Page 92 of Outcast Fae
I usheredthe children out the main door to the cell room and followed right behind. The young werewolves and vampires had exited first, and the witches and warlocks came last.
“We need to hurry,” Horace said. “The camera blackout will only last a few minutes.”
“I can use a cloaking spell,” a witch with short black hair and honey-colored eyes said.
“It won’t help,” Horace said. “They have devices that can pierce through those types of spells. Do you know how to use a teleportation spell?”
The girl shook her head and cast her eyes down. She must’ve been only fifteen or so. “That’s advanced magic.”
“How about any of you?” Horace searched the faces of the other young witches and warlocks. They all stared back blankly. I was startled that there were so many children. Along with my six, there were four young vampires and at least that many witches or warlocks. In all, our group had about twenty young people, none much older than me and many much younger.
Children. Nearly all of them were children.
The Habermann’s were sick individuals.
I had thought we had a chance against the guards, but with this many young people, my hopes diminished. How could a group this large slip out unnoticed? My chest tightened as I pulled my own closer to me. Was this a terrible idea?
“I didn’t think we’d get lucky enough to have advanced witches in our group, but that’s okay,” Horace said, though still sounding disappointed. “The Habermanns hate magic. If any of you know enough magic, use it to fight if it comes to it. Use whatever you can. They will try to stop us. They will shoot to kill.”
The children’s eyes filled with fear. I didn’t know if scaring them like this was good or bad. Maybe they needed to be prepared.
“What about Sinasre and Vaughn?” I asked. “We have to help them.”
Horace shook his head. “I don’t know where they are, and we don’t have time to look for them.”
“Please,” I begged.
“I’m sorry.” He glanced toward the children to make a point, which I understood all too well. We couldn’t risk all the young ones’ lives for two males who knew how to take care of themselves. I nodded in resignation. These children needed me. Still, leaving Vaughn and Sinasre behind felt akin to leaving my heart on this concrete floor.
Horace, the other guard, and the werewolves ran ahead, leading the way down a long corridor. The teenage vampires went next while my children darted behind, keeping pace. Bor ran with Wren on his back while she held on tightly. With her injured leg, she wouldn’t be able to get far.
I stayed close to them while keeping my eyes on the others. Surely, the few teenagers of each species could go much faster using their Supernatural powers, but they seemed determined to save all the children, not only themselves. It seemed they had formed a bond just like I had with Daniella. It warmed my heart to see them risk their lives for others.
The good feeling left me when we hadn’t even reached the end of the first corridor and a deafening, high-pitched sound began blaring overhead accompanied by red flashing lights.
Horace glanced over his shoulder and waved his hand rapidly. “Run faster!”
Panicked, everyone quickened their pace, but in these tight quarters, it became nearly impossible without bumping into each other. Hani tripped and fell in front of me. I picked her up and set her back on her feet. My heart thudded and dread pushed adrenaline into my veins.
We kept running. A few vampires turned the corner ahead and, as they did, gunshots sounded around the bend. Bullets pinged on the wall. Some of the children screamed and Arryn wheeled around, burying her face into my chest. We skidded to a stop at Horace’s command and crouched close to the floor.
They were opening fire? On children? I thought Horace was just trying to scare us. I knew these people were monsters, but they had sunk to a new low. Maybe this had all been a huge mistake. The children had been in cages, but at least they were alive. Now we might all be gunned down in seconds.
I clutched Arryn tighter to me as I flinched at each gunshot. She trembled against my chest as the others huddled close.
The rest of the brave vampires tore forward and disappeared in the direction of the shots. I marveled at their courage as more bullets hit the wall, sending white clouds of dust into the air.
The gunshots suddenly stopped. Were the vampires dead?
“It’s clear,” someone called.
Horace peeked around the edge of the wall, then waved us forward. Relief flooded my body, but we were hardly out of danger.
With the children clinging to me, we went cautiously forward and around the bend. Two men in gray uniforms lay on the floor, their necks torn open. Miriyana gasped at the sight of blood but kept going. Luckily Arryn kept her face pressed to my chest. Two of the vampires appeared wounded, but seemed to be healing rapidly.
“Not everyone will be a Lesser with guns,” Horace yelled back. “Keep your eyes open for shifters.”
My chest tightened with apprehension. Lessers with guns were bad enough. We didn’t need the likes of Silver Bear trying to stop us.
