Chapter 47 #2
I glance to the left and notice a shadow zip past me, but I press forward, feeling the others surrounding me and offering protection. Another shadow moves by, and I glance behind, nearly stalling in the air.
A look of horror spreads across Locke’s face as he watches six more shadows encroach on us. I tighten my wings against my body, increasing my speed as panic begins to swirl within me.
The group of men protecting us closes the gaps between us, and Locke moves next to me.
“We have company,” he shouts. “Don’t stop for anything.”
Panic sets in, and I stop focusing on the bond, redirecting my attention to the threats at hand. One by one, the shadows move in all directions, making it impossible to tell who is on our side and who poses a looming threat above and below.
Deep snarls begin to fill the air, and a growing anxiety nearly weighs me down. I glance at Locke, shouting, “Make sure Bronwyn is alright.”
He nods and falls back, positioning himself behind her to create a barrier of protection with Damien as an additional shield. Relief washes over me, and I push forward, attempting to dodge everything that swirls around me.
I don’t need help, but the sad fuckers that are standing in my way will.
A sharp wind whips inches from my body, causing me to lose my balance as I turn to the right.
Another blast of air rushes to my side, sending me in the opposite direction, and my wings struggle to stay upright.
I grind my teeth, pushing my wings to regain my balance, and the muscles in my back yell against the tension.
I move my gaze in all directions, but the darkness of the night shields the threats from view as they create distance for only a moment.
A scream leaves my mouth as I feel a claw drag down my leg, making blood instantly fall like rain.
I fire my weapon behind me, aiming for the demon as it flies into the night sky.
Another bone-chilling scream echoes above me, and I look up to see a massive demon with leather wings tearing into the back of one of Crew’s men.
His body jerks back and forth before his wings fold in, sending him plummeting to the ground.
Blood pours from his body, and I dodge his falling form, narrowly escaping its path.
He hits the ground with a loud thud, and I don’t see him move again. I push past the pain in my leg and surge forward, fear seeping into my core. As quickly as one of the men goes down, I watch in terror as another three take fatal blows, crashing to the ground like falling stars.
“Crew!” I scream down the channel. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”
I almost lose my control again as I feel a faint response travel down the bond, like a shock to my chest. Relief overwhelms my entire system, knowing that he can feel me, and I let it be a beacon in the night.
The others continue to fly close to me, dodging the shadows of demons and their bullets, threatening to kill us.
“If you can hear me, we need you,” I shout down the bond. “I need you, Crew.”
Screams fill the air from both sides as the men protect us and battle the threats.
Blood spills from above, and I feel the warm liquid soak my clothing and wings.
Bodies fall from the sky like blood, and I nearly gag at the despair.
I look to Bronwyn; her face is twisted in horror and pain while Damien flies so close to her that he’s almost at her back, urging her onward.
Claws jut out from his hands, and he takes every opportunity to swipe them at the threats, protecting Bronwyn as if his life depended upon her safety.
Locke takes up the rear, and the shadows keep coming. One after another, they swipe their razor-sharp hands in our direction, and as we keep flying, I realize our time is running out.
An unholy darkness begins to creep up my spine, and the bond between Crew and me grows louder with every passing second. I direct all my thoughts to him and begin to plead desperately for him to stay wherever that may be.
“We can’t win this, Crew,” I say aloud.
Two demons appear on both sides of me, and I gasp.
“At least she’s smart,” a demonic voice from one of the men says.
Their leather wings flap in the darkness, razor-sharp teeth jut from their bloody mouths, and their claws—inches long—sit where nails should be. Snarls leave their lips, and I know with Crew out of the picture, I’m the next in line to be taken down.
I dodge a blow from one attacker, nearly crashing into the other, and fire again.
I move my wings with precision to block as much as I can while maintaining my balance.
My lungs burn, and I feel the uncomfortable sensation of exhaustion creeping into my bones.
I swing my fist with all my strength, landing a hit on one man’s cheekbone, eliciting a growl from his lips.
“Get her,” I hear the demon scream.
I press harder, creating space from them, but I can feel them gaining on me once again. A claw rips through the air, aiming for my lower half, but he misses, giving me a chance to go faster. I jolt when I see Locke appear beside me in his true form.
His black, feathered wings spread across his large body, and his eyes are black, devoid of any emotion except hatred toward those who threaten us. I don’t hide the horror on my face and watch as claws extend from his hands.
“Mara,” Locke shouts. “Get Damien and Bronwyn to the ground. We can’t fight them in the air.”
The demons approach again, and Locke springs into action, moving through the air in an effort to divert their attention from me to him.
The opening of the field comes into view, and I glance over my shoulder toward the others. “Get to the ground.”
Damien guides Bronwyn lower in a desperate attempt to escape the sky, while I glance back at Locke. He crashes into one of the bodies of the demon pursuing me, and I scream as he becomes unbalanced while the other demon approaches, dragging a claw across his back, narrowly missing his wing.
A deep groan escapes his lips as he fights against the pain that rattles his body, but the demons continue their assault.
Claws dig into his skin, yet he remains suspended in the air, swiping his own claws when he can, landing blow after blow in return.
He fires his gun, hitting one in the leg as a scream erupts around him.
The darkness still creeps up my spine, and as the seconds pass, I feel the bond between Crew and me strengthening.
“Crew,” I beg.
I send a wave of desperation to him, and as the adrenaline wears off, the pain in my leg begins to radiate through my body. I glance down to see Damien and Bronwyn land on the ground. He pushes her toward a nearby tree and sprints into the field on foot to be under Locke.
“Mara,” a near-silent voice moves down the bond, startling me.
I follow Damien, watching his feet pound against the ground and launch through the air like a spear. The breath leaves my lungs as a figure faster than pure darkness moves past me. A new rage and power fill the air, and that’s when I know.
He’s here.
A demonic roar fills the air, halting the demons’ attack and forcing them to snap their gaze to the darkness surrounding them.
I hear the flesh beginning to tear from the bones of the demons as Crew strikes time and again, returning every single blow they dealt Locke.
Teeth gnash, and the smell of iron permeates the air like a crimson stain.
Only a few feet separate me from Locke as I approach. I extend my hand, ready to grab his. Our gaze meets, and a haze sits behind his blue eyes.
“Grab my hand,” I shout.
He extends his trembling hand, and I watch in horror as his eyes roll in his head. His large wings fold completely against his body, and Locke begins to free-fall. His body slumps, and his limbs start to whip around in the wind as he spirals to the ground below.
I jerk my gaze to Crew, watching his darkness ooze from him as he rips the others to shreds. His gaze doesn’t meet mine, and he stays focused, making sure to end the lives of those who badly threatened us. I narrow my wings and spear toward the ground after Locke.
Damien launches into the air, crashing into Locke and wrapping his arms around his friend. I can see blood leaking from his body, and a wave of nausea slams into my stomach.
I lower myself to the ground as Damien crumbles beneath me, clutching Locke’s lifeless body.
Bronwyn approaches with wide eyes, “Is he dead?”
Damien assesses the wounds, and I nearly gag from the damage done to his body.
“Not yet,” Damien says.
Deep cuts carve into his core, revealing bone in some areas, and Locke lets out a groan, remaining motionless.
Blood gathers around him on the soft grass, and his chest heaves up and down in a frantic rhythm.
I look up at the sky and notice the fight has come to a standstill.
The screams have died down, but the darkness persists.
Damien snaps his fingers in front of Locke’s face. “You need to stay awake, buddy.”
I remain quiet as Locke’s bright eyes begin to dull.
Bronwyn steps closer. “Damien.”
He shrugs her hand away from him and cuts his gaze in her direction. “Don’t act that way. He’s going to be alright.”
A lump forms in my throat as I watch Locke’s eyes flutter open and closed.
The blood continues to pool from his body, creating a deep red that seeps into the golden field.
With each gasp that fills the air, more blood leaks from his wounds, and I feel the tears forming on my lower lid.
Damien continues to talk to him, offering words of encouragement.
“Focus on breathing, Locke,” Damien says. “You need to relax so your body can heal.”
Bronwyn whips her head past me, noticing the looming darkness approach us, and I don’t turn, knowing exactly who grows closer.
A crash rattles the ground around us, and I peel my gaze away from the horror in front of me. Crew stands in the distance, his face wild with rage, and blood coats most of his arms and mouth. His eyes are pitch black, and his fists tremble at his sides.
“Go,” Damien says to me. “Don’t bring him over here until he’s calmed the fuck down.”
I look at Locke, watching as the color drains from his face. I fight the urge to stay and turn on my heels, moving as fast as I can across the distance toward Crew. I let all my emotions flow into him, nearly losing my balance as he opens the channel.
Regret, despair, rage, and a loneliness I’ve never felt slam into my chest as I crash into Crew’s strong frame.
A sob escapes my lips as he wraps his arms around me, squeezing me tightly against his quivering body.
I can’t hold back the tears, and his hand moves to my head, pressing me against his chest, as if even touching isn’t close enough.
I try to inhale his scent, but all I smell is blood.
So much blood, and so much regret.
I pull back and gaze into his soulless eyes. A single tear rolls down his cheek, and I know he believes this is all his fault.
“I shouldn’t have left,” he whispers, in a voice not wholly his.
I glare into his eyes. “But you did.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, cupping my face. “I’m so fucking sorry, Mara.”
I glance behind me and see Damien still holding Locke’s motionless body. Bronwyn stands over him, and from here, I can tell the situation isn’t good.
“Are you hurt?” He scans my body, landing on my leg.
“I’m fine,” I insist, diverting his attention. “It’s already healing.”
He turns me around to look, and a new wave of anger blossoms in his eyes.
“Locke,” I say. “He’s hurt, Crew. It’s bad. We couldn’t take them all on.”
His gaze moves past my head, and he sees his friend lying in the field. Sorrow washes over me, and I grip Crew’s arm. The darkness in his eyes begins to fade as he realizes the situation.
“Shit,” he whispers.
“We need to help him,” I say. “I know you are angry. I know you are panicked. I know this situation is horrible, Crew. But you can’t run from this. You can’t run from me. You need to calm down.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?” I ask. “You need to realize the situation we are in right now.”
He trembles against my touch. “I can’t explain it, Mara. It’s like something else is traveling through me. Something darker.”
I lean forward gently, kissing his lips. His blood, and blood I don’t recognize, tastes on my tongue, and I pull back.
“You can,” I whisper.
“I’ll never forgive myself for this.”
“You will,” I say. “This isn’t just your fault. We came after you willingly.”
“I should have never left,” he repeats.
“We all have regrets, Crew,” I say, forcing his gaze to mine. “Don’t let Locke’s death be one of them.”
A flash of confusion spreads across his harsh features.
I grab his jaw, needing his full attention through the daze. “You have a decision you need to make right now.”
His eyes slowly leave his friends, and he pans them to me.
“What?”
I swallow, taking a quick breath, not yet ready to speak the words. He furrows his brow, aware that time is running out for all of us.
“He is too injured for basic healing,” I snap. “He won’t survive this alone.”
“Wait. Mara?” Crew asks, hesitantly. “What are you suggesting right now?”
I glance at Locke, at the blood pooling from his body, and back at Crew.
“Is he going to bond with you… or me?”