“I don’t know. I’ve never tried to initiate it, but it’s only way to draw the nomads and ensure they see me leave.” She sucked in a ragged breath.
“Why can’t I come with you?” he asked quietly.
She smiled, but her eyes were sad. “According to super Abby, this is a dangerous situation and I can’t knowingly risk your life. I’ve got no choice. I have to escape the nomads and make sure our world is not affected by these Seventine.”
His lips pursed and I knew he wanted to continue arguing. Instead he shook his head and turned away.
“I’ll miss you,” he said roughly.
Fury blinked a few times. I thought I saw a tear before she spun away. She moved into the shadow just before the sunlit entrance and stared out into the brightness, her eyes wide open.
“Bring your power up from the centre of your body. You will feel the energy there.” I attempted to help her.
She twisted to glare at me. “If I wanted your assistance, I’d ask for it.” She gritted her teeth. “I can do this.”
I held my hands up and retreated a few steps.
“Oh, shleee’s delightful.” Lucy lifted her head slightly. “Lemme down so I can kick her ass.” She passed out again.
Lucas’s shoulder’s shook as he suppressed his laughter. I couldn’t help the snort that escaped; Lucy and Fury were going to have some battles in the future. Suddenly, with no warning, a brightness flared through the dark. Fury had found her power and was covered in flames. And the heat was back, intense and biting along my exposed skin.
“It was easier this time,” Fury said to me. And then she stepped out of the door.
“I thought she couldn’t go into the sunlight?” I had to stop myself dashing after her.
I couldn’t move until Lucas and the girls fell in beside me.
“She can’t.” Luiz sounded panicked. “Look after her for me,” he said.
I gave him a brief nod as we left the stone tunnel and moved into the bright red land. I could just see Fury through the glare, her blue flames flickering as she moved. She was strolling along, no problem, toward Dune and Cleo. They were exactly where we had left them. How nice and reliable he was proving to be. My shield was working. The two red suns high in the sky had not burnt us to a crisp yet. Although I wished I could have given it a darker tint or something to limit the brightness.
“Is that a dragon?” Lucas asked casually.
I nodded. “Yep, that’s Cleo.”
“Of course – Cleo – I should have known.”
I didn’t notice at first, but as we got closer to Dune it was clear Fury’s power was having an effect on him. His short white hair was blowing around, despite the lack of breeze on Crais. He stood taller, his skin a brighter red and the white sheen glowing. It was as if he had just received a shot of vitality.
We’d almost made it to the huge shadow cast by Cleo when the nomads arrived. They came from all directions, converging on us like locusts. I needed to get the doorway open before they overwhelmed us and we lost our chance of escape. Keeping a portion of energy locked on the shield, I drew more to cast my doorway. The swirling portal opened in front of us and standing at the other end was Josian. Damn Walkers and their sneaky skills. How had he known we were coming now?
“Stop.” Fury stepped forward, her voice an echoing scream.
I could feel the power bleeding off of her as small flames flickered out. The nomads did pause briefly, but seemed unable to help themselves from moving closer.
“I’m leaving to go to another world now. You will not be able to find me and you will not be able to use the tribal women to gain my co-operation.”
She took a step closer, and with the flick of her hand encased one of the men in the burning flames. He threw his head back, but instead of the pained expression I expected he showed pure joy.
“Leave the tribes alone, and when I return from my mission, I will share this power with you.” She pulled her flames back, leaving the white-haired man collapsed on the ground. “If you don’t, I will never return and you will cease to exist as a race.”
She turned to face me. “We can leave now, super Abby.”
Dune leaned in close to Cleo. He whispered something to her, and with one last look, her huge yellow eyes shiny, she lifted her wings and took to the sky. Dune would not move until she was barely a speck in the distance.
“Cleo is safe now,” he said. “I will follow you, Fury, wherever you go.”
I led everyone into the doorway, only pausing to help Lucas. The vacuum in here would be hard to negotiate whilst carrying the girls. Fury was no longer encased in blue flames, having dropped the energy when she stepped through. Fear and hesitation shadowed her eyes, but she bravely crossed into the doorway.