End of the Line, page 21
He could feel her hands steadying him as he sat up. The room came into focus—a small office. He was no longer on the train.
The tattooed woman winked at him. "Lupe or if you wish to be formal Voca Casteneda, but you can just call me Lupe."
A half-smile tugged at Emilio's lips before panic seized him. He turned to Esperanza, questions tumbling out in a rush. "Are you okay? What happened? Where are Wax and Cortez? What about the passengers?" His eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where are we? How long have I been out?"
Lupe's laugh was musical. "Are you okay, Voca? How are the people? This one asks the good questions. I like him."
Esperanza rolled her eyes, a hint of fondness in her exasperation. "You've been out for two hours. We are in a guest office at the Northern Gate. Everyone is fine… for the most. The sleeper car was not breached. Mr. Carstein did his job admirably. We did lose a few when they breached our car." Her voice softened."You did well, Doctor Kane. Cortez and Wax are with the authorities. Voca Casteneda and I have been tending to your Quemar."
Lupe made a disgruntled sound. "We aren’t at the Shrine, Anza! Save the titles for the masses. We are all friends here, right?"
Emilio considered again if he had indeed passed on. To be in the presence of not one, but two Vocas of Hil—and one so unlike any he had encountered before—seemed almost too extraordinary to be real.
"Además de mi hermana," Lupe continued, her tone shifting, "you need to get going soon. It will be a long ride for you and your people."
Emilio glanced up. Fleeting emotions crossed Esperanza's face—her cheeks reddening slightly. "This is highly unorthodox, Lupe. We are under orders."
"Based on what you told me, hermana, perhaps you need to shake things up and see what falls loose so you can find the truth?" Lupe cautioned. "I promise to deliver Doctor Kane to the Academy. I just need to ensure my little brother gets home."
Esperanza's brow furrowed. "What is going on, Lupe?"
Lupe's smile was enigmatic. "I am going to take Joseph home. It is on the way to the Academy, so it is really no inconvenience."
The two women held each other's gazes, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Esperanza relented. "Fine, but you be careful."
"Careful! Bah, you are the one always running into danger, Anza!” She leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. “I am jealous of your freedom, hermana. You be careful yourself." Lupe's smile faltered for a moment. "Watch Cortez. He is..." She shook her head, “He is not well.”
Esperanza's eyebrow arched as she glanced at Emilio. "Why do you say that?" Esperanza asked, her voice carefully neutral.
Lupe shot Emilio a curious look before answering. "He asked me about Judex Stonebridge and whether I was involved in his surgeries. I told him I was never brought in. I didn't even know he was hurt until after..." She left the sentence unfinished.
Emilio shifted uncomfortably. "Should I go take a walk? This seems private." He started to rise, but Esperanza's hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"I am certain you and Lupe will have some exciting stories to tell each other," Esperanza said. "You will be going with her to her family's estate. After that, she will escort you to the Academy as initially requested. In the interim, I ask that you look out for each other. Things are becoming... complicated."
Emilio nodded, reading the hesitation in her face. "You have my word, Voca."
Esperanza rewarded him with a gentle smile."After this ordeal, Emilio... I believe you can call me Anza. May Hil watch over you both."
Lupe stood and embraced Esperanza tightly. She whispered something in Esperanza's ear, too low for Emilio to catch, before planting a kiss on her cheek. "Now get going before I decide we need to go exploring on our own!"
"Gods above, Lupe," Esperanza sighed.
"They all love me," Lupe grinned. "And I love you, hermana. We will see each other soon."
Esperanza nodded, turning to Emilio one last time. "I would caution you about my sister, Emilio, but I am sure seeing is believing."
"Oh shoo, Mamacita! He will be fine," Lupe called after her.
As the door closed behind Esperanza, Lupe's expression shifted. Her friendly demeanor remained, but a new focus sharpened her gaze. "Tell me, Doctor Emilio Kane, why has Lady Styx taken such a deep an interest in you?"
"I… I am not sure what—" Emilio stammered. Lupe cut him off with a shake of her head.
"Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to discuss your Bendición."
Emilio returned a nervous smile, his mind suddenly flooded with flashes of memories that were not his own: strange places, stranger faces, and Marisol trapped within a gem.
As he met Lupe's knowing gaze, he realized that the journey ahead would be longer—and far more revealing than anticipated.
Lyric stood in the shade of the overhang outside the Guild Office, a sheaf of papers in her hands. She flipped through them quickly, searching their contents. Heavy booted footfalls sounded beside her as someone approached.
"Where the hell is Kane?!" Jalin's voice cracked like a whip, his eyes blazing once more.
She rolled her eyes internally in response. “Ask Esperanza.”
Across from them both, Voca Esperanza Boyorquez stood. Her ragged and blood stained robes replaced with new vestments. She tugged gently at the hem along the left wrist.
“With Voca Casteneda.”
Jalin scowled. “Why?”
She gestured to Lyric and the papers in her hands, “New orders.”
Lyric's gaze flickered between the Inquisitor and the papers in her hand, a frown creasing her brow. "These orders seem strange, Esperanza," she mused, her voice low and cautious. “Are you certain of their origin?”
Esperanza straightened her shoulders and turned to face Lyric, “She came directly from Sanctuary to deliver them. You may not be familiar with official…”
“Give me those!” Jalin snatched the papers from Lyric. His eyes scanned the papers quickly. His brows furrowed and the corners of his mouth turned down.
“Fine!” he replied and shoved the papers back at Lyric. "Where is that bruja? I want to ask who gave these to her!" He spun on his heel, eyes darting around as if expecting to find Lupe hiding in the shadows.
"Cortez," Esperanza's voice cut through his agitation like a blade, "These orders are time sensitive. You can join us now or contact Sanctuary for a new assignment; the choice is yours. I no longer want to waste my time here."
Jalin halted mid-step, turning slowly to face them. Lyric watched him intently, noting the almost manic energy radiating from him. His eyes were alight with an inner fire, as his lips curved into a half-smile that didn't reach those burning eyes. "Reassignment? Like you would survive without us, right Wax?"
Lyric felt her chest tighten at his odd smile. Something was deeply wrong with Jalin Cortez, and she could see that Esperanza knew it too. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.
"Cortez is right, Voca, you need us." Lyric said, addressing Esperanza but keeping her eyes fixed on the Inquisitor. "We have a duty, Cortez, do we not?"
For less than a heartbeat, Jalin's smile froze, a mask slipping ever so slightly before snapping back into place. He nodded, his voice a low growl. "We have a duty to perform." Without another word, he turned and strode towards the stables, his movements tight and controlled.
As the Inquisitor strode away Esperanza and Lyric exchanged a loaded glance. The unspoken message was clear: they needed to rely on each other. Not just against the horrors that lurked in the realm, but against whatever darkness was consuming Jalin Cortez.
Lyric's hand drifted to the pistol at her hip, her fingers tracing its familiar contours. Jalin's words from the train echoed in her mind, a terrible reminder of the oath they'd all sworn:
When that day comes – for her, me, or any of us – hesitation is a luxury you cannot afford.
With a deep breath, she buckled her pistol back into place. Her jaw set with determination as she watched Jalin's retreating form. One thought crystallized in her mind, a solemn promise to herself and to those she swore to protect:
I'll only do what is necessary.
Shadows
The hanging candelabra cast a pool of warm light over the desk, its flames dancing softly in the otherwise shadowy room. A figure sat hunched over a small stack of files, fingers tracing lines of text as if to divine hidden meanings from the words.
"So the Ortegas got involved," the seated figure mused, voice low and thoughtful. "Interesting. They may be an issue in the future, so we should start doing our part to aid the authorities in enlightening them about La Familia Ortega's… other… endeavors."
Across the desk stood another man, his posture rigid and formal. "While our third party could not retrieve the files from the Salon Officer, I have been assured we will have them in the next two days." A hint of dark amusement colored his next words. "Accidents happen on the road, even on this side of the Vargas."
The seated figure nodded, satisfaction evident in their tone. "Very good. While that information is not an immediate need, it is still crucial for the long game." A pause, then, "I assume our train saboteurs have been properly rewarded?"
"Yes," the standing man replied, his voice devoid of emotion. "Unmarked graves somewhere. Thankfully, Fire Singers are easy to come by if we need those talents further."
A soft sigh escaped the seated figure. "Hrmm, yes. The train was stopped. The mission failed. An opportunity to rid ourselves of a possible annoyance and another Necromist." They leaned back, shadows playing across their features. "They are resuming the trek to Fugue Academy to drop off their charge?"
"Yes, sir, but I still think Cortez would be—"
"Cortez is no longer viable after Paraíso Verde," the seated figure cut in sharply, turning a page with more force than necessary. "Do we have a report on Torres and her hunt?"
The standing man consulted his notes. "Last contact was in Wolfram. She has verified that the target is heading south and feels confident it will be captured soon." He hesitated, then added, "However, I received a secondary report from her Acolyte. They say she sought council from a Silba. He has petitioned for her removal."
A low chuckle emanated from the shadows behind the desk. "That is why I like Torres. Her ideas are not constrained. I am curious how she got an answer on the target's location. Our previous tries in doing the same were not as... fruitful."
"I will send an inquiry and have it sent to you as soon as it is vetted and confirmed," the standing figure assured. After a beat, he added, "Also, Valle de Espinas turned up nothing as well. The colony is still unaccounted for."
The seated figure's sigh was heavy with frustration. "Find another one, and this time, I want you to do the questioning, Tomas. We need that information. They cannot stay hidden for long."
Escritor Tomas nodded. "It will be done, sir. You have my word."
As Tomas turned to leave, the seated figure called out once more, their voice barely above a whisper. "And Tomas? Remember, discretion is paramount. We cannot afford another... incident."
The unspoken threat hung in the air, as tangible as the shadows that cloaked the room. Tomas nodded once more, a sharp, precise movement, before slipping out the door and into the night beyond.
Left alone, the seated figure returned to the files, fingers tracing the names that had become so familiar: Emilio Kane, Jalin Cortez, Lyric Wax, Esperanza Boyorquez. Pieces on a board, moving to an unseen hand. A smile, cold and calculating, curved their lips.
The game was far from over. It had only just begun.
~FIN~
Afterword
This is what you get when you love old train movies, new train movies, and spaghetti Westerns (and zombies).
Honestly, we didn't start out planning to study steam locomotives when we began this book.
In fact, the original story didn't even -involve- a train. What started out as an adventure in the forest, and along a coastline suddenly became … WHAT IF…
And this is how inspiration happens, my friends.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support. We couldn't do this without you.
We truly hope you enjoyed this little romp as you got to see some of the inner workings of the world of Gothika. We have much more in store for our characters in the future, and hope you continue to follow along.
Who belongs to the voice in the shadows?!
Keep reading to find out!
~Tony & Charm
About us
SandDancer Publications
C.S. Kading and Tony Fuentes have been working together and crafting stories for over two decades. Partners in both mischief and memories, this dynamic duo combines real-world experience with formal education, to bring you stories to tickle your imagination and delight your hearts.
SandDancer was born out of the pandemic and a need to stay sane. We could not enjoy the company of others beyond the safety of our bubble, so we came to you the only other way we could - through books and storytelling.
Tony Fuentes
Literary Titan Gold Award-Winning Author
Tony Fuentes is a California Born Mexican American writer now living in Arizona. Considered a Renaissance Man in Geek's clothing; he is not only an author with a weird imagination, but also a painter, gamer, and part-time occultist. With his writing, he tries to spin both Mexican folklore and sardonic humor into his work. At the same, he tries to inspire the audience to look into the stars and dream further beyond. In short, he strives to give the weird and the wondrous things a place in the world for all to enjoy.
B.S. COMM
Member: IASFA
indie B.R.A.G. Medallion recipient
C.S. Kading
Literary Titan Gold Award-Winning Author
A poet, playwright, and lover of the fantastical. Charm has been telling stories since the 3rd grade. She adores studying myths and legends from around the world and has a special love for legends from non-European origins. She is also an educator, specializing in storytelling for educators, as well as a Corporate Storyteller.
MAED
Member: IASFA, IAN
indie B.R.A.G. Medallion recipient
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SandDancer Publications
https://sanddancer.pub/
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(Dark Fantasy)
Raise the Dead (a love story)
The Heart of Hanwi
Blood Tithe
Tony Fuentes, End of the Line
