Complications
"New River Gorge covers a lot of territory." Joe comments looking at the maps, spread out on the coffee table as Thor and Saul took over the table. "Any idea where we should... hey..." he reaches over and nudges Krissy who's fallen asleep in the easy chair across from him.
"What?" She blinks sitting up. "What is it?"
"The hunt? Geez sleeping beauty, you'd think you didn't just get a full eight hours last night." Joe grins at her before turning his attention back to the maps.
"An experienced soldier gets her sleep when she can." Krissy stretches her arms out in front of her. Saul rolls his eyes and draws a card. "Thor, you do know Saul's a professional poker player right?" She looks at the two playing a game. "I hope you didn't bet anything."
"If a powerful god wants to make a friendly wager who am I to argue?" Saul examines' his hand.
"Aren't you currently on the run from powerful people you pissed off by winning a game of poker? Do you really want to add the norse god of thunder to that list?" Krissy chides him.
"What do you think I'm playing for? all in." Saul pushes his chips into the middle of the table.
"You're bluffing."
"Then call."
"I will." Thor retorts and frowns as Saul displays four sevens. "Ahhhh...." He drops his three fours on the table.
"What are you playing for?" Krissy asks, as she can't help but wonder.
"A body guard. If I lose I become his vassal or whatever."
"A body guard? Why do you need a body guard? And what about Hara? He keeps you safe enough, doesn't he?"
"Krissy..." Joe interrupts.
"Shush. I'm talking."
"I love Hara." Saul replies. "Don't get me wrong but I haven't been in a casino in weeks. I haven't had a 'date' in even longer than that and he just got ripped from me by an older sibling with no warning leaving me insanely vulnerable. I'm not doing this any more. I'm out. That's it."
"That's it? What about Hara?" Krissy's dismay makes him feel slightly guilty but hes prepared himself for this.
"He's a sweet angel. He'll be fine. I'm sure he'll find another vessel. I want my life back, Krissy. Yeah, all this stuff is important I guess but there have to be plenty of people better suited to life as an angel's vessel than I am. I used.. I have needs, okay? That I can't exactly take care of while hosting an angel. Or at least not one as pure and innocent as our little librarian."
"I hope you lose you jerkoff."
"Actually that was him winning just now." Thor grumbles and tosses the beer can across the room into the trash. Krissy gives him a thumbs up. "I need more beer. Hunter, I'll need your vehicle. We're purchasing a keg this time."
"Hold on. Krissy. New River Gorge?" Joe persists. "There are dozens of mining towns. Dozens of old mines. We have to find a place to start."
"Well their ID's were from here in Quinnipoint Virginia so it's a good place to start. We'll just ask around and try to find the werewolves. Claire and I have tin plated silver ring that's worn through on the inside. We can pose as a married couple and shake hands or something." Krissy gets to her feet. "I'm going to take another nap while you go get the beer."
"I need a shower." Saul gets up and grabs some of the extra towels. "Think you could pick me up a few outfits while you're out?" He takes his wallet out.
"Sure. We're the same size right?"
"Shirt yes. I'm a size bigger in pants and boxers. Thanks." Saul hands Joe a fifty and heads to the bathroom.
"I'm just saying that consent issues aside, everyone needs a little time to relax, cut loose, even reapers." Claire leans back pushing the wicker chair up onto it's hind two legs. "Making and allowing psychopomp appreciation day, encouraging it even, can be really good for them. They were so energize after that party, you have no idea."
"Yes, well I'm not entirely sure I approve of them mixing with pagan psychopomps like that. We've had alot of trouble with them over the years."
"And now you're subcontracting to them. Even if all your reapers woke right now, you'd still need their help if only to address the backlog. Fostering a good working relationship can be beneficial. Especially as they're not bound by the same regulations you are. Which means that the next time some necromancer starts giving you trouble that you can't take care of on your own you have more options than calling in hunters."
"There is a certain group of necromancers that are a particular thorn in my side, but I can't exactly condone that sort of thing. Reapers deliver souls to their afterlives, they don't kill." Billy shakes her head. "We shouldn't condone killing either."
"Seriously?" Claire crosses her arms. "After that whole mess you started at the edge of the abyss, you're seriously saying that to me."
"That was personal and I was wrong. My vendetta cost so many of my children their lives.. Rules are important, I believe that more formly than ever. Even if there are temporary personal lessons, or sacrifices in the long run, it's best."
"You still don't want to leave the abyss do you?" Claire sighs and stares up at the empty sky.
"What's dead should stay dead."
"Or be reincarnated. That's the new order."
"I'm not gong to be reincarnated. I'll be resurrected."
"You ARE resurrected Azrael. you are for all intents and purposes alive at this moment. Leaving the abyss or not leaving the abyss doesn't make a difference in that." Claire insists not for the first time.
"There's a difference."
"Not really. Look you think you should stay dead that you are dead, here, prove it." Claire draws her sword and slaps it down on the table. Billie raises an eyebrow at her. " You can't die if you're already dead, right?"
"You want me to kill myself." Billie looks at the blade.
"No. I want you to admit you're just being a stubborn pouty brat. If you truly believe you're dead, then what's the hesitation? Even if you think you aren't and that you should be, go ahead. Hara and I will gladly take over until you hatch again." Claire and Billie just stare at each other for a moment over the angel sword lying on Death's white wicker patio table. Billie sets her jaw and reaches for the handle. "Oh for god's sake." Claire quickly grabs it back. "You really were hatched from a cracked egg weren't you, you stubborn thing? Fine. Have your cake and eat it too. I have to go help someone else make a life or death decision."
"I'll take you to her hotel." Death appears. Billie just looks away from him.
"Hotel? I thought she went to Conrad Springs?" Claire takes out her phone and scrolls through the messages. "Dammit, Krissy. What the hell are you thinking? Okay, thanks, boss. Sorry I couldn't talk some sense into her. I mean I've heard of people refusing to believe or accept they're dead, but refusing to accept she's alive? Or should be? Holy crap." Claire gives an exhasperated sigh as her former boss takes her to a shaded hotel parking lot.
"You needn't worry. I intend to still make use of her as my aide as best I can in the circumstances."
"No you know what, don't. Don't. She doesn't want to be alive she wants to believe she isnt? Fine. Don't let her play dead but have the perks of being alive. As soon as I'm done saving Rhys and seeing what Krissy's going to do about the pregnacy, let me work for you in her place again."
"Are you certain? I know you prefer hunting."
"Yeah I'm sure. You're a chill dude and I don't think she'll take well to being replaced by another woman. And um, if maybe there was a little flirting going on I think it would be extra effective." Claire suggests a bit hesitantly.
"I don't see how. Human beings are constantly flirting with me, hunters especially."
"Hah! Yeah, but no, I mean like a mutual thing. You do know how to flirt right? I mean, I won't get shipped a box of wilted roses on top of a dead rat or anything, right?" Claire makes a face, completely missing Deaths' look of barely repressed laughter as she thinks. "Actually better just let me do the flirting. You just pretend to like it."
"As you wish." He states calmly, maintaining a remarkably straight face.
"Oh, which one is..." Claire turns to find him gone. "Alright maybe she sent a text. I'll check then and then stop talking to myself before people think I'm crazy." She flips through the texts. Room 24C. That's right there. "Housekeeping." She knocks on the door. It's loose and unlocked and swings open when she does, revealing a completely destroyed room with not a few blood stains. "Well, fuck."
Krissy slowly opens her eyes. Her head is pounding and she feel sick. What the hell?
"Just to be clear. I hate all of you." Saul informs her sulkily. She looks over towards him and assesses her surroundings. They're in a cave. They're trapped in a cave.
"Goddammit. Not again!" She gets to her feet but staggers a bit before Saul can catch and steady her. "Please tell me that's not you I'm smelling." She wrinkles her nose as the foul odor registers.
"No I did not shit myself. Thankfully I went before my shower, but thank you so much for asking."Saul snaps. "I never should have gotten involved with you people! And Thor is a fucking horrible body guard!"
"Where is Thor?" Krissy looks around.
"I don't know. We were attacked when he and Joe went out to get that damn keg. Are norse gods all drunken bastards or is it just him?"
"Well, that would explain a lot." Krissy tries to go towards the bars but gets hit by a wave of dizziness. "What do you mean we were attacked?"
"Stop moving! You got hit in the head and were actually unconscious for almost an hour! I thought you were going to die! You still might die. I don't know I'm not a doctor. But this isn't a damn movie. Concussions are serious business."
"Why are you alive? Did they bite you?"
"No. I kind of rubbed that monkshood stuff all over my body after my shower. They didn't want to get near me and just threatened to shoot me if I didn't take care of you. That lovely smell you are smelling is from the were who brained you. They decapitated him. Apparently they considered almost killing the only pregnant woman in the world with a viable fetus to be a bad thing. Even if it was a pregnant hunter."
"Oh, but having a pregnant woman in a cell with a rotting defacating corpse. That's just fine." She puts a hand to her mouth and pushes away from Saul before emptying the happy meal she had earlier from her stomach.
"Is it morning sickness or the concussion?" Saul holds her hair back.
"I... don't fucking... know." She gasps between retches. "Don't... ask me .... questions.. when... I'm... throwing uh..."
"Don't answer them then, Jesus. It's not like I'll shoot you if you wait to stop vomiting."
"You..." Someone throws a pair of cuffs through the bars. "Put these on the hunter. Behind her back."
"Ha! yeah, right." Saul throws them back. "Let me handcuff the only person who could get me out of this alive. No thanks."
"You're hiding behind a pregnant girl?"
"She's a hunter. I'm a poker player. You are a goddamn werewolf I assume. So yeah I'm hiding behind the pregnant woman."
"It's not your baby." Comes the derisive announcement as the cuffs get tossed back in. A guess or wolfy smell-o-vision? Saul's not sure.
"No shit. We're not sleeping together. She's not my mother either, or my daughter or sister. Any more bombshells to lay on me? I don't know if I can handle anymore."
"Saul if you're this obnoxious at the poker table no wonder they're trying to kill you for winning." Krissy snaps. "Give me the damn handcuffs. I'll do it myself." She grabs them and cuffs her wrists.
"Behind your back."
"Too late. You have a key?" She tries to get up, wiping her mouth off, but needs Saul's help to stay balanced.
"Forget it. Keep her upright poker player." The were snarls and opens the cell door.
"Yes, sir." Saul puts an arm around her waist and follows him down a cavern to a small ladder. "Crap."
"Carry her on your back."
"Scrawny poker player, big fat pregnant lady." Saul points out. Krissy just glares at him.
"Don't try anything." The were grabs Krissy by the cuffs and hauls her up behind him leaving Saul to climb on his own. Clearly they have an accurate assessment of his threat level. The trap door opens into a small closet full of aprons that leads into a large ornate church with stained glass windows of a rey wolf eating various objects. A god, the world, the sun, the moon, and one standing on a heap of bodies as men prostrate themselves beneath him. In the middle is an altar, covered with blood and nordic runes.
Rhys is sitting on a throne made of human bones with a blue silk ribbon tied around his neck and attached to the back. He looks absolutely miserable, As he's human, confined, and fully clothed, Krissy's not surprised. There doesn't seem to be a dearth of food around either.
"Hey, Rhys." Krissy waves. "We're here to rescue you!" Rhys gives a wry smile at this just as another were strikes Saul across the face, knocking him down with the force of the blow.
"Do not address our god with such disrespectful informality." He snaps. Saul just gives him an incredulous look, as he didn't say a damn thing, this time.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you chained your gods up as a form of respect and decorum." Krissy retorts. A kick to Saul's stomach is the reply.
"Krissy... shut... the fuck.. up!" He curls into a ball.
"Hey, aim for his balls next." Krissy nudges him with her foot. Maybe if she can convince them she enjoys his suffering they won't try to use him as a whipping boy.
"What!"
"No see it'll save you money on prostitutes."
"I don't pay them to kick me in the damn balls, woman!"
"No but you won't be able to use them for a while and insurance will cover the surgery so really it's a net savings. Even more so if you can't have kids anymore."
"You bitch..."
"Be quiet!" An old gentleman in a robe enters from across the hall. "Bring the man to the wolf that eats the world." He gestures broadly to Rhys. "Our apologies for the meager fare. We will bring you something more substantial to eat soon enough."
"I don't swing that way." Rhys looks away, crossing his arms as Saul is dragged over to him. "And he stinks. What did he bathe in wolfsbane?"
"You're no bed of roses yourself." Saul snaps getting kicked again right into the base of the throne where he's jabbed by broken bones. Fortunately not too deep.
"Huntress." The old man walks over to her. "Explain to me the child in your womb."
"Well... when a man and a woman are alone and extremely bored...." She begins.
"Do not play with me." He grabs her jacket. "I will bite you so fast the child in your womb with never remember being human."
"I can't... there's no way to explain what happened to me without sounding like I'm being a smart ass." Krissy shrinks a little. "I swear to any god you want."
"Was my father involved?" Rhys perks up.
"Tangently yes." She considers.
"I've got to hear this." Rhys gives a broad puppy grin.
"Please don't injure anyone for this." Krissy pleads. "I'm guessing the whole infirtility thing is hitting everybody. So.. I'm sorry.. can I sit down?I don't feel so well."
"Yes."
"Okay, so... I have this lover, who he is is not important." She shoots Rhys a look so he doesn't mention Nat. "And we were taking advantage of the no pregnancy problem...."
"Oh my god!" Joe exclaims as he opens the door to the room. Claire's gun is instantly raised and aimed directly at his face. "Claire? Where's Krissy?"
"I don't know. I can't believe she called you. Of all people." Claire uncocks her weapon and puts it down. "And you...." She points to Thor. "What the hell were you thinking, leaving her alone with only a wingless angel to protect her. He's a librarian, dammit and the furthest thing from a badass you will ever meet."
"Actually, the angel got pulled away for something by my bludbodr." Thor informs her. "But she's a capable hunter and well rested... Why aren't there bodies? Surely someone was killed here. I can't believe the gambler survived if all the were's did. "
"Did you bury him already?" Joe asks, looking around.
"There are no bodies and almost no blood. Why would you leave Krissy alone with that.. degenerate gambler? Oh I bet that asshole sold her out to cover his gambling debts or something." Claire seethes.
"That's kind of a leap." Thor frowns. "Besides he won my services as a body guard just this morning."
"How else could they have found her so fast? Someone must have told them a hunter was here or... oh... shit." Claire covers her eyes. "Where's Krissy's phone? Find me the damn phone, now!"
"You think Krissy contacted them?" Joe looks around.
"No. I think maybe a fetus made viable with a soul smells different than one without." Claire starts looking under beds.
"What?" Joe pauses his search. "A WHAT?"
"Breidjamme!" Thor finally puts the keg down and starts to help with the search.
"Krissy's PREGNANT!"
"With the first viable fetus since the infertility crisis began."
"Here's a phone." Thor tosses her a small flip phone.
"I can't believe Hara left them. What the fuck was he thinking?" Claire turns it on. "Yup. Perfect." She starts texting someone.
"What are you doing?"
"Texting... hold on." The small phone rings. "Hey Nat yeah. It's Claire... no, I know she doesn't want you interfering on her hunts and normally I'd agree, but this pack has managed to kidnap Fenrisulfr and I'm really hoping have only kidnapped Krissy instead of killed or turned her or something..... oh, good... Because she's pregnant that's why.... Pregnant... no, there... it's going to take, Nat.... It already has a soul... she got chased down by storks in the abyss... yes I'm serious!" She holds the phone away from her ear as the god starts yelling in broken greek. "I just got here! Don't... look just get your ass here, okay? And if you can wrangle a tracker or some sort we could really appreciate it. We have Thor, but apparently he's fucking useless."
"Hey!" Thor protests indignantly.
"The man you were supposed to body guard was kidnapped by werewolves!" She retorts. "Don't worry we'll wait. I'll text you the address." She hangs up. "What's wrong with you people? Do any of you know the least.... Harahel! You'd better have a damn good excuse for this!" Claire starts rifling through Krissy's bags and looking under cushions and mattresses.
"What are you looking for now?"
"The knife. The little knife with the garter. Krissy's knife. Please don't tell me they have it."
"She was wearing it when I saw her last." Thor comments. "I could see it when she moved."
"Let's hope they don't notice it or just dismiss it because it isn't silver. Dammit Krissy. If you didn't decide on an abortion before coming out here I am kicking your ass the second you give birth." She mutters to herself, and looks over to Joe who's turned pale with his eyes half glazed over. "Joe? Do you have something to share with the class?"
"No! No..." He shakes his head. "Wait, yes. I think I have a... I have a lead... I was talking to .. to someone at the liquor store..."
"No. We're waiting for Thanatos and if we can track Krissy from here, we will." Claire says cooly. "Where are your silver bullets?"
"In... in the SUV... I'll get them." He quickly leaves the hotel room.
"Thanatos? You mean she's pregnant with a demigod?" Thor exclaims as Claire unloads her gun to change bullets.
"Yes, and daddy is no happier than I am."