by Jana LaPelle
“So what time do you want to head out?” I asked, sneaking a glance at his tattoed peck and almost miss my mouth in the process. He reaches over to gently guide my fork and I can’t help but blush furiously.
Daxell grins and winks at me before responding around a mouth full of food, “We should head that way in a couple of hours. That should give us plenty of time to check-in and get settle before meeting up with my parents.”
In all seriousness, I need to get my head in the game. “So? We gather as much intel as we can and then head to The Underworld to meet up with Luc. Once that’s done we head back here. Right?”
“That’s about right.” He turns to Lachlan, and asks, “What do you think?”
Lachlan shakes his head, “I don’t like it, but you’re right. Everyone needs to be informed as to what is going on.”
Nodding, I savor another swallow of my coffee and say, “Check for an email message from me. I’ll send you everything you need to know before we head to The Underworld, just in case there is a problem and we can’t get back to you. Okay?”
“All right, sounds like a plan. I’ll head to The Otherworld to bring Mama and Da up to speed, not that they already don’t have an inkling as to what is going on. Are you sure about Mama? That she’s expecting?” Lachlan asks.
Smiling, I nod, “Yeah. She may want to help here, but Da is not going to have any of it. Not this time around, we grew up on stories about how things went down before and after we were born. This is on us. It’s our time to stand up to the evil bad in our realms, even if that means we have to go up against Morríganna herself and this New Raven Order faction.”
Lachlan nods, “You’re right, little sis, this time it’s on us. We’re already almost two years older than our mother when saving the realms was thrust upon her.”
“Well, you’re not going anywhere without me.”
I turn to see Poppy standing defiantly in the doorway, and start, “Poppy -”
“Don’t you Poppy me. We have been besties since we were little. Yes, you’re older than me but not in sprite years, I best you there. We’ve been inseparable for ages and now you want to go off on a little adventure without me. I don’t bloody well think so. You and I are a team and you don’t separate a team. Listen, I know that you and hot stuff over here are an item, but rest assured, I will not come between the two of you on this quest. That being said, I’m going and nothing you say can persuade me differently.”
Before I can even say a word, Dax is quick to address my best friend, “Then, you, my friend, will need to hide your lineage. Mammon will want to collect you for his very own. He’s a greedy bastard. You will have to masquerade as a simple water sprite. You are very unique and you will definitely pique his interest.”
She grins and does a mid-air curtsy, “Not a problem, I’ll be as ordinary as a house cat. I can even appear to be a simple elf if you like.”
Sighing, I acquiesce, “All right, it wouldn’t be an adventure without you, but don’t tell Timbra.”
“Don’t tell me what?” Timbra bounds into the room, a bright smile on her face, her multi-colored caramel hair trailing behind her. She’s the spitting image of our mother and I can’t help but feel just a little envious. Who wouldn’t, their coloring is striking.
Looking her straight in the eye, I say, “That I agreed that she’s coming with us. I’m sorry, Timbra, but you’re too young.”
She shrugs, “I get it. I figured as much. Mama helped me to see it for what it was. I just delivered the most angelic soul to Taisclainne Anam. You should have seen it.” She’s beaming from ear to ear and is literally glowing. I’m so happy that she embraces her role as a Keeper.
“So, you’re not going to argue?” I ask in disbelief.
“Why should I? You’ve already decided that I’m far too young to go traipsing about The Underworld with you and your merry little crew. Arguing would be counterintuitive, I know that. I’m heading back to Faerie today, but you should know, I’m a force to be reckoned with and soon you will all know what I’m talking about.” She smiles and wiggles the fingers on her right-hand goodbye before tracing back to The Otherworld.
“What was that all about?” I can’t help but ask aloud.
“I think our little sister is coming into her own.” Lachlan imparts.
“Well, that’s not bloody fair, I still have no freaking clue as to my role in this crazy, screwed up universe.” I all but whine.
Daxell takes my hand and whispers, “You’ve got this, honey cheeks. Come on, we need to get ready to head out.” He pulls me after him and I resist for a moment.
“You know something?” I smile and pull him back to me, “You’re right, I’ve got this. Everything has become so much clearer since meeting you. I’m ready to go whenever you are.”
“Then let’s be on our way.” He pulls me after him and all feels right with me and the realms for now.
18
Half-demon, Half-human, Duke of The Underworld, Misfit
(Daxell)
Lillie is here with me now and we are getting ready to start an adventure together. I can’t help but wonder if our adventure will be her undoing, but I’m too far gone. Whatever resistance I had in me has all but evaporated on the wind the more time I spend in her presence. Her very essence calls to me, it’s like a drug that I was addicted to from the moment go. I agreed to meet her in the hall, with little to no baggage on my part. Everything I need can be acquired once we get there. LJ, on the other hand, has several bags and I can’t help the twitch of my lips that threatens to reveal a grin.
“What?!” she demands.
I gesture, “A little much?” I question.
“I’ve packed for every eventuality.” She retorts.
“Of course you have.” I nod at the three bags erected around her perfect form and say, “Just so you know, you can take the bare necessities, we can purchase whatever we need once we get there. Honestly, woman, I’m not a pack mule.”
She laughs, “Like this is too much for you to handle. I bet you bench press more than double this with just your right arm, but I’ll take you up on that shopping spree. Do you think your mother would have anything for me to wear until we can remedy the situation?”
I shake my head and pull her to me, sizing her up. My mother is tall and willowy, almost waif-like in her appearance. LJ is so much more petite in her stature. Wrapping my arm around her, I say, “She’s much taller than you, and you have curves in all the right places.” My hand reflexively flexes over her hip.
“Such the charmer. Are you saying I have a few pounds to lose?” She demands with a sly grin.
Leaning in, I pull her snugly against my frame, running my hands down the curve of her elegant back and over the swell of her ass and cup her cheeks with a little squeeze. My face nuzzles her neck and I whisper on a groan, “Never. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“You…” she whispers breathlessly, “You will be my undoing.”
She wraps her arms around me and holds me close and oh how I relish the feel of her lush form against mine. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” I breathe out, all the while inhaling her unique scent that threatens to bring me to my knees and worship the very ground she walks upon.
LJ tilts her head up toward mine, inviting a kiss. Over my shoulder I hear a tiny voice, “I would say get a room but that might be inviting the devil to feast upon my bestest friend, and we really do not have time for any of that. You two are going to have to ride this out to the end.”
Both LJ and I groan and slowly pull away from one another, she looks toward Poppy and asks, “You ready?”
“Yep, and then some. Are you seriously taking your entire closet?” She snips and flitters about, her tiny wings buzzing on the air around us.
LJ sighs, “No. Daxell has promised a shopping spree. So come along, we need to get there as soon as we can. Poppy, you may want to take your faerie form before we leave out and retract your wings for now. I have no idea if we will ru
n into Mammon or who we will see once we arrive.”
Right before our eyes, her tiny sprite friend morphs into her larger self, her wings retract and she asks, “This better?” She twirls around, sporting slim-fitting black pants and a white flowing peasant blouse that makes her look innocent and sexy all at the same time, her stiletto open-toed heels clicking on the hardwood floors.
LJ looks down and I can sense that she is feeling underdressed. She’s dressed in skinny jeans that are faded, holey, and in places almost threadbare, her halter top hangs loose showing off a good portion of her sculpted belly, and her boot shoes look somewhat clunky compared to Poppy’s smooth elegant apparel. She grabs her bags and makes for her room, calling over her shoulder, “I think I’m going to change into something more …” She trails off, not sure what to say.
In two swifts steps, I’m by her side, uttering in her ear, “You look perfect, we complement each other. Besides, I have no doubt my mother will adore fawning over you and Poppy as we find the perfect garments for the two of you to wear tonight. Come on my angel-babe, it’s time for you to meet the Fallen.”
She looks up at me and takes me in, we’re both in faded denim, my tee shirt is in tatters, and my battered leather jacket is hanging open leaving nothing to the imagination. She cocks her head before asking, “Do you have to wear that shirt? Your pecks and abs are playing peek-a-boo beneath your tattered shirt. Maybe we both should change before we go?” She suggests and I sense that she is fighting a rush of jealousy, hot and visceral, an emotion she’s not quite sure how to deal with.
Stepping in close, I pull her to me and whisper, “Down girl, I saw that flash in your eyes. I do believe that I may be meeting your panther sooner rather than later.”
“That’s all well and dandy, love birds, but I do believe we have a mission to complete before that happens. How will that even work?” Poppy queries, her eyes grow distant as if trying to puzzle things out, “I know we’re all crossbreeds, but…”
LJ is quick to interrupt, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” She huffs, trying to get us back on track. “Cara?” She calls out and her dainty fennec fox bounds out of her room and right to her side. She doesn’t even have to bend at the waist to catch her as she leaps into her open arms. LJ’s hand is immediately tangled in the soft fur of her head and I can tell that she is speaking to her through their bond. I long for the time that we can do that, LJ and I. I watch as Cara nods and looks up at us all expectantly. LJ addresses us all, “All right then, let’s be off, we’ve wasted enough time. We’ll be back here before we know it.”
I wrap my arm around LJ and hang on for the ride. Poppy promises to follow us through LJ’s trace trail. Evidently, her Keeper abilities allow her to do so and for a split second, I’m jealous of the fact that I do not have this ability. Apparently, being the son of two Fallen was not enough to manifest that envious talent. I take a second to envision Rapa-City Delights Resort, I’ve never been there, but I’ve been to New Vegas, what was once known as Polson, Montana has now been overrun with high rise casinos. Some of the tallest buildings in the northwestern United States have made their home there. My parents have sheltered me most of my life from Mammon, but now it’s time to face him and his tenacious appetite to collect the most unique and coveted items and creatures on this plane of existence and the other. Suddenly, I have a bad feeling about this, before I can utter a word, LJ has pulled me and Cara with her into her trace and we find ourselves looking upward to take in the most enormous building I have ever seen. Like the Eiffel Tower, Rapa-City Delights is quite enormous and the basic structure has a base similar to that iconic structure except it’s more than double in size. The structure shoots straight up into the sky and for the life of me, I can’t see the top. At some point, a layer of clouds has shrouded the top of the building from view.
From beside me, I hear LJ suck in a breath and mutter, “Whoa!”
19
Have I Always Been This Naïve?
(Lillie Joanna)
Color me thunderstruck and hose me down in pixie dust, I have never seen anything like this on any scale. Only on TV, on the news, or in the movies. Seeing it up close is nothing short of awe-inspiring. When ushering souls, I have no concept of their surroundings, most of the time. I watch as flying vehicles land on landing platforms high above us. The traffic surrounding this building is constant. Land cars are in a constant state of pulling up and letting people out before pulling forward again. Aircraft are buzzing about the sky-high building like moths drawn to a flame.
Daxell pulls me close, “Don’t leave my side. I don’t know why, but I have a really bad feeling about this place. We’ll take the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours to see what we can find out and then we are out of here. Got it?”
“Agreed.” I squeeze his hand and hold on to Cara with Poppy on my other side. We make our way across the pedestrian crosswalk and head toward the most impressive structure that I have ever seen. The closer we get to our destination, the more sensory overload we’re exposed to, holographic images pop up here and there, all promising that Rapa-City Delights can cater to the patrons every carnal desire. For a price. Each and every wanton request has a unique price for each and every individual. “Your every wish can be granted”, the holographic female coos, “just step right up and tell me what you want, it’s as easy as that. Come…” she beckons us forward, her voice enticing, her see-through eyes on Daxell as she winks and blows him a kiss.
Dax wraps his arm around me and whispers, “Honey cheeks, you have nothing to worry about, she has nothing to offer me.”
I melt into his side and have the ridiculous urge to stick my tongue out at the impossibly beautiful holographic image that seems to be following us. Instead, I stop, cocking my head to the side and ask, “Can you hear me?”
The image smiles and nods her head. She is quick to answer in her sultry voice, “Yes, how may I be of service? Might I suggest our exclusive floor just for couples? We make it easy for couples to find -”
“Stop right there, that won’t be necessary. Please point us in the direction of the hotel lobby, we need a room for the night and we need to contact …” I trail off and look up at Dax not sure as to how to address his parents.
Dax’s voice rumbles out of his chest as he says, “Leviathan and Asmodeus Grayson, and their bonded partner, Seraphina. We will need a suite close to where they are staying.” He finishes as he squeezes my hip pulling me even closer to him.
The ethereal beauty in front of us mouths an, oh, before giving us directions to the hotel’s check-in desk. We quickly make our way to a bank of elevators. Mammon’s Rapa-City is truly a city within a city, and from what I can tell it has become a mecca for all things depraved. If you want to spend the night with a harem of females, you got it. If you want a good luck potion, not a problem. You want to spend the night gambling, they've got that. You want to get lost from the world in general, there are potions for that. No matter what you want, Rapa-City can cater to your every whim. No wonder why Mammon is making out like a bandit, but just how is that feeding his greed?
The four of us make our way up to the twentieth floor, to the lobby of the hotel in the clouds. From this point forward, guests need a personal access chip that is easily embedded in the palm of your hand, but not so easily jacked. Daxell is quickly welcomed and our room situation is handled very efficiently. His parents are waiting to greet us in their suite which is just one floor above us. They are the only ones that occupy that level which tells me just how well they have been received by Mammon. As it is, we will be staying in a suite on the two hundred and ninetieth floor. Only the elite stay anywhere above the two hundred and fiftieth floor, well that’s what we’ve been informed. Daxell arranges for clothing to be delivered to our rooms. Everything from evening wear to lingerie, and I can’t help the tiny smirk that tugs at my lips in anticipation of our little shopping extravaganza.
“Come on, honey cheeks, let's get to our room. We’ll get
settled, and then you and Poppy can shop to your heart's content in the privacy of our suite before changing and heading to my parent’s residence here. What do you think of that?” He pulls me closer as we enter a lift labeled express. It’s more like a bullet-shaped capsule. We are encouraged to strap into the harnesses against the walls of the lift, including Cara. She’s feeling rather unsure of this and I soothe her worry as best as I can. As soon as we have strapped in, the lift rockets upward at a dizzying speed. At some point, we begin to feel weightless before the lift decelerates and comes to a stop. Holy guacamole, that was unsettling.
Gingerly, we exit the elevator and step toward our suite. As we walk in and close the door behind us, Poppy goes a bit zany, “There’s something not right about this place! Can you feel it? Please tell me you can feel it. It feels off, like in a really bad way. There is a lingering darkness, a feeling of evil intent woven throughout the fabric of the very air we breathe here. As luxurious as this place is, it feels like a … like a trap.”
I’ve never had one instance where I would not trust Poppy and her instincts, narrowing my eyes I pull from Dax’s hold and concentrate. Closing my eyes, I tune everything out, just like my Nonna and aunt Lexy taught me. I let everything around me drop away until I can almost visualize the pulse that is coming from the center of this place. It’s cloying in its deception, promising whatever the heart desires in exchange for … My eyes fly wide open as I turn to Dax and Poppy and exclaim, “Souls. He’s dealing in souls. He’s tainting them all, slowly but surely he’s reeling them in, like a fish on a hook. That’s how he’s feeding his greed. He gives them a taste of ecstasy and then throws them back into the pond, their everyday life, letting them come back to him. Each time they come back to him they lose a little more of their soul until he owns them, for an eternity. It doesn’t matter if they indulge in gluttony or sloth-like behavior or sexual favors, in the end, they are all greedy for more.” Now that I’ve isolated the intent, it’s easy to recognize, it’s hypnotic.
