Satyr Play 03 Pt. 02

He frowned at her. "Not anymore. Are you going to kill me now?"

Minkah didn't know what she was going to do. "What do you mean, not anymore?"

"Listen, I don't have the strength to explain. I have nothing left. If I don't get something to eat, I'm gonna pass out. If you're going to shoot me, go ahead. Otherwise, can you show me where I can get some food?" Henry asked weakly.

With a frustrated scowl, Minkah gestured for him to step out into the hall. With a moan, he stood and swayed. It looked like he was struggling to stay on his feet as he reached the doorway.

Henry paused as he looked at the next two room numbers. The people locked in rooms four and five deserved their freedom as well. Free from the unending pain and sadness. He looked to his current jailor. "My name is Henry."

She gave him a cautious look. "Minkah."

He nodded, then gestured to the two doors. "Minkah, these two deserve to be free." When he saw her getting upset, he shook his head. "Sorry, I didn't mean they should come with us. It's too late for them. Their minds are gone." She gave him a skeptical look, and he sighed.

"The doctor drugged me, and my mind left my body and went visiting. All rooms on that side of the hall are empty, and only the first six on this side had people in them. The doctor killed the first two rooms' occupants with a cursed dagger, just as an experiment. DJ, a Djinn Baba Yaga brought from the past, was in room three, but I got him out." He gestured to room five. "This one is trapped in a state of unending agony." Then he pointed to four. "There's a Human woman there who's stuck in a cycle of intense despair. She's desperate to join her family on the other side." He looked to Minkah. "I'm going to assume you're a trained assassin. Could you give them some mercy? I don't know who will take over running this place, but I can't risk them continuing to torture these people like this."

"If I don't—"

"I will," he said firmly, as he braced himself against the wall.

She held his eye and realized he was completely serious. He looked like he might fall down at any second, but he'd spend his limited energy on mercy killing these two. She found herself nodding, so he opened the doors and held their hands as Minkah performed the coup de grâce on the two.

She led him out of the containment ward and down the hall to the cafeteria. He moved slowly and leaned against the wall all the way. By the time they reached the large room, his eyes weren't tracking so well, and he needed to pause a few times before he made it to a table.

"Stay here. I'll see what's available," Minkah said, and he just nodded.

She raided the fridge and found a full box of day-old powdered donuts. She brought them back to the table and flipped open the package before him.

Henry focused on the food before him and began to mechanically lift the stale donuts to his mouth. He barely chewed as he swallowed one after another.

She brought him a few large bottles of some no-name cola. Once he polished off the box of donuts, he drank the three colas. Letting out a mighty burp, he apologized then smiled gratefully to her.

"That was truly awful, but the sugar and caffeine should keep me on my feet for a short time. Thank you," Henry said quietly. She gave him a quick nod. "What's next?" he asked.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You work for the Council. This is their prison, and I was one of their prisoners because you drugged me and brought me here." He paused as he looked at her calmly, then continued. "I need to get back to my friends as they're probably worried and doing daring things to rescue me. I don't want them to get into trouble or be in danger." He frowned as his re-energized brain suddenly remembered a more significant threat. "Shit! Mab! She's preparing another major extermination spell! She's going after the Fae first. She's going to kill them, then she's going after everyone else. She's completely unhinged, and now she's powered by much stronger magic!"

"How do you know this?" Minkah asked.

"When I first got here, and they drugged me, I went to visit Mab when I felt her fucking around with the Wild Magic. I found her castle, and she attacked me. She told me she was almost ready to launch her killer spell. I've been here too long. I need to stop her," he said a little shakily.

"Why you?" Minkah asked.

"What?"

"Why does it have to be you?" she asked.

Henry slowly blinked as he felt the food begin to feed energy back into his body. He sighed. "Here is where I need to ask you to take a leap of faith that what I'm about to tell you is completely true. We don't have time for messing about with long-winded explanations. Mab and I are linked to the same dimension of Wild Magic. At her party in New York, where she grabbed all those Human celebrities, she tricked me into helping her create a baby, a daughter, and Mab switched bodies with her. Then she aged our daughter's body to its teen years. For endangering the Fae and breaking her deal with me, she was dethroned, and she wants revenge for that and for how we destroyed her original plans. Basically, she wants to kill us and everyone else. I don't know how she's going to do it, but it involves the Wild Magic. I felt her experiments. I have to stop her."

Minkah watched Henry's eyes and knew he believed every word he was saying. The Minister of Security likely had no idea of what Mab was up to. She decided she was going to take that leap Henry mentioned, but she had a condition.

"I'll help you, but you must never leave my side. You must give me your word that you'll remain in my custody while we do this. Afterward, we speak with the Hidden Races Council directly to present your case," she said firmly.

Henry blinked at her. "Ah, okay. That works for me. I give my word, as long as my friends are not hurt or persecuted by the council for anything they might do to protect me."

"I can only promise that I won't take any action against them," Minkah insisted.

Henry nodded. "Fine. I can feel the junk food picking me up, but this won't last. Can we go? Oh! What about the ogres, I mean orderlies?"

"I'll deal with them," she pulled Henry to his hooves. "You might want to change back into your glamor."

Henry nodded. "Right." He was suddenly Human again but wobbled on his sneaker covered feet. A white t-shirt and jeans completed his default glamor. Minkah nodded as she liked what she saw as she braced his body against hers. She pushed that thought aside as he stabilized and took deep breaths. "I'll be okay. Let's go."

They made their way to the garage, where Henry looked in dismay at the piece of junk subcompact they'd be driving back to the city. "Is this safe to drive on the highway?" he asked, worried about pieces falling off, like a wheel.

"They got it here, so I assume it's roadworthy," she sighed.

"Maybe they brought it here on one of those flatbed tow trucks," he suggested.

"Let's go," she replied shortly.

With a worried glance at her, he moved to the passenger door, but it was locked. Minkah opened her door, sat behind the wheel, and reached over to unlock the door. Henry pulled on the handle again with no luck. Minkah used the handle on the inside to open it.

Henry didn't voice his concerns again as he could see the anger in Minkah's lovely eyes.

"She's dead, yes?"

It took a second for Henry to respond as he connected the dots to the administrator, but he got it. "Y-yes."

"Good," Minkah sighed as she started the engine with the key left in the ignition switch.

The tiny engine started and sounded smooth enough, though the car vibrated oddly. Henry popped the glove box and pulled out a manual for the vehicle. He scanned the first few pages. "It's a 1984 Chevy Sprint. It's only got three cylinders!"

"Put that away," Minkah snapped as she noted the gas gauge indicated less than a quarter tank. She assumed that was enough to get them to the gas station near the interstate entrance.

She drove them into the elevator, and her hope that it was automatic was answered when the platform began to rise. When it stopped, they heard the sharp burst of an automatic weapon being fired. Henry's eyes widened as the garage door opened on a chaotic scene. The big orderlies were before the door facing someone to the right. One of the brutes struggled to hold his machine gun with broken hands. After firing a final burst, they threw down the spent weapons and dropped their glamors to rush forward into a fight between Weres and Silver People. There had to be a little more than a dozen of each though it was hard to count the Silver People as they moved so damn quick. The Weres were trying to fight them and occasionally managed to get in a lucky hit or two, but they only knocked them off their feet momentarily.

The Were's fighting was wild and undisciplined, so Henry assumed they couldn't have been Roy's men.

When the ogres entered the fray, it got even messier. One of the Weres was grabbed and ripped in two, splashing blood and gore across the two Ogres. This just sent them into a crazed frenzy.

Minkah edged the small car out of the garage, but the engine caught a dozen bullets and immediately died.

"Get out and go to the back of the garage. Find a safe place to hide. I have to take out the shooters," Minkah said.

She saw him exit and slipped out her door. She rushed to the edge of the door and peeked out. The shooters had to be on the edge of the forest. She holstered her guns. She'd need to switch to get out of the garage.

Glancing back, she saw Henry tucking himself against the back wall. She smiled.

Good boy.

-=-

Henry scrambled to get out and stayed low as he rushed back to lean against the wood boards of the outer wall. He made himself as small as he could. He looked to the open garage doors and caught the blur of a black cat running outside and disappearing.

"Henry?"

His head whipped around to stare at the wall. "Meixiu?"

"I'm here! Are you injured? We saw the green light," she cried through the wall.

Henry held back his sob of relief as his friends were here. Then he was immediately worried about them. "You need to get out of here! I don't think these are Roy's pack, I don't know who these Silver People are, and there are two insane Ogres as well."

"Step back from the wall," she called out.

He frowned but did as he instructed but didn't move far enough back as the shattering boards crashed into him, knocking him down. He just managed to keep from passing out. When he opened his eyes again, he looked up into distorted reflections of himself as two silver people gazed down at him in worry.

"So sorry about that, fella," one said.

"Yeah, we got a little too eager to get through the wall," the other said.

"Henry!" Meixiu cried and pushed between the two to jump on him and kiss his lips.

"MMmmph!" he exclaimed. When she pulled back, he looked at the two Silver People in embarrassment. They just grinned back at him.

"We need to leave. These Weres are from Carl de Bellisle's pack. They're here to kidnap you again," Meixiu said. "Roy is fighting their leader now." She pulled her cell and quickly sent Sigrid an update. The Silver People helped him up to his feet, but they continued to hold his arms. He looked at them cautiously, so they released him reluctantly.

"Sorry, we don't know why, but we're picking up a charge from you. Just being next to you is giving us energy! Oh, I'm Sam, and this is Jake," Sam said with a grin.

"Hi, I'm Henry," he said awkwardly. He had no idea what would be safe to say to these guys. "We should probably go." Then he recalled his promise. "Shit! I can't leave without Minkah!"

Meixiu frowned at him. "Who's Minkah?"

"She's the one who brought me here and got me out of my cell. She's going to help, but I need to stay in her custody. I promised."

"Custody?" Jake asked.

"Long story, and we have no time. Let's get out of the garage, but we can't leave the property without Minkah.

They clambered out the hole in the back of the garage where two other Silver People were watching for danger. They immediately turned to stare at Henry when he stood before them. He could see they were female.

"This is my wife Jeannie," Sam said in introduction. The smaller of the two did a strange little curtsey and burst into giggles.

"And this lovely thing is my wife Brenda," Jake said.

Henry smiled at the four. "Why do I feel a group hug is in order?"

Jeannie was the first to take up the offer, and Brenda was close behind. With Jake and Sam at his back, he was entirely encircled by Silver People.

"That was nice," Henry said, suggesting it should end. Sam pulled away first, then Jake. They had to gently peel their ladies from Henry's chest.

"Why do I feel so energized?" Jeannie said dreamily.

"He feels like fresh lightning!" Brenda agreed.

Henry twitched as he recalled his experience with the storm in Washington. His eyes became a little haunted. Sam was watching his face, and it clicked as he recalled speaking to the glowing man. Henry matched his size and shape. "Oh my god! You're the lightnin' man! From Washington, DC!"

Jake's eyes widened as well. "Well, shit! That makes sense, don't it!"

"I-I can't talk about that right now," Henry gasped as his mind rebelled against dredging those memories up again.

"Oh! Sorry!" Sam said, seeing the panic beginning to appear on Henry's face. They watched Henry get control of his breathing as Meixiu leaned against his arm to give him comfort.

"I will find my friends and bring them here," the Vampire said softly. Henry nodded, and she faded into the surrounding darkness once more.

Henry looked around the dark forest and realized he had no idea where he was or how to get home. The four Silver People were standing close with smiles on their faces, and he began to feel awkward as he couldn't really say anything without jeopardizing the Big Secret.

Meixiu was immediately next to him and clutched his hand. "Raymond is hurt! I need you to come with me!" She tugged his hand, and he moved. He got the impression they were being flanked by the four Silver People, but he could only keep his head down at Meixiu's level to avoid branches to the face and watch for trip hazards as she quickly drew him through the woods.

They entered a small clearing, and a large but injured man was resting back against the tree with a shorter woman watching him with a desperate expression. The man was pressing his hand over his side, and Henry smelled blood.

"Henry, this is Raymond and Eleanor. You must help her heal him!" Meixiu pleaded.

He looked at her in surprise. "I'm not a healer! I'm also exhausted. They starved me in that madhouse!"

"We can get you food!" Sam blurted suddenly. He grabbed Jake's hand, and that man nodded. "Yeah, we can do that. There are houses just down the road. They'll have fridges with leftovers."

Henry snorted in surprise.

"Eleanor, give them some money to leave for the food," he said with a weak smile.

Giving her husband an annoyed look, she pulled some cash from her pocket and thrust it at Sam. He took it, and Jake zipped away after him.

Henry knelt down next to Raymond and looked to Eleanor. "I'm not a doctor. I'm a CIO for an investment house. I build computer networks and write computer software."

"We avoided the battle, but a stray bullet caught Raymond, and I think it nicked an artery. I'm a surgeon. I need to operate on him, but I have no instruments or an operating room," Eleanor said nervously.

"I wish Dayshia and Mahati were here. They operated on me when I had glass fragments in my back. Dayshia used the light of the healing spell to make the instruments she needed," Henry sighed.

Eleanor's eyes almost glowed with excitement as she imagined working with such tools.

Sam and Jake were suddenly back, the latter smelling like soup. His wife struggled to suppress her laughter at his look of discomfort. "Hey! It isn't easy running with liquids!" he said with a pout.

He handed Henry a reusable plastic container half full of chicken noodle soup. He thanked him and drank right from the container, gulping down the noodles without chewing. He set it aside and burped again.

"Excuse me, and thank you. Could someone go back to the garage to see if Minkah is there looking for me?" Henry asked.

"Sure, what does she look like?" Brenda replied.

"Either a tall brunette woman or a black cat. One blue eye and one yellow eye is the way to identify her," he said hesitantly. The Silver People shared looks, and Brenda rushed away.

Sam handed Henry a plate of fried chicken. Accepting it, he turned his back and scarfed down the food as quickly as he could without choking. By the sixth piece, he felt his stomach complain, so he stopped.

He looked back and saw everyone watching him. "Sorry. That's good. Thank you."

Henry had eaten his fill, and now his abused body wanted him to sleep, but he couldn't yet. He listened to the continuing fight and gave the others a worried look. "When I pull the healing magic, it's gonna light up this area and draw everyone's attention. We're still too close to the battle."

"You are fortunate I don't shoot you myself!"

Henry turned to see Minkah stepping through the trees with Brenda behind her. Neither looked happy.

"You were supposed to wait for me in the garage!" she snapped.

"My apologies. I wasn't going to leave without you, but Meixiu's friend needs help right now." He gestured to Raymond, who didn't look good. He turned to Eleanor. "He needs blood. Can you take a little from me and feed it to him?"

She looked at him strangely. "I have no instruments—"

"He means with your mouth," Meixiu explained gently.

"Oh!" Eleanor exclaimed. She was surprised by someone offering to feed her.

"Take a small amount and feed it to Raymond quickly or you may lose consciousness, and you are needed to operate," Meixiu continued but saw the doubt on Eleanor's face. "I will do it."

Henry lifted his wrist, and Meixiu took only a small amount and licked the wounds. She quickly bent down and fed most of the blood into Raymond's mouth. Then she seized the back of Eleanor's neck and fed the last drops into the squeaking woman's mouth.

The three Vampires trembled as the magic-infused blood sent energy through their bodies. Meixiu recovered first. She felt her cell phone vibrate and stepped away to find a safe place to check it.

Shaking off the buzz, Eleanor looked to Henry hungrily then controlled her expression. "Thank you."

He just nodded and looked to Minkah. "When I light this place up, can you defend us?"

Minkah nodded. "They are very occupied at the moment but do it quickly."

"We'll help!" Sam said, and the other three nodded.

Henry looked at Eleanor. "I'm going to pull the healing magic down, and I'll give it to you. You need to use your willpower to create the tools you need. Okay?"

She nodded with wide eyes.

Henry reached for his daughter and felt resistance for the first time. Was someone blocking him? It had to be Baba as she was the only one close to his daughter. He couldn't fight her, but he didn't need to. He pushed his love through his connection, and Baba pulled away until he felt the child respond. Her love returned, as did his link to her. He could no longer detect Baba, so he reached for the Fae's healing magic.

He felt another presence. Someone was trying to manipulate the healing spell! The moment he felt her poisonous intent, he knew it was Mab and knew she was aware of him. He had to stop her from using the spell as a weapon. He needed to defend it!

The first thing that came to mind was his firewall code. He immediately pulled up the code in his mind, shaping it into a package, authorized to his biosignature alone, powered by the Wild Magic, and driven by his will. He bound this to the Fae's spell to make it tamper-proof. He didn't know what damaged she'd already done. The Wild Magic picked up his changes, and he felt them sink inside. He could only hope for the best.