Stone Cold Bastards

by Jake Bible

  “None of the teenagers were in there,” Olivia said as she walked up to a spot directly beneath Artus. “Nor Hannah or Birch or Parsons. Where are they?”

  “They have left,” Artus stated. “The three adults have gone to search for the teenagers outside the sanctuary grounds.”

  “What? Why?” Olivia exclaimed.

  “Oh, I know,” Geffe said as he joined them. He was quickly followed by Deek, Nissa and Tessa, and Scythia.

  “Anything new?” Antoine asked Scythia. The small grotesque shook her eagle head. “Okay. That’s good. Right?”

  “Geffe? Why did so many wards leave the sanctuary?” Olivia asked, ignoring Antoine and Scythia’s brief interaction.

  “Long story,” Geffe said. “Which I will now tell because the look on your face says I’d better or I’ll become gravel for a walking path.”

  Geffe filled Olivia in on the midday drama that had transpired. Nissa and Tessa thought it was hilarious. The rest, not so much. Artus remained indifferent which troubled Olivia more than any of the tale’s revelations.

  “So weak,” Olivia muttered. “Their flesh is so weak.”

  “The world can’t all be made of stone,” Antoine said.

  “Xue and Coins are still outside?” Olivia asked.

  “On the front steps,” Scythia replied. “They are keeping watch.”

  “How is Jack holding up?” Olivia asked. No one responded. “You all forgot about Jack. He is on the outside with the possessed. If they try to breach the gates, he will be the first of us to die.”

  “Can we die?” Nissa asked. “Because I feel like I could live forever.”

  “Yeah, I’m totally fucking invulnerable,” Tessa said. “I got magic up my wazoo. So, unless the possessed plan on spelunking in my wazoo, they ain’t getting that magic away from me.”

  “Nice,” Nissa laughed. “I love the picture that painted.”

  “I know, right?” Tessa replied.

  “We are not invulnerable,” Olivia said. “There are ways to harm us. Especially if the sanctuary is breached. If the demons can do that, then we will be severely affected. Our power derives from the very concept of sanctuary. If that magic cracks, then our power cracks.”

  “Gee, O, so glad you woke up to tell us that,” Nissa said. “Wrong side of the pedestal much?”

  “You should seriously think of taking up coffee,” Tessa added. “It helps the wards kill the grumpy grumps when they wake up. Might do wonders for you.”

  Olivia’s face was illuminated by a bright, white light and her features turned ugly so fast that the faeries actually flinched and shrunk back from her.

  “Olivia,” Artus said quietly. “Calm yourself.”

  Olivia did calm herself, but everyone could see the effort it took. Even after returning to her normal, composed beauty, the dangerous light still played around the edges of her stone features.

  “This is no joking matter,” Olivia said. “We are duty-bound to give our lives for this sanctuary. A sanctuary created in order to protect its wards.” She held up a hand to fend off any comments or arguments from the faeries, which she knew they were only a breath away from voicing. “Regardless of whether you believe that to be true or not, that is the situation we are in. We fight for our wards or we perish when the demons possess not only the last of humanity, but this very planet and realm we exist in.”

  “She is correct,” Artus said. “We are connected to this sanctuary for one reason only. To keep the demons from possessing the wards under our protection within these walls.”

  “What about the ones outside the walls?” Olivia asked.

  “Those who chose to leave these walls are beyond our protection now,” Artus replied. “But for those still here, we must do all we can to keep them from becoming vessels for more demons. If that happens, then the purpose for our existence is ended. All is lost and we will have failed.”

  The last word echoed in the courtyard and hit the Gs hard. Failure was not something any of them took lightly. Failure was an abomination, a weakness that Gs refused to acknowledge. Failure was as much the enemy as the possessed who were massing outside the iron fence.

  “So,” Olivia said. “It is time to prepare our wards for what is to come. We must build them up with confidence so they do not panic when the attack begins.”

  “We don’t want that,” Deek said and scrunched up his fawn face. “Panicked wards are creepy. Don’t you think they’re creepy? I think they’re creepy.”

  “I can second that, partner,” Geffe said. “Panicked wards are creepy. And a pain in my donkey ass.”

  “You have a man ass,” Nissa said.

  “Your head is all donkey,” Tessa added.

  “But how do you tell them apart?” Scythia asked.

  The Gs burst into laughter, including Geffe. Neither Olivia nor Artus joined in the mirth.

  “One of us will need to fetch the missing wards,” Olivia said, bringing the laughter to a quickly spoiled end.

  “Olivia, I have already spoken on this matter,” Artus said.

  “Yes, you have,” Olivia said. “But I disagree. Now, more than ever, we must bring all the wards together inside the sanctuary. Foolish humans or not, they are in need of our protection, no matter where they go.” She waited for Artus to argue, but he didn’t. “I need a volunteer.”

  “I’ll do it,” Scythia said. “I’m the smallest. I can move around without the possessed seeing me.”

  “Good,” Olivia said. “Artus? Where did they go?”

  Artus hesitated then said, “Through the library and out the tunnels.”

  “I’m on it,” Scythia said and was out of the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

  “Antoine, you and I will brief the wards,” Olivia said. “Geffe, you let Xue and Coins know what is happening.”

  “Should I tell Elisa to come inside?” Geffe asked. “She’s on the steps with Coins.”

  “What?” Olivia cried then regained her composure. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I take a nap and everyone gets. . . . Tell that woman to get within the cathedral’s walls now. This is no time for her to act like she is as strong as us.”

  “In a way, she is,” Artus said.

  Olivia glanced up at him, but didn’t have time to ask for an explanation of the cryptic remark.

  “Nissa and Tessa? I want you to inventory the armory,” Olivia said. “We all have our own unique abilities, but when the fight comes, none of us will have a chance to go solid and recharge. Having the armory ready will allow us to continue fighting.”

  “Yes,” Nissa said and pumped her arm to her side. “We get weapons duty.”

  “Fucking A, we do,” Tessa said.

  “Are we clear on what our duties are?” Olivia asked.

  Deek raised his hand. “Uh, what about me?”

  “You stay in the courtyard with Artus,” Olivia said. “Once the fight begins, I want you ready to sound an alarm with your flute if any of the possessed try to harm him. I’m counting on you, Deek. That flute of yours could be all that stands between our death or our survival.”

  “Oh, man,” Deek said, his voice quavering.

  “Buck up, Bambi,” Nissa said. “You get to get your Jethro Tull on. Totes jealous.”

  “Totes,” Tessa said.

  “You can handle this, Deek,” Olivia said. “I have faith in you.”

  Deek gave them a shy smile and nodded. His hand went to his pan flute on his hip and he stroked the pipes over and over with nervous energy.

  “Good. Duties are assigned,” Olivia said. “Let’s get to them.”

  No one moved.

  “What?” she asked.

  “That’s it?” Geffe asked. “Let’s get to them? I gotta say that the cowboys back on t
he ranch I used to live on had better rallying cries than that. And they were ankle-deep in cattle crap half the time.”

  “A rallying cry would be cool,” Nissa said.

  “It would?” Tessa asked. “I think it would be lame.”

  “I’ll let you all think one up,” Olivia said. “Until then, move some stone ass.”

  “Move some stone ass,” Geffe said. “I like it.”

  “Needs work,” Nissa said.

  “A lot,” Tessa added.

  “Go!” Olivia shouted.

  They went.

  She sighed and looked back to Artus.

  “Can you sense how far away the wards outside are?” she asked him.

  “I cannot extend my perception that far,” Artus said.

  “You used to be able to,” Olivia said.

  “I used to be able to do a great many things, Olivia,” Artus replied, “but the years have drained me. It is all I can do to maintain our current level of protection.”

  That statement terrified Olivia, but she didn’t voice her fear. She smiled at Artus and placed a hand on the corner stonework beneath him. She could feel the warmth of his magic.

  “Do not,” Artus commanded and Olivia yanked her hand back.

  “What?” she asked, her faux innocence fooling no one.

  “You were about to transfer some of your energy into me,” Artus stated. “I cannot allow that, Olivia. You will need all of your strength. I will be fine.”

  Olivia didn’t deny it nor argue. Her smile faltered and she nodded up at Artus then turned to Antoine.

  “Come along,” she said. “The wards must be informed.”

  8

  HANNAH, BIRCHSTEIN, and Parsons had only been out of the tunnels and away from the sanctuary grounds for twenty minutes before they came across the group of teens. Hannah was so happy to see them all together and alive, she almost didn’t notice that the group had grown until they were on the teenagers.

  “Who are you?” Hannah asked Jon and the men who stood behind him. When he was slow to respond, she snapped, “I asked you a question.”

  Jon grinned and lifted his sunglasses, a sign that he was willing to show he wasn’t one of the possessed. Hannah didn’t return the favor. She made sure her sunglasses were on tight and pressed her lips together in a thin line of disapproval.

  “This is Jon,” Gil said, stepping forward. “These are his friends.”

  “Look like a gang to me,” Parsons said under his breath. Birchstein shushed him.

  “We stumbled on your wayward teens back in town,” Jon said. “They looked lost so we thought we’d show them the way home.”

  “They know the way home,” Hannah said and turned to face Gil head-on. “That information is not something they should be sharing with strangers.”

  “Strangers?” Jon chuckled. “We ain’t strangers, lady. We’re all friends here. Or we should be. I like to help my friends. Gil thought you could use some help.”

  “We are fine, thank you,” Hannah replied. “Gil? I want you, all of you, to get back to the. . . . To get back home. Now. I will work things out with Jon.”

  “It’s already been worked out,” Jon said. “A little quid pro quo. I help you and yours, you help me and mine.”

  “We are fine, thank you,” Hannah repeated, but with considerably more ice in her voice.

  “Nah, I don’t think you are,” Jon said. “The kids here seem to know a lot about your medical supplies. Or lack of. It took me some doing, but I finally got an inventory out of them. It looks like you all may be in need of what I happen to have.”

  Jon held out a hand and one of the men behind him unslung a backpack and placed the strap in Jon’s hand. He tossed the pack to Hannah without hesitation.

  “Open it,” he said. “You are going to like what you see.”

  Hannah opened it. Inside were an assortment of boxes of blister packs and pill bottles. Hannah carefully went through the pack, noting the names and dates on the boxes and bottles.

  “These are all expired,” she said and tossed the pack back to Jon. “No good to us.”

  “Lady, everything is expired in this world,” Jon said, chuckling softly. He shook his head. “You ain’t gonna find fresh antibiotics anywhere. No matter how hard you look.”

  “They could be toxic,” Hannah said. “Spoiled.”

  “Nope,” Jon said. “Not these. They’ve been kept in a cool, dry place the entire time. Vic over there had himself a nasty cold last month and a couple of those pills fixed him right up.”

  The man who Jon indicated gave a quick nod, but didn’t add any commentary to the story.

  “There’s ointment in there too,” Jon said. “Did you see the ointment?”

  “I saw the ointment,” Hannah replied. “It’s expired as well.”

  “I know, I know, but it works,” Jon said. He showed her the underside of his right forearm. “See that? Caught my arm on some barbed wire. Could have festered all up and taken my whole arm with it, but that ointment did its job and everything is right as rain.”

  Hannah waited, but when Jon didn’t offer anything else to say, she shrugged.

  “I’m glad it helped your arm,” Hannah said. “What a blessing.” She focused back on the teens. “Come on. It’s going to be dark soon.”

  They all looked up at the evening light and nodded.

  “Nice meeting you, Jon,” Hannah said, her hand outstretched and beckoning to the teenagers. “I wish you the best in this cruel world.”

  “Oh, lady, you’re breaking my heart,” Jon said. “Gil here had us all excited about your sanctuary. He told us it’s the place to be in the end of days. It’s where all the cool kids hang out.” He shook the pack in his hands. “I was hoping this little bounty of needed medical supplies would buy us a ticket inside. We’ve lasted this long out here only because we’re tough as nails. But our luck is running out. One day, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but one day the demons are gonna find us and get us. Then we won’t care a damn bit about these fine antibiotics. They’ll turn to moldy waste out here on the road.”

  “I had to tell them,” Gil said to Hannah. “They’re people like us. That’s a good thing, isn’t it? After New York falling and all, we need more people, don’t we?”

  Hannah was torn between anger at Gil for revealing that they were from a sanctuary, not that she was sure Jon knew exactly what that meant, and the fact that there were unpossessed human beings standing before her asking for protection.

  “Hold on,” Hannah said to Jon then turned to Birchstein and Parsons. “Thoughts?”

  “We came out here to find the kids,” Birchstein said. “We didn’t come looking for survivors.”

  “But we found some,” Hannah replied. “Or they found us.”

  “They found Gil,” Birchstein said. “That should be considered.”

  “It is, believe me,” Hannah said, her eyes shifting to Gil.

  “Not like they can really be a threat,” Parsons said. “The Gs will protect us if they turn out to be bad apples. Can’t hurt to let them prove their worth.” He glanced around Hannah’s shoulder at Jon. The tattooed man gave him a wide smile. “They brought us antibiotics. That shit lasts for years after the dates on there. Expiration dates are part of Big Pharma’s conspiracy to keep us slaves to their products.”

  Birchstein rolled his eyes. “His reasoning is flawed, but his assessment is correct. A good deal of those pills could still be potent enough to be the difference between life and death for someone when the time comes.”

  “So you’re saying we should take them back with us?” Hannah asked.

  “I’m not saying that at all,” Birchstein said. “I am presenting the facts as we know them.”

  “Birch, I need help figuring this out,”
Hannah said. “Not facts as you know them.”

  The far-off sound of gunfire echoed across the landscape, making all of them jump. Hannah spun around, her eyes scanning the area.

  “Sounds like trouble,” Jon said. “It’s a long ways off, but I wouldn’t wager that will be true forever.”

  “What are they shooting at?” Birchstein wondered aloud.

  “Probably Morty,” Parsons said. “That G attracts bullets like crap attracts flies.”

  “Lady, not to be pushy,” Jon said, “but it’s time to shit or get off the pot. We got ourselves a hike if we have to go back to where we been hiding. If you aren’t letting us come with, then we need to leave like now.”

  Hannah sighed. “Are you armed?”

  Jon spread his arms out and the men with him did the same. “You are free to check.”

  “They aren’t,” Gil said. “I asked them the same thing and already checked.”

  Hannah shook her head.

  “I don’t trust Gil, which means I don’t trust you. But I do trust that you have your own best interest at heart,” she said to Jon. “Where we’re going, if you try anything, you will be stopped. All of you will be stopped. And it won’t be pretty.”

  “Understood,” Jon said. “Can I put my arms down?”

  “Yes,” Hannah said. Jon did and the others followed his move.

  “So we’re in?” he asked.

  “For now,” Hannah said. “But we reserve the right to kick you out if you do not adjust to our ways.” She focused on Gil. “All of you, if need be.”

  Gil glared, but didn’t say anything back to her.

  “Oh, don’t you worry none, lady,” Jon said, smiling at the face-off. “We adjust real well. Don’t we, boys?”

  There were various words of agreement and Jon’s smile widened even more. “Lead the way,” he said and nodded at the road.