Demorn: Soul Fighter (The Asanti Series Book 3)

by David Finn

  ‘Do you really think it will come to that?’

  Iverson chuckle was as dry as the desert. Somehow, it chilled Wolf.

  ‘I’ve blown up other worlds. The infection they leave is catastrophic. Are you religious, soldier?’

  Wolf got the impression Iverson had almost forgotten who he was talking to. ‘Pentecostal born and raised, sir.’

  ‘Really? What happened?’

  Wolf couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Well shit, life happened. I’ll always believe.’

  ‘Cool, we might need a little blind faith.’

  Iverson pulled a gun from his suit, checking the chambers. A heavy old school laser revolver. Those things could punch a hole in elephants and Devil Cats. The cab stopped. Wolf glanced at the window. Anonymous office blocks. A dead end of town at night. Corporate wasteland after the workers exited like drones.

  ‘This isn’t the safe-house. Josie’s up a lot higher.’

  ‘I know. This a storefront to a takeover bid.’

  Iverson pressed his finger to his head. His eyes were glassy.

  ‘The Order is feeding me data based on a lead Lydia showed me. We think the demons are nesting in Bay City.’

  There was glint in Iverson’s eyes. A flicker of danger in his frozen face. Iverson spun the barrel into place and put the gun back in his suit holster.

  ‘I’m not running a program on you. Sorry about the bar, Wolf. The Order makes me do that truth interview. We’re at war.’

  Wolf shrugged. ‘I’ve been under for a long time. That’s cool, it’s the job.’

  ‘We’re after a big fish. Not just Josephine.’

  Wolf was puzzled. ‘I thought you were blaming it all on her.’

  Iverson laid out a graphic of Kingdom in the power suit armour. The image was crisp. He zoomed in on the suit. The miniature logo matched the building outside.

  Wolf laughed. ‘Ahhh. Him.’

  ‘You know him?’

  Wolf replied, ‘Only to avoid. Calls himself Kingdom something. He’s the lunatic fringe, William. A total psychotic.’

  Iverson said, ‘Kingdom. He’s a mercenary.’

  ‘What’s with the logo? Do these people sponsor him?’

  Iverson give him a blank stare. Wolf knew what lay behind that expression. A barely repressed rage and need to punish.

  ‘They own him. You can catch the cab back if you want, Wolf. Listen to some songs, chat to some ladies, forget about all this.’

  Wolf laughed. That was never going to happen. Already he could feel his cover slipping away. There was no future in walking away from the Order and/or Iverson. There was no future in failed diplomats. The bar with the lounge singer would always be there. He had a condo by the beach. He had an ex-girlfriend minding his dog. He had forgotten all these things but Iverson with his red rock had cleared away some mental blocks.

  Wolf said, ‘I’m sick of this Court shit. You don’t have to program me, boss. You got me young enough that the brainwashing took hold for free.’

  Iverson’s smile was genuine. In their minds, they were back in the transport. Both of them could feel the cold. The need for the obvious choice. Comply or fight. Fight or flee. There had been nowhere else to run to, for either of them. Why run away now?

  Iverson said, ‘Ha. I got you hungry enough. There’s a Glock behind the seat. Let’s conduct an investigation, soldier.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Consider what we are about to undertake, a corporate raid,’ Iverson said, and Wolf could hear an undercurrent of tension in his normally calm voice.

  Nothing boded well.

  The death-horse neighed as they hopped out. Wolf shuddered involuntarily as Iverson handed the undead cabman a silver dollar. They were walking over somebody’s grave. Wolf hoped it wasn’t their own.

  2

  * * *

  Industrial parks were a soul crushing experience after hours. An expanse of loneliness. The two men hustled across the empty roads. Lights hummed in the towers surrounding them. The frenzy and madness of the Souls Tournament was an electric horizon to the east.

  Iverson’s implant buzzed like an angry wasp.

  ORDER WARNING—YOU’VE BEEN ALTERED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS—YOU’VE BEEN ALTERED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS—

  He shut it down with an impatient thought. He could go through the file later—it didn’t matter. The air was cold, at odds with what had felt like a balmy day. So much for the beautiful Bay City weather.

  ‘Are we moving for a frontal assault?’ Wolf asked, a tinge of scepticism in his voice. He had mellowed since Iverson had last seen him. He was leaner and more cautious than Iverson remembered.

  ‘We’re going through the front door,’ Iverson replied. ‘I’m a ranking Investigator. If they want to stop me, that’s an invite to a world of pain.’

  Wolf gave an ‘ah-ha,’ and dropped back a step. The doorway lit up on approach. He could see a squeaky clean receptionist behind a huge desk, tapping away at her keyboard. She barely glanced at them until Iverson rapped on the glass with his badge.

  Her voice came over the speaker, canned with a touch of polite sympathy. ‘I’m sorry, sir, you need a swipe card after hours.’

  He forced a polite smile, showing his badge to the camera.

  ‘Agent William Iverson, lead Investigator, Order business.’

  The camera swept the pass. He kept his eyes on the woman. She was in no rush to let them in. She didn’t scare as easily as a desk clerk would if they were farther north. But she scared enough to hit the button and the doors slid open. It was spacious and frozen inside, half in shadow. Multiple banks of lifts. The elegant black woman at the desk approached with a big smile he could put a big price tag on. Her name tag said LINDA. She shook his hand firmly, guiding him toward a meeting room. Lights flickered on at their approach, the reception floor lighting up.

  ‘What’s your business at Shrine, Investigator? Would you like water? I can provide a meeting room and refreshments.’

  He started to walk away. She laughed, placing a hand on his suit.

  ‘No, Investigator. The top floors are outside your jurisdiction.’

  Wolf chuckled behind him. Iverson had to smile himself. ‘Apologies, Linda, but the Order’s jurisdiction extends across the globe. Bay City is an allied city and we are at war.’

  Her eyes span like stars. She shook her head ever so slightly.

  ‘I’m sorry, too, but you’re on Shrine ground, Investigator. We own this whole half of the complex, bought it direct from the royal family. This is vaulted information. Shrine openly does business on both sides of the War and I need more than a cop badge to break company protocol. I’m sure you understand.’

  Not really, Iverson thought.

  Linda gave a cold smile and removed her hand lightly. ‘I’ll ask you again, Investigator, what do you need? Because otherwise, I’m afraid I will have to ask you to leave.’

  Iverson said, ‘I’m looking for a man. Kingdom. Arms dealer. Terrorist.’

  ‘General all round scumbag,’ Wolf added helpfully.

  Iverson shot the image of the man in his power suit onto the table. ‘Here’s the idiot. Recognise him? There’s a price on his head a mile high up North.’

  Linda did as close as possible to a double take as she was able. She tapped her mini tablet.

  ‘Mr. Kingdom is an employee and he isn’t available for questions.’

  The implant was silent. Iverson cursed. Shrine tech was blocking him.

  Wolf said, ‘Are you admitting you’re harbouring a fugitive?’

  Linda shot another smile deviod of warmth. ‘No, I’m saying we hire widely and for specific purposes. Sidebar, we bought his contract out four hours ago. Kingdom is no longer wanted, Investigator.’

  Wolf swore violently. Iverson allowed himself a thin bitter smile.

  ‘That’s perfect. Kingdom’s no longer wanted as long as you own him. There’s a word for that.’

  Linda nodded with the sincerity of a cat. ‘Is that all, Inv
estigator?’

  He could feel Wolf tensed by his side. He knew the room was rigged for sound. None of this was random. None of this was a surprise to Shrine.

  ‘You’re not the night duty clerk, are you, Linda?’

  She pulled off another conference smile as she pressed a business card into his hand. ‘What made you think that?’

  He looked down with a slightly impressed sneer.

  Linda Tren, New Business Manager, Board Member

  ‘Board member,’ Iverson murmured. ‘Big money.’

  Linda laughed. ‘Big hours. Big targets. If you ever want to give up a government pay cheque, flick me your resume.’

  Iverson had to laugh. ‘I’ll keep it in mind. I’m all about the benefits and my pension plan.’

  Iverson snapped the card into his suit. Wolf whistled. The meeting was suddenly surrounded by red cloaked figures and black suited enforcers. They had materialised from the soft shadows. Iverson spotted multiple species. The red cloaked figures were still, braced for action. Swords flashed.

  Wolf had his Glock out, watching him for signals. Iverson signalled a cut off gesture. Wolf holstered.

  Iverson said, ‘What is this, Linda?’

  ‘Security, I guess. I’m on the Board but I don’t make every call.’

  Wolf was rolling his eyes over the red cloaked figures.

  Linda said, ‘The Chairman wants to see you.’

  Wolf laughed. ‘Cool, is it Frank Sinatra?’

  Linda looked at him with an almost naked hostility. ‘No. Frank’s not with Shrine. He works freelance.’

  Iverson shot a quizzical look at Wolf who shrugged and rolled his eyes.

  Linda was arctic. ‘There’s so much you don’t know. It should scare you.’

  Iverson put his hand on Wolf’s shoulder, looking out at the cadre of suits and red robed assassins.

  He whispered, ‘They’re gonna try to hustle us. Don’t go believing anything too easily.’

  Wolf nodded vaguely. ‘Do you even believe in anything, William?’

  He’s put long miles in on this case, Iverson realised. He’s running on fumes and stayed too deep too long.

  ‘I don’t know, Wolf, but we’re all probably lab rats in a cruel experiment, it wouldn’t surprise me.’

  Wolf gave a short laugh, and Iverson gave his shoulder a friendly squeeze.

  Iverson turned to Linda with a smile. ‘So when’s the Board sit? Do we get coffee and juice?’

  The black suits vanished, melting away, leaving just a few red robed figures surrounding them. At a gesture from Linda they holstered their weapons and flicked their cowls back as they entered the room. It was an all woman crew, a blend of faces, young through to middle age, beauty and scars. Most of the women were black, a couple of Asians.

  On cue, Iverson slid into a seat, Wolf beside him. Wolf whistled soft in his ear. ‘Well, at least she hires black.’

  Linda walked to the head of the table. The table lit up with company logos and a huge video screen came to life on the wall. A massive Shrine emblem.

  ‘Thanks for coming, ladies, and welcome to our guests. Due to security considerations, I hope you understand that this isn’t taking place on Level 57, but here instead.’

  Linda held up her hand. The Shrine emblem burnt upon on her palm, highlighted in green.

  ‘To the fire and through it to the rain,’ Linda said. Each woman at the table spoke the words back. Wolf stiffened slightly in his seat. Even Iverson was slightly surprised to hear one woman reply in Corizan, a supposedly forbidden language ascribed to witches that had been purged from this world. He shot a glance down the table to see a striking looking woman with a seriously cool arm tattoo finishing a ritual gesture.

  Iverson raised his glass of water in acknowledgment. They were the guests here, his organisation wasn’t at war at the Shrine Corporation to the best of his knowledge. Linda kept that arctic smile at maximum wattage. A presentation pointer was in her hand.

  ‘A point of order before we hit the quarterly results. Our benefactor wants to personally congratulate all of us.’

  The table seemed to brighten, their eyes positively glowing. Iverson saw the hands of the woman across from him shake, playing nervously with her throat. Linda with the frozen smile noticed it too.

  ‘Problem, Charlie? I’m sensing a certain reluctance in your body language.’

  Charlie was a normal looking black woman somewhere in her thirties. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked overworked and tired. Charlie looked like the attention of the table upon her was her least favourite nightmare. She found her voice cautiously in a freezing room of hostile glances.

  ‘Oh, Linda, I’m excited to be here, but I just wonder, the deeper we get into this, if we’ve really workshopped this, really dug deep into what it means to ally ourselves, with, let’s face it, a—’

  Linda pulled a gun and shot Charlie through the head. The smile had dropped a notch but the glint in the eyes was just as severe. A black-suited minder entered the room and took Charlie’s body away with an apologetic smile. More than one of the women sniffed with a very mild derision for Charlie and the whole scene. Linda laid the pistol on the table.

  ‘Sorry for the downbeat and the interruption, ladies. We will look at resumes for Charlie’s vacated position on Monday. I hope you all remember the entire weekend we spent on this issue recently. I thought we had eliminated any lingering doubts when we climbed the mountain and drank of his blood inside the ziggurat. Any questions before I roll the tape?’

  Her crystal eyes knew no mercy. They cut through lies. Nobody said a thing. Linda smiled as she clicked the pointer.

  A howling void writhed on the screen. The abyss made real. Negative mind voices screaming in a demon choir.

  Wolf started in his chair. The horror mind-blasted through him as he twisted and slumped back, unconscious. The women around the table were delirious, symbols of Shrine and darker mysteries inscribed upon their faces and thoughts. Iverson forgot about the strange longing for coffee and juice which had been with him since they entered the building. What did that matter, in the face of everything. Iverson forgot about everything but the tentacles and the monstrous eyes that saw into everything, the mind howl from this thing that dared call itself a god. A scream froze in his throat and Iverson found himself repeating Order precepts in his head he hadn’t spoken or even thought of in decades just to keep any emotion from his face. He felt his heart rate quicken. The monster hung in space above them all. He could see the ziggurat that littered the dimensions, the needlepoints of some insane plan that made sense the way a dream makes sense. He could feel the monster lacing inside his mind, sticky and acidic, grinding against mental Order walls, scarily determined to convert him. Iverson looked out across the table, eyes heavy-lidded with the immense pressure, the acid wailing of a desperate god.

  Iverson came back to reality. Wolf was slumped in the chair, drooling. The women were mostly fine, washing their mouths with water. One lay on the table, blood trickling from her ears. I guess another Board spot opened up, Iverson thought dryly. He massaged his nose. Already the invasive nightmares of the sickening god were submerging into memories of a recent bad dream, doubtless ready to greet him during some future nap. It was better than a blown-out brain burn.

  Linda said, ‘So, Iverson, thank you for coming. I hope you found this enlightening.’

  ‘Very. You’re looking to take over the world, right?’

  Linda gave him a direct glance. The other women had filed out of the room, making small talk. This was corporate age cult stuff, they didn’t even bother with scented candles; it was video presentations and Powerpoint.

  She said, ‘It’s fair warning. Triton thinks they cornered the market after the Event. But major gods rise from the murk, Shrine is a company going places. Is your colleague up to it? Be honest.’

  Iverson chuckled, patting Wolf on the shoulder, causing him to stir. ‘He was raised hardcore religious. This whole thing is a dee
p trip, I don’t care who you are. Factor in the upbringing, it’s going to take some adjusting.’

  Linda said, ‘Well, adjust him.’

  Iverson nodded.

  She said, ‘What about you, William? How can you look into the abyss and not turn away?’

  ‘The Order cut that part out of our heads,’ Iverson said. ‘At least that’s my excuse for being a godless atheist.’

  Linda’s smile was back. The glint in her eye had never left.

  Iverson said, ‘What’s his name? This abyss dwelling CEO you so lovingly serve and want us all to venerate.’

  ‘Al Juddah. They called him the Cursed Fire.’

  How charming, Iverson thought. Is he the one cursed or are we, the rest of us, huddled in his shadow, as he seeks to nuke the globe from orbit.

  ‘When?’

  ‘A millennia ago. He was a real being once, as human as you or I, ascended to power through bravery and skill. Tragically killed in the God Wars. His remains are strung across the universe, hidden from his followers. But we have recovered much over the centuries. The Shrine Corporation is built on his bones.’

  Iverson allowed himself a faint smile, running his hand across the boardroom table. ‘No doubt.’

  ‘Don’t mock, Investigator. We have reclaimed much of his brain. There’s a ziggurat not that far from the City. We use it as a workplace retreat. We’ve just come back from one.’

  Jesus, he thought. These people are so much more insane than I ever thought. Iverson said, ‘You mentioned it, shortly after killing Charlie. Thing is, I’m in Bay City on an Order case. I have strict parameters.’

  ‘Do they involve involve the Asanti slut?’

  Iverson raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s very poetic. She’s Asanti, I don’t know who she sleeps with,’ he replied, pleased with his little white lie. Back in the ship, he had a neat little chart which included all the Asanti’s romantic interests, including Winter, the attractive masseuse Wolf was so close with.

  Linda smile was a sneer. ‘Anything with a pulse. She’s a traditional enemy to the Void Gods, and I know she’s punched holes in Triton defences. We’d like her neutralised.’