Demon Singer II (14 page)

        Lyric didn't answer, focusing on the lump in his hand.  It was white and cold and oddly malleable, like a plastic bag filled with slush. He squeezed it gently and they all winced at the brilliant light that shone forth.

        "That'll do nicely!" Aidan crowed.  "Angus' flashlight will be forgotten when everyone sees this. Thank you." He held out his hand for it. Lyric tried to hand it to him and immediately it burst, like a water balloon.

        "Sorry," the Singer said ruefully. "I made my body the power source.  I don't think it can be passed around or let go of."

        Aidan shook his head.

        "No problem. I can work around that."  The Blue Man focused on his own hand and hummed an impressive approximation of Lyric's song.

        Immediately water began condensing on his palm. As he hummed he moved the fingers of his opposite hand as though shaping clay. In a matter of seconds Aidan was holding his own slush potato. His was a brilliant green on one end and much smoother.  

        Lyric watched, impressed at the Blue Man's ability. He supposed after watching the crew build a giant ship in a handful of minutes he shouldn't be surprised at Aidan's knack for light up slush potatoes. Still, this whole business of them singing with magic raised some interesting questions about the exclusivity of the Soul Singers Guild.

        He had some pondering to do.  He noticed Aidan suddenly looked surprised.

        It took Lyric's brain a second to realize the ship had dropped twenty feet abruptly and left him suspended in midair. It was surreal. In the brief space of time he had to look at his companions before he landed back on the deck he was able to register each of their expressions. Cadence looked ready to throw up, Aidan looked surprised and Acheron looked sleepily annoyed.

        Lyric landed heavily, and pain shot through his ankles. Determination alone prevented his knees from buckling. Newton's third law of motion - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - reared its ugly head and the deck ascended like an angry elevator, throwing them back into the air.

        Lyric reached through the tie to both girls and found the demoness calm but irritated and Cadence was a tightly controlled basket case.  Without pausing to figure out how he did it, Lyric drew on Acheron's calm and shunted it into Cadence's fear, managing to restore enough equilibrium to allow the warrior to function intelligently. This time upon landing they were able to better compensate for the insane shifting of the carrack.

        Lyric looked to Aidan, but the man was running toward the bow of the ship. Turning his own attention to the Score he attempted to discern what had happened.  There was a ponderous melody dominating the music that hinted at something enormous and alive and sinister.

        "It's the Bloop!" One of the crew members shouted.  Lyric watched as the Blue Men hurled themselves over the rails into the dark water below.

*   *   *   *   *

        Amnia Nit Too spent much of his spare time curating a cryptozoological website he fondly referred to as wickedpedia for the Soul Singer's Guild. It was an amalgamation of all of his findings, research and theories on the supernatural and fantastic flora and fauna on the earth.

        Among the entries tagged “mystery to be solved later” was one titled “the Bloop”.

        In nineteen ninety-seven, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association detected a unique sound in the ocean. Never before had a single noise been picked up by sensors almost there thousand miles apart.

        Additional interest was generated when one expert posited the sound was consistent with a biological entity.

        It was made by something that was alive.

        Nit’s fascination with this particular mystery lie in the fact that the loudest known living creature in the world is the blue whale, whose song comes nowhere close to being loud enough to be the Bloop.

        The most popular theory offered by the scientific community is that some gigantic oceanic ice cubes banged together or split apart, making the odd “bloop” sound.

        Nit had experienced far too much supernatural weirdness in service to the Guild to so readily blame ice.

        He put forward his favorite theory to Lyric one evening when they were tracking down a group of Russian vampires smuggling orphans into Poland. Nit believed the Bloop to be a giant mat of sentient seaweed floating in the Bermuda triangle that had developed a way to vocalize. Lyric believed Nit's first experience with vodka shouldn't coincide with his sciencing for the Guild.

*   *   *   *   *

                Lyric noticed Cadence was suddenly very calm.  Looking to her he noted an odd gleam in her eye that was confirmed by the sensations crossing the Soul Tie. The ocean was forgotten. She was excited and preparing to fight. An image in her mind flashed across to him and Acheron as the Verger produced a long harpoon from her hiding place and took off running in the direction Aidan had gone. The image was unmistakable, though he'd only ever read descriptions. It made a lot more sense than a clump of intelligent, noisy seaweed.

        Cadence was preparing to fight the Leviathan.

Chapter 10

        Sabre ran a whet stone down the edge of his blade. Not for the first time he wished he had some old fashioned guns. Part of living behind the first veil meant living without certain human conveniences. Human technology didn't work for beans in any second sight city and most modern weaponry was useless. Either it didn't affect a given enemy or it didn't work right. Rumor had it there were working guns among the subterranean supernaturals. He had yet to see proof of that, though.

        “Sir.”

        Sabre looked up to see Iann Nocent waiting for his attention.

        “Report, soldier.”

        Nocent blushed at the general's compliment. Sabre knew he wanted to join the Lux. The boy had more heart than most but he needed experience before he could be part of the Unbeaten Legion. For now he would remain a city guard. Sabre referred to him as ‘soldier’ to let him know his request hadn’t been forgotten.

        “King Hefit’s brother has sent word out that he's reopening the southern post office.”

        Sabre’s brows drew together. He wasn't a fan of Thenso Hefit, but he loathed Ligny entirely. Why a slimy bastard like him would be put in charge of potentially sensitive correspondence was a mystery to the general.

        “Any word on why?”

        “No sir, but the postmaster here in the palace said you need to know that Ligny hasn't registered any routes with him-”

        “So why open the office if it's not doing any work?” Sabre finished for him.  He understood the postmaster’s concern. Everyone was on edge these days and unexplained changes to the city's infrastructure were mandates to pay attention. Sabre, however, was disinclined to focus on anything other than turning Gar Lich into an object lesson for anyone else looking to harass his city. “Is that all?”

        “No sir. The cemeteries are empty.”

        “What?”

        “All the cemeteries in the city, sir, they've been emptied.”

        Sabre stood up and sheathed his sword.

        “Head to the gates, I want the quiet alarm sent out. Get the people headed to their homes.”

*   *   *   *   *

        Lyric watched in fascinated terror as the enormous head rose above the bow of the Gaoithe Mhín. The logical part of his brain was asking why he felt so scared. The scared part of his brain was asking why he wasn't jumping in the water and swimming far, far away. It made no sense, he had faced monsters - and his own mortality - enough times that a giant sea serpent should not shake him like this.

        The monster's eyes looked to be as wide as Lyric was tall. They shone brightly from the black hide. The beast was easily the size of the Carrack.

        The Singer understood what had happened now. This monstrosity must have hit the bottom of the vessel, causing the involuntary acrobatics they had just experienced.

        Captain Glas was bawling orders at the crew. Blue Men still on deck were arming themselves and scattering. Some dove into the ocean, some threw themselves at the monstrosity, clinging to enormous scales, looking for weak spots.  He heard one shout something about needing a bigger boat that elicited cheers from his comrades.

        Lyric forced aside the terror and turned to Acheron.

        "We need to help Cadence!" He shouted.

        "Sure," the demoness said airily.  "Let me just ask one of my friendly neighborhood sea monster friends to come-"

        Lyric didn't hear the rest of what Acheron said because the Leviathan struck.  The Singer was surprised at how smooth and graceful the creature was. The Gaoithe Mhín listed crazily to starboard as the monster dove at her port side deck.  

        Both Singer and Demoness were once again airborne. Lyric snaked an arm around Acheron's waist as they hurtled toward the sea. Pulling her close he took a deep breath and pulled her head to his chest. Twisting around her before they crashed into the icy water, Lyric absorbed most of the shock.

        
What the hell, Lyric? You could have killed yourself!
 Acheron's angry thoughts were in no way hampered by the sudden bath. Lyric struggled to maintain his hold on the demoness and his breath.

        
Stop distracting me, Acheron, hold on tight.

        
Holding fast to the demoness' lithe frame Lyric forced himself to concentrate and hummed while he kicked. Singing underwater was odd, but possible if you managed to take a good breath. Manipulating the currents at his feet with his song, Lyric drove himself and his parcel toward the sunshine. Even without Acheron's strength, Lyric was a powerful Soul Singer.

        Breaching the surface at an inhuman pace, the twosome left the water entirely.  Lyric couldn't have planned it better if he tried.  They rocketed up the side of the Gaoithe Mhín and a large Blue Man plucked them out of the air, setting them on the deck.

        Acheron squeezed a blue bicep in admiration and smiled up at their rescuer.

        "Hey sexy."

        "Acheron!" Lyric shouted in exasperation. "Seriously?!" Acheron looked at him, all wide eyed innocence. "We need to find Cadence and help her." He could see the crew through her eyes, but the angle seemed to indicate she was on the beast's head.

        The Singer went sprinting across the deck. It never ceased to surprise him how mundane his thoughts tended to be in crisis situations. Right now, for instance, the most significant thought in his mind as he raced toward bloody death was how sturdy the Gaoithe Mhín was. She refused to go down. Her crew, who he found increasingly more impressive, were leaping into and out of the water. They climbed all over the beast, stabbing at it with knives and harpoons and something that appeared to be half a coat rack made of ice.

        Lyric found himself annoyed at Acheron's presence, not so much because he hated her anymore, but because he knew the Leviathan was a demon. All of his most effective tactics for dealing with it would damage the demoness as well.  

        He'd never fought such a creature hand to hand, he didn't like his odds.

        A huge bolt of electricity shot out of the beast's maw and fried a dozen of the crew.  Lyric stopped short.  

        Then there was that.

        Acheron casually trotted past him waving her arms at the creature.

        "Levi!" She shouted jumping up and down in a manner that was distracting in spite of the clear and present danger.

        
Acheron, what are you doing?
 Lyric thought at her as he eased up beside her.  He elected not to speak because the Leviathan immediately turned its attention toward her. Twitching its scales, the monstrosity sent the Blue Men still clinging to it flying into the deep or onto the ship.

        
You don't want to fight him, Lover, he's like me, another Nychta Polemistis,
the demoness answered.  

        Lyric's waning optimism dissipated completely.  

        "Sister!" The creature spoke. Lyric and the crew started in shock, the voice was smooth and beautiful. "Trytohn grows weary of waiting. I've come to escort you home."

        "Levi," the demoness sounded exactly as worried as she might be if this were a delightful chance encounter with a long lost friend. "I don't want to talk to a giant slug, reform and we'll work this out."

        Leviathan chuckled. Lyric took the brief opportunity afforded by Acheron's distraction of the beast to try to make sense of Cadence's position and intent. There was no more fear coming from her, just deadly purpose. He thought at first she must be looking inside a cave. Logic caught his attention and he realized it was an enormous ear.

        
Be careful, Cadence,
he thought at the small warrior.

        
Hush, Lyric, I'm working.
Cadence's  thoughts returned.
I owe this guy a thorough beating.
He had the impression that last thought was mumbled more to herself than to him.

        Lyric focused on his own plan, determined to help his friends even if he couldn't banish the demon.

        "Sweet sister, you are better suited to action than words." Leviathan's lovely voice was far removed from his appearance. "Leave the talking to the diplomats, come with me quiet or come with me digested, it makes little difference, you're still coming with me."

*   *   *   *   *

        Ligny Hefit, self-styled future king of the Markhato dwarves and all around rat bastard, stood on the balcony above the entrance to the southern post office and watched the idiot humans come streaming in. If they only knew what was in store for them they would run screaming in the opposite direction.

        Gar Lich stood beside him, skepticism obvious on his wide face.

        “You asked for proof. I'm going to help you change a man into a zombie powered by his own soul.” Ligny told the zombie boss gesturing to his employees milling about below.

        Ligny hated dealing with him, but desperate times call for deals with murderous zombie thugs. Gar would soften the city for him. Thenso already wanted to evict the humans, another zombie attack would push him over the edge. By the time the humans, dwarves and zombies finished killing each other, Ligny would be in position to take the throne and clean house.

        “If you're only going to turn one of them, what are the rest for?”

        “The magic I have access to is powerful and versatile. I'll change one as promised, he's in another room waiting for us.” Ligny stepped away from the railing and led Gar down a hall of office doors. “Then we'll go back, I have a special surprise in store for you using the other three hundred.”

        Gar grunted noncommittally.

        Ligny unlocked a door to find a nervous Dean Ishoeing pacing back and forth. Upon their entrance Dean straightened up and offered a hand that was ignored by dwarf and zombie boss both.

        “Thank you so much for reopening this branch, Mr. Hefit, my wife and I are trying to start a family and we were getting nervous when I lost my income. Markhato is not a cheap place to live in, as I'm sure you know.” Dean's nerves were on full display as he prattled on.

        In response, Ligny said something unintelligible and threw a small pinch of sparkling powder in Dean's face. Immediately the man started screaming.

        There is no way to describe the screams of a man having his soul ripped from his living body. But, if you were to categorize "preteen girls walking through a haunted house” screams as a one and “men being burned alive” are a ten, Dean's screams would be closer to twenty.

        They didn't last long though. Soon the screams dissipated into a choking sound which in turn dissolved into a wheezing sigh.

        Ligny turned to Gar.

        “Work your magic, the soul is already there.”

        Gar began an eerie chant that made Ligny shudder.

        Then Dean blinked a time or two and a look of abject horror took up residence in his eyes.

        “One self powered zombie at your service.” Ligny announced.

        Gar peered at used-to-be-Dean with the same appraising eye a jeweler might use to evaluate a gem.

        “Can you talk?”

        “Yes,” Dean replied in an oddly calm voice that was at odds with the expression on his face.

        “Stop making that face.”

        Immediately Dean's face relaxed. Though his eyes continued to scream.

        “What is your purpose?”

        “To do whatever you say, sir.” The zombie answered clearly.

        “Sir?!” Gar exclaimed. “Aren't we fancy? OK, pick up that desk.”

        Zombie Dean approached the large oak desk Gar indicated and hoisted it over his head.

        “Motor skills and language seem unaffected, which is rare, but obedience and increased strength indicate this really is a zombie. Though the change was much faster than I've ever seen.” Gar said aloud. “Put the desk down.” Dean complied. “Now break three of your fingers.” Dean again obeyed immediately. The sickening crack of breaking bones brought a smile to Gar’s face. “This certainly is promising Ligny. Now what is this surprise you mentioned?”

        “Follow me,” Ligny led the way back to the entrance where the crowd was subdued, milling about looking nervous. Gar assumed they heard Dean's screams. Ligny ignored them and spoke to Gar with the same tone one might use to sell cars.

        “As you know, the ideal engine for a human zombie is a human soul. But harvesting human souls is difficult, lengthy and high risk. Add to that the fact that there is no way to capture them so they must be used immediately, or lost.”

        Ligny muttered some alien sounding gobbledy gook and threw a handful of shimmering dust into the air. He continued.

        “Animal and non human spirits leave you with shamblers, brutes and at best, laborers. But Bonen Tansyon has developed zombies that are intelligent, obedient and beautiful. They don't rot, they don't go crazy. How? She's a demoness. I, however, have been able to accomplish the same thing with this.”