The Unleashing
Page 79

No.
Jace reached for the door handle again and pushed it down. The door was blocked from the other side, so Jace and Annalisa shoved the door open together. The mangled body of a gang member rolled back and away to flop against the floor. She knew he was in a gang from the tattoos that covered nearly every inch of visible skin.
She pushed the door all the way open, but before she could step over the mans body, Annalisa yanked her back as a pack of dogs charged out of the doorway in a panicked mob.
The Crows squealed, moving into what they called a protective flock until the freaked-out dogs disappeared down the street.
Should we track them down? a sister asked.
Can we just focus on one dog today, please? Annalisa pulled away from the sisters and peered into the open door, but she reared back when she heard men screaming. I dont know whats happening, but it does not sound good.
But Jace was determined to find Brodie, no matter what the consequences. So she walked into the large building, stepping over the gang members body, her sister-Crows following her in.
There were cages stacked off to one side, but the doors had been torn off the hinges, freeing the poor animals inside.
It seemed it was too early for a fighting event, but a small number of men had come to the warehouse, maybe to feed the dogs.
And now, most of those men were dead. Most but not all. The survivors were in the back of the warehouse in an office. Thats where the screams and now gunshots were coming from.
Jace moved forward until she reached a makeshift pit in the middle of the room. The bodies of smaller dogs were lying in the pit, used as bait dogs probably. She quickly looked away, always unable to look at any kind of animal cruelty. It just broke her heart.
There were more screams and shots, and Jace watched two men run from that back room.
Run! they screamed at the Crows as they came toward them. Run!
Jace glanced back at the Crows and Annalisa slammed the door shut, forcing the two men to slide to a stop.
The men gawked at the Crows as Jace walked over to stand in front of her sisters.
You stupid bitch! one of the men snarled. Why did you do that?
Just move! the other yelled. Its coming! Itll kill all of us!
The Crows stood their ground, gazing at the men coldly.
What the fuck? Whats wrong with you?
Annalisa pointed at the pit where the dead dogs were. Did you do that?
What are you? One of those crazy animal-rescue people? Is that thing in there yours? he demanded, pointing to the back of the warehouse.
Jace shook her head and said softly, You deserve whatever you get.
One of the men punched Jace inthe face to move her, but Jace had been hit before. A lot harder than this. Long before shed even been a Crow. The difference now, though, was that she knew how to fight back.
She grabbed the fist that hit her with both hands and twisted hard, snapping the bone at the wrist. The man screamed out in pain, and Jace punched him in the chest, sending him flying back several feet.
The other man raised his gun but Annalisa slammed her foot against his kneecap, crushing it. She yanked the gun out of his hand and tossed it across the room.
The first man suddenly began screaming, his body dragged back behind a stack of wood boxes. He begged for help but the Crows wouldnt be doing that.
The man at their feet started to drag himself toward the door. The Crows stepped back to let him get by, watching him silently.
A low, rolling growl radiated around them and Jace looked to see Brodie walking slowly toward them. The dog was studying them as she moved, waiting to see what they would do.
But the Crows wouldnt do anything but back her up. Thats what Crows did . . . for their sisters. Because thats what Skuld had done here. Shed made Brodie one of them.
Wings extended from Brodies furred back and her muzzle was covered in a thick, fitted slab of steel that stretched down and around the majority of her teeth, giving the animal metal fangs. A special gift from Skuld just like Jaces rage or Keras strength or Erins flame.
Jace remembered the pictures in Keras old apartment when they were moving her out. Pictures of Brodie. Not only had most of the poor dogs teeth been pulled by these bastards, but her muzzle had been so badly damaged that her gums had been visible even when her mouth was closed. Jace remembered thinking how amazing Kera was; shed done what a lot of people would not have been able to do. Shed not only approached and rescued Brodie, but shed kept her despite the way shed looked. Shed accepted her just as she was, which was a big deal in a city where style and glamour were of ber-importance.
But Kera hadnt cared about that. Shed cared about helping this dog. And when Skuld had brought Brodie back to be with Kera, shed made sure the dog could not only be by Keras side, shed be able to fight by Keras side. As a sister-Crow.
When none of the Crows stopped her, Brodie leaned down and sniffed the man on the floor. Panicked, he reached out and begged, Please. Help me.
Jace looked at her sisters and, as one, they all nodded. Jace looked back at the man and said with great finality . . . No.
As Erin had worked for the last three hours, her fellow artists would stop and watch her during their breaks. They didnt say anything, but Kera tried not to take that as a bad sign.