CHAPTER TEN
Ljubica slowed to a stop near the river, killing her Phantom's power. Side stand down, she got off the motorcycle, pulled her helmet off and headed for her usual spot by the rushing water. She needed to figure things out and since she couldn't sleep, she came here to think.
She noticed a bloody body along the river bank. As she neared it, Ljubica recognized the leather and orange fishnet. One of the Circle's lieutenant's was dead, but the body was too small to be Johnny.
It was Lin. Ljubica's mind kept flashing to visions of Lin dead all those years ago, in the trunk of her car. It hadn't been this messy then. Someone had killed her in a violent, angry way.
Ljubica noticed the red blood. Had she died free?
"Lin..." Ljubica murmured sadly. "Rest in peace."
Lin's eyes fluttered open, and when she coughed, fresh blood spattered her lips. "Dumb asses."
"Fucking shit," Ljubica said in disbelief.
Lin swallowed. "I n-need... your help."
"Fuck you," Ljubica shot back. "Go back to your grave, Lin."
"I... I don't think I can h-heal this," she explained. "Too much damage, blood loss..."
"Then you're fucking dying," Ljubica told her. Part of her didn't like it, but she'd lived without Lin for almost a decade. She was used to it.
Lin sighed, but nodded. "I-it's probably... for the best. Sit... S-sit with me? For old time's sake?"
Every fiber of her being screamed that this was a trap, but Ljubica sat next to her old friend anyway.
Lin smiled in thanks. "Your man's... g-good with a sword. How did Mother take him, anyway?"
"After being stabbed by a Ronin asshole, he took lessons," Ljubica explained, dodging the second question, but then realized Lin had no idea who the Ronin were. "They were a gang that took over Stilwater after Julius blew me the fuck up."
"J-Julius?" Lin asked, closing her eyes. "You were h-his perfect little s-soldier."
Ljubica nodded. "Later he tried telling me it was because I was being too power hungry. The Saints had fulfilled their purpose, and he knew I wouldn't be stepping down. I was in a coma for five fucking years."
"Well, I hope you killed him for it."
"Bullet to the head," Ljubica replied.
Lin's cold hand found Ljubica's. "I'm sorry. F-for everything."
Ljubica shrugged. "You're not really being you anyway. I will be remembering you as you were before dying the first time."
"I still feel... like m-me," Lin told her.
"So you were always hating me?" Ljubica asked, chuckling.
Lin laughed faintly. "No. Mother doesn't have a... a hold on me anymore. Our ties broke when she t-tried to kill me."
"Too bad you're going to be dying, then," Ljubica replied. "I am needing all the help I can get, it seems."
"I don't want to die," Lin said quietly. "She was afraid I could become strong enough to rival her, I could smell her fear whenever I entered the room."
"You're really fucked up," Ljubica replied. "I'd put you out of your misery if guns worked. You take a long time to be dying."
Lin laughed faintly. "Saving your life is what cost me mine, I-I think. The final straw and all that."
"I had your Voxel pulled out of the river," Ljubica said changing the subject.
"My baby," Lin breathed.
Ljubica nodded. "I am keeping it stored someplace safe, fully restored. Purple on white instead of blue on white."
"Why would you... d-do that?" Lin asked, wincing.
"I missed you," Ljubica explained. "A lot. And I was having lots of money, so why not?"
Lin smiled faintly. "Don't let me die?"
"Are you a zombie?" Ljubica asked.
"We're not zombies," Lin replied. "I learned to feed myself without her, and it made me stronger I think. Mother was pissed."
"Well, I can only be bringing back zombies with Tera's serum."
Both women remained silent for several seconds. Ljubica chewed her lower lip, while Lin lay silently next to her.
"You never answered me about Johnny," Lin said finally.
Ljubica glanced at the other woman. "He died recently."
"Who the fuck managed to take out Gat?" Lin asked incredulously.
Ljubica chuckled. She knew the sentiment. "He died as a hero, saving Shaundi and me. He sacrificed everything to be getting us out of a bad spot."
"Most of Mother's zombies don't look like Johnny," Lin explained.
"Chance had me finding him as a zombie in Steelport," Ljubica informed her. "I had some people create a cure for the gas that caused the body to rise. But it was not a perfect cure, and she was able to take him."
Silence stretched between them again. Lin coughed.
"Let me feed," Lin said, finally breaking the silence again.
"Sure," Ljubica replied. "Can you be hanging on long enough for Freckle Bitch's? My bike is fast."
Lin laughed, and the scent of lilacs grew stronger. "You haven't changed. But no, I don't need a burger. Something much more delicious."
Ljubica frowned. "Okay?"
Lin beckoned with her finger. "I need you to trust me."
"I am not thinking so," Ljubica told her.
"Remember the kiss in your parking lot?" Lin asked.
Ljubica felt her cheeks coloring. "Fuck that kiss."
Lin managed a grin. "This is better."
"I am not being your play thing, Lin," Ljubica said dangerously. She meant it.
Lin smirked. She'd been wrong, and had been slowly regaining her strength after-all.
Ljubica noticed, too. "Some of your cuts are gone. You are not needing me, I think."
Lin nodded. "But it'll go faster if you help me. They could come back."
"I am not fucking your bloody body by the river," Ljubica said with a laugh.
Lim shook her head. "I didn't mean sex. Why won't you just trust me?"
"You tried to kill me?" Ljubica retorted. "More than once?"
"I also saved your life, and from a very scary fucking death!" Lin shot back.
Ljubica huffed. She didn't like owing people anything, and as a claustrophobic, being buried alive was very high on her list of ways not to die.
"What are you needing me to do?" she asked.
Lin grinned, and Ljubica swore the other woman had dainty, but noticeable fangs instead of typical canines.
"Soon I wouldn't have had to ask permission, so good choice," Lin advised. "And it's better this way, for you."
Lin lunged forward, teeth bared, and bit into Ljubica's neck. As her teeth broke the surface, Ljubica felt pain, but it was washed away so quickly by sheer, raw euphoria that she barely noticed.
When it was over, Ljubica realized she was breathing hard, and her head was laying in Lin's lap. Cool hands stroked her hair. She sat up quickly, hand going to her neck. She realize she'd lost time, but had no idea how much.
There was no wound.
"Neat trick, huh?" Lin asked, looking refreshed and invigorated. Her eyes were a very pale violet in the dark, no longer orange, and flashed purple for a split second.
"A fucking vampire?" Ljubica asked incredulously. "Really?"
Lin shrugged. "Seems that way."
"Oh, for fuckings sake," Ljubica grumbled. "Josh is going to have fits."
"Wait," Lin began. "That jack ass dressed as Nyte Blayde is actually Josh Birk?"
Ljubica chuckled. "Yes. I am not knowing why he decided to do it, but it let him step up. Whatever, as long as he is working."
Lin laughed, a long, loud, but joyous sound. "I can't wait to fuck with him. Can we head home?"
Ljubica frowned. She didn't entirely trust her, yet. "I am not thinking that is a good idea."
"What?" Lin asked, annoyed. "You still don't trust me?"
Ljubica sighed. "Sorry."
Lin's visage darkened. "I could have killed you just now, you know. Part of me wanted to kill you."
Ljubica stood up. "And you are being mad I am not trusting you."
Lin shook her head. "It's not Mother's influence. Something inside me, but I don't let it control me, not anymore."
Ljubica shook her head.
Lin sighed. "Boss, come on, I can watch over the place while you sleep!"
"Don't be calling me that, you are not being a Saint anymore," Ljubica warned.
Lin tore the orange fishnet away from her arms, throwing it into the river. "Fuck the Circle, damn it! They tried to kill me, remember? I can help you take out my siblings!"
"Damn it," Ljubica growled. "Can you do for them what you did for yourself? Can you be freeing them?"
"I offered, but they didn't seem interested."
"Well fuck and shit," Ljubica replied sardonically.
"Tell me about it," Lin said with a chuckle.
Ljubica sighed. "Welcome back to the Saints."
Lin grinned, and walked over to retrieve her sword. "Thanks. Now, take me to my baby."
#
Ljubica stepped onto the landing in the basement of Purgatory. Lin had insisted she stay down here, and had picked out a room. Ljubica found her sitting on a full-size mattress with purple sheets and pillow, and a black blanket. The new-old Saint was wearing a pair of Kinzie's purple pajama bottoms and a black t-shirt, and was finishing up repairing her leather outfit.
"You've been at this all night," Ljubica said, leaning against the door frame. She'd changed into a pair of purple shorts and a black tank top. She noticed every stitch of orange thread had been replaced with purple, and the fishnet sleeves had been replaced with purple, too. It was darker than the bright violet she preferred herself.
Lin nodded. "I already did the sword. I need to sleep, soon, but I'll be up again at sunset."
"You're serious about this vampire shit," Ljubica said. She still didn't quite believe it, despite experiencing it.
Lin chuckled. "You would, too, if you'd been burned by a sunrise.
"I'm going to be hungry when I wake up," Lin informed her. "Fuck, I'm famished, now. I didn't take a whole lot earlier, and most of it went to healing that mess."
Ljubica frowned. Lin looked pretty pale, but had lost her grey pallor almost completely.
"Relax, I'm not going to eat anyone," Lin promised. "Well, anyone here."
"I need to know where to hit the Circle," Ljubica told her.
"Babe, they're all over the catacombs and sewers beneath Stilwater," Lin replied, stretching. She set aside her uniform and lay on the bed.
Ljubica frowned again. "Then I better be treating them like fucking cockroaches."
"Mother doesn't even want your city," Lin said, eyes fluttering closed. Her voice grew distant and she didn't fight the urge to rest. "She just wants you out of the way."
"What the fuck is she wanting, then?" Ljubica asked.
Lin looked peaceful, and rather dead to the world. Her chest didn't move, and no breath could be heard escaping her.
"That's fucking creepy," Ljubica breathed, rubbing her arms. She headed back upstairs.
#
Ljubica sat down across from Josh with a bag from Freckle Bitch's. A muted episode of Nyte Blayde was on the television, and the Saint-cum-vigilante stared at the screen intently, mouthing his part.
Ljubica cast him a glance, smirking, and then tore into her food like a woman possessed. She'd fallen asleep in the afternoon and woken up starving after missing two meals.
The scent of lilacs filled the room, and Lin walked through the main entrance wearing her new uniform.
Nyte Blayde leapt to his feet, drawing both swords and hissing. "The enemy invades us!"
"Calm down before I gut you," Lin growled, low and dangerous.
"Relax, ah, Nyte Blayde, she is being invited," Ljubica said, stuffing empty wrappers into the bag.
Nyte Blayde turned to her. "You would bring evil into our home?"
Lin rolled her eyes. "I'm a Saint, again. Fuck off."
"My house, my rules," Ljubica agreed.
Nyte Blayde sheathed his swords, but glowered at Lin. "I'm watching you, denizen of the night."
Lin added a little extra swing to her hips as she walked into the room, sitting next to Ljubica. "I'll count on it."
"Temptress," he grumbled.
"What's for dinner?" Lin asked companionably.
Ljubica swallowed a mouthful of french fries. "Freckle Bitch's."
"You and that damned restaurant," Lin retorted.
"What were you having?" Ljubica asked, then took a long pull from her straw.
"No one that will be missed," Lin replied, grinning.
Ljubica glanced at Josh. Nyte Blayde glowered back.
"What?" Ljubica asked.
"She gives in to the Hunger, how pathetic," he growled, smirking.
"You're not really being a fucking vampire, Josh," Ljubica said with a sigh.
"You know not of what you speak, mortal," he shot back.
Lin watched them banter, a bemused look on her face.
"Oh, for fuckings sake!" Ljubica cried, sitting back and crossing her arms.
"I wonder if I can make him one for real," Lin mused out loud.
"Lin, shut up," Ljubica grumbled. "Please."
Lin quirked a wry smile, but remained silent.
"Nyte Blayde, just go patrol the streets for Circle, okay?" Ljubica ordered.
Without a word, he got up and headed for the exit.
"Do you really want to be flapping your gums about that shit?" Ljubica asked.
Lin laughed. "No, but who's gonna believe him?"
Ljubica shook her head.
"I could help him, you know," Lin said, standing up. "I know their inner workings."
Manny and Ramona walked into the room.
"Hey, Boss," Manny said with a wave, grinning. His left arm was in a sling and he had a cast on his right lower leg.
Ramona stopped, jerking her brother to a stop with her. She was glaring at Lin.
"Why is she here?" Ramona hissed. The air around her started to buzz faintly.
Lin smirked.
"Glad to see you, Manny," Ljubica said, ignoring the other two women. "How long until the cast is coming off?"
"It's not really broken all the way, only for a week or two," Manny told her.
"Good. Now, if you will be excusing me, I need to see your sister and Lin in my office. Now, ladies."
Manny nodded. He didn't like Lin being here, either, but he'd learned to trust the Boss.
Ljubica went for her office without looking to see if she was followed.
#
"Why is this thing here?" Ramona asked, closing the door.
Lin sat on the corner of Ljubica's desk, crossing her arms. She glowered at the other woman.
"Your attitude is going to get you into trouble, little girl," Lin growled.
Power flared between the two women, and Ljubica noticed Lin's eyes glowed purple, now, instead of orange.
"Stop whatever the fuck you are doing, now," Ljubica said darkly.
Lin didn't back off until Ramona eased down. Ljubica looked back and forth between the two women before beginning.
"Ramona, can you tell me what she is?" Ljubica asked.
"She is different than the last time I met her," the priestess replied. "She feels stronger, and... other. She's dead, but not like a zombie. She has more power of her own."
Ljubica nodded.
"I never was a fucking zombie," Lin grumbled. "Your witch sucks."
Ramona glared at her.
Ljubica sighed. "I want both of you to be cutting the shit between you. We are having bigger problems."
Lin stared hard at Ramona. "Don't start no shit, there won't be no shit, princess."
Ljubica smirked.
Ramona nodded sharply.
There was a knock at the door.
"Enter," Ljubica barked.
Zimos opened the door. "Hey, Boss, I got some news on those mutha fuckers in green."
Ljubica nodded for him to go on.
"They callin' themselves the Fallen," Zimos sang. "Somethin' about society's downtrodden or some shit."
"Good work, Z," Ljubica told him. "Any word on where they are hiding?"
"They seem to be workin' the south side, docks and shit especially. They got a shipment of somethin' comin' in tonight."
"Then we fucking hit them tonight," Ljubica growled. "They are having to learn the hard way that no one fucks with the Saints."
Zimos chuckled.
Lin stood up. "What are we waiting for?"
"Who's this?" Zimos asked, looking her up and down.
Lin smirked. "Get your eyeful, old man?"
"Lin, meet Zimos, he handles the women," Ljubica said. "Zimos, this is Lin."
"Wait, we have hookers?" Lin asked, staring oddly at Ljubica.
Ljubica sighed. "Yes. It's good money, and the girls can leave whenever they want, I assure you that. They are well taken care of."
"Fine," Lin told her. "So, now that we're all friends, when are we leaving?"
"Ramona is staying here," Ljubica said. "Z, you wanting some action tonight?"
"I always want some action, baby," Zimos sang.
#
Ljubica, Lin, and Zimos crouched next to a shipping container near a warehouse down at The Docks. Zimos carried an AR-55 cradled in his arms, and Ljubica had her Shepherd drawn. She wore her waist-length Mamba jacket against the chill; the nights were growing colder in Stilwater. Lin hadn't even drawn her sword, yet.
"Why ain't you got a gun, girl?" Zimos sang softly.
Lin grinned. "It's more fun this way."
"I like a girl with a little fire but dayum..."
"Be quiet," Ljubica whispered. "Why is there being only one asshole here?"
"Hell if I know," Zimos replied. "Maybe he's early to the party?"
The 'asshole' turned and faced their direction briefly as he looked around, then turned his attention back to the water.
"Holy shit..." Lin drawled, frowning.
"What is it?" Ljubica asked, furrowing her brow. She couldn't make out any features other than the person was male.
"It's that asshole Donnie," Lin chuckled. "Older, but definitely him. I never noticed him at meetings with these guys, but he's pretty unnoticeable."
"So nice to have young eyes," Zimos sang.
Lin smirked.
"Why is it every time I am having problems with gangs in Stillwater, that mother fucker is always in the middle of it?" Ljubica lamented bitterly, standing up. She started marching towards the lone man in green. His back was turned, and she got very close to him before he heard her approach.
"This color isn't suiting you either!" Ljubica growled, hitting him across the face with her pistol.
Donnie cried out and fell to the ground, landing on his rear and looking terrified. Blood trickled down his face from his forehead.
"Stay down," Ljubica warned, aiming one-handed at his head.
"Fuck, you're always haunting me!" Donnie stammered, scurrying back. He bumped into Lin, and looked up. "Lin! But you're...!"
Lin smirked. "Dead again, Donnie? Things change."
"Donnie," Ljubica said sharply. "Be paying attention to me. We're going to have a little deal, you and I. Or I will be killing you."
"Just like old times," Donnie said with a sigh. "Fuck."
"When will the ship be arriving?" Ljubica asked.
"I don't know."
Ljubica smirked. "Now is not the time for games. When?"
"No, I really don't know," Donnie grumbled. "I'm supposed to wait here for it, there was a delay because of a storm out on the lake."
"You're going to be helping us steal it's cargo, then," Ljubica informed him. "Get up."
"Aww, man, not again," Donnie whined, getting to his feet.
Ljubica scooped his NR4 from it's shoulder holster and tossed it into the water.
"Damn it!" Donnie cried. "Those aren't free you know!"
"Who are you with, Donnie, now?" Ljubica asked.
Donnie sighed. "We're calling ourselves the Fallen. Society's downtrodden, and lost in the Saint's shadow and greed."
Ljubica frowned.
"I see some lights off in the distance," Zimos sang.
"What's with the voice, bro?" Donnie asked. "That's awesome!"
Ljubica smirked. "You wait here, like you're supposed to be doing, and the Big Z here will be keeping an eye on you through the scope of a rifle.
"Us three will wait behind a shipping container."
Lin walked up to Donnie, looking into his eyes and smiling lasciviously. She stroked a hand delicately down his cheek. "You'll do that for me, won't you, Donnie? And you'll forget I was ever here. I'm dead, remember?"
Donnie nodded, staring blankly for a moment, then seemed to come back to himself.
"Good boy," Lin purred, and joined the other two Saints.
Ljubica looked at Lin oddly for a moment, but shrugged. Ljubica pulled out her phone.
"Manny, send the boys to The Docks, Pier Seven, and have them be bringing lots of trucks. Any Mules they can find, too."
"I'm on it, Boss," Manny replied, and hung up.
Ljubica pocketed her phone, and worked the slide on her Shepherd. Zimos peered at Donnie through his rifle's scope.
"You don't have to do that," Lin told him. "Donnie will do as I said."
"When you pull a horse tail outta my ass that's been tlodged here fo' a few years," Zimos sang, "you can earn the right to tell me what to do, too. But you ain't the Boss right now, little girl."
Lin grinned. She liked this Zimos guy.
Donnie pulled his phone from a front pocket, flipped it open, and made a call. Zimos started to apply a gentle pressure to the trigger.
"Boss?" he asked.
"He's calling in guys to handle the merchandise," Lin told them. "It'd be strange if he didn't call them in, so relax."
Ljubica nodded at Zimos, and he eased down.
Green and black Mules began arriving, their chorus of beeps as they backed onto the dock piercing the night. Men and women in green and black jumpsuits piled out of each truck, milling around while waiting to get to work. A large, burly manned headed over to a crane.
Ljubica counted ten trucks, and sent Manny a quick text to keep him up to date. She had no idea what a Mule's volume was, but trusted her Lieutenant to figure it out. Manny was sharp.
Donnie was shouting orders as the crane started lowering the first container onto the dock. "Odd number trucks, you're on weapons, even is drugs!"
Ljubica grinned. They were going to make a killing off this one.
The last container was settled onto the docks for unloading long before the first one was finished being transferred to a truck,
"Go!" Ljubica whispered loudly, moving out from behind cover and opening fire on the crane's pilot house. Glass shattered and blood sprayed across the inside.
Zimos stepped out and fired, continuous five-round bursts ripping through the gang members on the ground.
Lin drew her sword and rushed forward, moving past the others and slicing into the nearest Fallen. Their screams joined the clattering idle of the trucks, and the cries of their brothers and sisters was raised in alarm.
Donnie yelled a quick "Shit!" before diving under the closest Mule.
Ljubica dropped her empty magazine and reloaded, grinning as she killed yet another of the Fallen. It felt good to kill people that stayed down like they were supposed to.
Zimos loaded a fresh magazine into his AR, resuming his methodical one burst take downs.
Everything was suddenly quiet aside from the idling trucks. Ljubica breathed a little heavier, and thumbed the magazine release. The empty mag clattered to the ground, and she reloaded.
Lin was nearby, covered in blood, with a wild look in her bright purple eyes.
"Lin?" Ljubica asked, walking over to her.
"Fine," Lin growled, but her voice was shaky, breathy, even slightly other-worldly. "I can handle it..."
Lin ran a finger through the blood and licked it off, shuddering.
"Aww, man, what the fuck..." Donnie groaned. He'd already crawled out from under is hiding spot.
"Later," Ljubica warned. Saints were arriving in purple Criminals, a few Mags, and even four Mules showed up. "Let's get this shit loaded."
Lin was gone when Ljubica turned around to supervise the loading. She shrugged.
Manny hobbled over from a Criminal, leaning heavily on a crutch when he arrived. "I got your message, Boss, this should cover it."
"I knew I could be counting on you, Manny," Ljubica replied, grinning. "It is good to have you back."
"Where's Mr. Gat?" he asked, looking around.
Sadness passed across Ljubica's face, but it was quickly replaced with something dark, so dark that Manny took an involuntary step backwards. Even Zimos stopped a few extra feet away.
"They took him," Ljubica grated, clenching her jaw.
"We'll get him back," Manny said gently. "I've never met anyone like you, if anyone can do it, you can."
Ljubica offered him a faint smile.
The last of the trucks were loaded, and they had room to spare, so no one had to walk home or steal another vehicle.
"Be keeping in touch, Donnie," Ljubica said, pulling herself up into the back of a Mule. She gave him a mock salute as it pulled away, leaving him alone.
"Fuck my life," Donnie groaned.