She was dressed in jeans, a tee shirt and running shoes, but she was probably just as comfortable in high heels and a tight skirt.
“Did you come to give us lessons?” Jake asked with an edge to his voice.
“Not likely.”
Kira raised her hand and a bolt of lightning shot toward them, landing on the metal surface of the steps directly in front of their feet.
Jake and Rachel were already pressed against the wall of the office in back of them. The connection between them had been at its strongest. It weakened when they jumped apart.
Jake cursed, scrabbling for Rachel’s mind, struggling to tell her what he wanted. But she was on his wavelength. She leaped back toward him and reached for his hand, grabbingon to him as he strove to find new resources inside himself. Imitating what the other couple had done, he sent a bolt of energy back toward the floor where the man and woman stood. It fell far short. And it was much less powerful than what the people below had conjured up.
Kira laughed. “Is that the best you can do?”
“Why are you doing this?” Rachel shouted.
“Because we’re the only ones who can have this power.”
“How are we hurting you?” Rachel asked.
“By your existence.”
As they talked, Jake tried to summon an attack with more power. Before he could do it, another bolt shot up at them. It hit Jake’s leg, and he felt his muscles spasm, sending searing pain shooting through the limb.
Fighting the agony, he reached for the gun in his waistband, but when his fingers closed around the metal, it turned scorching hot. He made a low sound as he dropped the weapon. It clattered to the balcony surface, then over the edge and onto the floor below.
Mickey ran to scoop it up, but Kira restrained him with a hand on his shoulder.
The little scene below had given Jake and Rachel a few moments to get away.
Head for the back exit, Jake shouted inside her mind.Go left.
Rachel started running, but she stopped when she saw he could hardly walk on the wounded leg, much less run.
You’re hurt.
Go on.
No.
She grabbed his hand, pulling him along. Another bolt hit him, and he doubled over, fighting unconsciousness. But he would not pass out. If he did, they were done for.
Fumbling in his pocket, he brought out the remote controlthat he’d taken from the drawer, and began pushing buttons. Below them, the figures on some of the floats began to move. The king and queen raised and lowered their arms and turned their heads. The musical instruments began to play.
Mickey and Kira whirled, as the warehouse came to life around them.
“What the hell?” Mickey spat out.
It’s a trick. Focus on them.
She hadn’t spoken aloud, but Jake caught the words that Kira silently shouted.
She gave Jake an evil look and began blasting at the balcony again. A bolt hit Jake in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him, and he knew that he couldn’t take much more.
“Help me get my shirt off.”
Rachel didn’t ask why as she helped him tear the buttons open and pull his arms from the sleeves.
When it was off, he scrabbled at his pocket and pulled out the box of matches that he’d also taken from the drawer.
