Unknotted

I slung the rifle against my back and tackled the guard who was rising, quickly binding him with his own cuffs. I did the same for the one I had knocked out. Circling the front of the truck, I pointed my rifle at the terminal booth. The trolls behind flinched, then relaxed. What did they have to worry about while behind bulletproof glass? If the magic was in, I might show them there were things more powerful than a bullet.

“Do you have the keys?” I shouted at them anyway.

They both held up their empty hands. Then one pointed to the trailer.

“The ultra has them?” I guessed.

They nodded, their smug looks grating against my muted dominance. I might not wish to kill, but I did yearn to see justice done to those who participated in this vile business. “You’ve already been paid, haven’t you?”

Laughing, they bumped their fists together. Congratulating themselves on finishing the job without having to sweat, or bleed, like everyone else. Vile, indeed.

An arm shoved through a hole blasted into the ramp door, fumbling for the lock. But it was out of reach. And me out of time.

I paused to stuff my wallet and her keys into my pocket and holstered my guns. Not knowing how many rounds I had left in this stolen rifle, I traded it for one dropped by a guard I had killed. Then, scooped up Topaz’s belt and my pack of gum.

The engine roared to life a half second before Admon came crashing through the ramp door. He trained his gun on me, firing a stream of bullets. I dove for the cover of the terminal booth. Bullets cracked and ricocheted off the glass, barely chipping the thick plane.

I peeked around the corner. Admon was rushing toward me, his finger jumping on the trigger. Either anger was screwing with his vision or he was a terrible shot. The enchanters were rounding the other side of the booth to flank me. And the truck lurched forward into drive and pulled away.

That blasted woman was going to leave me here to die.

I pressed my back against the booth and weighed my options. Without my beasts form or any back up, I had little hope of making it out alive. But, Core between, I would go down fighting. The only consolation in this entire situation was that the prisoners were free. At least, I hoped Topaz could carry them out the rest of the way by herself. There was nothing more I could do for them.

Releasing a breath that did little to steady the trembling in my hands, I jumped from my concealment, rifle raised, finger on the trigger.

Bright light filled my vision, swallowing Admon’s silhouette. A horn blared. A shadow—Admon’s—dodged out of the light of the truck’s headlights. The corner of the bumper clipped him though, sending him tumbling into the terminal booth.

Topaz leaned out the window. “Get in!”

Surprised, I swung into the passenger seat with rifle, gum, and her belt in hand. She was already punching the truck into reverse and swinging around for the exit. In the side mirror, I saw Admon stir, but he wasn’t rising any time soon. The enchanters came around the booth. The younger, Wanddy, lifted a gun to fire, but Harhort, looking murderous, shoved the muzzle toward the ground.

“I can’t believe we pulled that off.” I sagged against the seat, ignoring the sting of my wound. “I swore you were going to leave me behind.”

I could almost picture her smirk beneath her mask. “I came back for my belt. You just happen to be the one holding it.”

Her return being only for her toys was believable, until her eyes softened. “How’s your back?”

I shifted and winced. If I couldn’t return to Keadan to heal, I would need stitches soon. “I’ll survive.”

“Shame,” she sighed, but there was a lightness in her tone. Maybe she didn’t want me as dead as she pretended.