Now why hadn’t I given them the papers I took from his cabin? I pulled them out, spread them on the bed. Nope, still looked Chinese to me.
A quiet knock sounded at the door. I drew my six-shooter and stood to the side of the door.
“I didn’t order room service,” I called.
“Patience, you damned fool, open up.”
Only one person in the world could call me that and avoid dying. I unlocked the door and Ash slipped in.
“Girl,” he snapped, “you have gone and screwed up good.”
]]>“The old days” conjured up images of revelry. Parties. Wine flowing. Music and dancing and sex, oh sure, there was sex, but consenting adults, all that. Besides, in the old days, those lines were… different. Sure things got out of hand, but not in a scary way. More in an orgy way. Which was fine with everyone, in the old days.
So I thought, maybe a little trouble with Blue Laws, but nothing to worry about.
I’d forgotten about the Maenads.
]]>"Well, I guess that'll be all." The sweaty priest picked up his pack and made for the door quickly. "His Eminence expresses his thanks."
Grim kicked his feet up on the table, popped the cork on his wine and toasted the retreating man.
"Anytime, my good fellow. We cater to all!"
"Uh, Grim, this ain't..."
A knife flew through the smoky air, pinning the priest's trembling sleeve to the door.
]]>As I watched the apartment for Mr. I’m-Having-An-Affair, something else caught my eye. There – in the alley. I dropped the sandwich, grabbed the camera, and shot randomly. The alley was so shadowed, I wasn’t sure the photos would confirm anything.
Hours later, at home with the laptop, I stared at the almost-clear image of her. My heart sank.
]]>Blue frowned. "Look, there's no way you have all that. Let's go over it again..."
Vilick raised his voice. "I said I've got it, dammit."
Other heads came up around the smoky room. Conversations fell silent. The din of celebration slowed somewhat, especially at nearby tables, where hard men with harder looks paused in their drinking and gaming to stare.
"Keep your fucking voice down!" Blue hissed. Grim, positioned two tables over, let his hand slowly slip into his coat.
"I've. Got. The. Plan."
"After one telling? A year long job involving about twenty different people?"
Vil snorted. "Chief, I remember everything."
]]>She gasped and her heart rate increased. She couldn’t seem to lie still, her muscles twitched and spasmed of their own accord. She grasped at nothing, felt as if she were floating, then crashed down hard.
She opened her eyes and found him smiling at her.
“Was that fun?” he asked.
She smiled slowly.
“Yes, dear,” she replied.
]]>Justice
]]>"Of course it ain't right, but it needs doin'. I hate it as much as you do, but there's no one else who could, or would." Blue slid out of his saddle and pulled a rope off his bag. He eyed enough length of it while Grim grunted and slid off his horse. He reached up and pulled the sack off the head of a third rider. He spit on Grim immediately.
"Shit on the both of ya!"
"Always a charmer, aren't you, Tyle?"
Blue took the coil of rope and swung it around a strong looking oak branch, giving it a good tug.
"...the hell?" Tyle franticly jerked as the noose went around his neck.
"No killing kids, that's our law. You gotta swing for it."
]]>With a sigh, I got the bow and arrow out of the basement. Yeah, I know. You’d think I keep it in some shrine or something. But I haven’t needed in eons, and anyway, humans don’t need any more sacred items.
For the past 30 years, my hunting’s been a shadow of itself. It was about to take on a brand new meaning.
]]>I looked at Silence, my baby sister. She stood as straight as an elven year old could stand, but I could see the fear in her eyes. I looked at Justice. My brother, becoming a man sooner than any 16 year old should. His eyes met mine and we knew we had no choice.
I unsheathed my knife and stepped into the ring. Justice stepped into the other side. We bowed to each other and began to circle.
]]>