Immortal II: The Time of Legend

By Valjeanne Jeffers

An Immortal journey continues ... After a century Karla and Joseph are reunited and discover that they are werewolves - only to be marked for death by the sorcerer Tehotep. Escaping into the Time of Legend they find themselves trapped in a world of magic, blood and corruption. The planet is at war. Homeless sleep in deserted buildings, while rich citizens live like kings. By night demonic gangs terrorize Topaz's streets. The lovers must find their kindred ... and start the revolution that will save Tundra. But are they too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valjeanne Jeffers
• Release date: May 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311230560

Valjeanne Jeffers

Valjeanne Jeffers is a Spelman College graduate, a member of the Carolina African American Writers’ Collective and the Horror Writers Association, and the author of nine books, including her Immortal and Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective series. She was been published in numerous anthologies including: Steamfunk!;The Ringing Ear; Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology; Liberated Muse I: How I Freed My Soul; Say it Loud; Drumvoices Revue; Possibilities and, most recently, Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia Butler (winner of the Locus Award and nominated for Hugo Award); Fitting In; Sycorax’s Daughters (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award) and Black Magic Women. Visit her at: www.vjeffersandqveal.com

Book preview

IMMORTAL II: The Time of Legend

Copyright Valjeanne Jeffers-Thompson 2008 all rights reserved,

including the right to reproduce this book or portion thereof in any form.

Jacket design and art by Kristopher Mosby copyright 2008 all rights reserved

Smashwords Edition

Other novels by Valjeanne Jeffers

Immortal

Immortal III: Stealer of Souls

The Switch II: Clockwork

Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds

Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective

Colony: Ascension: An Erotic Space Novel

Short Fiction

Outcasts

The Visitor

Grandmere’s Secret

For my children Toussaint, Gabrielle, Mikail and Little Valjeanne,

my grandchildren, Logan and Kyle, and my Man of Rivers, Quinton

I will love you always.

IMMORTAL II: THE TIME OF LEGEND

VALJEANNE JEFFERS

Part I: Journey

What the heart fashions,

what the soul imagines

these are the stuff of dreams…

From the Book of Legend

Prologue

The sky darkened a precursor of the coming storm. Lightning flashed through the streets they traveled, streets so familiar to her. But she could not give in to the pain – to the fear – of what she would find at the end of their journey. They turned right into a borough of sloped roof houses, each separated by a low, brick wall, and onward to the third flat in the row.

Tehotep was standing on the wall to the left of Matt’s little home. He turned his eyes to Karla and she felt his gaze, through the flesh of the beast she wore … to the woman underneath. And her blood felt at once icy and hot.

The daemon smiled at her, and his voice spoke within her mind. Karla, my love, how I’ve missed you. She shuddered and his smile widened.

Then Tehotep and Joseph’s eyes locked and the daemon drew back his lips in a snarl. The lovers became werewolves – Karla standing between the Guardian and Joseph – bodies stretching upward, paws becoming hands and feet, until both creatures stood upright: their eyes yellow outlined in black and burning with a feral intellect. Razor sharp canines grew from their mouths. In the same instant, Opal transformed into the seven foot bird woman Joseph had first glimpsed flying through his window.

Tehotep smiled unpleasantly. Ah, Guardian! I thought I would have to find you, but you’ve found me instead! I hope you like your surprise!

Karla heard the daemon’s voice inside her head once more: Come … Come to me now.

From Matt’s doorway, ninety doppelgangers belched forth growling and hissing, their tongues flicking from their snouts. A slumped-back werewolf with red eyes and tusks pushed his way to the front: Silver. He winked at them then motioned to his fellows. Two of the creatures lifted a stained bundle and tossed it from their midst.

A ragged sob tore from Karla’s chest, as her eyes followed Matt’s body to the ground. He landed at her feet. There was bloody hole in the center of his torso. She knelt and cradled him to her breast. But Opal didn’t look at Matt. She’d known from the moment they arrived that he was dead. Instead, the Guardian stared at the objects each acolyte was holding. Gray tubes fashioned of overlapping circles. On the underside of each one was a button. The daemon had violated the New World’s most sacred taboo.

The only taboo punishable by death.

He had created weapons.

Opal’s hands curled into fists, her voice trembling with rage. Even you could not commit such an obscenity! Even you could not bring this into our world again!

Tehotep bared his teeth in a predator’s smile. "But I have! Your prophecy is a lie! The war is over old woman – and you have lost! The Third is dead! And the last two cannot enter the portal without him! He turned to his acolytes. Kill her and the man! Bring the other female to me!"

Only Karla and Joseph heard Opal’s sotto voce chant. Only they saw her fingers nimbly gesturing, as if threading a needle. The wind gusted around them then shifted directions – the clouds moving with preternatural swiftness to rest over the daemons. The changelings raised the tasers, their hands fumbling with the unfamiliar, trigger mechanisms.

Head thrown back Opal raised her arms bellowing: INFINITUS! And time stood still.

But only for Tehotep and his army. The daemon was locked in stasis – his face contorted in rage – held prisoner by Opal’s spell. The changelings were frozen as well, their arms still lifted to fire their weapons. Yet for the enchantress, the cost had been dear. Opal become human again but the perky dowager vanished. Doughy flesh appeared on twisted, shrunken limbs. Her breathing became labored, her skull clearly outlined beneath the taunt skin of her face. Karla rose, hand outstretched towards her old friend.

Go … enter …

Miss Opal … her voice was choked with tears.

Try … go now … can’t hold … longer …

****

Karla found a shoulder bag and started filling it with clothes and toiletries. She couldn’t think. She wouldn’t think. Not now. Not yet. If she allowed herself to think she would remember that they were dead. Matt dead. Opal dead. She spied Joseph’s bag, and tossed it to him. Why isn’t he helping me pack? Hurry up! We have to get out of here!

He got up and began dissolutely shoving items into the valise. We don’t have to go.

What? Of course we do! Karla snapped.

No, we don’t! We could hide out in the city! Hell, we could leave Topaz! I could take you back to Sorre with me!

"Joseph, hide where? He found us before and nobody gave him our addresses! There ain’t nowhere in the world we can go where he won’t track us down!"

Tehotep said Opal’s prophecy was a lie! He said we couldn’t go through without the Third!

And why would you believe him? Karla shouted. "What – in any of your past dealings with him – makes you think he’s telling the truth?"

Look, Joseph’s voice was horse with emotion, I don’t want to lose you, alright? I’ve been searching for you all my life.

I don’t want to lose you either, Karla said softly. When we go through, we’ll through together. That way if we die, we die together… Joseph if we don’t go it’ll all have been for nothing! Tears ran down her face and she dashed them away angrily. We have to – to make it right. Somehow. We got to do this.

There was an emotion filled silence. She thought he would refuse, argue – maybe even try to restrain her bodily. Instead Joseph zipped up his bag, and slung his it over his shoulder. I’m ready.

Outside, a tortured wind howled. The storm drew closer, until it was just outside Karla’s window. A wind punctuated by dragging feet… and growls.

"Joseph! Joseph they’re coming!"

As they rushed from the apartment, Tatiana called from the railing above: Karla what’s that’s noise? It sounds like a bunch of wild animals! Ashley and Carlos Jr. peeked from behind her dress, their faces ashen with fear.

Ti go back inside! It’s not safe for you here!

Karla, what the hell is going on?

Ti go back inside! Stay there until morning! Mouth trembling, Tatiana grabbed the arms of her children and ran back into her flat.

Frantically, Karla punched in the access code and they rushed from the building. But the doppelgangers had already filled Opal’s garden. Tehotep, hands clasped behind his back, blocked the entrance to the tool shed.

We’re not gonna make it.

The daemons circled the porch slowly, leisurely. Victory was theirs and they knew it. Joseph and Karla turned face to face, and wrapped their arms tightly about one another.

I love you, she said, tears streaming down her face. I’ve always loved you.

Sweet Karla…I will met you in the next lifetime, he breathed. I will find you –-

Enough! Tehotep hissed angrily. Kill him! Bring the woman to me!

NO! Karla cried, as a dozen acolytes dragged her from her lover’s side.

The rest surrounded the male werewolf. Joseph snarled, dropped to all fours and paced to and fro, throwing desperate glances at her. The changelings flanked his lover on the left and right. Two others stood behind her, holding her arms.

You can have me! Karla pleaded. Just let him go!

Tehotep’s face was like stone. "I will have you. Once he’s dead."

Joseph run! Live!

He let out an ear splitting roar, and charged forward. Joseph no – !

The doppelgangers raised their tasers… Suddenly electricity filled the air, crackling and hissing. Heat shimmered from the sheds doorway, the light churned – seeming to boil – and orange fire shot from the portal engulfing them. The changelings, and only they, burst into flames. Screaming in agony, they ran about beating wildly at their fur. Dazed, Karla stared at her burning enemies. To the left of the doorway sprawled Tehotep, writhing in pain.

Joseph rushed to her side. "We got to go! Now!"

Where are our bags?

Leave them!

Karla shook her head violently. How could they travel penniless to a strange land? She spied them on the steps – battered by the fray but otherwise intact – and threw them over her shoulder. Beyond the doorway, a maelstrom of light and fire began to whirlpool. Hand in hand, the lovers sprinted towards it. The vortex grasped them, lifting them from their feet, spinning them about …

Tehotep stretched forth his hand. NO! YOU WILL NOT!

They vanished. Behind her, Karla heard his fading cries of rage...

1/the Time of Legend

It was noon and the illuminae was shinning down upon Fisherman’s Alley. In the distance, Topaz Bay glimmered beneath its rays. Citizens had to walk to the ocean’s edge to see the islets of slimy pollution floating atop its waves, and the twisted artillery resting at its bottom. Bars and rest houses dotted the street. But out of the seventeen buildings that lined Fisherman’s Alley, ten were boarded up.

In the year of our One 2875 Topaz was at war.

Five years ago Guinsula, Topaz’s eastern neighbor, was fighting with Ageis, a small western city. Guinsula and her twelve commonwealths already had a lucrative shipping trade. But Guinula’s pirates had been eyeing Aegis’s sea for decades. Aegis’s answer was to join with Nubia. Together they became the body Electra: a mighty leviathan with fifteen tributaries.

Topaz seized upon Guinsula’s weakness and attacked. At the same time Topaz’s Council offered to protect Electra’s borders. But Electra refused, for its Council knew that, just two years earlier, Topaz had lured Sorre into a treaty. Once Topaz had Sorre’s trust – and their weapons – Topaz butchered Sorre’s Copper citizens and condemned the survivors to a living hell in the Desert of Exile.

Topaz answered Electra with a full scale invasion – Guinsula’s warriors attacked Topaz … And so began Tundra’s world wars. Topaz’s wealthy citizens fled to the safety of Losia, Hiosz and Dexioz’s island resorts. Those who couldn’t afford to leave the city ran instead to the rest houses clustered around the edge of Topaz – running from the ever growing gangs and their civil wars. Then too, hotels near the ocean were less likely to be bombed.

The poor and middle class were trapped. With luck, they earned a living clearing bomb sites, working in factories or at the detention center. Luckiest by far, were those who could find jobs at Topaz General – the only hospice left standing – as healers, orderlies and janitors. The currency was better here than anywhere else in the province. But the hours were long and hard. Healers were few, so many had been shipped abroad to the wars, and orderlies and janitors often wound up working as doctors and nurses. Those that couldn’t find work joined the homeless – hiding out in the deserted buildings that filled the city. Living by their wits.

Now, in Fisherman’s Alley at the Salty Dog, Citizens sat in booths lining the walls or perched on bar stools. Among the laughing crowd were Mark and Layla: sharing a drink at the bar. Mark was thin with short, unruly blond hair and green eyes. His companion Layla had skin the color of cocoa beans, with full lips. Her kinky, brown hair was twisted into two braids.

He smiled into her eyes. How’s your Mum doing?

Alright … tired of working double shifts.

What time’s she going in tonight?

Midnight.

Want me to come over?

Layla grinned over her beer. Yeah …

I’ll be there about 12:30.

Layla was a skin popper – a placid addict. She shot up between her thighs to keep from wearing long sleeve shirts. Beside them sat Joan, a woman with burnt sienna skin and slanted, brown eyes staring morosely into her glass of juice. Across the room her lover Toki grinned up at Keith, another activist, then cut her eyes over at Joan to see if her flirting having any effect. It wasn’t.

Sitting in a booth behind them was José, slender and tan, with hazel colored eyes. Beside him was his mate Consuela, a buxom, sepia colored woman, with a heart-shaped face and curly, shoulder length hair. Petite Estella and her heavily muscled lover, Parco, shared their booth.

Two enforcers walked into the bar and the crowd tensed. Both were Fuchsia. The older officer had a reddish complexion, his ample stomach hanging over the waistband of his trousers. But his companion had the scrubbed, fresh face look of a rookie.

Take the back, the beefy officer said to his partner, I’ll start up here.

Okay, searg. The rookie approached Toki and Keith’s table. Papers! he ordered.

Keith and Toki reached into their pockets and handed him two black booklets. These identity papers listed their personal history, including their legal right to live and work in Topaz. Yet Keith’s ID had something that Toki’s didn’t: his draft status. Every male citizen, sixteen and older, was required to carry a copy of their military record. This record always listed a citizen as ready for service, ready but declined, because of mental or physical handicap or discharged. If a man’s ID didn’t list one of these categories, he was, in the eyes of planet law a draft dodger: A man hiding from his required duties as a soldier.

The peacekeeper glanced through the booklets and handed them back, moving to the female Citizen at the next table over. His partner had already inspected The Salty Dog’s first booth, and was now standing before José and Consuela’s table.

Papers! the enforcer barked. They hastily complied. Papers! he said again to Estella and Parco.

Estella handed the man her ID. But her burly man hesitated. I don’t have mine with me. Parco grinned, exposing a missing front tooth. I – I left ‘em at home.

Then you might as well come with me now! The enforcer flashed a nasty grin. It’s illegal not to carry identity papers – and you know it! Reluctantly, Parco handed over his ID. The officer flipped back to the service record section. It was blank.

Just like I thought! he exclaimed. "Alright, let’s go…! I said, let’s go!" As Parco stood, the beefy man hit him in the mouth with his fist, drawing blood, Stinkin’ draft dodger! and Parco staggered back against the table.

Parco! Estelle cried. You ain’t got to do that!

Shut up! Or I’ll take you in too! Come on Cecil! he called to the younger officer.

They strutted out, their prisoner walking stiffly in front of them.

Try to run, the older man said, and I’ll shoot you in the back! They left the grill and the crowd followed.

Pigs! Estelle spat. You’re not takin’ my man!

As they stepped out into the street, Keith called out: That far enough!

The enforcers whirled around to face the mob. Who you talking to, boy? the older one snarled.

He’s talking to you! a redheaded, Fuchsia man shouted.

"You should know better!"

And you should know better than to come down here and try to drag one of us outta here to send to that rich man’s war!

It’s a noble cause! the younger enforcer yelled.

And you’re a damn fool! Keith shot back. You’re not takin’ him!

I can have a van here in under a minute! the older man bellowed, his face turning a deeper shade of red. I can identify all of you! But he was trembling.

Estelle stepped forward, pulling a metal box from her dress. At the touch of her thumb, a knife popped out. It was six inches long and very sharp. Not if we cut your stinkin’ hearts out!

Mark stood behind the crowd, his hand resting on the small of Layla’s back. This is about to get real ugly. They’re gonna kill ‘em, and there’s gonna to be hell to pay – for all of us.

He glanced over at José and Consuela. They stood to his right, at the edge of the crowd … out of the enforcers’ line of vision. Mark locked eyes with José, then Consuela. The Bronze man nodded and they inched away from the group.

José blurred behind the older enforcer. There were gasps from the crowd as – in one smooth motion – he snatched the enforcer’s taser from his belt and struck him between the neck and shoulder blades. The officer collapsed in a boneless heap.

At the same time, Consuela wrapped her arm about the younger man’s throat and the other about his forehead, holding his head immobile.

They had to change to do this. It took superhuman control to let only a little of their power come forth – to stop hair from covering their bodies, their muscles from swelling. Both were sweating from the effort. José kept his head down until his eyes were hazel again – until he could speak without growling.

Consuela ducked her head behind the enforcer’s. But not before she looked into Parco’s face. Not before his jaw dropped, when he gazed into her yellow eyes.

Estelle pushed through the crowd and wrapped her arms about her lover. Popi –!

Parco stood frozen unable to believe what he’d just seen.

José inclined his head to the right. Go!

Hands clasped, they took off running up the street. By nightfall, the enforcers would be searching for Parco. The lovers would have to go into hiding now, melting into the homeless underground of draft dodgers and homeless squatting in Topaz’s castoff buildings.

I’m going to let you go, Consuela whispered into the young officer’s ear. Don’t turn around for fifteen minutes. If you do, I’ll kill you! She released him … and released her gift. José took her hand. They turned their backs to the crowd and raced away.

Behind them, their warriors whistled and applauded.

****

She felt herself traveling at a great speed, into a wide tunnel, bombarded with colors, textures, images … She was seated upon a throne … Dancing in a lush jungle … Chased by fanged dogs through a snow covered wood … Girded for battle, axe in hand. Then, in a plume of smoke, the images faded … They stood before a heavy oak door exquisitely carved with the shapes of