by Chris Fox
She concentrated for a moment, using an ability Blair had shown her back in London. Bones popped as her body began to rearrange itself. The process was unfamiliar, and thus slower than her normal shifting. She felt every tendon popping, every bone shifting. It was a horrifying experience, and it still shocked her that she’d grown used to it.
When the process was complete Liz stood on four legs, a massive wolf.
She sprinted into the darkness, finally replying to Wepwawet. Windigo is cunning. He’s using our own fear and anger against us. That makes us sloppy, and easy to manipulate. But we have an advantage too. I know Windigo wants me to catch him, and that gives us the chance at a straight-up fight. I still have the sword Blair gave me. What do you call them?
A Na-Kopesh, Wepwawet growled. It is a weapon from my time, one of our most common blades.
And you know how to use one, right?
Indeed. I am a master. I begin to see where this line of questioning will lead us. If you wish, I will share my knowledge with you. You will fight as you’ve never fought before.
Windigo is powerful, but so are we. Let’s find this bastard, and get my friend back.
Liz loped through the darkness, eating up the miles with surprising swiftness. She made her way through Santa Rosa, and into a town called Sebastopol. She crossed rolling fields covered with grapes, and here and there large stands of oak trees. The further she went, the more rural things became.
Eventually, she began to reach redwood trees, the remains of the gravel road leading up and down steep switchbacks. Liz followed them, crossing into the redwoods. They led her to a river, and she crossed a rusting metal bridge. Midway across, Liz could smell flesh. She trotted over, bending to sniff at a puddle.
It was blood, and in the center lay a human ear.
Liz bared her fangs, turning toward the dense forest blanketing the hillside ahead of her. He was in there somewhere, waiting.
A single female scream split the night, echoing down the hillsides. Liz saw red, rage fueling her as she sprinted toward the sound.
She was going to catch this bastard, and he was going to pay for harming Alicia.
69
After Her
Blair popped into existence in the backyard, the cool wind ruffling his fur. He cocked an ear, listening for breathing. There was none—of the human variety anyway. A few foxes, a pack of coyotes, and countless field mice. That was it.
Liz wasn’t home, and neither was Alicia. It was nearly dawn, so that didn’t make any sense at all.
He leapt to the top of his house, tasting the wind. Recent blood, from Alicia’s house.
Blair closed his eyes, his mind questing for the packmind. He found them everywhere, all competing to mindshare. Over and over he saw variations, each a piece of a large puzzle. Screams from the house. Big scary creature carrying fierce little sister. Heading to the mountains, west. Angry red Ka-Ken following.
He focused on the link he’d forged with Liz, paying close attention to the emotions bleeding through. Liz was furious. He could feel her somewhere to the west.
Blair expanded his reach, seeking Yukon. He found him to the north, prowling the forests in lower Mendocino County. Yukon, we need you back home. Alicia has been taken. Liz went after Windigo alone.
I will come swiftly, whelp, Yukon thought back. Blair could feel his sudden fear, that either Alicia or Liz might be in danger.
Blair shared the fear, but fought not to let it overwhelm him. Windigo preyed on desperation. Defeating him was going to take cold pragmatism.
He used telekinesis to rip the hood from an old abandoned Ford. He flipped it onto the road, stepping onto the curved steel, then concentrated, willing his makeshift raft into the sky. He stopped a hundred meters up, the height most hot air balloons hovered at.
Sonoma County sprawled before him: houses, trees, fields. It stretched westward, toward Guerneville.
The wind was bitterly cold, but Blair ignored his chattering teeth. Liz was somewhere west, possibly as far out as Guerneville. He could reach that spot in moments, but going alone was foolish. That was exactly what Windigo was counting on: emotional mistakes.
So Blair was as calm as he could be, given his fear for Alicia and his even greater fear for Liz. They’d finally admitted their feelings, and begun a rather awkward courtship.
He loved her, and he’d be damned if he’d let anyone take her away.
Hear me. Blair pushed his thought to every member of the Great Pack, every dog, fox, coyote, and Ka-Dun within fifty miles. He touched them all, the packmind swelling to thousands. I know now what Windigo is, and how it came to be. I know how to fight it, and that requires all of you. Only the pack can stop this menace, and we have to stop him now. This morning, Windigo kidnapped Alicia. Liz left in pursuit, even though she knows it is a trap. I’m sure of that. She did it because she loves Alicia, and we all know what Windigo will do to her.
I’m going to show you an ability, one that I invented. I call it a ping, and Ka-Dun can use it to locate anyone walking the shadows.
Blair blazed through the packmind, seeking every Ka-Dun. He found them by the dozens, and once he had gathered them all he shared the memory of the first time he’d used the ping—against Bridget, inside the Ark’s sparring ring.
It’s a simple shaping, and all of you have the strength to do it. When we reach the forest where Windigo has taken Alicia, you’ll use this ability to find him. Don’t engage. Just find him. I’ll deal with the bastard.
Blair hovered there, watching as the sun threatened to appear over the eastern horizon. The first rays of dawn illuminated golden fields and patches of forest. So many familiar landmarks stretched beneath him.
This is our home, and we will defend it. Find her.
He stretched out a hand toward the south, where the Great Ark lay like a pulsing beacon. Blair pulled deeply at the reserves, feeding the power into the packmind.
The Ka-Dun drank the power directly, but the rest of the pack manifested that power physically. They grew stronger, tougher, and much faster. Hundreds of canines blurred into the trees, flowing westward. Their barking startled birds into flight, the flock heralding the pack as it ran through West County.
Blair followed, staying airborne as they crossed the rolling golden fields.
The link to Yukon grew stronger as the dog made his way south, but he was still far off. He’d be here in a few hours, but by then this would all be decided one way or the other.
It was up to Blair, and those he’d gathered to help.
70
Hunter or Hunted
Liz crept silently into the parking lot, not spotting any immediate movement. On the right was a steep ridge, with a hiking trail picking up switchbacks. The hillside was covered in thick redwoods, with clusters of ferns carpeting their feet. Across the parking lot lay a large visitor’s center, and beyond that lay the valley floor.
It was the most beautiful forest Liz had ever seen—not that she was in a position to appreciate it.
The mighty trees were far enough apart that they didn’t limit visibility, but they did provide ample hiding spaces, even for something as large as Windigo. He was out there somewhere, watching. She could feel his gaze, even if she couldn’t see him.
“Face me, Windigo,” Liz yelled. “That’s why you drew me in, isn’t it? You wanted me out here alone. I’m here. Let’s get this over with.”
Her voice echoed through the trees, and in the distance a few ravens answered. There was nothing else.
She walked boldly across the parking lot, in plain view, and approached the visitor’s center, leaping onto the roof to get a better view of the forest.
“Are you really going to draw this out?”
A sharp scream echoed through the trees, far enough away that Liz couldn’t tell where it originated. She was pretty sure it was from the southwest, so she sprinted that direction. She resisted the urge to cloak in the shadows around her, reminding herself she wasn’t the hunter here. She
was the hunted. She needed to stay in the open, or Windigo would never show himself.
It means conceding the opening attack to a powerful opponent, Wepwawet cautioned. It is not too late to gain your Ka-Dun’s help, or—failing that—to at least approach with cunning. We are rushing headlong into whatever trap this creature has laid. You must realize that, Ka-Ken. I know you care for this child, but your value is incalculable. Risking yourself is foolish.
“I wish we had time for that, but you live in my head. You know exactly what’s at stake. I left Alicia once. I can’t do it again.” Liz knew it might not be the most logical choice, but she was damned tired of always doing the “right” thing.
Fuck the greater good. Sometimes you needed to do the right thing in your own life, or you couldn’t live with yourself afterwards.
Another scream, this one closer. It was definitely coming from ahead. Liz redoubled her speed, kicking up a spray of leaves as she cut between the trees. She came up short next to a sign proclaiming the name of the tree as The Colonel. She’d never have noticed it if not for spray of blood across the sign. It was fresh, droplets still tracing lines down the sign’s glossy surface.
The sun had risen over the valley, but the high ridges on either side of the valley preserved the dimness. It was just enough to thicken the shadows in a very hackle-raising way. Liz cocked her ears, straining to pick up anything. The valley was still; only the squirrels were brave enough to chatter. They sensed a predator in their midst—they just didn’t care, because they assumed they were safe in the trees.
Another scream, this one back the way she’d come. Liz darted back into the trees, sprinting toward the cry. She caught sight of a stone stage, ringed on one side with benches. It was an outdoor amphitheater, the kind of place that locals used to host concerts or plays.
A prone figure was curled into a fetal position on the middle of the stage.
Liz rushed to Alicia’s side, crouching next to the teen. Her eyes were closed, and blood pooled on the uneven granite beneath her. Liz felt for a pulse, breathing in relief when she found one.
Roll, Wepwawet roared.
She reacted, dropping her shoulder and rolling to the right. Long claws skittered across the stone where she’d been, sending up lines of sparks. They were attached to the kind of monster that would haunt her dreams forever.
Wide antlers jutted from a skeletal face, and bits of flesh hung from the bony protrusions. Its arms were thin, but Liz had a feeling the thing was stronger than it looked—especially if it had beaten Alicia. She might be a teen, but she’d become an impressive warrior.
“Hello, Ka-Ken,” the creature taunted. It walked slowly, circling her.
Liz interposed herself protectively in front of Alicia.
“Ahh, I see I chose the right bait. I violated her, Ka-Ken, in so many ways. And I will do it again, in so many more.”
Rage pressed down on Liz’s vision, condensing it to a tunnel. Windigo’s mocking laughter broke something inside of her, shattering the floodgates. She came for him then, in a tide of fury.
She leapt forward, slashing at his face. Windigo fell back, and Liz danced backwards into the shadows. She darted right, then slashed at his belly. Claws found flesh, but Windigo’s hide was thick. The wound was superficial, and healed before she even had time to dart away.
Windigo brought down both arms, smashing Liz in the back as she leapt away. The blow knocked her into a bench, stone splintering as she tumbled into the next one. She scrambled forward, but Windigo gave her no quarter. It slashed at her with those awful claws, drawing hot lines across her back, then her muzzle.
Give over to me, Ka-Ken. Let me fight this monster.
Part of Liz wanted to bite and snap at Wepwawet, but a distant part of her mind remembered that she was being shaped. Emotions couldn’t be trusted. She relaxed a hair, enough for Wepwawet to seize control.
The change in her combat abilities was both instant and educational. Her body flipped backwards, a golden sword flowing into her hand. She brought the sword down in a tight arc, lopping off Windigo’s clawed hand even as it plunged toward her heart.
The creature recoiled with a deafening shriek, but now it was Liz’s turn to press. She landed in a crouch, wrapping the shadows around her. Then she sprinted left, circling wide while Windigo scanned the forest in a vain attempt to locate her. It clutched at its bloody stump, hissing pained little breaths as it hunted.
“I can kill her right now, Ka-Ken. You aren’t fast enough—”
Liz took three quick steps, then vaulted into the air. She came down on Windigo, bringing the blade down so swiftly it hummed. The creature was quick enough to escape death, but not injury. Her blade severed one of his antlers, sending the rotting bone to the forest floor.
Windigo scrambled backward with a screech, then vanished into the shadows.
Liz did the same, moving to stand near Alicia’s unconscious form. Now, all she could do was wait.
“Very impressive, Ka-Ken. You’re stronger than you should be—a good deal stronger. And your mastery of the blade is too great. What secrets are you hiding, I wonder? How did you come by these abilities?”
The voice trailed off. It had been moving the entire time, and she couldn’t use it to locate the bastard. Silence stretched, until Windigo taunted her again.
“I’m going to keep her alive while I feast on her. I promise you that her pain will be the stuff of legend, but that is only the beginning. After her, I’ll kill your little golden puppy, and then I’ll kill that absent-minded Ka-Dun. I’ll take his key from him, and then the fun will really begin.”
Liz began to approach the voice, but it stopped just as she was sure she knew where it originated. Blast it. This kind of cat and mouse drove her nuts. Should she appear again? Did she even have a choice?
You always have a choice, Ka-Ken. Just be sure you understand the risks you take. If you appear, he will be on you instantly. He is wounded, but likely already healing. The wisest course is to wait him out. When he tries to kill Alicia, you attack.
The advice made sense, but Liz resisted. If she waited for Windigo to attack, Alicia might not survive.
True enough, Ka-Ken. But if you reveal yourself now, you may not survive.
There was no real choice. Liz stepped from the shadows, feet sliding into a practiced combat stance. There was no warning, not even a breath of wind. Claws punched into her back; Windigo’s arm emerged from her gut in a shower of blood.
Liz coughed, specks of blood coating her lips. The wound was grievous, but she wasn’t going to let this be the end of her.
Her blade swept down in a fluid motion, and the Sunsteel blade cut off the horribly thin arm at the elbow. She jerked forward, rolling away from Windigo.
The creature launched a swipe with its newly regrown hand, but Liz was faster. She sliced through this arm, too, leaving Windigo with two severed stumps. She charged, kicking Windigo in the chest with both feet.
The blow caught him off guard, flinging him backward. Liz leaned into the kick, lunging with her blade. The weapon took Windigo through the shoulder, pinning him to the granite near the edge of the stage.
Windigo lunged at her with a muzzle full of wicked fangs, but Liz seized the side of his head and slammed his skull into the granite. Then she did it again. And again.
“End it, then,” Windigo slurred. He panted, twitching feebly under Liz’s weight. The Sunsteel blade was already pulling strength from him, washing away her fatigue. If she pulled harder, it would grant Windigo’s wish. “I’ve never seen a Ka-Ken with your raw ferocity, not even Isis. I must know: how did you become so skilled with a blade?”
Inexplicable fury welled up in her. What right did this…this creature have to continue drawing breath? Alicia was unconscious, maybe dying. The day before, it had killed John Rivers. Who knew what atrocities it had committed before that. How many lives had it destroyed? And all she needed to do was draw a little harder, and the creature would be gone forever. I
t would never hurt anyone again.
She waited to see if Wepwawet would offer his advice, as he always did. As her beast had done before. Yet he was strangely silent.
There was no one here to make the decision but her, so she chose death for Windigo. She’d drink his essence, and he’d never bother anyone again.
71
Uh Oh
“Ark Lord, a situation has arisen that requires your input.” Ba’s digitized voice came from behind Trevor.
He looked up from the console, facing the hologram. “What is it?” he snapped. “We’re almost done with this strain.”
He hated letting irritation get the better of him, but his nerves were jagged glass. Ba didn’t seem the frivolous type, so it must be important. Still, the interruption was jarring. They were so close.
“Unknown entities have entered the city, and tapped into the portal control obelisks.” A flickering holographic screen appeared behind Ba, showing a cluster of black, winged brutes fanning out around the obelisk at one end of the portal. “Nearly every other life form in the city is currently inside the central pyramid. As of yet, they seem unaware of the incursion.”
“Fuck,” was all Trevor could manage.
“What are they doing to the obelisk?” Anput asked. She approached the hologram, squinting at the demon crouched next to the obelisk.
“Ah, their motivation has become clear,” Ba said. He raised a too-thin arm, pointing through the portal. “They’ve shifted the modulation. The portal control has altered the portal’s point of egress.”
“Well, where is the portal pointing now?” Trevor asked, though he was positive he didn’t want to know.
The hologram adjusted, bringing the point of view closer to the portal itself. The expected wall of jungle on the other side had been replaced by a busy tarmac—and what looked to be a full platoon of demonic troops.