Page 93 of Heart’s Prisoner

When they finally did stop, the elevators were riddled with bullet holes. Nothing came out. Lana let out her breath, her hand curling around her throat.

Galger stepped over to the elevators to investigate closer and, when he saw they were empty, he cursed and kicked away a shard of metal.

The stairwell doors exploded outward and the men guarding it flew back. Xerus stepped out looking more menacing than Lana had ever seen him. Somehow more terrifying looking now with his gnarled flesh and jagged, asymmetrical horns. He was feral, wild. A destroyer ready to kill. Before those that had been guarding the stairwell could sit up, he was on them. With his teeth, he ripped into one soldier's flesh while with his tail he sliced through another.

"Get back all of you, ready your weapons!" Galger shouted. The men tried to comply as quickly as they could but Xerus was quicker. As they reloaded their guns and went to aim, Xerus flew at them. Slicing through the first few without issue, he swerved away as the other men still standing began firing again. As Galger and his men made their way back toward the fountain, the soldiers around Lana focused their attention on Xerus as well.

As their backs were turned, one of the infected rose. He lurched forward and went at one of the unsuspecting soldiers. Before Lana could shout a warning, the infected man latched on to the soldier, taking him down to the ground with him. The soldier screamed as the infected bit into his shoulder, his gun going off toward the ceiling, causing shards of the skylight to rain down. The people burst from the center. The infected flew at anyone they could get to while the others ran.

Lana crouched down beside the fountain uncertain what to do. All around her people were being attacked and bullets flew by. Xerus continued to evade and tear his way through Galger's men like an enraged beast, seeing nothing but enemies around him. Lana stood up and called to him, wanting to get his attention, to get him to stop and leave them so they could escape.

A piercing cry sounded beside her and she looked to see the bandaged man standing over Torrence who looked up at him with wide-eyed shock, blood pooling out of his mouth. His eyes fell and found hers just as his body went limp and fell to the side, a glass shard piercing his chest. The bandaged man straightened then slowly twisted around to see her. His soulless eyes glared at her and his jaw moved.

"You are strong. We could use you," he gurgled. He stepped toward her with uncanny movements and Lana tried to back away. "Don't be afraid, Ms. Hart. It won't hurt, I promise."

Lana stilled. That voice, so strange yet...

The bandaged man rushed at her and Lana tried to jump away only to trip over fallen debris. The man leaped on her and Lana screamed as he tried to pin her. Flailing under him, she attacked his face, trying to move him from her. She tore at his bandages, ripping at both the ones around his face and head until they revealed a dirty, unkempt face, one though that she still recognized.

Cole Kingsley smirked down at her, hardly moving as she attacked him. It wasn't him anymore of course. He had been gone for a long time. Only Spectre remained.

Cole grabbed her shoulders in a tight, unnaturally strong grip, making her bones ache. Lana gasped at the sudden pain. She tried to struggle against him but he was too heavy, too strong. His head bent down towards her and a trickle of black blood fell down his mouth, to his chin. He released one of her shoulders to grasp her jaw to keep her in place. Lana wanted to cry out but she was struck with fear. This was it. She was about to be worse than dead. All she could think was Xerus would have to kill her after all. But no, she wouldn't allow it. She'd kill herself first to save him from such a choice. As he rampaged on, taking out Galger's men only a few yards away, he would never know. She just hoped he would finish off the rest and save himself.

As Cole's face neared closer to hers, a torrent of bullets went flying close by, a few catching Cole's back. He didn't even seem to notice. His grasp tightened and he continued to lower himself, his blood about to drip onto her.

A hand flew out and gripped Cole's collar, forcing him back. Galger pulled Cole away and took out his pistol and shot him in the head. The smile on Cole's face never left even as his body crumbled to the ground. Without hesitating, Galger lunged at Lana and dragged her to her feet, his pistol now against her temple.

"Enough!" he shouted so loud his voice cracked. Lana flinched as his hand tightened around her throat. The sound of gunfire ceased and Xerus dropped another soldier to the ground, the body a bloody mess. Xerus too was covered in blood, his teeth dripping with it as bodies lay all around him, torn and sliced.

"Enough," Galger said softly. "You're done." He shook Lana hard, making her teeth clack. Xerus straightened then stilled as his eye fell on her, his lip curling back. "One more move, asshole, and she dies," Galger warned.

Lana panted hard in his grip, digging her nails into the skin of his arm. Xerus slowly twisted his body toward them but dared not take a step as the gun pressed harder to Lana's temple. Lana inhaled sharply, raising her head, but her eyes never left Xerus.

"Good, now that I have your attention, eh," Galger said. "Why don't you start backing up slowly and we will do the same." Galger took a step back, taking Lana with him. "We will just leave together and you are going to stay right there."

Lana's face contorted, shaking her head as Xerus looked to her. His head bent low and he hissed softly but he didn't move. "That's it...good," Galger said. Lana didn't fight as he moved them closer to the exit where the elevator cars were. As she looked down, she saw bodies lying across the floor nearby. No one had made it past.

The base shook again but Galger kept his hold on her and his balance tight. If they left, Xerus might not make it. Cracks were already forming along the ground. Lana could do nothing. She would be forced to watch as they left him behind.

Trembling, Lana could barely watch. Once the base collapsed there would be nothing left of him. Nothing except for the scale she still possessed in her pocket.

As the thought struck her, Lana froze, her heart skipping. With trembling fingers, she slipped her free hand to the side pocket and carefully unzipped it. As Galger came to the door at the end of the city sector, his attention fixed on opening it. Within that second, Lana slipped her hand into her pocket and took out the scale, gripping it tight.

As the door opened, Lana moved. She let her knees give out, dropping her weight, and simultaneously struck Galger with the sharp end of the scale, catching him in the eye. His gun went off, just barely missing her head. Lana dropped to the ground as he stumbled back, his hand spread across his face as blood gushed from his eye. He roared and went to shoot again but this time Xerus was on him. In one flawless motion, he sliced a hand across Galger's neck then threw him across the foyer until his body hit the end of the fountain, moving no more.

Breathless, Lana bent forward letting out a soft whimper of relief. Xerus picked her up, cradling her to him. The base shook and the crack in the ground widened. Xerus turned and moved swiftly past the door, heading toward the elevator cars.

Lana wanted to weep but was still too scared they might not make it in time. As Xerus entered one of the cars and set her down carefully, he forced the doors closed then smashed the button that would take them up to the docks. The elevator car didn't move at first until it shuddered and slowly began to make its way upward.

Neither of them said a word as the car moved. Xerus went to Lana's side, crouching in front of her and she, in turn, took his face into her hands, her lips trembling as she formed a smile. She brushed her fingers over his eye then kissed it softly.

"It was my fault," Lana broke. "Oh, god, Xerus, I'm so sorry."

Xerus looked at her squarely and clasped her hands in his. "You have nothing to apologize for,Kissala," he said softly.

"But your scales and your horns."

Xerus placed her hands back against his face. "They can be mended in time."

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