Brimstone: Rise of the Fallen, #2

By T. D. Raymond

Jack hates the Coven and since this whole thing started, he's worked to expose them and shut them down. And for his efforts, he was tricked into marrying the person he was trying to take down. Now he runs the Coven… sort of.

But Jack has bigger problems. Thin Man leads the opposition, and he has support, a lot of support, and Thin Man's people are coming for Jack and his brothers.

Jack and Az are preparing for their father's return so they can defeat the demon and prevent a hell on earth, and in the meantime, they are trying and apprehend or kill Thin Man.

The problem is Thin Man is trying to stop the demon too, but he thinks the best way of doing that is to kill Jack and his brothers, or better yet, entomb them forever, to prevent Jack's father from having a doorway into this world.

On top of it all his wife is taking over his apartment and his closet is now bigger than his house. And most damning as all she is trying to make him where a tie.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Haniel House Press
• Release date: Jun 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781737418863

Book preview

Part One

Just Great!

Chapter One

I stood there looking from Missy to Gabrielle and back again. I’ll just go and put these upstairs. Gabrielle and her luggage shimmered as she tessered out. Missy looked at me, but just when I thought she was going to break down, her face hardened.

Well, that didn’t take you long.

It’s not what you think.

I think it looks like another Miss Barbie Plastic Tits just offered herself to you for your honeymoon!

Well, when you say it like that... I stopped myself and sighed a little. Maybe wait on the wisecracks. It was part of a plan.

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. You’ve been planning this all along!

I held my hands up. No, that’s not what I meant.

How many ways are there to take the word 'plan'? She put her hands on her hips.

We took over the Coven. I didn’t know marriage was part of the deal. It’s Noviskov’s fault. He tricked me.

She rolled her puffy, red eyes. Right. The old monk who saved you from that witch tricked you into marrying her so you could get laid.

Yes. I mean no, not like that.

Missy’s face just went sour, then she turned and slid out.

The bell from the front door rang and Tommy Lee came in. Hey Jack! How’s it going? I didn’t answer at first. What’s wrong? He asked.

Nothing, just running behind. Look, can you check the prescriptions and see if Missy filled them all? If not, let me know and I’ll get to them later. Go ahead and deliver what’s been filled then I need you to mind the store for today.

The whole day? Ya, no problem!

I ignored him then went upstairs. Gabrielle was already unpacked. My dresser was gone and in its place was some kind of ornate antique monstrosity. My closet door was open, and the inside was bigger than my bedroom. It was full of rows of clothes, shoe shelves and full-length mirrors. Even my bed was gone. In its place was some kind of four posted, canopy thing from a bad Pride and Prejudice movie.

I went ahead and moved in some of my things. She said.

Some? It looks like a movie set with Imelda Marco’s shoe collection.

This isn’t exactly what I had in mind either. I’m entitled to some of my things and comforts, too. She was calm and almost cheerful in a non-confrontational way. She was actually being pleasant about it.

I shook my head. It’s fine. I guess. What the hell else was I going to say? This is a political marriage. You know that right?

Call it what you want, Jack, but you wanted it, and it is still a marriage. You have obligations you must fulfill just as I do. She shrugged off her coat and my zipper almost exploded right there. O-M-G! She turned, closed the closet door and stood there with one knee cocked and a hand on her hip. Her black hair draped down one shoulder just caressing the edge of her bare right shoulder. We have twenty-four hours to consummate, or you will lose the mantle of the flame.

Oh god... I suppose, you know, if it’s something we have to do. She crossed over and cupped my face in her hands and began kissing me gently on the lips with just light touches, then with each kiss she took in more and more of my lips. Before long she was pressing her mouth hard on mine and her tongue was practicing judo in my mouth. Seriously, her tongue could have taught D’Artagnon a few things about fencing.

When we finished, she lay in my arms with her head on my shoulder. Her fingers traced up and down my chest and stomach making my skin tingle and goosebumps spread. Thank you, husband.

I’ll give you credit, you’re a hell of an actress. You actually sounded like you meant it.

Her fingers stopped tracing. Jack, please don’t. Don’t ruin this moment. You have no idea how long it has been for me. Contrary to what you may believe, I have not had very many lovers and I have not had anyone in a very long time.

If we only had twenty-four hours, you know you could have tricked me and let the time expire.

But I did not, which should tell you something.

It tells me I don’t know all the details on this process.

Ask me what you will. I will tell you. Her fingers went back to tracing, and she lifted her head and rested her chin on the back of her hand on my chest. Her face was inches from mine. Her breath was not minty, but it was fresh and nice.

Why try to kill me before and now be so kind and loving?

That day when Michel revealed himself, I did not try to kill you. I… am used to… a certain amount of protocol and a certain level of respect that comes with it. You tried my patience, and I lost my temper. You should also know I ordered Diocletian’s Eye placed here because you might have turned, not because I wanted to stop you from challenging me. I didn’t say anything. I was still pissed about the whole Diocletian's Eye thing, but she was right. We were having a moment and I guess I was liking it more than even I wanted to admit. I know you don’t believe me, but now that we are married perhaps you will begin to see what I am telling you is the truth.

Gabrielle, you need to know I am committed to this. I will see the Coven changed forever. The world will no longer be its plaything to control.

I know...Our reasons are not exactly the same, but they are not that dissimilar either. We will simply have to agree to disagree on our motives for now.

And what are your intentions?

In time you will know everything. For now, let’s be done with this. After all, this is our honeymoon. She reached down and stroked my leg.

Almost two hours later we moved to the shower, and we spent another half hour tangled in each other before we toweled off and got dressed. She spent nearly forty-five minutes getting dressed, while I threw on the same jeans and tshirt I was wearing before and went into the kitchen to make some tea.

I heard Bernice call, but not audibly and not in my head, at least not like Az or Noviskov do. She was downstairs in the shop standing at the counter. Weird, I knew you were here.

That’s because I called you. One of the many things you will notice since you have received the mantle of the flame. She took an old leather book with rough, uneven parchment pages and held it out before me. Please place your hand on the book.

Why? Am I being called to testify?

She sighed heavily with an unveiled hint of sarcasm. This verifies that you have consummated your marriage and places it in the record.

I pulled my hand back. Record? We’re not talking video here are we?

Don’t be so vulgar, Jack! No, it only imprints from you that the deed was done, shall we say.

I put my hand on the book and it glowed golden yellow around my hand and the light faded as fast as it came. I felt nothing.

I heard Gabrielle’s footsteps on the stairs. Bernice, good we can get this out of the way before dinner. She walked up and placed her hand on the book. The same glow came and went around her hand.

Bernice put the book away and then took a small felt bag from her purse and opened it. Gabrielle held out her hand and Bernice dumped two rings into her hand. They were very old looking rings with what looked like some kind of Celtic design on them.

What’s this? I asked.

Our rings, darling. Bernice retrieved them from the vault.

Funny, I don’t remember ring shopping.

Gabrielle took my hand and placed one on my finger. As she slid the ring on, it enlarged and widened to fit my finger. Then she handed me the other ring and held out her hand. Well, go ahead. No need to be shy now. She giggled a little as she smiled.

I slid the ring on her finger, and it shrank and thinned as I slid it on. Then she took my left hand and touched her palm to mine making sure the rings touched. They glowed red and became warm, then they faded.

Your ceremony is complete. Bernice said.

The rings are wedding bands used by the Coven. Gabrielle’s fingers wound around mine as our hands dropped and she held on and hugged against my arm. Thank you, Bernice, that will be all.

One last thing. She handed me a leather pouch with a flap and tied with a leather thong. Here are the reports you requested. I made them brief and concise. Should you have any questions or require additional information, you only need to contact me. I took the pouch from her. It wasn't as light as it looked.

Thank you. I told her. I will go over these and get back to you.

Bernice nodded with a slight bow then left.

Bernice seemed in better sorts. Gabrielle hugged against my arm again.

At least she doesn’t call you names.

Gabrielle giggled. You do have a tendency to provoke, darling.

Ok. Not that I’m not enjoying this, the fantastic sex, your smoking hot bod, and the intimacy is actually kind of nice, but I’m not buying it. We both know you have some kind of siren's call about you.

She pulled away and became very somber again. Jack, you said this is a political marriage, but as I have said too, it is still a marriage, and at least I am trying.

Ya but…. She gently touched a finger to my lips with a featherlight touch but firm enough to stop me.

I do have a way about me, but I am not using it. I have not since that day Michel showed up. In order for me to agree to your terms I had to do more than simply say yes to a marriage. I had to actually give myself over to you, and I don’t mean figuratively or physically. I had to let you in behind my inner walls, especially the emotional ones. If I did not, this marriage would never have been possible, and I never would have been able to meet your terms. So you see, my darling, neither you nor my son are right about everything. I now belong to you as much as you belong to me. That's what sharing Hera's Flame means. It is home, hearth, and family. Our marriage can never be simply political. A political marriage alone would be a sham of a marriage. She stared at the floor.

I reached over with my finger and lifted her chin. Then I brought her in for a hug and held her tight for a moment. She did not respond but after a moment her arms wrapped around me slowly and held me tight.

I am not trying to be cruel when I say this, but ‘if’ you are telling me the truth, then it’s going to take time for me to trust you, and time for me to love you.

She lifted her head and kissed me quickly then stared into my eyes. So, I have a ‘smoking hot bod’? She smiled, biting the corner of her lip. Her hands slid down and she gripped my butt. The air shimmered and we were in my… our room, again.

An hour later we were dressed again and in Paris having dinner. I left the reports Bernice gave me in our room to read later. I looked around enjoying the view as we walked down the street. Of all the places we could have eaten at, she picked a small, hole in the wall cafe on some out of the way, cobbled street. It was after two in the morning here. The lights were still on, and we sat at a sidewalk table eating a simple ratatouille and nibbling a baguette with some really good, red French wine I had never tasted or heard of before.

Isn’t this wonderful. She smiled at me, and in the yellow streetlight her face lit up with the light reflecting off her black hair, and her face framed in a golden light. I bet you thought we would be going to some five star place with lots of people, rude waiters and reservations that have to be made days, even weeks in advance. I started to answer but didn’t get a chance. I love this place. This is the real France. The same family has owned this cafe for many, many years. The food is wonderful, and they even make the wine we are drinking.

It’s good.

She giggled again. Isn’t it.

I took another drink of the wine. Gabrielle was looking at the building and the street, taking in every detail like she was remembering it from another time. How long have you been coming here?

She looked so innocent in this light. I had a brother named Colbert. He had three children, the oldest was named Ferrand. It is his descendants that run this cafe. At one point in between then and now, one of them opened a tavern. It has passed from one family member to another over the years to this very cafe. An old woman came out and placed a small plate on the table in front of each of us. There was a pie looking desert on each one. It looked like cherries with a sugared crust. It is cherry clafoutis. It's very good. Try it.

I did. It was tart, tangy, sweet and rich. I like it.

It's very filling. She took a bite as a piece dribbled down her chin.

How many generations ago was that?

Do you mean how old am I? She stopped laughing but she was not upset because her smile was still there.

Yes.

I am over seven hundred years old.

Whoa. She has been around far longer than even Noviskov. So, I'm the boy toy of a cougar.

She laughed and slapped my hand. You're terrible. Then she gripped my fingers.

No offense, Gabrielle, but what are you? You're not a child of the fallen. You seem to be human, but you have most all of the abilities that your son and I have.

Not all. You and Michel can do so many things as if you were born to them without having to study like the rest of us, and you do them on a scale we could not hope to. As for me, I do not know what I am. I was born quite human. I played and I worked with my family on a farm. Most children worked then. Child labor laws did not come about until many hundreds of years later. When I reached the age at which you see me now, I stopped aging. I had an above average ability with magic, but not on your scale until many years later. Many of my abilities showed up slowly over time and they developed only with practice. I was recruited in what would later be called the Coven maybe twenty or fifty years after I stopped aging. My earliest memories are of France. Several times during my life span I have lived in France, but because of my inability to age I could never stay too long in any one place. I last saw my little brother Colbert when he was thirty-five. I have kept tabs on his family ever since. She refilled her glass, swirling it to take in the bouquet. Her eyes closed and a slight smile crept over her face then she took another drink.

"What were you remembering?

How this wine has changed and developed over time to the flavor and bouquet it is now. It has been the same since Michel was a baby.

Ya, I'd like to hear more about Michel as a baby.

You and your brother fight too much. It is now incumbent upon you to take the initiative to get along with him better. You married his mother, my darling. This is not easy for him, especially given his feelings towards me.

She was right. It pissed me off, but she was right. Oh, I will be rubbing his nose in it for a little while, after that we'll see.

Boys will be boys I suppose but remember, my darling. You must be a man now, with a man's responsibilities.

Hey, he deserves it. Sometimes he's a real dick.

Then there really is no need for a DNA test to prove your relation. Is there, darling?

Dammit! Touché. She could insult me and make it sound like she was paying me a compliment. Her voice was beautiful and supple as it slid through my ear with a breathy caress.

She stood up and held her hand out for me to hold. Come, no pouting. We are on our honeymoon. As she put some money on the table, the old woman came out and kissed her check. Gabrielle hugged her and we left. Once around the corner she tessered us to what turned out to be a lodge high in the Swiss Alps. We had a private suite with a fireplace and some kind of animal skin rug.

The way the firelight danced off her skin and its movement flowed with the contours of her body were a whole other kind of magic. The way she felt when we touched was like pain and pleasure, soft and hard, gentleness and control all rolled together and poured into a glass and when you took a drink it was like being slapped in the face and sliding across a mink coat on your bare butt. Wait that really sounded better in my head. Oh well, right now the sun was coming up and we had gone through two bottles of wine and several bottles of water before she fell asleep in my arms.

I don't know why but I just held her for a long time, smelling her hair, and looking at her face as she slept. The last thing I wanted was to feel anything for this woman, but I couldn't help it. She swore she was not using her siren’s song on me, but I had to wonder.

I woke the next morning alone in front of the fire. I got up calling her name but there was no answer. I went to the bathroom and when I finished, the mirror shimmered, and an image of Gabrielle appeared like a video. My darling husband, I have some things I have to do this morning for the Coven. Unfortunately, as you will learn, with duties like ours even a honeymoon must be interrupted. I will meet you here when I have finished. I don't expect to be too long. I took the liberty of ordering your breakfast. Room service should be there by the time you get this message. Au revoir. Cool, it beat a note taped to the mirror. There was a knock at the door. I was stark naked, so I found my pants on a chair by the fireplace and slipped them on.

I answered the door and a waiter wheeled in a cart and left without even waiting for a tip or a check to be signed. I lifted the cover. Eggs benedict. I dipped my finger in the sauce and tasted. The hollandaise was homemade, not canned. Nice. I wolfed it down. I was much hungrier than I thought, and my body was trying to carb load. I finished and dressed before sliding out. I wanted to do some stuff at the shop before Gabrielle got back.

I directly slid in. I didn't see the need to confuse my sliding anymore with multiple stops all over the world. I could hear Missy in the back and a customer with the masseuse and another with the acupuncturist. Well, that answered one question. I wasn't sure Missy was even going to be back. Tommy came in through the front door. He saw me and started to say something, but I touched my finger to my lips. He stopped and I went upstairs to my room. Gabrielle was nowhere around so I went into Ma's library. I stood there looking around, waiting. I actually found myself pausing, expecting to hear Xi yell up the stairs for me to come down and help in the shop. This is the first time I felt like she was truly gone. I could hear the silence and it made my ears ring. There wasn't an answer and there never would be again. I picked through some of the scrolls and started reading. I still had not gotten through all of them.

My mind snapped back to the here and now. Gabrielle would be back soon, and I needed to get back to meet her. I made sure the coast was clear before I came out. I wasn't ready for my wife to find out about Ma's library or Quartermane’s vault yet. Downstairs Missy was at the counter and saw me come down. She dropped what she was doing and went into the back room. I took a deep breath and followed her back there. She looked at me and turned away, packing prescriptions in a box for delivery. Can we talk? Funny, now it was me wanting to be heard.

You don't have to, Bernice explained it all to me. She kept moving. After she packed the box, she started unpacking new product. She was acting like a caged tiger.

Look, I...

I said I know! She snapped. You didn't know until it was over, but that really doesn't matter since you got what you wanted. You are married to another woman, and not just any woman. The Corvina herself!

Missy, please.

She stopped abruptly. I can't deal with this right now, so either you leave, or I quit. She was angrier than I had ever seen her.

I walked to the door. I'm sorry. As I entered the shop, I saw Gabrielle. I thought I was going to meet you in our suite?

She walked over to me and spoke softly. The air shimmered and we were in our room. I understand your friend was hurt but you need to realize your little crush is over. You are a married man now and it is not just any marriage, but one that demands you adhere to a certain social standing. You cannot pursue her.

I'm not pursuing her! I may be the male version of a slut, but I am no two timer. I only wanted to clear the air.

She leaned in and put her hands on my waist. I know. You are more compassionate than you would ever admit, but this is not a game.

I never considered it a game and I don't give a rat’s backside about social standing. Gabrielle, if you don't already know that about me, you need to.

I don’t mean social as in some silly yacht club with pretentious people strutting their wealth and talking about fame and investments, thinking they are so important. Those people are petty and less than noble. This is the most powerful organization in the world. Lives are quite literally won and lost by the simplest gesture on our part. That is an enormous responsibility you must learn to take very seriously. Her hands slightly stroked up and down my back.

Dammit, I felt like I was holding my ankles in a butt kicking contest and she must have picked up on that because she leaned in, kissed me softly, touched her forehead to mine and just held me for a few minutes.

Teach me to tesser.

She smiled, giggled and took my hands, holding them tightly. The next thing I knew we were in our suite at the lodge. Over the next ten minutes she taught me to tesser. You amaze me, Jack! It took me three or four days to tesser and nearly a week to hit my targets accurately. She kissed me again and my pants hit the floor. No, I mean they literally hit the floor on their own. In one movement she pushed me down and by the time I hit the floor, our clothes were off, and she landed on me naked. I’m not complaining mind you. I mean if you’re looking for a little juiced party trick, that’s the one. I’m just letting you know.

We broke for a late lunch. I was panting hard and sweating. Either my dragon charm was not doing anything, or I wore the thing out. I don't know which. Gabrielle lay next to me with one leg curled up on me. Look, don't take this the wrong way. I’m sleeping with the hottest woman alive, but I need a break. That alone must be proof I have a brain tumor.

I'm sorry, my darling. I should have warned you. Two hundred years is a long time to go without. Once the faucet was turned on it was too late. It all just gushed.

Two hundred years. I don't think I would last two hundred hours.

Forgive me, but you have unleashed an appetite long held back. You will have to deal with my prowess for a while longer.

How much longer?

Fifty years, a hundred tops. She lifted her head off my shoulder and looked at me. My mind was yelling ‘hallelujah’, my body was yelling, ‘Jack, you prick what have you gotten me into’, and I think my eyes gave me away. You wish! She hit me playfully. I don't know how long. It will end when it ends.

I don't get why my dragon charm is not protecting or recharging me.

Because you are with me, and you are not in danger. If you were in a gym lifting weights your charm would only kick in say if you dropped a weight on yourself. If you were in combat training your charm would protect you because even though it is training, there is still danger. You are only making love to your wife. You are in no danger. Well, not much anyway. She winked coyly at me, tilting her head slightly.

I was hungry again. It had to be past lunch. I looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was evening and nearly dinner time. Oh man, how long has it been? I need food.

A good idea. What do you feel like having tonight?

You like burgers? I know the best in the world. Only fair. She shared her family place with me, I should share mine. Ok, technically I didn't have a family place, but Graziano's was the closest that there was. I've been going there since I was a little kid. When Ma adopted me, she started taking me to Graziano’s as a treat so I could have some Italian once in a while. We got dressed and I took her there for beer and burgers. I couldn't tell if she liked it or was just being nice. She only ate half the burger but to be fair she didn't get that body on a diet of fast food.

Chapter Two

She took me shopping for knick knacks in London and Barcelona. When we got home, my apartment above the store was decorated with rich people's kitch. Well, some of it wasn't half bad. Giving in to the desires of a woman once in a while was like cigarettes in a prison. As good as cash, and you could buy stuff with them, like peace and quiet.

We were home for the first time in several days and I was numb at the waist and my legs hurt like hell. I caught myself actually thinking about going to the library. That's when I resolved it was time to get myself a CT scan.