I blink a few times. “You told me Selena killed her.”
Selena rolls her eyes. “I thought you killed her.”
“No. He did. He said that if he were going to die, so would one of us. He killed her while you were unconscious.”
“I had a dream that you did,” Selena says slowly.
“You know he could control us. He must have sent that to you. He’s the reason why we’re fighting. He muttered something before he died.”
“It’s all his fault then.”
“Yes. It must be.”
The two start to sob. The snow turns to rain. They collapse into each other’s arms.
I’m not sure all of what happened back then or right now for that matter. How they learned about the lost power they could have absorbed I don’t know either.
But I do know peace when I see it.
Maybe, maybe everything can be all right now.
Nah. Should’ve known better than to think that. Because out from the shadows, Amarok emerges in wolf form. He pounces on top of the two sirens, knocking them down into the snow.
The storm stops as if by magic.
The skies open up.
The sun shines down.
On the decided bloodied snow.
Amarok has ripped out one of the siren’s tongues.
So much for that measure of peace.
Chapter 39
“No!” I shriek.
It’s not that I don’t want the sirens to die. I do. Desperately.
But they have to die at the same time.
And considering that Selena isn’t moving, I have a feeling she’s already dead.
Lorelei stares down at her sister in horror. She throws back her head and lets out a hideous shriek that leaves me falling to my knees. Even Amarok staggers back a step.
Then, as if jerked by strings, she rises upward, head hanging low. A bright glow surrounds her that seeps within her, strangely giving her a darkness.
Her head rises. She opens her eyes.
Super siren time.
“Shit,” I mutter.
She lets out a screech that is so piercing I swear my ears pop. Stars dance before my eyes. I stagger to my feet, fling off my trench coat, and remove the axe from my leg. The handle isn’t super long, just shorter than the length of my femur. Thank goodness for that. Otherwise, I would never have been able to walk with it or been down or anything.
Who knows? Maybe I was a knight or assassin or something like that in a previous life. I kinda got used to walking around with it fairly quickly, so much so that I forgot I was wearing it, even while driving!
With a flourish, I remove the sheath protecting myself from the blade. Gold flashes before me.
It really is a beautiful weapon.
Nunchuks I know how to use. Escrima sticks too.
But an axe? No formal training. I’ll just have to do what I can and hope for the best.
Lorelei screeches again. She swoops down and nearly claws into Amarok.
Claws.
Her lower half has somehow changed into that of a giant bird!
She swoops down again. This time, her talons sink deep enough into Amarok’s back that she picks up the wolf. Only a foot off the ground before she releases him.
Still. That’s awe-inspiring.
And completely terrifying.
Amarok whirls around and stares me down. Stares my weapon down. He turns back around to face her and lowers onto his front haunches.
I have no idea if this is what he intends, but I race toward him, axe raced. Bracing myself, I jump onto his back. The moment my feet land on him, he jumps himself, bouncing me high into the air. I swing with the axe. The gold glistens. It’s going to connect with her arm!
But she pivots in the air. A large golden wing appears out of nowhere and knocks the weapon from my hand.
Another wing slaps into me, and I drop to the ground like a lead ball in water.
My wrist buckles from the brunt of impact, but otherwise, I’m all right. I push off the snow and grab the axe. Crap. My hands are wet now. The hilt is slippery in my hands.
Lorelei screeches again. Before my eyes, a large gash appears on Amarok’s right shoulder, parting his fur, blood gushing forth. He jumps up impossibly high and chomps down on her wing.
The siren squawks, batting at him furiously with her other wing. More wounds appear on Amarok’s body. He remains indifferent, too powerful to be stopped even by the ferocious siren.
She lets out another screech. A blast wave of her power bursts out, and even I can feel it. It glues the axe to my hands, which isn’t terrible.
But it also shifts my focus to Amarok, which is terrible.
Because if I fight him, he’ll kill me. I can’t hurt him.
And I need to try to kill the siren now before she gains more power or devastates Bethlehem more. They said Bethlehem needed to be destroyed for the transfer of power to be complete. Maybe she hasn’t acquired all of the power. Maybe it’s only temporary and for it to be permanent, Bethlehem, her birthplace, must be annihilated.
So I fight the compulsion. I literally have to drag my feet forward. The two are battling like they wish the other to fall over dead.
Which is actually the case.
No matter what, Amarok does not allow her one wing free. It’s the only thing keeping her grounded.
One foot. The other. She screeches. I slid back five steps. One foot. The other. Another. A screech.
Somehow, I blot out the sound. I focus on the ringing. I ignore their fighting, their battling. Eventually, all I hear is the blank nothingness I first heard within Selena’s lair.
And I find the strength to keep going. Isolation is my own power.
I round Amarok. Lorelei heals from each bite or claw that he makes. Likewise, he does the same. Their bodies remained bloodied though, the marks of their thousands of healed wounds still marring their appearance.
Honestly, they look demonic, wolf and half-woman, half-bird creature. The sun does not seem to touch them. An aura of darkness prevails as if they are the embodiment of evil.
If I could, I would devastate them both, kill them both, and end their blight on the land.
But Amarok is untouchable for the moment.
So it is the siren that I bring my axe down on.
My blow misses. I intended to strike her neck, to cleave off her head.
Instead, I chop off her wing.
And Amarok’s paw.
The two turn toward me. She screeches, the brunt of the powerful vibes hitting me full on. The axe flies out of my hand. It lands far away. Her claws descend. She’s ripping into me. The pain slices through me, and I fall down.
So this is it. This is how I’ll die. Not because I didn’t get the weapon guess wrong. Because I couldn’t control the axe.
I couldn’t control myself.
The siren looked right at me before I swung. Somehow, she infused my hatred of Amarok against me. She made it so I couldn’t kill her.
But I hadn’t killed him either. I can’t.
I’ve failed.
I close my eyes. There’s no point in fighting back. Any swipe of her claw now and I’ll be dead. It’s only a matter of time.
But I open my eyes. I lift my arms and block her blows as best as I can. I lack the energy to fight back, but I can stop her from hurting me.
Fear is powerful. The idea of dying and death and what might wait afterward terrifies me.
And I so don’t want to die.
My hand grabs Lorelei’s hair. Total cat girl fight thing, but whatever. I yank her head to the side. With my other hand, I dig my fingers into the still open wound from her wing.
She shrieks, but it lacks any sense of power. I roll her over.
A low howl has me scrambling away from her. I don’t know if I’m Amarok’s target or if Lorelei is. I rush over, tripping, falling, stumbling. My ankle rolls slightly, but I can still walk on it. My hands clutch the axe’s handle. Blood devastates the once beautif
ul gold.
The axe in my hand, arm dangling at my side, I turn around.
Amarok is on top of Lorelei. The siren whimpers and cries and then silence.
He rips something from her. Blood squirts out of her mouth. Her body jerks, trembles, and then still.
Amarok spits something out. He raises his head and howls. The sound is as powerful as her screech had been.
Then he picks the thing back up and trots over to me.
On all four paws.
He regrew the paw I severed, or it reattached somehow.
Amarok nudges my free hand. I hold it out, and he deposits both tongues into my palm. Disgusting!
Remember our deal, he says in my head.
And he slinks off, in shadows of his own creation, the dark aura remaining with him until he finally disappears from sight.
Chapter 40
My head aches. My ears are still ringing. I’m bleeding, bruised, and my ankle no longer appreciates me walking on it. I barely make it to the truck before I’m ready to collapse. I probably need my blood transfusion back at this point.
Not that I head to the hospital. I’m sure they’re overrun with people
Some fires are still burning. The fire department is stretched to the limit, but then I see a truck drive by, passing me.
An Allentown fire truck.
Tear prickles my eyes. Maybe I really do need a team.
My arm muscles scream each time I have to turn the wheel, but eventually, I make my way to the station.
Only a few people are here. Most everyone is out trying to do their part to help.
The lieutenant is on the phone, directing officers to where they can help the most.
When he sees me, he hangs up.
“Tempest, what happened?”
I left the tongues in the car, but I brought the axe in. I hold it up.
“They’re dead,” I whisper, feeling dead myself.
His eyes widen with awe and worry. “What about Amarok?”
“Gone.”
“For now,” he grunts with disgust. “Good. Damn snow making more of a mess of things. People are trying to use it to help put out fires where the firefighters haven’t been able to get to yet. Maybe the snow isn’t too terrible. But the accidents, the lives lost, the hospitals…”
I swallow back some sorrow and grief. My stomach churns something awful, and I slump into a chair.
Rex bursts in. “Lieutenant Reynolds,” he says stiffly.
I turn to look at him. Rex’s face is drawn, pale. He’s frightened, looks like he’s seen a ghost.
His lips twist into a nasty scowl when he spies me.
“You,” he says, taking a step forward. His clothes are torn. Soot covers his shoulders and peppers his hair.
He looks like a mess.
“What is it?” the lieutenant demands critically.
Rex flares his nostril with disgust. He takes a deep breath and brings his shoulders back.
“Sir, I wish to tender my resignation.”
The lieutenant’s face is curiously not red. He rubs a hand down his face.
“From the Special Investigative Unit?” I ask eagerly, trying not to get too excited.
“Hold on.” The lieutenant grabs his phone and makes some calls, talking with his back to us and too low to be overheard. Once he’s done, he swivels his chair around to face us. “Wait five minutes. Please.”
Within three, Angelo, Diego, and Marlon enter the lieutenant’s office. It’s getting really crowded in here. All of the bodies increase the heat, and I wipe sweat from my brow. I really don’t feel well. I just want to go to bed and sleep until next month.
Yeah, that sounds good. Wake me up for Christmas.
That’ll be spending alone.
“Go ahead,” the lieutenant barks. “What’s on your mind, Hunter?”
Rex clears his throat. “Sir, I would rather not have an audience—”
“Speak now. Say your piece.”
The lieutenant doesn’t sound worried or angry or hurt. If anything, he sounds indifferent or maybe a little weary.
He could use a nice long sleep himself.
We all could. A vacation. Time away from the mayhem.
But first, Bethlehem must be cleaned and purged and rebuilt.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Reborn. New again. Pure. Fresh.
Safe.
“I wish to resign. Not just from the unit. From the force. I want to move away. My parents almost killed each other. It’s not safe here.”
“I handled the sirens. Everyone is safe here,” I say.
Even my voice sounds weak.
Rex moves up to stand beside me. No one else has claimed the other chair. From the corner of my eye, I watch him shake his head.
“I want out. It’s too much,” he says firmly. “The vampires, the werewolves… Even if the sirens are dead, there’s too much chaos and destruction.”
“I understand your worry,” the lieutenant says critically, “but don’t you want to help the issues at hand? You’re an asset, Hunter. You keep calm under pressure. You can read people. You get results.”
Rex hangs his head and stares at his hands. “I almost killed someone myself.”
“That wasn’t you. The sirens were causing you to do that!” I explain, exasperated.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t like the guy, but I would hate for him to leave without understanding what exactly happened.
“You can’t be held liable for your actions,” I add.
“She’s right. You were under duress. We all were,” the lieutenant says grimly.
Rex just shakes his head. “I wish you all luck. You’re gonna need it.”
He slowly takes off his badge and goes to remove his gun.
“Keep it,” the lieutenant says.
They shake hands. Rex shakes everyone else’s and hesitates when it comes to my turn.
“Stay safe,” he grumbles.
“Take care of yourself and your parents,” I say almost warmly, shocking myself.
I’m even more surprised when I hug him. It’s awkward because I’m still sitting, but it kinda works.
He leaves.
The lieutenant picks up Rex’s badge and sighs. “There’s a vacancy in the ranks of the Special Investigative Unit.”
Marlon nods. “I’d love to join.”
“Good. I was counting on that.”
I grin. Marlon will breathe new life into it. I feel better already.
“And since Rex was the head, we need a new head for it.”
Diego pointedly looks at me.
The lieutenant snorts. “She’s not even an officer. She shouldn’t even be here.”
“Not an officer?” I question, trying my hardest to not reveal my dismay. Frustration and anger war within me. “You might want to update the database because the Allentown police department believed me when I said I was a detective. And it’s a good thing too because they helped to save the day. Without them, Bethlehem would have been destroyed. A siren would have gained more power. She might’ve been able to control the entire world. Then what? I think I deserve my badge back, my detective title back, and the position—”
“Fine,” he grumbles. “You’re reinstated. Price, you’ll be partners with Garcia.”
Marlon and Diego nod.
“Garcia, you’ll be the head.”
I clench my jaw so tightly pain radiates to my ear. A faint buzzing sounds in my ears. My balance wobbles as I stand and accept my badge and gun back.
Angelo congratulates Diego, welcomes Marlon, and leaves the office. The lieutenant asks Marlon to hang back so they can talk.
Diego walks me out, an arm casually draped over my shoulders. I’m grateful it’s not around my waist. I’m also grateful for his assistance. I’d be walking like I’m drunk otherwise. My balance hasn’t been this terrible since I had that minor concussion.
“Don’t worry,” he whispers in my ear, his breath warm on my neck. “The p
osition is only mine ‘til you earn it.”
I stare up at him, our faces far too close, our lips far too close.
“I already have,” I point out.
He brushes the hair back from my cheek. I wince as his fingers brush against a bruise.
“Want to come back to my place so I can doctor you up?” he offers.
I laugh. “Nice try.”
“Your place?”
“Nope.”
His dark eyes turn stormy. “Not gonna run off and see your doc, are you?”
“Not that either. There’s first aid here. Patch me up, makeshift doc. Then we need to get back out there. Help restore peace.”
“I’m the one supposed to be ordering you around.”
I grin. “I don’t take kindly to being given orders.”
His smile is recklessly, but his words shock me.
“You’ll give the orders one day. You’ll bring Bethlehem peace,” he says, surprising me with his serious tone.
My heart warms slightly, and a course of energy rushes over me.
“I hope you’re right,” I murmur.
Diego winks. “Believe me. I’m never wrong.”
I laugh despite myself, despite the bedlam, despite the chaos.
I laugh for the future, for hope, for want of peace.
We’ve survived another round. Who knows what the future has in store for us.
Anxiety is awful. Fear is fierce. Horror is hideous.
But peace? Peace is perfect.
Other Books By Nicole Zoltack
Bedlam in Bethlehem
Cops plus Supernatural Creatures
When Vamps Bite
When Wolves Howl
How to Stake a Vampire
How to Fuel your Revenge in the Summer of Magic Anthology
How to Enjoy a Fang-Free Vacation in the Wicked Magic: A Badass Collection
When Sirens Screech
How to Silence a Siren
Once Upon a Darkened Night
Twisted Fairy Tales
Of Cinder and Madness
The Cost of Love
The Cost of Grief
The Cost of Power
Of Slumber and Discord
The Cost of Magic
Of Rose and Cruelty
The Cost of Rage
When Sirens Screech (Bedlam in Bethlehem Book 4) Page 20
