by Al K. Line
It must have been to circumvent a small village, but I had no idea where I was beyond a vague recollection of being here years ago. I shrugged, pulled hard on the steering and yanked the handbrake, making a spectacular handbrake turn.
"Nice move," said Ivan with a nod.
"Thanks. Usually I just crash when I try it." I focused, righted the vehicle before I lost control, and sped up, looking for an escape route onto a narrow lane again.
Ugh, so much for doing something different, but going on foot seemed even worse. The wind roared at us, making it hard to see, and bugs splattered against my face. Grace hung on for all she was worth, only the magic infused in her on a regular basis stopping her from flying off.
I spat out bugs, and willed the car to go faster. Destination unknown.
"Arthur!" Ivan shouted, indicating behind us.
I turned, unsurprised to find the crappy hire cars from earlier almost upon us. Tasius and crew had finally caught up with us too.
I focused on the driving, and shrieked then smiled when the helicopter swooped down low and opened fire not on us but at the vehicles behind.
That was confirmation that the helicopter was Cerberus, not the ash addicts.
A familiar face peered out of the open door, holding on to a rail behind the goon manning the weapons.
Carmichael, looking smug as always, eyes intent, hair rakish even being battered by the wind. And he wore his bloody suit, smart and unruffled, tie so tight I felt like I could reach out and choke him with it, which I really wanted to. Guess he didn't need the Teleron when he had personal jets and helicopters at his disposal for rapid response.
The helicopter lifted up and away to the side then came in from behind, firing at the addicts. I glanced back to see one car shoot off into the hedges, then turn over as it hit a ditch.
"Watch out!" screamed Ivan, but it was too late and although I slammed on the brakes, we still hit the poor startled deer crossing the road. The sound was terrible, sickening. I glanced back. It was dead, and at least it was quick. A small mercy, but it was entirely my fault and I felt awful.
But we had to keep going, there was nothing I could do, so I sped up once more and tried to think how to escape.
Any vague plans were cut short as bullets raked the car on the passenger's side. The tires blew, we veered left, and I struggled with the steering wheel to no avail.
We hit a tree, the car crumpled, and airbags inflated. We were in serious trouble this time.
I turned to Ivan to check on him, but he was fine. He fumbled with his seatbelt, released it, pushed away the airbag, then unscrewed the canister.
"What are you doing?" I gasped, my ribs killing me, but knowing we had to run, right now.
"The only thing I can think of. They'll catch us, Arthur, there's too many of them. Wish me luck."
Before I could stop him, Ivan scooped up the ash and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Are you nuts? You can't eat it. It's... it's gross."
"Mpff." Ivan rammed it in, swallowed, then scooped up more with shaking hands. He clamped his mouth shut, closed his eyes, and swallowed again. If you've ever tried to eat a dry cracker, then imagine what this was like. How he did it, I will never know, but he kept on scooping, kept on stuffing, and swallowed down the ashes of Mikalus.
I readied myself for a fight, but before I had chance I felt a sting on my neck. I glanced up to see Carmichael grinning from the helicopter hovering feet above the ground beside us. He hopped down, smart brogue Oxfords tapping on the road. Ivan slumped against my shoulder and I turned to see he had a dart protruding from his neck. I pulled mine out, but already I was fading.
The last thing I saw were men in full gear jumping from the helicopter and firing at the vehicles approaching from behind. Carmichael stepped close and leered.
"You almost had me worried there for a minute. Never mind, we have you now."
I tried to say something witty but I just drooled from the corner of my mouth then lost consciousness.
No Way
I couldn't bear to open my eyes. I was scared, and it took a lot to scare me. But I felt the bindings at my hands and feet, knew my head was strapped down tight as I couldn't move it, recognizing the sensation of thick leather across my forehead. If that wasn't enough, which it was, the pain that engulfed me and made me want to scream for mercy, to tell them all I could—I guess Ivan's insistence on not telling me anything had ultimately failed as they got us anyway—was more intense than the last time.
Everything hurt. My skin was on fire, my veins flowed with acid, my lungs were fit to burst, my head throbbed like a hangover times a thousand, and even my fingernails felt like cocktail sticks were being rammed into the soft flesh they protected.
Where were we? Not at the warehouse facility, surely? Was Ivan here too? Could I escape? Had I escaped last time? Yes, I'd been rescued, as everyone knew where I was. But this time nobody even knew we'd been taken. Damn.
I realized that I was thinking clearly, so the drugs couldn't have been the same, and even as I thought this I felt the air stir. Someone was beside me. My arm was moved, then a sharp prick in my flesh. The pain subsided then vanished, leaving me in a cold sweat but more grateful for the relief than words can ever describe.
Risking it, I willed my eyelids to open, dreading the stickiness, the feeling of the lids ripping, but they opened freely and naturally, the only pain that of the low-level light I became accustomed to soon enough. Then I was faced with a sight that made my hackles raise and my blood boil.
"Carmichael," I croaked, my throat dry but not parched like last time. I hadn't been here long at all.
Damn, if my throat was rough, how was Ivan's?
"Hello again, Arthur," smirked Carmichael, the smug twat. I wanted to punch him so bad that I heaved against my restraints despite knowing it was futile. Just like last time, the air buzzed like a swarm of bees were in the next room. Scrubbers. Magic wouldn't work here, so Wand was just a nice stick and I was demoted to merely a cool dude.
"You know you won't get away with this, same as last time."
"We'll see," he said, fiddling with the drip that ran into my veins.
My mood lifted until I felt so light I could float. I hadn't realized how much I was still under the influence until the vestiges of it were stripped away and I returned to being whole, not that it did me any good.
"What do you want?" I hissed, sucking greedily at the straw in the cup of water he held by my head, despite not wanting anything from him.
"Just a little, don't want you to feel uncomfortable, do we?" Carmichael removed the cup and I sucked up the few drops still in the straw before he took it. "You know what I want, and this time I intend to get it."
"Too late, dude, all gone."
"Oh, it's never too late. You are such a fool, Ivan too. You think you can escape me, avoid the inevitable? Ivan betrayed you, and me. He fooled us both and look at the trouble he's caused. The warehouse is close to erupting, think of all the artifacts lost, and that is all because of him, with a little help from you, I might add. So foolish."
"I told him off about it. He promises to be a good boy and never do it again."
"I merely wanted the ashes, and they are so very important, Arthur, more important than you can possibly imagine. We didn't know what kind of man Mikalus would be before, so didn't try hard enough to get him. Now we know. He is the greatest threat to us all we have ever seen. He will destroy us, me, you, everyone. He must not be allowed to return, not with the ash addicts controlling him. Or any of the other more wayward factions."
"We know that. What do you think we've been trying to do? We want him gone too."
"You have a funny way of showing it. We got to you just in time. A few more minutes and the addicts would have him, then what?"
"A bit of bother?"
"Yes, as you say. A bit of bother. You should have just co-operated."
"I didn't even know he still existed when you took me!"
"And that was my mistake. Haha, just kidding. You led us right to them. You idiot. I didn't think you had them, but maybe you knew where they were, maybe you didn't. Either way, it didn't matter. I knew they'd come, hardly kept it a secret, and that it would goad Ivan into action. With the ash addicts here, and him knowing I was onto him, he would have to get involved, try to destroy them. Now we have you, and him. And the ashes will be ours. And the warehouse? Well, it grieves me no end to think of all those artifacts being destroyed, but with the scrubbers down thanks to your foolishness, it won't be such a bad thing."
"What are you talking about?" I snapped.
"My, you are a little slow tonight, aren't you?"
"Enlighten me."
"Not only will the warehouse be destroyed, but it will take out the artifacts, and most magic users in the country too. You don't realize just how volatile it truly is. It will destroy mile upon mile of countryside. I know wizards and witches, and even if they can't gain access, they'll hang around. Wait for something to happen, to have a chance of claiming a prize. And when it all becomes too unstable, I'll have the immense satisfaction of knowing you will all burn along with the artifacts."
"You're insane. You'd let all those people die? What about the citizens?"
"Oh, never fear, already they are being evacuated. Apparently there's a problem here, at a chemical plant as far as everyone is concerned, so people are being removed to a safe place until it's taken care of."
"That's nice of you." At least he wasn't a complete and utter nutter, although it was far from reassuring. He was right about the witches and wizards. They'd all hang around even if they were too afraid to attack the warehouse. Most would keep trying, use their magic to get in if they possibly could and get some goodies. By now most adepts would be there, with more on their way. It would be a bloodbath.
Then I got a truly sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
No, he wouldn't, would he? He couldn't have. My eyes widened at the thought, at the very idea.
"Ah, figured it out have you? Sorry, I do like my games. Playing with you is such fun. Yes, like I said, I knew after I took you and Tasius that you would be freed. If, and I emphasize if, I allowed it. And yes, I knew if all the artifacts were there and you destroyed the scrubbers then it would blow. But, and I think this is what you've just realized, I also knew it was the perfect opportunity to get rid of most of the thorns in Cerberus' side once and for all."
"You tricked us?"
"Haha, I guess I did. The artifacts, most anyway, are safe, moved little by little over the months. Just a crate here, an occasional van or lorry, nothing so you'd notice. Of course, there are several hundred items still there, didn't want to ruin the illusion when you came with your cronies to steal what is ours, but most are out of your way forever. Gone. So why not let it blow? We'll give it another hour or two, let the rest arrive, then the whole place will go up. Boom!" Carmichael smirked.
"You're insane. You're going to destroy it on purpose? It won't be the magic, it'll be you?"
"Oh, not quite. The remaining artifacts are enough to cause it to explode on its own. All those wards on those empty crates, that's what will do it. They're set to activate in one, maybe two hours. I have to give you time to all arrive. Once it reaches critical levels, then yes, it'll get somewhat messy."
"You planned this all along. You're a mass murderer." I squirmed against my restraints but it was no good, I was going nowhere.
"No, I'm saving the country from your madness. Look what's happened with your precious artifacts. A vampire that would destroy humanity would have been resurrected and vampires would turn feral and treat humans as nothing but cattle. I think it is you and your kind who are insane."
"The ashes are gone now."
"No, and that brings me onto my next point of business." Carmichael turned away and said, "Bring him closer. Arthur deserves to watch what he's made me do."
Carmichael pressed a button and my bed rose so I was in a sitting position. Ivan was secured to a similar bed and a nurse wheeled him over. It wasn't far, the stark room was long but very narrow.
"How you doing, buddy?" I asked.
"Been better. But don't worry, we'll find a way to stop him. And we won, Arthur, for now at least. No ashes for them, or anyone."
"That's where you're mistaken," said Carmichael.
"Watch, Arthur, and remember who you are dealing with." Carmichael picked up a scalpel from the metal tray beside my bed and moved to the other side of Ivan so he was facing me.
He cut away what remained of Ivan's shirt, lifted his head and smiled as he held my gaze, then looked down, focused, and sliced clean through Ivan's flesh from breastbone to navel.
He pulled the flesh apart with impossibly strong fingers. Ivan screamed.
I think I did too.
This Isn't Happening
My mind reeled under the gruesome sight. I felt disembodied, like this wasn't really happening. How could it be? People didn't do this to one another. They couldn't, surely? However much you hated someone, however much you despised them with every ounce of your being, you couldn't slice someone open then grip their flesh and rip it.
No. No. No.
But this was happening. It was real, and Carmichael was a true monster.
"I think we need the rib crackers, Nancy," Carmichael said matter-of-factly to the woman standing the other side of Ivan. She nodded and picked up a monstrous-looking device from the table. I'd seen them on TV, always thought they were pretend. Guess they were used to open people's rib cages for heart surgery maybe? Not sure, and now didn't seem like the time to ask.
I had witnessed many things in my life by this point, I had done many things, and a lot of it wasn't pretty. I'd seen heads exploding, been splattered with gore more times than I could remember. I had grimaced as limbs were amputated, and blasted plenty off, even spied the insides of men, the intestines and every yucky bit you could think of.
I had never watched anything as gross, or as barbaric, as this before.
Carmichael was relaxed, calm, and composed as he stared down at Ivan. Then he looked at me. "See what you made me do? See what this has come to? You could have told me, you could have given me the ashes."
"Never," gasped Ivan.
It was then I realized he was still conscious. I think I'd blanked out the screams as they rose to an unholy pitch. Maybe my own shouts and protestations had drowned his out. I don't know, I wasn't myself and could neither think nor act, just watch, aghast, as Carmichael turned a ratchet handle on the device and Ivan's ribs were cracked apart then spread wide open.
Ivan glanced down at the mess of his body and then he did the strangest thing. He laughed.
Carmichael paused in his work, frowned as he peered down. "Something amuses you?"
"Yes, you. You planned this whole thing to get the wizards and witches, to get the ashes once you knew about them. I bet you thought you were so clever. Moving the artifacts then you get word of the addicts and think you have everything going just how you want it. Haha, you haven't. You can do what you want, but you'll never win."
"I think I will."
"No. Because you are despised, and this treachery will not go unpunished." Ivan gasped as his body went into shock. His head fell back and he was out cold. Thank God for small mercies. Hopefully he'd stay under until this was all over.
"You utter piece of shit. You're sadistic. You don't need to do this. It's inhuman. Leave him alone."
"On the contrary, I do have to do this. Ivan swallowed the ash and I intend to have it one way or another. See, already they are gathering and soon I will have Mikalus. I'll have him and he will never destroy our world. You don't understand, Arthur, this has to be done. He must be stopped, he must never return. Ivan did a foolish thing, but I cannot risk the addicts getting Mikalus. I must have him. There is no other way."
"You think slicing open a conscious man is right? You think that's the fair way to go about things? You say you want to save everyone,
yet look what you're doing. Look what you've become."
"It gives me no pleasure. Well," mused Carmichael as he put a hand through perfect hair, "not much. How I hate this man, what he stands for. You too, always interfering. Today is the day of reckoning. Today this ends once and for all. The magic users will be destroyed, the artifacts are safe, Mikalus will be in our care, never to be resurrected, and oh, almost forgot, you'll die, Arthur. I'll kill you and keep on killing you until you're out of lives and nothing but meat on my table."
"Wanna bet?" I said, smiling smugly.
"Actually, no. I am not a betting man. I will destroy you and your kind for good." Carmichael glanced at the door. My words had shaken him. He was nervous, wondering if I knew something he didn't. I wish I could say I did, but I didn't. I had no plan, nobody knew we were here, and I didn't even know where here was.
Ivan regained consciousness and screamed.
Carmichael returned to his work.
A Lesson in Futility
"Bring over the canister," ordered Carmichael.
The aide nodded and retrieved the canister from a table bolted to the wall. She placed it on the metal tray, clanking bloodied instruments as she moved them aside.
"Unscrew it," said Carmichael, eyes twinkling as his excitement grew.
"We've gone through a lot to reach this point, Arthur. The brothers, my predecessors, died for this, and that was all your fault. We searched for hundreds of years and you denied us. You! One idiot wizard beat the combined power of Cerberus."
"Hey, what's with the idiot thing? I get the better of you every time, so what does that make you?"
"Enough! Things are about to change. With your kind gone from this country, with the artifacts finally somewhere secure, with Mikalus being ours, and with the vampires put in their place, Cerberus will control everything."
"You are such a dick."