Wave of Fires

Chapter One

In the Middle of Nowhere, Day 142 After Flood

"Do you fear me, Empress?" Death crooned, voice like velvet coated steel, or a sword plunged into an inferno. But whatever fire emanated from his words was nothing but coals when matched with my blazing fury.

"No." I wanted to say something scathing, to make Death afraid of me instead, to show him I was no toy to be played with. But my throat constricted. This monster dangled Cyprian in front of me like a fisherman's lure. Cyp, who'd loved and protected me. Who'd kept me sane.

He smirked, a predator, much like my visions of Lady Lotus. Confident. Arrogant. Deadly. "Ah, but Empress. You're awash with it. Still, you needn't be ashamed of that wisdom. Only the most idiotic fool would show no fear when faced with Death. Perhaps you can indeed be reasoned with."

"Where's Cyprian?" If my words were impregnated with the same toxin as my thorn claws, Death's beautiful face would surely melt. For all I knew, he'd killed the Hanged Man and was only mocking me. Or he'd locked Cyp away somewhere to torture. I struggled to see Death's hands, but he wisely held them away from my gaze. If he wore Cyp's Icon, I couldn't tell.

"Don't be tedious, Empress," he drawled. "Information does not come for free. If I told you the location of your beloved, your alliance would attack me as soon as the words left my mouth. Then I'd be forced to despatch you all. Consider this a mercy."

Gabriel's flared wings twitched, fanning my side. "If you're so certain you'd emerge victorious, why bother to keep us from attacking you?" Though I'd been furious at the Archangel for putting Cyprian in danger in the first place, I had to appreciate his judgment. And the extra warrior. Tybira and I had little chance of overpowering Death even with Gabriel. 

Death tilted his head. "If I truly wanted you dead, I would have moved first and chances are the five of you would already be defeated. I'm offering you a deal because I want something from you." His gaze returned to me, as if he was asking me specifically.

Tybira didn't let him single me out. "And what do you want?"

He shifted his satchel, finally letting me see his hand. I almost sobbed to see it was bare. Death leaned his weight forward as if he was about to walk towards me, but thought better of it. He studied me. "For now, I ask only to dwell in your alliance, not as an ally, but as a guide to the Hanged Man. I will share in your supplies, and you shall defend me as one of your own. Then, when I decide to, I can ask anything I like of you and you shall fulfill my wish."

"That's a horrible deal," Tybira said. I had to agree. We'd never know where we stood, nor what he'd ask of us.

"Perhaps. But it's my deal nonetheless. Even if I told you the location of the Hanged Man, I doubt you'd find him. So will I be escorting you to him or not?"

"No," she answered.

But Death seemed not to have heard her, instead staring expectantly at me. "Empress?"

My stomach was in revolt, flipping in sporadic jerks. A deal with Death? A man I couldn't use my claws against lest I touched his skin and died too. Maybe my vines or spores could take care of him, but then Cyp... I knew I'd have no chance of gleaning his location before Death asked for whatever boon he awaited.

He was playing with us. And unless I agreed to become his pawn, I'd be dooming Cyprian. I'd just be letting him go, letting him die or keep suffering. Abandoning him.

"Can we just talk it over for a moment?" I hated how pleading and pathetic I sounded.

Death only inclined his head.