| Jun. 10th, 2005 11:53 pm CHAPTER 1, IT BEGINS
I sat at the foot of the stage, a half drunk bottle of whiskey in one hand and an empty glass in the other. The Delta Club. It wasn't as swanky as some of the other joints in town but it had its upsides. A waitress wandered over, her heavy necklace glinting in the gaudy light of the stage, her olive skin and black hair outlined blue. "You want some more ice, mister?" I looked up and shook my head and she wandered off to go wait another table. I looked at my watch and then my eyes wandered back to my empty glass. I poured, watching my reflection in the bottle. I'd resisted the urge to shave my head like some of the other guys, my hair was all natural and slightly curly. I ran my fingers though it to try and get rid of some of my hat-hair... A lucky fedora does that quite often.
I watched him straightening his hair, watching himself in his bottle... he was lost in his own little world while i studied his every move from the shadows. Four days i'd been following him, ever since i saw him speaking to Rex down at the shipping yard... god knows why Trixie had sent me down there but it had something to do with the book. Finishing my drink off i sat back in my booth, drawing slowly on my cigarette and running my fingers over the old leathery cover to the damned book that started this mess. It'd landed on my desk two weeks back and somehow that man was a key to getting it open - i would have used a crow bar by now but Trixie's orders had to be followed. Stubbing out the smoke i straightened my dress, god damn thing, never good to wear when on a case but i would have looked too out of place in my slacks and coat.. just keep watching him Lena.. just keep watching him.
Lifting the glass up to my lips the lighting dimmed slightly, the sounds of a grand piano's dulcet tones started to fill the air. I opened a single eye to watch the stage as a woman decked out in an opulant dinner gown stepped out from behind the curtains. A Club singer and no doubt, i watched her as her hips glided over to the mike. The chair beside me got pulled out and a white guy, german maybe sat down beside me, taking off his hat and sunglasses and putting a suitcase down between us on the floor. My eyes didn't take off of that girl though as she started to sing out a tune in a voice like liquid diamond. "Your timing sucks, Herr Weiss" i muttered quietly.
Sliding the book into my back i wisked past the bar grabbing another scotch as i went, thankfully with all eyes on the songbird i could easily get down to the table behind them. Walk like a lady Lena, you can't play the bullyboy here. Glancing around the main floor as i walked i noticed that i stuck out like a sore thumb, pale skin, freckles, long un-cared for auburn hair. Why Trixie sent me to this place i just don't know but Trixie knows best.. well that's what mama used to say. This could be the breakthrough, this could be it... is this guy friend or foe... can i get this damned thing open and will i be ready for what's inside? God damn, i sat too close, too clumsily... i think they saw me, don't look Lena.
I heard someone pull out a chair behind me. By the sound of her footsteps... yeah, definately 'her'. walking Akwardly in dinner shoes. I sniffed the air... perfume. a little too little for a socialite gal. I started to thank my 'Father' for all those experiments when i was a kid. Her heart was beating hard. nervous? maybe. "Herr Jackal..." I lifted a finger up to stop him "No, right now you call me Harry. Never call me that in public" I whispered. Thats right folks... Im 'The Jackal'. Treasure Hunter. Relic Finder. Right now i was following up a lead on an item stolen by a local Capo. The eye of Anubis... Yeah, so sue me. A jackal chasing a Jackals Eye. Take it up with my Lawyer. "... My apologies, Harry. I have the documents you wanted"
Calm down sweetheart, they didn't turn round. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying over the damn woman singing, it was the closest i'd gotten though and i couldn't back out just now, or could i? First sign of trouble and i was leaving, in this damn dress i wasn't packing so defense went out of the window. Hell maybe i could hit them with this damn book. What i PI i turned out to be, hope my mamma's proud... so i pull back, finish my drink.. wait until the song's finished then head back to the bar, tail firmly between my legs. I don't even know his name... by now the scotch has gotten to me and i start to finally think maybe i should be more direct in my approach.
Hmm. that song finished early. I was sure there was another two verses to it... My eyebrows furrowed slightly as i pondered that. Little miss panic had walked away. Well, that was fine by me. There was a crunch and a slam as the front door was kicked in, i turned quickly to see some mooks in fine suits with tommyguns scanning the crowd, who started to panic and scream. This was not going to be a good day. i knew why they were here. I fingered the golden mask hidden under my thich coat beside me. "Run, hide!" I said to herr Weiss beside me under the cover of a panicking crowd. he was only too happy to oblige... and he left the suitcase too. Typical.
As the crowd started to scream i did the decent thing, tore my dress up to the thigh and hopped the bar. I knew an emerald green had been my colour, nice and dark... hard to stain. The bar man was making a scramble for it, ha they don't make em like they use to - so i fingered the latch to the shotgun stowed under the bartop, some things never change. Sliding my bag over my shoulder, the strap bearing down diagonally across my chest i just sat and waited. If they were here for Mr Bigshot i wanted to hear this, all else fails, drop the piece and run like hell. Come on Lena, this is what you're good at, you've taken bullets before. Keep low, keep quiet.
"Jackal! We know your in here, give us the documents, and the Jackal's Mantle and we will let you live!" I didn't recognise the voice. I kicked over the table and used the cover of it and the stage to Tear off my shirt and Tie. The gold, Gem encrusted gauntlets of Anubis allready on my arms since i couldn't take them off, i reached for the mask. Golden and in the shape of a Jackals face. I placed it agaisnt my forehead, ancient magic keeping it there. it didnt 'do' anything really, just looked cool as much as i could work out. It covered everything except my eyes and my mouth and chin. It had saved me from more then a few bullets before. I stood up with a chuckle. The bravado everyone expected from me. My chest bare, just a pair of expensive trousers, a mask and some gauntlets "Make Me" I grinned
The Jackal? Unbelievable... well that meant i was going fight my way through this one just so i could give that god damn idiot a crack in the face myself. Four days i'd been following him, four days he'd known about it and been giving me the run around. He WAS the key to getting the damn book open and like it or not he was going to do it or die trying. As they opened fire i stood up, quick as lightning and blasted two shots... ma had made sure my aim had always been deadly, ever since cronies like these took my dad away she'd made sure that all our lot knew how to protect emselves. Two down from behind, quickly duck back down and reload.. keep it moving and hope Mr Jackal provided some light entertainment for them in the meantime.
Shit, they had started firing and not everyone was out of the way yet. Bastards. I leapt backwards onto that stage with the skill of a circus acrobat... Again, thanks to 'Dad' And leapt to my feet, Putting my fingers to my mouth and whistling loudly "Hey, Mooks. Pay attention!" Someone shot from behind the bar. Must have been the barman, the idiot. I dropped to the floor to avoid a spray of bullets hitting me square in the chest, And launched myself forwards. I couldn't fly, i wasn't amazingly strong... But i WAS Acrobatic in a superhuman way. Faster, more nimble... And i had a decent amount of good luck thanks to those gauntlets. Well, Good luck when it came to things hitting me. With the pay off of general bad luck other then that? Well. that was a dicussion for another internal monologue some other time. I dashed behind a table breifly, before darting around the side of it and charging a gunman that had his eyes on the bar. One two, Just like i'd been taught. One Two. Fist to the face, fist to the gut. One Two. he hit the floor.
From the bits i saw when i was moving down the bar the guy was pretty agile, i'll give him that. Looking like something ancient history had spat up to deal some pain on these morons. Nipping around the end of the bar i saw him knock a gunman down - perfect oppertunity.. three steps and i was behind a huge stone pillar, the cold granite against my back making me thankful it wasn't just a cheap plaster knock off. Leaning out the right side i shot into the middle of the ground now down on the dancefloor and spun back. I was gonna pay for tacky heroics but if anyone was going to lay the hurt on The Jackal it was going to be me.
Duck a rifle butt to the face. Come back up with an Uppercut for the guys efforts. He was a tough bastard though, he stumbled and dropped the rifle, bearing his fists at me. "Queensbury rules?" I asked... i heard some english guy say it while he was visiting... English Colonists, who'd have them? The mobster didn't seem to get the joke as he tried to introduce my face to Mister fist. I let him hit me. I was feeling generous. The look on his face was well worth it. Lesson learned - Never punch a guy with a golden mask on in the face. I decided to put him out of his misery by putting my shoeless foot in his stomach. He doubled over. I smirked. Then i barely got out of the way of another rain of bullets from behind me, making me roll forward and scrabble to get behind something.
He seemed to be dodging my fire pretty well, damn. Well i needed him alive anyway so he could just dodge away, the goons weren't making such a good job of it. They shot wildly at the pillar, a lot of it chipped away but granite.. sweet granite.. it held fast long enough. I darted from my hiding place at the nearest apeman, weilding my now empty shotgun like a baseball bat. The cracking noise of impact galled me like it always had done but now was not the time to be squeamish. Grabbing his tommy gun i threw myself forwards to the next pillar, diving the last few meters and landing in a roll onto my knees. I was gonna be bruised like anything but it was better than being dead.
I stood up as i tried to jump behind a... white girl? someone had allready stolen my hiding place. i looked at her holding a tommy gun and blinked a few times. Was she on their side? i looked back at them... the suitcase! it was still where i had left it, and one of the goons had noticed. Making a mad sash i started to run. Jumped, Put my foot agaisnt the wall about half way up, jumped again, aiming for the guys back with my foot. Diving kick, one of my more acrobatic attacks but still effective.
Not that many left now and with a Tommy gun in my hands i was far more effective.. still a good clip in it too, excellent. I spun round the large pillar, placing my back firmly against it for support and shot to kill, i hated every second of it and i always did but it was us or them and even though i wanted to make him pay for running me around like a fool i needed him so these goons had to go they should have run because then i wouldn't have to mow them down and he wouldn't have to smash them to pieces. Shot for all it was worth and ducked back behind the pillar, waiting.. listening.
Gunshots from behind the pillar as i wrestled with the goon going for the suitcase. Not aiming at me. That was a good thing to hear. so she was on my side. That made things easier. I watched the goon looking at me down along the golden muzzle of the mask. I grinned. I headbutted him. He passed out. I started to run low, barely needing to stand up from the guys onconsious body and flipped myself towards the case, grabbing it and rolling behind the table to be greeted by an applause of bullets hitting the wood behind my head but not going straight through. Damn Anubis, you sure know how to make a guy feel special. "Hey... i only hear one person out there still awake... You want to give up or you want me to kick your ass?" I called to the last goon, who didn't answer
Perfect timing, this guy had perfect timing... the distraction was beautiful. Like i was fresh out of the starting blocks i bolted across the room diving onto the guy - last second glance maybe i shouldn't have. Christ he was big. "A little help please?" and i landed my knee in his groin, knowing it would only be seconds before he beat me senseless unless Mr Hero did something to help, this was his make or break situation with me.. c'mon. I hit him again and hoped his return blow wouldn't sting... god damn i was wrong.
Up... gah, the stupid... Ok, so i didn't have much confidence in white women, Allright? they were built a little more delicately then the home grown ones. I pulled the mask off my face, Threw it like a Discus. It hit the mook flat in the back of his head. I leant down to grab my fedora, putting it on my head and standing back up, Brim covering my eyes.
i rolled off the guy, comfortabley unconscious and rubbed my jaw, rotated it and clicked it back into place.. good god that was a satisfying noise. Still had the bag with me... patted it and the book was still there. Casting an eye over the Anubis mask i sighed and stood up, trying to straighten what remained of my expensive dress.
I smirked "Nice moves, Miss." i said as i wandered over, case still in my hands making a beeline for the mask. "Can't say im too impressed at the way you dealt with those mobsters but i have to hand it to you, your good with a gun"
i gave him one of my mothers patented 'looks' and opened the bag, nudging the huge tome aside and pulling out my sneakers "Thanks" dropping them clumsily on the floor i kicked off my heels.. "You're a pretty good mover yourself, but then again you must know that, Mr Jackal."
"I'm murder on a dance floor, too." I said, leaning down to pick up the mask, lifting my fedora off my head, tilted so it covered my face. With the mask on, i slipped the fedora back on, Holes hidden under the strap around the top letting the mask's pointy golden ears slip right though. No way i was going to let some stupid mask stop me from wearing this fedora... :
i couldn't help but stop and blink at this man, in those bracers, that mask and.. a Fedora. "Right then." Stuck out my hand all polite like as well "I'm Lena"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the look i got. Dames. they'd never understand the hat thing. I reached out and took her hand all gentleman-like, gave it a little squeeze, shook it once "The Jackal"
I couldn't be bothered to hold up the gracious pretense anymore and sat on the floor, slowly putting on and lacing up my tatty old running shoes. "So, do you know who these guys were then Jackal?" Might as well start with the easy questions.
"Sure do. Ever heard of the Menhotep Gang?" I said, leaning agaisnt a low wall, putting the case up on top of it where i could watch it as i talked"
"Vaguely, yes... not been in the place that long. They been after you long?"
"Not at all. Only since i've been after something i expect their boss is after. Because i'm after it too."
"Oh?" i liked my casual curiosity voice, this stuff was easier with women though, they never shut up. Slowly finished tying my shoes and held out a hand for a lift up.
"yup" She wanted to know what i was up to. I could hear her heartbeat and the subtle inflections in her voice. she was good at hiding it. Maybe she was some sort of spy, it didn't matter. She wanted a hand up, i was happy to oblige, offering her my own hand.
Ah well, so he didn't tell me, it wasn't what i was after... which reminded me. "Fancy a drink? i know a nice quiet place down the road near my hotel, i have a few questions for you."
I raised an eyebrow at that. What was that english saying? Curiosity killed the cat? Well, i wasn't to fond of the idea of a dead cat, but i got the feeling that trouble would follow this broad like mice to cheese. "Sure, Why not."
i'd found The Hole in the Wall whilst wandering back to my hotel a couple of nights back when the Jackal had given me the slip, to think i'd be walking in there side by side with him amused me. Trixie probably wouldn't have approved but she always was the protective type. I ordered another Scotch figuring i may as well started what i'd finished and side glanced him "What you drinking then?"
"I'll have a glass of whiskey, no ice" Ahh, i was a sucker for whiskey allright. im sure that my mom before she gave me away must have bottlefed me the damn stuff. oh well. Bottoms up. I raised my glass to her slightly before drinking some of it. I took off the stetson, but not the mask. a few people gawped. Others knew me better then that.
I sighed, i didn't want to be seen here with him like this it'd probably get me shot but i needed answers. So i found us a nice quiet booth at the back and got some pins from the barman to fix the huge tears in my dress, i looked like a hooker. I decided against any psychology and just asked him questions while i pinned up my skirt "You ever hear of The Book of Prophecy?"
I tapped the side of the mask's muzzle while i thought "... and in a sea of sand amongst an oasis of glass lays a tomb of a prophet... That book?"
"That would be the one" i flinched as i stabbed myself in the thigh with a pin "Bound they say with the skin of a sacred ox, holding the secrets of time, the power of the future, bound to all but those who's souls are worthy."
"Yeah. i may of heard of it at some point." i chuckled a little. the truth was i'd heard the damn thing had allready been picked up. so it was useless to me for now.
I opened the bag, still worn around my chest and tapped the spine of the tome - the old mysterious heiroglyphs stilled visible on the spine, then shut the bag again.
"huh. well how about that" Well damn. now she was just rubbing salt in the wound.
"So i need your help then mister, i came here looking for a way to open it. Trix said i had to be the one who opened it, i hate it when she gets all mystic but" i shrugged, i still didn't understand what the old bat wanted "I just don't know how.."
"Have you tried asking it to open?" I joked, remembering the story of the 40 theives. Just to finish off the joke, i muttered 'Open please' In my native tongue. i didn't really mind if she understood or not. i had an image in my head of the white girl begging the book to open.
i sighed, great.. Mr Jackal had a sense of humour "Yeah i tried, i tried so damn hard my fingers bled. Trix just got more insistant.. Hell i even tried praying" i downed my scotch in one "to all the Egyptian gods that damn thing is supposed to speak of. Nothing."
"Have you tried the ones that arn't the ones it supposedly speaks of?" I smirked, leaning in. <As i child of Anubis, i have to ask these things>
i shrugged again "Egyptian mythos isn't my strongest point Mr Jackal, taking care of my own is however and one of mine asked me to do this so i've gotta do it." god i sounded simple. It was then i noticed him.. i'm a prowler and i can smell another a mile off - he'd been following -me- almost as much as i'd been following the Jackal. "Goddamn" i whispered and tapped my glass idly "Guy, about ten paces behind you has been shadowing me for days now... god damn he must want the book, or -you."
I shook my head slightly, with a chuckle "No, if he was after me there would be a gunshot by now. people know that theres no point trying to hide from me. I have eyes in the back of my head" i replied with a small chuckle.
"Great... so he's after the book" i sighed and stood up "Finish your drink, we'd better be going"
"Nah. If he hasn't got a clue who i am then the books safe." I said, finishing off the glass. Besides, maybe he'd like a chat.
The scotch had made my head buzz, there i was.. ancient Tome of apparently mystic power in my bag, a man seemingly embued by Anubis drinking with me and a guy who probably wanted me dead. What had i got to lose? I eyed the man and smiled, winked even and gestured for him to come sit with us. Yeah yeah, he patted his pocket checking his gun was where he'd left it then slowly walked over, i shifted my place so i was sitting against the wall and the guy had to sit opposite the Jackal.
I just smiled politely, looked over to the bar and lifted my empty glass, a silent request for another of the same. The barman was more then happy to oblige.
The guy sat and shifted uneasily in his chair, he seemed to know who the Jackal was.. hell who didn't in this part of town, in this business. I held my satchel idly "Why" i leant in, whispering in a soft, inoffensive voice "Have you been following me?" he just smirked, i didn't like that one bit. He slowly reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a hankerchief handing it to me. Eyeing him cautiously i unfolded it, fleck of dried blood on the white material had my hands shaking - nothing had prepared me for this. Trixie's ring.. the one with the golden scarab on.. Ma had once told me cos she was in some old Egyptian cult or club.. her necklace with the little eye symbol on it. She would never have given these to anyone.. or let anyone walk away with them while she was still alive... my heart sank.
I heard her heartbeat rise. heard her breathing change. Distress. i looked at what was in front of her, looked to the idiot that had thought it was funny to smile in front of me as he delivered such a grim message. i lifted the new glass to my lips as it was put on the table in front ot me. "Better stop smiling, Buddy." i said, without looking at him.
In my head i was beating his face into a pulp, but that wouldnt get me answers. I very slowly changed my position, sliding my hand into my bag and slipping on the long ring Trix gave me before i came out here, longer than my finger with a sharp spiked end. I leant over, casually leaving that hand now on the guys inner thigh and looking intently at him "Who and why?" he'd stopped smiling by the time the Jackal had spoken to him, now he just looked angry. He just stared at me and said in French "Gascro, Jean Pierre Gascro. He ripped her heart out and used its power to make him stronger... just like he has promised to do to all of you little women. Give me the book and no more will die." again.. to my weakness.. i froze
I raised an eyebrow at that little morsel of information "Gascro. That name sounds familier... Oh you are not talking about the guy who i think you ae." i glared at him breifly, not looking amused at all.
"Jean Pierre Gascro" his english was awful "Dealer and collecter in fine arts from the antiquities and highly talented cultist, a priest of Osiris no less" No less, that was a god damned lie.. he worshiped every low life deity he thought would give him a scratch of power
I frowned slightly. "Osiris, Huh?" I looked at the girl, trying to work out how she was holding up, Much as i can tell, she wasn't holding up too well
The guy held his composure surprisingly well as i stabbed him in the inner thigh with the ring, my other hand holding him in place firmly by the shoulder, adrenaline giving me that extra kick of strength i needed. "You listen to me, you tell Gascro he can come and get the book out of my cold dead hands because that is what it's going to take for me to let that filth anywhere near it." i stabbed a bit harder "Do you understand me?"
Well, i had to give the broad a few more points to her score. she definately had guts. Whose guts? hard to tell, but she was definately a fighter.
The guy whimpered a yes and i let him go, he waddled out of there and i just stared at the hankerchief.. then eyed the bartender "Bottle of Scotch" looking over to the Jackal i sighed "So... you know anything about any Egyptian gang.. or cult.. or club that wears this ring?" i held up Trixies scarab ring.
"The Sacred Guardians?" I said, almost instantly. Maybe I was thinking of a different gang, but the ring looked familier allright.
"I don't know, it belonged to my Great-grandma... but now she's dead." the bottle didn't even touch the table i sideswiped it from the waiters hands and took a huge gulp "from what i've heard of the stuff Gascro pulls.. he ate her soul" another huge gulp, i didn't necessarily believe in what Gascro did but i knew the methods he went through to do it.
"Yeah... I thought i recognised the guy. I'm Sure Anubis wants a few choice words with that guy..." I clenched my glass a little, knuckles whitening.
"Where can we find them? Maybe they can tell me why Trix wanted me to open the book.. maybe they could use the book better than me. Oh... sorry, if you need my help at all with whatever else you're doing i'm quite content with doing lugwork but i really need your assistance." Another long swig from the bottle.. soon my head would be spinning and i'd be no use to anyone
"Hmm. now thats a tough one. I'll make some phonecalls tomorrow" I reached out and took the bottle from her "i think you've had enough"
god damn everyday heroes... i sighed, i wanted to cry but not infront of a stranger, i'd mourn Trixie forever. Gathering up her stuff i placed it in my pocket and tried to stand - my legs wobbled but would hold. "i don't suppose you could walk me to my hotel?"
"yeah, not a problem" sure, like i was going to let the book of prohecy wobble to some hotel alone... i stood up, offered her a shoulder to lean on.
wasn't entirely sure where i was going but thankful for someone to lean on "The Palace... just down there.. 42a"
"yeah. i know the place" i chuckled slightly, leaving some money on the table and leading her out of the small bar, walking her down the street. man she looked a picture with her ripped dress...
As we walked i clung to my bag like i'd die if i let it go; with that jerk Gascro out there after me i didn't really know if i could trust anyone. Maybe that was the booze talking, all i knew was i had to find the Sacred Guardians.. if Trixie was one then they'd surely be able to help.
I rolled my eyes slightly. this dame couldn't hold her liqour. allthough, saying that i was half cut myself. then again, i'd been drinking quite a bit today. it must have been getting close to midnight now...
As we got to the Palace the night air had woken me up a bit, i shook myself loose and stood, allbeit shakily, but on my own. "Thanks Jack, i'll take it from here..." i couldn't hide the small wobble "Where shall we meet tomorrow?"
"Don't worry, I'll find you" I said, telling the truth. Oh i'd be keeping an eye on her tonight, that was for damn sure. no sleep for me tonight, i thought to myself.
"er... ok" that sounded suspicious but i was too drunk, too shocked to care. I bid him a goodnight and stumbled through the reception - taking a moment to soak in the surroundings, even when i was drunk i could spot things out of place.. nothing new though so i staggered up the stairs. I almost shoulder barged my way through the door before i realise i had to turn the handle, no more Scotch for you Lena. I put on Trix's necklace and ring, pulled off my now ruined dress - scrabbled around for a shirt and fell asleep.. trainers on. Definately no more Scotch. Leave a comment |
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