Forsaken & Claimed

Chapter 12

Pandora

The lights flick on, six masked men stood before me and all of them are on our Do Not Encounter List. The men from the club and the other group are two of the elite battalions from the Northern Clan.

Fuck.

They begin to push in slowly. I moved back towards the door.

"Stop right there," he said as he stopped.

"The mask," he said.

I removed the mask, revealing my new shameful Forsaken appearance. They follow suit all, but two.

"Shit! You guys weren't lying, but her energy level is pretty low," he said.

The men from the club were quiet, watching me. The intense pressure increased tenfold causing me to sway. He burst into laughter.

I can't run. They'll just chase me down. I can't risk anyone else getting involved, I'll hold them here. I'm fucked but I can finish this in one sweep. All the devices are connected. I can do this.

My fear and doubts are soon replaced by excitement; an excitement that causes my body to shake.

"Enough talking! Either give me what I came for or tremble beneath my strength," I said pulling my blades out.

He and his two other members ready themselves. I feel the intense pressure again only this time it fuels me, my muscles begin to tingle. I take a deep breath and let everything fall away. The talkative one thrusts his knives aiming for vital spots. With furious speed, I dodge their incoming attacks.

One slips towards my neck but I'm able to parry it into cutting my shoulder. A second kick disarms him but a kick to the back of the knee sends me falling to the ground with a boot-stomping into my back. He grabbed a fistful of my hair yanking my head back to see his face.

"I would've taken you under my wing. You have a bravery and coldness to you that can't be repeated."

My chest quickly rises and falls as I try to catch my breath. Owen stops the other two from moving forward, all with clenched fists.

"five minutes out," I hear through the earpiece.

He leans in close to my ear, " Be mine. I'll give you the world."

"Give? I'll take it."

"How do you plan on doing that when you can't even defeat me," he asked.

Boom.

Smoke fills the room, he releases me to jump out of the cloud. Grabbing my other knife, I lunge at him aiming for his neck. He uses his forearms to protect his throat and eyes. A smile splayed across his face. I slash my knife in the open space he left, cutting him from cheekbone to chin.

"Fucking shit!"

I feel a kick to my side as a gunshot rings out. I hit the floor checking myself for holes.

Thank you.

"P!"

Vicky's voice strains to yell over the frantic men in the room. I see her hand through the gaps in the smoke. I try and pull her up but we fall down.

"Thanks for saving my ass. Damn, did that kick take everything? Come on, let's go."

"I can't. Complete the mission. Leave me behind."

My heart stops as the smoke clears around us. My knees are wet and red. Her hands cover the wound. I rip material from my jacket to cover it.

"I'm not leaving you."

My breathing picks up.

"Now is your only chance, Pandora. You can't carry me and escape," she said in between breaths.

"I won't leave you. I'll be back, I swear," I said picking up a nearby knife and the straps. I make my way through the smoke to the crates and attach the straps.

"We're leaving here together," I said with a smile though I doubt she could see me.

"You truly are a marvel! Loyal subordinates to die for you!"

I reached her; she's pressing her injury hard.

His breathing is ragged as he holds the bleeding cut on his face. He reaches for a blade in his boot and takes a deep breath.

"We should have matching scars," his sudden calm tone causes the hairs on my neck to stand.

"Time is up, my friend," Owen said, placing a hand on his shoulder with a dark gaze.

He stared me down for a few seconds before they disappeared into the smoke. The three demigods from the club step up.

"Hello, again Little Warrior," Casimir said.

I didn't move from my stance though my feet began to slide.

I have to get her out here.

"Sorry about that, politics you know how it goes," Owen said.

"It's our turn to take a crack at you," Ares chimes in.

"How you doin' down there," I asked.

"Vicky," I said, giving her a nudge.

" I'm trying to rest here," her weak chuckle cut through.

"If you surrender now. We can work with your clan to see that no one faces execution," Owen said, stepping forward.

I raise my knife to dissuade him from coming closer.

"Your friend is seriously injured. You have no hope of defeating us as you are now. Your objective is no longer located at this base. Will you put your comrades to the sword over pride," Casimir said, moving to my left side.

We chose the sword the day we took up the cause.

"Here I come. Don't hold back."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Ares said.

Their stances changed to defense. Their bodies begin to radiate tendrils that match their eye color. Sending a powerful intense pressure throughout the room. I don't let it discourage my fire as I dash in straight for Owen. Quick reflexes allow him to block my attack, the tendrils shatters my blade and sends me flying back into a wall. They waste no time, all rushing in for the finishing blow. I stumbled to my feet and rolled out of the way of the first two attacks.

I stand to meet Ares' foot that sends me to the ground, with a cat-like reflex I'm able to kick his shin and throw off his balance. Time seems to slow as I reach into my boot for my last blade with lightning speed to bring it to his throat. I could feel it piercing against his skin but not enough to do the deed.

My mind reconnects with my body at the feeling of a cool hard object piercing my skin threatening to run me through if I move. I gaze around, Ares, comfortably being held just above the finishing blow of my blade by the back of his uniform. Casimir to the rescue. Owen holding my neck hostage with a curved blade.

Defeated.

"Surrender," Owen said.

I wish I could see the world. My racing heart pounds hard against my chest. I push the small button on the end of the handle.

"The strong will survive. To the last."

A flash then everything goes black.