Sensational Six: Action and Adventure in Sci Fi, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

by Sasha White

  I didn’t pause. I knew he wasn’t dead. Probably wasn’t even hurt. However, I’d still enjoyed it.

  The Adversary jumped in front of us. Ploughed through Dear Old Dad, too. He chose to cling to the car and bellow. “Hellion child! Have you come to join us?”

  “Meet my father, one of the big baddies. We’re estranged.”

  “Good for you,” Johnson said.

  I put the car into a spin which took a variety of fallen angels by surprise. Some jumped or flew out of the way, but there were a few satisfying bumps before we finally came to a halt.

  The rest of our entourage followed our lead. I was particularly impressed with Bobby’s wife. She aimed right for Apollyon and did a spin at the same time. I was pretty sure she wiped out at least one fallen from the weight of the loaded Suburban alone.

  We waited until all our cars were parked, or at least close enough for government work. “Johnson, you’re going to need to pray, but in a specific manner. No naming bad guy names, including the Devil or Satan or Lucifer. Especially not Lucifer. You need to pray for the Gods and Monsters to save us, do you understand?”

  “No, not at all. However, I’m clear that, per Martin Luther, Father of the Reformation and Angel Superior, I’m to do what you say, period. What do I say, other than that?”

  “Nothing. I want you and all the other religious types to say that phrase, and that phrase only. ‘May the Gods and Monsters save us.’ Got it?”

  “Yes. Anything else?”

  I turned and looked right at him. “Yes. Remember this – when it comes down to it, it’s just your soul against the Prince. You can’t save anyone else if you aren’t saved yourself. You, more than many others, know this. You need to remember it now. You’ve been used, so you’ve been tainted. They’ll try to take you again. And no one can save you but you. Yahweh helps those who help themselves.”

  He nodded. “Got it.” Johnson leaned over Ralph and kissed Helen. “You’ll help with the others?”

  “Of course.” Helen released Ralph’s harness. “We’ll be fine, Gerald.”

  “Ralph, guard Benny. Benny, guard Ralph. You’re both going to be targets, big time.”

  Ralph put his head next to mine. “You be careful. You’re more of a target than I am now.”

  I nuzzled my face into his fur. “No worries. Just look at it as my side of the family being a bunch of back mountain wacko polygamists with scary religious views. I escaped the compound, they’re unhappy about my career and romance choices, the arranged shotgun wedding didn’t work out, and now I’m trying to run off with a long-haired militant.”

  He barked a laugh. “It’s scary how accurate that assessment is.”

  “Any other suggestions?” Benny asked.

  “No. But I do need one thing out of the bag of wonder.” I took the bag and rummaged through it. “If I touch the totem, will that harm me or anyone else?”

  “No, at least as far as I know.” Benny sounded worried. “Let me stress that I don’t know for sure.”

  I wrapped my hand around Adlet’s image. It felt as icky as it looked. “Well, what’s unlife without a little risk? Everyone ready?” Nods all around. “Great. Then let’s go rock the baddest guys in the baddest part of town.” I couldn’t help it, I started humming “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”.

  We all got out of the car. The rest of the civilian humans did the same. The Night Beat cops were already in typical standoff positions.

  I stepped away from the car. Ralph and Benny, holding tight to the bag, flanked me, with Sexy Cindy and Freddy flanking them. “You guys aren’t supposed to go to the front lines with me.”

  Sexy Cindy snorted. “Girl, as if. We came in with you, we go out with you.” She put her hand on Ralph’s head. “Like your dude says, a pack together can never be defeated.”

  “What she said.” Benny smiled. “We survived the car ride. Clearly the Gods and Monsters are on our side.”

  “Hilarious. Freddy, Ralph, any comments?”

  “Once more unto the breach, dear friends,” Freddy said.

  “Watch each other’s backs, fight for right, and bite your enemy where it counts.” Ralph looked up at me with the doggy grin on. “That was Black Wolf’s favorite.”

  “Then it’s good enough for me.”

  The Three A’s were back in formation. I checked out their minion support aside from Jack again. It was still light. A little too light, all things considered. But that confirmed which being I was pretty sure was waiting to make an impressive entrance now that we were here to see it.

  I thanked the Gods and Monsters I’d had Jude put the block in my mind. I also hoped Jude was monitoring my thoughts. The glow from the convergence chasm was so bright I could barely see the other side of the street, but after a little squinting and scanning I could just see him, in front of the Sanctuary Center.

  But Jude wasn’t who I was here to see. The Three A’s and Jack weren’t either. I took a deep breath and we sauntered over. “Yo, boys, how goes it in Evil Land?” I asked as we walked past them.

  “You dare,” Abaddon hissed.

  “Yeah, I do. Because, when it comes down to it, it’s me against the Prince.” The glow from the chasm got brighter. I grinned. “Or, in this case, it’s me against the Morning Star.”

  On cue, he rose up, like he was on a rotating platform, though I knew he wasn’t standing on anything but air. The light radiated from him like he truly was a star fallen to Earth. Then he faced me and I saw Lucifer for the first time.

  Unlike the other fallen angels, Lucifer was still beautiful to look at. I wondered how he both maintained that and wasn’t an object of massive suspicion because of it in the Depths. He was, I had to admit, the most beautiful angel I’d ever seen.

  He nodded to me. “Victoria.” Nice voice. Seductive.

  “Lucifer. Nice of you to join the party.”

  “My presence was…required.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at the Three A’s.

  “Yeah, well, I’d like to suggest you take your flunkies and go back to the Depths. We’ve dusted Hitler and his cronies, so you’re down a few, but you’re a go-getter, and I know you’ll find more. Just not here, and not now.”

  “That is not in our plan, Victoria, I’m sorry.”

  “Pity. It’s in mine. Oh, want to hear the rest of my plan?”

  “She’s willing to tell the beings representing ultimate evil but not her partners?” Benny whispered to Ralph.

  “Vic has her own style,” Ralph replied in kind. “It’s the kind of style that gives you ulcers, but it’s a style, nonetheless.”

  The Three A’s, Jack, and my darling mother flanked Lucifer. They were all glaring at me. Lucifer wasn’t. He was looking at me like I was an interesting creature, so far below him that concern wasn’t an issue. He inclined his head. “Please.”

  “We’re going to send you all back to the Depths of Hell, without any destruction of the planes of existence, without Armageddon…and without me.”

  He smiled. “We’ll see.”

  The Adversary and Jack both moved towards me, in lock step, which was beyond nauseatingly freaky. But Lucifer put his hand up. “You’ve already failed me.”

  “Minor setback,” Jack snarled.

  “Utter failure,” Lucifer replied. “I note who she’s standing with. Let me emphasize the word ‘with’.”

  Abaddon aimed his Hellfire bow at Ralph. “Not for long.”

  Lucifer sighed, reached out, and wrenched the bow from Abaddon’s hands. “You and your partner have also failed.” He looked around at the others. “In fact, I see nothing but failure as I look at all of you. A perfect plan, approved by the Prince himself, and yet you all managed to destroy it.” He looked back to me. “I’m sure you’re as disappointed in them as I am.”

  “Totally.” I had no idea where Lucifer was going with this. For all I knew, he’d snapped and was on the other side of crazy. But playing along until an opening presented itself was something I’d learned to do a lon
g time ago. “So, since the plan’s all wrecked, why don’t you all trundle along to plot another, better takeover bid, and we call it a night?”

  “No, it cannot be that easy. You destroyed our warlock.”

  “You left him there as punishment and you know it.”

  Lucifer smiled slowly. “True. He assured us all was in readiness, that nothing had been left to chance.” He pointed to Jack. “That you would do whatever he asked.” Lucifer shrugged. “Clearly Hitler was wrong. He and his direct reports have failed the Prince constantly over the years. They will be no loss to his Great Army.”

  “You’re not raising the Army of the Damned tonight, or any other night.”

  “What will you offer me in return if we do not?”

  This was a good question. Pity I didn’t have a good answer.

  Chapter 71

  I knew Lucifer had a plan, and that he expected me to figure out what it was so I could conveniently foil it and he could retreat with the rest of the minions. This whole thing had been his plan, after all. Set in motion centuries before, effective and terrifying, yet created to fail without blame resting on Lucifer himself.

  I was pretty sure the Prince wasn’t going to be appeased with the loss of the Three A’s or Lucifer. I was willing to dust them – well, the Three A’s, Jack, and my mother. My concern about what I’d do when face-to-face with Lucifer was coming true – I didn’t want to destroy him, I just wanted him to leave and take all the creeps with him.

  “We want what he holds,” the Adversary said, pointing to Benny.

  “No can do, Pops, sorry.”

  “You will refer to me as Father.”

  “I’ll refer to you as dust. I don’t respect you and never will.” I remembered what was in my hand. I looked at the Adversary and Jack. They were moving in unison, but they weren’t joined. “It backfired.”

  “What?” Lucifer asked pleasantly.

  “The plan to have me turn Jack into a werewolf.” I thought about it. “Because of me. Because I won’t join the Prince.”

  Jack snorted. “Why would you matter that much?”

  “Oh, please. This from the guy created to be my own personal will-o’-the-wisp to lure me to the Depths of Hell? Clearly I’m important.” I held up the totem of Adlet. “And I think this is why.”

  Apollyon made a sound of disgust. “That is your destruction, not ours.”

  “Not you and your partner’s, no. But I think it’s causing some problems for the Adversary. Werewolves are your weakness, aren’t they, Daddy-o?”

  “Hardly.” The Adversary changed to resemble Big Harp. “You have no understanding, no vision.”

  “I also don’t have a part of me infected with something deadly to me.” I looked at Jack. “You’re going to be destroyed. Not by me, but by your own, well, being. Because it can’t join you in any more, but still feels the effects of your…infection.”

  “That’s not true. Vic, you love being dramatic. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m stronger, faster, better.”

  “Yeah, uh huh. Show me how you walk as a wolf.”

  He growled. It was good, but it wasn’t as good as his had been before. “Drop and do me, bitch.”

  Ralph growled, and his truly was frightening. I put my hand on him and did the low talking with no lips moving thing. “Down, boy. Sit, stay. You jump, you engage right now, they win.”

  Jack smirked. “We win anyway.” So he had the werewolf hearing. Pity, but not the end of the world. I hoped.

  “I don’t think so.” I shifted to wolf form. It was hard, but I could keep a hold of the statue in my paw. “Feel free to destroy this now.”

  My mother hissed. “You evil, wanton girl!”

  “Oh, don’t start with me.” I looked to Lucifer. “See, here’s the thing. I think that, if I attack them now, holding this, they die. I think if I don’t attack them and they just go back into the Depths, they die. And I don’t think the Prince wants to lose this particular Adversary, does he?”

  Lucifer inclined his head. “This Adversary is particularly…effective, yes.”

  “Yeah. So, while we’re all here, first lines of defense all ready to go, let me point out a couple of things.”

  “Please do.”

  “First off, we have you surrounded. I know, I know, you’re the all-powerful baddies and such. But we have a lot of soldiers, undead and human. Sure, some of them might turn, but not most. And some of them will die or dust, but not all of them, and you’ll lose minions for sure, after having lost plenty already. Plus we have more firepower than you might be aware of.” I sincerely hoped.

  “Perhaps.” Lucifer smiled. “Any other points?”

  “Yep. We have all the people who Hitler conned into doing that nifty prayer that wasn’t really a prayer back on our side. But, they were so effective, we have them praying for us.”

  “Really? What are they praying for?”

  “You’ll find out.” I sincerely hoped. “Last point. I have this beyond-butt-ugly statue thing of Adlet and I’m not afraid to use it. If the rumors are true, it’s not going to create any issues for me in the short term and who knows about the long term?”

  “It will destroy your race,” Lucifer said calmly.

  “Worse than you all, the Adversary in particular, are already trying to?”

  Lucifer shrugged. “Good point. But still…to be the destroyer of your race. Are you willing to bear that burden?”

  I looked straight at him, right in his eyes. “If that’s what it takes to keep the Prince in the Depths and the planes of existence as they should be, then by all the Gods and Monsters – yes.”

  Lucifer nodded slowly. “Then…do what you must. What you feel is right.”

  Jude said I always knew what to do in these situations. But I had no idea. The base of my tail wanted a word, however, and the word was “Susan”. I broke eye contact with Lucifer and looked around. “Jack, where’s your girlfriend?”

  He grinned. “She was a lot more adaptable than you.”

  “You bit her?”

  “Of course.” He nodded towards my mother. “And joined her in. We like it better that way.”

  I looked and sure enough my mother shifted and there was a blonde chick who looked vaguely familiar standing there, smirking and looking like she’d won the Baby Daddy fight. She also, I realized without a lot of shock, resembled my mother. And they were both named Susan. How sweet. I managed to hold off on the gagging, but it was hard.

  However, this brought up an interesting point. My mother had never, as far as I’d known, shared her soul. Which meant either she’d changed her mind now, always a possibility, or she and Susan were somehow sharing a body. This was also possible. Good undeads almost never tried this. It had been done, but only in the most extreme of emergencies, and you’d really better like the being you were sharing with, because if you co-joined too long, it was permanent. It was a safe bet Susan and my mother had been co-joined long enough for this to last for eternity. Or until I dusted them.

  “So, you’re infected, and you infected your host, your mate, and your host’s mate. Wow, nice job, Jack.” It was. I wasn’t something the Jack Wagner I’d fallen in love with would have done, but it was clear I’d fallen in love with either the little part of him that was still good or I’d been fooled by the best. The base of my tail was betting on the latter.

  But it also brought up an interesting situation. The Adversary was clearly having issues with the werewolf parts. And two beings sharing one body, and then sometimes wanting to be a werewolf, too, was more strain than I figured either my mother’s mind or Susan’s were prepared for.

  So, if I left them alone and did nothing, they’d self-destruct over time. However, I was learning how Lucifer thought, and there was no way he would have planned that in as a possibility – it wouldn’t fly with the Prince and Lucifer had to make sure whatever he did had all the signs of working. I needed to figure out what my undercover counterpart expected me to do and actually do
it. And fast.

  I looked at the totem of Adlet in my hand. It was still hideous, but it looked different. I got the distinct feeling Adlet was not only truly trapped within it but also completely aware. So, what we were calling a statue or totem or whatever was really something else – a cage.

  Before I could do anything meaningful, I heard chanting. The humans were all repeating the prayer I’d given Johnson, police included. But there was sound from the other side of the street, where our forces were waiting. I strained.

  “Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and caldron bubble.” They were repeating it, over and over, just like the beings praying were. Clearly the Bard had taken charge.

  I looked down. The convergence chasm was acting funny, and considering it was already off the scales in terms of normalcy, this was worth noting. It looked, I had to admit, like it was bubbling.

  “Your team’s into cheerleading,” Jack said. “Not going to help.”

  I looked back and forth between him and my so-called parents. “Double, double. You’ve doubled yourselves up. Been a lot of toil and trouble. The fire burns below as the cauldron bubbles.” Benny was right – there were a lot more beings casting spells than I’d realized. Anyone could do it. Even me.

  I shifted back to human form. “Vic, what are you doing?” Ralph sounded worried. I figured my next move wouldn’t reassure.

  I threw the statue of Adlet right towards Jack’s head.

  Chapter 72

  The natural human and demon reaction when a projectile is heading towards them is to duck or catch it. Since most undeads had been human or demon, that instinct remained.

  The natural werewolf reaction is to catch it in your mouth.

  Experienced werewolves either ducked or turned into a form that could catch. But Jack wasn’t experienced.

  He also wasn’t very good at reacting now. If we hadn’t been in the Ultimate Undead Standoff, it would have been pretty comical to watch his body fight with itself. And because he didn’t know whether he had hands or paws, he caught it in his mouth.