The Immortal Coil

by J. Armand

  “We’ll be taking this specimen for our own studies. Don’t worry, it will be put to good use.”

  The leader approached my prison and gawked at me like he was at the zoo. I was overtaken by anger and an irrational hunger as I looked back at him. I wanted to … eat him? My body was acting completely on its own. A sliver of consciousness was all that was keeping me from fading away for good. As unlikely as it might be, I was hoping I would cause at least one of them some trouble when I turned as payback for everything they had put me through.

  The glowing runes dissipated from the glass. It only took a second, but I watched in slow motion as my prison shattered around me. The impact from my heightened powers continued, turning the leader into nothing more than a bloody smear before he could react.

  My body stepped out of the circle and over his remains. The other mages were scrambling to wrap their heads around what they had just witnessed, but weren’t fast enough to take action. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see each one of them exploding in a shower of blood as my powers raged out of control. This was more than I could have asked for. I’d been living on borrowed time since this started. Even if I were to die here, at least I would go out with a bang.

  Vance was already gone. He had probably escaped during the initial chaos. The blast doors slammed shut to seal me in, but no piece of metal was about to stop my rampage now. Door after door crumpled like tin cans under my power. Each crushing blow was accompanied by a dreadful symphony of gears grinding from the door motors trying to close and the infection’s eerie growls inside me.

  My sudden appetite was consuming me from the inside. I could sense food where my body was going. I tore my way through the facility, not sure what I’d find in each room. Some of the rooms were libraries or arcane laboratories, and others contained more clockwork contraptions.

  Down at the end of the hall was a door protected by runes I couldn’t break through. On the other side, two voices were conversing. I strained to hear over the ghastly sounds emanating from me.

  “I know why you’re here, but the boy is our property,” said Vance.

  “I’m here because you jackasses thought you could bribe our people to do your dirty work and stroll up onto our land uninvited dressed like that. Oh, and the whole mutant plague has gotta stop, it’s getting annoying.”

  That was Noah’s voice! His blood was the only hope I had of returning to normal.

  “We have nothing to do with those abominations. Our only concern has been reclaiming what is rightfully ours.”

  “Doesn’t seem like he’s too fond of being your little science experiment or having mercenaries sent after him. You may have bitten off more than you can chew there, champ.”

  “This wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t been infected during his time with you.”

  “What’s the big deal with this kid? You should be thankful; he’s a lot more entertaining this way, if you ask me.”

  “He is a construct of biological and magical engineering. We created him to be a living psionic weapon, but he is uncontrollable in this state. He has always had this potential. I’m sure even you figured that out by now, since the Archios were so adamant about keeping him from us.”

  Created me? What is he talking about?

  “Whatever you say. I’ve got my weapons strapped to my side and that’s all I need,” Noah boasted. “I’m just interested in one thing now, and that’s ending this plague so I can go back to watching TV.”

  “Then the Carpathians are the ones you should be after, not us. I can’t say I ever expected the Archios to look away from their luxuries long enough to notice.”

  “That hurts, really. But why would the Carpathians do this?”

  “It’s simple. The Carpathians resent humankind for forcing them into hiding. They believe they are superior and this is their attempt at population control. We decided now was the time to reclaim this specimen and all the others from the field once the plague threatened to endanger them.”

  There are more people out there like me?

  “Others? You weren’t making a weapon, you were building an army. So that’s why the mutants kept going after him. The Carpathians found out what you were doing and felt threatened.”

  “I don’t know how they could have found out. It was supposed to be a contingency plan, not a declaration of war. Archmage Minerva preached to our coven about a way to keep us safe as the world continues to fall out of our hands. Even in daylight, we would have these living weapons to watch over us. They fit in perfectly with human society, but have the power of any Ancient.”

  “Infection or not, I don’t think he’d be on board with that plan after everything you put him through. You keep beating a dog and eventually it’s gonna bite back.”

  “Sound advice from one whose master keeps him on a tight leash. I’m surprised you were allowed to travel this far from her hip.”

  “Normally I’d kill you myself, but I think the kid has earned this one.”

  With a big smile, Noah threw open the door. My powers took over and lifted him and Vance into the air. I had to fight the destructive urges as if I were drowning in a powerful current, desperately trying to swim to the surface. Noah transformed into a cloud of mist, making me lose my grip on him. I wanted answers and Vance had them.

  “Hey buddy, it’s your pal, Noah.” He reformed beside me with his arm around my shoulder. “Let me introduce you to the guy who’s responsible for killing your friend, sending a bounty hunter to kidnap you, and been the cause of all your troubles.”

  I tried to demand answers from him, but all that came out were growls and a barely intelligible “Answers.”

  “Wait!” Vance looked utterly terrified. “I can cure you and answer all your questions, but we must leave now. Minerva will be returning at any moment.”

  “So? What’s she gonna do, hit me with a book?” Noah scoffed.

  “She is more powerful than you think. Minerva has been consorting with a demon behind our backs and is expecting to use this specimen’s body as a vessel for it.”

  “Hmm, never killed a demon before.”

  “You wouldn’t stand a chance. To them, we are little more than insects. Our origin stems from their machinations during the last contest between Heaven and Hell.

  “Angels, tasked by God, escorted the purest and most devout of mankind through the Gates of Heaven. Out of spite, the Demon Kings of Hell tempted man with immortality and power so they could remain on Earth as gods instead of commoners in Heaven. Those who accepted the gift received the brand of Hell upon their soul. The Demon Kings used our predecessors to drink God’s flock dry and spread the curse.

  “The angels struck back, vanquishing the undead, but not all of them were destroyed. God placed His own curse on those cunning enough to survive. Their bodies may never again walk in the light until they cast off their sins in the dark. Disappointed in the new frailty of their creations, the Demon Kings abandoned them as forgotten children.

  “The only time a demon holds any interest in us is right before it devours our soul in Hell. Association with Infernals is forbidden because of how volatile and untrustworthy they are. Besides, weren’t you only here for information on the plague?”

  “I like a challenge,” Noah replied, “and I could use a new trophy for my room. What’s in this for you, anyway? I know how weaselly you Strigoi are. The second your hide is on the line you’ll go running.”

  “I have a more personal stake in this than some trophy. My brother was killed because he didn’t want to see Minerva use our work like this.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re getting sentimental.”

  “Sentimental, no. Responsible, yes. This life-form is the first of its kind, a collective progeny birthed through a fusion of sorcery and science. I cannot allow our investment in him to be lost to any affliction or Infernal.”

  It sickened and angered me hearing them talk as if I were some lab rat.

  “Touching. How do you plan on getting
out of here with him like this? I can’t read his mind. I’m pretty sure he’s checked out and going to kill you soon.”

  “He’s still in there. I’ll explain later, but for now you have to give him more of your blood so he’ll regain control and put me down.”

  “Why would you think he had my blood?”

  “We can discuss this later. Time is of the essence.”

  “Shit. I knew I was going to regret giving him that. If you made some unflattering voodoo doll of me I’ll kill you myself.”

  “The blood of yours that I removed from him is in the ritual room. We can use that if it makes you feel better. Just hurry.”

  I’d never seen Noah move as slowly as he did, strolling out of the room just to get under Vance’s skin, but he was back soon enough. I couldn’t see him at first, but knew he was there thanks to the blood suddenly going down my throat. The dark tide churning inside me barely eased. I was too far gone for Noah’s blood to fight back the infection. My head cleared enough to let me release Vance, but I felt numb and stiff as I tried to direct my body.

  “Do your thing,” Noah said to Vance as he turned visible.

  “There is another stronghold not far from here. Unfortunately, Minerva will know all the same places to hide, so we won’t have long until she finds us.” Vance picked up the cursed tome at his feet and made his way out of the room. “We can take one of the vehicles upstairs.”

  “Take the kid and go on ahead. I can crawl faster than any car you’ve got. I’m gonna hang back here for a while to see if I can get the jump on the witch and her pet.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with him,” I whispered to Noah after Vance left. “Let me help you.”

  “You want to fight?” Noah stared at me in disbelief. “Look, I don’t know if you’ve lost your mind or finally found it, but I don’t need your help.”

  I glared back at him in defiance. “Isn’t that what you’ve been wanting me to say this whole time? The more I run and hide the more I lose, and I’m tired of it. I’m a person, not somebody’s lab rat. I want to end this, one way or another.”

  “I don’t know what the hell you are, but if you wanna do something useful go blow up some mutants in New York.” As usual, Noah had to have the last word. He vanished. I didn’t care what any of them said, I was still human.

  The lights were on when I reached the ground floor where Noah and Vance were waiting. The room we had entered the facility from was much bigger than I had realized at first. It housed an entire fleet of abandoned ATVs and rusted tanks that were covered in decades of dust. Many of them looked to have been salvaged for scrap by the Strigoi to use in their machines.

  “The tome,” Minerva’s voice sounded, followed by an explosion of black smoke from the catwalk above. Her hand was extended in Vance’s direction as she looked down her nose at him.

  “Your scheme will fail,” he said, clutching the Grand Grimoire to his side. “You cannot hope to tame the denizens of Hell. It is a demon’s nature to betray those with whom it deals.”

  “Your ignorance insults me, nephew. My actions are not so shortsighted; there is something much greater at hand. The eternal crusade between Heaven and Hell will soon claim the Earth as its battleground. And from the ashes, the rebirth of civilization will begin anew, as it has many times in the past. I am doing the Devil’s work, and in exchange for my aid I will be granted a position of leadership.”

  “I’m sorry, Minerva, but I can’t let you do this.”

  “Pity.” She pointed her finger and ignited the area around him in green flames.

  “First the kid, now this book. Why are women always so indecisive?” Noah made it across the room and back with Vance before he could be set on fire. Minerva gave another attempt at roasting them, but Noah evaded her just as easily, even while carrying Vance.

  “Bring it on. I can do this all night long,” Noah said.

  Vance was sneaking away with the book as Noah and Minerva continued to intimidate each other. Now was my chance. I concentrated all my anger and released it in a pulse of energy at her that shook the catwalk. She put her hand to the side, negating my attack without even turning her head. It didn’t make sense. I had been so much more powerful earlier.

  “I’m through here. You can all perish together if that’s what you want. I have plenty more untainted specimens to use as vessels. I won’t mind reaping your souls so I don’t leave empty-handed.”

  “Talk all you want, lady,” Noah taunted. “I’m still gonna cut your head off.”

  I motioned to the walkway, tearing it out from under her, but failing to do her any harm again. Why wasn’t I strong enough all of a sudden? Why now, when I needed it most?

  “Be patient and wait your turn.” Minerva scowled. “You’ll have your chance to die soon enough, just like the cattle you called a family.”

  I had never wanted to hurt somebody as badly as I did her. Noah took the opportunity to pounce on her with his swords drawn, but was repelled by a force field similar to the one around the containment chamber. Minerva shrieked with laughter at his failure.

  “Absolutely pathetic! Do you believe someone of my genius would not be prepared for such a foolhardy attack? It was I who single-handedly defeated one-half of the infamous Saint-Pierre sisters, after all. No, compared to her you are nothing!”

  “You mean you’re the dumbass that offed Rozalin? Out of all the Ancients, you go after the one that can keep coming back after death.”

  “That is precisely what I was counting on. All I needed was to light the fuse that would goad the sisters into war again. It was a simple task, knowing the hatred they hold for each other. I merely had to impersonate an Archios pretending to carry out Aurelia’s orders to assassinate her sister. I knew when Rozalin returned from the grave she would waste no time in exacting her revenge. The resulting calamity at the chateau made it elementary to reclaim the boy.

  “The next apocalypse is upon us, and now the covens are too busy warring amongst themselves to sense its approach. Let them all eradicate each other. Humans will be much easier to rule when the new cycle begins without their meddling.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Dawn of an era, a new world order, vive la revolution. I’m not impressed. Give me decadence and debauchery over this bullshit any day.”

  “She’s stalling!” Vance yelled from his hiding spot behind an ATV. “She’s been casting a summoning spell this whole time.”

  “Good, I was getting bored,” Noah said while relaxing on a tank. “Somebody tell her that world domination is so one-dimensional.”

  Minerva raised a hand above her head, igniting the air into a giant ball of green flame. The fiery orb split into three and homed in on each of us. I dove for cover behind a stack of crates that exploded on contact with the fire and sent me flying. I lost sight of Vance, but Noah was enjoying himself by speeding around the room, taunting Minerva as she continued to hurl giant orbs of fire at him. He used her own attack against her by letting the fire follow him and crash into her barrier. I couldn’t hear what they were saying to each other because of the ringing in my ears, but Minerva didn’t seem at all happy that she was being outsmarted.

  I spotted Vance in a corner writing something in blood on the floor that faded from view. “Any of us will die instantly if struck with the flames of Hell. The greenish balefires burn away not only the flesh, but the soul, which means no chance at an afterlife.” Vance’s voice spoke in my head when he noticed me watching him. “It may be the only thing capable of breaking her force field if he can keep that up before she finishes summoning.”

  I still couldn’t trust him and wasn’t about to let Noah do this on his own. Ignoring Vance’s warning, I crept closer to where I could get a better view of Minerva. I tried again to attack head on, hoping to get lucky and break the barrier around her. She was unfazed, but countered with one of the giant fireballs. It was closing in faster than I could run, so I ducked under the stairs to the catwalk and let the fire collide with the stairwell.r />
  Noah appeared next to me with his hands on his hips. “You think I could work on my tan from all this fire?”

  “Vance said if you get hit by it it’s instant death,” I warned.

  “Good thing she throws like a girl then,” he shrugged.

  “It’s here!” Vance yelled. “We have to run!”

  I peeked out from the charred stairs to see a large glowing pentagram projected on the ground under Minerva. The room rumbled and the lights flickered as a massive clawed hand reached out from the ground. Minerva smiled victoriously as the demon climbed out of the portal and towered over us. It was at least fifteen feet high, with a reddish-black hide covered in sharp spiky protrusions. The head had two huge curved horns on either side of its vaguely human face.

  “Damn, I’m gonna need a bigger trophy wall,” Noah said, looking up at the demon from atop an old military tank.

  Minerva exchanged words with the summoned beast in some incomprehensible language. The demon’s voice boomed above all else, sounding like three separate beings speaking in unison.

  “It is feeding her energy. We won’t be able to break her shield now. I implore you, we must retreat!” Vance called out to us again, but Minerva wasn’t about to let us leave. She cast her fire out, creating walls of flame to cut off the exits.

  The demon brought its fist down on the tank where Noah stood and smashed it to pieces. Noah reciprocated by unleashing a furious onslaught of slashes from all directions. He moved so fast he was only visible as a blurred image. The demon’s skin wasn’t taking any damage as Noah continued to deftly maneuver around the giant body, searching for a weak point. It was impressive watching his high-speed high-flying acrobatics as he evaded and countered every seemingly sluggish attack of the demon.

  “The tome,” Minerva demanded. She had Vance cornered on the ground floor now.

  “You killed my brother,” Vance said. “I can never forgive you for that, Minerva.”

  “I wasn’t asking for forgiveness.” She held out her hand for the book and advanced on him. The blood Vance had scribbled on the floor earlier lit up under her feet in the shape of a circle like the one the demon had crawled out from. A powder-blue ball of light sprang up and exploded into a freezing wind, encasing her in a block of ice.