Jack’s mind was still reeling with the real identity of their traveling partner that night as he fell asleep. There was a real live assassin going on a journey with them. Jack was equal parts excited and fearful of the trip to come and what the next days would bring. The last thing he remembered as he fell asleep was a lullaby his mother would sing to him as a baby.
If Jack had known what the next day held in store for him, he wouldn’t have slept so soundly.
Chapter Twelve
Sloan
“Marcus, Jack?” It was Sloan knocking on their bedroom door. “Be ready to visit the armory in fifteen minutes. A servant will come and get you.”
“We’ll be ready, Captain,” Marcus’ voice penetrated the door. “See you soon.”
Sloan took off down the hall in the direction of the armory. The palace was a labyrinth of twisting halls and massive rooms. It had taken Sloan a solid month before she was confident in traversing the palace.
Morning light streamed though massive windows. Sloan’s black boots sank into the rich red carpet. Soldiers saluted her as she passed halls decorated with statues and paintings.
Today, she walked with purpose. It was important for her to set the tone as the leader, and in all honesty, she was excited to see what Edison Reeves had ready for them in the armory.
Eventually, Sloan arrived at the designated meeting point, the entrance to the armory marked by two gigantic black doors. She dusted off her black pants and straightened her black and grey uniform while she waited.
“You didn’t strike me as the kind to care what she looks like.” Aareth’s voice met her from down the hall. “But I guess as long as you’re not trying to kill me, that’s an improvement.”
“And you obviously don’t care what you look like.” Sloan looked Aareth up and down. “Did you sleep in your clothes?”
Before Aareth could answer, Marcus and Jack rounded the corner. The servants that guided the men to the armory bowed their way back down the hall
“What? Do I have something on my face?” Aareth looked at Jack as he rubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin. “Why are you looking at me like that, kid? You’re kinda weirding me out.”
“Oh no.” Jack’s eyes darted to the door. “I mean, I—just that now that I know who you—ummm—”
“Please, boys, can this wait?” Sloan banged on the massive double doors. “We have an armory to pillage and a mission to begin.”
The black doors were twenty feet high and at least ten feet across. What first seemed like decorations in the wood were actually magical symbols of all shapes and sizes. Now as the doors opened, the symbols began to shine. One after the other, they lit up in a bright display of red light until the entire door was covered in the magical illumination.
Noise, like a hundred bats in flight, shot forth from the opposite side of the door. Edison’s familiar head popped out. He was sporting goggles over a smeared coal black face. He motioned them forward wearing a heavy set of leather, work gloves. “Please come in and welcome to D.P.S.M, ‘The Department of Paranormal Study and Magic.’ I’ve been waiting for you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jack
Jack had seen the city. He witnessed the power of magic to produce light. Still, he wasn’t ready for the sight welcoming his eyes on the other side of the door. The palace armory was actually one gigantic room filled with gnomes, machines, smoke, and leaping fires. Steam and whistles filled the air as the group entered.
The gnomes wore facemasks and goggles. They labored on various projects in different stages of development. Edison led the group around the armory like a proud father, introducing them to invention after invention.
“This is only a prototype, but we’re hoping by the time it’s done, we’ll be able to actually carry mage light with us from place to place. Imagine that? Being able to carry light with you and illuminate even the darkest places with the flick of a switch. Granted, I know a sorcerer could do this at any time, but to the everyday man, it will be groundbreaking.”
“Even for us it would be useful.” Marcus looked at the prototype that was nothing more than a tube with a bulb at the end. “Lighting a path is easy enough, but it takes energy and power. Having a mage light means we can save our strength.”
Edison was pointing to a large square box sparking blue light as short-statured gnomes tried connecting it to large cables. Jack couldn’t help but smile at the older man’s enthusiasm for science and technology. He was ripped from these thoughts as a small explosion erupted a few yards away.
Gnomes ran on squat legs to help, carrying buckets of water and heavy towels.
“Should we have masks on or at least goggles?” Sloan pointed to where a small blaze had broken out. “I think that gnome over there is on fire.”
“Oh no, he’s fine. You’ll be safe.” Edison shook his head with reassurance. “That’s a regular occurrence here. That project has been in the works for months now. He’ll be reborn again. We just have to find a way for him not to burst into flames.”
“What is it?” Jack said, craning his neck to try and get a glimpse.
“We’ve codenamed it Project Phoenix. It’s the first step in creating a potion that will bring someone back from the dea—”
A bearded gnome with a squished nose and large ears came up to Edison. He pulled on the inventor’s sleeve until Edison leaned down. With excited chatter, the little employee whispered in Edison’s ear.
“He’s here now?” Edison looked around the warehouse floor.
The gnome nodded furiously.
“Well, please show him in. Have him meet us by the weapons.”
The gnome ran off. Edison turned to his group and led them to the back of the large room. “It seems we have an unexpected visitor.”
Jack noticed a well-dressed middle-aged man approaching the group. He was wearing an expensive suit complete with gold-rimmed glasses and a gold pocket watch; the chain hung from inside his vest.
“Well, hello, Edison,” the stranger said, taking in the rest of the group with a smile. “I’m sorry, is this a bad time?”
“No, of course not.” Edison grinned and shook the man’s hand vigorously. “Not for the man who’s been so generous to the Crown. Please let me introduce you. You’re already familiar with the captain, I think. This is Jack, Marcus, and Aareth.”
Sloan crossed her arms with a frown that said she was anything but happy to see the mystery man.
“Gentlemen,” Edison continued as though he didn’t notice. “This is Dr. Oliver Livingston. He owns the largest magic and technology manufacturing company in the city. He’s also a great supporter of the Crown. In fact, many of the projects you see here today are being developed side by side with his team.”
The doctor extended a greeting to each of them and exchanged warm handshakes.
“And, Captain,” Dr. Livingston turned to Sloan with a pleasant smile, “always a pleasure to see you as well.”
Sloan didn’t say a word, but Jack could tell she was biting back a few choice words of her own. He even half expected to see Sloan reach for her sword.
The doctor didn’t seem to notice or care and instead turned back to Edison. “Well, it looks as though you’re on a tour, so I’ll be brief. The progress on the locomotive track is going well above the planned schedule. I have crews working on it around the clock. With the latest tools we’ve developed for the project, we’ll be able to reach the first Outland city tonight.”
“That’s wonderful news.” Edison smiled from ear to ear. “I know the Queen will be pleased.”
“The other project is still being worked on.” The doctor noticeably lowered his voice for this piece of information. “We ran into a few… hiccups.”
Jack leaned in towards the two men, trying to catch more of their conversation as their voices continued to lower. At that moment, there was a shrill steam blast coming from a large stack of pipes, making it impossible for Jack to hear anything but the last few words from Dr. Liv
ingston’s mouth. “…enhanced soldiers.”
“Well, thank you for the information. I’ll be contacting you later today to go over your report in better detail,” Edison said with a nervous glance at his guests.
“Of course. It was a pleasure meeting you all, and Sloan, you look beautiful as ever.” With that, Dr. Livingston turned and walked away.
“Well, he seems nice.” Aareth lifted his eyebrows at a scowling Sloan. “And he definitely has a thing for you.”
“Not another word.” Sloan looked at Aareth with murder in her eyes. “Not one more word from you or I swear to every gnome in here, I’ll—”
“Well, let’s be on our way.” Edison licked dry lips, trying to diffuse the situation. “I know how eager you all are to begin your journey.”
He led the group a few more yards to the rear of the building. There was an area where a makeshift practice ground was erected.
“Ahhh. Here we are.” Edison turned to a table behind him and opened a small metal box. Inside was a black steel rod, thick as Jack’s staff but not much longer than a pencil.
Edison lifted it into the air for Jack and his father to examine. “Since staffs seem to be your weapon of choice, I thought I should show you one of our latest inventions. Until now, every staff either needs to be held in one cumbersome piece or in two like your own. We’ve managed to condense the original staff into something much more user friendly. The metal is durable, but you will still be able to carve your own desired runes on the material if you deem it necessary.”
Jack could feel a smile cross his lips. Edison handed him the steel wand. He motioned for him to step inside the training area. The piece of metal did feel heavy but not any heftier than his own staff.
“There’s a button on the side by your thumb that will extend the staff,” Edison informed him. “Once you press the button, the staff will spread quickly, so do be cautious. Perhaps a demonstration?”
Jack stepped inside the training area. There were three dummies set in a circle around him. He held the metal bar out in front of him. His thumb made contact with the cold button. At once, two steel shafts extended from the bar. Jack wasted no time as he called forth the inner fire of magic raging inside of him. The steel rod came alive with green flame. Jake made quick work of the dummies, destroying two with strikes from the staff, the last with a green flame that shot from the end of the pole.
As soon as the demonstration started, it ended. Jack shut off the magical power feeding the staff with energy. He hit the button by his thumb again. The green flames disappeared. As if it were all a dream, all that remained was a black metal wand.
“What do you think?” Edison clapped in glee, seeing one of his most prized inventions in the hands of a professional sorcerer. “It’s perfect isn’t it?”
“Does it come in brown?” Jack gave the inventor a rueful grin.
Edison offered a similar wand to Marcus, who politely refused, rubbing a fond thumb across the handle of his own staff. “Thank you, but I think I’ll stick with my own set. They haven’t failed me yet.”
“There’s already one waiting for you on the locomotive.” Edison took the wand from Jack, placing it back in the box. “Be sure to read the instructions. There’s a lot of useful information in the instruction booklet. But I have more to show you before you go. Wait here.”
Jack again heard the name “locomotive,” but before Jack could ask what a locomotive was, Edison disappeared behind a wall of dark boxes.
“We should really get going soon if we’re going to get to Burrow Den.” Aareth crossed large arms over his chest. “At this rate, the entire city’s going to be slaughtered before we arrive.”
“For the first time, I agree with you,” Sloan frowned looking at the watch on her wrist. “Where did Edison run off to?”
“They must have already loaded the other two pieces of equipment I had for you and Aareth on the locomotive, Captain.” Edison appeared from behind a pile of boxes emblazoned with the royal insignia. “I apologize.”
“It’s quite all right, Edison. We really must be going now anyway. Thank you.”
Jack, Marcus, and Sloan shook hands with Edison. Jack couldn’t help but notice that Aareth stayed behind a second longer, exchanging a few words with the elderly inventor before he caught up with the rest of the group.
Sloan gave Aareth a sideways glance as they walked through the palace.
“What?” Aareth asked. “The old man says to read the directions before we play with our toys.”
“I’m sure.”
The group headed through the palace and outside to the east wing. Soon Jack found himself in a tunnel-like room that sloped gradually down. It was clear this portion of the palace was much newer than the rest. The smell of drying mortar was still fresh on the walls, everything practically shone with newness.
The tunnel soon opened into a large room with human soldiers and gnome technicians hustling about. Smoke filled the room, much like the workshop, as a dull, thumping noise started permeating the air.
On the far side of the room on the same tracks that Jack had seen being laid in the Outland was a gigantic black machine. Smoke poured out of a large chimney set in the front of the monster as steam shot out from wheels and levers underneath.
Sloan was the only one out of the group not fazed by the machine.
“Is she ready to go?” Sloan asked a passing gnome covered in grease.
“Yes, ma’am. We’re just waiting for you to board now.”
The machine picked up in volume as the behemoth came to life. It looked like it was made up of several different sections connected to each other. There were five carts all together, all painted black and brown. Two large flags wielding the city’s sigil were mounted at the front half hidden by the amount of smoke and steam that was erupting from the monster of a machine.
“Come on, boys, let’s go. We have a city to save.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jack
Not in Jack’s wildest dreams could he have imagined something like this. The four emissaries to the Queen boarded the machine. To Jack’s surprise, the inside of the carts were spacious, even comfortable.
They boarded the second cart with the help of a small step ladder attached to the side. The section of the machine they entered was directly behind what Jack had imagined was the engine. Inside was a carpeted room that didn’t look much different from the inside of the palace.
“We’ll be underway soon.” Sloan walked to a small table with a map of the Outland spread out on top. “The locomotive will take us as far as it can. We’ll stop right before the tracks run out and take horses from there. With any luck, we’ll be in Burrow Den in a week.”
“A week?” Jack looked toward the rear of the car they boarded, eager to see what was in the next cart. “That fast?”
“We’re not on vacation, Jack. We’ll ride hard.” Sloan noticed his gaze. “Wondering what else is back there?”
Jack turned his large brown eyes to a smiling Sloan and nodded.
“This is the meeting or lounging cart. The one ahead of us is where all the power comes from, the mage engine. The three behind us are sleeping quarters, the lavatory, the supply room, and the kitchen.”
“This thing has a kitchen and a bathroom in it?” Aareth was quietly examining the interior of the machine, but he spoke up at mention of the facilities. “What’s next, a flying ship?”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.” Sloan shrugged. “I mean, the way Edison and Dr. Livingston are headed in the name of magic.”
“Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the doctor. What is he anyway? Your boyfriend?”
“He is not my boyfriend.” Sloan’s fair skin turned red. Her green eyes burned with fire. “And if you ever talk to me like that again, so help me God, I’ll—”
At that moment, there was a shrill whistle cutting off the rest of Sloan’s threat. The locomotive slowly began to move.
Although Jack couldn’t hear what Sloan said, the chop
ping motion she made with her hand was clear enough.
Jack took a seat near a window in a thickly cushioned armchair. He could hear his father, Sloan, and Aareth looking over the map of the Outland. They were already preparing a plan, but now as the locomotive gained speed and started forward, all he could think about was giving his full attention to the steam-powered machine that would no doubt change history.
At first, the locomotive moved only inches forward; however, as whistles blew and smoke spewed from the dark stacks, the machine gained speed. Within minutes, inches turned into feet and feet turned into yards.
Soon the steam-powered engine was rocketing forward. How the others weren’t as excited as he was, was beyond Jack. The locomotive pulled them along at a steady pace, making short work of the tunnel running under the palace. For a brief second, all was dark as they left the station room under the palace behind them and entered the dark tunnel that led to the city above.
The darkness in the passageway was short-lived. Within a few seconds, the locomotive broke forward, reaching the surface and entering the very heart of New Hope. Tracks had already been set up inside the city and barriers guarded both sides of the rails, ensuring pedestrians were nowhere close to the ton of hurtling steel.
Men, women, and children all stopped what they were doing and stared wide eyed at the beast of a machine. Children smiled and waved as they ran along the locomotive’s side. Jack couldn’t help himself as he waved back to the strangers, who seemed so happy to witness man’s latest and greatest invention.
The sun was already high overhead as the locomotive snaked its way through the city and towards the Outland. Once again, Jack was struck by the immensity of the city and what it had to offer. He could feel the desire to explore the city build inside him. He knew he was sadder at leaving than he should be.
Don’t worry, you’ll be back, Jack told himself, and somehow he knew it was the truth.
The Complete Vampire Project Series: (Books 1 - 5) Page 6