Sepia Blue- Nightmare: A Sepia Blue Novel- Book 3 Read online

  Jas calmed her breathing as she was trained to do. She focused on her center and sent her breath to a place below her abdomen. After several slow exhalations, she was able to speak.

  “Wake saved me,” Jas started and told Mercy what occurred and how they ended up in the park. “And that’s how we ended up here. She’s out there alone with a behemoth. I have to go help her.”

  “No, you’ll stay here,” Mercy answered. “Wake is a Sister. You aren’t. You have skill but you’ll only be in the way.”

  “Did I mention it is a behemoth?” Jas said. “I can’t stay here. I understand and appreciate your help, but I have to go.”

  “If you must,” Mercy said and placed a hand on Jas’s lap. “I can’t stop you. Please be careful.”

  Jas nodded and stood. She swayed unsteadily as one of Mercy’s assistants appeared in the doorway with a wheelchair. Jas sat down on the bench and fell back against the wall.

  “What happened?” she said, slurring her words. “What did you do?”

  “Take her to one of the rooms,” Mercy said. “She won’t remain conscious for long.”

  The assistant picked Jas up off the bench and placed her in the wheelchair. Jas fell unconscious a few seconds later as she was wheeled away.

  *******

  Wake squared off against the behemoth. Behind her, she sensed the Dreadwolves approaching.

  A pack of them had surrounded the area with the Alpha, a larger Dreadwolf, approaching slowly. He stepped forward, looked at Wake, and sniffed the air. Wake recognized him from the markings on the side. It was the leader, Fang.

  “Have you come here to die?” Fang asked as he sat on his haunches in the center of the large circle of Dreadwolves. The behemoth stepped back outside the circle but kept its eyes on Wake.

  Why aren’t they attacking? Diplomacy before violence.

  “I have no wish to fight you, or your pack,” Wake said as she sheathed her knives. “I prefer not to spill your blood.”

  “You are not a Hunter,” Fang said, sniffing the air again. “But you stood with her the last time we met.”

  “I’m a Sister and I have business in the Keep,” Wake answered.

  “The park is for my kind—what you call the Unholy,” Fang answered as several wolves around the circle growled and the behemoth shifted. “You have no business here…except your death. Why should I allow you passage to the Keep?”

  “You may kill me tonight”—she unholstered her gun and drew two knives fast enough to make the Alpha narrow his eyes—“but I promise you by the time we’re done, your pack will have a new Alpha,” she said, her eyes unwavering from Fang’s.

  Fang stood on all fours and growled but remained where he was. The behemoth laughed. It sounded like boulders crashing into each other.

  “She has fight in her, Fang,” the behemoth said. “Grant her passage. Their time is limited anyway.”

  “What do you mean our time is limited?” Wake asked.

  Fang padded up close and looked her in the eyes.

  “A new Lord is coming,” he said, “more powerful than any of the others. She will rule us all.”

  She?

  “I thought Chimera was your Nightmare Lord?” Wake said, wary of the growls around her slowly increasing in volume.

  “Who is she?”

  “You have safe passage from the Dreadwolves,” Fang said. “But the park is full of more than just us. I suggest you move quickly, Sister.”

  Fang walked away, followed by his pack. They bounded into the trees and faded into the night. The behemoth, being mostly stone, moved much more slowly.

  “What did he mean by ‘she’?” Wake asked as she sheathed her weapons.

  The behemoth stopped walking and turned back to look at her. Its immense body creaked and strained as it sank slowly into the earth.

  “I will tell you because it cannot be prevented,” he said. “The one you know as the daughter of the Jade Demon will become our next Nightmare Lord.”

  “How? Wake asked, confused. “Isn’t the old one back?”

  “The artifact she holds binds her to the source of our power,” he said. “The source of all our power.”

  “The rift?”

  “It is not a rift, but a doorway.”

  “I don’t understand,” Wake said.

  “This is beyond your limited minds,” he answered. “It is transforming her and replacing him, siphoning the power from one and giving it to the other.”

  “And this doesn’t bother you?”

  The behemoth drew closer and opened his mouth at her in what she could only assume was its attempt at a smile. It was a gaping maw of a destruction, all jagged rocks and stones. The odor that wafted over stung her eyes, making them water.

  “Among my kind, only the strongest survive,” he said. “It is still early, but she has the artifact. The strongest will survive.”

  “And then what?” she asked. “There has to be some way to stop this.”

  “There is nothing to be done, human,” the behemoth said. “Nothing your Order can do to stop this now. Enjoy the few days remaining to you and your kind.”

  He lumbered off, and for a few brief seconds she considered trying to stop him to ask more questions, but thought better of it. Instead, she sheathed her weapons and ran for the Keep, aware of the thinly veiled threat in Fang’s offer of safe passage. Other creatures would kill first and ask questions never—including Dreadwolves.

  The defense wards flared as she crossed the threshold of the Keep. Mercy appeared at the entrance with a look of relief on her face.

  “How did you get past them?” Mercy asked. “I sensed a behemoth among them.”

  “You sensed right,” Wake said. “They were feeling generous tonight, waiting for their Nightmare Lord, who apparently is a she?”

  “No, Chimera is male.”

  “They weren’t referring to Chimera, they were referring to Sepia.”

  “Sepia? Impossible,” Mercy said. “Besides, Calisto would never let it get that far.”

  “Where’s Jas?”

  “Resting in one of the rooms,” Mercy replied while in deep thought. “She wanted to help you, but I convinced her otherwise. Are you sure they said Sepia?”

  “Not by name,” Wake said. “But unless the Jade Demon had another daughter we don’t know about, it’s Sepia.”

  “She isn’t a class-one. Unless she moves up in level, she will never attain the Jade Demon,” Mercy answered.

  “What did you mean Calisto wouldn’t let it get that far?”

  “If Sepia begins the transformation to Nightmare Lord, Calisto is sworn to end her life.”

  “Sworn to whom?

  “Calisto swore it to Gan and Sepia.”

  “I need to find her before this transformation takes place,” Wake said.

  “That is going to prove a little difficult,” Mercy answered.

  “Why? They were just here.”

  “Calisto took her to go see Fuma, the Ward Master.”

  “No,” whispered Wake. “Fuma is unhinged. He’ll kill them both. You need to get me there. To the Hall.”

  “There’s no way—” Mercy began.

  “Don’t lie to me,” Wake said evenly. “Every Hall is connected except the lost one. You didn’t tell them, did you?”

  “I—no, I didn’t,” Mercy said. “I can’t let you use the passage either. The last person to use it died.”

  “I don’t see much of a choice unless you know the ward path there?”

  “I don’t,” Mercy said. “Don’t do this.”

  “I have to, before they get to Fuma,” Wake said.

  TWENTY-NINE

  Sepia looked down the tunnel and into darkness. It was identical to the one she had just stood in. The wards on the wall shifted and changed.

  “You shouldn’t be down here,” a voice said from behind her in the darkness. Sepia whirled at the sound, guns drawn. But she saw nothing except the wards on the wall, flowing and changing.
<
br />   “Who are you?” she said. “Show yourself.”

  “Those things won’t help you in this place,” the voice said. “I’m not hiding. You’re the one who can’t see.”

  Not sensing a threat, Sepia holstered her guns and closed her eyes. She let her power flow through her. It met the resistance of the mask and she let it flow even more. Several more cracks appeared in its surface as green light spilled into the tunnel. The wards around her flared to life, rapidly changing configurations and color. The mask cracked further, causing another small piece to fall to the ground. She sensed the presence before she actually saw it.

  When she opened her eyes, a young boy stood before her. He looked to be about eight years old, with a thin, wiry body. His brown skin reflected the light of the wards around him. Short brown hair covered his head. He was dressed in flowing black pants and matching shirt. He gave Sepia a deep bow, which she returned. He looked ordinary—except for his eyes—which he kept closed.

  “I am Chusi,” the boy said. “You’ve been sent here to die.”

  Sepia looked at the boy and moved her hands to rest lightly on her holsters.

  “That’s one way to get my attention,” she said. “Who sent you?”

  “Please follow me, as my master would like to speak to you,” Chusi said as he turned and started walking into the darkness.

  “I need to get back to my friend. She’s in trouble,” Sepia said. The boy stopped and looked at her.

  “Your friend is facing the consequences of her actions and choices taken many years ago,” he said. “Your presence there will only serve as a distraction.”

  “I don’t know any child who speaks like that,” she answered.

  “Who said I was a child?” he answered with a slight smile. “My master is waiting for you.”

  “Who is your master?” she asked.

  Chusi opened his eyes and a bright yellow light filled the tunnel. It was like looking into the sun on a summer day. She turned away from the light, reflexively shielding her face with her hand. The light disappeared and Chusi stood looking at her. She could see the power flowing around him. The glow in his eyes, while less, was still present.

  “You wear my master’s wards on your face,” Chusi said.

  “Fuma?” she asked. “Fuma is your master?”

  “My master is waiting,” he said. Chusi turned and headed down the tunnel. “If you stay here you will die. Please follow me.”

  She warily followed Chusi down the tunnel into deeper darkness.

  THIRTY

  Velos stood on a roof and looked down at another Hunter patrol. They had encountered Unholy and she was fighting several Shadows on her own. Her skill placed her at a class-one, which meant the blade she held was named.

  “Pathetic and futile,” he said under his breath as he watched. “Such a waste of power.”

  Black smoke swirled slowly around him as he took in the scene. The tendrils caressed his body as they moved in every direction. Some of them rose behind him as a figure approached.

  “Agreed,” Onyx said as he walked up. “Power should never be wasted. It should be consolidated and increased.”

  Velos didn’t turn but remained focus on the fight below.

  “I could kill you where you stand, Unholy,” he said.

  “You will find I’m not so easy to dispatch,” Onyx answered.

  “What do you want?” Velos said, still watching the Hunter.

  “The same thing you want—to be rid of the Hunters and the Order.”

  “Look down and tell me what you see, Unholy,” Velos said. “Look carefully. How many fights are happening down there?”

  Onyx peered over the edge and saw the Hunter fighting the Shadows.

  “One,” he said. “A Hunter persecuting my kind. This happens every night.”

  “Wrong,” Velos said, looking at the exchange. The Hunter had killed one of the Shadows and was cornering a second. “This is why your kind, gifted with all kinds of abilities, loses against a human with a blade. I’ll tell you what I see.”

  “Illuminate me,” Onyx replied as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “There are two battles occurring in front of us, three if you count her gunman,” Velos began, never taking his eyes off the Hunter. “Let’s focus on her for the moment.”

  “Why dismiss the gunman? Many Unholy have been killed by their bullets.”

  “Because they were stupid, careless or both,” Velos said. “Either way you’re better off without stupidity in your ranks.”

  “They are still a threat.”

  “The gunman is dismissed because he is easily neutralized,” Velos said. “Break line of sight or a direct confrontation will stop most gunmen. Although I did meet one…that will be dealt with in time.”

  “Two battles?”

  “The Shadows are fighting for territory—to stake a claim,” Velos said. “This is what they are taught. They fight for the possession of the area around the park.”

  “From there we expand and take even more ground,” Onyx said. “It’s a sound strategy.”

  “Except that each day the wards renew in strength and prevent that expansion,” Velos answered. “Attacking the ward stones was a good idea, but there are too many redundancies in place for that strategy to be effective. Now look at the Hunter—what is she fighting for?”

  Onyx focused on the Hunter who had finished the second Shadow and was closing in on the last.

  “What they all fight for—to keep us contained and oppressed,” Onyx answered. “It has been this way since the war. They will never change.”

  “That is your fatal error,” Velos answered and pointed at the Hunter. “Thinking they will never change and that they fight to contain you.”

  “What is she fighting for if not to stop us?” Onyx asked. “That’s what they’ve always fought for.”

  “‘If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat,’” Velos said. “‘If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.’ Do you know who said that?”

  “Sun Tzu, everyone knows that.”

  “Yet your answers demonstrate that you and your kind do not know your enemy,” Velos replied. “What is she fighting for?”

  “Nothing, because ultimately her actions are futile,” Onyx answered, his tone hard. “She fights for no one and nothing.”

  “If that were true, the streets of this city would be filled with the bodies of Hunters,” Velos said. “I will show you what she fights for.”

  Velos jumped off the edge of the roof and landed on the street below as the Hunter killed the last Shadow.

  He gave her a short bow and the smoke around him thickened. Several bullets punched into the smoke, three quick thuds in rapid succession. The bullets disappeared, leaving Velos unharmed.

  “It’s you,” the Hunter said as she stepped back into a guard. She held her sword in a reverse grip in front of her body while her off-hand held several smaller blades.

  “Get out of there, Yuki!” the voice over her com said. “It’s that smoke freak. I just put three bullets into him, and nothing.”

  Yuki looked to the side for the briefest of seconds and then faced Velos. She wore black leathers with red accents. A black-and-red bandana covered her head. Both her legs were covered with small sheaths, each one containing a small knife.

  “No, Nelson, he killed the others,” she said. “I need to stop him.”

  “Goddammit, Yuki!” Nelson yelled in her ear. “He’s not Unholy! Get your ass away from there.”

  “He killed Hunters,” she answered. “He needs to die.”

  “He’ll kill you. Leave him. We can come back with more,” Nelson pleaded. “Don’t do this.”

  “No,” she said and fixed her gaze on Velos. “We do this now.”

  “You looked away but you stayed, why?” Velos asked. “If you remain, this will be your last patrol.”

  “You killed Cesca,” Yuki said
. “And Red Jen.”

  Velos nodded. “I hold both their swords,” he said. “Does this frighten you?”

  “Yes,” Yuki said. “But this isn’t different from any other night I go out on patrol.”

  She reached up and pulled the bandana over her eyes.

  “You’re going to fight without your eyes?” Velos asked, amused.

  “I don’t need them to see.”

  “Tonight I will hold your Justice in my hands,” Velos said.

  “Come take it,” Yuki said, unmoving. “If you can.”

  “I’ll enjoy adding your sword to those of your friends,” Velos said, sincerely.

  “That is your first mistake,” Yuki said. “I don’t have any friends.”

  Velos allowed some of the smoke to solidify in his hand and formed Retribution. He skip-stepped forward and lunged like a fencer. Yuki leaped over the lunge and released her blades, replacing them immediately. The blades sank into the smoke and disappeared.

  “Nothing gets past that smoke, Yu. Bug the hell out!”

  She landed in a roll and pulled the com from her ear. Velos slid to the side and avoided the second set of knives that flew at him. He slashed at her legs and forced her to jump back. Black smoke crept along the floor as they fought, obscuring the ground. Yuki dodged several slashes and back-flipped away from Velos and the smoke. She didn’t see the smoke that lingered behind her.

  She shifted to the side as the smoke hardened and impaled her leg, rooting her in place. Velos walked over, forcing the smoke to curve, bringing her to her knee. She absorbed her sword and fell through the smoke.

  “Clever,” Velos said. “Or were you just lucky?”

  “Both,” she said and dropped several charges on the ground next to him.

  He shaped the smoke to coalesce around him in a sphere. The resulting explosion cratered the street and destroyed the façades of the facing buildings. When the smoke cleared, Velos stood alone in the center of a thirty-foot crater. He looked up at Onyx, smiled, and waited.

  In moments, Onyx joined him in the center of the street. He looked around warily, expecting a bullet from the gunman.

  “They’re both gone,” Velos said and released Retribution. “I’ll enjoy taking her sword…later.”

  Retribution hung in the air for several seconds before morphing into smoke indiscernible from the rest.