EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

XLIV

Lena's smooth entrance is not exactly the way she pictured it to be. Sure, she might have looked cool, but her heart is betraying her by beating so fast and loud.

She wishes she can say she feels as brave as she—hopefully—appears to be, but she's honestly afraid.

It was a bold move and a gamble to intervene.

But she suspected she would have done so anyway, and what better moment than just now?

Looking down, Belladonna is out cold temporarily at Lena's feet, her red hair splayed around her face and the floor. Lena had targeted the one and only surprise attack she has for the woman and betted that her kick would be solid and hard enough to take her out for a while—all because Belladonna is the threat that can possibly kill her before she can even defend herself. Erebus is obviously strong with the tremendous amount of power from all the darkness she's seen him manipulate, but Belladonna had been able to control the human body as easily as she breathes. At least by putting her out first, Lena and Lucifer will have the free will to fight fairly against Erebus.

While Lucifer looks surprised at Lena's appearance, Erebus is as calm as he was moments earlier, as if someone hadn't just stabbed him in the toe or that he'd just lost his partner but gained an enemy.

Lena takes a step back unconsciously when Erebus half turns to acknowledge her arrival. "Who do we have here?"

"Who I am isn't important," Lena says with all the confidence she can muster at his low rumble. "Instead, tell me what are the Shadow Syndicate really planning with those vials you have there. Why are you targeting the A-class and above specifically, and what is going to happen if they do get injected with the chemical? I've already recorded the entire proceeding with my interactive virtual assistant, so you might as well get it over it since you'll be exposed to the world of your crimes very soon—and of your connection to the authorities."

"Wait, Lena—" Lucifer begins to say from across the room, but is interrupted by Erebus who lets out a cold, bone-chilling laughter.

"The authorities?" Of all the things Lena had just thrown his way, that's the thing he chooses the comment on with a hollow laugh.

Lena tightens the grip on her dagger. "I know you're working with the authorities; Lucifer here is proof—the authorities kept him here on purpose for you to have easy access to him for whatever this plan is. But I won't let you harm a classmate, not on my watch."

"How can we be working with the bureau when our entire purpose is to take them down, be noticed by the public, and make the City of Leatia a better place without the injustice stemming from the current power system?" Erebus says instead, surprisingly not attacking. If anything, he seems amused at Lena's claim. "We're here to save Lucifer."

"Doesn't seem like it to me," Lena argues, and at the same time Lucifer corrects, "Here to force me into doing things I refuse to do."

"Are you sure you don't need saving from the ones who put you in this cage?" Erebus counters.

When Lucifer doesn't answer, Lena briefly meets his eyes from across the room, before her eyes land on the two discarded syringes on the ground near Belladonna's limp hand.

Without thinking, she throws a dagger toward them—

Her blade disappears in a sudden darkness that erupts, and so do the two syringes containing the mysterious yet possibly deadly formulae. Mere seconds later, they reappear safely in the hands of Erebus' cloaked hand, and her dagger flies uselessly to the floor near him. The man spins around slowly, but doesn't show any discomfort in how Lena's first blade had affected him; in fact, in a flick of his hand, the damned blade disappears in a shroud, leaving him trailing blood as he takes two steps toward Lena.