by Matt Gross
She has a beautiful smile.
He drew her in closer and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Why'd your sister send bounty hunters? Why not send assassins? She needs you dead. Why go through all the trouble of capturing you? And what's up with those tattoos, they're moving now?”
Her tattoos shifted and her face flushed red. “Are they ugly? It was a result of my encounter with Lilith.”
“No, not ugly at all, more mesmerizing actually.”
She smiled and sucked in a lungful of smoke. “I don't know why Brianna is trying to capture me.” She paused to blow out. “Maybe she needs to kill me herself. With her own hands. Like she did our mother.”
Khayin thought about it. “Makes sense. I'll guess we'll have to ask her when we see her. But right now, we should check in with Codex. She is probably worried sick.” The warmth of her body was comforting and he didn't want to let go.
“One of these days, gorjcha, you'll have to tell me how the two of you met.” Kira said.
****
The walk back to Vegas was uneventful. The Strip had been mostly cleaned since the last time Khayin had seen it. There were no vendors of any kind on the streets. Everything was quiet except for the sound of brooms and other cleaning tools. They didn't waste any time and made their way quickly to Codex's place.
They walked down the alley and saw Dewey standing outside the door. As soon as Dewey saw Kira he rushed her. He took her off guard and he slammed her against the wall. Before Khayin could react, Kira Pulled, pinning Dewey to the opposite wall.
“What the hell, Dewey?” Khayin yelled.
“Witch left us to die. Huey not come back,” he snarled. “Huey now dead.”
“My goal was to get Khayin and get him to safety,” she retorted. “You and your brother were the distraction. You knew that.”
“Huey dead, ‘cause you not come back to help.” He seethed.
“Khayin was unconscious and hurt! I couldn't leave him.” She still held him to the wall. “I truly am sorry about your brother.” A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Khayin walked over to Dewey and put his hand on the big guy’s arm. “I'm sorry about Huey and look, Kira is too. Killing her isn't going to help.” He tried to sound soothing. “If you kill her, then I'll have to kill you. Hasn't there been enough death?”
“Dewey not happy,” the ogre pouted.
The ogre relaxed and Kira set him free. Dewey turned his back to the two of them. Khayin and Kira hurried through the door before the big guy changed his mind.
Chapter 26 The Box
The hallway was well lit, yet no light source could be seen. Kira and Khayin walked down the familiar corridor and they stepped through the door at the end, which deposited them in the main lobby of Codex's office. Stephen wasn't behind the desk and the lobby was empty. Kira noticed that there were no doors except the one they had come from.
A light flashed on the desk. They approached and saw a box, what Kira would later find out was a speaker, and a switch. Khayin flipped the switch.
“Khayin, is that you?” came Codex's voice from the speaker.
“It's me, Baby Doll,” Khayin said brightly.
“Oh thank the gods above, below and in the sun. I was worried sick. First Tao was injured, then you go running off trying to be some kind of hero? I had to send Kira after you. Is Kira there? Of course, she's there. Hi, Kira. And then Dewey comes back without Huey. The two of you disappear for a day. I can't reach you on your phone. Is it broken? Did those bastards steal it? I'll get you a new one, don't worry. Tao is fine, by the way. Then Rocco was flipping out so I had to give Stephen the day off. Now no one is manning the desk. And the work just keeps coming and I have to do everything myself. I'm trying to figure out how that Dorne bastard got into my inner sanctum. MY SANCTUM. Ooh, that pisses me off. They break in and steal stuff, now I have to figure out what they took, so I can disable it. I put a kill switch on all my stuff just in case this shit happens. Ugh! So, how are you?”
“I'm good, but I'd feel better if we were talking face to face.”
“Oh, sorry,” she replied.
There was a clicking sound and a door appeared to their right. Kira remembered this door; it was the door to Codex's living quarters. Khayin flipped the switch on the box and the two of them went through the door that opened on its own as they approached it.
The room was lavish and just the way Kira remembered it. Codex sat in a large cushioned chair with her feet kicked up. She was sipping from a glass that had some kind of pink liquid in it. Despite her relaxed posture Kira could see Codex’s muscles flinch and twitch with anxiety. As soon as she saw Khayin enter the room Codex leapt from the chair and embraced him. When they released each other Codex punched him in the mouth. It was no little punch. Khayin's head snapped back from the impact.
“What are you, some kind of idjit?” She stomped with her high-top canvas shoes. “Trying to be some kind of hero? You know why there aren't any heroes? They die. Heroes die. That's what they do.” Her hands were on her hips, curled into tight fists. “I appreciate the sentiment and I know you can't technically die, but I'd hate to find out what someone could do to you when they discover that little secret, especially some egomaniac wizard or god. You ran off alone to face off against a small army. I know you've been alone for most your life, but you've never had the Black Tempest after you. Not for a long while anyway. Dammit! You had me worried. Kira was worried too, you asshole.” Kira shot her a look and Codex pretended not to notice. “You know Huey died trying to rescue you.” She said the last part with a little more control.
“I know. I'm sorry.” Khayin glanced around the room. “Where's Tao? Is she OK?”
“She's fine.” Codex gave him another hug then grabbed his arm and threw him onto the couch. “Sit.” She then faced Kira and wrapped her arms around her in a very warm embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered. Kira took the only remaining seat, next to Khayin on the couch. “So, what's going on?” She didn't wait for an answer. “Mr. Brown Eye was in my house and he has caused a lot of chaos and death in my city.”
“Mr. Brown Eye?” Khayin asked.
“Yes, Mr. Brown Eye. Unless you prefer Asshole, or Douche, or Anal Face?” she said in all seriousness.
“Nope. Mr. Brown Eye will do.” Khayin smirked.
Kira found a little amusement in Codex's anger. “We need to end this. And I need to know what is going on. So, one of you two is going to fill me in.” Kira looked at Khayin, who only shrugged. “Well?” Kira shrugged back at Khayin and Khayin just stared at her. “Oh for fuck’s sake.” She looked at Kira. “Girl to girl, woman to woman. Your tribal secrets are safe with me. You don't have to give me any intimate details about you and Khayin.”
Kira's head shot up in shock. “What?!” She looked at Khayin then back to Codex. “We...didn't...”
“Oh, please. Don't insult me. And if you really didn't, what the hell are you waiting for? You two obviously are into each other,” Codex said, sitting back into her large chair.
Kira's face was a brilliant shade of red. Her heart fluttered and the butterflies were flapping madly in her stomach. She was flustered and lost her train of thought. Instinctively she tried to move further away from Khayin, but there was nowhere to go. She saw Codex smile.
“It's alright, darling.” Codex said in a soothing voice. “I don't always have a filter.”
“She never has a filter,” Khayin corrected. He got a look of warning from Codex.
“In this world we don't always have the luxury to take our time on things. Whatever those things may be. 'Take life by the horns' they used to say. Though I have no idea who 'they' are. But I digress. What do I need to know? And if you want to talk about other things when you-know-who isn't around, I'm always up for some girl talk.” She said the last part in a whisper, smile and a wink.
Kira bit her lower lip. What the...I didn't expect this. I'm not even entirely sure what I feel. My family and tribe are all dead. Life as I knew it
is dead. I'm being forced to live in a world that’s completely foreign and my best friend is a man. This is all messed up. But, he isn't just a friend, or at least I don't think he is.
Kira looked at Codex and began her tale. She was on such a roll and so absorbed in the story that she forgot who was in the room and spilled everything, even the night that made her relationship with Khayin awkward and ultimately evolve. Codex sat in silence, which was a little weird to Kira. She had never been in a room with Codex before where Codex wasn't talking. Codex remained stoic and only smiled where Kira knew she'd smile, making Kira realize she had told her a detail she meant to keep to herself. Oh well, no secrets now.
“I'm with Khayin on the Lilith theory. I've never met her, but it would make perfect sense that your sisters worshiped her, or sought her counsel, however you want to see it. There is more to it than, 'It's not my time',” Codex mocked. “I think there had to be some ancient bargain, but she would never have agreed to the slaughter of all of her followers. Something went wrong and whatever deal she struck was preventing her from taking any action, hence why she gave you her life's essence.” Codex tapped her index finger on her ruby lips. “She did more than make you the next Crone, darling, she gave you her power. Her immortality.”
She got up from her cushy chair and walked to another part of the room. She opened a big white box and pulled several bottles from it.
“I'm mixing myself another drink. You two want anything?” she offered.
“I'll take...” Khayin began.
“Whiskey, I know.” Codex finished. “What about you, darling?”
Kira had no idea. “Whatever you are making for yourself will be fine.”
Codex smiled.
A few moments later she reentered and offered the drinks to each of them. Codex crawled back into the chair. When she was comfortable she sipped her drink and looked back at Kira and Khayin. Kira was intrigued. She liked Codex, a strong, powerful woman in a world that seems to be run by men. She took a small taste of the concoction that Codex had given her. It was sweet. There was a hint of raspberry and chocolate, and the alcohol wasn't overpowering. The beverage was sublime.
“So, your sister is in league with the big Nueden Corporation, but we don't know who the big boss is. I'm guessing female, ‘cause I don't see your sister following a male. Not after what you just told me anyway.” She took another drink.
“I don't like wild cards,” Khayin said. “Too many unknowns.”
“I agree, but we don't have a lot of options.” Codex paused a moment in thought. “Does your sister know of your capabilities?”
“No. I really wasn't aware until what happened on the island.” A wave of sadness washed over her and she shuddered.
“Did you do anything that Mr. Brown Eye could take back to your sister?” Codex inquired.
“Nothing she hasn't seen before.”
“And your sister can raise the dead,” Codex said.
“Not just raise, she can bring back the living. She restores the soul to the body, healing the body completely in the process. But the healing part is only when she resurrects, her magic cannot heal otherwise.” Kira was jealous of her sister and mad that the gift was wasted on such an evil soul.
“Hmm...Seems to me we have two options.” She looked at them both in turn. “One, we wait for them to come and attack. Or, two, we go on the offensive and attack them.”
Kira looked at Khayin. “Look, I'm not happy about it either.” Khayin looked as though he was disgusted. “You know when the last time was that I was in a war, or went looking for a fight?” Both women shook their heads. “Me neither.”
Kira started to get nervous. Is he going to bail on me now? After everything we've been through. He can't even die. What is he afraid of?
“Balls!” he yelled. “I'm not going anywhere, Kira. Please wipe that look off your face.”
Kira didn't know she had a look on her face. Her tattoos must have betrayed her. She was momentarily embarrassed before she realized she needn't be. She took a longer sip from her drink.
“The survivalist in me says to run. I know, I'm effectively immortal, but that's not the point. I've been able to fly under the radar for most of my life. The idea of going up against a god is not appealing. You can't just go and fight one, let alone kill one, without other gods knowing. We'll be opening ourselves up to a world I've been avoiding.” He swallowed the entire glass of whiskey in one gulp.
“Option one won't work. We'll be putting innocent lives at risk and your sister won't come here, or her master. Option two isn't very appealing either, but it's all we’ve got left. If there's a silver lining, it's that they won't be expecting it, especially if it's just the two of us.” He winked at Kira.
“Whoa! Wait one stinkin' minute. You are not leaving me out of this. They attacked my home, my city. I deserve payback just as much as the next guy.” She shot out of her chair, stood and bent down in front of Khayin with her face mere inches from his. Codex's voice was slightly higher in pitch than normal and she was talking even faster. “My girlfriend was attacked, I lost Huey, and Rocco and Stephen are freaked out. Nope, no way, not a chance. They waltzed into the city like they owned it. Unencumbered, unresisted. Mr. Brown Eye came in here all smug and flaunting his feathers like some damned peacock. This is my town. My people. They look to me for protection. They look to me to make sure their livelihood isn't threatened. I've spent years on my reputation and I'll be damned if I let some snot-nosed little piece of shit come into my town and act like ‘I’ am nothing. I'll go to Chicago and I'll burn that city to the ground. They will rue the day that they messed with me and my friends. My family. I'll open the earth beneath them and swallow that hellhole up. I'll wipe it from the face of the earth. I'll...” Tears were streaming down her face.
Khayin stood and embraced her, burying her face in his chest and effectively cutting off her words. “And that is exactly why you need to stay here.” Her eyes, pooled with tears, were red with rage. She stared at Khayin. “This town needs you here. Let us be your angels of death.” He cupped her face with his hands. “Baby Doll, nobody can kill better than me. This may be personal for you now, but think of Kira. It can't get any more personal. Who else could get this done?”
Codex nodded, then buried her face in his chest again. After a minute she let go of Khayin and stood before Kira. She hugged her and kissed her cheek. Codex pulled away, but kept her hands on Kira's shoulders.
“I can't imagine what you're going through, but I hope we both find some resolution in this.” She stepped back and looked at them both. “We'll need to figure out a plan, but first, let's get some rest.”
Chapter 27 The Table
The pain was excruciating and Dorne could feel his bones scraping against each other. Blood oozed from every orifice. He was sweating and it made gripping things difficult, if not impossible. He dropped the teleporting stone as it was only made for one-time use. His breathing was labored and he needed healing badly.
He limped his way to the back entrance of the Nueden building. Dorne wanted to avoid the hospital. The doctors would make a report and send it and the bills to Nueden and he knew he was in deep enough trouble; he didn't want to add to it. Dorne unlocked the door and followed the corridor until it ended in a large open room. The elevator was on the other side.
Dorne struggled, but eventually made it. He looked behind him and noticed the trail of blood. I'll have to send someone down here to clean that up. He coughed and noticed blood in his hand. He had to get to the lower levels. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for sub-floor fourteen, Medical Research. The door dinged and the whole thing jerked into movement, causing a shock wave of pain to shoot through his body.
The doors opened and he spilled out onto the floor, his legs no longer able to support him. A group of scientists and researchers ran over and helped him up, carrying him over to a chair. A young woman gave him a cup of water that he gladly accepted. He swallowed the water in one gulp
and let the cup fall from his hand to the floor.
The room was sterile white and devoid of any decoration. He sat in a chair that was part of a group of chairs that rested along a wall. He couldn't focus on anything more, nor could he make out who the woman was that started barking out orders to everyone, but he could make out her voice. Ah, the famous Dr. Faulkner. Then everything went black.
****
He was lying on a table with an IV in one arm and a tube for a blood transfusion in the other. His body ached, but there was definitely a difference from when he had first come in. He slowly opened his eyes and saw he was the only one in the room. The room was not accommodating. The table on which he lay sat in a corner. The rest of the room consisted of tables, chairs, medical and scientific equipment. He could feel his strength returning. How long was I out?
Dr. Faulkner and another woman entered the room. The doctor was tall, nearly six feet, and she made no effort to enhance her looks with make-up or fancy hairstyles. She wore her long hair pulled back tightly in a tail. He had never seen the other woman before. She had blond dreadlocks that fell down below her waist and had tattoos on her face. She was shorter than the doctor. Though Dorne was no wizard he could feel the magic pulsating from the shorter woman.
“Is this him?” the blond asked in a strange exotic accent.
“Yes, he...”
“Good, you can leave,” the blond said, cutting off Dr. Faulkner.
The doctor didn't protest and left. The tattooed woman approached Dorne and appraised him. She circled the table that he was lying on, inspecting the IV and the blood. She got close to his face and stared into his eyes.
