Akatika's Legacy

by Kristopher Huffman

  Jessica pulled free; her glove left in Gabby’s hand. She landed blow after blow on Tony. Each swing found a home somewhere on his torso. Her arms were almost a blur in the low light of the room.

  Gabby managed to get back to her feet and ran at Jessica diving at her waist. The same time Ivy grabbed Jessica by the hair and yanked down as hard as she could. The combination of the two sent Jessica to the ground.

  Tony seeing the opening jumped into the air and drove his knee down into her chest at the same moment she hit the ground. He felt her ribs give way to the force of his attack.

  Gabby rolled away and scrambled to her feet, while Ivy kept up her barrage of attacks. Punching Jessica in the face repeatedly.

  Tony noticing the lack of movement from Jessica grabbed Ivy by the shoulders from behind.

  Ivy swung around, fists up and noticed Tony and paused. Her eyes were glazed over, and she started to shake.

  Tony wrapped his arms around her, Gabby came over and did the same.

  A hand grabbed Ivy by her ponytail and started to yank her out of their arms.

  Jessica was back on her feet blood streaming from her nose and one of her eyes.

  “I’m going to take my time with this, really take the time to enjoy it.” Jessica slurred, spitting blood on the floor.

  Jessica grabbed Ivy by the throat with the other hand and started to squeeze.

  Gabby kicked Jessica’s knee and a dull pop echoed through the room as she fell to the ground, taking Ivy with her.

  When the two hit the floor, Jessica grabbed Ivy by the hair and started to scream. She pulled away looking at her hand, black lines and blisters covered her palm.

  Ivy saw what had happened and took no time in pulling the net off her head and slapped Jessica in the face with it. Each time she hit flesh; a gemstone burst into light.

  Jessica tried to move out of the way, throwing her arms up trying anything to block it, but each hit produced more of the sinister black lines followed shortly by blisters.

  Tony pulled her arms behind her back, locking them in place with his own.

  Gabby jumped on her legs, trying to pin them to the ground. Jessica managed to kick her way free sending Gabby backward into a pile of debris. Knocking Jessica out was not the answer Gabby reasoned, she recovered to fast. They were going to have to lock her up or tie her up somehow. Gabby’s hand found the handle to something vaguely familiar feeling. Looking down she saw there was a hilt to a knife or something.

  She gripped the handle and pulled it free of the debris. The pommel was a sunburst that mirrored a larger sunburst cross-guard. The whole blade looked to be made of silver with several orange and red gems set in various places on the hilt. It was some sort of ancient sword. Maybe she could look menacing enough with this that she could capture Jessica as a prisoner and end the fight.

  Ivy had gained the upper hand but didn’t seem to share any ideas of capturing Jessica. She wound the net around Jessica’s neck and yanked back as hard as she could. The gemstones in the net flared to life once more along with the rings on her fingers.

  Jessica raked at Ivy’s hands trying to free herself from the tangle of deadly metal around her neck. She kicked and tried to roll away but couldn’t as Ivy pulled the net tighter around her throat.

  The raking stopped, a few moments later Jessica stopped moving altogether.

  Tony tried to separate the two, but Ivy resisted. “Ivy stop.” He said and tried to pull her way. But she resisted, fists tight around the fine metal wires.

  “Ivy, you can stop. I think she’s dead this time.” Tony said.

  Ivy opened her eyes and finally looked at Jessica, recognizing what she had done to the woman. Black lines and blisters stretched from Jessica’s neck all the way up her face and disappeared into her hairline. Her once olive eyes were completely black, face contorted in pain and fear. She had done this; she had taken a life.

  Ivy fell into Tony’s arms and cried.

  Chapter 22

  “We have to find Lafe and get out of here.” Gabby said into the silence.

  Tony still embraced Ivy; her fists balled up on his chest. She had stopped crying, but her body still shook.

  Ivy shouldn’t have had to do that. She was too good of a person, Gabby thought. She should have been faster. She should have used the sword and spared Ivy the pain of what she had done. She owed Ivy that much. Afterall Ivy had brought her back from ruin not so long ago.

  “Siliras is here, either dead or one of them. Jessica’s leader Akatika is here, most likely more powerful, and who knows how many more of them there are.” Gabby continued.

  “Lafe may be one of them.” Tony said. “That may be the reason he is back from the dead.”

  “That can’t be true, he didn’t act like this when he visited me.” Gabby retorted.

  “Jessica only attacked when we rejected her offer. You said yourself Lafe was being pulled to something. Maybe he is under some sort of control.” Tony said.

  “I don’t believe that.” Gabby said.

  “He’s right Gabby. You need to consider that he may be one of them.” Ivy said, wiping tears from her eyes. “There’s no telling how this will end.”

  “We know about them. They will try to kill us if we don’t join them. Otherwise, they’ll think we’ll go back, tell Lord Clint, and marshal the army.” Tony said.

  “Fine, if your right we’ll leave without him.” Gabby said, tears starting to form in her eyes. She didn’t want to lose him again. She had lost the will to live when she lost him. She couldn’t stand the idea of losing him again. Maybe she would stay with him if he wouldn’t leave. Being an undead monster that lived off the blood of the living couldn’t be all that bad if she was with Lafe.

  “Where do you think he will be?” Tony asked.

  “How should I know?” Gabby responded.

  “You’re the only one that been here before. You snooped around here; you should have some ideas where to look.” Tony said.

  “We didn’t go through the whole place, but I know there are some bedrooms and storage rooms downstairs. We can start there.” Gabby said.

  Tony walked back into the vault and started going through his pack. A few moments later he walked out with two slender knives strapped to his belt and a hammer in one hand. Clearly, he didn’t want to get caught off guard again.

  “Take this.” Tony said to Ivy handing her the hammer. “We may end up in another fight.”

  “No offense but this hair net did some crazy things to Jessica. I think I’ll just use it.” Ivy said rejecting the hammer.

  The group entered the main hall that led to the stairs. The area was much brighter than Gabby’s first time through the long-forgotten hallway. To the side, Gabby noticed a door that had been previously locked now stood open. Gabby motioned them to stop and walked toward the door and put a finger up to her lips, telling them to be silent.

  Gabby pointed to the doorway, and Tony light on his feet as always crept through the doorway. The room was an armory, racks were built into the wall to hang suits of armor and weapons on. Rust cankered the swords and most of the armor. Any leather in sight was plagued with holes from animals and bugs getting to them over the hundreds of years of neglect.

  “Nothing but rotting arms and armor. There’s so much rust on these there practically useless.” Tony whispered as he emerged from the room.

  “Let’s continue downstairs.” Gabby said.

  The group made their way down the stairs and found every room to be empty of the monsters which held them captive. Gabby took this as a good sign. The books she read always told of nests of vampires. Alaric would use words such as; “teaming with the creatures” or “Overflowing with their ilk”. Having defeated one vampire, and just barely at that, she didn’t fancy fighting her way out of any place which teamed or overflowed with them.

  Gabby noticed the rings on Ivy’s hands still glowed faintly. They were too bright to be reflecting light from the torches or candles; these were gl
owing from inside. Gabby stopped the group before entering the stairwell.

  “Ivy, what’s going on with the rings on your hands?” Gabby asked.

  “I think they must be shining stones, only not as powerful as Siliras’.” Ivy replied.

  Tony cut off the conversation, “Where should we go next? We need to hurry before any more find us. Akatika is around here somewhere, and who knows what Siliras is up to.”

  “This is as far as Lafe and I explored. All the other halls were locked or boarded up.” Gabby explained.

  “Gabby this place is really big, and they out number us. The longer we stay the more likely we’ll be found again.” Ivy said.

  “She’s right, the longer we’re here the more likely it is we won’t leave. We can inform Lord Clint and come back with the army and save Lafe.” Tony said.

  “I can’t lose him again. Not ever again.” Gabby said straightening her shoulders.

  “You’re not going to lose him; we know he is here.” Ivy said.

  “We’ll just be getting help. We don’t know how many are here.” Tony said.

  “I’m not going. If you want to go, feel free to. I won’t stop you.” Gabby said.

  “I’m not leaving you here.” Ivy said.

  “Neither will I.” Tony agreed. “But we will end up dead or vampires if we stay. We are not going to abandon you; we made a pact to follow you. It’s your choice what we do. If you stay you will be making the decision for all of us. For better or worse.” Tony explained.

  Gabby posture slumped and she shook her head. This wasn’t fair, she didn’t want to leave Lafe, but she also didn’t want her friends to die. Alaric never mentioned this in any of his books. Leadership was the worst; your friends’ lives were held in the precarious positions your choices made.

  Gabby sighed, resigned to her role as their leader and knowing what the right choice was. “Fine, Let’s get help.”

  “Help’s right here, my love.” the low familiar voice of Lafe said as he walked out of the stairwell.

  If in life he was a living statue, in unlife he was perfection. He stood taller and looked stronger. Gabby could feel his presence in the room, he commanded attention. He felt wild almost feral in his power and somehow, she was drawn even more to him in that moment and in that state then she had ever been.

  “Lafe.” Gabby said.

  Lafe pushed Ivy and Tony aside and picked Gabby up and wrapped his thick arms around her in a hug. The hug was a powerful yet tender embrace. Goosebumps covered her whole body as she looked into his deep brown eyes.

  A few moments later James walked out of the stairwell. And something changed. Lafe’s face became dark and harsh. He put Gabby down and turned to face Tony.

  “You’ve done something horrible. You did this didn’t you?” Lafe growled.

  “You’re going to have to be much more specific than that.” Tony said.

  Lafe stepped closer to Tony and loomed over him. “You killed Jessica.”

  “You say that as if it was a bad thing. She tried to kill us when we told her we weren’t going to join her as vampires.” Tony responded.

  “Follow me, Akatika is livid. Jessica was her lover.” Lafe said as he walked toward the stairs; James silently flanking the group. “If I were you, I would kneel when we get to her and beg to be turned.”

  “What’s wrong with you Lafe?” Gabby asked.

  “Nothing. Why?” Lafe said.

  “Because you act like Jessica and Akatika are more important than we are.” Gabby said.

  “Lafe, she tried to kill us. She almost killed Gabby.” Ivy said.

  “She had orders to give you the option of joining us or dying. You can’t blame Jessica when you chose not to join us.” Lafe said.

  “Listen to yourself. Do you even care about Gabby?” Tony said.

  “Of course, I do. I love her.” Lafe said.

  “But, you’re fine with Jessica trying to kill her?” Ivy questioned.

  “No, but…” Lafe stammered. “Jessica’s dead and I have to take you to Akatika. No more talking.”

  A few minutes later Lafe led the group out to the courtyard, James following a short distance behind. A huge bonfire raged in the middle where the black yew tree once stood. Three other forms were barely visible on the walls, outside the firelight. Someone had brought Jessica’s body out from the large hall where she had died. A white-haired woman with an ageless face sat on the ground with Jessica in her arms. The rage in her eyes matched the fiery color of her tunic. This must be Akatika, Gabby thought.

  Chapter 23

  “Which one of you insolent whelps did this?” Akatika spat.

  No one answered. Silence filled the courtyard as they lined up in front of the fire.

  “Speak! Which one of you insects, killed her!” Akatika screamed, spit flying from her mouth.

  Tony stepped forward; “You see it wasn’t so much one of us as it was all of us. You could say a team building exercise of sorts. In the end, Gabby and I held her down and Ivy, well she really let her have it.”

  Ivy groaned putting her hands to her face and whispered; “You aren’t helping.”

  Gabby let out a small laugh. He wasn’t wrong she had to admit. They each learned to trust each other in a real life or death situation. But, Akatika seemed to only become more enraged by Tony’s ever-present flippant attitude. He was always saying things he couldn’t take back, this time however, his quick tongue was going to cost them their lives.

  “Kill them!” Akatika screeched.

  Lafe turned on Tony, diving his fist into Tony’s face, catching him completely off guard.

  Gabby’s eye widened, Lafe was supposed to be on their side. He was supposed to be one of them. She loved him, he loved her. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. She ran at Lafe screaming.

  “STOP!” Gabby screamed over and over, grabbing hold of Lafe’s arm.

  Lafe didn’t even notice he just kept punching and punching. Where he hit didn’t matter, his massive arms were honed from years of felling trees. Each strike took its toll battering Tony, to near unconsciousness.

  Battle rage, fed by the compulsion and malevolent will of Akatika, blinded Lafe. All he saw were enemies needing to be eliminated. But something was stopping him from being as effective as he could be. He absently reached for the person holding him back and flung them toward the fire.

  Gabby stumbled from the push, but she couldn’t hope to stand against such strength. She tripped over Jessica’s body. Her hands crashed into the hot coals and she screamed out. She rolled away from the fire, gloves smoldering from the momentary contact.

  James and another of Akatika’s followers had descended on Ivy. They flanked her, driving her back toward the door they had come out of. Each time one came near she swung the net out at her attackers. Each time she landed a hit they recoiled with pain. Black lines and blisters forming almost instantly where fine silver chain contacted flesh.

  Akatika stalked over to Gabby, still trying to get up off the ground. Her movements were like a cat who had cornered her meal. Each step precise, graceful, powerful until she stood over the top of Gabby.

  “Pathetic.” Akatika said as she reached down for Gabby.

  Gabby grabbed the circlet from off her head and raked at Akatika’s outstretched hand. Hoping beyond reason the jeweled ornament would have the same effect Ivy’s net had. But the hope was in vain, there wasn’t even so much as a scratch across the palm of her hand. Akatika did, however, flinch in surprise from the sudden unexpected movement.

  The moment of surprise was enough for Gabby’s training to come back to the forefront of her mind and she rolled away backward, kicking herself up off the ground. Where was her sword? She panicked looking around the courtyard. The sword was nowhere to be seen.

  Lafe left Tony laying on the ground as he strode over to help Akatika with her quarry. A few steps took him behind the unsuspecting enemy. He grabbed her hair and yanked back hard and kicked the back of her knee.
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  Gabby screamed out in pain and surprise. She saw the new attacker as she landed on her back. “Lafe.” She whimpered.

  Lafe lifted his foot and fixed his eyes on his target. “Gabby?” he mumbled.

  Tears filled Gabby’s eyes. Betrayal stung her more deeply than anything the vampires could have done to her. Lafe had hit her. He was trying to kill her.

  Lafe’s eyebrows furrowed and he put his foot back on the ground; why was he fighting Gabby.

  “What are you waiting for? Kill her.” Akatika bellowed.