Author’s Note: This is a webnovel. First 10 chapters are free to all Substack subscribers. After that, you can access the ongoing chapters plus receive access to the digital file at the end of each arc by becoming a paid subscriber to morbidink.substack.com.
Disbelieving my ears, I quickly turned and saw him.
Freddie Antonio!
The bastard sat there behind a large wood desk, his stupid grin filling that handsome face. Immediately, I pulled my gun and pointed at him. My action caused him to laugh, not a chuckle, but a deep-down belly holder.
“Do you think that will work this time?” He finally got out, his eyes staring at me.
“I heard you committed suicide. Maybe I should make sure I’m not seeing things,” I shakily responded.
“Well, you can try, but your bullets won’t hurt an elemental,” he replied and leaned back in the chair.
“Maybe I wanted people to think I was dead. It makes things interesting.”
My mind suddenly came back to my last thoughts when I thought I would die in that warehouse.
“You son of a bitch. You tried to kill me and now you’re laughing at me.” I stepped forward and pulled back the hammer with my thumb.
Still, the bastard remained calm, his blue eyes showing no fear.
“Well, that was then. This is now. You’re the one who confronted me and my gang. I was just taking care of my business. As an earth elemental in this realm, I’ve taken on the role of most suitable for my talent. After all, Cora needed my abilities to keep the dimension stable and her soul alive here.”
He put his feet up on his desk with a smile.
“Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk business. You want to get rid of Lees. I can help.”
One part of my brain wanted to pull the trigger. When I thought of Sally, it nearly overwhelmed my rational mind. However, with his mentioning of help, I made myself listen.
“I can always blow your head off and see if you can grow another one later,” I growled while lowering the pistol. “What have you got on Cora? I already know those incubi aren’t here for long term. And why do you want to help me?”
“Oh, I don’t want to help you. In fact, I’d like to kill you,” he smirked.
“Yeah, well, take a number. Let’s get back to Cora.”
“You caused me a lot of problems,” Antonio ignored my insistence, closing his eyes with his hand behind his head.
“Of course, I realize this world is just an illusion in so many ways, but I find it fascinating as I play the role of a gangster. So, you’re lucky that the other elementals reminded me that Cora and I brought you here. You see, in a way, it’s my fault.”
He smiled to himself, then looked at me.
“You do understand, don’t you? Just like the rest of these damn outsiders, you cause problems in this world. However, I’m bound by my obligation to Cora, so it creates a problem which I must fix.”
“Yeah, that’s all I’ve heard recently,” I said. “You damn elementals bring me here, then complain when I try to survive. Look, I don’t really give a crap about your problems. Cora’s a pain in my ass as well. I already know you’ve been planning with your other elementals, so what the hell do you really want?”
“I’m interested in your next actions. You haven’t told Cora everything yet, have you? But you’ve sold her a bill of goods about getting Lees out of here. Tell me how you plan to do this.”
“You’ve got some balls. Listen, I don’t trust anyone but me,” I glared at him while thumping my chest. “When I think about it, you’re in the same jail that they let Hamm escape from. It makes me think you must be working for Lees?”
Rage momentarily flashed on the man’s face, then quickly disappeared.
“I’m an immortal. I don’t take orders.”
“Alright, I’ll rephrase the question. Do you have Lees working for you?” I grunted.
“Cora is my partner in building this realm,” Antonio replied. “Why would I have more than one partner?”
Of course, he didn’t answer directly.
Are all elementals like this?
“Cora’s not the most trustworthy person I’ve met. Same with Lees. I can think of a few reasons for a powerful entity in this place to keep his options open.”
I carefully lowered the hammer back to a rest position on the gun as I thought about the conversation. Antonio smiled at my comment, but remained quiet. His silence told me I had the correct assumption. The elementals seem to carry a strict sense of obligation to a contract or a partnership. However, they did not let that issue stop them from achieving their goals. However, I still didn’t understand his motives.
“Let’s get back to reality,” I said. “Getting rid of me doesn’t stop Lees or Cora from hanging on inside of here.”
Antonio nodded; his smile broadened.
“You are correct. The only option for you is to remove Lees. Now, I’m willing to support that effort, but with a stipulation.”
“Of course,” I muttered.
“It’s only a small item,” he countered. “You must remove the other outsiders who support him. I’ll give you their names and you can use my aides to support your efforts.”
Slightly taken aback at the idea, I pushed back my hat.
“Why?”
Then, it came to me.
“The balance, they’re like me!”
“Exactly,” the gangster nodded. “There are too many outsiders brought in. Mostly brought by Lees, but either way, outsiders must leave or die. The realm cannot remain out of balance. Such a situation leaves me in a bind.”
The way Antonio put that gave me pause.
“So, you lose this place, which appears very important to you. Is that what you’re not telling me?”
“I know you wish for your two lovers to join you,” he avoided my question. “That leaves you in a fix.”
The man’s smirk made me want to pull back on the pistol hammer again. But I remained quiet since I couldn’t argue the point.
Damn eavesdropping bastards!
“Get to your point. You’re not doing this for me. What is your idea and what’s it going to cost?”
“I told you. I want all the outsiders gone. If the enchanters step outside the dimension with you, they can’t return. That means you need to plan for everyone to leave with you. Or kill them all and get Cora and Lees to leave with you. I find the last idea, the easiest way.”
He noticed my glare at the idea. The smirk on his face returned.
“Yeah, you’re a mortal—you won’t do that.” He tapped his fingers, and he outlined his other idea.
“Let’s do it this way. I’ll help you achieve what you need. I’ll even get the outsiders together at one time.”
Feeling my eyebrows rise, I sneered when I recognized his plan.
That’s it, you really just want the realm for yourself to live as king!
“I’m listening, but I have heard nothing but a promise to help,” I replied.
“Alright, I’ll give you a hint. There’s a certain fraternal club that meets in a couple of days. Lees and his people will discuss how to knock you off, along with your familiar wife. He’s obsessed with hurting her as much as destroying you. Now I’ve given you everything you need to make this happen. That is, if you play your cards right.”
God, I want to smack that grin off his damn face.
“Yeah, I get it.”
The memory of my stand against him came to mind. I could guess he wanted me to walk into a firestorm of outsiders trying to kill me and Adele. But I played along since it was an opportunity to go for Lees directly.
“Your partner isn’t going to like that idea and she still can give me a massive pain,” I pointed to my head. “She only does what benefits her. How is that going to happen when she doesn’t trust me?”
“Do you think she can override what I have put into place here? She’s my puppet as a soul. You don’t have to worry about her. We must honor our contract with enchanters, but my team isn’t useless. The incubi will escort her to you. You just need to lay it out like there’s no threat to her. Just mention you’ve got a body, and she’s so desperate she’ll do anything. It won’t be hard since you’re quite an accomplished liar.”
I glared at him for the true but unnecessary comment. Antonio only grinned.
Man, this guy likes to work around the edges!
Looking around to ensure we were still alone, I slowly paced in front of the desk while thinking about the idea. No doubt I needed the elementals’ help to get out of Stull Junction. After all, Cora told me she could get me back and now Antonio confirmed it. Still, I have no belief she will follow through. Even more, I can’t trust the guy behind the desk.
“What about Sally and Adele? Can they come with me?”
The gangster’s stare hardened for a moment, then he tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair as he spoke.
“Impossible! Only an enchanter can have a familiar,” the man chuckled. “You don’t have any power and you want both of them. I’ll give you credit for ambition, boy. However, you’re out of luck unless you have an enchanter’s skills. Don’t worry, I have plans for them.”
He must have noticed as I grit my teeth at his news.
“My, that look. Seriously, you were considering trying to kill me. Or perhaps you think of staying in this realm. You know that’s a death sentence, don’t you? I certainly couldn’t allow it.”
“It didn’t work well for you the first time,” I smirked without conviction.
“Unlike Cora or Lees, your death won’t mean anything to this world. Death is permanent.”
“Even gods die.”
My response was lame, but he had me cornered. Yeah, I’m pissed when I remembered what he did to Sally and what he planned to do in the future. His confident manner made me sick. Yet, he held the cards should I want to leave. He also had an inside straight that led directly to my premature death otherwise. The bastard made it clear I was the same to him as the other outsiders, just a damn pawn.
“Do we have an agreement?” A cruel smile filled Antonio’s face.
Nodding, I holstered my .45 auto and turned away from the desk. Stopping at the door, I looked back.
“I’m curious. What happened to Cora’s body? My guess is you’ve told her she can get the body back. Yet, I don’t see how unless you’re saving it in a freezer.”
“Oh, there’s a piece of her still around,” he chuckled. “You’ll see it when we gather the outsiders. It’s necessary to finish the job.”
“You’ve convinced her a familiar’s body will do,” I stated with a sigh. “I already figured that part out. My guess is you told her she can add something to make it work. She trusts you because she’s desperate.”
Antonio’s lack of a response told me what I needed. Immortals are devious bastards.
“Still, her punches seemed pretty solid for a spirit when she was outside this realm,” I said while thinking it through. “Since my life is on the line here, I want a straight answer. Does she have the ability to get me out of here?”
“Her power fades quickly. She is only a soul now, so the incubus will give her an extra dose of their special power to get you and her out of here. After all, that’s in my best interest to ensure you both leave.”
“Yeah, but you’re an ass who’d be happy to have me rot in some damn purgatory if such a place exists.” I sneered. “I certainly don’t trust you.”
Antonio’s expression changed briefly, and his gaze hardened.
“I would concentrate on your escape from here before Lees gets you. Like I said, death is permanent.”
“Yeah, sounds like you elementals are all alike. I’ll let you know when I need your thugs. Tell Alice when you have everything arranged and the timing.” I grumbled loudly as I left.
Discovering my escorts were no longer there, I made my way to the alley. I turned Antonio’s words over in my head a couple of dozen times as I walked. Like everyone else in this damn place, he had an agenda, and he wasn’t giving me the full details.
