Dread Nemesis of Mine

chapter 2

The funeral had ended. Elyssa stood by the edge of the hole. Her gaze found me the moment I stepped from behind the Conroy family headstone. She looked a little confused. Hurt. Maybe even angry. I didn't blame her. I'd bolted on her in the middle of her brother's funeral. What jackass would do that?

Me, apparently.

Elyssa met me halfway, eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

"My sister."

Her eyes widened. "Sister?"

I nodded. "She was over there." I motioned back where I'd come from. "And she thinks I'm evil."

For a long moment, Elyssa didn't say anything, but the confusion in the arch of her brows told me all I needed to know. Finally she said, "She was here? In this cemetery?"

"Well, not exactly here. She projected, or something weird like that. She wasn't solid when I tried to grab her." I pulled the slip of paper from my front jeans pocket and showed it to her.

Elyssa took it and examined both sides. It was quite obviously blank. "Uh, and this is?" She handed it back.

I flipped the page around, peering at it. Aside from a few creases where I'd folded it, it looked pristine. I couldn't even make out impressions where words might have been. "Or maybe I'm going crazy," I said, feeling even more stupid than usual. "I could have sworn…"

Elyssa gave me an understanding half-smile and shrugged. "Maybe someone is playing a trick on you."

I folded the paper and shoved it back into my pocket, feeling like a complete moron. Could everything have been a bizarre illusion? I'd made my fair share of enemies over the past couple of months as I'd stumbled my way through the politics of the Overworld. Maybe I'd ticked off an Arcane or some other illusionist with the ability to make me see my sister.

Elyssa took my hand and guided us toward the rest of her family as they walked toward a line of black SUVs parked curbside on the winding cemetery road. This place was the final stop for all sorts of beings from the Overworld, warded and guarded against noms in case some of the entities buried here weren't entirely dead. If ghosts existed, this would definitely be the place to find them.

A Templar sprang from one of the SUVs, walked briskly to Thomas, and spoke with him, his gestures urgent. It felt really strange to be on the Borathen family's side of the fence, not to mention openly dating the daughter of the head honcho in Atlanta. Just a week ago, he'd tried to take my head off with a sword.

Thomas turned and motioned us over. Or maybe he was motioning to Elyssa. I followed anyway, trying not to let my nervousness show. When we reached the group, his blue eyes settled on me and narrowed ever so slightly. He pursed his lips and seemed to arrive at some decision, leading us away from the crowd of mourners.

"Colombia is out of control."

"Maximus?" I asked, already knowing it had to be that pompous douche.

He grunted ever so slightly. "Noms in Bogota are starting to notice. He's not even trying to keep his recruitment activities a secret."

"What about here in Atlanta?" Elyssa asked.

"He seems to think he can get away with it down there. Weak local government." Thomas folded his arms and gave me an appraising look. "I'd like to send you down to help Commander Salazar."

Just the thought of going back to Colombia made me shudder. "Did he request me?"

"No. But Maximus seems to have a special hatred for you. It might be enough to draw him out." He looked around as the crowd thinned. "This isn't the place to discuss it. Meet back at the compound in an hour. I plan to put a stop to these rogue vampires once and for all." He turned to go.

"Umm, excuse me?" I said, trying to make my voice sound bold and commanding. Instead, I sounded like a scared kid. "I'm not really an official Templar or anything, so why send me?" Thomas's icy stare focused on me. I swallowed and continued. "Sure, Maximus hates me, but not enough to go out of his way to fall into a trap, if that's what you're planning."

Elyssa's father waited, the sort of learned patience on his face someone employs when hoping an annoying dog will stop barking. When he saw I was done yammering he said, "We'll discuss it at the compound. One hour." With that, he rejoined his wife Leia and headed for an SUV.

"Colombia." Michael grunted.

I turned to face Elyssa's big—actually huge—brother. I hadn't heard him approach, which I'd learned wasn't unusual despite his heavy muscular frame. "Are you going?" I asked, uncertain as to whether it would be a good thing or not. Michael didn't exactly like me, but seemed resigned to the fact I was supposed to date his sister for the good of the world, or so he said.

"Maybe."

"If Justin is going, so am I," Elyssa said, her raised eyebrow daring him to disagree.

I had a really bad feeling about going back to Colombia. I'd made new friends there, led them into ancient vaults beneath a cursed city, and nearly died half a dozen times thanks to a horde of mostly dead angels called husks, giant ley worms, and a half-insane demon spawn. And now Thomas Borathen wanted me to be bait for a crazy rogue vampire? Thanks, but no thanks. The Templars could take care of Maximus on their own. It was time for me to find Ivy, and—if she really was the one who'd contacted me—convince her I wasn't pure evil.

My cell phone rang. I groaned when I saw who it was.

"You need to answer it, Justin," Elyssa said. "You promised him."

I huffed and wrinkled my nose, but answered anyway. "Yeah?"

"Well, hello to you too, sweetheart," Harry Shelton said. "You never call. You never write. And you sure as hell didn't reply to my two texts and phone call."

I glanced at my text log and saw both attempts about an hour apart. I'd promised Shelton and Bella I'd let them teach me all about being an Arcane, a sorcerer, since I'd inherited some of those abilities from my mom's side of the family. I might have super strength, but considering the heavies I'd fought against and those who were likely to come after me in the future, having a few extra tricks in my arsenal couldn't hurt. I put the phone back to my ear. "No, I haven't gone by the Grotto to buy a new phone yet. The funeral just ended."

He snorted. "Damn, those Templar priests like to hear themselves talk."

"Tell me about it."

"Well, it's over now. Grab a new phone—I don't care if it's Orange or MagicSoft—just get it and meet me at Romulus for your magic lessons."

I could never keep the names and locations of his super-secret lairs straight. "Is that the one in Decatur Square, or the one near Centennial Park?"

He sighed. "Decatur."

"Okay, I'll—ah crap."

"Ah crap what?"

"Thomas Borathen called a meeting in an hour. He wants me to go back to Colombia."

Shelton snorted. "Tough titty. He ain't the boss of you."

I gave a dubious laugh. "And you are?"

"Damned right. You promised Bella and me could have our way with you. So unless you want to prove you're a scum-sucking—"

"Fine, fine, I get it. I'll see you later today."

"With a new phone."

"Yes."

"And don't let those salespeople talk you into magical accident insurance."

I didn't even want to think about what that might cover.

Elyssa offered a reassuring smile as I shoved my phone back into my pocket. It was a nom phone, but I really liked it, despite all the cracks and grime it had accumulated from my adventures. Unfortunately, it couldn't run magic code, so I had to go to Atlanta's super-secret place for all things magical, the Grotto, and snag one capable of running Arc OS—something like a magical version of Windows.

"I'll tell Dad we can't meet him in an hour," Elyssa said.

Thanks to his ghost-ninja skills I'd forgotten Michael, who was standing nearby until he said, "I'll tell him." He tossed Elyssa a key fob. "Take my car."

Her eyes went as wide as giant lollipops. "Are you serious?"

For the first time, I detected the barest sense of uncertainty flicker in Michael's face before he stabbed it with a mind sword. "Yep."

We reached Phipp's Plaza in record time thanks to Michael's black Porsche and Elyssa's supernatural driving skills. I left a handprint embedded in the door handle, happy I hadn't broken it. Sure, a wreck probably wouldn't have killed us thanks to our healing abilities, but I'd lived most of my life as a vulnerable nerd. After a terrifying ride down the spiral driveway into the giant cavern beneath the Phipp's parking garage, Elyssa slid the car into a parking space next to a giant Rolls Royce someone had apparently dipped in purple glitter paint, and adorned with decals of pink unicorns.

"G'day guvnah!" shouted the cheerful lad who cleaned up after the elephants, camels, and other assorted beasts, which arrived in the cavern via the towering Obsidian Arch set in the center of the space.

I waved back.

"Your hands are sweaty," Elyssa said as she wreathed her fingers into mine.

"Gee, I wonder why."

She laughed. "Did you decide which phone you want?"

"Yeah, I'm going with Orange." I watched the dung boy shovel a heap of crap into a wagon. "Who is that kid?"

Elyssa shrugged. "No idea."

"Does he live here? Have family? I mean, who do you have to piss off to get a job like this?"

"Why the curiosity all of a sudden?"

I gave her a questioning look. "All of a sudden? I've only been here three times. It's not like I've had much time to question the socio-economic situation of dung boys in super-secret towns built by angels and used as portals to zip from one side of the world to the other."

A deep throated laugh burst from her mouth. "Where in the world do you come up with this stuff?"

"Quite possibly the very bowels of hell."

We entered the towering doors leading into the Grotto itself. The town—if it could be called such a thing—looked like something right out of the history books. A cobblestone road known as Golden Way led past fancy shops constructed of black marble with green-slate roofs and shiny copper gutters. It had such an old world appeal, it could almost pass for an amusement park or the movie set for a film based in the days of sail-driven galleys and pirates.

Crowds of shoppers strolled casually through the maze of streets, colorful shopping bags in hand. A tired-looking sorceress led a group of excited children dressed in the green robes of elementary grade Arcanes down the street toward a store named Bixby's Arcane Supplies. A large, white wolf with blazing blue eyes nipped at the heels of straggling kids to keep them in line.

"Is that a werewolf?" I asked.

Elyssa followed my gaze. "If it was a normal wolf, it would eat the kids."

"Can you imagine how much better discipline would be at nom schools if we had werewolves?"

"Everyone would be too busy wetting their pants to pay attention," Elyssa said, laughing. She tugged my hand to keep me moving. "No time to sightsee today."

I groaned and continued on.

The sun shone brightly overhead and fluffy clouds drifted on a light breeze despite our location some hundred yards or so underground. The temperature felt pleasantly cool and warmer than the gray chilly city aboveground.

I tried not to stare like a tourist but ended up rubbernecking every few seconds as one bizarre sight after another caught my eyes. This place was just weird—juxtaposed between our reality and some other place. A sudden thought hit me like a brick wall and I stopped in my tracks. A hurrying shopper bumped into me and muttered an apology, though her pinched eyebrows and glare said something else entirely.

"What is it?" Elyssa said, turning to look through the window of the shop where we stood. A skimpy outfit made from sheer fabric hung from a very lifelike looking mannequin in the display and left very little to the imagination. "You want me to try it on?"

I imagined Elyssa's athletic curves pressing tight against the scant outfit and felt a blush creeping up my neck. "Um, actually I was thinking of something else."

"You want to try it on?" She winked. "I'm sure you'd look sexy."

I laughed uneasily. "Exactly." I took her arm and led her down the sidewalk and away from the distraction. "Actually, I remembered something you told me about this place when I first arrived. About how this place exists in our world and somewhere else."

"What about it?"

"Nightliss's people—angels, or whatever you want to call them—built the framework for this place, right? And supernaturals have added to it over time? What if the Grotto is partly in the same place the angels come from? What if that out there"—I jabbed a finger at the sky—"is the realm of angels?"