Lost

“Strangely I don’t want to do that again.”
Lilith shook water from her hair as she trotted down the stairs and hugged Dani tightly. The others followed in behind, both Jimmy and Syn despondent that they hadn’t been able to pull Zacky back to them. The witch had calmed them both, she had seen the confusion in her friend’s eyes and told them there had to be a way to break the hold. Once that happened there was no doubt that Zacky could help them free Claire and destroy Gerard.
“How’s Matt?”
“Much better and annoyed at being left behind.”
Dani looked at her three friends, seeing the tension but already hearing Lilith in her head saying they had a chance. Jimmy went to see Matt and bring him up to speed as the others joined Johnny and Stef in the kitchen. The hideout was underground, built into a hillside and magically protected by just about every bit of craft the mystics could come up with. It held more than thirty people although most stayed away from where the reapers had set up shop and where Dani and Lilith now casted.
“We may have found someone….”
All eyes turned to Johnny and the shorter man smiled, his arm around Stefanie’s shoulder. They had searched with the mystics, tuning into electrical hot spots and using high tech to find people with the oldest of talents. It had been different and interesting, the need to do something had been burning Johnny up and now he felt like it may have made a difference.
“Where?”
“Unfortunately the target is in north London. We need to go and take a look but Claire and Gerard seem strongest there.”
Lilith leant back, the feeling of Syn’s fingers running down the nape of her neck was making it hard to concentrate and she wanted him. He was angry, hiding it in his usual way of rough sex and too much alcohol. Lilith needed him sober and focused so there was little choice but to screw some sense into him. As Claire would say, tough work but someone’s got to do it…her mind was drawn back by Matt’s voice from the doorway.
“We need a diversion.”
The big man was half supported by Jimmy, Dani’s face a picture of concern as he was helped into a chair. Matt himself was still in pain but determined, Gerard needed to die and he needed his friends back. That Raven was dead, that Zacky was responsible, all that could be dealt with after but for now they needed to stop the madness.
Several of the mystics had been drawn to their rooms now, the power of so many reapers together was a draw to them and now they listened along with Dr Dee as Jimmy and Syn laid out a map and the strategizing started. It had become clear that the government had spread enough fear amongst the population that going public no longer mattered. People were openly supporting the round up and Lilith was dying to give them all something to really fear. Jimmy knew it and was now ready to go there.
“Lilith my love, can you and Dani provide a diversion?”
The two witches leant their heads together, the dark and blond, light and dark as the rest of the room held its breath. Lilith’s eyes burned blue, Dani’s glowed golden as the elemental power showed itself. Dr Dee still had misgivings and if he was honest, so did Johnny but it was too late for half measures.
Lilith could feel Syn’s fingers tightening on her shoulder and heard his voice of caution in her head. She acknowledged him fondly and then smiled at Jimmy as Dani ran her fingers down Matt’s face. She hated seeing him in so much pain and it made her want to feel what Lilith felt, the power of revenge.
“Yes, we can make things very difficult in the centre of London. Claire will no doubt feel we are there and it should give you an opening.”
“Good, Johnny and Stef can guide me and Syn down to the target. Everyone else lay low here. There will be more of our kind headed this way.
Matt went to protest, he hated being left behind when his friends were in danger. Moving was still difficult but he didn’t want his girls going out alone. They both knew it and kissed his cheeks while he grumbled.
“I can still protect you, kicking something to death would make me feel better.”
“And who protects this place?”
Matt turned at Dr.Dee’s quiet words and Jimmy nodded, they still had no idea if they were totally safe even here. The big man nodded with a weary smile and preparations to move got underway. The other mystics helped in their own ways, each one talking to contacts in the city to start small fires, light the way so that the police and army were busy. Syn watched it all, his eyes black as he listened to Johnny.
“The target is a young woman, she doesn’t know she has any power and we will probably scare the shit out of her.”
Stefanie waved a syringe, she had no problem with tranqualising the subject until they could get her back to the safety of the caves. She passed Syn a shotgun and he added it to the arsenal hanging off his shoulder as Jimmy joined them. The tall man grinned at Syn, seeing that the boy was itching for a fight.
“No killing the target ok?”
“Oh gooooo onnnnnn Jimbo.”
Syn giggled and dodged the slap, following as Lilith and Dani headed up top. They gathered in the darkness and looked towards the capital. It would be easy enough to teleport in but they would have to say their goodbyes here. Matt pulled Dani close to him, at once proud and terrified about what she was going to do. She gazed into his eyes, loving the dimpled smile as strong arms closed around her.
“Be careful. Don’t follow Lilith into mass idiocy.”
Dani giggled, the other witch winking and pulling a face at her.
“Rest up Matt or there will be punishment.”
Matt grinned, whispering in her ear as his hands wandered up her back.
“At mistresses’ command as always.”
Syn and Lilith were past words and she was in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist as passionate kisses were exchanged. He hated leaving her, she wanted him with her in the chaos but finding a third would end this and bring Claire and Zacky home so it had to be done. He finally put her down and kissed her forehead, his smile slightly dreamy as she did up his shirt buttons.
“Come home safe Bri.”
He smirked in his usual irritating fashion and hugged Matt as his joined up with Jimmy, Johnny and Stefanie. They looked at each other, the darkness making it all the more foreboding.
“You too baby.”
Lilith joined hands with Dani, the teleport taking them into the city. Dani followed her, still hand in hand as she climbed up and over a fence and down onto a famous feature of the city. HMS Belfast seemed a fitting place to start and the witches made their way up to the front of the ship that looked onto the bridge.
“Do you like that bridge?”
Dani shook her head.
“No, fucking yanks bought the real London Bridge.”
Lilith nodded, seeing the way into the city that lived and died by the river. She concentrated on the water before them, making it boil and rise to crash against the supports of the bridge. Dani joined her, the wind whipping the water up into a series of huge waterspouts. It all seemed to pause as if waiting for a starting gun before Lilith let it go. There was a crash of steel and brick, rising screams as people and cars were flung of the bridge by huge storm tossed spouts of water. The structure started to creak and man, Lilith moving the water faster as Dani whipped up the wind. Finally it broke and the mass tidal wave crashed forward into the city itself.
“That should do it.”
Lilith jumped down from the gun and passed Dani a bottle of whiskey.
“Now what?”
“I really don’t like the Houses of Parliament.”
Dani giggled, hearing Claire in her head. Lilith heard it too and a grim smile crossed her face. The ploy had worked and her girl was coming to play.

Notes