Praetorian Series [3] A Hunter and His Legion

by Edward Crichton

  The vial instead seemed inviting, like it was encouraging me to hurry the fuck up because time was running out. Like the Little Engine That Could, it seemed to call out to me, pleading with me to give it the chance it deserved to do what it needed to do.

  To fulfill its destiny.

  And who was I to argue with something like that?

  I leaned forward and tilted Helena’s head back so that she could more easily drink from the vial. She seemed lifeless as I held her head up, but I could still see her chest rise, fall, rise, and fall again. It was a clear sign that she was still alive, but then it didn’t rise again, and I panicked, so I upended the vial and sent every last drop of its liquid into her mouth and down her throat.

  Wang leaned in carefully, his eyes locked on the vial.

  “What is that, Jacob?”

  I gritted my teeth determinedly. “My deus ex machine.”

  His head snapped around to look at me in confusion, but I ignored him. I simply lowered the vial to rest it against Helena’s chest and waited. Waited for her chest to rise again. I waited and waited for eternity, but then, for what seemed like no reason at all, it lifted itself again, fell, rose, fell, and entered a rhythm far steadier than before.

  A sharp breath exited Helena’s lips, startling both Wang and I. She arched her back in a way that reminded me so much of her old pain attacks, but unlike in those instances, her face wasn’t awash in agony. It seemed peaceful instead, normal, and I could tell this to be the case because her original coloring was returning as death’s grip on her subsided.

  I smiled, knowing that it was working, and Wang breathed in sharply and pushed me away. I let him, too emotional to care, and watched him check Helena’s vitals. He only needed a moment before he looked back at me, a grin on his face and tears in his eyes.

  “She’s normalizing, Jacob! I can’t believe it! What did you give her?”

  “I have no idea,” I admitted.

  Wang turned again, his face concerned and confused both, but then he looked up at something behind me. I turned and saw Minicius standing there with the orb between his hands wrapped in a cloth.

  “Get that thing out of here,” Wang ordered as he strode past me and toward Minicius angrily.

  For his part, Minicius looked as confused and concerned as Wang had seconds ago, and he looked at me for guidance. As Wang continued to advance on Minicius, I sighed deeply, knowing that what I was about to do would set into motion a chain of events I’d be unable to control, but knew had to be done. Now that Helena was safe, there was only one way to keep her that way.

  I locked eyes with Minicius and made a gesture with my hand.

  Minicius understood.

  He looked at Wang and said, “I apologize.”

  On a good day, Wang could have taken Minicius in a fight easily, but he was tired and was caught off guard by an attacker he had thought an ally. With no time to react, Wang could do little more than watch as Minicius slammed the orb into his head, knocking him unconscious. I looked at my friend on the ground sadly, hating myself but knowing he would have to understand later.

  Minicius looked to me for further orders.

  “Wait outside,” I ordered.

  He nodded and left.

  I pivoted on my butt and crawled back to Helena’s bed, using every ounce of strength I had left to pull myself up and look at her. Her eyes were open now and fluttering from side to side as though in a trance and absorbing information at an astonishing rate, but when I entered her peripheral vision, her eyes stopped, her head shifted to the left, and she looked at me with her eyes as vibrant as ever.

  “What happened?” She asked, her voice strong.

  “You survived, Helena, but you need your rest. Try not to think about it right now.”

  “Okay, Jacob,” she said, almost contentedly, something I hadn’t expected. I risked a glance at the body of my son encased in rags, and wondered if she had forgotten or if she’d even been told yet. If she had forgotten, even if it was temporary while her body healed, I was happy for her, and I wasn’t about to disrupt the process.

  She closed her eyes again restfully, smacked her lips a few times with her tongue, and seemed to drift off to sleep again. I did everything I could to bring myself to a standing position and walk away as quietly as I could, turning carefully but not without one last look at my son. I was never going to let what happened to him happen again. Not to anyone. Not to Santino, not to Artie, not to Helena. Not to anyone.

  It’s why I had to leave.

  I took a step away from Helena, but after I took another, I heard her whisper, “I love you, Jacob.”

  I couldn’t find it in myself to answer, convincing myself she couldn’t hear me anyway. I risked one last glance at her, and felt my throat fall into my stomach. I dipped my head as I turned to leave, the emptiness in my chest persisting.

  I emerged from the tent to find Minicius waiting impatiently, also noticing a stream of legionnaires and Praetorians entering the camp, some wounded, others completely fine, if not physically tired.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “The course of battle shifted when your comrades broke through the enemy lines and led a counterattack. I think Galba’s troops are simply cleaning up any stragglers left behind.”

  I looked toward one of the gates. “Any word on casualties?”

  “There are many, Legate,” Minicius said, spreading a hand to gesture toward a triage center off to his left.

  “I meant of my friends.”

  “Oh,” Minicius said. “I do not know, but I believe they are alive.”

  “Good,” I whispered, but then held out my hands skittishly. “Please.”

  I could feel its power already, had felt it the moment Minicius had brought it into the tent. I’d felt a draw well before then even, but it wasn’t until I knew it was in my presence that I felt our rekindled bond grow stronger. I was surprised it hadn’t yet taken a hold of me completely, but perhaps our time apart had shielded me from it in some way.

  I didn’t know, but even when Minicius opened the cloth to reveal the orb, I felt no different. The draw was there, the enticement to take it and use it, but it wasn’t nearly as intense as before. At least not yet. The orb’s darkness was there as well, lingering in the background, ready to entangle me in its negative energy again.

  Everything inside me told me to walk away, to not let it take over again. Logic said to run as far and as fast as I could and never turn back. But something was keeping from doing it. Merlin may have been right that bringing us to Ancient Rome hadn’t been my fault. It had been an indirect action on my part, something I couldn’t control, but that didn’t mean every other decision since arriving here hadn’t been. Those were active and direct actions on my part, ones that placed myself and my friends in harm’s way. Merlin couldn’t take credit for that.

  There was only one man who could, and there was only one way to ensure I was no longer responsible for anyone but myself.

  I was going to find the red orb and take control of it, thus ending the blue orb’s negative influence on me forever, but I was going to do it alone. I wasn’t going to risk my friends ever again. It wasn’t right. It was my burden and mine alone. Once I had both orbs I’d rejoin them and take everyone home, but not until the danger was gone. Merlin had said my mind was stronger than most, so while it would affect me while I searched for the red orb, it was a risk I was willing to take… but alone.

  I wasn’t about to let Artie fall under the orb’s influence and never again would I place Helena or my friends at risk.

  Without another thought, I reached out and picked up the orb.

  I nearly blacked out the moment I made contact with it, but not out of fatigue, but from a readjustment to power. Energy and strength surged through me, so much more potent and lasting then adrenaline alone, and I felt my mind sharpen and my muscles strengthen. It was an intoxicating power, and now that it had recharged my weary bones, I was ready.

  I
turned sharply to Minicius. “Prepare my horse and gather my gear and enough supplies to see me through three weeks of travel. Load another with as much as it can carry and meet me near the stables.”

  Minicius too seemed somehow focused and bold now, and saluted. “With haste, Legate!”

  I nodded and watched him go. I waited a moment, allowing wave after wave of thoughts to coalesce from a disjointed web of errant impulses in my mind into a single cohesive plan that would see me through to the end of this. Like a living computer, I felt my mind work with great speed and clarity, and I wasted no time before enacting step one.

  I took a step forward, but paused, a brick in my left foot keeping me from moving. I looked down at it in confusion, but then my eyes drifted back to Wang’s aid station. I saw nothing but the tent, although my mind knew what was in there. I had to remember who I was doing this for. I had to remember I was doing this for Helena. I was doing this for the love we shared and the future we deserved. Once I’d taken care of business, I’d allow myself the pleasure of no longer having any responsibilities and being there for her.

  My foot lightened immediately, and I jogged forward, directing myself toward Agrippina’s praetorium. Two of her Praetorians stood as silent sentinels at the entrance, blocking my way.

  “The empress in indisposed at the moment, Legate,” one said. “Please return later.”

  “No thanks,” I said, and smashed the orb into the man’s head. His partner acted swiftly, but wasn’t quick enough to stop me from swinging the orb into his face. The strength and speed in which I’d acted only invigorated me, and I was entering the tent before they hit the ground. I strode forward, and it wasn’t difficult to understand what the Praetorians had meant.

  Agrippina stood in a tub of steaming water, bathing herself. She noticed my arrival immediately, and of course made no move to cover herself. I looked her up and down, something she may not have expected me to do, because she narrowed her eyes at me.

  “What are you doing here?”

  I took a step forward. “Get dressed. We’re going to Rome.”

  It was then that she noticed the blue orb in my hand, and she grinned at me, her smile almost sinister.

  “I knew all you needed was a little… push,” she said as she hopped from the tub and began the process of drying herself off. I wasn’t sure I understood what she meant, or perhaps my mind purposefully did not allow myself to understand, but it didn’t matter.

  “Gather enough supplies to at least get us through Britain,” I suggested, “but pack light. It’ll just be the two of us.”

  She paused, still nude, and smiled at me. “How romantic.”

  I smiled, but then smothered it. I wasn’t doing this for her. I was doing this for Helena. I had to remember that. Agrippina was simply a means to an end. An unwelcome but needed traveling companion for the task ahead.

  Even so, I stood there watching until she worked the first layer of clothing over her head, and only then, turned and left her tent.

  ***

  I cinched a strap over Felix’s rump, momentarily forgetting the wound he’d sustained there over a month ago. He flinched as I tightened it, and I realized the area might still be a bit tender.

  “Sorry, pal,” I said. But then gave the strap another pull to ensure it was tight. Felix bucked again, but settled quickly. I gave him a pat on the neck and surveyed my supplies. Almost everything seemed ready.

  “Give me a few minutes and we’ll go,” I told him.

  He didn’t respond for once and I frowned. It wasn’t like him to not respond to things I told him. I wondered if he was getting sick or maybe I really had hurt him more than I…

  I heavy hand fell on my shoulder. “Going somewhere, Hunter?”

  I turned and found Archer standing behind me, his face a firestorm of fury. He looked angrier than I’d ever seen him before, but I plucked his hand from my shoulder and pushed past him.

  “I’m doing this for your own good, Paul,” I said as I walked, heading back to our armory.

  Romans were still streaming into the camp, returning wearily from the battle. The whole fight seemed more or less mopped up by now, which was good. It would allow Agrippina and I to slip out of here more easily but also keep people distracted enough not to notice.

  “The fuck you are,” Archer responded, falling into step behind me. “You’ve never cared about anyone other than yourself, Hunter, and you know it. You’re doing this for yourself!”

  I whirled on him and slammed a finger into his chest. “I lost my son!” I yelled in his face, and I watched him flinch. “I’m not going to let that happen to anyone else. Not even you, Archer.”

  He looked surprised. “I… I didn’t know, Hunter. I’m so sorry. If I had…”

  “How could you know?” I asked rhetorically, turning again and continuing my journey.

  “That shouldn’t change anything,” Archer said defiantly, catching up again. “I’m sorry he’s gone, Jacob, but it wasn’t your fault and should only prove you need all the help you can get.”

  “I don’t need your help,” I whispered just as I reached the armory. I moved to go inside but then Archer put his hand on my shoulder again, stopping me. I let him, knowing there was nothing he could do if I didn’t want him to do it. “Get your fucking hand off of me, Archer. I’m warning you.”

  Tentatively, the hand fell away, and I stepped into the tent. I found a large rucksack immediately, one as big a beach ball, and with a methodical mind and hand, started loading it with mission essential items. Archer stepped into the tent behind me.

  “At least let me come with you, Jacob. You could use my help.”

  “You’re only interested in making sure I don’t screw you over and leave you to rot here.”

  “And you wouldn’t be?” He accused.

  “Of course I would,” I admitted.

  I stepped to the right to see what limited supplies we had left and made sure to grab a set of NVGs and a few IR sticks before continuing down the line. I continued picking up random pieces of gear: a few K-rations, a two person tent, sleep rolls, a random flashbang grenade, emergency supplies, my SR-25 sniper rifle, extra ammunition, extra magazines, and the like. I left my computer where it lay, figuring I’d never use it again, but picked up one of the spare M-4s lying there as well.

  I managed all of this in under a minute and stood to leave, but Archer blocked my exit. We stood nose to nose, eyes locked, unflinching.

  “Get out of my way, Paul. I’m warning you.”

  He stood his ground defiantly, but eventually stepped aside and let me pass. I left, but he was persistent.

  “Don’t make me stop you, Jacob. You’ve been through a lot, I understand that. Just think about what you’re doing to Helena.”

  “I am thinking about Helena.”

  I heard him run up behind me. “No you’re not, you’re…”

  He never finished.

  When he put his hand on my shoulder again, I was done with his interference. I whirled around and brought up a fist without thinking or hesitating. It connected with his face and he tumbled backward, but I wasn’t finished. I let fly again and hit him square between the eyes, pulled my fist back again and struck him, and then again, and again, over and over with knuckles as hard as steel.

  I’d hit him seven times when he finally collapsed and my eighth punch met nothing but air. He fell in a heap, but to his credit, was still conscious, albeit barely. I stared down at him, my chest heaving, wishing he’d give me a reason to keep going. But he didn’t, and just sat there meekly like a frightened pussy cat, instead.

  My upper lip pulled back in a snarl, but I was too focused now for another soliloquy or forced monologue. It was time to leave, not time for speeches. I turned and walked back to Felix, seeing him with Agrippina seated atop a horse of her own, three other fully loaded ones at her side. She watched me intently as I approached and I waved to her in greeting, but then the stubborn as fuck Archer put his hand on my shoulder
again.

  The orb was in my right cargo pocket, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t feel it is omnipresent power. It was always there, like a trusted sidekick or loyal dog that would always have my back, always ready and able to give me the nudge I needed.

  In one fluid motion, I dropped the rucksack from my back and grabbed the large knife from my belt in a reverse grip. I yanked it from its sheath and swung it up over my head as I spun around, forcing it downward hard in a stabbing motion as I completed my turn. The knife point kissed flesh and pushed through like it was popping a balloon. It went easily, even as I felt the knife skip and slide off a bone, but that was all right because it still struck Archer right in his heart, just where I’d intended.

  A seething, hate filled growl escaped my lips as I thrust harder, feeling the blade sink to the hilt. Deep in my cargo pocket, the orb burned against my leg, its scalding heat d fueling my rage. As the blade came to a stop, unable to sink in any further, a feeling of sweet release swarmed through me. It was almost erotic how much pleasure I took at the simple action of driving my knife into another man’s chest.

  As the ecstasy receded, I allowed myself a moment to look up from the hilt of my blade and into Archer’s eyes, hoping for additional pleasure when I saw them, but it was then that I realized they weren’t Archer’s eyes at all. Another person had walked up behind me and placed a hand upon my shoulder in his place. Someone else had been the victim of my knife.

  Not Archer.

  Recognition set it, and I stumbled backward, tripping over my bag and falling to the ground. I back peddled on my hands and feet away from the bag and away from my friend, and I could do little more than watch as the man fell to his knees, his dark eyes filled with terror and a lack of understanding, same as mine.

  He looked down at the knife implanted in his heart, knowing his time had finally run out. After all his years, it had come to this, and he looked up at me with his weathered face, but his eyes landed on the bulge in my pocket first. Understanding set in and his eyes finally rose to meet my own, and his next words were made all the more unbearable because he was the only one in my company who would ever say them.