The man ceases up, then goes limp. Blake releases his left leg, thrusting his hip and dumping the man’s body off him. He takes a deep break, before rolling up onto his knees.
“Well done, Mr. Garcia,” Kyros says, extending a hand.
Ren looks down at the extended hand and rather than shaking it, he grabs hold of Kyros’s forearm and tugs him forward. He wraps his arms around Kyros’s waist, giving him a huge bear hug.
“That Vulcan ear pinch was epic,” Ren says, stepping back and patting Kyros on the shoulder.
Kyros stands up straighter, beaming. “Well, it wasn’t Vulcan, but—”
The guy groans on the floor. Ren squeals, kicking his foot upside the man’s head.
Again, lights out.
I push myself to a seated position, still clutching at my midsection. If I never have to do this sort of thing ever again, I’d be totally fine with it.
Blake gets up, making his way over to me, his dark eyes assessing everything. “Are you okay?”
I reach up, wiping at some blood dripping from his cheekbone. “I should be asking you that.”
He winces but shakes his head. “Eh, it’s just a scratch.”
I lower my eyebrows.
John walks in, blood tricking down his forehead and shirt ripped up. The moment Jonas and Miriam see him, Jonas stands up, rushing toward him.
Confusion and elation mix in John’s face as he wraps his arms around his son.
“What the—? How?” he asks, gripping Jonas tightly to his chest.
“It was him,” Jonas says, pointing his finger toward Apollo.
Apollo clasps his hands in front of his body, watching the scene unfold. I can feel his desire to move on from here—knowing his part in this has come to an end, but I haven’t yet released him from the circle.
“My powers are gone, but I got this in return,” he whispers, lifting his legs one at a time.
“That’s incredible,” John says, tears springing to his eyes. “I never thought—”
Miriam gets up, walking over to the two of them. She wraps her arms around them both, tears of joy streaming down her face. “I’m glad you’re both safe. I was so worried.”
“It was dicey there for a hot minute,” Ren says, pressing his fingertips to his chest. “Blake Wilson, don’t you dare put me in that sort of position again. Ever.”
Blake snickers, shaking his head. “And yet, you performed like a true professional.”
Ren’s eyebrows drop and he shoots him a look of annoyance. “Don’t try to kiss ass now, Buttercup. I about tossed my cookies several times and trust me, that would not be a good look for me.”
Kyros quirks a bushy white eyebrow. “Toss your cookies? I didn’t see you baking?”
Renaldo rolls his eyes.
Demetri chuckles under his breath, but stays beside Apollo, likely drawn to the god-energy still permeating the space.
Apollo continues to watch the scene, his hands folded patiently in front of his body.
Clearing my throat, I stand up and brush off my pants. “We should finish this. Apollo’s work here is done.”
Blake nods. “We need to get these assholes bound up. Ren, can you contact Detective Radish and get him over here?”
“Radovich,” Ren corrects.
A smirk graces Blake’s lips and he shoots me a glance. “Oh, right. What you said.”
I shake my head, walking over to where Demetri and Apollo stand. Part of me is almost sad to let Apollo go. Despite everything from before, there’s a place that’s opened in my chest, making room for the direct connection he and I once shared.
It’s almost like Kyros—I can sense what he wants, or feels. I probably can hear his thoughts in my head, too, if he chooses to use the connection in that way.
“Apollo,” I say as I reach them.
“Diana.” His green eyes sparkle with the same mischievous insight and wisdom as always.
“Wait—before he goes,” Demetri says, holding up a hand. “I need to know… how will I understand this gift? It seems like everything is so loud right now.”
“The patterns will begin to emerge. You’ll get a better idea of how it works over time,” Apollo offers with a nod.
“Plus, you have an expert you can turn to,” I say, shifting my gaze to Jonas.
That seems to appease Demetri, as a grin breaks across his face. “Good point.”
“Well, I think our work here is done. It’s time to release Apollo,” I say, taking a step forward to break the circle and release the god from this space.
“Wait—I think there’s someone…” Demetri begins, confusion written all over his face as his eyes go distant. He tilts his head to the side, as he tries to put to words whatever it is he sees from his new powers. “I don’t think this is good. I think she has—”
Without warning, a piercing squeal stabs its way through my brain, cutting off whatever it was Demetri was saying. Grasping at either side of my head, I almost lose consciousness from the pain. I don’t need to hear his words to know what’s happening.
Goddammit. Elira’s back.
23
Threats and Promises
“Take—” I sputter, trying to think, let alone form words, “her…out.”
Dropping to my knees, I do everything I can to focus through the cacophony. I can barely tell which way is up, as I try to extend my mind beyond the excruciating interference inside my head.
There’s a loud crash directly in front of me, and I can only hope it’s Blake and the others going after Elira. I wouldn’t know because I don’t dare open my eyes.
The pain doubles down, almost as if a dial is turned up. A scream bursts from my throat and for the first time in my very long life, I wish death was an option. A true, take-me-now, option.
Then, as quickly as it came, the sound cuts out and peaceful silence returns to my brain.
I bend forward, resting my forehead on the floor, gasping for breath and on the verge of hurling. For the longest time, I sit there, just riding the wave of nausea and hoping it passes.
Suddenly, Blake is by my side, his warm hand on my back and his words in my ear. “Are you okay, Diana?”
Releasing my head, I stand up to witness what must be the tail end of a god intervention. Apollo glows a bright, crystalline white that pulses with a kind of power I’ve never witnessed.
A few feet away, risen off the floor like a cross-less Christ, is the woman with the power to manipulate sound and take me out—Elira. Her arms are spread out wide and her back as stiff as a board. Black and blue strands of hair float around her head as if she’s been plunged into water. But what stands out most is the way her eyes are open wide, staring at nothing and everything. As the light fades around Apollo, Elira drops back to the ground. When her feet hit the floor, her legs give out, crumpling her frame into a heap.
Everyone in the room is speechless, staring at the scene with a mixture of surprise and horror.
Apollo turns to me, wiping his hands in front of him. “I believe that power should be retired. Don’t you?”
“A very good call,” Kyros says, nodding his approval.
“Is she—?” I begin.
“Dead?” He chuckles. “Oh, no. But I wager she’ll be mad as hell when she comes back online.”
“Well, it’s not like I’d be sad if her lights went out permanently. What the hell was that?” Ren squeaks.
“Sentinel knows a lot about the supernatural community. It feels like they’re small—but they have ways of understanding what makes us tick. Elira could control sound waves and she knew exactly what frequency to use on me,” I say, shaking away the remnants of the audio hangover.
“You understand now, why your role is so important,” Apollo says, giving me a knowing look.
“Diana, you haven’t formally introduced us,” Ren says, dropping his chin to his shoulder and batting his eyes. “Who is this tall, dark, and sexy man?”
“Mr. Garcia, this is the god Apollo,” Kyros says. “You might wish t
o hold him in more reverence.”
Ren practically sputters his next words. “He’s th—the god Apollo?” His mouth hangs open and it’s evident all wheels inside his head have ground to a halt.
Apollo laughs. “It’s quite alright, Kyros. I am very sexy, aren’t I?”
“And on that note…” I say, stepping forward. “Say goodbye to Apollo, everyone.”
Renaldo, eyes still wide, raises his hand and waves with his fingers.
“Thank you for your help, Apollo. You have my deepest gratitude,” I say, placing a hand on my heart. “I’m sorry I fought you so long.”
A grin blossoms on his face. “Diana, I wouldn’t have it any other way. You have always been the perfect fit.”
“I don’t know about that, but I’ll do my best,” I say.
He winks at me. “Pay attention to your gifts. You’ll need to be one step ahead of this and I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Nodding to myself I take the final step forward. I drop down to the circle and swipe my hand across the salt and chalk, creating an opening. Once the circle is broken, Apollo’s energy begins to swirl inside, until his likeness is swept away in it—vanishing into nothingness.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but if working with you means being around more of that—I’m so in,” Ren says, fanning himself.
I turn around, laughing under my breath. “And what about Brody?”
“Brody, schmody. That man was an absolute god.”
“Literally,” Blake says.
Everyone in the room laughs as relief replaces all the tension. We made it through the worst of it. Jonas is safe. Demetri has his new gift.
We’re all alive.
Life is good.
“Shit. It’s not over. There are three more coming. Damn, these guys are relentless,” Demetri says, tipping his ear to the ceiling like he’s a dog listening to a whistle.
“Can you figure out what they are?” I ask.
Demetri scratches the side of his temple, his eyes going distant. “Two men and one woman, I think. God, this gift is wiggy.” He shakes his head, narrowing his gaze. “If I’m reading this right, one of the guys can teleport or phase in and out of locations, so be careful. The woman can manipulate energy—I think she uses it as a form of energetic binding.”
“Like Wonder Woman’s Golden Lasso,” Jonas says, nodding. “Yeah, I remember feeling her presence. Watch out for her because she’s sneaky. I was scared to death she’d come and take me.”
My head whips around.
Oh, hell, no. No one is going to one-up Diana me.
Demetri runs a hand over his mouth, then sighs. “The other guy—he can move objects with his mind. Watch out for him. He tends to go for sharp objects.” He casts his gaze to the littering of glass shards on the floor. “They’re not far out.”
“We need to move this fight outside,” Blake says. “Ren and Kyros, take the Fletchers somewhere safe. Demetri, do you have a basement? Something without windows?”
Demetri nods. “Hell, I’ll do you one better. I have a bunker downstairs.”
I look over my shoulder at him, raising my eyebrows. “This is news.”
“When was the last time you came over here?” Demetri counters.
“Fair point.”
It’s probably been a good two years since I was here last and really dug into what Demetri’s been up to. But with his survivalist mentality, I’m not surprised at all that he’s been hard at work.
Blake tips his head. “Show them, then meet us outside. Diana, you’re with me. We’ll need your insights until Demetri’s back. Ren, Kyros—as much I find your style of fighting highly entertaining, stay with the Fletchers.”
Ren raises his arm in the air, like he was about to snap, but doesn’t. “You don’t have to tell me twice. Let’s get outta here, Socrates.” He grabs the back of Kyros’s t-shirt pushing him toward the door.
“My name’s not—” Kyros begins.
“Oh for godsake, I know. Go with it,” Ren mutters, shaking his head. “It’s called humor.”
Demetri walks out in front, leading the Fletchers and the other two from the living room. “The doorway to the basement is off the kitchen. Come on.”
“Let’s shut this down and send a message to this Sentinel group, shall we?” Blake says, shooting me a look of total determination and confidence.
Damn, he’s sexy when he takes charge.
“Let’s do it,” I say, straightening my shoulders and following after him.
As we exit the building, I almost miss the steps as my vision is consumed by a glimpse into the future.
“Blake, the man who teleports will be with the woman—they’re coming from the back. The other one, the telekinetic man, he’ll be coming at us from the front,” I say as soon as the vision pulls back.
“Then out front is where we need to be,” he says, grabbing his concealed pistol from the front of his jeans.
Reaching out, I place a hand over his. “I don’t think we’ll need that. With their powers, it could end up getting one of us hurt instead,” I say.
Blake shoots me a concerned look but holsters the gun. “All right.”
Before we have a chance to say anything else, the telekinetic man comes into view. He walks down the sidewalk like he’s simply out for a late afternoon stroll. But I know better… I’ve seen glimpses of his face in my mind.
“That’s him,” I whisper.
Blake nods, leaning against the rail of the steps. “Understood.”
I close my eyes, pushing my abilities out a few minutes into the future. “He’s going to ask about Elira. Once he realizes she’s inside, the guy with teleportation will be beside him. He’s going to try to take us off guard. When our backs are to the men, the woman will try to slip inside.”
“Then you stay here. Make sure she doesn’t get past you. When Demetri comes, tell him to guard the back door,” he says through the side of his mouth.
I nod in acknowledgment.
“Hi, guys,” the man says, shooting us an easy smile meant to disarm us. “Have you been out here a while?”
Blake simply stares at the guy, assessing him, likely paying attention to the way he holds himself and searching for weak spots.
When neither of us answers him, he clears his throat. “I’m looking for a friend. She’s about yay high. Black hair with bright blue streaks in it.”
I shake my head and shrug. “Sorry, I haven’t seen anyone like that.”
The guy narrows his eyes. “You sure?”
“You calling me a liar?” I fire back.
“Well, she was meant to visit the guy in that house,” he says, his face now stoic.
“Is that so?” Demetri says, stepping out of the building. “Well, I’m the guy who lives here and my friend here just said she hasn’t seen anyone like that.”
Without any more verbal banter, the guy makes his first move. His eyes take in the busted-out window and he steps forward, widening his stance. With his arms outstretched, he pulls the entire front face of the house off the building.
Demetri’s eyes widen, but Blake’s already in motion. He moves like a cat, lethal in his agility. Before the guy can do much else, Blake tackles him to the ground.
“Go guard the back door,” I warn, pointing behind Demetri.
“But the wall—” he says, pointing.
“We have this end covered. Just protect the back until the woman’s flushed this way,” I say.
“Got it.” Demetri turns on his heel, rushing back through the house.
The guy kicks Blake off from him, just as the other guy teleports to the front yard. I’m ready for him, though, having seen where he pops up. Grabbing Demetri’s garden rake, I swing it hard. It finds purchase right upside the guy’s head and he drops like a marionette whose strings were cut.
Rushing forward, I watch as Blake and the other guy roll across the front lawn in an attempt for each to gain the upper hand.
Sirens blare to life a
nd instantly I know that Dan and his team are on their way. It’s great news, but it opens up a blind spot in the back. Leaving Blake, I rush to the backyard, knowing that if the woman hears the sirens, she’s going to rabbit.
Sure enough, I catch a glimpse of her just as realization flashes across her golden eyes. Without stopping to think, I push myself forward, running as fast as my legs will carry me.
Demetri’s out the door, a few steps behind me, but he’s got no chance of catching her.
As she reaches for his back gate, I dive at her feet, bring her down to the ground.
She screams like a banshee as I roll her over. Without thinking, I wind up, slapping her hard across the face. I’ve seen what happens when people punch each other and I like my hand intact, thanks.
For a moment, she stops screaming, but when the shock wears off, the scream resumes.
“Shut up,” I command.
She wiggles around, trying to get out from under me. Her continual scream makes it incredibly difficult to keep my cool. My head is already aching from Elira, there’s no way in hell I’m gonna let this chick make it worse.
Arching forward, she headbutts me right in the nose. Stars consume my vision and then absolute red. Despite myself, I rear up, punching her hard across her cheekbone. Her head whips to the side in the momentum and finally, she stops her squeals.
“Holy shit, I didn’t know you could hit like that,” Demetri says, amusement playing at his tone.
I shoot him an agitated look and return my gaze to the women beneath me. Blood trickles from my nose and I wipe it away with the back of my hand.
“Tell whoever sent you—Jonas doesn’t have his powers anymore. They’re gone for good, so he better be left alone,” I say, staring into her eyes.
The woman spits in my face. “We don’t take kindly to threats.”
“That’s okay because neither do I. You’ve attacked me and my friends. And now, I’m coming for all of you,” I say, channeling the power of Apollo, as his essence rides the wave of my words.
24
Team Meeting
Everyone sits at the circular outdoor table in the back garden of Inner Sanctum. Ren, Kyros, and Demetri stare at me expectantly, a hint of anxiety permeating the spaces between them. Blake, on the other hand, knows full-well what I’m about to tell everyone since we talked about it in depth last night. He’s the only one here who looks at ease with being called here at this hour. Especially after everything that went down yesterday.
Amends: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Series (A Diana Hawthorne Supernatural Mystery Book 2) Page 16
