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Luminescence 57

Eros and Marcus watched Candor dig into his food with verve.             Finally when he’d dabbed his mouth with his napkin, setting it aside did he finally speak. “I’m ready to be a part of this mission.” Candor held up his hand when Marcus shuffled, “I know my seeing you was not a coincidence and that eventually we have crossed paths, would have had to work together again,” he gave Marcus an especially hard glare. Candor chewed on his bottom lip, ignoring the other words he wanted to say.             “There’s no point in waiting for you two to manipulate me into working with you. I’m here, make use of me but know this,” he leaned forward. “Things will not be like they were the last time,” Candor looked to Marcus, unflinching when he sat back.             Eros didn’t look to Marcus for confirmation when he said, “Done.”             Something like an exhale sighed between them all.             Eros spoke first. “I certainly missed having you here to add at least some convers
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Luminescence 56

“I was thinking the same thing.”             Eros and Marcus looked up to where Candor stood. “It wasn’t that hard to find you,” he shrugged, his hands in his tailcoat. Candor seated himself at their table. He hadn’t needed to elicit the attention of the staff, hadn’t needed to explain why he wasn’t staying at the hotel. He’d simply flicked a switch in the host’s mind and made her unsee him, made himself blend in as somebody else.             Candor unhooked his black scarf, unbuttoning his jacket, placing it with deft fingers on the back of his chair. “The Council only provides the best for its two most treasured operatives.” It was hard to detect whether it was disdain underlying his words.             Marcus Ambruge did not respond, move or indicate discomfort in any way.             Eros was smooth as he drawled in that seductive voice, “It’s been an age since it’s been the three of us. As I recall you had a penchant for such luxury.”             Candor rose from his sea
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Luminescence 55

Eros and Marcus hadn’t said much following the incident in the shop.             They’d spoken in brief sentences, alluding to what they’d learned but neither had wanted to openly voice that there might be another Portal.             It wasn’t until the next morning when they were seated in the restaurant for breakfast that they finally acknowledged each other and the task at hand. The opulent golden drapes dappled off some of that rare English sun. The hotel was fashioned in Victorian luxury and surprisingly not dated, simply historic and empirical. As much as Eros had insisted on the finer things in life, he’d taken a liking to the hotel and subsequently hated it as well. It somehow came with a price tag more in line with businessmen and aristocrats. The latter had yet to make an appearance. Eros scrolled through his tablet, taking advantage of the wifi when their hometown was a dead spot for such things. It had been intentional so as to keep the city and its vast array of sec
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Luminescence 54

It was a cheap bed and breakfast with lace doilies and plastic tablecloths.             The smell of grease had at least been the same, as Enda, Rover and Annandale all lumbered in and set down at a table unceremoniously, their elbows sticking to the plastic.             “I don’t like this,” Enda voiced. “Did you see the way they treated us?”             Rover grumbled, “It was like the first week of school n we were the new kids.”             Candor sat at the head of the table and managed a polite smile as the waitress placed laminated menus before them. “They’ve always been like that,” his voice was quiet, restrained as he remembered things he didn’t want to. He wiped away a bead of sweat on his forehead. Seeing Marcus Ambruge had set his heart into overdrive. He’d made a point to steer clear of the man for years, had finally succeeded when his wife had died. Marcus and that wretched woman had given him peace; a reprieve as he’d mourned and now that time was up. Soon enoug
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Luminescence 53

They’d gone round the back of the antique shop.             Candor had made quick work of erasing the last ten minutes from the three demons. He’d been surprised when Marcus had stepped in to do Ramon.             Marcus’s powers were different, subtler, his was the power of persuasion and he had persuaded Ramon to forget any of this had ever happened. Watching him at work, as Marcus touched his long fingers to the man’s temple; it was an art form in itself.             In comparison Candor had touched the demons briefly, hesitant and agitated.             Even Enda and Annandale had paused to watch Marcus.             Eros flicked off an invisible piece of dirt from his nails, “Let’s head back to the hotel and mull over our findings,” he inclined his head.             Enda grumbled, “Why’d you get a hotel when we get”-             “Enda quiet,” it was Candor who spoke. Eros and Marcus both faced him suddenly brows raised. “Don’t be so shocked that every once in a while
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Luminescence 52

“The jar is left over from the power trade a few years back,” Candor said. Given the nature of the information he’d gleaned he’d waited until it was just the three of them. Marcus, Eros and Candor. He didn’t have to ask whether this information was too sensitive for the Travelling Guardians. He’d either be made to make them forget if he told them or worse.             Unless Marcus Ambruge stepped in to do it. The African giant rarely did his own dirty work these days. No. They’d drain Candor’s power before their own. It was the Guardian way. 
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Luminescence 51

Candor sent in Enda and Rowan as Eros requested.             He waited meanwhile, watching the shopfront.             He’d taken less than a minute to slice through all three demons minds and ascertain what they knew of the demon Oracle and the glowing jar. Erasing their memories would be harder, he’d have to touch them physically to do it and it would be draining. A chill breeze flitted along the curves of the double Decker buses snicking around is neck as he pulled his jacket close, the cuffs up.             The wind had turned direction suddenly like an unwelcome tide, the scent of stale air clung to his nose. If he were the suspicious type he’d consider it a warning from one of the gods. Candor had his reasons for not subscribing to such legends. He took one final look at the bustling street and stepped towards the back alley where the others waited for him. 
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