‘And this is Ash,' Cyrus said, nodding at the boy to his right.
Evie dragged her eyes off the girl. She saw immediately that she had been right about the boy. He was narrow-shouldered and slight but he looked like an anatomy project of a body sculpted from wire that someone had then thoughtfully draped skin over. He was all sinew and muscle. And the way he was standing, one leg forward, bent slightly at the knee, arms hanging loosely at his sides with fingers curled into fists, only confirmed her first impression that he was some sort of martial artist. She had seen enough Bruce Lee movies with her dad to recognise the look of someone who could kill with one kick.
‘And now we're through with the introductions,' Cyrus announced, ‘are you going to tell us why you were looking for us or shall we just get on with killing you?' He paused, leaning into Evie, ‘Well, maybe not you, but definitely him,' he said, nodding his head in Lucas's direction.
‘He's on our side,' Evie burst out. ‘I mean … he's … ' She stopped. She wasn't sure whose side they were on. Were she and Lucas on the same side as these three now?
‘I'm on Evie's side,' she heard Lucas say before she could figure out how to finish her sentence.
Cyrus's eyes darted to Lucas. ‘Hmm,' he said, ‘that's not what I hear. I hear you're one of the Brotherhood. And let's see, that would mean you and her aren't on the same side at all. It would make you and her sworn enemies, wouldn't it? Oh, and us.' He shrugged, rolling back his shoulders, his hand reaching for his knife and pulling it free from its sheath. ‘So maybe we should ready ourselves for a fight to the death.' He spread his legs wide, pointing his knife at Lucas's throat. ‘Your death that is.'
Chapter 16
Lucas made no move to counter him. His hands stayed by his sides. ‘I have no allegiance to the Brotherhood anymore, nor to the Hunters,' he said in a voice that sent a shudder up Evie's spine. ‘I have no fight with you.'
‘Is that because you're scared?' Cyrus said. ‘Sounds to me like you're scared.' He jabbed the knife in Lucas's direction.
Lucas didn't flinch as the blade grazed the air in front of his cheek.
‘I think I'll have the upper hand,' Cyrus taunted. ‘You're probably tired after this latest killing spree. And it's also three against one. Sure you don't want to give up now? I'll make it nice and painful if you do.'
‘Three against two actually,' Evie snarled, taking a step forward and closing the distance between her and Lucas.
Cyrus hopped back, the knife dropping, regarding her with an expression that made her want to wipe it off his face with her fist. ‘You're half trained, so I hear,' he said. ‘You didn't get your first kill yet unless any of these are yours, which I'm doubting.' He pointed to the corner, ‘So why don't you just stand to one side and observe how it's done?'
If it wasn't for the fact he was holding a knife Evie was sure he'd have patted her on the head. ‘And then,' he continued, ‘we'll sit you down and set you straight on the rules of being a Hunter. First one, thou shalt not get confused over which side you are on.' He turned to Ash, ‘Ash, do you remember the second rule?'
‘Thou shalt kill members of the Brotherhood and not sleep with them,' Ash offered.
‘Yeah, that joke's kind of wearing thin,' Evie interrupted. ‘And by the way, just so you know,' she said, looking back at Cyrus and pointing her thumbs at her chest, ‘full power.'
Gratifyingly, his eyes grew round and his mouth gaped open for half a second. But then he recovered and the sneer was back in place. ‘OK, pleasantries are over.'
Evie caught the flash of steel in the corner of her eye as the girl unsheathed her sword.
‘One last kiss goodbye?' Cyrus asked, pointing his knife between them.
Evie stared at him, eyes wide. ‘Whoa, are you not even going to listen?' she asked. She felt Lucas move ever so slightly, shifting himself an inch to the right, blocking her with his shoulder. Would he fade? Would he move for Vero first or Cyrus? She could probably outpace Cyrus, duck fast enough to avoid Ash's first kick or punch, but then what?
She didn't have time to process any further. Cyrus took a blindingly fast leap forward, bringing his knife to Evie's chin. She looked down. Lucas had moved too in the same instant. He was standing against her side, holding his own blade low, the tip pressed against Cyrus's stomach. She glanced up. Vero had raised the sword above Lucas's head executioner style.
‘Checkmate to us I think,' Cyrus said softly. ‘Now listen to me,' he said, dropping his gaze to Evie. ‘If you want protection you can come with us now. Your boyfriend, however, is one of them. And what's rule number three, Vero?'
‘Kill all unhumans,' the girl answered flatly.
‘Jesus,' Evie said, bringing her hands quickly to Cyrus's chest and pushing him hard. He fell backwards a few steps. ‘This is not Fight Club,' she yelled. ‘You can break a rule for Chrissake.'
He squared his shoulders and came back at her, ‘Says the master.'
Evie let out a growl of annoyance. Why had they even bothered trying to find these people?
‘Look,' said Cyrus, raising his knife again and pointing it at her. ‘Give me one reason why we shouldn't kill your boyfriend over there. Come on. The dark scowling face is reason enough in my book.'
She could have sworn she heard the sound of Lucas's eyes narrowing to slits.
‘Come on, just one reason,' Cyrus repeated, ‘and it better not include the words love, eternal or soul.'
‘Whatever you might have heard,' Evie spat back, ‘this is not about love.'
Even as she said it she was aware of the projection of her and Lucas on the wall above them. It had faded in the blinding UV lights but she could practically feel the hearts bleeding onto their heads.
‘Ah, ah, ah – you used the love word. I warned you. Vero,' Cyrus barked. Vero stepped forward, the sword still raised above her head.
‘We're trying to close the realms for good,' Evie blurted, holding one hand up to avert the blade, her other hand reaching desperately for Lucas before he could fade or do something rash like kill the girl first. Another massacre wasn't what was needed right now.
Cyrus did a double take, holding up his hand to still Vero. ‘And how are you planning on doing that exactly?'
‘She's the White Light,' she heard Lucas say behind her.
Vero dropped her sword with a bang to her side. Cyrus took an unsteady step back and Ash exhaled loudly. Evie stared at them all. She wasn't sure what to make of their reactions. They'd obviously heard of the prophecy though. Vero was looking at her like she was a ghost, as if she could see all the way through her. Why was she looking at her like that?
‘Is it true then?' Vero asked in a shaking voice.
Evie glanced at Lucas. He was staring at her too. The anger from earlier seemed to have dissipated.
‘Yes,' she answered, ‘it's true.'
Vero turned to Cyrus. ‘Risper said it might be true.'
Evie drew in a sharp breath. Risper. That's who Vero reminded her of. She looked just like Risper.
‘If Risper was right, if she's this White Light – it's the prophecy,' Vero continued, turning back to Evie, her face now bright with excitement. ‘She's the one who's going to sever the realms.'
‘So are you going to help us or not?' Evie heard herself snap, suddenly tired of hearing the word sever. And the word realm for that matter.
Cyrus regarded her for a long moment. ‘You need our protection,' he finally said. It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
‘Yes.'
‘Lover boy can't manage it by himself?' he asked, cocking an eyebrow at Lucas.
‘We've got half the realms after us,' she answered through gritted teeth, ‘in case you hadn't noticed.'
‘We need to find the rest of the prophecy – we need to know how to close the way through,' Lucas cut in.
‘But we don't know where to look,' Evie added.
Ash coughed and then cleared his throat. ‘Cyrus, what about your mum?' he asked. ‘Won't she be able to help?'
Cyrus frowned. Then he looked Lucas and Evie up and down one more time, his eyes coming to rest finally on Lucas. Lucas looked straight back at him through heavy lids, his shoulders locked with tension.
‘Let's get one thing clear,' Cyrus said after a beat, sheathing his knife with a dramatic flourish. ‘We are not joining you. It's the other way around.' He strode off, pausing briefly to look over his shoulder at them. ‘And, Romeo and Juliet, just so you know – I'm in charge.'
Chapter 17
The one called Cyrus, the one who couldn't take his eyes off Evie, the one who thought he could actually fight a Shadow Warrior and win, was beginning to really irritate Lucas.
They had followed him back to his so-called hide-out. Though it was less a hide-out and more an apartment that a small child had been given free rein to decorate. It was downtown, in a warehouse not three blocks from the building The Tipping Point had occupied for the night. They had entered through a small metal door, crossed a dusty abandoned workshop, and taken a cranking goods lift to the top floor. The grille had pulled back to reveal a high-ceilinged loft space. Windows filled two walls. Exposed brickwork had been spray-painted with what Lucas assumed was an ironic attempt at graffiti art – at least, he hoped it was ironic. A kitchen took up one end of the space and an open doorway led through to a hallway that had several other doors coming off it. The floors were wood, sanded down and smooth underfoot, strewn with beanbags and items of furniture Lucas wasn't sure were for sitting on or for eating off or just for looking at. An air-hockey table took up one corner of the room, a trampoline another. The ceiling was latticed by metal air vents and pipes, over which ropes had been slung, as well as several punch bags, making it look like an ape enclosure at a zoo.