Sneak Peek: Good Intentions IV (Patreon)

Little bit more plot for you this time!

“Please, come, sit down. The attendants know to wait for my company to join me. More tea will arrive shortly.” Zafirah ushered them into the alcove, unhooking the beads to draw the curtains closed again with a single, smooth move. Alex thought he heard the whisper of a word from her lips. “We may speak openly,” she explained, settling back into her seat. “No one will hear.”

Without planning it, Alex wound up between Rachel and Lorelei. The single beat of silence from the two of them was more than enough to give him the urge to fill it. “How have you been, Zafirah?”

“Oh, I’ve been on the road almost non-stop since we met. Your appearance in my life heralded all new adventures. So much to do, so much to learn. In truth, I am grateful for the path you have set me upon. Ah. Fast service.” She gestured to the appearance of a young man behind the beaded curtain with a full tea set, welcoming him in to place it on the table. He left without a word. Scents of mint and cardamom drifted from the set as Zafirah poured out cups for her new company. “And what of you, Alex? How have your final examinations gone?” she teased.

Her eyes caught his as she leaned over the table with his cup. “They—um—went fine,” he answered haltingly. “Beautiful.”

Rachel coughed.

“What are you studying?”

“History for now, mostly. Ancient and medieval world stuff.”

“Oh?” Zafirah straightened with a new sparkle in her eyes. “Excellent. I approve.”

“Fuck’s sake, Z,” Rachel muttered under her breath.

“Hm?”

“What? Nothing.” Rachel shrugged.

“And your troubles of last winter?” Zafirah looked to Lorelei to make sure she was included. “Rachel and Alex departed abruptly, as events dictated. I know only of rumors and half-truths.”

“You will suffer no repercussions for your involvement,” said Lorelei. “Neither Sammael nor his allies will be bothering anyone ever again.”

“Splendid. That is momentous news.” Zafirah sat back in her chair, her eyes regarding Alex with some unspoken favor yet again. “I confess I thought as much.”

“...okay, what?” Alex ventured. “What’s the look?”

“Your hands, darling. They are stained with the blood of yet another immortal.”

He glanced down at the hands holding the little teacup and saucer. His skin had been slightly mottled ever since his fight with Baal. He didn’t see a difference now. “It was a team effort.”

“As were the others,” said Zafirah. “You told me the story yourself. And yet.”

“You are mortal, Alex,” said Lorelei. “These things will affect you differently than us.”

“More importantly, you are here and your foes are not,” said Zafirah. “Every such victory has a story of ups and downs. The end result remains the same. Everything you have overcome speaks to your ability to accomplish more.”

“Don’t tell me you want us to fuck up some other asshole demon bigshot,” Rachel groaned.

“Not at all. At least, not to my current understanding. Who knows what may lurk in the shadows?” Zafirah threw her a wink, but looked mostly to Alex. “As I said, you have set me upon an intriguing adventure. I believe the next steps are best taken with companionship. The most immediate step requires an acquisition perhaps best left to mortal hands—and a test of your ability to handle the rest. We are only a block away.”

“Are these your three days and three nights of service?” asked Lorelei.

“If Alex can accomplish the immediate task, yes.”

“I don’t recall hearing of an audition as part of your agreement,” said Lorelei. "Is it dangerous?"

Zafirah stopped and smiled, noting the challenge she surely expected. “The task is dangerous, yes. The danger is not the point. I must know Alex has resources beyond his ability to handle a fight. This is also why he must accomplish this without the two of you. Fortunately, the task is only a city block from here and the best window of opportunity happens to be right now.”

“You said it’s an acquisition,” said Alex. “What do you want me to get?”

“An invitation to a party,” answered Zafirah, still smiling. “It will look like it is made of gold leaf, though it is in fact more than that. I require it for several reasons, not the least of which are the location and date it carries. Sadly, the invitation does not bear my name. I can correct that oversight once the invitation is in my hands, but I cannot fabricate one on my own.”

“So it’s magic bullshit,” said Rachel.

“Of course.”

“Where is it?” asked Alex.

“In the penthouse suite of the blue-tinted tower right around that corner,” said Zafirah. “The primary resident is a man named Masood. He is an international shipping expert, a talented scholar, and also an efreet who occasionally dabbled in service to the demon lord Azazel. I’m told the latter is not terribly productive these days,” she added with a glance to Lorelei. “One suspects Masood has moved on from that. He is charming and tactful enough in person, but the stains left by those deeds remain on his soul.”

“There’s a jinn here in Bellevue?” asked Alex.

“At least one, and likely several more in the region. We’re good at going unseen.”

“He’s an efreet like that guy I met in Iraq, right? The big fire giant? I assume he can do that? What else?”

“Oh, many of us can change shapes,” said Zafirah. “Masood generally wears a handsome face in his mortal guise. He is a capable Practitioner of magic beyond his abilities as an efreet. You’ll have to be careful.”

“So he’s not gonna hand his ticket over if I knock on his door and offer him scalper prices?” Alex frowned.

“No, darling. I suspect he will not sell his invitation for any price, though I leave the method of acquisition to you. As I say, this is a test of sorts. Several tests, in truth.

“There is one other matter of concern. The invitation was delivered by an Australian named Helen Robinson. She is a Practitioner of magic in her own right connected to a cabal of other sorcerers. I can also tell you her heart is every bit as black as Masood’s. Perhaps darker. She arrived only today.”

“What the fuck party is this invitation for if it’s going between two shitweasels like these guys?” Rachel scowled.

“The relevance of that answer depends upon Alex and his success or failure,” said Zafirah. “One thing at a time.”