The dirty blond moved his hands around his head and pushed through empty space. A massive body of rainwater copied his hand motions and plowed into two of the other vultures, knocking them down with the pressure, away from Skylar. More icicle spears soared and penetrated the remaining two, allowing Mason to finish them off.
Without acknowledging the strangers, Mason grabbed Skylar's hand and ran to the front door that was already ajar. He kicked the door open but remained by the entrance instead of charging in.
Sitting in the center of the large foyer with their hands bound behind them were Amanda and Everett. Standing behind them was Alena with a few other people Skylar didn't recognize.
"Welcome to our party," Alena said calmly. "What took you so long? Actually, I didn't think you would make it past the door, but then again, I see you had help. No no no, boys. Don't even think about moving your hands," she said to the strangers, pointing out the revolver she had pointed at the back of Amanda's head.
"Don't do anything foolish," Mason said to the strangers. "She has special bullets."
"Do you even know each other?" Alena continued. "Let me speed up the introductions. The blond one is Noah and the one with the short hair is Tim. Aren't they the cutest?"
"Just shut up and let my family go," Mason demanded. With a look of fury he tightened his fists into a ball. Dim light glowed, seeping out between his knuckles. "I'm giving you one last warning. I've told you we just want to live in peace, to be left alone. Let them go and you can walk out of here."
"You want me gone? Then Skylar comes with me." Without waiting for a response from Mason, Alena gestured her head. Understanding her nod, the guy standing to her left placed his hand on Everett's head. Light flicked from his fingertips, sending electricity through Everett's body. Everett cried out, a loud painful sound, and shuddered as if he was having a seizure.
"Stop it!" Amanda yelled.
Alena raised her hand and the guy pulled away.
Everett slumped over, apparently unconscious.
"Poor big guy." Alena bent low to see his flaccid face. "It was just a little shock. Oh, by the way, these are my new friends. They have special abilities like you. Now we can play fair."
"Lure them out," Noah whispered to Skylar, standing behind her.
"No whispering sweet nothings in her ear, Noah. Don't make me jealous now. Maybe we can kiss and make up," Alena remarked with a sinister laugh.
Noah rolled his eyes.
"Don't tell me you dated her," Skylar grimaced.
"It was like, a year ago, and I didn't know who or what she was. Never mind. Skylar, do it."
Skylar understood. They could only manipulate water, and there was no water inside. She didn't know where this courage came from, but she knew she had to do something. Guessing that Mason, Noah, and Tim would protect her, she knew she had a shot at pulling off her plan.
"Alena, I'm the one you want. Let them go. I'm coming to you right now."
"Sky." Mason pulled her back. "What are you doing?"
She turned to him and winked, hoping he would get the message. "I have a plan," she mouthed.
"No." He pulled her back again, but as she pulled against him, he finally seemed to realize he had no choice. Mason let go and growled when Noah placed his hand on his shoulder.
Lifting her hands in surrender, Skylar carefully stepped to Alena. Triumphantly, Alena grabbed Skylar by her arm. Inching backward, Alena pointed the revolver to Skylar's back. "Don't even think about following," she sneered as her men stood protectively by her side. They stepped outside and the door closed behind them.
Outside the rain started to pick up again. Without another option, Skylar ran with Alena about halfway to the gate, and abruptly halted when Alena turned to face the front of the house. "Stop! Don't move. I told you not to follow."
With a swift motion, Noah guided the rain droplets. They swirled in an endless circular cycle, forming into one enormous sphere of water. Alena pulled the trigger. The bullet went right through and headed for Noah. He lost control of the water ball when he ducked for cover. Just before the impact, Tim twirled his hand and created a water wall. The bullet bounced and landed on the ground.
Alena's men protectively stood in front of her, but not for long; more vultures appeared at the gate. Now clearly Skylar and the others were outnumbered and terror emanated from her core.
With a mischievous grin and still holding on to Skylar, Alena stepped from behind her protection. "Go get them, boys," she gestured with a swing of her arm. Growling, the vultures charged in full force with deadly looks on their faces.
Extending his arm to the sky, flashes of lightning not only shot outward from the tips of Mason's fingers, they bolted from the sky as well, as if he had called on them. Simultaneously, the wind howled fiercely as the rain cascaded in the direction of the wind, making it difficult to stand.
The clouds rolled in with incredible speed. Thunder echoed repeatedly, seeming to mimic Mason's anger as more lightning burst out of the clouds. He carried that energy and directed it toward the vultures. Once hit, some of them blistered into flames, convulsed, and sizzled to their deaths from the single blow.
Still captive by Alena and drenched from the rain, Skylar witnessed all of this with her mouth open. She had already known what Mason was capable of but never would she have imagined this. He was not the showoff type to begin with, but being able to call upon the lightning from above as if he was a god himself, she was in awe.
Noah and Tim continuously shot icicle-like spears, but Alena's men used their power and broke them into pieces before they could do any damage. It was hot against cold as they zapped each other with their special abilities. Continuing to fight the vultures, Mason ducked a blow from one and leapt over its head and then obliterated it from behind. Quickly he turned and dodged a swing, then ducked to avoid another.
One of Alena's men broke away and shot out silvery light at Mason. It nicked him across his shoulder, cutting through. Crimson liquid stained his sweater and marked the ground where he stood. When another volt came at him, he sidestepped and twisted his hips to avoid it. While flashing his power at the vulture on his left, Mason fired back with his right. The brilliant lights from each of them met halfway, crackling and fizzling. The energy and light were building, intensifying, radiating like great fireworks and blinded everyone around. It was beautiful and deadly at the same time.
Mason looked up and called on the lightning from above again. The shimmering flash shot through him, causing his body to illuminate just as brightly as the lightning, blinding everyone around him once more. He projected that energy out from his hand and the immense power traveled through his light to the opponent's light, blasting him like he had been shot by a cannon. Then Mason slumped over as if the power had been drained out of him.
As more vultures continued toward them, Noah extended his arms and swung them around over his head, calling upon the powers of water. The water from the fountain ascended skyward, creating a continuous waterfall behind him. It cascaded to the ground, flowing like a stream, before turning into a vast sea of ice. Unable to run on ice, the vultures slipped and landed flat on their backs.
Tim extended both of his arms into the air, causing the ice to liquefy. The body of water rose and covered the vultures like a blanket, trapping them inside with nowhere to run. Mason then shot his electricity through the water. The remaining vultures and Alena's men were promptly electrocuted.
"Let her go, Alena," Mason bellowed. "You can't win. This is your final warning."
Mason, Noah, and Tim slowly trudged forward to close the space between them. Sliding her feet on the wet ground, Alena tugged Skylar toward the open gate while keeping one eye on the boys.
"Stop. I have one bullet left, and I'm not afraid to pull the trigger on your precious Skylar."
Mason stopped, gestured Noah and Tim to do the same, and raised his hands to surrender. "Okay."
Pointing the revolver to Skylar's head, Alena spoke, "Sorry guys, I'm tired of playing around. Say goodbye to your girlfriend." Alena pulled the trigger.
"Noooo!" Mason ran as fast as he could, but even with his incredible speed, he wasn't fast enough. The bullet shot out, but just before it did, Skylar jabbed her elbow into Alena's chest and fell to the ground, trying to dodge the bullet. Mason's body continued to soar, carrying Alena with him. Slamming her body against the gate, Mason sent electricity through her. A "Danger! High Voltage" sign would have been an understatement. Like rockets, silver lights exploded. Convulsing, her body seared, turning the color of onyx and she went limp. When Mason finally released his hold, Alena's scorched remains dropped to the muddy ground.