Page 40 of November Reign
My little brother, since I wasn’t ready to think of him as my son quite yet, had done the right thing. The day after our talk, he’d gone back to the demon realm to make amends with his friend. Barr was ready and willing to accept Damon’s apology with very little persuasion on Damon’s end. Barr had missed the house and everyone in it. I think it was painful for him to see Jorgoth in jail. It might have been a very comfortable prison, but the water elemental demon was not free.
They came back together that same day, smiles on their faces, Damon’s arm around the Hellhound’s shoulders. They were so sweet together. I’d hated the hurt Damon had inflicted on Barr unthinkingly. Nothing about it was out of malice, just thoughtlessness.
Having us all back together, minus Oak, was bittersweet.
“Prrr?” Hela stalked towards me.
“You might be useful too, if you want to come. Do you know where Damon is?”
Hela turned and walked back to the training room where I found Cody, Parker, Damon, and Barr all running fighting drills. It was easy to see the skill and confidence both former hitmen had. Parker moved with shifter grace through his moves, none of them causing any difficulty. Damon’s were sharp, efficient. Borne out of years of practice. Cody and Barr clearly had some ways to go, though their improvement was remarkable. Damon was a great instructor.
“I got a text,” I said as Hela made her way to Cody. She pounced at him, which he dodged, laughing. The sound cut off when he registered my words.
“Is Oak okay?” Cody looked at Damon with concern on his face.
“He’s got someone following him. Today’s the day.”
“Alright, training is over. Let’s get ready to move out.” Damon began packing things away, leaving other items to the side, which he put in a bag.
“I’ll go tell the others,” I offered.
“No, Cody will. He’ll be staying behind with Toth and Mori. Parker?”
“I’ll get into the cameras and keep a track of everyone’s locations. I’ve already got Oak’s. He let me put the software on his phone.”
“Great.” Damon glanced at Cody as if waiting for him to argue. He didn’t, just left the room quickly, Hela on his heels.
It didn’t take us long to grab everything we needed and gather in the hallway. Barr was ready to portal to the location Parker fed us in the earpieces he gave to each of us. We weren’t leaving anyone behind.
“The cafe is in a busy spot, so there’s plenty of cover for you to watch. I want each of you here and here.” He pointed to a map on his phone. “As soon as Basil leaves, we can get him,” Damon explained the plan.
What should have been simple wasn’t. Basil had anticipated us. We got into place, then were separated as Basil’s witches attacked.
I felt the tether pull as Oak’s anxiety peaked. He was scared. I caught a glance of him, pretty sure he saw me too, but it wasn’t enough.
Minutes passed as the crowds of people pushed us further away from Oak. They scurried to get away from the magical attacks Basil’s people sent without a care who they hurt.
So many times I risked injury just so I could throw a hasty barrier over some humans. Screams and wails filled the air, almost deafening me.
“Oak’s on the move!” Parker cried in my ear. “Get eyes on him! The cameras are being blocked.”
I tried to move in the direction of the cafe, hoping without much hope to see Oak.
There! I caught his dark hair, tied back as usual. Basil was next to him, holding onto his arm as if they were just out for a stroll while we battled.
“Thyme!” Barr yelled just in time. A fireball came for my head. I ducked, rolled, and sprung up, a fireball of my own in my hands. I threw it at the witch, grazing their shoulder.
A sudden burst of panic sent me to my knees.
Oak!
The tether pulled sharply as his pain flooded my consciousness. Whatever was happening, I needed to stop it.
I got up on shaky feet, my sense of Oak filling my heart. I closed my eyes against the distractions.
“Cover me!” I shouted, unsure anyone was listening.
“Thyme’s tracking Oak. Watch his back.” The earpiece was useful at least, even if the rest of our plan went to shit.
