Hell Bent

by Marie Bilodeau

  “And let my league get killed?” Clay practically spat out. “I’m going out there to help. Now that we know what they’re after, we can maybe stop them…”

  He stopped, avoided looking at me. Oh, he could stop them now, sure. By telling them it’s at the Guild of Shadows and no longer here. By throwing my league under the bus, instead.

  Damn proverbial bus.

  “If we give it what it wants, it’ll leave us alone?” Glitter half-asked, half-stated. He looked hopefully from Clay to me.

  “Ya, I imagine it would,” Clay said. Did I imagine the accusation in his voice?

  “Fine,” I said, grabbing two hangers from the closet. Sturdy wood with a metal hook. I tested them, one per hand, holding the base against my arm to steady it for hitting and blocking action.

  I could work these. Hopefully they’d manage to do some damage.

  “We’ll go help. But stay within my damn shadows.” I turned to Glitter. “You can stay here.”

  “Um,” he looked at Clay, opened his mouth once before closing it, then reopened it. “I stay with dessert,” he said resolutely.

  “How do we even stop the damn thing,” I mumbled. “It sliced me without even seeing me last time, Clay.”

  Half the people here are probably already dead, I wisely didn’t say. Clay’s hands gathered into fists. He wanted to help his league friends, of course. But I was the one he’d pulled to safety, I hoped not just out of habit.

  “We make it show itself,” Glitter said, the raspy voice somehow worse as a whisper. Quiet reigned in the rest of the building. I hated quiet.

  "And how do we do that?” I whispered, punching the air with my hangers. Clay handed me a dagger. It was well-weighted for throwing. I took it, but really wanted to try the hangers, first.

  “We make it walk through something to make it create tracks, or to cover it all,” Glitter said, looking pleased.

  “Shit, that’s stupid obvious,” Clay mumbled.

  “I’m embarrassed I didn’t think of it either.”

  “Glitter is researcher,” Glitter said, looking even more pleased.

  “And a good planner,” Clay amicably hit his shoulder. Glitter fell back, and I held him up. “Okay,” Clay sounded excited. “We have a few things we can use. Paints, chalk, stuff like that.”

  “But where do we put it?” I asked. “Where even is it?”

  “It’ll go for the leaders, if it hasn’t found them already,” Clay said darkly.

  “It’ll go for the portal thing,” Glitter offered.

  Clay looked at me, and I shifted uncomfortably. “Well, Tira’s the one it’ll have to talk to, then.”

  “Clay, look…” before I could finish my sentence, the edge of my shadows shimmered.

  My eyes widened and Clay followed my gaze, striking out with his axe as I threw my dagger. A double shriek pierced the air as we ducked, dragging Glitter down with us as blades cut the air above us.

  “Move,” I hissed. “Quietly!” The door was still closed. How the hell had it entered?

  Clay flung it open and we threw ourselves out in a tumble.

  But the creature wasn’t far behind, and I’d dropped my shadows in the commotion.

  We were sitting ducks.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Clay tumbled to the right, away from me. Glitter held his head in his hands, looking for cover under a desk. I crouched, folding the shadows deep around me.

  But that left Clay and Glitter without protection, and that thing could be anywhere with its deadly blades. I imagined one of them getting cut in two, not even having the chance to yelp…

  No.

  I pushed the shadows away from me, forcing them to form before me, to wrap themselves like a great shield around the opened door. Fueled by my adrenaline and fear, the shadows did as I bid. They formed like great wings, visible only to me and Glitter, whose eyes widened as he shuffled further under a desk.

  I tightened my grip on the hangers and brought them before me, feet apart and ready to move in any direction. Half a heartbeat passed (though it felt like a lifetime), before the creature stepped through my shadow shield. The shadows coated the creature, like a thick film, like chocolate around a mold, wrapping around it gently without hurting it, only revealing its shape without betraying anything else.

  Like a ghost from my most terrible nightmares.

  It wasn’t that big – maybe five feet in height. With two sturdy legs, practically barrels, its shape seemed humanoid, with all the pieces where they should be. Except, instead of arms, it had four swords, one in each quadrant, sticking out. And its head was misshapen, like a triangle that turned into a rectangle halfway through.

  My shadows revealed its shape and movement, but none of its finer details. It paused, its head shifting from side to side as though realizing its invisibility was compromised.

  Now or never.

  Before it could recover, I threw a hanger its way and managed to hit it in the head, where I hoped an eye might be.

  But it didn’t connect, going straight through it and bouncing off something in the office beyond it.

  In those two, eternal seconds, Clay had pushed himself back to his feet, pulled out a curved blade, and headed for the creature, screaming in anger.

  The creature ignored him, walking straight for me, sword arms extended.

  “Shit,” I threw myself back, keeping my shadows around it, so that Clay would have something to target. Clay jumped from behind and landed a blow. This time, it connected, but the creature shrugged him off and sent him flying with a grunt, landing hard against a wall. Drywall and bricks shattered and tumbled on him, daylight breaking through the new hole.

  Clay crumpled and didn’t get up.

  “Clay!” I shouted but turned back to the creature as it accelerated toward me, my shadows now revealing a glint of its eyes.

  Intelligent, ferocious. Deadly.

  And targeting me.

  I kicked a chair its way and jumped over a desk, feet over my head, landing on the other side as gracefully as I could. It crossed the desk like it wasn’t even there.

  This was a hell of a lot more than just the ability to stay invisible. The desk hadn’t shifted under it, or moved, or shimmered.

  I took another step back, my last remaining hanger before me.

  Shit. This wasn’t going to go well.

  I pushed my shadows against it, heart hammering in my ears, willing them to hold the creature steady.

  For a split second, the creature paused and looked down in confusion. It studied my shadows, which tightened their grip, revealing more of the creature’s details.

  A chill ran down my spine. Not a creature. A man. No. A woman. A strong, angry, sword-bearing woman, with thick curls tight against her head, smart eyes narrowing as she approached.

  Oh shit.

  There was nowhere to go.

  I shifted left, recalled my shadows to fold around me and quickly swerved right the moment I’d vanished.

  The ruse would have worked, had her swords not been so damn long and struck my arm. I bit back a yelp, but she’d felt the contact and turned my way, four swords spinning around her chest like a circular saw.

  I ducked, but she was wise to me, leaning down, invading my shadows, the twirling stopping as two of the swords united to created one long, sword-wielding arm.

  Shit. She was deadly, but also kind of cool.

  Being eviscerated by someone cool was better that by someone not cool, I guess?

  I scrambled up, her sword coming down on me as I braced to at least try to block with my hanger…but the blow never connected.

  The sword stopped in midair. Glitter had stepped in front of me, standing much straighter than before. He held his hand up before the woman, his fingers spread out, elbow bent.

  For a split second, the creature didn’t move. Neither did Glitter. And neither did I, hanger still before me, crossed arms protecting my head. Th
e stale air turned sweet.

  Then the warrior-woman-creature-thing moved, vanishing out of my shadows.

  “Where did she go?” I asked, coming around to face Glitter. For a second, I didn’t see the goofy grin and green, unblinking eyes. A mask of seriousness hid his mummified features.

  “Glitter?” I asked. He blinked, and then the goofy smile re-appeared on his face.

  “Did I do it?” he said, his voice raspy.

  “I don’t know what you tried to do, but where did she go?”

  I gripped my hanger like my life depended on it.

  “She’s gone!” Glitter said. “I made her want sushi.”

  “I’m sorry?” I squinted around me, rippling my shadows out to see if I could reveal her. The shadows followed the waves of my adrenaline.

  “I can plant suggestions,” he said, still grinning. “And make people want things.”

  “Oh,” I said. I paused. “Wait. Did you do that to me?”

  “No,” he looked stricken. “Not to friend.”

  Clay!

  I’d forgotten all about him, with my worries of being cut in two. I ran to him and pulled him from the rubble. He was knocked out, sporting a bad cut across his arm, but he was alive. I swallowed hard, gently wiped some dust from his face.

  Too close.

  “You sure she’s gone?” I whispered to Glitter.

  “Sushi is very good,” he offered. He glanced down at Clay’s arm. “Bandage?”

  I looked at him and the dirty bandages wrapping his body skeptically. He pulled out some fresh bandages from his hoodie’s pocket.

  “Thanks,” I said, and quickly wrapped up Clay’s arm. It would need redressing soon, but at least this staunched the flow.

  “Okay,” I told Glitter. “Stay here with Clay. I’ll find help.”

  I handed him my hanger.

  “Um, okay,” he said, holding it gingerly with two fingers as though it was covered in spiders.

  “In case she comes back.”

  “Is there sushi near?”

  “No. In case she breaks free of your suggestion.”

  “Okay,” he said. “I won’t see her without your shadows.”

  “Just…stay here. Be quiet. Lay low. Keep Clay safe.”

  He looked even more incredulous as I spoke. I sighed. “I promise I won’t be long.”

  “Okay,” he said, and I turned to head back toward the Boss’ chamber. I glanced back at Glitter and Clay.

  Damn it, Clay. If you don’t get better before we’ve had a chance to clear the air, I’ll never forgive you.

  Or myself.

  #

  I stepped into the chamber which Clay had dragged me out of earlier. Apparently, he’d dragged me out just in time. Bodies covered on the floor. I recognized some of the fighters from his league. I hoped none were Clay’s friends.

  There were also bodies from the various leagues, guilds, organizations…all Traded who had gathered here.

  Equally slaughtered, without rhyme or reason.

  “Tira,” I heard the gasp behind me. I turned, to see Clay there, Glitter by his side. Clay looked shaken, but at least he was standing. I clasped hands with him. He looked as happy to see me as I was to see him.

  I felt relieved, adrenaline pumping out of my blood. But now wasn’t the time for a heart-to-heart.

  “I have to find Ian and Sonsil,” I said, my own voice distant in my ears.

  “This is my league,” pain laced his voice, which was much worse than the anger I’d expected.

  “Not all of the bodies are from your league,” I said gently. “Where did the rest hide?” He looked up slowly at me, as though trying to focus on me. “Where did the rest of them go, Clay?”

  “Down,” he said, “the rest of my league was gonna take shelter downstairs,” and he ducked out of the door. I bit my lower lip. Damn it. Ian and Sonsil had slipped out another door, but Clay was alone and they had each other at least…

  “Damn it,” I muttered and followed Clay, who’d already reached the stairs. Glitter stayed behind amidst the corpses, his green glowing eyes wide as he looked at the slaughter at his feet.

  Clay practically jumped down three flights of stairs before I reached him. “Wait,” I whispered urgently. “We don’t know where the monster is.”

  “Sushi,” Clay said. “Glitter said she went for sushi.”

  “Okay, but does he seem like the most stable and in-touch-with-reality person you’ve ever met?”

  “Good point,” Clay slowed down and stuck close so that I could wrap my shadows around us both. The shadows didn’t fight me, welcoming my embrace. Their usefulness had morphed into something more. Like an extension of me. I’d managed to use them in a completely different way.

  It had been exhilarating. And terrifying.

  And I hoped damn hard it was replicable.

  We reached the basement and Clay grinned back my way, though I could see the worry in his eyes. I nodded to him and crossed the threshold, into the corridor.

  I knew this place. I’d once come here to pick up Clay’s body, after he’d been poisoned by Ian. It hadn’t felt quite this ominous before, the flickering lights messing with my shadows. Keeping them steady with the fluctuating light proved tough, but my motivation was damn high.

  Clay indicated with his head that we were heading left. If I recalled correctly, that room held the garbage receptacles.

  The stench wafting from it confirmed my memory.

  Great.

  “We weren’t sure it could navigate by scent,” he whispered and shrugged. I stuck my tongue out in disgust.

  Clay opened the door, the stench intensifying, my stomach jumping in my throat. Awesome. That’s what this day needed.

  I tried not to think of sushi.

  Damn Glitter.

  Clay breathed out, and I realized he’d been holding his breath, not because of the stench (which was why I was holding mine), but because of his worry. I dropped my shadows, and the other fighters and Wolf Pack members saw Clay, smiles lighting their faces. A line of armed fighters, ready to stand to protect the others, broke and met Clay, hugs and fist bumps shared all around.

  They were safe. That was good. Clay was happy. That was also good.

  I was still worried about Ian and Sonsil. That was less good.

  I looked at Clay, among his own.

  His own. How far we’d come. And he’d never forgiven me for betraying him and giving the canister to the Guild of Shadows. That had been made clear.

  And, now that it had cost so many of his league’s members’ lives, he never would. I swallowed hard and turned around. I was almost out of the room before a hand caught mine.

  “I’ll come with you,” Clay said, squeezing my hand gently. I smiled slowly at him.

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “I’ve got your back,” he answered, with barely any hesitation. “For old time’s sake.”

  “Right.”

  He let go of my hand and we walked back up together.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Activity had resumed in the league, most of it rather morose. Bodies were being moved, mourned over. Adrenaline gave way to grief. A few injured received healing, but not many. Most who had encountered the intruder hadn’t survived.

  “They took her,” one of the Traded reported to the Boss. “They took Lorna.” I recognized the name, but only because Clay had told me who she was. A Traded who looked like an old woman.

  I had limited sympathy for her. She’d messed with Clay’s mind before, getting him to almost kill me. But she was also a Guild of Shadows operative, as far as I could tell. She could fold shadows too, in a different way than I could. I guess it hadn’t saved her, in the end.

  Where could she be? And why would they take her and not kill her? And when exactly had they done that?

  All the edges of the Boss’ face were hard as always, but something in her eyes softened for a split seco
nd. She turned and spotted me, her gaze settling on me.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, hoping she’d focus her attention elsewhere.

  “She’s been with me for years,” she said to me, though I suspected she’d have spoken to a plant if that were closer. I just happened to be the nearest sentient thing. “I shall miss her loyalty.”

  I certainly wasn’t about to tell her that I was pretty sure she was from the Guild of Shadows. “Has she been with you for the whole twenty years she’s been on this planet?” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  She turned to look at me, as though seeing me for the first time. “Twenty years? Did she look twenty to you?”

  I shrugged. “Well, no, but we all came over twenty years ago, so some of us must age at different speeds, I suppose.”

  “Oh, but you are a simple child, aren’t you?” She walked away, not saying anything else to me.

  Wow, thanks old woman.

  “Tira,” Ian seemed beyond relieved to see me. Glitter stuck close to him, though Ian ignored him. I smiled at both of them, genuinely glad to see them.

  “Are you and Sonsil okay?” I asked, looking beyond him, but unable to spot the leader of the Guild of Shadows in the throngs of bodies.

  “We are,” he said, his voice turning to a growl. “Though many weren’t so lucky.”

  I glanced at the ground slick with blood. My head pounded, nausea slithering inside me. Clay helped others move bodies, looking grim, his jaw clenched. His arm must be hurting like hell, but he didn’t mention it, the quick patchwork job I’d done already bleeding through.

  I wondered if Traded ever got vacation. I should ask. I could use one right about now. And so could Clay.

  “You should have stayed,” Ian said, so low I barely heard him.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, meeting his eyes. I’d rarely seen Ian pissed off. His dark eyes were narrow, his posture perfectly still, his nostrils slightly flared.

  “You should have stayed with Sonsil and I. Guild members have to keep each other safe.”

  “Clay dragged me out,” I said, knowing it sounded lame.

  “If you can’t break free from Clay’s grasp, then you are definitely not ready for the field.”