The photo area was bare. The stand had toppled over, the camera reduced to shards of broken machinery scattered across the floor. The emergency light continued in the hub. It gave the whole place an eerie vibe.
I looked over at Tim. His face was panic stricken. I could barely imagine what he must have been thinking. Gabriella’s expression gave nothing away. Her lips were a tight line. I could tell that even though her face was serene, inwardly her mind was whirring. A sharp pain in my back reminded me to keep moving.
“Listen, if we don’t make it through this…” I whispered.
“Alex don’t. We’re both making it out of this alive.”
I shut my mouth and fought against the dread which grew with each step. I was furious at myself. I’d known something was wrong. I’d felt it after we won the battle. I’d missed something. Deep down, I knew it. And now, the whole of the school were in danger. Damn it! I should have at least hidden some weapons here!
“This way,” growled Bargheist, turning down a corridor. We followed behind.
The shifter jerked to a stop.
He stayed motionless as if someone had removed his batteries. Then a welt of blood bloomed in the centre of his back. He dropped to his knees, exposing Rachel, sporting a blood soaked dagger. Without questioning how or why, we seized our chance. I spun around and down, sweeping the Bloodling’s legs from under him. Before he had even hit the ground, I wrenched the sword from his grip and brought it down, severing his head. A swipe of blades told me that Gabriella had taken care of the other two Rogues. We turned back to face out saviour.
“Rachel!” Gabriella cried, giving her a relieved hug.
“Are we glad to see you,” I breathed.
“Isn’t that… your Science teacher?” gasped Tim.
I had to resist the urge to laugh. “I’ll explain later,” I promised.
“Rachel, what are you doing here?” asked Gabriella.
Rachel looked confused. “Didn’t Faru tell you? He sent me to keep an eye out, just in case. Easy considering I technically work here. I’ve spent most the night circling this bloody school.” She nodded down at the bodies. “Saw this lot arrive.”
At least someone was prepared, I thought glumly.
“Listen, we can’t stay here,” she said sheathing her blade onto the fully armed Kapre belt that hung around her suit trousers. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but the place is crawling with SOS. I’ve called it in. The rest of the HASEA are on their way. I told Faru to meet us at the Gymnasium. Come on.”
“Will someone tell me what in the name of god is going on?” moaned Tim.
“Sorry mate, explanations later, running first.”
Rachel turned and sprinted down the corridor, with us hot on her heels. We broke out of the side door, into the torrent of rain. The booming of thunder was so loud, I could hardly hear myself think. The rain was coming down in droves. It hit the ground with such force, it bounced. We splashed our way through, heading out of the main school section. Gabriella had to bunch up her dress so that she could run properly. Her hair had come undone and thick strands were plastered down the side of her face. My heart was thrumming in my chest as we headed around the main area and into the Gymnasium. We entered together, apart from Tim, who arrived over a minute later. I’d forgotten he couldn’t run at our speeds. When he got inside, he almost collapsed. “H-how, can you r-run that fast?” he wheezed. Looking around, I noticed it was dark and gloomy. Only one emergency light was working. I turned to Rachel. “What now?” She pointed to the main hall. “Let’s wait in there.”
We opened the door. The gym was filled with more shadows and darkness. Decrepit old foam mats lay stacked at the far end. Climbing ropes hung from the ceiling like old nooses. I could smell stale sweat. It seemed to pour out of the very walls. The room was deathly silent.
It was at that moment that I saw that Rachel was wearing the ring I’d seen her drop all those weeks ago. I noticed the crest on the top.
A pyramid of 3 stars sitting inside a crescent moon.
It was the same symbol as the one on the front of the derelict mansion in my nightmares.
Moonstella. The word written above the mausoleum. I hadn’t been able to understand what it meant, because it didn’t actually mean anything — it was a family name.
The dread I’d felt began to leak to the surface. We’d got it wrong. Lafelei’s words hadn’t been referring to the Coven.
Betrayed by the moon and stars.
Moonstella.
My blood turned to ice.
Rachel drew her gun and pointed it at us.
33
Rachel, don’t do this.” “It has to be this way, I’m sorry,” she said in a hollow voice. Gabriella shook her head in disbelief. “All this time?” “All this time.”
“Will someone please tell me what’s happening?” squeaked Tim. Gabriella answered in a tone of sadness mixed with anger. “People like Alex and I protect other humans from evil things. We thought Rachel was one of us. Turns out she’s an evil thing.”
“But why?” I asked.
In a flash, Rachel’s voice became full of rage. “Because of humans like you. Chosen,” she hissed. “Your kind slaughtered my entire family as if they were nothing more than dogs! Not just my parents. My grandparents, sisters, brothers, uncles, cousins. All of them dragged into the streets and burned alive. You think you know grief? I found everyone I have ever loved in a charred heap at the edge of our estate.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “So mutilated, I couldn’t even mark their graves properly, because I couldn’t work out who was who!”
Gabriella took a step forward, which made Rachel swing the gun in her direction.
“Rachel, I’m so sorry. What those Chosen did to your family was unforgivable. But the Purge was a long time ago. Those people are gone. We’re not the same as them. Rachel, we’re your friends. Please let us go.”
The Pixie shook her head. “I’m sorry but this is bigger than you both. It’s taken me centuries to create a new persona and establish myself as a trusted Guardian of the HASEA. I’ve had to hide who I really am for so long; I almost let myself get caught up in it all.” She grit her teeth. “God, I’m so sick of all the lies!”
“What are you trying to achieve?” I asked.
“Isn’t it obvious? My entire lineage was wiped out without so much as a second thought. Cast into oblivion. Well I didn’t forget! And I’m going to make damn well sure that no one ever forgets me! I’ll be the person who brought down the Alliance.”
“Rachel, there are thousands of Guardians all over the world,” Gabriella pointed out. “How can you ever hope to bring down the Alliance on your own?”
Rachel looked surprised. “One person? I don’t think you quite understand.” She lifted up her top lip with the barrel of her gun. The Eye of the Abyss had been tattooed on the soft underside.
My brain started spinning. “Wait, you are a member of the SOS,” I said in a confused voice.
“Not just a member Alex. I’m a leader.”
Gabriella and I exchanged a horrified glance. I felt my legs go weak. It was all I could do to keep from collapsing.
“I don’t understand,” choked Gabriella. “You’re a Luminar. Hades hates them even more than humans. He barely tolerates them being members of the SOS. Why would he allow one to become a leader?” “Because I have something that he needs.” “What could you possibly have that Hades needs?” “A hidden section of the Veil, sealed and under my control.” Gabriella’s face went ashen. “How…where?” “It’s on her estate,” I answered instead. “Inside a Mausoleum.” The Pixie turned to look at me, sweeping the gun with her. “How do you know that?” “Call it an educated guess,” I said.
Rachel began to pace up and down the Gymnasium, all the while aiming between me and Gabriella. “It was a family secret. My ancestors sealed a section of the Veil and hid it away. Only someone of my bloodline would be able to unseal it. The idea was to use the doorway if ever they needed to escape from danger.” She pulled a grim face. “Only your kind got to them before they had a chance to do so.”
