Avenger

by Heather Burch

  The Halfling bristled.

  Vine snorted. Riiiiight, the guy doing everything in his power to look different doesn’t like being singled out. You sort of stick out like a sore thumb with your dyed hair, Lost Boy.

  The dark Halfling answered after a long pause and a silent war between himself and Will. “Yes.”

  Vine could only wonder what that was all about, but there was definitely some history between Will and Viper. Will had also said he couldn’t access the memory, which was weird in itself, because in all the time Vine had known Will, the heavenly angel remembered everything. Every missed trash day, every dollar Vine spent on candy, every promise Vine made to clean his room.

  Another spot appeared above the treetops, catching Vine’s attention. The dude flapped his wings while his body jerked around awkwardly, pelican style. “Uh-oh, uh-oh,” he said.

  Vine stared. Is this guy for real? He was worse than a newbie flyer. Maybe he was drunk. Vine had never seen a drunk Halfling before, but figured it’d look something like that.

  When the Halfling finally touched down, he hit hard, landing at the edge of woods and rolling to a stop. He popped up and hollered, “I’m all right, y’all.” He waved a hand and grinned widely, shaking leaves and twigs from his feathers and brushing them from his puff of sandy-brown hair. Despite his efforts, a stick remained wedged in the tip of his right wing. He reached, couldn’t quite get to it, and began a series of circles like a dog chasing its tail. He swatted at the stick, but it remained lodged.

  Viper’s lowered his head into his hands. He turned on the other Halfling, black hair flying as he moved. “Crash, you’re an idiot.”

  The twig finally fell, and Crash waved with his now free wingtip. He smiled like he hadn’t just been yelled at and like everyone was really happy to see him. Eyes bright, he looked around at the crowd. “What’d I miss?”

  Will nodded to Viper. “You’re caregiver is named Temperance, right?” It was obvious to Vine that Will didn’t fully trust this Halfling yet.

  “He goes by Tempy, but yeah.” Viper shifted his weight. “I don’t mean to be rude here, but we’re in a hurry.” His eyes fanned to the Halflings on the porch. “Are you interested in going after Zero or not?”

  Five sets of wings snapped open so loudly, so quickly, that had a human been standing close, he’d have suffered a busted eardrum. About that time, Mace ran back through the door. “Cell phone. I found it in Nikki’s room.”

  “What does that tell us?” Will took it, inspected it.

  Mace shook his head. “Nothing. Except this whole thing is a setup created by Vessler.” Then his gaze narrowed on Viper.

  “We aren’t working for Vessler, so back off, Halfling. We’re going after Zero. If you want in, fine. If not, fine too.”

  Raven stepped closer the edge of the patio. “And if you think we’ll let you leave here without us, you’ll have a fight on your hands.”

  Will pressed a hand to Raven’s chest, then turned to face Mace. “Viper’s telling the truth. But to do this, you’ll need to work together.”

  Vine watched Mace swallow his anger then nod.

  Will continued. “Before you go off to storm Vessler’s domain, don’t you think it might be a good idea to have a plan?”

  Mace faced Will. “Vessler’s got Nikki. I’m not going to stand around and wait.”

  Will lifted his chin. “Uncovering a cell phone doesn’t mean that Vessler has Nikki. What would be the use of kidnapping her? He can’t make her turn now, unless …”

  Vine grabbed a sour gummy from his pocket stash. “Unless Nikki went to him by her own will,” he said.

  Will shook his head. “She’d never do that. Vessler wants to use her to create an army. She’d never go to him willingly.”

  Mace dropped the phone from his hand. “We didn’t tell her, Will. I didn’t think she could handle it. Did you tell her?”

  Will shook his head, his large, expressive eyes mirroring the desperation in Mace’s. “I was waiting for her to ask. She never did.”

  “Hey, can someone explain what’s going on?” Viper yelled.

  I’d appreciate that too. Vine swallowed the gummy, but didn’t reach for another. I really need to get a handle on this emotional eating problem.

  Will drew in a breath. “Zero was probably bait to get to Nikki Youngblood. Vessler wants her. If he can get her to turn, then he will use her dark DNA to build an army of Halflings who swear allegiance to him.”

  Raven gripped the rail. “That means they’re at the lab.”

  Glimmer grabbed Raven’s arm. “The lab where the horses are? Vessler has it fortified. There’s no way in.”

  Raven pulled from her grasp. “We can get in, but it won’t be easy. And getting out will be even worse. The timing will have to be perfect.”

  “Wait.” Winter floated over to Raven, and when she placed her hand on his shoulder, he didn’t flinch. “Aren’t we making a lot of assumptions? We don’t even know Vessler has Nikki.”

  “Vessler’s entire plan rests on Nikki. Without her, he’s got nothing. And since she defeated the seeker, there’s only one way to turn her. Like Will said, she has to go to him willingly. Then she has to choose evil.”

  “Choose evil?” Winter shook her head. “She’d never do that.”

  “Once she’s gone to him willingly, he can use any means possible to make her turn.”

  “Like what?” Winter said.

  “Whatever he thinks will work. He attacked her on her lawn and nearly turned her, maybe he’ll try that again.” Raven’s expression grew grim.

  “Nikki’s a fighter,” Mace interjected. “But she’s stronger than she’s ever been, now that she’s full of faith.”

  Raven’s jaw twitched. “Everyone has a breaking point.”

  Glimmer’s eyes misted. “Then it’s hopeless.”

  Mace’s fists clenched at his sides. “It’s not hopeless. She overcame the seeker with faith and courage. She’s smarter than Vessler gives her credit for. She’s tougher too.”

  Raven put his hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, but for how long? Vessler’s ruthless. Nikki isn’t.”

  “Raven’s right. We have to go now.” Mace snapped his wings open.

  Viper’s eyes narrowed. “Lead the way.”

  In the distance, a police siren grew louder. Will cast a glance to the small stretch of road visible from the back porch. “Don’t try to leave yet. We need to discuss this inside. I have a feeling breaking into a fortified lab will draw even more attention than a yard full of winged teenagers.”

  Mace grabbed him. “Will, we don’t have time.”

  “Mace,” he countered, “we have no choice. You think Vessler won’t be ready for a swarm of Halflings coming down on his lab? Take time to get your plan together or you’ll be putting Nikki in even more danger. We only get one shot at this.”

  “Quiet!” Vegan yelled, throwing a hand in the air to hush them. The other she cupped around her ear.

  Glimmer and Winter slid a hand to their ears as well and tilted their heads at varying angles. Winter pointed west. The other two nodded.

  “Nikki’s calling for help!” Winter said.

  Chapter 25

  Raven knew Mace was about to explode, and pacing the living room floor wasn’t lessening that urge. Mace didn’t like Viper or his two wingmen, Steel and Shadow. But Will was right: if they weren’t in this together, they had little hope of success. Vessler would be ready for them. That advice would be easier to follow, however, if these three dark Halflings made any attempt to seem like team players. At least they’d arrived after tracking down Vegan and getting help for the rescue. But that’s where the appreciation ended. There was too much wrong with all three of them. Viper was a control freak, and once a plan was made, he’d try to take the lead. No one would be heading this mission … but Mace. Raven knew Mace would take the lead as soon as the moment presented itself. That meant his poor brother also had to cooperate with Will’s infuriating instructi
ons.

  Like a freshly caged tiger, he looked around the room until he saw Raven, who crossed the space to stand by him.

  “We’ll get her, brother,” Raven assured.

  But they both knew what Nikki faced. “He won’t waste any time. Raven, he could do anything to her.”

  “I know.” He cleared his throat, because it would help for Mace to hear the fear in his tone.

  “We need to go now.”

  Raven tucked his hands into his pockets. “You know I’m never one to sit around and wait. But, Mace, I think we have to this time. Vessler has all the cards. He’s got Nikki and he’ll be ready for us.”

  Various conversations filled the room around them as they discussed the best strike time. They’d all agreed they would depart at five in the morning, which according to Raven’s prior research was an hour before Vessler’s morning crew arrived, which also meant the nightshift patrol would be tired by then. But that opportunity was hours from now, which meant waiting patiently. Raven didn’t like sitting around, and neither did Mace.

  “Raven, promise me we’ll get to her in time,” Mace choked.

  “I promise.” But the look in Mace’s eyes showed the words were just that — words. His brother was fighting the urge to focus on the worst scenerio.

  He couldn’t blame him.

  Raven knew the lab. He just hoped he wasn’t lying about being able to get to Nikki.

  Nearly thirty Halflings filled the large, Victorian living room as they plotted out the exact rescue plan, and moved into three groups based on Mace’s instructions.

  Glimmer turned to Raven. “Can we leap inside?”

  “Probably not.” He ran his fingers through his long side bangs. “The lab is a long tunnel lined with rooms. From what I’ve seen, few of them are large enough to allow all of us to enter at once. And leaping in one at a time puts us at a disadvantage — they catch one of us, and the rest are target practice. Besides, I have a feeling the walls are fortified with titanium.”

  Mace paced the available floor space near the stairs. Halflings were sitting, standing, blocking most of the area, but Mace had carved out a path.

  “We could draw them out,” Glimmer said.

  Mace immediately rejected the idea. “Vessler won’t fall for it. We have to go in.”

  Raven agreed. “He’d lock down the cell where he’s keeping Nikki and Zero.”

  “You think they’re together?” Mace asked. “Seems like he’d split them up.”

  “Seems like,” Raven said. “But I did a little recon awhile back, remember? Vessler has only one cage fully lined with titanium, so it’s by far the most fortified. It’s big, and it’s at the farthest corner of the lab. Difficult to reach and even more difficult to infiltrate. That’s where we’ll find them.”

  Mace’s eyes narrowed on him. “How do you know all this?”

  “You kind of pick up a few details when you stake out a lab facility in order to distract yourself from reality. But to fully answer your question, I had Zero run some files awhile ago. I know the amounts of titanium Vessler’s mined in the last few years and how he’s using it. Even found a blueprint for the cage.”

  “So Vessler owns titanium mines?” Mace said.

  Several Halflings shuddered.

  “Plus, we know he’s got a ton of wingcuffs. I just don’t know how many. Everyone will have to be careful.” Raven’s gaze drifted from one to the next. “And remember, don’t kill any humans.”

  “Speak for yourself, Lost Boy,” Viper said. “Some of us are already doomed. If corporal punishment needs to be carried out, we’ll do it.” He waved a hand, encompassing himself and two other Halfings. “Steel, you stick close to the group stationed outside. Dispose of any stragglers that try to flee.”

  Steel shot him a frightening smile.

  Raven took several steps toward Viper. “Look, by murdering humans, you could implicate all of us.”

  Viper fisted his hands, puffed his chest, and squared himself. “Shut up and stop your hand-wringing. You’ll be judged for your own acts, same as always. We’re not afraid of the punishment we’ll receive. But we won’t let Halfling killers go free. If you don’t like the plan, don’t go.”

  When Raven stepped closer to Viper, Mace put a steadying hand on Raven’s shoulder. “We’re all in this together. If you choose that path, Viper, we won’t try to stop you. But we also don’t approve. What matters right now is saving Nikki and Zero.” Mace’s eyes leveled on Viper. “Don’t take any unnecessary chances.”

  Viper’s bright, white smile contrasted sharply with his jet-black hair. “Never do.” He motioned to the third Halfling in the dark trio. “Shadow, stay with group two. If we have to fight our way through the tunnel, they’ll need a backup who isn’t afraid to do what he has to.”

  Visibly shaken, Winter stepped to the center of the army. “Those who live by the sword —”

  Viper put a hand up to silence her. “Yeah, yeah, we know. Die by the sword. We’ve already killed, chicklet. So back off. It’s too late for us to worry about it.”

  Mace stared at Viper a moment before he took a deep breath and addressed the crowd. “Group three, we’ll need to infiltrate the deepest cavern of the lab. I’ll lead, and try to draw the first fire.”

  “No.” Raven pivoted to face his brother. “I’ll lead. You follow me in. You need to get to Nikki and get her out while I draw fire, and Vegan and Vine can get Zero. Once everyone is out safely, I’ll leave. First in, last out.”

  Mace didn’t like it, Raven could tell. Maybe because he still considered Raven a loose cannon. Or maybe it was something else entirely. Whatever, it didn’t matter. Raven planned to make sure Mace was the one who rescued Nikki.

  “Promise me one thing,” Raven said to Mace. “You’ll get them out. No matter what.”

  For a moment of time, there was only Mace and Raven, two brothers — not by blood but by choice.

  “Promise me,” Raven repeated.

  Mace nodded. “I’ll see them to safety.”

  Good. Because Raven was working on a side mission. Once he got the others inside and he knew Nikki was on her way out, he’d put his plan into action. “Now, all we have to do is wait.”

  Raven scooted the cold latte to the edge of the table. The waitress kept trying to catch his attention, and it was testing his nerves. He should have gone somewhere else. Somewhere private. Problem was, the house was out of the question — too many eyes would be curious about why he was drawing a detailed diagram of the lab. And every other location he could think of meant larger crowds and thus more nosy strangers.

  The girl in the green apron paused at his table again. “Can I take this?” Fingers reached for the cup. Her red polish was chipped.

  He nodded but didn’t look up.

  “I can get you some paper if you want it. Those napkins must be awfully hard to write on.”

  “No, I’m good.” Please, just leave me alone. She smelled like too much vanilla. She’d probably gone to the back and bathed in it while he let his latte get cold.

  “Did you not like your drink?” She let out a soft laugh. “I can make you anything you want—on or off the menu.”

  Can you make yourself disappear? “It was fine.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  How can she not get the hint? He felt her lean closer. “Looks like a cool building. You an architect student? Guys like you are always sketching on napkins, bits of paper.” She cocked her hip, as if settling in for a long conversation.

  Out of habit his gaze clawed its way up to her face. Blue eye shadow that was way too dark; slick, glossy lips in a shade so bright you could see it from space, and a flirty smile that proclaimed she was trying too hard. He almost felt bad for her. “No. I’m not an architect. I just have to sketch something out, and came here because at home people kept interrupting me.”

  Her smile disappeared, the twinkle left her eyes, and her chest deflated. She spun from the table and nearly sloshed the drink on him in
her rush to leave.

  Raven heaved a breath. He’d barely gotten back to the drawing when he became aware of the three walking in. He rubbed a hand over his face. Great. Now all I need is a neon sign proclaiming I’m up to something. Keeping his back to the door, he folded the small piece of paper and slipped it under the table.

  “What’s your plan, Halfling?” Viper dropped into the chair across from Raven. Steel and Shadow moved where he could see them, but chose to stop at the bar near the barista, who’d quickly recovered from his rejection. She was running her hand up and down the counter, and they looked like they wanted to swat her like a pesky fly. Raven assumed they thought having all three sit at his table would show too much respect, too much of a “let’s be friends” attitude. Well, he wasn’t really in the market for more friends, though he did appreciate them drawing Pesky Girl’s attention.

  “Plan? I don’t know what you mean.”

  Viper leaned his weight on the table and stared at Raven. “I recognize the look in your eyes. It’s called desperation, and it is usually followed by action.”

  Raven tilted back. “Dude, you don’t know me at all.”

  Viper shrugged. “Maybe. But I know that look. You’re working on something. If it has to do with going after Zero early and ditching this whole take-time-to-plan idea, we want in.”

  Raven chewed on the inside of his cheek, considering the offer. “It doesn’t. And I work alone.”

  Viper laughed out loud, causing Raven to blink. The Halfling flipped his hair back, jet-black strands catching the light. “Sorry. It’s just that usually people who say that fail.”

  Fail. Not an option.

  “Look, we owe Zero.” Viper nodded for the other two guys to come over and sit. An act of compliance? Showing they’d let him be in charge? If Raven let them in on his plan — and that was a big if — that’s the only way it’d go. Some things weren’t negotiable.

  Silence dominated the space around them. They weren’t going to beg; also good. He didn’t need a bunch of wimps on his side.

  Viper stared at him, waiting.

  And Raven let him wait. He glanced over at Steel. The guy looked capable. In fact, all three seemed pretty tough, and pretty determined to save Zero. But would they do the same for Nikki?