The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 28i

Adrian steals one of the dead men's clothes and weapons, and we leave to regroup with the Sirens. We traverse the laboratory complex, searching for the double doors that lead to the upper levels. I pop every last gas grenade I have, killing everyone in the lab complex. The door to the main level is made of reinforced steel and is magnetically locked. It sealed shut during the lockdown. "Shit." I bang the door in frustration. "There is no way I can freeze shatter this door. And the lockdown means I can't just cut out someone else's eye either..."

"Scarlett, contact!" Bullets zip by us from the other end of the corridor, and Adrian and I are forced to retreat into the sewers. Where did those guys come from? The only way into the lab complex is from the sewer entrance or the magnetically locked door. And they would need gas masks in order to survive down here; where did they get them?

We dash through the sewers toward the entrance from which we came in. As we almost reach the ladder, my questions are answered. Nathaniel's black mist materializes right underneath the sewer entrance. He must have teleported his soldiers into the lab complex through an opening somewhere. "Use semi-auto; conserve your ammo." I tell Adrian. Adrian and I raise our weapons at Nathaniel, but he doesn't even teleport out of the way. He doesn't need to; he has a band of six men catching up behind him.

For the first time, Nathaniel is carrying a desert eagle instead of his signature twin blades. "Dear sister, would you kindly move out of the way so that we can shoot you without killing your boyfriend?" Nathaniel leans casually against the concrete wall while his soldiers move to surround us.

How do I win a chess game when I all have left is a pawn and a king? How do I solve a riddle if there is no answer? And how do I win a battle when I'm outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded on all sides?

I slowly lower my FN F2000, resigned to my defeat. Adrian still stands fast against our executioners, but I know that there is no maneuver to be made here. No witty strategy will save us this time. Adrian faces the approaching men while I face my malevolent half-brother. As it is, I can't even look Adrian in eye before we die. "Adrian, I love you." I whisper. "But we are out of moves."

"Not quite..." Adrian turns around and grabs me around the clavicle. He pulls out a sidearm as if to hold me hostage, but instead of pointing the gun at me, he points it at his own head. "You kill her; I kill myself!" He threatens Nathaniel.

Nathaniel scoffs. "And what makes you think that you are so valuable to us, Shang Highness?"

Adrian's eyes are dead serious. He is not bluffing; he will kill himself in order to protect me. "You and I both know what you are trying to do with my blood." He growls at Nathaniel. "Are you sure you have enough? I don't think my carcass is going to supply much more if I die from multiple gunshot wounds."

Adrian whispers in my ear. And just when I was about to accept my fate, he shows me the perfect opportunity to turn defeat into victory. I blink twice to confirm that I understand.

Nathaniel saunters toward us with a fearless grin on his face. A man with his abilities has probably spent his entire life unchallenged. His men remain on the walkway while Adrian and I are standing in the middle of the flowing sewage. They form a wide circle around us that slowly becomes more enclosed. "We don't need multiple gunshots to kill you, Shang Highness. We kill her, you shoot yourself in the head, and in the end, there's still plenty of blood left to finish the job. Hell, for all I know, we could more than enough already!"

But I am not listening to a word that he is saying. I am channelling all my inner strength, all my spellbinder energy, and all my hatred for Nathaniel. I am forcing myself to remember everything that Diana has ever taught me. And above all, I am waiting for that one perfect moment when all seven men are just close enough...