She had felt a blast of spiritual energy coming from near the big warehouses at the end of the port and headed that way. As she drew closer, the sounds of battle grew louder. Exorcist reinforcements hadn’t arrived. Who could the Hybrids be fighting with?
To her shock, Hybrids were sparring viciously withHybrids. The melee had spilled out of the warehouse, and violet shards blazed across the air like fireworks against the night sky.
Taking advantage of the infighting, Rui slipped through, avoiding the violet shards flying around. A few stray yinqi bullets scraped her, but it was nothing serious. The Hybrids were too focused on each other to notice her.
But when she got into the warehouse, she tripped over a young boy. His head was shaved, and tattoos and old scars lined his bare arms. He was convulsing on the ground.
She stooped to help him without thinking. “Are you okay?”
The boy’s eyes fluttered open. Glazed. Then he snarled and clawed at her.
Rui jumped back, her swords raised.
He’s a Hybrid.Youhave tokill him.
But he’s a childwas her other thought. Why was he caught up in all this?
She wasn’t sure if she would regret it, and she didn’t have time to think it through. She turned away from the boy and ran. She heard him cry for help, but she knew he would fight her rather than be saved by her.
Navigating by instinct, she made her way through the maze of cargo containers, concentrating on the feel of spiritual energy in the air. She’d never had a talent for distinguishing the energies of different people, butonestood out to her now. Yiran’s.
It led her to a building connected to the exit. Cautiously, Rui inched forward.
“You can’t beat me in a fight, Celeste,” said a man’s voice. Was that Song Liming?
Celeste replied, “I know, that’s why I’ve prepared a hostage. Give me the talisman, and he goes free.”
Rui’s heart pounded. It sounded like the Hybrids had splintered into opposing factions.
“Give me the talisman, andyour songoes free,” Celeste repeated.
Rui didn’t hear a response. Was Song Liming hesitating to save his own son? She heard Yiran crying out in pain, and she ran in without a second thought.
There was a web of ropes hanging from the ceiling. Yiran was trapped in the middle like an insect, kicking helplessly as yinqi burned into him. But a faint layer of crimson sparks hovered around him. He was fighting back.
Something whizzed.
Rui spun aside, narrowly avoiding a crimson shard aimed at her face.
Song Liming retracted his arm, sparing her a fleeting, puzzled look before focusing on his Hybrid opponent again.
Green Jacket. She had been there in the tunnels that day.Shemust’ve been the one who had saved the talisman from destruction, allowing the Hybrids to enact their terrible plans. But why was she fighting the leaderof the Hybrids? Weren’t they on the same side?
Celeste snarled. “I know you, Exorcist!”
Not bothering to reply, Rui tossed a binding talisman, pointing a finger as she shouted an incantation. Crimson ropes shot out. Celeste dodged, leaping into the air. She grabbed hold of her own web, spinning from cord to cord as Rui shot bolts at her from her swords. But Celeste was moving too fast, manipulating her web to shield herself.
Yiran swung wildly as Celeste spun, unable to control what was happening to him. In the chaos, an errant bolt from Rui’s sword struck him.
“Yiran!” she shrieked even though, logically, she knew her magic would not hurt him.
His eyes widened. “Rui—shoot!”
“What?”
“Shootme!”
Rui’s confusion cleared. Yiran was anAmplifier. Yangqi didn’t just bounce off him. He could absorb her magic if he concentrated. If he stored enough, maybe he could channel it out and free himself from the Hybrid’s web.
