Chapter Four
The three hybrids had searched this part of the woods up and down, but there was nothing. In fact, it was almost too clean. Animals didn't scurry about. Birds didn't chirp. The whole area was still, quiet, as if the forest knew there was an unusual presence hunted in the area.
It wasn’t until the sun had just started to dip behind the mountain that they had any movement at all. Not just some random animal but a Glycon in the distance.
Atticus blinked, surprised at the sight. It was the strangest thing he’d ever seen. The damned thing just sprang out of a clearing and stared at them like a deer caught in headlights.
Quintus shouted the pursuit, and the Glycon tore away.
They sped through the woods after the creature. The hybrids were far enough from town they were actually able to use their full speed. The damn Glycon was faster.
They had fought with the new breed of enemy before and knew they were stronger, but this was just a clear indication that in many ways, the hybrids remained outmatched by the creatures.
Atticus, Vitus, and Quintus pursued the creature for a good twenty minutes before a clearing broke in front of them.
“We’ve got him now,” Vitus shouted.
The men stepped out of the woods and were surprised the find the Azilian compound before them. The Glycon was nowhere in sight.
“Where is he?” Quintus shouted. He let out a low growl.
Atticus shook his head. His sight was easily the best of the group and still he had nothing. It was as if the damned beast just disappeared into thin air.
They started to comb the ground, looking for some clue as to what happened. Even his scent had gone cold. A hard thing for a creature such as that to do. None of the noxious chemicals the Horatius Group used to hide scents were present either.
"How did he get so close without anyone noticing?” Quintus said. He pointed to the men at the gate who seemed more concerned with the hybrids’ arrival than what came before them.
It certainly seemed suspicious, but it was hard to tell. The Azilians, and more specifically their leader, Anassa, had helped the hybrids out several times. She wasn’t exactly an ally, but her behavior didn’t match up with a person who was allied with someone like Agatha.
Atticus listened as Quintus radioed back to base the situation on ground. The other end was silent for a moment before the response crackled back.
"I'd like the three of you to go into the Azilian compound. I’ll meet you inside."
They all stared at one another in surprise as the voice of their leader, Rem, echoed over the line.
The three made their way over to the gate. All the while, Atticus scanned the field that surrounded them, still certain that the rogue Glycon must be somewhere well hidden. Still, nothing attacked.
Two men at the gate stepped aside and ushered them through the large doors.
The hybrids had been there before. His people had sneaked in to the facility several times when they were on more openly hostile terms with the cult. Still, he had never seen the inside before, and it struck him just how immense the place was.
The place reminded him of a fort, with the outer wall really just a means to keep things out. Inside, several smaller buildings surrounded a very large building.
They made their way to the center building. Two additional guard stood outside of this place as well.
No one spoke as they moved inside. The longer they walked in silence, the more on edge it made him. It wasn't until they rounded the corner that he felt only slightly relieved to see Rem standing there with Nero.
They stepped into a sort of open air common room lined with ornate paintings and statues. All the statues and paintings had the same blue as his eyes and tattoos everywhere around them, just like all the hybrids in the area. An eerie sort of familiar feeling filled him. He swallowed once.
In the middle of the large room, Atticus spotted a small woman sitting at a very large table. He breathed in deeply. He knew the smell even before having met the woman face to face.
Anassa.
"Thanks for coming," Rem said to them, and nodded to the table. "We have a set of unusual circumstances.”
Atticus raised a brow. Unusual didn't seem to quite describe this.
"Anassa and her people have asked for help."
"Help?" Quintus asked, the disbelief obvious in his voice, clearly as confused as the rest of them.
Rem nodded and took a seat at the table. Atticus glanced over to the woman on the other side. Her face remained shrouded by a long white hood.
"Your women are in grave danger," Anassa spoke, her voice somewhat hollow.
Quintus tensed beside Atticus. "What's wrong with—" he began.
Anassa held up a hand to silence him.
"Not your woman," she said to Quintus. "Your women."
Atticus and Vitus stilled. The cloaked figure was staring clearly in their direction.
Celine. He knew without even thinking it. His heart hammered in his chest at the thought of her being in danger.
But it was Vitus who stood first.
“Go to her,” Rem said quietly.
He watched in shock as his friend fled from the room.
Atticus shook his head. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but he needed to get to Celine. To keep her safe.
As if the very thought of her conjured her there, a breeze swept through the halls carrying the scent of the woman he could pick out a mile away.
Atticus breathed in deeply and knew she was there. What was going on?
On instinct, Atticus stood and made his way from the table, not even sparing a second thought for the people there. He rounded the corner and was shocked to find the small woman sitting in an oversized chair.
Their eyes met, and he could almost hear the crackle of electricity in the air as they did. She stood and walked slowly over to him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked more gruffly than he intended.
As Celine continued to stare at him, he watched as her eyes widened and instantly knew what she was seeing.
Damn it. He didn’t have his brown contacts in. They restricted his vision, and since they were on a hunt, he hadn’t thought to put them in. The Azilians knew their true nature already.
"Your eyes," she said softly. Her body swayed as she stood and stepped toward him. "The eyes from my dreams."
Atticus frowned as he tried to process what she was saying, but all thoughts fled as she swayed forward once again.
Her body went limp, and he moved without thought, catching her before she hit the ground. Lifting her slight form against his chest, Atticus stared down at her creased brow.
"What the hell is going on?" he whispered to her sleeping face.