Song Suggestion: Unstoppable by Sia

MARE

The explosions will come in three waves. Wave one has already begun.

The strength of the Nortan Air Force left when House Laris rebelled against Maven. But the base in Habor Bay is still well within Maven's control. And the windweavers from the Lakelands will balance any residence from any Laris members attending the ceremony.

Missiles rain down all across the estate. From the acres of beautiful meadow to the rows and rows of great oak trees. The mansion itself consists of four wings, spread diagonally like a star. The center is wider and makes for a better target but the with the time being so close to the rehearsal dinner many will be getting ready. But the important guests will already be gathered in the dining hall on the first floor. There, something much more gruesome goes on.

The thought brings me back to where I am. I look over to see that Evangeline still breathes. It's been over a minute since I stabbed her. She must be in so much pain.

I remember the first time I experienced the sounder. How I felt my body rip apart. I was dying. But the worst part was the feeling of dying alone. I have no love for Evangeline, but she doesn't deserve to feel like I felt. She was just someone trying to survive in her own way.

Her eyes are partly open. I bend down to a knee and take her cold hand in mine. A small bit of silver blood drips from the corner of her mouth.

"El-Elane…"

She begins coughing, drowning in her own blood. Another missile drops forty yards away.

I don't know what to do. A sense of panic sets in. I knew she loved Elane, but the fact that she is her last thought...

"Don't…"

"I won't," I say with sudden fervor. I don't know why, but her concern shakes me to my core. And it makes wonder, who will be in my thoughts when I die?

I clench her hand hard in mine, wishing she would die quickly.

Another blast shakes the ground. And then I feel a tug and another dose of strength.

It had to be done. I repeat the words over and over in my head like a mantra.

There wasn't any other way, my conscience tells me.

So why do my eyes begin to glass over?

Then the faintest of the sounds, impossible to hear without listening for it. Hell rains down on the estate, but it's so clear. I feel the hand in mine go limp and the whisper of a breath brush past now colorless lips.

I drop her hand carelessly. Then I take out a silver and blue cloth and drop it onto her lifeless body. I can't show any signs that her killer showed any mercy.

Now it's time to do what I do best.

I run.

There wasn't enough water in the bird bath to clean my hands, but thankfully this ridiculous garden has a fountain. Back home fresh water was a privilege, but of course, silvers would find a way to make it decoration. I quickly rinse my hands of blood and run for the rendezvous point.

Above I notice the Snapdragons weave instead of doing a straight run over the estate. Laris is now defending. We're only at the beginning of the second wave.

I follow the line of trees to back to the area to where the Transports that brought here are parked. There are rows and rows of transports. I look towards the back where three plain black transports lie. The headlights of one the transports blink twice.

So Jared made it back, hopefully with my alibi.

I nod in the transport's direction in understanding. I then turn on my heal and head towards the front of the estate.

The first jet to go down no longer looks like a jet but a piece of warped metal. Snapdragons have to fly close enough to get an accurate drop. Maven won't risk any ammunition. Too much could be deflected back now that Laris and Samos houses are both defending.

Haven, Iral and Lerolan have no advantage in this case. Any assault would have to be ground for them to do any good. All they can do is take cover.

Speaking of which, where the hell is Davidson?

Samos is becoming more offensive with every passing second. I see a firestorm rise in the air, Cal now doing his part.

Not to be out shown I focus on the jets' electric hearts. I wrap my mind around one and switch it off. And then another. A few seconds later I hear the crash of metal and more fire. The air begins to become thick with smoke. I begin to cough in the tainted air.

I move further out into the open and wait. I bring another Snapdragon down. I told Maven to expect me to bring some down. He understood the plan. We have to make this look real.

Another missile hits the front of the Estate, and ruble crashes to the ground. But the blasts are becoming less frequent. Based on what Maven told me, most likely Iris calling back the next wave, deciding not risk any more pilots and jets.

But one more flies over and I reach for its engine, but before I can complete my hold it drops its load. It happens slowly and fast at the same time.

I cut off the engine, the Snapdragon plummets, but the task is done. I watch in horror as the missile, with a blast radius of seventy feet, collides with the ground thirty feet away from me.

ANALYSIS

I decided to do quick ANALYSIS of this chapter. If you caught it, Mare mentions something much more gruesome goes on inside the estate. I will

go into further detail about that in Chapter 29.

Everything else you guys can to figure out on your own.