A Bitch of a Paradox Read online

  Standing, Amanda allowed a grin to play over her face. “Regretting coming here?”

  Morden stood up a little straighter and puffed his chest out. “No,” he answered, and with a flick of his fingers, an invisible force knocked Sam off of his companion. Sam hit the wall with a whimper, but was back on his feet a second later and looking more pissed than ever.

  Amanda could see he was merely bruised.

  “My curiosity is satisfied,” Morden replied.

  Morden’s companion rose from where Sam had pinned him, his wounds Magically healing, and scowled at Sam.

  “Mangy shit,” he muttered and spat at the cat.

  Sam charged forward and slammed into the Reaver just as Morden Ported. Amanda worked her own Magic and reached out, trying to pull Sam back.

  The air snapped as the Magic ran its course. Essentia flashed, and the Reavers were gone.

  So was Sam.

  Amanda stood, staring at the spot where the Reavers had been, a feeling of shock and disbelief washing over her. “Sam?” Amanda called. She looked around, but he was nowhere to be seen. “Sam, don’t be an idiot now, where are you?”

  Essentia flared in her suite once more.

  “What the…? What now?” Amanda asked.

  Turning, Amanda spotted a floating chrome figure surrounded by silver fractals which warped reality around her.

  “Void!” Amanda exclaimed.

  “Reavers?” Void asked, her echoing, strangely-pitched voice filling the room.

  “They took Sam,” Amanda said, the shock of losing her Familiar quickly turning into panic.

  “I saw.”

  “I have to find him.”

  “I know, let me see what I can find,” Void said, and with another snap, she was gone.

  Amanda frowned. She needed to be ready. Concentrating, she worked her Magic and Ported out of the universe and into her Quantum Realm, appearing on the main deck of her ship, The Arkady Mark II.

  “Jesus,” Matt exclaimed, clutching his chest at her sudden appearance. “Don’t do that.”

  “Sorry,” Amanda apologized with a friendly smile. “But I’m going to need the ship.”

  Matt was sitting beside Liz on the nearby sofas. “Oh?” he asked. “Where are you headed?”

  “Another mission for Void,” Amanda answered.

  “For Void? You mean, you’re going to another universe again?”

  Amanda nodded. “I was just attacked by Reavers in my suite at the Union Spire.”

  “Are you alright?” Liz asked.

  “I’m fine, but they took Sam.”

  “What?” Matt asked, coming up off the sofa.

  “No!” Liz added.

  “I’m getting him back, come hell or high water,” Amanda stated, as Essentia flared behind her. She recognized the Magical signature and turned to face Void. “Any news?”

  “He’s alive,” Void answered.

  “And you couldn’t get him?” Amanda asked.

  “There are Magi that even I would struggle to stand against, Amanda, and some of those are within the Reavers. But I believe I know where he’s going. There’s a Reaver operation going on, and he stowed away on a scouting ship. If you focus on him, I believe you might find him, and be able to foil another Reaver operation.”

  “All right, good. I’m going.”

  “Me too,” Liz called out.

  “I’ll come, too,” Matt added. “If you’ll allow me to join you.”

  Amanda shrugged. “Sure, why not? The more the merrier.”

  “I will take my leave of you,” Void said, fading from view.

  “So, what happens now?” Matt asked.

  “Follow me,” Amanda said, leading the pair through the main deck and onto the bridge, where she took her place in the command chair. “Be ready for anything.”

  Amanda closed her eyes, and took a few seconds to calm her mind and body, breathing deeply as she summoned an image of Sam to her mind. She focused on him, building up her mental image of who he was and the memories they shared, until he was crystal clear in her mind’s eye.

  Typically, to locate someone, she’d need to hold something of theirs, something precious to them, that the target had invested in emotionally. But Sam was effectively part of her, making her connection to him strong enough that she didn’t need to do that.

  Then, she reached out. She hunted for him, pressing her mind and Magic out into the multiverse.

  As she did so, she called on her Magic and willed herself, her ship, and her friends to go there. To find him, and appear close to him. In space, but close.

  Then, she had him. She felt his presence and knew she could reach him. Forcing Essentia into her Magical working, the colossal energies surrounding her fluoresced and rushed in.

  Light flashed behind her eyes as the ship, and everyone on it Ported. They jumped universes, and the Magic faded.

  ***

  Zeke walked into the main room of the facility, feeling sheepish. He wasn’t looking forward to this, but he had little choice. He had to tell him, because he’d damn well find out soon enough anyway.

  Everything was still under construction, with people everywhere, building high tech cells and there, in the middle of it all, directing the other Magi, was his boss.

  Zeke took a deep breath, steadied his breathing, and set off across the room. Morden saw him coming, and paused what he was doing as he frowned.

  He knew something was wrong.

  “Zeke? I thought I told you to stay on that planet… whatever it’s called. The one with the cryptids.”

  “Um, yeah, about that.”

  Morden raised an eyebrow. “What’s happened?”

  “He got away.”

  “He got away,” Morden repeated.

  “The cat… Her cat, he got away.”

  Morden blinked, but his stare was boring into Zeke. He really wasn’t happy. “How the fuck did he escape? He’s a cat, and you’re a fucking Magus. How does that work?”

  “I, just... I don’t know. There was a ship, and some alien dudes were there. I was hiding, and then, he was gone.”

  “Was he on the ship?”

  “I don’t know, I guess. But they left.”

  “FUCK! He was leverage, in case that red-haired bitch showed up again, and you lost him.”

  “I didn’t mean to.”

  “What are you, a child? Fuck me. I’m surrounded by morons. How the hell did you become a Reaver?”

  “Well, I…”

  “Don’t. Just don’t. I really don’t care.”

  “I’ll go back, see what I can find. You never know, I might be able to…”

  Morden raised a hand, and Zeke let his sentence trail off. He closed his mouth and twisted his lips into odd shapes as he waited for Morden to say something, or do something. He half expected him to use his Magic to tear him apart, and winced at the thought.

  “No, you’re staying here,” Morden finally said, and Zeke breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll find a use for you.”

  ***

  Amanda collapsed back into her chair as the effort from the crossing took its toll. She felt like she’d just finished a triple marathon.

  “We’re here,” Matt called out. “Wherever here is. I don’t recognize anything out there.”

  “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” Liz said.

  “I have a planet on my scans,” Matt announced. “There are a ton of defenses. A battle station. Ships, too. Looks like the remains of a battle scattered around.”

  Amanda sat up and focused on her breathing. She’d need a few moments to gather herself together and get her energy back, so she focused on that and allowed the comments of her friends to wash over her. She listened as they called out their findings, wondering if she’d recognize anything.

  “There’s life on the planet. Cities. Something’s down there, that’s for sure,” Matt continued.

  Taking another deep breath and feeling her energy return, Amanda opened her eyes.

  “Ar
e you okay, Mandy?” Liz asked.

  She looked up at Liz and smiled reassuringly. “I’m fine. It just takes a lot out of me to make these crossings.”

  “As long as you’re sure.”

  “I am. Right, hold on, let me see,” she muttered as she focused on Sam once more, and tried to locate him. Right away, she could feel his presence. He was close. She concentrated and conjured a set of Magical senses—vision, hearing, smell—and willed them to manifest close to Sam.

  In her mind, the image of a room appeared with Sam sitting beside another cat and a small litter of kittens. Standing nearby were several figures, one of whom she recognized right away.

  “Well I’ll be jiggered,” Amanda gasped.

  “What is it?” Matt asked.

  “I know where we are,” she said, getting up. “Stay here, I’m going to pop over and say hi.”

  Amanda worked her Magic and Ported across space and into a room on a nearby ship.

  She appeared with a snap.

  “There you are!” Amanda said, focusing on Sam. She crouched and pulled him in for a hug.

  “Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing on my ship?”

  Amanda smiled to herself on hearing that familiar, foul-mouthed voice. She turned her head. “To be sure, and that’s a fine welcome for an old friend. Thanks for keeping Samhain safe for me, Bethany Anne.”

  “You know this woman?” a man brandishing a sword made from exotic energy asked Bethany Anne.

  “I… Yes.” Bethany Anne blinked as if trying to recall a distant memory. “Amanda, right?”

  “Bingo,” Amanda replied, flashing a grin. “So this is your universe, huh?”

  Bethany Anne made a face as the penny dropped. “BOB’s Bar. Until now, I’d thought that wasn’t anything more than a dimensional dream.”

  Amanda chuckled to herself, remembering how those memories had felt to her after her trip to the Bar. “Oh no, it was quite real.” She gave Sam one last cuddle before standing up and turning to face the group, her hands on her hips. Bethany Anne seemed like quite a dramatic person, so maybe she’d appreciate a little melodrama. “Bethany Anne. I’m here to save your life. And you,” Amanda added, pointing at Sam, “you’ve got some explaining to do.” Her eyes flicked to the nearby female cat and the kittens she was protecting.

  Sam cocked his head sideways and made a questioning grunt.

  “Save my life?” Bethany Anne replied, her voice incredulous.

  Amanda shrugged. “Well, maybe. Okay, so I’m getting ahead of myself.” Amanda walked over to the raven-haired woman and smiled. She’d met Bethany Anne twice now at BOB’s Bar, the curious multiverse bar that had pulled her and several others into it, apparently for no other reason than to listen to the visitors tell stories.

  The whole experience had been a strange one, but it had led to her meeting some interesting people. Tanis, Cal, Splurt, Artur, Rika, and Kelsey, to name a few. Not only that, but she’d also been able to follow up on her meeting with Tanis and actually visit her universe in the pursuit of the Reavers.

  Now it seemed to be happening again with Bethany Anne.

  This interesting vampire woman always seemed to be a little brusque and had something of a foul mouth on her, but Amanda felt sure they were on the same side.

  Amanda offered Bethany Anne her hand in greeting. “Sorry for jumping over here so suddenly, I didn’t mean to startle you. It’s great to see you again. So, what’s the craic?”

  Bethany Anne eyed Amanda skeptically for a second before taking her hand and shaking it. “I can’t deny, I’m surprised to see you here. I thought the events at the Bar were a result of pushing my limits.”

  Amanda shook her head. “Nope. They were quite real. I’m not sure what powers Bob wields, but he had me convinced it was a dream for a while, too.”

  Bethany Anne nodded absentmindedly as she stared off into the middle distance. Amanda gave her a minute to digest this new reality—the multiverse theory was true—and the whole host of implications that came with it. Amanda certainly understood the struggle. After all, she’d been faced with the same revelation not long ago.

  “So, who are your friends?” Amanda asked after a while and smiled at the handsome man who stood slightly behind Bethany Anne.

  Bethany Anne recovered, snapping out of her reverie. “This is Michael, my husband.”

  “You’re married?” Amanda exclaimed. She had not expected that. She offered her hand to Michael. “You’re a… lucky man.” Amanda winked at him.

  Michael shook her hand and nodded to her. “I know.”

  “I’m Amanda-Jane Page, it’s lovely to make your acquaintance, and again, apologies for my sudden appearance.”

  “I wouldn’t make a habit of it, I nearly took your head off.” A note of warning laced his words.

  Amanda smiled. “I’ll bear that in mind. So, who’s this?” Amanda looked over at the large cat lying behind Sam, and the two kittens she was nursing.

  I’m Demon, the cat answered, her amber eyes fixed on Amanda.

  Amanda raised an eyebrow. “Demon? To be sure, that’s certainly an interesting name.” She glanced at Sam as she spoke, who gave a dismissive chuff.

  “So, at the risk of repeating myself, what are you doing here?” Bethany Anne asked, one eyebrow raised.

  Amanda turned back to the woman in black. “That’s kind of a long story…”

  Bethany Anne’s expression didn’t change. “No shit. I’d love to hear it if we weren’t in the middle of a war. If this is just a social call, you might want to come back when I’ve had time to clean up.”

  “Afraid not.” Amanda cut in. “I don’t mean to add to your troubles, but I’m going to add to your troubles.”

  “Well, why else would you have crossed dimensions except to fuck up my already less-than-stellar day even further?” Bethany Anne replied. “What’s the issue?”

  “Reavers.”

  Bethany Anne waved for her to expand. “Reavers? What the shiny fuck are Reavers?”

  Amanda smiled. “Multiverse Pirates, basically. They’re Magi, like me. They can use Magic, and they’ve discovered a way to hop between universes. Yours, mine, and countless others.”

  “I take it they’re not here for a relaxing vacation at the moons of Ixtal,” Bethany Anne remarked dryly.

  Amanda shook her head. “No, I’m afraid not. They’re stealing items, weapons, Magic, even people, and trading them in other universes, or keeping them for themselves. I’m not sure what their end goal is, but they are causing havoc as they go by contaminating universes with things that upset the balance of power.”

  Michael indicated Amanda with a finger. “This is where you come in?”

  Amanda smiled again. “Got it in one. A few of us have taken it upon ourselves to stop them and limit the damage they’re causing.”

  “I admire your sentiment, but I can take care of this myself,” Bethany Anne told her. “Just tell me where the thieving sons of their mother’s brothers are so I can apply my size seven to the problem and get on with my day.”

  “We’re quite capable of protecting our own,” Michael added.

  Amanda raised her hands in a calming gesture, sensing the energy buildup around the pair. “Of course. I wouldn’t expect otherwise, but Magi are a tricky foe, and not to be taken lightly. I’m here to help.”

  Amanda worked her Magic, pulling on the Essentia around her and watched the mental communication between Bethany Anne and Michael. She could read the emotions attached to their thoughts, protected as they were, and watched as Bethany Anne sent a calming message to Michael.

  “If you know this enemy, then having you here will give us the advantage,” Bethany Anne conceded.

  Amanda nodded, and noticed Michael suddenly give her side-eye.

  ~You’re reading my thoughts!~ Michael’s voice sounded in her head.

  ~Sorry, just being cautious. I’ll refrain from now on.~

  ~Good,~ he replied.

  Amanda felt
his mind push back, shutting her out. She raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly amused. She felt sure she could force her way back in if she wanted too, but didn’t see the need. It would only serve to antagonize them, and she wasn’t here to argue with Bethany Anne or her hubby.

  Bethany Anne folded her arms, tapping her fingers on her forearm in thought. “There haven’t been any reports of an attack that matches your description of these Reavers’ MO.”

  “Not yet,” Amanda countered. “But they’ve had access to this universe for as long as Samhain has been here.”

  Bethany Anne’s gaze was on somewhere Amanda couldn’t see. She refocused on Amanda a few seconds later and smiled. “I just sent out an alert across this galaxy and the two nearby. If they attack, we’ll know within minutes. So, Sam is your cat?”

  “He’s my Familiar,” Amanda replied, noting the tech level that would be required to send a message across three galaxies. “He’ll be coming back home with me.”

  Bethany Anne nodded. “Of course.”

  Do you have to go? Demon asked Sam.

  Sam nuzzled Demon’s cheek and made a sad sounding whine, before bobbing his head to confirm that he had to leave.

  I understand. Demon’s tone didn’t quite match her acquiescent reply.

  “We’re not leaving just yet,” Amanda added. “We have some Reavers to find, which could take hours or days, I guess.”

  Then we will make the most of the time we have together, Demon stated.

  “Did you come alone?” Bethany Anne asked.

  “No, I have two friends with me, on my ship.”

  “That would be the Arkady,” a new voice informed Bethany Anne and Michael from a hidden speaker. “I have introduced myself to its crew.”

  “Thank you, ADAM,” Bethany Anne told the mystery voice.

  “I’ll Port the ship over,” Amanda replied, wondering who this ADAM was. “You’d better warn your crew, this might make them jump.”

  Amanda watched through her Aetheric Senses. She could see two other consciousnesses inside Bethany Anne, and they were in constant communication with both Bethany Anne and the outside world. This time, she observed the flurry of electromagnetic transmissions mixed with the exotic energy that she’d seen both Michael and Bethany Anne bend to their will already.