Jonas (Darkness #7)(33)

A relieved twinkle lighted Paulie’s eyes as Sasha exclaimed, “Oh thank God, Jonas!”

She launched her small body into his arms with a fierce hug. Jonas squeezed her back, filled with a sense of joy and relief he couldn’t remember the equal.

“Glad to have ya back, bro, but we gotta go. That white mage is no joke.” Charles stepped forward and slapped Jonas on the back.

A whip cracked to their right, drawing all of their focus to Emmy. Using both hands equally well, she slashed and flayed anyone running within her circle of violence. Two males waited just outside her reach, watching her with wary eyes, preparing to charge. They knew her capabilities.

Sasha backed off of Jonas long enough to squint at Emmy. Jonas’ stomach did a strange flip-flop of uncertainty before Sasha said, “Ah. The tracker. I see it now. What a sneaky devil.”

“Can you take it off?” Jonas asked in a gruff voice.

Charles started laughing as he rushed forward to charge the men eyeing Emmy. He dispatched one as Emmy stepped forward and snapped the eye out of the other. Over the screaming, Charles said, “Worried about the human not liking your lady-love, huh, bro?”

“You analyzing feelings like a chick, now?” Jonas growled.

“Tracker’s gone. That was an easy one. He didn’t put all his stupid swirly hogwash on it. Speaking of, let’s go kill him.” Sasha slapped Jonas on the back, winked at Emmy in welcome, and then motioned everyone forward.

* * *

We entered the building at a half-jog. As we emerged into the low light and shadow, I lost visibility as my eyes struggled to adjust. I ducked off to the side and stepped into an empty room. The others followed me and waited for the wolves to get through before shutting and locking the door.

“Okay. Regroup.” I caught my breath and willed my eyes to adjust faster. After being in the sunlight I absolutely hated this terrible low light. “We have Jonas, so we’ll call that mission accomplished.”

Charles nodded. Jonas had found us, but we’d still take the “W” on that one.

“Now. We need to get up to the second floor and get that creep. Without him we can clean this place up.” I turned my gaze to the stupidly beautiful woman huddled next to Jonas. A freaking knock-out was this girl, but sad-looking. Kind of hunched and broken. Her eyes were shadowed and haunted and she didn’t seem to feel comfortable with Charles standing next to her. It was almost as if she tried to physically lower herself to make him look more powerful.

And judging by his preening, Charles was feeling masterful and had no idea why.

I rolled my eyes. “Charles, you’re making—Emmy? You’re making Emmy nervous. Get away.”

“Why? What did I do?” Charles gave her a wounded look as he moved to my other side.

“Emmy, can you get us there?” I asked in what I hoped was a soft voice.

“If you treat her like a victim, she’ll feel like a victim. If you treat her like a vigilante, she’ll get her revenge and move on.” Paulie stood near the door, listening for what was happening on the other side.

Jonas threw him an approving glance.

“Oh, well, excuse me for trying to be sensitive.” I rubbed my forehead.

“As sensitive as a steel mace,” Charles muttered.

Emmy’s expression went from shy vulnerability to blatant confusion.

“There is nothing that is professional with this gang.” Paulie grinned at Emmy. “Get used to it. And now the humans have the dominance.”

“Not at all, bro.” Charles adjusted his sword in his sheath. “We got two of the awesome race plus two additional halves of the awesome race, versus one whole and two halves of the virus race. Three to two.”

“Virus race?” I glowered at Charles. “Really? And congratulations on being able to do math. I suppose you’ll have to go take a nap now to recuperate.”

“I will admit that the one whole human is way bitchier than everyone else put together. Trials of the species.”

“I’ll show you bitchy.” Willing calm, I turned back to Emmy. Disbelief had replaced the confusion. “Can you get us there?”

“Yes,” she said softly.

“Then let’s do this. We’re wasting time.” Jonas glanced at Paulie. “You’re shit with that sword. What else you got?”

“Just my winning personality.”

“Magic?”

“I’m linked with Sasha to give her energy, so she holds the magical focus.”

Jonas glanced at Emmy’s knives and then her whips. “Then work with Emmy. She’ll stun people while you poke them. Otherwise, you won’t last much longer, human.”

“Why do you call everyone human?” Emmy asked quietly.

Jonas face melted into one of concern as he looked down on her.

“Because he is a rotten ol’ bastard without a nice bone in his body. Get used to it,” I said as I moved to the door. “If he starts using my name, I won’t know who he is. Okay, we need to end this fight. Enough stalling.”

“I am not in a hurry to face that mage again, though.” Charles stepped in closer.

“Me either, but we have to. No one should be allowed to be that good.”

Paulie opened the door a crack and then closed it immediately. He took a deep breath and moved away from the door. Jonas took his place in a swirl of orange power. Everyone braced.