Fury's Rescue

by Shannon Tripp



  Fury’s Rescue

  Fury Girl’s Chronicle Book 3

  Shannon Tripp

  Copyright November 2012 Shannon Tripp

  This book is a work of fiction

  The characters are productions

  of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Fury’s Rescue

  Jefftik was in trouble.

  The buzz reached Jasmine’s ears long before she walked into Hell’s cafeteria. She’d heard that the retrieval demon had pulled a killer assignment while she pondered over the frozen peas. As she was reaching for the withered apples, she’d learned that he’d messed it up and had been hauled in front of the tribunal. As she skipped the crisp greens, she’d heard that he’d been given a choice. Before she sat down, she was told that Jefftik’s choice was to return to earth to collect on the contract. She was lifting the fork to her mouth when she heard that the entire thing had happened nearly twenty years ago. Damn, she thought, mildly impressed, the red tape down here can kill you.

  “And I heard that the Tribunal has forbidden anyone from helping him. I bet they want to bust that stupid demon down to the mud,” Penny said.

  Jasmine studied her trying to gauge how much the other Fury knew. Though she looked all of fourteen, Penny was the oldest Fury and probably knew everything going on in Hell.

  Penny leaned over to snatch the pudding cup off her neighbor’s tray before sending her pony tail swinging as she turned back to Jasmine. “I heard that if he does manage to collect this soul, Daddy Dearest is going to send him to the pit and if he doesn’t collect, he goes through The Gate.”

  Jasmine blanched. No one knew what was on the other side of The Gate. “Damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t?” Jasmine whispered.

  “And the best part is that it doesn’t really matter what he does. He’s got Daddy Dearest’s attention and you know what that means if you’re not a Fury,” Penny chortled. “There’s literally nothing he can do to get off the hook. Hey, are you going to eat that?” she asked pointing at Jasmine’s tray.

  Jasmine left her tray sitting on the table and pushed her seat back tripping a lessor demon trying to get passed. She didn’t even register the demon’s snarl as she hurried to the exit. If Jeff has come to Daddy Dearest’s attention, then he’s not just in trouble. He’s in deep; up to his neck, at least. Behind her she vaguely heard Penny tell the Furies left at the table something about Jasmine going to watch Jeff fail.

  So much for a few days off, she thought as she pushed through the swinging flaps into an empty cavern. Fail? She thought. Is that really why I’m going? She had no doubt she was going, she just didn’t know why. She spun around on her heel and swung back through doors. A long hallway stretched beyond the horizon. Both sides were lined with gold embellished doors interspersed with framed pictures of various scenes in hell.

  Taking a deep breath, she raced along the hallway, counting the paintings as she passed. When she reached 300, she stopped abruptly. She turned to face the door on her right and paused briefly to study the quirk used this time to get inside. She sighed in irritation when she figured out the trick. Damn it all, don’t they have anything better to do than think of these juvenile tricks? Gheez, I could come up with a better one. Grasping the knob, she pushed it open and listened for the bang of wood against wood as the door hit the wall behind it before stalking through the door behind her.

  Prowling across the room, she flung open her wardrobe and grabbed one of her collars, buckling it around her throat. She paused at the mirror to admire the way the light glinted off the amethyst and ruby before tapping her finger against each stone to let the ever-present swirl of magic fill the gems until all six were sparkling with their own inner light. Twirling away from the mirror, she headed for the door. Could it be possible? Could I actually escape without notice? Her fingers closed around the doorknob as the floor tilted and she slid feet first into the darkness under her door. Nope, she thought as she descended faster. Someone must have told Daddy Dearest. He’s the only one that messes around with the floors. Now that she had Daddy Dearest’s attention, Jasmine knew she’d have to outshine all the Furies combined to escape punishment for this little jaunt. Deciding that the future could take care of itself, she shrugged her shoulders and enjoyed the ride.

  Her laughter bounced off unseen walls as she slid faster. A rushing noise filled her ears as water suddenly filled the passageway. She felt gravity reverse and she was shooting up. Reaching out a hand, her fingers scraped the ceiling. The force of the water pushed her faster. Still laughing, she wrapped her arms around her stomach sure she had left it behind on one of the turns.

  Half a dozen twists turns and loops later, the water expelled her into a deep lake. As she surfaced, a light blinked into existence above her head, casting shadows that peopled her imagination. She scissored her legs, trying to stay above the water as she looked around. The little light wasn’t bright so other than shadows, she couldn’t make out anything off to her left. Unfortunately, the light didn’t do much better on her right side. Spying something that could be a ledge straight ahead, she swam forward.

  The water temperature gradually decreased until it wasn’t boiling hot. Jasmine noticed the lack of exploding bubbles before she noticed the cooling water. Must be leaving Nightmare River, she thought absently as she swam for the shore. A small tingle started in her feet and climbed up her legs. Panic threaded through her when she realized what that tingle meant. She glanced at the shore just out of reach as the tingle spread to cover her entire body. As her hand struck the rock, she knew it was too late. Cussing filled the air as she pulled her legs out of the water. She rolled on her back and squeezed her eyes shut.

  Counting slowly and trying not to suck air in through her teeth, she waited for the magic to subside. Last time she’d transformed, she had fallen into a reservoir. That one had been instantaneously. This one was taking longer. She reached 100 before she felt fur sprouting on her now shortened legs.

  When the magic had faded, she lay panting on her side. The transformation didn’t hurt; at least that’s what she told herself, but it seemed to her that the slower the change the more pain she experienced. Why did it take so long this time? Could it have anything to do with the mixed water?

  Deciding to ignore what she couldn’t figure out in a few minutes, Jasmine flicked her tail and shook her paws dry. She glanced down but other than the extreme difference between the white on her paws and the darker fur on her legs, she couldn’t discern any colors.

  The baleful light still bobbed above her head, making her feel like she was walking through one of the ghost lands. In its dim light she spied a path meandering among the flickering shadows. Not caring where it led, she stepped on and followed it out of the cavern.

  * * *

  The darkness seemed to be fading. Jasmine blinked her eyes, thinking it was wistful thinking, but nothing changed. The darkness was still fading. She followed the path as it curved to her left. As she rounded the turn, the cave was flooded with light. She threw her paws over her eyes as she cried out with surprise. Blinking furiously, she wiped the tears off her face and peered through her claws, trying to see where she was.

  Slowly her eyes adjusted and she could make out her surroundings. Gaping in surprise, hysterical laughter burst from her. Who would have thought that one of Hell’s entrances was in a cave packed with sea lions? Well, down to business. Since the ocean is right in front, then the road must be somewhere… above? ...behind? Trying to find the road, she turned nearly in a half circle when she came face to face with the whiskered muzzle of a large and angry sea lion. Screeching in alarm, Jasmine back pedaled, slipping and sliding to the water line. The water lapping at her tail was a friendlier si
ght than the rolling gait of the sea lion coming right at her.

  Taking a deep breath to pack air into her lungs, she flopped into the ocean and swam as fast as she could for the edge of the cave; a chorus of barking chasing her every inch of the way. Once outside the cave, she turned toward land and battled against the waves trying to force her into the cliff face.

  Bruised and sore, she finally reached the shore and climbed out. She stood dripping on a flat rock; legs splayed and head hanging low. Minutes ticked by, but she didn’t move. She wasn’t sure she could. Closing her eyes seemed to make it easier to breath and slowly she reclaimed her strength. When she could move without her legs wobbling, she began the long climb to the top of the cliff. About half way up, she glanced over her shoulder at the ocean. Suppressing a shudder and a wish to never see water again, she focused on her goal, determined not to look over her shoulder again.

  At the top of the cliff, her foot landed on grass and Jasmine collapsed, winded. As she lay panting on the side of the road, her mind started cataloging her next steps. First she needed to find Jeff. The demon was the next best thing to useless without her. Then she needed to know what he’d done to gain Daddy Dearest’s attention. Then she could come up with a plan to keep the retrieval demon, and herself, out of further trouble. Whoa, wait a minute. A plan? Do I really plan to get Jeff out of trouble?

  She felt a mild alarm in the back of her mind when she realized she was thinking about saving Jeff. If this went completely wacky, then she could be in more trouble than the demon. Why was she doing this? Was it worth it?

  Images flashed through her mind: Jeff fishing her out of the reservoir, him backing her at a rundown motel room, him driving for her when she realized that while in her cat form she couldn’t reach the pedals and see out the windshield, Jeff stepping in because her target was scared of cats. The memories flickered behind her eyes and she slowly came to realize that Jeff had been there through the worst of her assignments.

  When she realized why she was doing this, she was glad she was already lying down because otherwise the thought would have flattened her. Jeff was her friend. It was unheard of and she was sure that if the tribunal had thought of it, it would have been forbidden. It was something that only happened on the Other side. Demons were not supposed to have friends. Furies were not supposed to get attached to Lessors, but here she was going to rescue her friend. Well, if Cassandra can do it…

  Climbing unsteadily to her feet she closed her eyes and reset her emerald to Jeff’s signature. When she felt a faint pull to her left, she opened her eyes and headed north.

  * * *

  Jeff flopped on the couch and pointed the remote at the TV. He stared at whatever happened to be on, trying his best to forget his situation.

  He jerked upright when a loud buzzing filled the living room. Blinking owlishly at the static snow now covering the screen on his TV, he willed his racing heart to relax. He reached for the remote intending to shut the machine off when the static flickered. He looked back at the TV as a picture came into focus. He saw a familiar wet, scraggly cat staggering around his apartment’s parking lot.

  Biting off a curse, he leapt to his feet, threw open the door and raced down the steps. He reached the bottom before he thought that the cat might possibly be just a cat. He dismissed that thought as soon as it crossed his mind. There was only one Siamese with a collar like that.

  He reached the stumbling Fury as the lights in the amethyst and emerald winked out. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms. “Fury Girl, what are you doing here?” he asked.

  Jasmine looked up and gave him a soundless meow. She was too tired. It had been a long walk from the coast to Jeff’s apartment. She didn’t even know where she was. She’d lost track somewhere around Florence. Feeling safe in his arms, Jasmine let exhaustion drag her down and she drifted off to sleep.

  Jeff looked at the sleeping cat and his heart lurched. She had come a long way for him. His lips curved when he thought about the risk she took. He had considered her an ally since their first assignment, but this was beyond what he had any right to expected. “Oh Fury Girl, what am I going to do with you?”

  “You can start by letting me have the bed,” she mumbled in her sleep.

  Jeff laughed. That was his Fury. Her comfort always came first. He walked into the bedroom, lay her down on the pillow, turned around and quietly shut the door behind him. Suddenly, everything seemed brighter. She might only be here to laugh at his failure, but she was here. He wasn’t alone. There was someone else who know what he was going through.

  He flopped back on the couch to stare at a b-rated movie playing on the TV while he waited for the Fury to wake.

  Three movies, an infomercial and a bazillion commercials later, Jeff slumped on the couch, lightly snoring with his chin resting against his chest. A light breeze snaked through a crack in the window to play with his hair. Soft giggling surrounded the sleeping demon.

  In the other room, Jasmine jerked awake with an oath. Something was wrong and it centered on her demon. Jasmine stalked through the bedroom door, intent on keeping what was hers. Snarling at the giggling filling the living room, she jumped on the couch and braced for the fight she was sure was coming. She opened her mouth and howled.

  Jeff startled awake and stared at her, his mouth open in a silent O. Something pulling on his hair caused him to turn around to see…nothing. There was nothing behind him. Bewildered and panicky, he started to turn wide eyes on Jasmine when he felt a soft touch on his cheek. He jerked back and felt his eyes widen further.

  Jasmine jumped over Jeff’s head and landed in his lap, snarling at something only she could see. “Mine,” she hissed, puffing out her fur until she was twice her normal size. “Leave! Leave now!”

  The giggling breeze swirled around before whisking out the window.

  Jasmine jumped to the back of the couch and stared out the window. She was making sure the wind had really left before letting her fur smooth back down. Twisting around, she licked at the fur on her side, flattening it back. She could feel Jeff’s eyes on her but she was going to make him wait. She stretched abruptly and then flowed down the couch and onto the coffee table. She sat on the cold glass and resumed grooming her fur. Slowly she moved from the fur on her side to the stripe down her back. It was a stretch, but she was prepared to go to disgusting lengths to keep those questions locked behind Jeff’s teeth.

  Jeff watched the Fury, knowing full well that she was trying to stall him. He watched her flatten the fur on her sides and back. He watched her lick her paws and groom behind her ears. When she rolled on her butt and stuck a leg in the air, he figured he’d waited long enough. He reached out and pulled on her raised foot.

  “What was that?”

  “My foot?”

  He glared at her. “No, that wind thingy. What was it?”

  “What makes you think I know?” She turned her back on Jeff, her swishing tail the only sign she was irritated. She did not want to have this conversation. There was something about that breeze that she did not want to tell him.

  If she didn’t want to talk about it, then he’d just have to change the subject; his curiosity could wait. Jeff reached out and wrapped his fingers around her twitching tail. “Possessive, much?” he asked. He couldn’t help thinking he was a glutton for punishment as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

  Jasmine growled at him, but inside she was relieved that he didn’t dig further into the giggling wind. She would take that secret back home with her, if she could. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Jeff was still waiting. “Can’t help it,” she conceded. “I keep what’s mine.”

  Jeff knew about the possessive trait the Furies’ had. It was what made the Furies so good at their job. Once they were given an assignment, the soul was theirs and they pursued it with dogged determination.

  He shrugged his shoulders knowing it was useless to argue. He hadn’t thought that this Fury would claim him, but truthfully,
he wasn’t surprised. She had been his partner on his last assignment. No, he thought, it was really her assignment. I was kind of an after thought. Needing time to digest the idea of Jasmine trying to own him, he distracted himself by studying the small apartment.

  A huge window dominated the north wall with a futon couch pushed under it. A four-post, two layered glass coffee table took up half the floor space. Across the three paces of carpet it would take to cross the room, a thirty-two inch TV sat on a three shelved stand. Other than a game system and DVD player, the shelves were bare, but the shelves next to the TV were packed. If you were sitting on the couch, a small kitchen could be found off to the right. There was a refrigerator, stove and dishwasher forming the foot part of the kitchen’s L followed by the sink and a small counter. An equally small and bare bedroom sat off the main room. The bathroom was attached to the bedroom. Compared to his last abode, this place was palatial.

  Tired of being ignored, Jasmine jumped back onto the couch and climbed over Jeff, taking the long route back to the bedroom.

  “Hey!” Jeff sputtered at the cat’s waving tail.

  “Just coming through,” Jasmine purred at him. She jumped down and sauntered into the bedroom to resume her interrupted nap.

  * * *

  Jeff watched Jasmine’s tail disappear into the bedroom. He let his thoughts drift trying to think about nothing in particular, but the giggling wind filled his mind. Kind of like having a pink rhinoceros in the room, he mused. Try to not think about it when someone points it out.

  He raised the remote and pointed it at the TV. Tonight was nearly gone. He turned his thoughts to his assignment. He knew Jasmine would demand an explanation when she woke and he didn’t know what he was going to tell her.

  He leaned back on the couch, threw his arm over his head and stared at the ceiling. With nothing to distract him, he let his thoughts wind back.

  He and Jasmine had returned flushed by another successfully completed assignment, when a fog had sprung up. Jasmine continued on, blithely unaware that he was no longer following her. His world was swallowed by the roiling mist and he felt the world spin. He heaved, trying to keep his stomach where it belonged and almost made it by the time the fog cleared.