Fear of Mystics (Saga of Mystics Book 2) (15 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

              Kim braced herself against the cold, then walked across the former parking lot at the east side chapel. The blowing snow stung against her face, as she pushed her way through the sudden meeting which had been called by Minister Sal. Once she arrived, she realized she was one of the last to do so.

              Sal took the stage and began his announcement, “Fellow believers, let us pray. Almighty God, we know you have given us victory, and we continue to count on you for our future. We have struck the demons wherever we have found them, and feel your shield before us and behind us. Please give us wisdom in the coming days, and smite our enemies in the field, and in their homes, that we may retake this land for you. Amen.”

              A loud, murmuring amen rippled through the crowd.

              Sal continued, “Friends, the time has come. Our scouts tell us a large contingency of the heathen are approaching from the west. This will be the stand that breaks them, mark my words. God himself is at our back, and no one can deny him this victory. It is dark, and cold in the city tonight. But this is the time for which God has trained us. We must go door to door and summon our supporters. For we will have a celebration on Christmas Eve. At dusk on that day, we will show this evil force what they are up against. We will burn the heretic free of the possessed spirit, and tell them once and for all, we will not be cowed by their might. For the might that stands with us is greater than that of this world. We will strike down every last man, woman, child or abomination that shows up. So, go. Go, now, before it is even night. Rouse the support of our neighbors and friends. Tell them they are required to join us at the edge of our territory, out on old Powers Boulevard. Tell them that the Almighty requires their presence, so he may show his power to all assembled. And may God be with the Faith.”

              Sal turned and walked off rather suddenly. Kim was left a little stunned. She suddenly felt this was not rhetoric. Sal actually intended to execute Rich Carson by burning. The events of the last few weeks had torn her confidence in whether or not she had done the right thing. Certainly, she understood executing those abominations, those half-human, half-beast things. There was no denying their evil. Giving Annie Grace, the witch who created them, over to the flames was just. But Rich Carson just sang, and made people comfortable. He was wrong, but he wasn’t evil. He even preached the gospel, how could he be indwelt by evil spirits. Ever since she had gone to see Anthony, a small voice in her head reminded her that Rich Carson was her friend. She was struggling to justify his execution.

              Kim followed the rest of the throng of believers back out into the cold. Each person made their way to their home bunk, to dress for the cold travel, and gather what they needed to move to battle. Kim moved toward her area, but at the last moment, she deviated and headed toward the holding area. She couldn’t talk to them anymore, on Minister Sal’s orders. But, she couldn’t talk to Sal either. The man had no grey area. Making absolutely certain no one would see her, she stepped lightly inside the building.

              “Sister Kim?” One of the guards called to her.

              She reacted quickly, “Have you heard? We are off to finally destroy the heathen, and burn the heretic.”

              “Praise be to God.” The man answered.

              “Praise him indeed,” she replied. “I have been sent to let the prisoners know their fate.”

              “Oh. All of them? I thought maybe the doctor…” the man, it seemed had some conscience as well.

              “It is not my place to question the minister’s orders.” Kim answered.

              “No, nor mine. Pass through, sister.” The man said, and Kim walked past him into the dark enclosure.

              She hated what she was about to do, but saw no way around it. Pulling the small baton, she kept in her sleeve for protection, she suddenly turned and brought it down with all of her strength on the back of the man’s head. There was a dull thud, but it was accentuated with a crack that Kim had not expected. Thinking she had probably cracked his skull, she was horrified. A woman’s voice called out form the darkness.

              “Who is there?” Emma said.

              “It is me, umm Kim, I have to get you guys out of here. You and Anthony run as fast as you can west. I am pretty sure a force is coming from the Bluffs. You should be able to reach them within a day or two.”

              “What about Rich?” Emma asked. Kim continued untying everyone.

              “He is weak from the beatings. And he is the one they want. I am going to take him south to give you all a chance to get away. Just go North until you get to the road and then run west as fast as you can.” Kim was worried that she and Rich would be caught, but she didn’t want the others to know that.

              “Thank you, Kim. I knew we could count on you.” Emma whispered. Kim was ashamed by Emma’s statement. It was only chance that allowed her to come around in time. Sal could have killed all three of them before this, and Kim would have watched, perhaps even cheered.

              “There isn’t time, just run.” Kim said hurriedly. Emma and Anthony complied, heading out the door and stepping over the crumpled form in the doorway.

              “Rich?” She asked, as she untied his bonds and removed his gag.

              “Hey, girl,” Rich answered in a whisper. His weakness was clear in his voice, as she helped him to his feet. This was going to be hard, he would not be able to walk well.

              “We need to go, Rich.”

              “Wait, I have to tell you something.” Rich said, frustrating Kim, but she gave him the chance to chastise her. He did not take it. “Kim, this isn’t your fault. It isn’t God’s fault either. It is man’s fault. Remember that, no matter what. Okay?”

              “Sure, Rich.” She answered him, without really listening to him. “Can we go now?”

              “Yep.” Rich said, and limped his way toward the door, leaning on Kim for support.

              As they reached the doorway and Kim moved the unconscious man from their way, the main door of the building flew open and two of the Lord’s Hammer burst in, Cory and Jim.  As Kim stood staring at them, holding Rich up with one arm, Sal walked through the door as calm as day.

              “Kimberly,” he said, sweetness dripping from his tongue, “I thought you were a believer. I guess you want to burn with the rest of them. Take her.”

              Sal turned back to the outside, as Cory and Jim grabbed her roughly by the arms, and Rich fell to the floor. Just before she was knocked unconscious, she heard Rich say, “Remember what I said, Kim.” Then all went black.

CHAPTER FORTY

              Ted’s use of a horse, when so many of the men were walking was grating on him. He wanted to be with his people, but they also needed a visible leader to follow. He had never wanted to be this kind of leader, an officer. He was a grunt, a squad leader, and a good one for most of his career in the army. A man who relished the position of being an officer was riding toward him with a much smaller force. Eric Fine, and his fifty men, were all on horseback.

              His men taking their position riding to the side of the walking force, Eric trotted up next to Ted’s mount. “Council Leader,” he said as a greeting.

              “Lord Marshall,” Ted replied. He noticed something in Eric’s response, but wasn’t sure what it was. Tossing Eric a medallion on a leather strap, he said, “Wear this. The Grand Master was able to make a handful. He said he folded the metal with symbols for focus and defense. He hoped this would work against the Lord’s Hammer’s dulling powers.”

              “So this will keep us from losing our powers around them?” Eric queried, catching the medallion in the air.

              “Well, not really. He hoped it would help. What we really need are gems, and without Cliff, the Hermit is the only one who might be able to imprint them. We sent out groups to find him.” Ted’s answer filled in the gaps, without revealing too much about their defenses back home. He still did not trust this man.

              “Where is Pike, anyway?” Eric asked, turning in his saddle and looking around.

              “He said he is too old for battles now.” Ted answered softly, “I think it has more to do with not wanting to spark up that PTSD again.”

              There was silence for a moment. “They used to tell stories about him, when I was in ROTC.”

              With a note of surprise, Ted asked, “Really?”

              “Yes,” Eric replied, thinking back to some memory he wasn’t sharing. “He was a legend still, even in the eighties. Five Bronze Stars, two Silver Stars, a Distinguished Service Cross, and NO purple hearts. They say they would have given him the Medal of Honor if he had ever even got a scratch in the jungle.”

              Ted listened intently. He had heard stories also, vague recollections that sounded absurd from old soldiers who didn’t wish to remember that war. Pike was the person most prepared for this time. He had always been a close up fighter, preferring his knife to a gun. But he had seen his share of death, and wanted no part of it any longer.

              Eric continued, “That doesn’t even count the Martial Arts community. He was known nationwide, before I was even born. He received a black belt at the age of fifteen, back when it wasn’t common. He taught movie stars, kickboxers and rock legends. He was a god as far as my teen friends were concerned.”

              Ted smiled, “As his student, I sort of thought he was also.”

              “It was what I was most envious of about you and Ward.” Eric answered, and Ted was completely taken aback by his honesty. “You got to learn at the feet of a true Master.”

              “You always seemed dismissive of our martial art.” Ted responded.

              “It was envy, that’s all. You were both good soldiers, I know that now.”

              They rode in silence for some time, as Ted tried to take in what he had just been told. Had this man grown so much, that at his age, he actually had self-awareness? It was hard to fathom. He had known Eric Fine for a very long time.

              The snow had only fallen lightly, so they were lucky in that regard. As far as they could tell, they would not see another storm until after Christmas, maybe next week. Ted wished he had been able to convince Mickey, Brandon and Theo to stay with them. Theo’s ability allowed him to forecast weather, which was a valuable commodity these days. Ted sincerely hoped this wouldn’t take long. He really wanted to be with his family for Christmas.

              “How far is their camp?” Eric asked.

              “We don’t have far to go,” Ted answered, “Scouts tell me they are coming to us.”

              “That’s convenient.” Eric muttered.

              “We will see.” Ted answered, and rode on.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

              “I should go.” She said, with a sadness that Kyle couldn’t shake away.

              He loved Maxine so much. He always had. But, in the months of living close together, he and his young cousin had become very close. They had bonded over the growth of their powers, and he was one of the few people she could talk to about her concerns. She was definitely concerned now.

              “What are you talking about?” He asked her, “Where would you go, kid?”

              “I don’t know. Into the mountains, north, south, does it matter?” She asked him exasperated.

              “Of course it matters, you are twelve years old!” Kyle’s voice raised a little, but his cousin just cocked an eyebrow in the slightest way and tilted her head to the side. It was shocking not only how much the dogs exhibited parts of her personality, but how she occasionally exhibited parts of theirs. Certain looks, certain movements, were just very canine. This was one.

              “If you are afraid for me, you shouldn’t be,” Max offered. “I am the safest person around.”

              “Of course you are, but what about us?” Kyle countered. Smiling a warm smile, he added, “You are one of the reasons we are so safe here. Why, do you think you need to leave?”

              “I am a danger to the camp.” She said it as a matter of fact, and there wasn’t much Kyle could do to argue it.

              “Maybe you could just stay with Grandma.” Kyle let out. Her look had changed, she was in that faraway place in her mind, where she went when too many dogs were communicating with her at once. He couldn’t wait for Grand Master Pike to finish her medallion. The focus would help a lot. “Max,” he interrupted her thought, “What is it?”

              “They found him.” She said. “The Hermit. My pack won’t go in there, the fear is too much.” Her breath became a pant. Kyle could see the fear come across her face. She couldn’t separate herself from the emotion.

              “Pull them back, Max, now.” He said as he ran to catch her from falling to the ground.

              She looked up at him and said in a whimper, “I can’t see him. He is there, but the pack can’t see him. He is a shadow, Kyle.”

              “Pull the dogs back, sweetie. Make them run away.”

              He saw her visibly relax, and knew she had taken his advice. “Get a healer!” Kyle yelled out to anyone who could hear, “And Jenny Martinez! Bring Jenny here.” Looking down at his cousin’s still shaking extremities, he hugged her close, “It will be alright kid, you did good.”

              Kyle’s mind ran over their recent conversation about her being safe. She was, of course, correct. She was the safest person. But, even she was helpless against the Hermit it seemed. This man had power unlike anything anyone else exhibited. Who was he?

              After a few moments, Jack Collins, the most powerful healer they had, arrived and collected Max. He led her back to the healing house to give her some rest. They passed Jenny as she was coming Kyle’s way.

              “Is she alright?” Jenny asked.

              “They found the Hermit. He is south past Eric’s old compound in some kind of cave.” He was concerned enough about Max that he didn’t even look at Jenny. She walked up and hugged him.

              Hugging her back, he asked, “What was that for?”

              “With my gift, it is hard to miss your worry.” She answered, “She will be okay. Do we know why she can’t see him?  I had no problem seeing him.”

              “How did you know about that?” he queried cautiously.

              “It has happened before. It scares the hell out of her, and out of the dogs. But, it doesn’t seem to hurt her, and there is nothing I saw from him that would make me think he would hurt a small girl.” Jenny started in the direction that Max and Jack had gone, the same direction Kyle was staring in.

              “Are you sure you want to do this?” Kyle asked, turning to look her in the face for the first time.

              “Is it hard being everyone’s big brother, when you are younger than almost everyone here?” She asked him playfully.

              “Jenny, I am serious…” He needed to make her see the danger.

              “I was with him for a long time. I can’t tell you why, but he won’t hurt me. Maybe I am the only one he won’t, I don’t know.” She looked again in Max’s direction, “But we need him. He will either come, or he won’t. My guess is that he won’t.”

              “What?” Kyle asked.

              “I have been thinking about it. He isn’t one to do what others tell him to, or ask him to do. He has some kind of internal motivation. That is the only way I know how to explain it.”

              Kyle was annoyed that this was the first time he was hearing that Jenny doubted the plan would work. “Why didn’t you bring this up in council?”

              “I was going to, but it made no difference. They might have waited too long to rescue Rich, Emma, and Anthony. The Hermit coming might make a difference in our favor, but his not coming may not matter at all. It is hard to tell. It is a shot in the dark.” She somehow didn’t seem defeated by this.

              “But, you will still go?” Kyle asked.

              “Oh, yeah, of course,” Jenny replied.

              “Why? If you think it won’t work, why go at all?” Kyle questioned her, he really couldn’t understand.

              “Because it is only a guess. What if I didn’t go, and he could have helped?” She asked, “Besides, I said I would.”

              “But, Jenny…” Kyle started.

              “I am not afraid of him, Kyle.” She answered, “If he had wanted to harm me, he would have done it long ago. He has the strongest abilities of anyone I have seen so far. I am not sure we could stop him if we wanted to.”

              Jenny’s pack had been ready for two days already, and she left before dark. Two warriors joined her, but only until they were close to the Hermit’s position. Jenny had made sure everyone understood that she was to go it alone for the last portion. Kyle wished he could have sent dogs with her to report back, but that really wasn’t an option. He thought on Jenny’s words to him, “
If he wants to help, he will.
” He sincerely hoped that the Hermit wanted to help.