“Now you’re just asking for it, Wolfie,” I growled at it.
I grabbed the bobbing bubbles of poison spit with my mind and shot them at the beast, setting them all on fire for good measure. The punch of my toxic telekinetic spell pushed the beast out of the lab. It landed in the tunnel with a thump, then exploded next to a group of Pioneer soldiers, showering them in monster blood.
I looked at Bella, who’d already taken another few vials of potion. “According to the lab notes, the potion dies quickly outside either the special cooler or a living body,” she explained as she loaded them into a transport cooler.
We left the lab. The Pioneer forces were streaming in from every direction, flooding the corridors. I saw Harker’s team surrounded by enemies. Calli’s jacket was ripped open, her undershirt saturated with her own blood, but she refused to leave. She just stood there, bleeding out as she continued to shoot at the Pioneers.
“You have to go,” I told her. “Nerissa and the other doctors just arrived. They’re waiting outside. They’ll heal you.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not fine. You’re bleeding out everywhere. Don’t be stubborn.”
She snorted. “You can’t lecture me about stubbornness.”
“Sure I can.” I waved Drake over. “The same way I can knock you upside the head so my friend Drake can carry you to safety.”
Her mouth hardened.
“Gin and Tessa wouldn’t want you to die to save them,” I told her. “They want to see you again.”
Resignation shone in her eyes. I’d hit the right note.
“Ok,” she said, looking at Drake, sizing him up. “Try not to drop me.”
“I wouldn’t dare drop Leda’s beautiful mother.”
Calli glanced at me. “I like him.”
“I thought you would,” I replied as Drake lifted her carefully into his arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll get Gin and Tessa out of here.”
Drake carried Calli through the tunnel that led to the back entrance. It was still empty, which was more than I could say for this hall. The Pioneer guards seemed to multiply by the minute. I found Harker and ran over to him.
“You need to get Bella out of here, so she can bring the Pioneers’ potion back to our lab,” I told him.
Harker looked across the battle scene, his face conflicted. He didn’t want to abandon his soldiers, but he also wanted to keep Bella safe.
“We need to analyze the potion. Nyx’s orders,” I reminded him.
That sealed the deal. Harker led Bella down the tunnel, away from the fight. I went over to Nero. I didn’t even need to say anything.
“We’ll hold off the guards so you can find your sisters and the other prisoners,” Nero told me.
Thank you.
There are likely more Pioneers guarding the prisoners. Be careful, he replied.
I’m always careful.
He made a noise that bore a suspicious resemblance to a snort. Go before I change my mind, Pandora.
I made my way toward the staircase, using my sword to cut through the last remaining guard dog. I paused on the top step, looking across the battleground. There were so many more enemy soldiers than we’d expected. The Pioneers’ organization was enormous, their supporters plentiful. Were there really so many people willing to take up arms against the gods?
As I ran down the stairs, I could hear Nero calling in more Legion soldiers to fight the Pioneers. They could have just left now that they had the potion, but Nero wanted to give me the chance to save my sisters. Who knew what the Pioneers would do with Tessa and Gin. Based on everything I’d seen and heard of them, I just knew I couldn’t let them have my sisters.
At the bottom of the stairs, the hallway was clear, but I could hear voices shouting up ahead. I locked onto that sound and sprinted all-out down the hall, bursting into a prison block. The Pioneers were waiting for me.
I didn’t stop moving. I dashed past the first two guards, flinging them aside with a psychic blast. The remaining four guards closed around me from all sides. Their movements were so slow, so human. I knocked them out easily. Either their potion had worn out, or they’d not yet taken it.
I stepped over the Pioneers strewn across the cobbled ground and hit the green button on the wall. All the cells swung open, and the prisoners shoved and pushed to get out, as though they were afraid that the doors would close again if they didn’t move now. I scanned the crowd of dirt-stained teenagers. My sisters were not among them. Of course they weren’t. Because that would have been too easy. Hardwicke had said they’d been set apart for their magic. Where were they?
I picked out the only prisoner who didn’t appear to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She must have been the daughter of an angel.
“Get everyone out of here,” I told her. “Follow the hallway to the end. General Windstriker is there. He’ll help you all out.”
She nodded and guided the others toward the door. I ran deeper into the prison, passing empty cells and the occasional laboratory table. Ahead, an eerie blue glow pulsed against the walls like a flickering flame. Somehow, I was completely positive that beacon would lead me to my sisters.
The light was so close now. Everything was blue. I ran into the next chamber—then skidded to a stop. A translucent blue veil of magic blocked my path. It was cloudy, foggy, like looking through a pool of water, but beyond the glowing ripple, I could just make out Tessa and Gin. Two guards held to my sisters, who kicked and pushed against them, trying to get to me. I moved toward the veil.
“It’s about time,” a voice said from behind, surprising me. “Doesn’t the Legion teach its soldiers punctuality anymore? I’ve been waiting here for you for so long that my foot fell asleep.”
I spun around to face the familiar voice. It was Balin Davenport, the deserter. I’d been so focused on my sisters beyond the veil of magic that I hadn’t even seen him lurking in the shadows of the room. Moving as quick as lightning, he knocked me aside with a combined punch of magic and muscle. I slammed against the wall. Damn, he hit hard. I jumped up, but I wasn’t fast enough. The deserter now stood in front of the veil, barring my path to my sisters.
“Move.” My voice was a low growl. “Or I’ll move you.”
He laughed.
I swung a psychic punch at him. He caught my fist and threw me to the ground. I kicked back up to my feet, preparing to strike again.
He yawned. “I’ve grown bored of your stubbornness, Leda Pierce.”
In a flash of magic, wings sprouted out of his back. They were a brilliant, iridescent mixture of blue and green, bearing a striking resemblance to a peacock’s feathers.
“You’re not supposed to have wings,” I said, frowning.
According to Jace, Davenport had been one level shy of becoming an angel when he’d deserted the Legion.
His smile was vicious. “A lot can change in a few hundred years.”
And then I felt it. His magic wasn’t light; it was dark.
“You’re a dark angel.”
The veil rippled faster, and dozens of Dark Force soldiers spilled out of it, surrounding me. The Pioneers weren’t the end of this. This went much deeper. It was a scheme born in hell.
“Please spare me the inner monologue,” said the dark angel.
He flicked his wrist, and the soldiers of hell unleashed their magic on me. From all sides, over and over again, they blasted me. It felt like being hit with a thousand hammers all at once. It hurt to stand. It hurt to breathe. Each draw of breath was pure agony, like alcohol burning in my lungs. Clenching my teeth, I stood there, doing my best to endure the pain.
“You’re tougher than you look,” the dark angel commented when the magic barrage finally stopped. “Just like she said.”
“She?” My lips barely moved. My voice was a weak croak.