Mason's attention redirected at her, he nodded firmly. If they wanted to be together, they'd have to live out the rest of the day first.

Twenty Four "Are you okay?" Leela called out, suddenly reminding Avery that the girl was standing there.

Avery drew her eyes away from the balcony and settled her attention back on the inside of the hotel room. Leela had cleaned up significantly from the day before. Her brown hair had been brushed fluffy and she tucked it underneath her favorite ski cap. She'd adorned her black jacket again, cinched at the waist, and the fabric hid the purple mars on her skin. She'd taken a real hit the day before but it wasn't visible except for one thing: Leela was still pale and antsy and she bounced from foot to foot.

"I'm fine. And you?" Avery used the question to open her own interrogation. She couldn't pin what could possibly be going through Leela's head but tried to imagine.

Leela scrunched up her face.

"I'm not sure." The girl admitted quietly and her voice only dropped more as she went on. "I feel like most of this is my fault. With helping Mikhail. I don't think I should just dip now. I should stay."

Leela bit her lip clearly trying to control her emotions. Two of them still rose to the surface: guilt and fear. Avery nodded, able to relate.

"Thanks for the offer but you can't help us from here. It's easier for Mason to only carry one person and we need to make good time." Avery said, doing her best to rea.s.sure her friend.

She wasn't quite upset at Leela, all things considered. Mikhail was smart, cunning, and most of all charismatic. He got people to follow him all the time and he knew how to work someone over. The fact that Leela had sided with him wasn't surprising and Leela never intended to hurt anyone.

"I guess so..." Leela frowned. "You know I never meant to hurt you Avery. You're my best friend. It wasn't me stabbing you in the back...I just thought you were wrong."

"I know..." Even Avery's eyes began to water. She reached out and gave her friend a tight hug. Then pulling away, Avery quickly took another approach. "Look, Nate is waiting for you and you don't want to keep him up all night. Go take a mini-vacation with him and fix the relationship thing up. Nate's probably jealous about you running off anyways."

Leela's brows shot up so fast, they disappeared under her hair line.

"Is this?" Leela suddenly smacked both of her ears a few times. After a few sufficient pops, she kept talking. "Is this Avery taking up for Nate I hear? I thought you hated him!" She exclaimed.

Avery made a sour face, and rotating on her heels she began to pace the red carpet.

"Hey, hey. Don't take it out of proportion. I just hate him slightly less lately." Avery stumbled over her words, desperate to defend herself.

She didn't have to after all. A loud clack came from the window and earned their immediate attention. Just visible outside the gla.s.s doors stood Mason. His wings were out and even though the area was woodsy and rural, it was a brazen move. He leaned over the ledge and his green eyes studied something off in the distance. Nearby, perched on the white railing, was Eva.

The harpie woman wore her typical dark scowl and clenched her fists until the talons drew blood. Her outfit though had been stripped from the usual bronze plates to tight fitting leather straps.

Eva's focus remained on Mason and the girl swung her fist in protest to the inaudible conversation. Eva's fist made contact with the railing, repeating the sharp summoning clack. Watching the moment settle down again, Avery forced her eyes back in the room before she could be caught staring.

"You know she's only helping us until Mikhail's out of the picture." Leela suddenly said.

"I know." Avery answered quietly.

"Maybe it's good when this is over and we get out of their world."

"I'm not completely sure I'll ever be out at this rate." Avery barely paid attention to what she'd said but Leela did. The girl suddenly perked up and stared straight through Avery.

"What's going on with you and Mason?" Leela asked the million dollar question.

They were moving in together of course. But Avery couldn't repeat that. Mason had mentioned the problems that harpies would give them about their relationship but he didn't count on Leela's reaction. Avery didn't have time to ease the girl into it so she didn't. A distraction came readily.

The gla.s.s doors suddenly clicked and slid open. The cold air rushed into the warm room and the two harpies came in.

Mason came lumbering in, wings wide and twitching. His face had been cleaned of blood and bruising but the bad memory of it remained.

"So?" Avery prompted, her eyes subtlety darting to spy Eva in the back room. The girl had found a perch for herself and stood stiff and cold.

"The sun's almost down. We go now." Mason commanded the group. He didn't ask but s.n.a.t.c.hed up Avery's hand in a fluid motion. Giving her a yank, he gestured for the door.

"Now?" Avery squeaked, stomach dropping.

"Yes, we can't hide because of the Willow magic giving off an aura but we can make better time. And you" Mason suddenly called Leela out, "You should learn to disappear. I'm not sure Mikhail won't come back for you but all I do know is that you won't be his first target."

Leela's paling face was the only answer and Mason took it. Halfway dragging Avery, he went for the door. Avery barely had time to bid her friend good luck before they were out on the balcony.

The temperature dropped significantly once outside and the wind bit at them harshly. The sky, just darkening, only had sc.r.a.ps of fading orange in the distance and few stars to guide the way. The crescent moon remained half hidden behind clouds and offered little condolence.

They were supposed to be grounded to have a chance of against Mikhail. But here they were, already taking off into the sky again.

"Come on." Mason squeezed her hand and beckoned her closer. Curling her arms around his neck, she leaned into his chest.

In moments, the three were in the air and Portland shrunk in the distance to resemble nothing more than weeds.

"Keep your eyes open." Mason warned, squeezing her tightly.

Avery swallowed thickly and let silence be her answer. The raid on Samuel's place hadn't been very far away so if the Band was going to catch up to them anywhere, it'd be here. She turned her eyes to the grey clouds, watched and waited. The minutes ticked by, slow and agonizingly.

The air, moist from threatening rain, was heavy and uncomfortable. Spots of rain pelted them but Mason only spun through it all the faster. His wings pounded harshly keeping them high and quick but the movements were likely tiring. Avery kept her mouth shut. Then in her peripheral, she spotted another figure spiraling in the air. It approached in a flash.

Eva's face was clear.

"Ground!" She screamed, just piercing the deafening wind. Then she dropped in a spiral.

Mason's grip suddenly tightened around Avery's back, his talons pinching when they dug in.

"Avery, hold on."He hissed in her ear. "And whatever you do, don't scream."

It didn't matter what Mason had said because Avery didn't even get the chance to scream. In half a second, her stomach was in her throat. The abrupt drop in elevation came like a ma.s.s of confusing blurs. Mason stopped his wings completely and let them plunge.

Avery flailed, unable to stay still. The wind pelted them, tearing at them from every direction. Mason held her tightly but the plummet dropped them to the ground at a breakneck speed. The ground approached in a spiral of green and only when the tops of trees were clearly visible did Mason readjust his wings. Opening them wide, he tilted until the wings slowed their fall like a parachute had opened. Avery couldn't grasp which way was up. Still coming in fast, they ripped through the canopy of trees.

Twigs slapped them and branches tore at their skin. Avery barely felt the burning of impact with her eyes glued on the rapidly approaching ground.

Mason's wings beat and they slowed, but the landing was still crippling. Mason's knees bent to take the brunt of impact but they hit the dirt hard anyways. Avery went sprawling away from him. Hitting the ground, she rolled. For half a second, the world was a blur of brown and green of forestry and she blinked to clear up her vision.

"What was that?" She demanded of him as soon as she was able to speak. Mason could have killed them.

"Sorry." He made a genuinely remorseful face, and added. "But we need to be on the ground to fight. You can't compete in the sky."

His voice came with the ill reminder and Avery finally turned her eyes back on the surroundings.

By the looks of the rural area, they'd made it out of the city but not by much. Certainly not far enough to be close to harpie island. This wasn't good. They couldn't be expected to fight every step of the way.

Avery stood quickly, muscles tensing. Darkness stole the visual advantage and she stared down all the shadows collecting between the trees.

"What did Eva see?" She demanded of Mason, vaguely aware of his position.

Mason never answered. A figure dropped down from the trees and suddenly landed nearby with a heart stopping pop. Avery whirled to find Eva again. The harpie woman brandished a knife by her side and held it ready.

Avery's breath caught in her chest. Her eyes connected with Mason's and he reached out for her hand. She greedily clenched it. The Willow magic hummed between them, spiked by anxiety but also red flagging their position to the world.

"Where?" She asked initially.

"And how many?" Mason seconded Avery's question.

Eva's eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous. The woman scanned the scenery making Avery follow her gaze. They stood in a small forest clearing. The thickets of trees made it easy for anyone to hide. The sky was dark and cloudy, the rain trickling down. Combined with the natural noises of a forest, any snap or crackle wasn't clear. They couldn't have picked a more disadvantaged spot if they'd tried.

"All of them." Eva said after an agonizing moment. "We're not leaving, Mason. Here is where we have to make our stand."

Avery's jaw dropped.

"No way. We can't fight all of them alone. Not here." She made a wild and desperate gesture to the surroundings.

Mason squeezed her hand and gathering Avery's attention, pressed a single finger firm to his lips. Then they heard it. Footsteps cracked over the ground. Except the distortion in the sound made it difficult to pinpoint to one location. It sounded like the footsteps came from everywhere.

Mason suddenly used his grip on Avery to twist her, spinning her to face the opposite side of the forest. They pressed their backs together.

Avery spotted the harpie first. A bulky male appeared at the edge of the woods that she faced. The spilt second he was spotted, the harpie rushed forward. Avery summoned the magic from her chest in a sudden burning sensation and held her hands out. The harpie must have seen it and darted to the left, a weak attempt to come at Avery's side. Mason moved first and disallowed this. Upper arm making contact with the attacking harpie's chest, Mason stopped the harpie's charge. The harpie dropped back, attempting to get away but that's when Avery was on him.

She sprung for the back of his wings-- the most open and vulnerable position, and let out a crippling shock of magic. The attacking harpie went down. The scene never calmed. In the moment it had taken them to stop the first attacker, more Band members had surfaced in the clearing. Avery whirled, ready to face them, but then her eyes actually scanned the faces. There were at least ten Band members to every one of their group. And a few had already started in on Eva.

Eva was a skilled fighter-- it showed in every slide, stab, and block she did. But there were too many. The harpie woman kept letting out a screech of rage every time another Band member succeeded in landing a hit. Ripped feathers soared in the air.

Avery couldn't help. Another Band member came at her. The magic flowed through her blood perfectly but it did little when the harpie lashed out with his talons. Avery couldn't get a grip on him to use the magic, but the harpie's talons made contact with her. The razor sharp claws grazed Avery's collarbone.

The swift motion didn't sink in at first and feeling nothing, Avery corrected her posture and fell into a crouch. He came at her again. Avery readied herself. When he built up a charge with his talons out, she waited. Then, an inch before he'd make contact, she twisted to the side. He blew pa.s.sed her, barely making grazing contact. Suddenly behind him, she used the opportunity to go for his wings. Just as her fingers made contact with the rough feathers, he spun. The ma.s.sive size of wings spinning threw Avery off balance. She hit the dirt and slid on her backside. Band members appeared at each side. She scrambled to stand but a sudden pain struck her.

She glanced down, for the first time noticing the thick, hot crimson covering her shirt. One of the attacking harpie's had made contact, but until that moment, she never knew to what extent. Three deep red gashes covered her chest from collarbone to shoulder. Open and bleeding, they stung with a fiery burn.

Avery gasped, choking. Her mind had blanked and left only one thought in her mind: she needed to get out.

Her opening came quickly. Mason slid by, fighting with one of the Band members. Leaning up and calling out, Avery summoned him. Mason dropped the first harpie and ran over. The others were close behind but Mason held up his hands in warning. Avery staggered to her feet and Mason slammed their backs together again. They all had been taught well to stay out of direct contact with Avery and Mason, and that could be used as an advantage.

Avery's eyes darted.

Two down, at least twenty left. The majority attacked Eva, invisible from where she stood, but audible with the violent sounds of battle. Five more stood around them. Five too many. They couldn't keep fighting like this. Mason voiced the thoughts.

"Avery, we have to run. Leave Eva, they'll follow us." He said.

"Right." She answered.

Sucking in a breath, she steeled herself and went for it. Running forward, she charged two harpies.

The harpies readied themselves, but quicker with the magic, Avery made a grazing contact. The tiny shock didn't down them but made them move. Escape path wide open, Avery kept running. With Mason, she fled.

Twenty-Five.

"Come on, Avery, we have to move." Mason's hurried words broke through her daze.

Avery looked up and blinked at him. They had been running, fleeing through the forest with the Band's most vicious harpies on their tail. Eva had long been left when they broke through the tree line. Avery let out a desperate breath.

"I am moving." She snapped, picking up the pace.

Blood pounding in her ears, she could just hear the furious footsteps behind them. The darkness had allowed them a head start but it wasn't much of one.

Mason guiding her, they turned into another open field. Down a short hill sat a building. Once it might have been a construction base or a lumber warehouse but now it resembled charred remains from a fire. With scorched black walls and a halfway collapsed roof on the east side of the building, the structure had clearly taken a beating.

"There." Mason suddenly said. "Roof cover. It'll make it harder to attack us from all sides."

Her eyes flittered to the skies. Tiny silver darts took to the air, and though her vision grew blurry, Avery recognized them.

"The sky." She gasped. "Harpies."

Mason's eyes finally connected with hers and his brow knotted.

"Come on, Avery." His voice twisted with some indiscernible emotion. "Only a little bit farther."

They started down the hill when the harpies came from the sky. Mason swung out first, the violent motion forcing Avery to let go of him. She collected herself and stood. That's also when the harpies from behind caught up. They broke into the clearing. Avery whirled but wasn't fast enough. One came straight for her, talons drawn. She sprung back, lost her balance, and when sprawling backwards down the hill. In ten feet she stilled herself. Hands descended from above her and she swatted at them. The magic in her blood wasn't working quite right, thrown off by her ill condition, and the swats were just plain strikes.

It didn't work for long. One harpie grabbed her firmly by the arm, apparently unafraid, and lifted her straight up. Rafael. Avery recognized the harpie.

"You should run faster than this." He gave her a crooked, almost apologetic smile, and then swung out.

His strike made contact with her jaw and Avery saw stars. Before she could fall away, Rafael grabbed her b.l.o.o.d.y shirt and held her still. Before he could swing again, Avery gripped his arm.

She could feel the magic at the center of her chest but it was dwindling. Frantically grabbing at it, she used the magic to let out an electrical shock. Rafael screeched but she dug her nails in. Magic still surging, the harpie finally crumpled and she let go.

Someone hit her from the back. Only after a second did she realize it was Mason. Dirt and blood now caked his face. Loose, crimson feathers littered the floor.

They finally hit the edge of the building where a slanted but shut door awaited them. Mason let go of her for half a second, and grabbed for the k.n.o.b.

He wrenched it but the old iron didn't give.

"Use the magic." Avery commanded but Mason just kept wrenching. She repeated herself. "Mason, use the magic. I know you know how!"

The problem was he didn't. Not well. Avery had taken over a month to become proficient and that was without prior, conflicting ideas on how it worked.