Battle of Forces: Sera Toujours

by Ali Vali

  Kendal slid two fingers in to the knuckle and Piper spread her legs wider. The sight of her made Kendal think that another three thousand years wouldn’t make the pleasure of being with Piper fade. She’d gladly put her sword down for this woman. It was someone else’s turn to keep the darkness at bay.

  She’d found her light.

  *

  “Exactly what do you want me to do?” Hill Hickman asked the guy who’d arranged an appointment after hours. The gun she kept taped to the bottom of her desk was pointed at his gut, so she wasn’t afraid of him, but he did give off a weird vibe.

  “I need background information on a few people my boss is hoping to do business with.” He crossed his legs and held his fingers over the folder in his lap. “I suggested you because of your relationship with Piper Marmande.”

  “Is that a nice way of asking me to spy on Piper?”

  “He’s more interested in Kendal Richoux than Ms. Marmande, but I understand they’re together.” He made air quotes and smiled on the last word.

  “We’re getting ahead of ourselves,” she said as she thought about the offer Kendal had called her about. Maybe it was time to retire from the private-detective field and go into corporate security. A job with Kendal would mean fewer meetings with assholes like this. “Your assistant only gave your name as Leonardo.” He nodded at the information. “Is there more to it, or are you the Cher of the corporate world?”

  “Unless you can’t continue without more, I’d prefer to keep this as informal as possible.” He reached down and she leaned forward to make sure he didn’t produce any nasty surprises. The stack of money he took out was thick with hundred-dollar bills. “We’ll start with a twenty-five-thousand retainer, if that’s acceptable.”

  “I’ll give you the file I put together for Piper on Richoux for a lot cheaper than that,” she said, sure now there was more to this than Leonardo was saying. “Do a Google search, and the five articles or so you’ll find is all there is. I might find more now, but I’m not willing to lose a good friend over it.”

  Hill stood and hoped she wouldn’t have to shoot this guy to get rid of him. “I’m going to pass, so good luck.”

  She waited until he drove away from the front of the building before checking to make sure he hadn’t left anything behind. When she was sure the room was clean she checked the surveillance camera to print out a picture of Leonardo.

  “Oakgrove residence, may I help you?”

  “Charlie, it’s Hill Hickman,” she said as she scanned the photo into her computer. “I need to talk to Kendal as soon as possible. Do you think you can arrange it?”

  “I’m sure Piper hasn’t had a chance to call you, but they’ll be home this week,” Charlie said. She liked his slight French accent. “Can I help you with something?”

  “Does the name Leonardo sound familiar?”

  “Nothing comes to mind, but I’ll check with Kendal if she calls.”

  She studied the picture on her screen, trying to detect anything about him she’d missed. “Whoever he is, he just offered me a stack of money for information about Kendal, and he thought he’d get further than I did when I tried finding information about her for Piper because Piper and I are friends. He evidently figured he could exploit that angle to get to her.”

  “No matter what I ask, please don’t take offense,” Charlie said, and laughed.

  “Let me give you some answers before you have to. I didn’t take him up on his offer because I’m planning to take Kendal up on hers, and I can email you the picture I took of him. It came out pretty clear.”

  “Then come by the house whenever you like. Kendal left a set of keys for you, and I have your paperwork.”

  “She was that sure I’d say yes?”

  “Kendal’s always more hopeful than sure about a lot of things.”

  As soon as the email left her out-box she shut her computer down and clipped her backup gun on her waistband. She had a feeling she’d need more than the one on her shoulder. “Are you free for dinner, Charlie?”

  “I’m putting steaks on the grill for us, so don’t take long.”

  “See you in a few.” The coming months would be interesting, she thought as she locked the door, but she was ready for a change. Piper had certainly found happiness by trying something completely different.

  It was time she did the same.

  *

  “She’s done what she set out to do,” Morgaine said.

  “And our bidding along the way without complaint,” Lenore said as a follow-up.

  They’d come above ground for this meeting, and the only shade in the Egyptian desert came from the tent Rolla’s men had erected close to the door of the Elders’ compound. It was the Genesis Clan’s oldest and largest holding, and the only one completely hidden underground. Everyone who’d consumed the elixir at the Elders’ invitation had rooms here; how many and how opulent depended on age and rank.

  The palatial library and large span of space filled with treasures any museum would kill for belonged to Rolla, the oldest of the Elders and the closest thing they had to royalty. His word wasn’t law, but he had a tremendous amount of influence over the group, whose job it was to set rules and dole out punishment.

  “From what you’re telling me, she’s broken her word again, and she shouldn’t be surprised with the punishment. The slave she brought to us was warning enough, but this…it’s too much.”

  “Two in three thousand years, Rolla, isn’t something to complain about,” Lenore said.

  “The Elders meet at the next full moon, and I expect you both to have her here.”

  “Why are they meeting?” Morgaine asked, running her glass of ice water across her forehead. The last time she’d been this hot was when she’d trained Kendal leagues from this spot.

  “To decide punishment or reprimand.”

  “You’d seriously force her to sleep?” Morgaine said as she jumped to her feet. “Have the years you’ve spent in that library finally made you snap?”

  “This infraction won’t be so easily overlooked.” Rolla closed his eyes and turned his face to the sun.

  “Do you think because Ora and Henri have been destroyed that Asra isn’t needed? They weren’t our only two problems.”

  He tossed a rolled-up scroll at her feet and waved his hand. “Asra is the one who feels she’s no longer needed. She wishes to be released from her obligation to us.”

  “She’s in love. Give us a chance to talk to her before we take drastic action.”

  “Love is the excuse you’re giving as her defense?” He opened his eyes, looked at her, and laughed. “If it is, you’ve made this easier for me. Love is the last reason to bring another forth.”

  Morgaine laughed as well before staring over Rolla’s shoulder to the handsome man fifty feet away, sunning himself on a towel and wearing a small bathing suit. Whoever he was had held Rolla’s hand until he’d sat down. “If her defense is lust, will that make it wiser?”

  “Leave my decisions out of this discussion because I made them with the consent of the others.”

  “What did you tell them about that?” She pointed to Rolla’s pet and ignored Lenore’s hand on her forearm. “What worth could he possibly have aside from your pleasure?”

  “Travis’s worth is as a future slayer. He’s good with the sword, has been tested in battle, and like Asra, he accepted the challenge. We found him after he served the British in the War of 1812. He was the only one in his unit to survive, so he was invited into our ranks and has been in training ever since.”

  “You’re comparing him to Asra?” Morgaine asked, and laughed. “Usually the only survivor in any battle is someone who runs from the fight. Are you sure it was because of bravery?”

  “I am comparing him, and I believe he’ll be twice as valuable because he truly wants to serve.” Rolla spoke with almost a growl and glared at her as if daring her to continue.

  “His place with you is no different than Piper Marmande’s with Asr
a,” she said before she walked through the sand toward Travis and kicked him in the side. His reflexes were good enough that he rolled to his feet with his sword in his hand. It appeared Roman in design but too long to be effective.

  “I can’t kill you, but you’re going to hurt for that,” Travis said, cocking his head back to flick his blond hair out of his face.

  She laughed at his cockiness like she had with Asra when they’d first started. When they’d trained together she hadn’t picked up a sword against Asra until well into their fortieth year. You couldn’t learn to fight with the sword until you learned to keep it in your hand, she’d said repeatedly until Asra understood.

  “How old is this brave slayer, Rolla?” she asked sarcastically.

  “He’s been training with Zanga for close to a hundred and eighty years.”

  “Zanga, your messenger?” When Travis brought his sword down toward her head, she kicked him in the knee as she grabbed his wrist. His sword was in her hand before he fell and in his chest before he could offer any more threats. “If this is part of our defense, the scales will tip before Asra is back to full strength, if you bury her and Piper.” She pulled the sword from Travis’s chest and threw it as far behind him as she could. “Tell Zanga his value is in delivering messages, not training slayers.”

  “That wasn’t fair, he wasn’t ready,” Rolla said, but without conviction.

  “The most unfair thing will be Asra’s refusal when you wake her because you’ll have no choice. The world will know darkness and you’ll have only yourself to blame, because I won’t lay it at her feet.”

  Lenore said, “Neither will I, and I’ll be happy to say that at the gathering unless you exclude Morgaine and me because you’ve changed the rules. It’s your right, I know, but it’ll taint the outcome if she has no defenders.”

  “Bring her, or there will be consequences.”

  “For her or for the people we’ve sworn to protect?” Morgaine asked as Rolla went to Travis’s aid.

  Lenore shook her head and led her to the helicopter that Rolla had sent for them. “Don’t provoke him anymore, or Asra will pay the price.”

  “I wonder if he’s considered what happens if she refuses and changes her allegiance.”

  “Asra would never fight against the Clan,” Lenore said.

  “Even if he gives her no choice?” Morgaine stopped Lenore before they boarded. “She’ll fight on the side that’ll keep Piper in her life, and if Travis is Rolla’s line in the sand, may the gods help us.”

  If pushed, their slayer certainly would fight anyone who tried to hurt Piper, and there was little chance they’d be able to stop her even with Morgaine’s help—but she kept those thoughts to herself.

  Chapter Two

  “Does not sleeping eventually drive you crazy?” Piper asked as the last remnants of land disappeared below them.

  “I’m sure you’ll find some way to entertain yourself.” Kendal lay stretched out next to her with her eyes closed.

  “You’re not planning to go back to New York, are you? I mean, what happens next?”

  “Eventually we’ll head north, but not for long. Unless you have other plans I’d like to stay in New Orleans. I don’t want to rob you of any time you have with your grandparents.” Kendal sat up straighter and smiled, but she appeared almost melancholy.

  “Is it hard?” she asked, guessing what had upset Kendal.

  “It can be, and those were the only times along the way I felt true regret, even if I’ve never had anyone I loved enough to mix the elixir for. I’ve had close friends, but I lost them because I left, not because they died from old age.” Kendal slipped her fingers though the hair at the side of Piper’s head, and she leaned into the touch. “I still miss my father, and you’ve been lucky to have your grandparents. Not everyone had been so fortunate and been loved so fiercely, so it’ll be the same for you one day.”

  “I can’t imagine my life without them.”

  “If the gods are kind, you won’t have to worry about that for years to come. Having you back and seeing you happy will add years to their lives.”

  Piper crossed her legs so she could put her foot behind Kendal’s knee. “What I’m sure about is Pops telling me ‘I told you so’ with relish when I see him.” Now that they were airborne she encouraged Kendal to the plane’s sofa with a kiss. “While I’m working, what will you be doing?”

  “I’ll open some offices in the city so I can get out of the limelight in New York. Kendal Richoux still has a few years left, and I’ll enjoy riding them out at Oakgrove or wherever you want to live. Maybe Charlie and I can bring some of those fields back to life.”

  “You’d look good as a farmer, honey. Thanks for understanding how much my family means to me. Will you always be so amenable?”

  “Enjoy it while you can, pipsqueak. In a few hundred years you’ll be constantly complaining about how cranky I can be.”

  Piper laughed and shook her head before she kissed her in a way to inflame her passions. “If I can’t sleep on long flights anymore, then let’s try something else.”

  “What’d you have in mind?”

  “Are we a mile up yet?” She took Kendal’s hand and put it on her knee.

  “You will be when we’re done.” Kendal moved her hand under the hem of Piper’s dress and up her thigh.

  “I’ve never felt this beautiful with anyone,” Piper said as she pulled Kendal to cover her. That Kendal wanted her this much would be the balm to any hurt she’d experience. As wonderful as the sensation of Kendal’s touch was, the honeymoon was almost over.

  Piper didn’t know any Elders other than Morgaine and Lenore, but they didn’t seem like the types to let go so easily. It wouldn’t matter to them if Kendal was tired of their game, and she expected a fight before it was over.

  But they needed to understand that the slayer belonged to her now, and she’d fight to keep her.

  *

  The weather outside Marmande Enterprise’s offices in New Orleans was gloomy, with gray skies and a driving rain that’d been falling for two days straight. The yard was a mud pit off the main pathways, and with no letup in the weather, it’d stay that way for a week or more. Most of their employees were under makeshift shelters since they were too busy to stop outright. Only the welders had gotten the day off.

  Their expansion, made possible with Kendal Richoux’s help as well as bankroll, had brought contracts flooding in, swelling the number of workers both outside and in the office, and even with all that, they had a waiting list of clients. Men and women in company-issued blue hardhats were busy with the Coast Guard cutters Kendal’s connections had gotten the contract for, while close by another group in white hardhats was busy with the construction of new dry docks on the expanse of riverfront property next to them. They owed Kendal every bit of the chance to bring Marmande back from the extinction of bankruptcy or takeover, and Mac hated to think ill of their savior, but success had also brought change.

  He stood in the corner office that overlooked the business his grandfather had founded and waved to the few who’d noticed him as they walked by. It was gratifying to be able to give all these people job security, but it wasn’t enough to make up for losing Piper. He didn’t mind the long hours and the endless piles of paperwork, but he missed the fun his granddaughter added to his day.

  “Leave her be.” He repeated what his wife, Molly, had said that morning when he’d complained again. The words didn’t shake off his bad mood, so he sat and forced himself to concentrate on something productive. “Gene, would you bring in the Navy contract, please, as well as the blueprints? I want to review them before their design team gets here,” he said into the intercom.

  “Right away, sir. Can I get you anything else?”

  “My granddaughter, from wherever she is.” He didn’t say it out loud, but it didn’t hurt to wish. His dad used to say that if you threw wishes out into the universe, sometimes they were answered.

  It wasn’t that he be
grudged Piper the long vacation, but she hadn’t given too many explanations, no matter how much he pressed when she called. “Just the paperwork, thanks. Molly said I had to lay off the coffee.”

  “You got it,” Gene said as she tensed to get up but dropped back down again.

  “Will we lose the contract if he misses the meeting or reschedules?”

  “What?” Gene said, and appeared stunned.

  “This meeting he’s getting ready for? Is it necessary for Pops to be there?” Piper asked with a smile so wide she doubted Gene recognized her. She’d never been known for her sunny disposition around the office. “Miss me?” she said when Gene still hadn’t moved.

  “Hardly noticed you were gone,” Gene said, but Piper knew she was teasing when she laughed. “I know someone, though, who hasn’t smiled in weeks since you left.”

  “Can’t find them?” Mac’s voice came through the small speaker when Gene pressed the button.

  “Actually, someone’s here who wants to say hello but doesn’t have an appointment.”

  “I’d love to chat on any other day, but I can’t keep these guys waiting. I don’t think it’s a good idea to piss off the Navy as a first move.”

  Piper said, “How about if we send over their good friend Ms. Richoux to take your place? Will you see me then? I’m sure when she’s done we’ll have to double the size of the operation.”

  Before Gene could take her finger off the device, the door to Mac’s office opened, and he stopped as if afraid his eyes were deceiving him. He hesitated only a moment before he lifted Piper into his arms and swung her around like he had when she was a little girl.

  “You’re a good-looking sight for these old eyes, sweetheart,” he whispered in her ear before kissing her cheek. Kendal walked in and smiled, as her feet were still hanging a few inches off the ground because of Mac’s bear hug. Piper was too content to move, so she held her hand up to keep Kendal and Gene still.

  “I missed you too, Pops. Can you to take the rest of the day off so we can catch up?” She squeezed his neck again, loving the familiar scent of his cologne. “I have a lot to tell you, but I want to tell you and Gran together.”