Twenty-One
Gorgon talons, as it turns out, can go toe-to-toe with the Bureau’s alloy without flinching. Every strike I sent her way, she slashed aside with her talons. Sparks skittered across the rocks as our duel reached its crescendo.
Tabitha and Derek had taken a back seat as our fight became too intense for either of them to fire off a shot without risking hitting me. I was grateful for their concern, but I could’ve really used their help. At first.
But with every passing second I felt new confidence and ease flowing through me as we fought. She was preternaturally fast. So was I. She was superhumanly strong. So was I. Her talons and eyes could turn people to stone. Well, ever since she landed that slash across my chest, my body had already been mutating and adding her powers to my growing arsenal. I’d be able to do the same thing here pretty soon, if only temporarily.
It all came down to three seconds in the end.
I stabbed down towards her thigh, trying to cut open an artery and force her to bleed out. She swiped low to deflect my attack; and I twisted mid-strike, lifting myself up off the rocks with my new (super manly) fairy wings and bringing my blade up to slash clean over her collarbone. The edge of my sword encountered resistance, but only momentarily, and I landed in a crouch behind her with my blade darkened by gorgon blood.
The Alpha Gorgon stumbled once, her face contorted in a pained expression, and then she started to fall.
Before her head could separate from her severed neck, Gabby suddenly emerged from the rocky crevice armed with a gleaming golden mace and took a powerful swing at the gorgon (who in her eyes was still standing). The head of her mace connected with the gorgon’s face and cracked the monster’s skull open like a watermelon as the angel swung for the outfield, pulverizing gorgonian gray matter in the process.
The headless corpse dropped to the rocks as the head and snakes scattered across the trees like the most disgusting confetti imaginable.
Gabby turned to me, looking absolutely resplendent in her white dress and winged sandals. Her golden wings were puffed out and her chest was rising and falling rapidly. A thin sheen of sweat across her bronze skin made her look like the most gorgeous sports model to ever grace an advertisement for women’s sportswear. In her right hand she held a simple mace with a handle made of silver, wrapped in white leather, and ending in a golden sphere the size of a softball that had glowing lines etched across its surface.
If I changed two things about her appearance in my head, she would look like a pro tennis player–one who was really into cosplay.
“You are welcome,” she said cheerfully, extending her hand to help me back to my feet.
With a raised eyebrow, I stood on my own and showed her the blood decorating my blade. “I think you meant to say ‘thank you’ as I am the one who killed the gorgon.”
Gabby scoffed. “She was still standing when I returned.”
I shrugged noncommittally. “She was dead on her feet, and she just hadn’t caught up with that fact yet. More to the point, she was still standing and fighting when you rushed into the cave to retrieve your weapon. I did most of the fighting here. It’s my kill.”
Gabby rolled her eyes. “I think it is pretty obvious here which of us is the greater warrior, your majesty. But if it sets your mortal mind at ease, you may take credit for my kill.”
My mouth opened to deliver what I swear would have been a scathing retort, but two sudden spikes of pain interrupted me. The first was from my own body, as the gorgon venom was beginning the agonizing process of making changes in my body to accommodate the gorgon powers. My muscles seized, bones rearranged themselves, and my entire nervous system felt like it was on fire as my body mutated. This was what I had to look forward to any time I picked up an injury while I was out on the job.
The second pain paled in comparison, for it came to me via my psychic link to Tabitha and brought with it with an equal dose of panic
My head tilted down right as her eyes shot up to meet mine.
The rocky outcropping she was standing on was slick with fresh water.
In one voice, we uttered the same three words.
“The baby’s coming.”
I ran over the edge of the rocks and let my new fairy wings sprout from my ankles and wrists and carry me straight down to Tabitha’s side. Landing lightly, I scooped her up in my arms and let my momentum carry me through another leap; floating down to the forest floor in two bounds. I vaguely heard Derek shout something about a hospital, but then I was off.
I oriented towards the highway and took off running at speeds I would’ve though impossible for a human being to reach. Then again, I’d never really tried to go all out since I started gaining superhuman abilities. Strength from Tabitha, agility from Io, adaptability from Euna, plus these plant powers and fairy wings? I took off at the speed of a motorcycle through those trees and in no time at all I had reached the freeway again.
Flying overhead was a flock of three birds that instantly dove down to meet me. A holographic projection of Io sprang out of their beaks as they hovered in place.
“Ryan! I’ve been trying to find you ever since all my drones went dark. Something must’ve fried their systems. Also, our psychic connection is being blocked by something in the old forest. Something big is going down at Camp Ferris and you need to get over there ASAP. I…” she suddenly drew up short, noticing who was in my arms. Her voice had been serious from the first syllable, but now it grew deathly grim. “What’s wrong with Tabitha?”
My eyes darted west, towards Camp Ferris, then east, towards the hospital. I was already in two places at once. Maybe I could do three, but I was not ready to try that just yet.
A flap of wings sounded behind me, and Gabby alighted with Derek in tow. He looked utterly mortified to have been manhandled by the mighty woman, but she was just staring at me curiously.
“You are very fast on your feet, your majesty. Perhaps I have underestimated you.”
Io’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the angel. “Oh hello. Wow, Ryan, you’re just a chick magnet wherever you go, aren’t you? I thought Red Ryan was bad but I mean damn. A literal Angel? Is it possible to get jealous of yourself?”
I frowned. “No. She’s not, we didn’t, I’m not…” I groaned in frustration. Now was not the time to be embarrassed. “Io, focus. This is Gabby, she recently crash-landed here from Paradise. She’s here to help. That’s probably what fried your drones. We’re working on the Camp Ferris problem, but we got sidetracked. I need your help. Tabitha’s water just broke! Can your drones carry her to the hospital?”
Tabitha groaned aloud and squeezed my bicep so hard that I’m fairly certain it would’ve snapped if she’d tried that before my latest batch of powers kicked in. Good to know my durability was reaching new heights at least.
Io shook her head, looking slightly pale. “Even with all three, these aren’t rated to carry a person. Weapons, items, sure. People? No.”
Gabby moved forward and offered her arms. “Give her here your majesty. I shall take your pregnant concubine wherever she needs to go. Have your messenger ravens guide me.”
I blinked in surprise.
“Who are you calling a concubine?” Tabitha hissed.
“‘Messenger ravens,’” Io repeated, incredulously.
“Hush,” I ordered. “We can sort out her vernacular later. Alright Gabby. Two things. First, I’m not really a king. I am the mortal champion you seek, however. If you want my help defeating these Heralds, you will do as I say. Is that clear?” I waited as a mix of emotions played over Gabby’s perfect features. They resolved into acceptance, and she nodded her agreement to my terms. “Good. Second, this woman is no concubine. She is extremely important to me. You will treat her and the child she carries with the greatest care, or our deal is off.”
Gabby inlined her head respectfully. “You have my word, your majesty. No harm shall come to your lady-wife or your heir. Crown or no, you have a noble heart, and thus are a king in my eyes all the same,” she pulled Tabitha into a one-armed hold and extended her mace out to me. “None but the most worthy can wield angelic weapons. If you go to stop an infestation of impure spirits, this will serve you well.”
I accepted the mace and found that it was perfectly balanced. It gave off a slight golden radiance and whistled through the air as I gave it an experimental twirl. So much of my time had been spent around all my girls that I could tell when a woman was turned on by something I did, and Gabby was giving off those vibes in spades as I handled her weapon so deftly.
My eyes darted up to Io as I tried to remember what I’d read from the latest briefing about Eastport’s status. “Guide Gabby to Dawn’s Grace Hospital. That one’s still standing right?”
Io nodded. “Standing, yes, but our troops there are barely fending off the horde. What Red Ryan’s done should help, but for the next few hours it’s going to be an uphill battle.”
“Alright Gabby, go. I’ll meet you there.” I reached within my mind as Gabby shot into the air, reconnecting both halves of my mind. It was time to see what Red Ryan had been up to…