The Gift of Volkeye

by Marque Strickland

  “Wait…please!”

  Bahzee ignored her cry and raised her overhead, contorting her body into as many shapes as possible. It was like she was playing with putty or a piece of aluminum armature wire. Zephranie’s bones sounded like small firecrackers going off, as they snapped in two...then three...and soon innumerable separate pieces. Her screams echoed throughout the distance.

  Surprisingly enough, Zephranie was still alive after her daughter had finished breaking 175 of her bones in multiple pieces. The adult human, whose frame consisted of 206 bones, typically couldn’t have eighty-five percent of their skeletal structure destroyed without passing out or dying from shock. However, Zephranie was one of the unlucky ones. She was fully alert upon being slammed into the garbage bin. Unfortunately, due to construction in the downtown area, the dumpster was filled with hundreds of metal pipes, rods, and large pieces of glass, all of which were jagged with keen edges.

  As Bahzee slammed her inside the dumpster, Zephranie didn’t feel anything. Her broken body was now numb to pain. However, this didn’t change the fact that Zephranie’s mind was alert as ever. She was horrified, witnessing her body slide down the many sharp points, which had come through her front side! God only knew how many objects had impaled her! Her blood shot in the air like water from a fountain, showering the surroundings, as her final resting place was transformed from a garbage bin into a crimson red coffin.

  Bahzee, disheveled and covered in blood from combat, turned to find Teshunua now had company. She exhaled with relief, running to hug her mother and sisters.

  “Did you take care of everything?” Bahzee asked.

  Asha nodded, meaning that Vlajdimir was dead. “I see that you and Teshunua handled your business as well,” she replied.

  “Yes we did,” Tesh said, looking Bahzee over, relieved that she wasn’t hurt. He held an unconscious Felix on his shoulders. Having punched him while his fist was transformed, Teshunua had knocked him out cold.

  “How does your arm feel, Lynnie?” Bahzee asked.

  “It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt so bad now,” Lyn replied, showing her sling.

  Everyone was quiet a moment, collecting themselves, for it had been an emotionally exhausting day. Finally they decided it was time, and all of them climbed into the hover van that Sing and Lyn Sha had arrived in, leaving their individual pods behind. Though they had Felix all to themselves, they didn’t want to be selfish, thinking that Zynathian would probably want a word with Felix before putting an end to him. Instead of tearing Felix limb-from-limb, they went rushing to Zynathian’s aid. This was their final and most important objective…they meant to finish it.

  XXX

  Vengeance

  1

  Zynathian had approached Castle Xyecah by way of the Mashyuvian Ocean shoreline. It, being very deep with a large overhang of rocks to cover him, was the safest route. Now he sat patiently at the shore, with Phyllamon’s garden resting just above him.

  “Jix, I need you to make sure that no one is watching from the outside. If so, take care of them quietly, understood?”

  Jix nodded, launching from the hover’s handlebars.

  He thought to take the one on the roof first, so he flew around the backside of the castle. He knew that the guard wouldn’t have thought to look over his shoulder, as there was nothing but ocean behind the complex. The sentry held fast to the grips of the blaster. It was ironic that he looked prepared for anything but was helpless to fight off something as small as Jix.

  Blinding him with his talons, the guard ran about in frenzy and stumbled over to the ledge. Jix hardly had to blow on him to send him off the rooftop of the complex, crashing into the shoreline. Jix peered from above to be certain the beast was dead. When he found that jagged rocks had impaled the guard, he was satisfied and then went to take care of the other below.

  He pulled his wings inward and swept into a steep dive, as he sailed across the garden, attacking the last guard from the rear. Jix cut the back of his neck open and murmured with satisfaction as the creature bled to death, drenching the back of his clothes. As he slumped over the handlebars of the gun, Jix flew back to Zynathian to let him know that both spotters were down, and they could enter the castle with ease.

  “Good work, Jix.”

  He climbed ashore. Zynathian then took a packet of the special lotion that he’d given the Igloo soldiers and rubbed it into both hands, because he knew he’d be using some of the bombs that he’d brought along.

  I might as well be prepared, he thought.

  They made their way to the gate, lifted the latch, and snuck inside. Jix flew around the side of the castle.

  “Jix, slow down! You’ll have me caught, you fool!” he whispered, tiptoeing, as he watched the windows of the castle for passersby.

  Zynathian had no idea that he’d only just missed Murlach going indoors after putting another suitcase inside one of the two hovers that sat out front. They were filled to the brim with luggage and other bulky sacks of the same likeness. It could’ve only been money in those bags, and it was clear to Zynathian that Phyllamon was making a run for it. He thought of blowing the vehicles to scraps, but that would alert Phyllamon to his presence, and Zynathian still had business to attend within. He let the hovers be.

  Using the frost covered, leafless bushes as cover, Zynathian wove his way through the enormous garden and finally caught up to Jix. He found him, sitting at a stairway around the side of the castle. It looked as if this path led to the castle dungeons, for it went beneath ground level. Zynathian went down the steps and tried the latch on the door. It was locked.

  “Damn.”

  Wait a moment, Zynathian heard Jix yowl from behind.

  Jix scurried off and when Zynathian went back up the steps to find him, Jix was nowhere in sight. Several feet away, there was a small gap between the earth and the bottom stone of the castle’s wall. It was large enough for Jix to fit through but too small to be noticed by an unobservant person. Zynathian now knew how Jix got in and out as he pleased during his stay at Castle Xyecah. Marveling at his friend’s wit, Zynathian heard movement behind him and ducked behind a bush. The door at the bottom of the stairwell opened, and suddenly Jix flew out with his beating wings suspending him in air. His tail was wrapped around the door latch, while he held it open for Zynathian.

  Jix suddenly clicked his tongue and chattered his teeth several times at Zynathian, saying: Come now, old man, we don’t have all damn year! Quickly!

  Zynathian took the hint.

  As they entered, Zynathian noticed that there was no electricity in the bowels of the castle. The entire hallway was lit with oil lamps, resting upon stands that were nailed into the wall. Also, there were small bundles of cloths laying sporadically about the floor, most likely for picking up the oil lamps whenever they needed to be moved, as their bases probably became scalding hot. Realizing that he could use the cloth to his advantage, Zynathian sat on the floor and began wrapping the pieces around his boots. He used up three piles in the process.

  Upon standing, Zynathian discovered that his heavy leather soles no longer made a sound when he walked. Pleased with the stealth that this would provide, he looked down at Jix, ready to get a move on.

  “Do you know where my journals are?” he asked.

  Jix nodded.

  “Take me there!”

  Jix hopped into the air and set off. Zynathian followed, jogging through the basement hallways but resisting the urge to look around. Zynathian felt exactly as Murlach and Phyllamon did when they first entered his home. He was inquisitive, wanting to study every nook and cranny of the complex. Yes, the Xyecahs were his enemies, but they fascinated him as well.

  He turned a corner and found Jix ahead, far down the hall, sitting outside of a worn oak door with a spiraling stairwell behind him. There were cages on Zynathian’s right and left. Because he couldn’t see anything inside of either, he walked close to one and grabbed the bars, curious. Jix immediately went berserk, flying to him and
grabbing his coat by the hood, pulling him away.

  Zynathian, you damn fool! …Get away from those bars! Are you mad?!

  Zynathian thought Jix was being just a bit overprotective, but soon learned the reason for his chastisement.

  A hand suddenly reached through the bars, clawing at the air as it tried to yank its next meal through. Jix cut its wrist with his talons, and the beast pulled back his arm and let out a monstrous roar that everyone in the castle was likely to hear. Waking the other beasts, there was suddenly a cacophony of angry wails, echoing throughout the halls.

  Knowing this didn’t bode well for their secrecy, Zynathian took off running. Upon reaching the end of the hall, he crashed through the door on the right and found himself within Murlach’s lab.

  Again, he had to resist the urge to explore. Jix flew to the table where Murlach kept all of his important books, and sure enough Zynathian found all of his journals scattered about, open to random pages. He whipped off his backpack and shoved all of them inside, as well as a few notebooks of Murlach’s. Since Murlach had been able to explore his mind, Zynathian wanted to see what made him tick as well.

  Relieved, having gotten back his precious journals, he turned to exit the room. However, Jix’s hair stood on end, and he coughed at Zynathian as a warning.

  “We don’t have time for this, Jix…what’s wrong?”

  Murlach!

  “Well if Murlach will be coming this way, how were you planning to get us out of here?”

  I had planned to leave by way of the very door from which we entered, had you not alerted the whole castle to our presence, old man! Now I’m forced to improvise!

  Jix’s paw pointed at a passageway on the ceiling, connected to a rusted metal stepladder that ran up the wall.

  “Are you sure I can fit through there? It looks awfully small.”

  Since it was specifically made for Murlach, it will be a tight fit, but we have no choice! Come, Zynathian!

  At this, Jix flew to the ceiling and did a somersault, swatting the latch with his tail. It unlocked. He beat his wings firmly and shoved his back up against the door, pushing it open. Then he disappeared into the passageway. More of Jix’s chattering sounds echoed from above.

  Zynathian, are you waiting for hell to freeze over, or are you just this slow?

  “Shut up, I’m coming!”

  Zynathian ran to the rusted ladder and climbed up. He pushed his backpack through the hole and then the bomb sack.

  “Be careful with those, Jix…they’re explosive,” Zynathian said, hoisting himself up.

  Jix was right. It was a tight squeeze. The shaft they’d entered was ancient and odourous, undoubtedly housing many sorts of vermin. Jix licked his lips, as he finished swallowing something.

  I’ve eaten many a fine rat within these walls, Zynathian! They are such delectable things here—fat and juicy!

  “Spare me the details, friend,” Zynathian said, closing the hatch that led down to Murlach’s lab. “Which way to the servant’s chambers?”

  Follow me.

  It was dark, but the cracks in the walls lent enough light for Zynathian to see Jix. He had trouble keeping up, as the passageway was so narrow, Zynathian nearly had to walk sideways. They made it to the end and came to another wall-mounted stepladder, leading to a vent at the ceiling. Zynathian began climbing to the exit.

  They made it to the shaft above. Jix scurried past him, murmuring on his way through the vent. Last I looked, the lid for this vent was damaged, so when you meet me down here just push the mesh covering aside.

  Zynathian had to crawl for a stretch of about thirty feet or so, and then the shaft curved upward, allowing him to stand. Sure enough, the mask for the vent appeared to be loose. He put his ear to the exit, listening for passersby. There was no one. The only thing that seemed to be stirring on this floor was the deafening cries of the caged beasts from the lower level, echoing up the stairwell. Zynathian put his fingers through the mesh fence and lifted the vent cover, placing it to the right. He then hoisted himself out of the shaft, and Jix followed. No sooner than him placing the lid back in place did a woman emerge from a chamber ahead on the right. Zynathian and Jix had only just disappeared behind the corner before she began walking their way.

  Though they were seeking the servants out, it was not in Zynathian’s plan to startle them so they could start screaming, only bringing more trouble. He knew that he’d have to silence her quickly. As she reached the end of the hall, he leapt from around the corner, cuffing her mouth. It was the good thing, too, for she was howling like a banshee.

  “Shhhhhh, quiet miss, I’m not going to hurt you. Shush!” Zynathian said, keeping his hand placed firmly around her mouth.

  Realizing that this man was not Phyllamon here to rape her again, she calmed down. However, she knew he was an intruder, for she’d never laid eyes on him before.

  “I’m Zynathian Volkeye,” he whispered, “do you know me?”

  The woman’s eyes went wide, and she embraced him.

  “Lord Volkeye, there’s been nothing but talk of you for many weeks! We were hoping you’d show someday! Are you here to take us away, Master?” she asked.

  “I aim to, yes,” he said, disconcerted by her subservient manner. However, he dismissed it, understanding that it was typical of severely abused people to put those who helped them on a high pedestal. “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “I’m called ‘Jamese.’ ”

  Zynathian dug in his pocket and pulled out a packet of the lotion. “Jamese, give me your hands,” he said, as he ripped open the packet and began rubbing the lotion into her palms.

  “What’s this about?”

  Zynathian didn’t answer her, but upon finishing, asked: “Do you have a small sack of some sort?”

  “Yes, my Lord, there’s my laundry bag.”

  “Go get it.”

  Jamese ran back inside her private quarters, throwing things about. She was gone for only a couple of minutes and returned, dressed in winter gear from head-to-toe, laundry sack at the ready. Zynathian was glad she was such a quick thinker, obviously prepared to go all the way.

  “I want you to round up all of your servant friends and get out of the castle, quick as possible! I’m certain you have no transportation, but don’t worry about that...someone will pick you all up. Run as far and as fast as humanly possibly, but don’t get split up. Stick together!”

  “There are guards outdoors, Master!” Jamese said.

  “Call me ‘Zynathian,’ ” he said, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder, “and don’t worry about those guards…Jix already took care of them.”

  Jamese looked down and noticed the hybrid cat animal for the first time. With astonishing intellect, it appeared to nod to her. Though it was awkward making such a gesture to an animal, Jamese returned the nod. Zynathian grabbed the laundry sack from her and began carefully placing bombs inside.

  “Something tells me that them ain’t candles.”

  “You’re absolutely right, dear…these are explosive, and they’ll blow you right into the next life if you’re not careful! I’m giving you half my supply as a means of protection.”

  “Protection?”

  “That’s right. When you and the others are on your way out, I want you to blow anything out of the way that’s blocking your path. Don’t worry about them exploding while you’re running around...they’re not that sensitive. It takes a nice strong impact to cause the reaction. So if you need to kill something, grab a bomb and sling it as hard as you can. It doesn’t need to be spot on. Just make sure it hits something near them.”

  Zynathian paused to see if she fully understood. Jamese nodded.

  “Jamese, be safe and keep a clear head, and you’ll all get out of here. Your freedom is so close, but you must run after it now!” he said, handing her a laundry sack of bombs.

  “Yes, Zynathian. Where will you be?”

  “I have unfinished business to attend.”

  Just t
hen, more rampant bellowing came from below. For some time, they could hear nothing but the angry roars, echoing up the vents and passageways. Then suddenly they heard many heavy feet tromping up the stairwell. Jamese gasped, realizing what had occurred.

  “Zynathian, we must hurry,” she said. “The beasts…they’ve been set loose!”

  2

  Only seconds after Zynathian and Jix disappeared into the ceiling shaft in his lab, Murlach came running down the spiral staircase to inspect the matter of the agitated creatures. He’d have arrived sooner, but he’d been held up, needing to put the remaining luggage in the hovercar. As Murlach reached the bottom stair, he looked ahead and found limbs flailing about, outside of the bars. Through his keen eyesight he noted that one of their wrists had been slit, and viscous green blood dripped from the wound. This was strange, for (unless they were hungry) it wasn’t typical for them to have fits and harm each other for no reason. Murlach rubbed his chin with curiosity and went to look within his chamber.

  Upon entering the lab, he was hit with a strange feeling, just as he had a while ago on the battlegrounds, knowing something wasn’t right. This chamber, in which he’d always felt at home, suddenly had a tainted feel to it. Murlach felt as if his privacy had been invaded. However, the odd thing about this was that everyone knew how foolish it was to muck about his lab, a room chockfull with poisons and other hazardous materials. So why would they venture in without him? He looked about, inspecting.

  When he came to his desk, Murlach instantly knew danger was afoot. He sprinted from the chamber, and when he made it to the end of the hallway, he dug in his pocket for the cell keys.

  “Have you all seen any intruders? …Anyone you didn’t recognize?”

  “Yes, Master, just moments ago!” a raspy voice said from within the cell. “The bastards slashed my wrist!”

  “Then go and take vengeance, and the rest of you follow!” Murlach said, unlocking the gates to both cells. “Kill any stranger you come upon, and devour the servants as well…they’re no longer needed. After that, consider yourselves free beasts, as Phyllamon and I are deserting this place, and we cannot take you with us! Consider this meal your reward for years of service! Farewell!”