Infinity Son(64)

Acolytes come running up from the fire escape, and Dione tackles me out of nowhere. I cast fire and slam down on her back with my burning fist so I can escape her hold. I pop up and chase Anklin, only stopping when Stanton fires off a blast at Brighton. Prudencia telekinetically sweeps the white bolt away, sending it sailing off the roof to meet some other fate. Brighton halts in shock, just like when my powers first surfaced on the train. Then Stanton throws down the wand and leaps at Brighton while he isn’t paying attention. Prudencia’s power isn’t strong enough to hold him back, and Stanton bangs straight into Brighton’s back. Brighton rolls across the concrete and stops at Prudencia’s feet.

“Brighton!”

Atlas and Maribelle are locked in combat with Dione and her four arms. Prudencia looks like she’s running on fumes as she suspends two acolytes from reaching her.

She will protect Brighton, and I have to focus on the urn. I call for Ness, and we run at Anklin from both ends, cornering him at the ledge.

“Hand it over,” I say.

Anklin tries hurling himself off the roof, but Ness catches him from behind. My heart steadies as Ness snatches the urn and holds it up like a trophy. Ness’s smile vanishes when he sees that Stanton is closing in on us.

Then Ness swings the urn into my face, lights out.





Thirty-Two


The Darkest Fire


BRIGHTON

My eyes are closed as greens and pinks and blues and oranges pierce the darkness. I’m hot, like I’m directly under a spotlight, but it becomes relaxing in no time—until the screams start. I squint past the lights to find Eva and her healing hands. It’s too bright to keep staring, but I chill back while Eva does her thing since I’m safe at the nurse’s office at Nova. When I’m all good, Eva wipes the sweat off her face with the hem of her shirt and sinks into her seat.

“Thanks, Eva. Sorry you had to go through that.”

“Not the worst,” Eva says.

That’s alarming considering that’s the greatest pain I’ve ever been in.

The last things I remember are Emil shouting my name and Prudencia’s eyes glowing as she saved my life. I’m suddenly hot again.

“Where is everyone?”

“Scattered. Mostly everyone is in the boardroom, and Prudencia is keeping your mother company as she rests. While you were . . . when you weren’t here, she had a heart attack.”

“What?!” I shoot out of bed. “Did you heal her?”

“I can handle most wounds and some internal bleeding, but healing hearts is not within my range.”

“Then why isn’t she in the hospital?”

“Enforcers are on the lookout for your entire family, Brighton. I promise we are doing our very best around here.”

“It’s not good enough.”

“I’m sorry that my power isn’t more miraculous,” Eva snaps.

I’m not going to apologize again. I get to be upset that my mother’s life is in the hands of people who can’t do anything about it. Then again, people can surprise you. “Where’s Emil?” I stand and move for the door. I’m going to see how long he’s known about Prudencia’s power. Eva stares at the wall like she tuned me out. “Okay, I’m sorry, Eva.”

“I wasn’t waiting for a fake apology. I just didn’t want to be the one to tell you that Emil was taken hostage by the Blood Casters.”

It feels like I’m captive again, trying to survive Stanton’s heavy fists. Luna said that she would chain Emil if he was there, and his powers aren’t going to be enough to protect him. “How did they let that happen? Where the hell was everyone? Did Wes and Iris have something better to do?”

“You should talk it out with them,” Eva says.

“Happily.”

Even if I weren’t fully healed, I have no doubt adrenaline would drive me forward. I pass a celestial who rolls his eyes at me, and I almost want to shove him into a locker. At least I’m out there fighting while he hides. I barge into the boardroom and find Maribelle, Atlas, Wesley, and Iris all seated at the table.

“You’re better,” Atlas says.

I ignore him and go straight for Wesley and Iris. “Where were you? Tell me to my face right now that I wasn’t worth saving. Was it because I messed up with the video? Was it because I wasn’t reborn into this life with powers worth your time? After everything I’ve done for you, not showing up to rescue me is the worst way to say thank you.”

Iris pulls her face out of her hands. “It wasn’t personal. But we have to do what’s right for the entire community of celestials within our care and in the country. If it was my own brother on the line, I would’ve done the same.”

“But you don’t have a brother. Would you risk Eva?”

Iris is teary and shakes it off. She points at Maribelle and Atlas. “Go be pissed at them too. They’re the ones who ran out of here half-cocked and not only lost your brother but returned Ness and the urn to the Blood Casters.”

Maribelle glares at Iris. “Stop turning this on us when we’re the ones who tried. Emil was going to go whether we backed him up or not, so I’m not going to apologize for trying to save Brighton’s life. Maybe we could’ve kept the urn if you showed up to fight.”