The Revelation

The name Oliver Faulkner had been whispered among The Others for centuries now. A Vampire that many called a traitor. He was the first and only Other Agent the Iron Oath employed. He was called the Iron Oath’s attack dog.

He was a killer. There was no mistake about that. Wren met him only once. Years ago when she was a Junior Agent. Faulkner came in when things went awry. People disappeared or turned up dead in every city he showed up in.

The soda in Wren’s mouth suddenly tasted bitter, like someone had put too many herbs in the can. It settled in her stomach with a sour note, mimicking the rest of her body. The small table lamp behind Florian and Anika seemed to grow brighter, illuminating them from behind. It was like someone or something was urging her to focus on them.

“Oliver Faulkner killed your wife and son? He also killed your husband and turned you?” Wren pointed between Florian and Anika.

“He did.” Florian nodded. “We came up together, Oliver and I. I was turned after him, and the two of us met in Italy. We called each other brother after a time and took on a family unit of our own. When we came to the colonies, a change came over Oliver. I couldn’t understand it. He tried to convince me to leave the Iron Oath alone and warned me it would be dangerous if we fought them.

“Early one night, before I fed, Oliver came to my home. He beat me until I could no longer stand. I lost too much blood to fight. I was lashed to a beam while I watched him kill the boy I raised from infancy. My Constance treated him as a member of the family. She loved him just like I did. I will never forget her face when she asked him one question.”

Wren leaned forward. “What did she ask?”

“Why?” Florian said. “She asked him why. Then he killed her.”

Wren swallowed as Florian put his head in his hands. The pain of that loss was centuries old, yet it still affected him. It was a wound that never healed. Every time he spoke about it, the festering sore opened up again. To Florian, the pain would not end until someone paid for their deaths.

Anika rubbed Florian’s back. “I don’t know why Oliver turned me. He explained nothing. He only told me to go into the American territories and find my people. It took me right to Florian, and we’ve been with each other since I met him in what’s now Nevada.”

“This makes no sense.” Wren sighed. “I know he does some crazy stuff. I’m pretty sure he has done some dirty work, but I have no proof of it. If he did all of this, I’d know something about it. There would be records.”

“Why didn’t you know Isaac Carillo was a suspect?” Florian asked. “You told us you didn’t until your partner spilled it.”

She paused, letting her hands hang in mid-air. Wren was preparing to make a slashing gesture and cut them both off, tell them they were no better than anyone else. Then she would take her leave, going back to the solace and isolation of her home. Florian’s reasoning stopped the exit and made Wren think.

“Your records are sealed.” Wren said. “Anything before 1914 are sealed. I can’t access them. I tried.”

Florian smirked. “You tried after meeting us?”

“Yes. Only the highest clearance can see them.” Wren said.

“Have you ever seen Oliver’s records?” Anika asked.

She shook her head. “No. I never bothered to look.”

“There’s no stopping once you are on this path.” Florian said. “The Iron Oath won’t like it.”

“They don’t like a lot of things I do.” Wren said.

“I will make a bargain with you.” Florian crossed one leg over the other.

Wren’s back tensed up and wound a knot in between her shoulder blades. Vampires didn’t make bargains that benefited anyone else but them. If someone accepted a bargain with one, the Vampire made certain that both sides were kept. Usually, they added manipulation in it to get exactly what they want. It was rare, but sometimes the bargain was mutually beneficial.

She thought about her answer, wondering if Florian’s bargain would be worth it for her. “Tell me what it is first.”

He smiled. “If you agree to look at Oliver’s records, I will help Isaac Carillo and his pack.”

“What’s in it for you?” She asked.

Florian laughed. “Trust me when I say this will benefit everyone involved except the Iron Oath.”

“Alright. I’ll do it.” Wren stuck her hand out until Florian gripped it tight. Their deal was sealed.

Anika put a hand on Wren’s arm. “Wren, be careful with this. You are an Iron Oath Agent. Agents who question the Iron Oath disappear. You are playing with fire.”

There was just a smudge of dirt on Wren’s shoes. It wasn’t even enough to make her shoes look unkempt, but it was enough to make Wren’s point. She brushed against it with her fingers, asking the earth itself to join with her. That tiny smudge of dirt grew until soil sloughed off of her shoe and created a small pile on the ground.

“I can put out fires.” Wren said. “All Druids can.”

“Some Druids start them.” Said Florian.

Morning was not a time to be called in to see the boss. There wasn’t enough tea or coffee in the world to prepare Wren for a meeting with Jacob Stuart at eight. Especially not after she had a long night talking with Vampires.

Nero and Cesar laid down at Jacob’s feet. Nero wagged his tail when he saw Wren, giving her an open mouth smile in hopes she might pet him. Of course, she obliged, giving both dogs the attention they deserved.

She looked into their eyes. They were so bright, but there was something behind them Wren couldn’t place. It was like they were trying to connect with her, but there was a wall in the way. A fortress that kept them apart.

Jacob’s chair creaked as he leaned back, motioning for Wren to sit. “I need to talk with you.”

“About…?” Wren asked.

“Leave Isaac Carillo and Erin Neason to us. Do your job, Wren. Even if it means arresting a friend.” Jacob said.

“We don’t arrest anyone, Jacob. We detain them.” Wren said.

He nodded, giving her a smarmy smile that never made it to his eyes. Jacob was never so casual with her. By this time, both of them should raise their voices. Yet Jacob’s throaty words stayed almost monotone.

“I know he’s your friend, and I know you went to get help for him last night.”

Wren leaned forward. “You what?”

“I had you followed. You were worried. I understand why you did it. Do me a favor and promise you won’t do that again. Let the investigation carry out like it should. Alright?” Jacob said.

Wren made a show of getting angry. Her fingers tapped on Jacob’s desk and she took a few deep breaths, as if she were steadying herself. Finally, she stood up and gave him a curt nod.

“Fine.”

Jacob grinned. “You’ll thank me later.”

No, I won’t. Wren thought.

Jacob said nothing to Wren for the rest of the day. The only communication was an email requesting she come back after dinner for a meeting. Wren agreed, not wanting to rock the boat until it was time. She barely had time to access Oliver Faulkner’s records before a dinner break.

What she found disturbed her. There it was, confirming Florian’s timeline, at least. He had been a member of the Iron Oath since 1635, joining the organization when they made a move to the new colonies in America. A roadblock came in the 1850’s, when Oliver had sealed records for almost a century. She would have to dig to find out what happened with he and Florian, but her stomach reminded her it was way past time to eat and let Brutus out.