Chapter 5

{Two specific ones, I have been searching for them these last three weeks and they are the Kelch Chanticleer of 1904 Fabergé Museum St. Petersburg Russia and Cherub with Chariot of 1888.}

"From my limited knowledge, isn't the Cherub with Chariot missing?" Howard pointed out.

{To my expansive and unlimited knowledge the Cherub Egg is within this vicinity. We shall start with this one first.}

"Such arrogance," Howard muttered, loudly he said, "The other one is in Russia, how do you expect me to get there?"

{I told you when I introduced myself.}

Howard scratched his head and then smiled, "Your name is Chronos, Aion, and Kairos, you are three and the three are you. You are the embodiment of time. You can travel anywhere, anytime within the constraints of this neighbourhood. However, unlike some little blue police boxes that have the gall of thinking they can flit across time and space, you are a God. You have no limitations."

He laughed and ducked a slap from the crow's wing. The crow then disappeared and the watch glowed a dim yellow.

{Get some sleep, we start work early in the morning.}

Howard felt the presence of the crow vanish. He got up and headed to the kitchen to look for something to eat. The kitchen was an open one have all the necessary appliances from the refrigerator to an oven. He decided to whip up some noodles after going through the fridge contents. 

As the water boiled, he emptied the contents of packets into a large bowl. He still felt dazed though he knew this was his new life. The loss of his parents ached but not as much as he wanted. Not even the loss of Lynx could dampen his new sense of life and duty.

He noted he was also receptive to this quest for now because it was aligned with his goal to become a relic hunter and artefact finder. He may have a body of an adult but his mind and spirit were still that of a teen. He is going to enjoy every moment.

He slurped down his noodles feeling happy before he hit the sack a few minutes later on the comfortable beige sofa set. He had lucid dreams about demons and other supernatural creatures before he drifted into a dreamless sleep.

{That is the plan. This shall be the operating base here and it is very secure. It also has the Home feature.}

It was five am and the crow was peering at the sleep-deprived human constantly yawning. Howard downed a cup of brewed coffee that he found brewing on the machine. He poured himself another cup and decided it was better when sweeter and added three teaspoons of sugar. 

The crow was still yapping in the background but he wasn't paying any attention. He was still sleepy wondering why he was up at this ungodly hour. To him early meant nine am. 

He struggled to pay attention and then decided to just close his eyes and take a short nap.

The crow cawed angrily and Howard literally jumped out of the sofa as a sharp pain spread across his head.

The crow was clicking its beak in anger. Howard rubbed his head glaring angrily back at the bird, "I am still sleepy and unless you are turning me into a zombie, I am going back to bed."

With that, he got up and headed to the sofa and wrapped himself up like a burrito. The crow gave an angry caw and flew out of the window.

Three hours later, Howard opened his eyes to see a bearded face watching him. He pushed away his cousin as he sat up. 

"Fred, what are you doing here?"

"Making you breakfast," Fred said pointing to the spread on the table. As the scents wafted to his nose he realised he was very famished. He went to the dining table and dug in for a few minutes before realising that his cousin was gawking at him. 

He swallowed his croissant, "What? I am very hungry."

"You must have a very powerful backer, Howard." Fred began, "While you were asleep I did a search on the owner of this house and you are the owner for the last ten years. Funny enough, I never knew that your parents had handed you a house. The biggest shocker is when this one of your men found out where I live and they paid me to come and work for you."

Howard was surprised but he hid his expression well. He knew the only person or being that knew him, was the crow. His cousin was always on the move, he had no permanent home being a hunter like himself. 

"I have been told that you are searching for Chanticleer and Cherub. I don't know how you knew the Cherub is around here though. Howard who are you really?"

Howard finished his coffee and wiped his mouth. As he opened his mouth, the crow appeared behind Fred and swung its head once left to right. He closed it and focused on the table. Fred sighed and picked up the used utensils.

"I get it, I will ask no questions. So how will you retrieve Chanticleer?"

Fred was brought up to speed with the plan as he washed the dishes. "I have a trustworthy team that can help you. They are just like me, drifters."

Howard looked up at the crow that nodded its approval. "That's fine but they shouldn't know what the item is for now."

"I assume this will be the operating base? I did a quick snoop of the property and it is very secure, I wish I knew who your backer is. But what about the old man?"

First a look of confusion spread across his face before he realised Fred was asking about his employer who had sold him out according to the memories. 

"We parted ways, I am no longer with him."

Fred nodded taking a seat, "I will go and search for my team, then get back when I find them all. In the meantime, you could get the items we need for the excavation. I will be back at sunset."

With those few words, he grabbed his brown coat and left the house.

{Before you ask, he will not see me until I let him. Next time I will not tolerate such blatant disrespect from a puny human.}

Howard thought it wise not to reply and he busied himself. The crow watched as the human straightened up the sofa and chairs. It sighed knowing this was going to be a long period until when he was done with him. 

He just hoped that none of the gods of the pantheon would get to know of his plan. For far too long he had been trapped in this form biding his time slowly and slightly impatiently. If everything went according to plan, that lightning-wielding son of his, would lose a very important child and place. If he also plays his cards well he could kill two birds with one stone. 

"So crow—"

{I told you my name why do you call me crow?}

"Obviously you are looking like a crow and two it is the short form of Cronus. If you think I am going to call you Chronus, Deimos, and Phobos or whatever, you've got another thing coming."

The two spent the day purchasing equipment and tools that would be needed for their mission. This included several laptops, tablets as well as a large standalone mainframe computer that would act as their server. The crow had insisted on it stating it would be easier not to rely on the current ISP but rather use a satellite link for communication. They also bought several satellite phones for the team.

Finally, the crow told Howard to follow him outside. He stretched his wings and flew up to the sky, the setting sun casting an orange silhouette around him.

{Let me show you a rare feat.}

The crow remained motionless, frozen in spot except for his wings that beat slowly in perfect unison. With each beat, Howard felt the air switch from warm to icy cold. He could also see what looked like layers of air currents form and envelope the area into what looked like the upper part of a dome.

A centralised silver cloud formed above the crow's head and it spread just underneath the dome. Lightning bolts shot down from it, striking five spots repeatedly but not leaving a mark on the ground. Howard noted the four cardinal points as well as the centre were the spots the lightning bolts struck. He also noted there was no subsequent rumble of thunder.

He started to see drops of rain falling from the clouds. The first drop of rain landed a few feet ahead of him before it was followed by a torrential downpour. However, he noted not only was he dry as a bone but not a wet spot appeared on the ground. It was as if the water evaporated as soon as it touched the ground.

For the closing act, the crow landed on his shoulder and gave out a deep caw that rumbled across the dome. He felt his hair stand on edge as well as his heart quicken its pace. Blood rushed quickly through his vessels giving him a renewed strength. He felt like he could tackle anything that came his way.

{I have made this my domain. None of us can be killed under this divine protection. This is the safest place in the human realm nothing can and will enter this place uninvited. It is also hidden from anyone who doesn't know of its existence.}

"So hellfire missiles can't raze this place to the ground?"

The crow cocked its head at him, {It would need its coordinates, but this place doesn't exist on this plane anyway. Even if it did, human technology and weapons have not the slightest effect on me.}

"It's me I am worried about," Howard muttered.

{I just gave you an ichor boost, you have the same physical and mental resistance as a demigod. I could drop you in Marianas Trench or deliver you to Hell itself and you'd walk out unscathed.}

"Now I am truly worried, the only reason you would give me such high resistance is that you expect trouble."

The crow remained silent and watched as the last rays of the sun disappeared