The Pentagram Child: Part 2 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) (22 page)

“Call me Keira.”

The rest of the way we both shared information with each other. For example I told him everything that had happened to do with not only what was happening now but also what had happened last year with Draven pretending to be dead so that a prophecy that claimed he would take my life would never happen. When hearing this he referred the fates as being as useful as a bull with tits to which I burst out laughing in a fit of snorts. I think at one point he was worried I couldn’t breathe because he started patting my back and he continued to do so until I held up my hand and said,

“I’m good.”

In return he told me that this was the only way he knew of that could get us out of Tartarus because unless you had the right payment then it wasn’t possible. I asked more into this and he told me that having the right coin to pay the right ferryman was not something you could easily come by and with the barriers back in place it was literally the only other way in or out now the Janus gate had been disabled.

I remembered my own coin and the way it had taken me straight to the Prince of Lust or better known as Daddy Draven. So I gathered this was the way everything was done around here and in some way it made sense and I looked at it almost like a bus token. When I said as much it was Bill’s turn to laugh.

When I asked him what he was in Hell exactly he told me he worked as a bounty hunter collecting the souls of the ‘wanted’ or ‘marked’ as they were also known. I was really keen to hear more about this but as soon as I mentioned Draven’s name he shut down. It didn’t take a genius to know there was obviously no love lost between the two and even thought I really wanted to know I decided to leave this well alone. So instead I asked more about the ‘Dead man’s hand’ he had in his hat thinking that as he had already mentioned this once before it obviously wasn’t a touchy subject.

He explained his story and told me he was mainly remembered for his services in Kansas as sheriff of Hays City. But he also was a marshal of Abilene, where his ironhanded rule helped to tame two of the most lawless towns on the frontier. As you can imagine he said this with pride and I could understand how he accomplished this seeing how good a shot he was. I didn’t know much about the Wild West but what I did know from listening to my Grandad talk about watching his westerns was that the only thing that mattered for a longer life back then was how good your shot was.

I asked him if this was the case how he ended up playing poker and his answer was simple.

“If ain’t no longer broken then it don’t need fixin now does it.” To which my answer was just a simple sounding,

“Ah.”

“Besides, after one particular gunfight I no longer had a taste for using my lead for killing.” This surprised me and I wanted to know more but I could tell not to push it as his face said enough…guilt. 

So after that he moved on to his other talents and that was usually with a deck of cards. He told me how he was known to be able to shoot all six rounds without sighting his pistol at the ace of spades from fifty yards away. Each was of course a direct hit at the spade, which was ironic he always used this card considering he was holding it when he died.

I asked him about it and was surprised he talked about it with ease. He told me while in Deadwood Dakot
a
Wild Bill Hickok became a regular poker player at Nuttal & Mann's Saloon. One afternoon a man came in and sat down at his table to try his luck but he didn’t know at the time his own luck at who should be sat opposite him and the offer he would receive. During the game the stranger told him he had heard about his recent brush with death by one young drifter by the name of Jack McCall.

Jack McCall had the belief that if he killed himself a famous gunfighter that he too would become famous for the act. Of course he was right but that fame wouldn’t last him long whilst still breathing. Less than a year later after avoiding his trial it only took two days once they had in him custody to find McCall guilty and on March 1, 1877 he was executed by hanging. And to the rest of the mortal world that was the end of it. And if the person he had been playing poker with at the time hadn’t have sat in that chair opposite him then it would have been.

But instead he gave Wild Bill Hickok, famous gunfighter of the west an offer he couldn’t refuse. He told me at first he thought that the man was not sound of mind but after proving to him he had certain gifts that could not be proven as false he decided getting drunk was the best answer.

“Well it was either finding my answers at the bottom of a bottle or at the end of my gun.”

“So what happened next?” I asked him, almost forgetting our grim surroundings and folding up my legs on the seat like a small child getting lost in the story.

“Well I got full as a tick and after taking my last shot and talking too fast and thinking too slow, I agreed if he won the game I would accept his offer.” I smiled knowing he obviously lost but I still had to ask,

“What hand did he win with?”

“Royal flush, yeah, that Big Bug city slicker had me good! I just put my hand on the table and the next thing I know that Dang, Young Whippersnapper, a boy so slow he couldn’t catch a cold had shot me in the back like some yellow belly, lowdown, dirty, sneaking polecat and then ran out the door before my head hit the table!” He said slapping his hands together to add the sound effects of him hitting the table.

“So what did you bargain for?”

“My soul.” He said calmly as if he was talking about making a deal for a horse and a packet of tobacco.

“In exchange for what?!” I shouted a bit too loudly.

“Calm your little britches Miss Keira, it all turnedout jus
t
shiny.” He went on to explain that the reason this ‘Big Bug’, which I found out was cowboy slang for big boss man, had come to that table because he’d heard of his skills at finding people. Of course none of those skills meant much if they belonged to a mortal so all the boss had to do was sit back and wait for something he knew was about to happen.

Bill had given him his soul in exchange for eternal life as a demon on the grounds that as soon as he completed the job he would be granted his soul back and be a free demon to do as he pleased. I had thought this wasn’t a bad deal until I found out that he still hadn’t completed the job, hence still having a ‘Big Bug’ to answer to.

“It ain’t all bad, not considering we became pretty good comrades over the years spent together, besides his cause is a sound one.” Bill said playing with what I now noticed was a strange coin hung from a black leather thong around his neck. It almost looked like two coins back to back held together by what looked like… 

“Is that a bullet?” I asked getting distracted and reaching over to touch it.

“Hey what ya…” I didn’t hear the end of what he said because as soon as my fingertips came into contact with the coins I was a goner! The last thing I felt was my eyes roll back up in my head and my mind went blank.

“Hey now, come on little bean, your horse is getting restless.” I heard Bill’s voice speaking to me and felt fingers prodding at my face.

“For fuck sake Jim, she doesn’t have a bloody horse and probably doesn’t understand a fuckin word you say!” I felt myself frown at the voice that was familiar but one I hadn’t heard in a long while so I couldn’t be sure. And who was Jim?

“Bill? Where’s Bill?”
I heard myself ask in a croaky voice that was starting to get panicky.

“Calling me Jim might not be firing all rounds Corncracker, seeing as she knows and trusts me as Bill!” I could tell it was Bill’s voice saying this without any doubt so had to wonder if Jim wasn’t his real name?

“Come on Darlin’ open those pretty eyes for us.” I had to wonder who the ‘us’ was and knew the only way I would find out is if I did what he asked. So I opened my eyes and Bill said,

“Good girl, now this here is the Big Bug I was telling you about.” As soon as my vision cleared like it does first thing in the morning after a heavy sleep I ended up shouting the one name I least expected to…

“Jared?!

Chapter 65

Ride Em Out Cowboys

I couldn’t believe when I woke up I was bombarded with the craziest sense of déjà vu and there was an easy answer as to why. I not only opened my eyes to the handsome sight of Jared stood over me but also the sight of an entrance to an entirely different type of Hell.

“Is that the Hellfire caves?” I asked getting up slowly and putting a hand to my head as I felt like I would pass out again at the slightest movement. I didn’t know what had happened when I touched that damn coin but now I felt like my mind had been violated!

“It is Kitten.” He almost purred my name and it took me back to the first time we ever met in his underground fight club. A pair of silver grey eyes was all it took for me to fall apart and burst into tears. I felt myself being picked up and placed in someone’s lap and when I heard Jared’s soft voice whispering in my ear words of comfort, I knew I finally felt safe.

“I made it…I…mmm…made…it…I…” I sobbed feeling the past hours of life threatening experiences finally float away just in the arms of someone I truly trusted and one I called friend. Poor Bill didn’t know where to put himself and in the end told Jared he would give us a moment alone.

“I know pet, I know.” He hummed smoothing back my hair. It took me a while to pull myself together and I felt embarrassed after my meltdown but I knew the whole experience had just topped my limit. There is something so mentally challengingly about survival that when it is achieved you become so overwhelmed and thankful for it that you need to get it out and express it anyway you can. Some people shout and dance about it. Some people pray and offer their thanks to the Lord they believe in. And some people, just like me, bawl like a baby to the first person they care about.

“You good?” Jared asked me after I had finally started breathing normally and was no longer washing his t-shirt disgustingly with my snotty nose. I tried to wipe it as I moved away to which he just laughed.

“No worries Kitten, you should see me drool after a pretty girl when I’m…”

“All beasty?” I said interrupting him on a laugh and he smirked at me. 

“Yeah, all beasty.” He repeated shaking his head at me and running a hand over his dark charcoal colour hair that for once was free from its usual leather tie.

“Eww by the way.” I said as he gave me his rough hand to help me up. You could tell he was a biker alright just from the look of his hands, well that and his boots.

They were the same cracked leather ones I had always seen him wearing with the laces only tied halfway up the calf. One flopped over more than the other and heavy buckles gave them that bad ass look he seemed to have down so well.

“I will give you ‘eww’ in a minute if you don’t get your sweet ass on my bike.” He said nodding to a group that must have been his biker posse.

“Why, where are we going?” I asked noticing his mammoth sized brother whose black skin looked like silky chocolate you just wanted to lick. He too was a handsome man but it was hard not to be afraid of him as the dude looked like he could snap my bones and then use them to pick his teeth after a Keira BBQ!

“Where do you think Doll, we gotta get you to a party!” He said winking at me.

“Uh, I think we have got more important things to think about other than a party, don’t you?”

“Oh I know you won’t want to miss this one, not considering who will be on the guest list.” I almost snarled out her name,

“Aurora.”

“The one and only Titan bitch.”

“But wait…” I said reaching out and holding him back by the arm. He stopped, turning back to me and followed my gaze to where Bill stood shaking hands with some of Jared’s men.

“It complicated, Keira.” I knew he was being serious when he called me by my given name.

“Then uncomplicate it for me, Jared.” I said proving two could play that game. He rolled his eyes and ran a hand down his face in exasperation. He smoothed down his black wiry beard and pulled it more into a point which I knew was a habit of his. His almond shaped eyes held my wide ones for a moment before he closed the distance between us.

“Do you not think we have more important business to get to?” At this I made a huff sound before starting my rant.

“Yeah I do, but I have just had it to my neck and back with being double crossed or betrayed by people that are supposed to be on our side. For God’s sake I just spent over six months with a guy whose only real intension was to kill me and take over the world with a posse of old, pissed off gods that got their asses handed to them and kicked into Hell. So excuse me if I find it hard to trust again.” By this point he held up both his hands in surrender and said,

“Alright, alright, you have a point Pet, don’t go all bat shit woman crazy on me.”

“Tell me about you being Mr Big Bug.” He winced and said

“I fucking hate it when he calls me that… Jesus.”

“Yeah well he isn’t fond of anyone swearing either.” At this he rolled his eyes again only this time it wasn’t directed at me.

“Yeah well let’s just say he’s stuck in 1876 and being a demon hasn’t curbed his religious views or damn Western manners.” Jared said grabbing my arm and pulling me over to the flint stone wall that framed the courtyard and entrance to the Hellfire caves.

“Ok so I take it you trust him?” I asked and he gave me one of those ‘What do you think’ looks.

“Hey, like I said, you can’t blame me. Aurora said someone would be coming for me and I know Bill saved my life but I have to be sure on this one. Because whoever Aurora is answering to then she made it clear that they need me alive and if it had been left up to that Bitch then I would be roasting over a spit with an apple in my mouth and playing host in a Harpie buffet.” Jared growled at the mention of what had gone on and finally understood that I needed answers.

Jared went on to tell me how Sigurd had turned up at his club and as soon as he mentioned my name Jared knew it meant trouble. I asked how he had reached him so quickly after I left but he just winked at me and told me he had his ways, so I left it at that.

I was thankful when he told me how he had come to know Bill and that he was in fact the man that had sat opposite him that day in th
e
Nuttal & Mann's Saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota. He told me that he had heard about the talents of the famous Wild Bill and knew he needed him for a job, one he refused to tell me about.

I wasn’t surprised when he skipped past this bit considering his face said it all. It was obvious that this matter was one that was both personal and painful for him, so I didn’t push for it. All I needed to know, he assured me, was that he sought out Bill for this job and once it was over then he would be free to live his immortality anyway he chose.

He became a member on his council and through the years working together they formed a friendship.

“I mean shit, if I could I would have offered his soul back decades ago but once you become blood bound then it can’t be taken back. In the end it wouldn’t matter…”

“What do you mean?” I had asked him and he shook his head and looked away. For a few minutes I didn’t think he was going to answer me.

“There was a reason he was in Tartarus, Pet.”

“Yeah I know, he came to save m…he wasn’t there to save me?” I asked when he started shaking his head.

“He was there as a prisoner.” I gasped and my hands covered my mouth in shock. I had no idea this was why he was down there and that his break out only mirrored my own.

“Alright, I am going to cut a long story short and we will leave it at that so we can get the fuck outta here and stop this Bitch.” I nodded my understanding and waited for it.

“Something happened a while back and he took the fall for it in hopes it would take him to those who could help with his mission. It’s fucked up complicated shit that I am not going into no matter how much you give me that puppy eyes crap, but just know that when it came down to it he followed my orders to save your ass and gained his freedom by doing so from the one that sent him there.” I was still trying to digest this when a terrible thought occurred to me.

“Oh no, please don’t tell me…”

“Yeah, it was your lover boy that sent him to that shit hole and only his word or the word of his next in command can give the order for his release...Lucky for you we all had a backup plan that even you didn’t know about. King Vamp got Snake Eye to track me down and seeing as I was responsible for Jim’s soul, I was the only one who could communicate with him.”

“So you were his possession officer?!” I shouted making him groan. I remembered Draven telling me about them not long after I had first discovered the Temple. 

“Yeah, some shit like that.” He said and if I didn’t know any better I would have said he looked embarrassed.

“So you guys knew Aurora would double cross me?”

“We had an idea yes. Lucius tried to warn the King about her deception long before they became enemies but well, to be blunt your boyfriend can be a stubborn dick sometimes.”

“Oi! I mean I agree he is a stubborn ass on occasion…” He gave me a pointed look tipping his head at me and I rolled my eyes before I said,

“Ok, ok, so yeah most of the time but still, you could be nicer about it.” At this he laughed and it was booming.

“Oh Kitten, we are Kings, do you really think we give a shit about being nice about it! He rules his realm, one we all live in but there are plenty of creatures he can’t ever rule. The shadow lands of chaos, the demonic beasts of my kin thanks to my Hell’s bite, the Vampires Lucius creates…do you think he controls them all?”

“Well I…uh…well to be honest nobody ever really explains it to me, so excuse me for just guessing.” I said getting snippy making him smirk.

“And there’s no need to be a smug bastard about it.” I snapped. He laughed and said,

“But I am a smug bastard, Kitten it comes with being one of those arrogant Kings.” And then he winked at me.

“So where is this party we are talking about?” I asked and he smirked down at me before pulling something from his leather biker jacket that looked older than most men. The bright green envelope was covered in mermaids that on closer view were actually mermen dressed as women as they all had boobs and moustaches.

“Pip!” I shouted knowing that it couldn’t possibly be from anyone else. Jared nodded as I tore into the green paper and was instantly met with googly eyes that sprung out at you when you pulled it free. I laughed when Jared groaned,

“Jesus.”

I opened it up and had to shake out the confetti shaped like little pink willies and my little ponies. It read…

‘That’s right bitches, it’s my party and your ass is invited!

So what are you waiting for, you don’t have long to go get me a present and I don’t want no cheap ebay crap from China you hear!

Boozy punch is included along with a punch up from boozy men lol ;)

Bring your shanizzel and be ready to dance like no one is watching, (although everyone will be watching, as it is a party you dune buggy! So bring the funk to my funky town and be ready to have the time of however many lives you have lived!

Be there or be the square in this bitchin’ heart shaped hole!

Boo Yeah!

Love Pip

X 

P.S…Oh yeah, I should mention it’s at Witley Court and starts when the last mortal is out for the Devil’s count! 

“Witley court?” I asked looking up at him.

“Been there before by any chance?” He replied sarcastically and I looked down at his feet and decided to get him back by saying,

“You know sparkly penis confetti and tiny my little ponies suit your bad ass hotness persona, I would so keep it.” He looked down seeing it scattered all over his boots and groaned again.

“Ha! Yeah well when you have so much bad ass hotness it can pull off anything.” He said being all cocky and I laughed.

“Then I am so buying you a rose petal tutu for Christmas this year.” I said walking past him to where Bill was walking back to the group of bikes. Jared caught up with me and then calmly whispered in my ear,

“And if you do you will find yourself over my knee before New Year.”

“Smug royal bastards.”
I muttered under my breath. I was just following him over to where the other bikers stood when I thought of something else I wanted to know.

“Wait!”

“Bloody Hell woman, you’re worse than a nagging wife!” Jared said stopping and storming back to me.

“Yeah, like you were ever married.” I said but it was one of those awful moments in life when your mouth speaks and your brain doesn’t think that it might not actually be a wise thing to say quickly enough. His face said it all.

“Oh Jared, I am so sorry I didn’t know and…” I stopped speaking as soon as he held up his hand.

“Its fine, just ask what you were going to ask and lets not speak of it.” I lowered my head feeling guilty and only when I felt his fingers raising my chin could I look at him. His beautiful almond shaped eyes and deeply tanned skin, gave him an exotic look but it was when hi
s
startling silver eyes that were ringed by a thin black ring looked at me like that, that’s when my guilt doubled. He must have seen it plain as day because he laughed once.