by E. J. Mellow
Softly I lift the illusion, sending the millions of tiny stars to pop, showering the space with a glittering dust, and like a rug being rolled out, the sky above gets covered back in white, the ceiling once again settling in place.
Even though I felt no wane to my strength, I can’t help but let out a deep breath, a breath that gets caught in my throat, however, as I glance out to a quiet audience. Every eye is trained on me. Not one sound breaks the silence, as if they are hypnotized, waiting for the snap of my fingers to awaken them.
But I can do nothing but stare back, barely hearing the voice of the male elder speaking nearby.
“Yes,” he says. “She’ll do.”
—∞—
Leaning against Dev in one of the rooms that’s connected to the Council’s chambers, I close my eyes as his fingers rhythmically draw patterns of comfort along my back. I only hope this means we are done for the day and the two of us can finally have some time alone.
After my demonstration, where the crowd either quieted from shock or realizing I could actually help, Elena said a few more words before adjourning the meeting. Our dais was immediately flooded with members, all scrambling to get a word with me, but before any could get within an arm’s length, I was surrounded by a dozen or more Vigil and shuffled out a side door. Though I haven’t done much since coming here, I’m completely drained.
Dev’s body tensing has me opening my eyes to find Elena and the male elder who spoke before.
“Well done, Molly,” Elena says with a smile. “You handled that perfectly.”
“I’m glad you think so. I wasn’t really sure what I was supposed to do.”
“Which merely proves my point that you’re a natural. It will be impossible for the citizens of Terra not to follow you.”
I frown. “But I don’t want followers. I just want to help.”
She shares a speaking glance with her elder companion, as if to say see, and he nods ever so slightly.
Who is this guy?
“Molly, I have the great honor of introducing Cato,” Elena says as if reading my mind. “He specializes in overseeing the political temperature of Terra and ensuring the populace, as a whole, is happy.”
I glance to the man, whose green eyes regard me with a shrewd sharpness despite being housed in the folds of soft, wrinkled skin. Now that he’s standing, I see he’s no taller than me.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I extend my hand, which he merely glances at quizzically before lifting his own, knuckles up. Though a little confused, I grab his fingers. To say it’s the most awkwardly limp handshake I’ve ever had would be putting it mildly.
He pulls back with a disgusted purse to his lips, and hearing Dev’s stifled chuckle leads me to believe I might have just committed a faux pas.
“Yes, well, there’s obviously a lot to work on,” Cato says, glancing at me from head to toe, “but there’s promise.”
“Uh…”
“And after your earlier show, there’s definitely a lot we can do publicly with demonstrations. I’ve already pulled together some ideas that would be crowd-pleasers.”
“Crowd-pleasers?”
“For your tour,” Cato explains.
“Tour?”
“Am I not speaking the same language as her?” Cato raises an impatient brow at our group.
I ignore the jab. “So wait…I’m really to go on some junket thing?”
“Yes, after we make your public announcement.” Elena gestures to her companion. “Cato will be accompanying you through the city and to our various ports and smaller villages. He will be in charge of your PR campaign.”
“PR—” My mouth drops. “Are you serious? I mean, I get that we need to introduce me to Terra carefully, but don’t you think I’ll be busy enough with the war going on? Shouldn’t I be concentrating on that?”
“One is equally as important as the other,” Cato says. “If we don’t have the citizens on our side, we’ll not only be dealing with a war with the Metus, but possibly a civil one as well. Now that you’re with us as a whole and don’t have Earth as a distraction, you can use the time you spent there for this.”
Earth as a distraction… My face grows hot, and I’m about to reply with something equally as pointed, when Aveline jogs up to us, her features worried.
“Did you get that message?” she asks Dev, who just finishes pressing his finger to his ear, his jaw set tight.
“Yes.” He turns to the elders. “They’re attacking the damaged wall again. We’re needed for backup.”
“Go.” Elena nods.
“But not Molly,” Cato adds.
“What?” Dev and I ask in unison.
“Your team is more than capable of handling this,” the elder explains. “The Dreamer should not be risked for every Metus attack that comes forth.”
Dev’s eyes narrow, about to respond, when I rest my hand to his chest. I’ve got this, I silently say before turning to Cato. “While I appreciate your concern and understand your logic, I must disagree. I just spent the last three months concentrating all my thoughts, energy, and efforts into finding a way to get back here and help with this war. I got fired from my job, almost lost my best friend, had to sacrifice a life of one of your own, and underwent a risky and life-altering genetically modifying experiment. I made it through all those obstacles to stand before you today, a loyal Dreamer, willing to do practically anything to ensure the safety of my two worlds. But you must understand something.” I hold on to his green gaze. “After all that, the last thing I will allow for is someone else to dictate when they think my ‘talents’”—I air quote—“are necessary and when they are not. Every Dreamer has been brought here to protect, and I will continue that legacy.”
Cato’s chin tilts up, and I can tell he’s dancing between being completely aghast or impressed, but before I can learn which, I glance to Elena, who wears a look of hidden amusement and…yes, I think that’s pride.
— 18 —
The wind rushes against my skin, a cold washing of reality as I fly forward on the zipline. Dancing between Terra’s glittering skyline, the buildings whip by in a blur of lights and steel shadows. Despite what we’re about to encounter, I briefly close my eyes, allowing myself the feeling of exhilaration this form of travel always brings me. I let it sooth and settle within my bones before I blink open, following Dev’s darkened silhouette as it sways in front. His strong back muscles contract under his movements as he readies to land on the approaching platform. In preparation for my own descent, my hands grip my Arcus tighter as my path zooms toward the western wall. A line of Nocturna soldiers stand ready, their black-clad bodies pressed against a small fortified lip. In quick patterned bursts, they shoot flaming arrow after arrow at something directly on the other side. The only things currently in my line of sight are an angry glow of red and the endless grassy landscape that stretches to the distant horizon.
As my feet touch down, I unlock my Arcus and step beside Dev. He’s already talking to a dark-skinned woman with an austere expression and buzzed head. I half listen to their conversation as I peer down into the chaos, my eyes widening as I cover my nose. Even from our high vantage point, the sounds and stench overwhelm my new senses, and I wonder if it’s as distracting for the rest of my companions. The entire field is ablaze with orange and crimson and liquid mucus as the two packs of Metus attack from every angle. I hadn’t laid eyes on these nightmares in weeks, and yet my memory of them didn’t so much as dim in my absence. They’re every bit as ugly, terrifying, and hungry to destroy as I remembered. Their seven-foot-tall bodies slosh forward as razor-tipped claws dig into their own chests to pull out fiery chunks of flesh, launching blobs at all who get in their way. Giant sections of singed metal scaffolding, which the engineers must have erected to aid in their fixing of the damaged wall, lay collapsed and useless in the grass. The Metus concentrate on hitting the weaker joints in the structure while the soldiers above and below fight back with their various Navitas-charged weapons. T
his is the closest I’ve ever seen the nightmares get to breaching the city. With the buzz of adrenaline, I absently touch the vest around my chest, my power stirring to enter the fight.
“There were three packs when we got here,” the woman says to Dev, “but we’ve been able to reduce it to two.” From her authoritative tone and stance, it’s pretty obvious she’s one of Terra’s generals. “The wall guards saw them coming and set off a Navitas shield, but a handful were willing to sacrifice themselves to overwhelm our equipment. They created an opening there”—she points to a break in a blue-white fiery wall in the distance—“and the rest were able to approach.”
“And the engineers?” Dev asks as he transforms his Arcus into a working bow.
“All were removed in time.”
“Good,” he grunts. “If your archers can watch our backs from here, we’ll engage below.”
The Nocturna glances to me, a questioning crease marking her brows before she nods to Dev.
With Aveline and Hector joining, we climb down part of the scaffolding that’s still sturdy enough to take our weight and regroup at a center platform. Crouching down, we’re shielded behind a thin metal wall, and as my companions talk, I try steadying the onslaught of sensations forcing their way toward me from below. Everything wants to be heard, smelled, and seen at once, and only taking in large breaths seems to calm me. How will I fight like this?
Beside me, Hector rhythmically clips together a sleek-looking gun, only stopping to push back a white lock of hair that fell from his tight bun. I’m still not used to his presence. Seeing him only brings up memories of whom he replaced, and I try not to let that mar my judgment. After all, he did guard my grandfather, and despite whatever ended their partnership, my grandfather had trusted him with his life. Plus, Aveline enjoys his company. If nothing else, keeping her happy and distracted from her usual sarcastically barbed self is worth having him around.
“I want you two”—Dev points to Hector and Aveline as he peers over the lip of our wall—“to stay here and take out the Metus that are the closest below, while Molly and I propel down. We’ll hold the off rest until you’re with us. Then I want to group attack. There are too many to have our backs open, despite the guards on the wall.”
We all nod, and I take in another deep breath, about to stand, when a voice calls Dev’s name from above, and I watch as Aurora and her partner, Ezekial, jump to our landing.
I almost stumble back in shock as I take her in. She’s so thin, her once voluminous strawberry-blonde hair now limp and oily, her usually lively green eyes hollow. She looks sick, and I’m about to ask if she’s okay, when her gaze meets mine, and I swallow my words. As quickly as her eyes show surprise, they narrow into icy coldness.
“Molly,” she whispers.
Dev is instantly in front of me, his shoulders tense. “What are you doing here?” he asks Aurora, his tone clipped.
“We got the com about the attack,” she says slowly, her gaze unable to leave mine as I peek around Dev. “We were told to meet up with your group.”
“Hi, Aurora.” I smile and try to push Dev aside. He holds me back, an intense uneasiness radiating off him. I frown. “Dev, what’s wrong with you?”
He presses his lips together as he glances between Aurora and me, Ezekial watching the exchange with a strained expression. “There’s time for reunions later,” he says. “Aveline, fill them in. Molly and I are going to make our way down.” With no further instructions, Dev ushers me to the opening of our little hideaway and, attaching a grapple to a beam, grabs around my waist and jumps from the ledge. I squeak in surprise, my stomach flying up with the rush, but then we hit the soft soil and are instantly thrown into action.
As Dev lets go, two Metus charge our way, one swiftly put down by an arrow from above. Dev spins to dodge the other’s giant swiping claws, lodging his glowing Arcus straight into the monster’s back. It howls as its dripping red form fills with a blue-white light and then, on a gurgle, bursts apart. I sidestep out of the way, the mucus splatter singeing the dirt by my feet. I pant, trying to catch my bearings. Though I continued my training with Rae, it still takes a second to remember this dance, which I’ll have to recall quickly because another wave has advanced. Now that we’re on the ground, the sheer number of Metus—at least twenty—overwhelms me.
Dev steps to my back. “Get ready,” he calls, his Arcus aimed at the few in his line of sight. Straightening my shoulders, I turn to watch the approach of the ones in mine—three. With my acquired Vigil senses, I can make out the details of their churning lava skin, the way it pusses and bubbles, the steam coming out of open orifices and letting out poison-laden air. My lip curls. Gross.
Staring them down, I call forth the power that has been bouncing ready in my chest since I landed here, and like a lit match, two balls of Navitas spring to life in my palms. “Let’s go, fellas,” I say. “I know you’ve missed me.”
On a bone-chilling cry, they attack, and I don’t hesitate as I let fly my orbs of energy. They soar fast and true, colliding with the oncoming mass and sending the group to the ground, where they howl in pain. The Navitas coats them from head to toe.
Just as they devour us, I devour them.
They struggle to push back the consuming energy, but it’s useless, and as soon as it seeps into their liquid skin, lighting them blue-white from within, the energy that’s still linked to me senses a sigh of relief, a gentle peace, right before they explode into nothing. I rock back on my feet, forgetting about that part, the connection I feel when putting these creatures down. I swallow back my unease. My empathy for these monsters has always been the hardest part. But I’m left little time to settle my emotions before I have to continue to defend as Metus after Metus swarm us.
Eventually Aveline, Hector, Aurora, and Ezekial make it to us, and the six of us form a circle, backs to each other, as we move through the battle. Other Nocturna form into a similar fashion, none giving the chance for the enemy to sneak up from behind. A few Nocturna regard me in surprise as I bring forth Navitas from thin air, but their years of training keep them from being distracted for long, and soon they settle on the task at hand. All questions for later.
The grass grows sticky under my feet as more and more Metus are reduced to thick puddles. And as one of my boots gets lodged in a small pile, I hold back a gag as I try dislodging it. The remnants of the monster are now tar black, which means it’s no longer a threat, something I learned after Tim’s accident. If it’s red and burning, it has the capability to consume anyone who touches it. But deadly or not, as I try to remove one shoe, the other merely gets lodged even deeper, and with a panic I realize I’m stuck, suctioned in.
Oncoming nightmares howl in front of me, and on a gasp I raise the ground by their feet, tripping them. But that bides me little time, for they soon rise again and charge my way. With a bone-chilling scream, one launches a fireball straight at me, and I hit the ground, my butt and hands in grass, my feet still in tar.
Shit, that was close.
Making sure no one in my squad got the brunt of it, I turn back. “Okay, guys.” I glare at the Metus, who now regard my trapped state with drooling orifices. “You want to play dirty? Let’s play dirty.” Gathering a large amount of energy in my mind, until the cold is almost unbearable, I push out a wall of Navitas directly from my chest. The layer of white light rushes forward, slapping into the awaiting Metus, and like a child’s finger to a bubble, they burst apart. My whole body sags from the effort, even from the aid of my vest. I need a moment to recharge.
But as if sensing my sudden vulnerability, two more Metus appear, and like a nightmare-induced magic trick, they step into one another, creating a mammoth-sized monster. What was once seven feet tall must now be nine, its width growing along with its height.
“Oh shit.” I peer up into the burning sludge of overwhelming hate as the evil flowing off this mega beast is now so potent that my body shakes in fear, my confidence swiftly dwindling into defeat.
“Aurora!” I call. “My feet, they’re stuck!”
She glances away for a moment—as if to check that she’s in the clear?—before her head whips back to me, hesitation in her gaze.
“Aurora!” I cry out again, trying to clamber away from the approaching giant, but my legs are rooted to the spot, the black goo holding strong as my struggles only seem to make it worse. Shit. “What are you doing?!” I scream to her. “Shoot it!”
But again, she does nothing. Why isn’t she helping?!
The monster is only feet away now, its eyes burning red with hunger, and in desperation I try erecting a wall between us, but as I feared, my mind is hit with icy shards. I gasp in pain. God damn it! Glancing around, I frantically search for someone else, but Ezekial is holding back a barrage of his own enemies, and Dev is heavily involved in fighting three Metus with Aveline. If I call to any of them now, I could get them killed. I lock eyes with the useless form that is Aurora one last time before I growl in frustration and turn back to the monster, whipping forward my Arcus while still on my butt. I’m not the best with this weapon, but it’s better than nothing.