The Veil

by Stuart Meczes

  I scanned across the platform. The others were at the far end, Aran and Iralia prizing open the doors of the shuttle whilst the Lightwardens and Vengeful stood in front of the Unicorns and horses, fending off the increasing stream of Bloodseekers who had chosen the stairs route, and were leaping off the top of the Lightshuttle towards them. The Vengeful and Lightwardens fired with their hybrid cane guns, whilst Sophia spun around like a ballet dancer, slicing out throats with her whip, and Aran and Iralia used Coffin Nailer launchers to fire stakes into their hearts.

  Mikey slid a pair of apotrope knuckle-dusters over his fingers. He jerked two fingers downwards, releasing small wooden spikes from the blades hidden inside. We pushed forward together, me using my Pinknives to stun the Bloodseekers, and him finishing them off with an uppercut to the throat or a punch straight into their hearts. A whirlwind of ash rushed around us as we stormed down the platform. But like a nightmare, the Vampires were never deterred, and they never stopped coming. The hunger was just too powerful – something I knew only too well.

  “They’ve got it open!” said Mikey, pointing ahead.

  The Guardians and Lightwardens were leading the mounts into the front carriage, whilst the Vengeful continued to fight off the remaining Bloodseekers who were thundering towards the shuttle like late train commuters at rush hour.

  “Attack!” I shouted up at my Gargoyle as we ran towards the pack, throwing my hand in their direction. I turned my head to Mikey, “Get yours to cover the platform!”

  He nodded and then shouted up at his Gargoyle, as mine swooped down and cranked open its large jaws, releasing a carpet of flames that ignited the starving Vampires. Most of them were instantly turned into ash, but a female one turned and ran right towards me, her burning face twisted into a grimace of hatred and fury. The image was almost identical to the dying Mother of Blood – the awful Bloodseeker leader who had tried to kill me all those centuries ago –and I was thrown completely off guard.

  I ground to a halt and started to back up, but there were more Vampires approaching from behind me. I pulled out my Coffin Nailer and fumbled, trying to load a stake set in. The dying Bloodseeker let out a furious screech as it sped up – hands outstretched – until it was almost on me.

  A fist came from the side, smashing into the Bloodseeker’s temple and knocking her into the side of the shuttle. He turned and hissed and was immediately delivered another blow to the throat, which put him down for good. It was then that I saw that the hand belonged to Mikey and that it was on fire. He let out a gasp of pain as the fire started to crawl up his arm and onto his shoulder.

  “Mikey!”

  I grabbed hold of him, tearing through the burning Bloodseekers and sprinted forward to the battling Vengeful. The Gargoyle stopped breathing fire as it saw us approach and I popped the last few remaining Vampires still standing on the platform with a few headshots. We ducked left into the shuttle and I threw Mikey to the floor, ripping off my jacket and holding it in front of me, before I threw myself down on top of him. I could feel the flames trying to survive, could feel the heat below my stomach as the fire burned his Vampire flesh like kindling. The lack of oxygen won the battle and the flames died out in a plume of curling smoke.

  I heard the rushing of feet and then a slamming sound and turned to see that Aran and Iralia had managed to slide the shuttle door closed behind the Vengeful, despite the fresh wave of Vampires that had poured onto the platform behind us. Together they all struggled to keep the door closed as countless Bloodseeker hands tried to rip it back open. The loud scrape of their nails echoed over the metal, changing to deafening thuds as the rage of their hunger took over.

  “Are you okay?” I asked Mikey as I rolled off him. The smoke poured from the right side of his body.

  “I think so,” he winced.

  The crowd of Vampires had their faces pressed against the thick windows of the shuttle, their fangs making grating sounds and secreting venom onto the glass. The guttural word ‘vadrak’ kept escaping their throats, repeated over and over again. I didn’t know what language they were speaking, but as a Vampire, I knew only too well what it meant.

  Blood.

  “I think now would be a good idea to get the bloody hell out of here!” shouted Iralia, as she pressed her back to the sliding door.

  “I’m trying!” yelled Lightwarden Elissa. She was standing in front of a rusting console spread out below the shuttle’s grimy windscreen, and staring down at a display monitor, where a flickering and rolling image tried to fight against old-age and show itself.

  “Work, you C’unarh!” she swore and thumped the side of the monitor with a fist. The image shuddered and then settled itself, slightly off-centre. She pressed an un-gloved hand to it and the lights inside the shuttle buzzed and flickered on, revealing a large carriage compartment easily three times the length and width of a train compartment, and with a complex array of machinery running all the way down to the very end. A dusty electronic map was in the centre - in every way identical to the one that Highwarden Caria had shown us inside the Needle. The machinery let out a series of sparks and then buzzed as the old train came back online.

  A distorted, stuttering female voice poured over concealed speakers, talking in Qi’lern.

  Welcome L-L-luminar to Alstaar, the Advanced Lightshuttle Sys-s-s-stem for Trade Acr-r-r-ross Accepted Routes. Please enter the si-i-ix-digit access code to act-t-tivate the e-engines.

  “Get my O.R.U!” Lightwarden Elissa commanded to her comrade. Lightwarden Udan rushed through the carriage to the next one, where presumably all of the supplies had been taken, along with the Unicorns and horses. He came back a moment later holding an electronic unit, which he tossed to his fellow warden. Elissa caught it one handed and started frantically searching through it.

  The frenzied Bloodseekers continued to press against the shuttle, the cacophony of their snarls and hisses deafening to my sensitive hearing.

  “I anticipate that the doors will be opened shortly,” said Aran in her flat tone.

  “Translation…we’re screwed unless we do something!” yelled Iralia.

  “Get down!” said Sophia. The Guardians and Vengeful crouched down, sweat pouring from their brows as they struggled against the unceasing Bloodseekers. The Witch rushed over to the doors and held out her hands, unleashing a stream of Pyromancy fire around the frame. The metal started to bubble as it melted, spreading over the cracks and soldering itself shut. “That should buy us a bit more time, but we need to go, now!”

  “Got it!” shouted Lightwarden Elissa. She leaned over the monitor and tapped her finger on the display.

  Ch-h-hecking code………Thank you, the code has be-e-en accepted. Engines will now be act-t-tivated for departure.

  A second later the shuttle shuddered and rattled as the old engines activated, and the Alstar breathed itself back to life. Outside the windscreen, I saw neon yellow lights bloom into action, somehow able to reveal the long Lightshuttle track vanishing into the Darkland’s horizon. Their glow was so powerful in the absolute blackness, that there was no doubt in my mind that they were imbued with Luminar magic.

  The pounding on the doors became completely maniacal, as the Bloodseekers realised they were close to losing their prey. Large dents appeared in the metal, and dark blood streaked across the glass as the desperate Bloodseekers smashed their foreheads against the windows. There was a loud smash and a shower of glass flew inside the carriage as one of the windows finally gave way. The Bloodseekers bit at each other as they each struggled to climb through the small gap of the broken window, jagged slivers of glass scraping against their faces and arms as they pushed their limbs through the opening.

  The Vengeful acted on automatic pilot, moving to the broken window and creating a protective barrier. Those at the sides pushed them back with the ends of their cane guns whilst the others aimed theirs, and unleashed a flurry of searing rounds into the Bloodseekers at point blank range. The Vampires who didn’t die were hammered awa
y from the opening, squealing with pain.

  Which Railport desti-i-ination do you req-quire?

  “Where shall I put?” she asked, staring down at me.

  “I don’t know…the rightmost route I think!” I shouted back at her. “Just get us out of here!”

  Lightwarden Elissa stabbed a finger down on the monitor screen and a loud blaring siren rang out across the shuttle, making me flinch.

  Warning! Sensory report suggests potential track damage or a track obstr-u-uction towards the latter part of the selected destination. This r-route might not be safe to travel. Do you still wish to proceed?”

  Lightwarden Elissa punched the monitor.

  Confirmed. Please have a pleasant journey.

  The Alstar gave a series of shudders and groans as it pulled away from the dilapidated station. It accelerated quickly and I could hear the scraping nails and shrieks as the Bloodseekers were thrown from its roof. Only when the shuttle had reached full speed – tearing along the rail – did I see the full extent of Mikey’s wounds and my insides reeled. His blackened right hand was burned almost down to the bone where the flames had licked his skin.

  “Oh Christ, Mikey!” I breathed.

  “Don’t worry. Nothing a bit of blood won’t fix,” he said with weak smile. He was right, but it didn’t make me feel any less guilty about his injuries. I panicked and this was the cost.

  I placed my hand to the side of his face. “You saved me. Thank you.”

  “No problems. Sticking up for your girl is page one in the boyfriend manual,” he said and then winced in pain.

  “Don’t move. I’ll get you some blood,” I said, standing up.

  THUD!

  Lightwarden Elissa gasped in shock. I jerked my head around and saw that three Bloodseekers had slid down onto the angled windscreen. They snarled as they wound back their fists and punched the glass with a ferocity that only the blood starved could comprehend. I stood up and walked close to the window, staring as they beat their hands raw, trying their hardest to break the reinforced glass. Apart from a few tiny chips, all they achieved was to destroy their hands beyond recovery. As I stood close, I stared into their eyes, past the anger and fury and saw familiarity. I understood the desperation, the overwhelming need to survive, just as every creature had the right to – and I felt a small pang of guilt for what I knew I needed to do next.

  “Put them to rest!” I called out to the Protectors, which I knew were flying above the speeding shuttle. The carriage shuddered from the force of my Gargoyle landing above the windshield. The Bloodseekers looked up and hissed. The flames came soon afterwards, bathing them in a sea of blistering fire. Two of them squealed and batted against their bodies, lurching back from the windscreen and tumbling from the shuttle. The third remained, his face somehow calm and silent, his expression almost one of relief. His eyes locked with mine as the fire ravaged his flesh, peeling it away into flakes of ash that floated into the black sky. He closed his eyes and held out his arms to the side, leaning backwards and allowing himself to fall. His body turned to ash, and I watched his remains blow over the windscreen before they were carried away by the wind.

  It’s over.

  Kneeling down, I eased Mikey to his feet, supporting his burned arm as we walked. I guided him from the control compartment and into the cargo carriages, which held several unnerved Unicorn and horses. I found Picera among the troop and pulled out a canister of blood and bandages from my supplies fixed to her side.

  “Come on, let’s find you somewhere to sit,” I said.

  We kept walking through a large number of carriages. The first three were empty apart from wall fixings designed to hold cargo containers in place. But the next few compartments were a supply goldmine. Some held munitions – much of it rusting and unusable, but others which looked like they might work given the right care and attention. Others held canned food – dusty and covered in rust, but still sealed and divided into species relevance, including powdered blood for Vampires. The next two compartments were large washrooms – accessed via a narrow corridor between them – complete with shower cubicles. We passed through sleeping quarters with filthy but useable bunks, and finally reached a dining carriage at the end, which had enough tables and chairs for everyone.

  “Sit sweetheart,” I said to Mikey, setting him down at one of the tables. An old cloth covered the surface with rusted cutlery still set out for a meal. In the centre sat an ornate fruit bowl, the contents so old they had become a powder.

  I wrapped the bandages around Mikey’s hand as carefully as I could, feeling awful for every single pained expression he made. I promised Alex I would keep him safe; I need to be more careful. As I was working on fixing the bandage to his hand, Aran, Sophia and Iralia came into the room, followed by Lightwarden Udan.

  “Could have been worse I suppose,” sniffed the Lightwarden, staring around at the decaying carriage, and then settling himself down onto one of the chairs. “It will do for now.”

  “Are you okay Mikey?” asked Sophia, glancing down at his bandaged hand.

  “I’ll be alright. Thanks.”

  She nodded and went to join the others who had settled around a table. They were all silent as they stared into space, clearly trying to calm down after the adrenaline of the battle.

  I opened the blood canister and raised the rim to his lips, gently pouring it into his mouth. He closed his eyes and made a contented sound as he drank. I gave him the amount I knew he needed to heal over the next few hours and then set the container back down on the table. I placed my hands on the side of his face and gave him a kiss on the lips, before getting up.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need to deal with something.”

  All eyes were on me as I walked over to Lightwarden Udan, who was staring out of one of the windows, his goggles flashing in the overhead lights as he watched the gloom slide by.

  “Lightwarden?” I said.

  “Yes?” he said in an irritated tone, turning towards me. I pulled both Pinknives from my belt and drove them down into his kneecaps with such force that they broke though his armour and pinned him to the seat. His eyes opened wide a split second before his mouth did. Then a sound of absolute agony tore from his lungs.

  I grabbed his throat and pressed my forehead close to his, my fangs slipping down and dripping venom onto his heaving chest. “If you ever sacrifice members of this team again, I will kill you myself.”

  I wrenched both blades out of his knees and walked away.

  29

  Alex

  I understand.

  The powerful words reverberated through me as I jerked awake among a pile of smoking ruins. Crumbled bricks and mortar, leaking pipes and jutting metal surrounded me in a halo of destruction, as if I was lying in the epicentre of a devastating bomb. Rain poured down onto my face, pattering against my lips and soaking my hair. When I looked up I saw that the sky was stormy, and lightning cascaded down to the earth as if Zeus himself was tearing the world apart. Gargantuan shadows cast by unknowable creatures slid over the tops of the clouds and released deep grumbles that made the fractured landscape shudder.

  I reached out and used a piece of rebar sticking from the ground to pull myself to my feet. As I looked around, I could see that the destruction carried on as far as the eye could see in all directions – buildings had crumbled into themselves and against each other, cars and buses had crashed or overturned, their chassis rusted to an almost unrecognisable level. Trees had been stripped bare and there was no other nature to be seen – no bushes, no grass…nothing. It was all gone. As were the people.

  This is Chapter Hill.

  It was almost the same as it had appeared in the nightmares I’d experienced when I was being possessed by the mark of the Sorrow. The main difference was how it felt. It was somehow more real; like when I’d been locked inside my own mind, fighting against the Darkness. Has it come back? No…no it can’t be the Darkness, I’m still in control. Then what is going
on? Is this…is this something that I saw beyond the Blood Veil?

  I looked down at my own body and saw that my torn uniform was drenched in blood, as though I’d taken a bath in it. The thick claret poured from every part of me – my arms, my hair, my chin, and even my sword, which I held in one bloodied hand. More of the rain pattered onto my lips. I pressed a finger to them and they came away covered in more of the wet crimson.

  The sky is raining blood.

  I fought against panic. These are just visions, Alex. Nothing here is real…. I think.

  A haunting, eerie melody had picked up on the wind – a slow, rhythmic mix of chimes and otherworldly sounds that were almost celestial. It was the sort of noise that I imagined the universe itself would produce if it could sing. I glanced around, trying to locate the source of the unsettling sound, but all I could see was the carnage of Chapter Hill.

  I understand.

  The words tore through my mind like a blade. I doubled over, pressing my hands to my temples as I tried to blot out the pain. After a while the agonising sensation passed. I lifted my head again and saw a female figure standing on a nearby mountain of rubble, her raven hair slicked to the sides of her face as the bloody rain beat down against her.

  “Gabriella!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the broken city.

  The figure turned and stepped forward, dropping silently away from the mound of rocks and disappearing from view.

  I rushed forward, scrambling over the rubble – my hands and feet slipping as they slid against the slick blood that coated everything. I kept climbing until I had reached the top of the hill and then bridged a hand over my eyes, squinting to scan the landscape. The infinite destruction filled my vision in every direction. The borough of London that I had grown to love was now all but unrecognisable, just another mark of civilization long since decimated by some kind of unspeakable cataclysm.