by Ken Lange
We traipsed into the darkness, following Cole’s lead. There were several twists and turns that forced me onto my knees while the others merely had to stoop. This was one of those times when being short was a bonus.
Several minutes passed before we reached the end of the passage and stood on the edge overlooking a lava tube that traveled up to the sky and down about thirty feet. There was no need to go any further since the bottom of the tube was packed with a small horde of undead. Not only did they fill the cavern below but several of them lined the ledges like gruesome statues.
Why on earth did the necromancers need this many undead? Between the mine, bridge, and here, they probably had enough to take over a small country. Granted, we’d turned some of them to ash, but given the semi-trucks and now this, the losses hardly seemed significant.
I whispered, “Turn off your lights.”
The moment it was dark, my vision changed spectrums, allowing me to scan the cavern for signs of life. But as I’d already guessed, there weren’t any. Which meant all we had to deal with were the undead below. That made it sound easy, but the reality was it would be anything but, since my and Hayden’s superpowers were useless. And given how tightly packed the chindi were, it would be impossible to get down there to chop off their heads without being crushed to death ourselves.
I gestured down at the undead. “There isn’t anyone here to tend to these things.”
Cole gave me a puzzled expression. “How can you tell?”
Hayden frowned. “We can see life…and he’s right. Other than the three of us, we’re alone with those…things.”
Kneeling, I glanced over at Cole. “Do you know if this cavern is connected to the tourist site further up the trail?”
He thought about it for a moment then shook his head. “None of the tunnels large enough for me to squeeze through do, but I can’t speak for the smaller ones. Why? What’s on your mind?”
I swung my pack off my shoulder and pulled out a healthy sized block of Symtec. “This.”
Hayden took a step back. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”
I wobbled my hand back and forth. “Depends who you ask.”
Cole frowned. “You just carry that shit around?”
I sighed. “Considering I don’t have an ounce of magical ability, I compensate by bringing guns and explosives to any given party. Sue me.”
Hayden chuckled. “Christ, you are nuts.” She put a hand on her hip. “So, what’s your plan?”
I shrugged. “Attach a detonator to it, set the timer for ten minutes, and run like hell.”
Horror filled her eyes. “I take back what I said earlier. You’re not crazy, you’re fucking stupid.”
I rocked back on my heels. “Hey, it’s a solid plan.”
She folded her arms. “Only if you want to blow yourself up. Goddamn idiot. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
I stood up. “For the record, I’ve set a lot of these charges over the years, so I doubt this will be the one that kills me.”
She groaned and shook her head. “You can teleport, you idiot. Running seems a bit stupid when you can just appear outside with loads of time to spare.”
I blushed. “Ah…you can teleport. I…I can’t yet. I mean, I’ve done it, but I haven’t got a clue how to make it work when I want it to.”
A snicker escaped her lips before she clamped her hand over them. It took a few seconds, but the silent laughter subsided. “Oh, okay. Ah, yeah, maybe you should hand that stuff over to me, and I’ll let you two get out of here.” Her lips started to twitch again as her gaze landed on me. “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you, I’m laughing with you.”
I gestured at myself. “Does it look like I’m laughing?” Handing her the Symtec and a couple of detonators, I said, “Maybe I’ll find it funny later, but right now, I just want to get out of here.”
She shooed us back into the tunnel. “I know, sorry.” Checking her watch, she set the timer. “You’ve got ten minutes, starting…now.”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Okay.”
She tapped the glass face of the watch. “This would be a good time to start running.”
Cole tugged on my sleeve. “Let’s go. She’s got this.”
I took off at a sprint with Cole close on my heels. Of course, he overtook me in the smaller places where I was forced to crawl. By the time we climbed up the rockface and out the opening, we had about two minutes to spare. We used that time to make our way over to the trail to wait for the inevitable. Not long after, Hayden appeared a bit further down the path.
She looked at her watch and turned to face the opening. A moment later, a low rumble shook the earth beneath my feet, and long tongues of flame spewed out of dozens of spots along the mountainside.
After the inferno stopped, I turned to Hayden. “It shouldn’t have done that.”
She shrugged. “My guess is it ignited the bat droppings, and that magnified the blast.”
Cole snickered and patted me on the back. “Guess you won’t have to worry about stepping in shit when you go and check on them.”
Hayden smiled. “He has a point. I did set off the explosion. It’s only right that you assess the damage and make sure I got them all.”
Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”
Grinning, she placed a hand on her hip. “Oh, I think it is.”
I glanced up at the mountain and sighed. “Then you go do it.”
She folded her arms. “Nope, this isn’t my gig. You’re the vigil.”
Cole nodded. “She’s right…you are the one in charge.”
It was clear I’d already lost the battle. Groaning, I let out a long breath. “Fine, I’ll go. No need for either of you to bother yourselves. I’ve got this.”
Cole patted me on the back. “Glad to hear it.” He gestured at Hayden. “We’ll wait here for you.”
I flipped them the bird before climbing back up to the opening. The explosion had dislodged several rocks, which made the entrance we’d used earlier impassable. It wasn’t until I reached the third opening that I was able to make my way back inside. While the mountains of shit may have helped fuel the explosion, there were more than a few slimy chunks lying about to hinder my progress.
Each and every step caked more of the foul-smelling stuff onto my boots. Stumbling, I put my hands out to catch myself on the nearest wall only to have my hands covered in shit…not like it mattered at this point, I was practically coated in the stuff. I was pretty sure they were having a good laugh at my expense right about now, but the joke was on them. They had to ride back with me.
Eventually, I made it to the alcove where the zombies had stood. All that was left was a mess of broken bodies, dirt, and rock. I searched the area thoroughly to ensure none of them remained intact. Finding nothing, I turned back the way I’d come, and my stomach twisted at the thought of having to wade through that again. I closed my eyes, and thought about being outside. A moment later, a brilliant blue light filled my vision, and when I opened my eyes again, I was standing a few yards away from the others.
Hayden beamed. “Well done.”
I flicked my hand in an attempt to shake off some of the goo. “For the record, there was still plenty of crap. But the good news is all the zombies are…well, they were already dead, so how about dismembered?”
Cole gave me a thumbs-up. “Works for me.”
Hayden’s stomach growled loudly. “I’m starved.”
I shook my head. “There’s no way we’re eating while covered in walker goo, bat shit, and dirt.”
She laughed. “Maybe you won’t, but I sure as hell will.”
Dumbfounded, I asked, “Seriously? You’re that hungry?”
She bobbed her head. “A girl has to keep up her strength. Besides, do you think looking this good comes from eating salads?”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine, but can it be to go?”
Cole appeared a bit horrified by the idea. “You two aren’t eating
in my truck.”
I folded my arms. “I don’t think us eating in it will be any worse than me sitting in it.”
He shook his head. “Hell no, that’s never going to happen. You reek…and is that blood?”
I glanced over at my shoulder. “Probably—I did just traipse through a bunch of corpses.”
Cole’s hand came up in an instant. “Nope, you’re sitting in the back until we can hose you off.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, fine, but—”
His stance shifted, and he folded his arms. “No buts. You’re riding in the back, and we’re not eating in my truck.”
“Christ, okay, but if we’re going to stop somewhere, let’s make it quick. I don’t feel like making a public spectacle of myself any longer than I have to.”
Hayden shrugged. “I’ll do my best, but it’ll depend on how fast they can get the food out.”
My shoulders slumped. “Fine, but could it be an outside venue? I really don’t feel like getting us thrown out.”
He nodded. “That I can do.”
It took us about half an hour to work our way back to the truck, and another twenty-five to get to Grants.
Chapter 18
Thankfully, lunch was uneventful, but instead of going back to the trailer to let me shower, we stopped at the Gems Home Center. Unsurprisingly, the owner completely refused to speak with us…well, he refused to talk to Cole and myself.
Hayden, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. The old man was tripping all over himself attempting to flirt with her. When she asked to see the surveillance footage from the day Mikhail bought the containers, he was forced to admit the cameras didn’t work. He only left them up as a deterrent to thieves, which put us back at square one.
Yippee.
By the time we made it to Highland Meadows, it was nearly sundown. I was sitting in the back, watching the highway fall away behind us, nearly half asleep. We’d turned onto the road that led out to Atsidi’s place when the sound of screeching tires filled the air. The truck jerked to the left, causing me to skid across the bed and slam into the opposite sidewall.
As we careened into the ditch, I slid forward, my head hitting the cab hard enough to make me see stars. After we came to a jarring halt, I quickly squeezed my eyes closed and shook my head, trying to regain my senses. It worked. Don’t get me wrong, I still hurt like hell, but the pain could wait till we’d dealt with the problem at hand. I pushed myself upright, and launched myself over the side with Hayden appearing right beside me.
The tire marks on the highway belonged to Charles’s Cadillac, which was a little shocking since I hadn’t thought the heap capable of attaining enough speed for that to happen. Before I could make sense of what was going on, both front doors popped open, and Charles stumbled out. A moment later, I was forced to do a double take when a man who looked remarkably like Mikhail stood, seemingly more than a little pissed off. As Mikhail was missing his soul, not to mention a good portion of his chest, I doubted it was him. Nevertheless, Mikhail’s doppelganger leveled his pistol at the truck and fired three rounds through the windshield.
Hayden darted toward him and slammed her shoulder into his gut, pinning him against the car. Before Charles could lift his revolver, I blinked across the distance, appearing behind the man. I twisted his gun arm around behind him, snapping it at the wrist and elbow. His scream was cut short when I smashed his skull against the roof of the car with a nasty crack. Honestly, I wasn’t sure he’d wake up from that, but getting shot at really pisses me off.
Cole still wasn’t out of the truck, and for a split second, I was torn between helping Hayden or checking on him. But she looked to be holding her own against her opponent. I rushed over to find Cole gripping his left shoulder. Blood oozed between his fingers, and his head lolled forward as he started to lose consciousness. After scrambling down the embankment, I reached for the door, only to be thrown back several feet when a brilliant silver light materialized between the two of us. The glow became brighter and brighter, until I had to shield my eyes. A few moments later, the brilliance faded, and an elderly woman stood there with a disapproving look on her face.
She turned, calmly strode over to the truck, lifted the front end, and pushed it back onto the road. A moment later, she popped the door and placed her hand over Cole’s wounds as she kissed him on the forehead. “Rest, my son.”
Cole’s eyes closed, and he leaned back against the seat. A metallic thread wrapped around him, cocooning the unconscious man in seconds.
She held out her hand to me. “I am Na’ashjéii Asdzáá, and you are?”
There was a crash of a body impacting the car behind me, and when I turned, the new guy was lying on the ground, bleeding from several cuts. His chest was still moving, which meant he was alive—probably more than I could say about Charles at this point.
Na’ashjéii Asdzáá cleared her throat. “It’s impolite to ignore an old woman when she’s speaking to you.”
Returning my attention to her, I stammered, “Ah, sorry…I’m Gavin Randall. Pleasure to meet you.”
She nodded and flicked a finger at Cole. “I’d appreciate it if you’d stop trying to get my son killed.”
I shook my head. “That wasn’t my intention.”
Her grin told me she’d tried to make a joke. “The young are always so serious.”
“Sorry.”
Na’ashjéii Asdzáá’s gaze fell on Hayden. “It’s good to see you in your true form.”
Hayden approached us cautiously. “Do I know you?”
Na’ashjéii Asdzáá waved her hand, and the world seemed to stop. “Not anymore, but you did.” She pointed at the eerily still night sky. “I played my part in helping you and the Star Born tilt the scales against the mad god.” A tear ran down her cheek. “Because of the two of you, the rest of us have a glimmer of hope now… Thank you.”
Hayden stammered. “You…were there?” Na’ashjéii Asdzáá nodded, and Hayden took another step closer. “Then you have the answers I’ve been seeking all my life.”
Na’ashjéii Asdzáá offered her a weary smile. “I do, but you’re not ready for them.”
Hayden blinked, and her expression hardened. “I’ve waited for so long, and I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me—”
Na’ashjéii Asdzáá cut in. “That’s true, and we’re all so very grateful, but knowing too much, too soon, could tilt the balance.” She offered Hayden a sad smile. “You’ve only won the battle, not the war, and with what’s coming, none of us can risk altering the plan.”
Hayden opened her mouth to argue, but Na’ashjéii Asdzáá bowed her head. The gleaming light returned then she was gone, allowing time to resume its natural course.
The man lying beside the car groaned. I promptly walked over to him and slammed my boot into his face.
Glancing back at Hayden, I frowned. “Who is this Star Born?”
Her expression faltered, and she suddenly found the pavement at her feet very interesting. “It’s not my place to tell his story.” She lifted her gaze to mine. “But I have a feeling you’ll figure it out soon enough, or he’ll tell you.”
I wasn’t happy with the answer, but we had a wounded companion, a prisoner, and, most likely, a corpse to deal with. Shaking my head, I said, “That was weird as hell.”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
Leaning over the side of the truck, I reached into my pack, pulled out a couple of zip ties, and got to work restraining our prisoners. Hog-tying them before tossing them into the back of the truck might’ve been overkill, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, or possibly dead. It took us a minute to maneuver Cole into the passenger seat, before Hayden drove the truck down the drive. That left me to move the heap that Charles called a car off the road and park it out of sight on the other side of Atsidi’s place.
Once that was done, I carried Cole into the trailer and placed him on his bed. When I stepped out, Hayden was strapping each man into a metal patio chair. Sh
e’d tossed their IDs on the ground at their feet. Curious, I stooped over to pick up the new guy’s wallet. His name was Timur Ivanov, and given his birthdate, he was Mikhail’s twin. Guess that explained why he was here trying to kill us. When Hayden opened his shirt, there was an exact copy of the tattoo we’d found on his brother. The Grim desperately wanted to perforate the bastard, but with a great deal of effort, I resisted the urge.
I gestured at Charles. “Guess that thick skull of his is useful after all.”
Hayden arched an eyebrow. “And how’s that?”
“He’s still alive.”
She chuckled. “Barely. You did a number on him.”
I shrugged. “He was trying to shoot us, so you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t get all broken up about it.”
Rolling her eyes, she said, “I wasn’t implying that you should, but it’s going to be difficult to question him with a concussion.”
Irritated, I nodded. “True.”
My previous employment hadn’t required me to be gentle, which meant that survivors were frowned on. This was something I’d have to get used to. But with Assholes-R-Us in play, it made ignoring my instincts difficult.
It was a good half hour before Timur stirred. Granted, he was blindfolded, gagged, and strapped to a chair, but he was awake…for the moment. He let out a muffled scream then what I guessed was a string of Russian curses. After about twenty seconds of that, Hayden strode over and slapped him hard enough to topple the chair onto its side.
She knelt beside him and whispered, “Shut up already.”
Timur grunted out a fairly audible, “Fuck you.”
Her boot clipped his forehead. “In your dreams.”
The impact was enough to make him stop mouthing off. I took the liberty of sitting him upright before Hayden decided he wasn’t worth talking to and caved in his skull. It hit me that her impulse to kill the man was probably as strong, if not stronger, than my own. In which case, I was sure Timur had no idea how bleak his immediate future was going to be if he didn’t cooperate.
Over the course of the next three hours, we learned that there were three more in his team: Diana, Erik, and Artur. They’d moved the plethora of undead to somewhere in the badlands, and there were still more strongholds we hadn’t discovered. But when pressed on that, the Black Circle, or the Onyx Mind, he refused to give us anything further.