I panted trying to catch my breath at the top of the building before getting down. A circling crow flew across my vision landing on the roof next to me. It croaked as it fluttered near, its wings stretching into the slim form of a tall woman cloaked in all black, shrouded in shadows. The Morrigan.

“You sure have impeccable timing,” I said.

“Sean O’Farrell. It’s good to see you fared well against the Fetch and the Keening.”

I grunted. “Hey, next time you offer your ‘help’, how about warning a guy that your plan is to pierce his chest with your four foot long beak.”

“Are you ungrateful for my aid?”

One side of my mouth twitched upward. I’d been in a life and death situation fighting a phantom doppelganger while at the same time battling the internal Keening incarnation. “Sure, leaving Asen Scáth inside of me would have killed me, but you separated him from me, and then left me double teamed. What kind of aid is that?”

“I’ve aided you countless times now. I reminded you of the Oak leaf when you stood against Donn in Da Durga. I led you into the Otherside when the gang members pursued you in the car chase. I revealed your sister’s killer. You would never have been able to defeat the Kelpie and avenge your sister’s death without that sword. And I separated your Keening incarnation, Asen Scáth so that you could confront him head on.”

“True.” I twitched my lips. “But each step of the way I did most of the work. And I had friends helping me at my lowest points. It wasn’t just you. And almost every time you assisted me, you bailed on me while leaving me in a worse situation.”

She pursed her lips. “You would be a corpse if not for me Sean O’Farrell. Everything I’ve done was intended to strengthen you. The struggle for dominance is the only way to toughen you. There is no better instructor than experience.”

The Morrigan said it with such certainty and gravitas, I could not disagree with her. But it still sucked.

“But who’s saying you really solved my problem?” I asked. “I still got the mark. And Asen Scáth went right back into me after I killed him.”

“I had no inkling that Fetch would possess the Ban-he and resurrect him,” she conceded. “To be absolutely cleansed of Asen Scáth for certain, you will likely have to quest through Tir na nOg in the near future. But for now you have suppressed the Keening’s curse. We have more urgent matters to attend to.”

Since I had not summoned her and I was no longer in immediate danger, she could only be here for one reason. “You’ve come to name it and claim it, right? Because I owe you one for your ‘help’ with Asen Scáth.”

She pressed me. “Is it so much for me to expect one favor from you in return?”

“Fine,” I grunted. “What do you need from me?”

“Donn the Red has resurrected his son from the dead.”

“He has a son?”

“Yes, Diarmuid. My presumption is that Donn is amassing an army and he sent Diarmuid here to acquire more recruits.”

I recalled the meeting I had spied on when sneaking around Tech Duinn in Da Durga. Balor and Donn had been discussing their agreement. In fact, the Morrigan had been there herself. “Donn is collecting soldiers from more than just Balor?”

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The Morrigan nodded, smirking. “You’re catching on quickly. Yes, he sent his son here to train with Aengus Og. I need you to find Aengus Og and confront Diarmuid. You need not destroy Donn’s son, although that is preferable, but not likely. He is a formidable foe and has powerful magic in his own right.”

I didn’t know who Aengus Og was, but judging from the name, he sounded like another Celtic deity. Note to self, research Aengus. Something else didn’t sit right with me though. “Hold on. Let’s back up. Why hasn’t Donn just come over here himself?”

“Tuatha de Danann and Fomorian alike both lose a considerable amount of power when crossing over from Tir na nOg to Earth since the banishment from Ireland. Besides, Donn fancies himself a king and would not stoop to lowly tasks he can order others to carry out.”

“So Diarmuid should be weakened by crossing over here?”

The Morrigan nodded. “We Fomorians and Tuatha de Danann were all banished from this realm eons ago. So returning here comes at a price.”

I noticed that she said we, putting herself on par with the Tuatha de Danann and the Fomorians, though I didn’t really know which camp she fell in, and if Rob was to be believed, she was somewhat neutral. She’d also said so herself last week that she was not aligned with Order or Chaos. I began to wonder if that was not a good thing.

“Okay, so daddy can’t come over here so he sent his boy over to get the job done.”

“I don’t know why Donn sent Diarmuid to Aengus Og for training. It seems like an irregular choice. I suspect he’s also having a liaison with another of Donn’s associates.”

“All right. Where has this Diarmuid guy been hanging out at?”

“He’s been seen in Berkeley. Near the college.”

Berkeley.

From Vallejo where I lived, Berkeley lay southwest and on the way to the City, San Francisco. And also the same direction my German Shepherd-turned-werewolf Tain had chased the vampires before returning back to my apartment. And chances were, now that he was back in werewolf form he’d be heading back that way. It seemed like no matter what, forces were at work in the background pointing me towards the East Bay.

“You appear as if something is on the tip of your tongue,” said the Morrigan.

I moved over to the AR-15 lying next to the dead thug. I picked it up, inspected the magazine, adjusted the buttstock to fit my shoulder, and looked down through the front iron sight, careful not to point it anywhere near The Morrigan. The rifle felt good in my hands. Mine now.

“Oh no, it’s just that my dog turned into a werewolf and headed out that way before returning home last night. But he just ran off again. So I’m likely destined to make a trip over the bridge. Know anything about Celtic werewolves?”

The Morrigan glided over to homeboy’s body. “Is this Tain’s work?”

“Yep.”

She paused, reflecting on her knowledge. “Generally werewolves are men that turn into a man-wolf form. Not dogs that turn into werewolves.”

“Well, generally my dog isn’t accidentally shot with a blast of Bad Luck magic either. So perhaps that had something to do with it.”

The Morrigan looked thoughtful. “Conri the Wolf King is lord of all the Faoladh, the Celtic werewolves. At times Conri sends them here on strikes against the Dearg Due, his most hated enemy. You know of the Dearg Due?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Heard about her last week after Takahashi bit me.”

“Perhaps I can convince Conri to send soldiers to aid you, but do not count on them. If you do not confront Diarmuid by tomorrow night, the balance between Order and Chaos will be overthrown. Even a small intervention on your part can tip the scales. Chaos cannot be allowed to move unchecked. I cannot stress this enough Sean. You are a victor for Order, use your Good Luck to thwart Diarmuid’s plans.”

“What about Aengus Og? Will he want to put up a fight too?”

“From what I gather, Aengus has taken a vow of peace. I do not think he will get involved when you confront Diarmuid, but that does not make him any less dangerous. Do not be misled by his demeanor.”

I nodded, resolute. “Any tips on fighting Diarmuid?”

Her gaze shifted to the starry night sky contemplating. “He died once before and has been brought back. If that’s any kind of indication of how resilient he is, let that be a caution to you.”

“Great,” I smirked. “Sounds like a good time.”

“Do this for me Sean, and I will aid you once again.”

“That’s what you promised last time,” I growled. “Consider it a favor.”

And with that she morphed back into a crow and flew off into the night sky.