Chapter 280

Grace

I heard dying screams as I ran. The sound of battle echoed down the hallway.

I found Astarte holding a group of attackers off at the door of the other stairs.

"There was no way off."

Astarte snarled. "Your mother's office! Lock the door."

"What about--"

"Go!"

I bit my lip and ran to my mother's office and closed the door. I secured the heavy lock with trembling hands. I could hear Astarte fighting in the hallway. Collapsing onto the plush couch in the corner, I buried my face in my hands, the sounds of battle echoing faintly from beyond the reinforced door. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, mingled with a gnawing fear.

Was anyone coming? Would they get here in time? Just as despair threatened to engulf me, the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door jolted me back to alertness. A voice, strained but determined, cut through the chaos.

"Grace?"

I rushed to the door. Astarte hurried inside. They attackers followed and slammed against the door as she shut it behind her. She cast spells over it and leaned against the door.

Her clothes were torn and a trickle of blood stained her cheek. But despite the injuries, her eyes blazed with an unwavering determination.

"There's no escape," I whispered, the words catching in my throat.

"I'll make a path for you," Astarte said. "I can make a tunnel, but you have to run."

"What about--"

"Charles would lay down his life if it meant returning Set to me," she whispered, staring at the door. "That is who we are to one another."

She rolled her shoulder and conjured another spear. " She looked at me. "When I give you the signal, you run and you don't stop, you understand?"

A shuddering breath escaped my lips. The air crackled with magic, a raw energy that pulsed and thrummed. My breath hitched as she channeled that energy, weaving it into a shimmering tapestry of light.

Then, a light caught my eyes.

"Wait."

"What?"

I went to the wall and pulled the picture from the wall. Light seeped out from inside the compartment. I opened it. Adrenaline jolted through me, momentarily pushing back the fear. Inside, nestled in a bed of crimson velvet, lay a weapon unlike any I had ever seen, glowing softly.

It was a rifle, but unlike any used by the Mooncrest police or military. Sleek and intricately engraved with swirling runes, it pulsed with a faint magical aura. A small scroll nestled beside it caught my eye. Instructions. My heart pounded in my chest as I unfurled the scroll, scanning the elegant script. It was my mother's handwriting.

"Is that what I think it is?" Astarte asked.

I picked it up, checking the charge. It had maybe one shot in it, but it was better than nothing. I turned the dial and felt it hum in my hands. It was nothing like the rifle that mom had taught me to shoot with, but it was close enough.

"Give it here," Astarte said.

I offered it to her and watched her channel darkness into the barrel, the energy gauge shot to full.

"Hell of a relic to have." She aimed at the door. "That barrier is going to come down and you fire. We go left after my sister."

I swallowed.

"Think you can do that?"

I took aim, watching the barrier crack.

"I can do it."

The crack grew wider and wider. The wood splinted, and I screamed firing into the doorway as soon as it burst open.The runes on the weapon glowed a vibrant blue against the smoky backdrop.

A surge of energy erupted from the weapon, forming a shimmering blue bolt that streaked across the room. The attacker crumpled to the ground, a surprised look etched on his face as he died. I fired at every new body in the doorway until a pile of bodies lay there.

She flicked her hand and the gauge refilled.

"Let's go."

More people rushed down the hall. We headed left. There was no one, which had to mean that Neith was still fighting. Smoke stung my eyes. I heard them scream in pain behind me and Astarte's footsteps. My heart pounded in my chest, a chaotic drumbeat against the symphony of clashing steel and guttural roars.

We hustled down the hall until I was where I'd left Neith. She threw a man down the stairwell. I shot at the attackers swarming up the stairs. Astarte threw her spear and Neith fell back, gasping for breath.

"I'll seal the doors. We just need to get to the ground floor!"

Fire spilled over the doors as we fought our way down the stairs. Something swiped my cheek, but I didn't heed it.

We stumbled over the bodies and slipped in the blood. I tried not to think about how many people I'd killed. I didn't want to think about it.

"Back up is coming, but we need time, "Neith said. "A few minutes."

We broke through the first floor stairwell door to a large group of people. She lifted her spear. I lifted my rifle.

"Challenge accepted!" Astarte growled.

I fired and fired, but soon I was out.

Neith jumped in front of me. "We'll make a path for you. Get out to the street!"

"In three!" Astarte said, the darkness swelled around her.

I shook my head. "You can't! You'll be defenseless!"

"I already told you," Astarte said. "Get going."

Neith grabbed my arm. Astarte charged forward shoving the whole crowd aside. Some went up in flames, others turned to ash.

The force of the spell reverberated through the building, shaking me to the core. A wall caved in with a deafening roar, showering us with debris.

I fell to the ground and looked back. There was a path to the door, but Astarte was on the ground. My vision blurred from the dust and tears.

"Go!" Neith yelled, shoving me toward the door as one of the still living attackers lunged forward.

I turned and ran, dodging the attackers that seemed punch drunk from the attack. I dove and just when I thought I'd reach the door. Pain struck me in my back. I spun and slammed to the ground. A second late, a figure was on top of me , snarling and wrapping his hands around my throat. I clawed at his arms. I kicked, but my vision grew dark. Tears streamed down my face.

Something glinted above me. I reached for it. It burned my hand, but I held onto it and pulled. Then, blinding light erupted from the direction of the door. The attacked was ripped off me.

I gasped for breath, choking and sitting up. I let go of whatever the burning thing was and looked up. Across the distance, a body with only half a head still twitched as the other half of its head crumbled and turned dark. The body dropped to the ground dead, leaving only a long, shimmering spear of light.

Silence descended, broken only by my ragged gasps for breath. Slowly, I turned towards the source of the spear, a sliver of hope blossoming in my chest. There, standing amidst a plume of dissipating magical energy and dust was Charles, his face grim, his eyes blazing with a fury I had never seen before.

He darted forward, coating me in a blanket of shimmering light as he passed.

I watched, mesmerized and terrified, as Charles fought his way across the room. He was a whirlwind of motion, his spear a blur as he cut through the remaining attackers with deadly efficiency. They fell one by one. One of them surrendered, but Charles took off his head until no one was moving.

"Mistress Noir!"

I saw witches dashing toward Astarte. Neith went to her sister, but Charles came to me. He kneeled beside me.

He brushed a stray lock of hair from my face, his touch shocked me. I blinked up at him.

"Grace," he whispered, his voice thick with concern. "Are you with me?"

I could only nod, tears streaming down my face. "She… Astarte…" I stammered, gesturing towards the unconscious figure lying amidst the rubble.

Charles's expression darkened as he followed my gaze.

Neith hauled Astarte up. "She's alive. Just unconcious."

The rifle floated toward me.

Charles gathered me into his arms and took a deep breath.

"Let me take you home."

I nodded and sighed. When I opened my eyes, my eyes landed on glowing jewel set in a deep black metal.

"What is that?" Charles asked, looking down at it.

"I... pulled it off the guy without a head."

Charles frowned. "I don't think I'm supposed to pick it up. It's got a deep disdain for me."

"It burned me."

Astarte groaned, blinked and opening her eyes. "Charles?"

"DO you know what that is?" Charles asked. "It's... eerie."

Neith helped her forward, she squinted and her eyes bulged.

"It's... the Heart of Dracula."

We all looked back at the half-headed corpse, and I thought about what Eason said about Sean losing his head.

"Well... I think the path to Senate just got that much clearer."