Page 76 of Cedar Edge
“Not even you can stand against four of us.” This comes from my right. “We aren’t scared of you.” The shake in his voice makes me smile.
Tilting my head to the side I drag my gaze towards the one who keeps fidgeting. “Big talk from someone fidgeting like a toddler who has to take a piss.” I miss any retort he is about to give, the knife I just threw now wedged into his throat. He gasps and gurgles before his body hits the ground with a dull thud.
The others shift nervously now, even the most steady reek of fear. “You aren’t human.” One of them whispers.
“No. I’m The Grim Reaper.” I growl. Another knife is pulled and another assassin down. 2 out of the 4 now dead in the snow. “Who is next to offer up a blood sacrifice to me?”
` “ENOUGH!” Chief appears like a god damn phantom next to me, halting the slaughter of his crew. I don’t take my eyes from the wannabe assassins but I’m mindful of every step Chief takes towards me.
“So this is how it’s gonna be huh?” I snort. “What’s the saying? No loyalty among thieves?”
“We aren’t thieves.”
I shrug. “We steal lives.”
He comes to stand in front of me, letting out a long sigh. “Sorry kid, I didn’t have a choice on this one.” He doesn’t look mad, only a shining guilt in his eyes.
“Fucking bullshit. You always have a choice, and you chose to sell me out. Tell me, how much are you getting paid for this?”
He shakes his head, almost sadly, “I told you to take care of that family of yours.”
I’m moving before Chief can react, my fist connecting with his gut before I’m dropping him to the ground and stepping over his groaning form towards the last two of The Fallen. They each seem ready, fist clenched, weapons drawn. I let them see my smile before I’m dragging the reaper mask up to cover my mouth.
It takes me less than three minutes to kill them both, the blood decorating the snow in beautiful splatters. I send my last knife sailing through the air embedding in Chief’s leg. He lets out a long moan of pain as he grips right above the injury.
“He’s got too many connections kid, just let him take the girl back and you can go on living your life!” Chief groans. “You can have a clean break.”
I pause before opening the door, looking back over my shoulder at someone I almost considered a friend. “The Fallen made a mistake today, they unleashed the monster that has no problem bringing down their empire. And Chief, just know that when I’m done with Royce. You're next.”
My eyes are glued to the road as I race up the mountain towards our home. Law hadn’t answered since our last phone call. Neither had Thea or Logan. All were ominously silent. And with the confirmation that Chief gave me the silence feels like I’m being thrown off a cliff.
“Come on Cricket….” I mutter. The phone rings and rings, the length of time it goes unanswered has me clenching my jaw so hard I’m shocked I don’t crack my teeth.
“FUCK!” I scream when it hits voicemail, again.
Snagging the emergency radio I hit the call button. “Cricket you there? Over.” The static goes on and on, the length dragging out before I’m calling out again. I do it three more times before I’m throwing it down and cursing. “Something is fucking wrong.”
The emergency radio crackles to life suddenly, my spirits lifting before plummeting back down as the emergency broadcast comes over the speaker, something about the snowstorm worsening. Adrenaline surges through me as I round the last bend, turning up our driveway. I see Law’s police truck still tucked against the trees and it only has me pressing further down on the accelerator. I slam on the breaks as the house comes into view, my car sliding on the snow covered ground for a moment.
It looks peaceful. Way to fucking peaceful.
Flinging my body out of the car I scream out for her only to be met with silence.
“Law?!” I frantically move through the house, greeted with more ominous silence. My body slows as I race past the window facing the pastures. My eyes snagging on something red in the snow, my heartbeat ticking up at the same time. My brain is screaming to run, but I can’t seem to get past the feeling of wading through water as I make my way towards the color in the snow.
When I finally reach the source of the color, I drop to my knees, darkness nipping at my soul as I see yet another thing Royce has taken from me. Tears streak down my cheeks as my reality crashes in around me. I scream out into the void a broken animalistic noise that even the snow can’t mute. It’s a war cry mixed with grief. It’s a promise of violence and blood and retribution. It’s my demons waking up.
And I welcome those demons with open arms, ready to unleash hell on earth.
Logan
The dead man at my feet has my face painted in a smile. The feel of his warm blood against my skin is a balm to my soul. Another body lies a few feet away and another behind my parents house. They made a mistake coming here, moving against me was one thing but moving against my parents?
As if summoned my mom and dad walk out from behind the house. Each has their own markings of a fight. My mother, however, looks like a Valkyrie carrying her ax over her shoulder. People often forget, myself included, where Tarrin Everheartcame from. Her origin story is filled with blood and darkness that even I don’t know the details of.
“Anymore?” My dad asks, his voice gruff.
I keep my knife loose in my hand as I shake my head. “I don’t think so.”
