Broken Knights: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 4)

by Michelle Hercules

  Once we hit the road, she pushes the machine to the limit, and my back gets flattened against the car seat.

  “The outside gates will be closed too,” Toby warns.

  “Run over them.” I tell Renata.

  “Are you sure we’ll break through them?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  Not really, but I can’t help her open a second gate. I used all my energy in the garage.

  The tall wrought iron gates loom on the horizon. I brace for the impact, but to my surprise, the gate opens as we get near. I glance to my right as we speed by the security check building and catch the security guard, an Idol I don’t recognize, salute us. His action gives me hope.

  My train of thought is interrupted when the invisible scar on my back starts to burn. Fuck. I should have known the island god would return sooner rather than later.

  16

  Phoenix

  “We have to turn back. We can’t let Morpheus fight Chaos alone,” Daisy tells Xavier.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I can’t let you do that. He’s a god. You can’t win in a fight against him,” he replies.

  “I don’t care! Morpheus isn’t a god either. Do you think he can beat Chaos?”

  “Dai—”

  “No, she’s right. We can’t let Morpheus sacrifice himself,” I retort. “Pull over. We’re getting out.”

  “Have you all gone fucking crazy?” Xavier shouts, hitting the steering wheel hard. “I’m not going to risk another life. Morpheus is a demigod. He won’t die. You, on the other hand, will.”

  “You don’t understand,” Rufio replies calmly. “This isn’t about what we can or cannot do. This is about honor. We made a promise to never let each other down. I can’t help Morpheus now, but Daisy and Phoenix can.”

  Xavier takes his eyes off the road for one second to glower at Rufio through the rearview mirror. Two black SUVs stop ahead of us across the road in that moment, blocking our way.

  “Shit! Look out!” I yell, and at the same time, I use telekinesis to force our vehicle to stop and avoid a collision.

  “What the hell!” Xavier blurts out.

  A second later, he pulls a gun from the holster he had hidden underneath his jacket. Shit, I didn’t know he was packing. But what can an ordinary gun do against an Idol?

  “What’s going on?” Rosie, who had been mega quiet until that moment, asks.

  “Stay calm, everyone,” Xavier orders.

  Two Idol agents exit one of the first vehicles. But it’s not until the driver of the second car reveals himself that my entire body becomes tense. “That’s Agent Torrance, the cop who’s investigating my father’s disappearance. We need to get out of here. Now!”

  Tires screech behind us, and without looking, I know our only route of escape is now blocked too. Damn everything to hell!

  “He’s after me. Stay in the car. I’ll handle this,” I say.

  “Bullshit you’re doing this alone.” Daisy gets out first, garnering a string of curses from me and Xavier.

  I follow her, but Xavier stays behind the wheel. He knows that if something happens to Daisy or me, he’s the only one capable of protecting Rosie and Rufio. I’d give Daisy a tongue-lashing for her reckless behavior if I didn’t have to deal with the asshole cop. How did he know where to find us? I guess Xavier’s safe house wasn’t safe after all.

  “What the fuck is the meaning of this?” I ask. “Are you looking for a second round of ass whooping?”

  Agent Torrance’s expression twists in rage. He hasn’t forgotten the last time we met. I broke free from the cuffs that were dampening my powers in the police precinct’s interrogation room and showed him you don’t mess with powerful Idols like me.

  “This is justice.” He pulls out a set of special handcuffs from his jacket. “You either come with me peacefully, or I’ll be compelled to use force.”

  “Why does he have to come with you? Didn’t you already interrogate him?” Daisy retorts angrily.

  He cocks his head to the side, watching her now with keen interest. I’d be more than glad to sic Daisy on his ass, but I know the nasty tricks he can pull. He’s a fire elemental who melted Rufio’s car with me in it. And unfortunately, she needs to touch someone to unmake them.

  “Yes, but new evidence has come to light.” His eyes gleam with malice. “It seems if you’re persuasive enough, you can make the most loyal servants babble.”

  “What are you taking about?” I grit out, doing my best to keep my anger in check. I can’t invade his mind thanks to the necklace he wears around his neck containing a vial of my blood. A parting gift from my asshole father to his minion. It’s the only thing that can protect someone from my ability.

  “Your old butler, Vargas, was all too happy to tell us everything that went down on the evening your father died. So, you see, I’m not only here for you, Mr. Westbrook, I’m here for your accomplice, Miss Daisy Rodale.”

  His arms shoot forward, and a string of bright blue electricity forms. One of his fucking Tasers. I knew he was going to pull some crap like that. But the zap is moving at a snail’s pace. Unfortunately, the cop isn’t. He must be wearing a protective vest that makes him immune to Daisy’s power. Before he can try something else against her, I tackle him, regretting that I didn’t have the time to grab a lightning-glass weapon from our stash in the safe house before we had to escape.

  I fall on top of him with my hands wrapped around his neck. I can’t use my powers on his mind, but I can choke the life out of him. The sound of shots being fired and the smell of gunpowder hit me all at once. Daisy screams. But I can’t take my eyes off the guy underneath me.

  “What did you do to Vargas?” I yell.

  He tries to pry my hands off his neck to no avail. I’m much stronger than him. His face is turning purple. I’m about to crush his windpipe when a sharp pain in the back of my head knocks me off him. Then comes the shock from the high-voltage current entering my body. He could have burned me to a crisp just now. If he didn’t, it’s because he needs to deliver me in one piece to whoever is pulling his strings.

  My vision is blurry, but I recognize the white-blond Idol with the nasty scar on his face. Delta. He was in Hawk City when Rufio and Daisy were abducted. He’s Jonathan Kent’s right hand.

  “You’re scum.” He zaps me again, and my muscles spasm. I bite my tongue, trying not to puke. The pain seems to increase each time I’m hit.

  In the distance, I hear the sound of Chaos’s storm approaching. Hell. We’re really fucked right now. And Daisy? What happened to her? Did she get hit by a bullet? I turn my face to where she was last, finding her on the ground, cuddling Xavier in her arms. There’s blood on the front of his shirt.

  Agent Torrance appears in my line of sight, a nasty sneer on his face. “You think you’re so powerful, boy. But you’re nothing, just a broken piece of shit your daddy liked to play with.”

  I’m Tasered again by Delta, but I suffer through the excruciating pain in silence. The cop turns around, focusing his gaze in Daisy’s direction. He points the Taser in his hand at her, ready to fire. She’s distraught. She won’t see him before it’s too late.

  The currents of energy are still coursing through my veins, but somehow I manage to make my muscles work. I jump back onto my feet with a roar, reaching for the back of the cop’s vest.

  I yank him back at the same time that Rufio yells a battle cry. I turn just in time to see him tackle Delta down, knocking the lightning-glass dagger he had in his hand away. The cop uses my momentary distraction to burn my hand. Reflexively, I let go, which grants him the opportunity to Taser me again. I fall onto my knees while blood pools in my mouth.

  Rufio and Delta are rolling on the ground, fighting for dominance. Daisy removed his Idol powers but not his drive. The other agents have drawn their guns, but at this time, they seem content to just watch.

  Agent Torrance laughs maniacally. “I’m going to enjoy making you suffer. But first, I’ll take care of your little
who—”

  A gunshot breaks off his tirade. His head explodes in a shower of blood and gray matter, and his body topples forward, lifeless. Across from me, Daisy is standing with Xavier’s gun in her hand. She’d look like a statue if it weren’t for her out-of-sync breathing. Her eyes are wide and frantic. The other agents turn their weapons in her direction, ready to fire, but they aren’t protected from my mind invasion gift like Agent Torrance was. I trap their brains before they have the chance to fire, creating the most horrific scenario I can think off. I send them one of my memories of the island. They drop their weapons to clutch their heads, and then, moaning, they fall to their knees. Then the screaming commences.

  Behind me, I hear Rufio’s strangled grunt. Fuck. For a second, I forgot about him. Delta is straddling him, holding him by the neck while his right arm is pulled back, ready to strike. A blue light sphere grows around his hand. But instead of shooting Rufio, Delta sends his sphere in Daisy’s direction.

  “No!” I shout.

  The energy sphere seems to bounce off an invisible wall in front of Daisy and changes direction, hitting one of the police cars instead. It goes up in flames in a loud explosion, and the blast sends me flying backward. My telekinesis kicks in, and I land on my feet. Rufio is not so lucky; he ends ups a few feet from me, facedown.

  I want to check on him, but something else catches my eye. The weapon Delta had on him. Without pausing to think, I dive for it, then look for Delta. Shit. He’s making a run for Xavier’s car. Rosie is still inside.

  I go after him, but before I can reach him, a massive shadow collides with the scum, consuming him entirely in darkness.

  17

  Daisy

  For a moment, I watch the events unfold in front of my eyes as if I’m stuck in a movie that’s in slow motion. The gun I took from Xavier is still in my hand. I had no idea there were bullets able to kill an Idol. My ears are ringing now, thanks to the explosion. Xavier is bleeding on the ground after he took a bullet meant for me. Phoenix is frozen as he watches a massive shadow cover Delta from head to toe. Rufio is on the ground facedown, unmoving.

  Unmoving.

  “Rufio!” I run at breakneck speed, dropping to my knees next to him. I turn him around, and immediately I notice the big gash on his forehead. His eyelids flicker, and then slowly he opens them.

  “Daisy. Are you okay?”

  “I should be the one asking you that question. What were you thinking, going after Delta like that?”

  “I couldn’t simply watch you guys fight and do nothing.”

  The wind picks up speed, howling. Strands of my hair flap around my face, like whips punishing me. I glance over my shoulder, widening my eyes when I see Chaos’s storm approach.

  “Come on. We have to get out of here.” I help Rufio back onto his feet.

  Thunder roars in the distance, or maybe it’s Chaos’s evil laughter. I don’t know. We run back to where Xavier is sitting up. He took a bullet to his stomach, and the blood has drenched most of his shirt. He’s clutching his midsection, and his face is twisted in pain.

  “Can you stand?” Rufio asks.

  “Yes,” he grunts. “Where’s the gun?”

  Shit. I left the gun behind. I retrace my steps and collect the weapon, tucking it behind my jeans after I put the safety back on.

  Xavier and Rufio have their gazes trained on the dark sky when I return to their side.

  “We’re out of time,” Xavier mumbles.

  A strangled cry draws my attention to Phoenix. But the noise isn’t coming from him. Delta is the one making those pitiful sounds. He’s writhing on the ground while Morpheus stands over him, aloof and almost unreachable. That’s him in his true demigod form.

  He lifts his face and our gazes meet. His usually warm brown eyes are now glowing like molten lava. He’s different and yet the same to me. I take a step forward, only to be stopped by a lightning bolt that strikes the space in between us. Morpheus switches his attention upward, curling his hands into fists.

  “You’re not going to win, Chaos! I won’t let you take Daisy away from us.”

  In response, Chaos strikes Morpheus next, but somehow he’s able to withstand the hit.

  “Holy fuck!” Rufio blurts out. “He didn’t even flinch.”

  The clouds gather close together, spinning as they form a massive system. Electricity snaps in the air. I think he’s creating a tornado. The wind’s howling intensifies, reminding me of a freight train approaching. I feel powerless, unable to stop what’s happening.

  “You’re not powerless,” a familiar female voice speaks to me.

  “What can I do against a god?”

  “There’s strength in numbers.”

  I drag Xavier and Rufio with me, running as fast as I can back to the car. But I halt when I get close to Delta, the man who took my parents from me. Rage erupts from my core, making me forget the menace of Chaos for a moment. I want to kill him, pulverize his bones for all the pain he’s caused Rosie and me. I can’t think about anything else but getting my revenge. It’s an all-consuming thought of destruction, of hate.

  Then I hear his wicked laughter in my head. Chaos is enjoying this. He wants me to lash out, to strike the bastard. And maybe it’s the rebellious streak in me, but I don’t want to do anything that gives him pleasure. Fuck that. Fuck him.

  I glance at the sky and shout, “You want me to kill him, don’t you?”

  “It’s what you want. Don’t deny your true nature, Magia. You’re the Unmaker, the destroyer.”

  “I’m not fucking Magia.”

  Delta stops struggling, and his bugged eyes are unfocused .

  “We’re taking him with us,” I say.

  “What? As a prisoner?” Phoenix asks.

  “Yes.”

  “No,” Rosie butts in. I didn’t even see her get out of the car. She’s glowering at me, displaying the hatred that was coursing through my veins just a moment ago.

  “We’re ending this now. If you can’t kill him, I will.”

  She steps forward only for Morpheus to block her. “Can’t you see? If you kill him now, you’ll only be giving Chaos more strength. He wants to see us fall into despair and violence.”

  “I don’t care! That monster took my parents from me!” she cries out.

  Chaos laughs again. Damn it. He’s winning.

  “Xavier is dying. Would you sacrifice the only parental figure we have left in order to satiate your need for retaliation?” I ask Rosie.

  She glances in Xavier’s direction and then gasps. “You got shot?”

  We only get an angry rumble as warning before Chaos unleashes all his might on us. Dozens of lightning bolts fall at once. A bright light follows when they hit their mark, I just don’t know what. It wasn’t either of us. When the light fades away, I see a man standing where Rosie and Morpheus were. He’s tall and broad-shouldered with pitch-black hair cropped short and golden eyes. His right arm is raised, and vestiges of lightning crackle against his tan skin. When he turns his face to mine, I immediately recognize him. He’s Morpheus father. Erebus.

  “It’s time for you to go,” he says.

  I feel a great pressure surround my body, and then I lose sensation completely. My world turns pitch black for a second, sending me careening into panic mode. But as quickly as the darkness overcame me, it fades away. We’re now all standing in front of Poppy’s Joint.

  “Holy hell. What happened?” Phoenix stares at the diner that was like home to me for two years of my life.

  “A god happened.” Xavier leans forward, hunching his back.

  I grab his arm, trying to keep him upright. Rosie comes to assist.

  “Why did Erebus send us here?” Rufio asks.

  “Maybe he figured this would be a safe enough location for now,” Morpheus replies.

  Delta, who was also transported with us, groans from his position on the ground. He still seems out of it.

  “What are we going to do with this scumbag here?” Phoenix
asks.

  Morpheus leans down and yanks a pair of handcuffs from Delta’s belt. “We’ll cuff him. These are lightning-glass. It will keep him from using his powers on us when he comes out of his punishment.”

  “What did you do to him?” Rosie asks.

  “Put the fear of God in him.” He smirks.

  Rosie is not amused by Morpheus’s quip. Her gaze is trained on Delta, and I’m not sure if I convinced her to forget her revenge. As much as I wanted to give in to the hate, I know it won’t make me feel better. The rotten sentiment will only fester like a plague.

  Felicity bursts through the diner door, frantic and alarmed.

  “Daisy! I can’t believe it. It is you.” She halts when she takes in the rest of our party. “Oh my God. Your friend’s been shot. We need to take him to a hospital.”

  “No,” Xavier says. “No hospitals. I just need to lie down.”

  Felicity stares at him as if he lost his mind. “You’re going to die if you don’t get help.”

  Rufio’s spine becomes rigid all of a sudden, and immediately I think Chaos has found us.

  “What is it?” I glance at the sky, which is mercifully clear.

  “I think I sensed Bryce just now.”

  “How is that possible? You don’t… I mean…” Phoenix rubs his neck awkwardly.

  “You can say it. I’m not an Idol anymore. I don’t know how I sensed him, but I did. He’s nearby.”

  “He can help Xavier,” I murmur. “Does anyone have a working phone?”

  “No, my phone is dead,” Phoenix replies.

  “I lost mine.” Morpheus grimaces.

  “I didn’t have mine on me when we left the house,” Rufio adds.

  “Call him from the diner. Come on. I have his number written down in case you haven’t got it memorized,” Felicity replies.

  “Why do you have my brother’s number?” Rufio asks.

  “Because he wanted us to call him whenever we had blueberry pie on the menu.”