“How are you still alive, witch? That wound should have killed you long ago,” he said.
“I am not without my skills, creature,” said Calisto.
“I promise you a swift death. Undo these wards,” he said.
He took several steps towards her when he noticed the pool of blood at her feet.
“What have you done?” asked Chimera.
“I hope you like your new home. As homes go, it’s not the worst. I have had some pleasant memories here. You will be cut off from the energy of the park and so each day you will grow weaker, until you cease to exist,” said Calisto. She fell to the floor and sat down.
“You used a blood ward? Do you know what you have done?” Chimera said, rage filling his voice.
He stood still. The rage came off him in waves. His eyes shone a deep orange, bathing the room with bright light.
“I am aware of what I have done. My life is forfeit and now tied to the energy of this keep. You will remain here for a very long time, creature, as it slowly siphons your life-force,” said Calisto.
She closed her eyes and her head slumped forward. Chimera strode over to her body and picked her up by the neck.
“It will not be that easy, witch. You may have trapped me, but I will not be alone.”
He sent a jolt of black energy into her body and her eyes shot open.
“What have you done?” said Calisto.
“I too have my skills, witch. As long as I am a prisoner here, you will join me,” he said.
“What? No! This cannot be,” yelled Calisto. She looked down at her body. It was translucent.
She tried to break free from his grip and found it impossible.
He let go of her neck and she fell to the floor. He looked down at her as he spoke.
“It can and it will be. Time is irrelevant to me. You sought to escape me with death. As long as I exist, we are bound. You will haunt this place for as long as I do. My energy has merged with that of this place. You cannot escape me now. This keep is now your prison as well.”
He stepped across the threshold, now free to travel throughout the keep.
“You will not need food or sleep. You are somewhat dead, after all. You have just prolonged the inevitable. I will escape this prison of yours and I will find the hunter and I will release my brethren, the Unholy. It’s only a matter of time,” said Chimera.
“You will never escape this place, creature. I am prepared for my fate and accept it willingly,” said Calisto. The defiance in her voice rang throughout the room, challenging the Nightmare Lord.
“You dare?” He whipped his arm around, his face a visage of rage.
She stood still as he extended his arm at her. Black ooze washed over her, but left her untouched. He narrowed his eyes and looked at her, then turned around and walked away.
“It would appear being dead does have its benefits,” said Calisto. She cried silent tears.
EIGHTEEN
Sepia and Martha ran down the tunnel to the very end. It had turns and bends but none of them were sharp. It kept leading them towards the west side of the park. Behind them they could hear the young men and women of the keep. Many had joined them along the way to the West Side exit. As they ran Sepia could see that the main tunnel had branches that would lead in different directions. These branches were smaller than the main tunnel.
Over time they no longer heard any running behind them.
“They must have split up,” said Sepia.
“They have different instructions. In the case of an evacuation or in an emergency if they are being chased, they present multiple targets,” said Martha.
“I wonder who taught them that,” said Sepia.
“I did, now keep going.” It was Gan.
Gan seemed to materialize from thin air. Sepia jumped, startled.
“By all that’s holy, Gan, could you warn me when you’re going to do something like that?” said Cade. “I didn’t even see them ahead. I could have shot you.”
“She should have sensed you,” he said pointing at Sepia. “As for you shooting me that’s not very likely. You’re a piss poor shot. I think I’ll take my chances,” said Gan as he slung his rifle over his shoulder.
“Where’s Calisto?” said Sepia.
Gan stopped for a moment and paused.
“Calisto isn’t coming with us,” said Gan.
“What do you mean she isn’t coming? You told me there was a Nightmare Lord. You told me it was off the charts. I knew we should have stayed,” said Sepia.
“If you had, you would probably be dead right now,” said Gan. “She did what she felt she had to do to buy you and us time.”
“You mean…?” said Sepia.
“Did she sacrifice her life for you? No, she sacrificed her life for all of us,” said Gan.
He kept moving down the tunnel. The rest followed in silence. They followed the tunnel until they saw the exit up ahead.
“It’s almost morning. We wait here until dawn and the hunters end their patrols,” said Gan.
“How far is it to the safe house from here?” Cade said as he adjusted his rifle.
“This tunnel will let us out at 79th and Columbus. It’s inside a parking garage so we should avoid the hunters at least initially,” said Gan.
Cade began working on his weapon, checking it and making sure every part moved smoothly. Sepia sat alone in silence.
Cade looked over at Sepia and then turned to Gan, his voice lowered.
“Is the blacklist true?” said Cade. Gan nodded.
“If my source is correct, Overseer Marks not only blacklisted her but said she was half Nightmare.”
“Shit, this is bad,” said Cade.
“She is also implicated in the Peterson incident, as an accessory. He is trying to pin that one on me,” said Gan.
“What the hell? Why you?” said Cade.
“We’re convenient. He wants power and grabbed it. He needed a scapegoat and we were perfect. We were seen fleeing the scene by several witnesses. It was a good setup,” said Gan.
Sepia had walked over quietly to where Gan and Cade were sitting.
“Whose sector are we in?” said Sepia.
“This is sector ten. Andrews’ and Mc Daniels’ sector,” said Gan
Cade whistled low. “I’ve heard about those two. They are serious business.”
“Yes, those two are a veteran hunter team, fifteen years. Our only saving grace is that the Overseer for this area is Wright. It may buy us a day or two,” said Gan.
“Wasn’t she a hunter?” said Sepia. Gan nodded.
“Rebecca was one of the best, easily a class two. No one thought she could make Overseer. She proved them wrong,” said Gan. “She won’t follow Marks’s orders blindly. If I know her she’ll attempt a capture, even with the blacklist on Sepia.”
“Well, Andrews and McDaniels are good. I came up in gun school with Mac, good guy, great shot,” said Cade. He put his rifle together and pulled back the slide.
“I’m not going to kill another hunter,” said Sepia.
“No one is asking you to. Besides you still need training,” said Gan. He looked at his watch. “Okay, it’s time-- let’s go.”
They left the tunnel and entered the garage through a door marked Authorized Personnel. Gan opened another door and spoke to the parking attendant. They waited as the attendant brought their vehicle up.
“I wonder how many of those tunnels lead to places like this in the city,” said Cade. “It would be good to know where they all lead.”
“He knows, and there is a map at the Grey command that has all of that information and more,” said Martha as she pointed at Gan.
The attendant brought up a black Suburban, and they all got in with Martha driving. Gan paid the attendant and they drove out of the garage.
“Is this an Order vehicle?” said Sepia.
“Yes, I had it stripped down to nothing and then reassembled. Why are you asking?” said Gan. Sepia pointed behind her to the ve
hicles following them. “Because of them,” she said.
“Hell, we need to lose them, Martha,” said Gan.
“Guys, can this thing take armor piercing rounds?” said Cade.
“That would make them too heavy. Small arms fire, yes, heavy calibers no, oh shit,” said Sepia.
“What?” said Gan.
“There’s a fifty cal. peeking out of the window on the passenger side, second truck back,” said Cade.
“Martha, we do not want to get hit by that thing. No way can we stop that kind of firepower,” said Sepia.
“I’m on it,” said Martha as she cut the wheel a hard left and headed towards Broadway.
Martha began weaving in and out of traffic, putting as many obstacles as she could between them. Gan began making calls to set up interference. One truck managed to follow down the street. The second overshot the turn and continued on to the next street, making a left at the corner.
“Help is on the way,” said Gan. They screeched onto Broadway and Martha turned on her lights, which notified local law enforcement this was Order business. The second vehicle made the turn and Sepia could see them gaining.
“We have trouble coming in fast on the right,” said Sepia.
The next moment, a garbage truck that was idling on the street slammed into the second vehicle, sending them down a side street across Broadway toward the West Side Highway. The garbage truck blocked the street forcing the pursuers to back up. A second garbage truck prevented them from exiting the street.
“What was that?” said Sepia.
“That was help, but it won’t last long. We need to get off the streets. I’m pretty certain those weren’t Wright’s men --not with a fifty caliber loaded for bear,” said Gan.
“Where to, sir?” said Martha.
“Take us to the nearest subway. We need to get underground, away from peering eyes,” said Gan.
**********
It had been a week and no word. Marks initiated the blacklist on the second day, hoping to flush out Sepia. It was clear she wasn’t on the streets. That left the park. Why did Chimera go silent?
“Sir?” It was Benson.
Marks snapped from his reverie. “Yes, what is it?”
“They evaded our men, and there is a call for you on line one.”
“The incompetence of this organization never ceases to amaze. It’s not like they have anywhere to go. Who is on line one?” said Marks.
Line one was reserved for the higher ranked officers of the Order. Marks hated line one.
“Overseer Wright, sir,” said Benson as he left the office.
Marks took a deep breath. This would require tact.
“Hello Rebecca,” said Marks. His tone was neutral and business like.
“Jonathan, explain to me why I have your men chasing a vehicle in my district? Does Regional know about this or is this one of your unsanctioned actions?”
Does she know about Peterson? How could she know? She can’t possibly know. “Rebecca, I don’t know what you are referring to. My men are simply working on evasive driving maneuvers,” he lied.
“Marks, don’t bullshit me. Pull your men out of my district now or I will allow my men to convince them to leave with extreme prejudice,” warned Rebecca. She hung up the phone.
Marks picked up the phone. “Benson, get my men out of there, now.”
“Yes, sir,” said Benson.
Marks picked up the phone again. He hated the idea of delegating this, but had no choice at the moment. After a few seconds, a woman answered.
“Yes?” the woman said.
“The hunter is moving, but I can’t touch her. I need you to bring her to me dead or alive --the payment is the same.”
“Dead, then,” said the woman.
“Make sure you aren’t seen,” said Marks.
Silence was his answer for several seconds. “The only way someone sees us, is if we want them to. It is usually the last thing they see,” said the woman.
“I would expect nothing less. I will send you her last known position,” said Marks and hung up. He disliked dealing with the Sisters. They were always a last resort, a heavy handed weapon, once unleashed impossible to retract. If the blacklist didn’t eliminate Sepia, the Sisters would.
There was a knock on the door to his office.
“Come in,” said Marks. A tall figure walked in dressed in a business suit. His features were average --forgettable with the exception of a small mark on the side of his neck. It was the mark of a chimera.
NINETEEN
“The closest subway station is 86th Street sir,” said Martha.
“That’s close enough. Take us there, then take the truck and head back to Command. Make sure you aren’t tailed,” said Gan.
Martha pulled the SUV up to the corner of 86th and Broadway. They stepped out of the vehicle and Martha turned to Sepia. She lowered the window and extended her hand.
“It was an honor, Sepia. No matter what they say, you’re solid in my book,” said Martha. Sepia took her hand to shake it when the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She shifted to the left to look behind her, uneasy. When she turned she noticed the small hole in Martha’s forehead. Martha slouched lifeless in the driver’s seat.
“Gunman! Down Sepia!” said Cade. They rushed down the subway stairs.
“Goddammit, she was one of my best,” said Gan through clenched teeth. Gan took out his phone. “Send a crew to 86th and Broadway. Grey agent down. Take her back to Command. Treat the vehicle as compromised, destroy it. There may be possible Sister involvement.”
“What kind of ordnance was that, Gan? I’ve never seen a shot that didn’t leave a bloody mess on the exit,” said Cade. “Who are the Sisters?”
Gan walked to the end of the platform and headed down to the tracks with Sepia and Cade in tow.
“Every five years, one hundred hunters are recruited. They are usually from the best and the brightest. In many cases, like yours, Sepia, they are the daughters of current hunters who have come of age. Those are the ideal, but rare,” said Gan.
“How many make it?” said Sepia. She remembered the difficulty of the qualification and training process.
“Maybe half of them, but most of the time it’s only twenty or thirty. Some die during the training. I’m sure you remember losing some trainees when you went through hunter Training,” said Gan
Sepia nodded. They had lost forty recruits her year, which was considered a bad one. Forty recruits had made it and the last twenty failed the training. She didn’t know this was the norm.
“The recruits that fail are put into the Sisters Program. There they hone their skills and are put on a different track,” said Gan.
They had walked quite a distance in the tunnel until Gan found the door he was looking for. He pushed it open and several young men dressed in gray camouflage approached him. They walked down a corridor heading toward a nexus of activity.
“What kind of track?” said Cade. He had an idea where this was heading.
“The ordnance you saw take down Martha is what we call drill ammo. It’s a bullet and rifle pair. The rifle is designed with a special barrel that increases the revolution of the bullet to such a degree that when it hits the target, rather than just impact, it drills its way through,” said Gan.
“Clean kills and minimal trajectory trace,” said Cade.
“Exactly. The Sisters Program was officially discontinued by Regional several years ago. Unofficially it was kept up and running,” said Gan.
“So these are assassins trained by the Order?” said Sepia. The anger was evident in her voice.
Gan turned to her. “I know you don’t believe in killing. Not everyone shares that position. In fact the Sisters are one of the most efficient and ruthless organizations in the world. They will not hesitate to take you down, and lose no sleep over it.”
“World class assassins are after us,” whispered Cade. He rubbed his hand through his hair.
“Worse. These are a
ssassins with most of the skills of a hunter, trained by the Order. They don’t stop and they never fail to complete an objective. They would rather die than fail,” said Gan.
A young man came running up to Gan handing him a piece of paper. Gan’s faced paled.
“Are you certain about this?” said Gan.
“We ran the data three times, sir. Yes, we are sure,” said the young man. His face was grim and a thin sheen of sweat covered his brow. Gan sat down hard at one of the desks in the control center.
“What is it, Gan?” said Sepia.
“Trouble we can’t afford,” said Gan.
He handed her the paper, and she read it twice-- unable to make the words have meaning. Cade took the paper from her stiff hands and read the document.
“By all that’s holy,” whispered Cade.
“How could this be?” said Sepia. “How is this even possible? Can we stop it?”
“I wish I had an answer for you. If there is one, there is only place it will be and that’s in the Archives. This means we need to go Home before it’s too late,” said Gan.
Cade looked down at the paper again, unable to believe his eyes. If the breaches continued their present course, in one year all the wards around the park would fail, unleashing the Unholy into the world. Everything they fought for would be destroyed.
***********
Marks looked at the figure as he sat down before the desk. The chimera tattoo shifted and changed with every movement.
“Your name is?” said Marks.
“Irrelevant, my purpose here however is not,” said the man. “However, you can call me Onyx,” said the man.
“Like the stone?” said Marks.
“Precisely, and I’ve come to deliver a message,” said Onyx.
“How did the hunter escape the park? I sent her straight to you. This is ridiculous! I’m doing my part, but he isn’t keeping up his end of our deal,” said Marks.
Onyx sat still and waited for Marks to finish.
Rise of the Night (Sepia Blue Book 1) Page 11
