“Ernie!”
Ernie was holding some kind of handheld device as he pushed a series of buttons. A moment later, there was a flash. Ernie was gone. The net fell to the ground, empty.
Harley didn’t have time to wonder how Ernie had vanished. Glover fired a grenade that struck the Mark Four in the shoulder. The impact from the explosion tipped the armor off balance. Harley could feel it teeter as he fought for control. A second grenade hit the ground near the Mark Four’s foot, forming a crater.
As the armor fell, Harley reached out to grab a pillar. The wood started to splinter as it threatened to break in half. Harley quickly planted his back foot and felt the machine correct itself. There was another explosion, and the ground shook. Hot ash swirled in the room as the inferno blazed around him. The metal inside the cockpit was hot to the touch, but Harley ignored the pain.
He reached up to crank the winch that controlled the cannon on the armor’s shoulder. Harley aimed at the balcony and fired his last missile. There was an explosion, and the balcony buckled. Plaster fell. The entire balcony followed.
“They have Hale!” Nadya shouted.
Harley turned to see the last slaver disappear down an escape hatch in the floor. There was no way he could follow them inside the armor. Instead, he turned to get the changelings out of the building before it could collapse on them.
“What are you doing?” Nadya said.
“We need to get everyone out of here.”
“They’re going to kill her!” Tears were streaming from Nadya’s eyes.
“This place is surrounded by constables,” Harley said. “They won’t be able to get very far.” He reached down with the Mark Four’s arm to pick up Tejan, who was unconscious. “Come on,” Harley said. “We don’t have much time.”
Harley didn’t bother to duck through the opening. The broad shoulders of the armor tore into the brick, forming a gaping hole. Smoke poured out, wafting into the sky. Harley walked over to lay Tejan next to an ambulance. The Toad brothers were coughing as they ran to the police barrier.
“Where’re the others?” Harley asked.
Todd tried to answer, but he started to cough.
“They’re still inside,” Ross said. Then he started coughing, too.
Harley turned the armor around and headed back into the building, where he found Yi leaning over Denton, shielding him from the flames. Across the floor, Geppetto was dragging an unconscious slaver to safety. His face was covered in ash and streaked by sweat.
There was a cracking sound, followed by another. “The roof is caving in!” Harley shouted.
“I can’t wake him up,” Yi said.
Chunks of plaster fell from the ceiling, bouncing off the armor. Harley knew there was a chance that they wouldn’t make it out. Still, he couldn’t leave Denton to die. He bashed a couch with his arm, sending it flying across the room before stomping over to where Denton lay.
“I’ll get him,” Harley said. “You get out of here.”
Yi hesitated, but he nodded before running out of the building. Nadya was already outside. So were Geppetto and the slaver.
Wood cracked overhead, and more plaster rained down. Debris bounced off the armor’s back as Harley picked Denton up. A beam engulfed in fire fell, punching through the floor. Harley teetered as he tried to sidestep the hole. Denton started to slip, but Harley tightened the machine’s grasp on him. Denton groaned.
Another beam fell, shaking the ground. Harley hesitated, scanning the inferno for any sign of Ernie. Denton started to cough as he was pulled back to consciousness.
“Ernie!” Harley called out.
The only answer was the crack of flames as the fire grew. Then there was a loud snapping sound. Harley looked up just as the ceiling fell. In three long strides he was back outside, a whoosh of flame, ash, and smoke behind him.
When everything settled, Harley was holding Denton in the arms of the Mark Four as a dozen constables leveled guns at them.
“Don’t move!” Chief Constable Oxley shouted.
Harley opened up the hatch and put his hands in the air.
“It’s just a kid,” someone said.
“Look! They’re pointing their guns at a kid!” another called out.
“Lower your weapons,” Oxley said to his men.
“If you want to see my driver’s license,” Harley said, “I don’t have one.”
PART THREE
REUNITED
WHEN FLOWERS AREN’T ENOUGH
Natalia woke up to the smell of fresh flowers. Her first thought was that she must have fallen asleep in a garden, but when she opened her eyes, Natalia could see that she was in a hospital room. The walls were white, as was her bedding, but the stark monotony was broken by an explosion of colorful flowers bursting from more than a dozen vases.
With her arm in a sling, Natalia lay on her pillow and looked at the ceiling. She remembered falling from the sky and a terrible explosion, but after that she was drawing a blank. Then it came to her….
“Max?”
He had been with her in the aerocar, but something went wrong. There was fire and blood. Panic struck her. Natalia tried to sit up, but she didn’t have the strength. She kicked at her sheets, but all she managed to do was cause a tangle. Natalia yanked with her good arm, but there were tubes in the top of her hand connected to an IV drip next to her bed. She touched her head and felt bandages.
“Let me out of here,” she said. Her head was swimming, and she was starting to feel nauseated, but Natalia reached over to rip the tubes out of her hand. She was too weak. Natalia could feel tears of frustration starting to form as she rocked her head from side to side.
“It’s okay,” a voice spoke as someone approached from her periphery.
“Get away from me!” Natalia said as she lashed out at gentle hands that were trying to soothe her.
“It’s me, Brooke.”
Natalia stopped flailing and turned to see Brooke Lundgren looking down at her. Honeysuckle was there as well, hovering over Brooke’s shoulder. Even though faeries weren’t supposed to be in the infirmary, she had snuck in inside Brooke’s handbag.
“Here, let me help you,” Brooke said. She placed one hand behind Natalia’s neck and another on her elbow to help Natalia prop herself up. She then walked over to a closet and fished out another pillow, which she slid behind Natalia’s back.
“Where are we?”
“The infirmary at Iron Bridge,” Brooke said. “You’ve been here for over a week.”
“But…” Pain shot through her temples. Natalia winced, closing her eyes as her shoulders bunched.
“Just relax,” Brooke said.
When Natalia opened her eyes, she saw Honeysuckle land on the nightstand by her bed and watched as she uncorked a crystal vial that was nearly as tall as she was. The pixie managed to lift it and pour a bit of the red liquid into a thimble.
Honeysuckle picked it up, flew over to Natalia, and hovered at her lips. Natalia looked at Brooke, who simply nodded.
“It’s okay,” Brooke said. “Doc Trimble left it for you.”
“What is it?”
“A special nectar,” Brooke said. “I forget the name of the flower, but he prescribed some for me when I wasn’t feeling well. It tastes a bit like strawberries and cream. Go on, try it.”
Natalia parted her lips, and Honeysuckle poured the nectar into her mouth. It felt warm as it went down Natalia’s throat and into her stomach. Within seconds the feelings of nausea were gone, along with the headache.
“See?”
Honeysuckle smiled as Natalia licked her lips to savor every drop of the liquid.
“That was…”
“Like magic?”
“Yeah.” Natalia paused. “Where’s Max?”
“I’m not sure,” Brooke said.
Panic returned to Natalia’s eyes.
“Oh, he’s fine,” Brooke said. “Nobody knows how he did it, but he walked away without a scratch. He almost got a ticket for f
lying that aerocar without a license, but Logan got him out of it.”
“What about Harley?”
“He’s a hero,” Brooke said. “They had a big article about him in the paper. That Mark Four he was driving is all people are talking about.”
Natalia closed her eyes and exhaled. “Have you seen my parents?”
“The nurse said that your mom left about an hour ago, but I think your dad stayed here with your sister last night. He should be here in a while, though. He’s going to be excited to find you awake.”
“What about Ernie?”
“Harley said it was a miracle that he’s even alive,” Brooke said. “He was caught in a slaver’s net, and then he disappeared. Literally.”
“He’s fast, but he’s not that fast.”
“It wasn’t his changeling speed,” Brooke said. “The nets those slavers used nullify changeling powers.”
“Then how’d he disappear?”
“Nobody knows,” Brooke said, “and Ernie won’t say.”
“That’s weird,” Natalia said, her eyes drifting to the ceiling as she pondered how Ernie could have pulled it off. “Oh, well,” she finally said. “I can’t believe I was out for a week.”
“It was more like ten days,” Brooke said. “You wouldn’t believe how many visitors you’ve had.”
“Really?”
“Most of your teachers, Raven, Max, Harley… Ernie’s been here more than any of them, though.”
“Ernie?”
“He does his homework over there,” Brooke said, pointing to a small table in the corner of the room. “The nurse has to kick him out when visiting hours are over, and somehow he still manages to sneak back inside.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” Natalia said. “He’s been acting like he hates us.”
“I think he feels like all of this is his fault,” Brooke said. “Either that, or he needs a friend. The other changelings are blaming him for what happened.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“I told him that, but he won’t listen to me.”
Natalia felt her stomach rumble. “I’m starving.”
“You should be,” Brooke said. “I’ll call the nurse to see if she can bring you some food.”
Brooke was about to ring for the nurse when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Natalia said.
The door slowly opened, and Ernie walked in.
“I’ll go check on your breakfast,” Brooke said. Honeysuckle slipped into Brooke’s bag before she left.
Ernie was holding a small vase filled with carnations as he stood by the bed with his head hung low.
“Are those for me?” Natalia asked.
Ernie nodded and set them on the dresser next to a massive bouquet from Max.
“They’re beautiful.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“I mean it,” Natalia said. “They really are.”
“I also got you this,” Ernie said and took his backpack off. He unzipped the front compartment and pulled out a small package wrapped in white paper.
Natalia took it in her hands and gently unwrapped it. Inside was a porcelain unicorn standing on its hind legs. Its head was thrown to the side, and its mane and tail looked as if they were blowing in the wind.
“Where did you find it?” she asked.
“I had to order it,” Ernie said. “I didn’t think you had this one in your collection yet.”
“It’s perfect. In fact, I have the perfect place for it in my bedroom. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Ernie said.
“Brooke told me that you’ve been spending a lot of time here.”
“I just needed a quiet place to do my homework.”
Natalia smiled. “You know, Ernie, this isn’t your fault.”
“Yes, it is. I should have listened to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You told me that I couldn’t handle it, and you were right,” Ernie said. “I led everyone into that trap, and now Hale is gone… and I almost got you killed.”
“Wait, what happened?”
“We heard that some of the slavers were hiding in an abandoned building, but it was a setup,” Ernie said. “They were waiting for us with nets and restraining collars. The only reason I got out was because…” Ernie almost let it slip that Obadiah Strange had given him the IPA, which helped him phase in and out like a ghost.
“Because why?” Natalia asked.
“Well, I got lucky, that’s all, but now Hale is gone, and it’s all my fault.”
“You didn’t know.”
“Maybe I should have.” Ernie looked down. “Everyone thinks that I’ve been telling Von Strife where we’re going so he can send the slavers after us. All I wanted to do was make Von Strife pay for what he did to Robert.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
Ernie bowed his head. “Not this time.”
“You should talk to Max,” she said.
“I’ve been such a jerk,” Ernie said. “I doubt he wants to talk to me.”
Natalia reached out to touch Ernie’s hand. “Yes, he does,” she said gently. Ernie looked up. She could see that his eyes were red. “Friends forgive each other, Ernie. Max understands how much pain you’re in, and he wants to help. We all do.”
Ernie wiped his eyes with his sleeve and stood up. “I have to get going,” he said.
“Promise me that you’ll talk to Max.”
Ernie nodded. “I’ll try.”
A VIAL OF PILLS
There was still no medical explanation for Monti’s illness, but the coughing had subsided, the color had returned to his skin, and his eyes had stopped drooping. Doc Trimble wanted to keep him under lock and key until he knew what was going on, but Monti had become unbearable with his incessant requests to be released from the hospital.
Against his better judgment, Doc Trimble signed Monti’s release papers. There was no real excuse to keep him, but Doc Trimble was sure Monti would be back. Monti, of course, went straight to work. To make up for lost time, he had his automated workforce laboring around the clock, but that only made things worse. The clockworks started to break down, and in Monti’s condition, he couldn’t fix them.
Harley was coming by after school and on the weekends, but it wasn’t enough. When he arrived at the workshop Saturday morning, he found Monti pale, feverish, and weak. Against Monti’s wishes, Harley had Jasper call Doc Trimble. The doctor was there within the hour.
“I want you to take these. They should help with the anxiety until things settle down a bit,” Trimble said, handing Monti a vial of pills.
“I don’t think so,” Monti said, handing the pills back to the doctor.
“If you keel over from a heart attack, you won’t be much use to any of us,” Trimble said. “So are you going to take them, or am I going to have to come here and stuff them down your gullet myself?”
“Fine.”
“Isn’t there someone who could help around here?”
“Not really,” Monti said.
“What about the boy?” Doc Trimble asked as he pointed his mechanical arm at Harley. He was standing at the docking bay watching a delivery truck back in.
“He’s brilliant, but he’s only twelve.”
“What does that matter? Does he have what it takes or doesn’t he?”
Monti sighed. “Yes.”
“Then you’ve found your solution,” Trimble said.
“What about his classes?”
“You let me take care of that.” With that, Trimble tipped his hat and walked out.
When Max showed up at the workshop, Monti was in his office taking a nap, and Harley was preoccupied with what looked like a pile of scrap metal.
“Are those more clockworks?” Max asked as Harley guided a robotic crane with a remote control. A magnetic arm lowered, grabbed hold of battered parts, and lifted it. Harley pushed another button, and the crane rolled along the ceiling tracks.
/> “It’s what’s left of the Mark Four armor after Oxley made me take it apart.”
“Are you serious?”
Harley sighed and hit another button, making the crane release the load. The metal clanked as it hit the floor.
“Wasn’t it in a scrap heap when Monti found it?” Max asked. “If he fixed it once, maybe he could fix it again.”
“Not in his condition,” Harley said as he put on a pair of gloves.
“You’re not kidding,” Monti said.
Max turned to see Monti leaning heavily on a cane. He was smiling, but it looked forced. His face was pale, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
“Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Harley asked.
“What do you think?” Monti asked, changing the subject. “Is it salvageable?”
Harley shrugged as he inspected the damage to a knee joint. “I’ll find a way to fix it.”
“I’m sure you will.” Monti turned his attention to Max. “How are you feeling?”
“Better than you.”
“That isn’t saying much.”
“I’m still kind of sore, but it could have been a lot worse,” Max said. “Logan said I’m lucky that I’m still alive.”
“Trust me, I already got an earful,” Monti said. “So from now on, I’ll be keeping the keys to all my toys locked safely in my office.”
“Sorry about that.”
“You did it to save Ernie,” Monti said. “So how could I be upset?”
“Thanks.”
“Speaking of Ernie, how’s he holding up?”
“Who knows?” Max said. “He still isn’t talking to us.”
“And the changelings aren’t talking to him,” Harley said. “They think he’s working for Von Strife.”
“That’s crazy,” Monti said.
Harley shrugged. “Ernie was the one who led them into the trap.”
“Making bad decisions is a lot different from sabotage,” Monti said.
“The only way Ernie is going to get off the hook is if we finish that scanner and find Hale.”
Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #2: The Relic Hunters Page 16