by Alex Siegel
The second building was a crude shed. Its walls were made of rough stones stacked and cemented together. A sheet of rusty, corrugated steel formed the roof.
Diana didn't see any fences or other signs of security, but none were really needed. As far as she could tell, nobody else lived within ten miles of Thorn's house. Rugged hills covered with tough, little pine trees were his only neighbors. Getting here had involved navigating narrow, dirt roads with precious few signs. Physical isolation was enough security by itself.
She glanced at the rearview mirror but didn't see any sign of pursuit. The sky was a perfect, cloudless blue. She assumed her friends were following her but were doing a good job of staying out of sight. If not, she was in trouble.
Diana parked the car, and she and Orcus got out. The air was cool and bone dry. A slight breathlessness told her she was at a high altitude.
"Stay behind me."
"Yes, master." Diana quickly stepped behind Orcus.
He went to the front door, but it opened even before he knocked.
She recognized the man who answered the door as Thorn, but he was fatter than she remembered. He weighed at least three hundred pounds. The skin on his bald head was deeply tanned and leathery. His huge hands had callouses on the palms. Long, black robes covered his body from his neck to his ankles, and something was squirming under the robes. She wondered if he had pet snakes under there.
Orcus slapped Thorn on the shoulder. "Hey! It's great to see you again. I can't thank you enough for helping me in a tight spot."
"My pleasure," Thorn said. "I actually enjoyed having company for once. It gets a little lonely out here."
Several pit bulls came around the side of the house, barking aggressively. When they saw Orcus, the dogs' barks became happy, and their tails wagged. He knelt on the dirt and petted them affectionately.
"Where is Pomona?" he said.
"Inside," Thorn said. "Cleaning the house."
Everybody went in the front door, including the dogs. Furniture made of carved wood and leather was inside the home. A single lightbulb glowed dimly. Diana didn't see a television or any other form of entertainment. A complicated radio set was on a table in a corner, and it produced a low hiss.
Pomona was scrubbing the wooden floor on her hands and knees. A short, red dress barely covered her butt. Seeing the iron collar around her neck made Diana angry.
Pomona switched to a kneeling position with her head bowed. "Master," she said, "I'm overjoyed to see you again."
"What happened to your face?" Orcus walked over and lifted her head by the chin.
She had a black eye and a split lip.
"Thorn struck me, master," she murmured.
"He did?" Orcus turned to Thorn with an angry expression.
"I didn't like her attitude." Thorn shrugged.
"She is my slave, my property. You damaged her without my permission."
"I make the rules in my house. I damage who I please."
Orcus snarled. "Apologize."
"No."
Orcus's fingernails transformed into long, sharp bear claws.
Thorn raised his eyebrows. "Are you threatening me? You want to go right now? Try it. See what happens."
Black vines grew out from his sleeves. Thorns covered the thick vines, and they had red flowers on the ends. Diana looked more closely and realized the flowers were mouths full of pointed, white teeth. The vines waved back and forth like cobras.
Oh, shit, she thought. He couldn't do that last time we met.
The two men stared at each other. Diana edged towards the door, hoping a fight would break out. If one of them died, Stony would have one less enemy to kill.
Orcus withdrew his claws. "Sorry," he said. "I'm tired and testy after a long road trip. My bad. I'm sure Pomona deserved to get smacked nice and hard. Let's forget the whole business."
Thorn nodded once. "Wise man."
"I'm afraid I have to ask another favor. I've been unable to make contact with Forneus lately."
"Huh?" Thorn snorted. "The mighty Orcus is getting the cold shoulder from his demon?"
"There must be an excellent reason. We've had a great working relationship for years, and he has responded every time I summoned him in the past. I can't imagine how I offended Forneus. I was hoping you could summon your demon and ask him what's wrong."
"I'll have to sacrifice one of your kids."
"That's what they're here for," Orcus said.
"Follow me."
Pomona continued scrubbing the floor. Thorn, Orcus, and Diana went outside through a back door.
More dogs were behind the house. Some had acquired minor cuts from playing in the wilderness, but they seemed happy nonetheless. At least they weren't tied to a tree in a swamp. Big bowls of water were set out, and other bowls contained dog food. Diana walked carefully to avoid poop which was everywhere.
Thorn took Orcus and Diana to the crude shed. Her jaw tightened when she looked inside.
Six small children were in sturdy dog cages. The kids didn't have enough room to stand or lay down, so they were forced to sit with their knees drawn up. Their wrists were tied to the bars above their heads. Dry lips indicated dehydration, but they weren't in imminent danger of dying. They silently stared at the visitors.
"Ah," Orcus said, "which should I choose?" He pointed at a boy with brown hair. "That one."
* * *
Stony looked through a pair of binoculars at two buildings in the distance. The large one was made of adobe, and the smaller was a shed made of stones. The blades of a windmill spun slowly in a gentle breeze. A very tall antenna looked like the type used for ham radios.
"It doesn't seem too dangerous," he said.
He turned to Mia, Veronica, and Brian. The bus had stopped in the middle of a dirt road, and everybody was standing outside.
Brian peered through his own binoculars. "I wish we knew more about this Thorn guy."
"Not much cover out there," Mia said. "We'll be seen as we approach, and we can't wait for nightfall."
"Then we have to go in hot and heavy," Veronica said. "No sneaking around this time."
Stony thought about Diana in that house. He had to rescue her before Orcus realized the truth about her.
"Wait here," Stony said.
He wanted to call Director Robertson for a status update, but his phone had no service. Stony went into the bus and found a satellite phone among the equipment in back. He took it outside so he could get a better link to the satellite. He called the director.
"Yes?" Robertson said.
"We're here," Stony said.
"I know. I have you on aerial recon."
Stony looked up at a blue sky but couldn't see the airplane. It was too high. "Do you see anything else?"
"The home doesn't appear to have any security, but we both know appearances can be deceiving. Our analysts have discovered a suspicious pattern of missing persons in that part of New Mexico. The victims tend to be elderly, living in isolation, and it's been happening for years. Our theory is that Thorn is feeding on them. Killing him is now a priority in addition to Orcus."
"Two for the price of one. We're thinking we should just blast our way in."
"Pick your shots," Robertson said. "Diana and as many as six children are in there."
Stony grimaced. "I hate hostage situations. Where are the PEA field teams?"
"Coming. That location is difficult to reach. If you wait fifteen minutes, you'll have backup."
"I don't want to wait."
"You never want to wait," Robertson said. "Good luck."
Stony ended the call and faced his teammates. "Can we go? Any objections? This is our chance to avenge Ace."
Nobody spoke, although Veronica had a thoughtful expression.
"Good," Stony said. "Let's take the bus. We'll drive right to the front door."
"We may get shot at," Brian said. "I don't think the bus is bulletproof."
"I'll drive fast."
He boarded
the bus and ordered the driver to get out. She eagerly complied. She could guess what was happening and wanted no part of it. He sat in the driver's seat.
"All aboard for the Kick-Ass Express!" he called.
* * *
The little boy was tied to a stone altar in the grass behind Thorn's house. The child was crying and whimpering but was too weak to struggle.
Diana had a horrible feeling in her gut. She had witnessed the deaths of many sacrificial victims, but this time it was different. Her mind was free. She knew that justice was possible. The world didn't have to be full of misery and bloodshed. Children could be happy.
She couldn't save the boy though. She had no weapons, and engaging Orcus in hand-to-hand combat was suicide. Thorn was possibly even tougher. He had made Orcus back down after all. She silently swore that this injustice would be the last that she didn't fight.
"And let them all sing that we were here," Thorn chanted, "as masters among the failing species called Man. Our being took form in defiance to stand before your killing gaze. And now we travel from flame to flame and from the will to the glory! I summon Marchosias!"
Vines snaked out from his sleeves and attacked the boy. Hungry, little mouths at the ends of the vines bit into the young flesh. Diana was reminded of piranhas swarming a helpless victim. In mere seconds, the body was stripped to the bones.
"Tasty," Thorn said with a smile.
He looked up, and Diana did the same. A black mist was gathering in the air. It formed into the shape of a giant, black wolf with wings, and fire sputtered from its mouth.
Diana took a nervous step back.
"Master!" Thorn said. "Thank you for coming so quickly! My friend Orcus has a question for you."
Orcus bowed. "It is an honor to meet you, mighty demon. I wish to know why Forneus won't respond to my call."
"The Paranormal Enforcement Administration is blocking him with a special prayer," Marchosias said. "He is temporarily unable to come to Earth, and he is very angry about it."
"Oh. It's not my fault. That's good news in a way. How long will the prayer last?"
"Until you are killed, I expect," the demon said.
Orcus frowned.
The demon was flying in circles overhead. He suddenly looked south and snorted fire.
"What's wrong, master?" Thorn said.
"Enemies are approaching. The PEA has found you, which isn't a surprise."
Orcus's eyes widened. "Thorn, go into the house and prepare! Tell Pomona to help you! We'll be along in a moment."
Thorn ran towards his house.
Orcus looked up at Marchosias. "How did they find us?"
"They followed her." The demon spat a puff of flame at Diana.
"My slave?" Orcus said.
"She is no slave. She betrayed Forneus. Rathanael blessed her collar and laid his mark on her. Her soul belongs to an angel now."
Orcus turned to Diana, his face pink with rage. His hands became bear claws.
She glanced to either side. Orcus blocked her path back to the house, leaving her only one escape route.
Diana immediately transformed into a panther, slipped out of her clothes, and sprinted north. She headed towards distant hills which promised cover and safety. Her best hope was outrunning him. She was faster in short bursts at least. She weaved left and right in case he tried to shoot her from behind.
He roared. She glanced back and saw him chasing her in the form of a grizzly bear. If he caught her, he would rip her apart.
Chapter Twenty-one
The bus bounced violently over rocks as it sped towards Thorn's house. Stony fought with the steering wheel to keep the bus aimed in the right direction. The engine roared. His heart was pounding.
When he was about fifty yards from the house, he saw a gun barrel poke out of a window. He swerved as machinegun fire erupted and bus windows shattered.
Stony knew what to do. The floor of the bus offered the best protection. He turned hard enough to flip the bus onto its side while spinning it around. When the bus finally slid to a stop, the bottom was facing the house and Stony was hanging from his seatbelt.
"Status?" he yelled.
"Good!" Mia, Brian, and Veronica said.
"Move!"
Stony unbuckled himself. The door of the bus was facing the ground, so he couldn't get out that way. He hardened his fists and smashed a window until he had a nice, big opening.
All his weapons were already strapped to his body. He ran outside, keeping the bus between himself and the house. He crouched down and waited for his teammates to join him. He saw that Veronica had a cut on her cheek, but she wasn't complaining.
When everybody was out of the bus, Stony said, "Mia and I will go right. Brian and Veronica will go left. Ready?"
Dogs came streaming around both ends of the bus. They attacked silently and caught Stony by surprise. He barely had time to grab his AA-12. He pulled the trigger, and the automatic shotgun spewed fire. Everything in front of him died.
The dogs kept coming, climbing over the bodies of the fallen. Stony had plenty of shells though. He created a wall of canine corpses by the time the battle was over.
He was unharmed, so he checked on his friends. Mia had an MP9 in each hand, and both the barrels were smoking. A little smile on her face and a glint in her eye told him she was ready for more killing. He didn't see any new injuries on her.
Brian had defended himself with a katana, and blood was dripping from the long, curved blade. Dismembered dogs were lying all around him.
Veronica held a Colt CM901 with both hands. The assault rifle was an improved version of the venerable M16, but lighter and more compact. She had picked off the dogs that had slipped past everybody else.
The team had fought well but had made a horrific mess. Stony estimated seventy pit bulls had been shot or slashed. Blood was soaking into the sand.
A dead gray wolf was lying with the other bodies. When he saw that it was wearing an iron collar, his heart sank. The wolf transformed into a beautiful woman with blonde hair. Multiple bullet wounds had killed her.
"That must be Pomona," Stony said sadly. "We just have Orcus and Thorn left to kill. Reload."
Everybody reloaded their weapons. Brian switched from his sword to a Steyr AUG. The assault rifle had a sleek, bullpup design suited for close-quarters fighting.
Brian and Veronica went to one end of the bus, and Stony and Mia went to the other end. They crouched into sprinting positions.
"Go!" Stony yelled.
Everybody burst from cover at once and fired at the window with the machinegun. A hailstorm of bullets ripped apart the adobe wall. Whoever was holding the machinegun immediately withdrew. The members of the third division reached the house safely and huddled against the wall.
Stony looked back and forth, trying to decide how he wanted to enter the house. Going through the front door seemed dangerous, and the windows were too small to squeeze through. He decided to make a new door. He grabbed a demolition charge from his belt, stuck it to the wall, and set a timer for fifteen seconds.
Everybody moved away and covered their ears.
The blast rattled Stony down to his bones, but he started moving before the dust settled. The explosive had punched a hole two feet across. He kicked the wall to widen the hole and then forced his body through.
He was in a bedroom. He swung his AA-12 back and forth, seeking a target. The plain furniture was made of carved wood covered in light varnish.
"Out of the way!" Mia said.
Stony stepped aside. His three teammates came through the opening.
"Ready?" Stony said.
They nodded.
The bedroom door was closed. Stony grabbed a flashbang grenade off his belt, pulled the pin, kicked open the door, and tossed the grenade through. He covered his ears and closed his eyes.
He could see the flash even with his eyes closed, and the bang was as loud as a cannon. He knew he only had a few seconds to act though. He dived through the open d
oorway and aimed to the right. Brian landed beside him and aimed left. Mia pointed her gun forward, while Veronica guarded their rear.
Stony didn't see anybody. "Clear!" he said.
"Clear," his teammates echoed.
Where is everybody? Stony thought.
He hopped to his feet. He used hand gestures to move his teammates into a linear formation with him in front. Then he proceeded through the house, moving at a quick trot.
Stony went into a living room next. As in the bedroom, all the furniture appeared hand-carved. The only form of entertainment was a ham radio set in the corner. A few pieces of dog shit were on the floor.
Stony heard a thump in a coat closet. The team immediately converged on that area. He gestured for Veronica to open the door, while the rest of them had their weapons ready to shoot whoever was inside the closet.
She yanked open the door. A big, fat, bald man was cowering in the closet with his arms over his head. Black robes covered his massive body.
"Are you Thorn?" Stony said. "Get out of there! Nice and slow!"
Thorn kept his head down as he shuffled out of the closet. "Don't hurt me, sir! Please! I give up!"
He moved into the room. The members of the third division covered him with their guns. They made sure to stay out of each other's firing lanes. Stony debated whether to shoot Thorn on the spot or take him in for interrogation.
"Hold on," Veronica said. "He's not scared. He's lying. This is a trick."
Something was wiggling under Thorn's robes. Snakes? Stony wondered. Tentacles? He raised his AA-12.
Thorn lifted his robes. Thick, black vines shot outwards at startling speed. The vines grabbed every weapon simultaneously. Stony struggled to aim his gun, but the vines were incredibly strong. The rest of his team lost their guns, knives, and swords immediately.
The vines had little mouths on the ends, and they attacked everybody's unprotected faces. Other vines squeezed like boa constrictors. Stony hardened his skin, but his friends were in big trouble.