Dying in the Eye of the Storm
#88 of The Moonrise Chronicles
Verona
was quite hot under the collar for being pressed into dressing so quickly, and for
the numerous layers she needed to be able to wear it. Once she was done, two cars were packed to the brim and off they
sped. The crate was back in the trunk space of the Rover, in part because Billy wanted the stuff he had bought to remain concealed. This was a bad time for
unwanted questions he had no answers to.
He wasn't driving to any
particular destination for the moment, only to a general area as indicated by
his message. He figured, as he had said, that the closer they were when they
were needed, the better off everyone would be. It was only later that he
received a specific location.
He
headed east as fast as the speed limit would allow him, making sure the car
following him was always in sight. The crate was making his view out the rear
window a little difficult, but he had wanted to make sure the suit could be
packed away if the need arose. As it was, if they ended up getting stopped,
there would be a lot of explaining to do. Of course, they could always claim to
be heading to a comicon or something similar. A few members of the group were unconsciously sprouting hair in some odd places.
They
made for a certain state park, a place known for many things, not the least of
which was a few reported sightings of an unusual creature matching the
description of the Jersey Devil. Of course, wise people ignored those reports
as pranks or the imaginings of lunatics. Wise people knew better than to believe in ghosts and ghouls.
In a
small open area, sitting on a picnic table was a man. He had long hair and a
beard, but his present clothing was indicative of a modern style, not something
from the bygone era of the hippies. For all anyone knew, he could have gotten
them off of a fashion designer personally, especially if any designers showed
up in the police blotter as being missing. He had been sitting here a while,
watching the few visitors come and go. For some reason, no one seemed to notice
his presence.
The
other man who carefully stepped into the clearing had no such bearing. He was
disheveled and dirty and emanating a particularly pungent aroma. Leeds would
have been offended by such a presence, but seeing as this man was likely
attempting to allude someone, and he had had the courage to roll in something quite - nasty, he would overlook such
commonplace filth and banter with him.
Edward
hardly had the time nor the desire to clean up. He could have found a stream to
wash in, but then again, why bother? This was likely to get messy in other
ways, so there was no point in sugar coating this. He saw the man on the table
and ambled over, wearing nothing more than his pants.
"I
assume that you're William Leeds."
"You
assume correctly. Who are you? I sense that you have been giving me trouble as
of late, and I must tell you that I do not appreciate it."
Edward
stuck out his hand. "My name's Edward Peterson."
The other man refused to extend his
own. "Peterson? I know of no Peterson clan. And you smell awful. Have you no
care for personal care? I would have thought you capable of at least a few primitive
pleasantries."
It was meant as a dig; a bit of
snobbery.
"Some
days are better than others. I didn't have time to wash before our meeting."
Leeds
was already getting bored. "What do you want?
"I want
you to give up any claim you think you have on Maggie."
Laughter
boomed around the clearing, bouncing off of the tree line in a seemingly
chorused echo. "Give up my own kin? That
is fool's talk."
"And
yet, it would be even more foolish to attempt to make her do something against
her will."
"And
what would you know of this? What part do you play in all of this?"
"I
happen to be her father."
The
anger that flashed across Leeds' eyes was palpable."If you came here to merely
anger me before you die, then I must congratulate you."
"Hear
me out. I found her as an orphan, for no one knew any better about her
condition after the attack at the hospital. I didn't mean for it to happen, but
it happened. In the end I adopted her."
"That
does not give you any claim on her."
"Legally
it does. But that's not the half of it."
"Must
you prattle on? Say what you came to say so that I might kill you."
"We
fell in love."
There
was a moment of silence. "I see you can manage to come to the direct point when
you wish to. But her feelings are of no matter. She is the new blood which will
keep my kind strong. As much as I hate to mix and dilute it, necessities have
shown me otherwise. Even the impure blood of the likes of you still carries within
it the components which will keep us great."
"You
mean that you don't really care about her emotions? What about what she wants?"
"Feelings?
They are useless. Look at all of the things humanity does with them. They
pointlessly kill, they abuse, they condemn. And for what? A little gain; a
slight advantage over others? They live and they die as fools. I should know,
for I kill them all the time. It is a great pleasure to snuff out such
miserable lives. I did not take you for a fool, but I see now that you are,
regardless of what meager power you think to possess."
"I didn't
come here to fight. I came to talk in the hope of avoiding any violence. She
will not go with you, not if you ask nicely and not if you try to force her.
She is strong minded and independent. Therefore, the only recourse you have is
to give up any claim on her forever."
"WHAT!
You dare to dictate terms to ME!"
"I am
only trying to do what is best for both sides. A battle is not it. If you die,
I'm sure she'll be upset, though I hardly think she'll mourn your loss, having
never known you. If I die, I'd like to think she'd be heartbroken. If she were
to die, we both lose."
"There
will be death, for I feel there will be others involved in this. I can smell it
in the future. So much carnage." He said that as if in a trance before breaking
out of it. His eyes narrowed. "You will give me my daughter or I will take her
by force. I have much time on my side, whereas you have none; but my patience
wears thin."
"Now
don't get your panties in an uproar. I broke your link with Kathryn, so finding
her will prove to be difficult if not impossible."
"So you
say, and yet, if she loves you as you claim, will she not look for you? Is that
perhaps not the reason you smell so acrid? To hide yourself? If she comes
searching for you as you must surely fear, I will have her and you will still
die."
"I
don't know why you assume that I'm the one going to die. I intend to protect
her with every ounce of my being."
"Good
luck with that. You weigh less than my average meal."
Edward
allowed one arm to morph, just as a slight display of his power. Leeds was
aware he was of the Kind, but he wanted to make sure there was no doubt. The
man hardly even focused on the change.
"I
assume my daughter would have more sense than to connect with a typical mortal.
I find her present choice to be appalling, but that will soon be corrected. I
have never doubted what you are. Like calls to like."
Edward
pondered that. They had been drawn together, and their adventures had led them
to others of the Kind. Like called to like. There was a connection; a bond
between them. It was a mental link; a shared experience. It was simply too
fragile to feel on a conscious level.
Edward
looked around for a moment, knowing that this was going to get ugly soon. Words
didn't work well with this fellow, so the only other tool that was available
was violence. If there were any other people in the area, they would end up
being casualties. He couldn't have that on his conscience. Leeds might not care,
but he did. This battle was to be between two men for the possession of one
girl. It was going to be a winner takes all.
He
searched the grounds and was mildly surprised to find it deserted. That is, it
seemed deserted. He sensed that there were things lurking in the shadows that
would best be left undiscovered. He wasn't prone to idle nervousness, but he
was feeling the creeping sensation of spider legs crawling up his back. Try as
he might though, he could see nothing but thick bushes, hairy, moss covered
tree trunks and open expanses of green meadow.
Edward
turned back to Leeds. "Given the choice I sometimes think that my old life was
preferable. I don't like killing. I don't like being out of control. But I keep
getting into these situations where it becomes inevitable."
"Not
like killing? Then you will make this much easier for me. I will find that lack
of self-preservation to be a severe disappointment."
Edward
stood. "I didn't say that I wouldn't kill. I said I don't like it."
"It's
one and the same. A werewolf of any sort that doesn't like to kill is an
abomination. We have the gift and a gift that is not used is automatically
useless."
Edward
went to say something, but movement caught his eye. There was a lone figure
stumbling towards their location. He appeared to be drunk. Leeds noticed him as
well.
"Another
fool enters the fray. We will feast well tonight."
Edward
wasn't so easily taken in by the act. He held his tongue until Billy was
leaning on the table, wavering in place like he had just come off of a three
day drinking binge. "Hy you assholes!
How's it going?"
"Hey
yourself," was Edward's stiff reply. This was most disturbing development. He
wasn't about to let on that he knew this guy, for that might break down what
little rapport he had built up. As it was, the smell of liquor was strong on
him. He must have dumped half a bottle down his front. Billy teetered and put a
hand on Leeds. A screech split the night air.
"Get
your filthy hands off of me!" Slight wisps of smoke rose up from where the
silver rings had burned his skin.
"Whoa
dude!" Billy lurched and grabbed onto Edward. No similar smoke arose. Leeds
noticed immediately. But his present anger was with the intruder.
"Get
out! I have no use for your kind!"
Billy's
act dried up. "And I don't have much likes for your kind either. Some people
just want to live in peace you know."
That
brought Leeds up short. "And who the hell are you?"
"None
of your business. I'm with this fellow, who thinks he's so smart in trying to
outwit us."
"Us?"
Leeds looked around. "I sense only you. Did you bring my daughter?"
"Nope.
She has a mind of her own and slipped away. Not sure where she is at the
moment, though I'm sure she'll show up soon enough."
Edward
finally spoke. "Billy, you should go."
"Fuck
off Eddie. I'm here. Even if no one else had come, I'd stick by your side."
Leeds
impatience was growing exponentially. "I tire of this. Bring me my daughter and
I might consider sparing your sad, pathetic lives."
Even as
he spoke, a few new people were emerging from the side of the woods. None of
them were in werewolf form, but one was dressed most peculiarly. Leeds sat
upright and sniffed the air. "So you have brought more with you. Good. There
are many mouths to feed with all of the kin I have."
But his
eyes remained fixed on the female in the shining armor. That was an unexpected
turn of events. Armor did no one any good, not now, and not several hundred
years ago. But this looked far older. There were tales that were still told...
As the
group neared the three men, all but that female transformed into their most
terrifying selves. In some cases, this wasn't as intimidating as it might have
been in their heydays. Maria was well practiced, and Alexei's new form was
impressive, but Anna's was very grey around the muzzle. Kathryn's form was both
menacing and beautiful. Then again, the menacing part was understandable. She
was here to fight for her daughter.
Edward's
parents only wanted to rush to his side and give him a hug, but they restrained
themselves. Verona's parents were side by side with them. Edward shook his head in dismay.
Verona stepped forward. "This makes
it ten to one."
Leeds
smiled. "I've never been a betting man my dear."
"I'd
say the odds are in our favor. Leave us alone. Turn and never come back."
"Strong
words. But words are for poets and politicians. Ask my wife. Am I not a man of
action?"
When
she said nothing he let out a piercing cry that stabbed into the still air. For
a moment there was no answer. Movement could then be seen at the edge of the
woods. Actually, it was the edge of
the woods. The bark from the trees seemed to unwrap itself into new forms.
For the
first time, Edward felt a lump in his throat. The mossy bark had been nothing
more than thick, grotesque hair.
Hair on expanses of thin dark skin stretched
over a framework of freakish bone.
Whatever
these things were, they were not mere werewolves. There arose a host of them.
Each was thin to the point of emaciation, with their wings stretching out like
a bat's. They had glowing red eyes, much like the Kind had when they were
emotional, and ugly heads that did a disservice to the sharp and lupine werewolf
features.
Kathryn
let out a low growl. "The Kindred."
Leeds
looked down on her. "Did you expect them not to be here? They are my family,
just as they are your family. We did not turn you out, you threw us over."
Edward
was sizing this up. His tactics had included many variations of a ground
battle, not one that was going to be fought from the air as well. "Kathryn, why
didn't you tell me?"
"I
would have, had you not run off. There is only so much time in a day to go over
details."
"Wings
are a pretty important detail to glance over."
As if
to punctuate that point, several of the creatures launched into the air and
made a feint at Verona, perhaps attracted by the shining armor. She was
ill-prepared for being active thus encumbered by the suit, so while she was
fumbling for the swords, a pair of feet; talons really, made contact with the
breastplate. A scream was uttered and the one who had touched the suit flew off
with her nails smoking and melting away.
The others flocked around her,
their winged beating and their talons grasping. Verona had no training with a
sword, but with a touch of luck, she severed the outer third of a wing off with
a clumsy but powerful blow.
The
screech was deafening as the affected creature struck the ground. It flopped
about like a fish. Verona scared off the others and stood over her victim. The
thing hissed and clawed at her right up until it received the point of the
sword through its belly. Smoke roiled upwards as the thing burst into flames.
In a moment all that was left was smoldering black ash.
Kathryn
stood amazed. "What is that sword made of?"
Verona
was feeling petulant. "Stardust and moonbeams! So who's next!"
Leeds
took notice. Normal weapons were useless against the Kindred. One that could do
that sort of damage was very dangerous. He quickly reassessed his
strategy. Apparently this seemingly
innocuous man was more than he seemed. It had been long ago when he had last
been caught so off guard.
He
directed his kin to attack the one among them who was the weakest. That would have been Anna. Though tough, she
had lived a less than rigorous life and was no longer hardened to battle. She
was immediately over whelmed. Verona couldn't move fast enough to come to her
aid, and the others got there only in the nick of time. The savagery of their
attack was immediately apparent. Werewolf or not, the old woman was lying there
in shreds. Blood was leaking into the ground. There were worse things, but not
to be mentioned to an audience with a weak stomach.
A ring
was placed on her finger, and a vigil was maintained until she could recover
enough to even sit up. Verona wielded her swords with much more assurance now
that she had seen what they could do. She merely had to make sure they didn't
touch any of her bare skin. That was presently pretty much limited to just her
face. She felt like a ninja underneath the metal. She had been warned of the
nasty consequences of it touching a were, and she had now seen it firsthand.
Overhead,
the airborne Kindred circled like vultures.
"So
Edward Peterson, we are presently at a draw. You seem to be equipped for
battle, though to leave your fate in the hands of such a woman seems ill suited
to you. But then I know nothing of you,
and even that is too much."
"It's
not my fate which concerns me. It is the fate of Maggie. Part of me wants to
let you just try to catch and control her. It might just be enough to convince
you to abandon this stupidity."
"A very
kind sentiment indeed. I need not your permission to do as I please. She will
bow to my will soon enough. Now tell me where she is. I tire of this game."
Edward
didn't even bother stepping out of his pants. He transformed right up to his
maximum potential, splitting them out into tattered shreds of cotton fiber.
There was a slight smell of sulfur overlaying the other stink. "You will have
to go through me to get to her."
Leeds
stepped back."So, there is more to you than meets the eye. It has been a very long
time since anyone with the ability to transmorph to that size has made
themselves known to me. Ancient blood indeed."
"Old
enough. Now, are you going to give this matter up or do I have to get ugly?"
The other
man's clothing began to bulge. His transformation was not nearly as rapid as
had been Edward's, but it was equally impressive. He went from looking human,
to looking something akin to a werewolf, and from there to something closer to
being a bat. His chest was thick and his shoulders broad. His height increased
by at least a foot. Those who saw him
from the side watched as thin lines appeared along the sides of his back. The
flesh separated and rippled as huge wings emerged. The long thin bones were
strung in between with thin membranes, but covered over with fine fur on the
outer side just like the rest of his kind.
This
was what the legendary beast called the Jersey Devil looked like when he was in
his most feral form. There was not a single one, but many of them. They
accounted for legends clear across the country, and over the entire world for
that matter. They were called by many names; demon was the most common, but it always had religious overtones to
it. In more modern times, there were such names as Mothman, Owlman, the Van
Meter Visitor; the Kongamato,
Impundulu, Popobawa and Kikiyaon; and some even claim them to be the basis
for the Thunderbird legends. Heck, even
most of the vampire legends were actually centered on this most unique of the
werewolf clan.
They
called themselves the Kindred. In the very old days, when learning was both
greater and lesser than it is today, they were referred to as Qui autem supra.
The ones above.
If you
know the movie titled The Mothman Prophesies, then you know a little about at
least one of the modern legends. Not all of the Kindred stayed together. Fights
raged and members would leave, only to return later after their anger cooled.
It made for random appearances and local scares, especially if people disappeared
around the same time. There were plenty of times and places where people
disappeared without a sighting. It all depended on the mood of the Kindred
involved.
Since
they could assume human form, it also accounted for the randomness of the
appearances, and was equal to explaining why they suddenly disappeared. They
could fly home in the middle of the night, or they could just take a bus home.
That made tracking them down nearly impossible.
This is
hardly enough background for a proper understanding, but it will hopefully give
you enough to go on for now. Their history is long and obfuscated by poor
records and their own propensity for killing witnesses.
Leeds
was about to launch himself into the air when there was a stir at the edge of
the woods. It was a sight almost equal to the legendary creatures presently perched
on the edge of battle. It was a mixed pack of wolves, being led by a naked
girl. Well, naked wasn't quite right. She was wearing a backpack and was
carrying a large, neon-colored squirt gun. Overall, it was as anticlimactic as anything
could get. Still, everyone watched her as she approached.
The
pack moved as one across the meadow toward the picnic tables. Maggie had a look
of disgust as she passed by the severed wing. She stooped to her grandmother
and added her ring to the other. From there she walked right past Edward and
stood in front of her father; her real father. The wolves spread out around
her.
"So
you're it huh?"
"It?! What
do you mean by such disrespect? I am you father!"
"Sounds
like an overused and clichéd movie line to me."
Despite
her audible contempt, she was examining him with a critical eye. "Wings! Nice! I could see where those might
come in handy. I can't say much for the rest of the ensemble, for overall
you're one ugly mother fucker."
"How
dare you!"
There
was a gruff laugh from Edward. "You have no idea what she's like."
The
tension was mounting. Now that Maggie was here and in the clear, the others, on
both sides, were feeling the pressure. On Edward's side there was the need to
protect, and on the other, the need to retrieve what they felt was theirs.
One of
the Kindred swooped in like a harpy and made a grab for her. Maggie had already
pumped the oversize squirt gun and with a quick dash to the side, let loose a
stream of liquid at the monstrosity. It splashed in an arc across the left
wing. In the next instant a keening cry similar to the one who had suffered the
severed wing ripped through the air. The creature hit the ground and bit at the
wing, but desisted when its mouth began to smoke as well. The sounds were blood
curdling.
Leeds
roared in outrage. "What have you done child?!"
"I came
prepared. I don't like being used as a tool, and I don't like being treated
like a child. I am my own person, and I'll make my own damn choices." This
entire time she had been ignoring Edward. It was obvious that her statement had
been meant for both men.
"A
child of mine will listen and will obey!" roared Leeds, his voice rough and
hoarse from his transformation.
"Tough
shit daddy-o. I'd rather die than listen to the likes of you and your flying
band of misfit gypsies.'
He
roared and lunged at her, but the plastic muzzle of an otherwise impotent gun
held him at bay. He stopped with his face no more than an inch away from it.
"What
is in that toy?"
Her
smile was wicked. "The one thing none of us can stand. Silver."
His
face was a contorted mask. "Liquid silver would melt that pathetic plaything!"
She
gave him the barest of nods. "It would, if it was liquid silver. I figured a
solution of silver nitrate would be just about as effective. It wouldn't kill
any of you in small quantities, but you'll think twice before you try attacking
me again."
"Mags?"
"Shut
up Edward. I've had my fill with your shit. We did some great things together
and then you had to spoil it and run off. Oh, look at me; the big hero! Macho
bullshit is what it is. I don't need it."
He returned
to silence. Her words hurt him more than that liquid ever could.
"And
you! I don't know who the hell you think you are, and I really don't care. I
will never ever go with you, no matter how hard you try. Just because you poked
my mom between the legs while she was in heat doesn't make you my father."
Leeds
was becoming enraged. He was already finding himself in a battle that was,
against the predicted odds, fairly evenly matched. Now he had his own daughter
telling him what he could go do with himself. He figured he'd chance her
noxious liquid and make a grab for her. He was fast and he was skilled.
His effort was rewarded with a slight spattering
of the stuff, which immediately began to burn into his skin. The pain was like
that caused by the big man's rings. His daughter was a little witch!
He
backed off then and lessened the aggression in his tone "Little one, you must
come be with your family."
"A
family is like a coin. It can have two sides. I happen to prefer my mother's
side."
"I will
not allow it. I will hunt you down wherever you go. I will give you not a
single moment of peace until you acquiesce."
"Yeah,
I kind of figured you'd be that way."
"I have
infinite patience!"
"You'd
have to live forever, and no one does that. Not even my friend here."
Leeds
had noted the old were who had slunk in last, but had dismissed him as
irrelevant."
"And
who is he?"
"No one
an old degenerate such as you would know. He's a good and kind person. I would
rather rather call him father than you any day!"
The
master looked embarrassed.
"It
does not matter. If I must kill every person who has come to keep you from me,
I will do it. I will make their lives a complete misery. I will tear out their
still-beating hearts and consume them before their dying eyes."
"Yeah,
I kind of figured that would be the case. I'm afraid that I can't allow you to
do that."
He
puffed out his chest, conscious of the healing wounds caused by the silver
solution. "You cannot stop me!"
"And
you cannot catch me!" She stuck out her tongue, turned and ran off towards the
west, back the way she had come. Her back-pack weighed her down, but she made
the speed of a cheetah regardless of the hindrance. She only stopped when she
reached the top of a deep ravine. In the lessening light, it was getting
difficult to see, but the obscured bottom was easily some fifty feet below.
Edward and her real father caught up with her quickly enough.
"This
is where it ends. I will not live with you," she said, pointing to Leeds, "because
quite frankly, you appall me. You have all this power and you can't manage to
do anything good with it. It's like being rich and hoarding your money. What's
the point in having it if you aren't going to do something with it?"
She
finally turned on Edward. "And you! I've had it up to here with your crap. I
have high expectations from a mate and I mean the highest standards. I can deal
with all sorts of stuff. I know getting used to being feral like me has been
pretty tough on you, and I weathered through all of the mating you've done,
whether it was with Verona or Maria's grandkids back in Russia. But when you
turn your back and you leave me, that's it. It's the end of the line. My heart
was invested in you, and you just ignored that."
"I did
not ignore that! I came here to try and save you. To save everyone, including
this freak right here!"
"I wish
I could believe you," she said as she pumped extra pressure into her gun. "I
really wish I could, but you see, even if I stayed with you, we'd be on the
run. Albert Fish; Cardinal Medici; those battles would all mean nothing
compared to what this guy can do. I don't have that kind of patience, being pursued
until the end of my days. So as I see it, there is only one solution."
She
pulled a large, half gallon bottle from her pack and unscrewed the metal cap.
Edward recognized it as being from a chemical warehouse, and he had to assume
it was more of the silver nitrate solution. Her gun could hardly be empty at
the moment.
"I
figure it this way. I don't want to go with either side right now. I will be
unhappy either way I look at it. Therefore the only logical solution is the
solution I'm holding in my hand."
She tipped
the bottle to her lips and chugged. Leeds roared in a rage touched with horror,
but he got a direct hit in the face from her gun. He fell to the ground clawing
at his eyes. Edward jumped too, knowing full well that without her ring on, she
was doomed. He too took a hit in the face, and while it burned like the fires
of hell, his fear and loathing at what she had just done burned him even more.
The last thing he heard before she
tumbled over the edge was;
"I did honestly love you father."
By the time a few more participants
made it to the edge, she was out of sight. There were cries from both sides,
though none had any full knowledge of what had transpired in that brief moment.
The smell of smoke and sulfur rose from the ravine, and in the dimness, a few
sparks could be seen. The bottle was laying on its side, the contents dripping
onto the grass. Kathryn kicked it over
the side.
She grabbed Edward by the shoulders
and shook him. "What did she do?"
Edward was waiting for his eyes to
heal, all the while on guard for an attack from his adversary. His words were starkly
simple. "She killed herself to end this before it got out of control."
He couldn't
even cry at the moment. His tear ducts were still rebuilding from the chemical
damage.
She
turned to her former lover. "Now you see what happens when you try to force
things. Now neither of us have her! I hope you're satisfied." She had no
trouble producing tears, nor sorry her anger. She kicked him repeatedly in his
crotch until he crawled away, muttering and cursing.
He was
not recovering as fast as he would have liked. He had never been hit with such
a chemical attack before. "If she is gone, then do the same. She was the only
hope this line had. Now time will see us fade to nothing." He was incapable of
emotions, but he was getting choked up none the less. Overhead the Kindred
circled and screamed in frustration, but without direct orders to attack, they
remained at bay.
Billy and Leonardo were both silent, as was
Maria and Alexei. The tragedy had put a halt to everything. Anna couldn't yet
move, but no enemy made a move to molest her anymore. The air was heavy with
the disaster that had befallen them. This had all pivoted on Maggie, and Maggie
was no more.
No one
moved for a while, until the faint sound of sirens could be heard in the
distance. Edward tried to talk, but his voice was gone. He finally croaked out,
"We need to go."
Gentle hands
grasped Anna and carried her to the parking lot. Verona was too shaken to even
consider taking off her armor. They piled in and slammed the vehicles into
gear. Headlights sent a spray of harsh light on the trees as the cars lurched
down the stone drive and onto the access road.
The
silence in the cars was so complete it was almost harsh on the ears. The worst
outcome had happened, just as Edward had foreseen it. This power was a curse,
just like he had said. Of what value was it if it could be put to no good use?