Chapter 38 #2
“He’s fucking with us, Iggy.” Snake put Alistar’s phone on the ground and let the heel of his boot hover over it. “Should I smash this, or you?”
“Neither?” Alistar shrank back, eyes bugging from fear.
Snake slipped back in time, to age fourteen, cowering as his father loomed over him.
He wouldn’t be that man.
“How about you tell me the whole story from start to finish?” Snake brushed dust from Alistar’s cell and gave it back. “Ending with the current location of the scroll.”
Alistar stared at Snake’s mouth, trembling. “Those fangs are scary, dude.”
Iggy ruffled the boy’s hair. “Snake can kill a beastie in a blink, but he wouldn’t hurt a wee lad like yourself. You have my word.”
“What about his?” Alistar nodded toward Snake.
“As long as you behave yourself, I promise I will, too.”
The boy shook off his nerves and wove a tale with dramatic flair. While he couldn’t remember the exact wording, the scroll did indeed mention Horatio.
“It said he’d arrive on a silver ship and would use his ‘tool’ to kill my brother.
I took it back home and showed it to him, along with the notes from the professor.
He totally freaked. Ran off to his room with the scroll and the translation.
A few hours later, he asked me to do an internet search for Horatio Slice. ”
“Why didn’t he do that himself?” Snake asked.
“Meridian’s too dumb to use a computer.”
“I guess he’s not our hacker,” Snake said. “Are you?”
Alistar grimaced. “Ew, no. I use the internet to find naked pictures, like a normal person.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“One of the articles I found said Horatio was a ‘guitar god’. We figured that’s what the scroll meant he’d use as a weapon.
My brother got obsessed after that. Locked himself in his quarters.
I didn’t see him for a week until he barged into my room and begged me to destroy the scroll. ”
Snake couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Meridian claimed the scroll could escape its box, glowed green, and whispered to him in a strange language, keeping him awake at night until he thought he was going mad.
“How did you destroy it?”
“I promised Merry I’d burn it and bury the ashes, but the truth is, I sold it.”
Snake clenched his fists. “To whom?”
“Some treasure hunter named Remy. He probably still has it if you want to see it in person.” Alistar licked his lips. “Give me a little incentive, and you can have his address.”
Snake growled.
“I can’t help it! I’m raging with hormones and you guys are stupid hot.” Alistar wiped his brow. “Come on, I’ll take you there now.”
“You need looking after, son.”
“Stuff it, Iggy. I’ve been on my own since I was eight.”
They walked to an area of the capital known as ‘The Burg’—a quaint town with lovely cottages and too many flowers for Snake’s taste. When they knocked at the treasure hunter’s door, a towering lass with purple hair answered.
“Trixie Bedlam? Well, isn’t this a nice surprise.”
“Snake Vinter!” She gave him a bone-crushing hug. “It’s been ages.” She released Snake and grinned at the other two. “Iggy, a pleasure as always. And is this your son?”
“No. I’m the pirate known as Alistar.” He scowled.
Trixie chuckled. “Yeah. Sure.” She beamed at Snake. “What can I do for you?”
“Searching for a chap named Remy, darling.”
“Oh, him.” Trixie made a face. “Weird sort, that one.” She pointed to the house next door. “That’s his place, but you won’t find him there. Left a month ago and didn’t leave a forwarding address.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know his surname, would ya, love?” Iggy asked.
“Jackson. Remy Jackson. Short man. Black hair. Squinty eyes.” Trixie took a step back. “Come in for tea?”
“Another time, perhaps. We really need to find Remy Jackson.” Snake kissed Trixie on both cheeks. “Still working for Scully?”
“Nah. Telling fortunes on the strip these days. Pays well. No stress.” She paused and furrowed her brow. “Try the knife shop across from Vibrations, uh, The Whet Stone, it’s called. The bloke behind the counter used to pal around with Remy. Maybe he knows his location?”
“Brilliant.” Snake smiled. Trixie always was a fountain of intel. “Thank you, love.”
After they’d traipsed to the knife shop, two pubs, and a grocery store, Snake was surly and out of ideas. “He could be anywhere.”
“Let’s hit the Crow’s Nest for a beer and a soda pop for the lad.”
“Can’t. I’ve got to get back to repairing my ship.” Snake blew out a breath. “Bloody hell, I really need that scroll.”
“Tell you what, Allie and I will track it down. It’s the least I can do since you saved my skin yesterday.”
“Why do I have to help?” Alister glowered.
“Because it’s the proper thing. Now, shake Snake’s hand and promise him you won’t tell Meridian any of this.”
“I haven’t talked to my brother in months.”
“Promise him anyway. It’s the pirate way.” Iggy patted the boy’s shoulder.
Alistar thrust out his hand. “I solemnly promise I won’t tell Meridian anything.”
“Good. Because I’d hate to add ‘child killer’ to my resume.” Snake slipped a gold piece into Alistar’s hand as he shook it. “Ya tyke.”
· · ·
Once his feet stepped through the portal and touched the breathtaking landscape of Scuirius, Snake felt an urge. He followed the path to Martine's headquarters and found her at a desk, eating lunch.
“Looks like you’ve got the weight of the universe on your shoulders, Snake.” Martine dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “Bad day?”
“Frustrating day. But that’s neither here nor there. I need something special and unique.”
Martine grinned. “Something… circular in shape?”
“I didn’t know you could read minds, darling.”
“Reading minds isn’t in my skill set, but I can read auras, and yours is pulsing red, which can only mean one thing: you’re hopelessly in love.”
Snake flushed. “Hopeless is the right word.”
Martine took Snake to a small warehouse stocked with precious gems. A chubby male sat behind the counter, wearing a jeweler’s loupe.
“Whatever he wants, Davey. And charge him double. He’s good for it.” Martine made a quick exit.
Davey grinned. “You’ve got it bad, friend. Let me guess.” He gave Snake the once-over. “You want a diamond as big as my nutsack.”
Snake scrolled through his phone gallery until he found his favorite photo. He showed the screen to Davey. “Green like his eyes and just as perfect.”
Davey rubbed his paws together. “I’ve got just the thing.”