40. Kali
Chapter 40
Kali
“ G o,” Keeva shouted as Shadows climbed over the rubble where the high walls had stood only minutes ago. Some of it was still burning, but the heavy rain was putting it out quickly. I swiped a hand over my face, getting the water out of my eyes. Rya flanked my side, and I stayed close to Zan until he halted.
He cursed loudly, his body rigid. “I have to go find my dad.”
“What?” I asked in panic.
“He ordered me to find him after coming into the city,” he ground out.
“Then we’ll go with you,” Keeva said firmly. “He’s who we want.”
Viggo eyed her suspiciously as we climbed over the broken stones. “I don’t like this. She kept you two for weeks and tortured both of you. The second Rowan is free?—”
“I want Amaros dead,” Keeva cut in. “Just like Kali.”
Zan glared at her. “I don’t trust you either. You won’t be going anywhere with Kali alone.”
Another explosion from inside the city interrupted our tense conversation. My eyes widened in shock when I spotted an apartment building on fire. Amaros wasn’t just going after PARA. He was killing civilians too. My chest heaved when terrified screams reached my ears.
Vampires were running through the streets, clashing with PARA soldiers who were pouring out of buildings. Innocent people were escaping their ruined homes, still wearing their pajamas. The rain had people slipping on the grass as their panic took hold.
“The Shadows’ building is over there.” Keeva pointed to the left. “It’s at the edge of the city, right on the cliff.”
“Cliff?” I repeated.
“The ocean, Kali,” Pax responded. “We’re right near it. I can smell the salt.”
He must be more in tune with his senses than me, because all I could smell was the blood of vampires and humans fighting around us.
Zan shifted on his feet. “I need to fucking go.” His voice was laced with pain, and I realized he was fighting his father’s entrancement. It didn’t sound like he’d be able to hold it for much longer. “He entranced Rowan, which means he probably knows where the Shadows are. He’s heading to that building.”
I grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”
We raced farther into the city, the Shadows behind us shooting at the vampires who were trying to attack us. They all went to the ground, howling in pain. All those bullets had my blood. In minutes, they’d be human and no match for PARA. A tiny amount of guilt slithered through me. They were vampires who followed Amaros. But did that mean they should get killed? Because them changing back to human was a death sentence.
“Don’t,” Zan murmured quietly, glancing at me as we ran. “They’re too deep into this war to be saved. They will always follow Amaros.”
“Not if they’re human,” I muttered.
“Maybe, but they aren’t our problem right now.” His hand tightened around mine. “Let me and my brothers handle Amaros. I don’t want you going near him.”
I pressed my lips together, refusing to answer. I couldn’t promise him that. I wasn’t doubting his loyalty to me. But Amaros held mind control over his three sons. It was too big of a risk.
We weaved down the small streets, the fighting not happening around us anymore. Though the screams and gunshots were still clear as day. While my sight was perfect in the night now, the rain was hindering it slightly. I was soaked, my boots were waterlogged and heavy.
“There.” Keeva jerked a nod, and I followed her gaze to see a massive metal building, at least five stories tall. There were no windows, and from what I could tell, it hadn’t been damaged like the rest of the city.
“He’s here,” Viggo said darkly. “He must have brought all his vampires. Much more than last time he took down a city.”
As we got closer, I saw the large huddle of vampires in front of the entrance. Pax darted in front of Zan, stopping him in his tracks.
“What are you doing?” Zan snapped.
“What was Dad’s order to you?” Pax asked.
“Once I’m in the city I had to find him,” Zan answered slowly.
“To find him?”
Zan scowled. “Yes, Pax. Why?”
“He didn’t say to talk to him?”
Viggo chuckled when he realized what his twin was doing. “Smart.”
“No.” A small smile crossed Zan’s lips. “Just to find him.”
“So find him. But stay near us,” Pax said.
“He’s right there.” Keeva was staring at the crowd of vampires. “In the middle. I don’t see Rowan.”
Some of the vampires spotted us, and when they shifted, I caught sight of Amaros. Fury bled into my veins as I stormed ahead. Keeva was right next to me, looking as determined as I felt. This was it. Amaros Kane was going to die tonight. Or we would. Either way, life in this world would never be the same.
“Kali, wait,” Zan hissed. “You can’t just rush him. He knows you’re both here.”
He refused to let go of my hand, and I didn’t try to pull away. I wanted him at my side and knew he wouldn’t let me go alone anyway. Keeva pulled a gun from her waistband.
She raised it. “All I need is one good shot.”
Pax shook his head. “I don’t think it’ll be enough. How much blood is in that bullet? Drops? He is centuries old.”
“And I bet he can hear us right now,” I muttered under my breath.
Even though there were noises of the fighting coming from everywhere, I was sure Amaros was listening. My heart was thrashing against my ribs, emotions ripping me apart. I swallowed thickly, sneaking a glance at Keeva. Was she feeling it too? My body was tingling, and I flexed my fingers, trying to figure out what was happening.
I was filled with an intense desire. A craving that was carving its way through my chest. When the vampires moved, I locked eyes with Amaros for a moment. Something burned through my veins. More than hatred or loathing.
Fate .
Like I was meant to do this.
To conquer the dark that was threatening this world.
“Shoot at the vampires around him,” Pax said tightly. “We all have stakes?”
The only person that shook her head was Keeva. I crouched down, grabbing the stake from my boot since I’d brought two and had one stashed in my other boot. She reached for it, and I held onto it, meeting her eyes.
“This is only for Amaros. If you attack me, Zan, or his brothers, we’re going to have a problem,” I threatened.
She scowled, yanking the stake from my grip. “I know why we’re here. Right now, it’s not for his sons, it’s for him.”
“For me? I should feel special.”
Amaros’s quiet voice filtered through the air, and I snapped my head up to see him staring at us. Beside me, Zan went rigid, his glare on his father. Amaros tilted his head, his vicious smile aimed at me as he raised his arm and crooked his finger in an order to come get him.
“You two think you can defeat me?” he bellowed, making his vampires form a tight circle around him. “Two girls who have been on this earth for twenty-five years. You are nothing . Come and try. It will end with you bowing to me.”
Keeva lurched forward too fast for me to stop her. She aimed her gun and shot at the closest vampires, making them drop almost instantly. Viggo let out a curse as we followed. The Shadows were behind us, and they crashed into the vampires as they fought. Bullets flew by, and a slice of panic swelled inside me. While I hoped the Shadows who came with Keeva wouldn’t turn on Zan and his brothers, I couldn’t be sure. One bullet with my blood and any of them would become human again.
“Go, Kali,” Rya urged as we got closer. “We’ll deal with the vampires.”
I threw her a tense smile. How many of them wouldn’t survive? What if we lost? I shook my head. No. We were here for a reason. To kill Amaros Kane. To keep the vampires from invading this world and controlling it.
Amaros let out a laugh that sent a shudder sweeping through me. He wasn’t scared of us. He had every belief that he was stronger. That he would succeed no matter what. Zan was running beside me as we reached the vampires, and he made sure nothing separated us. We all had guns with wooden bullets, but unless we shot them in the head, the injuries wouldn’t keep them down for long.
The rain was still pouring, and the ground was pure mud. Yells and screams filled the air as we clashed with the vampires. I shot the one who was leaping toward Zan, and he fell in a puddle before Pax bent down and staked him in the heart. Thunder cracked through the air, drowning out my next shot.
The strength of the Shadows and vampires made this fight almost surreal even though I’d been a Shadow for months. Their speed made it impossible to track their movements as I pushed through the bodies. Necks were being snapped. Hands going through chests to rip out hearts. I let out a yell when I was suddenly knocked to the side. Viggo ripped the vampire off me before shooting him in the head.
I wasn’t sure how many were fighting, but there was blood and carnage no matter where I looked. Keeva was right in front of me, and she halted so quickly I slammed into her back.
“Where is he?” she asked in a low voice. “I lost sight of him for a fucking second.”
My head was on a swivel, but the vampires were leaving us alone and fighting the other Shadows. Which didn’t make me feel better at all. They were under Amaros’s orders. Zan noticed it too and eliminated the small space between us.
“Move away from her, Zan.”
The voice came from behind us, and we whirled around to see Amaros standing with two vampires on either side of him. His eyes gleamed dangerously as he raised a gun and shot Pax in the stomach. Viggo let out a shout, shock flaring across his face as he glowered at his father.
“That’s an order,” Amaros hissed, looking at Zan. “Move away from her. And then stay there.”
My heart hammered when Zan took a small step to the side, his entire body shaking as he fought the entrancement. I moved to follow him until pain flared down my arm from a bullet.
“That was a warning,” Amaros said, keeping the gun on me. “Try to go to him again and the next bullet will be going through your skull.”
Keeva cursed, and I glanced behind me to see her fighting with two vampires. Looking forward again, I took aim, shooting my last three bullets at Amaros in an attempt to just weaken him so I could get closer. But two bodies jumped in front of him, shielding him. They stumbled back when they were hit, one of them falling to his knees.
Before I made another move, Amaros was right in front of me. Fuck , he was so fast. Viggo snatched my arm, hauling me back and putting himself between me and his father. Zan let out a groan, his eyes closed.
Amaros tsked. “Viggo. You disappoint me. But I can’t say I wasn’t expecting it.”
Viggo was purposely not meeting his eyes to avoid getting entranced, but it didn’t seem to bother Amaros. Pax was on the ground, hunched over as he tried digging out the bullet that was lodged somewhere in his ribs.
“This is your last chance, Kali.” Amaros’s voice was deathly cold. “Bow to me, or you’ll watch as I kill the one you’re bonded to.”
“He’s your son,” I snarled.
“He’s your mate. He will never follow me when it comes to you,” he roared, his eyes blazing with fury. “You’re the reason he has to die.”
Water dripped down my face, but I didn’t dare move. Amaros was waiting for it. The strength coursing through my veins was begging me to fight. To kill. But what if it wasn’t enough? Keeva was still fighting vampires behind me, and from the sound of it, she needed help. More Shadows and vampires were running toward us, abandoning the fight with PARA.
“You’ll have to kill me to get to Zan. Or Kali,” Viggo growled, his shoulders going tense as he stayed in front of me.
“No.”
Zan’s word was quiet, but I heard him perfectly. Breaking Amaros’s stare, I looked at him just as he flew in front of me, slamming straight into his father. For the first time tonight, Amaros looked surprised before he went on the offensive, and his fingers wrapped around Zan’s throat.
“Zan,” I screamed, rushing forward only for three vampires to swarm me. One of them stabbed a stake into my stomach, making me cry out in agony. Another stake was shoved into my back, and I fell to my knees, my warm blood dripping down my cold, soaked skin. I caught sight of Viggo just standing there, unmoving.
“I see my entrancement has run its course,” Amaros murmured, his voice barely heard above the fighting and rain.
“She’s in danger any time she’s in your presence,” Zan snarled hoarsely. “You can’t control me anymore. My loyalty is to her. Only her .”
“Viggo,” I shouted, trying to snap him out of it. “Fuck. Viggo. Help Zan.”
Amaros chuckled as he squeezed Zan’s throat tighter, lifting him off the muddy ground. “Unlike Zan, Viggo is still under my control. He won’t fight me. But…” he paused for a moment. “Viggo, keep your brothers away from me. Away from Kali and Keeva. Kill them if you must.”
I gritted my teeth, climbing to my feet. My body was still writhing from pain, but I was already overcoming it. I was healing fast. A vampire bent down, raising his stake to stab me again. I lashed my arm up, catching his wrist. A grunt left him when I squeezed harder, and his panicked eyes met mine.
I concentrated, making sure I had him under entrancement. “I want you to fight the vampires. Kill them. Destroy as many vampires as you can. Do not touch me or the Shadows. Start with the two right here.”
I released him, and he lunged at the closest vampire, knocking him away. Jumping to my feet, I spotted Pax and Viggo rolling in the mud, fighting. Amaros met my gaze while letting Zan fall back to the ground. Only for him to pull out a stake and bury it in Zan’s stomach. A snarl burned my throat as I shot forward when Zan collapsed in the mud.
I slowed down only long enough to grab my stake from my other boot before throwing my weight into Amaros. Either he wasn’t expecting it, or my strength was enough to make him stumble. I swung, the sharp edge of the wood only slicing his arm. He hissed out a breath, charging at me with so much speed that I didn’t have a chance to block his hit when he backhanded me across the jaw. I went flying, barely managing to land on my feet. I kept a tight grip on the stake as I whirled around to go after him again.
“You might be strong,” he said, his chest heaving. “But you are still no fucking match for me.”
I caught his gaze, and I threw all my power behind my stare only for him to laugh.
“Trying to control me? I’m too old for that. My mind is far too powerful.”