by Aaron Hodges
Susan laughed. “Have you recovered so quickly, my dear? I will have to make your injuries more permanent this time. Yes, I think it would give me great pleasure to tear those pretty wings from your back.” The Chead stepped towards them, then caught herself and shook her head. “Alas, you will have to wait. First, there is the matter of humanity’s extinction. Hecate, come.”
Hecate turned and started towards Susan. Heart hammering in her chest, Liz looked from the Chead to the President’s body. Obviously, whatever Susan had in mind required Hecate’s help.
“What, are you still afraid I might steal him?” Liz asked mockingly. Hecate paused and looked back, his eyes darkening. Batting her eyes, Liz blew him a kiss. “Promise I won’t bite this time, Hecate.”
A growl rumbled across the room, but it didn’t come from Hecate.
“Stay away from him.” Susan’s voice was sharp enough to cut glass.
Eyes flashing, the Chead stepped away from the mahogany desk. Liz stood her ground, though it took all her will not to turn and flee. Even Hecate paled as his enraged mate stalked past him.
“Did you really have to piss her off?” Chris hissed as she closed on them.
Forcing the pain in her arm and wings from her mind, Liz braced herself. “Did you have a better plan?”
Susan was on them before Chris could respond. One second she was gathering speed, the next she was among them, fingers flashing like claws for Liz’s throat. Liz leapt back, her wings flaring out instinctively, and the blow missed her by inches. Then the pain of her broken bones struck, tearing through her like wildfire. Her legs buckled. Hissing, Susan came for her again.
Brown feathers flashed as Chris collided with the rampaging Chead, driving her sideways. Susan snarled and turned on him. Her knee flicked up, catching him square in the stomach as he struggled to overpower her. Air hissed between Chris’s teeth as he staggered back. Susan leapt, her foot swinging around to slam into his head.
Screaming with agony, Liz forced herself to her feet and back into the fray. Susan heard her coming and turned to meet her, a dark smile twisting her lips. Liz feinted with her good hand, then kicked out at the Chead’s ankles. Susan cackled and leapt over the blow, then drove her boot into Liz’s face.
Stars burst across Liz’s vision. Crying out, she tried to recover. The room faded in and out of focus, and she didn’t even see the next blow coming. It slammed into her chin, lifting her to her toes and sending her reeling. Coughing, Liz tasted blood in her mouth.
Somewhere, a voice roared. Squinting through the stars, Liz watched a dark shadow slam into Susan’s back. Copper wings beat down as Sam lifted the Chead above his head and hurled her across the room. Laughing, Susan twisted in the air and landed easily on her feet.
Still struggling to see, Liz stumbled forward to join Sam. A second later Chris was at her side. The three of them exchanged a glance. Questions raced through Liz’s mind, but try as she might, she couldn’t make sense of her friends’ presence. The answers would have to wait. Together they faced the white-eyed Chead.
A smile spread across Susan’s face. “Three? Are you sure that’s enough?”
Liz swallowed, in too much pain to answer. The Chead had already proven Chris and herself were no match for her in their current state. From the look of Sam, he wasn’t much better off than them. But there was still one way they might subdue Susan’s insanity.
Liz clenched her bare fists, readying herself.
Susan caught the movement and grinned. “You think your little trick will work a second time?”
“Let’s find out.”
Teeth bared, Liz lunged, desperate to lay a hand, a finger, even a kiss on the insane creature—anything that would allow her venom to work its magic. Susan made no move to avoid her, but stood fixed in place, eyebrows raised, and let Liz come. At the last second, her hands shot out and caught Liz by the wrists.
“No!” Liz shrieked, her heart plummeting into her stomach.
She fought desperately to break free, but Susan’s fingers were like iron shackles around the cuffs of her jacket, protecting the Chead from her skin. The hairs on Liz’s neck tingled as the white eyes fixed on her. Lips twitching with amusement, Susan studied her as the others watched on, helpless to intervene. Then, laughing, the Chead leaned in and licked Liz’s cheek.
“Argh!” Liz choked, pulling away. To her surprise, the hands around her wrists vanished. Overbalanced, she toppled back and slammed into the ground.
Liz quickly scrambled back towards the others. With Chris’s help, she managed to regain her feet. Together, they stared at the mad creature that had once been a doctor in their facility. Breath held, they waited to see whether Liz’s venom would work.
Seconds turned quickly to minutes, and their hope withered and died.
“Are we done?” Susan asked finally, her eyes darkening. “I am the Chead, foolish children. Your tricks are nothing to me.”
Before they could respond, she lunged. Liz had half a second to register the movement before Susan’s hand closed around her throat. She gasped as the woman hoisted her off her feet. Iron fingers dug into her windpipe, choking off her air. With a strangled cry she kicked at the Chead and felt the blow connect, but Susan only sneered.
“Are you ready to die, daughter of Talisa?” she whispered, pulling Liz close.
Darkness obscured Liz’s vision as she beat desperately at the Chead, but it made no difference. Blood pounded in her ears, all but deafening her. She could feel the power radiating off Susan, crushing the life from her, as though it were some physical force.
Through the dancing shadows, she watched Chris charge, Sam just a step behind. Her heart lurched as she realized with sick certainty that they didn’t stand a chance. Susan would snuff the life from them as easily as Liz would blow out a candle.
Then she would do the same for the whole world.
One hand still locked around Liz’s throat, Susan turned to meet Sam and Chris. Her mouth opened as she shouted a command. Liz barely heard what was said over the pounding in her ears, but the word rang in her mind, smothering her last thoughts of resistance.
“Stop.”
Liz watched in horror as Sam and Chris staggered to a halt. A sly smile spread across Susan’s lips, and her grip around Liz’s throat loosened. Liz gasped, the darkness retreating for a second as fresh air flooded her lungs.
“Well, well, well. Your mother was right, Elizabeth,” Susan mused. Liz moaned as the fingers clamped tight again. “Your kind are have more of the Chead in them than I thought. Now, kneel.”
Eyes shining with unspilt tears, Chris and Sam fell to the floor, and Susan turned her attention back to Liz. The white eyes flashed, haunting, terrifying—yet now Liz found herself unable to even look away.
“You tried to take my place,” Susan whispered as she choked the life from Liz. “You tried to steal my mate!”
Liz’s head rolled violently on her shoulders as Susan shook her. Her vision had shrunk to tiny pinpricks of light, until all she could see was the haunting glow of the Chead’s eyes. Somehow, the glow inexplicably reminded her of Ashley.
“Don’t worry, Elizabeth,” Susan breathed, her face just inches from Liz’s. “Your friends will join you soon.”
“Wanna bet?” a voice came from behind Susan.
Susan’s eyes widened. Releasing Liz, she spun to face the voice.
The baseball bat caught Susan in the side of the head before she could raise an arm to defend herself. Blood sprayed Liz’s clothing as Susan reeled back, one hand clutching at her forehead. Snarling, the Chead swung around, seeking out her assailant.
Golden eyes glowing, Ashley strode after her. Blood covered her face, knotting her flaming hair, and her white wings flared out to fill the room. Before Susan could recover, Ashley swung the bat again. The wooden weapon became little more than a blur as it caught the Chead square in the face.
This time Susan went down, her strength fleeing in a rush. But she was far from done. S
agging to the ground, she snarled up at Ashley, white eyes wide, aglow with the power of the Chead.
“Stop, child! You are mine!” she screamed.
For a second, Ashley paused. The golden light in her eyes seemed to flicker. Liz’s heart lurched in her chest, but Ashley only blinked and shook her head. The glow returned as she towered over the cowering Chead.
She shrugged. “Guess not.”
The bat descended a final time.
64
It’s finally over. The thought swept through Sam like a whirlwind as he watched Susan fall.
His body sagged as whatever compulsion she’d placed on him vanished. Sucking in a breath, he stared at Ashley, unable to look away. Wings flared, blood still dripping from the gash in her forehead, she dropped the bat and turned towards him. The glow in her eyes flickered and went out. Suddenly she was falling.
Sam was on his feet in an instant. Rushing forward, he caught Ashley and pulled her into his arms. Panic constricted his ribs as he fell to his knees.
“No, no, no,” he whispered, cradling her in his arms.
Her wings hung limply against the red carpet. Her skin seemed unbelievably white beneath the fluorescent lights. A trickle of blood ran from her forehead. He couldn’t tell if she was breathing.
She couldn’t be dead.
He’d just watched her beat a rampaging Chead to death with hardly a pause for breath.
She couldn’t be dead.
Hugging Ashley to his chest, a sob rattled up from his throat. His eyes burned as he clenched them tightly shut.
“Hey, not so hard,” a muffled voice came from the vicinity of his chest.
Blinking, Sam lifted his head. Ashley’s amber eyes stared up at him, streaked with red. “That’s better.”
Choking with relief, Sam leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “I thought you were gone,” he whispered. “Twice.”
Ashley gave a faint smile. “Not yet.” Her eyes flickered closed again.
Movement came from across the room. Sam’s throat constricted as he saw Hecate still standing, his grey eyes fixed on the body of his mate. In the rush of their fight with Susan, Sam had forgotten about the other Chead. Now he tensed, readying himself for one last battle. He wasn’t about to let the creature avenge its fallen mate.
But Hecate did not seem to notice them. Shoulders slumped, the Chead staggered across to Susan and fell to his knees beside her. “I’m…sorry,” he croaked, taking the woman’s hand in his. “I should never…have betrayed you…my mate.”
A lump lodged in Sam’s throat. Swallowing, he blinked back tears of his own, a wave of compassion sweeping over him. Watching Hecate, Sam saw his own grief from a moment before reflected in the Chead’s eyes. Only there would be no respite for Hecate, no reprieve from his loss.
Ashley had made sure of that.
Sobs racked Hecate and a low keening filled the apartment. Sam stared, mesmerized by the Chead’s pain, by its humanity. Finally, he forced himself to look away, unable to watch any longer.
Liz still lay where Susan had dropped her, just a few feet from the grieving Chead. Climbing to her knees, she stared at Hecate, as though still not quite able to believe they’d won.
Beyond Hecate, Chris stood poised, ready to leap if the Chead moved, until it became obvious the creature had eyes only for its dead mate. His shoulders slumped, his wings sagging to either side of him as he looked away.
Sam let out a long sigh as looked back at Ashley. Her eyes were closed, but the soft whisper of her breath reassured him she lived. He just hoped the President’s blow to her skull hadn’t left any lasting damage.
“We did it,” he said softly.
Eyes still closed, Ashley nodded. A smile played across her lips. “We did.”
Sam’s eyes travelled to where the President lay. “We have to tell the world,” he said.
“Redemption,” Ashley murmured back.
His stomach clenched at that. Redemption. The word rang in his mind. He glanced at Chris, nodding slowly to himself. Ashley was right—this news would bring redemption for both of them. Whatever crimes they’d committed would be wiped away when the world learned what they’d done, when the people heard that the so-called winged freaks had put an end to the tyrant.
They would no longer be demons, but heroes.
“Redemption,” he repeated finally. “For all of us.”
Movement came as Liz staggered to her feet. Stumbling slightly, she looked down at Hecate. “I’m sorry, Hecate.”
The Chead looked up at her, grey eyes blank. “You…” He growled, blinking. Lines creased his forehead as he frowned. “This is…your fault. You…tempted me.”
“No, that was Talisa,” Liz whispered. “I never wanted any of this.”
“Liar!”
Growling, Hecate climbed to his feet. Liz’s eyes widened. She shuffled backwards, but her wing snagged beneath her boots, sending her staggering sideways. A shriek started in her throat, quickly cut off as Hecate charged, his arm wrapping around her neck.
“Stay back,” he hissed, eyes wild. Holding Liz in front of him, he backed away.
Sam was already on his feet. He shared a glance with Chris and the two edged slowly apart, though Sam made sure to keep himself between Hecate and Ashley. Breath held, they shuffled after the retreating Chead.
Teeth bared, Liz stared back at them, her face a mask of agony. Her wings hung limply behind her, crushed against Hecate’s chest. From the way she’d moved earlier, Sam guessed they were broken. Her left arm, dangling uselessly at her side, definitely was, but her right was already clasped tight around Hecate’s wrist. Her eyes flashed as she looked from Sam to Chris.
Sam gave the slightest nod. He understood. It was only a matter of time before her venom incapacitated Hecate. They just had to make sure he didn’t do anything rash before it took effect.
“Let her go, Hecate,” Chris said, his voice shaking. “Take Susan and go, we won’t stop you. Just let Liz go.”
Hecate’s eyes switched between the two of them. Behind him, the mahogany desk brought him up short. Uncertainty flashed across the Chead’s face, but his hold around Liz’s neck did not relent.
Sam tried to judge the distance between them. His strength was growing by the second now, as the last traces of sarin gas left his system. All he needed was a second, a moment to close the gap and pull Liz to safety.
“Hecate!” he shouted, taking another step. “You heard what he said.”
But now Hecate grinned. Pulling Liz tight against his chest, he snarled. “Stay back. Or I snap…her pretty little neck.”
65
“Just let her go, Hecate,” Chris whispered. His legs shook, and suddenly those were the only words that would come to him. A sick sense of helplessness wrapped around his stomach as he watched the vile creature hold Liz hostage.
Hecate stood in front of the President’s desk, eyes wild, a dark smile on his twisted face. He didn’t seem to care that Liz’s fingers were wrapped tightly around his wrist. It only added to Chris’s terror. The scene in the desert played itself out over and over in his mind, Hecate murdering the innocent family. His stomach swirled. It was all he could do not to fall to his knees and throw up.
This couldn’t be happening.
“What do you want, Hecate?” Sam asked calmly.
Relief washed through Chris. He wasn’t alone. Sam was with him—strong, reliable Sam, the one who had never let them down. Sam would find a way out of this.
He had to.
Because Chris’s mind had come to a sudden, grinding halt.
“Please, Hecate, just let her go,” he said again, his words a broken record now.
“No,” Hecate laughed. The Chead was gaining confidence, his eyes filled with a sick sense of joy at their fear. “At least, not yet.”
“Don’t hurt her,” Chris croaked.
Grinning, Hecate stroked a lock of Liz’s black hair. She flinched from his touch, but his grip pulled her back.
“And what do you want?”
“What she wanted,” Hecate whispered, nodding at Susan. “What she…gave her life for.”
Chris stared into the mad eyes of the Chead, then staggered as the full meaning of Hecate’s words sank in. Nausea filled his stomach and he croaked out something unintelligible.
“The keys are…in their places,” Hecate continued. In his arms, Liz had gone still. She stared at Chris, eyes shimmering. “All I need…is someone to help me.”
The words shook Chris to his core. Tears stung his eyes. He could hardly breathe. Fists clenched, he watched, helpless, as Hecate dragged Liz around the desk until they stood in front of the silver panel. The keys still sat in their locks, the dull black metal gleaming with the promise of death.
“We don’t have…much time,” Hecate rasped, his voice slithering through the room. “I can already…feel her venom. Do not wait too long…Chris. Not like last time.” His laughter echoed around the room, taunting him.
“Hecate, please,” Chris gasped.
He saw again the murdered family, their blood staining the asphalt.
Beside him, Sam stood fixed in place, frozen by the creature’s words. Somewhere behind them, Ashley lay on the floor, but she couldn’t help them now. Chris had seen her after facing down Susan. His friend had used up everything she had.
It was just Chris and Hecate now.
“Come now…Chris,” Hecate breathed. “What do they mean to you? What have they ever done but use you? But hurt you? Join me. Use the key. Save your mate. Help me end the tyranny of those who created us.”
“I can’t,” Chris said in a shaking voice. He said the words, but he didn’t know what they meant.
He couldn’t help the Chead end the world. He had come here with Liz to stop them.
But he couldn’t face a life without Liz. Not again.
The first traces of pain appeared on Hecate’s face. His lips drew back in a snarl, revealing yellowed teeth. “Hurry, Chris. Time is running out!” The fingers of his spare hand trailed down Liz’s cheek. This time she didn’t flinch.