by Kristin Cast
Alek stiffened his broad shoulders. “Mother, we have guests.”
“Hi.” Bridget smiled and waved enthusiastically.
“You must be Bridget.” Maiden tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I have heard much about you.”
“It’s all true, I’m sure,” Bridget said.
Maiden turned her attention to James. “And you, I have seen you before.”
“Hi, I’m Detective Graham.” He stepped forward and waved awkwardly.
“Ah, yes. The detective. Since both of you are here, I am sure you know the true purpose of Alek’s presence in your realm.”
“Yeah, we pretty much know it all, and we’re here to help in any way we can,” Bridget chimed in.
“Almost any way,” James interjected. “I won’t put people in any more danger than they’re already in.”
“If you have finished,” Mother said sternly. “Alek, would you like to inform us why you have made contact?”
“Actually, calling you was my decision.” Eva hesitated. “I, um—I don’t really know how to say this, so I’ll just say it. I think that maybe the Nosoi are here.”
“The Nosoi?” A ball of liquid shot out of the bowl and spun to reveal Crone.
“That cannot be true.” Water sloshed back and forth as Maiden shook her head.
“Well, I could be wrong, but I saw a pretty convincing video of them leaving the host body. It also matches what I read in my grandmother’s old book.”
“And you think a mortal’s old book contains true information about the Nosoi? No mortal would live after coming into contact with such a creature, much less pen their experience,” Mother chuckled.
Alek’s stomach clenched with growing embarrassment for his mother’s abrasive personality.
“I get that it sounds crazy,” Eva said, “but that’s even what it says in the book. That no mortal will survive the Nosoi.”
Alek stepped closer to the liquid figures before speaking. “Maiden, in the stories of the past you used to tell me when I was a child, did you not mention ancient books that were written as a catalogue of all the evil in the realms?”
“The Tomes,” Maiden whispered. “The Tomes, sisters. She has the Tomes. She must. As you said, Mother, no mortal would live to tell of their experience with the Nosoi.”
“But wait, that’s not the only thing that sounds crazy,” Bridget added. “There’s not even anything written on the page. It’s just a bunch of scratchy little designs.”
“Your friend, she is unable to read the text?” Crone asked.
“She keeps telling me nothing’s written on there, but I swear there is something.”
“And you, Alek, are you able to read the passage?”
He reached in front of Eva and slid the book across the table and read the sentences aloud. “‘Breathe in this creature, and perish. Bearer of disease and plague. No mortal will survive the Nosoi.’”
“That’s exactly what I see too,” Eva blurted.
“Maiden, you are correct. I thought they had been lost. Yet, she does possess the Tomes. There is no other explanation,” Crone said.
“The Oracle and immortals are the only souls able to read from the Tomes,” Maiden explained. “They will be of great use to you both. They contain more than just a catalogue of evils. You must keep them safe.”
“If we’re the only people who can read this, then why did my grandmother have them? She knew, didn’t she?”
Alek gripped Eva’s shaking shoulder, steadying her. “We each have our own destiny. Now you can be sure this is yours,” he whispered.
“Right now, what your grandmother may have known is of no concern. We must concentrate on the task at hand. What are we to do about the Nosoi?” Mother asked.
“We know no mortal can survive after encountering this creature. We witnessed that first hand,” Alek said, nodding toward James. “And written in the Tome is a warning that it’s the bearer of disease and plague.”
“Are we talking a hazmat suit type of epidemic here, or what?” James asked.
“The Nosoi were much more than carriers of pestilence,” Crone explained. “They were an ancient creation used by the Gods to keep the realms in balance.”
“Well, besides the pestilence part, they don’t sound too horrible,” Eva said.
“Yeah, they’re just like weird little policemen,” Bridget added.
“You have not seen what we have. They are brutal, relentless,” Alek said.
“You are correct, my son. The swarm does not care about your existence. Over the millennia, they have evolved, become smarter and more ruthless. They have had time to study the mortal race and master the weapons needed to bring about its extermination,” Mother said.
“Think of the deadly illnesses that have plagued humanity throughout time. All were created through infection by the Nosoi,” Maiden added. “With each appearance made by the Nosoi, a new plague was born. This was all done in an attempt to cull your species.”
“But power changes creatures, makes them hungry for more,” Mother said.
“And now they desire this realm for their own,” Alek rumbled.
“Why us? If they can go anywhere, why this realm?” Eva asked.
“Most creatures that escape Tartarus can sense you, Eva, and are drawn to you. After all, a member of your bloodline helped to put them there. They do not forget easily.” Maiden turned her attention toward Bridget and James. “Each of your lives is forever changed because you are allied with the Oracle.”
“Also, what enjoyment would they receive in doing away with a species lacking the intelligence to combat it?” Mother asked. “Mortals create vaccines and procedures to delay what eventually comes to you all. You are the only creatures who do so.”
“James showed me the video,” Bridget interjected, “and he didn’t say anything about the victim having a plague. I’m sure the medical examiner would’ve recognized that right off the bat.”
“Your science takes time, and, with enough of it, they will discover the infection,” Maiden said.
“This is bad. This is really bad. What am I supposed to do when I get a call from the ME about this new disease?” James asked.
Alek’s chest swelled with determination. “We won’t let it get that far.”
“Keep calm. There is more about the Nosoi you must know. In the beginning, as they are awakening from centuries of sleep and learning, the toxins they excrete will rapidly destroy the human body. In time, they will refine this deadly poison to create the perfect walking plague,” Crone said.
Confusion twisted Eva’s features. “I don’t understand. So they escaped Tartarus to come here and turn us into their plague minions?”
“They have not escaped. Not completely. They are one of the few creatures requiring that their powers build before switching realms. They need to absorb energy from their victims to travel,” Maiden said.
“And because they are interconnected, if a piece of the Nosoi remains in the Mortal Realm, it will only be a matter of time before they gather enough energy to supply the mass that is under our control. You must stop them before they are able to free themselves. For our realm and yours,” Mother said.
“But you must be careful,” Crone warned. “They are elusive beings, continually learning, adapting, and changing. The more energy they absorb, the less time they will reside outside of a host. They will not want to expend their stored energy searching for a vessel.”
Visions of how to defeat this foe eluded him, and Alek asked, “The piece that is jailed, how was it captured?”
“Yeah, is there a special weapon or vacuum thing that’ll suck them up?” Bridget asked.
“They are greedy, and, given the opportunity, will search for strength within their victims. We were able to take advantage of that and lure them into the body of an immortal,” Mother said.
Crone spoke. “You must get to them soon. They have been dormant for many decades. They will need time to relearn their skills and awaken
their memories.”
“Get to them before this happens, and you may have a chance of again tricking them,” Maiden said.
“We have an immortal right here.” James nodded toward Alek. “I knew you’d eventually be useful.”
“That will not work this time. They already tried to infect me and realized what I am.”
“If we can’t use Alek, how are we supposed to defeat them?” Eva asked.
“The Nosoi are creatures of the air. They cannot survive buried in earth or drowned in water, and they will burn in fire,” Crone said.
“So, just to clarify, since we can’t get them to think Alek is a free buffet, we’re supposed to somehow catch these crazy flying creatures, and put them in a box to burn them, bury them, or drown them?” Eva asked.
“That is why you must make haste,” Crone said.
Frustrated with having wasted their only advantage, Alek crossed his arms over his chest and huffed. “How are we to find them?”
“They are still in the early stages of relearning their skills. If not, those that are jailed here would already be free. Their victims will display madness and illness, both symptoms of the pestilence they favor,” Crone explained.
Bridget threw her hands into the air. “Well that’s going to be a bunch of people. I can probably walk down the street and find someone with a snotty nose who seems crazy.”
Eva nodded. “I’m with Bridget on this one. Those two things are really vague.”
“This sickness is different, obvious,” James said.
“And those who escaped from the hospital fled on foot. They can’t be far,” Alek said.
“You let some of those infected things get away? I thought you were Mister Kill-everything-evil-that-moves,” Bridget chided.
Alek clenched his teeth and calmed his anger before speaking. “My job is not always as simple as you might think.”
“He did save my ass.” James stared at Alek; his temples pulsed as he chewed on an imaginary wad of gum. “If it wasn’t for him, I’d probably be one of those possessed things right now.”
“Our son is a great warrior, but he will need your help if he is to defeat the Nosoi,” Maiden said.
James grunted unintelligibly.
“We’re here for him.” Eva leaned against Alek’s arm and intertwined her fingers with his. Warmth tingled up from his hand and lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Be careful, my son. Do not make the same foolish mistake that almost ended you last time,” Mother warned.
“Sacrificing myself for the safety of the Oracle is something I will always be prepared to do.” He gently squeezed Eva’s hand.
“It is part of his duty,” Maiden added.
“Becoming emotional is not a part of a warrior’s duty,” Mother seethed.
“Sister, you have stewed in your melancholy for decades. Open your eyes. Why would you wish that on our son?” Without waiting for a response, Maiden gathered her skirts and backed away, her watery figure splashing back onto the table.
Crone cleared her throat. “We will be going. Make haste, and remember to return home when you grow weary.”
The room fell silent as the figures of the two remaining Furies burst apart and rained onto the table.
Twenty-Three
Discomfort rested heavy in the air, and James squirmed under its oppressive shroud. “I have to get back to the station and act like none of this is happening.”
If he’d been thinking about turning away from the massive amount of crazy he’d unknowingly walked into, the look on Eva’s face would have made him reconsider. “After everything you just heard, you’re not going to help us?”
“Of course I’m going to help, but the best way for me to do that is to go back, do my job, and make sure no one finds out about what’s really going on.”
“Isn’t it great having a man on the inside?” Bridget mused.
PJ groaned from the couch.
“Shit, I almost forgot about him.” James carefully helped PJ into a seated position. “Hey, man. You slipped when we walked in. Took a hard fall and knocked yourself out. How are you feeling?”
“Confused,” PJ croaked, rubbing at the bruise forming on his jaw line. “Didn’t that guy hit me? And weren’t they talking about an alien disease?”
“What? No.”
“Yeah, this guy’s just a big ol’ teddy bear.” Eva wrapped her arm around Alek and squeezed. “He’d never hurt anyone.”
“Right, and there are no alien diseases from the Underworld. None at all. Absolutely zero.” A wide grin stretched across Bridget’s face.
James darted a quick, disapproving glance at Bridget. “But we should be leaving. I have to find my partner and get you to the station, right Peej?”
PJ blinked groggily at James. “Peej?”
“Yeah, that—that didn’t work out so well.” James draped PJ’s arm around his shoulder and hefted him to his feet. “I’ll keep in touch with you guys and let you know what’s happening on my end.”
Bridget rushed to the front door ahead of James and PJ and opened it so they could hobble out. “We’re still going on that date after this is all over.” The corners of her hazel eyes lifted with her smile.
“Of course. I’m looking forward to it.” He smiled back, unsure whether or not he was lying.
James helped PJ into the elevator and, when they finally shuffled out of the building, propped him against a light post in the condo’s visitor parking lot.
“Your friends are a little strange.” PJ winced as he fastened the chin strap on his helmet.
“Yeah, they are my friends,” he said, more to himself than to PJ. “And they’re definitely strange.” Happiness warmed James’s chest, and he smiled to himself. He hadn’t thought he would ever get that feeling back, not without Mel. But there he was, on a scooter in downtown Tulsa, a plague from Hell floating through the city, and James Graham was the happiest he’d been in a year.
• • •
Eva sank into the couch and threw her feet onto the coffee table. “That was a lot more intense than I expected.”
“The Nosoi are formidable opponents,” Alek said, plopping down next to her.
“And I have no idea how we’re going to defeat them. I’m still a little confused about that part.” She stretched her arms overhead and yawned.
“How about this. I’ll go down to my car and get that box of books from the trunk. The Furies did say the books would be able to help us.”
“Good idea, Bridge.” Eva hefted herself off the couch. “I’ll come with.”
She shook her head. “Nah, you stay. I need a little breather. Hearing about all this stuff has got me kind of stressed.” She grabbed her keys and flitted out the door.
Eva shuffled back to the couch and collapsed next to Alek. Awkward silence hovered around them, and Eva blurted the first comment that came to mind. “So, Mother, she’s kind of tough. I get the feeling she does not like me.”
“I must apologize if she made you feel that way. I am certain it’s not about you. The issue goes much deeper than we know.”
“I can’t say that makes me feel that any better, but thank you.” She rested her hand on his and let her fingers trace his thick callouses. “Bridget said that we’re suffering from insta-love. Isn’t that funny? Like you and I have real feelings for each other.” Her gaze met his, and he stared at her so intently that she felt her cheeks get hot. “Why are you—”
Before she could complete her thought, Alek was pressed against her. The heat from his body brought goose bumps to her skin. He slipped his hand into her hair and gripped the base of her neck, pulling her closer. Her body pulsed as his kiss deepened and became more forceful. She wrapped her arms around his broad back and traced the ripples of his muscles under the fabric. She moaned softly against his lips, letting him know she wanted more. She craved more. His thick fingers traveled up her waist, lifting her shirt above her breasts. She felt his hands unclasp her bra, tossing it across the room. H
e left a trail of kisses down her neck to her collarbone. She let her gaze wander down the space between them to the thick bulge in his pants. Closing her eyes, she arched into him as he teasingly nibbled her right nipple.
“Alek,” she whispered, and he smiled against her skin.
“Well, I only had enough change for two of us to get caffeine.” Bridget let out a high-pitched yip, and Eva’s eyes flew open. “Oh! Sorry, sorry. I, uh, I think I forgot something in the hall.” Eva heard Bridget leave, then immediately reopen the door. “After you put your clothes on, I’m totally high-fiving you, Eva. That’s my girl!” The door closed for good this time, and Eva covered her blazing cheeks with her hands.
“How long do you think she will be gone?” Alek asked.
“Not long enough. At least, I’d hope not.” Eva pulled her shirt down and wiggled out from under him. “But this is probably for the best. So much is going on with the police, and now the Nosoi. We shouldn’t make it more complicated by adding sex to the mix.”
“Are you certain that is your decision?” He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Desire swelled within her as his tongue explored hers.
Bridget cleared her throat. “This may be a shock, but I find sex to be an amazing stress reliever. Not better than a Xanax and a little booze, but really, what is?”
Eva pulled away from Alek and cast a sideways glance at Bridget.
“Yeah, I’ve been standing here awhile.” She grinned.
“And you are so not helping,” Eva sighed.
“Yes, yes I am. I have the books.” Bridget struggled to lift the Whole Foods tote she’d crammed the remaining three books into.
Thankful for the distraction, Eva hurried to Bridget and snatched the heavy bag from her grip. “Alek, we need to go through these and find anything that might help us.”
“But first,” Bridget said, her Coke bottle hissing as she twisted the cap, “you need to find your bra. I mean, seriously, those things are all free and jiggling around like two fat puppies.”
Alek chuckled lowly at Bridget’s comment. Eva ignored them both, and plucked her bra from where it landed on the back of one of the dining room chairs. “When I come back, we’re figuring out how to defeat those bastards, and I don’t care if it takes all night.” Hopeful for the future, and warmed by the saltiness of Alek’s skin still lingering on her lips, she marched into Bridget’s bedroom with a smile.