The Order of Chaos

by Rhonda L. Print

  Joaquín stepped up on a wooden platform that led to a rickety old staircase. He took them two at a time until we came to the second floor of the old building. I don’t know what I expected to see, but a woman, maybe twenty years old, in a colorful tunic and skirt that swept the floor was definitely not it. She was thin but curvy, carrying a little more weight than Hollywood would find attractive, with light brown hair swinging from side to side as she swayed to music that came from a radio nearby. Various pieces of art in different stages of completion lined every square inch of wall and counter space. She turned when we approached then froze. The decorative vase she held in her hand crashed to the floor, spitting shards of glass everywhere. “Joaquín?” she asked with a look of horror on her face. “What have you done?” She blessed herself with the sign of the cross and kissed an imaginary rosary. “You have brought a necromancer!”

  A look of sheer confusion crossed Joaquín’s face. “Necromancer?”

  “One who can raise and control the dead,” she said gravely. “She has more power than I can contain, Joaquín. You have no idea what you’ve done.”

  “This is Leah,” he argued. “My fiancee, not a necro-whatever you called her.”

  “Lay her down,” she motioned toward a bed behind a beaded curtain, “I will see what damage we have done.”

  Joaquín set me on the bed and I remained limp, although it was getting harder and harder to do. He and the woman—Sonya, I assumed—stepped back outside the small alcove containing a bed, dresser and a partially open door that obviously led to a bathroom. They were close enough that I could hear them, yet not make out the words. They were arguing and I could see Joaquín’s head shake from side to side in denial of whatever it was Sonya was saying. She reached a hand out tentatively, motherly, and spoke softly to him. Joaquín straightened from the base of his back to the set of his chin. They exchanged a couple more words then started walking toward me.

  Joaquín bent low and brushed a kiss across my hair. “I’ll be back soon,” he said simply then left.

  Sonya stayed outside the curtain. She hummed a song while she began cleaning up the pieces of glass. She pulled out a broom and started sweeping. Dust danced in the sunlight streaming through the windows. My body was tense and ready to run. I was waiting for her to sweep herself just far enough away from the door for me to have a straight shot at it. If I ran fast enough and was lucky enough not to run into anyone else, I just might make it to the patches of sagebrush I’d seen when Joaquín carried me in. I didn’t know what time it was, but if I could hide out long enough, maybe I could connect with Ian and he could find me. Just as I was ready to make a run for it, the man named Evan filled the doorway, eclipsing the light flowing in.

  “Joaquín said to bring these to you.” He was holding up a basket of what looked like weeds.

  “Good, good.” Sonya motioned him with both of her hands. “Bring them here.”

  Evan set the weeds on the table as he was told. “Joaquín went to get the basin.” He pointed his chin toward me. “She needs to eat?”

  Sonya nodded, still singing that wordless tune. “See that some food is prepared. I’m sure she will be hungry after the cleansing.”

  Evan nodded.

  My stomach growled in agreement. I hadn’t consciously been hungry until she mentioned food. Suddenly I was starving but my thoughts went back to running for safety until Evan said, “Alex will be by the door if you need him.”

  Shit. Shit. Shit! My getaway would have to wait a little longer. They couldn’t keep watch on me around the clock. Could they? Shit!

  Sonya pulled a large knife out of a drawer and I held my breath until she started chopping up the weeds. She ground them up in a little bowl, pushing a spider back into it and smashing it along with the weeds. She looked like a mother preparing dinner for her family but if insects were on the menu, they could count me out!

  I decided I should start making some movements. My muscles were already stiff and if “cleansing” meant a bath I would do it myself thank-you-very-much!

  I started slowly, flexing my fingers and toes. I still had the tingling feeling but at least it was subsiding. When I stretched my arms Sonya turned toward me.

  “I was wondering how long it would take.” She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I hadn’t made that potion in quite a long time. I wasn’t sure how long the effects would last. I’m glad to see you coming out of it.”

  If she was concerned at all about me attacking her or running off, it didn’t show.

  I lengthened my legs and twisted my ankles, pulling myself to a sitting position to reach my hands toward my feet. My back gave a groan of pleasure as the muscles pulled and loosened. I sat straight, stretched again and repeated the moves until the tingling stopped. Then I began to rotate my head in circles, hearing the pops and cracks from remaining still for so long.

  “I’m sure you must be wondering about me,” she waved her hand out in a sweeping gesture, “about this place.” I heard a tea kettle whistle. Sonya moved to a small alcove and the shrilling sound ceased. She turned with the still-steaming tea kettle in her hand and poured some of the water into the bowl with the crushed weeds and spider. It smelled amazingly calming when the aroma filled the small room.

  “I’m a witch,” she said simply. “I’ve worked for some of the most powerful people on earth, traveled extensively,” she stirred the mixture, “until I fell in love.” She smiled dreamily. “Love changes everything,” she crooned. “My Henri swept me off my feet and just like that, I gave it all up. The travel, the money.” She lifted one shoulder. “Not that money has ever been an issue for Henri. He’s a vampire. Did I mention that?” She waived her hand dismissively. “Of course, after you’re cleansed, you’ll be free of all traces of vampire influence. That’s why Joaquin brought you to me.”

  “I’d like a word alone with her,” Joaquín spoke from the doorway, interrupting Sonya.

  She made a swift exit, casting a last look at me before disappearing out the door.

  I pulled myself to the edge of the bed. I was weak, but functioning, and I felt the effects of whatever Joaquín injected into me fade more and more. I kept my face lowered, hands braced on my knees. I didn’t want Joaquín to see the venom in my eyes. Not yet.

  He stepped closer, slowly measuring each step. “I’m sorry, Leah.” Another step closer. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”

  He sat on the bed beside me, placing a tentative hand on my back. He leaned in, putting his nose against my hair, and sighed deeply. “I couldn’t watch them do that to you anymore.”

  “Who? Do what to me?” I asked even though I knew he was referring to Ian.

  “Oh, Leah,” Joaquín said sadly, relaxing a little more into me. “You don’t even know what that monster does to you. The way he manipulates your brain.” His hand stroked my hair. “He stole you away from me. Made you think you wanted him and all the supernatural shit that goes along with him,” he said harshly.

  I let myself lean into him, trying to calm him again with my body language. It worked.

  “He turned you toward that side of your life, the part that you’d already decided to ignore, and I couldn’t get you back.” He sighed deeply. “I didn’t have a choice. I tried to bring you back to humanity, but you were already too far gone. So I had to.”

  The bastard was trying to justify shooting two people, drugging and kidnapping me. I wanted to rip into the sanctimonious son-of-a-bitch, tell him that he was the only monster in my life and as soon as I got the hell away from him I would assure he never got near me again!

  I took a deep breath and bit back what I wanted to say, common sense overriding my temper. “I’m sure you only did what you thought was right, Joaquín.” I forced the words to sound reassuring. The only thing I was sure of was that Joaquín had lost his fucking mind, but saying that out loud didn’t seem like a good idea.

  See? I can be reasonable. Sometimes.

  “We can work this out … go
back…” I rammed my elbow into his groin and sprinted toward the door.

  I heard Joaquín let out a long stream of profanity but I wasn’t about to slow down to hear the specifics. I raced down the steps, hearing the wood groan in protest. I jumped down the last few steps and landed in the dirt, pluming a cloud of dust around me. I pushed myself up and ran toward the sagebrush. I made it about halfway before I heard the pounding of footfalls behind me. Joaquín’s yelling had gotten the attention of more than one person by the sounds of heavy boots closing in behind me.

  “Ian.” I sent the mental plea to him. “Ian? Where the fuck are you?”

  I couldn’t feel the connection to Ian and my chest heaved, whatever Joaquín had injected me with was still having enough effect to slow me down. Each breath felt like fire filling my lungs. I ignored the pain and kept moving. The shadows loomed closer and before I made it to the edge of the brush I felt a heavy thump on my back, knocking the wind out of my lungs and sending me tumbling face first into the dusty earth.

  I kept moving, twisting my body from side to side, trying to avoid the many hands attempting to hold me down. I kicked, threw elbows, scratched and even bit when the opportunity presented itself, although which body part I sank my teeth into I didn’t know, and didn’t want to. I got off one solid kick and heard a satisfying crack of bone but still he didn’t let go.

  “I got her!” I heard him call out as he brought his face close enough to mine that I could see him clearly. Alex straddled me and no matter how hard I bucked, I just didn’t have the strength left to dislodge him. “Get off me you dickless bastard!” I shouted.

  “Hey now, sugar. Calm down.” He smiled. “You have no cause to make any assumptions about my manhood.” His grin grew. “I’d surely remember if you had any personal knowledge of what lies beneath my belt, and so would you.”

  I couldn’t even muster up enough saliva to spit in his face so I had to settle for just glaring at him.

  Evan stumbled over to us, cursing loudly. “The bitch kicked me,” he complained.

  “’Least she doesn’t think you’re dickless,” Alex drawled.

  “Now who’s making assumptions?” I muttered.

  Alex laughed while Evan took a menacing step toward me. Without warning Evan disappeared from sight. One second he was advancing on me, the next, he was gone. Then the weight of Alex lifted from me and Joaquín was grasping me under my armpits and lifting me off the ground. “No one touches her,” Joaquín growled.

  “Her?” Evan asked in amazement. “Look what she did to me!” He stood before Joaquín with his hands clenched.

  “Enough!” Sonya’s voice called out. “Is she injured?” She asked as she brushed passed all three men and placed an arm on my shoulder.

  Joaquín looked at me with the question clear in his eyes.

  “No,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m not hurt.” The last thing I wanted was a witch using some insect infested potion to attempt to heal me.

  “Alex, Evan.” She scolded them like school children until both men left. Sonya handed me an insulated jug filled with water and ice and some kind of protein bar. After checking to make sure the water was clear and odor free, I downed it in huge gulps. I ripped open the sealed snack bar and polished it off in a couple a bites while Joaquín scooped me up into his arms and carried me back to the house, all the while telling me that I shouldn’t have run. I went along quietly, nestled in Joaquín’s warm arms as we made our way across the terrain. Right.

  I struggled, twisted and pulled his hair until he hoisted me over his shoulder like a sack and I was left with an upside down view of his ass. Not that I remember getting there. The sharp stab of a needle and I was out. The bitch witch had drugged me again!

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  The setting sun blazed the inside of my eyelids white. I stirred and tried to roll away to block the light from my eyes. My arm caught on something and I had to peek open one eye to see what it was stuck on. My eyes shot open when I saw that both of my wrists were bound to the metal frame of the bed that I lay on. Correction; that I lay on with Joaquín.

  I could feel his breath upon my shoulder as he quietly snored. He had his arm draped around my waist and his chin resting on my shoulder. A breeze billowed the curtain hanging on the window and a chill ran up me.

  “Get off me!” I shrieked and was rewarded when Joaquín startled out of bed so quickly he nearly fell off it. “You have no right to sleep in the same bed as me anymore.” I twisted away from him. “Untie my hands and get the hell out of here!” I demanded.

  “No right to…” he stammered. “No fucking right to sleep with my own fiancee?” His voice was still raspy with sleep yet he managed to rattle the windows with volume.

  “Your ex-fiancee, Joaquín. We’re not even dating anymore and you can forget whatever notion you had of remaining friends! Untie me, take me back home and I’ll consider not shooting your balls off the next time I see you!”

  Joaquín moved closer. “I love the fire in your eyes when you get your dander up.” He spoke quietly. “I always have.” He sat back down on the bed. I flinched away from him. “Shh…” he whispered, bending close to my ear. “I know you don’t understand this now. But you will, baby, I promise you will. Then you’ll know what I’m doing is the only way.”

  Joaquín offered me a clean set of clothing, brought me food and coffee and while it was damn tempting, I refused all of it. I was a prisoner, plain and simple. I hadn’t been able to contact Ian either, which was really pissing me off. What the hell was the point of having a mental connection with someone if I couldn’t use it when I needed it?

  I was untied once I promised to play nice. A promise I fully intended to break the moment I had a chance.

  Sonya returned and told Joaquín he needed to help Alex and Evan with “something”. I didn’t know or care what the “something” was but hoped I’d get a good opportunity to run again.

  Sonya bustled around the small kitchenette with her weeds and whatever, then brought me a cup. I pulled away from it. “It’s tea, my dear. Nothing more. Come,” she raised the cup toward me once again, “you need to drink something.”

  I shook my head from side to side and cleared my throat. “I don’t think so, lady. I don’t drink bug juice.”

  Her eyes wrinkled in confusion for a moment. Then she laughed. A genuine hearty laugh. “It’s just tea dear. The ‘bug juice’, as you called it, was for the plants.” She waved her hand to indicate the different potted plants around the room. “Circle of life and all that.”

  I still refused so she opened a small refrigerator and handed me a sealed bottle of water. I took it and felt the cold spread all the way down my throat and into my stomach as I drained the bottle. Sonya got another bottle for me. “Better?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” I cracked open the second bottle. “Thanks.”

  “We never got to finish our little discussion. Where were we…?” She pursed her lips in thought. “Oh, yes. I’m a witch, not the kind that rides around on a broom.” She laughed at her own joke.

  “You called me a necromancer,” I interrupted.

  “Of course. I mean, you must know what you are?” When I didn’t answer she continued. “You talk to the dead, right?”

  I nodded. What did I have to lose? She could call me whatever she wanted if that distracted her long enough for me to escape.

  “You can raise them from their graves and control them?”

  “No.” I felt my jaw hang open in shock “I-I don’t know. I mean, I never tried.” Raise them? Why the hell would I want to raise them? A vision of an old zombie movie raced through my head. Mangled bodies seeping God-knows-what from every available orifice, walking stiff jointed and moaning incoherently. No. I definitely did not want to raise the dead!

  “I can feel your power; you had to have been born with this gift.” She looked astonished. “Someone must have taught you how to use it. An untrained necromancer, especially one with as much power as
I feel coming from you can be a very dangerous thing.”

  “My Love?” Ian called, searching my mind.

  I let out a whoosh of air in relief. “I’m here, Ian. Where the hell have you been?”

  Sonya’s hand flew to her chest, her eyes wide. “I must… I didn’t…” She took a calming breath and smoothed her hands down her shirt. She looked back to her “tea” then said, “I have to do something. I’ll be back.” She stood and left the room, which was just fine with me.

  I went back to focusing my energy on my link with Ian. “Shia, Cougar…”

  “Are perfectly healthy, albeit thoroughly angry.”

  “But they…”

  “Are vampire and Therian, My Love. I assure you they are well.”

  I felt a heavy weight lift from my chest. “Can you track me?” I asked. “I can move now, but I don’t know where I am.”

  “Can you get out, My Love?”

  I stood and inched toward the door, expecting someone to come through it at any moment and stop me from seeing outside. I got to the door and peered out cautiously. Evan stood outside, talking to Sonya. She looked upset, her arms punctuating words that I couldn’t hear. “No. I’m being guarded. I’m in some kind of old west town. There are rock formations and large patches of sagebrush. I might be able to hide if I can get away, but…”

  “What is it?”

  “I think she may have heard us, you know, mind to mind.”

  “Do you have any weapons?” Ian asked.

  I heard a commotion on the wooden steps then Joaquín burst into the room and grabbed me by the arm.

  “We’re leaving,” he spoke as he dragged me toward the door and down the stairs. I tried to keep the link between Ian and I open but I kept stumbling on the steps and it took everything I had just to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. Apparently I wasn’t fully recovered yet.

  Joaquín pushed through both Evan and Alex at the bottom of the steps. Others came running from the other end of the street but we were in the truck, spitting dust behind it before they could get to us. I didn’t intentionally stall because I didn’t know who I was safer with, Joaquín or Sonya and her crew.