Blood Hunt (Secret Magent Book 3) Page 10

  “I’m tellin’ ya, we’re gonna recoup the losses and then some at this rate. Can ya imagine the bosses if we show up with more thralls than we left with?” asked the first voice again.

  “Better more than less. I heard that if ya do something real stupid, they don’t kill you but turn you into a thrall themselves. Worse than an execution if ya ask me.”

  “Way worse,” agreed the first voice. “You ready?”

  “Born ready man. Send in the first one,” he called out.

  I heard the sound of tent flaps. A body hitting the floor.

  “Don’t worry kid, we’re going to fix you right up,” said the second voice, as muffled screams echoed from the tent.

  The Mabinoya Magi didn’t mess around. This was a well known fact. You don’t get to be an honest contender with Nine Towers without having either a whole lot of political clout, or a whole whole lot of ruthlessness.

  The Magi had both.

  “Boom. Done. When’s Baron Baron getting here, by the way? Think I could sneak a smoke?” asked the first voice.

  “Ajay? Leading from the back as usual. They’ll bring up the bosses real quick like now that it’s in the bag though,” said the second.

  “Yeah. Can’t wait to get that sexy snake witch in here. You see her in the line? Wonder if they’ll let us have some fun after we thrall her up.”

  “Count me out. You know how I feel about crawlies.”

  “I’ll get you a garbage bag for her bottom half,” replied the first voice.

  Another collapsing body. A few pleas for mercy, and then muffled screams.

  I’d managed to sneak up to the were-beasts’ retreat just in time to see the non transmogrified ones offer a hasty surrender. I sighed, rubbing my sore back as I leaned against the stump just behind the tent the Magi were conducting their work in.

  Enthrallment. It was only painful initially, apparently. After that so little of the mind is left ‘awake’ that it doesn’t really recognize pain anymore. It was like a lobotomy, followed by a sleep spell that made anything suggested by designated thrall keepers as good as the word of God.

  Like I said: Ruthless.

  I’m not exactly sitting here taking a siesta though. I’m waiting for the chess pieces to move into place. The sounds of fighting just past the thin tent made me think the time to strike was drawing near.

  “You keep moving like that little girl, and I’m going to put a bullet in the back of your damn head,” threatened a third voice, much deeper than the others.

  “Screw you,” Itabimori hissed.

  “We got it from here, man. Don’t worry,” spoke the first voice.

  “Yeah, go get the next one.”

  The third voice hesitated. “Damn bitch,” he spat, then left the tent alone, much to the joy of the other two.

  “What now?” asked the second voice.

  “Now?” said the first voice, “It’s time for a little fun.”

  I couldn’t have said it better myself.

  “Hey,” spoke the third voice, from the far end of the tent. “You hear some--”

  The explosion of my grenade cut him off permanently. Mages are only a force to be reckoned with if they aren’t caught completely off guard. Unprepared, they’re just normal every day Humans.

  As soon as the grenade went off, I drew the mana blade, and cut the back tent flap wide open. In a fluid stab, I ran the nearest of the two Magi through from behind. His friend managed to raised a hand and mutter a quarter of an incantation before I slashed his throat in a neat swing.

  “Charles!” Itabimori gasped tears of joy practically pouring out of her eyes, “You came for me?”

  “The white stallion is parked outside. Let’s get the Hell out of here before the Magi figure out just what hit them.”

  “Sounds great,” Tabi replied, crushing my hand in her own.

  I turned to come back out the way we came, but one step forth, and an immense wall of sickly green fire shot up out of the ground. The tent caught fire, the way was blocked.

  “You’re supposed to be dead, Mr. Locke.”

  “Baron Ajay,” I greeted. “Give my regards to that one Magi that Lode-stoned back to your battle ship. Very nearly got me killed.”

  Ajay, flanked by a pair of rifle wielding thralls, pointed his walking stick towards Itabimori. Green fire burned upon the cane’s tip. “Drop your weapons, come quietly and I’ll spare the girl. I promise.”

  I raised my hands up in the universal sign of surrender, “Tempting, but I don’t have any other weapons to drop.”

  Baron Ajay stared at my hands. Utterly empty, except for the circular pin that until moments ago had been keeping my last grenade from exploding.

  The Magi’s eyes widened to saucers, as the live grenade rolled between his feet. I’d already grabbed Itabimori and thrown myself to the ground by the time it went off.

  The explosion was too close. My ears were filled with the squealing of oncoming concussion, and looking to my side, I saw that Tabi wasn’t in much better shape. Worse, I was all out of tricks.

  Coughing came from the far side of the tent. I turned to see Ajay struggling to stand back up. At his feet laid the mangled corpses of his two thralls. In the last second he’d commanded both to throw themselves on the grenade. How valiant of them. Too bad the wall of fire required concentration to keep up. It was nothing but smoke now.

  “After him. Don’t let him escape!” Ajay cried out, choking on the cloying smoke.

  *

  Under the moonlight, past humid trees and sticky footing, we fled until we found the side of a great stony hill amid the vines and dense vegetation.

  “In here. We’ll wait for dawn and then sneak out. Okay?” Itabimori whispered.

  “Doubt it,” I replied. “If Ajay is here he’s going to insist the Magi focus on hunting us down.”

  “He’s not the only Magi ‘noble’ coming here. I heard them say there were a whole bunch,” Tab replied.

  “Oh, well then they’d probably shout him down for wasting time on me instead of finding Xibalba. Looks like we’ll be able to spend the whole night in this charming, dry, and hospitable cave in peace,” I said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

  Itabimori didn’t think much of my pessimism though. In the almost total dark, I felt a pair of lips collide with mine in a bruising kiss. A passionate second later, we parted.

  “It’s not so bad, is it? Charles?” Itabimori asked.

  Her voice was husky, her tone suggestive.

  “I suppose this is my reward for saving you?” I asked, the snake woman’s legs coiling around mine.

  “That’s just the cherry on top. Brains like yours just push my buttons. This is just me finally catching you alone.”

  I can’t say that I hadn’t been looking forward to this. I threaded my fingers through Itabimori’s fine hair, drew her head close to mine, and got to work.

  Chapter 26

  “There she is,” I said, pointing past a crowd of children playing soccer.

  Itabimori squinted in the midday sun, none the worse for wear after the grueling hike to the nearest village. Thankfully the snake woman had the memory of an elephant. She found and followed the jungle paths with uncanny ease.

  “I don’t see her,” Tabi declared.

  “In order to recognize her you need to know her,” I muttered. “It’s like hunting chameleons. That woman over there with the crucifix. See her? You can tell it’s Lis because she’s within a stone’s throw of both an open air tavern, my favorite place, and a church, her favorite place.”

  “Oh. She has good taste in heels.”

  “What kind of woman wears high heels like those to prayer service?” I asked, and moved down to greet my very own Infernal Adversary.

  It was a remarkably fancy bar for something in a tiny nowhere village. Valuable vintages lined the shelves, the bar was made of finished hardwood, and the graying bartender was wearing a suit. It felt like I hadn’t had a drink in a hundred years. Sidling up next
to the tall black haired woman with the rosary, I placed my order.

  “Tequila, if you would. Best on hand.”

  “Uh, just water for me,” Tab spoke up.

  The bartender nodded, itched at his pencil thin mustache, and then fixed the drinks in a heart beat. I left the man a bill worth double the drinks.

  “Plot has thickened,” I spoke aloud. “Anything new on your end, Lis?”

  “Charlie,” the she-devil replied. “After last time you mistook me for another woman, I’m beginning to wonder how many different girls you say that line to before you finally chance upon me.”

  She was wearing her favorite nun outfit, which did nothing to hide the curve of her hips and breasts. Only Lis could make a nun’s attire sexy. Around her neck hung a golden crucifix and in her hand she held an elegant wine glass full of kids menu apple juice.

  Typical.

  “My guesses are usually educated if it makes you feel better,” I replied to her. “So, what do you have for me?”

  “Another girl, in case a serpent and a snake weren’t enough. Narani’s here. She’s in the expensive Ferrari I rented with your credit card.”

  “Narani,” Tab called out, waving at the car. “I’ll be right back Charles. Don’t get into any trouble.”

  Her comment got an eye roll out of me. I waited for Tabi’s scaley legs to carry her out of ear shot before turning back to Lis.

  “Dog sitting?” I asked.

  “I’m just dotting an I and crossing a T or two of yours, Charlie. Trust me.”

  “‘Trust me’, said the Devil.”

  Lis grinned from ear to ear. “Did you go to the Sunken Shrine?”

  “It was a regular fiesta,” I said. “Dark, wet, prophecies were being shouted, magicians were fiddling with people’s minds in the back, and the highlight of my evening was fighting a gator in single combat. Just like my last birthday party.”

  “And you managed to survive it all without casting a single spell?” Lis asked, feigning surprise. “I’m so impressed I could just eat your soul.”

  “Can I have my wand back?” I asked, stifling a sigh.

  Lis checked her wrist dramatically, despite there being no watch present on it.

  “Four minutes and forty three seconds to go, by the time I finish speaking this sentence,” she replied pleasantly.

  “God forbid you give it to me ahead of schedule,” I muttered.

  “A deal’s a deal Charlie. Besides, you don’t look any worse for wear. In fact, you and snakey girl seem to be getting along legendarily.”

  “You’re damn right we are,” I said, grinning wide. “We’ve got synergy. We’ve got chemistry.”

  “You’ve got me in a state of shock,” Lis mumbled.

  I snorted at the lukewarm response. “What’s so shocking about Itabimori?”

  “You mean besides the fact that she’s a lawful great lizard-woman with more points in charisma than intellect?”

  “Lis I’d like to make it through this conversation with as few unnecessary references to role playing games as physically possible.”

  “All I’m trying to say is that it’s not her so much as you that has me surprised, Charlie. I understand the whole brains and magical brawn combo you’ve got going on but outside of that? She’s not even your type.”

  “Please Lis, enlighten me as to what my type is. It’s so convenient having someone on hand who apparently knows me better than I even know myself.”

  If I put any more sarcasm in my reply I’d be in direct violation of the Geneva Convention. Unfortunately, it wasn’t even a speed bump to Lis.

  “Your type, I think, is an older girl who gets the utmost joy telling you when you’re wrong,” Lis said, a wicked grin playing on her lips. “Face it Charlie. You’re the kind of guy who does best with a bit of guidance once in a while. Otherwise you’ll wind up chin deep in sin and about to be sacrificed in a blasphemous ritual designed to summon something awful from the unplumbed depths of Hell. Again.”

  You’re the awful thing that got summoned at that ritual! I nearly roared.

  “Tabi and I make an excellent team” I said instead. “Sorry to say Lis, but no amount of rain is going to ruin this parade.”

  “Proverbs, chapter five line nineteen: A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. I’m not saying you two don’t fit together well Charlie. Just be careful she doesn’t stroke your ego too much.”

  “Hard to believe the bible has a line in it that’s so saucy,” I muttered.

  Lis grinned, “Keep a level head and you’ll be fine.”

  There’s no such thing as too much ego stroking, and Lis’ words were becoming transparent. She was surely worried that with Tabi around I would become harder to prey on. Of course she’d be against it. I couldn’t help the smirk that crept onto my face. Another Lis trick, another win for me.

  “I got confirmation, by the way,” I said.

  “You did?” Lis asked.

  “Yeah. The Nagual name dropped Hun Came, the One Death. I think the big prize is turning out to be a Dead God’s mantle.”

  Lis sipped on her glass of apple juice, “Maybe.”

  “Other than that, mission complete,” I said, dropping Cho onto the bar table. “Here’s the next step in the pilgrim’s journey. He’s all yours.”

  Chapter 27

  “No leash holders to translate?” Lis asked, regarding the lantern on the end of the key chain.

  “Normally I wouldn’t ask you to, but I need to put a rush on this. Also, you had my wand four twenty fours hours. That’s one thousand four hundred and forty damn minutes. In seconds that would be…”

  “All right Charlie, no need to whine and fuss. Hey there Cho,” Lis greeted the tiny lantern.

  “Greetings Lisistrathiel I have been grievously mistreated!” Cho wailed.

  The she-devil cackled wickedly. “Watery temples, huh? You poor thing. Why don’t you tell me all about what you saw in that Sunken Shrine of yours while Charlie goes and talks to his girl friends. I’m sure they’re aching to talk to such a well composed and virtuous man.”

  “Spare me,” I replied, beating a hasty retreat to the sports car.

  It was subtle. Maybe I was imagining things. But. Was Lis in a bad mood? Could Devils even get to be in bad moods? There was almost no evidence to support the theory, and yet my instincts wouldn’t let it lay.

  Asking her if she was upset, however, was so far out of the question I’d never consider trying it. After all, she wasn’t just a vindictive Infernal Adversary. She was girl too. I made a mental note to treat her to dessert later as a peace offering.

  “Itabimori, Narani,” I called out, approaching the two Supernaturals.

  They were like night and day. Itabimori’s smile shone like the sun. She also looked perfectly comfortable in the oppressive heat and dust of the tiny village, leaning comfortably over the edge of the smooth red Ferrari. Narani on the other hand looked miserable, as usual. She was wearing white silken gloves that rose up to her elbows and heavy boots to hide the fur on her fore arms and legs. A baseball cap acted as part shade maker and part ear hider as she turned her gloomy eyes towards me and greeted me with a frown.

  “Hey. Doomed agent,” the were-dog called out.

  “Lis doesn’t give me a straight answers, so let me ask you instead: What got you off the beach and down here to pay a personal visit to me?” I asked. “Hopefully she didn’t terrorize you too much on the ride here.”

  Narani shook her head. “You’ll need my help if you’re serious about Xibalba. I’ll explain later. And no way. Lis is cool. We discussed the legitimacy of the Popol Vuh version of our cosmology compared to the oral tradition the whole way he--”

  “I’m going to have to stop you right there Narani,” I said, holding up a hand. “If you make it sound like you get along with Lis any better I’ll start to think less of you.”

  “She talked a lot about you too,” Narani rep
lied, tail wagging lazily.

  My heart skipped a beat. My palms when from dry to clammy in record time. Just what the hell did that she-devil say about me?

  Itabimori eagerly jumped in. “Spill.”

  “She said--”

  “Done,” Lis declared.

  I breathed a sigh of relief, turning to find Lis with a large map rolled under her arm.

  “That was fast. What do you got for me?” I asked.

  “Bonampak,” Lis said.

  “Bless you,” I replied. “Cover your mouth next time you sneeze.”

  “Charles Montgomery Locke,” Lis warned.

  “Couldn’t help myself. What obscure corner of the world is this Bonampak in?” I asked.

  “Hey,” Narani asked, her voice a void of emotion. “That’s the tourist trap down on the border to Guatemala, isn’t it?”

  “Correct,” Lis said. “That’s where the next leg of the journey is. Nothing more than pretty pictures in an old temple. Unless, of course, you’ve been reading along since the beginning of the story.”

  “Makes sense,” I muttered looking down at the map. “Where better to hide the last step to Xibalba than right under the shuffling feet of Mundane sightseers.”

  “That’s good though,” Itabimori said. “That means we know exactly where to go next. We might even beat those other guys to it too.”

  “I doubt it’ll be that easy,” I said. “Speaking of not easy. Lis, can I have my…”

  Turning to face the she-devil, I suddenly found the space she had occupied til now vacant. Gone. Hanging from the car’s rear view mirror was my wand, tied in place with a pretty pink ribbon, and flanked by a note that read ‘go get em, stud’.

  “...Thank you,” I finished.

  Just as pocketed my wand, my cell rang. I clenched my teeth, held up a finger to Itabimori and Narani asking them to wait, and withdrew the device from my pocket.

  Click.

  “Cazador,” I said. “Yes I’m aware of the goddamn deadline. Yes I have everything under control. And why no, I am not available to do any more bullshit Nine Towers deigns to throw in my general direction.”