Page 31 of When Monsters Rise
Myknee buckled, andIwent down hard.
Themonsters behind me cried out as if in triumphant joy.
Iscrambled up and forward into a run, butI’dlost my distance advantage.Theywere gaining.Iwasn’t going to make it to the door.
Agust of air hit my back, a sign that something was close, leaping at me.Readyto snag me off my feet.
Icyterror flooded my limbs, and the next momentIwas plucked off my boots, not by mandibles, but by muscular arms.
“I’vegot you,”Kabielsaid, running ahead of the devolved watchers with me clutched to his chest. “Whatwere you thinking removing the runes?”
Reliefleft me weak and floppy in his arms. “Thecelestials are here.They’rein the mall.”
Kabielgrowled. “Thenwe shall feast!”
Chapter15
SHEM
Ruemade it out.
Shemust have made it out.
Giveme strength.
Giveme the power to survive this.Tofind her once more.
Iswipe at a celestial and duck to narrowly avoid his glowing blade.IfIwere at full strength, if my watchers were fueled, they wouldn’t dare take us on.
Weare warriors.
Frontline fighters.
Allthese sentinels have are numbers and blades.Butthere are four of us against at least ten, maybe more.Thebright light their weapons cast makes it hard to gauge their numbers accurately.
AmarosandPenemueare the scholars—the watchers of watchers—they’re diplomats.Butthere is no room for diplomacy on the battlefield.Theywill fight, but their skills are rusty.
Ablade’s edge catches my shoulder, leaving a line of fire in its wake.Anotherslices at my cheek, then my calf.
I’msurrounded.
It’sme they want.
I’mthe threat.
Theone that can bring back theMorningstarand send them all back to heaven.
“Shem!”Sarqshoves me and takes a blade to the shoulder.
Hisbellow of pain acts like a siren’s cry to the celestials, who fall on us, eager to tear us to shreds.
Ican’t seeAmarosorPenemue.ForallIknow, they’re dead.ButIspotMichael, standing on the periphery of the light, arms crossed, face in shadow.
Thereis no escaping.
Thereis no surviving this.
I’msorry,Rue.
