Tainted (Netherworld Book II)

by Christie Rich

  A flippant response rushes out of me. “It’s always night somewhere on Earth.” Before he can respond, I hold up my hand, making myself tear my gaze away from the woman I love. “Thank you for your assistance. I do appreciate it, and I will take care of my duties. Give me a few minutes.”

  His stare remains hard. “Have you visited Peter yet?”

  Distracted once again, I answer with little more than a trite, “I will.”

  His tone demands I look at him. “Seth, I know your feelings for the girl. She is an extraordinary soul, not to mention beautiful, but you cannot let her affect you this much. Between Zed and I, we have covered half of your district, but we have overstepped our bounds already. We can do no more.”

  I push back from the desk and stand. “Very well. I will go.” I take one last glance at Amelia, hoping she will use her word if she needs to. I do not like lying to her, yet Ian is making a liar out of me.

  He says something about visiting Peter. “I shall when I return.”

  I don’t bother to listen to him anymore. Maybell tries to pin me down when I leave my office, but I deflect her approach and tell her I will see her when I return. Hopefully, I will get through my worlds quickly. There’s only one I’m truly worried about, and he’s on the mend. The rest can wait one more day for true intervention.

  Just as I’d hoped, most worlds are relatively clean. The dreams required are typically superficial, which doesn’t take too much time to prepare.

  When I reach the last world, I’m surprised. I expected it to take more than a month for Gregory to build his fortifications, but it’s only been a little over a week.

  As I approach the town, I appreciate the craftsmanship of the outer wall. Even though it is made of nothing but lumber, nails, and twine, it has a symmetry any architect would appreciate.

  Several young lads with shovels stop when I walk by. They’re building ramparts in strategic positions to make defending the fortress easier. The air is filled with the musky scent of upturned soil. The progress is such a good sign I allow a real smile onto my lips.

  Not only has Gregory been busy, he’s gotten tertiary inhabitants to do the menial tasks. Most dreamers don’t have the wherewithal to delineate such an intricate plan. This is refreshing and encouraging.

  “Hello there!” I yell to the top of the tower where Gregory works, hammering nails into the roof.

  He turns and smiles. “Seth! It’s great to see you.” He spreads his arms sideways in a gigantic arc, sweeping his domain. “What do you think?”

  “Nice work!” I yell back. “Will you come down?”

  He nods. “Be there in a jiff.”

  Taking no thought to injury, he jumps from the tower, landing beside me with a significant thud. I clap him on the back, intent on finding the information I require. He gives me a man hug before he steps away.

  I laugh. “It appears you are nearly finished.”

  Pride covers him. “Once I knew how to keep those bastards out of here, it was pretty simple to make progress.”

  Seeing as how all I told him was to not allow anyone into his compound, I ask, “What exactly have you been doing to keep them out?”

  A secretive glint lands in his eyes. “The minute they get close to the fence, the warning goes off.” Before I can ask, he says, “Here, let me show you.”

  He races for an unseen spot in the distance. His head shifts right then left before he spins, serious faced. “Imagine I’m one of them soul suckers,” he yells.

  I nod, frowning for show. His intuition astounds me. I may have found my newest recruit, and all I had to do was give up a piece of Richard’s soul to get him; which reminds me, I need to check on the boy. I’m not sure he’s found his way to headquarters again. One gets disoriented for a while after a disjoining occurs.

  Gregory moves slowly, his thumbs shoved through his belt loops. His boots kick up dust into swirls around him, which are carried away on the breeze. He stops short. “This is where they’d be detected, and the town goes on lockdown. Everyone has been instructed to bolt inside whenever the alarm sounds, so the fiends won’t have no easy pickin’s. Then I come out. Without you here, I had to improvise.” He reaches behind him and pulls out a pistol. He takes it off safety, aims, and fires at a tree in the distance. A blast of light lasers into the tree, splintering it where it stands. A massive crack splits the air moments before half the tree crashes to the ground.

  I’ve never seen such a sophisticated weapon’s design come from a human. And this man is most definitely human. I study the tree as I make my way to his side. Since this is his world, his rules apply. It’s time I become familiar to those rules.

  “That’s quite a piece,” I say, taking it from his outstretched hand. The weapon is easy to grip and light, making it ideal for small hands. That being said, it would work fine for those of us with slightly larger digits.

  “Thanks. I modified a few guns I had in the jail. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “This is your town, Gregory. I’m merely the sheriff. Since I can’t always be here, I’m pleased you came up with such an ingenious solution.”

  A frown grows. “You sure do talk funny. What parts are you from, anyway?”

  My lips press together. I should have acclimated to his dialect already. I make a concentrated effort. “Oh, don’t mind me. That’s my book learnin’ showin’. I come from Cowastoka, in Statesville territory.”

  Lightning fast, his eyes pop out. “Phewey, you are far from home. What brings you this way?”

  He’s sizing me up, now that he has his world under control. I smile. “This and that. I just like explorin’.”

  Suspicion tints his words. “You don’t say? I’m a homebody, myself. Never liked takin’ the chance of losin’ what I’ve got for what might or might not be out there.”

  I head for the gates, looking back at him to urge him to follow. This is it. He will either fire his gun at me or let me in. I don’t have time to chat with him. “It certainly isn’t for everyone. Your citizens are lucky to have such a dedicated leader.”

  He shrugs. “I don’t take to kindly to those who want to harm my people.”

  I turn and smile at him. “As it should be. How are they farin’?”

  He motions for me to enter the gates then follows me in. “We’re progressin’ nicely, if I do say so myself. Even the younguns come out for school now.”

  I stop and take in the street with the freshly painted buildings, shining glass, and tidy walkways. “It appears you don’t need my help, after all.”

  His head dips to the side. “I don’t know ‘bout that. I wouldn’t mind you checkin’ in now and again, just to make sure we’re okay.”

  I smile. “Sure thing. I’ll be around.” With my work complete, I turn to leave, then hesitate. “If you do ever get the desire to go explorin’, let me know. There’s a whole world out there with places that could use a good man like you to help.”

  His eyes glisten with a golden light. He nods. “I’ll keep that in mind, Seth. Thanks.”

  In sincere honesty, I shake my head. “You did the work. I’ll be by periodically to check on you.”

  “Godspeed, my friend.”

  He’s at my side, his eyes filled with hopeful promise. I take his hand. “And you, as well.” I eye his gun, wondering if it will work in other worlds. Amelia could use something to keep the riffraff away. “Do you mind if I take one of these? A man can never have too much protection.”

  He pulls the gun from its perch. “There’s plenty to go around.” He gives a sheepish grin, but there’s something I can’t name behind it. “I actually modified more than just a few.”

  I tuck the pistol into the back of my jeans and give him a dip of my chin. “Thanks. This might just come in handy a time or two.”

  “You let me know if you need more. Even though I don’t want to leave here, I ain’t heartless. If those creatures are buggin’ other towns, I’d like to help anyway I can. All I need are supplies and a bit of tim
e.”

  “You’re a good man, Gregory. Take care.”

  “Likewise.”

  The gates close behind me, securing the inhabitants within. As night closes, no residents remain outside. Gregory is one to watch.

  Brock is the most stubborn sucker I’ve ever met. He won’t leave, no matter what I tell him. If we keep arguing, Seth’s gonna come barging in here, and all my well laid plans will be nothing but rubble at my feet. His words are meant to alarm me. Too bad for him I know people. Seth still has his secrets, but nothing like Brock, here. He’s brimming with them. He thinks all he has to do is flash his pretty smile, and I’ll melt into a gooey pool at his feet? No thanks.

  “You’re annoying,” I say. “Anyone ever tell you?”

  Since he isn’t going to leave, I head for the forest. He tags along beside me, not saying a word.

  After a few blissful minutes of silence, he ruins it by opening his mouth. “You don’t even care? How can you be so calloused to your own people?”

  I stop and face him. “My own people? What a joke! Only a few people have ever shown kindness to me, and most of those were out of pure lonely desperation. Up until a few months ago, I had Justine, but she was all. The only other people who have ever really cared about me have not been people at all according to you. Why don’t you run back to my father and tell him I’m a lost cause?”

  His jaw tightens. “Because you aren’t. Somewhere within you is a part of him. He may not have been the best dad around, but he’s one hell of a guy. He’d like to see you, you know. The least you could do is to give him a chance to explain.”

  To keep myself from face-palming this guy, I take a deep breath. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m busy. You need to leave.” I level what I hope is a withering stare at him and say, “Buh-bye.” I walk away, and thankfully this time he doesn’t follow.

  When I enter the trees, I hear what sounds like: “You’re going to regret this.”

  I waive over my shoulder. Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

  The forest buzzes with sounds of crickets, chirping things, and rustling leaves. I make my way to the meadow, counting backward from ten to one. My heart thuds a hurried rhythm, but I refuse to let fear into my heart. The occupants of this place have to obey me. This is my world.

  Less perturbed, I take a step into the clearing, letting the sun warm my face. The floral fragrance intoxicates me until I’m smiling. I hurry to the middle of the meadow, not bothering to look at the forest. It’s mine again.

  Something rustles the bushes behind me. I whirl, startled, but not afraid. Yet.

  A fawn stumbles out into the open. It can’t be more than a few hours old. To my surprise, nothing else follows it. Where’s its mother?

  It lifts its nose into the air, sniffing. I stand still, not wanting to scare the poor little thing. After a while of staring, it comes forward on wobbly legs. Even though I would like to comfort the thing, I also don’t want to do anything to upset it.

  Two feet away, it stops. “Hello there,” I say in a sing-song voice. “Where’s your momma?”

  It continues to stare, taking small steps closer. I hold out my hand, and it stops. My breath catches. Even the breeze dies down. Finally, it edges forward to sniff my hand. This is a good sign. Now that I’m sure it isn’t going to go bolting away, I sit beside it. It nudges closer until its face is level with mine. Without warning it licks my cheek.

  I laugh, enjoying the tickling sensation on my skin. The goo, not so much. I lift my hand to wipe it away then scrub the residue on my pants.

  I catch a glimpse of something dark as I lift my hand to its head again. When I bring my palm closer, it’s covered in black, sticky stuff. A pit forms in my stomach. Of course this couldn’t be easy.

  I stand up, wary of what should be a docile creature. In seconds, the fawn grows into a full-blown stag with horns that could pierce right through me.

  Don’t freak out, I warn myself, but my pulse isn’t obeying. The eyes, once a deep brown glow red as hot coals, and the breath it puffs out stinks of rotten garbage.

  Not again. This can’t be happening again.

  I take a step back and the thing grows another foot higher. Crap. I can’t let it drive me out. This is my world. Despite the stench, I pull in a long breath, hoping to calm myself.

  “Go away,” I command the thing, stiffening my spine with my resolve. It merely blinks. When it opens its mouth, a storm of flies rush toward me. I hold up my hands to ward off the things, then immediately lower them, pissed as hell the darkness is still here. “Get out!” I yell.

  More and more flies zip around me until one lands right on my nose. I squash it and fling the remains to the ground. My anger jumps and sizzles inside me until I let out a roar that is swallowed up by the trees. Instead of responding to my demands, the stag grows a few more inches. I might as well be a child for how tall it is now.

  Every time I make a demand, it gains more power, spitting vile creatures from its mouth faster than I can make out what they are. All I know is that they are filth and just . . . icky.

  I’m so sick of this thing mucking up my world that, without even thinking about it, I snap my arms forward and clamp its mouth shut. It rears back, but I manage to hold on, my feet dangling a few feet from the ground.

  I’m still in survival mode, so all I can think to do is the same thing as I did to Kelsby. I let myself think about this stag and its beauty and majesty being tainted by this filth. My thoughts rush forward until I can imagine the creature clean and strong.

  He should be the king of this forest, not a subject of the darkness inside him . . . inside my mind. I let the light inside me build until I can’t hold it a second longer. It pulses through my fingertips in blinding waves of pure white light.

  The swirling mass attacks me, zinging against my skin, biting and trying to burrow inside me. The stag bucks and flails, but only for a few moments. He goes still to stare at me. It’s impossible to know what a deer is thinking, but if I had to guess, I’d say he was relieved.

  I continue to pour light into him until he literally glows from the inside. Gone are the demon eyes and putrid breath. The insects on my arms grow hot until they burst into shiny sparks. The destruction spreads to those swirling around us, which begin to twitch and fall from the air, exploding into dying embers as they descend toward the ground. Not even ash remains.

  I heave a massive sigh, my legs wobbling. With them gone what’s left is a marvel of nature that happens to be standing eye to eye with me. When I release his muzzle, he remains still. We stare at each other for a while until I wonder if he’s waiting for me to dismiss him. I pat his head and motion for the forest.

  His big brown eyes blink before he turns and trots away. The trees swallow him, and I can’t help but be relieved he’s gone. Clapping comes from one side.

  I expect Brock, but Seth is the one who walks out of the forest. His smile scrunches his eyes up in the corners, which makes me smile back.

  “Well done,” he says. “You are a marvel.”

  I take a bow, laughing. “Did you ever doubt me?”

  His swagger is in full force. He’s in his element in the Dreamscape; nothing can stop him, and no one could ever outshine him. “Not at all. I only came because the boy was here. Where did he go?”

  I grimace, my frustration back instantly. “I told him to leave. I just hope he did.”

  Seth pauses, glancing around the meadow. “I detect no sign of him. Are you done here?”

  I frown, both confused and worried. “You’d know that better than I would.”

  He chuckles. “The corruption is gone, but what I’m concerned about is your state of mind. Are you ready to leave?”

  I’d like to tell him what he wants to hear, but I need to make sure Brock has vacated my pad. The thing is I don’t want Seth tagging along. This is my world, and I have to take care of it. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

  Seth waits in the meadow while I check out parts of the forest
and the pool. There’s no sign of Brock. When I’m satisfied, I join Seth once again.

  He extends his elbow. “I need your help. Something isn’t right at headquarters. I don’t know what it is, and I could use a pair of fresh eyes . . . if you’re up for it.”

  The thought of going back there and facing Peter trips up my heartbeat. I’m not sure I’m ready for a reunion with him just yet, but we don’t have time for me to get used to the idea. With my mind made up, I slip my arm around his and fall into step beside him. “So what’s going on?”

  He shakes his head. “I wish I knew. It’s a feeling, and I’ve learned to never discount what could be my only warning.”

  “Is it Peter?”

  His hesitance to answer leaves a heavy weight in my insides. “I think it’s Kelsby. I have not yet visited my brother.”

  The constant pressure of uncertainty has nowhere to linger within me with Amelia by my side. Witnessing such an awe inspiring cleansing more suited to a true Oneiroi has left me speechless. I had hoped to sort things out with Zed and Ian before I came for Amelia, but with Brock here, I couldn’t risk it. Even with her abilities, she is vulnerable.

  The boy wants something from her, but he has yet to reveal his true intentions. I remain silent as we travel, giving Amelia time to collect her thoughts. At some point, I hope she will trust me enough to confess all her doubts and worries, but until then, her secrets will remain hers.

  As tempting as it is for me to delve into her mind, I’ve made the decision to deny myself. If I desire a lasting relationship with her, which I most assuredly do, I must remain her equal. To do otherwise would only lead to mistrust and heartache for both of us.

  It takes some time, but she finally speaks. “Thanks for letting me handle it.”

  I reach out to pull her close. “Of course. As you said, it is your world and your right.”

  She glances at me a time or two, as if appraising my mood. When I’m quite certain she’s not going to comment, I ask, “Is there something you wish to discuss, Amelia?”