Chapter 24

Carmody felt a palpable sense of relief when she saw Nata waiting at the front entrance to her apartment building, illuminated by the street lights now that dusk had fallen. The Sword was dressed in her armour coat and boots, making it look like she was heading into battle. Her sword Lacerata was probably concealed under the long coat and her hands were sheathed in black gloves, metal plates visible on the back as added protection.

The Auto-cab pulled into the kerb and announced they had arrived, so Carmody had her phone approve a debit for the fare. Together the two girls exited and were immediately swept into a hug by the taller woman, surprising them with her unexpected show of affection. She smelled pleasantly of leather, cinnamon and sword cleaning oil, an exotic combination that strangely suited her.

“Thanks for helping us Nata” Carmody said once she was released. Something on a chain slipped down around her neck and she realised there was something similar now adorning Angelina. She lifted hers up and checked it out by the glow from the street lights.

It was a small metal pendant, shaped into a disc. One side had concentric circles of what looked like ancient Runes, with the other side a raised image of a winged Angel holding a sword.

“They are Veil Charms” Nata explained. “They will hide you from Seeker spells until dusk tomorrow, then they need to be recharged”

“You made these for us?” wondered Angelina, feeling a lot more alert after sleeping in the cab.

“No, these belong to the Order” Nata said with a smile. “I have charged them up with my power for now, but like I said they will only last until next evening. They should stop either one of you being traced by magic”

“Cool!” Carmody replied then quickly took out her phone again and switched if off. “Sorry Nata, I remembered to turn off Angelina’s but I needed mine for the cab ride”

“It’s fine” Nata assured her. “So long as Angelina’s was turned off, her parents shouldn’t be able to trace her that way” The Sword gestured to her building entrance. “Come on, let’s get you two off the street”

With that she ushered them up the front stairs and into the lobby. Carmody felt a tingle wash over her as they passed inside, like she had walked through an invisible waterfall.

“What was that, Nata?” she enquired. Angelina had noticed if too and was looking about herself a lot more keenly.

“There are a number of people in my Order who have apartments here” she answered. “When the situation demands it, a large protective Ward can be activated. Anyone trying to enter with malicious intent to a resident will set off an alarm”

“What happens then?” Angelina asked curiously.

“The Earthly Host of the Archangel Michael come down to the lobby and kick their ass” Nata replied with a rather wicked grin.

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Nata’s apartment was just as Carmody remembered it, warm and inviting with a scent of incense lingering in the air. Angelina had been impressed, wandering about and examining the stuffed shelves and cabinets with interest, marvelling over the strange and exotic items the older woman had acquired.

“It reminds me of my mother’s study” Angelina had gushed, then fell silent as she contemplated her mother’s actions. Carmody noticed right away and placed a companionable arm around her friend’s shoulder.

“Come on, let’s sit down and tell Nata what is going on”

Angelina nodded assent and let herself be guided to a padded sofa, something new since Carmody’s last visit. Nata had dropped her armour coat over the back of a large chair and was fussing in the small kitchen, boiling a kettle and arranging three pottery mugs on a tray.

Soon enough the three of them were seated facing each other, nursing steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Nata had sprinkled a little cinnamon over hers and Carmody decided to try it as well, though Angelina elected to keep her chocolate ‘pure and innocent’ she declared. That brought a big chuckle from Nata and the girls relaxed in her comforting presence, feeling the anxiety of the day recede for a while.

“So, Angelina, do you want to tell me what happened today?” the Sword gently probed.

Angelina slowly recounted the events at the Tower, with Carmody adding her side of things as the tale required. At the end, both girls lapsed into silence and watched Nata with uncertain eyes. The Sister cleared her throat and began to speak gently, aware of how weird this was going to sound.

“Angelina, have you ever suspected that your butler, Hammerton, was not completely human?”

The girl shook her head sideways.

“No, never” she whispered. “Hammers has always been so kind and gentle with me, like a big brother. I know he used to be a soldier serving under my father, but he never did anything violent in front of me”

“Okay” said Nata. “There is something else I need to ask you and I am sorry if this causes you distress. Do you know what your mother is?”

Angelina looked to the rug covered floor at her feet and nodded in the affirmative.

“She’s an Adept” the girl replied. “A Witch to be precise”

“You knew that already, didn’t you?” Carmody asked Nata.

“Yes, it is part of my duty as the Sword to be aware of all known Adepts in the City. Yolanda Brackenridge is part of a Coven acknowledged by the Board of Governors and permitted to operate in the Zone. Like all Adepts, she must abide by the terms of the Covenant or face Judgement”

Carmody looked between Nata and her friend in confusion.

“There is an actual Coven of Witches in Pan City?” she gasped. “Like out of some horror story?”

“It’s not like that, Carmody” Angelina reprimanded her friend. “Mom meets up with two other Witches sometimes to discuss things. It’s not like they dance naked around a fire and boil children in a big pot!”

“She’s right” Nata agreed. “The Coven members are actually all quite different from what you might expect. One of them even works for the Police Auxiliary in Division X”

“Okay, so they aren’t bad Witches” Carmody thought aloud.

“I didn’t say that” Nata interjected. “Like all laws, the Covenant can only be enforced when a violation of the rules is discovered. If we don’t find out a crime was committed then the offender won’t face Judgement”

“So you are saying they may be bad Witches but unless you catch them being bad then they can’t be punished?” Carmody asked for clarification.

“Yes” Nata answered and regarded the solemn face of Angelina. “I know you love your parents, but they have been known to do some pretty terrible things”

“Nothing has ever been proven!” Angelina said with sudden ferocity. “You should not speak like that about my parents unless you know them as well as I do!”

“Fair enough” Nata conceded. “So why is there a monster inside of your butler?”

“I don’t know!” Angelina sobbed and collapsed against Carmody, her body shaking as the tears fell from her eyes.

“Maybe we need to ask her parents that question?” Carmody suggested and rubbed her friend’s back. “You didn’t have to be so harsh with her” she added and gave Nata a reproving glare.

“Sorry” Nata answered. “Sometimes I am a bit of a bitch”

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Nata had settled the girls in her bed to rest for a while, assuring them she would be just outside of the room if they needed her. They had resisted at first but less than five minutes after lying down side by side they were out cold.

In her living room, Nata took out her phone and speed dialled a number she had stored as a contact. It answered after two rings and a young man’s voice answered.

“Hi Nata, I was kind of expecting to hear from you”

“Hi little birdy” she teased Eric. “I need to ask some favours. Carmody and Angelina are staying with me at the moment while we work out some stuff and there are two things I need”

Sure, I’ll do what I can” Eric agreed. “What are they?”

“One, I need you to go to the Brentwood apartment and collect Excalibur for Carmody”

“What?” Eric replied. “Why does she need her cricket bat?”

“It’s a kind of comfort thing for her” Nata said. “I can tell she is getting pretty antsy without it in her hands”

“Alright” Eric reluctantly agreed. “I’ll go see her parents and see if they will let me take it”

“Good man” Nata praised him. “Number two, I need the number for Yolanda Brackenridge”

She could hear the wheels turning in Eric’s head before he answered her.

“Can’t Angelina just give you that herself?”

“Things are a bit complicated at the moment, so I am trying to keep Angelina away from her mother” Nata explained.

“Are these complications going to involve you in your professional capacity?” Eric enquired.

“Maybe” was all she came back with. She heard Eric sigh deeply at the other end of the phone call.

“Fine” he responded and a few moments later found the direct number for Angelina’s mother.

“Anything else?” he asked her and Nata thought for a moment.

“Can you bring the girls those grey coveralls you had made for them? Those AURA Project ones with the armour weave and sturdy boots”

“This is sounding worse by the minute, Nata” Eric warned her. “Do you need my support too?”

“Just bring the stuff I asked for and let me worry about the rest. Don’t worry, I’ll ask for help if I need it” she answered.

“Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can with the gear”

Eric ended the call and Nata went to stand at her window, looking out at the night time view over the city. It was a city full of lights yet between the brightness lay deep shadows, full of darkness.

Nata knew better than most what crawled and slithered in those dark spaces, keeping themselves hidden from the light. She wondered what darkness lay within the Brackenridge’s butler and whether she had the strength to deal with it.

Her hand crept to the silver crucifix she wore about her neck, touching it like a talisman.

“Stand by me, Master, as I walk through the Valley of Shadows” she implored him.