Now, Michigan
They saw the axe descend and separate the young woman’s head from her body.
They watched the flames consume her until only ash and scattered fragments of bone remained.
They found no pleasure in seeing the dirt bury those remains in a deep grave.
They couldn’t understand how such an innocent seeming girl could’ve been capable both in body and mind of killing so many. There was no satisfaction when they were done. Just sadness at the loss and relief in the knowledge that at least this one specific threat was gone forever. Perhaps with that her victims could rest in peace.
They didn’t look away until concrete was poured over the unmarked grave.
They seared the sight into their memory for fear that the nightmare wasn’t truly over.
They’re eyes had lied to them.
Elsewhere, in a small RV driving down the highway Nila shot her hundredth angry glare at Cal.
“This is the most recklessly dangerous thing you’ve ever done. I’m counting you going into the spire to another world as part of that.”
“She’s chained up and I’m keeping her asleep. There’s no chance of her waking up or getting away.” He lifted the RV into the sky once he deemed them far enough away from potential watchers. “Just a few hours to get back home. The rangers have enough high level people to keep her properly contained while we figure out how to help her.”
“If that’s even possible,” she covered the little guy’s ears with her bandaged hands, “she was going to kill him,” she hissed, “he had a nightmare about it last night.”
“I know. I was the one that got him out of it before it really got started.”
“Then why? Wouldn’t it have been better to let them do what they were going to do?”
“Would it? I don’t know… she was an innocent little girl.”
“Was being the key word. If you’ve forgotten I think I got to know her pretty well while she was slicing me up and trying to kill us.”
“I know, okay, I’m sorry,” he glanced over to the passenger seat. The little guy clung to Nila tightly as he had done at every waking moment since that traumatic night. “I just— if there’s a chance that Holly can be turned around… if my powers can help with that…” he shook his head. “I have to try. Don’t I?”
“Yeah, I’d agree… in a vacuum. Except that’s not how things work in reality. If you fail or slip up in anyway people will get hurt and die. I’ve seen those movies. People in them try to cure the slashers. Just ends up with a ton of death and the slasher getting away to kill another day.”
“This is real life.”
“There might not be that big of a difference considering how classes work. You said it yourself, she got it from the movies she used to watch with her dad. That means she got her Skills straight from them.”
“There are hundreds of rangers and many of them have more levels than her. She was the big fish in a small pond. It won’t be the same. And I can do things to make sure— to make it less likely that she’ll be able to escape.”
Nila regarded him with concern. “You don’t want to use your powers that way.”
“No, but I will in order to hinder her ability to kill any other innocent people. I want to help her, but I won’t be reckless about it,” he gave her a wry smile.
“What will you do if your sister doesn’t agree?”
“Rayna’s always been the more compassionate one. She’ll hear me out and give it real thought.”
Cal was right in the end.
Rayna agreed after much pleading and promising on his part.
The rangers created a special prison to hold Holly and they began the long, arduous process of rehabilitation.
What form would that take?
Whether it meant getting her to lose the Slasher class or to control it… no one knew.
Cal also did something he had never wanted to do. He used his powers to create blocks in Holly’s mind. To prevent her from committing violent acts on innocents.
He told no one aside from Nila and his sister.
He was ashamed of it.
Knowledge of his full abilities had always been a closely guarded secret.
Nothing good would come from others knowing his full truth.
----------------------------------------
Now, Southern California
Cal felt the faint pull from somewhere above him a moment before his sister’s voice popped up into his head. “I’ll be back,” he sighed.
“Okay,” Nila waved. She didn’t take her eyes off the little guy as she very gently nudged him on the swing despite his calls to go higher.
Cal soared up, up and up until he was above the thick layer of clouds to find Rayna waiting for him. He braced himself to stay in place otherwise he would’ve been sucked into her gravity field to orbit around her. It was a trick she liked to do whenever they had these high altitude meetings. She thought it was hilarious to send him spinning around.
“Why not just walk up to me? We’re literally three blocks away from the house.”
“I’m hiding,” Rayna said. “Just some me time. You know how it is.”
“Okay… what’s up? Problems with Holly?”
“Aside from the creepy dead-eyed staring? No. She’s locked up tight. Who knew a re-purposed bank vault would make a good prison cell?”
“Don’t get complacent with her. She’s got Slasher Skills.”
“Yeah,” Rayna’s eyes narrowed. “You said you blocked those somehow.”
“I did, but like I said, I can’t guarantee how long it’ll last or there’s the possibility that she’ll overcome it on her own. Everyone knows slasher’s always escape.”
“We’ve developed protocols. The guards know to do the opposite of what they do in the movies. Plus they’re all equal or higher level than the girl. Plus there are more of them than her. Plus we’ve set up a system where I’ll know as soon as something weird happens. I can lock down her domain from a distance easily enough. We’ll see if the Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Therapists can help her. So far it’s just a lot of staring and silence on her part. Better than violent stuff. Even if it’s creepy as fuck.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re my oldest brother,” Rayna shrugged. “Although, this ask was a tough one. A lot of risk to my rangers and other innocent people if Holly can’t be rehabbed. And to be honest I’m skeptical. I know you can refuse a class. No one’s been able to remove a class no matter how much manifesting or neglectfulness they’ve tried. Kayl’s got a level in Mother that still pisses her off.”
“Sooo…” he ventured. “I hear you’ve been seeing someone…”
“You hear?” Rayna snorted. “Like you haven’t already checked him out.”
“I would never admit that,” he said solemnly.
“Well, since you haven’t said anything I’m going to assume that you approve.”
“Hypothetically speaking… you could do worse.”
“Huh? I kinda want to ask details, but that’d be wrong,” she rolled her eyes. “Anyways… I didn’t call you up here for any of that. I actually have information you might be interested in.”
“Go on.”
“One of our Mages had a weird ass dream.”
“As opposed to a normal ass one? Who am I to judge what people are into?”
“You know… what is it about dads and thinking that it’s okay to just suddenly start making lame jokes once they’re dads.”
“I’m not—”
Rayna barked a laugh. “Give it up, bro! There is no ‘adoption’. Just give him a name already. It’s weird that I have to keep calling him ‘little guy’.”
“Anyways… this weird ass dream?”
“He dreamt of an impossibly beautiful dark-skinned woman, but not—” she raised a hand to forestall the words on his lips. “Let me finish… I swear, you’ve always been bad about interrupting, but after you got powers…” she shook her head. “Anyways… this ‘woman’, in addition to having a slight glow to her skin was also extremely tall and a lot thinner. Gave that uncanny valley feeling. She didn’t say anything just stared and somehow imparted a location to him. Now you may give me your thoughts.”
“How tall?”
“He’s about six feet and he said he had to look up a bit to gaze into her eyes. Incidentally, he said they gave off a great sense of age and power.”
“The eyes?”
“Larger than ours in regards to facial proportions and such.”
“Did he see her ears?”
Rayna nodded. “Long and knife-shaped. Perfect black hair, oh, which also gave off a shine. Sounds familiar, right?”
“An ‘elf’, at least what we call them. Except, I don’t remember the Vitiator giving off a glow aside from the usual magic spell stuff.”
“She could be one of the good ones. Didn’t give off any bad vibes. My Mage said he woke up with a feeling of peace that he hadn’t had since before the spires.”
“Manipulative tricks and magic. Besides, good doesn’t necessarily mean an ally or even nice. Where does she want us to go?”
“Somewhere in Tennessee or Kentucky. We’re still trying to narrow it down. You’ll check it out when we do? Or since you’re still technically on vacation, I can send a message to Eron even if it’ll take forever for him to get back to me?”
“No, no, I’ll check this one out. This could be Vitiator-connected.”
“Also the mind stuff.”
“Also that.”
“Great! That’s one less thing I have to worry about,” she smiled. “You’re still going to Washington, right?”
“Seattle and yeah. I can’t not go. Doing a favor for our allies up north.”
“I feel like I should be more involved in that, but I don’t want to and since I’m not technically in charge of the government junk I no longer feel like I need to be more involved. Well… I glad I resolved that.”
“That is a little frightening how quickly you did that. Lucky for you there are others more responsible. I’ve already gone over it with Graeme and his staff. Got the official papers. I’m all set to get diplomatic relations started with whoever is running Seattle.”
“Whomever.”
“I knew that. I did that on purpose because no one likes a grammarian.”
“Sure you did,” she smirked. “Okay, well… that’s all I have. You may get back to your family playground date.”
“How are things going with your op in San Diego?”
“Lol! Like you don’t already know. It’s fine. Ranger business.”
“I can help,” he ventured.
“Thanks, but we’ve got it handled. Don’t worry, if things go apocalyptical you’ll hear a high-pitched screaming voice in your head.”
“But the undead—”
“We’re making them dead-dead… er… re-dead? Whatever… you’re still on vacation. Mental health is important,” she narrowed her eyes. “For you more than most. Feel free to help once you’re ‘back’.”
“Thank you, Number 4.”
“Oh my god… you’ve been trying to make that happen for literal decades now. We aren’t buying. So lame!”
Rayna gave him a lazy wave as she drifted back down toward the Earth.
“Let me know as soon as you have that location!” he called down.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
“Yeah, yeah,” her voice drifted back to him.
He flew back down to the park only to see the little guy launch himself from the swing’s highest point with a laugh. Pudgy little arms out wide and legs kicking like he was belly-flopping into a pool. Except, here the grass loomed.
He reached out, but pulled back as Nila cursed and leapt into action.
She caught the little guy with a few feet to spare rolling as she cradled him to her chest.
“Again!” he squealed.
“This is your fault,” Nila looked up at him through hard eyes.
“I— I was going to catch him…”
----------------------------------------
Now, Seattle
“Fancy,” Nila remarked.
“Mom, what that?” the little pointed into the dusky gloom overhead.
“It’s just a monster, but it’s far away and it’s not going to bother us,” she eyed Cal, “right?”
“It just realized it has somewhere else to go far away from here.” He stepped up to the host. “Hi. I’m here to meet a Ms. Sofia Freeman.”
“Right this way, Sir,” the young man smiled and led them inside. “The Madam and the young Sir can wait here,” he brought them to a table, “everything on the menu is on the house. Ms. Freeman is waiting at the bar.”
Cal had already scanned the entire area upon approach.
Most of the people in the restaurant were just that… normal people enjoying a nice dinner. There were only a few scattered in strategic spots that were present in case of violence. It was a mark of their professionalism that the presence of Nila and the little guy changed nothing.
The woman in question was alone at the bar.
He scanned and studied her in a brief moment.
Tall, long-limbed. Light brown hair cut short. Mid-twenties.
Half white, half hispanic.
Powers, no class.
He introduced himself and shook the woman’s hand.
The woman regarded him suspiciously. “You don’t feel that?”
“What? You’re hand? It’s warm.”
The woman sat down and he followed suit
“Is that a real baby?”
Cal blinked. “As opposed to a fake one?” he kept his tone as light as the grin on his face. “Yeah, he’s a real kid. Not a baby though. He’s, like, two and some change.”
“It’s a little weird that you’re traveling through monster land USA with your wife and toddler.”
“Is it really?”
“Yeah, but whatever. You do you as long as it keeps working… so, before we get down to the politics B.S. what’ll you have?” she gestured to the wall on the other side of the bar.
Cal studied the vast array of whisky bottles. Fitting for a whisky bar.
“This is a strange place for diplomatic talks,” he said as he carefully scanned through the selection. He took it very seriously.
“It’s better than a stupid conference room, no?”
“Agreed… and I’ll have that one,” he pointed and thanked the bartender as the man poured him a generous glass.
The young woman likewise made her selection.
They clinked glasses before each took a sip.
The taste took him back to the very night the world broke. He had been sipping the same exact vintage of Scotch whisky while going over his fantasy football picks. In one instant, such pointless banality was gone forever.
“So… he’s a real human baby?”
“Yeah and that’s a really strange question.”
“Just wanted to be sure. You never know these days.”
The woman wiggled her fingers and Cal felt a surge of energy. A quick scan of her surface thoughts eased his concern a split-second later. He turned to watch Nila and the little guy at their table on the other side of the restaurant.
The candles on their table flared to their surprise and fright. This gave way to delight on the little guy’s part as the flames turned into miniature animals that began to soar and prance over the table.
“That’s impressive. Pyromancer?”
“Nope and I’m not telling.”
He didn’t need to pry further. He knew enough to know that she meant no harm and wouldn’t allow any to occur… at least in the moment.
There was something strange about the tiny flame animals. It was almost as if their was a sliver of conscious thought in their actions. It was obvious to him that the woman wasn’t actively controlling them. She had merely given them a broad set of instructions, which they were now following.
“You’ve come across… fake… babies?”
“Let’s say… if you ever come across a baby alone in an odd location… just make sure that they’re an actual, real human.”
“I’ll keep it that in mind…”
“Cool. Cool cool cool.”
“Right, anyways, I’m not big on the political stuff either. Thankfully, the people that are knew that and gave me these to give to you,” he slid a pair of thick envelops across the bar top. “So, read at your leisure. I can wait a few days if you want to send back a reply or you can do a spires message. Blah, blah, blah. Ex chetterah, ex chetterah.”
Sofia eyed him with approval. “A man of culture and substance. Speaks well of the group you represent. Although, why two?”
“Yeah, about that. One is from the people who first contacted you. The other is from separate group in Southern California.”
“We weren’t aware of them.”
“No big deal. There’s pretty much an alliance between north and south. I’m totally being nonthreatening by the way. Neither side wants your land or people or whatever. It’s more like they don’t want conflict. Especially, since you guys are doing good things up here in Seattle.”
“We try,” she shrugged. “I hope that you people are of the same ethos, but,” she pointed at the letters and a small flame arced from a nearby table to turn them into ash in a shocking second, “hope is the enemy of action or something like that. I’d rather your people and my people prove ourselves to each other through the latter. Besides, my brother is even worse than I am when it comes to all the politics crap and he’s technically in charge. We’ll probably send a spires message, but basically you can tell everyone that we’re cool as long as you’re cool. Don’t be dicks and we won’t have any problems. Naturally, we’ll also endeavor to not be dicks.”
“Naturally… can I meet your brother?”
“Nope. He hates people… I mean, he doesn’t like people he doesn’t know.”
“Fair enough.”
“Great!” Sofia grinned. “Dinner and drinks are on me. You and your cute little family eat and drink as much as you want. Stick around as long as you want. I’m sure you want to make sure we’re not running a cult-style thing or a military dictatorshit thing. I figure one day we’ll want to check out your places to do the same.”
“Yeah, feel free, though you should set that up with them. I’m just a messenger.”
“Sure you are.” Sofia took her glass and sauntered toward the exit. “You look just like your daddy,” she winked at the little guy as she passed their table. “Enjoy the show!”
“I wasn’t expecting that,” Cal said as he joined his family.
“Dad! Look! Fire-mals!” the little guy beamed up at small flame animals over their heads.
Cal’s eyes narrowed. “Those are wolves… are they hunting a moose?”
“You just missed the bear killing and eating a reindeer,” Nila sighed.
“Nature is scary,” he shrugged.
----------------------------------------
Now, Tennessee
“You the dumbest, laziest sumbitch that I’d ever seen come through here, Casey. Git up! You smushin’ dem cookies!”
The young man in question shot up from the box he had been resting on. It was hard, tedious work taking foodstuffs out of their boxes only to then put them in other boxes. Intellectually, he knew the why of it. It was easier to control what the people took from the grocery store when they packaged what they needed in a box. That way there was no issue with individuals hoarding the more desirable items which was what would’ve occurred had people been simply allowed to take what they wanted.
“Least you could do is not crush them cookies.”
The old man grumbled and gazed at Casey with such contempt that the young man had to count to twenty before opening his mouth lest the witless, beer-bellied asshole learned a difficult lesson about showing the proper respect.
In the end, Casey remembered what he was here for and what lay at the end of failure.
And so he stammered an apology and got back to work half-hoping that the slack-jawed hick pushed it.
To his disappointment the old man simply sighed and went back to shuffling around the warehouse bothering the other workers to justify a sad and pathetic existence.
After his shift ended he stomped back to the small apartment he shared with the others, but not before picking up a few hot dogs from the street cart on the way. The extra stipend was just enough to allow him the luxury, if boiled mystery meat could be called that.
“Why the long face? Bad day at work?” Sandy snickered.
“Shut up, stupid bitch!” he snapped.
“Is it that time of the month again, Casey?” Brent said.
“That’s not my name, Brent,” he sneered.
“You haven’t earned a true name yet, Casey,” Brent returned the sneer, “You’re Casey as long as we’re on this Quest.”
“Yeah, moron. You better not screw this up for the rest of us or I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Use your magic and ruin things by blowing our cover?” Casey snorted. “It’s quite serendipitous that you’re Sandy, because that’s what you’ve got in your head. I’m doing my part and none of you can complain. I’ve got the worst job. You get to sit behind a desk and flash your tits at everyone that walks into the mayor’s office,” he glared at Sandy, “and you, Brent, what the fuck do you even do? Handjobs behind the bar?”
“Sometimes,” Brent shrugged, “I do what I can to spread my influence in this shithole.”
“We are not supposed to openly use our magic. Cambion warned us,” Scarlett sashayed into the living room still in her pajamas.
“Don’t say his name!” Sandy hissed. “We’ve been warned! We don’t know who could be listening!”
Scarlett pulled her necklace out to show the large diamond. “What do you see?”
“What’s the bad color again?” Brent said.
“Red!” Casey was echoed by Sandy.
They locked eyes, then shot each other the finger.
“I’ll drown you in your nightmares!” he snapped.
“I’ll turn you into yours!” she fired back.
“Children…” Scarlett sighed.
“Whatever, you whore,” Casey snorted. “Must be nice get to sleep around all day. After a long night of had work.”
“I have my role, which I perform better than the rest of you. I’ve heard all about your poor attitude. Mr. Johnson is this close to letting you go, Casey. Did you know that?”
“So, what? Like I care. I’ll just find another job.”
“You gonna work in the fields? Or the mine? I don’t see it. You can barely keep up when all you have to do is put food in boxes,” Brent laughed.
“I am better than menial labor,” Casey said through grit teeth. “Better than you, spreading your legs for everyone that pays, Scarlett.”
“I spread my influence,” she smirked.
“Hey!” Brent said.
“I use none of my magic.” Scarlett made her way to the couch forcing Sandy and Brent to shift to the ends by mere dint of her presence. “I’ll take that hot dog,” she held her hand out.
Casey scowled but handed it over after a moment.
“Thank you. Now that everyone is back let’s start our daily meeting. Did anyone learn anything new?”
“Same thing as usual. Some of the patrons at the bar are always bragging about how great their kids are doing at that magic school,” Brent said. “Can’t get any details though. They’re not allowed to talk about it and they’re taking it seriously. I can’t get anything more than it exists and it’s great for their kids. Even when I get the NPC’s pissed drunk they don’t spill information.”
“Not even with your magic hand?” Casey sneered.
“Nope,” Brent replied blandly.
“Casey?” Scarlett looked at him expectantly.
“What the fuck am I supposed to learn in a warehouse all day?”
“I’ve warned you—”
“Relax, you massive whore!” Casey snapped. “It’s not like I’m not trying. My mouth breather of a boss is always on everyone. You merely look like you’re going to talk to someone and he’s starts bleating like a sheep. Even if I could ask around the hicks all look at me like I’m some kind of freak.”
“Maybe cause you are,” Sandy said.
“Sandy, that is not productive,” Scarlett warned.
“Well, it’s true. Casey would probably do better if he didn’t walk around with a scowl and stare at everyone like they were garbage. Have you tried smiling?”
“Everyone in this shithole is garbage! A bunch of inbred hillbillies!” Casey snapped.
“That’s true, but your poor attitude isn’t helping our Quest,” Sandy looked down her nose at him.
One day he would make her pay for the disrespect. They’d all pay once he earned his true name.
“What about you, Sandy? The mayor has a couple of grandkids in this magic school. Have you learned more?”
“Nope,” Sandy sighed. “Same thing as before. All I’ve found out is that he’s proud of the little shits.”
“We should just go to the school and see what’s going on for ourselves,” Casey said.
“And we’ve been over this,” Scarlett said. “None of us have access to the inner town.”
“Thought you’d have it by now. All the big shots have had access to your inner parts,” Casey mumbled.
“What was that?” Scarlett said. “I don’t think I caught what you just said.”
Her eyes darkened, reddened.
Casey bristled but backed down.
It wasn’t his time… yet.
“Thought so,” Scarlett continued. “As for myself, I am disappointed to report that I, too, haven’t learned anything to further our goal. Which is why I think that there is something more going on here.”
“No shit. Sheep can’t keep secrets. Not for this long. They all talk about the magic school and how great their kids and grandkids are doing, yet they don’t reveal anything really important. You can feel the magic flowing around this place just like the rest of us. I’d have thought you could do it better. Track the source or something since you’re higher level. It’s fucking obvious there’s a spell or spells hiding the truth,” Casey rolled his eyes.
“Which would be doing the exact opposite of Cambion’s instructions. We keep the diamond on us at all times. We do not use our magic. We maintain the technique we were taught to conceal our truth.”
“And we continue to waste our time. I say we need to get to this magic school. It’s obvious that we’ll find what we’re looking for there. Is it only obvious to me?” Casey gazed with contempt at the others.
“We were talking about it before you got back,” Sandy said.
“Yup, I mean it was obvious to me, like, a week ago,” Brent said.
“Three for me,” Scarlett added. “And before you add something else obvious and inane,” she held her hand out at Casey, “we will not deviate from our instructions just because you have a problem putting canned goods in boxes.”
“It’s a waste of time. People need to get their own shit. Fucking weak sheep,” Casey mumbled.
“What’s he muttering about now?” Sandy rolled her eyes.
“I kinda agree. These people are sheep. Getting fat for the slaughter, which I’m not really complaining about now that I think about it. This town is almost perfect for us. If we can only figure out how they’re still alive without anyone over Level 30.”
“That we know off. It’s obvious that there is something or someone that we can’t see. I mean, why are we here in the first place?” Scarlett said.
“Because Cambion sent us to find… something…” Casey said. “Fuck. I need to get something to eat since you took my dinner,” he glared blades at Scarlett as he stood and slammed the door as he left the apartment.
“Is it safe to let him leave? He seems close to bursting, which would be bad for the rest of us,” Sandy said.
“Yeah, might have been a bad idea to live in the same place. We should’ve stayed separate like we were when we came in,” Brent added.
“Are you questioning my decisions?” Scarlett said idly between bites of Casey’s hot dog.
“Never. Well, anyways I have to get ready for work,” Brent said as he practically ran to his room.
“Sandy, I think it’s time for you to make a move on the mayor. Try to get invited into the inner town. The school is the key and children are always what makes people vulnerable,” Scarlett said.
“Finally! I call dibs on the mayor’s grandkids. I’m sick of hearing about the little shitheads,” Sandy chuckled.