by Sarah Blair
A slow smile spread across her grandfather’s face as he gave her a slow nod. “Imagine my surprise when you never changed. The one and only subject to have been bitten and infected with the lycanthropy virus and remain in her original form. My own granddaughter, the key to unlocking the greatest achievement in medical history.”
He made it sound like something he was proud of. The first time he’d ever sounded like that in her entire life.
“You’re crazy,” Sidney said.
“The line between brilliance and madness is very fine.”
“You have no idea what’s really going on.” She shook her head, thinking of how Dimitrius had explained the way the blood of Sulis manifested in the males of the line. Whatever magic Sidney had in her veins, she shared with the man standing before her. It had corrupted him, and she was glad Dimitrius had never told him the truth.
The shifter growled and pointed its snout toward the door a second before it burst open. Several guards shoved Dimitrius and his men into the office.
The first guard said. “What should we do with them?”
Dimitrius captured Sidney’s gaze and gave a nearly imperceptible nod. The ropes in her stomach eased as the stink of the shifter was replaced with that now familiar smell of steel and sweet moss. The cool peace Dimitrius brought with him washed over her, giving her new strength. But the feeling was short lived.
“That guy had this on him.” The guard shoved Dimitrius with his shoulder as he handed over Caledfwlch. Dimitrius didn’t even blink as he was manhandled. He kept his eyes fixed on Sidney’s.
“My, my.” Alexander took the weapon and examined it. “What an antiquity.”
A rage boiled up from within Sidney that she’d never come close to feeling before. The longer he had his hands on the steel and leather, the more violated she felt.
“Don’t touch that.” Her voice barely contained her rage. She planted her feet on the floor and stood, nails digging into her palms.
Alexander stilled before lifting his head. He stared at her, watching her reaction as he ran his thumb over the edge of the steel, and rubbed the tip of his forefinger and thumb together, examining the cut it left. “Yes. I think this would work nicely for my personal collection. Once it’s cleaned up a bit.”
He tossed it on the desk like it was last week’s newspaper. The bang echoed against the windows, and Sidney felt the blow in her bones as if she had been the one tossed aside.
“What should we do with them?” the guard asked.
Alexander shrugged. “Now that we have the key, we need more test subjects. They look strong enough. Lock them up separately. We’ll deal with them when the time comes.
“You’d really do this? Experiment on your own granddaughter?” Sidney asked.
Her grandfather pressed his lips together, gave her a look that he used before, a look that made the most powerful men in the world cower in their freshly polished shoes. “Think of it as making a sacrifice for the good of all mankind.”
“You really are a monster,” she whispered.
“I’m sure history will prove me quite the opposite. A hero in fact.” He gave her a self-satisfied smile, then turned to his guards. “Take them to Building Four.”
“You can’t do this!” she shouted. Her whole life, she’d thought he was cold, and calculating, even heartless. Now, she saw him for the monster he truly was.
“My dear granddaughter, what could you possibly do to stop me?”
All of the air left Sidney’s lungs. The corner of Dimitrius’ mouth turned up slightly, and his dark eyes fixed on hers. It happened without even thinking, as easy as drawing in her next breath.
“CALEDFWLCH!”
The sword flew into her grasp and she drove it forward.
Alexander coughed once and blood dripped onto his chin.
His aquamarine eyes widened with surprise. She watched the confusion, denial, and horror run across his face as she held his gaze with eyes the same color. He wheezed. More blood spilled out of his mouth onto his pristine shirt.
The shifter lunged at her, teeth bared. She yanked the sword from her grandfather’s chest and flicked her wrist. The shifter’s head rolled across the floor.
Dimitrius and his men stared at her.
The guards stared at her.
She swiped the spray of blood off her cheek with the back of her hand.
“Who’s next?” she asked.
Bones and muscles popped and twisted, as each of the guards shifted. It was a disgusting sound when one of them did it, but all of them together made her skin crawl.
“Sidney.” Dimitrius drew her attention to the binding around his wrists.
“You let them handcuff you?”
He shrugged. “Our little deception had to seem authentic. It worked, didn’t it?”
She sliced through the zip-tie, then turned and ran the sword through the shifter closest to him. It fell to the ground, half changed. She cut through the neck as easily as she had the plastic binding.
Dimitrius freed Argus, Malcolm, and Tyran. They worked efficiently as a team, it was more than clear they’d had plenty of practice as every one of the shifters’ heads rolled across the floor.
Argus shook his arms out. “Aye, that felt good.”
“Been a while.” Malcolm grinned. “Was worried we’d get a bit rusty. Too bad there’s no more, I hardly got warmed up.”
Her grandfather gasped for air nearby. Blood bubbled out of his mouth as he struggled for his next breath. Sidney turned and watched.
“Sidney, please.” He tried to smile. His teeth were red with blood. “I’m the only family you have left.”
“You’re wrong.” Sidney glanced around at the men who were ready to fight by her side, to risk their lives to save the man she loved. “They are.”
Two shifters pushed casually through the half-open door, sniffing the air. The larger of the two emitted a low growl and snapped at the other one.
Argus took a step forward. Sidney stilled him. “I’ll take care of this.”
He gave her a confirmation nod to show he understood, then led the others out.
Dimitrius stayed behind.
The shifters circled her grandfather, sniffed the air, inched ever closer. For the first time in her life, she saw fear on her grandfather’s face.
“Don’t.” He coughed and reached out to her. “Don’t let them . . . .”
The biggest one lunged first. Alexander let out a strangled cry. The sound was cut short as the shifter clamped down on his throat. Another crunch of bone and cartilage, and his head fell unnaturally to the side.
Sidney couldn’t manage to turn away.
She stared in horror and satisfaction as the creatures her grandfather created, tore him apart, one piece at a time.
Thirty-Seven
Dimitrius’ hand overlapped Sidney’s, clutching the sword along with her. The intensity of his grasp matched the magnetism of the hilt so that her hand was cradled in power.
“We should find the others,” his words fell softly next to her ear, barely a breath.
Sidney nodded. She went over to the shifters, who were so occupied with their quarry they never saw the blade coming.
She took one last look at her grandfather’s gaping mouth, the way his right eyelid hung slightly lower than the left over his blank stare, how the blood glistened on the viscera that spilled from his stomach onto the expensive Persian carpet.
She thought she should feel something. Anything.
Dimitrius waited for her by the doorway. She went to him, stepped into his embrace, and wrapped her arm around his neck. Holding the sword in one hand, with Dimitrius pressed against her, she’d never felt more complete, more whole than in that very moment. She expected the ache and ignored it when she pulled away and shoved her doubts and desires to a corner of her mind that was so safe she’d never be able to find them again.
“Mitch was right,” she said, and gave him the sword. “There is no cure.”
&nbs
p; “You had to try.”
“What do I do now?” Sidney’s face crumpled into a sob. “There’s nothing left.”
A shout echoed down the hallway. Dimitrius took her face in his hands. “This isn’t over yet. Stay calm. Follow me.”
He took her hand and sidestepped a pool of blood from the severed head of a guard out in the hallway. The body was a few feet away. They stepped over half-a-dozen other shifter bodies as they made their way down the long hallway that led to the lobby by the elevators.
They finally caught up with the others who were grouped at the front desk around another scene of carnage.
“All right?” Argus grinned.
“What do our exits look like?” Dimitrius asked.
“Crowded,” Tyran said.
They both stepped to the window. Sidney wasn’t ready to let go of his hand yet, and Dimitrius didn’t seem interested in letting go of her either. He laced his fingers with hers as he examined the area below the way he’d scanned the crowd for the demon at his club. The entire courtyard outside was covered with shifters, pacing and running long tongues over sharp teeth.
“There’s got to be another way out,” she said.
She knew without asking that he was running through all the scenarios, calculating his next move.
“The parking lot is on the other side of that building.” He pointed to the structure across the way. “We have a better chance if we stay inside as long as possible.”
Dimitrius looked to his men who all nodded in agreement.
“I’ll take lead. Argus and Malcolm, you’re in charge of Sidney. Tyran bring up the back.” Dimitrius made eye contact with each of them as he doled out the assignments. Sidney didn’t like that she was assigned protectors when she knew she was strong enough to do the protecting. But now was not the time for arguments.
As if Dimitrius could read her thoughts, he gave her a second glance. “Stay with them.”
She nodded and he led the way down the stairwell. There wasn’t a sound other than the echo of shuffling feet on concrete steps. It was only three levels and they all paused behind Dimitrius when he reached the ground floor.
He motioned the all clear, and they followed him out the door down another short hallway. A shout was quickly shortened by the ring of steel. A snarl and a thud. Sidney angled herself to see around Malcolm’s huge shoulders but she had no idea what was happening until they moved forward again and she had to step over two fresh bodies.
“Hold,” Dimitrius said.
They waited for a few moments in silence. Argus breathed heavily behind her.
“The door to the next hall requires an access code. We’ll have to use the walkway. It’s covered, but still open to the courtyard. Move quickly, and do exactly as you’re told. No questions.”
They eased outside into the covered walkway that led to the next building. Bits of stone exploded next to her head. Her cheek scraped against the paving stones as a heavy weight crushed her body.
“Ow! What the hell?”
Argus’ long beard blocked her view. “We’re taking fire, lass. Hold your horses.”
She gasped for air, choking on loose mortar and dirt.
“They’re coming. Move!” Dimitrius called out.
Argus rolled off her, then Malcolm grabbed the waistband of her jeans and lifted her to her feet with one hand. “This way. Let’s go.”
It was only two steps before she realized Tyran wasn’t with them. “Wait!”
She dug in her heels and turned. Tyran was still on the ground, struggling to get up.
“Dammit woman!” Malcolm grabbed Sidney’s wrist.
“We can’t leave him.” Sidney pulled free and went back.
“Stay with the others.” Tyran held his hand to the side of his neck. Blood oozed between his fingers.
“You’re bleeding,” she said.
“So are you,” Tyran said.
Her sweater was torn and a gash open on her shoulder where a bullet had grazed her. She hadn’t even felt it.
“We have to keep moving,” Dimitrius said.
Malcolm flew backward into the brick archway. A shifter snarled, teeth snapping. The creatures were on them all at once. Tyran got to his feet, only to be pounced on. They knocked Sidney over, trapping her beneath them in the process.
She twisted around. Malcolm was tangled with his shifter. Dimitrius ran his blade through another one. Argus had one by the scruff of the neck, laughing. The thing wriggled and latched onto his arm. With a roar, the Highlander drew his knife across its neck. It jerked and he tossed the limp body onto the ground.
Tyran wrestled with his shifter and Sidney pulled her leg free as soon as he rolled.
“Argus!” She held her hand out. He tossed her his knife.
The shifter growled, teeth bared, as Tyran pushed its head away. Sidney drove the knife up under its rib cage and turned her wrist hard before yanking it out. The thing sputtered blood, and let out an unearthly sound. Tyran shoved it away. Sidney straddled it and jabbed the knife straight through the top of its skull.
“Well done,” Tyran said. The wound on his neck had already stopped bleeding, but he still looked slightly pale.
Sidney couldn’t hide her worry. “Thanks.”
Argus stood there, hand on hip, and watching Malcolm wrestle with the stubborn creature.
“Little help here?” Malcolm grimaced. It sat back on its haunches right on his face. He fussed and spit as the tail whacked him in the nose. “If you got time. Don’t want to bother you.”
“What do you need me for?” Argus boomed. “Looks like you got the little doggy by its tail.”
Caledfwlch sang through the air and the shifter’s head rolled off its shoulders.
“Follow me.” Dimitrius motioned to Sidney and jumped over the low wall of the walkway. He stopped along the way, grabbing up weapons for each of them as they passed piles of clothes shed by the changed shifters.
Tyran paused and took out a sniper on top of the building.
“Get down!” Someone shoved her. The air hit hard and suddenly all she could hear was a high pitched ringing. She lay there on her back, staring up at the sky, thinking how pretty the smoke looked as it swirled up around a water tower in the middle of the courtyard.
Her eyes stung.
Dimitrius pulled her up. He was in her face, his lips moved but no sound came out.
Suddenly the ringing stopped, replaced with the groan of metal. Whatever had caused the explosion had destroyed the main support for the water tower.
Sidney finally heard Dimitrius’ voice.
“Run.”
They darted past the tower just as the weight of the water became too much for the reserve supports and it collapsed in on itself. The gush of water rose up to Sidney’s knees. It tripped her up and sent her splashing to the ground. Malcolm slid into her, carried by the strength of the water.
Dimitrius never faltered, and never let go of her hand. He helped her to her feet as the water rushed away. Tyran and Argus caught up, wiping their eyes. They helped Malcolm to his feet.
“Everyone here?” Dimitrius asked.
“Aye,” Malcolm answered.
Sidney took a step and nearly fell over when a sharp pain ripped across her thigh. She looked down to find a huge bolt jutting out of her leg.
Dimitrius kneeled and examined her leg. “Can you walk?”
She shook her head. “And don’t you dare carry me like I’m some kind of damsel in distress.”
A smile flickered across his face.
Tyran pointed behind her. “What’s that?”
“Where?” She turned to look. “OW!”
Sidney checked her leg where the bolt had been and Tyran tossed aside the chunk of metal. “Old battle trick. You’ll be fine.
They made it around the end of the building and through a narrow alleyway before they emerged into the parking lot. There were no street lights and the buildings blocked the ambient glow of the city. She kept her eyes on Tyran�
��s golden halo of hair as they jogged back toward the car, the pain in her leg already dissipated. Maybe the goddess thing was useful after all.
A pack of shifters tore around on the left from behind a block of garbage-truck-sized air generators. Dimitrius loosed his hand from hers and Caledflwch flowed in an arc around his head. He moved to the middle of a small square of grass, directly past the generators. The shifters circled him like hungry sharks.
“Get to the car!” he shouted.
“He can handle this. Let’s go,” Tyran urged her.
Dimitrius spun around. He kept his chin down as he swirled the sword through the air, removing a shifter’s head in one fell swoop. Another creature lunged. He caught its snout and knocked it back. It opened its jaws wide, ready to sink its teeth into his leg, but he plunged the sword straight down its throat and out the back of the skull.
It was effortless, like a well-practiced dance.
Argus and Malcolm came jogging back. “What’s the hold up?”
Sidney couldn’t take her eyes off Dimitrius’ muscles rippling under his shirt as he thrust the blade into another shifter. The steel flowed through the air over his head, giving light to their surroundings with its preternatural gleam. The man and the sword were each amazing on their own, but both together were downright otherworldly.
“Oh, aye, he’s real pretty. We know,” Argus said. “Now get a move on, there inna much time.”
“Much time for what?” Sidney asked.
The men escorted her back to the car, forcing her to keep up with them. Malcolm scratched the thick stubble of his jaw. “Might’ve arranged a bit of a gas leak.”
“Aye, now get in the car and let’s get outta here before the whole island blows sky high.” Argus shoved her in the back seat, and the rest of them piled in, with Dimitrius bringing up the rear.
The tires spit dirt and gravel as they spun out onto the narrow bridge connecting Ellis Island to New Jersey. The light from the orange fireball behind them lit up Dimitrius’ hair, just like the first time she’d seen him. She cringed when the shockwave rattled the car windows like thunder. Instead of turning around to look at the explosion, she kept her eyes on the man in front of her.