Authors: Nichole Chase
“Operation Sneaky doesn’t seem to be going so well.” Weylin scooted one of the darklings out of the way with his foot.
“Time to move on to Operation Make an Entrance, then.” Ree looked at her friends. “The sun is down and I can feel the Dark Ones waking. Our window is gone. Now we just get in there and raise hell.”
“I like it.” Weylin pursed his lips and nodded his head once.
“You know how I like to make an entrance.” Juliette tossed her knife in the air before catching it and sliding it back into her sleeve.
“Where do we go, Ree?” Paden looked down at her, his eyebrows pulled together. “Can you sense where Tristan is in the building?”
Ree looked at the building and squinted while trying to figure out just where Tristan would have bunkered down. “There’s a big concentration of Dark Ones in the center of the building. A large classroom, maybe. “
“Then let’s go.” Paden moved for the door, Ree quick on his heels. As the darklings neared, their greed and excitement was thick in the air.
“Where are the cops when we need them?” Weylin huffed under his breath.
“Fastest route possible, Ree.” Roland moved behind her, shielding her back as the darklings rushed forward.
“Seriously? Do they not get they don’t have a chance?” Juliette brushed the hair out of her eyes and glared at the people coming their way.
Ree looked over her shoulder at the twenty or so people coming from a back alley and back to the people walking down the empty road. Kneeling down, she put one hand on the ground and pushed the power into the earth. It flared out from their group like a tidal wave, the pavement pitched and rolled, the wave growing larger as the power flew toward the approaching groups. Most of the darklings that were in the earlier stages of the transformation were knocked off their feet or sent scrambling out of the way. The darklings that were a little faster or stronger jumped over the first wave and came on.
“Let’s go.” Ree stood up, grabbed one of her knives and threw it at an approaching darkling as she sprinted for the front door of the building.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ree skidded to a halt, looked at the chains on the double doors of the building, and took a deep breath. There was no light emanating from the building; nothing but darkness, the foreign feel of cold, soulless Dark Ones, and the crackling power that announced the presence of at least one god. All of this ended tonight. One way or the other, things would be decided.
Paden looked over at her and nodded his head. It was time and everyone was ready. She looked at her friends and felt her mouth pull back in a grin of pride. These were the people that had stood by her from the very beginning. They all wore fierce expressions, intent on taking down their enemies and Ree was grateful they were on her side. No more waiting for the right moment, no more hiding what she was capable of, and no more running from what must be done.
There was no use in trying to sneak into the building. The Dark Ones would have been able to sense her at this point. Turning to look at the entry, Ree lifted her hands and unleashed her power, sending the doors flying off their hinges and down the hall, gouging chunks of plaster as they tumbled. Each of her friends let out a war cry, and Ree felt her own voice lift in unison. In no time, they had crossed the threshold of the building and were shooting down the long hallway. Dark Ones came from shadowed corners, offices, and classrooms. Ree let the power rush ahead of her, shoving the crumpled doors even farther down the hallway, and obliterating the Dark Ones directly in her path.
Her friends fought and killed the enemies that came from the darkness with deadly quickness. The sound of the Dark Ones hissing and growling filled the corridor and combined with the sound of weapons meeting flesh. By the time they reached the doors to the large auditorium in the center of the building many of Ree’s friends had blood splashed across their clothes or faces. There was no denying the ferocity of the group. Thankfully, none looked to have taken any damage. Ree could feel the black hole of ice that meant Tristan was awake and waiting for her. Looking at the doors, Ree held her sword in her right hand, letting it angle away from her body and pointing it toward the floor. She sent the power whirling away from her, and the loose hair around her face whipped forward angrily as the power slammed the doors open to reveal a large room, lit only by the moon filtering through the skylights.
Tristan was standing on the stage between Loki and Ares, his face set in a dark look. Ree’s heart squeezed at the familiar face and she tried to remind herself that he wasn’t her brother any longer. He clapped three times before taking a step toward Ree. “So, you’ve come to try to kill me.”
“I’m here to end this war.” Ree let the power flare out around her so that the green light slid along the floor in all directions.
“You think this is about a war?” Della stepped into view. She was lurking near the shadows of the stage, her elegant face wreathed in amusement. “This is about a brother and sister set against each other. About one embracing a new way of life, while the other clings to the past.”
“This is about you setting my brother against me. About you killing everyone on this planet or making them cattle. This is much bigger than Tristan and me.” Ree’s anger had the power swirling around her feet. “I know enough of the situation to understand he made his choice. He isn’t my brother any longer. He’s merely your pawn.”
“I’m no one’s pawn, Ree.” Tristan stepped gracefully off of the stage to land in the aisle directly in front of her. Something felt different about his energy. Instead of being the cold, empty spot most Dark One’s generated, power crackled along his edges, like frozen lightning.
Ree’s eyes darted to the gods still standing on the stage. Ares was glaring at her with hatred, but Loki wore his customary look of amusement, his blond hair glowing an eerie silver-white in the moonlight. Off to the side of the stage was someone Ree hadn’t thought about much over the last few days. Shannon leaned against the chest of Michael. Her hair was lank, her cheeks hollow, and her dark eyes rimmed in red. Michael’s mouth was open just enough to let his curved fangs peek out, pressing over his bottom lip. He snarled at Ree and she had to squash the desire to kill him right then.
“Who gave you the toothpick?” Tristan looked at the sword Ree gripped. “Paden, you’re doing a terrible job of keeping her safe. She’s so clumsy she’ll probably cut off her own foot.” Tristan laughed, his face transforming into something closer to what Ree remembered from when he was alive. There was a flash of something warm from the corner Shannon and Michael were standing in and Ree couldn’t help but let her eyes dart in that direction. The black of Shannon’s eyes had diminished and Ree was surprised by the love the girl felt when looking at her brother.
“The only feet you need to be worried about are you own.” Ree focused on Tristan.
“Oh, that’s rich.” Tristan looked over his shoulder where Della stood laughing. He looked back at Ree with a small smile. “You know, since I’m your brother, I’m going to let you practice a little before we do our thing.”
Ree narrowed her eyes and raised her sword. “Scared, Trist?”
Tristan snarled at Ree, his fangs ripping free of his gums. The cold energy around him snapped and churned. “I have nothing to fear from you, Ree.”
Ree let the energy that had been sliding along the floor rush toward Tristan. He jumped out of the way quickly, leaping back onto the stage in a move that shouldn’t have been possible. He growled again and Della jumped onto the stage. The tall woman slid next to him and ran her hand up and down his arm possessively.
“Then why do you keep running away?” Ree stared at Tristan. She felt her friends tensing behind her as they fanned out a little wider. Dark Ones were slipping into the room, their eyes glittering in the shadows as they made their presence known.
“Now, why would he do that? He promised the others they could have a crack at you before he finished things.” Della smiled at Tristan, her double fangs pressing into her own lips to leave small spots of blood. “He’s merely keeping his promise. I knew Tristan would make a good leader.” She leaned forward and nuzzled his neck. There was a spike of raw anger that came from Shannon, but Tristan’s face was neutral. “I learned from past mistakes.” Della looked over at Roland, her eyes swirling with black.
Roland didn’t respond, but Ree could feel the barely-checked rage as he stared at the woman who had stolen his life.
“Looks like she still has some things to learn.” Ree could see Weylin shake his head from the corner of her eye. “Pissing off Roland never ends well for the other person.”
Della looked at Weylin and hissed, her fingers tightening on Tristan’s arm. Her back arched like a cat’s, and her face transformed into something inhuman. Her overly large eyes seemed to almost glow, and the skin stretched over the severe angles of her face tightened, showing the sharp bones underneath. Her fingernails drew blood from Tristan’s arm. His lip curled when he looked down at her hand. Reaching over, he pried her curled fingers away from his skin.
“Looks like someone hit a sore spot.” Melanie’s voice cut through the room.
“She looks a bit like a cat with mange.” If it had been anyone other than Bryce to make that statement, Ree wouldn’t have been as amused. The corners of her mouth pulled slightly up.
“Attack.” Tristan’s voice brought the seriousness back, and Ree was thrust into fighting. Dark Ones swarmed from the shadows, some dropping from the beams that lined the high ceiling. When one landed in front her, she quickly spun, using her sword to cleave the Dark One’s head from his body. He fell to floor in a fine dust, no blood or gore to be seen.
Dark Ones seemed to never stop coming, and Ree realized Ares and Loki had opened portals. Ree moved so she was back to back with Paden, carefully avoiding the attacks of the monsters nearest her.
“Portals.” Ree said as she ducked underneath a blow to ram a dagger between the Dark One’s ribs.
“I see them.” Paden’s voice was calm and to the point. “How do we stop them?”
“Don’t know.” Ree moved again, this time relying on her sword to dispatch her opponent. “Maybe if we block them as they exit?”
“I got it.” Weylin jumped from the back of one chair to the next row, moving quickly toward the nearest portal. When he neared the shimmering doorway, he pulled something out of his pocket and tossed it into the opening. The sound of the explosion was almost deafening, the fire that washed out of the portal was blinding. Ares roared and made to jump from the stage, but Della held up her hand.
“You cannot engage, war god. It will bring your brethren.” Della’s voice reached Ree’s ears and she realized it was only Loki controlling the portals. The gods of Earth must be looking for Ares’s power signature. If he used his god abilities it would bring the pack of them down on the school immediately.
“Della is mine.” Roland’s cold voice touched Ree’s ears. She didn’t have time to respond before he disappeared from view.
“The rest!” Ree shouted at Weylin.
“On it.”
Ree broke away from her group, set on making her way to Tristan.
Her brother’s eyes never left her face as she killed Dark Ones on her way to him. Paden was following closely behind her, protecting her back. The others all fought to keep the remaining Dark Ones away. The sounds of Weylin’s explosions and the screams of the dying filled the room with chaos. Roland appeared on the stage near Della. His face was dark and stormy, fangs extended, and he carried two swords black with old blood.
“The prodigal son returns.” Della moved away from Tristan and flashed her fangs at Roland. Ree couldn’t follow everything that happened next, but she was certain Roland had been on the offensive while Della did her best to get an advantage. It was as if the world had slowed when Della and Roland met blade to blade. Della seemed to hold the upper hand for the most part, her strength and agility giving her an edge over Roland. She bent and moved in a manner no human body, even turned with the alien disease, would ever be able to.
Time seemed to slow as Della and Roland danced around each other. Their movements were in sync, telling that they had spent time training together while on the same side. No matter how much Roland pushed and gave to the fight, Della returned with the same amount of vigor. The only difference was the rage that simmered under Roland’s skin. His hate for Della was a physical force, letting him hold his ground. When she flipped over his head to swipe at his back, he barely reacted, despite the blood that ran from the wound.
Tristan moved toward Ree drawing her full attention, his dark eyes glittering with something that made her shiver inside as he stared at her from the stage. Gripping the power, she let it fill her until it swirled in the very tips of her fingers and toes. Her feet left the ground and she floated up so she only had to step onto the wooden floor of the raised platform. Tristan pulled the sword from the scabbard on his back and looked at Ree. Holding her own sword by her side, Ree gathered the power in her hand and threw it at Tristan. He moved deftly out of its path and tsked at her.
“Your only bet is to stick me with your toothpick.” Tristan moved forward, faster than any of the Guardians or the Dark Ones that Ree had fought. His thrusts had her stumbling backward toward the edge of the stage. Paden was on the stage immediately, moving between Ree and Tristan. He seemed to fare much better than Ree had, his footing much more sure and his blows just as fast as Tristan’s. Paden’s dual immortal lineage gave him an edge over the other Guardians.
Michael seemed to come out of nowhere, completely forgotten in the battle. His knife flew past Ree as she caught her footing and stuck in Paden’s thigh. It was just enough to slow Paden down, and Tristan seized his opportunity. His sword was a blur of silver as it swung toward Paden’s neck.
The power soared out of Ree without a thought, flying through the room in a rippling wave of green energy. Caught in the killing move, Tristan wasn’t prepared for Ree’s attack. The only people left standing were Ree and Roland, who was never touched by her power. Roland never stopped his movements, and drove his sword through Della’s stomach, pinning her to the wooden floor. Ree dropped to her knee and yanked one of the short swords from her back and flung it at Tristan’s chest.