Talina and I clutched each other. She looked very pale, but although I felt a little uneasy watching the scene before me, I wasn’t as freaked as I thought. Plus, it wasn’t over yet. Evisceration wasn’t enough to kill a Walker.
Traktin fell to his knees, his face a display of disbelief as the blood drained from him for the second time that day. He slumped forward, landing face first. Josian staggered to his feet but didn’t turn away. I couldn’t see the front of my father, but all of a sudden his shoulders shifted uncomfortably.
“What’s he doing?” I asked Talina. She had a better angle to see.
“It looks like he is mixing up a sandstorm,” she said.
I nodded, noticing the swirling sand before him.
“No, not just sand, energy,” I said in awe. “Josian is gathering energy.”
The swirl continued to grow until we could see it clear across the distance. He took a step back, dropping his hand and releasing the energy. It didn’t rush away, but slowly descended to encase the slumped Walker.
He was lifted into the air. The silence was all encompassing.
I don’t think I breathed the entire time.
The energy began to glow and swirl faster. At no point did Josian’s expression change, and I wondered if he still controlled that energy or if it had been let free to do its job.
Spheres of lights echoed off it, arcing in all directions. Blindingly bright, it became impossible to stare at it directly. The closest my eyes could observe were the flickers over the water. I was unprepared for a sudden outward ricochet of force, and for the second time in ten minutes we were flung backwards. Talina and I landed in a pile of tangled limbs and hair. I coughed up a few mouthfuls of inhaled sand.
“Well, that went well,” Talina said drily as we extricated ourselves and stood.
“Where did he go?” My gaze flicked around, trying to find the Walker.
Josian still stood there, his head thrown back, staring up at ... something.
“I can’t see him, and something strange is going on with your dad.”
Talina was right.
Josian always glowed; his skin was luminous. But now swirls of light shone in red slithers along his bared skin. Standing tall, and so stonelike, it was not hard to understand how Walkers were mistaken for gods. I felt awed and intimidated and he was my father.
“Aribella, can you come to my side now.” His words echoed, deep and low.
He even sounded different, but I didn’t hesitate. I wanted a closer look. Tugging Talina along for the ride, I sprinted to Josian. Within seconds, I was staring up into his blood spattered face.
I gasped. “Dad ...?” My face fell as I stared into his eyes. The striking bronze had been replaced by swirling whirlpools of red. “Your eyes are fre-a-ky,” I said, attempting to lighten the mood.
His expression didn’t change.
I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath and silently praying. Maybe death wasn’t the only way I could lose him.
It’s the absorption of power, Red. He will be fine. It’s an adjustment, but Josian is too old and wily to let the power control him.
Apparently, Brace was back in my head.
I can’t ignore your distress. It makes me want to slay dragons and kill spiders.
I got a mental wink. I smiled. I couldn’t help myself. There was something delightfully enticing about this new Brace.
“I’d say your weird smile is kind of creepy, but I recognize mind-talking,” Talina said, examining me. “Are you speaking to Josian? Is he okay?” Her voice held concern.
I shook my head. “No, Brace has decided to mind-stalk me. I can’t get rid of him.”
Liar, you don’t want to get rid of me.
I ignored him for the moment. Josian still hadn’t answered me.
“Dad!” I said it more forcefully this time. “Pull yourself together. We don’t have time for this.” I raised my arm high so I could snap my fingers in front of his face.
Slowly, with deliberate movements, he stared down at me from his lofty heights. I gulped audibly as I copped the full force of his red eyes.
Rocking the vampire, I thought to myself.
Never really been a fan. How is an unnaturally pale bloodsucker attractive?
I was surprised Brace had understood the reference, and I’d had enough of this one-sided conversation.
I reached out in an attempt to connect with him. Before I knew it, he’d sucked me in to the warm foreign depths of his thoughts. I laughed out loud. I couldn’t help it; he’d created a mental picture of Josian as an emaciated old vampire.
I was distracted by the real Josian as he reached down and took my chin, capturing my attention and forcing me from Brace’s mind.
“We need to let Brace concentrate now; it is his turn to battle.” His voice echoed, sounding disconnected.
But I saw a sliver of bronze blending into the red of his eyes. He was gaining control.
“What did you do to Traktin?” I asked. “And is Brace’s battle the same type of thing?”