by Aaron Crash
“I’ll go down and escort her up,” Jack said.
He had a bad feeling in his belly. Was it because he lost her? Or was it because of something else?
Chapter Thirty-Seven
PINETREE TALKED MORE with the angel and demon, while Jack walked through the bar and down to the parking lot just as Annie walked up. She was in a black dress with knee-high black boots and a black cloak. It was the big plastic scythe that gave her away.
“Hey, Death,” Jack said with a smile.
“Uh, I’m a Reaper actually.” Annie smiled back. “Not the Grim Reaper because I’m too good-natured and optimistic. Call me the Confused Reaper. Am I too late for the party? I had another thing I had to go to.”
“Did Evelyn tell you about our little get together?” Jack asked.
She nodded. For a Grim Reaper, she didn’t go with the full skull makeup, just a rough outline. Her hair was pulled back from her face in a simple ponytail. As ever, she was girl-next-door pretty. His type if you didn’t count angels, demons, and the occasional stripper or volleyball player.
They both stood there, looking into each other’s faces a bit too long.
“Is everything okay?” Jack asked.
Annie’s face lost all expression. She then furrowed her brow. “Jack, I know you and I were getting flirty before...before my accident, or disappearance, or whatever. And I think I’m almost ready to date again, but I’m not polyamorous. It seems like you are, according to Evelyn, only she calls you and those two other girls swingers, or ‘in the lifestyle.’” Annie air-quoted the words. “I guess that’s what they used to say in the 1970s. I like Evelyn, but she can be so old-fashioned. Anyway, I don’t think we can date, but you saved us at the bank, and I trust you. Am I rambling? I feel like I’m rambling.”
Jack held his thumb and forefinger about a quarter inch apart. “Only this much.” Every word she said was a fresh dagger in his heart. He’d already gone through this once.
“Can I tell you something weird?” Annie asked. Before he could answer, she went off on another ramble. “I keep having dreams, of you, but you have this big gun, and you’re with those girls, only they aren’t exactly human. One is a demon, and one is an angel, though they’re both really sweet. The dreams aren’t that weird, I guess, but do they mean anything to you?”
Jack had no idea what to say. This was his first time dealing with someone after they’d had their mind wiped. He remembered what Annie said before, that she wanted to forget. And Gabby insisted that giving Annie a normal human life was a blessing.
Jack shrugged. “Dreams are weird. And what you said before, about me, Bailey, and Gabby? I love ’em. But I wish things...I wish things would’ve worked out differently.”
Annie was slow to answer. “Yeah. Me too. But who knows? I might be okay with the poly thing at some point. I’m still getting over my whole disappearance act. Wanna hear something weird?”
“Tell me.”
Annie cast her eyes down. “I think I don’t want to remember. If that makes any sense. They call it dissociative amnesia. That makes me sound crazy, but I feel relatively normal.” She then looked into his eyes again. “Except that sometimes when I touch fruits or vegetables, they turn black and rot. But that’s not strange, is it?”
That made him laugh. “Really?”
“No!” she said with a bit too much laughter. “I can eat salad just like the next girl. I just need to use a fork.”
It sounded like a joke, but he wasn’t sure.
Jack offered her his arm, and she took it. Arm in arm, they walked up the steps to the rooftop. Jack felt the Septua energies inside her, and, yes, she did have elevated Decaysia levels. What did that mean? He didn’t know, but being with Annie, even as friends, made him feel good in a way he couldn’t quite explain.
Up on the bar’s rooftop, Evelyn Mundi let out a yell when she saw Annie. “I’m so glad you came!” The middle-aged woman stormed over to give Annie a huge hug. Evelyn then introduced her all around.
Moms handled it well, but Aunt Sue stared at Annie a bit too long. Then she nodded. “Oh, it’s Jackie’s girlfriend from the bank. The one that disappeared.”
“Just a friend.” Annie didn’t let her smile dim. “And I’m back. I was in Vegas, doing magic and reaping souls.” She made a cutting motion with her plastic scythe.
Aunt Sue lit a cigarette. “When the Grim Reaper comes to me I’m going blow smoke in his face and call him a pussy.”
Annie rolled with it. “I’m sure death has heard it all, right?”
She then got pulled into a conversation with Evelyn about work.
Jack drifted over to the skull fire and sat down. Seeing Annie again had shaken him a bit. However, Gabby gave him an encouraging look from where she stood at the railing, talking with Pinetree and Bailey.
As for the demon, she threw Annie a look of longing followed by a hateful glare. Talk about mixed signals. Annie seemed not to notice, or she was doing a good job pretending.
Hugo sat down next to him. The guy was smiling. “Jack, I wanted to say thanks again, from me and my mom. I can move on now. And she went back to work at the bank. With Annie. But I think you knew that.”
Jack nodded, but he didn’t talk about how he’d had visions of Evelyn Mundi’s various potential lifespans. And he wasn’t going to mention how sapphically sexual his mother was. It was best not to think about the sex lives of your parents.
“I’m glad you and your mom are okay,” Jack said simply.
Hugo had seemed normal for a minute, flirting with Sally, drinking Cokes, just a guy at a bar. But then a wild light filled his eyes. “But I have to warn you, Jack. You’re going to be a part of the Time War. But I think you knew that.”
“Time War?” Jack felt a shiver go down his spine. The fire burning in the eyes and mouths of the skull took on a diabolical light.
Hugo nodded. “The Tempus Bellum, the war that is now but not yet. The war that has always been but never was. You’re going to be on the front lines eventually, just as you are fighting it right now. And you will have your brides with you, in the infinite battle, and you will all witness the rise of the Mistress of Death, as she assumes powers beyond imagination. I have been chosen as your messenger by forces I cannot understand. And my mother is the mother of the messenger. Both mother and son, sacred and powerful, will serve the surviving son, the sixth son of the sixth son of the sixth son. As the Time Knight, you serve the Influunt, and we will serve you.”
Jack definitely heard the “THE” that time.
“Sacred and powerful,” Jack whispered. He had to grin. So that was why Kerrata was drawn to Evelyn. She was the mother of the Time Knight’s messenger.
“And what about Annie?” Jack asked.
The light filling Hugo’s eyes left them. The strange guy shrugged, then smiled. “I don’t know. She might not be important anymore, but she was, because you loved her. And your love is powerful.”
“What is this about a Mistress of Death?” Jack asked.
Hugo shrugged. “I don’t know. Did I say that? I don’t remember saying that.”
Jack opened his mouth to insist that Hugo give him more of his prophecy, but it was obvious the sweaty guy was back to being his normal old self.
Jack sighed. If this Mistress of Death did rise up, if it was Annie, Jack would stop time and figure it out. Until then, he’d live his life one day at a time.
Jack found himself smiling at Bailey and Gabby, who were both dancing to some old classic rock song, something by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. But seeing his demon and angel, dancing, having fun, being carefree, filled him with more happiness than he could say.
A message flashed through his vision.
Current Nefesh: 300/300
His love had filled his soul, right up to the top.
Evelyn brought his mom and aunt over. Annie was with them, looking unsure of herself, as her eyes flickered over to the angel and demon dancing. It was clear Annie was going to leave with Evelyn and
everyone else.
Evelyn helped her son stand. “You’ll have to drive us home, Hugo. And I hope you got that nice girl’s phone number. She really seemed to like you.”
Hugo blushed. “I did, Mom. Don’t worry. I know how much you want grandchildren.”
That made Moms sigh. “Yeah, Jack, do you hear that? Some of us want grandchildren.”
Aunt Sue made a face. “Rosie, the last thing you and I need is to babysit. And you know if Jack does knock up one of those little sluts he’s with, we’ll have to babysit.”
“I’m not a slut, Susan,” Gabby called over.
“I am so fucking slutty!” Bailey yelled.
Jack’s mom looked worried for a second, and then she hugged him. “Thanks, Jack, for the money. I don’t know where you got it. I worry, but Aunt Sue and I feel safe and taken care of. Just like when your father and brothers were alive.”
Jack felt his heart swell. They’d both lost so much, but keeping his mom safe and happy felt like his greatest accomplishment yet. He gave her a big hug.
He even kissed Aunt Sue’s cheek, but the mean old woman wiped it off. “Yes, yes, don’t get mushy on me, Jack Masterson.”
Gabby and Bailey came over to say goodbye. Gabby shook Annie’s hand a bit too long. The blonde’s smile was as brilliant as her halo, which gleamed a bit brighter. “I know we haven’t met, Annie, but I would hope we can get to know you better. Both Evelyn and Jack have such nice things to say about you.”
Annie blushed. “Well, Jack is a good man, despite being an asshole. And Evelyn is the best as well. She’s my work wife.”
“She wishes,” Bailey spit. She stood with her arms crossed.
Annie couldn’t meet the demon’s hateful gaze. “Well, we should be going.”
“Wait.” Bailey had tears shimmering in her eyes. “Annie, you were very important to Jack. Just because he’s with us doesn’t mean...that...you know, you and he can’t be friends. And maybe I’m stupid enough to be your friend. Because you are so sweet and kind. Can I hug you? I feel like I need to hug you.”
Annie tried not to wince, but Bailey’s overly emotional reaction had turned the whole encounter super weird.
“You can hug me.” Annie let out an eep when the demon hugged her hard. And for way too long.
Annie’s eyes were pleading with Jack to end it, but it was Gabby who saved the day. “Come on, Bailey, you’ve imbibed a bit too much of the intoxicating liquors as served by our host Pinetree. No need to make Annie feel uncomfortable.”
“I’m not drunk!” Bailey snapped. Then she rolled her eyes. “And Annie is so full of Decaysia she’s the one making us feel uncomfortable.”
“Decaysia?” Annie asked.
Evelyn was smart enough to end things before they spiraled further out of control. “So, on that note, we’re going to go. Bye, everyone!”
Pinetree escorted them out. Jack watched them leave, then turned. “How much Decaysia was in Annie? I knew it was high, but not that high.”
“It wasn’t terrible,” Gabby said. “And she has been feeling down. Who can blame her? Being kidnapped and dragged to hell can’t be easy. Human bodies aren’t meant to be subjected to that much Decaysia.”
Bailey sniffed. “That’s probably why she has all that death energy. And there’s probably a part of her that hates her decision to have me wipe her memory. She probably spends her nights wishing she was in bed with us, loving us, gently, sweetly, for hours on end.”
“Are you drunk?” Jack asked.
A dark look stormed over Bailey’s face. “No, and I hate that Annie girl. Can we just not fucking talk about Annie for five fucking minutes?”
Gabby took Bailey’s hand. “I’m sorry she’s not with us as well.”
Jack shrugged. “Well, that might change. Hugo talked about my brides, and that we’d watch the rise of the Mistress of Death.” He then told the girls about his conversation with Annie.
Bailey cut him off. She truly didn’t want to talk about Annie anymore, but Jack thought that maybe, just maybe, Annie might join them. Life was long, the universe was strange, and anything was possible.
It was way past midnight, but Jack didn’t want to go home. He sat down in front of the real fire this time. He’d thought about bringing his guitar, but he wasn’t good enough yet to play in public. He’d get there, though. He’d get there.
Bailey climbed onto his lap, and Gabby pulled a chair up close. They all watched the sweet pine burn.
Jack thought of his adventures, thought of Annie, and his heart felt full. His life felt complete, like he’d never imagined it could. Yes, he might not have Annie, but he had Bailey and Gabby.
All of them were silent in the sacred night.
On a whim, Jack touched his thumb to the tattoo.
The flames stopped dancing.
Gabby turned to him, eyebrows raised. “Why did you stop the Influunt?”
“Do you wanna fuck?” Bailey asked hopefully.
Jack laughed and squeezed the demon on his lap close. He interlaced his fingers into Gabby’s. He could feel the souls in the angel and the demon. They weren’t your normal minions of heaven or hell anymore. They were something different. Well, so was he.
Jack let out a satisfied breath. “I wanted to stop time because I could die in this moment, with you both, with our victory, and with our current troubles behind us. I wanted to pause this moment, and enjoy it, really enjoy it.”
Bailey’s eyes filled with tears. She was struck speechless. For being a soulless succubus, she sure did have a soft heart.
Gabby kissed him gently. “To see a World in a Grain of Sand, and a Heaven in a Wild Flower. To hold Infinity in the palm of your hand and Eternity in an hour.”
Bailey laughed even as tears rolled down her face. “That’s so lame. Did you just come up with that?”
“It’s from a poet, William Blake,” the angel whispered. She kissed Jack again. Her eyes then turned to Bailey, and they were soft, full of love.
The demon didn’t respond, she just laid her head on Jack’s shoulder.
They watched the frozen flames—time stopped—so they could all enjoy that eternal moment.
When Jack started time again, he knew that this was only one second in their long life together. He’d enjoy it all for as long as he could. For a guy who could stop time, that just might be forever.
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Looking for more from Aaron Crash, and need it right this minute? Check out: Boss Build (Creature Girl Creations Book 1). Or keep reading to take a sneak peek.
ROY BOSS, THE CEO OF VentureForge Industries, just woke up in a different galaxy.
He’s lost his company and his body, and the man who murdered him might still be alive. The good news is he’s on Plymouth, an almost mythical world where monsters are designed and printed for Roy’s game worlds. First order of the day: print himself a superpowered body and get back what’s his.
But everything isn’t as it seems. The research lab he arrived in is deserted except for a few
dead security guards, and the streets outside are filled with thousands of robot dogs programmed for one single purpose: kill Roy Boss.
Fortunately, Roy has an entire catalog of savior-class monster girls he can print up to help him clean house, each with their own powers, transformations, and fetishes. Hit Print for justice, for satisfaction, and for the love of the game.
From Aaron Crash, bestselling author of Barbarian Outcast and the American Dragon series, comes a brand-new world that will leave you turning pages late into the night.
Chapter One
FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE he was murdered, Roy Boss walked through the halls of VentureForge’s headquarters. Not only was he the CEO of VentureForge, but he’d also helped design the space station orbiting Paizo IV.
That afternoon, the afternoon of his second death, he was on the twentieth floor on his way to the executive conference room. The reinforced windows gave him a nice view of Paizo’s main continent, a brilliant green against the blue ocean. It was a good location for his HQ, the Paizins were nice, and the Paizo Stargate could take you anywhere in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Roy was dressed in slacks, a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and his good leather walking shoes. While he could’ve used the personnel movers on the space station, Roy preferred to walk. His pace was brisk, and he had a rundown of the latest stats from the new gaming world he was opening, Dungeon Core III, still in production, near the Gygax Stargate.
It was the first working day back from the holiday break, January 3, 3115. Though humans had spread out across the galaxy, they still tracked time using the Terran calendar and celebrated the Terran holidays.
Roy felt like a schoolboy playing hooky. His board of directors had fifteen other projects and reports they would rather he be working on. He was past arguing with them, and Ennis Tolliver in particular. They had their agenda, and it didn’t include dungeons.
As for Roy? Given his personal history, the games were everything. All he wanted was to make the monsters for his gaming worlds bigger and more spectacular. Joyce Halcyon, his main contact with the mysterious monster manufacturers of Plymouth, said her people were working on a new generation of creatures that could do literally anything, from breathing fire to casting energy spells.
