Damaged Gods

He sent her here to trick me. To make me send her into Tarq’s tomb to get that book.

The book he needs.

The book that will redistribute power and change everything.

But not just the book.

He needs more than that book.

He needs Tarq.

Did I just create a hole in the paradox that could allow Tarq to escape?

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - PIE

For a moment, I am confused.

I look over my shoulder. Nope. That’s all how it should be. The cemetery. The daylight. The top of the cathedral just over the hill.

But when I look forward—yeah. That’s where things stop making sense. Because I’m not in a tomb. I just walked into the lower level of the cathedral. Except this is not my cathedral.

There are dozens, possibly hundreds, of people walking around. Going up steps that look familiar, going down steps that don’t exist, passing by me and going into other rooms on either side of the lower great hall that are not supposed to be there.

But here’s where it really gets interesting. None of these people are Tarq. They are not even monsters. They’re just… people. Like… office workers. In fact, this place looks like it could be the interior of a downtown Philly office building. And in the space between the many, many, many people bustling about, I can even see a reception desk.

“What the actual fuck?”

There’s a man at the desk. A very well-dressed young man. Neat, dark hair. Clean-shaven face. He’s slight. Slim, but not skinny. Just one of those naturally trim people who can wear anything and look amazing. Right now, he’s wearing a black suit. Not just any black suit, but the kind they call bespoke.

He spots me through the crowd as well, and his smile becomes even bigger and brighter, if that’s even possible. He swiftly comes out from behind the reception desk and the crowd almost parts for him. So he’s right up in front of me before I can properly prepare myself for what comes next.

“Hello!” He beams. He clasps his hands behind his back and rocks on his heels a little. “You’re a new face. How can I help you?”

“Um.” Yeah. I don’t have a plan for this. “Well.” I sigh. “OK. I’m looking for a mon—a man,” I correct, thanking my lucky stars I didn’t just blurt out the word ‘monster.’ “A man called Tarq.” I look around, doubtful. “You don’t happen to know him, do you?”

The slim guy smiles at me. But it’s not beaming anymore. It’s a little tight-lipped. “Of course, ma’am.” He chuckles. “Tarq is…” He pans his arms wide. “The boss.”

“Right. Yes. I knew that. So… so I’m here to see him. I have a message from a mutual friend called Pell. Can you point me to Tarq so I can deliver this message?”

I am an idiot. This whole thing is stupid. I have to be stuck in a dream. Or maybe I really did die the morning after Halloween? Nothing in my life makes sense anymore.

Did it ever?

I don’t know.

“First, let’s introduce ourselves. Then we can get to the bottom of this.”

“Sure. I’m Pie,” I say. He makes that face everyone makes when they hear my name. But I just keep going. “Pie Vita. Nice to meet you…”

“Luciano.” He shakes my hand. “Luciano Giordano. And do you mind if I say your name is quite lovely?” Then he kisses my hand.

I might blush a little at that gesture. But I quickly pull myself together. “Luciano Giordano. That’s… interesting. In a nice way,” I add quickly. Because I know what it’s like to have someone say your name is… interesting. But his is very mob. And I don’t get it. “It was just a little… unexpected.”

“We all love the unexpected, don’t we?”

“Do we?” I don’t, I can say that for sure. But right now, I just want to play the game, get what I need, and get the fuck out of here. I feel like I just walked into an alternate reality and I don’t like it. Of all the things that have happened to me over the past week or so, this is the most unsettling. Not even the orgy room or realizing I have horns and hooves shook me the way this place does.

Luciano smiles at me like he might be following my internal monologue. “You say you have a message. And I don’t mean to pry. But, pray tell, can you give me more than that? It’s none of my business, so I don’t need details, but Tarq likes a heads up when people like you show up.”

“People like me?”

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. That came out wrong. People who come from…” He nods his head towards the back door. And when I look over my shoulder, the tomb is gone and in its place is just a city. Like… all those tombs that should be there are now buildings in a bustling downtown.