Page 211 of Alchemised
Whatever had happened did so without warning. Normally as soon as significant fighting started anywhere, messages to Headquarters were dispatched and the hospital was prepped. This time the sirens had gone straight to full alert.
“Nothing yet,” Pace said as she directed medics. She’d only returned from the other hospital a few days ago, worn to the bone, but she never stopped working.
Orderlies and nurses rushed around, making sure everything was ready.
The bell was still sounding.
“I’m going to the main gates to find out what’s happening,” Helena finally said.
Out in the courtyard, without the walls acting as a barrier for the sound, she could feel the Tower bell’s ringing in her teeth, its low cadence a vibration in her stomach.
The noise finally cut off as she reached the gates. There were dozens of soldiers and guards, all awaiting orders. Even Crowther was lurking, curious as everyone else.
“Do you know what’s happened?” Helena asked a guard.
“Ambush,” he said, his eyes locked out towards the street. “Don’t know much more than that. Two teams went out. That’s all I know. We’ve heard nothing else.”
There was a commotion beyond the gates.
Then she heard Luc, his voice pure rage. “Let go. Let me go!”
Then there were other voices. Shouts of “Watch out!” and “Hold him!” and a scorching whoosh of flames.
“Let me go!”
Helena went forward instinctively, along with a dozen others.
There was an explosion of fire as she emerged from the gatehouse to the sight of nearly a dozen people trying to drag and wrestle Luc towards Headquarters. Soren, Sebastian, Althorne, and several others from Luc’s unit had him by the arms and legs, trying to pin him to the ground.
Luc had been disarmed, but they couldn’t pry his ignition rings off his fingers. Fire sparked but suddenly vanished as Crowther darted forward. His left hand swept through the air and extinguished the flames as he clenched his fist.
“Marino, put him down!” Crowther snapped.
“You left her! Let me go!” White fire exploded off Luc, flame tearing in all directions, violent and uncontrolled, fuelled by rage. Luc lurched to his feet.
A tongue of metal shot out, Althorne’s arm jerked back, Luc hit the ground, and there were several people on him again. Fire erupted and vanished.
“Marino!” Crowther snarled.
Luc lunged violently, ripping one hand free, and a wall of fire shot in all directions. It slammed into Crowther, and he hit a wall with a sickening crunch.
Everyone froze, including Luc.
“I didn’t mean to—” He was still trying to get free. “Just let me go—”
Helena reached out towards him.
“They got Lila,” he said, taking her hand without hesitation.
She squeezed tight, resonance shooting along his arm. Betrayal flashed in his eyes, and then he was unconscious.
The men pinning Luc down let go cautiously. Helena sank to her knees, kneeling over him, her fingers slipping into the occipital dip of his skull to ensure he would not wake.
He was bruised and covered in blood. Half his fingernails were missing.
Soren didn’t get up; he was slumped next to Helena. One of his eyes was black.
“Get him inside and keep him unconscious,” Althorne was saying. “I don’t want that boy awake until we know what’s happened to Bayard. Someone get Crowther to the hospital.”
