"He knew that the difference between the ones who stood and the ones who fell was that the truly triumphant taught themselves to meet all their fights, regardless of circumstance, in spite of the odds, and in defiance of fear."

Evan Winter, The Fires of Vengeance (This book series is glorious, by the way. Highly recommended.)


Chase

Of everything that could go wrong, Trevor discovering bionics was just icing on the cake, really. Bree set Trevor down as I spread my wings, swooping out of the tree. Being a bird right now was convenient, at least. It was fun to watch Mr. Davenport, Leo, and Adam scramble down the trees while I could fly. I landed on Bree's shoulder, fluffing my feathers as Trevor backed up a few steps. His eyes were huge in the moonlight, watching us. I shifted my weight slightly as Bree rolled her shoulder, cocking my head. "Hey, so – "

"Apollyon!" Soad cut me off with another roar.

He always liked to suck up to me, the coward.

I shut my beak, shivering.

Bree took a step back, clutching her sword as she looked at the sky. "We don't have time for this," she hissed.

Soad is going to win this fight. You can either join him or die with the mortals.

I tucked my wings in close to my body as Adam reached the ground. You kept Bree alive. Who says Soad will kill us?

She was useful to me. I always want free hands, especially when they can handle silver. Soad doesn't need these humans. He might take the Charmer or Summoner, but that isn't guaranteed. The rest are useless, especially your hunting sister.

Okay, that was one of the clever heads. I could almost guess which one, too. She was good at sowing doubt.

Leo yelped and dropped to the ground from a low branch. At least he bent his knees, or we'd have bigger problems. He flopped over backwards immediately, Ysthry landing on his stomach, turning back into herself as she did. Mr. Davenport landed more gracefully right beside him, shaking his head. He offered his hand to help Leo stand up as Yahn landed by Adam's feet. Oly stayed up in the trees, watching us. I didn't blame her for staying out of this. If I didn't have to be in this fight, I would have taken off the second I saw Soad. It felt like messing with him was an excellent way to die.

Trevor dove behind Mr. Davenport before I jumped off Bree's shoulder. I loosened my essence and drew it together again as my usual self before I landed, dusting off my shirt with a wince. God, Bree and I were still injured, too. This was an awful position to be in. Sighing, I focused on Mr. Davenport and Leo, who was finally on his feet. "Take cover. We need him to focus on Adam as much as possible."

Leo glanced at the sky, then back at me. Ysthry crawled at his feet, keeping low to the ground. Mr. Davenport turned to rest an arm around Trevor's shoulders, looking at me. "What about you?"

It was a valid question. Bree had to be close because she had the sword, and Adam would be the distraction. My role was more ambiguous, but it was necessary. The corner of my mouth twitched up as I flicked my ear. "I'm Apollyon." At least, I could talk to him. If Soad wanted to speak with the guy –

You are not worthy of being my spokesman on Earth. How arrogant.

I laid my ears back. I would be the best mouthpiece for Satan! What was he talking about?

My response drew some bewildered looks. Bree was the only one with any idea what I meant, and there wasn't time to explain it to everybody else. Adam just nodded, bending down to pick Yahn up. "Watch these guys, okay?" He offered Yahn to Leo, who took the gargoyle in his arms. Yahn nodded himself, his tail wrapping around Leo's wrist. Ysthry scurried away through the grass, lost in the darkness as she retreated.

Mr. Davenport hesitated, looking between Adam, Bree, and me. He looked like he wanted to protest, to tell us all to run. After a second, he took a deep breath. "Good luck, guys."

We nodded as Apollyon roared, this time loud enough to hurt my ears. I pinned them, cupping my hands over them to block the sound out. It didn't help much, let me tell you. Trevor took one look at us, then pelted for the trees we had just abandoned. Leo swallowed before whispering, "Please come back." Then, he turned to run himself. Mr. Davenport was the last to go, watching the sky as he followed Leo and Trevor. They bolted past the trees, turning into silhouettes in the dark.

Bree blew out a breath, gave Adam and me a tight smile, and vanished in a burst of speed, her sword in hand. I sighed, perking my ears up as I looked at Adam. He reached out to squeeze my shoulder, blowing out a breath. "We'll be okay."

God, I missed that Charmer thing. It felt like stress dropped away like water when Adam spoke. Maybe it was that Charmers were that powerful. Maybe it was that Adam was my older brother, a source of comfort. I didn't know why the effect was so strong. I just knew it worked. "Let me do the talking," Adam said, squeezing my shoulders again.

I barked a laugh. That was something I never thought I'd agree to.

The world shook as the wind faded away. Soad had landed at last, standing a few hundred feet away from us. He snorted, shaking his head as he pulled his massive wings in. I couldn't see all of him, even at this distance. Snorting again, the titan started for Adam and me. I lowered my ears, dropping down on my knees to bow. I could see his tail lashing behind him, the shape of a wicked stinger outlined in moonlight.

If one of us got hit with that, I didn't think it would be venom we had to worry about. We'd just be a stain on the stinger, I bet.

How are you feeling about your plan now?

Adam swallowed, backing up a step as Soad lowered his head. I could see a mane around his neck and head now, composed of long, black spines. They laid down as he looked at us, his head tilted slightly. "I remember you."

I liked him better when he was trapped in Krane. When Soad spoke now, the volume brought tears to my eyes. His breath carried the scent of the ocean on it. Like, dead fish, salt, fresh air, everything. A saltwater guy, it seemed.

"The hybrid and the Charmer, yes?" Soad settled down on his belly, his tail curling around so the stinger rested near his front paws. Jesus, it was way bigger than I was. "You, Half-Breed: I have some branches stuck in the scales between my toes." He looked at Adam. "And you, talk to me for a moment."

Adam rubbed the back of his neck. "Um…do you know what movies are?"

Soad blew air out his nostrils. "I've heard of them before."

Standing up, I ducked between Soad's claws – I could stand on top of Adam's shoulders and still not see over the top of Soad's foot - as Adam continued. "Have you ever seen Mulan?"

I flicked my ears, running my fingers along Soad's dark scales. I honestly felt like I was touching the void. There was some kind of optical illusion to his unnatural coloring, I swear. It made him hard to track with the eye. I caught my palm on the raised edge of a damaged scale, slicing my palm open. Hissing, I shook my hand. God, Bree better hurry up and stab him already. I had better things to do than clean branches out of this guy's scales.

Adam was halfway through explaining the avalanche scene in Mulan when Soad shifted his weight. I yelped, hopping sideways to avoid his toes. Soad snorted, his breath blowing through the grass like a wave. "Enough, Singer."

Adam went quiet, but only for a second. "Do you want to talk about something else?"

"No, we have all the time in the world to talk," Soad assured. I laid my ears back, covering them with my hands again. Why was it that my hearing shut down in a crowd of demons but was totally fine with Soad blowing out my eardrums? Where was the justice in that? "Where is Apollyon?"

I poked my head out between Soad's toes again, watching Adam. He looked around, frowning. "He was just here. I don't know where he went."

Soad curled his lips back. "Find him, then."

Adam backed up again, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "Sure, let me just – "

Soad's head shot straight up as he roared. I let out a roar of my own, clutching my ears as Soad stomped his paws. I had to bolt forward, stumbling to avoid being smashed into the ground. Soad was on his feet now, spinning in a tight circle. His tail took a tree out like it was nothing. Adam waved at me, his eyes wide. It only took a second to make it to him, thankfully. He threw his hands over mine, muffling the sound further as he watched Soad buck. God, why could he still move? Wasn't Bree supposed to stab him in the spine?

How deep do you think his spine is? Did you really think she could get to it with just her sword? It's not long enough to get through scales, skin, and muscle.

Why didn't you tell me that? Now, Bree was up on Soad's back with no backup plan. Honestly, I liked Apollyon better when he convinced me he was just my instinct. At least he helped me then.

Bree's scream tore through the air. My eyes caught a small shape flying from Soad's back, plummeting to the ground like a stone. Adam's hands left mine as he bolted forward, arms outstretched. Soad whipped around, diving towards Adam with his teeth bared.

Ice seized my heart. No, God – Herne, Brighid, anybody listeningno! "Adam!"

Bree landed in Adam's arms, her sword catching the moonlight. Adam let out a yelp, jumping just in time to avoid being cut in half as Soad's teeth closed around them.

Yes!

I couldn't draw in a proper breath as my vision went red, letters flooding my eyes. Commando App: Engaged.


"'I'm not asking you to win. That's not solely in your control,' Aren said. 'I'm asking that you fight to win. Anything less is the acceptance of loss and an admission that you deserve it.'"

Evan Winter, The Rage of Dragons


Adam

Everything went dark the second Soad's teeth closed. Adam set Bree down but didn't let go of her as the world shifted and moved. This was it, wasn't it? They were eaten by a demon, and Adam could do nothing to save himself or his little sister. Christ, what kind of protector was he? He failed so often now, between his parents being kidnapped and his siblings being attacked.

Bree clung to Adam's shirt, letting out a frustrated howl. He felt her kick out. "I didn't survive Satan just to die like this! Spit us out!"

The world shifted again as Soad moved his head. Adam stumbled back into the monster's teeth, sticky saliva coating his back as he did. He hoped getting digested didn't hurt. He hoped Chase ran when Soad ate them. Bree should have given Adam the sword and let him deal with the demon alone. At least then, if they had to blow the thing up like the Arm of Raziel, it would only take Adam.

"Adam, do something!" Bree kicked again, this time hitting Adam's leg. "Don't give up on me!"

There was so much Adam hadn't learned yet, too. Why were pennies so tasty? How did bugs know where he hid his food in the Lab? Was it really possible to die by running around with a candy cane in his mouth and tripping? Who decided he had to drive on the right side of the road? How did cars know when they were running out of gas? Why did -

Wait.

Adam tightened his hold on Bree. "Give me the sword."

Bree stiffened as Soad moved again. "Why?"

"Do it!" Adam ran a hand down her arm until he found her hand with the blade. She hesitated for a second, then let go. "I need a light, too."

Bree sounded confused. "What the hell – "

"Trust me," Adam hissed. "Just use my phone or something."

He felt Bree dig around in his pockets as Adam turned the sword, bracing his back against Soad's hard teeth. Bree's hand withdrew a second later, and her face lit up. Pressing a button on the screen, she turned on the phone's flashlight and aimed it inside Soad's mouth. Adam set his jaw, lifted the sword high, and launched it like a javelin towards the roof of Soad's mouth as hard as he could with a wild cry.


"'Let them think me a monster,' the Dragon Queen thought. 'I will be a monster, if it means we survive.'"

Evan Winter, The Rage of Dragons


Spike

What the hell was that monster?

Spike didn't think he'd seen something so big before. He flexed his fingers, roaring at it before a cough cut him off. God, his ribs were on fire. Where were the big idiot and the zippy girl? He needed backup for this thing. Massive or not, Spike was going to tear those spines off its neck. They would make excellent spears.

That creature isn't your real enemy here.

Spike pinned his ears, narrowing his eyes. It sure seemed like a problem. Even now, it was raising its head with a growl.

No, listen: you need to cut the head off the snake. This isn't the problem. He is just the symptom.

That made as much sense as anything. When Spike killed this thing, he didn't need whoever sent it coming after him. That was just a bad strategy. If the villain wasn't this thing, then who was it?

Turn around.

Spike took a split second to look over his shoulder, not wanting to let the original creature out of his sight. He saw indistinct shadows but nothing else.

Look again. See those people over there?

Spike backed up several steps, his tail lashing. After a second, he looked over his shoulder again, squinting. Among the grass were three shapes huddled together. Were they the ones who did this?

Yes, they are. They called up this creature, and it killed your two friends.

A mental image cropped up: the tall one and the lithe girl. Spike roared. They were dead? Those were his idiots! They needed discipline every once in a while, but they were his. How dare anybody touch them?

This is their fault.

Spike whipped around, charging at the shadows. If he could stop this and avenge his fallen soldiers at the same time, that would be perfect. "I'm going to rip your hearts out and shove them down your throats!"


"He was not the strongest, the quickest, or the most talented, not by any measure. He knew this and knew he could not control this. However, he could control his effort, the work he put in, and there he would not be beaten."

Evan Winter, The Rage of Dragons


Leo

Mr. Davenport scrambled to his feet when the voice of Spike reached them. The bionic in question was charging, his tail lashing. Leo's eyes widened at the sight as Yahn hopped off of Mr. Davenport's shoulder. The imp pushed Trevor, hissing, "Get out of the way, kid."

Leo didn't know what set Spike off this time. Where was Adam to talk him down? Was he protecting Bree from Soad? Leo couldn't see what was going on over there. It was too dark, and Soad seemed to absorb all the remaining moonlight in the area. "Big D – "

Mr. Davenport bent his knees with a wince, raising his fists. "Go with Trevor, Leo."

Oly hopped out of the tree, landing on the ground and pointing at Leo. "Get them, Half-Breed!"

"You aren't seriously going to fight Spike," Leo squeaked. He was pretty sure Spike would tear Mr. Davenport in half, if a fire wasn't involved. He could already see Spike's fingers glowing.

"I don't have a choice." Mr. Davenport swallowed. "Leo, get out of here."

Mr. Davenport sounded way too calm for the situation. Leo sucked air in between his teeth, looking back at Trevor. Yahn had pushed the kid a good twenty feet away already. It wouldn't be enough. Once Spike was done with Mr. Davenport –

Ysthry ducked behind Leo's legs. "Control your djinni!"

Holy shit, that was right! Leo had Chase's will!

Leo stepped forward, raising his hands. Mr. Davenport reached out, his hand landing on Leo's shoulder. "Leo – "

"Stop!" Leo interrupted.

Spike seemed to freeze in place not ten feet away, snarling. "I'm going to shove my foot so far up your ass, you'll have athlete's foot in your mouth!"

Ysthry never felt like this. Leo could almost feel Spike tugging at the order, wanting to move. Leo's arms started to shake, but he couldn't let go. He had no doubt Spike was angrier now than before. "Don't hurt me, Mr. Davenport, or Trevor. No setting fires, no shooting magic, no tearing people to pieces. You're not allowed to hurt us."

Spike's face twisted in pain. He flexed his fingers, roaring at Leo. It was getting harder to bend Spike to his will. It was almost like Leo was being dragged under the ocean by a current, no matter how hard he struggled.

Mr. Davenport squeezed Leo's shoulder but didn't say anything. Beads of sweat rolled down Leo's face as he stood, staring Spike down. Leo didn't like to think back to his lessons with Summoner Hall, but they were proving useful right now. If Leo remembered right, he had to want this more than Spike did, and Leo thought he had that down. Leo – possibly Mr. Davenport and Trevor, too – would die if he lost this fight.

"Lay down," Leo managed to say between his teeth. "Lay flat on your stomach."

Spike roared again, sinking down to his knees. "I'm going to use your ribs to make boomerangs!"

A wave of vertigo hit Leo even as Spike shifted to lay on his belly. Oly scurried towards the djinni as Leo raised his chin. "Don't get up until I say you can."

Spike's tail lashed against the ground, but he didn't get up. Oly stopped close to Spike but out of his reach. She was speaking, undoubtedly urging Spike on. Leo swallowed, forcing himself to take a deep breath. The world seemed to spin now. What would happen when Spike could get up? If Leo couldn't hold him, there was no telling how angry Spike would be.

Spike lowered his head with a growl, his chin resting on his forearms.

The force pulling at Leo stopped. Leo let out a shuddering breath, his legs giving out under him. He collapsed into Mr. Davenport's arms, both men tumbling to the ground. Leo sat heavily, leaning hard on Mr. Davenport and rubbing his eyes. Mr. Davenport rubbed his back, speaking quietly. "Breathe in through your nose and out of your mouth."

Leo kept his eyes closed, shaking like a leaf as he followed Mr. Davenport's advice. He couldn't believe it. Spike, of all people, just submitted to him. Spike let out another threat, but it was grumbled this time. Leo couldn't make out the words. Something about twisting heads off, maybe? He couldn't be sure. Spike seemed to be calming down now.

A roar sounded, one far louder than Spike's. Leo snapped his eyes open, wincing. The world wasn't spinning quite as much, but he still didn't feel good. In the distance, Soad's head shot straight up into the air. His roar cut off halfway through the sound. The titan took one step forward, then crashed to the ground. Mr. Davenport sucked in a breath, stiffening at the sight as Ysthry crawled into Leo's lap. She lifted her head up high, watching the scene. "I don't believe it."

Smoke seemed to rise off Soad's body, darker than any fire. It vanished in seconds, his body dissolving into the atmosphere. Leo couldn't stop staring at the monster. Soad was dead. Soad was dead. His essence faded away, the beast shrinking until all that was left were the shadows of Adam and Bree hugging. From midair, a sword fell to the ground with a dull clang as it hit the road.

Leo felt another tug on his will as Spike tried to get up. He was dragged down into unconsciousness as his strength failed him at last.