Several minutes of continuous blasts from the Vampire’s taloned hands had left Daunator weak, and Cadence was grateful when he let out a growl and took a step backward, dropping his fists to his sides. Now would be the perfect time to take advantage of his loss of energy and go in for the kill.
But Christian’s hand was on her shoulder. “He’s bluffing. Don’t trust him. He doesn’t need a break. He’ll spit you up and chew you out if you go in now.”
Cadence stared at him for a moment, wondering if he even realized what he’d said had been backward, before she demanded, “Let go,” pulling away from him, undeterred by his warning or his confusion.
“I’m serious. Listen, Cadence. This isn’t going to work. You’re never going to be able to get past the lightning bolts he’s throwing.”
“Do you have a better idea?” She glared at him, seeing Daunator rechargi
Fingertips barely extended over the lip of the hole, Aaron struggled to hang on with one hand while Eliza hoisted herself up his leg, reaching for his outstretched hand. Her fingers landed in his palm, and he attempted to pull her up, but her hand was slick with sweat and slipped free just as he was about to toss her up to reach solid ground. Letting out a small yelp, she grabbed hold of his boot and started the process again.“You’ve got it, Eliza.” He tried to keep the impatience out of his voice as her hand clasped ahold of his black pants at the knee. He wasn’t helping anyone while he was stuck in this pit, and if it weren’t for the other Guardian, he’d be out by now. Once again, Eliza reached his hand. This time, her grip was tighter, and she held on firmly as he swung her up. Both palms on the ground above her, Eliza pushed up and managed to spring free of the hole.She dropped to her knees, offering him her hand, and Aaron hes
Aaron needed to get rid of this big guy now. That sentiment increased when it occurred to him that his wife was on fire. His urgency intensified, Aaron didn’t wait for the hulk to come at him again. The Vampire was trailing smoke out of his side where the gash from Van’s knife was still visible. Cutting through the sensitive flesh of his underarm was one thing. He was going to have to chop through this sucker’s neck in order for it to make any difference. Eliza seemed to understand what needed to happen, and as Aaron positioned himself to take the monster down, she was on her feet again, knife in hand, aiming for the same spot Aaron had already attacked.The Vampire’s eyes shifted from one Guardian to the other. Aaron wasn’t playing. He slammed into the brute’s chest with all of his strength, knees making contact with pecs, and the Vampire stumbled backward. Eliza’s knife hit its mark, dragging against his side, cutting through the wh
Daunator’s face appeared to be on fire from the inside. The grenade hadn’t made much of a sound when it went off, but she could tell the difference immediately as the Vampire contorted with pain, his glowing eyes bearing down on her as he fought against the intense burning literally consuming him from the inside out.“How long will it take for him to die?” she shouted at Christian who was still rejoicing on the other side of the monster.“I have no idea. But it should be soon.”“Mila needs me,” Cale noted. “Do you think I can go?”“Go, go!” Cadence didn’t hesitate. She could see through her IAC that Mila’s leg had been severed, and even though a Vampire couldn’t kill a Guardian, they could cause a lot of pain. The Area Leader was on the ground, grasping the bloodied stump, her teeth gritted.Cale took off, and Cadence surveyed the rest of the field. Aaron was
Cadence hung in the air for a moment, or so it seemed. She knew her sister wasn’t close enough or focused enough to have sent her a protective bubble of levitational power. Still, everything in front of her seemed to pause for a heartbeat or two. Beyond Christian and the ebony embers of the exploding Vampire, she saw familiar faces, either staring at her in shock or just turning their eyes in her direction, realizing what was happening. Her arms flailed through air, her legs kicking as if she might gain traction and suddenly learn how to fly as they all watched her, hopeless.She saw Cale and noted how the moonlight gleamed off of his blond hair. He had been a good friend to her when she needed him, and she hated the fact that she’d broken his heart. Christian was shouting her name; he was misunderstood, she realized that now. Her sister had been right to help him. Hannah, her strawberry-blonde hair fluttering behind her as she ran in what seemed like slow motion
Cadence was falling, and there was nothing in the world anyone could do about it. For all of their superpowers, their strength, speed, power, ability to heal, or make things fly, no one was close enough or could react fast enough to save her.She hung in the air for a moment as Aaron watched, frozen, staring into each other’s eyes, before she started to plummet. He didn’t see fear there, though. Only regret—and sorrow. She’d taken it a step too far, pushed a little too hard, followed her instincts over the side of a cliff, and now, all anyone could do was watch and pray. Her mouth moved in a silent message before she dropped below the wall of rock.The rest of his team seemed to be reacting at full speed whereas his feet, once they started moving, were failing him, dragging him closer to the ledge but not as quickly as some of the others. Whether it was the terror at seeing her down there and knowing she was beyond help or the fact that he hadn&
Jamie was doing chest compressions. The rest of the forest started to move around him again, and Aaron realized he needed to do something, anything, now. If there was a way to keep from losing her, or bring her back if she was already gone, they needed to find it. Running a hand through his hair, he stepped forward out of his memories and dropped to the ground next to her, ignoring the fact that his knees were instantly coated in her sticky, crimson blood. “Breathe for her,” Jamie said as he reached thirty, and Aaron’s instincts took over. He knew how to do CPR. Tilting her head back to open her airways, he breathed into her still-warm lips twice and then waited for Jamie as he pumped her heart for her. The doctor may as well have been counting in slow motion. It seemed like it took forever for him to reach thirty again. When he did, Aaron dutifully gave her two more breaths, willing her to start breathing again on her own. She didn’t.A crowd had gath
The white light faded into a dull yellow and then a brilliant blue, and Cadence realized she was staring at the sky. It looked different somehow, though different from what, she wasn’t completely sure. She had no idea what there was to compare it to. Whatever it was she was doing before she awoke on a field of velvety green grass, she couldn’t remember.She sat up, her hand feeling the back of her head. It seemed like there should be something there—an ache or a cut, maybe. But all she felt was soft brown hair, so she shrugged it off, pulling herself up off of the ground and noting that the blue dress she was wearing was unfamiliar but very comfortable.A large Victorian style house stood behind her, and in the yard, she could see two people sitting on a bench chatting. Their laughter reached her though she was far away, the sound of it pulled a giggle from inside of her as well. They sounded so happy. There was something familiar about the way the wo
As they continued on their way, one of the houses caught her eye. Large and regal, with tall white pillars in front of a red brick exterior, the estate looked like something out of a history book—whatever that was. “Who lives here?” Cadence asked, but before either of her grandparents could answer, that voice was back in her head.“Cadence, please. Just breathe, Cadence. Just take a breath. You can do it.”Cadence sucked in air, filling her lungs, her forehead puckering again. What did the voice mean she should breathe? Clearly, she was already breathing.“Are you all right, dear?” Grandma Janette’s smile was turned down a bit at the corners, as if she wasn’t quite as happy as she had been before.“Yes, fine,” Cadence assured her. “I just heard the voice again, that’s all.”“How peculiar.” Grandpa tsked his tongue.“This house belon