Hey #AKChickenChick and #DKMasquerade Followers and Writers! It has been wild and crazy out in the land of Chicken. I am still compiling tweets from the last two weeks, but here is our story from the last 2 weekends for those who want to catch up on the craziness!
Bryce and Liberty
Bryce watched Shannon flirt. He should be enjoying the solstice celebration. Instead he was stuck in fucking Chicken, AK! If only he didn’t need her money so much! He saw a woman on wobbly legs enter the saloon. Damn, she looked familiar! He needed a closer look.
The man slid into the booth across from her. He had a playful smile, but the deadly intent in his eyes was no joke. Fine. She wasn’t in the mood for games. “What are you doing here, Bryce?” she asked, her tone sharp &biting.
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” he responded, having already noted that her usual ménage of bodyguards was absent. “It’s not like you to travel so light. Where is your entourage?” He needed to know who else might recognize him and decide what to do. She seemed nervous
Was this some sort of cosmic joke? She’d run all over the world, stopping at the farthest reaches of the US only to run into her husband’s right-hand-man, his snake? Liberty didn’t know if she should laugh or cry.
She knew this man. He’d sold his soul years ago, to her husband, his boss. There’s still venom in his smile, but also a new warmth in his eyes. There’s no doubt he’s a traitor. But to her, or his boss? Would he protect or betray?
He couldn’t believe this! Everything had been going so well until this trip. The boss’ wife? She was the one person he couldn’t simply silence. He had to find a way to convince her to keep her mouth shut, though. If the boss found him, the jig was up
“Are you here to drag me back?” She blurted, at the same time Bryce asked, “How’d he find me?”
Bryce stared at her in confusion. “Drag you back?” he asked. “What are you talking about? Who’s with you? Phil? Gallo? I’ll kill them if I have to. Why are you here? He never lets you out of his sight.” Bryce felt sudden, cold terror. His eyes darted around the bar. Was HE here?
She studied the man she’d hated for so many years, hesitating to ask but needing to know. “My husband gave you the three things you always craved; fortune, status, power. What made you leave.” She eyed the exit. “Have you left?”
Loyal Bryce had taken off, left the “business.” He’d have stolen the First Lady’s silver & the Queen’s diamonds if her husband asked. Yet, here he was, bathed in sweat &secrets. It was time to reveal one of hers. “I ran.”
Bryce let her words sink in. It had been nearly impossible for him to get away. He couldn’t conceive how she had done it. He could see the fear in her eyes, yes, but it was shadowed by her defiance. “To Chicken, Miz L?” he asked, then laughed.
Liberty laughed, taking in her husband’s (maybe former) goon. “Well, Chicken wasn’t my first stop. Your boss & I have been playing a game of cat &mouse all over the globe.” She studied Bryce. “Is it time for me to run again?”
Bryce looked back at the woman behind the bar as he exited, their conversation weighing heavy on him. Of all the things he expected here running into the boss’s wife was not one. She looked happy, he thought. He couldn’t recall that he’d ever seen her laugh before
Bryce left the bar, weighing his options. It was as good as gold, he thought, finding the boss’s errant wife. Would the bastard grant him freedom if he returned her to him? Could he negotiate a generous bounty?
*****
Shannon and Volk
Shannon was more than a little intrigued by the delectable young stranger that sat next to her, his thigh so close to hers that she could feel heat emanating from it. She tried to hide the band of gold on her finger, but realized he’d seen it, and didn’t care.
Volk brought her hand to his lips, lingering on the #gold band around her third finger as he gazed into her pretty eyes. “My brother and I have business to attend to tonight. But perhaps we will see you here again tomorrow evening?”
Shannon flushed, but yes, she’d be here tomorrow. What was it about this fascinating man? She wondered briefly, guiltily, what Bryce was up to. It didn’t matter. She was mesmerized. The band that tied her to another man faded as she gazed into his beautiful, unfathomable eyes.
He gave a wolfish grin as her eyes fluttered to his bear of a brother as he stalked into the woods. “I can bring my brother, if it would please my lady. If you are wondering, yes, you can have both. If that is your wish. I am but your humble dog.”
Concealed by the woods, Volk reverted to his wolf-spirt form and tore through the brush after his brother. Splashing through the swift flowing creek, he nipped at the thick golden fur. A large paw swiped knocking him on his side into the water. “Focus!”
“I am focused, on all the right things,” he replied, righting himself and shaking the excess water off. “Besides, don’t you want to know which she’ll prefer.” “I have no doubt which she’ll prefer. Are you afraid you won’t measure up, Little brother?” This time the wolf dodged As his brother gave another playful swipe. “It’s not the size, it’s the skill, and I have both, big bro.” He sniffed the air, catching a scent. The hair stood up on his ruff. “To the south, it’s angry. It’s found some other humans. We need to hurry.”
*****
Aly & Sam
Aly had no idea how she ended up in a place called Chicken, Alaska. But she was here. Got a job, place to live. No one looked twice at her fake ID. #Solstice gig was tonite. She’s expected to go. She hoped her wound’s dressing would hold her bleeding.
Ashley laughed with Liberty as she served drinks, but her heart was heavy as her eyes scanned the bar. Had it all been a dream? Too good to be true? Where had Aleksandr gone?
As if reading her thoughts, Liberty gave her a hug. “It will be okay.”
Ashley was ringing up a sale when she noticed drops of crimson on the floor. She followed them over to where Aly stood, pale and wan as she served a beer to a customer. “Uh, Aly. I think you need to take a break,” she caught Liberty’s eye, pointing to the floor.
Aly didn’t know who to trust; all were strangers.But her stab wound was infected & wouldn’t stop bleeding.Ashley seemed nice. Sam had warm flirty eyes.Pretty soon she’d have to tell someone why she was running.Then her world went black as someone’s arms caught her.
Sam caught her as she fell. Alarmed not only by her pallor but the feverish heat of her body. “She’s bleeding,” Ashley whispered as Sam carried her out. “I know. I’ll take her to your cabin. Meet me with the kit and an IV.”
Ashley and Sam carried the woman with haunted eyes out of the bar, they passed Bryce in the corner booth still nursing his beer. Liberty was beginning to wonder what-in-the-hell was in the drinks in Chicken Alaska. This city crawling with dangerous secrets.
Aly woke in a strange room. Sam was holding her hand & smiling at her. Her fingers went to her bandaged side. It felt better, the pain was gone.
She blurted out, “My husband tried to kill me.”
Sam squeezed her hand, “You’re safe here.”
“He’s not looking for me,” she whispered.
Sam nodded and touched her cheek, the haunted terror in her eyes punching him in the gut. He took a deep breath then gave her a broad smile and a wink, “You should be more careful washing the knives in the kitchen. Rest for now, Ashley and Liberty will bring you some soup later.”
*****
Aleksandr, Ashley and Natasha
Aleksandr walked the woods, eyes checking the skies periodically; he missed her & she’d barely left. He could feel the thrumming power of the #Solstice all around him, especially this far north, and he knew that the Children of Ariel would need it soon.
“Azreal? Is that really you?” A low voice growled from the shade of the spruce bog. The man-like beast reared to his full height of nearly 11ft. He dropped the three carcasses of the Cet’aeni in a hole and grinned at the angel. “It’s been a long time, friend.”
The Nuhu’anh, or known to the white man as “Bigfoot” picked up another Cet’aeni by its tail and slung it into the hole. “Planning to stick around for a while? I hear you’ve got a liking for our daughter.”
“I am indeed, but I fear you may need more help than just myself. I’m heading back to find her now and I’ll see about calling some of my brothers.” Aleksandr bowed to the child of Ariel and made his way back to the bar, He had a bad feeling and wasn’t sure why.
Aleksandr was walking to the bar & saw him. His brother. What in the deep Hell was he doing here…pun intended. “Lucifer the Fallen, what are you doing here?” “I was pushed, thank you, & I love this area, the sunrise is amazing. Why are you asking? Feeling guilty?”
“Besides brother, I don’t go by that name, just as you don’t go by Azrael. Call me Natasha.” the devil smiled & saw the angel of death wince. Something had him spooked & it was just his purview to figure out what that could be. He couldn’t answer prayers, but he could make deals.
Natasha walked into the bar with Aleksandr & smiled when a woman rushed up to him. Interesting. Then he smelled the blood & knew something else was going on. “Well, now it’s a party.” He said to the quiet room, eyeing the men in dark corners with secrets to hide.
Ashley was in his arms before she even knew how she got there. She didn’t care if she had just made a fool of herself in front of the whole bar. No place felt as safe as Aleksandr’s embrace. She didn’t notice the man shadowing him.
They called him #traitor, but Natasha just wanted to be his father’s favorite again; the #golden son. These humans & their flaws, but he had to admit he liked them now that he had spent centuries among them. He sat waiting for someone to call to him.
Both Aleksandr & Natasha turned at the same time, their hearing picking up distant gunfire that humans wouldn’t hear. Not just your hunter out for sport, this was machines of war. Natasha smiled & stood. “Ooh I do so love a good battle,” he strode for the door.
As much as he tried to conceal it, she could see the signs of worry in Aleksandr’s eyes. Ashley kissed his lips, “Go, with Natasha, if you need to. As you can see we’re busy.”
“Promise me, you will not wander into the woods,” he looked around the crowded bar. Well after midnight, the solstice party was still in full swing. Ashely laughed, “I’m so tired, I have no intention of wandering anywhere but to bed tonight. And I have no desire to encounter those things again. Don’t worry. We’ll be safe here with Sam and Luke.”
Aleksandr was #captivated by her eyes, her smell, yet he knew he had to tear himself away. Those others that were here were missing & the gunfire was a sure #sign of the evil coming. He kissed her then fled. outside, he leapt, unfurling his wings & soaring into the sky. Natasha was right there, his wings out & flying alongside, white wings next to black. “You know Michael would be so pissed right now,” Lucifer said. “You have no idea,” Aleksandr replied truthfully
*****
Gentleman, Butler and Tua
The Spirit’s violet eyes glowed as she reached into the creek and pulled forth a battered wooden case. She held it out to Butler and Gentleman. “The Gguux of the rivers brought me these. The poisons inside anger them and sicken my waters.”
Kneeling down, Gentleman cracked the lid with his Ka-bar. He couldn’t identify the contents within, at least, not without further assistance in a lab. Rocking back in his heals, the more political spy and soldier pondered the situation.
“Odd,” He exclaimed. “What is this, and is it being dumped, or processed nearby.” “Wondering if we’re about to break up a legal operation?” Butler guessed. “There’s no doubt that it has to be broken up. I just want to know if we should do so mercilessly.”
“Recon?” Butler sighed, calming his itchy trigger finger. “I’ll go get my rifle back.” “I’ll contact lady.” Gentleman concluded. “And see what she can find regarding localized operations- “Unless.” And now Gentleman regarded the others. “Do you know who, or what, is in charge?”
“Nah, never seen anything like that before,” Toad said. We’ll have to take the boats up the river see who’s using boxes like that.”
“My one worry may just be suspicion, but are there any malevolent spirits nearby who desire your destructions?” Gentleman asked.
“Not destruction,” the River spirit replied looking out at the flowing water. “Subjugation. Whatever is spreading this evil wishes to bring we spirits of this land under its control. To do its bidding.”
The two soldier spies looked at each other befire Butler shrugged and Gentleman nodded. It was time to get answers, and to make results. “Show us, please.”
Tua stepped back into the clearing garbed not in her floral sundress but like one of them. “Toad will take us up the river on the boat. I will be your guardian since we will be outside the protective boundaries. We will start tonight on Walker Fork.”
“Still a letsist?”
“Still agnostic while claiming to be Baptist?” Gentleman chuckled.
“Look,” Butler smiled, playing the game. “You can’t deny there are mythical hot chicks with bodies worth their weight in #gold, but to me I see fallen angels and Nephilim.”
“So, does this cement your faith in the Almighty, or shatter your beliefs, Butler?” “Ah Hell, you know this only cements my beliefs further.” Butler giggled as the followed their guide. “I’m just waiting to meet my guardian angels and tap their golden halos in thanks.”
“Angels?” “Plural.” Butler paused to flash a victory sign. “With how many close calls I’ve had, there has to be a team guarding my golden ass. And you can bet your bottom dollar their earning overtime.”
Tua was puzzled as she listened to the handsome mortals banter. She shrugged to herself and scanned the forest. A dark energy made her freeze. “Butler,” she whispered, reaching back and tapping his gun. “Your metal weapon. Have it ready. something evil and mortal approaches.”
Neither man had to be told twice. Slamming home the extended mag, Butler slapped his HK, prepping it to fire. Dropping low into a crouch, he pulled his shooting glasses over his eyes, even as Gentleman rolled into the underbrush. No lights were used, as they waited, ready…
“The Cet’aeni,” Tua hissed. “Aim for their heads. That is the quickest way-” her words cut off in a scream as a tail whipped around her ankles and yanked her feet from beneath her. Gentleman grabbed her arm before the creature could drag her into the woods. Butler opened fireEar splitting screeches filled the air and hateful yellow eyes glared from the shade of the boreal forest. Tua stayed low, covering her ears as the creature released its hold.
Leveling his shotgun, Gentleman aimed, squeezed, fired without remorse or banter. Gone was the idle chatter. The only words spoken were warnings, cautions, orders. Sparse sentences between gunfire was seldom spoken though. Hand motions, actions, training took over. Butler fired, semi-auto, controlled bursts. Shell casings tumbled into the darkness, lost underfoot. The scents of accelerant, oil, blood, filked the air, but both men ignored it, concentrating on keeping themselves, and their guide, alive. “Reloading” Gentleman snapped, feeding shells, while Butler covered for him.
“Behind you!” Butler cautioned, slipping his starlight scope over his goggles.
With barely a glance, Gentleman buried his Ka-bar into an enemy’s chest, before he shoved the sweeper directly against its eyes and fired, ignorant of the fluids and viscera that suddenly bathed his battle suit.
Was that it? Was there any other sounds than the ringing in their ears?
Tua sat up, jade green eyes glowing as she listed with all her senses. Silence prevaled once more. The next thing the heard were Toad’s heavy breathing and footsteps as he came running up from the river, rifle at the ready. “We should keep moving,” Tua said, rising to her feet
She quaked. The Cet’aeni must sense her in her human host. They knew her weakness. She couldn’t let them catch her, but she could not abandon these two mortals in their quest. Her sister’s existence, really all of them, depended on it.
“Good news.” Butler said as he switched mags, dropping his half-used one into his grab-bag. “These sept-anee can die.” Cleaning his Ka-bar, Gentleman oiled his beloved blade. “The first wave did. But we know other creatures are going bump in this night.” They fell in behind.
“Ket-ANN-ee,” Tua sounded out for the two men. “The people with Tails. They live in caves and are the enemy of the Ahtna. Someone has unleashed them. They are a key piece of our puzzle.” They climbed into the waiting air boat. Tua scanned the forest one more time.
“Oh… The Cat-Annies. Makes sense that the ones with tails are named after kitties.” Butler muttered, patting his pistol. “NO NINE LIVES FOR YOU!” He snapped in imitation of an infamous Seinfeld character. “Let’s see what other unholy abominations man can make go boom!”
“Nine lives?” Tua asked cocking her head to the side and smiling at Butler’s comment. “Why do they get nine? Are these special cats?” She took a seat in the boat while the two men loaded their gear and Toad prepared the engine.
Volk sent a howl echoing through the boreal forest, sending a message to his wolf brethren that aid was needed in the hunt. Meanwhile his brother raced through the spruce bog, his bear claws kicking up mud as he tore after the errant moose spirit.
“That, can’t be good news.” Gentleman whispered, looking about before he added, “I think our firefight was the catalyst for something big.” “As long as we’re airborne before Momma moose finds us, I’ll be cool.” Butler said as he hurried to reload his used magazine.
“Do not worry,” Tua said, motioning to the sound of her brother’s howl. “My brothers are on the hunt for the spirit. We need to focus on finding the source of the poison that is spreading.” The airboat pulled away from the bank, making its way up the Walker Fork.
“Time to s, s, and S.” Butler exclaimed, smiling.
“I am not explaining that.” Gentleman sighed as the boat glided over the water.
Tua smiled again. She had no idea what they meant, but these mortals were so entertaining. “Where’s our first stop, Toad?”
“I think our best bet is the old Wilks claim. He died sudden last year. Some new folks took over. Been a lot of activity. We’ll park down river, hike in”
A pause, as Gentleman waited for Butler’s usual joke about ‘humping’ it, but Butler remained uncharacteristically silent as he sat and finished checking his weapon, reloading the mag, and wondering aloud if he should fashion some wooden stakes just in case.
“Hey, bro? Do you have any silver on you?”
“No… and sadly your garlic breath has diminished well below lethal levels.” Gentleman sighed. “Which is good news, for all of us.”
Tua’s eyes glowed as she sang a high pitched haunting melody. Swarms of dragonflies and butterflies crowded the boat as they continued up the river. Butler and Gentleman gaped as she whispered to them and they departed. “My spies,” she assured them. “They’ll return with news.”
“Thank you.” Gentleman replied, allowing himself to be awed by the beauty- Until Butler snorted.
“So, this is the origin of being ‘Bugged’? Eh? Eh?”
The disdain was obvious across Gentleman’s face.
Her lips curled up and a wicked gleam shone in her eyes as she began to sing again. Butler paled at the sound of the approaching swarm of bees.
“I get it! Let’s wait until we get back to the bar to get buzzed!” She changed pitch and the hoards diverted.
Seeing Gentleman’s awed look, she smiled again. “I am the Spirit of the still waters. The insects and birds come to my aid when I call, since I am their life source. Much as my sister is mine,” she closed her eyes, swallowing hard. “If she falls to darkness, we all do.”
“Then let’s make sure you do not.” The dark mortal vowed. “Make haste.” Butler encouraged, completing his reload. “HIYO Silver, Away!”
As Toad pulled the boat to the shore, Tua cautioned them. “Whatever happens, do not allow evil men to take me alive in this form. You’ve seen what I can do. Terrible things will happen if I am trapped in my human host and turned. You must kill my shell and return it to water.”
“I pray to God that will not happen,” Gentleman began, “but if it does, we will make it swift and merciful.”
“But if we can’t-” Butler pulled a cylinder from his webbing. “This M67 will do the trick. Pull the pin, let the spoon fly, and hold it near and dear.”
Tua nodded as she took it. She caressed it with her fingers before attaching it to her belt. Her green eyes were wide as she said, “It’s amazing that something so beautiful could be so deadly.” She focused on the hum of the forest. “There’s both mortals and immortals near.”
Natasha landed & folded his wings as she said that. “How kind of you to say that about me.”
Aleksandr landed & folded his wings in too. “She wasn’t talking about you,” he quipped bowing to the child of Ariel. He turned to the men and smiled. “We’re here to help.”
“Friend, or foe?”
“Let’s keep off the triggers until we know.” Butler sighed. “Last think I want to do is shoot a friendly. With my luck it’ll be a magic mirror. I assume that’s double the bad luck?”
“Squared.” Gentleman joked.
Tua sang in a high pitch, causing a flurry of golden butterflies to converge on the group. She rushed at Natasha flinging her slender arms around him. “Uncle! It’s been so long.”
“Well… that answers the friend or foe.” Butler said. “And I guess asking if they can see my angels is bad etiquette?” Gentleman nodded.
*****
The Hunt
The female alpha signaled back and they closed in. Volk’s pulsed raced, hot on the hunt as the ruminant spirit reared up before the pack, defiant.
He howled and led the chase, knowing his brother was waiting. The other wolves closed in, forcing the spirit closer to the river. Two wolves leapt, hamstringing the enormous beast. He jumped for the jugular.
The Moose spirit shook them all off. His brother charged into the fray, leaping between the bull and the injured wolves with a growl. The moose spirit lowered his rack and charged. The giant bear growled and swiped with his mighty paws, not entirely escaping from the sharp tines of the giant rack. Volk leapt to his brother’s defense, disemboweling the mighty beast as his brother dragged it toward the flowing river. The wolf pack aided. Their sister, the Spirit of the Flowing Waters waited to take it into her embrace. His brother dragged him under by the throat and held him there while the evil spirit was cleansed from their brother. A giant wounded moose emerged from the water and Volk gave a signal. The pack closed in and made their kill.
Meanwhile, their brother, the Spirit of the Ruminates emerged from the waters shaken and confused.
“Welcome back, brother,” Volk said as he huddled in Chena’s embrace, amber eyes scanning the tundra as he cowered. “It’s okay,” she whispered