by Lizzy Ford
“Fifteen,” she grunted into the mic.
“Seven,” Ginny replied.
“Maybe those three strikes have slowed you down.” She straightened from her latest kill suddenly, recognizing the face of a Cambion who had one blue eye and one brown. Her anger flared as she remembered him throwing the dagger that almost killed her. “Oh, that son of a bitch finally shows himself.” She started in his direction.
“Focus, Zoey,” Wes said. “That Cambion is off limits.”
“Why?” she asked. “I owe him.”
“Get the Professor out of there first.”
She stopped. He was right. Agitated, she whirled to face the garage, swept her arms out then gave an exaggerated bow. After the display, her eyes settled on the Professor, who was in the center of the group being escorted by Ginny while Zoey cleared a path for them. The Professor wagged a finger at her, a sign he was doing alright.
“Declan’s gonna love my report,” Wes said.
She flipped him off then shot and slashed through another two Cambions. Trotting back to her path, the stockpiled magic swept through her. She wanted the Cambion leader dead in a bad way. She took out her anger on the next group of Cambions. Her calm was slipping as she soaked up the Cambion magic. There were hundreds of them on the campus, and she pulled everything she could to her.
Zoey let it intoxicate her then yielded to it, hacking, slashing, stabbing and smashing her way through the Cambions in their path. It took an hour to fight their way to the edge of campus where the neighborhood began. She stopped, breathing hard, as the last of their wards passed them into the street off campus. She and Ginny had cut a swath of death through the masses fighting. More were pursuing while her senses picked up on those lying in wait ahead of her.
Thoughts of death and fighting didn’t bother her. The magic coursing through her made her ache for Declan for reasons she refused to acknowledge. What made her hesitate: knowing there was nowhere to go home to this night. When Eric kicked her out, she’d been upset but understood she had a place with the Professor. Now that home, too, was gone. The campus as a whole was gone. She hadn’t liked her life with the Sucubatti, but it was all she knew.
“You okay?” Ginny joined her, sweating.
“Good. Wes, we’re off campus,” Zoey said.
“Got it.”
“What’s wrong?” Ginny asked.
“There’s no going back,” Zoey replied, meeting her gaze.
Ginny squeezed her arm. “Team Rogue. Come on. You’re point.” She hurried towards the group.
Zoey looked away, lost and angry once again. She’d thought those feelings ended with Eric. She chugged one of the energy drinks, the familiar bitterness making her pause again. Why did it taste like the amaretto sours that almost killed her and Vikki?
“Any day now, Z!” Ginny shouted.
Zoey ran forward, opening her senses as she did, guiding them into a narrow alley. Evacuation protocol was to keep to alleys and back streets, away from the human population, when possible.
A strange sensation crept through her, as if she were close to losing consciousness. Her ears buzzed and the edge of her mind was dark. Instead of creeping up to surprise the Cambions waiting to ambush, she charged into their midst, struggling to stay focused. Her control slipped at the combination of the strange darkness and magic, and she immersed herself in the scent of blood.
“Old Zoey’s back,” Ginny said over the radio. “Wes, you got Declan’s number? These meltdowns don’t end well.”
“Not… a meltdown!” Zoey retorted.
“Get your ass out front.”
“Ginny…” Zoey stumbled. “I don’t feel right.”
“Easy, Zoey,” Ginny urged. “We gotta get the Professor out of here.”
Zoey struggled to rein in the magic at the reminder of the Professor. She wanted badly to let it take her, but doing so meant she’d be blocks away instead of where she needed to be. There were a dozen Cambions around her. A couple scored minor blows before she’d cleared them. She stopped, chest heaving. She was fighting something again. It was like when Olivia’s magic tried to seize her, only she didn’t know what magic this was.
“Zoey,” Wes said. “You good?”
“Good enough,” she said between breaths. Her gaze scoured the street. “No way we’re taking a direct route. This place is swarming.”
“Do what you need to.”
“Ginny, let me run ahead. You okay?” Zoey glanced back to see her fighting.
“Good. Go,” Ginny grunted.
Zoey sprinted to the end of the block and crossed the street into a small manufacturing and warehouse district. The most direct route would take them through it, but her instincts were at a scream. It seemed quiet. The magic in the air was thick, tempting her to tackle the street, if only to help her focus outside the internal battle.
Activity in that area is off the charts. Head east to K Street then south. Declan said into her mind.
She hesitated, grappling with whether or not she should trust him.
Or don’t. I’ll rescue you, for a price.
With a grunt, Zoey backed away from the intersection and turned east. She ran ahead of the group, using her senses to pick up the enemy.
“We’re not going straight through?” Ginny asked, no doubt spotting her headed down a different direction than planned.
“No,” Zoey replied. “East.”
“Headed your way.”
Zoey doubled back to the group. Their pace slowed to help the elders, who appeared to be under duress. She studied the Professor. He was pale, but managed a drawn smile. She caught Ginny’s eye and motioned to the elders.
“You’re bleeding, Zoey, dear,” the Professor said in concern.
She looked down to where he pointed. Her arm was slashed.
“Superficial,” she said with a smile.
“That shoulder doesn’t look good,” Ginny said over the radio, her voice too quiet for the Benefactors to hear.
Zoey glanced down and shook her arm. She hadn’t noticed the stab wound in her shoulder. The pain seemed to be blocked by whatever it was that was trying to pull her into unconsciousness.
“Moves fine, doesn’t hurt,” she replied. “Incoming.” She moved forward to intercept.
Only two. She took care of them quickly then moved a few dozen meters ahead of the group to scout. A full ten minutes passed without another opponent, and she grew antsy with the caged magic and heightened senses. The cold weather started to sink into her skin, along with the reality she didn’t want to face.
Zoey, you know you always have somewhere to go. Declan’s words were gentle. They confused her even more.
She tapped the mic off to respond. “I’m going insane.”
I know you felt what happened last night. I know you know what that means. We share a soul. Why fight it?
She willed herself as hard as she could not to answer.
My soul-mate, willing to face a herd of Cambions, but not me. He was amused.
“Declan, can I ask you something?”
Go for it.
“You’re working with Olivia. She told me something. I can’t …” she couldn’t say the words, but she thought them.
I didn’t know you and Vikki were her daughters.
“She says you did.”
We – the Incubatti – didn’t. Olivia plays games with people, Zoey. She’s probably trying to drive a wedge between us, so she can manipulate one of us.
Olivia said Declan would lie to her, too. She knew he saw that thought, if he saw the others. Declan didn’t respond to it, though.
“You’re working together, right?” she asked. “I’m not leading the Professor somewhere where he’ll be in danger?”
For now, the Enforcers are assisting Olivia with coordinating the evacs. It’s an uneasy truce at best, but I can’t openly oppose the Cambions.
“Why not?”
We’re not ready for civil war yet. In any case, the Professor will never
be in danger. That I can promise you.
“I don’t like this,” she said, uneasy with the newest secret or entrusting her sweet Alexander to anyone. “If we break off and kill Cambions, you’ll still back me?”
Yes.
“That’s so weird. This isn’t going to work out, if we’re on different sides or if everyone on the planet is trying to hunt me down. I can’t imagine Olivia letting me do this.”
It changes nothing between you and me.
“Professionally?” she asked archly. “It changes everything. Personally, it may not.” Hearing her words, she rushed on. “I mean… not that there is a personal…dammit!”
You know I own you. There’s nothing that will stand between us, Zoey.
His words made her heart flip flop in her chest. They were spoken with the quiet, lethal conviction of someone who would do whatever it took to enforce them. Knowing he was reading her, she refused to acknowledge the thrill or fear that went through her.
“You supporting an organization that kills girls like me? I’ve seen what Cambions do!”
Loyalties are not simple. You know how I feel.
“That’s it?” she demanded. “How do I come home to you at night knowing you’re creating what I’m trying to destroy? Not that I’m coming…goddamn it!”
The Cambions have gone rogue as well, under the influence of a few Incubuses. We’ll talk more in the morning.
“Nice try. You are so not getting to third base.”
I’m glad you consider me home, even if only during night time.
“Only for a shower!” she said, frustrated. “Especially now that the Professor’s house was torched.”
One minute, you’re spitting fire at me. The next you’re purring. I love seeing you like that.
Her face flamed at the memories of their lovemaking. The ache hit her hard, fed by the sex energy and adrenaline.
Yeah, me, too. You’re at a disadvantage with a hurricane as a soul-mate. I know what it does to you. Besides, where else will you go tonight?
Zoey stopped moving. Her chest tightened to the point of pain. “That was low.”
Wes says to turn on your mic.
“Fuck you!”
Sounds good. See you tonight. He was laughing at her.
She flipped on her mic, furious, but almost certain she was going to see him tonight.
“What, Wes?” she barked.
“Leave your damn mic open.”
“This is driving me fucking crazy!” She flung a knife at a car window with a frustrated growl.
“Stop fighting it. It’s as bad for him as it is for you. He’s been intolerable the past few days,” Wes said.
“Really? Good.”
“Zoey, you’re making me edgy,” Ginny said. “I’m sensing a possible ambush ahead, and we need to give the elders a rest. I’ll go – Zoey, stay - dammit! Your shoulder is fucked up enough!”
Zoey was already racing down the street. Ginny was telling her to stop. Zoey ripped off the earpiece and flung it. There were twenty, maybe thirty Cambions waiting for her. She sucked up their magic as she tore into the center of the ambush. Scared and confused by what Declan told her, she lost what control she had and just fought. The darkness at the edge of her mind swallowed her.
Zoey panicked, suspecting she’d been killed or knocked unconscious. She couldn’t wake up, but heard the sounds of battle: metal tearing into flesh, the drop of bodies and cries of Cambions. Was she moving or on the ground? She thought she heard Ginny shouting and the Professor calling her name. Was he in danger? What the fuck was wrong with her?
My little Zoey.
The strange spell released her at Declan’s whisper. Her eyes flew open, and the world slammed down upon her again.
The haze of magic was frying her from the inside out. She lay on her belly, cheek in a puddle of rain while someone heavy lay on top of her to prevent her from moving. Sex energy roared through her. She felt too hot, and the cold rain did little to soothe her. Her shoulder was shaky but working, and there were nicks and bruises all over her body. She felt as she had with Olivia: stuck between the magic of a Succubus and Declan.
“Zoey,” Declan’s voice slid through her, making her shudder. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t feel so well,” she mumbled. “There’s a fucking elephant sitting on me.”
“That, my friends, was a meltdown,” Ginny said from nearby. “Though I’ve never seen anything quite like that.”
“Like a hurricane,” the Professor said.
“Wes, what happened?” Declan demanded.
“I don’t know,” Wes said. By his nearness, he was the elephant on her back. “She went berserk. I wrestled her down, but your bitch doesn’t know rule one.”
“I didn’t draw on you,” Zoey said.
“You tried to shoot me.”
“No, Wes …” She drifted off, troubled. “I don’t remember.”
“You cut my arm two minutes ago, and you don’t fucking remember?” Wes demanded.
“No.” Exhausted, Zoey flinched, but didn’t move as he gripped the back of her neck. Fire shot through her, subduing the magic.
“That’ll have to work until you make it back to Declan,” he said. There was anger in his voice. He released her and climbed off.
She pushed herself up groggily and shook her head. It was pounding. She looked up and danced away at the lethal light in his gaze. He was soaked, his body steaming, as if he’d run from the campus. Dusk had begun to fall, making the Enforcer’s magic and presence more oppressive.
“When that wears off, you’re in serious trouble.” He was furious. Which meant Declan was probably not happy either. “Earpiece.” He handed it to her. “You throw it, I take you straight back to him. Got it?”
“I’m not –” she insisted.
The flash of magic made her frantic to escape him.
She nodded quickly.
“Get your ass to the site.”
Zoey scrambled away from him, pinned by his gaze and the magic. The power of an Enforcer terrified her. He waited a few seconds to make sure she was quiet then turned and strode away. Shivering, she glanced at Ginny, who was trying hard not to smile.
“Let’s go,” Ginny said, motioning to the elders. “I’m point.”
Zoey lingered behind the group, the effects of Wes’s magic managing to subdue her own. She didn’t let herself wonder why Declan was quiet. Instead, she focused on their surroundings. She glanced back once to see what she’d done and almost stopped.
What had felt like twenty was somewhere closer to fifty. The Professor was right; it looked like a hurricane tore through them. Uneasily, she wondered if her bond let her access Declan’s magic, and that’s how she’d done so much damage.
“Wes, I don’t remember doing this,” she said in a hushed voice. “I swear to you.”
There was a pause. “I believe you,” he said, calm once more.
“Zoey, focus on getting to Site Z. We’ll talk later,” Declan directed.
“Alright,” she said, confused.
Declan closed the public channel, leaving only the one with Wes open. He glared at Olivia coldly. The Sucubatti security chief suddenly didn’t appear so smug. Always in control, he had the urge to show her exactly what the incoming Incubatti Enforcer chief was capable of. Instead, he restrained himself and simply stared her down, waiting for his calmness to reappear. The event did nothing to help the headache he’d had since arriving at the underground site managed by the Sucubatti.
“Report on locations,” he ordered the Halfling at the command console. Securely housed in Site X, the Sucubatti’s back-up operations center, he and Liam were watching everything Olivia’s people did.
“Teams one and two will reach here in an hour. Team three in two. Team four is en route to Site Z, as directed,” the Halfling replied. “No ETA, as I am unaware of Site Z’s location.”
“Keep an eye on team four,” he said. “Wes, any issues, contact me immediately.”
&n
bsp; “Roger,” Wes replied through the radio. “I’ve never seen anything like Zoey’s meltdown. I had no idea the Halflings could be so strong.”
The communications between the two of them was secure, but Declan couldn’t ask for details in front of Olivia. This was a political game, and the savvy Succubus was looking for signs of weakness.
Somehow, without leaving his sight, Olivia activated Zoey. Wes’ mayday call wasn’t one Declan could ignore, not when he had felt the strange surge of unfamiliar magic through his bond with Zoey. The invading magic severed his connection to Zoey’s mind for a full five minutes. The sensation that she was gone had almost crippled him, reminding him just how strong the bond between soul-mates was.
Declan sipped from his water bottle, needing the physical movement to distract him. He had never experienced that kind of fear. The idea of losing Zoey never crossed his mind, before that moment.
Olivia wasn’t pleased, as if she realized he’d pulled Zoey out of whatever trance she was in. Declan had no idea how he did it – or even if he was the key.
“Liam,” he said, glancing at his brother. “I’ve gotta check in with Dad.”
Liam nodded. Declan strode away, making every effort to appear in control when he was filled with fury. He left the small room and waited until he was several steps down the hall.
“Talk to me, Wes,” he ordered. “What the fuck just happened?”
“Dad was right. Something activated her. She went insane. I’ll apologize now for kicking your girl’s ass.”
Declan gave a tight smile. “I’d rather you did it than Liam.”
“Yeah, well, even I wasn’t entirely in control. Fucking pissed me off. Wrestled her down, then whatever you did snapped her out of it. She was gone, Declan.”
“Any idea what the trigger was?” Declan asked. He wiped his face, concerned for more than one reason.
“They were out of my line of sight for about twenty minutes. She was fine when she left campus. About ten minutes later, she said she wasn’t feeling right, but they weren’t exactly in a position to stop and chat.”