Reaping Wind

by Orlando A. Sanchez

  “Large group in the forest, spread out at intervals.”

  “They will act as obstacles, trying to slow us down.” Monty began tracing runes in the air. Dark violet symbols laced with red formed orbs and sped off. “Let’s see if we can keep them busy.”

  “Another team in the castle,” I said. “Shit, we’re too late.”

  “Not yet, we aren’t,” Monty said. “How fast do you think you can move in your current state?”

  “Probably blazing fast, why?”

  “When you hear the signal, we head to the castle,” Monty said, casting a series of golden runes on his body. “Ready?”

  “Not really? What signal?”

  More arrows whispered by, followed a few seconds later by screams.

  “That signal. Run!”

  He shifted to the side and then winked out of sight, Peaches-style. I unleashed some of my power and followed. Monty moved faster than I could see—I locked on to his energy signature and tried to keep up. We ran through the forest to a chorus of screams. As fast as we were moving, Blood Hunters still tried to hit us with arrows…and each time they tried, an orb of agony located them.

  Ten minutes later, we were standing in front of the open gate at Black Blossom Castle. Monty reached back and drew the Sorrows. Screams still filled the night as Monty’s rune-seeking orbs found the Blood Hunters.

  “What were those things?” I asked, looking behind us. “I’ve never seen you use tracking orbs like that.”

  “Runic trackers,” Monty said, a little short of breath. “They are keyed to the arrows, not the hunters.”

  “That explains the screams after they tried to perforate us.”

  “The trackers are dormant until they release an arrow, and then they follow the runic trail back to the hunter who fired the it. At least in the first phase.”

  “Do I want to know what happens in the second phase?”

  “They start tracking the energy signature of the hunters.”

  “Devious and devastating,” I said. “They don’t know what’s coming until it’s too late.”

  “After our last run in, I realized we needed to use their strengths against them,” Monty answered, moving forward. “Daystrider armor should keep us from falling prey to the blood arrows or LIT rounds, which I doubt they’ll use.”

  “Which means blades,” I said, materializing Ebonsoul. “Are we still using diplomacy?”

  “I don’t know what will happen to you if you kill a Blood Hunter,” Monty said, narrowing his eyes and looking at me. “Your body is at its capacity. If you siphon more energy, it may tip you over the edge into another episode of last night.”

  “Right, no one needs that,” I said, reabsorbing Ebonsoul. “No killing, but intense breakage works.”

  “Can you sense your vampire?”

  I looked up and let my senses expand again. Chi’s energy signature was somewhere near the top of the castle.

  “Top floor,” I said, looking at the top of the castle. “But I’m getting a serious energy signature lower in the middle of the building.”

  “What you’re sensing is a cast of undoing,” Monty said. “It’s darker than blood magic.”

  “Is it too much to expect them to give up peacefully?”

  Monty stared at me. “Yes,” he said, his voice grim. “Esti is deranged in her quest for vengeance. She will never give up—peacefully or otherwise. Focus on the casting.”

  “We need to stop them first,” I said as more screams filled the night. “What are the orbs tracking now? We left the forest.”

  “Seems like the second phase has begun,” Monty said, looking behind us into the dense woods. “The trackers are now locking onto the hunters themselves. Any of them who are still standing…won’t be for long.”

  “Did you?”

  “Of course not,” Monty said. “The only one we may need to end is Esti. There is no reasoning with that kind of madness.”

  I searched the forest with my heightened senses and breathed out a small sigh of relief. The hunters were in excruciating agony, but alive.

  “Well, at least this forest doesn’t have to go unnamed any more.”

  “You’ve decided to name it?”

  “Yes,” I said, listening to the screams and sobs filling the night. “The Wailing Forest sounds appropriate.”

  THIRTY-NINE

  We crossed the outer gate and stepped to the front door. It was a massive, wooden affair, covered in angry black runes that pulsed with energy.

  “How old do you think Black Blossom is?”

  “Old enough to make us reconsider its destruction. This castle fortress must date back at least to the early 1600’s, if not earlier.”

  “Meaning Fumiko will be royally pissed if we broke it?”

  “To put it lightly,” Monty said, looking at the wooden and stone structure. “She seemed very possessive of her country.”

  The area near the entrance was an ornate receiving area. A large stone wall encircled the property, ending at the outer gate, which resembled a series of Shinto shrine gates in sequence. The first gate at the wall was done in stone, whereas the following ten were made of wood and painted bright orange. I turned back to face the front door.

  “That doesn’t look like ‘welcome home.’”

  “Can you read it?” Monty asked. “Do you know what it says?”

  I narrowed my eyes and discovered my newfound ability didn’t automatically make it possible for me to read ancient Japanese, much less ancient runes.

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “But I can tell you what the energy feels like.”

  “And that is?” Monty asked, stepping back from the door to view the entire surface. “I can’t read these proto-runes.”

  “Basically, all I’m getting is a variation of: ‘Dare to open this door, and meet your demise.’ It’s either that, or ‘Don’t be an idiot, run now while you still can.’”

  Monty stared at me. “Are you sure you aren’t relapsing?”

  “I’m good,” I said, pointing at the massive door. “You plan on deciphering these runes?”

  “No, they are beyond me,” Monty said. “I plan on letting you use the key.”

  “The key?” I asked, patting my pockets. “What key? I don’t have the key.”

  “You do,” Monty said. “Aim your hand at the door and trigger your magic missile.”

  “You just said Fumiko would be pissed if we broke this place.”

  “Which is why you’re opening the door.”

  “What if it doesn’t work?”

  “Focus your energy at the door,” Monty said, moving farther away and casting a shield. “Remember to focus.”

  I pointed my hand at the door, took a deep breath and focused my energy.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. Don’t forget to cover your face.”

  “With my shield?”

  “If you think it can withstand the energy.”

  Now he had me concerned.

  “How much power do you think I plan on unleashing?” I asked. “This is only a magic missile.”

  He waved me on to continue. “You can do this. Try not to obliterate the castle.”

  I took a deep breath and focused on the door, allowing the energy inside to accumulate.

  “Ignisvitae,” I said and pushed forward with my hand. For a second, nothing happened. I glanced at Monty. “I don’t think it’s going to—”

  A blast of violet energy exploded from my hand, launching me back. I crashed into the stone wall opposite the entrance, with a bone-crushing thud.

  “Ow,” I said as I slid down the wall. My body blazed, dealing with the damage. By the time I reached the floor, I felt better. “That was unexpected.”

  Monty absorbed his shield and nodded. “Looks like you had the key after all.”

  I looked up and had a little trouble processing the image. The door, the frame, and the surrounding stone were missing. All that was left was a smooth, ten foot-wide gap
ing hole where there used to be a large wooden door.

  “That was a magic missile?”

  “Enhanced by dragon’s blood, yes. Maybe switch out for persuaders, before you disintegrate everything and everyone?”

  “Yeah…Yeah maybe that’s a good idea,” I said, switching magazines in favor of the persuaders. “Think I’ll do that.”

  It took a few tries due to the shaking of my hands. Monty stepped up to the smoking hole, examining the edge of the blast.

  “I’d say the dragon’s blood has definitely increased the strength of your missile,” he said, running a finger along the smooth stone. “It still needs some refining. With some practice, this could be truly devastating—if Fumiko and the Kuro Hyogikai don’t crush you first.”

  I stared at him for a good five seconds.

  “I hope you’re enjoying yourself,” I said. “You’ve turned me into a greater menace than you and Peaches combined.”

  “I strongly urge you not to use your magic missile inside the castle, unless absolutely necessary.”

  “Are you insane?” I said as we crossed the threshold into the castle proper. “I can’t hit anyone with that thing. It will disintegrate them.”

  “Not necessarily,” Monty said. “Against some beings, a blast like that would only be an attention-getter.”

  “I don’t want to get their attention,” I said, looking around the interior. “Can we not get their attention? Like ever?”

  “Unlikely,” Monty said. “As for attention, I’m sure that entrance has garnered some from the Blood Hunters.”

  I looked back at the gaping hole. “It wasn’t exactly subtle, that’s for sure.”

  “Stairs,” Monty said, pointing one of the Sorrows. “We have to stop the casting.”

  FORTY

  We reached the next level and encountered a group of five women in a circle surrounded by black energy. The air was thick with power, and I had a hard time focusing on the women. The energy they were casting sent snake-like tendrils of black energy up into the ceiling.

  “Casting?” I asked. “Those tendrils can’t be good.”

  “They’ll be used to restrain your vampire,” Monty said. “Let’s make sure they don’t finish.”

  Each of the women was dressed in black robes with red accents along their edges, reminding me of renegade nuns—renegade nuns that controlled black runic energy designed to destroy an ancient vampire.

  Two of the women noticed us and broke from the circle. I fired Grim Whisper, but my rounds vanished into a small portal that appeared in front of them.

  “That may be problematic,” I said, dodging to the side as black orbs of energy raced at me.

  “Kill them,” one of the remaining women from the circle said. “The ritual is almost complete. Don’t let them interrupt us.”

  “Why is it always ‘kill them’?” I asked, rolling to the side and firing again as more orbs tried to smash into me. More portals swallowed my rounds. “Why can’t it be ‘give them a stern warning’ or ‘stop them with a solid pounding’? Everything has to be so fatal.”

  “I’m sure they’ll be open to conversation,” Monty said, deflecting a black orb with his sword and unleashing several violet ones of his own, “right after you stop them with a solid pounding.”

  Monty closed the distance and engaged one of the sorceresses who broke the circle. He unleashed orbs, but they met the same defenses as my rounds, disappearing from sight. Both of the women drew swords.

  “Simon…the ritual,” Monty said, as both women attacked. “If it’s completed, it will trap your vampire.”

  “I’m trying to shoot them, Monty,” I said, firing again and missing. “The Sisters of the Black Hole keep swallowing my rounds.”

  “Use…your hands,” he said, deflecting an orb and parrying a sword slash. “Just try not to obliterate them.”

  I holstered Grim Whisper and advanced on the circle, unleashing the power I held. Everything was accelerated. I blinkstepped forward, using the maneuver from the forest. I reappeared next to one of the renegade nuns, who greeted me with a black orb to the face. The impact spun me around, sending me into a wall.

  I bounced off the wall as my body blazed. I focused the energy and made a fist. I concentrated on using less power, holding back the reservoir within.

  “Ignisvitae,” I whispered, forming a large violet orb and releasing it into the air. I said the next word before I understood what I was saying. “Captis.”

  The orb raced at the women and exploded into hundreds of smaller orbs, swarming and immobilizing all of the renegade nuns.

  “You’re too late,” one of the women said, struggling against the restraint. “The ritual is complete. The vampire is ours.”

  Monty was staring at the renegade nuns and then back at me.

  “How did you—?” he started.

  “I don’t know, but we need to help Chi.”

  “Upstairs—now.” Monty gestured and several golden orbs launched from his hands, slamming into the nuns, knocking them unconscious. “Can’t have them trying another ritual.”

  We ran for the stairs and headed up. Gunfire chewed up the top of the stairs as we reached the next floor, forcing us back down to take cover. Chi was entangled with the black tendrils as they wrapped around her limbs.

  “Have you come to watch your vampire die?” Esti yelled, unloading another barrage of rounds at the stairs. “Right after she dies, we’ll take care of your beast and get our blade back. Just be patient.”

  “I’m going to give you back your blade,” I yelled back, “by burying it in your chest!”

  FORTY-ONE

  “Simon, leave this place,” Chi said. “She has lost her mind. I’m beyond saving.”

  Chi’s face was bruised, cut, and swollen. She hung in the air as the tendrils held her suspended. Her right arm was bent at an unnatural angle, while the fingers of her left hand were all twisted in different directions.

  Esti laughed. “She has finally spoken a truth,” Esti said, and spat on Chi. “You lying piece of scum. No one can save you now.”

  I ran up the stairs and rolled to the side, avoiding more gunfire, as Monty came up behind me, unleashing orbs and throwing up a shield.

  Esti flicked her wrists and two long, runed blades materialized in her hands. I instantly recognized the runes as the same ones on the blood arrows. Getting stabbed by one of those would end badly—for me.

  “You deal with Esti,” Monty said. “I’ll undo the tendrils.”

  Monty raced over to where Chi hung immobilized and began casting black runes that made me feel uneasy. I looked at Chi, and the rage inside me howled to be unleashed. A blade sailed silently at my head. I turned to admire its trajectory as I shifted to the side, catching it by the hilt and returning it to its owner in one smooth rotation.

  Esti caught the rune-covered blade and narrowed her eyes at me.

  “You’ve changed, vampire-lover,” Esti said with a twisted smile. “You’re faster.”

  “Upgrades,” I said, and stepped toward her. “I’m going to kill you now.”

  Esti laughed, and waved me forward. “I was just getting started,” she said, her voice almost a growl. “Come, dance.”

  She blocked my initial strike, a jab to her head, by slicing across with one of her blades. I materialized Ebonsoul and parried the next slash, and she laughed.

  “You bitch,” I said with a grunt as she shoved me back. Her strength was still something to be reckoned with.

  “I’m going to enjoy eviscerating you,” she said, lunging several times. “Your new power won’t help you. You’re still too slow, too weak, and you’re too late to save your vampire. I’m going to break you both until you beg me to kill you.”

  “You’re going to regret touching those close to me,” I said, moving faster.

  She deflected the first strike and slid back. I turned Ebonsoul and stopped one of her blades with the dull side as she closed in. I couldn’t risk cutting her with a siphon. I
followed up with a fist to her face, which she avoided, slamming an elbow into my side.

  “Too slow, Strong,” she said with a laugh as she backflipped away. “You move like you’re standing still.”

  I let more power flow through me.

  She slid forward and unleashed a barrage of slashes and strikes. I parried them, backpedaling at first, trying to keep up. My jacket quickly became shredded wheat under the onslaught. The only thing that stopped her was the Daystrider armor.

  I unleashed even more power—and attacked.

  She lunged again, stabbing forward with a blade aimed at my eye. I ducked and released an uppercut into her arm, shattering it. She grunted in pain and attacked with her other arm. I moved to the side and looked as she moved in slow motion.

  I trapped her arm against my body and slammed my forearm into her locked elbow, slamming the joint way past the point of extension. Her arm bent the wrong way, and then she screamed. She dropped her blades and lashed out with a kick. I saw the tip of the blade embedded in her boot and dodged back out of the way.

  Her pain tolerance was impressive, but I needed to end this now. I focused my energy and quietly unleashed the word that came to me: Uanescere-disintegrate. A black orb formed in my hand, and I heard Monty yell in the distance.

  “Simon! No!”

  I turned to look at him as he moved toward me in slow motion. The rage in my chest broke free as I thought about what Esti had done—taking Peaches, torturing Chi, trying to repeatedly kill Monty and me. No one was safe around me as long as she lived. I knew she wouldn’t stop. As long as she was alive, she would keep coming. I needed to stop her now.

  I turned to face her, and for the first time saw an expression of fear on her face. It felt good. Black energy crackled around my arm as my heart filled with rage and a desire for vengeance.

  “Time to die,” I said, releasing the orb aiming for her chest. “Goodbye, bitch.”

  The black orb launched from my hand with a jolt of energy and raced at Esti. Her limp arms hung by her side and she knew, in that moment…this was the end. She closed her eyes just as a white orb of energy crashed into her side. The black orb slammed into her shoulder. Esti screamed as black energy traveled down her arm, removing it entirely.