Meriel stopped, and she swallowed heavily. The memory no doubt still haunted her. She summoned a deep breath to collect herself, then continued.
“The whole clash was probably less than two minutes. I stumbled out of the house and back on the street to see my allies had succeeded in fending off the ambush. Only a handful of injuries, me being one of them. Only when the fighting was over did I feel a burning pain in my face. Looking to a nearby window, I saw the entire side of my face darkened with a sheet of blood.” She gave a dark chuckle, then asked rhetorically, “He couldn’t have hurt me anywhere else?”
“Healers are always in short supply, and all this was after a week of hard fighting. Others suffered injuries more severe than a little scratch. Once I was treated the conventional way, and gave my report, I joined my comrades and drowned in liquor. Somehow I found myself alone in an alley, piss-drunk and sobbing.
“That’s when I met Fell. A pretty pitiful introduction, no?”
Fell sat up and grabbed either side of Meriel’s face to give her a firm kiss.
“Seeing you sad and alone just broke my heart,” Fell cooed. She gave one last peck before pulling away. “I had just been dismissed from duty and was taking a late walk to clear my head. Fighting with enemies where innocents get caught in between is never easy to bear, and I prefer being alone more often than not. However, witnessing Meriel in such a vulnerable state drove me to help her.”
“And through my drunken banter, I sobbed to her how forever scarred I was, and how ugly I’d always be.”
Fell pressed into my side, staring longingly at Meriel. “And I told her how beautiful she still was.”
Meriel pressed into my other side, returning the salacious gaze. “And I refused to believe her.”
“Then I proved it by kissing her,” Fell whispered, her voluminous tail swishing along the covers.
“Then I believed her,” Meriel practically hummed.
It felt uncomfortable to be sandwiched between their romantic crossfire. I coughed into my hand, which was enough to break the heart-filter over their eyes.
“I’m apologizing in advance for how blunt this will sound,” I started carefully, “but…”
“Have we always been into women?” the sly fox-woman asked.
I rubbed the back of my neck and shrugged. “To be frank, I feel out of place between you two. Don’t get me wrong. I like being around you two, but… Fuck, I don’t know.”
“Wondering how we fit together?” Meriel asked in a delicate voice.
“Something like that, yeah.” Slipping into deep thought, the events of how fate forced us together played back. “You two don’t have to stick around with me, you know? Don’t feel like you owe me anything.”
Meriel demanded my attention with a hard thump to my chest. Frowning, she said, “I meant it when I said you hold a special place in my heart, Oliver. I’ve never had the best relationships. I never even considered women before I met Fell, but she was the first person that ever made me feel truly loved, the first person I was able to bare my heart to. When I’m around others, it feels like there’s this wall.”
Stopping, Meriel scanned my face thoroughly, and then her eyes looked deep within mine, like she was searching for something. Nodding, she wrapped me up in a tight hug.
“Even after you saved Fell, I kept up that wall. Yet, your actions brought that wall down — one brick at a time. I kept waiting for you to force yourself on one of us. But you didn’t. I went from being suspicious to feeling completely safe around you.”
“You do remember I had my gun pressed to your throat, right?”
Meriel pulled away and chuckled softly. “You didn’t kill me, though.”
The corner of my mouth curled. “I guess I didn’t.”
“Still,” Meriel went on, “I have this special feeling, Oliver, and I will follow it; I will follow you.”
“She’s not alone,” Fell whispered with a steamy breath in my ear.
Her voice sent a tingle down my spine, followed by a hint of confusion.
“Fell….” I trailed off, wondering how to word it. Of course, she knew what I wanted to ask.
“It’s not as though I particularly loathe men, Oliver. Truthfully, I’ve never experienced feelings beyond basic acquaintanceship. I do care strongly about you. I suppose you can say I recognize you as an equal for my Meriel.”
“You and me with Meriel in the middle,” I thought aloud. “So we’re a sandwich, then?”
The girls broke away and stared at me blankly, then started laughing.
“You and I are the bread, and Meriel’s the tasty morsel in the middle,” Fell said though her laughter.
Meriel crawled over me so she was in the middle. “Hmm, I love that arrangement.”
Fell and I squished her from both sides, and the elf sighed with utter contentedness. We shared a smile, then each delivered kiss to Meriel’s cheek.
“If you two are fine with me, and if we survive tonight, I’d like to stick around.”
Instead of saying anything, Fell grabbed my hand and brought it over Meriel's stomach, the elf cradling our joined hands as if it were the most delicate thing in the world. In that brief moment, nothing mattered. An icy ball of anxiety sat in the pit of my stomach over the possibility of dying tonight, and it seemed selfishly screwed up, but taking the big sleep didn’t seem so bad if Meriel and Fell were going to be by my side.
✽✽✽
The veil of sleep slipped away and I saw the glint of Nuna’s violet eyes looking down at me. Drawing in a deep breath through my nose, I sat up and rubbed the grogginess from my eyes, Meriel and Fell stirring form their light sleep.
Nuna pulled away and looked toward Tru and Yanet waiting by the doorway, the pair keeping vigilant watch down the hall. The three of them had bulging hide sacks at their waists.
“I feel compelled to remind you that we can still put everything back,” Nuna told me.
As I went over to my boots to lace up, I answered gruffly, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
While Fell helped Meriel into her leather armor, I did a quick check over my gear, then made sure my rifle and pistol were on safe. While getting my vest on, I slipped the cigar case Dad made for me in the pocket over my heart, where it should be. All it held was my favorite Zippo and one dry cigar. One last smoke sounded nice, but death was exactly guaranteed. Sure, it was a strong likelihood, but better to save myself a treat. Success will make it taste better anyways.
Slinging my rucksack on my back, I looked down at Judge’s Bible by the bedroll. Thinking Why not?, I stuffed the book into my pocket.
No offense, God, Jesus, but you mind bringing Dad and Judge to look over me? I know they’ll do me good.
Cracking a kink from my neck, I looked to Meriel and Fell, who gave ready nods. Turning to Nuna, I said, “Lead the way.”
Heart pounding and shooting constant looks over my shoulder, we ran the entire length of the corridor to Yetzirah’s labyrinth, then followed the winding tunnels with the aid of red light crystals. Once in the tunnel network, the girls and I mounted up on our lamia companions and made good time to the tunnel pass. Perhaps it was nerves, or me stirring the pot with all the noise my first attempt made, but the air grew heavier as we neared the cave that lead outside.
Wordlessly, Nuna and Tru killed their lights, then donned their masks as they slithered ahead. Yanet, Meriel, Fell, and I held our breath as the other two scouted. The uncomfortable silence ended when they slithered back to say the path was clear. I exhaled in relief.
Now for the fun part.
Riding on Nuna through the tight passages, we came to a stop where the tunnel widened, the same spot we almost died the night before. Taking out time, we inched forward a good distance until we neared Luppa’s hastily constructed pillars. Patting Nuna’s hip, she stopped and I rolled off. Setting my rucksack aside, I dug out a flashlight, then looked to the faces gathered behind.
As I opened my mouth to speak, a couple of lo
ose stones and a sprinkling of dust fell from the ceiling up ahead. That was very good, but also very bad.
Making fists to keep my hands from shaking, I whispered, “Okay, nothing above a whisper.” Waiting to get nods of understanding, I continued, “I’m going to inspect up ahead. Stay put.”
Flashlight in mouth, I wormed ahead and inspected the walls and ceiling. Cracks and fissures spiderwebbed through the walls and ceiling, all the way to where the rabbit hole outside collapsed and where the spare M4 barrel was still wedged. It was a miracle we survived; this place was a sneeze away from becoming a crypt. Though, that was good for burying alive a bunch of monsters and evil wizards.
Everything was dry and looked unstable. Time for work.
Worming back, I told the lamia to dump a good layer until ten feet past Luppa’s last pillar. While they went one at a time to spread around their portions of flour, I opened my rucksack and started digging out all my canteens, and several extra waterskins Tru shuck for me. Including the few waterskins from Meriel's bag, we had about four and a half gallons for Fell to use.
Yanet was the last to dump her share. Per my orders, she started snapping the empty sack like a sheet. The minuscule grains floated easily, making a good dust cloud.
Fuel, oxygen, confinement, and finally, dispersion. Just one more piece.
Everyone piled to one side of the tunnel, then I asked if Fell was ready. After a firm nod from the fox-woman, Meriel and I opened the containers.
“That’s good, Yanet,” I whispered. “Get over here.”
She dumped the sack and slithered back until she was at Fell’s side. As soon as the young lamia was in position, Fell willed translucent tendrils of water from their containers into a large, rippling orb. Parting her hands slowly, the orb flattened out, then began hugging the contours of the wall, producing a perfect fit. With a strained grunt, Fell snapped her hands shut, and the water consolidated into barrier.
I worried if the moisture would ruin the process, but Fell explained that she’s able to make barriers by manipulating the water’s surface tension. From feeling the barrier at her first demonstration, my hand didn’t come back wet. The only concern was if her barrier could withstand the pressure. Even after explaining the potential pressure, Fell was confident that the extra water and her magic could contain the blast. Concern lingered in the back of my mind, but like she did me, I put my faith in her.
Looking back to Nuna and Tru, I whispered, “You two should retreat. If this doesn’t work, someone needs to tell the others what happened.”
There was a long pause, then Nuna set her hand on Tru’s shoulder. “Do this for me, please.”
Tru lifted her mask, objecting written clear across her face, but she nodded fractionally. “Okay.” She gave a quick round of hugs to everyone. When getting to me, she sneaked a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Oliver.”
I gave her an extra squeeze, then she pulled away. Giving everyone one last look, she turned back the way we came, the crimson light of her crystal fading until she was gone. It would have been better if Nuna left with her, but I wasn’t going to fight her conviction to see this out.
Breaking out into a cold sweat and feeling nauseous, I let out a steady breath. Meriel worked her hand into mine, giving me a tight smile. I took in the elf’s charming features and gave a thankful nod, then I set my freehand on Fell’s shoulder. Her tail switched against my chest as she gave me a quick, heartfelt glance.
“Do your thing, Yanet,” I uttered quietly, hoping this would work, and there would be an after.
With great focus, Yanet extended her arm and supported her wrist with the other. Looking intently at the woven sack, she gnarled her teeth and willed her magic forth. Her entire body trembled from the strain. My heart felt more likely to explode than the tunnel.
Before I flatlined, a portion of the sack began to smolder, faint wisps of smoke visible amidst the cloud. Meriel pressed into my side, and I gave Fell’s shoulder a tighter hold, trying to will over any of my strength into her. At the sight of the first flame, my breathing stopped, and I went wide-eyed.
Except nothing happened.
Yanet gasped and crumpled a little. Frantically breathing and trembling, she looked ahead at the little fire she made, then gradually relaxed.
“W-was my flame too weak?” she daintily asked.
As soon as my mouth opened, the cave lit up as a big orange fireball bloomed, then rushed down the other end of the tunnel like a flaming bowling ball down a lane. The initial whoosh stirred more dust and oxygen, causing deflagration— subsonic combustion. The second flash was so bright that I blinked my eyes shut, and the following concussive boom felt like God elbow dropped the planet. Fell uttered a guttural cry, doing everything in her being to keep the water barrier solid.
Just as soon as it happened, it was over. Peeking through one eye, I looked ahead, not quite believe that we got an explosion. Or that we were still alive. Fell let out a whimper, then swayed back into my chest. Her barrier collapsed and a small flood of water rushed past us. Meriel swooped down while I cradled her carefully. Her breathing was labored and she had a waterfall of a bloody nose.
The foxy beauty chuckled and smiled up at me. “Told you I could do it.”
Relieved, I planted big smooch at the top of her head. “I knew you could.”
Nuna picked up the crystal she dropped and held it out. Lifting her mask, she inspected the damage up ahead. “We make bread with that…” she mumbled, completely gobsmacked. Blinking, and getting herself in order, she checked on Yanet. Aside from looking dazzled, the young woman was fine.
Meriel wiped away the blood from Fell’s mouth, then planted a firm kiss. “I’m so proud of you.” She looked down the tunnel, saddened at the complete lack of destruction. She planted a tender kiss on my lips as well. “And I’m proud of you, too.”
Drawing in a deep breath through my nose, I let it out with a rush. “Everyone’s okay, that’s the important part.” Not bothering to mask my dread, I looked to Nuna. “Well, better head back and face the music. Since it was my idea, I’ll take the blame and…” I trailed off and stared blankly at the soot-covered walls down the tunnel.
“Oliver, what is it?” Nuna asked.
“How come smoke didn’t blast our faces when the wall dropped?”
The patter of sprinkling rocks punctuated my question, followed by faint grinding.
Feeling blood drain from my face, I yelled. “Yanet, take Fell! Meriel, you and me on Nuna!”
Not bothering with the rucksack and containers, we rushed out of the tunnel like bats out of hell. Fissures ripped through the stone, sounding like gunshots in the tight space, everything around us quaking.
I closed my eyes tight and buried my face into Nuna’s back, Meriel doing the same on my lower back. The strength of a lamia amazed me again as we rushed after Yanet. Just as crossing into the crack out of the tunnel, a jolt occurred with enough force for Nuna to lose her flow and bump into a protruding overhead stone. She let out a pained cry then came to a sudden stop. At what sounded like an F-35 jet taking off at our feet, I pulled Meriel into me, and we huddled over Nuna as everything around us roared.
Never-ending tremors vibrated rattled my head so much that the fillings in my molars hurt. An icy gale rushed past, pelting my body with loose stones, and clogging my nose with coarse dust. Bundling up tight with the women, I waited to be buried under tons of rubble and for the abrupt cut to black.
I’m not sure how long it took, but I realized the world wasn’t shaking anymore. Loose rubble fell off my head when I looked up, seeing the path ahead hadn’t caved in Meriel sat up, and aside from a violent cough, looked uninjured. Nuna groaned and rolled to her side. There was a big chip in her mask where it clocked the rock; better the mask than her face.
At the sound of whistling wind, I jerked around to see the moonlit night staring back at us, not twenty feet away. A thunderous boom from outside made me jump, but the accompanying tremor felt distant.
Against better judgment, I scrambled toward the new opening and stopped just a few feet from the edge. It looked like a giant ran an icecream scooper through the spot we barely escaped from. And looking into the valley, I couldn’t believe the sight of a portion of the Marker leaning into the neighboring mountain.
A much greater section of stone had broken off than I’d ever imagined. The large section had smacked into the Marker with enough force to shear the top third. But that wasn’t it.
The fracture in the Marker began to crumble, causing the top portion to drag diagonally across the parallel mountain face, ripping off stone to rain down below. Finally, the upper half broke free and plummeted a few hundred feet straight down, where it landed with enough force to send a shock up my spine.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Meriel staring down, her jaw practically touching the ground. Nuna gently nudged the stunned elf over and pulled her mask off to see the destruction with naked eyes. For a couple of minutes, we just stared, trying to fathom the impossible event.
Nuna was the first to pull away. She went limp and fell back into the wall. Her sniffling was enough to draw my full attention. Heavy tears spilled from her amethyst eyes as she cradled her mask to her chest.
“For my sisters,” she managed around a sob. “For everyone.”
I moved over to Nuna to comfort her, but she was the first to reach out and embrace me, continuing to sob in my neck like a scared child. Meriel wrapped us up for the side, and we reveled in our win over the Null.
Chapter 21
Carrying out a success and actually witnessing the Marker collapse before my very eyes had drained me in every possible sense. I swayed on my feet, but Nolala’s tundra-like gaze kept me sharp and aware. Though we were a few miles away, the shock and sound carried far enough to stir the sleeping women. By the time we returned, the lamia were awake, ready, and armed. The panic morphed into a manic frenzy once Nuna proclaimed loudly with tears in her eyes of what we accomplished. I slipped into a haze once I was carted off. But, like an injection of pure adrenaline, Nolala’s shout for silence got me in the moment. And what a moment it was.
Heart of the Resonant- the Soldier's Tale Page 28