Hurrying past, I headed up the ramp and out into the muggy night. I found myself in an industrial area that I vaguely recognised.
We were back in Chapter Hill.
All around me were warehouses. Dakin vaulted onto the roof of one ahead. I waited a few seconds and then followed, praying he wouldn’t see me.
Where the hell is he going?
All I knew was that I didn’t trust him. Rachel and the others may have vouched for him, but the way he glared at me, it was more than just dislike — it was hate.
He vaulted from roof to roof and I followed as stealthily as possible. After a while, my eyesight adjusted to the darkness and trailing Dakin became easier. I hid behind air vents and brickwork to keep from being spotted. But Dakin never even glanced in my direction. He thinks he got away unnoticed. Even so, I wished I could stop my heartbeat, like I’d held my breath, in case he heard its frantic drumming.
He dropped down onto street level and slunk towards an unassuming warehouse near the back. Without warning, he checked over his shoulder. I dived behind an old skip. It felt like a hummingbird was beating its wings against my chest. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead and I waited for him to come and confront me.
Nothing happened.
I leaned out. He was still looking warily in other directions for signs of pursuers. Then he curled up his fist and banged in a complicated rhythm on the metal door. A few seconds later it was opened and he disappeared inside.
I counted to thirty and then slipped from my hiding place, running low towards the warehouse. I pressed myself against the wall and was just about to leap onto the roof, when I noticed a small symbol painted in white on the metal by my foot.
A crudely drawn eye. The Eye of the Abyss.
Fear gripped my chest. Suddenly I wished I’d brought the rest of Orion with me. Not this. I didn’t expect this!
I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. I knew I couldn’t turn away now — I needed to find out exactly what Dakin was up to.
Vaulting up, I wrapped my hands over the warehouse edge and dragged myself carefully onto the roof. I scanned around in the darkness and found what I was hoping for. Light shone out into the inky night from a section of skylight windows. I ran to them and lowered myself onto my stomach. The glass was filthy. I used my t-shirt to clear a little patch in the grime and peered through the glass.
The window looked into a large room. The walls had been painted with dozens of SOS symbols. They glistened in thick black — little tears of paint — seeping down from the main art. At one end were dozens of racks, filled with a multitude of vicious weapons. At the other end stood a plinth, which had been fashioned into a rudimentary stage. Standing in front of it was a large crowd, dressed in red, hooded cloaks. From my angle, I could just about make out their faces. There were all manner of species, I had seen before, including Vampires, Oni and Skinshifters, as well as some I hadn’t but recognised from the pages of my handbook, like Imps and Goblins. But the one that looked the most terrifying dwarfed even the tallest Oni. It had oily black skin and a goat-like face. Two black horns protruded from its forehead and curved into twin spikes that arched above its head. I’d heard Tyler mention them once and read about the species recently in the handbook.
Devil.
I kept scanning the room, taking in each face to see if there was any I recognised. None of them looked familiar, which provided a small amount of comfort. I’d met most of the Guardians at the joining feast, which meant that the only Rogue appeared to be Dakin. That thought evaporated when the devil stepped forward and for split second I saw a face I couldn’t mistake. The birdlike features. The pale skin.
Sylvia.
I grit my teeth together in anger. This woman represented the Coven. She passed on our missions. If she was corrupt then the entire chain was corrupt. The bitch could make us walk into anything she wanted.
A door opened and Dakin entered the room. He was dressed in the same cloak as the other members. He merged with the crowd and I lost him amongst the sea of red.
All those in attendance were talking amongst themselves. Their noise blended into a single roar of sound and even with my improved hearing, I couldn’t single any of them out. One by one, they stopped talking and turned to face the stage. I craned my neck to see what they were looking at.
A man stood on the plinth, hand raised to silence the Soldiers of Sorrow.
The man was Sage Asmund.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Sage Asmund wasn’t merely a disgruntled hybrid or Pandemonian or even a pissed off Witch. He’s the leader of an entire base! I finally understood how much the HASEA was suffering. The corruption was everywhere. A sick feeling rose in the pit of my stomach. It took all of my strength not to vomit.
He raised a second arm to join the first and complete silence descended on the room.
“My fellow Soldiers of Sorrow,” he announced. “Before we get down to the reason I have called you all here tonight, Brother Dakin has brought it to my attention that he narrowly avoided detection whilst trying to recruit new brothers and sisters in The Black Tap. Yet again, the HASEA fiends swooped in, raining down their bigoted oppression of the superior races. And for what? Humans?”
There was a roar of indignation from the crowd.
“Well no more!” Asmund grew louder. “They think they can do what they want without repercussions. Where was the justice when their newest recruit — the one they put their misguided faith in — killed Brother Dakin’s maker?”
There were more cries and fists pumped in to the air.
I froze. Rahuman was his maker? No wonder he hates me!
Around me there were more roars of anger. Fangs popped down and shifters struggled to keep their human form intact.
“The HASEA is nothing more than a bunch of human lovers who have made weak Pandemonians and Hybrids roll over like faithful dogs!” However, mark my words! Tomorrow evening that changes!” he paused. “Tomorrow The Sorrow comes.”
The room hushed.
I leaned in further, pressing my nose against the glass. My heart hammered in my chest. I prayed no one looked up.
Sage Asmund pointed a finger at the crowd. “So far, none of you have managed to complete the simple task of killing one solitary little Chosen. But it is out of your hands now. Hades has spoken. The boy is to be left to the Sorrow.”
There were murmurs of disapproval from the crowd. The devil let out a guttural growl that drowned out everything like a vocal tidal wave.
Asmund looked at the beast warily. “Do not let yourselves become angry brothers and sisters, you all still have so much you can give. This is what we have been waiting for. Why some have pretended, and others have remained hidden for so long. As I speak, The Sorrow lies in wait, unable to pass through the Veil. But its tracking is complete. The boy cannot run or hide. Tomorrow evening, we will attack the Warren and force that old fool to unseal the Veil! The Sorrow will pass through and claim their Alexander Eden!”
There was a crescendo of roaring enthusiasm. I could feel my skin crawling. I’d thought I was safe. But these people were declaring all-out war. Just so that thing could come and kill me.
“The boy represents more than a simple threat to Hades. He represents hope. Hope of a new rising of Chosen. Hope of our defeat. Hope of an end to the Ageless war. When The Sorrow extinguishes his life, the faith of the HASEA dies with him. More will turn to us.” He raised his hand into the air and coiled it into a fist. “Then we will crush those that remain!”