“I sense it, too,” Superior Charles says. He narrows his eyes, focusing on the horizon behind Derek. “Shit,” he hisses through his teeth.
A large, shadowy cloud appears behind Derek. People dressed in black outfits start to emerge from the anomaly. When the cloud disappears, at least 30 people are standing behind Derek. Victor recognizes two witches who attacked him during Amber’s birthday dinner.
Derek tilts his head, cracking his neck. “Either you come with us willingly, Victor Russo . . . “ Derek pauses for dramatic effect. “. . . or you die today.”
Victor straightens his posture and puts his fists on his sides. “I’m not going anywhere today. Wren, take my friends to a safe location,” Victor orders while keeping eye contact with Derek.
As Wren gathers Victor’s mundane friends and scurries away, a giant wall of fire bursts out of the ground, blocking the road to exit and shooting one of the SUVs into the air. Everyone but Victor reacts. Victor does not want to give Derek the satisfaction of a sneak attack if he looks away.
Derek smirks vindictively. “Guess that means everyone dies today.” He points to Victor, and everyone behind him starts running and shouting a battle cry.
Wren looks around and finds a good spot to hide Amber, Lupe, Elliott, and Frank. “This way, into the forest!”
Everyone else steps forward, standing side by side with Victor in the middle. “Wait for it,” Victor commands.
The enemy gets closer. “Wait for it.”
The enemy is about 50 feet away. Victor’s eyes turn red. He pushes his palms forward, causing lava to shoot out of the ground, and directs it toward the rushing enemy. Three areengulfed in the lava before five witches use Water Magic to hold it back. Eddie takes the opportunity to lift the ground under them, causing them to fly backward.
Eight hostiles, holding daggers, jump over everyone with their Air Magic. Superior Eugene holds up his walking cane. Using his Light Magic, the mother-of-pearl orb shines brightly. The enemy is blinded and falls to the ground.
Akisha and Leo conjure flames from their palms, at least 20 feet long, trying to keep the enemy back. One of the warlocks flings his arms up, sending a gust of wind from the ground, sending Victor and others soaring backward.
Wren takes Victor’s mundane friends to a secure area in the forest. She quickly starts drawing wards on the trees around them. As she steps out, she presses her hand on one of the trees and whispers a chant. The wards glow in bright blue when the chant is complete.
“You’ll be safe as long as you remain within these wards,” Wren explains. “Do not, by any means, leave this area.”
“How is this going to keep us safe?” Elliott asks as he walks up to Wren.
“Nothing and no one can enter this area without my permission,” Wren clarifies.
“DUCK!” Lupe screams.
Wren ducks down as a fireball flies over her head, crashing into the barrier. She flings a large tree branch, smashing it into the witch’s head, killing her instantly.
Wren turns around and tugs firmly on her blazer while letting out a huff. “See. Nothing and no one can enter without my permission.” She points her finger at everyone and orders, “Do not leave this area.” Wren spins around and runs back into the battle.
Victor and the others try to get back onto their feet as the enemy rushes toward them. Victor starts fighting off two warlocks that try to get the jump on him while he’s down. One swings his dagger at Victor, but Victor blocks the attack and kicks him back. He hits the second warlock’s nose with his palm, blasting a fireball in his face, setting his face on fire. The warlock stumbles back, screaming in agony.
Madame Jeanette kneels and digs her hands into the ground. She begins to chant in Haitian Creole. The ground starts shaking and breaking apart; a green glow emanates through the cracks. Decrepit hands start emerging from the earth. As they claw their way through the cracks, the bodies of the dead island natives look at the enemy in black.
Madame Jeanette raises her purple glowing hands. She shouts to the dead in her Haitian dialect,“Attack the ones dressed in black! Protect the young empath warlock!”
The necromancers try to gain control of the dead. Madame Jeanette’s power is stronger.Several foes try to fight off the deceased but are outnumbered and torn apart.
After Victor fights off two more witches, he looks at Derek, who hasn’t engaged in the battle. As Victor tries to focus on Derek, a warlock rushes at him with a sword.
Victor dodges the attack. “Oh, you wanna fuck around like that, huh?” Victor throws off his jacket and pulls out his sword from its sheath. Victor’s sword is smaller than the warlock’s.
The warlock cocks an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty small sword for being black.”
“Is that supposed to be a euphemism?” Victor says snarkily.
The sword-wielding warlock charges at Victor, swinging violently. Victor blocks all of the attacks with ease. Victor can tell that his sword was meant for him. He can feel the power and draws from it. Victor counterattacks effortlessly as the warlock starts launching fire attacks, slicing the fireballs into pieces.
A witch with a couple larger daggers tries to catch Victor off guard. She swishes her blades around, trying to take a slice from Victor. Victor now has two enemies with weapons trying to skin him alive. He blocks their moves while fighting them off, throwing some trick shots with his Air and Fire Magic.
When the witch falls back from a fireball, Victor turns his attention to the warlock. As Victor fights off his enemy’s attacks, the witch tries rushing from behind. Without looking, Victor flings his elbow back, connecting to the witch’s nose. A dagger goes flying out of her hand. In a seamless motion, Victor catches the blade and hurls it right between the warlock’s eyes.
