8
Alex was taking a shower when she heard the noises downstairs. She knew that she’d locked up, making sure that no one bothered her as she did the Lord’s work. As she turned off the water, careful not to knock anything over, she took out a towel and began drying off, keeping her weapons of sainthood near her.
She’d begun to think of herself as a saint just the day before. Her work was being shown all over the world now, and people were certainly talking about her. Alex thought they had her message all wrong, however, saying that she was only out for murder. But she and her Lord knew the true nature of her work for him, and he’d keep her safe. She was working for a greater cause, and she was happily cleaning up the whores that dared to invade the schools where little minds could be persuaded to do the same thing, follow in their footsteps.
“Hello?” Alex picked up the gun that she’d gotten from another whore’s house when she heard the man’s voice. The gun was smaller, so it fit her hand better. “Is anyone here? Jamie?”
Jamie had gone to her maker, she wanted to tell the man. Alex had dispatched her not an hour ago. Wrapping the towel around her, knowing that she was going to have to end this poor man’s life now that he’d invaded her area, she moved into the hallway just as she heard him crying out.
“Oh my God. Oh my God, Jamie!” The footsteps were fast as he moved around. Alex knew what he’d found…the whore hadn’t gone as easily as the others had, and Alex had lost her temper.
Jamie had questioned her faith. Asked her why she thought her Lord would have her do such a horrific thing. How dare her claim that Alex was out for her own good. Jamie had called her a murderer and a monster. A monster was something that killed for no cause. Alex had a good reason for what she was doing. Her Lord had told her to. Then Jamie had laughed at her, even as she was hitting her with her blessed hammer.
And then, like before, Alex had blanked out. When she woke, standing there naked and covered from head to toe in blood, she had been surprised that the thing in front of her had once been a person. And that her hammer, one that she’d had her Lord bless for her, was broken in two pieces.
The man came out into the hall where she was then. He was covered in blood; his shirt and tie were marred with more than just blood, she knew. As he stood there staring at her, his phone to his ear, she moved toward him, lifting the gun even as she took her first step.
The pain in her right arm jerked her back, and that was when she noticed that he had a weapon too. That wasn’t right. There were no guns used against her as she did her Lord’s work. She fired at him as a second, then a third shot hit her, once in the arm, the last one in the leg as the man fell. The phone still at his ear, she heard him screaming that an intruder was in his house, someone had murdered his wife. And that he was looking at the woman from the news. Her, he was talking about her.
Alex was hurting, but not too badly. She was also covered in blood again, but her own this time. When he fired at her again, this time splintering the wood just to the left of her face, she backed away from him. This man was insane…he was shooting at the right hand saint of her lord. Turning away, she grabbed her bag and moved down the stairs.
You must kill him. Go back and take care of him. He is here in the den of the whore. Alex was ready to do just that when another shot was fired just below her feet. And thankfully, her Lord saw the need for her to get out and to safety. Leave, leave here before he kills you, my child.
She was out the door in seconds, the man still chasing her, screaming at her to stop. But she had a mission, a duty to her Lord, and he had told her to leave. Running for cover, keeping the towel in place and her weapon out, she dodged behind trees and cars until she no longer heard the man.
Alex would have to go back, she knew. Her mission was to end the world of whores and their familiars, just what that man was, and she wasn’t going to fail again. Alex knew that for every one that she dispatched for her Lord, two more would take their place. It was a never-ending cycle, she thought.
As she made her way to the large van that she’d taken a few days ago, Alex began to feel lightheaded, her body hurting. Getting in, she closed her eyes and asked for help. If she was caught now, she told her Lord, then it would all be over. As she moved to the cargo area and lay down with her eyes closed, she begged for help and felt herself float away.
You’re doing well, my child. The light was blinding; she couldn’t make out what her Lord looked like, but she thought perhaps it was better this way. When you have healed, I will give you the next list of whores. But you must go back and finish the first job. She is out there, this Tisha whore, and you must take her out before any more. It is your duty to me to make sure that the world is rid of a charlatan like her.
“I don’t know where she is. I can remember that her father lives in Ohio. Maybe that’s where she’s gone.” He said that he’d find Tisha for her. “I hurt, my Lord. I don’t wish to sound greedy or ungrateful for being chosen to help, but do you think it’s possible that you could help me out?”
I help you every day, my child. She wanted to ask how, but decided it was enough that he said he did. Go rest. The hour grows late and that man will need to be taken care of soon. You must go now before the police arrive. You rest, my child, and then move yourself to someplace safe. I wish for you to find her father after you are finished here.
“Her father is where she’d go, I’m betting. He was forever trying to buy our friendship for his daughter. No one ever liked Tisha. I saw right through her whoring ways from the start. But I was nice and never mentioned it until you came to me.” Alex had a harder time holding onto thoughts now. She’d remember something, a small bit of a memory, but it would be twisted up before she could latch onto it. Alex wondered how she was going to get Ohio, and then she remembered she had this van and the cash that she’d taken from the whores. “I will do as you command, my Lord. For it is only you that I serve.”
She had no idea how long she lay there. Her body was hurting everywhere; her head was pounding like a jackhammer was in it. Sitting up, she looked around and began to take stock of her things.
Alex had plenty of clothing, all hers, that she’d put in a storage locker the morning she’d gone to the whore Tisha’s house. Drinks too. Water was something that she detested unless there was nothing else, and lately, it was all she’d had. She had no food in here, which she supposed was a good thing as she had no way of keeping it cold or heating it. Now with this vehicle, she could keep her things nicer and have a bed to sleep in, even if it was just a blow up mattress.
Alex reached for the first aid kit she’d found in one of the other houses. It was thick and heavy, and she’d nearly left it behind. But now she was glad for it. Taking out the gauze, she tried to see if she was going to have to remove any bullets before wrapping the wounds up with tape, and found nothing.
“The nerve of that man. Trying to hurt me for doing your work.” The Lord told her there were terrible people everywhere. “Yes, I’m beginning to see that. Thank you for showing me the way.”
After she finished putting the tape on the gauze, she had to lie down again. Her head was pounding harder now, and she just needed a moment. Going to the large bag of medicines that she’d been collecting, she found a bottle that said take for pain, and took one of them. Laying down again, she tried not to think about anything but the Lord’s work.
Alex didn’t question the Lord for his choosing her for this work anymore. She enjoyed it…he knew that she liked it more than she should have. Work was hard…for her this was fun. To kill these monsters—because she’d figured out that was what they were—made her feel not just special, but also like she was finally finding something that she was good at. And something that gave her meaning. Alex would be canonized when this was finished, and she was sad that her parents would never see that she amounted to something other than a glorified babysitter.
Her father had never been very supportive of her. It had irritated her that he was never without his Bible, spouting his version of what it said, the meaning of each passage. To her, and the rest of the church they’d gone to when she’d been at home, he’d been a joke. Her father was no better than the sinners that never came to the blessed church at all. He was a hypocrite, plain and simple. But now, all these years later, she could see that some of his words had meaning to her.
Like he told everyone that would listen, that the world was ruled by a dick. Not just any dick either, but the government one. She’d not had any idea as a ten-year-old what that meant, and now that she was educated as well as chosen by her Lord, she still had no idea. Women, Alex had come to discover, were going to be the downfall of everything that she held holy. They manipulated men to do what they wanted, even at the risk of being just as bad as them.
“Do you suppose, when I kill off whore Tisha, that I can go somewhere and be taken care of? Not because I deserve it. But I’d like to be rested for just a time, and it would give me more energy to deal with whatever plans you have for me.” The Lord said nothing. “I’m not asking for special treatment, no, not that. Just a place I can rest and recuperate. I’d be a better instrument for your works then.”
There is much work to be done, my child. She loved when he called her that. Like she really was his child. When you have finished fixing the mistakes that you have made, I will let you have plenty of rest. But first, you must rid the world of the whores of the earth.
Alex cried then. To have her Lord point out that she’d failed him, not once but three times now, she hurt for it. Her efforts to take out the whores at the school had failed. Ridding the world of whore Tisha hadn’t gone well. And now she had been told to end the man’s life that had harmed her, and that had been a failure as well. She had to make up for it. Starting now.
Getting out of the van, she realized how dark it had gotten. She had no idea what time she’d left the house earlier, or for that matter, if it was the same day, now that she thought about it. Sneaking around the houses, headed back to the whore’s house, Alex could see that someone was home, and that every light in the house was on. Making her way in the house as she had before, she found herself in the kitchen with a cop. He stared at her for a full minute before he lunged at her.
Taking him out was easier than she thought it would have been. After slamming the knife that she had in her hand into his chest, he stared at her, his eyes wide in shock as he died. When he got too heavy, his eyes finally closed, she laid him on the floor and took his weapon. Then before leaving the kitchen, she took his extra magazines as well as his hand radio. She had no idea if she needed it or not, but thought it might be entertaining.
Moving through the house easily, Alex saw the man sitting on the couch with a woman. Another whore, she thought. Pulling up the gun she’d taken from the cop, Alex fired twice, killing them both quickly. Before she turned to leave the room, however, she saw her face on the television.
It took her a few seconds to find the remote to turn the volume up, and she was afraid that she’d miss what they might be saying about her. They were using her school ID to talk about her. Alex had hated that picture of her, and was mad that they didn’t have a better one. The Lord reminded her that it mattered little, but she was still a little peeved that they’d not asked her before using it. Then she found the remote and turned the television high enough to hear it.
“Alexandra Grace is considered armed and dangerous. The police are saying if you see her, not to approach but to call nine-one-one immediately. Again, we’ll show the video that was taken earlier today by William West, husband to Jamie West, who was slain early yesterday morning.” The video started then. It was her, standing there with a towel wrapped around her. And there was a bright halo of light around her head. “As you can see from the video, she’s armed. Mr. West said that when she shot at him, missing him twice, he noticed that she had a knife and other weapons with her when she fled the scene of the crime. Sadly, Mrs. West, a teacher at Winton Elementary, was pronounced dead at the scene. There is—”
Alex muted the program…she didn’t want to hear about what Jamie had done. They’d all be lies anyway. Only Alex and her Lord knew the truth. The video had been paused, but now it moved forward again.
When she saw herself lifting her gun to fire at the person in front of her, she was again struck by how beautiful the light was. And as the gun fired, she saw herself being hit. After that, the man recording her never had a good camera view of her. It seemed to her that he was purposefully trying to make her look bad and out of focus. Then the whore’s husband was there, and she turned the sound back on.
“I had been away on a trip and wanted to surprise Jamie by getting in early. The house…I went up to our bedroom to see my wife, when....” He broke down then, sobbing loudly as the camera was on him. Then when it broke away and came back, he seemed to be in a better frame of mind. “That woman, that monster, was there, taking a shower like she’d moved into our home. While my poor wife, my lovely Jamie, who had done nothing wrong to anyone, lay in her own blood. And all because of that monster.”
“I’m not a monster. You have to believe me when I tell you, I’m not a monster. I’m doing my Lord’s work. He said that she was a whore and it was my duty to go and dispatch her from this world.” Alex wanted to cry…there were so many people against her right now, and it wasn’t right. She slapped the man in front of her, telling him again she was working for the greater cause. “I’m not a monster. I’m doing the work of my Lord.”
Gathering what she could find in the house, she was disappointed to find that the things she’d left behind were gone. Her gun that she’d dropped on the way out wasn’t where she thought it was. Her clothing was missing from the bathroom, and even when she checked the laundry area, she didn’t see where anyone had washed it for her. Going to the kitchen, Alex was careful not to slip in the blood that the officer had spilled, and fixed herself a meal. It was the first hot dinner she’d had in some time.
The Lord spoke to her then. You have done well, my child. She smiled at the warmth his praise gave her. Now, when you have completed the other assignment, you and I will take a long rest. You have made great progress in doing my work.
“Thank you, my Lord. I am here only to serve you.”
After saying grace and then eating her meal of eggs and bacon, Alex turned on the television in the kitchen to see if anyone was praising her on it.
~~~
Harlan sat in the lobby of the hotel and observed the people. He’d been a people watcher since he’d been young, and he was sure it was what had gotten him into police work. When a very tall man came into the area and headed to the desk, Harlan kept an eye on him.
“Mr. James.” He looked at the man who suddenly appeared in front of him. “I’m Zach Douglas. You don’t know me, but I’m sort of here to run point for Tisha. I’m sorry, but after yesterday, you can understand our concern about just anyone showing up here.”
“Yes, I understand completely.” Harlan pulled out his badge, and while the young man looked it over, he looked at the man at the desk again. There was something off about him, and he wasn’t really sure what it was just yet. He turned back to the Zach while still keeping an eye on the man. “Will I be able to speak to Miss Porter soon?”
“He’s harmless.” Harlan looked at the younger man. “His name is Will. The man at the desk. He’s as harmless as a kitten. And while I can understand you thinking otherwise, trust me when I tell you, his only thought right now is to talk to his sister. The woman at the desk with him.”
“Did you know that he’s armed?” Zach nodded and explained. “I see. So the town knows that he’s only carrying a plastic gun and is all right with that. I’m guessing that as a town, you keep an eye on him too.”
“Of course. Would you feel better meeting him?” Would he? Harlan wasn’t sure, but before he could tell that to Zach, he called Will over. “Will, this is Harlan James. He’s an officer from where Tisha is from. I was telling him that you’re helping me out.”
“I have to be on alert for people I don’t know. Everybody knows me, so I don’t have to worry about them.” Harlan nodded and took the hand that was extended in friendship. “My friends are all the Douglas boys. That’s what my mom calls them, boys. They’re bigger than the boys at the school ground, but they’re real nice to me.”
“Will is the crossing guard at the local elementary school. He earns his keep by making sure that the kids don’t get hurt there.” Will smiled at Zach, and Harlan could feel the warmth of friendship from it. “Will, would you mind showing Mr. James your gun please? And remember what I told you.”
“Only take it out when I know that I’m with friends. Yes, I remember, Zach.” He carefully pulled out the toy gun. And when he handed it to him, Harlan was impressed that someone had taken the time to show him how to hand any weapon to another person. Butt first. “Zach and his brothers, they been letting me work for them too. I get to help pick out the colors at the new home, Child Like. You should see the playroom I helped with.”
Handing him back his weapon, Harlan asked him what Child Like was. Zach looked a little uncomfortable with it, so when Will didn’t answer him but simply wandered away, he dropped it for now.
“I’ve contacted my brother, Logan. He’s bringing Tisha and her dad by now. I can’t let anything happen to her.” He heard laughter, a sound that reminded him of bells and harps, and turned to the doorway again. The vision there, the woman looking up at the two men with her, had his heart beating faster. Christ, she was a beauty. Zach spoke to him then, his voice low and full of humor. “I can smell that you’re human, Harlan, but you’ve been around shifters, am I correct?”
“Human? I…yes, I am. And I do know...you’re not human, are you?” Zach shook his head, his eyes never leaving the woman. “You know her?”
Zach laughed and turned to him. “You do as well. It’s Tisha.” Harlan looked back at the woman and watched her face as she got closer. Christ, it was her. “She’s happy, and she’s my mate. So if you know anything of our kind, you’ll live a good deal longer if you don’t touch her. I don’t want to have to kill you on your first day here.”
Harlan didn’t want that to happen either. And he was pretty sure that young Zach wasn’t kidding about killing him. There was a look in his eyes, one that said he could be friendly and kind, but don’t ever touch what he considered his.
This Tisha Porter was nothing like the poor woman that he’d seen in the hospital a few weeks ago. She glowed with good health and happiness. And he’d bet anything it had to do with Zach Douglas.
“Hello, Mr. James.” He nodded and she sat down. “While I’m feeling much better, everyone insists that I rest when I can.”
“As you should. Listen to the experts and family, Miss Porter, and you’ll heal a good deal faster.” And he could see that was the case too. While she was still using a cane to get around, she didn’t look beaten any more. There had been cuts, deep and long, on her cheek and neck that looked healed. Not only that, but there didn’t seem to be any scarring. “You look amazing.”
The laughter again. Harlan felt out of his element, not like he was the butt of a joke, but simply out classed or something. And he also knew, from his friends that were shifters, that whoever these people were, they could protect her better than he could.
“I have some news and some questions. I’m sure you’ve seen it on the news the last couple of days, but we have confirmed that it was Alex that has been killing the other teachers. And the information that I was sent that you remembered helps me a great deal. I just have a few questions for you.” Zach sat on one side of her, taking her hand, and her father sat on the other.
There was tension there, not a lot, but enough to have Harlan feel like Randall either didn’t approve of his daughter being watched by young Zach, or he was worried about Alex. When he turned to her to ask her about the names that Alex had called her, Harlan saw that the two younger people were in love. He wondered then if this was a match that Randall didn’t approve of. But he had business to attend to, and speculating about men and their daughters wasn’t getting it done.
“She called me a whore. Several times, as a matter of fact.” Harlan nodded and looked at his notes as Tisha continued. “She said that she had to kill me, that I’d been sleeping around…no wait, she said that I’d been selling myself for long enough. I’m not sure where she might have gotten that idea from, but her next words scared me more than you can imagine. She said that she was there to do the Lord’s work, and that she was to get rid of my kind.”
“I’m sorry, what?” He waited for her to repeat what had been said to her. “She said that the Lord had instructed her to kill you?”
“Yes. Is that important?” Harlan leaned back on the couch and thought about this. “Mr. James?”
“In my line of work, you run into all kinds of people. Most of them are just out to even a score. Sometimes it’s an accident, but then there are the ones, like Alex, that think that some higher power is telling them that they should murder. Of all the kinds of killers that I’ve had to deal with, those to me are the scariest.” Zach asked him why. “They believe that they’re on a mission. Have a duty, I guess you could call it, to finish whatever they’ve started.”
“You mean she’s going to try and come after Tisha.” Harlan nodded when Zach spoke again. “She won’t. I mean, she can come here and try, but she won’t hurt her. Not again.”
“I’m not saying that you can’t stop her, but let me make something clear to you from the start. I want you to be as prepared as you can be. When she comes here, because now I have no doubt that she will, she will let nothing stop her. No locked doors will stop her, no men around Tisha will deter her, nor will she have any issues in killing anyone that is with Tisha.” Zach nodded, but Harlan wasn’t so sure he understood. “If you’re with her, in the same house, same yard, she will kill anyone and everyone that is there. It will be her mission. You understand that, don’t you?”
“Yes. But there is something that you might not understand about us. My family, we’re not your run of the mill people. We’re cougars. All of us.” Harlan nodded, but before he could say that they could be killed as well, Zach continued. “The man standing at the door is a bear. The gentleman near the desk is a vampire. The two people that cleaned your room today, one is a wolf, the other a tiger. They’re all here…their sole purpose was either to kill you or tell us that it was safe to come here. And trust me when I tell you, no one would have ever found your body.”
“She has a gun. And has killed a cop. A lot of men and women will be disappointed if they can’t see her brought to justice.” Zach said nothing. Harlan looked around the room. “What if I told you, just between us, that I hope to fuck she comes here and you can give her your own kind of justice? That I think that even with her guns and her Lord on her side, you can take her down, and I hope for it.”
“Oh, have no doubt about that, Harlan, she will go down.” Harlan nodded and stood. “When are you leaving?”
“I don’t think I’m going to. Not just yet anyway.” He looked over at Randall, who had not said a word. “Do you think that he can do this? Protect your daughter so that nothing happens to her?”
“I do. I don’t like that he is better equipped to do it than I can, even with all my money, but I’m sure he can. Someone showed me....” Randall looked at the man at the door, then the vampire at the desk. “Let’s just say that I’ve seen the light myself, and know they can keep her safe where I can’t.”
Harlan wondered about that. He didn’t ask, but he thought it was funny. Whoever had shown Randall the light, they must have been very persuasive or had some big balls. Whatever it was, Harlan didn’t want to go up against them in a negative way.