He made his way through the next room before heading into the main hall. But as his vision blurred and his senses warred against him, he found himself running into walls and stumbling as though he’d had a much more excessive night of drinking. Even as he pushed through the door on the other side of the building, he could tell it was too late for him. He collapsed onto the sidewalk, keeping his grip on his sword. Through his blurred vision, he saw the shadow of one of the immortals on top of the building—four stories high. The higherling stretched out its wings and soared down to him. Kinzer could tell by the way he held his hand to his neck that it was the higherling he’d taken a chunk out of.
As Kinzer held on to consciousness for as long as he could, he questioned who these immortals really were. What if they weren’t working for the Council? What if they were with the Almighty? Or Janka? There were so many who could have wanted to question him or wanted him to be punished for all he had done these past few months. It was just a matter of time before he discovered the truth—what they wanted from him.
“There’s no point resisting, Kinzer,” the higherling said. “It’s over.”
His words only provoked Kinzer, made him more determined than ever. He crawled away, pushing off the ground to get back on his feet.
The higherling kicked him in his stomach. The blow was so intense and his strength so limited that he dropped his sword. But he stayed on his feet. If they were going to take him down, they’d have to fight for it.
Even as he managed to keep from tumbling to the ground, though, his eyelids forced themselves shut. He pulled them open once again and readied his fists. It was the only defense he had left.
As he focused, he was able to make out the immortal’s features. He was a true higherling. Not a flit. His features were beautiful, with a clear, flawless complexion. His face was speckled with short, blond hairs. The dim streetlight illuminated the higherling’s miraculous green eyes. Even in his delirious, confused state, Kinzer recognized a great creation of the Almighty’s.
“I’m impressed,” the higherling said, sizing Kinzer up. “But beautiful as your resistance is, it won’t do you any good.”
Behind his foe, Kinzer could see the other two higherlings exiting the warehouse, heading toward them.
“Come and get me, you bastards,” Kinzer said.
He charged the higherling. He figured he had at least enough strength to get one more good blow in. And he was right.
He threw a punch that knocked Green Eyes to the ground. When he hit the pavement, Kinzer’s legs gave out, and he collapsed, cursing himself and the poison racing through his body, making it act against his will. Despite his efforts at moving, he couldn’t, and as Green Eyes rose above him once again, he gazed down, that face of his beautiful as ever. He smiled a mischievous smile.
“Your reputation doesn’t do you justice, Kinzer,” he said before turning to his friends and saying, “Get the van.”
Kinzer closed his eyes, and as he did, all he could see was the frail face of a woman he loved. Not romantically, but as a dear friend and confidante, a woman whose loss had bruised him so deeply because she had died for a cause she had no reason to be involved in. She didn’t belong in their world. She’d been too weak to fight immortals.
Now so was Kinzer.
But still, he had to fight for as long as he could.
