Kade (sci-fi romance - The Ember Quest Book 2)

by Arcadia Shield

  Her stomach flipped when she saw what was left of the guards. Bellatrix and Anastasia stood next to them, looking proud and blood stained. A swipe card dangled from Bellatrix’s finger.

  “Did you have fun, ladies?” asked Lincoln, horror and admiration running across his face.

  “These two were so drunk they weren’t even a challenge,” said Anastasia.

  “And I don’t like my food marinated in booze,” said Bellatrix.

  Lincoln’s nose wrinkled. “You eat humans?”

  “Only when there’s no chicken.”

  “Let’s hope the guards inside are as easy,” said Heath. He gestured to the door, and Bellatrix used the swipe card to unlock it.

  Heath took the lead as they entered the building, everyone on alert as they stepped inside and the door slid shut.

  They all stopped as voices echoed along the corridor.

  Honor let Kade pull her into the shadows and slide in front of her, as three guards hurried past the end of the corridor, carrying boxes.

  “They’re moving stuff out,” whispered Lincoln.

  Several more guards followed, all with armfuls of equipment, or boxes of what looked like paperwork.

  “Destroying the evidence?” suggested Honor. “Now they know they have traitors on the inside, they will be cautious about what they keep lying around.”

  “And that includes any hybrids,” said Anastasia.

  They waited until the way was clear before hurrying to the end of the corridor. In front of them was a set of double doors with a swipe card access point.

  “Try that card again,” said Heath.

  Bellatrix ran the card through the scanner, and the door unlocked.

  Heath gestured to Lincoln, and he crept forward and inched the door open, before pulling his head back swiftly. “Four guards. Two by this door and two at the far end. All armed.”

  “And the hybrids?” asked Honor.

  “All women,” said Lincoln, his expression grim. “And all weak and messed up from the glimpse I got.”

  Honor pushed back against her revulsion. The State were molesting them for their own disgusting purposes. It had to end.

  “Lincoln, you and Tobias go around to the other door and surprise the guards,” said Heath. “We’ll come through this end when you’re in position and take out these two.”

  “We’re on it.” Lincoln and Tobias ran down the corridor and disappeared around the corner. A few seconds later, the sound of a double click through the comms let them know they were in position.

  Heath looked around the group. “Keep this calm and quiet. Focus on getting these women out safely. Minimal noise and casualties.”

  They all nodded, and Honor tightened her fingers around the gun she held. She’d love to inflict punishment on these sick bastards for doing this. They probably got a perverse kick out of exploiting these women.

  Heath and Kade took the lead and shoved the doors open at the same time as Lincoln and Tobias entered from the opposite side of the room. They grabbed the guards before they could make a sound, and slit their throats, before lowering the bodies to the ground.

  Honor entered the room and her eyes widened. There were forty beds, each one occupied. All the women in the beds stared back at them in silence, their expressions a range of suspicion and fear.

  Anastasia and Bellatrix entered behind Honor, and Bellatrix growled before pushing past her. Kade grabbed her arm before she could get any farther, grateful her skin was covered by the gloves, so she didn’t poison him.

  “Go easy. Don’t frighten anybody.”

  “You’re the one who needs to be careful,” said Bellatrix. “They’ll see you as the enemy.”

  Anastasia touched her sister’s arm. “We’re all spooked by this.” She looked around the room and shook her head. “Getting these women fired up and angry will only make things harder.”

  “Your sister’s right,” said Kade. “We don’t need a group of vigilante hybrids getting out of hand and burning this place to the ground. If they do, people will get killed.”

  “Who are you?” A short, curvy hybrid, with black hair down to her waist, stepped forward, her eyes wide and her face drawn.

  “We’re here to help,” said Anastasia.

  A murmur ran through the room, and several of the hybrids stood and approached them.

  “You are of our kind?” The hybrid looked at Bellatrix and Anastasia. “But the others aren’t.”

  “You can trust them,” said Bellatrix, tilting her chin at the men. “They’re on our side.”

  “I’m Eve,” said the hybrid.

  Anastasia made the introductions. “Do you know the quickest way out of here, Eve?”

  “That won’t be easy. The entrances are guarded,” said Eve. “Two hybrids attempted to escape recently so the guards have been checking in on us frequently. You won’t have much time to get us out.”

  “Is it just this room?” asked Honor.

  “There’s one more,” said Eve. “But we’re the only ones left alive. There’s also the morgue and the fire pits outside.”

  “We’ve already seen the fire pits,” said Honor, her lip curling.

  “The morgue is twice as bad.” Dread flashed in Eve’s eyes. “They make us take the dead down there.”

  Honor touched her arm and Eve flinched. “We won’t let anyone else hurt you.”

  Tears filled Eve’s eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Can everybody walk?” Heath looked around the room.

  “A couple will need help,” said Eve. “But we’re stronger than we look.”

  “Assist those who need it,” said Heath, as he strode to the center of the room. “I’ll cover from the front, and Tobias, you take the rear and watch for any guards. Lincoln, go get the vehicle and bring it to the door.”

  “On it.” Lincoln dashed out the door.

  “How are you getting us out?” asked Eve.

  “We’ll take the weakest in our copter,” said Heath. “Our truck will manage the rest.”

  “We thought there would be more of you,” said Honor.

  “The doctors have been getting sloppy and taking more risks,” said Eve. “The number of deaths has tripled in the last two months. They don’t care what they do to us, so long as they get what they want.”

  Honor swallowed her shock as she helped a hybrid with pale-orange scales stand and stagger to the door. “This ends today.”

  Within minutes, they’d formed a tight group, with the stronger hybrids supporting the others.

  Honor’s pulse thrummed, as she waited for Kade to check their route out.

  “It’s all clear.” Kade ushered them into the corridor, where Heath and Arlo waited, Tobias behind them.

  Nerves skittered up Honor’s spine as she kept the hybrid she held upright, and they made tortuously slow progress toward the exit. “Not far to go,” she murmured. It was more to reassure herself than the hybrid she assisted.

  “I’ve been in here almost a year,” said the hybrid, as she clung to Honor’s arm. “Be glad to get out.”

  “The State took you as soon as they seized power?”

  “That’s right.” The hybrid looked up at her. “I used to work as an assistant for the monarchy. I’ve almost forgotten what being outside feels like. They only let us out at night to rake over the body pits.”

  “You’ll be free soon enough,” said Honor, anger burning through her veins like acid.

  They slowed as they caught up with the others, and Honor resisted the urge to push through and get to the door, get closer to freedom and away from this nightmare.

  She breathed a sigh of relief as they reached the open doorway and saw the truck waiting outside, with Lincoln beside it. “You okay to go on that?”

  “I’ll be fine.” The hybrid squeezed Honor’s hand and her scales glowed orange. “And thanks for getting me out.”

  Honor watched the hybrid as she climbed onto the back of the truck, before turning and hurrying toward the copter,
assisting Kade as he helped a thin, trembling hybrid aboard.

  “We’re running out of time,” muttered Kade, as he strapped a harness around the hybrid and made sure she was secure.

  “They can only go so fast,” said Honor. “Some can barely walk.”

  “Another dozen and the place will be empty,” said Lincoln, as he carried a hybrid in his arms and deposited her inside the copter.

  “Two minutes and we’re out of here,” said Kade.

  In that moment, lights flared around the top of the building, and the shriek of an alarm cut through the air, making Honor jump and her flesh crawl.

  “Get everyone in the truck,” yelled Kade. “Time to go.”

  Honor spun around as she heard running footsteps approaching and raised her weapon. There were another ten hybrids to load into the truck, but they were already slowing and turning, as the guards emerged from the building.

  “Hurry!” yelled Honor, as she gestured at the hybrids. “Get on the truck.”

  The hybrids froze and then turned and raced away as best they could, as the guards opened fire.

  Honor lunged after them, but Kade grabbed her arm. “It’s too risky. You’ll be killed.”

  “We’re not leaving them behind.” Honor shook off Kade’s hand and glared at him. “You with me or not?”

  Chapter 23

  Kade gritted his teeth, seeing the fire in Honor’s eyes. “I’m with you.”

  He kept close to her as they sped through the darkness in pursuit of the fleeing hybrids. Alone and unprotected, they’d stand no chance of survival. Every second that passed, lessened the likelihood of any escaping, as laser fire shot through the trees, seeking a target.

  “We’ve got to get them on the truck,” gasped Honor. She ducked as a laser blast hit the tree next to her, and fire shot through the leaves.

  A strangled scream ricocheted through the night as one hybrid was hit, and Kade cursed and moved even closer to Honor.

  “They deserve none of this.” Honor swiped a hand across her eyes. “But why are they running? We’re here to help them.”

  “They’re terrified,” said Kade. “And they don’t know us. For all they know, they could be trading one nightmare for another.”

  The hybrids they chased slowed, and Kade lowered his weapon as they drew near. “Get to the truck. We can get you to safety.”

  One hybrid roared, an unhuman snarl, and smoke streamed out of her mouth.

  Kade grabbed hold of Honor and threw her to the ground, covering her as a fireball shot over their heads, heating his back and singeing his hair.

  “We’re trying to help,” shouted Honor, as she pushed Kade off.

  “Go easy. They’re cornered and feel trapped.” Kade looked over his shoulder and saw the guards approaching. “We’re out of time. We have to leave.”

  “They’ll be killed if we leave them.”

  Kade looked at the sickly, drawn faces of the hybrids and knew he couldn’t abandon them. “Stay low and aim your weapon at the guards. Even if the hybrids don’t want to come with us, we can give them a chance to get away.”

  Honor nodded and tracked behind Kade as he moved closer to the approaching guards. He gestured toward the ground and they sunk behind a bush.

  Kade heard the hybrids growling and snarling as the guards neared and several laser blasts lit the trees.

  “You freaks get back in the building,” shouted one guard. “There’s nowhere to hide. You’re in enough trouble by trying to escape. Get back before we shoot.”

  A hybrid with cropped blonde hair spat fire toward the guards, and Kade and Honor opened fire at the same time, taking out three guards.

  The other guards shot wildly into the trees, uncertain of their targets, as the hybrids spread out, several of them shooting flames at the guards.

  Kade took out two more guards, before one spotted his pulse laser discharge and raced toward him, his gun raised as he shot into the bush they were using as coverage.

  Pinning Honor to the ground to keep her safe from the laser blasts, Kade felt her rapid heartbeat beneath his chest, as he fired over her head.

  The guard shot off his feet as a fireball smashed into his head and he slammed into a tree before slumping to the ground in a burning heap.

  Kade flipped over to see a hybrid give him a nod before turning back and blowing flames at the remaining guards.

  He rolled off Honor and took out another guard. The last guard standing gave them a wild-eyed look, before turning and fleeing.

  Kade grabbed hold of Honor’s hand as she stood and checked her over. He let out a breath. Other than a graze on one cheek, she was as perfect as ever.

  They ran through the trees, their weapons raised as they drew near the hybrids. Three of the hybrids were face down, laser blasts in their backs. Two more had laser injuries on their arms, but were still standing. The rest had survived unharmed.

  Honor ran to the first fallen hybrid and was met by a red-eyed female, her arms crossed over her chest and smoke streaming from her nose.

  “You must trust us.” Kade flung himself in front of Honor, seeing how close the hybrid was to losing control and letting her primal dragon urges take over.

  “We do.” The hybrid who’d saved them from the guard stepped forward, her straight green hair sticking to her damp forehead. “Jenny, back off.”

  The other hybrid stepped back, a growl rumbling through her chest.

  “We’re here to help,” said Kade.

  The green-haired hybrid gave him a long lingering look before nodding. “I’m Moira.”

  “I’m Kade. And this is Honor.”

  “I need to check your friend.” Honor dropped to her knees and checked the female on the ground without waiting for a response. She gave a shake of her head. “No pulse. Could she be hibernating?”

  Moira’s eyebrows raised. “It’s possible. But without treatment, she will die. Most of us are too weak to regenerate without medical assistance. And using our abilities is draining.”

  “We can take you all to get treatment, but we have to leave now,” said Kade. “The truck and copter can’t wait. If we stay any longer, we’ll be trapped.”

  Moira gestured to the hybrids. “Follow the humans. And bring the fallen.”

  Kade noticed how the hybrids obeyed, gathering up the wounded and forming a small group before waiting for their next order. He wondered if Moira was their leader.

  “Move out,” said Kade. “Stay behind me and Honor.”

  The hybrids all nodded and followed Kade.

  “Thanks for saving us,” said Moira, as they hurried through the trees.

  “Any time.” Kade held up a hand and surveyed the scene in front of him as they reached the treeline. It was not good. The truck was gone as was the copter. “Heath. What’s your situation?”

  “Had to leave. Came under heavy fire. We’re circling back now. Be with you in ten minutes.”

  Kade grimaced. In ten minutes they’d all be dead. “We’ll be waiting.” He tilted his head at the sound of an approaching vehicle. A small, black, armored car emerged from around the side of the building. It stopped, and two guards climbed out, scanning the area before opening the back door of the car.

  A woman in a bright-red suit and shiny black heels climbed out. She smoothed a hand over her perfect blonde bob, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the carnage.

  Honor gasped and grabbed Kade’s arm. “No bloody way!”

  “You know her?”

  Honor nodded, but before she could speak, the woman lifted a device to her mouth, amplifying her voice. “If the fugitives return the hybrids to the hospital now, nobody will be harmed.”

  Honor scowled and her fingers tightened on Kade’s arm. “Do not believe a word that viper has to say.”

  “Who is she?”

  “My old boss,” said Honor, her face pale and her eyes wide. “From Intergen.”

  HONOR HAD TO STOP HERSELF from racing out and smashing her fist into Clarice’s pinc
hed, angry-looking face. What was she doing here? What did she have to do with this terrible place?

  “Your former boss looks like she’s running things,” whispered Kade.

  “I don’t understand,” said Honor. “I never knew Intergen were involved in anything like this.”

  “A few days ago you thought the State were our legitimate leader,” said Kade dryly. “And you knew nothing about dragons.”

  Honor shook her head. So much had changed in such a short time. But one thing she knew for sure, Clarice was still an evil, soulless devil and needed to be stopped.

  Clarice looked around again, tapping her fingers against her arm as she did so. “You have two minutes to decide whether you wish to live or die. The hybrids are to return to the safety of the building. After that, you will face a fair trial at the hands of the State, and your fates decided by the appropriate authorities.”

  Kade snorted. “There won’t be anything fair about that.”

  “I should talk to her,” said Honor. “Maybe if she knows I’m here—”

  “No way! You go out there and you’ve signed your own death warrant. She knows you’re working with us and that’s all that will matter. She’ll also see you’ve been trying to take away her commodities, and she’ll hate that.”

  A guard leaned toward Clarice and spoke in her ear.

  She smirked and her gaze shifted to the treeline. Honor flinched as Clarice’s pale-blue eyes seemed to settle on her.

  “We know who you are,” said Clarice. “If you co-operate with us, I will put in a good word for you. Some of you might get away with a life sentence, rather than the death penalty. What do you think, Honor? How does life imprisonment sound?”

  Honor swallowed against the tightness in her throat.

  “Don’t let her get to you,” murmured Kade.

  “It would appear you’ve been slumming it since you escaped from custody,” said Clarice. “You might be used to a more basic style of life by now. Prison would be a step up.”

  Honor’s breath caught in her throat. She took a tentative step forward and raised her gun, but Kade grabbed her and yanked her to his side.