Misfortune Market: A HASEA CHRONICLES STORY (BOOK 1.5) by Stuart Meczes
Authors: Stuart Meczes
Ads: Link
he hissed.
“We belong to you no more,” the lead Elf said simply and plunged the blade deep into his chest. The action was like a signal to the others. I watched in stunned silence as the Shinroba Elves pounced on the Yokai like raged hyenas. He let out a haunting yell of fear as they covered him. They became wild, releasing their years spent in fear and servitude in screams of fury, matched by the frenzied beating of fists on his body as they drove their blades deep into any part of his body they could reach – stabbing over and over and over, until he was still, surrounded by a pool of slick blood. Still they carried on, their rage only building in his death. I forced myself to look away.
“Where is he?” said Gabriella, appearing with the others at my side. The confused Andrea was with Scarlett, who was trying her best to keep her calm.
“There!” said Delagio, pointing. I spied Malachi’s bright suit, barely visible as he tried to weave through the pack of panicking Pandemonians as they scrambled for the exit. We all sprinted after him.
A second later a sea of black uniforms rushed through the opening, armed to the teeth and led by Larik Godren.
“Finally,” breathed Gabriella.
“By order of the Alliance, everybody stay where you are!” he bellowed.
No one stayed where they were. The market-goers scattered like ants, some turning tail back towards us, and others choosing to try and fight their way through. The Pandemonians and Guardians clashed like titans – the underprepared revelers hitting the floor in seconds. They stood no chance against the full force of the Alliance.
Those that ran towards us barged past with fearful abandon, searching for hidden exits, or ways to hide themselves. The Guardians spread out like a blanket, making short work of those left.
Malachi was among those running back into the market. He took one look at us and his eyes went wide. Skidding to a halt, he scanned around and took the only option left – the rickety stairs leading up towards Albert’s office.
“Come on!” Gabriella shouted to us.
We rushed up the stairs after Malachi. He had picked up a gun from somewhere and fired desperate pot shots as he fled up the last of the steps and onto the balcony. We ducked and pivoted out the way of the bullets and kept pursuing. He burst through the office door and tried to shut it after him, but I lowered by good shoulder and shoved it with all my strength, sending him tripping over the still-unconscious Skinshifter and sprawling to the floor. In a second he had scrambled back to his feet and rushed over to the shocked Shaman, who was deep in his next glass of whisky.
He sized him by the collar of his shirt and pressed the gun to his throat.
“Stay where you are or I blow his fucking head off.”
“Give it up Malachi. There’s no way out,” said Gabriella as we all moved into the office. “Your market is gone. We know who you are. Your only choice is surrender.”
He gave a hiss of fury, his teeth descending from his gums. “Who the fuck is Malachi?”
“You are.”
He shook his head as if dislodging a bad memory. “No…I am the Overseer, you stupid bitch.”
“I think you should give yourself up,” said Albert, swallowing slowly as the gun pressed hard into his jugular.
“Shut up you stupid old fool.” He shook the Shaman roughly and his glasses fell from his face, clattering onto the table. “I will kill you without a second thought.”
He’s serious. Malachi had been a bit unhinged when I’d first met him, but under the guise of the Overseer he had really gone off the deep end. There was every possibility this would end badly.
I wracked my brain to think of a way to how to stop him. It was Delagio who made the decision. He snapped out his hand and the gun was wrenched from Malachi’s grip. The Bloodling let out a confused gasp as he was unarmed. We rushed towards him but he acted quickly, wrenching Albert’s neck to the side and hovering
“We belong to you no more,” the lead Elf said simply and plunged the blade deep into his chest. The action was like a signal to the others. I watched in stunned silence as the Shinroba Elves pounced on the Yokai like raged hyenas. He let out a haunting yell of fear as they covered him. They became wild, releasing their years spent in fear and servitude in screams of fury, matched by the frenzied beating of fists on his body as they drove their blades deep into any part of his body they could reach – stabbing over and over and over, until he was still, surrounded by a pool of slick blood. Still they carried on, their rage only building in his death. I forced myself to look away.
“Where is he?” said Gabriella, appearing with the others at my side. The confused Andrea was with Scarlett, who was trying her best to keep her calm.
“There!” said Delagio, pointing. I spied Malachi’s bright suit, barely visible as he tried to weave through the pack of panicking Pandemonians as they scrambled for the exit. We all sprinted after him.
A second later a sea of black uniforms rushed through the opening, armed to the teeth and led by Larik Godren.
“Finally,” breathed Gabriella.
“By order of the Alliance, everybody stay where you are!” he bellowed.
No one stayed where they were. The market-goers scattered like ants, some turning tail back towards us, and others choosing to try and fight their way through. The Pandemonians and Guardians clashed like titans – the underprepared revelers hitting the floor in seconds. They stood no chance against the full force of the Alliance.
Those that ran towards us barged past with fearful abandon, searching for hidden exits, or ways to hide themselves. The Guardians spread out like a blanket, making short work of those left.
Malachi was among those running back into the market. He took one look at us and his eyes went wide. Skidding to a halt, he scanned around and took the only option left – the rickety stairs leading up towards Albert’s office.
“Come on!” Gabriella shouted to us.
We rushed up the stairs after Malachi. He had picked up a gun from somewhere and fired desperate pot shots as he fled up the last of the steps and onto the balcony. We ducked and pivoted out the way of the bullets and kept pursuing. He burst through the office door and tried to shut it after him, but I lowered by good shoulder and shoved it with all my strength, sending him tripping over the still-unconscious Skinshifter and sprawling to the floor. In a second he had scrambled back to his feet and rushed over to the shocked Shaman, who was deep in his next glass of whisky.
He sized him by the collar of his shirt and pressed the gun to his throat.
“Stay where you are or I blow his fucking head off.”
“Give it up Malachi. There’s no way out,” said Gabriella as we all moved into the office. “Your market is gone. We know who you are. Your only choice is surrender.”
He gave a hiss of fury, his teeth descending from his gums. “Who the fuck is Malachi?”
“You are.”
He shook his head as if dislodging a bad memory. “No…I am the Overseer, you stupid bitch.”
“I think you should give yourself up,” said Albert, swallowing slowly as the gun pressed hard into his jugular.
“Shut up you stupid old fool.” He shook the Shaman roughly and his glasses fell from his face, clattering onto the table. “I will kill you without a second thought.”
He’s serious. Malachi had been a bit unhinged when I’d first met him, but under the guise of the Overseer he had really gone off the deep end. There was every possibility this would end badly.
I wracked my brain to think of a way to how to stop him. It was Delagio who made the decision. He snapped out his hand and the gun was wrenched from Malachi’s grip. The Bloodling let out a confused gasp as he was unarmed. We rushed towards him but he acted quickly, wrenching Albert’s neck to the side and hovering
Similar Books
