Billow (26 page)

Ignoring Amber's feeble protests, I dragged her out the dorm. I shoved her against the wall and got up close, my face inches from her frightened expression.

"Why were you talking to Chloe yesterday?" I snarled.

Cam and Aubrey joined us.

"I…I don't understand," Amber stammered. "Didn't it help?"

"What are you talking about?" Cam growled.

Her eyes darted from him to me. She genuinely seemed confused. "Chloe told me you needed help in finding the kids. I said I'd help in any way I could."

I took a deep breath to control the angry impatience. "Amber. What did she ask you to do?"

Her eyes widened. "She asked me to get a
kouperet
."

Cam swore.

Shocked, I stared. "And you gave it to her?"

"I was working inventory on the locked armory in the Justice Department and took one of the extras." She trembled. "Oh God, did something happen? I thought I was helping to get the kids back. I didn't know…"

I stepped away, already tuning her out.

My mind spun. Why did Chloe take a
kouperet
and head out to the Trident?

Because that's where the first kidnapping took place.

She went looking for something. But having a
kouperet
didn't mean she was equipped to do it.

"I'm going after her."

Cam glowered. "Not without me, you're not."

I shook my head. "Too dangerous —"

"Don't pull that on me, Irisavie. It's Chloe."

"I'll take you guys," Julian said.

I felt a brief surge of gratitude. He'd protect Cam and Chloe and his position as temporary Head Chevalier could only help.

We needed to take care of this without drawing attention. This wasn't like Alex, an elite who probably convinced someone to lend him a
kouperet
for one night.

Taking a weapon from a locked armory was a huge offense. If anyone found out, Amber and Chloe would be in serious trouble.

"I didn't know," Amber whispered.

I'd deal with her later. "Aub, stay here and keep an eye on the GPS."

She nodded, arms wrapping around her stomach.

Within a few minutes, we were in Julian's car. I always thought he drove something like a Porsche. A fast, flashy set of wheels to impress girls with. But his car was a modest, dark blue hybrid.

At the Haverleau gate, he explained that Gabe asked for us at the hospital. The gardinel on duty didn't question the story.

Cam's colorful language occasionally punctuated the tense silence. His ferocious expression worsened as we neared Lyondale.

Icy hardness contained the fear and panic eating a hole through my stomach.

We entered the eastern section of the city. The factory's smoke still plumed into the air, adding to the gloominess. Darkened businesses and stores lined the streets and the only bright lights came from Lyondale Hospital.

Aubrey's Lexus was at the start of the Trident. As soon as we parked, I extended my Virtue as far as I could.

"Do you sense her?" Julian murmured beside me.

I concentrated. "Western corner."

We padded our way past empty storefronts. Strained tension radiated off Cam. Julian's
kouperet
remained steady and I slowly twirled the handle of my dagger.

"She's okay."

Cam let out a small breath.

Virtue recognized the threads of emotions stemming from Chloe.

Fear. Determination. Resoluteness. Curiosity.

It was an odd combination. What was she doing?

"Around that corner."

I swept magic out to establish a secure perimeter.

Some part of me wasn't surprised when I sensed it. Maybe because I'd expected it. Hoped for it.

One black void, fifty yards to the east.

Unmoving. Waiting.

And Chloe was headed right for it.

"Mine," I whispered.

Legs moved. Arms pistoned.

Julian and Cam kept pace by my side.

Virtue flared like the sun and I greedily soaked up its power and strength.

Finally. Unleashed and free.

The void hurtled toward Chloe.

I whipped around the corner.

Chloe held the
kouperet
, face frozen in terror and fear. Cam threw himself on her and pushed her to the ground.

I leaped, arm extended high. Golden glow streaked, dagger slashing left to right under the Aquidae's jaw.

Skin ripped. Drops of blood sprayed through the air.

With one fluid movement, I thrust the blade into the Origin. Twisting, I shoved up to the hilt.

I jerked out the blade and it dropped at my feet. Blood spread across the ground in a thick, congealed pool.

No.

Rage howled with dissatisfaction. It wasn't enough. It was never enough.

It hadn't suffered. Hadn't lived with the pain like I did.

Like Gabe did. Like Tristan, Garreth, Rhian, Ian and every other person I knew.

I jumped on the corpse and drove the dagger, hacking through tissue and meat.

I wanted to break it. Crush what had destroyed so many lives.

Magic poured like molten fire and the darkness screamed. Each time my arm came down, a different image flashed before my eyes.

My mother lying on the cold morgue table. Ryder's broken body. Gabe's wild eyes.

And Marcella. Beautiful Marcella…

"Kendra! Stop!"

Strong arms tugged my shoulders.

Someone was getting in my way. Preventing me from doing the one and only thing I was put on this earth to do.

I whirled around, teeth bared.

The person didn't flinch. Solemn eyes peered at me. "I think it's dead."

I blinked.

Like the splash of Alex's lime-green at the playground, the deep blue color reminded me of where I was. What I was doing.

Magic receded in a sudden rush and I swayed. Only his secure grip kept me upright.

I stared blankly at the dagger protruding out of the shredded chest. The blade was stained black. So were the hands that gripped the onyx handle.

My hands.

"You okay?" Julian continued to hold my shoulders tight. Like he was afraid of what would happen if he let go.

Breathe.

The fog of raging violence gradually cleared.

"Yeah." My voice sounded like it came from a far distance away.

He helped me up. The after-effect of my Virtue spread like a bad hangover. Muscles ached and a dull headache erupted in my skull.

I took a few deep breaths.

"Can you walk?"

I was suddenly relieved Julian didn't ask why.

Focus on the next action
.

I nodded, not wanting to think about what happened. I eliminated another demon.

That was all.

We slowly made our way to the others. Cam lay on the ground and Chloe kneeled by his side. Her clothes were disheveled, but I didn't spot any injuries.

Under Cam's jacket, a thin red line cut across his left ribcage, the color stark against his white sweatshirt. The same crimson tinged the tip of the
kouperet
.

"The blade caught him when we fell." Her voice was panicked.

The slice was shallow. Painful, but nothing life-threatening. Cam was pale, most likely from shock than anything else.

Julian ripped off a part of his shirt and rolled the material into a thick ball.

"Here." He passed her the material. "Put pressure on it."

Chloe applied it and Cam grimaced.

"Sorry." She brushed a hand over his forehead and pushed back a lock of hair.

His expression softened. He was definitely enjoying the attention.

"Ouch," he said in a weaker voice. Chloe murmured something soothing.

Hmm. I'd hit him hard earlier tonight and he'd barely reacted.

Maybe he was enjoying it a little too much.

I raised my brow. "Sure you're not going to die on us?"

He had enough grace to scowl.

"I'm perfect, Irisavie," he ground out. "Just. Perfect."

Well, maybe not perfect. But definitely okay.

My gaze slid to her. This had gone on long enough. Whether she wanted to or not, we were long overdue for a talk.

Julian studied our surroundings. "We have to clean up and get out of here before more show up."

We couldn't call Haverleau to handle this. No one could find out about Chloe.

The Aquidae's mangled body sprawled in the middle of the street. Blood spattered all around it.

It was a mess and I had no idea what we were supposed to do.

Something pushed against the edges of my magic and I winced at the intrusion. My Virtue needed time to settle.

Flickers of exhaustion. Irritation. Stress. It was headed right toward us.

"Human approaching from the east. Store owner, I think. Coming to check on something."

It'd take at least five minutes for him to get here. Maybe I could distract him away…

One look at myself stopped that thought. I was caked in blood. Chloe's hands shook, her complexion white with worry. She was in no condition to pull it off and Cam was bleeding.

Julian stepped forward. "Get them to the car."

"What?"

"Get them out of here, Kendra." His voice was low and firm. "Now. I'll meet you there."

"But—"

"Go!"

He was the only person who could do something. Whatever his plan was, I hoped it was good.

I leaned over Cam. "Come on. Chloe, grab his other side."

We hoisted him up. Cam's breathing was labored, but he could walk. Julian remained in the middle of the street, thoughtfully examining the Aquidae.

The three of us awkwardly headed back. Chloe slid an arm around Cam's waist. He moved as fast as he could, but it was slow going.

The seconds turned into minutes and uneasiness grew.

I couldn't leave him there to deal with it alone. What if something happened and he needed back up?

Damn it. I was worried about him.

"Wait." I gestured to an alley on the left. "In there."

We navigated into the narrow space and I carefully helped Cam sit with his back against the wall.

I turned to Chloe. "Stay here. I'm going back for Julian."

She nodded. Ignoring my aching muscles, I re-engaged my Virtue and raced back.

The human was close. A minute and a half away at most.

I neared the end of the block and Julian's voice drifted toward me. Crouching, I peered around the corner.

"Yeah, call should be coming in soon. Male in his twenties. I'll make it look like a robbery gone wrong. Knife wounds." He cocked his head. "Can you call him for me, too? Okay, got it. Thanks, Cara."

He hung up the phone. A focused gleam lit up his eyes.

What is he doing?

Forty-five seconds away.

Anxiety pounded.

The air over the scene shimmered like a mirage in the desert. A faint white light pulsed, a lighter version of the tentacles of magic Jourdain used on me.

After a few seconds, the glimmer stopped.

No Aquidae. No black blood.

The detail was phenomenal. A young human male now lay on the ground. Several knife wounds cut across his body, including defensive lacerations on his arms and the final kill wound in his stomach.

His jacket splayed open, pockets turned inside out as if someone hastily went through them.

The black blood slicked across the scene transformed to red, mortal blood, the pattern consistent with the gashes on the body.

It really looked like a guy who'd bled out after a violent attack.

Julian hid behind a large dumpster on the corner across from me. A human male came into view. Middle-aged and overweight, he shuffled forward with a grumpy expression. Thick fingers slid across the screen of his phone as he played a game.

The guy was so oblivious, he didn't notice the body until he almost stepped on it.

With a loud shout, he stumbled back. Eyes bulged.

He stood there with a stupefied expression for almost a minute. Finally, his shaky hands dialed.

Julian waited in the shadows until the man described the scene to the 9-1-1 operator, then slipped away with a satisfied expression.

Stunned, I tried to process what happened. A demillir had performed magic.

And not just any magic. A Virtue.

I couldn't believe it.

Julian was a Projector.

TWENTY-ONE

I snuck glances at him the entire way back.

A demillir with a Virtue. It was a contradiction, a fascinating impossibility. And I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Julian kept one hand on the wheel and reached over me with the other. He opened the glove compartment and pulled out a pack of cleaning wipes.

"Here." He handed it over. "You should clean up."

The blood on my black clothes wasn't noticeable. I wiped blade off first, then used the small mirror in the visor to finish face and hands.

Chloe drove Aubrey's Lexus and entered Haverleau through the same access trail she'd used to leave. We returned to the main iron gate. Cam sat in the backseat and did his best to look normal. The gardinel didn't pay any attention to us.

We met Chloe in the school parking lot with five minutes left to curfew. She wanted to take Cam to the clinic, but Julian convinced her it was better if he did it. He planned on passing off the injury as a training-related incident.

Chloe grudgingly returned to the dorm and I stayed behind.

Julian turned to me and opened his mouth.

I shot him a look.

He promptly closed it.

I accompanied the guys to the clinic and waited outside. After a few minutes, Julian walked out.

"Is Cam okay?"

"He's already patched up. But the Healer wants him to stay overnight."

Good. That meant we could be alone.

"We need to talk." I crossed my arms. "In private."

Julian looked uncomfortable. "Maybe now's not a good time to get into —"

"Were you ever planning to mention you could do magic?"