Free The Spaces in Between by Chase Henderson Page B

grabbing him by the arm.
    “We need to talk to you, son,” announced a man in a black suit. A strange and unassuming man that could play some generic Federal Agent. Warren’s heart pounded, and he thought of this man being from Homeland Security to talk to him about his work as a security programmer for that Australian porn king.
    “All of those things were legal!” Warren said, “In the countries they were filmed in!” The man in the black suit did not produce any form of ID and said no more. Panic gripped Warren by the testicles all the up to his stomach, and he brained the man with his laptop. He bolted faster than he had every traveled by foot in his life to the bus on the horizon.
    Warren found himself charging through mist. The man in the black suit and the bus were nowhere in sight. Pollution has been getting pretty bad in Baltimore. Instead of smacking into a street lamp like he expected he was instead greeted by a pair of breasts. He stopped in his tracks to avoid running into them. After a few moments he realized that these breasts were attached to a woman as they most often are.
    Raven black locks draped over her shoulders that were a perfect contrast to her milky white skin. Her vermillion lips perched as if she were about to speak. Her eyes…well he never got a good look at them because he couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact. Warren’s eyes were fixated upon her neckline with the breast bulging from her bodice, and should they escape everyone in a three-block radius would be dead.
    “Pitching a tent, are we? Does that mean you’re going to stay awhile?” the woman said. Warren blushed a deep crimson. “You are in danger Warren Elliot. The only safe place for you is my kingdom. You only have to stay here a day. Would you like to spend the day with me?” Warren nodded. “All you have to do is say yes.” His face felt like it was on fire. He pursed his lips to reply.
    “Ye-.”
    “That is quite enough Lilith!” a grizzled old man stepped through the mists. They parted to reveal that they were in a forest at twilight. The moon overhead was so full and bright, however, that Warren was sure he could read the Asimov novel in his laptop bag.
    “I’m only allowing you here as a favor,” Lilith said with a scowl.
    “That would be the worst mistake of your life. While Lilith is blessed in knowing all truths, she chooses to speak in only half. You are indeed in grave danger and there is a price for safety. But she is not the only or the best way to protect you. A day here in Fae lasts over a year in your world.”
    “Who are you? Where the hell is this? I’m in danger?” While Warren addressed the man his eyes were still transfixed on Lilith’s cleavage. At a glance he could tell that the old man was dressed in gray robes, held a gnarled staff in one hand, and a tablet PC in the other.
    “I am Teftin of the Chayoth ha-Qadesh. This is Fae past the spaces in-between worlds, but in the Underworld where I felt it would be easier to talk to you. You are in grave danger. The equivalent of a hit has been placed on you, because of someone you met while you were in that coma. You have been marked by magic, and every supernatural being in the area wants to get their hands on you.”
    “Was I just hit by a car?” Warren said.
    “I assure you that you are perfectly safe, but only at this exact moment. If you say yes to my terms I will give you a means to defend yourself. I will grant you dominion over technology, because we take care of our own.”
    “Like hell I am doing anything or agreeing to any terms in any another delusional dream. What is it going to cost me this time? A leg? My dick? Just because you hallucinations can make this so god damn believable!”
    “So what if you have to sell your soul to technology,” Teftin said, “You practically already have! Why not reap the benefits?”
    “Piss off,” Warren said and stormed away from them.
     
    4
     
    In a seedy pub across town and