Stacking the Deck: Aces

By Jonathan E. Feinstein

It has been several years since Jael the Demoness led a team of gods, goddesses and other supernatural beings to thwart the machinations of Laverna, the ancient Roman goddess of Thieves and her one-time ally, Belphagor, the Demon of Sloth and all has been relatively quiet since then. Belphagor remains imprisoned in Hell, but Laverna escaped even when, Diana, goddess of the hunt tried to track her down over the next few months. So, when Anansi, Glooscap, Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Lugh learn she is back in action they rush out to follow her trail only to disappear themselves.
Now it is up to Jael to reassemble what is left of her team to go rescue their friends and, while they are at it, stop whatever mischief Laverna is up to this time. That, by itself, would be difficult enough, but this time Laverna as a new ally nearly unparalleled in dark power. Will they find out who they are up against before they, too are taken captive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312438507

Book preview

Prologue

When [the magician] clicks his fingers and cards change to the four aces, we know we have experienced sleight of hand. Real magic would not be quite that quick and easy. Real magic would take investment. Real magic would draw you in, and make you nervous.

— Derren Brown

Laverna paused for just a moment as she walked through the dense, supernatural forest. It had taken her years to get here, choosing her best course of action and, more importantly, best possible ally, but she was all too aware that she was not omniscient. For all her planning, she had no idea how this would go.

Belphagor had been easy to convince to join her. He was greedy and in spite of his title as the Prince of Sloth, he had worked as hard as she had in their joint scheme. She knew their alliance was a temporary one, but there had been so much more they might have done before it ended. They had been too easy to find, she had decided, and they both had too many enemies who knew how to find them. This time would be different,

A few more steps brought her into a small clearing, facing the mouth of a dark cave. She hoped this one’s affinity for the dark would give them a point of similarity, a way to work together.

There was something different about this cave, however. A cold wind blew gently out of it and a thin skin of ice had formed on the lips of the cave’s mouth in spite of the warmth of the late spring day outside. It was more than just a normal cold too. Something about it chilled her to the core of her being. She had second thoughts.

It's not too late to just turn around and walk away, she told herself silently, but she knew this was her best plan and started pacing back and forth. So much work to get to this point, but also so much risk; there were safer alternatives.

I hear you out there, Queen of Thieves, a cold voice rumbled from out of the cave. If you have something to say to Me, either come in now or go away and leave Me in peace!

Yeah, yeah, she muttered and started walking toward the cave. Something about it bothered her. It was not the supernatural darkness that made it look like a black, gaping hole in the hillside. Not that it repelled light; her own cave did that and she normally preferred to work in the dark. She steeled herself and then stepped into the cave at last.

The cold was much more intense than she had anticipated. It was not unbearable, just the cold of a bleak winter day, but compared to the warm spring weather outside, it was a shock. I should have brought a warm cloak, she thought. It never gets this cold in Rome.

Unlike her own cave, however, this one was not completely black and lacking in light. It took a moment, but then her eyes began to adjust. From the outside this was a cave, but now that she was inside, it was as though she had entered the courtyard of a palace.

Looking up, she expected to see stars, but, instead, only saw the black ceiling of the cave high overhead. It simulated an unnaturally black sky, she supposed.  There should have been a light of some sort up there or the Moon. That was it. The light inside the cave was like moonlight. It was enough to see by, but if there was any color inside the cave, there was not enough light by which to detect it.

She expected there to be servants or guards at the doorway into the dark palace, but, instead, the doors swung open to admit her on their own as she approached as though she were entering a mortal supermarket.

Inside, she found herself in a vast throne room, although she saw at least a dozen doors along the walls of the room. It might have held over a thousand attendees, but, instead, there were only two entities present at the moment; Laverna and a great dark figure seated at the far end of the hall.

Laverna moved forward at a measured pace, neither too hasty not hesitant. Now that she had entered the palace, all doubts had fled and she was in her element once again. The hall was long enough to give her time to consider the great black throne ahead of her. Was it onyx? Obsidian? Surely not some form of coal. She eventually decided it had been made of basalt. Typical, she kept the thought to herself, but He could have at least bought a cushion for it.

I know why you are here, his deep voice rumbled at her. The hall vibrated as he spoke.

That will save time, she responded, but could you turn off your reverb circuit?

My what? he asked, honestly puzzled.

Oh right, she reminded herself, He’s been isolated from the World for a very long time. Aloud she assured him, Never mind. Then she began her well-rehearsed speech, but he almost immediately stopped her.

I said, I know why you are here! he repeated. Tell me why I should join you no matter how nicely you beg.

I am not begging you to join me, dearie, Laverna replied, knowing the familiarity would annoy him, but it had worked with Belphagor, maybe it would here too. It certainly helped her to feel more at ease. I am allowing you to be my ally.

Is there a difference? he demanded, clearly not impressed. And what do I possibly have to gain from an alliance with the Queen of Thieves?

You are the Winter King, are you not Laverna countered.

That is one of the least of my attributes, he replied. I am the Black God. I bring on the night and bad fortune. I am the god of execration even as my brother is the god of summer, daytime and consecration.

Yes, Laverna nodded. This was finally going her way. Your brother, the White God. I understand that summer lasts longer these days, doesn’t it? Winter is both warmer and shorter. Aren’t you two supposed to be equals? How can that be if He rules the world more days out of the year than you do?

I am at my strongest in the heart of winter, he agreed, but even I can hardly change the effects of Mortal-caused climate change.

Ah! Laverna cooed, but I can.

You? he laughed harshly. You rule over thieves. Do you propose to steal away the summer?

I have a plan, she pressed, that, if you join me, will result in a colder global climate, leaving you the superior of your brother. Listen…

Part 1

A miracle is an act or event out of the order of nature and unaccountable, as beating a normal hand of four kings and an ace with four aces and a king.

— Ambrose Bierce

One

Oh! a high voice exclaimed. He sounded like the long, lost missing forth member of Alvin and the Chipmunks – the one who could not handle the celebrity. This is where you are. I should have looked here first instead of the very top of the Tree.

Jael looked up from her notes. She was sitting on a bump on one of the branches of the great World tree, Yggdrasil. That bump had been previously used as one of several scrying bowls by the Mesopotamian god of fresh water and invention, Enki, but had filled in over the years as the Tree had continued to grow. Now it had just enough of an indention on top to be a comfortable seat and a similar bump beside it was serving as a makeshift desk for the dark-haired, violet-eyed demoness.

Most who came to this place, still referred to it as Enki’s Observatory because it was one of the rare locations on Yggdrasil from which nearly the entire Universe could be seen, under the right conditions. That, of course, was why Jael was there at the moment. Some years earlier she had been tasked with the job of studying the great World Tree and the effects of having so many deities, spirits and other supernatural beings using it as an easy means of getting from one place to another.

Until the current cycle, such visits to Yggdrasil by anyone not a member of the Norse pantheon had been rare, but now so many used it that there was some concern that there might be adverse effects to not only the Tree but the Universe it represented.

Then why didn’t you, Ratty? Jael asked her visitor. She turned to look him in the face. Ratatosk was an oversized red European squirrel, roughly the size of a German shepherd dog. It was his job, at least in the normal mythological scheme, to carry strife up and down the trunk of Yggdrasil in the form of messages between Odin, King of Asgard and Nidhogg, the dragon that gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil. Ratatosk had frequently said they were a strange pair to be pen pals, but it was his task to keep them in communication.

Because had I looked here first, you would have been checking in on your instruments up there, Ratatosk shot back. I think when it comes to the list of Infinite Gods we really ought to consider Murphy as one of them.

I think every pantheon has at least one figure who makes everything go wrong, Ratty, Jael told him. Do we really need one more?

You think we have a choice?

Not really, Jael shook her head, You know as well as I do that the nature of the Divine Plain is determined by the beliefs of those of the Mortal Realm.

True enough, Ratatosk admitted, surprising Jael. She had expected him to argue the point as he might usually do, just for the sake of it. You do seem to have a large collection of gizmos and gadgets both here and at the top.

I have them a-plenty, Jael admitted with a grin. It’s how I can take continuous readings both here and at the top and compare them against each other. I have a similar collection in Tanise’s Tree.

Don’t I know it! Ratatosk laughed. I trip over them every time I visit Astreya. Why there, though?

As an experimental control, Jael explained. The new Tree is not traveled on as extensively as this one is nor have thousands of deities and whatnot tried to leave their initials carved in the bark. It’s virtually pristine.

Tanise’s Tree is also much, much younger and still developing at an accelerated rate, Ratatosk pointed out, accidentally revealing his own knowledge above and beyond acting as a divine postman.

Jael let that pass and answered seriously, I realize that. It is also possible that by the time I am done I’ll have learned more about how her Tree is growing than I will about Yggdrasil, but I have to start somewhere. The Grand Council of the League of Deities has not given me a deadline, yet, but they are going to want results sooner or later. I would put observatories on the World Trees of other Universes, but Dee assures me that the only one I might reach is too different to apply to this project.

Huh! Ratatosk snorted, and you didn’t run right off to see for yourself? You’ve mellowed in your old age, chica!

Huh! Jael silently repeated Ratatosk’s laugh, Maybe I should have looked for myself at that.

Internally another voice told her, We both know Dee knows more about such things than we do, dear. That was Rona, the human soul who shared Jael’s demonic body. In all of Creation, Jael was hardly the only demon to possess a human soul, but not in this way. Jael and Rona’s relationship was symbiotic and while they had experienced a rocky start, neither would have it any other way.

No, Ratty’s right, Jael maintained, we should have checked for ourselves. Dee’s exceedingly knowledgeable and wise, but She is not omniscient. Doing our own research probably would verify what she told us or might dispute it. Either way, it is something we should have done.

We still can, Rona pointed out. Jael agreed and decided she would visit that realm at her next opportunity.

Out loud, Jael said to Ratatosk, Would you argue with Mother Nature?

I argue with Odin, Ratatosk pointed out. Dee is nicer.

I’m starting to think everyone is nicer, Jael sighed.

Problems? Ratatosk pressed.

Jael wondered how much she could open up to the squirrel. In general, while they bantered most of the time, she privately admitted she generally got along with him. Odin is the ultimate micro-manager, she finally said. He is constantly demanding that I appear before Him and give Him my latest report.

He was told by the League Council to keep his hands off your little project here, Ratatosk told her, and to let you do your work in peace.

The problem is Odin is a member of that Council, Jael reminded him, and they do have the right to request occasional reports from me, at least as far as this project is concerned.

You’re too polite to tell Him what he ought to hear from you, Ratatosk accused. Any other demon would have torn strips from His hide, or tried to. I can’t imagine your protegee putting up with Him that way for long.

Evie’s young yet, Jael replied, and she has never had to work her way up through a bureaucracy, especially one made up of ‘Good Ole Boys.’

Where is Evrona, anyway, Ratatosk asked. Isn’t she usually out here with you during school vacations?"

Most of the time, yes, Jael admitted, but she’s back in the New World with Tanise. Tanise is showing her some of the places and creatures she has discovered in the last year and Sparrow is trying to decide what to do next now that she has her MFA degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. I’m quite proud of her. RISD is a great school for that. Anyway, I plan to meet up with her later, although I know some of her friends from Sherburne College are coming in for a visit this week.

Oh yeah? Ratatosk commented, And how is the old crowd. I’ve only seen a few of them since they graduated."

Hmm? Jael paused to organize her thoughts. "Well, Evie’s looking into doctoral programs, but not in the Fine Arts. She thinks she has learned enough along those lines for now and realizes that the Social Sciences may be of more use to her in the years and centuries ahead. Of course, that means she’ll likely have to earn another master’s degree first, but fortunately the money for tuition is not an issue for any of us.

Amy is still trying to come up with a subject for her thesis, Jael went on, Her first idea got shot down – too much primary research for a master’s candidate. Their friend Kara, you remember her? Ratatosk nodded, chose to study Bronze Age lithics from Israel and that subject was approved, but until a few decades ago the stone tools found in association with Bronze Age settlements were largely overlooked and frequently discarded as uninteresting.

Seriously? Ratatosk asked. Ignoring what you find is a great way to come to erroneous conclusions.

No arguments from me, Jael told him, "but no one ever said archaeologists are perfect either. I don’t think they were ignoring the finds completely. We know that lithic tools were found among Bronze Age assemblages and there were occasional mentions of them in site reports, but such lithics were crude compared both to the bronze