Harley Merlin 8: Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos

by Forrest, Bella

  This must have been how John Hurt felt in Alien, seconds before that thing exploded out of him. They’d called it a “chest-burster” for a reason. Now, I had my own. Only, I didn’t quite know what might happen when I let this out. Yeah, I’ve really been spending too much time with Finch.

  I held it back for as long as I could, reminding myself that I was the one in control now. That was hard to get my head around, since I’d been treading a fine line between Dark and Light, control and total lack of it, and it’d been weighing me down ever since the Suppressor had broken. But I had to master this, or else we’d never get to Naima and, eventually, to Katherine. And then, all the Grimoires in the world wouldn’t be able to help me.

  I was just gearing up to send out a violent wave of reverse Empathy, when the gargoyles began their aerial assault. Shadows flitted in front of my eyes, and claws slashed at every available speck of skin. All of the energy I’d built up ebbed back into my body, my power losing its grip. My hands shot up to cover my face, but it stung as they cut my neck, my shoulders, my arms. Their stench was overwhelming, like rotting garbage and mothballs.

  I turned to see Wade and Finch banging on the door, trying to get past Tobe. The Beast Master stood in their way, holding them both back with his mighty paws. It would’ve been a funny sight, if I wasn’t getting divebombed by gargoyles. But I was grateful to Tobe for keeping them out. They couldn’t keep coming in to save the day with their white-knight complex. It warmed my heart, it really did, but I needed to learn how to stand on my own two feet, with no safety net to catch me if I fell. There wouldn’t be one, soon enough.

  “I’ve got this!” I roared, flashing them a warning look through the glass. Wade and Finch stopped immediately, backing off with surprised expressions.

  Fending off attacks with flurries of Telekinesis, I dug deep once again and dragged my emotions and my Chaos into the center of my chest. Only, this time, I didn’t choose the good emotions. I chose the bad ones. The anger and the grief and the bitterness. That was what these creatures responded to best. If I wanted to win them over, I had to think like Katherine. They obeyed her for a reason, and now they would obey me.

  The ball of broiling energy swirled again, my skin tingling with anticipation. My muscles tensed as I opened out my hands and puffed out my chest, finally releasing the wave of pent-up power. It swept out across the glass box, and the gargoyles stalled.

  “Obey!” I bellowed. “Serve me! Honor me! Obey me! If you don’t, I’ll make you suffer!” My voice came out strange, my throat raw from the volume and depth of the sound. It was my voice, yet not. I recognized it from my past encounters with Purge beasts, but this was on a whole other level. Was this a magical’s version of what Tobe could do? My lungs were definitely struggling with the intensity of the sound—they were practically on fire. But I couldn’t give up now.

  Some of the gargoyles dropped to the ground and folded their wings behind them.

  “I said, OBEY! If you don’t, I’ll turn your wings into handbags!” Whoa, a little too Katherine there.

  More and more of the gargoyles obeyed as I sent out wave after wave of reverse Empathy, filling them with all the deviousness and all the pain and all the anger that seared inside of me. Every terrible thought I’d ever had, I used against them. And they listened.

  “I will roast you alive!” I roared to the gargoyles that still flapped in confusion. “I will tear out your fangs and use them as jewelry!” My lungs were threatening to explode as my eerie voice boomed out of my throat, my mouth filling with the familiar, metallic taste of blood that had risen up from my raw esophagus. But it was working, slowly but surely, all thanks to the Katherine flavor that I’d thrown into the mix. That didn’t sit too well with me, but everyone had a drop of deviousness inside them, right? What mattered was what people did with it, how they used it. Right now, I was using it for good, to get these beasties under control.

  After all, this paled in comparison to what I was doing to my friends—keeping secrets, telling barefaced lies, keeping important things to myself, blocking out my brother and my boyfriend and my friends because I wanted to protect them. Man, I sound like a broken record. Once this was over, once Katherine was dead, once I’d ensured that they were all safe, I swore I’d change the tune.

  Fifteen

  Harley

  I stared at the gargoyles, my lungs burning, my heart racing, sweat dripping down my face.

  They were all crouched on the ground, awaiting further instruction, and their black eyes blinked with uncertainty. It seemed to panic them, not to know what to do next. But not a single one of them made any attempt to take to the air again. They just kept watching and waiting, their wings rustling.

  “Lie down!” I commanded. They did, sticking out their bony arms like hideous dogs, their oily chins lying flat to the floor. A thick ooze dripped onto the glass as their tongues lolled. “You may fly again when I leave.”

  They stayed put as I walked to the door of the glass box, where Tobe was standing, his paw on the lock. His golden eyes shone with pride, a wide smile revealing his fangs. He looked like a big, furry dad watching his kid from the sidelines of their first soccer game. With a turn of the key, he opened the door wide for me and stood aside as I walked past. The moment he closed the door, the gargoyles took to the air, disappearing in swirls of black smoke.

  “They listened to me,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

  “I knew they would,” Tobe replied. “All it required was focus and strength, which you have in abundance, when you set your mind to a task.”

  I grinned. “They freaking listened to me!”

  Finch and Wade approached, looking a little awestruck.

  “Nice job, Sis.” Finch put his hand on my shoulder and gave it an awkward squeeze. “You really told those leathery pests who was boss. Not sure about the whole ‘I’ll turn you into a handbag’ vibe, though. You wouldn’t exactly see a supermodel parading around with one of them hanging off their arm. The stench alone would make people hurl right onto the catwalk.”

  I smiled at him. “It worked, though.”

  “Yeah, I guess. You went a little Shipton in there,” Finch murmured.

  “I did what I had to,” I replied. His tone worried me. Had I been too like Katherine?

  “You did a good job, you really did.” Wade muscled in, putting his arm around me. “I’m proud of you. I knew you had it in you, but that was impressive to watch.”

  “The way they dropped like flies, man. Pyoo, pyoo, pyoo!” Finch acted out what had just happened, clearly not wanting to be the one who put a downer on my success. He was right, though—I had gone a little Shipton in there. But, if it worked, what was the harm, right?

  “You see, Harley, you found your own song, in the end.” Tobe gave me a small, reverent bow that made me feel as if I should be in a ballroom or something.

  I chuckled. “Not quite as melodic as your singing, though. That was a bit more thrash metal than operatic beauty.”

  “To each their own.” Tobe smiled. “Now, do you feel well enough to attempt something more challenging? Gargoyles are troublesome, but they pale in comparison to the sentience of someone like Naima. They are as mice to humans, if I were to strike a contrast.”

  I frowned. “Do you have something in mind?”

  “Someone, yes. A worthy adversary who is far closer to the level of Naima’s consciousness.”

  “Why do I feel like I’m going to want to stick with gargoyles?” I said nervously.

  “We do not have to proceed if you require rest. It is entirely your decision.” Tobe waited patiently, while I glanced at Finch and Wade. They looked just as anxious as I did, and I could feel concern radiating from Wade. I only had limited knowledge of the creatures in this Bestiary, and I had no idea which enemy Tobe had chosen for me. But, if it was closer to Naima’s level of badassery, then I had reason to be nervous.

  I shook my head. “Lead the way.”

  “Are you sure?”
Wade chimed in. “There’s no harm in taking a break.”

  Finch nodded. “Yeah, what Wonderboy said.”

  “If he’s Wonderboy, what does that make you? Robin?” I flashed him a grin, refusing to show just how scared I was. The gargoyles had been tough enough, and I was still sweating buckets, but I didn’t have the time to play things cautiously.

  Finch looked horrified. “I’m not Robin! Do you see me wandering around with my undies over a pair of stockings? No, you’d have to burn out your eyes if you saw that. You’ve wounded me real deep with that one.” He paused, a grin spreading across his face. “Besides, Robin is the ‘Boy Wonder,’ so that would make me Batman.”

  I rolled my eyes, with a soft chuckle. “I’ll send you back to your bat cave if you don’t hush up. We’ve got things to do.” I focused on Tobe again. “So, who’s up next?”

  “If you would care to follow me. The superheroes may follow, if they do not have the Joker to contend with, although I believe he may already be amongst these two.” Tobe chuckled to himself as he turned and began to walk through the hallways of the Bestiary. Finch looked as though his eyes were about to bulge out of his head.

  “Tobe knows about the Joker?” He hurried to catch up as Wade and I followed the Beast Master.

  “I have not been under a rock all these years, Mr. Shipton,” Tobe replied, over his shoulder. “I do have some grasp of popular culture.”

  Our good spirits faded as we entered a hall toward the back of the Bestiary. It lay empty, aside from a solitary box in the center. A wave of déjà vu washed over me, but I knew this couldn’t be Echidna’s hall. That had been off limits since the theft, and that box didn’t have anyone in it anymore. This one definitely did. I could see the black swirl of smoke in the middle, surrounded by the splintered edges of frost that was in the process of thawing. Realization hit me like a roundhouse kick to the chest.

  “Leviathan,” I whispered.

  Tobe nodded. “Very perceptive, Harley.”

  “I thought he was on ice, like his mother.” I swallowed the note of panic in my voice.

  “I took the liberty of thawing him when you left yesterday, as I was certain it would only be a matter of time before you succeeded with the gargoyles,” Tobe explained, as he walked the rest of the way up to the ominous box.

  “Aren’t we running before we can walk, here?” Wade interjected.

  “It is quite the leap, I confess, and it is rather dangerous. However, if Harley is to pursue Katherine’s lieutenant, then she needs to be able to manipulate creatures who are far stronger, and more intelligent, than gargoyles.” Tobe took out his keys and found the right one. “By my observations, I would say that Naima is as powerful as Leviathan, but she is not superior to him, as she is much smaller. However, her agility may be greater.”

  Wade shook his head. “This is way too risky, Tobe.”

  “Pfft, how’s that for moral support?” Finch retorted. “Harley’s got this in the bag. And Tobe’s got the chutzpah to cut in if things go south. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  Tobe sighed. “While I admire your tenacity, there is a great deal that could go awry. It is not in my nature to pit someone against such a formidable foe, but these are exceptional circumstances, in which we must all strive to do more. I would not have thought to thaw Leviathan if I could not feel the power undulating from Harley.”

  “You can feel that?” I asked. I didn’t know whether to be pleased or embarrassed. Now, I understood why people didn’t like having their emotions read—it was a vulnerable position to be in. Tobe had been born from pure Chaos, so perhaps that was why he was a bit more sensitive to my energy.

  He nodded. “Oh yes, it is rather potent. I would compare it to static electricity. Ever since you walked into the Bestiary, my fur has been standing on end. Have you not noticed?”

  “I just thought you hadn’t brushed through your mane or something,” I replied. He had looked a little scruffier than usual, his mane sticking up in all directions, but I’d put it down to the same stress that everyone else was going through. None of us were looking our best at the minute, not even Wade, despite the usual sharp suit.

  “Rude,” Finch muttered playfully.

  “It has made me certain that I am not offering you a challenge you cannot triumph over,” Tobe went on. “Otherwise, I would never have dared to suggest it. I am not the sort to take uncalculated risks, but I believe this one will serve you well, should you be victorious.”

  Wade stepped up. “Harley, you don’t have to do this.”

  “I don’t have to do any of this, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to.” I offered him a comforting smile. “Like Tobe said, we’ve all got to strive to do more, under these circumstances. Am I crapping my pants? Sure. But will that stop me? Nope.”

  “Should’ve worn your brown pants.” Finch laughed.

  “Black should cover it,” I replied, trying to save face by staying jokey.

  Tobe slotted the key in the lock, the scraping sound making my insides twist. “Now, a word of warning before you enter.”

  Oh crap… That was never a good way to start a sentence. “What do I need to know?”

  “Leviathan was once known as an abomination of the seas, and he is a creature of biblical proportions. That is not an attempt at dramatics. Within this box, he has been reduced to a more humanoid semblance of his former self, but he is no less powerful for it.” Tobe was starting to sound anxious, which did nothing for my growing nerves.

  “Moby Dick, eat your heart out,” Finch mumbled.

  “He may well eat your heart out, so be cautious,” Tobe replied.

  Great. “Got it.” I closed the gap between me and Tobe, readying myself to enter the frozen box.

  “If you need help, I will be right here,” Tobe said, as he turned the key and opened the door.

  “Thanks.”

  Taking a deep breath, I stepped through the shimmering forcefield and heard the door close behind me.

  Sixteen

  Harley

  I stood there in the box for a moment, gathering my emotions into my chest, the way I’d done with the gargoyles.

  This time, remembering what I’d learned from Echidna, I focused on the more positive emotions inside me—love, friendship, longing for my parents—combined with the recent slew of all-consuming grief at having lost my aunt. Surely, he’d empathize with those feelings, after the death of his mother.

  The air rushed out of my lungs as the black smoke unfurled, revealing a hideous creature perched atop the coil of his sea-serpent tail. His skin was a mish-mash of scales and armor plating, shifting between oceanic blues and glinting black. Some sections were completely transparent, covered in blue lights that glowed in the gloom inside the box, as if I’d delved into the murky underworld of the Mariana Trench. I could see organs shifting inside his body.

  Beneath him, the mace-shaped end of his tail thrashed. Black spikes protruded from his spine, while two tentacle-like fronds flickered from the hollows of his cheeks, each one moving as if it had a life of its own. His arms were covered in armor plating, leading to hands that bore long, silver claws. He had rows upon rows of sharp teeth, his jaw jutting out like an angler fish’s. A fleshy white appendage dangled over his face and held a glowing green orb that pulsated in perfect rhythm with his luminescent spots. However, his eyes were completely human. They were an impossibly pale shade of blue, almost white, and they were peering right into my soul.

  “The Merlin girl, at last.” The monster surged forward, the green light of its antenna flashing in my eyes. I closed them instinctively, not sure if that thing could hypnotize me, the same way angler fish did with their prey. My heart threatened to burst out of my chest. I braced for Leviathan’s tail to wrap around my body and crush my bones to dust, or for his fangs to sink into my skin, but nothing happened. Nothing but bile rising up my throat as I inhaled the rotten, fishy scent of his cold breath as it crawled across my face.

  I hur
riedly gathered my emotions back into my chest and sent out a wave of reverse Empathy, letting it flow into Leviathan. He reeled back, swaying on top of his coiled tail, the way his mother had done.

  “You have lost what I have lost,” Leviathan hissed, his voice echoing as though he were shouting into a well. “Her duties are mine, now.”

  I fought to keep the wave of reverse Empathy going, though at least I could open my eyes now, without that thing dangling in my eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “The promise.” He slithered farther back into the box, making me work double-time to get the reverse Empathy to reach him. My heart sank. With Echidna gone, I’d assumed the deal to let her name my firstborn was off, but apparently not.

  “You know about that?” I asked.

  “I inherited my mother’s knowledge, as all her children do.”

  “I guess I should’ve expected that,” I replied, battling with the wave of emotions. My voice was coming out normal, unaffected by the reverse Empathy. That needed to change if I was going to get Leviathan to obey, but the terror in my veins was making it harder to concentrate. I didn’t want to get gobbled up by this thing. Although, if he thought I still owed him something, maybe that meant I was off the hook with the whole dying aspect.

  “A favor is owed. My mother’s due—the promise you swore. Katherine must suffer.”

  “You and me are on the same page with that, pal.” I tried to make my voice echo, the way it’d done before, but it wasn’t cooperating. Maybe I should have taken that break first.

  “Your tricks do not seem to be working,” he said, with a cold laugh. “They tickle, that is all.”

  I frowned in surprise. “What?”