38. Montana

We circled the cathedral, and I knew with every speeding footstep Erik took, we were getting closer to my sister. I clung to him as he carried me, willing him to move like the wind and bring me to her.

An ear-splitting noise sounded from above, and one of the spires toppled from the building, smashing into the ground before us. I gasped as Erik leapt onto the crumbled mess with impossible agility, avoiding lumps of jagged rock and shards of glass. Leaping from one place to the other until somehow, we made it to the other side without a single scratch.

My heart was in my throat as we rounded into a wide street and chaos spread out before us.

Magnar and Fabian were locked in a fierce battle, the rain pouring over them in a never-ending torrent. I couldn’t tell who was winning; they were too evenly matched, blocking every blow, clashing with the wildness of beasts.

I hunted for Callie urgently, my mouth dry as I climbed out of Erik’s arms and my heels hit the pavement, my wedding dress weighing me down. The rain was so thick that I could hardly see a hundred paces ahead. A dark shadow loomed beyond the fight, and the sound of snarls reached my ears, sending my gut spiralling.

A scream tore through the air and Clarice flew over our heads, smashing into the wall of the cathedral before collapsing on the ground. She regained her footing in seconds, the sound of bones fusing back together as she snarled. Julius approached her at a terrifying pace, sword raised and hatred in his dark eyes.

“By the gods, you’ve got a fire in that undead body of yours,” Julius called to her.

Erik stepped into his path, shoving me back a few paces, and Julius took him in with an assessing gaze, slowing to a halt.

“You’ve got a free pass today, parasite,” Julius spoke to him, offering me a nod. “But only because of her.”

“He’s mine!” Clarice rose to her feet, leaping over Erik and launching herself at Julius with nothing but her bare hands. She slammed into him, the two of them hitting the concrete and rolling away from us as each of them fought to get the upper hand.

Erik gazed after his sister, seeming unsure if he should follow them, but it didn’t look like Clarice needed any assistance. I just prayed Julius survived the wrath of her fangs, because she looked fit to rip him apart.

“Callie!” I called, turning my attention back to finding her, the sheeting rain making it hard to see much ahead of us. But she had to be out here. I couldn’t let myself consider the possibility that she hadn’t made it out of the cathedral.

I started running, and Erik swore through his teeth as we closed in on Fabian and Magnar.

“Brother!” Erik called to him, and both he and Magnar turned.

Magnar’s eyes burned as they locked on Erik, and an endless moment hung between them, filled with a thousand years of hatred. Fabian collided with Magnar and the tension was broken, the two of them locked in their fight once again.

A scream cut through the air, and Erik’s head snapped toward the source of the cry.

My heart stalled as the shadow in the mist came into view, the rain easing just enough to see what it was. At least twenty biters surrounded Callie and it was clear she’d taken even more out before our arrival. She moved like a warrior, tearing through their bodies with a huge sword, scattering the vampires to the rain. I didn’t know how it was possible that she was so strong. So fearless. I almost didn’t recognise her.

“Erik, help her!” I ordered, running forward with Nightmare raised, readying to dive into battle right at her side where I belonged.

He sped toward the biters and threw a fist that sent a female flying to the ground with a vile crack. Callie was fighting furiously, but she was nearly overwhelmed. She panted heavily, and I could see she was tiring, no matter how hard she fought it.

Fear clutched my heart as Erik battled his way through the biters, forging a path for us, and I wielded Nightmare at his back, slashing at them as hard as I could. The rebels were so intent on reaching Callie that I managed to bury my blade in several of their chests before they knew what was happening.

Erik was ruthless in his attacks, cleaving out the biters’ hearts without mercy while I powered through the throng of wet, cold bodies, keeping close to him. My gaze fixed on my twin, Nightmare guiding my movements to block any blows that came my way while I advanced with Erik. I had to reach her. I had to stand at her side in her hour of need.

As we finally broke through the circle, I leapt to Callie’s side, panting and slick with sodden ash. She gasped her joy, then cursed, ramming her golden blade into the heart of a snarling vampire coming up behind me. Dust exploded around us, and the wind and rain stole it away just as quickly. Callie grabbed a male’s arm, ramming the sword into his chest and half-spearing another female behind him too. With a surge of adrenaline, I darted forward and pushed her further onto Callie’s blade. The female’s shriek was cut off as she turned to dust around us, the rain washing it away like she had never existed.

Erik tore through a line of biters ahead of us, keeping them back as they tried to overwhelm us. Every one of them who got close met the wrath of his hands and teeth. The rain gushed around our feet, washing away the remains of the dead, and the onslaught slowed.

Callie released a choked noise, and I stole a glance at her. Her eyes were pinned on something behind me, and she started running before I could stop her.

“No!” she cried, her voice laced with fear.

I spun to watch, my heart in my throat as Magnar’s golden blade sliced across Fabian’s arm and he lost his grip on his weapon. Fabian stumbled back, lifting a hand to stop Magnar advancing, snarling a warning.

Magnar smiled keenly, cornering him against the wall and slamming his blade into Fabian’s stomach. My mind spun at the sight, the brutality of the strike, the promise of death in the air.

“Erik!” I called as the final biters ringed around him and we were forced to fight once more.

But while we were stuck here, Fabian’s last moments on earth were ticking down, and I could see the terror in Erik’s eyes over that fact, his love for his brother stark in the face of his impending death. And there was nothing he could do to stop it.