by Austin, RB
“I don’t like this.”
“I know, my ach.” Cade threw the words over his shoulder then stood cautiously. The trees in the distance began to sway in the calm night air. When he clutched the edge of the doorframe the trees stopped moving. He let go and forced one boot in front of the other. As long as he wasn’t falling over he’d be fine.
“Which way’s her car?” Cade asked before he even reached Gabriel and Lucas.
Lucas pointed behind him. “A quarter of a mile down the road. The warehouse is another mile.” He studied Cade, his eyes narrowing.
Sweat dripped down Cade’s forehead. He brushed at it quickly. “Sarid and I will go on foot. You two—”
“Is that the best idea?” Sarid asked.
Gabriel’s gaze jerked to Sarid. Surprise flashed in his eyes. Lucas glanced from Sarid to Cade.
“Yes.” Cade answered. “You two will take the cars and park them a block from the warehouse and wait. After we reach the property line Sarid will give you a verbal diagram of the place.”
“I already got it.”
Cade hadn’t even noticed the roll of paper in Lucas’s hands. His ach walked to the hood of the Hummer and spread the pages out.
“It was online. The building has been for sale for over a year. The realty company was kind enough to supply pictures.”
Cade studied the pages containing different views of the warehouse’s exterior and interior. Within seconds, the location of each door and window was placed to memory. Adrenaline kicked in. He hoped it would last. “Sarid and I will still go on foot. We have our entrance points but we’re still blind to the surrounding area and who may be stationed outside. We’ll get closer on foot.”
“You and Sarid take the cars. Gabe and I can go on foot,” Lucas offered.
“Luc is right, boss. You look like you’re going to toss your cookies or fall flat on your face.”
A snarl ripped from his throat. “Enough. I’m not going to stand here and argue with the lot of you. I’m fine. I’m not changing plans. If you want to back out say the word but this is the way it’s gonna go down.”
Looks were exchanged but no one said anything. “Let’s head out.” Cade walked to the back of the Hummer to load up. He strapped his katana to his back. Daggers were placed at his thigh and waist, Beretta at his ankle. Taking the earpiece from his pocket, he set it in his ear. “Signal check.”
“Yes,” Sarid said.
“Got it,” Lucas said.
“Good to go,” Gabriel said.
“And you’re on the board back here, adohns,” Michael said from the HQ.
With Sarid at his side Cade jogged across the field, heading toward the collection of trees and brush that would bring them behind the warehouse. The sun was gone and the moon hid behind clouds. Darkness surrounded them with just one step inside the woods. The glow from their eyes lit about a half a mile in front of them. Cade maneuvered through, cutting his own path. Too quickly his breathing began to labor.
Halfway to destination point, Lucas came on. He and Gabriel were parked down the street from the warehouse.
“Sit tight,” Cade replied. “Wait for the visual update before you move in.” Five minutes later they reached the warehouse.
Chapter 25
The dull, gray building was nothing special. A loading dock set off to the far left. The rolling steel door’s opening was big enough to fit a small truck or a forklift of pallets. The door was now closed and locked with a padlock. Cade could see six of the eight windows that faced the back lot. They were fifteen feet from the ground. There was one entrance door on this side.
The grounds were empty. Only small animals were near the warehouse. No ringing but he did have that unfamiliar burn down his spine. Cade searched the roof of the building. Found nothing. According to Lucas’s prints there were three small offices on the east side of the building. If Emma was inside she’d be in one of those smaller rooms.
Cade descended out of the trees. Sarid reported their location and movement to the other two as they made their way to the west side of the building. One look around the corner. It was still all clear. They moved ahead.
Nearing the north corner Cade paused and cast out his senses. Three beings near. Also the heat along his spine grew sharper. Lifting his gaze, he was only able to see a small portion of the roof.
Sarid mouthed the word, “Three.” After Cade nodded in confirmation Sarid relayed the information to Lucas and Gabriel. Their achs were on move by foot. They’d already checked the other two buildings on the street and verified they were empty.
The night was quiet. Too quiet. No birds. No rustling from the vermin. No wind. Nothing. Two familiar tingles slid down his spine a second before Lucas confirmed they’d reached the property and were holding behind the dumpster. Sarid and Cade would enter through the front. Lucas and Gabriel through the back.
Vetis sat in the dark. As instructed, Kobal nixed the lights the moment the sun set. His female remained quiet after her initial cry of terror. It was the first noise she’d made since the incident with Kobal. It’d lessened his worry even further.
Not a whisper of movement came from any part of the building, which meant nothing when it came to the Behnshmas.
Bam.
Vetis jerked. Blue smoke drifted from atop the rafters. The left side of his lips curled.
“Sorry,” Kobal squeaked once the swirling smoke transformed into his solid form.
“Anything?”
He grinned. “Two coming in from the back. Two in the front.”
Show time. Vetis deliberated then instructed Kobal to deal with the ones in the front. Before the dumb fuck scurried off to do his bidding he grabbed him by the back of his shirt. “Don’t go near m—the female. Your job is to take out the two in the front. Nothing else.”
After Kobal nodded, Vetis let him go with a push before heading to the back, dodging empty crates, boxes, and pallets placed throughout the large open space. In his centuries of experience he’d never used human weapons. He had his own. They were quieter and never failed him. The Behnshmas would come in with their swords and guns drawn expecting the same from him. With a mere thought and some cold breath he’d corrupt them into using their own weapons against each other.
Vetis heard a soft click by the back door. Ducking behind a pile of pallets, he peeked through a small slot in between two. Then waited for the first Behnshma to appear in the doorway.
Cade locked gazes with Sarid. They stood on either side of the main door. Katana in his right hand he lifted his left index finger. A second finger. Then a third paralleled the others.
Sarid kicked the door and barreled through. His two Glocks swept the area in a wide arc.
Cade followed. The door swung shut behind him sealing in the darkness. Eyes glowing, he surveyed the interior. Ten-foot high piles of trash were spread throughout. If the building was on the market wouldn’t the owner have emptied it?
Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement by the ground. Blue smoke brushed against his legs and arms. It wrapped around his body. Cade glanced at Sarid. His ach wasn’t affected. Cade tilted his head to the right.
Sarid took aim.
When the blue smoke wafted across Cade’s back he threw himself to the right.
Sarid fired. Pulled the trigger again.
Cade rolled to his feet. Katana out in front of him. The smoke dodged Sarid’s shots like it was playing an elementary school game. From his earpiece and the muted echo in the warehouse, Lucas and Gabriel just busted through the back door.
High-pitched laughter rang though the air. The smoke billowed into a funnel shape between them. Cade tightened his grip on the sword. He set his weight on the balls of his feet.
Shots flew from the blue smoke. Cade and Sarid dove for the ground, falling beh
ind one of the large piles. Nice of the UFs to put it there. Bullets fired at the pile. The pallets splintered. Chunks of wood flew. Two bullets sailed through the new holes. A gleeful laugh erupted amidst two more shots.
“What in the heavens is that?” Sarid asked. “Sounds like a child.”
“The smoke fits Lucas’s description of what attacked Gabriel.” Cade reached to pull his Beretta from his ankle holster. It was empty. Shit. “It took my gun.” Cade stretched his head from behind the pile and was rewarded with another shot. He jerked back. The bullet flew inches from where his head had been. Growls erupted low in his throat. There wasn’t time for this. Emma was in the building. The urge to run through the warehouse, not caring how many bullets hit him rode hard. “Can you handle this?” Another shot. The bullet tore through their pile, spraying more wood pieces. A squeal of delight followed.
“Absolutely.” The word was distorted around Sarid’s fangs. The whites of his glowing eyes were tinged pink.
Cade hesitated. “You can’t change here. Not with Emma nearby.”
Sarid turned to him. It was his monster inside who stared back.
Cade blinked and Sarid was himself again.
“I’ve got this. Don’t worry.” Sarid sprang to his feet and ran. The bullets from his Glock led the way. Seconds later, Lucas and Gabriel joined in. Their bullets also blasting the blue smoke.
Cade stayed in the shadows, running pile to pile. The shots and laughter grew faint as he made his way to the back of the building. He’d sensed three beings near the warehouse. At this moment he knew where two of them were. Cade slowed even as every part of his body urged him to hurry.
Vetis stared at the empty space in front of the door. The two Behnshmas had crept in, guns drawn. Their glowing eyes had searched the area like two sweeping flashlights. When shots echoed through the warehouse they took off running.
Why hadn’t it worked? Vetis blasted everything at the pair. He’d expected a shoot out. Bam. Bam. Two seconds, five tops, both Behnshmas dead. Instead, nothing happened.
“You can’t corrupt members of the Trihune.”
Who said that? Vetis pivoted. No one was around. His gaze bounced to the piles behind him. Was someone hiding? It had sounded like . . .
“Did you actually expect to best me and take over my position?”
“Who’s there?” Vetis whirled. Only piles of trash stood behind him.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t learn of your deception?” The voice whispered in his ear.
Vetis spun in a circle. Still no one. A large shadow moved toward the hallway. His female. Heart leaping into gear, he lunged from behind the stack.
The man had to be Behnshma. He was a big mo fo. Eyes glowed. Fangs extended from his mouth. A large sword was in his hands. Vetis stopped short. This was the one from the street.
The Behnshma spotted him. Recognition flared in his eyes. A growl erupted from his throat. It was low and threatening.
Vetis smiled. His one weapon may be disabled but he had another one. He inhaled and pushed the breeze into one thick band. It swirled around the Behnshma’s middle. The Behnshma swept the breeze away with his sword and stepped forward.
Panic thudded in Vetis’s veins, knocking down his confidence. He took a step back. Inhaled. Exhaled with force. Breath left his mouth and instantly froze into a long, thick sword-length chunk of ice. Vetis grabbed it before fell to the ground.
The Behnshma charged, swinging his sword.
Vetis ducked. Air whooshed over his face. The sword missed his head by inches. He came up fast. Swung the ice club into the Behnshma’s stomach. His opponent doubled over, grunted. Vetis whacked the club onto his back. The Behnshma fell to the ground with a thud. “I thought you guys were supposed to be tough?” Vetis pushed out air until it covered the Behnshma in an icy blanket.
With another growl the Behnshma lurched to his feet. The blanket fell, hitting the ground and dissolving into mist. He swayed, righted himself, and extended his sword.
Vetis swung. Forced the Behnshma back. Moved his club to the left, to the right, and back again. The sword met the club each time with a clink, clink, clink. Before he could drive the Behnshma into the wall the big guy shifted. They began the dance sideways. With every hit small chunks of ice flew from the club.
The Behnshma gave a low chuckle. “Appears your weapon is failing you.”
Vetis swung his club high. The Behnshma had to thrust his sword up in defense. Vetis pushed breath from his mouth and hurled it to wrap the Behnshma’s chest. He pulled tight.
Cade glanced down in alarm. The thin, white cloud squeezed his chest like a vise. He jerked to the left. The opaque rope broke on one side allowing him to breathe easier. The UF swung his chunk of ice toward Cade’s stomach. Cade jumped back. His katana met the ice. Whack. Another piece fell off. If he could just keep chipping at the ice but each swing felt like his last. It was like waving around a car instead of a long thin piece of steel. His breath sawed in and out of his mouth.
The UF swung the club, aiming for Cade’s other side. Another cloud encircled his head, covering his mouth and nose. Cade swung and missed. The club thudded into his side. The sharp, splintered ends blasted through his shirt and dug into his skin. Despite the fact that the weapon was made of ice, his side felt like it was on fire. He tried to inhale. Couldn’t. Cade shook his head but the cloud wouldn’t break.
The UF swung. Cade could do nothing to stop it. The club blasted the right side of his face. Head whipped back the same time his knees buckled. He fell to the floor. His back burned and he wondered if he broke something. Through the earpiece he listened to his achs. The gunshots faded but they were still on alert. The smoke was missing.
Cade lay on the ground, chest heaving. He didn’t know if he had the energy to get back up.
The UF stood over him. Face was right above Cade’s. “She’s mine, Behnshma.”
The words registered. Anger, white hot and pure, rolled through him. It spread to his limbs followed by a surge of energy. With a roar, he swung his katana. It hit the UF’s arm holding the club. The ice slipped from the UF’s grip. It twirled through the air and fell to the ground a few feet next to them, breaking into a million tiny ice chunks.
Cade pushed himself off the floor. Swung. The sword cut through fabric, drawing blood. The UF screamed and drew back. Cade strode forward. Swung again. This time catching him across the cheek. Another swing at his leg. Arm.
The UF spun. His foot slipped on a piece of ice. Arms flailed as he tried to stay on his feet. Cade swung catching him in the back. The UF fell to the ground on top of the chunks. He scrambled away on his hands and knees.
Enough games. Cade sliced the UF’s tendon, first behind one knee then the other one. A high-pitched scream filled the air. Cade took his booted foot and rolled the UF over. The blood began to mix with the ice on the ground turning it pink. Cade drew back his sword aiming for the heart. He was ready to release when the UF’s gaze moved past him. The UF’s eyes widened.
Cade whirled. There was no one. He looked up. There he stood on the rafters. White wings stretched on either side of him, the middle halves brushing the ceiling.
“Sonneillon,” the UF cried. Not with fear but in recognition. Hope.
Cade moved to the side. The one on the ground was still in his peripheral. The sword was trained on the winged-man. Cade braced himself for an attack.
“Sonneillon,” the UF called, this time pleading.
Sonneillon didn’t even look at the UF. His gaze was on Cade.
A scream broke through the air. Cade stiffened.
“My female.” The UF pushed himself across the floor.
Cade spun. Brought his sword down. The steel slid through tissue, muscle, and tendons like it was slicing through butter. It hit the cement with a clank. “She.
Is. Mine.” Cade growled to the two pieces motionless at his feet. He shifted his gaze to the rafters, ready to detach the other’s wings with his bare hands if he dared come between him and getting to Emma. Sonneillon was gone. Cade twirled in a circle. Searched the ceiling. The floor. Nothing.
Another scream broke through the air. Cade bolted down the hallway.
Emma stood. Her back against the wall. Hands were wrapped around the chains to keep upright.
The smaller man was standing in front of her. His sharp teeth prominent in a hideous smile.
When gunshots and other fighting sounds sounded through the walls, hope bubbled. The police found her. She was rescued. Then dark smoke streamed under the door. Emma screamed to get her rescuers’ attention. Fire! In horror, she watched the dark smoke rise in the air, slowly solidifying into the shape of a man. Then she screamed again.
“Hello Pretty. I’ve come back to play with you.”
“No. No. No.”
“Don’t you want to play? I brought toys this time.”
Emma couldn’t help but follow his gaze down. Two extremely sharp and lethal looking stars rested in the palm of his hand. A whimper escaped right before fear clogged her throat.
“Ppplease dddon’t,” she managed.
“Oh, bbbbut I will.”
The door burst open. It fell off its hinges and landed on the floor with a thud. A small cloud of dust and particles streamed through the air. She blinked rapidly, momentarily blind. Something swished through the air. There was a squeak and a pop before her vision cleared. The dust settled. The man was gone. Two stars lay on the ground where he’d been. Emma’s gaze shifted to the door.
Her feet gave way underneath her. As she fell to her knees, her arms jerked above her head. The shackles rubbed against her raw wrists. At this point her body couldn’t register any other pain. Emma’s gaze didn’t leave the image in front of her, disbelieving what she saw even as he walked toward her.