The advisor looked grim. “Another issue has been brought to my attention. News is very scattered on this, and I can’t verify it yet, but there are reports of a major tsunami sweeping toward the shores of the Asiatic Empire. A major quake set it off, but we think that it may be the work of weather magic.”
I sighed. “Really? Hecate said they may have found another weather artifact.”
“I think that must be true. I’m expecting more updates within an hour.” Damh Varias let out an exasperated grunt. “We are facing a worldwide emergency. If the tsunami is a product of weather magic, then Gaia will surely strike again. In what manner, we cannot know. Not since the Weather Wars have we been in this much danger.”
“The problem is,” Jason said, “we can’t even touch Lyon and the Order of the Black Mist here. How can we possibly go after them in other countries?”
“We can’t.” I motioned to the serving girl for coffee and she brought me a cup, along with cream and sugar. I needed as much caffeine as I could get today.
“Then, what?”
“We can only do our best. If this does become a worldwide catastrophe, then we must hope that others are also working to counter the Order. Our main goal must be to stop Lyon and his ilk from opening the doors to the realm of Chaos. I think that has to be our central focus.”
“Easier said than done. And just how are we supposed to find out if there are other groups banding together against them?” Hans asked.
“We have to ask the Elder Gods for help.”
Jason held up his hand. “Here’s the rub. Divide and conquer is an old strategy. It’s used because it works. When you throw enough chaos into the mix, everybody’s scrambling, trying to protect themselves. Nobody has the time to think about the greater picture.”
“Too true.” I glanced over at him. “Speaking of protecting your own people, have you been in contact with your parents? With the Cast?”
Jason leaned back in his chair, sweeping his hair back into a ponytail. “Well, I was able to talk to Shevron last night. She managed to find a patch with cell reception, so some of the towers are still standing. Shevron and Len are all right. A number of the Cast actually made their way out to Verdanya when Seattle fell to the zombies. They’re safe for now, but they can’t stay there indefinitely. They told me that a handful, at least, fell to the zombies, but most of my people managed to get out of the city.”
“There’s yet another problem that no one has mentioned,” Greta said. “Dithfevia and bogwort plague are sweeping through the city. Think about it. One hundred thousand dead. Thanks to the weather, the bodies are decaying slower than usual, but they’re still decaying. This city is going to become a mass graveyard. There’s nobody left to bury the dead. And even if there was, where the hell do you bury one hundred thousand bodies all at once? Before long, the entire area will be a rotting tomb, riddled with disease. The water supply will be polluted if it isn’t already. The power outages have started and the electricity will be gone before long. We’re safe enough in UnderBarrow, but how long before Seattle becomes uninhabitable?”
“You think it will be dangerous to travel over to the Peninsula of the Gods?” Jason asked.
“It will be dangerous to travel anywhere,” Damh Varias said. “Greta is correct. The looting has been going on for days. The Devani are holed up in Uptown and North Shore. We have no clue what they’re doing and I’m not sure we want to find out.”
“Then, what are we going to do?” Everything seemed bleak and overwhelming.
“I think we should gather our things and be ready to bug out, if need be.” Jason turned to me. “We’ll get your possessions from your apartment. I’ll raid Dream Wardens, if it’s not already looted, and gather everything we might be able to use. I’ll also get my clothes from my apartment. I’ll drop in at Shevron’s and pack up clothes and some things for her and Len. I wonder if money is going to matter anymore? I suppose in other cities it might still be useful, so whatever cash you have, fill your cards and take them with you.”
Hans motioned to Greta. “We should do the same. We should take the road. I’ve got a van, and you’ve got your car, Jason.”
“All right, but first, I have to attend my flying-up ceremony,” Greta said. “I think the most expedient thing to do is for me to go alone while you’re on your salvaging mission.”
“Are you sure you’ll be safe?” Hans asked. “I want to be there.”
“It’s more important that we gather everything we need. I’m sure some of the guards here will accompany me.” Greta looked over at Tam, who inclined his head.
A thought occurred to me. “I need to make a phone call.”
“To Hecate?” Jason asked.
I shook my head. “No. There’s somebody we might be able to get some advice from. Tigra, from Lightning Strikes. They’re above the government, in a way. She just might know about the international situation.”
We had met Tigra when we were after the Thunderstrike—an artifact from the Weather Wars. Lightning Strikes was an international organization dedicated to taking steps to appease Gaia so she wouldn’t go on a rampage again. They oversaw magical guilds and cracked down on the use of anything too akin to weather magic. Supported by governments on a worldwide basis, the organization was partial to no one nation.
“That’s a good idea.” Jason looked hopeful for the first time in a while. “Why don’t we head out of the Sandspit? I’ll get my car and you can call Tigra, and we’ll raid our apartments while we’re at it.”
Tam stood. “I think that’s a good plan. But I’m not able to go with you. I have UnderBarrow business I must attend to. Please, don’t go alone. And make certain you keep alert.” He motioned to me. “See me before you go?”
“I’ll stay for a moment.” I turned to Jason. “Who’s going with us?”
“Why don’t we all go?” Elan said. “There’s safety in numbers. Greta, you’re busy, obviously—and congratulations in advance. But Tyrell, Laren, Hans, Jason, Fury, and I can all go and take less time than if we went alone. Kendall, what about you?”
Kendall inclined her head. “I’m in.”
“Bring whatever you like here. If you can get it down the stairwell, we’ll store it for you,” Tam said. “Don’t leave anything behind you’ll regret. Well, you probably won’t want to bring your furniture, unless it’s of sentimental value. But we’ll keep your possessions here in UnderBarrow. We have plenty of room for everyone.”
“Then it’s set.” Jason led them out of the room. Damh Varias followed, after telling Tam that he’d meet him in the throne room.
I closed the door behind him and turned to Tam. He held out his arms and I raced into them, burying my head on his shoulder. I couldn’t cry. I was too numb to cry. But it felt like my life was breaking apart, piece by piece, and every anchor that had grounded me was tearing away.
“What are we going to do?” I said, my words muffled as I spoke into his shirt.
“We’re going to go through this day by day, love. You know how long I’ve lived? How many times do you think I’ve seen society fall apart? How many times I have watched the world crash around me? And yet, we go on. And we work through it. You’re a Theosian, my love. You’re set to live quite a long time. Maybe not as long as my people, but you will see shifts in the world that you haven’t ever dreamed of. Best to get used to it now.”
I heaved out a sigh and stood back, wiping my eyes. “I suppose I sound like a child. Just…I’m thirty years old and suddenly, everything I knew is coming apart at the seams.”
“You’ve been through this before when your mother died. Your world shifted then, too.”
“Yes, but not everything. By the way, Jason and I are friends again.”
“I’m glad. I would never want you to feel divorced from him. He’s one of your best friends and he saved your life. And you…you offer him more support than he realizes.” Tam kissed me, his lips soft against mine, insistent and yet, yielding.
I
wrapped my arms around him, reveling in the feel of his body against mine. At moments like this, I felt that everything might really be okay. That we might weather through the storm.
“I suppose I’d better get out there and on the road. We’ve got apartments to plunder and while we’re at it, we’d better take a good look around at the city and see what’s going on.”
“You do that, love. And then you come home to me.” He paused, then wiped the tears from my cheeks with his fingers. “UnderBarrow is your home now. And UnderBarrow has weathered a thousand years and five thousand more. So never fear, there’s always a safe haven here.”
And with that, we got started on the day.
Chapter 13
As Greta set out for her flying-up ceremony, Tam’s guards waited with the rest of us on the edge of the Sandspit. First, I put in a call to Tigra. Reception wasn’t the best, but she answered on the second ring.
“Tigra, remember me? This is Fury.”
“How can I forget? That was the largest influx of astrigators we’ve had in years. Are you calling about the tsunami and quake? Do you know if there’s been another artifact found?”
“Quake? I heard something about a tsunami but wasn’t sure what was going on.”
“There was a 9.7 quake off the coast of the Asiatic Empire and yes, it’s inundating so many coast lines. We think it was triggered by another artifact.”
I leaned against the fence, trying to find a place out of the blowing snow. “I can’t give you a verification on that, but we suspect that the Order of the Black Mist did find something. I hadn’t heard about the quake, but we did hear rumors of a tsunami. You’re confirming it? What’s going on?”
“A quake hit off the shores of the Asiatic Empire and it set off a tsunami. A massive wall of water is slamming into the shore there, destroying villages all along the coastline. We tried to reach the Regent of Seattle, but there was no answer. The waves are also coming our way and our coastline’s in danger. We’re hoping they may die out before they get here, but it doesn’t look like they will.” Her voice was strained and she sounded tired.
“You won’t be able to talk to the Regent. Lyon executed him earlier today on the news. The Conglomerate’s falling. Where are you?”
“I’m in Velling. Up near the border to the Canadian Empire. We came up here a few days ago to investigate reports of strange phenomena and last night, our unit was activated because of the quake.” She paused. “That’s the strange thing—the tsunami is delayed, and that doesn’t really happen. So we were thinking weather artifact, perhaps. How bad are things in Seattle?”
“Bad enough. We’re staying in UnderBarrow. The Order of the Black Mist has taken control of the city, but most of the population who are still alive are leaving. There are a hundred thousand dead, and everything is in shambles.”
“Listen to me, Fury. You and your friends have to get out of Seattle by tonight,” she said. “If the waves hit as bad as it looks they might, you’re going to be in danger as the water funnels down through Pacific Sound and engulfs the city. A good third of the land that used to be above water before the World Shift sits under the various inlets and Pacific Sound. Thanks to Gaia, the tsunamis took out those areas, as well. This one could be just as bad.” Tigra paused. “You need to go inland and I’d steer clear of the bigger cities.”
“We were hoping to take down Lyon—”
“You can’t do it on your own. You’re going to have to organize a much bigger resistance to subdue him. The Order of the Black Mist is far bigger and more dangerous than anybody thought at first. Live today, attack again tomorrow.”
“If you’re sure…” I hesitated, not wanting to believe it could be so bad.
“Don’t wait, Fury. Go. Get out now.” She paused, then added, “I don’t know if we’ll ever meet again. My group is under fire from the Order of the Black Mist as well. We haven’t heard anything from Atlantea today. But if possible, I’ll send a message to you through Carson. He lives in Bend. He’s my brother and we’re linked. I’ll give you his address. I’ll tell him to expect a visit from you today or tonight. With luck, he’ll know more than I do at this point.”
The static crackled. Reception was failing.
“Tigra, stay safe, please.”
“I don’t think any of us can hope for that. The best we can do is duck and cover. Remember: go before tonight. Because, Fury, shit’s about to get real.” And with that, the line went dead.
I slowly straightened. “We have more problems than a city full of dead bodies and zombies.” I placed a quick call to Hecate. Even reception within the city was bad, but I finally managed to get hold of her. “Hecate, we have to leave the city. You should too, especially since you’re out on a peninsula. The tsunami is real and it’s on the way. Big quake across the ocean is inundating the Asiatic Empire. They think it was set off by the Order of the Black Mist. Our coastline is in danger, too.”
“We’re tracking it here,” she answered. “The Greenlings have raised a force field preventing anybody from getting in or out. I suggest we aim for Reflection Lake. It’s in the northern regions of the Wild Wood—about thirty miles north of Wyfair. It should be a safe place to set up headquarters. Gather your things and leave before midnight. But first, travel south—if you go north, you risk danger from the waves. There’s a small campground called Nushaka, south off the highway right after you leave Bend. Wait there and Athena and I will join you.”
I pocketed my phone. “New orders from Hecate and Athena. We gather our things and head for a campground near Bend and they’ll meet us there. Then we head north to Reflection Lake. Hurry—no time to dillydally. Jason, we’re going to need a car bigger than yours to move all of us plus our gear.”
Hans shrugged. “As I said, I have a van. I seldom use it because agroline is so expensive, but right now, who cares. Now, if I can still reach it via my phone…”
“You should be able to,” Jason said. “I just summoned my car. The trouble is—will the streets be clear enough for them to get here?”
“I guess we wait and see.” I didn’t like waiting in the open, so we slipped back into the Sandspit and sat on the other side of the fences. It wasn’t like they protected us from sight, but the fact was that people were a lot less likely to come after you if you were inside a potential minefield. And The Sandspit could be considered a minefield.
About ten minutes later, Jason’s car pulled up, followed shortly by Hans’s van. We scrambled into them—Elan, Laren, and I rode with Jason. Kendall, Tyrell, and Hans took the van.
Jason’s car was self-driving, as were most autos, but he had installed an override option. The car was old but fancy with sail fins on the back, and it rode low to the ground because of his modifications.
As we headed to Dream Wardens, the streets were a sobering reminder of what had happened in the last few weeks. Darktown was usually shady and gritty but now it seemed like a horror story waiting to happen. Market Square was dead. Literally. All the stalls were in shambles, as though wave after wave of looters had come through. Bodies lay strewn along the sidewalks like ragdolls, and rodents were out in full force, sniffing at the dead and eating their fill. My stomach lurched as I saw a pack of dogs race by, pets only a few days before but now on their own. I loved animals, and the thought of how many were trapped in the city broke my heart.
As we passed an alley, a man shuffled out of it. At first we were about to stop but then noticed that he was moving in a peculiar way, and that was when I realized his neck had been broken and hanging to the side even though he was still on his feet.
“Zombie. Leave him.”
“Want to stop and take him out?” Jason asked.
I was sitting in the back seat with Laren. I shook my head, but then realized Jason probably couldn’t see me. He had switched over to manual control and was trying to navigate the debris in the streets.
“No. Let’s just get our stuff and get the hell out of here. I was out most of yesterday afte
rnoon and all of last night. How many do you think evacuated the city, thanks to Lyon’s exhibition?”
Elan turned around—she was riding shotgun—and said, “By best estimation, at least two-thirds of the remaining population. We’re the last stand, I guess. Well, us and whoever is still in the Junk Yard, up on the Tremble, and the Devani holed up in the upper-crust districts.”
“What do you think they’re doing there?” That the Devani hadn’t moved from their fortress, either against Lyon or for him, was entirely unsettling.
“I don’t know, but if that Rafford guy is right and they are aliens from another planet, it could be anything. Maybe they’re programmed to shut down in case of an emergency? I mean…do we really know what kind of creatures they are? They look like…well-endowed humans in every sense of the word, but maybe they aren’t even flesh and bone? Were there ever any studies done on them?” Laren poked me in the arm. “Tam saw them up close. Did he say anything about them?”
I shook my head. “No, he doesn’t remember much from that time. Jason, any ideas on whether the Devani are flesh or machine?”
“Rafford speculated on that. He said that whatever investigations were done by the government, they were labeled as classified and impossible to access. He theorizes that there are secrets there that the government really doesn’t want us to know about.”
“I wish we could find him.” It also occurred to me that, if the Regent had been kidnapping Theosians, they had to be around somewhere. What if there were labs where they were being held prisoner and nobody had thought to let them out?
Shivering—my imagination was working overtime—I tried to force my attention to the here and now. We had enough problems without making more for ourselves.
“There’s the shop.” Jason’s voice dropped as we parked in front of Dream Wardens.
Fury Awakened (Fury Unbound Book 3) Page 19