Page 72 of When Monsters Rise
Iscanned his face, trying to read him.Whywas my heart hammering?Whywas there a pit of foreboding opening inside me? “Shem, what—”
“Promiseme,Rue.Promiseme that you’ll run, hide, and survive.”
Itook a shuddering breath. “Ipromise.”
Heheld my gaze for a long beat before finally releasing me, satisfied.
“Zaqiel?”HespearedZaqwith a hard look.
“I’llkeep her safe,”Zaqsaid.
Shemcupped my face gently, then kissed me hard on the mouth, the contact brief and desperate. “Goodbye,Rue.”
Gabriellocked gazes with me before followingShemandErelimout of the door. “I’llfind you.Go.”
Beegrabbed my hand. “Rue, we have to go.”
No.Somethingwas wrong.Something—
“Now,Rue.Weneed to findBastian.”
Shit,Bastian.Panicovertook the foreboding. “Wherewas he last?”
“I’llfind him,”Zaqsaid. “I’llget him and the others, and we’ll head for the woods.”
Theair fizzed with the residual power from a fight that was going on outside the barn, probably on the field in front of the house.Acresof land to battle on.Acresof open sky to clash in.
Mybeing here madeShemvulnerable.Itput our mission at risk.Ihad to leave him.Ihad to go.He’dfind me.Ihad faith in that. “Let’sgo.”
Tumielmade up the rear as we followedZaqto the back of the barn, to a small door that opened onto a gravelled area where some crates were stacked.Weslipped outside and crouched in the shadows.
Theunmistakable sounds of battle swelled around us, but whatever was happening was occurring on the other side of the barn.Wewere out of sight for now, and we needed to keep it that way.
Zaqmotioned for us to stay back then slipped around the barn, leaving us crouched in the darkness.
Hereturned a moment later. “Wemust keep low and run for the house.”Hefixed his gaze on me. “Donot look toward the fight.Donot stop.Doyou understand?”
Wasthat fear on his face?Whatwas happening?Howmany sentinels were there?Werewe outnumbered.AndMichael… “Zaq, what did you mean when you saidMichaelwas fueled up?”
“Celestialpower.He’sbrimming with it.Movenow.Wecan talk later.”
Iwanted to push him for more, but there was no denying the sense of urgency that pressed in on us.
Hebroke away again, and this time we followed, cutting across the overgrown yard, aimed for the house several feet away.
Lightflashed to our left, and the urge to look, to stop and see, was almost too much, but the pressure ofBee’shand around mine kept me focused on our destination.
Afigure stepped out of the house ahead.
Bastian!
Heshifted his weight from foot to foot as if it was taking all his will not to run toward us as people poured out of the door behind him and gathered in the shadow of the house.
Lightflashed again, lighting up his face for a moment and highlighting the terror etched there.Buthis attention wasn’t on me, it was on the battle raging beyond us.
Hiseyes grew round, mouth parting in shock.
Ihad to see.
