by Steve McHugh
"You killed one of his ghouls," Sky pointed out. "That's gonna piss him off."
"Yeah, but I'm no threat to him. Even if I can do necromancy, I don't know how, and I doubt even if I did I'd be able to stop him. But I can buy you time, hopefully keep him occupied and try and get Kasey and Tommy away from being in danger."
"So what do we do?" Matthew asked.
"There's going to be several hundred barren inside that building and a few ghouls. We want them outside so we can work unhindered. That's where you and your wolves come in. You're there to get them to come outside and fight you, and then kill as many of them as possible."
"Now that we can do," Matthew said. "How long do you need?"
"Be ready to go in an hour. And make sure they know no biting. Barren and ghouls have poisoned blood; it'll paralyse anyone who ingests it."
"We'll be ready," Matthew said and he left the room with Gordon.
"Your plan stinks," Olivia said. "But you're right; if he sees me he'll think Christmas came early for him. You have to be careful though."
"I will," I said and watched Olivia leave the room.
"You are a pain in my ass," Sky said. "You're going to fight that lich and if you do that, you're going to die. You understand that, yes?"
"I'm not going to fight, but I do need to keep him busy... so, any chance of a few lessons?"
Sky's mouth dropped open in shock. "Learning how to use necromancy takes years, Nate. I can't show you how to use it in an hour. And even if I could, we don't know what type of necromancy you can use."
"That's fair, but when I fought with Randal in that pit I felt some sort of coldness over me, somehow I absorbed a spirit. I just need to know what I did, just in case."
Sky sighed. "I can show you some techniques with how to search out for a spirit, but there's no guarantee they'll even work."
"It's better than nothing."
"Nate, the better plan would be to get Kasey and Tommy out of there and then run like hell. Once that security is broken, I'll be with you as fast as I can, but until then you'll be basically human."
"Thanks for reminding me," I said with a smile.
"Don't, Nate. Don't make this out to be nothing. Until that security is cracked, you will have nothing to throw back at someone who would tear a werewolf apart with his bare hands."
"And once that security is down, I still won't have anything. That's why I'm asking for you to show me something that might save my life."
"Then let's get started."
Forty-five minutes later and I was no closer to actually reaching out to a spirit. I thought I'd managed it at one point. A coldness had settled inside me like before, but it vanished before I could use the technique that Sky had taught me, to use the energy of the spirit for my own needs.
A quarter of an hour after that, and I was watching fifty-six werewolves pile into five M35 cargo trucks. I didn't know where Matthew had appropriated them from, and quite frankly I probably didn't want to know, but they were probably slightly less inconspicuous for transporting large numbers of werewolves than having to use a fleet of cars. Only slightly though.
Of all the werewolves who turned up, maybe half of them had experience fighting outside of a pack environment, but all of them wanted to help rescue Tommy and Kasey. Besides, a werewolf with no battle training is still a giant killing machine, so I figured so long as they took care they should make it through whatever was going to happen with few casualties.
The massive engines of the trucks roared to life, and we were soon driving along the moonlight lit roads heading toward... hell, I didn't have a clue. War, probably. I sat in the back with Sky, Olivia, Gordon, Matthew and a couple more werewolves who were all, I hoped, prepared for whatever was going to happen.
In my experience, there are two ways that most people on their way to a conflict prepare. Firstly, there are the talkers; they joke and laugh and chat about anything and everything to keep their minds off whatever is going to happen. The second group are the quiet ones; they tend to find a comfortable spot in the transport, and read or sleep, or anything else that allows them to remain calm. I belong to the second group. I like to find a quiet corner and rest my eyes. I learnt a long time ago that if you have time in war to get some sleep, use it. The same goes with food and water. You never know when you're going to go a lengthy time without them, so I get them while I can.
I wasn't entirely asleep, though. It's hard to actually fall fully asleep while there are people around you making a lot of noise. Besides the last thing you want is to be in a deep sleep when someone attacks the transport, so I opened my eyes the moment someone tapped on my leg.
"Hello, Matthew," I said as the werewolf alpha sat opposite me.
"I have something for you."
He passed me a large bundle of cloth, which I unravelled and then stared at the contents. A sword that was roughly the length of my old Chinese Jian and a much smaller dagger that was about the size and shape of a Tanto, about a third the size of the longer sword. Both had black hilts with rope wrapped around them, in the style of a samurai sword. They were a combination of two different types of blade put together to create a very dangerous weapon.
"Where did you find these?" I asked.
"They were Elijah's," Matthew told me. "I appropriated them from his collection. They're made of carbon-steel, but they have silver in them, too. "
I unsheathed the smaller blade and noticed the small trace of blood on the edge of it.
"Let's just say that Elijah has been dealt with," Matthew said when he saw me glance at the blood. "Will they help tonight?"
I tested both in my hand, unsheathing them to get used to the excellent weight distribution, before tucking the dagger into the belt of my jeans and placing the sword across my lap.
"Thanks," I said. "Those are definitely going to come in handy."
"Just get Tommy and Kasey out of there safely," he said, then stood as the truck came to a halt. "And get yourself back in one piece, too. I'd hate to have to deal with a pissed off Sky."
I glanced over at Sky who smiled.
"You and me both," I said as I smiled back.
One of Matthew's wolves poked his head through the rear of the truck. "We're here," he said. "But this doesn't look good."
We all scrambled out of the truck as quickly as possible to witness the utter devastation of what used to be two thick, iron gates that barred the entry to the LOA compound beyond. The gates had been torn from their moorings, and the four guards who had been stationed in the two huts to either side of the entrance had been torn to pieces, their weapons still holstered.
"Ghouls did this," Sky said, as she glanced into one of the huts. "I'm sorry, Olivia."
"They were good men," Olivia said, her voice hard as steel.
I stepped over the ruined gates and stared up the driveway, which I knew ended at the LOA building. The open field behind the destroyed main gate was completely empty, both of the sniper huts had been destroyed, their remains scattered across the ground beneath where they'd once stood. Several large spotlights were lit up, illuminating everything in front of the massive LOA headquarters building.
"I don't see anything unusually suspicious," I said, and checked the time. "We've still got an hour before Reid is due to call."
"Speaking of him, you think he's in there, too?" Sky asked.
"If he isn't, we find him after," Olivia replied, as she climbed back into the truck.
"That is one very pissed off lady," Gordon whispered. "You think she'll be okay?"
"She's going to go through anything that gets in her way, so I'd say aiming her at those assholes in there is going to be cathartic for her."
"I almost feel sorry for them," he said absently.
I raised an eyebrow in question.
"I did say almost," he said with a smile "The bastards deserve whatever she decides to do with them. And I hope it hurts."
I glanced into the truck and found Olivia staring at the bare floor. She
noticed me and wiped her eyes quickly.
I stepped up into the truck and sat beside her. "It won't be long before they're both back in your arms and you can take them home."
"I'm okay," she said softly, but I wondered if that would ever be true again.
Chapter 41
The trucks crashed through the ruined gates and only stopped moving once they reached the large open field, where we all piled out into the cool night air. I left Matthew and his werewolves to get ready, going over to talk to Olivia and Sky.
"You think they know we're here yet?" Olivia asked.
I shrugged. "Prepare yourselves either way. This is going to get really ugly, really quickly."
I turned round to find that all of the werewolves, including Gordon and Matthew had changed into their wolf-beast forms. Fifty-six killing machines, ready to help save Tommy and Kasey and end Peter.
I noticed one wolf had dark blue fur that mixed in with the light grey. She noticed me and nodded in my direction, a gesture I returned. Ellie might not have received Neil's life to take as she pleased, but I hoped that her need for vengeance would be sated after the coming battle.
"I'm going to speak to my wolves," Matthew said, his voice low and gravelly.
"Go do what you need to, we'll wait here," I told him.
The werewolves lined up shoulder to shoulder as Matthew stalked up and down in front of them. "My wolves," he bellowed. "You know why we are here tonight. Most of you know Tommy. He's helped you when you needed it; he's stood up for the pack and is considered a friend and ally. Someone has dared to cross our pack and take a wolf we consider to be our brother."
The wolves started to growl at Matthew's words, their violence barely contained.
"But they've not only taken Tommy, they have his daughter, Kasey. She's been at our pack meetings, she's played with your children, and you’ve watched her grow from a baby to a wonderful young lady. That bright and beautiful girl has been taken by the monster in that building and it will not stand." Matthew screamed the last few words and the growling grew louder.
"We will not let a child be tainted by evil. And we will not stand by and allow one of our own to spend another second in its grasp. Our enemy will try and stop us. Several hundred barren stand in our way along with a handful of ghouls, but we will tear them all apart. No one will stop us from ensuring that Tommy and Kasey come back to us safe and whole. We will not fail."
The growls were now accompanied by several low barks.
"Some of you might be afraid and that's okay. Feel that fear; use it to make you stronger. But the ones who should be afraid sit inside that building. Because we have someone they never could, someone who will show them true fear. We have Hellequin."
The growls ceased, as Matthew motioned toward me and every single set of eyes followed his hand. I wasn't sure how I felt about my secret being laid bare for all to know, but that moment wasn't the time to argue about it.
"Every one of you has heard his name, maybe in whispers, and maybe you didn't believe it. But he's real and he's going to get Tommy and Kasey back. And by the end of tonight, people will know that to cross our pack is to cross Hellequin. Future generations will speak of tonight with reverence, your children and grandchildren will ask you to tell them about the time you fought by Hellequin's side to save one of our own. Here and now we make our mark, and we will not falter. On this field tonight, we will make sure that everyone remembers that werewolves are to be feared, and that retribution will be swift and deadly."
The wolves growled and barked as one, creating a huge amount of noise as Matthew knelt on the ground and started to pray. His entire pack quickly followed suit, kneeling in silent prayer.
"What is he saying? Olivia asked.
"It's Latin," I told her. "I've heard it before, although not for many centuries."
"Where?"
"The third crusade. It was a prayer uttered by some of the Knights Templar before battle. It basically says that the petitioner would gladly sacrifice his own body if it meant that innocents would be spared. He asks for a swift victory for his men and for the strength to overcome his enemies."
"So, let me get this straight," Sky said. "Matthew is a gay werewolf alpha, who used to be a Knight Templar. Nate, you have the most interesting of friends."
"I have not been a Templar for many years," Matthew said as he stood, followed quickly by his pack. "Nor do I subscribe to their philosophy. But some of their teachings are still worthwhile, and offering a prayer to whoever might listen eases me before the inevitable death and brutality that always follows."
I followed Matthew's gaze and looked up at the large building which loomed in the darkness. Most of the lights were still on inside, but it was eerily quiet and despite the darkness, none of the current inhabitants had bothered to join us.
Matthew walked back over to his wolves, who immediately gave him all of their attention. "It appears that our enemy is unwilling to come out and face us. Maybe they're afraid and are hiding under desks, or perhaps they know this will be their last day on earth so they've decided to sleep in."
The wolves chuckled, but there was no humour in it. Only menace.
"Maybe we should let them know we're here, maybe we should wake the dead."
As one, fifty-six werewolves stood as tall as they could and howled. Goosebumps rippled up my arm and the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention.
It certainly did the trick, as hundreds of barren flooded out of the headquarters. They stood together in front of the massive glass windows of the reception building. It was the most barren I'd ever seen in one place.
"Holy shit," Sky said. "This is gonna be a hell of a battle." She drew a knife and a small axe, twirling the axe's handle between her fingers in what I knew to be a sign of nerves.
"Be careful you two," I said.
Sky hugged me and Olivia nodded in my direction, both of them keen to get started. I watched as they jogged off toward the side of the building.
"Ready when you are," Matthew said to me as his wolves growled eagerly behind him.
I drew the two blades that Matthew had given me and held them low as I controlled my breathing in preparation for what was going to happen.
"Let's go show these bastards how to stay dead."
I was at the head of the charge, next to Matthew and Gordon, as the wolves moved as one giant wall of teeth, claws and snarling rage, ready to tear their enemies to pieces.
The barren rushed forward to meet them, but the end result was never in doubt. The wolves crashed into the barren like a car through a paper wall. Within seconds the wolves were carving their way through the hundreds of barren which had left the confines of the LOA building.
I sliced through the throat of one barren with a blade of fire that I'd created at the end of my hand, before spinning around and catching a second in the neck, decapitating it.
The barren never stopped attacking, even if they had to scramble over the bodies of their comrades to get at us.
I kicked one barren back and stabbed him in the forehead with the fire blade, extinguishing the weapon and using air magic to fling his corpse back into a group of his kin before they could reach me. They toppled to the ground like bowling pins, and were quickly swarmed by wolves before they could get back to their feet.
I killed two more barren with a whip of fire, cleaving them both in two and leaving their remains behind as I noticed that Sky and Olivia were being attacked by a large group of barren.
The two women had used the initial charge as a diversion to sprint off to one side of the building, but at some point some of the barren had become interested in them and that had forced Sky and Olivia to pause to fight them off, something they didn't have time for.
I sprinted toward the quickly growing group of barren and launched a wave of hardened air at them, throwing several away from their targets, giving Sky and Olivia some room.
One of the barren closest to me had avoided the wave and now turned to face m
e, but another, even more hardened wave of air removed his head from his shoulders, along with two more barren directly behind him.
Although neither of them had any apparent wounds, both Sky and Olivia were panting as a dozen barren lay at their feet.
"There are a lot more of these bastards then when we were in Montana," Sky said.
"There's about to be a lot more," I said as a large group of barren made their way toward us. "Just go, I've got this."
Sky placed a hand on my shoulder. "Be careful."
"I will, now go," I said.
The noise of battle can play havoc with your sense of perception, so it's much better to watch your enemy than try to decide their position based on sound alone. So, even as I watched Olivia and Sky run off to the side entrance, I kept one eye on the rapidly approaching hoard of barren. When they'd created a suitable distance between me and them I unleashed a plume of flame that engulfed a dozen of them. The heat was incredible, and I poured more and more power into the magic, turning a dozen barren to ash in a few seconds and scarring the earth for twenty feet in front of me.
The remaining barren didn't stop, or even slow down, they just continued toward me as if nothing had happened. I drew my sword and ran toward them, slicing and cutting through flesh and muscle with every strike.
I killed six before one got too close and I was forced to pierce it in the throat at an awkward angle, before managing to spin it around into a second barren and narrowly missing being racked with its nails. I pushed the sword further into the first barren until it sank into the head of the second. It took a few seconds to remove the blade from the two bodies, and in that time a further four barren had made their way toward me.
I readied myself to fight once again, but Matthew barrelled into them with a mighty crash, tearing the four barren into sodden chunks of meat before my eyes. He fought with such a ferocity and viciousness that I would have been very interested in seeing him fight when he was human.