‘Drop him,’ she hissed in his ear, ‘Or I’ll break your neck.’
The Water-Mage whimpered and complied. With a deafening crash, the water orb hit the floor, sending a wave across the dungeon and soaking everyone within. Jack was released, gasping for air, his sodden hair plastered to his face.
‘Jack!’ I splashed across the room and fell to my knees at his side.
Jack heaved and coughed up large amounts of water. I slapped his back, hoping it would help.
‘Are you okay?’ I asked.
Martinez saw his chance to flee. Leaving his cronies behind, he made for the door, but Elise was too quick for him.
‘Going somewhere?’ She crooned, blocking the exit.
Bran, Penny and Tom advanced on Martinez like wolves honing in for the kill.
‘I think I’m going to enjoy this,’ Bran said, cracking his knuckles menacingly. ‘Try and absorb my fist.’
I had eyes only for Jack. He lay on the damp floor, breathing hard.
‘How?’ I asked him. ‘You healed them without physical contact. I didn’t know you could do that.’
Jack shook his head. ‘Either did I,’ he croaked.
I brushed the wet hair from his eyes and smiled. ‘You’re amazing.’
Jack grimaced. ‘Is-is everyone okay?’
I looked around the room. My mother and father were back in the corner, coaxing the Humans out of their hiding spot. Maria and Robert were embracing tightly while Penny, Tom, Elise and Bran confined Martinez.
‘We are okay,’ I nodded. ‘I don’t think Martinez’s guard is though.’
Jack sat up groggily and looked around. There was the wolf-man, who lay dead in a pool of his own blood. The multiplier-Mage was alive, but had lost an eye. Then there was the soundwave-Mage who lay burned, bloody and barely conscious. The force field Mage had fainted from the effort of protecting his Master and the Water-Mage cowered in the corner, while Martinez was on his knees, begging for mercy.
‘We won,’ Jack stated, his face blank.
‘We did the right thing,’ I nodded.
Jack lifted a shaking hand and tucked a tendril of hair behind my ear.
‘Are you going to kiss me, or what?’ he asked.
I took Jack’s face between my hands and bent down to meet his lips. He welcomed the kiss, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer. I didn’t care that I was in a room full of people, including my parents.
The sound of Bran clearing his throat loudly caught my attention. I broke away from Jack and looked up to find him staring at me.
‘What do we do with Martinez?’ he asked the room at large.
‘Kill him,’ said Robert.
‘Yes, ‘ee deserves it,’ Maria agreed.
Penny and Tom nodded in unison.
It was at this moment, when everyone was distracted, that Martinez saw his opportunity to attack.
With a swipe of his hand, he sent a force field rocketing across the dungeon. Jack pulled me to the ground and shielded me against his body. The force field acted like a blade, slicing everything in its path. I felt it whoosh past my hair, cutting off the ends.
Once it had passed, I looked around to see if anyone was hurt. It seemed that everyone had ducked in time, the attack passing right over our heads. I let out a sigh of relief, but it caught in my throat as I realised that Maria was still standing, a look of shock upon her face.
I followed her gaze downward as she looked at her stomach. A horizontal line of red appeared across her blouse, seeping at an alarming rate.
‘Maria!’ Robert choked, scrambling to his feet. Jack hoisted himself from the ground and flew across the dungeon floor, ready to help Maria.
But it was too late. Maria had been cleft in twain. Her top half fell to the floor with a sickening thud. The bottom half teetered before following suit.
‘No!’ Jack’s hands fluttered uselessly, unsure of what to do. He could not heal decapitation.
Martinez took advantage of the distraction. He sent another attack rocketing across the dungeon, but we were ready for it this time. Everyone hit the ground just in time. I must have been too slow, for a foot of hair fell next to me.
How could I attack Martinez when my Power was useless against him? I did not want to give him more ammunition. I now understood why he had remained inside the force field before. He was absorbing Power from his guard.
‘Martinez!’ yelled Robert. He was lying on his stomach, looking up at Martinez. Tears streaked his dirt-encrusted face. ‘You murdered my wife!’
‘She was far too old to be fighting, anyway,’ said Martinez dismissively. ‘I did warn you. I said there was no need for a fight.’
‘I’ll kill you!’ Getting to his feet, sixty-something year old shook with rage as he lifted his hands slowly. As he did so, the entire dungeon began to tremble as if there was an earthquake.
But I knew better. I knew that Robert was manipulating the ground around us. Deep cracks appeared overhead and bricks smashed to the floor, narrowly missing our heads.