walker saga 07 - earth (10 page)

I was about to speak up when Brace threw out an arm and halted our progress.

Here we go.

We stood there in suspended animation. Crackles of noise filtered toward me. We were no longer alone. Well, five hours without interruption had been better than I’d anticipated.

By the time the gangers busted out of the shadows, I was so ready. Six of them did their usual trick, spreading out to surround us on all sides. I exchanged a commiserating look with Lucy before settling in to wait for their first move. This was an annoying interruption I did not need; we were running out of time. Lucy, on the other hand, looked excited. She’d been wanting to kick some ass for a while now.

“What do we have here? The streets are a veritable hub of activity nowadays.” Douche one – overly skinny, short, with bad teeth and a wicked receding hairline – decided that he had something to say.

I was just surprised that he’d managed to use words with more than one syllable.

“But see, we can’t just have pretty girls wandering around here. We have a reputation, and others might think we’re getting soft.”

Douche two took over. “Who do you affiliate with? Your markings are unusual.”

Markings?
Oh, right. The Walker marks Brace and I permanently wore. The gangers used tattoos to help identify which rat belonged to which crap-hole, so they would be more than curious about our marks. These particular douchebuckets wore the tattoos of the Crimz. Red splatters, like blood, had been flicked across them. Crimz gangers had
really
unattractive markings.

“We’re from the gang of ‘you’re all about to die’,” Colton said, his tone unhurried and mocking. “And we don’t have a lot of time, so can we skip the bullshit posturing and just get down to the killing part.”

The Crimz hesitated. Our confidence and the sheer size of Brace and Colton had them reassessing whether taking us on was the best option. Still, they hadn’t been kidding before. Word would spread if we were allowed to continue unharassed. Then the other gangers would come for their territory. They were stuck between a rock and a Walker. Both of which could crush them.

They came at us as a single unit, their only hope that they outnumbered us. Brace and Colton shifted their stance, just minutely, but enough so that they were mostly blocking me and Lucy. The pixie pouted – we were totally not going to get any action here today.

Like the flick of a switch, our boys suddenly went from relaxed, casual Walkers into scary-ass warriors. They held no weapons, used no Walker powers – even though they could still access some of their energy on Earth – and still managed to beat the living crap out of six hardened gangers. All of whom had some type of blade or mallet. I knew Colton was as highly trained as Brace, and more than held his own during the fight, but I barely noticed him. My eyes were zeroed in on my mate.

Brace fought like a ninja, always had. For such a huge dude he was hella controlled. His movements were fluid, one blending into the next. I’d trained with him enough times to know that you barely even saw him coming and then bam, you were down. Earthlings were weaker than Walkers. It really wasn’t a fair fight, but still it was kind of nice to see that those who had struck such fear into us our entire lives were now the victims.

One of the males who’d been knocked down earlier by Brace’s elbow managed to lift his head. He was crawling along the ground, knife in hand, apparently trying to reach Lucy and me.

“Can I have him, Abbs?” My pixie friend turned, her blue-and-yellow eyes begging me.

I tried not to laugh. The situation wasn’t really funny, but she was so amped up.

I gave her a nod. “Go for it, girl, you got this.”

The ganger was on his feet now, taking advantage of the fact that Brace and Colton were busy gathering up the other five to dump them in a nearby alley. No doubt they’d already realized there was one male left behind, but they knew we had skills. Not warrior-Walker skills, but enough to take out limpy here.

“You bitches are going to love the feel of my blade.” Limpy was apparently also a poet. His words were just beautiful. Like Shakespeare.

Lucy didn’t make a noise, her expression settling into hard lines. For the first time in her life she finally looked the part of the ninja she’d always wanted to be. Coming into her pixie powers had really heightened her senses and reflexes. One could only imagine how amazing she’d be if the faerie side of her was unlocked also.

Limpy sliced out with a small, paring-style knife. Lucy side-stepped his blade and, coming in on his left, clipped him on the chin. His head snapped back. Shaking it off, he rubbed at his jaw and trained beetle-eyes on Lucy.

Before he could do anything, though, she hit him again. From the other side this time. Then she stepped one of her tiny legs between his and tripped him over. A judo-style flip had his head slamming into the pavement. The crack was loud, echoing off the cement world around us. Just like that, Limpy was out cold. Or dead. Either way, he was no bother to us any longer.

Whoa! That was harsh. I was starting to turn into a Walker, and I wasn’t sure if I was okay with that or not. I loved my people, but there was an arrogance – a coldness that overtook them at times. I strode over and knelt down to feel for a pulse. I don’t know why; there was nothing I could do if he was dead. But still I had to try to care that a life might be lost. Thankfully, a rapid hum strummed under my fingers.

“Still alive,” I said.

Lucy looked relieved. Always good to know you weren’t a killer. Today, anyway. Truth was: I would destroy anyone who threatened my friends or family. And laugh as I stomped all over their grave. I’d also kill to save my own life. But just because I accepted that there might be situations where people died, I hoped I’d never just be okay with it. Death – the taking of a life – it should always mean something. Always.

“Let’s move,” Colton said, his nose elevating as he scanned the surroundings. “Area is clear right now. We’ve wasted enough time.”

Lucy glided gracefully to his side. It was odd to not see her flying now.

“Great job, pretty girl,” I heard Colton murmur as he gathered her closer to him. “You got mad skills, baby.”

Lucy snorted. But I could tell she was pleased.

I still held the cord in my mind and, knowing that it would be nearing dark soon, I hurried to pick up the pace again. Brace slipped his hand into mine, and I fought the urge to sneak him away into a dark alley.

You’re really hot when you fight.
I was teasing him, but it was also truer than any statement I’d uttered that day.

A lopsided grin slid across that handsome face, and I got all tingly inside. Brace’s smile was like standing in the first rays of a sunrise – as cliché as that might seem – to me it represented everything good in the world. I would do anything to see his smile.

I love you, Red. Have I told you that today?

I chuckled.
Yes, actually, you’ve told me that. But, more importantly, you’ve shown me that today and every single day since you came into my life.

His smile wavered.
Maybe not every day. There was that little disappearing act I did when we first met, and the time I was possessed by the Seventine –

I interrupted him.
Okay, every day since you pulled your head out of your ass you have shown your love and faith in me. Even after I broke the melding bond. I will never doubt your love for me.

Brace chuckled, before suddenly getting serious again.
I would kill or die for you, Abigail. Without a second thought. There’s nothing I value above you and, should anything happen to you, my wrath would be the stuff of legend. They’ll speak not of the Seventine destroying the worlds, but of me … of my rage.

There was so much brutal honesty in his words that it brought a flooding swell of emotions through my body. The tears followed closely, but I managed to hold them at bay. Now wasn’t the time.

I reached out and threaded my fingers through his. I needed to be close to him. I couldn’t think about the possibility that these might be our last few days together. Our last moments of happiness.

The darkest moment is always right before the dawn.
Brace felt my fear and sorrow.
We’ll see the sun rise. Have faith.

So strange that he picked that particular analogy when I had just compared Brace to my own personal sunrise. And I knew he hadn’t heard that thought. I’d kept it locked away, knowing it was pretty mushy.

Are you ever worried or scared?
I was sort of half teasing him, but I really did find it slightly intimidating how well he kept it together. Most days I was just a hot mess.

He didn’t speak straight away, and I could tell he was mulling it all over.
I’m scared all the time, Red,
he finally replied, and the brutal honesty almost sucked all the air from my lungs.
Not so much for myself, but for you. I don’t want you to do this; I don’t want you to fight the Seventine and try to imprison those bastards again. I worry what will happen – what you might have to sacrifice. I can’t accept any result other than you surviving this, but I still worry what toll it will take on you. What you might lose or suffer.
His grip tightened.
I would do anything to take this burden from you.

His fear was potent. Beneath the calm leader was just a male scared for his mate. Brace wasn’t used to feeling helpless, and in this situation there was nothing he could do to take the fate from me.

“Is the cord getting any darker, Abbs?” Lucy interrupted our inner conversation.

The four of us had been walking for some time in silence. Most probably, she and Colton had also been using their mate bond as a convenient manner of discussion.

I focused on the tether, examining it for a few extra moments. The trickles of unease still filtered along the shimmering lengths, and – there did seem to be more substance to it now. We were heading in the right direction.

“Yes,” I said, “it’s starting to darken.”

Brace and Colton halted again and, before I could ask what was up, my feet were off the ground and I was hoisted over a shoulder. Within about six seconds Brace had me off the main path and secured behind the shell of an old shop, one wearing faded stickers of combs and scissors. An old hairdressers. Colton had also yanked Lucy off the main path. All four of us huddled in closer. My attention was firmly on our surroundings as I tried to figure out why the boys had gone all snatch-and-hide.

What is it?
I asked Brace.

Vehicle.

I craned my neck to see what was coming.
Maybe we can catch a ride. Might make the journey a little faster.

He nodded, and we leaned out from our spot and started to drift closer to where the car would pass. Colton and Lucy were right behind us; Brace would have told them the plan. I could hear the roar of an engine now. It was still a distance away, but that rumbly splutter was distinct. Not to mention the random crashes and bangs as it plowed through the items in its path. There weren’t many working vehicles left in the city, but the ones which remained were usually hardcore, army-spec style. Those were about the only ones which could navigate these treacherous roads.

Sure enough, as the cloud of dust finally came into view, the car within was a heavy-duty troop carrier with a large bulbous hood and thick steel bars crisscrossing in a manner that would deter anything in its path. There appeared to be two occupants in the front, but I’d bet my last dollar that there were plenty more humans in the canvas-covered rear. This covering was faded green and brown camo-colored, with about a hundred years of grime and dirt.

“These jeeps usually have handles and a step on the back. As long as the canvas isn’t rolled up, no one will notice if we catch a ride,” I whispered.

This wouldn’t be the first time I’d jumped on the back of a convoy car. It used to make me sick to my stomach to sit there and know that inside were either gangers, or victims of the smuggling rings. But, back then, I’d had no power to help. So I’d just sat there and cried. Saving my own life, but unable to save any others.

The loud vehicle passed us by in a cloud of concrete dust and rubble. Bits and pieces of crap flew around us. A few hit me in the legs, but my healing would fix those bruises and scrapes right up. The jeep’s speed was probably around thirty miles an hour and we waited for it to fully pass us before following after. Colton lifted Lucy, which was the only way she could keep up. Her legs were half the length of mine. I still had my runner’s muscles, so I enjoyed the stretch and burn as I pushed my body to keep pace with Brace.

We caught the vehicle in moments and two at a time vaulted onto the large step at the back. Colton and Lucy went first, then Brace and me. As I shifted around to find a comfortable position, I held on tightly to the golden tether. The rest of my attention remained on trying to ferret out who was inside the canvas drapes. First time ever, I could have actually helped if there were victims inside.

After a few moments of intense concentration I was reasonably confident that there was no one inside. I detected no breathing or heartbeats. Just silence. Maybe the humans in the cab were on their way to gather a shipment, or had just dropped one off. Either way, we’d find out soon enough. Right now the car was following the exact path of my half-Walker girl. So I might actually be on here long enough to see where the gangers were going, and when we got there I was going to take great pleasure in putting my foot in their asses.

Chapter 6

The gangers are still following the cord.
We had been on the back of the vehicle for a few hours. It had not stopped or slowed, and we continued to follow the path of the golden cord. Which was still darkening, but not a lot. The distance was closing in but not fast enough.
Does this seem like a really big coincidence, or is my tethering ability somehow defective on Earth?

I was worried. We had no time to waste on fruitless endeavors. If the tethering wasn’t working I had to bring the half-Walker females here, and hope that with all of our energy together I’d have a stronger tie to the last female.