Part Fourteen of clan SteelClaw Chronicles: Season two

Sabrina and Shaiya looked around the ruins of the mansion dejectedly. Two blackened outer walls lined the mauve sky, but the entire inside had now caved in. Shaiya stopped in the centre and stooped to lift a fallen beam. Laying it aside, she ran her hands along the ash-strewn floorboards. She moved her hand to a loose board and slowly pulled it up. She felt inside, and drew out a book. It was intact. She flipped it open.

“Have you found something?” Sabrina asked.

“No. I mean, yes, just…” Shaiya trailed off.

“If it’s private—”

“No, no. We did not have many images, many… photographs. It could have been dangerous if they ever we mislaid. That’s all.”

Sabrina climbed over the rubble to join her clan sister. The two took a seat on a half-crumbled windowsill, and Sabrina pointed her flashlight at the album.

“Look… we have Flynt there. And Chaz. And Vashkoda.”

“Glowering as usual. Oh, there’s Dayia! I wonder where she is now? And…”

“Thaylog,” Shaiya finished, softly.

The two looked at the book sadly for a few moments. Finally, Shaiya snapped it shut. “I think that is all our search will bring.”

“I can’t believe our home was destroyed like this. What kind of monster would do such a thing?”

“The same monsters that would drive us from it, perhaps.”

“Don’t you miss the old days in the clan? You know, apart from the evil alien invasion force.”

“I miss Thaylog. I miss the clan.”

The two paused, and looked across the rubble and up towards the sky. A rash of stars had appeared and the gurgle of the nearby river was audible.

“I wonder what they’re doing now?” Sabrina said.

***

Vashkoda parried a blow from a gangling vampire and flicked her tail underneath his legs. He tripped forward, and she used the momentum to flip him to the ground. He kneed her in the stomach, and lunged upwards for her neck –

- But as he reached up, Malachi slammed a thick metal pipe into his head several times.

“Is that enough to kill it?” Vash asked.

“Is now,” he said, dropping a lighter onto it, and turned to where Cairo was duelling with another.

“These devils reek of darkness,” she exclaimed. “This is the seventh we have encountered since we returned to Newbridge!”

The vampire moved to land a punch, and she grabbed its arm and swung it around. Vashkoda took a piece of wood and drove it into the creature’s heart. It moaned, staggered and faded away.

“On television these sort of battles look easy,” Malachi muttered.

The three gargoyles took a moment to rest against the walls of the alley, crouching in the darkness. They were next to an abandoned industrial estate that they had hoped would provide useful shelter; unfortunately, other creatures seemed to have had the same idea.

At length, Cairo spoke. “There may be more creatures here, it is not safe. We must find a sanctuary, or these demons will find us while we sleep.”

“I understand,” said Vashkoda. “But I don’t see where. Cesar told us that the mansion was invaded by Zentech, but why destroy it? It doesn’t make sense. As for our other alternatives… I would try and find Ed, but I only know the flat of his friend – where Ed himself is to be found I cannot guess.”

“Oh, him. Flat 253, Munroe Block, Dixon Street,” recited Malachi. “I found it out from his wallet while he was distracted.”

“Malachi!” exclaimed Cairo. “You invaded the privacy of a scribe! That is an act of evil.”

“It’s evil to invade a journalist’s privacy? That’s rough justice. Anyway, I needed to know he was who he said he was. And, if he was genuine but led to your death, I needed to be sure I could track and kill him slowly.”

Cairo did not seem intent on pressing the point. Vashkoda merely smiled at the gargoyle’s manner. In the short period of time she had known him, she had grown accustomed to Malachi’s accent such that it was hardly noticeable.

“Well, your intrusion may have done some good. If we can find Ed, perhaps he may link us up with the clan. This after all, is what I believe he was employed to do, as I understand it. Let us go.”

“Yes,” said Cairo with a shudder. “I feel evil close at hand. There are more demonic forces near… this is a bad state of affairs…”

“It will get better, love,” said Malachi as the three climbed up the side of a warehouse and leapt into the sky. “It will get better.”

***

“Not soon,” said a dark figure on the ground, watching as the trio of gargoyles soared off into the night. “And the evil is closer than you think, Cairo.”

He watched the three disappear into the moonlight, and then turned back to a crouched gang of vampires leering up at him, teeth glinting in the dark.

“Shall we follow ‘em now, boss?”

“No, not yet. There is much to be done first. The vampire army has not come together yet. We’ll find them soon my friends. Until then, no snacking – do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Mord,” came the murmur.

“Good. Let the darkness simmer for a while. They still have many shocks ahead…”

***

“Zentech.”

“Uh, I beg your pardon?” replied Silver.

The door of the cottage had just swung open to reveal a drenched Ed, grinning from ear to ear.

“Zentech are go in Newbridge City.”

Silver went pale for a second, and then said, “Inside, quick, you’ll let the rain in. Now, come with me.”

Ed took his shoes off and followed her through into the living area. Llewelyn was stoking a roaring fire with her hands, while Chaz was having considerably less success trying to roast a marshmallow – it dribbled rather pathetically into the flames.

“You’re holding it too close, dear,” remarked Gigi.

“Go and show him, Gi,” said Ansalong, “Become the world’s first vampire torch!”

“Heads up,” said Llewelyn. “It’s Ed. What can we do for you? More creatures on hovercrafts?”

“Actually,” said Ed, “it’s what I can do for you.”

“Well about time!” said Ansalong. “I could use a snack!”

“Uh, I mean, with information.”

“Damn. But hey, you’re free to come for dinner any time. Seriously.”

“Look, we know that Zentech was responsible for the mansion invasion. And I’ve got the lowdown on their new projects in Newbridge.”

“So you said,” mused Silver. “But who are they?”

“Oh, they’re this multinational, dabble in all kinds of things. There’s a lot of suspicion about shady dealings, but they have a libel department to make Al Capone proud. Leah Daunton, my old workmate, tried to investigate them once, and ended up with some very nasty threats indeed. Anyway, they bought up loads of Nightstone Unlimited and Cyberbiotics’ research facilities for genetic engineering and more vague special projects – which may include vampire style research. They had one for a while near Creighton Park, I hear.”

“Which would explain that Rakaar vampire lord guy we saw,” piped up Chaz.

“Uh, I guess.”

“What about the White Diamond?”

“Tied to some scheme of theirs perhaps? Who knows? Point is, they have big-time resources and if they think the clan is a threat it could be bad news.”

“Sounds like the Dominion Chronicles all over again,” said Llewelyn.

“Dominion?” asked Gigi.

“Oh, that was like Chronicles of SteelClaw, part one – well, that’s if we’re on part two, but I guess a case could be made that this is part three, but then we aren’t even really—”

“Llew?” cut in Ansalong. “I have huge vampire teeth and even I can shut my mouth better than that.”

“Uh, right. So then, plans, plans, plans. Who’s got a plan?”

“There won’t be any plan,” said Silver. “Zentech is none of our business. We can’t hope to tackle a company of that power.”

“Excuse me? They came, they saw, they conquered the Mansion – I thought you were the one on the whole home guilt trip?”

“Four gargoyles against a huge corporation? We can’t beat them, Llew. It’s too dangerous.”

“Um, five,” said Chaz.

“You will not be involved, Chaz. None of you will. This information changes nothing. Nobody is to act. Are we all agreed?”

“O-positive,” said Ansalong.

“Of course,” said Gigi.

There was a pause. “Llewelyn?” pressed Silver.

“Whatever. I’m going to play videogames.”

Ed shrugged. “Well look, I’ve done my duty here. What you guys decide to do with the information… well, that’s down to you. Take care.”

He stepped out into the rain again, and walked away. Nobody saw another figure glide away from the cottage not long after, her palms glowing with flames.

***

The rain soaked through Shaiya’s hair and down her robes, but she remained in the forest clearing, Sirius crouching beside her, legs crossed. Her palms were raised towards the heavens, and gradually she looked upwards and opened her eyes. She breathed deeply and calmly, and when she spoke, her voice was clear and soft.

“Eldora, daughter of the west, wanderer of the east, teller of the future, keeper of the past, hear my call and guide me.”

And she waited.

***

“This is bad… this is very bad,” said Cairo.

She stood besides Vashkoda and Malachi in the ruins of Ed’s home. The whole place had been ransacked and burnt: the door kicked in, the furniture smashed to pieces, the wardrobe in splinters, the mirrors destroyed, the lights broken, the television smashed, the fridge emptied with the food all over the floor, the curtains sliced, the kettle forced down the toilet, and there was the lingering scent of petrol over the blackened room.

“There is no body,” said Vashkoda. “No smell of blood. I do not believe he was at home when it happened – and it must have happened recently.”

“Or he was taken alive,” said Malachi, hopefully.

“You mean we might be able to rescue him?” asked Cairo.

“Not exactly what I meant.”

“Merlin’s beard, we are at a loose end,” cried Vashkoda. “The sun is coming up soon, and all the places I would have hoped to find contacts in Newbridge have been exhausted. And it’s even starting to rain! There must be a way to find the clan, there must be!”

But her cries fell on deaf walls, and she knew it. She sank into a contemplative heap before the remains of the sofa, leaving Cairo and Malachi to hug close together in the ruins.

“If only we knew what happened to the mansion,” said Vash looking out across the city.

***

Several miles away, near Creighton park, a length of chain link fence blocked off a squat dirty-white building, smothered by graffiti. Security was surprisingly lax: or at least, this was the observation of MadBrook and Sabrina as the couple scaled the side of the wall and entered through a window on the first floor.

The window slid open with surprising ease, and MadBrook hauled himself in. He pulled Sabrina over the ledge and they sat together in the gloom.

“I’m glad you came,” said MadBrook.

“I just can’t believe that it was so easy to get in here,” she replied. “It’s like there’s no security, no anything. You sure this is the Creighton Park place?”

“I’m sure. And there’s plenty of people here,” said MadBrook as he looked into the gloom. “Many people…”

They looked around to see row upon row of gargoyle-height cylinders, draped in while sheets. MadBrook moved close to one, squeezing Sabrina’s hand. With a tug, he pulled one off. Sabrina stifled a scream.

Inside the cylinder, floating centimetres off the ground in a transparent fluid, was a clone of some sort. It was not human exactly, but nor was it gargoyle. It had wings, claws, and teeth as sharp as a vampire’s, but it was much smaller than a normal gargoyle and across the back of its head there were threads of some kind of fungal growth.

“These must be the failed experiments,” MadBrook said sadly.

“Failed? You mean… Zentech cloned these guys?”

“Yes.”

“Bastards.”

“We need to release them.”

“What? Brook, no!”

“We have to, Sabby!”

“Are you crazy? We don’t even know that these guys can sustain life. They don’t look healthy – some of them hardly look developed. And even if they are, they’ve probably been brainwashed into being assassins: if you let them out they could kill us!”

“Then we’ll have to un-brainwash them.”

“Brook, this is mad!”

“I can leave them like this to die!”

“You have to!”

“They’re people, just like us.”

“No… no, they’re not. They’re not alive. Not yet. Not properly”

“Just expendable cannon fodder, huh?”

“Yeah. Yeah, they are. I don’t like it either, but there’s nothing we can do.”

“Is that what you’d have said to me if you’d seen me before I woke up? Just another clone, cannon fodder to be cast aside?”

“This is different, these are experiments and failed ones at that! Who knows what kind of problems, what kind of diseases you could cause by releasing them?”

“As opposed to leaving said diseases in the hands of an evil corporation, you mean.”

“Yes! No! I mean—look, there aren’t even any guards here! And think how easily you picked up this information – this is probably what Zentech wants you to do.”

***

At the other end of the room, Cesar entered. He had heard that Zentech owned the facility, and came to investigate. He was surprised to find two gargoyles there. Deciding not to reveal himself, he hid and listened.

“Maybe Zentech does want us to release these clones, and maybe not.”

“These clones could be dangerous, murderous, evil. We should check—”

“We’re releasing them, Sabrina! If what you’ve told me is true, that’s what Clan SteelClaw does.”

Cesar’s face paled, and he slinked out of the door.

***

MadBrook had by now located a small computer in the corner. He started to tap into it. Still no sign of any security. . Sabrina must have had the same thought, as she muttered something about a ‘set-up’. Finally, he pressed a button and the cylinders began to drain as the glass slid away. Creatures staggered out: some big, some small, of all different colours and shapes, some with wings, some claws, some teeth, some horns; some were lame, others blind.

“Forty-eight,” MadBrook counted quietly, and then turned to address the crowd.

“My friends, my name is MadBrooklyn. I have freed you. I know your birth was hard, but we shall help you. We will treat your pain—”

One of the clones near the front collapsed to the floor, convulsed violently for a few moments, and then lay still as Sabrina reached him and put her fingers to his wrist and neck. She looked up towards MadBrook, eyes glassy.

“…But we must get you out of here, to safety.”

“C…” spluttered one in the front, jerking his head forward.

“Yes?” said MadBrook, eagerly.

“C…”

Another repeated the sound, and another as it spread across the room. Sabrina stepped back alongside MadBrook, and the two shared a smile.

“Take your time, my friends. What do you want to say?”

The large orange creature at the front bent towards the couple. “Kill,” he said.

This resonated across the audience.

“No,” said MadBrooklyn. “You do not have to kill. We won’t let you—”

But one of the larger clones had already ripped off the head of one of his smaller brethren, and thrown it violently at MadBrook. It splattered onto his arm, and he gasped in pain as the blood burnt his skin.

“Run, Sabby,” he said as the group followed. “I’ll deal with this!”

“Brooky, your guns! Fire!”

“No! I can’t!”

“They’re killers, Brook! If they don’t kill us, they’ll just kill others! Kill them!”

“No! I won’t pass judgement on the lives of children!”

The two fled into the alley outside, looking back as the clones started to follow. A couple fell to their deaths as they jumped out of the window, but many climbed onto the brickwork or each other and slid out. MadBrook looked towards the end of the alley, where there was a door in the surrounding wire fence. After the two went through it, MadBrook pushed the lock together so that the door would no longer open.

“That won’t keep them there forever,” said Sabrina.

“No, it won’t.”

“Brook, I know what this means to you, I—”

“No, Sab,” he said bluntly, as he scrambled up the adjacent wall and soared off into the night. “No, you don’t.”

Sabrina looked up at his disappearing shadow and a tear crossed the raindrops that were streaking down her cheek. Eventually she looked back into the enclosure. The creatures were mostly puzzled, but at least one had tried to crawl over the barbed wire at the top of the fence, and another was trying to scale the wall. None of them seemed adept at flying. Sabrina walked away, and turned to take off herself.

At that point, the building exploded fantastically, flames soaring a metre high. Sabrina was blown clear into the road, where she scrambled aside amidst the buzz of commuters. She heard the screams of the clones as they died.

“They couldn’t have survived,” she told herself. “Oh God, they’re dead. They didn’t survive.”

***

From the midst of the fire, Llewelyn walked out. She took a deep breath and calmed the flames that surrounded her limbs and that trailed like tears from her eyes. She took a cloak from nearby, draped it over her shoulders, and disappeared to hail a taxi.

The smoke billowed over the city in front of the rising sun.

***

Malachi and Cairo awoke roaring, and looked around. Malachi jumped to attention at once, but Cairo simply lay back against the remains of the sofa when she saw who was there.

“What are you doing here?” Malachi demanded sharply.

“I live here,” Ed replied. “So I guess I could ask you that question. But I’d rather not, nor ask how you found my home, nor why you’re here and ask instead what happened and where Vash got to?”

“We do not know ourselves what happened,” said Cairo. “It was like this when we came here with Vashkoda. We were worried that you might have been taken prisoner. She left to find us a better hiding place and we decided to sleep here.”

“Because burnt-out flats are usually great roosting spots.”

“It was close to dawn. We had to assume that lightning wouldn’t strike twice.”

“Or not in daylight anyway. So now it appears I’m homeless. Great. Just, really, great.”

Cairo’s forehead creased in worry. “Vashkoda should have been back before dawn,” said Cairo. “I fear that she has yet to return.”

“She can take care of herself, I’m sure,” said Ed as he rummaged through what remained of his things and stuffed several objects into a pack he had carried in with him. “And actually, I know just the place where you guys can hide out. I’ll have to make sure we aren’t followed though.”

***

Sabrina entered the dingy cave. A few odds and ends littered it, including the photograph album she had retrieved from the mansion ruins earlier. Nobody was there: no MadBrook, no Shaiya, no Sirius. She went to the back of the cave, and lifted away a rock to reveal her small makeshift rookery with one single egg. She picked it up and hugged it tightly, eyes glassy.

“They’ll come back,” she sobbed. “They’ll come back. They’ll come back. They’ll come back.”

***

“—Cries of pain were heard as the building exploded and it has been confirmed that although supposedly abandoned, a number of bodies were found at the scene. The fire is now under control, and casualties may not be extensive. Zentech issued a statement earlier today expressing concern about what they are alleging may be an arson attempt—”

Ansalong flicked the television off. “Wow, so some nut job decided to barbecue Zentech. Gee, I wonder who?”

They heard the clatter of the back door just before Llewelyn walked in. Chaz, sensing the coming argument, retired to the back room. Gigi and Silver rose to their feet. Ansalong went back to sucking the blood of a stray cat that had wandered onto the farmland.

“How could you?” asked Silver quietly.

“How could I what?” said Llewelyn. “I just went out for a bit. Needed to get a new memory card. No big deal.”

“We saw the news,” said Gigi.

“Oh, yeah. Big explosion, huh?”

“Good thing you didn’t hear about Zentech’s base, sneak straight out, and blow them to high heaven or anything,” mused Ansalong as she took the cat’s head off. “Ew, brain dribble.”

Silver reached out and grabbed Llewelyn’s wrist. She held it up to the light: it was covered with soot and scrapes.

“That’s some body temperature,” Silver commented, letting go quickly.

“Okay,” said Llewelyn. “Maybe I did fly past. But they’re the enemy.”

“That’s not the point.”

“What is the point, Holier Than?”

“That you lied to me, and went behind my back.”

“Hey, since when were you boss?”

Silver’s eyes flashed green, but she turned away. “Fine, Llewelyn. What is your proposal?”

“I did my proposal, honey. Way I see it, we got them before they got us and I got away clean.”

“Mm-hmm,” said Ansalong, spitting fur out of her mouth. “Unless you count the army of vampires marching towards us right now. Gee I wonder who they followed here?”

Llewelyn paled, but Silver did not even look at her. She shouted for Chaz, dragging him out of the back room and turned to flee. Ansalong got to her feet, ripped the juiciest-looking leg off the now-dead cat and looked out.

“I can sense them,” Gigi said. “We can’t run, they’ll catch us.”

“I’ll waylay them,” Llewelyn insisted.

“Llew, it’s suicide!” said Silver.

“Look, I made this problem, I’ll deal with it. And besides—” she raised her hand and let a flame envelop it – “dead things burn.”

“And are you going to destroy another of our homes in the process?”

“Probably. Just go.”

Silver looked at her sharply for a second, and then grabbed Chaz and fled. Ansalong and Gigi opened the back door and the four soared off into the night. Below, they saw the vampires laying siege to the cottage.

***

Standing on a nearby rooftop, Vashkoda watched the smoke blurring across the sky. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure shuffling away.

“Cesar!” she cried, but caught herself as she realised that she would be heard by the people below; and besides, she was wearing her invisibility hood.

She followed close by, noting puzzled that he had a pack with him, though what he should be carrying she could not imagine. When she was only a few metres away, she dropped her hood and called to him. He turned, shocked.

“You… you surprised me.”

“Zentech is up to something,” she whispered urgently. “My friends and I have encountered vampires ever since we returned to Newbridge. I think it would be best that we stick together this time.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he drawled. “That way you could turn me over to your Zentech buddies.”

“What? I would never—”

“Don’t lie! I heard others in your clan – your SteelClaw clan – doing their bidding.”

“Others! The others are out there still? Where?”

Cesar grabbed a loose brick from the wall and hurled it at Vash. She darted aside, growling.

“I’m not listening to your lies, I’m going,” said Cesar, waving his pack. “Don’t come after me.”

“You’re our only link to Zentech, Cesar!”

But Vashkoda found herself grabbed from behind by four strong, cold arms, and yanked to the floor. As the vampire creatures held her down, a tall human figure strode into her line of vision. His hair was red but otherwise he was clothed in black and she noted a long sword glinting in its sheath.

“Not the only one,” the man said.

***

“We’ve got to turn back!” shouted Ansalong suddenly, as the two turned in the sky.

“Why?!” shouted back Silver. “If we stay, the vampires will get us.”

From behind, Gigi tackled Silver. She screamed and her eyes flashed green as the two tumbled into the copse of trees below. A short scuffle followed. Gigi threw herself forward to grab Chaz, but Silver thrust out her leg against the vampire’s calf, and she fell to the ground and found Silver’s knee thrust into her face. But Gigi rolled sideways, forcing Silver to the floor as she dug her claws into her ankle.

“Gigi, leave her,” shouted Ansalong. “It is time to rejoin our kin.”

Gigi stopped, snarling. “To rejoin our kin, yes!”

They were gone in moments, leaving Silver and Chaz stunned in the copse. Silver reached to her ankle and felt it. It was bloody.

“Looks like I’ll have to rely on my wings. Come on, Chaz. We must go.”

“But something possessed Ansalong and Gigi! And Llewelyn is back there!”

“We can’t help them.”

“What, we’re just going to run away? Why are we running?”

“Life is all about running, Chaz. People will tell you otherwise, but when push comes to shove, you can’t do anything alone. When your life falls apart, all you can do is run. That’s just the way things are. Now, come on.”

***

“We must go,” said Cairo, suddenly alert.

“I thought you were going to wait for…” Ed began, before a look from the gargoyles silenced him. Malachi and Cairo crept to the window and looked down.

“Vampires,” said Malachi.

“Crawling up the side of the building,” nodded Cairo with a shudder. “They’re probably storming the staircases as well. What now?”

Malachi slammed his fist into the wall by the window, leaving a huge crack. Again, he smashed his fist, blood smearing the plaster. He set his claws in and started to tear it away, sending the glass also falling down below.

“Out this way,” he indicated.

Cairo squeezed through, and climbed to the rooftop. Malachi moved to follow.

“Oh great, and I’m just supposed to use the stairs am I?” came Ed’s voice.

Malachi growled, grabbed him sharply by the arm and yanked him out of the flat. He caught his arm on the glass, and a shard pressed into his skin. He screamed, but tried to hold onto Malachi.

“Try not to bleed on me,” the ochre gargoyle grunted as he scaled the building.

They reached the top, and Ed glanced at his gash. Cairo looked down the block, and indicated to Malachi and Ed to follow over the rooftops. The three fled.

***

Llewelyn stood outside the cottage. The rain had abated for the moment, and she was able to let the fire surge around her body. As the host of vampires stopped metres from her, she spoke, addressing the leader.

“You remind me of Rakaar. You’re like a Vampire king guy, aren’t you?”

“I am Lord Rakaar’s Deputy,” the leader corrected.

“Uh-huh.”

She thrust her hands forward and sent a jet of brilliant white flames towards the vampire lord. He screamed, was enveloped in flames, and exploded dramatically until all that remained was a fizzing pile of ash.

“Aw, not it’s a former Deputy Vampire Lord.”

The vampires screeched and launched at her. Llewelyn sent fireballs spinning this way and that, burning the creatures as they lunged. She began to laugh as the army fell and burst into flames around her. When they exploded with a deathly stench, she absorbed the fire energy into her.

“Hey, Llewelyn!” called a voice from above. “What about us?”

Llewelyn looked up to see Ansalong and Gigi – but their eyes were alight and their fangs were bared. Llewelyn smiled and raised her arm to shoot into the sky. She wavered and shot clear, but when she moved to take another shot, a powder was poured over her head.

The vampires moved back as Llewelyn felt flames enveloping her. She struggled and writhed but soon was at the centre of a blinding inferno.

Ansalong and Gigi landed amongst the group.

“Altrite dust,” commented Gigi. “I’ve heard that it had terrible effects on the powers of magical creatures, but I’ve never seen it tested.”

“Now you have,” said Ansalong.

“Rakaar still closes in on his prey,” said a sallow-skinned female nearby. “Now we are of one body, one mind, one heart. The vampire army marches! We march!”

“We march!” the vampires joined in the cry.

They swept across the farmland, and down the road towards the town with blistering speed. As human pedestrians passed they found themselves grabbed, their necks smashed apart by the crunch of many hungry teeth, and their dried skins and bones cast into the wayside.

***

Sirius stood up and growled as the rain began to turn to mist above the ground before the meditating Shaiya. It swirled around while the two waited, until finally a figure appeared, holding a goblet of wine.

“You… are a friend of Thaylog. I sense it about you.”

“Yes, Eldora. I have never called on you before, but Thaylog told me that if ever I was desperate, I could come to you.”

“Very well,” said Eldora, sipping the wine, “speak quickly.”

“I wish to find the rest of my clan… but especially Thaylog, our leader. He has been absent many months now and the clan does not know what to do.”

“Thaylog is no longer in this world. His story goes on, but you have ceased to be a part of it. He has a continuing mission, while you, wandering children that call themselves a clan, find yourselves at an end.”

“An end?”

“There is evil in this world Shaiya, and it is now rising in the city of Newbridge. Refashioned in name and face but not in deed, it calls itself ‘Zentech’ and operates in the worlds of man and demon both. It aims to bring an end to this realm, and it is determined, as your friends are beginning to discover. I cannot foresee the outcome, but I feel that the path I have chosen is the only safe route.”

“And what path is that, lady?”

Eldora offered Shaiya the crystal glass. Shaiya took it, but paused. Eldora leaned backwards.

“The wine is poisoned. Die in peace or in pain, as you choose.”

Eldora collapsed upon the ground and faded away. Shaiya held the goblet close to her for a moment in contemplation, then smashed it against the ground.

“Come, Sirius. If Eldora is right then the rest of the clan are in danger by now. It seems like I will die soon, boy. If there is nowhere to run, then we shall fight. Fight and die, perhaps, but fight. We’ll fight.”

***

“We’ll fight in good time, my dear Vashkoda. But you don’t even know who I am.”

“You ambushed me from behind and hold me down with vampires; you yourself claim that you are allied with Zentech. What more do I need to know?”

“As allies go, Zentech seems preferable to your… Cesar. He has disappeared already… although I fancy, he will find escaping the city nigh on impossible. But as for myself, Vashkoda. Well… you and I have a similar history. Can you not see a… family resemblance to someone? The hair is a little darker maybe, but my eyes are as blue. Reincarnation does not change a person much in appearance.”

“Mordred,” she breathed.

“Yes. I was Mordred. Now, I am… Mord. It’s been many incarnations since I’ve used the name. Well… we move with the times. Or in your case, across the times.”

“So I suppose you plan on killing me?”

“Do you even need to ask? But Vashkoda, I’m not such a bad person. We both have causes to fight, duties to perform. Although, I suppose I’ve been somewhat more successful than you. How many of your noble companions are still around, I wonder.”

Vashkoda gave no answer.

“Well. That was… unexpectedly careless. I really can’t believe you’d be so neglectful as to lose your companions in such a fashion.”

He circled behind her and tugged Merlin’s hood from her back. “Ah, Merlin made this. Well I’d best keep it for you. Wouldn’t want a beautiful garment like this getting stained with your blood now, would we?”

Vashkoda lunged forward, but the vampires held her tight, and she only ended crouched on her knees, eyes flared as she stared up at Mord.

“Hmm… I bet you looked like that when you swore allegiance to Arthur. So now Vashkoda, I give you a choice. Swear allegiance to me, and we’ll fight side by side. What do you say.”

“I say…” she said slowly, leaning in with a conspiratory look, “—this.”

She flipped forward and sent the vampires rolling across the rooftop. Grabbing a sword from one of them, she slashed their necks in a flash and watched the bodies wither to dust.

“Impressive,” said Mord, drawing his sword. “I shall enjoy this battle.”

“You’re a human. I am a gargoyle. Perhaps you should just surrender now.”

“I am more powerful than many a gargoyle, Vashkoda. I think we should make an interesting match.”

Vashkoda circled him. Mord leapt into an attack. Vashkoda swung her sword up to parry the strike, and thrust again. Mord evaded, and several blows were exchanged. Vashkoda used her claws and strength to dart around the rooftop; she could dig her claws into the walls and push herself off to leap over Mord’s head and land behind him. Mord on the other hand was a skilful swordsman, quick on the turn, and capable. The two duelled silently, peaking in their concentration; powerful warriors of the human and gargoyle race struggling against each other. As the moon drew shadows of the fighters along the roof floor, the sounds of the swords clinking resonated into the night.

Clink-chung-clikclik-chung-chung-clink-clkk-chkk!

Mord thrust his sword forward and cut Vashkoda’s out of her hand. She reeled back, but the sword slid off the rooftop. She turned to it, but Mord already thrust a blow down, trapping her wing. She snarled and seized his leg, unbalancing it. She reached for his sword, but he rolled with the gargoyle’s momentum and threw her off. Vashkoda landed on her back and she felt the sword zoom towards her heart.

She caught it, blood dribbling from her hands, kicked Mord in the midsection, and took the sword by the handle.

“Nice move,” said Mord, grabbing a brick from the ground. “Your skill with a sword is impressive, if unexpected: I was informed that you never used human weapons.”

The gargoyle stared at her sword for a moment, then lifted her eyes to look at him. “I don’t need this to take care of you,” she snarled, then tossed the weapon over the side and pounced.

Mord threw the brick and forced her to dodge aside at the last moment. She spun her tail in an attempt to sting him, but Mord managed to leap over it and knock her off balance. He leaned in to kick her in the chest, but Vashkoda grabbed him with one hand and held him aloft, gashing his arm. Mord kicked backwards, furiously. His boots smashed into Vashkoda’s face, and as he landed on his feet, Vash scrambled on the ground.

Again, they launched into combat, with all the speed and strength they possessed. Eventually, Vashkoda blocked a blow with her right – injured hand – but held onto Mord’s fist, and pulled him close to her. She reached for his heart. He flicked his boot sharply, a knife appearing from it: it slashed along the inside of Vashkoda’s leg, and she fell to the ground. Mord reached for the knife, but Vashkoda’s free hand enveloped his, crushing down upon him. She threw him clear towards the edge of the roof, and stumbled upwards to kill him.

But she was in pain and her lunge was clumsy; he flipped aside and slipped a dagger from his sleeve, and plunged it into her heart.

“I win,” said Mord. “But thank you for a marvellous fight.”

Vashkoda collapsed to the ground, and from the shadows a host of creatures came to bring the corpse away. Mord knelt down and jammed the dagger even deeper into her ribcage.

“Leave the blade in there: do not let it fall out!” he instructed. “Carry her to my office… later I shall remove her head as a momento. And one more thing – no sipping the corpse.”

A squad vampire looked away glumly as he joined three others carried Vashkoda away. Mord turned to the servants that remained by him. “So,” he said, nursing his injured hand. “Coffee?”

***

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” asked Cairo, anxiously as she landed outside the hospital with Malachi and Ed.

“Look,” said Ed. “This arm of mine needs seeing to, and you need a safe place to hide. Follow my directions and you’ll come to the cottage. You’ll be safe there. Trust me.”

Malachi growled. “Trust you? I’d rather—”

But a horn honked on the nearby road, and Ed never got to hear what Malachi would rather do: he and Cairo took off into the night. Ed watched from the hospital car park, and then reached into his pocket. An air ticket for New Zealand.

“It’s perfect,” he muttered to himself, “the clan will be safe and I’ll be able to start over again, away from all this.”

He moved to the edge of a pavement to hail a taxi.

***

“We must be absolutely quiet, Chaz,” said Silver, as she looked across the railway station which remained empty but for the odd guard. “Only one train departs from here at this time, but it will not have passengers. We must be quick, and hide after the cargo has been loaded but before it has been locked up. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” said Chaz quietly. “But your leg—”

“Will be fine,” finished Silver. “It will be fine when the dawn comes. We must get you to safety.”

They waited quietly on the platform. A guard walked along slowly, smoking a cigarette, never noticing the figures on the roof.

“What will happen to Llewelyn and the others?” asked Chaz.

“I don’t know, dear.”

“Why aren’t we going to help them?”

“We can’t, dear. If I could, I would. But only Llewelyn has the power to take on those creatures and Ansalong and Gigi… well, I fear they have become ensnared. If we fought, I would risk your life. I cannot do that.”

“But I can take care of myself! I don’t want to run away.”

“Chaz, listen to your mother. It’s no good, sweetheart. We have to go.”

Chaz crossed his arms sulkily. They sat there in awkward silence for a few moments until a beam of light illuminated the track. The gargoyles disappeared behind the building and waited for the train to grind to a halt. They watched as it was unloaded and reloaded, and finally crept into one of the back compartments.

“One more box!” came a shout from outside.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, just got the call. Nearly missed it.”

“Look mate, it’s more than my job’s worth to take this one on board.”

“Yeah? And it’s more than my job’s worth for it not to be delivered. Look, that one still has its door open. Shove it in there.”

“Oh, bloody hell, all right then.”

Silver held Chaz in the back of the carriage as another box was shoved in, squashing them further back. The door was slammed shut.

“It might be a bit cramped,” whispered Silver. “But we shall be able to sleep most of the time. The train does not stop until the evening.”

“I… I don’t want to leave here. It’s nice.”

“I know. But we have to.”

She heard the train start up.

“Where are we going to go?”

“I don’t know yet. We’ll find a place.”

“Will there be other gargoyles there?”

“Maybe.”

“Will we see Llewelyn and Ansalong and Gigi and Sirius again?”

“Maybe. I hope so, someday. Not now though. It’s too dangerous now.”

The train shuddered into life and started to move.

“Will it be safe where we’re going now?”

“Yes. Yes, it’ll be safe there.”

“But we’ll be all alone… we won’t even have Sirius.”

“Sirius will need to look after our friends. When you’re safe, I shall go back and find him. But now I need to know you’re safe. If you were gone, it would be the end of my world. You know that, don’t you?”

Chaz sighed and sank back against the new crate. “Yeah,” he said.

Two fists splintered out of the crate that had just been loaded up, grabbing Chaz by the neck. “Good,” came a voice from within.

***

Cesar looked towards the mountain range on the outskirts of Newbridge city. Now out of sight of the road, he passed along a muddy field. After a while, he stopped, sighed, and put his pack onto the ground. His hairs pricked up. It could only be –

“You going somewhere, wolfie? I ain’t finished with joo.”

“Screw you, Varges.”

“Want to see if joo can take me?”

“I already know I can take you, Varges.”

“Really?” Varges replied. “Because guys with bullets in them don’t fight too good.”

“Gu—?”

But before Cesar could finish his sentence or duck for cover, Varges had drawn his pistols and fired three bullets into Cesar, who hit the floor screaming. Varges leapt onto him, throwing punches at his face.

“Joo piece of shit, I should tear your arms off. Where do joo get off screwing up my ops, playing your kid games like you’re a soldier.”

He kicked the creature several times, in the face, groin and legs. Then he stepped away. Cesar was writhing on the floor, groaning.

“I’ve got better things to do with my time. Enjoy playing with fatal internal injuries, freak.”

Varges walked away towards the road, leaving the bleeding Cesar groaning in the mud as the rain splattered down over his body.

***

The rain had started again. It splattered down with incredible force past Sabrina’s cave. She looked outside and could see something moving; a black mass. She felt a sickly feeling in her stomach, for although she could not see them she knew by instinct that they were evil: her time on Avalon left her attuned to such things. She shuddered.

“They might not turn by here,” she thought aloud, “And Brook and Shaiya will worry if I go. But can I take the risk of staying?”

She hovered for a moment, and then returned to the cave. She took the egg and placed it into a sack, hid the album and assorted other items in the rookery, and fled up the mountain. Thunder rolled overhead, and she found herself forced to travel low. Then she saw other things in the distance: creatures of all shapes and sizes flying towards Newbridge. She crouched by a cliff and waited for several winged creatures to pass.

“They’re being drawn towards Newbridge,” she muttered. “Why? Something bad is happening that’s for sure. Oh, if only MadBrook or Mallory or Shaiya or Thaylog were here… where is everybody? Why am I alone?”

She crouched in the crevice, hugging the egg close to her.

“Why am I the only one left?”

***

MadBrook was thrown roughly into a cell, and the door slammed behind him. He reached to his beak, which was bruised and bloody with cuts: the guard limped as well as he bolted the door: the clone had not been an easy capture. The man locked the door with a sharp clank and sneered in through the grate on the door.

“We tracked you down good and proper, you little upstart shit, and we’ll do the same to all your kind.”

“Leave the clan alone, you bastards,” snarled MadBrook.

“I didn’t mean the clan. You’re a clone ain’t ya? Ain’t sanitary for a clone to be pissing about with thoughts. You’re a cheap copy. You’re cannon-fodder. You’ve less worth than the shit on my shoe and as soon as we can be bothered, we’ll have you brainwashed and out happily kissing death. Before my leg heals, you’ll be a grease spot. Think about that as you bleed there.”

MadBrook listened to the sound of footsteps dying away down the corridor. He strained his neck to look around the cell: there was no window except for the grate on the door, and that only provided meagre light. He felt his beak and elbow; they were wet, and smelt of blood. He lay his head back, and shut his eyes in despair.

***

Llewelyn thrashed around, engulfed in flames. “Daaaaaaddddyy!” she screeched. “Siilver! Anybody!”

Nobody listened. She tried to absorb the flames but they clung to her skin and she felt suffocated; she tried to blast them away, but only more came. She tried to run, but she found the force of the fire was overwhelming, and she was thrown about at its will. She staggered, and convulsed.

And screamed.

***

Cairo and Malachi soared towards the outlying areas of Newbridge.

“We’re coming up to where the cottage is supposed to be,” said Malachi.

Cairo replied grimly. “Yes, but look what is coming down the road…”

The vampire army tore towards them, chattering and clattering along the road, the stench of blood trailing wherever they went. The gargoyles looped in the sky to evade them, but an arrow pierced Malachi’s wing and he fell screaming to the ground.

“No!” shouted Cairo, as she spiralled down to join her mate. “It can’t end like this, the demons can’t win!”

“Then fly, Cairo,” whispered Malachi, “find help.”

“They’ll kill you!”

“They’ll kill us both!”

Cairo did not have a chance to run, however. A swarm of vampires surged past them, grabbing Malachi and kicking Cairo to the ground. She struggled and flailed her claws but found shackles locked onto her. The gargoyles were moved to the centre of the group, where Ansalong and Gigi were marching. Malachi struggled along, but the vampires kicked him into pace as they marched.

“Keep moving, you despicable little warmbloods!” one of the vampires shouted. “You don’t need to hang back: no way you can go back to your free lives.”

Cairo watched as they passed a human child by. Gigi grabbed her, ripped the heart from her chest and devoured it before chucking the body behind her for the vampires to tear to pieces.

“Want some?” said Gigi, thrusting it before Cairo, who blanched.

“You monsters…” she sobbed.

“You’ll be one soon enough, dear.”

“No, I have faith…”

“There is no faith any more, dear. Only darkness. Get used to it.”

***

Silver trembled as the vampire creature broke out of the cargo box, smashed Chaz unconscious against the wall of the train and left him on the floor. Silver screamed, her eyes flashing green in recognition as she picked up the scent.

“Rakaar!”

“The very same. I believe you have something that belongs to me, something that you stole months ago… I have been distracted by the gathering of dark forces to these regions, but I have not forgotten.” He noticed the sword she had tossed into a corner and lunged forward. Silver reached out to grab one of the fragments of the splintered crate, but Rakaar was much quicker and already had her by the neck.

“Miserable creature, I should gut you and suck the marrow from your bones. But I can think of a much more potent solution.”

He shoved a broken piece of wood into her leg and slashed at her wing with the sword. He then slammed her face into the floor. She felt her way up, dizzily.

“Chaz,” she groaned.

“Yes,” said Rakaar. “Chaz, your mother wants to take a little nap now, to help her get over her horrible and with any luck disfiguring injuries. You’d best come with me.”

Silver heard Chaz mumble incoherently as he came to while the vampire smashed his way through the ceiling of the carriage and disappeared from sight. She struggled to reach up to follow, but could not: her legs failed her, and her wings offered no support. She could feel the train moving away from Newbridge.

“I don’t want to run now,” she moaned, but it was too late. In minutes, Rakaar, Chaz and Clan SteelClaw were miles behind her.

***

Ed looked at the ticket. “Soon, I’ll be far away,” he murmured to himself. “Soon. I hope they’ll be okay. I don’t even know where they are…”

At that moment, Shaiya and Sirius were making their way determinedly towards Newbridge, and to what for all they knew was their doom. Sabrina crouched under a mountainside in the storm, clutching her egg as lightning struck nearby. MadBrook lay bloody and beaten in his cold stone cell. Llewelyn was writhing as the vampires’ spell engulfed her with flames. Ansalong and Gigi marched possessed in the vampire army, herding Cairo and the injured Malachi along with them. Cesar was slowly bleeding to death in a ditch. Vashkoda was lying dead in Mord’s office in Newbridge’s prison complex. Silver lay helpless on a train bound for another state following the kidnapping of her son.

Ed did not know any of this as he asked to stop the taxi outside the ruins of the Mansion. He could not even say what had become of the others he had been asked to look out for – Flynt and Kahreen; or of his employer, Thaylog. He had done his duty, as he saw it; he had directed the clan to safety. Joining the fight against a powerful corporation that set fire to your home hadn’t been part of the deal.

He stepped into the ruins of the mansion, and looked around. He had never seen most of the inside before it was blown up, but somehow it seemed to be the centre of everything that defined the clan.

'I'm sorry, Mr. Legacy. I'm sorry I couldn't do a better job. The clan helped me, and I've helped them, and for a while I really thought that was my duty. But it’s no good. And now… well, now I’m going. This job isn't for me. They'll do okay, I've helped them as I can. I resign.

He paused, and turned to go, muttering, “They’ll be ok—”

But he did not finish his sentence as a huge hand grabbed his arm and a gruff voice in his ear threatened to rip his head off.