Chapter 37
Ares’s voice beat at Ree, but while holding the power it didn’t seem to hurt as much as the time he had come to her house. The two gods glowed in her mind the same way that Brigid had when Ree met her on the island. They were bright sources of power that almost blinded her. As if in response to their presence, the power flowed out of Ree uncontrollably. It didn’t push at her friends, but instead flowed around where they stood and pushed against the gods, as if mirroring her rage.
“How dare either of you show you faces here? You’re traitors to this world, to your brethren, and yet you show up here and pretend as if you have anyone’s best interest in mind?” Her feet left the ground and Ree’s hair began to lift from her shoulders. “You’re evil! I’m not your pawn to manipulate as you please.”
“Ree.” Roland’s voice was weak, fear clutching his throat. “Don’t.”
Ares looked at Ree, his eyes crackling with red flames and she felt it before he even moved. A large burst of red-tinged power flew at Ree. Something hit her from behind and she stumbled against Paden. There was a grunt and the sound of someone falling to the ground. Ree struggled in Paden’s arms and turned toward the sound. Sophie lay on the ground, her eyes closed with pain and she clutched her chest.
“No!” Ree looked at the gods and flung her hand out. Her power smashed into the gods. Their faces wore a look of shock, though Loki’s mouth curved into a grin. He grabbed Ares so the other god couldn’t retaliate and winked at Ree. With a crack of thunder, they both disappeared.
Ree actually beat Paden and Roland to Sophie’s side. Her hands gently lifted the Guardian’s head. “Sophie, are you okay? I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry!”
Paden knelt over Sophie and tried to move her hands, but she fought him. “Let me see, Sophie. I can help you.”
“No. Too late.” Sophie’s voice was weak and barely a whisper. “Need to talk to Ree.”
“Sophie, you’re going to be fine. Let Paden help you.” Roland touched her shoulder, his voice rough with emotion.
“No, Roland. I’m tired. It’s time.” Sophie smiled at him and a trickle of blood slid from the side of her mouth. “Take care of yourself. You deserve… good… things.”
“No, Sophronia.” Words slid out of Roland’s mouth in a language Ree couldn’t understand.
“Go, Roland. Let me talk to Ree.” Sophie coughed and Roland leaned down to place a chaste kiss on her head. Standing up, he walked away, his form melting into the shadows. The pain and anger he felt was so strong, Ree couldn’t help but broadcast an echo of it to her Guardians. Melanie and Bryce took off after Roland, leaving Weylin and Juliette with Ree and Paden. Juliette pulled Paden away by his arm so Ree could speak to Sophie alone.
“Don’t let him do anything stupid, Ree. He’s been used by everyone.” Ree looked at Sophie and knew the Guardian meant Roland. Sophie coughed a little and frowned. “He doesn’t know. They didn’t tell him.”
“What do you mean?” Ree brushed some of Sophie’s hair out of the older woman’s face.
“Tria. Not soulmate. Paden.” Sophie coughed again and Ree winced when more blood came out of her mouth.
“Let me get Paden. He can help you.”
“No. Can’t heal a wound from the gods.” Sophie reached up and grabbed Ree’s hand, revealing some of the burnt flesh on her abdomen. “Need you to listen.”
“I am.”
“Paden and Roland. Not him. Ask Ellie. Understand?” Sophie squeezed Ree’s fingers.
“No, Sophie. I don’t get it.” Ree shook her head.
“Part of the plan. All part of the plan.” Sophie’s chest hitched as if she couldn’t breathe and tears slid out of her eyes. “Knew it. Still did it.”
“Sophie.” Ree mumbled the Guardian’s name around the knot in her throat.
“Glad I was the one to find you. See you again.” Sophie smiled at Ree and then her eyes fluttered shut for a moment.
“Sophie! No. Please, don’t do this. Paden!” Ree looked over her shoulder at her friends.
“No, Ree. Time. Don’t blame self, okay? Just take it.” Sophie’s hand tightened on Ree’s.
“Take what?” Ree felt her hand grow warm and she looked down through the tears in her eyes and gasped. Sophie’s hand was glowing a bright green and thin tendrils of light were curling around Ree’s upper arm.
“Yours. Just borrowing it.”
Sparks floated around Ree as Sophie became paler and paler. The thin lines of power darted around Ree, filling the area with bright light. The warm sensation of the power grew in Ree’s chest, growing to envelope her entire body. As if there was too much power to hold in, it flared out of Ree and filled the parking lot with green light. Ree closed her eyes and let the power sweep through her body. It felt right, like a missing part of her had been found.
As the power began to slow, and then turn to a trickle, Ree opened her eyes and looked down at Sophie’s limp form. There was a soft smile on the Guardian’s face. Wiping some of the blood from Sophie’s cheek, Ree let the tears she felt fall on the other woman’s dark hair. Warm hands closed on her shoulders and pulled her up. Paden’s face was sad, but urgent. He pulled her toward the house hurriedly, while Weylin swooped down and picked up Sophie’s body as he followed closely behind them. Juliette slammed the door behind their group and threw the lock.
Paden’s hands traveled over Ree’s arms before turning her face up. His eyes searched hers, but Ree wasn’t sure what he was looking for. With his thumb he brushed some of the tears off of her cheek. After a second, he looked away from Ree and watched as Juliette peeked out the windows.
“What’s going on?” Ree looked at Paden and realized the tension he was feeling wasn’t because of what happened between Sophie and Ree.
“Tristan is outside.” Juliette’s voice was heavy. “You okay?”
“Where are the others?” Ree looked around at her friends, her Guardians, and felt her chest constrict.
“I don’t know. They followed Roland to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid.” Juliette kept her gaze on what was happening, but Ree could feel her friend’s fear simmering underneath the surface.
Weylin was going through the drawers and cabinets, pulling out weapons and laying them on the tables. Paden had moved to check out the front of the store. He peeked out of the swinging door and then looked back into the room.
“There are Dark Ones on the sidewalk out front. Ree, can you sense them anywhere else?”
Ree closed her eyes and reached for the power. Instead of feeling the cold spots like she normally did, Ree actually had glimpses of each Dark One flash on the inside of her eyes lids. She gasped, but kept her eyes shut and tried to sort through the images. Tristan stood staring at the shop, his face rigid with determination. Dark Ones casually stood on the sidewalk, ready to attack the shop at any moment. And there, on the roof, were three Dark Ones kneeling as they listened quietly. Michael looked up as if he had heard Ree gasp, his eyes black and his mouth slightly open, exposing his brand-new fangs.
“Roof. Three of them. Michael is up there and he’s been turned.” Ree looked at Paden with wide eyes.
“How the hell did that happen?” Paden looked upward as if he could see through the roof.
“Doesn’t that take a while? I mean, after the final blood exchange?” Weylin looked at them from where he was checking out the weapons.
“What the hell do I know? No one has bothered to explain much of anything to me and now Sophie is dead!” Ree stalked over to the window and peeked through the blinds.
“Ree, you have to stay calm. They can hear you.” Juliette nodded her head toward Tristan and the Dark Ones standing near him. “Paden, do you think that’s all that are left? Did they waste the majority of their population at Ree’s house?”
“I don’t know.” He pulled a longsword off of the table from next to Weylin and eyed the blade. “Ree, do you still have your dagger?”
Leaning down, Ree pulled up the cuff of her jeans and showed him the knife. A knock sounded on the back door and Ree jumped. Taking a deep breath, Ree grabbed the power and yanked the door open.
Tristan stood in front of the door, his head bowed and his hands folded in front him. He looked up at Ree and she couldn’t help the twinge that accompanied that familiar start. It hurt to know this was her brother; the boy that used to take care of her scratched knees and would share his Christmas candy.
“Ree.”
“Tristan.”
“Is it true? Is Sophie dead?” Tristan raised an eyebrow in curiosity, his tone curious. When no one responded, he shook his head. “That’s a shame.”
“What do you want, Tristan?”
“Well, since you wouldn’t let me have Mom, I figured I would finish my dinner with Sophie.” Shrugging, he smiled coyly. “A guy has to eat, after all.”
The house trembled as Ree stared at Tristan blankly. He smiled at her, showing his fangs. The sound of glass shattering in the front and from upstairs filled the shop. Dark Ones rushed down the stairs and through the front of the store. Paden took out two almost immediately, his sword carving through the air to take off one head and then another. Juliette ran for the stairs, her power glowing from under her skin as she moved. Weylin moved toward Ree and flung throwing stars at Tristan as he ran. Tristan dodged and made a tsking sound.
“Well, since the old lady is dead, I’ll just have to settle for one of your Guardians. I think this city is a little overpopulated with them, anyways.” Tristan darted through the door and reached for Weylin. Weylin, however, was ready for him. He hadn’t stopped moving after throwing the stars and he grabbed Ree by the waist. Jumping over the sofa where Sophie’s form was laying, he practically threw Ree upstairs behind Juliette.
Jules had a Dark One held by the throat against the wall, her hand glowing a bright gold. After a moment the man began to crumble, as if he had digested sunlight and it was eating him from the inside out. Juliette whirled on Weylin and frowned at Ree.
“Do the blast, Jules! Supernova!” Weylin ducked into the room where Teagan’s body was resting. Tucking Ree against the inside wall, he threw an arm over both of their faces as Jules filled the shop with a light bright enough to singe hair.
Juliette stepped back into the room and took a deep breath. “That sent Tristan running, but it won’t last for long. I’m not sure if I can do it again anytime soon.”
Footsteps sounded up the stairs and Juliette readied her weapon while Weylin got ready to yank Ree to another corner of the room. Paden entered the room cautiously, a bloody streak on the side of his head.
“We’ve got to get out of here.”
“Really? I was just starting to think it was getting fun.” Weylin rolled his eyes at his friend.
“They started a fire.” Paden walked toward the window and looked out toward the street. Smoke was already billowing out of the broken store windows and creeping up the stairs. “There aren’t many more Dark Ones left that I can tell. A few are still with Tristan, but he was making a beeline away from the flames.”
“He doesn’t want us following him.” Juliette looked back toward the stairs and frowned. “Where are we going to go? If they were able to get into Ree’s house and the shop, I don’t really trust any of the safe houses.”
“Melanie’s house.” Ree looked at the others and gave them a small smile. “Hecate will watch over us there.”
“Ree, how can you know that? You heard them earlier. The other gods are upset with what you want to do.” Paden frowned and walked back toward the door.
“Trust me, Paden. I can’t explain it, but I know she’ll keep us safe.”
Paden nodded and motioned toward the window with a jerk of his chin. “Jules, Wey—lead on. Make sure the path is clear. Ree and I will be right behind you.”
Juliette wasted no time asking questions. Opening the window, she jumped easily to the ground. Weylin looked over his shoulder at Ree and winked. “Don’t worry. I’ll catch you.” With that he jumped out the window, leaving Ree and Paden in a room that was quickly gathering smoke.
Ree looked at the form on the bed and frowned. “What do we do with Teagan? And Sophie?” It was already close to impossible to reach the other Guardian’s body.
“Guardians are usually burned on a pyre. It’s a very old ritual.” Paden looked at the covered form on the bed. “This will have to do, Ree.”
The door behind Paden slammed open and flames crawled in along the ceiling. Michael barreled through the opening, one side of his face a charred mess. Ree froze as her nightmare happened before her eyes. Paden turned to engage the smoking Dark One, his fangs out and his face livid. Michael hit Paden in the gut with a beefy fist before managing to kick the sword out of the Guardian’s hand. Grabbing Michael with both hands, Paden picked up the Dark One and shoved him into the wall. Ree watched as a blond head rose out of the flames and raised a shortsword. It descended with frightening speed and Ree darted across the room and barreled into the attacker. The Dark One flew into the hallway and landed against a wall of flames. In less time than it took for Ree to reach him, the Dark One was nothing but ashes fueling the angry flames.
“Ree!” Paden hauled her back into the doorway and ran for the window. He leapt headfirst, tucking Ree against his chest and twisting in midair. He landed on the balls of his feet, using his momentum to leave the burning store far behind them.