Fireteam Delta by J. Halpin (popular novels .TXT) 📗

Ms. Synel had told her the creature they were looking for was often sold to the arenas for a high price, so they’d come to one of the arena’s suppliers. The man, however, was what Ms. Cortez would refer to as an “asshole.”

“Either you have the coin up front or no deal. I’m not risking my reputation on a soft sale.” The merchant looked down his nose at Pat.

The creature itself was widely sought after for Bestiarius, warriors who fought beasts in the arena. It was able to heal itself from even the most serious injuries in just a short time, meaning that one creature could easily fight in half a dozen battles before it died.

It was an incredible value for the arena and was paid for as such.

A cheer erupted in the distance. Even here, they could hear the crowd from the arena. The twins flanking her looked toward the sound.

All at once, Asle was struck with inspiration. She moved over to Nowak, tugging on his shirt.

“I think I have a better idea.” She turned to the twins. “Did you bring your guns?”

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Summers held a cloak low over his head.

“I can’t fucking believe this.”

“It’s not . . . that bad.” Synel tried to comfort him.

She reached over to pull the cloak back. Summers’ head had two large, horn-like nubs growing out of the increasingly pale skin. In fact, what had started as a small patch of leathery skin was quickly spreading.

“I look like I death metal cover.” Summers pulled back at the cloak.

Synel looked at him questioningly.

“It’s bad,” he clarified.

“The . . . horns are coming in quite nicely,” Synel consoled.

“I have horns?” Summers reached for his head to feel the two nubs that were forming. “I have fucking horns!”

Synel stared at him, clear worry in her eyes.

“We should find the others.”

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The cheering of the crowd was nearly deafening as Asle looked over the arena. She watched as the twins stepped into the sand-covered ring, a metal gate slamming shut behind them. Nowak and Pat stood behind her, both clearly nervous.

“I’m still not sure about this.” Nowak looked to the girl.

“Didn’t you say they needed practice?” Asle countered.

“Practice isn’t . . .” Nowak started, but trailed off.

The arena masters had been skeptical when they’d asked to sign up for an impromptu match. That was until they’d demonstrated the power of their weapons. If there was anything the arena thrived on, it was novelty. She’d had Pat introduce the group as a band of traveling warriors, giving not-so-subtle hints that they’d be interested in staying in the city for some time, assuming there was enough coin in the deal, and of course, the right to their kill.

They certainly had no intention of coming back after today, but the arena masters didn’t need to know that.

Unfortunately, they’d only wanted two for the fight.

The twins were all but smiling as they made their way out, raising their weapons to the sky and doing their best to encourage the crowd.

“They seem to like it,” Asle responded, giving Nowak a small grin.

The gate opposite the twins lifted, revealing a green-scaled creature the size of a wagon. Spines of white bone jutted from the monster’s back as it stalked toward the center of the arena.

“Hold fire!” Nowak yelled in his best Nos. The twins listened, fighting their urge to unload on the creature from a distance.

Once it was close enough, Nowak yelled again.

“Fire! Fire! Fire!”

The twins responded immediately, unloading an entire clip into the creature. It tried to run, but it was only a matter of seconds before it was torn apart by their concentrated fire. It twitched on the ground, still trying to get up. Even as it did, Asle watched Bard reload his rifle and empty a burst into its head.

It didn’t move after that.

The cheering had all but stopped after the first shot, the crowd stunned into silence.

Then Viggo climbed to the head of the creature, striking a pose with his brother.

All at once, the arena came to life again, manic screams drowning out all other noise.

“This is the greatest day of our lives!” the brothers declared in unison.

Asle smiled in earnest.

It was the easiest coin Asle would ever make.

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Summers leaned his back to the ship, his head in his hands. The sailors still on board had given him a decidedly wide berth.

The drinking horn lay empty at his side.

“Fuck it. I don’t care anymore.” Summers felt at the two very prominent horns on his head. They curved with his skull, forming a halo of sorts.

His skin was taking on a bluish-gray hue and was incredibly tough, presumably like the monster itself. It made it hard to move around and had dulled his sense of touch pretty significantly, which was why it took a moment for him to realize Synel was holding one of his arms, probably trying to console him.

“Summers?”

Summers turned to find Cortez and Orvar on the dock, looking at him with wide eyes.

He raised a hand to wave.

“Still me. Just weirder,” he assured them.

He saw Orvar was holding jars of something that looked like an internal organ.

“Did you . . . manage to find something?” Summers eyed the jars, knowing the answer, but not looking forward to it.

“Yeah. Some medicine shop was selling these as a cure for poison.” Cortez gestured and Orvar started to unload the jars onto the ship.

“Does it really do that?” Summers looked to Synel.

She shook her head.

“The monster’s apparently known for being immune to any kind of sedative, poison, or whatever,” Cortez explained. “Might keep this junk from affecting you. Couldn’t remember if it was the kidneys or the liver that handled poison, so I got