Descent into Tartarus Read online

  Descent into Tartarus

  Furies Book 2

  ________________________

  By

  David Thompson

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Except for the Gods. Those buggers are quite real.

  © 2018 David Thompson

  Furies Screenplay © 2015 David Thompson/Thompson Coons Productions

  Cover: © Adobe Stock

  Flame Retouching by David Thompson

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

  So There!

  Descent into Tartarus

  ABOUT THIS BOOK:

  Part 1

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  Part 2

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Part 3

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Epilogue

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ABOUT THIS BOOK:

  This novel is derived from my screenplay: The Furies.

  The world of the Furies cannot be compressed into a single novel, so it’s a 2-book series. You will need to read “Angels of Vengeance” to be fully aware of the events that led up to the events in this book.

  I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed thinking up bizarre situations to throw the Furies into and the interesting characters that flesh out this series.

  The cat, Dude, is modeled after my late cat Manny, a chill, rotund orange tabby who left us far too soon.

  I am now planning the 3rd Furies Book. No firm date on its release just yet.

  Dave Thompson

  Los Angeles, CA

  Dec, 2018

  “Gods die. And when they truly die they are unmourned and unremembered.”

  — Neil Gaiman

  To Bune and Kali for their inspiration;

  And Manny, who left us far too soon.

  Part 1

  CHAPTER ONE

  Tisiphone and Alecto faded into view in Gaia's bedroom, carrying the elder goddess between them. They settled her tenderly on the old bed and stood back.

  "I need to get word to Zeus. This can't be happening. How can she be injured like this?" Tisiphone wondered aloud.

  "Oh, my god!" Brianna whispered.

  Brianna had appeared in Gaia's doorway, her eyes wide in fear. She joined Tisiphone as Alecto assessed Gaia's wounds.

  Alecto opened Gaia's torn shirt and let out an audible gasp at the scope of the wounds. First thing she looked at was a severe gash along her left side from where Sorath's claw had ripped into the flesh, almost exposing Gaia's ribcage.

  "It's not even trying to heal," Alecto commented.

  Gaia moved, her eyelids fluttering. She let out a small grunt as Tisiphone helped Alecto remove the torn clothing. Brianna bundled the shredded clothing and held it to her breast as she watched, wide-eyed.

  "We need bandages. Where do I find such things?" Tisiphone muttered.

  "She needs a doctor," Brianna offered. "We should take her to the emergency room."

  "I'll go make some bandages out of an old bed sheet. There are herbs in the garden, what's left of it, that help speed healing. It's not like we can take her to a human's healing center," Alecto pointed out.

  "Wait, I know just the woman," Tisiphone said. "I'll be back as quick as I can." She winked out of sight.

  Alecto opened Gaia's wardrobe and rummaged through the bottom drawers. She took out a sand-colored bundle of sheets.

  "No... not those," Gaia managed. She was struggling to sit up. "Please, those were a gift from Ra. Check my washroom."

  "Mother! Sit back down!" Alecto admonished Gaia. She put the sheets back and went into the small washroom. Gaia dropped back down on her pillow as Alecto rummaged around and returned with a towel and a basin of water. She gave a small cloth to Brianna, asking her to rip it into strips for bandages.

  "Mother, what happened? How did he get to you?" Alecto asked while cleaning the wounds. The worst damage was to her side. Gaia's face was bruised and bloody, her nose purple, but nothing fatal.

  "We're all weakened while Megaera is mortal. I was afraid of this," Gaia admitted. "I knew Sorath was in that child's killer, but I wanted to make certain before I mentioned anything."

  "It's all my fault. If I had just stayed home, studied like Uncle Dan said I should..." Brianna started. Tears welled up in her eyes.

  "I wouldn't have had to come here and ask Tisiphone to go after that guy," Brianna continued while ripping the cloth into long strips. She dabbed at her eyes with the cloth.

  "Someone would have petitioned us before long, anyway," Alecto pointed out. She took a long strip of cloth from Brianna and folded it into a soft pad, then took another and dressed up the gash in Gaia's side. "This will serve for a while. I don't expect you know what herbs will help in healing?" Alecto asked Brianna.

  "No idea, but I can 'Google' it."

  "That won't work," Alecto said. "We'll need some lavender and goldenrod."

  "What do those things look like?" Brianna asked.

  "Oh, great," Alecto sighed. She stood and said, "Alright. Go to the kitchen and wait for me. Grab the mortar and a jar or two. We'll need those to prepare the herbs. I'll be down in a few minutes, and I'll show you what to do."

  Brianna went to the door then looked back at Gaia. The goddess was sunken into her pillow and her skin had an odd yellow tint. Brianna turned and rushed down the stairs.

  "That will focus her mind and keep her from worrying," Alecto said, quietly.

  "So, what will you do to keep from worrying?" Gaia whispered.

  "Plan how I shall dispatch Sorath," Alecto said.

  <<<>>>

  Dan Lanahan sat in his living room, trying to convince his longtime partner, Derek Jones, that he wasn't as crazy as it sounded. Jones was standing in the living room, waiting, as Dan finished trying to describe the situation.

  "Alright," Jones started. "You guys had a fight, all because you tested the food she made you, right? That about sum it up?"

  "Yeah," Dan responded. "Dylan said it was fine, the wine was quite unique, and I told Megaera all about it. Man, then she became furious, hit the ceiling, and stormed out. Now, she's missing. She's not at her house and nowhere in-between. I drove all over, looking."

  "About how long has she been missing?" Jones asked, in full detective mode.

  "Seven hours. She ran out this morning, and I didn't see where she went, by the time I was outside, she was gone. Not unusual for her, but this afternoon when I got in for lunch, her sister was here searching for her," Dan told Jones, who was writing everything down.

  "Have a picture of her? What type of car does she drive?"

  "No photos. She doesn't drive, not that I've seen, but she has a white horse," Dan pointed out.

  "A ho
rse." Jones nodded. "You check the riding center south of here?"

  "I've looked everywhere I could think of before I called you."

  "And her description?" Jones asked, looking at his partner.

  "About five eleven, blonde, pale skin, blue eyes," Dan started. He paused, then continued, "She was the woman I saw in the store stand-off a week ago. Wow, was it only a week ago?"

  Dan was referring to the tense stand-off at a grocery store, the day his niece, Brianna, was kidnapped and slain.

  "Yeah, a shit load of things have happened this week. I'm still doing the paperwork," Jones remarked. "Is this it? No photos? Her description is rather generic, Dan."

  Jones paused for a moment, then added, "I have no idea how many tall blondes are between here and Los Angeles, can't be more than a few hundred... thousand!"

  "Yeah, Jonesy," Dan agreed.

  Dan rubbed his face, he was used up after the past week as well: His niece killed, a police officer also killed. The FBI profiler Kyle Banks turned out to be the killer, but was himself murdered by Megaera's sister, Tisiphone. He guessed if he survived to the next week, he's going to live a long, long life. And there was no way in hell he would tell Jones about Tisiphone.

  "Hold on, buddy. Isn't that the woman you swore you saw in the store, but no one else saw her?" Jones closed his notepad and sighed. "Dan, this isn't a lot to go on, you know that. I'm not so sure she even exists."

  "I hear you," Dan said. "I really do. If she's a figment of my imagination, explain the wine, explain the exotic bird she brought over for dinner."

  "I can't and I'm not going even try, man." Jones took a seat next to his partner and friend. "Maybe you need someone to talk to. You know, we got that therapist coming over the next few days, she'll be available to anyone who needs it. Stress can cause all sorts of issues. Now, level with me. How much have you had to drink?"

  Dan started to get angry, defensive. Then the rising anger just faded away. He looked at his friend, shook his head and admitted: "Just the wine she brought over. I haven't touched the scotch in days."

  Jones looked around, at a loss for words. "Show me this wine you keep talking about."

  Dan got up and went into the kitchen. He still had the first bottle that Megaera had brought over, and he took it from the refrigerator. On his way back into the living room, he grabbed a small juice glass. He held both out to Jones.

  "I can say this: It's an unusual bottle," Jones observed as he held the odd-shaped bottle.

  "It's terracotta. Called an 'amphora'. Dylan said it's a lot like the bottles used in ancient Greece," Dan explained. "He tested the other bottle, it's recent. Not ancient at all, except for the wine recipe."

  As Dan was talking, Jones had poured a small sample. He tasted it and frowned. Then swallowed. "This is unusual. Dylan did say it's not spiked with anything?"

  "It's just wine."

  "Okay. If I start seeing winged fairies, then we'll know, won't we?"

  Dan laughed, for the first time in hours. "Yeah, we will."

  Dan took a seat in his recliner. Dude jumped into his lap and Dan rubbed the cat's ears absentmindedly as he thought. He watched as Jones finished the small glass and plug the bottle with the cork. "I'm not a wine guy, mostly beer. But that was pretty good."

  "Meg told me that her mother had made it."

  "I almost got into home brewing, but I figured a few beers a week is cheaper than all the equipment I'd need," Jones said, trying to pass the time. Get Dan to relax a bit, he might recall more important info about this mystery woman.

  Dan kept looking towards the hallway, remembering that creature he and Megaera had seen, and how Dude had acted that morning after Megaera had vanished.

  "What?" Jones asked. "You see something?"

  "Not now, no." Dan stood, letting Dude have the recliner. "Have any of the results from the test on Banks come in yet? Anything linking him to Brianna and Kelsey?"

  "Not by the time I left to come over here," Jones said while standing.

  Dan walked Jones to the door.

  "You know how this all works," Jones said, walking out onto the porch. "I'll put it out on the air, send it to all agencies, but without a photo, can't expect much, buddy."

  Dan nodded. "Yeah, but I'll drive around again, just in case I spot her."

  "She may be in hiding, so pissed off at your stupid ass she doesn't want to talk to you for a while." Jones walked to his car and climbed in.

  Dan watched as Jones backed out and drove off.

  "I can only hope," Dan whispered.

  <<<>>>

  Tisiphone aimed her matte black motorcycle up a dirt trail, deep into the rugged land where the Tipai-Ipai tribe lived. She guided her bike between several small houses and aimed for a small rounded adobe hut with straw for a roof. Someone hung a piece of red leather up, acting as the door.

  As her motorcycle rolled up, a weathered old woman appeared, holding open the leather flap. Delfina, tribal shaman, squinted at Tisiphone as she climbed off her bike. Her bronze face wasn't smiling. She puffed on her corncob pipe and eyed Tisiphone walking towards her.

  "Let me get my bag, and can you turn your thing back into a horse? I'm scared of riding motorcycles," Delfina said as she disappeared back into her hut. Tisiphone stood with her hands on her hips. In a moment, Delfina reappeared and walked up to Tisiphone.

  "Who's hurt?" Delfina asked, her pipe gripped in her mouth.

  "Mother," Tisiphone answered.

  "She knows better than to take on that demon without back-up," Delfina spat. "How bad?"

  "Terrible," Tisiphone said as she turned and led Delfina to her ride, now a glossy black stallion. "Have to ride bareback, you understand. If you want a saddle, he has to be a bike."

  Delfina stopped and considered a moment. Then she grunted and went to the horse's head, who was eying her with curiosity.

  "He's a gentle soul," Delfina said as she rummaged in her large cloth bag. She produced a small sugar cube. She held it out on her open palm and the horse picked it up and munched quietly. "I'll manage."

  Tisiphone easily jumped on her stallion and reached down to help Delfina up.

  "Hang on, few people can stomach traveling this way," Tisiphone warned.

  She gripped Tisiphone around the waist and the horse trotted down the worn road. Tisiphone urged him on and he made a small jump and they disappeared in mid-air.

  <<<>>>

  Gaia was breathing softly as Alecto continued to clean her head.

  "It appears you broke your nose," Alecto observed.

  Gaia just grunted as Alecto rinsed the washcloth. Blood and mud were caked on Gaia's face, and Alecto was trying to be as gentle as possible.

  Brianna showed up with a jar of herbs marinating in warm water. She sat it on the table next to Gaia's bed and retreated into a corner.

  Outside, Tisiphone arrived with Delfina. The elderly woman was hugging Tisiphone as tight as she could, her eyes screwed shut. After they materialized, Delfina let out a heavy sigh.

  Tisiphone dropped to the ground and held out her hands to help Delfina. She left the horse to walk to the stable on its own. He used his mouth to open the main gate with a short piece of rope, and he went inside. The gate shut itself.

  Both walked into Gaia's room. Delfina stopped and took in the room. Large four-poster bed, the room decorated in classic Victorian-era furniture. Antique dresser, armoire, floral wallpaper. Gaia had fallen in love with the era, and it showed.

  Delfina went to Gaia's side. She greeted her old friend warmly. Gaia's eyes fluttered, then stayed open.

  "Ah, this is who you went after, Tish?" Gaia asked.

  "Of course she did! Who else?" Delfina said as she lifted the sheet. She pulled the bandages away. She gasped audibly when she saw the wound. "Who did this?"

  "Sorath," Alecto said.

  "I hope you gave as good as you got, mother!" Delfina said. Gaia grimaced and struggled to smile.

  "Child, come here," Delfina said, studying Br
ianna. Brianna stepped closer. "I'll need a pot of boiling water. Can you handle that?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Brianna said, racing out of the room.

  "Poor kid," Delfina said. "Okay, there's magic and poison in this cut. I can deal with the poison part. The magic? Not so much. Is Megaera around?"

  "No, she's disappeared. No idea," Alecto said, glancing at Tisiphone.

  "She's not with her mortal lover," Tisiphone told Delfina.

  "She's powerless, anyway," Alecto pointed out.

  "She's pregnant with that mortal's baby," Gaia whispered.

  "Damn. I warned you guys," Delphine muttered. "Yes, I warned both of you. Now it's really fucked up."

  "Don't go blaming Megaera. She's impulsive, and the mortal is quite handsome, in his own fashion," Gaia whispered, holding her friend's hand.

  Brianna reappeared with a pot of steaming water. Delfina stood and grabbed the pot. "Watch child, you might learn something."

  Delfina placed the pot on the dresser and opened her bag. She pulled brown bottles and small jars out of the bag. "Forget the herbs. In instances like this, we need real medicine, not magic. I need you to take these and set them in the water then let it boil for at least 10 minutes and they stay there until I call for them."

  She held out a set of metal forceps, a scalpel, several clamps, and a small pair of stainless-steel scissors. Brianna placed them in the pot of water and rushed out of the room. Delfina took out a pair of purple medical gloves and slipped them on her gnarled hands.

  They waited patiently while Brianna boiled the instruments. She returned in 10 minutes.

  "Excellent! Now, child, you'll assist me while I clean out that gash." Delfina ordered. "Sisters, help me roll her on her side. I will need more sheets and bandages."

  Alecto and Tisiphone eased Gaia onto her side. Brianna sat a small catch basin under Gaia's side.

  Delfina took a large syringe and one of the brown bottles and went to work. She carefully irrigated the wound, aiming the liquid into the gash, and up under the flaps of skin. As the liquid flowed into the injury, flecks of black clotted blood and yellowing clumps of venom flowed out.