"Brin," I stated, not sure what else to say.
"I'm surprised you remembered."
"Why are you here?" I asked, lowering my voice a decibel.
"Think, Zack, think." She was wearing a long trench coat, covering up her clothing. But, even I, who had the least amount of fashion sense as anybody, could see that black military boots don't match a brown trench coat. Her black, shiny hair was pulled back tightly into a bun.
I didn't answer her, but shook my head slightly, indicating that I wanted her to answer.
She smiled slightly, a witch's smile. "You really are rather pathetic. A pity. A captain dropping below that of his soldiers." Brin shook her head almost as if she was sorry. "I thought you were better than that."
"Why are you here?" I repeated quietly, trying not to draw too much attention, especially if Carly was watching us. She couldn't be drawn into my problems.
"You," Brin answered.
"Lydecker's here then?" I asked her.
"Not here, but he's around, yes."
"So, you guys have been following me-is that it? Waiting for the perfect moment to decide and bring me back? Forget it, I'll never go back to Manticore. I'd rather die."
"Manticore isn't the enemy."
"No? Well, you and Lydecker definitely are." I stepped closer to her, glaring down at her. "Get away and out of my life," I hissed.
She stared up at me, her eyes betraying nothing. They had trained her better than I would've hoped. "Don't push me," she warned. "You know, I could snap your neck right now and nobody would even look up as your body fell to the ground, big brother. You'd just be another drunk in this miserable world."
I backed away, ready to run and get out of this situation before things got out of control. That's when I saw her pull out a two-way, and I no longer cared what anybody else saw or did think. I had to protect myself now.
In a flash, I knocked the beeping device to the ground, and crushed it under my foot, grinding the plastic and glass into the wooden floor. Before I knew what was happening, Brin delivered a sharp upper-cut to my chin. I swayed, but not for long. She had me on training, but I had strength, and I wasn't going down without a fight.
My fist shot out and blood erupted from her nose, then I delivered a sharp blow to her leg, pushing her away slightly. But, Brin wasn't about to be outdone. She came towards me, dancing like a boxer in a ring, delivering sharp jabs to my body, and then with a high kick, slammed me in the shoulder. I fell backwards, landing on an abandoned table, as half-full beer bottles clattered to the floor and smashed, spilling their contents everywhere. A piece of glass jabbed me in the back as I landed on a glass beer bottle and broke it, but I tried not to notice.
By this time, the entire bar was looking at us. I didn't, I couldn't, care.
Brin flew up, standing above, her feet on either side of my body, as she grabbed me by the shirt collar, ready to punch me in the temple, and ending it all. But, that wouldn't happen. Doing a backwards somersault, I ended up pushing her to the ground, while I tumbled down in a heap not far from her. Not getting up from my position, I grabbed her legs and gave a heavy kick to one of them. If it didn't break a bone, she certainly would have a bruise.
Slowly, I stood up, glaring down at the bleeding monster. "Get out of my life," I told her.
"No, Zack, that's where you're wrong," she said to me, trying so hard not to wince as a crooked smile formed on her face. "Manticore will always be a part of your life."
I turned away from her and began to run out of the bar. Carly, waiting by the door, grabbed my arm and stared at me, wide-eyed and questioning. Without a second thought, I pulled her along with me, and we hurried away into the night.
Unfortunately, I knew the nightmares were far from over. The demons had just landed and now they were going to start the war.