Red Ruse

Chapter Twenty Three

Mare

Ada is the first to obey, sprinting down the steps as the walkway groans. Lory quickly follows, pinching her nose. "It's metal." The scaffolding rips out beneath her and she stumbles. "Someone's burning bullets, and letting the fumes poison the air."

I swallow, walls closing in around me. "It's a suicide mission." A sharp intake of breath. "He doesn't care if he makes it out. He's just trying to smoke out as much of us as he can."

Nix grunts, pushing Ada behind him. "Let's make this quick, then." His skin crackles, smoother than stoneskin, but no less deadly. "I want what you promised, Barrow."

I grit my teeth. "We all do."

The metal screeches, buckling, and I lunge forward. There's not enough room for all of us to make it. Still, I have to survive, if only to make Maven keep his promise. I raise my voice. "Samos!" I can barely hear myself over the clash of steel. "We come to you by order of the crown."

The railing rips out beneath my hand. I stumble back, gripping the wall, only for the scaffolding to slant towards the center. My feet slip, and I scream.

And then the walkway begins to straighten.

A head of sand-blonde hair darts past me, hands running along the buckling metal. It straightens with each treacherous second, Gwendolyn's eyes rippling with rage. I catch a glimpse of Lupa, hands extended as if to clamp down on a mind. It can't be her mother, her movements too smooth and steady. Instead, a nearby guard clutches his head. I can't tell if he's on our side or not. I can't tell if I care.

Ada heaves, shaking with exertion. It seems her ability leaves no protection for her body. "Open the windows." She shoots the glass, but it bounces off. "The air's gonna kill us!"

Gwendolyn grabs the newly righted railing. "Bit busy here!" Beside her, Lupa heaves. "You know how many magnetrons are aiming for us right now?"

My eyes harden. "Weren't you trying to run?"

"We got cut off on the way back." She grunts, a bullet inches from her face. It rockets back to its owner with a screech. "I will not apologize for keeping my daughter safe."

What about the rest of us? I want to scream. Instead, I lock on Lupa, still standing, one fist clenched as the other searches for a target. Electricity spreads on my fingers. "What are you doing?"

She points ahead, eyes hollow. It's hard to tell in the dark, but I can vaguely discern the shape of a body. Several bodies, actually, all slumped into question marks on the floor. Lupa stares at me. "I crushed their brains." The words quiver, a leaf in the breeze. "I didn't know I could do that."

Neither did I.

My back straightens, a plan slowly weaving into place. "Get to the ground." I dodge a spear that embeds in the wall. "If we kill the prince, we can offer pardons to the rest." It's a power I don't have, but I'm not above lying. Never have been.

Gwendolyn ducks, armor tearing off into razors. "Good thinking." Her breathing comes in steady pants. "I'll stay here. You light the way."

I reach for Cameron's arm, only for her to smack me off. "Not a chance." She winces. "I can't–"

I sharpen. "Do you want your brother to march into the Choke?"

She draws back, shaking. It's a choice, but not a real one, same as Maven's promises to me. Sparks jump and crackle overhead. I let them light the way to our fate.

Someone calls after us, high and breathy. I turn to find Lupa struggling to catch up. Good. She might be the most dangerous one here. She tries to take Cameron's hand, only to be swatted away. Her face falls.

It's not long before heat begins to creep across my skin. My fingers twitch as I catch another shape in the flames. Two, actually, both locked in combat, the circle widening as if to keep them trapped. One disappears, reappearing just outside.

Shade.

Another shard aims for him, but it changes direction just as quickly. Same as all the others that have aimed for us, a hundred eyes that wish us both dead and alive. I send electricity rippling through the shards, bending and breaking them as they fly through the air. The smell makes me reel, iron and noxious. We have a time limit now. I need to make it count.

Cameron takes a step back, coughing, and I almost grab her arm again. Almost. Lupa stares at me, and my limbs freeze midstep. "I'm sorry." She, too, starts to cough. "Run!"

They both break for the exit, and I curse. The flames have grown painfully bright, tinging blue as I approach. They part, and Evangeline steps through, blades gleaming flame-white and purple from my sparks. "Barrow." Razors circle around her wrist. "Doing his bidding, are we?"

Sweat beads at my forehead, and I cough despite myself. "I'm surprised you're still standing. You're closer to the fumes than any of us."

"It's iron. It runs in my blood." She shrugs. "A Samos can breathe it in all they want. You, on the other hand . . . " A grin, sharp as a knife. "I suggest you run."

I lunge, sparks ablaze, nearly at her throat when she pins me to the ground. Stone grinds against my chin as one fist collides with my cheek, a razor sliding along my throat before slashing again. My skin erupts into a million sparks. My instincts hurl her against the wall.

I claw at my throat, smoke choking my lungs as I stagger upright. A hand closes around mine, and I almost recoil. But Shade's voice registers through the haze. "One down." He coughs. "Two to go."

Cal. Ara Iral. But not . . . I frown. "Where's Julian?"

A fireball hurls between us, yanking me and Shade apart. My head whips around to Cal's cold stare, burning with judgment and undue hatred. I suppose it makes sense: I did leave him to rot in a cell. Still, it gives me the strength to hurl back, to send lightning careening towards him, too quick to transform to flame. He rolls away. I strike again, harder.

The next fireballs come in quick succession, Shade grabbing me and teleporting away from the flames. My lightning strikes from the ceiling this time. It singes his shoulders, but nothing more.

Cal grips his head as I double over, wheezing. "THE WINDOWS!" My voice barely sounds like mine. "OPEN THE FUCKING WINDOWS!"

They quiver, each section fighting for ground. I send bolts at them, but the glass is too strong. Diamond: wealth, strength, and power. And it's gonna get me killed.

Evangeline lurches forward, a razor swirling my direction. Cal sets it on fire, scorching hot, and it almost hits me.

Would've, were it not for Shade's body blocking the way.

He stumbles, flames spreading over his uniform. It almost burns away. Almost. It's fire-resistant, smothering within seconds, the fabric whole save for the smallest of holes.

But it doesn't stop the stench of burning flesh.

I turn around, flaring, sparks shimmering below my skin. I would've exploded. Might've killed everyone here in a sudden burst of lightning. But I never get the chance.

Everyone freezes, weapons dangling in midair. Above us, footsteps echo in the newfound quiet. Blue eyes stare down at the newfound stillness.

Elara snaps her fingers and everything goes dark.