by Al K. Line
My body was a single, finely tuned machine now, as if a switch had been flipped because of the extremes of my torture. I could feel no difference between flesh and the unknowable Empty, or the wonders of the ink for that matter. It was a closed system, functioning as one, and the power was heightened, magnified, and stronger than ever.
I could only think of it as a kick-start to make it work in unison, a symbiosis of something born of the natural world and the imposed magic of the vampire nature. It was one; I was fine. I was dangerous.
This realization brought home how incredibly powerful Kane must have been. I felt alive and brimming with energy now I'd accepted this was my true self, how must he feel? He could do anything, be anything, and it wasn't disparate parts of his make-up combining, it was simply who he was. He'd become vampire and that merely became another part of him.
The bloody icing on a very volatile cake.
Kinda scary if you think about it, and if you weren't his mother.
But I was, and we were dangerous. We'd get them back, we'd deal with this, and we'd do it together.
"Let's go," said Kane. "Come on, no time to lose."
I trusted him, so I followed him out of the car park.
A Surprise
"Look, I know you're young, and I know you're excited about, er, being a teenager, but you aren't old enough to drink." I felt kind of foolish for even saying it, but it was true. He may be an uber vampire-wizard, shifter, and who knew what else, but he was under age and that was that.
"Haha. We aren't here so I can try my first pint, we're here because this is where they are." Kane stared at the door with such ferocity I was surprised it didn't melt.
"You muppet. They won't be in here. You must have got your scents mixed up, or picked up on an old one. How could they possibly be here?"
"What better place to hide than in plain sight? Okay, it's not out in the open, but it's perfect if you are capable of what they are. Mother, I've trailed them all over the city and they've moved around a lot, hiding in different places, but this is where they are now, where they've been for some time. They're inside."
I looked at the door dubiously, unconvinced. Why would they hide out here? How could they hide out here? Duh, because they were doppels, of course. But my friends and family weren't, and everyone recognized them. But nobody else knew they were missing, did they? I tried to think about everything that had happened, and realized that hardly anyone knew they'd been taken as it would cause way too much turmoil and, frankly, utter carnage if people knew. So it would be business as usual. If, and it was a big if, none of them warned anyone else about what was happening.
Guess there was only one way to find out.
I tore off the sign that said closed, something Brewster Bunker, troll owner and always mindful of the capacity of the place, often stuck to the door to deter anyone but Hidden. Then I pressed my hand to the battered steel in a special way known to all Hidden customers, and another way to stop Regulars when things got heated inside, and pushed open the door.
"Just don't nick any drinks," I warned Kane.
"I won't." He smiled as we entered the Hidden Club.
As You Were
The stench of Hidden hit like a smack in the face with a goblin's sweaty sock filled with Gorgonzola. The thick cloud from myriad smoking devices that many Hidden had permanently attached to their lips—Brewster wasn't bothered by the smoking ban—made vision from the top of the stairs to this basement den of iniquity hazy, and it made us both cough until magic stirred to scrub our lungs.
As usual, the noise was close to deafening, loud conversations, arguments, and name-calling the usual cacophony.
We descended slowly, and I made sure Kane stayed behind me. My enhanced eyesight studied the drunken revelers, the solitary drinkers slumped over the small tables, or the groups of various races bashing each other with the red lamps Brewster put out each night like clockwork, only to have to replace the next day.
As we shuffled across the floor, trying to avoid getting stuck by the lake of spilled alcohol, I recognized many familiar faces. Some smiled, several nodded, plenty scowled. I still wasn't the most popular person in Hidden parts, especially amongst wizards. It may have had something to do with me being partly responsible for hundreds dying at the hands of ghouls, but I'd been miffed and they were rude.
So, business as usual by the looks of it. No sign of Faz or the others though, just Hidden doing what they did best here. Drink, fight, argue, throw magic of a limited variety around—Brewster would break your head if you did too much damage.
We stopped at the bar and both leaned against the polished wooden counter and checked out the clientele properly. Everything seemed normal because it was so mad. Dwarves played Guess the Hammer, a strange game that involved them whacking each other across the cheek and the other guessing the weight of the mighty hammer used to smack them off their chairs.
Goblins hunched over tables, moodily looking for the slightest reason to start a fight, wizards sat in small groups, many of them pissed and constantly having to drag their straggly beards out of strong, thick lager, and several other Hidden species did what came naturally. Meaning they were hitting each other or hurling insults about their mothers.
I tugged at Kane's arm and we turned to face the bar. Brewster was at the far end, immobile, but I waved and caught his eye. He ambled over, then asked, "Wot you want?"
"Two lemonades please, Brewster." I gave him my most winning smile but he just grunted then poured the drinks.
He placed them down in front of us on two beer mats, then held out a hand for payment. I frowned but paid him, nonetheless. Maybe he'd started a new policy of requiring cash straight away rather than paying up at the end of the night or whenever you felt like it.
Then he said, "Boy not old enough. Against law."
"He's older than he looks," I said, smiling at Kane.
Brewster grunted then shuffled off to stand at the far end and look menacing.
"That was odd," I said, staring after him.
"What was?"
"He doesn't usually care about anyone's age. Not Hidden anyway."
Kane gave me a funny look, and waited. I shook my head; I didn't know what he was trying to say.
After it began to get weird I said, "Okay, spill it, mister. What's up?"
"It was odd because he's a doppel. They all are. At least, most of them. Not all. I told you, hiding in plain sight."
"But there must be, what, sixty, seventy Hidden in here. You can't be serious?" I scanned the room but everything seemed exactly how you'd expect.
Kane raised an eyebrow, like I was being a little slow. Guess I was, but I had an excuse. Crucifixion, remember?
"Um, okay, so they've cloned Brewster. And not very well." The more I watched him, the odder he was acting. He was almost smiling, and he somehow looked smug. And he kept glancing our way, something Brewster would never do. He had being an ignorant bartender down to a fine art.
"They've done it in a hurry, so they can hide out. I bet at least half the Hidden here are doppels. It's why there aren't any imps."
"Or other creatures that can just appear and disappear. They can't do that, can they?"
"No."
"Ah, so we know we can trust imps. At least, as far as you ever can." I wondered where Intus was, what she was up to. I hadn't seen her in a while, none of us had. Not since the first few days after Kane was born, when she came and insisted on giving him a lava bath that almost got very messy and very scalding, only being dissuaded by being offered unlimited Marmite if she promised to refrain from burning a newborn to death with molten rock.
"And there are quite a few true Hidden, not impostors," said Kane. "Probably the ones fighting."
"Yeah, probably." I studied the crowd with deeper focus, trying to figure out who was who, but it wasn't easy.
Hidden act odd at the best of times, and give them potent alcohol and it can get seriously freaky, very fast.
A wizard
wandered by on the way to the bathroom but halted and turned back a moment after passing us. He swayed on the spot and tried to focus, then leaned forward until I could smell his breath. I thought he was going to fall over.
"You did the… did the right thing," he said, slurring his words. "The… the ones that attacked you, they were wrong."
"Um, thanks. That's very nice of you to say so." And it was. Friendly wizards hadn't been queuing up to say nice things of late.
"Welcome." With that, he belched loudly, teetered backwards, managed to stay upright, and weaved his way to the bathroom.
"That was nice of him," said Kane.
"It was." It made me pleased to know not everyone hated me just because I could use magic like they could.
Then someone threw a lamp at my head.
Furtive Glances
I ducked, smiling despite the seriousness of the situation. Some things never change, and there were definitely plenty of true Hidden here, not doppel impostors.
I scanned the faces again, and as the minutes ticked by it became obvious who was who. Most customers either ignored me or scowled, maybe smiled, but some kept glancing our way when they thought I wasn't looking. They were the doppels, unable to remain in character because they didn't know what I was up to or what had happened since Kane had been taken away to be changed into the One. Sure, they would have had reports that something had gone down, but they wouldn't know what. Would only be able to go by what they'd found at the site. And that was a lot of blood and plenty of corpses.
They were running scared. Unable to leave as they knew the One was still alive, but unsure what to do. Guess they'd have people out looking for us, same as Oskari would. As the night wore on, the doppels began to take more of an interest in Kane, putting two and two together. I knew this was a bad idea, bringing him with me. Now they knew we were here, and what he looked like.
Hidden stirred, moved into groups that gave them away as certain races don't enjoy a chat or a friendly pint together, especially not when some are goblins. They were panicking, trying to come up with the best plan.
Where was Faz?
I turned to Kane and asked. "Are they here?"
"Yes, but I don't know where. Not unless I shift and track them."
"No, don't do that. Not now. We don't want everyone knowing what you can do. Especially not the doppels. Let's leave it like that."
Kane shrugged. "If you're sure?"
I nodded. "I am."
We leaned back, acting extra casual, but I could almost see the magic extending from our bodies, slender tendrils of power that expanded our auras. Everyone gave us a wide berth without actually seeing this magical menace, but their bodies made them change direction, even the pissed ones.
The room took on a definite edge and the glances were no longer merely furtive. We were now being stared at with downright hostility. Those who weren't doppels must have sensed something, and over the next fifteen minutes or so the place was half emptied as Hidden suddenly decided they'd had enough and should call it a night.
As the door slammed shut on the last of them, the room took on an instant frosty vibe. There was something else though. They were in awe, maybe of me and Kane, as after all, I was the mother of the One. But violence bubbled beneath the surface, and they would have him no matter the cost to me. This was their prophet and they wanted him to lead them, be one of them, but more than anything else they wanted to control him.
Bodies shifted. One stood, then others followed suit. Soon they were all standing, closing in on us.
I waved a finger languidly, and said, "Tut, tut, I wouldn't do that if I were you. We just want those you took, nothing more. Give them to us and nobody has to get hurt."
A man approached, just a normal looking guy. Long straight hair, stubble, jeans, and a check shirt. "He is the One. He has been chosen. He will help us become what we were destined to be."
"No, he bloody well won't," I said. "Kane hasn't even started school yet. He can't go off gallivanting. It's past his bedtime too."
"Mother!"
"Just messing with these guys. But I am right."
"He's the One." The guy said it with awe, and there were gasps from the others as the truth was confirmed.
"No, he's my son. Your kind changed him, made him something he shouldn't be yet. That's on you, and that's as far as this goes. You tortured me, you put his life in peril. Well, you saw what happened to those in the wilds, you saw what I did. You want more of the same?"
"The One will be ours. He will allow us to rule."
Kane stepped forward, perfectly calm. "I won't, you know. You hurt Mother, you almost killed me. You will pay. I owe you nothing. You are misguided and have chosen the wrong path."
He was damn impressive because he spoke with such utter authority, his body language that of somebody who felt no threat, was at ease in this situation. I was glad I was on his side. He was scary, intimidating.
"But the prophesy. You are to help us succeed. You had to be changed, forced to grow up, and then you would lead us, show us the way. Tell us how to rule."
I shook my head at the sheer mindless acceptance these people had for a prophecy probably handed down for thousands of years and warped who knew how many times. Why did they believe this? Why had this myth continued for so long? And why the hell were we standing around chatting to these numpties?
"Enough!" I warned. "Where is the Head? Where is the shifter? The young wizard? Where's my fucking husband?"
"Mother!"
"Oh, sorry. Where is my fudging husband?" I turned to Kane. "That better?"
"Yes, much."
I nodded.
Things kicked off.
Death Raineth
The spokesman took another step forward, his intentions clear. His features morphed, mimicking me, and then the others flickered, their heads and bodies vibrating too fast to see. We were faced with a roomful of clones, split pretty evenly between Kane and me.
They'd tried this trick on me before, and although it was freaky and disorientating, I wasn't about to let it mess with my head.
I willed the magic up from the depths, felt my eyes snap to black and my teeth snick down. Ink activated, engorged with clear, wholesome energy I would corrupt and use to wreak havoc. Kane drifted close and I saw him do likewise, his eyes so black they terrified me, his teeth so long and sharp and already dripping the vampire's tear. I wanted to weep for his loss of innocence.
Nonetheless, we lifted our arms in unison and mother and son blasted the hell out of the guy in front. Blasted the hell out of a perfect copy of me. As his head exploded, I gulped. A psychoanalyst would have a field day with this. We'd just killed me. That can't be good for your kid's mental wellbeing.
"Change back, right now," I ordered, but nobody had eyes for me, nobody was listening.
Kane stepped forward, looking menacing and handsome, regal and as though he was born to have others bow at his feet. And that's exactly what the doppels were doing. They all switched back to their regular form, or what I assumed were, and every single one of them, barring the guy with the exploded head, bent to kneel.
"Lead us, rule us, teach us. Show us the way." This time it was a woman who spoke, and she was beautiful. In fact she was stunning. Long black hair curled down across her shoulders, cupping her elven face like a lover's hands. Her eyes were dark pits of desire, and she licked her swollen lips as she breathed deep, almost panting as she stared at Kane.
This couldn't be good, certainly wasn't right, and my motherly instincts kicked in. Kane was way, and I mean way, too young for any of that nonsense. Yes, he was too immature to be dealing out death too, but I wasn't about to give the go-ahead for any naked fun times, however screwed up that made me.
Able to see him with detachment because we weren't being attacked full-scale like last time, I looked at him maybe the way the doppels saw him. This group, the last of them in the city I assumed, were the ones not directly involved in the kidnap, were clearly task
ed with keeping Faz and the others so they could copy them, so they'd had time to consider what had happened, probably come up with all kinds of crazy reasons why their kind had been slaughtered.
It was clear that they idolized Kane, and I guess to some degree me too because I was his mother. It probably wouldn't stop them killing me if I got in their way, but this was what they'd waited so long for and now here he was, the man himself. Boy, he was a boy, I reminded myself.
Kane seemed taller, his features more defined, the inner strength shining through as magic simmered beneath the surface, imbuing him with a radiance that made him almost angelic, although he was more an angel of death than of peace. His presence dominated the room, and he really did look like a leader of men. Someone to look up to, seek guidance from. A king.
"What do you want from me?" he asked.
"We want you to help us. Let us become the true rulers of the Hidden. Guide us, show us the way. Let us emerge from the shadows. We are few, this is all of us left now. We place our lives in your hands." There were nods of agreement, murmurs of worship, pleas to be taken under his wing, and I understood that this was more complicated than I'd expected.
Kane turned to me, just as confused as I was, and asked, "Mother?"
I shrugged my shoulders; this wasn't what I'd expected. What I had expected was to break bones and bash heads until we found everyone and then let Dancer do as he saw fit to those who'd wronged us.
Maybe it was best to stick to the plan. It was that or just kill them all now, and no way could I let Kane be involved in the massacre of those not actually attacking us. They had acted terribly, kidnapped my son, forced him to change, but that wasn't this group. These were the ones waiting to be led, not those who had headed up the change imposed on Kane. Did they even know what had happened?
"Hand over the others and we'll see what we can do," I said, casting an inquiring glance at Kane.
