We instantly quieted.
We watched with barely contained elation as the water around us began shimmering with the sun’s light; our trek was now on an incline. It was more slippery than before, so we had to slow our pace, but within twenty minutes the water was just above eye-level.
As I panted shallow intakes of air, relief poured through me, and my frame trembled spastically every so often. The water receded with every forward step we took. I almost shouted with pure elation when my bare feet touched dry sand. Fortunately for us, this part of the beach was exclusive, with long stretches of prime real estate reserved only for mansions of the wealthy. It was currently deserted.
Cheers erupted from behind as we stopped, the Mysticals animated.
Still needing us to focus, Jack turned his head so we could hear him and stated clearly, “Same as before, but in reverse. Start lifting the edges of the dome until it’s level. Push.” The four of us were exhausted from our journey, not only physically, but also mentally, so this process wasn’t going to be as easy as in training.
Plus, we had a distraction.
But not from the Mysticals behind us.
As the dome’s edges began lifting, the smell of burning wood began to drift inside, floating on the breeze. Sniffing the air, I squinted toward the left. Roughly a mile away, one of the mansions was ablaze, the tentacles of the flames reaching far into the air and the billowing cloud of dark smoke tainted with death. No one was stopping the fire. Instead, a mass of people watched it burn where they stood on the grassy turf.
“The attacks weren’t only at King Hall.” Ezra’s alert gaze turned to one of his two elite Vampire guards. “Alex, spread the word. They need to shut the fuck up back there.”
“Understood,” Alex replied promptly, and I felt a breeze at my back as he blurred away.
“I can’t count their numbers,” I scented the air, “but they have silver bullets.”
“There are enough on that lawn to hinder us,” Ezra muttered with a slight narrowing of his eyes. “And Elder Farrar said to stop for nothing and no one.”
Quickly, the crowd began quieting behind us.
We worked as swiftly as we could until the dome was finally flat above us.
Jack explained, “We have no time for pretty. Just move it to our right.”
We pushed our will.
The sun began shining down on us, the floating stagnant pond twenty yards to our right.
Jack ordered, “Stop.”
Staying centered, we followed his order.
He pointed. “Lower it to the ground.”
We immediately obeyed.
He rolled his shoulders under our grip. “Stop pushing and drop your hands.”
We did.
The pond instantly slackened, and the spout flowed downward with a smashing crash.
I glanced to the left, eyeing the Com horde with their hands now in the air, cheering as the fire consumed the entire mansion. It appeared that the explosion of water hadn’t been quite loud enough to attract their attention, the harsh waves making just as much noise. The dirty water and dead fish spread on the sand for a moment, then rushed down the beach into the Sound.
Well…that was that.
On to the next stage.
Turning to the crowd, I jumped a few times in place, shaking my arms and legs out, suddenly consumed with bountiful energy; I was no longer trapped or focusing. The battered Mysticals, fearful and silent, waited for orders. Loudly, I expounded, “We’re moving again. There will be cars ahead. The keys are in the ignitions.” Hopefully, there will be enough cars for all of us. “We’ll be traveling east, so follow us closely and keep your heads down.” I paused before an afterthought. “Drive safely and don’t stop for anyone or anything.”
Slight murmurs erupted again, but I turned — no time for questions — to my besties in the slowly dying sunset and nodded toward the blue manor house in front of us, which appeared to be deserted as there were no lights on inside. “Let’s go. The cars have to be there somewhere.”
The four of us moved quickly, and the throng of fatigued Mysticals followed instantaneously, even if they didn’t wholly understand. Leading our people away from the open beach, we hiked the sand dune barrier to the tall grass that was harsh on our already bruised, shoeless feet. My best friends and I watched the manor closely, but we swiftly identified no sounds or movements coming from within.
Rounding the impressive structure, a grin suddenly lit my features.
Antonio had used the owner’s front lawn as a parking lot. It was full of cars, SUVs, and trucks. More than likely pilfered from various locations.