Persephone (The Lily Harper Series Book 4)

  It opened its mouth and a long, pointed tongue unrolled, rising into the air as if it were a cobra. Its nostrils expanded and it appeared to inhale.

  “I smell flesh,” it said in a raspy, deep voice.

  Tallis took two steps to the side, placing his body directly in front of mine. He’d already drawn his sword and now had it pointed directly at the creature.

  “Shrezor, we wish nae trooble with ye,” Tallis said, and his voice sounded steely and harsh.

  It seemed to take the creature a moment or two to fully focus on Tallis. I wondered if it were blind, given the cement color of its eyes. As it attuned itself to Tallis’s direction, the plugs on its head began to wave this way and that, as if they were floating on an invisible sea.

  “Bladesmith,” the creature growled.

  “Aye,” Tallis replied, not bothering to shift his sword from where it was aimed directly beneath Shrezor’s nose. “Take yer seat in the back o’ the train an dinnae boodge from it.”

  “It has been a long time since you showed your face in this part of the city,” Shrezor answered without making any motion to take a seat at all.

  The train doors slid closed and with a slight lurch, we were off again. Even though Tallis wasn’t holding onto the handrail, the increasing momentum didn’t seem to throw him off balance. He firmly held his ground, as did Shrezor.

  “Ah amnae interested in ah conversation with ye,” Tallis announced, his posture growing rigid. His entire back appeared so stiff, it almost looked like he’d had the misfortune of accidentally gazing at Medusa and, consequently, being turned to stone.

  “No?” Shrezor asked, the tone of the creature’s voice sounding amused. “That is quite a pity as I am certainly interested in discussing some matters with you,” it continued. Taking a quick step to its right, it continued to eye Tallis, while its bizarre hair snaked around it. “Why are you here, Bladesmith?”

  “’Tis none o’ yer business,” Tallis responded, nearly spitting the words out like acid.

  “Has election time come again?” Shrezor asked. “Have you come to seek office? To convert our citizens into die-hard believers?” Shrezor was quiet for a few seconds as he appeared to study Tallis. “Have you come back for that which you abandoned so long ago?”

  Of course, I had no idea what Shrezor was talking about, but I also couldn’t deny that I was curious. It seemed the creatures of the Underground City all knew or, at the very least, recognized Tallis. I’d always attributed that to Tallis having been on hundreds of missions to the Underground City over the centuries; but now I wasn’t so sure …

  “Nae,” Tallis said again, his voice sounding eerily concerned. “Take yer seat.”

  “You have not changed, politician,” Shrezor taunted with a high-pitched laugh that sounded like it could shatter glass. “But I admire your courage in coming here to the deep city where you know you will never be welcomed.”

  “Ah care not.”

  “Beware, my friend,” Shrezor warned, its eyes narrowing and the tubes jutting out of its head suddenly lying still. “While I do not believe in carrying grudges, the same cannot be said for my comrades in the City of Dis. You will find yourself most assuredly unwelcome here.” It paused for a second or two before a huge smile appeared on its mouth. I had to wonder if the smile was merely intended to show off its sharklike grill. “The past is still alive and well in our city,” Shrezor continued. “And you have not been forgiven.”

  “Take yer seat afore Ah decide tae roon ye through with mah sword,” Tallis replied, his tone icy cold.

  Shrezor didn’t say anything for a few seconds, but tipped its head back into the air as the tendrils on its head suddenly lurched upwards, as if awakening from a nightmare. Shrezor opened its mouth and that repulsively pointed tongue appeared again at the same time that it inhaled deeply.

  “I smell meat,” it said as it focused on Tallis. “And it cannot be you that I am scenting.” Without waiting for Tallis’s response, Shrezor slowly turned its head to the left, looking past Tallis. Its unseeing grey eyes shifted above my head and then back down again as its tongue continued to identify the air molecules, sending feedback to its eyes and showing it where to focus. Once its tongue pointed in my direction, its alarming eyes settled on me.

  “Flesh … I smell human flesh,” it said again. All of the tendrils on its head aimed in my direction as it took a step forward and extended its clawed hands out in front of it.

  “You best back the fuck up,” Bill said as he narrowed his eyes on the creature. “Otherwise, I’m gonna bust out some serious angel whoop-ass, bitch!”

  Shrezor didn’t spare Bill a glance. I wondered if it even heard Bill based on its complete lack of interest in him. Instead, it continued to eye me like a freshly grilled steak.

  Drawing up against the glass windows behind me as far as I could, my heart started to pound against my ribs. My breathing was now coming in sporadic gasps and I felt light-headed. I wrapped my fingers around my sword and imagined the best way to defend myself should this creature lunge at me.

  “Shrezor,” Tallis said, obviously attempting to draw the creature’s attention away from me. But the creature didn’t budge. It continued staring at me while its tongue tasted me on the air.

  “Whit are ye doin’ ootside o’ the morgue?” Tallis finished. “Ye know ye arenae allowed tae leave.”

  Shrezor didn’t bother looking at the bladesmith although it did respond, and in a very haughty way. “I am on my way to meet with the master of the city, himself.”

  “Aboot whit?” Tallis continued, eyeing the creature suspiciously.

  “None of your business,” the creature taunted Tallis.

  “Come now, Shrezor,” Tallis started, a purposeful smile creeping across his lips. “Ye have always bin boastful, why change yer spots now?”

  “My business with the master does not concern you,” Shrezor answered, finally glancing over at Tallis, who studied him pointedly.

  Tallis shrugged. “Mayhap there isnae any truth ta yer claims,” he said, obviously playing Shrezor.

  “You’re calling me a liar?” the creature hissed, and all of its snakelike tendrils began suddenly flailing around its head.

  “Ah know ye tae be ah proud braggart,” Tallis started, his smile still in full effect. “Ye have never bin any guid at concealin’ yer victories. Ah cannae help boot ask mahself why ye would start concealin’ them now?”

  “Not that you have any business being in mine,” Shrezor started, and its eyes returned to me as the coils on its head followed suit. In no time, all of them were pointing straight at me. “But the master and I have entered into a business partnership.”

  “How so?” Tallis inquired.

  “The master cares about the defensive measures taken to guard his city. Thus, we are discussing all the extra procedures that must be taken in order to protect the city and its inhabitants. And as for the edict, which disallows us to freely roam, I am now firmly outside that jurisdiction.”

  Tallis didn’t respond, but simply nodded, his focus now entirely on the creature. A second or so later, he glanced beyond Shrezor and appeared to look at the Watchers. Then he returned his attention to Shrezor.

  “Ah have ah message Ah would like ye tae deliver tae the master o’ the city,” Tallis said, his voice flat, and almost calm.

  “What message would that be?” Shrezor asked, its attention still riveted on me. It reached forward, its clawed hand barely missing my face.

  Tallis never answered. Well, not verbally anyway. Instead, literally in the blink of an eye, he hefted his sword high above his head and brought it down, severing Shrezor’s head from its body. It happened so fast, I had to blink twice before watching the head roll to convince myself what just happened.

  “Conan’s lost his fuckin’ mind!” Bill yelled, but I found I couldn’t utter a word, or even a sound.

  All I could do was watch as the creature’s colorless blood sprayed from its neck like a sprinkler gon
e awry. Tallis reached down and picked the head up by its tendrils before tossing the offensive object down the walkway, toward the Watchers. They just sat and stood there dumbly, as if they weren’t sure what to make of the situation. Meanwhile, Tallis grabbed Shrezor’s body and took a few steps toward the Watchers before hurtling the corpse in their direction as well.

  Once Shrezor’s body landed at their feet, the Watchers dove on top of it. Horrified, I observed them as they ripped off its arms and legs before thrusting their hands into the creature’s abdomen and pulling its intestines and liver free. They feasted on it, chewing off its arms and legs, and making spluttering sounds as they swallowed the goopy entrails.

  “Disgusting,” Bill said as he observed them. And I was pretty sure he wasn’t playing the dis game anymore.

  “I come not of myself...”

  - Dante’s Inferno

  FOURTEEN

  “Why did you do that?” I asked Tallis, raw shock still pulsing through me.

  “Ah wanted tae send ah message tae Alaire,” he answered in an offhand manner. He acted as if he’d simply written and posted a letter to Alaire, rather than deftly hacking Shrezor’s head clean off its body before feeding it to the Watchers.

  “What the hell kinda message did ya wanna send him?” Bill asked, looking just as shaken as I felt. “That you’re comin’ for him next?” Glancing over at me, where I was still sitting beside him, he added, “Instead o’ callin’ him Conan, I’m gonna start callin’ him The Punisher.”

  “Alaire has nae business changin’ the procedures that have been in place fer centuries,” Tallis interjected. His lips tightened as he gazed out the window of the train. He appeared to be looking for something. After another few seconds, he returned his attention to us.

  “I get what a big dickhead Alaire is,” Bill started, his eyes still wide, “but, dude, why the hell do you care what he does inside his own city?”

  “Ye dinnae git it,” Tallis said as he shook his head and laughed. It was a strangely macabre sound and totally devoid of any humor.

  “That’s pretty much what we’ve been gettin’ at,” Bill agreed with an emphatic nod, the expression of “Duh!” quite obvious on his face.

  Tallis glanced back at the Watchers, who were still busily feeding on what was left of Shrezor’s body, before turning to us again. He gripped the handrail beside him tightly and faced the front of the train.

  “We will disembark here,” he announced.

  As if in response, the train began to slow down. Seconds later, it came to a complete stop and the doors slid open. Tallis quickly got off, and I noticed the Watchers were so busy with Shrezor, they failed to realize we were leaving. That was just as well. Gripping my sword, I jumped up and started for the door, Bill hot on my heels.

  When I eventually stepped foot onto the ground outside, I scanned the perimeter, but didn’t perceive much in terms of sights to see. Instead, it looked like we were in the middle of a barren landscape; only the train tracks divulged any sign of civilized life. Of course, life in the Underground City could never be considered civilized. Regardless, it appeared that we were on the top of a hill. I saw a steep ravine flanking both sides of the train tracks, which lay across a narrow dirt path. There were no trees to speak of, not even dead ones, only endless miles of train track that stretched far into the horizon beyond where the eye could see.

  “Where the hell are we now, yo?” Bill asked as he twirled around, taking stock of the unfamiliar environment. Meanwhile the train departed, leaving us in darkness, except for the light coming from the moon. “Looks like we just got dropped off onto the set of The Hills Got Eyes,” Bill finished before eyeing me with a shudder. “And we sure as hell better not have!”

  “Is the Underground City really that different, Bill?” I asked, shaking my head, and answering the question for myself.

  “Yeah, good point,” Bill replied, kicking a rock with the tip of his shoe until it plummeted down the side of the hill.

  “Are we close to the graveyard?” I asked Tallis. My tone of voice sounded worried even though I tried to mask it. In general, I trusted Tallis. Even though I could say that watching him surgically dismember Shrezor might’ve shaken my faith just a bit …

  “Nae close, nae far,” he answered unapologetically before starting forward. We began walking in an easterly direction, along the sides of the tracks.

  “What does that mean?” I demanded, suddenly irritated by his response. Due to the narrow path, I had to walk single file behind Tallis while Bill picked up the rear.

  Tallis turned around and smiled at me. “It means that Ah didnae want tae tarry in the train any longer because Ah didnae wish tae be overheard.” I figured that meant he didn’t want the Watchers to pry into our conversation, lest they report it back to Alaire. “So now we have mayhap, ah two-mile walk afore we reach the gates o’ the City o’ Dis,” he finished, facing forward again.

  “Two friggin’ miles?” Bill muttered. “Fuck, dude, if I’da known we’d be doin’ Crossfit, I woulda called in sick or some shit.”

  “What were you worried about the Watchers overhearing exactly?” I asked Tallis, opting to ignore Bill for the moment.

  Tallis was quiet for a few seconds. He slowly glanced down at his feet before looking up at the horizon again. It was eerie how even though we were outside, there were no sounds of life. No insects chirping, no wind blowing through the tree branches, no animals walking, nothing! Only the unnatural sound of complete silence. Well, aside from our footfalls, that is.

  “Ah believe Alaire is oop tae nae good,” Tallis announced.

  “Meaning what, exactly?” I asked.

  “Meanin’ Ah believe he is bendin’ the rules because he is tryin’ tae usurp control by creatin’ chaos,” Tallis explained.

  “Usurp control?” I repeated in disbelief. “From whom?”

  “Um, paranoid much, anyone?” Bill piped up from behind me.

  “From anyone,” Tallis shrugged.

  “Why do you think that?” I asked, struggling to understand his reasoning. As far as Alaire was concerned, I did find it interesting how adamant he was about beefing up security where his city was concerned. It certainly didn’t appear to me like the Underground City was in any type of danger, but I hadn’t given it much thought beyond that.

  “Ah cannae come oop with anoother alternative,” Tallis finished as he shook his head. Then he glanced back at me and added, “If ye look at the facts, ye will see ah disconcertin’ pattern.”

  “The facts?” I repeated, still failing to catch his drift.

  “Aye, the facts,” Tallis answered with a brief nod. “An’ whit are they, lass?”

  I took a deep breath and considered Alaire’s bizarre decisions of late. “Um, well, we know he’s been creating soldiers that he plants into the Dark Wood; and their sole intention is making our job as Soul Retrievers more difficult,” I started.

  “Aye, that is noomber one,” Tallis agreed, holding his index finger up in the air. “Whit else?”

  “And he was meeting with Shrezor to discuss further beefing up with regard to the city’s defenses,” I answered.

  “Aye, noomber two,” Tallis responded.

  “Wait, yo! What about when Alaire sent those shitty, little demons to the island of horny-ass women?” Bill piped up from behind me. “Member the ones that took a bite outta nerdlet and nearly killed her sorry ass?”

  “The Hanuush demons,” I clarified with a sigh. I shook my head because I didn’t think Bill was onto anything. “And that would have been the toy store, not the ‘island of horny-ass women,’” I finished. But then I had to shrug because those women were incredibly horny … “Although your description fits better.”

  “Right?!” Bill asked with a chortle that died as quickly as it erupted. “Damn! Why can’t any of our freakin’ missions take us back there? That was like, the best night of my life, yo! Bangin’ five super-hot, Goth, Elvira wannabes, and every one of them with a crazy foreign
accent!” He was quiet for a few seconds, apparently reliving the memory. “I was like in this crazy sexual bliss; ’course it was mixed with also bein’ totally an’ completely petrified.” I glanced back at him with a curious expression as he explained. “I was scared outta my freakin’ mind that they were gonna stake me before drainin’ me of all my blood, or some shit.” Then he smiled while shaking his head. “Guess I was the only one doin’ the stakin’!”

  “Oh, God, TMI,” I ground out. “What does your little, pornographic tangent have to do with Alaire going AWOL, anyway?”

  “Well, he broke the rules by sending the Hanuush demons to the island, right?” Bill asked, shrugging.

  “Ah believe Alaire was more interested in makin’ sure Besom remained in his debt,” Tallis interjected.

  As soon as I was reminded of that debt, my heart dropped. Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself not to worry about things I couldn’t control. For right now, I had enough to concentrate on with just the task at hand. I had no time to worry about my future.

  “So, you think Alaire is trying to break all the rules just to create chaos?” I asked Tallis. I wanted to discuss anything but the favor I still owed Alaire.

  “Aye,” Tallis responded while nodding insistently. “In times of chaos, Alaire becomes even more powerful.”