Redemption (The Alliance Series Book 1) (28 page)

              The infantry unit was stopped dead cold. The only avenue they were able to follow was a gradual sloping of the wall towards the opening, directly in the middle of the driveway. The wall continued on either side of the driveway running parallel with it for fifty yards, creating the funnel that the dirt work and landscaping had failed to do.

              The confusion and momentum of the first moments allowed the nasties to find themselves bunched up directly where Nathan and Sgt. Roberts had planned.

              The full power of the Alliance was unleashed then. The troops that had made it up to the roof of the cabin started to unleash a hail of bullets into the trapped infantry, causing heavy damage.

I stood up and leveled my machine gun at the enemy, sending lead into the confused nasties.

              That’s when some of the enemy infantry raised their left arms and unleashed fiery death upon the magical wall.

              The walls that Nathan created were strong and effective. What they weren't though, was indestructible. Enough force can wear them down. Over time, they will dissipate on their own. Fire seems to be one of those things that can really affect magical constructs quickly.

              The fire raced along the wall, showing its dimensions quite clearly. It also ate away at the magical barrier. The fire consumed half of the wall when the rest of it fell apart.

              The troops quickly spread out and continued advancing. As the nasties once again opened fire on the cabin, the ones who had used their arm flamethrowers against the wall turned them on Peotr’s cabin, quickly destroying his shields, leaving his home vulnerable to the enemy’s fire.

              The men on the roof quickly took cover as the firepower leveled on the cabin created a lead hail of death that would kill anyone who was exposed.

              I saw at least three men on the roof take hits before everyone took cover.

              The lead hellfire attack pinned me down also. I could look back at the cabin and see that some of the infantry had hand grenades which they lobbed onto the roof and towards the front of the cabin that was already beginning to burn.

              I had to do something. I couldn't just sit here, pinned down by enemy fire. I assessed my options.

              I checked my bracelet and saw that most of the stones were drained, showing a dull color instead of the vibrant turquoise. I might be able to take a few rounds but the sheer amount of firepower would quickly dissipate the rest of the bracelet.

              I was almost out of machine gun ammo. I hadn't had time to get fully loaded when the attack started and the rounds I spent just now had used all I had been able to grab.

              I still had four rounds in my Desert Eagle. I also had one clip full of Arthur rounds, twelve altogether.

              It was up to my magic then. I would have to expose myself and unleash a flood of ass-kicking to stop the rest of the advancing army.

              I took a quick peak almost getting my head blown off. It was worth it.

              I could see about thirty enemy grouped roughly between the barricade I was behind and the other one on the opposite side of the driveway.

They were right in front of the circular drive, directly in front of the house. The thirty nasties were in that space unleashing holy hell on the cabin.

              I had also spotted something that gave me a spark of hope.

              Nathan had made his way to the opposite side of the drive and was getting ready to attack their right flank. I was a heartbeat away from attacking their left flank when I felt the subtle change in pressure that I associate with Nathan’s protective shield.

              Good, he was ready.

              It took a span of a few seconds from the moment the nasties started firebombing the cabin and when I made my move. It seemed like forever.

              I reached into my bandolier pulling everything I had out of it.

              My right hand was engulfed in a ball of electricity that had tendrils snaking away and finding areas to ground out.             

              I stood up and immediately came under fire. The numerous rounds making impacts upon Nathan’s shield, obscuring my view of the enemy.

              I didn't really need to see them though.

              I let loose with a massive blast. Amber lightning raced towards the nasties. Hitting them in a wide spread out bolt.

              Half of them were hit, instantly going rigid. I saw the path of the electricity flow from their bodies and to their spines where most of it raced into the ground by means of a metal rod that had been driven into the ground and connected to their backs.

              They had stopped in position to allow themselves to use a ground rod in case of an electrical attack.

              If I had of used a normal blast they may have been unfazed.

              It’s a good thing I didn't use a normal blast.

              I didn't get the reaction I was hoping for, but what I got was still usable.

              The nasties that were hit with my blast were immobilized. The electricity still had to travel through them to reach ground and the sheer magnitude of it had done damage along the way.

              They were slowly starting to stir, getting their bearings back when the men on the roof and Nathan began pouring lead into the defenseless attackers. They took most of them out until the rest of the nasties reengaged their attack.

              I had to duck back down as Nathan’s shield wore off and I became vulnerable to enemy fire. I felt the impact of a slug that had gotten through and felt my shoulder scream in pain. I dropped back down, forcing myself to breath and tabling the pain that was trying to take over. I would have to deal with it later.

              We seemed to be back to where we had begun when I heard a roar.

              Peotr in bear form sprinted on all fours out of the flaming entry, blasting through the doors that were aflame as he came head on towards the remaining fifteen nasties.

              He had to cover about a hundred feet and he did it extremely fast.

              The nasties were still able to get a bead on him and he took too many hits to count as he closed the distance. When he got to within paw swiping range the tide of the battle turned. He came in hard and low. Swinging on the first enemy, he eviscerated him in one swipe. Never slowing, Peotr lunged out and crushed another’s head in his huge maw. Taking the nasty he had bitten down on he spun, using the body to bludgeon the nasties that still surrounded him. Releasing the corpses head, Peotr systematically began to annihilate the rest of the combatants. It wasn't pretty, but it was completely effective.

              During the gunfight and all the festivities, I had forgotten about the green dragon. It’s a good thing Cynthia had not.

              There was another massive roar, this time coming from above the cabin. I looked up to see the two fliers engaged in a struggle for air supremacy. The dragon was a hairsbreadth behind Cynthia. Every attempt to snag her failed, as she seemed to stay one maneuver ahead. Zigzagging back and forth, displaying a dizzying array of twists and turns Cynthia kept her distance. It seemed that no matter what the dragon did, Cynthia was always ahead. The dragon launched a spray of acid ahead of Cynthia, attempting to have her fly into the flow. Then he sprung his trap. As Cynthia avoided the acid, the dragon had already changed course intercepting her flight and finally finding purchase with his teeth. The dragon and gryphon became locked in a death spiral. Each latched on to the other. Cynthia had dug her eagle’s claws into the dragon’s chest and you could see the bright red blood fall even as they plummeted.

              The dragon had managed to get his mouth on Cynthia’s shoulder, where the wing met her body and was keeping her from flapping it.

              The dragon was on top and Cynthia was on bottom. You could see areas on the gryphon that were eaten away and red flesh showed the damage inflicted by the green dragon’s acid.

              They came in at a slight angle and impacted the roof of the cabin with a deafening sound.

              I noticed that Peotr had finished with the infantry and was a mess of blood and bullet wounds. He seemed to be already healing from his injuries quickly.Werebears have wondrous healing abilities.

The roof and most of the cabin had collapsed,

leaving the structure a burning wreck. There was a commotion where the two aerial combatants landed and the green dragon began slowly gaining altitude. As he did you could see the still form of Cynthia in her human shape dangling limply from his claw. He turned and flew towards the archery range. Dropping her body into the forest, he turned and flew away.

             
Chapter 25

I looked over at the carnage Peotr had loosened. There were mangled bodies surrounding him. Limbs that were ripped from shoulders lay strewn about. It was a good example of how dangerous Peotr really is.

              He stood there in bear form, standing on his hind legs.

              “Tell me none of the Alliance was in the cabin when it collapsed.” I said to Peotr.

“I ordered the evacuation after the flamethrowers began eradicating the shields.” Peotr said, forming the words with his bear’s mouth.

I let out a deep breath; I hadn’t realized I was holding it until I exhaled it in a rush. A feeling

of relief quickly washed over me before a wave

of worry followed when I saw the dragon dropping Cynthia in the woods in my mind’s eye.

"You don't mess around do you?" I asked.

              He looked at me, noticing the blood that was dripping off my lowered hand and how I held the wound with the other. He answered in his gravely bear voice. "I will defend my home with vigor."

              I couldn't argue with that.

              "Go after her, I will see if there are any Alliance members trapped in the house. I have already sent most to the Compound. When you save Cynthia meet us there." He said. With not the slightest hint that he thought I wouldn't be able to save her and bring her back safely.

              I turned and ran through the bodies Peotr had mangled. I passed Nathan who quickly kept pace. As he ran next to me I felt better, knowing he had my back.

              We ran around the burning cabin. Most of the main structure was engulfed in flames and the damage done by the dragon and Cynthia had managed to destroy its structural integrity. The whole thing would soon be a big bonfire.

              Nathan and I made it to the gentle sloping area that led to the archery range. Heedless of the danger we sprinted into the forest. Knowing any delay may mean the death of Cynthia.

              As we passed through the treeline we saw Simmons crouched over someone. Cynthia lay in a curled up ball, obviously in pain. Simmons stood there bent over her holding a sharp knife in his hands. The arms of Cynthia, where she held them over her head, showed cuts on them that Simmons had given her. Her blood gleamed bright red on the blade.

              I grabbed my Desert Eagle intent on shooting him in the back. I had no problem with killing a man like that.

              I hesitated, afraid that my actions may cause Simmons to do something to Cynthia and kill her.

              It's a good thing I did.

              Simmons had heard us coming; it’s hard to run through the forest quietly. Nathan could have probably done it, but I'm not as adept at that sort of thing as he is.

              He turned showing his other hand holding a pistol to Cynthia’s head. He leaned down to her ear whispering something as he looked at us, smiling a gleeful smile.

              Cynthia was not a delicate flower; she was a graceful and majestic gryphon. Ages old with power and experience, she wasn't one to be afraid of a psycho with a gun.

              Simmons must have been doing something else to her that caused her such distress. In a flash of insight, I realized that Cynthia and her kind are magical creatures. Their essence is wrapped up in the energies of creation and the fires of magic much deeper than mortals.

              Simmons was a Disruptor. He had the ability to cancel magic. His gift directed at a being like Cynthia must have been devastating to her. From the looks of it, Simmons was causing her enormous amounts of pain.

              Nathan came to stand next to me, calmly raising his machine gun at Simmons. Showing him even though we couldn't hurt him with magic, we could still use hot lead.

              "Let her go, Simmons. That way we won’t have to kill you." I said.

              Simmons started laughing when ten cybernetically enhanced soldiers walked out from behind the dense forest, quickly outgunning us. They were slightly bigger than the infantry models. They had the same metallic looking eyes. The same camouflage makeup and were dressed in battle fatigues. Their frames were slightly larger proportioned than the most well defined athletes. They moved with stealth and power. Fluid and controlled movements hinted at the ability to enact death and a lot of it. They had small machine gun pistols in one hand and the other held long deadly blades.