Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(34)
“You should really stay back, Ms Jules,” Mrs Damon argued, her voice stern. “Leric’s going to be very upset.”
“Leric can kiss my ass,” I muttered, then I pointed at King Collins. “Get everyone to the back of the room.” When he didn’t immediately respond as I thought he might not, since this was all a bit sudden and King Collins was normally not one to be told what to do, I jumped onto the nearest table. The wind was starting to pick up. I raised my gun, firing two rounds into the wooden ceiling. And beautifully, and abruptly, all sound stopped, even the damn loud music. Everyone’s eyes trained on me. I holstered my gun, which was a bit harder to do with my ‘brass knuckles’ on, and rubbed at my ear that was throbbing from the loud shot as I shouted, “I am Caro Jules, the Prodigy Elemental. I’m ordering every damn one of you to move to the back of the room right now for your own safety.”
I let my power out and opened my Core, my eyes flaring brightly as people visibly flinched.
Every single one of the Elementals, and even most of the Shifters who had scented my truth, instantly moved to do as told—plus, there was the added bonus of the freaky unexplainable wind occurring inside the closed room. But when the rest only stood there, I inhaled heavily and ramped up my power. The tables, lamps, and pool tables shook violently as I shouted furiously, “Get to the f*cking back of the room, people!”
Lovely. There was a mad dash to the back of the room, people tripping over each other in their haste. Almost everyone here had never felt that sort of power before.
I shouted just as furiously, “Elder Farrar, Queen Cooper, London, protect them!”
Brann walked forward casually toward me in the shaking room as everyone raced past him, an eyebrow quirked. “Nice to know you can do that, too.” His head cocked nonchalantly, but his eyes were dimly glowing in their alertness. “Want to explain what’s going on?”
“Just get back with them, Brann,” I mumbled. Mrs Damon and Mr Damon were already beginning to glow on the floor next to me, staring out the picturesque windows, and I heard Mr Damon mutter a profound curse as he stared outside. “Brann, you’re just going to have to trust me, since I don’t have time to explain. I can’t worry about protecting you while I do this. Just get back.”
“I can protect—”
“I’m sorry, Brann, but I don’t have time for this,” I muttered. I raised my hand, sending a pulse wave at him. He flew through the air toward the back of the room. Elder Jacobs caught him in a magical wind, bringing him down carefully. I hollered, “Keep him back, goddammit!” My nostrils flared at the furious and surprised expression on Brann’s face. Elder Merrick instantly stepped in front of him, pushing him back when he started to come toward me again. I had to trust they would do what I ordered and keep my friend safe.
I opened my Core fully, head flying back, arms outstretched and palms up, glowing bright silvery white, just as Mr Damon and Mrs Damon were doing. Each of us were mentally flying through the beautiful galaxies to our own hidden cache of weapons. From Mr Damon’s reaction, I decided on the swords I had once found, or had found me—either way, they were f*cking mine—hidden in my own treasure trove of diamond weapons. The handles were brushed platinum, the eighteen-inch-long, sharp deadly blades pure, beautiful diamonds.
I whispered, calling to them, before I focused myself back into the saloon bar, still glowing but now more dimly. My swords were now gripped tight in my hands. I grinned, ignoring the shocked gasps I heard from the back of the room where a golden protection spell now completely sectioned it off. Everyone stared at what had to be a phenomenon occurring in front of them. I only had a moment to glance at Mr Damon and saw he had two diamond axes, while Mrs Damon had two short daggers in her hands. Both spirits did not at all appear like ‘just parents’ right now.
“Turn around, Caro,” Mr Damon stated way too calmly. “And see what we’re facing.”
Mrs Damon snorted. “Maybe then she’ll wise up and get back there with them.”
Rolling my head on my shoulders, I ignored not only Brann who was arguing with Elder Merrick and Queen Ruckler, but also Aria who was shouting at King Zeller and trying to get past him to me. Luckily, London was doing what he needed, a hand against the protective golden wall, helping to keep it strong, but I could see he was seconds away from stepping through it. I hoped he wouldn’t.
I inhaled slowly and then turned to the windows.
Chapter Thirteen
I froze, a silent scream caught in my throat as I stared out at the moonlit snow. My power zapped through my veins. The depths of evil outside—an amount I had never seen before—had the diamond blades of my swords instantly glowing white. I went to full power, a cold sweat taking over my entire body. At least fifty to a hundred Shadows lurked under the moonlight, amazingly organized in ranks. All shapes and sizes, each one of them pure evil. Their black forms were unseen to anyone not spirit Elemental as they marched closer to us. My mouth was still opened in terror. This type of frozen fear would get me killed in a heartbeat. My wide, terror-filled eyes glanced back to where King Collins paced in the little section he had behind Queen Cooper with her palm on the golden wall, and he stopped at my expression.
My tone constricted, I ordered, “Don’t drop the f*cking wall until we say it’s safe.”