Crais(49)

“Oh, for crap’s sake,” I bit out.

I definitely needed to work on my cursing, but come on: this day was not going to be the right time to start. And I probably should have seen that hit coming; my reflexes were leaving a lot to be desired.

Stepping back again, I shook off the disorientation and moved in for attempt two to capture her. I managed to get a hand on either side of her face, wrenching her around. She was strong as she fought to free herself, thrashing against me.

I grabbed at my energy, careful to siphon off the lighter white at the top and staying far from the darkness lower down; that was a place I’d always been too afraid to explore. I shot the stream straight into Fury’s face. It slapped at her features before being absorbed in.

I continued the stream.

Using my extra senses I watched as the black tendrils which had been encasing her thoughts started to dissipate. Finally her screams ceased. Her face fell for a moment before realization crossed it and I had to dodge another bitch-slap coming my way. I reached out to capture her swinging arm.

“Get your hands off me, superstar,” she hissed at me.

“You got one as a freebie because you weren’t in your right mind. The next time you hit me I will hit back,” I growled, squeezing her forearm before flinging it away.

She opened her mouth to reply, but I spun around before she had a chance.

The creatures across the way caught my attention again. I’d forgotten about the horrifying scene that was slowly advancing in our direction. Lucy had been right when she’d dreamed of the walking dead, and I needed to move it and free everyone before the zombies reached us.

Fury had crawled her way over to Dune, but had to remain outside his reach. He was all fists of fire at the moment. His hands were burning red and he was spinning in rapid circles.

“What’s wrong with him?” Fury screamed as she dodged his attacks.

“Everyone’s been influenced with negative energy; it’s bringing our nightmares to life. He can’t tell what reality is.”

“This is so those zombie creatures can attack while we are defenseless?” Fury clearly had not missed the lurching group heading our way.

“Exactly. Now distract Dune so I can get a hold of him?”

Fury burst into flames, illuminating the underground cavern until it was almost as bright as the outside. The heat coming from her was intense, and she could now step forward and grab onto Dune’s hands without being burnt.

“Hurry,” she said, her voice deep and more gravelly.

Dune was so much stronger than she was and she was struggling just to stay in contact with him.

I came in from behind, careful not to get too close to Fury’s flames. I reached up to clutch the back of Dune’s white hair, sending energy in with more force than I’d used on Fury.

I knew we were running out of time.

I could smell the decay heading in our direction, a stomach-churning aroma of rotted meat masked by a strange chemical smell.

“Come on, Dune,” I snapped. “Wake the hell up, fire man.”

He was strong as he fought against my hold. Fury growled at him before launching herself forward and slamming her lips into his. His head fell back and I was thrown to the ground. Glancing up through a mass of messy red curls, I watched as he absorbed her blue fire, and then he was back. The glow in his hands faded out as he clutched Fury close to him.

“I don’t know what just happened, but damn,” he said as he pushed her white hair off her face, “you’re leaving me with no doubt; you’re as hot as hell, tresorina.”

A rare smile broke across Fury’s face. Pure joy shone, and as their lips met again I picked myself up and turned away.

“No thanks required and get a damn room,” I muttered, mild jealousy tainting my words.

I was suddenly spun around as a hand clutched at my bicep. It was icy cold even through my jacket. I threw myself back as I sucked in air, facing the nightmare before me. Yep, it was a freaking zombie. I’d knocked it back a few steps when I’d fallen but it was lurching at me again. I was pretty sure it had been a woman before its death. There were sparse strands of long matted blond hair scattered over its head. The eyes were light blue but with a white sheen coating the top. Chunks of rotted flesh were hanging off its face and body, and every time it moved it shed bits of its body. It was a zombie in the classic sense but there was intelligence in its eyes and it definitely wasn’t blind as it focused and came straight at me, clenched hands out front and teeth bared, growling and hissing as it lurched.

“If you’re not too busy, Dad, let me know what I’m supposed to do about the zombies?” I called out, not taking my eyes off the creature before me.