Plague of Death

by D. L. Armillei

  Brux stood at the door.

  “I even felt that one.” He looked pained but grinned.

  They met up with the others in the hallway. Willie’s three men laid unconscious on the floor.

  “We heard you throwing a fit and peeked inside,” Pernilla said to Van, as the whole group zoomed down the hallway back toward the lobby. “We saw Willie take you behind the counter and decided to follow you.”

  Thyra and Pernilla had been stationed outside, on the lookout for trouble.

  “Saw whole thing,” Thyra said.

  The group dashed past the concession stand. Paley ditched the helper boy and joined them.

  The customers looked up at the activity but remained disinterested.

  They sprinted through the lobby, out of the building, and hurried down the boardwalk for several blocks. Then slowed to a brisk walk once sure Wild Willie and his men weren’t pursuing them.

  Van trembled and stopped walking.

  “Are you all right?” Ferox placed a hand on Van’s back.

  Brux threw Ferox a dirty look as if the prince were interfering in his job of taking care of her.

  “I heard everything,” Paley said. “That was awful.”

  The other’s had stopped, too, and looked at Van with concern.

  Van bent down, grasping her knees. “That was…so gross.” She took a deep breath and pushed the sickening feeling aside.

  She stood upright and recalled the specifics of how she escaped Willie.

  Van doubled over again, this time laughing. She reached up and gripped Daisy’s shoulder. “You…you…”

  “What’s wrong?” Ferox asked. “Is she having a nervous breakdown?”

  “You—you kicked him—in the nuts!” Van said between gasps of laughter.

  Daisy laughed too.

  Paley burst into giggles.

  Pernilla grinned at Daisy. “Nice work.”

  “What are nuts?” Thyra asked.

  Van used the back of her hand to wipe her eyes. “I’m fine.”

  “We need to go meet Sammy,” Brux said, bringing the team’s focus back to the situation at hand.

  “Willie and his men won’t be happy,” Kopius said. “And they’re probably on their way to find us.”

  It seemed the guys didn’t think it was funny to get kicked in the nuts.

  “You got the skin?” Van asked.

  “Sure did,” Kopius said, holding up an object that looked like a tightly balled, light-brown velour blanket.

  “Good job,” Daisy wrapped him in a hug.

  “Wait a minute.” Van grabbed the skin and stretched it out. “The markings—it’s a map!”

  “Does it show how to get to the River Shade?” Brux asked.

  “Doesn’t matter.” Ferox reached his hand toward Van. “We’re holding up our end of the bargain.”

  Van glowered, yet gave him the skin.

  “Let’s move,” Ferox said.

  At the docks, Sammy bobbed in the water, waiting.

  Ferox laid the skin on the dock in front of Sammy, who—because he was a selkie, and therefore part seal—couldn’t actually pick it up unless he used his mouth.

  “Is this all you need to get your wife back?” Ferox asked.

  “Yes! Yes! She’ll be here any second.” Sammy appeared overjoyed.

  “Now for your end of the bargain,” Kopius said. “The map.”

  “The map is on my skin,” said a woman’s voice from behind.

  The all turned to see a stunning blond woman standing naked on the dock.

  Kopius opened his mouth to say something. Daisy grasped his arm and shook her head.

  “Ezili!” Sammy cried, practically leaping out of the water.

  She bent over the side of the dock and kissed him on the lips. “My love.”

  Ezili took her skin and held it up to show them the map, partially covering her nakedness. “What location do you seek?”

  “The River Shade,” Brux said.

  “The Cup of Life,” Van added. Why not ask for what they really wanted? Ferox was there, so she had to ask for the Cup, rather than the second seal.

  “We are here.” Ezili pointed to a spot on the map. “You must sail across the Bottomless Sea.” She moved her index finger slightly to the west and settled on an island. “Here lies the River Shade. On Insulam a Mortuis.”

  “Island of the Dead,” Brux said.

  Ezili continued, “Pay Kharon, the ferryman, a fairy’s tear, and he’ll take you to the underground cavern that holds the Cup of Life.”

  “Told you it would be in a cave,” Van muttered, glad she had conquered her fear of enclosed places last year.

  Ezili wrapped her skin around her shoulders, and it magically stretched to cover her entire body, leaving only her pretty face. The covered parts transformed into a brown seal and she dropped onto the planks of the dock, the locations on the map now nothing more than spots on a brown seal’s fur. She waddled off the edge and splashed into the water.

  Ezili turned her human face to the group. “Thank you.”

  “Good luck.” Sammy bobbed next to her.

  He and his wife swam away in the open ocean against the backdrop of a gorgeous peach sunset.

  “We’ll take The Obelus to the island,” Ferox said. “Brux, Kopius, Thyra,” he paused, and then said, “and Pernilla. Before heading back to the inn, can you help me check the ship’s repairs and make sure it’s stocked with supplies?”

  Pernilla heartily agreed, happy to be included. Brux, Kopius, and Thyra no doubt expected to be asked.

  “A-hem.” Van placed her hands on her hips.

  Ferox glanced at her and sighed. “Okay. Fine. Anyone who wants to help with the ship can stay and do so.”

  Van shrugged. “No thanks. I’m too tired.”

  Ferox shook his head as if he would never understand the female mind.

  “It’s just nice to be asked,” Van muttered.

  Daisy and Paley were also exhausted and had no desire to help with repairs, so the team split up—some went to the ship, others back to the Wharf Lizard.

  Back in the suite, Paley paced the room, unable to stay still. She looked clammy.

  “Have you been taking the colloidal silver?” Van asked, scolding herself for not getting extra from Madame Vang.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Paley muttered. “I’ve been taking it.”

  “Your immune system is being comprised by the Twin Gemstones,” Van said. “And Brux might be too far away.”

  “No, it’s not that.” Daisy peered intently at Paley.

  “We might need to up her dose,” Van said to Daisy.

  Daisy felt Paley’s forehead with the back of her hand. “It’s a fever.” She looked worried. “I don’t think the colloidal silver is working anymore.”

  “What? Why?” Van asked.

  Daisy sighed. “The colloidal silver only delays the inevitable.”

  “What are you saying?” Van raised her tone an octave higher with each word.

  “I’m saying Paley has the demon illness.”

  Chapter 39

  “I’m not sick.” Paley had a crazy look to her eyes.

  “Why don’t you lie down?” Daisy suggested.

  Paley snapped her head and glared at Daisy. “Why don’t you make me?”

  “She’s getting aggressive,” Van said to Daisy. “It’s another symptom.”

  “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” Paley stomped into the bedroom she shared with Van and slammed the door.

  “I think it’s the gemstones. Paley’s too far away from Brux,” Van said. “I’ll go to the wharf and get him.”

  Van opened the door to leave.

  Brux stood there, about to enter.

  “Twin Gemstone?” Van asked, knowingly.

  He nodded. “I felt the drain. I might’ve been a bit too far away.”

  “You felt the drain because Paley is sick,” Daisy said.

  They filled him in on Paley’s behavior.

&nb
sp; “If Brux is back and he was close-by, to begin with,” Daisy said, “then Paley definitely has the demon illness.”

  The clock had begun ticking on Paley’s death and subsequent transformation into a demon. It was imperative that Van get her friend back to the medical wing at Lodestar where she could be treated for the illness by the Brotherhood, who must have found a way to cure terrigens by now. Van felt the pressure of completing her mission more than ever.

  In the meantime, she called for Wiglaf to come and help Paley with his healing purrs, but her bunfy didn’t appear.

  An hour or so passed when Kopius and Pernilla returned with Thyra, who went to her own room.

  “Ferox and his men are staying on the ship for the night,” Pernilla said. “Talk about paranoid. Glad he let us leave, though.”

  “Where’d you go, slacker?” Kopius asked Brux.

  Brux pulled his gemstone from his pocket and waved it at Kopius.

  “Oh, right.”

  “The ship’s repaired and stocked.” Pernilla rubbed her hands together. “We’re ready for departure at dawn.”

  Van and her team needed to forget about Ferox and the Cup, focus on completing their mission to check the seal, and then get home.

  One problem.

  Before Van could talk her teammates into ditching Ferox, she needed to get the Coin. It was the only sure way to find the seal. But Ferox had it tucked away in his pocket. Right next to the fairy’s tear.

  That gave Van an idea.

  She meandered into her bedroom, tiptoed past Paley who was asleep on her bed, and went into the adjoining bathroom.

  Van combed her hair, changed into fresh clothes—the sexiest she had: a white ribbed tank and clean cargo pants—and cursed herself for not packing any makeup.

  She finished sprucing up and then remembered the soap brought to her courtesy of Madame Vang.

  Dammit. Van forgot to use it and forgot to thank the madame for it while being healed after the kopidoden attack.

  She’d have to remember to thank Ferox for paying the madame, it would help gain his trust and aid in her seduction plan to get back the Coin. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror and decided she looked fine. There was no time to use the soap in a bath and get ready all over again.

  Paley laid on the bed looking worse than ever. Her face seemed pale, and she had a coating of sweat on her skin.

  “What’re you looking at?” she growled.

  “Nothing.” Van zipped from the room.

  “I’m going out for some fresh air,” Van announced to the others.

  Brux leaped from his chair. “I’ll go with you.”

  “No—uh, you should stay here with Paley,” Van said. “I don’t think it will help her condition if you move too far away from her, you know, because of the gemstones.”

  Kopius volunteered to escort Van.

  “I’ll go too,” Daisy said.

  “Well, I’m not going.” Pernilla plunked herself down in a comfy armchair.

  “None of you are going,” Van said. “Daisy, you mentioned being exhausted. Stay here and rest. Take a bath or something.” She turned to Kopius and Brux. “I need some alone time to think…to meditate.”

  Brux grimaced.

  “I won’t go farther than the front porch.”

  With that settled, Van headed for the door.

  The hallway wasn’t guarded. Not only was Ferox short on soldiers, but he was also smart enough to know Van and the others weren’t going to run, not without the Coin.

  She bounded down the stairway and heard Brux call to her from behind.

  Van stopped her descent and twisted around to face him. “What’s up?”

  “I could ask the same of you.” He gave a knowing glance at her clothes, aware she had gussied up—and not for porch meditation. “What are you up to?”

  “I…” Van saw the look on Brux’s face and hesitated. For the first time since Ferox had entered her life, she thought about Brux’s feelings and how her closeness with Ferox might be upsetting him. “I’m going to talk to Ferox—but it’s not what you think.”

  He looked pained. “Sure. Whatever.” He turned and headed back up the stairs.

  “Brux,” Van called after him.

  He paused on the steps and twisted to face Van.

  “You know we can’t be together,” she said.

  “You can’t be with Ferox either. He’s Balish. That’s even worse.”

  “I have to be with someone,” Van said, raising her voice.

  “Yeah.” Brux looked defeated. “You do.” He continued up the stairs. “Go to Ferox,” his voice trailed behind him. “He can be your assigned protector.”

  “I didn’t mean Ferox,” Van shouted.

  Brux reached the top of the steps. He stopped but didn’t turn around. “Yes, you did,” he said sounding forlorn, and then he disappeared down the hall.

  Van stomped down the stairs, furious. She had no intention of getting involved with Ferox. In fact, the opposite was true—why couldn’t Brux believe that? Her only goal was to be a good warrior and to keep her people safe. Period.

  Thankfully, no guard stood outside the inn, so Van headed for the docks.

  She didn’t like Ferox controlling their mission. She didn’t need his interference. They had less than two weeks before she would be forced to face the Quasher. If it came down to it, she knew Brux would be there to protect her—and it would end in disaster. Like it did for her ancestor Amaryl when her husband died trying to protect her from the shadow beast.

  Van fantasized about Ferox leaping in and saving both her and Brux from the clutches of the Quasher.

  Ferox, my hero? The thought mortified her.

  “Coin. Fairy’s tear. Seal,” Van repeated over and over.

  She needed to keep her focus. She resolved not to let her emotions get in the way when she enacted her plan.

  “Coin. Fairy’s tear. Seal.” That was the order. Snag the Coin, grab the fairy’s tear—so Ferox couldn’t even try to get the Cup—ditch Ferox, and mend the seal. “Coin. Fairy’s tear. Seal.” Get the job done and go home. Paley’s life depended on it.

  The soldier on the docks by The Obelus informed Van that the prince’s whereabouts were none of her business.

  “I have to talk to him about our mission,” Van said.

  The soldier remained stoic. “It can wait.”

  Van, once again, relied on her skill of throwing a fit. “Take me to him right now.” She stomped her foot.

  “Or what?”

  “Or I’ll tell him you wouldn’t let me talk to him—although you knew it was urgent. I’ll make sure he leaves you on this island to rot.” She stomped her foot again to make sure he knew she meant business.

  The soldier reluctantly gave in and called to another to come and cover his post.

  “Follow me,” the soldier said, as if taking care of Van was a major chore.

  He entered a path in the woods.

  Van hesitated. “Where’re you taking me?”

  “You want to talk to the prince?” he said, rudely. “Follow me.”

  She followed the soldier down a winding path that went uncomfortably deep into the forest.

  The path was dark, Van could barely see. Her anxiety rose. Then she heard the tinkling of water just before they entered a clearing.

  Layers of rocks formed a small, semi-circular cliff. Five thin streams of water cascaded down into the natural collection pool at the bottom. The water appeared hot enough so that wafts of steam drifted upward around the water lilies that floated on the surface. Candles placed on the layered stones illuminated the hot spring.

  “My prince.” The soldier bowed. His voice rang in the serenity of the spring, scaring a white bird, that looked similar to an Earth World’s dove.

  In the candlelight, Van swore she saw the bird carrying a wafer in its mouth. Was Ferox feeding the birds?

  Ferox’s arms were opened wide as he propped his upper body against the side of the spring, fully
exposing his chiseled chest. Van noticed his clothes—all of them—lying on a flat rock directly behind him.

  Suddenly, her scheme seemed ridiculous, and her resolve crumbled.

  “I’m sorry to bother you. But you have a guest.” He tilted his head toward Van. “She demanded to see you.”

  “Demanded, huh?”

  Van noticed every curve of his biceps, his deltoids, the blur of the submerged part of his six-pack and naked lower body…her eyes darted away.

  Part of Van wanted to flee. But the part that controlled her feet made her stay.

  Her eyes hesitantly moved back toward the spring.

  Van stood there gaping at Ferox, not saying a word.

  “Shall I remove her?” the soldier asked.

  “No.” Ferox glanced at the soldier. “You may go.”

  “Very good, my prince.” The soldier bowed and then departed.

  Ferox’s gaze turned to Van.

  His lips curled into a sly grin.

  Chapter 40

  Van forced herself to focus. “I…”

  “It’s called the Water of Life,” Ferox said, sweeping his hand to indicate the hot springs. “Madame Vang told me about it. Very healing.” He rose from the water.

  Van quickly turned away. In the dirt, she saw the shed skin of a snake and shivered, wondering what kind of slithering things moved through the night in these woods. Whatever this was, it had gotten bigger.

  “Join me,” Ferox said.

  “Um…” Van felt her seduction plan fly from her brain and panicked.

  Get a grip! There was nothing to fear.

  She turned her gaze to his, relieved he had sat back down in the spring. “Sure.”

  With false bravado, Van marched to the edge of the spring. The air was hot and moist, like a sauna. She really wanted to take her clothes off. The thought made her blush.

  Again, she stood there gaping at Ferox and not saying anything.

  He chuckled. “Come in with your clothes on.” He waded across the spring to where Van was standing—keeping his lower half hidden underwater. “You look beautiful, by the way. I understand if you don’t want to get your clothes wet.”

  “Well, I…” Van felt herself drawn-in by his charm. She glanced around the woods.