Page 39 of Capitol Matters

I raised a hand toward the gunman closest to me, but the shadowy restraints looped around my elbow and pulled it to my side with a jolting force that felt almost personal.

Holland appeared as a flash of color and substance rising before the Hex member. She knocked the gun loose, then threw a punch that staggered the man before she pooled into shadow once more.

His comrades turned their revolvers toward the floor, firing wildly at what looked like a stain in the carpet. They burned through six rounds each in a flurry of bullets, then discarded the empty guns with curses and complaints.

While the trigger-happy duo turned dizzying circles, shadows consumed them. With simultaneous grunts, they were pulled to the ground. Their cries for help prompted the others to abandon their bulging money sacks and join the fight.

The wave of force I slung across the floor bowled one over mid-charge. His comrade stopped moving as Holland rose before him. She held her own gun this time and used it to pistol-whip him across the face.

The shadow cocoon grew past my shoulder, drawing in my free arm till I was wrapped tightly together. The growing pressure on my chest and, moments later, my neck became concerning. Breaths came in short gasps, and my ribs ached. I could do little but watch as the Hex members able to flee started staggering toward the door.

Holland appeared once more, this time bent over the frightened civilians.

With her back turned, she didn’t see the villain reentering the scene. Avery, still wearing his gunslinger getup, nearly collided with the newbies on their way out.

“What’s taking so damn long?” he asked. When he spotted the investigator, he groaned. “You’re still alive?”

Holland jerked upright… and paused. Startle blanked her eyes like a deer on the highway while Avery’s hand cocked back. He could have drawn one of his guns, but this wasn’t part of the act. He’d been trained, too. Instinct had taken over.

He swung forward, and a conjured dagger spun through the air, end over end.

I swore and struggled but couldn’t break the hold of Holland’s shadow as it noosed around my throat. I didn’t need my hands to cast magic, but it helped, especially with breathlessness muddying my thoughts. Fixing my concentration, I managed to nudge the dagger off course. It whizzed past the investigator’s head and buried in the wall behind her.

The civilians shrieked. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then, I heard a gun fire.

Blood burst through Holland’s back, spraying red mist in the air.

My mouth fell open, stunned as if I’d been hit myself.

Avery holstered his pistol. “Can’t get good help these days,” he muttered.

He walked forward on a beeline to Holland. It hadn’t been a deadly shot, and he knew it. She was far too lively, scrambling to shield her precious hostages while pressing one hand to her injured shoulder.

I could breathe again, though it took a moment toregister with the air knocked out of me. The dark blanket that had bundled me wisped away, and I shoved onto my hands and knees.

The two Hex members who had burned through their ammo trying to shoot Holland’s shadow also stood straight, emboldened by Avery rejoining them. Even the couple who had dashed for the exit turned to resume the battle. No one wanted to look like a coward in front of their maniacal leader.

Eyes wide and heart pounding, I stood.

It would do no good to take Avery’s guns or the knife he now held above his shoulder,Psycho-style. He could make another. I would have to get his attention a different way.

“Avery,” I called over, my voice low and level.

His head tipped my direction, one brow cocked.

“I’ll kill them all,” I said.

The rookies stared and scowled, but Avery showed no malice.

“You’re bluffing.” His lips formed a sly smile.

I angled my gaze toward the men I’d downed. Rather, they downed each other with telekinetically directed head shots.

“I’m not,” I said.

He couldn’t see it, but all four rookies already had my mental hooks in them. Breaking spines was surprisingly easy. One slipped vertebrate could do a person in. Or paralyze them, which was still a win in my book.

The conjurer and I locked eyes until he broke into a grin. “Cold blooded, Farrow,” he said. “I like it.”

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