by Jen Robyn
“And who is this enterprising lady?” he asked, surprised when Julianna refused to turn towards him.
“That’s Miss Sherborne,” Almira fairly hissed.
“Rather efficient I see,” said Roger, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Are all your workers too busy to speak for a brief moment?”
“Busy doesn’t describe this one most of the time,” murmured Almira. Too busy daydreaming, if anything! she thought. “Miss Sherborne, if you can interrupt what you’re doing, we have a visitor from...” Noting the girl’s ignorance as she continued typing, seeming unusually preoccupied, Almira’s eyebrows sharpened. In a much louder tone, she continued, “Miss Sherborne, would you mind paying attention to a prospective client of our firm?”
Julianna sighed once, ceasing her typing, and prayed for inner strength. Replacing her dismayed look with a plastic smile, she lifted her head to turn towards the pair. “I’m listening,” she said quietly.
Clearly forcing a smile, Almira gestured towards Roger, who was now grinning knowingly. “This is Mr. Collins, who’s going to be working with us for the next several months, as soon as a contract can be worked out and signed...”
“Ah,” interrupted Roger, raising one finger. “That’s only if we can come to a final agreement on terms,” he reminded her. Julianna was surprised to see Almira displaying a cowed look. No one ever cowed that woman! Either she really wanted this deal... or perhaps Roger?
That thought almost had her laughing. Roger and Almira? In some ways, it certainly seemed fitting.
Somehow though, she doubted that match was on Roger’s agenda.
“Yes, of course,” murmured Almira. “If we could return to my office, perhaps we can work out the details.”
Ignoring her, Roger turned towards Julianna again with a broad smile. Extending his hand, he said gently, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sherborne.” Unable to refuse in front of Almira, she shook his hand, finding it difficult to get him to release hers afterward.
“And most interesting to meet you here too, Mr. Collins,” she replied, aiming thinly veiled sarcasm at him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, this is an office, and I have work to finish.”
Before she could turn again, he moved to stand in front of her. “You seem quite efficient already, Miss Sherborne. “Perhaps a little change of scenery over lunch could provide a break from this workload you seem to have.”
“Knowing Miss Sherborne, she’ll be too busy spending lunch with her co-worker Ms. O’Neill,” protested Almira. “You see, she always meets with her, and I’m sure they wouldn’t like a sudden change from the norm.”
“Well then, in this case they can make an exception,” replied Roger, almost icily. Almira nodded mutely, catching sight of an odd pleading look in Julianna’s eyes. It seemed almost as if she didn’t want to go to lunch with Roger any more than Almira wanted her to.
A moment of rare agreement between the pair.
“Mr. Collins, we’ve made it a policy that our workers don’t associate in the dealings with our clients.”
“Not even when some constructive feedback would be appreciated from the secretaries in this division?” he asked. Before she could reply, he continued, “After all, Almira... I can call you Almira, can’t I?” She nodded. “If we’re to be doing business, it would be in the interest of my company to know whom we’ll be working with. Less than that, and I’d think we should be looking elsewhere, and advise our other business clients similarly.”
Almira’s eyes widened at the negative possibility, while knowing where this was leading, Julianna instantly spoke up. “Mr. Collins, my job description doesn’t say anything about owing my lunch hour to the company. What I do with that time is of my own choosing. If you need assistance, one of the other secretaries can help you.”
Roger smiled at her, but she didn’t miss the underlying challenge in it. Turning from her, he started to walk away, nodding once to Almira. “It’s been a pleasure meeting with you. Perhaps some other time our two companies can be more agreeable with each other.”
Going beyond the niceties, Almira grabbed his arm, flashing an angry look at Julianna. “Miss Sherborne, considering your questionable job performance lately, I’d say this business lunch would only begin to make up for it. If you value your job, you’d best reconsider your decision.”
Julianna frowned silently at the implication.
There’sno justice in the work world these days.
*****
Still less justice existed in Dark Haven, a bar on the opposite coast of Barokka, equally known, but more often avoided. While Lost Limbo had scattered patrons from the whole spectrum, Dark Haven catered to the darker and shadier inhabitants of the island. If an innocent unfortunate wanderer came here—not knowing its reputation—that wanderer could find himself subject to much more than trouble, and might never be able to leave.
Dual merely smiled when he entered the building. Ah yes, Dark Haven was just like a second home to him.
In moments, he’d found the one he sought, beckoning towards a cloaked man across the room. Like the shadows he was named for, the man Shade slithered towards him, his black cape swishing along his equally black boots. Somewhat older and rail thin, though strong, Shade had the highest agility and dexterity, and the special boots and cape he wore masked all sound of his movement. While one might first cast him off as insignificant, in truth, he was one of the most deadly assassins in Barokka, although he often roamed in outer Chavernos as well.
An assassin who used his knife to pry secrets from people’s minds.
Not that he always did the actual killing. More often, he waited amidst the shadows to collect information that his clients would need to finish the job themselves. His most deadly ability was akin to Kiri’s ability to mind-read. Except, he could also delve beyond a person’s mere surface thoughts to pick out a person’s fears, or seek out information that was thought to be carefully hidden from all others.
Under different circumstances, this ability could have brought him great renown and done great services for the wronged individuals of the world to see justice done, but Shade chose to serve darker purposes instead, as mercenary as anything else.
“Dual,” his sharp voice hissed, reaching out a slender hand to clasp the other’s. “Been awhile since you’ve graced us with your presence. How did your search for the map go?”
“We recovered it, of course,” Dual replied offhandedly, toying with his dagger, “and I was hoping I could pay you a small sum of the treasures to carry out a favor for me.”
Shade smiled eerily. “For an ally, a small sum is all I’d require. What information do you seek?”
“Something simple really,” he replied, leaning forward. “I need for you to search Dominick Westbrooke’s thoughts for the location of a certain woman’s residence. You see, due to the dreamphasing bond we all share, I was able to meet this woman in the dream-state the same as everyone else the other night, when he used the bond to draw his friends together. But unfortunately, in order to find her myself, I need to know exactly where she resides.”
“I see,” agreed Shade, with a nod. “Give me the woman’s name, and I’ll get the information before nightfall.”
“Her name is Julianna Sherborne, and she’s currently Dominick’s betrothed. Is this enough to go on?”
“I would imagine so, since his thoughts must be with her often.” Leaning back in his chair, he smiled thoughtfully. “So tell me, what do you have planned for this woman when you find her, as if I need to ask?”
Dual laughed slightly. “Very astute. Tonight, I have a plan to separate them, since a threesome is out of the question. After that, I intend to use this Julianna to prove to that idiot Westbrooke once and for all just what I’ll do in reality if he keeps meddling in my affairs. I imagine afterwards, he’ll steer clear of me for her sake... if, of course, he still wants her after I’m through with her.” Taking a deep draught of ale, he slammed it to the table. “It’s about time he feels the
same pain of love shattered with the woman he’s betrothed to.”
Shade’s eyes glittered, remembering the incident with Dual’s late fiancée Caralei well. Nothing could fuel an assassin’s wrath more than to lose what was most important to him, and Dual’s dark future was solidified that evening.
“Ah, yes,” Shade said knowingly through a short laugh, raising his drinking glass. “To the sweet taste of revenge.”
“Something my former, trusted friend earned years ago,” hissed Dual, staring ahead blankly while taking another long drink. Shade stared at him coolly, keeping his glass where it was until Dual finally noticed. “To revenge,” he agreed, lifting his own glass to clink against the other man’s with finality.
*****
“Since when have you become a murderer?” barked a sharp voice, causing Dominick to whirl about in shocked surprise. “Dragons got your tongue, son, or would you care to answer me?”
“Dad... Mother... what are you doing here?” he asked.
The man known as Discord turned to his wife with a slight sneer. “He’s been living with Riff too long obviously, since he can’t seem to answer a question without silence or another question.”
His wife Warp seemed to agree, casting a worried smile at their son. Some argued that she didn’t look old enough to be Dominick’s mother, since her fair hair was still gold with no hints of gray, and her striking deep blue eyes—similar to her son’s—were still warm and youthful as ever.
Her light appearance was almost a total contrast to her husband’s dark hair and features—which both their sons possessed—and his often grim expression that followed him everywhere. Discord bore no gray hairs yet either, the trace of a five-o’clock shadow grazing his chin, but since the mystical magic area surrounding Chavernos aged all people somewhat slower than planets like Earth, this wasn’t too surprising. His brown eyes fairly blazed as they gazed upon his youngest son now, and his eyebrows tightened.
“Chaos informed us that you’ve gotten yourself into another of your famous predicaments, and insisted we get the information from you,” continued Discord. “I thought given your age, he must be exaggerating, but apparently if your words bear any truth regarding talk of murdering someone, it would seem he was absolutely right.”
“I was speaking hypothetically, and I have no intention of killing anyone,” Dominick replied finally, his eyes slowly narrowing. “But I’m sure I’m not the only one to hold the opinion that Chavernos wouldn’t regard Dual Arrovill’s death as a great loss.”
His father sighed knowingly, as Dominick’s enmity with Dual had gone on for many years. Not to mention, he’d heard plenty of stories regarding the assassin’s other dark dealings as well. In this, he could understand his son’s vehemence. “Fair enough,” he agreed, resting one hand on his shoulder. “But the last place I want you is rotting away in some prison for the better years of your life. Now, you mentioned some woman before, which I can only assume is part of this new anger towards Dual. Care to explain?”
It took less than ten minutes for Dominick to appraise his parents of the situation.
And less than ten seconds for Discord’s explosive response.
“Another dream-state woman?” he growled. “No, don’t stop me. I want to make sure I’m hearing this right. You intend to marry a woman who exists millions of miles away on Earth?” Not letting Dominick reply, he continued, “How many times have I told you and Riff to stop abusing your powers this way... a million at least? Yet you just wouldn’t listen, so now this impossible situation is the result!”
Warp touched his shoulder gently. “Dear, don’t you think...”
He flashed an angry stare upon her. “Don’t you dare tell me you’re going to condone our son’s recklessness in this supposed engagement of his!” he growled.
Not one to cower, and certainly not to her husband, Warp set her chin to return his expression twofold. “Now see here, Discord,” she said coldly, “Dominick is my son as well, and just because he doesn’t have the ultimate role models for a father and grandfather doesn’t mean I’m going to hold that against him now. Now pipe down and keep that angry lid on your head for five seconds!”
Folding his arms with another grumble, he turned away from both, and especially his wife’s icy stare. Warp was never an easy woman to facedown when angry.
Softening her expression towards Dominick, she smiled slightly. “I agree with your father that I’ve never been too happy with what you’ve used your powers for in the dream-state either, but despite this, I hoped you might find a woman to love. Even if you met her in a dream, I assumed you’d then seek her out on Chavernos in reality. I suppose after all these years, I never gave much consideration to the notion that you might find her on Earth.”
“The possibility wouldn’t have seemed real to me once either,” agreed Dominick. “But despite our challenging beginning, I can safely say that I love Julianna more than life itself, and I’d go through the demonworld and back to be with her always. I’m sure she means as much to me as Dad does to you.”
Warp cast a quizzical eye at her husband, whose responding gaze challenged her to voice a sarcastic reply. Instead, she smiled understandingly. “Yes, then I imagine this love you feel is strong. And since even Chaos approves of her, I’m sure she’s more than worthy.” Gesturing her open hands toward him, she continued, “Now, how can we help?”
“Chaos seems to think that the dragon sorcerer Lendric might be able to bring us together. I need to get in touch with him immediately, if he can be reached.”
“Lendric?” Discord jumped in. “Oh, Chavernos... Son, something tells me you might be better off remaining engaged to this Julianna across a distance, lest you accidentally end up in the real Limbo...” Warp’s meaningful jab to his stomach winded him into silence. “Ever the violent type,” he said with a grimace.
“Only when called for,” she replied sweetly, turning back to Dominick. “That isn’t a difficult request. I can use my powers to send us to his residence.”
“That must have been Chaos’s assumption,” Dominick said through a smile. “I’m glad I can count on him now.”
“Was there ever any doubt?” asked Discord. His son cleverly avoided mentioning the incident of the other night, not wanting to start further trouble, merely shaking his head once without answering. “I just hope Lendric can be counted on. After all, despite his best intentions, his magic doesn’t always do what it’s supposed to. I’ll never forget the time he opened the annual Barokka Festival many years ago, planning on conjuring up rainbows in the background. Instead, he only delivered the rain part... complete with thunder, and lightning, and high winds, and a hurricane...”
“And stop calling for trouble!” snapped Warp.
“Hmmm... if I recall, Trouble’s on your side of the family,” he laughed, turning towards the sky innocently.
Unfortunately true, she thought sullenly, struggling to stick to the issue at hand. “You realize of course that my powers are limited, and I can only teleport us as far as the cavern’s entrance to Lendric’s domicile. To actually get to him, we’ll have to ascend the pathway through the cave, dealing with whatever bars our way to the inner door.”
“I understand,” Dominick replied with determination. “If it comes down to fighting whatever creatures are in there, I’m willing to take them on alone.”
“No,” whispered Warp, shaking her head, resting her hand on his shoulder. “This time, you won’t be alone.” Giving him a quick smile, she added evenly, “Your father’s going with you.”
“What?” exclaimed Discord.
Warp gave a short laugh, before turning to him. “I’m just kidding, dear. You’re not obligated to see Lendric as well. But as for me, I will go too, since I wish to see our son safely to his destination.”
“The creatures in that place can’t be that bad,” he mumbled in reply.
“Why, Discord, do you mean to say you’d consider...”
“Oh, hell, stop making a fus
s about it, and get us to outer Chavernos! At least Lendric might be able to stifle our son’s headstrong nature and your sharp tongue for a while.”
Clasping his mother’s hand, as she likewise took hold of Discord’s, Dominick whispered in her ear, “Thanks, Mom.”
She merely squeezed his hand with a smile, as glittering lights surrounded them, moments before she sent them on their way.
*****
“Now then, Miss Sherborne,” began Roger, lifting his menu, “The sky’s the limit today. What would you like for lunch?”
Having said little while he’d driven them to this restaurant, Julianna glared at him now. He had an inflated ego if he believed an expensive meal would erase the anger she felt at his placing her job in jeopardy, let alone the past humiliations he’d subjected her to.
“I’m not hungry,” she growled, folding her arms and turning away. Less than an hour and she’d be free to return to the comfort of her desk.
“A pity,” he sighed, clicking his tongue. “Almira will not be pleased, Miss Sherborne.”
“Knock it off with the phony business act, Roger!” she exclaimed. “You had no right to interfere with my job today, so back off in the future.”
Roger sighed once, resting his head on one arm as he glanced at the menu. “You wouldn’t meet with me otherwise, Julie. I felt I had little choice.”
“You brought that on yourself,” she hissed, pulling her chair back to stand. Roger grabbed her arm before she could do so, his eyes boring into hers.
“You know, you always were stubborn, even when we were teenagers,” he said, shaking his head. “Whenever we had the slightest argument where you felt you were in the right, you made it practically impossible for me to get back in your life. Like that time when you put me on ice after hearing a rumor I’d kissed another girl during study hall.”
Julianna shrugged once. “Why not? It was true.”
“No it wasn’t,” he protested. “Which is exactly what I’m talking about. Even now, you’re still holding grudges for ancient arguments that weren’t even justified!”