I felt her straighten up beside me. She looked proud, with a hint of nervous.
“I trust that you will do everything in your power to make this base safe. The HASEA owes you its gratitude for your courage. I owe you gratitude.” He nodded that he was done and moved away from the lectern with the aid of Sage Etorre. The other leader took his place at the podium.
“Please remain here. The Coven will arrive shortly to perform a spell and explain the rest of our strategy.”
Without another word, the two Sages left the stage and exited through rear doors. The Golems followed like a pack of faithful dogs.
A solemn silence filled the room. The reality of the situation had dawned on everyone else, the way it had for me earlier. People knew that they may never make it through to the next day.
I felt Gabriella’s hand take mine.
31
They came for us.
It was late evening and we’d been in position for several hours. As Faru had requested, everyone was strategically placed. Gabriella had co-ordinated the remaining Chosen teams. Orion was outside the front door — minus Rachel — using the low wall by the steps as partial cover. Metal blockades had been set up a few yards in front. Dozens of Chosen kneeled behind them, guns out, locked into the distance. A dozen large speakers — screwed to tall poles — were dotted around us. Trails of wires snaked the length of the mansion and disappeared into the grounds. Everyone and everything had taken on a red hue, tainted by the apocalyptic sky above.
I watched the black shapes of the shifters slinking around the trees that lined the base. Their red eyes shone like coals in the darkness. In the hallway behind us was yet another blockade, with a mixture of Pandemonians and Chosen crouched behind them. Up the stairs stood Faru and Etorre. The wall of Golems stood just behind them, blocking the entrance to the painting.
I was crouched next to Gabriella and Tyler. Midnight and Delagio were huddled a few feet away. Rachel stood on the roof high above our heads — one in a large row of Luminar — staring through the lens of her metal sniper bow.
It started with a piercing howl. The unmistakable sound of a Skinshifter. Not one of ours, because we’d all been told not to make a sound until the battle began, so we didn’t give away our positions.
More followed and then a tremendous roar that rattled the windows. A sea of red appeared on the horizon, as if the sky had bled down to the earth. They evolved into countless Rogues, dressed in their hooded crimson cloaks, which whipped around them in the wind.
So much for being discrete.
“Hold!” shouted Gabriella. No one moved a muscle. The cries of the SOS grew louder as they broke into a run.
“Hold!”
They were getting closer. I felt a stray bullet smack into the wall next to me. I breathed out hard. My hands were slick with sweat as I kept my gun held steady, aimed at the advancing mass.
“Now!”
There was a crackle of static as the speakers switched on. The Siren’s melodic song flowed through. As if they had hit an invisible wall, the advancing SOS jerked to a halt. Their eyes glazed over. Some dropped their weapons on the ground and began to stagger towards the speakers like zombies. Skinshifters — muzzles coated with red paint — staggered sideways and fell over.
“Luminar, now!” shouted Gabriella.
Thuck thuck thuck.
A cloud of miniature arrows arched over our heads. I followed them as they darted down, piercing into their targets. The dazed Pandemonians made no sound as their bodies flew backwards from the force. Gravel splashed about as fallen SOS collapsed to the ground in heaps, tiny arrows sticking out of their chests like acupuncture needles.
The Siren's mournful melody became a tribute to each person who sank to the ground and became still.
Something shoved its way through the collapsing masses. The shadowy face hidden inside the deep cowl reminded me of the Grim Reaper coming to collect. The Devil ran forward, lifting an arched blade above his head. He barely flinched as torrents of arrows bored into his skin.
“He’s going for the wires!” someone yelled.
“I’ve got it!” shouted Tyler and ran out from behind cover. He tried to engage the creature directly, but the Devil broke through him as if his bones were made from eggshells. As quick as the snap of fingers, Tyler was dead.
Before anyone else could react, the Devil severed the speaker wires, cutting the Siren’s song short. He slipped around the corner of the mansion and disappeared from sight. I watched in horror as the surviving SOS instantly came back to their senses. My plan had barely had time to work, before it had failed. “Chosen, now!” Gabriella yelled. Everyone around me started to fire. I aimed one gun at a Bloodling and the other at an advancing Skinshifter. I grit my teeth and pulled the triggers.
The stake hit home first, slugging into the Bloodling’s chest and causing it to disappear in a screaming burst of ash and flames. The silver bullet connected next. It grazed against the side of the shifter’s hulking frame. It howled in fury but kept coming. Then without warning, its legs buckled and it collapsed to the floor. Next to me, Delagio flicked his wrists and a dozen silver marbles plucked themselves from its body and gravitated back towards his hand.
Midnight was standing, his body completely exposed from cover. He laughed maniacally as he pumped the triggers of his guns. In front of us, bodies flew backwards and sideways as the shots connected. I gasped as I watched a bullet hit him right in the arm, but he laughed even harder.
“IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?” he bellowed and carried on emptying the rounds into the advancing attackers.
More and more SOS took the place of the fallen. There were infinitely more than had been at the meeting. Gabriella had been right about them knowing where to come. A constant stream appeared on the horizon. I couldn’t fire fast enough. For every bullet, another two SOS would appear in the gloom. I stopped to slide a clip of iron rounds into my gun. I discarded the crucifix weapon — its ammo spent.
“Ella,” I yelled above the torrent of gunfire, “I’m running out!”
After dispatching a Pixie with a headshot, she nodded. “Secondary attack now!”
There was a flurry of unfurling wings and then I watched as a flock of Guardians appeared in the sky and began dive-bombing the SOS. From the sides, a mass of Skinshifters raced into the action. Close behind came a stream of howling Hiveminds, followed by their Bloodseeker leaders.
Those of the SOS who could fly unleashed their own wings and pounced into the air, intercepting the flying Alliance. There where loud whacks as they collided. The burning sky was filled with the silhouettes of spiralling bodies. All I could hear were the sickening sounds of screaming, blades slicing and bones snapping. A Succubus collided with Rachel mid-air. They tumbled around in a ball, slashing and hacking at each other with teeth and nails. I winced as my Science teacher got a vicious uppercut to the face. She whirled backwards, but used the movement to her advantage, unleashing an overhead kick, which caught the Succubus on the jaw. The dazed woman fell to the ground, landing hard on her back. Instantly she was set upon by a pack of Hiveminds. I had to look away as the sounds of her tortured screams filled my ears.
“Third attack!” commanded Gabriella.
A dark shadow materialised overhead. I glanced up to see the Manticore from the Sanctuary soar over the mansion roof. It circled around the fighting Pandemonians, letting out a ferocious roar. In unison, the Guardians pushed up and away from their enemies, leaving them hovering on their own, confused. The beast drew near, snapping out its stinger in a rapid drumbeat. The SOS screamed as their bodies ballooned from the infection. One by one they fell out of the sky into the sea of chomping jaws below.
At the same time, a tremor of hooves drowned out every other sound. A herd of Unicorn appeared from the side of the building, led by Isiodore. He lowered his head and charged into the crowd, skewering a Skinshifter on the end of his horn. The others copied the action, turning the attacking SOS into grim kebabs.
Midnight tuned to look at me, and his eyes went wide.
“Alex is hit!” he bellowed and caught me as I fell backwards. He pulled me down behind the wall. Bits of brick dust flew up and over us as bullets connected with the wall.
Gabriella and Delagio stopped shooting and crowded around me. At the angle I was at, I could see through a small gap in the wall. I saw other Chosen, lying still around the blockades, their bodies surrounded by pools of blood. The Unicorn were being attacked by droves of Hiveminds. They let out agonised screams as the creatures tore at their flesh.
This isn’t good, was all I could think as the edges of my consciousness began to waver. My mind was growing sticky.
“Why isn’t he healing?” shouted Midnight.
Gabriella pointed to my chest. “Look at the smoke. Damn it, the bullets are coated in Banshee poison! We need to get them out now!”
She pulled open my jacket and jerked up my t-shirt. Around the wounds, the veins had turned an ugly purple colour. She looked over at Delagio, who nodded. He knelt over me and placed his hands a few inches above the wounds. Confused, I frowned up at his goateed face. He gave an awkward smile. “Sorry buddy. I hope this doesn’t affect our friendship.”
Agony. Absolute, unparalleled agony.
I screamed until I thought my lungs would burst. Midnight used all of his superior strength to pin me down. Delagio’s hands twitched as he coaxed out the bullets. Inside my body, I could feel them start to wiggle about like burning insects trying to eat themselves free from my flesh. The pain was white hot. I could taste it. For what seemed like an eternity, they worked their way closer to the surface.
Both bullets burst out of my skin with a loud pop and settled in his hands. As I watched him throw them away, I had to resist the urge to vomit. Gabriella put her hand on my face. “Come on Alex. Concentrate.” “What- I” She took my hand in hers. I felt the charges roll under my skin, strong and powerful. “I’m here to help. Now concentrate!” I concentrated. I thought about my wounds and how my skin looked before. I squinted my eyes and focused with everything I had. “It's working!” shouted Delagio.
I opened my eyes and stared as my skin started to knit itself back together. After a few seconds the skin was smooth. There was no evidence I had ever been shot, apart from the blood and the two holes in my jacket and t-shirt. “Okay, we need to get him inside,” Gabriella said in an urgent tone. “Can you stand?” “I’m fine,” I assured her and together we half stood. “I’ve got you covered” shouted Midnight, who was already leaning over the wall and shooting.
We ran inside and dived behind the next set of blockades. Peering out, I saw that the fight was dying down. There were a lot of dead Alliance, but the number of red cloaked bodies far outweighed them. A blood stained Isiodore stabbed at the fallen bodies to ensure they were dead.
We’re going to win! I thought with a sudden rush of hope.
I tempted fate.
As soon as the notion had formed in my mind, a set of doors were wrenched open and the Devil stormed through, followed by a score of SOS. Including Dakin.
I stood up quickly and unsheathed the Crimson Twins. The others jumped to their feet and we threw ourselves into hand to hand combat. We were joined by half a dozen Golems, who charged down the steps and into the battle.
The Devil came straight for me. His hooded cloak was down and his animalistic face was slick with blood. He bared his teeth. “To hell with the Sorrow, you’re mine,” he snarled and lashed out with his sword. I parried it and spun out of his reach. His robes swished around him as he swung again. This time the edge of the blade caught my skin. I winced as it cut through the leather, creating a thin red line.
He hissed as he dodged a counter lunge from me. I spun out of the way of another attack. He pounced at me, butting me with his horns. All the air rushed from my lungs as I was propelled backwards into a Golem. It caught me and set me back on my feet just in time for me to dive out of the way of a downward attack from the Devil. The blade connected with the top of the Golem’s head, splitting it in two. I felt a twinge of guilt as it collapsed, crosier clattering to the floor. But I reacted fast, pivoting and bringing a blade down on the Umbra’s back. Where it connected, a plume of black smoke billowed up. He roared in pain and spun around, slashing wildly with a claw. It threw him off balance and I swiped up and out with both blades, severing his horns. Two jets of black blood spewed from the wounds. Instinctively the beast raised his hands to stem the flow. I charged forward, sinking both swords into his chest and carried him with me. I didn’t stop until his back slammed against the far wall, creating a huge crack. The swords pinned him there. Plumes of thick smoke hissed from his wounds. I pressed my foot against his stomach and wrenched one of the blades free. He growled as dark blood spilled from his cracked lips and took a final swipe with his sword. I had to duck for fear of losing my head. As I uncoiled, I drove the sword into his solar plexus. He let out a roar, which turned into a gurgle and his body started to dissolve. Soon there was nothing except a pile of what looked like compost and a scorched shadow on the wall. Panting, I turned around.
Midnight appeared in the doorway, dragging a struggling Imp and Vampire in his arms. The air was sucked out of the entrance hall as his form wavered and then disappeared — taking his two hostages along for the ride. Their screams sank into the void with him. When he reappeared, in exactly the same spot, the enemies were rag dolls in his arms. He let them go, and they sank to the floor. Without stopping for a breath, he ripped a Bloodseeker away from Delagio by its neck. He tossed it aside, like an unwanted toy. The shocked Vampire flew through the front doors and smashed down on the gravel, sliding several yards in a shower of gravel.
“Midnight, watch out!” yelled Gabriella.
Instinctively he jumped to the side just in time to avoid a dagger thrown by Dakin. It whirled past him and stuck into a banister. Gabriella ran at the Bloodling and unleashed a spinning kick to his head. He fell to one knee, and then caught her leg as she tried to deliver a second. Her scream jolted my stomach as he began to crush her kneecap.
Midnight had his hands full with the Bloodseeker he’d thrown outside. The flesh had been flayed from one side of its face and it had come back with a grudge. I tried to reach her, but was sent sprawling by a Skinshifter. My swords spiralled out of my hands. As I wrestled with the giant dog, I watched in horror as Dakin used his free hand to strangle my soulmate.
“Help her!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
I saw Sage Etorre run from his position at the top of the stairs and vault into the air. He landed hard on Dakin and the two went careering along the marble floor. Gabriella took the opportunity to limp away.
“Get off me!” I raged, attention back with the shifter that was trying its best to consume my face. I used the crook of my elbow to get his muzzle into a sort of headlock position. Using all of my strength against the bucking hellhound, I dragged us both towards the nearest Crimson Twin. The wrong end was closest to me. I ignored the searing pain as I closed my hand around the sharp edge and slid it towards me. Wrapping both hands around the hilt, I rotated the sword and forced the blade into the shifter’s mouth. It clamped its jaw together and its teeth screeched against the blade. I pushed with all of my strength and felt it connect with something soft. I twisted the sword. The beast made a strange coughing sound and collapsed. I withdrew the blade, which sent a wet spray of blood across my face. The bitter metallic taste filled my mouth. I spat it out and pushed the creature off me.
I grabbed the Crimson Twins and scanned for Gabriella. She was hobbling her way towards me. I grabbed her hand and closed my eyes. I felt the waves rush through me. When I opened them again, she tested her leg and nodded with a smile. I looked down at my previously wounded hand. Good as ne
w.
I hadn’t seen what had happened between Dakin and Sage Etorre, but the Vampire was nowhere to be seen. Etorre was badly hurt. He stumbled his way back up the stairs, clutching his side. I wanted to go and help him, but I didn’t get the chance.
Droves of SOS poured through every door in every direction. All of the Golems were now fully involved in the fight. I swore under my breath.
“Guardians, back to back!” screamed Gabriella, who had re-entered the fray. Everyone on our side formed a circle in the middle of the entrance. The battle continued, but now we were on the losing side. Around us I watched as the Golems fell one by one, overpowered by sheer numbers. Their eyes winked out like dying embers. I went to bring my sword down on a Bloodling, but the tip of a blade pressed against my throat. I turned to see a second Bloodling.
“Don’t even think about it,” he warned. He nodded towards the floor. I let the swords drop. Around me, I could see that everyone else had been overpowered. We were outnumbered three to one. Outside I could still hear the battle raging on. I could only imagine that there was fighting in every part of the Warren. The mansion was alive with the sound of death. But right there, where it mattered, there was only about twelve of us left and three times as many SOS. I looked at all the bodies which littered the floor and my heart sank. At the top of the stairs I saw Faru leaning on his staff, watching the battle as if he were a judging in a boxing match. All of his clay effigies were lying in twisted piles around us. A final member of the SOS stepped through the doorway. His red robe rippled around his body. A hulking war hammer rested across his shoulders.
Sage Asmund.
“Faru,” he bellowed. “Maybe now you see just how powerful we are. Unseal the Veil and we will leave your Guardians alive. Do not condemn so many to death for the sake of one.” I winced as the blade against my throat dug in harder, drawing blood. Next to me I heard Gabriella whisper to Midnight. “Teleport. Save yourself.” “No,” he replied. “I’m not leavin’ you guys behind.” I watched as Faru placed his hands together. He pressed them to his lips and appeared to ponder the situation. “Asmund — I believe you have forfeited the right to be referred to as a Sage — you know I simply cannot allow that to happen.”
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