Mortal Defiance (Dark Betrayal Trilogy)

by Nichole Chase

  “Where are the cops?” Ree’s father shook his head. “They should be out here. There’s no way the neighbors are not hearing any of this!”

  “Trust me, Mr. McKenna. You don’t want more innocent people involved. The cops would only give the Dark Ones more fuel and cause us to divide our attention. As for why they haven’t been called?” Roland shrugged and frowned. “Why is it dark at three in the afternoon? How can these Dark Ones cross the boundaries that your daughter and Sophie carefully put in place? Nothing is natural, or right. And that suggests a god that likes to mix things up.”

  “Which god?” Susan leaned forward, her eyes pinning Roland with a parental stare.

  “I dare not say his name right now. Not while his attention is on us.” Roland rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, reminding Ree that he was uncomfortable with the idea of parents.

  “Who are you, young man?” Mr. O’Reilly was looking at Roland as if he was a delinquent who had spray-painted his house.

  “Mr.O’Reilly, Roland isn’t trying to be vague on purpose. It really would be a bad idea to say the name right now.” Looking at Paden’s father, she wondered if the man could sense that there was more to Roland.

  “And he isn’t a young man. Not by a thousand years or so.” Paden narrowed his eyes at Roland. “But you can trust him. He wouldn’t let anything happen to you if it was in his power. And he would die to keep Ree safe.”

  Roland looked at Paden for a moment before nodding. Something passed between the two guys that Ree couldn’t understand, but she really didn’t think she needed to. A large push on her shield made her stagger against the counter.

  “Ree?” Paden wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her regain her feet.

  “Whoever it is trying to get me to drop my shield is becoming impatient.” Ree put her hands on the counter and looked from Paden to Roland. “We need a plan.”

  “The shop is the closest safe place, but we need cover to get everyone there.” Roland looked around the room for a moment as if he might find an answer.

  “Um, guys? I think I have something that is going to help.” Jules leaned against the counter and rubbed her temple. “Apparently my patron is not very happy with having someone else usurp her power.” Ree could feel the power of Amaterasu as she spoke to Juliette.

  “’Bout time someone decided to help.” Weylin was thrown through the doorway to the foyer and bumped into Roland. “Maybe we can call for backup?” Righting himself, he ran back for the Dark One walking into the kitchen.

  “That’s not a bad idea, but you guys will have to do it. The gods don’t listen to me. I don’t have the required network.” Crooked smile in place, Roland turned away from their group and headed down the hallway to the bedrooms. “I’m going to check on Mel and Teagan.”

  “What does he mean, call for backup?” Paden’s mother frowned. She jerked at a sound outside and her breathing sped up.

  “When we need something, sometimes the gods will intervene. But I don’t know if they can in something like this. If they’re following the rules, their hands might be tied.” Ree shook her head. “I don’t even know who to call.”

  “Amaterasu suggests calling her Greek equivalent. If we can get rid of the dark, it will make our lives much easier.” Jules closed her eyes for a moment as if listening to something. “If the natural order of things has been tampered with, it’s the god’s responsibility to right the problem. They can’t interfere with the fight, but they can make sure the weather is behaving.”

  Weylin was thrown back into the room, this time skidding on his back. “Then get on it!”

  “I can’t! She said it has to come from someone of that nationality.” Swinging her hand back, Jules left a dent in the fridge door. “Or from the Alastriana. She’s of all the gods.”

  “Hedge our bets. Everyone try.” Paden looked at everyone in the room. “Um, pray, I guess.”

  “Oh, good Lord, please bring the sun back out.” Paden’s mother was touching the cross around her neck and Ree figured it couldn’t hurt. She focused on her own thoughts, though. Apollo, hear me. Someone has usurped your right and hidden the light. Please, Apollo, help us see the day as it was meant to be. Please hear me. Please, Apollo. She looked around the kitchen to see the others mumbling or wearing intense expressions. Even Weylin looked to be holding a one-way conversation.

  Something shifted outside of the house at the same time that Ree’s shield collapsed. She fell to the ground as if a giant hand was pushing her shoulders. Paden hollered something Ree couldn’t hear over the crashing of the remaining windows. Dark ones poured into the house from the yard and Ree could see enough to understand why. It was as bright as a summer day.. Apparently the sun gods had come out with a vengeance.

  The Dark Ones weren’t busting into the house as part of a tactical decision. They were simply trying to preserve their own hides. Ree’s parents were scrambling behind her on the floor, trying to find their feet. Ree was trying to scramble back up when something slammed into her. She stumbled against the counter and felt herself being lifted from the ground. Cold, stale breath ran across her neck and she cringed. Raising a hand, she placed it on the large Dark One’s chest and used a short, direct punch of power. His lip curled back in a snarl of pain that continued to recede as he crumbled to dust. Ree fell back against the counter and looked around the room wildly for her parents. Her mother was being pulled by her arms along the ground by a dark-haired female. She was hissing at Susan as if she was mad that the human was putting up a fight. Drake was holding her father up, but was trying to get him to support himself on the counter. Once he was free of Ree’s father’s weight, Drake practically disappeared.

  Seeming to materialize in front of the Dark One, Drake smiled at her and she paused. Ree couldn’t blame her. When Drake smiled at you, it was as if you were the only person in the world. Unfortunately for her, it meant she didn’t see the blade before it was sliding through her ribs. Bending over, Drake lifted Susan in his arms and turned to look at Ree’s father. He was using the counter to support himself and Ree could feel the pain he was experiencing on the left side of his abdomen.

  “Paden!” He was next to her in an instant, his parents already moving toward the front door. Throwing Steven’s arm over his shoulder, Paden placed a hand along Ree’s father’s ribs as they moved. Seemingly coming from nowhere, Roland grabbed Ree’s upper arm and pulled her along with him. His worry only heightened Ree’s as they moved through the house. Near the front door, a Dark One descended on them and Roland was forced to divide his attention. He pushed Ree toward the door, but she didn’t want to leave him without help. Hands grabbed Ree and yanked her outside. Paden looked her over quickly before he let her go and ran back into the house to help.

  Weylin leapt from the living room window and did a taunting little dance. A small throwing star flew out of the window and just past his shoulder. Sneering, Weylin looked at the Dark One still in the house and said, “And you call yourself a threat. Maybe I should paint myself red and stand real still. Think you could hit a barn? Geez.” Another star flew out of the window, this time aimed right for Weylin’s nose. Raising his hand, he grabbed the star inches from his face and flung it back at the house. A loud curse came from inside and Weylin chuckled before joining Ree.

  “Are you okay?” He looked her over with shrewd eyes. Ree never would have thought of Weylin as a big brother, but in that moment he was everything Tristan should have been.

  “Yeah. How about you?” Ree looked Weylin over quickly and didn’t notice anything wrong.

  “Well, I still have my other ear, so I guess better than last time.” He winked at her so she would know he was joking.

  “Where are the others?”

  “Well, Paden and Roland are in there trying to kill as many Dark Ones as possible. Something is going on between them, but I don’t know what it’s about. Paden seems hell-bent to take out all of them on his own.” Shrugging, Weylin turned around and looked over
his shoulder. “Juliette and Bryce went out the back, I’m sure they’re somewhere around here.” A loud crash came from Ree’s parents’ room as a Dark One was thrown from the window. His scream was terrible as he thrashed in the sunlight. The sounds died after a moment and Melanie hopped out the window, the ashes of the dead Dark One swirling around her feet.

  Paden and Roland were back in the living room and making their way out of the house. Paden’s shirt was covered in back dust and blood. He was looking at Ree he closed to distance to her side. His fingers closed around her hand and pulled it up to his mouth. Worry clouded Paden’s eyes, which was completely contrary to the smugness in Roland’s.

  “Are you okay?” Paden didn’t let go of her hand, and Ree had the weird feeling he was worried he was going to lose her.

  “I’m fine.” She squeezed his fingers so he would know she meant it. “We just need to regroup. Make sure everyone is okay and get back to the shop. It’s still daylight, but night is going to come soon.”

  Roland looked around, concerned. “Where are Teagan and Sophie? We saw Bryce and Juliette out back. They were checking to make sure no Dark Ones had taken refuge in the shed or in the trees.” As if on cue they came around the corner of the house and joined the group on the grass. Bryce crouched down while Juliette leaned against one of the cars in the driveway.

  “When was the last time someone saw Teagan or Sophie?” Drake stood up from where he had been kneeling next to Susan. “And what of Tristan?”

  Ree shook her head, fear settling into the pit of her stomach. “I’m going to look for them. You guys get our parents back to the shop.” She looked at her friends and turned on one heel to head for the rear of the house.

  Chapter 34

  “Don’t you dare try to send us away, Alastriana McKenna.” Susan stood up and put her hands on her hips. “We’re not leaving without you.”

  “Mom. Go. I’ll be there soon. I have to find Sophie.” Turning back to face her parents, Ree shook her head.

  “Don’t try to tell me what to do, Ree. I’m your mother, remember?” Susan crossed her arms and stared at Ree.

  Throwing a look over her mother’s shoulder, Ree silently begged her father for support. Unfortunately for her, he was looking at his wife with pride. Pushing the hair out of her face, Ree walked over to her mother and grabbed her shoulders.

  “Remember when you said in the house that you can’t do what I can? Well, this is where I need to do that kind of stuff and can’t be distracted by having you out here where it isn’t safe.” Ree looked into her mother’s gray eyes and hoped she was penetrating that stubborn expression. “I’m going to be fine anyways. It’s still daylight, and as long as I can stay out here I’ll be safe. You guys need to go to the shop. Once I have Sophie and Teagan, I’ll come back for you.”

  “I’ll be with her,” Paden said. “She won’t be alone.”

  “No, she won’t.” Roland stepped forward and smiled at Ree. He held his hand out and Ree was surprised to see her dagger. She hadn’t even realized she had dropped it. “I hope you don’t mind. Came in handy while we were in the house.”

  “Not at all. Thanks.” Ree flicked it in her hand and was glad to have the knife back. Looking back at her parents she saw her father had stepped closer to Susan and had placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “I don’t like this, Ree. I don’t like it all.” Susan shook her head and a little bit of dust floated out of her hair.

  “I don’t either, Mom, but it’s what we’ve got to do.” Striding quickly back to her mom, she hugged her and whispered so no one else would be able to hear her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I will explain everything later. I love you.” Her mother nodded her head and kissed Ree’s cheek. Her father hugged them both and placed a quick kiss on Ree’s head.

  “Be careful, sweet potato.”

  “C’mon, Mr. McKenna. I can show you all the cool weapons we have back at the shop.” Weylin jerked his head toward Ree’s parent’s car. “Hey, can I drive? I’ve always loved the Audi.”

  “I don’t think so, Wey. That’s my work car and I seem to remember you hitting a mailbox during your driving exam.”

  “Aw, c’mon! I was fifteen!”

  Steven winked at Ree, before turning to slap Weylin on the shoulder. Her father tossed his car keys to Drake, who caught them and smiled. Weylin’s indignant huff could be heard through the neighborhood, but Ree knew it was all for show. Susan smiled at Ree sadly before letting Melanie take her arm and guide her toward the car.

  “C’mon, Ree. Let’s figure out where the others are.” Paden looked around the yard and headed toward the back of the house. “Any ideas of where to start?”

  “Uh, no. Where did you see Sophie fighting with Tristan? He wasn’t in the house was he?” Ree looked between Paden and Roland.

  “They were in the front street, last time I saw Sophie. There was no sign of Tristan in the house.” Roland frowned and lifted his head to sniff at the air. Shaking his head, he looked at Paden, but the other Guardian signaled that he didn’t smell anything either. Grumbling at their decidedly inhuman behavior, Ree closed her eyes for a moment and let the power reach out of her to see if she could sense anything that would help. Nausea had settled into the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t like Sophie to just disappear. She didn’t know Teagan very well, but it seemed odd that she hadn’t been in the house. When you added those things together, Ree knew something was wrong.

  Focusing the power into a low field of energy, she sought along the ground for signs of life that glowed a little brighter than that of a normal person. Searching the street turned up nothing. Even the humans seemed to be bunkered down as if they could feel the wrongness of the last few hours. Ree started walking, letting her instincts set the direction. She walked back toward town, stopping occasionally to let the guys do a little searching with their extra senses. The longer Sophie was gone, the worse Ree felt. She knew this was a bad omen. Sophie would never leave her like this if she could help it and Ree knew that despite the extra power the Guardian had, she wasn’t a match for Tristan. Not after he had been feeding on immortal and Alastriana bloodlines.

  In fact, Ree didn’t think she was a match for Tristan at this point. There was something going on with him that wasn’t adding up. Why had they started hunting down the immortal lines? And what exactly had it done for Tristan? Could they claim the other side had cheated by trying to use lines from Earth to better themselves? Would it matter at this point? Ree’s mind was focused on so many questions she almost didn’t sense the soft glow of a nearby immortal. Her steps hitched and she stopped in her tracks.

  Roland’s head picked up and his mouth opened in shock. Ree turned and ran in the direction of a small road that ran behind a few houses to private driveways. Blood covered the ground, but was especially heavy near a small shelter where there was trail that looked as if someone had dragged a wounded animal. Ree started to duck into the shelter, but Paden placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “Let us go first.” He nodded at Roland, who was already moving toward the door. Ree knew there were no Dark Ones in the building, but she also knew they were more worried about what they would find. Biting her bottom lip, Ree prayed Sophie was still alive.

  The quiet, rhythmic sound of Roland’s voice touched Ree’s ears and she started forward. She couldn’t understand what he was murmuring, but she could understand the fear and shock that underlined his words. Inside the dark building, Ree was greeted by a blood-soaked floor. The next thing to catch her eye was the black boots sticking out from behind a bunch of boxes.

  Roland was kneeling on the floor and quietly speaking to someone, his voice strained. Taking a shaky breath, Ree stepped around the boxes and almost staggered at the sight. Sophie was sitting on a box; her throat and arm had been savaged. She wasn’t healing quickly and Ree could feel that the immortal was close to unconsciousness. The Guardians didn’t heal well from Dark One bites. Something in the Dark One’s saliva seeme
d to interfere with their natural healing abilities. The worst thing hiding behind those boxes was Teagan’s blank stare. Her neck was at an odd angle and her face still had a lingering look of shock.

  Roland ripped a strip off of the bottom of his shirt and pressed it to Sophie’s neck. Paden stepped past Ree, gently moving her out of his way, and went straight for Sophie, his hands already glowing. He knelt next to the older Guardian and gently touched her neck and shoulder with both hands. She winced and tried to move away from his touch, but Roland held her still. His soft words cut through the thick silence and Ree couldn’t help the tears that rose in her eyes.

  Looking away from the scene, Ree’s gaze was drawn back to Teagan’s dead eyes. She couldn’t help but feel it was an insult to the woman, who had given her life for the war, to let her lie on the floor like discarded trash. Anger and grief filled Ree’s heart. Falling to her knees, Ree gently closed the redhead’s eyes. Gently, she turned the woman’s head so it looked more like she was sleeping and arranged her arms to a more comfortable-looking position. There was dirt along Teagan’s face and Ree used her sleeve to brush some of it away. The glow of Paden’s power brightened the room and Ree turned back to her friends.

  Sophie looked better, but far from perfect. There were angry red welts where the original gashes had been along her neck, arm, and shoulder. Her eyes were dark and tired, rimmed in red and black shadows. The wind blew a branch against the metal wall and the Guardian jerked her head as if she was going to be hit. Roland lifted her to her feet, but she sank back to her seat and groaned.

  “Paden?” Moving closer, Ree touched her Guardian’s shoulder in question.

  “I’ve done all I can. The gift stops once it can do no more and nothing I try will make it work anymore.” Shaking his head, he looked at Sophie and then at Ree with tired eyes.

  “What’s keeping her from healing all the way?”

  “He took a lot of blood.” Sophie’s voice was weak and hard for Ree to understand.