Syphon: Guardians of the Fractured Realms

by Kunego, Chad

  Struggling to concentrate through the pain of what felt like razor blades skating across his eyes, he used the cloth to wipe his face down. After a couple minutes, the burning pain started to subside.

  “What the hell did you hit me with?”

  “Uh…” she said, pausing for a moment, “bear repellent…”

  As the last of the burning sensation receded, he glanced up at her with bloodshot eyes.

  “That was rather unpleasant…”

  “I’m so sorry… I guess the good news is, the sales person over-hyped it. He said anyone I used it on would be, in his words, ‘twitching in their own pool of vomit for the next half hour minimum,’ yet you seem like you’re almost back to normal.”

  He struggled to his feet, still slightly off-balance from the unexpected assault. He felt Blythe grab his arm and helped him up, leading him over to a chair to sit in.

  She took the cloth from him, rinsed it out in the sink, and brought it back to him. The feel of the ice cold cloth felt good against his violated skin. After a few more minutes, he felt back to normal.

  “I’ll have to remember to knock louder and wait next time.”

  “What are you doing here? The cops are all over the place.”

  When she mention that, he glanced up in alarm. Feeling the tingle travel up his arm again from Amitiel, his vision shifted again to allow him to look through the walls of the building. Glancing both ways, he didn’t see anyone making any suspicious movements. Patting his arm, the tingling faded away, letting him see normally again. He noticed that Blythe had backed away a few steps while staring at him intently.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Your eyes… I might have been imaging it, but they were glowing red a moment ago.”

  “With the way my day has gone, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

  “Why, what happened? I mean other than the cop thing earlier.”

  “Oh, let me tell ya…” he said, holding up his right arm where Amitiel was attached, “this is just the tip of the iceburg.”

  Chapter 33

  Cora and Frank headed toward their car. They’d spent the past hour talking to the other officers that had shown up shortly after their fight with Samuel and professor Waide. It took a bit of work, but Cora was finally able to convince them that it hadn’t been a gunshot that people heard. Instead, what they’d heard was someone dropping something heavy off the top of the building as a prank. The main reason they finally believed her was because of the impact crater Samuel had left when he landed. As they got in, Frank looked over at her.

  “So what do you think? Think he’s on the level?”

  Cora cast a sidelong glance at him as he started the car.

  “Are you serious? After everything he showed us? How can you still be skeptical?”

  “About the existence of magic? No, the professor convinced me of that. I’m talking about all the other stuff. They say the best lies have a grain of truth to them.”

  Cora thought about what he said before she responded.

  “Frank, you don’t get it. When I was fighting him, it was like fighting a ghost. He could have killed me without even trying, but he actually caught me when I got knocked off balance. I’d like to believe that someone who’s capable of that wouldn’t be responsible for that slaughter, regardless of circumstances he was found in.”

  As she talked, she readjusted the ace bandage wrapped around her wrist. Thankfully, the pain was starting to go away, but for some reason, she was really thirsty. Flipping her notebook open, she listed off what they knew.

  “So far, all we really know is that Samuel was found in a warehouse surrounded by bodies. We found a second warehouse with dead bodies in it as well. Based off the rough time of death that the M.E. could give us, they died while Samuel was still in the hospital. We also have reason to suspect that we’ve located a third warehouse. We haven’t heard back from the patrol stationed out there, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suspect we’re going to find bodies there as well.”

  “What about what happened to Russo? Based off the lab reports, he died sometime before our boy escaped. One of the nurses said she checked on Samuel sometime after the M.E. said Russo was killed, so he wasn’t responsible for that death either. Think it might be that Sybil woman?”

  “It’s possible, but not likely. If it was her, then why’d she show up after he was gone? No, someone else is involved… Someone who doesn’t have a problem killing indiscriminately. Based off the evidence, I’d suspect someone else who can use — I can’t believe I’m saying this — someone who can use magic as well. How else to explain what happened without someone noticing it.”

  Frank chuckled.

  “I think I’m going to have to talk to a shrink, or a priest, after this case.”

  “Or take up basket-weaving…”

  They both broke down laughing for a few minutes before he glanced over at her again.

  “So what’s our next move?”

  “We need to investigate that other warehouse, warrant or no warrant.”

  Frank put the car in gear and started backing out of the parking spot.

  “I think we need to get better equipment first.”

  §§§§§§§§§§§§

  “Holy shit! Where’d all this come from?”

  Frank smirked as he moved deeper into the room.

  “Don’t ask. Let’s just say I still have a few friends in recon…”

  Cora looked around the room wide-eyed as he turned on more lights. She always thought it was a movie trope to have an armory like this hidden in someone’s house, but this looked straight out of a big budget spy movie. As she started to walk around the room, Frank motioned to the walls.

  “Take what you think you’ll need. Since this might be a big-game hunt, you don’t want to wish you’d grabbed something and didn’t.”

  Cora nodded as she continued to examine the guns and other weapons hanging on the wall. Turning back to Frank, she gestured toward the wall.

  “A Desert-Eagle? Really?”

  “Hey, it’s the most used handgun in the movies. Every bad guy has one. I wouldn’t suggest it though.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s hard to shoot accurately. The grip’s so big and bulky, you’ll have a tendency to shoot low and to the left. While stopping power is a high-priority, accuracy is more important.”

  Cora nodded as she started to move around the room again.

  “What about this one?”

  Frank glanced over and smiled.

  “Can’t go wrong with that. Make sure you get get some speed-loaders for it.”

  She smiled as she pulled down the raging bull revolver. If a .454 couldn’t stop whatever they came across, then not much else would. She pulled down the cross-draw holster that went with it and shrugged into it. Grabbing three speed-loaders, she also grabbed a couple of bricks worth of ammo. She grabbed a backpack off the wall as well and dropped the ammo into it. Glancing around again, she saw two handguns she wasn’t familiar with.

  “What are these?”

  Frank walked over and pulled them down. He checked the chambers before handing them to her, one at a time.

  “These are classics. They don’t make them anymore unfortunately, but my god are they fun to use. The one in your left is an AMT automag 3, chambered in the .30 caliber carbine round. The other is a Calico 900, chambered in 9 millimeter.”

  “What’s this cylinder on top of this thing?”

  “That’s one of the reasons why it’s not made anymore.”

  He gestured for her to hand the Calico back over. Removing the cylinder, he showed it to her.

  “This here is a hundred round helical magazine. I had my machinist friend turn this bad boy into a selective fire machine pistol. He also modified it with a buffer plate so it can handle +p+ without cracking the frame. For what we might come across, it might be a bit on the light side, but for overall output, it might make up for it.”

  Glancing around the room
again, she smiled again.

  “This room is like a candy store for gun nuts.”

  “Yup. But less talking, more arming.”

  The smile slowly faded from her face as she though about what they might be going up against.

  “Right.”

  §§§§§§§§§§§§

  When they finished loading up, Cora felt like a one-woman army. She had decided on a drop holster for the automag, the cross-draw for the raging bull, and Frank had figured out how to rig up a horizontal scout-style carry holster for the Calico that sat just under the bottom of the backpack she was carrying. To top it off, Frank had also hooked her up with an Armalite AR-10 rifle chambered for a .308 round. She debated about leaving some of it behind. Including the bullet-proof tactical armor, she weighed at least an extra forty pounds. She started to remove some of it but then thought back to how she’d been man-handled by Samuel. She also remembered how he’d caught the 9mm bullet out of the air when she’d shot at him. With that image firmly in mind, she resettled her equipment again.

  “Want some?”

  Cora looked over to where Frank was standing. In his hand were a couple of grenades.

  “Frank, we ARE still going to be in the city limits. I think that might be a bit much.”

  He looked sadly down and the grenades before putting them back.

  “Yeah… You’re probably right. It’s been a long time since I geared up for something like this. I got carried away.”

  She looked at him as she held her arms out to the side while she spun in place.

  “You mean like this?”

  He chuckled again.

  “Yeah, something like that. Unless you can think of anything else, let’s bring this stuff out to the car and head out. It’s going to be dark soon.”

  “Speaking of which, you don’t happen to have any night vision equipment, do you?”

  “Good thinking, let me grab it and we’ll get on the road.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Let’s go.”

  §§§§§§§§§§§§

  The sun was just dropping below the horizon as they arrived. They circled the block once before pulling into the parking lot. Looking around, they spotted the patrol car off to the side. Hopping out, they walked over to see if the officer had seen anything suspicious. As they got closer, they realized nobody was in the car.

  “Somethin’s not right,” she said as she drew the automag. She glanced over at Frank and saw that he’d done the same. Carefully approaching, Cora thought she saw something on the ground by the driver-side door. She pulled out her tactical flashlight and clicked it on. Shining it on the ground, she saw the light glitter back at her. Glancing back at Frank, she pointed at the ground.

  “Glass,” she mouthed.

  She pointed to herself, then at the driver’s side of the car. Then she pointed at Frank and gestured to the passenger side. When they finally got to the car, they looked it over.

  “I’ve got fresh blood over here,” she said quietly. “It looks like someone or something smashed the window and dragged him out. Whatever did it was strong, too. The seatbelt was snapped, not cut.”

  “Same over here,” he said as he shined the light into the passenger seat.

  “Whatever did this hit them fast. They never stood a chance. Think they’re still alive?”

  “Only one way to find out. Let’s get suited up and find out.”

  “Right behind ya.”

  Chapter 34

  Click.

  Cora’s heart dropped. She thought back on Frank’s quip about not wishing they’d left something behind when they needed it. She really wished she’d grabbed some of those grenades after all.

  “Frank! I’m out,” she yelled as she backed into him, dropping the rifle and pulling out the revolver.

  “I’ve got one mag left, but it’s not going to be enough! Head for the door, I’ll cover you!”

  “I ain’t leaving you Frank! We either both get out of here together or we don’t! End of story!”

  She could hear his ragged breathing behind her as she cocked the hammer on the huge chunk of metal in her hands. She couldn’t help but wonder how useless it was probably going to be against whatever these things were. At first glance, they looked like really ugly, muscular men. When they smiled though, she could see what could only be described as gnarled tusks instead of teeth.

  “Aim for their head. That seems to be stopping them,” he yelled as he let off another controlled burst, followed by a low grunt from one of the creatures. Without warning, one of them dropped down from the catwalk above them, landing only a couple feet away from her. Spearing her arms out, she jammed the barrel of the gun against it’s head before it got up and pulled the trigger. The sound was deafening as the creature’s head exploded, the body falling over backward.

  “Got one!”

  “Ah shit.”

  The tone in his voice told her something was wrong. As she started to turn, she heard a wet thump a split-second before Frank’s body slammed into her, launching them across the floor, sliding to a stop about ten feet away from where they’d been standing. The impact had knocked the big revolver out of her hands, leaving her defenseless. Looking back, she saw the monster pick up the gun off the floor. Showing her a ragged smile, it easily bent the barrel in half before tossing it to the side.

  “Looks like yur luck just ran out human. I’m going to enjoy making a stew out of da two of ya.”

  Cora desperately tried to get to the automag on her leg or the Calico strapped to her back, but she was pinned in an awkward position due to Frank’s limp body pressing her down into the floor.

  “Frank! Wake up!”

  All she got was a low moan from him.

  At least he’s not dead. Not that that’s going to be the case for much longer.

  “Who are you?”

  “Doesn’t matter. If ya wanna call me sumfin’, ya can call me yur cook.”

  As he smiled, Cora heard a whistling sound. A puzzled look crossed the creature’s face before its head slid off its neck, making a wet splat as it hit the ground. The head bounced once before rolling to a stop a few feet away. Its body spasmed a couple times before collapsing forward lifelessly.

  “Didn’t I say this probably wouldn’t turn out well for you two?”

  “How…?”

  “I knew you couldn’t leave well enough alone, so I had someone follow you. Good thing, too. What orcs lack in the brains department, they more than make up for it in toughness.”

  “Behind you!” Cora yelled.

  Sybil slid slightly to the side as the punch slid past her head close enough to tousle her hair. Reaching up one-handed, she quickly levered it’s arm down over her shoulder, dislocating its elbow before doing some type of throw that launched it straight up in the air.

  “Don’t mess with my hair. And you,” she said as she pointed at Cora, “stop yelling. I’m right here.”

  As she said that, she ducked down. It was the first time Cora noticed that Sybil was holding a sword in her hand. Taking a double-handed grip, she continued.

  “I could smell that cretin from a mile away.”

  With a sickening crunch, Sybil’s whipped her sword upward as she stood, neatly slicing the creature in two as it fell past. Shaking the blood and gore off the blade, her eyes got cloudy, emitting a pale phosphorescent glow. A moment later, her eyes went clear again as the glow died.

  “Looks like that’s all of them,” she said as she walked over. She glanced down at where Cora was struggling to get out from under Frank.

  “Ready to admit it yet?”

  “Admit what?” she gasped. The weight of Frank and his armor was starting to make it hard for her to breathe.

  “That you’re out of your league.”

  Cora glared up at the other woman.

  “Fine. You’re right, I’m wrong. Happy?”

  Sybil smirked down at her.

  “That’s all you had to say.”

  Cora watched as the other
woman shoved the blade of her sword into the dragon-shaped jewelry on her arm. With a stunned look, Cora watched as the blade disappeared before the handle shrunk and latched onto Sybil’s finger. Once it was sheathed, she reached down and grabbed the front of Frank’s armor one-handed, effortlessly lifting him off her and holding him dangling in the air. Cora scrambled to her feet, looking between Sybil and Frank.

  “Be careful with him, he’s hurt.”

  “Don’t worry, he’ll live. He just got knocked unconscious. Probably has multiple cracked or broken ribs though. It’s a good thing he had armor on or it would have been much worse. We’ll take care of him when we get back.”

  “Back where?”

  Sybil raised an eyebrow as she looked at her.

  “Uh… Back to base...”

  “Base? And where would that be?”

  “You should already know that detective. You’ve been there.”

  Cora looked at her with a puzzled look.

  “We’re heading back to the library.”

  §§§§§§§§§§§§

  “Where am I?”

  Cora hurried over to Frank’s side. As he struggled to sit up, she gently pushed him back down before grabbing a glass of water.

  “We’re safe. Here, drink. It’ll help with the healing process”

  He groaned as he reached for the glass. Taking several large gulps, he handed the glass back before sinking further back onto the cot.

  “What happened? Last thing I remember was one of those things punching me in the chest.”

  Cora nodded to the people walking around in the other room.

  “If you can believe it, we got rescued by that Sybil woman. Apparently she followed us with a small team and rescued our asses without even breaking a sweat.”

  “Yes, indeed we did. You should both be thankful of that. Otherwise, you would probably have wound up in some horrid dinner party as the main course.”

  Frank glanced up at the fiery redhead that entered the room.

  “Where are we?” he asked, trying to prop himself up on an elbow.

  “More importantly, who, or what, are you. We unloaded enough rounds to make hamburger out of a grizzly and it barely slowed them down. Yet your team shows up and makes short work of them. How?”