Stone Cold NV: World of Sin, Book 1

by J. A. X. Mikesell

“What are you playing at?” Cory asked.

  “You will not hurt him.” Az said hotly. “I don’t care what you want. You’ll have to deal with me.”

  “I don’t want you. You could only hold the hammer. I have other automatons that can hold my things. I want him.” Hephaestus said, pointing at me.

  “Wait… You want an automaton modeled after me?” I asked. “Can’t you just make them yourself?”

  The large man laughed so hard that bits of stone were falling from the ceiling.

  “Of course I can make them.” He said. “It’s what I do. But all of my machines are modeled after creatures that have impressed me. I can mold the parts together and make it look like you. But you must inhabit the space and wear a special armlet while I do.”

  “He’s coming with us.” Az said. “You’ll have to have some other form of payment. We need him.”

  “I need his likeness in order to make the machine correctly.” Hephaestus said.

  “Then take his picture, you don’t need him here.” Cory said hotly.

  “Picture?” The God said. “Like a painting? I don’t have time for that. Those things take forever to dry and I want a working model now.”

  “Almost like a painting. But instant.” Az said, pulling out his phone and turning it on. “Like this one. Right before we left camp, we took this picture. That was just a few days ago, so there hasn’t been any change to him.”

  “A painting within a machine?” Hephaestus said, holding the phone and looking at it from different angles. “How did you do this?”

  “We don’t have time to explain technology.” Cory said, irritated. “Send one of your machines with us to get a copy of it and we will send it back with the picture so you can have his likeness. If Grimby is alright with it, of course.”

  I looked from Cory and Az to the hopeful look in the crazy gods' eyes.

  “As long as I don’t have to stay here, and I don’t get hurt in any way.” I replied slowly.

  “If I have your painting… Sorry, picture, then the only thing you will need to do is wear the armlet. It will read your traits, personality, and give strength to my creation. You will not need to be here for that.” Hephaestus said.

  “Then I agree.” I said. “If I live my life the way I choose to outside of this, and the machine is only my likeness and exhibits my traits, then I will accept that payment.”

  “Perfect! Charles, bring me the armlet. Don’t dawdle either, I just fixed your legs.” He turned back to us. “Once we get this on, you can be on your way. When I finish making the machine, the armlet will simply return to me on its own… There we go. Perfect fit. Now run along. I have work to do. Charles will come with you to retrieve the picture, how fitting that I have the likeness of the original virtue to get the image for his descendant, the new virtue.”

  I took a breath to ask what he meant about the descendant of Charles, but Hephaestus turned his back on us and picked up his hammer. Grabbing a glowing rod from the lava pit beside him, he started hammering away. We turned and went back to the small landing on the other side of the footbridge and through the portal Chris had opened up. The automaton of Charles moving slowly behind us.

  Cory/Levi

  We got back to the hotel room, and Az went to his room to get the raccoon and a copy of the picture for the machine Charles to take back to Hephaestus. Bringing them down, he set the cage with the hissing animal on the table in the sitting area. He handed the picture to Charles before the machine burst into a cloud of dust and flew out the window. Then Az pulled out the vial of potion and uncorked it, bending down he started making soothing sounds to try and get the raccoon to calm down, after a few minutes Pappy suggested we get a stun gun or something to knock it out with.

  “Wait.” I said, “I’ll bet I can confuse it enough that it won’t fight.”

  I transformed into the copy of the raccoon and walked over to the cage, ignoring the gasp from Grimby, getting in full view from the front. The raccoon stops hissing and just stares at me for a second before trying to smell me. I waved my paw at Az and pointed at the vial, then waited for him to give it to me. Trying to coax him into taking it and drinking it on its own.

  After a few attempts of pantomiming drinking it, the raccoon reached hesitantly through the bars of the cage and took the vial from me and swallowed everything at once. It dropped the vial, burped and shuddered, then twisted around a couple of times before laying down and falling asleep. After it fell asleep, it flashed a sickly green and shuddered again.

  “Well, that was easier than I expected.” I said as I transformed back. “What’s the next step, Az?”

  Az pulled the book out from his bag and read out loud. “Once you have given the potion to the Anima, you must find a jewel that is the same color as the sins aura. Give both the Anima and the jewel to the demon prince married to the sin and they in turn will give it to the sin as a gift.”

  “How in a hag’s chance are we supposed to do that?” I asked. “We’d have to get close to her in order to find out the color of her aura.”

  “Not necessarily Cory.” Pappy said. “Our Madgie mist is a reflection of our auras, since her magic bullets of envy are essentially her Madgie mist, her aura is a deep green. I’d suggest an emerald.”

  “I can go find an emerald while you come up with a plan on how to get them to Leviathan.” Kalama said from the back of a chair. “I’ll be able to find one quicker.”

  “That would be perfect, thank you Kalama.” I said. “We should have a plan ready by the time you get back. I’ll open the doors for you.”

  Walking over to her, I held out my arm so she could perch there and then went to the doors to the balcony. Opening them, I stepped out and watched Kalama fly off, curving around the edge of the building before I went back in and settled on the couch again.

  “Ok, so what do you think would be the best way to do this?” I asked.

  “We could find a way to gas the place up. Then when everyone falls asleep from it, we can tie Leviathan up and tell him he’s going to take them to Araminta.” Az said.

  “We’re going to force a demon prince into doing something for us?” I asked him, eyebrow raised. “Don’t you think he’d get just a little too suspicious with that?”

  “You’re right. That plan would never work.” Az replied. “Hell, it wouldn’t even work for us.”

  We sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to think of different ways that we could get Leviathan to take the Anima and the jewel. I stared at the raccoon, not really seeing it while trying to think. The animal shifted slightly, letting a leg pop out to the side in an odd angle, almost looking like it was broken. I sat up straighter, thinking of something.

  “I know! The raccoon is still passed out right now, and look at how it’s laying.” I said, pointing into the cage. “It almost looks like it got hit by a car or something. We can take it there and find a way to speak with Leviathan and convince him to take it.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Az said, then scrunched up his face in thought. “But how would we convince him to take it if he thinks it’s hurt?”

  “We give him the jewel as payment. Claiming that we already have something like it at home and we fake like we don’t know it’s a real jewel. If he’s anything like Araminta, he’ll want to take it.” I said.

  “That could work.” Pappy said, rubbing his chin. “Good thinking, Cory.

  I turned my head at the fluttering of wings at the balcony where Kalama just flew in. A fist-sized emerald jewel held in her claws.

  “That’s gorgeous, Kalama. Where did you get it?” I asked her.

  “I flew over to Brazil.” She said, landing on the back of the chair again after she dropped the jewel in my hand. “I was going to offer them some tears or a few feathers for it, but I guess there was a turf war or something going on. A lot of dead bodies just laying there, and a mound of jewels. I don’t think they’ll miss it.”

  “Oh no.” Pappy said. “I should call the Council
members for that area and let them know.”

  He stepped out the door with his phone to his ear. Az picked up the book and vial that had held the potion and put them back in his bag, then looked at me.

  “I guess now’s as good a time as any to go. Want to grab the raccoon?” He asked.

  “Do you think it’s still passed out?” I asked.

  “I’ll get him.” Grimby said. “He won’t be able to scratch or bite me very well.”

  He bent down and opened the cage, pulling the raccoon out and cradling him gently in his arms. I picked up the jewel from the coffee table and put it in my purse, following him and Az to the door.

  ◆◆◆

  A knock at the door made Levi look up from his phone, a smile fading as he stood up. He opened the door and let in a couple of Ashen.

  “About time you got here.” He said scowling. “Take the body of that man and dispose of it. Araminta made so much of a mess this time, so be careful when you take him through the halls. I don’t want my sexy maid to clean anywhere except in front of me.”

  The Ashen nodded and walked over to a very bloody mess of a body across the room and picked him up.

  “Sir, it would be best if we had something to wrap him in. Can we use the bedspread?” One of them asked.

  “What? Oh, yes. There’s a bit of blood on it already. I’ll have a new one brought in.” Levi said, then his eyes glazed over and he grinned a little. “Then I’ll just have to test it out with that little maid of mine.”

  The Ashen grab the blanket and put the body in it, wrapping him up tightly and then carrying him out the door, closing it on their way.

  Levi took out his phone again and sent a text before crossing the room.

  “Look darlin’, I think we should listen to that blasted chimera and do as Tineva says. It would be much faster for you to become completely immortal and we can continue torturing more people after.” He called through a door.

  “Oh alright, we can go down and kill more people. Let me get changed and I’ll be down there to do it with the gamblers.” Her response came through the door.

  “Just don’t be long. I have reservations for the restaurant at 10.”

  He hits a button on his phone and waits for the answer. Pacing back and forth in front of the bed.

  “It’s me. Seal off the exits, allow people to come in, but none to leave.” He said. “She’s finally ready to finish this off and kill the last amount of people we need for now. Yes, now. Why would I call you if I didn’t want it done now? Also, when she gets down there and starts, send up Ellie. Tell her to bring a new bedspread.”

  Levi/Grimby

  Levi was standing close to the entrance, watching as men and women brutally beat each other over small wins on slot machines or any of the tables scattered throughout the casino floor. A hazy dark green mist had formed and was hovering everywhere.

  An Ashen walked up to him and murmurs in his ear.

  “Good, more guests to join in on the fun. I’ll handle them.”

  He heads out the doors and walks over to a group of three Madgie and one Ashen.

  “I’m sorry folks, the other guests got a little rowdy. We’ve got it under control now though, so go on ahead and…” He trailed off when he saw the raccoon in the girl’s arms. “That’s an odd little critter there, ma’am. We don’t allow pets here, though. I’m afraid he’ll have to remain outside.”

  “Oh, he’s not my pet. I found him just lying on the side of the road. I was hoping to use a phone to call a vet.” The girl said and wiped a hand across her face, smearing her makeup. “He just looks so close to death, I hope they can help him.”

  The young boy stepped forward. “Come on, Cory, we don’t have time. We can just drive it somewhere quicker. We have to go meet mom and dad.”

  “Oh alright. I guess he’ll be fine while we find someone to help.” Cory sniffed, “He’s only a little green looking. Maybe that’s just from something he got into in a trash bag or something.”

  Levi held out a hand.

  “Wait! Green? And it’s a raccoon… That sounds like my wife's Anima. Let me take him. We can get him help quicker.”

  Cory sniffed and turned back.

  “Are you sure? I would stay, but my brother is right. Our parents are waiting and they get terribly upset if we’re late.”

  “I don’t mind at all, ma’am. If I’m right and he’s my wife's Anima, then she’ll have what he needs.” Levi said, practically shaking while holding back from snatching the animal from her hands.

  “That’s so kind. I hope he’ll be ok.” She handed the raccoon over and then reached into her purse. “Here, take this paperweight that looks like an emerald, it’s a perfect match to his coloring, and it should be payment enough for your trouble. It had cost a pretty penny. But he needs to be cared for and that’s all I have cuz I spent the last of my money on it earlier.”

  She handed him a fist-sized jewel.

  “Not that I don’t appreciate the payment, but are you sure? My wife will just be happy enough to get her Anima back. They’ve been apart for so very long.” Levi said. “This looks a bit more expensive than just a paperweight.”

  Levi held it aloft, checking it out. Then gasped inwardly, seeing that it was a real emerald.

  Cory eyed the jewel as if she regretted giving it to him before saying, “Yes, I’m sure it will do more good with you than it will with me.”

  The boy grabs her arm and turns them away saying, “Sorry sir, but we need to hurry and get to our mom and dad.”

  Levi turned and headed back to the casino entrance, forgetting about them all his haste to get back inside.

  Once inside the casino he rushed to the bar where Araminta was sitting, idly pushing buttons on the screen in front of her and sipping on a MaiTai watching a couple guys beating each other over a keno paper on the floor.

  “How many more do we need Darlin’?” He asked as he sat next to her and waved the bartender over. “Jack and coke. And keep them coming.”

  Araminta sighed and downed the last of her drink.

  “About 10 more. They’re getting slow and I’m bored. Why are we even following the lead of this Tineva?” She flagged down the bartender. “She’s not a demon like us. She’s not even immortal. We are. She’s just stuck in some void prison. We shouldn’t be listening to-” She cut off with a gasp.

  With bright eyes, she reached forward and placed a hand on the raccoon's head.

  “Oh, my love. You found my Kavan. You have made my time more memorable. Thank the devil for you.”

  Levi pulled out the emerald and showed it to her.

  “I also have this for you. It's a perfect match to your eyes and Kavan’s fur.” He said as his own pale green mist covered it, swirling for a moment before dissipating and leaving a gold chain connected to the now polished emerald.

  “It’s beautiful! I don’t have any new jewelry yet since my awakening. You’re so good to me.” She held back her hair, “I will never take it off.”

  He clasped the necklace around her neck, kissing it lightly before turning her around.

  “Just as beautiful as ever, Darlin’.” He said, “Now let’s finish off the last ten and we can go eat. Then we will start our full lives together.”

  Araminta smiles and her dark green Madgie mist snakes its way over her body and replaces the dress with a leather outfit.

  “Can’t get too bloody for our date.”

  She turns and signals the nearest Ashen over.

  “Bring me two more, I’m thinking of a younger couple this time. These two are just about done killing each other.

  ◆◆◆

  Az is holding open the potion book while Cory is looking around, waiting for Kalama to return.

  “Well, once she is holding the jewel and her Anima, the spell should take place as soon as she uses her powers. Hopefully she takes after her sibling of greed and puts it on right away.” Az said.

  Kalama flies over and lands on Cory’s shoulder.r />
  “She put it on as soon as Leviathan showed it to her and turned it into a necklace. But she hasn’t held the raccoon yet.” The phoenix said while preening her tail feathers. “She started to torture a couple more people right after, but she has a few Ashen helping her. Grimby might be able to sneak in somehow and trick her into holding it. There are Ashen covering all the doors, so she might not notice if a new one suddenly pops up.”

  Az, Cory and Pappy all look at me.

  “If you think it will help and I can make it in past the other Ashen, then it’s worth a shot.” I said. “I assume her bullets don’t work on us or she wouldn’t by using my kind.”

  “Actually, from what the mayor has told me, Levi is the one that’s been using the Ashen. Ever since he became the top drug lord in the city, he’s had powerful connections.” Pappy said.

  “Just be careful, Grimby.” Az said, “If it doesn’t look like you can get to her and get her to hold her Anima, then get out and we can find a different way to finish it.”

  They all wish me luck and I start toward the building before Cory calls me back. “I have a plan that I think should work, without you having to go in there alone.”

  Grimby

  Az and I walked in the door of the Golden Nugget and immediately got pulled to the side by a few Ashen. I awkwardly had to catch my balance while still holding onto the bundle in my arms.

  “Sorry, this casino is closed for the evening. You’ll need to go elsewhere.” One of them said.

  “Closed? I thought there was some sort of celebration. I could hear it from the street.” I said.

  “Private party for some high level Madgie and her husband. Invite only.” One of the other Ashen replied.

  “We had an invitation from Levi.” Az said, stepping forward. “Just about 30 minutes ago.”

  “I’ll need to verify with him before we can let you in.” The second one said as he pulled out a cell phone and made a call.

  “Yes sir, I have a couple guys here saying they had an invitation from you to come in about 30 minutes ago.” He nodded, “Yes, that’s right… No just two… An Ashen and a young Madgie… Um, just a sec. What are your names?” He asks, “Asril and Grimby… No, there’s just the two of them… Yes sir.”