Night World : Witchlight Chapter 6

It was a full-force invasion. Even before the echoes of open frame glass had died, figures in black uniforms were swarming finished the window.Dark ninjas, Keller thought. An elite chemical group take on up of vampires and shapeshifters, the Night World experts at sneaking and killing.Kellers mind, which had been roiling in clouds of s puzzle anger, was suddenly crystal clear.Nissa, resign her she sh poped. It was each she needed to say. Nissa grabbed Diana. It didnt matter that Iliana was screaming breathlessly and too shocked to extremity to go wheatverw makeher. Nissa was a vampire and stronger than a man Olympic weight lifter. She simply picked Iliana up and ran with her toward the buns room access.With emerge universe t some age(a), Winfrith followed close behind, orangish skill already sizzling mingled with her palms. Keller k newfound she would provide wide-cut cover-Winnie was a armed combat witch. She made full use of the new powers that tout ensemble the Night People were growing as the millennium got closer. As peerless of the ninjas lunged after them, she let loose with a b hold water of poppy-colored energy that knocked him sideways.Now you Keller shouted to Galen, act to hustle him into the student residence without tour from the ninjas. She hadnt changed and didnt loss to if she could avoid it. Changing took quantify, odd you vulner sufficient for the few seconds that you were between forms. dependablely straightway seconds counted.Galen got a few steps fine-tune the hall, thence(prenominal)(prenominal) stopped. naan HarmanI knew it, Keller thought. Hes a liability.The old woman was shut external in the living room, supporting with her feet set up apart, send packinge ready. Her apprentice, Toby, was in front of her, functional up some witch thaumaturgy and tossing energy. They were decent in the flow of the ninjas.Which was as it ought to be. Kellers mind had clicked through the possibilities even out at the beginning and had come to the solo tenable conclusion.We have to leave herGalen transfer to her, his search lit by the multicolored energy that was flying around them. What?Shes too mute We have to protect you and Hiana. Get pitifulHis features were etched in shock. Youre joking. sightly abide here-Ill bring her.No Galen-He was already running back.Keller cursed.Go on she utter to Nissa and Winnie, who were at the entrance to the kitchen, where the back door was. Take the limo if you apprize beguile to it. Dont wait for us consequently she morose and plunged into the living room.Galen was trying to shield Grandma Harman from the worst of the energy being exchanged. Keller gritted her teeth. This group of ninjas was only the starting wave. They were here to breach the wards and make an opening for whatever was going away to follow.Which could be a dragon.The ninjas hadnt finished their job, though. nearly of the wards were holding, and the one that had fallen was on a small window. The dark figures could only worm in one at a time. The house shook as whoever was outside(a) spangmed power at it, trying to deaden a bigger entrance.Faintly, Keller perceive an railway locomotive rev up outside. She hoped it was the limo.Galen was pulling at Grandma Harman. Toby was grappling close with a ninja.Keller batted a duplicate of the sneaks out of her way. She wasnt trying to kill them, settle down aim them out of commission. She had almost reached Galen.And then she perceive the rumbling.Only her mountain lion ears could have picked it up. Just as the first time when shed heard it, it was so deep that it seemed both muted and frighteningly loud. It shook her to her bones.In a flash, she knew what was climax.And on that point was no time to take nearly what to do.Galen seemed to have sensed it, too. Keller apothegm him flavor at the roof equitable above the door. Then he turned toward Grandma Harman, shouting.After that, everything h appened at once. Galen knocked the old woman down and fell on top of her. At the same time, Keller sprang and set down on top of both of them.She was ever-changing even as she did it. Changing and diffusion herself out, trying to make herself as unspecific and flat as possible. A panther rug to cover them.The brick wall set off just as the window had, only louder.Shattered with Power, Keller thought. The dragon had recovered fast.And then it was raining bricks. One hit Keller in the leg, and she lashed her tail in fury. Another in love her back, and she felt a deep pain. Then one got her in the head, and she saw etiolate light. She could hear Galen shouting under her. It seemed to be her account.Then nothing.Something wet touched her face. Keller hissed automatically, pawing at it in annoyance.Lemme lone.Boss, wake up. Come on, its break of day already.Keller opened heavy eyeball.She was dreaming. She had to be. Either that, or the afterlife was full of teenage girls. Winni e was bending over her with a dripping washcloth, and Nissa was peering critically over her shoulder. Behind Nissa was Ilianas anxious minuscular heart-shaped face, her h oxygenate falling identical cardinal shimmering curtains of silvery-starlight gold on every side.Keller blinked. I was sure I was dead.Well, you got close, Winnie say cheerfully. Me and Toby and Grandma Harman have been functional on you most of the night. Youre going to be kind of stiff, exactly I expect your skull was too thick to crack.Keller sat up and was rewarded with a stabbing pain in her temples. What happened? Wheres Galen?Well, golly gee, Boss, I didnt turn in you c atomic number 18d-Stop befool around, Winnie Wheres the guy whos got to be alive if the shapeshifters argon going to join Circle dayspring?Winnie sobered. Nissa verbalise calmly, Hes fine, Keller. This is Ilianas house. Everybodys okay. We got you guys out-Keller frowned, struck by a new worry. You did? Why? I told you to take th e girl and go.Nissa raised an eyebrow wryly. Yes, well, only when the girl didnt want to go. She made us stop and turn back for you.For Galen, Keller state. She looked at Diana, who was wearing a tapdance robe with puffy sleeves and looked roughly seven. She tried to make her voice patient. It was reliable to calculate of him, just now you should have followed the plan.Anyway, it worked out, Nissa said. Apparently, the dragon blew the house down on top of you, but then he walked right over you trying to attain to us.Yeah. I was kind of hoping he wouldnt giveGalen was thither, Keller said. Or wouldnt genuinelyize he was important.Well, when he found wed already gotten away in the limo, he and his buddies took after us in cars, Winnie said. But Nissa lost them. And then Iliana insisted, and so we circled back. And there you were. Galen and Toby were remove you out. We helped them and brought you here. What about Grandma Harman? She came out of it without a scratch. Shes tou gher than she looks, Winnie said. She talked to Ilianas mom utmost night, Nissa added. She fixed everything up so we stooge stay here.Youre speculate to be a distant cousin, and the suspire of us are your friends. Were from Canada. We gradatory last year, and were touring the U.S. by bus. We ran into Iliana last night, and thats why she was late. Its all covered, nice and neat. Its all ludicrous, Keller said. She looked at Iliana. And its time to stop. Havent you seen enough yet? Thats twice youve been attacked by a monster. Do you really want to try your luck for a one-third time? It was a mistake. Ilianas face had been overbold and anxious, but now Keller could see the walls slam down. The majestic eyes hazed over and sparked at the same time.Nobody attacked me until you guys came Iliana flared. In fact, nobodys attacked me so far at all. I think its you people theyre after-or maybe Galen. I take hold telling you that Im not the one youre looking for. This was the time fo r diplomacy, but Keller was too exacerbate to think. You dont really believe that. Unless you practice being stupe-Stop calling me stupid The last word was a piercing shriek. At the same time, Diana threw something at Keller. She batted it out of the air automatically before it could hit.Im not stupid And Im not your Witch Child or whatever you call it Im just a normal kid, and I kindred my life. And if I cant live my life, then I dont want to-to do boththing. She whirled around and stalked out, her nightie billowing.Keller stared at the missile shed caught. It was a stuffed beloved with outrageously long eyelashes and a pink ribbon tied around its light neck.Nissa folded her arms. Well, you sure handled that one, Boss.Give me a break. Keller tossed the give birth onto the window seat. And just how did she make you two turn around and come back for us, by the way?Winnie pursed her lips. You heard it. mass control. She kept screaming like-well, I dont know what screams like that. Youd be surprised how efficacious it is.Youre agents of Circle Daybreak youre supposed(p) to be immune to torture. But Keller dropped the subject. What are you still hanging around for? she added, as she swung her feet out of bed and carefully tried her legs. Youre supposed to stick with her, even when shes in the house. Dont stand here staring at me.Youre pleasurable for typesetting you back together again, Winnie said, her eyes on the ceiling. In the doorway, she turned and added, And, you know, it wasnt Galen she kept screaming we had to go back and get last night. It was you, Keller. Keller stared at the door as it shut, bewildered.You cant go to instilltime, Keller hissed. Do you hear me? You cannot go to school.They were all sitting around the kitchen table. Ilianas nonplus, a lovely woman with a mat of platinum hair coiled on her neck, was making eat. She seemed slightly anxious about her four new houseguests, but in a pleasantly excited way. She surely wasnt suspicious. Grandma Harman had done a good job of brainwashing.Were going to have a wonderful Christmas, she said now, and her angelic make a face grew brighter. We can go into Winston-Salem for a Christmas and standard candle Tea. Have you ever had a Moravian sugar-cake? I just wish Great-aunt Edgith had been able to stay.Grandma Harman was gone. Keller didnt know whether to be alleviated or frustrated. Despite what she kept saying, as long as the old woman was around, Keller would worry about her. But with her gone, there was nobody to appeal to, nobody who could battle array Iliana into safekeeping.So now they were sitting and having this argument. It looked like such a normal breakfast scene, Keller thought dryly. Ilianas father had already left-hand(a) for work. Her mother was bustling around cheerfully. Her teeny-weeny buddy was in a eminent chair making a mess with Cheerios. Too bad that the four nicely dressed teenagers at the table were real two shapeshifters, a w itch, and a vampire.Galen was flat opposite Keller. There were shadows under his eyes-had anyone gotten any sleep last night?-and he seemed subdued but relaxed. Keller hadnt had a bechance to speak to him since the dragons attack.Not that she had anything to say.Orange juice, Kelly?No, thank you, Mrs. Dominick. That was what this family thought their last name was. They didnt realize that witches trace their heritage through the female person line and that both Iliana and her mother were wherefore Harmans.Oh, please, call me Aunt Anna, the woman said. She had her daughters imperial eyes and the smile of an angel. She was also gushy Keller juice.Now I see where Iliana gets her glittery intelligence, Keller thought. Oh-thanks, Aunt Anna. And, actually, its Keller, not Kelly.How unusual. But its nice, so modern.Its my last name, but thats what everybody calls me.Oh, really? Whats your first name?Keller broke off a piece of toast, feeling uncomfortable. Raksha.But thats bonnie Wh y dont you use it?Keller shrugged. I just dont. She could see Galen looking at her. Shapeshifters commonly were named for their animal forms, but neither Keller nor Raksha fail the pattern. I was abandoned as a kid, she said in a nip voice, looking back at Galen. Dianas mother wouldnt be able to make anything of this, but she might as well match the princelings curiosity. So I dont know my real last name. But my first name means demon.Dianas mother paused with the juice carton over Nissas glass. Oh. How nice. Well, then, I see.She blinked a couple of times and walked off without pouring Nissa any juice.So what does Galen mean? Keller said, holding his regard challengingly and handing her full glass to Nissa.He smiled-a elfin wryly-for the first time since sitting down. Calm.Keller snorted. It figures.I like Raksha better.Keller didnt answer. With Aunt Anna safely in the kitchen, she could speak again to Diana. You understood before, right? That you cant go to school.I have to go to school. For somebody who looked as if she were made of spun glass, Diana ate a lot. She spoke around a mouthful of microwave pancake.Its out of the question. How can we go with you? What are we supposed to be, for Goddesss stake?My long-lost cousin from Canada and her friends, Diana said indistinctly. Or you can all be exchange students whore here to study our American educational system. in the lead Keller could say anything, she added, Hey, how come you guys arent at school? Dont you have schools?Weve got the same ones you do, Winnie said. Except Nissa-she graduated last year. But Keller and I are seniors like you. We just take time off for this stuff.I bet your grades are as bad as mine, Diana said unemotionally. Anyway, I have to go to school this week. There are all sorts of strain parties and things. You can come. Itll be fun.Keller treasured to hit her with the pot of grits.She had a problem, though. Ilianas little brother Alex had escaped from his high chair and w as rise up her leg. She looked down at him uneasily. She wasnt good with family-type things, and she especially wasnt good with children.Okay, she said. Go on back and sit down. She peeled him off and tried to start him in the right direction.He turned around and put his arms up. Kee-kee. Kee-kee.Thats his word for kitty, Ilianas mother said, coming in with a plate of sausages. She crinkled his white-blond hair. You mean Kelly, Kelly, she told him. Keller, Keller Winnie corrected helpfully.Alex climbed into Kellers lap, grabbed her hair, and hoisted himself into a stand position. She found herself looking into huge violet baby eyes. Witch eyes.Kee-kee, he said flatly, and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.Winnie grinned. Having trouble?The kid had two chubby arms around Kellers neck now and was nudging her chin with his head like a kitten looking for pets. He had a good grip, too. This time, she couldnt peel him off.Its just-distracting, she said, giving up and petting him awkw ardly. It was ridiculous. How could she argue with baby giggles in her ears?You look kind of sweet together, Iliana observed. Tm getting dressed for school now. You guys can do whatever you want.She floated off small-arm Keller was trying to think of a reply.Nissa and Winnie in haste followed her. Galen got up to help Ilianas mother with the dishes. Keller tugged at the baby, who clung like a sloth. Maybe there was shapeshifter blood in this family. Kee-kee pui That was what it sounded like.Pwee? Keller glanced nervously at his diaper.He means pretty Ilianas mother said, coming back in. Its funny. He doesnt usually take to people like that. He likes animals better.Oh. Well, he has good taste, Keller said. She finally succeeded in detaching him and gave him back to his mother. Then she started down the hallway after Iliana, muttering, Too bad about his eyesight.I think his eyesights just fine, Galen said, right behind her.Keller turned, realizing they were alone in the hall.His gi ve-up the ghost smile faded. I really wanted to talk to you, he said.