by Michael Todd
However, just beyond the surface, something sinister was brewing. The wind began to slow, and everything stood perfectly still. All of the birds and rodents in the area scurried away, and no sound could be heard from any direction. A sudden loud clap rang out, and a gate tore open at the top of an old water tower. The gate swayed slightly, a wave of heat pulsing through the air.
Through the unholy gate came a large, clawed foot. The metal-grated catwalk at the top of the tower creaked under the weight of the thing. Emerging from the gate and seeing the light of day for the first time in centuries was Beelzebub’s crooked body. He tapped his talons and stretched his bulky arms. His eyes blinked rapidly, his pupils dilating and constricting, adjusting to the brightness of the sun. He grumbled, putting his hand up to shield himself. “Forgot how miserably bright this planet is.”
He walked to the edge of the platform that circled the tower and gripped the railing, bending the metal in his hands. Peering out over the salt flats, he hummed to himself like a child. To his left, the area was clear as far as the eye could see. To his right, the edge of the base was visible in the distance. “Yes, there you are, you silly little humans. Running around like ants doing the bidding of your queen. Little do you know the queen won’t be able to save you from what I have in store.”
Beelzebub peered at the valley, taking note of everything in his path. He looked at the sky and then back down at the busy soldiers, who were not yet aware he was watching. “How despicable. The answer is right above them. Why does no one else ever think of these things? I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, considering who’s running this operation. Moloch couldn’t find strategy if it were pulling on his coattails.”
He took note of the distance from the tower to the base, as well as the placement of guns along the perimeter. “They’re quite the prepared little rabbits. No matter. What I have coming for them no gun will be able to deter.”
He chuckled for a moment and then listened as sirens began to blare out from speakers placed across the base. Then, a voice came over the speaker. “All hands, prepare for battle stations or whatever it is you do. A portal has been detected on the horizon. Imminent danger. Code Red. Aw hell, just get ready because something’s brewing.”
The speaker crackled, and the siren continued to blare as soldiers swarmed the base. Beelzebub’s smile widened as he backed away from the edge of the platform. “Don’t worry, babies. I’ll be back for you.”
He disappeared into the gate, which slammed shut behind him. The heat had melted the steel beams of the tower platform, and as soon as Beelzebub left it began to sag. With a grinding sound, the beams crashed down to the ground. After a few minutes, a group of Jeeps and fighters raced across the grounds, coming to a sharp halt in front of the tower. Soldiers piled out of the vehicles and the master sergeant stepped out, noting the heat that lingered in the air.
His scarred brow furrowed as he scanned the area. He saw nothing on the ground, but it was obvious from the collapsing tower that a portal had been produced right where they were. “Stay away from the tower. It looks like it’s about to collapse. Just let it fall. It’s not being used. Whoever was here is gone now, that’s for sure.”
The master sergeant walked away from the men and called the base to check in. Korbin answered, “What do we have, Sergeant? Demons?”
The sergeant looked back at the water tower as it groaned, tipped to the side, and slammed to the ground. He grimaced and put his finger in his ear. “Negative, no enemy combatants. The old water tower has been demolished, and there’s intense heat coming from this area.”
Korbin sighed. “So, whoever was there is gone now?”
The sergeant nodded. “Yes, sir. Whoever was here brought some heat with them, too. Melted the top of the water tower and the steel beams below. Whoever it was must have left as we were driving over.”
Korbin rubbed his face. “They probably heard the alarms from the base. Okay, thank you, Sergeant. If you see anything else, let me know. It looks like moving didn’t give us much time. When you’re done with your search, come back to the base. We need to get ready.”
The sergeant agreed. Korbin hung up and slammed his fists on his desk. Stephanie came into his office with a worried look on her face. “No one there?”
Korbin shook his head. “No, and that can only mean one thing.”
Stephanie nodded. “Better call Katie. She should know about this. We might need her here, too, especially after the last battle. This base isn’t ready to go yet. We still have a lot of preparations to make.”
Korbin groaned. “I know, but we’re going to have to push and get it done. I want all hands except Timothy out there working. Even those working on the armory. They’ll have to take a break. Ammo doesn’t do us much good if we can’t use it because we’re dead and the base has been demolished.”
Stephanie gave him a tight-lipped smile and disappeared around the corner. Korbin picked up his phone and dialed Katie’s number. It rang and rang, and eventually went to voicemail. He disconnected, knowing that wasn’t the end of things. They’d been working on their own for a while. Everyone had been training hard, even the girls in the armory.
He set the phone down and tapped his finger on the desk. Pushing the anger and fear from his chest, he stood up and looked at a picture of the team on his desk. It was from a time long before he’d left the mercs, and Katie was right in the middle. She was smiling almost innocently, and he thought about all the damage his team used to do. “No worries. We got this.”
He pushed away from the desk and headed down the hall, stopping in the IT room. Timothy glanced up from typing wildly on the keyboard. “What’s up, boss?”
Korbin walked in. “We’re all going to have to do whatever we can to get this base operational as quickly as possible. There was a portal but no actual incursion. That can only mean they’re going to be back. I know you have to monitor, and I want you to do that, but help with whatever computer stuff you can while you’re doing it, okay?”
Timothy grabbed his tablet and swiped his fingers across it, then stood up and walked to Korbin. “Not a problem, I can monitor everything from this tablet. We got this, boss. I don’t want you to worry about it. We won’t let them take us like they did last time.”
Korbin slapped Timothy on the back. “Let’s hope not.”
Stephanie ran across the base to the armory. Joshua met her halfway, knowing something had happened. “Is it an attack? I didn’t get the call to shut down.”
Stephanie caught her breath. “Not yet. Whoever came out of that portal went back into it before we got there.”
Joshua led her back to the armory. The women inside all looked nervous. “We heard a loud crash. We weren’t sure what that was.”
Stephanie nodded. “Yeah, the portal must have been atop the water tower. The whole thing came down. It was the old one, though, so we’re okay. Korbin wants all hands getting the base ready for attack. We’re pressed for time. He said the armory would have to pause. He needs you, the girls…everyone.”
Joshua reached over and slammed his hand on a button on the wall. “No problem. I’ll get everyone together and meet you guys outside.”
Stephanie smiled sweetly at him as he turned and commanded the room. He had come a hell of a long way since he had joined Katie’s team. The meekness was gone, and that warrior he wanted to be was starting to shine through. In some ways, it was sad. He had lost his innocence, to a degree. In other ways, though, it was exactly what needed to happen for he and his team to continue to perform. They were in charge of a crucial aspect of the war, and they were willing to fight to the death.
Korbin stood at the edge of the property looking out over the base. The team was moving double-time, trying to get the base rebuilt and fortified for whatever was coming their way. He had done this multiple times, but it never got easier. The demons were determined to find them at any cost. He was going to have to start thinking about putting a new base underground again—something that
couldn’t easily be located and was even harder to attack. For now, though, he had to make do with what they had.
His phone buzzed wildly in his pocket and he pulled it out, seeing the general’s name on the screen. “General, it’s Korbin.”
General Brushwood let out a deep breath. “Korbin, good to hear your voice. We got word there was a possible portal opening near your coordinates. What’s going on?”
Korbin looked at the twisted water tower. “Well, there was clearly a portal opened, but nothing was there when the team got to it. The old water tower collapsed from the heat of the thing. We’re reviewing satellite images from that time period, but with all the countries all over the world using satellites, it’s hard to find our way into the system.”
The general scribbled something. “Noted. I’ll make sure that from now on, you’re given everything you need to be successful. We’ll make sure your IT has access to it at all times. I know that used to be a fight, but since we’ve pulled forces together around the world, there seems to be more availability. As far as what happened, what is your assessment of the situation?”
Korbin rubbed his chin. “Honestly? I think it was a scouting mission. Whoever came through that portal was in and out faster than we could move. They were assessing the area, our defenses, and the lay of the land. Whoever they’re reporting to will be given all the details of our location. This probably happened before, but we were unable to track it like we now can.”
The general narrowed his eyes. “You think they’ll be back, is what you’re saying?”
Korbin nodded. “I absolutely do. They don’t accidentally make portals in the middle of Nevada. I think they’ll attack, and soon. If I were them, that would be my first priority. Otherwise, why scout this location? We’re more vulnerable than last time, not just because we aren’t fully built out yet but because we’re aboveground. The armory is the same situation, and I made sure to put those defenses in first. That’s the most important building on this base.”
The general agreed. “Thank you for taking time to do that first. I’ll send a platoon to help with defense and building, and I hope they get there in time to make a difference. It’s anyone’s guess as to when they’ll reappear and how many they’ll be bringing with them. I don’t like this at all. We’re going to have to find you a better location soon. Someplace highly fortified.”
Korbin liked the sound of that. “We should definitely talk about that, but for right now, we’re just trying to be prepared for the next incursion.”
The general cleared his throat. “Have you talked to Katie about it?”
Korbin sighed. “No. I called her and texted her but haven’t gotten a reply. I’m assuming wherever she is, she didn’t take her phone with her.”
The general was shocked. “I can’t believe you haven’t gotten word from Katie. She’s usually the first one to answer the phones. I’ll give her a call and see if that makes a difference.”
Korbin was thankful. “We’ll let you know if there’s any sign of an incursion. Don’t forget those men.”
Chapter Five
Angie stood in the doorway of the apartment across the hall holding fresh towels and sheets. She wasn’t sure why, but she figured if they did bring Juntto back she didn’t want to have to worry about rushing to do that kind of stuff. Sure, she wasn’t his slave, but she didn’t want him to worry about anything after being an ice cube for so long. She just couldn’t bring herself to walk inside. It happened that way every single time. She would approach the door, jingle the keys, and open it wide. Then she would just stand there, staring at the spot where Juntto usually sat.
She didn’t know why she did it. She didn’t know what it was about the apartment that stopped her in her tracks day after day, but there she was.
She gathered her strength and stepped into the place. It was clean. She had cleaned it the day she thought he died. His scent still lingered there, a mix of man and the really strong deodorant he had pushed her to buy when they were acquiring supplies. She walked to the linen closet right outside the door of the bedroom and set the towels and linens neatly inside.
She could feel the emotion catching in her throat. She tried to avoid it, but it never failed to happen. Angie took a deep breath, wiped a tear on her pants, and shut the door. She put her head down and headed straight out of the apartment, holding her breath. She locked the door and went back to Katie’s place. She shut the front door and leaned against it, giving herself a pep talk. “Don’t lose it, Angie. He’s not dead. That’s a good thing. Katie is traveling all over the world to find a cure for whatever happened. Before you know it, he’ll be back and driving you crazy again.”
Angie let out a long, slow breath. She headed into the kitchen, immediately grabbing the pot from the coffeemaker and filling it with water. She poured the water into the maker and loaded the filter with coffee, closing her eyes and breathing in the scent of the grounds. “This is what I need. A hot cup of Joe, something to really get me going.”
She started the coffeemaker and leaned against the counter. Her thoughts went back to Juntto, stuck in that freezer. Just thinking about it made her shiver, and she didn’t like to picture it in her mind. On a human level, he was dead, frozen in place at his last breath. But apparently, Leviathans were different, or so she had been told. What that meant, she really had no clue. Either way, she just wanted him back, and she hoped Katie could find the answers they needed.
Angie yawned, watching the coffee start to drip into the pot. A soft vibration caught her attention, and she looked up and around, not knowing where it was coming from. Suddenly, Katie’s ringtone went off. It was the Batman theme song, only the last time Pandora had control of Katie she’d dubbed over the Batman part. “Duh nuh, nuh nuh, nuh nuh, nuh nuh, Slut Girl!”
Angie rolled her eyes and went searching for the phone. She looked under the mail, under several stacks of notes Katie had been taking, and under the pile of Juntto’s clothes that had been sitting on the table for days. Angie couldn’t bring herself to fold them and put them away. She narrowed her eyes at the island, reaching for a drawer at the front of it. She pulled it open to see Katie’s phone sitting there.
Angie grabbed it and put it to her ear. “This is Angie.”
The general’s voice sounded relieved. “Angie, thank God you answered. We’ve all been worried sick about Katie. She hasn’t returned anyone’s calls, including Korbin’s. Is she with you right now?”
Angie glanced around the room. “Uh. No. She’s gone on assignment. Apparently, she left her phone here. I was making coffee, and the Slut Girl theme song started to go off.”
The general paused. “The what girl theme song?”
Angie shook her head. “Never mind. Don’t judge, okay? Every powerful woman needs her own theme song.”
The general didn’t reply to that, letting out a deep sigh. “I just don’t understand it. I need Katie to be on the ball, and she’s gone with no way to reach her. Do you know where she went?”
Angie was getting irritable. “I do, but obviously it isn’t information I can give out to the public.”
The general slammed his hand on the desk. “Goddamn it, of all the times to go on a vacation. We’re in a time of war, and I can’t find my best man, or rather woman, to get the job done. Meanwhile, her own people are out there having threats made against them, and even they can’t get hold of her. I know she’s under a lot of pressure, but this is no time for sun and spa. This is time to keep these bastards from doing any more harm.”
Angie looked down at her fingernails while she listened to the general rant. Normally, something like that wouldn’t bother her. Normally, she would let it slip right out of her mind. This wasn’t a normal time, though. This was a time of extreme pressure, and Angie’s jaw clenched. She was becoming angrier with each passing second.
The general continued spouting off. “So help me, if she’s having some sort of mental or spiritual break, I’ll lock her up somewhere. No use in hav
ing to worry about her doing something reckless or getting hurt. I can’t deal with all this right now. She should be available, that’s the bottom line. If she can’t be, I will take matters into my own hands.”
Angie waited until the general went silent. “You finished? Good. Now you listen to me, and you listen to me very carefully, General. I’m not military, I’m not police. I don’t in any way, shape, or form work for you so I will not pussyfoot around your bitch-ass attitude. Katie is a one-woman army of PR, and if any of the threats you just made actually happen? Oh, General, I can promise you that I will retaliate accordingly.”
The general tried to interrupt. “Angie, listen…”
Angie laughed crazily. “Oh, no, you had your say. Don’t you try to silence me, sir. I am a woman, and I will be heard! How dare you insinuate she would take a spa vacation? I think if she took any vacation it would be dicks and vodka, and not necessarily in that order. And you know what? Even if she did take that vacation, which she did not, it would be none of your goddamned business, because guess what? She works with you, not fucking for you. I think you might have forgotten that little bit of information.”
The general made sure she was finished. “I’m just upset that I can’t get her. I’m always able to get hold of her. I guess, in some way, it scares me when I can’t. The last time she was MIA, she was fighting demons in hell and got pretty damn beat up. There isn’t much I can do when I can’t call her. She could be anywhere—New York, London, or even a completely different damn realm. I trust Pandora to take care of her, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make me nervous. Things can happen, and I want to know what those things are.”
Angie modified her tone slightly, sensing that the general might be more invested in Katie as a person than she’d realized. Regardless, Katie was free to do whatever she wanted. “Honestly, if Katie’s doing something, then you should take a deep breath and try not to worry. She never does anything without a purpose. If she thought what she was doing was important enough for her to go out undetected, then maybe it really is that important. I can’t sit here and tell you I understand the way her brain works because I don’t, but I can tell you I never question her actions. She’s got this demon/angel thing on lock. She knows when, where, and what she needs to be doing, and there isn’t much that any of us can do to stop her.”
