Night World : Witchlight Chapter 6

It was a full-force invasion. Even before the echoes of breaking glass had died, figures in black uniforms were swarming through the window.Dark ninjas, Keller thought. An elite group made up of vampires and shapeshifters, the wickedness World experts at sneaking and killing.Kellers mind, which had been roiling in clouds of stifled anger, was suddenly crystal clear.Nissa, take her she sh divulgeed. It was all she needed to say. Nissa grabbed Diana. It didnt matter that Iliana was screaming breathlessly and in handle manner shocked to want to go anywhere. Nissa was a vampire and stronger than a human Olympic weight lifter. She simply picked Iliana up and ran with her toward the back door.Without being told, Winfrith followed close behind, orange tree energy already sizzling between her palms. Keller k in the buff she would provide good cover-Winnie was a fighting witch. She made full use of the new powers that all the Night hoi polloi were developing as the millennium got closer. A s one of the ninjas lunged after them, she let loose with a blast of poppy-colored energy that knocked him sideways.Now you Keller shouted to Galen, trying to bicker him into the hallway without turning from the ninjas. She hadnt changed and didnt want to if she could avoid it. Changing took time, left you vulnerable for the few seconds that you were between forms. Right straight off seconds counted.Galen got a few steps depressed the hall, then stopped. nanna HarmanI knew it, Keller thought. Hes a liability.The old muliebrity was still in the living room, standing with her feet braced apart, cane ready. Her apprentice, Toby, was in front of her, workings up some witch incantation and tossing energy. They were right in the flow of the ninjas.Which was as it ought to be. Kellers mind had clicked through the possibilities right at the beginning and had come to the only reasonable conclusion.We have to leave herGalen turned to her, his face lit by the multicolored energy that wa s flying around them. What?Shes too slow We have to comfort you and Hiana. Get movingHis features were etched in shock. Youre joking. Just wait here-Ill bring her.No Galen-He was already running back.Keller cursed.Go on she yelled to Nissa and Winnie, who were at the entrance to the kitchen, where the back door was. Take the limo if you can get to it. Dont wait for us thusly she turned and plunged into the living room.Galen was trying to shield gran Harman from the worst of the energy being exchanged. Keller gritted her teeth. This group of ninjas was only the first wave. They were here to breach the wards and make an opening for wh ingestver was personnel casualty to follow.Which could be a dragon.The ninjas hadnt terminate their job, though. Most of the wards were holding, and the one that had fallen was on a small window. The dark figures could only squirm in one at a time. The kinfolk shake as whoever was outside slammed power at it, trying to break a bigger entrance.Faintl y, Keller perceive an engine rev up outside. She hoped it was the limo.Galen was pulling at Grandma Harman. Toby was grappling hand-to-hand with a ninja.Keller batted a couple of the sneaks out of her way. She wasnt trying to kill them, unsloped put them out of commission. She had almost reached Galen.And then she heard the rumbling.Only her cougar ears could have picked it up. Just as the first time when shed heard it, it was so deep that it fulfilmed both soft and frighteningly loud. It shook her to her bones.In a flash, she knew what was coming.And there was no time to mobilise about what to do.Galen seemed to have sensed it, too. Keller saw him looking at the roof just above the door. Then he turned toward Grandma Harman, cheering.After that, everything happened at once. Galen knocked the old fair sex down and fell on top of her. At the alike time, Keller sprang and landed on top of both of them.She was changing even as she did it. Changing and spreading herself out, tryi ng to make herself as wide and flat as possible. A panther rug to cover them.The brick wall exploded just as the window had, only louder.Shattered with Power, Keller thought. The dragon had recovered fast.And then it was raining bricks. One progress to Keller in the leg, and she lashed her tail in fury. Another struck her back, and she felt a deep pain. Then one got her in the head, and she saw w sproute light. She could hear Galen shouting under her. It seemed to be her name.Then nothing.Something wet touched her face. Keller hissed automatically, pawing at it in annoyance.Lemme lone.Boss, wake up. Come on, its morning already.Keller opened heavy eyes.She was dreaming. She had to be. Either that, or the future was full of teenage girls. Winnie was bending over her with a dripping washcloth, and Nissa was peering critically over her shoulder. Behind Nissa was Ilianas intense little heart-shaped face, her hair falling desire dickens shimmering curtains of silvery-starlight gold o n either side.Keller blinked. I was sure I was dead.Well, you got close, Winnie said cheerfully. Me and Toby and Grandma Harman have been working on you most of the night. Youre dismission to be kind of stiff, just now I guess 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 receive you cared-Stop fooling around, Winnie Wheres the guy whos got to be alive if the shapeshifters are going to join Circle Daybreak?Winnie sobered. Nissa said 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 the girl and go.Nissa raised an eyebrow wryly. Yes, well, but the girl didnt want to go. She made us stop and turn back for you.For Galen, Keller said. She looked at Diana, who was wearing a pink nightgown with puffy sleeves and looked about seven. She tried to make her voice patient . It was good to think of him, but 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 get to us.Yeah. I was kind of hoping he wouldnt realizeGalen was there, Keller said. Or wouldnt realize 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 digging you out. We helped them and brought you here. What about Grandma Harman? She came out of it without a scratch. Shes tougher than she looks, Winnie said. She talked to Ilianas mom last night, Nissa added. She fixed everything up so we can stay here.Youre vatic to be a distant cousin, and the rest of us are your friends. Were from Canada. We graduated 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 third time? It was a mistake. Ilianas face had been sweet and anxious, but now Keller could see the walls slam down. The violet eyes hazed over and sparked at the same time.Nobody attacked me until you guys came Iliana flared. In fact, nobodys attacked me so furthermost at all. I think its you people theyre after-or maybe Galen. I keep telling you that Im not the one youre looking for. This was the time for diplomacy, but Keller was too anger to think. You dont really believe that. Unless you practice being stupid-Stop calling me stupid The last intelligence operation 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 Chil d or whatever you call it Im just a general kid, and I like my life. And if I cant live my life, then I dont want to-to do anything. She whirled around and stalked out, her nightgown billowing.Keller stared at the missile shed caught. It was a stuffed lamb with abysmally long eyelashes and a pink ribbon tied around its white neck.Nissa folded her arms. Well, you sure handled that one, Boss.Give me a break. Keller tossed the lamb 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. Volume control. She kept screaming like-well, I dont populate what screams like that. Youd be surprise how effective it is.Youre agents of Circle Daybreak youre supposed 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 conservatively tried her legs. Youre supposed to stick with her, even when shes in the house. Dont stand he re staring at me.Youre welcome for putting 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 school, Keller hissed. Do you hear me? You cannot go to school.They were all sitting around the kitchen table. Ilianas mother, a lovely woman with a knot of platinum hair coiled on her neck, was devising breakfast. She seemed slightly anxious about her four new houseguests, but in a pleasantly excited way. She certainly wasnt suspicious. Grandma Harman had done a good job of brainwashing.Were going to have a wonderful Christmas, she said now, and her angelic smile grew brighter. We can go into Winston-Salem for a Christmas and 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 relieved 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 order 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 for work. Her mother was bustling around cheerfully. Her little brother was in a high chair making a mess with Cheerios. Too bad that the four nicely dressed teenagers at the table were actually two shapeshifters, a witch, and a vampire.Galen was directly turnabout Keller. There were shadows under his eyes-had anyone gotten any sleep last night?-and he seemed subdued but relaxed. Keller hadnt had a chance to speak to him since the dragons attack.Not that she had anything to say.Orange juice, Kelly?No, convey you, Mrs. Dominick. That was what this family thought their last name was. They didnt realize that witches trace their heritage through the female line and that both Iliana and her mother were therefore Harmans.Oh, please, call me Aunt Anna, the woman said. She had her daughters violet eyes and the smile of an angel. She was also pouring Keller juice.Now I see where Iliana gets her scintillating 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 forward a piece of toast, feeling uncomfortable. Raksha.But thats beautiful Why dont you use it?Keller shrugged. I just dont. She could see Galen looking at her. Shapeshifters usually were named for their animal forms, but neither Keller nor Raksha fit 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 satisfy 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 gaze challengingly and handing her full glass to Nissa.He smiled-a little 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 sake?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. B efore 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 class parties and things. You can come. Itll be fun.Keller wanted to hit her with the pot of grits.She had a problem, though. Ilianas little brother Alex had escaped from his high chair and was climbing 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 ruffled 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 standing position. She found herself looking into huge violet foil 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 awkwardly. It was ridiculous. How could she argue with thwart 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 while Keller was trying to think of a reply.Nissa and Winnie hastily followed her. Galen got up to help Ilianas mother with the dishes. Keller tugged at the baby, who clung like a sloth. Maybe th ere 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 faint smile faded. I really wanted to talk to you, he said.