City of Steam (Blackburn Chronicles)

by Dominic K Alexander

  The city was bigger than Mac had originally thought. It must have stretched on for a couple dozen miles. Even at a brisk pace, they had been moving for what seemed to be an hour. As the homes turned into burnt out and ruined shops, Mac guessed they were heading for the center of the city. The sickness Mac had been feeling around the city passed for which Mac assumed was just another perk of the ring, but as they moved deeper and deeper into the city the air took on an eerie chill and the darkness once again swallowed them whole. Even with the morning sun starting to peak over the trees there was nothing but darkness and shadows ahead.

  "Stop here." Mac said slowing her tank to a halt. She slowly dismounted and examined the broken roads and alleyways around them.

  "We are close, Mac. We need to push on." Walter's horse took several more steps towards the cities center.

  "I can feel him." Mac said in an almost inaudible whisper. "He's close...watching...waiting."

  Walter stopped the horse and slid off the seat pulling his gun. He squatted low looking around, but it was far too dark to see anything. "I'm not seeing anything, Mac."

  Mac closed her eyes. Everything seemed so much more clear. All the stresses that had hit her from the moment she had been attacked in the book store washed away once she was in possession of the ring. She no longer worried about how she could protect her sister, or herself for that matter. She didn't worry about why things were happening to her. She even stopped worrying about how she was going to get home. None of it mattered anymore. All that mattered was finding her father. With the tools she now possessed, she could finally focus.

  Never had she felt her surroundings. It flowed around and through her bringing a warmth and comfort long forgotten. It was as if she found herself relaxed in a warm flowing spring for the first time. The sea of energy gave itself willingly to her and the darkness was pushed away leaving only beauty. Mac felt as if she had been touched by the hand of an angel and nothing would be able to stop her.

  "I must go alone, Walter." She said, opening her eyes, and turning to him. "It's all so clear now. I can stop him." Walter began to protest and the city seemed to darken even more. Clouds rolled overhead blackening out the sun and rain began to let loose on them.

  Mac closed her eyes and took the energy in; her body tingling with the sensation of its touch as it filled her very soul. She stretched out her arms, smile on her face, and asked the air for peace. The sun broke free of the clouds and the darkness retreated. For the first time in several decades a bird could be heard chirping in the distance.

  Then the feeling of euphoria took Mac and she opened her eyes.

  The burnt ruins surrounding began to shimmer and move. Walter stood oblivious of what was happening around him. First, the stones slowly rolled across the ground and up the burnt walls righting themselves back where they belong. Buildings began erecting themselves to their former glory, some stretching a hundred feet into the air. The red brick road shook free from the dirt and scorched debris revealed a long forgotten road to the cities center. Blackened buildings turned grey and bright green moss came to life on them. Broken clay pots fixed themselves with flowers sprouted in full bloom. The cities citizens rose from the ground wandering the streets and enjoying the summer day. They laughed and played carrying on their daily routines.

  The men could be heard cheering and singing while partaking in drinks from the pub several feet away. A young man scurried down the street with a dozen roses in his hand towards a beautiful woman looking at dresses through a store window. The look on her face brought a tear to Mac's eye as he professed his love to her in front of everyone within ear shot. The people sang and celebrated the couple. She took him in her arms kissing him deeply without a sense of shyness.

  A small girl, no more than seven years old, ran around in circles playing with a dog who jumped and danced with her. The happiness surrounding Mac was warm and inviting. She watched as the day turned to night and flickering lights filled the cities windows. The smell of fresh breads and meats filled the air and lightning bugs blinked their magic through the streets. Then, the lights went out, and the people slept quietly in their beds.

  The streets became dark and quiet, the only sounds to be heard was a faint skittering running around her. She looked, trying to find the source of the noise. Finally, as she turned a corner, the young girl that had been playing with her dog earlier, was now holding something in her hands.

  The sounds of a river flowing through the streets broke the silence, but Mac ignored it trying to see what the girl was playing with. Then, Mac jumped back as the young girl turned to look Mac directly in the eyes and held out her hands.

  "Bug." The girl said. The grim beetle’s eyes turned a brilliant shade of green before it exploded. Everything moved slow as Mac watched the flesh peel off the young girl’s body and a blanket of fire roll down the city streets fueling itself off whatever liquid had been spilled there. Mac watched in horror feeling no pain from the flames that surrounded her.

  Ear piercing screams echoed off the walls, embedding themselves in the energy of the city. Thousands of explosions cracked like fireworks, the city was painted in flame illuminating the night sky. Mac again grabbed at the broken girl taking her arm and pulling her close. The skin and muscle pulled from the bone and her screams died out while Mac held her scorched body in her arms.

  Pain and anger flowed through Mac as she held the dead girl and watched as the people ran from their homes and into the burning streets meeting their deaths while trying to escape. Some tried using the wind, but the flames only roared bigger and took the people faster. Others tried to bring water up and extinguish the flames, but the flaming oil only spread faster. Mac's heart ached as she watched the horror around her being able to do nothing to stop it.

  Then she saw him. The man from her past. The hunter. He stalked her as a child and taken the one person she loved more than any other. Now he walked through the flames unharmed staring directly at her. She was once again his prey.

  As he came closer and closer to Mac, panic hit her and forgotten emotions began to pour out through tears and muttering pleas to stop. She looked for an escape, but everything was lit in beautiful blue and orange color. He was now a foot away and reached out laying his hand on her. The city crumbled, the buildings fell, the road disappeared under a thick coat of debris, the stones fell back to the ground, and all the life died and disappeared. Cold and darkness again filled the streets. The smell of burning flesh clung to Mac's nose and she turned to throw up.

  22.

  "Mac." Walter held her head in his lap looking down at her running his fingers through her hair. As she blinked back to reality she saw the look of concern in his eyes. Tears ran steadily down her cheeks and her breathing was heavy and hard. "Mac, are you all right?" Walter said calmly. She wasn't sure if she was going to be all right. Her chest was tight and a deep burn ran through her body. Her emotions strangled her from the thought of the vision. She could literally feel the citizens pain and suffering through the energy that now flowed through her.

  She thought about the young girl burned and broken. There was nothing she could do to save her. There was no helping the damned and the thought of watching it all happen tore her heart and left her empty inside. She knew her nightmares would forever be haunted from the vision.

  A dark echoing laugh reverberated off the re-damaged ruins. Walter pulled his guns and looked around sliding out from under Mac, standing and readying himself for a fight. Mac stood swaying slightly before righting herself. A blinding frozen darkness once again fell upon them and the hairs stood up on the back of Mac's neck. Then the laughing simply stopped and silence ensued for several long seconds.

  "This fight is not with you, old man." A hissing voice broke through the darkness before a large boulder broke free from one of the buildings and crashed into Walter with a loud crack. He hit the ground hard, unmoving.

  "No!" Mac screamed running to his side and falling to her knees. His breathing was raspy,
but he was at least still breathing. She lay her hands on his and a green hew illuminated his body.

  "I think not." The voice said and another boulder flew in their direction. Without thought Mac swung her arms out and a gust of wind directed the boulder past them.

  "I'll kill you!" Mac shouted, rage filling her. The echo of laughing once again reverberated off the walls.

  "That's my girl. Let's play." The voice said then went silent as he disappeared into the ruins.

  Mac ran through the streets towards the cities center ready for a fight. Her fists were clenched and sweat poured down her forehead, an anger stronger than any she had felt before surged through her. The pain in her chest worsened, but she pushed on running full tilt. Before long she found herself in a clearing which she sensed was the cities center.

  The grass was a vibrant green surrounding a large stone well. Even with the darkness, a blue glow came from the well illuminating the area. Mac ignored everything around her and stared towards the well, horror stricken.

  A large stake had been driven into the ground with the head of Mac's father impaled onto it. His eyes were wide and stared into her and his lips pulled against the thick twine which someone had sewn through them to keep him quiet. She could see him struggling to talk, but he was unable. The thought of the pain he must be in eclipsed any other thoughts and she ran for him. Once she was within an arm’s reach of her father, a blue ball of flames came at her from the side. The ground dropped bringing her low enough to not be effected by the fireball. Once it passed, the ground brought her back up again.

  "Father and daughter, reunited." The hunter said. "It is a shame that such a beautiful sight shall be so short lived." His hand shot forward again throwing another ball of fire at her. Mac's hands moved against her will and a massive brick of ice formed in front of her. The flame hit it square on and the mass exploded filling the area with water and steam.

  Why does this guy want to kill us? Mac thought as she held her hands out waiting for the next attack.

  "Have you not figured it out yet?" The hunter said laughing. "I want vengeance, and more so, I want your powers."

  Mac stared at him. How could he possibly know what I was thinking? She thought. Then it hit her. "Devin?" She questioned softly. The hunter laughed again while reaching up and removing his mask. Devin looked back at her with a burnt face and black eyes. Again, she could only stare in shock of what was happening.

  "How?" Mac choked out the question. "I watched you burn.”

  "Yes," He replied laughing. "I was rather lucky to be next to the pond and that we had moistened the surrounding area with water while we practiced. It didn't take long for the flames to go out, but the scars will take much longer."

  "Why?" Mac said. "Why come after my family? Why come after me? I lov..." She was too choked up to continue. Her heart again burned and broke from the words.

  "It's actually quite simple. Your family killed mine, and I have never forgotten.” He spat back.

  "All this because of my grandfather?" Mac yelled. "He was trying to save his wife. He didn't even know what he had done. You told me the story yourself." Devin started laughing again.

  "You're a fool." Devin spat. "This has nothing to do with your grandfather. It has everything to do with your grandmother." Devin thrust his arms forward and a massive burst of wind threw her into a pile of rubble. She lay dazed, unable to move.

  Control your emotions. A voice echoed in her head. It sounded familiar, but she couldn't make it out. Take in the energy around you and fight him. Use the ring. She looked around for the source of the voice and there was no one around. She saw Devin moving again in the distance about to hit her, but instead of taking the blast she threw her hands out in his direction and the ground rippled like a wave directly at him. As the wave came close the earth stood up like a giant wall and hit its mark. He fell to the ground shaking the dirt off before standing again unharmed.

  "Very good." Devin hissed. "Once I have your power, no one will be able to stop me and I will have no resistance in finishing what my family started all those years ago. The world will bow before me."

  "Like your family started?" Mac said under her breath. She looked up suddenly. "You're a leech." The words dripped off Mac's tongue like acid.

  "Oh, she can learn." Davin said. A dark smile lay across his face. Mac sensed he was almost having fun with this. Her chest throbbed with emotions of loss and love. The anger welled up again and she held her hands out in front of her and called for fire. A small sphere of fire formed in front of her starting red, then orange, yellow, blue, then a clear milky white color. It had the beauty of a small sun and illuminated the towns center. Waves of light flickered off Devin's now red eyes as she pushed forward sending the ball directly at him. With a simple sidestep and wave of his hand the sun shot past him hitting a wall and sending bits of melted stone through the air.

  "So much anger for such a small girl." Devin said still smiling. "The more amusing thought is that you think you can beat me. I have decades of experience on you. I come from the most powerful family on this rock. You are no more of a threat to me than a mosquito. A minor annoyance at best."

  Mac could feel the energy run strong through her, but she knew he was right. She had thrown her best at him and he barely flinched. There was nothing more she could do.

  A loud crack broke the silence and Devin screamed out in pain falling to the ground for a second time. Mac looked from Devin and saw Walter standing behind him, smoking gun drawn and ready to finish the job.

  "She may not be able to beat you in a one on one fight, but this isn't a one on one fight now is it." Walter started to squeeze the trigger again, but Devin was too fast for him. A flick of the wrist and Walter was pinned to the ground by a gust of wind choking for a breath. Mac ran forward, but Devin hit her with a blast and she fell back into the rubble.

  "You weren't able to stop me from dropping a house on the duchess, old man. What makes you think you two can stop me now?" Devin continued to crush Walter with the wind.

  A wall of dirt again hit Devin and he crashed into a nearby wall. Walter choked back breaths of air now that he was free.

  "My family took the blame from that building falling on her and the entire time it was you that caused the roof to collapse?" Mac yelled. She threw another wall of dirt at him, but again he easily deflected the attack while giggling slightly.

  "Your father thought he would be able to work a deal out with the duke to bring peace all of our people." Devin spit on the ground his eyes blood red. "No one deserves peace. You are all responsible for the murder of my family. Your father tried to ruin my vengeance, but I would never allow that to happen. I stood as one of the dukes trusted assassins and listened to the laughing and drinking between your father and the duke. I had to listen to them until I couldn't take it anymore and pulled the roof down on us all. They all should have died, but your father proved to be more powerful than I gave him credit for and could block most of the wreckage from landing on us. Though there was the poor duke's sister." He showed a fake frown before cackling his insane laugh. "The best part; I sat in that meeting and no one realized I was the one who burned Crystal Well, not that power-hungry imbecile. I had already been storing barrels of oil across the city for months. With a few dozen assassins and several thousand grim beetles, this place went up better than I could ever have planned. The smell of crispy Therma flesh haunted the forest for years." He continued to laugh while blocking yet another attack from Mac.

  "As much fun as this is for me, I must bring the fun to an end." He stepped forward fists clenched, eyes red, and a satisfied smile on his face, but before he could deal a death blow to Mac something grabbed his wrist. Brightly glowing yellow figures rose from the ground moving slowly towards Devin.

  The smile fell from his face as he pulled free from the apparition holding him. They rose from all around one after another until the area was filled with bright yellow light. Another crack rang through the air and Devin scr
eamed out holding the shoulder Walter just shot him. His head jerked spastically around looking for an escape from the ghosts.

  "If I had to venture a guess, I'd say the people are not very happy knowing you are the one that brought harm to this place." The clicking and snapping of claws echoed off the walls and Devin now focused his attention to the giant pseudoscorpions entering the fight for the first time. His face was covered in terror; then he looked at Mac...and smiled. A strong gale of wind whipped through the cities center and lifted him straight up and away from the fight.

  Mac ran and called to the wind to carry her also. There was no way she was going to allow him to escape his fate. The wind picked her up as if she was weightless and sent her in the same direction which Devin had flown. One way or another, this is going to end tonight. She thought.

  "Mac, NO!" Walter yelled watching her take off into the air. "He will kill you!" Walter knew there was nothing he could say to stop her. She found the person who caused the most pain in her life and there was no one that would be able to stop her from granting vengeance on him, but there was no way she could win this fight either.

  Mac chased her adversary through the cold blackness Devin created around them. The spirits lit a path as they still reached for him hoping to take the life of the one who took theirs, but he was too high and too fast for them to catch. The two moved over the city at break neck speeds and it took almost no time for them to whip past the city walls and into the warmth of the sun which beat down.

  Mac stared past Devin looking over the trees and saw a fog come off the bog in front of them. She asked the wind to take her faster knowing that if they made it into the bog, Devin would likely be able to lose her, but there was no hope. Devin matched her speed and maneuvers without much effort. Before long they were deep into the bog and the visibility was hindered greatly by the blowing fog as they jetted through it on their tornado like vehicles.