by M. R. Forbes
The vampire led us over to an elevator, separate from the rest. "It will take you straight up," he said when the doors opened. We stepped in, and went up.
We ascended to the penthouse, and the elevator doors parted to reveal a huge, open living space. It had lots of white leather furniture, some rare artwork, ancient Chinese vases, and some strange apparatus hanging from the ceiling. Attached to the chains and leather were two female vampires, both in skimpy leather something or others, their backs raw and bleeding.
Darya stepped out from in front of them to greet us. She was an ugly one, with features too large for her head, straw-like black hair, and a gaunt frame that made everything on her face look even bigger. She was wearing a simple white frock, and red stiletto heels.
"Charis, I thought you were on our side?" she reached up and unclasped the two vampires. "Go get cleaned up," she Commanded. They rushed off to another part of the apartment.
"I'm on my own side," she replied. "And Landon's."
Darya's smile was crooked. "So the Demon Queen is who now, I wonder?"
The question made me wonder too. It had been Charis, but that had been while her allegiance had trended evil. Then it was Rebecca, but she was dead. I imagine Ardat Lili could have made a claim, but she hadn't survived either. "Maybe it's you?" I said. "Although, I don't know if you want the title. Demon Queens don't seem to have much of a future lately."
She laughed. "Too true. Especially with the Beast making a mess of things."
"You know about the Beast?" Charis asked.
"I've heard the news reports, and I've been in touch with some lesser demons from New York who told me about a massive battle over a church. A church that you were supposed to be holed up in."
"We had to abandon ship," I said. "Anyway, the million dollar question is, where do you stand with the Beast?"
"Do you mean am I a servant?" She scowled. "I serve none but myself, and the Beast is threatening to ruin my lifestyle. Why do you think I let you up?"
"What do you know about a djinn who's been rumored to be hanging out in the city?" I asked.
"More than a little," she replied. "What is it worth to you?"
It was my turn to smile. "I think a better question is, what is it worth to you? That djinn may be our only chance of stopping the Beast from ruining your lifestyle."
She pursed her lips. "That is an enticing offer," she said. "I'll tell you what. You make a deal with me, in blood, that you'll leave me to control Moscow and its surrounds, unimpeded, for a hundred years, and I'll tell you everything I know."
"I'll give you one hundred years, if you promise not to reach outside of your area for more power. Plus, I want fifty of your best fighters."
"You're bargaining for my vampires?"
"And your weres. The djinn is useless if we can't get close to the Beast. If you've heard the news, you know he'll have a possessed army in the thousands by the time we go after him."
"Fifty won't be near enough to help you with that," she said.
"It will keep them busy. The possessed are mortal after all. Still, you're probably right. Let's make it a hundred years, for a hundred vampires and weres, plus everything you know about the djinn."
She looked down at her feet, and ground her stiletto into the floor while she thought. "Fine," she said at last. "I'll have them meet you at the rift in one hour."
She reached out with a finger and used her nail to slice open her arm. I cut my thumb again, and pressed it to her. "Deal," I said. The weight of it was heavier this time.
"His name is Kafrit. He's been in Moscow since Stalin was running the place, though he doesn't like to talk about those days. Before that, he spent a thousand years in Iran. You can usually find him in Solntsevo, running with the Brotherhood. He likes the high stakes games they play, and the men they can provide him. When he's laying low, he usually takes the form of a big black dog."
"Do you know about the rumors?"
"You mean soul extraction? I've heard he can do it, but I've never seen it done. Angels don't take souls, and demons never want to give up the power they've gained willingly. You'd want to part with the power of the Great Were?"
I didn't really, at least not while we still had the Beast to stand up against, but I had no choice. "It's complicated," I said. "Lots of math."
She laughed. "Tell the Brotherhood that Darya sent you. It will make things easier."
"On us, or on them?" Charis asked.
She didn't answer. "Unless you'd like to stay and take a turn in the machine with me, I believe our business is done." She motioned to the chains hanging from the ceiling.
"I think we're done," I said. "Remember the deal. One hour."
"You remember the deal, diuscrucis. One hundred years. Not a second less... But maybe a little more." She laughed, and walked away, headed in the same direction the vampires had gone.
"So, Solntsevo it is," I said. "Let's go get Obi so he can Google it for us."
Charis nodded. I could see the apprehensiveness return to her expression. I put my hand on her face.
"It'll be okay," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
She put her hand over mine and gave me a forced smile. "Thanks for trying," she said.
We made our way back to the elevator, and out onto the street. Obi had given me directions to the Starbucks from our current location, and I traced them in my mind as we walked, hoping I got them right. I was pleased when the little green mermaid-circle came into view.
They were all sitting around a table, paper cups spread among them. Alichino was in the corner, looking impatient.
"It's about time," he said when he saw us. He hopped over the table. "I don't know how you stand this stuff. It tastes like somebody took one of my craps and let it soak in hot water for a while."
"Awww, man," Obi said. "That's disgusting."
The demon turned and picked up Obi's extra-syrup, extra-espresso latte. "This is disgusting."
"Nectar of the gods, man," he said, taking it from Alichino and downing the last swallow.
"I doubt that."
"Did you find him?" Sarah asked.
"We have a lead," I said. "We need to get to Solntsevo. Obi, can you look it up?"
He took out his phone and started putting it in. "Twenty four kilos," he said. "We're gonna need a van or something."
I turned and headed outside. There was a UPS truck stopped across the street. I ducked my head back in. "I found a ride."
We piled in, with Obi taking the wheel. The driver came out of the office across the street just in time to watch us pull way. I felt kind of bad for the guy. Sarah thought it was hilarious.
"Did you see his face?" she asked.
I let her have her laugh. The opportunities were few and far between as it was.
It was about an hour to the small city, a city that I had expected to look a little more slummy, based on Darya's description of its inhabitants. I was surprised to find it reminded me of pretty much anywhere in the developed world. Sure, it had its older apartment buildings, its warehouses, and its seedy looking characters, but so did New York.
"An hour drive, great," Obi said. "We need to make this quick, man. How many people do you think the Beast can have kill each other in an hour?"
I had felt the balance sliding. Mumbai was big, but it was still only a fraction of the world population. It would take more than one city to trip the wire. At the same time, India as a whole had a lot of people, and the Beast's power was like a virus, spreading from soul to soul until it had covered the earth. It's speed would increase with each passing minute.
"That's an interesting question," Alichino said. "If you-"
"Spare us," Obi said.
"There's only one way to do this," I said. "Stop the truck."
They all looked at me curiously, but Obi pulled the truck to a stop. I hopped down and took a deep breath, focusing on strengthening my lungs.
"Kafriiiiittttttt," I shouted, as loud as I could. It was lou
d enough that the mortals who couldn't register my existence in their minds all stopped, dead silent, and looked around for it's source. I waited, and then shouted again.
Within a few minutes, a few muscle-bound guys in black cargos and grey vests turned up. Fiends.
"Hey guys," I said.
The looked at me, confused. There were still a few demons out there who didn't know about me, I guess.
"Do you know Kafrit? I need to talk to him."
"What do you want with Kafrit?" the biggest one asked. He was almost big enough to put Ulnyx's Were form to shame.
"Extraction," I said.
He looked at his two buddies, and charged me.
I only had two seconds to react, so I focused and leaped, up and over the raging bull, coming down on the other side, between his friends. They reached out for me, and I planted an enhanced fist in each of their faces, sending them sprawling. The big one turned and came back at me, throwing a heavy fist towards my gut. I caught it, and tossed him to the ground too.
"Kafrit?" I asked again. They all regained their feet, while the rest of the gang rushed over. When the three fiends noticed them, they put up their hands.
"He doesn't want to see anyone," the big one said.
"Does he want to continue walking the Earth? Gambling, whoring, all of that good stuff? Because it's all going to end, if he doesn't see us."
He tightened his jaw and narrowed his eyes. "One second," he said, turning around. He whispered something to his boys, and turned back. "He'll see you."
I was expecting the big guy to be Kafrit. I had been since they had shown up. It wasn't, though. Kafrit was goon number two. He stepped forward and shifted into a small, thin man with olive skin and a slight goatee.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said, with a deep bow. "And you are?"
"Landon," I said, holding out my hand. He smiled and took it.
"Not the Landon?"
I hadn't realized I'd earned a 'the'. "The same."
"Well, what is the world coming to that has brought a boy like yourself to my doorstep, and I've shown such poor manners." He motioned towards a building across the street. "Come," he said. He turned to the rest of my entourage. "Come. Delight in the hospitality of Kafrit Al Niraj, Efreeti Especiale." He started walking towards the building, his men close behind.
"I like this guy," I heard Alichino say as we followed.
He walked right into a stark apartment building that had seen better days, leading us to the stairs down, where there was a casino in full swing. He brought us through, past the mortals that couldn't see anyone but him, to a private room with a poker table and a bar.
"A drink?" he asked, wiggling his fingers. It must have been a signal, because the big guy went up to the bar and started mixing a drink. He motioned for us to sit around the table.
"Do you have blue curaçao?" Alichino asked. "I love that stuff."
I glared at the demon, who shrank to the back of the line. "I appreciate your hospitality, Kafrit," I said. "We have about four hours to stop the end of the world."
"So, right down to business, eh? You hurt a humble djinn's feelings." He pouted, until the big guy handed him his drink. It was some kind of martini, and he sipped it gingerly.
"I'd rather stay and play," I lied, "but the end of the world won't wait."
He sighed loudly. "No, I suppose it won't. You want to know if I can extract the souls you have inside of you, right?"
I nodded. "Can you?"
"I can," he said. "Only a djinn can, because it requires a very light touch, and an almost neutral power. I've done it twice before. You should know, there is a chance you'll die."
"We're as good as dead if we don't. Two from me, one from Charis."
He looked over at Charis, focusing on her red eyes. "If you want the souls to survive, they'll need another body. Did you bring any prisoners in that truck of yours?"
I paused. It wasn't that I hadn't considered it, but we'd been in such a rush I hadn't thought to bargain for replacement flesh from Darya. "No."
He laughed. "I can help you there, for a price," he said. "And I can do the extraction, for a price."
Desperation was leading to a lot of bad debt. What was a little more? "Name it," I said.
He shook his head. "I need more time," he said. "An opportunity like this only comes once in a lifetime."
"Kafrit."
He waved his hand. "I will do the extraction, but you owe me one boon. A price you will pay at the time I ask for it."
It wasn't like I had a whole lot of choice. "Two conditions. One, no sexual favors. Two, nothing that will tip the balance."
He laughed. "You just ruined one of my ideas, but as you wish." He held out his hand. As I reached for it, he drew it back. "Remember, diuscrucis. I am not an angel, or a demon. A deal with a djinn cannot be unbound. If you try to renege, you will be twisted in agony for the rest of eternity."
It sucked, I admit. I had to do it. "I know."
He put his hand back, and we shook. His smile was wide and white, and just a hint devilish.
"Now, I need to find a few shells for you," he said. "I assume they prefer to occupy the same sex?"
"You're damn right," Ulnyx said. I could feel his excitement at the prospect of being free.
"Yes," Charis said for Vilya.
Josette was silent.
"Josette?" I asked.
It took her a few seconds to respond.
"I won't take someone else's soul," she said. "I'm sorry, Landon."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
I wish I could have said I was surprised. I wish I could have said that her decision wasn't something I should have expected. It was just that I had never considered that she would be so adamant about it.
I had retired to a private room Kafrit had provided, to be alone, and yet not alone. He needed time to find some willing, or less than willing participants for Vilya and Ulnyx to overpower, and I needed time to try to convince Josette that she couldn't just let me let her die.
"Landon, I'm sorry, but I will not do it," she said to me, for the hundredth time.
I had put myself down in a bare corner of the room and pulled myself back to my Source, where we could talk face to face. Ulnyx had tried to pop in, but I had banished him with a thought. I couldn't imagine anything he had to say being helpful at the moment.
"Josette, what about Sarah? She needs you. I need you to be there for her. She's been holding up pretty well, but you can imagine what losing the mother that she just found is going to do to her."
She glared at me, an angry look in her eyes. "Don't you think I know that, Landon? This isn't an easy decision to make, or an easy thing to do, but I don't have a choice. I have lived seven hundred years believing in the true sanctity of life. All life. I never harmed a mortal soul. I never even considered not having my brother's child. You can't take me out of your body without letting me die, or giving me someone else's form, and I am not willing to do that, under any circumstances."
"Even if it means the fate of everything?"
She nodded. "Isn't that the truest test of one's beliefs? When everything is on the line? I still believe in Him, Landon, and in you. I believe you will triumph, with or without me."
I took a deep breath and tried to stay somewhat reasonable. "What if we find someone with terminal cancer, or is brain dead, or something? Someone who is as good as dead anyway?"
"No."
"Josette, please. I understand your faith, but-"
"If you understood my faith, you wouldn't say 'but'. I've enjoyed our friendship, and I've enjoyed the time we've had to spend together, both before and since you took my soul. The fact is, I was supposed to die five years ago. What I've had since then has been a blessing, and the work of the Lord, for me to help guide you and bring you to this place. For me to meet my little girl. I want her to survive, Landon. It's what I've always wanted. You know how to make that happen. You have to do it."
It sucked. It completely, a
nd totally sucked. I loved Josette like the sister I never had, and a best friend at the same time. Even for all the years we couldn't communicate, she was there, and I was living her life and sharing in her joys and pains. Learning how to speak to her had been one the best things that had happened since I'd become a Divine, and now she was going to be gone. Not just out of touch, but gone, gone.
"I can't," I said, the tears rolling from my eyes.
"You have to," she replied, her own face just as moist. "It is His will."
"I don't believe that."
"I do."
That was the crux of it. She believed in the Goodness of God, and that even the nastiest demon shared some kind of lineage with Him, and as such was one of His creations. She wouldn't destroy what He had created except when she had to. Even the first night we had met, when we had fought the vampires in the alley, she hadn't killed them. She had tried to scare them off, but she had a sword, and she didn't use it. She was pro-life, and nothing in the universe, not even it's end, would change that. I hated her choice, but I respected it.
"You know I love you, right?" I asked her.
She smiled. "I love you too."
"I'd miss the hell out of you, but I don't think you have any in you. Nothing's going to be the same once you're gone."
"You'll defeat the Beast. Everything will be better."
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her. I don't think I could have held her any tighter. "Maybe for everyone else." I held her close for a minute, and then gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. "What's going to happen to you, anyway? I mean, what happens when a Divine dies?"
"Nobody knows," she said. "I'm curious to find out."
"Well then, maybe we'll meet again."
"Perhaps we will."
"I'm not saying goodbye yet. Not until the last second."
She kissed my cheek. "You have an exceptional soul."
The words were awesome, but they didn't help at all.
"I'd like to say goodbye to Sarah," she said. "And Izak. He deserves that."
I couldn't disagree. He had saved my ass more times than I could count. "Wake me up?" I asked. I always had trouble getting myself out of these weird dream states.
