Dauntless

by Thomas G. Atwood Jr.

  “We need to save her,” I shouted.

  “We need to keep calm and think about this,” Ripper stated, stroking his beard. “We require more information before we can proceed. All this came about as the result of your mom’s research, and we have a lead on that. I need you to pursue it.”

  My fist crashed down on the table in front of me as he said that. The furniture exploded, sending splinters flying as it cracked in two. I saw Ripper’s calm face as an insult, a slap in the face to anyone who cared about Laurie. I sneered, fury burning in my eyes as tears flowed like rivers at the thought of her torture.

  “We need to save Laurie,” I repeated.

  “Kacey,” Kat said, walking over to me and laying her hands on my shoulder. “While you’re gone we are going to do everything in or power to save her, I promise. While we do that, however, we need you to find out all you can about your mom’s research. If we get more information about this ritual, then maybe we can find out how to stop it.”

  “Until then we’re flying blind, kid,” Frank agreed. “We need you to stay calm.”

  “I can’t stay calm,” I spat back.

  “This girl’s close to you, I get it, but you can’t save her. We have no idea where she is, or how to go in and rescue her. We have a job to do, kid. Let’s do it.”

  After a long hesitation, Aidan, Frank and I walked over to Kat’s monster of an SUV. I hopped in the passenger seat and stared out the window as the Colorado landscape raced past me. I couldn’t stop imagining Laurie’s screams and some unknown figure cutting into her. It was all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Laurie would be in class, showing up some professor, or sitting with her better friends and dishing about guys. I was an albatross, a curse that hung around the neck of everyone that cared about me.

  I was still brooding as the car pulled into the pitch black of the Shade. The streets were empty of the usual pedestrians, but Olympus security stood at every corner. Their polished black helmets watched the barren streets.

  “Okay…” I said. “What’s the deal? Frank, you used to be one of the fascists.”

  “I used to be a security guard,” he corrected, giving me a scowl. “I lost that job saving your life if you recall.”

  “Sorry. What’s going on? This is weird.”

  “It’s the annual Olympus blood drive,” he stated in response.

  “What?”

  “Oh, I forgot, you’re a rich girl. Every year Olympus sends some vans to the Shade, to try and encourage the community to go out and donate blood and plasma. They pay top dollar, to the point where people tend to start trouble over it. Combine that with the expensive medical equipment in the vans, and you have a recipe for disaster. So Olympus security goes out and secures the area beforehand.”

  “Odd timing,” Aidan returned as he leaned back.

  “A little,” he admitted.

  I watched the security guards as we rolled down the road.

  “I have a question,” Aidan asked as one of the guards pulled us over and waved us off an instant later. “Why aren’t the cops looking for you two?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you broke into the CEO of Olympus’ office and almost killed him. You blew up an elevator and assaulted several security guards before escaping. You two should be the target of the biggest manhunt in history. Yet for some reason, we’re strolling down the street like nothing’s wrong.”

  “According to the news, Drake said it was the result of an unknown terrorist group,” Frank stated. “We never encountered actual cops, so maybe he covered it up. It makes sense, the last thing he wants is for the press and cops to interfere with his plans.”

  “That doesn’t track. We’re also in the best position to stop his plans. If he pointed the cops in your direction, that would take you, Kacey, Kat and Ripper out of the game. He must want us out there.”

  “Why?”

  “No idea. Maybe for that bloodstone you guys have mentioned.”

  “Except neither of us has any idea where it is,” I stated.

  “He seems sure of it. Smart money says he knows something you don’t.”

  “Well, that’s a scary thought.”

  The van pulled into an alley where a thick, pungent layer of grime covered everything. Thick, brown goo caked the sidewalk, and a rainbow of graffiti covered the walls. People filed into a line circling the nondescript building. Its sole distinguishing feature was a flashing neon green sign with the word Siren. Aidan and I walked straight through the door, ignoring the massive man in sunglasses that glowered down at us.

  The inside of the club was torture. I winced, the pounding bassline sending searing pain through my body with each step that I took. I cried out in pain as we made it to the bar. The music sounded like a jet landing, causing my ears to screech in protest, and it felt like dozens of miniature explosions in my head. I struggled to lean on a chair for support, but I collapsed to the ground, my vision flashing like a broken TV.

  “Kacey!” Aidan exclaimed, rushing over to me. “What’s going on?”

  “I…can’t…” I moaned, desperate for the pain to go away.

  Aidan helped me up and sat me in a chair. “Breathe,” he instructed, holding my hands in his. “You have to breathe.” I struggled to listen, but every breath felt like molten metal flowing into my lungs.

  “Dammit, I didn’t know this was happening. Kacey, you’re losing control of your abilities, you need to focus.”

  “I can’t!”

  “Yes, you can. The more powerful you become, the more your powers become a reflection of who you are. They’re bonding with you, and you are a nervous wreck. You’re tying yourself up in knots trying to fix everything. As a result, you’re turning your powers on and off at random. Breathe. Let go of all the problems, worries, and concerns that are bogging you down, and focus on my voice.”

  I struggled to do what he said. Every sense in my body was on overdrive. I felt the blood flowing through my veins, and the air filling my lungs threatened to explode out of my chest. I took several long breaths, and each time the pain lessened. The music, which was an explosion of noise and agony, quieted down to a dull roar. The pain decreased, settling into a piercing buzzing in my head as I stood.

  “Are you okay?” Aidan asked as he helped me up.

  “No, but I’ll deal.”

  “It takes time, but you’ll learn control. It’s all about focus. If you have your mind on a thousand things at once, then your powers are going to be all over the place as well. If you keep calm, cool, and focused, you’ll have the presence of mind to deactivate them when you need to.”

  “Thanks. How do you know all this?”

  “I saw it once or twice,” he returned. I frowned at him but kept walking through the packed club. Pitch black paint absorbed any light, leaving the club filled with shadows. Iron cages hung from the ceiling, each one filled with a dancer who stripped down to the bare minimum that decency would allow. Each of the cage inhabitants was gorgeous and caused my breath to catch in my throat. Goosebumps came to life on my arms as one of the women gestured at me, her ruby lips curved into a grin. I felt them calling to me, commanding me to join them, to feel their bodies against mine as I danced to the delight of the crowd.

  Aidan snapped his fingers twice, and I shook my head as I moved toward him. A haze clouded my thoughts as if I had woken up from a long nap.

  “I…what?”

  “This place tends to draw people in and lower their inhibitions. It will have you dancing on the table if you’re not careful.”

  I blushed, thankful Aidan couldn’t read my mind. I gazed out into the crowd, and each face that greeted
me had the same lifeless gaze in their eyes. Everyone in the club pursued their vice as if it was the most important thing in their world. Drunks sat at the bar, drinking amber colored liquids like water as the bartender struggled to keep up. People passed around packets of white powder and crystals in the open. They snorted or smoked anything in their hands. Couples pawed at each other in the dim light, making out and groping each other as if it was their last day on earth. They all danced in a mindless fervor, drunk on the music even as a few passed out in exhaustion.

  “What the hell is all this?” I asked, struggling to understand.

  “It’s Siren’s work. She’s responsible for all the drugs, prostitution, and gambling in town. The club is her base of operations. Her music strips away all your inhibitions, making you crazy for whatever it is that you long for.”

  I blushed at the implications of that. “Why don’t we stop it? I mean these people are…”

  “These people are doing whatever they want to do,” Aidan replied in a dry, disapproving tone. “If we tried to stop Siren, all of them would throw themselves at us as if we were some monster. Besides, Siren is a necessary evil. Before her, the streets were in chaos, and there was a bloodbath as people struggled to keep control. Blood ran down the streets. Siren at least keeps order.”

  “And that’s the reason we have to keep the Roofie Queen in business?”

  “Yes. If she left tomorrow, then people would find someone else to supply them with drugs, liquor, and sex. Your kind loves its self-destruction.”

  I didn’t respond, rubbing my arms to try and get rid of the goosebumps and distracting me from the sights and sounds that drew me to the dance floor. Aidan gestured me to a scarlet couch. A woman sat on it like a throne, watching the crowd spread out in front of her. A glass of white wine swirled in her hands, and her crimson lips sipped from it as she watched the crowd with glee. Her skin was as pale as alabaster, and she wore a gleaming green dress that shone with every move she made. Her hair fell to her ankles and was the same emerald color as her dress. As we approached, a massive bear of a man stood in our way. He let out a low growl and flexed an array of muscles that wouldn’t be out of place on an NFL lineman. The woman waved him aside like he was a pesky fly, and we walked up the steps to stand next to her.

  “Aidan,” she said in bored greeting as she pointed him to a chair. “You must be Kacey.” Her voice was low and seductive as she motioned for me to sit next to her. “I’ve been hoping to meet you.”

  Chapter 17

  I sat down on the couch next to her and gave her an awkward smile. Siren glanced at me, an amused smirk on her face.

  “You don’t seem happy,” she stated, taking another sip from her wine.

  “I’m not a fan of what you do to people,” I stated.

  “Please,” she said, giving me a skeptical glance. “What is it that you think I do to people?”

  “You mesmerize people, so all they want is to smoke, drink, screw and gamble everything away.”

  “You think I am responsible for that?” she asked, holding her hand against her chest in mock insult. “Do you know what I did? Do you know the crime that I’m responsible for?” She leaned in toward me, a shark-like grin on her face. “I built a club. That’s it. I built it, and they came. They were crawling over themselves for what I had to offer before I even offered it. All I’m guilty of is giving the people what they want.”

  “Yes, congratulations, you’re a drug dealing pimp. Good for you.”

  She scoffed. “I am not a pimp. Pimps steal money from women, beat them and get them addicted to drugs. They do that to ensure compliance and to engage in pitiful power fantasies. My girls pull in thousands of dollars a day and work in the security that no one will ever lay a hand on them. I give them all they need to succeed, and they come and go at their will. I am their guardian angel.”

  I scoffed. “Do you expect me to buy into your crap?”

  “That’s an interesting sentiment coming from you. You have no more love for the authorities then I do. The fascists who control this city strangle everyone. Olympus is both of our enemies, so maybe you should speak to me with more respect and less contempt.” Her last word came out as a hiss, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by her casual, calm tone.

  “Sorry. I understand you have information for me.”

  “Yes, I am a long-standing enemy of your mother. Helping you would wound her, so I am more than happy to assist in any way I can.”

  “You knew my mother?”

  “I know her well, well enough to know that she’s helping Drake in his attempts.”

  “Wait, how? She’s dead.”

  “I’m afraid she’s alive.”

  I blinked in surprise, struggling to find words at that statement. “My mother, Marie Alexander, is dead.”

  “Marie Alexander is dead, but she is not your mother. I’d heard her name for the first time a few days ago when Mister Aidan started asking questions about her.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Tell me something, have you ever wondered why your parents never had pictures of you as a child? Most new parents document their child’s first days on earth to a baffling extent. It’s a darling, albeit obnoxious, habit. Not a single picture of you.”

  My eyes flashed as I stared at her. “You’re out of line.”

  “Am I?” she said, snapping her fingers. A man in a black suit came over, handing her two envelopes. She reached in and pulled out a picture. I scowled as I stared at it. It was the same picture that survived dad's purge. I was four years old and standing at the end of an old cobblestone path leading up to a moss and vine covered cabin. I scowled as I stared at the camera.

  “You’ve seen this picture, yes?” Siren asked, watching my expression.

  “Yeah, this was on one of our trips. Dad, Mom and I all went to some German castle. I spent the entire trip pissed.”

  “What about?”

  “I have no idea; I was four at the time.”

  “What if I was to tell you that wasn’t the real picture?”

  “I’d say you have someone who’s skilled at Photoshop,” I countered.

  “Please,” she replied, scoffing. She reached into the envelope and pulled out the second picture. The background was the same, with me giving the same scowl to the camera. The difference was there were three other children in the picture this time. A second girl, who seemed to be the same age as me, stood on the other side of the steps. She pouted, the gesture highlighting her scarlet hair and freckles. A preteen girl leaned against the door, a defiant glare on her face. Last of all, a teenaged boy stood at the base, a grave expression on his face. My eyes went wide at the sight.

  “That guy seems familiar, doesn’t he?” I asked, handing the photo to Aidan.

  “That’s…that’s Drake,” Aidan returned, his eyes going wide as he looked at the picture.

  “What’s going on? This can’t be real,” I stated, but even as I said the words, I knew it was. The picture stirred something in me, a recognition long dormant. I knew each of the children in the picture, and it seemed a howl on the wind called their names to me.

  “Sarah, Eliza, and Daniel,” I said. “Who are these people? Why do I know them? And how did you get this the picture?”

  “This is a picture, and one of the few still in existence, of Morrigan’s children.”

  “Bullshit,” I stated as Aidan’s face became pale.

  “Are you certain? Tell me, how did you know their names then? If I’m lying, then how did I manage to reproduce an image where you happened to know the names of the people there?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “
Okay, let’s say for a second that I believe you. Who’s this Morrigan lady?”

  “She’s one of the worst Mages that’s ever lived,” Aidan replied. “She’s destroyed entire towns on a whim. She’s tortured and killed anyone who’s tried to bring her down. She’s cut a bloody swath through the States, most of Canada and a good part of Europe. No one knows what she wants, or what her endgame is. We all know one thing, though: if you ever see her, you get the hell out of her way.”

  “And you think I’m related to her?”

  “Of course I do, child,” Siren stated, an amused smirk playing across her lips.

  “How?”

  “For the same reason I know you have a birthmark of a star right below your collarbone,” Siren returned. I rubbed my chest where a matching birthmark lay, and she grinned. “I am not a simple pimp, as you claimed earlier. I deal in information. It keeps me alive because everyone knows that if they come after me, I can hand their enemies what they need to know to put them in a pine box. I know all about Morrigan’s children. I know how she subjected them to cruel experiments to transform them into weapons. I know how an alchemist and mercenary were responsible for the horrors she inflicted on the children. The experiments troubled the alchemists. So in the dead of night, your ‘mother’ made a deal with a Sentinel. He’d have a genuine chance to take Morrigan down. In return, he’d free the children and send them to proper homes.”