'Excellent, a diversion.'
'Divert this, bitch,' Sian snarled and drew her hands in front, focused and released another torrent at Jenviet.
I watched, open mouthed, at the strength of water Sian had released. It wiped out a good portion of the far wall. Then I realized that Jenviet stood amongst it, not a hair out of place. She’d shielded. Sian finished and slumped to her knees from the exertion.
'I’m getting rather sick of you sprite.'
Jenviet’s voice dropped the pleasant tone, a nasty harsh sound now. Elena must have realized what she was about to do. She lunged for Sian at the same time Daron did. They were both hurled backward and smacked into the staircase wall, falling to the stairs.
Before we had time to register it all, Sian was surrounded in a white light. Sabyn dove at it but was thrown off by what looked like an electric shock.
I watched in horror as Sian tried to move but couldn’t, and realized she couldn’t breath. Jenviet had sucked the air out from within the light Sian was trapped in.
Everything seemed to speed up then, and there were loud thuds on the roof and the furious roars of enraged griffons. The violent tearing and wrenching noise distracted Jenviet for a moment, and taking advantage of it, Yakov raced at her with his sword. He actually managed to catch her arm before she tossed him against the ceiling.
I screamed in fear at the sight of Yakov hitting the ground, like a rag doll, not far from me. To his credit, it worked. The light that surrounded Sian vanished, and she slumped, unconscious, to the ground. Rumal dragged her to the stairwell and began CPR.
The fear coursed through me, unlike anything I’d ever felt before. Everything I knew and all those I cared about most were being snapped and broken, flung about like toys. I felt that horrible sensation of helplessness and my shield began to wane.
A hand gripped mine, and I looked down in shock. Alek stared up at me with a dazed expression. The sense of relief at seeing him conscious was intense, and I felt my energy swell. I recalled something Elena had mentioned to us one session.
‘We really have no idea what you girls are capable of. For all we know, once you develop your skills, your powers may be limitless.’
Hell, then I’m going with that theory. I’m not taking this lying down. I increased the strength of my shield as Jenviet hurled bolts of energy at me. Her energy couldn’t reach me, but it did push against my shield and put me back against the wall.
It was then I realized Alek stood beside me.
'You have to do this, Cat!' he yelled, above the din that the flames and the griffons made.
I nodded and closed my eyes.
Loi was in a serious amount of pain. She was pretty sure her right arm was broken and one ankle swelled against the straps of her shoe. She felt guilty that she wasn’t able to help more, but where they were at this moment; there wasn’t much for her to work with.
It got harder to pull her shield up repeatedly so she conserved her energy, as her shield was her only defense now. Rumal had managed to get Sian breathing again, but not conscious and they’d put her in the stairwell with Daron, both of them out of it. Elena had come to a moment ago and tried to gather her energy.
A sudden swelling in the air made Kassie look to Cat. There was something different about it. Whatever it was, it seemed to piss Jenviet off to no end as she continued to hurl bolt after bolt at Cat, who didn’t even flinch. Feeling a sense of awe, she watched as Cat’s energy went from its usual bright red to a deep, darker than blood, shade. She could just make out Alek standing beside her.
'How’s she doing that?' Loi yelled at her and Kassie shook her head.
'I have no idea, but I could really use some of that right now.'
Loi nodded in agreement, then grabbed Kassie’s arm.
'Kass, is Alek glowing?'
Rumal leapt up from Daron and Sian, and with Sabyn, stood behind Kass and Loi, peering at Alek.
'Elena!' he turned to the Sorceress, still very pale.
'Are you seeing this?'
Before their eyes Alek glowed an intense gold, while Cat’s energy had swelled to the point that even her hair was outstretched, flying about her head.
'SHIELD!' screamed Elena calling on her last reserves.
I was at the brink of control, every cell within me screamed for release. Drawing in a deep breath I focused my mind on Jenviet.
Alek grabbed my arm, and the world exploded in red.
To be continued in
The Author would like to acknowledge and thank
My thanks to my amazing friends, who inspired the characters that surround Cat, I am grateful every day to have such friends.
To my parents who encouraged me to read and for keeping the skepticism levels low no matter how crazy the ideas I come up with (and Brad you’re included in that).
I also have to thank my fantastic critiquers, in particular Kerrin, Vicki and Cathey. Hitch at booknook for formatting help and Keary for her beautiful cover. All help was hugely appreciated.
And of course to my incredible partner, Glenn, for his countless suggestions and endless patience throughout.
If you wish to know more about Nicole MacDonald and her writing, you can visit her at
http://www.damselinadirtydress.com/
Or on the BirthRight Trilogy Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-BirthRight-trilogy/200848823274983
The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) Page 36