Book 2: Chapter 47
Stalking through the darkness, his crimson mask and dark cloak covering every inch of his body, Viper looked every bit the villain. There was no light in the tunnels, but he never once paused, his feet always finding firm footing, even when the ground underfoot grew rough. Behind him walked five others, dressed in similar red masks and long cloaks. They were headed north, and soon they came to the edge of the tunnels that they normally traveled. Here Viper paused, standing absolutely still until, with a slight twitch that was almost unnoticeable, Garrett arrived in Vipers mind.
Come on.
Striding forward, Viper led the rest of the team into the northern crypts. There was a huge complex under the graveyard that dominated the northeastern section of the city, and it would take a lifetime to explore properly, but that wasnt Vipers target. The Grave Walker gang had two bases, one above ground in an old mausoleum that they had emptied out, and the other underneath it, in a sprawling complex that joined up to the rest of the crypts through winding passages. It was toward this underground base that Viper hurried. The team moved quickly, hoping to get there before any major disturbance was raised. Coming out of a passage, Viper suddenly stopped, holding up his hand and flashing a signal as a glimmer of light came around the corner.
Immediately, the rest of the team vanished into the shadows, while Viper drew back as well. A minute later, a group of three men walked down the passage, dragging a cart behind them. There were bits and pieces of bone and flesh in the cart, and it stank of fresh blood, causing the men to complain to no end. After listening for a moment, Vipers sword rose and he burst forward, catching one of the men in the throat with a neat stab. Even as his sword pierced through, the other two men were gurgling up blood, their throats slit by the red masked assassins.
Checking the cart, Viper shook his head and the team hurried on their way, retracing the mens path. Twice more they came upon groups of Grave Walkers, and each time they eliminated them quickly and silently. This brought them to the entrance to the large section of tunnels where the gang made their home, and all of them threw off their cloaks and hid their masks, revealing the gray and red uniform of the Grave Walkers underneath. Pulling up the cloth masks to cover their faces, leaving only their eyes open, Viper led the assassins into enemy territory.
Sitting in the Dreamers Throne, Garretts mind flicked over to the fierce fight underway in the Hollow Space inside Isabelles mirror. After absorbing the thirteen Grave Walker gang members into the mirror, Garrett had noticed something immediately that soured his expression and changed his plan. Every single one of the Grave Walkers with Cynen carried a deeply set curse, a curse not too dissimilar from the one he had observed in the zombies who had ambushed him.
Garrett had toyed with the idea that the Grave Walkers were just a front for the Skeletal Hand, but he had never seriously considered it. Mostly, he had mentioned something to Gerald Larner, the high ranked exorcist, to make trouble for the enemy gang. But seeing that even the awakened members of the gang were carrying the curse that had transformed the woman into a zombie, Garrett felt like his nightmare was becoming a reality.
Cynen was fighting fiercely, but even with her flame she was being suppressed. If she had been fighting against Pale Fiends, or even Isabelle, she probably would have been having an easier time of it, but currently she was trying to defend herself from Pax, Asher, Maren, Kinsley, and Estel. Together, the five awakened were working to take her down without harming her too badly while Isabelle and the Pale Fiends chased after the other awakened Cynen had brought.
Facing all these masked awakened, Cynen thought that she might go crazy. Her flame was powerful, but no matter what she did, she found herself hemmed in. None of them were as strong as she was, but together they wore her down. Though she prided herself on being one of the most powerful shaping stage awakened in the city, she was starting to realize that she had sorely overestimated herself. Garrett watched everything for a moment and then sent his attention back to Viper. The further into the crypts that Viper and his team got, the clearer it became to Garrett that something was wrong.
Instead of the well lit passages that he expected, everything seemed to be getting darker and grimier, as if the passages hadnt been cleaned in years. The lanterns, which should have been kept bright to help drive back the darkness, were corroded and empty. There was no dust on the floor, however, which was a clear indication that the passage was often used.
Blood, whispered one of the assassins, causing Viper to stop and look.
Splattered on the wall in a violent spray was a large splash of dark crimson that had dried. Stepping forward and sniffing, the assassin held up four fingers.
Less than a day old.
Nodding, Viper picked up the pace and the assassins followed behind. They were practically running at this point since they were not meeting anyone, but that soon changed. A faint scream echoed from a passage ahead, so the team slowed down and readied their weapons. Following the sound they turned down a side passage and found themselves in front of a wide doorway. Through it was a room lit by ghostly green light that contained three large cages arranged in a row. In the one furthest from the door there were a few dozen people dressed in rags who looked like slaves, while in the cage closest to the door there were ten hulking zombies who still wore the shredded remnants of the Grave Walker uniform.
The toad necromancer grew furious at the sight of his zombies being killed as if they were nothing special, and letting out a roar of fury, he darted for the rooms exit, clearly intending to escape. With a cold gaze, Viper watched him go and then turned to look at the insect necromancer whose screams had been reduced to a whimper. In the passage, the toad necromancer ran with all his might, covering large distances with each leap of his powerful legs. Coming to the forked part of the tunnel, he was about to turn when something caught his eye and he stopped, confused. Shining in the ceiling was a large five petaled flower that he had never seen before. Blinking, he realized that there were others as well, scattered around the walls and the floor.
A world away, Garrett stalked down the dark halls of the mansion, heading for the room where Cynen, Deaths Flame and leader of the Grave Walkers, lay bound with thick chains. Floating behind him was Isabelle, her hair dragging the seven Grave Walkers who had survived the Pale Fiends. Opening the door into the room where Cynen lay, Garrett looked down at her and then nodded to the five awakened dreamers.
Thank you.
Arms crossed, Pax just nodded, eyeing Isabelle warily.
Since when are we working with monsters? Kinsley whispered to Asher, causing Asher to glare at him.
Ignoring Kinsley, Garrett crouched down to bring himself closer to Cynen.
At first, I thought it would be better to just kill you, but then I thought you might find this illuminating, so here we are.
At his gesture, Isabelle dropped one of the awakened to the floor. As soon as he landed, Garrett sent a stream of mental energy into him, agitating the curse in his body. An inhuman roar burst from his lips as he began to transform, heavy scales forming on his body as he grew by a full three feet, his bones lengthening and growing thicker until he had transformed into a hulking brute. The stench of death was strong on him as he lunged toward Garrett, but before he could make it more than a step, a solid wall of force hit him, stopping him in place.
Every being in the room, including Isabelle, trembled as Garrett stood up, his mental energy smothering everything. Taking a deep breath, Garrett got himself under control and reined in his surging emotions as Isabelle bound the undead monster. Turning around, he looked at the tightly bound monster that was struggling against Isabelles hair, and walked forward until he was nearly touching it. It was an ugly brute, twisted beyond belief, and driven mad by the corrupted energy inside of it.
There is a sickness in this city, and it is up to us to remove it.
Free me, Cynen said, her expression pale as she stared at the monster that used to be one of her subordinates. I can help you. I can gather my men to fight
Too late, Garrett said, shaking his head. Were well past that.
With a wave of his hand, Garrett left the mirror world and appeared in his room, holding the small mirror. Sitting down on the Dreamers Throne, he leaned his arm on the armrest and rested his chin in his palm, looking to the north. Somewhere, deep underground, was his enemy. A god, if some were to be believed. A being of unknown power that was going to try to drown this city in monsters. Slowly, his lips, still hidden by his mask, curled up in a smile.
Game on.
