Reno

by Nini Church

  They scoured every inch of the first fifteen feet inside the dark tunnel, black walls uneven with many sharp points to grind down whatever remained of an ethereal body as it passed through the final lap of the Fade.

  What felt like twenty feet into the tunnel, Met strode ahead of Reno, hands on broad hips, he stopped, turned back, then swung his head over his shoulder and peered into the darkness. “Aili didn’t get this far.”

  Reno was speechless. He’d done nothing but pray, not to any God, but to Aili to stay alive, to hold on, and now Met was throwing him a bone. His eyes misted and in that moment, he knew true desperation. His body was drained and heavy, his mind partially shut down – no longer on point. So close and yet so far.

  Fuck. He shook himself like a wet animal, bones snapping and muscles torqueing. It cleared his mind a little, but now he was almost drained of energy. “Aili’s here. I sense her.”

  “Me too. Somewhere safe?”

  Reno honed his focus on Aili. Calling out to the elements, he shifted through each individual molecule, nothing got by him. She was here. Where? He let his Jinn sense do what it did best, blue eyes empty, he turned to the left studying the uneven rough wall, looking for any visible lines or cracks. It was solid.

  Met moved in beside him, one long arm reaching out to run bronzed fingers over the rough surface. He turned golden eyes, hard as the hills, on Reno. “Aili’s hidden here?”

  Reno’s brain bloomed with the concept. Had someone snatched his mate from the Fade? Who? Why? Had she hidden on her own? That meant Aili hadn’t gotten too far along the tunnel. If so, he was grateful. In his heart, he accepted Aili was safe as his Jinn sense confirmed it.

  Wraiths filled the entrance of the spiraling black tunnel and Met abruptly pushed Reno behind him. “Time’s up, bro. For now.”

  They dissolved in a field of gold dust, leaving a dozen or more Wraiths agape.

  No Gods visited the Fade, yet they’d just seen one.

  Emerile, leader of the Wraiths, nodded knowingly as if fully aware beforehand that a God was visiting, but he knew nothing really. Did Fate know a God was here in the Fade? She didn’t keep him in the info loop, but walked her own path no matter who tried to dictate otherwise.

  Emerile turned away from his Wraiths and grimaced. Always with Fate there were unexpected and usually ugly events. A time or two, she even dared mix time–lines, changing human lives and many other races in a blink. She was a walking disaster and many secretly prayed for her ultimate downfall.

  Single–handedly, the bitch had killed off half the Wraith population without a thought or care to the consequences. Now, many souls passing through the Fade, lingered on the edges, unaware of their path for there were not enough Wraiths left to guide them all before some got lost.

  Those meant to pass were not moving on, but haunting the flatlands, a new cycle started that none looked forward to. Fate adored starting dysfunctional cycles, endless once begun, and they were never the good kind, not that any form of good applied at this point in the Fade, but Fate only made it worse by interfering.

  For the millionth time, Emerile silently wished, his thoughts hidden in the deepest part of his being, that Fate would be punished for running amok through so many dimensions and ruining souls, causing destruction no matter where she landed.

  Distant from the tunnel now and ankle deep in gray sand, Met mumbled, “Need to make a pit stop. First, I’ll help you out. The Fade has a way of draining the living and you’re fucking empty.”

  He felt so shattered, Reno’s brain was turning to mush inside his skull.

  Met gripped the big Jinn around his sagging shoulders, holding him upright – Reno’s solid two hundred and ninety pounds was feather light. “No matter what, stay with me, bro.”

  Golden cuffs glowing, Met brushed his fingers across Reno’s chest.

  Energy infused the big Jinn as he stood back, legs braced, hands fisted and on point, no longer dried up and barren, but infused with his normal powers. Hell, a little more than normal.

  Met didn’t have the heart to reveal it was an illusion. Most everything was exactly that. Illusion. In Met’s opinion, it was the biggest secret in the entire universe. Sure, there were some who held real power, like him, who could bring about many changes. But there was a code of honor not to betray that magnificent power or use it to their advantage, but honor it, allowing all others to move through their lives whatever they may be, without interference from truly powerful Gods.

  They ghosted, but didn’t completely leave the Fade, landing on the outer rim. Covered in gold dust the same dense, colorless fog surrounded them.

  As time ticked away in the Third Dimension, it emitted a sense of urgency that Met recognized. He called upon ancient and powerful warriors of old, long forgotten – their time passed by. Shadow Warriors served the Gods since forever. Yet, not all Gods could summon them.

  First came a faint rustle, then armor clanking as Met waited, sending out images of Aili to the still invisible warriors of old surrounding them. In acknowledgement, their swords clashed against invisible stone, steel against rock resounding as Met gave the order. “Find Aili and keep her safe until I return."

  Reno heard nothing and glared at Met talking aloud, giving orders. To who? Then, he sensed something towering over his left shoulder, saw a flash from a broad blade, its misty sword tip pointed at the gray sand. He turned his head, looking way up, to meet the white eyes of a long dead warrior covered in finely crafted chain mail. His shaggy white hair and pointed goatee were nothing more than swirls of mist. A warrior of old.

  The massive warrior stared down at Reno as he dipped his chin once. When the ghostly visage lifted his head, it was then Reno spied the other misty warriors surrounding them. “Who are they?”

  “Beside you is the leader of the Shadow Warriors. His name is Oregain, and he’s taken quite an interest in you. Never seen him do that before. I’ve instructed him to find Aili and keep her safe until we return.”

  “Why leave in the first place? I won’t go without Aili!”

  “Choose your answer, warrior. Your energy is dangerously low. Fate’s Wraiths were almost on us. It’s imperative I see Fate first before tangling with her guardians. Capisce?”

  Reno grunted. It eased him Met’s Shadow Warriors were seeking Aili, but he wanted to return to the tunnel and search with them. About to demand Met take him back – gold dust clogged his mouth, his eyes, and in mere seconds his shit–kickers hit something solid and flat.

  Brushing the gold dust away from his eyes and hawking up a big gob of it, Reno stared incredulously at the horrific black fortress wedged at the base of an equally dark mountain. It was doom and gloom personified. “Where the fuck are we now?”

  “Fate’s favorite abode built from revenge. We’re here ‘cause I need to deal with her immediately. We’re dropping in unexpectedly. She’s the one who forced Aili into the Fade before her time.”

  “Fuck, I wanna kill her myself.” Reno blew out a long breath and by the expression on Met’s face, he knew that wasn’t happening any time soon. “How does this help find Aili?”

  Met stared down at the big Jinn, but didn’t respond. Even he couldn’t predict what Destiny would do when he was done making the necessary changes here. Might help, might not. He tapped the heavily etched cuff on his right wrist and Reno’s ethereal golden harness disappeared. “Stay as close to me as you can without getting in my pocket.”

  They stood before two huge black doors that suddenly swung wide with a boom. Met strode in, Reno right behind him, the floor uneven and rough as he worked to keep his footing.

  Like the outside, it was just as black inside. What dim light there was cast grotesque shadows.

  A strained female voice called out, “What are You doing here?”

  “Thought I’d drop by, since I was in the area.” Met grinned only it was pure evil as a weirdly elongated female came down the dark hall towards them.

  “In the area? What does that mea
n?”

  “Where’s Destiny?”

  “Certainly, not here. Why?” Tall and slim, she wore a long black sheath, one shoulder bare and draping her lush body to perfection. She wore all black and even her skin held a smoky black tinge that appeared to flux under the surface. Black hair straight down her back and not a hair out of place, gave her an aura of potential beauty, but as she got closer her black eyes were creepy, endless.

  Reno only glanced into them briefly. Never. Again.

  Met lifted both hands, palms out, golden cuffs glowing softly. “I call upon you, Destiny. Come to me now.” At Fate, he pointed a finger, chanting a few words in a forbidden language.

  Fate didn’t make a sound after that and she appeared to be invisibly bound.

  A blinding flash of light lit the dark hall, revealing the walls were made of bits and pieces of blackened bones.

  Reno wanted to puke – all over his shit–kickers.

  “How dare you summon me here!” Destiny was identical to Fate only she wore all white, with her white hair cut short, ends bobbing around her chin, accentuating the white of her skin and eyes. She hovered above the floor, expression completely disdainful, white eyes boring into Met.

  Reno noticed right away she wasn’t as frightening as her sister, Fate, but there was something about her that unsettled him. He glanced down, a shiver of dread roaming his entire body, then shot his eyes up. It was hard to miss the curled edges of jawbones or the partial skull plates embedded amongst the bones of the walls. Beneath his feet, the floor was uneven and bumpy. After seeing what the walls were made of, he couldn’t help but wonder – What the fuck was he standing on?

  Nuh, uh. No way in hell was he gonna explore that option.

  Destiny was lighting the place up like it was high noon and Reno wished she would dim it the fuck down a little. Good ‘ole Met seemed not to notice or perhaps he didn’t care about all the dead races that built this place.

  Built from revenge – Met had said. Nasty, nasty place. Only a hideous creature could live in this house of horrors. Reno’s eyes turned back to Fate. He meant to imprint as much as he could about her – ‘cause she was gonna taste his form of revenge.

  Maybe not today. Or tomorrow. Nor the next day. But, Reno was gonna ensure that it happened. Revenge on Fate for her spiritual crimes against Aili would be sweet justice.

  Met stared at Destiny, but spoke to her sister. “Fate, it is my decree that you shall be punished. Destiny will rule the Fade in your place. Agreed?” Golden eyes waited for Destiny’s answer.

  She sputtered, twitched, pinched her white lips and glared harshly at Met, who continued to stare, the power of his will swirling with infinity in his golden eyes.

  He had no beef with Destiny, it was her twin, Fate, who was the problem. As always, one was responsible for the other and Met was simply calling them on it.

  No fucking way could Destiny deny him.

  The two were out of balance, didn’t sync anymore, didn’t even appear to like each other. Without balance, Fate’s crimes were possible and chaos ensued. A dangerous fucking mix if there ever was one.

  In a rush, Destiny caved in, “Agreed, but not from here. I won’t sink that low.”

  Reno eyed Fate, she was way too quiet. Frozen in place, she didn't move, but was clearly in a rage as her black, depthless eyes frantically swished back and forth and her lips moving with no sound coming out.

  Met ignored Fate completely. It made Reno wonder about her punishment, how harsh Met might be with her. Hopefully, he’d make her pay, bring the fucking almighty power of his Godhood down on this trash calling herself Fate. Shit, trash was too good for her.

  Met kept his golden eyes on Destiny, voice booming as it echoed and replicated beyond Destiny’s bright light and well into Fate’s darkness. “Fate, I banish you until such a time as you come to your senses. For a period, you will remain solitary. Then, if all goes well, you may tend to those poor souls lost in the Fade. You will rule none, but yourself for none will know you. So sayeth I.” He stopped, hand rising to his chin, considering other options to punish Fate. “I also call forth the Nicodemian Council. Your fate and any further punishment lays in their hands. So be it.”

  With a shiver of dread, Destiny intoned, “So be it.” Met wasn’t any old God and he never interfered. Those in authority readily went along with whatever Met wished. His reputation always preceded him and would do so in this case too. There was no sense in railing or arguing and Met knew it. Destiny had no other choice, but to agree.

  Reno was awestruck – he and Jericho had grown up on epic tales about the powerful and shadowy Nocodemian Council. And, Met had just called them forth…

  Met. Snapped. His. Fingers.

  Fate’s body lost form, became transparent and thinned into black mist that corkscrewed upwards, slamming against the jagged bone walls a few times before finally disappearing.

  Met couldn’t help it – he’d added a push or two.

  Reno noticed the heavy darkness lifting as his eyes caught on the big staircase to his right, each riser layered with lower jawbones, teeth, and all. He felt lightheaded, the sight scrambled his brains.

  When Met grabbed his shoulder, he almost went down, but locked his knees and stayed on his feet. “Now, let’s get back to the tunnel and find Aili.”

  “Not yet.”

  Gold dust went up his nose and covered Reno’s eyelashes as he inhaled a big mouthful, rage filling him. Why weren’t they going back to search for Aili? He recalled Abe’s warning that Met’s time and their time was very different. He didn’t have any time to lose, for fuck sake.

  Reno fisted his hands and struck out blindly, unable to see anything with so much gold dust in his eyes, but when one fist connected with something hard and solid, he felt better. At the back of his neck, his skin was burning, pinching, and he couldn’t figure out why. He wanted to rip that cocksucker, Met, apart. He needed to find Aili.

  Outside the kitchen door, Metatron held Reno by the scruff of his neck. Not his t–shirt, but real skin held in his massive fist as the big Jinn went ballistic.

  Met pounded on the kitchen door as it flew open. By the scruff, he dragged Reno in, shaking the big Jinn for good measure as Reno flopped around like a puppet. “You’re the only link to Aili. Hold it together. Do it for her.”

  Harshly, Reno’s body went limp and his mind snapped into reality like a rubber band on the rebound. He saw the team with Jericho inching closer, deep blue eyes gone stone cold purple.

  Met eased Reno down until his shit–kickers hit the floor.

  Duke loomed up with Esme clutching his hand, her other hand motioning in Reno’s direction.

  He sensed her blessing, feeling her deep commitment to the earth, this realm and her daughter. Reno lifted his head, eyes nailing everyone. “Aili’s still alive, but she’s in the Fade. I need to get back there and find her.”

  It was then that Moros Nemesis Grigor entered the kitchen and Reno took a deep breath, so weak, so barren he didn’t know how he was still standing.

  Met slapped him so hard on the back, Reno pitched forward.

  As one – Jericho and Zulu with Conn shoving him aside, rushed towards him, but it was Moros who caught Reno in his massive arms before he face planted the floor.

  Met’s voice boomed, “He needs calories. Pounds of them. He’s starving. Give him food.”

  Fifi and Matty ran for the fridge.

  In the great room, Abe sat quietly with the twins, listening to them babble excitedly about all the noise and Gamda – their name for Met. They also burbled their new friend's name – calling Moros Grigor – Gori. Abe chuckled – neither twin had appeared intimidated by their new friend's big size – nor did they tremble at his deadly reputation the way she did. Amazingly, Moros had taken the time to smoothly squat down to say hello to the babes and then, let them climb on him.

  Moros carried Reno to one of the stools around the kitchen island.

  Reno’s eyes popped open when his
ass slid onto the stool. He stayed put, leaning heavily forward, elbows locked and hands bracing his head up.

  Moros sat beside him, concerned as hell. He’d been in the Fade a time or two and knew how mentally and physically crippling it was. He only hoped Renegade was strong enough to re–enter the Fade again only a short time after leaving it.

  Dark eyes landed on Metatron and Moros recalled the God’s promise to help Renegade any way he could. That he’d work his shit hard. Moros only hoped the behemoth God knew how. Many didn’t. But, he’d trusted that his grandson could do it – would do it.

  Met filled everyone in on what was happening, but it surprised Reno he never mentioned the Shadow Warriors guarding Aili or their brief visit to Fate or The Nicodemian Council.

  Reno didn’t know why Met left so much out…maybe later he’d figure it out. His mind was scrambled with worry and fear for Aili and he was too weak to add his two cents.

  Protectively, Jericho stood next to him, one hand on the back of Reno’s chair. Rad looked real worried as did Zulu – it only mirrored what was happening for him. He didn’t have any answers. Yet.

  The whirr of a blender in high gear filled the open space. Fifi made for Reno with a big protein shake and a fat straw poking out.

  The shake was pink and Met guessed – or at least hoped – it was strawberry. Cherry? He liked both. Did they make one for him?

  Matty, a female from a First Order family, noted Met’s interest and coolly slid in beside him, handing him the blender jug – overlarge and full of frothy pink deliciousness. He downed it in three long gulps, handing it back, brows raised in question. Didn’t she notice he was a little bigger than everyone else and might be harder to fill? In many ways.

  Fifi fit two straws between Reno’s lips as he began pulling in the thick shake. Matty grabbed the second two litre blender jug, refilling Reno’s glass before handing it to Met who promptly emptied it.

  Reno choked on every sip, every bite, but in true Jinn warrior fashion, chowed down on three eight ounce New Yorkers, five baked potatoes smothered in sour cream and butter with a good chunk of blue cheese.