practically
salivating to get them back. They begged for mercy and agreed to
hand over valuable information if the Council agreed to a new
trial, one based solely on their living time and omitting anything
they did as vampires. The deal was made, much to my chagrin, and
they cooperated with the Louisiana team fully.
“ I got the report that
spelled out their intelligence, and it has been authenticated. The
head of the vampire coven has been making their headquarters in New
Orleans of all places, and they are still there. If we leave soon,
we’ll have the element of surprise when we face them. The Louisiana
team will back us up since we have more experience, and by the end
of tonight we should have some of the most notorious souls back in
our possession.”
Elizabeth stopped to look at her
bracelet and typed into it quickly. “Coordinates, departure time,
Alpha and Bravo teams have all been sent to you. Get ready quickly;
you’re going to need to be on top of your game for this
mission.”
And with that, she turned on her heel
and strode out of the room. No one spoke or moved for several
seconds, all stunned by the news we’d been delivered. This was the
big one, the moment most of us had been waiting for since joining
this team, and it seemed a little surreal that it was actually upon
us.
“ Well, what are we all
still doing here?” Cassie spoke, jostling us out of our stupor.
“Let’s go steal some souls back!”
Everyone popped out of their chairs to
prepare. Lola was the first out the door, running back toward her
room to get in a quick shower before we left. Even Zander and Adam
high-tailed it to the weapons room to load up. But I couldn’t move.
My feet were cemented to the floor. My chest felt like it had
bricks thrown on it, and my mouth was suddenly dryer than the
Sahara. I could hear the voices fading as they all left, but
couldn’t focus on anything in particular. Everything became out of
focus and blurred as panic and fear raced through my body. Before I
could dwell on it, a hand was gently squeezing my
shoulder.
“ Don’t let it control you.
You’re stronger than you realize. Stronger than most people can
imagine. Stay focused and never forget the goal.”
I blinked a few times, sure I was
hallucinating. Elizabeth gave my shoulder one last squeeze and
turned to leave. I stood, no longer feeling weak or shaky, and took
a deep breath. My confidence returned with my voice.
“ Thank you.”
“ You know, Donovan, you can
kick ass and take names better than most, but your emotions—not to
mention hormones—tend to screw things up for you more often than
not. Take it from someone who knows: when everything is pulling you
in a hundred directions and everyone wants a piece of you, the only
person you can depend on in the end is yourself. So suck it up,
quit sniveling like a girl, and grow a pair.”
She turned and walked out,
the rubber of her freaky shoes squeaking on the tile floor and not
giving me a chance to do anything but laugh. In the end, she was
right. And finally—finally after months of riding my emotional
roller coaster, it was go time.
Chapter Nine
“ Knives?”
“ Check.”
“ Silver tipped
boots?”
“ On, and very
adorable.”
“ Then are we ready to rock
this?”
“ I’m gonna rock this like a
geologist!” Cassie giggled at her lame joke, and our eye rolling
only spurred her on. “Oh come on, that was funny!”
“ That was seriously
cheesy.” I shook my head, but her giggles only increased until she
was laughing so hard she was snorting. “Lola, back me
up.”
“ Girls, I think you’re both
cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.” Lola teased, blowing a giant bubble and
popping it next to Cassie’s head.
I shook my head, slid my favorite
dagger into the back of my pants and zipped up my boots. I smoothed
my hair into a tight bun and gave a final glance in the mirror. “If
you two comedians are ready, I think the boys are waiting for
us.”
“ All right,
salivating to get them back. They begged for mercy and agreed to
hand over valuable information if the Council agreed to a new
trial, one based solely on their living time and omitting anything
they did as vampires. The deal was made, much to my chagrin, and
they cooperated with the Louisiana team fully.
“ I got the report that
spelled out their intelligence, and it has been authenticated. The
head of the vampire coven has been making their headquarters in New
Orleans of all places, and they are still there. If we leave soon,
we’ll have the element of surprise when we face them. The Louisiana
team will back us up since we have more experience, and by the end
of tonight we should have some of the most notorious souls back in
our possession.”
Elizabeth stopped to look at her
bracelet and typed into it quickly. “Coordinates, departure time,
Alpha and Bravo teams have all been sent to you. Get ready quickly;
you’re going to need to be on top of your game for this
mission.”
And with that, she turned on her heel
and strode out of the room. No one spoke or moved for several
seconds, all stunned by the news we’d been delivered. This was the
big one, the moment most of us had been waiting for since joining
this team, and it seemed a little surreal that it was actually upon
us.
“ Well, what are we all
still doing here?” Cassie spoke, jostling us out of our stupor.
“Let’s go steal some souls back!”
Everyone popped out of their chairs to
prepare. Lola was the first out the door, running back toward her
room to get in a quick shower before we left. Even Zander and Adam
high-tailed it to the weapons room to load up. But I couldn’t move.
My feet were cemented to the floor. My chest felt like it had
bricks thrown on it, and my mouth was suddenly dryer than the
Sahara. I could hear the voices fading as they all left, but
couldn’t focus on anything in particular. Everything became out of
focus and blurred as panic and fear raced through my body. Before I
could dwell on it, a hand was gently squeezing my
shoulder.
“ Don’t let it control you.
You’re stronger than you realize. Stronger than most people can
imagine. Stay focused and never forget the goal.”
I blinked a few times, sure I was
hallucinating. Elizabeth gave my shoulder one last squeeze and
turned to leave. I stood, no longer feeling weak or shaky, and took
a deep breath. My confidence returned with my voice.
“ Thank you.”
“ You know, Donovan, you can
kick ass and take names better than most, but your emotions—not to
mention hormones—tend to screw things up for you more often than
not. Take it from someone who knows: when everything is pulling you
in a hundred directions and everyone wants a piece of you, the only
person you can depend on in the end is yourself. So suck it up,
quit sniveling like a girl, and grow a pair.”
She turned and walked out,
the rubber of her freaky shoes squeaking on the tile floor and not
giving me a chance to do anything but laugh. In the end, she was
right. And finally—finally after months of riding my emotional
roller coaster, it was go time.
Chapter Nine
“ Knives?”
“ Check.”
“ Silver tipped
boots?”
“ On, and very
adorable.”
“ Then are we ready to rock
this?”
“ I’m gonna rock this like a
geologist!” Cassie giggled at her lame joke, and our eye rolling
only spurred her on. “Oh come on, that was funny!”
“ That was seriously
cheesy.” I shook my head, but her giggles only increased until she
was laughing so hard she was snorting. “Lola, back me
up.”
“ Girls, I think you’re both
cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.” Lola teased, blowing a giant bubble and
popping it next to Cassie’s head.
I shook my head, slid my favorite
dagger into the back of my pants and zipped up my boots. I smoothed
my hair into a tight bun and gave a final glance in the mirror. “If
you two comedians are ready, I think the boys are waiting for
us.”
“ All right,
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