Shattered

by Mari Mancusi

  That got the second guy’s attention. He straightened up. “You think so?”

  “They’re looking for him, aren’t they?” The man grinned. “I bet there’s a big reward for this guy. We just gotta drag him down to the police station and collect.”

  Oh no. Scarlet stifled a gasp. They couldn’t let these guys just take him away. The police would arrest him. Lock him up, probably throw away the key.

  What should we do? she sent back to Rashida worriedly.

  The Potential flashed her a look. Follow my lead.

  Before Scarlet could reply, Rashida stepped out of the shadows, clearing her throat as she whipped a knife from her pocket. The two would-be bounty hunters jumped—obviously startled—and whirled around to face her. Their eyes glittered maddeningly under the streetlights, and Scarlet cataloged them quickly from the safety of her hiding spot. Small but wiry. One sporting an ugly scar on his cheek. The other with arms sleeved in tattoos.

  Just Mom’s type, she thought, a little bitterly.

  “Get away from him,” Rashida commanded now that she had their attention. Her voice was authoritative and fierce, sending a chill down Scarlet’s spine. She sounded very strong. Still, she hoped her new friend understood how dangerous these monsters could be.

  “And what are you going to do if we don’t, sweetheart?” the scarred man asked, grinning widely and revealing a few missing teeth.

  She shrugged. “Probably gut you to start. Then, if I’m feeling extra generous, I’ll feed you your entrails, so you won’t die hungry.”

  They exchanged glances, then tattoo guy broke out in a barking laugh. “Yeah, well, as pleasant as that sounds, we’re a bit busy right now. So why don’t you go run and play and leave us to our business? Before you get hurt.”

  “I think you’re mistaken,” Scarlet said, stepping to Rashida’s right. “We’ll be giving the hurt, not getting.”

  “Oh yeah?” The man snorted. “This I have to see.”

  He’d barely finished speaking when Rashida lunged at him, slashing out with her blade, slicing into his shoulder without hesitation. For a moment the man just stared at her, as if shocked into paralysis as the bright red blood soaked through his jacket.

  “You little whore!” he whispered.

  He sprang into action, using his full body weight to slam her into the wall. Scarlet watched in horror as the back of her new friend’s head smacked into brick, and for a moment she was afraid he’d knocked her out right then and there. But somehow Rashida managed to stay conscious, kneeing him in the groin instead. As he stumbled backward, clutching his privates, Scarlet had to resist the urge to cheer.

  Score one for the little girls.

  The man turned to his friend. “Stop standing there!” he screamed to him. “And cut these bitches!”

  Tattoo guy didn’t need a second invitation. He dove at Scarlet, surprising her with his sudden move, his nails digging into her arms, drawing blood. She fought wildly, kicking and hitting, wishing she had a weapon like Rashida.

  For a few fleeting moments, she was able to hold her own, clawing an ugly gash down the side of the man’s face and ripping open his shirt. But eventually he proved too strong, knocking her to the ground and climbing on top of her, pinning her down with his body’s weight. He leered at her, his face dripping with blood.

  “Now, now, little kitty. It’s time for you to be declawed.”

  She screamed, desperately trying to wriggle out of his grasp as his hands clamped down on her throat, crushing her larynx and cutting off her air supply. In an instant, she couldn’t breathe; she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even plead for her life. And any attempts to pry his hands off of her were proving fruitless. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that the scarred man also had Rashida, back up against the wall, having evidently stolen away her knife. There would be no help from her.

  The monsters had them. And they were not going to let them go.

  I’m sorry, Caleb. I tried…

  Suddenly an inhuman screech tore through the air. Scarlet looked up, eyes bulging, heart panging with sudden hope.

  It couldn’t be.

  Could it?

  At first she thought she must have been hallucinating. The lack of oxygen making her brain play tricks on her. But then her captor let out a very real scream and blood splashed down onto her face as his hands fell from her throat. For a moment she was blinded. Then her vision cleared. The man who had had her by the throat was now levitating three feet above her…

  …locked in the talons of a dragon.

  “Emmy!” Scarlet managed to croak, relief flooding her like a tidal wave. “You came.”

  The dragon tossed the man aside, as if he were a bag of feed. He hit the brick wall with a horrifying thump, his body sliding down the side and collapsing in a bloody heap. He didn’t get up.

  “Oh my God!” the second man cried, staring from his buddy to the dragon and back again, Rashida all but forgotten. “It’s…it’s…that thing!”

  “Her name is Emmy,” Scarlet declared, forcing herself to her feet. She moved next to the dragon, placing a protective hand on the back of her neck. “And, spoiler alert, she’s about to flambé your ass.”

  Emmy snorted, puffs of black smoke steaming from her nostrils, as if to prove Scarlet’s point. She took a menacing step forward, raising her head to meet her enemy’s eyes. Scarlet watched with a mixture of excitement and fear. Gone was the gentle creature from the barn. The one who had licked her face and saved her life. The dragon before her now was a wild and deadly beast—hungry for prey. She was very glad to be on the same team.

  “Don’t even think about it,” she growled, as the man took a tentative step toward his fallen friend. “Trust me, it won’t end well.”

  Thankfully the guy seemed to come to the same conclusion. He took one last look at his buddy then took off, bolting down the street as fast as his legs could take him. The two girls watched him go, Scarlet still marveling at what had just happened. She’d been so sure they were dead, that this would be the last evening of their lives.

  Instead she’d been saved a second time. From a second monster.

  Rashida frowned, glancing over at her. She looked worried. “He’s gonna go tell people,” she said in a low voice. “We’ve got to get Emmy out of here before he comes back. Otherwise there could be trouble.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll text the others and have them bring the bus.” She turned to Emmy. “Just hang on a second, okay? Don’t go anywhere. Help is on the way.”

  But the dragon already was turning away, her nose pointed to the sky. Concern flooded Scarlet. “Where are you going?” she asked.

  Emmy gave her an apologetic look. I must get back to Trinity. She will worry if I’m gone.

  Right. Of course. “Okay, but just wait a second.” Scarlet turned to Rashida. “She’s gotta go. Quick, give her the vaccine before she takes off.”

  “What?” Rashida asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.

  Scarlet frowned, impatiently. “The vaccine! Give her the vaccine before we lose her again.” She reached out to pet Emmy. “Hang on. We’ve got something important to give you.” She turned to look expectantly at the Potential.

  “Oh. Right. The vaccine.” Rashida’s face flushed. “I…I…don’t…have it on me.”

  Scarlet stared at her, incredulous. “You don’t have it on you? Why wouldn’t you have it on you?”

  I’m sorry, Scarlet. I must go now.

  Emmy started flapping her wings, kicking snow into the air. Rashida’s eyes grew wide with fear. “Wait!” she cried. “Don’t leave! We can help you! Scarlet—tell her we can help her!”

  Scarlet stared at her, a cold chill tripping down her spine. Then she turned to the dragon. Go! She told her silently. Go now.

  Emmy took flight, pushing off her back feet an
d soaring into the sky. Scarlet watched her go, her heart squeezing as the dragon disappeared behind a rooftop.

  Stay safe, she begged her.

  “Damn it!” Rashida swore, squeezing her hands into fists. “She was right here in front of us! We totally had her!”

  Scarlet was silent for a moment, staring up into the once-again empty sky. “There’s no vaccine, is there?” she said quietly. “You made that up to get me to help you find her.”

  Rashida sighed. She walked over to Caleb. “Can you help me over here?” she asked, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him violently. “Wake up, Caleb!” she cried. “You stupid idiot. We’ve got to get out of here.”

  Against her better judgment, Scarlet joined her. She poked Caleb hard. “You need to get up,” she told him. “It’s not safe here.”

  Finally Caleb shifted, his face turning upward. His eyes fluttered open, at first unfocused then locking onto hers. She’d almost forgotten what crazy eyes he had—a kaleidoscope of blues and greens, swirling around in a storm of color.

  “Where…?” he started, looking around the alley, his face awash with confusion. Then he turned back to her, his eyes lighting up as they focused on her face. “Buttercup!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

  “Evidently I’m saving your ass, Bad Seed,” she replied with a wry smile. “Are you okay?”

  Her eyes roved over him. He didn’t look okay. In fact, he looked like hell. His face was pale, his eyes glassy, his skin covered in goose bumps. She swallowed, déjà vu hitting her hard and fast.

  Another alley, another dumpster, another life.

  “She’s fine,” Rashida interrupted briskly, taking his arm and trying to yank him upright. “She’s helping us rescue Emmy from your little girlfriend. Now come on! Get on your feet you lousy Netherhead, or I’ll leave you in the gutter where you belong.”

  Caleb rose to his feet, his legs shaking. He could barely stand, Scarlet realized with growing dread. “I’m not going anywhere with you,” he announced. Then he turned to Scarlet. “Buttercup—”

  Before he could finish, he stumbled, his legs giving out from under him as he fell, his eyes rolling to the back of his head, losing consciousness again as he hit the ground with a thump. Scarlet cried out in horror, dropping to her knees before him, while Rashida swore under her breath. “God, he’s even more pathetic than I remembered him,” she muttered.

  Fury surged through Scarlet. She rose back to her feet, hands on her hips. “Rashida, what’s going on here?” she demanded. “What do you mean you’re rescuing Emmy? And what about the vaccine?”

  Rashida sighed. “Look,” she said, “the truth is, Trinity infiltrated our headquarters. She pretended to be one of us and then she turned Caleb against us. She used him to break the dragon out so she could have her to herself. We’ve been trying to track them down and rescue Emmy ever since.” She gave Scarlet a rueful look. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But I was afraid Trinity had brainwashed you as well. And we’d gotten so close. I couldn’t afford for you to walk away and refuse to help.”

  Scarlet scowled. “So you lied to me.”

  “Only about the vaccine. And about being friends with Trinity,” Rashida protested. “The rest is true. Emmy’s in trouble. We’re trying to help her. And if we don’t save her soon, the world as we know it could be in grave danger.”

  Scarlet opened her mouth to speak, but a roar of an engine drowned out her words. The other Potentials had arrived, pouring out of the van, surrounding her with excited faces.

  “Where’s the dragon?” one of them finally asked.

  Hopefully far, far from here, Scarlet thought mournfully. With enough sense to stay away from you.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Trinity shifted, feeling drowsy and warm as the sun flittered through the windows, teasing her eyelids awake. For a moment she had no idea where she was. Only that she felt overwhelmingly cozy and comfortable. She’d slept through the night for the first time in what felt like forever, without a single nightmare to wake her.

  She burrowed into the pillow, hoping to chase a few more minutes of blissful slumber before getting back to the reality she didn’t want to face. But then something solid shifted at her back, a weight falling gently over her side. Her eyes flew open and she turned her head, only to find Connor snuggled up against her, his arm draped solidly across her waist.

  Now she was wide awake, her heart beating wildly in her chest as she wondered what she should do. How had this happened? Last thing she remembered was finishing up their Chinese food and discovering that really terrible Fields of Fantasy movie was playing on HBO. They must have fallen asleep in the middle of the movie.

  Slowly, as not to wake him, Trinity slipped out from under Connor’s arm and sat up in bed. The loss of connection sent an unexpected ache through her, and she glanced down at his sexy, rumpled figure, a rueful look on her face. How easy it would be to crawl back into bed. To let him hold her and cuddle her and keep the nightmares at bay. To absorb his strength, warm skin to warm skin. And remember his promise that she would never be alone.

  But that couldn’t happen. This couldn’t happen—ever again. There was too much going on right now for her to be sidetracked by romance. Her body may have betrayed her, but her mind was set. And she wouldn’t put herself in that position—that oh so comfortable position—ever again.

  Connor would understand this, she told herself. Even if Caleb refused to.

  Caleb. She bit her lower lip, looking around the room again, now noticing his obvious absence. When he’d stormed out the night before, she’d assumed he’d be back eventually, tail tucked between his legs and his mouth full of apologies—just like every time before. But the other bed was still made. And a quick peek into the adjoining room told her he hadn’t returned at all. Which was probably for the best, she realized, feeling a stab of guilt. If he had seen her and Connor, locked in each other’s arms…

  Her eyes caught the television set, which had been left on all night. The station had cut to a breaking news piece and the video showed blue and white and red emergency lights flashing against the backdrop of some random brick alleyway. Police tape had been stretched across the crime scene and EMTs were wheeling some poor schlub on a stretcher into a waiting ambulance. She gave a tight smile. At least they’d finally stopped talking about Emmy for five seconds and moved on to other tragedies going on in the world.

  But before she could reach for the remote to turn off the set, her eyes caught the scrolling text at the bottom of the screen

  Another touchdown of terror?

  A gasp escaped her. She flicked off the TV then ran to the other room to turn on the other one, grabbing the remote to turn up the volume. The reporter was holding the microphone out to a terrified looking man sporting a long scar down his cheek.

  “It killed him!” he cried. “He wasn’t doing nothing. Just minding his own business. And this…thing…swooped down and dug its claws into him and threw him against the wall!” He made a swinging gesture with his arms, to illustrate his point. “Killed him dead. Right there in front of me. And then this girl? She was, like, petting the creature like it was some frigging St. Bernard, saying I was next.” He shook his head, droplets of spittle flying from his mouth. “I barely escaped with my life.”

  Trinity glanced over at Emmy, who was still sleeping at the foot of the bed, snoring contentedly. Was this some kind of prank? A copycat crime?

  She turned back to the TV. The program had cut to the reporter, now standing live in the alleyway where it had all gone down. “The military is on their way and authorities have instituted a lockdown on the city. Everyone is asked to stay indoors until the search for this creature is complete. If you do catch sight of it, please call 911. Do not approach it under any circumstances.” She stared straight into the camera, a severe look on her overly made up face. “This is Daisy Solomon report
ing live from San Angels.”

  Wait. What? Trinity dropped the remote onto the bed. San Angels? That’s where they were now. But Emmy was here. How could she have…?

  Panicked, she turned to the sliding glass door leading out to the balcony. The open sliding glass door, she realized in dismay. Connor must have opened it in his attempt to cool off the night before and had forgotten to close it when Emmy made her sudden appearance. It was the kind of mistake the Hunter never would have made. But he’d been distracted. She’d distracted him.

  And Emmy had taken advantage.

  She looked over at the dragon who was still lying curled up on the bed, the tears welling in her eyes.

  “What did you do?” she whispered.

  Emmy lifted her head sleepily, looking at Trinity with genuine confusion. It was then that she saw the blood crusted on the creature’s claws, confirming her worst fears.

  “What has who done?”

  She looked up guiltily, realizing Connor had walked into the room and was staring at her. Terror churned in her stomach as her mind whirled with lies. She couldn’t let him know what Emmy had done. Not after she’d promised nothing else would happen under her watch. What would he say if he found out another person had been killed? More importantly—what would he decide to do about it?

  If she gets into any more trouble…hurts any more people…

  Oh, Emmy, what have you done?

  She grabbed the remote and turned off the TV, struggling to retain her composure. “Sorry, what did you say?” she asked in a stumbling voice, as if she hadn’t heard him.

  “I said…Wait, Trinity? Are you okay?” he asked, peering at her intently. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Um, yeah. I’m…fine. I’m just…” Oh God, oh God. “I just have to use the bathroom, okay?”

  “Oh. Right. Sorry to barge in on you.” He headed back into the other room and shut the door. Trinity turned back to Emmy.

  “Talk. Now,” she hissed. “And I don’t want to hear you say you don’t remember.”