“Stay away from her.”
Though he meant to have a menacing growl, the words came out in a quaking whisper that matched the shaking of his arms as the gun waved around the room.
“I intend to, Jim,” I said as calmly as I could, which wasn’t easy.
The gun didn’t worry me. Well, that wasn’t true. I didn’t worry about him trying to shoot me, I was worried that he might hurt himself or someone else. Shooting me wouldn’t kill me because I’m technically already dead. Amara knew this. I was willing to bet that was why she sent him and that is what had me worried.
She intended to use him as a means of getting to me. The fact that he was here, in a government office building, brandishing a weapon that should have been picked up by security was the proof. Amara’s hold over his soul was complete. If he made it out alive, he would be enslaved, and there was no returning an enslaved soul to Order.
“She loves me.”
“Of course she does,” I said with a disarming smile. She loves the power you give her. I kept that part to myself. If I could keep him talking, there was a chance I could buy him more time by having him arrested. He would still be lost, but even Amara would have trouble getting to him if he was in jail.
From down the hall, I could hear the heavy footfalls of several people running.
“You know I wish only the best for you,” I said in an attempt to distract Jim, but it didn’t work. He turned to the door just as Donna and three officers in riot gear filled the doorway. Whether his reaction was instinct or pre-meditated, Jim squeezed the trigger and shot me at point blank range in front of witnesses.
In an instant, more shots rang out. Out of instinct, I ducked, noting with much relief that Donna had been pushed to the ground and an officer crouched over her, protecting her from the possibility of stray bullets. Something skidded across the floor, bumping my wrist. It was a gun, the one Jim had tried to shoot me with just a moment before. I looked up and wished that I hadn’t. He was lying on his back, mere feet from me. Even if I hadn’t realized from his blank, unwavering stare that Jim was dead, the bullet hole in his forehead would have been a pretty clear indicator.
In a dazed fog, I gave my side of the story. I feigned ignorance regarding the threats, stating that I believed the woman he was accusing me of having interest in was Betty. Within minutes, they had pulled his file and found that Jim had been under investigation for worker’s compensation fraud and he’d had several charges against him in the past for drug use. It was fortunate that they didn’t separate Donna and I. The less the police knew about Amara, the better.
With my office now a crime scene, I left with Donna, intending to follow her to the Five Penny to form a plan of action for both Amara and the coming storm.
“I didn’t think they’d shoot him,” I said, more thinking out loud than anything else.
“Seth, he shot you,” Donna said flatly. “I know you’re protected and all that, but you didn’t see what we did. From our point of view, it looked like a damned miracle that you didn’t get hit with a face full of bullets.”
“I guess, but… It’s awful,” I said, shaking my head. “I never intended for it to end like this. I didn’t want him to die.” I looked up, blinking back the tears that threatened. “At least… At least he’s safe now. Not that it matters to him now, but his soul cycled. Amara lost him and that buys us some time.”
“That’s just it though,” Donna said, chewing on a hank of her hair. “I don’t think…”
I stopped and turned, leveling her with a serious look. “Donna, whatever is going on, you need to tell me right now.”
“I know. It’s just…” she sighed and looked up, chewing on her lip until it bled. “Jim wasn’t the only one.”
“What?” My stomach sank. “Please tell me you don’t mean…”
“I don’t know how, but Amara’s made good on her threat,” she said. “She’s enthralled at least a dozen souls in the few days since she’s been here.”
“A dozen…” I blinked, in total shock.
“I… I wanted to tell you, but Desmond and the others… well, they thought it would… They thought you might do something drastic.”
Drastic was an understatement. I was furious that they would keep something that big from me. I didn’t care if they thought it was for my own good. A man was dead. He may not have been a very good man, but Jim had not deserved to die in the manner he had. That there were others upset me deeply. This had to end and it had to end now.
“Oh goddess, this is not good,” said Donna as she looked up at the darkening sky. “Seth, we have to get out of here.”
So, that’s what Amara was planning, I thought as I looked up at the storm. A final showdown and the fall of Blackbird. Not if I could help it.
“I’m not leaving until I know that everyone here is safe,” I told Donna.
“What? Seth, are you crazy?”
“Don’t worry about me yet,” I assured her. “I’ve got shortcuts, remember?”
“Fine,” she said with a long sigh. “Just, hurry, okay?”
After seeing Donna back to her car and making sure she was headed back downtown, I walked back into the building. I hadn’t been lying. I really did want to make sure that everyone had left the building or found shelter. If the parking garage was any indication, most of the staff took the weather warning as an opportunity to leave early on a Friday. I just hoped that they had all left early enough to get home. I didn’t want to think about how dangerous getting caught in the storm was going to be. Already I could hear thunder in the distance and the wind made a high pitched whine when it blew through the cracks between the windows and their frames. Whether the Discordant had their way or not, the storm was going to be destructive.
Outside, I stood trapped in the relative safety of the overhang between the office and the municipal parking garage. All around me, the storm raged, sending sheets of water and hail the size of golf balls down from the sky. Clouds twisted into ominous vortexes of dark purples and grays as the city’s storm warning alarms blared in competition with the crashing thunder. Lightning temporarily illuminated the view and I saw that plenty of damage had already befallen many of the buildings and cars parked along the side street where I stood.
I knew where I needed to go and what I needed to do. In the distance, lightning struck the bell tower atop the church, which exploded with a light so bright that my vision went temporarily photonegative. Warm air rushed in, pushing against cold as the storm raged and a dense fog added to the chaotic scene, obscuring everything, including my own hand when held more than a few inches from my face. A strange peace settled over me, despite the sudden presence of a dark and foreboding power. I looked up. Through the nearly impenetrable fog, I could see an ethereal glow issuing from the church on the hilltop.
I tore my eyes from the hill and looked toward downtown, knowing that less than a mile away, all of the people that mattered to me were safe and protected, thanks to the care with which the old brick buildings had been built. A sharp pain stabbed at my heart when I thought about the fact that I would never see them again, but I pushed it aside. Thoughts like that would derail me before I began. With bravery I did not feel, I stepped out into the storm and headed for the church.
Chapter 10
Loyalties
“What the hell did you do?”
Talk about bad timing! Des just had to walk in right when the police was handcuffin’ the murder suspect. It didn’t help that she was wailin’ like a banshee and causin’ a pretty big scene. He waited ‘til I’d given my statement to the investigator before slapping me with a doozy of a binding spell. It felt like someone was trying to squish my brain through a drinkin’ straw.
“Geez, Des, what makes you think I did anything at all?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said through gritted teeth. “Perhaps I’m just imagining this stink of Discordant magic that’s hanging in the air?”
“You mean the magic you said I could use to
make my job easier?”
Okay, bad move, Bogie. Des amped up the juice and now my brain was sizzlin’ like a piece of bacon on a hot frying pan. I shoulda known he’d assume the worst. I mean, this is Des we’re talkin’ about.
“Last I checked, you were a bartender, Bogie, not a criminal investigator.”
“Desmond, stop. He only did what I asked of him.”
Thank goodness Seth came to my rescue. The binding eased up a little bit. I was still powerless, but at least I could breathe again.
“Thanks,” I squawked. “I owe ya.”
“What exactly does that mean?” Desmond asked Seth. He was still mad as hell, but at least his anger was directed at someone else.
“She’s lost, Desmond. Very lost and this place has been crawling with Discordants. Since you were busy, I asked Bogie to influence her into making a decision.”
“Yes and look what he pushed her into,” said Des. “Having a nervous breakdown and publicly confessing to murder in front of a bar full of witnesses.”
“It’s not his fault that she broke down and confessed,” Seth said in my defense, which was great, since I didn’t think I coulda strung together two words, what with all this magic fryin’ my brains. “He didn’t make her do anything and even if he had, she’s safer in jail. Had she kept her composure, she would have fallen to the Discordant the moment she left the bar.”
The bindings eased a little more and Des looked over at me. “So, what exactly did you do to her?”
“Honest answer? She ordered a drink and I made it. When I goes back to see if she needed a refill, I asked if she’d been doin’ some gardening ‘cuz she had all this dirt under her nails. Next thing I know, she’s fallin’ off the bar stool and talkin’ about whackin’ her abusive jerk of a husband.”
“Wait,” Seth cut in. “You mean, you hadn’t even…” he made this weird little hand motion he does where he wiggles his fingers to mean magic. It’s kinda cute. Like Discordant magic is a dirty word or somethin’.
“I figured I’d be a gentleman,” I said with a shrug. He cut a dirty look over at Des and I tried to hide my smirk, but I don’t think I was very successful.
“So, you did nothing?” Even with Seth in my corner, Des wouldn’t take my word for it.
“You tell me,” I said, givin’ Des a hard time. I probably shoulda been a little more respectful, but I was miffed. “I should think a smart cookie like yourself would know the difference between practical magic and demonic influence.”
Finally, I got ‘em! The binding eased up and Des scowled, like he was almost mad that he didn’t have a reason to blast me. Instead, he smacked me upside the head.
“If you’d stop being a wise ass it would save both of us some trouble,” he grumbled.
“You know,” Seth started, lookin’ all cautious like at me and Des. “Bogie’s a much bigger help to us with his magic than without.”
“Tell me you’re joking.”
“Desmond, he saved a couple of lives tonight. I don’t think I have to tell you how balanced he is. You should be able to feel that for yourself.”
“That’s what I don’t trust,” Des grumbled, lookin’ at me like I was tryin’ to pull one over on him. Quite frankly, I was just as surprised as he was. When you’re a Discordant, balance is kind of an insult. I mean, come on. The whole point of my existence is to disrupt the carefully constructed balance of Order. I’d have to work on that if I ever wanted back in with my cronies.
“We need all the help we can get,” Seth went on. “Does it really matter how we get it?”
“Fine,” said Des. “But you’re still confined to Blackbird and I’m keeping my eye on you.”
Oh sweet beautimous freedom! Well, kinda. I was still stuck in the sticks, but at least I wasn’t cooped up in the bar anymore. First thing tomorrow, I’m goin’ to Starbucks. Then I’m gonna see if this dump has a Chipotle. I wasn’t even gonna hold my breath for an In and Out Burger this far from civilization. Don’t judge me. Demons get cravings for junk food just like anyone else.
With my powers finally at max, clean up and closin’ took all of a couple two minutes. The only thing standin’ in the way of blowin’ this joint was the obnoxious students who sat nursing their last call beers. I sent out a gentle nudge. Nothin’ fancy. I just pulled up the tiny seed of guilt theys all had and reminded them that there was still a couple days of classes left and they was all gonna have rotten hangovers if they didn’t get their carcasses outta my bar.
Des and the witches were still out chasin’ down vamps and whatnot, so I decided to see if I could lend a hand. Well, sorta. I wasn’t too keen on pressin’ my luck with Des just yet, but I figured the gals wouldn’t mind some help. Okay, fine. I was just lookin’ for Betty, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t be helpful.
There wasn’t a whole lot goin’ on outside the bar. Good thing too, since my stragglers were still stumblin’ down the sidewalk. I was about to cast out and see where the action was when I got this creepy feelin’ all of the sudden, like somethin’ wasn’t right. Ah, I shoulda known. Amara was skulkin’ about, doin’ that annoying ‘mysterious act’ thing that vamps do. I don’t know why people fall for that, but boy, do they ever. So much so that they try and imitate it. No kiddin’. There’s whole bars out in Hollywood populated by folks wearin’ sunglasses who never smile and instead of avoiding ‘em like the loonies they are, other folks flock to ‘em like that terrible poetry they is always spoutin’ is gospel.
I’m telling ya, there was something not right about this chick. Even a small time Discordant like myself has something of a sixth sense for recognizing if one of our own ain’t on the up and up. We have to. It’s part of our survival instincts. Amara wasn’t familiar. Sure, there was a certain vampire-like quality that she exuded, but to be honest, it kinda felt faked, like those Hollywood gothic-types I just mentioned. Succubus though? No way. Them broads is dangerous, but they’s also subtle. This chick was as subtle as poison ivy in your shorts.
I saw her crossing the street about a block up from the bar, so I did what came natural to me and I followed. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but I ain’t no cat. Demons are excellent trackers. It’s in our nature to dig up all the dirt we can get on somebody if we set our sights on ‘em. Huh. Maybe Seth was onto somethin’. I oughta think about becoming a private dick. I mean, if I’m stuck here, why not do somethin’ exciting? Eh, who am I kiddin’? That’s work and I ain’t about to add to my pile of responsibilities. Like great uncle Howie used to say, “Only do as much as it takes to make folks think you’re busy.”
After a few blocks, I had to wonder where she was headed. This side of town didn’t have much to offer. Just a church up on a hill and the river, and I didn’t think she was plannin’ on confessin’ her sins anytime too soon. Maybe we’d all get lucky and she’d just go drown herself. Eh, no such luck. As it turns out, she was headed for the cemetery that sat at the foot of the hill in the shadow of the church. Just inside the gates was this guy who was waiting for her.
I got closer and realized I recognized him ‘cuz he had been at the bar the night before. It was the guy I had given the free beer to ‘cuz he was walkin’ with a cane. I couldn’t help but notice he didn’t seem to have any problems walkin’ now. Well, at least no leg related walkin’ problems. Seems that our boy was smitten with the vamp and had some other problems pop up, if ya know what I mean.
I had a bad feelin’ like I knew where all of this was headed, but damned if my curiosity didn’t do me in. Yep. Turns out when a guy who’s enthralled with a dark creature well known for zapping strength through sex meets up with said creature in a cemetery in the middle of the night, it ain’t to discuss the weather. I’ll spare you the gory details. I tried to spare myself the gory details, but my hearing is sharp, even when I don’t want it to be.
I really didn’t wanna stick around for any of this, but I didn’t wanna lose her neither, so I wandered around as far outta ear shot as I could get and read some of
the names and dates on the headstones. Hey, don’t laugh. Some folks do this for fun. You can learn a lot about a town from their dead.
“So, are all demons voyeurs or should I feel flattered?”
Yowzers! Two days without my powers and suddenly I’m like a newborn demon again. I didn’t even sense her sneakin’ up on me like that.
“We mostly prefer the hands on approach to life, if ya get my meaning,” I said. “But everyone knows vamps wanna feel like special snowflakes, so you go ahead and stoke your ego if that’s your thing, okay?”
Oh, she bristled with that zinger. Vamps don’t really like bein’ called out on the absurdity of their narcissistic behavior. ‘Course, none of ‘em never stopped to think about how ridiculous they is instead of gettin’ offended…
“Don’t play games with me, demon,” she sniffed, pullin’ out the haughty routine. “I know who you are and I know who you’ve been cozying up to. What I want to know is why?”
I shrugged and gave her a flat look, like she was nothin’ special herself. “Maybe I’m buds with ‘em or maybe I got another agenda.” Or maybe I ran afoul with the big wigs and Des slapped a binding spell on my tushie, but I sure as hell wasn’t gonna tell her that. “What’s it matter to you anyway?”
“I think you know why it matters. Tell me,” she said, getting right up in my face. “Did Seth send you to look after me?”
“Boy, you really do think you’re special, don’t you? You know he’s got a girl, right?”
She gave me a look like I was stupid. “I’ve met the trashy little witch. He’s as into her as I am you. But she is of no consequence and neither are you.” She trailed off dramatically, looking off into the distance as if for a sign. Or maybe a clue, ‘cuz she really didn’t have one if she thought Seth was still into her. “I have plans for Seth.”
Past Life Strife (Rise of the Discordant Book 1) Page 12