by Cory Barclay
“Are you guys gonna keep talking about unicorns and shit, or are you gonna get out of my Uber? We’re at your destination. I’ve got places to be, assholes to pick up.”
“Oh, sorry,” Steve mumbled, opening the door. Dale chuckled as he got out from the other side.
They were in La Jolla, on Pearl Street, next to the white picket fence of Shannon Barton’s house. She had become Dale’s lover during Steve’s absence from Terrus. Steve was sure that had come thanks to some trickery from the cherub, Michelangelo. He never let his thoughts be known, though. Let Dale have his peace—let him believe he had any game whatsoever.
Steve stretched as he watched the Uber car drive away. He turned to Dale, but Dale was looking past him, with a wide-eyed expression on his face. Steve spun around to follow Dale’s eyes.
His stomach dropped to his balls and his mouth went dry.
Scarlet Amos, the succubus he hadn’t seen in months, was standing on the other side of the picket fence, near the front door of Shannon’s house.
“Hello, boys,” she said, seductive without even trying.
Steve and Dale both stammered as their eyes perused the voluptuous body of the tall woman.
“Your girl told me to wait out here for you three,” she said to Dale, when it was clear the boys were tongue-tied. “But it seems you’re missing one.” She smirked. “I don’t think your woman trusts me, Fats.”
Scarlet wore a black dress and a too-tight black corset that mashed her breasts together. It was clearly not normal attire for a Sunday afternoon, unless she was attending Mass at the Church of Satan, perhaps.
“I wouldn’t trust you either, woman,” Dale said, shaking lurid thoughts from his head. He turned away from her, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of seeing him squirm.
Steve wasn’t so lucky, or skilled. He practically drooled. It took a long moment for him to regain his wits. When he finally did, he breathed harder than he should have, like he’d just run a lap around the block. “W-What are you doing here, Scarlet?”
“Come on now,” she said. “Didn’t you get my mystery note?”
“That was you?”
Scarlet put her hands on her hips and tilted them just so. “Of course it was, dummy. Who else? Now, is someone going to invite me inside so we can talk?”
Dale was the first to jump at the suggestion. “Y-Yes, right this way, ma’am. I mean, er, let’s go!” He walked through the fence gate, with Steve following.
As Scarlet and Dale disappeared into the house, Steve heard rumbling from behind. He watched a car pull up alongside the curb.
A moment later, Aiden popped out from the back seat. The homeless guy from the Low Dive was right behind him.
Aiden and the homeless guy walked through the gate. When the homeless man looked up and saw Steve in front of him, it took a moment for recognition to play across his tipsy face. When it did, he looked alarmed, guilty, and angry.
“What the hell’s going on, Aiden?” the man asked.
“Ah, right,” Aiden said, smiling. “Shepherd, this is Steve Remington. I guess you two have already met.”
Scarlet stuck her head out from the front door. “There’s the missing brigand in this brigade,” she said, nudging her chin toward Aiden.
“Lady Scarlet, a pleasure!” Aiden said, bowing low.
“Who’s that?” Shepherd asked, his eyes twinkling with lust.
“Come inside and I’ll tell you all about it,” Scarlet said, waving her hand at the trio.
“What are we talking about?” Aiden asked.
Scarlet grinned. “Why—rebellion, intrigue, and deceit, you wretch. What else?”
CHAPTER THREE
Steve hadn’t seen Scarlet in months, though he had communicated with her through dream-leaping, not too long ago. That still happened from time to time while he slept. He was trying to get a hold of his dream-leaping abilities, which seemed a bit unwieldy and unstable.
Shannon was not too pleased Steve and Dale returned with three new people. This ragtag band of misfits had no business being in La Jolla, much less her home. One was a freckled, red-faced Irishman who couldn’t stop complimenting her. Another was a homeless man who stank of booze, sweat, and dirty clothes. The third was a beautiful woman who drew the eye of everyone around her, including Shannon. The trio made her uncomfortable. .
“Your house is lovely, m’dear,” Aiden said as he took a seat on the couch in the living room. His eyes scanned the bland white walls and the chandelier that stood over the front walkway.
“You already said that,” Shannon said curtly. The other three men sat. Dale took his trusty loveseat, Steve took the chair opposite the couch, and the grimy guy sat next to Aiden. Scarlet decided to remain standing, across from them all. She blocked the flatscreen TV with her big breasts and wide hips. Shannon hated her. She was very alluring. What a conflict of interest.
When they’d all sat, Shannon asked in a not-so-friendly tone, “Is there anything I can get you boys?” Her eyes drifted to Scarlet. “And lady?”
“Do we have any beers left, hun?” Dale asked, tilting his head back to watch her wander into the kitchen.
“Half a twelve pack from last night,” Shannon said from the other room.
“Excellent. That’ll do, dear.”
Shannon came back with the box of Budweisers and placed it on the table between the couches. She said, “Enjoy,” in a joyless tone, and left the room.
“I don’t think she likes me,” Scarlet said when she was gone.
Dale chuckled. “She probably wants to screw you like every—” he stopped mid-sentence and shook his head. “Jesus, what is wrong with me?”
Scarlet smirked. “I have that effect.” She seemed to enjoy it—toying with everyone around her.
Dale leaned forward, tore open the box of beers, and handed them out. Steve was the only one who didn’t partake. He had over a year of sobriety and wasn’t going to give that up, even if the end of the world was nigh. He knew he needed a clear head to get Annabel back.
“Okay,” he said, cracking his knuckles and looking over to Scarlet. “What can you tell us?”
“Well,” she said, putting her hands on her hips, “it looks like you already found an ally. I guess my little note worked after all. It was more of a pep . . . note, really. Get you guys off your asses.”
“It worked marvelously, dear,” Aiden said with a wide smile. He blinked slowly and it unnerved Scarlet. She winced and looked away.
“Why do you want to help us?” Steve asked.
“Ever since you told me Aiden didn’t kill my mother, I’ve been thinking. I don’t believe for a hot second she was killed during a random burglary. In the middle of Pacific Beach, in broad daylight? Bullshit. And if that’s the case, I’m convinced someone from Mythicus killed her.”
“How?” Dale asked. “I thought the fairy people only lived in the fairy land.”
“Unless they’re brought here by someone like Steve,” Scarlet clarified. “A Myth Seeker.”
“Ah, yes,” Dale said. He sipped his beer and leaned so far back into the couch he was at risk of melting into it.
“Why do you think it was someone from Mythicus?” Steve asked.
“Because some of those assholes know her lineage as the sister of Overseeress Garnet.”
Steve scratched his cheek. “But—”
“She’s right,” Shepherd blurted out, speaking for the first time. All eyes turned to him. He seemed nervous, twiddling his dirty hands, one leg shaking uncontrollably.
Scarlet narrowed her brow. “What do you mean?” Her tone had become ice cold, devoid of the playful heat and surliness she usually expressed.
“I-I’m sorry, but did you say you were January Amos’ . . . daughter?”
“That’s right.”
Shepherd’s mouth fell open, to reveal a haphazard display of yellow teeth and black gaps. In a low voice, he said, “I can’t believe I’m sitting in a room with—”
“Enough
of that,” Scarlet snapped.
“But you’re royalty!”
Steve sniffed loudly. “How is she royalty?”
When Scarlet and Shepherd didn’t answer immediately, Aiden butted in. “I can answer that,” he said, clearing his throat. “Overseeress Garnet was the leader of the Brethren, yes?”
Steve nodded.
“Her sister was January Amos. If anything happened to Garnet, or April, as she was birth-named, her role as Overseeress could plausibly fall on January. And if anything happened to January, then it could fall to her next of kin.”
“Scarlet . . .” Dale said slowly. He took another sip of beer and melted even further back.
“Correct, Thor,” Aiden said.
“You’re forgetting one thing,” Shepherd said, raising a finger. “That Overseeress Garnet had her own daughter. She is the one leadership should fall on.”
Aiden waved off that notion. “She’s been missing and forgotten for years,” he said. “Practically abandoned Mythicus as a whole.”
“I don’t blame her,” Scarlet said. “I’ve done the same.”
Shepherd threw his hands out wide. “But you can’t!” he exclaimed. “Your mother and aunt are both dead. The line of succession rightly falls on you!”
Scarlet wrapped her arms under her bosom. She didn’t seem too intrigued by the idea. “Oh, so I should simply go there and claim my right? Then everything would be nice and tidy? You must have lost your mind when you came here.”
Shepherd muttered under his breath, “I didn’t say it would be easy . . .”
“Besides,” Scarlet continued, “You couldn’t pay me enough to lead those fools. The only thing Mythicus has ever brought me is grief. What do I owe them? Nothing. If anything, I want to kill the bastards who hurt my mother.”
“Perhaps I can help with that,” Shepherd said, again in a low, timid voice.
“Guys, guys,” Steve interjected, flapping his hands in the air. “Let’s all calm down here so we don’t destroy Shannon’s lovely home, yes?”
Scarlet’s arm launched out and she snapped her fingers at him. “Shut up.” Turning back to Shepherd, she said, “What did you just say? ‘Perhaps I can help with that.’ How?”
Shepherd’s leg was shaking again. It was clear he’d gotten himself into something he’d been trying to avoid. Everyone was quiet for a moment. Then he seemed to gather his wits. He stared at Scarlet with hard eyes. “I’m a blackguard defector, ma’am. I know many things you may not know about the Brethren of Soreltris. I thought that was why I’m here.”
Steve said, “Well—”
“It is,” Scarlet interjected.
Shepherd entwined his hands on his lap. “To understand how I might be able to help, it’s important to know how we got to where we are.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Scarlet asked angrily. “Don’t throw riddles at me, man.”
Shepherd held up a palm. Scarlet was quickly losing any modicum of patience she might have had. “I meant no disrespect, my lady. But you must understand how Overseer Malachite came to power.”
Steve flinched at hearing his father’s title. He’d been avoiding this subject for entirely too long. But, if he was being truthful, he ached to know how his father had come to power in the land of Mythics.
Shepherd cleared his throat. “It’s common knowledge among the blackguards that Overseer Malachite had an affair with your mother, January Amos, here on Terrus.”
“Yes, it is common knowledge,” Steve said. “Even I knew that.”
“After that, he was brought to Mythicus by January’s sister, April. They had an affair and fell in love. Malachite was going to marry April, the Overseeress, thus making himself the second most powerful person in Soreltris.”
Steve leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. Was he still married to my mother when all this happened?
“Before they could wed, April died of mysterious circumstances. Though I have an inkling about what happened.”
“What happened?” Steve asked, taking the bait.
Shepherd held up a finger. “Hold that thought.” He took a look gulp of his beer, finishing the can. He belched, then sat as straight as possible, which was still pretty wobbly. “Following April’s death, the Brethren Council had an emergency meeting behind closed doors. The end result of that meeting is now legend, and known far and wide.
“In the Council meeting, Malachite was voted into power. It was not unanimous by any means—remember, Soreltris had been a matriarchy up until this point. There hadn’t been a male leader in ages. So, Malachite’s ascension caused a stir among the citizenry of Soreltris. What would the new Overseer be like? People wondered. A man? And lord forbid if they found out he was a human.”
“You mean the people of Soreltris don’t know Rich—Malachite is not one of them?” Steve asked.
Shepherd shook his head. “Why would they? He is above them in everything, and he hardly ever meets with anyone outside his Council.”
Scarlet began pacing the room, in small circles, her arms crossed. “Do you know how the voting went in the Council meeting?”
“No, my lady. But it’s quite obvious what happened, or at least it quickly became obvious.” Shepherd reached into the box of beers and grabbed one of the last two. Dale lunged from the loveseat and took the last one.
Shepherd cracked the beer and took a long, slurping sip.
“Come on, man,” Steve said, rolling his wrist. “Don’t leave us hanging.”
“One of the Councilmen, Lord Onyx, maneuvered past his wife, Lady Opal, to take the head position. This didn’t happen until after he made a command—”
Steve tensed at the mention of names. Lord Onyx was Jareth Reynolds, and his wife, Lady Opal, was Dosira.
Shepherd sighed. He turned away from Scarlet. “Lord Onyx ordered his son to come to Terrus and kill January Amos, in case January got the idea to come back and vie for power. It was in her right, after all, being Overseeress Garnet’s sister.”
The air seemed to get sucked out of the room. Scarlet stopped pacing and her knees knocked together. Dale jumped up surprisingly fast for a big man and took her by the shoulders, sitting her on his loveseat.
Steve squeezed his fists. He could feel the muscles in his neck spasm.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” Shepherd said, bowing his head. “But you deserve to know, being her daughter.”
Tiberius fucking Reynolds, Steve thought, anger coursing through his veins. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“How do you know Lord Onyx made that command?” Scarlet asked, her voice little more than a whisper. She seemed helpless and was slowly curling into a fetal position on the couch. “I’m sure he wouldn’t publicly announce—”
“No, no, my lady. Nothing like that. I only knew because I was one of Lord Onyx’s son’s bodyguards. Me and five other blackguards heard the order directly, ma’am.”
“Tiberius . . .” Steve said to no one.
Scarlet began sobbing quietly into the arm of the couch. Aiden moved to sit on the other arm, trying to console her by pulling her head close to him.
Shepherd’s bleary eyes turned on Steve with a strange lucidity. He didn’t seem like the drunken homeless man he had an hour before, or even moments before. Now he seemed like he was lost in his past, giving a field report as a blackguard.
“You know the name?” Shepherd asked, tilting his head back in surprise.
Steve nodded. “What happened after that?”
Shepherd paused, keeping his eyes on Steve for a moment too long. “It was quite muddled, but I was close to the initial command. Lord Amethyst—Tiberius Reynolds—killed January. When he returned, Lord Onyx had assumed full leadership of the Council. It was clear he’d been the one vying for Overseer Malachite to take control all along. You see, Lord Onyx sees humans as weak . . . malleable and easily manipulated. With one leading the Brethren, he thought he could control from behind the scenes.”
Shepherd he
sitated.
“But?” Steve asked.
“But he didn’t count on his other Council members to subvert his authority. He didn’t have the necessary votes to pass the decisions he wanted, I believe. Don’t quote me on that—”
“No, you’re right,” Steve said. He recalled a terrifying event, when he’d overheard Jareth and Dosira Reynolds speaking with Constantin and Mariana Lee about marrying their children. With Tiberius and Annabel married, the Reynoldses would have the votes necessary to . . .
“Wait a minute,” Steve said, shaking his head as his thoughts reached their natural conclusion. “If Jareth was the man behind the curtain, why would he now want to overthrow Malachite?”
Shepherd cocked his head to the side. “What?”
Steve rubbed his chin. “Never mind,” he muttered. He realizing Shepherd hadn’t been a blackguard during that time. What Steve just mentioned was clearly news to everyone in the room, except Aiden. And Dale, who was blowing into his empty beer can, trying to make whistling noises, so he clearly didn’t give a shit. But Shepherd and Scarlet were hearing this for the first time.
“How do you know Onyx wants to see Malachite overthrown?” Shepherd asked.
“Because I heard him say it,” Steve said.
Shepherd paused. “Hmm,” he said, putting his grimy hands to his chin. “That’s odd. I have no idea.”
“Then that’s the question we need to answer,” Steve said with finality.
After a moment of silence, Shepherd tapped his chin, deep in thought.
“What is it?” Steve asked.
“Well, the ‘question we need to answer,’ as you say, regarding Onyx wishing to overthrow Malachite . . . it made me think. There is a legend that passed through the blackguard while I was there, half-jokingly.”
Steve raised his eyebrows.
“It’s about Onyx’s wife, the Lady Opal, Dosira Reynolds. You see, she is an undine, a water elemental spirit. Undines resemble humans, in appearance, but they lack a human soul. But there is a way to for them to gain a human soul, which allegedly grants them immortality. Now, I don’t know if it has anything to do with anything—”