The Nephelium Read online

  “An Assassin?”

  The other figure ignored the question and moved back to the previous topic.

  “Adremalech, you do what you want with the information that I have given you. This is your territory, and that is the only reason I gave you this information. As far as I am concerned, you can ignore it, and maybe I am wrong and nothing comes of it; but if I am right, there is a lot that could come of it, especially since the Morning Star believes that this matter was taken care of a long time ago.”

  “You have been paid for your information,” the clan leader stated, throwing an envelope full of cash onto the table before him. “Any other information you may discover, Son of Marduk, will bring more substantial rewards.”

  Arioch watched the figure pick up the envelope and, without another word, open up the door to the club office. The music from the club broke through the thick silence for a brief moment, and then the door closed. Once again Arioch was alone with one figure with whom he would rather not be alone.

  “You know what has to be done.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Don’t let another clan bring news to me again about something that I thought was taken care of. If this information is valid, then we still have a chance to put it to use and squash it; but if any of the other clans discover this, or even the Morning Star discovers this, then it will not fare well for you.”

  “I understand.”

  Chapter Ten

  Kadar closed his eyes and soaked in the rhythms of the beating trance as he stepped from the office. Music was powerful. It could heal, hurt, bring up, and destroy souls. It wrapped up his being and held him close. As an Outcast, he was a survivor--one not wanted, but yet needed. Many times he could feel his humanity flooding through him and threatening to bring him crashing down into an emotional prison. He had been told that being an Outcast, his existence would not be easy and that many of his race would self destruct because they were not strong. There were not too many left of the Outcasts, the descendants of Marduk’s children. Kadar had never imagined that there was even a chance of the Jerusalem descendents still existing. It had been reported that they had been annihilated.

  Kadar decided that he would do some more research on his own. Hey, if they wanted him to be an Outcast, then he would be. They didn’t need to know everything he discovered; and if the price was right, maybe he would let them have some more information. He also was curious why it was so important for the Jerusalem descendents to no longer exist. What was it that scared the Family so much about them? True, they had always been a thorn in the flesh of the Family, but so had the rest of the children of Marduk. That is why they were considered Outcasts and the father of their clan banished to the abyss.

  “What if we could actually bring back the clan?” he asked himself.

  It had never even occurred to him that this may be a possibility. He had never thought of it, because the number in his clan were so few and far between; but if there were Jerusalem descendants still alive, then maybe they could build up the numbers, and . . .

  His thoughts were interrupted as someone was shoved into him, causing him to spill the drink he had brought with him from his conversation with Arioch and Adremalech. He turned to apologize to the young lady he had bumped into.

  “I am so sorry . . .” He didn’t finish what he was going to say, but instead said, “Wow! I guess of all the places I’d expect to meet up with you again, this wasn’t one of them.”

  The young lady looked up at him generally showing she was as shocked as he, but also that she had several other things upon her mind.

  “Well, I guess we were meant to be, huh? I mean, this has to be fate, just like a really poor, romance movie; or maybe it would have been better for us to meet again in a dusty library?”

  “So you really are always this closed and sarcastic?”

  “Oh, no. You should see how I am when I am not interested.”

  With that, she turned and pushed her way through the crowd. Kadar watched her disappear in the rippling waves of people. He shook his head and turned in the opposite direction.

  Eve, on the other hand, felt the crowd pressing in on her. She never understood how people who lived behind walls would come to such a place and pretend to open up and let themselves “loosen” up, just to walk away with even more walls. Of course, who was she to talk? “I am the wall queen,” she said to no one in particular.

  She didn’t even know what she was doing here. She knew that she needed some answers for a few things, but she wasn’t even sure how to get them. “I am really losing it! I need an escape!” she said under her breath. Eve held the note in her hand that made it a priority to come here tonight. She looked back down at it, and she refocused on her purpose. “Megan, you need more of a wake-up call than I do.”

  Eve had finished up earlier than normal tonight after giving her last couple of appointments over to Jackie. They were just small, “trendy” inks anyway and nothing that would be considered a “trademark” piece. She had gotten back to her place to discover that Megan had left her a note: “Eve, Talked with Alfonso, and he believed a lot of what I had to say. Told me to go see a friend of his, but as I thought more about it, I started thinking how silly it all seemed. I probably just got slipped something in my drink last night. I will be fine. I need the money anyway, so got to run. I will call you in the morning to let you know how safe I am. Love, Megan.”

  Eve knew that Megan worked the VIP rooms, but didn’t know how to go about getting into them. She wasn’t even close to being a regular here, let alone a VIP. She had dressed up some tonight, knowing that if she at least looked the part of a clubber, maybe she would have a greater chance of being asked to the VIP room. Eve had carefully selected a flowing, knee-length black skirt and black boots with straps and metallic buckles. Her top was deep blood red, form-fitting, and sleeveless. She had styled her hair to hang straight, and she had actually broken down tonight and donned a fake, black-light responsive tattoo that wrapped around her bicep. She almost felt a part of the crowd. Maybe that was the pull of the club: a brief escape from what one was when they were on the outside of the club’s walls.

  Eve was nearing the VIP rooms, and she hoped that she could put her sarcasm to rest for a moment and do something she hated to do: charm her way in. As she pushed her way through the crowd of people toward the bouncers standing as “gate keepers,” she was trying to think of something that she could say to “schmooze.” Nothing would come to mind. She hated this. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she felt a hand take a hold of her arm. She turned, feeling like slapping the intruder.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I should ask you that? You never come here.”

  “And you shouldn’t be coming back.”

  Eve pulled Megan over against the wall in order to escape the crowd. She looked into her friend’s eyes and saw desperation mixed with stubbornness. Eve could tell that no matter what Megan had written down on her note, she still hadn’t convinced herself that what had happened the night before was due to some drug that someone may have slipped her.

  “You’re still scared.”

  Megan shook her head and looked away. “No, I am fine, Eve. It was just . . .”

  “You’re full of it, and you know it!”

  “Come on, Eve! I mean really! Vampires and blood feasting? This is the real world, not warped fantasy.” She turned. “I have to go. I have to get back to work.”

  “Where is this Arioch?”

  Megan spun around quickly and grabbed a hold of Eve by the shoulders.

  “Eve, I am telling you right now to leave this all alone. Leave me alone. Ok, I have to be here, but that doesn’t mean I need you to watch after me. Ok?”

  “No, it isn’t ok. I want to see this guy to whom somehow you are pulled toward and who is causing you to push everyone else out of your life as if we were outcasts. What do you owe him? Is he your pimp?”

  Megan’s eyes widened in horror and pain.
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  “My what? My pimp? Of all people, I wouldn’t think anything like that would come from my best friend!”

  Eve hated herself for that one. She let it slip before she could stop it, and now she knew she couldn’t take it back.

  “Meg, I just don’t understand . . .”

  “And you don’t need to, Eve. Just let me be.”

  Megan turned and walked past the bouncers and through the door. Eve watched her go. She did feel like an outcast now. The door closed, and behind it was a dear friend who was in a really bad situation, and she had just made it worse.

  Eve had to get out of here. She felt everything was crushing down on her now. She wanted to run. She felt like she did when she was a girl. She could hear the words from her foster parents at the children’s home: “You are no good. You screw everything up!”

  She couldn’t see the Accusers who rushed in and out of her as she walked through the crowd back toward the entrance of The Vortex.

  “You are useless, Eve. There is no reason for you. Your parents didn’t want you. You screwed up your friend’s life. You are a failure. Give it up.”

  Her mind began to spin. What was happening? Was it this place? She couldn’t get to the door fast enough; but it was like a dream where the faster she tried, the slower it seemed she went. Everything was swirling around her. Other Accusers started swarming from the other patrons and joined in like ants coming up from a disturbed nest. She had to escape.

  Arioch didn’t let much more than the normal crowd into his inner circle tonight. He was not in the mood for jovial activity. In fact, if he had his way, he would retreat to the sublevel of the throne room. At least he was able to revel in the fact that Adremalech didn’t know anything about his future plans. What was he supposed to do with everything that had taken place tonight?

  Arioch motioned for one of the dancers to come join him on the couch. Maybe some female companionship would get his mind off everything tonight. She headed toward him, but he could sense a hesitation within her. He found that odd, because most of the dancers were dying for his attention and would fawn over him when he gave them the opportunity.

  “What is your name?” he asked her as she sat down and he placed his arm around her.

  “Jasmine.”

  “Hmm . . . if that is not a stage name, then you can have everything you see here,” he offered, motioning to the club.

  “Megan.”

  “Ah, Megan, now that is a down-home name that a guy can get used to saying. How long have you worked for me here?”

  “About a year.”

  Ok, so this was boring. This girl was as stiff as a board and looked more like someone being interrogated instead of someone having a nice conversation with another individual. Arioch needed something to get his night going.

  Chapter Eleven

  Arioch didn’t have to wait long. Every supernatural flare that could go off within him went off, and he jumped from the couch with a strong urgency. As he quickly looked at each clan member present, he knew that their senses were going off, too. There was something wrong!

  Inside, but near the entrance of The Vortex, Eve had to stop. She could hardly breathe. She was having an anxiety attack or something. Her mind was crashing, and she felt her body following. The Accusers were wreaking havoc upon her.

  Then it happened! Eve couldn’t see it, but she for certain could sense it. Arioch and the clan could see it! An explosion of light, unseen by mortal eyes, exploded around her, and the Accusers screamed in agony as they fell away, many holding their eyes in pain at the blinding light and others holding stumps of severed limbs. Two Guardians appeared in the supernatural blast. One held a compound bow that was able to shoot two soul arrows at once, arrows that had the ability to slice through an immortal, sending them into the abyss, the eternal damnation for them. They may not die, but they would wish they could. The other Guardian stood holding a katana; and as several Accusers had discovered, she knew all too well how to use it.

  The Accusers who were able to stand their ground did so at a distance. They were the lower and less intelligent members of the Fallen and rarely fought unless cornered. They did know and understand the rules, though, just as any other Fallen. There were places that fighting was not allowed, and the clan’s gathering place, or headquarters, was one, just as an Alliance safe house or a church was another.

  “You defy the rules, Guardians!” one of the Accusers spat at the female holding the sword. “You know we are allowed access to all and any who enter our grounds. What is she to you? She is not marked by Jah.”

  Trinita kept walking backwards as Eve, with a clearer mind, was now able to continue her exit out of this mental trap.

  “Oh, you are right. We got caught up with the atmosphere of such a cute little club we actually forgot where we were,” she mocked.

  She hoped that the other Guardian was moving backwards with her. If any of the other clan hierarchy caught them here, they would have the right to hold them. They were really close to the door now, but she knew there had been enough commotion to draw down several clan members. The flash grenade had done the trick, but it also had brought a lot of attention to them. She looked around at the mortals that were so oblivious to what was taking place. Oh, what she would give sometimes to be one of them: oblivious. The band was just returning after a break and was about to start the last set for the night. Yet here around them, weapons were flying and danger was showing its head.

  Uh-oh, too late. They had to go! The door burst open from the VIP rooms; and a large, muscular form shot out like a fast-moving locomotive. He had taken on a spiritual invisibility so that the patrons still had no idea a spiritual war was taking place, but Arioch was furious! No, livid! How dare he be rebuked by his master and, in the same night, Guardians break the time-honored rules of engagement! Someone would die tonight, and he was certain it would happen very soon.

  Trinita turned quickly to see where Eve was just as she reached the door. The other Guardian was poised at the door, bow drawn back, ready to cover her. Trinita turned back again to look at the Overlord. Oh, how she wanted Arioch! She would so enjoy slicing right through his skin and pulling out those ivory fangs in victory, but she also knew they were treading on thin lines. Rules were rules, and they must be followed. She still didn’t know everything, because Leah had not been able to get everyone together today, but she knew enough that this girl Eve was too important to let her fall into the hands of the Fallen and, especially, Arioch. The Alliance didn’t know what he was up to, but they had enough information of late to know he was up to something.

  “Guardian!!” Arioch bellowed. “You must stand!”

  “On whose authority?” Trinita asked as she kept backing toward the door. “I believe there has been a slight mistake, and we didn’t realize that this was a haven for the clan. You must really mark your areas a lot better. Try doing it like a dog would. That way we could smell it.”

  “STAND!”

  She cringed. She knew that, according to the ancient rules, she was in their home and that she now had to stand if called out. She knew that Arioch knew the rules of engagement and knew that she, as a Guardian, was well aware of them.

  She turned to the other Guardian. “Don’t let them have her. Make sure she knows. No matter what, make sure she knows the sacrifices that were made for her.”

  The other Guardian hurt inside. He knew the rules, as well; and he understood what Trinita was saying. He nodded and then looked out the doorway toward Eve. He saw that Eve had made it to the sidewalk across the street. She was able to be guarded without rules stopping them now. He looked back; and, without a second thought, he let go of the trigger release on his bow. Two Accusers screamed as the abyss claimed them. His eyes met Trinita’s. Then the door closed upon his partner as he pursued after the one he was to guard.

  Trinita paused a second before she turned back to face her opponent. “Jah, Your strength I need. Let her be worth this.”

  With no further
hesitation, she turned; and, screaming something out in Spanish, she rushed with sword flashing at Arioch. They say that a candle goes out in a church somewhere when an angel passes. Isaiah had tears streaming down his face as he had to relight every row of candles within his church. She had been one of the most courageous.

  Isaiah stood as he watched the newly relit candles flickering in their holders. His soul was hurting and sorrowful. It was hard enough when a mortal was lost, but when nothingness claimed a supernatural, it was a whole new kind of hurt. How can the emptiness that ensues be described when one, who is not supposed to pass before a human, passes, and for what? He knew that questioning Jah was human, but it never made it seem right. Yet, it was happening often lately. What was it that was bringing the Alliance into a struggle for this lady who, only a week ago, was simply an acquaintance of Alfonso’s? Was there something that Alfonso knew that no one else knew? Leah had mentioned earlier that she had some information for all of them, but it would have to wait. She wanted to make sure that all of them were together when she revealed what she knew. All of them? That seemed ironic now. All of them wouldn’t be there now, because one of them was no longer with them.

  Isaiah made his way down the center aisle of the auditorium as his eyes fell upon the cross that hung by wires as if floating above the platform.

  “How much longer, Jah? How much longer must we suffer before the victory can be fully claimed against the Fallen? How many more must fall prey? When will mankind realize the deception and the dangers of the clans?”

  Isaiah didn’t know the complete history. In fact, there were few who did. The Watchers were the ones who knew the most, but they all had been wiped out over the years by the Fallen. Even then, it seemed Jah just stood by. The biggest blow had come when Rasputin had been swayed by the Fallen to be indwelt by a Possessor because of his lust for power, and many of the Watchers’ secrets had been revealed to the clans. They had used this to track down the members of the secret sect and kill them.