Page 58 of Wolf Trap

Nathaniel strutted over to me. “Put your hands on your belly, just below your navel.”

“Ok?”

“Now, take a deep breath in, then out and again.” He looked a bit impatient. “Again. Nod when it feels warm.”

I kept doing that, and after about eight breaths I started to feel a heat.

“Good. That’s your energy centre, your core. Now before we begin, I want you to focus all of your attention on your core. And don’t think! It will be hard, your mind will try and make you think. But, if you act without thinking, you’ll be quicker. When I fight you, I’m not thinking about my moves. Lycaon is right, it’s called flow state. You can’t possibly learn it right now, but you can begin to harness it. With time and constant practice, you will hone it and be faster than many others. Ok?”

“Yes. I’ve heard of it.”

Shaking out his arms, Nathaniel nodded. “Good. Begin. Hit me!”

I did the same, shaking out my arms, my hands and blew through my mouth putting my attention on my core. He didn’t flinch, but as for me, without intending it, I stepped forward and side-kicked him. He stumbled. Everyone stepped closer.

Smiling, Nathaniel looked at the others. “Good. She still needs the armour, but she has a chance now. Now off with you all. I have a hot date tonight and I need a shower.”

His voice strained, Anthony stared at him and asked, “A hot date, really? Back there again, I thought you’d join us, me?”

Nathaniel shrugged. “When you get to my age, dear Anthony, you’ll understand. You go, save the world. But first, Lucius, the explosives?”

Lucius didn’t need to say a word. The cat-like grin on his face said everything. He curled his finger and said, “If you’ll come with me.”

It was onlywhen he got to the wall that I saw the faintest outlines of a door. Pressing his palm against it, a jade light emitted and the door edged back, then forward. Inside was a cupboard, stacked, floor to ceiling shelves with wooden boxes. He glanced up, pulled a small box and, eyeing me as I stood in the doorway, I moved away as he came out and placed the box on the floor.

“Grenade anyone?” He held one in his hand. “Don’t ask where we acquired them. You have about three seconds once you pull the pin. Got that? Three seconds.”

He eyed Austin, Anthony, Hakon and Lycaon. Then his stare rested on me. “You’re not getting them, Elsa, so don’t even go there, but who is the most responsible? I think a few of you should take, what, three or four each?”

I should’ve felt snubbed I guess, but all this was so new to me, I was relieved. I had to use guns, and until this Adara problem, I’d never even been near one.

“We’ll all take some. Elsa should have some, they could save her life.”

Oh, shit!

“Good. Now I need to teach Elsa how to load the cartridges in the guns, how to empty them. We have automatic Berettas,” Lucius flashed me a smirk, “that’s what you were practising with. They’re not new, not flashy but they work. Your specialist bullets, Nathaniel has some of these in cases ready. Other than that, we’ve got regular bullets that I’ve personally hexed. So, they should take down most supernatural species, or give you enough time to get away. Questions?”

The others wore foolish grins. Lycaon’s eyes were wide with wonder. He shook his head. “Are we really doing this? It’s a far cry from my forest days. Ok, I’m ready. Vests, she’ll need one.”

“Agreed. We’ve had some constructed for all of you, no point in wasting magic on bullets when a vest will do that for you. These are thinner, more flexible. Made using Nano-technology. Nathaniel will kit you out. And Austin?”

“Yes?”

“Get home alive. If you die, I will go to Hell and drag your scrawny soul back kicking and screaming and raise you from the dead myself!”

“Aw, shucks, thanks Lucius!”

Lucius nodded, a stern look on his face.

Austin offered, “I'm going to summon Jax, then let’s go blow stuff up! Plus I have a surprise for all of you!”

With Jaxand her coordinates of the location, Austin transported us to Adara’s base. Some of his tricks to get us in included mirrored masks and cloaks, disguising ourselves as the enemy and chains for Lycaon!

Lycaon was not happy! Grunting at the mage, “magic me up a mask and cloak, fool! I will not take one step in chains!”

Hakon laughed, winking at Lycaon. “I don’t know, you look good in chains, old wolf. It suits you.”

Chiding, Lycaon avoided Hakon’s grin and stared at Anthony. “Chains are more his thing, aren’t they?”

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