Slayers: Friends and Traitors

by C. J. Hill

  “Are you?” Dr. B asked with surprise. “I was just wondering if it was wise to have that no-contact rule. You realized Dirk was Overdrake’s son because you met his family. Breaking that rule helped us.”

  Again, Tori wasn’t sure whether that made her feel better or worse. It reminded her of Dirk’s commentary on wars—that more often than not they were decided by luck. The roll of the dice.

  If luck were the deciding factor, the Slayers were in trouble. You couldn’t depend on luck.

  “I didn’t tell you everything about Ryker,” Dr. B said. “So there may still be things Overdrake doesn’t know. For a short while I posted instructions on how to build a simulator on the Ryker website. He built one. He’s been practicing. If Overdrake’s men come here expecting an easy mark, they won’t find it.”

  It was the first piece of good news Tori had heard all night. “Let’s hope he’s practiced a lot.”

  They left Rutland and drove up the road to Bird Mountain. Dr. B kept checking his odometer to see how far they’d gone. They climbed higher. The trees around them flashed into and out of the van’s headlights. A few clung stubbornly to their leaves. Most were bare, staking the night sky with gray branches. Shadows flickered through the leaves and the tangled underbrush.

  Finally Dr. B spotted a pickup truck parked in a grassy area at the side of the road. It was one of those tricked-up models that rode high off the ground. Something in the truck bed was covered with a tarp. No one was in sight.

  Dr. B pulled up next to the truck, turned off the van, and everyone got out. The night smelled of autumn, of things changing. The Slayers not only had their body armor on, they wore their helmets as well. Dr. B insisted they wear them until they were certain Overdrake’s men hadn’t gotten here first.

  Rosa, Lilly, and Tori walked around the truck, peering into the muted shapes of the surrounding forest. Dr. B put on his night vision goggles and joined them. Willow had said Ryker would find them, but nobody appeared from behind any of the trees. Maybe he wouldn’t come near them as long as they looked like hit men.

  “It might not be the right truck,” Rosa said.

  “It’s the right one,” Tori said, looking into a dense stand of trees. “He’s got a simulator in the back.”

  “What?” Rosa asked. Apparently she and Lilly hadn’t heard Dr. B tell Tori about that.

  “A simulator?” Lilly asked, stepping toward it. “How can you tell?”

  “I can hear it,” Tori said. She’d heard the familiar thumping as soon as she’d stepped out of the van.

  Dr. B adjusted his goggles. “Ryker must come up here to practice.” After making a sweep of the area, he called, “Ryker, I need to talk to you! It’s urgent!”

  No one answered. The wind blew through the trees, picking up dried leaves and making them scurry across the ground. Branches creaked. Somewhere down below them an owl hooted.

  After another minute, Dr. B called out, “Ryker, it’s me, Dr. B!”

  Still no answer.

  Dr. B checked the time on his cell phone. “Spread out in standard formation. Walk ten minutes into the forest, calling Ryker’s name in intervals, then report back to me.”

  The Slayers’ neck mikes and earpieces were turned off now. While they searched for Ryker, they needed to hear him, not one another. They would turn them back on to report.

  Dr. B peered around at the forest. “If we haven’t found Ryker in ten minutes, I’ll take our simulator back to his house, leave it for Jesse’s team, and come back to help you look. Ryker’s simulator should keep your powers working.”

  Rosa started off into the trees, but Tori and Lilly hesitated. “We don’t have our watches,” Tori reminded him, “and we took the batteries out of our cell phones. We’ll have to estimate ten minutes.”

  “Right,” Lilly said. “And we all know how well estimating time worked for you the last time.”

  Dr. B motioned to Lilly. “You estimate the ten minutes.” Then he motioned to Tori. “You check back in five.”

  Man, you nearly plunge to your death once and people never trust your internal clock again.

  Tori walked into the forest, her gaze constantly scanning the area. The helmet made it harder to see clearly, harder to hear. All around her, tree branches rippled in the wind, making a shushing sound. The constant motion was distracting. It made it hard to sense other things in the forest. Tori drifted upward an inch. Not enough so that someone seeing her would be able to tell she was flying, but enough so that the sound of her own footsteps didn’t get in the way of the noises she was listening for.

  “Ryker!” she called.

  She got no answer except for the rustling of branches.

  She glided farther into the forest, kept listening. In the back of her mind she counted off the minutes. She called Ryker’s name three more times. If he was around, he was ignoring her.

  When five minutes were nearly up, Tori heard a noise. Not one of the usual forest noises. Heavier. A thunk of some sort. Then she saw a shadow in the trees. A figure, perhaps. It disappeared behind a trunk. A deer? Or was someone hiding? It could be Ryker. It could be someone else, though. She didn’t call out his name again.

  She drifted soundlessly over to the spot, all the while watching the tree. Its leaves fluttered in the breeze, made dark, changing shapes. When she got to the tree, she quickly peered around the trunk. Nothing was there. She was sure she hadn’t imagined the shape. She stood still, listening. A creaking noise like a footstep came from a thick-trunked tree a little ways off. Carefully scanning the forest around her, she went in that direction. When she got to the place, it too was empty.

  She stood, looking around in frustration, then turned on her mike. It was past time to report, and Dr. B was probably trying to get a hold of her. She was about to turn on her earpiece when she stiffened.

  She only had a couple seconds’ warning—a bristling of her senses telling her something was coming up behind her fast. She spun around and lifted her arms in protection. It was too late, though. A hulking figure plowed into her.

  CHAPTER 30

  Jesse surveyed Ryker’s lawn from the top of a tree near the roof. Kody was stationed in the trees that bordered the Davises’ back lawn. Bess was in a tree in the front yard. They all had binoculars to scope out the area. In their other hand, they each carried a tranquilizer gun. Killing was a last but necessary defense, so they wore rifles in slings on their backs.

  Every three minutes the group checked in with one another. Jesse would whisper, “All clear.” Bess and then Kody would echo the report.

  Jesse tried to concentrate on this part of the mission, on the yard and trees and the sounds of the night. His mind kept turning to Dirk, though. Memories slashed at him. The two of them talking and laughing every summer, figuring out what they were supposed to do as captains. They had worked on drills, plans, procedures together. Dirk had undoubtedly given his father their entire playbook. Perhaps even more damaging, Dirk knew how each Slayer would react in situations. He knew their weaknesses. He knew that Lilly didn’t always listen to orders, that Kody got hotheaded under pressure, that Tori was inexperienced, and that Dr. B—for all of his attempts at fairness—worried about Bess’ safety more than the rest of theirs.

  What did Dirk know about Jesse that he could use against him?

  Well, Dirk knew Jesse cared about Tori. The thought stung. Dirk had already betrayed Jesse in that regard. The image of Tori and Dirk at the Jefferson Memorial sprang into Jesse’s mind: the two standing close together, holding hands, Dirk leaning into Tori while Tori looked at him expectantly. Jesse forced his thoughts away from that subject, made himself think like a captain again.

  How long would it take Overdrake’s men to get here and what tactics would they use? Would they follow Ryker and try to catch him unaware like they did to Jesse? Maybe they’d do a home invasion; make it look like a robbery. If they didn’t find Ryker at home, they’d wait. He’d come back sooner or later.

  Kody’s
voice came over Jesse’s earpiece. “I see movement in the forest behind the house. Someone is heading this way. Make that two someones.”

  “Kids?” Jesse asked.

  “Kids would have flashlights,” Kody whispered. “These guys are checking around the trees before they advance. They must have night vision goggles.”

  Bess’ voice came over the earpiece. “That’s got to be Overdrake’s guys. I’m on my way.” She dropped from the tree, hitting the ground as silently as a cat. She sprinted across the front lawn into the side yard.

  “Body armor?” Jesse asked.

  “Hard to tell at this distance,” Kody said. “Looks like jeans and jackets. Could be some sort of Kevlar. They’ve got gloves and hats on, but their faces and necks are unprotected. Nothing we can’t hit if we let them get close enough.”

  “Weapons?” Jesse asked.

  “Handguns. The small kind.”

  Not well armed by Overdrake’s standard.

  Bess dashed to a tree on the edge of the property, her tranquilizer gun already drawn. “We’ll surprise them before they make it to the house.” She had placed herself on the opposite corner of the lawn as Kody. “Jesse?”

  She was waiting for him to confirm the play or call another one. He hesitated—bothered by the thought that Dirk would call the same play if he were with them. Finally Jesse said, “Do it.”

  It was their best strategy right now. And besides, even if Overdrake knew their playbook, he didn’t know they were here in Ryker’s yard. “I’ll cover you while I keep an eye on the front street.”

  They didn’t want to be surrounded, and it only made sense that Overdrake would send someone to the front of the house. On Halloween, people opened their doors without checking to see who was standing there first. And if the neighbors saw a couple of guys go by wearing masks, or a strange car parked on the street—they wouldn’t think anything of it. Just trick-or-treaters out late.

  Now that Jesse thought about it, it seemed strange that Overdrake’s men were coming through the forest at all. It would make more sense for them to come from the front and send a couple of people to the backyard before the invasion.

  The street in front of the house remained clear of cars, of people. “I spotted more men,” Kody whispered. “They’re coming up behind the first two. Definitely wearing body armor and they’re carrying guns that look like antiaircraft launchers.”

  That’s when Jesse realized the men in the forest were looking for Slayers, not Ryker. Overdrake had known they might be here and he’d made provisions to take them out. The first two men were decoys, meant to draw the Slayers into position. The men behind them weren’t just wearing night vision goggles. They wore infrared ones—which identified people as heat sources. Kody and Bess weren’t hidden at all. And although Jesse couldn’t see them, he was certain that the launcherlike guns the men carried shot out nets. Overdrake had used one on Tori when he’d caught her last summer. “It’s a trap!” Jesse hissed, swooping down from the tree. “Retreat!”

  CHAPTER 31

  Tori flew fifteen feet before she slammed into the ground. Her head snapped backward and the breath whooshed from her lungs. The guy who had tackled her took hold of her jacket with one hand and pulled off her helmet with the other. She hadn’t heard his footsteps. He must have leapt into her.

  He stared down at her. “Start talking. Who are you?”

  He had short dark hair that looked black in the dim night light. Even though he wasn’t standing, Tori could tell he was tall and muscular. He was also handsome enough that Bess would consider herself right about her predictions of hotness.

  “Hello, Ryker,” Tori said.

  He still held her pinned to the ground. “Somehow I doubt your name is Britney. Who are you?”

  “Dr. B sent me. We need to—”

  “Try again,” Ryker said. “Dr. B and I already talked. He wouldn’t send people. Who did?”

  “Look,” Tori said. “I’m happy to answer your questions, but I’d rather do it without you pressing your elbow into my lungs.”

  He didn’t move. “Then talk quickly. I’m still waiting to hear who you are and what you want.”

  “I’m a Slayer like you.”

  His expression didn’t change. “Prove it.”

  “I can see in the dark like you,” she said. “I could show you some of my extra strength by throwing you into a tree, but it doesn’t seem polite.”

  He still didn’t move. “Dragon lords do both those things. Can you prove you’re not one of them?”

  She hadn’t expected Ryker to know those details about dragon lords, and chided herself for not realizing it sooner. Dr. B had put a warning about dragon lord powers on Ryker’s website after the fight with Overdrake.

  Tori didn’t answer. According to Dirk, she was a dragon lord–Slayer hybrid. All of her powers were dragon lord powers, too—extra strength, night vision, flight, and hearing what the dragons heard. Tori had no powers that were distinctly Slayer. Suddenly she realized she couldn’t prove to her teammates, let alone to Ryker, that she wasn’t a dragon lord.

  Maybe she was.

  Tori pushed the thought away and levitated off the ground, bringing Ryker into the air with her. After all, Ryker didn’t know that dragon lords flew, too. And she wasn’t about to mention it.

  Ryker handled the shift in location calmly enough. When Jesse had first swept Tori off her feet and into the sky, she had screamed. Ryker watched the ground grow farther away and only said, “Point taken. You’re a flyer.”

  Tori casually draped her hands around Ryker’s neck. He had asked her to prove she was a Slayer, she was going to oblige. Still lying on her back, she shot upward until they reached the top of the trees. The stars blazed bright and clear above them, a million scattered lights staring down.

  Ryker held on to her tighter. Didn’t speak. She finally had his attention. “I know you told Dr. B that you wouldn’t train with us until you were eighteen, but we can’t wait that long. The eggs hatched back in the beginning of September. We have less than a year until they’re full grown. You need to come and train with the rest of us.”

  He kept an eye on the trees below them. “I’ve been training fine without you.”

  “Have you? What’s your extra power?”

  He smiled. “Want to see?” Without waiting for her reaction, he sat up. The sudden movement jostled Tori. Ryker slid, tumbling into the night air.

  Tori’s heart lurched into her throat. She dived after him, straining to grab hold of him. He was going to die. And it was her fault. She would have to tell the other Slayers that she’d found Ryker and then accidentally killed him. She reached out and caught hold of his sleeve. He laughed and took off sideways, breaking her grip and gliding effortlessly through the air.

  He was a flyer. She let out a long breath of relief.

  Ryker wound his way through a few trees and landed on a branch not far away.

  She flew over, hands on her hips, and hovered in front of him. “You just scared me to death.”

  “As you can see, I’m practicing fine without your help.” He leaned against the tree trunk and surveyed her with dark eyes. “When it’s time, I’ll carry my weight. Until then, I’ll stay here. That way my parents won’t have every policeman from here to D.C. looking for me.” He smiled condescendingly. “But it’s been nice meeting you, Britney. Maybe we can be soul mates another time.”

  “You can’t stay here anymore,” Tori said. “Overdrake knows where you live. He’ll come for you. It isn’t safe for you or your parents.”

  Ryker cocked his head. “How did Overdrake find out where I live?” Ryker leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. “For that matter, how did you find me?”

  “Um…” She hadn’t expected to tell him this. She had supposed that Dr. B would break the news to him in a diplomatic sort of way. She felt for her neck mike, realizing that it had been on the whole time. She had turned it on to report right before Ryker tackled her. Dr. B, Rosa, and Lilly
undoubtedly heard her entire conversation with Ryker. “You should talk to Dr. B about that,” she said and flipped on her earpiece.

  “Tori,” Dr. B said as soon as the sound came on. “Bring Ryker to his truck immediately. There’s trouble at his house.”

  CHAPTER 32

  Jesse only had a split second to make the kind of decision he hated most. Did he rescue Bess or Kody?

  He swooped from his tree and headed toward Bess. She was closest to Overdrake’s men, which meant she had a greater chance of being surrounded and captured. Besides, she had the power to throw force fields up. It was a skill the Slayers couldn’t lose.

  As he flew, Jesse swung his rifle forward and shot off a round, not at Overdrake’s men—they were too well protected—but at Ryker’s roof. The bullets wouldn’t strike anyone up there, and the noise should alert the family that something wrong was happening. Hopefully they would call the police.

  Bess and Kody abandoned their hiding spots. As Bess ran, she looked over her shoulder at the men. The decoys had dropped to the ground to avoid fire. The men behind them had rifles, but weren’t using them yet. One of Overdrake’s men dropped to his knee, pointed his shoulder launcher at Kody, and fired. A gray mass flew through the air toward him. The net opened in the air like a grabbing hand, stopped midair, made a crashing sound, and slid to the ground. Bess had thrown a force field up to protect him.

  Jesse reached Bess, grabbed her, and darted upward. He didn’t notice the net flying toward them until it was nearly on them. Its graying mouth opened wide to swallow them. Jesse dodged to the right. He wasn’t fast enough.

  Bess hadn’t had time to slide the force field away from Kody to protect them. The net slammed into them, knocking Jesse backward in the air. He kept hold of Bess.

  Tori had told the Slayers about the net Overdrake used on her last summer. The metal links were so strong she was barely able to rip them apart—wasn’t able to make a hole in the net big enough to get through before Overdrake reached her. Superstrength magnets on the net had pinned Tori to the metal roof.