Page 33 of Hellfire

Nate stood off to the side, a worried look crossed his face as he surveyed the swamp surrounding the warehouse. Our eyes locked. “Don’t worry, Tank. We can do this,” he said.

His golden wings fluttered slightly. A calming breeze washed over us. Instantly, my body relaxed. Glancing around at the others, I saw that Nate’s abilities were having the same effect on them, too.

“Thanks, man,” I said.

“Anytime,” he said with a small smile. “We’re in this together.”

Scar clapped Nate on the shoulder. “You did well.” To me, he said, “You’re scoping out the area while we hang back. Signal us when you’re ready and we’ll be right behind you.”

Brushing my hair from my face, I looked down to his president’s patch, and I patted my own—a wolf surrounded by a cluster of roses. Reminding me of how much stronger we were when together.

“I know you said I should go in myself, but I think we should go in together. All of us.”

Snake and Scar exchanged a look.

“Steele, send Cyrus in ahead,” Scar directed.

Steele whispered something into his familiar’s ear as we made our way to the warehouse. Cyrus took flight, soaring overhead to scope out the area for any signs of the Hive’s operation or the shipment. His eyes glowed with a deep shade of purple as he scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, he let out a sharpcaw. Feeling uneasy, I scanned the treeline. My skin prickled with awareness.

“There’s movement inside,” Steele reported, his voice low and tense. His eyes turned magenta as he used his familiar’s sight. “I can see at least two guards posted inside.”

My heart raced as we crept closer to the back entrance. The dim light overhead cast eerie shadows on the boxes stacked high around us. Being out in the open like this was putting everyone on edge, and even Nate’s calming gift didn’t seem to help. The air was thick with the musty scent of rotten food, making it difficult to catch my breath.

“Wait,” Snake said, halting us from walking forward. “I can sense magic. It’s faint, but it’s there.”

With a wave of his hand, Snake used his jinn powers to conceal our presence, making us practically invisible to any potential threats. I was grateful for his abilities, which had saved our hides more times than I could remember.

Despite Snake’s powers, my palms were slick with sweat, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Every creak and rustle the old building made had me jumping.

I was completely on edge by the time we made it into the building. Steele and Nate walked in first, Cyrus flying in ahead to survey the building. My eyes darted to my brother. Scar took up the rear, always watching our backs. All of us were tense in our movements, but Snake remained calm and focused, his jinn powers holding strong and keeping us hidden from prying eyes.

Reaper suddenly appeared beside us, his scythe at the ready, his hands glove free. My breath caught at the sight. I knew how much he despised this side of himself.

“Be on your guard,” he said in a low voice. “Something isn’t right.”

As we arrived at another door, I held up a hand, signaling for everyone to halt. My senses were on high alert as I listened for any sounds beyond the next door. It was eerily quiet, which only added to my unease. I shot a quick glance at Scar and he gave me a nod, silently agreeing with my unspoken plan.

With a deep breath, I pushed the door open, and we stepped inside. Cyrus swooped and landed on a windowsill, surveying the area. My nerves settled slightly. Nate fluttered his wings again, calming everyone as we rounded the corner and came face to face with a large metal door guarded by two heavily armed men. They turned to face us as we approached, their weapons raised and ready to fire.

“Stay back,” one of them growled. “This area is off limits.”

“It’s your unlucky day, boys,” I taunted. “Move or die.”

The guards sneered, but before they could react, Snake stepped forward, and his eyes glowed a deep blue. The intricate snake-like tattoos that covered his arms and shoulders shimmered and slithered. It made them appear alive as he tapped into his magic. He whispered something under his breath, and suddenly the guards’ eyes dulled before they slumped to the ground, asleep.

“You never let me have any fun,” Steele huffed, flipping a blade with expert ease.

Rolling my eyes, I pushed open the thick metal doors, surprised to find them unlocked. It seemed all too easy, almost as if they knew we were coming.

Cyrus flew overhead, his sharp eyes scanning the area for any sign of trouble. The warehouse was dark and quiet, with rows of crates stacked high on either side. Inhaling deeply, I couldn’t pick up on any specific scents. Almost as if we were alone here, but that wasn’t possible, as we just left two guards at the door. At the very least, I should have been able to smell them. Yet another red flag.

“Be on guard,” I whispered to the others. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

We crept forward, our footsteps the only sound against the concrete floor. The rows and rows of crates were eerily silent.

Were they empty?

A figure stepped out from behind a stack of crates, his ruby eyes glowing in the darkness.

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