Page 109 of Resurrection
“While they will attack in copious recklessness, having nothing to lose, that will be their downfall. They’ll make mistakes, where I can’t afford to have any. And that makes me more dangerous than anything or anyone they’ve faced before.”
“Ti amo, mia redenzione.” The words spill from my mouth raw and hushed, yet it doesn’t feel like enough. Telling her I love her doesn’t feel adequate.
“I love you too.” April smiles, but the sadness is still rooted deep within her. “Remember how sweet you are later when you feel the need to be pissed at me, too.”
“I think I’m going to be sick from all this bullshit,” Eshe chirps, but her eyes glitter with unshed tears she’s trying to hide behind her “I don’t give a damn” attitude.
“Are we killing, or should we start running around offering everyone a hug?”
“Oh yeah.” Shading the melancholy like it was never there, April steps away from the circle of my arms, rolling her shoulders. “Kill first, I’ll give you a hug later.” She winks at Eshe, and then she’s gone.
Chapter Ninety-Four
APRIL
Okay so I might’ve embellished a little telling Sebastian that I’m death coming for the mages. The fear, as useless as it is, keeps raking its razor-sharp claws over my insides, shredding them to ribbons. Why did I have to talk about all the lives that depend on me to keep breathing? Instead of psyching myself up with thoughts of what I’ll do to that bitch that stabbed me in the back and her brother, I’m stuck in my head with the thought of how many depend on me to keep kicking.
It’s a never-ending loop in my head.
Streaking across the street, I don’t get too far before I feel Sebastian right behind me. The heat of his much larger body thaws the ice forming in my veins to a degree. Not by much, but beggars can’t be choosers and all that. The poor guy has come a long way from how he used to be the first time I saw him.
A centuries old vampire, making an effort.
If it wasn’t happening to me, I would’ve laughed.
As soon as the Guardians stationed all over the place notice our advance, all of them descend on the theater in a wave of black, their eyes glowing red on their faces resembling a pitch-black cloud full of monsters staring at you from the darkness.The mages that are on the roof sound an alert to their friends down at the entrance, but it doesn’t alert more than those outside when their bodies are lifted in the air. Arms flailing, they pirouette behind the jutting sign, the cracking sound of their necks breaking piercing the night.
Eshe jumps on the edge of the sign after killing everyone on the roof and steps off it, landing in a silent crouch.
All six of the mages that were using the trees for cover are dead, their bodies dragged to the sides by the time we reach the entrance of the theater. A few of the Guardians spread out to stay behind in case anyone tries to escape, and after the doors are silently opened, we rush inside the building.
Shouts, shrill screams, and crashing starts immediately.
I’m a little taken by surprise by the amount of mages we find inside. All ages, shapes, and colors, they spring to action when their wide eyes take us in. Sebastian holds me back, letting the Guardians start the battle, and we have to dart around and roll away when streaks of magic lash out in the air.
They’ve gutted the inside, leaving only fold-out tables lining the walls and chairs sprinkled here and there. So many of us pack inside that it’s a good thing we have room to maneuver around the balls of fire and electric whips thrown our way. In the chaos, it’s hard to see all the faces, but I still crane my neck in hopes I’ll see Sara among them.
I don’t.
Sprays of blood arch through the air as if someone was chucking buckets of paint over everyone, and the stench of death follows, saturating the stifling air. I breathe through my mouth so I can avoid the cloying sweet scent of magic that slaps me in the face. Sebastian and Marcus struggle with it, too. Eshe is already gone, weaving through people, her arms slashing and taking heads as she goes like she’s picking flowers in a field.
The mages might be taken by surprise, but they recover from it fast and scutter around, grouping up so they can effectively execute their assault. The Guardians press harder, forcing them to take defense instead of attacking. About half a dozen of them finally see the three of us, and they bolt in our direction, flames already forming in their palms.
My fangs punch out of my gums, throbbing in my mouth, and I feel my nails lengthening into claws just as they reach us. A red haze blankets my vision, and I take one step in their direction before Sebastian shoves me away, a ball of fire passing an inch from my face. Stumbling, I barely catch myself so I don’t land on my ass. With a snarl, I pounce on the closest mage, wrapping my legs around his torso and sinking my fangs in his neck.
The mage goes down, taking me along with him, and his throat is ripped out before we finish the drop. Jumping off him, my head whips around in search of the next. A female mage runs for me screaming like a banshee, flinging an electric whip at my face. Throwing myself to the side, I roll on the ground before stopping in a crouch. She is still coming strong, two of her buddies opening a path for her by chucking fire after fire at everyone trying to stop their progression.
“Down,” Sebastian roars at me, and I duck just in time to avoid another lash of magic from behind me as it flies over my head, bringing the smell of burning hair to sear my nostrils.
“Get her out of here,” Sebastian snarls at Marcus, but if he thinks I’m going anywhere, he has another think coming.
I need to find Sara and Eddie before he actually does get a hold of me and drag me away. I might’ve convinced him to be okay with me fighting, but the moment my life is threatened, all his agreements, hums, and nodding go down the drain.
“Don’t even think about it.” Hissing at Marcus when he gets near, I punch the mage that wandered too close for his wellbeing, pulverizing his cheekbone and caving his face inward.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” my friend assures me, moving around me with grace and speed one can only have from years of hand-to-hand combat.
It’s as beautiful as it is horrifying to watch, and he does it with a grin on his handsome face.
