Page 10

A ngor, OneWorld

With the dawning sun, Dom continued his search for Praevus. He tightened his onyx-tipped wings against his spine to keep the feathers from dragging on the city sidewalks. Stupool was a pit. Industrial waste and fecal matter from Scourges. Probably other sorts of shit littered the ground, too.

With a city map in his head, he began at the vacant warehouse where Praevus had last kept Madeline, exploring street by street, alley by alley. He banged on doors, routed Scourges out of hiding, and interrupted a shit ton of activities as depraved as the ex-Immortals living here.

Of course, not everything in Angor was doom and gloom. Some Scourges worked hard, saw the light, and redeemed themselves. When that happened, they met with Harmony and, in consultation with the OC, their Immortal appearance kicked back in and they returned to Vast, their rehabilitation complete. Though some made it out, most didn’t.

Dom pounded on a door facing the street. No answer. He slammed a shoulder against it until it splintered. He drew air into his nostrils. Terror. “Get the fuck out here now,” he said, “unless you want to taste my blade.” Dom popped his sword from the sheath at his back.

When it swooshed into view, two Blood Leeches crept from behind massive cardboard boxes. “We’re in hiding,” whispered the taller male, large fangs protruding from his gums.

“From whom?”

The same guy answered. “We don’t wanna go to the Fountain of Blood. The fucking poison makes me puke my guts out.”

The punishments in Angor fit the malady. The Leeches drank tainted blood from a fountain, drowned in the Rushing River of Blood, or dodged sharp steel in Blades Forest. Flesh Eaters were boiled in pots of acid or exposed to skin-eating vermin. Mind Rats faced the horrors of Fear Mines and Hallucination Woods. Soul Suckers spent time at the Slough of Despair or on Frustration Mountain. And there were many more Ordeals.

“Sad. But if you do the crime, you do the time. I’m not here to bust your chops about absences. Someone else will have that fun. Have you seen Praevus?” Dom wasn’t interested in the Ordeal dodgers.

The shorter male shook his head while the talker tapped an ear. “Rumor tells me he got a sweet deal.”

Dom was about to exit the same way he’d entered, but the shout-out pulled him back. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t know much. Just talk around Angor. Rumor has it he earned a new place to live and an absence from the Ordeals. You know. Sweet deal.”

The quiet Scourge pursed his lips and nodded.

“Gotcha. So where is Praevus’s new palatial estate?”

Dom left with an addy for the Mind Rat’s digs. Turning right at the corner, he stared up at a building. His gaze crawled from ground level to the eighth story. The place was cleaner than its surroundings. Though the white stone was grayed from smog, it wasn’t crumbling.

Nice .

Applying muscle, Dom broke through the outside door. Most Scourges didn’t live in locked buildings. What’s next? A security desk?

Nope .

Empty lobby. Dom’s boots echoed as he strode across the floor to an elevator. He punched a button. Damn thing worked. The door swooshed open, and he stepped inside, riding it to the fifth floor, where he exited into a red-carpeted hallway.

Dom shook his head. None of this made sense. Only trustees earned these lodgings. Praevus didn’t fit the bill.

After a pause in front of the correct apartment, Dom kicked in the door. He flicked on a light switch. The view made him puzzle his chin.

He smelled fresh paint and newly laid carpet. The furniture in the large great room wasn’t new, but it was in good shape and clean. Off to the left was a kitchen with shiny stainless-steel appliances. Nothing was measuring up to reality as Dom knew it.

Off the kitchen was a single bedroom. It had been tossed. The closet door hung wide. Discarded clothes littered the floor and bed. The dresser drawers had been pulled out and emptied. He glanced into the adjoining bathroom. Same treatment.

Praevus had boogied. Dom investigated but turned up nothing useful. So far, all he had was a shitload of questions, a vacated too-nice apartment, and no answers. He searched for signs of a female companion. None.

Dom was used to capturing Immortals-turned-Scourges or extincting the hell out of them. Investigating a crime was not his thing. It made his fucking head hurt.

He exited the same way he had entered the building, this time taking the stairs. Out on the street again, he prowled the alleys, checking behind closed doors for any sign of Praevus.

Near a toppled trash bin, he kicked at a bundle on the ground, obviously a Scourge who hadn’t secured a home yet. Meant he was a newbie, lazy, or stupid. Dom’s boot connected, but the body felt strange. The black-winged assassin bent forward, pulling back a raggedy, soiled blanket. He toed the guy over.

What the fuck?

It was Ike. Their informant had been extincted.

Finding a Scourge under a blanket on the street or in an alley was not unusual. Finding a dead one was ... what? Impossible.

Immortals didn’t just croak. They had to be extincted. And only a few could do that job. Him. His Feard brothers. Michael. The OneCreator. Short list.

Dom crouched beside what had been their informant. When he touched an arm, it ashed. Yep . The body was nothing more than a husk. Any good wind through the alley would turn the remains to dust. Immortals and Scourges disintegrated at different rates. He never knew who would instantly poof and who would slowly crumble. This one suffered a slow death.

Join me now. Dom broadcast his message to the other winged assassins, his thoughts a loud GPS beacon.

It didn’t take long before Ohngel, his wings blazing fire, landed with his crazy witch riding her gryphon. Ely came next. And finally, Remi arrived, his bronze-spiked wings pounding against the air as his feet touched the ground.

Ohngel glanced at the remains of the body first, lines forming above the bridge of his nose when he squeezed his brows together. “Get a little carried away, Dominion?”

Dom glared.

Ely’s expression remained disinterested. “Shouldn’t we have talked about this before you took it on yourself to off him?”

“I didn’t do it.” Dom studied each of his brothers for a sign of deception.

Ely shook his head. “Not me. I’m a good do-bee.”

Since Remi hadn’t answered yet, all gazes tennis-balled to him. “Don’t look at me. I got no reason to waste the Scourge.” He winked at Indigo, who flashed a grin.

Apparently, Ohngel didn’t appreciate Remi flirting with his mate. He glared, a growl rumbling from his chest, before he asked, “Did the OneCreator put out a hit on the asshole?”

“None I’ve heard of.” Remi avoided the snarly fire-winged assassin’s displeasure by leaning over the partially ashed body.

Ohngel’s quirky witch clapped her hands. “A mystery. I love a good mystery.” She reached into a pocket, extracting business cards. She passed them around to everyone except her mate. “I’m for hire.”

Indigo tapped on the one in Dom’s grasp, pointing out her description. Reader of the river, the incomparable finder of lost objects, witch extraordinaire, sister of Alarik, aunt of Rein, daughter of Tor and Adriana, madwoman, quirky bitch ... “Notice, I’ve added mate of Roark, and crime solver .”

Ohngel grinned, rolling his eyes while he looped an arm over her shoulder.

After he shook his head, Dom pocketed the card.

Joining Remi, Ely studied the body. “Michael may have accepted an extinction order.”

Dom agreed. “It has to have been Bright Boy.” He nodded at Indigo, who had come up with the perfect handle for the asshole Immortal Michael whose skin often radiated with light. “But why would the OneCreator issue a command to take out Ike, the male who turned us on to Praevus’s activities? He certainly didn’t mention it in my meeting.”

All heads shook.

Indigo asked, “Are you sure you know everyone capable of extincting Immortals.”

Gazes ping-ponged around the group.

“Hmm. Thought we did,” grunted Ohngel.

Dom went on to share his intel from the two Leeches, telling everyone that Praevus’s deal had not only exempted him from the Ordeals but had earned him better housing.

With the same division of labor, the Feard and the witch took off to find Praevus or info on whatever the fuck was happening.

Before Dom continued his search through Stupool’s streets, he pathed the OC. Ike, our informant, is dead. He waited for the bomb to explode.

What do you mean dead?

Extincted. Ashed, Dom explained.

May I assume it was not you?

Yep. Did you order it?

I did not. Nor did I perform the deed myself. That leaves Michael, Ohngel, Ely, or Remi.

Not the Feard.

After a pause, the OC pathed, Check out Lucian.

Lucian? Him again? Dom wondered if he could believe the OC. The male was enigmatic at best. A downright deceiver at worst. He wouldn’t put it past him to be playing a game, a court diversion. Lay a mystery at the feet of the Feard. Scatter puzzle pieces, such as an extincted Scourge. Watch his assassins hustle to find an answer. Very entertaining for the court. On the other hand, he doubted the OC would kidnap a human as part of the game. He had always been protective of the weak species, guarding their independence and self-determination. Also, the guy seemed surprised by the news of Ike’s extinction.

****

P raevus watched the winged assassins from a rooftop. What he saw was not good. Dom, Ely, Remi, Ohngel and some female riding a winged beast. Though they were targeting him, that’s not what caught his attention. Somebody had extincted Ike.

He was certain Dom hadn’t done the deed because Praevus had been here when the body was found. The others who landed after the onyx-winged assassin claimed innocence. Somebody else had offed Ike. Not that Praevus cared. Served the guy right for ratting him out. But who, if not the Feard? And who had his back and showed it by extincting the snitch for his betrayal? Couldn’t be Serita. No . She was too busy regenerating since he had taken the human from her.

Praevus flattened himself to the roof when Ely and Remi took to the skies. With his dark clothes and wings pulled over him like a blanket, they wouldn’t spot him.

He believed what he’d overheard. None of the Feard had done the deed. Hence, Praevus concluded that Serita’s fellow rebels were powerful. Did he want to be aligned with Immortals and Scourges who had access to such abilities? While he thought he was spectacular, he harbored no belief he ran in those circles. No . Friends like that were to be feared, not joined.

Praevus had agreed to be Serita’s go-to guy, but by stealing Madeline from her, he was in deep shit. And he had no desire to stick around waiting for an assassin’s blade. He believed in saving his own skin above all else.

He swallowed, his throat dry, gritty. Snapping out his leathery wings, he jumped off the backside of the roof and soared into the air.

He flew for hours, thinking. Serita had approached him with a deal. I and my compatriot need someone to run errands. You can skip your punishments. You’ll get a plush apartment. Only an idiot would pass on the deal. He was no idiot. For the perks he only had to carry messages between certain Scourges or trustees. Even trustees in Angor were unable to use telepathy and few had access to cellphones.

Then shit turned to dung. Praevus saw Madeline and his urges took hold. Now, the winged assassins were on his tail, thanks to Ike, who was an empty, dry shell about to be scattered in a stiff breeze.

Had Serita been in cahoots with beings so dangerous they could extinct an Immortal? Impossible. Only an elite few had that skill.

Yeah. Yeah. He’d already told himself that.

He pounded his head.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Praevus was between two oncoming hurricanes barreling toward him at high speed. He had one goal. To save his neck. If the Feard found him, and they would, he’d end up like Ike, nothing more than a husk lying in some dirty street under a blanket.

He hadn’t taken the deal offered by Serita to end up extincted. He’d just wanted a reprieve from punishment. The new apartment was a bonus. He figured he’d have fun for a while before he was hauled back to do penance at the Ordeals.

Then he’d screwed up by taking the female.

His wings tired and his thoughts muddled, Praevus landed on a remote mountain where he extracted a cell phone from his pocket. Serita had given it to him for emergencies. This fit the bill. He had two numbers stored. Serita’s and her co-conspirator’s, a number he was to call only in an emergency. He hit it now. “What the fuck have you gotten me into?” he asked.

The accomplice sighed. “Who is this?”

“Praevus.”

“Where is Serita? I can’t reach her?”

“I don’t know.” What story could he use? “She seemed nervous. Asked me to take the human. I did. Now I’ve got assassins breathing up my ass.”

A long pause had Praevus twitchy.

“Explain.” The voice was a low grumble.

“I had to change locations with the female since the Scourge Ike sicced the Feard onto me.”

“Yeah. Yeah. I know.” Praevus heard music fade and a door snick shut. Must be on the speaker’s end.

“How’d you find out?” The Mind Rat’s heart pounded against his ribs.

“Ely’s making the rounds. The one with ice in his veins. He’s looking for you.”

“They’re all mean fuckers. Is he on to you?” Praevus’s voice rose in proportion to his fear.

Papers were shuffled around as if the speaker were in an office at a desk. “Nah. When did you last see Serita?”

Praevus scratched his head. “A few days ago. That’s when she gave me the human for safekeeping. Anyway, Dom’s scouring the city.”

The silence from the other end of the conversation had his hand shaking. Did the conspirator believe Praevus? Surely he did.

After a while, the conspirator said, “Run to Serita’s cabin. It’s crappy, but it has four walls, a door, and a bed. Best of all, I have allies who will take to the air to guard its whereabouts. Take the human with you. You haven’t harmed her, have you?”

Praevus already knew about the isolated place because that’s where he took Madeline from Serita. “I’m heading there now, but the human’s not with me. I ditched her to save my own skin. And, of course, yours. The Feard would never stop looking for her. So, I turned her loose as a distraction. If they find her, they’ll be satisfied for a while.”

The speaker paused, a growl floating through the phone. “That’s not good. We need her. But I can arrange to snatch her later.” The conspirator suddenly sounded dangerous. Cold. “Has she transitioned?”

“Has she what?”

“Never mind. Who has her?”

“I don’t know.”

Praevus thought on better things. Madeline’s mind. Though he hadn’t reached the core because of her impressive shields, he had done enough. And, best of all, he had set triggers. Yes . His coup de grace . His creme de la creme of skills. Only a handful of Mind Rats could compete with him. “Jokes on them,” he said, hoping one of the Feard located the human.

“What do you mean?”

“The female will surprise whoever has her.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“Nothing. It’s time to run. You’d be wise to do the same. Ike’s dead. Whoever is setting up this shit is capable of extinction. Is it because he squealed on me?”

The speaker met Praevus’s question with another long silence. “I don’t know. The leaders of the rebellion are powerful.”

“I’m not gonna waste my time figuring everything out. Can you get me out of Angor?”

The speaker laughed. “I can’t even get myself out of this cesspool.”

Praevus clutched his chest, his breath hitching. “Okay. I’ll take care of myself and go to the cabin.”

“Destroy the phone once you disconnect.” The speaker sounded a bit more nervous, his voice quivering, unsure. “If you are captured and you mention my name, Ike’s fate will await you.”

Praevus had no intention of getting rid of the cellphone. It was his only link to the conspirator. Already planning to fly to the Razor Mountains, he disconnected, flicking out his leathery wings, not as handsome as the ones he’d had when he was an Immortal. With a powerful downward stroke, he rose from the ground.

For a short time in Vast before his capture, he had enjoyed his Mind Rat gift, tunneling into the minds of ignorant Immortals. Getting inside their brains, he had twisted them to suit his desires. Praevus had been good at disguising his malady until he took things too far, opening himself for discovery.

Scourges developed their physical changes at different rates. Some slowly. Some faster. Praevus’s eyes did not turn pure white until late in his transition from Immortal to Rat.

Thus, it was easy for him to fool the OneCreator’s court favorite, Elise. She was a buxom blonde, not dissimilar from the human he’d had in his warehouse. Flaunting her beauty in front of him, she teased until he had no choice. He caught the minor goddess who was so proud of her status. Then he got to work. It was glorious to delve into her mind. So pure. So innocent. So simple. He wound his way through her brain matter. A twist here. A suggestion there.

Though delicious, Elise was weak. Nothing like the human female who was surprisingly strong-willed. The goddess’s brain had been easy to invade. No blocked access. No fallen rock in the tunnels. No surprises.

Of course, Praevus deserved none of the ill-treatment that had followed his fun with Elise. His only crime had been to assuage his urges.

Then after centuries of punishment in Angor, he had been offered a way out. He’d grabbed it, also gaining new lodgings and time away from the silly Ordeals. It had been sweet. Praevus just wasn’t lucky.

And once again his uncontrollable urges had gotten him in trouble.