CHAPTER 27

'No! Mordecai!' Lillith was the first to move, and within moments, she had phased herself to the snipers previous location. Montayva could feel Lilliths anguish before she reached the location, Axton and Maya weren't far behind. As the three reached the red headed siren, they could see she held a blackened body on her lap.

'It's the kid' Lilliths voice broke as she told them. 'I cant see him anywhere' They new she referred to the hunter she had grown up with. One of her first friends.

'The kids dead?' Axton waited for her to confirm, not sure as to why Lillith was still holding him.

'Yep' She let his limp form fall to the ground as she stood. The young sniper would never have the chance to avenge his family.

'But where is Mord?' Maya stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Lilliths upper arm.

'I dont like his chances' Lillith spoke with a stable tone, even though all present knew she was fighting to keep her emotions in check.

'He could be vaporised' Axton winced, glancing at the charred radius of the explosion.

'God-damn' Maya whispered, beginning to come to terms with what actually happened. The remaining troops were waiting down on the iced over harbour still, each not game to discover the horrors for themselves.

'I cant feel anything' Montayva whispered, and they all leaned closer to hear her soft words. 'Only us. He can't... he cant be gone?' She looked toward Lillith, almost questioning how such a thing could be possible. Montayva knew she needed to escape the whirlpool of emotions that where swirling around her. Everyone was grieved in some way or another, and it was assaulting her mind relentlessly.

'I'm sorry kid' Lillith spoke as much to herself as she did to the youngest siren. She placed her arm over the girls shoulders. 'I know you had a, er, connection with him' She sighed heavily, her breath quavering slightly, but she continued. 'Axton, do you think you could bring the kids body. I better go and tell Brick.' She shook her head as she contemplated the big guys reaction.

'Sure' Axton agreed. Maya knelt down beside the formerly youngest member of their crew.

'Guess he lasted longer than we thought he would' She said sadly.

'C'mon babe. Lets get out of this freezing hell hole' Axton urged, bending to scoop up the slinky, charred figure.

'Montayva?' Maya spoke gently to the young girl, who was staring out to sea.

'I just need a minute' Montayva explained.

'Sure. Take your time honey. We'll meet you in Liars Berg'

Montayva wasn't sure how long she had been sitting on the edge of the rocky outcrop for. She was trying to come to terms with the loss. What had she lost exactly Someone she had shared a few embarrassingly awkward moments with? No. She felt as if she had lost something she hadn't even found to start with. It was a terrible sort of pain. And with it she felt guilt and frustration. How could Lillith and Brick be feeling? They had grown up with him, he was one of their oldest friends. She should be the one comforting them. But it still didn't fit right. She just couldn't accept the fact of his death.

Montayva stood, glancing at the sun. The snow on the ledge had melted into her clothing, and she was on the verge of freezing! She glanced out one last time over the harbours destruction zone. The ship had almost sunken fully now, the tip of the stern the only part protruding the frigid water. Bodies floated between ice sheets, their blood a stark contrast to the white snow.
So much death. So much killing. he was accustomed to the remorse now. But these men were merely puppets at the hands of another, greater evil. She pitied them for the poor choices they had made. But that was their choice, just like she had made her own. She chose to come here and join up with the vault hunters. True, that she had never asked to be a siren. But neither had the other two. It was simply a card they had been dealt, and each had decide for themselves how they would play it.

As she turned to leave the bay, a shimmering beam caught her eye. Her head snapped back towards the general direction. It was probably a shard of shrapnel, but she pulled her revolver from its holster anyhow. She peered through the scope, but had lost the object in the snowy drifts. She couldn't leave it. It niggled at her until she finally lept down off the cliff, and landed in the knee deep snow below. As she venture out slowly and carefully in the direction of the elusive object, she noticed more and more shrapnel in the snow. It was from the blast that hit the snipers! Dread filled her heart as she glimpsed the reflective object again, but she surged through the snow with more force. She was close to running when she finally reached the location. She gulped as she glanced down, and bent to sweep the snow aside.

'No!' She cried.