The Embattled: The Hybrids, #4

By C.C. Sommerly

We will get control of the earth again because failure is not an option. 

 

Demons have completely overrun earth. They are culling humans, burning down cities and making it literally Hell on earth. Teagan and the hybrids struggle to save as much of the human race, while waging a war against the demons. 

 

As if that isn't enough, a new enemy enters the scene. What makes a demon scared? You never want to find out. Humans are about to discover that there are worst things lurking in Hell than demons. When the demons escaped so did the Nameless. 

 

With the arrival of this new enemy, demons and humans enter into an unlikely and temporary truce to battle this foe. Even their combined power and strength might not be enough to defeat this terror.

 

If they can't drive back the Nameless, it will be annihilation of demons, humans and anything living in earth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.C. Sommerly
• Release date: Jun 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393351900

C.C. Sommerly

CC has been known to trip on a perfectly smooth surface, burn herself when cooking and has an unhealthy attachment to coffee. As with her everyday life, she likes to bring a sense of unexpected to her stories, blurring the lines between good and evil with genre bending fiction. CC is a Marine veteran, who was born and raised in Redding, California. Currently, she lives in Virginia with her kids, cats and a crazy Doberman. When CC isn't writing, she can be found doing photography, reading, being outdoors or enjoying water sports.

Book preview

1

Silence is such a heavy thing, especially when it’s caused by an unexpected shock. The broken fae woman, with the drooping shoulders and haunted eyes, stood in front of us with her half demon, half fae baby. Even the media representatives were stunned into silence.

The half-fae, half-demon baby was silent – much too quiet for such a young thing. I was staring and it was rude, but I couldn’t force my gaze away from him.

The baby’s eyes held mine. There was a heaviness and intensity to his gaze that no normal baby had. Such agelessness to such a young thing. Was his behavior because he had experienced so much horror in his short life that nothing else disturbed him? A shudder ran through me at the thought.

Feeling unusually uncomfortable, I broke away from the baby’s stare to gauge his mother’s reaction. Despite the baby’s fearless gaze, his mother avoided eye contact with any of us. Her legs trembled and her lower lip was clenched in between her teeth. When I suspected she would collapse under stress, she suddenly broke out of her frozen state and fled from our group. She brushed past me with her head down. Her shame and fear were so acute that I felt like they were my own emotions.

It was moments like this where I felt the anger flooding through me until all I saw was red. I was mad at the demons, the angels, and God.

How had this been allowed to happen?

So many people had and continued to suffer at the hands of the demons. It sickened me and I wanted them all to pay in the most painful way.

A phone rang near where a corporal stood off to the side of the group. Then another phone rang and another. Soon, dozens of phones were ringing. The media reps squirmed in their seats, uneasy to be without access to their ringing phones and missing the calls.

Can I answer that? asked a man, who was poised half way out of his seat. My boss only calls in case of an emergency.

I’ll answer it, said Deidra, who marched over to the man holding the bag of confiscated cell phones. Without looking, she pulled out a ringing cell phone.

How do you know which one is mine? asked the man.

She gave him a death glare. I don’t care if it’s yours or not. Chances are they are all calling about the same darn thing.

Into the phone, she barked What do you want? No, I don’t care that you need to talk with Michael Masters. What you want is irrelevant. Forget I even asked.

She got quiet and listened to whatever the speaker was saying. Her expression shifted into the briefest flash of fear and possibly concern. She angled her face away from us, hiding her reaction from the media, but I saw enough to be worried.

You’re certain? she asked with a slight waver in her voice. I’m sure no one else noticed it. If I didn’t know her, then I wouldn’t have noticed it either. Thank you. I’ll return the phone to its owner when it’s safe to do so. Don’t call back.

Deidra dropped the phone into the bag and went back to the General. After some whispering between the two, the General stepped up to the front and cleared his throat.

It appears that we have a situation folks. And, since your phones haven’t stopped ringing, it’s apparent that your news stations are eager to get you back. So, we won’t keep you any longer, he said.

What exactly is the situation? asked a female reporter.

There are riots in the streets in cities throughout the country. The rebellion has started without us it appears, he said.

I demand to be returned to my station! shouted a man.

Pushing and shoving ensued as the media reps tried to get out of their seats at the same time and several rushed towards the man holding the bag of phones.

I kept my hand on Slánaitheoir. I really didn’t want to fight our own people, but scared people tended to panic. Hearing news of the riots and being essentially trapped here without communication or transport except for what we controlled was dangerous. We could very well have a mob on our hands shortly.

Wait, before everyone panics, I’ve arranged for your immediate departure. We will return your phones once you’re a safe distance from this location, said the General. As for the base residents, we will coordinate efforts and advise you once a plan is devised.

The General and Deidra oversaw the departure of the media, who hadn’t stopped talking amongst themselves. This was the kind of news story that made careers. What was more juicy than discovering demons really were monsters and there was a different type of supernatural being? But with the riots, I wondered whether the news of this might get a bit buried.

While the media were hustled away, I stayed back, watching a surprisingly calm withdrawal considering the chaos from moments ago.

Our residents stood watching the scene – hopefully they had the sense to look away once the helicopters took to the air. When the helicopters took off, they would spray gravel and sand across the area and no one wanted a facial scrub al la helicopter. Most Marines learned fast to either cover their faces or turn away from a departing helio.

My thoughts kept going not to the rebellion, but to that baby. I couldn’t get the haunting image of the mixed demon baby out of my mind. The demons were yet another example of people who thought nothing of experimenting on babies. Would the babies and children end up like the hybrids – dying from the moment they were born? And now that the fae were free, how did that impact our world?

There was so much unknown at this point. Humanity and the fae’s losses were so high. The blood of many more will spill before we took back the Earth from the demons. Without support from our allies, the rebellion would be quickly squashed, but our citizens rising up gave me hope. We weren’t beat and I was hopeful that we would see our independence.

The impact of the demons would last for generations and more likely centuries. It made me sad, but I pushed that feeling away. There was no place for weakness in war and I needed to keep that in mind. My only focus needed to be getting rid of the demons. And I was more than ready to take our world back from their clutches. They had terrorized our people and that would stop, I’d make sure of it. The sooner that we drove the demons out, the sooner people could heal.

I sensed someone approaching.

You’re quiet, said Chester.

I faced him and forced my eyes to his. Instead of seeing the man who saved my life, I saw an ageless stranger staring back at me. He wasn’t the same Chester. Seeing him as a stunningly beautiful fae instead of his human disguise gave me pause. It made me wonder how well I really knew anyone or anything. I was wrong about Deidra D’Minico and Axel – both had shown themselves to be capable of changing from bad people to heroes.

Chester cautiously placed a hand on my shoulder and I let him. My feelings about him were complicated and nothing I wanted to sort out at the moment.

What is there to say? This is a time for planning and action, not a social hour, I said and almost winched at how harsh I sounded.

No one thinks it is time for socializing. We need to collect ourselves and come up with a plan, as you just mentioned, he said. Besides, telling the media was critical. We all knew that this step needed to happen.

I did know, so why am I feeling so angsty and out of sorts?

Do you think people can accept the fae and the fae/demon mixed babies and children? I asked. The question wasn’t what I planned on saying, but it was a worry of mine.

It’s hard to know and you’re getting ahead of yourself. Let’s first get control of Earth.

Chester walked me back to the building and to a waiting Gunny Mack, who stood next to the entrance. We stopped a couple of feet from Gunny – close enough to touch. I felt oddly shy. Neither of us made a move, while Chester watched.

My Gunny was as tough as they came and I found tears welling up in my eyes, but I brutally suppressed them. I didn’t have the luxury of emotions. I’d already wallowed in them enough over the past few minutes.

Gunny lunged for me and wrapped his arms around me in a desperate hug that was more of a maternal crushing than a casual show of affection. I stiffened in shock, but didn’t pull away. Before things went to hell, Gunny’s pride would have prevented him from showing even the smallest amount of emotion because Marines viewed such thing as weakness. This was just another change, but not all change is bad.

I never thought to see you again, Marine. And you came back for us. You never gave up.

He let me go and if I thought I was emotional before, that didn’t have anything on what was going on inside of me now after that hug and what he said. I took a few settling breaths and Gunny stayed quiet, giving me time to compose myself.

Once a Marine, always a Marine. You know that Gunny. And you never leave a Marine behind. I’ll always come for you and the others. Nothing can stop me from finding my way to you all.

It was Gunny’s turn to get misty-eyed. He straightened up and smacked me affectionately on the back.

We got more work to do and people to fix up before we can kick some demon butts. And, if you ever mention this emotional lapse, I’ll deny it to my dying days. I’ll be seeing you around Teagan, said Gunny.

Chester was respectfully quiet. I almost forgot he was there. Thankfully, he didn’t remark on my emotional reunion with Gunny. Whether his response was because of years spent practicing composure as a lawyer or some fae thing, I didn’t really know, but I appreciated it.

Chester, there’s something I need to do. How soon until the debrief? I asked.

It may be awhile yet. Why?

Just have them get me when I’m needed. I’ll be in the lab, I said.

Seeing the squad? he asked.

Yes.

In that case, don’t let me stop you.

And with that, I rushed off.

Mid-way to the lab, Axel waved me down. Internally I groaned.

Have you seen your squad mates? he asked.

Between healing dying hybrids and the media briefing, I haven’t been able to see them, I said.

Guess we’ll be going together. I still haven’t seen my squad mates either.

Axel and I made quick work of the distance to the lab and makeshift sick ward. He matched my hurried pace and seemed as keen as I was to get to his squad mates.

I reached for the lab’s door and was zapped back by an unseen force. I picked myself off the ground, feeling more embarrassed than hurt.

The fae aren’t playing around, said Axel.

No, they aren’t. Who authorized a magical block on the lab? I asked.

Probably Chester or the General? Who else could authorize it?

I was distracted by the door, which was now shimmering with a luminescent white glow.

If it zaps me again, I’m going to ice it, I thought.

My reunion with my squad mates had been delayed long enough. I wasn’t letting some magically enhanced door keep me from them.

I started working up my ice power, but stopped when I saw that the outer door was now transparent. A fae stood on the other side of the door. She was frowning at us.

Why are you here? she asked, while making no move to open the door.

Seeing how we’re not sick or injured, the only logical conclusion is that we’re here to visit someone, I said.

I’m afraid that it isn’t possible. I’m already taking too much time away from my patients to talk to you two.

There’s an easy solution. Let us in and you can get back to healing, I said.

I know you were one of the ones that rescued us from Hell. And I wish that I could let you in, but I cannot. It’s the General’s orders. You’ll have to take it up with him, she said.

That’s total –

Axel grabbed my arm, stopping me from what I wanted to say. We could probably take the fae. Magic was only so good and the two of us had strong powers that could let us get past her. He held tightly to my arm, while positioning himself between the healer and me.

Pushing her won’t get you anywhere. We can talk with the General, he said to me.

Axel practically dragged me away from the lab and for some reason, I let him. When had Axel become the voice of reason? And when had I started getting confrontational so quickly. I was just shy of tackling the healer just so I could get to my squad mates.

On our way to see the General, something furry ran across the path in front of us. It was followed by several screaming fae. I halted and watched the escapee. Now that I saw what had passed me, I knew it was only a matter of time before they caught it. Evidently, some of the fae children were shifters.

The presence of children would definitely liven up the place and they would be protected from the demons here. And that led to a whole new train of thought. What were people away from here doing to protect their children?

The parts of the world where demons had taken over had high human casualties and the lucky ones were prisoners. The world was in a bad way when the imprisoned were considered the lucky ones.

2

As much as I wanted to see my squad mates, something else needed to be addressed. There were gaps in our planning. If our troops were in hiding, how could we protect civilians, especially children? I wasn’t waiting for a debrief to talk with the General. This was too important. I was so short-sided by focusing on freeing the Super Soldiers, hybrids, and others from the prison that I forgot about those that needed our protection the most.

Teagan, I saw that look. Whatever you are thinking, don’t, warned Axel.

You aren’t my boss, so there’s nothing you can do. Stay behind or come with me.

He grumbled, but I couldn’t make out what he said. Axel followed me towards the part of the base that housed office space.

I passed a soldier and grabbed him.

Where’s the General? I asked.

He’s in the main office, just down from the dining hall and before the entrance, said the soldier, who then ran off like a demon was hot on his heels.

Making friends everywhere, I see, said Axel.

I can’t be that bad if you’re still here with me.

We stopped outside of the General’s office. A harried man rushed out and nearly mowed the two of us down. Once he was gone, we stepped into the office and into a buzzing hive of activity. Screens were lit up and Angus was in the corner, clicking away at a computer.

The General sat behind a desk that was barely large enough for his computer. Fae, humans, and hybrids bustled around carrying papers.

The General looked up at our arrival. And I thought I’d need to send for you Teagan. Should have known our blood thirsty dragon was ready for action, he said.

That’s not why I’m here.

Well, it’s early for the debrief and rebellion planning, he said, so, I suspect you need something?

Permission to see my squad mates.

Ah, Raciline, banned you from the lab, did she?

Yes, but I haven’t seen them in over a year and I’d like to.

Commendable, but premature. The people we rescued are in bad shape. You saw that from the hybrids and Super Soldiers you helped cure. Let them rest. You’ll get your chance to meet with them when they are healthy enough.

I wanted to argue, but instead I bit my tongue and counted to ten in my head.

Very well. Has there been any word about Ginger?

I’m afraid not. Angus is working on getting some intel.

How can I be of assistance? I asked.

You will be liaising with Deidra’s people and working on how we can pull in the resistance military members. Now that civilians have taken matters into their own hands, I need a liaison officer and you’re it.

I don’t do diplomatic and am the worst person for this. Is this really what you want me to do?

Axel snickered.

And Axel will be working with you.

That stopped Axel’s laughing.

Not so funny now, is it buddy?

I’m even less diplomatic than Teagan and just as much of a fighter. How am I supposed to support you? asked Axel.

I need people I can trust, who can defend themselves and employ the stealth required to reach out to the hidden military.

There was no argument against what he said. And, it would keep me busy.

Very well. When do we leave and where are we going? I asked.

Angus will give you the details. I need to get back to the planning.

Someone cleared their throat and I saw Craven behind us.

I’ll be right with you, said the General to the fae.

Glad to see someone remembered basic manners, snipped Craven, who swept past us, pushing Axel and me back.

Some things didn’t change. Craven was even more of a jerk than before and still one of my least favorite people. Too bad he was so useful in a fight. His strength as an ally made it hard to hate him. Great fighters were in short supply these days.

Angus waved us over and held out a scrap of paper, "Memorize these and destroy