Dance of Ashes and Smoke (Age of Monsters Book 1) (25 page)

W
e settled those living in the town at one of the churches, shoved in like sardines, but we hoped would be safely away from the line of fire. The rest of us, along with anyone who was willing and able to fight, found cover scattered around the town.

And we waited, taking turns on guard, catching slight snatches of sleep. I couldn’t nap, my body vibrating with nervous excitement, my eyes glued open, watching the horizon.

Jax had no problem curling up against the wall of the antique store we were in and dozing off. A soft smile tipped on my lips as I watched him, a shaft of fear for him spearing my chest. If I lost him or Liv, it would break me. I’d lost too much already to Tashia, and I’d never recover if she took more from me.

I wouldn’t let her.

She was mine.

I didn’t care about the others who had a score to settle with her. I wanted to be the one to snuff out her life, keeping the rest of the world safe from her poison.

Jax woke up and came over to stand by the window behind me. I leaned back into him, accepting the comfort he gave so freely. We caught sight of Malek circling the air, his scarlet and gold feathers bright against the faded blue sky.

The colors were duller out here compared to the lush greens and blues and purples from home. I missed my house buried in the woods, surrounded by flowers.

I missed my brother. He should be here with us, making his last stand at my side. I choked back the grief I’d been fighting for weeks. Once I took care of the sorceress, I could finally give into it. But not yet.

I couldn’t afford it.

Liv groaned from her spot in the corner. “Is the bitch here yet?”

The side of my mouth crooked as I turned from the window to face her. “Not yet. Malek is patrolling from the air. Just waiting for his signal.”

“Is Jax taking a turn in the sky?”

Jax laughed. “I’m too big, I’d be sighted.”

“That’s a shame. I know Liv was looking forward to riding you.”

“Oh, she’ll get her chance soon enough.” He leered at me.

I hid my face in the crook of my arm to muffle my laughter and hide my scorched face. Jax tickled my side and pulled me close as Liv lost control and kept snorting like a pig. A touch of hysteria edged our humor, too long without a decent sleep, too long spent waiting.

I pressed a swift kiss on Jackson’s lips before slipping from his grasp and snuggling beside Liv. She leaned her head on my shoulder and grabbed my hand. I smiled as our fingers threaded together.

We’ve always been one another’s anchors, staying grounded together, stronger, the calm in the storm. We were still alive because of it, still sane, still unbroken.

I loved her more than anything and we would win this fight together as well.

She raised a brow at me. “You’re doing that thing again?”

“What thing?”

“Taking yourself too seriously.” She kept her voice at an almost inaudible hiss. At my confused frown, she explained. “You’ve got that noble, determined look on your face that says your internal monologue is verging on self-righteous.”

I harrumphed, yanking my hand from hers. “And here I was thinking such sweet thoughts about you. I take them all back.”

She chuckled. “So, you weren’t thinking something along the lines of our last stand? Maybe, you and me side by side, taking her on?”

“Of course not. I was thinking how you’d probably be knocked out pretty fast and I’d be forced to stand guard over your fallen body.”

A piercing shriek reverberated through the air, cutting off her retort.

The grin melted from Jackson’s face, settling into a stone mask. “They’re coming.”

I
scrambled for my weapons and over to the window. Malek still circled the darkening sky, but I saw no sign of Tashia or her army. The light of dusk turned the whole world red. I prayed it wasn’t a bad omen.

Malek shrieked again and spiraled to the ground, changing back to human form the moment his feet hit pavement. Summer raced out to him and he spoke fast, none of it reaching our ears, but based on the way Summer’s face fell, it wasn’t good news.

She held up her hands, signaling over seventy-five monsters five minutes out.

I reached out my hands to Jax and Liv, squeezing them hard before I prepared myself, refusing to say goodbye, to say anything poignant, to speak any last words.

Liv grinned wide, flashing her bright teeth. “See you on the other side.”

We tapped fists, and Jax and I headed downstairs. Liv was acting as a sniper for the time being, one of our best shots. She hugged her new rifle to her chest as she watched us leave, in the same way she used to hug her cello.

I prayed it wouldn’t be my last memory of her.

Outside, Jax and I joined Summer and Malek and a few others in the middle of the street, preparing for the war party’s imminent arrival. We took cover behind vehicles, in small alleys between buildings, anywhere we could hide, but still take aim.

Shadows closed in on us as night came on swift feet, darkness embracing us.

I kept wiping my hands on my jeans, not wanting to lose my grip on the gun. The seconds counted down in my head, ticking like a clock. Sweat ran down my back and dampened my hair as tension coiled inside me, writhing like a snake.

Jackson stayed glued to my side behind the metal trash can, and I was glad. He needed protecting.

They came on us like a swarm of bees, buzzing through the air and across the street. Monsters of every type, with Tashia and her familiar somewhere in the middle.

We waited for Summer’s signal, trusting her to spring the trap at the perfect moment.

My eyes roved for a sighting of my targets, but the drove of monsters was too thick to tell anything and the dark purple sky didn’t help either.

Summer took her shot, the lead vampire going down as the stake from her crossbow drove into his heart.

And chaos reigned.

Gargoyles, dragons, and other flying monsters dove on us, shooting flames and taking bites. The vampires and shifters spread out, diving for cover, using human weapons against us.

Our flying monsters took to the air, keeping the others busy so those of us on the ground had a chance. Jax rubbed my back before he joined them. I put him from my mind; worrying over him would get us both killed. I squinted through the murkiness of twilight, trying to keep track of everything. Muzzle flashes lit up as beacons in the night.

I ran for the fray, exchanging my gun for my swords, worried about shooting someone on my side by mistake.

My world became a dance of death and blood, teeth and steel, screams and pain, smoke and ashes.

Until Summer fell.

M
elody’s scream tore through me, raising every hair on my body. I shoved through monsters, slicing with my swords to reach Summer. Melody reached her first, terror straining her face. I fell to my knees beside them, a trembling hand reaching for Summer’s pulse. Relief almost tipped me over when it beat against my fingers, weak but steady. Blood streaked her short blonde hair, making a shade of scarlet that chilled me.

A shriek sounded at my back, but before I could turn around the Jersey Devil shifter was dead. Liv kept everyone off our backs.

Malek landed beside us and he and Melody carried her away to safety.

I ignored the fresh blood staining my knees and rose to my feet, rejoining the fray. Brightly glowing, blue, purple, green, pink butterflies fluttered through the air, lighting up the night. Hundreds of them.

They were exquisite and beautiful.

Everyone’s weapons fell to their sides as we stared in awe. It was like peering into a nebula as the colors morphed and swirled together. I couldn’t look away, my eyes glued to them. They hypnotized us, lulling us into a dream-like trance.

And attacked.

They became an avenging swarm, their wings razors, slicing deep cuts into our faces, necks, hands. They ripped through jeans, leather, flannel. Screams and howls of pain rose around me, but all I could see were the billowing colors. I couldn’t move, or fight back.

This was Tashia. It had the edge of creepy cruelty she had so much fun with.

Rage simmered, growing stronger and stronger until it boiled over with a howl of rage, and released me from the spell. I flapped at the bugs and yelled for our people to retreat.

Somehow, my command got through to everyone. They emerged through the cloud of butterflies and we raced for cover at the bank. Once everyone was inside, I shoved the doors closed and leaned my body against them while a few others brought over desks and chairs to help keep the monsters at bay.

I took stock, searching for Jax or Liv, but neither one of them was inside. I swallowed hard, telling myself they were fine. The butterflies converged on those of us on the ground, not those in the sky. And Liv was smart enough to close the window if they came her way.

Our pathetic excuse for an army collapsed on the floor, gasping for air, covered in cuts and blood. And our leader was out of the fight, hurt or dying.

I struggled to keep myself upright, the wounds from the butterflies burning, muscles aching from the battle. “Is there a magic in here of any sort?”

Shrugs and head shakes answered me. Smothering a groan, I peeked out the window.

And smiled.

Aria had taken care of the butterflies. They were nothing but smoke and ash dancing through the air.

“We’re clear. Everyone get up and let’s move. We’ve a witch to burn.”