Abe’s just another soul lingering in the afterlife of the City, trying to mind his own business. He leaves the ushering of souls Above and Below to the Seraph and Hellhound, respectively. Until those two rope him into their own current problems - leaving him no choice but to go down among the dead men to find answers to their mysteries.
What follows is a fragment from “Down Among the Dead Men”, which appears in the recently released anthology Pinup Noir from Raconteur Press.
Faith caught sight of me coming through the doors and scooted over to meet me as I bellied up to the bar. She knew my return meant a new story. “Hey, cowboy. Any luck?”
I told her about my searches. “Not a damn thing except for that wraith. I suppose I should write Gideon a thank-you note for at least breaking up the monotony of my day with a thread. You notice anything here, by chance?”
“Nah. You know me. I just lay down the drinks and listen to people tell me about their life.”
I can take a hint. “Tell you what. Pour me something strong and I’ll tell you another one I got from the Old Man.”
Faith grinned. “Now you’re talking my language!” She slid a glass onto the counter and reached for a bottle before she stopped, staring past me. I turned in time to see the shade of Anne Marie Chase sweep through the huge double doors at the front of the bar.
Her long blonde hair stirred from wind that wasn’t there. She strode across the floor, her short white skirt swirling in the ethereal way that only ectoplasm can.
Like Drosser, there was more to the Seraph than meets the eye. The wraiths in the bar paused as she passed them by. For a moment, they were a bit more substantial, a bit more aware of their surroundings, as they moved out of her way to watch her pass.
Chase held the hand of a fresh shade. A tiny, barefoot wisp of a girl with long dark hair wearing a pale yellow summer dress. The girl followed Chase sedately enough, but her eyes darted around the room as she moved. She wore an expression I thought of as “new shade”. A combination of wonder, touched with realization and a drop of despair.
They drifted over to the baby grand. Chase stopped and leaned against the gray piano. Color slowly seeped into it as it became more substantial. The faint tinkling of music became louder, then drifted off as the man at the piano became aware of someone standing next to him.
Chase leaned over. “Play it.”
The pianist nodded slowly, then turned back to the keyboard. Chase sang as he played, her voice soft and low. Bourbon over ice, heat with a chill to send a shiver down the memory of your spine.
Let me tell you, I don’t know music. For a few moments there, though, I understood how much of the world I was missing out on. Every wraith in the place stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at the two of them.
Her song ended so quickly I wondered if it had even happened. The wraiths turned back to their business, but there seemed to be a touch more color to them as they did so. I could hear girl in the yellow sun dress humming the tune as they approached the bar.
I stood and gave the ghost of a bow. “Ma’am.”
“Abe.” Chase’s voice was ethereal. “This is Mazda. She is in need of you now.”
“Seriously, Chase? I have something else going on right now.”
Chase ignored me and reached out to take my hand. She raised it and took the girl’s hand. Placed it in mine. The girl blinked and started a bit, as if I had just appeared in front of her.
“Now you have two.” Behind me, Faith laughed. “Take care of Mazda, Abe.” She turned, took a few steps, and faded into the light. All three of us stared at the place where Chase had disappeared.
Want to find out what happens with Abe, Mazda, and Faith? You’ll have to pick up a copy of Pinup Noir from Raconteur Press!
That is a great little story! Well done!!!