Blaze Page 18

  “You can’t win this Kayla! I’ll punish your men while you watch.” I slide forward and wrap my hands around not-Connor’s face.

  Looking deep into his eyes I say, “Connor, Death has no place on this earth anymore. Cast him out.” Lifting on my toes, I let my lips hover over his. “Come back to me.” I crush my mouth to his and pour every ounce of love I have within me into him. Our tongues intertwine as he kisses me back, his hands roam my body greedily. Come back to me Connor, I need you.

  Pulling back, I dare not open my eyes for fear of seeing not-Connor staring back at me. “I love you, Connor.” The gasp that leaves him makes me snap open my eyes.

  “I love you too, Kayla,” Connor replies, then crumples to the floor screaming out in pure agony. Long moments pass until a black wisp of smoke pours from Connor’s mouth and slithers across the floor, disappearing into the grate on the wall. Connor slumps unconscious, his breathing laboured.

  “Craven?” I can't carry Connor, but he can. I turn back towards the bodies littering the floor behind me, pride, awe and love flow through me. “Come on guys, we gotta get out before Keeper sends more goons.”

  “This way.” Craven’s gravelly voice wraps around me. He carries Connor over his shoulder, not even breaking a sweat at the extra weight. He stomps down yet another hallway towards a huge set of doors.

  “Wait.” I barely hear Connor’s hoarse voice over the noise Craven’s gargantuan feet make as we run towards them. Connor struggles against the hold Crave has on his waist, and the big guy lowers him to the floor.

  “Kayla, my dad… he plans to release another virus,” he says, turning to me. Connors’ haunted eyes roam the hall behind me, pleading with his brothers to listen to him. Turning his gaze back to me he continues, “It will kill humans and Panda.” Chris steps forward and takes my hand.

  “Even my people?” he asks, fear evident in his tone. Nodding, Connor swallows thickly.

  “Everything outside of Tri-City will perish. Kayla, I… it’s made from your blood. I … I created it. I remember everything.” Tears burst from Connor’s eyes as his knees give way and he lands solidly on the concrete below his feet. He sobs into his hands as we all stand there dumbstruck. How the fuck are we meant to stop that? Laying my hand on Connor’s head my mind works overtime to formulate a plan. But it runs blank. There are thousands of Advanced here. We can’t fight them all. More guards appear from the doors we were just about to run through.

  “Stand down and let the Prince go!” One of them shouts.

  Prince? Princess? Those are connected, but how? Crowley, Craven, Chris and Charlie rush at the men holding swords. I dart around Connor and join the fight; the first tendrils of fire lick my palms as I throw my fists at the faces in the crowd. Drawing on the feeling, I allow it to take over my hands. My fists burst into flames as I drive one into the gut of a guy twice my size. His screams of pain and terror are music to my ears as he flies back into the men behind him and they fall to the floor.

  Sending flames to my feet, I set fire to the skin there, kicking out at another guard. My fire flicks from me and onto his clothes. Spreading over the cloth covering his body, he goes up in flames. They jump from him to several others as he flails around. I watch open-mouthed as it spreads to every guard before us. I look down as something tickles my skin. Not only have my flames returned, but so have the clothes mum gave me. That is so bloody cool!

  "Oh wow, that was cool!" I say quietly as the guards fall one by one, their bodies ashes before they've touched the floor. Spinning around I stride over to Connor. "Are you ok? Has Thirteen really gone?" I have so many questions for him, but I just don't have time to ask them all.

  "Yes. He's gone, shit Kay, the things I’ve done..." Tears roll down his face and my heart break a little for him.

  "No time. We gotta move. Now!" Crowley growls while he lifts me from my knees. The floor rumbles beneath us with what has to be thousands of Brutes coming our way. Together we rush through the doors and out into a field I recognize. This is where Connor and I found ourselves after we'd been kidnapped! As we pass the small wooden shack, my mind answers my own questions. It wasn't Connor I was trapped with and it wasn't a coincidence it was him I woke up with. How long was I unconscious for before I came ‘round to him in that room? Not-Connor set me up and I let him worm his way into my life. Into my heart.

  "Kay…" Connor runs beside me with Crow and Charlie taking the lead, Chris and Craven behind us. I throw up the mental brick wall Connor taught me about, needing to keep my thoughts to myself in case he's not-Connor still. Just as we’re about to cross over from the field to the woods a huge black vehicle pulls up in front of us. We skid to a stop.

  "What’s that?" The panic in my voice makes the words come out as a squeak.

  "Get in!" A colossal head peers out the window and shouts down at us. Who the fuck is this? Before I've gotten the chance to say or do anything, I'm grabbed in a punishing grip around my waist, hauled into the air and thrown into the back. Just as the door closes behind me, a flurry of arrows thunk into the side of whatever this thing is.

  "Argh!" As they hit, I scream out, thinking they‘ll come through and stab me. I throw myself across the lap of a mammoth Brute. He looks down at me spread across him but says nothing. My stomach rolls at the unfamiliar feeling of moving without meaning to, oh shit. This thing is awesome! The time it would save me travelling across the wastes, not to mention the safety it would provide. Those arrows didn’t even peek through the side.

  "Thank you, Cell and Can. Let's make haste, they will follow." Craven's voice booms in the small space. Pushing off the Brute’s lap, I press myself against the side of the vehicle.

  "Err… who are you guys? And what is this thing?" I ask everyone and no one. Thankfully, Craven answers me.

  "These are my brother's. Cell." He nods to the one who's lap I’d sprawled across moments ago. "He’s Can." He indicates the man at the front.

  "This is a truck, Kayla." Turning my narrowed eyes on Connor as he seems to remember himself, he continues. "Like a car but bigger. This one’s electric and armoured so we’re relatively safe." Ok that makes no sense, but I'll roll with it. The truck moves really fast through the trees, sliding me this way and that as we turn to avoid hitting anything. Gotta get me a truck.

  After spending what feels like way too long trying to figure out how to open the door, I finally manage to push it open a little, sticking my head out, I scream for Baby. Hopefully he heard and follows us. Please let him be ok I think as I slam it shut again. Several times I’m thrown into Cell’s rock-like body as Can masterfully navigates the thicket, so I push my back against the truck’s side and put my feet against his hip. This way I can barely move when we turn sharply. He looks down at my feet, but says nothing, the heat from him warm up my frozen toes.

  "Connor, how do I know it's you?" I ask as the familiar streets of London whizz past. I wince inside at the sad look on his face, but don't allow it to show. None of us had any idea he had Death inside him the whole time we were with him. He could be fooling us right now.

  "Kay, I… I know you can't trust me right now and I've got to prove he's gone, but Kay…" He climbs over the seats behind me to sit between Cell and me. I move my legs so he can sit, my toes instantly freeze with the loss of contact with Cell. Taking my hands in his Connor continues, "I swear to you, I fought that bastard as hard as I could. He'd let me out at night, during the day I'd be able to wrestle control here and there." Looking down at our hands he shakes his head as a sigh leaves him, fuck this is twisting my insides. "I kidnapped you, Kayla, I locked Baby in the bus, I did so many bad things..."

  I snatch my hands away, for just a second he holds on tight but then let’s go when I tug harder. He tries to say more but just opens and closes his mouth several times. Mother fucker!

  "I'm so sorry. I wasn't in control!" He finally manages as rage builds inside of me, "Not at that point, later when we were in the bus, he gave me back control. I wanted to te
ll you, but, how could I? Oh, by the way, a tarot card has taken over my body! But trust me?"

  I wouldn't have believed him, maybe I might’ve even killed him because I would’ve assumed, he’d lost his mind. Given him mercy.

  "I don't know what to think Connor. How much of it was you?" Inside my chest, my heart’s bleeding. I was well on my way to falling in love with Connor. Or as close to it as I can. But now I feel like it was all a lie.

  "I can't explain it because I don't understand it. It was like… he was there under the surface making suggestions in my mind." He taps a finger to his temple, his face haunted. "He knew you wouldn't want to be with him, given he's an evil arsehole. So, he let me out for most of the time we were together. He needed you to come with us. It was mostly me you fell in love with Kayla and I …."

  "No! I’m not in love with you, Connor." I interrupt him before he can say it. I spread my hands out in front of me to hush him. "I said that to bring you back. I don't know who you are!" The hurt that spreads across his face pulls at my heart, I'm so fucking confused! "I'm sorry, I… that was…" I let out a pent-up breath. I'm not handling this well. "Listen, this is far too confusing right now. Let's just concentrate on stopping this new virus from killing the entire planet, shall we?" Connor simply nods and sits back against the seat. I have no idea how to feel or what to say. How can I trust anything he says? Leaning back against the side of the vehicle I let my eyes close. With my stomach painfully empty and all my energy drained I quickly fall asleep, tears still wet on my face...

  The vehicle skids to a stop. I barely manage to keep myself from being thrown forward into the seat Can sits in. The rude awakening does nothing for the sick feeling inside me.

  "Bug out everyone. Grab the bags and enter this building," Craven orders. We all jump into action, opening doors and climbing out. When a Brute orders you to do something, you do it double-time or risk being smushed into a puddle of nothing.

  Charlie takes my hand and gives me a small smile. One that tells me he too is having a hard time with the whole Connor thing. I mean… they've known each other since they were children, possibly since they were born, and now he finds out this Connor is a ...clone? This whole situation must be eating him up inside. Together we walk around the massive black vehicle, the wheels it moves on are black and come up to my hip. It's bloody huge and impressive. I want one.

  Chris walks to my left and suddenly every single human in the area draws guns and knives from holsters and points them at Chris. Shit! That's the moment Baby chooses to make his appearance. His massive paws dig at the dirt as he prowls across the clearing in front of the building.

  "Shit! A lion!" Someone unseen screams.

  "A Panda! They've got a Panda with them!" another arsehole comments.

  Oh crap, we’re in so much trouble. As an arrow sinks into the ground next to Baby, flames burst from my skin. "Harm either the lion or the Panda and you're toast. You understand?" I seethe between clenched teeth. Apparently, my fire is emotional. I need to learn how to get it under control, lest I set someone on fire for eating the last chunk of bread.

  "Calm brothers. The Panda is a friendly, as is the… lion." Craven doesn't raise his voice, simply because he doesn't have to. The moment he starts talking everyone focuses their eyes on him. "As is decreed by Constantine, these new people will be treated like one of us." The heavily armed people surrounding us nod, put away their weapons and disperse.

  I crane my neck up to look into Craven's eyes. "Thank you."

  Simply nodding, he sweeps his tree-like arm out, inviting us to proceed into the house. Letting my fire go, I draw in a deep breath. Well, that could’ve been much worse. Charlie, Connor and Crowley stand down and pull back.

  Baby draws up beside me, rubbing his large body against me. "Good boy.” I kneel down so we’re face to face. "Love you. Go hunt" I plant a kiss on his snout, and he licks my face. I'm so thankful he didn't get hurt today; I couldn't live without him.

  The building we enter is small and surrounded by trees. I don't recognise this area at all. "Where are we?" I ask Craven as he passes us, his hands laden with bags.

  "This is the headquarters of the rebellion." Craven shoots Charlie a confused look as he answers me. My head twists to look at Charlie, who simply shrugs in response. Fuck this shit. There’s so much no one is telling me! I've had just about enough. I’m getting pretty pissed at not being told things, it makes me want to ghost. To just leave and not look back. No one would find me.

  And neither would that twat, Keeper. Tempting… if not for Charlie. And Crowley. And Chris. Shit…. even Connor. Looking up at Craven's face I realise I wouldn't be able to leave any of them behind. Can't take them with me either, too many of them. Well, looks like I’m stuck, so they’d better start telling me things before I blow up on their arses.

  “Craven, when we’re settled in, I want answers. Understand?”

  “Yes, Princess, of course.” My whole-body freezes, Princess. There it is again. Before I can ask what they mean, I’m pulled into the building by Charlie. As we enter, I realise this place is much bigger than it seemed on the outside. The living space is massive, packed with tables and seats.

  Things I have no names for litter the surfaces. It's clearly somewhere a lot of people do important things. At the very back of the room, one whole wall is completely taken over with a giant screen like that on my device. Someone pushes passed me, nearly knocking me over, but firm hands grip my shoulders. Turning, I look up into Connor’s eyes.

  “Careful, sweet face.” He looks around us while I stare in wonder at the scene before me. “Want to see where Char, Crow and I have lived on and off for years?” There’s hope in his voice, nervousness too. Like he's worried I'll say no. I kind of want to, but then again, I really want to see the place these guys call home. So, I nod, not trusting my words right now. I war against the part of me that wants to burn Connor into ash. The betrayal, although it’s clear he wasn't in control of himself, still stings.

  This house is bustling with people. As we make our way up the stairs, it's clear it's not often they see new faces. Everyone stares at me as they pass, but then it occurs to me I don't have the wig I wore on my head as we entered Tri-City. I feel completely naked as one guy stops, staring open-mouthed. He has the nerve to look scared. So, like the mature woman I am… I jerk myself towards him, acting like I’ll attack him.

  “Shit!” he yelps as he jumps back so fast his head connects with the door frame behind him. A giggle snort escapes me. I lift a hand in an attempt to stop it, but it's too late. Every set of eyes in the hall turn to look at the girl with the golden hair laughing like a menace. My anxiety hits me hard then. The feeling of snakes in a barrel kicks in and I almost throw up. Luckily though, Connor pulls me passed them all and into a room at the end of the hall ending my misery at being stared at.

  Charlie and Crowley are already there. They turn to greet us as Connor closes the door behind me. Charlie drops the pile of material in his hands and rushes to me, grabbing me around my waist and lifting me off my feet. He's so dramatic, I love it.

  “We need to have that talk sooner rather than later guys. I do not take kindly to being kept in the dark,” I demand over his shoulder. Charlie pulls back a little to look at me, close to tears, his brown eyes shadowed with emotion as he lowers me to the floor. Feeling guilty at ruining his joy, I say, “Ok, later. But I fucking mean it, no more keeping Kayla in the dark. Show me your home.”

  Immediately Charlie brightens and his smile lights up the room. Taking my hand, he guides me to the strip of material hanging from the roof and pulls it aside. Behind it is a bed, the cloth covering it a faded red. A small table next to it contains books that look like they've been rained on, the pages wavy and the covers barely readable. A small window to the left casts a soft glow across his personal space.

  “This is mine, sit?” Charlie motions to the bed, a look of hope spreads across his face again. It pulls at my heart. Gently I lower myself down a
nd Charlie sits next to me his hand on my bent knee.

  “We've been a part of the rebellion for a long time, Kay. When we realised Keeper was evil, we joined up. We didn’t know he was playing with magics though”

  Fucking hell, I'm way out of my depth here. Magic? Is that how he got that beast into Connor? With magic. Surely, he wouldn't’ve been able to push a thing like that out so easily. What if he’s still not-Connor? Shit, he'll probably slit my throat in the night. Or worse… one of the guys! Did Connor tell them where this place is? Are we all in danger here?

  Suddenly the material is pushed back, revealing a determined looking Connor. I let out a shriek as he comes towards me with his hands raised. On instinct I call my flames to my hands and raise them, ready to fry this motherfucker.

  “Wait.” Charlie wraps his fingers around my wrist. In an instant I let the flames go for fear of burning him. Shit. Connor takes my face in his hands and bends between my legs.

  “Let me in, sweet face, please?” What’s he asking of me? I flick my eyes to Charlie who just nods. Well ok, but one wrong move and I will barbeque Connor.

  “Trust him Kayla, we’re with you and he can’t hurt you here.” Charlie laces his fingers with mine as I let down the wall inside my head. The first sign of trouble and I'll burn him to ash.

  Images and voices tear their way into my mind all at once. Gasping I try to pull back, but Connor just grips me harder.

  “Oh, I got it now, doll face. Just relax I promise it won't hurt again.” Connor's eyes close tightly, so I close mine and concentrate on opening my mind to him.