97 (Rise of the Battle Bred)

by V. L. Holt

  I longed for a weapon, but had only my matchstick fingers. I launched myself toward the monster, not caring if it meant my death. What was life without William in it? Who knows what damage my flesh could have inflicted on the gargoyle, probably none, but I would never find out because something knocked me to the side. Another batch of skin peeled off my arm as I hit pavement, and I heard the sound of shouts and cries surround me. The creature gave a loud cry of its own, and rather than stay and fight, it swooped upwards in a mighty wave and launched itself into the night sky and out of the circle of lamplight, disappearing as quickly as a puff of smoke.

  I clumsily tried to get up, and looked at the swarm of people who had appeared on the street. They were an assortment: young, old, men, women and teenagers, a child or two, many races represented, differing heights and weights, but all of them possessed a singular feature. They held the look of danger, of wariness, of the ability to kill if necessary. I gasped. They were Warriors. And they surrounded William, who lay on the ground lifeless.

  Forgetting my paltry injuries, I ran to him.

  I knelt and put his head in my lap. I looked around, and saw Jacob pushing himself around people to get to his son. “Is he dead?” I whispered to him. I petted William’s cheeks, and spread my hands over his neck, his shoulders, and finally, his bloody chest. I ripped off the remaining shreds of his shirt. The wound frothed; the gashes went deep. “Someone call 911!” I screamed, and ripped off my hoodie to stanch the blood flow. “Someone help!” I shouted frantically, irritated with this band of so-called fighters as they stood around like rubber-neckers at a crash site. I bent my head over William’s face and kissed his cheeks and his eyes. His breathing was labored, but shallow. I began to weep, feeling helpless as the life-blood ran out of my…my friend’s body.

  A strong and large hand weighed on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Jane,” William’s dad told me.

  This inflamed me. “It is not okay!” I shouted. “Why doesn’t somebody do something?” I pressed my blood-soaked hoodie into his sucking chest wound, and fumbled with slick hands to find my phone. I forgot I had turned it off, and tried sliding my slippery fingers over the screen. I couldn’t get it to work; and I started sobbing uncontrollably.

  Jacob’s hand pulled my head close to his own. He spoke softly in my ear. “We can’t call for help, Jane. He’ll resurrect soon, and his wounds will heal quickly. The paramedics would know he’s different,” Jacob’s voice was deep and soothing, and I felt my breathing slow and deepen.

  “So it’s all true,” I whispered to no one in particular.

  Jacob sat on the other side of me, with William between us, and his lips began moving. I heard a shushing sound, and realized all of the Warriors were murmuring something together, some kind of chant.

  I put my hands on William’s throat, and felt his pulse flutter, then stop. My own breath stuttered and held. I looked up at Jacob, seeking some comfort or confirmation. He nodded at me, and returned his gaze to William. He had died.

  I kept my hands on William’s body; even in death he felt so massive and strong. The chill of death hurt my hands, but I couldn’t move them. I didn’t want to be parted from him. Was every dead body so cold, like ice? It shouldn’t be, because he had only just lost his life. I cried softly, but didn’t tear my eyes from William. And then I felt it. Warmth tinged his skin around my fingers.

  Jacob gently removed my hoodie, and we watched together as the wounds closed up.

  William gasped in pain, but didn’t open his eyes yet.

  I marveled at the process that closed wounds and brought color to gray skin.

  William groaned; he appeared to be in pain, and I cried out, brushing my hands over his face and whispering words of encouragement to him.

  “It’s okay, William. I’m here,” I said, barely keeping it together.

  He brought a hand up and enclosed mine.

  I watched in wonder as a light seemed to shine and flare from within his body. Where every gash and scar from old fights was, the light flamed behind it. It looked like he was on fire from the inside, and I tried to pull my hands away.

  William held me tight though, and Jacob murmured to me. “Count the scars, Jane.”

  As each scar flickered with light, I began counting. He had scars all over his torso and arms, large and long scratches, memories of forgotten battles, each one clearly indicating a death blow. They crisscrossed each other and marched up his battle-hardened abdomen relentlessly. I counted. As the last one flared brightly and went out, I reached 98.

  William opened his eyes at that moment, and I looked into their swirling golden brown and black depths. “Oh William,” I said, a sob interrupting my words. “You died for me.”

  He brought my head down to his mouth and whispered. “I would do it again and again.”

  “But…you can’t,” I whispered back to him. I heard the sound of distant sirens. “You’re almost out,” I choked out the words.

  “It doesn’t matter, Jane,” He said, sounding stronger. “I have lived all of my lives in order to find you,” He released my head, and I sat up. He easily gained his feet then, and looked around at everyone, before reaching for my hand and pulling me up. He used his hands to smooth away tears and clean blood off my face.

  The others milled around, whispering amongst themselves and nodding to William in acknowledgment. He took my hand in his large paw.

  “What happened? Why did you go out at night, alone?” He asked me.

  I tried to detect annoyance or anger in his voice, but he was keeping it in check, if he was mad.

  I thought back to what seemed like a lifetime ago…it was a lifetime ago, I realized and swallowed.

  Crady had called me. I recalled what I’d Googled. “You,” I started to say. I looked up at him, and then over at his dad who stood nearby. “You and your dad are wanted for questioning in Toledo,” I said uncomfortably.

  Jacob’s face fell and he closed his eyes.

  William clenched his jaw. “Where did you hear this?” He asked me. Now he sounded mad.

  “It was on the news in Toledo. They found the bodies. They found a wallet, and you guys just…” I gestured to them. “You disappeared.”

  45

  Jacob cursed soundly and William released my hand. The sirens had gotten louder, and most of the Warriors knew it was expedient to drift away. Jacob and William elected to stay with me. A tall, lanky guy hung around too, when the police cruiser pulled up, lights flashing, but sirens silent now. I realized the hoodie would look horrible, so I tied it around my waist, and pretended it was red, and not a blood-soaked gray color. I probably still had streaks of blood all over my face too, and my hands were unquestionably a mess.

  William was shirtless now, but otherwise clean. It was like the blood that previously covered him had reabsorbed into his body, or something.

  Jacob stood partially in front of me as the officer got out of the car. I looked to see if it was Crady’s dad, but it was a younger guy I recognized on the force.

  He looked at me only for a moment.

  “Hey Tim,” I said calmly.

  He nodded briskly and turned his attention to Jacob and William.

  “Can I see your IDs?” He asked smoothly.

  William pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, and Jacob looked down on the street.

  I was thankful the paltry light from the streetlamp was so dim. The stains in the pavement were a lot less visible than they would be in broad daylight, which was going to bring a whole new crop of questions. I began to see the expediency of Warriors having to move constantly and decline to get medical help, among other things. It was a complicated existence, made muddier by the attacks of the Lochspawn.

  The Lochspawn were so adept at disappearing almost literally into thin air, that their existence would certainly be questioned by anyone who hadn’t seen them directly. Like myself, before tonight.

  Officer Tim Thorpe inspected William’s license and looked at Jacob expectant
ly. Jacob opened his mouth to explain, but I interrupted him.

  “Tim, who called? What did they say? Because I think that thing that attacked Mick was out here again,” I took a deep breath and crossed my fingers. “It attacked me from behind, but Jacob and William came to my rescue!” I turned around and showed Tim my back, which had started to smart as soon as the adrenaline coursing through my veins had subsided. I hoped the long scratch on my back looked convincing enough to make Tim forget his original reason for being called out here.

  He walked closer, and I casually untied my hoodie from my waist.

  “That looks pretty bad. Want me to call in the bus?” He asked.

  I turned swiftly and shook my head.

  “No, no. My mom has bandages and I just want to go home. No more night jogs for me!” I said cheerily. Hopefully my tear stained face, the blood smeared here and there wasn’t too horrible.

  Tim backed up a pace. “Mrs. Jamison called it in. Said there was a disturbance out in the road,” He nodded at the group of us. “I can see why! You get that scratch taken care of, Jane. And your arm too,” He said to me, then walked back to his cruiser, pulling his walkie-talkie out and explaining events.

  I visibly relaxed, and William and Jacob, and the tall man, gathered around me. “That was quick thinking, Jane. You saved us at least one night in jail,” Jacob said seriously.

  William turned to his father. “What are we going to do? This has never happened before. Never.”

  The tall man spoke up. “I stuck around for a reason. I’m a lawyer, and it sounds like maybe you guys are going to need my help,” William and Jacob looked surprised, but said nothing yet.

  I explained how Crady had Googled their names and came across the news story. Jacob and William both looked drained, as if fighting off a Lochspawn and dying weren’t enough action for one night.

  We walked back towards my house, and Crady came barreling out of my front door. “Oh no,” I said, understanding why she was at my house, and why she had the angry glare she shot at William. “Let me take care of this, William,” I told him. He frowned, but squeezed my hand.

  “I want to talk to you, Jane,” He told me, and I thrilled at his pronouncement. It seemed so far away, that beautiful interlude we’d shared in the meadow only hours ago.

  “We will talk,” I told him. I smiled then, my big one, because after all was said and done, there was a handsome strong man who had just died for me tonight, and told me he’d do it again without another thought. Not that I was ever going to let him, though. Oh no.

  We had too much to live for now.

  He and Jacob walked off, and I turned to Crady.

  “We need to talk right now!” I told her firmly.

  She nodded like it was her master plan and we went inside.

  My mom freaked at all the blood, and I realized I had a cover story to flesh out. Crap. It was time for damage control.

  “Mom, you will never believe what happened when Snoopy totally abandoned me on our walk!” I knew it was terrible to make Snoopy take the fall, but he owed me for a particular vomit incident last year.

  I told Mom and Crady about hearing something that sounded like a bear and showed them the scratch on my back and my arm that was all messed up.

  Crady scowled the whole time, but didn’t say anything yet, and Mom bustled around with the first aid kit.

  Even though it was late on a school night, Crady stalked me to my room and pointedly shut the door.

  “What in the H. E. Double Hockey Sticks are you doing hanging out with William after what I told you? You are lucky you’re still alive, or I would have CPRed you and killed you MYSELF,” She hissed at me.

  All of a sudden I felt so very tired, and yes, even a little irritated at my One True Friend. I looked at her, and realized she just cared for me and was worried about me.

  “Crady. Chillax. William is no killer. Read the news again; it says they’re wanted for questioning…you know, see if they saw something. That’s it,” I needed her to calm down, or she was going to do something really stupid, like tell her…Oh. My. Gosh. “Crady,” I looked her in the eye, and she kept averting her gaze. No. Tell me no. “Crady. Tell me you did not do what I think you did,” Her eyes filled with tears.

  “I would do anything for you, Jane. You know that,” She held my hands and looked into my eyes.

  “This is so beyond the pale, so freaking impossible…tell me you did not sic your dad on my boyfriend and his dad,” I may have been squeezing her hands a little too tightly.

  She pulled them away.

  “I just told him he should look into it. That’s all. I didn’t accuse William of anything. I swear, I didn’t,” Crady, so cool and hip, so carefree and wild, was somber and very un-fun at that moment.

  I couldn’t help it. My anger started at my toes and started burning its way up my body. “Get. Out,” I pointed at the door. Maybe I was overreacting, maybe this was all unfair to my best friend on the planet, but she could have at least talked to me first. Gotten my take on it. Asked my advice.

  She slowly stood up, nodded and quietly walked out of my room.

  I thought I saw the trail of something wet on her cheek, but I could have been mistaken.

  I sat on my bed with a huff. Every day I thought my day couldn’t get weirder, and every day kept getting weirder. I was so mad at Crady I couldn’t see straight. Maybe nothing would come of it. Maybe it was all a smokescreen, and everything would just be okay, right? Right. And William and I were going to get married next week and settle down and buy a Volvo and he was going to be an insurance salesman.

  I lay back on my bed, thinking about Lochspawn monsters, and a town full of Warriors, and Jacob and William, and a field a few miles away where my parents had conceived me, and wondered how in the world I was ever going to care about math homework again?

  My phone buzzed at me. It was William!

  Hey he texted.

  Hey.

  You doing all right?

  Good as can be expected

  I thought so

  I want to kiss you again I couldn’t believe I almost texted that I wanted to kiss him. I am so not that girl. I went with something a little less forward.

  I miss you

  Me too. I have bad news.

  Is Crady’s dad there already?

  Yes

  What’s going to happen?

  I don’t know. This lawyer guy is going to try and help us

  Thank God

  I know

  I want to kiss you again.

  : ) Me too. Gtg

  Then he was gone, just like that. I thought maybe I could summon a blush considering what my fingers had gone and texted without my express permission, but no. I tried to see his house from my front bedroom window again, but yeah, bad angle. I thought I saw Crady’s dad’s car there, and at least it wasn’t a cruiser. I read over our texts again, and had to smile when I thought of William’s giant battle-scarred hands typing tiny letters on a cell phone.

  A tear slid out and down my face. I hadn’t wanted to know, and now I knew. He was on life # 98. That meant he had two left. If I had anything to do with it, he’d keep them both. Maybe I should start some kind of martial arts training. Maybe William could teach me Misrillet!

  My mom poked her head in. “Are you all right? You got pretty beat up tonight. I called Animal Control to report it. They said they hadn’t gotten any other calls, but they’d look into it.”

  I gave my mom a weak smile. I considered that these sorts of weird conversations were the number one reason not to lie habitually. We kissed good night, and I got ready for bed, taking care of my tender arm. It was going to be difficult to sleep tonight, between my injuries and my worry for William. I couldn’t get comfortable at all, so I wasn’t even close to falling asleep when I heard tapping at my window. I leapt out of bed and went to my window, knowing I’d see William there.

  I slid it open and he climbed in. “I only have a minute. We have to go down to
the station. I told my dad I forgot to turn off the oven and ran over here.”

  Before I could even respond, he pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. I soaked up the smell of him, his unique woodsy scent and the pure maleness of him. He carefully avoided my scraped up arm and the scratch on my back.

  “I’m no good for you, Jane. I brought darkness into your life. Look how hurt you’ve gotten because of me. I’ll never forgive myself if something worse happens to you,” He murmured in my ear. He kissed the side of my face. “And I love your jammies,” He whispered so softly I almost couldn’t hear him. A blush-worthy comment if ever there was one, I realized as warmth flooded my face. My pajamas were a large Oxford pink-striped shirt that reached mid-thigh, and boy shorts which he couldn’t see.

  “I’ve got it figured out, William! You can teach me Misrillet,” I told him. He smiled broadly, and then bent his head again. He touched his lips to mine as softly as a butterfly’s wing.

  “I want nothing more than to do that,” He said, looking into my eyes. “I have to go. See you in the morning for the paper route,” He kissed me one more time, a firm press that left me yearning for more, and he caressed my cheek. He winked at me and climbed back out, and when I went to bed, I had no trouble sleeping, thinking about seeing him in just a few hours. Everything was going to be fine.

  46

  Zarastrid waited in the leather club chair. He adopted the air of patient sophistication so that when the Marine entered, he would appear calm and maybe even a little bored.

  The Marine entered, escorted by the sniveling servant of the other day.

  “Be dismissed,” Zarastrid told the servant without looking at him. He reserved his gaze for the soldier standing ramrod straight before him. Zarastrid gestured to the empty chair across from him.

  “Sit,” He said.

  The Marine looked at the chair, at the chess board on a gilt table between the two chairs, and at Zarastrid. He chose to sit.