by L. S. O'Dea
He grabbed Tim’s arm and pulled him behind a statue. He leaned against it, panting. They were safe for the moment.
“Now, what?” asked Tim.
His soldiers lay scattered in the road, most dead. One of the youngest Guards was a few feet away, injured and crying for help.
“Don’t even think about it.” Tim let his claws sink into Hugh’s shoulder. “You can’t do anything for him now.”
He jerked free. Tim was right and it pissed him off. All these deaths were on him. He should’ve suspected this, trained them for this.
“Beat yourself up later,” snapped Tim.
“I wasn’t—”
“Save it. I know you and it’s written all over your face.” In a mocking tone, Tim continued, “This is all my fault. I’m responsible for everything that happens in life. I am the great and powerful—”
“Shut up.” He really couldn’t stand Tim.
“You shut up. I should’ve known better than to come with you. Things never go well when we’re together.
“I told you to stay back with...” He peeked around the statue, searching the crowd but didn’t see her.
“She’s fine,” said Tim. “She has to be, but if we don’t get out of here, she’ll come after us and then she won’t be fine.”
“She will do that. Won’t she?” His heart stilled at the thought of her doing something so foolish.
“Nothing will keep her from getting here to help, not even Gaar and Mirra.”
Tim was right. She’d figure out a way to get away from Gaar and Mirra or convince them to help her. Either way, he needed to get them to a less dangerous place. He nudged Tim. “Around the side of the building there’s a back door.”
“Ah, I’m not sure if you noticed, but we’ll have to go straight through the gunfire to get to the side of the building.” Tim’s voice raised several octaves as he spoke.
“I didn’t say it was going to be easy.” They’d have to get past three Guards who were covering that area.
“Hard is one thing, but that is suicidal. What’s your other plan?”
“There’s no time for another plan.” He pointed at one of the Guards who was moving toward them, weapon in hand. “They’re tired of waiting for us to come out. On the bright side, they stopped shooting at us.”
“Ah, shit,” said Tim.
His heart pounded. This wasn’t going to end well for both of them. “When he gets a little closer, I’ll jump him and you run.”
“No. You need to get away. I’ll—”
He grabbed Tim by the shirt. “Don’t give me the war will end without me crap. This war is going to end today no matter what and honestly, I don’t think I’m getting out of here alive.” The Guard was getting closer. “You have a chance. You’re faster. You can slip down the side of the building and out through the alleyway or go inside the building and hide. They’ll never notice you in this chaos.” He let go of Tim’s shirt and took a deep breath. “Tell Trinity I love her.”
“Hugh—”
“For once in your life, don’t argue with me.” He glanced at the approaching Guard. “This is the only chance we have of one of us getting out of here. Take care of your family and...” He couldn’t finish. This wasn’t how he wanted to die. He didn’t want to die at all. Not now. Not when he had Trinity waiting for him, but he had no choice. He took a deep breath and shifted forward, closer to the Guard. He crouched, his muscles quivering with fear and anticipation. In another minute, the Guard would be close enough. “Get ready.” Before he could move gunshots rang out and blood splashed his face as the Guard flew from the ground in the jaws of a gray and black Tracker. “Sikka?”
He scrambled forward, grabbing the gun that’d been knocked from the Guard’s hands. He aimed it at the Guard but the guy was already dead, throat torn out. His eyes followed a trail of blood leading to the alley. Sikka had been injured. A carriage pulled up just as gunshots started hammering down all around them.
“Get in.” Jackson held the door open
He scrambled in after Tim.
“Around the side,” he yelled.
CHAPTER 54: TRINITY
“PUT ME DOWN!” Trinity struggled in Mirra’s grasp but it did no good. The Tracker was ignoring her and they were quickly moving away from the last place she’d seen Hugh and her dad.
“Gaar-Mine,” whispered Mirra as she stopped.
The others continued to move past them as Trinity glanced around the best she could while hanging upside down over Mirra’s shoulder. Gaar threw a House Servant to the side and shoved Producers out of the way as if they were twigs as he pushed forward like a large, moving boulder. His unwavering determination was impressive but it was making him a target. Bullets hit the pavement all around him.
“Stop Gaar! Watch out!” There was no way he heard her over the sounds of the gunshots and noise of the others, screaming in pain and fear, and then as if in slow motion a bullet landed with accuracy. Gaar’s face contorted in pain or rage as he was knocked backward from the force of the shot. His hands gripped his stomach as his legs gave out and he crumpled to the ground.
“Gaar-Mine,” screamed Mirra, as she flung Trinity off her shoulders. Trinity’s head bounced off the street. She started to sit up and Mirra shoved her back down, the Tracker’s claw poking into her chest. “Stay.”
Then Mirra was gone, lost in the crowd. She started to stand but her vision blurred. She rubbed the lump on the back of her head as she crawled to an overturned carriage, leaning against it until the dizziness passed. She was safe for the moment but the scene before her was chaos.
Brennon was half-dragging, half-carrying Rocket, using a herd of Producers as a shield. Leena was hidden inside another overturned carriage, shooting arrows in an attempt to take out the Council’s Guards. Bo was directing as many of the troops who’d listen to safety as Avions continued to zoom overhead, trying to draw the fire.
Curtis waved frantically at Gaar from behind another overturned carriage. Birdie and Clackers swooped down near the Handler, attempting to block him from view as he dragged himself toward the Guard. She couldn’t sit here while her friends died. She stood, steading herself against the carriage. Mirra was getting closer to Gaar but so were the bullets. They were now aiming for the Tracker and the Handler. Gaar’s body twitched as another bullet slammed into his leg. Mirra would never make it in time.
She climbed onto the carriage and began jumping and screaming. “Over here! It’s me you want! Hey! You!” She yelled anything she could think of but she also tried to listen for the whistle of the bullet over the crowd. She wasn’t sure if it would be too late by the time she heard the sound, but it was the only chance she had. Something hit her shoulder, knocking her to her knees. She blinked twice as she stared at the blood on her arm. She’d been hit. There’d been no whistle. She glanced behind her. Clackers was on the ground. The little Avion crawled, dragging his bent wing, behind Mirra who was carrying Gaar toward Curtis, bullets raining down around the Tracker as she dodged and ducked. They needed more time. She took a deep breath and stood, jumping and waving her arms.
“You missed!” Not really, but they didn’t need to know that. “I dare you to try again.” Her legs were jerked backward and she fell, her forehead connecting with the carriage. Had she been shot again? She leaned up on her elbows, staring at the carriage below her. She didn’t feel anything but the pain from falling. Large hands grasped her ankles and before she could turn or kick she was pulled off the carriage, landing hard on the ground.
“You idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
She blinked, trying to clear her vision. A Guard was bent down next to her, yelling. He was young and attractive and she knew him from somewhere. “You’re Jethro’s Guard.” She punched him in the face and scrambled to her feet, dizziness almost making her fall, but she couldn’t pass out. She had to get out of there. There was no way Jethro was capturing her again.
“Ouch.” He grabbed her calf, jerking her leg
out from under her.
She landed on her knees and kicked at him.
“Stop that!” He tightened his grip.
“Let me go.” She slashed at his hand.
“No. Stop it. Stop it. Ouch.”
No matter how much she cut him, he wouldn’t let go. His face blurred before her. She needed to rest, just a minute until her head stopped spinning, but she couldn’t. He’d take her to Jethro. She took a deep breath, clearing her head and preparing to attack when Sassy broke from a group of Guards and headed toward her.
“Sassy, help me,” she screamed as she sunk her claws into the Guard’s thigh.
Sassy raced over and dropped down behind the carriage, laughing. “Oh Trinity, you’re so much fun to be around.” Her eyes went to the Guard. “Let her go, Indy, before she cuts off something you don’t want to lose.” Her eyes traveled to Indy’s groin.
“Not until she promises to quit trying to get shot.”
She stopped struggling, her eyes darting between the Guards. “You’re friends with him?”
He dropped his hold on her leg, staring at his hand. “Holy shit.” He touched one cut after the other and he had a lot. There were scratches on his face, chest, arms and leg. “I can’t believe anyone would want to be around you. You’re a nightmare.”
“Only to my enemies.”
“I should’ve let you die,” he said.
“I didn’t ask for your help.” Her eyes found Gaar and Mirra. They were safe behind the carriage with Curtis. The Guard was wrapping Gaar’s wounds as the Handler searched the crowd. His eyes met hers and relief eased some of the tenseness in his face. He held up his hand signaling for her to stay and wait, but she couldn’t do that.
“You’re just upset because there’s another female who won’t succumb to your charms, Indy.” Sassy laughed.
“She would if I tried, but that’d mean I wanted her to fall for me and I don’t.” He wiped the blood from his face. “I’d never survive.”
She turned back toward the two Guards. “Have you seen Hugh?”
“Yeah.” Sassy’s smile faded.
CHAPTER 55: HUGH
HUGH JUMPED OUT as the carriage turned down the street on the side of the Council Building.
“What are you doing?” yelled Jackson. “Get back in here.”
The carriage stopped as he ran to the door. “No. I’m ending this war.” He punched in a key code on the panel.
The door didn’t open. Tim came up behind him. He tried another code. Still nothing.
“You need to do something quick.” Tim’s ears were perked. “I think they’re coming our way.”
“Gruntshit.” He aimed the gun at the keypad and fired. There was a small explosion and then the door slid open. They hurried inside. “Where’s Jackson?”
Tim shrugged.
He pushed past the Servant. Jackson knelt at the front of the carriage, his hands over Cack’s neck, trying to stop the blood that was spurting out, but it was too late. A wound like that was fatal.
“Ah, shit.” He hurried over to them.
Cack’s breathing was labored and blood poured from numerous wounds on his large body. The Grunt’s frightened eyes met Hugh’s and Cack tipped his head slightly, tears rolling down his face.
He knelt and whispered in Cack’s ear, “I’ll look after your child and mate. I promise.” As long as he won this war.
“Hurry up,” said Tim. “They’re coming.”
He stood. “I’m sorry, Cack, but we have to go.” There was nothing they could do for him. The Grunt would be dead in minutes.
“I’m not leaving him,” said Jackson.
Cack tried to push Jackson’s hands from his throat but he was already too weak, so he turned his head away.
Jackson took the Grunt’s hand. “I’ll see to your family. I swear.”
Cack looked at him a moment, nodded and then turned away again, his eyes focusing on the wall across from him. Hugh hoped he was seeing something besides the dull, red brick.
“Come on,” said Tim.
Hugh grabbed Jackson’s arm and dragged him through the side door.
“Hurry up.” Tim fidgeted in the hallway.
“A friend just died.” Jackson growled at the House Servant.
“I really don’t need Servant-Guard hostilities right now. It’s not going to take the Guards long to realize we’ve gotten inside.”
“Then we wait for them.” Jackson’s lips turned up, exposing his canines.
“Are you crazy?” asked Tim. “They’re armed, we’re not.”
“I am and they don’t know that.” Hugh waved the gun at Tim.
CHAPTER 56: TRINITY
BY THE LOOK on Sassy’s face, Trinity wanted to pull her words back. Hugh couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t.
“Hugh’s inside the Council Building,” said Sassy.
“What?” That was almost worse. The Council Building was surrounded by the Council’s Guards. The armed Council’s Guards and there was no way Hugh’s army could get there to help him.
“That’s where we were headed when I saw you trying to get yourself shot,” said Indy. “Hugh’s going to need help.”
“Why are you doing this? You belong to Jethro.” Her hand went to her knife. If this were a trick or a trap she’d kill him.
“If you win the war, I belong to myself.” Indy’s eyes darted to her hand and then back to her face.
“So, you’ve joined our side. How convenient.”
“Oh yeah, because your side is doing so well.”
He had a point. She moved her hand away from her knife and Indy exhaled.
“How do we get inside?” she asked.
“I know a back way. Come on,” said Indy.
The Guard led them toward the building, using any kind of structure as cover from the bullets. They raced forward, stopping behind a carriage where Bruno waited. They were only one quick dart away from the Council Building.
She leaned against the carriage, studying the paths to the building. This time, she only needed to worry about getting inside. They’d either be coming out as victors, prisoners or in body bags.
“Where’s Townsend?” she asked.
“He’d better be safe at home,” said Bruno.
“I doubt that.” Sassy stood on tiptoe and kissed Bruno on the cheek. “Sorry honey, but Townsend is probably out gathering information or spurring people on to help our cause.”
“Don’t take away my hope.” Bruno’s hand rested low on Sassy’s back.
“I’ll go first,” said Indy.
“We should all go at the same time,” said Trinity.
“I know what I’m doing. I’m a trained soldier.”
“Yeah, for the other side.” She still didn’t trust this Guard. Him and Jethro were more than Guard and master; they were friends.
Indy started to argue when Bruno interrupted. “Why do you think we should all go at once?”
“They’ll see whoever goes first and then they’ll be watching for the rest of us.” She put her hands on her hips. “Whoever goes first stands the best chance, but if we all leave together—”
“That’s Gruntshit,” said Indy. “If we all go at once, they’ll see our large group and pick us off one-by-one. If I go first, I can distract them—”
“You didn’t let me finish.” This guy was an arrogant ass. “We need to take separate paths that lead to the same place.”
Indy started to argue and then stopped, his mouth hanging open.
“One of us can run that way, to that carriage and then the building.” She pointed across the street. “Someone else can go to that alleyway and then over and one of us can take that route past the two carriages and then the building.”
“That’s only three of us,” said Sassy. “Please don’t say it, Trin.”
“It’s the best plan.” She took a deep breath. “One of us needs to run directly to the front of the building.”
“Are you crazy? The Guards are heavy in that area. They
even have Guards stationed above.” Indy’s eyes drifted upward toward the six windows, protected by six armed Guards. “That’s not a plan. That’s suicide.”
“Not if that person is fast.” She looked from one to the other. “It’ll help draw the focus off the others.”
Indy shot her a disbelieving look, but there was a hint of resigned respect in his eyes. “You have no idea how much it hurts to admit this, but she’s right.”
“And you have no idea how many males say those exact words to me.” She fought a smile.
“I can only imagine,” muttered Indy.
She gave up and grinned. There was something appealing about the young Guard. He was a disrespectful, sarcastic ass but for him it worked.
Indy moved to the section of the carriage closest to the building. “You three take the other routes, I’ll—”
“No. You know the way inside and you’re familiar with the layout,” she said. It was dire he made it to the building. He’d be the most help to Hugh.
“I’ll give you the directions. It’s best if I—”
“I’m faster.”
His chest puffed up a bit.
Sassy slapped him on the back. “She is.” She turned toward Trinity. “Are you sure you want to do this? You could come with one of us. Two isn’t a much bigger target than one.”
She swallowed. “No. It’s better this way. I can draw some fire from you guys.”
“Stay safe. Run fast.” Sassy gave her a quick hug.
She stood frozen for a moment. They were friends but not the hugging type. Bruno must be softening Sassy up a bit.
She shouldered Indy out of her way, taking his place at the carriage. “Ready?”
“Yeah,” they whispered.
“Now,” she said and they all ran out from behind the carriage, taking their separate paths toward the Council Building.
Since only fools would head toward the gunfire, they’d have a few moments before the Guards would notice them. She ran faster than she’d ever run in her life, but she was still far away from cover when the first bullets whizzed past her. She told herself to zig and zag, to not run in a straight line but her instincts screamed for her to get to cover as quickly as possible and the fastest route was straight. She was almost there, just another few steps when a bullet buzzed by her leg and a moment later there was a slight sting. She stumbled but kept running. The only chance she had was to make it to the building. Bullets flew all around her and she leapt, hitting the wall with her shoulder. She pressed herself flush against the building. She was safe. All she had to do was dart around to the side. Sassy was there, waving her over. She took a deep breath and froze. A Guard, large and angry, headed her way. He was pointing a gun right at her. She glanced back at Sassy who was waving more frantically, her eyes wide with fear. She shook her head. She’d never make it.