by J E Mueller
“But did you die?” I raised an eyebrow at him.
Benz shot me a glare before laughing and coughing a bit more. “I’m starting to think that may be the better option.”
“Gotta fix this mess first.” I walked over and offered him a hand up.
He accepted and stood on shaky legs for a moment before clearing his throat and looking at everyone. “Who’s ready for the first mission?”
Chapter 20
Mare
The first mission wouldn’t be easy, but at least it wasn’t going to be the most difficult. We assembled outside on the back patio looking around carefully. Nothing was close enough to cause me worry, but we’d be heading back to the gardens and that Dilus had already been haunting us enough.
Since Benz didn’t need to hold up an illusion on top of an illusion, it would be fairly easy to cloak the group, though he couldn’t hide all our footsteps. That wasn’t a problem for Season. She could control the wind, and Ellyn could throw her voice magically far. As long as it was within a mile outside Ellyn could make it seem she was there. The combination of leaves and grass moving along with voices in the distance would easily throw creatures off.
If worse came to worse, we would fight. Lydia relayed how to kill the Dilus so I had no reason to fear it. Still, it killed Kaden, and it killed Remi the first time. The fear wasn’t going to leave that easily.
Benz, when we first stepped out, looked like he was ready to turn around and give up. After three steps he was back into leader mode, and I was starting to think that most of us were doing nothing but putting up a mask anymore. Fix the mess, then consider rest…
“All right, what’s the plan?” I stated just loud enough for everyone to hear me. We were in the clear, but I didn’t want to draw any creatures near us.
Benz shrugged. “The artifact is in the mid back half of the hedge garden. We get there, get in, and get out. I’ll use my magic to get us in and get us back.” He directly looked at Season and Ellyn. “If you see a creature, steer it back toward the woods.” They nodded and he turned to Consta, Gretta, and Kip. “If worse comes to worse, we crush them. No mercy.”
“What if we come across a Dreamer?” I couldn’t help it, I remembered what Remi had done the last time we took this route.
“We save them to the best of our ability.” Benz shrugged. “I’m not Remi. I don’t think I could go all out, but I will at least try.”
Consta nodded. “Done and done. Let’s do this.”
I didn’t know much about the girl, but the certainty in her voice made me believe her. With a nod, Benz covered us with his magic and we continued on our way.
Our footsteps were swift and I was certain something would come and investigate us, but nothing came. The creatures, though plenty, seemed to be staying a fair distance away. Maybe because we were far enough away they couldn’t hear our footsteps. Maybe since we couldn’t be seen they had no reason to come closer. Maybe, maybe, maybe, if I hadn’t sworn off biting my fingernails ages ago this would be a good moment for it.
I hated this uncertainty but was grateful for a lack of a fight as we hastily made our way around the side of the building and toward the gardens. The closer the hedges grew to us, the more I anticipated a fight.
We entered the garden with no issues. Taking a breath, we all paused in the entrance as I let my magic flow. There was nothing abnormal going on here, but of course the spider was still here. Also several dozen little things, but those were a non-issue.
I took a deep breath as the information flooded my head. “There’s little worth worrying about in here, but there will be one fun puzzle.”
“The spider?” Benz asked curiously. He seemed to remember it too.
“Of course, the problem is the spider. When aren’t giant spiders not an issue?” I replied as sarcastically as possible. I wanted out but the mission had just begun.
“I know spiders aren’t your thing…” Benz began.
I cut him off before he could finish. “We need everyone possible for this so there’s no way I can skimp out. We’ll likely have to immobilize it. Giant spiders are impossible to kill.”
I wouldn’t say impossible.
I paused, still not used to this voice in my head. Lydia probably knew a way though.
They need a lot more effort to kill. You see, if you remove the heart and cut open the bottom of the abdomen that’ll do the trick.
I cleared my throat despite the fact everyone was already watching curiously. “It appears there is another option. To disable it we normally just take out the two largest eyes or get its heart. To kill it you remove the heart and cut along the abdomen and let it bleed out. A little more work, but whatever works we’ll do.”
Benz nodded. “Whatever makes it stop moving.”
I nodded and tried to tune out the fears that were making their way to the forefront of my mind by listening to everyone else.
“We should do this in waves.” Gretta gave the statement bluntly as she motioned to Kip. “If possible we should use some magic to distract it away from us and try to get it into a position where it can’t see us.”
Ellyn’s eyes went wide. “Oh, and attack from behind?”
“Yes!” Gretta smirked. “But not at once. Have a group move in and get it maneuvered around again so we can strike it again from behind. Then it’ll have forces from both sides. We have enough people.”
I looked at the group as everyone tried to figure out the best combination for this wave effect. There were seven of us. We could easily do a magic distraction and a wave of four followed by three. Even five then two would be a decent combination. If I didn’t have to face it head on initially, maybe I could do this.
“Mare, are you even here?” I heard Benz state.
“Hmmm?” I turned my attention toward everyone. “Sorry, I was thinking about the layering and how this could actually work well.”
Benz raised an eyebrow. “For someone who fights a variety of freaky things on a normal, daily basis, you sure get hung up over these spiders.”
“One – ” I crossed my arms and glared at him. “These things aren’t normal spiders. They are huge. That means they are even faster than normal spiders and can cover more ground. Two, exoskeletons. They are huge, fast, and even crunchier than their normal counterparts. Three, all those eyes! All those legs! Who needs a billion things like that? No one and nothing. Yet here we are!”
Benz gave an amused grin at my outburst. “Think you can handle it? If not, I’d rather you stay behind.”
“If I’m not facing it head on, I think I can handle it.” It would help not seeing the ten trillion eyes. I could do this. I had to. The faster we solve this, the better.
Benz nodded. “Fine, I think we have things narrowed down then. First wave will be Ellyn, Season, and Myself. We’ll use wind, illusions, and throwing voices to get that spider into position and attack. We’ll back up quickly to bring it around where it needs to be for Kip and Gretta. Last wave leaves Consta and Mare. Jump in when you can so we can take the beast down.”
Everyone nodded and followed Benz as he motioned to start moving through the gardens. I happily brought up the rear as I let my senses stretch. Something felt off here as I scanned the garden. A creature was reforming, possibly. It wouldn’t surprise me if the spider had killed something at some point here. The only thing I could remember for sure being here though was the spider.
“Benz,” I called at a normal tone. “Something is reforming, but I can’t figure out what since it’s not here yet.”
“Noted.” Benz nodded, barely glancing back. “We’ll have to stay on guard until it’s here and deemed a threat or not.”
“Who the heck isn’t on guard?” Consta gave a sarcastic laugh. “We’re going to meet a giant flipping spider.”
Season snickered. “She’s got a point.”
“I think he likes to point out the obvious from time to time,” Gretta threw in.
I imagined Benz was rolling his eyes, bu
t the most I saw was a light shrug as he continued, making sure every turn was safe.
Consta moved by my side and I noticed everyone was lining up into their tiers.
“So, you’re afraid of spiders?” she whispered.
I nodded and shrugged. “Happens I guess.”
“What about the other creatures here?” Consta asked, genuinely curious about this place.
The hedges formed almost a maze, but each section had beautiful gardens and plants that seemed to be pulled straight from my dreams. Last time we were here, we managed to slip around any creatures. This time, there were few to slip around, and the one Benz found was slain in two swipes of his sword.
“There’s usually more… did the giant spider eat them all?” I wondered loud enough for all to hear.
Benz actually paused this time and looked at me. “It has been some time since we immobilized it hasn’t it?”
“I don’t know, that was something that Clove would do with a few others when we came here. Well, I think she killed it. Maybe she just immobilized it. Has it ever died?” That sounded concerning. “Is it too strong now?”
“I’m sure the Creators kept it under wraps.” Gretta shrugged it off. “It probably wasn’t allowed to eat everything before and is excited by its newfound freedom. Maybe things aren’t dead. Maybe just all webbed up.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” I frowned. Would I sense creatures entombed in a magical webbing? That hadn’t exactly come up before.
“But it does make sense.” Benz nodded. “It would put things into its web and save them for later. The lack of creatures here is likely because of that. That respawn limbo since they aren’t dead might be what you’re feeling too.”
“Fucking spiders.” I groaned as everyone continued. I let myself linger an extra two steps behind. This was not looking like my week.
Still, turn after turn, we made it to the land of the spider. Benz motioned for the first wave to line up and get ready.
“So, what is your gift?” I asked Consta. “It would probably help to know each others magic.”
Consta gave a small laugh. “It would. Sorry, I know you’re a Tracker with a sword.”
“Being known has its benefits, I suppose.” I sighed.
Consta nodded. “Let me break down the group for you. I have two very simple gifts. Defensive is a shield that is clear and circular. It can cover me completely but only on one side. Offensive is another magic, I can basically throw rocks that explode on contact.”
“Oh, that is nice.” I liked the sound of that against a giant spider. Maybe I wouldn’t have anything left to do.
“Kip is all fire. He can shoot fire, lob fire, and make it a shield. So nothing else for him. Gretta has a shield as well but its taller than it is wide and made of spikes, oh and it’s entirely made of ice.” Consta motioned to Benz. “I think we all know him.”
I nodded. I knew Ellyn had also mentioned her throwing knives already and Season mentioned she could hear and understand animals and creatures. The animals didn’t really have much to say, she admitted.
Benz cleared his throat, quieting everyone’s soft-spoken conversations. “Ready?” The first wave approached.
So it began.
The first wave peered around the corner while the rest of us waited for them to move and continue. It took several moments with them whispering among themselves about the different magics to use based on how the spider was facing, and then they were off.
The second wave was ready to go. In less time than I expected, they were around the corner ready to fight and take on the beast. I was not feeling ready, but Consta was set.
She took the corner with ease, glancing around it and letting me know what was what. “It’s almost in position, and no, nope. This thing is fast. Fast as you already have imagined.”
I nodded and waited, trying to keep calm around me as I could feel my nerves working to unravel that with all their might. This was not my thing. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be trying to take on the thing that was not just one of my biggest fears, but the biggest. This was stupid and insane, and yet, I had already agreed. Would backing out now hurt them? Would backing out sooner have made a difference?
Then Consta grabbed my arm and we were rushing. We were exactly behind it, the rump was not as terrifying as the eight billion, nine thousand eyes I was expecting to see. I could do this, I had to do this. I was here.
Sword in hand, I rushed it without thinking, without any extra worry. I knew from the corner of my vision that Consta was keeping right up with me. We flew toward it, and I dashed to slice its underbelly as Consta threw her exploding rocks. As soon as we struck, the thing turned to try and strike us. The fear gripped me, its fangs suddenly in my face.
Consta had a shield up in front of me in a second and shoved me aside as she threw the rocks into its face, causing it to let out a horrific scream. The shriek could almost wake the dead, but it had to turn and move to take on the others.
With the eyes out of my face, and the fangs just a stabbing memory, I could at least move again, and move I did. I went back as far as I could. I shouldn’t be here. I was a hindrance.
As I moved back, I heard a shriek from Ellyn and saw the spider had struck her with acid. Fucking giant spiders, but I knew the cure for it. It was simple, and something I could handle while Benz and Kip shielded her and forced the spider to back up a step.
I quickly made my way to a giant spot of web and cut off a chunk. “Ellyn!” I called as I pitched it to Season who continued to throw it over to Ellyn.
Benz grabbed it from her and applied it to the wound before giving me the thumbs up, then dread covered his face.
I furrowed my brow in confusion. We both had been around long enough to know the web would get rid of the acid burn, though it was a temporary solution, at least it was a good one until we killed the thing. Still, as he pointed I turned and noticed my mistake. The mass of web was covering a nest.
Hundreds of little black spiders were crawling out. Little, about the size of your ankles. I reacted as best as I could as the first one climbed my leg and I screamed with all my might. I kicked hard, sending it flying off of me.
There was no way I was doing this.
I swung and swung, not really aiming my sword since it didn’t matter. There was something to hit, and if I hit hard enough I could hear the crunch of the exoskeleton.
I don’t know if I ever stopped screaming while I fought. Kip’s fire lit the area around me. Someone pulled me back and I swung at them, nearly hitting them before realizing it was Benz.
“It’s over.” He motioned to the spider, laying in a heap of blood and guts.
I let myself crumble to the ground. “Just find the damn artifact,” I managed to say before shaking my head hard enough that it should have dislodged the image of all those spiders.
It didn’t.
Too many eyes, too many legs… the crunches rang through my ears. I could still feel them crawling on me despite the fact I knew they were gone now. The team destroyed them all.
Someone plopped down next to me and I looked over to see Gretta sitting beside me. She shrugged as she waved the others away. “Go find the stupid artifact. My girl here needs a moment.”
I wasn’t sure what to say in response. “I’ll be fine, you can go help.”
“You are far from fine.” The fact didn’t make things any better. Gretta continued anyway. “I know it doesn’t help any, but I’m still here for you. I’m spider-free, you’re spider-free. We can look away from the carnage together in blissful peace.”
I gave a small tired laugh. “I guess there is that.”
“We’ll get you back. You can have a nice long hot bath and you’ll be good as new.” Gretta gave a friendly smile.
A bath would help, but I doubt I would be anywhere near good as new.
“I found something,” I heard Consta call out.
Despite the direction the call came from, I turned to look,
trying to ignore the guts, gore, and twitchy legs.
Benz, Ellyn, and Season were swarming her now while Kip hung back, frowning.
Gretta noticed it as well. “What is it Kip?”
“I just don’t get it. I thought there was only one spider out here. How does only one spider have the ability to lay eggs?” Kip replied, looking around slowly.
A chill ran down my spine.
Gretta stood up and did a slow turn, looking up and down the entire area. “Don’t know, but I don’t see anything.”
“Me neither, but still…” Kip sighed and called louder to the others. “We really should be going.”
The group moved back our way as my magic tingled. Quickly, I moved to my feet.
“We need to move now,” I called, already moving back toward the entrance.
Gretta was at my side, and with the sounds of a dozen running feet I knew the others had heeded my words.
“What’s going on?” Benz asked as soon as he was close enough again.
“We killed one of the spiders. I did not know until it moved into range a moment ago but there are two. We should pick up the pace.” I didn’t wait for a reply.
The others easily mirrored me, not wanting to deal with another spider.
I was done and ready to be out of this place, and started to push myself to move faster. None of these people were newbies, we had all gotten used to the run or die lifestyle here so I wasn’t about to feel bad for upping the pace.
In fact, I felt pure joy as I skidded to a halt right before the entrance to the hedge garden. Freedom was just a hop, skip, and a mad dash across the yard.
Chapter 21
Remi
The floor was cold under me, and I cherished the feeling of the stone under my cheek. What happened? I tried to sit up and stumbled back. My hands moved from solid to transparent. I watched them change for several minutes before I snapped out of it. I needed to get up and move.
But to where?
I could have sworn Cane tripped me. While I didn’t have any actual proof, I knew I needed to go with my gut feeling on this. So, let them think I was dead. That was fine.
