to exist, and the physical body dies if the demon leaves. Very few people can visualize a demon. Most only see the telltale change of eye color in a victim’s eyes.”

Todd carefully corked the bottle he held and stood, facing Nick. “Is that what you saw in that little girl when you were a young boy? And Benning?”

Nick bit his lip and looked down at the book for a few seconds. When he lifted his chin and looked Todd in the eye, his eyes were too wide. “Yes.”

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Todd put a hand on Nick’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “We take this one step at a time, like anything else. Find out what we can and what we need to do to end it.”

“That’s the problem, Todd. I read the same thing in all four books. The only way to get rid of one is to use certain exorcism rituals.”

Todd shrugged. “Okay.”

Shoving the book closer to Todd, Nick said, “Those rituals aren’t in any of these books, but simply that they need to be used. And it has to be the right ritual, in the correct language, which is determined by what level the demon is, why the soul was demonized to start with, and in some cases, the soul’s original religious beliefs.”

“How the hell are we supposed to know all that?” Todd sputtered.

“Well, now, that could be a problem. I don’t even see how Raleigh could find these things.”

“Maybe they found him,” Todd suggested.

Nodding, Nick said, “Maybe. There are a few physical things that seem to be universal in defending against a body inhabited by one: Anything blessed by a holy person, the religion doesn’t matter. A holy item, particularly something created on consecrated or holy ground, predominantly sacrosanct oil, which can be poured over the possessed body and ignited.”

Todd wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Why does everything have to burn?”

“They can also be dispatched if the oil is ingested or inhaled by the possessed body or introduced into the body on sharpened wood or iron,” Nick continued.

“Ha, the root of every vampire myth known.”

“Probably,” Nick said. “They don’t like to cross lines of salt or magnetized iron, but can. It’s painful for them, however. There are certain symbols that protect people against them, or in some cases, can repel or even trap them.” He tapped his chest just under his left collarbone with two fingers. “Our protection symbol is a combination of an ancient Celtic one with a Mariner’s Star. Both are believed to provide general protection against the unholy, supernatural, and leprechauns, as well as guidance to safe harbor.”

“So far my tattoo does seem to be working.” Todd took the book from Nick, looking through it for a minute. “Fortunately for us, this boat stops at a port every few days. We’ll send a message to Jimmy, see what he can dig up for us. Until we hear back, we’re on our own.” Todd shook his head and sighed. “Demons. I suppose the damn leprechauns are next.”