“She is being helpful now?” Amber asked skeptically.
“Yes, well...no; right now she is quiet,” Xlina explained in frustration. “I think we found some common ground is all.”
“You made a deal?” Oxivius questioned, drawing another gasp from Penny.
“No,” Xlina countered defensively. “More like a mutual understanding that we are working toward the same end.”
The choker grew warm, and the feeling was reassuring. It sent waves of comfort through Xlina, making her feel strong and in control. She subconsciously touched it again, feeling the bauble warm and pleasant to her fingertips. She smiled slightly, thankful for the peace and quiet in her mind. She couldn’t explain what had transpired in her dream, and a part of her was embarrassed to admit that she had succumbed to the demon’s allure. At the same time, Valeria seemed to be granting her the space she needed to continue without commentary or interference. She hoped as long as she stayed on task that the silence in her mind would continue.
Xlina looked up, her thoughts her own, but still drifting to the magical choker. Her eyes met a sea of suspicion from her friends. Oxivius looked at her as if he were trying to read her mind, and she wished deep down that the mysterious necromancer couldn’t see her thoughts as they lingered in the Dream Realm. He focused on her with an intense stare, studying her every twitch and mannerism, looking for some sign that it was still Xlina and not the demon in control. Amber’s face pouted with concern and worry. She leaned in, her elbows resting on the table and her chin supported in her hands, her green eyes taking in Xlina fully from top to bottom.
“I’m not being compelled, guys,” Xlina protested in frustration. “Honestly, I think we hit our stride. It was rough at first, but she is quiet now. I think as long as we stay focused on the threat in front of us, she’ll stay out of the way.”
The choker on her neck warmed again, and Xlina felt pleased with the words as they left her mouth. She was relaxed and in control. Valeria was allowing her space, and it was precisely what she had needed. The demon had been right; it was well past time to get to work.
“Fine then,” Oxivius relented. “Let us be off to the Brothers Three before the sun gets too low in the sky. I had assumed you needed more rest, but if you’re that eager.”
“I am,” Xlina stated confidently, her hand drifting to the blood-red gem on the choker and being greeted with the familiar, comforting warm pulse. She stood from the table, looking at her dear friends. “It will be alright. We’re going to get to the bottom of everything. You’ll see. I need to get changed, and then we’ll head out; okay, Ox?”
Her declaration was met with pensive nods as Penny and Burgle returned to their meals, trading sidelong glances. Xlina knew her friends were concerned, but she couldn’t seem to convey to them that she really was okay. Hell, she was better than okay. Her muscles began to ache less, her body felt rested, even the continual growl of her stomach seemed to be soothing. All the while, Valeria remained silent. She turned and made her way to her room, determined to change her attire, and immediately began rifling through her drawers. The gem on her neck grew cold as she flipped through a pile of athletic wear, her normal attire not feeling quite right for the day. She descended to her bottom drawer, where she kept her more uncommonly worn items, and found herself drawn to the tight leather pants. They had been part of a Halloween costume originally, then she had worn them to pose as bait for the cephalopod. They weren’t comfortable like her other clothes, but the gem grew warm as she caressed the leather, and she relented, throwing them on her bed.
Rifling through the drawers, she picked out a matching red halter top and traded her best fighting sneakers for a pair of black ankle boots. The pile of clothing built up on her bed, making her feel confident and causing the gem to pulse warmly. She had saved Oxivius, she had thwarted Puc, and now she would wring information from those treacherous brothers. She looked up to see her reflection in the mirror hanging in the corner. She didn’t remember stripping from her athletic wear, but she was nude once more, save for the black velvet choker with the red gem, which seemed to glint in the reflection. She turned back to her top drawer and rummaged through, passing by her more casual garments until she landed on a black lacy combo of panties and brassiere that lay at the bottom of the pile like a long-forgotten treasure. The thin lacy material felt good in her hands, and her body welcomed the sudden surge of warmness from the stone. She wasted no time slipping into her freshly chosen attire and looked back at her image in the mirror.
Xlina stood tall, red halter top and black leather leggings complimented by her ankle boots. The choker seemed to gleam, and she considered her hair tied back in a simple ponytail. She quickly pulled out her hair tie, allowing her brown hair to fall loosely about her shoulders and hang free. She felt a surge of confidence as she stared at herself and was surprised that she hadn’t heard a peep from Valeria.
“Are you still there?” she questioned, looking into the mirror. She waited, growing ever more anxious as the silence in her mind droned on. Then she could feel the pulse of warmth from the stone on her neck. It was warm, reassuring, like an old friend. She looked at the blood-red gem suspiciously.
“You’re in there,” she said, poking at the gem with a finger. She was instantly rewarded with a flood of warmth that sent tingles through her body. It felt as if her stomach were filled with butterflies, and she smiled, letting a content giggle slip from her lips.
She looked again at the image in the mirror and lamented that she hadn’t kept a proper collection of makeup. Some shadow and lipstick would really help pull the whole outfit together. Her thoughts once again resonated with a warm pulse from the choker’s gem, and she smiled, looking down at it in the mirror once more.
“This is much better; thank you,” she said softly, not wanting to be overheard. The swell of warmth on her neck as the gem pulsed was all the confirmation she needed. It seemed like she and Valeria had reached a truce at last. The thought brought a smile to her face, and the black velvet loosened for the first time since Valeria had placed it on her neck. She could feel the black velvet come free from her skin. She reached up and unclasped the back, and the choker came loose into her hands. She held it before her, the velvet choker spread out over both hands. It had symbolized Valeria’s control over her. It was a sign of her dominance. She had treated her like a stray dog she had adopted off the street, affixing a collar as a sign of ownership. Xlina had hated the thought of the permanent attachment to her neck, but now she was free, holding the symbol of her bondage in her hands. She turned, testing the new development, and she laid the choker down gently on the top of her bureau.
Xlina waited patiently, expecting something magical to happen, but nothing did. Valeria remained tucked away in the gem, and she stood free. She took a deep breath, and as she exhaled, a flood of relief washed over her. She looked back at the mirror and saw her reflection without the choker for the first time in weeks. She smiled at first, rubbing her fingers on her bare skin. She looked again at the outfit she had chosen and hesitated.
“You don’t really have the figure for this,” she told herself, looking at the girl staring back at her. Her mixed heritage made her skin a subtle copper, with just enough of her mother’s Japanese lineage to make her eyes look exotic. The constant nightmare dreams kept her body in excellent shape, more akin to a pro athlete without the costly gym membership dues. While many would say she had a sleek, athletic build, she envied the curves that girls like Amber had. While her stomach was toned, her small breasts always made her feel uncomfortable in halters and dresses. She just wasn’t well enough endowed to feel confident. Her biceps and shoulders were well developed, and she shuddered at the athletic girl playing dress up in the mirror. She turned back to her dresser with every intention of slipping back into her comfortable athletic wear, but the choker lay there waiting for her. Its red hue seemed to glow, and it caught her eye. She could hear Oxivius calling from the foyer, his patience waning. She cro
ssed the room, ready to leave, but stopped as her hand hit the door knob. She looked back at the choker again and returned her gaze to the mirror. A feeling of doubt crossed through her mind, and she found herself looking down at her outfit, feeling utterly ridiculous. She marched back to her dresser as Oxivius called again up to the loft.
Whipping open the top drawer, her hand landed on a pile of blue athletic tops, and she slowly drew one up before her face, eyeing the familiar garment. She set it down on the top of her bureau and reached for her waistline to pull off the halter top, but once again, her eyes caught the black velvet choker. She reached out for it instead and picked it up. The gem grew warm in her hands, and she felt its smooth surface on her fingertips. The velvet collar was soft, and she flicked it carefully between her fingers, looking at the gold clasp that fastened in the back. While magically bonded to her, the clasp had disappeared, leaving only a solid velvet band around her neck. That clasp meant freedom. As silly as it sounded, that clasp meant she was in control. She could take it off when she wanted. Perhaps she had won in her struggle with Valeria; perhaps she had somehow earned the demon’s respect. Or was it simply that she was following the course Valeria had prescribed, and she was rewarding her with some freedom to act independently?
She turned back to the mirror as she brought the choker back to her neck and fastened it into place. It fit snugly, but it felt good, like it had never left. Valeria might be a demon, but her sense of style was uncanny. She looked back at her reflection, and the red gem seemed to gleam. Her hair hanging loosely at her shoulders gave her a relaxed look, almost seductive. She couldn’t believe she had let such silly body insecurities creep into her mind before. She looked at the woman staring back in the mirror. Her toned body may not have filled out the halter the way Amber’s would, but her sleek form was no less appealing. She smiled, and the gem pulsed warmly, sending a wave of tingles through her body. With a confident nod to her reflection, she spun on her heels and made way for the foyer, walking with all the confidence in the world.
The journey back to Holder’s Park had been quiet. Oxivius seemed to be lost in thought as his cane tapped the sidewalk in unison with the clacking of Xlina’s ankle boots on the cobbled stone path. He had seemed uncomfortable since she had returned to the foyer and had denied Amber’s request to tag along to see the brothers. He was being suspiciously quiet as they made their way through the busy city streets. Portland, however, came alive with the hustle and bustle as the five o’clock hour brought the mass of mindless workers from the many offices and buildings that boarded the park. The bars flooded with patrons looking to unwind for happy hour, and the early birds were preparing for a run at Portland’s night scene. The harbor smelled of the ocean, and as a popular tourist destination, it was littered with restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. Xlina didn’t mind that Oxivius seemed preoccupied; she was busy noticing the random looks and smiles from folks on the street.
Not sure whether it was her confidence or her attire, she walked briskly, soaking up the newfound attention. Deep down, it made her feel good, and every time she caught the wandering eye of a gentleman on the street, the gem on her choker flared with a reassuring warmth. She smiled warmly and gave the occasional flirtatious wave as she scurried into the park. They entered from the back side opposite the college campus, and she knew they were but minutes from having those slimy brother’s begging for mercy. A wide grin began to form on her lips.
“Okay, that’s enough, love,” Oxivius stated firmly, stopping on the concrete walk and taking a seat on a park bench. He tapped his cane on the seat for good measure, indicating for her to join him.
“What?” Xlina responded, turning back on him with her arms spread to accentuate her frustration. “We are almost there.”
“I know,” Oxivius stated vehemently, resting his cane before him with both hands wrapped around the vampire-like head. “What is it you seek here?”
“Information,” Xlina replied as if it were obvious. “Were you not listening before?”
“I guess I am just a little confused,” Oxivius continued innocently. “You seem very driven, and I just don’t see what is to be gained from the brothers.”
“We need someplace to look,” Xlina continued, feeling a warm surge of energy from her neck. “We can’t just mope around the Hearth waiting for another attack. We might not be as lucky next time. Someone could get hurt or worse.”
“Is that the goal?” Oxivius replied coolly, feigning innocence. “To strike them before they strike us? Preemptive assaults? Raiding the Burnished Rose’s sanctum, perhaps? Snuff out the remaining witches?”
“Precisely,” Xlina exclaimed, confused by his line of questioning. “We take them off the board. No more looking over our shoulders at every turn. Maybe even send this demon Ertigan back to the fiery abyss.”
“And then?” Oxivius asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
“Then we do what we want,” Xlina shrugged, not understanding where any of this was going. “We are free.”
“Free for now,” Oxivius countered. “Until she finds you another target?”
“I don’t know,” Xlina sighed in exasperation. “I guess we work on the mark after this, but isn’t this the immediate threat before us?”
“I’m partial to thinking the immediate threat comes from within, love,” Oxivius answered, a very serious tone in his voice as he passed a probing glance over her from head to toe.
“What is it, Ox?” Xlina barked. “You’ve been acting strange all afternoon.”
“Have I, love?” Oxivius asked, leaning back against the park bench. “I had thought you had the market cornered on that.”
“Me?” Xlina uttered with a shake of her head and a firm finger jabbed at her chest. “Ox, you dumped a demon in here, okay? The last twenty-four hours have been a veritable bloodbath. I just want it over.”
“Fair enough, love,” Oxivius replied innocently, holding a hand up to slow her tirade. “It’s just... you seem different.”
“I am different,” Xlina stated flatly. “I killed witches, Ox. Not monsters, but human witches.”
“Self-defense,” Oxivius retorted. “And that’s not what I mean.”
“I choked Morticae to death,” Xlina continued unrelenting. “My bare hands, Ox. It wasn’t the demon, it wasn’t my Baku lineage, it was just me. He was a threat. To you... to Amber... Penny and Burglecut. I couldn’t let him go, Ox. Don’t you understand? I killed him. A human.”
“He was a monster, I assure you,” Oxivius replied unwaveringly.
“He was marked,” Xlina returned flatly. “Just like me, a pawn of the demons... and I choked the life from him.”
“Is that what’s bothering you?” Oxivius asked with a raise of an eyebrow. He gave her a good look with those ice-blue eyes, and she felt as good as naked under his glare.
“I messed up,” Xlina blurted. “I continue to mess up.”
“We all do, love,” Oxivius returned sympathetically.
“I just want this to be over, Ox,” she lied. For a moment, she wanted to scream that she had succumbed to Valeria’s advances. That she had made passionate love to the hell-spawned abyssal succubus. That she had enjoyed it before Penny had ripped her from her slumber with those damn smelling salts. She wanted to tell him that Valeria made her feel strong and in control, that she looked in the mirror and felt pride. Instead, a single suppressed tear rolled down her cheek.
“I know, love,” Oxivius said softly. He rose and wiped the tear from her cheek. His hand was rough but altogether soothing in a way. She leaned into it, wishing for the touch to linger even as he pulled his hand back. She was confused inside. Feelings roiled and crashed like the surf on the beach. Amber, Oxivius, and Valeria all swirled inside her. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore or what was going to happen next, and it scared her.
“We need to keep moving,” she stated with a sniffle, and the gem’s warmth flooded her body again. “The brothers.”
She turne
d away defiantly and buried those feelings of confusion deep. There would be time to sort through her conflicting emotions, but now was not that time. Oxivius picked up his pace, staying in step with her strides as they rounded the last bend to see the familiar stand of the Three Brothers. Oxivius’ meat cart remained covered and untended across the way. The outer cover was spackled with bird droppings from the local pigeons, and she once again felt guilty for pulling him into the whole mess.
Pete was finishing the cleanup of the Three Brothers’ stall and whistled about fancifully as he worked, oblivious to their approach. The clacking of her heeled boots alerted him to the presence of customers as they stopped before his vegetable stand, and without so much as a look back, the man waved them away.
“Sorry, folks,” he called over his shoulder. “Shop’s closed for the day, we’ll be back at 10 am tomorrow though.”
“Really?” Xlina called in reply. “I’m kind of in need of advice and service again.”
Pete froze solid, dropping a crate of zucchini on the ground. He turned slowly, making eye contact with Xlina and Oxivius and wincing uncomfortably. His eyes darted from side to side looking for his brothers, but he was alone. He fumbled a greeting, which came out more as a nervous chuckle than anything resembling words.
“You look well, Peter,” Oxivius sneered as he passed his hand over the tools spread out on the vendor’s stall. A variety of paring knives and peelers were still carelessly piled high from the day’s work, and he hovered over them before returning his hand to the head of his cane, flashing a cold glare at the bearded man.
“Well enough,” Pete replied with a hard swallow. “Look, you two, I don’t want any trouble. It’s business after all. Just selling information. It’s nothing personal.”
The Infernal Games Page 30