Page 17 of Blood

“It’s okay,” he whispers, trying to calm her.

But as more bombs strike, and supers emerge onto the street, screaming and pointing, dread solidifies in my stomach.

“It’s okay,” Tanner tries again. “They won’t breach it.”

Nova pulls away from him and steps forward. She has become the poster witch for everything the AMA hates about supers. Despite the fact she saved us all, they have used her power against her. Dubbed her a danger to humanity. Not far from the edge of the shield, there are pickets, signs, disgusting specimens like Johnny shouting names that make me want to rip their fucking heads off.

So far, the SDB is managing to control the situation.

But, while they’re not coming for Nova, the American Government isn’t doing anything to help her – or us – either.

“We can’t give them any more ammunition,” Rev says, resting her hand on Nova’s shoulder.

But our phoenix is quivering with heat. “I should stop them,” she says as plumes of thin orange smoke begin to waft from her skin into the air around her.

I squeeze her hand. Her palm sizzles against mine. “Nova, it’s okay. They can’t get past the shield.”

Another blow.

Then another.

Nova splays out her arms. At the same time, her wings appear. Darker than the ones that bloom when she comes. Like they are laced with ash.

Another blow.

Another.

Each impact is like an assault on my senses.

Tanner and Sam step in front of Nova, trying to keep her grounded.

My head pounds, my vision blurs. I sway as my knees weaken. I brace my hand on the truck.

“Mack? What’s wrong?” Her voice sounds far away. Darkness creeps into my peripheral vision.

My legs give out and I collapse to the ground. Weakness courses through me. My body is failing. Something is sapping my strength. I’m crumbling.

Nova kneels beside me, her hands fluttering over me helplessly. “Rhone… say something.”

I try to respond, but my tongue feels thick and useless. The darkness closes in, swallowing me whole.

10

NOVA

Anger and fear swell in my veins like molten, bubbling lava. I am ready to explode. I’m ready to burst through the shield and destroy every single one of those monsters outside.

I’m ready to do to them what I did to Johnny.

I’m ready to punish them for their small minds and their black hearts.

I don’t try to control the power surging inside me. Even though Mack has been trying to teach me how to harness it, right now, I don’t want to. I want to let it explode. I want to burn them all.

But then Mack collapses. I see him from the corner of my eye. He stumbles, reaches for the truck to steady himself, then falls to the ground.

Around us, supers are spilling out into the street. Some are angry. Some are afraid. Some are sad.

I search for Tanner. Before he drank from me, he’d have found it hard to block the intense surge of emotion filling the air. Now, he is better able to shut it out.