The Breakers Ultimatum (YA Urban Fantasy) (Fixed Points Book 3) (25 page)

I felt Merrin’s heart leap as we neared the ground. Though surprisingly, it wasn’t with nervousness. In fact, all of the apprehension that had up until now, painted her emotions, had disappeared, melted away against the heat of the dragon. Now only wonder filled her, wonder and excitement.

Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. Maybe Merrin had always been like this, and the way I saw her, stilted and wounded, was a product of my Cresta tinted one track mind.

We landed on the grounds of the Lightfoot farm, a place that, as my wife, Merrin had just as right to as my mother... Again, a twinge of surprise flowered in my chest when I sensed her disappointment that the ride was over.

I thought about questioning her about the way she felt. But there was little time and when she gave me a curt, “That was something,” I took it as a nail in the conversational coffin.

“Are you even sure Sevie is home?” Merrin asked as we neared the farmhouse.

“I know my parents,’ I answered. “The Blood Moon is in the sky and Breakers are killing each other with their bare hands. Sevie’s powerset isn’t offensive. There’s no way in Fate’s fanny pack that they let him go out there tonight.”

‘I know your parents too, but I also know your brother. He’d throw himself in front of a train if he thought it would help even one person, let alone the girl he’s supposed to marry.”

“
Was
supposed to marry,” I corrected her. “The Council nullified the union.”

“Settle down,” Merrin rolled her eyes. “I didn’t mean to imply that I thought they should be joined. Your brother’s much too good for her. I’m just afraid his sentiment and loyalty might have pushed him in an unwise direction.”

“He better not have,” I said through clenched teeth. “If he gets himself murdered, I’ll kill him.”

“And you’re confident your parents will keep themselves out of the fray?” Merrin asked, careful to stay close to me as we neared the front door.

“They’re still under investigation for what they did to make me the Dragon in the first place. So they wouldn’t be eligible to lend their services in battle.”
 

“Unless, of course, they’re traitors,” Merrin suggested.

“You mean on Cresta’s side?” I said, and actually scoffed. “Not a chance. They’re not near interesting enough for that. Besides, the day my father and I agree on anything, I’ll personally eat my shoe.”

A branch snapped underfoot as I stepped onto the front porch. I had spent nearly every day of my life in this house, walking onto this porch, and opening that front door. So why was I so nervous now?

A spike of panic ran through me. No…not my panic- Merrin’s panic. I turned just in time to hear her yell “Owen!” and feel something slam into me. She was on her back, lying on the ground and clutching her chest like someone had just pounced on her.

“Merrin, are you-”Another blast of pain ripped through me and Merrin jerked in agony. Was she being hit or was I? And by what?

“Owen! Owen I don’t see any-” She grunted and then was lifted into the air

I felt my stomach rise with hers, and braced to be lifted as well. Instead, Merrin came flying toward me, knocking us both to the ground.

She rolled on top of me and then off to the ground, careful to settle on top of my body.

“Enough!” A familiar voice filled the air and soured my stomach. Looking up, I saw Chant standing above me, cane in hand and face of stone. “I think they’ve learned their lesson, Pet. I see little need in laboring the point.”

The air beside Chant shimmered and shifted. Beside him, a tall, slender woman with red hair and dead eyes appeared. I didn’t recognize her at first, given that she lacked the bubbly presence and innate lightness that I always equated with her. But, when my eyes adjusted and my mind stopped racing, I realized who I was staring at.

“Flora…” I muttered. Bolting upright, my entire body tensed. “What-what have you done to her?”

“She’s a member of a Council family. The way she was acting wasn’t reflective of that. Given that we weren’t able to access the protected sections of her mind, we did our best to wipe them out. And, in doing so, adjusted her goals to a more reasonable nature.”

“You lobotomized her,” I said, horror coloring my words.

“That’s such a harsh, if accurate, term.” He ran a crumpled hand through Flora’s hair. I grimaced, but Flora just stood there, unflinching, unfeeling. “Unfortunately, you have bigger problems to deal with at the moment.”

The door of the farmhouse opened. Mother appeared in the doorway. Her body was shaking. Her eyes were red and puffy.

“Mother,” I stood.

“It’s your brother,” she said, nearly gasping for breath. “Something’s happened to Sevie.”

Cresta

“There’s a Salt ‘N Pepa joke in here somewhere, but I’m going to be the bigger man and not mention it,” Casper said, referencing the whole ‘move the giant invisible dome’ thing that Echo just laid out at my feet.

“You just have to push it, Cresta,” Echo said, ignoring him.

“Dude, you’re not making this easy,” Casper said, grinning like a moron.

‘Casper! I need to focus,” I said, looking around. Breakers surrounded the energy structure and, if I understood things correctly, only Renner (who was very likely minutes from death’s door) and his quickly dwindling energy stood between us and a very slow and painful death. “It’s just a giant ball, like a huge freaking rubber ball. And all I have to do is move it.”

“So, to summarize, you have to push it. Push it real good.”

“Casper!” I yelled.

“Sorry. That was the last one, I promise.”

“That’s good,” Royce said, squeezing Casper’s shoulder. “Cause, while I totally respect that ‘laughs at danger’ thing ya got going on, I'mma take a guess and say we ain’t in the mood.”

“Oh God,” I said, as something strange churned in my stomach. I could feel Renner. I could feel the power running through him, running out of him and funneling into the dome surrounding us.  It was bright and intense. I could feel it burning through him and, more than that, I could feel it weakening him. Keeping this up was going to kill him and judging from the feeling that ran through me now, it’d be sooner rather than later

A flicker of something ran through the dome and, in the briefest of instants, it went down. Whereas last time, the Breakers surrounding us were caught off guard by the sudden departure of our defenses, this time, they were more than ready.

“Well, that was quicker than I expected,” I said, mentally preparing myself for that aforementioned slow and painful death. Breakers descended on us quickly, trudging their swords, spears, and other weaponry (was that an anvil?) along with them.

Echo and Royce took either side of me, with Echo tossing Royce a knife from his strap with the ease and precision of someone who had been in more than a few fights. “When we fall, run.” Echo said, glaring at Dahlia. He didn’t say if. He said when. For her part, Dahlia didn’t react much; pulling a sharpened file from her satchel and planting herself beside me.

I opened my mouth in protest, to tell them I didn’t want anyone dying for me; let alone them. But as soon as I did, the feeling returned to me. I wasn’t sure how, but Renner was rallying. Another flicker and the dome came back up, cutting the Breakers off where they stood. Some of them slammed headfirst into it. A couple of them even knocked themselves out. But for the most part, they steadied themselves, readying themselves for the next time the dome went down.

And there would be a next time. We all knew that.

“This ain’t as roomy as it used to be, is it?” Royce asked, noticing the sheer amount of space we had lost in the flicker.

“We have to move. Now!” I said, balling my fists. “Tell me what to do, Echo. How do I move this?”

Echo’s eyes drove into me, as if taking stock of something. Whatever it was, he must have decided that I was worthy, because he said,” It’s shade, Cresta. Because it’s connected to Renner’s person, you won’t be able to manipulate its size or consistency without harming him and knocking the whole thing down. But you should be able to move it as it stands. Just focus on something, something you want, something you need. Pretend that thing is at the Great Wall, and drive yourself toward it. The rest of the dome will follow.”

I swallowed hard, breathing deep and slowly in an effort to calm down.

“You want me next to you? When we do this, I mean?” Casper asked, dropping any hint of humor from his voice.

“Always,” I answered, taking his hand. “I need something to focus on, something to help me push.”

“Snickers,” he said. “They don’t have Snickers in here. It’s a real problem.” Leaning into my ear, he whispered. “You know who you need to think about, Cress.”

“No,” I shook my head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it can’t be him. His life is here, inside this place. I need something from the outside world.”

“Anything but these ugly bastards will do, Sweetheart,” Royce said, motioning to the angry mob that surrounded us. “But- and this is just a suggestion- maybe you might wanna consider hurrying the hell up.”

“Here,” Casper said, digging into his pocket. He pulled out a black and white picture, a sonogram. “This is my kid Cress; my daughter. It’s from a month ago. She looks like a bean, right?”

“She kinda does,” I smiled. “A cute bean.”

“Then push toward this; my cute little bean. Cause Cress, I really wanna meet this girl.”

And that was enough. The world shifted into ribbons of shade. It was different now. Where it was usually straight, running from its source to whatever manifestation it took, now it bent and curved in an unnatural and troubling way. The only piece of shade that made sense was the one constructing the dome. It circled us, jutting out to a point of origin that rested somewhere in the woods; no doubt where Renner was hiding.

“Let’s go,” I said, holding my hands out in front of me and pushing hard. The shade, as it always did, complied with my needs.  Sliding forward, the dome creaked and groaned as it scraped against the forest floor.

Yelps and screams erupted from the west side breakers, who felt the push of the dome as it collided with them. They weren’t sure what was happening at first. I could see it in their faces. Was the dome growing again, or was it morphing into something dangerous and offensive? But as we moved with it, gliding along on the dome’s now moving floor, they seemed to piece it together.

Shouts poured out from the Breakers and they mobilized. Before long, they were moving in tandem; marching like an army step for step. Bathed in the light of the red moon, the looked to be covered in blood; my blood. 

“How are you holding up?” A voice from behind me asked. Dahlia kept pace with her husband, facing the Breakers behind us and looking at me from over her shoulder. “I’d help you if I could.”

And the thing was; I believed her. What a difference a few weeks made. Dahlia used to be an ice queen. At least, that’s the way I saw her. Of all the people I imagined might be with me at the end of this thing, Dahlia was probably the last. And here she was, literally having my back at what was probably the most dangerous moment of my already way too dangerous life.

“I’m okay,” I answered.

“You’re sweating,” she answered, her eyes flickering up and down my brow.

“It’s alright. Let’s just keep moving.” I could feel the pull of the shade weakening the further we got away from Renner. It wouldn’t be long before the dome flickered again, and that was if we were lucky. If we weren’t (and God knew we weren’t), the whole thing would come tumbling down permanently at my feet. And the Breaker army; keeping pace with us, would be more than ready to take advantage of that moment.

As focused as I was on keeping the stupid thing moving, I didn’t notice Royce creeping to the back of the pack. It wasn’t until he started whispering that I got concerned. Royce and Echo, while not exactly enemies, didn’t go out of their way to talk to each other. So, when I turned to find them in deep conversation, it set my flashers off.

“What?” I asked; my arms still extended.

“Nothing to worry your pretty little head over, Sweetheart. You’re doing great. Keep it up,” Royce sad, giving me a smile that would have been charming if it wasn’t so damn infuriating.

“Just tell me, Royce!” I spat.

“We need to turn around,” he said, sighing.

“What the hell are you talking about? I’m barely keeping this thing going as is. If I change direction, who knows what that’ll do to Renner.”

“I get that Sweetheart. Really, I do. But the thing is, I’ve been through just about every inch of this place. Call it a perk of my incredible recon skills. And, though it looks a little different under the glow of the red moon, I’m pretty sure we just past Old Mason’s Rock.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, feeling the start of what I really hoped wasn’t a flicker pull at my gut.

“Well, if that was Old Mason’s Rock, then we need to change course ASAP.”

“And why’s that?” I asked, gathering my energy for another hard push. It hurt, and my arms had been lifted so long that I felt like I was in one of those army movies where the main character is made to hold up really heavy buckets of water for a long time. I pushed through the brush, moving the dome at a speed a few ticks quicker than I had been going. I knocked down a few Breakers idiots and was just about ready to congratulate myself when I saw it.

The brush didn’t end at a field or a hill or even more woods; as it had every time up until now. This brush ended…with a cliff.

The ground’s edge came upon me before I knew it and, before I was able to stop it, half the dome was over the cliff, teetering like a coin sitting on the edge of a table, unsure of whether it wanted to fall or not.

“Cause of the cliff?” I asked Royce, feeling the dome tilt upward, threatening to spill over the side.

“Cause of the cliff,” he confirmed, grabbing my hand.

“What are you doing?” I asked, wondering if he was going to throw one last kiss on me before we all plummeted to our deaths.

“Your weight. I’m moving the weight,” he yelled, and tugged me back to the side of the dome that was still resting on land.

“My weight?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Oh Lord. Don’t start being a girl on me, Sweetheart. I’m just trying to save your life.”

The expanse that followed the cliff was a deep and hollow thing. The ground below was little more than an idea, given how far down the drop would be. Though, given the soft red glow, it looked like we were staring out at (and perhaps about to fall into) a vast ocean of blood.

“This sucks,” Casper said as the dome continued to tilt back and forth along the edge. “This sucks so hard.”

“It’s alright,” Echo said, pressed against the side of the dome and clutching Dahlia’s hand. "We just have to stay still and make sure there isn’t any sudden force.”

“You mean like a battering ram?” Casper asked, looking behind Echo with wide and worried eyes. “Because, if you mean like a battering ram, things are about to get really bad.”

I looked back to see that the Breakers had banded together, grabbed the trunk of a fallen tree, and were about halfway to us with it, ready to catapult us off the cliff and, as such, reduce the Blood Moon to a splatter across the ground below.

“Oh no,” I muttered.  “Hold on tight!” I screamed, balling my fists and readying for the blow. The tree slammed against the dome with a devastating thud. The impact shook everything, including me. And, though I stumbled to my knees, I managed to keep my hands up and stop the dome from falling.

I didn’t matter, though. The Breakers were regrouping, moving backward, tree in hand, ready to repeat the process. Given how winded and sore I was from the first blow, there was no way we’d still be standing after another one.

“Take it down!” Royce said.

“They’ll kill us,” Dahlia answered.

“They’ll kill some of us. We’ll split up, try and lead ‘em away from Cresta. It’s our best chance.”

“No,” I said, staring down at the vast red emptiness. “Let them hit us again.”

“Cress, I know you’re strong. But you can’t see you right now. You’re a mess,” Casper said. “You can’t take much more of this.”

“I don’t plan on it,” I answered, leaning against him and still keeping my hands up. “Look at them. They’re everywhere. Even if this dome holds up long enough to get us to the wall, how are we going to get through it? We have to get away from these idiots if we’re gonna have a chance.”

“You wanna fall?” Royce asked, cocking his head at me.

“No,” I answered, feeling sweat trickle down the back of my neck. “I want to repurpose the energy. This dome has a floor, and since I can move that floor, then theoretically-“

“Cresta, no,” Echo said, his eyes widening.

“It’s the only way,” I answered.

“Wait. I’m lost. Tell me what’s happening,” Casper said, as the Breakers advanced on us, lumber in hand.

“She doesn’t want us to fall,” Royce said, piecing things together himself. “She wants us to fly.”

And before Casper could answer, the battering ram collided with the dome, and we all went winding off the cliff.