Alphas and Airships_A Steampunk Fairy Tale

by Melanie Karsak

  Harper took a seat not far from the wheelstand.

  I held on to a rope and followed Lily’s gaze as she guided the airship toward… What? A ray of sunlight. I frowned. Was she looking for wind?

  The airship turned, and a moment later, a strange gust picked up from behind and propelled the ship forward. Quickly.

  My legs buckled, and I took a couple of clumsy steps as I fought to regain my balance.

  Lily chuckled. “I told you to take a seat.”

  I looked from her to the clouds around us. They seemed far too still for the velocity pushing us. “Where is that wind coming from?” I asked.

  “Just a south wind,” Lily said casually, but a smirk played on her lips.

  The girl in the burner basket chuckled, earning her a reproachful glare from the pilot who was, apparently, her mother.

  Orlando grinned at me then went belowdecks with Angus.

  The bottoms of my feet were tingling, and the roots of my hair felt charged with energy.

  I slipped off my eyepatch then pulled out my night optic array. There was something here I couldn’t see. I moved to pull the optic on, but then I stopped.

  While my good eye saw nothing more than the sun, clouds, and sky, my mooneye saw something more. I wouldn’t have even noticed it if I hadn’t been looking for it, but directly before the ship was a glimmer of light, like a parallel ray of sunshine. It seemed to be coming from the ground, emanating from the land itself. Frowning, I looked behind us. It was there as well. And the Aphrodite was flying along its course.

  I turned and looked at Lily.

  She met my gaze. From behind the goggles she wore, I could see her eyes take in my mangled face. To my relief, I didn’t spy an expression of pity. More, there was an acceptance in her gaze that told me she understood that life was not always easy, kind, nor fair. And that, sometimes, gifts are born from pain.

  “You see?” she asked.

  I nodded. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing, but there was something there. A line of energy. And the airship racer had tapped into it and was riding on it.

  “Have a seat. We’ll be there soon.”

  My optic still in my hand, I went and sat beside Agent Harper.

  “What is it?” Harper asked.

  I looked from the airship racer back to my partner. In truth, I didn’t exactly know what I was seeing. It was something that, as much of what my mooneye saw, was both in this world and not of this world. Whatever this strange energy was, it propelled us forward. Quickly.

  “Nothing,” I said then pulled my night optic array on. “Nothing.”

  Chapter 19: The Aphrodite

  Harper kept one eye on her pocket watch and another on the landscape below. “We’re making incredible time,” she said, looking confused. “I guess what they always said was true. No one is faster than Lily Stargazer.” She cast a suspicious glance at the pilot.

  If there was one thing for sure, working for the Red Cape Society taught you to mistrust everything. Nothing was ever what it seemed.

  When I looked at Lily, however, I was very confident that she was human. In fact, being in the presence of such a legend was very sobering. She was human, and from the feeling I got from her, painfully human.

  I wanted to ask more times than I could count why she wasn’t flying the famous Stargazer. Maybe she’d retired the ship. Maybe she realized it was too recognizable. Or maybe the Aphrodite was more equipped for this kind of fast flying. Something told me, however, that Lily Stargazer didn’t like questions, so I didn’t ask.

  “We’re coming up on Thurso,” Lily told us.

  Harper rechecked her pocket watch. “Already?”

  Lily nodded.

  “We may have outpaced the Jacobite,” Harper told me then went to the pilot. “Steer clear of the shipping lanes. Go this route. We need a look at North Ronaldsay, but we need to stay out of sight.”

  “Clouds will be thick north of the island,” the girl in the basket said.

  Lily frowned at her once more.

  I suppressed a chuckle, seeing my Grand-mere’s scolding expression on the pilot’s face. Did all mothers and daughters have that underlying tension?

  Lily guided the ship away from the glimmer of light we were currently following to a course that would send us around the north tip of the island.

  “Up thirty percent,” she told her daughter who readily complied.

  “Angus, drop speed,” she called to the gear galley.

  There was a click as the propeller at the back of the ship slowed almost to a stop. When the balloon began to fill, the ship coasted to a halt then started to lift into the clouds. The quick drop in acceleration followed by the lift caught my stomach off guard, and for a split second, I thought I might throw up.

  Hell’s bells. No, no, no.

  I inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly, willing myself not to chunder on the deck of Lily Stargazer’s ship.

  Pulling out the flask, I took another sip.

  The air cooled as we lifted into the clouds. Suddenly, it grew misty. The sun, entirely occluded by the clouds, gave everything an odd grey sheen trimmed in gold.

  Checking her instruments, Lily made a slight adjustment to the course.

  Orlando appeared from belowdecks once more. This time, he carried two guns which he started loading. The first was a long rifle…or so I thought. It had a unique design. It was like a hunting rifle but equipped with a revolver. His other weapon was a standard Colt 45 just like I carried.

  Willing my stomach to be still, I crossed the deck of the ship and knelt to look at the long rifle.

  “That’s different,” I said, eyeing it over. It looked like something Master Hart might dream up.

  “Specialty item,” he said with a knowing smile.

  “But this I recognize,” I said, motioning to his weapon. Pushing my cape aside, I gestured to my own weapon.

  He nodded. “But those don’t appear to be standard issue,” he said, tapping the silver vambraces on my forearms.

  “Just a precaution.”

  “In case?”

  “In case anyone gets too toothy,” I replied.

  Orlando raised an eyebrow at me.

  I reached into my satchel and pulled out a box of bullets. “You’ll want these.”

  He opened the box, looked inside, then looked back up at me. “Silver?”

  I nodded.

  He cast a quick glance at his mother who shook her head as she frowned.

  Orlando loaded his gun with the silver bullets. “Interesting line of work you have.”

  “I believe we’re recruiting.”

  He chuckled softly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  The airship drifted slowly through the clouds. So far, no sign of the Fenrir, the ravens, or the Jacobite.

  Lily kept the Aphrodite moving at a slow pace as she crept through the clouds. It was so silent. In a way, it was peaceful. The air was crisp, a soft mist caressing my face. And the wind was clean. I inhaled deeply, blessing Mrs. Martin once again.

  I cast a glance back at Lily Stargazer.

  She was gazing out at the clouds, the strange green goggles on her face. Her brow was furrowed. A moment later, she went to a storage cabinet not far from the wheelstand and pulled out a small case. I couldn’t see what she was doing, but she returned shortly with something in her hands.

  Lily went to the side of the ship. To my surprise, she whispered toward her closed hands then released…a bird? I didn’t know what she’d released. I saw a flash of glimmering gold as something small and fast flew from her hands.

  Harper, who had also been watching, strained to see.

  Lily folded her arms across her chest and stood frowning at the clouds.

  “Mum?” the girl in the basket called.

  “Let’s give her a minute,” Lily replied.

  I looked at Harper who shrugged.

  A few moments later, I heard an odd buzzing sound then saw a flash of light as something bright moved toward the ship. I
t flew fast, first around the girl in the basket—who chuckled happily—then toward me.

  The fast flying creature stopped a moment, hovering before me.

  It was…a fairy. A clockwork fairy.

  The finger-sized clockwork creation fluttered on thinly crafted metal wings. The tiny fey thing bowed to me then went back to the airship racer.

  Too far away to see what was transpiring between the racer and the clockwork fairy, I could just make out a strange ringing sound. The airship racer nodded then went back to the wheel. The tiny fair woman disappeared back into the clouds once more.

  “Well, seems we’re just on time,” Lily said.

  “On time for what?” Harper asked.

  “The battle. Better take another sip, Agent Louvel,” she said then motioned to the girl in the balloon basket.

  The girl grinned at me. “Sorry,” she said and then turned a lever on the burner, shutting it off.

  There was this brief moment when nothing happened.

  And then, we began to fall.

  Fast.

  Chapter 20: Down She Goes

  I closed my eyes as the ship—and my stomach—went hurtling down.

  “Get ready,” Lily called. “Angus?”

  “On it, Lily.”

  She must have motioned then—I couldn’t see because my eyes were still closed as I prayed to any god who would listen—because a moment later, I heard a loud hiss as the balloon began to inflate. Just like when a kite catches the wind, there was a tug. Suddenly, the terrible downward descent stopped.

  But the moment it did, I heard the sound of gunfire. A lot of it.

  “Clemeny,” Harper said, her voice full of alarm.

  I opened my eyes to see we were just above the cove where Skollson’s crew had been hiding out. There, the Jacobite was engaged in battle with the Fenrir. The Viking ship was still docked and was currently on fire. Shadow Watch agents were on the beach, storming the cave. But so were Skollson’s crew. Even though the moon wasn’t out, the wolves were still stronger than three men. MacGregor had brought numbers. Good. He was going to need them.

  There was a loud explosion followed by a cracking sound.

  Harper gasped.

  The Fenrir had launched a bomb at the Jacobite. A massive hole had ripped into the side of the ship. The ropes tying the Jacobite’s balloon to the gondola had come partially undone. The airship tipped and began to fall toward the water.

  At the same time, the Fenrir pulled out of port and turned to head across the land.

  Racing to the prow of the Aphrodite, I scanned the Fenrir. The gondola was still on fire, but a light crew of five or so had taken off, Zayde Skollson at the wheel.

  “Follow them,” I called back to Lily.

  Toward the trouble. Always toward the trouble.

  Without another word, the pilot turned her airship to make chase after the Fenrir.

  “Speed, Angus. Now,” Lily called.

  “Orlando, what’s the range on that rifle?” I called.

  Lifting the weapon, he rushed toward the front of the ship, joining me.

  “Far, but my aim’s not good enough to hit a man.”

  “One, those aren’t men. Two, we don’t need to shoot them. And three, if you do need to shoot them, use the other bullets,” I said then looked at Harper who had joined us. “Could use Quartermain about now.”

  Harper smiled.

  “If we shoot out their balloon, they’ll crash, yes?” I called back to Lily.

  “That will do it,” she replied.

  I looked at Orlando. “If you don’t mind.”

  Steadying his weapon, he took aim through the scope. He inhaled then let out a long, slow breath. And then, he fired.

  The gun rattled as it let out a barrage of bullets.

  I stared at the Fenrir.

  Skollson ran to the stern of the airship and looked back, his eyes flashing red.

  The Fenrir shuddered as the balloon began to deflate.

  “There’s a hole. Yes. The tear is ripping open fast,” Harper said as she gazed out her spyglass.

  The propeller at the back of the Fenrir kicked into high speed as the ship tried to make some distance between us. At the same time, the Viking ship was losing altitude. Skollson turned and yelled to his crew.

  “Can you get us over there,” I called to Lily.

  She nodded.

  “They’re going to crash,” I told Harper. “We need to get on the ground. There are five of them on the ship. Kill or capture, either will work. Don’t get bit.”

  I saw a flash of nervousness cross her face, but then she clenched her jaw, nodded, and grabbed her gun.

  Lily moved the Aphrodite toward the Fenrir. The Viking airship was going down in the field where Harper and I had hidden. In the distance, I spotted the circle of stones. And, for the first time, I noticed that bright line of energy that seemed to emanate from them in the cardinal directions.

  “There,” I told Lily, pointing to the stones.

  Understanding, she guided the Aphrodite toward the glowing light.

  Once again, the ship powered forward quickly, making up the space between the Fenrir and us in no time.

  The first of the wolves began to bail out as the Fenrir’s rudder bumped the ground. Four more followed.

  “You go after Skollson,” Harper told me.

  Grabbing a rope, she climbed up onto the side of the airship. With a nod, Harper jumped from the side of the ship and slipped down the rope. She rolled when she hit the ground then sprung up a moment later and looked all around. Spotting one of the Vikings trying to make his escape, she set off in a sprint after him.

  “Mum,” the girl in the balloon basket called.

  A moment later, there was a loud boom and a flash of orange as the airship Fenrir crashed.

  Turning the ship, Lily guided the Aphrodite toward the Fenrir. I looked back at her. There was a strange expression on her face. Her features blank, Lily stared at the burning airship, her eyes looking haunted.

  “This is where I get off,” I told Orlando then grabbed a rope. “Circle around. Harper may need you. Silver bullets, remember?”

  He nodded.

  Climbing up on the rail, I looked back at Lily.

  The pilot nodded to me.

  Taking a deep breath, I held onto the rope then jumped.

  Chapter 21: Zayde Skollson

  Ignoring the sharp, searing pains in my ankles, I hit the ground running. I couldn’t let Skollson get away. Snatching up his crew was less critical. If you didn’t take out the alpha, the pack could always be reformed.

  Of course, he also could have died when the airship crashed.

  But I seriously doubted I’d get that lucky.

  As I raced toward the burning wreckage, I saw some wood shift and Zayde Skollson emerged from the rubble.

  No, not lucky.

  Pulling my gun, I took aim and pulled the trigger.

  Miss.

  Skollson turned around and glared at me, red flames in his eyes.

  Dammit. My aim was completely off.

  And, because apparently, Skollson was just as much of a fool as I was, he turned and rushed me.

  I paused and pulled out my second pistol which I always kept stashed in my boot. I inhaled, squinted my good eye closed, and looked out through my mooneye. I saw his silhouette as he advanced on me. Damn, he was fast. And big. And getting closer.

  Exhaling slowly, I pulled the trigger.

  Skollson let out a strangled howl.

  Opening both eyes, I saw the werewolf’s knee buckle. But still, he advanced.

  Hell’s bells.

  Taking aim once more, I tried for the other knee.

  But before I could get off a shot, something hit me hard from behind.

  I gasped. One of my guns bounced out of my hand as something pushed me to the ground. I wriggled from the grasp of a second wolf.

  Ah, there was lucky number thirteen, right where I least expected him. He must have bailed o
ut then came looking for Skollson.

  Pulling my knife, I turned on the werewolf.

  Skollson, seeing his underling had gotten me in hand, turned and rushed across the field away from me. Coward.

  The werewolf snarled at me, cursed me in Norwegian, and then attacked.

  Stupid wolf.

  I ducked. The bruteish figure, expecting to make an impact, had thrown all his weight into the punch. I stuck out my leg, tripping him as I slid to the side. He stumbled stupidly then fell.

  Moving fast, I snatched the silver handcuffs from my belt and jumped on the brute’s back, pressing him into the ground. Grabbing his arm, I yanked his hand behind his back and slapped on the handcuff.

  The wolf let out a howl.

  “Now, enough of that already,” I said, tugging on his other arm and snapping the cuff around his hand.

  The wolf pulled away. Struggling to his feet, he turned and glared at me, cursing me in his native tongue as he winced in pain.

  Crossing my arms, I rolled my eyes at him. “Look, first of all, I don’t understand a thing you’re saying. And two,” I said, then moving quickly, I punched him as hard as I could between the eyes.

  The wolf swayed a moment, his curses dying in his throat, then dropped.

  “Good boy. Stay right there.”

  I turned and scanned the field. In the distance, I spotted the Aphrodite hovering not far from the cliff. I couldn’t see Harper.

  I also couldn’t see Skollson.

  I cast my gaze around. There was nothing here, and he couldn’t have gotten that far away already.

  My eyes came to rest on the standing stones. Picking up my gun, I turned and ran in that direction, my knife ready.

  As I approached the stones, I cast my gaze on the grass nearby. The long blades were bent in a path leading into the stones. The broken grass led in but not back out. He was here.

  I stood just outside the stones. I felt their energy, their vibration. All the hair on my arms had risen. My palms itched. Scanning the stones, I didn’t see Skollson anywhere.