Chapter 19

I didn't seewho shot first, or even if the missiles hit, because Cain grabbed hold of me and essentially tossed me away from the window. I stumbled into his bed and fell on it with an oomph. I rolled over to see Cain crouched and peering over the window ledge, watching the unfolding events—which involved lots of gunfire crackling.

"What's happening?" I huffed, sliding from his mattress to the floor.

"The people in the vehicles are armed," he replied grimly.

No shit."Mizuki and Vance…"

"Are fine. She was smart and had a shield in place before they began shooting. They've taken cover behind the planters." Wooden framed boxes filled with dirt and flowering chrysanthemums.

"We have to help them." The thought of them being out there alone bothered me.

"There is no we. You have to stay put out of harm's way," he stated.

"I am not going to sit on my ass while someone takes potshots at Mizuki and Vance," I hotly declared. Look at me being brave. Figures Cain would shoot down my attempt to finally not be a pussy.

"I'm sure the reapers on sentry will be along shortly."

"If they're alive." My ominous statement. "After all, the intruders made it all the way to the house without setting off any warnings." I knew for a fact there'd been a guy stationed at the mouth of the driveway, watching the road. "Not to mention, we only have a handful here." Nova claimed we'd be less likely to draw attention if we didn't have the whole army around. I think she worried more about someone else being seduced to the dark demonic side.

Cain's expression turned to stone. "Will you stay put if I go and provide them with backup?"

"I can help."

"No, you'll be a distraction, not to mention they're probably here for you, so let's not make it easy for them. You will stay in my room while I go help."

I nodded but also crossed my fingers behind my back. I liked to keep my options open.

"I mean it. Don't you dare budge," Cain said with a wagging finger.

"Yes, Daddy." Not a funny situation, but I really didn't appreciate being treated like a child.

"Don't make me spank you," he retorted as he grabbed his duster that rendered him invisible. The coat would make it impossible for the shooters to see and take aim. At the same time, it wouldn't stop a stray bullet. He left, shutting the door behind him.

While Cain had ordered me to stay in the room, he didn't say shit about watching, so I crept to the window and raised myself enough to have a view.

There were five vehicles parked, their driver and passenger-side doors wide open with people crouched behind, using them as shields. Gunfire crackled as they aimed at the house, shattering glass, creating splinters as the missiles hit the wooden siding. Of Mizuki and Vance, I saw no sign. The porch overhang hid the flower boxes. I didn't spot Cain either, but most likely he exited via the back that he might surprise our attackers.

I hated feeling helpless. Actually, correction, I hated feeling useless. Everyone but me would be fighting, putting their lives in peril while I cowered in a bedroom.

Cain insisted they had to keep me safe. Not me so much as the messovenata. Super important, I get it, but how would I ever learn to fight if they kept coddling me? How would I test my ability to defend? Even I could recognize training in a safe space with people who would not harm me didn't count. When would I stop letting others take on danger I wasn't willing to endure myself? Not to mention, what was the point of being this supposedly rare reaper witch if I couldn't help those I cared about?

Only as I entered the hall did it occur to me. Holy shit, I'm being brave.

Turned out, with the right motivation I could move past my fear. My newfound confidence led to me stalking cockily down the stairs, only to yelp and drop down as a bullet shattered a window in the great room. I didn't run back up those stairs to hide, though. I slithered down the steps and remained low as I scuttled across the space, heading for the rear door that led to the large patio where we'd barbecued the night before.

Before swinging the portal open, I did a survey of the space outside. Empty. I put my hand on the knob and froze as movement caught my eye. A man dressed in camouflage and holding a rifle stepped from the woods.

At a moment like this, I wished I could fling fire like Mizuki or that the freeze-spell thing I'd done to Cain would suddenly stop the dude in his tracks. Instead, he crept closer to the house. Close enough I could see he'd cut himself shaving.

I never even saw Cain until he swung. The guy with the gun would never be shaving again.

Before Cain could see I'd disobeyed, I ducked down below the window out of sight. My heart pounded, but not in fear. Adrenaline rushed through me.

Was this what courage felt like?

After what felt like an eternity—and sounded like nine gunshots—I rose to glance out the window. No one in the rear yard, unless the dead body counted.

I emerged from the house and, at the sudden conviction I'd been spotted, froze in place just like a rabbit, because, you know, that would totally prevent anyone from seeing me. Idiot. Don't stand in the open.

My inner chiding got me moving, sidling along the house toward the side yard, doing my best to not breathe hard, and failing. I huffed hotly, unsure what I was even doing. How could I help? I'd not brought a gun, although I did have my scythe. The long blade, however, would require me getting close to swing, which led to the realization I'd be trying to maim humans, not demons.

Gulp.Could I really use the scythe against my own kind?

Bang.

Yes, I could, because these assholes were trying to kill us. I couldn't be squeamish. Nor could I hesitate. This was life or death.

And possibly my fault. After all, I'd threatened Moloch by telling him humanity would come after him with their weapons. Told him they would fight against his plan to ruin the world. What did that fucker do? Recruited them against us.

The irony only made me angrier. I used that heat to slide around the rear corner of the house into the side yard, praying I wouldn't be seen. From this angle, I couldn't see any of the cars, just hear the shouts and cracks of guns being fired. No yelping though. I truly hoped that didn't mean Mizuki and Vance were dead.

I pivoted my head constantly, looking behind, sideways, in front. I didn't want to be surprised. With my ass tucked tight against the house, I paused before the front corner, taking some deep breaths as I geared myself up for a peep.

The crack of someone stepping on a branch froze me in place, once more a bunny rabbit caught in the open, minus the twitching ears. Please don't see me. Maybe if I thought it hard enough, my wish would come true.

A guy in jeans and a plaid shirt emerged from the forest, hefting a gun, and looking in my direction.

That's it. I was done for. He'd shoot me for sure. Only he looked past me as if I weren't there.

I held my breath as I willed myself to not be noticed. I almost screamed for joy and fist pumped when it worked.

The armed gunman stalked within a few feet of me, rifle raised, getting ready to ambush my friends. Only once he got in front of me did I finally snap out of my stupor. I didn't even realize I'd extended my scythe to full size until I'd swung.

I took the gunman out at the knees, and he hit the ground screaming.

And bleeding.

So much blood. Add in the piercing shrieks and I hyperventilated. Oh my god, what did I do?

For a second, I froze in shock, staring at the man I'd injured, and then Cain was hissing in my ear, "I told you to stay inside."

His rebuke had me blinking away the horror of what I'd done. "I told you I can help. Proof." I pointed to the guy.

"And then didn't finish the job," he chided as he silenced the gunman.

"Give me a break. It was my first time," I huffed. Where was his pride in the fact I'd acted?

"Go back inside."

"No." I angled my chin. "This is just as much my fight as yours."

"Fine, but no crying if you get hurt," he growled. "And keep up that invisibility shield. I didn't even see you until you swung."

"Um, okay." Probably not the right time to tell him I had no idea how I'd done it. So I just did what I did before and basically prayed. Don't let anyone see me.

Cain moved ahead of me, straight-backed, confident. Me, I kind of limped and my shoulders hunched as if it would make me a smaller target. My sweat-slicked fingers gripped the scythe, and I did my best to ignore the red stain on its blade.

Now wasn't the time to think about what I'd done. Plenty of time later—if there was a later—to puke and rock in a catatonic state in a corner.

Gunfire kept pinging, the bullets being shot fast and furious. I might be rather new to magic, but even I knew Mizuki's shield would only hold for so long against such a barrage. I also knew she couldn't fight so long as she held it in place. Magic didn't appear conducive to multi-tasking.

A confident Cain strode into the open, trusting in his cloak's ability to conceal. It obviously worked since no one turned on him and fired.

Me, I hesitated. My bravery fractured but not yet broken. I clung to the corner of the house and peeked. The cars remained parked in a line, blocking the driveway, with still too many attackers hiding behind them.

Please don't let them see me. I had to admit I didn't have a plan at this point. Like, should I be trying to take out the gunmen? Extending the invisible thing to Mizuki and Vance so they could escape?

Cain chose to fight. Despite his coat, I could still see him, some weird reaper-witch perk. He'd diverted to the left out of the line of fire. Smart, because even if they couldn't see him, walking into the barrage of bullets would have hurt.

"I'm almost out of ammo," groused Vance, who was closer than expected. A glance to my right showed him and Mizuki huddled behind the destroyed planter. They were slumped right down as close to the ground as they could get. Poor Mizuki. Strain made her features taut as she fought to hold to the shield covering them.

"Throw out the bomb," someone shouted. Not someone on our side, I should add.

What kind of bomb? I had a moment to blink as I watched a sphere come soaring. It hit the ground between the cars and the porch. It didn't so much explode as it concussed. It sent out a wave that rocked me on my heels and led to some yelling.

"Where did he come from? Shoot him."

Uh-oh. Guess we knew now what that bomb did. The magical disruption meant they could see Cain, halted mere paces from the intruders, who pivoted to take aim. Did he run though? Nope. The big man roared as he rushed the attackers closest to him, coming in low and slamming into the car door, which crushed the guys hiding behind it.

I might have kept watching, only Mizuki exclaimed, "I lost my shield, and I don't have any juice to get it back up."

"Get inside. Find Sadie," Vance barked, standing bravely and using his body to block her from gunfire. He used the last of his bullets to give Mizuki cover. She scurried to the door of the house, only to yelp and go down.

Those fuckers shot my friend.

Vance got hit next, the bleeding hole in his thigh dropping him to the ground.

Cain huddled by the car, pinned in place.

Something had to be done, and it took every single brave cell in my body to walk out into the open, arms spread wide. Despite my inner shaking, I yelled, "Hey, boys, are you looking for me?"

My announcement caused a lull in the firefight, so everyone got to hear me getting yelled at by Cain. "You fucking idiot. Run away."

Fuck that. I was done cowering. Done being afraid. I let my frustration at the situation fill me.

Hot. Throbbing. And angry. So very fucking angry.

My ire pulsed within, and I exhaled as I let that emotion explode.

Literally.