Talent Storm (47 page)

Sofia unleashed her talent at the assault squad, and a wave of mind numbing fear rolled over the combatants. The troops slowed, then stopped as Sofia jogged out in front of us, her curls bouncing. She held out her blackened sword, but it was barely visible in the night. Wide-eyed men began to shuffle back, holding weapons in trembling arms.

Barid’s talent slammed into the attackers, causing their bodies to mass produce adrenaline. A dozen men immediately fell to the ground, clutching their chests and writhing around. The rest tossed their weapons and fled, some screaming and others waving their arms over their heads.

The few runners in the lead suddenly jerked to a halt as they crashed into my wall of talent. Two fell down dazed. The others repeatedly threw themselves against the wall in a futile attempt to escape. The rest of the men stopped and glanced over their shoulders at Sofia. She lifted her sword in both hands and began to sprint at the men. Barid joined her, his scimitars swinging at the end of his pumping arms. The squad scrambled, pushed, and climbed over each other to escape. A few people curled up into balls and cried. Several had wet themselves.

One man spun around, foaming at the mouth, the whites of his eyes huge. He whipped a knife at Barid from five feet away. The weapon cut through the air and sliced into Barid’s leg before I could react. He fell to the grouch clutching at the weapon.

Growling in frustration, I lifted my arms high and summoned godlike power. My hands burst into twin beacons of radiating energy. Their light brightened the world around us as if the sun had risen. My talent flowed and bubbled through my body and mind, its power thrilling me. I could do anything I wanted; the world was mine.

I thrust my arms at the ground, and a massive crushing force descended on the men. Like a falling mountain, my power boomed down, instantly silencing their terrified screams. My shining aura blinked out, and the night fell dark again.

I blinked, dazed and temporarily blinded. I took a few deep breaths, steadying myself and waiting for my vision to clear. When I could see, Sofia stood at my side. She stared at the flattened men and cracked ground, her jaw low.

“Wow... I’ve never seen anything so... devastating, so awesomely powerful. I didn’t know that was possible,” she said.

I looked away with a grimace. “Me either.” My lulled talent and the men’s deaths left me feeling empty and sick, but it had to be done.

“Come on,” said Sofia, “let’s go check on Barid.”

I viewed the devastation for another second, shaking my head, then followed her to Barid. He had removed the blade, but his wound wasn’t bleeding.

“Are you okay?” Sofia asked.

Barid turned toward me instead and grinned. “I don’t know how you managed that power, but now I know we can win. I’m going to get to play shows again. The women will be lining up for me just like before.”

I laughed, the tension in my shoulders fading. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. How’s your leg?”

He looked down and waved his hand. “Oh, it will be fine. I’m keeping the bleeding and pain at bay. I just can’t walk while I’m doing it. Go check on the protestors, and then you’ll have to carry me to Mary’s house.”

I nodded, and Sofia and I jogged into the building. The room was dark and quiet. I sparked my talent, and my aura illuminated the space. It was empty. Sofia pointed to a stairwell along the far wall. We made our way over, then ascended. Half way up, I smelled something odd, something metallic. I faced Sofia, and opened my mouth to speak when I realized what it was. Blood. I clamped my mouth shut and ran up the remaining stairs. When Sofia and I rounded the corner, she inhaled sharply, and my jaw dropped.

Protestors lay in awkward positions, their signs splattered with blood, their faces contorted in agony. Some had gaping holes in their chests. Others were missing limbs. A few were torn into pieces. All looked dead. What could have done this?

I raised my head, gritting my teeth and spotted a shadowy man, standing against the wall. My eyes flicked wide when I sensed intense talent flowing inside him. I readied my own and squinted, trying to make out his features in the dark. When I recognized him, a bone-chilling shiver passed through me.

“Sid? What are you doing here? Did you kill these people?”

He took a few steps forward without responding.

“You know this guy?” Sofia asked while raising her sword.

Leaning close to her ear, I whispered, “Yeah. This is Sid, the irritating prankster I told you about.”

“What? What’s he doing here?”

I shrugged, having no clue.

He stopped ten paces from us. He was even chubbier than I remembered, but just as ugly. I flinched at seeing the hate in his eyes.

“Where’s Lilly?” he asked.

I scowled. “Why are you asking?”

He smiled. “I just wanted to rub her death in your face. It’s humorous that you killed her. Don’t you think?”

I bared my teeth. “How did you know that? Did you kill these people? I’ll take you down if I need to.”

He raised his hands near his chest and shook them around. “Ooo, scary. You’ve developed into such a tough guy. You know, it was my idea to use Lilly’s illusions to fool you into thinking she was dead. Brilliant, don’t you think?”

I growled. “What? You’re working for Goldwater? You were the robed man.”

“Yes I was him, and Goldwater is my lord,” he said with a smile that made my stomach crawl. “He elevated me to duke for planning your capture and torture. I enjoy a life of luxury now. People respect me.”

He was responsible for my torture! I relived it all in an instant and felt my anger begin to steam inside me. “You bastard. What happened to you?”

Sid laughed, his stomach jiggling. “Instructor Deo sensed my interference with you in The Gamut. After that, I was arrested. They threatened to keep me in jail forever, but decided to release me into construction duty, like it was a gift. How dare they place me, an elite, on such a menial task. You and Deo destroyed any respect people had for me. I hate you both for it.”

“So you became a murderer. These people were innocent.” I waved my hand toward the dead. “Goldwater is using you. You’re a fool and you’ll pay for these people’s deaths.”

He rubbed his temples, his face scrunched. “They were no better than a bunch of Wilders.”

“They were Liberty citizens and people. You’ve become a monster.”

“I always was one. If I can’t capture you, I have permission to kill you,” he said. “I’ll surely be praised and promoted to grand duke for that.”

Sofia raised her serrated sword and stepped forward. “You’ll have to get through me first.”

His smile returned. “What do we have here? Some new play thing of yours? Maybe I’ll keep her around for entertainment after I kill you.”

My knuckles whitened as my grip tightened on Peacemaker. “I’m going to destroy you.” I pushed my glowing hands apart and the bodies slid to the sides of the room. They’d be in less danger in case anyone was still alive.

“This should be amusing. I’m much more powerful than when you saw me last,” he said.

“Likewise.”

I raised my mace before charging in a blur. Several feet away from him, his talent froze me in place, jarring me. He
was
powerful. Sofia sprinted by me, then struck out at Sid, her sword flashing. The sword skipped off his body sending out blue sparks. He flung his glowing hand, and Sofia launched backward into the air. My stomach sank as she smashed into the wall before I could stop him.

“Sofia,” I yelled.

Adrenaline and rage coursed through me, bolstering my talent. I knew I should try to control myself but couldn’t. With both hands, I lashed out at him. A twisting stream of green energy crashed into him. He absorbed the full force of my blow, skidding backward only a few feet, his heels digging into the stone floor.

He counter struck with a growl, throwing out his hand. My eyes shot open as long steel chains shot from the corner of the room and sped through the air. I threw myself to the left, attempting to dodge them. I failed. The huge, glowing chains wrapped around my body, lifting me off the ground. I flew backward and slammed into the wall. My breath burst from my lungs; my head swam. Heart pounding, I shook my head to clear it.

I swore I would never lose to him again; I wasn’t going to start now. My talent pummeled the ceiling above Sid. With a loud rumble, concrete and rebar crumbled above him. He glanced up, wide eyed. The chains dimmed, and I fell from the wall. In a fiery green explosion, the chains shattered and shot toward the dust cloud where Sid had been.

The dust cleared, and Sid stood surround by rubble. The steel shards of the chain impaled the walls around him, but none found their mark. I’d have to do this the hard way. Bringing my mace to bear, I charged. Just before reaching him, I drew back my weapon, then struck. Sid ripped a two-handed great-sword from its sheath and blocked my attack before slicing into my shoulder. I groaned, stumbling backward. He
was
quick. A moment of doubt flashed in my mind. Too quick?

I thought of Sofia and my doubt vanished. I didn’t have the luxury. Renewing my attack, I howled, striking over and over. He blocked and parried furiously. I drove him back with a flurry of blows that rang out in ear piercing clangs. My aura grew brighter, and my muscles bolstered, my strength quadrupling. I struck again, harder and faster. My weapon crashed into his six times, each one knocking him back a step. The last drove him to one knee. I struck again, flaring my power. The sound of metal shearing off reverberated in my ears as his sword snapped in two.

The flanged head of Peacemaker continued onward, prepared to cleave his skull. Screaming, he threw out his glowing hands. My mace smashed through his hands and into his cheek, gouging it. He sprawled on the ground, his glasses lying next to him. I lifted my mace to finish him but inhaled sharply instead as my feet were pulled backward. My face smacked into the ground, momentarily dazing me. When I jerked up my head, he was gone. So were his glasses. I struck the ground with my palm and launched upward into a spin, attempting to find him.

The second I spotted him, the wall next to him exploded. Even as he sprung from the building, the ground beneath Sofia began to crumble in a blue glow. For the briefest second, the thought of chasing him flashed through my mind. Never. I’d never leave Sofia. The ground collapsed beneath her. My body went cold, but I refused to give in. I pounded Peacemaker into the ground, smashing a hole beneath me. My stomach lurched as I fell through it.

Before my feet hit the ground, my talent sparked again, enveloping Sofia’s body. She landed softly. Chucks of concrete bounced off the talent shield, but the rest buried her. I landed and sprinted toward her, waving my hand. Rubble burst off her and crashed into the surrounding walls. I knelt and checked her pulse. Her heartbeat was strong. Thank talent. I smiled, letting out a shaky breath.

She grunted, rubbing her head before smiling at me. “Are you watching me sleep?” she asked while tapping my arm.

Ignoring her joke, I asked, “Are you hurt?”

Her smile faded as she probed her body. “I think I’m fine.”

I breathed out in a big sigh. “I nearly failed you. I’m so sorry.”

She shook her head. “Don’t. This is what happens in war.”

I reached down to help her up before we made our way to the exit. “Go check on Barid,” I said. “I’m going to see if there’s anyone still alive in here.”

The odds were slim, especially after our battle, but I had to check. Sofia jogged out of the building. I leapt back through the hole in the ground, then raced around, searching for survivors. None lived.

Ever since I saw Sid rip the legs off a toad back in advanced, I knew he was evil, but I had no idea what he was capable of. He was a monster. Would I ever be free of him? I left the building to see Sofia standing a few paces from me. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her were eyes lowered. She shook her head before I saw a tear run down her face.

I ran to her. “What happened?”

She pointed. “Barid.”

My eyes flipped wide. I ran over to where he lay on the ground. His eyes were open, his neck twisted at an odd angle. Blood from his leg had pooled under him. His musical dream was dead and so was he. We buried him in a nearby yard and said our goodbyes. Sid’s
pranks
had escalated. When I found him, he’d never pull another one.

☼☼☼

After running back, we entered Mary’s home. She relaxed on the couch, her legs crossed, as if nothing had happened.

I strode over to her, pointing. “You abandoned us! Damn you.”

She shrugged. “You’re the one that abandoned the mission. I’m in charge here.” She looked over my shoulder. “Where’s Barid?”

Looking at Sofia, I saw tears running down her face. I rounded on Mary again. “He’s dead... because of you. They’re all dead because of you.”

“No Jaden, it’s your fault. I told you we had a mission. You nearly jeopardized everything back there. If you got yourself killed, it’d be over.”

I stuck out my chest, lowering my eyebrows. “How dare you! You don’t care about the people. The whole point of our revolution is to save them. And Barid... it’s your fault that Barid is dead. If you were there, you could have hidden him.”

Sofia cried louder as she walked out of the room.

Mary still leaned back in her relaxed posture. “You’re so young, so naive. All that matters is the fall of the Goldwater. We won’t accomplish our goal by saving one person at time. While you were getting Barid killed and failing to save the protestors, I completed our mission.”

I stomped my foot and clenched my fists. “I refuse to accept that we should stand by while people are killed. We could have succeeded if you were with us. Everyone matters. We’re doing this for the people. I will not knowingly let them die.”

I stormed out of the room into the kitchen. Sofia cried in the corner. I walked up and put my arm around her.

“Jaden, I can’t believe we lost him. We never should have left him out there,” she said, sniffling.

I squeezed her closer and felt her body racked with sobs. “You’re right, but how could we have known? It seemed right at the time... poor Barid.”