Chapter 47

The day had long since drawn to a close and the night sky was blemished with orange light from the city when they finally received word about when the auction was going to begin.

They had set up HQ in a hotel room which Kade couldn't help but think was a little cliche but they didn't need a permanent location. They wouldn't be returning to the hotel room after tonight. They had no choice but to wait until they got the call and for the beta, each hour felt like an eternity. A tense silence had fallen over the group. Everyone was in their own world mentally preparing for what was to come. There was a chance that not everyone would make it out alive given the strength of their opponents but no one dared dwell on that dark possibility.

Karim, Daniel and Mully left first to meet up with the team that the police had put together. They would only communicate with Lucien and Kade once they were inside and the auction was locked down. They expected Dante would make a run for it then, which was when Lucien and Kade would strike. The hope was that Dante would be distracted by the ruckus in the auction and not notice the pair until it was too late.

"Don't forget this." Lucien spoke up, holding out the blade.

"Thanks." Kade took the blade, glancing down to observe the intricate designs.

"Just remember, no matter what happens at the auction, stopping Dante is the most important thing now. If we don't stop him then all of this would have been for nothing."

"Right." Kade nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay let's do this."

Beyond the tinted windows of the van, the streets of Prague were alive with tourists and locals alike. Lovers were dining in a local restaurant while young adults and teenagers congregated in small groups laughing and smoking. Every one of them was oblivious to the black van that sailed along the streets like a ghost, heading towards an ominous destination. The further they travelled, the quieter the streets became until they were surrounded by empty pavements and dark looming warehouses. The whole area looked like it had been forgotten long ago but Kade knew better than to believe the buildings with their dark windows for eyes and goods entrances like great big yawning mouths were abandoned.

Kade frowned at the van pulled to a stop about quarter of mile from the location where the auction was being held. They would make the rest of the journey by foot, stopping only when they were close enough to act quickly but not so close that their presence would be picked up on. They had to assume that security would be tight and that there would be more than just humans patrolling the perimeter meaning they had to make sure they weren't spotted.

They were so close to bringing this to an end so why didn't it feel like that? Kade couldn't shake the small amount of dread settled in his chest, nagging at him constantly. It wasn't that this was too easy. He had bled and fought at every turn and they had battled every obstacle so why did it feel like this wasn't the final battle?

"We are breaching the perimeter now." Karim's voice came through the small earpiece.

Just a few hundred yards away, there was a sudden flash of brilliant light followed by a bang. The security that had been patrolling all turned to the ruckus, voices shouting over the noise of alarms going off and pops and cracks of more stun grenades going off. Soon the gunfire began, drawing in the remaining security to join the fray. That was their cue to move in. They moved quickly, blending into the shadows around them, running towards the chaos but unseen by the dozens of patrons trying to avoid being pinned down by police.

There was something disturbingly familiar about all of this, like getting on a bicycle again for the first time in years. Falling into the motions and mindset was like pulling on a well worn jacket. It felt like second nature to move in formation, eyes sharp and gun raised. It felt just a little too natural for Kade but he kept his mind on the task at hand.

Stop Dante. Find Thalia.

Looks were certainly deceiving when it came to the venue. On the outside, the box shaped red brick building looked like an empty and disused office block but past the doors and the strategically placed diving walls, the place opened up into something similar to a club. Despite this being a sort of pop-up event, whoever was in charge had gone to great lengths to turn the bowels of the old buildings into something akin to the opulent spaces that the rich and famous would attend for their expensive galas and fundraiser balls. To one side there was a bar with a full range of spirits, the surface black lacquer while the body was panels of creamy light. The whole place was a stylish mixture of dark greys designed to give the illusion of darkness and thus the illusion of privacy. It also meant that the stage at the front stood out like a sore thumb. While it too was framed by large grey curtains, it was almost as if every light in the place had been turned towards the stage. Even through the haze of smoke from the stun grenades it was painfully bright.

Kade could see the terrified forms of young women cowering at the back, unable to escape thanks to the chains that held them in place. His first instinct was to run over and try to break the chains but before he could even make a move, Daniel was holding him back.

“I’ll help them, you just do what you’re here to do.” The Alpha told him before disappearing into the battle.

The police were making quick work of rounding up the patrons, kettling them further and further into the centre of the room where they couldn’t escape through some concealed door. Whatever protection they had relied on didn’t seem to have much will to fight and the fight seemed to be ending before it even started.

“This way!” Lucien’s voice caught Kade’s attention.

The fallen-angel motioned to a door almost concealed by the gaudy grey drapery and wispy smoke. Kade followed Lucien’s lead, their team of Lucien’s men following them as they darted through the chaos. Kade half expected them to end up in some service tunnel or even outside so he was surprised when they entered what appeared to be a slightly smaller space similar to a corporate hotel’s lounge area. Armchairs and small couches were dotted about with coffee tables or end tables strategically placed within reach so whoever was seated wouldn’t have to stretch too far for their drink or hold it. However, despite the room being much quieter than the one they had just come from, it seemed no less unoccupied.

Kade didn’t take the time to do a full headcount but he guessed that approximately thirty demons were currently staring down at their meagre-looking ten.

“Well, well, well. I’ve heard of a cat having nine lives but a mutt?”

Kade let out a growl as the mass of demons parted like the sea revealing Dante. Kade didn’t know why he was so surprised to see the demon dressed like he was attending the opera and yet it threw him slightly that he just stood there in a black tux.

“Brother, this is your last chance.” Lucien spoke up. “Abandon this fool’s mission of yours before it’s too late.”

“Oh I can assure you, this is no fool’s mission.” Dante replied, his smile lacking any humour. “I intend to see this through to the end.”

“That’s good,” Kade snarled, eyes flashing dangerously. “Because so do I.”

And with that, he grabbed a knife from his holster and threw it, aiming right at Dante.

—

Time was running out.

Thalia wasn’t sure how she knew this exactly but she just did. If she didn’t try and get out now she never would. However, right now that seemed easier said than done.

A hiss of pain escaped her as she stumbled on wobbly legs towards the panic button installed for emergencies. She figured this was an emergency if there ever was one. She could feel the blood coagulating in small streams along the inside of her legs as pain pulsed through her. She didn’t think she had ever seen so much blood and the sight had her alarmed. It had begun to saturate the lower half of the dress she had been wearing and smeared across the floor because of her bare feet.

Using the wall for support, she made it to the button, pressing it frantically until her legs gave out under her and she sank to the floor.

“What is it?” A stern voice came through the small intercom.

“I’m bleeding.” Thalia replied breathlessly. “Something’s wrong!”

There was silence on the other end but the soft hiss of the line told Thalia that the doctor was still there. She glanced towards the small camera in the corner of the room, hoping that whoever was watching her had a clear picture of her pregnant form and the bloody mess around her. Just a second later she heard the doctor curse.

“Stay where you are, I’m coming in.” The doctor ordered before the line went dead.

*Where am I going to go?* Thalia thought and nearly burst out laughing. The blood loss was playing havoc with her mind.

It felt like forever before she heard someone coming down the hall. Taking a steadying breath, Thalia rested a bloody hand on her round belly and waited for the door to open.

---

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