The Brazen Amazon

by Sandy James

  “God, Gina. Are you all right?” Richard asked.

  Gina spit some blood a few feet away from him, swallowed the rest and dismissed the accompanying nausea. “I’m fine. Check Zach.”

  Richard rolled Zach to his back. “He’s breathing. Not a scratch on him, either. Good job, you sexy Amazon.”

  Her response to his glib words was to spit some more blood on the pavement. Trying to stand up, her injured knee gave way. Stumbling around, she found herself flat on her ass before she could break the fall. She closed her eyes, wanting to scream at both her throbbing knee and the sound of the Toy in her back pocket crunching when she sat on it.

  One more fucking problem she’d have to deal with.

  “Tell me I didn’t hear that,” Richard said.

  “You didn’t hear that.”

  “Gina...”

  “Look, we’ll worry about it later.” The odd slur of her own words from her fat lip grated on her frayed nerves. “Zach’s more important than the stupid Toy. We’ve gotta get outta here. Can you carry him?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then pick him up and let’s get the hell away from here.”

  He hefted a still unconscious Zach over his shoulder. “What happened to Mr. Wizard?”

  Before she could answer him, a SOG stuck his head out of the window. “They’re down there!”

  “I’ll tell you about it later.” She ran out of the alley, hoping her wrenched knee wouldn’t let her down.

  Richard followed right behind.

  * * *

  “We lost them.” Richard dropped from a jog to a walk as they entered the grove of trees deep in the park. He gulped in air, probably from bearing the extra weight as they ran.

  “As good a place as any.”

  Gina slowed to a limping walk. Her knee was agonizing, but she brushed the pain aside, more concerned about Zach. Her hurts would quickly heal.

  Not counting a nasty revenant bite she’d taken on her shoulder, the worst injury she’d received since being called as the Air Amazon was a broken tibia the first time she made a three-story jump. She’d been back on her feet the next day, no cast required and only some stiffness remaining in the broken leg. Plus the last time she’d talked to Sarita, the Water Amazon had been in Avalon. If she was still there, Sarita would use her healing powers to help speed Gina’s recovery. Besides, the cut lip had already closed, even if it was still swollen.

  Richard unceremoniously dumped his burden on the grass.

  Gina threw her friend a scowl, fat lip and all. “He’s not a sack of grain.” She knelt down next to Zach. Her knee hitting the ground felt as if someone stabbed her. With a ragged sigh, she reached out to smooth his tawny hair away from his forehead. “He’s been through enough.”

  “That’s funny,” Richard replied, “’cause you’re the one who’s limping around and looks like the loser in a heavyweight title fight. Poindexter here just gets a nice nap. I’d say you’ve been through enough. I assume he got hit by another shocker.”

  “Yeah. We’re damn lucky he’s still alive.”

  I’m damn lucky he’s still alive.

  Her heart clenched at the thought of losing Zach.

  Startled at the depth of her feelings—the first real ones she’d had for any man—she tried to shove aside the concern. They’d only just met. It was too soon—way too soon.

  The worry refused to budge. “He’s gonna be fine. He is. He’s gonna be fine.”

  “You talking to me or yourself?”

  Gina glared at him. “I’m supposed to protect him, and look at what a great job I’ve done.”

  She turned back to Zach and caressed his cheek with her fingertips, tracing down the strong lines of his jaw. “The poor guy got hit by a shocker SOG. Twice. I’ll be lucky if Ix Chel doesn’t take away my stripes, wipe my memory clean and send me back to live with civilians.” She was talking more to herself than Richard, but she felt so vulnerable and so unworthy. She’d let them all down. Especially Zach.

  “You’re a damn good Amazon, Gina. Ix Chel knows that. Besides, both times he got shocked, it was his own stupid fault.” Richard nodded down at Zach. “You told him to wait. Both times. But, nooo. He ignored you. Reached out to shake the guy’s hand. And tonight, he went charging right into that building like he was Lancelot coming to Guinevere’s rescue.”

  “That’s why he came inside?” Guilt sliced through her. “He came in to help me? I thought he was after his stupid phone.”

  “Never said a word about his phone. There were sounds of a fight. He was afraid you’d get your ass kicked and went running inside. I tried to warn him to give you more time, but... You know, for a genius, he’s fucking stupid.”

  The words felt like a kick in the gut. No man had ever come to her rescue before. She’d been alone her whole life. But Zach had been worried about her. He’d wanted to save her. He cared about her.

  Tears burned in her eyes. She blinked them back and looked away, hoping Richard wouldn’t see them in the cloak of darkness.

  He heaved a sigh. “Aw, c’mon, Gina. It’s not your fault. Mr. Wizard’s gonna be fine.”

  She sniffed the tears back, refusing to let them fall as she shook her head.

  “Really. It’s not your fault.”

  Richard was wrong—it was her fault. She’d been sent to San Francisco strictly to protect Zach Hanson. She was the Air Amazon. This should have been a simple job—just make sure he hadn’t been compromised and then watch over him until the SOGs were no longer a threat to him. She’d fucked it up something royal, and now Zach was unconscious. Again. And she only had herself to blame.

  She scrubbed away lingering tears with the heel of her hand. Amazons never cried.

  “Are you going to call Ix Chel to get us back to Avalon?” Richard asked.

  “Yeah. I’m just... I’m ashamed I didn’t do a better job. She’s gonna be disappointed in me.” A few more tears threatened to spill. God, she hated to cry, especially in front of people. She just couldn’t seem to stop.

  Ix Chel had always been so generous, so giving. All she’d ever asked of Gina was to do her best. Gina loved her goddess as though she were family—like a favorite, eccentric aunt. “I’m not worthy to be her Amazon.”

  Richard laid his hand on her shoulder. “You’re worthy.” He squeezed then his hand fell away before she could shrug it off. “You need to call her, or we can’t get back. Get it over with. Then put this—and him—behind you.”

  The fact that he didn’t correct her assumption of guilt told her she was correct. She hated telling her goddess that she’d been a failure, but the only way back to Avalon from a place as far away as San Francisco was by divine assistance.

  Last time she’d checked, Avalon had been floating around somewhere in the northeastern states. When the snows came, Rhiannon would probably shift it farther south. Hard to keep track when the Amazons’ home changed locations so often to keep their haven hidden from both man and magicks. Had they been within driving distance, Gina could have called to either Beagan or Dolan, the changelings who took such good care of her. They’d send the enchanted van that could find Avalon from anywhere. Magical GPS. Damn, how she would have preferred that to telling Ix Chel she was an utter failure.

  “Call to her, Gina,” Richard said, nodding down at Zach. “We need to get out of here and get him some help.”

  She sighed in resignation. Zach’s wellbeing was more important than her embarrassment. “Fine.” Placing her fingertips against the silver earring in the shape of a crescent moon placed high in the cartilage of her left ear, she summoned her goddess. “Ix Chel, please come to me. I need you.”

  The shimmer of light that appeared at her side didn’t even make her jump. So used to goddesses literally popping in and out of her life and the lives of her sisters, their sudden appearances no longer caused fight-or-flight.

  Dressed in a long red skirt and tan peasant blouse embroidered with what were probably real gold and silver threads, Ix Che
l stared down at Gina. The goddess’s face was so beautiful, looking at her always stole Gina’s breath away. Huge, brown eyes set in an oval face with high cheekbones. Long, straight black hair—dark enough to gleam purple in the dim light of the moon—cascaded down her back.

  Gina splayed her hand through her own short, spiky hair, feeling inadequate and not very feminine in comparison.

  Ix Chel wasn’t her usual smiling self. “You summoned me, Gina Himmel?” Her gaze scanned Zach before settling on Richard. Her lips thinned to an irritated line. “You still keep company with this Son of Gaia? Has he helped in your quest?”

  “Yes, m’lady. Richard’s been a big help.”

  The goddess arched a skeptical eyebrow. “Then why is the wise man in a deep slumber? Is that not Richard’s doing? He uses the power of energy as his weapon.”

  “Zach got hit by a shock, but it wasn’t from Richard. He’ll be fine as soon as I get him back to Avalon so Beagan and Dolan can help him.” Hoping against hope that the goddess wouldn’t try to keep Richard out of the Amazons’ home, Gina appealed to Ix Chel. “Richard’s on our side now. He helps us. He’d never hurt a civilian, especially someone we were sent to protect.” She almost added that all this was her fault, but Ix Chel had to already know who was to blame.

  Ix Chel frowned. “I have no faith in a Son of Gaia. Demigods are never to be trusted.”

  Swallowing a frustrated groan, Gina tried to win her over. The goddess Freya had to fight that same stubbornness with all the other patron goddesses when Richard first came to the Amazons. While Ganga had been fast to accept his presence, Rhiannon and Ix Chel had argued he didn’t belong with the Amazons.

  Ix Chel had always hesitated in accepting his word for what was happening with Sekhmet. When Freya told Richard he could stay alive by feeding on magical blood from time to time, Ix Chel had been adamant that Gina never offer hers. But it just made sense for her to allow Richard to feed. She was the only magical being anywhere near him while they watched Zach Hanson.

  “Please, m’lady. He’s my friend. I can’t leave him here to die.”

  “A friend who feasts on your lifeblood like a disgusting creature of the night. He is nothing more than a vampire.” Ix Chel fixed her dark eyes on Richard.

  Richard’s tight jaw told Gina he was holding his temper for her sake. He’d probably cracked a tooth, but he said nothing.

  “I offer it freely to save the life of a friend.” Gina punctuated her words with as much conviction as she could muster, considering her shameful handling of this whole mission. “Please, m’lady. We need to get Zach out of here, and I can’t leave Richard behind. He saved my life, remember?”

  Ix Chel still frowned at Richard, but she finally nodded. “I forgot you owe him a life’s debt. That is the only reason I allow him to use you so. He may return to Avalon.”

  Sighing with gratitude, Gina bowed her head. “Thank you, Ix Chel.”

  Cool fingers caressed her cheek, and she lifted her face to her goddess.

  Ix Chel smiled down at her and ran a fingertip over Gina’s injured lip. “Your heart is heavy because you feel guilt over the wise man’s injury. You feel you disappointed me. You are not unworthy, Gina Himmel. You make your goddess proud.”

  She started to shake her head and look away, but Ix Chel caught her chin with her slender fingers. Her smile washed over Gina.

  “You please me. Above all, my Air holds true to those she loves. You saved the inventor because he matters to you.”

  Gina wanted to argue. She wanted to tell Ix Chel that she’d hurt Zach, not saved him.

  Then she realized what her own reaction meant. She’d developed feelings for Zach, and Ix Chel knew it.

  How in heaven’s name had she let her attachment to the man grow so quickly? And what exactly was she going to do about it? Her life was rapidly becoming too complicated to manage.

  “Go now with my blessings.” The goddess bent down to touch her fingers to Zach’s forehead. “Be well, my son.”

  Zach’s eyes slowly fluttered open.

  Ix Chel smiled down at him.

  Gina wasn’t sure if Ix Chel had just healed him or if the shock was starting to wear off. Before she could get her answer, she felt the tug on her insides that always accompanied being transported from one place to another. She snatched Zach’s hand, afraid he might not follow her to Avalon without a physical link to her.

  The blinding light surrounding her made her close her eyes. When she heard the loud pop, much like a cork being released from a bottle of champagne, she opened her eyes again and smiled.

  She was home.

  Chapter Nine

  Gina took a long, loving look around, reacquainting herself with the beauty that was Avalon. Awash in the light of the full moon, the camp took on an ethereal glow. So beautiful, so lush.

  So very perfect.

  Trees surrounded the main compound, giving the place the feel of an enormous sleep-away camp that was only strengthened by the rustic cabins the Amazons called home. A large lodge where Avalon’s inhabitants took their meals and planned their attacks stood next to the deep sand pit where she and her sisters trained with their weapons and in martial arts. Straw bales with targets attached stood to the left of the sand pits and a tall climbing tower rose behind, a good distance away. The only things that appeared entirely out of place were the two Cape Cod houses—one white with forest green shutters and one gray with fire-engine red accents. Homes to the families of Earth and Fire.

  Her heart smiled.

  She glanced down at Zach as Richard materialized next to them with a loud pop.

  “Damn, I hate that.” Richard wiped his hand over his face. “Makes me dizzy.”

  “Me, too,” Gina replied before she let go of Zach’s hand and knelt down next to him.

  He looked up at her with sleepy eyes, but at least they were open. “Gina? You’re here?”

  She smiled at him, relief washing over her. “Yeah, Zach. I’m here.”

  “I had the weirdest dream.” He sounded like someone who’d had too much to drink. “Cher was here, talking to me. God, she was pretty.”

  Gina brushed his bangs away from his forehead. “No, baby, Cher wasn’t here. You were dreaming. Let’s get you to bed. You need some rest, and then you’ll feel better.”

  “She’s not as pretty as you, though,” he said as he closed his eyes. “Bed sounds nice. Join me? I’m kinda tired, but... We could snuggle. Then later we could—”

  “I’ll carry him to the empty cabin.” Richard hauled him up and flopped the poor guy over his shoulder.

  Zach let out a loud “whoof.”

  Beagan and Dolan appeared at Gina’s side. She tried not to act startled, but they had a habit of sneaking up on people, usually in the form of rabbits, before shapeshifting into their more human form—incredibly short humans. Since they had some freaky way of knowing what the Amazons needed or wanted, they’d known of her arrival and that Zach required their help.

  She loved them. Although a bit reticent at any show of affection, they accepted the Amazons’ attentions. Gina was so glad to see them, she couldn’t stop herself from giving each a quick kiss. First one on Beagan’s red head, then one on Dolan’s brown one. Both blushed furiously.

  “I need you guys to help me get our guest settled. His name’s Zach Hanson. He’s kind of...fussy about his stuff.”

  “Yes, mistress,” Dolan answered with a vigorous nod.

  “We shall see to his needs, mistress,” Beagan added.

  “Thanks, guys.” She resisted the urge to pat them on the head like a couple of kids, even though they barely reached her waist.

  From what Ix Chel told her about the changelings, they’d been in Rhiannon’s service so long, no one could remember how old they really were. They were the last of their kind. Rhiannon gave them her protection, often treating them like prized pets. They adored the Lady of the Lake. In return for her benevolence, they used their many talents to care for the Amazons.
>
  Beagan and Dolan both gave Gina a quick bow before hurrying after Richard as he carried Zach across the compound. All four disappeared inside the farthest cabin, the one that had belonged to Rebecca before she married Artair.

  Gina gave herself a few more moments to refresh her spirit by taking in the sights and smells of Avalon. With a resigned sigh, she headed after Zach, not wanting to trust his care to Richard. He’d have Beagan and Dolan leave Zach on the floor. After only a few steps, she stopped and turned toward a shout.

  “Gina!” Sarita’s husky voice echoed through the compound.

  Reluctantly putting aside her need to follow Zach and assure herself he truly was recovering, Gina smiled at her closest Amazon sister. Sarita had known she’d arrived. Their connection had been strong from the time Gina went with Johann to Sea World to fetch the Water Amazon and bring her into the Amazon fold.

  The memory brought a smile. Sarita had laughed in Johann’s face when he’d indelicately told the beautiful Indian she was going to be a superhero. God, had he ever been that green? Had she and Sarita ever been that green?

  After Sarita had stopped her laughing fit, she realized Johann was serious. Hearing about how her life would change didn’t sit well. She’d set her favorite seal after him, allowing the thing to chase him around the pool deck. Gina had to convince her this new road in her life would be a path of adventure by revealing her own Air powers with a daring leap. Of course, it had taken her a couple of tries to jump a whole story that first time. But when she had, not only had she convinced Sarita their powers were real, she’d convinced herself.

  Gina’s smile turned to a frown as the pleasing memory faded to sour. Accepting her new role as Air had been easy because it was a sight better than her old life. Sure, she’d done well, although her dreams of piloting the space shuttle had been abandoned early. Military didn’t suit her need-to-fly-solo personality. She’d loved her job as an air traffic controller despite the chauvinist dipshits she worked with.

  But before that? When she’d been a child?

  Well, things were a bit...less...pleasant.