Cate Tiernan - Immortal Beloved, Volume 1

L ast night my whole world came tumbling down. Now Im running scared.

Have you ever been going along, living your life, living in your reality, and then suddenly something happens that rips your world right in two? You see something or hear something, and suddenly everything you are, everything youre doing, shatters into a thousand shards of sharp, bitter realization.

It happened to me last night.

I was in London. With friends, as usual. We were going out, as usual.

No, no, turn here! Boz leaned forward and jabbed the cabbie on the shoulder. Here!

The cabbie, his huge, broad shoulders barely encased in a sweatshirt and plaid vest, turned around and gave Boz a look that would have made a normal person sit back and be very quiet.

But Boz was by no means a normal person: He was prettier than most, louder than most, funner than most, and, God knew, dumber than most. Wed just come from a dance club where a knife fight had suddenly broken out. These two crazy girls had been pulling hair and screaming like fishwives, and then one of them had pulled out a knife. My gang had wanted to stay and watchthey loved stuff like thatbut, you know, if youve seen one knife fight, youve seen them all. Id dragged them all away, and wed stumbled out into the night, luckily grabbing a cab before the cold made us sober up.

Here! Right here in the middle of the block, my good man! Boz said, earning himself a murderous look that made me feel grateful all over again for gun control in Merrie Olde England.

My good man? Cicely snickered next to me. The six of us were packed into the back of this big black cab. There could have been more, but wed found that six wasted immortals were all the back of a London cab could hold, and that was only if no one puked.

Yes, Jeeves, Cicely went on brightly. Stop here.

The cabbie slammed his foot on the brakes, and we all shot forward. Boz and Katy hit their heads on the glass partition between us and the driver. Stratton, Innocencio, and I all catapulted off our seats, landing in an ungraceful, giggling heap on the dirty cab floor.

Hey! Boz said, rubbing his forehead.

Innocencio found me under the tangle of arms and legs. You okay, Nas?

I nodded, still laughing.

Get t hell outta my cab! our driver spat. He lurched out of the front seat, came around, and yanked our door open. My back was against the door, and I immediately fell out into the gutter, hitting my head on the stone curb.

Ow! Ow! The gutter was wetitd been raining, of course. The pain, the cold, and the wet barely penetrated my consciousnessknife fight aside, the evening of heavy festivities had wrapped me in a warm cocoon of hazy well-being.

Out! the cabbie said again, grabbing my shoulders and hauling me out of the way. He dumped me on the sidewalk and reached in for Incy.

Okay, hello, anger and a trickle of consciousness. I frowned, rubbing my shoulders, sitting up. We were a block away from the Dungeon, yet another horribly seedy underground bar where we hung out. And only this short block away, the street was dark and deserted, empty lots alternating with burned-out crack houses, giving the street a missing-tooth appearance.

All right, hands off! Innocencio said, landing on the sidewalk next to me. His face was cold with fury, and he looked more awake than Id thought.

You lot! the cabbie snarled. I dont want your kind in my cab! Rich kids, think youre better than everyone else! He leaned into the cab, grabbing Katys coat collar while Boz scrambled out on his own.

Uhgonna be sick, Katy said, half in, half out of the cab. Boz jumped out of the way just as Katys system purged itself of an evenings worth of Jameson whiskeyright on the cabbies shoes.

Goddamn it! the cabbie roared, shaking his feet in disgust.

Boz and I giggledwe couldnt help it. Mean Mr. Taxi Driver.

The cabbie grabbed Katys arms, intending to haul her to the sidewalk, and suddenly Incy muttered something and snapped his hand open.

I had a split second to think, Huh, and then the cab driver staggered as if struck with an axe. Katy went slack in his hands and he crumpled, his spine curving almost in half. He pitched backward, landing heavily on the sidewalk, his face white, eyes wide open.

A wave of nausea and fatigue overcame memaybe Id had more to drink than I thought. Incy, whatd you do? I asked, bemused, as I got to my feet. Did you use magick on him? I gave a little laughthe idea was kind of ridiculous. I leaned against the lamppost, holding my face up to the chilly mist. A few deep breaths and I felt better.

Katy blinked blearily, and Boz chuckled.

Innocencio stood up, frowning at his new D & G boots, now flecked with rain.

Stratton and Cicely got out of the other side of the cab and joined us. They looked down at the cabbie, lying frozen on the wet pavement, and shook their heads.

Very nice, Stratton said to Incy. Very impressive, Mr. Magician. You can let the poor sod up now.

We were all looking at each other and at the cabbie. I couldnt remember the last time Id seen anyone use magick like this. Yeah, maybe to get a good table at a restaurant or to catch that last train in the Underground

I dont think so, Strat, said Innocencio, his face still tight. I dont think hes a very nice man.

Stratton and I met eyes. I tapped Innocencio on the shoulder. He and I had been partners in crime for almost a century, and we knew each other very, very well, but this cold rage was something I hadnt seen too much of. Right, leave him, then. Hell be fine in a few minutes, yeah? Lets goIm thirsty. And I guess Katy is now, too.

Katy made a face. Ugh.

Yeah, lets go, said Cicely. They have a band tonight, and I want to dance.

By the time he comes to, well be long gone. I tugged on Incys sleeve.

Hang on, said Incy.

Leave him, I repeated. I felt a little bad about just leaving the cabbie in the chilly, sprinkling rain, but hed be okay once the spell wore off.

Innocencio shrugged off my hand, surprising me. As I watched, he snapped both of his hands open at the cabbie, his lips moving. I didnt hear what he said.

With a loud, horrible cracking sound, the cabbie bucked upward, once, his mouth opening in a scream he was unable to voice.