by Kit Hallows
Finally the clash of swords, hiss of spells and intermittent gunfire ceased and silence settled over the scene. I met Samuel as I strode up the hill. He carried his bow and a weary but welcoming smile. “Funny, I never took you for a bowler, Morgan.” he said as he clasped his hand on my shoulder. “A bit gruesome but I was glad to see that slimy bastard was done for.”
We walked back to the clearing. Aberfellow Hax was healing Astrid with a soft golden spell while a visibly shaken Erland saw to one of the remaining Fae. As soon as he finished he looked over Samuel and I, gave us a dose of his healing potion and called Aberfellow over.
We sat on a log before one of the campfires, the bodies of the Nightkind and slain Fae surrounding us. Erland asked me to list all of the Councilors who'd sided with Lampton, and those who’d resisted. I told him as he watched the embers fizz and crackle in the fire. “Well, most of those betrayals weren’t wholly unexpected,” he sighed.
“What now?” I asked.
“Once we’ve cleaned up this mess, I’ll be taking a long hot bath and nursing my way through a dusty old bottle of something very soothing indeed. And then I’ll get some sleep. We’ll give it a day or two and see precisely how the dust settles before we even start to consider rebuilding. A new Council will be needed, as well as someone to lead it. I’ll be bringing in new agents. The Organization will be managed, for now, by Messrs. Underwood and Glass. Assuming Glass is still alive and kicking. I saw her earlier but with all that's just happened…. I’m hoping you’ll head up the recruitment, Morgan. Find some new agents to help you hunt any last dissenters amongst the Nightkind. I expect you’ll need to retire few puppet masters as well.” He turned to Astrid and Samuel. “Would you be interested in joining us? The pay is abysmal, the hours are crushingly long, but the work’s rewarding.” He gave them a wistful smile.
“We can’t,” I said, “at least not right now. We’re heading to Penrythe to find Stroud.”
Erland nodded. “I see the sense in that. But maybe once you’re finished?”
“I’ll help,” I said.
“I’m not sure I could fit into any organization,” Samuel said, “but I’ll lend aid where I can.”
“Providing we make it back,” Astrid said, and then she gave a wan smile as she gazed into the flames. I placed my hand over hers and we sat for a while, catching our breath while the dead rested silently around us.
21
We walked out of the front gates of Midnightside and wandered wearily along the street past the vacant houses. A few rattled stragglers from the magical community joined us as they made their way back home to the hidden quarter.
I looked around hoping to spot the peculiar couple who'd saved my ass and helped me wrangle Lampton but it seemed they were long gone. There had been an odd air about them, something I couldn't quite put my finger on and it was playing on my mind. I wasn’t worried, it was clear that they were allies but I’d gotten the distinct feeling that their appearance at the battle was as unexpected to them as it was to me.
As we turned the corner, I spotted a cab and flagged it down. Samuel grunted to the driver as he climbed into the passenger seat, leaned on the window, and fell asleep.
Astrid joined me in the back. She gave me a soft smile and laid her head on my shoulder before drifting off. I was dead tired and wished I could do the same but my mind was still reeling from the battle so I took her warm hand in mine and gazed out the window while I sorted through my thoughts.
I joined Samuel for a beer when we got back home. Astrid had headed straight for the shower and he waited quietly for his turn.
Finally, after they'd gotten cleaned up, I showered, brushed my teeth and stumbled into bed. I glanced at the shrouded mirror before I closed my eyes. A part of me felt excitement at the prospect of going through it again, trekking down the subterranean tunnels of Hinterlands on our way back to the world I’d been born in. Another part of me felt nothing but apprehension, and I was riddled with questions.
Would Penrythe feel like home, or was this world home now? Would anyone there know me? Would I recognize any of it? How would my dark other change once he was back on his home turf? And then there was Stroud… my father. And what of my mother, slain by Tom, Hellwyn and the rest of their Order? A shocking sense of emptiness filled me as I thought of her death, but how could I mourn someone I had no memory of?
Finally exhaustion got the better of me and I fell into a deep sleep.
I woke to a sliver of sunshine that glowed and spread across the end of my bed. I climbed from the sheets and gazed through the window. The city glistened in silver and glass below a bright blue sky and it seemed like the first sunlight I’d seen in months. I showered and dressed in my usual black ensemble and flexed my arms over my head in a long slow stretch. "Well done, Erland!” I sighed, grateful for his healing magic. A few aches and pains still lingered, but considering the night we’d had, I felt surprisingly good.
Astrid and Samuel were in deep conversation as I went through, and the neighborhood cats had settled throughout the living room; Storm on the arm of Astrid’s chair, a pair of British Shorthairs beside Samuel, and several others sprawled out on the carpet.
“Hi,” I said, as I sat for a moment.
“Morning, Morgy,” Samuel said. “We were just discussing the best route home, and where we should go first. We got word of a reliable portal in the deeps of the Hinterlands. But of course no one could tell us what part of Penrythe we’d arrive in. We’ll have to scout out the nearest town or city and see if there’s been any news of Stroud.”
“Right,” I said as I placed my pistol on the table and rolled out my kit to give it a thorough cleaning.
“You can’t bring that, Morgan,” Astrid said, “it’ll stand out, draw too much attention. In fact, you really should take as little as possible.”
“What about my coat and sword? Are they okay?” I asked.
“Of course,” Samuel said, “I mean you’ll look like an oddball, but if anyone asks I’ll tell them you’re my backwards cousin from the hills.”
“Thanks, friend.” I holstered the gun and opened a can of tuna for the cats.
“I already fed them,” Astrid said.
“Well, I suppose a third breakfast can't hurt, can it?” I said, “It might be a while before I see them again.” As soon as the bowls were licked clean, I got out the catnip toys and grinned as the cats leaped at them and battered the pretend prey into submission. All except Storm, who watched the antics like an old solder might watch a bunch of silly kids playing in the park.
I took a deep breath and checked my reflection in the mirror before heading downstairs to see Mrs. Fitz, knowing that this could well be our final chat. It was early but I could hear her piano as I stood in the hall. She was playing an unfamiliar piece that had a solemn air of melancholy. I knocked and a moment later her door opened.
She was still wearing a nightgown and her hair had that just-out-of-bed look. With a tilt of her head, she adjusted her glasses and looked me over closely before giving me a tight smile. “You’re going, aren’t you, Mr. Rook?”
I nodded and forced a grin despite the sadness in her voice. “I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks, maybe more.” I pressed a roll of cash in her hand.
“What’s this?” Mrs. Fitz looked at the money as if she’d never seen anything like it before.
“Rent. There’s enough to cover the next couple of months, just in case I’m gone a bit longer than intended.”
“No, no, no.” She put the money back into my hand and closed my fingers around it. “All I want,” she paused and I could see her eyes were glistening, “is for you to look after yourself, my dear.” She clutched my hand tighter. “I knew you were going. It’s been haunting my dreams. I kept seeing a child, a little boy whistling, but I couldn’t hear him. He was silent and I was glad. He stood in a corner in your apartment and it was empty, but full of shadows, and those damnable cats were at the window …”
“It’s onl
y for a short-”
“You weren’t just gone from here, my dear - you were gone from this world. As if you’d…” her words tailed off, and she released my hand.
“I’ll be back,” I said. “I promise.” A bold claim given I had no idea what was going to happen in Penrythe.
“Will you?” She gave me a doubtful look, leaned up and kissed me softly on the side of the face. “Take care, Mr. Rook,” she whispered as she reached down, squeezed my fingers once more and slowly closed the door behind her.
A heaviness filled me as I stood in the hall and the slow, mournful piano music started once more. I took a long deep breath to clear my head and returned to the apartment to make breakfast.
Omelets were on the menu. I cracked my way through a dozen eggs and threw in every speck of cheese in the fridge. Samuel made toast and Astrid poured the coffee. The forlorn feeling I’d felt after talking to Mrs. Fitz gradually faded, but not entirely.
We ate in silence as the sun streamed through the window. They’d already rolled up the bedding I’d given them, their boots had been cleaned, our swords and daggers were sharpened, and Samuel had polished his bow and tightened its string. I didn't have much to pack myself, so I guessed it wouldn’t be much longer before we were gone. The sadness from that realization gave way under the sense of easy camaraderie I felt as I looked from Samuel to Astrid. We'd become a team, a unit. They had my back, and I had theirs. We’d make it. Somehow. “Right,” I said as I carried the plates to the sink. Before I could wash them, Samuel took over.
I glanced at my picture of Willow and found Astrid looking too. She smiled and raised her eyes to mine and squeezed my wrist as she passed by on her way to finish cleaning up.
Samuel stacked his pipe and wandered to open the window. One by one the cats gathered at his feet, like they knew it was time. I stroked each of them as they leaped up to the windowsill and stepped out onto the rooftop to think about buggering off back to their privileged lives. All save for Storm, who rubbed his hard head against my ankle and gave me a little nip before jumping through the window frame and scattering the lingering cats outside.
“Okay,” I said, “I’ll get my things together.”
“Good man,” Samuel said as he blew a plume of sweet-smelling smoke outside. Tap, tap, tap. I glanced up, bothered by the sound but with no idea why as he emptied his pipe against the sill, before sliding and locking the window shut.
I secured my gun and ammo in the closet, placed a quick invisibility spell over it and grabbed my coat, sword and bag. "I'm ready when you are." I called as I pulled the sheet off the mirror and waited for Astrid and Samuel to join me.
22
“Hold this for me,” Samuel handed me his bow and quiver, stood before the mirror and placed his hand against the glass. A deep blue light flashed across its surface, and as he rubbed it an oval of darkness pricked by tiny white stars appeared. He leaned in close, cupped his hands to the glass and gazed in. “Seems to be clear.”
“Off you go then,” Astrid said.
He reached into the portal and leaped through the glass as if it were water. A moment later his hands appeared, and I returned his weapons.
Astrid turned my way, kissed me on the lips and held onto the frame surrounding the mirror as she climbed through. She reached back and I gave her my sword and scabbard.
As I took one last look around the room, my eyes lingered at the window, and I wondered if I’d ever see the city again. I hoped so. Then I turned, took hold of the frame and stepped out of the world.
Cold air enveloped me as I slipped into the expanse of blackness and stars between the mirrored portal and the Hinterlands. And then I caught the growing frown on Astrid’s face as she looked behind me.
“That’s not good,” Samuel said.
I glanced back to the glassy surface to see glowing number-like symbols crossed with runes flickering over it. “What’s-”
Crack.
The mirror split in two and tiny web-like fissures spread out from the break, then the rupture began to glow with a light so stark I had to shield my eyes.
I turned as the sound echoed through the void and when I looked back the mirror was gone and all that remained was a ghostly bright light. “What happened?” I asked.
“A hex. Someone sabotaged it,” Astrid replied. “It seems it was set to shatter as soon as you came through, and now it’s a beacon.”
“A beacon for what?”
“For them.” Samuel notched an arrow. It took me a moment to spot the three gigantic figures emerging from the darkness as they gave long, wailing cries.
Gloaming ghasts.
They streaked across the vacuum with the grace of sharks in a vast midnight sea, their hands outstretched and ready to grab us. The familiar din of static and warped whale songs rang out, carrying their subversive nihilistic message to the forefront of my thoughts. Give up. I fought against it, clasped my hands to my ears to break its hypnotic lull.
Samuel shot an arrow. It blazed as it flew through the darkness and struck the nearest ghast’s throat. The creature reached back with unfurling fingers and plucked it out as if it were no more than a splinter, never once releasing us from the pull of its black endless eyes.
“Come on!” Astrid kicked her feet and soared toward the creatures. Samuel followed, and so I followed their lead, focusing my intent in their direction.
My base instinct wavered as I rocketed straight toward the ghasts but my faith in Astrid and her knowledge of the void overrode those doubts. She shot through the gap between the three goliaths like a hummingbird, just out of reach of their swirling, anemone-like fingers. Samuel followed.
The moaning din of the creature’s fury was almost deafening as I drew close, and my heart raced as I approached. I forced my gaze away from their eyes and focused on the pinpricks of light in the distance. Then a monstrous hand jutted out toward me. I was just out of reach of its tentacle-like fingers but the wake from its passing battered me through the air like a tiny sailing boat in a squall.
I plunged between the leviathans, glancing back to discover they were changing course and turning like eels in the black abyss to pursue us. One grabbed another, boosting it toward us at a shocking speed.
Samuel readied his bow and took aim as the ghast soared past me, its hands outstretched. It ignored the volley of arrows he unleashed and reached out, plucking Astrid from the stars.
“No!”I screamed as her cry vanished amid the churning darkness.
I shot through the inky gloom and pulled my sword and as I neared the ghast the blade blazed. Orange and red flames enveloped the metal with the force of my passion and anger.
The sword swept in a fiery arc and struck the ghast’s wrist, splitting its pale skin and opening a vein. Blood bubbled into the void like drops of mercury, and it howled and released Astrid. She sprang away, spun around and threw a gleaming dagger back. It struck its throat dead on.
A moaning din filled the void.
I turned to find the others gliding toward us. The sound of static and ghostly cries was almost as overwhelming as the pull of their magnetic gaze.
Stop fighting. The ghast’s spell breached my mind. Surrender. Embrace the void.
I began to let go, buckling under their assault.
And then that familiar fire blazed in the core of my being and a voice cried, Wake up! It was my other. He rose to the surface, stirring the dark magic within me. I seized the malicious forces, conjured black flames in my hands and unleashed them with deadly accuracy.
The ghast pursuing Astrid howled as the fireballs struck and black flames raced across its pale flesh. The creature bucked and thrashed like a harpooned whale and the others joined in the chorus as they charged to its aid and quenched the flames.
“Morgan!” Astrid called as she climbed through a silver porthole. Samuel floated beside it and waved, urging me to follow. I gazed back at the pale leviathans in the gloom. They'd gathered together, using their huge hands to smother the flam
es, and I knew I could end them once and for all.
“Now!” Samuel called, “before the porthole closes!”
Impulses pushed me to douse the ghasts in fire, but I forced the darkness within me back and shoved my other aside as I turned and drifted toward the porthole.
Icy cold air whipped past me as I sailed through the rift and fell into a heap upon the stony ground. I picked myself up and grabbed Samuel’s arm as he passed through behind me. He stumbled slightly and took a moment to ground himself before shoving me against the wall, his face furrowed in rare anger.
“What the hell’s your problem?” I demanded.
“You used dark magic. Again,” he said. “We’ve warned you, time after fucking time, Morgan.”
Astrid watched in silence, but the look in her eyes spoke volumes.
“Right,” I said, “so you’d have preferred I let the ghast crush her, would you?”
Samuel stared at me for a moment and shook his head. “You were already handling it with your sword. You didn’t need to start hurling cursed fireballs. That’s something I’d expect from Stroud, or your other, but not you.” He clasped my shoulder. “We need our ally, not an enemy. Now more than ever. And you're going to lose that battle raging within you if you're not careful.”
I nodded. I had no desire to argue, especially not on the first leg of our journey, but the blackness was already within me whether I wanted it or not. What was I supposed to do, stick with crystals when I had that kind of power at my disposal? It was frustrating, even more so because I knew they were right. I had to stay off the dark path or it would soon became the only path.
Astrid shivered as she watched me, her skin icy-blue where the ghast had grabbed her. She pulled a silver flask from a pouch, uncorked it and drank. Slowly the color returned to her cheeks.