Do Or Die - Page 43/64

Audrianna backed up, mere feet away from the edge of the cliff. She faltered and dug her feet into the ground, and her arms lifted responding to inner machinations out of her control. Her hands cupped together, drawing apart to reveal a small ball that crackled with electricity. The ball began to pull swirls of air into it as it started spinning, becoming bigger. It fashioned itself into a glowing, humming orb of uneven shape.

The combatants encroached on the space between themselves and Audrianna. Audrianna stood squarely; the darkly-clothed men took another step closer. They were not more than five feet away when the ball stopped its out-of-control spinning and slivers of very sharp, very white electric current crackled and burst from its surface. It happened too quickly for the men to raise arms against her; a burst of electricity crashed into every man. Remarkably, they were not shocked- instead, their bodies became elongated, pulled and stretched.

Each body was a distorted, massive swirl which appeared to be sucked into a vortex of spiraling white light. Into each individual vortex, the men vanished, along with their assault rifles.

Audrianna, her mind unclear, became aware of the approach of another interloper to her right. She clapped her hands together and drew them apart to reveal the formation of another small ball, which had only just begun to spin drawing in tuffs of air.

Viktor glimpsed Audrianna. It was just the two of them in the clearing. He saw her harnessing the powerful element in her hands and was awed by it. He thrilled at the sight of the orb the woman he loved formed. But even as the thrill enveloped him, he was realized that the power she possessed was now focused on him. His heart raced and his shoulders tightened as he inhaled a ragged breath through clenched teeth. and bellowed to her, "Audriannaaaaaa!"

A flash of lightning escaped the orb, shot through the air with great speed in Viktor's direction, and just as quickly stopped without reaching him. Audrianna's arms fell to her sides.

Viktor fell to his knees, relieved beyond compare. He prayed no one else had seen what had just transpired.

Dear God, let me keep this secret just a little bit longer…

"Squaaaaaaaaak!" A bird's hollow cry was heard as it burst from the tree behind him, expanded its wings and glided over the bluff, seconds before the helicopter was heard above, advancing towards the clearing.

The chopper was now over them. Xin and the girls had just come into the vicinity of the ravine. Viktor stood. He watched the glass of the helicopter cabin door and was not surprised to find Lincoln and Matsenêstse.