Rhiannon Frater - Pretty When She Destroys

Cassandra clung to her father as he swooped over the traffic below them. She had never doubted that he could fly, but to see it in action was electrifying. They hadn’t even exchanged words before he’d torn them out of the van. It was a relief to have him so likeminded. They were definitely on the same page. Like father, like daughter.

“It’s a blue Mini Cooper, white roof!” Cassandra shouted into the gust.

The long lines of vehicles stretched toward the violently swirling winds of the tornado ripping apart the 1604 junction. From their vantage point, the dhamphir and vampire could see the chaos clearly. The van would have difficulty getting through unless Benchley got very creative. As the drivers of the cars spotted the massive tornado consuming everything ahead, they were futilely attempting to get off the interstate and escape. Metal crunched and tires squealed as the cars collided. The frontage, shoulder, and the swatch of land between them were cluttered with cars and people. Some people simply abandoned their vehicles and ran.

Shrouded in shadows, no one saw the two people flying low overhead seeking out one car among many. Cassandra didn’t have time to enjoy the thrill of the flight since she was so anxious to spot her mother. The cold rush of air tore at her hair and clothes as their speed increased.

When she spotted the familiar car attempting to edge around a massive snarl of vehicles, relief flooded her. “There, Dad! There!”

Cian swooped lower and then they both dropped to the ground right behind the rear bumper of the car. Cassandra darted around to the driver’s door and Cian took the passenger side. A strange glow was emanating from within the car.

“Mom!” Cassandra dragged the door open, breaking the lock in her haste.

Galina stared straight ahead, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Foot still pressed on the accelerator she urged her car forward, trying to push the big SUV in front of her out of her path.

“Mom!” Cassandra snatched the keys out of the ignition. “Mom!”

Staring straight ahead, Galina calmly unbuckled her seatbelt and shoved Cassandra violently out of her way. Cian made a grab for her, but Galina moved with preternatural swiftness to avoid him.

“She’s under its control!” Cian darted in front of Galina, raising his hands to stop her.

“Where is it?” Cassandra clutched her mother’s shoulders and twisted her about.

Galina struck her across the cheek with a closed fist. Cassandra staggered backward, shocked, hurt, and angry. “Stop it, Mom!” Her mother was still beautiful, but her sweetness was gone, replaced with a zombie-like stillness that terrified Cassandra.

The eerie illumination that Cassandra had witnessed before caught her eye again. It was emanating from Galina’s coat pocket. Cian saw it at the same time. Taking hold of the front of the coat, Cassandra ripped it open, the buttons bouncing off the asphalt as Cian yanked it off Galina’s arms.

Galina blinked her eyes, tilted her head, then a befuddled look came into her blue eyes. “Cass?”

The dhamphir had only a second to relish the return of her mother when she saw her father swarmed by people from all sides. Men, women, and children attacked him with nails, teeth, and hard punches. Surprised, Cian staggered backward, falling under the torrent of attackers.

“Dad!”

Cassandra began dragging people off of him, startled by their strength and determination. They struck out at her and she shoved them away. She didn’t want to hurt them, but she didn’t know what else to do. The mob of bodies thrashed about, then a small child broke free and ran toward the stationary tornado that continued to rip apart the area.

“He has the ring!” Cian shouted at Cassandra, pushing people off him.

The spell to bring the ring to The Summoner was in full effect, influencing all the humans around it. They rushed alongside the boy, guarding him as he ran toward the tornado.

“Cass, what’s happening?” Galina asked, tears in her eyes. Shivering in the cold, she looked around in confusion.

“Mom, I have to go,” Cassandra said, kissing her cheek.

Cian gave up on trying to not hurt the humans and hurled the last few away before taking flight.

“Why? What’s happening?”

“I’m saving the world,” Cassandra answered.

There was a rush of cold air, then Aimee stood next to them. “The others are almost here. They’re on foot.”

“Aimee?” Galina smiled with relief at the sight of the witch. “You’re here!”

“Galina, sit in the car until our friends get you. Okay?” Aimee touched Galina’s shoulder gently, magic slipping from her fingertips into the confused woman.

A tranquil smile flitted over Galina’s lips. “Of course.”

After one last loving look at her mother, Cassandra grabbed her girlfriend’s hand and they ran after the Cian.

The tornado dissipated with much less drama than it had appeared. One moment it was tearing apart the highway and interstate and the next it was gone.

What remained were the jagged remains of a once great structure. Like broken bones, the remaining cement pillars raised skeletal fingers made of rebar toward the dark and threatening sky.

Death surrounded Amaliya. Broken, shattered, and burned bodies called to her. Confusion ruled the living, but the dead cried out for justice. It was difficult for her not to reach out to them with her necromancy, but she kept it wound tightly inside of her, refusing to unleash it.

A crowd of people ran in the direction of The Summoner. A small boy led them clutching a winter coat to his chest. The little Hispanic boy’s big dark eyes didn’t blink as he darted around dead bodies, battered cars, and the concrete and asphalt chunks that had peppered the area.

“Well done,” Etzli said to Trish.

The redhead looked unsteady after the use of so much of her power, but she grinned.

The Summoner wearing Bianca’s form stepped forward and held out one hand to the boy. With a blank expression on his face, the boy extended the coat.

Lifting her eyes to the sword, Amaliya fought to regain control of her body. Her mind felt terribly lucid, but her limbs were weighted and immobile.

The sound of helicopters, sirens, and screams rent the air, but an eerie calm filled the bystanders who had delivered the final ring to The Summoner. Taking the coat, The Summoner withdrew the ring from the pocket.

“No!” Amaliya cried out.

Seconds later, she caught sight of Cian hurtling over the heads of the crowd that had brought the ring.

“Ah, look who’s here. But too late,” The Summoner said.

The golden ring spiraled out of The Summoner’s hand to join the other twelve hovering overhead. There was a bright flash of white light that illuminated the entire area like a nuclear bomb. Amaliya was instantly blinded and covered her face. A loud noise like a sonic boom followed, and the glass windows of the Navigators exploded.

When she was finally able to see and hear again, Amaliya lifted her face to see The Summoner standing over her with Bianca at his feet. Handsome, cruel, and nude, a halo of golden light surrounded him. Above him hung the complete Sword of Lucifer. Its elegant hilt was encrusted with jewels and its sharp blade glinted in the ethereal light it cast.

“It’s time,” The Summoner said to her.

Then the ground opened and started to swallow the world.

Cian flew over the heads of the crowd, aiming for The Summoner. He could clearly see Amaliya standing just behind Bianca’s possessed body in a circle of black SUVs. Etzli, dark witches, and other beings were also gathered in the ring that was protected by the power emanating from the floating rings in the form of a sword.