bittersweets

Short - The Chalice - Part 2: Madame Mercy

She fought for every moment of rest, knowing it may be the last decent night's sleep she would get for some time. She had not only herself and the Chalice to protect, she'd sworn to protect the boy as well. Eventually she gave up and went down to the lower floor and the hideaway she'd stashed her supplies and the bike in. It was empty, and she turned to find Leah in the doorway behind her.

"We moved it to the garage. The Madame has arranged your transport to the new world via airship. I will be your escort." Leah grinned, patting the gun holstered at her hip. She wore thick, black gloves and leggings now, beneath her skirts. It wasn't much of a change, but Claire knew the signs. Leah meant business.

"Did she account for the bike?" She would loathe leaving that one treasure, that one thing behind. It was cumbersome at times, but the convenience of the speed... oh, who was she kidding. She loved the thing. It was as much her brainchild as it was Father's.

"Of course, Miss Claire. Your affection for that blasted bit of machinery was taken into account."

Claire met her eye then. "Like your affection for machinery isn't as bad as mine. You and that... metal monstrosity of yours." She grinned. This she knew was a sore spot for Leah. "What do you call him? You gave him a human name... and even calling it a him..." Claire laughed, goading her.

Leah glared at her, and muttered. "Edward. I call it Edward."

Claire laughed heartily. "Edward? Really? After that boy you kissed when we were ten? Leah, it's a machine! Cogs and clockwork, steam-powered and nothing more."

The glare that Leah shot her way stilled the next words on her lips.

"When will the ship be leaving?" she asked, having little else to fill the silence.

"Around noon. Daylight is not their friend. We'll supply you with whatever you might be missing. Once you're on the ship, it's up to you. I only pray those bastards haven't caught wind of our plans. I know you are rusty..."

Claire shot her a glare then and they both were silent. "I can handle myself," Claire muttered. As much as her pride was offended, what bothered her even more was the thought that despite all her training, she might be ill-equipped to escape this ordeal. She looked up, noticing the boy had entered the room. He was depending on her.

"I don't know if you remember, but I was at the top of our class. Before father took me in, before I tended to your precious metal man, I could whip your butt faster than anyone else in Mercy's care."

Leah only nodded, letting her have her win. "You're right, Miss Claire. What the Madame taught us is not easily forgotten. I'm sure it'll come back to you as needed."

They went to the garage. It was a somber procession. The bike had been brought in to rest beside the large cog laden, towering hulk of a metal man. So had various supplies, mostly weapons and ammunition.

The boy spoke up for the first time. "We n-need all the this to fight one man?" he stammered out.

The women both turned to him, and Claire took him by the shoulder. "This is no ordinary man that is after us. And there is more than one. Leah will hold him off. But they are after me. You can stay here, with Leah, with the Madame, but they know you were associated with the box. They may come after you still."

"I'll stay with you," he said softly.

Claire nodded, glad for his company.  She clapped him on the shoulder. "You used a gun before?" she asked. 

He nodded. "Once before..."

She sighed. "It'll have to be enough." She handed him a small revolver, and showed him quickly and briefly how to load and cock it.  He nodded, taking the gun, shoving it in his belt.

Leah went to her metal man and cranked him up.  Claire assisted in checking all his settings and valves, taking out her trusty lighter and igniting 'Edward's' furnace. It wasn't long before the little metal-plated cutters that served as his eyelids slid open with a faint chink, and his eyes flared to life. She heard Sam gasp, and she smiled. Edward was one of her father's finest works. Madame Mercy owned the first and only such creation, and only she and Leah knew how to maintain him properly.

The metal man's ability to strike fear was evident, but it would have little effect on those who likely awaited them. Timing was everything, and Claire could feel her heartbeat building in momentum in anticipation. She ceremoniously checked her knives, sliding each in and out of their sheaths, checking each of her three guns, and then finally, feeling for the Chalice. It was nestled almost directly against her skin, in a hidden pocket of her corset.

Once satisfied, she began fiddling with the valves and adjustments of her bike, switching the paraffin canister for a fresh one. No need to risk running out. The water levels were next. She lit the boiler and mounted the metal beast, leaning forward in anticipation.

She acknowledged Sam then. "Get on, kid." She ordered. "Leah will cover us."

At the mention of her name, Leah spun the cylinder of her revolver, flashing them a grin. She had two gold plated guns and knew how to use them. Edward towered behind her, the massive automatic gun that served as his arm lifted, as if to reassure them that he too, had their back.

The four of them stood ready, tense. Leah took command. "The airship will leave promptly at noon. It is now eleven thirty-five. We have twenty-five minutes to get across town to the dock, and catch the ship as it launches. I will stand ground at the dock and hold the Uhrwerk Leiche at bay."

"Oh-werk Litch?"  the boy whispered, chewing the words.

"The men who are after us," Claire explained briefly, unwilling to give him the literal translation. 'Clockwerk undead' would likely terrify the boy.

Leah climbed up onto the steel man's shoulders and looked down at the pair on the bike. With a flip of switches, she activated Edward and he pulled the lever for the doors. They rolled open with ease, and then they peered out into the sliver of road now visible. There were no men, no black clad, cog laden assassins awaiting them. That didn't mean they weren't there.