A Little Black Magic

This story tales place in 2008 about four weeks after my last story The Wizard, the Knight and the Pragmatist ends. It is written in the first person with Methos telling us the story.

Disclaimer - The Dresden Files belongs to Jim Butcher, Highlander belongs to Panzer Davis productions

Thanks- I wish to thank my Beta Reader RJ Bingham. I encourage everyone to read his stories can be found at = /u/2428181/R_J_Bingham

I would like to thank my new co-writer and Beta reader Ferretkid - I encourage everyone to read her fan-fictions at = /u/2825702/FerretKid

Chapter 3

Methos Meets Gentleman Johnny Marcone!

"So what's the big problem with me having a Watcher, doesn't Dr. Stacy have a Watcher?" Mac asked we got in to Karrin's Saturn.

"Of course I do, but all I ever do is work at the hospital, so they reassigned me to a Watcher that handles a group of Immortals who are not active in the game. Frankly, I was just too boring for any one person to watch. I may be an Immortal, but I'm a regular guy who just goes to work every day. The Watchers haven't seen Dr. Stacey in a sword fight since 1954."

"Which we both know is untrue," Mac smiled back.

"Well, when I first came to Chicago I had three challenges, but the records say that Benjamin Adams, who was visiting me, took the heads. Since we look a lot alike who was I to correct them? The local Immortals, on the other hand, know it was Dr. Stacy, so they leave me alone."

"Methos, why do they leave you alone because of three fights? That never worked for me."

"Duncan, you're a man of chivalry, you know I am not. I just showed them that I didn't want to fight, but if they pushed me I would survive at any cost." I gave him a smile and changed the subject. I didn't want Mac to think too hard on what 'any cost' meant. "I've been laying low, but I did take a head less than a year ago. It was one of those situations I couldn't avoid, he wouldn't take no for an answer." I told Mac. "I have to be careful, my new gig can get a little high profile so that's a problem. Here, take a look at Amoracchius while I drive. Oh by the way, how is your Russian, Mac?"

"My Russian? It's still good I guess, why did you ask? Methos what is this new gig you keep talking about, and why does your sword have the name Amoracchius? You told Joe it was Excalibur."

"Same sword, just has a nail from the Cross of Christ in the hilt. Hey! Watch taking Amoracchius out of the scabbard, this is a Saturn not a Hummer! The sword's almost as long as the Clan MacLeod Claymore and I haven't lived 5,000 years to get beheaded by a speed bump!"

"Methos, you have got to be kidding me there is a nail in the hilt." Mac shook his head in a disapproving manner and gave me that look he reserves for when he thinks I'm telling him a wild story - one I completely made up.

"No, Mac I am telling you the truth, scouts honor."

"Yeah, like you were ever a Boy Scout!"

"No, but back in the good old days, during the Second Boer War in South Africa 1899, I met Baden-Powell. We used to exchange military strategies. Later he wrote Scouting for Boys and the American Boy Scouts were based on the group he started in the UK."

"Methos!" MacLeod yelled at me in disbelief.

"Fine, back to the sword. She was Excalibur once, but now her name is Amoracchius. She is one of the three swords of the Knights of the Cross, and a very powerful weapon if used by the right hands. When I use her against someone who will not renounce evil, her blade turns to fire and will burn them with the fire of righteousness. I know Mac, I sound like I've gone completely off my rocker. We're picking up the other Knight of the Cross, Sanya. He wields Espercchius the Sword of Hope. It has the form of a heavy cavalry saber." I tried to explain as I revved up all four cylinders of the economy Saturn and sputtered out on to the busy streets of downtown Chicago. In what universe did it say that when you dated someone you must exchange vehicles with them? Bloody hell, I have to talk Karrin into getting a different set of wheels!

"You're right Methos, you sound crazy but I'll play. Who has the third sword?" Mac asked.

I refocused back to telling Mac about the Swords of the Cross "No one. We are still waiting for its Knight to be found. That sword is Fidelacchius, the Sword of Faith. It's a Katana with a water-patterned steel blade and a wooden-cane scabbard, formerly possessed by Shiro Yoshimo but he was murdered before I had a chance to meet him. Shiro was mentor to both of the Knights before me." I said with a sad tone to my voice.

"So Methos, who picks these Knights?" Mac asked curiously.

I started laughing and answered. "Harry Dresden, my wizard friend, picks the Knights, then one of the archangels speaks to them and asks them to take up the mantle of a Knight of the Cross. When it happened to me, the archangel and I put a time limit on my service because I am an Immortal. After that time, it's up to me whether or not to re-up my contract. Mac, I know it sounds insane but it's all true."

"So Espercchius is the Sword of Hope, Fidelacchius the Sword of Faith, what is Amoracchius?" Mac asked.

I took a deep breath, and said "Amoracchius is the Sword of Love. Damn it, it has changed me too. I am different ever since I picked up that damn sword, I can't explain it Duncan, but I am different now. This morning was the first time in a long time that I felt as paranoid as I used to. Normally, I'm calm, almost relaxed, and I feel almost human again." I confessed as I got on the loop and headed out of the city.

"You calm! Methos, when I arrived this morning you were acting perfectly normal to me, and when weren't you paranoid?" Mac laughed.

"MacLeod, you were right, you didn't know me, not the real me. A lot of what I said and did was a cover-up that made my life easier to deal with, and yes most of the time I was manipulating you. With your sense of chivalry it wasn't that difficult."

"I knew it! You planned for me to kill Kronos from the beginning right?" Mac cried out.

"For once Mac shut up and just listen, I am trying to bare my soul to you and you're still whining about the Horsemen, and that was over eleven years ago! Macleod, it's time for you to just get over it. But your not the type to get over things, I found that out when Kristen came to town. Oh just forget it Mac, trying to talk to you is useless." OK now I was annoyed, how many times had I listened to Mac dump on me? Hundreds? I want to talk to him just once, and he goes off whining about the Horsemen for the billionth time.

"Well, you act like a sarcastic bastard most of the time, we were all sure you didn't have much of a heart, then when you met Alexa I saw a different side of you. Then Kronos showed up and we all started to question your motives again Methos. I really have never been sure who or what you were, except for the fact you were always my friend." Mac put his hand on my shoulder.

I looked up at him, "thanks for saying that. What I was going to say was most of the time I didn't even feel human any more, just a freak that lived forever and was afraid to die. Some things in my life are changing since I took up Amoracchius. For one thing, I have an Archangel who talks to me. That how the Knights get some of their information on what needs to be done. We still have free will as to whether or not to do what the Archangel has asked of us, but usually there are not too many loopholes I can use to get out of a job." OK I told him. Now was Mac going to buy it?

"METHOS, keep your eyes on the road! Honestly you're telling me that you're talking to Archangels, don't you think that's a little crazy?" Mac looked at me with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

I pulled off the highway and on the road towards the airfield. Charming. Of course Mac didn't believe I spoke with Archangels, some days I couldn't believe it myself.

"Yes I do, but it doesn't change the facts. Duncan, please don't ask me to make an Archangel appear either because I can't just summon him up. He does drop by every now and then, but at their pleasure not mine." I tried not to look crazy. "Enough chit chat, Sanya can back up my story so I don't sound like I am a complete lunatic."

I drove Karrin's Saturn to the private airfield where my jet was landing. Sanya was returning from Cuba where he had a run in with one of the Order of the Blackened Denarians, unfortunately they had gotten away. I should have gone with him, but Sanya insisted he go alone because I was still a Knight in training. That would not be the way things happened next time, the Knights needed to work together in order to gain the victories we needed.

I stopped at the guard shack at the gate; they knew me as one of the private customers, one of a very exclusive list that kept planes here.

"Good Morning Dr. Stacy. What happened to that shiny black classic Porsche?" The guard smirked.

"Sam you know it only seats two, this is just a loaner." I jested back at the guard.

"Yeah, I have seen that cop girlfriend of yours pick you up in that car, it's a classic, all the wealthy clients collect them," the guard chuckled back. Then he added, "Sorry to break your stones Doc, but you got company this morning." He pointed to the client parking lot and the black stretch limo with the license plate "2City #1."

The plate stood for Second City, a popular nickname for Chicago used by a 1950s New Yorker article, calling Chicago the country's second major city. The phrase was later appropriated by a Chicago comedy troupe that became the famous Second City TV. I immediately recognized it as Marcone's plate for his personal limo.

I had bought Dresden a vanity plate for Christmas, and the damn fool chose "BlueBug." How very original! Looked great on that beat up, piece of junk, multicolor VW Beetle of his! My Porsche's license plate said "ParisPrie," which stood for another famous Chicago nickname "Paris on the Prairie" - from the 1909 plan for the City of Chicago created by Daniel Burnham.

I knew Daniel and had worked with him on the city plans, so the nickname was extra special to me. Besides, my plate was far more classy than Marcone's, only he would use plate phrased after a TV show. Buggers, I hate pretentious crime bosses and wizards.

"Thank for the heads up Sam, hey at least these wheels are better than the 85 Mustang you drive." I really wasn't thrilled to see a large black limo waiting for its owner to land.

"Doc, that Mustang's a classic! But don't check the employee parking 'cause I got my wife's Ford Tarsus today. Women, I guess they all got us by the balls!" Sam the guard smiled as he waved us thorough the gate.

"How true," I thought to myself. "When did I lose charge of my relationship? Is being a Knight making me in to a wimp? Bloody NO!" As soon as I got through this day from hell, Karrin and I needed to have a talk.

The airfield looked more like a military base than a small private airport.

"Nice airfield Methos!" Mac said, as I parked the car.

"Thanks Mac, it's restricted to patrons who can anti-up the large fees the ask for, no customs, easy on easy off with the swords. If you know the right people, there are no questions asked." I answered my friend who looked a little shocked. "Mac, this is Chicago. The system has worked this way since the days of Al Capone. In the Knight's case, why not let it work for the side of good for a change? Sorry, I need to talk to the control tower, could you stay with the car? These people do not like strangers. It's another Chicago thing, I'll be right back."

I walked up to a small tower building with a large dish on top of it. So Mac wasn't thrilled with sitting in the car, but the guys who worked at the airfield all knew me, I paid my bills, and all the employees carried guns. Privacy was bought and sold here and, as I said, they didn't like strangers.

Once inside, I made my greetings and asked why my jet hadn't landed yet. The tower guys told me it was circling because Mr. Marcone's plane had priority in landing and it was due in soon. They apologized, but no matter how much I paid, Marcone was The Boss in Chicago and I had to wait. So I went back to my car. I could do nothing about the situation.

Mac could see I was angry. "Methos what's up?" he asked.

"I'm getting a major headache again. Sanya is stuck in the air because "Gentleman" Johnny Marcone, who controls the majority of organized crime in Chicago, is holding up my jet. To top it off, besides being a mob boss, Mr. Marcone is a Freeholding Lord and Baron of Chicago under the Unseelie Accords." I told Mac. I was still fuming.

"OK, what are the Unseelie Accords?" Mac innocently asked. Damn it, I was getting so used to Chicago and its magical sub-culture that I forgot Mac wouldn't know the difference between an Archangel, and the Unseelie Accords.

"Sorry Mac. The Unseelie Accords are a set of agreements like the Geneva Convention that govern behavior between its signatories, who are the major powers of the magical world. The Accords include protocols for etiquette, hospitality, formal duels, and neutral ground, among other things. The Knights are not part of the Accords, which means Marcone can kind of boss us around, since he has more power in the magical community's eyes than we do. I think the Knights should be part of the Unseelie Accords, but that is something I have to take up with my bosses. Since I don't have a direct pipeline to the Archangels, who knows when I can talk to them about this." I was so frustrated I was going to be late to the clinic and now had no time to debrief Sanya.

"Methos, you really believe in this magic stuff, what happened to you?" Mac asked.

Well I had time, so I told him the story of how I met Harry Dresden and became a Knight. It took a while but Marcone's plan finally landed and mine could also. Mac was a little taken aback by the story, but I told him he was going to meet Harry tonight for dinner. I told Mac both Sanya and Harry would back up my story. Why after saving MacLeod's ass so many times did I still have to justify myself?

I was thrilled to see the man wearing the big red cross finally get off the plane. It was after 11:00 am and I wasn't happy with Marcone. I went out to greet Sanya; we hugged and then kissed each other's cheeks with Mac following my lead, while Marcone watched us.

I went in the plane and talked to the crew, thanked them for their patience, told them to refuel, set the plane up for another flight, and then they could go home. I never knew when one of us might have to leave again, so I thought it better to be safe than sorry and keep the plane ready to leave at a moment's notice. Marcone seemed to be waiting to talk to me, why I had no idea. Frankly, I was already late for work and could care less what "Gentleman" Johnny Marcone wanted.

I always spoke Russian with Sanya in public. Mac caught on really fast and joined us. It was safer that John Q Public didn't know what we were talking about. Mac was starting to enjoy the adventure, I'm sure he was feeling like he was a spy again. Agent 007 Duncan MacLeod working for MI6, thank you only in a bad dream!

Mac and Sanya seemed to get along from the first moment they met. Sanya wanted stories about what Mac and I used to do, Mac was shocked when Sanya just laughed about me being Death. I just closed my ears and hoped nothing Mac said would get back to Karrin and get me in trouble. I think they were mostly exchanging drinking stories.

Sanya asked if I was still getting the headaches that had started about three weeks ago. I asked myself - do Immortals get headaches? Well, I thought it was just a side effect from becoming a Knight of the Cross and gaining back my conscience, something I thought I managed to get rid of ten centuries ago. Thank you yet again Amoracchius.

I was just about to pull out of the parking lot when I was approached by Mr. Hendricks and asked if I could join Mr. Marcone in his limo. Well, I was in a bit of a pickle. Few said no to John Marcone. Well, Dresden did on a regular basis, but that was a wizard thing. I was already late for the free clinic and I felt like I had just pulled several all-night shifts at the hospital. The last thing on my to do list was have a chat with Chicago's head mobster!

I smiled at Mr. Hendricks, asked Sanya to explain the situation to MacLeod, unbuckled my seat beat, and walked over to the limo. I held Amoracchius in my right hand and waited to be let in the limo. Mr. Hendricks said I could not bring any weapons with me.

I politely replied, "If Amoracchius can't come, neither can I."

Then I heard that distinct voice come out of the limo. "Come in Dr. Stacy and bring your sword, are you not a Knight of the Cross? You couldn't use the sword here because you would risk losing its power. Hendricks, show a little respect for the Knight, he is not a man to be trifled with. Welcome Dr. Stacy. You should have informed me I was holding up your plane and I would have allowed it to land. I apologize for the inconvenience, I am glad to see the Knights are able to use better resources, such as private jets, since you joined their ranks." John Marcone looked right at me as he said this.

"Thank you Mr. Marcone, in the future if the circumstance arises, I will do that. I am sorry I can't stay as I have an obligation to work at the University of Chicago Medical Center's Free Clinic at Noon, and as it's past 11:30, I am going to be late." I spoke with all the respect I could muster.

"Then let me take you in my limo. I can get you there faster than your friends can in Sergeant Murphy's Saturn. I know the city needs one of its best doctors, and we can have a chance to talk."

I really didn't like the tone of his voice, but few ever refused "Gentleman" Johnny Marcone. Again, other than Harry, and that weaseling wizard was at I-HOP, having breakfast with MY girlfriend!

Was there possibly a way this day could get worse?

End of Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Mob Boss, Rumor Mills, and Misconceptions