The scene also startled Mantis and the Bloodsoaked Queen, though they were surprised for different reasons.
Both of them had spent more time with Cloudhawk and knew what he was capable of. He was average, another face in the crowd, nowhere nearly as skilled as an outpost’s elite fighter. And yet, though there was a clear difference in abilities between him and Panther, the kid was holding his own. At least, he had a chance to fight back.
His speed and strength… all of his abilities had substantially improved seemingly without basis. How could he have changed so much literally overnight?
Before they could puzzle out an answer, a scream pierced the air. Cloudhawk’s exorcist rod appeared from the ether, aimed at Panther’s abdomen. The fighter caught it by clamping his sais crossways over the shaft. Amidst the screech of steel, the staff’s keen tip pierced his leather armor. A moment later and it would have pierced flesh.
Whoosh!
Cloudhawk wrenched his staff back and juked left. He brought the staff crashing down from overhead.
Panther deflected it again. Their weapons met amidst a loud clang and the power that vibrated through the blow made Hydra’s hand-picked operative ill at ease. Like a ghost, Cloudhawk disappeared only to emerge elsewhere with a deadly attack. His cloak made him invisible but also imbued the boy with a burst of speed that put him and Panther on even footing. His attacks kept coming, as indomitable as the tide.
Their weapons met five or six more times, punctuated by grating squeals.
Little by little, Panther fought through the disadvantage. He couldn’t see his target so his response was to shut his eyes. Without the distraction of sight, he used wind eddies and the whistling sound of movement to determine where the attacks would come from and defend against them. Cloudhawk’s invisibility was troublesome, but it would take much more than that to beat someone as experienced as Panther.
Cloudhawk’s onslaught achieved nothing and his opponent’s defense was only getting more impenetrable. He couldn’t hold on much longer. Once the relic’s power gave out, he’d lose the one advantage he had.
Time to go all out!
Cloudhawk sprang up and planted his feet on a nearby wall. He coiled like a spring and shot forward off the wall as quickly as an arrow. With all the momentum behind him, he swept his exorcist rod down towards the nape of Panther’s neck.
Panther sensed the incoming attack. A sneer touched the corner of his lips. His right arm swung around, bringing his whole body with him, raising the sai as fast as lightning to knock the sneak attack aside. His left hand responded half a second later, bringing his weapon up towards where he determined Cloudhawk’s chest would be, like a viper moving in for the kill.
The kid was finished! He had strange tricks to help him, but lacked experience in the end.
Who could expect that in that instant, as Cloudhawk let loose a bestial roar, a surge of unnatural power would explode from the exorcist rod? The three-edged head of the weapon began to rotate at an incredible speed, meeting Panther’s block with such intensity that it nearly ripped the weapon from his grip.
What the hell?!
That wasn’t a staff, Panther thought. It was more like an electric saw. He was forced to bring his other sai up early and used both to catch the staff in between.
The friction as they collided lit up the hall with sparks. Spectators almost had to shield their ears from the sound.
Luckily for Panther, his sais were high quality. Despite the severity of the blow, they didn’t break, but as more power flowed through Cloudhawk’s staff, Panther had to struggle harder to keep from being skewered.
Threads of bloody veins pulsed in Cloudhawk’s eyes. His muscles bulged as power flooded his body, catapulting his fortitude to a whole new level. All the latent force of the staff reached its peak, and suddenly, a concussive shock burst forth from it.
“Go to hell!”
Both sais shattered!
Panther let go of the shattered shards, and when the shock wave hit, it threw him high into the air. However, the man was an expert killer and as he was flung aloft, he executed a series of masterful backflips. Mid rotation, he pulled a dagger from his waist and by the time he landed back on the ground, he was curled up ready to launch another attack.
“Enough!”
Hydra’s shout brought their battle to an end. Cloudhawk reappeared, drenched in sweat with chest heaving. His psychic energy was depleted. The webbing between Panther’s thumb and forefinger [1] was split and leaking fresh blood. His clothes were ripped and cut, and the force of the impact had caused some mild internal injuries. Yet, he was still ready to keep fighting.
Cloudhawk had appeared to have the upper hand, but if they’d continued the fight, it was uncertain if the kid would have come out on top. But the fight had finished before his exhaustion could be relevant so now Snaketooth had nothing to say.
Artemis looked at Cloudhawk with bright and curious eyes, like a rotwolf with a scourge hare in its sights. “This little brother looks like he’s got no teeth, but for a young’un, you’ve got some spunk. I like talented men like you. It makes me wonder what other… talents… you might have.”
Nothing was said, but Artemis felt a distinctly murderous intent settle on her.
It was the Bloodsoaked Queen’s frigid gaze. As strong as Artemis was, she could feel the pressure weighing on her. Even without lifting a finger, she knew she was no match for the young woman.
Was this delicious boy toy her lover, she wondered? Such a pity!
Hydra dismissed the exchange with a wave of his hand. “Everyone take a seat.”
Cloudhawk returned the exorcist rod to its makeshift sheath on his waist and, fixing Snaketooth with a hateful stare, sat beside the Bloodsoaked Queen.
Hydra went on as if the entire surprising exchange had never happened. “Our ultimate aim is to draw out and kill the demon pulling the strings. But before we can, we have to go through his lieutenants.”
“Ugh, you men are so boring. They’ve got a few hundred scrubs. Are they really that much of a threat?” Her voice dripped with ridicule. “We organize the thousands of troops we have here in the Outpost, surround them, and that’s the end of it!”
A chill flit across Hydra’s eyes. “Artemis, you know I don’t like questions or interruptions. I especially hate having subordinates second-guess my orders. The next person who does, I’ll cut out their tongue, chop off their limbs, and throw them in the leech pit.”
Artemis shrugged noncommittally but didn’t say anything more.
“They didn’t bring many with them but you can bet your ass they have informants all over the outpost. If we attempt a large-scale operation, they’ll see it coming a mile away and get out before we have a chance to move.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “The most we’ll use are a few hundred trusted soldiers. That’s how we avoid scaring our prey off.”
Hydra’s worries were well founded, for although he was ruler of the outpost, there were definitely agents of the demon lurking everywhere. If they made this a big deal, the spies would alert the demon’s lieutenants and they’d miss their opportunity. If they slipped away and returned to their master, fighting them would be much more difficult.
Snaketooth spoke up. “What’s your plan?”
“Their hearts are set on killing the demon hunter. That means we got bait.” Hydra looked pointedly at the Queen and Cloudhawk. “We trick ‘em into a place where they’ll be surrounded and get rid of their people in a single stroke.”
No one offered an opinion. Amidst the silent consent, Hydra snapped his fingers.
Maidservants entered in an orderly line like a school of fish. The one in the lead held an enormous bottle of liquor and all the rest bore dishes of various sizes. Delicate wine glasses were presented. Hydra took up the large bottle himself, pulled the cork, and filled the glasses. Maidservants then took them and distributed the alcohol among the others.
“Drink with me! When our work is done, you can r
est assured I’ll treat you well.”
They all lifted their glasses and emptied their contents in one gulp.
Cloudhawk thought he could taste the fruit and vegetables used to make the beverage filling his mouth with savory sweetness. It was actually quite pleasant, much better than the stuff the mercenaries made in Blackflag Outpost.
They rested for the remainder of the day. Tomorrow, the operation would begin. Everyone went their separate ways to prepare.
Leonine returned to his wife and children, where his son was cutting fruit and his wife was looking after their daughter. The little girl’s eyes were open and bright. She was awake.
Leonine didn’t even stop to put down what was in his hands and moved to her side. “How do you feel? Does it hurt?”
She sleepily blinked her eyes and stared up at her father. “No daddy, it doesn’t hurt. I had some fruit. It was so good.”
His son happily bound over to them. “I like it here. It’s clean and they have a lot of good food. When you left, no one came to bully mommy.”
“If ya like it here, then here’s where we stay.” Leonine’s face split into a delighted smile. “I got one more thing I gotta do, then we can stay long as we like.”
His wife’s gentle and concerned face turned his way. “Is the mission with Hydra dangerous?”
Leonine shook his head and squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Don’t fret now. I’m makin’ it back no matter what. Our family’s finally safe. I’m not lookin’ to get myself killed.”
She nodded. “I trust you!”
“I’mma go get some good food. Little one’s just gettin’ better. We need to strengthen her up.”
Leonine opened the door to step out, but the way was blocked by a dark figure. It was small, like a child before Leonine. It was the one who’d fought Cloudhawk: Panther.
Leonine scowled down at him. “What are you doin’ here?”
“You really have a nice family. It’s something to envy.” Panther’s eyes swept across the room as he made the enigmatic comment. “Hydra said we’re starting the mission tomorrow, so no one’s allowed to leave. It’s to make sure we don’t accidentally lose the element of surprise.”
“I’m just getting’ some food.”
“Ah. I’ll go with you.”
“Hmph, whatever.”
The two men walked together to the storeroom.
When he stepped inside, Leonine saw someone else and stopped dead in his tracks. Panther paused too, right behind him.
At the same time, outside Cloudhawk’s room nearby, a full-figured form crept along the corridor. She was a provocative and alluring wastelander woman, and the look on her face evoked the feeling of a hungry wolf.
She was one who had enjoyed the gratification of many men, but never one as fresh and tender as this boy.
Artemis’s mouth watered.
Only, as Artemis prepared to pull open the door to Cloudhawk’s room, every hair on her body stood on end like that of a frightened cat. She lunged to the side just in time to avoid a fiery bird screaming down the corridor. It crashed into the ground where she’d been standing half a moment before and burst into flames. The intense heat reddened the woman’s face.
Fuck! Fuck! Artemis yelped and skittered away down the hall.
Cloudhawk poked his head out of his room. “What’s going on…? Shit, fire!”
“It’s fine.” The Queen’s artificially croaky voice wafted toward him from down the passageway. “An irritating fly was buzzing around. It’s gone now.”
Cloudhawk blinked at the bricks in front of his door, burned black and cracked from the heat. She sure had an interesting way of dealing with flies!
The Bloodsoaked Queen turned and walked back to where she came from. “I’m leaving.”
“Wait a second.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve got a bad feeling…” He fixed her with a serious look. “I don’t think things are gonna go so well tomorrow. Somethin’ really doesn’t seem right. You be careful.”
The Queen stopped and then continued down the hall. “Drivel. Worry about yourself.”
1. Referred to as “the tiger’s mouth,” something I’ve never heard of.
69 An Uncertain Feeling
Forlorn cries rattled in Hydra’s room for more than an hour. Then, there was silence.
Hydra had given vent to all of his appetites, with several women sporting wounds as souvenirs. They lay gasping on the floor, not an inch of them unscathed. Even their wrists were brutally broken. The more excited Hydra was, the more violent his delights became. For him, joy and anger were interchangeable, so all those near him feared him like they would a wild animal.
He was also a clever man. He satisfied his darker proclivities using slaves and those who disobeyed. He enticed those with any skill into his service. This way of doing things allowed him to enjoy a stable rule. For eight years, he recruited elites into his entourage while tormenting endless scores of people to death.
“Get them the fuck outta here…”
Hydra put on his clothes and donned his eye patch, summoning people to remove the women like sexual detritus. Women he had plenty of, and these were broken now. He didn’t care whether they were cut up and fed to beasts or sprinkled on the fields like manure, because that was all they were worth to him anymore.
He wandered over to the window and basked in the morning sun, peering out over his territory intoxicated with joy.
This plentiful oasis, this fertile earth, this perfect pearl in the Wastelands was difficult to match. He was ruler here, a king in his kingdom, with its more than fifty thousand residents his subjects – or rather, his livestock and slaves.
If he wanted, he could kill any one or all of them. He could have any woman for any reason or no reason at all. Who would dare object? He was like a god in this place and it was a sensation more exhilarating than anything. He was drunk on power and craved that feeling like a drug.
The only thing dissatisfactory, like a bone stuck in his throat, was that hiding piece of shit. Once a month on the dot, he showed up to take half of what was rightfully Hydra’s. It was robbery, extortion. It was an insult!
It was an insult Hydra was forced to swallow… but everything would be settled today.
He didn’t know many spies and loyalists those mutants had here, but he had to expect they knew he was acting suspicious. In the battle ahead, defeating them wouldn’t be enough. He had to exterminate them, like a cancer, or fighting was pointless.
To do this, he planned to fabricate the Bloodsoaked Queen’s escape. This lie would give him the cover to assemble his best men, while the mutants would be forced to come. They were too invested in getting the demon hunter to sit out. That is when Hydra would spring his trap and so long as the sweepers were lured into the right place, none of them would survive.
Their lieutenants would be disposed of. The shadow man would have to show himself.
With the whole outpost and the might of the demon hunter behind him, it didn’t matter how strong this bastard was. It didn’t matter what influence he wielded. At least his domain had the strength to fight back!
Sitting around was to await his own death. Why not act first and give it all or nothing?
Someone entered the room. Judging by the sound of his footsteps, his gait and speed were surprisingly consistent, almost supernatural. He didn’t have to look to know who it was. Only those closest to him were allowed in here. It was his brother, Snaketooth.
Hydra swept his eyes out over the outpost. “How are the preparations?”
Snaketooth’s response was grim and firm. “Relax, brother. The bait’s been set and we have fifteen snipers nearby that’ll keep the situation under our control. No one’s going to slip through.”
The outpost’s snipers were its ace in the hole. They were cultivated to be masters of their craft: crack marksmen. Fifteen of these men hidden in the nearby ruins would be like angels of death.
Snaketooth went on. �
�The eight of us are leaving to join the demon hunter."
Hydra suddenly turned and looked Snaketooth in the eye. “Listen, no matter what happens, you’ll always be my little brother. If there’s anyone in this world I care about, it’s you. These years you’ve been my mighty right arm as well as my greatest weakness. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Do you hear me?”
Snaketooth frowned at him. “I’m a soldier, brother. I’m willing to die for the cause.”
“No doubt, you’re a damn good soldier. But more importantly, you’re my brother, so don’t do anything stupid. You get your ass right back and report the moment the mission’s done.” Hydra’s tone left no room for argument. “All of this place – all the food and drink and women – you’re the only one I’m willing to share it with. Whatever I got, you got.”
Snaketooth bowed low. “Thank you, brother.”
Hydra waved his hand. “Go, be careful.”
As merciless as Hydra was, everyone had something they cared about. He’d grown up with Snaketooth as scavengers, living a life no different than Cloudhawk’s had been until they were ten. They supported each other through countless trials and now, Snaketooth was his right-hand man.
As Snaketooth took his seven companions and set out, Hydra put out the word that the demon hunter had been spotted and had escaped the oasis. He was dispatching eight of his best to hunt them down.
The minutes ticked by, one by one. Now the bait had been laid out, would it be enough to entice their prey?
Hydra sat in a chair and shut his eyes, drumming his fingers rhythmically against the armrests as though he were waiting for something. And then, he stopped.
A sound reached his ears: the din of doors being thrown open. The demon’s lieutenants stormed in.
“Hydra!” The winged one landed before him. With the scrape of steel on leather, he pulled forth a machete and put it against Hydra’s neck. He roared in unbridled anger. “You filthy dickweasel! Why didn’t you tell us the moment you knew where they were?!”
The Wastelander Page 51
