“Turn around, Sadie,” Madison demanded. I opened my mouth to respond when my eyes met a Koenig soldier aiming a modified rocket launcher at our group.
“RUN!” I screamed. I felt it as my friends moved away from me, but my feet wouldn’t move. Behind the soldier with the rocket aimed at me was a face I would never forget. His blood red hair was soaked with sweat and sticking to the sides of his face. Splatters of blood decorated the chains wrapped around his chest. A sinister grin spread across his face and reached his yellow eyes as he leaned over and whispered to the soldier holding the gun.
I watched in horror as he adjusted his aim and my eyes traced the direction of the missile. Smoke and fire shot out behind the gun and I sped toward its target, screaming at my friends to run faster. Kian was leading the group by a large gap; he must have been toning down his Talent to stay so close. Tears blurred my vision but I continued to run.
The following seconds seemed to stretch into minutes. White heat burst from the explosion. The ground shook, rattling my entire body and causing me to bite my tongue before the shockwave threw me away from my friends. A high-pitched ringing filled my eyes as I rolled over, coughing. My lungs struggled to pull in the smoky air, but I didn’t care. I crawled toward the crater where my friends used to be, needing to see them.
A gentle breeze cleared the remaining blackened puffs and my arms gave out. A wheezing moan came out of my mouth as I looked at the three bodies strewn in front of a small crater.
Oh God! They’re not moving.
Chapter 18
Fear grabbed hold of me and would not let go. My eyes darted to each body as I struggled to find something, anything, that would tell me which body belonged to who.
A blur streaked past the carnage and stopped next to me. I locked onto Kian’s concerned eyes as he lifted me from my prone position to standing. He wrapped an arm around my waist and led me to the crater, knowing what I wanted without me uttering a single word.
The closest body was Rebecca’s. Her midnight blue skin was covered in dirt and lacerations. My eyes darted to her chest. It rose and fell, but the movements were shallow.
“Kian! She’s alive!” I stumbled to her and fell next to her body. My hands ran through her short curly hair. “Wake up.”
“Shit,” Kian cursed, and in a flurry of movement he had his belt removed from his pants. I was about to question his actions, but instead watched in horror as he wrapped and tightened it on her thigh. Blood poured from the stump where her leg used to be. I stared at the spilled pool of her life blood, not able to fully process what I was seeing.
A strangled moan came the other side of Kian. He tilted his head, “Go. I’ve got her.” I ran, tripping over my feet in my haste. John’s unconscious body lay over Madison’s as if he had used his body as a shield. Underneath, Madison was stirring. A string of creative curses exploded from her as she shook her head, the memories returning. Fearful, I took inventory of both of their bodies. It looked as if they were both whole.
I knelt down to help her roll John off her body with great care to make sure we didn’t injure him more. Madison’s shaking fingers checked John’s pulse, the alarm evident in her widened eyes. I leaned down to feel his breath on my cheek as I watched his chest for movement.
“He’s breathing, but he’s struggling.” Tears flowed from Madison’s eyes. In all my life, I had never seen her cry. The shock was sobering. Captain Monroe showed up with a few medics and I took a step back.
Link.
He ordered the aim off of me and onto them.
He had wanted to cause me pain.
I was going to kill him.
Kian and the others were preoccupied with caring for my injured friends. They didn’t notice as I slipped away, heading toward the last spot I had seen the bastard.
My Talent swelled, filling my body. I activated my secondary and saw in my mind that Link, in his smugness, hadn’t moved. There were no other signatures around him and I knew he was waiting for me alone.
As I approached him, he didn’t give me a second look. “You ready to go to your new home, little girl?”
“Yes,” I replied, shocking him into looking at me. A confident grin lit up his face. “I will be leaving here and going to my new home, with my friends, but you, sadly, won’t be leaving here alive.”
His grin melted into a sneer. “Is that so, little girl?”
Without answering, I attacked. He released his chains, but I was prepared for them and danced around them, getting closer with each step. I was within arm’s reach when a chain wrapped around my leg, weighing me down, but not stopping me. He was expecting me to attack with my hands and use my Talent, so I faked a right hook, but instead kicked out and knocked him on his ass.
He kicked off the ground, throwing his weight to where he was able to quickly regain his footing, but I came at him with a quick burst of moves. A kick to the kneecap with my chained wrapped leg, a hard blow to the ribs. Link punched and jabbed in quick bursts while attempting to wrap me with more chains, but I was too quick.
He aimed for my nose. With a great effort, I was able to block the strike, but the struggle threw me off guard. He swung his free arm and clipped my jaw.
Damn, that hurt! I fought the urge to rub my jaw, but the pain blurred my vision and I shook my head in attempt to clear it.
Another chain, wrapped around my neck while I was distracted, was cutting off my air. I choked and sputtered profanities as the chains tightened. If I didn’t do something right now, he would win. With every ounce of strength left, I crossed and slammed my fist into his nose. Blood gushed from his disfigured nose and spattered to the ground. The chains loosened, but he didn’t completely release me. With a sweep of my leg, I knocked his foot out from under him. CRACK! His head slammed against the hardened Texas dirt.
With my chained leg I stomped on his groin, hoping the extra weight caused double the pain. He reached for his genitals and cried out as the chains loosened a bit more. I straddled him and alternated throwing punches and slamming his head into the ground until the chains fell away from my body. His face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition, but I wasn’t finished yet.
This man had taken Michael from me. He had tried to kill my friends. He wanted to rip me away from my life and take me to a life of servitude. All because of my grandfather. I allowed all the pent up anger to be released. My hands gripped the sides of his head and I leaned down.
Link’s swollen eyes filled with fear as he struggled to throw me off. My legs clenched tighter as he bucked and thrashed. If he hadn’t been weakened by my relentless attacks he could have overthrown me. Instead, I leaned down and my lips found his ear. “I’m not the weak girl you met last time, and I remember the look of joy on your face when you took Michael from me. As you fade away, remember, that this little girl is who erased your existence.”
I activated my Talent and pulled aggressively at his, drinking it in. My body was dehydrated and his Talent would replenish it. The color began to drain from his hair. In all my Talent trainings and the accident with Jesse, I had always held back, but now I pulled on his Talent with the fervor of a greedy toddler fighting with another child for their favorite toy.
With a shudder, Link took his last breath. I stood on uncertain legs, ignoring the pale body at my feet. My head swam as two Talents flowed throughout my body.
I felt full. I felt invincible. I felt sick.
“Sadie,” Kian’s cautious voice came from behind me. I turned around, noticing that the enemy soldiers that weren’t captured were retreating, obviously lacking confidence now that their leader was dead.
“Sadie. It’s me.” Kian stepped toward me with caution, a hand outstretched as if I were a feral animal. The Talents fought beneath my skin. It felt as if my skin was stretching. I forced my Talent down, locking it away. I knew what I had to do.
Kian took another step and I raised my hand stopping him. The trembles began soon after and I fell to my knees.
“
What’s happening to her?” Lacy’s frantic voice screamed as Luca held her back.
“She’s got two Talents in her body. She has to release the foreign one,” Luca answered.
“Sadie. What are you waiting for? Release his Talent!” Worry flooded Kian’s voice as he paced at a safe distance. I wanted to tell him that Link’s Talent was holding on and I was struggling to release, but my jaw had clenched shut.
“So help me, Sadie, I will come over there if you don’t push that Talent out of you.”
Finally, I located where Link’s Talent was latching itself to mine and broke the connection. The relief was palpable as I pushed the foul invading presence from my body. My back dipped as my face lifted to the sky and a primal scream erupted from my mouth, stilling everyone in the vicinity.
Once every ounce of Link’s Talent was removed from my body, I collapsed on the ground. Kian’s arms were around me in an instant; his mauve eyes roamed my body for injuries.
“What were you thinking?”
“Revenge.”
My vision narrowed to tiny slits as the darkness threatened to overtake me. Kian was yelling at someone behind him and I reached up, my hand cupping his cheek. He winced before turning back to me.
“You…” Was all I could say before I faded away.
Chapter 19
Breaking News: Caelian Councilwoman Missing
BREAKING NEWS: Laura Lane, council leader for the Lane family, has been reported missing.
She was last seen by her husband, Anthony Lane, last night in their home located in old town. Mr. Lane returned from his weekly meeting with the Order of Caelum to find the front door of his home kicked in and their two security guards dead, both from a single gunshot wound. Police don’t have any suspects at this time, but the Caelian Council and their lawyers have put pressure on the local police department to look into the Human Purist Coalition and their affiliates.
The Lane family is offering a $50,000 reward for any viable leads to Laura Lane’s whereabouts.
Chapter 20
I awoke suddenly and full of fear, my heart beat erratic, like a set of bongos in a drum circle. My eyes scanned the room and I relaxed into my pillow. I was in my own room in the Underground. My head pounded behind my eyes. What happened? I moved to sit, but my sore muscles protested, making every small move take forever. Everything that had happened in the last 48 hours came back to me in a rush.
My friends. The surprise party. Explosions. Their bodies, broken.
Link. The light fading from his eyes as I ripped what made him Caelian out of his body and threw it back to the universe.
A churning was building in my stomach. The swirl of emotions was building; it was a boiling mixture of pleasure and regret with a heaping pile of guilt on top. The more I attempted to understand the reasons I was feeling this way, the more the churning intensified until I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
I let out a scream.
Kian and Luca ran inside the room before I ran out of breath, my scream deflating bit by bit into a squeaking wheeze. Luca sat at my feet, placing a calming hand on my calf, while Kian sat next to me wrapping a strong arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his chest.
“Shhh,” he whispered. “You’re okay.”
“I know I’m okay. I’m just…” I grabbed my stomach, the sharp pain returning, and I ran to the bathroom heaving. Nothing came out. I sat there as my stomach convulsed in protest.
Both men sat on my bed, Luca’s usual playful demeanor somber. Kian watched me intently.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I nodded and sat in between them. “Are my—?”
“Yes.” Kian interrupted. “They’re in the infirmary and we’ll go to them when you’re ready.”
I nodded and gave Kian a weak smile, “Want to tell me why you two were standing guard outside my door?”
“We weren’t standing guard, just giving you space while you healed,” Kian answered.
“You screamed and fought in your sleep. It’s why you’re in your room and not the infirmary.” Luca turned to look at me, sadness filling his eyes. “I’m so sorry you had to…” He stopped himself when Kian let out a loud cough.
“I had to what? See my childhood home blow up? Watch as my friends almost died right before my eyes? Fight and kill the man who murdered Michael?” My voiced choked on the word kill and I pinched my lips in aggravation as I chastised myself for the weakness.
“All of the above,” Luca answered. His face was serious and the stark contrast to his usual charming, carefree personality was daunting. He looked like a formidable warrior with his tall frame straight and proud, chin jutted out defiantly. “But I want to you to know that it’s okay for you to feel guilt and remorse for killing the bastard.”
Kian grunted and I couldn’t tell if it was in agreement or aggravation.
“What are you, an empath now?” Sarcasm dripped with each word as my chest clenched. How the hell did he know that was how I felt?
Luca laughed. It wasn’t his usual booming chuckle, the one that urged me to laugh along. No, this laugh was ominous. “No, but I’ve heard enough of your screams of fear and guilt in the last 18 hours to haunt me for the rest of my life.”
“Why did you stay?”
“Why did I, Sadie?”
“I asked you the question, Luca. I’m not psychic.” Kian reached over and grabbed my hand, pulling my attention away from Luca.
“The same reason Lacy stood watch until she nearly passed out from exhaustion. We care about you, Sadie. You needed someone to make sure you didn’t injure yourself during your…” He paused as if trying to think of an appropriate word. “…outbursts. We stood watch over you and you would have done the same for any one of us.”
“I would have,” I whispered. “Sorry, Luca. I’m just not okay.”
Luca pulled me away from Kian and wrapped his long arms around me in a bear hug that reminded me of Michael. Sadness tugged at my heart. “It’s okay,” Luca whispered into my hair. I placed my hands on Luca’s chest and pushed gently, curled my knees into my chest, and buried my face into my knees. I felt two separate hands on my back and the tears flowed as I let myself be comforted. I allowed myself to feel everything I had been holding inside since the night Michael died.
I cried for Michael. For Liam. I released the guilt of refusing to think about them in fear of the pain I felt at their loss. I cried for my innocence. I had murdered a man in cold blood and even though every cell in my body believed he deserved it, I would never forget how it felt to watch the life fade from him. How his Talent held on to my body, refusing to let himself disappear.
“Why do I feel remorse for Link? He deserved it, right?” I asked no one in particular. Those two questions swirled in my mind, demanding to be answered.
“Because you’re human,” Kian’s voice broke through my obsessive thoughts. “Because if you hadn’t attacked him in the heat of your anger, you probably wouldn’t have killed him. I know you, Sadie. You’re a strong, badass woman, but you’re not a killer.”
I sniffled and uncurled my body. “You’re right.” My voice was scratchy from crying, but I was sure my face expressed that I wouldn’t continue this conversation. My response was the only concession I was allowing Kian because I wasn’t ready to go into our old argument. There was too much for me to think about.
“I’m ready to visit my friends.” I stood and stretched out my sore muscles. My eyes caught my reflection in the mirror above my dresser. Greasy strands of white hair were clumped together and hanging lifelessly around my dirt smeared face. It looked as if someone had attempted to wipe my face clean in a hurry, but didn’t get a chance to finish. If the reflection of my face was any indication, I dreaded looking at the rest of my body, but curiosity won.
I looked down and gasped. Partially healed lacerations and yellowing bruises coated my arms at irregular intervals. My white shirt was torn, exposing more of my body than I felt comfortable with, but underneath the
slashes were angry red wounds that were mostly healed.
My gaze traveled further down, and at the sight of my leg, my hands covered my mouth in shock. The pant leg was sliced above the knee, cut with scissors, I assumed, due to the clean lines. Pants be dammed, it was the green and purple bruises in the exact shape and size of the chains that Link had worn around his body that drew my attention. A vision of the fight came forward and I remembered the chain he had wrapped around my leg in order to stop me.
“I look…”
“Like you survived a tough fight,” Kian answered for me.
“You looked worse before two of our healers visited.” Luca’s smile returned and I relaxed a little at the sight. I hadn’t realized how much I relied on his positive, lighthearted attitude.
“Two healers?” I was shocked. If this is what I looked like after healers had gotten hold of me, I didn’t want to know what I looked like before. Then it dawned on me exactly what it meant that two people had come in here and healed me. “I can’t believe. I mean, I wouldn’t want them to. Are they okay?”
Kian grabbed my hands and squeezed. “They wanted to. Actually, a nurse came with your friends from St. Vincent’s, a Mrs. Bennett, she gathered the nurses and made a healing schedule for you and the others. She took the first healing for you.”
“Mrs. Bennett is here?” My voice came out a little screechy.
“Yes. Apparently, she witnessed you save a small child that she has grown quite attached to and is very insistent that you stay comfortable. You actually have another two healing sessions scheduled. She thinks you’ll be back to 100 percent after that.”
I let go of Kian’s hands and began gathering clean clothes, my stiff limbs protesting the sudden movement. “I can’t believe it. Mrs. Bennett doesn’t believe in complete healings. She would only ever heal major wounds and even then, she would stop after the danger was over, believing our bodies should do the rest.”
The Caelian Cycle Boxed Set Page 26