Uber Gothic--Industrial Sorcery

by Morgan Hawke

  ~ Twenty-One~

  Mist ... Deep, swirling, impenetrable and blinding gray nothingness ... Their boot-heels echoed oddly as they walked.

  "Are we there yet?” Sam's voice sounded muffled.

  Galen chuckled. “What's the matter? Is the big bad wolf afraid of a little fog?"

  "Just keep walking.” Sygni tightened her hold on Galen's arm. The fog was most definitely not natural.

  Galen shook his head. “Don't tell me you're spooked, too?"

  Sygni could barely see him and he was right next to her. “Sam's right, we should have come out by now."

  Galen snorted. “You're the heap-big sorceress, do something about it."

  Sygni stopped. “Good idea.” She concentrated and called up a whisper of power. A breeze brushed her cheeks and the fog began to thin.

  "Hey!” Sam suddenly became somewhat visible at Galen's side with the crossbow resting comfortably on his shoulder. Tyrone danced in nervous circles at his feet. “Whatever you're doing, it's working."

  "It looks that way.” Sygni looked around. Gray buildings, dead grass, dead trees and an empty street were revealed. The fog lifted, pushed upward by the breeze though not far. It boiled only a few stories above their heads. The world, or rather Gruber's pocket of it, looked dim and bruised. Sygni nodded. “Yep, we're there."

  "Why is everything so gray?” Sam frowned as he looked around. “Isn't it supposed to be like, night or something?"

  "This is Gruber's construct.” Sygni shrugged. “Maybe Gruber doesn't like the dark, so it doesn't go full night here?"

  The sound of marching boots reached Sygni's ears. She turned around to see Coventry and Grimley at the head of the double line of armored cops. “Oh, look, the cavalry made it."

  "Good thing too.” Sam released a deep rolling growl. “Because the bad-guys just found us."

  "Huh?” Sygni whirled around to face up the street.

  Figures in long black coats and tall boots were moving out from behind the buildings and into the street. Black rounded helmets that came down over their ears covered their heads. They wore rifles on their shoulders and pistols belted on their hips. Their faces seemed indistinct and they were utterly silent.

  Sam frowned. “What are they?"

  Sygni set her hand on her sword hilt. A chill raced up her spine and her neck hairs shivered to attention. “Ghosts."

  Galen pulled his pistol out, but held it down. “Storm troopers."

  Sam glanced at Galen. “They're what?"

  Galen pulled out the bowie knife and flipped it in his palm. “They're Nazi storm troopers."

  Sygni pulled her long dagger from her boot. “Where in Hel did Gruber get Nazi ghosts?"

  Galen stepped back, drawing the others with him. “No idea, but they're armed and that's a lot of guns."

  The figures kept coming. The street filled with marching ghosts and still more came from behind the buildings.

  Sygni smiled sourly. “Well, the good news is we now know for a fact that Gruber is a necromancer."

  "That's the good news?” Sam looked at Sygni sharply. “What's the bad news?"

  "We're really, really out-numbered.” Sygni gave Sam a bitter smile. “Welcome to our worse-case scenario."

  Captain Gordon came up to the trio. “What the hell are we looking at?"

  Sygni smiled brightly. “Nazi ghosts. Can you handle them?"

  Gordon rolled his eyes. “Ghosts? Is that all?” He shouted and a team of ten came trotting up. Five of them carried what looked like grenade launchers. The five spread out across the road and knelt behind their shields with their launchers perched on their shoulder. Behind them, their companions loaded shells into the launchers.

  Gordon grinned. “Stand back and let us professionals go to work."

  Galen raised his brow at Sygni.

  Sygni shrugged. “Hey, I have no problem letting the Captain do his thing."

  Sam grinned. “Less work for us."

  Sygni nodded. “Exactly."

  Sam, Galen and Sygni moved to the side of the road and stepped up on the withered grass to watch.

  Captain Gordon raised his hand and shouted: “Fire!"

  Five rockets shot outward toward the mass of ghosts with smoke tails twirling behind them. The rockets exploded, one right after the other, in the heart of the amassed ghosts with a reverberating thunder that shook the ground. Smoke obscured everything. An eerie howling wind rushed toward the strike party.

  Sam shivered. “What the hell is that God-awful noise?"

  "You mean beyond the big booms?” Sygni shrugged. “The dead returning to wherever they came from."

  A hole appeared in the center of the ghost army. More ghosts melted from behind buildings, only this time, every last one of them raised their rifles or pulled out their pistols.

  "Shit.” Galen lifted his pistol.

  "Okay, people...” Sygni raised her hand, wreathed in red crackling power. “It's party-time."

  Gordon shouted and his men spread out in a double-line, shields raised and weapons pointed.

  Galen grabbed Sygni's arm. “Let's get out of the line of fire.” Sygni and Sam followed Galen's lead and headed across the grass to dart between the buildings.

  Sygni shoved past some extremely dead bushes and leaned against a dusty wall. “Why don't we just head for Gruber's factory while the cops and the ghosts entertain each other?"

  Galen smiled grimly. “Good idea. I know this whole neighborhood, so we won't get lost.” He turned and started walking through the dead brush. “Follow me."

  Thin fog swirled between the buildings as they walked.

  Shoving past dead grass and brush, they stepped out from between an old body shop and its neighboring warehouse and came face to face with four Nazi ghosts.

  Galen didn't hesitate. He shot the closest point-blank in the face. The ghost howled and disappeared.

  Sam growled and trans-morphed with incredible speed into a massive eight-foot furry wolf-beast. His shirt and jeans shredded from his body almost instantly. He reached out and clawed the ghost nearest to him. The ghost came apart and dispersed with a wail.

  Sygni whirled out of range and unleashed her vorpal blade, slicing one of the ghosts clean in half. It tore apart in the breeze.

  Galen shot the last.

  Sam snorted and shook his heavy muzzle. “That was easy.” His voice was a deep growling rumble. He shook his entire body and reformed back into his human form. His clothes reformed with him.

  Galen started. “Hey, I watched that stuff shred off you!"

  Sam grinned and ran his fingers through his gray hair. “Present from Morwyn."

  "Indestructible clothes?” Sygni sheathed her blade. “Good trick! I'm gonna have to get Morwyn to show me that one!"

  Sam's smile soured. “Only problem is, she could only do the one set."

  Sygni shrugged. “It still beats being naked."

  Galen holstered his gun. “I just thought of something."

  Sygni frowned. “What?"

  "You're right, Sam, that was easy. Too easy.” Galen looked around. “Those ghosts didn't even try to shoot us."

  Sygni frowned. “No, they didn't."

  "Ah ... shit!” Sam stomped his foot in the dead grass. “Piss."

  Sygni and Galen turned. “What?"

  Sam groaned. “I lost Tyrone."

  Galen shrugged. “No big loss; we already know where we're going.” He started walking across the tarmac behind the warehouse. “Come on."

  Sygni grabbed Galen's elbow. “He is a big loss. We never told Coventry that Tyrone was a were—uh, dog. If he gets that collar off, he could cause big hairy and fanged problems."

  Galen scowled. “Fuck, I forgot."

  Sam caught up to Sygni's side and scowled. “Let's hope he doesn't get that collar off."

  They trooped through an alley between another set of crumbling warehouses and found a new set of ghosts waiting at the end, only there was a lot more than four of them.


  "Fuck, company. A lot of company.” Galen pulled out his pistol and grabbed Sygni by the shoulder. He shoved her and Sam back the way they had come. More ghosts filled the other end of the alley. Swearing foully, Galen slammed his shoulder at a closed door. The door crashed in and Galen shoved Sygni through the door. Sam followed right at Galen's heels. They bolted across the empty warehouse.

  The ghosts melted right through the walls, surrounding them. They brought their guns up.

  Galen looked around. “They mean to shoot this time."

  Sygni tensed. “Then don't let the bullets hit. You're both fast enough to avoid them. I have sorcery to keep the bullets off me, just stay out of my sword's range."

  Galen and Sam exchanged looks.

  "I can do that.” Sam set down the crossbow.

  Sygni slammed up her shields. “Your move, Nazis."

  Bullets exploded from the ghosts around them.

  Sam snarled and ducked under the line of fire then lunged for the circle of ghosts trans-morphing into his wolf-beast form as he ran.

  Galen simply disappeared.

  The bullets hit Sygni's shield, outlining the invisible dome of magic with red lightning sprays before the bullets turned to smoke. She frowned at her shield. Smoke? She had no idea what their guns were loaded with, but they weren't shooting ordinary lead.

  Galen suddenly appeared with the Murasama unsheathed in his hand. Sam, eight-feet tall and razor-clawed, slashed out and tore through the ghosts like paper. The revenant soldiers turned on the werewolf and the vampire, working to close ranks on them. Galen whirled in a blur of speed, slicing through the ranks that surrounded him. Ghosts disappeared with blood-curdling screeches as both Galen and Sam tore through their circle at opposite ends.

  Six of the ghosts shouldered their rifles and moved inward toward Sygni's ring with outstretched hands. They struggled, then passed through her shield.

  Sygni pulled out her boot dagger, then unsheathed her void-of-night vorpal blade. She had known that the shield wouldn't hold them back, but then, that's what her sword was for. “All right, boys; let's play.” Sygni ducked their hands and twisted, parrying their grabs with her dagger and shattering ghosts with her sword slashes. More ghosts came for her, and more ghosts shredded in the wind of her passing.

  The warehouse filled with snarls, shouts and the howling of the dead parted from their existence.

  Silence fell in a sudden blanket.

  The ghosts were gone.

  Sam, Galen and Sygni turned to face each other and exchanged astonished looks.

  Galen choked out a laugh and sheathed the Murasama. “I guess we got them all."

  Sygni sheathed her blade. “But this time, it wasn't easy."

  Sam shuddered back into his clothed human form. “You're pretty damned good with that sword, Galen."

  Galen shrugged. “It's been a while. It's been a really long while, but it's funny how that kind of thing never really leaves you."

  Sam shouldered his crossbow and followed Galen out of the old warehouse. He shook his head. “So what did you do in the war that made you that good with weapons?"

  "I have to admit...” Sygni stepped over a weed clump. “I was pretty damned impressed."

  "You learn a lot about weapons when you're behind enemy lines.” Galen looked down at the dead grass he strode through.

  Sygni hurried to catch up. “Behind enemy lines during World War Two?"

  Galen shrugged. “I was a ... paratrooper. They dropped us on the French border right in the middle of a storm. The wind blew me way off target. I went down too far away from the rest of my troop. By the time I made it to the drop point, the Nazis had gotten there first. The whole team was dead or captured. Took me months of cross-country hiking at night to make it back to the Allied side. If my grandfather hadn't taught me scouting techniques back on the reservation, I would have never made it. As it was, I almost didn't."

  "Oh, come now, Galen Raveneye, you were far more than a mere paratrooper."

  They all jerked to a sudden halt, weapons out and pointed.

  A slender man impeccably attired in a deep blue Armani suit strode from behind a crumbling wall. His pale gold hair was pulled back in a severe tail that hung rakishly over his shoulder. “You, my friend, were one of the finest assassins the Americans ever sent to Europe."

  Sam looked over his crossbow at the newcomer and lifted a brow at Galen. “You know this guy?"

  Galen lowered his gun and frowned. “Henri?"

  "Oui.” Henri bowed slightly clicking his heels together. “It is good to see you once again among the living, mon ami.” He lifted his chin. Sapphire-blue eyes gleamed as he smiled, showing the points of his long incisors. “So to speak..."

  "Another vampire?” Sygni bit her lip. “Gruber has been busy.” She lowered her blade, but did not sheath it.

  Henri turned his bright blue gaze on Sygni. “I assure you, I was upir, or vampire, long before Herr Doktor was ever born."

  Galen shook his head and holstered his gun. “Henri, what are you doing here?"

  The golden vampire smiled and came closer. “Can you not guess? It was I that gave the Doktor your body to raise, if he could."

  Sygni sucked in a breath and the hair on her neck rose. “He's the buyer?"

  Galen jerked back. “What ... but why? What do you want with me?"

  Henri shrugged and approached with his arms out. “Is it not enough that I missed you, my friend?"

  A growl rumbled in Galen's chest. “No.” He pointed his pistol at the other vampire. “Keep your distance, Henri."

  Henri halted and crossed his arms. “Very well then, if you must know, I was being blackmailed with exposure. Rather than simply handing over the sum Doktor Gruber asked for, I told him that I would gladly pay him for his services if he could succeed in raising you from the grave.” He shook his head. “Imagine my astonishment when I received his message stating that he had actually succeeded."

  Galen lowered the gun and frowned. “But why me?"

  "Throughout the centuries, my deepest regret is that I did not make you vampire. Herr Doktor said that he had found a way.” Henri lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “How could I resist?"

  Sygni shot a brow up at Galen. “Just how good a friend was he?"

  Galen abruptly blushed.

  Henri smiled and his gaze sharpened. “We journeyed across Germany and France together, Galen and I, hunting enemies side by side for nearly a year. We were very good, very intimate friends indeed."

  Galen narrowed his eyes. “I don't remember you being a vampire."

  Henri shook his head. “No, I could not allow that.” His brows lowered, but his smile remained. “However, I'm sure you have other memories..."

  Sygni nibbled on her bottom lip. If Galen had been traveling with a vampire for that long, then the vampire had been using him as a blood source. And vampires fucked when they fed. She looked up at the tall vampire at her side and wondered if he was coming to the same conclusion.

  Galen clenched his jaw. “Yes, we were lovers.” He shot a glare at her. “Happy now?"

  Sygni jerked back. “Hey! I couldn't care less how you get your jollies; I just want to know if you're going to dump me for your old boyfriend?"

  Galen released a breath and gave her a tired smile. “Not likely, I always preferred girls."

  Henri pouted. “Was it so very bad, being my lover?"

  Galen sighed and holstered his gun. “No, Henri.” He dropped his chin and glanced at Sygni. “You can put that sword away. Henri saved my life more times than I can count."

  Henri nodded. “As you saved mine."

  Sygni blinked. “You saved a vampire's life? As a human?” She slid Baby back into the sheath.

  Henri snorted. “Do not underestimate his skills. As a mere human he was quite a formidable hunter. As he is now...?” His brow rose, daring them to consider the possibilities.

  Sygni's thoughts ground to a halt. There were only two reasons someone might want
a vampire: for a sex-toy or for an assassin. All along she had assumed Galen had been wanted for his sexual prowess. She'd had no idea that he was actually a trained killer. She frowned. Could she have been wrong about the man he really was? She shook her head. No, not Galen ... She knew as her blood beat in her own heart that while he might be trained, Galen was no killer. She eyed the golden vampire. If he knew Galen as well as he said he did, then he would know this, too. So what was this vampire really after?

  ~ Twenty-Two ~

  Sam set the crossbow on his shoulder and cleared his throat. “I'm happy you got to meet your old friend, Galen, but we've got work to do."

  Galen nodded, then lifted his chin at Henri. “We're here to shut the doctor's little business down. If you'll excuse us, we need to go.” He turned and started walking. Sam and Sygni fell into step to either side.

  "Excellent!” Henri fell into step by Sam. “I will help in any way I can."

  Sam blinked. “You mean you want him shut down?"

  Henri nodded. “But of course. Do you think I want to have any other vampires wandering the earth, causing no end of grief? It is trouble enough to conceal myself.” His brows lowered. “And I have little love for blackmailers."

  Sygni raised her chin. “Has Gruber raised any other vampires?"

  "Beyond Galen, there are no other risen.” Henri's gaze sharpened on Sygni. “It appears that while he has stumbled upon it once, Herr Doktor has not in fact discovered the secret.” He gave Galen a speculative glance. “Though, the simple fact that he succeeded once argues that it is only a matter of time before he discovers how to raise another.” His brows lowered. “I for one wish to have him stopped before he does so."

  Galen snorted. “He's having no problems raising werewolves."

  "Indeed?” Henri's brows shot up. “Herr Doktor said as much, but I have yet to see one."

  Sam snorted. “If you see a Rottweiler running around and dragging a leash, don't pet it."

  Henri frowned. “A dog?"

  Sygni set her hand on her sword hilt. “Only because we have him wrapped up tight in spells. Trust me, he's one of Gruber's little nightmares."

  Sam frowned. “Hey! Who are you calling a nightmare?"