Page 29 of Detonation
Centering myself, I let my senses expand, falling into a deadly calm that has the white-hot rage turn to icy fire in my veins. I feel for her energy, calling for the earth to help me in my search. My senses flow through the ground, pulsating through the dirt, searching like a beacon for our opponent. It comes to a stop behind the tornado, the heat from her feet permeating through the dirt like a sensor.
So, she doesn't need to be at the center of the tornado to control it. She moved.
How can I get to her?
I close my eyes and connect with the ground again, finding the spot she previously occupied empty, the wind pushing me back. My feet dig into the ground but it's useless.
Summoning the rocks from the ground, I guide them to envelop my lower body and root me to my spot. It leaves me immobile and paralyzed if she attacks but at least I’ll be able to hold my ground and launch a counterattack amid the tornado. I can’t afford to go flying in the air with the wind picking up and the eye of the storm creeping closer.
I run through which elements are infused in the world that I've yet to tap into. I'll have to be creative for this. I'll have to do something unpredictable.
Looking up, I latch onto the clouds in the sky. What about the very thing that knocked me on my ass my first day here? Lightning.
Fuck, how do I connect to that?
Your power comes from your feelings. You just have to intend it and it’s there.
Serenity's voice sounds in my head, reminding me to not think so hard that I put myself at a disadvantage.
Let go, Lana.
Lifting my hands, I feel for the energy that's around me, the static in the air. The hair on my arms lifts and a chill breaks out over me, tingles spreading across my skin at the energy vibrating around me.
The tornado begins to grow, darkening in color, now a deep grey, opposed to its earlier white. I glance around, concerned for the people who were observing our fight, but find that they're gone.
Good, one less thing I need to worry about right now.
Closing my eyes, I put faith into my powers to save me, trusting that I don't need to focus on what she’s doing.
I can do this.
I look inward for my well of power, following the strands back to my soul. The silver pulsates and I picture bolts of lightning intertwining with it, imagining the silver color of my powers in the clouds, the vibration flowing, sparking in the clouds.
A crack of lightning sounds and the wind dies down with a start.
Holding my breath, I open my eyes and see Blue standing, gaping in shock but unscathed, save for some frizzy hair. I furrow my brows in confusion but quickly see that the patch of earth next to her is blackened.
She comes out of her trance and cackles maniacally "Holy shit, we need to work on your aim. My name is Raven."
Chapter Nine
Lana
I all but fall into the small wooden seat in the dining hall and tuck into my food.Who knew becoming Zeus and throwing lightning bolts at people like a badass would take so much out of me?
The past few nights, I was ravenous but the broth was just enough to appease the ache in my stomach enough to fall asleep. Today, I needed to feast.
I dig like an animal into my food, not once looking up from the plate. All I’m missing is the grunts and huffs as I eat; otherwise, I look just like a rabid coyote. A screech on the floor draws my attention from my half-demolished plate and I eye the person sitting down without turning my head, hoping they aren't expecting a conversation.
It's Noreen. I straighten a little to put on the façade of decency and then immediately drop it at the sight of my next entrée. Picking it up with my bare hands, I gnaw into it, marveling at the taste. It tastes similar to the ribs back home but it’s a little sweeter. As I chomp away on it, cleaning it down to the bone, she scrunches her nose and daintily picks at her salad.
I raise my eyebrows at her while continuing to chow, wordlessly asking her what her problem is. She furrows her brow at me and shakes her head, causing me to shrug my shoulders in return.
Has she never seen a girl love her food so much that eating looks like an intimate act?
We sit in silence until my plate is clear and I lean back into my seat, satisfied with the bulge of my stomach while simultaneously wondering if they’ll judge me for going back for more.
"Were you starved wherever you were hiding before coming here?" Noreen's sarcastic jab breaks the fantasy.
