“Rue!” she heard Liam shout behind her. His footsteps quickened and she knew he was running to her rescue.
She waved him off. “I’m fine! Stay on Nyx!”
The dagger vibrated when she raised it, painting a wall of plasma in front of her.
“Nola! Ray! I could use your help here!” she yelled.
Fog encircled her feet and when she turned, the AetherBorns were at her side. Their hands moved quickly. Spirals of atmosphere rang through the air. They were machine guns of black fog.
Demas crouched beneath the shots giving her a chance to drop the wall. She moved quickly, reaching for Eros, her arm shooting a plasmic chain at his feet. When the chain made contact, she jerked her hand back and pulled, knocking him down to the ground.
Her head jerked back. “Dominik! Ren!” They rushed to her side, “Can you hold them?”
They nodded and turned their attention to Demas and Eros.
Her feet spun. Both arms up, she willed the dagger’s powers and took a shot at Nyx, whirling two blasts of plasma in her direction. Each blast spun through the air, sharpening its tips until two swords were spiraling at the deity.
Nyx used her smoke to block one of the swords but the second caught her by surprise. She hunched over, wailing in pain, and tried to pry the plasma out of her side.
“Thanks,” Jake smirked and nodded to Cyril and Liam.
The three circled her, cutting her off from the other deities. Their hands twirled and danced as fire and ice hit her crumpled body. Behind them, Elijah and Sealie worked together to gust blazes of fire in a wall around her.
“Babe? You’re good here?”
Liam cast a side glance in her direction. “Yeah. Don’t worry! Help Leah!”
Without losing time, she ran to a row of Toyotas on her left where Zag and Leah were struggling to hold down Hemera.
Each attempt they made was met with a block. Rocks and dirt exploded as Hemera shot blasts of fire at them, shielding herself with a wall of light with her other hand.
Ruby ran faster, fog trailing behind her like a jet taking off. She collected flames into her hand and pushed them out at Hemera’s shoulder. The hit twirled the deity to the side, her eyes disoriented from the shock. Ruby signaled to Zag, motioning for him to hit her other side. He moved quickly, launching one of the concrete blocks forward. The block leveled Hemera, her hands breaking her impact as she dropped to the ground.
The earth shook and Ruby watched as Leah ripped the concrete beneath one of the vans next to the deity. She raised her arms, pulling the concrete and the van up with them. With a quick flick, she sent the van flying into Hemera, trapping her underneath it.
The deity shrieked, trying to pry her leg from under the car without success.
“Holy shit, sis!” Zag’s mouth gaped. “You’re a freakin’ superhero!”
Screams echoed through the car lot. Not her people’s screams; the deities. We got them! She couldn’t believe it. There was a chance they could end this. They could go back home.
Ruby let a smile sneak in as her attention turned to where she left Demas.
She barely heard Liam yell her name when the air around them shivered, the blinding sound sending her to her knees. Ruby’s smile vanished as she watched the walls of cars around them crash down like metal sand.
Chapter 48
One way to end
Her ears still rang from the explosion. She rubbed them with both hands, her fingers reddening from the blood that leaked down her neck. Her vision had just started to come back into focus and she tried to survey the lot.
What happened?
Wrecked cars were everywhere. Crowding the lot like corpses in a flooded cemetery. She scanned the wreckage, her eyes finding Liam in the midst of the dust in the air. His back was turned to her, but she could see the smoke around him from where she lay. It was spiraled around his entire body, a python of death squeezing him dry. She shifted her attention to Jake and Cyril, similarly caught in Nyx’s grasp. She couldn’t spot Elijah or Sealie, but she was certain they were just as trapped.
“No!” she gasped when she saw Jake stop struggling, his body going limp in the smoke.
Ruby scrambled to get up, her head felt like it was in a vice and she lost her balance, falling on all fours. She struggled against the vertigo and the continuous ringing in her ears. Raising one foot at a time she came to a crouch, willing herself to stand.
Another bang rang out and something ripped into her. Her body convulsed, falling back to the ground. She reached for her shoulder and side, running her fingers across the arrows that protruded from them. Eros!
Her head slumped to the side, too heavy to hold up and tried to rip the arrow heads out of her flesh. In the distance, she could see Dominik on the ground, Nola cradled his body yelling something.
Suddenly something moved in the rubble.
Something dark and almost transparent but she was sure she saw it glide in her direction. Either that or the arrows did their job and she was dying.
Ruby shook her head, sending the balls in her skull rolling back and forth. Her eyes watered and she used one bloody hand to wipe them. Pressuring herself to focus.
The shadow moved again. Faster this time. She wasn’t dying after all. It flowed at first, then dipped lower and lower until it was touching the concrete ground. As it got closer, the shadow solidified. First the feet, then the legs and torso and finally the face. Thin and angular with a sharp nose and thin lips made for cursing. Demas.
He walked to her lazily. Ruby counted the slow, wretched steps. One, two, three. He paused and smiled, like he had won some prize in a lottery. Four, five. She heard him laugh and stand over her. Six.
“My last offer still stands,” he hissed. “Help me right things.”
She raised her head slightly and spat blood at his feet. “Go to Hell!”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not yet, Ruby, darling.”
His fingers twitched and she was instantly in agony. Her calves felt like they were being sliced by a million knives. She looked down to see a darkness swallowing them. Slowly swallowing her whole. Her hand searched the ground, trying to find the dagger. Nothing.
The darkness thickened, moving up her legs now, ripping her to pieces. She palmed at the cement, feeling nothing but rock and shards of metal. Then suddenly a clang! Her hand pulled in the direction of the sound, landing on the dagger’s hilt. She gripped it desperately, raising herself half off the floor.
I have to cut my legs off. It’s going to eat me alive! She thought and stabbed the blade into her right leg.
Ruby’s scream burst through the car lot. Her tear stained face was red with pain and poor attempts to breathe. What the hell was that? Why did I just do that? She shook her head again. Had she gone insane?
Still from above her, Demas laughed. Chills ran down her arm.
He’s in my head. He’s changing my thoughts.
Growling, she snapped the dagger and reached for his leg, hoping to rip a piece of his flesh off. He took a step back, sending her hurling over herself and rolling unto her side. Her shallow breaths mixed with tears and saliva and she almost choked on her own cries. This is it. This is how we die. I did this. I caused this. She raised the dagger to her throat. There’s only one way to end this. She could feel the tip of the blade push into her skin, but she didn’t stop. Not until she drew blood. Not until she could hear Ray’s voice calling to her. “Ruby! Stop!”
Ray ran to her, black fog emerging from her hands as she neared, putting up a wall between her and Demas. She grasped her free hand, yanking to get her attention.
“Snap out of it!” She howled, “Get a grip on yourself!”
She didn’t listen, only pushing the blade deeper. The tears hit her neck and mingled with the blood before continuing to fall down her body.
Ray shook her more, trying to get the dagger out of her hand. When that didn’t work, she stretched out her hand and brought it down across Ruby’s face. Her knuckles met bone and Ruby’s
head snapped to the side, the dagger falling in her lap. She turned to Ray, wide eyed and furious.
“Did you just actually punch me? Whose goddamn side are you on, Ray?”
“You were about to off yourself, loser.” Ray pointed at the bloody dagger in her lap, “You’re welcome.”
Her thoughts were wild. She vaguely recalled what had just happened, but it was like she was drugged. That bastard had crept into her brain and controlled her. He violated her mind and what’s worse, he enjoyed it. She picked up the dagger and jumped to stand, forgetting her previously shredded skin. As soon as she made the sudden movement, the pain shot through her. Her legs buckled, her shoulder went numb, and she stumbled back, falling unto Ray.
“Use me,” Ray said and clasped her hand.
Ruby didn’t need to be told twice. She tightened her grip on Ray and activated the dagger. Her body channeled the AetherBorn’s powers, sucking her dry of them. As Ray surrendered, she got stronger. Strong enough to get up again. To keep fighting. She released Ray’s hand, letting her tired body slide to the ground. As Ray closed her eyes, the fog dropped. Revealing an empty car lot behind it. Empty with the exception of Zag holding Leah’s lifeless body in his arms.
Chapter 49
Why not kill us?
“Can you stand?” Liam tried hoisting her over his shoulder. He was barely able to move himself and from the way he winced when she leaned on him, she was sure some of his ribs had been broken.
She swallowed hard, pushing the pain in her legs out of her mind. “I think so.”
They were moving slower than a worm on asphalt, but she had to get to Zag and Leah. Her eyes burnt watching him stand motionless over her body while Cyril performed chest compressions. Even from here she could see Leah wasn’t breathing. Her chest was completely still and the blue in her lips made Ruby realize she hadn’t taken a breath in quite some time. The ash around her was another dead giveaway.
“Nyx?” she whispered when they were closer.
Liam nodded, wrapping his arm around her.
“Zag, I’m so–”
He held up a hand, his eyes glued to Cyril and Leah. There were no words on his lips, no reaction to their surroundings, it was as if his world stopped when Leah took her last breath.
From the corner of her eye she spied Ray limping to his side and slipping her hand in his. There was a gentle squeeze and more emptiness. The two of them stood there staring down, Ray’s eyes reddened with watery, tears drawing lines down her dirt covered cheeks.
Cyril looked up and shook his head and her world collapsed.
She turned around letting the tears flow freely, choking on them and her own bloody spit. She couldn’t look back, couldn’t see Zag collapse over his sister’s body, couldn’t grieve her death. Instead, she hobbled away. Her body covered entirely in blood and plasma that continued to burn through her flesh. She was a creature of death and loss. She was nothing at all.
Liam was right behind her, steps away if she needed him.
“Is–” she choked out. “Is she the only one?”
“Yes. Dominik is still unconscious, and Ren’s arm is broken. The rest are beaten up, but they’ll survive.”
“Good.”
“Rue, are you–”
“Please don’t. Not right now.” She ran her hands through her hair, painting it a matching shade of red. “Why did they leave?”
“Who?”
“The deities. Demas. Why did they just leave? Why not kill us?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore.” He stopped, not expecting her to turn around. “I got Zag, go sit down for a minute, okay?”
Giving no answer she nodded, the back of her head was the only inclination that she heard him. She needed to get away from here as soon as possible. She could already feel the fog rustle in her chest, pressuring her to lose it, to let it out. She was a ticking bomb of power that needed to be contained.
She turned down a line of cars that were still in their original formation, undamaged by Demas. Reaching a shaking hand to a door handle she gave it a stiff pull. No luck, the door was locked. She tried another, the van’s door creaked and gave way, swinging open to welcome her in. Ruby climbed into the driver’s seat and closed the door behind her. When she was sure it was locked, she rested her hands on the steering wheel and let out a low-pitched growl. Her breath wavered but she steadied it, continuing to raise her voice until she was screaming.
Her knuckles were swelling as she punched every surface she could reach. Shaking and screaming until her throat was sore and her arms were ready to burst. She flung her head back in the seat and took a deep breath before opening the van door and prying herself out.
Ruby was able to take another breath of air before an arm reached around to cup her mouth and pull her back behind the cars.
Hemera let go of her mouth carefully and stepped back, letting her spin around, dagger drawn. She raised her arms up in defense.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
“Just to kill me like you killed my friend?”
“I didn’t kill anyone,” she flicked a blonde curl behind her ear. “That was Nyx.”
“Your mother, you mean?”
“Yes. I suppose that’s what she likes to be called here.”
“Here?”
“On earth. It’s not exactly the same where I’m from.”
“Where’s that exactly?” Ruby looked her over, disgusted by the sight. “You know what, never mind. I don’t care. What the hell do you want?”
Hips angled, Ruby fisted her hands and let the fog escape them. Her mind raced, landing on Leah each time. How dare she? How dare she show up here after this? She wanted to hurt her. No, to kill her. Ruby’s fists raised, the fog around them shifting to fire. “Give me a reason not to burn you right this second.”
The deity bit her lip and leaned her curvy bottom on a car door. Unlike her mother, she was dressed casually in jeans and a tee that hugged all the right places. Ruby wondered how well the two got along. Mostly she wondered if Hemera would shed tears when she killed her mother.
“I want to help you.”
“Oh, this should be good!”
“I really do.”
“Why does everyone who betrayed me and almost killed me want to help all of a sudden? Is this some goddamn joke? Am I being recorded for a reality show?”
“A what?”
“Forget it,” Ruby rolled her eyes. “Why would you want to help us at all?”
“Look, I don’t expect you to understand but I care about Ny– My mother. And until now, I did everything she asked me to.”
“So, what changed?”
“This isn’t right. Killing children is not right, no matter what their reasoning is.”
“Sorry, you want me to believe that you actually have a conscience?”
“Yes.”
“Ha!” She threw her head back to laugh, “That’s freakin’ rich! You assholes just killed someone!”
“I know. I’m sorry about your friend.”
“I don’t give a crap if you’re sorry!” Ruby raised the dagger and got ready to fight.
“But I am sorry! About all of it! What they’re doing here, what they’re planning to do, it isn’t my choice. I would never choose this. I–”
“What do you mean ‘planning to do’?” she asked, lowering the dagger to her side. “Do you know why they’re doing all of this?”
Hemera nodded, sending her thick curls bouncing around her shoulders.
“You wanna fill me in?”
“They’re heading to the abandoned library in Lakeside.”
“Why?”
“To open a portal. Demas wants to open the Gates of Tartarus. He wants to destroy your entire world.”
Chapter 50
The gates
The perplexed faces of the elders anointed the coffee table of Elena’s living quarters in the Elemental center. They reminded Ruby of gargoyles guarding the ancient churches in Europe, e
ach one conveying a different emotion. The bruises all over their faces did not help the visual. She tried not to laugh as she looked around the table, knowing how serious the situation really was. By the time she got to Liam’s somber expression, she was almost in stitches.
“He wants to open the gates of Hell?” he asked finally.
“Tartarus,” she answered, glad to have relief from the stifled laughter in her throat.
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Not exactly,” Harvey interjected. “Technically, there is the Underworld, I think that might be what you’re thinking of. Tartarus is thought of to be an entirely different area well beneath it.”
“It’s all very vague, of course.” Myriam added and folded her hands in her lap.
Ruby glanced at Liam to see if he was satisfied with the answer. He still seemed confused, so was she. “Wherever or whatever it is, I don’t even know if it’s true. We’re not exactly going to trust a deity.”
“But what reason could she have to lie to you?” Cyril asked.
“How about to get me to fall for whatever Demas actually has planned?” she fired back, venom on her lips. “For all I know he sent her to talk to me.”
“It’s possible but I think we can trust her.” Nola said, “Opening the gates in the old library would align with the ritual Zag uncovered. There’s a good chance that this is the portal the circle would create.”
“How much do we know about Tartarus?” Liam asked.
Harvey and Myriam exchanged side glances. “Not a large amount.”
“But it’s not looking good?”
“When has opening gates to anything been good for us?” Ruby sighed, “I just don’t understand why they didn’t kill us all when they had the chance.”
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