by C. M. Fenn
The top of the stairs open up into a large round room, in the center of which sits a giant four-poster bed. The castle tower theme continues here, with more faux windows along the curved wall and wood beams depicted on the convex ceiling. Layers of pink tulle drape over the top of the bed frame and are parted open on the sides.
Angel’s on her stomach reading a book, legs kicked up behind her with her ankles crossed. When she sees me, she smiles and sits up.
Patting the bed in front of her, she says, “Big night tonight, huh?”
I drop onto her bed, feeling heavier than I should. “That’s what I came to talk to you about.”
“Cold feet?” She looks concerned.
“No! Not at all,” I insist, even though my heart does a quick double-beat. When I glance down and see the book in her hands has a unicorn on the cover, I forget my uneasiness and a smile breaks over my face. For a second I’m nearly done in with a rush of overwhelming emotion. The love I have for Angel couldn’t be stronger if she were my own flesh and blood.
“I’ve been thinking …” I hesitate. She nods encouragement. No turning back now. “I think I might have a way of taking down this Greater Shade.”
“Go on, Addy. Let’s hear it.” Her gaze is intense and mature, the level of solemnity clashing dramatically with the dreamy-eyed girl I came upon moments ago.
“Well, he seems untouchable, right? I mean, the Walkers really threw everything they had at him that night. It seems like he’s too strong for us.”
“It does seem that way.”
“But it can’t be true. There HAS to be a way to beat him. Because,” I try to think of how to put my gut feeling into words, “you see, there’s a trend. There’s a balance.” Angel tilts her head to the side a little.
“Okay, so you know how I’ve been studying the Chronicles, right? Well, I’ve noticed a pretty clear pattern in our history. Whenever there’s an influx of Shades or a loss of Walkers, more seem to show up. It’s as if whatever’s calling us here is trying to maintain a balance. Like, it’s not possible for one side—theirs or ours—to have too much of an advantage over the other.”
“And this Greater Shade, it seems, is a huge advantage for their side,” Angel adds.
“Yes! So you see? It can’t be impossible to defeat him. And, well, maybe we’re looking at it the wrong way.”
Her eyebrows lift thoughtfully.
“Maybe,” I continue, “if we can’t hurt his body, then maybe we should attack his mind.”
Angel’s eyes widen marginally.
“He’s projected himself into MY head. Why can’t I do the same to him?”
“And then what? Even if you could get into his head, what would you do once you’re in there?”
This one’s easy. I’ve thought about it a lot.
“Shut him down.”
Chapter 43
“Can it be done, Harmony?” Sam asks Angel. “Realistically?”
We all huddle in the armory, shoulder to shoulder in a circle. This is my first tactical briefing and I stand wide-eyed and alert, using my Chaos-improved mind to absorb every minute detail.
“I don’t see why not.” Angel shrugs. It’s strange seeing her in full body armor. Timothy’s latest prototype has a sleek design and covers the entire body from ankle to neck. The plating incorporated into the fabric is oddly supple. I’m amazed at how weightless the dark gray suit feels and try to force down my doubts about its actual competency. I trust Timothy, and that will have to be enough.
“I don’t know,” Sam says in a lowered voice, his internal struggle evident on his face. “It sounds dangerous.”
“It won’t just be Addy. I’ll be there too. We’ll both attack him together.”
Sam rubs his forehead. After a few seconds he looks at me. “This was your idea?”
“Yes,” I say, afraid of a rebuke. Instead, I’m surprised to see pride in his eyes.
Others in the circle indicate their approval as well. Mel grins and winks, Lang-hao fist pumps the air. I look around, into the faces of seasoned warriors, and am met with nods and smiles of acceptance. There are ten Walkers here tonight, eleven including me. Even Faye insists on being a part of this.
I understand why Simone would choose not to be here, but I feel an empty sort of ache at the loss of Mikhail. He should be here. He belongs here. The void he leaves behind is impossible to ignore. Like an itch I’m unable to scratch.
“This is it, Boss.” Ember draws our attention. “This is why that Shade was so bent on killing Addy last time.”
Crank bounces excitedly in place. “Because she figured out how to stop him, and now she’s going to END him. Tonight! Yessss! You’re going down desgraciado!” As the others laugh, I embrace the outpour of excitement and adrenaline coming off them. I draw it inside me and imagine it filling me up completely, leaving no room for fear or doubt.
Sam clears his throat and everyone’s silent. “All right, this idea of attacking the Greater Shade’s mind is a good one, and I think it’s worth a try. This is a tricky situation, however. We all know this Shade’s particularly clever. He uses the Lesser Shades as distractions. He has telepathic abilities and he’s damned near invincible. We have two objectives for this mission. One, find the Greater Shade. Two, protect Angel and Addy so they can focus on using their mental abilities to take him down. You two—” he indicates Angel and me, “once we find him, don’t worry about anything but getting into his head, clear?”
We nod in unison.
“Okay team, let’s go get him.”
On our way to the garage, Sam tells me I’ll be riding behind Timothy and Angel will be riding with Lang. Angel doesn’t drive a Big Bike, and Crank’s still building mine, but even if I had one and knew how to drive, I’d still be assigned to another Walker. This task will demand my full attention.
“Remember,” he says once we get to the garage, “don’t leave my sight.”
“I won’t.”
“And if things get bad, say the word and we’ll abort.”
“Okay.”
For a moment he breaks his stoic businesslike persona and hugs me tightly before heading to his Big Bike, helmet in hand.
“I’ve gotcher back, girl!” Ember shouts at me as she passes.
A familiar, deafening rumble fills my ears as the Walkers start their bikes. I swing my leg over Timothy’s powder blue bike and try to find a comfortable position behind the ginger giant. It’s difficult because of all the guns and ammo strapped to him. Once situated, he gives me the thumbs up and I put my helmet on, significantly dampening the roar of the engines.
Time slows.
My throat tightens up. I try to swallow, but my mouth is too dry and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. I feel like there’s a jackhammer in my chest, smashing against my ribs, trying to break free. The Walkers rev their engines loudly, eagerly. I grip Timothy tighter around his middle and lean into him to compensate for the force of acceleration.
I have to do this. I HAVE to succeed. Everyone’s counting on me. This is my purpose. I’m the only one who can defeat this monster. I picture the Shade in my mind, its ever-moving flesh glistening wet, its dark empty eyes, its ragged gaping jaw. Suddenly this battle feels personal, like it’s only me and him. He may be gunning for me, but I’m gunning right back. He’s mine. I WILL destroy him.
Sam gives the signal and together we lurch forward. I force my eyes to stay open as we phase through the door to Chaos. I’m eager and ready for anything. This time I won’t flake out. I won’t freeze. I refuse to be helpless any longer.
The first thing I notice is green—it’s everywhere. The bikes slow to a stop as everyone takes in our surroundings.
We’re in a forest, but this is different from any forest I’ve ever been in. The trees are gargantuan and surround us in dense clusters. It’s a miracle we didn’t crash into any leaving Major Calm.
The moss-covered trunks are six, maybe seven feet wide with thick roots that expand outward in a tangl
ed, knotted filigree covering the ground. The tops of the trees tower above us, easily reaching heights of over a hundred feet. Their leafy branches reach out and intertwine with their neighbors, creating a thick canopy that barely lets in the sun. Large, sturdy-looking vines hang from limbs. They’re strewn from tree to tree like the lattice work of some giant, prehistoric spider’s web.
The thought of spiders draws my attention to the forest floor. Tall, thick vegetation carpets the ground, reaching as high as my shoulders in some places. There are a few narrow paths winding here and there between the trees, but they look difficult to navigate. Our bikes will be useless on this terrain.
The most disturbing thing about this landscape is the near total lack of sound. No birds chirp or caw, no monkeys holler, no insects buzz. It’s unnerving.
“Can we hover?” Faye’s voice inquires through the coms.
I look to Sam on his bike at the head of the group. He’s craned around facing us, and his helmet shakes from side to side as he touches his mouthpiece.
“The vines would snag us. This is rotten luck, guys. Maybe we should abort.”
Five feet behind him, the underbrush moves, quivers. The wind?
“What’s the consensus?” Sam asks for our opinions. I haven’t taken my eyes off the moving plants behind Sam, so I’m the only one prepared when the thick, anaconda-like Shade launches out of the brush, fanged mouth agape, aimed directly at Sam.
“NO!” I thrust my arm forward, instantly pushing force all along the length of it, from my shoulder to my forearm to my hand and exploding out my fingertips. The Shade, just inches from Sam’s neck, is thrown back into the trunk of the nearest tree and chunks of wood splinter and fly in all directions. The snake Shade explodes on impact, flinging thick black oil into the raining cloud of wood and pulp.
I’m transfixed as I watch the cloud of debris slowly settle to the ground. I did that. My first kill. And then the ground begins to shake.
“This is it!” Kira hollers.
“Dismount. Spread out!” Sam barks.
A rush of adrenaline thrills through me. As we climb off the bikes, our nervous anticipation thickens the air. I hear strange noises off in the distance but my helmet muffles them. Frustrated and feeling claustrophobic, I remove it. Once off, the sounds are clearer—and more terrible.
It’s the trees. They’re groaning, creaking, and snapping under the weight of the Lesser Shades as they barrel their way toward us. I hear trees being felled in every direction, and they sound as though they’re screaming out in pain. The earth beneath us shakes violently with each thunderous collapse. This once-silent forest overflows with a cacophony as roars, shrieks, and snarls mingle with the sounds of the forest being crushed and broken.
I turn in a quick circle, getting my bearings, and watch the other Walkers remove helmets, draw their weapons, unsheathe swords, and prepare themselves for war.
Sam’s at my side in less than a second. He has to shout over the ever-growing noise to be heard. “This isn’t a stampede! They’re coming from all sides. Addy, I think this is it. Are you ready?”
“Yes!” I shout back. I look to Angel on the other side of me and she gives me a determined nod.
And then they’re on us. The forest around us explodes in a black wave as Shades crash down on all sides. The scene is pure madness, and I fleetingly think of how aptly named this realm is. Everyone is spread out among the trees, each fighting their own battles. I can’t keep track of anyone anymore—so much is happening. Rapid gunfire to my left, a loud explosion far behind me.
Sam throws himself at a charging Shade with giant, curved ram’s horns. They collide mid-air and tumble down in a blur. I run after them, determined to help, and steel myself as I send force out, ready to pull the Shade apart limb from limb. Suddenly I’m struck from the right and bowled end over end as I’m pushed and trampled, all the while feeling the beast’s cold flesh against mine.
When I finally stop rolling, I’m lying on my back, pinned to the forest floor by a wolfish devil of tremendous size. Its giant front paw digs into my chest, making it impossible to breathe. Black slime drips from its ragged mouth onto my face and neck as it lowers its head for the kill.
“BAD DOG!” I hear Angel’s admonishment followed immediately by an ear-piercing keen of pain as the monster throws its head back in anguish. The Shade is frozen in a death howl when it falls sideways to my left, thumping the earth loudly. Strangely, its hindquarters—tail and all—fall to the right of me, spilling its steaming entrails on the forest floor.
Angel stands beside me, offering a hand up. She’s entirely covered in clumpy, black Shade blood. Even her beautiful hair’s an oily, raven black. The only white I see on her is from a giant toothy grin.
“Did you jump THROUGH that thing?” I shout.
“Whatever gets the job done!” The moment’s surreal as I try to reconcile my view of Angel as the sweet innocent child I’ve come to know with the hardened killing machine that stands in front of me.
An earsplitting trumpeting rips through the air, and we both turn toward the source just in time to see an elephant-like Lesser Shade rear up on its back legs. Its massive front legs slam down onto a tree directly in front of us. The tree snaps like a twig and cuts through the air on its way down to crush us. It’s stopped at the last second, inches above my head.
“ADDY! A little help here!” Lang’s standing a few feet away, his hands raised, his face contorted with extreme exertion. I quickly lift my hands above my head and together we strain to hold the tree up horizontally in the air. Our burden is lightened considerably when Angel joins in.
“At the Shades, you two!” Lang and I nod our understanding.
Before we act, Angel projects an order out to the Walkers who may be in our path.
EVERYONE DOWN!
On Angel’s signal I thrust the mammoth tree out toward the largest group of Shades nearby. Our combined efforts have a devastating effect and Shades are flung everywhere. Like bowling pins, they fall, flatten, and hurl to one side or the other. A crop of trees finally stops our battering ram, but the damage to the other side has been significant.
Lang slaps me on the back. “Great work girls. Again?”
He points to another felled tree and we work together to take out more of the demons. Panting, we look around us through the thinning number of Shades. Where’s Sam? We weren’t supposed to be separated—he’ll be worried.
STUPID GIIIRRRL.
“Aaaggghh!” I scream in agony and fall to my knees, clutching the sides of my head.
Chapter 44
My head! The pain! Tears squeeze through my clenched eyelids.
Angel’s muffled voice rings through my head.
HE’S HERE! Sam, he’s found us!
I’m on my side on the ground, curling my legs up into my chest and cramming my head between my knees. I can FEEL him. Cold scales slither and writhe under my skull, sending shooting bolts of pain throughout my mind.
“MAKE IT STOP!” I scream as his icy, clawed hand seems to rake across my brain, digging in and shredding everything there. I sense the Walkers around me, and I know they’ve rallied and are giving all they’ve got to protect me. The ground beneath me continues to pound and quake as the battle escalates.
Addy! Angel’s urgent voice is in my mind. I can’t do it! I’m so sorry, Addy! He’s too strong for me. I can’t get in. You have to try. Please try!
YOU ARROGANT CHILD. YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD KILL ME? YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE?
Its wicked laughter is all there is, drowning out everything else. My body is numb. I no longer feel the ground shaking. I can’t hear my friends. I can’t even feel them anymore. There’s only blackness. Blackness and pain.
All I can think is that I have to escape this. I have to escape. With all the strength I have left, I push myself up and out my body—out of my head and away from the dizzying torture. The second I leave the confines of my mind, relief overwhelms me, and in that instant everyth
ing comes rushing back at me—the reason I’m out here and what must be done in order to survive.
I can’t delay this any longer. Seconds lost could cost me my friends. I scan the frenzied scene around me. My body is directly below. My head rests on Ember’s lap as she strokes my hair.
Many Walkers surround me, facing out, fighting more fiercely than I’ve ever seen them fight. Off to one side I see Faye on her knees on the ground. Her head’s bleeding heavily, but she ignores it as she hunches over a motionless body, hands hovering in the air above it. I see Sam fighting back to back with Timothy, holding their ground.
What few Lesser Shades remain are being chopped down one by one. They fall seemingly on their own. I watch closely and catch glimpses of shiny blades darting in and out of shadows all around the unsuspecting monsters.
Mikhail!
And then I see it. The Greater Shade. He has Mel in his arms, and he’s pulling her apart as best he can, but she keeps stretching herself out to keep from being destroyed.
Now or never.
I throw myself down toward the demon. Down to where I can feel his mind. A massive amount of sheer force shields him, stopping me abruptly. The Greater Shade throws Mel down and gazes up into the air. His empty eye sockets search the air around me, as if he senses me. A wave of gleeful anticipation pulsates from him.
I push against his mental barrier as hard as I can. There has to be a way in! There has to be a chink in the armor. I just need to find it. I probe and push, straining myself beyond my limits. And then the demon looks directly at me, his mouth open wide in a sinister semblance of a grin. Why is it grinning? Why is it so pleased? What have I missed?
The barrier’s suddenly gone. It doesn’t shatter. I don’t slip through an unseen crack. It’s simply lifted. Released. I pass through with ease, as if I’ve been invited in, and then I realize my mistake. I realize how terribly wrong I’ve been. But now it’s too late.
Screams. Heart-wrenching, blood-curdling screams. I hear women, men, even children, screaming as though they’re slowly being tortured to death. Some of the voices are sobbing and pleading. It’s more than I can bear. Quick flashes of horrifying images accompany the haunted voices. Death. Decay. People on fire. Mutilated animals. Mass graves. Despair and grief overwhelm me.