The Brimstone Betrayal
Page 25
Chithula had packed up and disappeared.
Which confirmed what Jared told me. Chithula's plan had failed and the Demon had hightailed it out of here before we could call him on it. Although, as I had a lot of time in the trunk on the ride up due to the sun rising, I wasn't certain how we would arrest an Ifrit. I'm certain we could have found a way, but it would have been challenging to say the least.
Karl had spent the majority of the ride filling Toby in on Jared's theory, and how Lucas had confirmed it before he died. I felt empty listening to the story from the trunk. We knew who the true villain was, and what his plan was, but we had only succeeded in shutting a small portion of it down. We had identified the last Brimstone operatives who had been copied, and rounded them up. We had even shut down the cloning operation and dispatched Chithula's lieutenant. But this wasn't exactly the ending I, or any of us for that matter, was hoping for. Many questions remained unanswered, and Chithula was gone. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
"What now?” Toby asked. “Can't Chithula just go somewhere else and start again?"
Sitting down on the stone stairs, I stared up into the crisp night air. The stars were shining brightly and I could see the bridge of them that made up the edge of the Milky Way. It was beautiful. I nodded without taking my eyes from the sky. “I guess he could."
Toby waited, but that's all I had to offer. “That's it?"
"I don't think there's anything to be done.” I finally let my gaze fall down to Toby.
Toby was easily the most dissatisfied with the conclusion. “But what if he shows up again?"
"Then we'll stop him again,” Karl answered, “and kick his flaming ass!"
"That sounded very superhero-ish,” I said, then laughed.
Karl shrugged. “I stay with the classics."
Once I got to my feet, I walked down the stairs and wrapped my arm around Toby's waist. “You going to be okay?"
Toby looked into my eyes with a soft smile. “I think so."
Running my hand up, I patted my partner on the back. “Come on. Let's get out of here. How about I buy you two a beer?"
"I'm in.” Karl laughed.
"I have a better idea.” Toby spun and backpedaled from Karl and me. There was a glimmer in his eye I didn't like. “How about I cook you guys dinner? I make a mean spaghetti and meatballs."
"Pass,” Karl grumbled.
I lifted an eyebrow questioningly. “You know I don't eat food, right?"
"Not a problem.” Toby smiled. “I can make blood sausage for you."
I groaned as I popped the car door and slid inside.
"Karl?” Toby looked down at his little, green friend. “Come on. I'm a good cook!"
Karl jumped into the back seat and crossed his arms. “I want a beer."
As Toby sank into the passenger seat, I started the engine. I knew I would have to listen to him the whole way home. I suddenly wished I were back in the trunk. “Wait.” I paused. “Isn't it Tuesday night?"
Toby nodded. “Yeah, why?"
"Poker night,” Karl exclaimed from the backseat.
I poked Toby in the shoulder. “Feeling up to it?"
"I'm always up to it.” Toby grinned slyly.
Karl climbed onto the seat and popped Toby on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper he must've found on the floor. “Bad puppy,” Karl chided, “shouldn't lie."
With a grin, Toby knocked the Goblin back into his seat. He turned back to me. “I always win."
"That's because you've never played me before.” I laughed. Kicking the car into gear, we headed back to Las Vegas.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Terence West is the author of ten novels including the best sellers Fallen Angels, Darkness, and Crusade. A Gen X refugee, he fears the day his generation will rule the world. West is currently stockpiling goods and supplies in Twin Falls, Idaho with his three dogs. Growing up near the small skiing town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado gave him a lot of time to work on his writing because of the weather. A very artistic student, his goal in life was to be an illustrator. In his spare time he hunched over a makeshift-drafting table working on his own comic books. He would write and draw all of his stories. It was then that he learned he enjoyed writing the stories more than drawing them. He credits a lot of his talent as a writer to his mother and father. They never pressured him to follow in his father's footsteps, rather to find his own path in life. Check out his official website: TerenceWest.com! There you can also read his personal blog, download free goodies, and read his new supernatural themed short story “Within” free!
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