Steampunk Time: Cape High Book Seven (Cape High Series 7) Read Free

following the man out of the room.  The rest of the group trails along, looking nervous.  He ignores that--they don't understand exactly how big a threat Tatiana represents.  She could easily wreak havoc on their defenses, even take out their entire weapons supply.  She's right here, after all--with all the rights of a Hall member.  It's a terrifying thought.
    They head deeper underground, down a hall that looks like a prison ward, with a few of the most dangerous people in the world behind bars.  These are the men that America likes to pretend don't exist and never did.  They get to the final door, a heavy, reinforced door that looks like a vault.
    "Before we go in," Mason says, his hand on the door next to a keypad, "I must respectfully ask you to refrain from getting within ten feet of the subject.  This is for your own good.  We have him restrained, of course, but it's better to be safe than sorry, sir."
    "I see.  Fine, I'll do as you ask," Kunnins says, waving it off.  "Now show me your option."
    Mason pulls out a card and runs it through the keypad before tapping in a five digit number.  The door opens slowly, creaking loudly.  It looks as if it weighs a ton.  For a moment Kunnins watches it, and then looks into the dark room it hides.  There's barely any light in the room, only enough to see the man in the middle.  He's completely bound, his hands encased in heavy metal tubes, his face covered with a metal mask.  Several massively weighted chains are attached to him from all directions.  There's sparks of electricity all around, and the heavy hum of power coming from the floor.
    "And this is?" Kunnins asks, when no one volunteers the information.
    "His name is Shawn Matkey," Mason says, looking at the man.  "According to our records he was born in 1875."
    The chained man turns his head slightly, staring at Kunnins silently.  A cold chill runs down Kunnins' spine.  "What does he do?" he asks.
    "He takes peoples' souls."
     
    ***
     
    The front part of the Hall is usually filled with visitors in my time--it's the area that people bring their classes to visit on field trips.  It's full of things from past fights and past heroes, like a museum, basically.  But this Hall--well the front part of this Hall is full of superheroes lounging on ratty looking couches, or watching an ancient looking television.  I count at least five of them, plus two kids.  One of the kids, a little girl with bleach blonde curls, looks even younger than little Nicolas, and is in a playpen. 
    "I have brought a super child," Tatiana announces.  "I do not know where she comes from, but she is one of us.  Until we can return her to her parents, I will be taking care of her."
    "Wait, wait, wait," Blackjack says, getting up from where he was lounging on a couch.  "You can't just bring in some random super!  Kid or not, we need to know what she's after, right?"  Yes, he's Blackjack, he looks exactly as he does in my time.  Heroes don't age like normal people. They just stay the same for who knows how long.  Well, outwardly, at least.
    "Are you out to destroy all of civilization, kitten?" Tatia asks me in a bland tone.
    "Um, no?" I offer.
    "Good enough for me!" she says cheerfully.  "I really doubt she could do so when surrounded by half of the Hall and playing with our children.  Who has the daycare shift today?"
    "Sparky does," a woman that looks a lot like Falconess says.  She's strapping on her uniform, which shows a lot more flesh than the Falconess I know.  "She's in the kitchen making sandwiches."
    "Sparky," Tatia says, her expression going dark.  She puts Nicolas down, who promptly toddles over to the blonde boy sitting next to the playpen playing with Legos.  "Kitten, I ask that you behave yourself for Sparky, regardless of... her personality."
    "Now, now, Tatia, Sparky isn't that bad.  She just hates you," Falconess says as she straps on her cowl.
    "The feeling is mutual," Tatia mutters under her breath.