Queen of the Immortals

by T. R. Hamby

  Nora

  He didn’t visit her again that night, so Nora got ready for bed.

  She found clothes in the bureau. They were all the right sizes, and she shivered, mortified. She only managed to sleep a few hours, crying on and off, craving Mel so badly.

  Morning came. Nora smelled breakfast, and she rushed to get dressed. She decided wearing the clothes he had bought her, instead of defiantly slipping back into yesterday's outfit, would be beneficial. She settled with a black knit sweater, blue jeans, and a pair of fluffy pink socks. After all, it was cold down there.

  She sat on the bed, listening anxiously as his footsteps descended the stairs. Roone opened the door, bearing a tray, and smiled at her.

  “You like the socks,” he said, sounding pleased. “I thought you might.”

  Nora eyed the tray hungrily, and he handed it to her. Eggs, bacon, and toast. Well, that was one positive.

  She scarfed it down, ravenous, and he sat and watched her. A chill ran down her spine, but she ignored it. She needed to eat; she needed fuel.

  “Why Rome?” he asked as she finished her meal.

  She scowled at him. She needed her eventual acquiescence to look gradual, believable. Plus, it was a stupid question.

  He looked hurt, and she waited a moment before heaving a sigh.

  “My father’s from there.”

  Roone looked heartened. “He was a singer, too.”

  “Yes.”

  She waited, then raised an eyebrow. “Why Earth?” she asked flatly.

  He smiled fondly. “I heard stories all my life. And I always wanted to travel. I did….for a while, Up There, but Earth was my calling.”

  He looked at her. “I like humans. I like their spirit. Yours especially.”

  Nora stared at him. She couldn’t help but be amazed. “You don’t even know me.”

  “I do,” he insisted. “I just….do. When I saw you on that stage, when I heard you sing….it just all came together. It was like Father spoke to me.”

  She looked away, trying to hide how appalled she was.

  He hesitated, before continuing, “And then….you know….we made love, and--”

  But Nora flinched, nauseated. God, she wished Mel had never told her they could sleep with other people. She wished she hadn’t flirted with Roone, wished she hadn’t even let him sit with her in that cafe.

  Roone shifted, uncomfortable, and said, “We could walk today. It’s not too cold.”

  Nora’s ears perked up. She was desperate for the outside world, even if she couldn’t escape.

  So he got her a coat and a scarf, and they went upstairs. Nora saw a kitchen and a mudroom before they were outside.

  It was almost like the picture in the windows. Rolling hills surrounded them, with yellowed grass and a cloudy sky. The air was chilly, and little drops of rain fell here and there. Behind them was a two-storey stone house. She could see the road just a few yards from the front door.

  “Done surveying?” Roone finally asked, and Nora felt her lips twitch. “I get it. You’ll get used to things.”

  They began to walk. Nora slipped slightly on the damp grass, but Roone refrained from helping her, which she appreciated.

  She looked at him. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you think we’re soulmates?”

  He didn’t look bothered by the question. “I just know.”

  “I don’t feel like we’re soulmates.”

  “It’ll take time,” he said patiently.

  Nora sighed. This wasn’t going anywhere.

  They crested a hill, and looked out on the land before them. It was endless.

  Mel would never find her here.

  She felt a horrible wave of hopelessness wash over her, and she began to cry again.

  Roone looked worried. “Please don’t cry,” he sighed, watching her.

  She could tell he hadn’t expected winning her over to be this difficult.

  Nora brushed at her eyes, sniffling. “Sorry.”

  She looked out again, hugging herself.

  Then she had an idea. “I wonder if he’s looking for me,” she said quietly.

  She could feel him studying her. “Do you want him to?”

  Nora settled on silence. She had to give him hope.

  After a moment she said, “He is arrogant sometimes.”

  Roone snorted. “I’m sure. The Great Melkira.”

  “Jealous?” Nora asked, teasing.

  He smiled thoughtfully. “Yes,” he replied, and she was shocked by his honesty.

  “Seriously?”

  He shrugged, shoved his hands in his pockets. “It would have been better for me….maybe….to grow up without parents, like he had. Angel children usually develop their Talents over time, but I was born with mine. I can see long distances, and I can cause pain. I hurt my mother so much she could barely hold me.”

  He paused, scowling at the ground, while Nora stared at him in horror. “I think she resented me for it. My father too. They left me with friends when I was a child. Never came back. The other children taunted me for it….and….”

  He didn’t finish, just shrugged again.

  Nora felt a pang. Well, maybe that was why he was so fucked up.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, making sure there was emotion in her voice.

  He looked at her, and there was hope on his face. “I always wanted someone to love. To love me. And then I found you.”

  Nora felt a stab of pity for him. He must have gotten used to being neglected. It made sense that something in him snapped, made him choose her. Why her out of everyone else, she had no idea.

  She wondered if he wasn’t this evil Angel that she had thought him to be. Maybe he was just….sick. Ill. Maybe with some treatment, he could see past his delusions.

  They returned to the house, and Roone made some hot chocolate. They sat at the table, sipping from their mugs, thinking quietly.

  Nora took a deep breath. They were headed in the right direction. Roone was already letting her sit on the main floor. It wouldn’t be long before he would let his guard drop. Maybe she could find a cell phone….a laptop….he had to have something on him.

  “I can’t love you,” she said firmly, following her intuition.

  Roone looked at her worriedly, and she continued, “But I think I can be your friend.”

  He looked relieved, and Nora knew he was thinking--thinking that it was only a matter of time before she ate her words.

  They both had to be careful.

  Barry

  They were on a first class flight to Dublin. All of them were tense, antsy, constantly checking the time to see how much longer until they touched down.

  The problem was, they didn’t know where to go when they did touch down. Dublin was a big city, with lots of hiding places. And what if Nora and her captor had left the city? There were hundreds of thousands of places to go….

  Barry studied a map of Dublin, though he knew it was a pointless effort. He was worried sick, just like the rest of them--though not quite like Mel, of course. His head had been twitching so much he looked like he had a condition, and he couldn’t sit still. The only person who seemed able to console him was Gilla, who sat next to him during the flight.

  Gabriel tossed his travel guide to the side and squeezed Barry’s hand. “You all right?” he murmured, his dark eyes studying him.

  Barry chuckled bitterly.

  He liked Gilla, but Nora had always acted as a sort of mother figure to him. She had always been in his corner, since the day she and Mel took him in. He loved her--he couldn’t lose her either.

  “I don’t think Father will let anything happen to her,” Gabriel said soothingly. “He likes her, doesn’t he?”

  Barry snorted. “If he liked her so much, he wouldn’t have let her get kidnapped, would he?”

  “Maybe he couldn’t see it happen,” Gabriel pointed out. “Your friend made him blind to us, remember?”

  Barry frowned. He hadn’t considered that.
r />   He looked at him. “So you don’t trust her.”

  “Will you be mad at me if I don’t?”

  Barry rolled his eyes. “Don’t be stupid.”

  Then he heaved a sigh. “I can’t blame any of you. I don’t know if I fully trust her myself…. only….she brought me back, you know? I’m biased, I s’pose.”

  “Guess I should be biased too,” Gabriel replied, tutting. “It’s hard enough knowing you were dead a couple seconds.”

  They were quiet a moment.

  “It’s just,” Gabriel finally said, squeezing Barry’s hand again, “we already have one god we don’t trust. She can’t expect us to want to deal with another.”

  “Better the devil we know?” Barry replied, raising an eyebrow.

  “Well, don’t say it like that.”

  “That’s what it is, mate.”

  Gabriel looked troubled, thinking it over.

  “Look, just….be careful,” he finally said, kissing his temple. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  Barry felt a pang. “You won’t. And if you do, she’ll probably just send me right back.”

  They landed.

  They decided to rent a car; they didn’t know if they would need to travel further. Outside it poured, and they watched the rain beat against the windows while Michael made arrangements with the rental company.

  Hello, Them’s voice, quiet and unsure, said. I think I found something.

  Barry started a little. Gabriel noticed, and he followed him as he walked a few feet away from Mel, who certainly wouldn’t want to overhear this.

  “Um, hi,” Barry said, leaning against the window.

  Gabriel folded his arms, watching.

  How are you?

  Barry couldn’t help but smile at the concern in her voice. “Hanging in there.”

  Mel is so upset, she whispered, pained.

  “I didn’t want him hearing me talk to you.”

  No….none of you trust me still, she sighed. But I suppose you shouldn’t. You don’t know me.

  “I think everyone would if you spoke to them,” Barry suggested.

  I don’t think I can, she replied. I’m trying, but it’s not working.

  “But you can speak to me.”

  I think because I revived you, she said thoughtfully. I gave you life. We have a connection.

  Barry frowned. That sounded possible.

  “Tell her Michael and Gilla are truly happy to have her voice back,” Gabriel said, and Barry looked at him, surprised.

  I know, Them breathed. I’m so happy it worked. I didn’t think I could reverse something Father had done.

  Barry relayed the message, and Gabriel nodded, frowning.

  “Your shield prevented Father from seeing Nora get kidnapped,” he chided. “He could have stopped it.”

  There was a pause. Then, My shield doesn’t extend past Mel and Michael. Remember--like a bubble. Father should have seen the kidnapping.

  Gabriel flushed as Barry recited her response. Barry couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at him.

  “Oh….sorry.”

  He loves you very much, Them said, and Barry smiled.

  “Yeah.”

  Michael approached then, looking suspicious. Gabriel whispered in his ear, and he nodded, frowning.

  You all need to rest, she said firmly. You look terrible.

  Barry’s lips twitched. “We’re having trouble sleeping.”

  I know. I’m sorry.

  “What’s she saying?” Gabriel asked impatiently.

  Oh, sorry, Them said, and there was embarrassment in her voice. I think I found something.

  “Go on,” Barry said quickly.

  Well, I tried stretching as far as I could….Nora was far away when I did it, because you all were still in London. I can feel her better now, now that you’re in Ireland.

  She paused while Barry spoke to Gabriel and Michael. “Okay.”

  I saw a stone house….she’s in the basement. She’s safe, she added quickly as their faces went white, she hasn’t been touched.

  “At all?” Michael breathed.

  Not at all, Them replied firmly. I don’t know why.

  “Anything else?” Gabriel asked.

  She’s being nice….I think she’s playing along. Maybe playing him.

  Barry relayed, and Michael looked immensely relieved. “That sounds like her.”

  “Anything else?” Barry asked this time, but Them’s voice was ashamed.

  No. That’s all I could manage.

  “Better than nothing,” Gabriel said, nodding. “We know what the place looks like now, and that she’s fighting.”

  “Can you get any more now that we’re closer to her?” Michael asked.

  Barry was surprised to hear him speak to Them directly, and wondered if she had just gained three believers. Gabriel didn’t look the least bit doubtful, and Barry certainly wasn’t. Maybe they were stupid to trust her, but they were quickly running out of reasons not to do so.

  She sounded emboldened. I think so. Give me some time.

  It wasn’t much to go on, but it was at least heartening. The five squeezed into the car, with Barry, Gabriel and Gilla jammed in the back. Mel didn’t say anything when Michael gave him and Gilla a brief rundown of what Them had said. He simply looked out the window, and eventually fell asleep, though it was a short drive to the hotel.

  It was a three-bedroom suite. Barry was nervous about Mel being left alone, given the state he was in. He didn’t think Mel would hurt himself, but it still didn’t seem right to leave him to fend for himself in there.

  Michael seemed to think the same thing, because he followed Mel into his room. The remaining three sat in the living room, waiting nervously.

  After a short time Michael emerged, somber. “He’s out,” he said quietly.

  “What do we do now?” Barry couldn’t help but ask.

  Michael sighed and turned for the window. Barry thought he saw tears in his dark eyes, and he felt sick.

  “We need rest,” Gilla finally whispered. “We won’t find her without sleep. We’ll think of a plan in the morning.”

  They agreed, although the pull to stay up and wrack their brains for some ideas was strong.

  Barry went out for a while, beating his wings against the rain. He was starving, and had to settle for a sewer rat. It didn’t taste as bad as he expected, and there was plenty of meat on its bones.

  When he got back he found Gabriel fast asleep in the bed, and he felt a pang. He looked so vulnerable like that, and there was something about that that made Barry’s heart ache.

  The stress of everything suddenly hit him, and he staggered, feeling a horrible craving. He swore under his breath, and eased himself down on the bed.

  Deep breaths. Deep breaths. It’ll go, it’ll go, he coached himself, taking steadying breaths. Please go away. I can’t deal with this shit now.

  He didn’t want to wake Gabriel, but Gabriel seemed to sense his Presence anyway. He stirred, stared at him, then sat up and took his hand.

  “Not now,” he murmured, squeezing, and Barry couldn’t help but snort, holding his head in his hands.

  “Perfect timing, eh?”

  “It’ll go away. It always does.”

  But those dark thoughts were creeping back into his mind. He would slow them down if this continued. What good was he anyway? Sure, he was Them’s little prophet now, but they didn’t even know if they could trust her….maybe he was being brainwashed….maybe that’s what they were all thinking….god, he needed something, anything….

  “Barry. Snap out of it,” Gabriel said firmly, shaking him, and Barry came back to his senses.

  He shook his head, trying to empty it of its demons, and took a deep breath.

  “Sorry.”

  “I know that look on your face. Don’t start thinking that way. We can’t lose you too. All right?”

  Barry was soothed by his rough words, and he began to relax. “All right, love.”

  “
Good. Let’s go to bed. You’re low on sleep; that isn’t helping.”

  So Barry undressed and got into bed. Gabriel held him, and he finally relaxed. The urge, the need to take something, dissipated into nothing.

  “Do you trust Them now?” Gabriel murmured.

  Barry felt his lips twitch. “Will you be mad if I do?”

  He chuckled. “Shithead.”

  “Don’t think we have a choice anyhow.”

  “No,” he replied thoughtfully. “We don’t have a choice at all.”

  Michael

  Michael. Can you hear me?

  He opened his eyes. He was in the hotel room, lying in bed with Gilla, who was murmuring in her sleep. He went to shush her, before Father found out she had regained her voice. But then he remembered: Father couldn’t hear her, not now that Them was shielding them.

  His body was heavy, and he struggled to move.

  Father? He finally replied.

  Are you looking for Nora?

  Yes.

  Good, and Michael felt a hint of anger. The Angel who took her is a despicable thing, low, pathetic. He won’t survive for long.

  Michael hesitated. Them was on his mind, and he was glad Father couldn’t read his thoughts unless they were directed to him. Could you….tell us anything? To help us find her?

  A pause. Another sense of anger, and Michael knew he had said the wrong thing.

  You lost her, Father hissed. You will find her.

  Michael was quiet. He didn’t want to provoke him further.

  Finally Father said, There is something you must do while you’re in Dublin. Another Angel to destroy.

  Michael felt a surge of rage. Another one, at this time?

  He’s terrorizing the women of Blanchardstown, for weeks now. He must be stopped.

  Michael sighed. He was just waiting for Father to finish speaking now. It was strange--now that he was hidden from Father’s view, Father didn’t seem as intimidating as he once was.

  Michael wondered at that.

  Father seemed to be thinking. He asked, Have They spoken to you?

  Michael hesitated.

  This was the biggest risk he would ever take with Father. If he said no, Nora could be saved. If he said yes, they could avoid Father’s wrath.