Page 27 of Fanning the Flames

“Is this better?” Derek said through a muted buzz.

Zee pointed to their ear. “We literally don’t know what you’re saying.”

With a huff, the Supervillain waved his hands. The green glow dissipated around him, as did the humming. “Can you hear me now?”

“Yes,” Flight bellowed from above.

“Jesus.” Derek struck a haughty pose. “As I was saying, I am Ether, and I control your atmosphere now.”

A slinky figure in deep purple leapt from a tree. Oh, fuck. Not her.

She sprang onto the metal fence behind home plate, climbing to the top with her freakishly strong nails. Perching on all fours, she said, “I’ve always wanted to take down a city. Get ready for Prowl.”

Sadie clutched Joan’s arm. “That’s another Oceanview Villain.”

“Yeah,” Joan said, only she knew her as Ricki. Which was not her real name, but hell if anyone knew her real name.

A tall, reedy man in yellow with a too-confident swagger walked out from the grouping of trees. Oh shit oh shit oh shit.

“Cover your ears,” Joan rushed out.

“What?” Sadie looked around in confusion.

“Cover your ears.”

Squawk let out a shrieking wail. It was so forceful, it brought everyone surrounding the park to their knees. Several car windows shattered.

This asshole was from Destine. What the hell was a Destine Villain doing with two Oceanview Villains?

Squawk introduced himself, but nobody could hear him through the ringing in their ears. What the fuck was going on?

Joan knelt beside Sadie to wrap an arm around her. “Are you okay?”

Sadie gripped Joan’s jacket as several people scampered past. They helped one another stand, keeping eyes on Squawk to see if he’d do that again.

Derek gestured at the newest Villain. “That’s a taste of what to expect. Your city is ours for the taking.”

“Not with us here,” Flight said, swooping down on him.

Ricki jumped off the fence and tackled him to the baseball diamond. Squawk directed a shrill burst at Zee that knocked them back.

Fire crackled from Joan’s fingertips. She stepped into a fighting stance, itching for action.

“Joanie.” Sadie blocked her with her forearm. “You’re sparking. Someone might see.”

Damn it.She shook her hands to blow out the sparks.

Derek raised his hands high, then brought them down. A torrent of heavy rain struck with solid force.

People shouted and ran for cover. Sadie gasped, “My ramen!” and scooped the disintegrating paper bag off the sidewalk.

Ricki sprang onto a sturdy tree branch. “We own you, Vector City!” she declared, her diabolical laugh echoing through the rain.

It was hard to see, which was exactly Ether’s strategy. Adrenaline-laced fire pulsed through Joan’s veins, her fight-or-flight instinct firmly set to fight.

Squawk released another piercing cry.Motherfucker, that hurt. She huddled with Sadie to ride out the waves of ringing.

“There’s Catch!” a woman to her right said. “And Lunk!”

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