Retribution (The Praegressus Project Book 5)

by Aaron Hodges

  “Yes…” she breathed, pulling him close, until their eyes were only an inch apart. “About our place.”

  “Your place?” the President repeated her words like a trained parrot.

  Susan laughed. “Yes. I have come to negotiate a place for the Chead in this world you affect to rule.”

  Lying on the floor, the President stared at her, uncomprehending. “What...do you mean?”

  An exasperated groan rattled up from Susan’s throat. She risked a quick glance around, but only the winged boy was moving. He had almost managed to drag himself across to the red-haired girl. Whatever had happened to them, they were obviously not a threat. Hecate hovered behind her, his eyes flickering around the room, alert for any fresh threat.

  Satisfied they were safe for the moment, Susan turned back to the President. She crouched beside him, staring into his dark eyes. “We only wish to assure our survival, Mr President,” she said softly. “We are not so numerous as humanity—if you wished, you could wipe us out within a year. I cannot allow that to happen.”

  The President swallowed. “So what do you want from me?” Despite his predicament, he seemed to be recovering some of his confidence. He took a moment to straighten his shirt, then looked across at her. “Some kind of peace treaty?”

  Susan smiled. “I was one of you once,” she replied. “I know what peace treaties mean to you. No, I need a stronger guarantee.”

  “Anything,” the President gasped.

  “Well, aren’t you cooperative?” Susan laughed. “Very well. I wish to know how to unleash your base’s nuclear arsenal.”

  On the floor, the President went deathly still. A strained silence fell suddenly across the room, as though her words had flicked a switch and turned off the world’s sound. The President gaped at her, whatever colour he’d had left gone from his face. His mouth opened and closed as he struggled to find the words to reply.

  “The nuclear…arsenal?” he managed finally.

  “Yes, Mr President.” Reaching down, Susan carefully lifted him up by his shirt. He swayed uncertainly as she placed him on his feet. “My memories are imperfect, but I recall the President is traditionally the one who commands your nuclear capabilities.”

  “Yes…yes that’s…correct,” the man replied blankly.

  The smile faded from Susan’s face. When she replied, her voice had taken on a dangerous tone. “Then you won’t mind showing me how that works.”

  The President swayed on his feet, as though her words had rocked him to his very foundations. Blinking, he seemed to come back to himself. Looking at her, he slowly shook his head.

  “I would need…assurances,” he replied in a quiet voice.

  “Assurances?” Susan growled, stepping in close.

  This time the man did not flinch. The faintest hint of a smile crossed his lips as he looked at her. “My life, for one,” he said.

  Susan almost laughed. The man’s sense of self-preservation was something to behold. Instead, she raised an eyebrow. “So you can continue to murder my people? To use us in your vile experiments?”

  The President shook his head. “I will lead the survivors,” he replied resolutely, “there will be peace between our peoples.”

  This time Susan allowed herself a smile. The man was naïve beyond all imagining. She knew humanity’s nature. They were parasites, feeding off and destroying other creatures so they might survive. If they were allowed to prosper after the destruction, war between their peoples would be inevitable.

  No, far better the Chead wipe your kind from the earth¸ she thought. Out loud she said. “Your conditions seem…reasonable.” Stepping back, she offered her hand. “We have a deal.”

  Some of the colour returned to the man’s face as he reached out and clasped her hand. “Deal.”

  “Monsters!” A voice croaked from behind them.

  Susan glanced back and saw the winged boy sitting up on the floor. He stared across at them, eyes shining with rage. Slowly, painstakingly, he climbed to his feet.

  “Monsters!” he repeated. “You’ll kill millions.”

  Heat swirled in Susan’s stomach, her anger flaring at the boy’s nerve. Glancing at Hecate, she made a gesture. Hecate grinned and started towards the boy.

  Susan turned back to the President. “So, where do we begin?”

  The President was still staring at the boy, but her voice brought him back. Blinking, he shook his head. “Oh, it’s simple.” He pointed at his desk, where Susan now noticed two silver panels inlaid into the wooden surface. A key had been inserted into each. “All the safeguards have been removed. We only have to need those keys together, and…well…the targets are already set...That’s…it…” he trailed off as a cry came from the boy.

  “So it takes two,” Susan mused. She glanced behind her, where Hecate had just tossed the boy halfway across the room. “Hecate, leave him. I need you.”

  “What do you need him for?” the President asked, frowning. “Let him finish off Samuel. We can end this together, my new friend.” He finished with a smile.

  Susan looked up at the towering man, a sweet smile on her lips. “Thank you, Mr. President. But the Chead can take things from here.”

  So saying, she reached up and wrapped her fingers around the President’s throat. His eyes widened, but before he could open his mouth to shout, Susan wrenched her hands violently sideways.

  The crack his neck made as it shattered was like music to her ears. As it faded away, the soft ding of the elevator rang through the room.

  Chapter 32

  Liz shivered as the elevator dinged, announcing their arrival at the Presidential suite—or so the label above the buttons read. Beside her, Chris reached out and took her hand. Glancing at him, she forced a smile, even as she tried to conceal her pain. Her left arm hung uselessly at her side, and her wings were a mess of red-hot agony.

  He had tried to convince her to stay behind, but even injured, she couldn’t let him face Susan and the Chead alone. The idea was suicide, and Liz couldn’t stomach the idea of losing him again. Not after finally getting him back.

  Yet even now, as the elevator doors slid silently open, they still had no idea how they were going to stop Susan. Below, a dozen guards had been torn to pieces, and outside a war was raging between the Chead, humanity and a host of winged teenagers that appeared to be the President’s private army. Their presence had made it easy for Chris to fly into the base’s airspace—even if his wings had finally given in when they were still a few hundred yards from the tower.

  Stepping from the elevator, Liz braced herself for the carnage the Chead left wherever they walked. She wasn’t disappointed. The breath caught in her throat as she looked around, taking in Susan standing over the broken body of the President. Closer to them, Hecate stared back at her, eyes dark with hatred. Movement came from his feet, and Liz stared as Sam sat up and saw her.

  “Liz?” Sam croaked.

  Blood pounded in Liz’s head as she looked around and found two more winged bodies lying nearby. One was unfamiliar, but the other Liz recognised immediately from the scarlet hair and white feathers. A moan built in Liz’s throat as she started towards Ashley’s prone body.

  “Elizabeth,” Susan’s grating voice drew her attention back to the Chead. Liz shivered as she found the cold white eyes locked on her. “So good to see you again. I was disappointed our playtime was cut short.” Her eyes slid across to Chris, her lips drawing back in a snarl.

  Liz shuddered, remembering how easily the girl had batted aside her attacks back in the cave. She had no desire to let Susan get that close again. Yet if the Chead had killed the President, she must already have what she needed. Despite her pain, Liz plucked up her courage and sneered.

  “Why don’t you come try your luck again then?” she growled.

  Susan laughed. “Have you recovered so quickly, my dear? I will have to make the damage more permanent this time. Yes, I think it would give me great pleasure to tear those pretty wings from your
back.” The Chead took a step towards them, and then caught herself. Smiling, she shook her head. “Alas, you will have to wait. First, there is the matter of humanity’s extinction. Hecate, come.”

  Hecate stepped back from Sam and started towards Susan. Heart hammering in her chest, Liz looked from the Chead to the President’s body. Obviously, whatever Susan had in mind required Hecate’s help.

  “What, are you still afraid I might steal him?” Liz asked mockingly. In the middle of the room, Hecate paused and looked back. His eyes darkened as he bared his teeth. Batting her eyes, Liz blew him a kiss. “Promise I won’t bite this time, Hecate.”

  A growl rumbled across the room, but it didn’t come from Hecate.

  “Stay away from him.” Susan’s voice was sharp enough to cut glass.

  Eyes flashing, the Chead stepped away from the mahogany desk. Swallowing, Liz stood her ground, though it took all her will not to turn tail and flee. Even Hecate paled as his enraged mate stalked past him.

  “Did you really have to piss her off?” Chris hissed as she closed on them.

  Forcing the pain in her arm and wings from her mind, Liz braced herself. “Did you have a better plan?”

  She was on them before Chris could respond. One second she was gathering speed, the next she was amongst them, fingers flashing like claws for Liz’s throat. Liz leapt back, her wings flaring out instinctively, and the blow missed her by inches. A second later the pain of her broken wings struck, tearing through her like wildfire. Her legs buckled. Hissing, Susan came for her again.

  Brown feathers flashed as Chris collided with the rampaging Chead, driving her sideways. Susan snarled and turned on him. Her knee flicked up, catching him square in the stomach as he struggled to overpower her. A sharp gasp hissed between Chris’s teeth as he staggered back. Teeth bared, Susan leapt, her foot swinging around to slam into his head.

  Screaming with agony, Liz forced herself to her feet and threw herself back into the fray. Susan heard her coming and turned to meet her, a dark smile twisting her lips. Liz feinted with her good hand, then kicked out at the Chead’s ankles. Susan cackled and leapt over the blow. Before Liz could react, the Chead twisted, and sent a boot flashing towards her face.

  Stars burst across Liz’s eyes as she staggered back. Crying out, she tried to recover. Her vision faded in and out of focus, and she didn’t even see the next blow coming. It slammed into her chin, sending her reeling back. Coughing, Liz tasted blood in her mouth.

  Somewhere in the room, a voice roared. Squinting through the stars, Liz watched a dark shadow slam into Susan’s back. Copper wings beat down as Sam lifted the Chead above his head and hurled her across the room. Laughing, Susan only twisted in the air and landed easily on her feet.

  Still struggling to see, Liz staggered forward to join Sam. A second later Chris was at her side. The three of them exchanged a glance. Questions raced through Liz’s mind, but try as she might, she couldn’t make sense of her friends’ presence. The answers would have to wait. Together they turned to face the white-eyed Chead.

  A smile spread across Susan’s face. “Three? Are you sure that’s enough?”

  Liz swallowed, in too much pain to answer. Susan had already proven Chris and herself were no match for her in their current state. From the look of Sam, he wasn’t much better off than them. But there was still one way they might subdue Susan’s insanity.

  She clenched her bare fists, readying herself.

  Susan’s eyes caught the movement. Looking at Liz, her lips twisted into a grin. “You think your little trick will work against me a second time?”

  Baring her teeth, Liz stepped towards her. “Let’s find out.”

  She lunged forward, desperate to lay a hand, a finger, even a kiss on the insane creature—anything that would allow her venom to work its magic. Susan made no move to avoid her. Instead, she stood fixed in place, eyebrows raised, and let Liz come. At the last second, her hands shot out and caught Liz by the wrists.

  “No!” Liz shrieked, her heart plummeting into her stomach.

  She fought desperately to break free, but Susan’s fingers were like iron shackles around the cuffs of her jacket, protecting the Chead from her skin. The hairs on Liz’s neck tingled as the Chead’s white eyes watched her. An icy hand wrapped around her stomach. Lips twitching with amusement, Susan stood studying her as the others watched on, helpless to intervene. Then, laughing, the Chead leaned forward and licked Liz’s cheek.

  “Argh!” Liz choked, pulling away. To her surprise, the hands around her wrists vanished. Overbalanced, she toppled back and slammed into the ground.

  Susan stepped towards her, and Liz quickly scrambled back towards the others. With Chris’s help, she managed to regain her feet. Together, they stared across at the mad creature who had once been a doctor in their facility. Breath held, they waited to see whether Liz’s venom would work.

  As seconds turned into minutes, their hope withered and died.

  Finally, the smile slipped from Susan’s lips. Her eyes darkened. “Are we done?” she asked, her voice low, dangerous. “I am the Chead, foolish children. Your tricks are nothing to me.”

  Before they could respond she lunged forward. Liz had half a second to register the movement, before Susan’s fingers closed around her throat. She gasped as Susan hoisted her off her feet. A strangled cry escaped her throat as the iron fingers dug into her windpipe, choking off her air. Desperate, she kicked out at the Chead. She felt the blow connect, but Susan only sneered, unmoved.

  “Are you ready to die, daughter of Talisa?” she whispered, pulling Liz close.

  Darkness obscured Liz’s sight as she beat desperately at the Chead’s hold, but it made no difference. Blood pounded in her ears, all but deafening her. She could feel the power radiating off Susan, crushing the life from her, as though it were some physical force.

  Through the shadows dancing across her vision, Liz watched Chris charge forward, Sam just a step behind. Her heart lurched as she realised with sick certainty that they didn’t stand a chance. Susan would snuff the life from them as easily as Liz would blow out a candle. Then she would do the same for the whole world.

  Hand still locked around Liz’s throat, Susan turned towards Sam and Chris. Her mouth opened as she shouted a command. Liz barely heard what the Chead said over the pounding of blood in her ears, but the word rang in her mind, smothering her last thoughts of resistance.

  “Stop.”

  Liz stared in horror as Sam and Chris staggered to a halt. A sly smile spread across Susan’s lips, and for a second the grip around Liz’s throat loosened. Liz gasped, the darkness retreating for a second as fresh air flooded her lungs.

  “Well, well, well. You mother was right, Elizabeth,” Susan mused. Liz moaned as the fingers clamped tight around her throat again. Laughing, the Chead continued. “Your kind are more Chead than I thought. Now, kneel.”

  Eyes shining with unspilt tears, Chris and Sam fell to the floor. Together they watched as Susan turned her attention back to Liz. The white eyes flashed, haunting, terrifying—yet now Liz found herself unable to even look away.

  “You tried to take my place,” Susan whispered, teeth bared as she choked the life from Liz. “You tried to steal my mate!”

  Liz’s head rolled violently on her shoulders as Susan shook her. She hung limp in the girl’s grip, unable to even reach up and claw the vice-like fingers from her throat. Her vision had shrunk to tiny pinpricks of light now, until all she could see was the haunting glow of the Chead’s milky white eyes.

  Somehow, comfortingly, the glow suddenly reminded her of Ashley.

  “Don’t worry, Elizabeth,” Susan breathed, her face just inches from Liz’s now. “Your friends will join you soon.”

  “Wanna bet?” A voice came from behind Susan.

  Susan’s eyes widened, and releasing Liz, she spun around to face the voice.

  The baseball bat caught Susan in the side of the head before she could raise an arm to defend herself.
Blood sprayed Susan’s clothes as she reeled back, hand clutching at her skull. Snarling, her white eyes swung around, seeking out her assailant.

  Golden eyes glowing, Ashley strode after her. Blood covered her face, knotting her flaming hair, and her white wings flared out to fill the room. Before Susan could recover, Ashley swung the bat again. The wooden weapon was little more than a blur as it caught the Chead square in the face.

  This time Susan went down, her strength fleeing her in a sudden rush. But she was far from done. Sagging to the ground, she snarled up at Ashley, white eyes wide, aglow with the power of the Chead.

  “Stop, child! You are mine!” she screamed.

  For a second, Ashley paused, and the golden light in her eyes seemed to flicker. Liz’s heart lurched in her chest, but Ashley only blinked and shook her head. The glow returned as she towered over the cowering Chead.

  “Guess not,” she shrugged.

  The bat descended a final time.

  Chapter 33

  It’s all finally over. The thought swept through Sam like a whirlwind as he watched Susan fall.

  His body sagged as whatever compulsion she’d placed on him vanished. Sucking in a breath, he stared at Ashley, unable to look away. Wings flared, blood still dripping from the gash in her forehead, she dropped the bat and turned towards him. The golden glow in her eyes flickered, and went out. Suddenly she was falling.

  Sam was on his feet in an instant. Rushing forward, he caught Ashley and pulled her into his arms. Panic constricted his ribs as he fell to his knees.

  “No, no, no,” he whispered, cradling her in his arms.

  Her white wings hung limply against the red carpet. Her skin seemed unbelievably white beneath the fluorescent lights. A trickle of blood ran from her forehead. He couldn’t tell if she was breathing.

  She couldn’t be dead.

  He’d just watched her beat a rampaging Chead to death with hardly a pause for breath.

  She couldn’t be dead.