Children of the Fallen: Bloodlines (BOOK #3)

Chapter 53: First Wave

Morgan Sinclair

There's about 45 minutes until sunrise and until then they're going to try to push into the palace for shelter and to continue fighting. Azrael decided on sending them in waves. Lucien and Kendrick first then Azrael and the others but that's alright, we prepared for that. 

"It's not time yet," I tell Victoria, storming down the hall with Sterling, Chloe, and Grayson following- Grayson already with his bow in hand.

"Because Kendrick and Lucien are notoriously rule abiding citizens."

The palace burst to life with an anxious energy felt by all as everyone ran to their places. Weapons were distributed, orders were given. The front lines forming the perimeter, then everyone else moved to their positions throughout the city and palace. I gathered my weapons, a sword at my back, knives, and two pistols but before I left to go outside an idea came to my mind so I sprinted around to find Victoria before anything started.

"Victoria," I call for her inside the lounge area she's taken a liking to in my palace, currently using it to splay out her weapons.

She turns around from loading a pistol. Sliding it into the hip holster she asks, "What?" Murder shining brightly in her eyes.

She flicks her stare over to my hand holding a covered syringe as I reach into my pocket. I pull out that small vial and step closer to her. "This is a syringe." I then hold up the vial. "And this is pure Nephilim blood that Lucien gave me a while back." Her brow creases and as I place them both into her hand I say, "Henry will be here. I know we have a few people we need to kill before him and it may be difficult but if you get the opportunity... kill the prick."

Her eyes met mine. "Thank you."

"Have you both looked outside?" Chloe asks behind us standing in the door.

We walk to the nearest balcony of mine with the two following closely behind. Out in the far distance on two sides of the city, there's an intimidating crowd of people marching just past the barrier. To my left there's Lucien and his people. A soldier holds that emerald green banner that hangs all around his palace's, along with a few who have literal armor on. Like he's still centuries in the past where banners and armor were needed. Kendrick mirrored him on my right, a banner and a few in armor as if that's going to help in this situation. 

Victoria, Chloe, and I storm outside splitting into different directions to spread out, leaving each other with an incline of our heads wishing luck. I know Grayson and some of his are up with Fleur and her people, for the distance shooting. Kellan in the back, and Sterling, Arthur, Aurelia, Cyrus, Fleur, Samson, and Mila placed throughout the city and within my palace. Our side is actually stacked to take them on without the help of Azrael and the celestials right behind them.

Quickly I walked to my spot on the front lines of the perimeter. Val comes up to my side with an assault rifle in hand grinning wildly at it. "I'm going to give Dante a personal thank you for this." She lifts the rifle. I laugh then she turns to me all serious. "Thank you for turning me all those years ago. Literally saved my life, I was half dead." She then added, "Logan wanted to say the same but he's on the other side right now." 

My lips pull into a soft smile. "Thank you for everything. After this all four of us will go out to celebrate."

She smiles bright. "We're making Logan do shots."

"He hates them."

"I know." She settled into a stance, gripping her gun as Lucien's people marched closer. I lock eyes with a few of his people and enjoy their faces falling. Lucien I spot standing like a damn coward in the back of his people. 

A silence fell, only the sounds of those marching footsteps filling the air, moving closer and closer while the sky's dark blue started to turn lighter. They stop in their tracks and there's movement within their lines, lines filled with those nobles of his and newly turned subjects. All loyal, most out of pure fear, and those new vampires he's been having turned left and right- their terror and nervousness is visible from here. Being turned into a creature of fiction then being forced to fight in something they have nothing to do with. 

The movement has us all on alert, gripping guns and swords and knives- whatever weapons are in our hands. Out stepped obvious witches from their hand positions and lack of weapons, but I noticed their eyes. Wholly pitch black. Demonic witches. That had me shouting to fire at them specifically, even though we are reserving the majority of our ammo for the hunters, celestials, lycans, and witches later. Guns went off but as they did whatever spell they performed, they performed quicker, sending a blast of energy at us sending us stumbling back or some even falling to the floor. 

I look right at one witch and as I do an arrow flies through her eye- I know that fletching. Grayson.

Lucien's lines sprint forward, as do we. Bullets fire from those who have guns and quickly metal clashing against metal rings out. I rip my obsidian blade from the chest of a vampire and turn to Val quickly saying, "The demonic witches, get them first." I sprint off to find them.

One brings a several of Fleur's people down but I'm behind them in a second ripping his heart from his chest, freeing the vampires from the painful spell. I watch the groups of Lucien's soldiers- some recognizable faces as his nobles disappear before my eyes. That's when I hear, "Behind!" shouted several times. There are celestial witches here, they're teleporting them. 

Even worse they're teleporting others behind us; hunters, lycans, witches. No Cursed or from what I could tell lower or high Celestials yet. One glance at my phone and I spot the messages, the single blank spaces from those who were named "leaders" of their line- the middle of the city, outside the palace gates, inside the palace gates, back of the palace, inside the palace and most floors. The blank space message telling that they're now fighting. They're everywhere. I quickly notice that their vampires- Lucien's and I can assume Kendrick's have all disappeared from this fight outside.

I find Lucien in the midst of the continued fighting, from a short distance away he smiles like a serpent at me and celestial witch appears next to him, looking tired. Good, burn out. I sprint over to him before the celestial could leave with him and grab his arm being teleported with him. I blink and I'm inside my palace, in my great hall. I punch him in the face right as he stabs me in the gut then shoves me away from him. He grabs the celestial witch and they leaves once again before I could reach him. I pull the knife from me and angrily leave the room finding Brittany and the other servants gathered outside with weapons in hand, "Morgan?"

"Get ready. They're in the palace they'll be spreading out soon." I tell her and run off.

The death and destruction occurring throughout this palace, this city is insane. Screaming, shouting, pleads for death or for help, swords clanging, gun shots ringing, punching, slamming, and all of it is hounding my ears. Not to mention the smell of blood everywhere, lycans, vampires, witches, and humans blood splattered everywhere. It's honestly hard to know who's on who's side, the hunters and lycans and witches are easier to spot but when it comes to mine vs Kendrick and Lucien's people- the non armored ones at least it's getting hazy. I just wait to see who runs to attack me then I'll deal with them. I need to find Lucien and quick.

Running through the palace I find Kellan and his people. "Is Azrael here?" he asks, after yanking his obsidian sword back from a vampire.

"No," I say, quickly grabbing the knife thrown at me from across the room. Flipping it back around, I fling it into the hunters chest. "Not yet."

"Kendrick's somewhere here," he said, his irises bright red. "He ran through, didn't stop to kill anyone, just bolted."

"He's probably trying to find Lucien," I predict. He nodded and just then we both turn our heads at the inhuman garbled snarls coming from somewhere within the palace. Cursed. And the second wave begins.