Chapter 54: Laryn
Earth is much as I remember-busy, noisy, and crowded. Because of military radar, I must limit flying as a dragon, which is never easy when one is in a hurry. I also don't want Dmitri, a vampire of this realm, to tip off Bastian that I am here. I have no doubt Bastian used Dmitri's connections to discover the location of the chalice.
The man in question, the one with no morals, lives in a place called Texas. It sounds decidedly liberal, which matches this country's appalling views on feudal societies. I mumble the name a few times, "Tex-ass, Tex-ass." It totally fits.
I crossed into this realm more than five-hundred miles from Texas. Now, I'm on a plane after booking a private jet with human money that Dmitri exchanged for gold many years before. Finding a jet and pilot was time-consuming. Time is my most precious commodity at the moment. My bride gave me a name and location. The plane will drop me within ten miles of the place I seek.
I feel my bride plays with me. For some reason, her friendship with Ashrac caused her distress. I will never understand the ways of women. At least this one doesn't whine when her ire rises. I would think being friends with the child would make her happy. What do I know?
The jet touches down and my excitement mounts. The pilot will remain on standby because hopefully we will be leaving quickly. By that I mean running as fast as the plane will carry us. I take off at a fast jog. I'm dressed in black with my hair drawn back to keep it from shining as much as possible in flashlight or spotlight. I've spent much time in this realm and my attire would pass for business casual if it weren't for my shoes. The finest pair of Nike SB Flom Dunk High athletic shoes I could steal. They came from a pro athlete who was cheating on his wife. I had visited the model he was cheating with earlier in the day. I'm surprised I left her enough energy to accommodate her lover. The only downside to slipping the shoes from beneath her bed while he was in it were her shouts of, "Oh tiger, oh tiger," as he pumped away. The man may have been a tiger, but I didn't notice anything above the norm in his sexual prowess.
The shoes are a shining treasure in my collection. I wear them whenever I pass into earth's realm. They are also good running shoes. I'm sure the athlete needed them for running if he were ever caught by his wife.
Too bad.
The shoes are mine now.
I scent Bastian once I'm close. He's here, or was here. I'm not happy that there's a chance he's already succeeded where I've failed. There is a high fence and I draw a spark when I touch it. The electricity doesn't affect me. My shoes come in handy when I back up and leap the fence. I make my way around the perimeter of the house trying to decide the best place to enter. In the past, I've discovered that coming from the roof is easiest. This is a single-story home, which doesn't help my plan. One room is lit up and when I pass, I see Bastian tied to a chair with several men surrounding him. Bastian has blood running from the corner of his lip and I watch him laugh after he's punched again. These men are armed, but for him it's not a problem. He's playing with these guys much like he enjoys playing with his food. I roll my eyes.
His idiocy is my opportunity. Chances are good they did a sweep and think Bastian is alone. I enter through a side door by tearing the lock open. From thousands of years of thievery, I know all the best places to look. The first stop is always the master bedroom. These guys want their finest treasures close.
The bedroom has a hidden room behind the large walk-in closet. Totally unoriginal. The medium sized room is a museum. The lighting and artistry of the location for each piece is absolutely exquisite. I see the chalice immediately. I walk closer and something else catches my eyes. It's a small painting that I've been after for years. It's Poppy Flowers by Van Gogh. It went missing three years ago from the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Palace in Egypt, a far-off country in earth's realm. Three years from the claiming and the search for it helped keep me sane. And here it is ripe for the taking. I must have it.
I gather what I want and then stay to await Bastian. He runs in nostrils flaring because I'm sure he's caught my scent. I'm kicking back atop the bed with my legs crossed. "What took you so long?"
He looks straight at the chalice. "You blue bastard."
I nod to the room behind the closet. I left the doors open. "This guy has stolen pieces of art up the yin yang. You might as well look around and see if something else catches your eye. I'd hate for you to return empty-handed."
His eyes are a brighter red than usual. They simmer with anger while a slight grin plays on his lips. We are a breed of habit and we celebrate the prowess of our brothers even when it's at the cost of a coveted treasure. Excluding the brides, of course. He stalks into the closet and stomps out without a single treasure. "I vow to win the chalice in a wager you can't turn down," he says as his crooked smile grows and he looks longingly at my chalice.
I give him my own answering grin. "As long as your end of the bargain isn't the same as your bride offers," I say with a wink.
A lighter red spark shines in his eyes. "Stop rubbing it in or I'll carry through with my black eye threat."
I only smile in satisfaction. "You need a lift back to the realm crossing?"
"If that's all you can offer, I'll take you up on it. May I at least hold the chalice?"
I stand from the bed and shake my head. "When the hell of every pantheon freezes over."
