Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 54

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

CHANCE

The transport was secured. I strapped two pistols to my hip, an assault rifle across my back and I held a club, thanks to Caaran’s tip, from the last settlement. I hoped if we encountered any creatures that they’d be less developed and go down with a bullet—but still, I’d be prepared either way.

“So, why is the team so small?” Damaris asked as he strapped on his own weapons.

“Shut up, Damaris.” Shae nudged him with her elbow and then put a band over her hair to keep any short wisps out of her face. It was her idea to bring him and begrudgingly, I agreed.

“This is a small, classified mission, Damaris. Strictly need to know,” I spoke with my words clipped. There would only be four of us heading out. I looked to Holland. She hadn’t said much as we prepped for the last two hours.

I looked at my disk and projected the route in front of us. The circuit went down about a hundred miles northeast of our location. They’d notified the outpost they had made it to a settlement about fifteen miles south of where the circuit was compromised. We still hadn’t received a list of casualties, but I wanted to believe that Tate was alive. She was too annoying in life to be gone.

“So how long until you expect us to intercept them?” Shae asked, approaching me.

“Last transmission from their leadership was from last night at a base about fifty miles from here. It was mostly used for harvesting crops and processing labels etc. A retirement community really.” I looked around. We were all ready, the transport was running, it was time.

“Load up.”

One by one we filed in. Shae and Damaris in the back, Holland and I in the front. I drove the truck through the garage and back to the service road gate.

“Shae?” Holland was staring at the large fifty-foot iron rod gate.

Shae punched a few buttons, and the gate began to buzz as it slowly swung open. My breath caught as I waited. If we could get out of this base without anyone noticing, there wouldn’t be much they could do to stop us. It just needed to move a few more feet and then the truck would be able to pass through. A large figure appeared on the other side of the gate. The rain bounced off his tan trench coat. He jumped and landed in front of the transport in a crouch and then rose with his shoulders hunched.

“Going somewhere?” Rusty’s eyes were haloed completely by purple and the venom in them was palpable.

What happened to the male?

“Yes, now step aside,” I spoke, trying to force the command with strength.

Rusty instead approached the transport and put a hand on it. He began to push, and the transport went squeaking backwards. What the hell?

“Step aside, you’re out of your jurisdiction.”

But Rusty didn’t stop, the vehicle began to slide backwards faster. I pumped the brakes momentarily halting the momentum. Rusty’s eyes flared. Water landed on his face and streaked down.

“She’s not worth it. You are supposed to be hunting for our mole, not running to save your booty call.”

I got out of the transport and slammed the door. Rusty removed his hand from the vehicle and looked at me, eyeing the weapons.

“Think that will make you male enough?” He snorted.

“Dux Richards, you need to move. Now.”

“No.” Rusty took a step toward me and palmed a dagger.

Was he serious?

“Not to pull the nepotism card, but any idea what would happen to you if my father found out you attacked me while I’m conducting an authorized investigation? One that I am in charge of, not you?” I stepped closer to him, allowing the tip of the knife to brush against my vest. Water glistened as it coated the blade.

“Brat,” Rusty cursed under his breath. I could see his restraint slipping, the knife beginning to press deeper into my vest with his hand shaking violently. “You don’t deserve to share breath with me, boy.”

“Dale,” Holland called out. From my peripheral, I could see her weapon trained on Rusty as she stood out of the transport, leaning across the windshield.

I shook my head at her, negative. Rusty needed to back down and I needed to be the one to do it.

“You’re old Rusty, maybe it’s time you hung up your cape and stopped beating poor dokimoses and simply retire. I hear there’s a lovely village just fifty miles from here. The perfect place for you. Well, that is assuming you’re not senile, and judging from your pallor, you’re not well.”

The tip of Rusty’s blade dug deeper, and I could feel it prick my skin. I could see black veins webbing from his eyes to his forehead and ears. His black eyes were fully dilated, and I smelt, fear?

“Enough.” Anax Clark appeared with Dux Carran. They strode out from the side and stopped just short of the transport. The headlights shining in all our faces made it hard to see, but I was fairly certain they had weapons drawn. “Stand down, Dux Richards,” Clark commanded.

“He is sneaking out of here, violating the council’s decision.” Rusty glared at me, releasing some pressure on the knife but not redacting it completely.

“I will address what I need to. But I run this base, not you. I command you to stand down. Now,” Clark spoke, with an eerie calmness.

Rusty didn’t move.

The whole world went white for a moment and then my vision returned as the brightness faded—Rusty lay convulsing on the ground, static dancing over his skin. Clark lowered her hands and then strode toward Rusty. Fuck. She was a magic wielder. Things began to click in place. That was why she ran this base, even in her old age.

“When I give a command, you listen.” She kicked him with her boots, and he stopped shaking. Carran bent over and picked him up, wearing rubber gloves I noted for the first time, and threw him over his shoulder.

“Now, where are you going, Dux Dale?” Anax Clark turned, shoulders squared, and addressed me.

“I believe I have a lead on the mole hunt and what the intruders were searching for. It’s just a hunch, but I need to evaluate the outside of the compound and visit a nearby base to gather additional intel.”

“Hunch?” She looked past me into the transport. How she could see past the lights and rain was beyond me. “Taking an arche and an internal intelligence trainee?”

“Yes, just a hunch but I believe their skills could be of use if it pans out.”

“Very well.” She looked at Holland. “You both should be aware that we just received word an hour ago that the base the convoy was reportedly at last night has been leveled and nothing remains. Not sure what you will be able to gather from that intel.”

I inhaled. No, we were too late.

“Any survivors?” Holland asked.

“We aren’t certain, intel was gathered from a flyover.” She returned her gaze to mine. “Do not mistake me for a fool, Dux Dale. Should you encounter Dokimos Aaralyn and her convoy, I do expect you to see them back safely.”

“Of course.” I nodded.

She held my gaze for a moment longer before stalking off, Dux Carran trailing behind with an unconscious Rusty hanging limply across his back.

I climbed back in the transport, as did Holland, and then drove through the gate. We should have left hours ago.