A/N: Hello everyone, I'm back! Thank you for your patience, but everyone needs a break from time to time. Anyway, back to business. Here is the next chapter and I should be posting fairly regularly again now. As always, read, review and enjoy! :)

Chapter 9

I clung onto the now quiet EMP generator, listening to the ominous sounds from within the mine as the land shifted around me. A few rogue rocks bounced down from between the beams but mercifully it held, a shower of dust falling like snow around me. The rumble gradually faded into nothing, and I let out a tightly held breath. Phase one complete. Now to assess the damage I had done. Rubbing the dust from my eyes I edged around the cavern in the inky black, feeling my way with one arm as best I could.

The EMP let out a muted click as it started the recharge process, I gritted my teeth hoping my 'ring of fire' had taken out the mercenaries all together but I didn't want to get my hopes up. My arm was still unusable but at least my blood wasn't trying to evacuate my body at such an alarming rate. It throbbed; sending waves of aching pain like a beacon through me, reminding me of my inadequacy at taking on an army of highly trained soldiers.

The daylight, although dimmed by the dense trees, was still blinding after the total darkness of the cramped mine. I slid out of the entrance and sat panting, catching my breath on the bed of fallen pine needles. The forest sloped away from me and from my vantage point I could see the extent of the destruction I had caused. The place was decimated. Even though a large proportion of the forest was still intact, it was pock marked with craters of smouldering, splintered trees. Thick columns of smoke rose periodically along the forest perimeter, the storm dragging the growing towers to one side as it picked up speed.

I let out a shaky sigh as I straightened up, gripping onto the rock face behind me. My vision blurred as my body redistributed the meagre blood supply I had left. I couldn't stay here any longer; I had to get back to the farm as quickly as possible. The land mines might have taken out a good chunk of what Cicada had thrown at me, but the farm was now more vulnerable with the EMP now down leaving way clear for other…dangers.

My heart clenched in cold fear as I slide back down the hill, using the trees to keep me upright. I couldn't be sure Cicada had sent their best weapons, but if I were them I would have. I had only seen a changeling once before, and it was a wonder I had survived then. If I was honest the EMP had been to give me an advantage over an armed opponent, but a small, terrified part of me had enhanced it to keep out Cicada's horrifically brutal child soldiers. The irony was it had made a prisoner of Seren.

I skidded to the bottom of the steep incline and launched myself into a stilted run. My arm was jostled uncomfortably and I pinned it to my body as best I could to limit the pain. Skirting round the bent and buckled tree trunks, I stared in awe at the great hollows I had taken out of the forest floor. The earth was dark and exposed, like a fresh wound. There was no sign of any mercenaries, and I briefly glimpsed a severed limb lying as if discarded and forgotten by its owner at the bottom of one of the pits.

I weaved my way through the forest, trying to pin point landmarks in amongst the chaos. Finally I recognised where I was headed and a gut wrenching thought floated to the surface of my mind. Tobias! I had left him tethered to a tree in the middle of my explosive trap. I pushed my legs to go faster, he was my quickest way back to the farm. Without him I was sure I would pass out before making it back. A horrible image of my horse scattered to the four winds, or worse, severely injured made my breathing stutter with frustrated sobs. This whole day had gone to shit in a hand basket, really fast.

As I neared the clearing where I had left him I scanned the tree line for signs of an explosion. The forest here still looked relatively intact and I held my breath as I broke through the undergrowth and onto the soft grassy moss of the clearing. Tobias spotted me and began tugging desperately on his reins, his eyes rolling in his head as he stared terrified at me. He let out a guttural roaring sound as he continued to try and break free of his tether. I advanced on him slowly, forcing my injured hand up to try and calm the petrified stallion. I quietly assessed him as I took small steps forward. He seemed mercifully unharmed, his muscles straining as his bridle began to dig into his head.

"It's okay lad. It's okay." I hushed him, taking a decisive step towards him and grabbing his bridle with my good hand. The horse jerked its head back in alarm, all but pulling me off my feet. "Whoa Tobias, calm down." I pleaded, eager to get back to Seren and Uncle Rhydian. I took a deep breath, knowing my distress wasn't going to help me here. I continued to murmur to the beast until finally I saw his muscles relax, his ears standing to attention instead of being flattened to his skull. I quickly pulled myself into the saddle, not wanting to give Tobias a chance to get worked up again. Gathering the reins into my uninjured right hand I gripped my crippled left arm to me, kicking Tobias forward. The stallion skittered on the spot, uncertain about entering the surrounding forest.

"Go on boy." I crooned to him in a pained voice, placing a bloody hand on his neck. I felt him shudder then still under my touch, this time my kick sent him leaping forward into a strong gallop. An arrow of pain shot up through my arm as I bent over his neck, tightening my legs around him to keep me steady. I kept scanning the trees to either side, searching for movement. Hope began to grow inside me as the forest remained still and silent, except for the sound of Tobias' pounding hoof beats and my ragged breathing. Had I managed to stop the siege before it had begun?

The trees were thinning now, I adjusted my balance as the horse weaved between tree trunks and deep, gaping craters. As we broke free of the forest's oppressive, smoke filled boundary, I urged Tobias to go faster. Nervous energy started to fizz through my veins, I needed to see Seren, know she was safe. A heavy lead weight settled deep in my stomach as I realised we probably couldn't stay here now. Cicada had become confident enough to send an army regardless of the scene it would cause. Who knew what they would send next?

Actually I had a pretty good idea. The weight bubbled and shifted until I was holding back a terrified wave of nausea. The field stretched out ahead of me, a great expanse of muted green. As I thundered up the first small hill heading back to the farm, the wind reached a fever pitch, tearing at me like a thousand tiny hands trying to unseat me. I glanced up at the dramatic grey sky; the storm had finally arrived.

I let out an angry hiss as I crested the hill, the wind filling my ears now, and dipped down the other side. A figure in black was running in the same direction as me, their rifle held in both hands. So I hadn't killed them all, it had been a lot to hope for. Wariness forced me to slow Tobias a little; we were on a slightly more even playing field here. The mercenary's gun would be working and I was injured. However, I had the high ground and the element of surprise as the storm wind masked my approach.

As if to prove my point a strong gust swept across the rolling field, making the mercenary stagger slightly and forcing me to tighten my grip on the saddle. The mercenary looked up but not behind. Glancing down at my hastily bound arm I clenched my teeth in frustration. I was still unable to fire my bow, so it was as good as useless, still I had nothing else to use. I felt the first ice cold drops of rain begin to land on my face as an idea came to me. I wasn't sure it would work but there was no way I was going to let this guy get any further if I could help it.

Wincing I lifted my left arm and unhooked my bow. Holding it loosely I examined the bowstring; it was made from polythene fibre, strong, but how strong? I switched it to my good hand, letting the reins fall loose against Tobias' neck. I steered him with my legs so my target was on my right side, then kicked him into a full on charge. Gripping the bow tightly, I held it out away from my body. The mercenary was getting closer and I narrowed my eyes, squinting through the growing curtain of rain. Was it stronger than a fibre wire? I was about to find out.

The mercenary heard me at the last moment. I saw it was a man as he turned to face me, his eyes widening at the sight of the giant black stallion bearing down on him. He raised his gun but we were already upon him. As Tobias shot past the man mere inches from him, I hooked the bow over his head and tucked my elbow tightly to my side.

I braced, tightening my leg muscles as I felt the sharp jerk as the bowstring found its target and wrapped around the mercenary's neck. The dead weight at the end of my arm increased as the horse's momentum yanked the man off his feet and began to drag him behind us. I prayed silently for the bowstring to hold, fighting against the force attempting to rip the bow from my grasp. The tendons in my arm began to strain as the fibre did indeed hold, the man emitting a strangled cry as his feet bounced along in time to Tobias' hooves. I flicked a glance down at my victim. His face was turning blue, his rain slick hands scrabbling desperately at the polythene wire around his throat.

My arm was now on fire as the muscles began to tire at dragging a man one handed by his neck on a galloping horse. I could feel the smooth wood of the bow slipping gradually through my fingers as the rain beat down relentlessly. We were just starting our ascent of the next rise when I felt the weight increase infinitesimally on my arm. Looking down I saw the mercenary's limp body bounce a couple more paces before his lifeless head slipped out of the bow's hold.

I let out a pent up breath as his corpse receded behind me, my arm hanging by my side for a moment as the life came back to it. Just as I was about to disappear over the next hill a quick movement behind me caught my eye. I gathered up my discarded reins and brought Tobias to a momentary halt as I peered through the grey sheet of rain obscuring my vision, trying to see if it was another mercenary. The thing, whatever it was, had also stopped and appeared to be staring straight at me. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, and looked again at the hill. Whoever they were they appeared small for a mercenary, then the wind gusted blowing the rain horizontal and clearing the view for a second, causing my heart to stop. The figure turned and disappeared almost instantly, as if they had teleported off the hill, but not before I got a good long look at the glassy eyed stare of the changeling. Their young face framed by tangled ropes of wet blonde hair.

"Shit. Go Tobias, go." I urged in a hoarse voice, I could barely hear myself over the storm. My eyes remained wide and fixed on the spot where the child assassin had been moments before. The farm, I needed to get back to the farm. I struggled to keep the terror from overwhelming me as I leant forward, signalling for the stallion to go as fast as he could. The rain drove into my face, cutting into me like a thousand knives. My heart was stuttering back to life as I tore across the mountainside, I kept flicking furtive looks behind to see if there was any sign of the small figure running after me. The changeling had looked to about 13 or 14, meaning their advantage was strength not speed. Still I wasn't sure if they could still outrun Tobias.

I encountered no more mercenaries, but they were the last thing I was worried about now. As I reached the peak of the hill before the farm I saw an unusual orange glow flickering on the grey horizon. Adrenaline shot through me as I finally looked down on the collection of farm buildings that had been our home for five years, and took in the sight of the raging fire now consuming the large hay barn. The tall flames sparked and smoked in the rain and wind, fighting with the storm in some archaic battle of the elements. I couldn't see any sign of a fight or mercenaries in the yard, but my fear at the sight of the changeling was quickly drowned out by a white, hot protective rage stronger even than the fire threatening to destroy my Uncle's farm.

I gritted my teeth and held onto Tobias' mane as we pelted down the muddy hillside. I only hoped I wasn't too late, and that Seren was still on the farm somewhere with my Uncle, unharmed. Tobias pounded into the quickly flooding yard in a shower of mud and water, his chest heaving from exertion and fear. I leapt from his back and pushed him away from the fire; even with the torrential downpour I could still feel the heat of it from some distance. There was no one in sight, but my nerves were tingling. It wasn't safe, I knew that much. Whoever had started that blaze was still around; I strained my hearing against the buffeting wind trying to pinpoint the sound of footsteps, a gun cocking, anything.

I lowered slightly into a half crouch and crept forwards, keeping my eyes on the barn. Now I was examining the scene I could see the fire was coming from the mountains of hay inside the barn, a wall of orange and red shone out from the back of the building whilst thick, cloying smoke streamed out into the rain. I was making my way to the house when I spotted a dark shape propped up against the edge of the barn door. I paused, staring through the smoke to see if it was a dead or injured mercenary, then the shape moved, its head lolling to one side revealing a shaggy mop of dark grey hair.

My stomach dropped through my feet and I abandoned all attempts at stealth as I barrelled across the yard towards the furnace that used to be a barn and my prone Uncle.

"Uncle Rhydian." I cried desperately as I reached him, my eyes swiftly scanning his body for signs of injury. A creeping, icy hand gripped my heart as I saw the ominous dark stain spreading across his shirt from his abdomen. "No, no, no." I repeated as if my words could stop the flow of blood somehow. He raised his head at the sound of my voice, his hazel eyes dim and alarmingly glassy. I pressed my right hand on his stomach, feeling the sticky blood against my palm as I tried to physically stem the bleeding. My eyes began to sting, partly due to the acrid smoke drifting into them but also from the hot, frustrated tears that were dripping down my cheeks. He tried to sit up straighter but his face twisted in pain as his arms gave way, sending him back into a slumped position. "Stay still. Peidiwch â symud." Don't move. My Uncle stared up at my face, his mouth stretching into a thin line as he struggled to talk.

"Morgan, blodwyn. I couldn't...stop them." I shook my head, screwing my eyes up against the tears flooding them.

"Stop it, I'm going to get Seren then we're getting out of here. Okay?" I glanced around and spotted my Uncle's old Land Rover, parked unharmed near the house. The smoke was masking my view of the yard but there was still no movement from anywhere nearby. He dragged my attention back to him as he let out a sudden raking cough.

"I'm not going anywhere I'm afraid. The bastards blew a bloody good hole in me." I pushed my hand harder onto his abdomen, determined to contradict his statement. His muscles suddenly convulsed under my palm, and I flashed an alarmed look at him and was shocked to see he was laughing. His face fixed in an agonised half smile. "But I'll tell you what cariad. I took a fair few of them out before they got a shot at me. You'd be proud of you're old fool of an Uncle."

My eyes widened as he waved a lethargic hand to one side of him where his ancient hunting rifle was leaning against his side. I had thought that thing was a relic that he had kept for sentimental sake; I had no idea it actually worked. It was then I saw a handful of dead bodies scattered nearer the mountain of fire deeper in the barn. Uncle Rhydian saw my surprised expression and let out another shuddering chuckle. "What's the matter Morgan? Didn't think I had it in me?" A bubble of sound burst from me; a half sob half barking laugh that rang out over the roaring fire and wind.

I suddenly became aware of how hot the side of my face had become; the need to move away from the inferno started to creep into my mind. My Uncle grasped a clammy hand over the one I was pressing down uselessly on his decimated stomach, his expression suddenly deadly serious. "They're still here cariad. Mae Seren yn yr islawr." Seren is in the basement.

I nodded, he was telling me that she was safe. He wouldn't have bothered directing me in Welsh if they had already found her. "You're going to live Rhydian Williams. Please…you have to." His face softened, the pain seeming to dissolve and he lifted his hand to gently cup my chin. I felt the icy grip on my heart squeeze tightly, a choking sob breaking free of me, as the light in his eyes grew dimmer.

"Shhhh, merch ddewr. Dim dagrau I mi." Brave girl. No tears for me. Regardless of his command I felt the drops leaving my eyes as I watched helplessly as another loved one slip away from me. "I did my best by you, and the little one." The sobs were coming more frequently now as my heart no longer felt icy, it was being ripped in two. He took in a rattling breath, his hand falling to his side, as his lovely, gruff voice reduced to a weak whisper. "Do not go gentle into that good night…" His voice tailed off as the light finally went out in his eyes.

I let out a cry; a garbled mixture of anger and grief. Placing my hands on either side of my dead Uncle, balled into tight fists, ignoring the lancing pain from my injured arm. I let out another feral growl just as I became aware of several advancing shadows through the smoke and heat haze. The mercenaries slunk across the yard, trying to get a clear shot of me, half concealed in the burning barn.

I felt my expression harden as my anger solidified like a stone lodged deep in my chest. With slightly trembling hands I grasped my Uncle's rifle from next to his corpse and pulled back the bolt. There was a satisfying click as it pushed a bullet into the chamber and I slowly swivelled and stood, keeping myself half hidden in the burning smoke to face my enemies. I counted eight that I could see. There was likely more, not to mention the changeling that had probably made it to the farm by now. The situation didn't look good, but I wasn't about to roll over and give up, not after everything. Not while Seren still needed me.

Still, I couldn't stop the overwhelming sense of hopelessness as I assessed my position. I was out manned, out manoeuvred, and definitely out gunned. If my Uncle had reloaded, then I had five rounds to eight mercenaries; and I was aware my skill with a gun was drastically limited compared with my skill with a bow. But with my injured arm this was my best chance, so I raised the heavy gun to eye level and gritted my teeth as I wrapped a finger round the trigger.

The mercenaries were approaching cautiously; obviously my reputation preceded me, however I wasn't about to tell them that without my forest of tricks and EMP I was practically useless in face-to-face combat. Adrenaline spiked through me as I looked down the barrel of the rifle and aimed at the closest man to me. With Seren at the forefront of my mind I gently squeezed the trigger, breathing in as I did. The rifle let out an almighty crack, and kicked back violently. I had only ever fired a pistol before and this was considerably more powerful, I took a staggering step back as the force of the shot hit me. It took me a second to regain my balance, my injured arm screaming in protest at the movement of the gun. Blinking through the smoke, I saw the mercenary I had fired at was on the ground, blood seeping into the sodden mud around him.

One down, I thought dryly, as I glanced at the seven other soldiers staring at their suddenly immobilised comrade. My heart began to thrum as the adrenaline flooded my system; pulling the bolt back with a shaking hand I pushed another round into the chamber. The mercenaries had gotten over the surprise of my sudden attack and were advancing quicker now towards the barn. I raised the rifle again and focused on the head of another soldier, but just as I was about to squeeze the trigger I heard the sound of several bullets pinging off the corrugated iron wall of the barn. I ducked back behind the door, letting out a low curse. I was going to be surrounded pretty soon and the heat of the fire was beginning to make my skin blister. The situation didn't look good, I was stuck between a burning rock and a gun wielding hard place.

The burning pain increased and I tightened my grip on the rifle as I realised I was going to have to make a break for it or risk burning alive in here. I flicked a glance down at my dead Uncle, the grief spiking harshly inside me, then I clenched my jaw in angry defiance. If I was going to go down, I was going to go like my Uncle; fighting. A swell of sadness broke through my fury at the thought of poor Seren, alone and afraid. I had done all I could for her; I had tried my best, but in the end, I was only human.

Channelling all of my grief and anger into my body, I swung round the door of the barn, stepping out into the cold storm rain, the rifle raised to eye level. Whatever the mercenaries had been expecting, it appeared a full frontal attack by their outnumbered victim was not one of them. I took down the man nearest me within seconds of exiting the burning barn, hitting him in the chest. The bolt let out a loud click as I reloaded and shot another man in the leg; he dropped down to one knee, a shocked expression on his face. My injured arm was struggling to hold the gun steady now and the next shot went wide. Reloading again I shot at the man on the floor hitting him this time in the shoulder. The force of the shot floored him completely, but I saw with a bitter stab of frustration that he was still alive. I pulled the bolt back once more but this time when I went to shoot him instead of the loud report of the rifle there was only a familiar click, as the gun signalled its spent ammo.

All of this took a matter of seconds, but it felt like an age. After desperately pulling the bolt and letting the gun click again I felt a sharp, driving pain in my lower leg, followed by a quick burst of noise from one of the mercenary's guns. I staggered to the rain soaked ground, the rifle clattering as it fell from my grasp. Looking up, squinting against the rain I saw there were now ten soldiers surrounding me. More must have emerged as I was hiding in the barn. Hopelessness overcame me, and I fought back angry, frustrated sobs as the one that had shot me walked slowly over to my crumpled figure.

Why didn't he just end it? They had been sent to kill me after all; why prolong my suffering, they had won. I glared up at the man's face blinking back my tears, I refused to cry at the end. He stared down at me, impassively, his assault rifle pointed lazily at my head. I didn't break eye contact as he pushed the barrel of it against my temple.

"Where's the girl?" Comprehension dawned on me. They wanted me to make their jobs easier before offing me. My stomach convulsed as I realised they had probably done something similar with my Uncle before I had shown up and they had hidden, leaving him to die. My mouth twisted into a nasty sneer as I continued to glare at the bored looking mercenary.

"Go fuck yourself." I spat at him. He raised his eyebrow in a bone chillingly familiar way and turned to address his comrades.

"Search the farm, if she isn't here spread out and cover the land." He returned his gaze to me as I saw the others begin to turn in different directions to search for Seren.

"You put up a good fight, like the old man. You should be proud." His tone wasn't angry or insulting, he said it in a respectful voice, almost revering. It didn't stop my stomach from turning or my heart from trying to escape through my mouth though. This was it. I had seen death coming a few times in my life, but there was no way out of this. I closed my eyes and balled my fists, scrapping my knuckles on the muddy tarmac beneath me. Let it be quick, let it be painless, let Seren be safe. I listened to the rain drumming down on the ground, the wind whistling past the buildings, the roar of the fire eating my Uncle's beloved farm and waited for the gunshot.

It came, but there was no pain. I kept my eyes shut, but nothing seemed to change, the rain was still falling, cold on my skin. Maybe this was purgatory; I opened my eyes a crack expecting to see my body lying bleeding on the ground as I floated above it. Instead the body of the mercenary who had been about to kill me fell with a thud in front of me, his eyes lifeless and glassy. There was another burst of gunfire and my eyes were suddenly wide as I stared at the scene in front of me. All ten mercenaries were down; their bodies still twitching as their lifeblood flowed from perfectly executed bullet wounds.

I could feel my own blood draining from my face, as I stared around wildly searching for my saviour. He appeared ahead of me, walking out of the grey rain. His black suit soaked through, his blue eyes the most welcome thing I had ever seen in my entire life.