Vicki's New Apartment
Mike Celluci held the door and watched Vicki walk slowly passed. For whatever reason, she wouldn't accept his help. He knew better then to ask. If the conversation in the car was any indication, the conflict with the police department damaged more than their chances at a relationship.
"What aren't you telling me?" He suspected he didn't want to know.
She walked toward the kitchen. "Nothing you would believe." Her tone said she had trouble believing it.
"How is Nicholas involved?"
"If he's telling the truth, he's a priest of Apollo." Vicki leaned on the counter to keep her balance. Then reached for a jar of instant coffee.
Mike wondered stopped a few from her. "If he's not?"
"I don't know." From her expression and general body language, she knew something.
"Vicki…"
She set a mug on the counter too hard. "I am either having psychic visions or he's making me hallucinate."
"What's your gut say?"
"That he's exactly what he says he is." She closed her eyes and lowered her head.
It took Mike a moment to realize she was crying. He couldn't remember seeing her cry before. "Talk to me."
"I caused this." Vicki took a moment before wiping her eyes. "Saving Henry from the Incan priest. It likely caused what happened to Coreen. Allowed a demon free." She opened her eyes, staring at the counter. "I justify it. Telling myself I chose the lesser of two evils."
"We can only do what we think is right."
"I don't know what that is anymore." Vicki reached for the coffee again. "What's the issue with the department?"
Mike wished he knew. "Someone is leaking information." He hesitated. "Kate filed a report that you're psychologically unstable and compromised my ability to investigate." He doubted it was why she was transferred. "It's part of the reason your credibility was questioned."
"Part?" She placed mug in the microwave.
"An anonymous tip. Or more than one." He suspected the reason it was believed was above his pay grade.
"What's the incentive to ignore the reporters?"
You would ask that. "Officially? You have no problem with the department."
"Unofficially, it keeps you from being suspended?"
Mike doubted it. That would add to the media problems. "It wasn't mentioned."
A knock interrupted.
Vicki Nelson knew she was losing it. Crying, nevertheless in front of Mike, was out of character. The timing couldn't be worse. The situation involving the Creek needed to be dealt with before more people died. The only clue she had on how to fix it sounded like something out of a historical fantasy novel.
"The trail to Britannia." It sounded like the Naiad was interrupted.
Coreen sat across the table with her laptop. She typed and took notes. "Context?"
"A corrupted temple." Vicki had no idea. "It's apparently how Astaroth attacked the Naiad."
"Local?"
Her vision blurred again. "I guess."
Coreen turned her laptop around. "Etobicoke Trail crosses Britannia Road near the airport."
Resigned, Vicki admitted the problem with her sight. "I can't see it."
"Google Maps shows a clearing." Coreen turned the laptop back. "Maybe it's a small shrine."
That made as much sense as anything else. "How does the power of an Incan priest apply to Greek mythology?"
Answering that took longer. Vicki was failing to read a menu for her favorite Chinese restaurant and resigned to being unable to pour coffee when Coreen entered the kitchen. Admitting weakness had to be some part of the mythic journey, Vicki concluded.
"You'll have to order." She held out the menu.
"I think I found something."
Vicki leaned on the counter as her blurred vision made her dizzy. "How bad?"
"The Incans believed the world was created at a lake. Naiad myths involve founding cities. Inti the Incan Sun god had an area near the lake where the world was created. Oracles, psychics or maybe temples associated with Apollo, could be near springs." Pause. "Winter solstice was very important to the Incans. They celebrated for days." Pause. "The Feast of Poseidon started on December 17 and celebrated sex."
Vicki could picture discussing that to Henry. "What are you thinking?"
"Apollo was the god of many things including healing. The Creek was used intending to heal. Possibly with the solstice to power it." Coreen hesitated. "The psychic vision mentioned sacrificing a child. The Incans sacrificed children during the festival for community well-being."
Not happening. "Anything on purifying temples?"
"Cleansing rituals." She listed several possibilities.
Vicki leaned on the counter as the dizziness made her nauseous. "I need to lay down."
After waking, and dressing for the night, Henry Fitzroy went to check on Vicki. He hoped she was resting although he expected she spent the day investigating. Whether she accepted cases or not, she couldn't switch it off. Not surprising, he found Coreen at the small table near the kitchen.
She blurted, "Something's wrong with Vicki."
"Tell me."
After listening, he wondered what Vicki hadn't shared. The dizziness and nausea especially worried him. He had a theory and hoped he was wrong. Unsure how to discuss it with Vicki, he started with a different suspicion. He called Mike and asked him to check on her medical records.
"How did you know?" Mike asked, calling back an hour later.
"It's easier to hide impossible changes to her health. The anonymous tips and information leaks offers a plausible explanation why her medical records were destroyed."
"Something healed her eyes?"
"Possibly." Henry suspected something else. "I need to talk to Vicki." Before Mike asked better questions.
Easier said then done. Henry hesitated outside the bedroom doors. After a few minutes, he entered. He wanted to be wrong. But healing a life force corrupted by dark magic and vampire blood would take a miracle. Or something equally powerful.
"I needed a nap."
Henry sat on the edge of the bed. "Coreen said you're sick."
"Long day."
"Dizzy, nauseous, tender breasts." He might have considered it two nights earlier when they were in bed if he wasn't confident she hadn't had sex in months.
"What?"
Henry pulled the bedding down slowly and carefully lifted her shirt. Then leaned in to listen to her abdomen. He definitely heard a heart beat. But it wasn't human.
"What exactly did Nicholas say about the Incan priest's power?" Henry asked as he sat back.