I shifted.
We ran.
Shifting had been the right plan to try to keep up with Ezra as he made us run in zigzagging patterns, more bullets flying around us. The guards ran in a straight, tight line behind us, and I heard a few of them go down in our dash as bullets hit their mark. My wolf growled, not even winded, pissed that Mysticals were dying behind me and that I was unable to do anything about it right now. Scared, I was — most definitely — but I hated that Coms were picking us off. Like it was a f**king hunt.
We rounded a bend of rocks and sand, a safe zone, and almost ran smack into Jack, Pearl, Gideon, and their guards, who were racing toward the sounds of the gunfire, all of us stopping behind the sharp sand mound.
Pearl yelled, “What the hell’s going on?”
Absently, Jack bent, touching Ezra and I, and we were instantly dry, my fur fluffy and blowing in the breeze as Ezra explained the situation, his wide lips thin as he muttered rapidly over the sounds of incoming attackers, “We can take them.”
Everyone was silent.
Even from my lower, four-legged stance on the sand, I could see their faces just fine, the fierce edge in their eyes, and knew what they were going to do. I shifted back and started yanking on my clothes as they talked quickly, strategizing.
We weren’t running. We were going to take down this cell. The plan was simple. Flank with the guards while we came at them from the front.
The guards tossed guns to us, and I quickly checked the clip of my two, with shaking hands, scenting and hearing the Coms getting closer, faster. I was thanking God right then for the weapons training at King Hall that year. I had decent aim, could shoot a crossbow, and handle a sword adequately. It was hand-to-hand that I was only now getting the hang of, since Ezra’s teaching style had changed per Antonio’s instructions.
The guards, along with Gideon, ran left, and the four of us stood regarding one another for a few beats. This was it. The first time we went after the enemy as a team. Pearl put her fist into the center of our circle. Jack followed. Ezra’s came next. Mine last.
“Let’s kill the Com bastards,” Ezra muttered viciously.
We nodded as one, our fists slamming together.
We moved, all of our eyes glowing. Blue. Green. Brown. Gold.
Jack slammed his hands together, and a wall of blue water erupted in front of us, circling as we progressed around the curve. Now I knew how he had been able to move that fateful night. You couldn’t see through it if you were on the outside, but on the inside it was clear, only a little distorted.
Protected by the wall, we stalked toward the mass of Coms opening fire on us.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, and my hands were shaking so badly I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to fire the guns effectively. My mind and body wanted to run the other way as bullets hit the watered wall, then dropped to the sand. I made myself stay. With the people I needed to be with. The dropped bullets were buried under the sand as we trekked forward, and Jack was careful with where he placed his bare feet, since they were silver rounds and, if they touched his flesh, his power would fail him. Us. Not an option.
The first screams from the Coms were due to our guards and Gideon in action, firing.
Pearl raised her hands toward the attackers and glowed bright gold, light shooting out the top of our blue watered wall. The guns of the Coms in the first row flew out of their hands as she started murmuring quietly. They turned midair, aiming at their owners. Fired.
At least ten Coms went down, only two getting past their shock to duck before the shots went off.
We were close, almost on them, when Jack dropped the wall of water as they started reloading their emptied guns. The four of us went into action. They weren’t the same group that had killed Dominic — no red robes — but they wanted the same thing.
Our heads. Bodies debatable.
Ezra blurred forward. The only way to track him was the small sand cloud kicking up from his feet. At least five throats were ripped out.
Jack sucked in a large breath of air, and then blew out hard, bending with the motion. Blue water appeared in front of five attackers and flew into their mouths in a never-ending stream, even when they tried to run, drowning them.
Pearl murmured, and five other enemies flew straight into the sky inside gold bubbles. They went so high they looked like tiny dots. She dropped them. Hers made the biggest mess.
Scared or not, I raised my weapons, dropping to one knee, and fired on the plain-clothed Coms. Mine wasn’t the cleanest — Jack’s was — but I still took out seven.
Ezra returned just in time for Jack to slam another wall up as they finished reloading.
The Coms must have forgotten about our guards, or not thought them a threat, because another ten went down in no time while firing on us. That only left ten or so and, seeing they were outnumbered, they went all kamikaze, charging at the watered wall. Jack actually laughed as we watched them slam against it. The force of the rotating water was lethal. Wherever their exposed skin hit…well, it was ripped off, showing us blood, red muscle or white bone.
Still laughing as they screamed in agony, Jack dropped the wall.
We went back into action, which would have been fine for me if they weren’t so close. Again, my weakness was hand-to-hand, which was just pathetic because a Shifter’s gifts in life were their senses and their strength. Senses, I had just fine, but strength only came in handy if you knew how to use it.
I got one shot off before I was rammed in the stomach by a semi, AKA one pissed off Com.
We hit the sand.
I dodged a punch, hearing Coms shriek as the others ended them. I got a decent blow in against the Com’s ribs, feeling the crunch of his bones as they broke. My gaze flared brighter as he lifted a gun, his eyes crazy-wide. Jerking to the left, I shoved his ribs, his injured side, rolling on top of him to grab his arm just as he fired, and the shot went wide. The report didn’t hurt my ears — they were already ringing — but I reacted on instinct, moving the way Ezra had taught me. Using my powered strength, I struck with my elbow to his temple. It worked. With a sickening crunch, my elbow broke his skull and his head snapped back, his neck breaking.
He didn’t scream.
I wasn’t sure if that made it any better as I sat on top of the dead Com with his head half smashed in and his brain coming out of places it most definitely wasn’t supposed to.
“Damn,” Pearl muttered into the now strange quiet. I tore my gaze away from the gore and saw the other three standing a few feet away. Pearl’s nose crinkled. “That’s disgusting.”