271 258: A Plague of Phantoms: In the Shadows of Demons II

Iris

I bit my tongue to keep from groaning in annoyance as I followed a unknowing spy as they creeped around the forest that surrounded the King's glaive's current position. They were just another in a series of spies that have been sniffing around since we landed last night. While all of them were harmless and left of their own volition after observing the mana train for a few hours or once they noticed they weren't the only ones watching it, this spy had been creeping around since dawn. He'd been skulking about for five hours.

My new evos, Mawt Huwl and Rainbow Sparkles, were following the spy with me. It was much easier for Rainbow Sparkles since the Argonewt could camouflage his skin to match its surroundings. Mawt Huwl followed from a distance through the trees. His koala DNA made jumping from tree to tree easy and surprisingly silent.

The spy made his way through the forest and came to a stop behind a tree at the edge of a clearing on the mana train's left side and crouched down. I stopped behind them a few trees away and watched as he pulled out a pair of binoculars.

'Gods! How long is this guy going to watch us? The others at least had the curtesy to leave by now.' I thought as I considered my options.

I didn't know what nation this guy was a spy for so I couldn't kill him. Plus I was using my utility spell that made me invisible and that ate through mana even once I cast it using a enchanted item that Chase made for me. So I couldn't keep this up for long.

The spy reached into a pocket on their tactical jacket and pulled out a tape recorder and spoke into it, he was speaking English.

"0900 hours, movement around target has significantly decreased. Have currently identified multiple targets set for elimination. Current count of hostile in target is thirteen. Five females and seven males. Three males under the age of thirteen. Unknown number of Splicers, current estimate is three but probably more." The spy spoke into the recorder.

I paid close attention to the spy's words and accent. While I have been learning English I wasn't fluent in it yet, however the spy's accent wasn't British or Australian. His accent was similar to Chase's accent when he spoke English only had more of a backwoods drawl to it.

'American…' I thought. That changed things, An American spy going missing would raise suspicion from the Americans but none of the other countries would care.

[My Lady, what do you want to do about this human?] Mawt Huwl asked through our mental connection. Thanks to said connection I knew exactly where the Scare-adorable was currently at. In the tree to the right of the one the spy was hiding behind.

[Kill him, Rainbow you do it and quietly.] I replied. I also knew where the Argonewt was thanks to my mental connection. He was camouflaged and clinging the trunk of the tree that the spy was hiding behind.

[Yess my Ladyes!] Rainbow Sparkles responded.

A loud crack like a whip suddenly reverberated through the white woods and the American spy grabbed his neck. He looked like surprised for a moment then collapsed on the ground and started seizing and foaming in the ground. Rainbow Sparkles didn't let the man suffer and jumped down from the tree and took the spy's head in his mouth then jerked it swiftly, snapping the neck of the spy.

"It's iss deads myss Ladyes." Rainbow Sparkles announced as he turned off his adaptive camouflage and let his skin take on the shimmering Rainbow metallic color he'd adopted since I gave him his name.

"Good job, Rainbow Sparkles." I said as I stood up and walked over to the corpse of the spy. "Mawt and Rainbow, check the area again to make sure there isn't anymore spies around."

"Yes my Lady." Mawt Huwl replied.

"Yesss myss Ladyes!" Rainbow Sparkles replied. His camouflage ability activated and he vanishes before my eyes. The only indication he was there was the intention of his footprint in the grass. A gust of wind signaled Rainbow's departure as he jumped from his position and into the trees.

Sensing that both Rainbow Sparkles and Mawt Huwl were gone I looked over the corpse of the spy and started emptying out his pockets. The man was an amateur, he had a military ID in his back pocket with his wallet and a picture of his family.

"Ian Dreeble…" I said to myself as I read aloud. "…may your heart be lighter than a feather, Dreeble."

Apart from the wallet, ID, binoculars, and recorder the spy; Ian Dreeble; had nothing on him. But that was enough to be damming. I picket up the recorder and then took a couple steps back and drew my mana-lock and shot a fire bullet that incinerated the corpse of the man and everything he had with him. In a few seconds there was nothing left but a scorch mark on the ground. I fired a couple of water bullets to make sure the flames didn't spread to the nearby trees and forest. I leaned against a nearby tree and rewound the tape on the recorder once that was done and pressed play.

"0400 hours, movement around target has increased drastically. Primarily target not spotted but secondary target and tertiary target has been spotted. Both targets are set for elimination but orders have changed. Will continue to observe and identify targets." Ian Dreeble said.

"That's around the time Chase told me there was someone watching the King's glaive. Chase or rather Bone-lasher is spot on as always." I said to myself.

"0644 hours primary target: Chase Kingston spotted. Along with tertiary target: Jane Solomon and unknown target. All targets are guarded by two evos. I seem to have remained unnoticed."

"Wrong…" I said them smirked, around that time Rainbow Sparkles had asked me several times if I wanted to eliminate him. I kept telling him no because I assumed he was going to leave soon. If I knew he thought he'd remained undetected I would have taken him out earlier.

"0700 hours, movement around target has significantly increased. Multiple targets have emerged from the target laden with empty cages. Multiple evos also sighted. Their splicers are nowhere to be seen. Possible that one of them is a splicer that has their crystal hidden. 0730 hours, I have identified several targets designated for elimination: Chase Kingston, Audin Akkessin, Jade Kestrel, Nate Kestrel, and Bo Kestrel. Recommend target: Bo Kestrel for first elimination and use as bait for parents Jade and Nate Kestrel. Will give these recommendations to my relief at 0945 hours at the rendezvous point in the western side of the white weeping willow forest."

I froze and looked up at the sun, nudging from the position it was nearly time for Ian Dreeble's meet up with his relief.

'They will suspect something is up if he doesn't show…' I thought then looked to the west. '…better contact Chase and Jane and tell them what is going on.'

I started running towards the western side of the forest and focused on my manacite communication ring and envisioned Chase and Jane in my mind. The ring glowed on my thumb as my mind was connected to Jane's and Chase's

[Chase, Jane, it's Iris.] I called out. I heard Jane's reply instantly and felt Chase's presence in my mind.

[What's wrong Iris?] Jane asked.

[I took out that bug that was buzzing around the King's glaive and found out he's a spy from America. He's planning to hand off a bunch of information to his relief. Including that Bo should be the first target for elimination. They planned to take Bo and then use him to lure Nate and Jade into a trap. I heading towards their meeting point.] I summarized.

[Already? Do you have the report?] Jane asked.

[Yes, it's a tape recorder. I'll keep it for you both to hear later.] I said.

[Iris, take this guy alive and restrain him in King's glaive. I have a plan.] Chase's voice filled my head along with the a devilish trill that made a shiver of fear run up my spine.

[Plan? What plan?] Jane asked, the fear and panic in Jane's voice was clear. Though that was because of our track record with Chase's plans was…spotty at best.

[I'll tell you once we have that spy. Remember Iris I need him alive.] Chase replied.

[Got it!] I responded then cut the connections to Jane and Chase. I then used my connection to Mawt Huwl and Rainbow Sparkles to speak to them. [Rainbow, Mawt, I need you two. Come to the western side of the forest. An American spy is coming and we need to capture them alive.]

Thanks to that connection I knew that Rainbow Sparkles was circling the northern part of the forest while Mawt Huwl was at the southern part. Thanks to their reconnaissance I had a more or less complete mental map of the entire forest. The western part of the forest had a mountain range and several sheer cliffs that bordered the edge. The only way into the forest from that direction was a singular road that curved around the cliffs. There were plenty of blind spots to launch a ambush, especially when working with evos.

[Yes my Lady!] Mawt Huwl replied.

[On myes ways!] Rainbow Sparkles responded.

I channeled mana into the ring on my left pointer finger and started casting a utility spell sigil. The ring was enchanted by Chase with a spell called shadow saltation. It made my shadow collect at my feet and form into springs that enhanced my strides and jumps.

I jumped above the tree tops with ease thanks to this spell. As I fell back towards the trees I twisted my body to position myself so I could kick off a branch and send myself flying forwards through the forest. Jumping from tree to tree I made my way to the western forest quickly and found the only road into the forest. I landed on a large tree branch several feet above the road and obscured by the leaves and branches below me.

[Iris!] Chase's voice suddenly boomed into my head as I felt the manacite communication ring activate.

[OW! SHIT! What Chase?] I snapped at him.

[Whoops sorry, Bone-lasher wanted me to tell you that the spy is near your position. He's coming down from the cliff road now.] Chase said. I frowned and scratched my head.

[Wait, Bone-lasher can still see the forest and King's glaive from there?] I asked.

[Why do you think I picked that place to put King's glaive? It's well within Bone-lasher's electromagnetic vision.] Chase replied.

[Is it just one guy?] I asked.

[Yes. Male but be careful he's armed.] Chase confirmed. As he said that the spy came into view, he was running down cliff road and then dashing into the forest. I frowned as I eyed the spy, unlike Ian Dreeble he was armed with a rifle, the exact model I couldn't tell you but I bet Chase could. He seemed more cautious than the man he was coming to relieve.

[I see him.] I responded. I felt the connection between Chase and I fade a second later.

[My Lady, I am here, want me to take out the spy?] Mawt Huwl asked. I sensed exactly where he was. About fifteen meters away from where the spy was and thirty meters away from me.

[Yes, but only use enough gas to incapacitate him.] I replied.

[As you wish!] Mawt Huwl replied.

I watched the spy suddenly slow to a stop then dashed behind a tree for cover. I frowned and crouched low myself, wondering if he noticed me. I then saw Mawt Huwl fall out of a tree a few meters from where the spy was hiding.

"What the fuck?!" The spy exclaimed, verbalizing what I was thinking.

Mawt Huwl landed flat on his belly and didn't move. The spy aimed his gun at my evo and moved closer to him. When he got close enough to poke Mawt Huwl with the barrel of the gun the spy suddenly staggered and slumped against a nearby tree and dropped his gun. He grabbed his face in both his hands and started laughing uncontrollably.

'He must have sprayed some of his hallucinogenic gas as he fell.' I thought.

The spy laughed so hard he collapsed on the ground. I drew my mana-lock and fired a wind bullet at the tree truck the spy leaned against. A small tornado whipped up around the tree and blew away any of Mawt Huwl's hallucinogenic gas that remained. I quickly jumped through over to my evo and incapacitated spy and landed beside Mawt Huwl.

"Good job Sweetie." I said to my Scare-adorable. The little cutie jumped to his feet and purred deeply at me.

"Thank you my Lady." Mawt Huwl replied. I nearly squealed hearing his deep voice.

"Wait…where is Rainbow Sparkles?" I asked then looked around.

"Behindess youues myes ladyes." Rainbow Sparkles announced. I looked over my shoulder and saw Rainbow shimmer into visibility as his active camouflage deactivated.

"Oh, good, standby, I might need you to help me carry this guy back to King's glaive." I said. Rainbow Sparkles looked over at the dosed up spy then turned and slapped the spy unconscious with the flat of his platypus tail.

[Chase…I caught the spy.] I broadcasted to Chase through the manacite communication ring. His reply was instant and the tone of his voice made me instantly regret all my life choices.

[Good! Now I need you take his face! You're going undercover!]