Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds

Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds

Valjeanne Jeffers

Copyright 2011 Valjeanne Jeffers-Thompson, all rights reserved. Cover art and design by Quinton Veal 2011, all rights reserved

Other Books by Valjeanne Jeffers

Immortal

Immortal II: The Time of Legend

Immortal III: Stealer of Souls

The Switch II: Clockwork (includes Books I and II)

Voyage of Dreams

Short Fiction

Grandmere’s Secret

Outcasts

The Visitor

Awakening

The Sickness

www.vjeffersandqveal.com

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My novels, The Switch II:Clockwork and Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds, are overlapping novels; and what better way to introduce them, than with a review by the legendary Charles Saunders. So without further adieu here is the stunning foreword, by the inimitable Charles Sanders: Sister Moon Rising. . .

Foreword

Sister Moon Rising

Valjeanne Sister Moon Jeffers continues to rise in the ranks of speculative fiction authors with the release of the latest novels in her interlocking Immortal/Switch series. Her writing weaves vivid threads of science fiction, fantasy, erotica and horror into patterns as intricate as those in kente cloth. Her plotting involves labyrinth twists and turns, through which she unerring guides the reader.

Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds picks up where the initial trilogy left off. Tundra the idyllic post-racial alternate Earth that survived several threats to its existence in the first three books, has been totally transformed by Tehotep, an immensely powerful demonic entity whose main motivations are to rule the populace of the planet, and claim the heart and soul of a woman named Sonya, who is a latent vampire.

The new order on Topaz (Tundra) is far from idyllic. Tehotep’s draconian edicts are enforced by lesser demons, as well as mechanical constructs straight out of steampunk. Pitted against Tehotep’s vast power structure are the Guardians: Werewolves that are more than a match for most foes.

In the transformed Tundra, however, the Guardians are confused and amnesiac. One of them, Karla, was Tehotep’s greatest adversary prior to the time-space disruption he wrought. Now she is one of his concubines, Sonya notwithstanding.

As if Tehotep’s depredations were not disaster enough, Tundra faces another threat as well: Incursions from another parallel-earth known as Tyrol. Both worlds are teetering on their axes, and the task of righting all that is wrong seems beyond the resources of even the Guardians.

Even so the Guardians find allies in a group of vampires led by the mysterious Annabelle, who entered the Immortal saga in the third volume. By joining forces the enhanced meta-humans can offset Tehotep’s minions. The demon-god himself is another matter ...

The story strobes between Tyrol and Tundra, but Valjeanne is in the driver’s seat all the way deftly avoiding plot accidents. The ending sets the stage for further fascinating developments.

The Switch II: Clockwork takes place in the city of York on a world called Tyrol, which has dimensional connections with Tundra. Tyrol represents an extreme version of the economic inequality that besets the Earth we know. People in the privileged one per cent of York live lives of futuristic lavish luxury complete with high-speed transportation pods, house and condos that provide for every domestic need, androids that fulfill other desires, and a holographic spying system that keeps everyone in line.

As the 99 per cent, this passage encapsulates their condition, from the viewpoint of Z100, one of the ruling class.

The overthrow of the old regime had created a class of ultra-wealthy Tyroleans. The rest became under dwellers —those who lived under the city and earned only enough for food, shelter and oxygen; like her housekeeper Simone2.

Because Z had helped to overthrow the old world, because she worked as a spy to make sure nothing changed, she was hated. She had enemies everywhere—men and women who’d cheerfully murder her to bring down the society she’d helped create.

As implied above, the undergound/underclass is becoming more restive and resentful by the day. Led by the aforementioned Simone2 and a man named Dumas, a daring and dangerous scheme unfolds—the ultimate degree of identity theft, as Simone2 takes Z100’s place and sets out to destroy the one per cent from within.

Success will lead to the liberation of the beleaguered underworld. Failure will result in death and even more oppression. But when you’ve been down long enough, death itself can look a lot like up.

Tundra is involved tangentially in events on Tyrol. Both worlds are careening toward a cataclysmic conclusion to their respective challenges. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

—Charles Saunders July 21, 2012

For my children, Toussaint, Gabrielle, Mikail, Little Valjeanne, my grand babies, Logan and Kyle and my Man of Rivers, Quinton

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IMMORTAL IV: COLLISION OF WORLDS

Prologue

They were riding the steam train again, sitting behind Ripple, the edges of their seats smudged with black and velvet. The train lurched to a stop, and the doors slid open.

Beyond was utter darkness.

"This is our stop!" Ripple shouted. Even as he spoke these words, he had the queer feeling of time doubling over.

The Copper man leaped up and ran to the exit, Karla and Joseph at his heels. They jumped down and the metal doors slammed shut behind them. Outside, the station’s wood was rotted, the doors boarded up. The windows were dusty and smashed—the few remaining shards of glass, hanging like broken teeth. Ahead, the train disappeared into the fog.

"Hurry up!" Ripple shouted, Or we’ll be trapped here!

Another wave of déjà vu washed over him, this one so strong it made him dizzy. Nevertheless he took off running past the train into the fog. A mist shrouded forest stood in the distance, and he sprinted toward it. Karla and Joseph followed.

Time slowed to a crawl.

They moved in slow motion now—struggling through a syrupy wave of moments … seconds ... minutes ...

"Keep … running!"

Joseph reached out and took Karla’s hand. And they began to change.

Ripple became a black wolf, his fur streaked with silver. Karla, a smaller dark lupine, Joseph, a wolf with burnt sienna fur—running through the towering redwoods, oaks and weeping willows. Thin light pushed through the treetops and made splotchy patches at their feet. Mist floated in the air, thick and cloying ...

Ripple vanished.

"What’s happening!" Karla cried out, glancing wildly around.

Joseph took a few aimless steps forward, squeezing his head between his hands. "Grandfather—! Grandfather where are you!"

The sound of approaching hoofs echoed through the forest. A creature ran toward them, weaving easily between the trees. From the waist up, she was a fetching Bronze woman of twenty or so odd years with sepia skin. But her torso curved out into a burgundy mare’s hindquarters, her hair curled about her shoulders, her small breasts cupped by a silver bustier.

The last time they’d seen a centaur, had been during the Time of Legend. Then the female centaur had been a Guardian. But they sensed that this creature was no ally. An aura of malevolence floated about her, as cloying as the fog.

Hello! she said, her lashes fluttering prettily above her green eyes. I haven’t seen you here before. Are you lost?

They stared at her. Joseph opened his mouth. For several seconds nothing came out. We uh—my grandfather came in with us, he stammered.

Her eyes glittered balefully. You mean Ripple? Yes, I know where he is. He’ll be staying with us now. And you have business elsewhere.

Wha-what are you saying? Karla gasped moving closer to Joseph.

But he was melting away in her arms. She screamed horribly—clutching at the floating flesh that was her lover. The centaur galloped past her into the woods, her mocking laughter mixing with the Indigo woman’s cries.

***

The New World awoke to a roaring wind, light blazed from the mirror—swallowing the planet—a churning, savage vortex. Tundra’s inhabitants cried out, as their flesh bled from their bones like wet clay.

The world shuddered.

And was still ...

Part I: The Travelers

I’m a journeyman

got one foot

in this world

another one parallel

Journeyman …

with miles to go before I sleep

Journeyman

the roads like hue and shadow

stretching out before me

From the Book of Legend

One

Stranger

Joseph came to on a carpeted floor and lifted his head to gaze at her. She stood with her back pressed against the wall, her face twisted in fear.

Karla?

She looked down at him: a slender, dark woman with a long face, high cheekbones and full lips. She was dressed in a sheer nightgown. Wavy tresses spilled over the Indigo woman’s shoulders. "Who are you?"

He rose from the thick carpet: a tall, muscular man with reddish-brown skin. His thick hair was gathered into a ponytail at the nape of his neck.

I’m Joseph.

"You called me ‘Karla.’ Why? That’s not my name. I’m Sonya. Where did you come from?"

His eyes searched her face. I don’t know.

Karla. The name was like a caress. It reminded him of a song—the words forgotten, but the melody etched upon his heart.

Joseph tore his eyes away from her and scanned the bedroom. To his right was a high bed with a canopy. A wardrobe sat beside it. Across from him, stood a vanity table and mirror. Filigreed lamps were arranged here and there about the room.

The furniture spoke to him of antiquity—of an older, bygone age. Yet above the vanity hung a triangular clock, full of visible cogs and dials and encased in metal. It was ticking loudly.

The Copper man looked behind him, at the tall mirror encased in a delicately carved frame. I think … I came from inside your mirror.

Her eyes shot to the glass, and a curious mixture of fear and longing played over her face.

"From my mirror? He nodded. Ho-how did you do that?"

How indeed? I’m not sure.

BAM! BAM!

"It’s one of the servants! Hide there!" She pointed behind the bed.

Sonya cracked the door. A plumb face peered inside. Yes, Elsie?

Are you alright, mum?

"I’m fine."

But I heard you scream! Despite her humble demeanor, Elsie sounded annoyed not to know what was troubling Sonya, and not to be confided in. She pushed at the door—a polite but insistent way of trying to get inside.

The young woman put her weight against the door. I had a nightmare.

Would you like me to stay with you? Elsie said imploring. But the plea didn’t reach her eyes, they were cold and hard.

No. Goodnight.

In the next moment, Sonya’s face was above him. You can get up, she’s gone now. She turned away from him, pulled a robe from her dresser and slipped it on.

You can’t stay here. Someone’s bound to find you. She picked up a huge candle from the vanity, and lit it. I was just about to go downstairs for some hot chocolate and biscuits. Would you like some?

He nodded. Alright. Sure. Why not? Your mirror spit me out and I don’t know who I am. You don’t know either. But yeah, I’d love to share some chocolate and biscuits. An ironic smile curled about his lips, as he followed her out of the room.

Sonya watched him out of the corner of her eye. I should just scream again