by C Cato
A knife edge tapped her throat. “Move and I will cut you so deep and fast, you won’t have time to contemplate your miserable existence.”
Shock kept her immobile. How was Willow able to talk to her? With a firm grip on her upper arm and the blade still at her jugular, she moved as directed back to the bedroom. The White Guard stood in a half circle with Jenna at the center.
“You’ve done well, my General,” said Mother Superior as the lights came to life. She’d had time to dress. Most of the Guard wore smug smiles.
“For shame, Risa. I didn’t want to believe you could be a traitor, but Willow has always been such a good judge of character.”
“Do they know you’re just as freaky as the rest of us,” she goaded.
The knife bit into her neck. Risa had to assume losing her head was something the nanobots couldn’t fix.
“Shut up! I will kill you before you utter a word to them.”
Risa had no intentions of telling Mother Superior of the only real advantage they had. Not if Willow wasn’t going to spill it herself.
“Take this one to a holding cell, but not the same one as our other guests. Wouldn’t want them to figure out the game too soon.”
Another Guard took Risa’s arm, and Willow stepped out from behind her. Yet another woman approached with something in her hands. It was the same collar that Sonya had on. If that thing went around Risa’s neck, that would be the end for them.
No longer concerned about concealing the truth, she powered up and threw off the woman holding her arm. Kicking forward, she connected with the one holding the collar and ran for the door, but Willow was there… with a crossbow. She had seconds to register what was happening before force of the bolt sent her flying off her feet. A lung collapsed and she wheezed. Uttering a strangled cry, she pulled the offending bolt from her body and glared at the cruel face of Mother Superior and the satisfied smile of General Willow.
“It’s good to know we won’t have to go far to find them,” said Jenna. “Willow darling, please go and round up the rest of them. Have all of the Hounds and their Hunters arrested, including Councilwoman Tessa.”
“Of course, Mother Superior.”
“No! Cole, you—”
A foot came down on her face, silencing her warning.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Cole
“She’s late. She’s never late.” Cole clasped his hands behind his back and marched back and forth across the small apartment. Risa was an hour overdue and she hadn’t answered when he called her. After the brief call from her he hadn’t gotten her back. Other than Ray, no one else in the room knew about their ability to talk to each other.
“Tessa, too,” said Nor. “She was going to meet us before Risa.”
A knock on the door gave them all pause.
Riley moved to answer, but Cole stopped him with a hissed, “Wait.”
Hand hovering over the doorknob, confusion in the scrunch of his brows, he waited for Cole to get into position against the wall by the door. When he gave a nod, Riley stepped into the frame, halfway in and out of the apartment, effectively blocking Cole’s view.
Riley sucked in a breath and stepped backward a sword point revealed as he moved. It pressed hard enough to his throat to dimple the skin. Cole readied himself to attack, but a second smaller knife appeared aimed precisely at his heart.
“Don’t!” said the hooded figure, menacing Riley. A woman judging by the voice. “Touch me, and he dies.”
Cole could hear the scraping of chairs as the others rose. Once she was clear of the door, she reached back with a foot and slammed it shut.
“Both of you back into the room with your hands in the air and have a seat,” she growled.
The hood lowered enough to impede recognition but not her vision apparently. Riley backed away from her, and Nor pulled him against his chest in a tight embrace.
Cole moved to stand next to Ray.
When everyone was clear, she sheathed the dagger but kept her sword ready to attack. With her free hand, she pulled the hood away.
Ray choked. “No.”
“General Willow,” said Nor, no emotion evident.
“Hound,” she responded.
“No,” said Ray again.
Cole wouldn’t have thought it possible for the man to get any paler, but he did. Her gaze flicked in his direction and then back to Nor, but it swung back to Ray. The tip of her sword wavered.
“Rayathim?”
“Willa’atha,” he sighed.
“Your sister?” asked Cole.
Her gaze shifted to drill a hole into him. “Yes, his sister.”
“You can hear us,” said Cole, slowly as cold realization filled his lungs with dread and threatened to steal his breath. “You heard Risa.”
“Yes. I heard your little spy as she made plans with Sentinel One. She has been dealt with.”
Cole lunged. His inner light welcome as his speed increased, but Willow was just as fast, reorienting her blade to defend his attack. He stopped before he impaled himself.
“This is who you have aligned yourself with, brother. Freak-lovers, and traitors.”
“You’re wrong, Will. The ones you shouldn’t be trusting are the Valkyrie.”
“Don’t lie to me!” she shrieked.
Cole didn’t dare move. The tip of her sword quivered against his belly.
“I’m not. Do you know what Jenna does to the men forced to serve in her bed?”
“Of course not,” she spat. “I’m spared the details of her lawful duty, and not even her most faithful guard are allowed in her harem’s chambers.”
“Lawful duty?” Ray spat.
“Those men are privileged to serve their year, and when they are done, they are able to retire.”
“How she has lied to you,” he whispered.
“You have no proof of wrongdoing!”
“When did you become General, Will?”
Her eyes flashed and her jaw worked, but the sword remained steady against him. “Three years ago.”
“I was called to serve in her harem six years ago. I and my friend Laughlin were the only two that survived the experience. The others were more fortunate. They died quickly. I had to endure a year of torture.”
“Not true!”
A rustling of cloth. “Do you see what was done?”
Her sword came down, it was enough for Cole to take advantage of. He rushed past the blade and grabbed her wrist, breaking her hold. The sword clattered to the ground, and she went down after it, Cole’s knee in her back, her arm twisted hard behind her.
But her attention wasn’t on Cole, instead she locked on Ray. Cole chanced a glance. His mouth fell open as well. Carved into Ray’s back was Jenna’s name. Over and over. Big and small. Some of the scars were faint, but some had heavier tissue over them, implying deep cuts.
“She did this to me. For every week that I survived she carved her name into my back. She did the same for Laughlin. It was always how the torture ended. Signing her name.” Ray lowered his shirt and turned to his sister. “We were told so many lies, sister.”
“Even if I believed you, it doesn’t matter. You are traitors to Haven.”
“Nor, get some rope,” said Cole.
Dallas ran into the bedroom and returned with a coil of twine. “What have you done to our wife?” growled Nor.
Ray and Willow separated, and he turned to face everyone, putting himself in front of his sister.
“I did my duty,” she said, raising her chin.
Cole moved off her back and held her wrists together while Dallas tied her hands behind her back.
“Riley, you and Morgan go tell everyone to get to the emergency exit. Hurry,” said Ray, taking control. “Will, are they waiting on a signal from you?”
He grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard. “How long will they wait?”
“Five, ten minutes at most,” she snarled.
“Nor, you and Dallas go, too. We don’t have much time
.“ commanded Ray. The two men slipped out of the apartment.
“You could have brought your grievances to the council.”
Nor snorted. “You mean the council that is just a gaggle of Jenna’s friends. Tessa is the only one that legitimately belongs on the council and look how she’s treated.”
“She’s a traitor, too,” she said, sounding haughty. “She’s been arrested. They’ve all been arrested. The Hunters. My Valkyrie will be surrounding the building in minutes. They will arrest everyone in it. You can’t win.”
“There’s always a way. If you’ll come with us, I’ll take you to father. I promise you,” said Ray, taking slow steps toward his sister.
“We don’t really have a choice, but to bring her,” said Cole. “You’ll lose any advantage you have if she goes back to them.”
“Father is truly with you?” she asked, ignoring Cole.
“He is.”
“We have to hurry,” said Nor, running back inside.
Ray took charge of his sister, guiding her with a firm hold on her arm.
In the hall, men were all scrambling down the stairs in various states of dress. They gathered in the darkened lobby area. The painted over front windows afforded them some privacy. Men were moving with quiet efficiency to an area behind the stairs and one by one were dropping into a trap door.
“The lower catacombs under the city were blocked off a long time ago, but we made this escape route in case the Valkyrie ever decided the Hounds had served their purpose,” said Ray, as the last man went down, leaving Nor, Dallas, Willow, and himself.
Riley and Morgan joined them in seconds. “Building’s clear.”
“Good,” said Nor. “Riley, you and Morgan go first. We’ll drop the General down to you and follow.”
Then they were gone into the black hole in the floor. Ray touched his sister’s cheek and dropped down after them. Cole helped Nor lift Willow and center over the hole before dropping her in. There was a quiet grunt, and Riley whispered up she was okay.
Outside, Cole could hear the shouted orders and the hiss of metal leaving sheaths. “They’re coming.”
Nor dropped down, and Cole sat on the edge and reached for the hatched door. The glass at the front shattered as he jumped in pulling the hatch down behind him. Many hands caught him and eased him to the ground.
Once the hatch closed, torches were lit. They were in basement tunnels. He wouldn’t be surprised if they ran the entire length of the structure.
“Why did the Valkyrie have these tunnels sealed off?”
Nor shrugged. “Because women used to use them to escape.”
The men all moved quietly and with purpose. They came to a large grate. Riley and a man Cole hadn’t met, pried it off the wall.
When the first few men slid inside, the discorded music of bending aluminum echoed back to them.
“This leads to the lower most levels and the sewage outflow pipe. That’s our way out.”
“Great,” said Cole. He wondered if he would be able to go one day without destroying clothing ever again.
“Ray, will your farm be safe for all these people?”
“I don’t know. Will, did you tell Jenna I was involved?”
“No. I didn’t know you were, but I’m sure she’ll figure it out. There aren’t many legal homesteads left in the wilds.”
“We can take everyone to the farm and regroup there,” said Cole, focusing his attention on Nor.
The man studied him with pursed lips and narrowed eyes. “When we get there, you and I are going to have a chat.”
Blood filled his face, like a kid caught in a lie, he knew he’d have to be more forthright with this man if he wanted them to continue trusting him.
As before he, Nor, and Willow were last. They lowered her inside and waited for confirmation that someone had her on the other end. Cole then climbed in and braced against the sides. Nor followed with the grate in hand, and Cole used his body to keep the man from sliding long enough to put it back into place. At the bottom of the ventilation shaft, everyone was waiting. The stench of pent-up gasses, sewage, and human waste grew stronger as he followed the others down a narrow concrete ledge. A trench of water—thankfully clean—ran beside them. Everyone had the good sense to put out the torches, but they were all moving by feel, which slowed down their progress.
“Do the Valkyrie know about this place?”
“Yes,” said Nor from in front of him.
Cole was keeping an eye on everyone and assumed Ray would be doing the same.
“It won’t take too long before they realize what has happened. We need to be gone by then.”
“Where will the sewage pipe open?”
“Old creek bed in the woods. We don’t use the pipe anymore. Always had issues with backflow.”
“Backflow?”
“When it rains the pipe would get flooded with the incoming rainwater and force sewage back up through the pipes. Poor design.”
“Lovely.”
“Just thank your favorite deity that it’s not raining tonight, or we’d be fucked.”
The men stopped at a large pipe big enough for them to crouch down in. It would be a tight squeeze for Cole. A release valve opened the hatch with a hiss, and it opened with surprising ease. A few of the men gagged at the smell, but no one complained.
“Do you maintain this route?”
“Yes,” said Nor. “The smell will be bad, but anything inside will be dried and old by now.”
Cole closed the pipe behind him and followed the others. His back was screaming, and his thighs were ready to give out by the time they reached the grate at the end of the pipe. He couldn’t get out fast enough. The pain faded quickly once he could stand upright again. Through the trees, he could just make out the lights of Central Haven. They’d traveled a good three or four miles away.
Ray took the lead as everyone moved out at a slow jog in the direction of his farm, and away from the glowing city behind them.
Away from the woman he loved and his best friend.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Cole
Cole poured the bucket over his head for the fifth time, growling at the chill. “I’m never goin’ to be clean again.”
Nor laughed as he scooped up more water from the well. “This last one will do it.”
Everyone else had already gone through the indignity of the outdoor ice bath. Most had retired to the barn to discuss what was next. Kofa had taken possession of Willow, and he and Ray and disappeared into the house with Balin.
Nor dumped water over him and handed Cole a towel and a stack of clothes, which he accepted with a nod of thanks.
Once dressed, Cole leaned against the well and gazed at the house. Nor did the same. “We can’t trust her.”
“I know. This is going to be hard for him. They were close, Cole.”
“That may be so, but that still doesn’t change the fact she’s been the right hand of Mother Superior for five years. She has ordered the deaths of countless men. Do you think those men in there should be so forgivin’?” He flicked his chin toward the barn.
“He won’t abandon her.”
“Then he’ll have a choice to make.”
His sister was the enemy, and they were in war conditions.
Cole had been on the business end of the woman’s sword. He knew she was dangerous but understood that Ray was desperate for family. For that connection. Who wouldn’t be?
The crowded barn was bursting with Hounds. They took up every available surface. The kids ran around screaming and rough housing, while some of the men laughed at their antics. But Cole saw some sitting quietly, with frowns or deep furrowed brows. Worry. He was no different, wanting to know what was happening to Risa and Sonya.
Cole caught sight of Riley and pulled him aside. “Where’s Kofa, Ray, and Willow?”
“It was a little loud for questions out here. Their still inside.”
Leaving the chaos behind, he returned to the house with Nor. They
stopped at the entrance to the living room.
Kofa and Ray were there. Willow was bound to a chair facing them, and they both leaned forward as they spoke softly with her.
“My daughter,” rumbled Kofa. He reached with trembling talons but stopped before touching her. “I searched for so long. The night I lost you and your mother was the worst of my life.”
“You expect me to believe you!” she spat. “I know you were able to manipulate and control mother. That she wasn’t in her right mind. I will not be so easily fooled.”
Kofa’s head snapped back, her words as good as a slap. “Daughter, this is not true. We do not beguile mates. I loved your mother.”
“More lies,” she said, but with less vehemence.
“That man lied to you. He mutilated your precious bodies because he was ashamed. He hated.”
Cole decided it was a good time to be elsewhere. Whatever those three decided to discuss between them should be private. With a nod to Nor, he gestured for them to go back outside. Dallas waited for them at the front door.
“That’s going to be a problem,” said Dallas, he said flicking his fingers toward the Kofa.
Cole sighed. “It will, but for now, let’s let Kofa and Ray handle it.”
“So, are you going to explain?” asked Nor.
“Explain, what?” Cole didn’t have to feign ignorance; he didn’t have a clue what they meant.
