“You know what I mean.”
He chuckled. “We have fifteen contracts to go. Imagine that. Fifteen.” He whipped around while laughing, forcing me to hold on to him tighter. He moved faster and faster until everything blurred except his eyes, which flashed with merriment. “Then I’ll be free. Free to do anything, to give you whatever you want.”
His laughter was contagious. I flung my arms out as he continued to spin and screamed with glee.
Then something blocked the sun. Probably his wings, was my first thoughts, but then a chill crawled up my spine like icicles grazing heated skin. Bran must have felt it too, because he stopped, turned, and looked around.
The crackling-cloud demon moved leisurely toward us, looking bigger and more ominous in the day than against any night sky. The edges swelled like a thousand, fat worms, the core so bright the sun paled in comparison.
My stomach sank and my heart started beating fast. For a week, I’d dreaded this moment. Dreaded and felt ashamed, because as a Cardinal I wasn’t supposed to be scared of demons. I reached for my dagger then realized I still wore my swimsuit. I had left the Kris Dagger behind in my bag.
- 3 -
THE VOICE
Lightning shot from the cloud’s core and speared through the air, speeding toward the ocean. Another plume appeared beside it as though spat by the air. They drifted apart, darting around like scavengers searching for food or…victims.
“They’re acting like hunters,” I whispered.
“Yeah. The question is, what are they after?”
“Us.”
“Or the portal. The one in Myrtle Beach didn’t fight back. It must have a different agenda.”
Nothing could penetrate the glamour and the shield the Circle of Twelve placed around the islands, but when it came to these demons, nothing we knew mattered. Below us, the Guardians looked tiny and defenseless. “We must warn the others.”
“Yeah. Go.” Bran squinted at me. “I need to study them, see if I can find a weakness. Tell Remy the students should head to the portal. Teleporting back to the valley will only leave telegates.”
I frowned. “Are you sure about staying up here?”
“We are still inside the glamoured and protected zone.”
Bran liked to take chances, which could be a problem when we were dealing with these particular demons. “Don’t cross the boundaries or let them sense you.”
He chuckled. “Aye, aye, captain.”
“I’m serious, Bran.”
“I know.” He stopped smirking, nudged me forward, and added, “Ride the wave until you can see a safe landing spot.”
I didn’t know what he meant, until something cold and wet lapped my feet, and I looked down. A gush of water snaked from the ocean surface like the tongue of a lizard. The top hardened into an iceberg surfboard. Having a boyfriend with water abilities, who also knew I was clumsy when I teleported, had its perks.
“Thanks.” I let go of him and steadied myself on the icy board, knees slightly bent. I loved to surf. “Don’t stay up here too long.”
“I’m right behind you.”
The bite of the wind on my skin was brief and quickly forgotten. My mind was on the demons and how they’d found us. Even Coronis had never known about Pearls Island.
Closer to the ground, I found an empty spot on the beach and teleported. Brushing sand off my hands, I looked around. Everyone’s attention was on the demons, including my team of Cardinals and the Security Guardians, who already held their weapons.
Remy? I telepathed.
He waved me over.
The students need to head to the portal and Xenith. I ran toward my tote bag.
Why? he called back.
Going to the valley will leave telegates. Bran said the portal is secure. I grabbed my dagger, motioned the students closest to me and pointed toward the forest. Go!
The other Cardinals echoed my orders. Students took off at a run. We were trained to stay calm under pressure, which inspired confidence in others, but a demonic attack wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Especially not when we had about fifty students and teachers with us.
Led by the Security Guardians, they disappeared into the forest where the portal was located. Some paused to glance at the angry, lightning-spitting demons before they disappeared inside the shadowy woods. They were first-year students, sixteen-year olds with new powers who had never met a demon, and probably wouldn’t since most of them weren’t powerful enough to become Cardinal Guardians.
I strapped on my dagger and joined the others.
“How can he stay up there when we don’t know what those demons are capable of?” Izzy asked in disbelief.
“Because he can,” Sykes said in an envious whisper. “I could kill for wings right now.”
“I’m right behind you,” Bran had said. I should have known. My gaze shifted from him to the large masses moving across the sky, looking more like a volcanic plume wrapped in lightning. One changed directions and appeared to head straight for our island.
“They’ve located us,” Izzy whispered.
“No, they haven’t,” Remy said. “The shield is holding.”
From the corner of my eyes, I caught Sykes’ fingers flex. Two alpha energy orbs materialized above his palm, the blue core coiling with energy. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to kick ass,” Sykes said with a smirk. “I don’t care what books say about the shield around here. Do they mention nature-benders? The Specials? Fire demons up there? I. Don’t. Think. So.”
Bran was flying higher and getting too close to one of the demons. My hand tightened around my dagger, as I seriously started to question his sanity.
Get down, I yelled just as the demon released a lightning bolt. My heart nearly stopped as I watched the bolt zip through the air not too far from Bran and hit the water. Thankfully it was outside the shield. Then Bran disappeared and rematerialized beside us without losing his balance, despite the massive wings.
“Did you learn anything, Llyr?” Remy asked.
Bran nodded. “There’s a something inside the cloud. The cloud and the lightning are just covers.”
“The cowards. I say let’s just nuke them,” Sykes said, bouncing the alpha energy balls as he would basketballs. Kim was ready too, stance wide, hands open and extended. The air above her palms churned so fast it distorted the images seen through it.
“If we do it from here, we’ll give away the location of the island and the portal,” Remy said.
“So let’s use maneuvers 24a followed by 35d from Battle Strategies II,” Bran said.
Remy scowled, then nodded. “It might just work.”
“Whoa, slow down,” Sykes interrupted. “What in Tartarus are 24a and 35d?”
“Create a decoy and lure away from target then attack,” Izzy said absentmindedly while adjusting the arrows on her crossbow. “Seriously, do you ever read Battle Strategies?”
“No, Miss Judgmental.” Sykes made a face. “I believe in learning from experience.” He glared at Bran. “Next time just say ‘the move we pulled in the Bayou’. So how are we going to do this? We’re in the middle of the freakin’ ocean.”
“I’ll create islands of icebergs,” Bran said.
“I’ll cover them with rocks and sand for traction,” Remy added.
“And I’ll move them around and create confusion, so the demons won’t pinpoint our exact location,” Kim threw over her shoulder. Her wind tunnel had picked up moisture from the air and was now visible.