"But you're not from there. You're from the Abysmal. Crwys told me your story. And he told me his part in it, though I did swear to him I wouldn't tell anyone else."
"He did, did he?" Scylla felt the old anger seething in the pit of his stomach. "He told you of the millions of deaths? The refilling of the Well? The burning?"
"Yes. And I could sense his regret in his words. Don't judge him too harshly, Scylla. He was caught up in something bigger than himself. It happens. It was his mother asking him to do this. The God Mother herself. How could he refuse?" Now Dags shifted and faced Scylla with his left hip against the railing. "Was your sister killed when Crwys did that?"
"Oh no. Charybdis and I survived that. We're made of stronger stuff. In fact, she and I lived a pretty happy life, tormenting the Faeries, the Djinns, the Bogeys and Harpies and whatever other manner of creature we could find there. Charybdis was killed when she and I went snooping in one of Medbh's old Cairns. Whispers came to us that there was an opening there, a hole she and I could pass through that would bring us back to the Human Realm. We heard our brother, Chimera, had passed through such a Cairn."
Dags straightened. "One of Medbh's Cairns?"
"Yes." Scylla laced his fingers together, still leaning his forearms on the railing. The breeze blew at his blond hair and he felt it caress his cheek. "There's a Spriggan that guards this one. Nice chap. Hob is what they call him. He warned us not to enter, that a Changeling had taken control of the Cairn's magic." He shook his head. "We weren't afraid of a Changeling."
Dags shifted and leaned his backside against the railing. This put his face in shadow. "Was it the Changeling that killed her?"
"No." And Scylla couldn't stop the venom in his voice, the anger that churned in his stomach when he remembered his sister's lifeless form as it vanished into ash. "A fire burned her. It was something powerful and it wasn't the Changeling's doing. This fire burned it as well. And it killed so many others in that Cairn." He closed his eyes. "I'd run back to the grotto where Hob was to ask him a question. That's when the ground beneath us trembled and Hob wrapped himself around me and pulled me under the water. I could see the fire as it blazed out of the many openings into that small paradise he'd built. And when it was done and Hob and I crawled out, only the grotto survived, protected by Hob's magic.
"I found a hole inside of me, an emptiness I'd never known before. We were twins, you see. One always feeding the other. I ran into the quickly cooling tunnels of the Cairn, screaming for her. And when I found her…I almost didn't recognize her. She was little more than a charred husk." He lowered his head, not because he didn't want Dags to see his tears, but because he didn't want him to see the Incubus come through the human guise in his rage. "I watched her disappear, knowing I would never hear her laughter again, see her smile, or even smell her hair." He didn't tell Dags that Charybdis's own laughter often came at the pain of others, or that her smile resulted because of another's agony. None of that mattered.
He felt a touch of warmth on his shoulder and he flinched before he realized it was Dags's hand. Scylla wiped at his eyes and stepped back. "Sorry…I shouldn't really linger on it."
"You said Brendi would give you the name of the one that started this fire?"
"She said she would. But I don't think she really knows it. I don't think she knows anything."
"And if you found this…person. The one that started the fire in the Cairn…what would you do?"
Scylla's mouth turned up in a half smile that didn't touch his eyes. "I would torture them for eternity. And if they died, I'd pull their soul from the Well and still torture them." He frowned at Dags. "Is that so terrible? To avenge the death of one's sister?"
"What if this person created the fire to save their own life, by accident, but didn't know your sister was there?"
Scylla laughed. "They would have to convince me of this, and then I would only listen after I had flayed their skin from their body."
Dags lowered his head, still in shadows. Scylla wanted to change the subject to something else, like coming up with a plan to survive the Hunt that was barreling down on them. "Dags—"
"Scylla," Dags said at the same time. He held up a hand. "I have something to tell you. And this is probably not the right time, but—"
"Dags!" Crwys burst through one of the veranda doors and spotted the two of them. His eyes were wide and glowing red and amber.
"What is it?" Dags asked as Scylla stepped back from his uncle. He could feel the heat radiating off of him and didn't want to be in the way in case he went nuclear. "Is it Sam?"
"No." The detective shook his head. "Just got a call from the captain and spoke to King as well. There's a shooting and hostage situation out on Highway 90. Place called Stan's Truck Stop. They're assembling several teams and might have to call in S.W.A.T." He swallowed and looked at the two of them. "There is a report of two smoldering bodies visible near the gas pumps. Now, the local news is painting it as if they were sprayed with gas and set on fire, but two witnesses that got away said the bodies just caught fire. No gas."
Dags stepped into the moonlight. "Ripp'n Jack."
"What else?" Scylla said as he stepped forward too. "You and Levi wouldn't be called into a shooting. You work homicide in the Quarter."
Crwys nodded. "You're right. Levi and I were heading there because the one holding them hostage asked specifically for the two of us. If we give ourselves up, then he'll let them go."
Scylla closed his eyes. That was Rip, all right. He was back to even the score against the two cops who destroyed his fun. And he was willing to take out as many people as possible. Was this where the door had taken him? Back to New Orleans? All the world to run off to and disappear and the idiot does this?
This just proved to him that Djinns were the stupidest creatures in existence.
"Go, Crwys. We'll be fine," Dags said.
The detective hesitated and then put a hand on Dags's shoulder. "Bring her back, Dags. Please bring her back."
"I will." Dags squeezed the detective's shoulder.
The cool breeze returned when the detective left the veranda. Below, they could see the red Mustang come into view with Levi behind the wheel. Once Crwys got in, they sped off down Philip Street.
"You shouldn't have made that promise," Scylla said.
"Yes, I should have. Because we are going to get Sam back."
"How?"
Kyle stepped outside and took in a deep breath. "By destroying the rose."
Scylla narrowed his eyes at the two of them. "Rose?"
"The foci Brendi used to lock Sam into the deal. We destroy that and Sam's free." Dags faced Kyle. "Is Ivan set up?"
"He's down at the computer, and he's taped into every security camera within a five-hundred-mile perimeter." Kyle ducked his head and winced. "He's probably going to fry his brain keeping an eye on all that, but once he finds you, he'll be able to direct us."
"You and Mike ready?"
"Yes." Kyle looked at Scylla. "Are you ready?"
Scylla flexed his arm. "Born ready."
Kyle smiled, rolled his eyes, and stepped back inside.
"You like Kyle?" Dags asked as they went inside.
Scylla pursed his lips. "There's like and then there's like, and I think Kyle could be a very pleasant distraction."
"You know if you hurt him, Sam will kill you."
Scylla smirked. "I'm counting on it."
Twenty-Seven
THE WiLD HUNT
DAGS
I wasn't surprised when our environment was viscously rearranged at the stroke of midnight. Sam's grandfather clock chimed once before Scylla and I found ourselves in the middle of a swamp. I instantly sunk into the loamy surface up to my ankles, thankful I'd put on hiking boots because I figured I'd be running. From the smell and feel of it, not to mention the compass spell I'd pulled from the Grimoire previously, I knew we were still in New Orleans. From the fuzzy vision I got in my mind, we were somewhere south of Blind Lagoon, poss
ibly near a major interstate.
I summoned a small sun and had it hover above us so we could at least see where we were stepping. Scylla wore regular sneakers, which were abruptly removed in the mire. From his hissing and wincing as we trudged in the direction of the road, I could tell he'd never gone barefoot before. I also didn't want to alarm him to the fact that once we were out of the actual watery area, he would probably have a number of leeches attached to his legs, ankles, and feet.
"Are you sure we're going in the right direction?"
"Well," I said as I found solid ground and turned to help Scylla onto it. I also spotted the leeches I didn't want to mention. He had a number of them on his feet and ankles. "You said the Hunts usually happened in a less-populated area. Blind Lagoon is a pretty unpopulated lake because this is mostly swamp out here. But 90 should be up ahead, and if we follow that road, we should reach civilization."
That's when Scylla spotted the leeches. I'd never seen a grown man act like that as he danced around and pointed and screamed at me to get them off.
Because I wanted him to be quiet, I pointed my right palm at his feet—once I got him to be still—and aimed the golden light at them. Each of the tiny, slimy creatures started smoking, released, and fell off into the grass. Once he was satisfied, we continued in that direction, with me checking the clock on my phone. We were a good hour into the Hunt and had heard nothing.
The highway was there, just as the Grimoire told me it was. Otherwise known as Chef Menteur Highway. I remembered it being pretty desolate in the daytime. In the night, with no street lamps, it was practically a road to nowhere in either direction.
"You might want to douse that light," Scylla said as he looked up and down the road.
"You hear something?"
"Maybe. Usually the Hunts are kept contained so as not to draw attention, but if someone in a car drives by, sees it and stops—that person's included in the crazy."
"Ah. Good to know." I cancelled the light and then hesitated. "I don't know if this is north and south, or east and west…" I knew the road sort of traveled east and west on the map…but which way? I turned to face the lake and then the road. If we were facing 90 and the lake was behind us, that would mean we go right toward New Orleans to find shelter.
I nodded to the right and we started walking on the right side of the highway. It wasn't long before the road vibrated under our feet. We both stopped and looked at each other. He turned to look behind us first, just as I heard the baying of dogs and the sound of a horn.
THE WILD HUNT!
"Shit!" Scylla said. "We're nowhere near close to civilization. And I'm not so sure it's a good idea to bring the Hunt to the humans."
"You said it yourself they keep it quiet. That's a mandate by the queens, and if Brendi disobeys that, then the hunters that have joined her from the other Kingdoms will stop, right?"
Scylla winced. "In theory?"
Sonofafuckingbitch. "Okay. So…" I looked behind us again and spotted something under the full moon. Something black and gaining speed. It looked like some CGI cloud of nasty heading our way down the road. "Then I suggest we get off the road and head into that copse of trees. Maybe they haven't seen us."
We ran as fast as we could toward the trees, which looked like a clump of giants in the moonlight. Just as we reached them, I heard something make a whoosh next to my ear and saw an arrow slam into the closest tree. Turning, I spotted a small contingent of hunters, all wearing different hues of black and silver armor, and all of their steeds—elven steeds—running along a carpet of black smoke.
"Come on." Scylla grabbed my arm and we ran into the trees. Sinking down behind a few of their trunks, he said, "Remember what I told you about the conjurers? Those are the Mist Merrows. That's the one out front making the ground safe to run on. If we take him out, it should do some serious damage to the hunters."
"But what if Sam's one of them?"
"She's human, right? If she touches the Earth it won't hurt her."
I stared at his shadowed face. "Are you sure?"
"No. But you got a better idea?"
No. So I moved to the left and called up a weapon. I thought my Guardian Sword would appear. Nope. I got a golden bow and an arrow.
One arrow.
Seriously?
"Shoot the one in red!" Scylla hissed.
I nocked the arrow and sidestepped out to get a good shot. They spotted me and turned in my direction. The bow felt as if it were guiding itself, and as I pulled it back, I could suddenly clearly see the Faerie in red, the one keeping them safe from the Earth.
The arrow released and struck the Mist Merrow. He screamed and fell from his steed. The carpet of smoke ceased, though it remained where it was already laid down. There were six in all, and three of them continued running toward us while the others reined in their horses. The three coming to us evaporated into columns of ash and a scream the moment their horses’ hooves hit the unprotected ground.
"Dags!" Scylla cried out.
Too late I saw one of them raise a bow. I ducked as fast as I could, but felt the impact and the burning sting of it when it hit my right shoulder. I tumbled into the copse of trees out of sight. Rough hands grabbed me as Scylla pulled me to him and said, "This is going to suck, but hold your breath. This has got to come out of you right now." And then it did suck.
And I blacked out.
Twenty-Eight
RiPP'N JACK iS BACK
LEVI
Levi and Crwys arrived at Stan's Truck Stop on Highway 90 around two-thirty a.m. Levi was aware the Hunt had begun. The air felt electric. Charged. And Ashur felt the presence of Other Realm beings around them. Did that mean the Hunt was close? He hoped not. The only thing in this area was swampland. And a lot of it.
Stan's was a small place, with a diner and a few pumps. He had facilities for the truckers to use and a casino just a few feet away from the stop. A few air compressors for tires separated the space. And space was most of the attraction. There was a lot of room to move and park the larger 18-wheelers, something the stops inside the city didn't have a lot of.
The light of the full moon paled in comparison to the flash of the blue, white and red lights surrounding the area. Levi counted about six black-and-whites, a few white vans and the S.W.A.T. Team truck, where it sat next to the road. They had the place surrounded. There were six vehicles in front of the diner and about five large trucks hauling various-sized trailers of cargo behind and to the side. Busy night at Stan's. He felt for the hostages inside. Wrong place at the wrong time.
Prescott greeted them, along with Detective King and a Harley Armatuge, the head of the S.W.A.T. Team set up. He was a short man, round, with a shaved head and a tattoo of a dragon on the left side of his head over his ear. He had a no-nonsense face and he didn't like Levi. The Revenant wasn't sure if it was because the man was a racist or just a thick asshole. So he and Crwys had a deal that when Armatuge was round, Levi took point.
"You three know each other?" Prescott said as Armatuge walked up. He shook Crwys's hand. Didn't offer to Levi.
"Yes, we do," Levi said and put his hands on his hips. "You said the guy inside asked for us by name?"
Armatuge had been ready to speak with Crwys and had to switch gears when Levi instigated the information relay. There was no time for petty differences here. Not when people's lives were at stake. "Ah yeah. He actually sent this out." Armatuge pulled a plastic baggie from one of the pockets on his vest and handed it to Crwys. Crwys handed it to Levi, who found himself looking at a napkin with someone's handwriting scrawled in pen. "Get Holliard and Tulose here or they all die." He looked at Armatuge. "How many hostages?"
"Twelve." He stared at Levi. "So what's this about? You two know this perp?"
"Maybe," Crwys said. He looked at Prescott. "It might be our suspect.”
"That was my theory as well," she said and nodded to them. "You two be careful."
"Always."
"Hey, hey, hey," Armatuge said. "Wh
ere do you think you're going?"
"Inside." Levi pointed to the building as he followed Crwys. "Man wants to see us and we have to get the hostages out."
None of the other armed officers, all of which had their car doors open and were aiming at the building, stopped them. Crwys knocked on the door of the diner and waited. "Jack, it's Crwys and Levi."
"'Bout fuck'n time!" the voice inside said. The door opened and Jack looked out at them. Only it looked a lot like Mike Ross. But it wasn't. Just an uncanny resemblance. "Get in here."
"Just a second," Levi said as he stepped in front of Crwys, making sure Ashur had control and he could hear the duel voice. "You release the hostages first."
"No fucking way."
"Then you're on your own." He and Crwys turned to leave.
"Wait!" Jack said as he moved the door and then motioned to them. "You two come in first, and then I let them out."
"No."
Jack sighed and then cussed at someone. The door opened wider and a single file line of men and women stepped out. Crwys spoke into his radio, "Hostages coming out. Tulose and I are going in."
"Roger," Prescott said.
Levi waited until the line ended and they were all behind the police line before he followed Crwys into the diner and Jack shut the door.
"Aw…dammit man. Could you have not done that?" Crwys said.
Levi smelled it before he saw it. The unmistakable aroma of burnt human flesh. In the center of the diner, in front of the registers, were two smoking bodies. They looked like young men…maybe…Levi wasn't sure. Their skin and clothing had been seared off, leaving behind the meaty remains.
"I couldn't stop it, man. They were gonna attack me."
Levi took a good look at Ripp'n Jack and narrowed his eyes. "Looks like someone already beat them to it." He nodded to Jack. "Jason did that, didn't he?"
"He never touched me. It was a group of zombies or something. They beat me for no reason."
Chimes At Midnight (The Grimoire Chronicles Book 3) Page 15
