Crossing Paths with the White Wolf

Chapter 4 - Helios

Helios P o V

I walked into Sol Enterprises for a meeting with Evergreen Rosswell, the security genius from Markus’ security company. He’d flown in around lunch time for an afternoon meeting to finalize and install the requested measures. The first thing I noticed was the dark circles under his eyes, but I figured it was none of my business.

I was more concerned when he seemed to fall asleep while Sebastian and I consulted each other about what security package we wanted to have installed.

“Are you OK, Mr. Roswell?” I asked. His arm holding his head jerked and he almost faceplanted on the conference table.

“I apologize sir. I have been having issues sleeping. They gave me some sleeping pills for it, but it’s not working so far.”

“Are you sure you’re up for the job?” I asked.

“Yes sir. I won’t get started until tomorrow. I promise this won’t happen again,” he said, blushing.

We continued with the meeting. The incident seemed to have gotten him alert enough to answer all of our questions to our satisfaction.

“I will start in the morning. If you could let me know when you open the office, I will be here then.” He got up, shaking our hands.

“Are you staying nearby?” I asked.

“I’m not sure yet. I didn’t plan on staying originally, but as you’ve gone for the highest security plan, I’d like to oversee the full installation personally as the higher security measures can be a little temperamental to install. I’ll take any recommendations on hotels, if you have any.”

“How about you stay at my house? I’ve got a meeting early in the morning anyway. We can have Gonzalo over and speak a little bit more about the other services Markus’ company offers.”

“Are you sure that’s not too much trouble? I can easily comp a hotel,” he said hesitantly.

“No trouble at all. I insist,” I said.

We went back to my place and ordered Chinese. After dinner, we were sitting outside chatting about the company and the services it offered, when I noticed that he was falling asleep again. “Why don’t you head to bed? You look dead on your feet and I need you in top form tomorrow,” I told him. He blushed and nodded.

After he left, I looked at Gonzalo. “It seemed weird, no?”

“Yes, I got a lot of recommendations about the company and him specifically. They are very highly regarded in both the human and shifter sectors. This seems quite outside of their usual norm and professionalism.”

“Let’s see how he is tomorrow. I have a bad feeling about this,” I said as we went back into the house.

“OK. Don’t bother with breakfast. I’ll grab something on the way to the office,” he said as he left.

I woke up the next morning and suited up. We were meeting with a new potential client and if we could get them on board, it would put us on the map and half way to profits for the year.

“Good Morning sir,” Evergreen greeted me in the kitchen, a pot of coffee already brewing.

“You look rested,” I mentioned. He still had some dark bags under his eyes but he was almost chipper.

“I don’t know what kind of mattress is in your bed, but I slept like a baby for the first time in a month,” he said as he moved away from the coffee pot so I could fill my own.

“So the issue started a month ago?” I asked casually.

“Yes, we’ve hired an environmentalist to try to figure out why we’re having so much trouble as of late, but the water and soil samples they’ve tested have been cleared. We’re not sure why everyone is having such terrible sleeping nights. It’s never happened before,” he mentioned.

“Wait, it’s not just you having sleeping issues?” I asked.

“No, the entire Pack has been sleeping like crap for the last month. Everyone’s exhausted. More so everyone living in and around the Packhouse, so we’re concentrating the testing there.”

“Hmm. Interesting,” was all I said, but I was running my head through all the possibilities. I would have to talk to Sebastian. We needed to get in touch with his contact.

I almost lost the bid on the new client. I was distracted. Thankfully, Theo and Gonzalo were there to pick up the slack, though I could see that they looked concerned for me. We passed by the temporary office we set up for Evergreen. He was happily working away, headphones in his ears. The difference from yesterday was clear.

“Well, he certainly looks better,” Gonzalo said as we entered my new office.

“Yeah.” I said.

“Did you exchange bodies? I couldn’t tell if you were falling asleep in there or just distracted,” he said.

“Distracted.” I looked at Sebastian. “When will we hear from your contact again?”

“He should be calling after lunch. Why?”

“I think something is going on already at Crescent Moon. Evergreen mentioned they are testing soil and water for contamination. They are all having trouble sleeping,” I said.

“And you’re thinking it’s…not the environment?” Theo asked.

“I think you can feed off of fear a lot easier if your targets are exhausted and even more so if you’re having nightmares,” I said.

“But the Nahual doesn’t have that power,” Sebastian said.

“No, but they could partner with someone who does. That’s likely the reason why we know they are after Markus. If he was in the black market looking for someone to hire or make a deal.”

“Ohh,” Sebastian said and looked at Theo.

“What?”

“We encountered an Alû in Nevada when we went underground looking for the Managua that was after Celeste’s powers.”

“What’s an Alû doing all the way over here? Aren’t they usually in Iraq?” I asked, frowning.

“It’s the 21st century Helios,” Gonzalo laughed at me.

I rolled my eyes, “Try to gauge if your contact knows anything about the Alû. Gonzalo, clear both of our schedules for the next couple of days. You and I are going back to Crescent Moon with Mr. Roswell.”

“Oh come on, you aren’t seriously leaving me here?” Sebastian complained.

“You have an assignment already. Find an in with the black market,” I reminded him.

He groaned, “Fine, but I’ve got the next fight mission. I’ll let Evergreen know your plan. Make sure you reach out to Celeste.” It was my turn to groan. I guess I couldn’t put it off much longer.

“I’ll call her,” I grunt.

They left my office while I paced, looking at my phone the entire time. After 20 minutes of talking myself into making the call, I dialed her number. There were three rings before,

“Hello?” Came her soft voice.

“uhhh.” I blanked.

“Helios? Is everything OK? Did something happen to Evergreen?” She sounded concerned and I felt guilt crashing into me instantly.

“Evergreen? No. He’s fine. He’s working on our security installations right now,” I quickly reassured her.

“Oh, that’s good. What’s up?” she said. I could hear her exhaustion even over the phone. Even then, I could feel the warmth in her greeting.

“Have you guys been having trouble sleeping?” I asked her.

“Oh, yes. Did Evergreen mention it?” She sounded confused now.

“A bit. He was falling asleep through his presentation,” I responded.

“Oh no, I’m sorry. I promise he’s top notch. We’re trying to figure out what’s causing the sleep issues.”

“I’m not worried about the job. He seems a lot better now after sleeping away from the Packhouse.”

“Oh, that’s good. I think…Maybe I need to spend a few nights away too. That will let us catch up on some sleeeep” She ended her words with a yawn.

“Listen, I am sending Markus some information –.”

“Hang on. He’s here, I’ll put us on speakerphone,” she said, and I heard some brief conversation and the beep as she put me on speakerphone.

“Helios,” came Markus' voice. He sounded tense and exhausted.

“Good Morning Alpha Markus, I was about to tell Celeste. I don’t think you have an environmental issue. Are you having nightmares?” I asked.

“Yes, we all are. How did you know?” He asked.

“I am waiting for confirmation from my contact, but based on what I know of the Nahual and what Evergreen mentioned this morning, I think he may already be there and I think he’s made a deal with an Alû to weaken your defenses and feed off your fear a lot easier.”

“What is that? We haven’t had any attacks or breaches of the border,” he countered.

“You would not feel them. They are spirits. As I said, this is just a theory, but an Alû is a Sumerian demon. It has no mouth, eyes or ears. It terrifies its victims with dreams and can result in sleep paralysis and, if it feeds long enough from an individual, coma.”

“Wait, did you say no mouth and no eyes?” Celeste asked.

“Yes, have you seen it?”

“I thought I was dreaming. That’s the creature I saw at the end of the bed the day I thought I dreamt there was a weird looking dog on top of you Markus,” she said.

“I don’t think you were dreaming. The dog is likely the Nahual. Listen. I have some experience with Nahuals and I can pick up supplies to deal with the Alû. I’d like to come help, with both of your permission?” I asked, trying not to let the nerves show in my voice.

There was silence at the other end of the line for a moment. They must be mind linking each other, so I waited patiently. I heard Markus sigh at the other end of the line. “We would be grateful for your help, Helios. We will set up the guest room. When should we expect you?” he said and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“As soon as Evergreen is done with the upgrades. I’ll charter us out your way. I’ll be bringing my associate with me.”

“Sounds good, Helios. We’ll ask Evergreen when he’ll be getting work done. Thank you! I thought I was sleep deprived when the twins were born, but this is on another level,” she sighed.

“We’ll see you in a few days. Alpha Markus, please be careful. The Nahual is after you. If you get too weak, you could succumb to the Alû’s nightmares,” I said.

“I don’t imagine going to a hotel would help?” He asked.

“I think it would either help you, or help your pack. The Nahual would follow you, but I’m not sure if the Alû would consider your whole pack a bigger feast than just one person. I think perhaps consider getting someone to knock you out at night so you have a dreamless sleep or medical coma,” I said.

He sighed, “Thank you Helios. I will keep that in mind.”

“Bye!” Celeste said from the background.

“See you both in a few days,” I said as I hung up the phone.