~ Words are symbols for sight, sounds, smell, touch, and taste. Spirit and human combined to express what God has thought and we have experienced. — 12/1/04
The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended.
I have no BETA, editor or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.
This story is rated MA. Contains language and sexual adult situations.
Two Flames, One Destiny — Chapter 10: The Orange Jumpsuit
Ella was up on the roof of the cabin gazing with contentment out to where the portal had been opened. She loved the night and the sounds that existed only between sunset and sunrise.
The party had wound down and O.I. and his brothers had volunteered to stay behind and clean up. From where she was sitting, she was beginning to think there was more drinking going on then there was washing. Plus, a tub full of fried chicken wings had been spotted as they were picking up the area.
“Just how,” she wondered, “do you overlook a tub full of Miss Ruth’s fried crunchy goodness?”
Apparently a good time was still to be found if you just knew where to look…or stand…or just hang out until folks left and the last of the food that had been hidden away somewhere was brought out.
“Sneaky be thy first, middle, and last name. And just go ahead and engrave that on the tombstone.”
O.I. was surveying the kitchen. “Good works we did here, tonight. I am prouds to say we would get the Momma Seal of Approval. I will give Miss Ella the out-briefin’. You can stays or not. Knows you got things to get done,” he said to his brothers. “Will meet up with you at the Butler’s Pantry.”
With a salute, the brothers popped out and O.I. took a good, long, look, around. There was going to be some nasty-assed fighting going on here one of these days. Those that thought to take on the Vampire Queen in her own lair would have their world redefined.
“Mo’ fo’n dumb-asses,” he sighed as he shook his head. “Got’s not one single brain cell among them,” he chuckled as he headed for the roof.
“O’ King of the Dragons,” Ella addressed him as he fluttered up and sat on her shoulder.
“O’ Bringer of Death to the Fallen,” he replied as he brought his face around so that he could see into her forever green eyes. “Likes what you have done here. What you are busy doin’. Knows you don’t need my oak-ee dok-ee fineness of words. But just wanted you to knows. This is some mo’ fo’n take-no prisoners mo’ fo’n goodness.”
“I thank you,” she smiled at him.
The momma of his Baldr fineness was watching the stars and dreamin’. Best just to get on with it. “I wants to talk to you about Baldr and his Miss Sookie.”
Ella felt his claws settle into her shoulder.
“I knows you was savin’ this here evil for yourself. And I knows I stepped in where I should not.
And I knows my heart is true to trustin’ the word, but…” he let his thought trail off.
“But you had to know for yourself,” she nodded her head, “that the two of them together really are all that. I understand. Truly.”
“Knows you will be busy protecting The Throne when all Hell breaks loose here on Earth in the final battle.
Also knows we cannot all be everywhere at once.
Knows your vampire sons really are all that.
Knows the young prince is even more.
Also knows he was to be the sacrifice to get Evil into Heaven. That you wrote the ending to that chapter in Eire that midsummer.
Those two young ones, they is two flames, one destiny. Watching the two of them battle, I have never seen such poetry in motion. And dragons can be mo’ fo’n graceful.”
Ella smiled at O.I. “They are who they were created to be. Father God still has many surprises up His sleeve. They will hold Northman Haus. No one else will be needed so the family will be freed up to be elsewhere. And in the Final Battle, there will be lots of elsewheres.”
O.I. nodded in agreement. “And o’, made some improvements to your septic,” he chuckled. “Pushed the hole all the way through to Hell. All the waste will push through, the portal will open one way, and the sludge will empty, out, there.”
Ella started chuckling. “Well that should start some in-fighting. The bad folks in Hell will be camping out around that portal, praying for shit to rain down on them. Perfect,” she laughed. “O.I., you do good work.”
“Thank-ee kindly,” he said with bow of his head. “Now gots to get gone and get myself to the Butler’s Pantry.”
“Enjoy,” Ella grinned. “Miss Ruth makes a killer strawberry shortcake. If you happen to see her, please tell her I send my regards and to save me a piece the next time she makes one.”
“Mo-fo’n,” O.I. sighed and then poof, he was gone.
Quiet. This was lovely. Just her and her piece of land where the sounds of the night reminded her of home.
Listening to the shifting of the wind, she began to build the air currents around her, calling them from the past twenty-four hours and shifting them to her present dimension. There, she could hear it, was a whisper of the battle.
Slowly and carefully, she played back the images of the mêlée that had taken place, here, today. It is not as she would have planned it, but it was effective.
Yes, Baldr and Sookie, and their four-dimensional occupation of the same space. Who would have thought that possible? Certainly not evil. They moved with the grace and stamina of warrior angels. “One destiny is correct,” she sighed as she watched how on the battle field, two did become one. Perfect in every way.
The ground beneath her was now clean. Whenever evil came calling, they would have no back-ups. Now that could be humorous. Riggor calling forth to those in the ground to come forth and fight Gabr-iel with them.
“Somedays,” she grinned as she watched Sookie and Baldr with their blades and their blue lightning, “it really is all this and a happily ever after, too.”
While she watched the battle, she was eyes on everywhere else.
Eric and Sookie were home, floating on top of the lake.
Her other boys were tucked in and sleeping.
She shifted her awareness a bit and contemplated the rest of the world. Then she shifted her attention to the garage at the lower end of Heaven where the dump trucks were parked.
“Orange jump suits,” she smiled, had just been hung up in O.I.’s size. Complete with a matching hat.
“And oh look,” she grinned, “there appears to be one to fit Eric. Well, well, let the world wake up to a new dawn and purpose. Looks like those pieces of orange are getting ready to be shipped out.”
.
Eric was home and thinking about his past, present, and future.
Yes, it was obvious, he needed something to help keep him busy until the newest showed up.
Hm-m-m-m, the dragon brothers just might have a solution to that.
Northman Haus was resting peacefully. Sookie was still snuggled into his side as he lay on his back and ran his fingers through her hair. O’ so softly and gently as not to wake her and the two newest of the new that they had created with this most excellent loving.
His nose began to twitch and then he very quietly got out of bed. What was that delicious aroma?
Pulling on his jeans and a t-shirt, he made his way downstairs, to what sounded like a party in the kitchen. Sticking his head in, Miss Ruth was doing the Salsa with all four dragon brothers, each one spinning her around and down as they crossed the kitchen floor.
“Miss Ruth, good morning,” he called out as he came in.
“Mr. Eric, a very good morning to you. I understand that these charming gentlemen are some of your kin.”
“That is what I am told,” he bowed to her. “That I am indeed descended from dragons. Which actually explains a good many things about me.”
“Yes,” O.I. flutter back, fluttered forward, with Miss Ruth’s hands in each one of his front paws.
“We has been discussion the ends and outs of cookin’ and eatin’.
When we came into the Butler’s Panty, this very fine lady was there and ask me if we would like a hot, sit-down breakfast afore we start out day, on the highways and by-ways to Hell.
Has got no jewels on me at the moment, I lost the little bits that I had on me last night.
This very fine lady said she could be paid off in dancin’. And me and my brothers we are dancin’ fools. But I see the jewelry horde a’comin’ her way.”
Eric nodded in understanding. “I smelled whatever it is you have in the oven, Miss Ruth. And came down to see what it was.”
“Just making quiche, Mr. Eric. And instead of using ham, I used bacon.”
“Most excellent decision,” Eric nodded in agreement. “And…do I also smell your overnight French toast?”
“You know you do,” she grinned. “The Four Brothers brought me some spices from the Lower End of Heaven. I sprinkled them on before I put the pans in the oven. Does add a nice aroma, does it not.”
“Miss Ruth, just when I think your cooking could not get any better, you continue to surprise me,” he ended with a great flourishing bow.
The music ended at the same time Miss Ruth’s timer went off. O.I. offered up a grand and sweeping bow to her lady ship fair as her hand was lavished with kisses from the four.
Miss Ruth eyed Eric. “I can see where you get your sweet-talking ways. Your grandmama did the right thing when she bled that women’s magic into you. Your sweet talking keeps you out of trouble.
Bigger than life,” she grinned, “all of you. Look, thar be dragons.
Now, I have got kitchen business. The littles wanted biscuits and blackberry jam to go with their quiche this morning. So, I am going to get started on that. I will set things to eat out on the side table in the Butler’s Pantry. You just help yourselves.”
All the males blew her kisses as they exited.
“Honestly,” Eric said to the brothers, “I thought I would be more hung over than this.”
“It was the deep fried,” O.I. nodded in understanding. “When Miss Ella said I had to drive the trash route, this mornin’, I could not do it while still under the influence. So, time to sober up and get the job, done.
I see an orange jump suit in my future. As in, here pretty quick. Just as soon as I sit down to Miss Ruth’s very fine cookin’ and enjoy what she has blessed us with.”
“How long does this take? This trash truck route?” Eric asked, intrigued. “And just what are you picking up?”
“Takes as long as it takes,” O.I. sighed. “Some days maybe just an hour and a bit. Other days it is driving the streets of D.C. Mo’ fo’n. At times, don’t even know where to start when that is on the route. But I will know when I check in, get my orange on and I will be assigned a route.
One night I was drivin’ for Miss Ella and the evil spirit would not let go of the dying body. There was wailin’ and cryin’ and kickin’ and finally the Grim Reaper shows up and in she goes, sticks the end of her scythe in, and pulled the spirit on out. Like yankin’ a fish out of the water. It was a sight to behold. Not ever seen anythin’ like it sense.”
“The Grim Reaper, is that also Death?” Eric asked.
“No,” O.I. shook his head. “Death is a handsome fellow. Drives the street sweeping truck. See him from-to-time out workin’ the streets. Management finally had to put him in a street cleanin’ vehicle with glass windows to keep the ladies from throwin’ their panties at him. Cannot say it enough, very handsome.
Grim, she is covered in tattoos and does her hair in braids. Wears black jeans, a black hoodie with rhinestones on the cuffs and one of those midriff shows off your abs tops. Bad Ass And Then Some she has tattooed on her back along with a pair of wings.”
Eric was intrigued. “Do you think I could go with you?’ he asked. “I am fascinated by the process of you picking them up and dropping them off in Hell.”
O.I. shrugged. “Don’t see why not. You are the son of Herself.”
Eric was smiling and felt something like a weight lift from him. “Let me go check in with Sookie and make sure her schedule is clear. If she is all good with me being gone for a bit, we shall then finish up breakfast and be on our way.”
.
Sookie could hear the excitement in Eric’s voice. “My Bride, not only do I have the Hell Channel, I shall have bragging rights as to dropping them off there as well. That I actually got to physically watch while the trash truck backs up and dumps them in. That I helped with doing this.
I might even encounter someone I know. What do you think? Can you spare me this morning?”
Her guy had a mission. And it was a most excellent mission. And maybe a part time job until then newest, arrived. This could be just fucking perfect and made to order. Keep him busy and give him something to brag, about.
“I love you,” she pulled him in for a kiss. “I will get the littles to breakfast and into their morning routine. We’ll see you at lunch.”
“Yes,” he smiled. “I believe so.” Stealing another kiss and a feel, he was out the door, down the stairs and sat down to have breakfast.
There was a lot of winking and elbowing and just recalling the best particulars of a pick-up gone sideways. Those, the brothers had bragged, were the very best of times!
They finished, stuck their head in the kitchen with profuse thanks to Miss Ruth!
And their Miss Ruth, she was forever and a day the darling of their lives and proclaimed her so! Ooooo, look at this! Miss Ruth had plates to go, along with a to-go cup of coffee ready for them as they kissed her cheek, said they would dedicate those they tossed into Hell today to her, and then they were out the door.
Then poof, they were gone.
Miss Ruth went back to her stove, grinning. “What one of them will not think of to do, another one will. I would say Mr. Eric has found the right crowd to run with, until the newest get here.
Lordy, the screaming he and Miss Sookie were both doing last night,” she chuckled, “I do believe probably woke everyone on the grounds. Good thing the children sleep through that. Goodness, had me even wonderin’ just what she was doin’ to Eric the way he was yelling at her to not stop. But sure enough, there will be babies in nine months.”
.
Then poof….they were there…it looked like a maintenance bay, anywhere. There were folks in orange jumpsuits, trash trucks, street sweepers, all type of vehicles for doing street work and repair.
You could hear the back-up beeps, as folks were pulling on orange, hard hats and taking assignments out of a rack, as they stopped off and spoke to someone behind a table. With a two fingered salute, they went over to a vehicle, hopped in and motored out the door and then poof, they were gone.
“Where are we exactly?” Eric asked.
“Main dispatch office for this state,” O.I. replied. “We are presently in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We store and do maintenance on Oklahoma vehicles here and then just pop out to where we are needed in the state to work that day.
We have maintenance bays in each state here in the U.S. and in all the countries.”
“Are these humans doing the work on the vehicles?” Eric asked.
“No,” O.I. grinned. “But some, they live and work local. We do what we can to keep the economy rollin’ and folks safe.
You know, some neighborhoods are just safer than others. ‘Cause we got one of our own livin’ there.”
“How do they get paid?” Eric asked looking around at all the equipment.
O.I. grinned. “That’s easy. It is just money. A little shuffle to the left, a little spinning to the right. All belongs to Father God. We never have a shortage of funds. The business office sees to it. We are a legit business wherever we set up shop. Have our bona-fides hangin’ on the wall. All the big movers, carry the US DOT (Department of Transportation) sticker. And we always travel with the DOT number for the state we are workin’, in. Very legal. Always lookin’ to do what is right.
Now, let’s go suit up. I see they have a jumpsuit for you and a baseball cap. Damn, I love my baseball cap. Have got me an orange one with the OSU Pistol Pete on it. Go Pokes!
Hmm-m-m,” O.I. rumbled deep in his chest which Eric thought sounded like devious laughter.
“Looks to be we is not drivin’ the trash truck, today. HQ heard I was steppin’ in. So we has got the asphalt truck. So we have a change’n up of plans.
You okay with that?” O.I. asked.
“Yes,” Eric grinned. “You are here and you can be job specific. I get it.”
“Indeed,” O.I. wiggled his eyebrows. “Our assignment says we is headed to the Kiamichi Mountains. They is old. Older than the Rockies, which is just youngsters in the overall scheme of The Ages. Rockies were not even a hiccup during the First Age.
Where we is headed is rural. Loggin’ and the government of the U. S. of A. have-do with the land. Not lots of folks out this way, but there is one whose time has come. Thought they could hide and not bother to come up for air,” O.I. chuckled wickedly.
“Fortunately, there is a pot hole the size of a tank trap in Oklahoma State Highway 144 that is lettin’ air in,” his grin got bigger as he wiggled his eyebrows. “It is wet and humid there. Literally. Humid subtropical climate so rain is plentiful and lumber trucks are heavy and not a lot of snow or bone breakin’ cold. Which works for us. So we is on it. We will do some repair work and grab ahold of Thorner, bless his mo’ fo’n skanked out non-existence heart, and toss him right on into Hell.
“How do we know where to find him?” Eric asked.
“Well,” O.I. became thoughtful. “That hole in the road, his very fine and now not so secret hideaway is in a cave beneath that hole. Ain’t it just funny how things work out,” O.I. wiggled his eyebrows. “Just like there was a plan.
We’ll pop in five miles out and then drive our mighty fine selves on in. Once we start shoveling in the hot asphalt, the screamin’ should start in earnest.”
“Would dragon flame have anything at all to do with heating this asphalt?” Eric asked as he picked up his jumpsuit and stepped into it.
“Mo’ fo’n,” O.I. laughed. “Yous is not just a pretty face. Thorner is gonna’ be experiencing a little Hell on earth. Courtesy of the fineness of Mr. Eric and O.I.
If this just takes a wee bit of times and a half, we will head on back here and see if there is skankin’ goin’ on someplace else. I do have a hankerin’ to drive that trash truck, today. Mr. Eric, I woulds like to show you the town.
You want to drive?” O.I. asked as they headed toward the truck.
“Sure,” Eric nodded.
“Then no need for me to shift as human. Let us get there so we can have us some potty mouth fun.”
When they were both orange-ed up and with paperwork in hand, they climbed up into the truck and settled in.
“Drove the big trucks before,” O.I. smiled as he watched Eric start the truck and put it in gear and back it out. “Glad to see you got life a’firm skills. You and yours will never go hungry.
Now, let’s get there,” O.I. said and poof, they were gone.
They were driving down the highway and Eric was enjoying the scenery. “No other traffic on the road. No human habitats to speak of.
It is beautiful here. Lush forests. Wildlife. I can even smell bears. And you are right, those mountains look old.”
“Yes,” O.I. nodded. “Like an old man who has worn his teeth down to nothin’. That is the Kiamichi Mountains. Once majestic. Will be so again when we rock and roll with the New Earth.”
“Those workmen up there with the flags and the taped off area,” Eric nodded with his head. “Are they ours?”
“Indeed,” O.I grinned. “That is where we are headed. Looks like all sorts gets braggin’ rights this fine and beautiful mornin’.”
“Thorner that big of a deal?” Eric asked as he slowed down and prepared to pull over and talk to the crew.
“Depends on who you ask?” O.I. replied. “He was known to run with that traitor Judas, back in the day. And I mean Judas as the fallen angel. Same Judas mo’fo’r in the human.”
“Seriously,” Eric eyed him.
“Very much so,” O.I. nodded as they pulled up to a man who was motioning for them to stop. “I am proud and pleased to say I am gonna’ be flamin’ his glory hole and all his other parts,” O.I. grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
“Good morning,” the tall man with the beard in the hardhat, orange vest, white t-shirt and blue jeans said as he walked up.
“Good…good morning,” Eric replied. “I know you. You were at El-El’s and Mi-El’s wedding. The father of the groom…” Eric was staring at the man who smiled at him.
“Yes, and once more, thank you for hosting that monumental event and for inviting us.”
“It was our pleasure. And I must say, I guess I am a bit surprised to see you out here with the road crew. I would think your time would be taken…” Eric shrugged, “elsewhere and in a much grander manner.”
The Son of God smiled. “This is a beautiful part of the country. Being out here is not a bad way to start your day. As opposed to being in the desert. I am really not a fan of the heat and no grass. And I am a hands on kinda guy,” he grinned. “I am not content to kick back and watch. I am always actively involved. A new earth is coming and decisions have to be made as to what to leave in and what to leave out.
And this road work is not so different from what I did back in the day. As a carpenter by trade, I can fix just about anything structurally wrong with your house. To include the rock foundation. I am skilled as an all-around, all-purpose handy man, I believe would be the terminally today. I can also work stone and did road repair work when I wore the human. Plumbing, however, is not my forte,” he grinned.
“A day out working in the fresh air, some sunshine, and an ice-cold beer at the end of the day. Seriously, just speaks to my roots and does not get more blue collar than that. There is something very satisfying about working out doors with your hands and seeing your job come to fruitarian.
Besides,” his grin got bigger. “Jerusalem is going to be putting in an appearance. You might say I am riding herd on her today and trying to keep in front of the situation that could get ugly in a hurry.
And I know, O.I., how much she loves you and your dragon brothers so she will not be blowing to Hell and back this part of Oklahoma.
There is no way she would interfere with your bragging rights.”
“Women,” Eric nodded. “Do not be hurting the ones they love or tracking up their floors. Does not end well.”
“Truth,” Jesse and O.I. both said at the same time.
“So, if you would,” Jesse stepped back and waved them forward, “follow me. The ground prep work has been done and I will show you where to line up the truck.”
O.I. was getting lots of waves and calls and maybe even a wolf whistle or two as they drove along.
“I take it you know this crew,” Eric waved back at those that waved at him.
“Yes,” he nodded. “Sees them at the Cog & Wheel. That is the bar/restaurant at the lower end of Heaven. These here are angles of the finest sort. Some humans gone angelic, some angelic since the beginnin’ of time. Nice gatherin’ here today.
Hey Otto!” he called out and leaning over, tooted the horn. Which brought a whole different response.
Otto mooned him, O.I. mooned him back and they high-fived as O.I. leaned out the window, and his paw made contact with Otto’s hand.
“I has been known to lose to Miss Ella more often than not and I serves up The Death’s, there, from time-to-time as a way to pay off my debt of honor.”
“So everyone knows you,” Eric chuckled.
“Fact,” O.I. grinned.
“So anytime I see maintenance folks out on the roads,” Eric was carefully threading his way around the flags, “chances are good they are angelic.”
“Yes,” O.I. nodded. “We is hands on. See all kinds on the road. Folks just being folks. Some with foldin’ monies, some without. The good, the bad and the mo’ fo’n uglies. There is somethin’ about folks once they get on the road. Some are polite. Some are just bullies. You may not see it in their everyday walk, but out here, on the open road where no one knows them…” O.I shrugged. “You can get a real glimpse of their true selves. And believe me, those of us out here workin’, we are lookin’.
And that is the big picture for the new world. What to leave in, what to leave out. We all has our lists for our forever home. You know in your heart,” O.I. nodded, and tapped his chest, “what you would like to have for all of eternity. Jesse sorts through the lists and does an eyes on and yeas or nays. Plus, he tracks his followers and is doin’ for them and is just eyes on everythin’ else.”
“What about,” Eric wiped at the tears in his eyes. “What about dogs?”
“Oh,” O.I. grinned, “those good boys are already home. Just waitin’ on you.”
Eric smiled as he wiped more tears from his eyes. “My heart is full,” he said to himself as he sat up a bit straighter and watched the movement going on around him. Like a well-orchestrated ballet, he thought. Then he had another thought.
“Oh,” he nodded his head, a smile creasing his face. “Mother says Father God is an engineer and a poet.
From watching, they are all structural engineers and poets. And dancers. They all move with the grace and fluid motion of the ballet. Mother is just true to her angelic calling.”
“Tru dat,” O.I. nodded. “Just look at all this. How it all blends and melds into one unit. Engineer comes to mind. And poets. And you left out another aspect.”
“What?” Eric looked over at him.
“Warriors,” O.I. said with a sure nod of his head. “The such as the like this world has never seen.”
Eric glanced over at him and he could see Hell-Fire in O.I.’s eyes.
Then, the seriousness left his face and was replaced by a smile.
“Jesse is wavin’ us over. Looks like this is where we get to do maximum damage. Lovely scenery. The stench that is goin’ be waftin’ up from Hell, not gonna be so pleasant. Just let us just enjoy the smell of asphalt for a bit.
‘Cause we is gonna be sniffin’ here in a bit, the ass who is at fault.”
“Oh ha ha,” Eric groaned. “That was just bad. You owe me a round of The Death’s.”
“Good on you,” O.I.’s grin got bigger. “You are beginnin’ to see how this works. You just hang with me and we’ll get you to be one of the road crews finest with everyone owing you.”
Eric was eyes on as he positioned the truck. Yes, that was a big hole and yes, it was possible that he could back himself right into it, whether there be angels and the Son of God in attendance or not. Use your brain, get yourself on line, and get the job, done. These folks out here just resembled your everyday road work unit. Working their shift. Complete with a porta-potty and there was a guy walking out of the woods. He might have stopped to have chatted with the bears, but it was probably to piss. Well just damn. Yes, you had to work as a human to see what was worthy of staying and what needed to be deleted. “Fuck,” he mumbled to himself. “Just like there was a master plan.
And it will be good to see Jerusalem, again,” he nodded. “Oh, the things I didn’t know then that I know now. Apparently, she still has a case of the ass about the ones that betrayed and crucified her beloved. Well fuck, I know I would.”
Checking his mirrors, he was now as close to the edge as he could come. The marker flags were in place and guys were standing around, watching while Jesse made a closed fist for him to stop.
“I am in position,” he said to O.I. “And I have been given the go-ahead to throttle back and now I am dumping. The load indicator says it is empty in five, four, three, two, one. Empty. I believe this is where you take over.”
O.I. wiggled his eyebrows and went flying out. A rousing cheer went up and Eric opened his door and went out to watch.
The hot asphalt filled the hole. You could watch the steam rise from the ground.
A woman walked out of the crowd dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, an orange vest and hard hat.
That was interesting. Jesse watched her the entire time she approached. She smiled at him as she advanced… Eric did not blink… then she was standing by her husband’s side. Did she pop there, maybe, Eric could not say for certain. But she seemed to be unphased by it and Jesse, like any man in love, wanted his woman next to him. So maybe he did the popping her in.
And there went O.I. Taking her hand, he kissed it and was saying his how do’s and what a glorious morning.
“O.I., you charming rascal,” she placed a kiss on his snout. “How delightful to see you. I take it you are doing the honors.”
“Yes, o’ fair and wonderous lady. Happily, I would step aside and allow your very fine self the honor.”
Eric could see her love-filled-heart in her smile and in her eyes.
“What?” she grinned and rubbed her finger across his nose. “O’ King of the Dragons, and take away your bragging rights?”
“You are so very kind to this mo’ fo’n old soul,” he sighed.
“Flame on,” she wiggled her eyebrows at him.
“Flame on,” he wiggled his eyebrows. “Do we wants a fast burn or a slow burn?” he asked.
“Fast burn,” she said, saluting him.
“Attention to orders,” he bellowed out and saluted her. “I am O.I., King of the Dragons. Proxy for Jerusalem, The Bride of The Lamb.
Thorner, we is here to dispense justice as per the agreement. You were to stay underground until the end of time, not breachin’ the top and showin’ your mo’ fo’n, skanky, traitorous, ugly self. But you done and pushed up and broke the agreement. You, you unrighteous, lying, mo’ fo’er can just man-up and come on out to face those that pushed your sorry ass out of Heaven, or endure.”
“Fuck off!” was screamed back. “You will never take me alive!” was bellowed.
“Sounds like a personal challenge,” was being chuckled about, by those that were watching the entertainment.
“Never take me alive,” O.I. mouthed and wiggled his eyebrows and made a scary face as he rolled his eyes. “Coulds use somethin’ a bit more original. But I guess those are gonna’ be his last words topside.”
O.I. placed his hand over his heart. “Felt deeply and powerfully sorrowful when *Vader ordered Hans Solo locked in that carbonite. Deep sleep, our hero was in, it was all good.
This,” O.I. grinned, “there shall be no sleepin’ goin’ on here. Gonna’ have us a Thorner, locked in tarmac, set to blazin’ with dragon fire.
Flame on,” O.I. said as he sat himself down on Jerusalem’s shoulder and worked his fire through the now burning material.
Screams started inside the filled hole, in earnest, as hands, appeared, pushing up out of the pit, covered in burning, tar. Then a head that was on fire, with the arms out, trying to grasp, claw, and climb his way out. He pulled himself up onto the surface and thrashed about on the top of the flames.
The filled hole was now completely on fire and the screams intensified as he tried to claw his off the asphalt that now was his Sunday best.
You could see the outline of a man through the burning substance that held him. Then he began to solidify, stuck in one position, as the asphalt that he was caught in continued to burn and he began to sink until his voice was muffled and his head completely disappeared.
But you could hear the screaming of the ages as the portal to Hell opened.
The smell was nauseating and then the smell was no more. The portal was closed.
“Thank you, O’ King of the Dragons,” Jerusalem smiled at him and placed a kiss on his snout. “Name your boon.”
“Nothing is required, O’ fair lady,” he placed kisses all over her hand. “The fact that you trusted me to do this blesses my old heart.”
“You are indeed, a gentle heart and a kind spirit,” she smiled at him. “I do, however, have one more thing I would ask you to do, today.”
“Speak it,” he kissed her hand again. “And with pleasure, I shall make this happen.”
“If you would please, shift to human and drive the truck back.”
“Of course,” he nodded and there stood the human version of O.I. with his purple hombre hair pulled back in a tail with his purple flashing eyes.
“Eric,” she smiled at him. “Always a pleasure. Thanks for hosting that wedding for the kids and for inviting us. We had a lovely time.” Her radio squawked and she answered, listened and said, “Come on in.” Then her attention was back on Eric.
“Sadly, I do not have the time to pass pleasantries. I have to get back to work. We have another load of asphalt coming in, so gentlemen if you would please, I am going to need you to move your truck.”
“Of course,” they both said and headed that way. As they approached, Eric could see two heads sticking out the window. His tears started in earnest. “Rosta! Gramr!” he sobbed as he started running toward them.
Something that sounded a lot like Husky yodels filled the air and the two dogs were out the window and streaking towards him. They both hit him, full force. Eric wrapped his arms around them and cried as they licked his face and he carried them back to the truck.
Getting in, both dogs crowded onto his lap as he wrapped his arms around them.
O.I. put the truck in gear and motored off to where they could turn around. As they passed back by the workers, O.I. saluted them one more time.
They all saluted back. Then with a nod of their head, a smile and a wave, O.I. motored on down the big road. Then poof, they were entering the maintenance bay.
“Gots to turn in the vehicle and record the particulars,” he nodded.
“Are they angelic?” Eric managed to get out. “My good boys. Do they eat?”
“Yes and yes and yes,” O.I. smiled and scratched the two good boys on the tops of their heads. “To all your questions. And you will be able to understand them when they talk.”
Eric nodded and smiled. “I used to talk to them all the time when I was human. I would swear I could understand them when they would yodel back at me.”
“Some just got the ear,” O.I. nodded. “Now, let us sign off on the paper work, punch out and claim our braggin’ rights. Not everyone gets to be there when a portal is opened and a first fallen mo’ fo’er is actually pushed in. Especially blazin’ with dragon flame. That is just the end to the perfect mornin’ ruckus.
After we say our amen’s and hallelujahs to the pit boss, check in our orange jumpsuits and hard hats, I will be droppin’ you and your two good boys off at the house. So, let us get all bona fide’d and call this one done.”
“Fuck yeah!” Eric smiled. “You going back out?”
“No,” O.I. sadly shook his head. “You see that metal rack there on the side, where I picked up our assignment?”
“Yes,” Eric nodded. “It is now empty,”
O.I. looked wistfully at the rack as they dropped off their orange and signed paperwork. “Work for today is covered. So, we did good and now we got some free time. So, let’s take it on home to the family. Miss Ruth said she was a-makin’ strawberry short cakes today. Should be ready for lunch time nourishments. And will also be available for tea-time. And I am all enamored of her very fine cookin’ and dancin’ ways. And she is a very lovely somethin’ for these old eyes to be lookin’ at. Thinks she is family. That woman knows her way around a flame. Gotta’ be dragon in her.”
Eric grinned at him. “You are never leaving, are you?”
O.I. wiggled his eyebrows and poof, they were gone.
*Star Wars—The Empire Strikes Back—1980—George Lucas
The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended.
I have no BETA, editor or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.
This story is rated MA. Contains language and sexual adult situations.
Two Flames, One Destiny — Chapter 9: Talk to Me
The world was beginning to think it had seen better days. There was, after a twenty-year hiatus, angels once more walking among us…and they looked like the angels that had been seen around the world, before. Tall, blond with braids. Tall…brunet with braids. Those videos were pulled up and were being shown, again, as well. With broadcasters pleading with the public… “Please talk to me. Let us know what you think is going on!”
Those angels, twenty years ago, had been dancing…these…they were carrying swords and standing in a fire pit. There…there were flames, but the angels did not burn. Their swords looked like they were glowing, though.
“The end of times!” was being screeched around the world. “Please, talk to me!” Electronic communication devices were lit up and that was all the talk…talk…talk…and many announcers were asking the question how do you destroy these angels so that they do not destroy us?
For those that believed, it was a real amen, thank you Jesus, and hallelujah moment. Because those angles standing in the fiery furnace was certainly talking to them! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came to mind!
All hail the fourth being in the furnace with them. And take that! Nebuchadnezzar! And take warning all you Nebuchadnezzars out there in the world! God has not forsaken us!
For the evil in the world that was watching, there was wailing and gnashing of teeth! Because no one seemed to know how to destroy an angel!
.
Erikr Northman sat in the Oval Office and listened to a thirty-second sound-bite rant about angels minding their own business and leaving humans, alone. That it was just none of their fucking business what went on here on Earth.
“Interesting,” he chuckled to himself. “Last time someone thought to take on Father God, and proclaim that they knew what was best for you and that God did not exist, they were blessed with the ten plagues.
There are stupid fuckers everywhere. I love it when Dad tells the FoTS story about how FoTS showed up with their cameras on the first day when Warriors Way Elementary School opened. Cloud to ground lighting took out the faithful FoTS that were proclaiming that we were the great sinners and devil worshipers and they were the righteous hand of God. And God will strike me dead if I am lying!
Damn,” he laughed out loud, “and sure enough He did. Father God does good work. He is target specific. Just get comfy and watch Him as the heretics become tasty delights in Hell. Have seen them being the feast once or twice myself. And those that were being eaten, everyone was talking to them. In a most delicious and disgusting kind of way.”
.
It had been an interesting past twenty-four hours. Baldr was still at base camp Sub Zero and was presently in a briefing, watching the monitor.
They were going back up the mountain. They had sent up a drone to look around at the burned village. Then they had sent up another drone. The GPS co-ordinates were spot on and yet, there was no village. Not even smoldering remains. Just ages old vegetation.
Bald was not going to laugh during the briefing. He knew his mom could do such good works. And maybe one or two others. For sure, evil had not put that mountain back together.
The Chaplain said nothing, he knew El-El.
There was plenty of speculation by everyone else. “Talk to me,” more than one commander had whispered. “Someone, anyone, talk to me!”
Bladr’s thoughts were on Ali…yes, their very own homegrown terrorist that was still in his own MASH tent, off to the side, where he was drugged to keep him quiet. You could tell when the pain meds started to wear off. He began screaming in fear about living forever in the stomach of Satan and rejoicing that he could be a meal for evil.
“Just who,” Baldr was speculating to himself, as he watched the screen in real time that was being transmitted by a drone, “in the fuck did you turn this piece of human/demon shit over, too? Because I know what I would do with him. Push him straight into Hell!”
“Sir,” Sgt. Cedar stuck his head in, urgency in his voice. “We need you, now.”
“What’s up?” Lt. Col. Ring asked.
“The prisoner, he has escaped.”
“What?” he said in surprise standing up. “His back was broken and we had him manacled.”
“The orderly went into the prisoner’s tent to check on him. He chewed his arm off. Left it dangling there and went out the side of the tent. And…and…there is no blood trail.”
Folks got up and ran in that direction.
The Chaplain looked over at Baldr. “El-El was not kidding when she said humans could not come in contact with this.”
“Apparently she was not,” Baldr replied as he slung his weapon over his shoulder and the two men stood up and headed out.
The two slipped quietly into the tent as the others looked around and left, muttering that this was impossible and yet, here it was. It was not just every day you saw an arm left on the floor in a manacle. There had been some blood loss with the initial chewing, but then, there was not nearly as much as there should have been.
Surveying the space, all Baldr could do was shake his head. “I did not see this coming,” he sighed to himself. “There is no regard for the human body. That much is obvious. It is all about the evil at hand.
Sir,” he said stepping forward. “Let me track him.”
There was only the three men left in the tent.
The Lt. Col. looked at this young man who was the spitting replica of his father. And looked enough like their president to be his twin. And also the angels that had danced around the world twenty years earlier and more recently, in the fire pit on the mountain.
“He has the skill set that is needed,” Chaplain Footer added with a nod of his head.
The Lt. Col. was having a moment. He could not, send this Marine out there by himself. That was not done.
“Pick four men to go with you,” he said.
Oh fuck, how could this be could? The Marine had started to speak and then hesitated.
“Sir,” Isengard began, “with all due respect, that might not be for the best. Trust me sir, I have this.”
The Chaplain was looking at him and he could see that the man of the cloth agreeing with the young Marine.
Footer stepped in. “I think it would be for the best if we let Cpt. Isengard handle this. Sir, in your report to the higher ups, tell them you sent a special unit out to look for the him. That would be only the truth. I suggest strongly that you let Cpt. Isengard handle this. I believe President Northman would tell you the same thing.”
“Talk to me,” Lt. Col. Ring said, his voice quiet, his eyes on the young Marine who apparently had all the answers.
“Ali, he is running on adrenalin and the demon that dwells within,” Baldr said quietly. “You do not want to send your troops out after him. You see what he did to his own body. He has no regard for the human. None. It does not register. Just gets in his way. I have this,” he said.
“What?” Ring was curious, but then, not really. More like scared. “What will you do with him when you find him?”
“Toss him into Hell,” Baldr replied.
Ring knew there was a shocked look on his face but he did not care. “Go with the grace of God,” he managed to say.
With a nod of his head, Baldr saluted and Ring watched the young man walk out of the tent.
“What do you think he will do with him if he finds him?” he asked Footer.
The Chaplain chuckled. “Open a portal and toss him into Hell.”
“What?” Ring took a step back.
“That is what his family does,” he said smiling. “Sir, if I might, let me talk you through this. Now, this report will be for the President’s eyes, only, and he is going to want Baldr to out-brief him. But this young man has a special skill set. That is because his mother and father have a special skill set.”
.
Baldr was in his element. It was actually pleasant to be out walking on the mountain side. The quiet of the mountain could hold him in its thrall. There was nothing like the sound of a mountain stream as it cascaded its way down the mountain to become a much bigger part of the whole.
On the down side, there was no mistaking the stench that was wafting down the mountain from the abomination that was in front of him.
Smiling, he felt his mother fall into step with him.
“Mother,” he looked over at her. “Please, talk to me. What happened to this human?”
“He was contaminated. I dare say, this was not his first visit to the mountain. Probably wandered down into the tunnel before they were up and moving. I have no other explanation for it. You and your brothers did an excellent job of cleaning up in there,” she grinned at him.
“Do you think he contaminated, others?” he asked.
“Possibly,” she answered. “That is why he killed all the people in the village. Getting rid of the competition and all that.”
“What?” Baldr eyed her.
“He wanted to be the meal. You know, their version of the last supper. This is my body, eat and drink.”
“They really are that stupid,” Baldr chuckled.
“Yes,” Ella smiled at her son. “I thought I would just stop by and tell you how much I love you. And you make me so proud.”
Baldr started to laugh. “What has my Bror done now?”
“He is trying to help Pamela plan your wedding. I have just removed myself from the line-of-fire.”
“Oh-h-h-h,” he chuckled. “I am glad that I am out on patrol. Whenever my Sookie or Syster P suggest something, I just nod my head and say what a brilliant and yet beautiful moment that shall be.”
“Good job, my son,” his mother nodded in agreement. “I see you have learned the lessons that your older brother does not seem to be capable of grasping. Perhaps I should send him around to talk to you.
Now, he us just up on that rise. I will leave you to do the honors.”
.
“No,” Pamela had said for the ump-teenth time. “And no, again. And no. My maker, I have listened to your suggestions, and the answer is no.”
“I plan beautiful weddings,” he said, hurt in his voice.
“And yes you do and no, you are not planning our daughter’s wedding. Shouldn’t you be making babies or something?”
“That’s right,” he sniffled and wiped at tears, “throw that in my face. No Newest for three years. My Sookie, your beautiful and smart mother, is busy.
My Bror is off in the mountains kicking the big bad’s ass. Mother is building her cabin without my excellent wood working skills and I am here. A pariah in my own office. Ian and Cedric do not wish to listen to me plan Sookie’s wedding, either. They threw me out. Literally. They picked me up and threw me out. Said no one wanted to hear me piss and moan about not getting my way. This is not about me,” he sobbed, “this is about my granddaughter.”
“Like talking to a two-year-old,” she said to herself. “Then build a new dragon boat,” Pamela looked up at him from the sketching she was doing.
Eric continued on as if she had said nothing. This was not a new ploy that he was bringing into the mix. She would roll her eyes, but then, he probably go get the littles and they would all boo-hoo together with their sad, heart-broken, tear filled, eyes. Damn, he was bullshitter supreme and he had raised a family to be just like him.
“And you popped into Paris and had lunch and shopped in the fashion district. Brought back all this lovely silk and velvet and beads,” he choked out, as he ran his hand lovingly across the material.
“And I know our El-El designed her own dress, and I had no input, but I was there at her wedding. Gave her away…” giant alligator tears rolled down his cheeks.
“And my granddaughter is just pixie-dust perfect. And you know, S’Puppy is going to need something to match my beautiful granddaughter’s ensemble, as well.”
“Yes,” Pam nodded and her voice was a bit stern. “We three generations of ladies had a lovely time and you were not invited. And you were told repeatedly that you were not invited. That is was just going to be El-El, myself and my lovely daughter.
And yes, S’Puppy is going to need her outfit as well. The bride’s family shall certainly carry a theme. You are correct about that, o’ grandfather of the bride. Now, you need to remove yourself from my sewing room so I can get some work done.”
“Well drat,” Eric sighed as he stood and taking a long, last, lip trembling, eyes filled with tears, look around, he bowed and walked out the door.
“Seriously,” Pam rolled her eyes. “What a poser. I don’t care if he is my maker. This is my once in a life time event. How many girls does he have? I have lost fucking count. And how many weddings does that make he has planned? I have lost fucking count. Someone talk to me about how he thinks he is intitled to my MOB job. I think not. I will stake his ass.”
Eric walked back to the house and stuck his head in Sookie’s office.
“What ‘cha doin’?” she asked as she looked up and smiled at him.
“Apparently not much. Pamela is sewing and I am aloud no input. Baldr is on a mountain doing patrol and Mother is in Alaska working her cabin. The littles are in here sleeping with you. Ian and Cedric have told me if I do not move my pouting, self-absorbed, ass out of my office, they are going to stake me. They have already thrown me bodily out once today. And twice yesterday.
I guess I am bored.”
Sookie regarded her guy who was starting to fiddle with the mock-up of the building she was working on. “This will not do,” she thought to herself, “he needs to move his ass on out of here.
Why don’t you build another dragon boat? You know we are going to need one.”
“Pamela suggested that. Only with a lot more snark. As I was leaving, I heard her mumble something about me being a poser and maybe what I really needed was a stake up my ass.
I used to have a purpose. Now I am just a poser without a purpose.”
“Lover,” Sookie chuckled, “I know you are the Bullshit King and I know you want to have your way…as in…a way to plan Baby Sookie’s wedding. Pamela is the MOB. Let us learn our lesson about that and let her carry the day.”
“Well drat,” he sighed. “You are of course, correct my bride. I guess I need to run the numbers on our newest acquisition of the ancient strain of the barley we have inherited. That barley looks like it is producing and it merits its own beer.
Running those numbers, that really is not a lot of fun. Planning a wedding, now that is fun. You can really get down into the minutia with a wedding. So many choices, so many decisions to be made. Each one layering and playing off the other.”
Sookie was watching her husband. He still had not found his stride since Ella was no longer here during the day. Not only did Mother carry the burden of folks dumping unwanted jobs on her, she absorbed Eric’s bullshit and shoveled it right back on him. Fuck, there was not enough money or time off in the world to thank her for that.
Just maybe, she could push him in that direction and out of her office. Just what the fuck was he doing to her atrium?
“Go see your Mom. Bless her with your presence. I know you have not yet seen her today.”
“For all of two-seconds before she sends me away,” he sighed.
“That is two seconds that would do you both a world of good,” she said, kissing him.
“Yes, Lover, you are correct,” he nodded. Going over to the bed, he kissed his sleeping children and then popped, out.
“I know it would do me a world of good, ” she smiled at her sleeping kiddos. “Woof, no one needs a bored Viking. I think your Daddy needs two new babies to maybe keep him occupied. Let us work that plan. Give him bragging rights.”
.
Eric popped into Ella’s fifty acres to find four cat size dragons sitting at a table, playing cards and drinking….drinking….he took another sniff and could not identify the smells coming from their mason jars? Really, dragons drank something alcoholic from a mason jar?
They all four looked over at him and grinned.
“You must be the First of the Baddest of Asses, son, Eric,” the one with the purple flashing eyes grinned at him. “Miss Ella has nothing but fineness to say about you and the rest of her boys.
I am O.I. This are my brothers, M.E., M.R. and S.I. Our Momma says nice things about us as well.
We are playing Losers Weepers. If you would like to join us, we could Five Card Stud. ‘Cause here would sit five studs.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” he said with a smile and a grand bow. “So, Mother has talked to you about me. I hope it was all good,” he chuckled. “And if not, at least it was entertaining.
I am looking for her. Do you know where Mother is?” Eric asked.
“No,” the four brothers all shook their heads to the negative.
“But,” O.I. smiled, “she had just popped out before we popped in. What coffee was left in her cup was still hot. And she had eaten one yummy good breakfast sammy and left one. We are all hopin’ she is goin’ for more because it was with delight we split that four ways.
And she had made s’more’s. Had no idea they was a breakfast food. But we are all on board with that now.”
“Mo’ fo’n,” they all closed their eyes and had a moment of gratitude. Then raising their jar, they saluted the s’more.
“That was a righteous bite of chocolate and marshy mallow we shared among us,” O.I. said as they rolled their eyes into the back of their heads, shook all over and then looked wistfully over at the fire.
“How long ago was that?” Eric asked.
“’Bout fifteen minutes, ago,” M.R. nodded. “We found on the counter all the goodness that goes into making a s’more. Thinking about adding a bit more flame to the fireplace and making our own.”
“That actually sounds good,” Eric nodded in agreement. “And just what are you drinking? It smells delightful and yet I cannot place the ingredients. And, are you playing for that jewelry you have heaped on the table?”
“O.I. is the brew master and who knows what all goes into our libation. But it is righteous and awe inspiring! You do not recognize the smell because the makings are grown in the lower end of Heaven and aged in Dragon piss casks.
As to the cards, this is Losers Weepers,” S.I. nodded. “Big stakes, big tears, lots of big cussing. Lots of talk to me’s! shouted at the cards and some cheating when no one is looking.
We can switch over to the five studs, if you want to buy in.”
“I would pay just to listen to your war stories about Miss Ella,” Eric smiled in return. “Did you know The Fallen dubbed her the Vampire Queen?”
“Mo’ fo’n,” the brothers all laughed and raised their jar in a salute. “Yes,” they he-hawed!
“That and then some and a lot worse,” O.I.’s smile got bigger. “She was the first of the first. And Avenging Angel with a big assed sword that she switched out daily and who kills your hell bound ass first and never looks back. We are all mighty damn proud and pleased to say we know her.
There are mason jars in the cabinet in the kitchen. Pull up a chair and we’ll pour you in.”
Somewhere in the drunken, cheating and storytelling revelry, Eric asked the question. “O’ King of the Dragons,” he lifted his glass in a salute. “I have heard the stories. I am particularly fond of the one when Hell came into being and you were there to watch Mother toss the first recipients in. Your look of shock and amazement at this place of creation for evil and her aptitude for depositing the evil doers, I believe, captured the moment.
You two have been boon companions since time, began. So please, talk to me. Give me your assessment of Miss Ella.”
The King of the Dragons became thoughtful. “She lives to do her Father’s will and she loves Him beyond measure. She has a kind heart and a loving spirit. Gives her love without measure and conditions. She is a good friend. The best of the best when it comes to friends. And she is just mo’ fo’n scary. She is sure ‘nuff what I want to be and will never achieve.”
“And why do you think you will never achieve that?” Eric asked.
“Because that is not who I was created to be. I was created to be O.I., king of the mo’ fo’n dragons. Just as you were created to be her Viking son.”
“But what if I want to be more?”
“That there is a great big philosophical debate and I am not nearly drunk enough to take that on.
But, a new day is come’n on,” O.I. replied. “And Father God will see to it that you will be more. We will all be more. Every created being in God’s blue print design will be more. But until then, be blessed and be the blessing and kick ass and take names.
You is righteous and on your path. I cans see that about you. Clear of purpose and a heart full of love.”
“Here lately,” Eric sighed “I have been a pain in the ass.”
“That is ‘cause you have dragon blood in you,” O.I. nodded. “And you need deep fried. Will help set you to rights.
Now, I could sure enough use somethin’ to eat. I have got the munchies. Anyone else wantin’ somethin’ fried? ‘Cause I could make a run.”
Eric grinned. “Let’s go back to Northman Haus. Miss Ruth is cooking down on the lake, today. This woman has seven doctorates in all things having to do with food. And her food is fabulous.”
“Would that happen to be Dr. Ruth, her latest book, Anything With Smoke.”
“Yes,” Eric sat back. “That would be our lady. You know of her?”
“Just mo’ fo’n, mo’ fo’n,” O.I. offered up a grand sweeping bow.
“Indeed,” M.R. sighed. “I made her smoked mac n’ cheese. Thought we were all gonna’ slap our brains right out of our heads with our tongues.”
“Saddle up,” Eric grinned. Then poof, they were gone.
.
When Ella popped into the cabin, there was a party going on in her back yard. And there were a few more folks here than when she had left two hours, ago. As a matter of fact, that was the most humans she had ever had at her lean-to.
And a lot more food.
“I am gone just short of two fucking hours,” she sighed. “And this is what happens. I am never going to get this finished.
Damn, are they drinking The Death’s out of my mason jars?”
Opening the cabinet doors, she could see that they were all gone. “I hope they plan on washing those and not leaving that mess for me to clean up.” There was rousing cheers and toasting! Sounded like victory chants and warrior talk!
“ O.I., you charming rascal. Just what have you done? All though, I have a pretty good idea. Charming rascal, but cannot keep a secret.
My sons,” she came out and looked over the vast array of food, seven sons, and other family members along with hell-hounds. “And their beloveds. Welcome!”
“Mother,” was called back in greeting! “We have been missing you.”
“Thank you my children for those kind words.
O.I.,” she grinned, “it is always a pleasure to see you and your brothers. I see you are playing Losers Weepers, the Spoons version.
And eating fried chicken, the Miss Ruth version.
And drinking The Death’s, the First Age version.
Talk to me, what is the cause of this joyous celebration?”
“Miss Ella,” O.I. stood and removed his pirate hat in a grand sweeping bow. “Your very fine gone-a-Viking son has joined us in our merriment and very fine card playing and drinking The Death’s endeavors. We got to tellin’ stories, and this’n and that’n and before you know it, we have all got the munchies and Miss Ruth is the best cooker in the world. So while we were at Northman Haus gatherin’ good things to eat, and passin’ around The Death’s, I got to thinkin’ this is Miss Ella’s family and we all want them to have braggin’ rights of the grand and glorious type. One of a kind braggin’ rights, of the grand and glorious types. Plus, there is a bride to be and who is the sweetest of the sweet! And we all want what she wants.”
Ella took in a deep breath, held it, titling her head to one side, listened, heard nothing of the evil type underground and then ever so gently blew the air out. “Yes,” she nodded, “bragging rights. I believe my family has them,” she said with a grand bow to them.
The cheering started in earnest as dragons shot flames up into the air and swords were banged against chain mail! Yes, it was always a good day when you could send evil on to Hell!
“We had never fought such as these, before. And with Baldr there at my side,” Baby Sookie was beaming, “it was unlike anything I had ever encountered. I mean, my sword cut through everything.
My El-El, we were all so magnificent! O.I. blew open the portal and sent his smoke and flame down into the hole and they came rushing out.
Baldr and I stood back to back and dispatched them, their parts flying everywhere and when their goo made contact with the containment field, it lit up! Reminded me of the pinball machine Momma keeps in the game room.
Once all the big bad were topside, we all let go with the battle cry איש הצפון, and then they were not. Just goo on the ground without their skin and it was a mercy to end them, one and all.
My beloved opened a portal, the dragons blew them all in with their hot, fiery breaths, and here we are!”
“Yes, our battle cry is very effective,” Ella nodded in agreement. “How glorious! I can hear how happy my family is to bring evil to justice. And that in doing so, you had a most excellent day.”
Then her attention was back on Eric and the dragon brothers.
“You went to war tanked up on The Death’s?” Ella eyed the crew.
“Oh no,” O.I. shook his head. “My brothers and myself and Mr. Eric, we were content to stand by and hold the containment field. We gave the destroyin’ braggin’ rights to everyone else. Just look at Baby Sookie beaming! I can see her children dancing around her! We thank Father God for our powerful victory and our right doin’ family! We walk in His love and forgiveness.”
“Amen,” Ella said and the family echoed her word and nodded in agreement.
“Sure ‘nuff did create a powerful thirst and hunger. And Miss Ruth, she is sure enough just the best cooker in the world,” O.I. smiled, belching tiny, happy, flames. “Put us up this picnic basket. The perfect ending to the perfect day!”
“Yes she is,” Ella smiled back as contemplated her future. Which was building her cabin, probably washing mason jars, and not sending on to Hell those that thought to live beneath her fifty acres. Well just drat. Oh well, it was a glorious day for the family.
O.I. fluttered over and sat on her shoulder.
“Okay,” she conceded, “you did the right thing by Baby Sookie. And it thrills me to see Ian and Cedric out here as well. I know they have been living through their own personal version of Hell as they listen to Eric cry about not getting to plan the wedding.
Fuck, I have been living through my own personal version of hell listening to him complain about this lack of cooperation by his child and I don’t occupy office space with him.
However, you know,” she arched her eyebrow at him, “I own your little dragon ass,” she grinned at him.
“Mo’ fo’n,” he nodded. “But Baby Sookie, she is just pixie-dust perfect. And when she said she would like some big-bad to defeat while we were eatin’ fried chicken, and when she showed me the picture of her just being a tummy lovey when her momma went to war and the family defeated the big bad in Eire, it just bought tears to these old eyes. And I thought to myself, what a perfect weddin’ gift. One of a kind and I knew you would not mind,” he said, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Cause defeatin’ the big bad is your middle name. And she was splendid. Those memories of her with that sword will help sustain me in my old age.”
“Yes, my great-granddaughter is pixie-dust perfect and I thank you for your kind regard of her. Defeating evil does just add wonder to your day and puts joy in your heart.
And I do believe Eric is actually drunk although he will never admit that. Would you just look at my boy. Standing on his head and chugging The Death’s. I wonder what the bet, was?”
Her eyes were back on O.I. “I also know when I am being played.
Hope you are sober at 0-dark-thirty. I am going to need you to drive the trash truck and pick up. And the throttle back on the dumper, sticks a bit on this one, so don’t go crazy strong on it and break it. Plus, you can just manually open the back and toss them into Hell one by one.
I will be here working the cabin.”
“You thinks Miss Ruth will feed me afore I have to go out and hit the byways and highways to Hell?” he asked, with hope in his eyes and voice.
Ella smiled at him. “You are never leaving, are you?”
The grin split O.I.’s face. “I had a cinnamon roll hot from the oven with some fresh strawberries and whipped cream. My brothers all had the same.”
“That is what I thought,” she said nodding her head. “There is always food in the Butler’s Pantry. I am sure Eric will be more than happy to show you where that is located.
And oh, good job fixing the terrain back. I cannot tell where you opened the portal.”
O.I. just grinned. “Well, there was just smallish damage. ‘Cause I had them come up through your septic system.”
Closing her eyes, she counted to ten saying septic system for each second. When she opened them, he was gone.
There went Eric and Sookie, all wrapped up in each other. “What was the bet?” she asked M.R.
“Eric said he could drink The Death’s standing on his head. Miss Sookie bet him he could not. If he won, they got two newest of the new in nine months. If she won, she got to plan the next wedding.”
“I would say that was rigged, but good,” she smiled. “New babies will give that boy of mine something to do. We just have to keep him busy for nine more months and then everything is back to being on track.”
The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended.
I have no BETA, editor or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.
This story is rated MA. Contains language and sexual adult situations.
Two Flames, One Destiny — Chapter 8: Get to Know Me
His mother had named him Pashto. Who, he had often wondered, thought that shit was funny? Reminded him of the Johnny Cash song A Boy Named Sue. He went by Ali. That name was fierce and full of pride and feared by many.
For the past three days, he had been content to sit quietly in front of his own fire. The familiar things of home, surrounding him and yet not bringing any comfort. Smoking his charas kept the demons from his mind and from his body. Being high helped to maintain a sense of control.
Smoking the last of his stash, there was not any to be found in the village and so he settled for sitting outside on the roof and staring as long as he could at the sun. There was still no peace. As he lost his star gazing burn, the human settled once more around him. Trying to fight the urge to leave his home, he knew it was useless. His great grandfather’s military gear from WWI was out in the goat shed. He would need the poncho and the pack for carrying his rations. It was going to be a quiet trek up the mountain. His destiny was calling to him and he did not want to answer. He also knew he had no choice. He could hear the singing that echoed down the mountain. The screams of pain and laughter. The promises of riches and power and position and pain. Untold pain…and suffering…and glory!
The songs said he would be a king and serve a priest-god and his life would be filled with splendor and honor and women. Virgins, he spit out the word. Just what the fuck? He wanted women. Those who knew how to please a man and give him pleasure. Who knew what it was like to hold a man in their mouth while he slapped her ass and punished her for not sucking hard, enough.
“Concentrate on the days to come,” he chanted. “The women, think about the pleasure giving women!” He could feel the pressure building inside of him. He shot his load, without him even stroking himself.
It was time to go. He had delayed long, enough. This was his sign. The cum was wet on his leg. This was wasted. It should be in a woman’s mouth.
Packing his rations, he did not look back. There was no time. He was needed.
For a while, he followed the goat trail. Which was odd. There were no shepherds out with their flocks. Something in his blood sang to him as he pushed his way up to where the stars told the stories about the beginning of time.
His feet knew the way and at times he ran, thinking his chest would explode. Other times he sat and wept, knowing that his would be his last trek, here, as human. As perhaps, anything.
Wishing he had someone to share this with made him lonely and depressed. Curing himself, his new life was before him. He needed no one, his new beginning was all encompassing. He needed no one, he kept telling himself.
Darkness settled around him and on him, making him hungry for food and flesh. A good rut would cure many of his ills, he cared not with what.
But there was no form of life. Nothing but the dark that lapped at his feet and kept its secrets from him. And if he listened hard enough, perhaps the screams of pain he was hearing was actually laughter.
At last, he heard the singing. The same melodious voices that had called to him in his sleep and small waking moments until it became a roaring river in flood.
Standing at the top of the rise, he could see down into a small valley and his feet and heart both stopped!
This…this is what he had prayed to, worshiped and wished for?
“I long for those days of countless women,” he shivered. “That is why I am here. For my reward. What,” he sobbed, “what if I no longer want my reward?”
Americans had been this way. He could smell them. “Please let me kill one,” he chanted. “I have not yet killed an American. Please let me kill one. I am worthy,” as the moon picked up the glitter of something several feet down in a hole.
Carefully lowering himself in, he sang his praises to his priest-god. There was food. Packaged food. Yes, the Americans had been here and left behind rations for him to eat so that he might rejoice!
Unwrapping the bar, he sat back against the rock and listened to the singing that now coursed through him like jolts of pain caused by the bite of the scorpion.
Taking out his ancestor’s field glasses he had eyes on and the pain and suffering his family was inflicting upon each other and it was delicious. To be able to stand in the fire and scream and yet not perish. This was understanding.
That yearning made him want to commit to standing up and run screaming into the unknown evil that oddly reminded him of his present day family.
Slowly he got up on all fours from the hole he had found and began to crawl his way to the creatures that would consume him. He knew that and he reveled in it and he was so scared he started shaking. He had witnessed a body do this once as he tortured it. Everything shook. Until it finally shook the pee out of the man’s dick.
Alone on a mountain top. Just what the fuck had he been thinking?
The horribleness was eating on him and seeping into his bones. Making him wish for the sounds of his village. Even the women cursing at each other was better than this.
Something just brushed past him at the speed of light and maybe pissed on him as he huddled beneath his great-grandfather’s poncho and watched the horribleness that was down range of him. He stifled the scream that wanted to overtake, him. “What the fuck was that?” Ali squeaked out in surprise. What the evil below was not enough? And now there was something up here with him, as well!
Feeling with his hand, he found the moisture. Yes, it was warm and bringing it to his nose, yes, certainly that was piss.
“What am I doing, here?” he moaned. “Why did I do this? And now I am pissed on by ghosts!”
His mind was screaming at him to back away, while his insides started puking up the rice and bar that was his last meal. “Where are the Americans? Where are the Americans?” his mind began to chant. “They were to be here. I can see that they were here. I need them to rescue me…I need to feed them to those…those…” his mind could not grasp it.
His granny had said evil lurked here. He had told her that he was that evil. She had beaten him, as a grown man, she had beaten him with her broom, for saying such words! And the old woman had not uttered one word, just laughed at him when he put the gun to her head and killed her.
And now here he was, a meal for the unholy. The fire looked hot. They would cook him while he was still alive and eat him while he was still screaming!
Wiping the vomit from his lips, he stood up and started running, shrieking “Eat me, please don’t eat me. Eat me, please don’t eat me!” as he jerked off one last time. Found release one last time.
“Oh, oh, oh,” he screamed in relief as the orgasm overtook him.
All eyes were now on him and they were hungry! The lust could be seen on their faces as they beckoned to him, hooting in delight at the meal that was being prepared for them.
He was so close now, he could smell the flesh cooking in the fire as they fought each other in the open flames of torment. This is where he would find himself. He had come home and they welcomed him with covetousness and yearnings. His flesh the sweetest of meats. His loyalty, they would devour and call their own.
Running…he was running…he did this in his dreams, his arms outstretched to take the multiples of women on the golden couch…his own haram. A forever of his and only his. But now he would die on a firry couch and he would practice restraint. Because if they knew just how much he wanted this, they would crucify him and leave him there for the joy and feasting of all the unclean that roamed this world.
Screaming in ecstasy, he picked up the pace and slammed into an invisible wall that burned him, causing him to blister, the pustules instantly covering his body where he hit. Bouncing back from the wall that was an abomination, he landed on his ass as he hit the ground among the rocks. Something was broken, he was not for sure what it was, but he knew the sound of breaking bones. His lower back was now on fire with pain. The front of his body was now a huge blister. He could feel it as it pulled his skin tighter and tighter until the blisters popped and the agony and stench that was now wafting around him made him vomit, again. Only this time it was not rice. Was that maggots that came squirming out of his mouth and nose?
Forever, he would be shamed before his clan because he was not more. Only less and he would never lead. He would only follow. Such was the way of the more and the lesser. And he would be these glorious gods lesser! The stench would be eternal!
What? What was that? His terror continued to mount as he realized his fate would not be his own.
Standing within the fire were seven angels. He could see them. And they had sharp, deadly swords that not only pierced the flesh but the soul as well.
They could see him. Those angels could see him! They could see into his mind! Knew his thoughts! Wished him all the agony that he could endure and then agony that he could not!
His screaming started in earnest.
One looked directly at him, smiled, and saluted him with their sword. That was when he passed out from fear.
“My Bror,” Baldr saluted Eric. “You are so fearsome that you caused that…that…” he was still looking at the crumbled heap that once had resembled human. “That evil cocksucker to pass out from fright.”
Eric smiled. “It is just,” he wiggled his eyebrows, “that he knows by sword is bigger than his. Did you see that worm in his hand that he has for a dick? Well of course you could not. With my superior vampire sight, I could barely see it.”
All the brothers cheered and congratulated Eric on his superior eyesight. They were all most sad that it was a small dick that he had observed and not something far more splendid, like a beautiful sunrise!
Ella was up above, watching and listening to the outrageous things that were being said. “Must it always come down to who has the bigger penis?”
Her sons all heard her and looked up and nodded yes.
“Men,” she harrumphed. “Well, big dick this,” she hooted. “The big bad inside the cave has heard you and is on the move. He thinks his dick is the biggest of all. Whatever, my sons that you do, do not flash him.
And keep in mind, if your timing is impeccable, all seven of you can put your sword in him at the same time.”
“What?” was yelled up in disgust. “How could you suggest such a thing?”
“My sons,” she began gently. “You do know that I am the first warrior. And that if there is a crude joke or jody exchanged between warriors, chances are good it originated with me. Now, I am not suggesting sex, that was an actual sword reference. Now keep your dick in your pants no need to embarrass this dickhead any more than he is going to be already. Heads up and swords and wit at the ready. Your adversary is on the move. And which one of you pissed on him? I can smell it from here?”
The cave belched smoke and poison, noxious gas, and the desperation of the ages that had accumulated over the millennia that had been lost to time.
Those outside cheered wildly as they howled with delight and fright at what was coming out of the cave.
They could not yet see the angelic host that was standing in the flames.
Fear was going to take on a new name.
“At the ready,” Ella called, her voice echoing and bouncing out into the mountain sides.
“What?” was hissed back in a scalding voice, as something that resembled a giant with mannish features stepped out. “Who is at the ready?”
“That which you cannot control,” she whispered on the wind. “Those that seek and can never find. Paths that are obstructed by the truth, power, and lies, that beckons to lost souls and the putrid, vomited, shit of the depraved.
I do believe that would be you, Kasdeja. The fallen who wants to destroy the righteous while still in the womb. You delighted in the horns that you now seem to be missing, wishing to skewer the babe and push it through the mother’s body.
I do believe that was your promise and your plan.
Instead, you were betrayed by your own kind. Your horns removed for drinking vessels, and you ended up locked in here until my sons could destroy you.
Just so you know at how miserably you have failed. Earth still continues along with humans. Pregnant women give birth to the faithful. And the faithful continue to do Father God’s will.
Just as I continue to do Father’s will.”
“No, not possible,” he smirked. “I no longer wear that name.
You are, Gabr-iel, a myth, a nasty bit of comeuppance. We have you locked inside a stone room, surrounded by the ages and the mythos of creation. We have surrounded you with truth while you embrace the lies.
You are our creation.
For I am Crumm, the Guardian of this place, the priest to these worshipers and father of all the fallen.”
The seven angelic that stood within the fire perimeter all snickered and then stepped out of the flames and onto the soon to be killing field.
“Crumm,” Samuel smiled at him. “As in all the walls come crumbling down?”
“What?” he yelled and shook his fist. “I know a Jew when I see one. I should have killed you in your mother’s womb!”
“Or would that be empires that crumble?” Ravencroft smiled at him.
“Another fucking Jew!” he bellowed. “A race of slaves and meat for the stomach!” he hissed.
“How about just crumbs from the table?” Vermundr saluted him with his sword.
From Crumm’s mouth came spittle. His anger was so great he could not contain or control his tongue. “Another fucking Jew! How is this possible? I destroyed women with my might and my strength. And those that I wanted, I fucked to death and watched as they gave birth to a dead being!”
Oddr was chuckling. “I have also heard that some folks are just crummy. You know, just inferior and not capable of getting the job, done.”
Óðinn smiled at his twin. “You know, a crumb is also something that has been broken into very small pieces. Or perhaps,” he fingered the edge of his sword, “cut into finely diced pieces.”
Baldr’s fangs had dropped. “On the farm, crumbs are chunks of the good earth that need to be trodden and pulverized so that it makes the ploughing of land more receptive to planting. So that from that seed comes life.”
Seven brothers stood looking at the would-be warrior-priest who did not have the good sense to shut up.
“The good earth,” he spat out, “what know you of the good earth? There is nothing good, here. It all belongs to those who know how to take and enslave. Just as we,” he shouted and raised his hands to the heavens, “just as we did. We chained an angel and enslaved her son.”
The King of the Bullshitters, brother; a title he proudly wore, stepped forward. “But then,” Eric nodded as he tapped his sword against his foot. “My brothers, it was not you they were singing about. What was that part of the prophecy?
Our Queen’s pagan son who walks the night
Stands with the horde of four unholy blight
With blue eyes burns away the pain and sight
Of those that stand on the rim of darkness that dispels the night….
In Hell he holds power and fame.
She walks with him in glory and pain
He suckles her blood and curses the light
With them we shall walk this earth and take all by might.
Our Queen shall melt the sun and plunge us forever
Into the eternal night of forever never-never.
Sounds like you know me,” Eric saluted him. “I believe,” Eric grinned as he put his sword over his shoulder and began walking towards Crumm, “you have been expecting me. But things have changed a bit since that was penned about my mother and my very humble self. Well,” Eric grinned, “if you knew me, you would know that was a lie. There is nothing humble about me. I am indeed, larger than life and undeath and anything else you wish to toss my way.
Yes, my eyes are blue, my legs are long and my dick is very robust. Just ask my wife,” he batted his eyelashes at him. “And I am willing to admit, that I am known in Hell. The RimDwellers I consider friends, but the others that reside there, they have nothing but bad reports to give about me. Apparently, none of them complimented me on my grace and style when I sent then on to Hell. I guess they did not know me very well, either.
And seriously, I have suckled my mother’s blood. All of my brothers have suckled her blood.
All seven of us walk the path of the righteous, because I am pagan no longer.
And would you just look at that. My brother, Baldr, he is affixing our mother’s flag to that rocky outcropping. Looks so regal, don’t you think? So distinctive. So uniquely her.
I must ask, because you are so old, do…do you perhaps recognize that word that is on it?”
“Who the fuck are you?” he yelled at him, pointing his finger, at this being who would soon be dead!
“Why,” Eric dropped his fangs, and where there was once fingers, there were now claws. “I am Gabr-iel’s son and your worst fucking nightmare.”
“No, no, no, no,” he was shaking his fist. “That is not possible for it is written:
The vampire queen does lonely sit
Without her sons she lost the bet.
Now she stands within my reach
I shall take her and make her bloodly weep.
The sons who walk with power and might
Died at birth within her sight.
We roasted them and slowly ate,
Those who thought to shut the gate.
“Bloodly weep?” Vermundr chuckled. “Is bloodly even a word? Just how would you conjugate that? I blood, you blood, he, she, it bloods; Mother, bloodly,” he laughed.
“How dare you mock me?” he roared. “I shall feast and you shall fear!”
“Mother,” Samuel looked over at her, his heart on his sleeve. A touch of sadness in his voice. “I thought you said the prophecies had all been read. If I only had a copy of this fucking book, I would know.”
“My son,” she shook her head in quiet dismay. “I would not call that a prophecy. Not even poorly written poetry. That is…well…” she shrugged, “those things are not even possible, not even in the worst of times and false timelines. That is just the deranged meanderings of a being who has been locked in a cave with nothing more than the farts of poison gas that fill the air from eating each other’s body parts and shit. Disgusting, but true. But there you have it. An easy interpretation of what is otherwise insanity. And…and this…this is what happens when you live in such an environment. The brain produces what they attempt to pass off as poetry.”
Eric was rolling his eyes while Samuel was shaking his head in mirth.
“That’s our mother,” Baldr smiled and blew her a kiss. “Now, to the task at hand. We can see that you are trying to surround us with your mighty horde. Sadly, they cannot abide the truth, the certainty of Hell, and Father God’s might. Draw your swords and do your worse. We are Gaber-iel’s seven sons and we are ready.”
“To war!” was the battle cry as the demons rushed them.
“ איש הצפון.” Was shouted back as the seven brothers advanced. And just like that, the evil vibrated right out of their skin and lay gasping as a bloody mess on the ground.
“Well just damn,” Eric grinned, “did not see that coming.”
“It is the harmonics,” Ella smiled as she watched her sons go out with swords and destroy what was left of the evil horde. “I just love a plan.”
When they had finished with the killing, they unleashed the blue lightning and cleansed everything that the perverted had touched. Going into the cave they blasted that unholy hole as well.
“Each of my sons is to burn my battle cry into the floor and walls. Pick a spot to your liking. Sun is getting ready to come up so we cannot tarry here much longer. Baldr is going to be reporting in at the base camp.”
“Mother,” Samuel asked, “what about the human on the perimeter?”
“Baldr will be coming back up the mountain with a patrol. They will find him and go forward from there.
Now, I must be gone.”
“What? Why?” Eric asked her. “Is there more killing to be done? Do you go to war by yourself?’
Ella arched both eyebrows at Eric. “I go to build a cabin by myself.”
“Oh,” he smiled at her.
“Yes oh,” she nodded at him, her eyebrow arched. “Limited time, lots of shit to get done. None of the fun killing evil stuff. This is all about hammer and nails.”
“We know how much you love that, also,” Eric chuckled. “After all, you are a structural engineer.”
Rolling her eyes at Eric, she popped out.
“Let’s finish up,” Baldr smiled at his brothers. “I have to report in. Let’s check one more time and make sure all is good. One more sweep with the blue fire and this time, we want it to be seen on satellite. Let us lead the news cycle.”
.
Captain Baldr Isengard reported in a base camp Sub-Zero and went up the mountain with a select few Rangers.
By noon, they had reached the cave and had established a perimeter.
“Damn, it is quiet…except for…is that moaning? Someone cursing…in…in…English?”
“On point,” Baldr said as he began his trek through the underbrush. When he arrived, the screaming started in earnest.
“It is the angel of death! Where are your brothers! It is the angel of death! You killed them, you killed them all. You and all of your brothers! You killed them, my family that would welcome me, you killed them…” he sobbed as the medic was brought in and accessed the situation and the patient.
“Broken back,” Doc Jones said. “Let me get him some happy juice, strap him down and we’ll transport him. He was talking some serious shit. How his grandma is a terrorist, and you and all your angelic brothers, Viking, did this to him. He keeps repeating that he saw you standing in the fire. With your brothers, that look like you. Standing in the fire, with wings and you know, big assed swords and blue lightning where there should be eyes.”
“Well yes,” Baldr grinned. “I have seven brothers and we do look alike. Would he happen to have had a phone on him?”
“Huh, let me check for one. I mean, if he got video, that could be a great help as to what happened, here.”
.
Dark settled around Baldr like an old friend. He loved being out on the mountain side. It spoke to a wildness in his blood. He was once more point man as they made their way to a village. The sun came up and a new day was welcomed.
The past twenty-four hours had been quite the reveal.
Yes, grandson terrorist did have a phone and had captured the angles standing in the fire pit. Somehow, that had been sent around and was now permanently installed on the internet. There was a nice shot of Mom’s flag. Apparently the word איש הצפון was now making the internet rounds as well. That word had been found in the cave, burned in, about three inches deep and there was a lot of talk and speculation.
“Just like there was a plan,” he grinned to himself as a voice came over his headset.
“Village up ahead.
I can smell it,” Sgt. Reynolds said. “The death smell.”
“Careful as we go,” Baldr said into his mic. “I am going in, eyes on. You should all see what I see.”
“Watch for booby traps,” Lt. Keith said.
“I have my land mines and things that go bomb technology turned all the way up. Slow and easy,” Baldr replied.
They had slowly and methodically searched the village of about fifty homes.
“They are all dead,” Private Sellers kept repeating. “Four hundred and three people. Men, women, children. All of them. Gunshot to the head. Who the fuck does something like that?”
“And our terrorist’s grandmother…the one he says he shot. He says she is the terrorist Sandblasted Hoarder and is responsible for the death and mayhem that we stand witness to, here. That she was educated in the U.S. and that she came back here to make her living by running guns and trafficking drugs and humans.
And there is a shit load of big explosive stuff in each house. Enough for WWIII.”
“HQ is going to get back to us,” Baldr replied. “We cannot transport this many bodies. Nor can we get equipment up here for a burial. Fuck…” he sighed. “Glad this is not my call. There is no way we can transport this much armament. But we cannot leave the weapons. We are eyes on until the order comes.”
“They have finished taking the photos, the DNA samples and other pertinent information,” the Chaplain said. “I have said a prayer over each house and blessed those souls to God.”
Baldr looked in disgust around him. “Evil,” he hissed. “Assholes…all of them. They leave their disgusting shit for others to clean up.
I would think there is going to be a napalm drop on each house then an air strike. I just don’t see any way around this.”
Chaplain Footer nodded in agreement. “These souls have gone on to their reward. The best we can do is clean up the mess and not leave it to the wild animals to do it for us. Some of the bodies have already been meals,” he shook his head in sorrow. “A clean burn would be for the best.
.
Ella had just finished putting up the last outside log in the south facing wall. It had been a good day’s work. This was actually starting to look like a structure and not a pole barn.
“Mo’ fo’n,” she heard the voice and smiled, despite herself.
“I done heards that the Queen of the Damned was building herself a trap for evil. What that big assed dump’m up truck not enough for you?”
“Hope you brought something to drink, O.I. o’ king of the dragons,” she said turning around and smartly saluting her old friend.
With a grin, he held up a flask of The Death’s. Handing it to her, she took a swig and then passed the bottle back to him as he had a gulp or two.
“Been hearing this’n and that’n at the lower end of Heaven. Also, that you are bein’ mighty generous with the braggin’ rights. You be needin’ clean up on aisle six? Knows you can do it yourself, but seein’ how you are bein’ generous and all, just thoughts I would drop by and ask.”
Ella nodded at her friend. “You remember the mountain that The Ark got snagged, on? Not the final resting place, but we were needed to push up the water so that it could float off.”
“Do,” he nodded.
There is a cave there, that the resident evil at the time, hunkered down, in.
Well, oops on them….they have just recently escaped and been dealt with by my sons. If you would please, a little dragon flame and ash and some fresh vegetation.
Then, if you felt so inclined, if you continue to trek across the mountain chain, to the East, there is a village where Baldr is presently located. Lock onto his signal and after the Americans torch the place, if you would please, once they are off the mountain, flame, ash, and fresh vegetation. Those who cocksuckers that have a mind too, can just GPS themselves to this place, but there is going to be nothing there for them to see. Just ages old scruff of the mountain side.”
“Can and will do, oh lady of the orange jumpsuit. I am most happy to be of assistance and am willing to offer all that I am or would ever want to be. I would even drive your trash route for you, if you needed a helpful hand and a lead foot.”
“What is up?” she asked him as he passed her back the flask. “No one volunteers to drive the trash truck.”
O. I.’s grin got bigger. “I cans certainly see how you are being all good about sharing the glory and this and that. But this is O.I. and the longer I stand here and bullshits my way into the pages of history, I can smell the vein of putrid that runs under this here land,” he said, arching an eyebrow at her. “And if I stands here long, enough, I cans tells you who is doin’ what and doin’ whom. That bein’ said, when the pushin’ comes to shovin’, I wants in.”
There was a long lingering sigh that escaped Ella’s lips. Eyeing O.I. she nodded in agreement. “I try to be nice and do the right thing. And this is where it gets me.”
“Oh boo hoo,” O.I. hooted. “I wants in.”
“To quote my granddaughter, Pamela, well fuck a duck,” she said, making a face of resignation.
O.I. laughed at her, his mirth, contagious. “Well, not your best attempt at rhymin’,” he snorted out, “ and not your worst attempt, either. We have a deal?” he asked.
“Deal,” she eyed him. “This is between you and I. And just keep in mind, one word of this to your brothers and I own your ass.”
“Opps,” was squeaked out.
“Oops?” Ella echoed back. “What, o’ king of the dragons,” she whistled in victory as she leaned in, “is oops, about? I know oops. Have used it once or twice, myself. And never in a good way.
I can see by the look on your face. There sits a guilty soul,” she stepped in closer. “You have already chatted this up with your brothers,” her voice accused him. “Just what was the bet and damn,” she was now eye-to-eye with him, “you look like a serial killer in that orange jump suit, but it is a look you are going to learn to embrace.”
“Care to Parlay,” he gave her an innocent look, “to reduce my time.”
“Fuck a duck,” she hooted. “The keys are at the bar. Until the battle rolls around, I know where your happy little ass is going to be.
And oh,” she eyed the flask and took it from him, “no drinking and driving.”
Dear Readers,
Happy Mother’s Day!
My tired old ass is still tired from my out and about last weekend. So, this is the shortest of the short.
I need to get the gang off the mountain and to a wedding. Woof…I hate it when the bad guys have to be dealt with before I can get back to the love story.
But look, for Mother’s Day, O.I. has put in an appearance. Just how that happened, I am not for sure but he wishes you a Happy Mother’s Day as well! I suspect glamour was involved.
The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended.
I have no BETA, editor or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.
This story is rated MA. Contains language and sexual adult situations.
Two Flames, One Destiny — Chapter 7: Our Queen’s Pagan Son Walks the Night
Eric put the remote down and sat down in front of the TV. Leaning his head against the back, he thought about his life of the past fifty years.
They had been most excellent years for his family. But not for Ella. His ego was such that he really did believe that he could have The Guardian to the Throne on his payroll and not pay her in the coin of the realm.
That he could bargain with Father God.
And they had let him do it.
“So many lessons to be learned from this…so little time to understand all of the ramifications that are now being lived through. And I fucking endangered my entire family because I thought…I thought what, Northman? That I could get my way and that they would still love me. And guess what, I did get my way and they still do love me. But because of my ego, I put my family in harm’s way.
Time for truth, you ego maniac.
Baldr really does not need me,” he sighed. “I…I just want to be invited in. And since I do not wear a uniform, I will not be invited, in. This is a military operation, not Eric wanting to jump into the heat of battle, swinging his sword. And it is wrong of me to push the RimDwellers into this…just so I can have a way in.
Just when I think I have learned my lesson, it rolls back through to bite me on the ass.” He sat staring at the fire and could see his old self, staring back at him from the flames. That old self, he knew, that should be burning in the pit.
“Mother,” he sighed, “here does not sit the new and improved, Eric. Just still the self-same selfish bastard he always had been. I was going to pass out the pb&j goodness to our RimDwellers so I could perhaps get myself invited into the fray. Well fuck, I am going to pass it out to them anyway because they have been faithful and true and honest. And not expecting one thing in return. Just grateful for the crumbs I toss their way.
What kind of ass hole endangers his friends so that he can battle on? Well, I am the perfect example of that asshole.
I want to do what is right, but sometimes I act with my ego instead of my brain.”
“I know,” Ella was now standing in front of the fire place. “I heard you say my name.” Smiling at him, she walked over and sat down.
His mother was seven feet tall and dressed for war. Her hair was long and braided with the gems that made up her coat of armor. That was a killer sword she had strapped to her side. Damn…he had not seen that one before.
“I thought you had overwatch? I would not wish to take you from your duty as I sit here having another pity party, I believe I have heard it referenced.”
Ella smiled at him.
“Yes, I know,” he smiled at her. “I cannot believe I said it either. So, a part of you is watching?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “I am eyes on.”
“I…I cannot be trusted,” he sighed.
“With what?” she asked him.
“With my position of authority, the RimDwellers, my family, the list goes on. Fuck, maybe the Northman sword.”
“One area bleeds over into the other,” she nodded. “This is life. This is also death. What is it that you desire for the RimDwellers?”
“I want better for them.”
“They have to want better for themselves,” she responded.
“That should be me down there with them,” his voice was low.
“And yet it is not,” she replied. “My son,” she looked at him. “Learn from your mistakes. The RimDwellers, they are a peculiar breed to Hell. Baldr and you have fostered that relationship that speaks to them. Shared with them the pb goodness that also speaks to them. But before you came to know them, they lived on the edge. That is why they live on their own. You can feed them the PB&J goodness, but their time is not yet.
You,” she stressed, “have to understand what wants to be unleashed. Just as there are humans that are born from an angelic mating, such as yourself, there are also humans born of the fallen angelic mating. And there are more of them than there are of you. And they have walked this world since their ancestors fell and gave them life. Their blood is calling out to this evil that is coming. And they are everywhere. All positions of power throughout the world. They come in all shapes, colors, religious beliefs. All the way down to the little old grandmother that volunteers as a school crossing guard.
These four horsemen, The Causality of Death, The Plague of Pestilence, The Deprivation of Famine and the Confrontation of War, they are fatal. They are to poison the ground, the water, the air. Death is to walk among the humans and this brand of war is to destroy everything that it touches. The hunger will drive the humans descended of the fallen, to madness and they shall turn that madness upon their own families. Murder, suicide, mutilation, cannibalism, and horrifying other will rampage around the world if these four are unleashed.
Our RimDwellers, during the final battle, there will be those of them that will be standing at your side. But they cannot come topside and step in any of this. It would be fatal and drive them to a level of insanity of which there would be no coming back.”
“But,” he was assimilating as fast as he could. “I have read about God’s Four Horsemen.”
“Yes, and there is a limit to what amount of damage they can inflict. And they can walk upon the earth and do no harm. Stop and have a beer and do no harm. Help you up off the ground and do no harm. This is not the case with these four evils and their descendants. Once the human comes into contact with them, they shall be cursed and will do the same.
Father’s Horsemen are righteous. These are cursed and curse everything they touch.”
“I need to apologize to you,” he said, taking her hands. “I am so sorry. I cannot say that enough.
And because of my many fuck-ups,” he nodded, “I want to give back to you the Northman sword,” he said handing it to her.
Hefting the sword, she admired it fine lines and teeth marks on the pummel. “The sword has changed,” she said as she handed it back to him. “I can feel the peace that resonates out from it. It sings to my soul. You have been chatting with Father and you have found peace within yourself. I can see it reflected within you and within your sword.
To restore the land scape that these have contaminated, you cannot heal it with hatred or self-doubt. But with love and confidence.
You are ready to do that now.”
“Mother?” he asked. “What does that mean?”
“Do you feel up to being Guardian, with what is left of this dark?”
“Mother?” in his voice was hope.
“Gear up, pop in and kiss Sookie good-bye and we are outward, bound.”
.
Ella and Eric were downwind of the party that was going happening on the mountain side.
“What is that they are chanting?” Eric asked.
Our Queen’s pagan son who walks the night
Stands with the horde of four unholy blight
With blue eyes burns away the pain and sight
Of those that stand on the rim of darkness that dispels the night….
In Hell he holds power and fame.
She walks with him in glory and pain
He suckles her blood and curses the light
With them we shall walk this earth and take all by might.
Our Queen shall melt the sun and plunge us forever
Into the eternal night of forever never-never.
“Well fuck,” Eric spit out, “yet another verse about the Vampire Queen and apparently me, as well.”
“Does sound like it does it not,” Ella smiled at him. “There are other verses that chant of their power and glory, but this is the last verse of prophecy. I thought you might like to hear it.”
Eric eyed her. “That is not all I would like to do,” he smiled, his fangs down and blue sparks shooting from his eyes.
“That can be arranged,” she smiled in return. “Oh look, Baldr is popping in, along with your brothers.”
Smiling, she waved to them and embraced each one of her sons as they approached. “Let us sit together and council and those show fuckers what a family at war really is all about.
Keep in mind, in the days to come, there are more of these cocksuckers that will be popping up. So, we shall deal with these that think they are their priesthood and the rest of them shall be lost and confused and will come looking for me. Because, after all, I am their queen.”
“Fuck,” Eric got out as he realized he had played with the fires of Hell when he thought it was only the flame on the end of a match that he could easily blow out.
Baldr walked up and joined them. “Mother, my Bror,” Baldr grinned. “I see they have started the party without us. How bad is it?” he asked as he listened to them chant, sing, and fight among themselves. “The Vampire Queen still lives, along with her vampire son,” he nodded. “What do you think, my Bror? Is it time to introduce ourselves?”
“Past time,” Eric seethed. “And my Bror, I see you are not dressed in your MCCUU (Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform). But you look very handsome in your chain mail and braids. As do all my Brors. Samuel, you look very fetching in your wings. All my brothers look very fetching in their wings.”
Baldr grinned. “I just thought we would give them all something to contemplate as we dispatch them all into Hell.”
“I will hold the containment field,” Ella smiled. “Make sure you cleanse the dirt, as well. And that cave they were locked in. That is all to be torched with the blue lightning. We are going in once everything is clean,” she stressed. “We do not want anything or anyone tracking that back into civilization. Or even around on the mountain.
We shall have, at the height of this, an uninvited guest who shall tarry where he should not. This works to our advantage. The stories will abound and the truth will be made public. Evil walks and angels dispatch them back to Hell.
Oh most excellent, Vermundr, you brought the new flag. It is perfect.
איש הצפון was printed on both sides, along with the skull and crossbones and the map of British Isle.
“North man,” Samuel grinned, saying the word in Hebrew.
“When the area has been cleansed, we are going to burn that into the cave in ancient Hebrew. Let those that are seeking their kin think on that. It will be especially amusing if they say it out loud. After all, it is my battle cry.”
All seven of her boys looked at her and grinned.
“Good times,” she chuckled. “Now, the sun is up in an hour and thirty minutes. Let us have this finished and cleaned up in thirty. I see madness and mayhem in our future,” she chuckled. “Time for a little fun of the just what the fuck was that? type.
You seven just might make the after-action report to the president.
Dear Readers,
Shortest of the short. We are traveling. Tomorrow we are on the road again all day and thought I would at least get tiny bit out.
As always, thanks for reading. I might not get my “thank you” out for reviews until Wednesday. Just please know I appreciate all of you that stop by.