Darkness Rises(112)

Lisette raced directly into their midst, wreaking havoc, breaking necks, cutting throats, and taking more bullets and tranquilizer darts.
The darts didn’t worry him. He had heard the immortals say the antidote prevented further exposure to the sedative from affecting them. But the bullet wounds . . .
Instead of healing, they continued to bleed, a symptom of the weakness infiltrating her and spreading within as she continued to lose blood.
His heart pounded. His breath shortened.
She was slowing down. Still fighting. Still slaying. But slowing down. Suffering more wounds.
The soldiers tightened ranks, again boldly encircling her.
He sensed no fear in her, only a determination to take out as many as she could before she breathed her last breath.
Well, fuck that.
Knowing the step he was about to take would forever alter his future, Zach released his wings and took to the air.
 

 

Panting, gritting her teeth against the pain, Lisette swung her shoto sword at the soldier in front of her and sliced open his chest.
How many were there? It seemed as though every time she slew one, two more took his place.
And she was weakening, moving almost as slowly as a human, losing the edge immortal speed and strength had given her.
A breeze coaxed some of her hair from its braid.
She felt a presence behind her.
The mercenaries all gasped and stumbled backward, looking over her shoulder.
Lisette spun around . . . and gaped.
It was him. The elder immortal she, Roland, and Sarah had interrogated.
Zach.
Facing away from her, he wore only low-riding dark leather pants similar to the ones he had sported when she had abducted him. His wings were stretched wide, their tips brushing the walls of nearby buildings.
More than one of the mercenaries crossed themselves.
Zach waved a hand.
The mercenaries dropped their weapons to the ground with a clatter.
Lisette glanced behind her.
Yes. Those had dropped their weapons, too.
Dizziness assailed her.
She staggered, barely managing to remain on her feet. She had lost count of the number of times she had been shot.
Darkness threatened.
She couldn’t think, didn’t know what was happening.
Was Zach working with the mercenaries?
She stared at the back of his head, at his windblown, longish, raven hair.
“You,” he said, pointing at a soldier.
The mercenary stepped forward.
The elder immortal made a motion with his hand and closed it into a fist. The other mercenaries all collapsed to the ground, sightless eyes wide as they drew their last breaths.
Those beautiful wings folded in against Zach’s back.
He turned to face her.
Lisette tilted her head way back to look up at him. He was well over a foot taller than she was and she stood at five foot six.
“The tracking device,” he said, his glowing golden eyes locking on hers.
“W-what?” she rasped.
He held out a large hand, palm up. “The tracking device you’re supposed to plant on him. Give it to me.”
She dropped one of her beloved shoto swords and fumbled with the outer pocket that contained the tiny tracking device Chris had given her. Her fingers wouldn’t cooperate. She couldn’t even get the pocket open and it wasn’t buttoned.
Zach gently brushed her hand aside and tucked his own hand in the pocket. When he withdrew it, the tracking device was carefully pinched between his thumb and forefinger.
He waved the mercenary over.
The soldier approached robotically and waited patiently while the immortal picked up one of the discarded M16s, then attached the device to it.
Lisette wanted to protest when he handed the man the weapon, but couldn’t find enough breath for it.
“You saw neither of us tonight. Vampires attacked your squad and only you survived,” Zach said.
The mercenary nodded, then turned and jogged away.
Zach swiveled to face her.
“M-mind control?” she managed to ask.
He nodded.
She tried to ask about the others, but could only motion to them.
“Ruptured aneurysms. I’ve never altered the health of a human before and am actually surprised it worked.”
She nodded. Her knees buckled.
Zach caught her before she could hit the ground. “Easy,” he said, his voice soft and deep. Kneeling, he laid her on the ground with her upper body cradled in his lap.
Moonlight formed a halo around his head as she stared up at him, struggling for breath.
The bullets had done a lot of damage. She knew that, rather than kill her, excessive damage would send her into a sort of stasis not unlike the hibernation of a water bear. But she had never done that before and couldn’t help but fear the prospect as she felt her heart rate slow. And slow some more.
He rested a hand on her chest.
At first she thought he was feeling her up and forgot everything else in a few seconds’ shock. Then she realized his thumb rested upon her collarbone and his fingers weren’t splayed enough to reach her breasts.