Black Sunshine

Chapter 8 - Information Always Comes with a Steep Price, and in This City that Price is Usually Pain

Nera smelled the ozone of an incoming storm as she stood in the sickeningly artificial blue light of Rain’s Bar. She knew better than to try and cut in line. The ogres at the door were not for show, and they didn’t tolerate any attempt to cheat your way in.

This was the part of her plan that she knew would take the longest. The lines were famously long and slow moving. Sometimes people waited all night to get into this bar. Nera was glad she managed to get in line before it stretched around the block.

“You, with the black hair,” one of the bouncers shouted from the front of the line, “You Nera?”

Nera was surprised but didn’t allow it to show on her face. The ogre moved down the line toward her. Things had just gotten dangerous. The warm metallic hardness against her ribs made her feel a little safer, but ogres had been known to shrug off quite a few slugs before succumbing to their injuries. She definitely didn’t have enough for the half a dozen that guarded the bar’s entrance.

“And if I am?” Nera called back.

“Rain wants a word with you.”

“Well, isn’t that convenient, because I want a word with her.”

Nera could feel the slimy wetness of the inhibition lowering magic that pervaded the atmosphere. An unfortunate side-effect of her demonic heritage was the ability to feel magic. Rarely was the effect pleasant. She could feel her mind becoming fuzzy, and she almost wanted to let it take her distress.

No. Focus.

She pushed herself to resist the effect with a shiver. Another side effect of her heritage was being able to resist magic at will, this was one she appreciated. Unfortunately, even she wouldn’t be able to resist it forever. She had to minimize the time she spent here.

The ogre led her to the large table at the back of the busy bar. A song with a nice driving beat was playing from the front. She couldn’t help but appreciate the atmosphere that Rain had achieved. It was pleasant and fun.

“Ah, Nera. How is retirement treating you?”

“It didn’t last unfortunately.”

“Is that right?” Rain said with all the fake surprise of a bad poker player, her fox ears twitching unconsciously, “You know I think I did recall hearing about an incident earlier that had your scent all over it.”

“You wanted to talk?”

“Oh, where are my manners? Please, sit down, what would you like to drink? It’s on the house of course.”

“Thank you, I’ll have a soda with a lime wedge.”

“Now, what can I help you with?”

“I thought you wanted to speak with me?”

“Yes, about what you need help with. I could smell your desire for a deal from all the way in here.”

“I see. In that case, I need to know about the Nuns of Contempt.”

“I’m afraid that information is quite expensive.”

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“What kind of price? You know I don’t have a soul to bargain with.”

“Let me see. A job. One that aligns with your interest in the Nuns of Contempt as a matter of fact.”

“Go on, I’m listening,” Nera sipped her soda.

“There is a warehouse on the edge of town, where the Nuns are keeping some sort of new power. I want it.”

“Is it heavily guarded or something?”

“I don’t think so, but I can’t be seen to be making any sort of overt move.”

“So you want me and the Lilies to take the heat.”

“Precisely.”

“And in exchange I get what?”

“I will provide all the information you need to find the leader of the Nuns of Contempt, a man called the Bishop of Ruin, and all the information I have managed to gather about his organization.”

“Where do you want this power source brought?”

“I have a man set up in the alley off of fifth and holiday. Bring it there, and if he’s satisfied he will provide you with all the information you need.”

“And the entire cost is covered by this job?”

“Yes.”

“Then you won’t mind if we shake on it.”

“Of course not,” Rain’s face tightened, but she didn’t argue as Nera shook her hand instead of the customary kiss.

“Consider it done,” Nera said, before downing the rest of her soda, wincing at the sharp pain of bubbles in her throat.

No sooner had she stood and turned her back to Rain than Nera felt the all too familiar feeling of a gun in her back. Even through the leather of her jacket it was unmistakable. She stopped and raised her hands slowly.

“I told you I’d kill you,” the deep gravelly voice of Detective Mackie said.

Nera silently cursed, she had let her guard down. This never would have happened before she left the Lilies. The spells must have wormed their way through her defenses. They were insidious like that.

“You sure did, Mackie. Way to cut the line.”

“Sorry, Nera,” Rain’s dark velvety voice said, “It’s just business. You know how it is, and you did forget to bargain for safe passage out of my domain.”

“I figured that was implied by my agreement to do the job. Can’t do it if I die.”

“It’s solid logic, Nera, but implication is worth nothing when it comes to the deal.”

“I see,” Nera frowned, “Mackie, I don’t want you to get twitchy on me. So I’m telling you what I’m going to do. I’m going to grab something from around my neck. Don’t shoot.”

“You better move real slow, Nera. A blessed bullet to the back is a nasty way to go I hear.”

Nera winced at the thought. Slowly brought her left hand behind her head, and pulled the amulet from around her neck. She let it hang from her hand where Rain and Mackie could both see it.

“Do you recognize this, Rain?”

“Shit,” Rain muttered.

“Yeah, it’s a real fancy necklace. So what?” Mackie said.

“It’s safe passage from my domain,” Rain said darkly, “You have to let her go.”

“The hell I do.”

“I’m afraid you do,” Nera said, suddenly very glad that Olise had given her the amulet, “it’s the law. It’s also magically binding to a kaizen like Rain. You wouldn’t want to end up on the wrong end of that now would you, Mackie?”

“I never should have given that to Olise, the old bat.”

“Rain,” Mackie growled, “are you going back on our deal? You said I would get to kill her.”

“Of course not, dear detective,” Rain purred, “though the specific wording of our deal was to put her at your mercy. I have done just that. As a freebie I will tell you that once she’s out of the bar, her safe passage ends. So simply put your gun away until she’s left my protection. Goodbye, Nera. Do give my best to Olise.”

“Goodbye, Rain. Just so you know our deal is still on the table. Don’t forget now.”

“Oh, I haven’t.

Nera proceeded to walk out of the bar with Mackie shortly behind her itching to draw.