by Aaron Crash
First things first, he had to get the women back on their feet. That shouldn’t be too hard. With people around, there was plenty of soul and sex energy. He just had to get that energy into Bailey and Gabby before it was too late.
Chapter Twenty-One
JACK LEFT HIS SHOTGUN and the bag of gold with the women in the office building stairwell.
He jogged back down the street, got his car, and drove it back to the bank. He had to weave in and out of the stuck traffic, and he drove on the sidewalk at one point. He was going to need a vehicle that could go off-road better. He parked near the doors of the office building.
The air was quiet, and he didn’t see any sign of Fugs, so it was just him and the women by the time he got Gabby in the front seat, Bailey in the back, and their treasure haul into the trunk.
He sped away with the unconscious women and was doing okay until he hit a snarl of traffic that he couldn’t get around—there were frozen people on the sidewalk. He found an alley, pulled in, and then restarted time. The noise hit him like a physical force. The cars zooming by, the wind through the buildings, a crow cawing, and someone shouting happily at a friend. Time was back, and the world was rushing by.
For a second, Jack enjoyed the renewed life. When the Tempus Influunt stopped, it was quiet and peaceful, but also a little eerie. And the fact that there were unseen supernatural creatures chewing on people, on their lust, the minutes of their life, or their souls, was kind of unnerving. It was like remembering all the microscopic animals that lived on his skin. As long as he didn’t think about bacteria, it was easy to pretend it didn’t exist.
Now, the idea of doors to other dimensions? That was also odd. How many eon palaces were there? Also, there was heaven and hell, he couldn’t forget about them. And it seemed that the Gone Away, Cast Astray was an entire reality of its own, a place where the lids to your Tupperware containers might end up. Or was it more like the Island of Misfit Toys? Whatever it was, Jack was glad that the Count Palantine hadn’t caught him. He had the idea that the Count was definitely upper management in that strange, supernatural world.
He also had a new title, Time Knight. He had to know more about that, which required him getting Gabby and Bailey conscious.
He waited for a break in traffic. Then he backed out, sped up, and drove to St. Jude’s parking lot. So much had happened since he’d found Bailey there, hanging out and looking for horny people. Now, he needed the church to give Gabby some sustenance.
Parking, he left Bailey sleeping in the back seat.
Gabby inhaled and her eyes flickered open. “People. Praying. I can feel the Nefesh.” Tears sparkled in her eyes. “Oh, Jack, you knew where to take me.”
He got the angel out of the car and locked it with the windows cracked. Bailey would be fine. And she might even get a little pick-me-up from the souls inside.
In no time, Jack sat with Gabby in the back pew of the church. There were some people up front praying. The place was warm and quiet, and soon Gabby was sighing. “Thank you, Jack. I’m feeling the souls here. There’s a woman up there who just lost her son, and she’s getting so much comfort here. And then there’s another man who comes every day on his lunchbreak for solace. Life can be so difficult for you humans.”
Jack kissed her blond head. He stuffed the big cap-and-ball revolver into the inner pocket of his jacket. It wasn’t comfortable, but he was going to keep it close. It was a powerful artifact. He was pretty certain they’d gotten lucky to escape with it, and he was fairly sure that only an angel would’ve been able to beat Meriton.
Thank God, literally, that Gabby had joined his cause. It seemed that the key players in their little drama—Evelyn, Hugo, Annie, and even himself—were vital in the apocalyptic theatrics.
Yes, he was grateful for the angel, but he also liked how her soft gentleness could become such righteous fury. And that horn of hers hit like an Abrams tank.
He knew how to fix Gabby, but what was he going to do with Bailey? She was in no condition for sex. How was he going to feed her? He had an idea, but Gabby might not like it much.
The angel leaned into him. “I can feel their souls, Jack, but I can also feel yours. You are loving me. And you’re worried about Bailey. We can help her.”
He eased Gabby back. “You first, though. I can see you’re feeling better. I’m glad.”
Gabby adjusted her hair and checked her nose. No more blood. He’d cleaned that up. “I’m glad you’re taking care of me. You’re such a good man.”
“Hardly,” Jack chuckled, keeping his voice soft. He didn’t want to disturb the people praying. Which meant, yeah, he might be an asshole, but he wasn’t a dick. “I stole the gun from the Clockwatcher. And I’m surprised you’ve forgiven me for smashing in Preston Tarrington’s glass patio door.”
“I wasn’t happy about that,” the angel admitted. “But then I can see how much you care for Annie. And how you were gentle with Hugo, even though he’s kinda crazy. I will need to spend more time with him and his mother. We need to know why they are special. Also, I can’t forget that Evelyn lost precious Kairos. Her fate will be cut short if we don’t replace it.”
“So the way I handle Kairos is different, right?” he asked.
Gabby nodded. “Very different. Maybe like Hugo and his mother are different.”
Jack lifted his left hand to show his new tattoo. “In some ways, Hugo started this. He gave me the soldier. It might not have done anything, but it unlocked something inside of me. Or I think it did.”
“No.” Gabby took his hand. “You were destined—the surviving son, the sixth son of a sixth son of a sixth son. From what you’ve said, you stopped time instinctively when you were about to die. The soldier became the conduit. But now you have a new conduit. Don’t think I approve of tattoos because I don’t. However, that ink is pretty useful.”
“It’s far more convenient.” Jack squeezed her hand. “But what about the other things that the Clockwatcher said? I mean, so Annie’s life is in danger. We have to find Tanichron’s eon palace. We know that’s where Kerrata is headed, right?”
“That’s in hell, Jack.” Gabby sighed, her chin dropping to her chest. “Tanichron isn’t an Interim, he’s a demon duke. Getting into hell isn’t easy. And we only have two more bullets for the Eternity Cannon. I’m not sure we can really...you know...rescue Annie.” The angel frowned but then lifted her head. “I’m not feeling well, though. I’m still so depleted. Once I get more Nefesh, I’ll be much more positive about our chances! It’s Tuesday, and we have until Friday night.”
Her smile was beautiful.
Jack felt an unexpected wave of both love and lust fill him as he gazed into her blue eyes.
“Oh,” she gasped. “I felt that. Both Nefesh and Ijjinaya. It’s spicy. I’m not a succubus, but I can appreciate a little sauce with my supper.”
Jack kissed her hand. “Well, we have about three days of normal time flow until Kerrata uses Annie to attack the duke of hell. In that time, we have to figure out our money situation, figure out how to reload the Eternity Cannon, and figure out a way into hell.”
Gabby gazed on him, speechless for a minute. There was a heat in her gaze, and he saw her lips part. She had a blush on her cheeks, which was nice to see since she’d been so pale.
He took it as a sign. He dipped his mouth toward hers, feeling the pull of the kiss. He loved the erotic feeling, of both of them wanting to feel their lips together, their tongues, their faces as close as close could be.
At the last minute? Tragedy. She leaned back. The lean-back wasn’t as bad as the hand, like when the reluctant kisser used her palm to stop any kissing. “Jack, I can’t do that right now. I’m still wondering how I fit into this, and how much trouble I’ll be in. I know I have to save Annie, that’s clear, and that’s why I’m willing to bend the rules. But to sleep with you? That wouldn’t be wise. If I’d spent more time on Earth, if I was more established in my legion, I’d have more freedom. As it is, I’m on in
troductory probation. I don’t want to lose my wings, horn, and sword. Sex is wonderful, and I love how this body feels, but I can’t give in to my desires. However much I want to. I mentioned my clit, right?”
“You did.” Jack smiled.
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with me playing with myself. But you playing with me? Or heaven forbid, Bailey? It’s really not what angels are about. Humans and sex demons, sure. It’s all part of the divine plan. But it might not be in my plan. I don’t know.”
Jack gave her hand another reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay, Gabby. There is no pressure at all. Are you feeling better?” He let go of her hand but gave it one last additional pat. They could be friends. He was fine with that.
“I am feeling better.” She cocked her head. “See? You’re so kind. Yes, you can be a little devil, but you can also be angelic. Why did you want to be a policeman? Do you like laws?”
The question caught him off guard. Then he remembered neither Gabby nor Bailey could read him, and so they didn’t know about his past, or anything about his soul, not really.
He let the question hang in the air. They’d been quiet, whispering, and none of the church people had given them dirty looks. They were fine to keep talking, especially now that they weren’t hugging each other or holding hands.
“I’m fine with most laws,” Jack said quietly. “What I don’t like, and what my family doesn’t like, is when people break them and nothing happens to them. Bending laws is okay, but to break them and hurt other people? No. And while most people are fine, there are some bad, bad people in the world. Those people need to be reminded there are consequences for their actions. In my family, personal responsibility for one’s actions is important. That is what I believe in, and what my family believes in—that and protecting the innocent and the weak from getting hurt by bad people.”
“What about throwing that rock through the glass patio doors?”
Jack grinned. “Yeah, not my best moment. I lost it for a bit. My moral compass didn’t much like that. But in the end, the Tarringtons are not good people. They prey on the innocent and weak. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“They don’t have as much Nefesh as others,” the angel conceded, “but if you are about personal responsibility, when you do something wrong, you atone for it, not someone else, and better yet to atone on someone’s behalf, like you do for your mother and your aunt. I think you can’t argue that.”
Jack could, but he wasn’t in the mood. Life was gray. He’d learned that in the police academy, and it had changed him forever. Sometimes when you did something shitty, it was the right thing. And sometimes when you did the right thing, you were punished for it mercilessly. Should there be laws? Yes. Otherwise, the meanest motherfucker rose to the top and stayed there. That made protecting the innocent and weak all the harder.
Jack smirked. “Did I mention I got a D in my ethics class? I took a few college classes back in the day. I could never understand a thing that Immanuel Kant wrote.”
“Why didn’t you become a policeman?” Gabby asked.
Jack stared into those blue eyes. It was a long story. It was a painful story. In the end, he didn’t want to talk about it. Hell, he’d spent years running from the truth. “Maybe I didn’t become a policeman so I could become a Time Knight. Or is it the Time Knight? Do you know what that means?”
Gabby shook her head. “I don’t. I was as surprised as you were when he said that. But the Clockwatcher has special sight and special knowledge. Like how he knew about Kerrata and Annie. And why he didn’t pull the hammer back on the revolver. I think a part of him knew you would walk out of there with the pistol. We have to be careful. We are on a righteous mission, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down, even for a minute.”
“Agreed.” Jack stood. “Let’s go check on Bailey. We need to help her.”
“We do.” The angel joined him in the aisle. Gabby gave the prayerful people a last warm smile, drinking in their Nefesh before they both left the church. Outside, the sun was bright, the birds tweeted happily, and it was a nice autumn day.
Gabby playfully punched his arm. “We need to take Bailey to where the dancing girls remove their clothes for patrons. There are lots of horny men there, and while there’s not that much Nefesh at such a place, there will be some.”
Jack stopped. “You had my same idea. We take her to a strip club, though Bailey did like to cruise churches looking for horny people.”
Gabby rolled her eyes. “Because she likes a little soul with her lust. Obviously. Let me tell you, Bailey is not a normal demon.”
“And you’re not a normal angel.” Jack gave her a playful little push.
“No, I guess not,” Gabby agreed.
“How can there be Nefesh at strip clubs?” Jack asked.
“People, Jack,” Gabby said with a laugh. “People everywhere have souls, and there is healing, and friendship, and fun everywhere. It’s what humans do. The dancers are friends, or have customers they like, or coworkers they like. It’s all just people.”
“Sometimes,” Jack said. He’d been in places with very little soul, and even less fun. “But we shouldn’t underestimate the insanity of strip club politics.”
The angel sighed at the truth. “I know. I don’t like to think about that. Let’s just get our Bailey fixed up.”
They hurried to the car.
Jack had to smile at what the angel said. Our Bailey.
The sex demon was feeling better. As they pulled out of the church parking lot, Bailey blinked. “Did I hear something about strip clubs? I know exactly the right one.”
Jack was relieved the succubus was conscious. And he started getting excited. “Do we have another Wanda situation?”
Bailey was still a little gray, but her lust brightened her eyes and smile. “We definitely have another Wanda situation.”
Jack drove a little faster. Tuesday evening, before dinner, in a strip club? It wasn’t prime time, and so the pickings might be slim. In the end, he was very wrong about that.
Chapter Twenty-Two
JACK TURNED ONTO A back road and drove toward the industrial section of Plum Creek: machine shops, storage units, and a few seedy bars. The Cupid’s Arrow Gentlemen’s Club was on the southernmost edge of the city. Beyond it was just sagebrush, cottonwoods, and not much else.
Bailey was awake but still a little out of it. “Can’t you two just kiss? I need some lust, Feathers. You’re not fucking helping.”
The angel threw a worried glance over her shoulder. “It’s not that simple. If I kissed either one of you, all you’d get is Nefesh. I’m not like you.”
Bailey reached forward and caressed the angel’s hair. “I think you’re more like me than you’d care to admit. We’re not exactly normal. Whatever Jack is...whatever a Time Knight is...being around him is changing us. Fuck. Talking is hard. Fine.”
“Tell us about Cupid’s Arrow,” Jack said.
Bailey gulped in air. “What day is it?”
Gabby blinked. “We were in the Cast Away, Gone Astray, so it’s hard to remember. I’m still a little discombobulated.”
It even took Jack a minute. “Tuesday.”
Bailey sighed. “That’s great. Ginger is working. She’ll be able to help.”
Why wasn’t Jack surprised that the rogue sex demon knew the schedule of dancers at the local strip club?
He pulled into the parking lot and checked his Kairos levels. He wasn’t only full of Kairos, but he also had extra in the auxiliary storage. He didn’t know exactly how much time he had, but he figured he probably had at least an hour of time stoppage, if not two.
He flicked his thumb over the tattoo on his left hand. The world went quiet. They got out of the car in the dirt parking lot. There were a few cars and trucks there. The sign was of a little chubby angel with a bow.
Bailey rolled her eyes. “Three thousand years ago, Eros was feared as a demon. No one wanted to get hit with an arrow of lust. That shit could destroy you. N
ow? You fuckers don’t take anything seriously, and I kind of love it.”
“People still know what’s important,” Gabby protested.
The demon let her head fall back. “Keep telling yourself that, Feathers.”
They got out of the car and into the silence. Both Jack and Gabby supported Bailey through the entryway, past the bouncer, and into the strip club. A few bearded guys sat in the front row of seats facing the dancers. To the right was the bar and an empty buffet table.
On the stage, leaning against a pole, was a blonde with thick hips and a little belly. She had a tiny little thong covering her pussy; since the place served booze, they couldn’t go full nude. Her hair was too toxically bright to be natural, but she was cute enough to dance on the stage on a Tuesday afternoon.
“That’s Jade,” Bailey sighed. “Ginger is backstage with the evening girls. They’re getting ready.”
They made their way through seats, past tables, and into the back room. There were four women in various levels of dress, from a Black woman who was naked to a freckled redhead who was in overalls like the best-looking farmer in the world. She had pigtails and a bright pink mouth.
“Let me guess,” Jack said. “That’s Ginger.”
Bailey nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t have enough juice to pull her out of the Tempus Influunt. Feathers, can you do the honors?”
Gabby furrowed her brow. “I don’t know if I should. Won’t she be upset to suddenly see strangers here?”
The sex demon laid it on thick. “Please, Gabby, I’m dying. Please help me.”
Gabby sighed. “Okay. I have enough Nefesh that I should be able to unfreeze her.” The angel gently took hold of the farmer girl’s arm and pulled her a little. Gabby stepped back.
The redhead’s mouth fell open. “What is going on?”
Right then, Jack lost his grip on Bailey. She fell to her knees next to the redhead. “Remember, Ginger, how you were getting tired of your bullshit life? We’re here to make it far more interesting. I’m a sex demon. Blondie over there is a horny angel, whether she knows it or not, and that’s Jack. He can stop time. I’m going to need you to fuck us so I don’t die. How about helping us out? Remember that fantasy you had about having sex with a horny couple outside by the river? We can make that happen.”