by Matthew Fish
“A shame, but I hope that we can work together in the future,” Corveath spoke as he rested his hands against the sides of his throne and let out a short sigh. “Funny thing is…you should be asking why the girl is so important. After all, it is her kind that is hunting the ones that you are trying to protect.”
“What do you mean by my kind?” Piper spoke softly as she looked to the man who stared at her with a confused look.
“Do not speak,” Corveath said sternly. “Remember who owns you.”
“Why is the girl important?” The man asked. He felt a large well of anger growing within him for how the young girl was treated. Still, he composed himself as best he could. There would be a time and place for anger—later.
“You know,” Corveath spoke as he got to his feet. “I am much more informed than I suspect you believe. I daresay…that you might think me to be an ignorant Perpetual. I know us ‘old ones’ or ‘elite’ kind as you call us can seem rather out of touch with the world. I might even wager to guess that a bunch of us living down here would be easy marks for you.”
“I meant no disrespect,” the man spoke as he shook his head. “I was told that you had information that I needed. I did a job that I was asked to do. All I ask is for the payment I was promised.”
“And I shall happily oblige,” Corveath spoke with a bored sound in his voice. Countless members of his council rested in chairs, lounging about as the faint sound of water dripping could be heard off in the distance. Two large staircases filled the room and a large number of Perpetuals observed the conversation from the second story. “The girl is important because she is not of our kind, she is something completely different. One could say that she is not even of this world, to be exact.”
“So not a Child of Pomme, Damara, or Cernunnos…?” The man asked as he looked to the girl. Other than her exceptional beauty, she seemed to be normal. There was no amount of oddity that stood out to him.
“No god would claim them,” Corveath said as he let out a small chuckle as the surrounding Perpetuals followed and the room was briefly filled with an evil sounding glee. “A small history lesson, since you did such a wonderful job bringing Piper back to us. The Native Americans believed that sometimes if the innocent mortals or the White Stags were killed, the memory would reside and stay behind on this earth. If the memory was especially traumatic—then a creature would be born. They would oft take the form of beasts, shrouded in an ever changing blue smoke. They could be a great wolf, or a bear. They would be very formidable enemies…and for the right purpose—amazing assassins. For they could not be killed, they are nothing more than ghosts…in a way. Piper here, though she does not know it, is nothing more than a vessel for old memories. She is not very useful, however. Without her collar, she would be completely useless—unlike the others, that is just how weak she is. In that capacity, she is not very useful. Not that the girl does not have her use—she’s very pliable, flexible, innocent, and compliant. Not to mention flawless in appearance. You can see how men with money could appreciate such a thing. In the end though, she is nothing more than a soulless plaything.”
“I’m not…I’m not just a plaything,” Piper said softly as the room filled once more with laughter.
“Rather a cruel thing, is it not? She doesn’t even realize she’s not a real person.” Corveath said as he shook his head. “The people you seek to protect from the dangerous ones of her kind are in a way, responsible for their very creation. After all, they killed many. They helped destroy the old Perpetual Council.”
“I will not live like this,” Piper said as she placed the pistol beneath her chin and closed her large green eyes.
Corveath began to laugh as the room quickly followed along in his mirth. “You will not die nor will you disappear—it would be like shooting a bullet into a thick fog. You cannot kill memories.”
“Who set these things upon my friends?” The man asked as he attempted to keep up with the information. It was definitely not what he expected. It was a whole lot worse than anything his mind had attempted to think up, even though he had gained some warning. “And…how many are there?”
“I did, of course, our mysterious mercenary, or should I just call you by your true name… Daniel Argent,” Corveath spoke sternly as he tossed four silver collars onto the ground. They bounced against the soft carpet and one rolled beside the man, striking him gently against his feet. “Let’s just say, I’ve been collecting…and this world has no place for Perpetuals who are also Conductors. Our kind must be dominant…pure, and threats must be either contained…or eliminated. This is why I will offer you one last chance Mr. Argent. You see, according to sources…you died four years ago. Now, less I am sorely mistaken, you stand before us quite alive—looking no older than twenty-four. I understand you would like to protect your son and his companions; I may be open to the suggestion if you can convince them to our cause. After all, you are one of us.”
“I’m not anything like you extremist, elitist, fools. You say you know of history…then you should realize that following this path of being dominant always ends poorly. Of course, I know that all of you elder and old ones are a bit insane,” Daniel spoke as he looked at the large armed group of Perpetuals. Despite their numbers he did not fear for his own life. “You’ve set loose weapons that you claim to understand, that you think you can control. My answer to you and your followers here is, let’s see how right you are. Declaring open war against mortals will make your life expectancy very short, in my humble opinion.
“Bold words for a conductor who does not possess either a single coin, or a willing spotter,” Corveath said as he got to his feet and gestured to Daniel and Piper. “Summon the Conductors, kill him. Take the girl.”
“We will be leaving on our own, thanks,” Daniel spoke as he reached behind him and pulled out a plain looking axe with a worn wooden handle. “I don’t need a coin to destroy that pretty face of yours. Let’s say that I’ve made other arrangements.”
“Abelio’s…axe,” Corveath muttered as he staggered back and fell upon his throne.
“Get to a corner—someplace safe,” Daniel said to Piper as he brought the axe upon the head of the nearest bodyguard. In one swift motion he turned the man into a stream of warm ash. He followed up with a wide swing to his side and caught the other guard in the side. As the damp, musky air began to fill with smoke Perpetuals began to panic. A loud murmur of concern arose as Daniel charged into the crowd swinging his axe wildly. With each rise and fall, each swing, the large room filled with a thick, choking fog.
“Blow the place!” Corveath shouted as he followed his order up with a series of loud coughs.
“Shit…” Daniel muttered as he barely spotted a Perpetual pulling onto a large lever that ran up to the ceiling of the vessel.
He caught a glimpse of a large amount of C4 explosives just as the ship imploded. He felt his body thrown back as the heat seared fiercely against him. Then a cold, wet darkness filled his eyes as they burned from the salt of the sea. Water filled his lungs as he attempted to reach to Piper who was floating next to him. He managed to place his hand over hers as he began to swim upward with her in tow. Just as he breached the surface of the water he took in a heavy breath. With Piper’s help, he made it to shore and vomited a large amount of seawater.
“Didn’t count on that,” Daniel spoke as he helped Piper up to her feet and rushed her to the shore. “I’m sure they’ve all drowned. But, let’s not hang around to make sure.”
“I’m no use, just…leave me here,” Piper said as she fell to her knees against the rough sand and rock. “I’m not anyone…I’m just an empty vessel.”
“Listen to me, Piper,” Daniel said as he grabbed her cold hands. “You are not worthless just because someone says you are. You may be different—I’m different too. Let’s prove him wrong. You’re the closest thing I have right now to understanding what is hunting my son…and to why I am back amongst the living. I need you, I need your help.”
“I don’t even know what I am, or how to help,” Piper said as she allowed herself to be pulled up from the ground. “I’m worthless.”
“You’re not worthless,” Daniel repeated as he led Piper back to the helicopter. He pulled the pilot from the sea, tossing his body to the ground and began to wipe away the blood from the cockpit window. “You are free from that life. Come with me, and I promise you that I will do everything in my power to make sure you stay free. These assholes are going to wash up in the morning alive and well—let’s make sure you’re nowhere near when they do.”
“I will come with you,” Piper said shortly.
“I just wish we had those collar things,” Daniel added. “Might have come in handy…”
“I’m sorry,” Piper spoke as she produced two silver collars from her pocket. “I did not get them all, but…it was always my job to pick up after people.”
“You are wonderful,” Daniel said as he let out a short laugh. “Never apologize. I thought they were all lost to the sea.”
“Did you lose your axe? They seemed to fear it.”
“It comes as goes when I need it,” Daniel spoke as he shook his head. He fumbled with the controls for a moment. He had piloted a few times before with Captain William so he had the basics down—but that was more out of leisure than necessity. He managed to remember the basics and got the blades going. “I have a contract, I guess, of sorts…it’s complicated.”
Chapter 2
“Sorry about the rough landing,” Daniel said as he led Piper away from the heavily damaged helicopter. He had managed to land it just past the border into a Nevada desert. However, ‘land’ was a rather generous term for what had just transpired. The black helicopter was heavily scratched from nearby boulders and was resting on its side. The blades were bent and broken, scattering desert sand into the air as a thick black smoke plumed from the rear of the craft.
“Good thing we cannot die,” Piper said as she continued to walk towards a worn and cracked road. “I suppose…”
They reached the road which shimmered in a glow of hot dry air from the searing desert sun. The road was a tar black, but their entire surroundings consisted of different shades of dull orange, desert sand and large rust colored mountains. A cloudless blue, late-day sun was above them as they began to walk upon the bleak trek. As far as they could see there was no oncoming traffic, just a long sloping stretch of desert. Far off in the distance, a shimmering mirage of what appeared to be a large, mirror-like lake stayed just on the edge of the horizon.
“I could have landed us somewhere a bit better,” Daniel said as he kicked at a rock on the road, clearing it to join a pile along the side of the expansive stretch of pavement. “A pity we ran out of fuel so far away from anyplace useful.”
“I am not accustomed to walking so much,” Piper said as she nervously eyed the horizon. “Will we have to walk long?”
“A healthy walk can be good for the mind,” Daniel said as he turned to Piper and smiled confidently. “It does appear though, that we have gone from one extreme to another. Honestly, I am not used to this kind of climate either.”
“What is it like where you are from?” Piper asked.
“Boring,” Daniel said with a short sarcastic laugh. “But…I guess, dependable. If that makes any sense at all…lots of trees, a lot of flat land, but it’s all green in the summertime. A lot of houses, buildings, subdivisions…just extraordinarily average, not a bad thing though.”
“I’ve only been in buildings,” Piper spoke as she let out a short sigh. “Or hotels…or that place beneath the ocean. The only time I’ve ever been out is when I was being transported somewhere—or when I tried to escape.”
“How does it feel to finally be free?” Daniel asked. He realized how terrible that Piper’s former life must have been for her. After all, she had been treated like nothing more than a mere animal, like property.
“I don’t feel free, at least not yet,” Piper said softly. “I can be taken back at any time…right now, that’s how I feel. Then again, what does freedom mean? I’m bound to this…fake life. I’m not even a real person.”
“Do you have any memories?” Daniel asked as he felt sorry for Piper’s situation. In a way, he was not that much better. He had used her to gain information. In more ways, he was still using her to figure out whom or…more exactly, what she was. He felt slightly guilty for this thought as it filled his mind. However, his first priority was the safety of his son, Mark. He would protect the girl best he could, do everything in his power to make sure that she never had to go back to her old life—but he already knew that he brought a lot of attention and trouble upon them both. “Do you have…any idea how you came into this world?”
“I…I’m not sure,” Piper spoke as she looked to Daniel as shrugged. “I remember a land that was green, a place of rolling hills—lots of trees and not much in the way of buildings, or cars. It makes me feel like it was home, but…I don’t know if that place is real, or where it even is. I have all these…images in my head. I don’t even think they all belong to me. If what Lord Corveath, spoke was true—then I’m just a collection of memories from those who have passed. Just not one powerful enough to matter…I was taken from that place, told that I was theirs—I was given the silver collar and I did what I was told.”
“Do not call him a lord,” Daniel said as he shook his head. “He is not a lord of anything—he’s just an elitist with a huge ego. Just another power hungry Perpetual who found a way to control others...do you know much about them, the others?”
“I have only seen one of them so, yes, sort of,” Piper said as she wrapped her arms beneath her chest. “They were brought in for punishing those that did not listen or offended Corveath. There was a man, like me, Corveath would remove the collar and he would change from a person into a strange creature—one time I saw him take the form of a large wolf and devour the offending person. Everyone would cheer. Lord…I mean…Corveath would always be disappointed at me for I could not transform myself to take a life. They would often mock me for I was so weak, nothing more than a useless doll. My kind are after your son now?”
“I think they might have a new target,” Daniel said as he let out a short sigh and stopped for a moment. “My intention was to buy him some time, to change the focus onto me—after that stunt I pulled I will be a much more important target. If the time comes, and your kind comes for me, I want you to run. Let me buy you time to escape and then life your life any way that you want. Head east, find those green hills of yours.”
“But you helped me escape,” Piper said as she placed her hands upon Daniel’s chest. “I can be yours, if you want that. You kept your promise. If you keep me away from them, I will be your property. You seem like a kind man.”
Daniel closed his eyes and placed his hands upon Piper’s and gently pushed them away. “You will never be owned by me—I will not have it. Stay in my company for as long as you please, but strictly do it out of your own free will.”
“I have no purpose. I do not even know what to do with free will.”
“You’ll find a purpose; you just have to forget everything that they’ve told you. Just because you are different, doesn’t make you any less of a person. From now on, you have to figure out how to live for yourself. I believe that you and the others like you are here for a reason. I think that reason has been twisted and corrupted by a madman. I will help you in any way that I can, but realize—if you stay with me, I may cause you more trouble than if you went it alone.”
“You helped me,” Piper spoke as she nodded once. “I’ll help you, that is my choice to make, right?”
“Yes,” Daniel said as he turned and began to walk down the barren road once more. “From now on, everything you do is by your own choice.”
“Can I choose to be in a cooler place with my feet resting comfortably upon a pillow?”
Daniel let out a short burst of laughter. “Yes, yes you can, and if you could make that a reality
for us right now—that would be great. But, unfortunately, until then we have to keep walking east. Hopefully, for not too much longer…”
By nightfall, the terribly hot desert turned into a soft blue cold world. The stars were bright and beautiful overhead. The moon hung in a strange half-smile that illuminated the desert landscape in contrasting blacks and blues. Tired, and travel worn, the pair ascended a high hill as the road cornered around a cliff that descended into a small valley. The lights from a small hotel and gas station could be made out, shimmering in the cold night air. A simple yellow sign displayed the words ‘Desert Roadrunner Motel.’
“Well, it’s not going to be luxurious, by any means, but it’ll do,” Daniel said as he smiled to Piper. Despite her constant and weary trek through the desert she looked surprisingly optimistic and untroubled by their long venture along the deserted road. Only a single semi had passed over the many hours of their voyage. The truck, of course, did not stop. Then again, it was headed in the wrong direction and no one stops these days. Which is not entirely a bad thing, it is the safer option—but it would have made things nicer, and the trip a bit shorter, had someone shown up and ferried them the rest of the way through their arduous journey.
“I was worried we would be walking all night,” Piper spoke with a touch of happiness in her usually somber tone. “I got my wish for colder…though I did not expect it to get this cold at night.”
“I’ve heard of the extremes,” Daniel said as he hurried his pace as they closed the distance to their refuge. “But, I’ve never experienced the chill—I think because we went from sweating, unpleasant hot to this…”
“I never sweat,” Piper spoke plainly as she ran a finger against the perfectly, unblemished soft skin of her forearm.
“I hadn’t noticed,” Daniel said as he looked at her bare arms beneath the moonlight. He felt rather disgusting in comparison. He had been submerged in salt water, only to sweat profusely beneath the unrelenting sun. “You’re lucky.”
