Misfortune Market: A HASEA CHRONICLES STORY (BOOK 1.5) (11 page)

“Don’t you dare,” he hissed.

“We belong to you no more,” the lead Elf said simply and plunged the blade deep into his chest. The action was like a signal to the others. I watched in stunned silence as the Shinroba Elves pounced on the Yokai like raged hyenas. He let out a haunting yell of fear as they covered him. They became wild, releasing their years spent in fear and servitude in screams of fury, matched by the frenzied beating of fists on his body as they drove their blades deep into any part of his body they could reach – stabbing over and over and over, until he was still, surrounded by a pool of slick blood. Still they carried on, their rage only building in his death. I forced myself to look away.

“Where is he?” said Gabriella, appearing with the others at my side. The confused Andrea was with Scarlett, who was trying her best to keep her calm.

“There!” said Delagio, pointing. I spied Malachi’s bright suit, barely visible as he tried to weave through the pack of panicking Pandemonians as they scrambled for the exit. We all sprinted after him.

A second later a sea of black uniforms rushed through the opening, armed to the teeth and led by Larik Godren.

“Finally,” breathed Gabriella.

“By order of the Alliance, everybody stay where you are!” he bellowed.

No one stayed where they were. The market-goers scattered like ants, some turning tail back towards us, and others choosing to try and fight their way through. The Pandemonians and Guardians clashed like titans – the underprepared revelers hitting the floor in seconds. They stood no chance against the full force of the Alliance.

Those that ran towards us barged past with fearful abandon, searching for hidden exits, or ways to hide themselves. The Guardians spread out like a blanket, making short work of those left.

Malachi was among those running back into the market. He took one look at us and his eyes went wide. Skidding to a halt, he scanned around and took the only option left – the rickety stairs leading up towards Albert’s office.

“Come on!” Gabriella shouted to us.

We rushed up the stairs after Malachi. He had picked up a gun from somewhere and fired desperate pot shots as he fled up the last of the steps and onto the balcony. We ducked and pivoted out the way of the bullets and kept pursuing. He burst through the office door and tried to shut it after him, but I lowered by good shoulder and shoved it with all my strength, sending him tripping over the still-unconscious Skinshifter and sprawling to the floor. In a second he had scrambled back to his feet and rushed over to the shocked Shaman, who was deep in his next glass of whisky.

He sized him by the collar of his shirt and pressed the gun to his throat.

“Stay where you are or I blow his fucking head off.”

“Give it up Malachi. There’s no way out,” said Gabriella as we all moved into the office. “Your market is gone. We know who you are. Your only choice is surrender.”

He gave a hiss of fury, his teeth descending from his gums. “Who the fuck is Malachi?”

“You are.”

He shook his head as if dislodging a bad memory. “No…I am the Overseer, you stupid bitch.”

“I think you should give yourself up,” said Albert, swallowing slowly as the gun pressed hard into his jugular.

“Shut up you stupid old fool.” He shook the Shaman roughly and his glasses fell from his face, clattering onto the table. “I will kill you without a second thought.”

He’s serious.
Malachi had been a bit unhinged when I’d first met him, but under the guise of the Overseer he had really gone off the deep end.  There was every possibility this would end badly.

I wracked my brain to think of a way to how to stop him. It was Delagio who made the decision. He snapped out his hand and the gun was wrenched from Malachi’s grip. The Bloodling let out a confused gasp as he was unarmed. We rushed towards him but he acted quickly, wrenching Albert’s neck to the side and hovering his teeth over his jugular. “One more step and I’ll tear his throat out.”

We stopped moving. We had played our one move and were straight back into stalemate.  We all looked to each other for answers and came up empty.
What now?

“You should leave now,” said Albert in an emotionless voice.

Gabriella shook her head. “No, that’s not how this works. We are here to help.”

“You should leave. Now,” he repeated. The way the mayor spoke the words the second time were odd. Like they had a sense of finality to them.  It was then that I noticed something was happening to Albert. His face had gone deathly still and his breathing had slowed. He coiled his fists together and grit his teeth. Like a plug had been switched on, his markings flared white and his eyes turned translucent and started glowing like Sage Faru’s. A low growl escaped his throat and his face turned dark and stormy. There was a loud crack as the picture behind him split. The crack widened until the whole wall had splintered. A second later the plaster crumbled to the floor, patches of it covered in the broken magic symbol. The same thing was happening to his face – deep wrinkles appeared, turning into deep cracks that let out bright light.

Malachi – like us – was stunned. He paused over Albert’s neck, staring down in confusion at the pile of plaster and at the old man, who was now glowing like a beacon.

“I must atone,” he whispered, his voice sharp and unnatural. “Through our death I will pay for my sins.”

He reached out a crumbling hand towards the corner of the room. A metal cabinet standing there started to rattle. A second later it snapped open, sending a broken padlock pinging to the floor. Something burst from inside and flew through the air, right into Albert’s outstretched hand. A split second later I identified it.

A small bell jar covered by a black cloth.

‘No!” screamed Malachi as he realised what it was. He bit down hard into Albert’s throat, tearing away at his jugular. White blood seeped over his teeth and he let out a strangled howl as it burned his mouth. The Shaman started to pull away the cloth.

“Albert, don’t!” cried Gabriella.

“LEAVE!” he bellowed.

“Come on!” I grabbed Gabriella and shoved her back through the doorway, piling through the gap with the rest of the team and the unconscious shifter.

Before we slammed the door shut, I saw Albert pull away the cloth. Frozen in the blinding light that followed was a single image – held in eternity like a celestial photograph. It was of the Will O’ Wisp exploding from the crushed bell jar. Both Albert and Malachi’s bodies were frozen in the process of instant dissolving - the particles of their bodies separated from their bodies as if they no longer knew how to remain connected.

The door slammed shut and the dull boom of the explosion was followed by the door splintering into shards. It collapsed at our feet and the aftermath of Albert’s actions were laid bare for us all to see.

Everything on the other side of the doorway was covered in a smooth, white powder, as if someone had set off a fire extinguisher. Nothing was recognisable anymore – the desk, the whisky bottle, the picture,
everything
had been reduced to base building blocks of matter.

Malachi and Albert had become husks - frames of melted bone and flesh dusted with the ash like topping. 

“I can’t believe he sacrificed himself,” Gabriella said, staring at the macabre remains.

“I can,” I said. “In his mind it was the only way he could write the wrongs he felt he committed.”

No one spoke for a few the next minute – an unspoken moment of respectful silence for the troubled man who had given his life to make things right. After a while Gabriella let out a sigh. “Grey, make sure the Wisp can’t rebirth itself.”

He nodded. “No problem, Huntmaster.”

Grey walked into the room and extended his arms over the bodies. A stream of bright, blistering fire escaped his hands. There was a faint squeal as something close to alive inside them died. The bodies crackled as the flames finished their work and then crumbled apart into nothing.

“There’s nothing more we can do here,” said Gabriella.

“I need you to come and help me heal Edeline,” I said.

She nodded. “Okay, let’s get all this wrapped up and go home.”

“What do I do?” said Andrea, looking beyond confused but remarkably calm considering everything she had just experienced in the last twenty-four hours. I was impressed at her strength. I knew that if this had been the way I’d been introduced to this world, I would be a gibbering mess.

“You need to come with us. Don’t worry, we’ll keep you safe.” Gabriella placed a comforting hand on her arm. “You’re one of us now.”

We left the ruined office and walked down the stairs. Misfortune Market was well and truly over. Those who had survived the clash with the Guardians were being bound in handcuffs or subdued with Apatropes. Gabriella and I split off from the team, heading towards the tunnels and leaving the rest to move around the area, helping our allies to secure prisoners.

“That was close,” said Gabriella as we maneuvered through the hordes of Guardians, giving nods and thanks as we passed. We swept through the curtains and sped up, heading towards the wounded Elf.

“Too close,” I said, glancing down at my collarbone. The wound was so deep it was taking a while to heal – even with Gabriella’s earlier help. The blood was seeping through the deep rip in my leather jacket made by the Devil’s razor sharp blade.

Gabriella looked at my injury and her eyes widened – as if she were seeing it properly for the first time. “Shit, Alex. We need to sort that out.” She reached out to hold me – preparing to amplify my powers, just as I could hers when we were together. I pulled away and shook my head. Pointing ahead I said, “Edeline first.”

We reached the semi-conscious Elf, who was still being nursed by the Goblin family. The Griffin paste had helped stave off death, but she was still nowhere close to being well. Two Guardians were standing next to the girl in soothing tones.

“We’e got this, thanks guys,” said Gabriella.

The Guardians nodded and headed back towards the market.

“You came back,” said the Goblin father as we moved close to the recess, his tone carrying more than a bit of surprise.
He’s probably experienced a lot of broken promises in this place.

“I promised I would. If you don’t mind, I need you to move away from her for a moment.”

The family nodded and slipped from the alcove, allowing us space. Edeline’s eyes fluttered open and she stared at us. “What’s happening?” she croaked.

“It’s okay, I’m back to help you,” I said. “Just remain still.”

Gabriella placed a hand over one of the teeth holes, which made the girl wince. “Sorry,” she whispered. “This will only take a moment, I promise.” She held out a hand. I crouched down, placing one hand on the floor, preparing myself for what was about to happen. I lifted my other hand up, stretching my fingers up towards Gabriella.

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

Gabriella took my hand. Electricity burst from inside me, shooting along my arm like a tidal wave of energy.

Everything faded to black.

When I opened my eyes, I was lying half on the ground – half in Gabriella’s embrace. “Did it work?” I asked groggily.

She winked. “Take a look for yourself.”

Gabriella helped me to my feet and I looked at Edeline. My face broke into a relieved smile. The grievous wound on her side was stitching itself back together – each puncture hole sealing over with a fresh patch of pink skin that stood out among her bronzed complexion. The Elf’s eyelids fluttered together and she grit her teeth as the pain of the quick fix rolled through her. A moment later her eye opened and she sat up, staring down incredulously at her wounds. She touched her fingers to the pink skin, prodding it gently.

“You…you healed me!” she gasped, looking up.

I placed a finger to my lips. “Keep it down or everyone will want a go,” I said in a lighthearted tone.

Edeline gave a smile, but then her chin quivered. “What about
him?
” she whispered. “Do I have to go back?”

“To Gemmell?”

She nodded.

I shook my head. “Never. He’s gone. You don’t belong to anyone but yourself now.

Edeline’s face crumbled and she flung her arms around me, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said through her sobs. I could feel a lump rising in my throat. I rubbed her back.

“My pleasure.”

I pulled away. Gabriella squeezed my shoulder and I smiled at her.

“Things like this make it all worth it, don’t they?” she whispered and I nodded.

“Absolutely.” Louder I said. “Just wait here okay? Someone will come and see that you get back to where you belong.”

Edeline wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Okay. But…what about the other girls?”

I didn’t think about that.
“Don’t worry, I’ll sort it.”

I turned to head back to the market, almost colliding with the father Goblin in the process. “Can I ask what has happened in there?” he asked.

“Justice,” said Gabriella. “You thought the mayor Henwick was in charge of Inferus but he wasn’t. It was the Overseer. He was the one pulling the strings and making your lives a misery. But he’s gone now. We’ll help you claim your city back.”