Page 99 of Gray
Alastair released a soft breath, as if he’d been holding it in his lungs, waiting. “Good. What of the water dragon army?”
“King Tatsuya and Kyo are discussing what to do. The army is preparing to fight.”
While they spoke, Bellamy’s phone rang. “It’s Daman.” He lifted it to his ear. “Hey. You good?” A wrinkle formed in his brow. “Fuck. Hey, calm down and listen to me, D. I know it fucking hurts, but you can’t save everyone. Are you and Warrin okay?” He shut his eyes and nodded. “Keep it that way, yeah? You’re a moody bitch, but I love you.”
Gray hugged my arm, his brown eyes watery. “I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth.” A tear rolled down his cheek. “I said I was happy. Now look.”
“This isn’t your fault, angel.” I pulled him closer, lowering my face to the top of his hair.
He gripped my shirt and didn’t respond.
Galen tugged Simon against him and whispered in his ear. By the way Simon clung to him and buried his face against his chest, I assumed Galen was reassuring him. Or maybe saying goodbye. If we were about to leave the mansion, I knew for a fact Simon wouldn’t be coming with us.
“Clara is on her way here,” Galen told him, loud enough for me to hear. “Her house is warded against demons and angels but not monsters and goddamn zombies. Both of you will be safe here until we return.”
“Has Echo Bay been hit yet?” Alastair asked the angel.
“Yes,” Lazarus solemnly said. “At this rate, Belphegor will acquire the souls he needs.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Alastair shifted his gaze among his brothers. “Grab your weapons. It’s time to fight.”
***
A siren wailed in the distance, and a police cruiser slowly moved down the mostly deserted street, the officer shouting orders for people to take shelter. The Nephilim brothers and I moved through the shadows, keeping ourselves hidden.
Our goal was to take down any monster we came across. It was all we could do for now.
Raiden knelt beside someone curled up in the alleyway. He gently rolled them over and closed his eyes when their half-eaten face came into view.
Flashbacks of my time in combat had me taking deep breaths to steady my nerves. The dead bodies, the bloodstained sidewalks, the surge of fear in the air as people hid in their homes and prayed they’d see the morning. It was all so familiar.
“The human military is being called in to assist the bigger cities,” Alastair said, watching another cruiser pass by. “But places like Echo Bay are on their own for now.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Bellamy said, then frowned. “Hear that?”
“Is that… eating?” Gray whispered, unsheathing his sword.
We sprinted that way, but I came to a sudden halt when we rounded the corner.
Decayed corpses were gnawing on a freshly dead body. They screeched when they saw us and lunged forward, looking like extras fromThe Walking Dead. Flesh hung off bone; some were missing eyes. The brothers disposed of them before I could even fire off my gun.
“That… that was a zombie,” I said before expelling a shaky breath.
“There, there. It’s okay.” Gray rubbed my back. “Your brains are safe.”
“We should split up,” Alastair said after cutting another zombie’s head off. “We can kill more on our own.”
“That’s literally the dumbest idea ever,” Raiden said. “That’s how people in scary movies die. Ain’t that right, Smalls?”
Gray nodded. “Affirmative.”
Despite the horrible situation, he made me smile a little.
“We’re not humans,” Alastair said. “And these are low-level monsters and walking corpses. Nothing you can’t handle.”
“Double tap,” Bellamy said. “Zombie Survival 101.”
“Fine.” Raiden faced Alastair. “But I’m goin’ with you. You need some muscle on your side.”
