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Chapter Eighteen
Willow
It only takes a few minutes to relay the information from my latest vision to Maxim and his commanders, but every moment drags on for a terror-filled eternity.
A voice inside my head screams that I should run to the underground room as fast as I can and put a stop to this myself instead of wasting time with explanations. The fate of every creature on this planet is hanging in the balance and every second counts.
But I was no match for Bane when he was human, let alone now. And the future will be saved by people working together, not the actions of any one woman, no matter how good her intentions.
“What do you mean the portals are gone?” Sam asks, sounding properly horrified. “How can that be? Maybe the portals here were destroyed by explosives, but that shouldn’t mean—”
“It set off a chain reaction,” I cut in. “Bane was working with wraiths trapped in between the two worlds. They mistakenly took that explosion we just heard as the signal from Bane to set off their own bombs. They think they’re going to collapse the barrier between the worlds, freeing themselves in the process. But that isn’t what happens. Instead, the two worlds are now completely separated with no easy or safe way to travel between them.”
I pull in a breath and repeat what I’ve already said, hoping a second sharing will spur them to action. “The good news is that my sister and ninety percent of her fighting force are now trapped in the Parallel. They won’t be causing us any trouble tonight and the hundred or so people left on Human Side are no match for our forces. We’ll overpower them easily, but only if we move now. Before they find Bane in the underground room and free him from his chains. If he gets out, he’s going to start infecting people and this is going to spread insanely fast. In a month we won’t recognize reality anymore. We’ll be living in a post-apocalyptic hellscape.” I turn to Maxim and add, “And your sister will end up ruling in that world, doing her best to keep those of us who haven’t been infected alive. That’s why I saw a dark shadow over her reign in my first vision. I thought it was maybe because of the personal grief I’d feel if you were gone, but it wasn’t.”
Maxim, who’s been unusually quiet, rests a hand on my back. “You did the right thing. But now you have to go.”
I start to protest, but he shakes his head and insists, “You already told me exactly where the room is located, I know how to kill a zombie, and I have more than enough people here to back me up. You’ve done all you can do. So now I need you to take Diana, get back in the helicopter, and go home to the tower. And if the worst happens, I need you two to take care of each other.”
The Alpha part of me, the part that insists I should be in on the action and the decisions, wants to argue with him. But the rational part knows he’s right.
And that we don’t have time to waste arguing.
I nod, “Okay. I’ll go, but hurry. Shift and run, as fast as you can. And if he’s loose, watch out for his hands. For some reason, he can’t use his mouth, but he can scratch people with his hands. That’s how it spreads.” I gulp and amend, “if it spreads.”
He gathers me up, squeezing me tight and whispering, “I love you. Always, no matter what comes next,” before releasing me and motioning to his soldiers. “We move now. Sam, assign a team to transport prisoners. Cox, activate the bomb squad to disarm any explosives that might still be dangerous. Liam, activate the strike force and meet me by the tree line. We run in sixty seconds.”
I step back, watching everyone launch into swift, efficient motion. I’m so busy dodging soldiers running back and forth that I don’t realize Maxim’s trying to get my attention until he waves his arms from across the valley and shouts, “Diana’s the owl. She puts her wings up for yes, and shakes her head for no.”
I frown and start to ask what the hell he’s talking about when a stunning white owl hops out from behind a patch of tall dry grass, waving her wings in the air.
Somehow, I instantly understand that it’s Diana. I feel her signature energy and when her golden eyes meet mine, I swear I can almost hear her voice in my head, telling me she’s going to take care of me until Maxim gets home.
And that he will be coming home.
Hoping she’s right, I kneel down to her level as she executes an awkward walk-hop-tumble across the grass.
I shake my head. “I’m so glad to see you, but…are you okay? How on earth did this happen?”
She rolls her eyes and lifts her wings in an exasperated gesture that might make me laugh at another time. It’s just so Diana, despite the feathers and everything else.
But nothing is funny right now.
“Come on, let’s get going,” I say, holding out my arm for her. “We’ll figure out a way for you to tell me everything on the way home.”
Diana hops onto my arm, her claws gripping it tight as I lift her surprisingly solid new self into the air. She’s heavy. I tell myself that’s why I’m shaking as I glance over to see Maxim and his team shift and run into the woods, but I’m a bad liar.
Especially to people I love.
So, when Hermione—who’s been waiting for me by the chopper—asks, “Are you all right?” I don’t bother putting on a brave face.
I suck in a breath and shake my head. “No, but hopefully I will be. He’s going to get there in time. He has to.”
“You did everything you could. If our people come out on top, you’re the reason why.” Hermione reaches out as if to squeeze my shoulder but pauses as her gaze fixes on Diana. Her arm falls back to her side. “So, this is Diana? Is that what Maxim said?”
Diana screeches and clicks her beak for several seconds, her head bobbing back and forth with sufficient attitude that no further explanation is required from me.
Hermione nods. “Okay. Definitely Diana.” She motions toward the chopper, where the pilot is strapping in. “Don’t worry, kid. Enchantments like this don’t tend to last long and if we end up needing a magical intervention, I know a few savvy witches who owe me a solid. You’ll be back to normal in no time.”
The words make Diana look a little sad, I think, but it’s hard to tell with her bird face. And I’m not sure I’m capable of reading anyone’s mood clearly right now.
I’m too terrified. Too on edge, and so worried that as the chopper rises into the air and turns, heading back toward the city, I close my eyes and pray harder than I’ve ever prayed for anything.
I beg the stars, the universe, the gods and goddesses of old and new to make Maxim swift and strong, to guide his hands and his people, and most importantly, to bring him back to me.
