Page 9 of When Monsters Rise
Thereaper is probably in the cell beside me along with his team, and it won’t be long before they’ve rooted out the others.
Erelimwas supposed to be the back-up plan.Theone to take over ifIwas caught.Ifthey have him, then the movement is over.
Howmany days have passed?
Thevista around me shimmers and melts away, andI’mback in my gray cell, its walls smooth and unmarred without a crack or a stain to provide me with visual stimulation.
Butsomething has changed.Somethingis different.Isit up, bracing my hands on the narrow cot, eyes on the door.
There’ssomeone out there.Myscalp prickles, body tensing, ready for a fight.
Thedoor swings open a moment later, andErelimfills the frame dressed in his black armor, arcane symbols glowing softly. “Ithink you’ve had a little too much down time, don’t you?”Erelimsays.
Thesounds of fighting drift into the room, and my relief is quickly overtaken by urgency. “Youcan tell me all about how you evaded thePowersonce we get out of here.”
Henods, his expression solemn. “Takethis.You’regoing to need it.Ihave more.”
It’sa vial, oneIrecognize as the serum we used to give to the sweeper humans.Idon’t ask any more questions.Iknow why he’s giving this to me.Itcontains trace amounts of celestial light.Notperfect, but enough to slow down devolution once we escape this place.
Iuncap it and drain the liquid before followingErelimout of the door and into a much-needed, bloody fight.
* * *
Turnsout there’s no need for my skills.Twosentinels lay prone on the ground, knocked out byErelim’sreapers.Fivestrong, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
“Hurry!”APowerstands guard outside the prison block, ushering us to move. “Wedon’t have long before systems come back online.Oncethat happens, theDominionwill be alerted and there will be no escape.”
ThisPoweris helping us?
“You’renot the only one who can recruit,Gabriel,”Erelimsays. “Jayrenbroke us out as soon as it was safe to do so.”
“Themain troop has left the city,”Jayrensays. “They’retracking something important and left me in charge.Imanaged to pull some files off their systems and shut down tower security for half an hour so we can move unseen, but we must leave now.”
Buthow do we get out? “Thepassageway will be locked.Michaelwill have told them about it.”
“Hedid,” thePowersays. “Andit is.Threesentinels are guarding it.”
“Butwe can get through.”Erelim’seyes gleam with wicked intention. “Celestialsmay not have souls like humans, but a scythe is built to separate energy from a physical form.”
Heis going to tear the celestials out of their bodies.Mylips curve in response. “NowthisIhave to see.”
Chapter6
MICHAEL
“You’rea celestial, aren’t you?”Thechild peers up at me with wide inquisitive eyes.
Idon’t want to speak to anyone.Iwant to go back to my quarters and hide there until it’s time to put my plan into motion, soIbypass the child.AtleastItry, but the creature steps into my path and looks up at me with what can almost be described as defiance before repeating his question.
Howold is he?Tenyears?Twelvemaybe?Hewaits for my response.
“Iam a celestial, yes.”
Hiseyes narrow. “Wereyou the one who killed all our people on the tracks?”
Thepurge.Thischild was there?
Hissmall chest moves up and down with erratic breath, and his eyes gleam with rage as he waits for my confirmation.
