by Hunter Blain
Then again, I seriously doubted anyone would look through here while searching for weaponry.
Tim came romping into my room at that moment, yipping at seeing I was home. It broke my heart.
“Hey, buddy! I, ah, can’t stay long. Gotta go save the world and all that!” I explained to my puppers as he struggled to jump up on my bed.
Leaning down, I picked Tim up and rested him in my lap, allowing for at least a minute dedicated to the exchange of puppy pets for puppy kisses. It was an unfair ratio, as Tiny Tim’s kisses lashed out like a belt-fed machine gun. He didn’t seem to mind.
After five or six full minutes, I managed to work up enough will to move Tim to the side and stand up.
My tiny puppy yipped in excitement, guessing we were going to play or something else he’d love.
“Darn you for being sooo cute!” I chided Tiny Tim while scratching behind his ears a few times. “I gotta go, though. But I’ll be back. I promise.”
Making my way to my door, I opened my phone to recharge the teleporter and turned back to my friend. “Keep the house safe while I’m gone, okay?”
Tim yipped in affirmation before jumping down from my bed, stumbling as he hit but recovering quickly with his tongue lolling from his smiling snout.
Looking down at the timer, I remembered the other reason I had come home.
“Oh, right! Guns!” I chuckled to myself, almost having forgotten.
The thought of Hayley holding her sleeping bag like a toga came to mind, and I made a quick stop in her room, making sure to grab some appropriate clothing.
The image of her annoyed face scowling at Ludvig while she was wearing a sundress came to mind, and I strongly debated on grabbing the same outfit. Then I remembered Lude was gone, and my growing smile faded as I grabbed an entire practical outfit for the warden.
Making my way to the armory, I checked what Depweg wanted, and nodded in appreciation as I looked at the list.
Switching to my music, I selected a powerful orchestral piece and put my volume on max. The music started softly with violins and a cello.
Pressing my palm to the panel on the side and moving my face to an eye scanner above it, I heard a click as the armory opened itself.
The thick steel vault door made to survive a direct nuclear blast swung open. Hydraulics hissed from an insulated wall as the machine bore the tonnage of the door.
Once open, the LED lights came to life, starting with an illumination similar to the lumens of a candle, and then growing into a full-blown showcase.
The music had swelled to full life, with banging timpani, stringed instruments singing out arpeggios, and the brass section belting out powerful whole notes.
I threw my hands out as I sang in full operatic expression, making up lyrics that sounded suspiciously like Latin.
“Rec-tum! Dom-i-nate! No lube-ri-cate! Ob-lit-er-ate!”
Opening a hefty black duffel bag, I put in four plate carriers with plates covering the chest and back that were enchanted to stop ranged magical attacks as well as mundane mortal ammunition. I noticed Depweg’s had stretchy material that connected the pieces, making it viable even when he transformed.
“That’s...brilliant, actually,” I said to myself, admiring the custom armor.
Shrugging it off, I grabbed the standard array of Sig fully automatic rifles with suppressors attached, followed by Glocks, and a handful of extended magazines.
For the rifles, I opted for the hundred-round drums filled with silver bullets. Even I took note of how heavy they were before reminding myself that Depweg had the strength of at least ten men while in his man-suit.
Next were the battle belts. I grabbed two; one for me and one for Meli, whose belt consisted of a full array of IFAK kits to provide emergency first aid in the field.
Mine was made up of a pouch for my silver kukri, a holster for my Glock, a dump pouch for anything we didn’t want to leave behind such as bloody bandages that could be used against us in a spell or hex, and five spare pistol mags. My plate carrier had three rifle magazine pouches that could hold two mags each, giving me a total of six standard magazines should I empty all hundred rounds of my drum.
Last on the list was the suppressed Lapua .338 with a skeleton frame. Though the .338 couldn’t match the power of a fiddy-cal, it could still take down a grizzly bear with ease. Sitting on the table just below the sexy hole-maker was a backpack that held the rifle’s magazines, a sniper’s veil, Steiner binoculars, a few MREs, and a liter of water.
After the last of the gear was rounded up, including radios and earpieces, I looked around just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.
There, on the wall, was an empty space reserved for my cold-iron katana. My eyes shifted to the bag, and I thought about how my battle belt had a spot for my silver kukri...which I no longer had.
“Fucking Ulric,” I hissed through my teeth, slamming a fist on the metal table that held the stuffed duffel bag.
As quickly as it had come, the rage dissipated as I reminded myself that I was going to punch out Ulric’s heart and eat it in front of him before cutting his head off and throwing the pieces into a pit filled with heavenflame.
Imagining his expression as he died filled me with glee as I shouldered the heavy bag, and I all but skipped outside of the vault, closing the door behind me.
Pulling up my phone, I selected the Maps app, and paused. I didn’t have a safe zone to teleport to in the woods that I could identify on the map. I might accidentally teleport inside of a tree and die. Or worse, live forever as a John tree with just arms and legs sticking out. The local children would tell tales of the John tree, daring each other to travel into the woods alone. I didn’t know where I was going with this...
Dropping my hand, I briefly wondered about teleporting to the safe zone Hayley had provided at the destroyed Airbnb, but I didn’t know if it was still being surrounded by mortals.
An idea came to me, and I mentally grabbed the scene around me and shifted to the In-Between.
Once the familiar echo welcomed me, I pulled up my phone—simply out of curiosity—and was met with a device without signal.
“Makes sense,” I said to myself, having the echo bounce all around.
Closing my eyes, I focused on Depweg’s face, grabbed the scene around me, and shifted, unknowing of what I might portal into.
33
It was odd that when I shifted, the air around me didn’t seem to change. Going from Houston to Germany using Collin’s fancy watch, for example, wasn’t what I would call a jarring experience, but it sure as shit wasn’t, um, nothing.
The humidity difference from Texas to Germany was like removing a warm sweater after the heat kicked in in your home. But in the In-Between, there was no change in air pressure or even temperature.
I let out a breath that echoed back to me as I saw I was just outside of the hut and not inside of a tree...or another person. Yech, that had been weird.
My thumb grazed over the padded nylon strap of the duffel bag I had over my shoulder. It was such a simple gesture, but I knew I was buying myself time before I walked through the door, and into our final battle.
The hairs on my neck stood on end, and I immediately knew someone was standing close behind me while in the In-Between.
Not feeling any sense of danger, I silently inhaled, letting the scent of the air rest on my tongue, and greeted the stranger.
“Hello, Hecate,” I said without turning around. My eyes were locked on the hut where my friends waited for me. My echo danced around like the expensive speakers at a high-end theater showcasing their true surround sound.
“Vampire,” Hecate greeted back.
I wanted to pull my gaze away from the hut, but something kept my focus like a parent watching as the surgeons operated on their child, unable to look away.
“What are you doing here?” It was a stupid question, but I went through the motions regardless.
“Watching over my warden.”
&nbs
p; Delicate footsteps sounded as Hecate came to stand next to me, staring where I was staring. I couldn’t help but wonder if she could feel what I was feeling as well.
“You’re afraid.”
“Me? Pfft...n-no. I’m...I’m not scared.” As I said the words, I knew I was lying, but I just couldn’t bring myself to say those two words...the two words that Joey and Dawson had said. And someday in the future, Magni would say.
“You aren’t afraid for yourself, John,” Hecate softly spoke, resting a hand on my shoulder. From the corner of my vision, I could barely make out as she glanced up at me before returning her gaze to the hut.
“We’ve lost so much,” I whispered, letting my gaze drop to the dried leaves underfoot. The moon was bright as it neared the horizon, giving the surroundings a pale blue hue that felt ominous for a reason I couldn’t fathom.
“Consider all that you have gained,” Hecate responded. “Because of what you have learned, and how you have grown, I truly believe you will save all of creation from oblivion.”
I wanted to jerk my shoulder away from the reassuring hand that rested on me, but I remained still, knowing she was right. Being self-righteous or indignant about the positive aspects of my journey thus far didn’t do anything to honor those we had lost along the path. I had a habit of wallowing in self-pity, like a freaking security blanket...and I was done.
Instead, I raised my left hand and rested it on top of hers, which made the little pride monster inside my chest scream in rage. But, in accepting Hecate’s words, it was like I had placed the lid on a burning candle, leaving the tiny, furious flame inside to slowly consume all the oxygen before dying. I was getting good at defeating my pride, and that—ironically—made me proud.
“Hayley’s pregnant,” I said flatly without even realizing I had spoken at all.
Hecate’s hand slowly slid off of my shoulder, and I looked over to see her staring at the hut again.
“I know,” she said, “And we have such plans for the child.”
“Like what?” I asked a tad more coldly than I had meant to, turning my body and squaring my shoulders.
One corner of Hecate’s lips curled up in a smile as she paid my change in stance no mind.
“We will ensure she is well and properly taken care of...when the time comes.”
I narrowed my eyes and pulled my top lip back in a semblance of a snarl as I sucked in a breath. Lifting my index finger, I was about to warn Hecate of hurting my friend when her face shifted my way. It didn’t move like you would expect when someone turned to face you. It...it almost just...morphed to face me. Her eyes were stern, and I swear I could see a glow somewhere off in the distance.
“We will not harm Warden Broadway, vampire. But we are unable to alter her fate,” Hecate spoke in a whisper that reminded me of Lachesis when she had nearly broken my world and said the words that still haunted me; the boy.
“What...” I hissed out, unable to catch my breath. “What do you mean?”
“John...you are a good man. Your redemption has been nothing short of biblical. And to have been able to bring your friends along with you on your path to the Light is astonishing.”
My mind flashed with Joey and Dawson in Heaven, experiencing true happiness with their parents and knowing forgiveness both externally, and most importantly, internally.
The image of the were twins laughing froze and began to melt like a fresh painting drowning in thinner. Behind it was the pale face of a small girl. Her blue, unfocused eyes stared at nothing as the lone light bulb cast weak light off of her glistening cheeks. Lips the color of death were slightly parted, holding in the last of her shrieks like a blue, fleshy prison.
I quickly turned away from Hecate, ashamed to show my face to another person. Tears slipped from my eyes as trembling fingers tried in vain to wipe them away. But, like the memory, the tears threatened to never cease.
There was a pull at the core of my heart, stronger than anything gravity could possibly produce, and I struggled to keep myself together, preventing the black hole in my heart from consuming me.
“The past follows us, just as the night chases the sun,” Hecate said as if to herself.
Sucking in the snot that was leaking into my mustache, I wiped at my eyes and turned to face her.
She wasn’t looking at me any longer, and I could see the pain etched into her face as clear as the bones beneath her skin.
I had to remind myself that before me stood a powerful wizard of the Council who had once been a fierce and renowned warlock. Her soul had been sold in exchange for hellion power.
Without asking my body to do so, it sucked in a breath, ready to ask her about her soul. It was a subject I was curious about. Then Gabriel came to mind. He had said that I was the first to redeem their soul, and Hecate had lived for centuries longer than me, or so I’d heard. That meant...
“Why are you here?” I asked with the breath that had been held at the ready.
“To offer guidance on your upcoming battle.”
“Well, I am all ears,” I said, repositioning the backpack from where it hung on my shoulder.
“To defeat evil, you must use this,” Hecate said as she took a step forward and brought her hand up. I stared down at it, expecting some cool magic item I could use. Instead, she opened her empty hand, and pressed her palm against my chest.
My eyes flicked between her face and where her hand rested near my heart.
“That’s it? Heart?”
“That’s it,” Hecate confirmed with a smile as she stepped back, clasping her hands together in front of her.
“You and Gabriel need to form some sort of club,” I groaned as I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, there is one other thing.”
I managed to roll my eyes even harder, almost to the point where I could see my own brain.
“Of course there is,” I groaned. “Hit me with it.”
“With each deity’s demise, the fallen angel’s power grows stronger. Soon, no one, not even his brothers, will be able to stop him from fulfilling his mission.”
I waited for the punch line.
“Is...is that it?” I asked with a single arched eyebrow. “You’re not gonna throw in a but you can do something if you hurry, or somethin’?” I tried to mimic her voice, but worry stole my enthusiasm.
“Good luck, John,” Hecate said before she faded from view in the blink of an eye, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Where her hand had rested on my chest felt warm, and I absently rested my own hand there, feeling the significance of her words permeate my mind.
“Neat,” I weakly sighed.
34
Stepping through the veil, I was greeted by a cool, early-early morning breeze that danced over my skin and long beard. A few black strands of hair that spilled from underneath my beanie were grabbed by the wind before the air went still again, and everything returned to place with a lackadaisical deflation. It was almost as if my hair and beard were trying to flee from the upcoming battle.
“Guys?” I quietly called out, more as a statement of my arrival than a question of where they were. I also didn’t know if they were still asleep, considering it was before 4:00 a.m. local time.
“In here, buddy,” Depweg returned.
I walked through the door of the hut and saw everyone getting ready.
My eyes were immediately drawn to Hayley, who was still in her sleeping bag and seemed to be pouting. I could tell there were black circles decorating her eyes like a cartoon bandit. Whether they were from exhaustion or sorrow, I didn’t know. As I walked in, she avoided my gaze and instead glared at the wall next to her. Shrugging, I tossed her clothes on top of her legs. Making it a point not to look at me, she began dressing, making quick, jerking movements as she did.
Setting the bag down, I glanced at Depweg and nodded my chin toward her in a silent question.
“We decided it might be best if Hayley stays behind to rest,” Depweg informed me as he knelt down and unzipped
the long duffel bag.
“It’s bullshit, is what it is,” Hayley grumbled, crossing her arms and staring laser beams through a spot on the wall next to her.
“They’re right, Hayley,” I said softly. “If I knew you were there...it would be hard to focus.”
She jerked her head to me, ready to fight, when I pointedly glanced down at her stomach.
Her hands went up reflexively to cover her belly before turning back to the wall.
“Here,” Depweg said to Meli and Ben as he handed them their gear. They took it, and Ben helped his sister suit up.
While they worked, I noticed the crystal hanging loosely from around Depweg’s neck, and pointed to it while asking, “Hey, what’s with the rock? Did you get it at a touristy gas station or something?”
My friend smiled as he reached up to touch it.
“Taylor had it made for Magni and me. Helps keep us from experiencing time dilation while in Faerie.”
I spit out an invisible drink before dropping my jaw to the floor.
“He could do that?” I asked, my mouth hanging open as I pictured Taylor doing a really dramatic, over-the-top dance that involved a lot of finger guns pointed in my direction as well as kicking feet like a mix between a ballerina and a ninja. “Bastard!”
“He made them because of you, dude,” Depweg corrected.
“Oh. Well...neat, I guess,” I answered, still pouting a little.
After Depweg had put on his own battle gear, he inspected the group to ensure everything had been done correctly, making a few alterations to Meli’s gear.
“I asked for a bow,” she said, glaring at me.
“You know how to use this?” Depweg asked, holding up the weapon that I had intentionally grabbed and not because I had forgotten about that thing...she said...
Without missing a beat, Meli grabbed the rifle, popped in a magazine, and pulled back on the charging handle, chambering a round. Bringing the rifle to her chest in a carry stance, I took note that she had excellent trigger discipline.
“Our dad used to take us hunting...like a lot,” Meli said sharply.