Mystic Betrayal, page 15
part #2 of Mystic Series
He muttered something like self-respect but at least he was considering her offer. Seconds ticked away. He finally sat down at a nearby table and motioned for her to join. All his other warriors relaxed after that and settled down to listen. Xander continued to stand behind her with his hands on her shoulders. It was hard for him to sit quietly and let her take the lead.
Ace leaned forward. “What do you have in mind?”
“What if we had some bait they couldn’t refuse? We lure them into a location that we can control. Then wage all-out war. I think I can use the power from their weapons against them.” She hadn’t thought that part through yet since she was having to wing it.
“Princess, you make an intriguing argument. Sounds more like a fairy tale, but I’m willing to plan with you. If you can eliminate the vampires, I would consider joining with you at the battle.” Yeah right, like she was going to agree to clean out the vermin without a firm commitment.
“If I eliminate them, you will report immediately to the Meadows and be happy about it. And you will fight at the Rising. What else would you have to do if I take care of your problems?” He started to refuse and she was afraid she’d pushed a little too hard. Then he held out his hand. Wonder what changed his mind. His thoughts about her weren’t exactly endearing. Of course, he thought she’d fail and wanted to watch.
“You’ve got a deal. Show me what you can do, princess.” Challenge accepted. This was her one chance to prove what she could do. The ball was in her court now.
“I suggest we meet in the morning and set this up for tomorrow night. Any objections?” Only a few million from both sides but everyone stayed silent. There wouldn’t be any second chances on this one.
* * *
“Let’s lay out all the facts and come up with a solid plan.” She’d been talking with Angie for the past hour. So much for any sleep any time soon. Training schedules were being maintained on their end. She’d also provided a few updates from some of the others. Jeff and Jane were cruising through all of their locations sending new recruits by the hour. Joseph and Lucia struggled a little more in the remote areas, but were also gaining recruits. Angie and Xavier were expecting to process at least twenty warriors per day.
“Kate, you better be sure about this. The kind of display you’re talking about is going to gain a lot of attention from both sides. You shouldn’t be overly exposed.”
“It has to be big and it has to eliminate a large number of the vampires in this area. They won’t follow me if I can’t show them that I’m better than they are. That’s the real test. Could I defeat them in a fight? Most of the rogues are trying to do the right thing, but they hate the Council. It’s why Tristan sent me. I have to gain their loyalty and give them hope that I’m worth taking the risk. The only way this will work is if they choose to follow me.” One more weight on her shoulders.
“Fine. The Super Dome will be your best bet. It’s completely enclosed and located nearby in the Central Business District. I hacked into their server and nothing is going on tomorrow night. Xavier says that Xander can create a shield to prevent anyone from entering once you get things rolling. I hope you know what you’re getting into. Be careful, Kate. I wish I could be there.” It was the first grand scheme that she wouldn’t have Angie at her back. But she did have her Guardian who happened to be tapping his foot at the moment and pointing to the pretend watch on his arm.
Her endurance still needed a lot of work, so she still needed to sleep to gain additional energy. Although she doubted sleep was actually on his mind. “I’ll be careful, I promise. Let Tristan know what’s happening here. We’ll touch base when this is done.” She broke the connection and grasped Xander’s outstretched hand. Balance. She had to find the balance.
Pulling her against him, he tucked her body into his. A perfect fit as always. She met his lips in a scorching kiss. Within seconds, they were in the spacious master bedroom she’d admired so much with the beautiful canopy bed. Their need took over as they sought the full connection between them. Bodies intertwined and hearts soared. Electricity hissed and popped. Minds merged into one being. Making love to Xander was her ultimate secret weapon. It filled her heart with such joy that she felt unstoppable.
She counted her blessings every night for finding a love this strong and true. She wouldn’t survive all this without him by her side. If the fates were kind, they’d have an eternity to experience all life had to offer. He was her anchor when so many other things in her life were spinning out of control.
Chapter 10
The next morning didn’t go any smoother than their first heated meeting. “Are you insane? How do we get all the vampires in the area to go to a football stadium at the same time? It’s not practical. There’s no way this will work. Are you setting us up? Trying to kill us?”
“No. I’m not risking my own life. I’ve looked at all the angles and I know this will work. All you have to do is plant the right bait. Give them something they all desire. A price they think will bring them praise from the Omega.” She hoped she exuded more confidence than she felt. They had a point and there was a high degree of risk involved. A lot could definitely go wrong.
“Like what? They’re already breaking all the rules and doing whatever the hell they want.” Ace shook his head and walked away from her.
“Ace, wait. You don’t get it. What they want is to be higher up on the food chain. If the dark wins, ranking order will be important. Spread the word that there is a secret meeting tonight and a Council member will be present. We can make up something about a new weapon. There’s no greater accomplishment than killing a Council member. They will compete for the honor. Let them think they have trapped us. Then we follow the plan.” He refused to answer her for several minutes. She needed his cooperation. At least he’d stopped pacing and was thinking about it.
“Lady, I still think you’re bat shit crazy. They will surround us and we’ll be lucky to live through the night. We don’t have a lot of defenses against their new UV ray.” So that’s why it was so bright. It was like someone had figured out how to trap the sun and weaponize it.
But how on Earth had they obtained something like that and the Council not know? Or did they? “How did they find a light so powerful?”
“They kidnapped a Seeker and stole their knowledge. It’s why they’ve gone into hiding. They’re bloody brilliant, but most can’t fight.” No wonder Tristan wanted them secured in the Meadows. In the wrong hand, their weapons could be brutal.
Ace spun her around and held on tight. Xander jumped up and growled, but Kate pushed him back. His intention wasn’t to harm. He wanted honesty. “Why would you do this? What’s in it for you? I’ve never seen a Mystic align herself with undesirable creatures. The Council can’t stand us. Tristan barely tolerates rogues because our beliefs differ from his precious gliders.”
His fingers bit into her shoulders and his silver and red eyes bore into hers. She wouldn’t be intimidated. Instead she took a step closer and met his eyes. “I was born and raised as a human. I value their lives and from what I’ve seen your pack has saved several lately. Maybe I don’t agree with your lifestyle choices, but I know I’d stand beside you in a fight to save our worlds. Isn’t that worth giving me a chance? I won’t fail you if you’ll just take the risk. Are you willing?”
“You won’t go disappearing if things get rough and leave us behind?” Their biggest fear was her setting them all up to be killed. Sacrificial pawns. She couldn’t blame them.
“I will stay until the end. I give you my word as a Mystic.” She spun a pale blue energy stream and repeated her oath. The blue light spelled it out then burst into white flames. Right or wrong, she couldn’t back out now.
“If you stand beside us in this battle, we will fight for you at the Rising. We’ll train and stay until the end. You’ve shown us great faith despite our reputation.” She’d chosen the right direction. Their sincerity and gratitude overwhelmed her. The Council had made quite a few miscalculated errors over the years. She intended to correct them.
“Let’s move.”
* * *
The stadium shined against the night sky but inside was pitch black. Angie had made sure it was empty. Once everyone entered through the side doors. Xander placed a shield preventing anyone from leaving and locking out any humans. She’d also given Nate a heads up to keep the local police away. Hopefully, this would be quick and easy according to the plan. So far, that hadn’t been her luck.
The turf felt odd under her feet. She’d never stepped onto a football field like this before. It seemed so much larger in real life. The stands loomed around them hidden in darkness. But they weren’t alone.
The vampires had taken the bait and came in full force. They were waiting and trying to determine who she was. She picked up their mental chatter. Some had identified her as the Mystic, but others wouldn’t believe the Mystic would be allowed to leave the safety of the Meadows. Time for the show. Ace’s men advanced toward her. Xander flanked her left side and they met in the middle of the field. Their dramatic show had the viewers captivated.
“Are the shields set? I’d say we’re pretty well surrounded and outnumbered two to one.” Ace glanced uneasily toward the shadows in the stands. “We could be in big trouble.”
Xander nodded and stepped forward to shake his hand like they were doing introductions. “They’re in place. No one is coming in or going out until I remove them.” His power amazed her at times. He could maintain incredible shields and still fight with full energy. She’d witnessed his powers grow stronger than ever once they’d entered the Meadows, and she had restored him. When he connected to Xavier, they were invincible.
Ace continued the mock introductions and then began the fake dialogue. “What is this new weapon you wanted to discuss with us? It’s very rare for a Council member to be sent on a mission especially with rogues involved.”
Clearing her head, she focused on the conversation and not her nerves. The vamps had gone wild when the Council member had been confirmed. They were waiting to hear about the new weapon before attacking. Squaring her shoulders, she did her part. I’d hate to disappoint our audience.
“This weapon is top secret and the Council thought it best to control the information while testing it in the optimum environment. It was created to counteract the UV tasers that were leaked to the enemies. With this, you’ll be able to target many vampires at the same time.” The tension escalated in the stadium. They sucked at hiding their presence. Idiots. All of them.
“Did you bring it with you? Can we see it?” Ace crept closer to her while his pack spread out to prepare for the attack. Xander stepped back to gain a better view.
She huddled next to Ace like she was protecting a great treasure. From the outside, it appeared like she was holding a small metal box. Using her own energy blast, she opened the box. Bright blue light aimed directly toward Ace’s chest. She threw up a shield to protect him. Xander maintained a shield around both of them to presumably protect them all. It was the perfect show to pique the interest of their audience.
Wouldn’t be long now. They were becoming restless and wanted the mysterious box. And her. Their greed had blinded them to the obvious trap laid out before them. Or maybe they were just willing to risk it. “We have placed a spell on the boxes to target those that have fully turned vampire. I added additional shields as a courtesy but they are not necessary. No vampire could win against you with this weapon. The light eliminates all. You will be receiving your shipment from the Meadows soon. Would you like to try it?”
The moment she lifted and offered the box, over a hundred vampires descended. They’d brought more than she realized. As they swarmed in around them, she threw jet streams of light. Xander sent several energy blasts flying straight into their hearts. Then he engaged them with swords and began removing heads. Despite her ability to protect herself, all of the men had created a circle around her. Their main objective was to protect the Mystic. She wouldn’t forget that.
Xander swung around and sliced off a head to his left and then turned to the right a drove a stake through another one’s heart. His sword and energy blasts lit up the stadium. Several vampires fell at his feet. But they were becoming overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Ace and his crew were holding their own as they kicked and punched their way to freedom. Then the vampires brought out the UV weapons. My turn.
She stepped forward and drew energy around her. “Xander, be ready to send the shields and protect the rogues, or I might accidentally kill them all. It’s almost time. As soon as I absorb the light, cover them. I won’t be able to hold that much energy long.”
“Be careful, Kate. I love you. I’ll protect them and you.”
“Love you too. Hold the shields. It’s going to be a big blast. I got the rest.”
Unleashing her tattoo and raising her entire body up in the air, she took center stage. The momentary shock of being in the presence of the Mystic provided the distraction she needed to push the rogues behind her.
She touched back down on the ground as the Mystic. Surrounded by the golden light and swirling blue eyes that were her trademark. The vampires feared her and rightly so. She was their harbinger of destruction. In an act of defiance and fear, they all turned their UV rays toward the rogues.
The pure light flew from the weapons but she absorbed every ounce of it. Her tattoo drank it in and grew brighter and brighter. She shouted to Xander in her mind. The heat from the energy was fierce but gave her an enormous power boost. That kind of power could become very addictive. Then she became almost as bright as the sun and released it all in the direction of the vampires. The entire stadium filled with the firework display of energy being released. When the light finally faded, nothing but vampire ash remained. She’d been so wrapped up in the moment, she hadn’t even paid attention to their cries for mercy.
Coming back into the present, she searched for Xander and checked on Ace and his men. The rogues were a little singed but okay. His shield had protected them. She’d never doubted him. Everyone was alive. Stunned. But safe.
“Holy shit! I can’t believe that just happened. That was wicked. Remind me to never piss you off. This new dickhead Omega isn’t gonna know what hit him.” Ace celebrated with his men and then returned to her.
“Mystic, you earned our eternal support. We’ll fight beside you at the Rising. And we will stand beside you anytime, anywhere as long as we’re alive. You have our allegiance and our trust. Dawn is creeping in. We’ll pack quickly and report to the Meadows.” He took her hand. “You’re phenomenal and true. A rare find in this world. If you didn’t have that big beast of a Guardian protecting you, I sure would’ve loved the job and to spend more time with you.” He winked over at Xander who scowled in reply.
“I appreciate the sentiment and the loyalty. We have more places to go before I can return home. Check in with Xavier and Angie. They’ll get you up to speed and added to training rotations. We’ll meet again soon. Safe travels.” Xander removed the shields and they disappeared.
She sagged against him when they were alone. “Are you all right, Kate?”
“My endurance is still an issue. What I did tonight felt amazing, but I ran out of steam quickly. The Omega will have a lot more punch. I’d only admit it to you, but I’m worried. I’m not ready.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Rubbing her back in reassurance, he kissed her softly and replenished her energy.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to be ready yet. Day by day you grow stronger. I feel it. Recruiting, overcoming challenges, and testing your limits, that’s what prepares you for the battle. Trust in the journey, Kate. I’ll be by your side every step of the way. Always.” He flashed them back to Tristan’s house and chased away the rest of her fears.
* * *
“Kate.” He kissed her, waking her from a rare peaceful sleep. “I have the rest of the information from Rowena about the Seekers. Ace was able to help and give us a definite location and contact for Daria.”
She sat up and stretched. He loved how she looked first thing in the morning before all the stress of the world came crashing back and dragging her down. Her hair was a mess and tangled around her shoulders. She had makeup smudges under eyes where she always forgot to remove her makeup the night before. These rare moments gave him a glimpse of how real and perfect their future could be. Fear punched him briefly in the gut, but he pushed it aside. He couldn’t let himself think about a life without her in it.
Oblivious to his thoughts and still locked in her early morning dream state, she kissed his cheek and headed to the shower. She still loved her human conveniences. He had to admit so did he. He decided to use the extra time to check in with Xavier. He’d had a much better disposition since bonding with Angie. His brother would cross over with his chosen mate. The thought made him sad but content. Wasn’t he contemplating the same thing should anything happen to Kate?
“How’s it going with training?”
“Nice of you to check in while I’m doing all the work. Joking aside. Good work with Ace and his men. I wasn’t sure Kate could pull it off. That particular pack can be pretty nasty. They arrived not long ago and still haven’t stopped talking about her like she hung the moon. I think Ace has a little crush on Kate, but he has a lot of respect for both of you. It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to a miracle in forever. That was quite an impressive show of power. As for training, it’s going. More and more show up every day and more and more tension enters the air. The usual.”
Nothing was usual about this battle. At least they were getting along for the moment. “How’s Gregory – and no smart-ass answer.”
“Then I guess I should remain silent.” He paused for several seconds until Xander sent him a warning. “Okay, he’s sullen and a pain, but does his training. I think he’s trying to repair things with Roxy. That’s not going so well. She’s pretty much hiding out in her house these days. Zane has caught a few more glimpses of the traitor. He thinks a new plan is in place which we know. It’s hard for him to track when he’s stuck in the shadows. But he’s not giving up. He still believes that he can intercept the plan in time. There’s also a lot of chatter in the Hell Realm. It supports his theory that there is still one more, big plan in play to weaken Kate or the Council. Not much we can do there except return her to the Meadows very soon.”
