*****
“This tunnel is new,” Luther says after he runs his hand along the rough stone. He catches a root when he takes a step and a thin layer of pebbles slides out from under his foot. “I don’t know how she did it, but Lost must have created this network. The original cave stopped about fifty feet back that way. You can tell because the walls are entirely different and there’s rubble all over the ground. Too bad we don’t have a dwarf to give us an idea of the tools that were used.”
“Guess I should have dragged Decker along,” Bob mutters as he crouches next to a pile of dirt. He squeaks when a mouse pokes its head out, the animal responding in kind. “She says many roots separate from trees to dig. No idea what she means since I’m more fluent in horse than rodent. Oh, master roots come off trees above and move like worms. I think Lost used her telekinesis to control the bigger roots and used them to burrow. That explains why that forest looked like it toppled over. Does this mean she’s stronger than Chastity?”
“We had a feeling that was true in the first place,” she answers from ahead. Hearing a shift in the stone, she jumps back to avoid a crushing hand that emerges from the ceiling. “This type of power doesn’t feel right. Telekinesis could do this, but that was a perfectly crafted fist. Lost isn’t nearly as skilled as she should be to accomplish this feat without it being a much bigger mess. I know we determined that she only has three powers, but could a fourth ability have emerged due to trauma? That would explain what we’re seeing now.”
“I have to disagree,” Mab whispers from around the next bend.
Not wanting to run into a trap, the other Dawn Fangs move carefully and try to make as little noise as possible. Their minds race to think of what awaits them, but they are still in shock at the sight of the vast catacomb that they discover. Pools of lava create enough light to give them a clear view of the circular area. Stalactites hang from the domed ceiling and are arranged in a spiraling pattern, the one in the center being long enough to touch the floor. Three massive boulders roll through a network of trenches that an intruder would have to cross at least twice to reach the other side of the chamber. Gaping holes in the ground release scalding steam or fiery plumes, the dangerous eruptions showing no discernable pattern. Crystalline blades jut out of the walls of the deadly catacomb and they vibrate whenever they are touched by even the slightest of breezes. Clear across the array of traps and obstacles, Lost is curled in a ball atop a pedestal that is covered in thorny vines.
“Are we allowed to be impressed by this?” Titus asks with a laugh. He falls backwards when something fast and furry hits him in the face and disappears. “Her bunny is darting around out there too. I was going to suggest that we wait outside for her to calm down and come to us, but I don’t see that happening. The walkways are too narrow for to travel as a group, so we should split up. Come at her from multiple sides in order to-”
“We’re not laying siege to a castle,” Chastity interrupts as she ducks the rabbit. With a lion-like roar, the animal comes back around only to be calmly smacked away. “I don’t know what Archillious did to her, but Lost is terrified. She’s doing what any scared kid would do and that’s hiding. This isn’t that different than putting up mental walls to avoid getting hurt. No idea how she built all of this in such a short amount of time, but she did it. We need to be careful and not make the situation worse. There’s no telling what she will do if we push too hard.”
“Maybe I can pull her into the shadows and let her lash out at the monsters there,” Mab says before a stone fist bursts out of the wall. She ducks and slashes it with her claws, but the metal core stops her from severing the limb. “I take it she’s listening to us. In that case, can we get close enough to talk? She has to know that we’re not going to hurt her. Archillious took her, so she’s the victim here. Not to mention she didn’t turn any of the Utukku. You’re not in any trouble, Lost!”
“There’s something we’re missing,” Clyde finally mutters as he steps out of the raised entrance. The instant his feet touch the floor, the nearest pool of lava overflows into one of the grooves. “I’ll try to take care of all the traps. If anyone sees a clear path to Lost then take it, but only to talk to her. I agree with Chastity that we don’t want to make the situation worse. I also don’t think we should wait too long because Archillious could come back with the remnants of his army. This chamber has no ventilation, so his poisons would give him the advantage. Use your powers sparingly.”
Clyde backs away from the molten rock until he hears a rumbling from behind. He dives to the side to avoid the boulder, which passes through the flood to cover itself in lava. A hiss from below is enough of a warning for him to roll away from a steam jet that he does not remember seeing before. Glancing back at the entrance, he sees that his friends are starting to sneak out and choose various paths to Lost. He tries to shout for them to go back and give him more time, but the crystals on the wall release a ringing that drowns out his voice. Clyde is about to run for Mab when one of the boulders hits him from behind, the intense weight nearly crushing him into the ground. Groaning at the sensation of broken bones already knitting back together, the Dawn Fang pushes against the stone and tries to deliver a punch without getting smashed. His fist cracks the rocky outside to reveal a polished metal beneath, the material too solid for him to even scuff. He is unable to get a closer look before one of the crystal blades on the wall is launched, narrowly misses Bob’s head, and slides between Clyde’s legs. He looks down to see the blunt end is connected to a retractable vine, which goes taut and flies backwards to catch him by the ankles. Dragged across the chamber, he manages to grab the edge of a lava pool and free his legs, the molten rock bubbling up to singe his fingers. Getting to his feet, he can see that his friends are having just as much trouble, but nobody is injured.
A rumbling from deep in the earth stops Clyde from rushing Lost’s pedestal, which has moved closer to the far wall. He looks around the room to see if anyone else has noticed the quakes, but the others are still focused on avoiding the traps. It is a faint movement near Titus that catches the Dawn Fang’s attention and he tries to call out to his friend. For the second time, the crystals sing to overpower his voice, so he tries to create an illusion of a sign in front of the warrior’s face. The instant the image appears, a creature bursts from the ground and unleashes an echoing screech. Its long arms and stubby legs end in wide claws that are perfect for digging, the tips coated with hardened magma. The monster’s back is protected by a domed shell that is fringed with ivory hooks that curve towards the ceiling. Armor plating is on its belly, but the spaces between the sections are wide enough for a blade to slip inside the dark and warty flesh beneath. Large ears and a very pointy chin take up most of the face, which is covered in tufts of white hair. The creature screeches again from the mouth in its forehead and lets a collection of thick tongues dart out to send a splatter of cold drool onto Titus’s metallic shirt. Answering the call of their companion, more of the beasts erupt from the ground until there is one for each Dawn Fang.
Clyde bats his enemy away with one blow as he watches Mab go on the attack, her claws skittering off the dense shell. Forced to dodge in large motions, she is nearly driven into the path of the burning boulder. Letting the deadly trap pass by, she kicks the creature that is swinging at Chastity’s telekinetic barrier. The blow does nothing more than irritate the monster and it whirls around to stab at her chest. It is a surprisingly slow attack that the burglar ducks and redirects to strike the enemy approaching from her rear. Not far away, Titus wrestles with his opponent and repeatedly comes close to rolling into a lava pool. Luther and Bob have decided to stay away from the monsters that continue to chase the elusive duo, who are trying to use the traps to their advantage. Clyde smacks his creature back into the wall without looking, his attention drawn to how the fights are not going in anyone’s favor. No matter the opening, the monsters never strike fast enough to take advantage and they are always saved from a variety of death blow
s by a perfectly timed trap. Turning to face his own opponent, he sees that it has managed to land an inch shy of the wall blades and only attacks when he looks directly at it. He rushes in to deliver a full strength punch, but is immediately sent flying by a lava geyser that drives him into the stalactites. With one of the natural spikes sticking through his stomach, he reaches back to smash the base and drops back to the ground.
“This doesn’t hurt as much as it should,” Clyde mutters as he removes the stone. He unleashes his Lord’s Rage to find that the entire chamber ripples and distorts. “Okay, Lost, I think we’ve had enough. You’re in our heads, so none of this is real. Drop all the traps and monsters, so we can talk. I promise that’s all we want to do. We’d prefer to do it in a safer place, but I’ll let you decide.”
“Everyone wants to betray me,” Lost mutters from her pedestal. The lava and crystals fade away to reveal a dark chamber with the only light coming from the distant cave entrance. “I don’t want to be in your worlds anymore. Archillious wants to kill everyone and Xavier is helping him. People always agree with Archillious, so why should I think any of you will be different? That’s why I ran away from home. Not only to find my father, but to get away from him. I didn’t want to keep my promise. That makes me a bad person, but I don’t want to be responsible for making a monster.”
“You don’t have to turn him,” Bob announces, his hands groping along the walls. He stops moving when a furry object runs across the back of his neck and leaves a shallow cut. “Since Xavier isn’t your father, you don’t have to worry about what he wants either. He might have the larger kingdom, but that doesn’t mean he’s stronger than us. As far as Clyde agreeing with Archillious, I guarantee that will never happen. The rest of us wouldn’t follow a man who wants to wipe out the world. For one thing, you would run out of food and horses.”
“Not to mention things to steal,” Mab mutters from her corner. With her eyes adjusting faster than her friends, she quickly makes out Lost’s silhouette in the gloom. “Looks like you’re still affecting our senses, kid. I can understand why since you’re scared, but Bob is right. We’re not interested in world domination or destruction. All we want to do is live without being hunted and enjoy our immortality.”
Everyone feels a gentle push on their bodies before Lost’s laugh echoes in their ears. “Then, I’ll leave Nytefall alone. Archillious and Nyte are too dangerous to ignore. They’re threats to all of our worlds, which means I have to destroy them. There’s no other way to make sure everyone else is safe. If you need to kill me for what I’m about to do then that’s what you must do. Sorry that I couldn’t be a better Dawn Fang, Mr. Clyde. I forgive you for abandoning me, mommy, but don’t let it happen again.”
“Don’t you dare, Lost!” Chastity angrily shouts.
The girl screams as she unleashes a telekinetic gale that ejects all of the other Dawn Fangs from the cave. Instead of crashing to the ground, they are left dangling high above the destroyed forest where the womb-born have gathered. The fliers are about to investigate the hovering vampires when Lost emerges and stomps her foot for everyone’s attention, the blow leaving a small hole in the ground. Those who do not stop talking are smacked in the face by her bunny, which always goes back to floating above her head. A single word from the girl creates cheers for their Princess General that rise from the crowd, which parts to let Eighty get to the front. No words are exchanged before she points in the direction of Nyte and puts her orders directly into the minds of her army. Clyde and his friends can only watch as the womb-born army marches into the distance, their neat formation sending a chill down the older vampires’ spines. No sooner has Lost and her followers disappeared than her influence cuts off and the Dawn Fangs crash into the ground below with enough force that they become partially buried in the battered earth.
14
The large wagon bounces along the road and the four oxen groan as they pull the heavy load, most of the weight coming from Titus and Decker. With Bob sitting in the driver’s seat, the other vampires sit in the back along with the damp hay. Outnumbered and exhausted, the three agents of Nyte sit against the rear gate in case they have to make a quick escape from the Dawn Fangs. Their night cloaks having been destroyed, the trio are forced to wear burlap tarps that makes their skin itch and is only partially effective. Caught up in their own thoughts, they fail to realize that they are not the only ones on edge. Even with their sworn enemies slightly weakened by the sun, Clyde and his gang continue glancing in their old friends’ direction and waiting for an attack. Chastity is the only one who is somewhat relaxed, her stress coming more from fear of Lost crossing a line that will force Clyde to execute her. She tries to hide her worry, but repeatedly sneaks a look at the others in the hopes of gauging how angry they are at her daughter.
“These oxen are too slow, Stavros!” Bob shouts from the front. Still holding the reins, he turns around and points at the spymaster. “You should know that horses are always better. These guys are for plowing or slow journeys. We needed speed and agility instead of strength. I might as well have lashed Titus, Decker, and Clyde to the yokes. It would just as effective. Maybe more so because they wouldn’t be pulling our two heaviest warriors. By the way, have you guys done anything with my room yet?”
“I can’t tell if he’s serious about having you three pull us,” Kai admits with a yawn. The old-world vampire rubs the back of his neck and checks his hand to find that it is crawling with tiny bugs. “We had to work with what we could find. If I had known the situation then I might have been pickier, but not for your sake. Be thankful that General Decker convinced us to bother helping in the first place. I felt it was best to report Archillious’s betrayal, but he insisted that we see what the situation was. Hey, Grathan, go fly ahead to Nyte and warn the Lord and Lady about the attack.”
“Yes, because they won’t kill me on sight,” Luther replies, his attention more on sharpening his sickles. As he takes a close look at the blade, the wagon hits a bump in the road and he nearly slices into his face. “I know we’re in a rush, Bob, but try to be a little more careful. Do we have a plan? The Utukku gave us a lot of trouble and they were enhanced mortals. I don’t see things going any better with the womb-born. We’re basically going head-to-head with an army of Dawn Fangs that lack our experience, but also our restraint and desire to remain hidden.”
“They’re also fueled by rage and a desire for revenge,” Decker adds as he takes a drink from his flask. He notices that everyone looks at Clyde, who is sitting with his eyes closed. “It’s kind of like him, but these kids are much less focused. I don’t think they’re going to stop at Nyte, especially if Archillious stays on the run. Before we lost contact, Nadia sent Stephanie a message about the womb-born destroying a town. That’s only the beginning if we let them run unchecked with Lost leading them to who knows where.”
Chastity takes a seat on the edge of the wagon and uses her powers to avoid falling off the bouncing vehicle. “I’m saying it right now. We are not killing my daughter. The others have proven to be too dangerous and already crossed a line, so I understand if their fate is sealed. Lost hasn’t gone that far. Whether any of you help me or not, I’m getting ahead of that army and making sure she doesn’t make a mistake. As her mother, it’s my job to-”
“Overcompensate for abandoning her?” Kai bluntly asks. His blood stops flowing when he sees Clyde’s eyes open and shine with a churning red light. “It isn’t like I’m lying. You can’t blame the woman for worrying, but getting herself killed is ridiculous. Even if she can get to Lost, she’ll be torn apart by the womb-born. How do we know they won’t kill any of their parents on sight at this point? Judging by what you’ve told us, unlike your daughter, who is upset about being threatened, most of their anger stems from being abandoned. Personally, I think they’re less rational and more volatile than their leader.”
Without warning, Stephanie breaks out into an ungodly wail and reveals that she has sliced open her stomach. Her tails cu
rls around her body to gather her blood and draw several runes on the back of the wagon. Sensing a pull at their backs, Decker and Kai scramble away before the wood twists into circular frame. Turning around, the ritualist opens her wound and has more of her blood flow into the open circle. The faint image of Nadia Sylvan reading a book appears in the swirling ichor, the orc’s face filled with surprise. Stephanie speaks in a growling language that nobody in the wagon can identify, but the noblewoman immediately responds in kind. The conversation continues for several minutes and only stops when the wagon hits a bump, the disturbance causing the fluid portal to become choppy. As soon as the calico heals her stomach wound, the communication spell ends and the rear gate returns to normal.
“I have warned my lady about the approaching danger,” Stephanie reports as she curls up in the hay. She mutters when Decker puts her head in his lap, his scent causing her to wake up and push herself away. “Thank you, but I will be fine. I have relayed Chastity’s desire for Lost not to be harmed too. No promises can be made if the womb-born reach Nyte. Yet, Lord Tempest and Lady Sylvan will do their best to slow the army. The rest is up to us. They have recommended using the ruins of Kylgirth since it is isolated and uninhabited.”
Lost (War of Nytefall Book 2) Page 24
