{"id":802,"date":"2011-10-28T00:00:46","date_gmt":"2011-10-28T04:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=802"},"modified":"2011-10-29T12:40:13","modified_gmt":"2011-10-29T16:40:13","slug":"day-18-chapter-11-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=802","title":{"rendered":"Day 18 – Chapter 11 – 12"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The voices scraped against the inside of his brain, like fingernails on a chalkboard, like sandpaper against stone.\u00a0 Rory tried to ignore them, but they made his skin prickle, tried to ruin his concentration.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ruining his concentration wasn\u2019t something he could exactly afford at the moment.\u00a0 He was skating along the razored edges of his control, holding onto an ability he didn\u2019t quite understand yet and had never really wanted to.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He was glad to have it, though, as he elbow-checked a Grey in the face as it advanced on Jacqueline, who still knelt over Kellin, a strange glow surrounding them both.\u00a0 Jacqueline was wavering on her knees, face as pale as Kellin\u2019s blood-streaked one.\u00a0 They were both oblivious to everything around them.\u00a0 It made them the perfect target.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 End them, Old Soul.\u00a0 End them!<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory flinched, spinning away from the women, putting his back to them before his arm lifted to strike.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Get out of my fucking head, you crazy whatsits!<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His lips curled in a snarl, a shudder running through him.\u00a0 The heat beneath his flesh built even higher.\u00a0 He forced it back down again to manageable levels, scything his gaze left and right to look for more threats heading toward his self-appointed charges.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. plunged into another pack of Greys, which started to scatter in his wake.\u00a0 One started to go after Carolyn, then jerked and fell as if it\u2019d been tripped.\u00a0 Either her small, winged friends were watching out for her, or she had more guardian angels\u2014or abilities\u2014than they were aware of.\u00a0 Brandon was swinging a branch wildly in front of him, backing slowly toward the tent proper and the bonfire at the other side, clearly unable to see anything headed toward he, Matt, Angie, and Stasia.\u00a0 Drew was making a beeline for Marin, Thom moving faster than should have been possible in the older man\u2019s wake.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Where are Davon and Paul?<\/em>\u00a0 Rory wondered with a start.\u00a0 He looked around quickly, seeing no sign of either man.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Join us, Old Soul.\u00a0 Come to us.\u00a0 It would be so easy\u2026<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I told you to shut up and leave me alone!<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He heard the voices laugh and he shuddered again.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something slumped against his legs.\u00a0 He turned to see Jacqueline sliding to the muddy ground, hands as bloody as Kellin\u2019s shirt.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t a rent across her throat anymore, though\u2014whatever that glow had been surrounding Kellin and Jacqueline, it\u2019d dealt handily with the claw-slash.\u00a0 The only sign of its passage, other than the blood, was a raised line of scar tissue across Kellin\u2019s throat.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory sucked in a breath, staring at Jacqueline at his feet.\u00a0 What did you<\/em> do, Jac?<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 End them now, Old Soul.\u00a0 End them now before they turn on you.<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShut up, damn you!\u201d\u00a0 He growled aloud.\u00a0 \u201cAnd leave me alone.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It would be so easy for you, Old Soul.\u00a0 Join us, like the first one did.\u00a0 Join us and you\u2019ll never have to worry again.<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He swallowed bile.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It all came together.\u00a0 Kellin had been right, someone had been screwing up the wards, but it hadn\u2019t been nearly as innocent as they\u2019d hoped.\u00a0 Someone had been deliberately disrupting them, probably knowing that what they did was going to leave all of them exposed to\u2026to\u2026
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, this<\/em>.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But who could it have been?
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shook his head slowly.\u00a0 \u201cNo,\u201d he whispered.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something shrieked, an angry, highly pitched sound.\u00a0 A shadow tossed Brandon and Stasia aside as if they were toys, then advanced on Matt and Angie.\u00a0 He could see the tears on the girl\u2019s face as she clung to Matt\u2019s leg, but she was silent.\u00a0 Matt looked around wildly for the source of whatever had just thrown Brandon and Stasia.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He seemed to see the shadow at the last moment before it knocked him sprawling.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAngie!\u201d\u00a0 Paul shouted from somewhere inside the tent, \u201cget down!\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The girl dropped flat against the ground as Paul emerged, a shotgun leveled at the shadow-creature.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cLeave my sister alone,\u201d he growled.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The shotgun went off, and all other sound was momentarily obliterated by that and the sound of the shadow creature screaming.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It went down hard, twitching and writhing as if Paul had just dumped a vat of acid over it, wisps of smoke rising from its body.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Its screaming built into a howl between Rory\u2019s ears, loud enough that he started to see spots in front of his eyes.\u00a0 He grabbed his head, hunching with a moan for a moment.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The howl abruptly turned to laughter, scraping, clawing laughter that seemed to come from somewhere to his left.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory looked and saw a shadowed, cloaked man advancing toward Marin\u2019s back.\u00a0 One clawed hand shot out from under its cloak and grasped her by the back of the neck.\u00a0 She went rigid as it lifted her, one-handed, then turned slowly toward where Rory knelt.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The seers will die.\u00a0 And so will all the rest of you.<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Marin clawed at the hand that held her.\u00a0 Thom shouted, running full-tilt toward the creature.\u00a0 It looked at him, then stared at Rory.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You\u2019ll regret your choice, Old Soul.<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It flung Marin like a rag doll.\u00a0 Stars exploded behind Rory\u2019s eyes and he crumpled.\u00a0 The last thing he heard was Thom\u2019s anguished cry before blackness stole his consciousness away.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The voices scraped against the inside of his brain, like fingernails on a chalkboard, like sandpaper against stone.\u00a0 Rory tried to ignore them, but they made his skin prickle, tried to ruin his concentration. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ruining his concentration wasn\u2019t … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-11","category-day-18"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-cW","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=802"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":808,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/802\/revisions\/808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}