City of Steam (Blackburn Chronicles)

by Dominic K Alexander

  Mac sat in a chair next to the table and began stuffing copious amounts of food into her mouth ignoring the disgusted look from her sister. She looked around the room from Walter, to Kris, then Ed, then her grandmother, and finally to her father who even though was badly broken was at least still alive. She realized at that moment, in only a few weeks she had gone from being a loaner and doing things as she pleased with no help from anyone, to having a family who, as far as she could tell, loved her and would do just about anything for her.

  Mac thought about her past and how it had always just been her and her father until he disappeared, then it had been her and her uncle. Once he died in a car accident it had just been her, alone. Now, in a room full of family, she felt scared. It was one thing to be able to protect yourself, but to also have the responsibility to protect your family...that was more than she thought she could handle.

  The room was warm and comfortable and as Mac's stomach protested with every bite past its full capacity the aches and pains of the day’s fight could finally be felt. She was very good at healing and even better at blocking the pain, but now that she was just relaxing there was no escape from the damage inflicted upon her. She had not had a good night sleep, except for repeatedly being knocked unconscious, since she had arrived. Even with Devin, she was always worried something was going to happen. Now, in a room full of people she loved, she nodded off into a comfortable sleep. Her grandmother lay her in the corner and covered her with a blanket allowing her body to heal and energy to recuperate.

  25.

  Morning arrived too early for Mac as she heard Walter's footsteps moving across the floor. She opened her eyes and saw him standing over her father's body just staring.

  "What are you doing?" Mac asked him though she had a vague idea of what was going on. The others were gone and Mac assumed they had been put up in some of the other homes for the night.

  "You should go back to sleep, Mac." Walter said without looking away from her father.

  "You're going to take him to the duke, aren't you?" Mac asked accusingly.

  "We made a deal." Walter replied.

  "We need to wait until he is feeling better." Mac said throwing the blanket off her and making her way over to Walter's side.

  "That could take months, Mac." Walter's voice took on an unfamiliar desperate tone. "I just don't have that kind of time to wait."

  Mac had been so wrapped up in saving her father she forgot about the danger Walter's daughter was in. She didn't protest as Walter reached down and slowly lifted her father off the bed. Issac opened his eyes slightly and looked at the people holding him. His lips twitched up slightly in what looked like it had been meant to be a smile and then he closed his eyes again obviously, content at what he had seen.

  "Fine." Mac said grabbing her things which had been laid out on the table. "If you have to go now then I am going with you."

  "No." Walter said without looking at her. He started for the door and Mac followed stopping him before he left.

  "I wasn't asking, Walter." Mac said. "You fail to remember that I was part of the deal, so if you bring my father in there alone then your daughter is still in every bit as much danger as she is now."

  "If you go you will also be killed." He pushed her away with a shoulder and opened the door. "I am not going to have your blood on my hands. If you stay here at least there is a chance you will be able to survive."

  "I'll survive and my father will die. That isn't a price I can live with."

  "I will tell him about Devin and how he had been the one to hurt the duchess." Walter said laying Issac into a cart which was now being pulled by his horse. Mac finally lost it and shoved him hard so he would look at her.

  "It will be one hell of a story before he kills my father and your daughter." Mac balled her fists and a bright blue flame welled up around them. "You will either take me with you, or you will leave my father here. I will not let you take him alone." Walter dropped his head defeated.

  "If you go with me I cannot be responsible for you." Walter said still not looking at her. "I will not be responsible for your death."

  "So be it." Mac said and sat on the back of the cart next to her father and saying nothing more on the topic. Walter gave the same response and mounted his horse pulling them through the city. When they finally crossed through the gate Mac looked longingly as they left the first place she had ever considered home. She knew, if the duke got his way, she would never see this place again.

  The ride was long and everything seemed to be much darker than in the past. Though, Mac thought maybe it was supposed to feel bleak when you were heading to an almost certain death, but what other option was there. She didn't want to tell Kris and Ed because they would either stop Walter and his daughter would die or they would come and die alongside Mac and her father. Either way they were of no help. Without any time, there was no way to come up with a plan to make everything right, so what other option was there? She thought long and hard before realizing she would rather fight to the end and sacrifice her life than go back to being alone. Where she once wanted nothing more than to go back to her book store and normal life, now she couldn't imagine things without the family she had, no matter how dysfunctional they may be, they were hers to deal with.

  Even Steam City seemed to have a dark cloud over it. Once inside the people averted their eyes as they passed. Others would hide in their buildings. Mac couldn't help but feel she was about to be gunned down at any moment by one of the mechanical menaces guarding the streets, but they didn't make a move as she passed. Word traveled faster than they did and after several long seconds they moved through the streets of what could have been a ghost town, alone.

  Once the cities center gate opened and they passed through, two assassins escorted them from their horse and carriage to the inside of the mansion, Walter carrying Issac carefully as they went. The office was opened when they arrived and the duke sat at his desk, arrogant smile stretched across his face. The duchess stood slightly behind him with her hands holding the shoulders of a young girl no more than eight years old. Her crazy wild eyes fixated on Mac when she entered.

  Walter stopped abruptly upon seeing the girl and was visibly shaken with her presence. The girl looked back up at her father and tried to move for him, but the duchess held tight and the girl let out a small yelp before standing still again. Blood red ran into Walter's eyes, but he said nothing. Two assassins walked past Walter and Mac standing at the back of the room watching.

  "I am a bit surprised to see you, Miss Blackburn." The duke said. "And I see you have brought me such a glorious gift." He stood from his chair and looked at the frail man in Walter's arms.

  "I have brought him here to prove his innocence." Mac said with confidence. The duke snapped his head to Mac looking at her hard with his narrow snake eyes.

  "Innocence." The duke spat. "Your family has no innocence. They have killed over and over. No matter what punishment I issue you, it will never be enough, but I do enjoy a good tale now and again, so what proof can you offer for your father's innocence." He spat the last words.

  "There was an assassin named Devin who worked for you." Mac said. "He was actually one of the Leeches my grandmother tried to kill years ago. When he saw, you making a deal with my father to bring peace to our people he became angry and pulled the roof down trying to kill everyone inside. He wanted revenge on my father and our family and felt the treaty would stop him from getting it. He was also the one who was responsible for killing everyone in the city of Crystal Well."

  "And you brought this man here to be punished for the crimes you are claiming he committed?" The duke said looking over their shoulders at the absence of anyone else.

  "I killed him." Mac said sternly. Walter leaned forward and placed Issac in the closest chair while never taking his eyes off his daughter.

  "And the proof?" The duke said.

  "That is all the proof I have for you." Mac said breathing heavily.

  "So, what you
are trying to tell me is, one of my most trusted assassins, who was powerful enough to kill millions of you dirty magic using maggots, tried to kill my dear sister without me noticing him do it when I was sitting no more than two feet away, and you just...killed him?" The duke stared at Mac. "You? You are nothing. A nobody. You are an insignificant ant in a colony of workers. You insult me by wanting me to believe you could have killed such a powerful man."

  "But, let us say you are telling me the truth and you did in fact kill the most powerful magic scum to walk this planet." The duke continued, eyes burrowing into her. "You seem to be forgetting one thing. In your own words, you said he almost killed my sister and myself because he wanted revenge on you and your family. If it hadn't been for that, he never would have attacked; therefore, this is still all your families fault." His evil grin rose on his face again.

  The assassins took a step forward readying their guns for a quick attack. Mac looked back at Walter waiting for him to come to her defense, but he brought his hands down on his guns bringing one foot back slightly, looking at her with a blank stare.

  Until that very moment, Mac hadn't seen the setup. The realization of what she had gotten herself into hit her and she let out a sigh. Everyone had told her Walter had lived a bad life and she didn't believe them, but now she could see he only came here and helped her so he could get his daughter, the duke only wanted her father, and the duchess wanted nothing more than to take her apart piece by piece. Things seemed to come together so easily and now Mac realized why. There was no resistance because she was being manipulated and everyone was getting what they wanted except for her and her family. A bead of sweat ran down her forehead and her chest tightened as panic started setting in for the first time.

  "Did you really think you would be able to escape my sisters grasp so easily without anyone noticing?" The duke said with a laugh. "Walter is the kind of man who would do anything for the ones he loves, so it didn't take much persuading to get him to 'rescue' you and in turn find your people. We were following you initially before Devin found you and the two of you disappeared, but then I couldn't believe it when you come walking right back into this place. It was like my birthday had come early."

  "My people?" Mac asked frowning. "What does my people have to do with anything?"

  "Oh, Dear girl." The duke said while laughing again. "You still think this is about your father. I'm afraid I want so very much more than that. I want a world free of people who have unpredictable powers. A world without those who can selfishly take someone’s life. A world where people who can control things that shouldn't be controlled don't exist. This isn't about your father; it is about your power and the power your people have. Tonight, the war is going to end and you are on the losing side." He gave her a look of satisfaction.

  Mac's face went pale as she fought the urge to puke all over the duke's rug. Where she had been willing to sacrifice herself to save the ones she loved, she was not willing to sacrifice the innocent people who wanted nothing more than to live their lives. Mac had unknowingly just killed every one of those people. She was no better than her grandfather.

  Mac's body began to shake violently and the sentry bots roared to life aiming their guns at her. They were too late. A gust of wind hit them hard throwing them through the wall and dropping them four floors down to a crashing halt.

  Walter dropped to the ground and fired off two shots. Screams from his daughter filled the room. Mac waited for the pain from Walter's gun shots to take her, but instead she heard the two assassins fall behind her. Walter stood, gun outstretched pointing at the duchess who held his daughters head to the side waiting to snap her neck. The duke stood ready with cane sword in hand, pointing it at Walter. He picked up a glass of absinthe with his other hand and took a long drink of it before placing the glass back on the table. Mac heard footsteps outside the door so she called to the elements for help and the wooden door melded together in one piece so no one could come in or out of the room.

  "I recommend putting the guns away before my sister snaps your little girls neck." The duke said. Walter continued to stare and didn't lower his guns. The hallway erupted with chaos as someone began slamming into the door to smash through it.

  Seconds passed and no one said a word. The only noise in the room was the quiet whimpers of Walter's daughter and the bang of the people trying to come in. Then sweat began to run down the duke’s forehead. His face began to contort from the immense pain running through his body. He let out a scream of agony dropping his sword.

  "Did you know the human body is more than 60% water?" Mac said with a smile. The duke arched backwards letting out an ear-piercing scream. The duchess released the girl and ran to her brother. The girl ran to Walter.

  "Stop!" Yelled the duchess. "I will do anything. Just stop."

  "We walk out of here unharmed." Mac said as the duke fell to his side, balled up into the fetal position.

  "Just leave him alone and get out of here!" The duchess said again while hovering over her brother trying to protect him from Mac's attack. Mac released some of the magic and the screaming stopped, but the duke still lay on the floor unable to move.

  "How are we going to get out of here?" Mac asked Walter quietly.

  "Can you lift us out with your air?" Walter asked his arm wrapped around his daughter.

  "Not all four of us." Mac said shaking her head. "It took a lot of my power to hit the duke like that."

  "Then I want you to fly out with just my daughter." Walter said with hard eyes.

  "What about you and my father?" Mac asked in protest. The door finally started cracking from the other side.

  "I will get us out through the passages built into the walls." Walter said and he pushed one of the walls revealing an escape passage. The cold musty air flowed up reminding Mac of the underbelly passages. "These passages weren't such a good idea now, where they Weir?" Walter laughed as the duke tried to respond with inaudible gurgles.

  "I don't want to leave him." Mac said a tear running down her cheek.

  "Please, Mac." Walter pleaded placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're the only one with the ability to save my daughter.” There was a loud bang and the door cracked again leaving a small hole in it. "I need you to keep her safe and I promise I will get your father out of here."

  Mac looked at Walter seeing the determined plea and knowing he would do anything to keep his word, but there were assassins everywhere and odds on their escape were slim. She looked down at the young girl who clung on to her leg shaking. Without saying another word, she wrapped the girl into her arms and leapt out the window. A rush of air held them up and Mac watched the scene unfold in the office.

  "You will not get away with this." The duchess spat at Walter. Walter stood behind her, lifted his gun, and fired a round through the back of her skull. Her lifeless body fell to the ground; blood pouring from the hole. Walter finished the job by grabbing her by the leg and dragging her to the hole in the wall. He stared at Mac, then threw the duchess out the window where she fell four stories and crashed into the brick below, pieces of gadgetry exploding from her body and flying in every direction.

  "Don't ever threaten my daughter." Walter said before turning, grabbing Issac, and heading into the passage closing the door behind him as the assassins broke through the door. Ringing filled Mac's ears and she lost control of the duke's water. He screamed and dug his way to the ledge looking down at the remains of his sister.

  The duke's screaming for his sister resonated over the sentry’s gunfire and sound of the wind as Mac flew high into the sky and away from the horrors behind her. Walter's daughter just held her tightly saying nothing as they went.

  26.

  The flight back to Crystal Well was long, cold, and took every bit of energy Mac had leaving her exhausted and ready for a much-needed nap, but the night’s events weighed heavy on her thoughts. They barely made it to the front gate before Mac had to land and take a rest. She leaned up against the outside wall and Walter's d
aughter nuzzled up into the nook of her arm sound asleep. Mac couldn't help but follow the young girls lead and before long they both slept quietly putting the night’s events behind them.

  It wasn't until shots rang out into the night that Mac woke. Walter's daughter held tight to Mac's side staring in the direction of the gun fire. Without thinking she grabbed the small girl and hid behind a pile of rubble just inside the gate while trying to find the source of the disturbance.

  A glint of moonlight reflected off the silver horse as Walter burst through the trees moving as fast as the metal horse was capable. He looked back firing shots blindly at a yet to be seen culprit. As if out of nowhere an assassin broke through the trees riding one of the spider bikes. The assassin held a long rifle in his hands which he was very carefully aiming at Walter and Mac's father.

  She ran from behind the rubble and clapped her outstretched hands together. As the rider slowly squeezed the trigger the earth on each side of him leapt up and squishing him and his bike like a fly. There was an explosion of metal parts and assassin soup flying in every direction; ending the fight immediately.

  Searing pain rushed into Mac's body and she fell to her hands and knees breathing heavily and blinded from the pain. The fight at Steam City and the flight back home had taken too much out of her and she knew it. Her chest burned from the overuse of her power and her heart felt like it was going to explode.

  Walter's daughter broke free from her protected area and ran to Mac throwing her hands around her and gripping her tight. The young girl was screaming something that Mac couldn't comprehend through the ringing in her ears. Her body began to shake uncontrollably and her eyes rolled back into her head. Panic turned to calm as she anticipated her end. Everything slowed and steadied before going completely black.