Daugher of Ash

by Matthew S. Cox

  Do I look that pathetic?

  “Where is the girl?” Kate advanced away from the gate, trailed by the old man and two of the Watch. “I can feel its presence. It’s not really a child; it’s a creature from another world controlling everyone.”

  The old man slid his rifle from his back to his chest, hanging on a strap. Alejandra drew a sharp breath. One man took note of the red abrasions on her ankles, muttering about slavers to the man nearby.

  “Where’d you two escape from?” he asked.

  Kate bristled at being thought a slave. How dare you… She whirled with a glare. “I’m no one’s property. I never have been!” I’m a liar. In her mind, tiny arms reached out and pounded on a clear tank. Owned by scientists… owned by El Tío…

  An arc of fire spread wide in the air behind her; a manifestation of pure anger.

  The town’s defenders gasped.

  “She helped me escape,” said Alejandra. “I owe her my life.”

  One tiny sliver of calm broke the surface of her roiling anger. Kate spun on her heel and headed toward a field of debris. Chunks of concrete and metal fragments littered the road, forcing her to watch where she stomped.

  A man closer to the gate wagged his rifle at Kate. “What was that fire?”

  Alejandra spoke to the militia in the background; distance warped her pleading words into an indistinct murmur. Something about El Diablo having taken her. Contempt welled up within her. She didn’t need Alejandra. The woman sounded scared. Useless. Bah. Some of the Watch followed at a distance, rifles held short of pointed at her. Street after street of repurposed buildings, former stores turned into residences, passed on both sides. Whenever someone got close enough, Kate called out, asking where the girl with glowing eyes was hiding.

  Her tone chased people away, though her model’s build and lack of visible weapons seemed to lull the Watch into cautious observation. Idiots. Maybe those damn scientists got something right after all. Memories of the lab triggered a surge of loathing that welled out from her core and rippled down her arms into wisps of azure fire.

  Something or someone had to die, for no other reason than to provide release.

  Kate flung her arm back, fireball hovering between claw-like fingers, ready to throw at the first creature she found capable of screaming in pain. Before she could whirl on the Watch, a startled noise came from a nearby corner. A little boy, barely six, gawked at the scintillating blue sphere.

  “Kate! No!” screamed Alejandra, somewhere behind her. “What’s taken your mind?”

  The boy’s awe turned to terror at the look in her eyes. Kate tensed and drew her arm back, ready to kill him. Before she could let go of the flames, the spike of rage collapsed without warning as though someone had yanked a rug out from under her. She recognized some familiarity in the screaming voice, but could not grasp why a woman screamed or who it was.

  A huge man leapt in front of the child, who scampered out of sight. Kate stared at the point where the boy’s face had been, now containing a thigh as big around as her waist. She looked up, wondering if the hulking figure was responsible for her inexplicable change in mood. Veins swelled from the largest muscles she had ever seen. His skin had the color of saddle leather, and he towered over her, pointing.

  “You need to leave,” he said.

  The fireball dissipated with a whiff. No amount of staring at the man triggered anything other than confused calm, neither lust nor fear at what he might do. Alejandra skidded to a halt close behind her, almost grabbing her arm.

  He looks like a cyborg turned to flesh. How did a man get that big? Kate still felt nothing when she lifted her gaze to make eye contact. “I need to see―”

  “I’m here,” said a tiny voice. “What do you want? Why are you scaring everyone?”

  Kate let her arms fall slack and took a half step left, shifting toward the voice. A young girl, maybe eleven, stood barefoot in the middle of the street. Her knee-length white dress fluttered in a light breeze, drifting left with her long, blonde hair. Glowing blue eyes fixed Kate with a mixture of annoyance and caution.

  Behind her, an older girl with dark skin like Alejandra kept a protective hand on the child’s shoulder. Seven more Watch formed a line across the street. The oldest man in the center had a familial resemblance to the teen girl with her arm around the blonde child. The giant took a step closer to Kate.

  “Shepherd,” said the girl, raising a hand. “Wait. She will not hurt anyone.”

  “The Prophet,” whispered Alejandra, falling to her knees.

  “My name is Althea,” snapped the girl, a trace of petulance on her voice. “Please, don’t bow to me.”

  Kate squinted at the child. She looks so innocent. That’s on purpose.

  Althea’s eyes narrowed; the tiny voice echoed in Kate’s thoughts. What’s on purpose?

  What dwelled in the little one’s surface thoughts shocked Kate. You… think you can protect this town? I’m not here to kill anyone but you.

  The girl’s stern look faltered for an instant, flashing to horror. Me? Why? What did I do? She squeezed the older girl’s hand. The name Karina floated to the forefront of her consciousness. Love.

  Kate blinked. The girl was more upset at how her sister would feel if she died than the idea of dying. I know what you really are.

  Althea’s toes gripped the dirt path. Her eyes flickered brighter for an instant. He lies.

  The priest said you would say that.

  Demons lie all the time. Althea’s eyes widened, radiating innocence.

  Kate squinted at her. Yes… they do.

  Althea’s mouth hung open in shock. You… think I’m a demon?

  For a moment, everyone stood in silence waiting for someone to make the first move. She felt like a gunslinger at high noon, waiting for the child to twitch first. The image of the plastic doll head bouncing over the road flashed by, followed by the warping face melting into a puddle. Plastic. False. Just like this child.

  Blonde.

  Blue eyes.

  Innocent.

  Althea’s lip quivered as if she’d burst into tears any second. Unaware of the conversation happening in their minds, the Watch tensed. Shepherd glanced back and forth between them. Kate flashed a haughty smile; as big as he was, she guessed two fireballs would end him. Not to mention he couldn’t touch her. He waits like an attack dog. The defenders held their rifles a hair shy of aimed at her. The one directly behind Althea had not once yet blinked.

  Rather than the expected anger, Althea reacted with a sad frown. “I’m not a demon. How could you think I’m bad?” All I’ve ever wanted to do was help people.

  As much as Kate tried to find her anger, an overwhelming sense of hurt and sadness took over her mind. The feeling matched the look on the little girl’s face.

  “You’re trying to manipulate me.” Kate figured she had to act fast before the demon’s influence went too deep. The anger that had been knocking at her brain beckoned. Kate opened herself to it, trying not to let the idea that the little figure in front of her could be a real child gain purchase.

  Althea’s eyes glowed bright, and the anger dissipated.

  It’s too strong…

  “I’m not an it.” The child’s voice came calm, soothing. “The old man lied to you. The Many knows you are angry. He feeds from it.” She started forward, but Karina held her back. “He is the demon. He wants to use your anger here, to spread pain and suffering. He is afraid of me because he cannot make me evil.”

  Kate shivered with terror. What’s wrong with me? She opened her mind, searching for the anger needed to overcome guilt at what she must do. For less than a second, she felt the hatred pass like a cobweb in a dark cave. It evaporated in time with the child’s eyes flickering.

  You’re stealing my anger.

  Althea dipped her head in a single nod. “I’m not stealing your anger. I’m protecting you from his. I won’t let you hurt anyone.”

  Shepherd snarled. Kate glanced at him, pokin
g into his surface thoughts. He would kill her to defend the girl, without a care for his own safety. She cocked an eyebrow. The man behind her considered himself her father, even though he clearly couldn’t have been. He too teetered a hair’s breadth from shooting Kate in the heart. Everyone around her seemed willing to die for the sake of this girl. Their devotion didn’t feel like thralldom; all their thoughts shone clear and determined.

  One final try to get angry failed. Sadness coiled around her soul, a taint of ink creeping through a white cloth. Again she felt like some thing outside the world looking in at everyone else. No one wanted her. She wasn’t allowed to be part of society. Kate grabbed her head, unable to hold back tears. “Stop making me feel like this.”

  “I’m not making you feel sad.” Althea’s voice rang with an eerie calm. She slipped free of Karina’s hand and took three steps closer. “When your anger is gone, it no longer hides your real heart. I know you are lonely and sad.”

  Despite a neutral expression, Althea shed tears as well.

  Kate shuddered, sinking into a squat with her hands over her face. Her emotions threatened to drown her. She fought to stop crying. Weeping is useless. When Althea’s feet crept into her vision, Kate raised her head. The girl had come close enough to touch, pity in her glowing eyes.

  “The bad man is making you angry. All he wants is people to suffer. He does not like me because I keep him out of Querq.”

  “He offered to cure…” Kate fell backward, and landed seated on the road. “Archon said he could fix me too.”

  Shepherd gave Althea a disapproving look.

  “Archon is lying too,” said Althea. “He wants you to kill people for him.” She glanced to Alejandra and beckoned her closer. “Your friend is hurt.”

  Kate had no willpower left to do anything but sit and sulk as Alejandra crept up on them. Althea touched the woman’s hip near the burn and closed her eyes. The unnatural calm faded. Like a surge of water breaking through a disintegrating dam, a sudden inrush of anger came on. Kate’s fury stalled at the sight of the days-old blistering burn shrinking away to undamaged skin. A thin layer of sweat coated the girl, and her face showed signs of exertion. Cuts and scabs around Alejandra’s ankles closed and vanished, as did the bruising at her waist from the chain that had kept her in the gunnery pod.

  Althea let her hand drop, taking a woozy step back. “Your power is ruled by anger. Those men in white, Archon, and the Many all want to control you.”

  “Archon was friendly. He said he can help me.”

  Deep azure eyes bored into Kate’s heart. “Your hurt is in your soul. Archon only wants people who do what he says. He wants people to serve him. He is like the king of raiders, only with fancy new things.”

  “I…” Kate glanced around. An entire town full of people prepared to die to protect one girl. Jealousy overwhelmed her. Rage created a wisp of flames around her arm.

  “No!” Karina screamed.

  Althea made a sad face, and Kate’s anger burst into a waterfall of tears.

  “All I wanted was someone to care about me.” Kate sniffled. “Stop making me cry!”

  The child tilted her head. “Why are you so angry?”

  Kate’s tears wafted off as steam, but she could not stop herself from sobbing.

  “You have a long time of crying to let out.” Althea reached out to touch Kate’s cheek, and recoiled with a yelp.

  The Watch’s rifles chirped in unison. Shepherd shifted his weight forward, ready to charge.

  Althea held up a hand to stall them. “It is okay.” The burn on her finger faded.

  “That’s why I’m like this.” Kate stared down at the road. “Everything I touch, I kill. I can’t live like this anymore.”

  Shepherd approached. “Archon would have used her to lure you back to the city.”

  Althea put her arm around him. “You’re right. Kate, you should not trust him. He stole me from my home and tried to make me do bad things.”

  Shepherd ruffled Althea’s hair as Karina ran up and stood behind her, unable to hide her reaction to a painful memory.

  Kate shot a jealous glare into the road. Running boots from the side turned heads, including hers. A man and a woman rounded the corner and stopped nearby; both wore form-fitting black uniforms with silver belts―modern clothing.

  Division 0? Shit. What are they doing here? Kate wanted to get up and run, but couldn’t find the urge. Innumerable stories came back to her of what the psionic police would do to her if they ever caught her.

  “Why are you afraid?” asked Althea. “They are nice.”

  “She is confused, child,” said the man who thought himself her father. “Another lost soul in from the wilds.”

  Althea stooped, eye to eye with her. “Archon thought I would want to help you. I will try.”

  Kate lifted her head, barely able to tolerate the innocence radiating from the eyes staring at her. “I came here to kill you. Why would you want to help me?”

  “But, you didn’t hurt me.” The girl winked, and smiled. “I forgive you.”

  ate gazed at the cloudless sky. Seated in the shade of a modest two-story home, she listened to the whisper of the breeze, but could not feel it past her aura of heat. A narrow alley ran between two rows of buildings, populated by a handful of curious townies, and a number of Watch. Numerous toys lay abandoned here and there, the children cleared away by wary parents moments before.

  Althea knelt nearby, sitting back on her heels while Karina and the man called Shepherd retrieved water from an old-fashioned pump a few houses away. Kate wondered why the ‘older sister’ had protested Althea going to the pump alone.

  “I don’t know if I will be able to help.” Althea wiped her hands on her dress. “Do you know why you’re burning?”

  “I’ve always been like this.” It felt like she admitted to the worst crime imaginable.

  “It’s why you eat so much.” Althea grinned. “I eat a lot sometimes too, when there are many hurts to fix.”

  “How hot is she?” asked Karina, setting down a mostly full bucket of water.

  “I’m not sure exactly how hot I am, but wood and cloth ignite right away.” She touched a fingertip to the porch step, causing a tendril of smoke to bear the stink of molten paint into the air.

  Althea tilted her head. “But, you’re―”

  “Holograms.”

  “I’m sorry,” whispered Althea.

  “What for?” Kate blushed.

  “Making you sadder.” The girl shivered.

  “Why are you shaking?” Kate looked at the man who thought himself the child’s father, trying to seem non-threatening. The hardness in his glare told Kate he’d seen the fear in Althea. “I believe you. You’re not a demon.” If she stops concentrating on me, will the anger come back?

  Althea made eye contact, speaking in a hushed tone. “I’m scared because I have to touch you, and I know it will hurt.” He will try.

  An impish smile curled the child’s lips at Kate’s reaction to having her thoughts eavesdropped.

  She accepted a metal cup of water from Shepherd, sucking it down before it could boil in her hand. “The anger is trying to sneak in.”

  “I know.” Althea took a breath and reached for her with both hands.

  “Wait.” Kate leaned away. “I’m not hot when I’m unconscious.”

  Shepherd flipped the metal ladle over, giving the bowl end―and the back of her head―an appraising look.

  “No,” said Althea, frowning at Shepherd.

  He shrugged.

  “I can make you sleep.” Althea kept reaching with one hand, aiming for Kate’s head instead of her shoulder. “But I still have to touch you.”

  “Hold on,” said a dark-skinned man in a Division 0 uniform.

  Kate stroked the heat-resistant bracelet, grateful for its phantom apparel as a Middle Eastern looking officer jogged out of the crowd. Once he got close enough to speak without raising his voice, he pointed to his right and looked at A
lthea.

  “You don’t have to hurt yourself. There are sedatives in the medkits.”

  Kate gave him a distrustful squint. “This is still the Badlands, right? What’s Division 0 doing here?”

  He smiled at her. She looked away.

  “You should keep the magic sticks for when I am too tired.” Althea’s eyes flared bright and she grabbed the side of Kate’s head.

  The word “sleep,” spoken in Althea’s voice, echoed in Kate’s mind, drowning out the sound of sizzling skin by her left ear. All the curious faces swirled into a blur of blue, streaked with the colors of the buildings across the street. A little girl’s voice shrieked in pain as if a thousand yards away.

  Quiet blackness enveloped her. Neither feeling nor sight provided any sense of being. She startled at a distant peal of thunder, rolling over the endless dark. A flash of pink-purple lightning flickered in the shape of a dendrite cluster far ahead, followed a minute later by another heavy crash. More flares lit the dark in an escalating storm. Soon, the world burst with every color imaginable. Distinct snaps of light gave way to a constant shimmering glow. Thick, biological masses surrounded her on all sides, intertwined with an uncountable number of narrow tendrils, each glowing a different hue. With each change in the shimmer came an inescapable, growing roar. Soon, the rumbling felt as though it would crush her.

  A chill similar to sudden immersion in icy water seared her nerves, but she couldn’t scream. No sense of inhabiting flesh reached her mind; she had become a disembodied consciousness floating amid an alien landscape. Voices bellowed from random directions: yelling scientists, screaming soldiers, and the taunts of the first gangers to find her naked in an alley―followed by their dying wails.

  Scraps of El Tío’s grandfatherly tone brought warmth. The man did ask her to kill for him, but he had always been protective in a hands-off way. Ignoring the guilt that came with the jobs he gave her to do came easy. Everyone else hated and feared her. She considered it no great task to kill rivals, cheats, and disavowed Syndicate men. Sondra had been the hardest; she’d only stolen money.

  The sound of a woman begging for her life filled the air.