King Cave (Forever Evermore, #2)(12)
The sun began shining down on us, the floating stagnant pond twenty yards to our right.
Jack ordered, “Stop.”
Staying centered, we followed his order.
He pointed. “Lower it to the ground.”
We immediately obeyed.
He rolled his shoulders under our grip. “Stop pushing and drop your hands.”
We did.
The pond instantly slackened, and the spout flowed downward with a smashing crash.
I glanced to the left, eyeing the Com horde with their hands now in the air, cheering as the fire consumed the entire mansion. It appeared that the explosion of water hadn’t been quite loud enough to attract their attention, the harsh waves making just as much noise. The dirty water and dead fish spread on the sand for a moment, then rushed down the beach into the Sound.
Well…that was that.
On to the next stage.
Turning to the crowd, I jumped a few times in place, shaking my arms and legs out, suddenly consumed with bountiful energy; I was no longer trapped or focusing. The battered Mysticals, fearful and silent, waited for orders. Loudly, I expounded, “We’re moving again. There will be cars ahead. The keys are in the ignitions.” Hopefully, there will be enough cars for all of us. “We’ll be traveling east, so follow us closely and keep your heads down.” I paused before an afterthought. “Drive safely and don’t stop for anyone or anything.”
Slight murmurs erupted again, but I turned — no time for questions — to my besties in the slowly dying sunset and nodded toward the blue manor house in front of us, which appeared to be deserted as there were no lights on inside. “Let’s go. The cars have to be there somewhere.”
The four of us moved quickly, and the throng of fatigued Mysticals followed instantaneously, even if they didn’t wholly understand. Leading our people away from the open beach, we hiked the sand dune barrier to the tall grass that was harsh on our already bruised, shoeless feet. My best friends and I watched the manor closely, but we swiftly identified no sounds or movements coming from within.
Rounding the impressive structure, a grin suddenly lit my features.
Antonio had used the owner’s front lawn as a parking lot. It was full of cars, SUVs, and trucks. More than likely pilfered from various locations.
No further instructions for our people were needed with the sight before us, as my orders were already given, so the four of us maneuvered around the numerous vehicles, heading toward the far end of the rows of vehicles. Closer to the beachfront road, in complete unison, we stopped…at my Hummer. Antonio had brought it here, placing it dead-on to continue leading this swarm of Mysticals.
Shaking my head at his ingenuity — I had parked my Hummer on King Hall’s property earlier that morning — I advanced to the driver’s seat as my friends took their normal places within. Hearing engines start, I strapped on my seatbelt and ordered my besties to do so, too — like normal. I turned my key that had been perfectly placed in the ignition, waiting just for me. A quick glance over my shoulder through the rear window showed there would, indeed, be just enough vehicles. No Mys left behind.
Jerking my Hummer into drive, I glanced in my rear-view mirror to the back seat. “Pearl, can you do something about that gate up ahead?” I could exit my Hummer when we got closer and break it with my Shifter strength, but I preferred getting on the road as soon as possible.
“Yes.” Pearl rolled her window down, and stuck one arm out.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of gold outside my window as she murmured a spell under her breath. Keeping my Hummer traveling forward on the driveway at a sedate speed, I waited for her to finish. The gates shimmered golden, then opened immediately. I glanced in the rear-view mirror when she quit whispering. “Thank you.” Pressing harder on the gas pedal, I took a right on the beachfront road, driving east. “Ezra, would you listen for any sirens or too many heartbeats in one place, please?”
He peered in my direction, staring at my profile, as a small smile played on his lips and as he rolled down his own window. “You’re really good at this.” Cocking his head, his eyes flashed spring green for the barest moment as he listened to the sounds of the oncoming night. He brushed my whipping hair behind my ear as the incoming wind rustled it. “I didn’t realize this until now, since he never taught you to fight, but Elder Farrar did right by you.”
I snorted. Of course Antonio had. He kept me alive when I should have been dead thanks to my hybrid nature. Antonio knew what the hell he was doing, and apparently he knew way more about the future than a normal Mage, having elaborated our escape before there was even a problem.
“He said to watch for the golden protection,” Jack murmured.
Pearl chuckled when the rest of us were stumped. “Hello? It shouldn’t take a fellow Mage to figure this one out.” When we still sat confused, her hilarity only heightened, and she waved one hand forward, continuing to snicker. “For the love of bloody Christ, look up.”
The three of us leaned forward, peering up through the front windshield.
As one, we blinked.
Uh. Wow.
Focusing on the road and our immediate surroundings, I hadn’t seen it, but in the outlying distance straight ahead was a massive, shimmering golden bubble. Almost like a small mountain, but round and translucent. “I would have noticed in a minute.”
“Yeah,” Jack grumbled. “Definitely.”