Part 15 (1/2)

He went back to the door and again wrenched it open. This time we were ready as its deadly forced slammed into us. Sip grabbed the back of Loughs sweater and I grabbed the back of Sip. We ducked low and formed a train as we made our way out into the gale. The rain poured down so hard we were instantly drenched, and it also added a layer of difficulty to the task of seeing what exactly we were fighting.

I heard Sips voice, pitched high as if she was trying to yell something to me, but the noise of the storm was too loud. I quickly looked around, but I couldnt keep my eyes open for very long at a time. The wind felt like it had icy daggers in it, but I had to see what we were up against, and where the other paranormals were.

In the front of our little line Lough stumbled, and I felt Sip go down with him. If I wanted to stay connected to my friends I had no choice but to go down as well.

What I saw when I was a little below the worst of the wind-driven, icy rain staggered me.

The demons were in swarming formations, intense cl.u.s.ters of black that moved around like beehives. Some were definitely hybrids, no longer just demons, but something more awful and more deadly. The people on this deck, mostly senior paranormals, were clinging to the railings for dear life. As I watched, at least two lost their grip and slipped away. The water below was choppy with white caps. It seemed to me that the demons shouldnt be winning; there just werent that many of them. But they were. What was going on?

Its magicked, Sip yelled. They put magic in the wind. We cant fight and we cant run.

Indeed, a quick glance at the sails showed that we were barely moving. The wind was whipping around us, but it was more of a weapon than anything natural. I saw Dacer and Risper, Zervos and Oliva. I saw Saferous and several others. Caid was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Gussy.

What do we do? Rake had crawled over to us, his pale skin covered in a sheen of sweat mixed with rainwater. Im better when I can get my hands on one of those demons. He made a strangling motion with his ma.s.sive hands.

Can you fly or float at all?

Rake shook his head. Not in this wind. Youd think wed be able to run.

Look! Sip pointed. Thats where the magics coming from. Through the sheets of rain I saw another s.h.i.+p. It looked black and tattered, as if the wood was barely holding together.

So, they dont like the sea, huh? I yelled over the noise. Why arent the water spirits helping? Why didnt they warn us?

Theyre probably under attack too, said Rake, his eyes on the s.h.i.+p. By the paranormals, Id like for that thing to get closer.

Sip shook her head. No way. If they get closer were done for.

But as it is right now, you cant fight, Lough yelled. Youre a werewolf. Dont you want to sink your teeth into something?

All Ive wanted to do for weeks is fight, Sip growled. Her eyes were scanning the cl.u.s.ters of demons, and now I could see that their movement in formation was smart, smarter than anything I had seen from them in any of our other battles. I wished Lisabelle were there. She would know immediately what was happening and what to do about it.

Theyre protecting the s.h.i.+p, said Lough, pointing to how the cl.u.s.ters would attack and then dive backward.

I dont see why, I said. Its not like any of our senior paranormals can reach that far anyway.

They could, said Sip, her voice nearly taken away by the wind, if they werent busy keeping us from sinking.

I felt water trickling down my cheeks and nose and rubbed it away, trying to get a clear view.

I have to talk to Dacer, I yelled. Rake shook his head. Hes another vampire. Theres not much he can do.

There might be, I said. Vampires had magic that mostly dealt with darkness and sleep, and I was frantically trying to think how we might put it to good use in this situation.

Queen Lanca? Lanca hadnt been at the dinner the night before; she and Vital had gone back to a.s.sist in the siege at Vampire Locke. But I remembered her calling to the power of the Blood Throne when she was under attack at her coronation, and I wondered if there was anything similar that the vampires could do here.

Before I could even ask the question, though, I saw Saferous stand up. He was a fallen angel, so he could fly, and given his age and standing he was surely very powerful.

Theres no way I could stand up in the wind like that, said Lough, shocked.

As we watched, Saferous launched himself into the air. Followed by several other senior paranormals, he shot like an arrow right at the nearest cl.u.s.ter of hybrids. They must not have been expecting any of the paranormals to do something like that, because they instantly scattered. All around the deck I heard pockets of applause, quickly followed by silence. Any paranormal who let go of the railing for longer than a moment was sure to go over the edge and into the water.

Lets get closer to Dacer, I said. Sip nodded, and the four of us, Rake now bringing up the rear, made our way over to the Museum of Masks curator.

It was slow going. Dacer wasnt very far away, but in this storm it felt like miles. Lough led the charge, trying to block most of the wind from striking us. Every time Saferous and those helping him attacked another group of demons there was a smattering of applause, barely audible above the noise of the storm.

How long do you think they can keep that up? Sip asked from in front of me, sounding breathless.

Not long, I said grimly. I knew that the black s.h.i.+p, still trailing us but getting slightly closer by the minute, was eventually going to strike back at the senior paranormals who were trying to defend us. I had a bad feeling about what would happen to the paranormals when it did.

I still dont understand how they found us, Rake muttered, just as we reached Dacer. My mentor glanced at us and nodded.

This wasnt supposed to happen, he yelled.

You dont say, said Sip, without a trace of humor. Dacer made a face.

We cant stop them, he said. This has been going on for an hour and the s.h.i.+p just keeps getting closer.

Do you think Malles on that s.h.i.+p? I asked, worried for Keller.

But Dacer shook his head. I dont think we would recognize any of the paranormals on that s.h.i.+p. Malle finished her obvious attacks at Queen Lancas coronation. Shes now working from behind the scenes to destroy us, letting other people do the hands-on dirty work.

And Caids letting her, I said bitterly. Dacer looked sad, but he didnt argue with me.

We have to stop the s.h.i.+p, said Sip. At least get away from it.

Weve been trying, said Dacer breathlessly. Every time we create any separation the wind pushes us back against them. We cant do anything unless they stop controlling the wind.

I can help with that, I said. I am an elemental mage, after all.

Dacer vigorously shook his head. Out of the question. Its far too dangerous for you.

I glared at him. When are you people going to stop using that as an excuse and accept that Ive been in danger my whole life? And not only in danger, but in danger because of who my father was, which you cant even be bothered to know!

It was the first time Dacer had ever actually looked hurt by my words, but he held firm. I will not watch you risk your life, he said. Then, leaning closer and speaking so that only I could hear, he added, Especially after what happened at dinner last night.

If you dont let me risk my life now, pretty soon none of us will have lives left, I said, trying to make Dacer understand.

We were interrupted by a series of cries, quickly followed by a ripping sound. We all looked to the sky and saw, hurtling toward us, something that looked a lot like the black power Nick and Nicole had attacked me with. It was a ma.s.sive black fireball, and it was heading right for us.

My mind went blank with terror and my magic did the work for me. I didnt even have time to think, and if Rake hadnt been hanging onto my upper arm I surely would have tilted over the side of the s.h.i.+p.

I felt the s.h.i.+p rock precariously as other paranormals scrambled to defend us.

Its gaining speed, Lough cried frantically, as our defenses tried and failed to stop the ball of fire hurtling at us.

I closed my eyes and sank deep into my magic. I forgot about Caids accusations and plans for Lisabelle, I forgot how excited I was to return to Public and how much I missed Ricky. I even forgot that Rake was desperately hanging onto me, and that without his strong hands clutching me I would surely slip overboard.