Chapter 164

Chapter 164

Its impossible to account for every variable. No matter how methodical your planning, well-thought your reasoning, youll always leave something out. The best plans always account for something to go wrong, expect proceedings to go off-course, and leave ample windows to adjust on the fly. Or at least, that was what I thought.

How the hell was I supposed to account for this?

Chrome-mask was more force of nature than sole combatant. He flew through the wrecked door, so quickly it looked as if he might smash into the adjacent wall, only to land on it, feet first. With a graceless swipe, he hurled three glinting flashes of metal directly towards my face.

Waller stepped in front of me protectively. He raised a protective arm too late. A cry of pain followedone small blades lodging in his arm, the other two landing in his cheek and just beneath his eye. They dug in less than a half-inch, but given the location it must have hurt like hell.

Waller! Hawkins cried out, bringing her service weapon up to her eye. Before she even lined up a shot, Chrome-mask was moving again.

Time slowed down as Chrome-mask dove off the wall in a trajectory that was almost a straight-line, directly at us. Hawkins fired a shot that missed Chrome-mask and shattered the window at the end of the hallway, while Foster finally stirred from his momentary paralysis and swiped out with the butt of his pistol.

Chrome-mask twisted in the air to avoid the blow, and something glinted in his hand.

Immediately, I realized what he was trying to do.

I wasnt certain how his power worked yet, exactly, but seemed to take some setup. A certain number of those thin, needle-like blades in the target before he could use his crimson magic to obliterate the center-point, as he had the Users in the cathedral.

With milliseconds to spare, I dead-legged Waller with a swift kick at the back of his knee, trying to stop Chrome-mask from completing the circuit.

No longer blocked by Waller, Chrome-mask crashed into me with both feet. He was smaller than me and weighed significantly less, but the drop-kick still sent me skidding a small distance down the hallway. I watched helplessly as Chrome-mask scrambled towards the fallen agent, planting the final knife into Wallers forehead.

Thenalmost casuallypunched through his face, bathing the surrounding hallway in red.

No! Foster screamed.

But Sae was faster. Maybe faster than all of us. She grabbed Chrome-masks head in one clawed hand and picked him up, slamming him repeatedly into a metal doorframe. The top left section of his mask came off, revealing a section of brown hair and a vicious green eye.

Ellison.

My heart sank. On some level, Id known since the transposition. But Id hoped more than anything that I had missed something. That Id been wrong.

The brother that Id loved since the day he was born snarled in a voice I couldnt recognize as he grabbed Saes wrist with both hands. He peeled her chitin thumb back, slipping out of the vice grip and pretzeling one leg around her arm for leverage, kicking at her face with the other.

There was a gunshot, and Ellisons head snapped back. He plummeted to the ground and landed motionless. Hawkins and Foster advanced on him.

Talia stood over Ellison, growling.

I moved quickly, straddling Ellisons torso and wrapping my hands around the lightweight material that covered his neck lightly. The bullet from Hawkins handgun was flattened in the top portion of his mask.

What are you doing? I whispered, furious.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Azure climb through the shattered window at the end of the hall.

Hawkins, Foster, and Sae made their way out onto the balcony overhang. Sae hoisted Cook up the ladder and then dropped back down. When she extended a hand to Hawkins, Hawkins ignored it and pulled herself up. She froze and pointed out towards the distance, her voice barely audible over the noise. Bogeyis thatMyrddins backup is running!

Sure enough, I saw a paragliding silhouette approximately the size of my brother making solid time towards the moonlit horizon

My blood dripped freely, staining the plush carpet. I stared at the small family huddled in the corner, a resolute tranquility came over me.

I cant go.

Miles grabbed me roughly by my hoodie. The hell you cant. Youre bleeding out. He slipped through all your security and literally attacked you where you live. Let the professionals look after your family. Its not safe here.

I glared at Miles. And whose fault is that?

Miles released me as if hed stuck his hands into a fire.

Nowhere is safe. I pushed. Everyone in this region is relying on me. If I leave, Myrddin will find a way to make us pay for it. I paid in blood to save them. I cant abandon them now.

I nearly cringed at how painfully valiant it sounded. If it were just us, I would have pushed back with my familys safety instead. But the civilians' presence gave me a unique opportunity to entrench myself in the region further. Solidify that what happened at the end of the event wasnt just a fluke.

Miles studied me through cold blue eyes. Myrddin fought half a guild and walked out unscathed. Not to mention, he has backup. Fighting him alone only ends one way.

If he was at the top of his game, sure, but hes injured. Sae took a place next to me. Talia at her side. And I want a piece of that fucker as much as Matt does.

Who are you? Miles shook his head. Never-mind. More importantly, how do you know that?

Sae glanced at Talia. Spirit Guardian told me.

Irritation flooded Miles expression. Of course. There are Spirit Guardians now.

Foster crossed his arms. Shes solid, Miles. And Hawkins is out of the game, but Im not. Way I see it, if we end this here, it saves a helluva lot of trouble in the long run.

Miles didnt look convinced. I gave it one last try. Ive been spamming messages to Kinsley, trying to get through. Squelch dropped long enough for me to get a message off. Kinsleys people are on their way. Some patrolling mercs probably heard the gunfire and are already down in the lobby floor. All we need to do is push him towards the lobby.

With a sigh, Miles steadied himself. He pointed to the arrow emerging from my ribcage. Foster?

Foster studied the arrows placement, then drew a serrated blade, giving me a questioning look. When I nodded and grit my teeth, he began to saw the shaft, muttering apologies as every vibration sent a new wave of pain from my body. Eventually, I was left with an inch of bloodstained bolt emerging from my hoody.

Kid should be alright, assuming nothing tears that out. Thats the most serious injury. An inch difference and that could have been your heart. Everything else is non-vital. You got lucky. Foster locked eyes with me and inclined his head in tacit approval.

Whats the plan, Matt? Sae asked.

I considered that for a moment, grunting at a wave of pain. My guess? Myrddins is leaning on his notoriety from the broadcast. He came here expecting us to run. Engage cautiously, if we engage at all. But no ones that agile without a drawback. He has to be a glass canon.

Miles breathed in sharply. You want to blitz him.

My expression hardened. Hes been pushing his agenda uncontested from the start. That stops here.