Now all he had were the clothes on his back and the passport inside his coat pocket, a habit long-ingrained into him by his foster-parents. He’d never known it before, but guessed they’d always suspected this day might come and he might need to flee at a moment’s notice. Had they known these people were after him? He’d never know now.
The man who’d talked to him in the van had visited him several times since they’d arrived. He always spoke cordially to Sebastian, but the boy knew underneath it all the man hated him. He didn’t need his gifts to see that.
Tonight the man seemed unusually happy.
“Good news, Avun-Riah. We’ll be able to move you soon; I just have to go away for tonight, and then we can take you to a more secure place.”
“Where?” the boy asked simply.
“It doesn’t matter to you,” said the man. “All you need to know is that you’re one step closer to your journey being complete. Very soon we will not require you anymore, Avun-Riah.”
“Why do you call me that?” Sebastian inquired. The man appeared briefly confused before laughing out loud.
“Did they tell you nothing?”
“Tell me about what?” asked Sebastian.
“Oh glorious, glorious!” The man clapped his hands together in glee. “And here I was thinking this task would be difficult. You must be the easiest one I’ve ever had to find. The others at least knew to run. It seems you were only hard to locate because your foster parents couldn’t make up their minds where to live.”
“Who are you?” asked Sebastian. The man’s maniacal chortling echoed from the walls.
“Why, I am your friendly host Empeth of course.” The man gave a mock bow. “If there’s anything you require merely ask the concierge.” He turned and, still laughing, left the room.
* * * *
Sebastian awoke to the sound of something falling softly to the floor outside the room. He sat up on the mattress and instinctively focused his thoughts on the walkway beyond the single door. A rage so deep it almost burned him radiated from the being beyond the door. Not an all-consuming anger, but a controlled fury, seething deep within.
A light scratching at the lock made Sebastian cringe in fear against the wall behind his mattress. The door swung noiselessly open a moment later, revealing a figure clad entirely in black, silhouetted in the frame. The man silently approached and lifted his finger to his lips. Sebastian tried to calm himself, slowing his rapidly gasping breath and thundering heartbeat.
“Sebastian?” whispered the figure.
“You are the Dark Man here to save me,” Sebastian responded.
Vain grimaced. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He lifted the boy easily to his feet. “Follow me silently. If I hold up my hand, hide somewhere and wait for my return. Do you understand?”
Sebastian nodded, and the two moved stealthily into the corridor. The boy choked back a scream noticing the man slumped dead beside the doorway, a small dagger protruding from his neck. The assassin casually reached down and wrenched the knife clear, cleaning it on the guard’s shirt and sheathing the weapon once more within his boot. Though shocked by the assassin’s lack of emotion, Sebastian continued after him toward the end of the hallway. The Dark Man held up a single hand, and the boy slunk back into the shadows. After what seemed like an eternity, the assassin returned and signaled for him to follow.
They passed two more dead bodies in the next room, and Sebastian feared he might pass out with the horror of it all, but somehow he continued on. Three times more he had to hide before they made it through the house; the Dark Man left a total of eight bodies in their wake. This didn’t count any of the guards killed before he found Sebastian, of course, and the boy wondered if he might not be going from a bad situation into an altogether terrible one by following the assassin. Still, he continued on after the shadowy figure, finally breeching the house’s front doors. The two strolled casually down the street, Vain grasping the hand of the boy as though they were simply father and son, perhaps strolling home from a trip to the shops.
* * * *
Accessing the house had proven harder than Vain had at first anticipated. Both the front and rear entrances were watched by men armed with automatic rifles, and all the windows were securely barred. The place was like a fortress! He’d endured four hours in the bushes beside the underground driveway before a car had driven out. Vain had rolled under the security grill moments before it locked back into place. He’d killed four men searching for the door with a guard posted outside it. The small throwing dagger from his boot had flown smoothly through the air, slicing home into the guard’s neck. He had picked the lock to the room, discovering a young boy with surprisingly ancient eyes.
Getting out had been even harder, but the boy seemed to have a natural instinct for survival; his hiding places left even the Dark Man looking twice. He had to admit he was impressed by the boy’s resourcefulness.
The pair strolled the two blocks to Chapel, avoiding any unwanted attention. Vain rang the bell outside the front entrance, and they waited in silence. Not a word had passed between the two since leaving the house, but Vain hadn’t felt this comfortable with another person in a long time – if ever. It didn’t feel like a thirteen year old boy’s hand he held, more like the hand of an equal. He shook the strange thoughts away.
A delighted Tobias opened the door to Chapel and ushered them quickly inside. He called for one of the helpers to fetch some hot drinks and food for the boy.
“Oh wonder of wonders, I did not think you would do it, Dark Man!” exclaimed Tobias to Vain. “You have saved the Avun-Riah, and quite possibly the entire world!” While he spoke, his eyes never moved from Sebastian, who shifted uncomfortably in his chair under the scrutiny.
“Where is Priest?” asked Vain.
The giant looked away uneasily and remained silent.
“Where is Priest, Tobias?” repeated Vain, a note of irritation creeping into his voice.
“We do not know,” whispered Tobias. “He disappeared yesterday, and nobody has seen him since.”
“Well, my job is done,” Vain stated casually. “The boy is here, and now I’m going.” He rose and moved to leave.
“No, you can’t leave!” Tobias stood suddenly, failing to restrain his panic.
“And why not?” queried Vain softly. Sebastian felt the threat conveyed in his casual aloofness.
“B-because you are the boy’s guardian. Didn’t Priest tell you?”
“No. He asked me to save the boy, and I have.” Again he moved to leave.
Tobias moved to stand before the Dark Man and bar his exit, but the assassin proved too quick for him. Vain’s hand shot out and whipped against Tobias’s throat. The giant staggered and collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. Sliding behind him, Vain smoothly drew a black-bladed knife, and wrenching back the man’s head, prepared to deliver the killing blow.
“NO! Stop!” screamed Sebastian, and for the first time in his life Vain paused. His knife suspended against Tobias’s flesh, and he lifted his gaze toward the boy.
“Why?”
Sebastian fell momentarily silent. The question delivered so innocently that his mind went blank.
“Because he’ll die,” he finally said.
“So?” The assassin was visibly perplexed.
“So that’s wrong,” the boy appealed lamely. “You can’t just go around killing people.”
“Why not?”
Sebastian wondered fleetingly if the Dark Man meant to tease him, but looking into his eyes realized the assassin was serious. He had no concept of right and wrong. But Sebastian knew he had to save the giant man, even if he died doing it. So he did what very few people before him had ever done and none had ever lived to tell. He sucked in his courage and stood up to confront the Dark Man.
“This man is a living, breathing creature,” began Sebastian. “If he dies, part of the world dies along with him. The entire universe is made up of energy, Dark Man, and it is all intertwined.
Violent death causes ripples throughout this energy, like a pebble in a pond. If pebbles are continually thrown into the pond it will eventually overflow. Do you understand?”
The Dark Man stared blankly. “What do I care, boy, if the entire universe dies? I was born for death, it is my curse.”
“Violence is exponential, Dark Man. You came to be when the wife and daughter of Martin Roberts were killed by evil. Every evil act you’ve committed since that day has affected the families of the people who died. Their anger and pain has washed out into the world, creating more ripples. Some of the people affected by your actions have also done evil things owing to their anger with you, creating ripples of their own. Don’t you understand? The cycle is endless unless somebody stops it. You have to stop it. Your pain will never end until you do.” Sebastian acquired a tone of command in his voice and seemed to grow beyond the frail stature of a mere thirteen year-old boy.
Vain stood motionless, finally releasing Tobias. The giant ignored the assassin and looked in wonder at the boy standing before him.
“You are the Avun-Riah,” he whispered in awe before his eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted onto the carpet.
* * * *
Vain left the room and walked outside to gather his thoughts. The power the boy had exuded during his speech had overwhelmed him even if his words had not. He cared nothing for life and death, even his own, but the conviction and power with which the young boy had spoken had shaken the assassin to his very core. He felt an overwhelming desire to leave this place, returning to the life he had once known: a life without conscience or regret. At the same time, he also knew he could not leave Sebastian in the care of these people.
Disabling Tobias had been as simple as crippling a puppy. Even if Priest were to return, when the fanatical Souls of Sordarrah found this place – and he knew they would – they would tear the walls down. The boy would be in their possession once more.
Returning inside, Vain regained his composure. Tobias had awakened and conversed respectfully with Sebastian at the table where they had been sitting originally.
“What are you boy?” queried Vain. “What is the Avun-Riah?”
“I don’t really know, Dark Man,” Sebastian answered slowly, the tone of command now gone from his voice. “I hadn’t even heard the name before the man Empeth voiced it.”
“Empeth!” hissed Vain. “You met him? Is he still at the house?”
“Yes and no. I spoke to him and he told me his name, but he left right before you arrived.”
Cursing, Vain paced across the room. When he looked up at the boy his face had regained its impassiveness.
“Try to remember everything you can about him, it’s very important,” Vain encouraged.
Sebastian paused before beginning, gathering his thoughts. He relayed how he had been kidnapped, the few details he had gleaned from Empeth’s conversation, finishing with the Dark Man’s rescue.
Vain tried to disguise his disappointment. “There is nothing else you might have forgotten?”
Sebastian shook his head.
“That must have been him driving out of the garage when I slipped in,” muttered Vain, half to himself. He had only glimpsed the driver, but supposed he might recognize him if he saw him again. This could all be finished if he could just kill the man now.
Turning to Tobias, Vain said, “I’m taking him away from here, to somewhere safe.”
“But a moment ago –”
“A moment ago is not now,” growled Vain. “Priest is not here, and you couldn’t protect him from a flock of ducklings.”
Tobias tried to argue the point further, but Vain shot him an icy look that silenced him instantly. He self-consciously moved his hand to shield his throat.
Taking the boy’s hand, Vain moved toward the rear of the building.
“If Priest returns,” he called over his shoulder, “tell him I’ll be in touch.”
“B-but...,” began Tobias. He blinked his eyes. The Dark Man and Sebastian were already gone.
* * * *
“How did you do that?” asked Sebastian as they moved swiftly through the darkened streets.
“Do what?” replied Vain, glancing around warily at the empty road behind them.
“That man, Tobias. He is the biggest person I’ve ever seen, and yet, you overcame him like it was nothing. I’ve never seen anybody move that fast before.”
“Like I said, boy,” Vain admonished, “it is my curse. There’s nothing I can’t kill.”
Sebastian pondered this silently. “Have you ever tried?” he finally asked.
“Tried what?”
“Tried not to kill,” said Sebastian simply.
Vain stopped walking and looked down at the child. “Don’t try to judge me boy. I am a killer and that’s all. If I wasn’t, you’d still be back at Empeth’s funhouse waiting to die. Maybe you’d like me to drop you off there before I set off for the nearest monastery to repent my sins.”
Sebastian shook his head rapidly and remained silent.
“Fine, it’s decided.” Vain resumed his stride. “I’ll do all the killing, and you do all the stuff that an Avun-Riah does. Whatever the hell that is.”
The pair walked together in silence until they reached the subway station. They boarded a train that took them to Tremont, after which they made their way on foot to the Dark Man’s abode. Sebastian noticed that Vain never looked at ease. At the same time, he never seemed tense. Almost as though he maintained a constant vigil, watching for an enemy he couldn’t yet see, but knew lurked out there, somewhere.
Sebastian stifled a sneeze when they entered the apartment. Dust plumed up from the worn carpet, and the Dark Man chuckled coldly.
“I’m sorry, your majesty,” said the assassin sarcastically, “the maid has taken the year off. I hope my meager accommodation is acceptable.”
Sebastian ignored the comment, gazing around the room. The Dark Man released the hidden panel, proceeding to return his weapons methodically to their allocated positions. The young boy observed him in amazement. In stark contrast to the room, the weapons cabinet appeared immaculate. Not a touch of dust or grime marred its surfaces, and the weapons themselves gleamed, freshly oiled and polished. The boy required no great knowledge of the man to see where his priorities lay in life – or death as it were.
“Why do you live here, Dark Man?” Sebastian asked innocently.
“I have to live somewhere,” answered Vain simply, sliding the panel back into place.
“That’s not what I meant. I get the feeling you are very good at... the things that you do. Surely you must get paid well. Why do you choose to live in such squalor when you could live somewhere... nicer?”
Vain stood silently with his back to Sebastian. “This place is where I live. That is all.” He spoke quietly, facing the wall. “Other places aren’t designed for people like me.”
“What do you mean, ‘people like you’?”
“I’m an assassin!” snapped Vain, spinning around to face the shocked boy. “Don’t think for a second that I’m some storybook hero you can rely on to save you from these people every time. I don’t ride a white horse and I don’t wear silver armor. I hunt people down, torture and slaughter them, for money I’ll never use.”
Sebastian grew silent, knowing he should say no more, yet the weight of his thoughts became too much and he finally gave in to the temptation. “But you saved me. That ought to mean something.”
“Bah! I saved you on a whim!” spat Vain, waving his hand dismissively. “Tomorrow I might kill you on a whim!”
“I don’t think you will.” Sebastian’s voice seemed small, but confident.
Vain looked around the room for something to absorb his rage. His first instinct was to kill the object of his frustration, but every time he gazed at the boy he remembered Angelique. Calming himself, he turned back to where Sebastian sat on the corner of his mattress.
“Don’t try to save me, boy,” he said sadly. “It’s to
o late for that.”
“Maybe,” Sebastian mused oddly. Without explanation he rolled over on the mattress and went to sleep.
Vain gazed intently at the boy and shook his head slowly before lying down on the ground. He removed his pistols and placed them on the floor beside him. He hoped the dreams might stay away for just one night, but knew they would be waiting.
* * * *
Vain sat bolt upright, the twin silenced Glocks seemingly sliding into his hands of their own volition. A noise he’d never heard before had awoken him: the sound of knocking on his front door.
Silent as a spirit, Vain moved to the door and waited. The knocking came again and he peered through the peephole to see who stood on the other side.
An extremely ragged Priest leaned against the opposite wall. His face was cut, and his clothing torn and soiled. Vain backed away from the door and into the bathroom, praying the knocking wouldn’t awaken the still-sleeping boy.
Climbing through the tiny bathroom window he edged his way along a thin ridge of brickwork that led around to an external stairwell. Leaping silently onto the stairs, he moved along to the corner and quickly glanced to where his front door lay.
Priest stood alone and exhausted outside the apartment. After a quick check to make sure nobody else hid nearby, Vain approached the black man with his pistols drawn.
“What are you doing here?” asked the Dark Man, making Priest jump in surprise before wincing in pain.
“Dark... Man!” he gasped. “We must... talk, inside... quickly.”
“I don’t think you’ll be doing anything quickly for a while, Priest,” said Vain, unlocking the door and half-carrying the other man inside.
9 More Killer Thrillers Page 107
