The Cardinal: Nathan K, #3

By Stuart Jaffe

Nathan K — he can hold two souls in his body. If he dies, he loses one yet lives on with the other. As long as he replenishes his second soul, he cannot be killed. Nathan K is immortal.

DEADLY GAMES

In the world of the Immortals, none is more feared than The Cardinal — a vicious, insane man with a thirst for destruction. And now, he has turned his eye upon Nathan.

For the Cardinal, hunting Nathan may be nothing more than a game, but for Nathan, it is a life and death pursuit. He will have to rely on trusted friends and questionable enemies as he races to uncover the reason behind the Cardinal’s deadly attacks. If he can’t find the answers, Nathan won’t have any hope of stopping the Cardinal. But when your enemy is insane, the answers could be insane, too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stuart Jaffe
• Release date: Nov 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540148124

Book preview

The Cardinal

A Nathan K Thriller

by Stuart Jaffe

Table of Contents

Title Page

For John Hartness

Also by Stuart Jaffe

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Acknowledgements

Nathan K in Yukon Massacre

About the Author

Copyright Information

For John Hartness

a good friend

a good writer

a good man

Also by Stuart Jaffe

Max Porter Paranormal Mysteries

Southern Bound

Southern Charm

Southern Belle

Southern Gothic

Southern Haunts

Southern Curses

Southern Rites

Southern Craft

Nathan K Thrillers

Immortal Killers

Killing Machine

The Cardinal

Yukon Massacre

The Malja Chronicles

The Way of the Black Beast

The Way of the Sword and Gun

The Way of the Brother Gods

The Way of the Blade

The Way of the Power

The Way of the Soul

Gillian Boone novels

A Glimpse of Her Soul

Pathway to Spirit

Stand Alone Novels

After The Crash

Real Magic

Founders

Short Story Collection

10 Bits of My Brain

10 More Bits of My Brain

The Bluesman

Non-Fiction

How to Write Magical Words: A Writer’s Companion

Chapter One

Nathan studied the craggy, water-stained ceiling of a motel room as the morning traffic sped by outside. He had been awake for less than a minute, and the aching pulse in his head promised to grow worse should he move too fast. The air stank with stale alcohol. Despite the rattling air conditioner, the humidity already threatened to drench him in sweat.

Mmmm, a soft voice rumbled.

With a gentle turn of his head, Nathan saw a woman lying next to him — red hair, full body, and her skin covered in nothing but a tattoo of a horse galloping up her spine. She stretched her arms out and rolled over. She had a lovely, round face and ample, round breasts — a delightful combination. Seeing him awake, she stroked his chin.

Morning, she said with a cigarette voice and a smile.

Morning. He struggled for a name but came up empty.

Hope you don’t mind that I spent the night, but you wore me out. She reached down between his legs. But if you want a little more, I’m ready for a good way to wake up.

He pushed her hand away. Maybe later. I’m a bit hungover.

That didn’t stop you yesterday morning.

Yesterday? Getting out of bed slowly, Nathan held his head. Give me a minute. He stumbled over to the bathroom sink and splashed cold water on his face.

Time to regroup. Figure out where he was and what had happened. Well, he knew what had happened. He’d drunk himself stupid and spent at least the last two days with this eager woman. Where was he? A motel in ... Florida. The outskirts of St. Augustine. Yeah. He remembered driving down Route 1, a straight and endless road that cut right by the city.

His cell phone rang. He shuffled back into the main room only to find the redhead swiping the call to voicemail.

Who was that? he asked.

Rolling her eyes, the redhead said, Robin. Again. You swore you weren’t married, but she’s called like twenty times in the last few days.

Last few days? She’s not my wife. I work with her.

Well, I’m not sharing you. Now, get on over here. You’ve got a promise to keep.

Nathan leaned against the bathroom door jamb. He needed it to stay standing. Promise?

Come on, now. Don’t be like that. With a syrup-sweet voice, she added, I know we were drunk, but you promised you’d keep me satisfied as long as I could take it, and I warned you that I had stamina. But you said you could take me on forever. You’ve done a good job so far, but we got at least one more solid day in this bed. She pressed her full breasts together. My two girls here have gotten cold and lonely. Come warm them up.

Nathan stifled a chuckle. She had no idea how long forever could be. Neither had he until his life changed on the floor of a New York City deli. Back then, he went by the name Nathan Flynn — a law school student with a bright future ahead and an engagement ring in his pocket. But he died in that deli, his throat slit on the grimy, tiled floor.

And he was reborn Nathan K. He still had Nathan Flynn’s soul, but his body no longer belonged to him — it was that of an Immortal, a being able to harbor two souls. If Nathan died, his second soul left him, but his first soul remained — keeping him alive and healed. As long as he maintained a second soul, he would live forever.

Having tasted Death, Nathan thought forever sounded grand. Though he had discovered it could be quite lonely. Looking at this willing redhead, he decided that whatever had happened the last three or so days didn’t matter right now. The world needed help and he provided what he could, but didn’t he deserve a few days off with a warm embrace calling to him?

Come here already. She said, puckering her lips. Don’t make me beg.

Wouldn’t want that, he said, feeling his hangover clearing a little. He slid back into bed and into the woman’s arms. They kissed and groped and moaned, and though it all felt new to his sobering mind, he could tell she knew his body well.

Oh, she said. I feel you waking up.

Nathan’s phone rang again — not the regular old-time phone ring but rather a few bars of Sympathy for the Devil. That ringtone had been assigned to only one person. Somebody he thought he might not hear from for a lifetime, at least — Octavia.

Don’t answer it, the woman said.

Nathan paused, not wanting to remove his hands from her chest or his body from under her, but the song continued to play. She must have seen something in his eyes because she rolled off of him with a disappointed sigh.

Go on, she said.

Nathan grabbed his phone. What is it? he said by way of Hello.

Octavia’s firm yet silk voice said, The Cardinal. He’s loose.

Not my problem.

Considering that he left behind a wall filled with drawings of you, you may want to rethink that.

Swinging his legs off the bed, he muttered a few swears. Thanks for the warning.

I didn’t call just to warn you. You’re going to help me get the Cardinal back.

What makes you think I give a crap about any of that? You and Larkin and the rest of the Immortals can go play your stupid games. I’ve made it clear for a long time now that I want nothing to do with you people.

He thought he sounded convincing, but Octavia merely said, Say goodbye to the girl and meet me at the airport diner.

You’re here?

She hung up.

As Nathan threw on his clothes, he looked over the lovely form of the woman in his bed. Stay here for a bit. I’ve got a meeting, but I’ll do my best to shut it down. He leaned over and kissed her. I’d very much like you to be here when I get back.

Though she pouted, her eyes sparkled. You’ll have to cross your fingers and hope.

I’ll do that.

Once dressed, he made sure to slip Maggie, his 10mm Wilson Combat Classic, in his waistband before leaving. As he walked to his car, he thought the redhead’s advice would serve him well with Octavia, too.

Crossing my fingers.

Chapter Two

Small airport diners had a unique smell — a mixture of coffee and fuel that could not be found anywhere else. A hefty woman wearing a pink apron worked the griddle while her mousy counterpart leaned on the counter by the register. The mousy one waved a pencil around the empty diner.

Sit wherever, she said. Coffee?

Definitely, Nathan said, spotting Octavia in the back booth.

Seeing her there, sitting straight with military form, he wanted to turn around. He could jump in his car and take off and — but then what? She had lived centuries longer than him. She had learned how to track a man with ease. His list of things to learn continued to grow each day.

I should learn a better hangover cure than coffee.

But the real reason he didn’t turn away, the reason he had come to the diner at all, was the Cardinal. Where Octavia and Nathan were Immortals, the Cardinal was a Prime. One of the first, and one of the only Immortals never to have lost his original body. Nathan’s immortal body had belonged to others before him. When he died on that deli floor in New York City, he had been taken in as the second soul. But Nathan was strong and fought back. In the end, he took over to become the first soul. The Cardinal, however, had been in his body from the beginning. To have lived so long, to have learned so much, he had given up any connection to the human world. He was a creature altogether different.

Nathan weaved around the patternless layout of tables and booths. Each step closer to Octavia echoed in his throbbing head. She stared at him. Her dark eyes and darker skin mixed with the morning shadows — something she could use to her advantage when in combat. Nathan knew to think about combat around her. Not only had she taught him all the basics, but she had displayed her prowess several times. To call her deadly would be to call the sun a bit hot. She was devastating.

He stopped at the table and she gestured for him to sit. I’m not sure I should, he said. The last time I saw you, you made it clear my life would be in jeopardy around you.

Yet here you are.

The Cardinal has that effect.

She glanced over him. You look horrible. Debauchery doesn’t suit you.

Well, when you live forever, you try out a few crazy ideas.

You’re not old enough to have reached that point. I suspect you’re trying to forget something. Or someone.

The mousy waitress stepped over and placed a mug of coffee on the table. She plastered on a smile for Octavia. You want anything, dear?

Coffee would be nice. Especially since I’ve been here for ten minutes.

Oh, I’m sorry about that, the waitress said, acid underneath her words. I assumed you were waiting for whoever’s gonna pay for this. I’ll get you your coffee.

The lure of caffeine slid Nathan into the booth. Glancing at Octavia’s sour expression, he said, I guess racism really is alive and well around here.

I’ve seen worse.

He had forgotten for a moment that Octavia had been a plantation slave long ago and hid his embarrassment behind another sip of coffee. He drank too fast, burned his tongue, yet still let out a relieved sigh.

The waitress returned with a somewhat clean mug. As she filled it up, she said, Y’all want to see a menu or you know what you want?

For now, Octavia said, we want our privacy.

With a haughty turn, the waitress walked away. She muttered something to the woman at the griddle and they both snickered.

Nathan rubbed the stubble on his chin. Making friends everywhere you go. He didn’t feel as light as his words portrayed. In fact, the longer this meeting stretched, the worse he felt. He had seen the Cardinal in action — a terrifying experience of rage and carnage. The Cardinal moved with inhuman speed and had lost all connection to human traits like empathy and compassion.

Octavia tapped her nails on the old table. He’s been thinking about you. Ever since you faced him at Russo’s place in Pennsylvania.

He almost killed me permanently, and I got the distinct impression that he didn’t care about the governing rules of Immortals. Rule #1 — Immortals don’t kill Immortals. At least, Immortals don’t kill the immortal body. If the body had two souls, then a little killing was no big deal. But if the body only had one, then killing it meant destroying an Immortal — forever. And since nobody knew how these bodies came to be in the first place, nobody wanted to be blamed for ending them.

Regardless of what happened there —

And don’t forget he tracked me down to that diner and slaughtered everybody inside.

Don’t interrupt me. Her mentor voice took over, and Nathan’s body tightened as if expecting another brutal combat lesson. "When the Cardinal returned to our island home base, he could not stop thinking about you. Obsessing would be a better word. Every day he only wanted information on you. Where were you, who were you helping, what people had you come in contact with — anything we could discover about you, the Cardinal demanded to know. You made quite an impression."

I was only trying to survive.

And you did. That’s what made you so special to him. If the Cardinal ever faced defeat, it was so long ago that I doubt even he remembers the incident. Or if he does, he dismissed it as part of growing up and learning. But you — you got the better of him.

Nathan sputtered out his coffee. How? He ripped me into pieces. I had to — He glanced over his shoulder at the ladies running the diner. They showed no interest in eavesdropping. In a lower voice, he continued, "I had to use a dog’s soul just to keep going. If it wasn’t for your friend, Crystal, hitting him with a truck, he would have ignored the rules and killed me completely. How is that getting the better of him?"

Because you’re not clamped to the walls of his home, rotting away for his amusement.

Nathan wanted to say more, but after a year under Octavia’s harsh tutelage, he knew when he could argue and when he should stay silent.

Octavia said, "Whether you agree or