21. I know Kungfu
“Take it.” Keri held the pink gun out to me. “There is no way you’re going to poof your ass up out of here without this.”
“I don’t think that’s going to help where I’m going.” I pushed the weapon away.
“Look, girl.” She grabbed my wrist and forced the gun into my hand. “I dropped two demons with it. Take it. I know you’re full of new power, but maybe something human will help. Just bring her back to me, please. It was hard getting that shade of pink, and I don’t want to have to fill out all those dumbass forms for a lost weapon.”
“Thank you.” I took the gun and hugged her. “Thank you for being my friend. I love you.”
“Yeah, I love you too.” She hugged me back. “Try not to get too much blood on that jumpsuit. I’ve only worn it twice. Oh, and don’t die!” Keri called out as the world shifted.
The shift took me first back to Earth 2.0. I needed to see if there were any clues to what happened, and I could still feel Piko’s energy there. I found the little guy hiding behind the bed, frightened.
“Oh, Piko.” I pulled him into my arms. “What did they do?”
Piko whimpered.
“It’s okay. I can still feel him. He’s hurt, but he’s alive. We’re going to get him back.”
While clutching the little blue guy, I shifted from our hidden campsite back to hell. The first place I could think of starting was the cavern, that hideout where Metice took me to heal. Everything was exactly as we left it, even the shadowy corner.
Piko jumped out of my arms and ran to the opposite corner.
“I guess you’re not going in there with me?” I laughed. “Don’t worry, little guy. I got this. Maybe you can meet us at the next stop?”
Piko actually nodded, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. Then, he took off running down the narrow path that led out of the cavern. While Piko ran, I walked slowly toward the shadow. Metice told me the lesson he’d gotten from his friend. Walking through shadows was dangerous, and it took practice—practice that usually required a guide.
The shadow rippled like it was beckoning me forward. This was what I had to do to get to the man who could help me, I knew it. I took a deep breath and then headed into the shadows.
And it was a lot harder than Metice said.
The next thing I knew, I was entangled in the darkness. My eyes were blinded, but I had one foot on something hard and the other flailing around, searching for support. Groans of lost souls, foolish people who had no business in the shadows, rang out around me. The icy grip of death tickled my neck, and I stumbled as my foot slipped off the platform and my heart jumped into my throat.
A hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me forward and out of the darkness. I fell to the ground as my heart raced, and I struggled to breathe.
“That was really risky. You’re just as nutty as Meti.” Metice’s friend stood in front of me, rolling a coin across his fingers. “What are you doing here?”
“Metice is in trouble.” I stood and dusted my pants off. “I need your help to save him.”
“I can’t help you.” He shook his head. “I already put my ass on the line once. You can’t ask me to do it again.”
“Look, Cufio, right?”
He nodded eyes locked on the gun I balanced in my hand with Piko. “That’s me.”
“You helped us once. I know it’s a lot for me to come here and ask you to do it again, but the fact that you risked your life for Metice once means something. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead now, which means you care about Metice just like I do,” I reasoned. “You know where he is, don’t you? I’m not even from here, and I can tell you that wherever he is, Olian’s not far away. You’re the only person I know who can get me in there. You can use your shadows to help me.”
“I told him this would not end well, but I thought it would be on him, not me.” Cufio brushed the short bangs from his face as he looked at me with strange cat-like eyes and took a deep breath. “I hope you have a good plan. And I can tell you right now, you’re going to need a lot more than shadows.”
“Right, and that’s why we need to go see one more person.”
“Are you going to use that thing on me?” He pointed to the gun.
“Not if you don’t give me a reason to.” I winked.
“I see you’re just as funny as your demon lover.” Cufio rolled his eyes. “Let’s go.”
Moments later, we stood at the entrance of a cave. Cufio was still reluctant to help, but he’d come, and that was enough for me. I only hoped he wouldn’t change his mind in the middle of the battle.
We entered, showing the same respect as Metice did the first time. And just the same, she was sitting in her throne next to the pool of water.
“Likosa,” I greeted her.
“Ah, Rayna.” She stood and swayed over to meet us. “You’ve returned to me. Don’t tell me Meti couldn’t keep you happy like I did.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Cufio glanced between us.
“Nothing.” I waved him off and changed the subject before Likosa gave him a recap of our first visit. “Metice is in trouble, and I’m here to ask for your help.”
“So she actually did it, huh?” Likosa clapped her hands and laughed. The sweet trill echoed around the cavern. “I never thought she’d have the guts to pull that one off.”
“What do you know?” I asked. “Olian is behind this, isn’t she?”
“Of course she is, girl. Olian’s been planning to snatch Metice for a long time. But she knew she couldn’t do it unless he was vulnerable.” Likosa nodded. “He’s far too strong for her to take on when he’s at his full potential.”
“What do you mean, vulnerable?” I asked. “How did that happen?”
“It’s you.” Cufio pointed at me. “You’re connected now, right? You’re alive, which means you did the marriage of souls. Your bond makes him weaker.”
“Why would he agree to do that if it makes him weaker?” I asked. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Was he supposed to let you die?” Likosa laughed. “That man has loved you long before he ever saw you. There was no way he was going to let that happen. Besides, it only weakens him temporarily. The longer your bond is in place, the stronger you both will become. Bright side is that your human life will last longer because of your connection to him.”
“Seriously?” I had more important things to worry about, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me happy to know I could have more time with him.
“Yes. I’m not sure how much longer you get, but I’ve seen this before. I’m talking hundreds of years at minimum.” Likosa beamed. “Plenty of time for us to get to know each other.”
“Right.” The last thing I was thinking about was getting to know her more. “So, it’s like falling for a vampire without the bite.”
“A what?” Cufio frowned. “What’s that?”
“Nothing.” I laughed. It never dawned on me that vampires wouldn’t be well known in hell. “Anyway, Likosa, I’m here to ask for your help. Cufio can get me in through the shadows, and my powers can get him out of there, but I know it won’t be that simple. Olian won’t let him go without a fight.”
“I know what you need.” Likosa ran her fingers across my cheek seductively.
“What’s that?” I pulled away. Her touch invoked the memories of our first encounter.
“Have you watched that Matrix movie in your world? Such a good one. The way they download data into their mind? I can do that for you. For your power.”
“You can? Why didn’t Metice bring me to you to help me learn to shift between worlds?”
“He’s old-fashioned.” Likosa shrugged. “Also, I’m not sure he knows I can do this.”
“What power are you talking about?” Cufio asked.
“Oh, Meti’s mate is a powerful psychic. She can manipulate energy—not just to travel, but to protect herself.” Likosa pointed at me. “She did it once before. Knocked Olian on her ass.
“How do you know about that?” I frowned. Did Metice tell her?”
“Oh, girl. I have eyes in every world, and I keep watch over those who are dear to me.” She winked. “You’re one of those people.”
“You can teach me to control it?”
“Teach? No.” She pointed to the water. “But in there, I can tap into your ancestors and pull their knowledge into your brain.”
“Wait…” I shook my head. If this was another attempt to get in my pants again, I wasn’t having it.
“Don’t worry. It won’t be like the last time.” She smiled. “The water is a conduit. I’ll use it to strengthen the magic.”
“The last time?” Cufio perked up. “You took her into the pool, Likosa?”
“It was nothing.” I blushed. Obviously, Cufio knew what Likosa did in that water. So much for keeping the secret.
We stepped into the water with Cufio’s back to us to allow privacy for our naked bodies. As before, the water moved around us, pushing and massaging our flesh. This time was different. It felt calmer, less consuming, more comforting.
Likosa held my hand. “Remember to breathe,” she instructed as the water continued to move.
“Okay.” I nodded.
She placed her finger to her lips, whispered a spell, and then touched the center of my forehead. My mind went blank like a fresh canvas. For a second, I forgot everything about myself. My life, my memories—it was all gone. And then, strokes of life filled the canvas, but not just my own. It was people who shared my features, living their lives and doing incredible things.
They learned how to use their powers, and I learned with them. They visited new worlds and experienced the greatest loves, and so did I. My heart broke a thousand times for their losses and soared a thousand times for their wins. I fell back into the water, and my own life rushed back to me.
“Did it work?” Cufio stood over me as my eyes opened. “Can you do it?”
“Maybe give her a second to wake up before you badger her?” Likosa laughed and helped me up from the floor. The soft robe covered my body. “How do you feel?”
“I know kungfu.” I grinned as I mimicked the famous line from the movie, and Likosa laughed at the joke.
“What?” Cufio looked at us like we were insane.
“I think that means it worked,” Likosa explained. “Rayna, try it out.”
“Okay.” I lifted my hand and felt the inherited knowledge working. Instructions rattled off in my brain like a checklist. Feel the surrounding energy. Pull it into you. It’s only borrowed and cannot be kept forever. Focus on a target and send the energy to it. Four. Three. Two. One. Boom!
The blast slammed into the wall. The room shook, and rocks broke off from the ceiling and fell to the ground.
“I’d say it did.” The triumphant smile spread across my face.
“Works better than that archaic gun of yours.” Likosa pointed to the weapon that lay on the ground next to me. “I’ll dispose of that for you.”
“No.” I stopped her. “This belongs to a friend. She’ll kill me if I don’t bring it back.”
“Well…” Likosa sucked her teeth and then produced a bubble with her hand. “Put it in here.”
“What?” I frowned.
“Do you think you’ll be able to carry that thing around while you’re fighting for your man?” She held her hand out. “Hand it over.”
I gave her the gun, which she then popped inside the bubble. Likosa focused on the basketball-sized orb until it shrunk to the size of a quarter. “Turn around.”
I turned, and she pressed the small orb on my back just above my ass. It felt cold, like ice, but quickly warmed to my body temperature. “If you need it, you can get it. Just press the spot for a few seconds, and the gun will appear.”
“Wow, thanks.” I touched the spot before I looked at Cufio. “Okay, now we can go get Metice.”
“When do we go?” Cufio looked at Likosa.
“I’m afraid I will not be joining you.” She shook her head. “I can’t get into messy business here—but I can lend my services to anyone for a price.”
“A price?” I looked at her. I had no way to pay her.
“Yes.” Likosa walked over to me and kissed me on the cheek. “Paid in full.”
“She won’t be able to take on Olian and all her men alone,” Cufio said. “They’ll both die in there.”
“You’re right. Okay, let’s get you some help.” Likosa paused, then put her finger to her lips. A sharp sound slipped through her lips, bounced off the walls, and then hit the water. We watched as the once calm pool raged. White bubbles covered the surface, and then, from the water, two creatures appeared.
Cufio and I backed up as the two beasts climbed from the water. Their massive bodies dripped on the floor as translucent skin solidified. Their hard flesh was colorful, like the corals from the sea. Through fresh eyes, I could see the aura of white that rippled around their bodies.
“This is Di and Do,” Likosa said proudly and pointed to them as they stepped forward. “They will help you.”
The one she called Di stepped forward. Its massive hand stuck out to me as if to shake my hand, but before it could reach me, that familiar yipping of Piko rang out. I turned to see his little body leap into the air. I reached for him but quickly pulled back when, mid jump, the cute little blue creature turned into a giant, tank-sized beast.
His body exploded into a wall of muscle and fur that stood at least twice my size. His cute little face became sinister with the graphic change. Sharp razor like teeth exploded in his mouth, with two fangs that protruded over his lip, vampire style. Piko landed in between me and Di. He bared his teeth and growled at the creature to protect me.
“Piko?” I called out. “Calm down, boy.”
Piko turned to me, wagged his tail, then looked back at Di and Do. He whimpered like he wanted to attack them, but he could tell I didn’t want him to. Piko grunted, and his body contracted. The little blue guy jumped into my arms but kept his eyes trained on Di and Do.
“Wow, you actually bonded with a denati?” Cufio looked like he wanted to cheer. “That’s amazing!”
“What?” I held Piko tightly, afraid he would attack Di.
“A male denati can only do that when it’s bonded with someone.” Cufio pointed to Piko. “That also explains how he found you in the cavern. He’s chosen you as his own.”
“I-” I looked down at those wide blue eyes. “Piko? You chose me?”
Piko licked my hand as if to say yes.
“This is good.” Likosa smiled. “Now you have three beasts on your side. I suggest keeping that little guy to yourself until it benefits you. No one will expect it.”
“Smart, okay. Thank you so much for helping us.” I looked at Cufio. “Time to go.”