The Mapmakers Union (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 3) (29 page)

I hit the ground and held my breath against the pain as I rolled with the blow and came up on my knees. He was already only a step away from me, his hammer swinging ready to deliver the final blow. I yanked my whip taut and light and fury exploded around us as his hammer met my whip and our energies crashed into one another.

“Looks like I get to be the man who took out Chloe Masters.” He laughed and I smiled at him. I dug one knee into the ground and brought my other leg around sweeping his feet out from underneath him. He upended and his head hit with such force that the sound echoed over the field.

I pushed myself to my feet in time to see the rest of Faith and her team step onto the field. Nightshade walked out of the maze last, a smoking trail of crimson energy floating behind him.

Edgar hurried to my side taking a deep breath. “I got your back.”

“I know you do, Rock Star.” I laughed and snapped my whip.

“Get them,” Nightshade called out.

Status: That hurt.

Edgar dropped to one knee placing his hand on the ground. “Protect.” Lines of golden energy shot out from his finger tips racing to the nearby dragon and giant topiaries. They both tore themselves from the ground and raced forward attacking. Mary and Hitch created shields holding off the battering monsters.

Faith and Nightshade moved to circle us, Faith drifting to Edgar’s side and Nightshade to mine.

“Any other tricks we can use?” I hoped that Edgar might have something else in store for them.

“Nothing helpful at the moment.”

Nightshade moved with practiced skill, pacing patiently, none of his movements giving away the next. I was on constant guard waiting for him to attack. He switched his direction every few steps moving in closer while still keeping me guessing. I was either going to have make a move or just keep waiting. Or I could do something else.

“Tease.”

“What?” he stopped and stared at me.

“You’re always such a tease.”

“That so?”

“Yeah, just like that time in the closet.” My breath caught in my throat. He had always thrown that time in my face when we were stuck alone in close quarters. He had insisted something had happened between us and I had insisted it hadn’t. I was, of course, lying.

“The closet?” His eyes shifted as he concentrated trying to fight through the headache that had to be pounding his skull.

“Maybe if you hadn’t been so close it wouldn’t have been that much of a tease.” I wanted him to remember, I wanted him to help us get the hell out of here, and that included him coming with us, but most of all I wanted him back.

“No.” He shook his head, pulled his Skeleton Key back and the power surged around him as he brought it forward sending a torrent of energy flying at me. I brought up a shield but the sheer ferocity of the attack pushed me backwards.

Edgar was fighting his own battle as Faith tossed one bolt of energy after another at him. Each time his hands stretched out and calculations danced in the air as soon as the energy reached him it would disappear as he redirected it to who knows where.

My shield cracked under the constant onslaught. I rolled to one side as it shattered into pieces and none too soon since the spot got scorched to nothingness. I flicked my wrist bringing out my whip and swung it around trying to keep Nightshade off balance.

He stepped out my range and his key formed into a curved blade. It was one weapon I didn’t want to tangle with.

“What did you do to him?” he seethed his eyes glancing toward Edgar.

“Nothing, he’s my friend and so are you.”

“
Liar
, he would never be your friend.”

“Why not?” We circled one another. Behind us Hitch was making fast work of the giant while Mary was on her knees her shield taking a solid beating by the topiary dragon.

“After everything you did, I should end you right here.”

“I never did anything to you, but care,” I said hoping it would jog his memory of our last time together.

“Right, you won’t trick me like you did Edgar.”

“It’s you that’s been tricked, Nightshade. They’re using you. Remember, you’ve got to remember.” He blinked and shook his head, leaving me an opening to move in and take him, but I hesitated.

The Earth rumbled, then exploded around me as the topiary giant collapsed sending chunks of dirt and rock in all directions. I was flung forward, straight at Nightshade; the impact sent us both tumbling to the ground.

We rolled a few feet and when we came to a stop I was laying on top of him. I needed to take a deep breath, I might have been healed but my back and side hurt like hell from my new wounds. When I finally managed to meet his eyes, I saw that he searched my face, as if he was realizing something. Somewhere in there was the man I loved.

I brought my mouth close to his as if I intended to kiss him and, oh how, I wanted to kiss him, but instead I whispered, “Remember us.” He grabbed my arms and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, but he pushed me away, his eyes narrowing in confusion. He turned his glance away from me as if struggling to do so. He focused on his hands wrapped around my jacket, but not just any jacket, the one his mother had given me.

“Why are you wearing my jacket and how did you get it?” His voice held no anger, only confusion.

“Your mom gave it to me.”

His eyes returned to mine. “Why?” 

I faint smile caught the corners of my mouth. “You know why.”

He shoved me off of him and stood, grabbing the sides of his head “This is all wrong.”

 I got to my feet quickly and reached out grabbing his face in both my hands. “You know the truth, remember.”

Pain exploded in my side and radiated throughout my body as a bolt of energy slammed into me knocking me over. I cried out in agony and tried to pull myself up afraid if I stayed down it would be the end of me, but another blast slammed into my chest and flipped me over taking the wind out of me.

Faith walked toward me with a cockiness that had me wanting to beat her to death. She grinned like a fool and aimed her Doorknob at me. Nightshade remained with his hands on his head and his eyes closed. Edgar was lying on the ground unconscious but breathing, his calculations having finally failed him. At least he wouldn’t see what was coming, though I didn’t think I’d be that lucky.

“Did you really think that you could talk him out of it?” She laughed. “Or did you think love would prevail and once he saw you he’d miraculously recover and once again come to your rescue?”

I really needed to kill this bitch. No way was I going down without a fight. I pulled myself up ignoring the pounding body aches. “It was worth a shot.”

“It’s over, you lose,” she taunted.

“Why’d you do it, Faith?”

“Why? I’ll tell you why. I was the most promising DS member of my generation, and then you showed up and ruined everything. When the First Kind recognized my talent, how could I resist joining them? Getting to screw you was just a bonus.”

“If you’re the most promising DS has to offer, then we’re in trouble.” I chuckled and there I go again making a bad situation worse.

“You should learn to keep your mouth shut. But, hey, it’s too late for that now, isn’t it.”

I couldn’t resist. “It isn’t over yet.”

“That’s cute that you still think you have a chance.”

“Against you?” I chuckled again. “I’ll take my chances.”

“I’m not alone or did you forget?” As if on cue Hitch walked up beside her followed by Mary, even Jackson joined them, a line of blood dripping from his head. “You remember my team. We’ll be the ones, the heroes, to kill the great Chloe Masters once and for all.”

If I was going down I sure as hell was going out on my terms. “Bite me.”  I snapped out my whip going for the most formidable foe first and sent Faith flying backwards. I pivoted into a side kick, hitting Jackson square in the stomach and dropping him. Hitch blindsided me with a solid punch that lifted me off my feet.

I grabbed his coat and held tight using him as a shield so that the others couldn’t attack me without hurting him. After a few quick steps at keeping them at bay, I tucked my chin into my chest and brought my head up with the force of a battering ram. The top of my skull caught his jaw snapping his head back and sent him stumbling. I reconnected with my whip and snapped it at Mary; she yelped in fright and jumped away. All my training sessions with Gavin had paid off, I was holding my own but the numbers weren’t on my side.

A bolt of energy caught me in the thigh and felled me to my knees. Faith hurried in to finish me off with a hefty kick to my chest. It catapulted me backwards and I hit the ground hard. I couldn’t do anything but gaze at the sky above and the massive crack the First Kind had opened.

“Nice try but we’ve been practicing against you for weeks now, Chloe. We know all your moves.” Faith laughed standing over me yet again, her Doorknob glowing bright blue as she gathered more power for what I guessed would be the final blow.

I struggled to push myself up. I’d be damned if I was going to go out lying on my back. My body screamed in protest, every muscle ached, and my legs shook as I finally stood and faced her team once again.

“Time to die, Chloe.”

Status...

“Kiss my ass,” I yelled figuring this was one time I couldn’t make the situation any worse than it already was. Energy crackled all around me and it was impossible to hold off all that much power. But I’d be damned if I wasn’t going to take some down with me.

“What’s that?” Jackson shouted.

 I looked around wondering what he was referring to and realized that the energy surge wasn’t coming from Faith and her minions. I glanced over my shoulder as a line of red energy shot up from the ground and formed a doorway. A Skeleton Key appeared and I heard a click as the door swung open.

“Need a hand?” Jess stepped out, her Skeleton Key glowing crimson in her hand. Val walked out next and finally a looming shadow crossed the threshold. It was Slade.

I grinned like a fool. “Never been so happy to see you guys.”

“I figured you two needed help.” Val smiled and beamed with pride that she had come to our rescue.

“You did good, Val.” I turned to Faith and her team. “We’re about to show you what a real team can do.”

Faith let out a guttural scream and swung her doorknob shooting a bolt of energy my way.  But before I had a chance to raise my shield, Slade jumped in front of me batting it with a swing of his wrench.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” He smiled and rushed toward Jackson, who was frantically stumbling backwards at the sight of the huge man bearing down on him.

Faith marched toward me. “I’m going to take you apart piece by piece.” 

I flicked out my energy whip. “You’re welcome to try.” I had to laugh. “But what makes you think you can succeed when so far you’ve failed miserably?” That really ticked her off. Splotches of red broke out all over her face and she looked ready to blow steam from her nostrils.

She snapped her hand up ready to strike when a blur of motion moved in from the side kicking her arm and sending her Doorknob sailing through the air and landing a good distance away.

“What the?” Faith blathered.

“No abilities, just you and me.” Val smirked as she stood in front of Faith her hands balled into fists.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Faith shook her head and sneered. “You’re nothing but a puny human.”

Val let her have it landing one on her cheek that snapped her head backwards and sent her stumbling.

“I’m the girl who you had kidnapped and I’m Chloe’s best friend. And nobody messes with my best friend, bitch.”

“Why you—”

Faith never got to finish, the next solid punch connected with her jaw and she let out a squeal of pain. It looked like all those years of Tae Kwan Do Val’s mom forced on her had paid off.

Val moved in with a flurry of moves, each hitting their mark. Faith tried to defend herself but she forgot rule number one; she had never practiced without her Doorknob. Val was making a mess of her and finally finished her off with a perfectly placed punch to her nose. It exploded into a bloody mess as she fell over unconscious.

“Val, stick to the plan,” Jess cried out while she battled with Hitch and Mary.

 I ran to her side, swinging my whip and snatching Mary’s feet out from under her. She hit the ground with a thud and I gave a quick look around for Nightshade and Edgar. I needed to get to them and fast. I spotted them, Nightshade was kneeling beside Edgar. I was relieved to see them together; it would make for an easier escape.

“What’s the plan?” I asked Jess as I calculated a way through the battle to get to them.

“Val is heading back through the portal and will get Gran and your dad to bring reinforcements.”

“Good.” I spotted an opening. “I’m going for Edgar and Nightshade.”

“It’s true then, he’s alive?” Jess’ voice cracked and it wasn’t from the blows of energy against her shield.

“Nightshade’s alive,” I said a sense of pure joy racing through me at the sound of those words.

“Go get him.” She let out a scream and leapt forward attacking Hitch with renewed determination. But then realizing that a friend you thought dead was alive had that effect on you, especially when you wanted to make sure he stayed that way. And I intended to do just that.

 I took off at top speed, my body rejuvenating from an adrenaline rush, though I had no doubt I’d feel it later.

I ducked, twisted, and nearly crawled past the fight raging back and forth between Jackson and Slade and skidded to a halt in front of Nightshade.

“None of this makes sense.” He didn’t look up; instead he flipped his Skeleton Key over in his hand and stared at it.

“It’s the device they’re using on you; they did the same to me. It alters your perceptions.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Do you remember me at all?”

“Yes, I know who you are and it is taking everything I have not to kill you where you stand.” His words dripped with such anger that I took a step back worried he might actually try and take me out.