Celtics Rising: Birth of an Oracle Read online

  Celtics Rising

  Birth of an Oracle

  Leo Charles Taylor

  Published by Jokat Publishing

  Copyright by Leo Charles Taylor 2015

  ISBN-13: 978-1497530003

  ISBN-10: 1497530008

  Chapter 1

  A gust of wind whipped around the restaurant's balcony, and as it did Arinai's hair flew into her eyes. She reached up and pulled it away before grabbing her coffee off the wrought iron tabletop before her. Taking a sip, she looked over the flower-covered railing to the cobblestone road just ten fifteen feet below and watched the pedestrians as they scurried through the market. One person had fish while another had flowers, and not too far away was a long line of people standing outside of the Starbucks.

  "Long line," she said, nodding her head to indicate her meaning.

  The man before her turned his back and examined the area with a quiet discernment. Nodding his head, he brought his attention back to her.

  "It was the world's first Starbucks," he said, matching her cavalier attitude. "It tends to attract a crowd."

  Arinai had to chuckle quietly.

  "It's a long ways from the markets I remember from when I was a child," she said wistfully as her mind cast back through the centuries.

  "This smells better," her companion replied dryly before continuing his meal.

  Arinai had to agree, nodding her head before bringing her full attention to her lunch companion. He was rugged in appearance, brown haired with wide shoulders and a permanently stern expression that told people to leave him alone. When he stood, he towered over her, commanding a dominating position; she could easily understand how he had survived so many battles.

  He must still have a hundred pounds on me, she thought as she watched his tendons flex along his arm while he used his utensils. She had to smile wryly as she remembered those muscles, and the man's stamina.

  "Camulas?" she asked. "Are you going to be this dour the entire time we’re in Seattle?"

  "I'm dour all the time," he replied as he scanned the crowd.

  He was looking for potential threats. Arinai knew it, but allowed him his hobby. It made him happy. At least, in an odd way it did. She believed he didn't know how to do anything differently, and Arinai understood that happiness was often found in the things that bring us comfort. For him, this was comfort. It was familiar. Besides, it was very difficult for Camulas to completely relax even in the best of times, and their current situation was not about to help him with that particular endeavor. Resigned to that fact, Arinai put on a warm smile, took a deep breath, and sat back only to stare at her dinner companion.

  "It's been a long time," she said with a nostalgic expression. "It's good to see you again."

  Camulas became confused for a second. It appeared as if he were about to say something but his mouth clamped down. His eyes went downward and he became pensive, turning deep into himself as he considered her words. Eventually, he nodded his head and returned his eyes to her. When he did, Arinai could see the depth of soul in him. Those eyes held so much pain that she often pitied the man. She never told him that. He would see it as a weakness and would hate her for it.

  "It's good to see you too, Amhránaí," he replied sincerely, and Arinai had to smile. It had been a long time since she had heard that name, and it pleased her to hear it now.

  A shudder swept across the balcony, passing over the occupants like a light breeze on a spring day. There was no motion to it, and no one else noticed it, but Arinai's eyes widened as she felt the brush of emotion mixed with the elements of Mother Earth. It was a cool breeze on a warm day mixed with excitement, and Arinai's smile widened as she simply enjoyed it for a moment.

  "Do you feel him?" she asked Camulas.

  Camulas didn't reply, but Arinai could tell by the man's furrowed brow and darting eyes that he felt the mood. Camulas was searching, but Arinai knew the object of the search was miles away. Somewhere up on the hill, perhaps.

  "Come on," she said excitedly and practically leapt from the table. "If he's using his powers we'll be able to track him."

  She didn't wait for him, or even bother to pay the bill, choosing instead to head to the stairs at a jog, slowing down only enough to traverse the wet steps without harming herself. When she reached the Alley with its wine shops and upscale restaurants, she turned about to get her bearings. Once she had them, she headed uphill to the main streets.

  A quick glance behind her told her that Camulas had not followed, but when she spied him not too far distant, she understood his play; he had simply jumped the balcony, an idea that hadn't occurred to her. Now, his long strides allowed him to cover greater distance at a seemingly slow pace. Arinai nodded her head, pleased that he was following, and began to run up the hill.

  "Come on, old man," she shouted back with glee. "You're going to miss him."

  It didn't take long to reach the main roads, and as she glanced about for the best way to continue her journey, Camulas arrived at her side. Arinai was surprised: he didn't even appear winded.

  "Hey," she said, nodding her head across the way to a mounted policeman. "How about a horse?"

  Camulas was not amused and glared at her sideways.

  "I've had my fill of horses," he replied.

  Then, with no sense of self-preservation, he stepped into the street, forcing a cab to apply its brakes rapidly. Once the vehicle was stopped, he moved to the side, opened the back door, and pulled out the passenger in the back seat, tossing him unceremoniously to the ground. Camulas, not one for chivalry, entered the cab and left the door open so that Arinai could follow.

  The policeman across the way turned to move in their direction, but a quick burst of thought directed towards him and the man picking himself off the pavement calmed everyone's nerves long enough for Arinai to enter the cab and shut the door.

  "Up the hill," she ordered the driver.

  The driver appeared confused and was about to blurt something out, but a quick flash of Arinai's mind had the man complying as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

  "You're still good with that," Camulas replied with respect.

  "In small doses," she said, "but don't push it."

  Camulas nodded his head with understanding as Arinai gave the driver directions. They went farther up the hill, excited to be on the hunt, but it didn't take long before frustration set in.

  "Damn," she said. "Can you feel him anymore?"

  "I haven't felt him since the market," Camulas replied as he scanned the people along the streets.

  "He must have done something to make us feel him," she said. "Some exercise of power. Or maybe he's calling to us."

  Camulas ignored her, keeping his eyes on the streets. They were on the hill now, and it had begun to rain. Not wanting to surrender the search, Arinai had the driver weave up one street and then down another, all the while peering through the water spattered windows as he did. She reached out with her mind, searching for her target, but he was either too powerful or too weak for her to find. When she voiced her concern, Camulas nodded his head.

  "Let's hope he's too weak," he said.

  "Why is that?" she asked.

  "Because if he's powerful enough to shield himself this well, then he may be dangerous."

  "We're all dangerous," Arinai said. "Besides, if he is just awakening, he will gain strength. It won’t be long before he’s powerful no matter what."

  "True," Camulas said. "But I'd like to be among his friends before he gets that powerful."

  Arinai understood the logic. It was manipulative and self-serving, but that was often the way of their lives.

  Halting the cab, Arinai exited and pulle
d Camulas along with her. He followed grudgingly, mumbling something about the rain and heading back to his hotel.

  "It's not raining that badly, and you can have a hot shower later," she said. "Tonight, I want to find my oracle."

  Camulas just shook his head, paid the cab driver, and headed down the street with her.

  "Let's at least see if I can get a decent beer," he said.

  Arinai agreed with the man, and seeing as any direction offered the same possibility, she headed towards a bar sign several blocks away. Upon arriving, Arinai made one more attempt to find her oracle. She felt nothing, and not seeing a better alternative, she led Camulas into the bar, found a table, and ordered him a pitcher of beer.

  "Just one glass. I'm not drinking," she told the server, who gave her an odd look before glancing at her companion; Camulas cowed the man with a glare. After the server left, Arinai chuckled and shook her head.

  "Oh, it is good to see you again," she said.

  Camulas didn’t reply verbally, he just offered her a shake of his head and a look of minor annoyance. He amused her with his sour attitude, and that amusement aggravated him at times. That only served to amuse her further, and after another chuckle, she began to talk to him.

  They talked about their lives and what they had been doing for the past several decades. Camulas, much like her, had kept a low profile, but had increasingly found it easier to make his way in the world.

  "You were in Desert Storm?" she asked incredulously.

  Camulas nodded his head.

  "How did it feel to be in the thick of battle again?"

  "Different," Camulas said.

  Arinai presented him with a questioning look.

  "I've been in battles before,” he clarified, “but the new machinery took getting used to. On the third day of the campaign, the largest tank battle in history occurred. Still, it wasn't much of a battle. The U.S. decimated the Iraqis and didn't lose a single tank. That kind of battle is not one I am overly familiar with."

  "Think you'll be able to adapt?" she asked.

  Camulas didn't answer. Instead, he had gone rigid, with his eyes locked towards the entryway. Before she could follow his gaze, Arinai heard the signature hum of his blade being drawn ever so slightly. It caught her attention, drawing her eyes to him. It was a small vibration that she could just feel on the periphery of her senses, and it was so slight that she had to wonder if it was actually there. It had been a long time since she had heard or felt it, but she recalled the sensation nonetheless.

  Arinai turned her eyes to the door where Camulas had his focus. It was night outside, but the street lights were on and she could see the two figures well enough to know what was happening. She couldn’t determine exactly who they were—the background light cast their fronts in shadow—but she knew what they were.

  "How did they…?" she began.

  "Not now," Camulas commanded.

  Arinai shut her mouth as ordered. It was only after thinking things through that she realized the hearing of the men entering the bar was just as good as theirs, if not better. Therefore, Camulas and she were not guaranteed any privacy of conversation.

  Camulas cast his eyes about carefully. He was looking for the exits as well as any other enemies. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Arinai sent her mind out and felt for her brethren. The two at the door were easy to feel now that she knew they were there, but as she cast a wider net, she could feel a third one. However, the impression was that of a ghost. It was there but not there, and try as she might she couldn’t locate the demon. Whoever this person was, they were very good at concealing themselves.

  "There's a third," she said, not worried about being overheard.

  "I know," Camulas said. "It's a woman."

  That fact surprised Arinai. It was more than she could feel from the impression.

  The two men moved towards them, and Arinai sized them up as she did.

  Drake and Badir, she thought when the beasts allowed the light to expose their figures.

  Drake was as she expected: older in appearance, dark haired, well dressed, and sporting an air of confidence and sophistication. Even his watch spoke of old world charm. Badir's confidence migrated into the realm of cockiness, which was advertised in the way he walked. He dressed plainly in jeans and a button-down shirt, and Arinai re-familiarized herself with his countenance, taking in his dimpled chin and eyes, which matched the long brown hair pulled back into a pony tail.

  "May we join you?" Drake asked politely once they had arrived at the table.

  Camulas kicked out a chair next to him as a way of welcoming them to sit. Drake nodded politely, took the chair, set it back in place and sat down. Badir chose to stand, watching carefully as Camulas watched him.

  "I've noticed you two have been all over Seattle searching for something," Drake replied.

  He let the words hang in the air, but the meaning was clear. While Arinai and Camulas had only met in Seattle a few days ago, Drake had been here the entire time. And while this species was relegated to the night, or at least darkened skies, Drake knew what they were up to. How he knew, Arinai couldn't say.

  "We're just taking in the sights," Camulas stated dryly.

  "Are you?" Drake asked with a smile that told Arinai the demon did not believe Camulas. Camulas didn't reply. He simply stared at Drake, blinking slowly.

  Arinai kept her eyes on Drake but felt for Badir. His thoughts were more primal—they always had been—and she believed he would be easier to read. She was right in one aspect, but she didn't learn much; she could feel the pull in him, the calling to Seattle. He had felt it much like she had—much like they all had. However, he had only arrived in Seattle the night before and knew very little about what was happening to any of them.

  Badir became slightly confused and shook his head clear, as if trying to wake from a dream. Arinai pulled her mind away from him quickly. It took only a moment for him to right himself and act as if nothing had happened. Apparently, he did not possess the skill to detect her presence in his mind.

  Drake had continued to talk during this entire time, speaking nonsense about the city itself. He was feeling for something, but Camulas was too good to reveal anything. For that matter, so was Arinai; her probe of Drake’s companion had gone unnoticed by anyone, even Camulas who knew her skillset.

  "I have seen others of our kind," Drake said. "It’s as if we all feel the call to this city. While I know we have had our differences in the past, I thought I would ask politely if you know what this is. No one I’ve spoken to seems to understand it."

  "Have you spoken to many others?" Arinai asked.

  Drake turned his attention to her. He knew she was avoiding the question, but nodded his head anyway.

  "A few," he said, "at least, those that can speak and didn't fear me so much that they felt the need to run."

  "You've given them good reason to fear you," Camulas said.

  "Perhaps," Drake said. "But our species is just as violent as the humans, so it’s natural for there to be conflict."

  "You seem to feed off of it," Camulas said.

  "That seems a bit hypocritical, don't you think?" Drake asked, giving Camulas a smirk.

  "My wars were with Rome," Camulas said. "They were for the survival of all of us. You and your ilk are nothing but bottom feeders."

  Drake snorted with derision.

  "We are the Dearg-Due," he said, "the vampires of legend. That legend is well deserved, but don't think you're anything special, Warlord. You're nothing but us in a different skin." Drake stopped speaking for a moment, and then snorted, waving off the matter as if it were nothing. "But I didn’t come here to bicker about semantics," he said. "Or to debate which of our kin is more honorable than the next. I came to talk about Rome, as you have already brought up."

  "Why Rome?" Arinai asked.

  Badir scoffed, and when Arinai looked to him the man seemed to hold her in contempt.

  "Stupid woman," he said.

&nbs
p; Camulas made ready to move, but Drake held up his hand to calm everyone.

  "That's enough, Badir," Drake said loudly.

  Badir snorted and shook his head but held his tongue. Arinai could tell that the man found this conversation idiotic. She could even sense that he wanted to fight this out but had deferred to Drake for the moment, choosing instead to learn through guile what they might not learn through combat.

  "Rome is everyone's problem," Drake said, "and even though it’s in a weakened state, they are still powerful. What I fear is the Bishop."

  "That's your problem," Camulas said, but Arinai knew it was a bluff. Rome and the Bishop were all of her brethren's problem, not just the Dearg-Due's.

  "Think so?" Drake said. "If Rome detects our presence in large numbers, do you think they will sit back and just allow us to grow stronger?"

  Camulas didn't reply.

  Drake leaned in, getting very close to Camulas. It was a bold move that spoke either of great bravery or stupidity.

  "I was not alive the last time Rome fell," he said. "But I heard the stories. As Rome descended, the Keltoi rose. Our people ascended to a glorious age. But tell me, Warlord, did Rome go peacefully? Did they surrender without a fight?"

  Arinai's mind drifted back to that time. It was nearly two thousand years ago, and while she had forgotten a lot, she remembered the battles. She remembered the death, and even the first life she had taken. It was a Roman Centurion, defeated in battle and offered to her as a sacrifice. She hated the Romans, and had taken the offer and the man’s life with the swing of her blade. Even to this day she found it difficult to visit their city; they had caused her so much pain.

  "So," Drake said, after no one answered verbally. "You tell me that the Bishop is only my problem, but I think he will be all of ours."

  "I'd be more worried about Raphael," Camulas said bluntly.

  Drake and Badir stiffened slightly, and when they did, Camulas smiled.

  "That's just a legend," Badir replied.