Canopus and Keel - The Hive. (The cases of Canopus and Keel Book 1)

by Stephen Jarrett

  “Are you going to do what I think you are going to do,” shouted Canopus back, while stabbing his knife through the arm of a hybrid

  “Damn straight!

  Drexel clicked the timer on his watch and ran, shooting his magnum at the hybrids in the room that were moving towards him.

  He got to the window, turned and shot a hybrid in the face, black goo exploded backwards. Turning back, he threw himself through the window, landing hard on the ground.

  Grunting he stood up, pulling pine cone needles out of his hands while he looked over at Keel who was still passed out against the tree. He checked her pulse, she was still alive. “You can take a punch girl that’s for sure.”

  He paused.

  “I wonder how pissed you will be at me, when you wake up?” Drexel took Keel’s gun and unloaded the bullets, placing them in his pocket. Satisfied, he snapped the empty clip back into place and tucked the gun back into Keel’s holster.

  He checked his watch, he still had a minute, roughly.

  Turning to face the walls of the morgue he counted the jail cell windows, they were around thirty feet up on the wall, facing the cliff edge. “Second to last cell is…there. Alright buddy, I’m coming.”

  Drexel ran to the wall and looked up at the cell window and then down at his stomach. It looked hard to climb, especially in the state he was in. Could he make the throw? Maybe. If he missed, there was a chance he could lose the grenade. Drexel took off his jacket and stretched the muscles in his shoulder. He picked up a few rocks, roughly the size and weight of the grenade and threw the first one at the window, it hit the wall a few feet left of the window.

  He had 30 seconds left.

  Repositioning, he threw the second stone. It soared through the air on target, but bounced off the metal bars, this time landing behind him.

  “For frigs sake.”

  His watch beeped, signaling the three minutes were up.

  Drexel pulled out the grenade and once more repositioned. There was no way he was going to get it through the window. But there was another way. He knew a grenade exploded in four seconds, or was it five? He was sure it was four or five. If he timed it right, he could make it explode by the window, but it had to be close.

  He pulled the pin from the grenade and held it his hand.

  “One Mississippi.”

  He threw the grenade at the window, “Two Mississippi, three Mississippi.”

  The grenade sored through the air and hit the jail bars, wedging itself between them

  “Four Mississippi!” shouted Drexel.

  Nothing happened.

  “Five Mississippi? Six Mississippi?”

  No explosion.

  Drexel pulled out his magnum and shot twice at the grenade. The first shot clanged against one of the bars creating sparks, the second shot connected and the grenade exploded.

  Small shattered bricks and mortar fell from the wall, followed by a giant section that crashed to the floor below, exposing a large hole in the morgue wall.

  Drexel covered his eyes from the dust and plaster falling to the floor. “Guess it was six Mississippi after all.”

  Looking up through the dust, Drexel watched as a large hybrid and Canopus fell from the hole, black blood spraying in the air, as Canopus repeatedly stabbed the hybrid in the chest. The two landed in the rocks and coarse bushes below.

  “I’m coming, bruther!” shouted Drexel as he ran to where they fell.

  He found Canopus laying on the chest of the hybrid, covered in black goo. Canopus turned his head and smiled, “You sure that was three minutes?”

  “Goddamn you are hard man to kill.”

  Canopus held out his hand and Drexel pulled him up.

  “You sure that thing’s dead?”

  “Pretty sure. Where’s Keel? Ah, there you are!”

  Drexel spun around only to be hit in the face with a large branch. He fell to the ground, blood trickling from his eye.

  Keel dropped the branch.

  “What the hell was that for?” asked Canopus.

  Drexel got back off the floor and shook his head. He held out his hand to Keel, “I guess I deserved that, girl. No hard feelings?”

  Keel paused, “All good. Bullets?”

  Drexel put his hand back in his pocket and pulled out the bullets from Keel’s gun. He gave them to her.

  Canopus walked up to Keel, as she quickly loaded her gun, “I don’t want to know what that was all about. Not until I’ve had a drink or five first. It’s good that you are safe Carina.” He leant in to give her a hug.

  Keel stepped back, pointing her gun at Canopus and Drexel, “I’m sorry, but you are both infected. Big ones too.”

  She held her crystal up to her eyes. Holding onto Canopus was a large shroud, its eyes turned and looked at Keel. On Drexel, a shroud flickered as it tried to grab hold of his body.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Canopus sat on a rock, “Drexel you got a smoke?”

  “Gave up years ago. Thought they would kill me.” He laughed. “Some joke, eh?”

  Canopus looked at Keel, who was staring through her crystal, making confused faces. Her gun was still pointing at them. “So, what have we got?”

  “The shroud on you is like the others, it’s feeding now. How do you feel?”

  “No more tired than falling out of a window.”

  “Are your thoughts your own. Hearing any voices? Visions?”

  “No. where is it?”

  “Over your right shoulder, feeding on your neck. Legs and arms around your waist…”

  “Stop.” Canopus reached out to touch where the shroud was. “What do you see?”

  Canopus’ hand was inside the shroud’s body, it wriggled and pulsed with delight.

  “It likes it.”

  Canopus withdrew his hand, he felt like he needed to vomit. “How long do you think we have?”

  “For you, in a week you’ll start being controlled like the others, three weeks after that and you’ll become one of them.” She pointed to the hybrid laying on the floor.

  “But we are not going to let that happen, right?”

  Keel put down the crystal, she looked worried. “I can’t remove it. I have already failed twice.”

  “Dammit, I want it off me Keel! It’s taking my life force, who knows what - hang on why did you say for me? What about Drexel?”

  “Yeah, what about me and can I have my gun back. I feel naked.” The barrel of Drexel’s magnum, stuck out of Keel’s satchel, resting against her grimoire.

  Keel looked at Drexel through the crystal, turning it in her fingers, “There is something different about this one. It can’t grab hold of his body. It’s like something is repelling him.”

  “This shroud isn’t my ex-wife, is it?” Drexel smiled at the joke.

  Keel watched as the shroud tried to hold onto Drexel’s body but would then fall away, where it would flicker to the point of disappearing, before it would reappear as it tried to take hold again.

  “Maybe it’s not the shroud but you? What’s different about you?”

  “There isn’t nobody like me but me.”

  “Do you think he’s immune?” asked Canopus.

  “Possible. What blood type are you?”

  “O positive.”

  “Same as me. He’s diabetic though.” replied Canopus.

  Keel chewed her bottom lip, could this be the answer? “Type one or two diabetes.”

  “Two. Over ten years now. A big two though.”

  “Do you take insulin?”

  Drexel reached into his pocket and pulled out his pen, “Yep, for the last two years

  Keel tried to hold back her excitement, but holding her emotions was difficult and her brain started to race, “What do we know about insulin? You take insulin to maintain your blood glucose levels, as your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin on its own. What if that is what the shrouds are feeding on? They steal life force, energy, glucose is energy, in fact insulin helps turn blood sugar into energy
, storing it in your muscles and cells until your body needs it. This could be how they control people, they feed and then lower the blood sugar so much, it forces the host into a coma. This could also explain why hosts feel so tired. When you are tired and hungry you eat, which then once again rises your glucose levels. Without insulin, it can’t be stored and so the shroud can’t feed. When a non-diabetic takes a shot of insulin, they will definitely have a low blood sugar shortly afterwards if they don't eat a lot carbs to compensate. Bodybuilders take insulin when they're trying to help their muscles grow because the more carbohydrates they can get their bodies to absorb, the more they'll grow.”

  Drexel turned to Canopus, “She always like this?”

  Canopus waved his hand at Drexel to be quiet.

  “When was your last shot?”

  Drexel checked his watch, “Little over forty minutes ago.”

  “Can I take a look at your insulin pen?”

  Drexel tossed his insulin pen to Keel, who caught it and started analyzing it. “How much do you normally take?”

  Drexel shrugged, “Depends, you’re meant to work it out. I had a chart, but I lost it. Also, you are meant to divide by how much carbs and shit you eat. Who has time for that? I normally take around 208 units a day, and split it up in four shots. Seems to work for me.

  Keel narrowed her eyes, “I feel that might be too much.”

  “I feel it’s just right.”

  Keel held up her crystal and looked again at the shroud trying to connect to Drexel’s body. Each time it fell, it vanished and then reappeared at a different position. At one point, it seemed to grab hold and almost got its lips close to Drexel’s skin, but then it slipped off once more.

  “What’s it doing?” asked Canopus.

  “Having a lot of trouble. Drexel, can you inject yourself again?”

  “I shouldn’t until a few hours.” Drexel looked up and Keel and shrugged. “Sure, what the hell. Throw it to me girl.”

  “What happens if you take too much?” asked Canopus.

  “No idea. But I’m liking the idea that it might fuck these creatures up.”

  “Keel?” asked Canopus.

  “Too much could lead to diabetic shock and then a coma, resulting in death.” She looked at Canopus. “What?”

  “Don’t worry, gonna take more than a little liquid to take me down. I’ve battled bottles of tequila, and won many times.” Drexel, dialed the pen to two units and then shot it in the air to clear out any air pockets. Satisfied he dialed the pen to 52 units and placed the needle against the skin of his stomach. He hesitated for a few seconds and then activated the pen, shooting the insulin into his body.

  Keel held up the crystal and watched the shroud, recording everything she was seeing into her grimoire. Drexel sat still, head bowed, big beads of sweat starting to appear on his neck and forehead, he scratched his neck and coughed, breathing was feeling hard. Canopus moved closer to Drexel but stopped when Keel raised his hand.

  “Stay back. We don’t know what could happen.”

  Canopus sat back down. Distant screaming from the hole in the morgue wall caught his attention and he looked up, half expecting a hybrid to leap down to them, but nothing appeared. “So what’s happening?”

  Through the crystal, Keel described everything she was seeing. “The shroud, it’s still trying to hold on, same intervals as before. Wait, this is interesting, it’s starting to vibrate. Yes, whenever it touches Drexel’s skin, it’s vibrating. Vibration is increasing, it’s limbs first, now the neck, head. Now it can’t escape from Drexel’s skin. It’s stuck, trying to pull away, still vibrating, but can’t let go, it’s in pain, mouth is open, both large eyes are now filled with black liquid. It’s pulling away, trying to separate, vibration is increasing, it’s - ”

  Above Drexel’s bowed head, the shroud appeared, making Canopus scramble backwards.

  “It’s out!” shouted Keel.

  The vibrating shroud, all white and skinny limbed, tilted its elongated head. The black liquid shifted in its large milky eyes as it turned to look at Keel. It was no more than 4 feet tall. Still vibrating, it leapt towards Keel, bony fingers clutching in air. Then with a loud ‘POP’, it burst into a puddle of milky liquid, that splashed to the floor.

  Keel, scanned the area through her crystal, “It’s gone, just the shroud on you and it looks worried.”

  Canopus ran over to Drexel and lifted up his sweaty head.

  Drexel smiled, “I feel terrible.”

  “He needs to eat something. His blood sugar levels are plummeting.”

  Canopus checked his pockets, “I don’t have anything. You?”

  Keel thought for a second, got up and then quickly moved to the side of cliff where she slipped before. Reaching down, she grabbed a handful of blueberries, the red juice staining her palm. Returning, she fed them to Drexel, one at a time. “This should be enough. How are you feeling?”

  “Better.” He held up his pen and gave it to Canopus, he smiled revealing two large gold teeth. “Your turn, bruther.”

  TWENTY-SEVEN.

  “Let’s get this thing off me, right now,” said Canopus rolling up his sleeve. He picked up the Insulin pen.

  “You need to shoot it in your belly, works better that way, hurts less,” pointed Drexel.

  “It’ll hurt?” He looked at the needle in the pen, “Doesn’t look that big. How much will it hurt?”

  Keel rolled her eyes, “In the last few hours, you have been shot, beaten and fallen out of window, but a little needle bothers you?’

  “Never been too keen on needles.”

  Keel rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you won’t feel it over the strained muscles, possible cracked ribs and concussion you are no doubt currently feeling.”

  Canopus flashed Keel a grin and held up the pen. “You sure have a motherly touch. How much?”

  “Drexel took 52 units. You weigh less, but you are taller. When did you last eat?”

  “When we left the diner.”

  “Good. Your glucose level, should be low enough. Let’s start with 25 units and go up from there. Drexel, can you get some more blueberries? We may need them.”

  With a groan, Drexel got up and moved towards the bushes.

  “Shouldn’t we clean the needle?” asked Canopus.

  “We should. But that’s a risk we are going to have to take.”

  Canopus yawned as he nodded. “What’s the shroud doing?” He dialed 25 units.

  The shroud was ignoring them, feeding on Canopus.

  “Feeding.”

  Canopus felt nauseous. “Alright, let’s do this.” With a wince, he jabbed the insulin pen into his belly.

  “How are you feeling?” Keel watched through the crystal, the shroud was still feeding.

  “OK. Chest feels a little tight.”

  “Try to breath slow and steady. The shroud is getting confused. It’s stopped its feeding and looks like it’s in pain.”

  “Good. Is it still on me? Or falling away, like with Drexel.” His arms started to tingle.

  “Still on you.” Keel saw Drexel return with berries in his hands and a lot more around his mouth.

  Keel sighed. “It’s gone back to feeding. I think we need more.”

  Canopus nodded and dialed another 25 units.

  “Do it,” said Keel.

  Canopus jabbed himself once more in the stomach. This time he immediately felt like someone had stood on his chest. His arms twitched and he found it difficult to breathe.

  Keel watched as the shroud, fell instantly from Canopus and appeared before him. Sweating hard and gathering all the strength he had left, Canopus punched the shroud in the face, which exploded with a loud, POP, leaving behind, a thick milky liquid that covered his hands and legs.

  Keel jumped to her feet. “Yes! It worked. We did it. Science beats magic!” She grabbed the berries from Drexel and forced them into the mouth of Canopus. She followed up with a hug.

  “Alright calm down,’ muttered Canopus
through chewing the berries. The sugar felt good and his arms had stopped twitching, his chest too was feeling better, making it easier to breathe.

  “OK, 50 units will separate a shroud from a host. I wonder what it will do to hybrid?”

  Drexel looked back up at the hole in the morgue wall, “Well, I for one, am not getting close enough to find out. In fact, I’m done. I need a shit and a drink. Who’s with me? For the drink, not the shit.”

  “We could try it on the dead one here?” said Canopus, ignoring Drexel and pointing to the dead hybrid on the ground.

  “We could, but what if it reanimated? Best leave it alone. How much insulin can we get Drexel?”

  Drexel sighed, that drink seemed far away. “I have a box of another twenty of these at home, a few at the office. We could raid the hospital or chemist. Actually, best not the hospital, seeing she’s there.”

  “Who?” Keel was confused.

  Canopus raised his hands, “Lillian Fox is there. She’s been posing as a Doctor. In your vision, you saw white lights and a corridor. Must have been the hospital.”

  Keel was silent.

  Canopus started to continue but Drexel butted in, “Myself and Sid had been working for her, storing hybrids in the morgue. Didn’t know she was a…well you know one of them. Plus, it was a ruse. Wanted to see what I was getting my town into, before I took her down. Then you three turned up. I’m guessing that Skyclade freak got what was waiting for him?”

  Keel shook her head to focus, “Skyclade? That word again. We saw it in Portland and at the diner.”

  Canopus shook his head, “Skyclade is Vince’s real name.”

  Keel composed her thoughts. So, she had been played all along. Led to Ludvig’s apartment only to meet Vince who would lead them to Bonners Ferry. The Red-girl knew the Angel was here but needed her and Canopus to take her down.

  Canopus looked at Keel lost in thought, “He’s Skyclade alright. I’ve seen the proof. He’s also over two hundred years old. Committed a lot of crimes and a lot of them here too in Bonners Ferry. I told you he was trouble. He wanted us here Keel and we played right into his trap.”

  Keel shook her head. “The Red-girl is Skyclade, it’s her real name, not Vince’s. She confronted me in the morgue. Turns out she’s a Zeph. She wants to possess Lillian Fox and use that power to rule the coven. I believe her plan is to possess Lillian Fox, once we take her down. Hiding in Vince was a way to keep herself close to the action.”