by David Aries
Blair sniffled. Tears bubbled to the surface. “I never should have doubted you.”
“Don’t let them escape!” Ramses yelled. His guards made haste for us.
I clicked my tongue. “So much for a reunion.”
My wyvern hopped over us and sprayed fire at the coming offense, stopping them in their tracks. We couldn’t speak the same language but I sensed its intentions. It had this.
“We need to go,” Esther said, directing us to the closest exit.
Titania kept a tight hold of Blair. After a long delay, we’d finally retrieved the package. All that remained was the escape.
We arrived at the tunnel. It was no exit. Another group of guards had foreseen our plan. The worst duo stood at the head.
“Sorry. You’re all out of luck,” Shadow said, snapping her whip.
Magnesia gripped her spear. “Surrender or&emdash;”
A wall of ice sprung from the floor, closing off the hallway.
“Not there, sillies,” Dessa giggled, strolling toward us. “We shall make our grand getaway over yonder.”
“You two are unbelievable,” I sighed.
“That’s our line,” Esther said. “I’ll let it slide this time.”
“How kind of&emdash;” A loud bang splintered the ice wall. Cracks spread down its surface. “Enough chatter. Let’s go.”
With fire protecting one side and ice the other, we escaped the coliseum.
Chapter 22
After making a bold escape from the arena, leaving the district through the sewers felt anti-climactic. Flying out of the city on my wyvern would have been incredible.
Stupid shielding.
I hoped the wyvern would be okay but I had a feeling that was the last we’d see of each other. It was my first time feeling guilty about a demon’s fate and I intended it to be the last.
The rest of us were fine. Esther had evaded captured and worked in the shadows to help us. Dessa had hidden in plain sight, waiting for her moment to earn brownie points with me. Neither had abandoned us, just like Titania and I hadn’t abandoned Blair.
We managed to get from the Noble District to the Common without facing any resistance. I put it down to the demonic distraction we’d left behind, but there was another reason we discovered upon reaching street level. The city was in pandemonium. Guards struggled to stop a mob of civilians from storming the gate to the Farming District.
“What’s going on?” I said.
“No clue,” Esther said. “Come on. We have a date.”
It was later than anticipated but we rendezvoused at the garage. Our associates were waiting for us.
“My baby,” Diarmuid said, stealing Blair. He cradled her and peppered her head with kisses. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Daddy!” she sobbed, wrapping him up in six arms.
I smiled. After the shit we’d gone through, that was the finest tonic anyone could have given me.
“You kids caused one almighty stink,” Gall said.
“We aren’t the only ones,” I said. “What happened down here?”
“You happened. News spreads fast. They’re all talking about the half-breed who defeated the king’s arena.”
“It’s been ten minutes, at most.”
“That’s plenty of time. This district’s been waiting for some inspiration. You, my boy, have delivered.”
My goosebumps stood on end. The chants of the disgruntled masses were loud and clear. Those who had been treated little better than slaves were finally standing up. The commoners were united against those who oppressed them. And it was because of me.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said.
“Sweetcheeks, you’re the first to best that royal line in a long, long time. And you did it riding a fucking dragon? Auntie would’ve loved to see that,” Gall laughed. “Don’t underestimate hope. Most thought beating that goblin bellend was impossible. We finally see a chink in his armor. The rest of us little people want a slice.”
“She ain’t wrong,” Diarmuid added. “I’ve never seen Grabadon like this before.”
“That doesn’t mean we should linger,” Esther said.
“True,” Gall agreed. “It’s safer if we stick to the plan.”
“And now’s the perfect time to execute it.”
I couldn’t disagree. Still, I wanted us to hang around a little longer and not for my sake.
Diarmuid held Blair at arm’s length. “Listen, you need to go.”
“But, Daddy,” she whimpered.
“No buts. You can’t stay here. You know this.”
“What about you?”
He smirked. “Don’t worry about me. I’m tough as old boots.”
“Daddy,” she sniveled.
“Don’t gimme that look.” He squeezed her as tight as he could. “It’s time for you to spread your wings. Go see the world; find yourself a man. That Jake’s not so bad.”
Blair embraced Diarmuid back, sobbing into his shoulder. They deserved more than a snap reunion. If only we had a choice. We had to get Blair out of the city.
Gall patted my shoulder. “All your crap’s in the wagon. You’re good to go.”
“Thanks, Gall,” I said. “Sorry about all the shit I’ve caused.”
“I’ll take it over a boring life any day.”
“Hey! Old woman!” Titania interrupted. She was nice and rigid with an expression that could be best described as ‘peeved’. Her posture was itching for a fight, but her lunge attack ended with her burying her face into Gall’s chest. Titania hugged her wide, portly body. “You better not be dead when I get back.”
Gall chortled and squeezed Titania. “I ain’t dying until you’ve made me a great-aunt.”
“Prepare to live forever.”
“Don’t even think about it, you little shit.”
And another one. I swallowed down any complaints and focused on what we had to do.
Once everyone finished saying their goodbyes, we coaxed Blair aboard and prepared to set off.
“Hunters!” Diarmuid said, bowing his head. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s all part of the job,” I said.
“Stop trying to sound cool,” Titania said.
“Was not.”
Diarmuid laughed. “Take good care of her, lad and lassies. And yourselves.” He saluted.
We returned the favor before motoring onto the commotion-filled main road. Our celebrations had been a bit premature. One final obstacle sat in our path. The gate to the outside remained shut.
“We have to make this quick,” Esther said from the cockpit. “Do you remember what to do?”
“Yes, Boss,” Titania said.
I nodded. Esther would handle one of the guard towers while Titania and I took care of the other. Once we got the gate open, we hightailed it.
“We’re almost there,” Esther said. “Be ready to… huh?”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“The gate’s opening.”
It took me a moment to absorb what Esther had said. “Huh?”
“Is something wrong?” Blair asked.
“I don’t think so,” Esther responded. “I’m not sure. This doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t be open.”
“I’m on it,” I said, checking the periscope. True enough the huge gate was swinging open. The reason why was easy to spot. Civilians spilled from the towers, waving at us. They were mainly strangers but they’d come to our aid. There were a few faces I recognized; only one by name. She’d been adamantly against the plan yet there Sophie was taking up a central position in the chaos, leading her smugglers and the plucky commoners.
“You decided to rock the boat after all, eh?” I chuckled. What had spurred her change of mind was a mystery for another occasion. Whatever the reason, I was glad she’d come around.
Esther drove us through the open passage and out of Grabadon. There weren’t any guards waiting for us. We hit the open plain without a shred of resistance.
&nb
sp; “We did it!” Titania cheered, jumping around with Blair.
“It actually worked,” Esther sighed, slumping back.
I breathed a big sigh of my own. It’d been more turbulent than I’d planned but we’d done it. Blair was free and we were away.
“Thank you,” Blair sniffled, tears building. “I know I said not to, but… I’m so happy you came for me.”
“Well, duh I did,” Titania retorted. “Like I was gonna let some turd have you.”
“You’re still my hero,” Blair squeaked, squeezing Titania in a mass of skinny lilac arms.
Titania beamed, an expression we didn’t see from her enough. They made a cute couple.
“I agree,” Dessa said.
“You thought so too?” I said to the part-time mind reader.
“Of course, darling.” Dessa groped her own huge bosom. “Blair looks much hotter showing off her puppies. I never knew she was so stacked.”
“Wait, when was I thinking that?!” Not that she was wrong. Nobody could have predicted Blair had been hiding such a large surprise under her baggy clothing. The pink gown really emphasized her natural assets.
“Hey!” Titania snapped, holding Blair like a stuffed toy. “Stop perving on my friend!”
“I wasn’t.”
“We’re sorry,” Dessa giggled.
“No, you’re sorry. I didn’t do anything wrong,” I groaned. We’d been out of Grabadon for two minutes and were back to being a tiring rabble. Not that I was disappointed. Anything different and it wouldn’t be us. This was the crew I’d gotten to know and love, idiotic interactions and all.
“Don’t even try it,” Titania said, narrowing her eyes. “Three’s enough. Leave Blair out of it.”
“Three, you say?” Dessa said, leaning in close with a big teasing smile. “By my count, it should only be two.”
Titania squeaked and shuffled back, eyes darting. “Like, you know. It’s just&emdash;” An explosion rocked the wagon, knocking us all off balance. We barely managed to stay on our feet. “The fuck was that?!”
“Jake, check the scope!” Esther yelled from up front.
I jumped on and scanned the area. More I spotted the unmissable cause instantly. “What is that?”
A mammoth flying machine was after us. It was no plane. I’d never seen anything like it. Size wise it was in a different league from the wagon. Our beast was built to contain a small team. Their flying leviathan looked big enough to house an army.
Titania wrestled her way onto the periscope. Her complexion went pale. “No way. It’s the Imperious.”
“The Imperious?!” Blair squealed.
“It can’t be,” Esther said. “This is unheard of.”
“I know what the fucking Imperious looks like,” Titania snapped.
“Will someone tell me what the Imperious is?” The name rang a faint bell, but nothing more than that.
“It’s Grabadon’s most powerful weapon,” Blair said as her shivering arms winded around her body. “The world’s deadliest airship.”
“We must have really pissed him off,” Dessa said, voice far too casual for the occasion.
Another explosion struck. Our shield held but the impact was too powerful to ignore. Furniture bounced across the room. Maintaining our footing was a real struggle.
“Esther, step on it!” I yelled.
“It’s pointless,” Blair said, clutching her head. “The Imperious’s top speed eclipses that of all land vehicles. We can’t outrun it.”
“And there ain’t any cover around here,” Titania reminded me. The plain spread as far as the eye could see. Perfect wagon shooting territory.
“If we can last an hour…” Esther began.
“We’ll never last that long,” Blair squealed. “With the Imperious’s rate of fire and destructive potential, it’ll be a miracle if we survive half that.”
Esther did her best evasive driving but the explosions were never far behind.
I gritted my teeth. “What about fighting back?”
“How?! It’s an airship,” Titania snapped.
“The cannon. If we use it&emdash;”
“No,” Blair said, shaking her head. “The Imperious will activate its shield. It has four rotating cores and complete coverage. There’s not a weapon on Terix strong enough to break through.”
“There has to be something we can do!”
Nobody offered a solution. They knew what I was trying to avoid. This was David versus Goliath, except the latter had protective armor and a crater-making cannon. So much for that slingshot.
Another direct blow caught us. The wagon tilted, almost toppling over. Our luggage flew everywhere, some of it spilling from our bags. It rained clothing and bits of useless junk. Blair’s failed inventions almost took my head off.
Speaking of Blair, she lost her balance. Luckily, Titania was there to catch her. “You okay?”
“No!” Blair whimpered, burying her head against Titania’s shoulder. “I don’t wanna die! I wanna see dad again!” So much for saving her. We’d liberated her into the grave.
I clutched my head. It couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t accept it was the end.
Something large and soft plonked around my arm. “Come, come, darling,” Dessa purred. She’d squealed at demon rats yet acted fearlessly as an airship bombarded us. “Isn’t it time you did something stupid that somehow pays off?”
“What can I do?” I said. “We can’t even reach it. Shit, if I hadn’t left my wyvern…” Getting another wasn’t an option for so many reasons. There was also no point in hoping help would appear in the nick of time. Nobody was coming. It was up to us. All we had was my demon jump and it wasn’t scaling that high. I was no Superman.
Another explosion caused a second object blizzard. The clothes weren’t too bad but I could’ve done without the metal. It wasn’t the place nor time for a bunch of unstable prototypes.
I froze. That was it. I stumbled through the wreckage and dug through Blair’s remaining luggage.
“The fuck are you doing?!” Titania snapped.
“Trust me on this,” I said, tossing Blair’s underwear aside in search of her one invention that could save us. Diarmuid had packed a ton of her junk. Surely, he’d included them.
Right at the bottom of the second bag, I found the Holy Grail: Blair’s rocket boots.
“Why be Superman when I can be Iron Man?” I said.
“I told you, they don’t work,” Blair sniffled.
“You never said that. You said they use too much energy.”
“That’s the same thing.”
I shook my head. “What if you had a bottomless energy supply? Would it work then?”
She tapped her lips. “I don’t see why not.”
“Good enough for me,” I said, stepping into the first boot.
“Huh? Ah!” Her eyes widened, sparkling with sudden enthusiasm. “I never considered that possibility. What if the wearer produces the energy? There was never a reason to toy with that theory, but you’re different. If it’s you, it may be possible.”
“Will somebody tell me what’s going on?” Titania asked.
“It’s simple. Using Jake as a power source we may be able to produce enough energy to successfully achieve ample vertical propulsion.”
“Huh?”
“Using these boots, I might be able to fly,” I said.
Titania’s jaw dropped. “No fucking way.”
“Is that really possible?” Esther asked from the driver’s seat.
“There’s no guarantee,” Blair said. “At the moment, it’s still a hypothesis. We don’t know how much potential Jake holds as a battery. The boots themselves remain untested in the field. While it works in theory, there are so many variables to consider.”
“I like those odds,” I said.
“This is crazy,” Titania said. “You’re gonna fly? Then what?”
“Simple. I board the airship and bust stuff until it stops firing.”
“Again
, it’s possible,” Blair mumbled, nibbling a thumb. “The Imperious should be susceptible to internal damage. If you can eliminate the central controls you can effectively immobilize the ship.”
“What about the shield?” Titania said.
“It could be a non-factor. The Imperious cannot shield while attacking. Unless it notices a suitable threat, it’ll likely continue bombarding. It’s possible to slip through before it realizes the danger.”
“Who’s gonna suspect me in a pair of rocket boots?” I remarked.
Dessa burst out laughing. It was more of a guffaw than her signature giggle. She wiped a tear from her eye. “Darling, you are the best. I challenge you and you produce a scheme more ridiculous than I could have ever envisioned. It’s no wonder I’m so enamored with you.”
“You ask, I deliver.”
“Are you really gonna do this?” Esther queried.
A nicely timed explosion struck our hull. The shield held, but that wouldn’t be the case forever. We only had so much juice in reserve.
“Do I have a choice?” I said.
“Then I’ll come too.”
“You can’t. You’re the only one who can drive.” Put anyone else at the wheel and we’d be a sitting duck.
Esther grimaced. “You can’t go alone.”
“He won’t,” Titania said, slipping into a fresh pair of gauntlets.
“You sure?” I asked. My demon healing had patched up the wounds I’d received in the arena. Her cuts were still fresh.
“I ain’t letting you steal all the glory.”
I smirked and looked at the cockpit. “Esther, any objections?”
She took her time to answer. “Both of you, come back alive. That’s an order.”
“Yes, Boss!” Titania said.
“Don’t worry, I won’t die here,” I said, slotting on the second boot. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter 23
Rocket boots. It was hard to believe I was wearing a pair of genuine rocket boots.
They were around my size. I was lucky Blair had bloated the prototype. We would have been screwed if she’d made them for her own little feet.
Speaking of Blair, she paced around the wagon ruffling her hair. “This is too risky,” she mumbled. “What if they don’t work? What if they explode? My best friend killed because my invention wasn’t&emdash;”
