Page 138 of Cry of the Firebird

Anya washed her face and drank handfuls of water before stumbling back into the bedroom and dressing. Her hand curled around Ilya's knife, and her magic flickered impatiently. Thevoices were growing louder in her head, but she still couldn't make out anything clear in the cacophony.

"I'm going. I'm going," she told them and hurried downstairs to where Trajan was assembling everyone by the cars.

"Anya, you look pale as death," Aramis said. He went to take her hand and then let it fall back self-consciously. His concerned expression melted away, and his general face replaced it. "Don't forget that when you were captured, your magic flowed by using words, not blood. From what I've seen other gatekeepers do, you'll only need a little blood so that the gate recognizes you as a gatekeeper."

"I'll remember," Anya said, one hand going into her pocket to grip Ilya's knife.

Yvan didn't offer her any words of comfort, only took her hand, and let the firebird's power seep into her cold body. Deep inside her, the one flame it had passed onto flared hot, stilling her nerves and giving her courage.

"Thanks," she murmured.

Trajan and Cerise joined them, and the keres brought her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead.

"Good luck, sweetie. Try not to get too damaged. I am a nurse, not a miracle worker," she said with a teasing smile.

"Just don't drink my blood if I die," Anya replied, making Cerise laugh.

"No promises."

Chayton and Honaw gave her identical smiles. "You got this, Anya. You focus on the gates, and we will make sure nothing magical tries to hit you in the back. We are all here to protect you in case the Darkness or Illumination tries to mess with you."

"The Illumination won't want to break the treaty, but they have promised to keep the Darkness from attacking you," Aramis reassured them.

"Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it," Katya said, buckling on her gun belt. "Are we going or what?"

They piled into the cars, Anya wedged between Aramis and Trajan, Katya and Izrayl in the front. Anya saw Yvan go with Cerise and the Twins, and a flash of panic went through her to be separated from him and the firebird.It's only for the drive. It will be fine.Anya fought not to clutch her head and kept breathing deeply.

"Tell me how I can help," Trajan said, putting an arm around her. She leaned into him, breathed in his autumn scent.Safe.

"Just get me there so I can get this noise out of my head and try and get the gates shut again," Anya begged, tears filling her eyes.

"Don't worry. Your abilities far outweigh your training," Aramis said, trying to encourage her. "Your ancestors could do it, and they only had a fraction of the power you have."

"They had the blessing of being taught what to do,"Anya replied. She had gone over and over her vision with Ilya, trying to find meaning in his movements so she could recreate them.

The closer they got to the farm, Anya could feel the gates heaving and screaming, an extra pulse beating out a rhythm in her brain.

"We've got people on our tails," Izrayl said, making Anya turn.

Men in black gear were riding motorbikes and closing in on them.

"Darkness or Illumination?" Trajan asked.

They ducked gunfire that peppered the night and hit their back window. Isabelle and Hamish drove up beside them as Hamish's big Winchesters boomed, and one of the motorbikes behind them went down.

"Definitely Darkness. The Illumination would never be so sloppy," Aramis said. "Feel free to fire back."

"I'm on it," Katya replied as she opened the sunroof.

"Watch yourself, hunter," Izrayl growled, and Katya kissed him on the cheek before popping up through the roof and firing.

"Get down, Anya," Trajan said and covered her with his body.

Adrenaline was pumping through her veins as Anya tried to keep her breathing steady. Aramis began to glow with silvery light beside her, and he placed a hand on the window. Magic that tasted like starlight and spring washed over the vehicle, and Katya cursed above them.

"What the hell, spark plug!" she demanded.

"It's a shield to keep you from getting your face blown off," Aramis reassured her, and she kept firing.

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