"Letters from the Front"
Chapter 7
Dear Molly,
Sorry I haven't written lately but things have been busy here. I really don't have a lot of time right now but wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that I'm alive and well.
I'm not exactly sure when I'll be coming home as things here aren't going as planned and I have no idea if that will move the time table up or back but will keep you informed as things move along.
Trust me when I tell you that I've been busy…
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"Why do you do this mortal?" the voice asked. It sounded like the rumbling of bedrock.
"You will not be allowed to roam freely here. You don't belong in this world." The aged Indian replied smoothly and calmly.
"It's no use, they are beyond the point of repairing, and you are trying to hold back a flood with a thimble. You must see that by now." The voice said again.
"I do what I must." Listens to wind said. He continued to spin a web of fine magic from ward to ward, shoring them up and trying to patch the small holes of wards that had stopped working.
"You can't stop me, you can only delay the inevitable. Even now more and more wards are failing, it's only a matter of time before I'm free and then you will be one of the first to die." It growled the voice full of malevolence and hatred for the old man who fought to prolong his incarceration.
"Then you'll have to kill me too." The calm voice of the Chullachaqui softly echoed as it came up a set of stairs across the room from where the spirit of the old Indian squatted while working. "I have no intention of allowing you to be released either."
Listens to wind simply looked up and nodded with a slight smile and continued working.
"You… After all these years I had thought you dead by now." The voice rasped.
"My kind is long lived ancient one. I hope you are not disappointed at my return." It said as it began to inspect the intricate framework of wards and spells long powered by the temple and the evil one contained inside.
The room was huge, the ceiling was twenty feet high and the room was at the base of the pyramid, taking up nearly the entire bottom floor. The walls were adorned with gold and silver inlay depicting the struggle and eventual capture of the creature, showing hills of bodies of humans and animals piled and burning as far as the eye could see as the temple was constructed around the trap that had finally stopped the monsters vicious rampage.
The floor and ceiling were carved with intricate circles and symbols, inlaid with gems and precious metals. These circles constructed the ancient spells and wards that held the creature at bay. One circle towards the center contained the spell that took the magic given off by the powerful creature and in turn fed it to the wards and circles that contained it.
"This is a most interesting containment spell you've constructed." Listens to wind said looking up at the image of a young Indian woman he had known well when he was younger. She was still in the flower of her youth wearing a jeans and a white button up shirt. Her long black hair fell to her hips and it glistened and swayed gently as she moved. She looked at him with large dark eyes and smiled kindly.
"It is an ancient magic that was used when the earth was new and wanderers had visited from beyond to see what had been created. Even for my kind this magic is old and nearly forgotten. Then this one appeared and sought the destruction of this world and all that resided in it. It laid waste to lush forests turning them into desolate desert and draining the life from all it came across. It was here we made our final stand and managed to stop its rampage and here it has been contained to this very day." She said examining the construct, tracing the intricacies of the spells with her finger.
"Compared to me you are but insects! Your lives are meaningless to beings such as me." The thing roared causing dust to fall from the ceiling as the room shook.
"Even insects will sting when attacked." Listens to wind calmly replied. "However, you seem to be quite healthy, I'm sure it is only your pride that has sustained any real damage."
The radiating wave of hate and anger pushed Listens to wind back slightly as he struggled to continue to work.
"Human, your task here is done. I know these spells better than you do and can repair them faster than you. You have been away from your body too long. Your friends are worried and your body grows weak. It is time for you to return." The woman said gently as her hands danced among the invisible strings of power woven into a prison for the creature.
"I can stay a little longer. The risk to me is not that great compared to the risk of this escaping." He said evenly setting back about his task.
"Suit yourself, but don't stay too long and be careful not to go near any of the inner circles." She said glancing at the ghost image of the old wizard. "The inner circles channel his otherworldly power and use it to build up what you know as magic, which powers the wards that bind him. His power comes from outside our world so you must be careful not to touch it or it will destroy you."
Her face softened as she took a moment to gaze at him "There aren't many like you left, you have much to teach the younglings outside. Please be careful."
"They have much left to teach me as well." He said with a wry smile as he slowly moved around the circle to the next section, careful to avoid the inner circles as he mended the weakened wards.
… \\\ … Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest. …\\\...
At first I was amazed at how well Shilpa kept up as we ran through the forest. Then as we continued dashing and dodging our way through the underbrush and following what little trail I had created on the way to find her I noticed it was me not her who started to breath hard first. I was a runner and would run almost every day if I could when I was at home, but jogging along a sidewalk or track is different than running for your life through a jungle. Mouse however, had no problem keeping up with us at an even jogging pace.
I knew we must be getting close as we ran through the trees, my staff and her wand illuminating the forest around us and ahead of us.
"Do you need to stop or rest Harry?" Shipa asked giving me a worried look.
"Yeah, next gas station you see we'll stop for a Coke and a Twinkie." I panted back and redoubled my efforts. Shilpa rolled her eyes then a few minutes later pointed up through the trees. We could see lights around the temple and closer lights around the perimeter of the city. "We're almost there." I told her reassuringly.
As we came closer Mouse let out three loud barks that nearly rattled the tree tops. Then I heard voices ahead. We slowed to a fast jog as we came around the corner of a ruined building just inside the tree line to see two wardens standing near what looked like a bonfire with their staves leveled at us.
"It's us!" I said quickly raising my hands.
"How do we know it's really you and not one of those things? They can look like anyone." The younger warden blurted out, holding his staff in shaky hands.
"First off they look like a loved one, so unless you have some feelings for me that I don't want to know about, then I'm me. Secondly, don't be an ass, get out of my way." I snapped at the new warden and brushed past him pushing his staff aside.
"Yep, it's him." The older warden said with a grimace and turned back to observe the tree line.
"Look sharp there's a bunch of pissed off vampires following us." I warned them. The older one sent up a burst of orange flame high into the air from the tip of his staff, raising the alarm that the enemy was closing. Around the camp there was movement and orders being barked as the wardens readied themselves for an impending attack.
Shilpa giggled and gave me a sidelong glance as we pushed into the ruined city. I noticed her cheeks were a little flushed and her half smile before she saw me looking at her. She quickly pushed past me towards the main group of wardens farther in the city center. "We must get to the Captain to report what's happening." She said as she pulled just ahead of me.
We hurried towards the ancient temple and were half way through the city when the first wave of vampires hit the tree line. There were shouts of surprise and the sound of swords clashing and automatic weapons firing as flashes of light and the discernible pulses of power being unleashed to repel the attackers.
"I see you brought friends." Luccio shouted at me as I climbed the steep stairs with the sounds of fighting trailing behind us. My legs and lungs were on fire and still moving out of sheer force of will as we reached the top. Panting and red faced I saw Anastasia surveying the battle and giving orders as other wizards were casting various spells, some offensive others defensive as the sounds of the chaos began to get louder as the growing number of intrudes was met by the wardens.
"It's only fair. I crashed their party first." I replied as I drew close enough to see the crystal tile setting on a makeshift table near the door to the temple. It had small pebbles of red and white around the edges and as new enemies or wardens entered the area depicted in the crystal, the pebbles would move showing positions and movements.
"Seriously Dresden, I can't take you anywhere without you starting a ruckus." She sarcastically as she studied the tile and pebbles closely.
"You can say that all you want to, but I'm never boring."
"I'll give you that, but I could use boring now and then." She said quietly as she studied the enemy movements.
"Where's Carlos?" I asked stretching my back and looking around the city seeing the flashes and explosions moving either side and starting to fall back in the middle. Meaning there were more vampires converging on the city and pushing our men back.
"He's leading reinforcements into the fight near where you came into the city. It's where most of the fighting is going on."
"Make sure you hold some back for when they try to flank us." I heard myself say, regretting those words as they escaped my big mouth. Captain Luccio didn't say a word and only looked at me briefly but that was enough to make me wish I was somewhere else. Shilpa took a nervous step back and to the side, distancing herself from me.
"Captain, where can I help?" Shilpa asked with more confidence and conviction than I expected from her at this moment.
"You and Warden Dresden should stay here for the time being. Eventually we'll be fighting to defend this temple if they keep coming in these numbers. Catch your breath and prepare yourself." Captain Luccio said without turning her head.
Shilpa and I moved back towards the stairs and sat down. My feet were dangling over the edge of the huge stone for this step of the temple. I could feel the muscles in my shins and lower back beginning to knot as I leaned my head to one side then the other, eliciting a series of dull pops from my neck and spine.
"Harry, are you okay?" Shilpa asked quietly almost sheepishly.
"I'm fine, just a little tired."
"Why did you do it, Harry?" She asked in the same small quiet voice, her accent giving color and depth to the question.
"Why did I do what?" I asked with a sigh, stretching my back as I turned to her.
"Why did you come to save me?"
"You're my partner and a damned good warden." I told her without thinking.
"Is that the only reason?" She asked with an odd note to her voice that I couldn't place. Somehow it seemed familiar and made me think of Molly.
"Do I need another?" I asked blankly, not sure what she was getting at.
"I was just… I thought maybe, there was a reason you came for me." She said barely audibly, her face hidden by her shiny obsidian hair.
"I came because I promised you that I'd protect you. You're going to be a great warden, you know. You have a lot of promise and a good head on your shoulders." I told her trying to be as encouraging as I could. I suspected that her quiet demeanor had to do with the fact that she'd been held by the enemy and she may be mistaking bad luck for weakness. "That and you are the only person I know who can make tea I actually like to drink." I told her with a smile at the end.
Her shoulders seemed to droop a little before she spoke again. This time her voice was clearer and more formal. "Thank you for saving me Warden Dresden. I won't forget your kindness." With that she turned away from me and got up and walked around the corner of the small room at the top of the temple and out of sight.
I watched her disappear around the dark corner as I felt a furry weight drop into my lap. Mouse looked up at me with soulful knowing eyes that seemed to be trying to imply I was missing something and then he closed them with a sad sigh. I scratched behind his ears and between his shoulders as I took inventory of what I had on hand to be ready for the fight ahead.
I was just finishing organizing my pack when a blast and high pitched shriek came from my right. It came from the corner Shilpa had disappeared behind. I was on my feet pulling on my duster and pushing power into my staff as I turned the corner. I saw Shilpa crouched at the corner of the building, leaning far enough forward to see the down the side of the temple. She was sending white bolts of force down the sides of the temple, each causing a shriek of pain from a different vampire as they tried to scramble up the temple blocks and knocking them back to the ground with heavy thuds.
I saw two of them coming up the far side, trying to hide under the cover of the brush and vines that covered this side of the temple. Although they were faster than humans, the vines and branches slowed them considerably. I didn't hesitate as I leveled my staff at them, sighting down the shaft as I compressed the anger and the rush of battle into the staff. My knuckles turned white as my lips curled, "Fuego" I hissed. With that I sent an orange sized ball into the front vampire that dared to try to accost my partner yet again this night.
The super heated ball of fire expanded quickly igniting everything in a twenty foot radius of the vampire and causing the sandstone to begin to vitrify from the heat. The vampires barely got out a shriek as the fire engulfed them and ignited their lungs as they inhaled while gasping in pain. The fire gave an orange glow to the side of the temple and the deep roar of the fire spreading unnaturally quickly through the underbrush alerted the other wardens to the intruders' presence.
Shilpa turned her attention to the next small group trying to ascend the temple and with a word a streak of brilliant silver light slammed into the vampire as a narrow cone of force catching the one behind him as well and throwing them like rag dolls into an ancient tree. The impact of their bodies sent bark and splinters and vampire innards flying in various directions and then their crushed bodies slumped to the ground.
I saw another vampire leaping from stone to stone, climbing the temple like a teenager who was late for class. I tried to hit him with a couple of bolts of fire but he was too fast, dodging just as the spell drew close. He was nearly at the top of the temple, dodging to the right as my spell went wide to the left. His foot nearly hit the top of the temple in front of Shilpa when his body impacted hard against an invisible flat surface. He hung in the air for a moment like Wile E. Coyote in a daze as the force of his jump pinned him against the shield.
"Forzare" I spat in rage and anger and sent a fist sized ball of force just below his sternum, doubling him over and snapping his spine. His eyes bulged and face twisted silently as he hurled backwards into the darkness, leaving a trail of thick oily blood as he disappeared into the forest canopy.
Two other wardens had arrived and flanked Shilpa each of them sending spells and death down on the heads of the crazed vampires. There was a shrill howl that made my ear drums ache and caused the vampires pulled back. In the darkness below I could see more of them milling about just in the tree line but all I could make out were movements not numbers or see where they were concentrated. I knew there were more than what we had seen but couldn't determine how many more.
"Fuego" I shouted and sent a beam of condensed and super heated fire into the tree line and pulled it in a line parallel to the base of temple causing screams where it penetrated into the mass of vampires and sending brilliant flames licking up into the foliage where it touched anything flammable. The fire I'd started on the far edge of the temple had spread considerably and was moving down along the edge of the ancient city consuming crumbling buildings and pushing into the ancient forest. It may have been reckless but it was a viable barrier to make the vampires think twice before advancing on this side of the temple again. The searing heat and light taking away most of their advantage.
"That should hold them off for a little bit." I grumbled glancing to see shilpa lean back sitting on her heels and looking pale.
"Hey, are you okay?" the nearest warden asked.
"I'm fine, just really tired." She replied, her words quiet she sounded exhausted. The warden gave me an exasperated look as he slipped his arm under her shoulders and lifted her.
"She's had a rough day and is not used to combat." I told him seeing her eyes half open as she fought to stand on her own, but her legs were simply too wobbly to support her.
"Let's get you over here when you'll be safe." He told her sympathetically as he half dragged her back towards where Captain Luccio and a group of wardens were set up.
A few moments later two younger wardens showed up. They watched the inferno that was quickly growing into a full blown forest fire. They looked at the blaze and glanced uneasily at me then quickly turned back to the fire and burning bodies strewn along the side of the temple. Feeling a profound sense of satisfaction, I turned away from the smoke and heat.
"I think you can take it from here." I said dryly and turned on my heel to check in with Luccio. The two new wardens didn't say anything but simply nodded in agreement and took their places next to the senior warden to keep watch.
Mouse joined me as I came around the corner and headed to the far end of the temple. Shilpa lay a few feet away from where Captain Luccio was set up and was sipping water from a metal cup. Her hands looked shaky and her lips looked thin and pale as she held the shiny cup to her mouth taking long slow sips.
"Look after her, keep her safe." I said quietly to mouse, rubbing his head. He bumped my thigh as he moved past me and then over to Shilpa. Mouse sat next to her as she leaned against the cool stone of the temple, making her look tiny and delicate in the torch and fire light. Mouse licked her face and then rested his head on her knee. Even though she was exhausted to the point of collapse, her hair was disheveled and matted to her head from sweat, somehow her smile shone like a beacon in the darkness as she reached out to pet the large pile of fur and muscle next to her. "Good boy." I thought to myself and then headed directly to Luccio.
"How are we doing?" I asked as I stepped next to the Captain.
"They seem to be holding back for some reason. They are keeping pressure on our lines but aren't trying to overrun us." She said with a scowl. "They're up to something." She said quietly to me.
As I looked around the city I noticed a mist coming in from the North. The majority of the fighting was going on in the Eastern part of the city and we had already been attacked from the West a few minutes ago. Normally fog in a rain forest, especially after dark with a large fire in the area wouldn't be terribly suspicious. This fog however seemed too dense and didn't branch out into the side streets or open areas. The fog looked like a tall, billowy, white carpet slowly rolling up to the temple.
"Captain Luccio…" I said nodding at the anomaly.
"What's this?" She asked curious.
The fog drew closer and was two maybe two and a half feet tall and about five to six feet wide as it purposefully rolled closer and closer to the temple. There didn't appear to be anything moving in the fog or any vampires crawling through it or walking in it, but it simply kept coming.
The sounds of gunfire, spells and screams seemed to intensify from the East where the bulk of the fighting was going on. Then on the West edge of the temple shouts could be heard along with the hiss of bullets and other projectiles coming over the far wall.
"Whatever they've been planning is going to happen now. Everyone be alert and stand ready." Luccio barked as she stood, pulling her cloak around her and drawing her sword and staff. We moved together to the top of the stairs of the temple and faced the mysterious fog together.
"Could it be an illusion or veil?" I asked quietly as the edge of the fog neared the steps of the temple.
"Anything's possible." She said softly.
"Everyone, stand your ground. We'll teach these bastards a lesson they won't forget." She barked bravely. Every warden in ear shot seemed to grow a few inches taller and their backs became just a little straighter.
Shilpa tried to push herself up to join us but Mouse simply stretched over her lap and legs, resting his chest on her, effectively pinning her in place and covering most of her body with his massive form and soft fur. She tried in vain to push him off and protested loudly a few times with no success before she ran out of steam and simply pulled her staff and side arm next to her giving me a truly angry glare.
As the fog touched the bottom step it stopped and the trail of fog kept rolling forward building a column slowly. Eventually the fog had grown into a cylinder ten feet in diameter and roughly seven feet tall, like a billowy column held in place by some unseen container. Then I felt a soft thrum of power as the fog began to condense.
A younger warden leveled his staff and sent a strong gust of wind down the stairs and into the fog, blowing leaves, dust and small branches flying as it went. The ground around the column was blown clean of dust and debris but the column itself seemed unaffected.
"That's enough. Wait…" Luccio barked waving for the wardens to hold their fire as they leveled staves, rods and firearms at the mist.
As if on command the column shrunk and the fog condensed quickly into three forms and after a few seconds the white mist gave way to three vampires dressed in crimson and black. In the center of the three figures stood their leader with a smug and superior look on his face and he wore a suite that looked like something John Marcone would wear. It was a good entrance, I'll have to give him that but it was his arrogant look that made me want to go down there and smack that look off his pale, pointy face.
"Stand aside wardens. I want no quarrel with you but if you stand against me, we will kill you all." He said in a cold even tone.
"Then why don't you and your friends just go back the way you came and we'll call it even." I snapped back.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. In case you haven't noticed its night now, we have the advantage. Do the smart thing warden, save your men and yourself and just leave." He said casually giving another toothy smile, his sharp fangs glinting in the fire light.
I started to speak but Luccio put a hand on my arm, so I simply replied with an indignant glare. I felt my cheeks flush as my fingers tightened around my staff, I could feel the power building in the wood with each heartbeat. I didn't like this guy and didn't take kindly to threats or being bullied by someone in designer clothes. This scum was Marcone with fangs. I had a visceral reaction to his taunts and voice. Something made me want to hurt him just for being such an ass. He must have been old because nobody can get that good at being a prick in one lifetime.
"What is your business here and who are you?" Luccio asked diplomatically.
"How rude of me, I am Duke Antuna, Third Lord of the Outer Darkness and servant to the one true king." He said giving a flourishing bow that was both smooth and graceful. Then he looked directly at Luccio and continued with that smug look again. "Our business is of no concern to you. I'm simply offering you a chance to cut your losses and free passage from this place, for one slight concession. In a time of war, with you being out numbered in enemy territory, it is a generous offer. I suggest you take it."
"What is this, slight concession you ask for?" Luccio asked suspiciously.
"Him, I want Warden Dresden. In exchange the rest of you may leave with your lives." He said pointing a long slender finger towards me.
"Trust me, you don't want him. He's nothing but trouble and eats more than you'd think." Luccio said off handedly. "Besides," She said, her voice turning serious she regarded the vampire with contempt, "I don't bargain with my wardens lives and I sure as hell don't leave them behind for the enemy."
"You can't say we didn't try." He said with a nod never taking his eyes off Luccio. His arms moved from his side and flung forward in a blur of motion. The captain's sword moved nearly as fast, parrying two copper, leaf bladed daggers. They sparked against her silvery blade and arched up and past her clanging into the wall behind her.
The two behind the Duke moved quickly to either side as he charged up the stairs directly at Luccio and I.
Automatic gun fire erupted to our left as bullets sparked in an uneven line trailing one vampire, shouts and muzzle flashes from large caliber hand guns erupted to either side as bullets and spells rained down the side of the temple.
The wardens to the West shouted and fired as a group of Patasola and crazed vampires emerged from the burning tree line and rushed the temple. We were engaged on two sides of the temple and didn't expect any reinforcements as the battle raged to the East. I sent bursts of force and fire down the side of the temple ripping the Dukes pants and burning away the shoulder of his fine suit, much to his displeasure.
He was moving fast and hard to hit, but he was coming for me and Luccio. Dukes were some of the worst of the worst when it came to vampires. They were typically the oldest, smartest and most dangerous, which is how they lived long enough to attain their position. All the same, he was just another vampire. He would bleed and burns just like the rest of them, assuming I could hit him.
Luccio mumbled something and swung with her sword, causing a large slash across the Dukes chest, sending blood spatter across his ruined suit jacket. He didn't scream or even wince. He simply narrowed his eyes and extended his arms. The skin on his hands and face split and pulled away revealing razor sharp claws and his smooth, oily face, black eyes and skin accented by a maw of razor sharp teeth and fangs.
Luccio swung again and again, quickly and nimbly slicing through his suit and flesh mask but missing any vital organs. His black blood was leaking from various cuts but that didn't stop him. instead he poured on the speed in a final burst to clear the top of the temple.
I managed to hit him with enough force to smash a minivan like an empty coke can and it only slowed him. At the last moment he veered from Luccio towards me, hitting my shield spell sending sparks from my wrist and burning my wrist as the shield failed. The vampire plowed into me, lifting me off my feet and drove me back. I turned my head looking for something to grab and stop myself. I saw the gold doors rushing towards me just before I felt more than heard the thud of our impact. For a moment I was being crushed between the vampire and the ancient sealed metal doors. There was a loud crack and pop as the doors and one of my ribs, gave way. The vampire and I burst through the doors. The pressure from the spells, explosions and vampires shoulder in my chest all mingled into a single symphony of pain for all my senses. I could feel heat, force and power all in lethal quantities, pushing my duster around my body as the Duke and I rolled into the cool musty darkness.
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I know I promised you a longer letter but I have some things that urgently require my attention. I promise I'll write again soon when I have time.
Please give my best to your family, Murphy and Thomas.
Harry