Alchemist (The Four Corners of Santerria)

  They entered the small town in human form. Lyle had been there before, though not for many years. In that time not much had changed. There was only one street and half the buildings looked as if they were falling down. Terry felt like she had walked into a western.

  “Here we are.” said Lyle, as they arrived outside the tallest building in town. Many of the windows were boarded up and it looked like the brickwork had not seen a paintbrush in decades.

  Terry walked up to his side. “And where is here, exactly?”

  “The Roco Hotel.”

  Connor frowned. “This is a hotel?”

  Lyle smirked. “Yeah, it’s not the best but you get what you pay for.”

  “Rabies and no air con?” asked Terry.

  “No offence, but I thought you said you were comfortable sleeping on the floor.” Darius reminded her.

  “I’ll take a bed if one’s on offer. I’m not an animal.”

  “How is the water?” Faye asked, looking to Lyle for a grown up answer.

  “I wouldn’t drink any out of the taps. it was brown last time I was here. By the looks of it they still can’t afford the paint. I don’t think they would have sorted the plumbing. Just ask for a jug of beer over the counter. I got that the last time I was here and it seemed fine.”

  “How do you know it was safe to drink?” Darius asked.

  “It didn’t make me ill.” With that said, Lyle led them inside.

  The interior was no better than the outside. The main entrance led them into a bar, which to everyone’s surprise, was very busy. None of them could imagine the draw of such a place.

  “I’ll be back in a second.” Lyle said, heading for the bar.

  The others took a seat at an empty table. Connor glanced across the sea of faces. No one had even cast them a passing glance when they came in. By the sweat on their brow and the tattered clothes most of them wore he could tell that the main trade in the town must be farming. Though living in such a harsh landscape on the edge of the desert must not have bought much food. He figured not much of it would have been sold – if any at all. No, these people just had to do what they could to scratch out survival.

  “Maybe stopping is not such a good idea.” Faye said, keeping her voice low. She peered about warily.

  “I didn’t want to either but I’m very tired after all that running.” Terry replied, resting her head on a folded arm.

  “I know and I am not trying to sound ungrateful. But maybe we should go in a few hours rather than wait till morning.”

  Terry yawned. Her bones ached. “I’m a little nervous about stopping too but we’re a few miles over the border now and we were downwind of the colony. It will likely be a couple of days before the patrols start heading through here. They’ll be looking under every rock in the desert first.”

  Faye seemed unconvinced. “Are you sure?”

  She shrugged. “Well, I can’t be that sure but dad never sends patrols out this far.”

  Connor leant forward across the table, lest unwanted ears heard him. “But this time they’re looking for you.”

  “I know but there are loads of towns and villages on the border just like this one. It would take days to check them all. Also it was very windy earlier, so it’s not likely that they’ve picked us up.”

  Connor and Faye looked at one another, doubt bare on their faces but neither said anything.

  But the Alchemist caught them. “What do you want me to say? How can I possibly know for sure?”

  “I wasn’t having a go or anything.” Connor said, brushing away her anger.

  Lyle returned at that moment. “We’ve got two rooms on the third floor. The bartender’s going to send someone up with food in half an hour. It’s only bread and stew though on offer I’m afraid.”

  Terry squinted at him. “What did you pay him with?”

  “A couple of silver coins.”

  Connor arched an eyebrow. “Silver coins? You bought money with you?”

  Lyle lowered his voice as he sat down beside Darius. “It’s not real silver. It was just two fifty pence’s.”

  Connor laughed. “But you told them that it was silver?”

  “Well they do not know any different, do they?

  Terry had fallen asleep as soon as she touched the bed. Darius sat on the bed on the opposite side of the room, chewing on a piece of bread. It was stale and the thin, grey soup did little to improve the taste. Their accommodation was cramped. A sleeping mat and a hard pillow had been laid out for Connor. No matter how well they paid this was still the best the hotel could do with its poor resources.

  A grinding sound caused Darius to gaze across to Terry, who’s back faced him. The skin on her back crawled, as if snakes moved beneath it. Then it stopped.

  Darius tip-toed back to his own bed. “Why does that happen sometimes?” He whispered. He had seen it the other night too when they camped in the desert.

  Connor looked up from his food. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, why does her skin do that sometimes when she’s asleep? I’m always worried she’s going to change.”

  Connor shook his head. “She won’t change in her sleep. Do you think she’s going to eat you or something?”

  “Sometimes.”

  Connor smirked. “I’ve known her since I was a kid. If she was going to do it, I would have been a goner a long time ago. I think you’re safe.” He swallowed the last mouthful of his stew. “It’s just her body shifting.”

  Darius nodded. “This soup’s not very good.”

  “Aye but what do you expect in a place like this?” Sitting the empty bowl to one side, he lied down.

  “The first thing I’m going to do when we get to the Lake Kalo is have a shower.” Darius said, pouring himself a glass of water.

  Connor laughed. “Me too. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  A few minutes later Darius snuffed out the candle and settled in for the night. He quickly fell asleep, unaware that on the horizon a hundred strong legion marched their way...

  Chapter 11

  Run

  Terry looked at each of her companions in turn through the poor lantern light – they were just as terrified as she was.

  “I know you are here! Do not make the mistake of hiding from me!” shouted a voice from the town square below.

  Lyle’s gaze found Terry’s. He gave a slight of the head and took a step toward the door but he was stopped from going any further when Terry waved her hands and shook her head vigorously at him.

  A glint in his eyes told her that he was not pleased with her decision but Lyle kept his peace and pressed his back to the wall, resuming the position he had occupied moments before.

  Outside a tall, thin man, dressed in long, dark robes turned slowly around, examining the faces of the townsfolk that had gathered about him. They were kept at a distance from the man by way of a ring of armoured human-form Alchemists.

  Beyond the line of the guards some faces watched in fear, huddled in doorways and behind windows but the ones in the street stared on passively, in different to this loud visitor from the north of their border town.

  When no reply was forthcoming, he began to shout again, the poor light from the street lights highlighting the grey in his thinning blonde hair. “Someone came though here today! A traveller!” He turned around, his robes swirling behind him. “Someone who does not belong here! The person who delivers her to me will be greatly rewarded!”

  Darius shot Terry a weary glance, from where he sat crouched, hidden below the window frame that overlooked the square. “He sounds pissed!” he whispered.

  “He’s always pissed.” Terry replied, her back pressed against the wall to his left.

  “He’s only angry because you won’t go to him.” Lyle said.

  Terry shot him an angry look. “If we go out there now then everyone will know that we’re back and we’ll never get to Lake Kalo.”

  Lyle rolled his eyes, the moonlight casting his features
in silver highlights and heavy shadows. “We’ve been caught it is time to give this up. We will just have to convince your father to help us.”

  “What? Let him invade Earth and go to war with this country? What a great idea!”

  Lyle gazed at her angrily but before he could reply an angry shout grabbed all their attention.

  “Terrifallo!” roared the King, at the top of his voice.

  “Shit.” Terry swore under her breath, pressing herself even tighter against the wall.

  Connor leant forward. “Sorry to interrupt, but I think we should be getting out of here.”

  Faye looked about the room, her vision finally resting on one of the back windows. “Terry.” She said, nodding in its direction.

  “Go!” Terry whispered, waving her on. Being the closest, Faye opened it and climbed out. Darius crawled across the floor, fearing to stand less he be spotted. Terry urged Connor on and the fire elemental did as he was bid.

  Lyle joined Terry as she finished edging around the room to the window. “Is this really what we have become? The heir to the empire sneaking out of windows?”

  “Just...” she hissed, raising a hand to him. But another shout of her name from the town square told her that they did not have time. “Go.” It was not a request. Terry had never seen her uncle give her such a resenting look before but still, he went. Terry was the last to climb out of the window to the alley below.

  In the square the king continued to wait. When it became apparent that no-one was going to come forward to reveal her whereabouts his patience finally snapped. “Fine.” He nodded to the lead guard, who gestured to his men. They drew blades and began proceeding towards every building and home about them. Screams filled the night as residents fled, often pushing and falling over one another in a stampede to get away from the deadly insects.

  Darius stopped and looked back as a scream caught up with them, piercing the night. Seeing him falling behind, Connor slowed. He too could not help but look back. There was another scream. “Come on.” He said, touching the youth lightly on the arm. Darius started to follow but he could not help but look back one last time. He feared to think what was happening to the residents of the town they had just fled but he knew there was nothing he could do. Pulling himself away, he turned and ran.

  ******

  The heat of the sun was unrelenting. They had kept moving all night, only stopping once just before dawn briefly after Darius complained. After the youth had sat for a few minutes Lyle had wrenched the youth to his feet with an iron grip to keep moving. He had not complained since.

  “How are you keeping?” Lyle asked Faye, wiping the sweat from his brow. They had slowed to a walk, none of them able to move any faster in such heat.

  Connor was unfazed but his feet ached from running for most of the night.

  “I’m a little bit warm but I am alright.” She replied, unconsciously wiping sweaty palms against her clothes.

  Lyle gave a slight smile. “Let me know if you get thirsty. I will help you find water.”

  “I will.” She replied. There was a long pause as they trudged onwards. “Will your brother forgive you and Terry for running away from him?”

  Lyle stared off over the vast grasslands. Despite the shift to more lush terrain the desert heat had not yet left them. “I don’t know. He’s the nicest man you’ll ever meet but he has a vicious temper. Only an idiot would dare cross him.”

  “Forgive me for saying but you’re temper can be just as short.”

  He smiled that; something she had not seen in years. “I know, but it’s nothing compared to his. In the past he’s slaughtered whoever’s stood in his way just because he got angry.”

  “Maybe this was not the best course of action. Your king could help us track down Edward with his men. Even if it is not him, a murderer, especially a Phantom, cannot be allowed to walk the Earth.” She observed.

  “I agree. But we didn’t really have the time to argue.”

  Connor couldn’t help but over hear them. Lowering his voice, he asked Terry, “Do you think we did the right thing?”

  “I hope so.” She sighed, revealing her own doubts. “I thought it would be better to remain anonymous until we found Lord Rilario rather than have everyone coming after us. Now we just have my father after us which may be just as dangerous.”

  “We won’t make it to the Lake Kalo on foot. We’re going to have to get some sort of transport.” He smirked. “It’s stupid isn’t it? I could fly or you and Lyle could transform and sprint and we’d be there in no time like we did yesterday. But we can’t do any of that without being spotted now, can we?”

  Terry failed to see the funny side. “You’re right we’re too exposed to try anything like that now.”

  “Your father will chase us to the lake won’t he?”

  “Yeah, he will.” She sighed, although she hated terribly to admit it. “And that’s assuming this lord is even at his estate there. He’s probably fled.” They walked on in silence for a minute as she collected her thoughts. “Maybe we should split up. You, Darius and Faye could go on and we’ll go back. That way we’ll keep dad occupied and you can find Lord...” A hot pain exploded in the back of her neck. Terry reached round. Her fingers fell on a long, thin object that seemed to be protruding from her flesh. She pulled it free and gazed at it as her vision began to flicker. It was a dart. Connor suddenly fell in front of her. She looked at him curiously and was about to speak but the words would not come out. She felt her knees grow weak, then saw the world racing up to meet her.

  ******

  Shafts of colour punctuated the gloom then vanished. Then they returned again, this time lingering for longer before disappearing once more. The third time they surfaced the colours resolved into shapes. Hazy at first and distant, they eventually gained definition.

  Terry’s head throbbed. It felt like a lead weight. She tried to move but she could barely feel her limbs. Then she looked down and saw them. She was in chains. Panicking, the Alchemist tried to summon her blades but they failed to eject. Twisting, she tried again, this time also trying to move her tentacles but her body felt numb.

  “This one’s awake!” shouted a voice. A face leaned over her. The man was hideous. His face was grubby, forming deep creases every time he smiled his broken toothed smile. His breath reeked, causing Terry to wince against the slab she was chained too. “And she is hot! I think I might have a bit of her!” He laughed, turning back to his companions and grabbing his manhood.

  When he turned back, Terry spat a mouthful of acid in his face. He screamed, clawing at burning flesh as he fell to the floor. Terry lifted her head, hissing at the other men who gathered around her. One of them struck her across the head with the butt of a rifle. It stung and her skin bled but she remained conscious. Terry spat again, this time missing as the rifleman pulled away out of her reach.

  She lost consciousness for a period of time. How long she did not know – but she awoke to her chest exploding as she was struck by a cat-o-nine tails. She screamed inhumanly, flexing forward against the resistance of her chains. She looked down in horror at her bleeding chest – the oozing lacerations glistening in the poor firelight. She cried in horror as much horror at what she saw. They had peeled sections of her armour off, exposing the skin beneath.

  Craning back her head she screamed – a piercing cry that rang off the rocks and caused the men to recoil. When it finally stopped the man with the whip moved forward again, twisting it in preparation to strike again.

  Then came the answer.

  All eyes turned to the pitch sky as a roar rang out across the landscape. Then there was silence. The men looked at one another, their expressions set into question as to what horror lay out there.

  Then out of the dark the nightmare came. The Alchemist roared as it ripped the men to shreds with teeth and claws. Terry’s vision grew dark. “Father...”

  Chapter 12

  The One and Future Queen

  Terry awoke to find herse
lf covered in a tangle of wires. She tried to move, only to wince and give up when a stab of pain burned through her left shoulder. She twisted her head to get a better look at the wound but the damage was concealed behind the wreath of cables. Only when she looked down did she discover the true extent of the coverage. The mass of wires had found their way between every plate of her armour.

  “You should not be trying to get up.” said a familiar voice from behind her.