by Dawn, Autumn
Raze inclined his head and bowed elegantly to the audience. Attempting to regain her composure, Kira looked away and noticed her mother’s frozen face. Concerned, Kira asked, “Mom? Are you all right? That was quite a surprise, wasn’t it?”
Louise looked away. “Yes, it was.” Her voice was tight, and she appeared to be in furious contemplation. All the way home she was quiet, refusing to be drawn out. Kira finally gave up, saying goodnight as she left her at her accommodations.
“I’m sorry she’s such a pill,” she apologized to Raze. “I’ve never seen her like this; she must really hate our marriage.”
Raze paused and kissed her, right on the path where her mother could see. He didn’t stop until the starch went out of her knees. Drawing a deep, satisfied breath, he said firmly, “I don’t care.”
Kira grinned at him, reminded that he’d earned her undivided attention. It was funny how lust could drive out even the most deep-seated reservations. “Right. Meet you at the lava pool?”
His teeth flashed as he slid an arm around her, guiding her to the door. “I like the way you think.”
She smiled slyly and traced her ruby pendant. “I like the way you dance.”
He started to reply and then pushed her against the wall, blocking her body as blades slapped into the stone next to her. One connected with a cold burn, slicing her bicep, causing her cry out in pain and confusion. What was going on? They were being attacked?
Raze cursed and turned them to spark, depositing her on the roof of the garage. “Stay here!” he ordered, and dived off the roof.
She had no problem obeying, unwilling to flee when she didn’t know what they faced. She peeked over the roof, blinking as Raze materialized his bladed staff and attacked the five camouflaged men surrounding him. Bewildered, she watched as they fought silently, blade to blade. Why were they using swords and pointy things? How come no one had a gun? She wanted a gun.
Wait! She had a weapon. Closing her eyes, she focused on her inner fire. She’d never tried to blast anyone, but surely she could come up with something; this was an emergency! She gathered herself and focused on the combatants.
“Don’t,” a voice hissed urgently in her ear, nearly causing her to fall off the roof.
“Losee!” she hissed. “Go help him.”
“Don’t try to blast them; they’re warded against fire and you’ll give away your position.”
“Fine. I’ll throw rocks or something.” Unfortunately, the roof was devoid of stones.
Losee took her arm and dissolved her into sparks, dragging her willy-nilly through the nearest chimney and solidifying in the living room. “You’ll be safe here.” He pointed out the window as she shouted at him to help Raze.
The lawn bubbled as squat stone golems burst from the sod, their eyes glowing with fire. One caught the nearest man about the ribs and squeezed, crushing the surprised swordsman like a mango. Kira flinched at the carnage as the stone men tackled the assassins like furious stone bears, crushing and dismembering.
“Where did they come from?” she whispered, horrified at the carnage, yet grateful for Raze’s sake.
“Raze traded favors with an earth elemental,” Losee said, alert for danger. “He wanted you protected. The odds were against them having protection from golems.”
In moments it was over. Raze surveyed the lawn and waved his hand. The stone figures collected the bodies and weapons and dragged them under the lawn, which obligingly closed over them, leaving no trace of carnage.
Raze walked out of sight around the house, and Kira found she was shaking.
Losee poured her fire wine and guided her to a seat, then produced bandages and wrapped her arm. “He’s doing a perimeter check, but he’ll be here in a moment. I’m so sorry you were in danger.”
She blinked, dazed. “How is it your fault?”
He looked grim. “It’s part of my job, but I was detained.”
Raze swirled into the living room in a cloud of sparks and solidified, dripping the fire that was their blood.
“You're hurt!” Kira hurried to him, but he held up a hand to ease her worry.
“It's nothing,” he said, unaccustomed to fussing, “but if it will calm you, I'll let you work on it.”
“If it'll…!” She could hardly believe his cheek, but the man needed help. He had glowing slashes on his ribs, an oozing bruise on his cheek, a shallow cut over his mouth and assorted nicks and bruises. “Okay, soap and water,” she muttered nervously. She knew basic first aid, but some of those things looked like they needed stitches.
Raze winced. “No water, thank you. Water blades were bad enough.”
“Water blades? But if we can't use water… Oh.” Of course he would need fire; she was rattled and thinking of human medicine. At least no one else had been hurt, she thought and then remembered they had a guest. “My mother!”
“She's fine,” Losee said. “Come, help me with Raze and then you can soothe her.” He led the way toward the lava cave, twitching aside the tapestry.
The oracle sat on a padded bench in her temple, staring at a moving mural between columns of swirling galaxies. She seemed a girl of nineteen; too young to wield such power. Only her inner circle knew that her long black hair and smooth olive skin was maintained by siphoning the youth from her lovers. She smoothed the pure white linen of her toga over her silky thigh and sighed. She no longer felt guilty about the years she stole; a ninety-year-old woman had no chance of conceiving a child and as the last of her line, she needed one desperately.
Her lover, summoned, waited at the door for permission to enter. Originally sixteen, he now looked to be in his early twenties, not that he minded. Youth always liked to look older.
She liked to make him wait for sex, for her pleasure. It made her feel powerful, and control was everything. Oracles had daughters, granddaughters who looked like them. They took over when an oracle died, ruling with an iron hand…ruling men.
“Enter.”
The young man joined her and greatly daring, stroked her hair. They had been lovers for over a year now, and he knew what she liked. He also knew that men rarely enjoyed his position for long. He was desperate to please her. “We received a call from Hawaii, just as you said. She asked for help killing the elemental. Her daughter is married to him.”
The oracle smiled slightly. She wondered if the informant would be so eager to report if she knew her daughter would die, for if the elemental had married her, the daughter had become a threat as well.
The oracle’s family line was ancient, with branches all over the world. Often a far-flung relative would drop a helpful tip.
“How lovely.”
“Shall I send someone?”
“It’s taken care of it.” She had soldiers in place, but backup plans were always wise. A doppelgänger would do, since the mother had a way past the elemental’s defenses.
Her lover toyed with the shoulder of her gown. “Is there any sign yet?” He wanted to know if his seed had taken, if he would be the father of the next oracle.
Her nails dug into his hand as her temper flared, drawing blood. He flinched, but knew better than to protest. After a moment, she let go. She was running out of time. There had to be another oracle. Her young, virile lovers were failing her.
She forced a smile. “So sorry. Why don’t you see to that? Then, we can see to my successor.” Afterward, she would see about replacing him. She’d had her eye on another young man, a handsome virgin who’d been groomed for her. Who knows? Perhaps more than one would do the trick. It could be a failing of hers, that she’d only ever had one lover at a time. She found the idea of more distasteful, but if she had to demean herself by going from bed to bed until she was with child, so be it. She’d recruit as many as it took until she conceived.
Chapter 5
“Mom?” Kira opened the door to her mother's apartment cautiously and was relieved to find her in the kitchen, restlessly pacing. Kira hurried to her and gave her a quick hug. “Mom, I need
to explain some things.”
Her mother held up a hand. “My things are already packed. We need to leave right now.”
“That won't help. This a dangerous situation, but Raze and Losee can keep us safe.”
Louise gripped Kira's shoulders. “You don't understand! That man is a demon! We need to get you away from him. I know somewhere we can go.”
Kira shook free. “Mom, I'm not leaving him. There things you don't know.” She wanted to explain, but Louise wasn’t giving her an opening.
“He's done something to you to make you talk like this. He’s threatening you, is that it?”
“No! He saved me. I was changed, I was burned, and he helped me when he didn't have to.”
Louise hissed. “That monster burned you? I'll kill him!”
“He didn't burn me, it was the Fates.”
“I don't want to hear anymore! He has you talking crazy. We're leaving.” She reached for Kira's arm and recoiled. “You're smoking,” she whispered in horror.
Kira glanced at her arm and shifted uncomfortably. While it was no wonder with the stress she was under, she still winced. “It's what I've been trying to tell you; I was changed. There is no going back.”
“I know someone who can help,” Louise said, looking dreadfully pale. “We can fix this.”
“I'm afraid it's permanent,” Kira said gently. “It's not so bad. Raze has showed me things, amazing things. I can travel through lava and we can become sparks, we can fly!” She smiled; relieved she could finally speak of these things.
Louise took a step back and shook her head furiously. “I refuse to accept this. It was bad enough when I thought you married a damned Nigger. I taught you better! And now this. I blame your father for this kind of thing.”
“My father hasn't been around since I was twelve. I make up my own mind,” Kira gritted out. The smoke was worse than ever, and at this rate she’d burst into flame. Of all the things she'd expected to argue with her mother about, this wasn’t one of them. Why did they always have to fight?
“I'm leaving.” Louise headed for the door, snatching her luggage. It dropped with a bang as she saw Raze standing in the foyer.
He crossed his arms. “I'm sorry Louise, but I'm afraid I can't allow you to leave yet.”
“You're afraid I'll tell everyone about you,” Louise accused. “You may have seduced my daughter, but you'll never corrupt me.”
Raze smiled. “I don't think you'll have to worry about that, but for your own safety you'll need to stay here a while longer.”
Louise hurled expletives, and while he was not amused, he didn’t retaliate. Instead he dropped the illusion of humanity, revealing his true form. It had the welcome effect of shutting Louise up.
“Since my human form offends you, I'm happy to appear before you as I truly am,” he said silkily, enjoying her horror. He held out a hand to Kira. “Come. You had a stressful evening.”
Since it was obvious her mother wasn't reasonable tonight, Kira decided accompanying him would be the best thing.
Once outside, she took a deep drag of the night air, attempting to control her anger. “Sorry about that. I've never seen her this bitter.”
“You're not responsible for her behavior.”
“I feel responsible; she's my mother.” She let him open the door to their house for her and stepped away, running a hand through her hair. “I figured she’d drive a wedge between us, but I didn't expect her to find out the truth.”
“It's best that she knows; it's easier now. She would've been told eventually.”
She looked at him in surprise. “You would've told her. Really?”
Raze shrugged. “You'd be surprised what a lavish amount of money can accomplish with certain people. She would've remained quiet. Now instead of going home, we'll simply keep her here in comfort.”
“You can’t keep her prisoner,” Kira protested.
Raze met her eyes, utterly ruthless. “When it comes to your safety, I'm prepared to do whatever is necessary.” He glanced toward her room. “You've had a long day. Feel free to rest; I still have a few things to do.”
Kira hated the way he simply decided things without consulting her, but she didn't know what else to do with her mother. Maybe in the morning Louise would've calmed down and they could talk, but she doubted it. Louise wasn't the type to see reason, and she was never going to be happy with Raze as a son-in-law. Now that she knew he was a fire elemental she would hate him forever. The question was, what would Louise do to retaliate?
Louise put down the phone and hugged herself, suppressing a shiver. She’d told the office of the Oracle that she would do whatever she needed to see the elemental dead. The soldiers had failed, but she was told to expect a visitor. The woman on the phone had told her to cooperate fully with whomever the agency sent and that all would be well. They would protect her and her daughter.
She twitched aside the curtain and peered at the main house, but all was quiet. She couldn't believe they were stupid enough to leave her use of the phone. She expected far worse from a monster like Raze than to be confined to the guesthouse, but she thought he would be smarter.
A paranoid part of her expected him to rush in at any moment and kill her for what she planned.
The agent she'd spoken to promised the operative they would send could get in without being noticed. Louise wondered, a little fancifully, if he was some kind of ninja or superspy. She always liked spy movies.
She was doing this for her daughter, of course. Kira didn't know what was good for her. This crazy rebellion had to stop. Louise would take care of it and they would go home and resume nice, normal lives. Kira would find a new man, someone Louise could approve of. It would all be over soon.
A low hiss made her spin, hand to her heart. A dark being, roughly her height, stood in the kitchen. Slick and bent, its head seemed overly large and it moved like a reptile.
“I am sent,” it said in unaccented English. “You wish to kill the elemental at any cost?”
Louise locked her jaw. “I want him dead.”
“Done.” The creature shivered and liquefied. It stretched pleasantly, as if loosening its muscles. It focused and flowed into her.
Louise gagged and choked as the black substance entered her nose and flowed down her throat, spreading to fill her veins and nerves with black scum. The darkness spread like cancer, subsuming her mind, squeezing the spark of her soul until the cloned body broke away from the original.
Louise lay on the floor like a withered flower, barely conscious. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. When she’d said anything, she hadn’t meant this.
The doppelgänger stretched luxuriously, learning the limits of this new body. He had only days until the cloned body’s decay became obvious, but that was all he needed. Gazing thoughtfully at the main house, he planned his mission.
With a huge effort, Louise twitched her fingers and groaned, “My girl.”
The clone grinned wickedly. “Don’t worry, Louise. I’ll take care of the elementals. Your daughter will die quickly…unless I’m in the mood to play.” The doppelgänger smirked. He really loved his job.
Kira twisted restlessly, surfacing briefly before her dreams sucked her back. In her dreams the Fates chained her to the rock again. She relived the terror as they lit the pyre, but this time her mother was there. Kira pleaded, but her mother watched in disgust, for this time the fire consumed her with ecstasy, not pain, and Louise condemned her for it.
Terrified, wondering what was wrong with her, Kira awoke too frightened to scream. Fingers twisting in the covers, she lay there paralyzed, her mind blank.
Raze rushed in, bringing a welcome draft of warm air. “What is it? I felt your terror.” He looked around for visible danger and then studied her. “Did you have a nightmare?”
She shook her head, unwilling to talk about it when she was frightened and confused.
“Would it help to move into the living room? I could read to soothe you.”
She nodded gratefully. She might not want to talk about her dream, but she definitely didn't want to be alone. “What time is it? Have you been to bed yet?”
“I don’t need much sleep,” he confessed. “I’ve been working on business.”
“The Oracle?” Kira asked, since that was her topmost concern.
“Among other things.” Raze settled her on the couch and sat at her feet with a thick leather bound book. “We have heard tell of the majesty of the Speardanes, of the Folk-kings, how the princes did valorous deeds.”
Kira squinted. “What are you reading?”
Raze raised an eyebrow. “You’ve never read Beowulf?”
She laughed. “It's not exactly popular modern literature. Isn't it a scary story?”
“Would you prefer The Taming of the Shrew?”
“Very funny.” She settled back and waved a hand. “Proceed.”
Other than when she was a child, she'd never been read to, and she found she liked it. Raze’s voice was deep and soothing, perfectly suited to an orator. She relaxed and let her mind drift.
A knock on the front door woke her the next morning. Kira looked around blearily. She fell asleep on the couch, and she was covered with the throw blanket. Where was Raze? What was keeping him so busy lately, anyway? Did it have anything to do with the Oracle?
Yawning, she smoothed her hair and let her mother in. Remembering last night's fiasco, she said hesitantly, “Hi, Mom. Would you like some coffee?” She headed to the kitchen without waiting for an answer and ground some beans. While the coffee brewed, she got out two cups and her mom's special creamer from the fridge.
Louise didn't say anything, simply looked around the kitchen. “Where's your husband?”
Kira tensed. “He's around. He's not happy with you.” Not that he said a word last night, she thought appreciatively. Thankfully, he didn't blame her for Louise's attitude.
Kira was still simmering though, and ignored her mother for several minutes, puttering around the kitchen to avoid looking at her. She didn't expect Louise to apologize, but it would be nice to have a truce.