Warrior Unraveled

by Tina Folsom

  A few hundred of his demons stood in front of him, their heads bowed, their eyes averted. His other followers, the thousands dwelling in the many caves of the Underworld, would soon hear of this assembly and count themselves lucky that they hadn’t been among those tasked with sniffing out the Stealth Guardians who’d intruded into their world.

  “Who was in charge of the dogs? Step forward!”

  There was a movement in the crowd. Zoltan focused on it and watched as a demon with strawberry blond hair made his way through the assembled. Everybody seemed eager to get out of his way. It took a few moments before the demon who supervised the kennels and trained the dogs separated from his brethren and stopped a few yards away from Zoltan.

  He bowed. “I am Klaus, oh Great One.”

  “What have you got to say in your defense?”

  “We did everything we could. The dogs picked up a scent, but it turned out to be a diversion. The guardians must have disguised their smell. We couldn’t anticipate that.”

  Wrong answer. Zoltan grabbed Klaus by the throat and pushed him back to the edge of the pit. There, he snarled at him. “Excuses! I don’t want to hear excuses. Do you understand that?”

  “Yes, oh Great One,” the demon groveled.

  “Now try again. Why did you fail?”

  “It was m-m-my fault. Entirely mine.”

  Zoltan chuckled. “Better.” He tossed a sideways glance at his subjects who were watching the exchange with fear and trepidation. “And what do we do with men who fail me?”

  “Kill him,” the crowd said in unison.

  Satisfied that his underlings still towed the line, Zoltan looked back at his captive. “Did you hear what your brethren demand I do?”

  Klaus was trembling now, knowing that his fate was sealed. Zoltan felt satisfaction roll over him. He felt the other demon’s fear, loved the way it wrapped around the man like a cocoon. But this wasn’t the kind of cocoon that protected. This was the kind that destroyed from within. Because fear weakened. Fear undermined. Fear debilitated. That’s why he loved it so much: it turned his enemies into whimpering fools unable to fight back.

  Just like this shivering coward wasn’t fighting back.

  All Zoltan had to do was release him and he would tumble backward into the hell pit to be swallowed up by the liquid tar, suffering an agonizing death. But his death wouldn’t be for nothing: it would be an example to his brethren, teaching them that failure was unacceptable.

  Zoltan pushed Klaus farther back so his upper body was hanging over the pit, his legs still anchored to the ground, but off balance. Then he started to loosen his grip.

  “Oh Great One!”

  Zoltan glanced over his shoulder and saw Yannick hurrying into the cave.

  “Can’t you see I’m busy? What is it?”

  Yannick made a perfunctory bow, then quickly said, “The men you sent on the mission, one of them is back.”

  Zoltan knew immediately what mission Yannick was referring to. He pulled Klaus back so he stood on his own again. “Only one?”

  “Yes, oh Great One.” He motioned to the tunnel he’d come from. “This way.”

  Nodding, Zoltan released his grip on his captive’s neck, and turned to join Yannick, when he heard Klaus sigh in relief. He spun on his heel and glared at the demon.

  “Bad move.”

  With one hand, Zoltan shoved Klaus backward, sending him over the edge.

  A desperate scream dislodged from the demon’s throat as he fell into the hell pit. More screams followed. Screams of horrific pain and despair. But Zoltan was already marching out of the cave. As much as he wanted to watch his subject suffer, he had more important things to do.

  Ulric was waiting for them in the throne room, the largest cavern in the Underworld. Red flames flickered through the cracks of the uneven stone walls, gas burned from sconces along it, and a massive stone throne sat on a rock platform, stairs leading down to the large area where his subjects assembled to hear the Great One speak. Today the great hall was empty.

  “You may leave, Yannick,” Zoltan said without looking at him. He waited until the footsteps grew fainter and then vanished completely. Then he looked at Ulric. He appeared worse for wear, his clothes torn and green blood oozing from various wounds.

  “You’re alone?”

  Ulric nodded.

  “Where are the others?”

  “Dead, oh Great One.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure. We transported into the Stealth Guardians’ compound and spread out to do our reconnaissance, when I heard an alarm go off, and sounds of men fighting. I can only assume that my men were discovered.”

  Zoltan narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Yet you escaped. How fortunate.”

  “I tried to help them. I did what I could. There was much confusion. Too many Stealth Guardians running around, heading for their portal. I waited for them to leave in the hope of accessing their portal after them.”

  “Hmm.” At least that seemed like a smart idea. The best Ulric had probably had in his entire life. “And?”

  “They initiated a self-destruct sequence.”

  Zoltan sucked in a breath. “They willingly destroyed their own compound?”

  Ulric nodded eagerly. “They did. There was nothing left of the portal. I was lucky to get out alive.”

  “What took you so long to get back? I sent you there over twenty-four hours ago.”

  “The explosion. It knocked me unconscious. I hurried back as soon as I came to.”

  Hurried footsteps echoed from one of the tunnels leading to the throne room. Zoltan snapped his head in its direction and saw Vintoq running toward them.

  “I came as quickly as I heard, oh Great One,” Vintoq said. “Yannick informed me that your reconnaissance team attacked the compound.”

  Zoltan spun his head back to Ulric, glaring at him. “You didn’t say your team attacked first.”

  Ulric’s lips trembled and his eyes darted to Vintoq, then back to Zoltan. “We didn’t attack. I told my men to be stealthy. I cautioned them to hide, not to use their weapons. They knew it was a reconnaissance mission first and foremost. I never gave an order to attack.”

  “Hmm.” Zoltan contemplated his words. Was Ulric lying to save his hide?

  Vintoq sidled up to Zoltan. “Oh Great One, that’s not what Yannick overheard Ulric mumbling when he stepped out of the vortex on his arrival back here.”

  “No!” Ulric protested and searched Zoltan’s eyes. “You must believe me. I did nothing wrong. I followed your instructions to the letter.”

  “He’s lying. Punish him!” Vintoq demanded and reached for Ulric’s throat. Ulric pushed back.

  “There’s something else,” Ulric said, his gaze swinging back to Zoltan, panic evident. “In my pocket. I found something just before the place blew up. Just outside what looked like a conference chamber.”

  “Lies!” Vintoq hissed and squeezed Ulric’s throat, causing him to choke.

  Zoltan stepped in and reached into Ulric’s pocket. He pulled a shiny device from it. A cell phone covered in a silver casing.

  “Vintoq, stand down. Release him!”

  Vintoq shot a look at Zoltan, defiance spewing from his eyes. “But, oh Great One. He’s a failure. He didn’t follow your orders.”

  Ulric fought for air, clawing at Vintoq in desperation.

  “Let him go!” Zoltan repeated. “Or you’ll suffer his fate instead.”

  Immediately Vintoq released his victim. Ulric coughed and breathed hard, sucking deep breaths of air into his lungs.

  Zoltan lifted the cell phone, showing it to Vintoq. “This will more than make up for the botched mission.” He woke the cellphone and scrolled through its contact list. Dozens of names and numbers. A veritable goldmine.

  He lifted his head and looked at Ulric. “Despite your team’s failure, you’ve done well.” Because this phone was better than a blueprint of the Stealth Guardians’ compound.

  “Congratulation
s. You get to live.”

  For now.

  17

  Armed with two daggers, Wes raced after Virginia, who’d already reached the door to the kitchen from which loud sounds of banging and voices originated. She looked over her shoulder, nodding at him. She was equally armed, and judging by the fierce expression on her face, ready to fight to the death.

  Virginia put her hand on the door handle, but Wes stopped her and whispered, “Smoke.” He put his palm on the door to feel if it was hot, but to his relief it wasn’t. “It’s cold.” At least they wouldn’t be hit with a backdraft, though there was no way of knowing what would greet them.

  “I’ll take the left, you take the right,” Virginia instructed.

  Wes nodded, then Virginia ripped the door open and charged inside. He barreled after her into the room, smoke making his eyes tear up immediately. Still, he was ready to fight, even if he had a hard time keeping his eyes open.

  “Ugh!” Somebody coughed.

  The sound was high-pitched, coming from a woman, he was certain.

  “Virginia?”

  Another sound, this time a whooshing sound, then some clanging and the sound of an exhaust.

  Then a thud and the sounds of two people fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

  “Fuck!”

  This time, Wesley recognized the female voice. “Enya?”

  He charged toward the melee, able to see the outlines of the two people fighting. “Shit, Virginia! Let go of her. It’s Enya.” The smoke was dissipating now, being sucked out through the powerful exhaust over the stove.

  He reached Virginia and Enya just as Virginia let go of her fellow Stealth Guardian.

  Enya stumbled backward. “What the fuck was that for?” She glared at Virginia, her eyes mirrors of fury.

  From the open door, Wes perceived the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.

  “The alarm,” Wes quickly explained, whirling toward the door, his daggers ready. “You’re under attack by the demons.”

  “What?” Enya choked out.

  Two men charged in: Logan and Manus.

  “What’s going on here?” Logan yelled.

  Virginia, breathing hard, rushed to Wesley’s side. “We heard the alarm and assumed the compound was being attacked.”

  Manus stopped and laughed. “That was just one of Enya’s attempts at cooking.”

  “Shit, that was the fire alarm?” Wes asked, turning his head to Virginia, who stared at the two men, her mouth agape.

  “There’s no need to laugh, you ass,” Enya griped from behind them. “Not my fault that the pancakes burned. I was just trying to keep them warm.”

  Logan walked to the stove. On top of the burners sat a tray with pancakes that resembled the lava stones of the Underworld in color, though not in temperature: they were still smoldering. Logan chuckled and pointed to the controls of the oven, the door of which still stood open. “You do know what broil means, Enya, don’t you?” He turned the knob to the off position and turned his back to the oven.

  Enya grunted something unintelligible. “Well, it’s still no reason to charge in here and attack me. I was dealing with it.” She pointed to the fire extinguisher that lay on the floor.

  Virginia braced her hands on her hips and glared at Enya. “Well, excuse me for wanting to save your compound from a demon attack!”

  “Why don’t we all calm down, huh?” The advice came from Aiden, who’d just appeared in the door. “We’ve got bigger fish to fry than Enya’s inedible pancakes.” He turned his gaze to Wesley. “You’re alive.” And as if he only now noticed Virginia, he quickly motioned toward her and added, “You, too, Counselor.”

  Wes nodded. “It’s been quite a trip.”

  “We got word of the attack on the council compound. Nobody had word of either of you. We didn’t think you’d made it out.”

  “Yeah, and I can tell how broken up you all were about that,” Virginia said in an icy voice.

  Aiden cast her a sideways glance. “No offense, Counselor, that we weren’t all sitting around crying, but we’ve been busy shoring up our defenses to protect our own compound. Every compound in the world is on lockdown; we’re all running on emergency protocol.”

  Virginia nodded and took a visible breath. “Fine. What of the rest of the council? Did they all make it to their safe houses?”

  Aiden nodded. “I was in contact with my father not an hour ago. There are no losses to report. But nobody is leaving the security of the compounds for a while.”

  “And here?” Wes asked. “Is everybody accounted for?”

  “Hamish is bringing Tessa back from City Hall as we speak. There was an important meeting she couldn’t miss. Jay and Sean have brought their charges to a safe house and will remain there with them until this blows over. Pearce is in the command center, monitoring all messages coming in from the other compounds.”

  “And Leila?” Wes asked, surprised that Aiden hadn’t mentioned his wife yet.

  “She’s been feeling sick this morning. She’s in our quarters, resting.” He motioned to Enya, grinning. “That’s why Enya volunteered to cook, with catastrophic results, if I may add.”

  “Can we stop talking about my cooking skills?” Enya snapped and glared at her colleagues. “And if Counselor Robson hadn’t taken Wesley away, I wouldn’t have had to cook, now would I?”

  “I’m right here,” Virginia ground out from between clenched teeth. “And I won’t tolerate your insubordination.”

  “Well, then maybe I should file a complaint about you attacking me out of the blue when you could clearly see it was me! How would that look on your spotless record, huh, Counselor?” Enya narrowed her eyes, daring Virginia to respond.

  And from what Wesley could see, Virginia was going to respond, which would only escalate the situation. “Maybe you can cut your counselor some slack, considering that she just took a trip to the Underworld and barely got out alive.”

  That shut everybody up.

  Logan whistled through his teeth.

  “Are you fucking serious?” Aiden asked, his gaze bouncing between Wesley and Virginia like a ping-pong ball in a confined space.

  “That’s impossible,” Manus croaked.

  “How?” Enya asked. “Nobody’s ever been to their world.”

  “We’ll happily give you a full update and—” Wes said.

  “Get everybody together in the command room, I’ll brief you,” Virginia interrupted him.

  The four Stealth Guardians were already marching toward the door and into the corridor, when Virginia grabbed Wesley’s arm and held him back.

  “You’re not gonna exclude me, are you?” he asked. So much for having saved her life.

  “I’m not. But you have to understand one thing: you’re not in charge here. This is my domain.”

  Wes raised an eyebrow. “You’re worried. Something I should know about?”

  “Just don’t forget that you’re still a prisoner, even though I’m not locking you up.”

  He was about to reply, when Aiden called out, “Are you coming?”

  “Yes!” Wes replied and hurried into the hallway, catching up with the others.

  Logan was on the phone. “Meet us in the command center. Yes, ten minutes.” He disconnected the call. “Hamish will be back in a few minutes.”

  “Good, then we won’t have to tell the story twice,” Wes said.

  “Can’t wait to hear about it,” Aiden said, slapping Wesley on the back. “I’m really glad you made it. Gave us all a bit of a scare when the council told us that you were missing. They suspected you had something to do with the demons’ attack and that you might have killed Virginia.”

  “Hope you didn’t believe that.”

  Aiden shrugged. “The part about you helping the demons, maybe. But when my dad said that Virginia was believed to be dead and that you might have killed her, I knew he was wrong.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “You wouldn’t kill the woman whose pants you want to get into, right?�
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  “Right.” Even though right now he was a tad pissed at the woman whose pants he’d already been in, because she was treating him like he meant nothing to her. But that was none of Aiden’s business. He’d deal with that later.

  Hamish showed up as promised and joined them in the command center only ten minutes later—without Tessa. He’d taken her to check on Leila in case she needed anything. Pearce sat at the console, keeping an eye on the messages that popped up on various screens. Aiden had pulled several chairs around the console for everyone to sit, but Wes hopped on a desk and sat there instead, while Virginia leaned against it, keeping her distance from him as if she didn’t want to get too close.

  “Okay, let me give you the basics,” Virginia started and launched into a retelling of their ordeal in the Underworld, including how they’d escaped, but excluding what had happened later at the motel.

  Once or twice a guardian interrupted her to clarify some part of the story, but for the most part all of them listened intently, soaking up every single word. After a lot of head shaking, exclamations of admiration, and a considerable amount of cursing, Virginia had the other guardians up to speed on the events that took place in the demons’ lair.

  For a moment there was silence. Then Aiden said, “I remember hearing Zoltan’s thoughts in the vortex when we were rescuing Leila. It’s exactly how you described it.”

  “I read the report a while ago,” Virginia said, “but I didn’t realize that was you.”

  “Not that this knowledge has helped us in any way,” Aiden replied. “I think what Wes figured out is much more valuable.”

  Wesley lifted his chin. “You mean my theory of how the lost portals came to be?”

  Hamish pushed away from the console he’d been leaning against. “I found the first of the lost portals over a year ago. I’ve been trying to figure out ever since how they could have come into existence.” He looked at Virginia. “Counselor Robson, I’m sure you remember the stories from the Dark Days when many of our compounds were destroyed by not only demons, but also by human wars and natural disasters. I suspect that the old rocks that disguised the entrances to our portals were later reused by humans to build other structures: bridges, monuments, churches, warehouses.”