The Watchmage of Old New York (The Watchmage Chronicles Book 1) (20 page)

The entire street was covered with the white fog that came before Pop burst in. “Leave Smokestack in the alley and run,” I said.

“Will he be alright?”

“Better outside than in.”

Leenie started to protest, refusing to leave the man, but Hendricks took her hand and nodded. There was a long moment where nothing was said, but a whole hell happened. She rose with us.

We left right as Smokestack came back to his senses. As we ran off, I heard him sobbing, shaking his fist and wailing for the death of The Bloody Knuckle.

Nathaniel

Sniddlenose floated upside down in my binding circle, slowly turning from his flailing’s momentum.  His ears flopped straight down.  He tried to look me in the eye, but his position made that difficult.

“Sniddlenose, you have been a very bad bunny.”

“I’m so sorry,” he sniveled.  “I didn’t mean to.”

“Yes, you did.” My hands shook, and I wanted nothing more than to wrap those hands around his throat. My anger surprised me, more than I’ve been in ages, if ever.  He put my city in danger, but it was more than that.  He disrespected me, and after all I’ve done for my Dwellers, I deserved respect. 

I had to wait until he turned around to answer.  “You’re right, I did.  But it wasn’t my idea, I swear.  Honor bright, I swear.”

I waved my hand and he spun like a top.  I heard him moan as he whirled, and when I stopped him, his looked ready to vomit.  “What honor does a rogue like you carry?  How many years in Atlantis do you need until your debt is paid?”

He started to cry.

In the past, crying was the best way to break my temper. Jonas turned it into art when he was in his knickers and I found him with jam on his face or frogs in his pockets.  I can’t abide hurting someone, but that was before Sniddlenose almost destroyed Henry Street. 

I stamped the Watchmage’s Cane on the ground, raising purple sparks of Chaos.  “You will tell me everything.  Where did you get the port for the Fire Elemental?  Who gave it to you, and why?  If you don’t tell me, I swear I will dip you in molten iron an inch at a time.”

His rabbit eyes opened as far as they could.  “I—it was a mageling.”

“A name, Sniddlenose.  A name.”

“I…I don’t know. He was big and scary.  He had horrible scars.”

I raised my hand.  This time Sniddlenose flipped end over end, from floppy ears to cotton tail. A twinge ran through my back and chest.

I let him fall to the ground.  “Anything else?”

“His voice it wa—”

“Pop,” said Jonas from behind, startling me. “We found him.”

I turned around.  Hendricks looked like he had been dragged behind a wagon.  “I didn’t hear you enter. Hendricks, are you well?”

“Well enough,” Jonas said for the boy.  “I think we met your mage.”  He moved his head so that he could see Sniddlenose.  “I see you learned how to question a suspect.  Roundsman Leary would be proud.” Jonas said, though his expression showed disdain.  “Did you know that there’s a dog with wings flying over the house?”

“I’ll explain that later.  You know who unleashed the Elemental?”  I leaned on my cane.

“Maybe.  I think we know who killed Molly Hyde.  His name’s Shadow McGuirk.  He’s a thug for hire, and he fits this one’s description.  Ugly, talks funny, turns into a snake.”

“You saw him change form?”

They nodded.  “We were at the Bloody Knuckle,” Hendricks admitted. “He cast the spell there.”

I gaped. “What were you doing at th—”

“I’ll explain that later,” Jonas said.  “We have to find McGuirk.  He might still have the baby.”

I left the very upset Sniddlenose floating and walked to a gold rimmed chest. Jonas and Hendricks followed.

“This should do nicely,” I opened the chest.  Inside was a clear, crystal ball sitting on a bed of velvet.  Unlike the amateurs in the Hellfire Club, I knew how to use it. In theory, anyway.

I set the ball on a desk and drew a rune on the side with my finger.  The crystal ball glowed with an inner light and floated a half foot into the air.  “Hendricks, I’ll need your help.”

I placed my hands on the ball, and told Hendricks to do the same.  “I need you to visualize this Shadow McGuirk in your mind.”

The globe filled with blue fog, but that was all. I was afraid of this. Contact usually requires either agreement between the parties or something personal of the viewed. I lacked the strength to overpower this rule. Master Sol or one of the other ancient wizards could, but not I.

“Do either of you have anything of Mister McGuirk’s? A scrap of fabric, a coin that he held?” I knew I was grasping at straws, but there was nothing else.

Jonas took off his coat and gave it to me. “He bled on me. Is that personal enough?” He pointed to the blood stain.

“I hope.” I took the fabric in hand and pressed the blood stain to the crystal. The image of Shadow appeared in the center of the globe.  He looked like a man that would kill a woman without a moment’s remorse.  The image filled me with a great rage. I was ashamed that I let such a mageling walk unknown in my city.

I tapped the ball with a finger.  The image fogged, and I felt a rush of air and the sensation of being pulled into the crystal. My consciousness raced along Third Avenue. Every push cart, oyster monger, and omnibus blurred into one until I stopped at Thirtieth Street.  I rose in the air and through the window of a brick tenement.

I gestured to Jonas and he leaned in to view the image.  It was a small, dirty apartment with open trunks filled with clothes.  Shadow McGuirk was dressed for travel.  He leaned over a cradle and shook a brightly colored rattle.

“Is this your man?” I asked.  Hendricks nodded.  I set my jaw. “He’ll pay for all that he’s done.  I’ll make him suffer…”

I felt a hand on my shoulder.  “Pop, he’s ours.  We’ll get him.”

I turned to face him.  “Why?  He’s no match for me.  I’ll roast him from th—”

“That’s what I mean.  You’re off your chump,” Jonas said. “I’ve never heard you so angry.  Listen to the things you’re saying.  This isn’t you,” he continued.  “We saw what you did at The Bloody Knuckle
.
”

“Respect comes from strength,” I said.

“You used to say otherwise,” Jonas answered.

“And I was wrong.”

“Look at that poor fella over there.  You would never do something like that.  You’re not that kind of man.”

I looked at Sniddlenose.  He floated awkwardly in the air. His tears formed a puddle on the floor.

I have lived many years, even many lifetimes.  I have seen people, cities, and even countries rot from the inside, the slow descent into something they’re not.  Whether it’s the natural course of human events or a great calamity that upends their world, the end is the same.  It’s so easy to forget who you are.

Ah, Jonas. You saved me from myself.

“I suppose he’s your man,” I said.  “You’ll need something that can hurt him.  Give me your pistol.”

Without hesitation, Jonas took out his Colt and placed it handle first into my hand.  I stoked the Chaos energy inside of me and drew a series of runes on the barrel.  It surprised me how weak I felt from a simple spell such as this.  I felt my back teeth loosen in my mouth.

I handed it back to Jonas.  “The enchantment will last a few days.  It’ll allow you to pierce weak protection dweomers, and if necessary, harm Veil Dwellers.”  I looked from Jonas to Hendricks and back.  “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” they both said.

I asked them to put their hands on the crystal ball, and they did so. I traced a rune on the crystal and filled it with Chaos.  The ball fogged, and I watched as Jonas and Hendricks were pulled into the ball and transported to the scene within.

Feeling weak again, I made the long trek up to my room.  Were the steps always this tall?  Was my breath always this labored?

I made it to the entry hall, but after that I had to call Geebee for help.  She bustled to my side.  “Are you sick?” She asked.  “I’ve never seen you in such a shape.”

“I need to rest.  I’ve overstepped the limits of my power.” I refrained from telling her that I may have sent my son off to death.  I knew she’d worry.  I was just as worried, but I had to trust him.  I gave him all the help I could, raised him to be a strong and righteous man.  He would have to do the rest.  I whispered a prayer as Geebee helped me up the stairs.

Jonas

My hearing came back to me moments before my sight, and I heard a familiar song in a near indecipherable growl.
I first produced me pistol an’ I then produced me saber, I said ‘stand and deliver, for I yam a bold receiver…”

Hendricks and I appeared about ten feet behind Shadow.  He stood over the cradle, shaking a rattle and warbling.  A young woman in homespun clothes stood over the stove, stirring a pot of something white.

“Deceiver,” I said to Shadow.  He spun around and reached for his barker, but I already had mine in hand. “It’s ‘I am a bold deceiver.’  Not receiver.”

Shadow McGuirk slowly raised his hands and cursed.  He gestured to Hendricks with his head and narrowed his eyes.  The woman screamed and bolted out the front door.  I let her go.  Shadow was the one I wanted.

I cocked my Patterson before he could try anything. “Don’t even think about magicking your way out of this.  Step away from the baby.”

“You think my man’ll give ya a better deal?” he garbled.  “This’s my contract.”

I tapped the copper star on my vest, which I had moved from the inside to the outside.  “Municipal Police.” I smiled as the color drained from his face.  “That’s some cold coffee for ya, isn’t it?”

He nodded, and he smiled a strange, sad smile.  “Sad.  I was lookin’ forward to headin’ out west.” His empty eyes fell back upon Hendricks.  “Is he one too?”

“I’m Watchmage Hood’s apprentice.  You’re overmatched,” said Hendricks. “You might as well surrender.  I promise my master’ll show mercy.”

“Watchmage,” he spat.  “Smokestack should’ve never trusted a scrawny prat like you.”

“You haven’t stepped away yet,” I said.  “Please do.  This gun fires by itself sometimes.”

He spat out a flurry of words, but his ravaged throat garbled them so that I couldn’t understand.

“Speak English, dammit!” I said.

He took a breath and spoke slowly. “We can still deal.  You get the baby and let me go.  You’ll never see me again.”  He took three steps away from the cradle and gestured toward it.  “I saved your damned life, you owe me.”

Hendricks pointed an accusatory finger toward Shadow.  “You killed Molly Hyde.”

“Who?”

“Molly Hyde,” I said.  “She was the Vanderlay’s wet nurse.  Leenie’s sister. You turned into a snake and bit her.”

“Never knew her name.”  He looked to Hendricks and shrugged.  “Never cared.”

“You’re a monster.” Hendricks spat. 

“Yep,” he said. He faced me with slumped shoulders. “I liked you. Even if you are a leather’ead.  But if you’re gonna take me to the Tombs, I might as…”

One of his rings flashed, and his form wavered like heat coming off the sidewalk.  I fired, but he was no longer there.  Something struck my head—I heard it more than felt—and I fell forward.  I twisted and landed on my side, in time to see Shadow draw and point his gun at Hendricks.  I cocked and fired again, but the barker’s back-kick knocked it out of my awkward grip.  It slid under the baby’s cradle.

“I never liked you,” Shadow said as he faced down Hendricks.  There was a bang and flash. Shadow fell backwards over a chair and landed on his rump.  His barker slid across the floor.

Hendricks’ cross glowed white.  “I never liked you either.” He drew something in the air, and ice began to creep up Shadow’s legs.  Shadow grimaced and made a sideways movement with one hand. One of his rings flickered, and the ice shattered.

I crawled over to Shadow and grappled his legs.  He kicked and his boot gave me a glancing blow.  I held on and crawled on top of him, pinning him beneath me.

“Grab his hands,” shouted Hendricks. “I’ll get the baby.”

I grabbed his left, but he punched me in the mouth with his right.  My eyes crossed, and he disappeared again. “Dammit!” I shouted as my fist hit the wooden floor.

I scrambled to my feet and turned around.  Hendricks and Shadow were toe to toe, and Hendricks—to my surprise—was giving him the better of it.  I suppose he learned something at the Bloody Knuckle after all.  He snapped Shadow’s head back with a flurry of lefts and rights.  A haymaker caught Shadow in the jaw and floored him.

Hendricks stood over the downed Shadow.  He mumbled something in a language that I didn’t understand and his cross glowed once again.  His hands started to glow a deep blue.  I heard him inhale as he raised his hands over his head.  The deep blue of his hands spread into a blade between his palms.  He looked like he was about to spear a wild hog.

Shadow drove his boot into Hendricks’ crotch.  The poor boy crumbled to the ground in a pile of moaning flesh.  Shadow punched him in the ear and grabbed the cross pendant from his neck.

“Oh Christ, that’s good,” Shadow said as the cross flared in his hand.  He threw his head back and shivered.  He waggled his fingers and touched Hendricks on the forehead.  Hendricks’ eyes closed and his body relaxed.  He stood up and pointed at me.  “Sorry to have to croak ya. Enjoy the forever box.”

Shadow loosed a beam of white light at me, but I was ready.  He pointed with his right hand, and based on the angle, I knew which way to dodge. I rolled out of the way as the beam struck the floor where I once was, burning a deep gouge in the wood.

My enchanted gun was under the cradle, but Shadow’s gun wasn’t far from me.  I rolled to the pistol, cocked it, and fired at Shadow.  He waved the bullet away and it slammed into the wall.  I fired twice more.  Each time he knocked it away.

“Shhh,” he said.  “You’ll wake the baby.”

His body glowed red as he advanced on me.  I got my feet underneath me right in time for a boot to the chin.  I flew across the room and slammed into the brick wall.  I was vaguely aware of colors and shapes, one shape getting bigger as it came closer.  Where was the gun?  It was in my hand a moment ago. Then I was in the air, a large man beneath me.  I felt the air blasted from my body, my stomach turned, and then there was nothing.

I awoke—surprised that I woke at all—to an empty room.  The baby was gone, Shadow was gone, even Hendricks was gone.  I looked out the window.  Through my own aches, the coal smoke, and yellow haze of rendered lard, I saw the sun beginning to set. I had no idea what to do next.

I saw my Patterson under the cradle and slipped it into my coat pocket. My first instinct was to run to Pop.  He’d know what to do. He could find Shadow and Hendricks in moments and make Shadow wish he never came to Manhattan.  But Pop looked terrible when I saw him, like he was suddenly very old.  It worried me to see him in such a state.  He’d always been this mighty force of nature, unbendable, unbeatable, and unfathomable, but now I wasn’t so sure.

I stepped out the door and into the street.  Pop put his trust in me and I wouldn’t disappoint him.

Jonas…

The voice came from the back of my mind, like the echo of a memory of a dream.  “Hendricks?” I said aloud.  None of the people bustling past me took any notice. 

We’re at the Bloody Knuckle…what’s left of it. I can’t keep this u—
the voice trailed off.

“Hendricks!” I shouted.  No answer.  No matter, I had a destination.  It was time to finish the game.