Page 99 of The Never List
Pierce is farther across the market square, wielding those emerald bands of energy against five Faders. Some are getting tangled in his powers, others merely dropping to the ground from it.
Axl is fighting hand to hand now. He glances our way. “They have something,” he hollers. “It’s nullifying my power!”
The dust I saw. Is that possible?
Ice fills my veins as I look for Kal, but I can’t see him. I can only hope he’s taken to the skies and isn’t allowing any of that dust to touch him.
“Butterfly,” Jax says with a sense of urgency that has mestanding at attention.
Four Faders stalk toward us, swords ready as they surround us.
Jax shifts me so my back is against his, him facing two of the Faders and me facing the others. He passes me a knife, and I wrap my fingers around the hilt.
“You lose that,” he says, voice low and razor-edged, “and we will have averybig problem.”
“What are you going to do? Fill my pillow with snakes when I sleep in the Obsidian City?” I already fully understand his disdain for me. Does he really have to pour it on?
“Already thinking about my bed?” He blocks an incoming blow from a Fader with his blade, the sword of the Fader clanking before Jax slams a booted foot into the Fader’s gut, sending him flying backward.
“I’ve grown quite fond of Legend beds,” I quip back, the breath rushing out of me as I shove against him, knocking us out of the path of a dagger thrown by another Fader. The move pushes us apart, but I don’t have time to get back to Jax as the two Faders come at me.
I swipe the borrowed knife at the Fader closest to me, and it cuts through the thick material of their uniform, drawing blood along their chest.
The Fader is twice my size, and a masculine grunt sounds at the small hurt I’ve caused. He backhands me so fast I don’t have time to defend myself. I wince at the sting on my lip, whirling around to block another blow with my arms. A metallic tang coats my mouth, and I curl my tongue along the split in my lip, tasting blood.
He goes for another hit, and I duck, slashing the knifeacross his shins, but he keeps coming, reaching for me—
Then he’s in the air, ribbons of green light lifting his body and sending him sailing in the opposite direction. Pierce is coming toward us, his sleeves rolled to his elbows, his suit jacket discarded who knows where. He looks like he could be ready to prepare dinner, not be in the midst of a battle as he slowly walks through the fray, curling his fingers this way and that, sending any Fader near him running.
A succession of whistles breaks through the noises of the fight, and the Faders immediately stop what they’re doing, scattering at the sound.
“Try to get one alive!” Jax calls out to the Legends as he points at the Fader closest to him. They tense up, going rigid right where they stand before unleashing a bloodcurdling scream. They grip their head, shaking it back and forth as if something has slipped beneath the mask and is cutting them up from the inside out.
Jax takes two steps toward them, but they race in the opposite direction, disappearing into the shadows, their screams muffled before going silent.
“They’re running,” Pierce says as he makes it to my side. “And whatever they’re using is making them oddly resistant to my power.”
Kal soars through the skies, landing softly near us. “I lost two,” he says, shaking his head. “My flight disappeared, and I almost crashed.”
I move instinctively to check on him—
“Don’t leave my side,” Jax commands, gripping my wrist and hauling me back against him as he hurls a blade at the last Fader doing their best to run.
Kal takes after them, his usually untraceable speedflickering in and out. Pierce and Axl follow him.
Jax sheathes his blades, turning to face me. He tips my chin up, those indigo eyes searing as he looks at the split in my lip. He gently examines it, shaking his head. “Still think you want any part of this?” His question is a whisper between us.
I reach up, gripping his wrist, the words on the tip of my tongue.
“They evaded.” Pierce’s voice is breathless for once as he makes his way back to us.
“What?” Jax snaps as he turns toward Pierce.
“They’re taking enhancements,” Pierce says, Axl and Kal coming up behind him. “Or they’re demis. I couldn’t sense either.”
Jax growls.
Confusion spins my mind, but I’m too distracted as I note a cut across Axl’s chest and one along Kal’s right arm. I race toward them, my heart in my throat. “You’re hurt,” I say as I look over their wounds. “What happened?” I ask Axl. “What made your powers weaker?”
