The Hammer of War, Chapter 30

Name: Amir Azad
Title: War-Summoner
War Points: 1000

STR – 38
DEX – 30
VIT – 148

“For a price.” The vampire grinned and held out a pale hand. I shook it, because I didn’t wanna be rude. The vampire turned to his partner and nodded once. The other vampire walked off with a grunt. He gestured to a bar, afterward. We sat down by the counter and a wine glass filled with bright red blood was passed onto him by an entity wreathed in shadow. A glass of chocolate milk was placed in front of me. 

I raised a brow and turned to the shadow entity. It shrugged. 

Huh. I reached out and wrapped my fingers around the perspiring glass. 

The vampire took a sip and turned to me. “How about we introduce ourselves first? It’d be awfully rude not to, otherwise.” 

The vampire was tall and wore a dark suit, a white undershirt, and a red tie. A black glove concealed his left hand. His blonde hair was slicked back–not a single strand straying. His eyes were an odd yellow, like amber, but not quite. And he spoke with an accent that was almost French. Was he Canadian? No idea. 

Sitting by the bar with us were other vampires and some humanoid creatures I did not recognize–some form of fairy, but I figured, but I’d need some sort of supernatural compendium before I could make any assumptions. 

I shrugged and drank the chocolate milk. It wasn’t poisoned. And it tasted pretty good, actually. Creamy and sweet, but not so sweet that it masked the flavor of the chocolate. 

For a moment, I debated on whether or not I should give him my real name. But, then again, at this point, I was pretty sure he could just look me up on the public registry and figure out the truth even if I did lie. I didn’t have the ability to alter my features, after all, and there weren’t a lot of Indian families in Portland–at least, not enough to hide me. “You can call me Amir.” 

The vampire smiled. “And you may call me Sebastian, though I’ve had many names across the centuries and I’ve forgotten most of them.”

I nodded and finished the chocolate milk. It didn’t seem like it was poisoned, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if there was some kind of hex in it. If that was the case, then all I’d have to do to get rid of it is activate my [Blank] aura. “Onto business, then. You said you knew where Helena Stolas is hiding? Where?” 

“I do,” Sebastian said. “But I also said I wouldn’t tell you–unless, of course, you pay me.” 

My eyes narrowed. I didn’t have a lot of money on me, but I also didn’t think a vampire would have interest in it. Assuming Sebastian lived for long enough and didn’t burn his finances, he’d be filthy rich. “What sort of payment are you asking? I can’t imagine an immortal, such as yourself, would be short on cash.”

Sebastian chuckled and shook his head. “No. Mortal coin does not interest me. You’re new to this; I can tell. So, allow me to be the one to break you in: among supernaturals, coin is a trifling currency. The best trades are in favors, because–unlike humans–deals and contracts among supernaturals can be fatal if broken. So, what I want from you is not money. No, I want you to do something for me. If you succeed, I’ll give you the location of the crow-bitch. A favor for a favor.” 

I nodded. “Alright. What do you want?” 

He produced a map with a snap of his fingers and gave it to me. I unfurled it and saw a map of the northside yacht center. Only a few kilometers away from here–not too far. I’ve been there once or twice before, since my parents had the money to splurge on yacht trips from time to time. Sebastian pointed at a spot on the map. “There’s a warehouse there. Unassuming. But it’s owned by an asshole and I have something of a grudge to settle. Blow up the warehouse. How you do it is up to you, but make sure it’s blown up. After that, I’ll tell you where Helena Stolas is hiding. And, if you think you have time, you don’t; wait too long and she’ll go back to the Underworld. The only reason she’s still here, I suspect, is because she’s using up all her focus to heal herself and can’t open a direct portal just yet. But the clock is ticking.”

I nodded and stood up. “I accept.” 

Sebastian held out his right hand. “A Binding Vow, then, between us, just so you know you can trust me. A favor for a favor. The magic will ensure we both do our part of the deal–or die.” 

I shook his hand again and felt a slight tingle. A small glowing circle appeared over our hands, before it became two and wrapped around our wrists, before disappearing, leaving a black mark. We pulled our hands apart and I brought my wrist close to my eyes for inspection. It appeared benign. But one never knew with magic. Once again, if I had to deal with it, then I had a contingency. Sebastian smiled. “Don’t worry about it. The Binding Vow affects the both of us.” 

He was hiding something from me. But he was also telling the truth. There was something here that I did not yet understand and the vampire was taking full advantage of that. Nevertheless, I had no quarrel with him, unless he started a fight with me. And if he was going to trick me or hamper me in any way that mattered, I’d fucking kill him. “Very well. I’ll be back in a bit.” 

“Good luck, human.” 

I left the lounge with that vampire’s words still echoing. The Binding Vow sat on my wrist like a faint bruise. Outside, the night had deepened. Lights glowed in distant windows along the waterfront. A few figures drifted in the streets but did not give me a glance. I pushed my hood up, stepping past them, heading away from the Riverside Lodge. My business there was settled for now.

I turned down a narrow road, the asphalt cracked and patched. Sebastian had given me a map. I flicked on my phone's screen to trace the route. A warehouse near the yacht center. I found an empty bench beneath a broken lamp, sat for a moment, studied the directions. The place wasn't far, maybe five kilometers if I cut through side streets. I didn’t want to purchase any explosives from the System, since I needed all my War Points. And I didn’t need to, because I had a living artillery piece whose whole existence was about blowing shit up. 

Summoning the [Exocrene] in the city itself might cause issues, but I'd keep my distance. I'd do it from a vantage point.

The air felt cooler as I trudged uphill. My footsteps tapped a steady rhythm. No traffic on this back road, only a row of parked cars under dark windows. One cat skulked past a trash can, eyes catching a sliver of moonlight. Then it vanished behind a fence. I walked on.

After a half-hour, I reached a rise of land that overlooked the yacht center. A chain-link fence blocked part of the hill, but I found a gap and slipped through. The ground was uneven, littered with old tires and junk. A vantage point, though, with a decent line of sight. I spotted the warehouse easily. A dull structure by the water, corrugated metal walls and a wide roof. Lights shone around it, small perimeter lamps. No sign of activity at this hour. 

I nodded to myself and called out the [Drukhari Incubi]. All three of them materialized in front of me. They were, I figured, my stealthiest units. “Go into that warehouse and make sure no one’s inside. If there’s anyone inside, knock them out and take them somewhere far away. Do this as fast as you can. I’m giving you thirty minutes.” 

They disappeared soon after.  

I recalled the vampire's exact words: "Blow up the warehouse. Make sure it's gone." That was his price for telling me where Helena was. I had no reason to question him. I'd already sealed the vow. If I failed, I'd break the contract. I could get myself out of it, of course, with [Blank], but doing so might alert him and then I’d never find out where that devil bitch was.

I crouched behind a low mound of broken concrete, phone in hand, scanning the scene. The warehouse wasn't alone. Other buildings huddled close, some offices or storage sheds. The entire zone lay quiet. A guard hut near the entrance looked unmanned, which was good. The last thing I wanted was to have human casualties on my conscience. The fence around the place had barbed wire, but that wouldn't matter once I unleashed the [Exocrene]. My [Drukhari Incubi] were already arriving. They’d clear out the place soon.

I breathed in the night air, steadying myself. I summoned the [Exocrene]. A ripple of warped space unfolded beside me. The creature took form in a flash of bio-luminescent light. It stood as a massive, bulbous Tyranid organism, a living cannon perched on thick, chitinous limbs. Its flesh pulsed with internal fluids, tubes along its spine venting a faint mist. The ground shook as it landed, letting out a low hiss.

I set a hand on its side, feeling the slick carapace. It rumbled softly, as though sensing my intentions. I'd used it before. I'd seen its power, but I'd never aimed at a target so large. I'd also rarely fired from so far. But I'd trust the Scions training. I'd treat it like an artillery piece.

I moved around to the front of the [Exocrene], scanning the warehouse below. My vantage gave a clear shot. No movement. Minimal lights. My [Drukhari Incubi] had already finished their task. I pointed at the warehouse. The [Exocrene] twisted its hulking body, the bio-cannon elevating on a thick, sinewy stalk. A low hum came from deep within, building energy. Greenish plasma began to form around the cannon's maw, swirling in a sickly glow.

I took a breath, crouching. I'd expected a single shot would blow the warehouse into scrap. Enough to keep my vow. I'd vanish into the night afterward. I gave a soft nod. The [Exocrene] let out a hiss, spines bristling.

The cannon roared.

A sphere of molten bio-plasma launched into the air, trailing sparks of greenish light. The recoil rocked the [Exocrene], forcing its limbs deeper into the dirt. I watched the orb arc downward, saw it flare with lethal radiance. It struck the warehouse rooftop near its center, blasting a hole in the corrugated metal.

An instant of silence followed. Then a flash. The roof split apart as a column of flame erupted, tearing the structure. Metal sheets curled outward like petals. A thundering boom rolled through the night, rattling my vantage point. Flames leapt higher.

I stood, thinking that was enough. The warehouse burned, chunks of debris soared upward. But then came a second explosion. Larger. A deeper roar that shook the entire hillside. I stumbled, bracing on the Exocrene’s flank. A fireball ballooned up from the warehouse, a tidal wave of heat. The ground around the building fractured, entire walls collapsing. Windows in the neighboring offices shattered in a chain reaction. A monstrous crack.

The ground near the building gave way, maybe from buried fuel or old munitions. A massive shockwave pulsed outward, stirring dust and flame. My vantage point trembled. I saw the warehouse disintegrate into swirling rubble, pieces of metal the size of cars spinning in the air. Other buildings buckled. Concrete walls caved. Flaming debris arced across the complex.

A roar filled my ears. The second explosion flared bright as day, a pillar of fire and smoke twisting hundreds of meters into the sky. The night lit up. The city caught that glow, shadows dancing across rooftops. Windows blocks away shattered from the pressure. Alarms wailed in the distance. The ground beneath me vibrated.

I swore under my breath. The blast was far beyond anything I'd planned. A single shot from the Exocrene had triggered some massive chain reaction. Maybe the warehouse stored chemicals or explosives. I'd never checked. I'd done exactly as Sebastian demanded, but I'd unleashed a disaster.

The second explosion settled into a rolling inferno. Flames spread through adjacent buildings, fuel lines or stored goods feeding the blaze. The entire complex looked like a war zone. Smoke billowed skyward in thick columns, reflecting the fierce orange glow. A third rumble, smaller, rattled the area. More fire.

Sirens rose in the distance. I saw flickers of emergency lights on the far side of the city. The wind carried the stench of burning chemicals, acrid and suffocating. I stared, heart pounding. The vow demanded total destruction, and I had definitely delivered. Possibly more than the vampire ever expected. With a flicker of thought and will, the [Exocrene] disappeared. 

“What the fuck?”