She must know about the Coats I’d frosted over the years.
“Jas, do you think this is the only place, though? Could there be more Centers around the country?” Georgia asked.
“I haven’t heard of any while listening. The Center is mobile, and they did tell Mandy that for now they were in California, so I feel strongly this is it. They’ve not mentioned any others.”
“This place was decked out. Didn’t feel mobile.”
“Everything’s mobile these days. A moving team could pack that place up and be out of there in less than a day.” Jasmine steered the car around a curve. The headlights splashed off rock that seemed to go on forever into the dark sky. “But really, who cares? The Coats will see the major damage we cause here and won’t touch us with a ten foot pole.”
“Or, they’ll come at us harder than ever if they think we’re too dangerous to have around,” I said.
“That’s true, too, but I’d like to see them try, baby. You two are so strong. Your mom was amazing from what I overheard and managed to read, so I trust that you two will be a force to be reckoned with.”
“How? What do you mean?”
“You saw how you healed yourself and Zach, right? How valuable would that be in war? You’re damn-near indestructible with that ice in you.”
“And if they can make more of me, what a great secret to sell to the highest bidder.”
“Exactly. Now, they were pretty tight-lipped about your mom and that side of things. But what I did overhear, she—and you guys—were a surprise. They needed to know more about her and you two to see what happened with their technology to produce the results that are you guys.”
“I can’t believe they injected her with organisms. Changed her DNA or genes or whatever they did.” I shook my head.
“I wonder if I can heal, too,” Georgia said. “Since Mom and Mandy can.”
“Don’t know. I figure yes, but genetics can be tricky. Like I said, though, it’ll come to you. Just be ready for it and trust it. You’re only a few weeks old, Blaze. Who knows what you might be capable of.”
“Back to Mom.”
“Well, your dad didn’t necessarily know what the research project was for. The Center told him about a bogus experiment for testing allergens in respect to some clean energy product prototypes. The subjects were ‘tested,’ the project declared inconclusive, and was discontinued.”
“But it wasn’t inconclusive,” Georgia said.
“Exact opposite. They were messing with genetics. Cleaning, manipulating, you name it. Your dad asked to see results of the so-called experiment. Of course they showed some bogus data to shut him up, but when your mom and some of the other subjects started demonstrating powers…all hell broke loose.” Jasmine took in a deep breath. “They kept a close eye on everyone, knowing—or more hoping—the subjects might change.”
Jasmine maneuvered the car down a dirt road. I assumed it led to the hotel-from-hell. “They got her a few times. Made her show them her powers.”
“How’d they get her to cooperate?”
“Probably threatened your dad or someone close to her. That seems to be the best tactic.”
Hearing all this fueled my anger, and my desire for revenge. Wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. Probably good for boosting my powers, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone.
“Here we are. This seems to be as good a spot as any.” Jasmine steered the car to the gravel shoulder.
Almost pitch-black. Some light from the moon, but not much.
“Oh, wait. I hear something.” Jasmine slapped her hands over her ears. “Ahhh. It’s loud.”
I grabbed the steering wheel to keep the car from swerving.
“It’s a noisemaker or something. I hear cars—” She slammed the brakes, thrusting me forward. I gripped the dash. It crumpled, leaving finger-sized dents.
Jasmine thrust open her door and leapt out.
Georgia followed suit.
As I emerged, three black vans approached. Two from behind us and one from the front. Jasmine flopped onto the ground. Blood oozed between her fingers.
“Run, Jasmine, get away from the sound.” I screamed and raised my hand at one of the vans speeding in our direction. “Georgia, fry them.”
My arm immediately froze over. Not a light frost, either. A solid layer of ice. I focused on making ice bullets, and they flew out of my palm like a machine gun.
Holy hell where’d that come from?
Wherever it did, I was thankful. And ready to kick ass.
From the corner of my eye, bright flames flickered. Georgia shot fire from both her hands. The tires of one van exploded, catapulting the vehicle into the air. I turned my spray on it, and it landed as a solid ice cube.
The power coursing through my body made the hairs on my arms stand on end. Like electricity was nearby.
I whirled around, still spraying frozen bullets on the one van. I lifted my other hand toward the last vehicle and a mini-blizzard blew out from my fingertips. The force of it sent me stumbling, but I leaned into it and stayed on my feet.
A wave of heat brushed me from behind, and I glanced over my shoulder. Georgia stood back-to-back with me. Her warm body fueled my chill even more. Strength flooded my limbs, and my ice thickened.
“People coming in on foot.” Jasmine’s scream came through my earpiece loud and clear.
“Jas, where are you?”
“In the woods. The noisemakers must have been in the vans. The sound is gone. I can’t hear very well right now, but I see tons of people. At least fifty, hoofing it through the woods.”
“Start messing with them, we’ll work our way to you.”
Something pinched my thigh. A small hole appeared in my jeans. Blood trickled out. It stung like a drop of acid had fallen on my skin.
“Ah.” Georgia flinched.
Another pinch to my shoulder. An arctic rush pulsed through my body.
“More people behind us,” Georgia said.
“They’re coming in from all sides. Fire it up, girl.”
A blast of heat grazed my back. I turned my head. Flames encapsulated Georgia’s entire body. It scared me at first, but she turned her head, and through the orange glow, she winked.
Wait. She winked?
That blast of encouragement fueled my cold. A tiny, silver object slipped out of my thigh and clanked to the rocky ground.
Silver bullets? Did they think I was a werewolf?
“The bullets are bouncing off me,” Georgia screamed.
Ping. Ping.
“Me, too.”
Georgia and I stepped in unison toward the thicket. My thoughts drifted to Mom. I wished she were here to fight with us. Her two daughters, gifted because of what she’d endured, taking out the very thing that changed her and ultimately killed her.
Soldiers dressed in black fatigues advanced. What were they carrying?
It resembled a gun, but with a wider muzzle.
“Nets.” Jasmine’s voice rattled my earpiece.
At that instant, a dark object shot out from the strange-looking gun. It expanded into a big, round circle. It was hard to track against the black sky, but suddenly a streak of orange cut through the air, and it disintegrated.
“Don’t let the nets get over you,” Jasmine screamed.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Three shots from those cannon-sized guns. I streamed ice from both hands, each aimed at one of the nets. The force of the hit knocked them away. Georgia catapulted a fireball at the third, and it vaporized.
We continued forward, nearing the trees. Jasmine’s whirl of wind whipped by me, and three guys approaching us fell to their knees.
I frosted them. Thanks, Jasmine.
Two more on the other side, Georgia turned and shot them with flames. Screams shattered the darkness surrounding us.
A nauseating lump tightened in my stomach. I knew these guys were evil, but to kill so many....
No, we have to end this or we’ll never be f
ree.
Side-by-side, we marched deeper into the woods protected by a sheath of ice and a wall of flames.
“I got your back, ladies,” Jasmine said.
“Let’s go, sis.” Georgia slid her hand into mine.
“For Mom and Dad!”
CHAPTER 38
Through the swaying trees, the brick hotel-from-hell came into focus. An army of people surrounded it. They looked like astronauts in silver suits. I couldn’t see their faces through the mirrored glass, but what I could see were the guns they held.
And they were all pointed our direction.
We pressed forward. I let the snow fly and Georgia flamed. The torch streaming from her hands touched the shingles of the roof, and it crackled under the heat.
Like a cannon, I fired bowling ball-sized ice balls at the creeps standing in front of us. I took out windows, splintered doors, and cracked bricks. Steaming shards of metal pierced the ground beside my foot.
But none made it through the ice protecting me.
“Focus on the house,” Jasmine said. “Georgia, aim your fire into the open windows. Get that shit in there. All over.”
We advanced. The line of people in their shiny suits receded. They should run. I didn’t want to kill them. They were only hired help. Probably had no idea what they were even defending.
They must have some idea, considering what they saw the three of us doing.
The house smoldered. Flames burst from every window within my sight. My heart swelled as I imagined burning records, equipment, and needles.
No more needles. Ever again. I kept repeating that to solidify my resolve.
We veered right, headed to the side of the house. Six four-wheelers zoomed out from the surrounding trees with a roar. Georgia shot fireballs at the first two, sending the drivers airborne. She raised her other hand and streamed liquid heat at the house while she torched two more four-wheelers.
I sprayed my lethal ice bullets at the remaining pair.
“Ah!” Georgia stumbled forward. Blood beaded out from a small hole in her shoulder. A bullet got through?
She looked up at me from the ground. Her chest heaved. “I’m tired.”
“We’re almost done, come on, we’re close.” I reached down and helped her up. “Let’s go.”
The other side of the house was less guarded, and darker. What, did they think we wouldn’t sneak around the back?
A hard smack to the cheek sent me spinning. I never saw it coming, but my ice shield should have deflected it.
It so didn’t.
I just had bullets bouncing off me. How could something shatter through and hit my cheek?
Georgia’s weakness must have distracted me. I stumbled, dragging my sister down with me. I released her to steady myself and tried to get my bearings. The darkness hid whatever had hit me.
Georgia pushed herself up but was yanked back, like a rope lassoed her and pulled her away from me. Her flame brightened, but whatever had wrapped itself around her didn’t relent, and the darkness swallowed her whole.
Another slam to my face. This time to my jaw.
It cracked. Pain radiated down the side of my face. I brought my hand to my cheek and chilled it until the throbbing subsided.
“Jasmine, get Georgia.” I looked around. “Jasmine? Georgia?”
No one’s voice rang in my ears. Shit. I sprinted in the direction Georgia had gone, but snapping branches made me stop. I squatted and looked to my right. Someone sped at me, not as fast as Jasmine, but faster than a human.
I recognized the short buzz cut.
Andrey Sidorov.
He held something silver in his right, gloved hand. And the speed. No wonder I hadn’t registered what hit me.
Damn it.
He’d seemed so scared of me when I was captive, but not anymore. He bore forward with superhuman speed. I sprayed ice, forming a thick wall in front of me. Shoulder first, he crashed right through it and tackled me, his body crushing into my stomach.
It was like a freaking tank hit me.
The impact hurled me against the rocky ground, forcing all the air from my lungs. I’d barely made it to my feet when he clamped his hand around my throat.
He smiled. His fingers tightened, seriously restricting my airflow. Not that I had any left after his shoulder-slam.
Up I went, then he slammed me against the ground with a roar.
I clasped one hand around his wrist and turned on the cold, while I balled the other one into a tight fist and iced it up. I clocked his temple. He didn’t let go of my throat. I frosted his digits, and crashed my solid fist against his nose. He shook his head. Jeez, did nothing faze this guy? I cranked on his wrist. Something snapped.
He raised his other hand to clobber me with whatever he’d hammered me with before. Ice, I mentally screamed since I couldn’t say anything.
Frost instantly covered his face, and he pushed off me. A quick roll, and he was on his feet again, facing me. Legs bent, weapon raised.
What the hell was that little thing? A miniature club? No, one of those police night sticks. Only smaller and silver. Metal, like those damn clamps that had held me so securely.
He zoomed back at me and went for my neck again with one hand while his other clobbered at the remainder of the ice protecting my skull.
I cranked my knee up, hitting him in the spot no man wants to be hit, and he jerked forward.
“Don’t have that fancy steel there, do you?” I focused on freezing my forehead, then head-butted him. Despite the ice protecting me, it still rattled my brain.
A solid tug on my arm had me flying through the air. Again, with the trees.
I reached out to break the impact. The coarse branches shredded my skin. Gravity yanked me down. A branch to my chest bounced me back. Stinging bark scraped along my arm. My shoulder ricocheted off another branch. Even with all that, I didn’t slow down much. I sprayed snow, but I still landed with a painful thud.
I needed help.
“Georgia. Jasmine.” I coughed. Iron-laced warmth pooled in my mouth as I rolled onto all fours, gasping for the air the impact robbed from me. Rocks dug into my kneecaps.
Muffled noises rattled my earpiece as I rolled over, but before I could think, Mr. Thick-Neck towered over me.
“It isss no use, little von.” His thick Russian accent surprised me.
“Back off, Sidorov.”
Behind him, a dim light came into focus. Could it be Georgia? Or was it the bright Light I’d hoped to meet up with when I died?
I cooled down not that it was helping much against the weapon he had. “What’s your story, then?”
“I hafff no story. You must be destroyed. Too dangerous. I am only von who can do it.”
I frosted some more. White breaths billowed long, deep and often, betraying how tired he was. He shifted his weight. I recognized that movement from when I was pinned to the chair in the hotel-from-hell.
Good, you should be scared. The intense energy thundering through my veins startled me. My powers must sense the danger wafting off this cold-blooded maniac. An explosion inside the house threatened to distract me, but I kept my eyes fixed on him. He didn’t flinch.
“You’re strong, but are you strong enough?” I asked as I stood.
“I do not hafff to be. I hafff other vays,” he said with his throaty accent.
He slowly backed away.
“So, did they make you from one of their cocktails and breed you in a Petri dish? Or are you a product of one of their subjects?”
His mouth curved into a crooked smile. He inched toward the trees, away from the house.
I turned on the cold some more. He shivered.
The creases around his eyes and mouth deepened as his smile widened. “You are powerful, indeed, young Hillman.” His stare bore into me like two daggers. “You look just like your mother before I sliced her thin, delicate skin.”
CHAPTER 39
My world tilted at Andrey’s confession. I’d known the Coat
s had killed my mom, but not specifically who.
The murderer advanced on me faster than I could register. And all I felt was pain.
Lots of it.
My side, my face, my arm. I lost track. That damn stick of his was working through the barriers I had set with each strike. His words stung as they echoed through my brain. He’d killed Mom. And probably Dad, too. Sliced them open, letting them bleed to death. By doing so, he’d stolen the two most important people in my life.
He’d left me an orphan. Images of my parents’ bloody bodies fast-forwarded in my mind.
With his other hand, he drew out another silver object. This one I recognized immediately.
Knife.
A switch flipped. Anger ignited. A blast of ice pellets shot from my hands as I raised them to deflect another direct hit. I screamed so loud, my throat burned. Arctic air spewed from my mouth and sent Andrey flying. My hair flapped in an unexplained gust of wind. While Andrey was midair, I sprayed him with sleet.
Suddenly his trajectory shifted, and he collided with a tree trunk. A blurry figure raced around him several times, binding him to the tree.
Jasmine came into focus as she stopped in front of him.
“It’s that netting stuff they were shooting at us. He’s secure,” she gasped. “Georgia’s down. She’s not healing.”
“Bring her to me.” I approached Andrey.
I wrapped my fingers around his hand that held the weapon he’d beaten against my ice. “That’s an interesting little tool you have here. One of the gifts the Coats gave you?” I ripped it from his hand and held it up.
Smooth. Shiny, not a dent or scratch despite the damage it’d reeked on my thickest ice. “Same metal as the clamps.”
His eyes widened. Jaw clenched. He lurched forward, but the restraints held.
I grabbed the hand that held the blade and cranked up the cold. The blaze from the flaming house highlighted a vein bulging in his forehead. He probably fought every instinct to yell.
In extreme conditions, frostbite could happen in less than two minutes.
I’d have him screaming before I was through.
Curses, Fates & Soul Mates Page 58
