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reason. But what?
Regardless what it was, Decatur knew one thing. He had to feed soon to regain his
strength. Although his origins were unknown Decatur had been all around the world in
his three hundred and fifty years. It seemed odd to him that Archimedes decided to
base himself in Brisbane. While it was an international tourist destination and had a
parochial charm of its own, it was not somewhere he expected Archimedes to operate
from. That was another question that added to those already on Decatur s mind. Why
Brisbane? Did its laid-back atmosphere make it easier for their kind to hang out?
People, or women in particular, certainly asked fewer questions. He had not yet found
one who would deny him her body or her blood. Not that he needed other women now.
I have Marduk.
Feed first, think later, Decatur muttered to himself as he visualized the heart of
cosmopolitan Fortitude Valley and willed himself there. In an instant he was gone.
* * * * *
Vulcan smiled to himself as he saw the flash of light that was the vampire leaving
the building. He was most intrigued by the four immortals Archimedes had under his
thumb. All of them were bristling with such barely contained rage. He wondered which
one of the four would be the one to crack first. He doubted it would be the vampire.
They were always too smart to act until they knew the full story. The same with the
warlock. As for the demon, one of his brethren, they were sneaky, sly beings who only
acted in their own best interest. Vulcan was slightly surprised that Morphos had not yet
tried to screw the other three over by making some sort of deal with Archimedes. And
then there was Sumerian, the fallen angel. She had been kicked out of heaven. Few
knew why. Vulcan did.
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Amarinda Jones
Sumerian was the wild card of the bunch. She could go either way and she was the
most interesting to him. Sumerian was the reason he was there. She was the link to
Archimedes. He knew Archimedes was confused by his willingness to assist him in his
endeavors. Vulcan never did anything without reason. This time, the reason was very
simple. Payback. The target was Archimedes. He had a lesson to learn. Not only would
Vulcan screw up his operation but he would do it using the only being Archimedes
cared for Sumerian. Despite her fall from grace, Vulcan knew she would not be able to
prevent herself from meddling in the lives of those around her.
Once an angel, always an angel. Maybe it was her perverse nature to always go
against the system that attracted Vulcan. If things were different he would be with
Sumerian once more. Archimedes was not the only one with a history with this lady.
* * * * *
Decatur has gone, Sumerian announced to the demon Morphos as he passed by
her. So has Vulcan.
Who cares? Morphos looked at her as if she was mad.
Sumerian knew it pointless trying to talk to a dweller of the underworld but she
had to talk to someone. She was going crazy in her forced captivity. None of the other
inmates shared their thoughts. Aren t you curious to know what s going on?
Sumerian was. Since being forced to come to Brisbane by Archimedes, she had been
consumed by the need to find out whatever she could. But Archimedes just fobbed her
questions off with a smile. Once, a long time ago, Sumerian had known Archimedes
very well. She had hoped to use that relationship to find out more. But Archimedes was
a vault when he wanted to keep a secret and maybe what she wanted to believe of their
past was just a lie. Sumerian knew whatever Archimedes planned, he never did
anything without gain for himself.
I care not for others, only for myself. Morphos stared at her with intense dislike.
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Decatur the Vampire
I know that. Demons by nature were selfish individuals who could happily step
over a dying man to take the last sip of water that could have saved his life.
So why ask?
Sumerian shook her head. I have no idea. Maybe I was in heaven too long. Maybe
she had held some vague idea that there was a kinship between them because of
circumstance and the ankh tattoo. Surely they were bonded together because of that. If
they chose not to see it then they were blind to the possibilities of freeing themselves
from Archimedes clutches. If they worked together they could do that for surely he
knew more about that tattoo than they did. It had to have a power or a meaning for
Archimedes to have gathered them together as he had. They should use that bond and
save themselves from whatever he planned. Sumerian was not foolish enough to think
any tie she may have once had to Archimedes made her immune to whatever he had
decided their fate was to be. Sumerian may have fallen from grace but she wasn t about
to go from one structured, rule-bound environment to another where the deck was
marked to her detriment.
I m going to talk to Vulcan. While doing her own thing was the main reason why
heaven had dismissed her, she couldn t sit and do nothing. Unlike the other three,
Sumerian did not have plans to use the populace of Brisbane to satisfy her own desires.
Her needs were different. She never took.
Vulcan? He won t tell you anything. Why bother?
Talking to you? I have no idea. Might be some throwback to my days in heaven
when I used to care. Sumerian turned her back on him as she had with heaven. She
was tired of playing games when results mattered.
* * * * *
Two months ago
You know we cannot let you stay, Sumerian.
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Amarinda Jones
No. That was only too obvious. She had not only broken the rules but smashed
them. Now, as she stood before the intense white light that was Gabriel, she not only
had to leave, she wanted to. This was the wrong place for her. They asked everything
from her but gave nothing back. Not even heaven had the right to treat people with
such disregard.
And we cannot forgive your crime.
Sumerian smiled a tight smile. She tried to relax her clenched fists but it was
difficult. She wanted none of them to see how much she was angered by this situation.
Yes, she wanted to go but she would do it on her terms alone. Is it is a crime to care? I
thought that s what we were supposed to do in heaven.
Gabriel s stare was hard and unflinching. You are correct, Sumerian. We do care
but you had no right to take matters into your own hands.
I could not let innocents suffer. Sumerian would never allow herself to feel guilty
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