Salt of The Earth: The Fall of Barcelona

by Vlada Asta

  “It’s easy to check.”

  Mikael rose to his feet – slowly, as if he was in pain. That didn’t fool Sebastian. He had fought humans before, mostly during training, and he knew how to analyze their strength.

  That guy was no doctor! He was actually stronger than most church warriors.

  The twin swords seemed to move into his hands on their own. It was easy to tell this weapon was created especially for him, Mikael appeared to be one with it.

  “Killing you wasn’t part of my assignment,” he warned. “But I wasn’t prohibited to do it either. I think Nuria will be glad if I kill you.”

  Something in that remark was suspicious, but Sebastian didn’t have the time to think about it: his opponent charged forward.

  The fighting technique that Mikael used was fast and light, like a dance. He was moving, swirling most of the time, ready to block attacks from any direction. He could protect himself easily even when he was surrounded, and now he had only one enemy.

  But Sebastian wasn’t stunned by this. He remembered what brought him here too well. Besides, he was aided by the fact he wasn’t using the standard heavy sword the Church provided to its warriors. His bastard sword was light enough to meet the attacks of two swords at the necessary speed.

  When the blades collided, splashes of salt water were flying to all sides. Most of them landed on Mikael – his face and his arms. And that brought no result! His eyes remained human.

  That was beyond all the weirdness that had already happened in this city. Some Hente that Aeterni had found were really good at posing as humans. But a single drop of salt water was enough to make them show their true faces. They couldn’t use their force without it!

  Mikael wasn’t holding back, he was using everything he had – and that was purely human strength, with no fangs or claws involved. That and his words unnerved Sebastian.

  He had finally found a moment to deliver a perfect blow, the one his opponent couldn’t avoid. The bastard sword cut Mikael’s arm, slicing through the skin and muscle. The wound wasn’t lethal, naturally, but deep enough to make him drop one of his blades.

  The blood pouring onto the floor was red.

  “You’re not a Hente…” Sebastian whispered. “But you serve them!”

  He had finally figured what disturbed him in Mikael’s words. He was calling Nuria by her name, he didn’t call her his Mother. Aeterni said that the Hente from the same Clan sometimes didn’t even know what their Mother’s name was. They were part of her, and she was the heart of the Clan, they were one. They didn’t need to guess if something would make her glad or not, they knew for sure.

  “Congratulations!” Mikael took a scarf from the armchair to stop the bleeding. “Do you think you were the first? And your union with Teresa is unique?”

  “Union does not mean serving her!”

  “That’s why it’s so unstable. You still haven’t figured it out, have you? We are food! That’s how the new world works. If Hente didn’t eat us in early childhood, it’s only because they wanted us to grow up. They rule the world, and we’re dying. If we are at their mercy from the day we are born, what’s wrong with asking for more of that mercy?”

  A man who served Hente – that seemed so wild! Even Aeterni’s arrival didn’t change the main course of events, Hente had always been dangerous predators, closed to any form of negotiations.

  And now it turned out they did negotiate after all, and Mikael’s case appeared to be part of some system.

  “How does she pay you for this slavery?” Sebastian asked.

  “With my life. My freedom. With knowing there will be a tomorrow for me!”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You live only while you serve her, and that’s not freedom. You kill your own kind!”

  “Some people waste their lives so uselessly that death is an act of pity towards them. They’ll be more valuable as meat, the most important part is to understand this. And when we did, everything became simple. I’d rather bow to a living god, not to a fantasy one like yours!”

  He said “we”, and that only proved Sebastian’s guesses. There was most likely a group of people serving Nuria – organized and aware of its existence. And the fact Mikael compared Nuria to a god made that group suspiciously close to a religious society.

  “Why did she send you here? Does she have an agreement with Tsiara?”

  “You became surprisingly smart!” Mikael laughed. “One Hente explained it to you – and you’ve reached a totally different level! But the way you treat that Hente proves how primitive you really are. Knowledge is the power that you can’t use! All you can do is swing your swords… pathetic!”

  “Why did she send you here?” Sebastian repeated patiently. He wasn’t going to react to these insults… and he could even agree with some of them.

  “Well, definitely not for Tsiara’s sake! Ridiculous… Tsiara and the likes of her create mindless animals, totally useless. That’s why they have to unite. Nuria won’t lower herself to working with them, because she’s the only one who can become a true ruler of all Hente!”

  “That’s quite ambitious. And she’s aiming for that only because she’s got a handful of fanatics at her disposal?”

  Sebastian didn’t need any direct answers anymore; he was starting to see the whole picture.

  Nuria wasn’t going to work with the other Mothers, she was too proud for that. But she couldn’t win new territories alone, and she decided to work with humans.

  But then a child of Teresa came to Barcelona, also offering cooperation. Nuria’s unique position was threatened. In that sense, Teresa was more dangerous to her than Tsiara and Goar’s union.

  “We are simply capable of appreciating her generous gift,” Mikael sneered. “The only ones who are intelligent enough for that. Nuria is very strong. It’s so easy for her to go through your walls, gates, borders… A tiny piece of her, no bigger than a butterfly, is enough… a seed for an unbreakable warrior!”

  “And I guess you brought that seed here… Planted it and fed it until it became big enough to hunt on its own!”

  “It’s an honorable mission that only the best of us get. I’m immensely proud that Nuria entrusted me with it for the second time. But my task is finished. The body reached its full potential, it will destroy its goal without me.”

  Aeterni knew it all along… because she was the goal! At first Mikael and his pet tried to set her up, force the police to execute her. But they failed, and they had to resolve to desperate measures.

  Since Mikael was here alone, the predator must’ve headed for Aeterni! Sebastian couldn’t change that. He only knew that the man standing in front of him was as guilty in Gabriella’s death as the Hente who had done it. He wasn’t going to pull back.

  “Do you think I’m going to let you leave?”

  “Not like I need your permission!”

  Mikael was weakened by the wound, he knew he would lose – and he didn’t want to continue. His next attack was directed not at Sebastian, but rather at the table lamp standing beside him. As soon as it was gone, the whole room plunged into darkness.

  Sebastian wasn’t ready for this, and lack of light disoriented him. He was in a new house, while Mikael had enough time to study this place and move here without relying on his vision. All Sebastian was left to do was press his back to the wall and get ready for another fight.

  But nothing happened. He sensed movement by his side and heard hasty footsteps. Mikael was trying to run, not finish his opponent off, he had been planning this from the start! That was why he left his bag in the corner – where he could easily find it.

  His anger flaring now, Sebastian moved after his enemy, though he couldn’t run in that darkness. He wasn’t sure Mikael didn’t set any traps for him. He was getting closer to the main door when he heard a scream from outside – that scream was cut short very fast.

  The light from the street was getting into the hallway, which made it easier for Sebastian to move. He ran outs
ide – and saw that he was too late.

  Mikael was lying motionlessly on the road, and a puddle of blood around him was growing rapidly. His own sword was now sheathed in his back, and judging by the intense bleeding, his throat was cut too. This man was clearly dead, and no union with Hente could change that.

  But the one who killed him was nowhere to be seen. Sebastian was met by an absolutely empty street.

  No human would’ve been able to get away so quickly, only a couple of seconds passed between Mikael’s scream and Sebastian’s arrival! But… a Hente was fast enough for that. Who was it? Nuria’s Hente? But this creature killed its victims differently, just like Aeterni.

  It seemed that a new player had entered the arena.

  ***

  “Main door opened with pass,” an emotionless computer voice announced.

  Robert didn’t expect that. All the servants left his house, and they weren’t to return until morning. Ever since Aeterni came here, he let his staff spend the night in the city, including his medics. He felt that they were uncomfortable around her, and he didn’t want to promote hostility. Aeterni agreed that it was for the better.

  Besides, the system registered that Alberta’s pass was used to open this door. That couldn’t be true! He forbade his wife to come back, and she wouldn’t dare to oppose his will, because her financial support depended on it. He was so sure she wouldn’t come back he didn’t even annul her pass!

  That was clearly a mistake, but he saw no use in dwelling upon it now. She returned. She would start asking for money again, and hopefully she didn’t bring that doctor along with her! What if she came with a group of men? No, she wouldn’t dare, she knew how dangerous it was to mess with the Laas family.

  Robert hurried from the computer hall to the living room; the system showed that Alberta’s pass was staying there at the moment.

  It was two in the morning on the clock. She drove through the whole city at this time to get here. There had to be a sound reason for that! She must’ve gotten into a conflict with her lover, but… Robert felt no sympathy for her. She chose her new man and her destiny. Why should he be sorry for the one who betrayed his trust?

  When he reached the living room, Alberta was still there. She looked like a bride in a long white gown – especially now, when she was standing with her back to him, and he couldn’t see her enlarged belly. She must’ve heard him arrive – his wheelchair had never been noiseless. But she continued watching the sea through the window.

  She wasn’t used to asking for something, he spoiled her by teaching her to just get what she wanted. She must be feeling humiliated now…

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  He regretted not having any assistants here. If someone had stayed for the night, he wouldn’t even think about talking to her. Her betrayal still hurt him a bit…

  Alberta didn’t answer. That was slowly getting on his nerves.

  “Well?” he raised his voice slightly. “Going to talk to me or not? You should’ve called instead of dragging yourself here! It’s not your home anymore. The fact I’m working at nights doesn’t mean anything, plan your visits for the day. Or is there some problem after all?”

  “It’s so hot in here,” Alberta said quietly. “Why is it so hot?”

  “What are you talking about?” Robert checked the data from the scanner built into his wheelchair. “It’s the usual temperature!”

  “It’s very hot… Everywhere… It’s such a torture, if only you knew! I… can’t take it anymore… This heat is crawling under my skin… On both sides of my skin… Can I wash it off?”

  She continued mumbling with her back turned to him. She was looking only forward, and her arms hung limply by her sides. It wasn’t like his wife at all!

  “Are you drunk? What’s wrong with you, Alberta?”

  “It’s so hard… I’m having a baby, you know… Do you want me to name him after you? Will he be worthy of joining the great Laas family because of that? No, I don’t think so… No-one is good enough to be with you… That’s so wrong… I’m not even a human to you… Just a leaf in the wind… But my baby loves me… I’m having a baby…”

  “Alberta! What’s going on?”

  Slowly and reluctantly, she turned to him. The wrath flaring in his soul died down in an instant. All of his emotions were paralyzed by the sight he was observing.

  Her stomach was huge. Not just big, but disturbingly huge – it would’ve been too much even for nine months, and she hadn’t reached that term! Robert wasn’t paying too much attention to her pregnancy, but he was sure that this fetus couldn’t be older than six months. Such size was wrong even for twins or triplets! The dress was meant for a bigger woman, and now it was hugging her so tightly it could tear any moment. The fabric did little to hide the fact her belly wasn’t smooth – like a pregnant woman’s should be. Instead, it was bumpy, and it looked like something was moving inside… It was amazing that she wasn’t falling over with such weight attached to her body.

  Her face was contrasting her body greatly, it was thin and pale. Her eyes, red and puffy with tears, appeared glassy. She was looking at Robert, but her gaze didn’t focus on him, it wasn’t focused at all! All mind and soul were gone from those eyes; if he hadn’t known her before, he would’ve though he was facing a mad woman.

  It took Robert a lot of effort to control his voice again.

  “What happened to you? Alberta…”

  “I’m feeling so hot!” She raised her trembling hand and moved it over her forehead. Her skin was actually covered in sweat. “Why is it so hot in here? This whole city… The road to you is so long… My baby doesn’t like it…”

  “Who did this to you?”

  “I’m happy…” The smile that appeared on her face looked a lot like a spasm. “Don’t you believe me? My baby will be born soon… My family…. I’ll have a family…”

  “Alberta…”

  He wanted to get near her, to hold her hand. Even his mind, free of hormonal influence, was filled with compassion. The past didn’t matter, just like the fact he stopped loving her. Alberta used to be an important part of his life, one of the pillars of his lost happiness. His anger wasn’t strong enough to leave her like this!

  But he couldn’t approach her – someone held his wheelchair from behind.

  He didn’t need much time to guess who it was. Aeterni was the only one strong enough to keep the wheelchair’s engine from moving, and she was the only creature left in the house apart from him.

  Looking back, Robert saw that she was beside him. Her face, normally curious and mocking, bore the shadow of sorrow this time.

  “What’s going on?” he inquired.

  “I’m sorry,” the Hente sighed.

  “What?... Why?”

  “The parasite got too deep, it merged with her nervous system completely. The thing you’re observing now are the remains of her personality, her brain is damaged beyond repair.”

  “Hug me!” Alberta sobbed. “I’m so scared!”

  “Don’t fall for this,” Aeterni advised. “She came here for me, but she’ll enjoy any victim she can get. That’s why I didn’t want too many people to spend the night in this house. I’d send you away too, but that way she’d figure I was waiting for her. Oh, would you look at that!”

  Alberta was crying, but the tears running down her cheeks were of a deep red color, leaving dirty lines on her skin.

  “Her blood is red!” Robert pointed out. “She’s still human!”

  “Partly. Some of her flesh is human, it hasn’t been completely digested yet, but it’s a matter of time. All of her organs have been infected. You must understand this… Alberta is not a Hente. She’s just a carrier. The Hente was placed into her body, posing as a child, and it fed on her. That’s why I didn’t notice it at once. But I’d notice it when it got bigger, so Mikael took it away from here. As far as I know, humans have been dreading such infection. Well, that’s the only Clan that can bring it. Meet Nuria!”


  Alberta grew silent for a couple of moments, and then she screamed. That scream wasn’t like anything Robert had heard before, full of pain, fear and despair. It was a voice of a human – and a voice of an animal. The part of his wife’s personality that was still there had just disappeared forever. Her stomach simply split, and the tentacles that appeared from it covered her entire body, swallowing her completely.

  “Here we go,” Aeterni shook her head. “She’s gotten big… Listen to me attentively. You won’t cope with her, and you can do nothing to help me. That’s why I want you to move to that corner and turn on some gazer with salt water to flow over you. That should be enough to protect you, and besides, I’m her main goal!”

  “How do you know that? This monster used my wife to get into my house! I’m the head of the Hydrocompany in this city!”

  “Nuria doesn’t care about the Hydrocompany. All those little water cannons of yours are less impressive than you think. I crossed her way, and she wants to get rid of me. Just do it, that’s the only way I can protect you right now.”

  She was right, Robert couldn’t deny it. He hated his own helplessness, he wanted to do something, but he knew that he could only make things worse for both of them. He rolled his wheelchair to the corner she chose and turned the salt water on.

  He controlled the entire security system of his house from his wheelchair. Robert could try to use it for destroying the Hente, but that way Aeterni could get hurt too easily.

  Soon the woman he once loved was gone, replaced by a shapeless mass of tentacles centered around a large set of jaws. That Hente was much taller than Aeterni, but to achieve that, the creature would have to decrease the density of its body. Robert had never seen anything like it before.

  “Are we going to talk or are we going to fight?” Aeterni asked.

  She didn’t look scared. Either she really felt no fear, or she was a good actress – it was hard to tell… One thing was clear: she wasn’t going to give up.

  The predator didn’t answer. Its tentacles flew at Aeterni at amazing speed, ready to crush her, but she moved away effortlessly.

  “I get it,” Aeterni stated in disappointment. “Your body changes so fast because it’s primitive. It doesn’t even have any vocal cords left! You concentrated solely on brute strength. It’s not too creative, but it’s your choice.”