The Fire Road Read online

  By the time the semester was over, Edgar was frequently going on double dates with her and Zack. Except Edgar left with whatever girl he was dating, while Lina invariably went home, either to her parents’ house or with Zack, where she curled up in bed with him in Hello Kitty pjs, and her in a T-shirt, and they watched cartoons until the wee hours of the morning.

  * * * *

  “I can’t do this, Zack,” Lina tearfully whispered.

  She was curled up on her parents’ couch, her head in his lap, his fingers threading through her hair.

  The Highway Patrol officers had just left fifteen minutes earlier.

  “Sure you can, shortcake,” he gently said, wishing he could take away her pain. “You’ve got me.”

  “What am I going to do without them?”

  He didn’t have an answer for that.

  Fortunately, he didn’t have to. Edgar chose that moment to rush through the front door without knocking.

  I never thought I’d be glad to see that fucking guy.

  He hurried over and knelt in front of her. “Hey, sweetie.”

  She burst into tears again.

  “Honey,” Edgar said, “you’ve got Zack, you’ve got me, and we’ll get you through this.”

  Zack needed to talk to Edgar, tell him the steps they had to go through, identifying the bodies—making arrangements.

  But he couldn’t bear to say any of it with Lina lying there, sobbing in his lap.

  As they worked their way through that somber August, Zack moved Lina in with him for a few weeks at Edgar’s suggestion. Zack was no fan of the guy, but he wouldn’t deny needing his help to keep Lina going. She wanted to drop out of school, but both men kept gently pushing her, insisting she’d get through it.

  That her parents wouldn’t want her to drop out.

  Zack didn’t even mind that Edgar brought Lina special little treats, candy bars, things like that, just for her.

  It took a while, but finally Zack started seeing his Lina return. And he grudgingly accepted Edgar as Lina’s friend.

  Although there was just something he didn’t trust about the guy, and suspected he never would, even if he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

  PART II: HIGHWAY TO HELL

  Chapter Six

  Back to the present, sorta-kinda. Seven weeks after Brighton bit the big one, but before Elain played the paranormal pyrotechnics with a few skulls that we witnessed earlier…

  Elain fingered the citrine pendant around her neck as she stared out the condo windows at downtown Atlanta. “Thanks for seeing me early.”

  “My dear, it is not a hardship.”

  Elain’s men, especially Brodey, were recovering from their brother Brighton’s death. Especially now that they were going to be fathers.

  Again.

  Just over three weeks pregnant with twins by Brodey and Cail, Elain was going to double the number of their children in less than nine short months, give or take a few weeks.

  Elain wasn’t sure how well she was recovering, though.

  There were two ways to look at the events of that day on the rock pile in Maine. Either she had saved her children and others, or she’d killed her batshit-crazy brother-in-law.

  Or…both.

  Schrödinger’s wolf.

  “Here you are,” Ryan said as he handed her a mug of mint hot tea.

  “Thanks.”

  “Are you concerned about the meeting? Rest assured, everyone will welcome your presence.”

  “Whether they want to or not?”

  He smirked. “Not at all. We have common enemies, as it were. They need to get to know you, and you them. If for some reason I am unavailable, I wish for you to be secure in the knowledge that whoever responds to your call is someone I trust.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ryan stuck his hands in the pockets of his khakis. “You didn’t come here just for excellent tea, I take it?”

  “You take it correctly.” She sipped the hot brew, perfectly sweetened with turbinado.

  Just the way she liked it, of course.

  Why not? If the man who was what passed—incorrectly—as the Devil couldn’t make her a perfect cup of hot tea, what good was he?

  He held out his hand, indicating for her to take a seat on the couch.

  “Tell me about the swords,” she said.

  His right eyebrow slowly arched skyward. “You are pregnant.”

  “Not too pregnant. You promised you’d help me.”

  “That’s not exactly how I remember the conversation going, my dear.”

  “Tell me about the fricking swords.”

  “I shall, if you tell me why you are suddenly so interested in them.”

  She stared into her mug, inhaling the sweet minty steam. “Would something like one of those swords have helped me figure Brighton out sooner and saved him?”

  “Unfortunately, no. They are defensive weapons, attuned to the archdemon who wields it, or someone close to him. As a human, shifter or not, you would find one of them unbearably bulky and difficult to manage, even with considerable training.”

  “Unless I had one made for me?”

  He finally nodded.

  “You could do that?”

  “I can, but why is this so important? You have other…talents.”

  “I’d prefer not to get within touching distance of someone.”

  “Isn’t that what a gun is for? Click-click-bang? One gun, eight rounds, everybody falls down? You used one quite well that day to save Lacey’s life. Not to mention your…other talents in that area.”

  She took another sip of tea. “Seer Says?”

  He nodded.

  “I don’t like what I can do. I don’t want to be able to do it.”

  “There are many things in this life that we don’t like that we are able to do, but find we must do, on occasion. Sometimes, we will look back on those same skills and be damned grateful for them when the greater good is served by using them.”

  She scowled at him.

  “Then again,” he added, “I realize you aren’t talking about distasteful, mundane tasks like taxes or laundry.” From his smirk, she knew he was trying to lighten the mood. While she appreciated his efforts, it wasn’t working.

  “No.” She focused on the large windows overlooking Turner Field. “We’ve got a real shitwich to eat, here, and I have no idea which corner to start chewing on the fucker.”

  “Sounds like some of Lina’s linguistic talents are rubbing off on you.”

  “Oh, I was already snarky before I met her.” Elain patted her tummy as she refocused on him. “But now I can blame it on pregnancy hormones.” She grinned, drawing a laugh from him.

  “You have the amulet I gave you,” he said. “Considering what we’ve discovered, please, do not hesitate to call me in to help. Let me fight what battles I can for you. I will most certainly fight first and question the boundary issues later.”

  She slumped against the back of the couch. “I feel like I’m being whiny.”

  “Whiny would be bitching that I didn’t give you a matching pair of earrings with the amulet.”

  Her turn to laugh. “I take it you didn’t get along with Baba Yaga like this?”

  “No, unfortunately. Not for lack of trying on my part.”

  She shifted in her seat and realized that he sensed something.

  “My dear, I know you know about our relationship. She is rightfully bitter, and I don’t hold that against her. I see the overall picture and can understand her attitude.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Seer Says?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Of course.”

  “Does your mom know?”

  It took him a moment to answer. “There are many things she knows that she chooses to…ignore. I have many half siblings running around out there. Some who know their heritage, and many, many more who do not.”

  “Why not tell Callie and Gigi?”

  “Not my call. I have a dec
ent working relationship with Baba Yaga. I don’t wish to do anything to disturb that. Especially now with the stakes growing so dear.”

  “Can I ask another question?”

  “Of course.”

  “The woman who threw the curse into Callie. You said she was from an off-Earth realm.”

  “Yes?”

  “How’d she get here and escape notice?”

  He templed his fingers and seemed to consider his reply first. “She was related to the Selkies. I don’t believe you’ve yet met any of them. They tend to have a far nastier reputation than they deserve.”

  “Kind of like archdemons?”

  A wry smile curved his lips. “Yes. Exactly. However, they are related to another race of creatures, the Tanuki. In a way, they are also a type of shape-shifter, but not exactly. They are more mimics than shifters. The Selkies are native to a near-Earth realm from which beings cross frequently. Usually peaceful beings. And a different realm than the one accessible from on top of the rock pile.”

  Elain’s hand shot up. “Ooh, ooh, pick me!”

  A full-on smile escaped him. “I thought you wanted to hear this.”

  “This Tanuki imitated a Selkie?”

  “Exactly.”

  “And that’s how she was able to infiltrate the cockatrice?”

  He touched his nose.

  “So who the fuck was she?”

  “A pain in my father’s arse, and now, unfortunately, a deceased pain in mine.”

  “Because of what she did?”

  “In a manner of speaking.”

  “In what manner of speaking?”

  “Because of her daughter.”

  Elain thought about the visions she’d had of Ryan, his past.

  His lost soul mate, and that woman’s soul now residing in the body of a woman who was the soul mate to another.

  A man close to Ryan.

  “Am I going to meet him today?” she asked.

  He didn’t meet her gaze as he finally, slowly nodded. “I would, however, appreciate your discretion in that matter. There are aspects of that which are…personal.”

  “Understood.”

  “I would also prefer you don’t try to read any of my team today unless I ask you to and it’s done openly.”

  “Okay, but why?”

  “Professional courtesy. A couple of them—let me start over. All of them are older than you. Far older. Some of them might appear to be more powerful than you, and in some ways, they are. But only because they are older and know their powers. None of them, even collaboratively, are more powerful than you shall be one day. I wish for all of us to have a respectful working relationship with each other.”

  “Ah. No accidentally pissing on anyone’s shoes.”

  “Quaint and colorful, but accurate.”

  “Got it.” She cupped her hands around her mug and inhaled deeply. “They all know who I am?”

  “Yes. They need to know. And you need to know them.”

  “In case one of them has to come instead of you?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Are you going to give Lina and Mai amulets, too?”

  He leaned forward and clasped his hands around his left knee, which was crossed over his right leg. “I haven’t decided that yet. If I do, it likely won’t have the additional powers yours does.”

  “The Babel fish?”

  He smirked. “Quite. Although that wasn’t all my doing. It simply allowed you to tap into your innate powers.”

  Then, it clicked. “You don’t want to accidentally boost Lina and Mai’s powers before they’re ready and able to deal with them without accidentally hurting someone in the process.”

  He froze for a long, nearly uncomfortable moment. “My dear,” he quietly said, “you are so insightful it is inconveniently spooky at times.”

  She tapped her forehead. “Seer. Duh.”

  * * * *

  If Elain hadn’t known the guys gathered around the table in Ryan’s condo were archdemons, she wouldn’t have suspected them of having anything other than supernaturally good looks.

  Four of the guys looked vaguely familiar, especially broody Will and surfer-dude Aidan. And not just because Will had been in her visions. Then, it clicked in her brain.

  “You’re from that ghost-hunting show out of Tampa, aren’t you?” she asked.

  That finally drew the hint of a wry smile from Will. “Yes.” He looked at Aidan. “See? Can’t go anywhere now people don’t know us.”

  “Oh, suck it up,” Aidan teased. He looked back at her. “Yes, that’s us, sugar. Otherworlds is the name of the show.” He hooked a thumb at Ryan. “He’s the head of the gO! network.”

  She stared at Ryan. “You run The Firm and a TV network?”

  Ryan shrugged. “I have my hobbies.”

  “What’s your gig, sweet cheeks?” Aidan asked her.

  She started to answer, then couldn’t. Her fingers automatically went to the citrine amulet Ryan gave her and started playing with it. She’d found herself doing that a lot lately, either playing with it or the pink pawprint dog tag she wore on a separate chain. Her three men wore those, too, in colors that matched their eyes.

  She didn’t know exactly what she was.

  Ryan seemed genuinely amused. “Elain is now the head of the Triad,” he finally answered when she didn’t. “She’s also the Maine wolf Clan’s Seer.”

  “Triad?” Purson Gibraltar asked, a scowl darkening his features. “As in Baba Yaga-the Cailleach-Brighde Triad?”

  “Not anymore,” Ryan said. “Their Triad is officially dissolved, and this is the replacement. Elain, Lina, and Mai. They are all Seers.”

  “And Lina isn’t just a Seer,” Elain said. “She’s a…well, she’s Lina.”

  Ryan smirked. “Quite.”

  Ryan went on to explain the crux of their situation with the cockatrice and how they thought the nuclear bomb vision tied in with that. When he finished, he studied his men. “Any questions?”

  Purson raised his hand.

  “Yes?”

  “So Baba Yaga and the others just decided to pack up their toys and leave in the middle of a raging shitstorm?”

  Elain couldn’t help it. She liked the guy. She also thought she recognized him from both the ghost-hunting show and a hoarding recovery show she’d also seen on gO! network, come to think of it.

  Ryan clasped his hands in front of him. “It’s not as simple as that, Purs. You know that.”

  “I don’t know shit, boss. That’s the problem.” He pointed at Elain. “We’re dealing with something that’s been around for thousands of years, and we’re supposed to do that with three chicks—no offense, lady—who are barely old enough to drink legally in the state of Florida?”

  Elain started to answer, but Ryan beat her to it. “Sheol.”

  “What?” Elain and Purson both asked.

  Ryan’s attention, however, was still directed at Purson. “I know that the new Triad made a house disappear.”

  “Give me a couple of propane tanks and a lighter, and so can I,” Purson snarked.

  “Can you rip it from its foundation, fold it in upon itself, and make it wink out of existence?”

  Purson blinked. “Say whut?”

  “My apologies to Rod Serling, but can you send it to the cornfield?”

  “Fuck,” Purson whispered. “Sheol?” He almost looked a little queasy.

  Ryan nodded. “Sheol.”

  “Okay,” Elain said. “What the hell is Sheol? And what cornfield?”

  Everyone turned and looked at her. Only Ryan didn’t wear an expression of disbelief.

  Like she’d just asked them what a car or a toaster was.

  Ryan finally spoke. “It’s a common reference for a place that defies description, a dimension that is outside of others. I’m sure there’s probably a quantum physics name for it, but the closest term religion has come to describing it is Sheol. Sort of where things go after they die.”

  “A house can’t die.�
��

  “I said it was the closest term. And as you already know, souls return to the Ether. It’s…” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the ceiling for a moment, apparently in thought. “Are you familiar with Dungeons and Dragons?”

  “No.”

  “Hmm.” He thought for another moment. “Imagine you had a storage locker of unlimited size, that would hold any and everything you wished it to. And that, at your leisure, you could simply send things to it.”

  “That would be handy.”

  “You might not get them back.”

  “That wouldn’t be handy.”

  “Or you might not get them back in the way you wished them to be. Not the same condition, as it were.”

  “That’d be even less handy.”

  “Someone see if that damned episode of The Twilight Zone is on Netflix,” Purson griped.

  “It was in the movie, too,” Aidan said.

  Now realization was dawning. “Wait. That episode where the kid could do stuff with his mind and make things and people disappear?”

  “Cornfield,” the other men, except Ryan, all said.

  “Sheol,” Ryan simply said.

  The more she learned, the less she knew. That’s what it felt like.

  The more clueless, helpless, and powerless she felt.

  “She can send stuff to Sheol?” Purson quietly asked Ryan.

  “She can. She and the others.”

  “She’s also sittin’ right here, dude. And she’s pregnant with twins and very hormonal right now.”

  Purson held up both hands and sat back.

  “Now then,” Ryan said, sending a pointed glare Purson’s direction, “if everyone is sufficiently satisfied with Elain’s supernatural CV, may we please return to the topic at hand?”

  Purson raised his hand again.

  Elain would have giggled at Ryan’s exasperated expression if the stakes weren’t so high and deadly. “Yes, Purs?”

  “Why can’t she just pull the person’s identity out of the vision?”

  Elain slapped her hands against the table. “And, again, she is sitting right here!”

  “Well, let’s see, Purs,” Ryan drawled. “It’s not like we didn’t think of that option already, right? That’s why she’s here, in part.”