were squeezing into various elevators.
“Let’s take the stairs,” called Delagio.
We headed through a set of double doors and into stair well. We were at level B18. Thundering up the stairs, we twisted up and up, until we were at level B2. We exited into a long white corridor and rocketed along. Doors whipped past us. If anyone were to come out now, they would be mown down, no question.
At the end of the corridor, Delagio burst through the doors and we piled into the room.
It looked like a control centre. Rows of desks were covered in rows of computers. They were occupied by a myriad of people who were tapping frantically at keyboards. At the very front on the wall was a huge screen. It showed a map of the UK on a grid system; currently one section of it was flashing red.
I noticed Faru at the front below the screen looking up at it, his cane dug firmly into the ground. Two bodyguards stood just behind him, hands clutched around their electric crosiers as usual. No other Chosen appeared to be here yet. I wondered where they had all gone. Midnight grunted “What we got?” “Vampire pack.” Gabriella moved past us into full view. My breath snagged in my lungs when I saw her.
She was wearing some kind of black leather uniform. A miniature silver version of the emblem on the Feasting Hall doors was indented on the breast of her jacket. It reminded me of a police badge. Her raven hair was tied back into a long ponytail. Guns, knives and other strange weapons I couldn’t identify hung from a thick metallic belt wrapped around her waist. A samurai sword ran diagonally down her back, secured by its scabbard. She looked like she meant business — she looked like a soldier.
Gabriella paced over to one of the computer screens. The assistant — a squirmy looking man with round glasses — scrambled out of the way so she could use it. Her gloved hands muffled the sounds of the keystrokes.
“Quite a large pack,” she informed the room. “At least fifteen. They tripped the perimeter sensors at the five mile marker.”
Faru’s voice boomed across the room. “Do you think it could be Rahuman?”
Gabriella tapped a few more keys and the large screen changed to show a blue line originating from a point roughly in the middle of the country. It wasn’t entirely straight, sometimes shooting off in random directions, but mainly heading down towards London. At certain points, the line had thick blue pulsing circles marked on it. “Judging from the direction of the attacks and where we’ve encountered him before, I’d say yes.” There were nervous murmurings from the people in the room. Faru nodded. “He is coming for us. Let’s save him some time.” The old man looked in my direction, then back at Gabriella. “I want you to take Alexander with you.” Her head shot up. “But sir, with all due respect, he hasn’t even finished his training yet. He isn’t ready!”
Faru nodded. “I am aware of that, which is why he will be observing only. Take Twelve and Thirteen with you.” He gestured towards the silent guards.
My friend’s face looked conflicted. Sighing, she conceded.
As you wish Sage Faru.”
“All remaining teams are in defence positions around the base. I’ll place Echo on standby for support. Be safe.” He crossed his arms in salute like the Guardians had in the gym. Everyone returned the gesture.
Midnight smacked his hand into his fist. “Alright let’s go finish this arsehole once and for all.”
I stood there looking and feeling like a lost child.
“Five minutes everyone. Get ready and meet me in the garage.” Gabriella pushed away from the computer and took my arm. “You come with me.”
“What’s happening?”
“It’s Showtime.”
15
Gabriella led me to an underground parking lot somewhere in the cavernous depths of the base. Shining black tiles covered the walls and a purple glow from arching wall lights filled the area. Around us were dozens of parking spaces. Most of them were filled with enough beautiful cars and bikes to make even Bruce Wayne jealous. I followed her over to a sleek black Ferrari. She rested against the bonnet and stared at me with her captivating blue eyes.
“Alexander, I need you to listen to me.”
“Okay.” When she looked at me like that, there wasn’t anything else I could do but listen.
“This could be a very dangerous hunt. If it’s the Vampire pack we think it is, they’re extremely powerful. We’ve lost several Guardians to Rahuman, including Chosen. So I want you to stay behind me and the bodyguards the whole time. I don’t want you to get involved at all. No matter what happens. If anything goes wrong, I want you to drive away as fast and as far as you can. Do you understand me?” Her voice carried a no mess authority tone.
“I understand. I won’t do anything,” I promised shaking my head. What can I do anyway?
Gabriella’s face broke into the reassuring half smile that I loved. Looking behind me she rolled her eyes. “Here comes your protection.”
I spun around to see Faru’s guards walking towards me. Instead of robes, they now wore long white trench coats, with matching boots. As well as the menacing electric crosiers, they carried an array of impressive looking pistols and knives on their belts. Up close I discovered that the numbers on their foreheads weren’t tattooed after all, they were carved.
They reached us and stopped. Gabriella pointed toward a silver Range Rover opposite the Ferrari. “You travel with the rest of the team.” She tapped the metal of the bonnet. “We’re in here.”
The guards shook their heads like twins. One moved forward to grab me, but Gabriella jumped up and swept me behind her.
“Listen to me you retarded clay doll. I’m the leader of this team and what I say goes. When we get there, you protect Alex with your lives — if that’s what you call them. Until then, he is not leaving my sight. Clear?”
I felt a rush of warmth at how protective she was being over me.
The guards paused before nodding in eerie unison. They both turned and walked over to the jeep.
I frowned, watching the odd figures fall silent as if their batteries had run out. “Why did you call them Clay dolls? Is that like an in joke or something?” I asked.
“Not at all. Have you ever heard of a Golem?”
“Never.”
“They’re made from clay. Faru creates them and brings them to life using Fae magic. They help serve us and protect us, but they can’t speak and have no compassion whatsoever. They just do what they are told like mindless dogs. I hate the things.” I suddenly understood why their skin had been so devoid of lines. To all intents and purposes they were living statues. “I’m getting the impression Faru is pretty powerful,” I said. Gabriella glanced over the driver door. “You have no idea.”
I sank into the bucket seat just as the rest of Orion ran in. They were all dressed in the same black leather uniforms. Delagio was still wearing his cowboy hat.
They paced over to the Range Rover and jumped in. Sophia climbed into the boot space so there was enough room for the Golems to crank themselves in.
A second later the window buzzed down. Delagio leaned out and yelled, “You got a lock on em right?”
“Yeah, follow me,” Gabriella called back.
“Sure thing boss.” He tipped his hat and the window glided back up. Gabriella turned the key and the engine roared to life. I hardly had time to put my seatbelt on before we lurched forward, tyres squealing. We raced towards the exit ramp. Behind, the jeep rumbled into existence and followed. We spiralled up and up like a helter skelter stuck in reverse.
The slope straightened. Ahead, a large garage style door cranked open. We shot out into the daylight — car soaring off the ground. It slammed back down and Gabriella spun the wheel sharply to the right, power sliding around a decorative circular fountain. Gravel sprayed up from underneath the tyres. I craned my neck back and saw that we on the front drive of the grand mansion. From the outside, the exit we burst through was designed to look like the rest of the stone. As the jeep roared through, it closed automatically and all trace of it vanished.
