Fatal Sight (Harbingers Of Death Book 2) by LeAnn Mason (book club reads .TXT) 📕

entirely, and that wasn’t an option. She needed to get past them if she was to hit all the wings in the building and bring the vampire hideout tumbling down.

A crash and shouting up ahead pulled Ember’s attention. The vampire who’d finished shoving humans into the hall reappeared, flying in a less-than-graceful arc that could not have been his idea over the heads of the humans before crashing into the wall opposite and crumpling to a heap on the floor.

As she approached the bend in the hallway, flapping to keep more or less in place, Ember watched a massive black beast prowl after the vamp, red hatred glowing in his eyes.

Help had arrived.

Seke rushed after Cole, giving directions to his team as he wrapped his arms around the humans and escorted them away from the burning phoenix and mauling hellhounds both. “Cole, sniff out any other vampires hiding in distant rooms and herd them toward the flames or your mouth. Either outcome is sufficient.”

The hound took off, streaking beneath Ember, leaving a trail of water and a putrid stench behind him.

“Raven,” the captain said next, addressing the black bird that circled over his head. “Keep watch in the foyer, and make sure to catch any other vampires trying to flee.”

He looked behind him at someone Ember couldn’t see. “Gunhilde, head to the cell and get Enid.”

A flash of metal zipped down the hall from behind Ember, zig-zagging between plumes of smoke that billowed with each beat of massive black feathered wings that were way too big to really extend.

“Torgny, take the humans outside to safety. Then, circle the grounds from overhead and make sure we didn’t miss any other exits.”

Seke helped the scared humans mount a large, black horse they couldn’t see. The horse took off, nearly losing his new passengers, right before Ember descended to where the humans had been a moment earlier.

She landed on the ground, tucking her wings, and watched as the horse disappeared down a corridor toward a rectangle of daylight and lightening skies beyond. A raven squawked in annoyance as the massive equine barreled past her.

Finally, Seke addressed Ember. “You have done well, Ember. Very clever plan. Please, rest now, and complete your resurrection. I am sure we will be able to find some exquisite ice cream once we are through here.” He winked.

But she couldn’t rest. They were missing someone. Ember cocked her head, crackling and smoldering as the flames began to die down and flakes of ash and soot slipped from her body. She couldn’t shift to ask the god her question until she was completely cool to save her human skin from burning.

Seke understood, nodding. “Aria chose to stay in the pit with her mother until Gunhilde could rescue her from the pit. She is also keeping an eye on the underground tunnels in case any vampires attempt to escape that way. I will be going back there to help her, once I am sure you are okay. I will leave you in Brenna’s care.”

Ember dipped her beak.

Having been given her affirmation of understanding, the Egyptian god turned and sprinted back out the door leading into daybreak. Ember had never seen the god run so fast, a touch of panic to his pace. She flew down to the lobby and landed on a table, toppling an old statue to the marble floor. There, she stayed, exhaustion setting in. She did need to rest.

A black-haired woman appeared just as her eyes were drifting shut, but it was just Raven. “I’ve got your back. You can nap.”

Ember gave a throaty squawk.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ll find some ice cream when we get out of this godsforsaken dumpster fire. You’ve earned it.”

30

“Mom, just let them pass, okay?”

“What do you mean? No, of course not. I won’t.” She was vehement but malnourished and frail. Maybe she had seen what I had, and maybe she hadn’t, but either way, I needed her to listen.

“I need you to go back to your mattress for just another few minutes, okay? All of this will have been for nothing if you die now. I’ll be fine, promise. Gunhilde will be arriving to escort you out of here shortly.”

“Gunhilde?” she asked, seeming to reminisce with that one word.

I smiled, grabbing tightly to her small hands clenched around the steel bars that hindered my entrance. We needed the vamps to remove it for us, and the only way they would was if they were attempting to escape the raging fire overhead… or to get to me.

A hissing noise sounded from the hole at the top of the cell as vampires began to pour into the tiny cell in a last-ditch effort to flee the inferno blazing through their home.

With one last pleading look, my mother scurried back to her mattress, flinging up a corner to dive underneath just as the first bloodsucker slammed into the bars mere inches from where I stood.

“Oh, jeez. Funny seeing you here! Was it getting a little heated up there?” I made doe eyes and my best bimbo stare to accompany the taunt.

“Banshee!” the bald man hissed, pulling back against the grate that stood between us with massively inhuman strength. Several more creatures began piling up behind him while the steel creaked and snapped as he pulled.

Crap. This was a bad idea.

“Catch me if you can, bloodsucker!”

I turned on my heel and sprinted as fast as I could through the putrid water, though the light diminished the further I went. Away from the cell, from my mother. They’d follow me. The prize was too tempting to pass up. A moment later, a crash reverberated through the tunnel at a deafening decibel, announcing that they’d succeeded in removing the only obstacle between us.

I wondered if vampires could see in the dark. Probably better than I could, at any rate. I needed a plan. I’d need to use my other senses to guide me as best I could under duress, anyway. I mean, I guessed this