Chapter 62 Crossroad
Brea’s POV
Rayne and I stood bloodied between two armies that wanted us both dead.
Dozens of enemy fighters hung frozen in the air by his golden power, his muscles straining, jaw tight. Even now, his bloody hand found mine and yanked me against him.
“Whatever happens next,” he breathed hot against my ear, “I’m not letting them take you from me.”
I could hear a loud sound “Brrrrrrrrrmmmm…” across the battlefield the exact same deep electronic thrum I’d heard right before Adrian’s suit overloaded in the Estate. My stomach dropped.
Adrian stepped forward from the human lines into the open ground between the armies. His suit rippled like liquid mercury, edges glowing blue.
I stared, completely stunned. “Adrian? You’re alive? I pinned you with the shadow dagger. Your suit was locked up, sparking. I escaped through the passage and teleported out by mistake. I didn’t see what happened to you after”
Adrian smiled coldly. “Pinned me? For a moment, sure. That little trick with my shadow was clever, Brea. I’ll admit it. But you still don’t understand what this suit can do.” He tapped the glowing chest plate.
“Self-repair protocols.. The feedback surge hurt, but it didn’t stop me. I walked out while my team tore that room apart looking for you.”
He took another step closer, raising his voice so both armies could hear clearly.
“You really thought a human girl running with vampires could win this war? We’ve studied your kind for years. Every weakness. Every trick.” Adrian gestured at the suspended fighters.
“Look at them. Hanging there like puppets. This is what happens when primitive vampire power meets superior technology.”
Shouts and curses erupted across the field. Humans looked stunned. Vampires snarled with rage, fangs bared.
Adrian raised his hand. A blue-white pulse tore across the field and slammed into a squad of vampires on our left. Their bodies convulsed and disintegrated into swirling ash. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air.
Rayne dropped every floating soldier and launched forward like a golden streak, claws out.
Adrian flicked his wrist. A heavy energy beam smashed Rayne mid-air and pinned him to the ground. Rayne roared, golden power flaring as he fought to rise.
“Pathetic,” Adrian called out. “Even your golden vampire can’t break free. Stay down, bloodsucker. This isn’t your world anymore.” He looked straight at me.
“Brea, be smart. You’re still human. Come with me now and I might let some of them live. Keep fighting beside these monsters and I’ll turn this entire field into ash.”
“Stay behind me!” Rayne growled through gritted teeth, reaching one hand desperately toward me. “I’m not losing you!”
A Shadow-Glider screamed down from the sky and landed hard near the human lines. The door opened.
Seraphine stepped out. Her eyes burned with ancient malice. She moved like she owned the battlefield.
“Hello, little Anchor,” she called, voice carrying smoothly. “You belong to me. Stop running from your destiny.”
She glanced at Adrian with a knowing smile, then back at me.
“Your mother is still waiting, Brea. She screams your name in the dark.”
The words hit hard. Shock rippled through both armies.
Drake emerged from the shadows on my right, black dread-energy swirling around him. He moved to my side, his eyes were locked on Adrian.
Elias ripped open a glowing rift and stepped out, breathing hard. He positioned himself in front of me.
“Two more dogs fighting over a bone,” Adrian said, amused.
“This is exactly why you’ll lose. You’re divided. Jealous. Weak. My forces are unified by one goal wiping out every last vampire and the traitors who stand with them.” He turned to me again.
“Last chance, Brea. You’re human. You don’t have to die with them. Walk over here. Join the winning side. Your Anchor power could change everything for humanity. Don’t throw your life away for these bloodsucking freaks. I can protect you. I can give you a future where humans are in control again. Project Orphan doesn’t have to end with your brother. It can be something greater — with you leading it.”
Seraphine smiled with dark pleasure, watching it all.
Rayne, still pinned under the beam, lifted his head. His golden eyes met mine.
“Even if the whole world wants us dead,” he roared, “I choose you. Every single time.”
My heart pounded. Rayne trapped and fighting for me. Drake and Elias flanking me like rivals. Adrian taunting us with total confidence. Seraphine moving slowly closer.
Shouts turned into roars. Weapons rose. The battlefield was one second from exploding.
I stood in the middle, blood on my face, pulse thundering. Adrian’s words echoed in my head. His suit hummed louder as he prepared another shot. The armies waited on edge.
I had no idea how we would survive.