Jack took a large breath and reached for her palm. Her warm embrace gave him strength. “Together,” he agreed.
The smell of the acrid smoke still fuming from the many pipes on the locomotive made Jack wrinkle his nose. The roar of the crowd was even louder outside the car. The band launched themselves into yet another volley of instrumentals. Confetti fell like rain on their heads and shoulders. The group walked up a long street bordered by yet more soldiers.
The men-at-arms in the queen’s army wore black uniforms outlined by grey thread. Each soldier carried a shiny brown rifle and stood at perfect attention. The trip to the palace steps seemed to take an eternity. Jack reminded himself over and over again who he was doing this for.
Finally, the band music died. A hush came over those in attendance. Sloan entered the tall archway that provided an entrance into the gated citadel. She paused and knelt at the first step leading to the large palace doors. The queen stood ready to greet them at the top of the stairway, dressed in a long, light blue gown.
Aareth, Jack, and the Ahab sisters followed Sloan’s example. One by one, they fell to a knee and lowered their heads in respect.
“Rise, champions of New Hope,” Queen Eleanor said in a strong voice, “and approach.”
Murmurs ran up and down the lines of gathered citizens as they craned their necks. Everyone was standing on their tiptoes to witness what would come next.
Jack fell into a line with Sloan and Aareth, while Abigail and Elizabeth took up spots at the base of the steps. In any other occasion, Jack’s nerves would be making his heart drum, his hands clammy. Now, all he could think of as he stood in front of the queen of New Hope was the plain, wooden coffin still inside the locomotive. The coffin that held his father’s body that would need to be buried.
“The city of New Hope, along with the village of Burrow Den, owe you all a debt of gratitude,” the queen said, loudly enough for everyone to hear. She motioned to someone beside her, who approached with long strides.
Jack recognized the reedy face of Fenrick Trillion, New Hope’s treasurer. The man had a plastic smile plastered across his face as he came to stand next to the queen. He held a purple pillow out in front of him. Four medallions stamped with New Hope’s sigil of two steel swords crossed behind a black bat, hung on red fabric.
“On behalf of the city of New Hope, I bestow on you the highest honor we possess, the medal of courage. For your willingness to put yourself in harm’s way for the betterment of those who could not protect themselves.” The queen placed the first medal around Sloan’s neck.
“For rising above yourself and becoming the person you were needed to be, to save those in danger.” She placed the second medal over Aareth’s long, dark hair.
“And for those who lost their lives in service to others, they will never be forgotten, but instead will live on throughout time as heroes, always and forever remembered.”
The queen turned and lifted the third medal off of the pillow Fenrick held. Jack’s eyes were watering as emotions waged an unwinnable war inside of him. His father should have been there standing next to him, but he wasn’t, and he would never be again.
Queen Eleanor Eckert gave Jack a look that said she knew, she knew, on a personal level, everything he was going through. She motioned with her head for Jack to lower his own, and a bright light reflected off of the medal and passed across Jack’s eyes, momentarily blinding him.
Shocked, the young magician looked up and behind his left shoulder to see what had caused his temporary blindness. A figure almost too small to see stood on a rooftop no more than a block away. The person was garbed in black, and held a rifle to his shoulder.
Without thinking, Jack launched himself at the queen. At the same time, a loud crack shattered the stillness. Jack took the queen off her feet as gently as he could manage, while screams ripped through the air. Guards were running all around, shouting orders. The queen felt so small in his arms. He rolled from on top of her. Gaining his feet, Jack looked the queen up and down for injury.
As far as he could see, she wasn’t hurt. Confused, maybe stunned, but the hitman had missed his mark. Jack searched through the mass of churning soldiers to the rooftop where the would-be assassin had taken his shot. He was just in time to see the dark figure turn and disappear.
Sloan was there, yelling orders, hovering over the queen with her mage sword already out, it turning a dull red. Jack fought to his feet, scanning the crowd for Abigail and Elizabeth, who were still by the steps. Abigail held close an unfazed Elizabeth.
Aareth was already down the stairs and charging through the stampeding crowd of onlookers. There was no doubt Aareth had seen what Jack had, only moments before; he was tearing toward the building where the assassin had been seconds ago.
Jack raced down the steps, pushing past alarmed guards as he did. Adrenaline raced through his veins with every stride he took. Questions came to his mind just as fast as he could push them to the side and concentrate on not losing Aareth in the crowd. Who was the assassin? They were trying to kill the queen and not him, weren’t they? Did it have any connection with the previous assassination attempt the queen had informed them of while they were in Burrow Den?
Within seconds, Jack had maneuvered his way through the terrified crowd and reached Aareth’s side. The sling Aareth wore around his right arm inhibited his speed.
“You decided to join the party.” Aareth tore the sling from his shoulder with his good arm. “Stay close.”
Jack swallowed hard as he saw the perfect shape of Aareth’s right arm; he could see the impressive muscle definition, even under the shirt Aareth wore. Memories of the wolf attack, the horrific wound, and the miraculous recovery tried to rip Jack from the moment.
“I saw the shooter duck behind this building here.” Aareth pointed to a tall structure. “He’ll come out of a back door or side alley.”
“You sound so sure.” Jack gulped in large breaths of air as they rounded a corner. “How could you know that?”
“Because”—Aareth headed into the alley—“that’s what I would have done.”
Chapter Two
Jack
Unlike most alleys, this was one of the cleanest Jack had ever seen. No refuse littered the ground, no odor made him cringe. He was reminded again of the level of care New Hope had attained compared to every other city in the Outland.
“Here.” Aareth skidded to a stop beside a large wooden door with a sign overhead that read: Lovegood’s Fine Leathers and Hides.
Jack took one last look around the deserted backstreet to ensure they were still the hunters and not the hunted. As he turned his eyes back to the door, Aareth flew backwards under an onslaught of wooden shards. The door had imploded under the pressure of the assassin in black.
Aareth was thrown to the opposite alley wall, where his head hit the brick with a painful crack.
Jack was reaching for the wand given to him by Edison Reeves, the director of the queen’s armory and head of the Department of Paranormal Study and Magic, when the assassin came for him.
Jack had time to realize two things in the second before the attack. First, the hitman wasn’t a man at all. By the curve of her breasts and hips, and the slenderness of her stature, it was obvious a woman was attacking him. The second was the lack of face. Under the black cowl was a gunmetal mask hiding any of the assassin’s features. Two large circles covered in dark glass and a lined vent for breathing made up the unearthly helmet.
Before Jack could even draw his weapon, she was finishing Aareth with a strike to his temple and an elbow to the base of his skull. Aareth staggered but refused to fall.
As Jack aimed for his target, she was on him. Batting aside the hand that held his wand, she sent a strike to his throat and a kick to his stomach. At once, Jack was left gasping as he fell to his knees, both hands clutching his stomach. His wand clattered to the stone floor, useless. Eyes watering, he fought to regain his footing. He looked down the alley to see the masked figu
re disappear into the street. The road teamed with citizens still fleeing from the initial gunshot.
Aareth appeared next to Jack. The large man offered Jack a hand. A moment of silence passed as their minds processed the recent events.
“I need to find out what’s going on with me.” Aareth massaged the back of his head where the assassin’s elbow had connected. “Her blows should have been enough to knock me out. Instead, the pain is already gone.”
“You saw that, too, right?” Jack ignored Aareth’s words. “Our assassin is a masked woman.”
“I saw it.” A shadow of confusion crossed over Aareth’s face. “There was something familiar about her. I know I couldn’t see her face, but still. On her wrist there was a ... No, no, never mind. We have to get back to Sloan and tell her what just happened.”
Jack decided not to push the subject. He trusted Aareth would tell him if he could put his finger on any new information. Time would prove this theory wrong.
Chapter Three
Jack
An hour later, Jack found himself cleaned and briefing Sloan and the queen in a large meeting room. The palace was home to dozens of different quarters, each seeming more grandiose than the next. This room was large enough to accommodate the entire locomotive they had used to return to New Hope.
Jack stood next to Aareth as the two men relayed the events after the attempt on the queen’s life.
“And then she took off sprinting down the alley,” Aareth finished.
Jack was about to open his mouth, reminding Aareth of what he had said about the woman seeming somehow familiar, though stopped himself just in time. If Aareth had omitted that piece of the story, he had done so on purpose.
“Well,” the queen said with a firm gaze. If she was rattled about having her life almost snuffed out, she didn’t show it. “Captain Sloan has briefed me in the events taking place in Burrow Den; the cave laboratory, the experiments done on both humans and animals, and, of course, the journal that was found. I dare say these actions are one of a much larger scheme. I am aware much of the evidence—the mage-powered bikes and the equipment found in the secret laboratory—points to Dr. Oliver Livingston. As he’s one of the most influential men in New Hope, we need to gather more information before making an accusation. Dr. Livingston has been nothing but helpful to the crown.
“Captain Sloan and I are bound to see this through to the end. Aareth Emerson and Jack Walker, I can never thank you enough.” The queen hesitated looking at both Jack and Aareth with an intensity foreign to her age. Her eyes looked sad as if she were reliving a memory from her past. “And you Jack, I seem to owe you twice as much for saving my life. Both of you have risked and lost enough.”
Jack couldn’t believe his ears. If the queen thought this is where their paths ended, she was wrong. His feelings were so strong on the issue, they surprised even him. Aareth spoke before Jack had the opportunity. “With all due respect, I’m not going anywhere. I plan on seeing Edison about whatever it is that’s healed my arm so quickly and … there’s a hitwoman on the loose I intend on finding.”
“I’d like to stay, as well.” Jack looked from Sloan to the queen. “My father died as part of someone’s sick game. I won’t be able to live with myself until whoever’s in charge is found and pays.”
The queen inclined her head, then looked to Sloan for consensus.
“I could use them,” Sloan agreed, “as well as the two Ahab girls. They may have more information about the proceedings in Burrow Den. The journal makes a strong case that the younger girl, Elizabeth, may have been experimented on, as well.”
“I agree.” The queen looked from Sloan, to Aareth and Jack. “Thank you for your willingness to assist New Hope. There is much to discuss, and leads to follow, but for now, a hero has waited long enough to rest.”
Jack felt a lump grow in his throat, and it refused to dissolve no matter how many times he swallowed. Words were lost to him as he looked into the eyes of the queen. All he could do was nod.
Chapter Four
Jack
A private cemetery was set apart from the rest. It was specifically reserved for those heroes who’d died in service to the city. Open with a long, grassy plain and thick trees, it stood as different from the rest of the city, as night from day.
He would have liked this, Jack told himself as he stood with city officials and soldiers he didn’t know. Out of respect, hundreds were in attendance, but how many had actually known the man his father had been?
Jack stood, Aareth on his left, Abigail and Elizabeth on his right. His father’s body was moved from the plain, wooden box used to transport it, to an elegantly carved coffin befitting a king. In his heart, Jack knew what remained of his father’s body was only an empty shell, a husk. His father’s soul was gone now; it would be waiting for him with his mother. He would see them both again one day.
“Marcus Walker was a hero in every sense of the word.” The queen’s voice broke Jack from his thoughts as the coffin touched the rich soil at the bottom of the grave. “He was a true patriot. He came when his city needed him and laid down his life in order to protect others. I only had the privilege of meeting the man once. However, there is someone here who was fortunate enough to spend time with him. She has asked to speak to you today.”
Jack glanced around, stunned. He hadn’t expected anyone to speak on behalf of his father. He had almost thought he should, but what would he say, even if he could choke out the words?
Sloan walked to the front of the assembled group. She wore her uniform of grey-and-black adorned with a host of medals that spoke volumes to her decorated career in the army without saying a word. Her saber hung at her side, her blonde hair was actually styled instead of being pulled back in a ponytail.
“Marcus Walker was a man who came from humble beginnings. He shared a part of his story with me on our journey. Although he had a normal beginning, there was nothing ordinary about the man. Even in my short time with him, he has impacted me in a way I will never forget. I think those people, like Marcus, who we are lucky to cross paths with in life, never truly die. I know I’ll always carry his words with me. He encouraged me to be happy with myself. He showed me that true self-worth comes from within, and it doesn’t matter where you were raised or what others think of you.”
Sloan blinked back a few tears.
“Marcus Walker was, is, and forever will be, with us.” She looked directly at Jack. “He’ll be the best part of us, and I swear to God, he will be avenged.”
Jack found himself grateful beyond words for Sloan’s speech. It was perfect in every sense of the word. There were salutes from the army, gunshots fired on a bugle’s cue; all of the actions Jack could imagine when a hero met his final resting place. The sun was setting on a long day that had seen him through an arrival, an assassination attempt, and now a burial.
One by one, mourners began to pass by his father’s grave. Each one grabbed a handful of dark soil and let it fall through their fingers to rest on Marcus’ casket.
“I’ll go with you.” Abigail wiped tears from her freckled cheeks.
Jack felt selfish for not thinking of how Abigail or Elizabeth felt. Their father had also met his death on the same night as Marcus. Even though he had been the villain in the story, Jack could imagine that, in a way, it had been almost harder for them. Abigail had saved Jack’s life by killing her father, Elijah Ahab. There had been no ceremony for him.
“Together.” Jack reached out with his right hand and clasped her palm in his own, just as she had done for him that morning. They moved together toward the open pit. Jack reached down with his free hand and felt the cool, moist soil conform to his grip.
He looked down on the open square of earth where his father had found his final resting place. The soft dirt fell through his fingers as he said his final goodbye: I love you, Dad. I’ll always love you. I’ll find out who was responsible and they’ll pay. I promise.
Chapter Five
Jack
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“I secured bedrooms for you in the palace on the same level,” Sloan explained as she showed Jack, Aareth, Abigail, and Elizabeth to three side-by-side rooms. “I hope you don’t mind. I imagined you’d want to share with your sister.”
“No, that’s fine. Thank you, Captain Sloan,” Abigail said.
“Of course, dinner will be served in the hall. You are free to come and go as you please.” Sloan held Jack’s and Aareth’s gazes for a moment longer. “Sleep well. I have to ensure the guard is doubled for the queen. We’ll start our investigation tomorrow morning.”
Jack held his tongue. He wanted to start now. He knew sleep would be far from him this night; he wanted to begin searching for his father’s murderer immediately, but he held these feelings in check and gave Sloan a nod, remembering her words at the funeral.
Aareth’s face told Jack his mind was a hundred miles away. He gave Sloan a grunt of agreement before disappearing into his room in a very unlike-Aareth way.
“If you need anything”—Sloan began to walk down the hall—“just ask a servant or guard. They’ve been instructed to assist you.”
“Thank you,” Jack and Abigail said together.
A second later, Sloan was gone.
“I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said. “I mean, about what happened to your dad.” She had been so quiet over the course of the day, Jack had wondered how she was coping with all of the events. “I know what it’s like to lose a father. You were lucky to have had him in your life. From what I saw, he was a great example of what a father should be.”
“He was.” Jack stared down at the red carpet that lined the hall. “Thank you, Elizabeth.”
The Complete Vampire Project Series: (Books 1 - 5) Page 21
