Page 121 of Angel Lost

My heart beats erratically. Of all the times Nyx could have chosen…It’s a risk to move like this, but Farrell’s right. Who the fuck knows what Nyx is telling and to whom, right now? Raff and a rebel peel off to guard the portal and start on the cameras. After what feels like forever we finally split again. Kai works his magic on the entry system and Chano, myself, and a rebel wearing my face slip inside.

Opposite ends of the building and work toward the center, I remind myself, quashing my worry as Zephyr, Kai, and Farrell move away, towing Alairik behind them, his head buried in some bit of tech that’s meant to be suppressing all coms except our own.

Please let it work.

The floor squeaks as we walk, the noise working its way right inside my head. Squeak squeak squeak, pause. I peer around the corner—no one. I pad down the next corridor. Let them still be here. Please. I saw Lottie here.

The windows give us a view of sterile rooms set up and ready for use. I stride on, hearing the now familiar hum and click of machines from the rooms at the end. Behind me the footsteps falter. We pass the first occupied room, and I keep us moving. Not Lottie. Not a Maverik. I swallow my nausea. We can’t save everyone. Not everyone wants saving.

At the next window I pause, tapping the glass, jerking my chin. Chano rushes past me, staring inside. It’s not Lottie, but it is one of the kids, and he doesn’t look good. His face is white, far too white, that waxy kind of pale that accompanies death. And he’s skinny, ankles and wrists skeletal where they poke out of the thin hospital gown.

Chano blasts the door off its hinges and storms inside. I cringe, holding my breath, waiting. But…nothing. No alarm. Thank Hecate for Alairik’s tech.

The kid is rousable, just. Biting my cheek, I swallow the lump in my throat.This is not the time. Think practically, Lorelei.If they’re all like this, we’re screwed. Chano heaves the kid up onto his shoulder like he weighs nothing.

We can’t carry them all.

We move on, past an empty room, then another. Disappointment flashes in Chano’s eyes as we reach the end of the corridor. She’s not here. I feel nauseous. What if I had the only chance to save Lottie, and I left her here? What if she’s dead?

We round the corner. These aren’t treatment rooms. A small viewing hatch sits high on the wall next to a huge metal door. Cautiously, I slide the metal back, a horrid scraping sound echoing down the corridor. Chano crowds behind me. The room is bigger than the treatment rooms, dilapidated. And it stinks. A small bucket sits in a corner, clearly full of feces and urine. I strain to see the rest of the room. Huddled against the back wall are the Maverik runaways, and right in the center of them…Lottie.

Chano thrusts the nearly dead kid at me and, magic and fists flailing, bursts the door open. In three short strides he’s across the room, scattering the kids. His fingers close around Lottie’s upper arms and he shakes her, hard. Her head jerks back and forward, eyes wide, panicked.

“You stupid, stupid little girl,” Chano growls.

She flinches, and her eyes brim with tears. She swipes a dirty hospital sleeve across her face, and her gaze locks onto mine. For the first time ever, Lottie Maverik looks pleased to see me.

She flings her arms around me, hiccuping sobs racking her body. Rubbing circles on her back I whisper in her ear, “You’re okay. We got you. That’s Chano, disguised. We’re here for you, Lottie.”

“Ch-ch-chano?” Lottie gasps, dragging him into the hug.

There’s another poorly kid with the group. He’s in even worse shape, reeking of the rancid air in an abattoir. Or a morgue.

“Let’s get them home,” Chano says.

“You can’t,” I reply, ignoring his warning look. “Maverik turf is the first place they’ll look, Chano. Take them to the rebels. Hide them in the pockets I made at Farrell’s. Get them treated by the medics there.”

Chano cocks his head at the rebel, who nods. They start to gather the kids together, rounding them up.

I force my next words out. “I’m not coming.” His head snaps toward me. “There are still two more kids, and Reye. I’ll stay, you get this lot out. Get Lottie out.”

“I…don’t want to leave you here.”

I grab his face between my hands, ignoring how weird it is to be looking at the image of Kai. “I’m not a child, Chano. You have to trust I can look after myself.”

He leans in, pressing a kiss to my lips, leaving the taste of woodsmoke behind.

Then he’s moving, ushering the kids along, lugging a sick teenager in one arm while the rebel carries the other.

I watch them until they’re out of sight.

Chapter Forty-four: Lorelei

Slinking through the corridors, I descend the stairs, following the hallways toward where we last saw Reye. Regina. I knew Kai’s kid sister all along. Hecate. They’re so different. He’s unhinged…and her? I mean, off her meds she was climbing trees, but on them? She’s born royalty. All manners and etiquette.

I come across the rest of the rescue party completely by accident. I take a wrong turn somewhere and backtrack, confused. The sound of raised voices reaches me, and cautiously I follow the noise.

“The angel is taking the piss,” Kai screeches.

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