Nevermore: The Secret Order

Chapter 19 - Killing Shot

Raven's team had begun their advance back to the restricted room. The pipeline had suddenly become more heavily fortified than it had before. This made it apparent that Orpheus had amassed more than just tech and creatures. But also an army. It's now apparent that these men they had encountered and killed weren't mercenaries. They were an actual legion under his command. The men in black and red tactical gear ambushed them halfway to their objective. Yelena gripped her gold staff tightly. Raven did the same with his weapon which now took its sword form. Vas' eyes and hands ignited, Amara had her weapon loaded and Neve's breath was visible from the frost. It was the five of them against a fraction of an army.

They were surrounded. Weapons loaded and trained. The bright nucleus of Yelena's staff burned bright and illuminated the dim blacklight of the pipeline.

"We do not wish to harm any of you." warned Yelena. "But you have been led astray."

"I don't think they care at this point." said Amara.

"No shit." said Vas. "These guys aren't the kind that would buy all that hippie stuff."

"What do you propose we do?" asked Neve.

"Yelena. What can that staff do?" asked Raven.

"I have one idea. Close your eyes." said Yelena.

She held her staff aloft and the sphere within its ring glowed harshly. Within an instant, it released a flash of white light brighter than anything perceivable by the human eye. It left the men blinded and disoriented.

"Now!" said Yelena.

Raven opened his eyes in the midst of the lingering white light, his black cloak was no longer camouflaged in the now extinguished and nonexistent dark. The linings of his hooded suit glowed a violent purple. He dashed forward hacking one man after another. Vas let out a stream of flame that incinerated the flesh off one guard, leaving his visible skeleton blackened. He went on to release a whip of flame which engulfed the rest of the guards. Neve immobilized some of the guards facing her and they started to freeze. The frost slowly crept up to them, covering their entire bodies in ice before producing sharp spikes that finished them off. Amara managed to take a weapon off a downed guard and started to open fire. Yelena hesitated before sweeping one guard off his feet. Raven however phased next to him and stabbed the downed man.

Yelena gasped at the sight of someone who showed her kindess suddenly taking a life in front of her without hesitation. She watched him phase in front of one guard before running the man through with his blade. It was a horrifying sight. She turned to see Neve let out a volley of sharp icicles which impaled a number of guards. Yelena had witnessed the toll of wars over the centuries. But it was only now that she had been in the thick of battle witnessing her friends and allies in action. It was such a heartbreaking sight and yet it was not without a greater purpose. One guard was about to get his bearings back, but before he could aim his rifle, a wall of fire swept him. All that was left were his bones fused with whatever material the man's clothing and gear was made of.

Raven phased directly through a guard before impaling his colleague behind him. He held onto the man only to run him through from behind and decapitate the other next to him. Their numbers were decimated within mere minutes. Some started to retreat. However, Neve blocked their path with a wall of ice. One guard was desperate to cock his sidearm which was evidently a sign that it jammed. Raven advanced toward the man and slid the blade of his estoc upwards from under his chin. Neve finished the ones she blocked off with a another wall of ice which she disintegrated immdiately.

The rest took care of the stragglers. All of which were put down quickly. Raven peeled his cowl back. Upon doing so, Yelena watched the expression in his face.
The eye slits on his mask hid it so well, however, it became obvious as soon as she saw his eyes. Stoic as his facial expression was, his eyes told a different story. Those were the same eyes one would see from those who have seen war. There is a cost to being in the frontlines. One that could eat into the human psyche. She hoped that one way or another, the Raven everyone knew was still in there somewhere. There was however no more time to ponder on that.