Apolonia

Apolonia stood at the edge of the roof, tears streaming down her face, and then she took out her sword. Benji stood in front of me protectively.

“Hamech will not survive learning that he was responsible for my death,” Apolonia cried.

Cy’s hands went up to his head, and his fingers knotted in his hair. “We have to let him destroy the parasites.”

Apolonia looked up at her father’s ship and then back at Cy, nodding.

“I failed,” Cy said, letting his hands fall to his thighs. “I failed you, Rory.” He turned to his betrothed and took her into his arms.

“Will Hamech stop once he destroys the warehouse?” Benji asked. “Because if Hamech is going to destroy Earth anyway, instead of just waiting here to die, we should all get a fighting chance.”

Cy nodded once. “He’s been making his way here from the Nayara. He knew Majestic was headquartered here. Once he knows he eliminated those he thinks killed his daughter, he’ll go back home.”

“You’re sure?” Benji said.

“I’m sure that the parasites must be destroyed.”

Benji tensed and then held out his hand for mine. I took it, both of us staring up, waiting for our impending death.

Apolonia’s long hair blew in the wind, dull and dirty, like her skin and clothes. We were all filthy, sweaty, and exhausted. Cy held her jaw, and she looked him in the eyes, tears glazing over her ice-blue irises, as her father’s ship maneuvered, readying itself to fire on the warehouse.

She spoke in Ahnktesh. He replied in English.

“This isn’t the end, my love,” he said, broken and exhausted. “We’ll see each other again soon.”

Chapter Twenty-One

APOLONIA’S FACE HARDENED, and her jaws worked as she clenched her teeth. “I can’t give up.”

She took her sword, swinging it toward me. Benji pushed me out of the way, and I fell to the ground.

The sword landed against the canister with a spark.

“We’ve already tried that,” Cy said, holding his hands out.

Apolonia swung again. “I! Am going! Home!” she said, grunting as her sword hit the metal.

The canister finally opened, spraying an incandescent but luminous pink light into the sky. The warship was nearly on top of us.

A shriek sounded from down below. The parasites were infecting the dead soldiers in the courtyard. They were spreading.

“Hamech!” Apolonia screamed, waving at the massive vessel. She spoke in their language again, waving her arms in the air.

Benji helped me to my feet as Cy joined his betrothed in trying to get Hamech’s attention.

“Look!” Benji said, pointing to the ship.

The entire ship lowered slowly, stopping just ten feet above us. A large square door opened, and a bridge lowered to connect the ship to the rooftop.

A man in blue robes, massive and as beautiful as his daughter, walked out. When he saw Apolonia, he ran for her, his arms wide open, followed closely by a small army of guards. She matched his pace, throwing herself into his arms. He hugged her tightly, his body shaking with relief and tears.

He didn’t look at all like someone who had just murdered thousands of innocent people.

I smiled, seeing how safe Apolonia looked in her father’s strong arms. I missed that feeling of security and surrender so much, and I was glad that she still had it.

The shrieking from the courtyard was getting louder, but another noise overwhelmed the awful sounds below. It popped and then sizzled.

“Incoming!” Benji yelled, using his body to shield mine.

The underbelly of Hamech’s ship, fifty yards from the bridge, exploded, and then the AK-47s began to fire in a steady beat.

Benji crawled on his belly to the edge of the roof. “It’s the other soldiers! They’re back!”

Bullets sparked and ricocheted off Hamech’s ship, and I covered my head with my hands and instinctively curled up into a ball.

And then, all at once, the shooting stopped and screaming began. Benji sat up on his knees, and I ran to stand next to him. The infected from the courtyard had overtaken the Humvees, and the soldiers were now on the ground, writhing and twitching, as the parasites overtook their bodies.

One of Hamech’s men approached him and spoke quickly. The king’s eyes flickered, and he spoke something I didn’t understand.

Cy responded, his head slightly bowed, and then he looked back to me. “The ship’s weapon is no longer functional. It has been damaged by the missile, Rory. We must leave. I can’t leave you here to die. I won’t.”

Hamech spoke to Cy, and he appeared to argue but not for long, and then Cy gestured to Benji and me.

Hamech nodded to me and then spoke when he looked to Cy.

“He is asking about your character,” Apolonia translated. “Cyrus had to reveal that Benji is Majestic.”

Cy looked at me, sad. “Come with us, Rory. We’re no longer able to save this place.”

“What are you talking about? There are only six of them right now. We can destroy the warehouse.”

He shook his head. “Not without the ship’s weapon. By the time we return with a capable ship…Earth will be overrun.”

“No,” I said, looking at Cy, Apolonia, and her father. “No! We can still do this. Don’t give up on us!”

Cy had sadness in his eyes. “You can come with us. Hamech has ordered that Benji be left behind.”

“You know I won’t leave him,” I said.

“Rory,” Cy began.

“We’re worth saving! You know that! At least try!”

Cy looked to Benji. “Convince her.”

Benji looked at me, his eyes full of conflict. “Go,” he said, placing both his hands on my cheeks. “There’s a reason you don’t need anyone here. Because you’re meant to go with them.”

“No.” I shook my head, pushing away from him. “No!” I looked to Cy, grabbing his arms. “Help me,” I begged. “We can think of something! Maybe the Humvees have explosives. Maybe—”

“Now that the parasites have adapted to the environment, they’re multiplying. You won’t make it ten yards on the ground,” Cy said.

I looked down at the canister. It was sparking, and the pink light alternated between bright and dim. I pointed to it. “You said it was a power source?” I asked, rushing over to it.

“Yes?” Cy said.

“Can we overheat it? Use it as an explosive?” I asked.

Cy frowned, “It’s a powerful energy source, so yes. What are you getting at?”