Rise of the Mare (Fall of Man Book 2) by Jacqueline Druga Read Free Book Online Page B

by her and to Sophie’s bed. She wasn’t
there. “Where is she?”
    Buried in the squealing and cries
outside I heard my sister’s whimpers and, my heart racing, I
followed the sound. I found her huddled in a corner of the living
room. I swept her in my arms and carried her to the back
bedroom.
    “What are you doing?” my mother
asked. “The barn is the safest structure.”
    I lifted my head to the ceiling, I
could hear them ripping at our home. “Yes, it is. Still, we’ll
never make it through them and you know it.” I carried Sophie to
the corner closet of the bedroom, and placed her as far back as I
could. “Don’t move. Don’t run. Don’t make a sound until I come for
you.” I concealed her with clothing and closed the door.
    “You can’t keep her in there,” my
mother said.
    “Get under a bed. Hide.” I moved by
her.
    “Where are you going?” she
shouted.
    “Ending this.”
    I needed something for my
concentrated energy to focus on, to direct my abilities through,
and I grabbed the broom by the fireplace. It would do.
    Bracing myself for attack, I opened
the front door.
    It screamed at me, swooping my way,
and with a simple swing of the broom, I flung it back ten feet.
    When it attempted to stand, I
concentrated, swung out, and sliced it in two.
    People were racing about, and Savage
Sybaris swept down, attacking them. It was a scene I had witnessed
before, the Savages flying in, grabbing hold of anyone small, and
taking them off somewhere to feed off of them. The ones they killed
too fast or killed right there dropped to the ground and instantly
rose as Day Stalkers.
    It wasn’t until I stepped further
into the village center and into the light of the moon that I saw
they were different.
    They were black, as I knew the
Savages to be. While their bodies were distorted in gargoyle
manner, their wings weren’t large and their flesh was light. Almost
as if they were… fresh.
    That was it. They were fresh
Savages.
    I knew Savages to be starved and
turned Ancients who never rejuvenated because they were too far
gone.
    These were new. They weren’t as
smart. That had to be the reason they descended upon us. The ones
in Angeles City feared me and avoided being where I was. Unless…
they couldn’t sense me because I was projecting.
    Was it my fault, like Nito had
warned?
    Or was it Nito’s doing?
    Surely she wouldn’t send her drones
to destroy their food supply?
    There were so many, hundreds. They
flew by me, taunting but not attacking. Every chance I got, I swung
outward.
    They landed on homes, ripping the
roofs, trying to get what was inside.
    Some villagers ran, but my focus was
soon on just the Savages.
    They encircled me. I was ready.
Talking a stance, like Davis had taught me, I put my full focus on
what I held in my hand. I spun, struck, killed.
    I was pelted by them, they came for
me and I combatted them with ease.
    When I had finished the first group
that had come to me, I set my sights on the ones that were
attacking, get them, then destroy the Day Stalker, they
created.
    “Vala.”
    I spun to see Wynn, the newest
educator, whom I had met briefly.
    “What are you doing?” I said. “Get
inside!” He was carrying a sword and diligently fighting against
the Savages as well.
    I had forgotten the Savages hated the
Ancients.
    “I am doing the same as you,” he said
as he swung his sword.
    He and I were the only ones battling.
There were too many to end it with ease. Cries of pain and fear
carried to us and more than anything, I wanted to destroy them all,
to scream out like I did in Angeles City. I couldn’t, because I
knew I could kill more than the Sybaris.
    I saw a Savage on the roof of the
Watson home, only his wings were exposed. Just as I took aim, he
leapt from that roof with Mrs. Watson in the grip of his back
claws.
    She screamed, struggling to free
herself. The Savage arched forward, widened his mouth, and took a
huge, gaping bite from her back. It lifted its head, flicking