Page 4 of Rage of the Fallen

Brody futilely attempted to brush the dirt from his clothes, creating small dust clouds with each swipe of his hand. His usually immaculate appearance was in shambles, his designer shirt now more earth-tone than its original color.

My brother, ever the pragmatist, methodically dragged his fingers through his hair, dislodging chunks of dirt and pebbles. He wore a grim expression, constantly scanning our surroundings even as he tried to make himself somewhat presentable.

Even the typically unflappable Justice showed signs of our ordeal. He brushed dirt from his dark hair, his movements precise. A small cut on his forehead had left a trail of bloodmixing with the dust on his face, giving him a fierce, warrior-like appearance.

We were all covered in a uniform layer of cave dust, our clothes and skin bearing the marks of our narrow escape. Small scrapes and scratches adorned our exposed skin, stinging as the cool evening air hit them. Our chests heaved in unison as we gulped breaths of fresh air, savoring it after the stifling atmosphere of the cave.

It felt like the Grim Reaper’s scythe had grazed our backs as we fled. Yet, as I met each team member’s eyes, I saw the same wariness reflected back at me. The paranoia of potential pursuit lingered, an unspoken tension that kept us all on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every shadow cast by the fading daylight, seemed to hold the promise of hidden dangers.

As we stood there, catching our breath, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of relief wash over me. My gaze swept my team once more. We were a mess, no doubt about it, but we were alive. Thank god, we were alive.

Everyone had made it. The thought nearly buckled my knees.

The SUV was parked undisturbed where we had left it. Justice clasped my hand and led me to it, with the others following behind us.

A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my chest, and I had to consciously suppress it. This wasn’t the time to lose it. Not when we were still in potential danger. I was supposed to be the leader, and laughing like a manic wouldn’t earn me any brownie points. But I couldn’t completely quash the giddy feeling of sheer aliveness coursing through me.

As if reading my thoughts, Damon gave me a cocky grin and gestured at me. “Look in the mirror and tell us our next move, Princess. ‘Cause I vote for kickin’ some demon ass.”

“We don’t have time.” Justice whipped the car door open and stared at the cave entrance. “I can hear them. They’re going to be here any second.”

The eerie silence that had followed our escape was unnerving. I strained my ears, trying to catch any sound of pursuit, but heard nothing. However, Justice was tense beside me, his vampiric hearing far superior to our human senses.

“We need to move. Now,” he urged tightly.

We scrambled into the car, our movements frantic yet coordinated from years of working together. Justice took the wheel, with me riding shotgun. Brody, Lisa, Damon, and Zara crammed into the back, a tangle of limbs and nervous energy.

As Justice gunned the engine, I glanced back at the cave entrance. A plume of dust erupted from the opening, billowing out like the breath of some monstrous beast. My heart leaped into my throat. Was something coming?

The tires squealed as Justice floored it, the sudden acceleration pushing us back into our seats. The cave receded in the rearview mirror, but the sense of impending danger didn’t fade.

“We can’t go back to McDuff Manor.” Justice glanced between the road and the mirrors. “We’ll be ambushed for sure.”

I nodded, my mind racing. “Maybe someplace crowded,” I suggested, grasping for ideas. “Somewhere they wouldn’t risk an attack.”

From the back seat, Damon’s skeptical voice cut through the tension. “That might not help. It’s not like Maci has a penchant for preserving human life.”

I twisted in my seat to face him, meeting his challenging gaze. Damon’s face was a mask of dirt and worry, but his eyes were sharp, questioning.

“She doesn’t want to make a move yet,” I argued, trying to sound more confident than the self-doubt that ate at me. “Not until she has control.”

Damon held my gaze, unconvinced. “Are you sure about that?”

The truth was, I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. I sighed heavily, feeling the entire team’s eyes on me. “No,” I admitted. “But I agree with Justice. We can’t go back to the manor.”

Zara sighed. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? Maci wants to destroy the artifacts. After that, she’ll be unstoppable.”

Damon chuckled. “Great. Another power-hungry monster on a world-ending field trip. Because we haven’t dealt with enough of those already. So, what’s the plan? We keep ‘em out of her scaly hands, then gank Maci before she goes full Godzilla on us? Just another Tuesday, right, Sawyer?”

I glanced back at my brother. “That’s the plan. We need to get her before she gets us.”

The car fell silent for a moment, the only sound the hum of the engine and the rush of wind outside. Then, Brody’s voice piped up from the back, tentative but hopeful. “How about Edinburgh Castle?”

Edinburgh Castle was a tourist hotspot, crowded even at this time of year. It was also a place of historical significance, possibly with its own mystical properties that could offer some protection.

“It’s public,” Lisa chimed in, her voice hoarse from the dust. “Lots of witnesses if anything goes down.”

Zara nodded. “Plus, it’s on high ground. Good vantage point.”

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