Dimitri moved in a blur, standing over him. I felt the compulsion magic just as the scientist’s eyes bulged as he noticed him.
“You will go and open all cell doors,” he ordered.
The scientist nodded and moved toward the master release panel within the office he’d just walked out of.
We followed behind him.
Slater’s voice tightened. “You’ve got ninety seconds before patrol rotation comes down.Shit.”
The man did his thumb print before leaning in and letting the controls scan his eye.
It lit up green before a low mechanical whir vibrated through the room.
“You will stay here and call nobody,” Dimitri told him before patting his shoulder and locking him in the office.
Locks of the cell doors disengaged one by one.
The doors hissed open, but the sound that followed was a collective, broken exhale.
It took several seconds before a couple of supernaturals stumbled out barefoot, bruised, wrists raw from restraints, eyes glassy with sedation.
Some were too weak to stand, let alone leave their cells. Some clutched each other.
A werewolf swayed as if he didn’t know where the floor was, while a witch’s hands trembled as she tried to summon her magic but only managed a faint flicker.
Tourmalyke clung to their blood.
Koa’s voice came in steadily. “I’m moving in. Ivy, Solon, breach on my count.”
Ivy’s response was immediate. “Copy.”
Solon growled, “Doors?”
“External breach point is clear. The west service exit is unlocked. I’m forcing it open now,” Slater told him.
Metal groaned somewhere above.
“Move the captives,” Katie urged. “They’re going to realize they’re escaping.”
Dimitri grabbed a stumbling vampire by the arm, hauling him upright with surprising gentleness. “Can you walk?”
The vampire nodded weakly.
I turned to the nearest group of three. “Listen to me. You’re going to move. Quietly. Follow the hall lights. Kill any humans you have to. We’re getting you out.”
A fear demon looked over at me with hollow eyes. “Are you…real?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, remembering the hollowed look of the real supernaturals the humans fucked with. “I’m real, and you’re going home.”
The fear demon’s eyes filled with tears.
Before I could think about it, Slater’s voice softened in my ear.“Venom baby, keep moving.”
Zuko’s voice came like a purr. “Save me the lead scientist, pretty little poison.”
“As if I would deprive you of your torture subject, toxin.” I scoffed.
Footsteps thundered down the stairwell.
