The Blade Mage

by Phillip Drayer Duncan

  I swiveled back around and immediately realized what had her attention. A rather large ball of fire had landed directly on the ammo box she hid behind.

  Uh oh.

  “Run!” I screamed, and paused just long enough for her to get out from behind the crate before I bolted myself.

  Stone led the way. I didn’t know where he was leading us, but it didn’t much matter because a large white form appeared out of the smoke and knocked me to the ground.

  Confident I hadn’t just accidentally run into a friendly polar bear, I swung out with my sword, trying to clip the Abasy as I rolled back to me feet.

  Then the ammo crate exploded.

  There was a series of popcorn-like booms, and shrapnel flew in every direction. My shield protected me from direct impact, but I went down on my ass again.

  And I couldn’t see Faith or Stone through the smoke.

  As the explosions tapered off, I fought to rise to my feet, only to be knocked back down. I rolled and tried to strike out with Drynwyn, but the Abasy expected the move and kicked my sword hand, causing me to drop it. Drynwyn clanked across the floor and out of my grasp.

  I looked up and realized the demon stood over me, his stupid-ass grin wider than ever.

  I raised my staff, but he just ripped it from my hands and tossed it over his shoulder, where it disappeared in the smoke.

  “This is it, Blade Mage,” the Abasy said, leaning down toward me. “This is where you die.”

  “You’re awfully dramatic for a demon,” I said, fixing him with my finest scowl. “I’d already be dead if you didn’t talk so damned much.”

  He raised a clawed hand to finish me off, but before he could, a green blast of energy hit him in the chest and knocked him away. The demon howled in pain and clutched his chest, and darkened burn marks spread across his flesh.

  Before, when the Marauder had hit him with a spell, it’d had no real impact. Sure, the skin had looked a bit burnt, but the Abasy didn’t even react. This time he acted like a child who had just fallen off his bicycle for the first time. He was hurt.

  I glanced up and realized Faith now stood over me, green energy swirling around her outstretched hands. Before I had time to process any of this, she hurled another green blast of energy at the Abasy and the creature turned and fled, still howling miserably.

  What the hell?

  “I’m sorry,” Faith said, glancing down toward me. Her eyes burned with the same green energy that was swirling around her hands. “I should’ve told you.”

  Then she was gone, chasing after the demon.

  As she disappeared in the smoke, I rose to my feet, coughed, and ran toward my sword. The smoke was thick, but I knew where it lay on the floor. My staff was another story.

  Drynwyn recovered, I stumbled through the smoke, looking for Faith or Stone. There were a number of shouts and loud voices, but the sounds of violence were gone. Had our attackers fled?

  Overhead I heard a rumble, and the smoke started to rise toward the ceiling.

  It only took me a moment to put it together. An underground bunker like this would have kick-ass exhaust fans for fumigation in the event of a fire. During the fray, no one had had a chance to flip them on.

  Still easing my way through the darkness, I bumped into Stone, who turned and pointed the barrel of his assault rifle between my eyes.

  “It’s me,” I said, holding up my hands. “Have you seen Faith?”

  He shook his head. “When you went down she turned and went back for you. You didn’t see her?”

  “I did,” I replied. “But then I lost her in the smoke. She was chasing the Abasy. Also… She might be the witch.”

  “The witch?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

  “Well, she appears to be a witch,” I replied, rubbing my aching head. “She cast magic through her hands, Stone. Through her fucking hands.”

  His eyes widened. “You sure?”

  “She was standing right over me.”

  “So, she played us,” he said, his eyes hardening. “And you just had to take her to bed, didn’t you?”

  “I don’t know,” I replied. I wasn’t sure about anything. “Maybe not. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but if the demons are working for the witch, then she can’t be the witch.”

  Stone scowled. “This whole thing gets stupider by the minute.”

  I was about to agree when I realized several figures were moving toward us through the thinning smoke.

  One of them was Hamish, the Patterson who’d escorted us down there. He held a rifle in his hands and his eyes were bloodshot with rage. If he and his siblings were convinced we were somehow to blame, then we weren’t out of the fight just yet.

  “The demons are gone,” he said, slowly meeting my gaze. “The traitors are gone, too.”

  I nodded, unsure what to say.

  “My father is dead,” he continued, his eyes shifting to the floor. “Along with several of my siblings.”

  “I’m sorry,” I replied. “We didn’t know the monsters would attack.”

  “You’ve seen them before?” he asked.

  “I have,” I admitted. No point in lying. “Whoever is pulling their strings is who I’m trying to find.”

  “I can’t help you with that,” he said, his shoulders slumping. “All we know is what my father told you.”

  I nodded again.

  He turned to one of his siblings and they handed him something. I couldn’t quite make it out through the thinning smoke, but when he turned back to me he held out my staff. “When you find our dear siblings, we want to help you take them down.”

  Chapter 23

  “We’re sorry, but the caller you’re trying to reach is currently unavailable,” the automated voice said.

  “Goddammit, Parker!” I screamed at the phone. It took every ounce of control I had not to throw it at the windshield of Stone’s truck.

  Ahead of us, the first glimpse of red had appeared atop the Ozark hills, taunting me. Soon the blue would fade to orange, and after that, time would be up.

  I glanced at Stone but his jaw was set firm, his gaze focused on the road as he took each winding corner at excess speed. He knew we were running out of time as well.

  I was just about to press ‘dial’ again when the phone rang in my hand.

  “Parker!”

  “Wyatt,” he replied. “Sorry, I was overseeing setup. What do you want?”

  “Setup of what?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

  “You know,” he said. “Will you be here to do your part?”

  “That won’t be necessary,” I said, speaking quickly. “I’ve uncovered information that strongly indicates there’s more to this investigation than a simple murder.”

  “I’m listening,” he said.

  I paused, unsure where to start. Finally, I said, “There really is a missing little girl. The Patterson family had her, but I’ve got witnesses among their ranks who’ll tell you Axel rescued her from them.”

  “Okay,” he said. “That’s news. But what does it have to do with Kyle’s murder?”

  Again, I couldn’t find the words. “Everything!”

  “Everything,” he repeated back to me. “How?”

  “Listen, a witch kidnapped a little girl…somewhere. Her name is Hope. The witch then brought the child to the Marauders gang. Then she was moved to the Pattersons. Axel rescued her, and Hamish Patterson will confirm that part. Call off the execution.”

  This time it was Parker who was silent for too long. Finally he asked, “Wyatt, there’s so much about that story that doesn’t make sense…”

  “It’s true, though.”

  “Do you have evidence?”

  I opened my mouth to speak but caught myself. I didn’t. I didn’t have any evidence at all. If Faith were still with me she could vouch for the first part, then Hamish could vouch for the second part, but even then, I had no concrete evidence.

  “No,” I said. “I don’t have any evidence. Ju
st Hamish’s word. And mine on what I’ve found. That must be worth something.”

  Parker sighed. “I don’t know, Wyatt. I think the Archcouncil will need more than that.”

  “Just tell them,” I said. “Tell them not to move forward with the execution until I get there and explain.”

  “I’ll try,” he said with a sigh. “Maybe it’s enough to buy you some time.”

  “Thank you, Parker.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. If you have any kind of evidence, you’d better bring it with you and you’d better hurry. It’s going to take place at the farm where they’re holding him. You remember how to get there?”

  “Yeah. We’re on our way.”

  “I’ll call you back.”

  He hung up and I glanced over at Stone.

  Without taking his eyes off the road, he asked, “How does it look?”

  “Not good,” I replied.

  Stone nodded but didn’t reply.

  I turned and stared out the window, watching the trees pass by.

  I just needed a little more time. That was all. We were so close to unraveling this thing. I could feel it. Like I could reach out and touch it, almost. I was sure now that Axel was innocent of the crimes they’d accused him of. It was a jigsaw puzzle with a few crucial missing pieces. I just needed…a little more time.

  The phone rang again, making me jump. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lost in my own head, but it seemed too quick a response.

  My stomach twisted in knots as I answered. “What’s the verdict?”

  “They won’t delay,” Parker said simply. “It’s not enough.”

  “Let me talk to the Archmage,” I said.

  “He’s not here,” Parker replied.

  “Then who is?” I asked, my temper flaring.

  “Grand Enchanter Gunner is overseeing the execution.”

  “And he won’t stall?” I asked, feeling the venom coursing through my words. “He won’t stall for his own son?”

  “He won’t stall because it’s his son,” Parker said. I could hear the tension in his own voice rising. “What’s he supposed to do, Wyatt? Tell everyone you have a story about a kid, a witch, and a wardrobe, and call the whole thing off? You need proof. Something. Anything that ties what you told me to Kyle’s murder.”

  “Let me talk to him,” I said.

  “He figured you’d ask, and he said no to that too,” Parker replied, the anger fading from his voice a little. “He won’t speak to you.”

  “Why, is he busy sharpening his sword to do the act himself?”

  “Ease up, Wyatt. He’s not the asshole you make him out to be. He’s not even going to stay and watch. Neither is Director Allen. They want to keep it low key.”

  “So, who’s doing it? If not me?”

  “Does it matter?” he asked.

  I didn’t reply.

  “He told me to tell you that unless you can show up with some evidence that exonerates Axel before…well, before nightfall, then it stands.”

  “The sun is setting now.”

  “Then you’d better hurry.”

  “Fuck you, Parker,” I said. I was done. I’d had enough. “And fuck Grand Enchanter Gunner, the Archmage, and your whole goddamned Cabal. You hear me?”

  When he responded, there was no anger in his voice. He said simply, “I’m sorry, Wyatt.”

  He hung up the phone.

  I screamed and let the phone fall from my hands.

  This was it. At best, all I could do was make it back in time to watch it happen. I couldn’t do the act myself, that was for sure. Even if it was Axel’s last wish.

  Another part of me… A darker part of me… thought to charge in, guns blazing. I’d die. Of that, there was little doubt. But maybe, just maybe, I’d make a fucking point. What that point would’ve been, I didn’t know. Maybe there wouldn’t be one. Maybe it’d just be the grim satisfaction I’d get with my last bitter breath.

  And I’d do it, too. I knew that.

  And that part of me, that deep dark well of anger, was why I knew the sword had chosen wrong. Faith had said I was a good man, but she’d seen only a glimpse of that part of me down in the catacombs, and she’d been right then to be afraid. She’d seen a hint of the monster buried within. The creature who could crawl up out of the abyss of my soul and take hold. I may have been a good man, but there was a darkness in me just waiting to break out.

  Apparently, Faith had her own little secrets. Who the hell was she? What was she? Had anything she’d said been true? I didn’t have time to think about it, just then and it probably didn’t matter. I doubted I’d see her again.

  I took a calming breath and stared out the window, trying to get a hold of myself. I was too angry. Angry at the Cabal for putting publicity over my friend’s life. Angry at Marius Gunner for putting his ‘duty’ over his own son. Angry at Parker for being himself. Angry at the Archmage for not stopping this foolishness. Angry at Faith for her betrayal. I was even angry at Axel for dragging me into this mess. Mostly though, I was angry at myself for failing.

  Just another to add to a long list. Except this time, it would cost me the life of my best friend. Axel Gunner was the only person who believed Drynwyn had chosen correctly. He was the only one who believed in me. And he was wrong. The cost would be his life.

  And then I thought about what the Archmage had said. Axel’s last wish was for me to be his executioner. The morbid little prick.

  Or was he?

  Axel had always had a tendency to think I could read his mind when he didn’t make sense to anyone else. What if it wasn’t just a morbid last request?

  As we passed by the lake, I stared out at the water and the shadows stretching across its surface as the sun sank lower in the sky.

  I thought about Axel, and when we were kids. Even as a child he’d been eccentric, full of energy, and rambunctious. But he’d been a hell of a friend. We’d had a lot of good times…

  And then it hit me.

  Like a bullet to the brain.

  Axel’s request to have me as his executioner was not just a morbid last wish. He knew I wouldn’t just agree to lob his head off. He knew I would enforce my right to investigate. Which meant…

  “Stone, turn around,” I said.

  “What?” he asked glancing over at me.

  “Turn around,” I repeated again, struggling to find the words. “I know where the kid is. I know where he hid Hope.”

  Chapter 24

  The Gunner lake house was just as I’d remembered it. Practically a mansion, it sat alone on the shore with the next closest house on the other side of the lake.

  The house wasn’t our destination, though.

  There was a giant workshop off to one side of the property where they kept their boats and other summer toys. When we were kids, Axel’s dad had had the attic converted into a little apartment. Not sure why. He had a whole house, after all. But when Axel and I were kids, we’d made it into a clubhouse. It was our own little sanctuary.

  No one but me, and maybe his mother, would remember that.

  The main door was locked, but fortunately I had a key. And by key, I of course mean a magical sword that could cut through door handles.

  I stepped into the main area of the shop, Stone just behind me with his weapon at the ready. There was a massive pontoon, a bass boat, a speed boat, and a pair of jet skies. There was also an assortment of coolers, fishing poles, life jackets, and other lake and summer gear. The Gunners had more money than they knew what to do with.

  I moved around the boat collection and headed up the narrow stairs in the back that led up to the apartment. The door there was locked as well.

  Instead of breaking in, I knocked a couple of times and said, “Hello? I know you’re probably scared, but Axel sent me. My name is Wyatt. He might’ve told you about me.”

  Stone leaned in close and whispered, “If there’s no on in there, you’re going to feel like a real jackass.”

  “Already do,” I replied
over my shoulder. “But unless the demons figured this out, she’s here. I promise.”

  Stone shrugged and waited for a few moments, but there wasn’t a reply.

  We didn’t have time to wait. As it was, we weren’t likely to make it back to the farm in time already. I couldn’t focus on that for the moment, though.

  I chopped off the handle and let myself in.

  The room appeared empty, save for the TV playing some cartoon and a small mountain of empty soda cans and Pop Tart wrappers. Leave it to Axel to rescue a child and feed her nothing but junk.

  I scanned the room. There weren’t too many places in it where a kid could hide. The first, and most obvious choice, was the full-sized bed on the far side of the room. I motioned for Stone to stay by the door and moved closer to the bed.

  Slowly, I got down on one knee and poked my head under the frame. Sure enough, a pair of little white eyes were looking back at me. Upon seeing me, she tried to scooch a little further back, but found herself at the wall.

  I smiled at her and said, “Hi, there. I’m Wyatt.”

  She didn’t reply.

  “I’m a friend of Axel.”

  Still she didn’t answer.

  “I’m also a friend of your sister.”

  “I don’t have a sister,” the little girl said finally.

  “I know that,” I replied, lying. Inwardly, I cursed. What game was Faith playing? What was the point of all this? Was it possible she was the witch Axel had rescued the child from, and she was just using me to find her? But if that was the case, then why the hell were the demons trying to kill me? And why had she saved me from them? More than that, why had she slept with me? I pushed these thoughts aside and focused on the little problem in front of me. “I was just testing you.”

  “That was a stupid test,” the little voice replied.

  “Yeah, I suppose it was,” I agreed. “I really am a friend of Axel’s, though. We’ve been friends since we were your age.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  She stared at me for several seconds. “How do I know I can trust you?”

  I sighed. This little lady was quite the ball buster. I shrugged. “I don’t know. But, I know you’ve been stuck here by yourself for several days, and I know you’re scared. I just want to help.”