Drawing Bloodlines (9 page)

Leah’s eyes quivered with fear and her e
ntire body began to shake. “W–what!” she mustered to say. “N–not again….”

“You’re okay,” said Nathan, placing both arms on her shoulders. “They aren’t after you. They’re after the meda
llion.”

“What!” she exclaimed. “Then here, take it!” She a
ttempted to shove the medallion into Nathan’s hands. “Give it back to them. I would have never taken it if I knew they would come after me.”

Nathan paused and then twisted his mouth to the side as people rushed past them. “Unfortunately, it’s not that si
mple,” he said and Leah looked confused.

“Okay, Nathan!” yelled Malick, pointing toward the stage. Lauren pointed at them. Luke and Laban both boun
ded in the air, landing halfway to them. “Enough of the heart to heart — I think it’s time we get out of here!”

Amidst the chaos, Luke and Laban casually made their way toward them. Like Lauren, Laban’s amethyst-colored eyes had a hint of fire in them as he swung wildly, knocking people out of the way. A young girl, bewi
ldered, unwittingly crossed paths with him and he swiftly lifted her off her feet by her neck.

Nathan could feel something churning in the pit of his stomach and lifted his palm as his hand started to shake. The young girl’s screams echoed across Lynn Field as a bright blue flame immediately ignited from Nathan’s hand.

“What are you doing!” shouted Malick, securing Nathan’s arm. “Are you trying to get us killed?” He turned to look in the direction of Luke and Laban again, the bottom of their red cloaks flowing behind them. “Besides, they’re too far away.”

“What!” shouted Nathan, startled and taken off guard. Nathan watched helplessly as the young girl went flying through the air, only stopping because her body crashed into a nearby tree. “What the hell are you doing?” Infuriated, N
athan shoved Malick hard. “Why did you stop me? You just killed that girl!”

“You need to get a grip!” yelled Malick; su
rrendering his hands in the air. “You can’t use your powers out in the open — look at all these people. How are you going to explain shooting fire out of your hands?” He reached into his shirt and held out the silver chain with the metallic arrowhead attached to it that was around his neck. “Besides, you’re not even cloaked. You don’t want them to know that you’re the Firewalker.” 

“Cloaked?” shouted Nathan in frustration. “They already know about us. They know who we are!”

“And whose job was it to get us cloaked anyway,” chimed in Jonathan, glaring at Malick from above his glasses. “Do tell me, how’s that going?”

Malick frowned. “W–
what do you mean they know who we are?” he stumbled.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for the last fi
fteen minutes!” moaned Nathan. “The gig is up. They already know that there are two Firewalkers!”

“B–
but, wait,” stuttered Malick. He started to back up, following the crowds of people who ran from Luke and Laban as they approached. “How do they know it’s me? How do they even know my name?”

“We don’t have time for this!” shouted Nathan, moving in the same direction as Malick, Leah and the others. “I–I don’t know if they know your name, but I’m sure Lauren has seen your face.” Abruptly, N
athan stopped moving. “And I’m going to need you to stop referring to me as the Firewalker — like I’m the chosen one or something. Last time I checked, one of your Pneuma Novo abilities was fire too!”

“Pneuma Novo?” asked Samantha, sounding confused.

“The ability to manipulate your life force or spirit energy,” said Jonathan. “See in Nathan’s case, he has the rare ability to manipulate his life force into fire — it’s really quite fascinating. I’m just beginning to scratch the surface in my research….”

“Jonathan!” yelled Nathan, dramatically pointing at Luke and Laban. Nathan paused and more panic came over him after he caught a glimpse of Lauren and the once docile s
ecurity guard making their way toward Lafonda and the others. “Quick — I’m going to need you to do your wolf thing and go save Lafonda and the others!”

“You mean fox,” said Jonathan. Nathan glared at him. “Okay, okay — I’m on it!”

A swirl of blue and white lights suddenly surrounded Jonathan. Samantha’s eyes grew wide in amazement. “Whoa!” she said. “You weren’t kidding about the fox.”

“Great!”
shouted Malick. “I tell you not to use your powers and you tell Jonathan to turn into a dog instead.” He pointed; gawking at the small black animal with piercing blue eyes in front of them. “Try explaining
that
to people.”

Jonathan growled and it appeared to be directed at Malick as he bolted across the fog swept field.
“Jonas!” bellowed Nathan, as Jonas looked frightened. “I need you to help Jonathan.”

“W–
what?” said Jonas, shaking his head. He turned to look at Nathan, an inquisitive look upon his face. He then slowly repeated what Nathan said. “Help Jonathan, save Lafonda and the others — right!”

Nathan nodded, as Jonas appeared to get his bearings. “But why is the security guard helping Lauren?” he asked.

“Ugh,” sighed Nathan. “Remember Steve?”

“Uh, yeah,” he nodded
, “Lauren had some kind of freaky control over him after she touched him.”

Nathan raised his eyebrows and nodded eagerly. Luke and Laban had made their way through the crowd, closing in on them. “Yes, yes, you have your answer, now go!”

“Right!” said Jonas, scampering away.

“And don’t let her touch you!” yelled Nathan after him. Laban looked up at the sound of Nathan’s voice and smirked as he gritted his perfect white teeth. “Samantha — Leah — get out of here!” He raised the palm of his hand and in it formed a bright blue energy ball. “Don’t worry about us … run!”

Quickly, Leah took Samantha by the hand and along with a few stragglers, headed toward the rows of parked cars. “Let’s go!” shouted Leah.

Lynn Field looked almost as eerie as it no
rmally did, now that most the people were gone. Although abandoned, the stage lights continued to blink off and on. A cool breeze rushed past Luke and Laban that caused their long blond hair to ruffle in the wind. At the foot of them, Nathan heard the moans of one of their victims, camouflaged by the rolling fog.

“Ha-ha-ha!” reveled Laban. Nathan hurled the energy ball at him.

Swiftly, Laban blocked the ball of energy with his hand and laughed.

“If you’re going to insist on exposing us to the public,” Malick sighed, “then why are you wasting your time thro
wing energy balls?”

Nathan looked frustrated, dramatically dropping his hands to his side.

“Don’t just stand there looking at me,” Malick shouted. “Throw a fireball!”

“Fireball?” asked Nathan. He produced a blue flame in his hand. “I’ve never made one!”

“Are you kidding me?” asked Malick, sounding a bit frantic. “And they think you’re the Firewalker?”

Nathan shook his head and several beads of sweat acc
umulated on his forehead. Soon he managed to coalesce the blue flame into a rolling fireball. “And why don’t you throw one?” he asked, preparing to cast it at them, but Luke suddenly leapt into the air.

“I told you,” said Malick. He watched in awe as Luke soared over them. “I don’t want them — to know — it’s me….”

Suddenly, Nathan realized Luke’s trajectory. “Leah!” he gasped, and Luke landed directly in front of Samantha and Leah; blocking their escape.

Nathan took off toward them, but felt a paralyzing grip on the back of his neck. In the same instant, he heard a dea
fening thud as Malick was violently knocked to the ground. “So, this is the Firewalker,” sneered Laban, turning Nathan around. In one swift motion, he switched hands, seizing Nathan by the throat and lifting him in the air. “Doesn’t look like much.”

Nathan started to choke as Laban’s grip grew tighter and tighter around his neck. “Where’s the medallion!” he yelled. “And where is the other Firewalker?”

Tears swelled in Nathan’s eyes and for a brief second, he glanced over at Leah.

“Ah, I see — Luke!” Laban yelled. “Check the girl!”

“No!” Nathan cried out, struggling to get free.

Laban laughed heartily in response. He i
ncreased his grip. Quickly, Luke barreled down on Leah and Samantha like a semi-truck. He gritted his teeth and flexed his overly muscular arms, reaching out for Samantha.

“No!” screamed Leah, pu
shing Samantha out of the way.

Leah stood in between them now, her arms quivering at her sides. Luke’s 6’5 frame towered over her as his eyes burned a fiery red. He grinned a maniacal grin, and then struck Leah to the ground.

Nathan’s feet dangled helplessly in the air as he continued to struggle. Laban seemed to take delight in watching Leah suffer and it distracted him just enough that his grip became lax around Nathan’s throat.

“Malick,” Nathan whispered; the tears still swelling in his eyes, but Malick continued to lay unconscious on the ground.

Luke started to move in on Samantha, but she quickly dove to Leah’s aid. Luke gritted his perfect white teeth and then swiftly raised his hand to strike. Suddenly there was a flash of blue light. Samantha and Leah both looked at each other in awe as the crescent-shaped medallion clutched in Leah’s hand burned a bright blue again. Instinctively, Leah pointed it at him, and out shot a bolt of energy. Luke went hurling into the air.

A loud booming sound echoed across the field as Luke crashed into a parked squad car, crushing the hood and smashing the front windshield. With the help of Samantha, Leah stood up. She spun around; her wea
pon loaded, she aimed the medallion at Laban.

Quickly, Laban removed his hood and his mouth snarled. “You pathetic human!” he yelled, tossing Nathan to the gr
ound. “Give me that medallion.”

A moment passed and Leah, a little shaky, continued to point the medallion at him. Laban growled and his eyes seemed to burn right out of his sockets. Swiftly, he took off running toward her and immediately the medallion turned blue again — firing a bolt of energy straight into Laban’s chest.

Nathan lay on the ground. He had landed on his side and his arm throbbed. Through the swirling fog, he could see that Laban had recovered quickly and had sprung back to his feet.

“Nathan,” said someone standing over him. “Get up!”

“Malick?” asked Nathan, wearily.

“No — get up!” he said, while pulling at his arm. “It’s Argus — now get up!”

Nathan’s head was still in a whirl, but Argus quickly got him on his feet. “Wake up, Nathan,” he said, giving him two light slaps in the face. “I need you to throw a fireball and fast — I’m not trying to die for anyone tonight.”

“W–
what?” he asked, sounding confused. He had a shocked look on his face. “How did you….”

“I saw you earlier,” said Argus. “Now hurry up, before we lose your friends!”

Nathan followed Argus’s gaze and his drowsy eyes suddenly grew wide. “Leah … Sam!” he gasped, as Laban charged toward them.

Quickly, Nathan raised his hand and hit Laban with a blazing blue fireball. The bottom of Laban’s red cloak caught fire as the flames spread over his body like wildfire. Everywhere the fire spread burned a bright blue, as the fire turned all to cinder. Laban cried out in agony. Soon, the flames had reached his face and the searing pain forced him into the fetal position.

Without warning, Luke emerged from the battered car, and like a bullet, shot toward Laban. It was as if Laban’s cries had awoken a sleeping giant.

“Quick!” yelled Argus. “Throw another fireball at him!”

Nathan raised his hand to strike, but before he could launch another fireball, Luke threw a series of blue energy balls at them. “I didn’t know they could do that,” complained Nathan. They both dove to the ground. “I guess it’s better than Lucas’s lightning bolts….”

“Wait … what?” yelled Argus. He had gotten to his feet again. “You’ve had a run in with Lucas?”

“Umm, yeah, sort of,” stumbled Nathan, his face turning red. Quickly, Nathan stood up and readied a counterattack, but Luke and Laban were already halfway toward the stage.

“They’re leaving?” mumbled Leah, joining Argus and Nathan from the side.

Nathan could tell from Laban’s limp that he was badly injured; half of his body was charred and ashen. “We should go after them!” Nathan shouted. He turned to look at Leah and paused, gently caressing her busted lip. “I think we’ve actually hurt them this time. If we hurry, we can stop them before they reach the stage.”

“This time?” asked Argus, looking confused. The frown lines on his over-tanned skin a
ppeared to leave what looked like railroad tracks on his forehead. Soon, his crisp blue eyes became very discerning. “We need to help your other friends….”

“Other friends?” said Nathan.

“Argus!” yelled Chief Rosales, running up to them. His breath labored and his chest heaved. “What the hell is going on? You and your people promised this would never happen again.”

Immediately, he noticed Malick on the ground and checked his vital signs. “And don’t tell me this has nothing to do with what just recently happened at the caves!”