Warrior Demoness - TI6

by Heckrotte, Fran

  "Don't you ever knock?" he growled, irritated that she could come and go without him sensing her.

  "And what would you have me knock on? Besides, you obviously wanted to see me or I wouldn't be here."

  "Yes, sit," he ordered, motioning to a chair. "I have a dilemma."

  "It must be a great one if you're summoning me to help you."

  "Believe me, it's not something I wanted."

  "I see. So, what can I do for you?"

  "I need you to find someone for me."

  Saira frowned.

  "Find someone? I'm a traveler, not a detective."

  "Well, it's your traveler skills that will help find her."

  "Her?"

  "Yes. A soul. It seems it has been misplaced."

  "Misplaced? How can a soul be misplaced and what does that have to do with me?"

  "Perhaps it's more accurate to say lost, and one of my demons is on the warpath. If it doesn't show up soon, I'm afraid she'll do something stupid and then I'll be forced to do something I might regret."

  "Well, this definitely sounds serious. We can't have the Underlord developing a conscience, now, can we?"

  Giving her a wry look, Dis rolled his eyes.

  "Are you going to help me or not?"

  "I don't even know what you want. How do I know if I am?"

  "Fair enough! I need you to follow my demon's timeline. It will lead you to this mortal she's become enamored with. Perhaps once you meet her, you can find where her soul went. It never made it to Soulkeeper."

  "What about your Twin's realm?"

  "He doesn't have it. She'd never fit in with his collection of namby pambies. She should have come here."

  "And there's no place else she could have gone?"

  "There are other places but it would take too long to check them out and some are unreachable, even for me. I want to know where this soul is and I don't have time to look. Sabnock is impatient when she's on a mission. Now, will you help or not?"

  "I can try. It sounds interesting enough. Where do I meet this Sabnock?"

  "She just left. Can't you find her timeline using me?"

  Saira was stunned. For Dis to offer her one of his strands was an indication of how important this was. It left his entire history open for examination if she chose.

  "Of course. I just didn't think you'd want me going that route."

  "It's not my preference, but it's the only choice at the moment. I warn you, however, take only that which is Sabnock's. I won't tolerate your intrusion elsewhere."

  Nodding, Saira focused on the strands emanating from the Underlord. Ignoring those that had nothing to do with Sabnock, she finally located the most recent and followed it to the present, where she found the demoness lying in bed, cradling the cooling body of a mortal.

  Embarrassed at having arrived at such an intimate moment, she felt like a voyeur and then chuckled. That was exactly what she was. Wanting to give them privacy, she decided to leave, but was stopped when another woman appeared.

  * * *

  "She will be misssed," a soft voice whispered near the bed. Looking up, Sabnock saw a blonde woman with brown, golden-speckled eyes standing a few feet away. Unblinking elliptical pupils reminded the demoness of a snake.

  "Who are you?" she demanded, surprised that she hadn't heard the door open.

  "A friend. Consstance wass loved by more than you. One of her kind comess to take her body to itss final ressting place."

  "You still haven't said who you are and I won't let just anyone take her."

  "Forgive me. I am Sssarpe. Consstance and I met only a short while ago but I resspected her. Jusst as she was your lover, one of her kind iss mine. We will make sure she iss given the honorss she has earned."

  A knock on the door interrupted them. Before Sabnock could stand, a dark-skinned woman with pale blue eyes walked in. Walking over to Sarpe, she gave her a quick kiss and then turned to look at the soldier next to Constance.

  "I'm Ekimmu," she said, holding out her hand. Sabnock reluctantly shook it, not sure what was going on. "We're sorry to intrude like this, but we must get her body out of here before the hotel people find her."

  "You're a Gebian," the demoness said.

  "She must have trusted you a lot to tell you about us. Constance wouldn't have disclosed our existence otherwise."

  "We were lovers... a long time ago."

  Surprised, Ekimmu glanced at Sarpe. When the serpent spirit nodded, confirming the truth, the Gebian gave the demoness a warm smile.

  "I'm glad. It's comforting to know she had someone. Now forgive me, but I don't know your name."

  "Sabnock. Lynara Sabnock."

  "You belong to Disss," Sarpe accused, moving to stand between Ekimmu and the demoness.

  "Belonged! I no longer command his Legions," Sabnock declared, rising to her feet. It was obvious the woman with the strange eyes had taken a dislike to her once she had learned her name.

  "Sarpe, love," Ekimmu interrupted. "This isn't the time. Besides, that is none of our business. If Constance loved her, that's all that matters."

  Realizing Ekimmu was right, Sarpe backed away.

  "You're right, of coursse. I apologize," she said, turning her cold, serpentine eyes on the demoness.

  Nodding, Sabnock agreed with the Gebian. If they were her lover's friends, that was all that mattered.

  "Where will you take her?"

  "Yemaya Lysanne, another friend, has offered her a place amongst her people in the mountains. It is private land and well protected. She will be honored and at peace."

  "Lysanne?"

  Sabnock had heard rumors of the Illusionist's performances but didn't realize she lived in this part of the world.

  "Yes, she and Dakota were very fond of her too."

  "Dakota Devereaux?"

  "You know her?"

  "No, but Constance wanted me to give her those manuscripts. I promised I would make sure she got them."

  "Ah, the history of my people. If you trust me, I will take them to her."

  "It would probably be best."

  Stepping close to Sarpe, she looked deeply into her eyes, curious about her strange looks. When their gazes locked, the demoness' suspicions were confirmed. Although human in appearance, the woman wasn't; nor was she Gebian or demon.

  "What are you?"

  Sarpe was amused.

  "I'd have thought you would have guesssed by now," she mused. "Neither human nor demon, what iss left?"

  "I don't like games," Sabnock growled.

  Shaking her head, Ekimmu decided there was too much immortal testosterone going on.

  "Sarpe, be nice."

  The spirit made a wry face but relented.

  "Ass you wish. I'm a sspirit. My kin are sserpentss," she admitted.

  "And Constance knew this?"

  "Of course," Ekimmu said.

  "I know so little about her. Two weeks was all we had."

  "Apparently it was enough to fall in love. What else is there to know?"

  "Everything, but I'm too late. I've lost her forever."

  "Can you not join her in your realm?" Sarpe asked.

  "I tried. I promised her we would be together, but she's not there."

  "She didn't come to the ssspirit world. What about the Twin'sss?"

  "Dis said she wasn't there."

  "And you believe him?" Sarpe asked.

  "He would never lie to me about this."

  "Then she must have gone to the Great Beyond," the spirit said. "It is where some souls go, although why, we don't know."

  "Then I'll go there and get her back," Sabnock vowed.

  "First, I suggest we take care of her mortal remains. We need to get her out of here."

  "Tell me where to take her and I'll have her there in seconds."

  Ekimmu gave her directions. Taking Constance in her arms, she cradled the body as if it were a child and then disappeared.

  "You had better let Yemaya and Dakota know she's on her way," Sarpe said. />
  Ekimmu made a quick call to the Illusionist and her partner. Yemaya promised she would take care of things discreetly.

  "You want to ride with me or pull the disappearing act?" Ekimmu asked.

  "I'll keep you company, of coursse."

  Gathering up the rest of Constance's belongings and making sure there was no evidence of her having stayed there, the two departed. The hotel clerk would figure the old woman had checked out early.

  By finding Sabnock, Saira had hoped to locate her lover's strand and follow it to its final destination. Unfortunately, the link between the demoness and her lover had somehow been severed, making it impossible to trace. The only way to re-establish it was for the traveler to journey backward in time and locate the moment they had first met. Then she could follow it forward and reconnect the damaged strands. For the first time, Saira understood her importance. Intunecat was partially right. She was a weaver, mending the damaged strands that held the web of time together.

  Saira followed the thread through hundreds of lives, searching for a clue to Constance's disappearance. For the most part, the demoness' lives or identities were short, lasting only a few years, but occasionally she managed to live them longer. Only a few times did she manage to make it beyond a decade, only to discover humans grew suspicious about her when she showed no signs of aging. Saira was beginning to understand Sabnock better. The demoness chose the most dangerous occupations, assuring her of a short existence. The traveler grabbed one of the longer threads, curious as to why those lives were different.

  CHAPTER 10

  LUBRETTE KNEW that as a woman she would have a difficult time being accepted by the American soldiers, even though her skills as a mercenary were impeccable. Had it not been for Major Stanley, she wouldn't even be here. She first met him in Da Nang at a local whorehouse. Lubrette instantly recognized him as an American Army officer. The short hair and the way he walked would have been enough, but it was the way he spoke that cinched it. Well educated, he was out of place at the dark, smoky brothel, especially since it was obvious he was there for the same thing the enlisted men were, cheap sex.

  Watching him through the haze, she wondered what would bring a young officer to such a sleazy place when he could find plenty of beautiful women at the exclusive clubs that had sprung up for those with money.

  The night she first noticed him, he had ordered a glass of the home brew and looked around. Seeing all the chairs taken and not wanting to mingle with the locals or the few enlisted men, he spied the empty chair by a tall redheaded woman. No one seemed anxious to sit next to her so he walked over, curious.

  "Is this seat taken?" he asked, his voice raised so she could hear him over the raucous laughter and chatter of the customers. Not receiving an immediate answer, he shrugged and turned.

  Guess so, he thought.

  "It's not."

  Looking back he saw her kick the chair toward him and nod.

  "Thanks. You sure you don't mind?"

  "If I did I'd have let you walk."

  Taking her comment as an invitation, he sat down and motioned for a waitress to bring two more drinks.

  "I'm surprised you're by yourself," he said, conversationally.

  "Why?"

  "Women usually don't even come into these types of places, let alone by themselves. You can't be here for the local entertainment."

  "Why not?"

  "Well, because. You're sure not very talkative are you?"

  Even in the dim light, he could tell her eyes were green. At the moment they gave away nothing about what she was thinking.

  "I wasn't aware you were looking for someone to talk to."

  "Okay. Maybe if I introduce myself... and before you start to think I'm looking for a pickup, I'm not."

  "That's good. I'm the wrong person if you are. Men aren't exactly my thing."

  "That's fine with me. I'm not into relationships and you don't look like you would be someone I'd want to have one with if we ever got together. By the way, my name's Gary."

  "Lubrette," she said, shaking the hand he had extended toward her.

  "Lubrette. Never knew anyone with that name. You French?"

  "Why do you ask?"

  "No reason, I guess. Just curious. I've noticed there are still quite a few around. I guess they decided to stay after France pulled out of here."

  "I guess. You're American I take it?"

  "Yep. One hundred percent."

  "So what are you doing in a place like this? You aren't the typical clientele."

  Gary shrugged.

  "It's safe."

  "Safe? Here?"

  Laughing, Gary took a swig of beer and choked. Coughing, he wiped his chin with his arm.

  "Well, for what I need, yeah."

  "You into smack or whores?"

  Gary laughed.

  "Whores. I don't do drugs."

  "You can't get a clean woman with your looks and money?" Lubrette asked, surprised that the young officer would come to this type of place for sex.

  "I could. Unfortunately, clean is the one thing I don't want. It's a little late for me now and I'm not about to pass my problem on to someone else, sooo..." Gary shrugged.

  "I see. Syph or Hep."

  "You don't waste time, do you?"

  The woman shrugged.

  "Any reason I should?"

  "I guess not. Hep C. No cure and most of the women here already have it and probably everything else."

  "And the everything else doesn't scare you?"

  "Not really. I figure I'm a dead man anyway. If some VC bullet or booby-trap doesn't get me, the Hep will in a few years."

  "There's always a chance someone will come up with a cure."

  "Well, if they do, then I figure they'll be able to cure everything else too. Anyway, what brings you here? It sure can't be the sex. A woman with your looks can get that anywhere, man or woman."

  Lubrette stared at the soldier for a few seconds.

  "No. I come here to pick up a job now and then. It's a good spot to make connections."

  "What kind of work, if you don't mind me asking?"

  "Mercenary. I'm a guide."

  "You!" he exclaimed, surprised. "What kind of guide?"

  "Whatever kind you need. I know these jungles like you know your hometown. I know every village, every trail, every rat hole."

  Lubrette could tell he doubted her.

  "You want references? Call Colonel Ingram with the 4th Infantry. He's with Special Ops."

  "I know him. Maybe I will. Look, I have to go. Maybe we'll see each other again."

  Lubrette doubted it but nodded.

  * * *

  Four nights later, she was sitting in the same spot, drinking some hooch, when she noticed Gary leaning against the bar talking to three Vietnamese soldiers she recognized. Two of them had accompanied her on several reconnaissance expeditions deep into the jungle. The third she had heard rumors about. He wasn't someone she'd want at her back.

  Signaling to a barmaid, she gave her a few bucks and told her to bring Gary to the table. Minutes later, he showed up smiling.

  "Hey, how goes it?" he asked.

  "Fine. Just thought I'd warn you about one of those fellas you were chatting with."

  Looking back at the three men, Gary frowned.

  "Word is they can be trusted."

  "Two yes, but the one with the scar on his neck is Viet Cong."

  "How do you know?"

  "I know," Lubrette said, but didn't say anything more.

  "Thanks. By the way, Ingram sends his regards."

  "Back at him," she replied.

  Glancing around the room, Gary looked like he wanted to say something else, but hesitated.

  "Listen, we need to talk, but not here."

  "Name the place."

  "My place and no this isn't a pick up. I just don't want to talk here."

  "Works for me."