Chapter 31

"Absolutely not. Out of the question." Dyson said. He stood up and turned his back on the group.

"Dyson, the only way we get to Aros is if we have Kenzi."

"The only way Leila comes out of Kenzi is if Kenzi dies. Aros doesn't care about Kenzi or any of us. He wants Leila, that's all that matters to him. If we take Kenzi to him, he kills her and the rest of us. So no, we're not taking her to him on a silver platter."

"That's not what we're proposing Dyson. We need to talk to Leila again. If we can figure out a way to get Aros to show us Leila's remains and then get Leila to jump into her old body before Kenzi's body gives in then get the hell out of there before Aros figures it out."

"But we don't know for sure if Leila can do it, we can research and read as much as we want, but what's to say she actually performs when we're in front of Aros? Then we're sitting ducks."

"How are your connections panning out Trick?" Bo asked. Trick shrugged and looked at his granddaughter.

"I've made a lot of calls and those connections branch out to more connections. It's almost never ending, but I've put the word out there so now I'm just hoping someone comes back with something." He said. Bo looked at him for a moment.

"I stressed the importance of privacy and very quick responses." He continued. Trick's phone rang and he stepped out to take the call.

"I've been reading this book about the old wars. I'm hoping it'll lead to something." Bo said. The sliding glass doors opened and Lauren came into the room.

"How is she?" Dyson asked quickly. Lauren sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I don't know what's going on. I've done every blood lab I could do, I've ran all the test, and nothing is coming back. Her ribs are pulling in and her lungs aren't able to expand completely causing them to bruise each time she breathes, which is why the blood is coming up when she coughs." Lauren shook her head and crossed her arms.

"I don't know what to do." She said softly.

"Can we talk to her?" Bo asked.

"Yeah, she's back in her room." They all left and headed down the hall. Kenzi was sitting up in her bed rubbing her side when they walked in.

"Hey." She smiled when she saw her friends.

"How are you feeling?" Bo asked.

"Like I need a power nap." Kenzi chuckled. Dyson sat down on the bed next to her and Kenzi automatically reached out to him. He took her hand and held it. Everyone in the room seemed to notice, but no one commented on it.

"Any developments?" Kenzi asked. No one really wanted to comment on that either. Before Kenzi could push them further, Trick walked in. He looked frustrated, like he'd just spent his phone conversation dealing with an issue.

"Something going on?" Dyson asked. He recognized the face Trick was making and it wasn't a good one.

"The home of the Jinx's burned down with them inside. No one survived." He said. Dyson's eyes widened, what the hell? He looked to Tamsin and Hale who had just been at their home.

"Everything was fine when we left." Tamsin shrugged. Dyson looked at Hale and he knew Tamsin was lying. They did it, they burned down the house. Dyson wanted to address it with Hale, but right now he couldn't bring himself to care about what had happened.

"Sometimes bad things happen to bad people." Lauren shrugged. She was right, the Jinx's weren't a good type of Fae. Oh well, they'd handle it later. Dyson opened his mouth to speak but was struck silent by the red light that started to flash rapidly above the sliding glass door on Kenzi's room. A siren accompanied it quickly, but it wasn't just her room, it was the whole lower level. Dyson jumped to his feet and stepped in between the door and Kenzi, instantly shielding her from harm.

"Attention patients, staff, and friends, there's been a security breach. Staff please assist patients and family to the safe room as quickly as possible." The intercom repeated itself once more but their group was already moving.

"Help me, quickly." Lauren waved Bo over and they quickly unscrewed to drips from the IV ports in Kenzi's arm and hand. They dropped the drips to the ground, not caring about making a mess. Tamsin gently removed the heart monitors and the blood pressure cuff.

"I don't know where it is, but we'll follow another staff member." Lauren said.

"Hale, get Kenzi." Dyson said. He would've carried her himself, but he knew that he was a better fighter than Hale and if they had to fight their way to the room, Dyson wanted to be in front where he could protect Kenzi. Hale nodded quickly and lifted Kenzi into his arms. She held onto him as they ran from the room. Dyson's heart was pounding hard, he just knew these people were after them. The hallway was chaos, people running around, staff members unhooking patients from IVs, nurses pushing gurney's down the hallway toward the double doors. Dyson followed, making sure Hale and Kenzi were in front of him.

"There's one of these rooms built on each floor. Completely impenetrable by any Fae powers, as well as bombs, fire, bullets, and storms. Even you won't be able to use your powers in it. It's got supplies that would last a full medical ward for up to three weeks as well as food and water for family members and staff. If I could just find it." The nurse said as people followed behind her. She ran her hands along the walls, looking for an answer to her question, where was the room? Apparently they'd never had to use it. As she scrambled to find it, the halls went black. The only light source was from the blinking red lights still alerting them. The nurse frantically searched in the dark, her breathing increased and everyone started to panic. A shriek broke through the silence and the red flashing illuminated what Dyson already smelled, goblins, tons of them, flooding the hallways. Dyson heard the familiar sounds of death, screams and cries, he smelled blood as well.

"Find the goddamn room now!" he shouted when someone went flying into the nurse's desk.

"Hale get behind us." Bo said quickly. The goblins descended on them. The next few seconds passed by in slow motion. Trick was flung to the side. Tamsin went toe to toe with one while two more grabbed Bo, she fought back, as hard as she could, swinging and punching. Dyson ducked a punch but took a knife to the stomach. Goblins were not fair fighters and he should've expected it. He growled and swung, knocking one of the goblins away, but the other kicked him hard in his jaw, which left him sprawling on the floor. Three swift kicks to his ribs left him gasping for breath, their blade tipped boots piercing his skin over and over. But still he fought, shoving himself upward, two more kicks, his ribs cracked, and he bled more. A heel landed against his forearm and the deafening sound of bone breaking roared through him. He rolled over onto his back when he heard Kenzi's screams and the sounds of her struggles. His vision was blurred by pain but he forced himself to stand, grasping at the wall for help.

"Dyson!" she screamed for him and he watched her reach for him as the goblins marched away, down the hallway. He leapt, trying to reach her, but fell hard against the floor. He reached out, trying to pull her back to him. His hand grasped air only and his vision faded into black.