Fury Rising (Fury Unbound Book 1) (18 page)

“Really? I thought all of them were buddy-buddy.”

Hecate leaned forward, clasping her hands on her leg. “Jerako is correct. At one time, the Greenlings were poised to destroy what was left of civilization. Gaia extracted a promise from the governments that humans would never again use—or allow the use of—weather magic as a weapon. The gods vowed to uphold Gaia’s decree. Weather magic is far too disruptive to the balance. The governments of the world pulled together, but they were run by the richest corporations, and they had incredible influence—just as they do now. The EuroAsiAmerican Alliance took form. Any country refusing to join is kept at an agrarian level, strictly watched for magical and technological development.”

“How long ago were the Weather Wars? So many records were lost during the World Shift.”

“Long ago. Centuries. It took Gaia one moment to cause the World Shift, but it took quite awhile for the world’s climate to return to some semblance of balance, and for humans to develop sustainable technology that met her approval. It also took centuries to rebuild from the destruction during the Weather Wars.”

A grim smile spread across her face. “Before this matter gets totally out of hand, I need to send you into the Junk Yard to see what you can find out about the Thunderstrike. I’m sorry, Fury. I know how much you hate the place, and you have every reason to feel that way.”

“Do you know exactly where I should look?” The thought of returning to the Junk Yard made my stomach lurch. I hadn’t been there since I had faced the Carver five years ago.

Hecate scanned her tablet. “Actually, yes. Try a nightclub called Phoenix Rising. It’s a magicians’ bar, so go cautiously, but the fact you’re a witch will make it believable for you to be there. Don’t take your sword—that would be a dead giveaway. You’re too well known around Darktown and the Trips to go in without cloaking up.” She glanced at me. “Obviously, you’ll have to go in at night, since they lock the gates during the day.”

“So what do I do if I run across an Abomination while I’m in the Junk Yard? Should I take them out? I’m just trying to plan ahead.”

Hecate shook her head. “No, for now leave them be. In fact, as much as I hate taking away your immediate access to it, wear something that covers your whip.”

I had already been thinking about that. “I have a long skirt with a slit up both sides. It will be a little cumbersome, but I can still manage both dagger and whip.”

“Be careful, and do your best to remain undercover.” She held my gaze. “I don’t like sending you into this situation, but there’s really no choice.”

I had been thinking about something, uncertain of whether to ask about it. But finally, I decided I needed to know. “Why did you send me to Jerako, if you already knew what the Greenlings would say?”

Hecate laughed, her voice rich and throaty. “There’s a method to what might seem like madness. Think carefully, Fury. The governments don’t like learning from the past. Now, Jerako will warn the EUAA to work with Lightning Strikes. If I were to go to the Regent of Seattle and tell him that a weather-magic device was stolen, he would nod and make a show of being appalled, and then the report would slip through the cracks because the Conglomerate is as corrupt as they come. They don’t take the gods seriously, not truly. Add to that, the government has their fingers deep into the World Regency Corporation’s pockets, and you can bet they’ll do their best to divert Lightning Strikes from permanently dissolving the company and executing the person responsible.”

I was beginning to follow her thoughts. “But if the
Greenlings
warn them that they’ll whip their ass if weather magic is used…”

“Exactly. The Conglomerate is terrified of the Greenlings. The Elder Gods? We can cause a fuss and mayhem and destroy some lives. Gaia? She can destroy civilization. They’ll do more if they think their asses are one step away from annihilation.” Hecate’s lips curled in a snarky grin. “And I, for one, won’t have any qualms about seeing them squirm.”

Tam’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised they haven’t tried to exterminate the Greenlings over the eons. After all, they’re the only ones holding the corporatocracies in check. If it weren’t for Jerako and his kin, humans would be out to tear apart the world again.”

“Not every human is like that, and there are plenty from other races…other species…who are just as short-sighted and greedy.” I shook my head. “Even the gods have their troublemakers.” Realizing who was in the room with me, I glanced at Hecate, but she just nodded.

“True enough. There are several gods who would love to set up a hellhole on Earth, given the chance. They would happily enslave or destroy anybody giving them trouble. Nobody has a monopoly on being an ass.” She slid off her desk and let out an exasperated sigh. “I wish to hell that the Order of the Black Mist hadn’t been so stupid.”

“How long do you think that Jerako will give us to find the disk?” Tam asked.

Hecate shrugged. “If he’s in a generous mood, we may have a month or so. Unless whoever has it goes trigger happy and starts creating storms everywhere. Then, all bets are off and I’d recommend heading out of town.”

“Then I’d better find that disk. I’ll head into the Junk Yard tonight.” And with that, Tam and I bade her good-bye. Tam returned to Dream Wardens, and I headed home for a nap.

I entered my apartment, locked the door, then opened the drapes. The view of the water always calmed me down. My stomach rumbled—breakfast had been a long time ago, along with my last sip of coffee—so I headed into my kitchenette and scraped together one last sandwich and a handful of chips. Thanks to Hecate and Jason, I could go grocery shopping, but that could wait until tomorrow.

Queet startled me as I carried my roast beef sandwich and cup of coffee over to the sofa. He was sitting—in full misty form—on the edge of the ottoman, staring out at the water.

“What’s going on? Please don’t tell me there’s an Abom near. I don’t think I can handle another one this soon.” I was thoroughly dragged out.

He shook his head. “No, Fury. Nothing like that. But I do have something to talk to you about. First, though, tell me what happened out on the Arbortariam.”

“Let me eat first, okay? I need a moment to breathe.” Truth was, I needed more than a moment. Not only was I worried sick about what was going to happen with the Order of the Black Mist, but my reaction to Tam was confusing the hell out of me. I had developed a crush on Jason when I was sixteen, but he had never noticed it. Or, if he did, he never let on. I thought I would outgrow it, especially given the fact that he was engaged.

But until this week, even though I had dated other men, there had been a part of me dreaming that something would change and we’d end up together. He was handsome and strong and smart. And, to be brutally honest, I suspected I had a bit of hero worship going on.

After all, he had picked me up off his doorstep, a broken and frightened girl who had somehow escaped from a crazed psychopath. He had taken me in, given me a home, helped me learn how to live again. At night, he had raced into my room when I fought the nightmares, waking me as I screamed my lungs out. He had counseled me when I had been depressed, and called in his sister when I needed to talk to a woman.

Most of all, he had encouraged me to grow into who I was, never interfering with my relationship with Hecate. The day I had gone to the Junk Yards to face the Carver, he had backed me all the way and never once questioned whether I was doing the right thing.

But now…in the sweep of a single day, my crush on Jason seemed just that as I found my thoughts turning to Tam. Tam, whose touch had set me afire. Tam, whose eyes were like molten silver, embracing me in their opulent, passionate stare. Tam…who was one of the Bonny Fae and who scared me as much as he attracted me. The Fae lived by their own rules and they didn’t care what anybody else thought. Could I withstand Tam’s intensity? Or would my fire clash with his and erupt in a horrible rain of stinging sparks?

I slowly ate my sandwich as I watched the waves of Idyll Inlet whip into white caps. The wind had risen and rain beat down in a silver stream. Finally, I found myself breathing normally again, and I finished my sandwich, wiped my lips, and sucked down the last of my coffee.

Queet waited patiently, which surprised me. He wasn’t the calmest spirit in the world. Finally, I turned to him.

“Okay, I’ve had my breather. What’s up?”

“Fury, I know you’re a Theosian. I know that you have to do as Hecate bids you. But I’m worried about you.” He paused. “Do you remember the first time I appeared to you?”

I frowned, trying to think back, but finally shook my head. “It’s almost like you’ve always been here. Honestly? No. When was it?”

He stared at the floor for a moment before answering. “I came to you the night your mother died. I was sent to you. You don’t remember me there, but I watched over you while the Carver held you captive, and I made certain you knew exactly what to do in order to escape him. When you reached out for help, Hecate sent me in.”

Letting out a soft breath, I wasn’t sure what to say. So I simply waited.

“You haven’t been in the Junk Yard in years, not since you faced the Carver and almost destroyed him. Are you sure you want to go in there again? The magicians are going to be powerful, and their kind like to source women for power. You know that they run a network of enslaved women. I’m not sure you can handle being around them.”

I frowned, shoving my plate farther back on the coffee table. “You don’t think I can handle a bunch of horny guys?”

He let out a sound of exasperation. “That’s the thing. They aren’t just ‘horny guys.’ Fury, these are dangerous men capable of sickening acts. I just…want you to be safe.”

I smiled. Queet wasn’t questioning my ability, he was questioning the men I’d be around. It was true, a number of magicians—especially the ones who overstepped the boundaries—played fast and loose, using women as an extra source because we generally ran more natural power.

“Queet—remember who I am. I’m a Theosian. Can I be hurt? Yes. Can I fight back? You know it. You’ve seen me bring down Aboms. You’ve seen the creatures I take on. I have to do this—so much is riding on getting the Thunderstrike back and catching the magicians behind the tornado and the theft. If this Order of the Black Mist is determined to cause havoc, the world will be far more dangerous than it is now. I need to do what I can to stop them.”

He caught my gaze and, out of the misty swirl, I sensed a mix of compassion and regret. “You’re right. I’m already dead. Nobody can do much to me anymore. Well, actually, I’m not going to bet on that, but if the Greenlings storm the cities, it won’t affect me. But you…you belong to the world of the living. Do what you have to do. I’ll be with you, as close as I can be without them sensing me. Call me if you need me. Promise?”

I nodded. “I promise. And now, I’m going to get a couple hours of sleep, because I have a feeling tonight’s going to tax every reserve I have.” And with that, I curled up on the sofa and fell asleep, watching the waves crest against the shore out on the inlet.

Chapter 13

Nobody went to the Junk Yard at night, not unless they were looking for trouble. After a couple hours of sleep, I was ready to rock. I strapped my dagger to my inner thigh so the band would look like a garter from the outside, and I ran a thin layer of makeup over my whip. It wouldn’t affect its use, and while it didn’t fully cover it, the foundation muted the brilliant colors to a low roar. The magic was still strong, but it shouldn’t attract the attention of the casual passerby. My skirt covered up both weapons to a degree, and the slits provided adequate access to them.

As I zipped up my blue leather corset and slid my feet into ankle boots that were high enough to be sexy, but chunky-heeled enough to run in, I wondered how the hell I was going to pull this off. It wasn’t like I had any clue of who I was looking for.

Suddenly feeling peevish, I thought about calling off the half-baked scheme, but stopped as I stared out over the inlet. The gods weren’t omniscient—none of them. And they weren’t omnipotent either.
Nobody
in this whole freaking universe had that kind of power. In some ways, the gods were like humans, like Theosians…like Weres and shifters and Fae. They were just trying to get along in the world.