Chapter 22

My mind raced as I thought about my next move. "I repeat, do not engage," Garrison ordered. "If there's no other option, do not use your powers. We can't have them identifying you."

I begrudgingly agreed, remembering Edwards's awe at my rather unique psychosenses. Also Hodge warned me on several occasions about how wizards could identify and track other magic users based on the auras surrounding the spells they casted. It was his friendly little warning to not got around slinging spells all willy nilly.

Look how that turned out.

I watched Paulina as she scanned the rows looking for the correct safe. I sensed her attention focus on the row I found the drive. As she walked towards the box I knew was empty, I took a chance to move quickly towards the doorway. Out of the corner of my eye I watched her pivot from the still open safe towards the figure sneaking out the door. "You!" she shouted angrily.

Uh-oh. I leapt over the fallen door and sprinted left in an attempt to retrace my steps. I saw the turn up ahead, but Paulina followed after, gathering energy. I kept myself from psychically disrupting the spell, and she unleashed a torrent of wind with a single command.

I might have avoided it had I disrupted her concentration, but without it I had no chance. For a long moment I became airborne, reaching the end of the hallway much faster than I was comfortable with. I landed with an oomph on the ground and bounced into the outside window, crashing through it. Not reinforced glass. I managed to grip the edge with two desperate hands. I risked and glance below and was rewarded with the sight of a twelve story drop. The wind whistled in my ears and the sound of traffic blared underneath. I gasped and sensed Paulina approaching. Farther away more vampires approached as well.

I didn't bother trying to climb back up. Paulina would just blast me off again, and next time I would have a much harder landing. Instead I let go with one hand and balled it into a fist before punching into the glass of the lower floor.

"Give me the key, and I may let you live vermin!" Paulina called angrily, her voice barely audible over the wind.

The window cracked. I punched again with more strength and motivation. My hand went through, making a small hole. I pulled my arm out and grabbed the edge with both hands before using my core to lift both legs up and kick out. A larger portion of the window broke. I repeated the motion with Paulina nearly on top of me, but this time I used my arms to help my body swing back.

I sensed Paulina gather energy for a quick spell just s my legs crossed over the broken glass. I let go to allow the rest of my body to follow.

I landed in a roll and sprang to my feet. Relief at surviving the encounter washed through me. "Haha!" I laughed triumphantly. "How about them apples-"

Three figures interrupted my cheer as they rounded the corner on the opposite side of the hallway about a hundred yards away. Oh c'mon.

They each drew something from their jackets, and I managed to sprint down a corridor on my right, avoiding bullets that whistled as they whipped by. I ran to the stairwell, bursting through the door. I leaped over the railing and landed half a floor lower. I then launched myself back across and landed by a door labeled ten.

I groaned and repeated the process three more times before my heavy breathing made me reconsider, and I just decided to jog down the steps as quickly as possible. I passed the fourth floor when the doors swung open above me, and I heard the screeching of vampires. Their focus intent on me.

I picked up the pace as I moved down the stairs, "Garrison I'm just passing the third floor, please tell me Erica and Ms. Parker made it to the first floor."

"They're holed up above a utility closet waiting for you."

"Well tell them to get ready," I puffed. Floor two. "Because it's going to be a fast exit."

"Affirmative. I will guide you to their position. Agents Ridger and Chalser are outside waiting for extraction."

"Alright sir, start guiding," I commented as I threw open the door. I kept my mind alert as the buzzing minds of angry vampires closed in on me and the exits.

"Go left," Garrison ordered.

I ran.

"Take the second right."

I felt two vampires coming around the corner and drew in power for a spell. I paused, lining up a shot just as they sprang out. I aimed for the leg of the first vampire, "Éle!"

The beam shot and pierced through the vampire's leg, causing it to fall in screaming agony. The second sped forward, and within a blink of an eye closed the distance. One of its hands wrapped around my throat, and she extended her arm up, lifting me off the ground.

My body struggled from the abrupt loss of oxygen. "Yes, squirm," the vampire cooed, her eyes gleaming, "Know my eyes will be the last you see while you're still sane."

My vision tunneled, and I began losing all sensation and perception except for the burning desire to breathe. I sent a mental onslaught using all my desperation while using my hands to clap the vampire's ears and used my thumbs to gouge deep into her eyes.

The vampire panicked, turning and throwing me down the hallway as she used her hands to protect her face.

I slid for a second before rolling to my feet. I saw the hallway Garrison mentioned and took advantage of the situation by sprinting down it.

My vision returned and I sensed Erica's familiar mind just as Garrison messaged, "They're near your position. Fourth door on the right."

I knocked rapidly three times before opening the door, "Hey guys, time to go-" I stopped briefly as the barrel of the bodyguard's gun pointed threatened to poke my nose. "Hi to you too," I commented.

The man grunted and Erica stepped around him, nodded at me, and exited the closet. Ms. Parker also stepped around her bodyguard, "Do you have it?" she asked anxiously.

"Yes, and it's time to go." I told her, turning to leave. "So let's go."

"Give it to me," she said.

I stopped and turned back, "We don't have time for this," I growled frustrated.

"I dedicated my life to the development of projects such as this," Ms. Parker insisted, "so I will be the one to deliver it to the correct officials."

I heard audible screeches of vampires behind us and I wanted nothing more than to get the heck out of here, "Fine," I spat, digging into my pocket and producing the software key."

"Bad idea," Erica muttered, causing me to glance at her while Ms. Parker glared. Erica kept her body loose, but inside I sensed her mind racing.

I placed the key into Ms. Parker's outstretched hand. She took it and nodded. An echoing boom caused vibrations through the floor followed by a chorus of screams. Apparently, Paulina wasn't far behind either. "What the hell is going on back there?" The bodyguard growled.

"Let's not wait around to find out," Erica suggested.

"Agreed," Ms. Parker nodded. "Lead on."

"Thank you," I managed exasperated.

We ran towards the entrance of the building. "Garrison, is there a clear path outside the front entrance?"

"Yes, Ridger and Chalser have prepared your escape route," Garrison confirmed.

The vampires chorus of howls came much closer, and I glanced behind to see six vampires rounding the corner and gaining on us with every step. The front doors were in sight, but with a sinking feeling I knew the vampires would catch us. The vampires needed to be slowed down, but I ran in front, which meant any attack, psychic or otherwise, could very well hit one of my allies.

Muffled gunfire erupted behind us, and I sensed Ms. Parker and her bodyguard jolt in surprise and pain. I whirled around with Erica to see them both falling to the ground. Ms. Parker's leg bled from a bullet wound in her calf. Her bodyguard wasn't as fortunate. Both his shoulder and leg oozed with blood.

"Get her out of here!" I screamed at Erica. I swallowed my fear and leapt over their fallen bodies. I didn't hear the shouts of either Erica or Garrison as I gathered energy and roared, "Lepsilë!"

The tendril shot forward, hitting the first two vampires back as the rest dodged to the side. I slammed the spell to the right, crunching two more vampires and knocking their weapons away as the last two advanced. I concentrated and swung the spell to the left, slamming the final two vampires, but the other four were almost back on their feet already. I swung the spell back, an audible crunch resounding down the hall. I tried to do the same with the other two vampires, but one ducked the spell while the other leapt over. They rushed towards me as the mental exhaustion set in and I released the spell. The two vampires almost reached me when three loud cracks behind me. One of the vampires jerked back as its forehead exploded from a bullet. The other let out a howl of rage and threw its shoulder into me, sending me sprawling back.

As I tumbled, I heard another crack from a rifle. I scrambled to my feet to see the bodyguard, using one arm to brace against his good shoulder. He screamed as he fired, one part fear, one part pain, and another part defiance. My head felt woozy as I stumbled up to him even as he fired at the few remaining vampires.

I crouched near him, "Give me your arm!" I shouted over the noise and slipped myself under him.

He cried in pain, "Leave me! Make sure Ms. Parker is safe!"

"Just shut up and help me!" I retorted angrily. I glanced back to see Erica help Ms. Parker to the door. Ms. Parker looked back, worried for her companion.

I heaved and he winced in pain, "Yaarg!" he opened his eyes and resumed firing. As a new swarm of vampires rounded he bellowed, "Leave me! Get her our of here! I'm not the priori-"

Another burst of muffled gunfire and the man's head suddenly exploded as bullets pierced his skull. I froze in shock at the man who died in my arms. Air caught in my throat as his psychic presence instantly vanished. His body went limp, and the unsupported weight threatened to pull me to the ground. I tried to comprehend what happened, but I only stood stunned.

You failed him. You will fail others as well.

A scream from Ms. Parker snapped me back to the present. I realized I now held a corpse, and a fresh one at that. Fear and revulsion caused me to instinctually drop the body. I didn't wait for it to completely fall.

I was already running.

Ms. Parker continued to protest, something about not leaving him behind. Erica continued pulling her forward

I gained on them both even as the vampires gained on me. I concentrated on attacking the minds of the vampires, slowing my pace, but I also slowed theirs. Erica and Paulina made it a few steps past the open doors when I sensed another human mind notice Erica carrying Ms. Parker. In a flash it registered Ms. Parker's distress and registered the figure I knew to be Erica as a threat.

More bullets struck my back, causing me to stumble over the threshold, "On your left!" I called out.

Erica glanced back uncertainly, and then around, looking for any hostile. She couldn't see Paulina's form until it shimmered into sight, already releasing the gathered energy for her spell.

The ground beneath Erica and Ms. Parker shifted rapidly. In mere moments a rough section of earth underneath them pivoted with Ms. Parker near the base and Erica towards its middle. About eight feet long, three feet wide, and three feet deep, the force caused Ms. Parker to merely tumble painfully to the ground while launching Erica. With a second spell, Paulina caused a three-foot ridge to spring alongside Ms. Parker, catching the first block before it hit her.

It wouldn't do the same for Erica.

Erica hit the concrete and tumbled, turning the momentum into a roll before the section of concrete and earth slammed mere inches from her. She finished the movement by springing to her feet, drawing a smoke grenade.

I continued through the doors and saw Paulina's side profile, the wizard's gaze fixed on Erica. I ran at Paulina, refraining from using any supernatural abilities, and attempted to take her down while her attention was diverted. I reached out to grab her, but she heard my approach and shouted a spell. I felt a few fingers pop uncomfortably from their impact with an intangible shield.

The sound of a metal clunk coincided with my failed maneuver. I side-stepped around Paulina to stand in the smoke emitting form Erica's smoke grenade. I heard Erica mutter, "There's a Warden here Garrison, and she's not happy. Should we just grab Ms. Parker and run?"

"Negative," Garrison responded into both our earpieces. "She could destroy the extraction vehicle. You need to deal with her quickly. One of you distract so the other can take her out."

The smoke quickly spread, clouding the area and filling our vision. Just before I lost sight of Paulina, I felt the wizard gather more energy and yelling. The ground rumbled once more and blocked the entrance to the building with a wall of stone.

She meant to cut off reinforcements. I guess that could work in our favor. "Throw another smoke grenade and keep her busy," I told Erica.

Erica hesitated only for a second before throwing another canister, making it near impossible to see through the fog. I used my psychosenses and ignored the relatively distant vampires to focus solely on Paulina. I didn't dare try to assault her mind, or even try to influence her emotions, instead only using her mind as a marker for her position. The threat of the uneven ground kept me from moving quickly, and I gritted my teeth in frustration. It had to be done though, otherwise I could sprain my ankle, or far worse.

As I moved, I heard Erica call out, "Hey Warden, it must be embarrassing to be losing to a muggle. Gotta keep up, you stuck up bi-"

Before Erica could finish her taunt, Paulina roared another spell, releasing a torrent of wind that cut through the smoke and revealed Erica. Erica dropped to the ground dropped to the ground to duck the blast. Paulina prepared a finishing spell. As her lips began to form the words, I sensed her realize her mistake.

I stepped out of the fog behind her, using my right arm to strike her extended hand. The unexpected blow disarmed her, and the wand clattered against the pavement. I then wrapped my arm around her throat and cut off her air supply. I used my left arm as a brace for the other, while my fingers covered her eyes. Simultaneously I kicked hard against the back of her knee, causing her weight to fall against my body and make the choke hold all the more effective.

Paulina gasped in surprise, but no sound escaped her lips. She struggled blindly, her arms clawing desperately at my face. Her nails glanced off the plastic of my goggles. She then gripped my arm in an attempt to break free, but I held fast. Even as I choked her, I sensed the vampires now rounding the side of the building.

"Get Ms. Parker out of here!" I shouted towards Erica, the grenades continuing to create a covering of smoke.

I felt the presence of Paulina's mind dull as she slipped into unconsciousness. Not fast enough in my opinion. One vampire called, "I smell her blood! This way!" I sensed four minds moving quickly though the smoke.

With Paulina now incapacitated, I laid her down, and the smoke instantly swallowed her. I didn't like the idea of leaving her here with all these vampires around, but I couldn't carry her, it'd probably be safer than taking her with me anyway. After becoming resolved with my decision, I ran to catch up with the vampires.

Not gonna lie. Never thought I would ever say that sentence.

I ran quickly, not able to see two feet in front of me. My foot hit something hard, causing me to trip. I fell on my stomach and skidded on the ground a short distance before finding myself on the fringes of the smokescreen. I lifted my head and saw a tall male vampire holding Erica by the throat. Erica's pistol laid on the side, smashed to pieces. The long black coat of the vampire billowed in a slight breeze. Three flunkies flanked the leader.

Their four heads turned as I slid unceremoniously a few more inches towards them. "Why hello there," Richard Stone greeted me calmly, Erica still struggling in his grasp. He flicked his hand and sent the girl flying onto the hood of a van roughly fifteen feet behind him. Her body cracked the ice covering the hood and windshield. "Kill him," he ordered, striding towards Ms. Parker.

I sent a wave of psychic energy towards the vampires, causing them to recoil in surprise as I gathered energy for a spell. I lifted my arm off the ground towards the nearest grunt and shouted, "Lepsilë!"

The spell wrapped around the ankle of the grunt, and I strained to whip him first into the vampire on the right, and then flung him onto the grunt on the left before the spell dissipated.

I struggled to my feet as the drain of the spell hit me. As I began to stand, Richard produced a large handgun and shot my chest two times.

This gun didn't have a silencer, resulting in two echoing cracks as it fired, the force of the impact knocked me on my back. The suit kept the bullets from piercing, but I still lay stunned and struggled to breathe.

I tried to continue my psychic assault, but my concentration faltered, and I only managed a small whine as I gasped for air. The vampires looked merely annoyed by my attempts.

But that was ok. Just as long as I could keep their attention on me a little longer.

"What should we do with him?" One grunt hissed.

"Take him," Richard said coolly, smugness evident in his voice, "He may prove useful."

After a few gulps I redoubled my efforts, this time causing two of the grunts to raise their hands to their ears, "Gah!" one hissed, "He'll be easier to move when he's unconscious."

As he stepped towards me, all four heads swiveled to the side, and the three grunts struggled to scramble out of the way of the speeding van hurling towards them. Richard merely stepped back to avoid it, while the vampire approaching me sprang in my direction and landed about ten feet to my side. The other two weren't so lucky. One moment they stood in front of me, and the next they weren't, their bodies thrown by the impact. The van pivoted, its tires screeching as it spun so the rear faced me. The rear doors opened, and I saw the masked figure I knew to be Jessica wielding her wooden staff, the crystal and outlines of its runes glowing purple. Jessica shouted an incantation that hit the grunt next to me with a blast of water. As he hit the ground the water froze on contact, encasing his body in an icy prison.

I tried to shout a word of encouragement, but it came out as a haggard wheeze.

Jessica glanced at me. Worry and fear surged through her quickly replaced by fury as she called upon her magic while rushing towards Richard who still held Ms. Parker captive.

Jessica extended her staff as she ran, casting a spell covering a wide area of around in ice while simultaneously freezing everything to it. Richard dodged most of the spell by diving behind the frost covered car but let go of Ms. Parker in the process. Ms. Parker's feet became encased in ice, and the woman cried out as she fell to the ground awkwardly without the vampire's support.

I managed to start breathing with some consistency and grunted and rolled over before pushing myself to my feet, "O-over the car," I warned.

Jessica lingered on me for a second before she processed it. Then a black blur leapt over the car. Jessica dove forward as the vampire passed inches above her. He landed on his feet and rolled to the side, avoiding a series of ice shards shot from Jessica's staff. The ice shattered against the surrounding vehicles, causing metal to screech in protest.

Richard dashed in close while Jessica stood her ground, her back to a frost-covered hood. Jessica raised her staff with both hands to parry the vampire's claws, but the strike was a feint. He kicked out with his leg, hitting her fully in the stomach and sending her into the windshield. I watched him raise his pistol in an executioners stance and I released the energy I prepared for my spell, "Éle!"

The concentrated beam engulfed Richard's right hand, and he let out an ear-piercing scream. The next moment his hand was gone, and I mean gone, leaving him with a stump cut off at his right wrist. Jessica pushed herself out of the windshield and used both hands to swing her staff at his kneecap. The blow connected with a crunching sound and brought Richard to one knee. Jessica quickly brought the staff back towards his jaw, making his head twist sharply to the side. Before she could deal another blow, Richard raised his left hand and caught the staff in mid-swing. He glared and howled with rage as he hefted the staff with Jessica still attached over his head and slammed both onto the ground behind him.

I sensed Jessica's presence dim instantly as she lost consciousness, and the world stopped for a second as I saw one of the few real friends I had left become crushed by a vampire. The same vampire that put Nikolai into the hospital.

There are a few moments in a lifetime when passion washes over all reason. When self-preservation is placed on hold because there's a score to settle.

This was one of those times.

I conjured the remaining strength I had into a spell, snarling with hatred, "Lepsilë!" The spell reached out and wrapped itself around the vampire's leg. I used my will to throw him into another frost-covered car nearby. I heard the loud whump and breaking glass before continuing, despite my waning concentration. I took another step forward and lifted the vampire back into the air before whipping him into the opposite, already busted, vehicle.

In the distance I heard a small chink and the sound of a shotgun firing. My vision tunneled, but I wasn't finished. Not with this guy. I kept feeding the spell my strength as I commanded it once more to rise over my head and behind me, making a crunching sound as he hit pavement. My vision continued to darken. I tried to push past it and bring the vampire down in hard in front of me, but my control of the spell vanished. Instead of slamming hard into the ground, Richard was flung forward.

The vampire landed gracefully despite one leg being mangled and spots of blood soaked through his coat. We both noticed Erica carrying Ms. Parker towards the back of the van. Erica must have chiseled Ms. Parker's feet out of the ice during our struggle. Again I heard the fire of a shotgun, much farther away than last time, which was weird because I saw David shooting out the window of the van maybe twenty feet away. His shot brought down one of the vampire grunts.

He said something, but I couldn't understand it. I watched Richard begin moving towards Erica and took a step forward. My foot found the ground before I expected it, and I stumbled to the ground feeling nothing except lethargy. I could only watch as Richard used the strength of his one leg to leap at Erica and Ms. Parker.

Erica brought up her knife in a defensive slash, but Richard continued forward, and I saw all three fall behind one of the busted cars.

Something in my mind screamed at me to help. Or at least get up. But the rest was sore…tired…drained….

Distantly I heard breaking bone and a woman cry out. I opened my eyes, and the voice encouraging me grew a little louder. I grunted as I moved my outstretched arm underneath me. I felt pins and needles as I struggled to get a foot underneath me and stand. My body shook as I slowly rose, and I saw Richard moving rather quickly for someone with one usable leg. He hopped awkwardly in bursts of energy and leapt into the cloud of smoke. I wanted to end this, to end him, but my impulse to chase became overshadowed as my sense of danger grew.

"Decter, we need to get moving. Now!" I heard Erica shout. Relief passed through me. She was alive. I could only manage to walk where Jessica laid still. I strained my senses to picked up the presence of her mind and released a breath I didn't know I held. I bent down slowly and pulled her arm over my shoulder while wrapping my arm behind her back. I stood up, hugging her with my one arm and keeping her close. I moved towards the van, Jessica's feet dragging on the ground.

Erica had opened the doors and placed Ms. Parker inside, "Decter," she called, "What's the holdup-" She noticed me carrying Jessica and almost instantly seemed to be at my opposite side relieving some of the weight. Together we got to the van. Erica shut the doors behind us after we piled in. "Punch it!" Erica shouted.

The van lurched, and I fumbled with my seatbelt until I heard a click. Erica called something out to David, but her voice sounded distorted. My body reminded me of its exhaustion and the van seemed to tilt on its side as my vision blackened and I succumbed to the darkness.