No sound. No natural fading. Just instant disappearance, leaving no residue.
“I also saw it,” a voice inside my head told me. I’d think I was mad then, but the voice was Candace’s. My shock at the figure must have been so great that my soul-sister had seen cause to peer through my eye.
I advanced into the alley as I heard running behind me. Pranish, Senegal and a few Crusaders stopped just behind me.
“Kat!” Pranish exclaimed, panting. “What is it? Why were you running?”
I didn’t answer immediately. I crouched down at the point the figure had taken off and touched the ground. Nothing. Just gravel. Not even tracks. Much less residue of golden flames.
I stood up and sighed.
“A false alarm. Thought I saw something. A golden light. Perhaps, a figure. But it’s gone now.”
Pranish squinted and rubbed his chin.
“Maybe a fae. Or perhaps some by-product of a nearby ritual. Golden, you say?”
I nodded.
“That’s seldom bad, fortunately. Probably some left-overs from a purification ritual.”
I nodded, only half hearing him. He caught my shoulder. He looked concerned.
“Are you okay?”
“I am,” I lied, just as my phone buzzed.
I peered at the screen. Brett.
“Got beers and chocolate for tonight. No matter what they say. See you there! Love you.”
I didn’t have the energy to reply. But it did fill me with a sense of warmth. The strength to reply to Pranish.
“I’m fine,” I repeated. “I’ve got dinner tonight.”
“I can drive you home,” Pranish offered, still frowning, peering at me with those concerned, discerning eyes.
“I can walk. It’s just a street away.”
Pranish nodded and let me pass. I felt the stares of the Crusaders on my back until Pranish broke them up and got them moving again. Thank Athena for friends!
I shambled back to the apartment, finally climbing the steps and making a mental note to insist that the elevator get repaired soon.
Alex and Treth both stood next to each other, both equally distressed and irritated as I entered my apartment.
Alex meowed, accusingly.
Treth tapped his foot.
“I’m not a cat-sitter.”
“I know, Treth. Sorry.”
Whatever sort of exhaustion was illustrated on my face, it was enough that Treth forgot about his irritation.
“What was it?” he asked.
“I…I don’t know. A figure. A golden, flaming figure. But it disappeared as I got there.”
“Do you…”
“Think I’m hallucinating? Perhaps. But one can’t be sure. An illusion could be Lucifer himself for all I know. And with all that’s going on, I need to be on the look-out.”
Even if it drains everything out of me.
I looked at the time as I realised the sun was rapidly setting.
Dinner was soon. And I had to get dressed. Hopefully, the golden figure was the last of the oddities for tonight.
Chapter 13.
Dinner
Alex snoozed on my passenger seat as we drove to Cindy’s house. Last year, it had been decimated by a cyclops sent by Darius. But the Crusaders paid well, not to mention Heiligeslicht. Cindy was a sought-after purifier and she had more than enough saved up to rebuild and refurbish her old house until it was more than good as new.
“I don’t know why he gets to sit up front,” Treth exclaimed, sounding petulant. Alex snored in response.
“He’s a cat. Cats always get preference. And, anyway, you don’t even need to sit,” I replied, watching Treth in my rear-view mirror. He was sitting in the backseat, crossing his arms like an upset toddler.
“I spent years without a body. Now that I can sit, I want to!”
“Well, Alex also wants to sit. And he wants to sit up front. Don’t you, boy?”
Alex looked up at me and meowed. It was almost as if he understood me.
Cindy’s house was quite a bit away from the Crusader’s HQ. A healthy distance. It helped put a barrier between work and sleep. Brett and I didn’t feel that necessary for our first apartment, but we both knew that, in the future, we would want the obligatory house in the suburbs. Guy and Cindy were older than us both, even with Brett being my senior. They deserved to have an adult life with a lawn.
I pulled into Cindy’s street, getting a slight sense of pleasant de je vu. I’d lived here for a while. And, even with all that had happened, I had happy times.
Cindy’s new home looked a lot like the old. But, I knew that with Guy living there now, there would have been hidden security features throughout the building. I doubted a cyclops could crush it so easily now. And it would definitely give a vampire a shock. Possibly, literally.
Brett’s black van, emblazoned with the Crusader logo, was parked outside. In its usual spot. That also gave me a sense of sentimentality. And excitement. I had seen Brett earlier today, but it seemed a lifetime ago. People could say I was in love! Soppy people, that is. But I’m tough. Tough as troll hide. Maybe.
It wasn’t long after I’d opened my own door that Alex clambered over me and bolted to Cindy’s front door.
“Excited little monster,” Treth commented. He was still bitter about having to sit in the back.
I joined my cat at the door and rang the bell.
“Who is it?” a sing-song voice sounded over the intercom.
“It’s me, Duer. Let me in.”
“I don’ know anyone named Maddy. Be gone with ye!” the pixie responded.
“I didn’t say my name.”
There was a pause. And then the door opened. Alex rushed in, to be met with a chorus of greetings from the pixies, who were fluttering around the house carrying all manner of knick-knacks and foodstuffs. It seems they were having their own party.
“Hi Duer.” I smiled. My pixie friend looked at me with a feigned look of irritation, but he glowed a brilliant gold, just before charging me and embracing my chest. I patted him on the back.
“Missed you too, little guy.”
“Oi! Who ye calling little?” He puffed out his cheeks. “Ye’re the giant. I’m normal sized.”
I laughed and entered, just as Cindy rounded the corner, wearing an apron with a picture of a panda on the front. The panda was wearing the same apron, causing an infinite loop.
My friend beamed. A welcome expression from the one she’d had over the last few days.
“Kat!” she exclaimed, and we hugged.
She noticed the packet in my hand.
“Wine? You shouldn’t have. White and red? Ooh, and mint chocolate!”
It seemed I was forgiven for disobeying her orders.
Alex was purring up a storm, as he rolled around on the floor. A flock of pixies were romping on his fur and playing with his paws.
“I haven’t seen him with the pixies recently! They all seem to be getting along,” I commented.
“Aye,” Duer replied, fluttering by my ear. “He’s our war-cat. Part of the kinth.”
“What?”
Duer ignored me and joined Brivvy, hand-in-hand, as they joined in the game with Alex.
I turned to Cindy for explanation. She shrugged.
Pixies were a mystery not worth contemplating. As long as they and my cat were getting along.
Cindy ushered me into the lounge, full of new furniture and a restocked bookshelf, where Brett sat with Themba and Guy watching MagiSoccer. It was just like Pre-Cataclysm soccer, but all the players had a form of non-lethal magic that they could use to augment their playing. I didn’t see the point. Telekeneticists dominated the field every time.
I immediately lost interest in the game. Rather, I noted that this was the first time in a long time that I’d seen all three men out of their tactical gear. Guy wore a casual t-shirt and jeans. Themba looked to be in his pyjamas. And Brett, my beloved Brett, was wearing a white-dress shirt and black suit pants.
Oh, my heart! I should get him to dress formally more often.
Brett turned at my approach and his smile shone. I smiled back as he rose to greet me with a hug and kiss. I followed this up by hugging Guy and Themba.
“How’d the hunt go?” I asked.
“Which?” Brett asked.
“Themba joined us against some ghouls,” Guy offered, indicating his cousin.
“That’s great! You ready to join the Crusaders?”
Themba smiled, just a bit, but his thousand-yard stare returned. He had demons. Or, more aptly, vampires. It would take a long time for him to recover. But every small step was good.
Cindy cleared her throat.
“Mr Mgebe, darling. I need some help setting the table.”
“We can help!” I offered.
“No, no!” Cindy insisted. “You’re guests. Dinner will be ready shortly. Relax! Rifts knows you need it.”
Guy stood to follow Cindy, but hesitated, glancing towards his cousin and Brett. Brett nodded.
It must be hard for Guy. And Cindy. I should see if there’s any way I could help.
I sat down on the couch next to Brett, in front of the game. Scotland had just scored a goal against Scandinavia. I wondered if Thor was watching. I suspected soccer may be too dull for him.
Themba didn’t say a word. His eyes were glued to the screen. But I doubted he was paying attention.
Brett put his arm around my shoulders. I barely noticed. It looked like I was watching, but there was something else on my mind.
The golden figure. Who was it? What was it?
Pranish said it was nothing to worry about. But worrying was my job.
“You’re tense,” Brett said, furrowing his brow. “What’s up?”
I sighed, and let myself snuggle into his shoulder.
“Sorry. Just…saw something before I left. Pranish says it’s probably nothing.”
“Pranish isn’t always right. What was it?”
“Probably some illusion or purification magic residue. Just a golden figure by the HQ. Flew down into the alley and then disappeared.”
“Did…” Brett indicated to the empty seat, where Treth was now invisibly sitting. “He see it.”
I nodded. “From afar. And, so did Candace.”
Brett scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“Pranish says gold magic is seldom anything to worry about,” I insisted. “Probably just a fae.”
“Fae aren’t always harmless. Present company excluded.”
“Oi! I could tear ye limbs off one by one!” a pixie squeaked in response.
We ignored the little fae and he finally decided to buzz away to join his kinth and their feast. I hoped Alex was having a nice time with them.
Finally, Brett looked up.
“I’ll keep a look out,” he said. “It may be nothing, but it’s always safer to presume it’s something.”
That was the Corps talking. Brett had long since come to terms with the harshest parts of his participation in the Extermination Corps, but it still lived inside of him. I just hoped it wasn’t eating him up inside.
I smiled in thanks, hiding my concern, and kissed him. Just as I heard Cindy shout.
“Dinner is served!”
Brett and I stood, and I walked to the dining room, stopping only as I realised that Brett was standing next to the still seated Themba.
Neither of them was speaking. No movement. But I could guess the unspoken conversation.
“Are you coming to join us?” Brett was asking, symbolised by his open stance, giving Themba room to stand up and pass him.
“No,” Themba would reply. Simply.
“It would mean a lot to Cindy,” Brett would then continue. “And your cousin.”
Themba would pause. And then…
He stood up, groggy. Brett patted him on the back, and we all proceeded to the dining room. Just outside the threshold of the lounge, we were immediately greeted by the delectable smell of curry. The scent was so entrancing that I could feel cartoonish hands grasping towards me, leading me by the nose to the dining room.
Cindy and Guy stood behind their newly purchased, antique dining room table. And atop it was a pot of still bubbling, delicious smelling lamb curry.
“Come, come, sit!” Cindy gestured to seats around the table.
“It smells amazing, Cins!” I exclaimed, as I took a seat next to Brett. Themba sat at the head of the table.
Guy indicated a bottle of white wine. I smiled and offered my glass. Tonight was a night to let loose after all! I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually gotten good and drunk.
Cindy dished up for all of us but still didn’t sit.
“Start, please!” she insisted.
Not one to deny the host, I dug in and was immediately greeted by a surge of flavour. It was mild. Not too spicy at all. Just right. A hearty, soulful meal.
“It is delicious!”
“I didn’t know you could cook, Cins!” Brett stated, almost disbelieving.
“Cindy is an amazing chef!” Guy replied, voice animated. “You should taste her steak!”
Brett grimaced. “You like your steak burnt to a crisp.”
“I need the devil cooked out of it. And not a stitch of blood. I’m no vamp.”
Themba nodded his assent. He had a similar view.
Brett laughed and took another bite.
“But guys,” I continued. “Why aren’t you sitting down?”
I realised that Cindy was blushing. Guy reached over to her and grabbed her hand. They shared a long, tender look. That seemed to give her the strength she needed.
“Kat, Brett…Themba…Guy and I have an announcement to make.”
Brett looked up from his food. His hand grew tighter on his beer glass. Tense.
Cindy shifted her feet, shyly. A level of shyness I’d never seen from the Purifier-Paladin before. Guy’s hand tightened on hers.
“We’re getting married,” he said, in his usual professional tone, but his smile said it all.
I practically squealed in excitement, standing up so fast that I almost knocked over my chair. I went to hug my friends, blurting out my congratulations.
Cindy showed me the ring. It was a silver band. Practical and pretty!
I was so excited, that it took me some time to notice that Brett was still sitting. His eyes were moist. But he was smiling. And I knew him well enough that I knew the smile was genuine.
He raised his glass.
“A toast!” he announced. “To the best purifier in the world, and my brother!”
I lifted my glass too.
“I’m so happy for you. Both of you!” I whispered, before taking the obligatory sip.
Finally, Cindy and Guy joined us at the table, and we sat down to enjoy the meal, chatting about how Guy had proposed while overlooking the sea, and had even asked Cindy’s Heiligeslicht comrades, the closest thing she had to parents, for permission. Old fashioned, and immensely sweet.
Brett was still tearful. I squeezed his hand, and he smiled through the tears. Even Themba spoke up, congratulating the two.
“I’m not sure which of you doesn’t deserve the other,” he said, with a hint of the old wit he must have had before his trauma.
“So, are you going to be Mrs Mgebe, or Mr Giles?” I asked.
“Both,” Cindy replied, turning to Guy.
He shrugged. “I can’t be the one to remove the Giles name. It’s got power.”
“But I also wanted his name,” Cindy said. “So, best of both worlds.”
“Cindy Giles-Mgebe. Guy Giles-Mgebe.” I tested both names on my tongue. It worked.
“Another toast!” Brett announced, raising his now empty beer glass. “To the Giles-Mgebes!”
Guy stood to get Brett more beer. It was unlucky to toast with an empty glass, after all. I poured some more wine into mine.
Just as I felt and heard a vibration in my pocket. A call.
Brett heard it. Was a loud buzz.
“Whatever it is, the others can handle it,” Brett explained, his smile growing tight for a moment. He didn’t want anything to ruin this night.
I put my hand in my pocket and, without checking the screen, cancelled the call. Nothing was going to ruin Cindy and Guy’s evening.
That’s what I thought. Before the phone rang again, followed by everyone’s cell phones. Even the landline rang. All in unison, letting out a cacophony of vibrations and intermingling ringtones.
A chill went up my spine. A Crusader ABP was bad enough. But that would only trigger the cell phones. Not the landline…
Guy no longer smiled. He gently put down the beer bottle he had just retrieved and answered his cell phone. All the others stopped ringing at once.
He brought the phone to his ear and said nothing.
Someone on the other end spoke. He handed the phone to me.
Tentatively, as an angry Brett watched, I accepted the phone.
“Kat Drummond,” a voice like cold acid spoke into my ear.
Fear and rage wrestled in my heart. I’d heard this voice before. This morning. But I had to be sure…
“Who is this?”
“I am your reckoning, Kat Drummond. The new lord of Hope City. The one who will conquer your world. I am the Necrolord. And I have your friends…”
Chapter 14.
Hostage
Oh, Athena! No! Henri and Busani? It couldn’t be!
“The sniper and the drunk. Yes,” the Necro Lord continued, chuckling. It was as if he had read my mind. “Stumbled right into my lair. You trained your men well, Last Light. But, not well enough. It is not enough for a cat to find the rat, if they don’t have the claws to slay it.”
“What do you want?” I spat again, trying to hide the fear in my voice. But there was still a faint shiver.
“Just a meeting. I just want to make the acquaintance of the Last Light of Hope City.”
I hesitated. But, did I have a choice? I couldn’t leave my men behind. Just after I’d given them this job…
“Where?” I asked, simply and reluctantly.
“The place you slew the Marshal. Athlone Stadium.”
“Let me guess. Alone?”
Cursed Earth (Kat Drummond Book 12) Page 12