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“This is taking too long.”
Atlanta turned to where Ryan was standing, looking over the lines of survivors making their way to the cavern entrance. They’d been supervising the evacuation along with a force of the Werewolf guard, and so far, despite worries about the hybrids’ return, panic had not yet broken out. It’d taken a lot of work to get everyone ready and for them to hurry, an effort that had left Atlanta boiling with frustration and urgency. At least she felt better now that the survivors were filing out.
There were just too many of them. She knew it, and Ryan knew it.
It’s horrible that I’m not thrilled there are this many. She shook her head, knowing that it was the urgency that had her all riled up. There were at least two thousand people down here, of all races. Uncle James had taught her that everyone was special. Each person, supernatural or human, was important. She was glad Adelaide’s attack hadn’t rendered Calen completely devoid of life. Non-compelled life, that is.
It’s just, right now, they’re an easy target.
That’s what worried her the most. Gallaway had taken a majority of the pack out with a bunch of the Vampires to maintain the perimeter until Forn could be evacuated. There was still no sign of an attack on the Dome, and she could only hope that the first attack had been a test. Right now, she was hoping that the compelled were too busy trying to figure out the tunnels to actually do any damage.
But what about the hybrids? If they’re here, then Adelaide must be here. How long will she wait before she comes herself?
“As long as the compelled are underground, we’re fine,” Atlanta said, trying to calm Ryan down as much as herself. “Besides, the entrance into the Dome has been sealed. We only have to worry about the perimeter.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Ryan said. “With this many people moving about, the compelled are going to eventually figure out we’re leaving. They’ll barge through the perimeter without a care in the world. With the hybrids at their back, they’ll overcome us in minutes.”
“Then we’ll just have to pray Marcus and Luther provide enough of a distraction to keep them away.”
Ryan shrugged. She could see the worry on his face, ever since the meeting in the throne room. She could see how troubled she was, and it didn’t make her feel any better herself. She had wanted more time with him, a little one-on-one to assure herself that they were both okay, that they would make it through this. But time was of the essence, and they had all been put to work right away.
I guess we won’t be exploring any more lip-locking for a while.
Ryan turned to her, caught her staring, and smiled. She smiled back.
“You’re stalling,” he said. “Go already.”
“Are you sure?”
“Raul needs you, or else he’ll lead everyone right to the enemy.”
Atlanta hesitated. She didn’t want to leave him, though she knew he was right. They had figured out the least treacherous part of the city, the area with the least compelled activity, and Atlanta had mapped a route out of Calen for the survivors. Only, she needed to be there to protect the train while it was en route. That was her assignment, along with Raul.
She looked back at Ryan as he bent down to help an older woman back onto her feet. She felt her heart ache. It was almost as if, every time they found each other, they were torn apart again. Only this time, she had a sinking feeling they wouldn’t find each other as easily. Getting the survivors out would take hours, if not longer, and there was no guarantee the compelled would wait that long.
Not with the hybrids back.
“Go already,” Ryan broke through her thoughts. “We’re almost done here. I’ll meet you at the tunnels when we’re done.”
She nodded, and reluctantly made her way out of the cavern.
The wind and sand of the world above slapped at her, and she immediately wished she could turn back and stay below. She still couldn’t get used to how much damage Calen had suffered, and the storm outside was a reminder that they were still not safe. The sand felt like a fog as it swirled around her and the survivors, and she found herself squeezing the hilts of her weapons in anticipation. There was no telling what could come at them from the mist.
The train of survivors made its way down Halaway Street, through Picket Park, and all the way to Calen Cemetery. There was an old mausoleum there, one that the a few people in Calen believed belonged to the Skolar family for generations. The truth was, it was one of the first exits to the tunnels below, part of a smaller complex back when Calen was a smaller city. Luckily, the only link between it and the major system was a narrow corridor that was small enough to defend. Raul had suggested sealing it off, but time was not on their side. If someone, or something, found it, Raul and Atlanta had to hold them back.
She sprinted through the throng of people and found Raul at the mausoleum door, urging the survivors on. Luckily for them the cemetery was within their perimeter, but no one was taking any chances.
“You’re alone?” she asked, walking up to Raul and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“Thomas has led a unit ahead, scouting to make sure we don’t have any surprises,” Raul replied, giving her a weak smile. “With any luck, everyone will be out of Calen before Adelaide knows what happened.”
“I didn’t think Thomas would shy away from a fight,” Atlanta mused, helping a child who had dropped his bag.
“Marcus’ orders,” Raul said. “That’s the benefit of hierarchy.”
She smiled and nodded. “Speaking of which, any news from Damian?”
Raul stiffened for a moment, then shook his head. “Your guess is as good as mine. We’ll find out once this is over.”
“Or when the Cast comes to help.”
Raul scoffed. “I doubt it. And you shouldn’t count on it, either. Damian might be able to convince a few, but when it comes to this side of the world the Cast is reluctant to lift a finger.”
“But they’ll listen to Damian.”
“It’s more about willingness, really,” Raul replied. “Europe isn’t as tame as the Americas. Peace is harder to keep, especially since the Cast isn’t exactly loved. Removing a large unit to assist here can have serious consequences there.” Raul looked at her and pressed his lips together. “The greatest benefit would be getting the Lunar Books out of Adelaide’s reach. I wouldn’t hope for much more.”
Atlanta huffed in frustration and eyed the line of survivors as they made their way into the mausoleum and down to the tunnels. “Having a few Druids on our side would be an advantage.”
“Why?” Raul asked, eyeing her carefully. “We have a Coven Master fighting with us.”
Atlanta gave him a weak smile. Coven Master. The title still scared her. What it meant freaked her out. And, as long as she had no idea what she could do with her magic, she was still unwilling to really let her powers fly. She would have to be careful, and rely on her instincts as much as possible.
“I’d say we’re lucky, if you think—”
A sudden explosion interrupted Raul mid-sentence, and they both turned to look past the Dome. Green fire streaked the horizon, escaping into the mist of sand and wind, a sick discoloration that looked far too ugly to mean anything good. The survivors all dropped to their knees, some broke formation in panic. Others began storming into the mausoleum with the chaotic stampeding of a herd of buffalo.
“That’s City Hall!” Atlanta shouted over the screams and shouts.
Raul only nodded before quickly trying to reorganize the line. People had begun to run away from the cemetery, some back to the Dome, others in random routes out into the city. Atlanta cursed under her breath, and quickly tried to help usher people back. But nobody was listening.
From the mist to her right the sounds of screams pierced the air, followed immediately by the sounds of hissing and growling. A Werewolf howled in the distance, only adding to the panic, and through the mist Atlanta could see dark silhouettes crashing into each other. Red eyes burned as heads turned towards her.
“Raul!” she screamed, drawing her sword. The Druid rushed to her side, green fire blazing from his hands just as the first of the compelled dashed out of the mist and made for them. Raul let his fire loose and the flames crashed into the front lines, the mix of screams and angry growls mixing with the sounds of fighting beyond.
“They broke through the line!” Atlanta yelled.
“How did they know?” Raul yelled back, letting more fire loose.
Atlanta didn’t answer, jumping forward and swiftly taking out two of the compelled who had escaped the flames. More came for her and she fought her way through them, slicing and kicking, letting her knives fly as she swirled around the attackers and quickly brought them down. And still more came.
“We need help here!” she cried out.
Almost as if on cue, four figures dashed out of the mausoleum in a blur and crashed into the onslaught of compelled. Atlanta watched Thomas and the other Vampires fight through the horde with the speed and agility of men who had been aching for a fight for centuries. She could almost see the smile on Thomas’ face as he cut through one compelled after the other.
Atlanta turned towards the Dome, the train of survivors now nothing more than a panicked crowd racing for cover wherever they could find it. A bunch was fighting amongst each other to get into the mausoleum while others stood their ground and tried to fight their attackers. More howls sounded in the distance, and from behind her she could hear the coming attack of more compelled who had broken through yet another part of the perimeter.
Raul grabbed her by the arm and pulled her around. “This is a massacre. They were waiting to make their move!”
Atlanta shook her head in disbelief. There was no way. She had been certain they were coming through the tunnels. It was the only explanation. Now it seemed she had led everyone to certain death. “This must be a distraction!” she shouted back. “Keep us fighting while they come in through the tunnels.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Right now, we’re sitting ducks!”
Through the mist more compelled poured out towards them, cutting through the survivors. Wolves and Vampires appeared everywhere, rushing out from their relative posts, joining the battle. Atlanta barely had time to cut through two more attackers before a third howl sounded, promising more of the same.
“The mausoleum!” Thomas shouted. “Close it off! Save the ones who have made it through!”
Atlanta watched in shock as Raul turned toward their only escape, hands bursting with flames. She grabbed him by the arm. “No!”
Raul pulled away from her. “He has a point!”
“Then we’re writing off everyone else!”
“Everyone else is already dead or going to die!” Raul yelled back, turning away from her. “If we don’t close that door, the rest will die, too.”
Atlanta pulled him back. “They’ll get lost in the tunnels without a guide.”
“There’s no other way!”
“Go with them.”
Raul stared at her in shock. “I’m not leaving you.”
Before she could reply, Raul pushed her aside and let his flames loose on an attacking Wolf. The beast howled in pain as the flames ate through it.
Atlanta jumped to her feet just as two more compelled came for her, and she quickly cut through them, screaming in anger.
Raul came up beside her, and she pushed him towards the mausoleum. “Go!” she screamed.
“I’m not leaving you!”
“Then they’re as good as dead anyway,” Atlanta yelled, fighting off another attacker, her blade cutting through him expertly and blood splashing across her crimson suit. “Go now!”
Raul hesitated then raced toward the mausoleum, firing bursts of green flames right and left as he cut through his attackers. He stopped at the door and turned to look at her, still unsure if he should leave them behind.
Atlanta nodded at him, then let the burning inside her free. She felt the fire race out in glee, rushing through every vein in her body, bursting around her like a shell of power. Raul disappeared behind the door, and with a cry of anger Atlanta let the fire loose on the structure. The flames engulfed the mausoleum, wrapping it in red fire, and with a burst of force crushed it into rubble and sealed the tunnel completely.
She felt a heavy weight crash into her and throw her to the ground. Her sword fell out of her hand, and as she rolled over she pulled her dagger out and turned to face the compelled Wolf lunging at her. It leaped at her, and while still in the air Thomas crashed into it and slammed the beast to the ground. With a quick twist, he broke its neck.
“The Dome, now!” Thomas hissed. “Take the others. I’ll fight here with my guard.”
“I’m not running away from a fight, Thomas,” Atlanta shot back, grabbing her sword and readying herself for the next onslaught. All around her, the compelled and the survivors were locked in battle. There was no escaping this.
Everyone here is going to die.
“You’re not running away,” Thomas hissed. “The fight’s going to come to you. Once the hybrids start fighting, they’ll find you. At least at the Dome, you’ll keep them away from looking for the survivors in the tunnels.”
Atlanta hesitated, and Thomas shook her violently.
“Marcus believes in you, for some absurd reason I have yet to understand,” he said. “If there’s any hope to bring an end to this war, you won’t do it here. Now, go!” He shoved her violently and shouted commands to the others.
Atlanta looked back as Thomas stormed into the midst of the oncoming compelled.
Go! Now!
She turned and raced through the battle, slicing at whoever stood in her way, jumping over fallen bodies. From the mist, survivors came up beside her and joined in her retreat. They cut through their enemy, some falling behind to hold off the horde that was following, while most pushed on with her.
The Dome. That’s where we’ll make our last stand.
She cried out for others to follow her, and raced through the streets of Calen. The sound of her battle cry was carried by the winds around her.
