Death Waltz

by A. M. Hargrove

  “Are you ready to push now?” Naroo asked.

  “I don’t know. Am I?” Liasare wondered how she was supposed to know since she felt like pushing for hours now.

  “I think you are,” Naroo said.

  Liasare did everything they told her and pushed and pushed. She knew every vessel in her brain was rupturing. Her eyeballs were sure to be exploding out of their sockets at any second now.

  “Oh, holy crap, is Smidgen the size of Lare-Stell or something?”

  Then she heard him cry. And screech. And Naroo quickly handed him to her.

  “He will shift any second, my lady.”

  “I know,” Liasare said, smiling. “He has black hair like yours, Alaric.”

  Then his energy lit up the room and Liasare shifted too. Jurek shifted and followed them as they moved around the room. His power still bound them within the confines, but they communicated with each other.

  Liasare surrounded the baby with her energy, bringing him back into her arms and forcing him to shift back into his physical form. When he did, so did she.

  “Alaric, I think he should be called Justus.”

  “Justus. I like that. He will have to rule over an unruly universe.”

  “Justus Alaric.”

  “Justus Alaric it is, though I think I’ll always think of him as Smidgen. He has your eyes, Liasare. Golden. And beautiful.”

  “And he’s not destroying us like you feared.”

  “I want to hold him.”

  “Not yet. You can’t until he’s a little older. He’s not in control yet. I can sense his surges and can change with him.”

  “Is that the secret?”

  “It’s my power. He recognizes it and it’s how I can control him. Our minds are connected.”

  “You almost died here, but not because of him. It was because of me. How many times have I nearly killed you?”

  “And how many times have you saved me? Look at me!”

  He did.

  “I’m not going to let you spoil this moment by your remorse. You should feel bad for locking me in, but not for nearly killing me. It wasn’t intentional and you don’t carry around a crystal ball with you. In any case, we should be celebrating.”

  Jurek glanced down at Justus and the corners of his mouth lifted. “I think our son is hungry.”

  Liasare’s brows furrowed as she looked at the baby and said, “What do I feed him?”

  Jurek started laughing. “Damn, Liasare, you ought to know at least that much.”

  He unbuttoned her gown and turned the baby toward her breast.

  “Oh, I guess I wasn’t thinking.”

  “No doubt.”

  The baby latched on and Liasare squealed. Jurek laughed.

  “This is really weird.”

  “How so?”

  “Do you honestly have to ask?”

  “Yes, I do. Because the way I see it, it’s very natural.”

  Smidgen nestled against her and started making all kinds of little sounds as he fed. Liasare grinned at that.

  “So, do you still think it’s weird?”

  “Well, he is totally cute, isn’t he? I mean look at his tiny butt.”

  Liasare felt something warm trickling down her chest. “Um, I think he just peed on me.”

  Jurek chucked and said, “I’ll see about some diapers.”

  “Good idea, you know, before he ...”

  “Got it, Liasare.”

  By the time Jurek returned, she’d switched Justus to her other side and he was still making all kinds of slurping noises. He was going to be a very good eater, it appeared.

  “Um, get ready, he’s going to shift.”

  And the room lit up like a star. Liasare shifted too, and then they hovered over the bed for a while. Jurek stood back and observed, smiling the entire time. When mother and son shifted back, Liasare said, “I’m gonna need some food. I can see how this is going to wear me down. And I’m going to need help with his feedings. Like supplemental food and all. The shifting burns up calories and the feedings burn up mine.”

  Jurek nodded and said he’d go talk to Brinna about it. He left them again and Liasare knew she could devour a horse right then. Justus fell asleep in her arms and what she really wanted to do was bathe. She needed a bed for the baby and someone to watch him as well. She curled up next to him and waited for Jurek to return with food.

  When he did, she mowed through it like she hadn’t eaten in a month. He watched her in astonishment.

  “Finished?”

  “Only because there isn’t anything left.”

  “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Only a bit tired and in need of a shower.”

  “Go take one. I’ll stand guard.”

  Liasare shook her head. “You can’t. If he shifts, you can’t touch him.”

  “How long will this last?”

  “Don’t know. Until he can control it, but I’m not sure. A couple of days maybe.”

  “How do you know he’s going to shift and how do you get him back in his physical form? That’s always been the problem for Praestani women.”

  Liasare smiled softly. “He tells me.” She rubbed the baby’s soft downy hair as she spoke. “You know how I said we talked all the time? Well I told him that after he was born, he’d have to tell me when he would shift and he’d have to try to stay in his physical form most of the time. He says it feels better to be in his energy form. It’s warm and his physical form makes him feel scratchy.”

  Jurek chuckled. “I think he’s describing that static charge we feel in our physical forms.”

  “Yes, I suppose so. He’s so strong, Jurek. His power is. I can feel it vibrating in him. Like it wants to burst out of him. It’s difficult for him to contain.”

  “Mine was like that when I was young. There will be times when he can’t control it and it will drive you crazy.”

  “I’m sure he will be a handful. He’ll get it from his father.”

  Jurek reached for his son.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to hold our son so you can go and shower. I can do it. I can shift with him, love. And if I need you, I’ll call out.”

  “I’m afraid he’ll injure you.”

  Jurek smiled. “He won’t. You won’t be gone but a few minutes. I want to do this. He’s my son. Let me help you.”

  She hesitated for a second, then handed Justus to him.

  “Christ, he’s really something, isn’t he?” Jurek looked at his son in awe.

  She smiled down at them. “Yeah. I’ll be back in a minute. Call me if you need me.”

  Father and son stared at each other, and Jurek let Justus know how much he loved him. They shifted together, but it was very painful for Jurek and right when he was getting ready to call for Liasare, she came into the room. She took Justus from him and he fell back on a chair, gasping. He was amazed at the power within that tiny creature.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Getting there. Give me a few more minutes. He really packs quite a punch.”

  “He does. He’s glad you held him.”

  Jurek stared at them for a while and regretted what he had to say. “I have to leave, you know.”

  “Yes. I don’t want you to go now.”

  “I don’t want to go either. I want to stay with the two of you.”

  “Alaric, how fast do Praestani children grow?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The last few days of my pregnancy, he popped out. I mean, one minute he was average sized and the next, bam.”

  “Ah. Yes, they grow faster than their human counterparts. In a couple of months, he’ll be walking and talking. He’ll get teeth quickly too.”

  Liasare cringed and Jurek wondered why.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “How will I feed him if he has teeth?”

  “Why, he’ll eat food just like you do.”

  “You mean I won’t breastfeed?”

  Jurek laughed. “You
’ll only do that for a few days at the most.”

  “Well that’s good news indeed.”

  Jurek sat next to her and said, “You two make quite a picture.”

  “Liasare, I’m glad I sealed you in. Never would I have wanted Justus born down there.”

  “Wrong reasons, right consequences?”

  He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. “Understand this. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important than the two of you. Keep yourself and our son well and safe, my heart.”

  He touched his lips to hers and was gone. She wasn’t happy with his departure. There was something wrong with the way it felt. Doom. That’s exactly what she sensed and it didn’t sit will with her at all.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting here all day for you to show up?” Tak asked. He was not happy to see Jurek casually striding into the room. “No word, nothing from you. Wait. Let me guess. You were back on Praestan, smoothing a certain someone’s ruffled feathers.”

  Jurek took three long paces and reached out for Tak’s neck. Pushing him against the wall, he got in his face and asked, “Are you quite through?” His voice was dead calm.

  Tak nodded.

  “Good. Because I’m only going to say this once. I’m tired of your insubordination. I answer to no one, except Liasare. Clear?”

  Tak nodded again.

  “If anyone else has an issue with this, speak up now so we can get this straight. I am the leader here. I take orders from no one. Do we all understand this?”

  Everyone agreed and Jurek released Tak’s neck.

  “Now, for your information,” he looked directly at Tak, “I was called away on an emergency. Liasare went into labor unexpectedly and nearly died. Had I not received her message when I did, she most likely would have. All because I confined her to that fucking room. Tak, are you satisfied?”

  He waited for a response. Tak, swallowed his pride and apologized profusely.

  “I’m sorry, Jurek. Had I known ...”

  “But that’s not the point, is it? You constantly question me and my judgment. And have for some time now. Your insubordination is becoming intolerable. I need you on this team, but only if I have your unmitigated agreement to follow my orders without exception and comment. And if for some reason I do something that is not to your liking, keep your fucking opinion to yourself. If you can’t abide by this, you know where the door is. Do you understand, because this is the last time you and I will have this conversation?”

  Tak nodded.

  “And I have your commitment to remain on this team?”

  Again, Tak nodded.

  “Good. Then let us move forward.”

  “May I ask how Brownie and the baby are?”

  “You may. They are both fine. My son is called Justus.” Then he grinned. “I believe he will have the temperament of his mother. And gods help me.”

  A round of congratulations went up but Jurek brought the team back to the real point of why they were all there.

  “So tell me about Club Down.”

  Marik answered, “The crowd was boisterous and depraved, as usual. It seems in the time we’ve been absent things have turned even worse. What used to take place on the lower levels have now moved to the main floor, too. There were men and women chained to the walls there, and all sorts of things were going on. It’s not a place Liasare should ever go.”

  “Any strange vibes.”

  “Everywhere. But no sightings. We think all of that is down below now and we weren’t allowed down there. So we go back tonight in our energy forms.”

  “Good. I felt the same way at Cosmos. We need a contingency there in our shifted forms as well.”

  Jurek told them what Jaylen said and then one of the team asked how they planned to draw Abaddon out. That was something Jurek had puzzled over, too.

  “I’m open. Anyone got ideas?”

  Ludo said, “Why don’t we wait until we do a check in our energy forms?”

  Jurek agreed then added, “I think it best if the Vesturions sit that one out. We want to be undetected and it will be easier if we don’t have to be on the lookout for you.”

  Everyone thought the plan was sound and went to their respective sleeping quarters. Tak approached Jurek and asked if he might have a word in private. They went to Jurek’s quarters, where he noticed the spilled glass of brandy on the floor. He cleaned it up and offered Tak a drink, which he declined.

  “I wanted to apologize again, for what I said earlier.”

  “Let’s put it behind us.”

  “No. Jurek I think we need to clear the air. I’m sorry for acting like an ass. You and I go way back and when Liasare entered the picture, I never thought she’d mean as much to you as she does. You never were interested in women much, other than for, well, you know. And then I figured you’d get tired of her, too. But you didn’t and I felt like the third wheel. She sort of moved in and took my place.”

  “Tak, she didn’t ...”

  Tak held up his hand and said, “Please let me finish. This is long overdue and I’ve never had to nerve to tell you this before. So, when you two became more than mere lovers, I realized it wasn’t just the two of us anymore and quite honestly it pissed me off. I didn’t want things to change between us. I liked them the way they were. We had a good thing going. No money worries. Women when we wanted them. Nice beds to sleep in every night. You get the picture. But with Brownie around, everything started to topple. No, it fucking blew up in our faces. She put us all in danger. Not meaning to, of course. But you stuck by her side and defended her and I couldn’t figure it out until it hit me. That you’d fallen for her. And where did that leave me? Our little sitch was over. So, now you know why I’ve had such a pissy attitude. But the thing is, I’ve always liked Brownie. I mean really liked her. I just didn’t like what she did to us. I know I’m sounding like a jealous lover or something, and I don’t want to be, but that’s the whole story from my perspective. So now you have a son, you’re mated and on to a completely different kind of life. And I miss the fuck out of you.” He clapped him on the shoulder and turned to leave, but Jurek’s words stopped him.

  “She championed you, you know. When you came and asked for an audience with me. She’s the one that begged me to see you. Because you and I go way back, is what she said. That we were so tight and she’d never had that. She said friendship like ours is worth so much and that I couldn’t throw it away without giving you a chance. I miss the fuck out of you too. Just because I’m mated with a kid doesn’t mean the two of us can’t be friends. Yes, it changes things. We can’t do the kinds of things we used to, but you can still come over and hang out with us. Liasare would love that. She misses the fuck out of you too, you know.”

  “I’ll do that. I need to see your young anyway.”

  “Yeah, you do.”

  “And she didn’t die after all.”

  “She was right all along.” Jurek scrubbed his face. “I don’t want to be here. At all.”

  “I know. I can tell.”

  “Want a drink now?”

  Tak laughed. “Yeah, I think I do.”

  The two dark haired men stared at each other as they clinked glasses and tossed back their whiskey. Each had their own thoughts twisting up their minds. But they both wondered how the hell they’d get to Abaddon before he took over the universe.

  ***

  They didn’t have to wait long. Abaddon came to them. That night. Not them exactly. He invaded the minds of the Vesturions. Every single one of them, putting them into one of his mind fucks, and sending them each running out into the street screaming, right into the arms of the dark winged creatures. None of them had stopped to think about bringing their Praestani swords either. Once there, they froze, exactly like Liasare had, when they wrapped their leathery wings around her and flew off, carrying her to the dungeon.

  And they were about to do exactly that when Tak alerted the Praestani what was occurring. They all flash
ed outside and destroyed the creatures, but that’s when Abaddon appeared. His high pitch bellow dropped the Vesturions to their knees, and had them screeching in pain as they covered their ears. Then he laughed ... an evil disturbing sound, piercing the night.

  “What do you want?” Jurek posed the question.

  “You know precisely what I want. And I won’t stop until I have Sarah Liana St. Davis.”

  “You’ll never have her.”

  “But you’re wrong. I’ll have her, Praestani. You see, she is already mine. We’re two halves of a whole. And once we’re joined as we were meant to be, the universe will be mine.”

  Jurek’s body twitched with pain and a friction so unsettling crawled across his skin, that he rubbed his arms vigorously in an attempt to dispel the feeling. Instead of easing it, it only got worse.

  “You think you’re so powerful, but you’re not. You are feeling but a mere touch of what I can do.”

  Abaddon waved his hand and the sensations disappeared from Jurek’s skin, as well as the high-pitched sounds from the Vesturions’ ears.

  Then Abaddon did the unthinkable. He grabbed Rayn by the shirt and lifted him off the ground. “Do you want a glimpse of what your little ones, the flesh and blood of your brother feel?”

  Rayn began screaming, “NOOO!”

  Abaddon let loose an evil laugh that echoed through the chilled night air.

  “Release him!” Jurek demanded.

  “In exchange for what? I take nothing but Sarah Liana St. Davis. You stole what is rightfully mine and you will pay.”

  A black whirl of smoke rose from the ground and engulfed him. He was gone as it dissipated.

  Jurek helped Rayn to his feet, because he had collapsed to the ground when Abaddon released him from his spell. They went back inside.

  Tak began, “This isn’t working.”

  “No fucking shit,” Jurek replied. “Rayn, drink.” He handed Rayn a glass filled with whiskey.

  Rayn threw it back in one gulp. Then he said, “We have to get those children out of there. I will never get those images out of my mind. Thank the Deity Rykerian didn’t see that.”

  “What can you tell me about it?”