Chapter 38 Standoff

  I moved beside Jean and gave him a small elbow to the side and as he moved his hand to his blade I moved my hood so he could get a look at my face. After seeing my golden eyes his hand stopped and I grabbed his arm, pulling him into a random store. Everyone else followed and soon we were sat down at a table being served sandwiches.

  “Sure took your time, I managed to get us out a few hours ago.”

  “I think we did a great job of making it this far with a vague tip off, thank you very much.”

  As we ate Derek handed us our equipment, we quickly put it on afterwards in a nearby alley with the others keeping watch while we quickly changed into our gear. My danger sense went off the moment we walked out of the alley and into the main street. Several knives scattered around us as Alice quickly conjured a barrier. The knives plinked against the magical shield and a few cloaked figures dropped down from one of the roofs.

  As a group we went into a dead sprint with me at the lead, we ducked under signs and vaulted off of food carts until we found a low building we all jumped up with a quick use of my gravity magic. Running across rooftops we were making good time and were almost to the massive spire like building in the center. Jumping across buildings with Derek stringing curses occasionally as we had the thieves hot on our tails.

  Occasionally a chain would be flung or a bolas would be aimed at our feet but we swatted each attempt away with magic, our tails or blades. Suddenly a wave of force pushed us off the building and towards the ground. I split my mind and focused on lessening our gravity and barely managed to cushion our fall.

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  Rolling to absorb the rest of the fall we sprung up and kept up our mad dash, however the thieves on our tail were slowing down.

  “Looks like they're finally running out of juice!”

  Alice let out a quick laugh as we kept running, we were almost there!

  My danger sense suddenly went nuts and I felt the cold shadow of death creep over me just like how it did in my previous life. A deep gash was drawn on the road and a nearby building was reduced to rubble. From the massive spire a few cloaked figures with masks on calmly walked out of the building, I quickly appraised them and my heart skipped a beat.

  [Swordsman Extreme threat]

  [Assassin high threat]

  [Mage high threat]

  [Whipmaster high threat]

  [Thief high threat]

  [Fencer high threat]

  The thieves that were chasing after us finally caught up and we were sandwiched between them, there were about ten thieves plus this group of formidable new opponents. I didn't like our odds.

  “You're ruthless, you know that girlie? You burnt your jailers alive, took some of my boys for a ride and look where you brought her anyway? Right where we were taking her in the first place. If you wanted an apprenticeship you've certainly gotten my attention.”

  “ Now, you don't have to be a genius to know your odds of escape are abysmal, one word from me and half this place will turn the other half upside down looking for you. But you've got guts, and I'd hate to ruin the merchandise, so bring me the mage and I'll consider letting one of your friends go.”

  The swordsman with a demon mask spoke to us, seemingly the leader. He was tall, with a black sword half his height held in one hand, the mask was a smiling demon with bloody tears running from its eyes, pale white with teeth jutting out from its mouth. He wore all black with long blond hair flowing from behind his mask, like golden thread spun from a spider.

  It was the black blades.

  “Thanks but no thanks, I've got morals unlike you.”

  Our hands trembled on the hilts of our blades, the very air felt charged with thick killing intent coming from them. I could feel it in my bones, one wrong move and I'd be dead. Sweat trickled down Derek's face, as we stood in this standoff.

  After a moment the leader chuckled and turned around.

  “Deal with the trash, but be careful not to harm the goods, I've got some business to attend to, try not to make too much of a mess.”

  With a casual stride he sheathed his sword and walked back into the building, the air lost the oppressiveness and we all breathed a bit easier. We could do this, we could win this.

  I shouted out orders and my tail ring unfurled into its armored form.

  “Pick your targets, don't leave Sarah alone, she's their objective.”

  I drew my blades and got ready for a fight.