Relic - Jaid Black Page 0,7
of the two held up an odd stick and pointed it at the first Englishmon. The stick seemed to make a cracking sound as the soldier fell to the ground, dead. The figure next pointed the stick at the second Englishmon, then at the third. Dead and dead.
Angus couldn’t help it. His jaw dropped for mayhap the first time in his thirty and three years.
“What in the saints?” Colban muttered, echoing the laird’s thoughts. He crossed himself. “Is that who they be?”
The Karrik’s jaw tensed as the cloaked figures made their way down the winding stairwell. “’Twould seem it is.”
* * * * *
Two hours earlier
“I remember when your hair was fairly short,” Bellamy mused. “You’ve turned into Rapunzel.”
Octavia half snorted and half laughed as she plaited her hair back into a series of rows. Stopping the tight braids a couple of inches from her hairline, she allowed the rest of her golden brown curls to cascade down to the middle of her back. In the internment camps she’d found that was the best method to keep her hair from constantly falling into her line of vision. “You haven’t seen me in two years. The feeders didn’t exactly oblige me with visits to the salon.”
“Want me to cut it?” He grinned. “I’ve got a knife.”
“That’s a negative, James.” Still, she knew she would be taking scissors to her long locks as soon as she happened upon a pair. Long hair was a weakness no SEAL could afford. It could be weaponized against you with a simple tug. “I’ll take care of it when the situation presents itself.”
Ten minutes later, their cargo in backpacks, the duo set themselves to the tasks of hunting the Xenocann and tracking the doctor. They stayed close to the river, but not close enough to be seen should anyone be near it.
“This could all be one big compound for human collaborators,” Octavia muttered. “Stay vigilant.”
James nodded. It was a fact that the wealthiest humans had struck deals for themselves with the enemy. So long as their way of life remained intact, to hell with the rest of humanity. No survivor would shed a tear for any of the traitors when the enemy eventually and inevitably turned on them. Their time would come. Hopefully they tasted delicious to the feeders.
“James,” Octavia whispered. “Look over here.”
They came to a stop in front of a fresh corpse. Octavia used the tip of her rifle to roll the man over. “This is definitely not the doctor.” She eyed the victim’s odd manner of dress, but didn’t dwell on it. Humans wore whatever they could find these days. Still, the clothing was too scratchy and subpar to belong to a collaborator. Something about it didn’t sit well, but she let it go for the time being. “Whatever killed the guy went for his brains first and his innards last.”
“At least we know we’re heading in the right direction then.” James frowned. “I wish that made me feel better.”
She commiserated, but said nothing.
Twenty minutes later they came across yet another fresh victim. Again with the odd clothing, though this time it was made of chainmail. What the fuck?
“His brain and intestines are gone too,” James said on a sigh. He crouched down to eye the corpse. “Did the portal spit us out into the middle of a medieval fair or something?”
She snorted at that. “I’m starting to consider it as a possibility.” Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at the dead man. “First a peasant and now a knight. Maybe we’ll find Rapunzel yet.”
“Hopefully we’ll find her alive.” James stood back up. “I have a way with fair maidens in distress.”
“I’ll bet you do.”
His expression turned serious. “Two vics in twenty minutes.” He scratched his beard. “The Xenocann should be full by now.”
Octavia had the same thought. She didn’t want to find more bodies, yet they were the very things allowing them to hunt the feeder. “Shit.”
“Yeah.”
The threadbare team continued the hunt, their senses on high alert. No matter how far they walked there were trees and lush foliage as far as the eye could see. It made no sense. If this was a compound, it was a damned impressive one. And if it wasn’t a compound, Octavia considered uneasily, then just what in the hell was it?
Five minutes later, something snagged Commander Benatti’s peripheral vision, causing her to do a doubletake. Her eyes widened as she fell to her knees, pulling Lieutenant Bellamy down with her. “What in the living fuck