Feathers and Fire Series Box Set 1

by Shayne Silvers

  I pretended not to have heard anything. “You’re as worthless as everyone says,” I snarled loudly. “I can’t believe I thought you could handle such a simple job as keeping an eye out on us. Leave Kansas City, or the next time I see you, I’ll make Abel proud.”

  Then I Shadow Walked from the alley back to the parking lot of Abundant Angel Catholic Church. I let out a shaky breath, and although concerned about Cain’s whisper, ultimately it didn’t matter. I just hoped bringing up his brother hadn’t gone too far, but I’d wanted to make it look authentic. It was paramount to my plan.

  Despite everything, a slow grin split my cheeks. It was time for Act Two.

  “Callie!” A new voice shouted, and I spun in surprise, ready to defend myself.

  Chapter 44

  I blinked at the handsome man before me, frowning. I lowered the crackling white kamas in my hands – since they had popped into existence instinctively – upon seeing his shocked face.

  He approached slowly, a smile creeping back onto his face, but a hesitant one. “Callie. It’s me, Arthur.”

  I blinked at him. “From the coffee shop?” I asked in disbelief.

  He nodded, shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably as I took a few seconds to assess him. None of his clothes were new, but they were all clean and fit well. He had bathed, trimmed his hair, shaved, and…

  He looked like an entirely different person.

  A handsome, forty-something I would have expected to see browsing the philosophy section in a bookstore. Or toting kids on his shoulders. Maybe even sitting in a board meeting for a large corporation, addressing his executives after taking time off from his yacht to pop back into the office.

  I whistled appreciatively. “Don’t let the Sisters see you, or we’ll have a mass confession on our hands,” I said, laughing as I gripped him by the shoulders.

  He grinned unashamedly. “I wanted to thank you. In person. Father David was so kind, and I have the feeling he would have helped anyway, but you should have seen his face when I mentioned your name. It was as if he had never smiled before.”

  I frowned at that, but hid it well. What the hell? Father David had been surprised? Like it was so surprising that I had offered help on behalf of the church? We would have words.

  “I’m just picking up a few things, and then I need to head out.”

  He held up his hands. “Don’t let me keep you. I just…” he stared at me, fully facing me as if preparing for a speech. “That was the kindest thing I remember anyone ever doing for me. And I truly appreciate it. The cops brought me in for questions, but I was sure to tell them our story,” he said, winking. “Please let me know if you ever need anything else. I’m in your debt.”

  I shook my head. “Treating a stranger like a human isn’t an act of a saint, Arthur.”

  His eyes seemed to twinkle. “Maybe these days it is…” Then he laughed at himself. “Listen to me babble on. Just know that I’m here if you need anything. Father David gave me a job. I watch over the courtyard to keep out ruffians!” he said grandiosely.

  I laughed. “Well, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other, then. I work here, too.”

  His smile stretched from ear-to-ear, making his kind eyes crinkle at the edges. “Perfect.” He looked as if he wanted to say something else, but was debating it in his mind. I waited patiently, letting him decide for himself. He finally did, and opened his mouth. “I feel better around you, Callie. Please don’t take that the wrong way, but I feel young again when I see you. Maybe it’s just the kindness you showed me, but I feel as if I’ve been given a second chance. I won’t let you down.” He crossed his heart awkwardly. “Like that, right?”

  I laughed. “Sure, Arthur. I’m not too good at that stuff either. Watch the Sisters. You’ll pick it up easily enough.”

  He bowed formally. “Well, this courtyard isn’t going to watch itself. Go about your business, my lady. I’ll keep your castle safe.” He winked at me playfully, and then turned away, striding up and down the parking lot like a soldier on his rounds.

  I opened the door to find Father David standing there, as if ready to step outside. We blinked at each other, and I placed my fists on my hips. He smirked, but it wasn’t heartfelt. “Callie.”

  “Davey,” I replied coolly.

  He grimaced at that. “Slap any more pastors lately?” he asked deadpan.

  “Ask me again in a few minutes,” I said, smiling.

  He stared down at me, as if debating how best to chastise me, and then his face cracked into a grin. “Alright, fine. Although horribly inappropriate, childish, terrible, and basically every negative description we could come up with, it was also…” he trailed off, thinking.

  “Hilarious?” I offered.

  He snapped his fingers. “That.” He leaned back against the wall, letting me come all the way in, but not before glancing over my shoulder to check on Arthur. He held something behind his back, because I heard it thump into the wall.

  “It was misguided,” I admitted softly, once the door had closed. He didn’t reply, only watched me. “But in my defense, I genuinely believed he had done something horrible. Regarding the murders.”

  “And yet you think you were wrong, now?”

  I nodded after a long pause. “I can’t be sure, but I think everyone is a pawn in this. Whether they know it or not.”

  “We’re all pawns, Callie. That doesn’t excuse actions. We are still accountable for those.”

  I nodded. “I don’t think any of them have it in them, but I know for a fact someone in that church is dirty. But none of that matters now. I have a plan to smoke them out, and that’s where you come in.”

  He didn’t reply to that. “Do you know what made me change my mind? I was so angry with you. Disappointed, horrified,” he waved a hand, as if implying the list could go on for a while. “But I got off the phone with Roland shortly afterwards. I don’t think I have ever heard him laugh like that. Never.” He met my eyes meaningfully. “Whether you buy it or not, Callie, you have a gift.” I began to argue that I had only done what we had all secretly thought about at one point in our minds after seeing that stupid flyer, but he held up a hand to stall me. “Then, wonder of wonders, a disheveled man shows up on my steps, belaboring the virtues of a mysterious white-haired young woman named Callie. How she had treated him like a king, while he was living as a beggar. Then, not only did you offer him kindness, but he will tell anyone about how you blatantly defended him, and attacked those showing disrespect. And then you told him to come to the church. That we would clothe, bathe, and offer him temporary shelter…” he shook his head, romanticizing the entire thing.

  “Listen, Artie has a flare for the dramatic—” I began.

  He again, stopped me. “No. Callie, you’re an uncut diamond. You can be rough, callous, and covered in grit, but every now and then the diamond shines through. You, who repeatedly mock us, show us with your actions that you live closer to our faith than any of us. It’s… inspiring.”

  “I just made an old bear laugh and offered respect to a vagrant.”

  He watched me thoughtfully, as if trying to understand a stranger. “Yet we now have a loyal employee. Even though temporary, I can pretty much guarantee that we’ll have to arrest him to get him out of here, and that he will do the job better than any ten men.”

  I smiled at that. Then I suddenly remembered the time. “What are you doing awake?”

  His face tensed, as if he had forgotten something important. “It seems like tonight is a night for visitors,” he said, handing me an intricately carved wooden box. I stared at it, my heart dropping as I saw Darling & Dear carved across the top. “They spent more time arguing with each other than they did talking to me, but they told me you had ordered it.”

  I didn’t open it, wondering if it was something that David shouldn’t see. He sighed regretfully, no doubt intrigued to learn what such an odd couple would hand deliver to me. He cleared his throat. “I had another odd visitor appear not long a
go. He asked me for… an odd favor.” He searched my face curiously, but I kept mine blank.

  “I hope you helped him.”

  He waved a hand. “Of course. It wasn’t any trouble.”

  “Since you’re in the favor business, would you mind doing one for me?” I asked with a smile.

  “It’s nothing illegal, is it?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. I just need you to make a phone call or two, and then let me know how it goes. Immediately. I’ll text you the details.”

  He finally nodded, but still looked suspicious. “I don’t like the sound of this.”

  “I have Roland’s blessing,” I argued softly.

  He sighed. “Oh, you don’t think Roland told me that bit. I’m pretty sure it was the entire point of his call. Not to let me know he was okay and alive, but that I needed to stand behind you as I would him.” He tapped his lips thoughtfully. “You know, for someone who claims not to be a Shepherd, you’re doing a pretty good job of it.”

  I shrugged. “Don’t get your hopes up. The night is still young.” I shifted the box in my hands, trying not to dance on my toes in anticipation.

  He chuckled, and then waved me off. After a few steps, he paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Will you be safe, Callie?”

  I glanced at his back, wanting to lie. “None of us are ever safe, Davey. But I’ll say this. The thing that sent you to the hospital a few weeks ago?” I saw his shoulders tighten. He was still recovering from that. Both physically and mentally. Johnathan had attacked him. He slowly turned to face me, cheeks pale. “I’m finishing the job. His sister is in town.”

  Father David shivered, and finally nodded. “I’ll pray for you.”

  “I’d rather you keep an eye on your phone for that text,” I said, winking. “But I’ll take prayer as well.”

  “Keep your eyes on your feet, Callie. They haven’t steered you wrong yet. But the path to hell is paved with good intentions,” he quoted.

  “Don’t worry,” I laughed. “I’ve got new boots.” I wiggled one foot at him, which only seemed to confuse him further. “The Path to Heaven is not an escalator,” I said, smirking at the baffled look on his face. He blinked at me, repeating the words with his lips as if reciting it to memory.

  “That is going in my sermon next week.” And then he was chuckling, walking down the halls.

  I didn’t wait, tearing open the box right there in the hall. The thick smell of leather assaulted me, but it smelled muskier than usual. Not stinky, but more pungent. A card rested neatly atop a folded pile of leather, a message written in elegant cursive.

  Knew this piece was on your mind. Strong choice. Buckle up, it’s going to be a cold one…

  I squealed loudly enough to send a Sister running my way as I took out my gift. She found me clutching the piece of leather, laughing to myself, and with complete understanding, left me alone…

  Chapter 45

  With everything in place, I had chosen to walk to my meeting. One, to loosen up my muscles. Two, because I wanted to conserve my magic. Three, I wanted everyone to see me casually walking through the streets in my swanky new jacket.

  I wore my Darling and Dear boots that climbed up to mid-calf, a pair of black jeans, and a black Wu-Tang Style tee. I wore my Darling and Dear hip-length leather jacket over it all… almost identical to the one I had worn in that other place when I first saw Amira at Chateau Demon. It was complete with straps, buckles, and enough patches of leather to make it look like a quilt, although it wasn’t heavy. I didn’t quite understand how Darling and Dear knew about it, or whether it was the same one I had briefly seen in their shop, but I loved it unconditionally.

  I pondered their note as I walked, but didn’t really understand it. I wondered what innate abilities it had, and why they hadn’t openly told me in their note. Maybe in case someone else opened it before me? I knew it was strong, because the message had emphasized that, and I had tested this by dragging a blade across the back. It hadn’t left a mark.

  I hoped I wouldn’t get a bill in the mail. Then I would have to flee the country or something.

  With each step, I fed my anger, forming it, adding to it, feeding it…

  Until it was a living, white-hot rage. Even if my plan went to hell, I wanted to make a splash tonight, and to do that, I needed to turn into an estrogen bomb – as my mother had always said. The best defense against the ignorance of man. It wasn’t hard for me to do this, because I already felt like a ticking time bomb. All I really did was let down my guard. Where Roland usually cautioned me to be calm and rational, tonight I was doing things my way.

  Calm and rational was what the demon was expecting. How she had gotten this far. Because she had fought the church for a long time, and knew their tactics.

  But she was still standing, which meant that a new tactic was in order.

  A good old-fashioned girl fight. With Hellish hair extensions and Heavenly manicures fighting for the end-all-be-all, no-holds-barred fight of the year. I was going to make this fun. It was a show, and the audience was hushed, waiting with bated breath for the next act.

  Spotting the long-since abandoned bread factory ahead of me, I scanned my surroundings. I didn’t see anyone walking, because it was cold out and almost midnight. It wasn’t a typical party night, either, so the car traffic was nonexistent, even for this almost forgotten part of town.

  I pulled out my phone, and clicked send on the pre-typed text for Father David. Then, holding it in my fist, I approached the meeting point – a large parking lot in the center of the old Kansas City Bread Factory. The building wrapped around the parking lot in a U shape, protecting us from prying eyes. A large crane with a wrecking ball, a dump truck, and a bulldozer were parked on the street near the parking lot, ready for the day they could pound the factory to ashes and replace it with some luxurious coffee joint or apartment complex.

  But all was quiet.

  No slowly-driving cars, no one walking the street, and no lights on in the nearby buildings.

  I focused on my breathing, knowing I was being watched, and not wanting to show my slowly growing anxiety. To be fair, I was also anxious to cut loose. To see how it all played out. This was the best I had been able to come up with, and although not perfect, it definitely had some strong points, and I was hoping to make a small bit of notoriety tonight.

  Whether that was as an epic failure or as an underdog win, was yet to be determined.

  Several abandoned, totaled cars sat in the lot, less than a dozen in all, and most of them sitting on blocks where the local gangs had stolen the rims for a quick turnaround. The windows were bashed in, and a few of the cars had been tagged with graffiti.

  All in all, a charming, middle-American neighborhood.

  I reached the center of the parking lot and waited, glancing down at my phone.

  Midnight. I quickly read the text, and then frowned thoughtfully before pocketing the phone. I focused on my boots, and casually repositioned myself to face a shadowy corner at the junction of two of the buildings ahead. I felt the telltale pinch, and almost laughed.

  “Alright, Amira. I’d hate to die of boredom.”

  Laughter replied from the shadows I was facing. “I thought we were bringing dates,” the familiar voice called out.

  I let anger show on my face, not bothering to hide it. “Something came up,” I growled. Amira laughed delightedly. “But I had a backup ready,” I said coldly. Then, I waited. The silence stretched, but no one stepped forward. Well, that part of the plan just died an agonizing death.

  “Maybe they’re shy…” Amira offered, sounding amused.

  “I don’t need them to take care of Johnathan’s sloppy seconds,” I said, forcing a smile on my face. Oh, she didn’t like that, judging by the hiss from her corner of the ring.

  “Step forward,” she spat, and I readied myself for an all-out war.

  A dark laugh echoed off the walls, but opposite Amira’s location. I spun, hands out, ready for an attack, but simpl
y saw a great big man stepping out from behind a car. Yuri. And he looked positively delighted. His long, greasy hair hung loose, and his wild beard fanned across his chest, punctuated by the two parallel scars that ran from his temple to beneath his beard.

  “I wasn’t sure you would actually show. Imagine my surprise to find out that I’d get an open shot at you after all these games. But no tricks will save you tonight, girl,” Yuri bellowed, shooting glances over my shoulder as if verifying I was alone. “Armor’s Cave is weak. You thought you were so clever bringing them to your side, but that only proves their time is at an end. I’ll burn their Cave to ashes and rebuild the bears into a respectable force.” He stopped a dozen paces away, flexing his fingers in a groping motion. “The best part is that I’m actually getting paid to do this,” he chuckled. “But I would have done it for free. Hell, I was coming here anyway, thanks to her,” he said, pointing towards Amira.

  Well, that confirmed one thing to me. Yuri had been actively working with Amira, promised to be the next alpha bear in exchange for his dutiful work.

  “Horatio? You killed your friend to become an alpha?” I asked. He shrugged his shoulders, a smug look on his face. “I’m sure the other bears will be lining up to join you. Like Ragmussen. He’s a friend of yours, right?” I lifted a hand to my mouth in embarrassment, seeing the flash of anger in his steel-gray eyes. “Oops. Was. Unless you killed him, too?”

  Yuri’s anger changed. Barely. But I saw it. He hadn’t killed Ragmussen. And he wasn’t happy about it, either. “Have to break a few eggs,” he said, full of false bravado.

  “God is dead,” I said. “Was that your idea or the hell-twat’s over there?”

  He tensed, eyes flicking over to where Amira suddenly snarled from the shadows. I heard a faint clinking sound, but dismissed it. “Catchy, right?” he asked me. “Kept you busy. Which was the plan. Can we get a move on? I’d like to collect my payday tonight.”