Dark Queen Rising: A Villainous Affair, #3

By Heather Massey

Return once again to the fantastical world of A Villainous Affair, where ragtag mobs join forces to strike a blow against aristocratic tyranny.

The gripping adventure reaches dizzying heights as Ruby and Nathan Darling—a dynamic duo of fashionable Victorian supervillains—continue their journey to gain unrivaled power in the underworld and beyond, all for a shot at transforming England into the social justice utopia of their dreams.

After becoming queen of the underworld, Ruby sets her sights on the real prize—overthrowing the Crown. Toward that end, she recruits powerful allies, assembles her army, and performs daring heists while Nathan expands their arsenal with his superhuman aether abilities.

As Ruby's friendship with Nathan deepens, she grapples with strange new feelings that threaten her carefully laid boundaries. Unbeknownst to her, Nathan is drowning in the angst of unrequited love. Tensions build amid thwarted desires and the sting of rejection. Then their relationship takes a shockingly unexpected turn.

 

At the worst possible moment, the Darlings' enemies grow bolder—and a thousand times more vicious. When Queen Victoria unleashes her imperial forces to crush London's tidal wave of crime, Ruby faces a threat unlike any she's ever known.

A Villainous Affair is a serial story in novel form with several point-of-view characters and best read in order. Books 1-3 end with a cliffhanger. Happily Ever After guaranteed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crackerjack Creatives, LLC
• Release date: Apr 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393058397

Heather Massey

Heather Massey (she/her) is a geek mom who's the proud parent of a terrific daughter and married to the love of her life. Heather is best known for her sci-fi romance blog The Galaxy Express.Though she’s neither an award-winning nor bestselling author (thank you for not judging!), her stories provide quality entertainment by way of fantastical worlds, action-adventure, and larger-than-life characters who fall in love while battling evils such as classist jerks, corporate greed, the patriarchy, and corrupt politicians.

Book preview

DARK QUEEN RISING

A picture containing key Description automatically generated

A Villainous Affair: Book Three

––––––––

Heather Massey

Copyright 2021 Heather Massey

Published by Crackerjack Creatives, LLC, 2021

Cover art by Elizabeth Peiró

License Notes

All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Please don’t reproduce it in any form including physical, electronic, mechanical, or other, including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from the author. An exception is the use of brief quotations for the purposes of critical articles and/or reviews. The author has asserted her respective rights to be identified as the author of this book and producer of the cover artwork.

This is a work of fiction. The story takes place in an alternate history England and includes reimagined historical figures and events. All characters, places, and events, except for a few historical figures and locales, are from the author’s imagination and therefore are not to be interpreted as real. Concerning the appearance of real-life historical figures, the situations, conversations, dialogues, and adventures involving those figures are not meant to depict actual events to or alter the wholly fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Content Warning

Graphic violence, suicide, references to children in peril, references to sexual assault, social injustices

Read the complete list of content warnings at the end of this ebook or visit heathermassey.com

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Acknowledgments

Content Warning

About the Author

About the Illustrator

Books by Heather Massey

Chapter One

Ruby glanced at the overcast sky while standing near the front door of her mansion. An overnight rainfall had given birth to a cold, wet Battersea on this late February morning. Arms crossed, she surveyed the sea of activity before her. Preparations were underway for the coming battle against the Gang of Four. Soldiers, weapons, supplies, and steam-powered vehicles covered the front lawn from end to end.

Could she overthrow London’s most powerful mob bosses and become ruler of the underworld in a single day? She had aether weapons on her side but only a fraction of her enemies’ resources. Would Nathan’s powerful technology be enough to tip the balance in her favor? One way or another, she would soon discover the answer.

Iron Jaw. Shadow Baron. Chameleon. The Boar.

Their names had been her mantra ever since that fateful winter night when they’d humiliated her at the Leviathan Club in the heart of Black Wandsworth. By dumping a vile mixture of blood, shit, and animal guts onto her head, they had poisoned her with self-doubt and shame—an ordeal far worse than a physical beating. She had dared to assert her ambition and in response they had struck her down with the intention of silencing her forever.

Anger boiled inside her, fueling her desire for revenge. The Gang of Four hadn’t just disrupted her mob; they’d thwarted her efforts to reclaim her rightful place as Queen of England and launch social reforms. Since they had refused to partner with her—and benefit from the aether technology she would have freely shared—she would overthrow them and seize control of their operations. They had flagrantly disregarded the underworld’s code of honor, so brute force was the only way to teach those rotters a lesson.

The Gang of Four had warned her against reassembling her mob, so rather than put her former members at risk, she had secretly recruited mercenary soldiers from every corner of England. All were men because of a scarcity of women and other genders in that line of work.

Unfortunately, hiring and arming a hundred mercenaries had come with a price—the depletion of her fortune. She’d fenced hundreds of personal possessions to pay for their expenses and cover her tracks. If the riskiest gamble of her life paid off, her revolution would be funded several times over by the Gang of Four’s wealth. Otherwise, she and Nathan would have to start from scratch. Well, to a degree. They’d be rich in aether, if nothing else.

For the millionth time, she thanked her lucky stars that Priti had pledged her continued support. Though the Forty Elephants had been keeping a low profile since the Gang of Four debacle, Priti had snuck thirty of them to Battersea to supplement Ruby’s mercenary army. She was grateful to have Priti as both business partner and friend. They’d fight alongside one another in a mob brawl just like in the old days.

Typical of their style, the all-women Forty Elephants mob wore an eclectic mix of colorful clothes. Priti would lead them with flair in her decorative green and gold battle armor. All the Elephants wore aether gloves and boots.

The Gang of Four believed aether was a myth, so Ruby’s army had the element of surprise, but their mob would outnumber her forces by at least three to one. Her aether suit would have to do the heavy lifting.

Challenging the Gang of Four would have been impossible without Nathan’s extraordinary talents. She would never forget the night they had discovered he could manipulate aether by inhaling it. Chills ran down her spine at the memory of him wielding the wondrous energy source like magic. He’d hoisted her into the air and then fashioned her aether suit of armor from the mechanical parts swirling around her.

The armor enabled her to fly, fight with aether enhanced fists and feet, shoot powerful aether cannons, and defend herself with an aether shield. The sleek casing molded to her body like a second skin. It was efficient, too—she could put it on by herself.

Nathan had described it as a complex system of thinking armor that enhanced her body’s motor and sensory functions. By strategically redistributing the forces her body carried at any given time, the aether suit maximized her strength and agility.

Knobs on the gauntlets controlled the functions. Some functions used more energy than others, which in turn dictated how long the energy supply would last. Punching and kicking used less aether than engaging the shield. Flying while using the cannons burned up aether at a fast rate.

With Nathan’s guidance, she had spent several weeks exploring the suit’s capabilities. A derelict abbey in a remote countryside area had provided excellent fodder for target practice. Any future visitors to the site would only discover a pile of rubble.

Though she’d needed dozens of attempts to overcome her fear of defying gravity, flying thrilled her beyond measure. She’d taken numerous solo flights over London and always at night to avoid discovery. Viewed from above, the city was a dark, morbid realm of soot and smoke. London had a grimy beauty all its own, but how would it look without its mask of filth and decay? Could a switch to aether energy cure the city of its industrial disease?

She lacked the answer to such a pressing question, but the more Nathan experimented with aether, the more knowledge he would gain from the mysterious dimensions he could access. Ingesting aether had created a shortcut for his research, which boded well for his future inventions.

Nathan’s tall form emerged from the crowd of soldiers. She tried, and failed, to keep from staring as he approached her. More often than not, he stole her breath away in one fashion or another. Sometimes it was his prowess with everything mechanical. Other times, all it took was one of his thoughtful comments.

Today’s culprit was his dashing outfit. He wore a sleek lavender frock coat and matching cravat, an embroidered gray waistcoat, and gray trousers with lavender checks. The way the material clung so tightly to his slim legs ought to be illegal. His shaggy hair stuck out from beneath his top hat and the cold weather had tipped his long nose with a dab of red.

Like him, she was gaily dressed for the occasion. Her tailor—Charles of the House of Knight—had designed the perfect outfit to wear atop her aether-powered suit of armor. A blood-red bodice hugged her torso, which in turn topped a black, short-sleeved chemisette with a high-necked collar. Ruffles edged her black skirt, one puffed up with petticoats. A rose and gold vine motif added a splash of elegance. The mid-thigh hem provided enough coverage for her legs while simultaneously allowing for freedom of movement. Mrs. Quigg, her lady’s maid, had arranged her ebony locks into a fashionable, yet battle-friendly style. Ruby’s favorite red hair sash completed the ensemble.

Enough navel-gazing. She ought to be thinking less about their fabulous clothes and more about the impending confrontation.

Nathan plucked a cup of piping hot tea from the food service Miss Cottingham had set out for their personal use. Earlier, Ruby’s brigade of handpicked costermongers had served up a hearty breakfast to her hungry army. They had since departed, leaving behind dozens of satisfied bellies and a lattice of wheel tracks on the muddy ground.

Refreshment? he asked, extending the cup.

Much obliged. She took an appreciative sip. The warm liquid helped counteract the chilly breeze.

He held out a plate of biscuits, which their cook always had on hand after Ruby told her Nathan fancied them. Are you certain you’ve had enough to eat?

That was the fourth time he’d asked her since breakfast, yet somehow his persistence was reassuring rather than bothersome. Yes, quite. She motioned him closer. As usual, he bent down to minimize their height difference. Between you and me, my stomach is in knots so anything more shall have to wait until after our business is done.

Understood. He selected a biscuit. Don’t mind me. I need to bulk up before the big battle. Then he took a huge bite, a rascally grin on his face.

She snorted. At least one of them still had an appetite. Everything is nearly ready. I expect to leave within the half hour.

Excellent. He brought the plate up to his nose and inhaled deeply. Just enough time for me to polish off these delicious treats.

Will you please stop gassing about your biscuits? she implored, though she wasn’t the least bit cross. Preparing for war is a serious matter.

His gaze shuttered as he looked down at her. So is giving biscuits the love they deserve.

She shook her head in exasperation even as an inexplicable warmth spread across her cheeks.

He glanced past her. I say, are you expecting anyone else?

Her gaze snapped to the road. A lone steamcoach headed toward them.

No, not at all. She shoved her cup toward him, which he promptly took off her hands. Then she strode along the drive toward the oncoming vehicle, Nathan in tow.

She didn’t recognize the steamcoach and the timing of its arrival was suspicious. Though it lacked visible armor or weapons, her gut iced over with trepidation. Who could it be?

Chapter Two

The steamcoach hissed and sputtered as it rolled to a stop at the edge of the drive. Ruby gaped as the driver’s familiar freckled face and frizzy copper curls came into view—Sweet Fanny! She’d been the first person to join Ruby’s mob. After many months, she had finally returned from her first official mission. Had it been a success or failure?

Sweet Fanny waved. Good morning, Mrs. Darling! To ward off the chill, she wore a cap, greatcoat, and a bright purple scarf. Got a lovely surprise for you.

The door opened. Venus emerged, followed by four Black women who resembled her. Ruby breathed a sigh of relief. Venus and her sisters were finally free after having been kidnapped from Namibia, separated, and forced into circus jobs. Funding the expedition to reunite them had been the least Ruby could do to compensate Venus for the trouble she’d caused by playing white savior.

Sweet Fanny hopped down from the driver’s box and joined them, a beaming grin on her light brown face.

Well done, Ruby told her. She greeted Venus with a smile. Ndali, I’m so glad you found your sisters.

Venus Hottentot had been the name imposed upon Ndali by the nasty man who had made her perform a demeaning circus act night after endless night for three years. She had dropped her stage name as soon as she left.

Ndali nodded. I appreciate your help. Sweet Fanny’s, too. She gestured to each of her sisters in turn. This is Thandiwe, Saara, Lahja, and Imbeni.

Pleased to make your acquaintances, Ruby said. She introduced them to Nathan, who doffed his hat in return. So, where have the four of you been living?

All over, Lahja said. Circuses and fairs, mostly.

We moved a lot, Thandiwe said.

That’s why it took us so long to find them, Sweet Fanny added.

Well, we are immensely relieved that you’re safe and together at last, Nathan said.

Sweet Fanny ogled the mansion. That your house? Nice. Say, you’ve got lots of visitors. What’s going on?

Ruby turned solemn. While you were gone, the Gang of Four attacked me—unprovoked, mind you—and tore apart my mob. I aim to overthrow them today. She gestured to her army. The Forty Elephants are here and the rest are hired soldiers.

What the hell? Sweet Fanny’s expression and tone burned with outrage. Why’d they target you?

I expect we had become too powerful, and they didn’t want the competition.

She made a fist. Fuck those rotters. Count me in.

Much obliged, but your job isn’t finished yet. She turned to Ndali. My deepest apologies, but we’re about to leave for battle, so I can’t hire a ship to take you home yet. I can give you bodyguards for protection and you’re welcome to stay in our home. After I deal with the Gang of Four, I’ll purchase boat fare to Namibia as promised.

Ndali stared at her for so long Ruby wondered if she had caused offense. Perhaps she suspected Ruby was reneging on her offer. Yet their voyage would only be delayed for a short time. Surely, Ndali could understand? Her campaign had been months in the making and she couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Please don’t be angry with me.

Then Ndali faced her sisters. They whispered among themselves. Afterward, Ndali addressed Ruby. We want to help. Then you can arrange for our trip home.

Ruby stared at her in surprise. Are you sure? It’ll be dangerous.

Ndali nodded. My sisters and I have faced plenty of rowdy circus crowds in our day. I reckon we can handle one little mob.

In the face of Ndali’s generous offer, an overwhelming sense of gratitude briefly left Ruby speechless. Much obliged. Your support means the world to me. She pointed to the refreshments table, where Miss Cottingham stood ready to serve. Help yourself to food and drink. Then Mr. Darling will arm you with weapons.

Sounds good to me, said Imbeni. I’m starving.

The sisters headed to the awaiting sustenance.

Sweet Fanny lingered. You made more aether weapons? she said to Nathan, who nodded dramatically.

Fantastic weapons. Ruby gestured to her aether suit. Wait’ll you see what this crackerjack armor can do.

Now it was Nathan’s turn to beam.

Sweet Fanny grinned as she passed by Nathan on the way to the refreshments. Ready to rumble, guv’nor? she asked, playfully punching him in the shoulder.

Quite, he responded with a pained smile.

Ruby turned her head aside to conceal her grin. Such delicious irony. If anyone was wholly unsuited for fisticuffs, it was Nathan, and yet that aspect only made him more appealing. As a friend, of course. Unlike most men, he defined himself in terms of how well he could nurture other people, not how well he could fight or dominate them. Which reminded her....

Nathan?

Hmm?

Are you certain you wish to come? You’d be far safer here.

He cocked a brow. And miss the sight of you punishing those contemptible wretches? Never.

If you insist. Though she’d never admit it, she craved his comforting presence. Naturally, she had placed a condition on his participation. He could only watch the battle from the safety of the aethercoach, which he had equipped with a shield. Additionally, he’d mounted a shiny new aether cannon on the vehicle’s roof. The more resources available to protect him, the better.

She held up her forefinger. But if I order a change of plan to keep you safe, I expect you to follow it.

Of course.

At the sound of his amenable tone, she winced. Had she been overbearing? I...I only meant I’m trying to be responsible about holding up my end of the deal.

He smiled reassuringly. I know.

As their gazes locked, she suddenly had the urge to cancel the battle and spend the day in Nathan’s charming company. She wouldn’t care what they did so long as they were together.

No, she mustn’t do anything of the sort. Too risky—and far too selfish. She shoved the tempting fantasy away and then motioned toward the new arrivals. Let’s give aether weapons to Ndali and her sisters.

Certainly.

After Sweet Fanny and the sisters ate, Ruby and Nathan led them to his war wagon. First, he passed around different types of adjustable body armor that had built-in aether shields. Next, he armed them with aether clubs, which had ten times the destructive power of a truncheon. Then he gave each of them an aether blade, a device capable of slicing through any object no matter how hard or thick. A part he referred to as a refractive element made the energy blade shine blue, a handy feature that would help prevent the user from accidental injury. Lastly, he cautioned them about aether’s usage limits.

The Forty Elephants were also armed with the new aether weapons, but the mercenaries would have to make do with traditional ones. No aether for them until they earned Ruby’s trust by helping her win.

Priti joined her. All’s ready.

Ruby nodded and took a deep breath. It was time.

After climbing onto the roof of the aethercoach, she faced her army. Your attention, please. She motioned them closer, eager to share some words of inspiration before departing.

Priti cupped her hands and shouted, Oy! Gather round, people! The Mudlark Queen wants a word!

Bodies surged forward, surrounding the aethercoach. The ragtag assembly grew quiet, their faces tilted upward.

Ruby gestured to the east. Her adversaries’ lair was mere miles from her mansion. Today, we shall lay siege upon Black Wandsworth. For too long, the Gang of Four has had an unfair monopoly in the underworld. They have denied equal opportunity to those they consider unworthy, which in their eyes means anyone who is not like them.

Some of the Elephants booed in solidarity.

They have slandered my good name and dismantled my mob. Why have they done such a heinous deed? Because I’m a woman with ambition. Men like Iron Jaw, the Boar, Shadow Baron, and the Chameleon despise women who dare to assert ourselves.

She paused for dramatic effect. The mercenaries were only cheering her on because she was paying them, but good enough.

They expect everyone to accept their rule without question. They expect us to settle for crumbs while they enjoy a feast. To that pitiful offer, I say, no more. No longer shall we wait around for people like them to give us power and wealth, for that day will never come. Instead, we’ll seize the Gang of Four’s kingdom for ourselves!

A round of clapping met her proclamation, mainly from the women and her ever loyal Nathan.

Today is a day of justice, she continued. A day when we’ll establish fair and equal access to every opportunity the underworld has to offer. Why live in fear when we can live in hope? She thumbed her chest. I’ll be a leader who has everyone’s best interests at heart. I won’t demand your loyalty—I’ll earn it. And one more thing—if the underworld has rejected you for being different, you can be assured of a home with me. I welcome you, and most importantly, I respect you.

Hell, yeah! Sweet Fanny shouted, her fist pumping the air.

The Forty Elephants whooped.

All hail the Mudlark Queen! someone declared.

Ruby grinned as she activated her aether suit. Who’s ready to take over the underworld?

A cacophony of cheers erupted. Her followers clapped, whistled, and raised their weapons in excitement.

Then follow me to glory! Flinging out her arms, she rose into the air. High above the crowd, she twirled and swooped around to give them a spectacle. Their cheers boosted her confidence and warmed her heart.

Good show, Nathan murmured as she landed on the ground beside him.

A shiver of delight tunneled down her spine. Thank you. She powered down her suit to conserve energy and double checked to ensure her aether blade was strapped to her thigh.

Board your vehicles! Priti bellowed. A moment later, the Forty Elephants leader and Sweet Fanny crossed paths. They briefly spoke and shook hands, presumably introducing themselves to one another.

Priti and Ruby spent the next several minutes organizing the procession. The Darlings’ aethercoach took the lead, followed by the other armored conveyances. Steamcoaches stocked with everything from extra weapons to medical supplies brought up the rear.

Ruby joined Nathan in the driver’s box as he donned his round, blue-tinted spectacles. Her breath hitched. If a more dashing inventor existed, she didn’t know of one. She would sit with him for now and then switch to a more dramatic position when they arrived at Black Wandsworth.

He turned the engine key. With a spin of the steering wheel, he drove onto the road. Over the sound of creaking wheels and rumbling engines, Sweet Fanny led her fellow soldiers in a series of motivating cadence calls.

As the procession rumbled forward, doubts lingered like a tenacious stain Ruby couldn’t rub out. Was she truly capable of leading this army into battle? Had she packed enough aether weapons? Would she have to fight the Gang of Four individually or all at once?  

Stop worrying so bloody much. She breathed in some air and exhaled on a shaky breath. All she could do was give it her best shot. By the end of the day, she would either be a triumphant phoenix rising from the ashes or a pathetic rat buried under a mountain of defeat.

Chapter Three

The fortified security gate of Black Wandsworth came into Ruby’s view as Nathan steered the aethercoach onto Holgate Avenue. A second gate blocked the avenue on the opposite end. Between sturdy iron and stone fences, human patrols, automaton guards, and a weapon-studded perimeter, Black Wandsworth was a veritable fortress. The nature of her visit today—would-be conqueror rather than guest—cast the place in a whole new light.

Here, in their seat of power, the Gang of Four had unparalleled freedom to conduct their criminal endeavors. Their main achievement had been keeping the underworld united in the face of enemies like the League of Vigilance and the Metropolitan Police Service. Yet the Gang of Four were far from benevolent leaders. They ruled the underworld in the typical way of most men, using fear and intimidation to dominate their followers. As a result, the vulnerable members suffered.

If Ruby overthrew the Gang of Four today, their kingdom would be hers. She could then transform the underworld into a weapon of social justice and aim it at the worst oppressor of all—Queen Victoria.

Nathan slowed the aethercoach to a crawl. Are you ready?

Yes. She had to be. A show of force was the only way to disrupt the Gang of Four’s stranglehold on the underworld—and on her future.

Tell me if there is anything else I may do to help.

She stood. You’ve done me a world of good already.

He gave her an encouraging smile. Best of luck to you.

To both of us. Heart beating double-time, Ruby powered up her aether suit. With a gentle thrust, she flew to the head of the procession. Her feet skimmed the cobblestones as she glided forward.

The Mudlark Queen was invading Black Wandsworth unannounced, so as soon as the gate came within range, she fired up her aether cannons and blasted away.

Her first shot blew it wide open, unleashing a hurricane of debris. Triumphant whoops and shouts of encouragement rose from the Forty Elephants. Their faith and camaraderie humbled her.

The guards raised their pistols, armed their clockwork bows, and