by Kresley Cole
“What the hell?” When I raised my palm to my cheek, she slapped the other one harder.
I felt my glyphs stirring.
“If you don’t want these cards to die, then get to work, Evie! You need to look like the Empress of Old, slithery and creepy and sexy all at the same time.”
“Touch me again, and you’ll see slithery and creepy—”
With her enhanced speed, she shoved me back before I could even react. I tripped over my pack, landing on my ass. “You bitch!” I bounded up, thorn claws bared.
“That’s it! Sell it, sister, or we are dead!”
I gazed down at my body, at my skin glowing through the fabric of my clothes. Sharp emotions like fury and utter terror always sparked my powers; Selena had pissed me off enough to give me a jump-start. I narrowed my eyes at Matthew. “This is why you want me angry, terrified, and sad for the rainy season?”
Blank smile.
Which power to choose? The flower glyph was my lotus, the barbs my tornado. The gleaming vine circling my upper arm was ready to spring to life, leaving my body to maim and kill. The dotted pattern shivering across my torso represented my poisons.
I opened my palm, peering down at the three thorns that emerged from my skin. I tossed them into the air, watching the barbs multiply in the sky, forming a tornado.
“Rad-ick-ull!” Finn cried.
You haven’t seen anything. A few slashes of my claws across my forearms gave me blood to grow vines. I let it drip to my fingers, flinging drops across the ground. Greenery slithered to life. When I popped a crick in my neck, my two oaks whipped to attention.
“Now we’re talking, girl.” Selena strung her arrow, holding her bow at the ready. “Jungle this up!”
I surveyed my arsenal. Not as petrifying as the one I’d conjured last night, but . . . “It is what it is.”
We all took up positions on the porch. In this lull, my mind flashed to Jackson, and my chest ached. Don’t think about him, don’t think about him. He was obviously safer away from us. Right now, we were facing a possible supernatural battle.
Selena asked me, “You really think your good ole granny can help you exit the game?”
“She might be the last living chronicler.” Before, I’d needed to reach her to ask about my nightmares and hallucinations, about the physical changes taking place inside me. Now I needed her to help keep me from turning into a stone-cold killer, one who’d had the impulse to murder her friends. “She’ll have answers.”
Yes, Gran had once told me I’d have to “kill them all,” but she’d just been reciting ancient rules. The fact was that her granddaughter Empress hadn’t turned out right.
This Empress wanted nothing to do with the game.
“How could the cards find us here and so fast?” Finn asked. “Evie just toasted one of these freaks yesterday.”
Selena scanned the street. “We’re drawn to each other, seeking something that will bring us into the fray. They were probably close already.”
“Convergence,” Matthew said.
Finn wiped his sweating palms along his jeans. “What if some player had been in the Antarctic before the Flash? It isn’t like he could fly or take a boat now.”
A good guess, since there were no planes. Or oceans.
“Convergence,” Matthew repeated in an overly patient tone. “We are led. We lead. We follow MacGuffins! The Tower’s alliance arrives in twenty . . . nineteen . . . eighteen . . .”
As he continued his hushed countdown, Finn asked, “If the Tower is a heavy hitter, what’s this guy packing?”
I murmured, “Control over all electricity and straight-up lightning. He has these silver javelins that appear in his hand. Wherever he throws them, lightning strikes. Plus he can electrify his skin.”
“Fourteen . . . thirteen . . .”
Selena explained, “A direct strike could fry my insides, but I might survive. Evie would be stunned, maybe long enough for him to take her head. Finn, you and Matt die instantly.”
Finn scowled, wrinkling his freckled nose. “That’s not fair! Why are we so lame?”
“Matt should be able to foresee a strike, and you should elude it with your magic. But he’s crazy and you’re weak.”
“Eight . . . seven . . .”
Here we were: a mentally unstable Fool, an all but arrowless Archer, a magically challenged Magician, and me, running on fumes and anger.
What could possibly go wrong?
I reminded myself that today’s encounter might be step one in bringing down this ancient contest. I imagined the game as a machine with cogs and wheels grinding to life every few centuries. I wanted to jam a stick of dynamite into the cogs and laugh as it exploded forever.
“Shh.” Matthew covered his lips with his forefinger. “They’re here.”
When the three rounded the corner, two on foot and one in the air, my adrenaline surged. Yet then I noticed that our adversaries weren’t as intimidating as I’d expected. Gabriel, for one, flew in obvious pain, blood seeping from one silky black wing, staining his old-timey gray suit. Underneath hanks of jet hair, his face was pale.
As an Arcana, I could see his tableau, a brief superimposed picture, like a Tarot card. His was of an archangel carrying a staff and sword, flying over a mass of bodies.
Selena murmured, “He’s injured.”
“Death stabbed his wing,” I replied. “Right before he beheaded the Temperance Card.”
And the World? Tess Quinn was a chubby brunette with nervous eyes. She carried a battered staff. Presently she was biting the nails of her free hand to the quick. Hardly a seasoned killer.
I’d wager she had as little control over her powers as I used to. Her tableau was a bare-chested maiden with a swath of cloth around her hips, symbols of the four elements framing her.
But Joules looked malicious, his dark eyes flashing as sparks glittered over his skin. His tableau was the most terrifying—charred bodies plummeting from a lightning-struck tower.
When the three paused in front of the house, he called out, “Get a gander at all the vines! Empress must’ve spilled pints of blood to grow ’em!” His Irish accent was pronounced. “And the grand trees too? I’ll bet you’re right wasted. That tornado’s fierce-looking, but Gabe can fly circles around it.” He opened his right hand and a javelin appeared in it.
At this sign of aggression, my claws tingled anew, the heat rising. Come, Tower, touch, was on the tip of my tongue. Instead I inhaled for control and forced myself to say, “Hi, Joules, my name is Evie.”
Double take from the Tower.
“And I want you to know that I’m sorry about what happened to Calanthe. She was a brave fighter. She deserved better.”
In my head, Death tsked. —You wound me, creature.—
Ignoring him, I told Joules, “We want to join with you in an alliance to take out Death. Then we would be seven, gunning for him.”
Joules twirled his javelin with ease. It was a thing of beauty, gleaming, etched with ancient symbols. “Or I could end you all today, snag your icons and more power to take him on myself.”
Out of the side of her mouth, Selena muttered, “Told you, dumb-ass.”
“We don’t want any trouble with you,” I called.
“Too bad. ’Cause it’s trouble you’ll be gettin’.”
“What happened to the enemy of my enemy is my friend ?”
“Death stole my lass from me. Now I’m going to steal what he’s hankerin’ for most: your demise.”
I was selling this as hard as I could, and it still looked like we were about to throw down. “It won’t happen, Joules. Our alliance is too powerful. Already the Fool has foreseen that we would win this fight and all three of you will die.” Bluffing. “We could’ve hidden ourselves with the Magician’s illusions and ambushed you, but I wanted to offer an alliance. We’re not playing this game. We refuse to kill any other player except for Death. We can make that vow to you today.”
Tess’s eyes widened, excitement in her expre
ssion. Hovering above us, Gabriel tilted his head, his face unreadable. Joules looked even more furious. “The vicious Empress is making promises? Problem is, you never keep them. Everybody knows you break your vows each game.”
Had I? I slanted Selena a questioning glance, but she had her laser focus locked on Joules.
“Well, then, this game is different. We refuse to kill.”
“Oh, is that so?” His hostility was palpable—and strengthening, for some reason.
“It is.” My hopes for an alliance were circling the drain. Now I just wanted to get out of here alive. I readied my army. I could bind them with vines, giving us time to escape.
“Liar!” Joules yelled. “You think I canna see your hand, bitch? You already killed!” Without warning, he heaved his javelin straight at me.
Like a blur, Selena loosed her arrow; it struck his javelin, sending it off course. The spear hit the neighboring house. Lightning exploded it, firing debris over us.
Chunks of the house hit the closest oak like ax blows, cracking its trunk wide, sending pain ripping through me. Shingle fragments sliced into the side of my face, and blood streamed. He’d attacked? After I’d offered a truce?
He’d attacked . . . me? Fury filled me, and I screamed with it, my red hair whipping, my hands directing. Roots erupted from the deep, piercing the surface of the ground around him and Tess. As Joules aimed another javelin, a vine snaked around his waist and arms, slamming him to the ground.
Limbs from the remaining oak curled around him, the wood groaning as it ratcheted tighter. He thrashed to get free, but he was bound fast.
Gabriel sounded a battle call, diving to attack, but my tornado forced him back.
When vines circled Tess like serpents, she gave a nervous cry and swirled her staff in a circle above her head, as she might a lasso. Both Joules and Gabriel appeared to wait with bated breath.
Nothing happened. She was supposed to be one of the strongest? I stifled a yawn when she twirled her little stick again. Bored with the World, I launched my vines at her.
She batted them with her staff, but they kept coming. Tears streaming, she hunched down with a whimper.
Joules flailed against his bindings. “Let me go, you bitch!”
Death laughed. —I knew this Empress of Peace act wouldn’t last long. You’re far too proud of your . . . craft.—
Before I’d even made a conscious decision, I was sprinting for Joules, tree limbs parting for me. Nearly mindless with rage, I leapt atop him, perching on the limb clenched around his chest, careful to avoid his electrified skin. I could feel his currents bombarding his bindings.
“Wood,” I explained. “Such a poor conductor.” As he struggled, I raised my dripping claws to finish him. “Looks like you’re helpless.”
Death urged me —Do it. You once told me how good it feels to sink your claws into flesh. Don’t you remember?—
Tess screamed, “Don’t you hurt him! P-please, don’t!”
Yelling with frustration, Gabriel tried to elude my tempest to save his friend, but he was too injured, too slow.
“Póg mo thóin,” Joules grated. “Kiss my arse, Empress.”
“Ah, Tower, you should have taken my offer.” My voice was breathier, evil-sounding. “Poison is such a painful way to go.”
Death whispered —Why must you always taunt them so? Make a clean kill and be done with it.—
Shut up!
Though Joules appeared horrified, his tone was full of bravado. “Do it, then. What I want is on the other side anyway.”
I leaned my head closer to his, savoring the way my burning glyphs reflected in his terrified eyes. “Come. Touch. But you’ll pay a—” The words strangled in my throat, because I’d caught sight of . . .
Jackson.
He’d come running down a nearby alley, bow at the ready, but froze upon seeing me.
My heart leapt. He hadn’t left us?
He took cover behind an old shed not fifty feet away. He wore a hunter’s coat, a hoodie, and fingerless gloves. The straps of his familiar bug-out bag fitted over his broad shoulders. His biker boots had been replaced with hiking boots.
He’d been resupplying before coming back for me! I should’ve had more faith.
Jackson’s lips parted at my appearance. He’d seen the aftermath of my battle with the Alchemist—now he had a front-row seat to an execution.
Execution?
This wasn’t me. I wasn’t a killer. Jack hadn’t left us this morning—but I knew if I did this thing now, I would lose him forever. I glanced down at Joules.
No longer did I see the malicious Tower Card. This was just a kid, sweating with fear. I shook my head hard, reining in the fury. Inhale. Exhale. Glance at Jack. Better.
To Joules, I said, “I told you I didn’t want to kill. The only reason I have this marking on my hand is because I had to defend myself. I did everything I could not to harm the Alchemist.”
“Just get this feckin’ over wit’!”
Seeing how much rage Joules had inside him—and an apparent death wish—made me question my offer of alliance. Though I would pass on recruiting this unmerry band today, I would spare them on one condition. . . . “If I release you, will you vow not to hunt us again?”
Tess cried, “Make the vow!”
Gabriel called, “Do it, Tower.”
Joules blinked at me. “You’ll spare us?”
“This game is different. This time, the Empress isn’t playing. I’ll spare you all.”
Selena, Matthew, and Finn approached, flanking me. A unified front. “None of us are playing.” I gazed up at Selena. “Isn’t that right?”
She sighed. “Apparently, we’re going to figure out a way to kill Death, then stop the game.”
Joules jutted his chin. “Aye, then, I vow I’ll not hunt you. But if you attack us, it’s on.”
Anxious to go talk to Jack, I said, “Good enough!” My barbs dropped once more to the street. My claws morphed back. My glyphs dimmed. With just a thought, I freed Tess and unraveled the Tower, offering my hand to help him up.
Joules stared at it. Muttering, “Bloody hell,” he took it.
With the battle averted, Gabriel landed and gave Selena a formal bow—Archangel dug the Archer?
“Don’t you need to go molt or something?” she sniffed.
In a commiserating tone, Matthew told Tess, “The World wasn’t built in a day.” Then he turned to Joules. Sounding more authoritative than I’d ever heard him, Matthew said, “You need to leave this valley, Tower. Before the sun sets.”
Joules’s gaze flickered over each of us. “Not a problem.”
As soon as the Tower and his allies were out of sight, everything seemed to compete for my attention, when all I wanted to do was talk to Jackson.
Selena slapped me on the back. “If I were a nice person who didn’t loathe you, I’d say you did well.”
A limb from the remaining oak offered itself to my thorn claws, like an arm extended for a blood donation. Energy there for the taking.
Death had his own commentary: —You spared the Tower, of all Arcana? Have you lost your wits, creature?—
But I wasn’t paying attention to any of them; instead I hastened toward Jackson’s spot behind that shed. He’d already begun striding away.
“Jack, wait up.” I trotted after him.
He kept walking toward the mountains. The ones that led to cannibal country.
Selena called after us, “J.D.!” He ignored her.
While the others held back in confusion, I followed him. “What are you doing?”
“Getting my ass out of Requiem.” He tossed me my old bug-out bag, the one I’d thought was lost forever.
I gaped down at it. “How?” He must have retrieved it from the militia. I glanced inside. They’d stolen the heirloom jewelry I’d had for trading, but left some basic supplies—and my flash drive of my family’s photos. “When did you get this?”
“Probably around the time you thought I
was making out with Selena.”
My face flamed. “You left your own bag behind last night.”
“Mistake.” Catching my gaze, he said, “Woan happen again.” Then he kept walking.
I tried to keep up with his long-legged strides. “Where are you going?” So quickly? So away from me?
“Into the mountains.”
“The ones that are teeming with cannibals?” Finn called, as he and the others snatched up the various packs and jackets and started trailing us. “That’s where they live, you know, the ones who eat raw human meat, the ones I’ve seen. Does anybody listen to me?”
I did. “We’re heading out the other way,” I told Jack. “Through the bottleneck.”
“Then you’re goan to die.”
“And that wouldn’t bother you?”
His shoulders tensed, but he didn’t slow his step. “There’s a horde of zombies back there.” Bag dare. “Bigger than last night, holed up in a warehouse about six miles down the road.” He turned to address the others with a cruel look on his face. “As slow as Evie is, that ought to put y’all right in their midst by sunset.”
I couldn’t say anything about my slowness. Wasn’t like I could back-handspring my escape.
“Mountains. Or Bagger bait,” Jackson said. “That’s between you and your god. Me? I’m heading away from the closest danger.”
There were other things to be said, other questions to be asked—
“Have fun, Empress.” He sneered the word.
“Why are you so angry with me?” I knew anger was his go-to emotion, but he was shaking with it.
He whipped around and stalked toward me. “You. Ain’t. Right. None of you.”
I gasped, rocked to the core. “I-I can’t help the way I am.”
“Doan mean I got to deal with it. You doan need me to babysit you anymore.” He pulled up his hoodie, turned and trudged onward.
“Are you madder about what I am, or that I kept it from you?”
“Split it down the middle. Call it a day.”
“You—you made a promise to my mother to get me to Gran’s!”
He cast a narrow-eyed glance over his shoulder. “You’re goan to pull that shit with me? Fine. Try to keep up, ’cause I’m goan that way.” He pointed to the mountains, as if daring me to follow.