Renegade (The Cross-Worlds Coven Series Book 5)

by Phil Stern

  Wandering into a more working-class section of town, Tiffany vaguely recalled a brief lecture about demons from her own training days in Haven. They were apparently the ultimate parasites, simply inhabiting and subverting the top echelons of any given culture. In that sense Donlon must suit them quite well, providing an existing social structure already well accustomed to social rank and privilege.

  But then Caylee had blundered into the dimension with all the subtlety of a freight train. Settling down in a tavern to read the papers, Jenla and Tiffany were stunned by the panicked headlines and lurid accounts of her time here.

  “So, in summary,” Jenla began, even while flipping to the next page. “Caylee is the grand terror of the age. She’s assassinated the nobility, attacked the police, blown up yachts, robbed banks, burned down buildings, razed an orphanage...”

  “Yes, I can read too.” Sighing, Tiffany studied the latest sketches of the “Donlon Devil,” depicting a beautiful young blonde, flying about in black rags, raining down fire on a fine horse and carriage. “The funny thing is, I’ve actually fought crones on broomsticks. They certainly don’t look like Caylee.”

  “But why?” Jenla angrily swept the paper aside. “If she’s going to join up with the demons, it doesn’t make sense.”

  “Well, there goes your theory of Caylee being a traitor.” Tiffany made a point of holding Jenla’s eye. “If anything, she seems to be fighting them with everything she’s got.”

  “For now.” Clearly, Jenla was unconvinced. “Maybe she makes a deal with them. Or surrenders.”

  “Come on. Even you can see...”

  “Damn it, Tiffany, we know she joined the demons!” Leaning forward, a green spark actually flashed within her eye. “I’ve personally fought that monster! I’ve seen her kill our sisters! Don’t tell me...”

  “Enough!” Tiffany hissed, putting a warning hand over hers. Even with a magical sound buffer around the table, a few people noticed the sudden tension. “I’m not doubting what you’ve experienced.”

  “Good!” she snapped. “That would be a mistake!”

  “But it hasn’t happened yet.” Coolly raising an eyebrow, Tiffany waited a beat. “Eventually, the demons win their private little war here with the Donlon Devil, and Caylee becomes their captive. I think that’s rather obvious, don’t you?”

  “Their captive? By the stone, Caylee leads the assault...”

  “Jenla, get a fucking grip, will you?” Tiffany slapped the newspaper spread out before her. “This isn’t a traitor! She’s simply a young operative in way, way, way over her head!”

  “You just don’t understand.” Flouncing back, Jenla folded her arms. “I’ve seen her. In combat! She kills with wild abandon...”

  “What you’ve seen is a demon that’s enslaved our Coven-mate. Which we’re apparently in time to prevent. The plan, such as it is, is working.” Pointedly tapping the table, Tiffany frowned. “The real question is why Caylee hasn’t just vacated the dimension yet.”

  “That’s easy.” Jenla sourly looked away. “She’s just trying to cut the best deal with the demons.”

  Rolling her eyes, Tiffany flipped to the back of the paper, quickly scanning a tight column of small-print ads. “Here it is.”

  “What?”

  “A coded contact message from Sarina.” Tossing a few coins on the table, Tiffany stood. “Let’s go.”

  *****

  “Now, now, Tommy. It don’t have to be this way.” Staring into his victim’s eyes, George’s own gaze blazed almost pure silver. “Just give it to me, straight and easy.”

  Two dead bodies lay sprawled on the far couch, gaping knife wounds in their chests. The third occupant of the safe house now sat miserably on the floor with a broken leg. Left arm held in George’s vise-like grip, the smell of burning flesh began permeating the whole area.

  “No! I won’t tell you!” the boy whimpered, bottom lip quivering. “George, how can you do this?”

  “Do what?” Grinning, the demon pumped more fire directly into the young rebel’s skin. “Oh, you mean that?”

  Even as Tommy screamed, George punched him hard in the face. Toppling over on his back, the demon crunched a knee into the youth’s stomach while looming down to grasp his face between both hands.

  “I’ll cook you alive, Tommy, I swear I will!” he hissed. “Now, tell me quick. I know you vermin have an operation going on this morning. Where is it going to be?” Drawing back, the demon slowly nodded. “And more importantly, is the witch herself going to be there?”

  *****

  It was another pub, just a few blocks over. Pushing open the front door, Tiffany and Jenla casually sauntered in. Magical defenses subtly raised, both operatives also had Coven Sticks within easy reach underneath their dresses.

  Yet their caution was unnecessary. Dressed in a typical barmaid’s getup, Sarina was indeed behind the counter. Expertly drawing two beers and then sliding them along the bar top, Sarina briefly glanced in their direction.

  Only now did Tiffany sense Sarina’s muted magical signature. Having recently turned thirty, the Earth native was clearly expert in undercover operations. Had they simply wandered the pub on the street, they never would have known she was even there.

  Pausing to exchange a few words with several grinning old men on stools, the other sorceress casually nodded towards the rear of the place. Catching her drift, the two newcomers exited the bar and wandered around to the cluttered alley out back. Sarina joined them through a rickety service door moments later, carefully glancing about.

  “Tiffany. Welcome to Donlon,” she briskly began. “How did you get here? I haven’t found any Boundary portals as of yet.”

  “Through Earth. Some kind of dimensional rift.” Hesitating, Tiffany wondered how much it was wise to reveal. “This is Jenla, by the way.”

  “Yes. I was about to ask.” Tossing her bar rag aside, Sarina fully turned to Jenla. “No offense, but I don’t recognize you.”

  “Nor should you.” Not backing away, the time traveler decided on the direct approach. “You don’t know me because I’m from the future. Fifteen years from now, to be exact.”

  Several moments went by, Sarina calmly studying her. “You don’t say?”

  “Yeah, I do say.” Jenla smiled. “And I’m on your side. So you can stop scanning my earth stone. I assure you it’s real. Oh, and you might want to put that Coven Stick away? The one you have powered up in your left hand.”

  The auburn-haired sorceress raised an expressive eyebrow, then slowly glanced at Tiffany. “Is this true?”

  “It is.” Turning her head slightly, Tiffany listened to a horse and carriage clatter by on the next street. “Right now, Jenla’s a ten-year old in Haven. She came back in time to help us with this situation.”

  With a shrug, Sarina pulled out what seemed like a mundane hand dagger. Smoothly flowing back into a simple metal rod, the potent magical weapon disappeared beneath her dress. “And by situation, you mean Caylee?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I’d hardly call this a situation. Certainly not one requiring a special assignment for Earth’s lead sorceress.” A large rat scurried out from underneath a pile of trash, sniffing at Sarina’s feet before racing off. “Or reinforcements from the future.”

  “Well...” Almost stupidly pausing, Tiffany sighed. “There’s a lot going on here you don’t know about.”

  “Yes, that much I’ve already gathered.”

  “But yes, time travel is real,” she continued. “Though I wouldn’t blame you for being skeptical.”

  “Oh, come now. A strange sorceress from the future in the presence of the great Tiffany Smith?” Though smiling, Sarina’s gaze took on a hard edge. “Who am I to doubt anything they tell me?”

  Eyes narrowing ever so slightly, Tiffany said nothing. In the next alley over a drunk began yelling incoherently, the noise all the louder in the sudden silence.

  “Actually, I do recognize you.” Pointedly turning to the ne
w enchantress, Sarina studied her more closely. “A thin brunette girl. Scrawny, almost. But you’ve got promise.”

  “Yeah, well, now I’m all grown up.” Jenla kicked at a can, watching as it skid down the alley. “But we’re wasting time here. We have to get to Caylee before it’s too late.”

  “Too late for what?” Once more, Sarina looked at Tiffany. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Look, it’s all a little complicated.”

  “Really? And here I thought it was simple.”

  “Hey, is there anywhere we can go and talk privately?” Running a hand over her brunette hair, Jenla glanced all around. “We’re a little exposed out here.”

  Almost on cue, a back door slammed open two establishments farther down the alleyway. Jenla spun about, hand reaching for her Coven Stick. Yet it was only a grimy barkeep, stumbling out with a bag of trash. Openly staring at the three women, he laconically scratched at a scraggly beard. A few awkward moments later he stuffed the trash into an already overflowing can and lurched back into the building, firmly crunching the door shut behind him.

  “Why are you two so jumpy?” Once more, Sarina glanced from one to the other. “The only thing I’ve run into here are some incompetent cops.”

  “Just being careful.” Looking up at the alien sun, Tiffany decided Donlon was a little cooler than Earth this time of year. “How long have you been here, by the way? And have you made contact with Caylee yet?”

  “Two weeks, and no.” A slight pause, Sarina fixing her cool gaze on the other sorceress. “But with your help, Tiffany, I’m sure we can clear this up in no time.”

  “Yes, I’m sure we can.” Though fully catching the drift, she had no wish to debate seniority with her more experienced Coven-mate. “The sooner the Donlon Devil flies on out of town, the better.”

  “Yeah, that. What a mess.” Sarina rolled her eyes. “Caylee’s press clippings will definitely be in my report.”

  “What? You can’t be serious!” Tiffany objected. “You’re actually going to show that stuff to the Coven Council?”

  “Of course.” An indifferent pause. “Are you suggesting we should just cover all this up?”

  “Cover it up? Caylee’s on her first independent mission. I would call it being fair.”

  “Really? Some might call it being soft.”

  “And I’d call all this irrelevant until we actually find her.” Frowning, Jenla flicked a hand back at the bar. “By the way, Sarina, how did you know we were coming? It was almost as if you knew we were about to walk in.”

  “I did know. You two are blaring out over half the city.” Still focused on Tiffany, the faux-barmaid curtly nodded at the earth stone underneath her clothing. “When we get back, I can show you how to tone that thing down. It helps in keeping a low profile.”

  Spinning on her heel, Sarina sauntered down the alley away from them. Briefly changing clothes in a burst of earth fire, the enchantress reached the far corner and turned onto the street.

  “That was reckless.” Glancing about, Jenla irritably loosened her collar. “I gather she’s not your biggest fan?”

  “Not many people are,” Tiffany sighed. “For any number of reasons.”

  “The whole chastity thing you mean?”

  “I’m getting married. Not joining a nunnery.” Tiffany distastefully turned up her nose as another barman lunged out into the alley, slopping trash all about. “Come on, future girl. Let’s not lose her.”

  *****

  Spread out over three blocks, Peck’s crew ambled deeper into the city. Dressed as humble servants, Layla and Grant shuffled along one side of the wide avenue, with Henry and Molly a hundred feet back on the other side. Caylee and Peck were in the lead, some ten feet apart.

  As usual at this time of day the sidewalks were clogged with pedestrians, while the cobblestoned streets were full of fine carriages. Pairs of bobbies manned every corner, while mounted patrols clopped about. Even by Donlon standards, the overall police presence was oppressive.

  Glancing down an alleyway, the undercover sorceress noted two more bobbies standing by a large covered handcart. Extending her magical sensitivity into the confined area, Caylee had the impression of machined metal, gun oil, and fine powder. A mounted Gatling gun, then, ready to be rolled out into the main street at the least sign of trouble.

  Quickening her pace, she soon joined Peck. “We need to abort.” Caylee spoke softly while looking the other way. “They know something’s up.”

  “Negative,” he murmured back. “It’s too late. I already have a team here in the city ready to go.”

  Idly strolling around two fine ladies and their maids, she fell into step beside him once more. “Just call them off.”

  “I can’t. This is a coordinated operation.” Stumbling over a slightly raised cobblestone, Peck risked a glance in her direction. “Everyone’s on the move already.”

  “Fine.” Taking a deep breath, Caylee found herself wishing for a little more technology. Even a old-style pager would come in handy right now. “So when are you going to brief us? We don’t know any details about the op.”

  “No need. You’ll know what to do.”

  Ahead of them the street opened up into a huge square, centered by a gallant bronze man on a rearing horse. This was General Neville Highsmith, who’s string of victories two centuries before had expanded Donlon into a world power. Statues of other national heros were also dotted about.

  The Prime Minister’s residence occupied one corner of this main government sector, while the parliament building stretched along an entire long side. Other massive structures, including the imposing main capitol housing the Minister’s offices, blocked off another entire side. A half-dozen ornamental fountains were placed in an expanding circle around General Highsmith, featuring weird busts of vaguely nude winged fairies.

  “We’ll know what to do?” Caylee echoed, pointedly stopping on the edge of Highsmith Square. Her strictly utilitarian home world was entirely devoid of over-sized, orchestrated public areas, and she still found them oddly alien. “That’s not much of an answer.”

  “Just stay here. And be ready for anything.” Briefly squeezing her arm, Peck strode off towards the parliament building.

  Frowning, Caylee looked about. Two bobbies seemed to be staring in her direction, though their gaze quickly moved on. Taking a deep breath, she wandered over and pretended to admire a fountain.

  Yet her unease only grew. Feeling as if a dozen pairs of eyes were studying her, the sorceress reflexively tried revving up her earth stone. But the best she could do was just past half-power, the talisman nearly sputtering out entirely when she tried forcing it higher.

  *****

  Sarina took them to a small one-room apartment several blocks from the bar. Along the way Tiffany decided to just lay everything on the table. Obviously, her Coven-mate was no fool. Despite the obvious risks in spreading tales from the future, holding things back now would only complicate matters.

  So, after locking the door and checking the magical wards, Sarina perched on the edge of her bed. Settling down on a simple bench along the wall, Tiffany nodded at Jenla to begin. Over the next fifteen minutes the time traveler retold her apocalyptic tale of demon attacks, wrecked dimensions, and a ravaged Coven. Jenla still portrayed Caylee as a “traitor” throughout, though her raw condemnation was slightly less emphatic than before.

  “And you say I don’t make it out of here alive?” Unconcerned, Sarina idly brushed aside her mid-length auburn hair. “Do you know how I died?”

  “No, we don’t.” Tiffany finally chimed in. “And at this point it doesn’t matter.”

  “Because you two coming here has changed the time line,” Sarina concluded. “So you’ve both just saved my life, so to speak.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe, I guess.” Tiffany slid forward on the simple plank seat. “The point is we can now head this all off.”

  “Wow. Just like the novels I used to read growing up.” Yawning, Sarina
stretched her arms. “Jules Verne and all that.”

  “Who?” Also fatigued, Jenla simply sprawled out on the floor.

  “A science fiction author. French, to be exact,” Tiffany supplied. “That’s where Sarina is from.”

  “Oui,” the Earth native confirmed. “Listen, Jenla, before you get too comfy, why don’t you go out and circle the block a few times? Make sure we weren’t followed, pick up some local trends, that sort of thing.”

  Jenla frowned. “You want to get rid of me.”

  “Yes, I do,” Sarina pleasantly confirmed. “I also want you to make sure there aren’t a bunch of bobbies preparing to rush the building. Now go.”

  Jenla glanced over at Tiffany, who gave a slight nod. “Just give us a few menlars, that’s all.”

  “Fine.” Popping up, the youngest enchantress smoothed out her Victorian outfit. “But when I get back, we have to find Caylee. Frankly, I’m surprised you haven’t been able to do that yet.”

  “What do you know? A time traveler in a hurry.” Sarina nodded at the exit. “Like Tiffany said. A few menlars, please.”

  After the door closed behind Jenla, Sarina turned to her guest. “So tell me. Do you believe all this?”

  “I do.” Leaning back against the wall, Tiffany propped a knee up on the bench beside her. “As fantastic as it seems, Jenla appears to be who she says she is. And the time stone is real. I’ve experienced it myself.”

  “Yes, so you say.” Holding herself very still, Sarina’s tone was deceptively mild. “And since you’re here, I would assume the Coven Council agrees? Eleanor, Barbara, and the rest dispatched you and future Jenla here to Donlon, to search out both Caylee and myself, thus preventing this horrible future from ever occurring?”

  “No, they don’t know anything about this,” Tiffany admitted. “Jenla tracked me down on Earth. She said her instructions from the future put me in charge of the mission. In fact, strict discretion is crucial.”