Juliette’s eyes narrowed, her usual easy charm replaced by a sharp glare that made even Edmund pause. “My best friend is in there. I am not waiting behind.”
Edmund sighed, recognizing defeat. “Very well,” he said, his voice low, “but stay behind me.” Without another word, he led the way toward the back of the house, Andrew close behind and Juliette at his side.
They all paused at the back door. It hung open a crack, as if Isla’s captors had no fear of being interrupted.
Edmund put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence, and motioned for Andrew and Juliette to wait for the all clear.
A sob tore through the open door, and Andrew’s resolve snapped.Hang Edmund’s instructions. He lunged forward, opening the door fully before the detective could stop him, earning a low, disapproving growl from Edmund at his disobedience.
The kitchen was dimly lit. Two men stood with their backs to him, oblivious at first to the intrusion. One sipped a drink,laughing cruelly, while the other sent tiny lightning arcs dancing across a crystalline cocoon. A small gap revealed itself as the man’s light tauntingly illuminated the tiny space.
“This should get her talking in the morning,” one of them sneered.
Was Isla trapped inside that small mound of shiny rocks? It was barely bigger than her body. Rage boiled through Andrew and he positioned himself to the side of the two men. Before they noticed his presence, his fist shot forward, striking the nearest man in the jaw. It was a terrible hit, rather pathetic really; he had never punched someone before.
The man turned, eyes blazing with anger. Lightning crackled across his fingers, ready to strike. Before he could release it, Edmund shoved Andrew out of the way, and a sudden gust of wind burst from the detective’s palm, slamming his Aetherian opponent against the pantry cupboards.
The kitchen erupted into a chaotic ballet of elements—lightning arced, fire twisted and danced, shadows leapt, and shards of earth splintered under their assault.
Andrew sent a blast of ice toward the Terra Aetherian, aiming to encase him as he had encased Isla. The frozen shards climbed slowly up his body starting at his feet, but before it could fully engulf him, the Terra Summoner twisted his upper body, taking aim at Juliette. She was busy weaving shadows to blind their opponents.
Edmund jumped in front of her, taking the strike of a jagged rock in his shoulder. He grunted in pain as blood spilled, eyes narrowing, then lashed out with a bolt of lightning. The Terra slumped over, his body caught in a grim arc as the ice now gripped his waist, forcing him into a grotesque, bowed position. The sigh that escaped him was chilling, echoing through theroom like a haunted wind, momentarily reminding Edmund that it was Halloween.
As life left the man, Andrew saw Isla’s prison dissolve around her. Her cheek was cut, her clothing torn. He rushed to her.
“Isla!”
She sobbed as he knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms. He looked around, covering her body with his in case the other Aetherian tried to shoot lightning at her—however, it was Juliette who was in trouble. The Ventus had her, his hand around her throat, lightning crackling at his fingertips.
“Back off and she doesn’t need to get hurt.”
The coward was using her as a shield to get out.
Edmund radiated fury, his own hand aglow as he looked for a chance to strike. Juliette looked petrified, but he saw hints of determination in her eyes. Thick smoke crept silently from her hands as they trembled by her sides, unnoticed by her captor, who looked from Andrew to Edmund.
She directed the shadows around her back to the small space between her body and the man’s, where they hovered a moment before whooshing forcefully into the man’s groin area. From the grunt of pain, she had squarely struck the man’s crown jewels.
The Aetherian crumpled, gasping in pain. His eyes bulged, his knees buckled, and he folded to the ground with an involuntary wheeze that made Andrew wince in sympathy. No one who’d ever been on the receiving end of such a blow could fail to appreciate its efficiency.
Juliette’s expression, though pale, carried a flash of triumph. She darted away and Edmund pulled her behind him.
The blow to the man’s nether regions had clearly enraged him. His face twisted—half pain, half madness—and hestaggered upright, eyes wide and wild. With a hoarse cry, he raised both hands, summoning a storm.
The air changed first—pressure building so fast Andrew’s ears boomed. Then came the wind, tearing through the small country kitchen like a living beast. Curtains ripped from their hooks, old plates shattered from the walls, and soot and ash billowed from the hearth. The storm gathered with unnatural hunger.
Lightning arced across the low ceiling, searing lines of blue-white light against the cracked plaster. It leapt between copper pans, shattering glass, setting the old wooden table alight in bursts of orange flame.
Andrew threw himself over Isla’s body where she now lay face down as the wind howled around them. “I’ve got you,” he gasped, though he wasn’t sure that was going to be enough. He held her tighter, shielding her head with his body as the storm screamed. He felt her trembling beneath his chest.
He had no idea if he could truly protect her—but he would die trying. He worried that if he shot ice toward the man, it would ricochet back to him. The air throbbed with static. Andrew felt hair lifting on his arms.
Through the chaos he looked to Edmund, who stood his ground, coat whipping in the gale, face lit by flashes of violent light. Edmund’s jaw was hard with grim resolve. The Aetherian across the room was beyond reason now, caught in his own madness—power spiraling uncontrolled.
“Stop!” Edmund shouted, though the words were swallowed by the roar of wind. The man didn’t hear—didn’t want to. He screamed his fury into the storm, and the lightning obeyed, snapping out in wild, random bursts. One struck the wall near Isla and Andrew, shattering stone and showering themin dust. Pulling her closer, Andrew felt something hit his back, followed by the feel of warm blood trickling down his spine.
That was the last straw.
Edmund’s hand rose, steady despite the chaos. The glow around his friend’s hand brightened, pure white and sharp as a blade. His voice, low and calm, cut through the din.
