Reaper of Souls
Book 4 of The Soul Saga
Chapter 1
The Facility
“What do we know about the hostages?”
Meredith Childs gripped her blade tighter at the words of her commanding brother. He wasn’t speaking to her directly, nor to any of those which surrounded him, but rather to the tablet in front of him, displaying some all-too-familiar faces. Nevertheless, she pinned her short length of hair behind her ear, past her visible scar, and remained at attention.
“It’s hard to get a visual, captain,” the dark-skinned woman known as Sal said. “Kenny’s trying to patch inside, and we’re putting Bruce and Trent on the ground. Sit tight.”
“Sit tight, she says…Boy, Sal’s gotten real bossy, eh, Mera?” Meredith took the good-natured jab from her brother’s subordinate, Jay, with nary an expression. When she didn’t react, he pouted and received a smack from Raymond’s other subordinate, Emily.
“Focus.” Jay whined at the violence inflicted upon him, but Raymond took no notice of it, staring ahead to the facility where they had arrived in the dead of night. Two shadowy figures dropped from the stealthy skyship in the air above.
Meredith inched closer to her brother, but she wasn’t alone, joined by someone else who flanked Raymond’s other side. “What do you think they’re here for?”
“Couldn’t say,” Raymond answered, his stoic expression giving away none of his theories. On his other side, the blonde-haired girl scoffed.
“Pretty bold move, though, taking a mining facility hostage,” she said. Meredith couldn’t help but agree, puffing out her bangs while her hand rested with her sword. Her body shivered, the nighttime cold causing her to let out a slight cough. Raymond looked to her.
“You’re not getting sick, are you, Mera?”
“Not a chance,” she answered her brother. It didn’t stop him from surveying her through his glasses, attempting to discern whether she was putting on a brave front or not. “I’m fine, Ray. Besides, if I’m coming down with something, I’ll just have some of Eddie’s soup when we get back to the castle!”
“I could go for some myself…” the other girl said. Vivian Lacroix took her voluminous blonde hair and wrapped it around herself, for however brief a time she did.
“Focus on the mission, girls,” Raymond said, curt and commanding. The two girls straightened a little, neither quite yet used to being under the rank and file of the illustrious Tempest Squad, if that was what it could be considered. It was a fact Raymond liked to remind them of when he took them out on missions, including anything from surveys to crisis situations, like the one they currently found themselves in.
Unfortunately, Meredith noted, crisis situations were becoming far too common of late.
The static on Raymond’s tablet crackled, and a feed was displayed, though it wasn’t showing either Sal or the bearded Kenny, but instead the sight of inside the facility before them. All five of those that gathered on the canyon overlooking the building inched closer to observe the image.
It was a large room, circular in nature. The windows themselves were blotted out, as irrelevant as it was in the dead of night, but the cameras appeared to have been left fully functional. Under his breath, Raymond uttered the word “amateurs” with some disdain, but no one reacted to it. Most were too focused on the group of people lumped together. There were some younger children, likely there to visit their parents, but there were just as many researchers and miners all bound together. A few masked individuals were stalking around them, keeping a close eye, but the others were patrolling the perimeter. Three others were yet off to the side, huddled around a computer and arguing. There was no sound.
“Looks like that’s the best Kenny could do, captain,” said the red-haired Emily. She was tightening the weapon on her fist, ready to take action, but not yet springing forth. They were waiting for one more report.
“So, they’re clearly here for something,” Jay said, tracing his finger along Raymond’s screen. He was noting those huddled together and Meredith tipped her head to the side.
“What’s this place all about?” she asked of the young man. Jay grinned at her, but he was unable to provide the answer.
“Are you that much of an uninformed idiot, Mera?” Vivian snapped. Meredith scowled at her, though the girls didn’t engage in one of their usual spats. “This is a place that’s only run by one of the biggest companies in the world! They’re the ones that get materials for skyships and all the technology that keeps the Metropolis running.”
“A rudimentary explanation, but it works well enough,” Raymond said. He swiped the image away, relegating it to a small corner of the screen as his tablet connected to another on the ground. Meredith pulled back and ran her fingers along the flat side of the sword in her hand. Its voice spoke.
Nervous? the soul inside asked.
Not a chance, Meredith insisted. I’ve done this enough times at this point. Though this one feels a little different…
Just keep your wits up, Meredith. I don’t want to have to find another wielder.
Oh, ha ha, Terrill, just help me out in there, she said. The soul of Terrill Jacobs, ever a bedrock inside the blade that was called the Earth-Splitter, chuckled but acquiesced. Having said her piece, Meredith looked up, her black bob shaking on her head as she peered to the building that was their ultimate destination. Sounds were coming from Raymond’s tablet; he, Emily and Jay were discussing things quietly with the two on screen, but she didn’t hear what they were saying. Instead, Meredith breathed in, and on came her Soul Vision.
It was a piece of her magic she was used to by now, becoming as natural as breathing. The ability to see souls and talk with them, sense them…use them. That last thought had started to unsettle her lately. It reminded her that, rare as her magic was, she wasn’t alone. There were others who could use it, even if they didn’t think of it in the same way. Like Rico the Renegade…or the Reaper. Meredith found her free fist clenching, but it soon unfurled at the touch of Vivian’s hand on her shoulder.
“What do you see inside?”
“What am I? An X-Ray machine?” Vivian shrugged, clearly not caring what she was, but desiring the answer all the same. Meredith pushed her friend off and focused her Soul Vision towards that building.
It wasn’t possible to see much in terms of any distinct figures, but the number of souls were easy to see. There were some souls littered about the ground outside the building, clumped together in groups, tied together, but the rest of the facility was dead quiet when it came to human souls. All except for the room where the hostages and hostage-takers were located, at least. That was brimming with souls, their emotions vacillating and hidden thanks to distance.
“Ray, I don’t think we have too much to worry about what’s on the inside. I don’t see all that much in the way of resistance.”
“Yes, Bruce and Trent seem to see the same…” Raymond responded. He stowed his tablet away and stood to his full height. Knowing there were no scouts allowed him to watch the grounds with little worry. Meredith stood with her brother as he scowled in the building’s direction. “Em, go with Lacroix and take it from the side. Bruce and Trent will handle the rear to prevent escapes. Sal and Kenny will keep us updated, and Jay, head in from above. I’m not too worried about these people; they seem like idiots. Mera, you’re with me.”
“Sir!” Meredith snapped into a salute to her brother, Vivian right with her. That was all they had time for, as Vivian slapped Meredith on the back with a smirk and aimed for Emily. “See you on the inside. I won’t wait up.”
“Think I’ll be the one waiting for you,” Meredith insisted, but her ex-rival wasn’t listening, attaching to the lieutenant’s side. Jay uttered nothing before hopping on a blade of wind and soaring towards the cloudy sky. Raymond watched him go, but acknowledged his sister when she drew close. “So, which way are we going in, er…captain?”
“Front door,” Raymond informed her, swiping his blade out. It crackled with lightning, but didn’t change form from his magic, unless one counted it growing longer. “Stay behind me, Mera. You’re attached to Tempest Squad, but you’re still an intern. Leave the serious stuff to me.”
“You’re the captain, captain.” Raymond huffed out and then dashed for the edge of the cliff. Meredith was right at his side. The rest of Tempest Squad was engaged in the mission, but Meredith focused on what was right in front of her: the straight path to the building where the hostages they needed to save were. She and Raymond leapt off.
Her soul connected with the rocks around the canyon, asking for them to help her in not plummeting to her death. They answered, and she pulled forth plinths of stone which the siblings tapped on their way down to a safe landing. Each retracted back into place the second they landed on the dusty road, weapons bared. Wordlessly, Raymond jerked his head in the direction of the front gate and took off. Meredith tailed him, her eyes taking stock of all that was around her.
It was difficult to see in the dead of night, even when switching back and forth between normal and Soul Vision, but there were a few notable landmarks in the space. Large cranes occupied the canyon, lowering cables into holes, where the mineshafts dug deep. There were no distinct human souls beneath, but there was a definite energy there, at least that which her Soul Vision could see, but she couldn’t care for that. She’d already seen too many objects and their souls to doubt the energy they could each give off. Instead, she kept pace with Raymond. They reached the downed guards outside the front gate.
“Out cold…” Raymond said with a sigh.
“They’re alive, though,” Meredith said. She knelt down at the nearest one and turned him over to sever his bonds, noticing the insignia of the Guardian Corps on his breast. It was as familiar as ever, a pair of crossed swords surrounded by six orbs, and proudly emblazoned to Raymond’s own sweeping robes. Her brother offered naught but a scowl. “Must’ve been blindsided. I’m more surprised so many people are working here-hey!”
“Keep up or go back,” Raymond said. His voice was a growl as he cut the remaining bonds. Meredith resisted her urge to snap at him, but recalling that he was currently her commander, she sped up. They swiftly approached the front gate, sealed shut. “I’d have thought they’d be more vigilant after the Metropolis, but it would seem our Corps is still struggling. How many more messes are we going to need to clean up?”
Meredith provided no answer. She didn’t have one. Her brother was angry over the Corps’ new failures, and part of her couldn’t blame him. Even she thought back to it with shame and not a small dose of anger. It didn’t help that she was all too used to her brother cleaning up messes. Even so, she didn’t care for Raymond’s expression as he touched to the gate, indicating she should stand back.
Blue lightning sparked, a cold heat radiating from where Raymond stood. The metal of the gate morphed and melted, twisting in shape and form until it became nothing more than a large disc that clanged to the ground. In the empty canyon, it was audible, and Meredith flinched. The Guardians, those members of the Guardian Corps that were dispatched to protect the facility, stirred at their feet. Raymond paid them no mind, his robes flapping behind him as he ran into the building. Meredith was right behind him.
She made no noise, other than the breath expelled from her nostrils, but made every effort to keep up with her brother. Her Soul Vision remained active, and when they reached an intersection, she tapped his shoulder to guide him in the right direction. The souls of their compatriots were also around the building, each converging on various different spots to cut off escape routes. The siblings pulled to a stop as they neared the facility’s main room, where the hostages were, and they bent low to remain unseen. Voices were emanating.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Meredith crouched, but pulled her head up just enough to look through the glass windows that separated them from the room, trying to get a good, unobstructed look at the inside.
It was no different than it had been on the screen, with the researchers and others tied up. Some looked to be crying, but their kidnappers paid them little mind. There were two hanging around the computer, arguing about something, but the third from before was now in front of a television, watching the evening news report with interest. That sound reached their ears first.
“…plans to unveil their newest technology in skyship manufacturing, resulting in what they hope to be lower costs on civilian craft,” the news anchor was saying. Meredith zoned out the utter drivel of news; much as skyship development excited her, she really didn’t care right then. Not that it took long for the newscaster to change topics to a far more prevalent and recurring one. “In another press release today, the Corps has announced that the Trial of Power will be open in a mere week’s time, following the disaster at the stadium a couple weeks ago. However, no news has been brought to light on the Guardian Corps’ progress regarding their after-crisis statements.”
The on-screen image changed to a recognizable face; perhaps the most recognizable face in the world. On the flat television was the gray-haired and chiseled complexion of Chief Commander Marcus, leader of the Guardian Corps. Meredith wrinkled her nose, ducking as he spoke on the screen to make sure she wasn’t seen by the criminal walking past. “I’m aware many of you are harboring doubts as to the efficacy of the Guardian Corps, after the Renegades took the stadium hostage and sent many of our people fleeing.
“However, please do not despair! As your Chief Commander, I promise to rebuild the Corps from the ground up, if I must. I only ask that you continue to put your faith in us.”
“And how do you plan to address the growing concern that the Corps is no longer capable of protecting us? Meredith Childs, an intern of yours, not even a fully qualified Guardian, was the only one with enough prescience to stop the Renegades. Are you relying on children? What are we to do while you rebuild?”
“Rebuild does not entail tearing down that which we already have built. We will strive for a better world; one where each of you is safe. To that end, we will track down the remaining elements of the Renegades, locate the Order and search out whatever the goal may be of these many criminal elements. When we have secured these, we-”
“Will you turn that racket off?!” The shout of the leader made Meredith’s body move closer to the ground. Her brother was with her, both listening rather than watching. “We’re trying to sort through things here and you’re blasting the damn news like a concert.”
“I was just wonderin’ if they were reportin’ on us…” A loud thwacking noise was heard, and when Meredith chanced her look, she could see the leader having smacked his subordinate. The man’s mask flew off, clattering to the ground as he held his cheek. “You hit me!”
“There’ll be more where that came from, ya dunce.” The leader smacked his compatriot once more and hoisted something on his shoulder, looking like a weapon, but Meredith wasn’t sure what kind. Someone in the room appeared to whimper, though none of their foes chastised them, too involved in their task. “They’re not gonna be reportin’ on us. It’s the dead of night and we knocked all those pathetic Guardians out.”
“That’s what they get for yawnin’ in the middle of a job, boss,” cackled the man at the computer. The boss didn’t look happy, his expression matching that of Raymond’s as her brother clenched his fist. For whatever reason it was, the boss smacked his first compatriot one more time to shut the screen off (which he did) before making it to his other.
“The Corps might be slippin’ but it’s no reason for you to. This is a job, ya got it?” He shoved the computer man’s hand down.
“I got it! I got it! I think this is all the info…”
“Ya think?” The boss’ voice had risen, becoming high-pitched. “If you’re so unsure, how about ya ask one of these kind researchers. I’m sure we can make ‘em talk.”
“W-we don’t know anything!” an old researcher insisted. Meredith couldn’t see him, and she had looked away to observe her brother, anyway.
“Ray, what’s the plan?” His answer came in the form of his blade transforming. Meredith looked at him with alarm, but none of the apparent thieves inside noticed the sparks of lightning. Glad they hadn’t, she searched the facility, finding that the souls of Tempest Squad hadn’t moved. They were ready to strike. “Ray?”
“I’ll leave the hostages to you. I’m going to teach these thieves what a real Guardian looks like.” He stood, a large hammer held in both hands. No one past the glass saw him stride past the transparent barricade. Meredith almost slipped running after him, but caught up, just as he reared back and brought the hammer slamming through the door.
The wood, metal and glass that made the entryway flew into the room. It collided with one of the thieves, sending them sprawling on the floor before Raymond landed atop them. He snarled, and many of the thieves winced at his arrival. Meredith slipped in after him, her sword held in both hands while she sought the hostages. Her brother stood tall.
“Who in the hell-?”
“I am Raymond Childs, captain of Tempest Squad. Lay down your weapons,” he proclaimed. His hammer changed back to a sharp blade, pointed at the still-masked boss. Said boss gave little reaction, facing his direction. “Or lay down your lives.”
Some of the thieves shuddered. The boss didn’t.
“What’re y’all standin’ around for? Get ‘im!” That was a booster to the thieves and many hauled their weapons over their shoulders, loading magical cannons and ammunition. Raymond was ready, his whip snapping out with electricity. Many were tossed back and he gave Meredith a single glance.
“Intern Childs, you have a mission.”
Knowing her brother wasn’t screwing around, Meredith dashed into the fray. The Earth-Splitter angled downward, and with a sweeping motion, a line of rocks erupted for the thieves. A number dived out of the way, but one was hit by the force, tossed into the air. Meredith touched a hand to her created stones, and with a flash of her soul, sent them flying into pieces, walloping the criminals. Raymond was running at the boss, his two major henchmen moving to protect him.
Meredith kept focus, running through the dust and debris to her opponents, each trying to gain sight of her. She had no problem keeping sight of them through her Soul Vision and brought her blade up, wounding one across the chest. Another aimed their cannon, but with a swift change of hands on her blade, she sliced through it, the backhanded strike allowing her to deflect a marauding thief’s melee attack. Engaged, she kicked his chest and sent him down to the floor.
Another, coming at you.
“Stone Shield!” Meredith’s brief incantation activated the spell, an earthen wall making all the difference. The cannon shot was blocked, breaking through the wall but leaving Meredith unscathed when she hurled herself over it, her free fist glowing. “And Soul Scream: Stone Fist!”
Her blow socked the final thief in the face, the pressure of the rock-hard blow rendering him unconscious. She breathed, standing tall. Then, she remembered her mission and approached the hostages. In the corner of her eyes, she could see a couple thieves running for safety, those who had escaped Raymond’s strike. It didn’t take long for them to be blown back down the hallway and knocked unconscious. Striding from the smoke were Vivian and Emily, both looking untouched. Meredith chuckled, knowing they could mop up the rest. She made to free the hostages from their bonds. It didn’t take long, but by the time she had, Raymond had already dispatched both of the boss’s guards, leaving just the man himself, a miniature magical cannon aimed at him.
Raymond bared his fangs, his formed trident held at the man’s throat.
“It’s over. You’ve lost, thief,” her brother spoke, the harsh lines on his face tightening while he pushed the boss against a wall. “Now, speak. What is your purpose here?”
“Like I’d tell you, Guardian scum.” The leader spat, but Raymond paid no heed. “Yer all a bunch of yowlin’ dogs anyway. Yer time is almost up. Ya got no more power left. Them Renegades saw to that.”
“You know the Renegades?” Raymond pressed closer. In the far corner, Vivian and Emily had finished subduing their own opponents, with the blonde skipping her way over to Meredith and helping the hostages up. They were shaking, some uttering words of thanks while others stared off into space. Only one was truly fretting, and Meredith sought to approach him.
“Nah, but they sure did make a point. We’re not gonna stand around and be bullied. Not by the likes of you! We got boomin’ business, and it’s good!” Raymond didn’t like the answer. Meredith stretched a hand out, prepared to speak to the older, fidgeting researcher, when he suddenly bolted for the computer Raymond and the others were near. The boss had to have seen it coming, because he smiled wide. “Get ‘im!”
Meredith looked down, and saw one of the man’s cronies, thought defeated, spring to action as he launched for the researcher’s legs. “Ray, at your feet!”
“Captain!”
He didn’t need the warning. Not in the slightest.
Raymond struck, his trident becoming a blade that flashed down. With a scream, the prone thief began to writhe on the floor, his hand severed from his arm. The man cradled the stump as he rolled along, crying out. Meredith’s eyes widened, her body frozen in place as she watched her brother turn back. Vivian, too, could do nothing. The researcher likewise froze, enough for Emily to grab him and pull him away, but the damage was done. The boss was striking behind Raymond, a glint of malevolence in his eyes.
Crash!
The glass ceiling above shattered, and from it came Jay, riding on a blade of solid wind. More were summoned to his side, and he sent them flying about until one beaned the boss on the head. Raymond whipped around, his blade slashing at the lead thief’s chest. Blood spurted forth, his eyes enlarged as his lips parted. Still, he tried to aim his weapon, only for Jay’s final wind blade to send the weapon spiraling. It fired right at the man, himself, and he collapsed, eyes rolling back.
“Captain, the hell was that! It’s not like you to get taken advantage of!” Jay called from above, landing deftly. Emily pursed her lips at the sight, but could do little else before the researcher broke free and dashed for his computer. Raymond scoffed, sheathing his blade. A sudden cheer rose up, those that had been taken hostage grateful for their freedom. “And I guess he won’t be giving us any answers.”
“Had to be done. Em, Childs, Lacroix, secure the thieves and see that Bruce and Trent have secured the outside. I don’t want any escaping,” Raymond ordered. His terse voice told Meredith there was little room to argue, and once Emily had tossed a pair of cuffs to her, she set about shackling the criminals. “As for these people, tell us everything…what did you hope to gain? Did you really think you’d get away so easily?”
“My hand! You cut off my hand!”
“Answer me!” Raymond’s hand flew out to slap the twitching man. “What was your purpose here?”
“I don’t kno-o-ow!” he wailed in response. “Boss…got a…job request! Some woman! We been gettin’ a lot lately, so he thought nothin’ of it! I don’ know what it was for!”
“I do,” the researcher at the computer snapped. Jay sidled over to him, looking at the computer before a statement could be made. “They took a look at our research into ancient ore. The most recent tunnel dug quite deep and discovered stones and metals we’ve never seen before. Given recent developments in Lacardia and the Metropolis, we speculated it to perhaps have to do with the Legendary Weapons. Considering it was black ore, we thought maybe…”
“Ooh, this is very interesting, captain,” Jay said, his eyes lighting up at the information on the screen. “Guess your research made it a rumor that there was a Legendary Weapon here.”
Meredith and Vivian shared a glance, one not shared by anyone else. Out of everyone there, they were more than familiar with the Weapons, each holding to one in their hands, thrumming with souls. How she wanted to reach out and speak with Vivian’s, but even Terrill remained reticent, listening intently to what was said.
“Anything confirmable?”
“Nothing, so I’m not even sure if it’s close to the mark…”
“Of course, we have nothing verifiable!” the researcher said. He waved Jay away, annoyed with his presence. The wails of the thief continued rebounding off the wall, ignored. “Now it’s all been spoiled! You Guardians are utter buffoons! I hope they haven’t deleted anything! They’ve already sent our top-secret information to another source! It’s a wonder they didn’t take samples of the ore for themselves; who knows how much that’d go for…”
“Geez, try being a little more grateful, why don’t ya?” Jay said to the man. He remained haughty, though, frantically typing away at his computer.
“Grateful?! This is the greatest research breakthrough we might have in this century. That ore! That metal! We could be looking at the very structure of the depths of our world, itself! Lacardia and other companies would be dying to analyze this and your Corps nearly let it slip into the hands of criminals. In fact, you did just that!”
“Shut up…” Jay said with a yawn. “Captain, are we done here…? Captain?”
“Em, patch this idiot’s arm up. He’s useless to us, but we won’t have him dying. We’ll take him back to Corps Castle. And for the others, we’ll have them picked up and thrown in some other prison,” Raymond said. He was back to his usual commanding self, the pensive look sliding off his face. “I’ll have Sal and Kenny try to trace where that message was sent.”
“You’re not curious about asking who it was sent to?”
“Pretty good idea who, Jay,” Emily said. She reached the man with the severed hand and began to heal his wound. “Criminals looking for the Weapons themselves are more frequent these days, but we all know who’s looking for them. Who already has one.”
It didn’t need to be said: the World Restoration Order.
So…looks like they’re going after you guys again…Meredith said to Terrill. Conversation continued, from people approaching Vivian to offer thanks, to Raymond speaking on his tablet, ready to give the order to move out, but Meredith vanished into a void of white, finding herself face to face with the soul of her mentor.
Terrill stood across from her, hands behind his back. His brown hair didn’t flutter, and his green eyes pierced right through her. He breathed in. Looks like it.
Why? And what does what they’ve found have to do with you?
I honestly couldn’t say, he answered. She didn’t like the response, wrinkling her nose as her lips curled in his direction. Only a theory, but even then, who could say…
You’re way too cryptic, Terrill…Should I ask the soul in Vivian’s bow? she said, smirking in his direction. His stern expression warned her against that.
Nothing good comes of meddling with us. So, whatever the Order is after, I’d be concerned. She didn’t need to be told. Terrill opened his mouth to speak once more, but Meredith was jerked back to reality before he could say anything, though his words lingered once she had been driven from the Soul Realm and back to reality.
“Hey, idiot, don’t space out. Job’s done,” Vivian said, her knuckles rapping on Meredith’s head. The dark-haired girl slapped the blonde’s hands away, yet said nothing in retaliation. She just looked to where the dismembered thief was being hauled to his feet, and Raymond was staring at their fallen leader, a look of disdain in his eyes and on his lips.
It all spoke to the single sentiment Terrill had uttered, and Meredith knew what it all meant.
The world isn’t staying still. The time for peace is long over.