The Deathless Quadrilogy

by Chris Fox

  Blair released Liz, rushing over to Anput. She was badly burned as well, her face and throat especially. “What is it?”

  “Staff. Use…the staff,” Anput managed. She lifted a trembling hand, pointing at Trevor.

  Blair rose to his feet, moving back to Trevor. He aimed the staff at his fallen friend, fueling the artifact with what power remained. The universe seemed to open, showing Blair Trevor’s wounds. He could see every molecule at once, understanding in some primal way how to regenerate the destroyed cells.

  Power flowed from the staff into Trevor, the potent signals encouraging his organs to regrow. Trevor jerked up with a gasp, then fell back to the ground, seizing like an epileptic. Blair poured more power from the staff, sagging weakly to one knee as he continued to shape. The signal rippled outward, affecting Trevor’s skin now. The burnt sections flaked away, exposing new pink skin underneath.

  Trevor was staring down at himself in wonder, and Blair couldn’t help but do the same. He offered Trevor a hand, “Good to see you breathing, man.”

  “I can’t believe you can heal people. We totally needed a cleric in our party,” Trevor said, laughing. He rolled his arm in the socket. “You did a hell of a job. I thought I was done.”

  Liz threw her hairy arms around Trevor. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

  “Guys,” Jordan called, striding over. He held a black staff, one that made Blair uneasy. The signals coming off it were very wrong. Inhuman somehow. “I promise we’ll do a reunion soon, but we’ve still got a mess to clean up.”

  “I think the fight’s over,” Trevor said, gesturing at the city around them.

  He was right. Combat had stopped, the demons eradicated to a man. The pack was lounging now, licking wounds and panting furiously. They’d won.

  “It’s not the fight I’m worried about,” Jordan said, frowning. “There’s no sign of the Director. It’s possible Nox fled, but I seriously doubt it. He came to this city for a reason. If it were conquest, he’d have brought a much larger army. This was surgical. He was after something.”

  “He wanted to make an access key,” Anput rasped, rising shakily to her feet. She waved off Trevor’s offer to help. “This place is capable of it. The grey men need one to win the war. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

  “Unfortunately, I agree,” Jordan said, grimly of course. The man looked even more dour than usual.

  A small group of werewolves walked up, led by a large blond female. She nodded deferentially to Liz, then dropped to one knee before Blair. He was taken aback. “Welcome to our city, Father.”

  “Uh, what are you doing?” Blair reached down, helping the woman to her feet.

  “Blair, meet Elia,” Jordan said. “Elia is the leader of a sect of champions, the ones who protect both the jungle and this city. Until recently, she was custodian of my Ark.”

  “Why did you call me Father?” Blair asked the Ka-Ken

  “I am honored to meet you, Ark Lord Blair. You are the father of our species in this epoch. Most of us are descended from you,” Elia said, tone reverent. She bowed low, then straightened. “You have saved us all. We are eternally grateful that you chose to intercede on our behalf.”

  “Yeah, it’s a good thing those evil ancient enemies decided to go find him, huh?” Trevor said, shooting Elia an accusatory glance.

  “I take it you two don’t get along?” Blair asked.

  “Elia locked Anput and I up, and tied Jordan up with political games.” Trevor glared hard at Elia. “She’s making all nicey-nice, but only because she thinks you match some of the dogma they’ve cooked up around Isis.”

  “Do not mock our faith, cur,” Elia snarled. Blair was amazed at the transformation, the depth of hatred in the woman.

  “I know you’re not growling at my brother,” Liz said, taking a protective step in front of him. She raised her blade into a guard position. “I will cut you in half, bitch.”

  Elia looked horrified, bowing repeatedly as she backed away. “This—this thing is your brother, eldest sister?”

  “You’re damned right he is, and from the sound of it he just saved your collective asses.” Liz poked Elia in the chest with the tip of her sword. “If I hear another word out of your mouth about Trevor, I’ll remove your ability to make words.” Liz’s eyes blazed, and Blair felt a little sorry for Elia.

  Jordan cleared his throat. “I’d suggest we gather in the main hall. We can tend to the wounded, and talk about where to go from here,” Jordan said. He scooped up Anput, carrying the wounded vampire toward the temple. The others followed.

  Blair took one final glance at the battlefield. They’d won a sizable victory, even if it wasn’t perfect.

  88

  Ark War

  Hades paced before his throne in a most undignified manner. He’d received a brief communication from Nox that he’d succeeded, but there were no details. Just how well had he succeeded? Was that blasted city theirs at last? Had he actually created a real Primary Access Key, and if so, was he wise enough to turn it over, or would he try to use it to free himself from demonic control? So many questions.

  The air near the entryway of the throne room popped and sparked, then the outline of a figure appeared. Over several seconds the figure gained shape and definition, finally resolving into Nox’s demonic form. He dropped to one knee, bowing his head.

  “Not for the first time I regret the amount of autonomy I’ve granted you,” Hades spat the words at Nox. “It’s not too late to destroy your will. Always remember that.”

  “Of course, master. I never forget that fact,” Nox said, with just the right shade of deference.

  He extended a hand, gold pooling within it. That gold flowed into a staff that filled Hades with a very physical hunger.

  Nox rose, offering the staff with both hands. “You know I disagree with your plan, but I am not a fool. I’ve created what you asked for.”

  Hades leapt down the landing, seizing the staff from Nox. He clutched it to him, taking a cautious step backward. He took a long moment to compose himself. “I’m glad you see reason, and that you did not think to challenge me. Now, what of the city? Tell me everything.”

  “You’re not going to like this,” Nox admitted. He gave a heavy sigh. “Somehow the enemy sabotaged the portal, and pointed it at San Francisco. Ark Lord Blair brought the Great Pack to the defense of the city, and our forces were annihilated to a man.”

  “No,” Hades moaned. He refused to accept this. It couldn’t be. He buried his face in his hands, but was unable to hide from the implications. He looked up. “Do you see what you’ve done? Not only have you not secured the city, but you have cost us nearly a fifth of our army. We are greatly diminished thanks to your inept bungling of the situation.”

  “I thought you might feel that way. You’re going to be even less happy.” Nox folded scaly arms over his chest. “Kali was among the dead. She was killed by Jordan and his friends.”

  “Are you trying to doom us all?” Hades shouted.

  He leapt from his throne, pointing at Nox. An arc of black lightning shot from his hand, crackling over Nox’s entire body. The demon flopped about like a fish, smoke rising from his body. Hades did not abate. He continued the torture for several minutes, using Nox’s pain to calm himself.

  When he finally felt composed he stopped the lightning. “You may rise, Nox. Your short life may well be at an end. I won’t hesitate to offer you to the grey men. The only reason you live is that you have delivered the staff, even if you did it in the most disgraceful of circumstances.”

  Nox didn’t rise immediately. It took him long moments to crawl to his feet, streamers of smoke still rising from his body.

  Hades had brought him close to death, and had very nearly finished the job. Yet he needed Nox still. For now. “Now, compose yourself. We must contact the grey men.”

  Hades hurried back up the stairs, reveling in the power offered by the staff. With both the staff and the crown, he was the equal o
f any Ark Lord now—at least for as long as the grey men allowed him to keep the staff. Would they really deliver on their promise?

  Nox bowed wordlessly, moving to stand on the step below the throne. He clasped his hands behind his back, the dutiful bodyguard. It bothered Hades just how adept Nox was at donning and shedding such masks. He had to continually remind himself of just how devious his creation was. He must watch Nox even more closely going forward.

  Hades whispered to the crown, willing it to initiate the connection to the device that the grey men had provided. The golden cylinder cast forth a shimmering wave of light that perfectly mimicked life. A hologram, Nox had called it. The hologram showed a forest of tiny black obelisks. Three equally tiny grey men stood among the obelisks, using golden devices that, to Hades’s mind, were truly magical.

  He didn’t buy into this technological religion that Vulcan had picked up from the moderns. Hades knew divinity when he saw it.

  “Greetings, honored emissaries of the great Builders,” Hades intoned. He gave a seated bow.

  “Entity Hades, that you have contacted us must mean you have successfully acquired the Access Key. Is this statement accurate?” one of grey men asked. Its tiny mouth didn’t move, but the voice came from somewhere.

  “Yes, honored Emissary. I have acquired the key, as you have asked.” Hades licked his lips, darting a nervous glance around the room.

  “Entity Hades, what of the Proto Ark? Have you secured it for our use?” the grey man asked, cocking its head.

  “Regrettably, your enemies arrived first,” Hades admitted. He clutched the staff to his chest. “We were unable to wrest the city from their grasp, and were forced to retreat. My incompetent servant Nox led the assault.”

  “Unfortunate,” the grey man said. It turned to its companions, and they seemed to confer silently. When they were finished the lead grey man turned back to Hades. “Entity Kali is no longer functional. Explain.”

  “She was killed in the battle, great Emissary. This wasn’t an attempt to remove your servant, I assure you.” Hades hated how subservient he sounded. “If you’d like to assign another, I promise that I will keep them from harm.”

  “Her death is insignificant,” the grey man said. “Another servant will be provided.”

  “What of my reward? May I use the staff to take the Ark of the Cradle?”

  “We will come for the key. Until then, you may use it as you wish,” the grey man said. He conferred with his companions, then turned back to Hades. “We will arrive in a quarter rotation. Prepare yourself.”

  The hologram winked out of existence. Hades leapt to his feet with a whoop. He laughed at Nox. “I told you they could be trusted. The Ark of the Cradle is mine. At long last, I have exceeded my brother. The first sorcerer god to become an Ark Lord.”

  Nox turned to face him, all respect gone from his face.

  Hades blinked, unable to grasp the change in the man’s demeanor.

  Nox’s voice was contemptuous. “They gave you the Ark of the Cradle, because by creating that key you made some powerful enemies. Jordan and Blair are working together. Blair has resurrected the Great Pack, and Jordan is an unparalleled military leader. They’re coming for you, Hades. The grey men are all too happy to allow us to fight it out, weakening us both. They know that sooner or later you’re going to betray them. They’re just using you until their masters arrive. Then we’re expendable.”

  “You will never speak to me in that tone again,” Hades snarled. Only his brother Zeus had ever dared say such things, and Hades had vowed he’d never allow another to do the same. “You are fortunate that I need you, Nox. But you are not so clever as you think. Open your mind to me, and pray that I find no subterfuge.”

  Hades pulsed power through the mindshackle he’d attached to Nox at the moment of the demon’s creation. Hades rifled through Nox’s memories, seeking any deception that might give him cause to destroy Nox. He needed the treacherous fool, but if Nox had already turned on him, Hades would mete out justice here and now.

  There was nothing, not beyond the kind of treacherous thoughts he himself had been guilty of when serving Set. Hmm. Removing the will of such a valuable servant seemed…hasty. “Perhaps I will allow you to retain some will, since it appears your insolence is the worst of your crimes. But remember this, Nox: my patience is not infinite. If you cannot keep your tongue, I will replace you with someone who can.”

  Hades waved a hand at Nox, and the frightened demon scurried from his presence.

  Now that the unpleasant tasks were dealt with, Hades turned his attention to the staff. With it, he would finally claim that which he had sought his entire life.

  “These young gods wish to come for me?” Hades shouted. His powerful voice echoed from the walls, bringing a dark smile. “Let them come, and I will teach them the true power of an Ark Lord. Let the Ark War finally begin.”

  Epilogue

  “Hold still,” Liz said, straightening the sleeves on Blair’s ivory robe. Blair stood as patiently as he could, trying to distract himself by reading the glyphs on the temple wall. It didn’t help.

  “I look like the villain in a bad Kung Fu movie,” Blair muttered. “Why don’t you have to wear one of these?”

  “Because I didn’t populate an entire continent with crazy werewolves,” Liz countered. She finally stopped, taking a step back to inspect him. “Also, I didn’t save the city with a big pack of super dogs. Besides, you look great.”

  “I’m still not sure that I even understand what’s happening here,” Blair said. And he wasn’t. It was some sort of coronation, but he wasn’t sure what Elia and her friends expected him to do. “I hope they don’t think we’re sticking around. We have a home, and this isn’t it.”

  “I think Jordan beat that into them,” Liz said. “Plus, I suspect that this Elia doesn’t want you sticking around making her look bad.” She took a step back, beaming a smile and nodding approvingly. “You really look the part. Let’s go.”

  Liz shifted into warform, summoning her blade. Blair trailed after her as she stalked up the narrow corridor. It dumped them into a small coliseum, made large only by the sparsely populated stands. There simply weren’t enough of them to fill the place, even with a few Ka-Dun from the Great Pack having stayed. Some of them were electing to stay permanently, and to Blair’s mind that was a good thing. The things they learned here could be brought back to the Bay Area.

  “I wish John were here to see all this,” Blair said. He missed the old man, despite not having spent much time with him.

  “Me too. He won’t be the last casualty in all this,” Liz rumbled, her furry ears twitching as she watched the new council.

  Blair marched toward the raised dais at the center of the ring. Elia stood before a golden throne wide enough for a monarch with a very large ass. She held a neck torque, simple gold with an oval sapphire set in the center. It would have been at home in Old Kingdom Egypt.

  He paused next to Elia, turning slowly to face the crowd. Jordan’s friend Leti had coached him, and she’d drilled into him the importance of the ritual.

  “Yesterday our ranks numbered forty-three,” Elia’s clear voice rang through the chamber. “Forty-three champions, who swore to live as the Mother.” She paused masterfully, waiting until the crowd held a single collective breath. “Twenty-eight of those champions fell today. They gave their lives in defense of this place. Nor were they the only blood price paid today. Our Father brought his pack to save us, and many of our brothers and sisters will never be going home. We owe the Father a great debt for his service, but now we must ask an even greater service. In the Mother’s absence we need a real leader. Our Father, Ark Lord Blair, is that leader. He shall steward our faith, his faithful Ka-Ken watching over him.”

  Elia placed the torque around Blair’s neck. A thrum passed through it as the clasp snapped shut, and for a terrible moment Blair was reminded of the collar of Shi-Dun. He probed the collar, and could feel a reservoir of energy wit
hin. It was small compared to the staff, but potent in its own way.

  “Please,” Elia called, smiling magnanimously, “welcome Ark Lord Blair, Steward of Isis.”

  The crowd burst into applause, which somehow managed to fill the room despite the small audience. Blair suspected shaping, and scanned the audience looking for the culprit. Trevor shot him a guilty smile.

  Testing out the new shaping? Blair thought at him.

  You know it, Trevor thought back. The words were tinged with joy, the kind Blair hadn’t seen since Trevor had died.

  Much to Blair’s surprise he realized that Jordan was sitting next to Trevor. He’d taken the time to shave his blond curls, going back to the severe buzz cut he’d had when Blair had first met him. Somewhere he’d found a black t-shirt and camo fatigues.

  Next to Jordan sat Leti, and Blair smiled when her hand found Jordan’s.

  Blair raised both arms, and the crowd fell silent. He slowly lowered them, taking a deep breath. “Today was both horrible and miraculous. We lost many, as sister Elia said. But those who survived are stronger. We’ve learned to put aside differences—for deathless, champions, and unblooded to work together. We stopped Hades and his demons, showing them that we will not be taken easily. They are powerful, but together so are we.” He left out the part where Nox had gotten away.

  And the part where Nox had probably created a Primary Access Key.

  “Many threats still remain. Hades is in Cairo, squatting over the Ark of the Cradle. Sobek and his nameless master are in Australia, and they could decide to attack us at any time.” Blair stopped, considering his next words carefully. “I thought long and hard about telling you this next part, but you not only deserve to know, you need to. Hades works for the beings who built this city. They also built the Arks, and created the technology Isis used to create all of us. Those creators—we call them the Builders—will be returning soon. Their shock troops are already here.”