The Conch Shell of Doom (40 page)

“Master Maroney, please, help us. Those birds, they tore us to shreds. Millie here lost an eye.”

Bailey looked over at the Mayor’s wife, Millie. She held a hand over one eye, streams of blood oozing out from between her fingers.

Trenton stood in front of her, eyes narrowed, and then moved on to the Mayor. Trenton took Benchley’s mangled hand in his, tenderly examining it. Trenton wrapped his fingers around what remained of the hand and squeezed. Benchley screamed.

“This is weakness.” Trenton pushed the Mayor down and then pressed down on his chest with his foot and yanked Benchley’s arm off. “You’re disgusting. All of you. I have no use for weakness. There’s no place for it in
my
world.”

Trenton threw the arm away and then raised a foot to crush the Mayor’s face. Bailey was frozen in shock. Was the Mayor of Mooresville really about to get his head stomped in?

Millie shrieked and grabbed at Trenton with her free hand. He crushed Benchley’s throat and then grabbed his wife and jammed his thumbs in her eye sockets. Bailey couldn’t look away, but he didn’t have to keep watching. He closed his eyes, waiting for the screaming to stop.
 

Franklin shouted and rammed the Blade of Hugues de Payens through the hood of a Mazda. His knee felt like a ball of fire, and to top it off, his best chance of stopping Trenton and getting the Conch Shell of Doom was ruined by amateurs.

Franklin glared at Tim. “How do you drive an ice cream truck on top of a Kia when all you had to do was drive three blocks?”

Tim leaned against the Mazda, arms crossed and head down. “It wasn’t my fault.”

“I thought you were a ninja,” Franklin said.
 

“Sorry,” Tim muttered, barely above a whisper.

“Let’s not play the blame game, people.” Chuck used his stern father voice. “This isn’t all on Tim, and I don’t appreciate you putting that weight on his shoulders.”

Franklin wanted to yell at Chuck. Tell him that by letting Bailey give himself up, whatever leverage they had in the situation was gone. It was game over, for everyone. A voice in the back of Franklin’s mind told him to stop his pity party. There was still time to salvage things.
 

“You’re right,” he said. “I’m sorry, Tim.”

“It’s okay.”
 

“What now?” Julie asked. “Is there anything we can do besides find a nice rock to live under for the rest of our lives?”

“Not even Tim?” Marshall asked.

“Shut up.” Tim hit Marshall on the arm.

Franklin thought for a moment. “You said all the soldiers left with Bailey?”

“All of them,” Alexis said.

“Except for that awesome goblin shark carcass you guys took out.” Marshall made a cutting motion with his weapons.

“Good.” Franklin pulled the blade out of the hood and flipped it, catching it by the sharp end. “We may not have to find a good rock to hide under after all.”

Alexis raised her hand. “I’ve got an idea.”

Bailey’s parents ripped off his armor and then tied him back down to the sacrificial slab. Earl and Wanda had ushered him into the world, and it seemed oddly ironic they were leading him out of it. Not that it made Bailey feel better. His mind raced with thoughts of what would become of his soul. What if death was it? No afterlife, no Heaven, no reincarnation, and definitely no chance to fool around with a girl.

Trenton once again chanted in that weird language. The surviving followers knelt around him. Bailey took a little comfort in the fact that the Birds of War took down a few of those whackos but not much. He needed to think of something better than that, since it might be his last thought. It didn’t take long for his brain to settle on a familiar image that put him at ease.

Boobs.
 

Namely, Alexis’s boobs.

Trenton stopped chanting. Bailey tensed. It was time. His heart felt like a five-hundred watt subwoofer pounding in his chest. He couldn’t let them own the moment. No way would they take that away from him.

Boobs. Boobs. Boobs.

“We only have one chance at this,” Franklin said as they walked toward the beach. “You sure you’re up for it?”

Alexis held the wand in her hand, eyes beaming. She couldn’t have been more excited. “Are you kidding? I’ve been waiting this whole time to use Ollivander’s finest.”

“Whose finest?”

Tim rolled his eyes. “It’s some Harry Potter reference.”
 

Franklin sighed. “Don’t tell me this whole thing hangs on a bunch of kid’s movies.”

“They were books first,” Alexis said defensively. She pointed the wand at a mailbox and then flicked her wrist. The mailbox flew off the wooden post it was nailed to as easily as if someone took a bat to it. Alexis crossed her arms, flashing Franklin a big grin.

He bowed. “I stand corrected.”

Debbie hugged her daughter a little too tight. “Sweetie, that was amazing.”

“Thanks.” Alexis scrunched her face, uncomfortable at the show of affection in front of others.
 

Franklin clapped his hands together. “If all goes well, there will be plenty of time for hugs later, but we should probably get a move on.”

Debbie still clung to Alexis. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Mom.” Tim tried to pry them apart. “We have to go. Mom! You’re embarrassing us.”

“All right.” Debbie let go of her daughter and then winked at Tim. “Don’t think you’re not getting a big old hug later.”

“So long as it’s in the privacy of our own home.”

They walked over to the boardwalk, taking cover behind a building that abutted the beach. Franklin took a quick glance around the corner. Trenton, knife in hand, stood over Bailey. Franklin motioned for Alexis.

“See the knife Trenton is holding?” Franklin asked.

“Yeah.”
 

“Do you think you can knock it out of his hands from this far?”

Alexis shrugged. “I hope so.”

Franklin didn’t like the idea of Alexis going onto the beach in plain view of everyone, but hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. She traded places with Franklin, pointing the wand at Trenton, and then flicking her wrist. A small gust of sand popped up behind the followers. Alexis grimaced and tried again, taking the leg of a sand soldier off. It fell over, but nobody took notice, even the troops around it.

“I’ve got to get closer,” Alexis said.

“Wait.” Franklin reached out for her, but she’d already moved toward Trenton and the others. Franklin ground his teeth. Why didn’t anyone listen to him?

Debbie moved past Franklin. “Alexis. Get back here.”

“Not you too.” Franklin yanked her back behind the building. He didn’t need anybody else making rash decisions. “I’ll go get her.”
 

Alexis was completely exposed on the beach. All anyone needed to do was turn around, and she’d be spotted. She took a deep breath, steadying her arm. Trenton raised the knife, providing the perfect target. Franklin ran up behind Alexis but didn’t do anything. The stakes were too high. Franklin wouldn’t even offer words of support, for fear it would mess Alexis up. She flicked her wrist.

Farther down the beach, Trenton plunged the knife toward Bailey. It flew out of Trenton’s hand, leaving Bailey unharmed.

Bailey was too afraid to open his eyes. Was he dead? Did it happen that fast? Had he gone into shock? Surely, getting stabbed in the chest would be incredibly painful, not to mention horrifying, as he’d be helpless to do anything but watch himself bleed out. The weird thing for Bailey was that he didn’t hurt at all. What gave? He opened his eyes to find out.

Trenton didn’t have the knife in his hand. Bailey didn’t know where it was and didn’t care. All he knew was that Trenton looked
pissed
. He shouted and flung his arms around, accidentally clocking Percy in the face, knocking the stoner out. Trenton motioned to the sand soldiers. “Go get my brother and whoever else is with him. I want to squeeze the life out of the entire lot.”

The soldiers fanned out across the beach.

Trenton pointed at his followers. “You all, as well.”

“I’ll get the scrawny bastards.” Deckland punched the palm of his hand.

Trenton knelt next to Percy, pressing two fingers against his throat. “Hm. Dead. That’s one less thing to do later.”

Nuh uh. No way.
Trenton killed Percy during a temper tantrum. Bailey didn’t think it possible, but that made him wish the crazy townsfolk were still around. Without them, there was no buffer between Trenton and another outburst.
 

“I know you’re scared, but I want you to know something.” Trenton patted Bailey’s leg, a cold shiver giving him goosebumps.

Bailey forced himself to speak. “That this is all a big joke?”

Trenton shook his head. “After this is over, your body will be free. It will no longer be imprisoned by your fear. It will blossom and bloom into its full potential.” He squeezed Bailey’s arm. “Such a waste. I will make this body into the most powerful specimen on the planet.”

Bailey wanted to make another snarky remark, but in a busted, roundabout way, Trenton made a solid point. Bailey
had
wasted his time. The anxiety was like a cage, keeping him from doing a lot of things. Without the anxiety, what all could he have accomplished? Maybe dying would truly set him free.

Wait.

Why did Trenton get to make that decision for Bailey? He was only sixteen. There was plenty of time to figure things out and work on his issues. That’s what life was all about. Live and learn.

“You’re so full of it,” he said.
 

“Careful. I could rip your throat out with these two fingers.” Trenton made a pinching motion with his index finger and thumb. He coughed.
 

“No you couldn’t. Because you need this body.”

“Body, yes. Head? No.” Trenton grabbed Bailey by the face and ripped him from his bindings. “The knife was simply an act of mercy, so you wouldn’t have to experience the feeling of your head being removed from your body. However, I can’t say I’m feeling too merciful at the moment.”

Feet dangling in the air, temples pressing against his brain, Bailey wondered if it was really the best time to have a confidence-building epiphany.

After knocking the knife out of Trenton’s hand, Franklin picked up Alexis, slung her over his shoulder, and high-tailed it back to the others, not even bothering to see if anyone had given chase. He set her down once they’d reached cover of the building and then rubbed his injured knee. Carrying a girl Alexis’s size like that didn’t do the aching joint any favors.

“Did you do it?” Tim asked his sister.

She smiled and bumped fists with him. “It only took three tries but still.”

Julie peeked around the corner. “Here comes your boy.”

Franklin took a peek. Deckland was marching up the beach, with six sand soldiers in tow. Franklin got knocked out by the Irishman not long ago, and already he was back for more?
 

“Spectacular.” Franklin steeled himself for another beating, stretching his arms and legs. “Nobody, and I mean nobody, do anything until I come back.”

“What if you don’t come back?” Marshall asked.

“Then you’re on your own. Until then,
wait here
.” Franklin was going to have a hard enough time with Deckland. If Franklin had to worry about the kids doing something, the ginger would probably take advantage and rip a few appendages off.

Franklin held up both hands in the air, middle fingers extended, waiting for Deckland to notice the double-bird. The Irishman stopped in his tracks and laughed. He mouthed something to himself. Franklin met his opponent halfway. The foes locked eyes, like they were in some Old West duel, as the sand soldiers fanning out around them.

“You sure you don’t want your girlfriend to help? Or one of the kids? Because you’re a wee bit outnumbered,” the ginger said. “I’d hate for you to get your bell rung again.”

“I’ve got to say, I’m disappointed. Do you really need these future sand dollars for back-up? You really are all talk.” Franklin pulled the Blade of Hugues de Payens out from behind him.

“Pay them no mind,” Deckland said. “They’re only here to watch me put your head on a pole.”

“That so?”

“Nope.”

Typical.
Franklin didn’t expect a fair fight, not with their history. The sand soldiers closed in, the circle surrounding the immortal shrinking. Two soldiers on opposite ends hurled starfish in rapid succession. Franklin dodged them, and the projectiles flew overhead, taking down two grunts behind him. He swiftly spun around the others, taking their heads off with the blade.
 

A cloud of sand got in Franklin’s eyes on the final kill. He tried to spot his nemesis through the burning sensation, but it was too difficult to keep his eyes open. He had no idea where anything was, except the sky. The Irishman’s fist connected with Franklin’s jaw, knocking him down. A super-sized boot came down, crushing his wrist. The Blade of Hugues de Payens was yanked out of his hand.

“That was about as fair as I’ll get with you.” Deckland pulled up Franklin by his hair and then squeezed as hard as he could on his privates. “What are you packing in there? A couple of peas?”

Franklin’s eyes rolled up in his skull. The deep, throbbing pain stretching to every part of his body was the worst he’d experienced since his wife died. Deckland kicked the feet out from under Franklin. A small piece of coral lay under the sand, gashing his hand as it landed on the hard object. Ignoring the pain of sand in an open wound, he grabbed the coral and swung as hard as he could.

Deckland blocked the punch with one hand and slugged Franklin with the other. “Now who’s not playing fair?”
 

The coral fell in the sand next to Franklin. It was embarrassing, always getting beaten by the Irishman. The ginger kicked the blunt instrument away and then pressed down on the immortal’s chest with his foot, applying more and more pressure. Franklin tried to push free. Deckland grabbed one of his swinging arms and pulled. Hard. Franklin screamed. The combination of his chest collapsing and his arm slowly being ripped clean off was too much for the immortal.