Tremble (Denazen #3)(51)
“Back off,” Kiernan growled in my direction. “My friend and I are leaving. If you don’t want to get hurt, just leave us be.”
I snorted and stepped between them, letting go of my mimic. There was a slight tingle, and suddenly I was nice and comfy, back in my own skin. “Over my better-dressed body.”
Her eyes widened, and for a fraction of a second, surprise froze her in place.
Then she was on me.
Kiernan’s lip curled up and she lunged forward. Fingers extended toward my throat, she wore an expression that defined pure fury—then nothing. “Crap,” I spat, spinning in a full circle with my arms flailing. Kiernan wasn’t an expert fighter—last I knew of, anyway—but being able to move through the room unseen gave her a serious advantage.
Something connected with my jaw, rocking my head back and sending the room into a swirl of watery color and blurry shapes. I thrust my arms out in front of me, trying to back myself against the wall to narrow down possible areas of attack, but I was too slow. She hit me again, this time from behind, and sent me sprawling to the floor.
From somewhere to my left, I heard her laugh. “What’s the matter, sis? Feeling a little unbalanced?”
Getting my ass handed to me by an invisible girl was embarrassing and certainly not the best impression to give the new guy. In the corner, Ben watched, wide-eyed, clearly having no intention of leaving his hiding place. Obviously he wasn’t the help-a-damsel-in-distress type.
Then again, I wasn’t the damsel type.
Taking a deep breath, I held it and really paid attention. There was no sound. When Kiernan used her ability, she essentially created a bubble around herself, making her body and anything she touched, as well as any sound she might make, undetectable.
But as helpful as that was for her, it didn’t stop me from noticing the ends of my hair flutter on the right side as she geared up for another attack.
I threw myself sideways as hard as I could and a painful howl filled the small room. Kiernan appeared behind me, left arm cradled in her right. I didn’t waste time. Bringing my leg up, I caught her in the stomach, and when she doubled over, I struck again by bringing my elbow down hard between her shoulder blades.
There was a point in my life, not long ago, when the actions that followed might have horrified me. But so much had changed—with my reality and my life—that I didn’t even think twice. Dropping down beside her, I slapped my hand over her mouth, making sure to cover her nose.
It took a moment but she started thrashing, desperate to shake me loose. Desperate for air.
“Holy crap—you’re killing her!” Ben said, finally crawling out from his corner.
As soon as she stopped struggling, I let go, hoping it wasn’t an act. “As much as that would have made my year, I only wanted to knock her out.” I stood. “In case you didn’t realize it, she’s with those people I told you about.”
“I—” Ben started as the door burst open. Assuming it was someone belonging with Kiernan, he swung without asking questions.
The recipient of his blow—or miss, as it turned out—was less than thrilled with the reception. Kale stepped into the room, artfully dodging Ben’s punch, and shoved him hard against the wall. “Do not do that again.”
“Easy,” I said, stepping over Kiernan’s still form and wedging myself between the two boys. “You took him by surprise, that’s all. Kale, this is Ben Simmons.”
He looked at Ben for a moment as if sizing him up, then turned to me. “We need to go. I took care of two agents, but not before one was able to call for help. They know we’re here. They’ll come prepared.”
I followed his gaze to Kiernan, lying motionless on the floor. Her head was at an uncomfortable-looking angle with her right arm wedged beneath her. I was betting she’d wake up with one hell of a stiff neck. “She’s fine,” I said, a pang of jealousy shooting through me.
He tore his gaze from her and met mine with a look that sent the butterflies in my stomach moshing up a frenzy. “I don’t care about her.”
“Right,” I said with a nod. He didn’t care. I was reading into every little thing he did, and that needed to stop. Creeping to the door, I opened it a crack and peered around the frame. The hall looked deserted. If we were going to make a break for it, now was our chance. I waved to Ben. “Come on.”
He shook his head, skin slightly pale and eyes alternating between Kiernan and me. His hand rested atop his stomach and, judging from the expression on his face, there was a good chance he was going to be sick. “You go ahead. I think I’ll wait here for the cops.”
Kale moved toward him. “If you don’t start moving toward the door, Supremacy will be the very least of your problems.”
I grabbed Ben’s arm and pulled while giving Kale the stink eye. “What he means to say is the cops won’t get here in time. If you don’t come with us now, there won’t be a later to worry about. Trust me on this; we’re trying to help you.” I’d done the hardass routine with Ashley, and she ended up dead. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. “Please, Ben. Trust us.”
His eyes widened, then kind of glossed over. Suddenly his breath came in short, shallow pants. “The bloody people. That’s who you’re talking about?”
I had no clue what he meant, but I nodded with great enthusiasm. I would have told him Santa Claus was real and rented an apartment with the Easter Bunny in sunny California if it got him moving. “Yes. Bloody people. Bloody people who want to kill you.”