Blood Reunion
"Kids, get behind me," I hissed as I watched the Ra’Ak slither his way toward us.
"Mom? What’s going on?" Nissa fumbled her way toward me, Toff and Trik each gripping one of her hands tightly.
"Come." Rigo pulled all three of them forward and gently placed them behind us. All that stood between us now was a few minutes and a vampire who had no experience fighting Ra’Ak.
* * *
"No big deal, bro," Ry whispered to Tory. "I can make light without thinking about it. I think Mom and the others are in trouble, though." Ry pointed a finger at the floor, creating the barest hint of light. He and Tory made their way toward the department where their mother had been when they’d last seen her, navigating their way through overturned shelves, racks, broken walls and unconscious shoppers.
* * *
Lissa’s Journal
A decision lay before me. Sacrifice my unborn child to save the others, or hope that Rigo could delay a Ra’Ak, a power-mad warlock and an evil apprentice while the rest of us attempted to escape. Yeah. Right. The odds of our escaping went into negative territory and Rigo would likely die. We’d all likely die, actually. Zellar had made his plans carefully; somehow, he’d discovered where I would be and had taken full advantage. On Le-Ath Veronis, there were too many around me and I’d be better protected. Now, on what was reportedly the safest world in the Reth Alliance, I was under attack by one of the worst criminals the Alliance had ever seen.
* * *
"Holy crap," Ry muttered. The Ra’Ak either hadn’t seen him and Tory, or he was ignoring them in favor of a better target—their mother.
"Somebody’s walking behind the Ra’Ak," Tory hissed, turning his gaze on Ry.
"Wait, you can see?" Ry blinked at Tory in confusion.
"Yeah. Don’t ask me how, but I’ve always been able to see better than you in the dark. I think it’s that brat who almost killed Toff," Tory added, turning back to the Ra’Ak crawling through the store and the one who crept along behind the giant serpent.
"He’s aiming for Mom, and she can’t do anything," Ry hissed, slapping his taller brother on the back. "And that brat is aiming for Toff, I’d bet all the money on Karathia on that."
"Yeah."
Ry barely saw it in the dim light emanating from his finger, but a curl of smoke came from Tory’s nostrils.
"Dude, he’s about to kill Mom. And Sissy, too." Ry knew that the Thifilathi came whenever a High Demon became very angry. He had to fan Tory’s anger quickly.
* * *
Trik, Mom can’t use any of her power, it’ll kill the baby, Nissa sent to Trik. She’d already attempted mindspeech with her father, but it had bounced back into her mind. Somehow, something was blocking any mindspeech sent outside the store. Mindspeech inside the store still seemed to work, however.
What can we do? I can barely see, Trik replied mentally.
See that little bit of light to our right? That’s Ry, lighting his way through the store, Nissa sent. Tory is probably with him. If we ever needed Tory’s Thifilathi, it’s now. Uncle Rigo might be able to slow a Ra’Ak down, but that’s all he’ll be able to do without some kind of power.
What about our protection jewels? Trik asked.
They might slow a Ra’Ak down a little, but the Ra’Ak are really powerful. My protection jewels are aimed more at two-legged enemies.
* * *
Lissa’s Journal
Tiessa, please stand behind me and begin to back the children away, Rigo whispered in my mind. My Hraedan vampire mate, Rigovarnus I, was prepared to give his life in order to protect mine and that of my children.
We’re coming, Mom. Ry’s voice came directly behind Rigo’s.
Baby, run away, this is a Ra’Ak, I returned immediately. I couldn’t keep the moan from my mental voice. At that moment, I wished for Erland, Garde, Gavin, the twins and anyone else who might be able to come. My body was trembling with dread as I watched the Ra’Ak approach, his scales scraping over debris from the initial blast. He was almost upon us. I watched in horror as his mouth opened, revealing the usual rows of lengthy, sharp teeth. This one was prepared to devour us.
* * *
"Tory, Mom’s scared to death." Ry’s words made Tory turn around. A cloud of smoke poured from his nostrils and his eyes were dark and feral instead of clear blue. "She’s going to try to save Sissy and the others, and it’ll kill the baby. Maybe her, too." Ry kept hammering away at Tory, praying the Thifilathi would come. Tory growled, and it was a sound Ry never expected to hear from his brother’s throat.
* * *
Lissa’s Journal
Tiessa, do no go to mist yet. Let me make my attempt first, Rigo had a hand behind his back, waving me away. I was doing the same for Nissa, Toff and Trik, begging Nissa in mindspeech to back Toff and Trik away. Telling her to run the moment the Ra’Ak moved again.
* * *
Gren’s eyes had adjusted to the semi-darkness. His target—the baby-faced eunuch, was hiding behind the woman. And look, was he holding hands with a little girl? Gren wanted to laugh. Finally, Toff the worm was going to die. He was responsible for Gren’s parents’ deaths. There was no other explanation. Gren intended to make Toff pay dearly—for all the deaths he’d caused in the Green Fae village. Gren hadn’t used any of the power he’d gained from Le-Ath Veronis’ core. He was like the sun crystal he’d coveted so many years. He’d collected power and now he’d use it to kill Toff and the other two who stood with him. Gren smiled and gathered power, preparing to launch it and commit murder.
* * *
"Nissa, that’s Gren. He’ll hurt you," Toff hissed. Toff hadn’t failed to recognize Gren, even in such poor light. Toff pushed Nissa behind him.
Toff, I’ll throw a spell if he even thinks about it, Nissa replied mentally.
I’m with you, Toff, Trik offered, stepping up beside Toff and keeping Nissa where she was—behind both of them.
He’s building power—his hands are glowing, Nissa’s mental voice was terrified. She knew what a power spell looked like as it gathered strength. Gren, Toff’s old enemy, was prepared to kill all three of them. Please, let our protection jewels hold, Nissa sent up a silent prayer as she peered at Gren through the narrow space between Toff and Trik’s shoulders.
* * *
Lissa’s Journal
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion from that point forward. The Ra’Ak leaned back, preparing to strike. Rigo’s claws slid out and someone ran around the Ra’Ak, his hands up and light forming around them. Gren. Gren was still bent on killing Toff.
"Run!" I screamed at all my children. Three bursts of very bright light, much like old flashbulbs popping in rapid succession came, the store lights blinked on in the building and my half High Demon son in Full Thifilathi, roared as he charged the Ra’Ak.