by Eric Vall
“And what might that be?” Jeddy came in at a run, chest heaving as she coughed.
Arwyn went to her, but Jeddy shook her off.
“We need to get out of here first,” Arwyn announced as she turned back to the rest of us. “Is there another way out?”
Jeddy gripped the front of her robes as she placed a hand over her chest. Another series of deep, harsh coughs shook her body.
For a moment, I feared she wouldn’t answer us. We were technically prisoners after all, and we were asking for a means of escape. But it seemed that monsters and impending doom trumped politics, because the doctor finally looked up at us with a glint in her eye.
“There is an underground, yes,” Jeddy confirmed when the fit subsided, “but it hasn’t been used in decades. I don’t know if the exit at the other end even exists anymore.”
“We don’t need an underground, Arwyn.” Nia put her foot down and shook me off her. It wasn’t hard, because I was too shocked by the drop in formality to stop her. “What we need is some water magic.”
Arwyn shook her head. “Not if you’re the only one.”
Nia whirled around to look at Gawain, Almasy, and I expectantly. Almasy’s magic wouldn’t do any good. His specialty lied in earth elementalism, and I didn’t have any monsters that would be useful to put out water without a plentiful source nearby. Even if there was, my crystals had been stripped from me, along with all of my equipment and everyone else’s. For someone like me, a summoner who relied on crystals to use magic, I was rather useless. Well, I still had my good looks and witts, but that wouldn’t go far when fighting monsters.
Gawain would have had the advantage to help if his gun hadn’t been stripped away, too. He was primarily a fire mage, but fighting fire with fire was probably the dumbest idea we could muster.
Nia realized all of this at once, and she growled as she turned back to Arwyn. “Am I supposed to just abandon my family?” she shrieked.
“That isn’t what I’m proposing, and you know that,” Arwyn rationalized calmly. “I need you to think for a moment. You know this city. Where would they keep our weapons and equipment?”
Nia stewed in her own frustration for a moment before she took a long, shuddering breath. I wondered if she’d ever catch a break. She’d been through so much in such a short amount of time. It was no wonder she was on the brink of a full on breakdown, but she managed to keep it together as she closed her eyes in thought.
“In an evidence vault in Cottington Hall,” she replied after a moment, “but we would need to find a way in amidst the chaos and find someone who had a key.”
I sighed. “So there is no guarantee that even if we show up there that we’d be able to get our things without said key, I assume?”
“We’re running out of time to think,” Gawain chimed in. “Let’s get in the passageway and confer once we get to safety.”
I nodded, though safety would be hard to come by if there were monsters roaming about. It was our only option for now.
“What about you?” I asked Jeddy. “What will you and the other doctors do?”
“Why, our jobs, of course,” Jeddy replied with a soft smile and a bit of a cough. “The spells that are set in place to protect the Medic Ward will persevere. We’ll go out into the field and do everything we can to help the soldiers, mages, and citizens live to see another day. That’s a Healer’s Oath. It doesn’t matter where the person’s alignment is. Our job is to save lives, even if the person we’re saving took one away.”
My shoulders tightened as I stood up straighter. Jeddy’s dedication to the people and to healing was uplifting, and it had given me back the hope in humanity I thought the arrest had taken from me. Not everyone in the world of mages were bad people. Most of them were good in fact, and it was our duty, my duty, to do what I could.
“Right.” I nodded with a smile. “Good luck out there.”
Jeddy returned the gesture.
“In the back of this room is a bookcase,” she told us as she lifted her hand and pointed. “Move the twelfth book from the left, first shelf. That will shift the bookcase to reveal the passage.”
I looked in the direction she indicated, and without a second thought, I ran for it. I heard a clamor of footfalls behind me, so I knew my friends were in tow, whether they wanted to be or not. I turned to see Nia was hot on my heels despite her fervor to put the fires out and escape through where we had initially come in.
“We’re going to Cottington Hall to get our shit, and then we are going to do everything we can for the people of Hartmire,” I commanded, and I also dropped the formality between Arwyn and myself. Though she was my superior in the classroom and on the missions she led, we were all in this together. Today, we were equals on the battlefield, and I was pleased she didn’t appear to have any qualms about my orders.
Everyone agreed, and without any more delay, I pulled the book on the shelf. It was a thin book, and I almost hadn’t seen it wedged between the two larger ones that sandwiched it. I didn’t have time or care to read the title, so I let it slip back into its place. The bookshelf rumbled, then slowly slid to the right. Sure enough, as Jeddy had said, there was a stone staircase that led down into a hidden passage.
I didn’t wait for the bookcase to move all the way over. As soon as I could fit my body through the gap, I raced down the steps. I heard the protest behind me, probably from Gawain about not knowing what was down there, but I ignored him. I’d figure it out along the way. I was good at that. In fact, I would say it was one of my better qualities.
Nia slipped ahead of me and lit a fire in her palm to illuminate the darkness that lay before us, and Gawain did the same in the back. My heart was pounding as we traversed the long hallway, but to my surprise and oddly enough my delight, the worst thing we came across were rats, and they scampered away as soon as they heard us coming.
“Do you even know where this is going to spit us out?” Almasy asked as he splashed through a puddle.
I didn’t think this was a sewer drain of any kind, as the only smell that permeated through the air was the distinct scent of what could only be described as old. So perhaps the passageway once, or still did, have its own water supply.
“Assuming the exit isn’t blocked, it will take us just outside Cottington Hall,” Nia answered.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” I asked between panting for breath.
“In case you haven’t noticed, it’s been a rather eventful two months, Gryff,” Nia bit out and side-eyed me as we ran neck and neck. “I apologize if my mind has been rather scattered.”
“No need to apologize,” I told her simply, but that was that. I wasn’t going to force her into talking when there were more pressing matters at hand. I would get the chance to properly talk to her once this was over, but for now, we both needed to focus on staying alive.
“There’s the end,” Arwyn called breathlessly.
She was right.
Dead ahead of us, atop another set of stone stairs, was a solid wood door that looked like it hadn’t budged in ages and was locked from the inside by a large wooden slab. We ascended the steps, and I was vaguely reminded of the steps up to Sleets office, not that they bore any actual resemblance, but I hated climbing stairs, period.
A piercing scream shot through my ears then, and I stopped immediately half way up. Nia and Arwyn crashed into my back, and I heard Gawain and Almasy stop short just behind them.
“What was that?” Gawain questioned as we all looked around for a source of the sound.
It came again, but this time others joined it. Some of them cried out for help, while others were produced from nothing but pure terror.
“Something is happening out there,” Nia whispered through gritted teeth. “Gryff, we have to get up there.”
I agreed, but I didn’t move. Instead, I pointed to the door and squinted. I had thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but that wasn’t the case at all. It was definitely rattling.
Someo
ne, or something, was on the other side trying to get in.
This was bad. If a monster got in here, it would have a direct path to the Medic Ward. I knew Jeddy mentioned wards that would protect the building, but I didn’t know what they were, or if this particular area was affected by the same spells.
“Shit,” I swore under my breath. We couldn’t turn around, but if we went forward, we ran the risk of opening the door to more trouble than what we were currently equipped for.
There was a loud bang, followed by more rattling from the door and more screams. Then layers of dust and old wood clouded the door as it suddenly burst open.
I was shoved aside as Arwyn leapt in front of us. She muttered a few words, and the passage exploded with white light as she put up a protective barrier between us and whatever was on the other side.
“Ms. Hamner?” a male voice coughed, one that I recognized. The dust and debris settled, and through the shroud came a smallish silhouette.
“Petyr?” Arwyn asked aghast, and she brought down the barrier that separated us from the tiny man. “What are you doing here?”
Petyr, Headmaster Sleet’s personal assistant, bumbled down the stairs with a bag on his back. He was a man of small stature, and I was fairly certain his entire reason for existence was to annoy the snot out of me, but he was as loyal to Sleet as any of us here. If anything, he likely worshipped the ground the Headmaster walked on.
There was a cut on his cheek, and blood trickled down his jaw, but he approached us with haste.
“Ms. Hamner, I’m glad I was able to find you,” he panted. Quickly, he took the bluish silver bag off his back and handed it to Arwyn.
“You haven’t answered my question,” Arwyn noted as she took it from him.
“Headmaster Sleet sent me in the hopes that I would be able to move around undetected,” he started. “As usual, he was right. I had no problem fetching these items for you.”
Arwyn’s eyes went wide, and she drove her hand into the bag.
My jaw fell open when her entire arm seemed to disappear within its small confines.
“It’s an enchantment,” Nia explained. “It turns any bag into an endless storage space. You could have an entire village in a bag if your magic was powerful enough.”
I grinned. “Wicked.”
One by one, Arwyn pulled out our weapons and divvied them out. Gawain took his gun, I took my daggers and crystals, and we all took whatever other possessions that were on our person when we were arrested by the council.
I rummaged through my bag to make sure the ciphers and book were still there, and I sighed in relief when I found them. Thank the Maker they were all there.
“You really went above and beyond Petyr,” I complimented as I hooked my bandolier around my waist and counted my crystals.
“Think nothing of it,” he said, though his voice was more terse with me than it had been with Arwyn. Go figure. Even in the midst of escape, he still found it in him to be a little shit.
But hey, he was now my favorite little shit.
“What’s going on up there?” Arwyn cut in. “We heard screams.”
“Yes, those would be the sounds of people dying at the claws of a rather ugly looking beast,” Petyr drawled casually as though it were the most normal occurrence in the world. “People are running for their lives, though between you and I, that beast alone is frightening, not to mention the hundreds of smaller monsters that are running rampant through the streets.”
“Is there a response team in the rift?” Arwyn gasped as she took several steps closer, and I could tell she was anxious to do what she could now that we were fully equipped and battle ready.
“I couldn’t say,” Petyr replied with a shrug. “I’m just here to deliver these to you, as well as a message to meet with the Headmaster at Kenefick Manor.”
“He’s here?” I asked incredulously. “You’re sure?”
“The Headmaster doesn’t play games,” Petyr answered with a bored tone. “You will meet with him as soon as possible. I will return with you.”
“Absolutely not,” Arwyn snipped. “You will return to him and await us there.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Hamner, but I only take orders from-– “
“You will listen to me if you want to live, Petyr,” Arwyn cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “Get back to Sleet and inform him that we are on our way, but if we can help anyone in the process, then that is what we’re going to do.”
Petyr stood stiffly, and he looked rather uncomfortable as all of us stared at him and awaited his response to Arwyn’s demand. Clearly, he was conflicted, and I felt for him. Arwyn did have a habit of stepping on toes when she wanted something done her way, much like how she begged me to more or less rig being on the Monster Defense Squad with her in the first place.
“Of course, Ms. Hamner,” the little man finally responded. “I shall report back to him at once.”
“You have my thanks.” Arwyn bowed her head and motioned for us to follow.
I faltered, however, and looked back at Petyr.
“Are you going to be okay on your own?” I asked him. As much as I didn’t like him, I didn’t want anything bad to happen to him. We simply didn’t see eye to eye.
“Of course,” Petyr answered as though my question were the stupidest thing he’d ever heard come out of my mouth. He raised his fist, and with a quick snap of his fingers, he was gone without a trace.
I reeled around, back and forth between Arwyn and where Petyr had stood before.
“Where did he go?” I asked, completely bewildered.
“He has vanishing magic,” Arwyn replied simply.
“Vanishing magic?” I repeated.
“He can teleport,” Gawain clarified with a roll of his eyes.
“I didn’t know he could do that!” I defended. “How would I know that? He walks everywhere.”
Arwyn laughed. “That is because he has health issues that run in his bloodline. He likes to keep moving, so teleporting isn’t his favorite means of transportation.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I sighed. “What I wouldn’t give for teleportation magic … ”
“We can ponder over your desires later,” Almasy joked, “but right now, we have an Enclave to save.”
“Right,” I chuckled and shook my head as Arwyn led the charge the rest of the way up the stairs.
We filed out of the passageway, and Arwyn murmured a charm to lock the door from the other side. I wondered what the purpose of that was. Perhaps it was so random passerby didn’t end up in the Medic Ward, though I didn’t know how they would ever find the door to begin with. It was surrounded by shrubbery that had become overgrown over the years and littered with spines that would cut someone to pieces.
It seemed like Petyr had a grand time cutting them away though, and it made sense as to why his cheek was cut when we saw him, too.
Bushes, 1, Petyr, 0.
As soon as we got a look at what had become of the Enclave, however, my breath left my lungs. A rift as large as an entire sector of the Enclave stood upright in the center of the city. Smoke billowed from the gate, and the stench of death permeated the air. Homes and buildings were completely leveled in most areas. I could see for what seemed like miles, and bodies littered the ground with every step we took. Families were crushed like insects.
“Oh no!” Nia screamed and covered her mouth.
“We’re too late,” Gawain said darkly.
“We still have to do what we can,” I tried to encourage, but I had a feeling my words fell on mostly deaf ears.
We stood motionless as we tried to take in the wreckage before us. Even the sky seemed dark, as though the smoke from the rift, wherever it was, was covering the sun and giving it the appearance of nighttime. What must have been a good number of blocks away, I spotted the beast that Petyr had mentioned.
This monster was built like it was on some kind of drug to make it buff. It walked on all fours, though I watched in horror as
it effortlessly stood on its hind legs and took out an entire building with one swoop. An orange-yellow stripe of fur ran along the taunt, purple skin of its back, and black horns jutted from the top of its head. Gnarly teeth gnashed at debris, though I was sure it was picking up the casualties it had caused and devouring them like a snack. A long tail swished from side to side, and it was almost as long as the rest of its beefy body.
“Belial,” Almasy said slowly.
“Is that what that thing is?” I asked in a state of both horror and wonder.
The monster was massive, even from this far away. It was easily the largest one I’d ever seen, with maybe the exception of Phi when she was in her angel form. Even my baroquer didn’t quite size up to it, though I was sure it could give the belial a run for its money at least.
“That’s a Double A class monster,” Arwyn breathed in awe. “What in the name of the Maker is it doing here?”
“I imagine the same thing all monsters want when they’re here, Arwyn,” Almasy answered sarcastically.
Arwyn barely suppressed rolling her eyes, but only because the shock and fear of how real this situation was had settled in her bones. I could see it on her features. Her jaw was set, and her hands shook on the hilt of her sword as she fabricated it from her arm.
“We do what we can,” she said finally. “Help who we can, take out whatever monsters we can. The transportation systems are likely out of order, so we’ll have to traverse the streets to Kenefick Manor.”
“It isn’t far from here,” Nia spoke up. She pointed in the direction of a relatively untouched area of gorgeous mansions to the north. Smoke rose from a few of the surrounding sectors, though. It was only a matter of time before the fires reached Nia’s home, too.
“I say we split up,” Gawain suddenly suggested.
“What?” I craned my neck around Almasy to stare at the other man. “Why?”
Gawain’s eyes looked dim, as though all of the light had been drained from him upon seeing the massacre in front of us. His fingers itched on the trigger of his gun.
“We can cover more ground,” he stated. “Almasy and I can clean up the little guys and help as many people as we can.”