Stone Soldiers 5: Black Knight Down (9 page)

The blonde grabbed Kat's chin, nails digging in painfully. She turned Kat's head from side to side, surprisingly strong for someone so thin.

The blonde breathed in deeply, closing her eyes for a moment. Then she leaned in and licked the side of Kat's face.

The girl again tried to recoil, but the blonde was impossibly strong.

"A virgin!" the naked blonde said exuberantly.

To Kat's astonishment, behind the woman, dark shadows formed, and five more women- each naked, with painted bodies emerged. All wore the same hair-like coverings between their long legs.

"Leave her alone!" Steve finally said- despite the addition of so many perfect breasts.

The blonde, or rather, the lead blonde- for all the other women were nearly identical in appearance- turned back to Steve. "You want to be brave, little one? To protect your woman?"

Steve swallowed, trying not to look down at the woman's chest once more. Finally he managed to tear his gaze away and look her in the eyes. "We got rights, lady!"

All the women began laughing hysterically. The movement caused their exposed bits to jiggle and bounce, which Steve could not help but again stare at.

"Him first," one of the five standing back said finally.

"No!" another said. "We've tried that. Try the girl."

The lead blonde turned back to Kat, an evil smile spreading across her face.

"Don't touch me you stepford b-" Kat started to say. Her comment was cut off by something sharp slicing through her throat. It was the blonde's long nails- swept up and across Kat's neck faster than she could register.

Shock showed on the girl's face as blood poured out of her open neck and down her shirt.

"You bitch!" Steve screamed, struggling to break free of the two guards restraining him.

The blonde, Simone Schuster, merely smiled and cupped her hands below Kat's neck, catching the blood pouring out. Kat's eyes faded, as she lost consciousness and was supported by the guard holding her.

Simone turned and walked slowly toward the glistening black object. She murmured something Steve couldn't make out then threw the blood onto the Black Knight. It clung to the glass-like surface of the fallen satellite, then was slowly drawn into it- absorbed by the glistening surface.

Simone turned and gestured with bloody fingers in Steve's direction. The guard picked him up again and dragged him forward, toward the witch.

"Why do you struggle?" Simone asked. She stepped in close, looping her arms around Steve's neck. She leaned in, rubbing her breasts against his chest and kissing him. It was a long kiss, during which she ran her bloody fingers through Steve's short, bright red hair.

The anger, the fear, all his cares seemed to melt away from Steve. When the witch finally broke her kiss and stepped back, he stood there, slack jawed, as emotionless and robotic as the guard supporting him.

Simone nodded to the guards and they removed Steve's handcuffs.

"Touch it," Simone said, gesturing toward the Black Knight.

Steve nodded and walked forward. He reached out without hesitation and pressed the palm of his right hand firmly against the slick side of the fallen satellite.

Steve gave a long exhale as the heat was drawn from his body. The contact with the Black Knight only lasted a few seconds, then Steve's lifeless body fell to the ground, his skin pale, his lips blue.

"Dammit!" Simone said. "Another one wasted."

Miranda House stepped forward, kneeling by Steve's body. She grabbed a small lock of his short hair. "I like this hair," she said.

Miranda pulled on the hair, somehow pulling it out in a long strand- the hair seemingly stretching and extending like taffy. When she had a strand at least three feet long, the witch sliced at it with her fingernails, neatly cutting it off. She bowed her head and offered the long strand to Simone.

Simone took the hair and held it up, twisting it in the light. "Very pretty." The witch tucked the strand into the rope around her hips, adding it to the other lengths of human hair that hung down to her knees. "Fetch me some of the blue as well."

"Yes, Mistress," Miranda said, cutting off another length of Steve's hair she had prepared for herself.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Josie Winters was done combing her long hair. It was a ritual she'd been doing every night before bed since she was a little girl. She put her brush back into her travel bag and looked around at her tiny room in the island's hotel. It was sparse, with a single bed, TV nightstand and bathroom. And very lonely.

The Colonel had been adamant that Josie and Jimmy not share a room. When Josie had objected, he had ended all further argument with a frightening, parental glare.

Josie reached for her slippers, but decided instead on her tennis shoes. She slipped them on and headed for the door. She had already changed into her sweats and wasn't sleepy. Maybe a quick night jog would help relax her.

Josie was walking toward the stairs on the third floor when Jimmy emerged from his room at the opposite end of the building.

"Josie!"

"Shhh!" Josie said, holding up a finger.

A door opened and Josie was sure it was going to be the Colonel. Instead it was Dr. Olson- wearing a very revealing camisole. "Mark?"

When the vampire saw Josie and Jimmy, she frowned. "What are you two doing up so late?"

"Uh, why are you in Mark's room?" Josie asked.

"Waiting," Dr. Olson answered. Now that Josie was closer, she saw the thin nightgown the doctor wore was more than just very revealing. It was nearly transparent.

"Hey, what's up, Doc-?" Jimmy said, jogging over. He stopped in mid-sentence when he saw Doctor Olson.

"Aren't you two supposed to be in bed- opposite beds- right now?" Laura asked, ignoring Jimmy's slack-jawed stare.

"I was going for a jog," Josie said.

"Uh, I was, uh..." Jimmy stammered.

"You didn't answer my question," Josie said. "Why are you in Mark's room? Wearing that?"

"Have you seen Mark?" Laura asked innocently, ignoring the question again. "When I got here he was gone."

Josie started to say something, but reconsidered. "Gone?"

"Well, his bags are here. I figured he was getting a late night snack or something. He has quite the sweet tooth, you know."

Jimmy was finally able to tear his eyes off the vampire. "Maybe he's talking with Doctor King?"

"Hmmm, maybe..." Laura said. She reached inside the door and grabbed a robe, quickly slipping it on.

Josie held her hand up. "Why don't I go look for him?"

Laura shrugged and slipped the robe back off. "Okay with me."

Josie put a hand on Jimmy's chin and turned his head away from the redheaded vampire. "Jimmy- why don't you help me?"

"Right, right," Jimmy said.

Josie led Jimmy down the hallway as Laura closed the door to the room again.

***

Fortunately, there weren’t many places to check. The Labs themselves were locked down for the night, and no one else seemed to be up anywhere in the hotel. Josie and Jimmy expanded their search to the surrounding buildings, discovering most of them were just empty, cosmetic constructions- some lacking even furniture.

“Maybe he’s out for a walk too?” Jimmy said.

“What makes you think so?”

“Call me crazy, but it smells like he went this way,” Jimmy said, indicating a path that led further north.

“You can smell him?”

Jimmy blushed. “It’s hard to explain. But yeah- I think I can… and no dog jokes!”

Josie shrugged. “Lead the way.”

The couple followed the path, which slowly curved the east. They were quickly out of site of the main compound when they heard a motor starting.

"What is that?" Jimmy asked.

"Quick! This way," Josie said and broke out in a run.

Jimmy followed her, both of them dashing along the trail until it suddenly opened on a large area along the shore. There, a small dock had three small boats tied up. Colonel Kenslir was casting the lines off one- a thirty-foot cabin cruiser.

"Mark?" Josie called out, running up to the dock.

Kenslir hesitated at the stern line.

"Where you goin'?" Jimmy asked.

"Fishing," Kenslir answered. He was dressed all in black, and wore a shoulder holster harness supporting a large pistol under his left armpit, spare magazines under the right, with his tactical goggles pushed up onto his forehead.

Josie leapt up onto the boat. "Fishing?" She asked, skeptically.

Jimmy quickly joined her.

"Dr. King needs a couple of days to miniaturize the collar for Jimmy," Mark explained. "I thought I'd enjoy a little night fishing."

Josie looked around the boat. "Where are your poles?"

"And why are you packin'?" Jimmy asked.

Kenslir frowned. "You two need your rest- why don't you head back to the hotel. We'll talk more about it over breakfast."

"You're going somewhere," Josie said, crossing her arms over chest. "Somewhere you're not supposed to... Oklahoma?"

Kenslir gritted his teeth. "You kids shouldn't be out here."

Josie turned and cast off the stern line herself. "I've always wanted to go fishing."

Jimmy looked around at the water nervously. "Uh, yeah, me too."

"You need to go back," Kenslir said.

"We can't," Josie said, turning back to her grandfather. "Now that we know what you're up to, you can't risk a telepath reading us."

"There are no telepaths on the island."

"What about PJ?" Josie asked. "I saw his name on the list of people to be de-petrified."

"C'mon, boss," Jimmy said. "Maybe we can help you. We're not helpless kids anymore."

Kenslir considered for a moment. "You aren't prepared for a mission."

Josie crossed her own arms. "What? We've been on-"

"Dressed for it, I mean."

Josie looked down at her sweats and then over to Jimmy's khakis and bright blue shirt. "Maybe we'll pass a store on the way- Oklahoma's a long way from here. I assume you're driving?"

"Fine- Come on in," Kenslir said, turning and entering the cabin of the boat. He moved to the wheel of the small boat and eased the throttle lever forward.

Once they had cleared the docks, he picked up the handset of the ship's radio. "Control- this is Kenslir. Taking two more out with me- Winters and Kane."

"Roger that," security responded over the radio. "Good luck!"

As the boat picked up speed, heading away from the island, northeast, Josie sat in a chair next to her grandfather. "So, what are we really looking for?"

"Witches."

CHAPTER TWELVE

From South Fox Island, the trio travelled by boat toward the Michigan coast, the powerful cruiser pushing them along in the night with no trouble. Along the way, the Colonel had filled them on the strange connections to the Oklahoma crash site.

"So, if they haven't been killed in the annual Jawbreaker," Josie asked. "How many witches are there- worldwide, I mean."

"No one really knows," Kenslir said. "It's only through the precog's visions that we're able to locate the ones we do every year."

"I wanna know how witches can bring down a satellite," Jimmy said. "Can brooms reach orbit?"

"They don't actually need brooms to fly, Jimmy."

"He does have a good question though," Josie said. "Did they really do that, or just predict where it was coming down?"

"That satellite was monitored from the first days of the space program. Super computers have been recording its movements and predicting its orbital path for over twenty years. It didn't fall from the sky. It was brought down."

"So what is it?" Josie asked.

"I guess we'll find out," Kenslir said. He eased the boat to stop, carefully watching the small lights twinkling in the darkness at least a mile away.

"End of the line," Kenslir said. "That's the Michigan shoreline."

Jimmy looked around. "Uh, where in Michigan are we?"

Kenslir pointed toward the lights. "That's the Leelanau Peninsula. Closest town is Leland, Michigan. I've got a car waiting there."

"A car?" Josie asked. "How'd you do that?"

"I've got a friend," Kenslir said.

Jimmy was looking nervous. "Are we headed into a dock or something?"

"No, I'm swimming from here."

Josie glared at her grandfather. "I thought we settled this- we're going with you."

"That's pretty cold water," Kenslir said. "And we're more than a mile from shore."

"Cold doesn't bother me anymore," Josie said defiantly. She raised her hand up and frost and ice began to form around it- a thin shell that cracked and flaked off when she made a fist.

"But can you make that swim?"

"I've swim in the tunnel every day- you know that!"

"Guys, I'm not sure I can make a swim like that," Jimmy said.

"Good grief, Jimmy, you're part werewolf," Josie said. "You shouldn't even break a sweat."

"I think it'd be better if you kids kept the boat out for a day- give me the time I need to drive to Oklahoma and check this out."

"Look, I know you're Mr. Supersoldier and all," Josie said, "But it never hurts to have help along with you. And we can take care of ourselves."

Kenslir considered his granddaughter carefully and realized she wasn't going to let this go. If anything, Josie Winters was just as stubborn as he was.

"Better be sure about this- I'm sinking the boat once we get in the water."

"Sinking it!" Jimmy exclaimed.

"I can't have it washing ashore or being found. We're about thirty miles away from where I said I was going."

Josie pulled a life preserver off the rear wall of the cabin of the boat. "Here, Jimmy, this'll help you keep afloat."

Jimmy put the round preserver down. "I know how to swim!"

"He's got a case of hydrophobia," Kenslir said to Josie. "Part of the werewolf curse- they don't like water."

Kenslir crossed to a cabinet on the rear deck of the boat and retrieved two life vests. "But I think you've got the right idea."

"We have any garbage bags on here?" Josie asked, kicking off her shoes. "I don't want my clothes getting soaked."

"Check the cabin- you might want to grab some food and maybe a towel or two as well," Kenslir said.

Josie nodded and went into the upper cabin, then down into the lower bow cabin of the boat.

"It's okay if you want to stay behind, Jimmy," Kenslir said.

"Are you kidding? I grew up in the desert- I'd probably sink the boat just trying to move it around."

Josie emerged back on deck a few minutes later with a large garbage bag. She'd shed her sweat pants and sweat shirt and was now wearing athletic shorts and a sports bra. She added her shoes and socks to the bag and tied it off tightly.

"You're sure you can do this?" Kenslir asked- while she was below deck he had changed into black diving trunks. A belt around his waist held the small smart phone-sized black box for his tactical goggles, which were pushed up on his forehead.

"I can," Josie said, nodding an affirmative. She handed Jimmy an empty bag.

"Strip down to your undies, Jimmy," She directed. "You'll want dry clothes when we get to shore."

Josie turned to her grandfather. "He can do this right? The cold won't hurt him?"

"He'll be fine."

Josie noticed Jimmy was still holding the bag and was blushing.

"What is it?"

"Uh, I'm commando right now."

"Jimmy!" Josie sighed.

"Swim with your pants on, then, Kane," Kenslir glared.

"It's not like I haven't seen it all bef-" Josie started to say, then caught herself. Now she was blushing.

"He'll dry out just fine." Kenslir was frowning even more than normal now.

Jimmy took off his shirt and shoes and emptied his pockets into the garbage bag then tied it off. He and Josie put on their life preservers while Kenslir picked up a black, nylon duffel bag and slipped it on like a backpack.

"What's that?" Josie asked.

"My gear," the Colonel said. He then turned and dove over the side of the boat. He surfaced a moment later, treading water.

"Hurry up you two- we need to be on the road by dawn."

Josie shrugged and pitched her garbage bag in, then jumped over the side after it.

"Whoa!" Josie said when she surfaced. "That is cold!"

"I thought you said cold doesn't affect you?" Kenslir said, glaring at her.

Jimmy tossed his own bag in, then reluctantly, and awkwardly, stepped over the side. Once he'd bobbed back to the surface, he and Josie clung to their floating bags.

"Make a beeline for shore- between the lights," Kenslir said.

"What about you?" Josie asked.

"I've got to sink the boat."

"How?" Jimmy asked.

Kenslir held a fist up out of the water. "I've got a special tool for the job."

“Won’t you get in trouble for that?” Josie asked.

“It’s Dr. King’s boat, and I already told him I’d buy him a new one.”

Josie shrugged and turned around, slowly headed towards the distant shore. Jimmy paddled along after her- moving far less gracefully.

Colonel Kenslir dove under the water and began punching holes in the boat's hull. When the boat finally slipped beneath the surface, he turned and quickly caught up to Jimmy and Josie.

Once they reached shore, the trio slowly made their way up the beach and into a stand of trees nearby. Josie opened her garbage bag and was relieved to see her clothes and supplies dry. She quickly toweled off her long, black hair.

"Hey, can you guys turn around?"

Kenslir and Jimmy nodded and faced away. Josie quickly changed out of her damp undergarments and into her sweats. "I guess I'm the commando now."

Kenslir and Jimmy opened their bags as well and began redressing. The Colonel, somehow barely damp, put back on his black BDUs, boots and long sleeve shirt and shoulder holster harness, then added a thin black jacket to cover up his weapon.

Once they were all dressed and ready, Kenslir checked the heading on his tactical visor. "The road's that way."

"Won't command see what we're doing?" Josie asked, pointing toward her eyes.

"I'm not connected to command right now," Kenslir said, pushing the goggles back up on his forehead.

They all began hiking up the slope, Josie getting help from Kenslir and Jimmy at times- the two supersoldiers apparently unaffected by the steep climb. Eventually, they reached the road.

"There," Kenslir said, pointing down the road. About a thousand feet away, a dark sedan was parked on the shoulder.

"Where's your friend?" Jimmy asked, looking around.

"Nowhere even remotely close to here," Kenslir said. Sensing a question, he explained. "Rental company left the car here, no questions asked. And yes, it's rented under an alias. Keep your phones powered off and no plastic from here on out."

When they finally reached the four door sedan, Kenslir tapped out a code on the keyless entry system and unlocked the doors and trunk. He stowed his gear in the back while Jimmy and Josie got in- Josie taking the front passenger seat.

Kenslir slid behind the wheel, adjusting his seat, then pulled the sun visor down, catching the keys that had been tucked up under it.

"Don't you want to dry off?" Josie asked Jimmy. "It's a long drive to Oklahoma."

"I don't mind," Jimmy said, arranging their damp towels to sit on- his pants were still soaked from the swim.

Josie shrugged. "Suit yourself." Once Kenslir started the car, she played with the dash vents on the car, holding her underwear and bra up and using the car's heater to start drying them out.

Kenslir put the car in gear and headed south. "Might as well get some sleep you two- this is going to be a long drive."

***

Simone Schuster was exhausted. She'd been at it for far too many hours. She was hungry and sweaty and needed a shower. Even her ceremonial body paint was starting to run off. But she couldn't quit now. They had to be close.

Simone walked slowly around the large satellite, regarding it from every angle. So far they'd fed it electricity, fire, and at least a dozen sacrifices. But the Black Knight remained a seamless mass of black crystal.

"And none of you know anything about these symbols?" she snarled, whirling around toward her coven. Miranda and the others were exhausted as well, all kneeling in the dirt, waiting for the next attempt to crack the satellite open.

"No, mistress," Miranda said, holding up her smartphone. "I've even checked the internet."

Simone considered her disheveled, sweaty, dirty, naked witches. All of them, herself included, looked simply terrible. All they needed were wrinkles and hooked noses and they'd fit the ridiculous stereotypical image the modern world had of their kind.

Simone undid the braid of her hair and let out a deep breath as she combed the braid out with her fingers. "Thor!"

Her manservant, still in his tight chauffeur's uniform, walked over quickly. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Do we have showers here?"

"Uh, no, Mistress."

"Fine- bring the car around. The girls and I need a break."

"The house is still... unclean," Thor said, reminding Simone of the sacrifice of Sir Reginald.

"So? We have four other houses- just pick one."

"Yes, Mistress," Thor said, bowing deeply then walking away.

Miranda and the others stood slowly. "We're quitting?"

"For now- we need to eat and rest," Simone said. She looked down at her breasts and pushed up on one experimentally. "And maybe do some touch up work."

She moved her fingers to her temples, pushing on the skin around her eyes. "Do I have any wrinkles?"

"No, Mistress," Miranda said. "You look as young as ever."

Simone regarded her subordinate closely, but couldn't tell if she was lying. No matter, after a nice rare steak or two, a few hours of beauty sleep, and a cosmetic spell or two, she'd look and feel better.