It was not the Broken Angel’s spell, but it was very much connected to the Prophet’s case. It was a journal, and the writing was another entry detailing the Prophet’s journey into the tunnels to face the Betrayer imprisoned in the center of the earth.

Clark studied the picture carefully. He deduced the paper had probably been pressed against the missing half of the Prophet’s shield, which Alejandro had said was broken in the catacombs beneath the earth. The rubbing must have come from it when it was later unearthed. Also, no one who did it had any idea of what they possessed; and it was just as likely those with a vested interest in the thing never found out about it to begin with.

The world was a big place.

You never know what might be hidden in the most remote corners.

Clark slapped the page and looked up to thank the librarian.

Alas, the old man was long gone.

The wizard thought nothing of it and went back to the travelogue. Excitement flashed in his eyes as he used his fingers to trace out a pattern. The spell took effect immediately. Before, he had Alejandro’s narration and Father Julien’s original message to work with; and now, he used magic to translate the message he saw on the page as he read it.

Human language was a wonderful thing, and with magic, Clark was fluent in any number of the tongues of the world. His spell worked better than Google Translate, especially where the scrawled writing of ancient, forgotten warriors was concerned.

This is what he read:

~

“The tunnel beneath the village is a dreary place. We saw only one place of worship above ground, and it has long since been abandoned. The empty windows look upon us as forlorn eyes when we approached; and it is inside the gaping maw made by its broken doors that we found the entrance to the ancient prison of our Great Enemy.

A staircase led downwards and we followed it. It led into a tunnel stained by filth. Pus ooze from sores beneath our feet, and the walls are covered by glistening saliva. The stench of death is ever-present in our nostrils.

We have faced scores of enemies already. That was to be expected. Skeletal men and other monsters too horrifying to describe. I slew my way through those who were corrupted by the Betrayer’s pervasive influence. I have already bled. And where my life has flowed, I caught it in the chalice that is my shield. Now, it is a ward against the evil of this place. As always, my faith keeps my sword-arm strong.

I worry for my brother. He fights valiantly against the throng of evil. Yet, I can tell he is frightened. His resolve is not strong. When we stared down the damned lieutenant, with its horns of oxen, body of man, and feet of serpent, his will was very nearly broken. He tried to flee but I would not let him. The creature was eventually slain.

I rest knowing I will need to keep one eye open in sleep, for the voice of the prisoner—so near to breaking free—is strong here. Promises of wealth. Promises of glory. Promises of the mending of heartaches long forgotten. It grasps at the ears of the weakened to twist their minds. I fear for my brother. I fear that on the cusp of our ascension; he will throw everything away. That which we were promised—the reward bequeathed upon Angels and the recognition of the Heavens itself. It would break my heart if he failed now.

I must keep going. He will come with me, whether or not he himself is willing. I shall be wary. My faith protects me.

It’s not far now.”

~

Clark finished reading.

He looked up into a rapidly darkening sky. The wizard was still in his chair at the public library, but the day had already gone. He had missed lunch. Dinner. Clark could feel his avatar’s stomach growling, and vaguely recalled that he had a responsibility towards the body he inhabited.

While mulling on a place for supper, Clark looked over his phone. He found the contact he was searching for, and dialed it in with a press of his thumb.

He wasn’t sure anyone will pick up, but the call was answered on the first ring.

“Hello?”

Alejandro.

“Hey kid,” Clark said into the gadget. He was hurrying to the exit with the travelogue under one arm. On the way, he passed the administration’s desk. A different librarian sat there, and the woman looked at him disapprovingly as he blew past her on his way to the elevator. She held up a finger to her lips and shushed him, even as he nodded an apology before the thick doors rumbled closed after him.

He came out on the first floor. Clark August didn’t have a library card (or a driver’s license; or a social insurance number; or any kind of identification at all, since officially, Clark August didn’t exist as a Canadian citizen). Thankfully, Lin did, and the automatic check out machine didn’t raise a fuss. Soon, the wizard passed out of the library. He strode into the building’s concourse and spoke louder into the phone there.

“Can I come over tonight?”

Silence from the other end of the line.

“Alejandro?”

The young man’s reply was a defeated sigh.

Clark immediately picked up on the message: “No luck with Father Julien?”

He could practically hear the other shaking his head through the phone.

“He still thinks me a demon.”

Alejandro said: “You didn’t get much when we put it to a vote.”

Clark remembered the grizzled fellow who tried to shoot him and ended tossed off a roof for his troubles. He also recalled the woman whose arm he broke. He shrugged: “I would plea self-defense, but we don’t have time. I think I know how to find your Prophet.”

The other was immediately interested: “How?”

Clark made it to the food court. He stared into it longingly for a second before asking: “Have you eaten yet?”

Alejandro told him he had not.

“Well, neither have I. And since you taking my call at all should mean that things between me and your Order is not completely kaput, I figured—dinner? Then we go together. Again.”

Clark was right on the money with that assessment.

“Only this time,” Alejandro said warily, “please stay outside. Let me go in first to make sure it’s okay before you enter.” The young man sighed again. “If we did that last time—”

“—we might have gotten a word in, edgewise, before I got tossed out.” Clark chuckled. “Gotcha. I’ll wait on the steps. You make the introductions in my stead.”

Another unseen nod from the other end of the line.

“Where are you now?” the wizard wanted to know.

A pause. “Don’t you know?” Alejandro asked cautiously.

The problem with mere mortals was, they tended to assume things about a wizard. It was expected that they knew too much. Or that they knew too little. That they could watch others from afar without their knowledge, or arrive precisely whenever they’re needed (sometimes, that last part is true).

Clark sighed: “Of course not.”

“Oh.”

Then—

“Where do I meet you?”

Clark thought. “What’s your nearest subway station?”

When Alejandro told him, he nodded on his way out of the building.

“That’s actually not far at all. Meet me there in ten minutes. We’ll grab a bite, then head over.” A pause. “Do you have a car?”

He did.

“You pick me up. I’m without a ride myself.”

“Okay.” The boy’s words were quiet, as if he was in deep thought. Clark got the impression that Alejandro was still a little uncertain about where everything was heading. That’s okay, though, since Clark only needed another audience with the Order to put things on the right foot.

Whatever else, Alejandro was willing to help.

“Kid?” he asked.

He felt the other perk up on the other end of the line.

“Thanks,” Clark said. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Sure,” Alejandro replied. Clark had spoken sincerely, and some of the wariness slipped out of the young man’s voice. “See you, Mr. Clark.”

The call ended. By then, Clark had reached the entrance to the subway. He looked up briefly at the sign and read the stops. Give or take, the time he mapped out in his head was going to work out. His stomach growled again and he laid a hand against it. People didn’t understand, but to maintain washboard abs meant eating well and eating often. He was behind schedule, and Clark was nothing if not a slave to discipline. Military training will do that to a person. He resolved to stuff himself before heading for his appointment. Along the way, he imagined Alejandro will have many questions. He pulled open the door, stepping aside to let through two young women (probably) heading back home from school.

He went in after them, without the slightest idea then how this night would turn out.

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