Talent Storm (45 page)

I’ll keep fighting until Goldwater is dead, but now that I have Jaden, I have more of a reason to fight. I need to make things safe so that we can be happy and have a life afterward.

I knew immediately that he was attracted to me. When he rescued me, I knew he loved me. I loved him too but I was scared of losing him, scared of him finding out that I’m nothing more than a murderer. When I almost killed him, everything changed. I won’t live in fear. I won’t do it. I love him, and I’ll be with him. I love his bashfulness, his worry, his resilience, his power, and his passion, for me and the cause. I love his sultry kisses, his soft deliberate touch, and his longing looks. I’ve never been more worried or more excited about my future.

☼☼☼

The next day, the evening of our second strike had arrived. We exited our underground hideout into the darkness of night, dressed in full battle gear. Valleri had found an old steel breastplate for me to wear. Pavel stood in chain mail, Valleri in a green breastplate, and Barid in brown leather. Sofia wore her studded black leather armor and carried her serrated sword. I missed sunshine, relaxing days by the river, and walking without watching my back. Soon I would enjoy those days again.

We set out toward the grand duke's location at the primary supply depot of Liberty City. Our main objective was to assassinate Sharpe and our secondary objective was to destroy the supply depot. Not only would we be weakening the territories leadership, we would be depriving them of arms, armor, and ammunition.

We jogged down streets in a tight unit. Just as we turned a corner, someone screamed. In the distance, a mob of people shouted and broke windows, fires burning behind them.

“Jaden, Sofia.” Valleri pointed at the mob. “I don’t want them to get hurt. Have them wait in their homes.”

I nodded. “We’re on our way.”

I was glad that she was taking the time to help them. Sofia and I jogged to the mob. It was no surprise people were angry. Not only were they seeing the world as it really was, the Joy Drug must have worn off by now. The people’s fairytale was over.

A red-faced man, wearing nearly rags, brandished a metal pipe. “Where did you take my daughter? Murderers!”

Off to his right, on the street curb, sat a half-starved boy rocking and sobbing uncontrollably.

A woman screamed and smashed her fists into the ground while another yelled, “We’re starving!”

A little blonde girl, holding a mud-spattered teddy bear, tugged at her mother’s arm. “Mommy, I’m scared. Why won’t you help me?”

Her mother continued to stare expressionlessly at the wall.

A woman pointed to a pile of bodies, sobbing. “Why are these dead people here?”

“Down with Goldwater, the tyrant!” someone yelled. The mob continued to shout in anger and confusion.

A line of Liberty soldiers rounded the corner wielding clubs and shields.

“You will return to your homes,” a soldier said.

“Die scum,” a man yelled.

A bottle sailed through the air and shattered on the soldier’s head. He collapsed, dropping his club. The rest of the soldiers ran forward with weapons raised and began clubbing the crowd. One of the soldiers smashed a child in the face, crumpling her to the ground. The burly man stepped up and shattered a chair on one soldier.

“Jaden!” Sofia yanked on my arm.

I shook my head to jar myself to action. Sofia was already charging the men. A soldier raised his club in the face of a cowering woman. With a thought from me, his arm and then neck snapped. Another soldier grappled with the burly man. I held back the soldier’s arms. The burly man’s fist slammed into the soldier’s ribs, cracking them. Sofia’s sword ripped through a soldiers arm, then tore into another attacker’s chest. I focused on the shattered chair on the ground. Wooden shards blazed green, then sailed into the air. Five attackers fell limp, the shards sticking from their necks. The remaining attackers fled, but the crowd didn’t calm. People screamed, cried, or shouted curses.

Sofia stepped up. “Everyone calm down,” she said while unleashing her talent.

The crowd immediately quieted and relaxed.

“Go home and tell others to do the same. Stay indoors. People are fighting for your rights so that you don’t have to.”

The people shared hesitant looks as if embarrassed, then lowered their heads and left. We jogged back to where the other rebels stood.

“Good work guys,” said Valleri. “Let’s go.”

We trekked down several more streets. I was amazed by the level of destruction the nightly riots had yielded. Buildings that were previously missing chunks of walls were now leveled entirely. Fresh, black burn marks from explosions marred other standing structures. The wind blew smoke from a nearby burned building. I coughed, waving my hand in front of my stinging eyes. The worst part of the destruction was the countless bodies littering the streets. Men, women, children... it didn't matter; they were all targets of the violence.

Some bodies were charred, unrecognizable messes with burned out eyes. Others were riddled with bullet holes, lacerated by blades, or crushed with maces or clubs. Every corpse with a recognizable face wore frozen expressions of horror and pain. Hordes of flies landed on and buzzed around the bodies. The air was thick with the metallic smell of blood and the sulfuric odor of explosions. I wrinkled my nose and turned away to find a stray dog gnawing on a dead man’s arm. Unable to take the scene, I mentally pushed the dog. It scurried away with a yelp. I looked over at Pavel. His expression was neutral, his arms crossed.

“I hope what we're trying to achieve is worth it,” I said.

Pavel turned toward me, his muscular jaw bunched in uncharacteristic anger. “It will be... the way this government responds to difficulties of the people's demands is unacceptable. If we don't end their tyranny now, we will see scenes like this one endlessly. The leaders are no better than a bunch of Wilders.”

Barid turned to him, smiling. “I didn’t even think you knew that many words.”

Sofia laughed and even Valleri smiled. I just squinted at Pavel as he scowled and rubbed his temples.

“I guess this destruction could make anyone act strange,” said Sofia, shaking her head.

“He's right though, Jaden,” said Valleri. “Sometimes the state of things has to get worse before it gets better. Nieri’s death moves us one step closer to saving Liberty.”

I grunted. “We better win or all these deaths will be for nothing.”

Sofia squeezed my hand before meeting my eyes and nodding.

Pavel shook his head, his eyes locked on a crumbled building. “There will be an end. It’s inevitable, and it’s coming soon.”

☼☼☼

We jogged the remaining few miles into an old, rusted warehouse that Pavel led us to, and we entered.

Valleri addressed the group, “All right everyone, we’re a mile from the depot. Check your gear, ready the explosives, and take a short rest. We’ll strike in approximately a half-an-hour.” She shrugged out of her green armor before laying it down, then walked to the corner near the back entrance. “Jaden, come have a word with me,” she said, waving to me.

I followed while looking over the other rebels. Sofia sat along the wall, rubbing black grease paint onto her sword to prevent reflection. Barid was busy checking over and readying the explosives.

When I arrived at the backdoor, Pavel walked by me. “I need to use the outdoor facilities. I'll be right outside the door,” he said.

Valleri regarded him for a moment, then shook her head and turned back to me. “Jaden, this is going to be a very dangerous mission. Sharpe is an insane maniac and you’ll find her talent very difficult to block. Until she is eliminated, this fight could go very badly. If we can disable her, then her guards will fall quickly. But if she gets control of the situation, it might be our last fight. We are so close now, close to a free Liberty. It's up to you to—”

I jumped at the sound of a gunshot, heart pounding. Valleri grasped my arms. Was she afraid? Impossible. The pressure of her grip increased, and she slouched.

Reaching behind her, I held her up. “Val?”

I looked down, and my jaw dropped. Blood soaked through the side of her shirt, dripping onto the concrete floor. I placed her down and jerked my eyes toward the back entrance. Pavel’s massive hand held a small pistol with a still smoking barrel aimed at me.

Pavel? A betrayer? I always felt that he was one of the cause’s strongest supporters. He fired at me, but I deflected the bullet. Just as I was about to strike him, he vanished. Damn.

I looked back to Val and felt only weak talent. She still lived at least. Another bang rang out, ripping me from my stupor. The bullet sunk into the wall next to me.

The next few seconds were a blur. Armed men poured into the once desolate building. Sofia and Barid, their weapons ready, were surrounded by talented adversaries. A woman stood in front of them, wearing green silks and a black breastplate. Goldwater’s red fist was painted in its center. She raised a gloved hand and waves of talent washed over the room. My vision began to darken, my head swimming. The strength in my legs fled me, dropping me to one knee. I caught myself with one hand before I tumbled down. My other hand grabbed my now throbbing head.

“I’m Grand Duke Zoe Sharpe and you are now my prisoners. Lay down your weapons and surrender,” said the woman.

Prisoner. To be a prisoner meant torture. It meant illusions of Lilly’s death, perpetual forced immobility, and unbearable pain. Worst of all, it meant we failed, failed to bring liberty to an oppressed people, failed to kill Goldwater. “Never!” I yelled. My vision brightened, and I shot to my feet, drawing Peacemaker.

“Then die,” said Zoe. Forty or so men, lowered pistols and fired. In that instant of fear and anger, my mind awoke, my talent evolving. It was so simple; everything was connected. I didn’t have to focus on every bullet, like I did at the prison.

My talent flowed, and the mass of green bullets stuck in the air, inches from our bodies. Barid had cowered back, his arms held high. Sofia stood straight, her chin raised. I smiled.

“What? No!” Zoe said.

I pushed a glowing hand forward, and the forty bullets cut through the air into the guards. Half of the projectiles ripped into the men, the other half struck the walls, ground, or ceiling. Two bullets ricocheted off Zoe’s breastplate and bit into a sidewall. Immediately after, I felt an indefensible wave of talent slam into my mind, dazing me. I teetered, then collapsed feeling foggy and powerless. Peacemaker clanged on the ground next to me.

I turned my dizzy head. “No,” I said as I saw Sofia clutching her own head and grimacing.

Only Barid stood upright. He glanced at both of us, then threw his hands toward two men. Their eyes burst under intense pressure, blood gushing out. An instant later, he charged, his scimitar in hand. His sword struck a guard’s, slid up its length, and then whipped back, slicing into another man’s arm. The man screamed while other guards surrounded Barid, weapons threatening. Barid’s sword sliced toward another guard, but the man deflected it, sending Barid stumbling. Another attacker punched Barid’s hand, knocking away his scimitar. He whirled, fists up. A third man slid behind him and caught him in a torso hold. Barid’s head jerked back into the man’s nose. The man grunted, nose bleeding, but instead of letting go, he moved his head to the side. Barid growled, throwing his body around. The burly man held him firm.

Zoe clapped, bouncing up and down. “You low level talent wielders are so fun to play with. I’m going to make you squirm.”

“Jaden, help,” said Barid.

“I... can’t...,” I managed. My mind was mired in a thick bog, making it impossible to wield my talent. I strained to move, but my body didn’t respond.

“We’re going to play a game,” said Zoe. “I’m going to accelerate Jaden’s and Sofia’s hearts until they die.” She faced Barid. “I’ll let you try to save one. Talent, you can save both if you think you’re strong enough.”

Barid, glanced at the man securing him. “I could kill him in a second.”

Zoe laughed. “Yes, yes, but I have plenty more and you’re no match for me. You men think you’re so strong, but I have true power. I’ll show all of you. Beg. Beg, and maybe I’ll let you all live.”

He looked up at her, glaring. “I’ll never beg.”

She hissed. “Then play or they die.”

I gasped, feeling my heart accelerate to an intense pace.

Sofia groaned next to me. “Barid. Save Jaden. He’s our only chance,” she said.

“No, save her Barid. Please.”

Barid looked back and forth, threading his hands through his hair. “Stop, stop,” he pleaded to Zoe.

She smiled, looking delighted. “Better choose. I’d rather have you save Sofia. Us women have to stick together.”

My arm tingled, and my chest spiked with pain as my heart labored. Sofia moaned, her face set in a grimace. If he didn’t pick soon, we’d both die.

Barid glowered, his jaw clamped shut until his stony eyes shot toward Zoe. “I choose you.”

I sensed invisible waves of talent strike her body. She growled, her hand flying to her temple and spun on Barid. He grunted, shaking his head with a grimace. Instantly the world refocused, my body surging with strength.

“No one’s better than me,” yelled Zoe.

“I don’t need to be,” said Barid.

Utilizing my new understanding, I lifted every guard’s sword into the air and twirled my finger just as I pulled Barid out of the impending maelstrom. The swords spun like mini twisters, slicing everything in their path. Blades shredded through the attackers armor and flesh. Limbs, fingers, heads, and other body parts skipped around the room, blood painting the ground and walls.

Zoe narrowly dodged one blade, her cloak billowing out and her blond hair streaming to the side. Another blade sliced by her head, and sheared off several inches of those locks. She twisted, leaned, and bent away from the swords, her body movement perfect, thanks to her bio talent. Two blades speared her emerald cloak, but missed her chest. Her fiery eyes locked on me, and I felt her talent boil. My legs wilted, my heart and lungs freezing. I collapsed on the ground, a limp mess. Gnawing, burning pain shredded my insides. My brain screamed as white-hot pokers of death seared into it. I strained to breathe, but my lungs were useless. My vision dimmed, and I was surely dead.