“I do not see why you are irritated Vladimir.” Pyotr examined him and asked whether he wanted to kill Cipriana, or if he was still bothered by his requirement of taking Rachel along with him. “You couldn’t have completed this or even located her had Rachel not played her part.”
“Yes, but what are these parts to begin with?” he asked embittered. “You mention these roles we all have within this tapestry, yet you are the only person who can understand it all and you hide it so coyly that I have begun to believe you are sadistic and simply enjoy watching us writhe as we face this mystery on our own.”
Pyotr cocked his head sideways and asked who he spoke for. “From what I understand Rachel completed her part and ceased her complaints as soon as she was aware of her newfound skill. In fact,” he turned to her and asked whether she found their adventures bothersome.
She wanted to stay out of their argument, but admitted that the obscurity behind it was annoying. “You both know so much more than I do and I think it would help me understand who we’re trying to stop as well as why we need to do what we’re doing. Vladimir told me a bit about Cipriana’s past but not about everyone. Like Daniel, for instance, Cipriana mentioned something about Daniel. Who was he?”
Pyotr lowered his head and apologized for their secrecy. He walked over to a bench and had Rachel join him. “Daniel was one of our friends. We were a group of twelve in all, Vladimir, Constantine, Raphael, Cecil, Cipriana, Joshua, Jacqueline, Madison, Serenity, Daniel, Kirsten, and myself. We all met in eighteen-thirty-four and attended the same school and later the same university. Over time some of our members grew close to one another, as did Daniel and Kirsten, and in eighteen-forty-two Daniel proposed to Kirsten. She accepted and they began to plan for their wedding which they aimed to have in the following year. However all the while Constantine was going through his metamorphosis into the murderer, the abomination he is now. The transformation caused a great anger and loathing from within him and one day he lashed out and hurt Kirsten. Daniel stepped forward and defended her and wounded Constantine, who then fled. Shortly thereafter he returned in the shadow of night and killed Daniel. It wasn’t long afterwards that we learned of Constantine’s immortality and his thirst for bloodshed and power, at which point we began to look into immortality and power to combat his.”
Rachel frowned, “So Daniel’s murder is what you two want to avenge?”
Pyotr agreed but said she only understood a part of why they sought Constantine. “Not only has he murdered our loved ones, but he has put a great evil on this earth, one both Vladimir and I feel guilty about.”
“But it wasn’t your fault.”
“That is true, but we were his friends Rachel, and friends are supposed to care for and tend to one another. And I fear that if we did not pursue him he may be left unchecked and could very well bring utter destruction and sorrow upon humanity.” Pyotr then cracked a smile and added, “Though I doubt the Lord would allow such a thing if we were not involved.”
“What do you mean?”
“He means that another would rise up to vanquish him,” Vladimir interjected. “Something I am not wholly convinced would occur. But what I am interested to learn is how Constantine can evade the host of heaven for so many decades.”
Pyotr’s countenance grew solemn as he told his Romanian friend that heaven was a very busy place. “And I regret to add that Constantine and his followers have found a way, and enchantment, that keeps them hidden even from the heavenly host.”
“How is that possible?” Rachel asked.
Pyotr told her there were many things in the world she did not know of. “Only until recently did you believe that the supernatural was nothing more than stories. There are many dark and evil things that allow anything from calling upon demons to everlasting life. And our foe has discovered something to remain veiled from us, unless we can locate them in a more rudimentary manner.”
“Namely through detective work,” Vladimir sighed. “I do not like your secrets Pyotr and I would like to expect you to be more forthright in your part in our cause.”
Pyotr dropped his arms to his sides and shortly told his comrade that he was finished with the interrogation. “Your accusations wear on my patience and as things stand now you are in no position to berate me for withholding information. I learn what I can and tend to matters beyond your comprehension on an infinitely small frame of time and you, Vladimir, are upset because I do not have the answers you seek. I am sorry that I have not become omniscient but I am trying my best. This is not a high priority among all of my otherworldly obligations and I would go so far as to state that aside from myself, none of the other angels are concerned about Constantine. They know that in the end he will be defeated and to them it does not matter by whom.” He locked eyes with his friend and reminded him that they were the last of their old friends and as such he did not want any disputation to drive them apart. “I will speak with you in regards to any further development when they arrive and after you have calmed yourself. Until then, let me thank you both for your continued assistance and faith in the matter.”
A beam of light surrounded him and he disappeared within it. Rachel waited for her vision to return to normal and found Vladimir with his arms crossed and heading out of the park. Rachel ran to catch up with him and asked why he was still irritated.
“You have only been a part of this for a small fraction of time Rachel,” he hissed. “I am tired of this journey and have no other desire than to bring about its end. Now, forgive me for my irritation, but I must go.”
He continued to walk away from her as a colony of bats surrounded him and transported him away. Rachel stood out in the cold just as a light rain began to fall. She cursed under her breath as she started back home.
---*---
Chapter 26
September 29th, 2029
12:03 AM
Baltimore, Maryland
A light mist covered Baltimore while Mia and Bryce waited inside her apartment. Bryce examined all of the material she gathered and posted all across her apartment while Mia sat on her couch and waited for Twelve to return.
“How long have you known him for?” she asked.
Bryce shrugged, “A few weeks. How about you?”
Mia said she’d known him since the twelfth of the month. “You didn’t know that I knew him, did you?”
“No.”
Mia frowned and asked, “Then why do you think he never mentioned either of us to each other?”
Bryce simply reminded her that Twelve was an odd person to begin with. “Do you know who he really is?”
She shook her head and asked if he knew.
He sighed and admitted that he was in the dark as well.
They both listened to the transmission the kidnappers aired, their battle against Cladis, the sudden turn of events that led to some indescribable change in the quarrel, and the end of the broadcast. Strangely though, the transmission simply repeated itself after the broadcast seemed to end instead of releasing the wireless communication channels. Bryce asked Mia if she thought the group was victorious, but she only guessed they lost from the sound of things.
A lone crow rapped at her window until Mia opened it and let the bird in. Twelve emerged from the form of the bird and regrettably informed them of the loss. “James Resnik is dead, along with two others from that group,” he reported.
“We heard,” Bryce told him. “Were you there?”
Twelve shook his head and said he only witnessed the aftermath. “Three corpses, two male, one female, and all three have the mark on their arms.”
“Which means?”
He said he was unsure. “I don’t know their blood types, so there is really nothing more than speculation at this point.”
“Do you think they could be a part of this now?” Mia asked him.
Twelve looked at her and said they were a part of it the moment they captured James Resnik and tried to kill Cladis. “It’s unfortunate that they failed to kil
l him,” Twelve started, “But we managed to gain a few very useful clues. For starters, Cladis can regenerate, which means bullets are useless against him–”
“Then how the hell are we supposed to handle this?” Bryce blurted out. “We can’t just lock him up, but we can’t shoot him either, so how are we supposed to stop this guy?”
“That isn’t the immediate concern,” Twelve stopped him. “At the moment we have a city on the brink of self-destruction because all lines of communication have been removed and as such anarchy is beginning to take hold.”
“Are you saying you want us back out there?” Mia asked.
Twelve nodded. “We need to ensure that we can reclaim this city before it becomes lost entirely.”
“But why is everyone acting this way?” Bryce asked them.
Twelve let out a breath and told him there wasn’t any way to call out for help in the city. “Because communications are down people realize anyone they wrong cannot call for help and the police will not be able to respond to any calls that may come through to the stations via any landlines. Riots and violence have swept through the city and we need to return order as quickly as we can. But I want you both to stay together, alright? There are terrible things happening amid the chaos and the last thing we need is for anything to happen to either of you.” He headed toward the window and told them he would keep an eye out for them should anything happen. “We’ll talk later, but for now we need to do our part and try to salvage what we can. I can’t handle all of this on my own and neither will your police force.”
“You mentioned that those people who kidnapped Resnik offered clues?” Mia reminded him. “What are they?”
“When this city is stabilized, we’ll talk. For now, focus on helping where you can. That’s all we can do for now.” Twelve stopped and told the pair that he needed to leave. “Down the hall, there is a man raping his eighteen year old neighbor as we speak.” He looked at Bryce and told him to go save her. “I need to help elsewhere, but I would ask that you protect her as well,” Twelve told Bryce as he glanced at Mia. “This city isn’t safe anymore.”
---*---
5:15 AM
London, England
A word echoed though Jason’s mind, from the all-encompassing darkness around him. He failed to sense where it originated and couldn’t interpret the word with clarity. His body seemed weightless and warm, something he hadn’t felt in a long time, a sensation he’d believed was lost. But there was no light. There was nothing. His eyes were closed and a thought, the word he couldn’t make out, begged him to consider what existed past the darkness he dwelt within. Once the word faded Jason could only hear a low sound, a hum. The noise grew and soon became so loud he couldn’t think anymore.
Jason gasped for air, nearly choking while he swallowed it. His eyes shot open and pain overtook him. He struggled to control his breathing and endure the pain as he pushed aside the debris from the building that covered him. Jason sat up and recalled Todd’s attack. The low hum continued to resonate, though he could not find the source.
Where the hell is he? The girl’s gone too. Must have left. Must have. Wouldn’t stay, wouldn’t risk it after an explosion. Why am I here? Why hasn’t anyone come yet? No police or firemen. But there is a fire, right? He glanced around and saw remains of what looked like a fire, though an extinguisher lay discarded against a wall nearby. Todd must have put them out. Taken the girl. Taken his tools, his weapons. Taken the girl. Taken her…but where?
Jason remained still and listened. He could still hear the hum as well as the indecipherable word that moments earlier echoed in his mind when he was unconscious. He listened but failed to discover where Joshua Todd escaped to.
Can’t waste time. Need to move, need to find him, need to stop him, to kill him. To kill him…
The room fell out of focus and Jason felt nausea overcome him. His breathing sharpened and shortened as he tried to recover from Todd’s attack. His body was wounded, cut, bruised, and broken even. Jason felt a pointed pain at the back of his skull and upon feeling the area discovered a small puncture wound. He tried to move his other hand to inspect the gash but his arm failed to register his command. Jason looked at his left arm and discovered an almost entire lack of flesh and bone. His arm was gone from nearly the shoulder down.
Jason paled and felt he would faint. Gone? Gone? But, but how? Why? Why would he take it? Jason struggled to his feet and found the world swayed violently as he moved. The room, still in tatters, moved in opposite directions from where he stood and the walls and the door. The door. It wandered away from him and to another wall. Damn you, get back here. Damn it damn it damn it. DAMN YOU!
He grit his teeth and felt for the first time in his life as Ilion a searing and boiling heat. In an instant the building erupted over the surrounding area. Jason remained on his feet in place and watched the fires dance. They swayed from side to side in the darkness in the form of a man. Todd! He ran, he ran and laughed and turned into shadow right before Jason’s eyes, just beyond the barrier of fire Jason had created from the annihilation of the old building. Todd’s laughter melded in with the unknowable whisper Jason couldn’t scrub from his mind. And the ever rising hum grew intolerable.
Not again Todd. Jason snarled, “Not again.”
He raced through the fires and toward the endless darkness. Once beyond the fire he found himself alone. The flames vanished as did all the lights of London. The stars and the moon slowly faded and abandoned him on his quest. Jason fell to his knees and groped at the ground and the air before him in search of anything, in search of Todd, in search of the hum or the whisper, in search of the hideous laugh, the cackle, the toothy smile that accompanied it, in search of Joshua Todd.
Jason felt a sudden cold steel and after a moment of fingering the engravings on the plate he remembered what it was to him a long time ago. A portal. He grinned and stifled a chuckle as he tore the metal lid clean off its resting place and cast it aside, far into the oblivion around him. Far into the darkness behind him. Jason slipped inside the newly found gateway and into more shade and shadow. He found water at his feet though and cried out in relief and joy. The stench returned to him and he rushed through the water after his prey.
I’ve found you Todd! I’ve found you and there’s nothing you can do to save yourself! You are going to beg and plead and cry as I peel the stolen flesh from your still breathing corpse bit by bit you callous wretch. I’ll split your tongue and eyes and I’ll drown you in this filthy stream and I’ll strangle you and rip you to pieces digit by digit bone by bone limb from limb. I will find you Todd and I will kill you I will kill you will kill you Todd kill you Todd…
A sudden and unwelcome light pierced the comfortable darkness and Jason’s eyes required a moment to adjust to the intrusion. Yet the illumination proffered one welcome sight. Todd cowered in a corner away from Jason. He was alone and unable to utter a single word against him.
Jason seethed as he slowly stepped toward Joshua. “Todd. Look what you did to me!” he bellowed. “Did you really believe this could stop me? Me?! Your little desecrations mean nothing to me. I will kill you. Do you hear me Todd? You are nothing. Your little God told you to kill me? He told you to kill me? Me? You, He must know nothing. He is nothing, nothing! Compared to me.” Jason lunged forward and seized Todd at his throat. He held him close to his eyes and sneered, “Your God has failed. I am nothing to be trifled with you cur. You bastard, you…you…”
Jason wrenched Todd’s neck violently for a moment and slammed his head into a wall. Todd ceased moving but Jason continued to bash his skull into the wall until the remains of his head and neck ran through his fingers in a pulp. The hum rose into a high pitch and in a moment the remains of the man became little more than a rat.
A cold sweat came over him and Jason stumbled backward and to the floor.
“Jason?”
The word finally elucidated itself and repeated again.
“Jason?”
H
is eyes widened and he searched desperately for the source. The laughter fled entirely and he remained hopeless in the catacombs of the city. No, no no no no no. Why now? Why did you have to come and interrupt this? I had him. He was gone and dead and I killed him! Me! I killed the man that tried to kill me and you stole this from me! Where the hell are you?
“Jason?” He heard the voice once more. “Jason, I hope you can hear me, and I hope you are alright. I miss you and I can’t wait for you to come home. Please, please come home soon.”
Audrey? Audrey where are you? You can’t be here. Please, I don’t want you to see this, to see me kill him. Audrey where are you? Jason stopped for a moment and breathed. Home. She said ‘come home.’ She’s home. But where, where am I? He looked around and saw the rat he mutilated as well as the large, well lit room around him. The sewers. What the hell have I been doing? What was that? What came over me? He looked at his hands and realized he was whole again. But, but how? Was any of that real?
Jason rubbed his eyes and face with his bloodied hands and tried to determine his next step. Todd is still on the loose and Lily needs help. I need to save her. She’s in trouble, but, but where do I go from here? He gazed about the room once more and found something familiar logged in a stone wall on the other side of the room. Jason hovered to it and examined the item. Todd’s blade. He was here then, but where did he go? And what happened here? There’s no way he discarded it after all of these years and I doubt he has strength enough to imbed it in stone. He quickly returned to the area where he entered the room and studied the floor. Traces of what Jason guessed were blood led off in one of nearly a dozen paths and without hesitation he raced into the shadowed corridor in search of an exit.
He found a way back to the surface and took it. With any luck there will be another clue. If not though, at least I’m back on the surface. I could return home and meet Audrey and have her patch this costume up. Once he returned to the streets he discovered night was nearly through, but also that the trickles of blood continued to support his trail. Jason soon reached another old building, akin to the one he nearly died in. However the trail led into the basement through a cellar door.
Impact (Book 1): Regenesis Page 63
