Solace

by Raven Dark

  Once the back was open, I turned around in my seat, putting Setora on my lap so we could face the back of the carriage. I wrapped my arm around her so that she leaned against my shoulder. Thank fuck she looked less like death than she had yesterday.

  “How’s that, Petal? Comfortable?”

  “Yes, Master.” She took a deep breath of the somewhat fresh air as I watched the goings on outside.

  Reaper strapped his quiver to his back, bow in hand, while he followed Sheriff out to meet the other carriages that were just touching down. The wind caught that strange cloak of his, the cloth hiding the new cut he wore, which now displayed the Dark Legion’s symbol.

  “No, Pretty Boy, Bear, wait. Leave the bikes inside until I give the all clear,” Sheriff called. “We’re only stopping to wait for Mayhem’s escorts.”

  Pretty Boy grumbled something I didn’t make out because I heard a back door to a carriage shut.

  “Cherry, stay inside your carriage with Sinister. I don’t want the women out in the open yet. Sinister, get Savage out here with Hawk for now, and wake Beast. Blade, Grim, the rest of you…”

  “Master?” Setora tilted her head up at me. “Beast and T-Man didn’t ride out on their bikes? How did anyone get Beast into a carriage?”

  “Oh, you missed a treat there while you were out, Petal.” I laughed. “You should have seen it.”

  When I didn’t elaborate, she turned to a grinning Doc, waiting.

  “Sinister did it,” Doc said.

  “He borrowed Doc’s tranquilizer gun—” I started.

  “You mean he stole it,” Doc grumped. “He took the thing right out of my hand while I was packing it. He shot Beast in the back while he was getting on his bike. Beast has been sleeping like a baby the whole four-hour ride here, same as you, Setora.”

  Doc was still pissed. He hated people touching his medical shit.

  Setora stared at us, fighting a nervous smile. “Beast will be angry with Sinister when he wakes up.”

  “Oh, yeah.” My shoulders shook. “He’ll be pretty pissed off. But it was necessary, Petal. If there was going to be trouble, we needed every man with us, and Sheriff didn’t want anyone separated if they didn’t need to be. That’s why he wouldn’t even let T-Man ride out here on his bike.”

  “Doc,” Setora said, “Why did you bring a tranquilizer gun?”

  He cleared his throat. “Just a precaution, dear.”

  She closed her eyes. “You brought it for me, didn’t you, sir? In case Julian takes over again. In case I try to leave or hurt someone.”

  Doc looked like he was going to reply, but Sheriff appeared, Reaper and T-Man at his side. “It looks all clear. Mayhem’s men are on their way. T-Man saw a good twenty of his Angels riding out to meet us. All of them are wearing the Angels’ patches.”

  At the mention of his name, T-Man held up his monocular.

  I shook my head. “Twenty? Looks like Mayhem is as paranoid as you, General.”

  Sheriff grinned and reached forward, swatting me on the head. “Smartass.”

  “Ow, fuck!” I rubbed my head, laughing. “Watch the head. It’s delicate!”

  Reaper snorted.

  “I prefer to think of myself as cautious,” Sheriff said, pushing off from the carriage frame. “I warned him there’d be twelve of us.”

  Pretty Boy came over to us then. He reached forward and touched Petal’s cheek. “How you holding up, Princess?” I knew him well enough to know he was hiding his concern. His gaze searched every inch of her face, as if assuring himself she was still there.

  “I’m fine, Master. Just tired and hot.”

  Yeah, it was hot as fuck out here, even though we weren’t in the sun. My cut was already stuck to my back. Fucking heat.

  Pretty Boy nodded. “We’ll be inside soon. You can ride with me—”

  “No way, PB. I’m in charge of her till we’re inside that monstrosity.” I jerked my thumb toward Hollow Hill.

  Pretty Boy laughed, “Fine. See you soon, Princess.” He went to try for a kiss, but I pushed his pretty ass self out.

  “Be gone, blond imp!” I teased.

  Doc coughed, and Setora let out a giggle. There, that’s what I was going for.

  PB then went to help T-Man unload some of the bikes. I snorted when I saw T-Man lower his own bike to the ground. He gave every inch of it a loving, shining polish, practically making out with it.

  “Here, Doc.” Hawk handed Doc his tranquilizer gun. He’d been keeping it up front with him and Sheriff. Setora eyed the long pole-like gun warily. Protectiveness reached up in me, and I pulled her close.

  “Come here, Petal. It’s just to protect you.”

  “I know, Master.” She sighed then touched my cheek. “How’s your head?” She rubbed it lovingly.

  “It hurts, kiss it better.”

  It didn’t, but I wanted her touching me, and I wanted to distract her from that gun. Besides, she’d been way too quiet since she’d woken up, and I was getting worried. But as soon as I saw the twinkle in her eyes, I felt the worry lift.

  She reached up and gave the side of my head a loud, exaggerated kiss.

  “Much better.” I snatched a quick kiss from her sweet lips.

  “Pussy,” Hawk said with an uncharacteristic smile.

  “Asswipe.” I punched him on the arm, hard, and he stumbled and winced, laughing.

  Just then, Beast finally came out of another carriage, shaking himself as if to clear a fog. Sinister followed. Beast growled at him and caught him in a chokehold, bending him over.

  “Ah! I had to do something, ah, Beast, I can’t breathe.” He wheezed with laughter. “Help!” he shouted in exaggerated fear. “Reaper, help me!”

  “No way, Sin.” Reaper cackled.

  Beast play-punched Sin in the gut.

  “Reaper, how dare you leave me like this, I am your wise and caring leader!”

  “No, you aren’t. He is now.” He jerked his thumb at Sheriff while everyone laughed, including his brother, who made a big production out of strapping a huge ax to his back while his twin was being strangled.

  “This is mutiny,” Sinister huffed. “Mutiny, I say!”

  Beast finally let him go and growled in voiceless irritation that lacked any force.

  “Animal,” Sin teased, shoving him off.

  “All right, if everyone is done fucking around, let’s get ready to go.”

  Everyone except Beast and T-Man started climbing into the vehicles. T-Man and Beast mounted their bikes. I turned and settled more comfortably into my seat, holding Setora tightly in my lap.

  By the time Hawk got in the driver’s seat, we could hear the roar of engines from the bikes belonging to Mayhem’s men.

  “I’ll wait outside the carriage so—” Sheriff started but cut off when engines thundered close enough that he’d have had to shout to be overheard.

  The Angels of Mayhem’s bikes rode up to us and the engines cut off. Most of the men stayed on their rides, a few of them wearing swords on their backs and blades on their hips. Half of them wore helmets, the visors down, covering their faces. It bothered me a little that they didn’t take them off, but then it made sense that they might hide themselves until they knew we weren’t there to kill them.

  One of two in the front took off his helmet, revealing a heavily bearded, slightly weathered face that was slicked with sweat.

  “Legion. Welcome to Hollow Hill,” the bearded man said. “Mayhem is waiting for you. Which one of you is Sheriff?”

  “That’d be me.” Sheriff walked toward him as the bearded man dismounted. The bearded one glanced back at the other man who sat astride his bike at the front—checking over his men, I supposed—as he made his way toward Sheriff. The two men met in the middle and shook hands, both apparently being equally cautious.

  “General. I’m Eagle Eye, Mayhem’s Captain of the Guard.”

  “Interesting,” Sheriff said, glancing back at Hawk, who stuck his head out the window of the carriage, watc
hing the goings on. “You and Captain Hawk should get along well.”

  He was obviously trying to put the man at ease. Eagle Eye gave a forced smile that seemed more like a wince. What was his problem? He looked like he was constipated. We were the Dark Legion, sure, but he looked more than nervous. He looked scared, and something told me it wasn’t because of our reputations.

  “We’ll take you to see Mayhem now. He never lets anyone close to the Hold until I vet them.”

  “A wise man,” Sheriff said.

  Again, Eagle Eye looked back at the other man who’d been beside him, still sitting astride his bike, then turned back to Sheriff. “If your men are ready, General, we’ll be off.”

  Sheriff nodded and got back in the passenger’s seat. The engines started up.

  Still sitting against the carriage’s side wall, Doc leaned forward to me. “Mayhem’s captain seems a little uptight.”

  “He does. Maybe they don’t get enough fiber in their diets out here. Maybe you can give them some of your nasty green drinks.”

  Doc gave me a look and shook his head.

  “What? No laugh? That was hilarious!” I cracked myself up sometimes.

  We rode out to the massive fortress that was Mayhem’s hold, the Angels of Mayhem leading the way.

  Finally, we were about to get some answers and end this shit with Julian. My woman needed her nights of sweet dreams back, and I needed her safe and healthy. I kissed the top of Petal’s head, and she snuggled closer to me. Never would I feel anything as heavenly as having her in my arms.

  Fuck, I’d meant what I’d told her before. I’d make her my wife one day, and I didn’t give a fuck if it was illegal.

  When we reached the Hold a few minutes later, a set of twenty-foot tall metal gates, almost as big as those in the Grotto, opened with a clattering heard even over the engines. Eagle Eye led us inside a stone-walled garage with twenty-foot high ceilings, and torches mounted on the wall for light. The garage was massive, filled with dozens of bikes, their batteries plugged into housing units similar to those in the Grotto but bigger. The whole place was impressive, even if it was ugly, all dark grey stone and cold looking.

  As soon as T-Man and Beast caught up to us and rode inside, the gates rattled shut behind us. We cut our engines. I got out of the carriage, Setora in my arms, and waited till everyone was ready to follow Eagle Eye and the other Angels further into the Hold.

  “You don’t need to carry me, Master. I think I can walk.”

  I looked down at her pale face and smirked. “No way. Not till you’ve eaten at least five meals, Petal.”

  I lifted my head then, my attention caught by Sinister’s cursing. Savage stood beside him, the two of them hand signing furiously to each other and glancing at Eagle Eye.

  “No. No weapons, Legion.” Eagle Eye shook his head at Reaper, Savage, Hawk, and Pretty Boy, the latter two with swords strapped to their backs.

  I threw a quick look at Sheriff, but he only stared at Eagle Eye.

  The Angels’ Captain of the Guard shrugged. “Sorry, Mayhem’s rules. No exceptions.”

  “Fuck that.” Pretty Boy didn’t take off his sword and ignored Hawk’s cross look.

  I noticed Hawk didn’t remove his twin blades, either, and Savage still kept that badass axe on his back.

  PB took a step forward, glaring at Eagle Eye. “Sheriff, we are not disarming ourselves with—”

  Sheriff held up his hand and Pretty Boy cut off. He looked at Eagle Eye. “No disrespect to Mayhem, but we aren’t walking into a strange place we’ve never been, with who knows how many men who will have access to their weapons.”

  Eagle Eye sighed and looked back at his men as though asking them ‘Now what?’

  That was strange.

  He turned back to Sheriff, shoulders squaring. “You’ll have to disarm yourselves if you want to go past this point, General. You came for answers. If you want them, you’ll have to obey the house rules.”

  “Master,” Setora hissed, touching my arm. “Someth—”

  “Shh, Petal.”

  Sheriff stared hard at Mayhem’s man, then after a moment, he sighed. “Boys, weapons off.” He took the blade off his hip and put it inside his pack along with that chain he always carried now. “Take your belongings and weapons back to the carriages. Grim, Bear, go unlock the doors.”

  “Master.”

  “Petal, be quiet. We won’t be unarmed. Not unless they want me and Hawk to stay behind. What is it the Yantu say, ‘The body’s a weapon?”

  She didn’t respond, only turned back to watch the men.

  “Steel, T-Man, Pretty Boy, stay behind with Cherry and Onyx. Keep your weapons on—”

  “‘fraid not, General. No one stays behind, and no one stays armed.”

  “What?” I snapped. “Sheriff.”

  Sheriff looked crossly at Eagle Eye, glanced back at Setora, then turned to me with a look of what I could’ve sworn was desperation. “We don’t have a choice. We need answers. Lead the way, Captain.”

  We walked out of the garage and up a set of steps to a main floor, down hall after hall of bare stone. Pillars as thick as tree trunks rose from floor to ceiling, but otherwise the place was undecorated, the many torches failing to chase all the shadows away from the half-dark halls.

  “Am I the only one who expects a fire-breathing dragon to come roaring out at us?” Pretty Boy muttered. Beside me, his hand twitched as though he wanted his sword in his grip.

  “Nope.” Sinister’s voice was hushed. “I don’t like this place.”

  I didn’t either. The corridors were long and cold and too fucking dark. Silence, or near enough, lay everywhere. Guards posted at every entrance watched us with what I had to admit probably wasn’t undo caution, but there were too many of them, all of them armed with bows and swords. How Setora could think this place was beautiful was beyond me. Leave it to her to see something good in everything.

  At the end of a hall at what had to be the center of the fortress, ten-foot high wooden doors stood closed. The Guards there opened them, producing an awful scraping sound on the stone floor.

  “It’s like a throne room,” Setora whispered.

  “Well damn, Mayhem,” Pretty Boy whispered. “This is awesome.”

  As soon as we were all inside, the doors banged shut with a hollow thud, then a loud clang sounded, a heavy deadbolt put in place.

  “I hope he doesn’t expect us to kneel to his ass, though,” I said.

  I heard Sheriff grunt a laugh.

  We went across the room, the Angels of Mayhem flanking us on all sides. None of them took off their helmets, except Eagle Eye. That I definitely didn’t like.

  I stared at the front of the room. Looking at the gigantic space with its lavish polished wood trim, marble floor and gold accents, I’d expected a chair at the back of the room a lot like Sheriff’s. Instead, there was an actual throne, complete with a high gold back and encrusted with jewels. A man reclined in it, saying nothing and watching us approach. Armed guards stood to either side of him, and for all that they wore cuts, I swore they should have been dressed like Reaper, in robes.

  Well, the man on the throne was. He wore a black cloak with the hood pulled over his face so that I saw nothing but shadows there.

  “General.” Eagle Eye stood in front of him. “The Dark Legion.”

  Mayhem stood slowly and, I thought, almost dramatically. “Welcome, Sheriff.” His voice was a low growl. “It’s about time we met again.”

  As soon as I heard that voice, every drop of my blood froze.

  “Fuck!” Sheriff spat. “Son of a bitch!”

  The man in front of the throne pulled down his hood and gave us all a horrible grin. A bright blue mohawk stood out in the torchlight. He also stood on one wooden leg, a cane in his grip.

  Setora’s fingers clenched my cut in a death grip. Horror pounded off of her.

  Saketh looked at me holding Setora and turned his gaze to her. “So good of you to come, Worldmaker
. There is a cage waiting just for you.”

  Chapter 20

  Brother Against Brother

  As soon as Saketh had spoken, hatred, rare violent hatred I hadn’t felt since my father had died, roared to life in me. By the time he’d showed his face, I’d already called up my Fortress. Walling my emotions within the safety of its steel barriers and locking them down, because if I hadn’t, I’d have launched myself at him in seconds and snapped his neck.

  His promise to cage Setora—this woman who’d become the light of my life—made my fists clench so hard my nails almost made my palms bleed.

  By the looks of things, the others weren’t far off from strangling him, but none of us moved. Except for Steel holding Setora protectively close, we couldn’t react without endangering Setora and Cherry.

  I didn’t need to look around to know this. More than thirty Angels of Mayhem surrounded us—the twenty who’d escorted us in here, plus at least a dozen more men who’d already been in the room. Although, I was starting to suspect some of them were Saketh’s men, not Mayhem’s. Plus, Saketh had two men flanking the throne, both with their hands on the hilts of their swords, waiting to draw steel the moment we breathed wrong.

  Had I been a gambling man, I’d have bet my whole knife collection that Mayhem had no such rule about not allowing weapons in his inner sanctum. Saketh had made Eagle Eye relieve us of our weapons to keep the upper hand.

  If he was there, it raised a glaring question, which Sheriff asked the moment Saketh had spoken to Setora.

  “Saketh. You high and mighty piece of shit. Where is Mayhem?”

  Well, that was half the question. The other half being, had Mayhem betrayed us and let Saketh trap us here? Not to mention, how had Saketh known we were coming if Mayhem hadn’t betrayed us?

  “Now, now, Sheriff.” Saketh hobbled down the steps that led from the throne, never taking his eyes off the General, his wooden leg and the end of his cane making a hollow clack with every step. “Play nicely. Don’t make me kill you before we have our fun. All of you, raise your hands.”