Chapter 22 Useless
Useless
ARCHER
Being a supernatural in the human world, I didn’t think I’d ever find something that was so out of pocket that I’d be as shocked as they are if they find out about us. Like, we’re in a world where shifters like me, or demons, or even gods and goddesses are normal.
However, that was before I stepped into some weird science/magic pocket dimension that far exceeds the tech any of us have ever heard of.
“This is wigging me out,” I admit as I look at my girl. “Knowing this is out there and even Guardians don’t know about? That’s fucking scary.”
Rebel grimaces, then sighs heavily. “Just because not all Guardians know about it doesn’t mean some very specific ones don’t, nor does it mean the Society is unaware.
The levels of secrecy are more stringent than human intelligence and the people at the top constantly decide what should be common knowledge and what should remain in the shadows just like human governments do.
Just because their ‘constituents’ are supes doesn’t mean they won’t fuck shit up intentionally or unintentionally. ”
Angelo nods. “That’s true even by species level. Consider that we’re not telling anyone this shit because we don’t trust them—not our families, the Councils, or the Society. They do the same shit on a much higher level.”
“I fucking hate this shit,” Rogue mutters as she looks at the abandoned township we’re walking through.
“All the secrets are how whatever is happening can happen. The layers, the clearances, the mistrust? It’s why it’s very, very probable that this has been building for so long that we’ll have trouble figuring out the source. ”
Nodding, I run a hand through my hair, not comforted by their agreement in the slightest. “Exactly my point. Thinking you know the world pretty well and then being hit with this kind of shit sucks balls. What else is out there? Aliens?”
Damon chuckles and bumps his arm, smiling fondly. “Nothing is completely impossible, Arch. No one, and I mean, no one, talks about the Ninth Realm. Who the fuck knows if it’s space? We could definitely have a Guardians of the Galaxy moment.”
I blink at my lover, trying to gauge how serious he is. Holding my hand up, I count on my fingers. “Human, Hell, Faerie, Godly, Legendary, ID, Astral… what do you mean Nine Realms, D?”
The younger twin shrugs. “There are theories that two more realms exist, but we don’t know about them because they didn’t come from the same beginnings as the seven. You know the legends of the three and all that shit.”
Uh, no, I don’t fucking know that!
“Stop scaring him,” Rogue says as she grabs my arm and pulls me close to her. “Archie is definitely the kindest, softest heart of all of us. Teasing him will make this even more freaky, D.”
But instead of capitulating, Damon pushes his glasses up and makes his ‘serious’ face.
“Sparkles, I’m not teasing him. This is a theory that’s been floating for a long time, and a lot of very educated scholars and historians believe it.
The Society has deemed it a crackpot theory, of course, but think about what humans say about us.
I’m not sure these folks are incorrect about the possibility.
I mean, look at this place. Where the hell did anyone get the tech and magic combo recipe to make it?
Not from any of the known realms, for sure. ”
“Just what are these ‘scientists’ saying about the other realms?” Javier asks, curiously. “I’m not on either side of this argument, but I am interested. There’s nothing in this damn town and we’re heading for the edge soon, so entertain us.”
“This is not entertaining,” I mutter. I’m definitely not going to tell any of these fuckers that being abducted by aliens has been a fear of mine since the first time I saw that damn queen in Alien as a kid. “It’s dumb,”
Angelo snorts. “Agreed. D has been on this for years, you know. He and his dice-wielding, microscope using, acne infested online friends talk about it. The nerd is strong with that crowd.”
“Shut it, Ang,” Damon says as he waves his hand at his twin dismissively. “Mock my multi-species nerd groups all you want… I think they’re right.”
“So spill it,” Rogue says with a grin. “I’m game to listen, even if I think it’s tin foil hat shit.”
“Okay, so the theory is there’s a galactic and a primordial realm that are not part of our current world views.
They are the very oldest ones, and they represent the first beings who were there as it was created.
Primordial is where the myth of the three creators comes from, and that’s where they retreated after the mess.
Galactic existed alongside the other and comprises space and time very differently.
The theory says that the ID realm passes through galactic between the ribbons and primordial is locked tight—no one gets in, though the three could get out if they chose. ”
“This is supe ghost story shit,” Rebel shoots back. “C’mon, D. No way there’s two no one knows about that have been ‘kept top secret’ nor are there what I would assume is ass loads of beings in them we’ve never encountered. It’s bullshit, man.”
Thinking about it for a moment, I wrinkle my nose as we reach the end of the town’s road.
“I don’t know, guys. If it’s possible that all seven realms’ bad guys have been plotting together forever and some rando brought them together for a big conspiracy…
Doesn’t it also seem possible that there’s shit out there we don’t know about just as big if not bigger? ”
“Humans do only know about one of seven,” Rogue muses. “Maybe we only know about seven of nine?”
“Do not make a Trek joke, D,” Angelo cuts in, giving his twin a dark frown. “You just made a huge fucking existential mess of our family, and we have to focus on finding this meeting. I’m going to throttle you if you don’t let this go.”
That will not help, unfortunately; my mind is racing with possibilities and new fears, no matter what Angelo says.
“This road goes forever,” Reb says as he looks around in irritation. “It’s just forest and shit. The nature’s nice, but… it’s not giving me a damn clue as to who or what runs this fucking place.”
“Or what it is.” Rogue squints into the sunlight, then stops to touch a tree. “Although. I can feel real nature. Like this isn’t some elaborate illusion, or fake shit. The Fae part of me can sense that it’s not unnatural, even though this place may be.”
“How is that possible, Wheels?” I ask as we walk again, pushing through the lush forest. “I mean, I don’t think you’re wrong, but it definitely seems like that should be impossible.”
“I have no idea, Arch.” She sighs and shakes her head. “And I sure as fuck don’t know how the people working with their asshat father found the ones who run this thing. It’s not like you can look up ‘evil secret tech lords’ in a directory.”
Damon blinks, then holds his hands up. “But you can. You actually can. Though, I’m not sure how it would work using that and being, you know… not human.”
That gets Rebel’s attention, and he stops our progress to look at D. “Say more.”
“Well, there’s an entire underground network humans use to get illegal shit done. Rich ones, I mean—like billionaires and criminals and governments and—”
“Those words all mean the same thing,” Rogue mutters. “No need to keep going.”
“The point,” D continues, “is that there’s an entire piece of the human version of the darknet where they can find that shit. Killers, assassins, thieves, mercenaries, fixers… whatever you need.”
I squint at him. “How do you know about that?”
“Because the step after that kind of paid shit is finding a crossroads demon, dumbass.” Angelo sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Any demon who makes bargains with the desperate knows that while the non-wealthy humans turn to their gods first, the rich idiots turn to criminals. Once that fails, they suddenly find their faith and demons get the next bite at the apple.”
“So demons handle all that stuff?” I frown and wrinkle my nose. “That’s way more corporate than I’d imagine Hell to be.”
Damon laughs. “No, no. Think of it like… venture capital. Demons broker and make sure the deals are followed. The actual work is usually subcontracted out to other demon types or maybe even other supe types. On the surface, you’d end up dealing with folks like Luca if there’s a presence in your area.
Less populated? A single demon who has that territory. ”
This entire fucking party is a mind fuck extraordinaire.
“Okay. So you guys have a structure. But you’re saying sometimes supernaturals might use the human marketplace or whatever?” Rebel says as he taps his lips. “Especially if they wanted to fly under the Society’s radar.”
“Yep,” Damon says with a grin. “Because if it doesn’t need magic, they can just do what they need quickly for a price. Even demons do it if the sub-type they need isn’t available and the target isn’t a supe.”
“Do you think whoever is running this place came from that pool of talent, D?” Angelo looks at his twin, waiting for an answer. When Damon shrugs, he sighs. “I wouldn’t put it past Luca or whatever puppeteer is working the bigger picture to use every single resource possible.”
“Great. That adds a whole different dimension to this fucking problem.” Rogue looks up at the sky, then growls softly. “And it makes everything messier. How the hell do we figure out what human criminals are doing and who might use them?”
“No idea,” Damon says ruefully. “But I’m putting it on the list for further research when we’re back at the house. That thing is getting monstrous, but I should be able to make progress more quickly when I have all my systems, not just my phone.”
“Has anyone considered what we’re going to do if we actually find anyone here?” I look at Rebel and Angelo, my worry evident on my face. “We have no idea what beings are hiding in this weird Pokeball dimension.”
Rogue chuckles and leans in to kiss my cheek. “You’re right, Arch, but we have to see if we can find them. It’s a wasted opportunity if we don’t. Together, we’ll be able to handle it.”
Maybe, but there’s something very unsettling about this place and the lack of planning for the mission.
“Archie, you’re not usually this freaked out by… well, anything.” Javier tilts his head and looks at me as if I’ve grown a second head. “What’s with you?”
I press my lips together and grunt in annoyance.
He’s right, but I’ve been sensing weird shit since we stepped into this damn portal or whatever.
My lion is unsettled, and I don’t know why.
It doesn’t seem to affect the others, but they aren’t full blood shifters.
Shifters’ animals are just as predatory and primal as real animals; small things can set us off that won’t bother them.
Even as a mythical, Javi’s bird isn’t quite the same as my lion.
“This place feels wrong, and I don’t like it. Everything is bothering me here and my lion is very edgy. It’s making me edgy, and our loosey-goosey approach is making it worse. I’m not criticizing you, mind, it’s just—I can’t seem to calm the asshole down.”
Rogue frowns, walking over to press against me, and looks into my eyes. “Archie, you should have just told us your lion is having problems. Honestly? It’s probably sensing things we can’t, and we should pay attention to it. You’re not just window dressing here, you know.”
Before I know it, Damon has stepped up behind me, caging me in with our mate.
I feel a light kiss on my shoulder blade and he murmurs, “Sparkles knows what she’s talking about, big guy.
Not having magic doesn’t make you lesser; it gives you a unique skill set.
And your lion definitely has good senses; we should listen to it. ”
Angelo coughs, his lips quirking up. “I’m not going to kiss you, but I agree. You have the best sense of smell, good hearing, and prey tracking senses. We should use that instead of wandering like fools.”
When Reb nods, I duck my head. “Thanks, guys. Sorry I didn’t—you know.”
“No worries, babe.” Rogue smiles as she pecks a kiss on my nose. “Now let’s get shakin’ bacon. Take the lead and let your big kitty help us find the inhabitants of this damn place.”
Yes, ma’am.