Jack of Hart- Wild Card

by Violeta Bagia

  ‘There’s no way out.’ Aurel’s voice boomed across the empty store, yet again reminding me that I was about to come up against some serious firepower. ‘We’ve got every exit blocked, though I’m sure you already know that by now.’

  Cringing, I moved. This would be a good time to make an appearance, Alex.

  ‘Come quietly and I will ensure no harm comes to you.’ His tone sent chills over me.

  Suddenly I felt so helpless.

  Easing myself lower to the ground I moved quickly. When I reached the display, I pulled two knives out of the plastic hand and tucked them into my boots.

  I couldn’t believe we were here, that we’d come to this point. At the very least, I now knew he didn’t believe me, Illarion had tried to convince him but all that did was create a rift between the two and something told me it wasn’t going to be easily fixed, if at all.

  Once again, I found myself hoping that somehow, Alex would turn up sooner rather than later…but that thought quickly fizzled out in a puff of smoke.

  ‘I’m giving you the option to come out of your own accord.’

  Aurel’s voice snapped my attention back to the present shit storm.

  ‘You can’t hide in here forever, Hart.’ He shouted.

  The use of my last name made me flinch.

  ‘Illarion might have believed the spiel you gave him, maybe even I would have, but the fact that you attacked your friends and attacked Anna, that cannot be forgiven Ace. You need help and if you aren’t serious about it, I see no other way.’

  He’d gone off the reservation, ironically, since he thought I was the crazy one.

  ‘I’d rather you come in willingly, but I won’t hesitate to do what I must.’

  He was trying to draw me out. Basic tactics. You should know me better than that Aurel.

  ‘You’re lucky you didn’t hurt her worse than you did because this would have been a completely different operation.’

  Yeah, right. I rushed back, deeper into the darkness of the store.

  As their torches swept the area, I felt a sudden shift inside me, and my heart sped up.

  No, not now. God no.

  “Perfect opportunity to show them what you’re made of, no?”

  “Get out of my head.”

  Panic set in. Shit. I moved quickly trying to find something to use as deeper cover.

  “Have you noticed that your control is getting away from you?”

  Yeah, that hadn’t eluded me. I grit my teeth.

  “Eventually, you’ll have no control at all, and then… well you know what happens then. I’m sure you’ve already started to feel those effects. Am I right?”

  Sweat started to break out across my skin. No. This couldn’t be happening now. I just had to hold out, a little longer. I could do this. But this is what he was counting on.

  “You need the Darkness, I need you to learn how to control it, that is the only way we can end this.”

  “Get out of my head.”

  “Then get fighting, pet, you’re stronger than all of them out there. Show them what you’re made of.”

  My stomach churned, disgusting pig.

  What I imagined to be a scoff, met me in the form of a tsk sound. Condescending asshole.

  Pressing my fingers to my temple, I forced myself to breathe and breathe slowly. I had to keep him out.

  “I will fight you until the end, Dalca. This will end, one way or another. And then I’m coming for you.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  Without a second to compose my thoughts, the familiar, terrifying pull of power inside me shifted and he turned up his game and the tug of war over my soul intensified—all my big talk was shoved to the background, I wasn’t going to make it.

  With each pull, the pressure in my head reached tipping point until it boiled over and with each pull, my shield faltered a little more. Eventually, I lost all my control and I dropped to my knees knocking over a display of garden gnomes.

  Damn it. Desperate to survive, to fight, I scrambled to my feet as the soldiers sprung into unified action.

  Seconds later, the full shift of power took force and Dalca gained control.

  As Aurel neared and another agent rounded the corner, I lost my vantage point and the Darkness in my veins took over, moving my body, it was doing what he wanted, I was moving out into the open, closer to Aurel, closer to the carnage he was looking for.

  ‘Stand down!’ Aurel shouted when his eyes landed on me.

  He raised his gun, the laser sight trained directly at my chest.

  ‘You’re going to shoot me?’ I heard myself say.

  ‘Stand down.’ He repeated, sterner this time.

  My body moved again, sauntering toward him. The pull of muscle turning into a smile made me want to scream, but of course, he’d never allow it.

  Instead, I heard myself tell Aurel that he was a coward, which I didn’t disagree with.

  If I could scream, I would have, I would have screamed and begged and pleaded for him to stop and to see that it was me.

  But none of those things happened, all I did was continue inching toward him. He shifted in his spot, his feet moving a few inches back, the leather of his gloved gripping his gun, groaning under the pressure. He hadn’t anticipated this turn of events, I could see it with every erratic pulse of his aura, I could see it in the sweat beading across his forehead.

  He didn’t want to do this, but I was giving him no choice, Dalca was giving him no choice. He was scared.

  I stepped closer again.

  ‘Stop!’ He warned, his eyes frantically searching mine.

  Come on, see through it, see that it’s me!

  ‘I mean it, Ace. Stop!’

  If only I could get through to him, if only I could break Dalca’s hold somehow…

  Before Aurel shouted his second warning, it hit me— I knew what to do. This had to work, it just had to.

  Dalca wanted control, he didn’t want me dead and Aurel sure as hell didn’t want to kill me, but if he wounded me, enough to scare Dalca out, maybe I stood a chance.

  All of this was riding on one, hopeful bluff and the hope that Alex would get here soon to smooth it all out. I raised my arms out to my side and moved forward, letting Dalca’s control rise.

  This was the only way, I kept repeating to myself. I prayed and hoped that if the Beings were out there somewhere, still watching out for me, they’d find some way to make this work.

  Aurel’s icy eyes locked onto mine, daring me to make a move. I wanted so badly for him to see it, but it was too late, there was nothing I could do now. His mind was set, and I was faced with two choices, one more favorable than the other.

  As the Light and Dark surged within me, I allowed Dalca in and I felt my body go lax, giving in to him. I wasn’t yielding, I reminded myself against the vile taste, I was fighting, the only way I knew how.

  As Aurel’s eyes widened sensing what was coming, I let it burn inside me. Each of the soldiers backed up, moving away from me but not without Aurel’s words of warning breaking through the chaos. Then, I released it, full power and unrestrained energy.

  Instead of hitting Aurel and his men, I channeled the blast outward and watched as it erupted off to my side and missed.

  Dalca panicked, and I’d succeeded.

  Several explosions rocked the sides of the department store, one where my blast hit the barbeque display and the other, where Alex and my team broke through the windows.

  Through all the noise exploding around us and Dalca’s insults, I heard loud pops of gunfire as Alex and my team fought Aurel’s, and as the sound grew louder and clearer, I braced myself—this was it—as the distinct sound of a gun firing closer than the rest filled the air, Dalca left me, and I was back.

  The bullet hit hard, right in my chest and the pain that filled me was instant, the bullet exploded inside me, sending me crashing to the ground.

  ‘Ace!’ Alex shouted and, in that moment, everything sped up, like all my ch
oices were replayed back to me in sharp clarity.

  As I fell, I heard Matt scream, I heard Peyton shout and I heard a war with the unlikeliest of allies, begin.

  It wasn’t a kill shot, but God it hurt like a bitch.

  Regaining control of my body, my hands instinctively went to my chest trying in vain to stop the burning pain ripping through me.

  As soon as the burn seeped into my pores, I knew something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.

  Aurel ran toward me, he was screaming for me to get up, he wasn’t planning this. Now that all his defenses were down, I heard his mind racing in time with his heart. He hadn’t planned this at all. He was in shock, he was confused, questioning everything that led to this moment.

  A whir of dizzying sounds replaced the ringing in my ears and it took a few seconds to register that it was screeching tires just outside followed by shouting; Illarion, oh God.

  Aurel’s eyes darted between Alex and the men trying to hold him back, I tried to tell them it was okay, but between the spluttering of blood pooling in my mouth and Alex throwing the first guy to the ground, I was about as far from talking as I was from fighting.

  Alex and Matt cleared the way and Peyton slipped outside, she was a force to be reckoned with in her own right and if she and Illarion found their way back in, it would be at the detriment of all of Aurel’s men.

  Matt threw another one down and Alex forced Aurel from my side and in a swift motion, I was laid flat on my back, my head supported by Matt.

  ‘What the hell did you do?’ Matts voice sounded through the chaos. ‘What the fuck did you shoot her with?’

  Aurel didn’t bother answering him, but he did stumble backwards, his wide, terror filled eyes, found mine and then the pain got real.

  A pain I’d never felt, or could quite explain, filled every void inside me that wasn’t already on fire.

  ‘Call the medics!’ Aurel shouted over his shoulder. ‘Something’s wrong!’

  Something was wrong…this didn’t…this didn’t feel right.

  ‘Fuck!’ He shouted again, pushing Matt out of the way and looking back at the agent who’d just run out to call the medic. ‘No, no, this can’t be happening. Where the fuck are the medics?’

  ‘What the hell did you do?’ Alex repeated Matt’s earlier question.

  When Aurel failed to produce an adequate answer, Alex roughly pushed him aside and pressed his hand over my wound.

  His bright eyes found mine and as I drew him in, I watched as his aura pulsed around him with fear.

  ‘Hold on Soldier, you’re going to be fine.’

  A smile tugged on my lips. ‘Thank you, Corporal.’

  Aurel knelt beside us, his eyes flicking between mine and Alex’s, there was fear, not of me but of what he’d done.

  Alex pulled his hand from the wound and winced.

  ‘What is this?’ He hissed at Aurel when he jerked back.

  ‘Oh Jesus.’ Aurel shook his head. ‘This cannot be happening.’

  He pressed his hand back over the bleeding wound and looked down at me. ‘The medics are coming. Okay?’

  Another splutter of blood escaped with another choked breath and I’d managed to look down at where Alex’s had was pressed into my chest. Bright blue liquid oozed out of me mixed with my blood. Holy hell, this wasn’t normal. The Serum…the Serum didn’t do this.

  My body started to shake and convulse under his touch.

  ‘Jesus Christ, Aurel, what is this? What did you shoot her with?’ Alex yelled, pushing down harder.

  Aurel trembled, he was of no use. He was in shock.

  My arms shook uselessly beside me and my vision turned red. I glanced up through the dark edges closing in on me.

  ‘It’s okay…’ I whispered through the pain, letting my head fall against Alex’s hand.

  His tears fell onto my cheeks and I couldn’t help but cry in return.

  ‘Keep your eyes open!’ Alex shouted. ‘Please, Ace, I can’t lose you, not again. Come on, Soldier. Stay awake.’

  My vision darkened and with the little strength I had, I smiled, reaching for his hand on my chest. ‘I’m sorry.’

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Illarion

  As I threw down another agent and got ready to shoot a third, I saw Peyton running across the field, her gun trained ahead, and with each passing foot, the agents stepped aside.

  The moment I saw her face, I knew.

  No. I pushed past the men who’d stepped out of my way, on his orders. It had taken a lot for me to keep my mouth shut, to keep civil when they told me that Aurel was going after her.

  If it had been anyone else, I would have killed them. That thought used to scare me, now it fueled me.

  The department store was in lockdown, agents were stationed at every access point and another car I presumed belonged to Alex, was haphazardly parked behind Aurel’s.

  Stealth breaches were usually just that, no one knew we were there until it was too late, the fact that the lights were on, forced me to speed up.

  ‘Hurry, Illarion.’ She muttered, keeping her eyes on me and her gun out. ‘It’s not looking good.’

  As we reached the doors, she pushed them open and in the moment it took for me to register what I was seeing my heart stalled and then sped up all at once.

  Aurel’s eyes shot up, meeting mine. A moment of panic forced him back as he watched my eyes sweep the scene and then land back on him.

  A sharp breath stopped in my lungs, but my stride didn’t falter. The agents didn’t dare move as I stormed forward toward Ace.

  He had his hand pressed on her chest and a quick assessment of the situation hit me hard, knocking all the wind from me.

  He’d shot her.

  And not with a dart.

  Aurel’s eyes widened, he was about to protest but I couldn’t deal with him right now. I had no interest in anything he could say.

  ‘This is bad, we need specialty teams in.’ Alex spoke into an earpiece, while his other hand was pressed over Ace’s chest. ‘I don’t care what your fucking orders are, we need help right now!’

  As I neared, Matt pulled Aurel back, both for his good and mine. I didn’t know what I would do.

  ‘They’re two minutes out.’ Matt supplied when I reached him. ‘It’s not looking good, the medics on your side haven’t dealt with whatever this is.’

  I brought my attention back to Aurel, Ace was alive, she was breathing, I could feel that and that was the only thing keeping me from smashing my fist through his face.

  As I looked down at blood mixed with bright blue liquid, my stomach fell through the floor, I’d only read about this, it wasn’t even meant to be on the market yet.

  Her body shook, violent convulsions kept her coughing up blood and Alex’s hold kept her as steady as possible.

  But as soon as the medics announced their arrival, Aurel nodded at them and looked away when they rushed to her side, strapping her in and cuffing her hands to either side of the stretcher.

  ‘What the hell is this?’ I spat. ‘What have you done?’

  ‘Them too.’ He said quietly.

  Within seconds, several agents jumped into action and sprung me and Peyton. Off to my side, Alex and Matt both fought against the soldiers surrounding them.

  ‘Back off.’ Alex warned, but I held out my hand.

  ‘We’ll clear this up at the Agency. Stay cool.’

  ‘Fine.’ He spat.

  ‘She was out of control.’ Aurel said steadily, but inside he was all over the place.

  ‘You shot her.’

  ‘She was going to attack!’

  ‘But did she?’ I shouted. ‘Because I don’t see any injuries here aside from that guy nursing his sorry ass over there and the two rookies I just knocked down.’

  His defenses collapsed.

  ‘She attacked our men, she attacked Anna.’ He muttered, his voice cracking like he finally knew he had no more ammo.

  ‘Because Dalca is taking over.
’

  Aurel looked back down at his blood-soaked hands, shaking his head. ‘You can’t expect me to believe that, she’s sick Illarion. She’s been through a lot and it’s finally caught up with her.’

  ‘You’re wrong.’

  ‘You’re enabling her by letting her believe this fantasy, it’s easier to believe that she’s possessed than to accept what’s really happening.’

  ‘What’s really happening is that Dalca is taking over, he’s destroying her and turning everyone against her.’

  ‘You’re blind to it. You love her, but you’re harming her. She needs help. Real help, Brother—’

  ‘Don’t. Don’t you dare, Aurel.’ I hissed. ‘You chose to believe everyone else over us.’

  A retort died on his lips. There was no fixing this. There would never be a situation in which I would forgive him.

  He didn’t say anymore, instead he gave the order and we were all dragged out.

  ‘Let him go with the ambulance.’ I heard him say and I was led to the waiting van. I climbed in and sat beside Ace.

  I squeezed her hand and she opened her eyes.

  ‘You’re here.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Don’t be.’ She winced.

  ‘They’re going to lock you up.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘I will get you out. I swear to you, Ace.’

  She smiled, gently turning her head toward me. ‘I don’t know how long I can keep him at bay, Ila.’

  ‘You’re doing fine. Just keep talking to me and I’ll keep you here.’

  ‘You won’t be able to.’ She whispered, keeping her eyes on me. ‘He’ll come for me, and when he does, I won’t be able to stop him.

  ‘What can I do?’ Ideas were fast running out, keeping her away from everyone wasn’t working, keeping her mind occupied wasn’t working. I was sinking.

  ‘I can’t keep doing this…in my own world, I can try and fight, I can’t do it here.’

  ‘No, Ace.’ I said, pressing my hand to her cheek. ‘You’re not going anywhere.’

  She wasn’t afraid anymore and that scared me.

  ‘You know that I have to do this.’

  Words refused to form, what could I even say to that?

  ‘I’ll always be with you Illarion, even if I’m not here.’