Face Behind the Mask

by Leo King

  “I’m impressed,” Tania said. Then she nudged Amelie. “Your turn to shine.”

  “Of course. Follow me, T.”

  Amelie slid along the wall, inching toward the alcove with Tania carefully following. About halfway there, she stopped.

  “What’s wrong?” Tania asked in a whisper.

  “There’s no cover. We can slip along the wall, but if they look this way, we’ll be caught.”

  Nodding, Tania weighed the options. They could kill the guards, but then they’d have to act quickly or lose the element of surprise. If they chanced it, it was possible they’d be spotted and an alarm would be raised. No matter how I look at it, it’s a no-win situation.

  “Sister, I have an idea,” Violet said.

  Oh? What’s that?

  “Let me out. I’ll distract them.”

  But, Sister, you can’t—

  “It’ll only be for a minute or two. I’ll be fine.”

  Tania felt herself sweat. If something happened to Violet while she was outside, it could permanently destroy her.

  “Trust me.”

  You’re right. The last time Violet had asked for Tania’s trust, things had worked out just fine. Just be careful, Sister.

  “Good. I need to get some ghostly anger out anyway.”

  A moment later, Tania felt her strength and perception dwindle to normal as the sensation of another being within her vanished. The vacuum created an overwhelming sensation of loneliness. “Hurry back,” she whispered.

  “Hurry what back?” Amelie asked.

  “Just wait. Violet has this one.”

  From the other side of the room came a strangled moan and then a wail. The guards jerked back when the ghostly figure of Violet Patterson slipped through the walls. Her sockets were twice their normal size, her jaw was unhinged, and her fingernails were long claws.

  “Die… ,” she moaned. “Die…”

  “Oh, shit, what the hell!” One of the guards aimed his submachine gun.

  The other one grabbed him. “Don’t shoot, you idiot! Dr. Kindley told us to contact him if we saw any ghosts. He said—”

  Violet suddenly shrieked and flew right into him. A moment later, his hair and skin started turning white as he foamed at the mouth. The first guard screamed, threw up his arms, and ran off, crying out, “They don’t pay me enough for this shit.”

  Amelie grabbed Tania’s hand and pulled. “We go. We go now.”

  As they rushed into the alcove and headed up the stairs, Tania watched the possessed guard writhing on the ground. She had never actually watched Violet hunt before.

  You can be quite terrifying, Sister.

  The interior of the main meeting hall was a richly decorated room of stone slabs and Roman columns. Red-and-gold tapestry proudly displaying the Knight Priory crest hung everywhere. The balcony itself held only a few cloaked members, and thankfully, none were near the door. Everyone was focused on the floor below.

  Marc Morial, dressed in a hooded robe but with the hood pulled down, knelt in front of an altar that was covered in red velvet and adorned with a golden bowl filled with blood. Standing before him was a man in a voodoo mask, his hands on the mayor’s head.

  “Marc Morial,” the figure chanted in a deep timbre. “You have been chosen by the Knight Priory of Saint Madonna to receive a mask of brotherhood. Will you keep our laws, our customs, our faith, and our covenant with the Virgin Mary and the Lord of Death, Baron Samedi?”

  “I will,” Morial said.

  As the ritual continued, Tania felt Violet reenter her. It felt like her sister was gorged from a huge meal. Did you have to feed off his fear during the operation, Sister?

  “I was hungry. I only feed once every week or two. We’ve been too busy for me to hunt, remember?”

  Ugh. It’s just your timing.

  Amelie leaned over, pulling Tania from her thoughts. “What do we do, T?”

  Tania watched the proceedings. “It’s almost over. We have to stop them now.”

  “OK, how?”

  As Noelle and Chase, who was soaking wet again, joined them, Tania got an idea. It’s a risk, but if it works…

  She cleared her throat and motioned for the others to come closer. “I’m going to snipe the mayor with a rubber bullet. It’ll incapacitate him. When that happens, Chase, Noelle, go get him and run. Meanwhile, Amelie and I will find Dr. Kindley.”

  The others gawked at her. Then Noelle spoke up. “If we do that, every Knight Priory member may attack us. And if they use the tkeeus, we’re dead.”

  “I know it’s a risk,” Tania said, sweating. “But I’m betting on them not having the tkeeus ready for use.”

  “That’s a heck of a bet,” Chase said.

  “I agree with Chase,” Amelie said. “But, you’re the operative, so if you think it’s best…”

  This time, Tania didn’t hesitate. “Yes. That’s what we’re doing.”

  “Taking a gamble, Sister?”

  We don’t have a choice. No one else is here.

  “Sadly, you’re right. OK. Let’s do this.”

  While the others got ready to jump down to the floor, Tania loaded her rifle with one rubber bullet. Then she adjusted the silencer and the scope. Finally, she slipped off her mask.

  “I’m behind you, Sister,” Violet said.

  With a deep breath in, Tania aimed, focusing the crosshairs on Morial’s rear. I didn’t vote for you, anyway.

  Then she exhaled and fired. A moment later, all hell broke loose.

  Morial hollered and fell forward, grabbing his bum and rolling around. Chase and Noelle jumped off the balcony and rushed toward the mayor, firing their guns into the air. All the other Knight Priory members stumbled back in a panic. Noelle grabbed Morial in a half-nelson. The figure who had been leading the ritual reached for the mayor, but Chase tackled him, knocking off his mask.

  It was Connick.

  “No,” Amelie said. “This is bad. Chase can’t handle him!”

  The members of the Knight Priory started scattering out of room.

  Tania, who had changed her ammo back to regular rounds, watched in horror as Connick picked up Chase by the throat. He started squeezing, and immediately, Chase started flailing and wheezing. With a shrill cry, Noelle charged him, firing her gun repeatedly. He dodged each bullet as if it were nothing and then caught her by the throat as well.

  “No!’ Tania yelled, aiming her crosshairs at Connick’s heart. “Harry!”

  He glanced up at her and sneered. Chase’s struggle became more pronounced.

  “Chase, honey, please,” Noelle gasped.

  Tania put her finger on the trigger. “Let them go or I’ll kill you.”

  “Be careful, T,” Amelie said. “He’s fast. Real fast.”

  “I know. But I can do this!”

  Connick sniggered maliciously. “Think you have what it takes, bitch? Try me!”

  He started squeezing Noelle’s neck. “No? You can watch them both die, then!”

  Noelle reached for Chase. “I… love…”

  “Sister, you have to—”

  I know. Guide my hand.

  Focusing on Connick, Tania inhaled once more, and then exhaled.

  And then she fired.

  Chapter 47

  Always a Smile

  Date: Sunday, June 15, 1997

  Time: 10:17 p.m.

  Location: Deepwater Olympus

  Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico

  Aucoin awoke and immediately regretted it. His head felt like it was split open, and every joint in his body ached. His thoughts were foggy at best. Blinking several times to clear his crusty eyes, he finally saw that he was hanging a hundred feet above the Gulf of Mexico.

  “Good, you’re awake.”

  Looking up, Aucoin saw that Victor was holding onto him while grasping a steel beam. Way above them both was the platform of the oil rig.

  “Arm starting to get tired,” Victor said. “You need to climb on your own.”

 
As Aucoin glanced back down, he tried to recall what had happened. The last thing he remembered was Sam pulling off some superhero stunts and then the helicopter crashing.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Five, maybe ten minutes.”

  “And you’ve been holding me all this time?”

  “Yep. Now here, grab on and let’s climb.”

  With a sharp grunt, Victor swung him over to the lattice of the rig. Aucoin grabbed on and got his bearings, the confusion mostly cleared from his head. With ease, Victor started climbing the rig. The difference between us and operatives is pretty intimidating.

  He started climbing. Within seconds, his arms started burning with effort. “Where are Gavin and Curtis?”

  “Dead. Couldn’t get to them in time. Only able to grab you.”

  “They were good men,” Aucoin said, climbing. “I’ll miss the hell outta them.” After a few more yards, he tried calling Dixie, only to realize his headset was gone. “Crap. I need to get in touch with command.”

  “Here,” Victor said, tossing him his. Then he started climbing again.

  Catching it, Aucoin mumbled a “Thanks” and then put it on. “Dixie, this is Kyle. Are you there?”

  Dixie came on. “Kyle? We’ve been so damn worried. What hap—”

  “No time. Just Victor and I are left. We need instructions.”

  “It’s chaos up there. Ouellette’s arrived, and the police are securing the top and bottom of Deepwater. No sign of the Oracle. Children haven’t been located. And I—”

  Abel spoke in the background. He sounded as calm as ever.

  “OK, update,” Dixie said. “Shots have been fired in the meeting hall. The Knight Priory is scattering.”

  By now, Aucoin had stopped climbing. “Dixie, what’s going on? Talk to me!”

  This time, Dixie sound excited. “Veronica found Caroline! She and her guards slipped to the docks before the fighting broke out. Crap, how did she know about that attack? She’s on board her yacht and leaving the docks right now.”

  Looking down, Aucoin saw a large luxury yacht sliding out into the Gulf. The deck was well lit. Caroline, flanked by several guards, was entering the cabin. He squinted and caught sight of someone in a Knight Priory cloak slipping through the shadows.

  “I see it! And it looks like Veronica’s there as well. What about the kids?”

  “Veronica’s saying that the children are not there. Kyle, you have to get on board by any means.”

  “What about the damn kids? Gavin and Curtis are dead!”

  “They have to be on the rig. I’ll send someone else. Just go get her! Over and out.”

  Aucoin roared in frustration and then said, “Victor, change of direction. Caroline’s on board that yacht. Can you safely fall that—”

  Victor grabbed him and jumped.

  “—shiiiiiiiiiit!”

  Victor landed on the yacht, his boots cracking the deck, his duster billowing out, and his hat staying on. Aucoin kept hollering until Victor pushed him to his feet.

  “Don’t be a wimp,” Victor said.

  He then took out his oversized revolver, Perdition, and attached a long wire between the grip and the holster. “Any friendlies on board?”

  Catching his breath, Aucoin said, “Yeah, Veronica.”

  “Right. Let’s go.” Victor cocked back Perdition’s hammer and stomped off.

  Although he was still rattled from the jump, Aucoin was grateful for his partner’s quick thinking. Once he had gathered himself, Aucoin tapped his headset. “We’re on board, Dixie. Going for Caroline.”

  “Good. Let Victor know that Caroline’s private army is expendable.”

  Two loud blasts, like a shotgun, rang out through the nighttime air.

  Taking out his own gun, Aucoin snickered. “I think Victor already knows.”

  Victor was leaving a trail of bodies, with Aucoin following behind. They met up next to the cabin door Caroline had entered. Nearby was a staircase going up to the bridge. Victor was reloading Perdition with its fist-sized bullets.

  Aucoin couldn’t help but admire his lethality. There was a reason Victor was codenamed “Death Adder.”

  “We need to stop this thing as well as locate Caroline,” Aucoin said. “It’ll be quicker if we split for a few minutes.” Normally, he’d never suggest such a thing, but in this instance, he felt they’d be all right.

  “Fine,” Victor said, closing Perdition’s barrel. “Pick one.”

  Looking from the cabin door to the staircase, Aucoin said, “You secure the bridge. Capture one of them if you can. Think you can handle that, big guy?”

  Victor harrumphed and headed upstairs. Watching him leave, Aucoin shook his head. Only two people in GEIST knew Victor’s past: Dr. Lazarus and Abel. No one else knew a thing about him. The common theory was that he used to be a professional killer. The second was that he wasn’t even human. Aucoin believed it was best not to know.

  Gun in hand, Aucoin entered the cabin. The hallway was decorated with track lightning and golden trim, and it smelled of fresh pine. His footsteps squeaked softly over the wooden floors as he crept as silently as possible. He paused at an intersection, hearing footsteps. Pulling back the hammer of his gun, he peeked around the corner. Two guards armed with rifles were heading toward him, checking rooms as they passed them by.

  Aucoin pulled back before they could see him. He was both outmanned and outgunned, so rushing them would be suicide. Just as he began sorting through potential plans, three loud bangs from the floor above rang out.

  “What the hell was that, a cannon?” one of the guards asked.

  “No, it’s a shotgun!” the other said.

  No, it’s just Victor killing your friends, Aucoin thought.

  Then the first guard said, “Nevermind. Let’s go!” Suddenly, the footsteps were running toward Aucoin. He had maybe a second or two before they’d round the corner. With nowhere to run, he did the only thing he could. As soon as the first one appeared, he punched him in the face with the butt of his gun, collapsing him into a heap. Then he shot the second one in the neck. Blood poured as the second guard fell.

  Kneeling on the first guard’s back, Aucoin pressed his gun to the man’s temple. “OK, shithead. You’ve got one chance to get out of this alive. Where’s Caroline?”

  The guard spat out blood. “Fuck you!”

  “Chance blown.” Aucoin pushed the barrel harder against the man’s head.

  “Wait! Wait! In the middle of the ship. It’s a panic room. She calls it the Vault!”

  “How do I get inside?”

  When the guard didn’t immediately answer, Aucoin pulled his hair until the man screamed. “Once more. How do I get inside?”

  Between sobs and labored breaths, the guard said, “Captain has the key. He's in the bridge. But you’ll never beat him. He’s… he was a Green Beret!”

  “I don’t care if he was 1st Goddamned Cavalry. We’re GEIST. And we don’t fucking play.” With a hard swing, Aucoin knocked the guard out. Then he tied the man up with his own belt and dragged him into a nearby lavatory, securing him to the pipes.

  “Lucky for you, I don’t like killing unless I have no choice.”

  When Aucoin reached the bridge, he saw Victor leaning against the wheel, smoking a hand-rolled cigarette. The captain, who was tied up and on his knees, was beaten so badly, his face was a blackened, bloody mess.

  “God, Victor. What did he do to you?”

  Victor pulled back his duster to show a recently stitched-up wound. Nearby, an army-issue knife was blown to pieces.

  Whistling, Aucoin asked, “Did you get him to talk?”

  “Sang like a bird.”

  “Did he mention how to get into the Vault?”

  Exhaling some smoke, Victor tossed him a keycard.

  Aucoin pocketed it. “All right. Let’s turn this tub around. Then we pay Miss Saucier a visit.”

  After turning the yacht around, something Aucoin had never done before,
finding the Vault was easy. Mostly, that was because Victor, after having been stabbed, was particularly irritable. His red “dead eye” glowed constantly, giving him an unnatural, almost uncanny, aim and something akin to precognitive abilities. The guards always seemed to be a little too slow, and by the time they reached the Vault, there was a pile of dead bodies behind them. Even Aucoin, who had long since become desensitized to violence, still shivered at the efficiency of the “Death Adder.”

  The door to the Vault looked, indeed, like the kind found in a bank. Aucoin swiped the captain’s card and then pressed the “open” button. Then he drew out his weapon.

  “Get ready,” he said. Victor reloaded Perdition and cocked back the hammer. Once the door was open, they stepped inside.

  “Caroline Saucier, surrender and come with us or…”

  Aucoin trailed off as he saw the room. Octagonal and covered in mirrors on all sides, it had only a chair and a small table in the middle. Caroline was sitting at the table, holding a glass of wine and grinning like a kid at a carnival. On the table was a wine bottle, another glass, and a small box with several buttons.

  She toasted him. “Kyle Aucoin. And you brought a friend. Come in. We have much to discuss.”

  “I don’t like this,” Victor muttered. “She’s got some hoodoo in here that’s messing with the dead eye. Only gonna be able to use it once.”

  “Then we do without it.” Aucoin aimed his gun at Caroline. “You, ma’am, are in serious trouble. I don’t know what ways the government has for dealing with criminals like yourself, but you can bet it won’t be pleasant.”

  Still smiling, Caroline sipped her wine. “You know, I think we got off to a bad start back in 1993. Want to start over?”

  “Start over? Because of you, I was thrown into Dr. Klein’s crazy house and tortured relentlessly. What do we possibly have to talk about?”

  With a shrug, she said, “I now control all of the Knight Priory’s assets. Let me go, and you can name your price.”

  He glared at her, insulted. “You think I can be bought off? You must be stupid.”