Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
T he guard looked around the corner. No one was close or paying him any attention. He hurried to the side of the gargoyle building and set up the explosives, hiding them from prying eyes. He then made his way to the dragon building, doing the same. With so many guards around he was surprised no one saw him, but no one had. So much for protecting the pack lands.
Finally, he walked into the woods to set in motion his final act. He stood with his dragon partner for the day and they started walking their area. He let the dragon get a little way ahead. Then, quickly and quietly drawing his sword, he decapitated them.
Puff was sitting in the schoolroom. He must admit, having Dask help Oz with the lessons was fun. As they were all home-schooling, everyone could pick subjects that interested them, except for Maths and English which they all had to do.
Puff was currently trying to get his head around a maths problem. Was maths supposed to be this hard?
Bob suddenly bellowed in rage and Puff vanished.
“Children, stay here,” Oz said and followed Puff.
Puff appeared beside the dead guard. He found the guard’s head a little away from her body. As he knelt down, he touched her hand. Oz arrived and put his hand on Puff’s shoulder.
Puff pulled Mateo and Atticus to him and sent a call out to others. Gasps were heard when they arrived.
“She’s only just died,” Puff told them. Not that he needed to as blood was still leaving her body.
“Do we know who killed her?” Blake fumed with barely controlled anger.
“Not at the moment,” Puff croaked out. “We need to find who she was partnered with and if they are dead or alive.”
Atticus held his hand out and helped Puff up.
“Corporal Williamson was partnered with Sergeant Cartwright,” Frederick said, looking at his phone.
“We need to look for the corporal I’m sorry this has happened Puff,” Tudor said.
“Sweetheart, you have a link to all your gargoyle guards, you can find the corporal,” Alex told him.
“Okay I can do this well I can try–” Tudor started to say, but before he could finish, an explosion sounded.
“What the hell!” several of them exclaimed before running towards the sound.
“Oh no!” Tudor shouted as they saw the damage and fire burning the gargoyle building. A section of the building had been blown up with debris everywhere. Dragons and gargoyles were there helping those injured when Han appeared.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” he said to Tudor and the others.
“Do you know how many have died?” Blake asked.
“Three here, plus your dragon,” Han said. “I’ll take them all to Elysium.” And with that he vanished.
“That means the corporal is still alive,” Baylan commented.
“Indeed. We need to find him,” Blake urged, just as a second explosion ripped through the area from the direction of the dragon’s building.
“Dammit, we need to know if there are any more bombs!” Blake yelled, rushing to the second bomb site. The damage was the same.
“There are no more,” Puff said.
They stopped when Han reappeared. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
“How many?” Puff asked.
“Two. I’ll take them to Elysium as well.” And again he vanished.
“Tudor, locate Corporal Williamson,” Blake demanded.
Tudor closed his eyes and searched. “I’ve found him. He’s helping at the gargoyle building, I’ll go get him.”
“No need,” Ares said. “I’ll get him.”
The next moment, a man dressed in the gargoyle uniform stood in front of them looking confused. “I should be helping the others. Why did you pull me away?”
“Why did you kill Sergeant Cartwright and set off the explosions?” Blake asked him in a deadly calm voice.
He still looked confused. “What? I’ve not killed anyone. I don’t understand why you would say I have.”
“You were partnered with Sergeant Cartwright today. Her body has just been found, her head severed from her body,” Frederick said.
The guard’s mouth dropped open. “And you think I killed her? I would never.”
“And yet you did,” Blake growled out.
“I’m so confused,” he said, rubbing his forehead. “But hasn’t this already happened?”
“What do you mean?” Blake demanded.
“This, all of this.” He waved his hand around. “It feels like a dream I had,” the corporal replied, looking uncertain.
“A dream?” Blake asked.
The corporal nodded. “Two explosions, and a dead dragon guard … this feels like it has happened before.”
“Gah, dream walkers,” Mateo suddenly swore. “Barnabus must have used a dream walker, it’s the only thing that makes sense.”
There was more than one person swearing.
“How do we stop this from happening again?” Frederick asked. “And what do we do with him?”
The corporal’s shoulders slumped. “Did I really set the explosives and kill a dragon?”
“You did, yes,” Blake told him, shaking his head.
“What’s to be done with me?” he asked, looking at Tudor.
Tudor stepped forward. “We need to discuss everything first and then figure out your punishment but until then I can’t have you walking around the pack grounds.”
The Corporal nodded in shock, a slight tremble running through his body. “I understand.”
“Shall I put him in the cells for now?” Frederick asked.
“Please,” Tudor said.
Frederick walked to the man, took his arm and led him away.
“We need to arrange funerals, contact families, and fix the damage to the buildings,” Puff whispered, the words rough and scratchy.
“And find a way to block dream walkers. If there is even a way,” Oz muttered. “I’ll ask my father, he might know.”
“What do you think Barnabus was hoping to achieve?” Henry said, popping up, adding, “I’ve started locating the injured and dead in the gargoyle building. I’ll move to the dragon building in a bit.”
Blake touched his shoulder. “Thank you, Henry. As for what Barnabus was hoping to achieve, chaos and mayhem. Plus, probably trying to put a wedge between the dragons and the gargoyles.”
“That will never happen,” Puff said, his voice practically giving out.
“No it won’t that was a silly idea he killed both dragons and gargoyles I wish we knew how to stop him so this didn’t happen again I feel like flying over to the Hayes pack and turning him into stone I’m going to do that very thing,” Tudor said, running out of breath and shifting into his gargoyle form.
“Hold up, sweetheart.” Alex stepped in front of him. “We still don’t know all the powers he’s acquired. We need to know that before we face him so no one else dies.”
He shifted back and Alex clicked his fingers to clothe him. “That makes sense.” He huffed with a groan. “That was a silly idea but I’m so angry and frustrated.”
Alex pulled Tudor into his arms. “We all are, sweetheart.”
Tudor pulled back. “We should go and see General Gasgoyne and the other gargoyles and get an update see to the injured and there are things we probably have to do I need to call Dane.”
Dane touched his shoulder. “I’m already here and dad is helping dig out the injured.”
“And we will go and see General Delinga,” Puff tried to say, but only a squeak came out. He huffed in annoyance.
“We’ll do the talking for you, Puff,” Atticus offered.
Puff nodded, and the dragons walked off, followed by the gargoyles.
“Talk about a day of two halves. This morning we celebrated a dragon egg and then this.” Ash waved his hand around.
“It was nice of Han to come and collect our fallen,” Jason said. “Apparently, he only comes for special cases.”
“Frederick claimed him as family, maybe that’s why he came,” Ares suggested. “I need to go see my father. Ask Frederick to check with Hades and see if Decker has had any luck yet.” And with a quick kiss for Jason, he vanished.
“My father and his mates were looking over the new pack lands. As soon as they come back I’ll ask dad about dream walkers and protection against them,” Oz said. “Mind you, the sound of the blast might have called them back.”
“I didn’t even know dream walkers were a real thing.” Nick scrubbed his hands over his face. “I always thought they were myths.”
Baylan shook his head. “Dream walkers are real but rare. I’ve never encountered one before.”
“The question is, if they are so rare, how did Barnabus find one?” Jason asked.
“Maybe the pack shaman knew one,” Ash suggested.
“I need to listen to more recordings and find out what’s going on,” Jason said.
“Do you want to go and get on with that?” Blake said to him.
Jason shook his head, peering around at all the damage and people rushing around helping. “I’m going to see if I can help clear up the destruction.”
“We can all do that,” Blake volunteered, spotting Frederick walking back towards them. “I’ll have a quick word with Frederick and then join the clean-up.”
Everyone went off to offer assistance where needed and Blake met Frederick halfway. “Everyone is helping. Ares has gone to talk to Zeus, he asked if you could check with Hades to see if someone called Decker has had any luck yet.”
Frederick nodded. “Decker is Tatum’s brother. His demon gift is instantly knowing another demon’s powers. Hades asked him to check on Barnabus for us.”
Just then Hades appeared looking around. “Sorry, I was tied up, I came as soon as I could. Han filled me in. What can I do to help?”
“The injured and dead are being rescued, and I see Saxon over there, helping put the fire out. Hopefully, Oz will be over by the gargoyle compound. Ares has gone to see Zeus, do you want to join them?” Blake asked.
Hades nodded. “I will.”
“Before you do that, have you heard from Decker?” Frederick asked him.
Hades shook his head. “Not yet. I’ll check in with Zeus and Ares and then go and see him. I can ask some demons to come and help you sort everything out if you want,” he offered.
Blake smiled at him. “Thank you, I’ll gladly accept any help.”
Suddenly four large men were standing just by the side of Blake and Frederick.
“Jaxton, Winnal, Stanley, Plog, this is my Consort Frederick Barbuda and the Alpha King Blake Hayes, see what you can do to help them. If you have any issues, talk with Frederick,” Hades said, then pulled Frederick into a quick kiss. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” And with that he vanished.
“Consort, Alpha King, what can we do to help? I’m Plog by the way.”
“Thank you,” Blake said. “We’ve just had two explosions and are rescuing those trapped and injured. Can two of you help the dragons and two of you the gargoyles?”
“We can. I’m Jaxton. Winnal and I will go and help the dragons.”
“I’m Stanley. Plog and I will help the gargoyles,” he said before looking at Frederick. “Consort, do you need protection?”
Frederick shook his head. “No, but thank you for the offer.”
“In that case, we’ll go and help,” Stanley said and the four of them disappeared.
“Notice how they didn’t ask if I needed protecting,” Blake pointed out, with a quick grin.
“I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted,” Frederick replied, shaking his head.
“Be flattered,” Blake told him. “Let’s check on the dragons, then the gargoyles.”