Sepia had become the Jade Demon.
“Shit, Blue,” Cade muttered, not taking his eye off the scope. “What have you done?”
He lined up his shot and only moved his head once, to gauge the level of energy in the rift gun. He reacquired his target, let out a long breath and pulled the double-action trigger.
First pull.
The energy drain was immense as he felt the life force escape his body. It mixed with the rift energy in the siphoning receptacle, as the wards grew brighter, forming a rift round of solidified energy. Cade’s vision clouded for a few seconds as a wave of vertigo hit him.
A few deep breaths later, he managed to get himself under control and refocused on his target. He looked at the monster Sepia had become, and cursed.
“Forgive me, Sepia.”
Second pull.
The unexpected siphon of energy was greater this time, causing Cade to reflexively shift his hands in response. The rifle deviated slightly as the round whispered out of the barrel and headed for its target.
“Shit,” Cade managed before the world became black and he lost consciousness.
THIRTY
I managed to keep my body under control as the scales fully covered my skin.
Perdition hummed in my hands as Velos closed in on my position. I heard the shot and rolled to the side as Velos’ shoulder exploded in green energy. The nimbus of black energy reacted immediately, covering the wound.
Velos dropped Retribution, reabsorbing and forming it in his other hand.
Beneath the black energy covering the wound, I could see the green glow persist. The feel of the energy was familiar.
The rift.
“It would seem your gunman is still alive,” Velos said. “I don’t know how he kept you alive on the streets. He should have aimed for my head.”
Velos raised an arm, causing a section of the cloud of black energy to rise behind him. If Cade really was back there, he had just lost his chance at a second shot.
“I agree,” I said, observing the black nimbus fight the rift energy—and fail. “Doesn’t look like your sword is dealing well with that wound.”
“This is just a scratch,” Velos said with a grunt that made it clear he was lying. “I will eliminate your gunman once I’m done with you. Perhaps I’ll end his pitiful life with Perdition—that would be a fitting end.”
“Sepia, get away from him,” Calisto said. “He’s too dangerous.”
“That’s why I have to stop him,” I said. “He’s too dangerous to live. I’m going to end him, here and now.”
“You’re going to end me?” Velos mocked. “You have an overinflated estimate of your abilities. I’ve killed two Hunters. Adding one more will be simplicity itself.”
“You just made your first and last mistake,” I said.
“Really?” Velos asked, unleashing more of his black nimbus around us. “Do share.”
“You think I’m a Hunter.”
I closed the distance with a thrust to his chest. He parried with Retribution, but it was sloppy. He wasn’t used to fighting with his off-hand. I needed to capitalize on this advantage before he healed. The green energy in his wound was still somewhat visible, but I could see it diminishing.
I was running out of time.
I slid to the side, and right into a pocket of his energy nimbus.
“Like I said,” I heard him say as the black cloud closed in on me. “Simplicity itself.”
“You think you’ve won?” I said, letting the rage loose inside. “If you think I’m going to allow you to kill more Hunters—you…are…mistaken.”
I slammed Perdition into the ground with a roar. Green light exploded from my blade, shredding the black nimbus around me and dispersing it.
“How did you…?” Velos began as he backpedaled. “Impossible.”
I moved, faster than I had ever moved in my life. I drove a fist into his chest, launching him across the grass. More tendrils of black energy shot my way, and I sliced through them with Perdition as I closed on him. I missed the tendril behind me as he motioned with a swing of his arm.
The tendril punched into my back, knocking me off balance. The look of shock on his face told me that was not the desired effect he was looking for.
He raced at me with Retribution at his side.
I quickly regained my balance and reached inward for the cold of Perdition. Green flames erupted around my body, engulfing me and my sword, as a calm descended over me.
“Submit, Velos,” I said as my voice reverberated throughout the Park with deeper undertones. “I promise to make your end swift and painless—a mercy you do not deserve.”
“Die, you bitch!” Velos screamed, thrusting forward with Retribution as he tried to surround me with black energy again. “I will have my Retribution!”
I stepped in, dodging his attack and slashing downward, bringing Perdition down on his sword hand, and removing it from his body. Retribution vanished from sight. His scream filled the Park as he formed his blade again and grabbed his severed hand from the ground. I sidestepped around, ending up behind him. I wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him close to me in chokehold.
He struggled but couldn’t break free. I was too strong for him.
“You should have been focused on me, Velos,” I whispered into his ear, my voice still blended with a deep bass tone. “This is for Cesca and Red Jen.”
Velos started laughing.
“You think I’m the threat you face?” he asked. “Death is coming for you, Sepia. For everyone you love and everything you cherish in your life. Chimera is coming and he wields the Nameless.”
“No, Sepia!” Calisto called out. “Not like this. Don’t do this. Don’t surrender to the darkness of the blade.”
I turned to focus on Calisto as Velos broke my grip.
He plunged Retribution into his abdomen with a grunt as black tendrils shot out from the sword and arced back into his body. I took several steps back.
“What the hell?”
“Hell,” Velos said, “is exactly where I’m sending you.”
I held Perdition in front of me in a defensive stance. The black
