Chapter 29
Seph
I woke before dawn and pulled myself out of bed. Outside the door, I felt Sy’s still, alert presence waiting for me.
I dressed quickly, covering my body from head to toe. I pulled on a hoodie to cover my braided hair.
It was still dark when I stepped outside. Hidden paths had been carved in the side of the mountain, branching off in all directions. There were no lights, just the flickers of moonlight illuminating the rocks.
The mountains were silent, save for the wind brushing against the rock. I could see down to the valley from where I stood.
For half a second I thought I saw a person moving along the valley floor. A faint shimmer of light flickered around them — and then they were gone.
The valley went still again, as if nothing had ever been there.
I wondered if I had imagined it.
My mind was playing tricks on me.
Sy moved to my side and silently led me toward Elliot’s office. From the path I could see the lights were already on.
I ducked down in the shadows.
“Remember the plan,” I muttered to him.
He grunted in agreement and removed his shirt. He shifted instantly into his dragon form. For a moment, those serpentine eyes watched me closely, like he was waiting for me to change my mind.
I wouldn’t. Then he took a breath and lifted into the sky, disappearing into the dark.
As soon as I heard the click of Elliot’s door, I took a deep breath and ran down toward the garages.
Elliot might have cameras everywhere, but I was counting on him being preoccupied today. At this time of night, the compound was silent.
I kept hold of the card Dev had palmed from the guards when we visited my father and slipped it through the reader. The door clicked open.
Inside the large garage, several vehicles sat waiting.
I spotted the nicest one immediately — a large Ford pickup I knew belonged to Elliot.
I climbed into the back.
Elliot kept a lot of boxes and supplies in the truck bed, including a few tarps. I ducked down between the crates near the cab window and pulled one of the tarps over myself.
Now I had to wait.
It didn’t take long.
Dev and Elliot stepped into the garage, turning on the lights. A couple of other wardens followed, armed to the teeth.
I didn’t see Sable anywhere.
The garage door began to open.
“So, what are you going to tell her?” Dev asked quietly. “You know this is a trap.”
“Of course it’s a trap,” Elliot said, his voice unwavering. “But she doesn’t know what I know.”
“Which is?”
“That she has already decided how this day will go. And she did it willingly.”
“You can see the outcome of today?”
“I can see that this needs to happen.”
“That’s not really answering my question.”
“I’m aware. Listen Dev, you can stay behind if you want. Sable did.”
“This is my team, Elliot. I’m not leaving them.”
“And Seph?”
“She needs to stay here too. I don’t want her anywhere near that woman.”
My fingers tightened in the canvas.
“You care about her huh?”
“I don’t want to talk about my feelings with you Elliot.”
“But there are feelings to talk about?” Elliot asked mildly.
I practically heard Dev seethe. “Where do you want me today?”
The truck started up, and the rest of the conversation was swallowed by the engine.
We drove for a long time before finally stopping at what looked like an abandoned airstrip.
I could see why Elliot picked this place. There were very few places to hide, save for the surrounding mountain range where I knew Sy waited. There were only a few buildings, all of them watched by armed guards. With our small contingents, the groups looked evenly matched.
The buildings themselves looked abandoned, staring at us with bandaged eyes.
A black BMW waited at the meeting point, its engine still running when we pulled up. When we stopped, so did our guards.
It was a standoff.
Then the door opened.
And out she stepped.
Mother.
My stomach turned.
It was strange seeing her again, like she was a complete stranger.
Even before I went to Darkmoor, I had been kept in a holding cell and she hadn’t bothered to come see me once. Which meant I hadn’t seen her in nearly a year.
And before that, she rarely came to my room. It was like looking at me hurt her.
She wore a black linen suit, her hair pulled tight into a sleek bun. Her lipstick was blood red.
“Good morning, Elliot,” she said simply.
Elliot and Dev emerged from the car, Dev’s blade already in his hand. I caught the faint scent of blood in the air and knew he had cut his palm in preparation. He wore a mask that covered the lower half of his face. But I could see his eyes, clear as day.
“Georgina,” Elliot replied calmly.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough,” Elliot said. “Where are my men?”
Georgina smiled. “Why would I tell you that? Especially when you appear empty-handed yourself.”
Elliot’s smile turned nasty. “I thought this was a negotiation.”
“No,” she said lightly. “It was an ultimatum. Did you think I was bluffing?”
Georgina clicked her fingers. The back door of her car opened, and a guard dragged both Kieran and Ash out.
Ash looked unconscious.
Kieran just looked furious.
A guard raised a gun toward them both.
I gasped before I could stop myself.
Dev heard it.
His eyes flicked toward the truck in horror. I met his gaze and watched him go pale.
Elliot didn’t even blink.
“I’m not too concerned,” Elliot said calmly. “Because you and I both know you need Gideon alive. So, I’ll take my men back now, thank you, and we’ll pretend this conversation never happened.”
Georgina’s eyes darkened.
“You think I won’t kill them?”
“I think,” Elliot said mildly, “you aren’t that stupid.” He gestured to the surrounding area. “I have snipers trained on all your men. Kill them? You’ll be next.”
“You are bluffing,” Georgina sneered.
“Am I?” Elliot said, stepping forward.
“So, it’s a bloodbath you want. Fine. Kill them.”
The guards raised their weapons.
I heard the sharp click of a trigger being pulled back.
“No!” I screamed, jumping out of the back of the truck. “Mother, stop!”
Everyone turned toward me.
“Seph, no!” Kieran shouted in horror.
I ran straight toward them, throwing myself between the guns and their bodies. I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Seph,” Kieran rasped.
“Shut up!” I hissed, turning on him. “You do not get to die for me.”
“Lower your weapons!” Georgina cried immediately. “Persephone!”
I glared at her, at the fake concern in her eyes.
Dev was shaking his head. “Seph, you idiot!” he muttered. He was bracing himself, as if he was trying to stop from running for me.
I ignored him and focussed on my mother. “I am here. You can take me, I won’t fight you. But you will leave them alone. All of them.”
“Persephone.”
I carefully removed my gloves and threw them to the ground. “Try me.”
I could feel my power churning beneath my skin, waiting to be let loose. Mother didn’t know I didn’t need to touch any more. I could just take.
And I would if they hurt even one hair on the heads of my men.
A hand clutched my booted ankle.
I glanced down and saw Ash, barely awake, staring up at me.
“Stop.”
I straightened, keeping my hands held out in front of me. The guards hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.
Mother’s gaze dropped to my bare skin.
She took a step back.
“I’m not here to hurt you, my dear,” she said, trying to smile. “I just want to take you home, love.”
But the endearment fell like stone.
“Home? What home, mother? My cell, you mean?”
“Don’t be dramatic, dear,” Georgina said carefully, watching me like I might strike at any moment. “You know I have never once hurt you. And think about poor Beth. She misses you terribly.”
I almost laughed.
“I’m sure she and you will survive. Let go of my men.”
I met her eyes.
“Now.”
“ Your men?” Georgina shook her head. “Honestly, Persephone. You are being ridiculous. And running around with Equinox– “
“You heard what I said. And if you don’t want to see a lot of dead soldiers, I suggest you move.”
Georgina scowled. For a moment I thought she might refuse. Then she nodded.
Her men picked up Ash and Kieran and threw them toward Elliot.
Elliot went very still.
“You shouldn’t have done this,” he said quietly.
“I had to,” I said as the guards began to approach me with cuffs in hand.
“No, Seph. You didn’t.”
The guards were only a few steps away when something behind me rumbled.
Suddenly, the buildings behind me exploded.