God, I was helpless standing here. I wanted to help. I could help with my ability. I could stop Jasmine if I could get my hands on her.
She was nearly at the back door with Waleron. Tye and Jedrik were close. They fought two of Jasmine’s Long Necks who guarded her.
Oh, God, they needed more help. Jasmine was going to disappear with Waleron. I looked around the room and Delara was closest. “Delara!” I screamed.
She raised her head just as she drove her dagger into a Long Neck’s neck then twisted his head. The body sagged and she tossed it to the floor.
“Waleron,” I cried.
Her gaze shot from me to Waleron and Jasmine through the living into the kitchen and five feet from the back door. “Balen,” Delara nodded to the kitchen.
Balen ran for Jasmine. Delara followed, dagger in one hand and some machete-type weapon in the other.
An arrow flew through the air ahead of them and embedded in the door inches away from Jasmine’s head. She raised her hands and webs shot out and ensnared Tye’s legs. She shot more at Balen, but he dove left and they disintegrated when they touched the floor.
“Rayne,” Delara shouted. She threw the machete at the ceiling beam where the chains to my manacles were locked. It clanked into the ring and snapped it in half. The chains dropped to the floor with a heavy thud and I collapsed to my knees with them.
“Knife,” Delara warned and threw a dagger toward me. It embedded in the hardwood two feet from me, and I crawled over to it and yanked it out of the floor.
Five more CWOs ran from upstairs. I recognized them immediately—Worms, that’s what Roarke had called them because they grew back their limbs and were stronger in damp weather. They smelled like apples and had cold, gray skin that sweated profusely.
“Balen, down,” Delara yelled as she threw a knife at Jasmine while she kicked a Worm out of her way. The knife plunged into Jasmine’s thigh as she staggered back and hit the door.
Balen leapt. He landed on Waleron and dislodged Jasmine’s grip on him.
“Nooooo.” Jasmine flicked her fingers toward Delara and webs shot at her, but she rolled to the right while Balen sawed at Waleron’s webs with his knife.
“Bitch,” Jasmine screamed and yanked the door open.
She threw both hands in the air and webs shot in every direction. For a second, I was blinded and couldn’t see what was going on.
When the webs disintegrated, she was gone.
A hand grabbed me from behind and I swung around with the knife, the chains, luckily, slowing my movements because it was Roarke.
“Roarke,” I said.
His hands cupped my head and he leaned in to me, bending his knees so his eyes were level with mine. “You have the Scars now, Rayne.” He glanced over at Kilter. “Stay close to him.” He stared into me as if it was going to be the last time he ever saw me. “I’m sorry for everything. It’s not enough, never will be, but it’s all I have.”
“Roarke.”
“I won’t give up. Not until she’s dead.” He let me go and ran for the door Jasmine disappeared through.
“Rayne, damn it,” Kilter yelled from across the room, trying to get to me, but several Long Necks stood in his way. “Move.” Something yanked on the chain attached to my wrist and I was pulled off my feet, landing face first on the floor. I raised my head and saw a vampire with the chain wrapped around his hand pulling me toward him. I scrambled back, but he yanked hard again and I fell forward hitting my chin.
I kicked out as the vampire drew closer, his fangs dripping with blood.
“Rayne,” Waleron said, “use your ability.”
He hauled me to my feet, and I put my palms on his chest and, instantly, his bloodlust swarmed into me. His coldness. The rage. And even his desperation.
I sucked his emotions into my body, trembling as the darkness dragged me under.
I saw the moment he noticed what was happening, but by then, it was too late. He was already weak as my ability removed him of all emotions. He fell to the floor lifeless.
“Good girl,” Kilter said then tossed me something. “Use it for the manacles. Then get to the front door. My Ink will come for you.”
I picked up the small metal key and quickly inserted it into the lock. The chains dropped from my wrist and I ran. My legs trembled as I dodged in and out of overturned furniture.
“Rayne, hit the floor,” Waleron shouted.
I dove to the ground just as a vampire swept down from the second floor. I rolled to the side beneath a table as Waleron sent a bolt of energy toward him, knocking him off his feet.
I jumped up again and swerved around Jedrik, who tackled a Long Neck that was reaching for me.
I grabbed the door handle and tugged it open.
A scream emerged as I came face to face with a tall, broad man who filled the doorway and blocked my escape. I froze, my feet glued to the floor, eyes wide with horror, as I stared at his furious expression. But he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking at the fray behind me.
“Get back,” he shouted.
He pushed me aside so hard, I landed on my knees to the left of the door. At first, I thought he was an enemy, but when a Long Neck attacked him, I realized he’d been shoving me out of harm’s way.
I watched as he slammed his fist into the Long Neck’s chest and yanked out his still-beating heart. My stomach lurched and I looked away. The Long Neck writhed and screamed before it shriveled up and disappeared only to emerge again in its original form—a cockroach.