~ The abandoned mansion, Phoenix Arizona ~
“What the hell is it?” Brett asked as he, and the rest of the group, stared at the stone disk
“I don’t know but this thing is buzzing.” Megan replied as she rand her hand across the surface
“And you have no idea why the chamber wanted it?” The Wanderer asked
Penny paced backwards and forwards just staring at the ornate disk.
“No,” Penny replied, “But I had the feeling they knew as much about this as we do.”
“So we got a whole upper hand thing happening.” Brett replied
“Let’s make sure we don’t loose it,” Penny replied, “we need to find what this disk does.”
Megan opened her laptop and switched it on.
“I can check with some of the other Techno-Pagan coven’s online see if they recognise it.”
Brett stood up from his seat.
“I’ll hit the net see if I get lucky.” He said
The Wanderer looked at the disk carefully. Suddenly he had a thought.
“Hold on a second.” He said, “There might be an easier way of find out.”
Penny looked at the old man curiously.
“What do you mean?” she asked
The Wanderer looked at Penny a look.
“Well didn’t he post you his new work address?”
Penny caught on what The Wanderer was talking about. A small wry smile crossed his face.
“Oh yeah,” She said, “good idea.”
Megan and Brett looked at the both of them curiously.
“Who are you talking about?” Megan asked
~ The museum of natural history, Los Angeles California – 2 hours later ~
“Brant Jennings.” Brant said cheerfully.
Brant leaned back in his chair calmly. Around him sat various bones and documents which covered almost every surface in the large room he worked in. Brant nodded to himself.
“Yes sir we received the pteradon skeleton this morning. It will make a great addition to the exhibition. Thank you very much I’ll see you later.”
Brant hung up the phone and returned to his paper work. He enjoyed his job at the museum very much since palaeontology was his second passion after being a watcher. On top of that the resources he had access to aid him in keeping tabs on what the council was up to. As he jotting down some notes he looked up to see a small bird land on one of the displays littered around his work space. Brant smiled to himself.
“I see you’re still not one for making appointments are you Nighthawk?” he asked
Nighthawk stepped out from behind one of the shelves. She smiled as she walked slowly up to the table. She brushed her jacket back as she laid her hands on her hips.
“You know me Brant,” she replied, “not exactly into the dinosaur thing.”
Brant laughed lightly as he walked over and hugged her gently.
“How have you been?”
Nighthawk sighed as she leaned against one of the display cases. A look of sadness coming from her mask covered eyes.
“Up and down.”
“I heard about that incident a month ago. You don’t know how sorry I am about your friend.”
“Thanks. I think it’s time for me to move forward my friends and family are dead and nothing’s going to change that.”
Brant nodded as he returned to his desk. He felt the small twinge of guilt he always felt every time Nighthawk talked about Alex. He knew the truth and hoped, in time, that she could learn it as well. Brant sat down and interlaced his fingers on the table.
“Seeing how you are in uniform I’m guessing you didn’t come here to reminisce on old times. What can I help you with?”
Nighthawk walked up to the table briskly. From the bag slung over her back she pulled out the stone disk and laid it down. Brant looked at it with interest.
“I need you to tell me what this is.” Nighthawk said seriously
“This is extraordinary,” Brant exclaimed as he examined the runes and symbols closely, “The craftsmanship is so precise. Where did you get this?”
“Ever hear of a demon called Rorgia the corruptor?”
“Vaguely.”
“He’s now running an organisation called ‘The Chamber’ back in phoenix. I got this from him.”
Brant ran his hands over the surface and was stunned by what he felt. He looked up to Nighthawk in surprise.
“I know,” Nighthawk pre-empted, “I felt it to. This thing has a lot of power and I need to know why. Is there anything you can tell me?”
Brant shifted his magnifying glass over the surface of the disk. He studied each segment carefully.
“Well it’s ancient, I can’t say exactly how old, there are many markings from different cultures embedded on it. I recognise at least three different languages’ I know but I’m certain there is more. Penny pointed to the three animal carvings.
“What about these? Do you think they mean anything?”
“Hmmm idol’s maybe,” Brant replied thoughtfully, “but it’s hard to say. There are numerous cultures that worship either the wolf, the ram or . . .”
Brant and Nighthawk looked up at each other.
“ . . . The hart?” Nighthawk finished, “you’re telling me this thing is some how connected to the law firm?”
“Looks like it,” Brant replied leaning back from the magnifying glass, “I can’t be absolutely certain without more research, actually, I know someone who can help me.”
“Who?” Nighthawk asked curiously
Brant started to scan through his address book for the number he was looking for.
“An old watcher colleague of my. He’s an expert on relics, much better then I am. I’m certain he can provide the answers you’re looking for.”
Brant looked up and saw the hesitation on Nighthawk’s face. He gave her a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry Nighthawk we can trust him.”
“I hope so,” Nighthawk replied, “already had one too many run ins with the council. Not planning on having any more.”
~ A diner, Phoenix Arizona ~
Drukar sat and ate his breakfast hungrily. Being a Maxea demon he had to eat at least seven times a day. Since he was so engrossed in his meal he failed to see Darrel Gibson walk up and sit across him from the booth. Darrel casually laid his hands on the table and smiled at the demon.
“You know if you take smaller bites you’ll be less hungry later on.” he said confidently
Drukar looked up from his food.
“Oh it’s you,” he said with disappointment, “come to give me my money?”
“I can guarantee you’ll be getting what you deserve Drukar as soon as you hand over the Signum Key.”
“Don’t got it.” Drukar replied returning to his meal
“And why’s that?”
“Found a better buyer.”
“I see,” Darrel replied, “Do you know what a contract is Drukar?”
Drukar looked up from his meal confused.
“What are you kidding? Course I do.”
“Do you know what happens when you break a contract?”
“You send me to bed without dinner?” Drukar replied sarcastically
Darrel laughed.
“I forgot how funny you were,” Darrel replied, “you know, come to think of it, it’s a lot like the sense of humour Zothrug had.”
Drukar stopped eating and looked up at Darrel slowly. Darrel noticed the hint of fear in his eyes. He leaned in menacingly
“You remember Zothrug right? the hell god? You were shipping the container full of golden relics holding his family but decided to take a quick trip to Los Vegas instead.”
“You didn’t.” Zothrug exclaimed
Darrel shrugged.
“I just felt that the nice god deserved to know that he lost his entire family because of the bet you put on twenty-three red.”
Just then a vortex opened up next to the two of them. Drukar gripped the table hard but it was not good. The bolts holding it onto the ground gave way causing Drukar to be sucked in. Darrel dusted himself of calmly and stood up after the vortex closed. he walked over to the intern who accompanied him on the trip and smiled at him warmly.
“And that’s a breach of contract is dealt with.” He said
“Interesting method sir,” the intern replied, “but that doesn’t tell us where the key is.”
“Actually it did.”
“How sir?”
“Drukar said it himself,” Darrel replied, “He found another party interested in it. I can only think of one other place in this town with that kind of money.”
~ Palms Hotel, Phoenix Arizona ~
Angel and Willow walked up to the reception desk. Behind it the manager smiled at them warmly.
“Welcome to the palms hotel may I help you?” he asked
“Yeah you can,” angel replied pulling out a photo, “have you ever seen this woman?”
The smile dropped from the manager’s face as he gazed over the photo of Penny. He looked at the vampire and goddess closely.
“No I’ve never seen her before.” he replied
“are you sure?” Willow replied, “She would have been here a couple of months ago with three men.”
“You cops?”
“No we represent people who are very anxious to find this woman.” Angel replied
“Sorry I can’t help you.” manager replied
“We’re not going to get you into trouble we just want to know where she is.” Willow continued, “If you know anything tell us.”
“I already told you I don’t know,” the manager snapped standing up from his chair, “now I’m going to have to ask you to leave before I call the cops.”
Willow and Angel look at each other. They turn and leave the building. Outside they stood calmly and quietly for a moment.
“Well . . . he was lying.” Angel said after a short moment
“Completely,” willow replied, “Maybe we should use force this time.”
Angel nodded. they turned and angel kicked down the door. The manger looked on in horror as Angel vamped out as he stormed up to him. he was about to reach for the phone when he was thrown back violently and pinned against the back wall by Willow. Angel leaped over the desk and stood inches away from the manager. He thrust the photo of Penny in his face menacingly.
“Take a closer look,” he said angrily, “And when you do try and picture her brother completely shattered by her disappearance. Or the sister in law who blames herself constantly then tell me whether or not you’ve see her.”
The manager looked at Angel in fear.
“I-I can’t!” he retorted
“why not?”
“because they’ll kill me if I do!”
“Who?”
“The Englishman!”
Angel looked over to Willow who released her spell. He morphed his face back.
“What Englishman? Angel asked calmly
the manager looked at the two of them then sighed.
“The one who bought the red head here,” he replied defeated, “They came about a couple of months ago and booked a room. I saw one of them was carrying that woman you wanted to find over his shoulder. I was going to call the cops buy he put a gun in my face and said he would kill me if I told anybody.”
“did they say where they were going after here?” Willow asked
The manager thought back.
“I think I overheard something about catching a plane . . . but not from the main airport.”
Willow gave Angel a look. Glenda had briefly explained the industrial airport but she never knew the relevance until now. she felt they were that one step closer to finding Penny.
~ Raleighfield High School library, Raleighfield California – 30 minutes later ~
Nigel Wincroft was stacking books back on the shelf. He was trying to absorb the recent events that has happened in this seemingly innocent looking town of late when he heard the phone ring in his office. Stopping what he was doing Nigel went and answered it.
“Nigel Wincroft.” He said in a welcome tone
“Nigel,” a familiar voice said on the other end of the line, “It’s Brant.”
Nigel leaned back in his chair surprised.
“Brant? My goodness it has been a while.”
“Too long old friend how’s the slayer coming along?”
“Fine,” Nigel replied a little disoriented, “Belle’s training is coming along nicely. I’ve heard rumours that you left the council.”
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line.
“Ah . . . Yes that’s true. I had a few issue with some of Rodgers polices but that’s not why I’m calling. An associate of mine recently delivered a relic she wanted to be identified and I was hoping you could help me with it’s.”
“I’ll do my best but it’s hard to give you a concise answer without seeing it.” Nigel replied as he searched his office for a piece of paper and something to write with.
“If you could at least point me in the right direction that would be tremendous help.”
“Alright go ahead.”
“It’s a stone disk, about the size of a dinner plate; on the top I see variously languages covering its surface. The one’s I recognised instantly were ancient Mayan, Greek, Latin, and Egyptian.
Nigel dropped his pen. Slowly his eyes shifted to the image of the Signum pinned up on his wall. he studied the center piece closely.
“Tell me Brant,” he said cautiously, “Does this disk have three animals carved into it?”
“Yes it does.” Brant replied confused
“A wolf, a ram and a hart.”
There was another pause from Brant.
“How do you know this?” he asked
“Do you have the disk in your possession now?” Nigel asked insistently
“Yes I do but . . . “
“Then listen to me very carefully I want you to bring it to me immediately.”
“Why?”
“No time to explain I just need it here in Raleighfield as soon as possible.”
“alright I’ll organise a currier as soon as . . .”
“No, no curriers, you have to do it.”
“Nigel what’s going on? What is this disk?”
Nigel looked back up at the picture.
“The solution to a very dangerous problem.” He replied seriously
~ Midland Park, Phoenix Arizona – 3 hours later ~
“Which do you think would be quicker the heart or the head?” Jarrod asked as he held an ice pick to himself
Penny looked at him strangely.
“What?” she asked
“Which would kill me quicker?”
“What is your problem?”
Jarrod rolled his eyes.
“These god dammed dirt water assignments is my problem,” He snapped, “somewhere out there is a huge story that needs to be covered and where am I? Stuck in this cruddy park covering the ice sculpting final.”
Just then Deke ran up to him.
“We got two minutes Jarrod.” He said insistently
Jarrod sighed and put down the ice pick.
“Fine lets go drag my career further down the tube.”
As Jarrod walked Penny noticed the huge smirk on Dekes face
“We don’t have to minutes do we?” she asked
“Nah,” he replied, “I just had to get him away from you. nobody should be tortured like that.”
“Thank you.” Penny said in relief
Her cell began to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Penny? Brant here, listen, I have identified what the disk is.”
Penny excused herself and moved away from Deke. A huge crowd was forming to watch the ice sculpting which made it easier for Penny to Blend in.
“So what is it?” she asked
“it’s called the Signum Key,” Brant explained, “its part of a bigger relic buried in Raleighfield. I’m delivering it to my colleague tonight.”
Penny stopped and looked worried.
“What? Why?”
“Apparently the Signum key is part of some plot to end the world and he needs it to prevent it.”
“Do you trust him?”
“With my life. I know my friend he’s a good watcher but would never follow Rodger blindly.”
“Well as long as you’re sure.”
“I’ll give you another call once I have delivered it to him.”
“Thanks a lot.” Penny replied before hanging up
She felt a sense of satisfaction. They had identified what the disk was and it was now on its way to stop the end of the world. Penny was just glad she didn’t have to hit that many people this time to solve the problem. While she was thinking about this she collided with a teenagers walking in her direction. Penny looked at the shy looking girl awkwardly.
“Sorry about that,” she said apologetically, “Guess I should watch where I’m going next time.”
Heidi looked up at Penny seriously.
“G-Go after the watcher,” she said, “H-he’s in danger.”
Penny’s apologetic look shifted to cautious curiosity.
“’Scuise me?”
“If they get the watcher t-they get the key. Y-You can’t let that happen.”
Penny looked around the crowd to see if there was any advancing men with guns. When she didn’t she any she fixed her gaze on Heidi
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“T-the key is too important Nighthawk.”
Penny narrowed her eyes. She folded her arms.
“Who are you?”
Heidi took a couple of cautious steps back.
“N-no time you have to go after The Watcher before they get him.”
“Who?”
“T-the chamber.” Heidi replied before she disappeared into the crowed
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