Distant Rumblings Read online

  “Three, one advance scout, two following us,” the gem confirmed almost instantly.

  “Damnation.” I heard Hawk mutter quietly, which made me slow up.

  “What?” I asked, reading the first sign of real concern on his face. Most of the time he looked like he was my age in the way he carried himself. He smiled, joked, and generally seemed to be as normal as a guy from another world can be. But there were times like this when his features seemed to change. His eyes became darker, and it was like looking at someone ten years older than me.

  He shook his head slightly and began to pull ahead of me. “Don’t look behind us, and keep up.”

  It took every single bit of my patience not to look over my shoulder.

  “Ruber, I need my weapons,” he said, his voice barely audible to me.

  “I shall return.” I heard the gemling answer as he vanished from my ear.

  “Are we in trouble?” I asked him, straining to keep up with his pace.

  “Yes.”

  I felt the familiar tingle of fear begin to fill me. Half of me was glad that I was trusted enough to get the truth but the other half wished he didn’t know we were being followed. As we turned the corner I could see the lights on in Jewel’s house, music was blaring from the open front door. Hawk skidded to a halt, his face filled with apprehension. I stopped, not sure what the problem was. “Why are we stopping?”

  He kept staring at the house. His eyes looked like they were frozen in a thousand-mile stare. “Music” was all he said.

  “Music?” I repeated, not sure what he meant. He took a hesitant step forward. The action had none of the normal grace he possessed when moving. If anything, it looked like he was fighting himself.

  “Music,” he said again. “Can’t resist—”

  He took another step and then another. His movements were stiff and robotic; he really looked like he was being pulled against his will.

  I stood in front of him, not sure what was wrong. I knew walking into the house unarmed and moving as awkwardly as a spaz wasn’t a viable plan of action. “We aren’t waiting for Ruber?” I asked as he kept walking at me. I expected him to look at me or at the very least stop walking. Instead, he pushed me aside with one hand, throwing me to the grass with embarrassingly little effort. “Hawk?” I called out, but he kept walking.

  I had gathered myself to get up when Ruber appeared in front of me. Hawk’s bag fell to the ground beneath him. “I brought your supplies as… oh my,” was all the ruby said as it noticed Hawk wandering across Jewel’s lawn.

  “What’s wrong with him?” I asked, my voice rising as my panic grew.

  “Music,” Ruber said darkly. “Fairies are exceedingly vulnerable to Music and its effects. The younger ones can become transfixed by it.”

  “Music?” I exclaimed. “He can fight like a ninja but Britney Spears is his kryptonite?” This made no sense to me.

  “He is already under its sway,” Ruber said as Hawk got closer and closer to the house. “We need to stop its source, but if Spike is in there….”

  “…then this is probably a trap,” I finished for him.

  “Undoubtedly.”

  “I can’t just let Hawk walk in there and let Spike kill him,” I said, kneeling down, opening the pack.

  “Yet there is no way for you to adequately defend yourself against the Changeling,” Ruber said as I realized the only thing in the pack was Hawk’s school materials. “Where is his sword?” I asked.

  “It was in there before I left, there is an enchantment which conceals the bag’s contents from anyone casually opening it.”

  I felt all around inside of it. “Well how do I get it out!” I asked as Hawk got closer and closer to the front door.

  “The specifics were never shared with me.”

  Which was Ruber-speak for “I don’t know.”

  “Screw it,” I said, dropping the bag and running after Hawk. I had to do something. I had to save him, and I was going to have to do it by himself. I thought about tackling him, but if he struggled he would kick my ass in about three seconds. I had nothing that could physically stop him, but I couldn’t let him just walk in into a trap.

  As I got to him, I looked at his face and realized he was completely helpless. Suddenly I got an idea and slipped my hand into my pocket. When my fingers curled around my phone, I knew how to save him.

  SPIKE LIKED the way the humans danced.

  The girl had been as easily controlled a second time, which was a source of great amusement to it. Leading young fairy children astray with Music was an old-world trick. The practice had been outlawed for several centuries, and Spike had never been given the chance to indulge.

  Making the girl dance endlessly for him was almost as fun.

  Spike knew it was just a matter of time before Hawk found it. The prince was not going to listen to him, which meant Spike had to take the decision out of the young Faerth’s hands. For Hawk, it was all about pride and honor, but to Spike, it was about survival. He knew his father would never rest; if he didn’t get the key, nothing else mattered.

  Puck could go jump off a cliff as far as Spike was concerned.

  It was power that Puck craved, and it was power Spike would give him. Spike didn’t really want Hawk dead, he wanted to be able to claim ascension without challenge, and Spike knew how to ensure that. He was the only being the prince had shared the secret of his family’s power with, the true reason they had sent their son so far away. There were allies that they could have sent Hawk to, but none they could trust with the secret of their power.

  Hawk stumbled into the doorway, his eyes were glazed over by the power of the Music, his mind a million miles away. Spike’s face stretched into an inhuman grin, the edges of his mouth touching the sides of his face. He clapped his hands in glee as he moved toward the entranced noble. “Not so mighty now, are we?” Spike said, rising from the chair.

  Jewel continued to prance around the living room; she was moving sluggishly and sweating badly. She had been dancing for more than twenty minutes as hard as she could, and no doubt her body was weak with such exertion. Spike didn’t even give her a second glance as he stepped in front of Hawk. He clasped the prince’s chin with his hand. “You are too beautiful to waste your time with these creatures,” Spike declared, the desire in his eyes making him look crazed. “I will save our lives, and in time, you will learn to love me instead.”

  Hawk turned his gaze to Spike, the confusion completely gone. “I’m sorry, are you speaking to me?” Spike’s eyes bulged in shock as Hawk’s hand shot up and grasped the Changeling’s neck. “You are playing a dangerous game, trickster,” Hawk growled in fury.

  “How?” Spike asked as he struggled to draw breath. The prince’s grip was like steel, he could feel his head begin to swim from lack of air.

  The Music stopped suddenly. Spike looked over and saw Kane holding the power cord for the music box. He nodded to Hawk who reached up to his ears and pulled out what looked like two white strings connected to two buds that had been nestled in his ears. Spike could hear the faint sound of a voice coming from them.

  Hawk’s smile was infuriating. “iPod.”

  Hawk threw Spike across the room. The Changeling slammed up against the wall, hard. Hawk pulled the sword out of the back of his belt and rushed at him with a dangerous look in his eyes. Kane screamed out to him. “She’s still dancing!”

  Hawk’s grip adjusted in mid stride, he slapped Spike across his face with the flat of the blade, stunning the creature and throwing it to the side. “Release the human now,” he ordered as Spike scrambled to his feet. “Let her go and earn mercy.”

  “Mercy?” Spike screamed. “You talk to me of mercy?” His human features melted like wax, revealing the creature underneath. “All I ever did was love you! What mercy did you show me then?”

  Hawk paused, seemingly stunned by the words. “Love?” Spike paused as well, waiting for some kind of declaration from the prince. “What does a monster like you
know of love?”

  The words hurt more than any weapon could.

  “Monster!” Spike screeched. “You think me a monster! I protected you! I defended you! I’m trying to protect you now!”

  “You enchanted the uniforms!” Hawk shot back. “The magic trace on them was of Faerth origin. Raw magic! The type your kind use.”

  “I was trying to scare the boy!” Spike attempted to explain. “He is a danger to you!”

  “You Charmed me! Enchanted the man to kill us!” Hawk roared, bringing the sword up for attack. “What kind of love is that?”

  “The only kind that counts!” Spike called out as he dodged the lunging attack, retreating further into the house to escape the sword. “You aren’t thinking clearly; the human has clouded your judgment.”

  Hawk sliced the air between them with a vicious swipe. “I think I’m seeing things clearly for the first time.” His voice was dark with anger as Spike continued to retreat. “You care nothing for anyone but yourself! Use people as playthings with little to no regard for their life or dignity.”

  “Are we speaking of me or you?” Spike asked, his mocking grin causing Hawk to swing again. “When was the last time you cared for anyone that wasn’t royalty?” he asked, ducking under the sword, moving back toward the dining room.

  “You’re killing that girl!” Hawk bellowed. “You’re abusing the Charm for your own amusement!”

  “And you used it to get your pet human out of jail,” Spike countered. “How is that different?” Hawk said nothing as the words hit home. “Oh, did I get too close with that? You think me a monster but it is your people who have kept an entire civilization under the heel of your boot. Do you know what every race that is part of the Dark has in common?” Spike asked, but answered before Hawk could answer. “We are all hideous by your standards! Ugly serve while beauty rules. Would you have spurned me if I looked like this?”

  Spike’s visage changed into that of a perfect boy. His hair blond and fair, his eyes sparkled golden. He was everything that Hawk would have said he wanted less than a week ago. Yet as he looked at the Changeling all he could feel was revulsion.

  “I’d still say you’re a monster,” Hawk said, his voice heavy with emotion.

  “Why!” Spike screamed, his face melting back to his own.

  “Because, only a monster forces themselves on those who refuse. It isn’t the fact you’re a monster, Spike, it’s because you don’t know the difference between love and obsession.”

  “Hawk!” Kane called out. “She is about to collapse!”

  The momentary distraction was all Spike needed.

  Extending his claws he climbed up the wall and over Hawk’s head, flipping over as he rushed directly at Kane. “It’s your fault!” the Changeling screamed as he leapt at him. Kane brought his hands up automatically as he closed his eyes in terror.

  A spear plunged through Spike’s chest, stopping his forward motion, dropping him to the ground.

  Jewel fell to the rug like a puppet whose strings had been cut as Spike writhed on the floor, impaled on the weapon. Hawk and Kane looked over at the door and saw the three dark elves standing there, one of their hands extended from the throw.

  “M-my lord…,” he said, trying to reach toward Hawk with his arm.

  In one moment all of the rage and anger Hawk had harbored toward the Changeling faded as he watched it die on the carpet. Hawk rushed to the Changeling’s side, the wound was far too serious for anything to be done. “Puck… wants the key…,” he gasped, struggling on each word.

  Hawk nodded, trying to put his life-long friend at ease. “It’s dealt with,” he said, keeping one eye on the trio of assassins at the door.

  “I’m… sorry…,” he gasped as his eyes stopped glowing, going from bright gold to a dull yellow.

  Seeing that Spike was gone, he lowered his friend’s head to the floor and stood slowly. He glared at the dark elves, daring them to move. “You murdered him.”

  Ater nodded. “He was about to kill a human in cold blood. That is against the accords.”

  “You being here is against the damned accords!” Hawk screamed at them.

  The dark elf didn’t argue, he just sighed as he made a gesture with his hand. The spear shimmered and vanished from Spike’s chest, appearing in his hand instantly. “There is enough innocent blood already spilt on his foolish mission, there doesn’t need to be anymore.” He locked eyes with Hawk, and in a much firmer tone said, “You know why we’re here. Surrender the key to Ascension to us and this is over.” The other two elves shifted their weight, readying for a fight.

  “You’re not here to kill me?” Hawk asked suspiciously, as he realized that Spike might not have been lying.

  “I have been an assassin longer than you’ve been alive, boy, I’ve killed more people than you have ever spoken with, each one in defense of our world. I am not a thug who is sent to make a political statement. I am a killer only when it protects our realm. You are not a threat. Your family has committed endless atrocities that need to be answered for, but you are just a boy. Nothing is gained by killing you. Give me the key and vow never to return.”

  Hawk studied the elf’s eyes for any signs of deception.

  “You know I am not going to do that,” Hawk said, tightening the grip on Truheart.

  “If you are smart, you will,” Ater said grimly.

  “Hawk, what are they talking about?” Kane asked as the two adversaries stared at each other.

  “Get ready to run,” Hawk said, seeing the intent in the other men’s posture.

  “Make this a fight and the boy’s life is forfeit,” Acerbus said from behind Ater.

  Ater’s face tightened, but he didn’t even blink as he watched the prince. “Shut up!” he said to the Third.

  The younger elf seemed chastised for a moment and then a defiant look crossed his face. “No!” he called out, whipping his dagger up. “You are weak and jeopardizing the mission!” He threw the dagger directly at Kane, aiming for the point between his eyes.

  Hawk moved as quickly as possible, trying to intercept the blade with his own and knock it out of the air.

  His eyes widened as he missed.

  The dagger hit at the point where his neck and shoulder met, throwing him back into Kane’s arms.

  Kane gaped down as Hawk looked up at him. “Run…,” Hawk said as blood began to trickle down his neck.

  Ater reacted instantly, he turned and swung his blade at Acerbus with practiced ease. The assassin’s head separated from his shoulders without a sound. “I warned you,” he said to the severed head. Turning to his Second he ordered, “Pullus, stabilize the prince, we are bringing him back with us.”

  The dark elf nodded as he pulled a triage bandage from his kit. Enchanted with healing magics, it would stop the bleeding and keep the prince alive at least long enough to get him to actual healers. As he knelt down to the bleeding prince, Kane tried to stop him, trying vainly to protect the injured fairy.

  Pullus shoved him aside without even a glance.

  Hawk gasped as soon as the bandage touched his neck, the blood stopped gushing, and he passed out instantly. “He was an idiot, but his aim was true,” Pullus reported to his leader. “He lives for now.” The emphasis on the now was not lost on Ater.

  Kane watched as Ater took out a piece of chalk and began to draw a circle around himself on the wooden floor. Pullus dragged the prince into the center, giving Kane a warning look: don’t try to rescue him.

  It was a wasted look.

  Kane rushed the two of them, screaming, “Leave him alone!” His fists clenched in rage.

  Pullus released the grip of one of his hands on Hawk and backhanded the human almost casually. Kane tried not to call out as he fell back. Pullus dropped Hawk into the circle as Ater finished the circumference. The instant the two lines met, the circle exploded into light, blinding Kane for a moment.

  When he opened his eyes, they were gone.

  THE CHALK had burnt in
to the rug, like it had been gunpowder that was lit. The smoke was like nothing I’d ever smelt before. “Where did they take him?” I asked Ruber.

  “Back to Arcadia,” the gem said in my ear.

  “What will they do to him?” I asked, not wanting to know the truth.

  After a pause, Ruber admitted, “They will torture him for the key to Ascension, most likely maiming or crippling him for life.”

  I was horrified by the casual way the gem intoned the words. “What if he doesn’t talk?” I asked in a panic.

  “Everyone talks,” Ruber said darkly.

  I pushed Ruber’s words out of my mind as I said, “Can you get us there?” Ruber paused, which meant yes, but he was hesitant to tell me. If he didn’t know, he would have instantly had an excuse why. “Ruber, I order you to open a portal! We have to save Hawk!”

  “You couldn’t stop one dark elf assassin, what hope do you have against the entirety of the Dark?”

  I had no time for logic.

  “I don’t care! He’s in danger, and I need to help him.” I hated the way my voice was cracking but didn’t care. When he did nothing I screamed, “Ruber! Now!”

  I heard him sigh as he floated out of my ear and hovered over the charred markings. “Retrieve the pack and place Spike in the circle,” he said with obvious disapproval in his voice. “There is no sense in leaving anything behind.”

  I raced out to the lawn, grabbed the pack, and ran back in as fast as I could. Ruber was tracing the pattern of the runes slowly; the lights beneath him made the ashes begin to pulse with energy. I grabbed Spike’s feet and dragged him into the circle. As soon as I had him inside, Ruber made his way around, hovering a few inches from where he had started. I looked down at the carpet, and I saw Hawk’s sword lying there, the hilt was stained with blood, which made my blood run cold. I walked over and picked it up determinedly. I could feel the blade pulse in my hand and, for some reason, I found that reassuring.