Empower

Chapter 36

‘What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.’

Ralph Waldo Emerson

the winds assaulted us the instant we returned to the rooftop. Lincoln put his arm around my waist and half carried me to the elevator.

The hurricane was in full force, the battle below at its height and all around us the city was crumbling. The riverbank was overflowing and far out I could see the waters moving in, taking the land bit by bit, and I knew that the angels would not stop this until they had their reason.

‘I need to get closer!’ I yelled as I stumbled.

Lincoln put me down on the ground, helping me all the way when my legs gave out. ‘Concentrate,’ he ordered.

I nodded, drawing into my weakened power and opening myself up to our connection. I felt his power, strong and ready, surge into me, charging me like a battery so that together, we could heal my wounds.

Once satisfied, he rocked back on his heels and brushed the hair out of my face. ‘Better?’

‘Better,’ I said, sitting up and then standing. I was ready.

Lincoln grabbed the bag he’d left lodged by the elevator. He pulled out a long cable rope.

‘The power is down; we’re going to have to jump,’ he instructed, already tying the rope to a metal support beam and then to his belt. I loaded up with the extra katana I’d packed in the bag and my spare dagger. Carefully, I nicked the edge of my wrist, noting the large scar that now lived there, and edged the blades with my blood, swiping Lincoln’s from his waist and giving it the same treatment before he could stop me.

He grabbed it back, resting his hand on my wrist to close the small wound before fighting against the wind as he walked over to the edge of the tall building.

He held his right arm out and without hesitation I stepped into his embrace and we backed off the edge of the building.

Propelling into a war zone in a shower of glass as windows exploded under the hurricane’s force, Lincoln expertly guided us down, and the moment our feet touched the ground we unsheathed our weapons and ran towards the river.

We worked quickly and relentlessly as we charged through the battlefield. Exiles had lost whatever hold on reality they once had and were attacking Grigori and exiles alike, all while dragging innocent humans in for the slaughter.

I saw two exiles beating a group of human men who were trying to defend two women and their young children. Lincoln saw at the same time and we risked the quick detour, running down the street now ankle-deep in water, grabbing the exiles and pulling them off the men before dispensing with them.

The men scrambled to the women and children protectively. ‘What the hell’s going on?’ they screamed over the hurricane.

‘Run!’ I yelled. ‘Get as far away from the river as you can! Run and don’t look back!’

The men didn’t hesitate, lifting the children and starting to move away. ‘What about you?’ one of the women yelled, looking back. ‘Come with us!’

I shook my head and smiled at the little girl in one of the men’s arms. She couldn’t have been older than four or five. ‘Please, run!’ I told them again before Lincoln and I took off.

We returned a number of exiles as we moved, and though it was plain to see how extreme things had become I found my eyes barely believing the scene of unrestrained combat and devastation.

I spotted Gray in the middle of it all with Carter fighting at his side. They were both covered in blood and their team was heavily outnumbered. I could see them screaming frantically at something and I followed their line of sight. Milo and Taxi had been separated and pushed into the ocean of exiles. They were surrounded.

‘Up there!’ Lincoln yelled.

But my gaze was fixed on Milo. And I could hear my shrill screams as I watched, helpless, as three exiles ripped his limbs apart. Out of nowhere a dagger flew through the air and then another, taking out the two exiles beating Taxi, and freeing him long enough for him to move out of immediate danger.

Gray and Carter now fought with their fists, having given up their weapons to save Taxi.

‘Violet, we can’t stop!’ Lincoln yelled, pulling at my arm. ‘We can’t help them from here!’

I knew he was right and tried to shake myself out of my mind spiral.

Milo is dead.

I looked to where Lincoln pointed. It was one of the riverbank buildings, only two storeys high. On the top Grigori were panned out – all with their arms raised as they tried to push back the wind and rain.

‘Let’s go,’ I said, letting him lead the way as we took down as many exiles as we could. We couldn’t stop to help Gray, but as soon as I moved into an elevated position I yelled his name and as he turned I threw him my katana, which he caught and tossed to Carter in one movement, just in time for Carter to swing the blade straight through an exile’s neck. I yanked my arrow from my back and javelined it, watching as it sailed into Gray’s hand. Knowing exactly how the weapon worked, he had no sooner split it in two than he drove the pointed ends into the eyes of the two exiles lining up for a killing blow. Gray swung his attention back to me, his determined eyes locking with mine briefly as he nodded me on before throwing himself back into the fray.

At least they’re armed.

We ran for the building’s outside stairs, Lincoln mowing down everything that blocked our path. His clothes were torn and blood had caked thick over his arms and neck, but he was relentless. A warrior in every way, he moved lithe and sure, carving his dagger with effective precision. I let him take the lion’s share in an effort to conserve what energy I had left. I knew that Lincoln would get us there.

And I knew what I had to do when he did.

We reached the base of the stairs and hit a wall of exiles fighting each other. Lincoln glanced at me and I nodded; we both knew that the exiles could sense the Grigori up there – our nature users – and wanted to take the fight to them. That was something we could not allow. Those Grigori were the only thing holding the hurricane at bay right now.

Lincoln leaped into the fight, quickly taking out two exiles as he did, but another five promptly rounded on him.

I’d just stepped towards him, ready to back him up, when a strong hand gripped my neck from behind and dragged me beneath the shadow of the stairs, throwing me against the wall. My head hit the brick hard and I felt the trickle of warm blood run down my neck.

Blinking until my vision held, I looked up expecting to see the insane eyes of an exile, but instead I was met with the vicious intent of Drenson.

‘Adele is dead!’ he snarled, his hand wrapped around my throat holding me against the wall as the other moved his dagger firmly over my heart. ‘All of this is your fault! I’m the head of all Grigori and I will end this now!’

My eyes darted right, to where Lincoln was still fighting off a horde of exiles. I could hear him screaming out for me between hits and knew he was feeling me through our connection. I tried to calm my thoughts and my body so that he wouldn’t lose his concentration, and I looked back at Drenson.

‘I’m sorry about Adele,’ I rasped, struggling to speak with his hand tightening around my neck. I considered my options but he had me. Anything I did would cause the dagger to slide right in.

‘You should be! Without her voting favour it’s only a matter of time before I lose my seat. It was enough to have that bitch Josephine control me at every turn, but not you!’ he spat. ‘I have hundreds of years ahead of me; I won’t live in shame while you steal everything that is mine!’

A figure dropped from above into a crouched position, landing a few metres behind Drenson – as if it had fallen from the sky. I couldn’t make it out but even if it was an exile, it couldn’t make my situation any worse, so I kept my eyes on Drenson so as not to draw his attention to it.

‘I know how to stop this!’ I said.

‘Even more reason to finish you,’ he hissed. And just as his arm flexed and he made his move, I saw the glint of silver and then Drenson’s eyes cloud over, his arms losing their grip and falling limp along with the rest of his body as he fell to the ground face down. A Grigori dagger was embedded between his shoulderblades.

Spence stood over him.

His fierce, warrior eyes looked up at me sharply. ‘Always got your back, Eden.’

I threw my arms around him and squeezed tightly before letting him go.

He delivered a roguish smile and gestured knowingly to the stairs. ‘Do what you have to do,’ he said, giving me a nod before bending down and reefing his dagger free. ‘Chloe and I will make sure the building is protected.’

I saw her then, running up behind him, out of breath.

I shook my head. ‘Don’t worry about us. Go and help Gray and Carter. They’re a hundred metres up the road and need to get out of there.’

Without another word, Spence grabbed Chloe’s arm and they ran.

And I knew it was time to do exactly what I was put on this earth to do.

I called out for Lincoln and turned in time to see Griffin and Josephine’s team jump into the fray where Lincoln was still fighting, freeing him to come with me.

‘Where were you?’ he asked as we ran up the stairs.

‘Dealing with Academy politics,’ I replied.

On the low rooftop – and neighbouring rooftops along the river – the nature users continued to fight the storm, calling on their strengths and pushing back with all they had, but the hurricane was just too powerful.

At the front, calling out orders and holding the weight of the wind, stood Phoenix, looking every bit the unearthly creature he was. His black shirt was ripped and flying in the air. Wind encased him and I gasped.

‘He’s channelling the hurricane. Pulling the power to him and trying to send it back out to sea.’

‘It’ll tear him in two!’ Lincoln yelled as we watched Phoenix’s body being brutally lashed by invisible whips of air. Zoe stood beside him, her focus on the rising river. It had already lifted over the levies and was now pouring into the city streets even as she and those beside her worked at creating new currents to send it away.

I looked around frantically. We were heavily outnumbered; there were at least twice as many exiles to our Grigori. My knees weakened at the thought.

Lincoln grabbed my shoulders to steady me.

‘What now?’ he screamed over the wind and rain, over the cries of madness below.

I turned and ran towards Phoenix, getting as close as I could before the wind pushed me stumbling back. I regained my balance and screamed his name as I felt Lincoln behind me.

Phoenix turned slightly, his shoulders sagging in relief as he kept the winds rippling and swirling around him. He knew where I’d been; that Sammael had been defeated.

‘You need to leave!’ I screamed, pushing closer again.

‘A little busy right now!’ he called back, somehow managing a small smile.

‘Phoenix, look at me!’ I cried.

He glanced over briefly, his strained expression filled with knowing. There was blood running from his ear and down his neck.

Jesus, how much more of this can he take?

‘You always worried you were becoming a new kind of angel, but can you finally see?’ he called out. ‘You were always becoming the best kind of human.’ His eyes met mine, and for a few magical beats all the mayhem around us went away and his calm brown eyes met my hazel ones and understanding passed between us. He knew what I was going to do.

‘This is your destiny!’ he yelled.

Tears fell and I shook my head. ‘There’s still time! You can get away,’ I called out, ignoring Lincoln, who had braced my shoulders from behind as if he knew I might do something crazy.

Phoenix held my gaze and it felt in that moment as if he were holding me together. ‘You are exactly where you are supposed to be and so am I.’ He managed a smile. ‘It’s time for the final act.’

‘No!’ I screamed at him, angry now. ‘You’ll die!’ I couldn’t stand by and let him make this choice. This ultimate sacrifice.

‘Listen to her, Phoenix,’ Lincoln called out. ‘You don’t have to do this.’

Phoenix’s eyes lingered on me before moving to Lincoln’s. ‘Promise me!’

Two words that could have meant anything, but which Lincoln and I both knew were solely about me.

Lincoln didn’t hesitate. ‘Always.’

Phoenix nodded once then looked back across the river to the suburbs being ripped apart, the land sinking into the ocean, and then back to me. He knew he was the only one strong enough to hold the wind. But I didn’t care. Right at that moment, I honestly didn’t. I wanted him to be safe. He deserved his chance.

‘Do it!’ he mouthed and then turned his face back to the storm, his arms wide as he gave it everything he had. And the sheer fortitude in his eyes transferred to me and I found myself nodding even as my throat closed in.

My hand went out and Lincoln moved to my side and grasped it. ‘Open everything, Linc. This is going to hurt.’

‘Take whatever you need,’ he replied without faltering, squeezing my hand and opening our soul bond, bringing me new strength beyond anything I’d ever experienced.

I pulled it all within, adding it to what already lay inside me, and then I lifted into my Sight, hovering above my physical form. I concentrated on the scene below, taking one, then ten, a hundred, a thousand, as far as I could push, my Sight travelling with little more than a thought as I cruised first along the river and then the main square of the French Quarter, down Bourbon Street and finally to Canal Street, looping back down to the river and sucking every exile within the circle into my power. It was more than I’d ever tried or contemplated trying to hold before tonight.

All the while, I tried to exclude Phoenix; tried to keep him free of my power, but in the end it was impossible. The power that had always beckoned me was too strong. Unleashed as it was it consumed me, leading the way.

I knew I had only enough control for one final choice.

I made it.

I tore from each and every one of them what they had given up any right to have. The power coursed through me, my body shaking as I gave the last. My all.

And every single exile under my power fell.