A Final Touch: The Complete Series, page 86
Unless I could connect to my magic via Jace now.
Maybe my connection with Jace was deeper than I’d ever expected. It wasn’t just that my magic had connected to him the moment we met. He’d brought it out of me. Until him, I’d fought what I was. After Jace, I’d embraced everything.
Velos flew me through the hole. Cold wind struck me, ruffling my hair and beating back against my cheeks.
I wouldn’t open my eyes. I couldn’t give up on myself yet. There was still one chance.
Why had Jace connected to me? Because he didn’t live for himself. He was his duty to Mythos, and maybe something deep inside him recognized only I could help.
I didn’t set out to strengthen our connection. I had no clue what would happen if I did. But it was like I could feel it in my chest, linking harder, tying into the tightest possible chain.
It was enough to ignore the feeling of more cold air as Bales flew me to the waiting Engelos.
I ignored every single freaking distraction and focused on Jace with all my might until I felt a shiver on my back.
I was right. Bales had to maintain a continuous connection to my seals. Because he felt it the second they fluctuated.
My eyes burst open. I stared down at him as he froze, twisting his head up to glower into my eyes. His hands lurched up to my back to redo my seals, and I smelled his magic concentrating.
I hadn’t burst through the seals properly yet, but the more I focused on Jace, the more it disrupted them. I used my remaining strength to shove my hand out and catch Bales’s. I moved my fingers between his far larger digits, squeezing hold of them.
Then I screamed and fought him.
Statistics promised I’d lose. But I refused.
I’d come too far, sacrificed too much, and given up my mate for this.
I had one more fight left in me.
Chapter 7
Bales froze. I still didn’t know his face. I wondered if it would be that different from Velos’s. I’m sure the expressions would be identical. The fear that gripped his cheeks was unmistakable. Bright eyes boggled wide.
The waiting Engelos above still didn’t know what was going on. This didn’t look like a real fight. Both of us stared at one another, but magic wasn’t flying back and forth, and nobody had flapped their wings.
It bought me some precious time.
I strengthened my connection with Jace over and over again, imagining that chain reaching out through the city. He was still alive. I would get to him. Nothing else mattered. Dammit, not another thing mattered.
Bales let out a roar, and it was guttural and frightened enough that it alerted his Engelos. They twitched around a bit, then flew down toward me, faster than bullets.
I shoved my shoulder hard against Bales, trying to push him away. If I had a chance to strip his magic, I had to take it.
It was like Jace himself reached out to me. I was too weak, and the seals were still half in place. Try to fight Bales now, and I would simply lose.
It was crazy to pull myself away, though. But reason won out. I yanked my hand away.
I’d done a little more damage to Bales than I expected. He lurched forward and coughed.
It might be his reactions, but it was ultimately Velos’s body. How had I forgotten that?
If I could push Bales out of Velos’s body, did that mean it would be easier to remove Velos’s magic?
It was a hell of a risk. But if I left Velos, he would simply turn around and try to capture me. While I had a much higher chance against the lower Engelos, Velos would always be a threat, especially if Bales was lurking in the wings, waiting to possess him.
Several Engelos flew close. I kept my wings tight against my back until they reached me. Then I flapped them as hard as I could, crashing into two Engelos and sending them spiraling toward the library. I didn’t want to damage them further, but the Engelos missed the hole. They simply fell into the corridor.
The library might’ve rolled over and realized it couldn’t fight Bales. It surely could smash through these Engelos. Immediately, scuttling claws sounded out, and some of the library’s little helpers appeared, rushing over the Engelos. Both of them tried to throw the little creatures off, but I’d struck them pretty hard. Their wings looked a little broken. The scuttling creatures did the rest. They mounted down on the Engelos, snapping their wings the rest of the way.
I might not have much of a chance against Velos and his entire crew of Engelos. But with the library’s help, that evened the scales.
It was crazy though. Every time an Engelos lurched close, I had to throw them into the library while at the same time fighting Bales for Velos.
The King Engelos sneered, and I saw the possession. Velos’s eyes brightened, and a force seemed to be moving inside them. It was simultaneously terrifying but fascinating.
It meant I could track the magic. The possession seemed to be rooted around Velos’s eyes. Guess it was a good time to headbutt him, then.
I snapped my head forward as fast as possible, pounding it against Velos’s skull. It was a good move. And boy, did I have a lot of steam to release. I did not hold back. Bales wasn’t expecting it and didn’t close his eyes in time.
It did do something to the possession. Velos’s grip faltered. He shook his head.
Now. I fought against my seals with everything I had, focusing on Jace until I swore I could feel him with me. He was right around my shoulders, pressing in tight, a wall that would never break. Even if he died, part of him would always be here to protect me.
Armed with that certainty, I buckled the seals until I felt something snap.
Velos kept shaking his head. Bales almost returned, but he pushed in in time.
“I’m coming for you, Bales,” I roared. “Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, I’m coming for you. One Engelos down. One more to go.” With a riotous roar, I broke through the seals.
They shattered on my back, and Velos screamed. Sure enough, his hand must’ve been keeping some kind of remote connection to my power. Because the second I blasted through it, they lurched as if I’d broken them.
Then what happened next happened thankfully quickly. I locked onto Velos’s magic. It spread and squirmed through his body, trying to escape me. But it couldn’t.
Unlike every other time I’d stripped someone of their power, I was far more mindful now, following exactly what I did. And it was precisely what the vampire had suggested. My magic wended into somebody else’s and simply reprogrammed the body on fast forward.
It was insane to feel, crazy to watch. Because Velos was easily the strongest Engelos I’d ever stripped force from. His poor, shuddering body simply didn’t stand a chance. With a twitch, his head lurched back. His mouth opened in a silent gasp. He tried to scream at me but couldn’t.
He blacked out. And just like that, he tumbled from my grip.
One more bad guy down.
The other Engelos were starting to become a lot more circumspect. Not only had I taken down one of their leaders, but I’d thrown enough into the library for them to realize it wasn’t a great idea to attack me.
They missed an opportunity, though, because my sudden use of power caught up with me. I flopped, falling down on the street. My eyes closed, but I sure wouldn’t let them remain shut long. With a roar, I launched up into the air.
There were about 10 Engelos left. Though I didn’t want to leave the library behind, I guessed I had a better chance if I simply dodged them.
They were fresh. I sure wasn’t. But if I focused on flapping one wing then another, I could get through this.
It meant I kept low, choosing to dart through a laneway behind cars. A lot of them remained high in the sky, smartly tracking me like birds of prey.
I had a plan.
There was an entrance to the subway around here. It was open, though I could guarantee the subway wasn’t running anymore.
This route would bring me closer to the King’s domain, but I’d take my chances.
I spotted the stairs and streamed down them. If I could move fast and reach a subway line before they did, I could pick a random direction. Some of them might be able to follow me. The rest would hopefully fall behind.
Having wings was such a crazy way to travel. But my brain had thoroughly adjusted, proving I probably had been an Arc my entire life. I don’t think an ordinary human mind could quickly reprogram and allow someone to move this blindingly fast. It wasn’t just the quick twitching movements my wings demanded. I had to focus on where I was going and make split-second decisions based on the information I was receiving. It allowed me to see a heavy reinforced gate that had been pulled down and now covered the entrance to one of the subway platforms.
I still had a little of Jace’s strength. Reaching the gate, I tore it right off. I flapped my wings and moved faster. But the noise must have alerted the Engelos to where I was going.
While I could focus on the fluttering of their wings, the scent of their stress was way easier.
If Jace had always had the skill, he must’ve been seriously formidable. I realized why he’d become the Alpha, though there were probably more prestigious candidates. He’d simply learned how to get more from less.
I reached the platform. A train had stopped there, the doors eerily open, people’s stuff still abandoned on their seats. Sailing right over the top, I picked the left side and flapped down the tunnel as fast as possible.
Some of the Engelos followed me. They couldn’t smell me like I could smell them. Which meant they had to guess. They split up, meaning there were now only five on my tail.
This was a far more cramped area. My wingspan almost touched the walls. But I kept myself flying in an exact straight line.
The tunnel curved around a bit. I’d reach another platform soon. Perhaps it would be smarter to simply fly back to the street, but I made a split-second decision when I got to it. A train had crashed into it, creating a hell of a lot of damage. There was a gap around the train on the other side. It meant I could fly back down the other side of the tunnel.
“Here goes nothing.” I flew around the train and continued down. My head tilted over my shoulder as I scented the air.
The Engelos paused, not knowing where to go. Then three of them headed up to the subway station above. Two followed me.
A quick smile whipped over my lips.
Perhaps I was counting my eggs too soon. Because these Engelos seemed to be the fastest of the group. I quickly realized they were gaining on me. Swinging back around, I focused on flying. My rapidly dwindling strength warned I couldn’t do this much longer. My back shook, and my stomach was a gnawing pit of hunger, reminding me I hadn’t eaten all day long. Nor had I drunk. Every breath raked out of an open, dry mouth. If I was stupid enough to slap my lips together, the skin crinkled and stuck like glue.
But I kept out of the Engelos’s way.
They gained, though, until one of them saw me. He screeched to his friend, confirming I was in sight. I didn’t think any other Engelos were in earshot, though. As soon as he reached another platform, one would break away, warn the others, and bring them back into the chase.
I either had to fight these guys and strip their magic, or I’d die.
The seals were gone, but I didn’t fancy my chances in a fight, because both of these guys could produce magical attacks. They were precision hits. One went for my wings. I tried to dodge the blow, but he fired it right at the top of the tip. It sheared off a single feather. I didn’t think it mattered that much, but it was necessary for turning.
I tried to flap my wings, but I spun in the wrong direction. It was at the worst possible time. The fastest Engelos reached me, swooping in from the left. Sneering wildly, he rammed me, locked a hand around my middle, and shoved me against the wall. The smart bastard was quick enough not to touch me for long. He just used his wings against mine, crashing them down and trying to crack through the fine bones.
A gasp escaped my lips, quickly turning to a strangled cry as he threw me down to the third rail. Fortunately, it wasn’t electrified, but the hard metal still dug into my back. My head smashed against it, and a few stars erupted through my vision.
That was the least of my problems. The other Engelos had already twisted around and flown back to the platform, no doubt to get some help. If I didn’t outpace the remaining Engelos now, I’d be screwed.
Fighting back my exhaustion, I lurched to my feet and pushed into the air. I reached out for the guy, then quickly reminded myself I could remotely practice my stripping magic.
The guy knew what I was thinking. A smirk pressed into his white, pasty lips as he started to spin in a vortex, giving me no time to react. He struck me in the chest, winding me and forcing me back toward the tunnel wall behind me.
My body impacted it, churning out stone and rock. As it shattered around me, I fell limply to the ground. The Engelos immediately grabbed my face and went to smash my head against the third rail. My wings twitched, closing around him.
It then became a battle of who had stronger feathers. Mine should technically have the advantage. They came from an older race that existed long before the Engelos. But he was fresh and ready to kill. Another curse ripped from his stiff lips as he forced my wings back.
As my stomach lurched, I knew this was it. Other cries could be heard filtering down the tunnel, promising more Engelos were on their way.
I’d stripped Velos of his magic, for crying out loud. This was a lowly Engelos. It didn’t matter how tired I was. I should have more to give.
I surprised myself when an almighty shout tore from my lips and I punched up to my feet. I certainly surprised the Engelos, too, because with a wild blink, he went to knock me on my stomach again. He looked like a batter with a ball, twisting his shoulders in a specific motion, sweeping his wings toward me in one long, lethal move. But I showed an agility I’d never had until now.
Punching up into the air, I flipped and sailed over his head. I landed down behind him then thrust back with all my might. In that moment, I felt built for this, as if I no longer had a human body, but beating in my veins was a force purpose-built to fly and move as fast as possible. My wings crunched into him. I didn’t even hear his scream. The sheer force of my move picked him up and plastered him against the opposite wall. The impact created a crater, burying him so deeply I could only see a single twitching wingtip.
I couldn’t process what I’d done, though I longed to slam a hand on my mouth and take it all in. More cries filtered down to me, confirming I barely had much time left.
“Move,” I mouthed at myself. “Run now while you’ve still got the chance.”
The last part echoed in my head. Because I could feel my remaining chances slipping from my fingers. The city was going to hell. But it felt like it’d already reached it. There was one last chance to pick it up by the bootstraps and save it.
Chapter 8
I started to fly. I could barely see, but my wings had pretty good proprioception. I knew when I was getting close to a wall, based on how the air felt.
As I blinked wearily, I focused on getting out of there as fast as possible. While it would be logical to go to the next station, it’d also be seriously easy to predict. So though it was seriously hard, I ignored it and the next station and only exited on the third one.
Maybe Engelos were headed for this one, but they weren’t here already. I slunk out of it, heading onto a perilously quiet street above. The only sound was the wind moaning down the lonely pavement. That and the crackles of fires that still hadn’t been put out. Fortunately, it was still cold. With a wind like this in summer, the entire city would’ve burned down.
I still stared around at the chaos, my heart sinking. I quickly pushed into the air.
“You need a freaking plan,” I hissed at myself, grabbing my chest and rubbing my sternum with quick, hard fingers. It was like giving myself a mini-heart massage. I wasn’t about to die, but a growing pressure built in my chest. Maybe it was the effect of using too much of my innate magic. Perhaps it was Jace.
Every time I thought of him, a new shipment of thick tears rushed to my eyes. Some plastered my cheeks now as I flattened my wings wildly but always kept close to the ground. Instinct told me to soar up into the sky, but it’d get me killed. Occasionally, the cries of Engelos could be heard darting through the clouds. That was their domain. The laneways, basements, and side streets were mine.
It gave me a real snapshot of how far Mythos had descended. With no one to save it, it felt like a city paused right on the edge of destruction. Most of the buildings still remained. People could technically pick up their lives. Go further than this, however, and everything really would be lost.
“It’s okay. You’ve got time,” I lied to myself. It was a useful fabrication. If I honestly believed the city was already screwed, I would stop.
… No. I wouldn’t. Ever since that vamp had told me to follow my magic, my brain had been prying into the sense of it inside me. It was like having a conversation with a mute. I knew it understood me, but I couldn’t understand its responses. Right now, it was adamant, however, that I would never stop. There was something inside me that simply wouldn’t let me. The sense of… was justice the right word?
In a reflexive reaction, my hand curled into a tight fist.
Wings flapping like crazy, but achingly sore, I searched for a place to go.
What about the cemetery? The library vamp had told me to follow the magic being cast on the heads. It was the only way to stop Bale. But I knew for a fact that if I ran into the cemetery now, they would track me. Maybe I could get lucky and find a head they hadn’t woken up yet. It was an assumption that I could get there in time. I needed help. Nobody would give it.
I also needed a plan to take down a head. That was the surest way to make Bale replace one.
How about the wizards? I’d already churned through their top candidate. But something told me that wouldn’t work. Neither would the witches. I was still chilled to the bone by the thought of Madame Helesy.
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