by Ben Hale
"Jack!" Iris darted to his side. "I've been trying to reach you for the last five minutes. We have a situation."
"Give me a sitrep," Jack said.
"The southern line has been left unguarded."
His breath caught. "That's not possible."
The anger behind his words caused Iris to recoil. "It's accurate."
If the report was true, their attempt to defy Alice was over, and they would be forced to surrender. Despair crashed over him, so bitter he could taste it.
"What do we do?" the president asked. He appeared haggard, and Jack realized he likely appeared the same.
"How did you learn of this?" Jack asked, his voice rigid.
"I just got a thread from a friend of mine. He wanted to know why the southern front has been left open."
"The map shows our forces moving into position on Texas," someone said.
"They're not," General Lefevre said. "My units are reporting that they were redirected to reinforce the east."
"Iris," Jack said, raising his voice over the din. "Get me a direct satellite feed. Don't channel it through any of our own hardware or other points."
Iris nodded, and the entire group turned their attention to the map. For several tense seconds no one spoke, and then the image flickered. The southern part of the United States remained the same, but the marks indicating military units were gone.
There was a collective intake of breath as the room realized the truth. Instead of the millions of soldiers moving to cover the southern flank, their orders had somehow been altered, leaving the entire south devoid of defenses. The Dark had reached the bottom border of Texas, and a thousand miles north lay the Stacks, unprotected and vulnerable.
"Can we reposition soldiers?" General Braun asked.
"Not in time," the president said. "We left six hours for our forces to get into place by sunrise—but dawn is only an hour away."
"The Dark will reach Texas by then," Jack stated.
One of the generals issued a snide comment about another, and the angry retort escalated the tension. In seconds the hundred nations dissolved into furious shouts of blame.
"Stop," the president barked. "This was not our work, correct?" He turned to Iris, whose expression bore confusion for the first time that Jack could recall.
"The threads leaving this city were shifted several hours ago. Our orders went out, but not where they were intended—but that's not possible—no Uri, he's locked up in the battlemage corps. Yes, I'm sure—" She gasped. "That cannot be." She turned to Jack. "It has to be him."
"Keidon," Jack said, and she nodded to him.
"He's locked in a cell at the base of this tower," Gerik protested.
The door opened behind them, and one by one the generals fell silent. Jack turned to find Varson striding into the chamber, his expression full of dark triumph. As soldiers and battlemages leapt to target him, he held his hands wide, and his companions appeared behind him.
Keidon stepped through the door and his gaze locked with Iris's. The purple haired girl spread her fingers at her sides, causing faint sparks to cascade to the ground. Jack caught her shoulder in a calming gesture before she could act in haste.
The next figure appeared innocuous at first. Bald and overweight, the middle-aged man shifted into another form as he stepped through the opening, snapping the door from the hinges as he grew. Razor spines stretched from its arms while tufts of faded white fur grew across his body. The floor vibrated from every step as he reached the full stature of a silver reaver, and his rumbling snarl sent a nervous murmur through the soldiers. Gerik released a breath of surprise.
"It's the assassin, Harry," he murmured to Jack, his voice rigid. "He can turn into animals."
Then the last appeared. Slim of figure, the woman's Twisted features inspired fear. Her eyes had gone opaque and a shadow tinged her skin, revealing the Dark's touch. She glided to the left flank and stared at the soldiers and mages arrayed against her with unblinking eyes. They shifted nervously under her baleful glare.
"Varson," Jack said. "To what do we owe the visit?"
Varson's lip curled in anger at his easy tone. "This level has been sealed from the Spirus. Reinforcements will not be arriving."
"Your presence has already told me as much," Jack said. "Please answer the question."
Varson clenched his hands, and a finger of fire coursed up his arm. Jack knew he was walking a fine line in provoking him, but the fact that he had arrived with so few indicated he was here to talk. The fire extinguished as Varson visibly regained control of his emotions.
"I represent the Master," Varson said, and his gaze swept the room, "and call for your surrender."
A nervous murmur rustled the room, causing Varson to offer a smile of triumph. "You are now aware that your entire southern force has been redirected. Nothing in your arsenal can stop our army from advancing into the women and children you have sheltered. Surrender now . . . and they will not perish." His dark eyes returned to Jack, and the whole room waited for his answer.
"No," Jack replied.
Varson's eyes bulged in disbelief. "Do you not understand? The end has come. Your defiance will only invite the slaughter of those you call innocent."
"No," Jack repeated.
Rage flitted across Varson's face, and this time he could not stop the fire from streaking up his arms. "Your pride has brought about the death of billions, and still you will not kneel. How many must die before you will accept your fate?"
"Only one," Jack replied. "And you call her Master."
There was an audible intake of breath from the room, but Jack did not look away from Varson. His surprise quickly faded into hatred.
"The hole in your line cannot be filled. Your faith in the aurens is misplaced."
"It is my daughter I have faith in," Jack replied.
Varson advanced a step. "The oracle's blood is mine, and her power comes from the Master."
"Yet her choices are hers," Jack said. "And she has chosen to defy you. Those in this room stand with me, and we stand with her. You may return to the Master and inform her that her legacy will be one of slaughter and cruelty. The people desire freedom and are willing to die for it. We have accepted our fate. We will live free . . . or we will not live."
Jack's ringing words echoed into the stillness, and the president took a step to stand by him. Gerik was quick to follow, and soon the generals fell into place. One by one the others in the room arrayed themselves in silent defiance of Varson.
Jack heard hesitation in the feet of several, but felt a rush of gratitude as he sensed their combined resistance. Regardless of their national origin, these men and women had fought against the Dark. After weeks of evacuation and brutal battle, they had finally united. Jack felt a surge of pride as the world's remaining leaders stood with him.
"I believe you have your answer," Jack said quietly. "You may go."
His tone of dismissal caused Varson's expression to darken. When he spoke it was the soft voice of a killer about to act.
"This was never a request. This is a command from the Master. There is no refuge from her wrath, no will strong enough to defy her. Even the Dark now obeys her word. Your insolent attempt at freedom has merely served to bring about the slaughter. They will perish because of you, and their final screams will be curses to your name."
"The blood of the victim stains the hand of the killer, and Alice is just a—"
"You dare say her name?" Varson's eyes shifted, his restraint falling away like a discarded cloak. The darkness in his gaze deepened with warning. "You will call her Master."
Jack sensed the moment as if he stood on a precipice. The tension in the room stood taut with danger. Any word he said against Alice would bring Varson's wrath upon him—but to back down would spark doubt in his allies.
"Alice is the master of murder," Jack said.
Varson stared at him with unbridled hatred. Then he spoke to his companions. "Harry, Elena . . ." He locked eyes with Jack
and coldly sentenced them to death.
"Kill them all."
Chapter 33: Fallen
Iris watched Keidon step into the room and her surge of anger caused sparks to cascade from her fingers. Jack caught her shoulder, reminding her that acting rash would be unwise. As Jack spoke with Varson, Iris spoke with Keidon.
I hoped we would meet again, Keidon said mentally.
I hoped you would choke on your own tongue, Iris responded, and then sent flash threads to her army. All teams, I need seeker charms cast and modified to my location.
Keidon intercepted the threads, his lips quirking as he demolished them with a Drogan enchantment. Nice try, little one, but you will have to do better than that.
I already did, Iris replied. I added a Trisilian charm to those threads.
I know every techno charm ever created—
Except the ones I invented, Iris said. The Trisilian charm causes a destroyed thread to fracture into thousands of micro threads, each with the capacity to seek out its intended recipient. Thanks for delivering my message for me.
Keidon's eyes burned with hatred, but there was a flicker of surprise as well. You think you can overcome me as you did before?
Iris smiled as she recalled slugging him in the stomach. Keidon used the distraction to send a subtle curse that would shock her mind. She caught it just in time, and struggled to keep the indirect attacks from showing on her expression. The replies from her army were filtering through, commanding her attention—as was Keidon's curses. She forced a mental laugh.
You have no idea what you've missed, Iris said.
Nor you, Keidon responded with a mental barb that split off a piece of her defenses. Or you would have noticed your commander's orders being redirected.
She clenched her fist, and sent a barrage of rapid-fire static hexes at him. He flicked them aside easily, but the distraction allowed her to get a reply from several of her lieutenants.
Two minutes until we're ready, Uri replied.
Now I know why you had us practice this, Scott said in a rush.
Iris didn't respond to them. The tension between Jack and Varson had peaked, and Iris was out of time.
I'm sorry, Iris said, surprising Keidon by her sincerity. She took advantage of his lapse and slipped a message through to Chuck—and connected it to the assassin Rimpact and the professor of ancient weaponry at Tryton's, Kellon. They would need the firepower, and the two rock trolls were the only ones capable of handling Harry as a reaver. Now she just had to get the shroud down so they could get through to their level . . .
For what? Keidon sneered.
"Kill them," Varson said, and Keidon grinned.
For this, Iris said, and slammed her palms together.
The threads in the room answered her call. Snapping free of their connections, they coursed into her hands and collided, shimmering into the visible spectrum. They struck Keidon as Jack drew his weapon and fired . . .
***
Jack drew his sidearm and fired at Varson, but the bullet deflected aside. Ignoring the attacks sparking across his gravity shield, Varson leapt into the air and streaked toward him. Jack dove to the side, but Varson caught him and launched him across the room.
Jack crashed through a desk and tumbled to the floor. Wincing, he grasped a chair and forced himself to his feet. Magic and bullets filled the air, cascading from both sides in a hurricane of fire, lightning, and lead. Faster than all of them, Iris had struck first, and sent Keidon reeling. She leapt closer to him, compelling him to focus on her. Their duel faded into the background as the silver reaver went to work.
Magic charred his visible flesh and bullets sank deep. Neither did enough damage to slow the behemoth down. Issuing a roar that rattled the teeth in Jack's skull, he surged into a charge that leveled the front line of soldiers.
Bloodied men were knocked aside like bowling pins, and left limp on the floor. A man's scream was cut off as his leg was crushed along with his rifle. The blade on the reaver's arm ended his life, and that of the mage beside him. Blood spattered amidst the bodies, and the silver reaver's rampage continued.
On the opposite side of the room Elena killed with cold efficiency. Purple and black magic stretched from her fingers. The anti-magic robbed the mages of their power, while the gravity struck the soft flesh inside their ribs.
Hearts collapsed as she floated past, and soldiers were left clutching their chests, gasping. She did not flinch or deviate, and men wilted at her passage. Then a man stepped in front of her that did not fall.
Agent Pierce struck hard, driving her back and stripping her gravity shield. A trace of annoyance flitted across Elena's Darkened features and she glided to a stop. Her anti-magic rippled in a wave that just missed Pierce as he darted to the side.
"Iris!" Jack bellowed as he retreated from Varson. "Get reinforcements in here!"
Working on it! came the mental reply—and the door burst open. In the lead stood a pair of rock trolls. One bore a whistling hammer, while the other carried a sword. Behind them were a team of battlemages led by Charlie, who motioned his team inside and opened fire on the silver reaver.
As the reinforcements rushed to engage, Rimpact and Kellon glided apart. Then they struck the reaver like a hammer on an anvil. The thundering maul smashed into the reaver's head while Kellon's sword cut into its arm. Harry released a bellow of pain and backhanded Rimpact.
The brawl between the three of them crashed through walls and techno screens, leaving a trail of destruction. The surviving officers and generals caught up spare weapons and formed two phalanxes against Harry and Elena. Varson knocked all attempts aside and came for Jack, his eyes brimming with rage and hatred.
"I will tear you to shreds," he growled.
Jack threw himself to the side, and the gravity punch smashed through the wall he'd been leaning against. Clutching his side, he stumbled down a hall, desperately considering his options. The blast of fire took him from his feet and rolled him down the corridor. He gasped as the fire charred his flesh, but he forced himself to his feet and pressed onward.
"I would tell you I would make this quick," Varson called, "but that would be a lie."
Jack ducked into an office as the door was torn off. Fighting nausea and pain, he grasped the handle to the next door. The aquaglass barrier shimmered and opened, allowing him into the next hall. As it closed another blast of fire shattered the barrier into steam. Varson stepped into the hallway and sneered.
"You are pathetic," he said, and cast a gravity well that sucked Jack into the ground. Jack cried out as he felt something snap in his chest. Varson flicked his finger and tossed him down the hall to the window at the end.
Through the haze of pain and desperation, Jack's heart sank. They were in a dead end, and there was no way out. Varson shattered the glass and slowly pushed Jack toward the lip.
"You are an auren," he said. "How could you hope to fight one such as I?"
With his head and shoulders hanging off the edge, Jack coughed through the blood in his throat.
"I'm not alone."
Varson's eyebrows knit together, but Jack said simply, "Kate, take the shot."
***
With the gravity bullet in the chamber, Kate looked through her scope at Varson's chest. With an iron will she set aside all of her fear for her husband and let out a slow breath. Then she pulled the trigger.
The bullet exploded from her barrel and trailed a thread of purple magic as it streaked across Southpoint. Faster than the speed of sound, the bullet defied the pull of gravity as it crossed four miles and shattered the window next to Varson. The bullet pierced his gravity well with the sound of a thunderclap, and smashed Varson into the wall. His eyes wide with disbelief, he slid to the floor as blood blossomed on his chest.
Kate jammed another bullet into the breach, and took aim. This time when she fired the bullet's magic evaporated, causing it to jam in the barrel. Her hands trembled as she realized it was useless. Discarding her rifle, Kate p
icked up an assault rifle and dropped from her hide. Stel morphed into a bird and caught her around the shoulders. Straining to carry her, he flew her toward the Spirus with the speed of desperation.
***
His strength ebbing, Jack watched Varson struggle to use gravity to put pressure on the gaping wound in his chest. Then he caught sight of Jack. His eyes glowed with hatred, and he pointed to Jack's body. Jack nearly blacked out as the gravity mounted against his skull.
With every ounce of strength he possessed, Jack shoved his hand to his secondary weapon at his ankle. It came free agonizingly slow, and it took all his strength to raise it. Varson's eyes widened as the weapon pointed at him, and he struggled to recast a gravity shield.
"You do not have the power to do this . . ."
"And yet we do," Jack said weakly, and pulled the trigger.
Without a gravity well to stop it, the bullet struck Varson in the head. Varson's dark eyes closed and he slumped to the floor. The weight on Jack's brain evaporated, but the damage had been done.
Burned, broken, and bloody, Jack's vision began to dim.
Chapter 34: Severed
Locked in an iotian duel with Keidon, Iris saw Varson fall through the threads—and then realized Jack's condition. Her fingers balled into fists.
"TESS!" she mentally screamed. "You need to—!"
Keidon's lips curled in twisted triumph as he caught the desperate message and destroyed it. Her gut churned with anger and grief—and she turned on him with a vengeance.
"You are to blame for this," she screamed at him.
The disdain on his features recoiled at the poison in her voice, and she plunged a curse into the gap. One step at a time, she drove forward with cold fury. Keidon's attacks sparked into shards of lightning around her, but she stepped through the whirlwind. Clothing and skin tore across her body, but her gaze never left his.
"I have done what the Master—"
"SHE IS NO MASTER!"