Page 10 of The High Priestess

My eyes flick to where my sisters are climbing over the side of the railing. At one time or another, we’ve all used our balconies to sneak out of the house, and today, it’s paying off.

My breaths keep rushing over my lips as Kiki goes down first before Eleni follows. Once they're out of my sight, I run for the balcony. Not bothering to use the trellis as a ladder, I grab hold of the railing and fling my body over the side.

God, the fall is going to hurt!

I let out a shriek when a bullet narrowly zips past my head, and I twist my body so I fall backward while raising my right hand that’s gripping the gun tightly. As I hit the ground, a man leans over the side of the balcony, and while the air is forcefully knocked from my lungs, I pull the trigger.

When the bullet hits the bastard in his shoulder, I roll over and dart up while screaming at my sisters, who are running ahead of me, “Faster! Get over the wall.”

I can only hear the loud pounding of my heart, and my eyes are glued to my sisters. When they reach the wall, Eleni jumps and grabs hold of the top. She manages to pull herself up before holding out her hand to Kiki.

Just as Kiki grabs hold of Eleni’s hand, we’re bombarded with bullets. One slams into my side, but I hardly feel the pain as I watch a bullet hit the back of Kiki’s head.

“Nooooo!” The sound tearing from my soul is filled with horror, but somehow, I swing around and open fire on the two men storming toward us.

Jesus.

When I shoot one in the neck and he goes down, there’s no relief. I aim at the other man, but he gets another shot off, and the bullet digs into my thigh.

“Cassia!” Eleni screams.

Just hearing the terror in her voice has me pulling the trigger, and luckily, the bullet hits the mark, taking down the other bastard.

When I spin around, it’s to see Eleni’s still holding onto Kiki’s hand.

“Let go of her,” I say, my voice sounding unnaturally hollow while my soul is inundated with blow after blow of unbearable shock and horror.

I take hold of Kiki and glance up at Eleni. “Let go, Eleni.”

Sobs rack Eleni as she frees Kiki’s hand, and I gently lower my youngest sister to the grass. Her face is covered in blood, the sight making acid curdle in my stomach.

She was only nineteen.

“Cassia!” Eleni screams. “More men are coming!”

The alarm in Eleni’s voice rips me back to our harrowing circumstances. I let go of Kiki, and when I jump and grab hold of the top of the wall, Eleni grips hold of my forearm. She starts to pull while I use all my strength to hoist myself onto the top of the wall.

I hear a shot ring through the air, and not hesitating, I shove Eleni over the other side.

The bullet hits my bicep, ripping a cry from me and making me lose my balance. I fall off the wall, and my body hits the ground with a hard thud. It’s only then I start to feel the fire ripping through the flesh of my side, thigh, and arm.

“Cassia!” Eleni sobs.

I have to get Eleni to safety.

The thought of my sister has me climbing to my feet, and grabbing her hand, I start to run as fast as my injured leg allows me to.

We make our way down the street, and I keep going for miles before Eleni tugs against my hold.

“I… can’t… keep… running,” the words burst over her lips.

Slowing my pace, I glance around us, noticing we’re a safe distance from the mansion. I quickly tuck the handgun into the waistband of my jeans.

When my feet come to a stop, my legs threaten to give out from beneath me, and I sink down on the curb.

A breathless sob escapes Eleni as she sits down beside me, and for a moment, my rushed breaths and her sobs are the only sounds we hear.

After a while, Eleni calms down enough to ask, “Do you think Mom and Dad got out?”

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