“Who?”
Owl sighed. “It was one of my brightest and most promising students. He was manipulated and twisted.”
I didn’t like the sound of this. “And we want this person to help us, really?”
“It is not a matter of want, Dante. You need a syllabist. The records are the only way to find one, which means you need him to get you to the records.”
“Fine, who is it, then?”
Meja turned to face me, anger and something else —fear, bright in her eyes,
“Only one person can navigate the watch because it was abandoned then sealed over 150 years ago. The defenses were left in place to present anyone from being too curious.”
“Only one person I know is old enough to be around that long ago,” I whispered to myself.
Meja turned away “Sylk.”
“Are you kidding me?” I said, barely able to contain the surprise.
“Not only is he the only one that can put you past the defenses, he was part of the team that installed them,” said Owl.
“This is just great. I don’t need to tell you how bad an idea I think this is.”
Meja looked at me, resigned. “We don’t have a choice in this, Dante.”
“There is always a choice in this! Someone else must know how to get around these defenses. Hell, I’m willing to try it without him.”
Owl stared hard at me. “Are you sure you’re willing to take that risk? Not just for you, you now speak for three. These two,” he said pointing at Meja and Zen, are sworn to you. They will advise you but ultimately you have the last word.”
When had this happened? I turned to face both Meja and Zen.
“He’s right, D. You’re the warrior. We can advise you but you have to make the choice.”
“The hell he does!” burst Meja. “As a warrior, he has no experience; he is going to get us killed.” She turned to Owl, “You know I’m right, Samadhi!”
Owl remained silent.
“Meja, I don’t pretend to know what I’m doing. I know I have no experience. But I have you and Zen. I’m not so full of myself that I can’t admit I need help, but if that help has to come from Sylk, I’ll take my chances on my own.”
“You wouldn’t last five minutes out there on your own,” she said.
“I know. Will you help me?”
She exhaled sharply. Turning to Owl. “We are going to need plans of the Watch.”
Owl smiled. “I think I may have an old set you can take with you. You should be leaving soon. The Lotus will be here within a day or so.”
“I’ll get our things,” said Zen.
“Okay, do what you need to do and meet back here in an hour,” said Meja.
“Got it. See you two later.” Zen headed off. Meja accompanied by one of Owl’s men went off to get the plans of the watch. Owl sat down and for a brief moment looked very old.
“Are you okay, Samadhi?” He waved away my hand and smiled.
“Don’t let her rub off on you too much, Dante,” he chuckled. “I have never seen anyone turn her mind so quickly; she is usually as stubborn as a mule.”
“Yes… she usually is.”
“Do you know why she agreed to your idea?”
“She said it was suicide, and then agreed to go with me.” It was suddenly clear. “Sylk.”
Owl nodded. “She hopes he will be after the same information.”
“You must remain in control when you face him next. He has his own twisted ideas about our fate and what needs to be done.” I recalled the conversations I had with him.
“Twisted is right.”
“When it comes to him, she only sees revenge; this is her blind spot and a weakness he will exploit. He will attempt to divide you, turn you against each other. Do not let this happen or everything is lost.”
“How do I prevent that from happening? She sees red even at the mention of his name.”
“When you think she is on the verge of losing her reason, remind her that a bird in the hand must be released in order to fly free.”
Cryptic much? I thought to myself.
“And this means?”
“She will know what it means, you must say this to her only when you have exhausted every other argument.”
“Why?”
“If you don’t, then she will deceive you. You must be certain she is heading towards irrational behavior, that her anger, fury and rage have her under control. Only then can you tell her the words I have given you. Under no circumstances can you say those words, in any other context. Is that understood?”
I wanted to know what would happen, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. “I understand.”
“You should help Zen pack your things.”
I was about to answer when the world exploded.
HOUSECALL
THE BLAST DOORS that were the entrance to Owl’s compound flew off their hinges and tumbled inwards. Each door was two feet thick. The power required to unhinge the doors with that much force was staggering. As the smoke cleared, a figure appeared in the opening.
“Hello, Samadhi.” It was Diana. Flanking her were Rory and Andres.
“Oh shit,” escaped before I even realized the words had left my mouth.
“It would seem the Black Lotus is here sooner than I anticipated,” said Owl as if nothing had occurred.
“And my sentinels, Diana?”
“I spared a few, Samadhi, but some actually thought to detain and question me – me, can you believe the arrogance? Naturally I taught those their last lesson.”
She picked up a body and flung it towards Owl. It was the sentinel who met us initially in the subway tunnels. His body was broken, bleeding from the eyes, ears and mouth. Both arms and legs were shattered and in several places the bone protruded through the skin. The fact that he was still alive was a testament to his force of will and strength.
“We tried to—” he gasped.
“Be still, child,” said Owl. His hands glowed for a moment and he placed them on the sentinel’s chest. The sentinel became still but was still breathing. Two other sentinels silently took his body away.
“That was unnecessary but you never did know restraint, even as a child.”
Diana placed a hand on her hip.
“That was long ago, Samadhi and I exercised restraint. Isn’t he alive?” She smiled an icy smile and strode into the compound.
“Our orders have been modified, Samadhi. We are to execute Dante Black upon sight, as a person of utmost threat. Any who aid or in any way protect and or defend said person will be considered a threat, and in violation of the decree to carry out this judgment. Thus they are subject to the same penalty —death.”
Owl’s jaw hardened.
“What will be your course of action, Samadhi?” Behind the Lotus, other figures emerged dressed in the same black clothing.
“Before you reply, I want you to understand that we are merely carrying out our orders,” more figures emerged from behind the Lotus, “and that this time we are prepared to carry them out.” A total of thirty figures stood behind the Lotus and began to divide into three groups of ten.
“You may have him, Diana—.” I turned, shock registering on my face— “as soon as I breathe my last breath.” he finished. I exhaled not knowing I was holding my breath.
“I see, very well, Samadhi. So be it.”
Was she strong enough to fight Owl? Did she have that kind of power?
“This is not a battle you can win, Dante. Go find Meja and Zen. I will keep them occupied here.”
As I turned to move to an exit, I saw Zen carrying Meja, running towards us.
“There was an explosion. She was caught in the blast as we were heading to another part of the compound.”
This was getting worse by the second. Zen put Meja down on one of the cushions. My heart lurched to see the cuts and bruises on her face. She was hurt because of me. They would kill her, kill Zen, and kill Owl and anyone else who helped me.
“Dante, no—�
� I could hear Owl far away. I heard the thump of energy as a circle closed around us. I forgot the sunken chamber was really just another tré, disguised as a reception area. I walked to the edge of the tré and stepped through barely feeling a tingle. I turned and saw a grim look on Owl’s face but it was too late. Maelstrom was in my hands, its symbols black on black. Around me, the air was charged. Maelstrom throbbed in my hands. “You want me,” my other voice said, and I could see the surprise register on Diana’s face. “Come get me.”
CARNAGE
“DIANA! NO! DO not approach him!” I heard Owl yell. I laughed, or was it Maelstrom? I couldn’t be sure. I walked slowly to where Rory and his group of ten stood. Death was on my mind and in my hands.
“Diana, if you value your life and those of your brothers in the Lotus, you would keep away from him!” yelled Owl.
I stood on the edge of the sphere Owl had created, the anger in me coursing through my veins growing, expanding.
“What’s going on, Owl?” It was Zen.
“It’s the rage. It triggers a darker, powerful weapon. Manifested like this, he won’t be in control.”
I turned to face Owl but it was Maelstrom who spoke.
“He doesn’t need to be in control, Owl of the House of Gana, now long since gone.” Surprise, then anger filled Owl’s face. “You have no right to do this.”
“No? You who were still a babe when I was beyond years know that as I chose him, he chose me.”
“This is truth, but he is the Master of the weapon not the opposite.”
“Let me pose a question, young Owl: Who is the weapon?”
I felt myself slipping, giving in to the rage, feeding Maelstrom.
“Enough talk, there are lives to be taken.” I turned to face the Lotus.
Owl approached me and spoke softly. “Remember, Dante, you know your greatest strength and your greatest weakness. You are not just a vessel; you are the conduit through which the energy flows. Do not lose yourself,” he whispered.
“Do not worry, he is not lost. I know exactly where he is,” answered Maelstrom.
“You know you want this. We can end this here and now. This is the only way if you kill them you send a clear message that you are not to be trifled with.” Maelstrom spoke within my mind.
“Not like this, not with death, there has to be another way.”
“Of course, perhaps you can convince them with reason? The female looks especially open to conversation. Let’s say we go over there and find out?”
I/we walked closer to Diana, turning from Owl and Rory’s group. We stopped thirty feet from Diana and her group. Maelstrom cleared my throat. “It would seem this pup, this vessel, thinks you can be reasoned with. I explained to him that the only language you understood was that of blood, pain and death.”
Diana’s eyes opened briefly, surprise showing on her face, then vanishing just as fast, replaced with grim determination.
“I have my orders. You are to be executed,” she answered.
“You cannot say I did not try,” said Maelstrom.
“Can we do this without killing them?”
“I don’t think they will show you the same courtesy, vessel. They will attack you and your friends with the intent to end your existence. This is not acceptable. What shall it be—you or them?”
I hesitated for the briefest of moments, “Them.”
“Splendid, then you must truly unleash me or you and your comrades are lost.”
I removed any restraint, however small I had on Maelstrom.
“Yes,” he sighed.
“We won’t need this.” I felt my hand go to the soul catcher and rip it off my neck, tossing it to one side.
“No!” yelled Owl.
Maelstrom laughed and I laughed with him feeling free, primal and powerful.
“Take him.” Diana signaled to her group. They advanced as one unit. I could tell they were highly trained. I also knew they were all dead. It was only moments away. From the group, three separated and came right at me. They each had short swords with black blades. I guessed this was the signature weapon of the black Lotus. I felt my hands move along the symbols etched into the shaft of the staff. For a moment, nothing happened then I noticed the balance began to shift slightly as Maelstrom grew to six feet. On each end, a foot long blade protruded making it eight feet in total. All three attacked at once, I ducked under the first slice, sidestepped a second slice and leapt above the third slice. I whirled Maelstrom around, waiting for the next attack.
“Enough, you will not be able to avoid their attacks indefinitely.”
“I know.”
“Then why play at this exercise in futility?”
“Because killing is not always the answer.”
“We shall see which of us is right, in the end, my vessel.”
Another group of three attacked. I blocked or parried each attack. As each attack came, I knew that I would need to attack or I would be overrun. The leader of the group advanced wielding a much longer sword. As he advanced, the other groups of three closed in. Maelstrom almost leapt out of my hands as I maneuvered around thrusts, cuts and slices.
“You have to cut, before you are cut.”
“No.”
“You must or you will die.”
“No.”
The leader with the longer sword had moved within range to attack. As he cut downwards, I lifted Maelstrom to block. He changed direction at the last second. I turned with Maelstrom and buried the blade in his throat.
“It begins.” The voice was satisfied and smug.
The other nine stepped back, wary of Maelstrom, as their leader lay dying on the floor before me.
Beside my foot was the soul catcher. I grabbed it and put it on.
“Confound you boy. You are only prolonging the inevitable.”
“I know, but I would rather not make that choice right now.”
“You are a most difficult vessel.”
I smiled a truly genuine smile of my own.
“You said cut, then let’s cut, but not kill. No carnage, just chop them.”
“Very well, vessel. Let’s cut.”
Maelstrom in my hands, I became as precise as a surgeon wielding a scalpel. All nine suffered injuries that ended their ability to fight but not their lives. Diana looked on with growing consternation on her face.
“Enough of this play. I will end this here and now.” In her hands materialized her sai.
“Diana, listen to me. You must not engage him!” It was Owl.
“Surely you see the threat he poses, Samadhi. He must be put down like the rabid dog he is.”
Owl turned to Zen and whispered something to him I couldn’t hear then I saw him approach.
“If you attempt it, Diana, you will die as surely as this one here.” Owl pointed to the now dead leader of the small group.
“What would you have me do, Samadhi? I have my orders. If I don’t carry them out, you know the consequences.”
“I expect you to honor my home and my position as Samadhi. I will deal with him. If I fail, you may do as you are ordered. If I succeed, you will honor his status as my charge and I will bring him before your Master.”
Diana lowered her sai and stepped back.
“Very well, Samadhi. It shall be as you have said.” In a louder voice, “Everyone stand down!”
From every doorway emerged figures clad in black. As I looked around a rough estimate was about one hundred members of the Black Lotus and those were the ones I could see.
Owl turned to face me, whispering. “It is time for you to finish your training.”
I looked at him, part of me confused, most of me enraged that he would get in my way from finishing Diana. As much as I didn’t want to kill, my hold on Maelstrom —what little there was— was slipping. I sensed it and I know he did too. The air around us grew thick with energy. I ran at Owl with Maelstrom a blur in my hands. I lunged and Owl sidestepped. I thrust and he would be a fraction of an inch out of reach. E
ach time Maelstrom’s blades just missed him.
“You are going to die here, vessel, unless you surrender to me. You cannot even touch him much less dispatch him.”
“What? I can’t kill Owl!”
“Finally you understand me. Of course you can’t. But I can if you let me. What do you think he is doing out here anyway? He has come to give you his knowledge. The only way possible now.”
“I can’t believe he would do that.”
“I have spoken truth, vessel. Look into his eyes and see for yourself.”
I looked across at Owl as we circled each other. In his eyes, I saw the truth.
“There is no other way now, Dante. You must surrender.”
Anyone overhearing would only think he was trying to convince me to surrender but we both knew he meant surrendering to Maelstrom.
“I can’t, Samadhi.”
“You must if you wish to leave here alive. Do not forget those who have pledged themselves to you.”
It happened suddenly like a rush. One moment I was in the forefront of my mind, the next I was a spectator in my own body.
Owl’s sword materialized barely in time to parry a thrust. I followed with a kick that connected to his left side. The compound was silent but for the slicing of blades through the air and our footfalls as we danced a dance of death. Owl whirled his blade and stepped in with a feint. Disregarding the distraction of the feint, I took the opening and sliced with Maelstrom. He stepped back with unnatural speed. It wasn’t until I saw the blood soak his top that I realized it wasn’t fast enough. As he bled, I saw the blood coalesce into orbs around him
“Blood orbs!” I heard Diana hiss. “Everyone back!”
The orbs swirled around Owl.
“An act of desperation Owl, one you will never see fulfilled,” said Maelstrom.
My hands began to touch symbols on Maelstrom and the energy shifted again. It felt like a blow to the chest, and then I saw the orbs fly off in every direction. All around us people were exploding and dying. Anywhere an orb touched, there was an explosion. In the midst of these explosions and confusion, Owl attacked. I sidestepped his lunge and buried Maelstrom in his stomach. He smiled and reached for my neck.. In his hand, as he lay dying on my weapon, was the soul catcher. He crushed it with what strength he had left.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 11
