Two other Exorcists threw up their spells. The air shimmered and a large translucent dome rose around them and disappeared.
“Everyone in your teams. Shuang, circle us. Surin, you’re descending first.” Ash glanced over his shoulder. “Yiran! Teshin! You’re with me. We’ll head down once we get the all clear.”
Adrenaline coursed through Yiran’s veins as he hastened forward. The Exorcist standing next to Ash gave him a curt nod, and Yiran stiffened his spine.
“Thanks,” he said to Ash, “for trusting me.”
Ash grinned. “I’ll always bet on family.”
Yiran tried to smile back, but the feelings he had were too complicated.
They watched as one team of Exorcists went into the subway station. At the other end, Surin’s team dislodged the cover of a manhole. She cracked a glow stick and threw it down. Moments later, all three members of her team descended.
As they waited, Yiran felt the tension in the air adding to the heavy pressure that shrouded the area. It was a strangespiritualpressure, dark and otherworldly.
But there was something else, too. He concentrated. A hint... a feeling of—Rui.
He could sense her.
Worse. He could sense herfear.
Something was happening beneath their feet. Something that involved Rui.
He grabbed Ash’s arm. “They’re down there.”
Ash threw him a sharp look. “How do you know?”
“I just do.” Yiran didn’t know how else to explain. “We have to go down—now.”
Before Ash could react, Surin’s blond head popped out of the manhole. “Jackpot.”
“Okay, gather! We’re going down!” Ash called out.
The Exorcists who had flanked out to survey the area jogged back. Everyone had their spiritual weapons drawn.
Yiran took a step, and the ground beneath him began to shake.
53
Rui
A sound grew in Rui’s throat, a wail so sorrowful her world shook.
Blue flames raged out of her hands, illuminating the far end of the tunnel. One of the Hybrids was trailing the rest of the group, and she could still see the violet blades protruding from his spine.
He did this. He killed Zizi.
Lips pulled back in a snarl, Rui flung her hand out.
Fire slammed into the Hybrid, engulfing him quickly. His screams echoed in the semidarkness.
But something else was happening.
The flames.
They were flowing out of her like running water, swirling in the air, blue tendrils undulating toward Zizi’s prone body.
Stunned, Rui could only stare as the fire grazed him and disappeared. His body didn’t burn. But there was no movement, no rise and fall of his chest, only stillness.
