Page 94 of Rising

We turned the corner, my eyes narrowing in on the building ahead. We’d taken our assessment there. Finley’s insecurity had left room for a weakness to be exposed. She’d been so set on latching onto Alexiares that she’d failed to notice me scoping out the rooms, moving a step too slowly, pretending their display made me uncomfortable.

It did, but it’d also played to my advantage. Our weapons were in there, a pile that had been sorted through and left out to rust. Who needed basic weapons when you had a mad scientist with gas that could not only take you out but also produce invisible shields?

At least one of the two had appeared to be left behind as she’d rushed from her meeting to corner us. Catch us in the act.

“Here!” I yelled, my friends in tow.

Throwing the door open, the dice the guards had tossed onto the counter rolled and then exploded. The tiny shards of resin shot into their necks as they gasped for breath, blood pouring into their lungs. Moe hopped over them, teeth shimmering as she reached for Wrath. Reina cheered as she found her bow and arrow as Seth opened up a bag tossing whatever was on the counter inside. We didn’t have much time, could only grab what was in our faces before turning to run.

Ducking for cover, my hands fired off small flames, Alexiares’ defensive magic at my side. He’d caught up in time, our steps now in sync, following after Seth who’d headed towards the river.

Reina’s water magic sputtered in her hands, the seventy-two hours coming to an end, but the effects still held her back, not completely out of her system. I scanned the horizon frantically for a boat, a piece of wood, anything, but we were trapped.

“You guys have to swim across,” I said, eyeing the distance between me and the water, then back at the soldiers cresting over the hill down towards us.

“We could die in that current, not to mention the temperature.” Moe reasoned, the water rushing loudly, forcing us into a shout.

Small bursts of Reina’s magic shot past my head. They barely had power left. Exhausted from the little back and forth in the streets.

I’d only begun to touch the surface of mine. “It’s our only shot. You need to go now. I’ll hold them off.”

“No! We aren’t leaving you here to die alone.” Reina protested.

“Seth,” I commanded, motioning him to move towards his sister. He studied me for a moment before nodding, accepting his new mission.

He pulled Reina and Moe back, his preternatural strength kicking back in. Reina’s blue eyes resembled the storm of her brothers challenging me. She wouldn’t be leaving me.

“She’s not alone,” Alexiares said, walking over to grip her face, trying to calm her. “Go, please. She won’t be able to focus with you here. I won’t be able to focus. Is that what you want?” She shook her head no before he added, “You need to channel your magic right now. Focus. Drag it to the surface. Dig deep.”

My focus faded as I watched them, admiring his ability to provide guidance and support in an area he had yet to control himself.

The water behind us slowed, then sped back up as she let out a grunt, struggling. “There you go, you can feel that. It’s hard to control, but I know you can do it. Now please, go with your brother, get to the other side, and keep running. We’ll be over before you know it.”

Seth glared at him, business unfinished from the time in the basement, but nodded in appreciation before guiding them to the water. Alexiares moved to my side, our eyes locking, our hands lined with flames.

My gaze fell to his lips, catching them curve into a mischievous smile. A reflection of my own as we pushed our fire into the world, bouncing off the shield of the soldiers now less than half a football field away. It bent, unable to truly contain the force of our power. Understanding washed over me.

That shield could break.

I threw up a wall of fire, covering our exact location, forcing them to aim blindly.

“This won’t hold them for long. We need a Plan B.”

“Ya think?” he exclaimed, tackling me to the ground to avoid the now wild array of bullets.

Finley yelled, indistinguishable over the wall of flames. Stealing at glance over my shoulder, I searched out into the river, my friends just now making it to the other side. Reina’s magic propelling them faster than any of them could swim.

I pressed my fingers into the ground. “Okay, Plan B.”

He looked at me, face pale from the use of his magic and contorted with confusion.

“Dig deep like you said. Throw everything we can at those shields until they shatter.”

His mouth opened, then closed, coming up with no better idea.

“You’re insane.”

I smirked. “Not the first time I’ve heard that.”

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