Box Set: The Fearless 1-3

by Terry Maggert

  “You’re human?” Ring asked, and his voice became dangerously soft.

  Here it comes, she thought. She knew that tone. She revised her earlier assessment of Ring. He wasn’t just dangerous, he was a true killer, a rarity among humans.

  “I am. A pure human, not one of those monstrosities you obviously are so fond of fucking.” He preened and tried to look bored. The goddess liked moxie, but his stupidity was legendary if he thought that death was not seconds away.

  “Pure? Hmm. A pure”—and Ring pushed the knife closer—“human would simply bleed. Davis, you idiot, pure is one thing you are most certainly not. I’m sorry for your losses, I truly am—I know what it’s like to lose a family, but you may as well have cut your own throat when you decided to come here and threaten Delphine.”

  Davis grinned and crossed his legs. “Go fuck yourself, pig. I’m not afraid of bleeding.”

  Ring shrugged, looking down. “Carpet. But that’s not a problem.” Before Davis could speak, the knife flickered like mercury and slashed the entire length of one forearm, then the next, in brutal, deep cuts. Davis gasped and clutched at his arms in turn.

  “See? I’m not going to bleed for you,” Davis hawked and spat in Ring’s face, but missed because Ring was around him and pulling his head back to expose the vulnerable neck.

  The goddess had barely seen him move. Very nice, she mused.

  “You’re right. No blood. Doesn’t that strike you as odd, brother?” Ring taunted in his ear. Davis struggled, but iron hands held him to his chair.

  “I am not—your—brother” Davis ground out, but the fear was thick in his voice. His skin began to suffuse with pinpricks of blue light, telling Davis he was wrong. He whimpered.

  “I won’t cut you again. It isn’t needed. But I will”—and Ring snapped his neck in a vicious, bone cracking twist, letting him fall to the floor—“keep you here to sublime. I want you to die knowing that Delphine is safe. She is loved. And you?” He looked down at the body, now beginning to come apart with popping lights and sounds. “You’ll be dust. Goodbye, Davis.”

  The goddess pushed herself even deeper into the shadows. This one will be useful, I think. A smile creased her face as she stifled a laugh. It was so rare to find that kind of will. Useful, indeed.

  49

  From Risa’s Files

  Action Report: 13 Dec 1917

  If it pleases the Goddess, we are on the move with all speed after the addition of the Australian horsemen. One of them, an officer, has an uncanny ability to track over rock and sand; there simply is no escape from him and we are proceeding at a blistering pace. Our position is excellent. The recent battles continue to tear the area apart, and we are just another fragment of that event. We have not been challenged, nor does it seem likely we will be. The horses provided to us by your Holiness are fast, surefooted, and tireless. As ever, we are in awe of your anticipating the arrival of the monster.

  Whereas, we number eleven at this time, all in good order and armed with the points of Your spears and justice—

  Whereas, in a fortuitous event following the calamity of battle, we discovered a blood fiend that had risen from a hidden tomb, and dispatched it in Your name, may it please You—

  Whereas, our blood fairly sings to serve You and return the beast to his slumber, may our strikes be true—

  Whereas, should we not survive our encounter with the creature, know that we willingly go to our deaths with Your name on our lips, we are Faithful to the Mother of Waters and relish this task. Fear not, Goddess, O Merciful Beauty of the Reeds, who nourishes all the world—

  We ask humbly, if the Goddess sees fit, to commit our remains to the cool mud of Your holy temple, the channel that cuts all the world, in the event that we fall and commit the shame of failing You—

  We are the Faithful, and our spears will bite deep in Your name. The beast will be tamed yet again, no later than the next dawn’s break.

  50

  Florida

  Here we go, I thought, and pushed the door to Kevin’s office open. He looked up at me and expertly assessed my emotional state before quietly pointing to a chair.

  “I take it this isn’t a social call?” he asked warily.

  I hung my head and covered my face. It had been a long time since I’d felt this type of—shame, I guess. I felt stained. Kevin left his chair and came around his desk, leaning against it and putting a comforting hand on my shoulder.

  “I almost hesitate to ask, knowing what creative definitions of sin you’re capable of, but what is it? There’s no need for hesitancy, Ring. We’re friends, and you may not believe this, but God cares deeply for your well-being. Trust me, I know.” He smiled with practiced ease.

  “Red is dead. At my hand.” I stated flatly.

  Kevin inhaled sharply and looked over my shoulder as if police were bearing down on us at any second, but I shook my head slightly and he eased back from his agitated state. Somewhat, anyway.

  “There won’t be a body to find. He wasn’t human.” I let that hang for a minute and Kevin rocked back, letting the enormity of that fact wash past him in a wave.

  “What . . . what was he?” he asked softly. This was again new ground for the perceptive priest. I knew it would take him time to adjust his worldview, even with his accepting stance on the unknown.

  “He was angry. Partially turned. A man who lost everything because of Elizabeth and decided he was going to exact vengeance on every immortal he could track down.” I looked up at him and felt my face flushing with anger. “He had a list. The first name was Delphine’s.”

  There was stillness to the room that I associate with an explosion of violence, but I saw Kevin regain control of his temper and forcibly place his hands at his sides. “Did you commit this . . . action”—he chose his word carefully, still throttling his rage with supreme control—“on my church grounds, Ring?” The anger was coiled in his voice, and I remained immobile while I composed my answer.

  “I didn’t. It was an act of passion. I—Risa and Wally found his list, with all of his notes and writings, and brought it home with them from New Orleans. They were innocent in this, Kevin. I swear it.” My disgust soured my stomach.

  “And were they present when you murdered him?” he asked, still infuriated but in a level tone.

  “No. I was alone. I drove there, alone. I found him in the little apartment, and went in with my weapon in hand. I was not in control, I admit it.” I looked away.

  “What was his response?” he asked, tersely.

  I relived Davis’ laugh and how he spat on me, both occurrences I could live with. But the way he called her a whore with such gusto was beyond my capacity to forgive. Definitely love, I thought for the second time. I steeled myself. “He called her a worthless whore and he said you were a filthy disciple of Christ. I stabbed the sonofabitch and then broke his neck; he dissolved into lights and ash. There is no body, because there was no man. And before you ask, I’d do it again, but this time, slower.” I quivered as my own anger returned like a tsunami.

  Kevin put his hand on my shoulder again, and this time, his voice was fatherly and bittersweet. “Ring.” He let a long, forceful exhalation deflate his body, and shook his head again. “I’m not angry that you killed someone who was no longer human, although I wish I could have had an opportunity to speak with him, to save him—we’re all worth saving, Ring, but I’ve said that before. I’m not even angry, I guess. I’m saddened that you felt the need to defend my honor, or Delphine’s. Ring, honor is a quality that needs no defense. Character is a trait that thrives without the blood of revenge, but it can be tainted by the loss of control. Do you understand?”

  I did. “Yes. I’m repulsed by my own weakness. I’m sorry, Kevin. Forgive me. I’m sorry.”

  His face cleared and he laughed. “I don’t have to, Ring. But if you don’t make peace with your feelings for Delphine, and don’t stare like that, I’m a priest, not a statue, which is what I would have to be to ignore the f
act that your response to this has been rather . . . exuberant, well, you’ll consume that complicated thing you call a soul. Trust me on this. It’s my business to know such things.” He shrugged. “You’re not much of a poker player, I’ll bet.”

  “That obvious?” I said, and he nodded instantly.

  “This network of death that immortals create is beyond me. I just don’t see where it ends,” Kevin said bitterly as the smile on his face faded.

  “There are so many lies among them. The first lie they tell is that their lives are perfect, and the second lie? You want to join them. The third lie is that you can rise above the death and loss. You can’t, even if you hold on to whatever you used to be with both hands. I know, Kevin, I’m trying right now, and things like this keep happening.” I stood to leave, and he shook my hand solemnly. “The worst lie is the one you tell yourself, if only to keep the truth in some secret place.”

  “Which is?” he asked, raising a brow.

  “That I don’t love every bit of it.” I left, mollified by his silence.

  51

  Virginia

  Ella drummed her fingers against the counter and stared at the parking lot with a feral intensity. She started to speak, then fell silent, and then finally threw her hands up in submission.

  “I can’t think of anything to do except tell them. I don’t like it, but I don’t know.” She whirled on Boots, and her face was creased with worry. “What if those things can track us to here? I mean, they were just humans, right, but they found us? How do we protect ourselves? Should we just haul ass?” Conflicted, she cycled between fear and doubt. Since they’d been visited, Ella had a new outlook on life, one in which she decided that staying alive was something she very much wanted to continue doing.

  Boots considered her question. He knew what Risa and Wally were capable of, and he hadn’t even met the blade man of their trio. During their conversation, he deduced that they had other, even more powerful allies. The choice was simple. He began to type an email, flicking his eyes up at his sister. “How do I word this?” It was best to include her. She was nervous, and rightfully so. A bit of basic research on something Wally had mentioned—Bering Strait Holdings—rang a bell with one of their contacts who worked in Europe. They knew something of Elizabeth and her offspring, and they also knew that the money she left behind was huge. As in a large enough amount that it could inspire a bloodbath among her lineage, and in turn, a lot of dead humans. The woman known as Stacia was on the move, and she was clearly in a superior position to inherit the physical wealth that was being contested. Other hunters had suddenly developed new interests when Ella pressed them for help, but a single brave woman from the coast of Britain told her in no uncertain terms that as far as she was concerned, Stacia was going for the gold, and only the gold. That meant anything Elizabeth had owned.

  Since there was no way they could track such items, whatever they might be, it seemed prudent to put it in the hands of Risa, and let the remnants of the Tolson family be done with it. They wanted no part of that particular fight; in point of fact, they wanted no more fights at all.

  Boots typed swiftly for a moment and then allowed his finger to hover before hitting send.

  “It’s done. They’ve got the tip, and that’s the end of it. Now”—he looked around the store fondly—“what do you say we take a vacation?”

  “Anywhere but here,” Ella enthused, and they both went to pack.

  52

  Florida

  I leaned against Wally’s Toyota, contentedly eating spring rolls and waiting for Liz to arrive back at her office. Risa had my Wagoneer, along with Gyro, Wally was running, and I was well advanced into an afternoon of limited achievements. It was close to heaven, in my judgment, and then a taxi pulled up and out stepped Delphine. She smiled with sheer joy and approached to kiss my cheek, wiping a stray fleck of cabbage from the area of the kiss. She could be quite fastidious at times. At other times, not so much, God bless her lusty little heart.

  “I know about Davis.” Her smile only wavered slightly and she put her arm around me. “You really are a hopeless romantic, you know that? Stabbing and strangling a potential killer who was undercover at the church whose priest is engaged in the reclamation of my immortal soul? It’s quite touching.” She laughed, and I forgot why I tensed.

  When presented in that manner, I actually sounded rather heroic. I puffed out my chest and swaggered in place, not an easy task holding a Styrofoam container of Thai food.

  “Quit posing, you Norwegian peacock.” Her admonition was the perfect tonic to my lingering doubts about Davis. She pulled at the edge of my lunch and looked inside. “Empty? I want one.” She pouted.

  I understood. The spring rolls were brilliant. “C’mon, I’ll buy.” I led her inside the restaurant and Boon hugged her, bright laughter twinkling between her and Delphine as we were seated. Boon left to secure our tea and I sat, simply drinking in the entire woman sitting with me. When she slapped my hand, I realized that Kevin had been right; I would make a terrible poker player, because the impurity of my thoughts was legendary just then.

  “Sorry.” I chuckled, but she took my hand.

  “It’s alright. I’ve still got a bit of a glow myself. We’ll have to get used to this whole thing. It’s new for me, too,” she admitted.

  “What is?” I asked.

  “Having a human lover. Who I like.” She mimed eating like a wild animal, and we both laughed. She could consume any man or woman, but I was just damned lucky that I could hold her tendency to give most lovers the need for a week in bed, recovering. Augmentations aside, it would still be worth it, and she read that on my face, too.

  “How may I best serve your needs, dear?” I asked in my most solicitous voice.

  After making a show of thinking, she said, “I believe I have a solution to my lack of immortal protégés.”

  “Oh? Do tell.” I had no idea what she had discovered. She was crafty.

  “Yes. In order to expand my horizons as a caring member of society, I’m switching tactics in my attempt to discover young, inexperienced Undying. I think you once told me that money attracts all kinds, a fact that I somehow managed to forget. With that in mind, I’m going to begin looking at social events where the moneyed are being . . . charmed, let’s say, or are rubbing elbows with people who want what they have.” She looked inordinately pleased.

  “You mean gold diggers? I could have told you that, but where?” I asked.

  She grinned. “For starters, I’m attending a dance. An event where more mature adults are courted and, of course, given lessons in ballroom dancing by enthusiastic young people.”

  I snickered. “You’re thinking of going undercover as a cougar? You don’t look a day over thirty. On a bad day, I might add.”

  “Honey, here’s a tip. You’re going to have me again, despite such a vulgar condemnation of my beauty. In the future, you should act surprised when women tell you they’re old enough to have a legal drink.” She puckered her lips and blew me a kiss.

  “Noted. But you’re still no cougar.” I was adamant.

  “Who’s to say I’m not attending this event as a younger woman on the prowl?” she asked in a reasonable tone. She had a point.

  “But—wouldn’t the immortals be, I don’t know, younger? Are there many Undying around who look anything close to their age?” I asked.

  She thought on that. “Good point. As usual, your sexual excitement at my presence brings out the logical side of your brain.”

  “That’s a first,” I muttered into my tea. She grinned at me lewdly.

  “I only have one problem. I need a partner.” She looked at me hopefully and I demurred.

  “I know nothing of ballroom dancing. I mean, I couldn’t even try it. I’d tag you as a poser, or out myself as having no rhythm, which, while technically true, isn’t something I want to advertise. I have standards, you know,” I declared in a serious tone.

  “Ballroom? Dancing?” Boon stopped next
to our table, on her way to drop off a check at another table. “Where? What did you say you needed?” She looked expectantly at me.

  “Not me, her. She needs a partner for a dance lesson extravaganza thing, I don’t know, exactly, but I know I can’t do it,” I said, helplessly.

  “When?” Boon asked, smiling.

  “Tonight. Eight o’clock. It’s formal,” Delphine said, as Boon tapped her foot, thinking.

  “Be here at 7:15,” Boon said with such confidence. I had no reason to ask who, but I was curious. “I have a partner for you. Wear heels if you’d like.” Just then, a series of parties walked in as the lunch rush began in earnest. Delphine shrugged and smiled. Her hunt would begin tonight.

  * * *

  Scarlett stood dripping, hovering in the back door. She waved spastically through the window, and I opened the door to let her in.

  “You know, we have perfectly good beds here. And the girls were in Virginia for two days, you didn’t have to sleep in the canal, or wherever,” I chided her, and she laughed, taking the proffered towel from me.

  “I didn’t sleep in the canal. Turtles sleep in the canal. I’m not a turtle, right?” She tossed the towel back at me and put her hand on her hip. “Well?”

  “Of course you’re not a turtle. But you’ve got to admit, it makes our hospitality look sketchy when you choose to—well, where did you stay?” I stopped my lecture and asked.

  “Hotel. Different one, though. I liked this one lots better. It had a pool.” She laughed and I ushered her in. Gyro greeted her and slid past to go to the yard. She patted him heartily as he breezed by. “I’m never gonna get used to a dog that size. They’re supposed to be small, and thin, you know, pointy ears, run around a lot, like that.”