I swallowed hard and chewed on the newest bit of disturbing information. It just kept raining in my personal space. I should have been reassured, now purged of association with the fallen race of angels bent on humanity’s destruction. I wasn’t. It was just as disquieting to once again be in another league of my own. “No.”
“Yes.” Shalim spat the word, marched to me, and pinched my side, his claws digging into my mark beneath my shirt. “I was born before the final battle. I have seen the Right Hand of God. I know his mark well.”
The fear I saw in Shalim’s face stunned me. It was the same fear I’d seen in Decibel’s eyes, along with her resignation, and that finally clued me in. I grasped his claws, pushed them deep into my flesh, and pressed my body closer to my demon master. “No matter who made me, I am not here to do you harm. Your death will not be at my hand or come from my actions.”
I waited, without a wince, as my blood coated the blades of his razored fingertips. I’d wait all day and night until he understood my determination and promise. “I don’t give a rat’s ass who fathered me. I’ve given you my oath. I will not turn on my people.”
He leaned close. “I will not allow you to exact holy vengeance on me and mine.” His voice, a heavy rasp, echoed in my mind, but I didn’t flinch.
“I’ve exacted vengeance only for those I protect. This clan is under my realm of protection, never my target.”
A faint sneer quirked his mouth, but doubt laced his gaze. “We are not innocents in need of your protection.”
His actions spoke differently. I leaned closer. “I don’t know my father. He didn’t claim me as an infant. He didn’t save me from death at the hands of men. He didn’t pull me from starvation in the caverns and offer me life.”
My hand pressed harder over his claws. “You and this clan are my family. I will stand between you and any that would harm my own.”
He stared at me as if trying to see within my mind. My thoughts past and future were there, and perhaps he could.
“Quite a promise, Son of the Arm of God.”
At long last, a name. Granted a pretty cumbersome name and not one I was comfortable with, but I’d look at it as progress. Despite my questionable parentage, twelve years in the clan and my new threat level had awarded me a name. “Innocent or not, this clan has need of me. I will fulfill my duties.”
“What of your allegiance?” Doubt was gone; only a fierce glare filled his eyes. The pride of an ancient leader of hundreds of demons roused in the depths of his gaze as confidence and measurement of my worth returned to the forefront of his attention. “To the demon of the tribe of Naamah?”
I let out a mental curse, not that Shalim’s reference to Decibel was unexpected. It was, however, damn tricky.
“The sorcerers pose a menace to all the clans. Had I knowledge of another demon during the battle, before the battle…had this other provided insight and opportunity for your freedom, I would have taken advantage. Had another offered this protection to us, a boon would be expected from our clan.”
Shalim’s eyes started to glow a dangerous shade of red fire, the black of his pupils receding to pinpoints, but I forced myself to continue.
“I don’t recall any such demon. Perhaps my memory is weak. Should such an instance have occurred, I would take the boon on myself. Mine is the burden of protection. My only request, silence in honor of their sacrifice, for to aid this clan would garner them a death knell—surely an unfair reward.”
He withdrew his claws and licked each one clean mere inches from my eyes. I kept my gaze steady and riveted to Shalim’s face. The sight of my blood didn’t bother me as it once had. The need to regain his trust was more important than keeping down my lunch.
“Silence you shall have, though within this clan, you are a ghost.”
My stomach sank. I’d failed.
“Even I cannot circumvent the will of a Prince of the Light. But for all outside, I will claim you. And you will serve me.” His words ended in a dark smile of promise.
I bowed my head to hide my relief. His concession was a good one.
In truth, I couldn’t expect him to turn back time and pretend nothing had happened. He had more knowledge of history and the interaction of the clans with devils and angels than I did. I wouldn’t mislead myself that he’d place me above the muckrakers in his ranks, but his pledge indicated he’d allow no other clan to take liberties with me.
I was the bastard member of the clan.
But they were still my clan.
Pretty much like always.
***
I threw my keys to the coffee table. They slammed noisily, slid to the edge, and off onto the carpet. Yeah, that was pretty much the hit and miss I’d been feeling for days. And it had been only eleven days since I’d found the first sorcerer back at the warehouse with Samuel.
With a flop onto my couch, I contemplated never having to get up. I scrubbed my hands over my face as I tried to figure out what I’d achieved in the last few days.
Four kids dead. Very bad.
One boy hidden in a demon cell in a state of perpetual coma. Not good, but definitely not bad, given the alternative.
The Consortium knocked from their current mission and kicked from their new digs, but not down and out by any means. Though I’d be surprised if I saw them anytime soon. Not good—but I’d call it a draw.
I’d gone from my hiatus in the topside world and a part-time alliance with Shalim’s clan to being persona non grata in the clan and temporarily out of work. Fortunately, I’d hoarded gold from my work long enough to retire several times over. Shalim would eventually back down and summon me. In spite of his attitude, he was rather used to having me at his beck and call, right under his thumb when he needed me. Prince of the Light, Arm of God, whatever.
I’d acquired strange alliances. A female demon whose ultimate goals I was no more familiar with now than when she’d solicited me at the hospital. A pre-emerging Irin from a group I had heretofore not known existed. Two fledgling female wizards rounded out the group: uneducated, dangerous, and at risk from the rest of their contingent. Definite potential in the makeshift team, and scary, but I didn’t count any of them in the negative category.
On the good side, I was alive, and so were all of my new allies.
Aisha had woken up, devastated, in pain, and confused. I did what I could to keep her nightmares at bay. It didn’t always work. At least she knew, for the time being, that she was safe and that I wasn’t giving up on her.
When finally released from the hospital, she’ll have choices to make, but I have confidence in her willpower. Aisha had run from an abusive home, sheltered a younger sibling who had turned to drugs and ultimately fallen to an enemy no young girl could have fought. She would survive with luck and a lot of help, though she would never be quite okay.
I got that. We’re all a little damaged, so she was in excellent company.
“Rest for the wicked?”
I didn’t bother to open my eyes. “I’m not moving. Just so you know.”
“You found the youngster.”
“Right where I knew you would leave her.”
“Did you?” she asked. “So certain I would take her there?”
Decibel wasn’t asking about the hospital. Her question concerned Aisha’s safety. She’d known I had doubts about trusting Aisha to her keeping—brief doubts. “You promised.”
I cracked an eye and saw her wave a hand in the air as if sending away a stray thought. “Trust. A peculiar human concept. One I have no confidence that you’ve mastered appropriately.”
I forced a frown. “Here I am, so flawed, and yet you still want my help? I sense a soft gooey center to your tough crusty shell.”
She tilted her head and looked at me, a faint lift to the corner of her mouth. “You’re an odd man, Thaddeus Kane.”
“So what brings you here now? You want payback already?”
She smiled, though it didn’t reach her vibrant amber eyes. “I have so
mething that I promised you when you agreed to help me.”
I let out a short breath and rubbed my hands across my face, leaving them there. It wouldn’t make her go or stop the conversation, but I rather liked hiding behind the cool darkness. Not being that much of a coward, I met her gaze. “We haven’t made great headway on saving the Irin.”
“Perhaps not. Though the odds are against our saving many. Still, there is Jezrielle.” She reached into her jeans pocket and with two shellacked red fingernails flipped a piece of paper onto the coffee table. “Until later, Thaddeus Kane.” She disappeared.
With regret, I reached forward and picked up the folded slip of paper. Emblazoned in flowing script was NouvaTech - Sara Christenson.
Had I really expected full disclosure from Decibel?
Who was I kidding?
***
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GENRE: Urban Fantasy
License Notes:
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. V2.0
THE MARK OF KANE – A Thaddeus Kane Novel
Copyright 2011 by LW Herndon
Published by Digital Crystal Press
Cover Art designed by Steven Novak
ISBN: 9781937080013
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Thank you to the following people.
To my incredible critique partner Linda C., because you’ve been there from beginning to end and you never hold back feedback or support.
To my very talented cover designer, Steven.
To my editor Linda I. and proofreader Cora, for making certain my meanings stayed true.
To my better half, because you endured through every draft and revision.
Table of Contents
Book Description
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Copyright
The Mark of Kane Page 30
