Chapter 21 #2
Kai’s large frame hovers over me, his hand cradling the back of my head so my skull didn’t crack on the hard marble when he threw us to the ground.
He’s shielding my body from the debris and knives flying around the room.
I regain my hearing slowly, each scream amplifying as my ears pop and ring back to life.
I hear terror and the trampling of feet all around us, men and women rushing toward the exits, trying to escape the madness.
Kai wrenches me to my feet, ducking low as he half drags me towards the wall, trying to get us out of the open.
“What is going on?!” I shout over the sound of explosions and echoes of screams. But Kai is busy barking orders at the guards and people around us, telling them what to do and how to do it. Every bit the future Enforcer.
The ballroom is utter chaos. Debris from the explosions litter the once pristine floors. Throwing knives glint as they whiz through the air, thrown by the few fleeing figures wearing black strips of leather that cover only the top half of their faces.
Mimicking the Imperials’ masks.
Who are these people?
A few bodies scatter the floor, some soaked in blood, others crushed under the large chunks of stone thrown from the explosions and struggling to free themselves.
But the element of surprise has passed, and the Elites that were dancing cheerfully only minutes ago now fight back against the masked figures.
Guards pour into the room, some Flashes, others Blazers or Brawnies.
A few Shields scatter purple forcefields around the room, protecting those around them from the attack as weapons bounce harmlessly off the glowing domes. Without a second thought, Kai adapts the Shields’ ability to throw up his own forcefield around us.
“There’s no time to explain.” His eyes are wide, the only sign of his worry. “How badly are you hurt?” He reaches for me, but I step away, my back colliding with the hard wall behind me. Pain shocks up my arm, but I grit my teeth and ignore it.
“I’m fine, but what is—”
“I need you to get to one of the safe rooms. The guards will take you—”
“Kai, I’m not leaving.”
He flattens me fully against the wall, boxing me in with his arms on either side of my head. His eyes are wild, like smoke smoldering from a blazing fire. “Then don’t think I won’t throw you over my damn shoulder and carry you out of here myself. Is that what you want?”
I know he’ll do it too. Kai is not one for empty threats. I look over his shoulder at the few masked figures trying to flee and fight their way out. They look unprepared, using weapons rather than powers, doing little damage against the abilities being used against them.
I watch the chaos ensue, confusion clouding my thoughts. Where are the Ignites who caused the explosions? My eyes scan the room, snagging on a round, glass object sloshing with dark liquid, clutched in the hand of a masked figure.
Homemade bombs.
It hits me then.
They aren’t using powers because they have none.
Because they are Ordinaries.
“Let me help,” I breathe, my eyes pleading with Kai. I need to get closer. Need to see who these people are and where they came from.
“No.”
“I can take care of myself.”
His laugh is dry. “Then prove it. Go quietly to the safe room. Now.”
“Make me.” I practically growl the words in his face through gritted teeth.
Wrong thing to say.
He looks away and exhales, shaking his head. “You’re too stubborn for your own good, Gray.”
And then the world flips upside down.
His hand is cupping the back of my knees, and my upper body is slung over his shoulder, hanging down his back. I thrash in his hold, but his grip is firm. I feel like a toddler throwing a tantrum, and I don’t care in the slightest.
“Put. Me. Down .” My tone promises a slow and painful death, but he ignores me, nonetheless.
“If you knew how to follow orders, I wouldn’t have to throw you around like a rag doll,” Kai says coolly.
I grapple for my dagger, dangerously furious. “Kai, I am literally going to stab you in the back if you don’t—”
“If you think a stab wound will stop me then you seriously underestimate my abilities, darling.”
Through the silver curtain of hair falling limply over my head, I stop struggling long enough to watch the remaining masked figures blur past us on the outside of our bubble forcefield. And then my eyes snag on one with floppy, dark curls.
Him.
His mask clings to his face like a second skin, and when his gaze meets mine, I take a slow breath. He halts, watching me as I watch him.
He’s one of them. And he recognizes me.
The note. The meeting place.
The leather.
Sure enough, each of them is engulfed in leather vests and masks.
Armor. He was making armor for them.
Suddenly, we are standing near a circle of Imperials surrounding something, trying to contain it. Kai pushes through the throng, and I catch Kitt out of the corner of my eye, fighting and thrashing against the guards restraining him.
“I thought I told you to get him out of here.” Kai’s voice is deep, deadly.
“Sir, he wouldn’t—” An Imperial starts before Kitt cuts him off, more aggressive than I’ve ever seen him.
“I’m not hiding from this, Kai. This is my kingdom too.” His voice is stern, on the verge of yelling into his brother’s face.
“Well, there won’t be a kingdom for you to rule if you die , Kitt,” Kai fires back, his tone cool. “You need to lay low until this is cleaned up. This could be an attempt on your life.”
“I’m not leaving this fight!” Kitt roars.
“Then you risk damning us all!” Kai’s cool facade finally cracks, sending shards of white-hot anger rippling through the air.
He sighs and steadies his breathing. “We need you alive, Kitt. I need you alive. Just...” He pauses, collecting himself as he pieces his mask back together.
“Sit this one out. For the kingdom. For me.”
They eye each other, silently communicating in the way that only brothers as close as they are can. I get the sudden sense that this is a frequent fight between them, a reoccurring battle of wills.
I watch as Kitt’s face crumple, his walls crumble. I watch him give in. “Fine. It seems it’s my fate to always sit these fights out, right?”
Kai doesn’t respond and instead sets me gently on the ground before him. Without a single glance in my direction, he says, “Get them to a safe room with the others.”
And then he’s running back into the thick of the fight, dozens of powers flicking over his skin before he settles on one.
Fire.