The Blade Mage

by Phillip Drayer Duncan

  “Before we get to all of that, I’d like for you to tell me what happened.”

  “I killed Kyle,” Axel said, nodding. “It’s pretty simple, really.”

  “So, you’re admitting it?”

  “Oh, yeah, I did it.”

  “Any particular reason why?”

  “Not really,” Axel said, shrugging like I’d asked him…well, anything other than why he’d murdered someone. “Guess I was just in the mood.”

  “Just in the mood?” Parker repeated. “You were in the mood…to murder your friend?”

  “Yeah,” Axel said. “Sometimes you just get in the mood.”

  “And what about the kids, you fucking sicko?” Anthony asked, smacking his hand against the cell. “You were just in the mood then, too?”

  A part of me wanted to believe there was the briefest of pauses. The faintest sign of hesitation, but perhaps that was just my own wishful thinking. Axel shrugged again, still smiling. “I like kids.”

  “Yeah,” Anthony said, his face reddening. “I bet you do, you sick little fuck. I can’t wait to watch you die.”

  “Axel,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I need to understand why you did this.”

  “I don’t know, Wyatt. I’m just crazy. You know that. Remember when we snuck off and went down to the lake cabin as kids? Did I have to have a reason?”

  “Your dad was being a dick and you wanted to go swimming. We walked miles to get there. You parents were furious.”

  “Man, I’d like to go to the lake house again,” Axel said, then sighed. “Ah, well. Wyatt, you should go stay there afterward. One night, just to remember me.”

  “I’ll consider it,” I said. “Do you have anything else to tell me?”

  “Umm,” he said, seeming to think it over. “I’m awfully sorry for getting you into this mess.”

  I locked eyes with him, trying to get a read on what he was thinking. That was never a good idea. Understanding Axel’s brain was beyond magic and science. Like trying to put a jigsaw puzzle together with pieces from a different puzzle.

  “Axel, they said you might’ve kidnapped a kid. Is that true?”

  He shrugged.

  “Where is the kid now?”

  He stared at me for a long moment, then pointed at my chest.

  I looked down at myself, then back up at him and raised an eyebrow. “Why are you pointing at me?”

  “Because that’s where the child is,” he said, his tone serious.

  “The child…is in me?” I asked, glancing at Parker for help. The Shamus just shrugged.

  “I believe there’s a child inside all of us, just waiting to get out.” Axel said, nodding enthusiastically. “Well, all of us except Anthony. He’s just a dick.”

  “You’re fucking lucky there’s bars between us, you little creep,” Anthony said, scowling. “I’d love five minutes alone with you.”

  “I’m sorry, Anthony,” Axel said, smiling at the angry Shamus. “But you’ll have to play out your erotic fantasies with someone else.”

  Anthony slapped his hand against the bars again and stormed away.

  Parker glanced over at me. “You satisfied, Blade Mage? I don’t think you’re going to learn anything useful here.”

  I nodded at him. “Yeah, we can go.”

  “Can I ask you another favor?” Axel said, moving to the small pile of junk he had in the cell. Apparently, they’d allowed him a few coloring books and crayons. The guards had probably done it as a joke, but Axel had clearly appreciated the poorly intended gesture. He pulled a piece of paper out of one of them, scribbled on it with a crayon, and folded it up. He walked back over toward the cell and held the note out to me. “Would you give this note to my mother?”

  I stared at him for a moment then nodded. “Sure.”

  “Don’t read it,” he said, looking me in the eye. “It’s private.”

  “I won’t,” I assured him.

  “I’ll be really upset if you do.”

  “I won’t,” I repeated, moving away from the cell.

  “Okay, I won’t really be mad if you read it.”

  I glanced back to where he had his face pressed up against the glowing bars.

  “You can read it,” he said, nodding at me. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

  “I’m not going to read the private note you wrote for your mother, Axel.”

  “No, it’s cool. You should.”

  “Well, I won’t.”

  “Please read it, Wyatt. It would mean a lot to me.”

  “All right,” I said, and headed toward the door. “I’ll see you soon, Axel.”

  “Take it easy, buddy,” he replied cheerily. “And don’t forget. Lightsaber noises.”

  “I won’t forget,” I said, and headed back outside.

  I climbed in the back seat of Parker’s car and unfolded the note. It read…

  Wyatt, get me the fuck out of here!

  Chapter 5

  We were back on the dirt road before anyone spoke. Naturally, Anthony had to be the first to comment. “So, you ready to chop that prick’s head off, or what?”

  I didn’t reply.

  Anthony turned in his seat to look back at me. “I asked you a question.”

  “I heard you, Anthony,” I said, meeting his gaze.

  “You’re not going to do it, are you?” he asked with a cute little mocking laugh. “I don’t know why the Archmage even wanted you involved. If it were up to me, we’d just beat your ass and take the sword back. Put you back in your rightful place.”

  “That’s enough,” Parker said, taking his eyes off the road to glare at his subordinate. “Like it or not, Wyatt is the Blade Mage. You’ll show him respect.”

  Anthony snickered and sat back down in his seat. “Don’t worry, boss. I won’t get out of line. I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.”

  “Yeah, well don’t,” Parker said. “You didn’t earn your position for your opinion.”

  “Nor for your winning personality,” I added, glancing out the window once more. There was the emo girl again, still strolling down the dirt road alone, her eyes on the gravel. At the moment, I would’ve happily traded places with her.

  I enjoyed the silence for another minute or so, then Parker had to ruin it.

  “So, now you’ve seen him,” Parker said, glancing up at me in the rearview. “What do you think?”

  I wasn’t sure how to answer. Axel had admitted his guilt. He even seemed happy I was supposed to be the one to execute him. Of course he would be. Asshole.

  I sighed and said, “I don’t know, Parker. If there’s still a missing kid out there, we need to find him.”

  Parker shook his head. “We’ve had sleuths, dowsers, trackers, and scryers hunting for any trace of a missing kid. Furthermore, we checked his car and his apartment. There was no physical evidence of a child anywhere. Not so much as a strand of hair. The local police have no missing children reported recently. Best we can tell, there is no kid.”

  I nodded, taking this in. “According to Director Allen, Kyle told him he had reason to believe Axel had kidnapped a child. Then Axel killed Kyle. If I’m following the logic you guys have so graciously provided, Axel presumably killed Kyle to cover up the supposed kidnappings and alleged sick shit he liked to do with kids, am I right?”

  “Your fucking point?” Anthony asked.

  “My point, Shamus, is that if there isn’t a missing kid, then why did Axel kill Kyle? If there’s no kid, then there would be no evidence to back Kyle’s assertion. Axel could’ve simply denied it.”

  “But Axel’s a fucking nut job,” Anthony said, laughing. “I get you don’t want your little butt buddy to be the sick twisted pyscho that he is, but give it a rest, already.”

  “He’s not wrong,” Parker said, glancing at Anthony. “But best guess is that Kyle was referring to a previous incident. Axel killed him before he could come forward.”

  “That’s a bold assumption to risk someone’s life on,” I said.


  “We know he did it!” Anthony said, throwing up his hands in disbelief. “He has to die.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “I was referring to the missing child. If Axel has a child locked up somewhere, he’s probably starving to death.”

  “Did you not just hear Parker? There is no kid. Your little friend is clinging to that story in the hopes it will keep him alive a little longer. You’re just too much of a chicken shit little coward to do your job.”

  “How the hell did you end up becoming a Shamus?” I asked, shaking my head. “Was the Cabal out of Human Resources positions at the time?”

  “Why the fuck would I go to Human Resources?”

  “It’s called sarcasm, you fuck-wit.”

  “What’d you say?” Anthony asked, turning in his seat. “I ought to come back there and show you why you don’t deserve to be the Blade Mage.”

  “Any time, Anthony,” I said, smiling at him. I was in the mood to hit something, and his face would do just the trick.

  “That’s enough,” Parker said for the second time, glancing over at Anthony. “I won’t say it a third time, Burns.”

  Then something slammed into the vehicle.

  The next few moments were a blur. Someone screamed. It might’ve been me, or it might’ve been all three of us. It was hard to tell over the sound of tires churning gravel. We were sliding, and I was vaguely aware that we were out of control, then the world turned over on top of me.

  I blacked out.

  ***

  Something warm ran down my forehead. It’s probably blood, I told myself. Why would I be bleeding, though? Because you were just in an accident, moron. Oh, right, that.

  I opened my eyes slowly, which was fine, since the world was a blur anyway. It was also upside down. That wasn’t right. I was upside down, still latched into my seat belt.

  In the front of the car, Anthony groaned and turned his head toward me. He might’ve been about to ask me if I was all right, or he might’ve been about to tell me to go to hell, but either way, he didn’t get the chance. He screamed, then something yanked him from the car.

  What the hell?

  No time to worry over the severity of my injuries, I reached for the seat belt button and freed myself, whereupon I fell on my head. I’m not always the sharpest sword in the sheath.

  I cursed and rolled to my side like a worm, crawling toward the window through the broken glass and debris. I wasn’t going to wait for whatever just snatched Anthony to do the same to me.

  Outside, I tried to wipe the blood away from my eyes, but only managed to smear it across my face. Grabbing hold of the car, I pulled myself up on unsteady feet.

  The first thing I noticed was Anthony.

  Next, I noticed his feet were dangling about two feet from the ground.

  Last, I noticed the creature who was holding Anthony off the ground. At which point I pondered over why I hadn’t noticed it first. Whatever the hell it was, it had to be every bit of seven feet tall, but it was skinny, and almost frail-looking, despite its obvious strength. The creature’s limbs were awkwardly long, but at the end of each hand were a set of long claws. Its skin was a pale grayish-white, as though its flesh were made from ash. A demon of some kind, perhaps?

  Judging by its face, I figured I was on the right track. Its features were somewhat human, but mostly beast-like. Creepy red eyes. Long gross tongue. Razor sharp teeth.

  Anthony cringed, and I thought he might cry. I wouldn’t have judged. The creature was palming his head like a basketball, its long talons wrapping over his face.

  The creature’s eyes locked with mine, and a serpent-like voice said, “You should’ve stayed away, Blade Mage.”

  “And you should visit a plastic surgeon,” I said, raising an eyebrow at the creature. Despite my inner panic, I managed to hold my bravado together. “You’re fugly.”

  From behind me, I heard Parker groan and glanced back to see him crawl out of the car and stand up as well. He held a platinum-plated wand in his hand. Showoff.

  “What the hell is that thing?” Parker asked.

  “Well, it’s either a creature who wants to kill us,” I said, shrugging, “or it’s Anthony’s new girlfriend.”

  “Fuck you, Wyatt,” Anthony spat between groans.

  “Or both,” I said, still looking at Parker and trying to be casual.

  “You should have brought your sword with you, Blade Mage,” the creature said. “Perhaps you could’ve offered me some measure of sport before you die.”

  “Told you,” Parker said, sneering at me.

  I scowled back at him. “And I told you we’d be safer in my truck.”

  “My car has the highest safety ratings in its class!”

  “And yet I’m still bleeding from the forehead.”

  “Safety ratings don’t account for monster attacks.”

  Anthony cried out in pain. We turned our attention back to him just in time to watch the creature reach up with its free hand and snap his arm at the elbow. There was a sickening crack, and Anthony’s eyes went wide as he gasped in pain. All things considered, the Shamus was lucky the creature just broke the bone and didn’t use its talons to cut the arm right off.

  “So, who sent you to kill me?” I asked in a casual tone. If the creature had been torturing someone I liked, it might’ve been harder to maintain a calm demeanor. Fortunately, it was Anthony Burns. That’s not to say I didn’t care. I just didn’t care as much.

  “Does it matter?” the creature asked.

  “Yes,” I replied. “Did Axel summon you?”

  The creature laughed. “Who else? He wanted you to know he’s sad it had to come to this.”

  “I bet,” I replied, drawing my staff from my back. “Well, why don’t you put down the douchebag and come kill me, then.”

  “It really is a shame you didn’t bring your magic sword, human.”

  “I guess I’ll just have to beat you to death with this magic stick instead.”

  The creature hurled Anthony at Parker. The two men collided and both went down. I didn’t have time to worry about them, though, as it charged me.

  It held both of its clawed hands out wide, giving me a good view of its long talons. Its maw was open as well, allowing the spittle to fly while it showcased its impressive chompers.

  I waited until the last possible moment, then I finally lowered the veil on my sword and drew it from my back. Time seemed to slow as the blade fired to life, white light practically bursting from end to end. Drynwyn knew it was about to be wielded for the purpose it was intended.

  The creature knew it, too. Its eyes widened as it charged, already committed to its attack. There was no backing out now, but I caught a momentary glance of fear in its eyes, and that was all the encouragement I need.

  I charged forward, swinging my blade at the monster’s incoming claws. My aim was true, and Drynwyn sliced away three of its fingers before they could tear me apart.

  The beast threw back its head and howled, opening me a shot at its abdomen. Realizing its mistake, it jumped back as I swung. If I’d been a split second quicker, I might’ve killed it then, but my blow wasn’t deep enough to finish the job.

  It scrambled back from me, kicking up dirt and gravel as it went and holding its injured gut.

  “This isn’t over, Blade Mage,” it hissed, clearly in pain. “Axel Gunner has marked you for death, and I will be the one to see it done.”

  Then it spun on its heal and disappeared into the forest.

  I stood there for a moment, catching my breath and wondering how I’d been so lucky to survive the encounter. If not for my surprise attack, I’d have been done for. Something told me that trick wouldn’t work a second time.

  I walked back over to my comrades.

  Anthony was snoring and using the dirt road as a pillow. Parker sat, his back against the car and his eyes trained on my sword. As I approached, he glanced up at me. “So, you did bring it with you.”

  “It’s a magical sword,
” I said as I slid it back in its sheath. “Of course I brought it with me.”

  He snorted. “You all right?”

  “Yeah. You?”

  He nodded. “I’m good.”

  “Anthony?” I asked.

  “He’s banged up, but help will be here shortly.” He glanced back down the road, eyes scanning the trees. “What the hell was that thing?”

  “How should I know? You’re the Shamus.”

  “And you’re the Blade Mage.”

  “Fair point,” I said, shrugging. “Some kind of demon?”

  “Not likely. We haven’t had a demon sighting in the Cabal for some time. Did look like it, though, didn’t it?”

  I shrugged again. “For now, let’s stick to calling it Anthony’s girlfriend.”

  Parker chuckled. “Deal.”

  Chapter 6

  A few minutes after the attack, three black SUVs rolled in kicking up a cloud of dust as they parked alongside the road. Soldiers decked out in full combat armor poured out and surrounded us, their guns sweeping the area for any signs of threat. A helicopter circled overhead with the long end of a minigun pointed at the trees. I felt like I was in the middle of a war zone.

  Some of the soldiers were mages. Others not. It was hard to tell them apart except for the fact the mages all carried wands, rods, or staves. The rest were armed with assault rifles and combat shotguns. I also saw a few swords, a big ass mace, and what appeared to be nun chucks. Whether they were all human or not, was another question entirely.

  The Cabal’s military had arrived.

  Best I could tell, this was a standard fare force, probably the closest and most readily available. I’d been out of the game for a while, but they didn’t look like special forces or a strike team.

  Two black vans appeared next. They looked like any common utility van on the exterior, but their guts were that of an ambulance. More armored individuals poured out and could’ve been mistaken for the other soldiers if not for the medical patches on their shoulders. On one arm they bore a red patch with the symbol of Caduceus: Two snakes winding around a winged staff. On the other shoulder, they wore a blue patch with the staff of Asclepius: A single snake winding its way up a staff. Both symbols were common throughout the world to represent medical institutions, but I don’t know of any who used both.