Apocalypse the Blossoming (The Power of Twelve Book 2) Read online

“No,” I breathe.

  “Yeah,” he says. “She’s special. We need to move her for her own safety.”

  “You have no idea how bad an idea that is,” I say.

  “We don’t have a choice, she’s in danger here,” he says.

  Killian walks up next to us and places a hand on my shoulder. My knees turn to water, and it’s an effort to keep myself standing. I want to melt into him at his touch.

  Damn it, Aviella, get a grip!

  Gavin touches my face, placing his finger just below my ear and tracing the line of my jaw. A trail of fire follows the passage of his finger. I’m breathing in short gasps, and my heart pounds in my chest. A whimper tries to escape my lips, but I bite it off before it can get out. I’m not giving in. Nope, not going to do it, no way in hell I’m doing this. I can’t hide the shiver that runs down my spine though. Damn it. Gavin grins even wider.

  “Tor is never going to hand her over to you,” I say.

  Focus, Aviella. Tor, Dorna, important things, anything beside the way their energy is weaving in and out of yours. No, not his eyes, don’t look there, or crap, not those bulging arm muscles either. Desperate I focus on the ceiling above us and try to get myself under control. It helps, a little.

  “He can’t protect her,” Killian says.

  “He won’t believe that,” I say. “It’s his daughter, you have to get to know him. Let him get to know you,” I say, studiously keeping my eyes on the ceiling.

  “What are you looking at?” Gavin asks, looking up himself.

  “Nothing,” I snap.

  Luca laughs, loud and brash, and my cheeks burn.

  Damn it, why can’t all of you just be… ugly or something.

  “Okay,” Gavin says, playing along. “So… Dorna?”

  “Get to know Tor,” I say. “You have to earn his trust. Once you do that you’ll have your in.”

  I see him look at the others by the turning of the top of his head, just inside my line of sight while I continue inspecting the ceiling.

  “We’ll do it,” Gavin says.

  “Good. I’ve got to go,” I say, pushing my way past them before I drop my eyes down.

  I feel their eyes on me as I walk away, but more than that, I feel their energy clinging to me like the last lingering touches of a lover. Stiffening my spine, I do my damnedest not to let my hips sway or give any other encouraging motions. Good God, this is my life. What in the hell is going to happen next?

  Chapter Seven

  Breaking through time, I think. What does she mean?

  It's late, and almost no one is out as I pace the tunnels of the rebel home. I can't sleep. I keep thinking about what Dorna said. An enemy is waiting. There is some strange truth to her words that resonates deep inside. I keep feeling like there's something I should remember, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

  The symbols I saw in my vision, the marks on the undead, the way my magic is growing, it's all related. Somehow. If only I could figure it out. I don't know what I expect of myself on this. I have all these people trying to help me, and none of them are doing any better than I am, and they’re all a lot smarter than I am.

  It's frustrating. If my dad were here, he’d have an answer. He always had an answer. Of course he would probably say it was all part of the plan. He talked often about the ‘plan,’ but when he said it with such confidence, you couldn’t help but believe him. Then he’d remind me how much my mom loves me. I don't doubt she did, but she's gone. Like he is.

  In a lot of ways, I'm still alone. Despite all my protectors.

  Okay, Aviella, that's enough of the darkness. Focus on what is at hand.

  Those damn symbols. They mean something, but what? What did Dorna mean I broke through time? Is she referring to the Crossing Point? I’ve never seen one, but they are a magic portal, maybe that's what she’s referring to. If she is, does that mean an enemy is waiting for me on the other side?

  Of course there's going to be an enemy waiting. How else would my life go?

  Someone walks past me, casting a sidelong glance as they do. It pulls me out of my introspective thoughts. Several other people are now walking the hallways, and I suddenly realize I’ve paced the halls all night long. Dammit, I really should've slept. My stomach grumbles, reminding me of the basic need to eat. I make my way towards the mess hall.

  The early morning shift is just starting, so there's only a handful of people at the tables. No one pays any attention to me as I walk in and make my way to the serving line. I still can't get over the abundance of food here. I've only recently gotten to the point that I don't feel like my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I go to an empty table with my loaded plate, sit down, and begin eating. I'm halfway through my plate when Efram joins me.

  "Good morning," he says.

  His steely eyes bore into me as if looking for some answer, but to what I'm not sure. I meet his gaze, admiring the strong jaw, and his overall presence. Efram is steady and loyal and filled with honor. I'm so comfortable with him, at times I forget how good-looking he is. My stomach tightens as desire flashes white hot.

  “Morning,” I say, forcing a mouthful of food down past the lump in my throat.

  "I'm not sure about this crossing," Efram says.

  "Oh yeah?"

  "I'm worried that it will attract the Dragons’ attention," he says. "I don't see how we could possibly open a portal without their knowing it."

  "Silas says he has a plan," I reply.

  Efram frowns and his eyes narrow. He shakes his head negative.

  "I know what he says," he answers.

  "Do you have a better idea?" I ask.

  "I think we could —"

  Something changes. Efram stops mid-sentence. A silence falls across the room that makes the hair on my arms stand up. Everyone looks at each other. No one says a word. Distantly something thuds. One thud, another thud, then yet another. My stomach sinks, and bile rises in my throat. Boots. It's the sound of boots.

  Efram and I exchange a glance, and then we’re both running. As soon as we exit the Mess Hall into the main tunnel, Ronan and Luca come running at us. They don't bother with words, grabbing me by either arm and dragging me along with them.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I make sure Efram is keeping up with us. I want to protest but I'm not stupid. I don't know if the Dragon guards are inside the Bunkers yet or if they're just coming, but making noise is not a good idea.

  They're dragging me deeper into the underground. Away from the entrance, which is probably smart. We find our way through milling crowds of scared people.

  We come to a blank wall. The mages tuck me into a small space between the blank wall and one of the shipping containers the rebels use as bunks. The mages stand side-by-side blocking the entrance and protecting me. It hits me we’re missing Efram.

  "Where's Efram?" I whisper, voice quivering.

  Rowan looks over his shoulder and shakes his head, shrugging. Luca glances around but then places a finger over his lips. The silence across the rebel underground is oppressive. No matter that I saw all those people, it's too quiet. The sound of boots echoes again. It's above us, but it's coming closer. Somehow, I know we've been found out. I try not to think about it. I don't want to know that this is all my fault too. No matter how I try to push that thought away, it keeps creeping in. Memories of Bunker E247 rise, unbidden and unwanted. All those people, lost, because of me.

  Dammit, there has to be something I can do to change things. What's the point of having all this power if I can't help anybody?

  Footsteps echo, coming closer. My skin tingles as magic rises, preparing to fight. The sigils that Nathaniel put on me glow, brightening the dimness around me. Ronan and Luca shift their stances, preparing for a fight as well.

  Rafe and Nathaniel step around the corner and we all relax. I slip between Ronan and Luca to peer down the hall, hoping to see Efram. It's empty though. My skin crawls as the sound of the boots grows louder.

  "Where is he?" I whisper
.

  "He'll be here," Rafe says.

  Ronan and Luca grip my shoulders and push me back. I resist, irritated by their overprotectiveness. When they continue pushing, I whirl around, shoving an open hand against each of their chests.

  "No," I whisper through clenched teeth.

  They exchange a glance with each other, and Luca bites his lower lip while Ronan’s grip tightens. I glare at them until they back down. When they take their hands off my shoulders I nod emphatically and turn back around to look for Efram. I reach out with my senses, hoping I can feel him. Nathaniel places a hand on my shoulder, and I jerk my head towards him, ready to admonish him as well. Something in his eyes stops me. He leans in close and whispers.

  "Aviella, that is not a good idea," he says. "They can sense your use of magic."

  I want to argue with him. Fire burns through my blood, a burning desire to tell him how wrong he is. Except he's not and I know it. I'm being foolish. This is the exact kind of thing that is always getting me into trouble. As much as I want to disagree, he's right, so I stop. It makes me sick to my stomach. Once more, I can't do anything effective. So I wait.

  Minutes crawl by, sliding into each other. Each one feels like an hour. We don't speak, unwilling to risk the extra attention. Not for the first time, I realize patience is not my strong suit.

  There's the sound of an explosion and we all jump. This is going south fast. I look at my friends, my protectors, and I make a decision. I can't stand by and let this happen. I burst into action. Leaping forward, I run.

  "Aviella, no!" Nathaniel screams.

  Chaos erupts, and it seems everyone loses their minds, forgetting the danger of the Dragons.

  I don't look back. I have to help. I am not going to stand by and let another Bunker fall because of me. Once was enough. I don't care what the Dragons do to me if I can't face them down. I won't let them harm these innocent people in their quest for me.

  I hear cursing from over my shoulder, and I glance backwards. It's a mistake, because the moment I do, I run into something hard. It makes my head spin and knocks me to the ground. I look around, confused. A moment before there was nothing there, and I still don't see what I ran into. There's nothing but empty space ahead of me.

  Luca walks up with a half-smile on his face. He holds a hand out to me, and I accept it. He pulls me back to my feet.

  "What the hell was that?" I ask. “What about magic pulling the Dragons down on us?”

  "You can't do this, Aviella," Luca says. “And they’re going to find us anyway. We have to get out of here, now more than ever.”

  "I know how bad you want to help," Rafe says. "I get it, believe me. We all do. You have to realize, you’re more important."

  "No!" I yell. "It's not right and it's not fair. I'm no more special than any of these people. They have every much as right to live as I do."

  "The Dragons won't harm them. They want you. The only way you can save these people is to escape. You have to. It’s your destiny," Nathaniel says, his anger pounding against me.

  I've never felt the angel’s anger before. It's white-hot and burning and filled with a righteousness that melts my resolve to stand against him. Tears fall down my face. Frustration, anger, and more, because I know he’s right. No matter how much I don't want it to be, I can't change the truth.

  Tears well up in my eyes. I do my best to fight them, but there's no holding them back. I wipe at my cheeks furiously.

  "Dammit!" I yell, shaking my fist in the air.

  The men exchange a glance, and then Rafe steps forward and wraps his arms around me.

  "Shhh," he says, running his hands through my hair.

  "It's not fair," I say, tears flowing freely. "It's all my fault."

  "It's not," Rafe says. "It's this world. Everything has led to this, since long before you were even born. Mankind has made his choices, and this is the world he's created. It didn't have to be this way."

  "What's happening?" Efram asks.

  I push away from Rafe but let a hand linger on his chest to show him I am grateful for his support. I wipe my eyes on my sleeve before looking at Efram. Tor and Dorna are with him. Dorna's eyes widen when she looks at me, and then she runs across the distance between us and leaps into my arms. She squeezes me tight and plants a big kiss on my cheek.

  "It will be all right," she says, and her voice is sweet.

  "Of course it will," I say, encouraging her optimism.

  What else can I do?

  Gavin and Killian stand behind Tor. We're all here except Silas. I don't want to leave without him.

  "I can't open the crossing here," Tor says. "It's too close to the Dragons. They'd be on us in an instant."

  "Do you have a better idea," Gavin asks.

  "Yeah," Tor replies. "Follow me."

  "We can't go yet," I say. "Silas isn’t here."

  "He can take care of himself," Efram says.

  "That may be true," I reply. "It doesn't change the fact that he should be with us. He has no way of knowing where we’re going."

  "Aviella, we don't have time for this," Rafe says.

  "What if it were you?" I ask, arching an eyebrow at the demon. "You’d want me to just leave you behind?"

  "It's not —" Rafe says.

  "It is exactly," I say, cutting him off.

  I glare at each of the men, forcing them to bow to my will. I'm not leaving anybody behind, not this time. My glare works because none of them bother to argue with me. Good. This time we’re doing at least part of this my way. I put Dorna down on the ground, and she stands next to me holding my hand.

  "What about my mommy?" She asks.

  "She's taking care of some things," Tor replies. "We'll catch up with her later."

  "Okay," Dorna says.

  My chest constricts, and I bite my lip. What if she never sees her mother again? What if, like my father, she said goodbye without knowing it was a goodbye? Bile rises in my throat, and I have to force myself not to say what’s on my mind. It won't do any good.

  "We can't stay here," Tor says. "Silas knows where I plan to open the crossing. I'm sure he'll meet us there."

  I stare at him, trying to measure the truth of his words. Is he placating me? No, I think he's being honest. I don't think there's a dishonest bone in Tor’s body.

  "Okay," I agree. "Lead the way."

  Tor leads and I take position right behind him. The tunnels are wide enough for two abreast here but ahead the wall juts out, narrowing. It’s going to be easiest to go single file. These are rough tunnels, barely formed. We have to pick our way through rubble on the ground. As our ragtag group makes its way through twisting tunnels, the chitter of rats echoes off the stone walls. We’re invading their territory.

  The lights of the rebel base grow dim. The sigils that Nathaniel put on my arms brighten, casting a soft, silvery glow. It's not intense, but it's enough so that I can see to walk. Nathaniel activates his own sigils, which are much brighter and cast enough light for everyone.

  I keep telling myself that I’ll see Silas again. It’s only a matter of time. He’ll be fine.

  Except, what if he’s not?

  I told myself the same things after my Dad disappeared. Over and over I would tell myself he’d come soon, but he never did, not even after years went by.

  No, this is different. Silas will come back. I have to believe it. I believe that my Dad will come back too. Sometimes things take time. In that case, we wait. Silas will be fine.

  Suddenly, Tor’s back is no longer in front of me, and I’m falling forward as my foot steps down onto nothing. Pinwheeling my arms, I try to catch myself, but it’s too late. I’m falling. The one foot on solid ground slips too, and I’m sliding down into an open hole. Strong hands grip my shoulders and I’m jerked out of the free fall. Efram pulls me up and against him.

  “Why weren’t you watching where you’re going! You wandered off and nearly got yourself killed,” he growls.

  His face is so close we’re alm
ost touching. His lips tremble and I want to kiss them. His arms around my waist tighten, pulling me closer, and my body molds against his. I relax against him, rising onto my toes….

  “Ahem,” Rafe clears his throat loudly, jerking me out of the moment.

  I feel their eyes burning against my skin. The tension in the energy flow between all of us is intense. Uncomfortably intense. Shuddering, I step away from Efram.

  “Thanks,” I say, focusing on the ground.

  I’d walked right into a hole that I should have seen, if I’d been paying any attention at all. Obviously, I wasn’t. Consumed by thoughts of my Dad, I almost screwed everything up, again.

  “We should… continue,” Efram says, his voice husky and tight.

  “Yeah,” I agree.

  Damn, this is getting out of control. The attraction I feel for all these men is crazy, wrong, and yet so damn right. What in the hell am I doing? How do I, of all the girls in the world, deserve this?

  Get a grip Aviella! Focus.

  Pushing aside the spinning desires, fantasies, and distractions, I focus on watching where I put my feet. If nothing else, I can at least avoid the obvious pitfalls, even if I can’t sidestep the ones in my relationships with my protectors. Huh, good one, self, high five.

  “Here,” Tor says at last.

  "We have to wait," I say. "Silas will be here soon."

  The men exchange a look, and I know they think I'm crazy, but I don't care. They have to understand that I care about each of them deeply. I can't leave Silas behind.

  "Aviella," Efram says.

  "No," I say. "We’re not leaving him behind."

  Efram frowns and looks at Rafe. Rafe puts his hands up and shrugs, obviously unwilling to argue.

  "We don't have long," Tor says. "Every moment, the Dragons’ forces come closer. If they’re too close, they will stop us before I can get the portal for the crossing open."

  My heart pounds. I know he's right, they’re all right. It doesn't matter. I can't leave him behind. There has to be a way I can make this work. The tension builds as the seconds tick by. Dorna grips her dad's hand tight, and looking at her brings back memories. Unwanted, unneeded memories of the last time I saw my dad. This world is a mess.