Chapter 19

19

ROMAN

T he fire swept down the alleyway. I hit the ground, landing on my side.

Holy shit!

Flames roared above, licking at my skin. The heat was incredible but did not burn me. Thank God! Being roasted alive was on my list of the worst ways to die.

Please let Eric and Michelle be okay…

As soon as the fire cleared, leaving behind smaller flames in the scorched brickwork, I got to my feet.

"We are here, Shadow." Margarite and Lizard Guy were on their feet, not crispy.

Good. Good. But what about the witches?

The dragon roared, its wings a heavy beat outside the alley. I looked back, the street on fire. Oh, God. Things would only go to hell now. This double whammy came at us in one evening. I couldn't think how bad things were going to get from here on out.

Feeling a little dizzy from all the drama, I ran down the alleyway, reaching a destroyed gate. It lay in smoldering pieces in a paved-over garden. I darted past it, scanning the garden for any sign of the witches.

I spotted them hiding in a line of fir trees at the far end. Michelle waved me over.

"You both okay?" I asked, crouching beside them.

"Just," Eric answered.

The houses were on fire, and it was quickly spreading across the roofs. It wouldn't be long before this street collapsed into ashes.

I blew out a long breath, holding steadfastly to my fraying determination.

"We have to get to Queen Piper," I said.

Michelle looked at me, her facial features sagging. "What if we can't? What if humans aren't strong enough to fight without magic?"

"Don't say that," Eric countered. "We can't give up yet."

Yeah, screw any resignation. We weren't quitting.

"Let's get out of here," I said.

"There is no safety," Michelle answered hopelessly.

"No. You don't get to say that. You have to fight."

The dragon flew past. I froze, waiting for the beast or the demon queen to spot me in my own moment of hopelessness. But neither did.

"Let's move," I pressed, getting back on the horse of determination. "Those fuckers aren't taking over. And I won't let you wait around to be barbequed."

Thankfully, Michelle agreed to move, sparing us any more attempts to make her see the light. I guess not wanting to be cooked alive trumped doubt.

Taking point, I passed through the trees into another back garden. The witches followed, and I led them to the other side. We hurried down an alley into another street, the residents frantic in a desperate bid to escape the area.

"Where are our people?" Eric said.

"Can't be everywhere at once," Michelle muttered. "Come on." She moved into point, weaving through the chaos until we reached a parked car at the end of the street.

"Do your thing," she told Eric.

He grinned and broke into the car in less than thirty seconds and had it hotwired in no time.

I really missed being able to do that, proper jealous of the guy. I'd stolen and hotwired plenty of cars in my time for various job-related reasons—some of the vehicles super luxurious.

I got in the back with my followers, happy to know I could take a seat. Michelle jumped into the passenger side, and Eric took off like a boy racer, spinning the car, tearing through the streets.

My kind of guy.

The dragon flew overhead, spewing fire into the street we were about to turn onto. Eric slammed on the brakes, pulling off a three-sixty turn. Hit the pedal and tore off as fire rushed after us.

"Bloody hell!" he bellowed, making a sharp left turn.

My insides were rattled, but my awe was bright. "Nice."

He upped his speed, tearing across a roundabout, speeding up a hill. A cavalcade of ADU trucks came down the hill in the opposite direction as if manifesting from thin air.

"We should be with them," Michelle said, turning to watch them speed past.

And the world needed her to be here. I felt zero guilt in pulling her away from this mess. Doing this got us our futures back.

I hope…

Man, I was banking a lot on everything slotting back into place. I mean, what did I really know? How dare I make any sort of calls?

Because I dare. End of.

Eric powered on, the sounds of violence thundering behind us. I didn't look back, guilt deciding to gnaw at me now. Because it was my fault. I'd failed to stop Butterfly. Falling under his influence didn't matter to me. Losing to him did. I should've done better to fight him, been a lot stronger. The Shadow operated on a different level. Beyond failure with an awesome record of getting shit done.

But you're different now…

In this moment, I didn't want to be different. I wanted to be the disconnected Roman Gold.

If he ever existed…

He did, albeit weakly. He held up his walls, did his duty, played his part in an empty life. Apart from the love for his grandma, finding solace in that circle of pure happiness which collapsed over a year ago when he lost her.

Gone now. Whatever happened next, I would never get her back. And I had to work through that, to get myself to a new place. Grief's roots were deep and impossible to pull. Yeah, they could be forced into dormancy. I looked forward to that time. But no matter what, there would always be a hole inside me for my grandma. Impossible to fill, yet not impossible to live with.

Man, I really wanted to try eating life, to smash into the second chance Xavier gave me. This Roman wanted to evolve. I wanted to rebuild myself with bricks of love and hope.

I'll make this right.

Fresh fuel hit my inner fires. I sat straighter, the good fight an inferno.

I've got this.

I've fucking got this.

Eric hit an A road, passing more ADU units. Road signs pointed to the junction for the M1 motorway. Using the southbound lane, we'd soon be in London.

I took the time to think, watching the road lights go by. It was quieter here compared to the carnage we'd left behind.

For now.

Something strange drifted into my mind. A sensation like moving, or even slipping out of myself. No. Not out, but between myself.

Huh?