Last Chance (DarkWorld: SkinWalker Book 3) (13 page)

“And what if they don’t?” I asked, still holding her gaze. Now she looked away, confused, perplexed. “Have you prepared yourselves for a refusal from the council? Humans have spent centuries free from the Wraiths. In the old days, it was a natural enough thing to accept Wraiths will feed on you and you may never know it, but these days, people are far more attuned to their rights. The general public may not be comfortable about setting loose an entire species of people who are likely to begin feeding on them. Never mind that what you take is so little nobody would feel any different afterward.”

“Yes, I understand. It’s what you refer to as ‘the principle of it,’ right? Anjelo has mentioned it in such terms before.” She sighed again, but her jaw was tight and her spine stiff. She hadn’t liked what I had to say, but tough. She studied the floor for a while, then said, “Thank you for speaking your mind with me, Kailin. Truthfully, it isn’t easy to hear those words, but reality is something we do need to be prepared for. Should I put myself in the position of your humans, I would feel the same way.”

I cleared my throat. “Humans aren’t the only ones being fed on by Widd’en’s men.” My words brought her head snapping up so fast I was sure I would hear her neck crack.

“What do you mean?” Her question was sharp and her voice high with consternation. “Who else have they been feeding on?”

“Before he died, Widd’en collaborated with a scientist to create a drug that would allow a Wraith to possess a Walker. The possession lasts only for a small amount of time, but while within the Walker’s form, the Wraith is immeasurably strong and powerful.”

“What?” Her eyes were wide, so wide that even the tiniest bit of white at the far corners was visible. “Are you sure about this?”

“More sure than I’d like. I’ve seen the drug in action. Niko used it on Anjelo. Then, not long after the drug was administered, the Wraith possessed Anjelo’s body.”

She gasped. “Our Anjelo?”

I wanted to smile at the way she referred to him as “our Anjelo,” but I concentrated on the conversation. “Yes. He may not have told you because I think he can’t remember the possession. I know Niko was looking for stronger Walkers, alphas to test. Widd’en was getting ambitious.”

“Until you killed him.” She said the words, but I didn’t miss the iron in her tone. Odd.

I snorted. “Only because I had my mom’s help. He was so very, very strong.”

“Stronger than you?” she asked softly, tipping her head to the side, watching me.

“In my human form, I think so. I was slowed down by poison, so that may have counted in his favor. But he was no match for my panther form.”

Something seemed to snap her out of her thoughts. “Kailin, I don’t like this news. This means Widd’en’s army may still have access to these drugs. They may still be accessing Walkers on the streets, using the drug as a lure. Who knows what they may be doing while possessing such strong bodies. I wish I knew what their agenda was.” She gripped her hands into tight fists at her sides, and I could see how hard she clenched her jaws. I knew her frustration.

“The last I heard was once the dealer in Chicago was dead, most of the distribution cells closed down. As far as we know, the production of Synthe has ceased, along with distribution so any of Widd’en’s men would now be finding it especially difficult to find a willing Walker body to possess.”

Illyria looked slightly relieved, but the worry lining her face had not eased. “That is good news. But I am not convinced. That is only Chicago you speak of. What about all the other cities across the Earth world? What if the drug had already been distributed worldwide, giving Wraiths access to Walkers across your globe?”

I nodded, feeling a darkness gather over me. “You’re voicing every fear I’ve had these past months. But all I can possibly do is believe Omega and Sentinel and the High Council are all working together to ensure that isn’t the case. I don’t think they would have been so calm about it if Chicago were still in danger.”

Illyria shook her head and smiled sadly at me. “You are still naive, Kailin.” When I bristled at her words, it must have shown on my face. “I apologize for my directness, but you are naive if you think these organizations are being completely honest with you. They each have their own agendas. What makes you think you are getting the right information at all?” I would have been annoyed with her had I not heard the despair in her voice. She was fighting two wars. One against Widd’en’s army to ensure they didn’t advance with their drug-related possessions and the other to ensure their actions didn’t destroy the possibility of all Wraiths rejoining the earth dimension.

Tension had slowly built along the muscles of my back and shoulders, and I felt the bite in my neck too. I shook my hands and said, “Maybe we should put that out of our minds for now. Let’s get rid of some of this tension.”

Illyria gave me a weak smile and came to stand in front of me. She got back into position, and I noticed how similar it was to most martial arts stances, soft in the knee, hands at the ready. Then Illyria said, “Show me what you got.”

We settled into a slow progression first, testing each other, circling the floor. There was no mat to absorb the impact of bone to stone, so I paid extra attention to tackles. Illyria was good, her movements lightning fast, so speedy she was almost as blurring fast as Widd’en. From what she’d said so far, I realized she lacked Widd’en’s experience in both age and involvement within the rebellions.

I managed to get out of almost every hold she got me into, which frustrated her no end. We were both perspiring when she finally said, “How are you able to get out of every grip?”

I shrugged. “Maybe my Walker genes?”

She flipped her hair away from her face and stared at me as if actually considering my words when all I was being was flippant. “Well, there is definitely something giving you a distinct advantage. I have never been bested this way in hand-to-hand combat.” She made a disgusted sound. “I’m not sure I even want to bother to spar with weapons.”

“Tell me what I can do to help you,” I offered, but she just shrugged.

“I don’t think there is anything you can do to make me any better. I’m going to chalk it up to a freakish skill on your part. No offense,” she said, giving me a careful glance.

“None taken,” I said, laughing at the incongruity of it all. “Let’s just hope your intelligence comes soon. Or else we may have to have a few more of these sparring sessions.”

***

Illyria let out a loud laugh and was heading to fetch her cloak when a Wraith came to the threshold of the room. At first I thought he was a guard and Illyria wasn’t paying him any attention either.

The Wraith stood in the doorway for a moment, gave me a cursory glance, then set his gaze on Illyria. His face was well hidden beneath the hood of his cloaks and it annoyed me that Wraiths wore these damned garments. I quite liked seeing the face of an opponent. Because that was what he felt like.

An opponent.

I stiffened and watched him watch Illyria. His hand moved to his sword and drew it slowly. I wanted to laugh at his audacity. He knew I was standing there watching him draw his weapon, but it seemed like he’d dismissed the likelihood that I was a possible threat.

Fool.

He held out the sword and the moment his weight moved to his front foot, I yelled, “Illyria, watch out.” She glanced up from tying the strings beneath her neck and glared at the Wraith. “Who are you? What do you want?”

“I am Widd’en and I want your life.” My eyes widened at the statement, but I knew without a doubt this Wraith was not the one I’d killed. Height and shape confirmed this intruder wasn’t the master he claimed to be.

“Show your face,” Illyria yelled as she tugged the cloak from her neck and flung it at the wall, where it slithered down the stone into an inelegant heap. I wondered why she cared to see his face, but it was possible this particular Wraith was the mole Anjelo had referred to. The Wraith did as instructed and raised one grey-tinged hand to push back the hood of his cloak. As the light fell onto his face, Illyria drew in a shocked breath. “Ni’kai?” She seemed beyond shock as she uttered the name. Then she masked her hurt features and straightened her back. “Why?”

“Because you are weak. Women should not be allowed to lead, especially not a Wraith army.” His voice was low and sounded like he’d swallowed a cupful of gravel.

Illyria didn’t seem to care for his opinion. She just sank into her stance, confident of her own prowess. I wasn’t too sure considering she stood barehanded while he wielded a four-foot weapon. For a moment, the Wraith called Ni’kai shrank back. Then he stiffened his spine and lunged for Illyria. She backed away, light on her feet, then circled him. He turned with her, and I could see her intention. Eventually she would guide him toward me. All I needed to do was calmly wait until he had his back to me, then pounce.

He lunged again, his blade slicing through the soft silk of her shirt. At my gasp, Illyria said, “Kailin, please meet Ni’kai. Son of the noble house of Wen. Loyal soldier in the Rebel army of Wrythiin, now traitor to his order.”

“Nice to meet you, Nik,” I said from beside him with a smile in my voice. He didn’t bother to look in my direction, although his neck muscles tightened. But he had no choice except to keep moving away from his commander and closer to me.

He lunged again, and this time Illyria leapt away, leaving me to wonder if she’d allowed him to rip her shirt to give him fake confidence. The next few minutes of failed lunges and strikes made me all the more sure. Although out-weaponed, Illyria was definitely not out-skilled.

She continued to fend off his attacks while guiding him toward me until he was in position. He was already gasping for air, while Illyria had barely broken a sweat. All the while, I’d kept silent, my only words to the attacker that of my initial greeting. My silence had been my advantage because in the battle with Illyria, he had all but forgotten I was still in the room. If he’d thought I wasn’t a threat, he was sorely mistaken and would soon be finding out what happens when people, and Wraiths, underestimate me.

I pounced on him, throwing my hands around him, grabbing him in a headlock so firm he would have to break my arms to get out of the grip. Had he been a few inches taller, it would have made things a little harder for me, but thankfully he was almost the same height. The better to keep my hold around his throat. He swatted at my biceps, the movements already feeble. Illyria had done an excellent job in tiring our little traitor.

I held on tight and squeezed harder, the muscles in my biceps and triceps burning with the effort. Despite being tired, he was still incredibly strong, and it was taking longer than necessary to completely overpower him. Belatedly, I realized he was on home turf, that Wraiths were much more powerful in Wrythiin than they were in the Earth world.

I kept squeezing, and only when my hands began to take on a faint yellow glow did I realize I’d channeled the demon-killing power with barely a thought. Imbued with confidence, I squeezed harder, pulling him backward as he hit my hands. He coughed and struggled for air, the choked sounds of his impaired breathing close to my ear.

His feet dragged on the smooth stone as he struggled to get a grip with his heels, but again he failed miserably. He’d made two big mistakes: underestimated his commanding officer and dismissed the Walker in the room. I squeezed harder and the glow brightened. His struggles were losing potency and I could tell he was slowly being overcome by the lack of oxygen. Not for the first time did I thank Ailuros that the Wraith physiology was comfortably similar to humans. It made things easier when trying to kill them.

The sound of his sword clattering to the stone was a welcome relief. He was on his way out at last. I knew I’d been holding back the glow. It would have killed him much faster, but something had stopped me from revealing to Illyria exactly how it worked. And it wasn’t because I saw her as a threat or that I feared she would use me because of it. Deep down, I just felt weird about it because she was a Wraith, and my power meant it made it easier to kill Wraiths. The whole concept didn’t sit too well with me since I’d met a Wraith I knew and liked.

I glanced down and the metal blade bounced on the ground and came to a stop beside my foot. Even in his almost overcome state, the Wraith was still reaching for his weapon. It was well past time to end this.

I placed added pressure on his neck and ignored the brightening of the glow. One last squeeze and I let go of him, allowing him to fall to the ground, weak and almost unconscious.

My concentration on the Wraith drew my attention away from the blur of shadow that came racing into the room. It headed straight for me, and despite Illyria’s shout, the blur didn’t slow down. I was hit full force in my side.

My golden glow vanished immediately, but it didn’t matter as I was tossed away from Illyria’s attacker. He’d managed to regain his strength enough to raise himself to his elbows. Another Wraith now stood over the traitor, and he didn’t waste time. Or should I say she.

As the Wraith drew back her sword, I got an eyeful of shapely leather-bound thigh and trim feminine waist. Before I could do anything, she plunged the blade into his abdomen. As she performed the action, the shape of her body blurred, and I shook my head, thinking there was something wrong with my eyes. I blinked away the feeling.