Scorched Shadows (The Hellequin Chronicles Book 7)

by Steve McHugh

  “They offered me and Selene a chance to not be affected,” Tommy said. “But I couldn’t do that to Kasey and Olivia. I couldn’t lie like that to any of the people who helped get us here. I’m not a spy anymore. Deception isn’t something I want to do.”

  “What about those who aren’t already here?” I asked.

  “They already think you’re dead,” Diana said. “It won’t be hard to keep that going.”

  “So, it’s sorted? I’ll be dead to all of you. I won’t be able to help you fight Gawain.”

  “Yeah, this is where things get messy,” Elaine said.

  “Okay, how do things get messier than they already are?”

  “It’s a long story. You up to hearing it?” she asked.

  I nodded, and she told everyone to leave the room. When we were alone, she took a chair and sat down in front of me. “A few months before this all kicked off, I found out that maybe Gawain wasn’t as innocent as we all thought. I was digging into the prophecy about you and Mordred and discovered that it was fake. I also discovered that while Hera and some of her people had been the ones responsible for the fake prophecy, there was evidence to suggest that Gawain was a regular visitor at Mars Warfare. I found someone who used to work there. She ran after Mars Warfare folded, but I managed to track her down and question her. She gave me information about Arthur and Merlin. And about Abaddon. And about the ritual that was used to create you and Mordred. Hera and her people were looking into ways to re-create it. It’s why they were using children in the Harbinger trials.”

  “I remembered that well. A lot of kids had died because of those trials.”

  “You killed the doctor responsible.”

  “Can’t even remember his name, but yes, I did.”

  “Well, my contact told me all about the meetings between Gawain, Abaddon, and Hera. She revealed that Arthur was created like you and fed Asmodeus’s soul and blood.”

  “I know. Gawain told me.”

  “He didn’t tell you of the horrific things that Arthur did before he was injured by Mordred. Arthur has Asmodeus’s spirit inside of him, and his power level. He’s not a vampire, and he doesn’t have his personality, but essentially Arthur and Asmodeus are the same. Arthur wasn’t an unwilling victim of Gawain; he was the one who began to turn Merlin. Arthur was the one who corrupted Merlin during his time in a coma.”

  “But Gawain said that Arthur needed to be changed to work with them. I saw Arthur’s face when they kidnapped him—that wasn’t one of happiness. He was afraid.”

  “You were set up to think that. Arthur is My Liege. He’s been the one commanding people from his coma for centuries. He had a mind link with Gawain and Abaddon, who would deliver orders to those who needed them.”

  “How? Arthur came to me for help. I sensed no deception in him.”

  “Lucie found out. That’s why they took her. She was distrustful of Arthur and started looking into him. She discovered the burial pit where a hundred people were tossed after they were used to help Gawain and Merlin place a blood curse on Arthur. A modified version of the same curse that Mordred tried to apply to you all those years ago, the one that made you lose your memory.” Elaine took a USB stick from her pocket. “This contains film of the blood-curse ritual, along with files detailing what happened and what they planned to do. She got it all from someone within Avalon who was working closely with those responsible.”

  “Who?”

  “Hephaestus.”

  “Aphrodite’s ex-husband?”

  Elaine nodded. “He’s been passing information on about Hera’s activities for centuries. He’s not exactly a fan, and he knew about the ritual, so he went along to check it out. He also knows that Hera records every meeting she has for blackmail purposes. He gave that information to Lucie.”

  I stared at the USB drive. “What was their plan?”

  “Arthur’s memory of his involvement with Abaddon and Gawain was wiped. And new memories were installed when he went to you for help. They couldn’t risk you figuring out his involvement, or one of your friends being able to read his mind, so he had it changed. Once he was kidnapped, they changed it back. Arthur went on the news a few months ago to announce that he’s going to be in charge of a task force dedicated to hunting down Hellequin’s friends and allies. He’s had countless people murdered since then.”

  I went to a nearby laptop, plugged the USB drive in, and watched the videos it contained, feeling my anger grow as they showed Arthur butchering people for their blood and spirits before the blood curse was activated. It made me feel sick that I’d been in the same room as him, called him a friend, when in reality I should have killed him.

  “What happened to the woman in Mars Warfare?” I asked.

  “They killed her soon after I spoke to her, and two days later I was abducted and my people killed. Arthur wanted to use his mind magic on me to twist my brain and make me forget what I knew. He tried to change my memories so that he could send me back to you with information that Galahad and Shadow Falls were behind it all, but I was too strong for him, and it didn’t take as quickly as he’d have liked. That’s why certain things triggered the return of my memories. When I saw him up there in front of the UN, my memories flooded back, and I fell into a coma.”

  I looked at her, concerned.

  “I’m fine,” she assured me. She opened the door, and beckoned the others back into the room.

  “So, what happens now?” I asked.

  “Right now we’re in no position to fight him,” Remy said. “Arthur has started taking control of governments the world over. He’s still in the process of removing those who are against him. A lot of Avalon employees are in hiding. We’re trying to help them as best we can. That’s our main focus at the moment. We can’t go after Arthur until we know who is and isn’t working with him.”

  “Saving lives is the best we’ve got until we can organize some sort of resistance,” Olivia said.

  “A rebel force, if you will,” Tommy said, making me laugh.

  “How long have you wanted to use that one?” I asked him.

  “Years,” Tommy said, hugging me again. “I’m sorry this is a fleeting moment, but you need to go. You need to be safe, and when you’re healed, we’ll fight Arthur. But we need to find those other four weapons like yourselves. And the Norse and Japanese gods contacted Mordred, asking for help. It looks like the Norse went to the Japanese pantheon a while ago looking for allies. They agreed, but Arthur’s forces have broken into Asgard through the dwarven realm.”

  “We’re fighting a war on several fronts,” Diana said. “And until we’re a united force, we’ll always be one step behind. We need you back, Nate.”

  “But at full strength, not human Nate,” Remy said. “Human Nate sucks.”

  “Really?” I asked. “It’s good that you’re so supportive.”

  “Would you prefer if I gave you a back rub and told you you were a special little boy who just needs to try real hard?”

  “That’s the creepiest thing you’ve ever said,” Tommy said.

  Remy thought for a second. “Yeah, I’m going to pretend I didn’t say that.”

  “We’re all going to be doing that,” Diana said.

  “While you’re gone, Wei told me she’ll try and help me see if I have any other powers,” Remy said, rapidly changing the subject. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  Hades placed a hand on my shoulder. “We have to go,” he said.

  I said my goodbyes to everyone before kissing Selene. “When I’m healed, I’ll come find you,” I said.

  “You’d better,” she told me. “I’m going to be particularly angry otherwise. I wish I could come with you. But the fewer who know where you are, the safer you’ll be.”

  I kissed her once again and then left the hangar with Sky, Mordred, Elaine, and Hades.

  “Don’t you need to perform the ritual?” I asked Mordred as we all climbed into a Black Hawk helicopter.

  “Nabu and Zamek will compl
ete it. Anyone in there is going to be affected, so it’s best I’m not in there.”

  “What do you plan to do while I’m in the middle of nowhere?”

  “What I’ve always done, Nate. Piss off Avalon and fuck their shit up. Only this time I’ll be doing it for the good guys. I’m looking forward to the change of perspective. Just so you know, Morgan sat by your bed a lot while you were out. She was worried for you. I’m not saying she loves you or anything, but when this is all done, you two need to sit down and talk. I know you’re in love with Selene, but clearing the air between you and Morgan would be good. I think there are things left unsaid, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s don’t do that.”

  I nodded in agreement. “Yeah. I think you’re right. It’s something I need to do.”

  The rest of the journey was a chance for Hades and Elaine to explain exactly what Arthur had done since I was considered dead. Occasionally I turned to watch the ground fly by at speed far below us, wondering if Arthur’s corruption had spread across the country, until eventually we landed in the middle of a forest in Clockwork, Oregon.

  We all got out of the helicopter, and an elderly Asian man left a Ford Ranger truck and greeted Hades with a hug.

  “This is Doctor Kuro,” Hades said.

  The doctor shook my hand. “You’re going to be our guest here.”

  “I guess that’s the plan, yes.”

  “Your house is ready. We have a beautiful town. You’ll like it. It’s mostly peaceful.”

  “Mostly?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “We’re a small town, not a boring one,” Doctor Kuro said with a smile.

  I turned back to Sky, Elaine, and Mordred. “I’ll be seeing you all soon,” I said.

  “Take care, Nate,” Sky said.

  “Have a nice holiday,” Mordred said. “Try not to bring attention to yourself. Be a good little human.”

  “Piss off,” I said to him, and he smiled and hugged me.

  “I wish this had gone better,” Elaine said. “But now we know our true enemy. We know his power and influence are great. One day soon there will be a reckoning for him.”

  “Our world has changed,” I said. “Humans know of our existence. They know of Avalon; they know they’re not the top of the evolutionary ladder. If they don’t know now, they soon will, that some of Arthur’s allies consider humans nothing more than food. Arthur is going to change the world, and we can’t stop that. There aren’t enough of us, and we’re fragmented and broken. But we won’t be. Not forever. We’ll show Arthur the kinds of people he crossed, and we’ll show him just how badly we plan on beating him and those who call him an ally.”

  I watched them climb back into the helicopter, leaving me alone with Hades.

  “Thank you for this,” I said.

  “No thanks necessary,” he told me. “Be safe, heal, and then we’ll deal with what comes next.”

  “We fight back,” I said with complete conviction. “That’s what comes next. Rebellion.”

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  So, here it is, the last Hellequin book. Not the last Nate book, I’ll hasten to add, but this is the end of the story of Hellequin. Thank you to those who stuck with it from Crimes Against Magic, which feels like a lifetime ago, but it’s only been a little over five years. I hope you hang around to see how I make Nate’s life worse . . . sorry, better, not worse—I’d never do such a thing.

  There are always lots of people to thank, starting with my wife and kids for their love and support, and in my wife’s case for allowing me to use her as a sounding board for every idea I have.

  To my parents, who have never wavered in their support and love, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  My friends and family always support, nag, complain, and generally just want me to hurry up and write more. Thank you—you’re part of the reason I never gave up writing, and it means a lot that so many of you still look forward to the next book.

  A big thank-you goes out to my agent, Paul Lucas, for his belief, friendship, and help over the years.

  And another big thank-you to my editor, Jenni Smith-Gaynor, who takes my vision and helps me mold it into something that’s readable.

  D. B. Reynolds and Michelle Muto are the kind of beta readers and friends that you can only wish for. Thank you for all the time and effort you’ve put in to help me make my work better.

  As always, I need to thank 47North for their help. Emilie, Alex, Hatty, Sana, you’re all awesome. And a huge thank-you to those of you who helped work on my books over the years. Whether you’re still at 47North or not, you know who you are, and you should know how awesome you are.

  So, this is it. The last Hellequin book. It’s been a fun, exhausting, and at times difficult ride. I’d like to think I’ve grown as an author and as a storyteller, and I’m looking forward to what comes next.

  READ AHEAD FOR THE FIRST CHAPTER FROM STEVE MCHUGH’S UPCOMING BOOK A GLIMMER OF HOPE

  CHAPTER 1

  Wisconsin, USA. One week ago.

  Elias Wells had to admit to being genuinely impressed with the escaped experiment that sprinted through the snowy forest in search of her freedom. She had fled the prison she’d been in, along with two others, an hour earlier. They’d not only made it to the edge of the forest—a rare act that deserved respect—but the last of them, Liz Barnsley, managed to outpace the monsters that chased her.

  Elias didn’t bother running. He didn’t see the point. Not only because he considered it a waste of his energy, but also because the snow beneath his leather-booted feet had begun to turn to slush. He didn’t want to slip on an unseen spot of ice and make himself look like an idiot. Elias jogged at an easy pace, making sure to keep the creatures he worked with in his view but allowing them the freedom to do their jobs. Besides, it wasn’t like Liz had a lot of choices when it came to an escape route.

  Liz had escaped a half hour ago, and upon hearing the news Elias had been genuinely shocked. The fact that, during the years of the prison being active, she was the only one of four escapees to have lived long enough to reach the forest surprised him even more. He’d always taken her as the sort of person for whom the idea of running came a distant second to the idea of sitting. He guessed that adrenaline and the need to be free drove people to perform better than they’d ever be able to otherwise. He made a mental note of it; it was something to try on the rest of the subjects. Maybe they’d get better results.

  A scream from up ahead signified that Liz wasn’t as far away as she’d probably like to be. Elias didn’t need to concern himself with anyone hearing it who wasn’t meant to. Civilians were not an issue in the middle of nowhere. The only things likely to hear the screams and pleas for help would be the animals who lived in the forest, and he doubted that Liz was able to call the animals to her aid like Sleeping Beauty.

  As he got closer to the noise of fighting, he heard the laughter of the creatures that served in the prison and the cursing from Liz. Elias began to wonder if there was a way to take her back without damaging her. He shook his head as he pushed aside a branch, letting it fly back to its position after getting past it.

  Liz stood in a clearing, blood seeping down her left arm where an arrow had struck it. A second arrow protruded from just above her left ankle. She couldn’t put weight on it.

  “Hello, Liz,” Elias said, his tone conversational and light. His English accent was still evident, even after all these years away. “Feel like coming back to the compound with me?”

  “Go to hell,” she snapped.

  Elias glanced over at the three creatures that had accompanied him on the hunt. They were all baying for blood but would do nothing until he commanded it. “Go deal with the other corpses,” he told them.

  They did as they were ordered without comment and were soon lost from view in the darkness of the forest.

  “I would rather you live,” Elias said. “But if you’re going to fight me, you might as well get it started now.”

&nbs
p; A spine, three inches in length, flew toward Elias, who easily avoided it. The next four were even faster as they left Liz’s palms, and Elias had to catch one midflight to stop it in time.

  “Nicely done,” he commended. “Your bone mass must regenerate at an extraordinary speed.” He turned the bone spines over in his hands.

  “I was taught by the best,” Liz said.

  “Sarcasm, my dear? We’ve been trying to teach you to accept your new abilities.”

  “Abilities I never wanted! I just want to go home.”

  “To where, that park bench we found you on? We’ve given you shelter, food, and warmth. We haven’t beaten you or tortured you. I think personally that we’ve been quite pleasant.”

  “You forced this onto me. You murder those who can’t cope.”

  “Well, sometimes things don’t go according to plan, but you have exceeded my expectations.” He wagged his finger at her and smiled. “No one has ever made it this far. But what were you going to do next?”

  Liz looked behind her at the cliff.

  “You were going to jump? That’s a two-hundred-foot fall into water. I’m pretty sure that even if the water was deep enough, you’d still die.”

  “I’d rather die than be one of your pawns.”

  “Fine, I’ll tell you what. You try to kill me and manage it, you can enjoy your brief life as a cliff diver. You don’t kill me? You’ll be dead. Either way, you win.”

  Liz fired a half dozen spines at Elias, who moved smoothly as he dodged them, sliding under the last one and drawing out a nine-inch stiletto dagger, then plunging it up and into Liz’s stomach. He twisted it and pulled the knife out, pushing Liz onto the ground. He watched her writhe for a few moments as soft cries escaped her lips. He felt nothing except relief that the job was completed. Her pain would last longer than he liked. A quick kill was important. Professional. Kills should only last a long time if you needed something from the person, and he needed Liz to suffer a little—she had escaped, after all. He’d end it soon, and then she’d be at peace.