Wings of Ash

To The Mountains

  "The attack was over in about 20 minutes." Bloom stated as we stood around to listen to her. "I don't know how many Blood Witches, but enough to take over every Specialist there last night."

  "They knew we were making a move on their hideout." Silva glanced at us while having his arms crossed.

  "And we drank the last of the Blood Witch antidote. Fucker." Riven shook his head.

  "They took over every Specialist?"

  "Mh-hmm. And fairies didn't have it much better. Sebastian basically brought an army of Scrapers to take them down."

  "Are they all drained?"

  "Not yet." Bloom pulled out her phone and showed Silva a video. "They're being held under the school, taken to him one by one, and then brought back."

  "That's Bavani."

  "We're thinking that he can't handle a lot of magic at once."

  "So there's still time to save some of them. That's good. Good intel."

  "Well, it's all Musa. She's hiding in the school. She was able to avoid detection, but Flora wasn't so lucky." Bloom pocketed her cell and crossed her arms.

  "It looks like we've got our work cut out for us. A frontal assault is suicide. A covert strike upgrades our odds, but not by much. And we'll be fighting friends, which is a headfuck. We've got non-lethal weapons should you want them. Once we disable and neutralize the threat, the Blood Witches will be easy to clear. Then we free the fairies."

  "I'm going after Sebastian."

  "I might be able to do something about the Specialists under Blood Witch control." I spoke up, and Silva looked at me. "I'm not sure if it'll work, though, and I won't know until I try."

  "Do whatever you can. I just wish we had more Old Bloods in the ranks."

  "You have to understand their fear. I was exposed against my will, and I'm already here. Their identities are still safe and hidden so long as they don't come forward."

  "Have you been in contact with any of them?"

  "Riven helped me get word to my parents. They won't be able to get here in time to help us, but they're preparing the others in case.... Well, in case we lose and the Scrapers spread."

  "Always good to have a backup plan." Silva heavily sighed.

~

  "The Blood Witches are using controlled Specialists to patrol the grounds so they don't risk themselves." Riven muttered while looking through his binoculars.

  "All right. If word gets out we're making an attack, we lose our advantage, so we'll spread out and take them out one by one. Silently, all right?" Silva glanced at us while pointing. "Let's move."

  We kept low and used the trees for cover as we neared the school wall. Splitting up, we all went in different directions, and Riven helped boost me onto the wall before I leaned down to help him up.

  Dropping down behind some bushes, we peeked out to spot the nearest guard. He was alone and walking down a gravel path with his eyes glowing red from the Blood Witch's magic. Swallowing, I shifted into a sturdier position before raising my hands.

  "Are you about to do some freaky Old Blood shit?"

  "Possibly." I replied as my eyes began to glow from me building magic. I felt the patrolling Specialist's warmth and focused on it. Taking hold of it, I slowly closed my hands into fists while taking away that heat.