Blaze Page 22

  "Bout time you came in here, Crowley. I’m your leader after all." The man in a strange chair barks as Charlie, Connor, Crowley, Chris and I all pile into a small room at the back of the building. Looking around I'm shocked to see that it’s really clean. Not a speck of dust or dirt is on any of the crazy looking things packed into every available surface in this place. The walls are lined with shelves and all manner of things are squeezed into them.

  "Sorry, Const. We had some, um," Crowley begins but the man in the chair cuts him off by raising his hand. Which makes me look back at him with a frown.

  "Fucking. We were fucking," I blurt before I've even managed to get my brain in gear. It just comes out; everyone turns to look at me as I'm about to pick up a plastic cube with different colours on it. Snatching my fingers back, I clear my throat. "I'm Kayla by the way, listen I don't know what I can do to help," I shrug my shoulders and look around at my guys. "But I'll do whatever is needed." I absolutely agree with the rebellion’s agenda. Everyone on this planet deserves to have freedom, food, water and safety. I've often wondered if the lack of children is actually a choice. Who wants to bring a child into this fucked up world where it'll either have to fight for its life every single day, or it'll be turned into a fucking Panda! Nope. I absofuckinglutely won’t be having any children. Like, ever.

  "Yes, I know who you are, child. You look a lot like your mother," Constantine replies rather smugly. Trying not to wince, I focus on his face. His head is grotesquely shaped and out of proportion to the rest of his body. Clearly an Alpha, his brain must’ve grown to such proportions that he needed several metal plates inserted under the skin to give it room. A few of them can be seen beneath his almost translucent skin.

  "You knew my mum?" I already know the answer because if he says I look like her then he must have.

  "Yes. It was I who told her you were special, child. It was I who chose your promised," he announces. What the fuck. His head is so distracting. A large strap across it holds it against the odd chair he’s sitting in.

  "Really?" I once again look around the room at my guys. "Great choices," I say without really thinking. The guys chuckle and Charlie takes my hand and raises it to his lips, planting a soft kiss there.

  "Enough!" Constantine yells, spittle flying from his mouth. "We go to war! Tomorrow we fight for what’s right. Will you join us, Kayla?"

  Fight for what’s right? "I'm in. But uh," I place my hands on the desk in front of us and lean in closer to this would be leader. "Don't think you can boss me around, pal. I'm not part of this, I’ll help you win this war. But I won't be anyone's soldier."

  "That's my girl." Crowley chuckles behind me. "If that's all Const, we all need R and R. We’ll report for duty in the morning." Taking my hand, Crowley leads us from the room. Looking back at Constantine I see his mouth hanging open, catching flies. He stares dumbly at us as we leave. He's probably never been spoken to this way and can't quite comprehend what just happened despite being super brainy. Four sexy as fuck guys and I walk through the house in a large group like we own the place. We spend the rest of the night eating, fucking, getting to know each other. Lost in our own world. Connecting our family in ways none other could ever be.

  Standing outside the rebellion headquarters with Connor, Crowley, Charlie, Chris, Craven, Can and Cell feels slightly surreal to me. The whole convoy set off towards Tri-City some time ago, leaving the eight of us behind. We’re the first line of attack. As a group we’ll infiltrate the walls and sneak our way to Keeper, hopefully ending his tyranny. I let go of Charlie’s hand and move to stand in front of these men who would put their lives on the line for strangers, for Panda.

  “There’s not much I can say guys.” I straighten my body to its full measly height, each of them is so much taller than me yet I don't feel overshadowed by them. Instead they make me feel stronger, powerful. “This could end with us all dead. Or worse, captured and tortured. Each of you mean so much to me. Please don't die today.” I hold my hand out in front of me, stopping several of them from speaking. I’m not done yet. “I may not be big on words. I might not be the best pep talker in the world. But shit,” I shrug my shoulders and kick at the dirt beneath my feet, “I fucking love you guys.” I don't know what I expect when I say the words, but it wasn't that I’d be caged in by so many arms I couldn't even tell who’s who. Charlie grabs my face after everyone lets me go, his brown eyes shining with unshed tears, my own falling freely down my face.

  “I love you Kay; we’ll make it through this. I would lay my life down for you.”

  I break away from his with a gasp. “Please do not do that! No." I stand back once again and search their eyes; I know they’re all thinking the same thing. That they would give their lives for me. “Protect yourselves first and foremost. Do not put your lives at risk for me. Understand? If any of you die I will be really pissed.”

  Connor chuckles at my words, but I’m deadly serious. I would never forgive them if they were killed because of me. I couldn’t live with myself. I shoot him a deadly look and his laughter dies away. “Do not fucking die,” I say with finality, then turn and walk away from them. If we say goodbye to each other we admit we could die today, and my fragile mind can’t handle that. So, I pretend this is just a normal day and walk through the city streets with Baby at my side, my Katana and my small blades strapped to my body. Only this time, seven men who I care about walk behind me in a long line, ready to set this world free. But at what cost?

  No one says a word to each other on the way to the City. Our packs are filled with supplies, but we don't stop to eat or drink. The air’s thick between us with things left unsaid. Once Tri-City is within our sights we stop and set up a small camp inside what Can tells me was a fuelling station for vehicles. The building is still fully standing but I don't go inside. Instead I climb on the roof. Several times the guys try to talk to me, but I stalk off with Baby to make sure the area’s safe from bad Panda. I can't be distracted right now. I need my head clear to do this. If I allowed them to speak to me, they might say goodbye. It's not until the sun sets I realise my mistake when Connor and Crowley start to yell at each other.

  “What the fuck is this?” I scream at them, louder than their shouting so they can hear me. As soon as they hear my voice they stop arguing and turn to look at me. Wincing slightly, Crowley throws his hands in the air.

  “Connor’s just decided to tell us he doesn't remember where the virus is being stored.” He throws Connor a shitty look.

  “Death would let me out. I was always present, but I can’t remember where it is. Which means I either didn't hide it or my dad purposefully had me distracted in order to hide it,” Connor explains, frustration making him gesture wildly. His hand accidentally hits me across my stomach, making me bend double. Suddenly he’s lifted into the air, his feet dangling.

  “Touch the Princess again, worm, and I shall end you. Prince or not,” Craven’s booming voice echoes in the small space. Fuck me.

  “Put him down Crave, please.” I rest my hand on his massive arm. Connor immediately drops to his feet, gasping for breath. “Please explain this Princess and Prince thing,” I ask, desperate for answers before it's too late. In a few short hours, one of Craven's rebel brethren will be on duty and will let us in to the city. At least that’s the plan. He turns his gargantuan face to mine, confusion drawing his brow down. “You do not know?”

  “No, what?” I ask while looking around at my men, each of them shake their heads and look at Craven, waiting for an explanation too.

  “Your mother Connor and yours, Kayla, were royal heirs. They planned to take the throne after killing Keeper, but unfortunately he killed them first," Craven explains. My legs almost give out when he finishes. My head whips to Connor, royals? My mum would tell me stories when I was really little, about princesses. But why didn't she tell me this? If I’d known that Keeper wanted to kill her, I would've…. I could've… my legs give way and my knees hit the ground. There aren’t kings or queens
anymore. What the fuck did it matter who our ancestors were?

  Hands reach out to catch me, but I fall anyway. A sob breaks from my chest. Keeper killed my mother because of a fucking ancient title. "Did he kill my brother?" I ask no one in particular. Can answers me.

  "Yes "

  His simple word makes my whole body go numb. Everything falls into place in my head. Keeper took the guys because he didn't want me to have them, he killed my brother because he could've protected me. He had my mother killed because she was an heir and knew of his plans. It wasn't Masters after all. He had Connor possessed by Death, not really sure why. President Keeper is fucking evil. And I intend to rid this world of him. But first I have to get to him, then, I will char his body to ash. My eyes flick to Connor for a second, a small piece of me wants to stab him in the neck.

  Hands touch me then; it feels like a thousand people are closing in on me and my breathing picks up. "We've gotta move," I say loudly. I stalk away from my little group. Needing air. Needing something to kill. Taking off in a jog I put distance between me and the answers I've always wanted, but now wish I didn't have. Everything about this situation is fucked up.

  The guys and I run until we’re sweaty. It takes too long for me to realise we’re exhausting ourselves. I pull to a stop and wait for them to catch up, Baby sits next to my leg. His weight against me is comforting. While the guys and I can enter the city quietly and under the cover of darkness, Baby can't so I’ll be forced to leave him behind, and it kills me.

  “We need to rest up, the city isn’t far from here. From this point we walk,” I say as they all approach me. Turning to Charlie, I realise he’s struggling with something. “Charlie?” As he comes to a stop in front of me his chin rests against his chest and he refuses to meet my eyes.

  “He’s broken, Princess. You refuse to talk to your men. They feel rejected,” Craven announces in his booming voice. But somehow, he manages to say it softly. Charlie looks up at me through his thick dark lashes and something squeezes inside me. I’ve been rejecting them on this journey. The fear of losing them is making me crazy. I loved my mum, I did, but I wasn’t that close to her. Losing her was hard, and it still is. But if I lost one of my guys? Fuck. The world would go up in smoke.

  “Fuck, guys. I’m so sorry. I…” Instead of facing my fear like the badass I pretend to be, I pushed them away.

  Like a dick. Crowley interrupts me. “I get it, I do. But Kay-”

  “We need you,” Charlie cuts him off, the words said on a sob.

  I swivel and throw my arms around his neck. Fuck, I’m such an idiot. “I need you all too,” I say into his soft, sweet smelling hair. “I couldn’t bear to lose any of you, I thought it would be easier if…”

  “I can’t lose any of you either, but we gotta do this together,” Connor says as he wraps his fingers around mine, Chris takes my other hand.

  “Together, or never,” Crowley whispers in my ear. His cool breath tickles my neck and I shiver. Turning from them I look at Tri-City in the distance, my hand wraps around the necklace Charlie gave me when he asked me to marry him. I don’t want to do this, to go into that city and fight a war that could kill one or more of my guys. That forces me to leave behind my best friend. But if we don’t, we all die anyway. This virus will kill us all, humans, Panda, whatever Charlie, Connor, Chris, Crowley and I are too. Probably. Do it or die trying, right? Save humanity, in all its forms.

  They all look at me as I turn back to them, their eyes so full of love. Can, Cell and Craven loom over us like giants. In four hours, a new war begins, the eight of us are tasked with starting that war. I see the burden of that weight on each of their faces, in the thin lines of their mouths, in the soft plump spots between their eyes. But I also see their determination, their commitment in the way they stand tall, their shoulders squared and their weapons ready.

  “We can do this, we can win. This isn’t the day we die, no. This is the day we set this world free.” I scan each of their eyes. The fire I see there calls to the flames inside of me. “Let’s Blaze this mother fucker!” Some of them chuckle. Charlie kisses my neck in a way that completely distracts me. I pull away a little to look into his soft brown eyes, a surprised look on my face. He grins at me and knocks the wind from my lungs.

  “When we defeat this evil, I’m going to marry you, Kayla. I want you round with my babe, barefoot and kicking arse.” He reaches up to smooth my golden hair from my face as I stand there open-mouthed.

  Kids?

  “Fuck, Char! I second that, minus the kid though. I’m happy to wait.” Connor chuckles, his eyes on the ground beneath him.

  Crowley strides to me and pulls me from Charlie’s arms. “I’m next. Twins. Two boys, ain’t that right, Darlin?”

  God, I love the way he calls me Darlin. I splutter as I try to come up with something to say, but then my mind clears and it's like I can see it. Me with a huge stomach, kids running around an open field chasing after Baby. Connor and Crowley building a house, Chris and Charlie cooking over a huge brick stove. Craven Can and Cell standing guard even though they really don’t need to. The sun shining down on us all. I want it, all of it.

  “Ok,” I start but I don't get to finish because Charlie rips me from Crowley and lifts me off the ground, his lips crash to mine with such passion I taste blood. He kisses me like he’s trying to take the air from my lungs, and I love it.

  I showed him what you just saw, Kayla. I showed it to them all. Connor’s voice enters my mind.

  Tears spring to my eyes and I let them fall. My very first happy tears.

  “Let's do this everyone. The sooner it's over with, the sooner we can start our new lives together.” by the tone of Chris’ voice, I can tell he’s excited. The heat of the battle calling him or the prospect of our lives starting, I don't know. But I feel him on both levels. Breaking the kiss with Charlie, I let myself slide down his body. Which was a mistake because I feel how hard he is and now I want to turn back, find somewhere soft to lay and fuck him.

  “Let's do this,” I yell, cheers ring out around me as I turn and sprint towards Tri-City. Eager to get this over with.

  By the time we reach the gates, it's pitch black. Wildlife howls and skitters around in the fallen leaves as we flatten our bodies against the stone wall that holds in so much evil. With the love of my men still lighting up my veins, I check my flames are as ready as I am. Closing my eyes I search for the heat. Finding it, I let out a steadying breath as Crowley breaks from us and approaches the entrance. Seconds later he turns and silently motions for us to come to him. In a single line, we join with him as he stands in front of an open gate. The guard no-where to be seen, we slip in unnoticed. I take one last look out into the forest and send up an internal prayer Baby remains safe while we’re in the city.

  Turning back to my guys, I follow as Crow leads us through darkened streets. Snakes churn in my stomach as we pass the buildings housing Advanced and move right to the huge building housing the Alphas and Keeper. Crowley opens a door I didn't see and disappears inside it. Here goes nothing. I follow behind him, my feet silent as we walk into the enemy's house. The feeling of being watched makes the back of my neck itch as we powerwalk down a million empty white corridors. The place is eerily silent. We don't even pass a single person as we travel deeper into the building. As we turn yet another corner, Crowley thrusts up his fist, which he told me means to fucking stop.

  When he turns to face us, we soon realise something’s very wrong. Crowley’s a big strong guy, he's a badass warrior and doesn't scare easy. But whatever he sees behind this wall makes him go paler than a Panda.

  “Come out!” a masculine voice demands. Keeper. “Quickly now, I wouldn’t want to have to kill this magnificent beast.”

  The shitty tone added with his words makes me break away from the guys and rush around the corner. The sight I’m met with makes my knees buckle. If it wasn't for Char, I’d have fallen to the floor. “Shit!” At the back of the room behind metal bars, is Baby
. He roars and butts himself against the sides. “You utter slimeball!” I scream at Keeper, who is standing behind several rows of Brute the size of trees. Each of them holds swords in their gigantic hands, their faces passive, waiting for the order to attack.

  I don't wait for Keeper to give the order. As soon as I feel the guys behind me, I rush forward with my Katana raised.

  "Argh!" I slash out at the closest Brute. It slices his biceps as he reaches out and grabs my shoulders and lifts me. I hit his massive head with the butt of my sword, and he drops me. Before I hit the ground, I thrust my blade up into his neck, the tip breaking through the top of his skull. It takes all my strength to pull it out, placing my foot on his chest I yank back and almost fall to the floor when it comes free.

  "Kay!" Charlie screams my name as I fight my way through the horde of giant bodies. My target is Baby's cage, then… it's time to kill Keeper. Sidestepping mammoth Brute, slashing as I go, I make my way further into the room. Being short is coming in handy right now. Huge and strong they may be, but Brute can't bend for shit. Using that to my advantage, I sever several shins from knees as I make my way to the bars holding Baby back.

  From the corner of my eye, I see Connor on the back of a Brute while Crowley slashes his throat. Blood pours from the wound, soaking Crowley in brown blood. I’d always figured that all Advanced had brown blood, and mine was red because I'm human. Apparently not. A Brute grabs my hair as I slide through his legs, making me scream. I twirl my blade and cut off the hair he has in his grasp. Then I shove it between his legs, straight into his boys. With both hands I press it further, grimacing at the bloodcurdling scream he lets out.

  My hair flutters to the floor as the big guy falls tree-like on his back, his blank eyes staring at the ceiling. I plant my feet on his chest to get a better view of the room. Charlie and Crowley are working together to take down the beasts while Chris and Connor sever heads from bodies. Can and Craven each fight on their own, taking on two of their brethren at a time. They don't even need weapons; I watch as they tear limb from limb. It’s beautiful, really. Baby's roar shakes me from the beauty of war.