The Devil's Highway (Journeyman Book 4)

by Golden Czermak

  The monster shrieked in pain as the fire melted a portion of its face clean off, then fell to the ground writhing.

  Gage was a man on a mission pumped full of adrenaline, racing through the last part of the cave.

  Marcus noted he wasn't slowing down.

  Moving one shoulder out ahead of him, he smashed it into the wall, sending his own vibrations cascading up the wall while the force of the impact knocked him back on his ass.

  Marcus hurried over to help him up. “What the hell did you do that for?” he chastised as Gage wrapped himself around Marcus for support.

  Turning together, they watched as the disoriented creature slowed down, then shook away the last of the persistent flames.

  Marcus determined there and then Gage was mentally –

  BOOM!

  A large section of ceiling fell right on top of the beast, flattened body parts sent flying through the air.

  Marcus and Gage were out of range of the mess, but one of the creature’s unique eyes rolled its way to their feet, coming to rest right next to Marcus’ sopping boot.

  “Souvenir?” Gage said innocently.

  “Seriously?” Marcus replied as he once again reached into his bag – just to stop Gage resorting to fluttering his eyes. “I don’t have anything to put it in, other than this vial of confervo. There's not much left in it; do you need any wounds stitched up really quick?”

  Gage shook his head but rubbed his big shoulder. “Would it work on this?” he asked.

  “It normally stitches up wounds, but could stop the pain and prevent any bruising if you drank it. You may even see some added benefit like increased vitality. But yeah, I’m far from good with potions like Ty. Hell, for all I know it may kill you.”

  Gage took the vial from him at once.

  “I trust ya,” he said, removing the top before he downed about about half of what was left inside. He handed it to Marcus. “Don’t think you’re getting out of this man… I mean if I'm gonna kick the bucket.”

  “Well here goes nothing then,” Marcus said as he snatched it back and drank the rest. Instantly he felt warmer and a bit tingly, but his energy levels were recharging. Kneeling to collect the turquoise eye off the ground, he placed it into the vial, returning everything to his backpack.

  “Come on then,” Gage said as he squeezed into the fissure, glad the tunnel beyond was wider than the last. “Let’s see where this thing leads.”

  The wind began to pick back up as they ventured further down the tunnel, a stark contrast to the serenity of the interior. With great relief and thanks for wild open spaces, the duo exited at the top of a large mountain, sleet biting at their faces while they looked out beyond.

  Bands of jagged ice stretched out far below, silvery white in the bright light of the moon.

  “Wow,” said Marcus, taken aback by the beauty of not just the land, but the star filled sky – aglow with an azure light.

  There was a long cliff beneath them, running far to the north and the south. A large fortress was on the other side of it, dark and malevolent from this distance with it's eerie glow and melting walls. A single, thin bridge connected it with the main land.

  “Got a means for us to jump down there?” Gage asked, not liking the idea of having to physically climb down a sheer rock face with ropes. He stroked some on his beard as he waited patiently for what he hoped was a good answer.

  “I have some transport stones, for sure,” Marcus replied to Gage's beaming grin, “but not many. We may have to piggyback – one for getting us in…”

  “And one for gettin’ us the hell outta dodge,” Gage finished. “I'm fine with jumping in together.”

  “Good,” Marcus smirked. “Because there's no other way it's happening.”

  They both chuckled and prepared themselves, getting daggers ready first.

  “Do ya know what we’ll face down there?” Gage asked, kind of worried that the fortress seemed like any other castle, but scaled up several times. “I'm kinda feeling like Jack…”

  “… and all we need is a beanstalk, right? I've had the same underlying feeling. Whatever's down there is going to be big; should make getting the artifact that much easier.”

  “True, but we've no idea where to go in that massive place,” Gage said with a down tone.

  As if answering him, there was a distant pinprick of orange light, flaring brightly before moving around what could be a courtyard. It was fast and there were blasts of blue light every now and then.

  “Looks like Dajjal knows where all the fun is,” Marcus observed.

  “I bet ya what we're lookin’ for is there too,” Gage added, followed by a deep exhale. “Will the stone get us all the way there?”

  Marcus sighed also, placing a stone in one hand and grabbing Gage’s forearm with the other. “It'll get us close enough with some of my help.” He waggled yet another one of his tattooed fingers.

  “Damn M,” Gage said, impressed, “ya got a rune for just about everything, don't ya? No wonder J fell head over heels… hard.”

  “Lord help me,” Marcus responded, giving Gage’s arm a squeeze. “You bet. So you ready?”

  “As ever!”

  There was a sudden wind when Marcus smashed the stone, whipping snow in all directions as the two Journeymen were sucked away to the fortress.

  AS MUCH AS she loved Joey, Adrienne’s nerves were shot and her mind was bouncing off the drab hospital room walls. She had to escape, but hated the thought of leaving Joey by himself – having stayed at his side the whole time they had been back from the UK. The continued sight of him comatose in the middle of the room gnawed at her, growing difficult to bear along with an overwhelming feeling of uselessness. She had to do something while Gage and Marcus were out there doing the same.

  She decided that even though it was late, Henry could be in the labs so headed that way, thinking it would be a good idea for her to stop off and chat a little. Perhaps she could even lend a hand in finding this elusive cure.

  There was a low, gurgling rumble that told her before any of those plans would be possible, she'd need to get something to eat; her stomach had taken to reminding her constantly.

  As the elevators dinged and the doors slid open, Adrienne got off. She proceeded down the short passage into the empty hall, which was oddly eerie in the dark and when there weren't any people around. Approaching the café, her echoing footsteps trailed off and an immense ‘CLOSED’ sign greeted her. Obnoxiously large, she felt the proprietors were just mocking how hungry she was at this point.

  “Well that's shitty,” she grumbled along with her still chatty stomach. She was really looking forward to real food instead of something processed out of the ample supply of vending machines.

  “This place has some crazy hours,” said a voice from behind her; it was remarkably calming. Turning, she caught a glimpse of some familiar eyes; they happened to belong to a Sheridan, but these were attached to Marcus’ brother. “The café there, other shops, all of it.”

  “Oh, hello there. Ty, isn't it?” Adrienne said warmly, but with an ounce of caution. She held out her hand as she scrutinized him, standing there in his black leather coat and gray hood, blonde hair pushed forward in a messy heap. “I'm Adrienne, Adrienne Elkins. We met briefly up in the hospital wing.”

  Ty took hold of her extended hand and gave it a quick but firm shake. “Yes, in Mr. Mosely’s room,” he confirmed, hiking a long finger upward. “It's a pleasure to formally meet you in a little calmer situation. You'd be right about the name, too, Ty Sheridan. Dare I say you know my brother?”

  “Marcus,” she said to his nodding head. “Yup, we know him well. Gage and I met him not too long ago”

  “Not the Gage Crosse?” Ty asked with wonderment.

  She giggled. “One and the same. Thank Heaven there's only one and he's not here to hear you say that.”

  Ty looked puzzled.

  “Long story,” she continued. “That said it's Joey – the one that you saw in the bed
up there – who knows your brother best of us three.”

  “Ah, I see,” Ty acknowledged as a light bulb seemed to go off in his head. He rubbed his scruff briefly before placing his fidgety hands in his pockets. “Now his message makes a lot more sense. I'll be frank, the fact he mentioned someone he cared for deeply took me by surprise so I came as soon as I could. However with the best intentions things happen and I had a little bit of a delay: werewolves. As you know fighting in the field is rarely ever on schedule and can take quite a toll on you, especially these days with all this increased activity.”

  Adrienne had continued to study him and to her eyes Ty was fairly unassuming, almost dashing in his appearance. At this point she didn't know why Marcus had such a hard time dealing with him, but truth was often stranger than fiction. Coupled with family relations and anything was possible.

  “Oh trust me I know all about that,” she said. “Though I happen to be more of a vampire girl myself.”

  Ty smiled, letting out a short laugh. “Well at least the Order struck up a bargain with those monsters for the time being, so you shouldn't have to worry about any clearings for some time to come.”

  She tried to withhold a scowl, but a peek of it slipped past her defenses. “Yeah, well, we’ll see about that. Let's just say it's been a challenge for some of us to accept.”

  “No doubt, I would be the same had they bargained with the canines, or any number of other creatures actually,” Ty said, interrupted by a stomach rumble from Adrienne so loud it made his eyes grow wide. “Someone's hungry.”

  She shook her head up and down embarrassingly. “Maybe a little.”

  “Well,” he said, pointing his thumb over to the left, “the entrance is only a few short steps that way and there's an entire city that never sleeps beyond. I'm sure there's somewhere nearby that'll be open.”

  “I’m hardly dressed for going out…” she said, pointing at her sweatpants and thin top as a delay. She felt guilty about leaving the building, but she knew that Joey was well tended to. As far as Henry, she could visit him later, as this would be a good opportunity to not only get to know Ty a little better, but also see if he knew anything that could help with their current dilemma. “Oh who am I kidding; sure thing,” she said at last. “But first lemme go grab my coat.”

  TY SETTLED INTO the wobbling high top chair directly across from Adrienne, who seemed to be having a far easier time with hers. They had found a bar just down the street from HQ, still open but serving breakfast foods.

  “Sure you haven't had anything to drink?” she asked Ty, who was still struggle with balance.

  “Not yet, but there's a Tom Collins calling my name here in a few.”

  “Oh,” she replied, “manly and smooth!”

  A handsome waiter made his way over to the both of them as Ty smirked, taking down their orders for drinks, strawberry crepes, and a breakfast burrito.

  “So, I know that you haven't been here for very long,” Adrienne began with an eager tone, “but I was wondering, in a nutshell, if you had seen this kind ‘poison’ before, if that's even the right way to describe it?”

  “I've seen a lot of similar things in my travels,” he replied, “but nothing's matched this potency. What I do know is that it's some kind of dark venom, for lack of a better way to put it. I’d guess that his missing fingers is where it entered his system.”

  Ady looked distraught, but Ty managed to lift her spirits as he delved into his extensive knowledge of toxins and poisons from around this and other worlds – though he made it a point to avoid letting her know exactly how and why he had come by such knowledge. He continued, showing an aptitude for herbology but ultimately didn't think that any of those traditional methods would work on this, nor any of the particular spells he had learned along the way to help him survive.

  “I'll have to do more research,” he concluded, “a lot more it seems, but I know we have a time limit. The spell I cast on Joey is holding him safely for now, essentially frozen in time, but I can tell the toxin is still working its effects, although slowed.”

  Their waiter returned, pausing the conversation as he dropped off their drinks – Ady with her piping hot coffee and a tall, beading glass of Tom Collins for Ty. “Your food should be ready in a few minutes,” he said before he was gone again, stopping over at a nearby table of new customers.

  “Efficient fellow,” Ty observed, taking down a hefty gulp of the cocktail; it certainly hit the spot. “Much like we’ll have to be. I hope that once Gage gets back, the Ring will resume its protective effects on Joey, buying us that much more time.”

  “So you think that's what happened to him?” Adrienne asked, thankful Ty had shown up when he did.

  “From what Henry was telling me about the Solomon Six, yeah, I do. I’m only hypothesizing, but when Gage entered that demon hideout – or possibly a world somewhere beyond – the Ring’s power was severed. That is probably the case for others it was protecting, too, like yourself. Now, don’t go and quote me on that, but it certainly fits the situation at hand the best.”

  There was a rustle and the waiter had once again appeared at their table. “Pardon the interruption,” he said, dropping off two hot plates; it all looked and smelled divine. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “No, thank you,” said Adrienne. “We’re fine for now.”

  The two of them proceeded to eat, chatting more casually. As they talked about this and that, Adrienne realized that Ty might resemble Marcus in many ways but was nothing like him personality wise. The conversation meandered into more personal territory, speaking at length about the death of his parents and the struggles they both went through during the Incursion, plus the five years of history that had been simmering between the brothers.

  “We were kind of forced to learn the world was a very dangerous place,” Ty stated, “coupled with the fact Marcus was never good with relationships, ours always stretched just shy of the breaking point, and you have a potential for disaster. It seems that Joey’s changed that for him, which makes me happy.”

  “Isn't that sad?” Adrienne asked somberly. “I mean, given everything that is happening in the world, wouldn't it be easier to have someone – anyone for that matter – around to help shoulder the burden; especially if they’re family? I admit that I would have been lost without Joey around, plus Arthur – Joey’s dad – before he was killed. Not to mention the big lug himself.”

  “Gage?” Ty asked with a short chuckle, finding it funny to hear someone legendary referred to so normally. “Well, don’t get me wrong I’m not disagreeing. I happened to think just as you do once before, but it was momentary at best. I wanted to get out there in that dangerous world and take the fight to those that stole my own life prematurely. Marcus on the other hand, was scared and suggested that we try to live a normal life in Michigan – whatever the hell that means – and it was misery. Then, after I insisted we head out back out in the field, he withdrew into his lore books and the damn Order. I swear paperwork is his safety blanket.”

  “I get that impression too,” Adrienne said before she took another sip of coffee. “You’re not in the Order?”

  “Oh no, I still am, though I’m far from a fan. I know you can’t tell by my charming appearance, but I’ve always been a bit of a renegade – wanting to do things my way. In fact, I’m now pretty relentless about it. There was a time where I grew more depressed and took up smoking the very herbs I learned about in order to ease my anxiety. It helped me get through the long days, though it’s become a lot of who I am – a bit more than I would have liked. When I left Michigan, Marcus was more than willing to just stay put, imprisoned in his own fears which led him behind a desk. He didn’t come after me, not once, so I grew to dislike him and what he represented – someone who didn't stay true to who they really are. I took off on my little solo life, mainly to hide my hurts and feelings of abandonment.”

  As Ty was speaking, Adrienne noticed his visible tattoos. She saw ‘Stay True’ embl
azoned on his hands, one letter inked per finger, while the script ‘Relentless’ peeked out from behind his unbuttoned collar. A quick glance at the back of his hand also revealed three letters, along with a tiny star pattern that had been interwoven at the end.

  “Does that say M… B… K?” she asked, the script a little difficult to read without inspection. “Forgive me if it's too personal, but what does that mean? I love finding out about people's tattoos.”

  “I always get asked about it when I'm around folks,” he said nicely, “and no need to look at me like that; it's no bother. I got it in response to all I told you. Marcus had put me through quite a lot of crap and I resented him for it. However, I eventually came to realize that I am not my brother’s keeper and he was free to do whatever he wanted to, as was I. I got peace from that and then the tattoo a short time later.”

  “‘My Brother’s Keeper,’ from the story of Cain and Abel?”

  “Bingo,” Ty replied with a wink. “Sort of a poetic reminder that we all have free will, whether right or wrong; agreeable or not. Something strange happened though, after I got it. Since the tattoo serves as a physical manifestation of my cleared world view, a lot of the spells I cast seem to make that hand, more specifically the ink, glow. It's the damnedest thing.”

  “That's odd,” she said. “Wonder why that is.”

  “No idea,” Ty said, looking down to his burrito; only a couple bites remained. “Look, Adrienne, I care about my family just like you do. If Joey, and by extension Marcus, need help, you can consider me part of it.”

  At the close, Adrienne smiled but in her mind didn't know what to think of all this newfound information. Marcus was still family, though admittedly they were all still getting to know each other. Since Ty was his brother, he was part of their lives, too.

  Adrienne decided that it would be in everyone's best interest – especially Joey’s – to remain neutral. Gage had likely gotten the other side of the this tale and the two of them would definitely have to compare notes.