Vision in Silver(170)

            “The pack will know we expected trouble,” Nyx said.

            “Thieves broke in, found nothing, and went away,” Tess said. She wagged the short club. “Don’t know what this is. A weapon of some kind.”

            Blair took it, slapped it against his palm, and winced. “Meat tenderizer?”

            One of the men made a sound.

            Tess studied him, then said, “This one’s tongue is starting to blacken and rot. If you want him to tell you anything, ask your questions very soon.”


* * *

            Three things happened at once. Something slammed into the back of the building hard enough to shake the structure; half the roof tore off and went flying; and Nathan yelled, <Some cars just exploded and are burning!>

            A hesitation in the fighting as a fierce and furious wind entered the building through the open roof and hurled tables and merchandise at humans—a wind that, curiously, didn’t touch the tables that might injure the Courtyard’s pack.

            Despite the screams of people throughout the building, Simon heard the sirens getting louder. And he saw Fire walk through the open doors, her hair and gown fanned out as she approached. The floor smoked in her wake.

            That explains the burning cars, Simon thought, shuddering as the Elemental moved closer. Nothing would escape her if Fire wanted to burn, especially if Air fanned her sister’s rage through the building.

            Fire looked at the men who had been fighting with the pack and said, “Either we all leave or all the humans burn.”

            A sudden gust of air caught Fire’s gown. It flared out and found the leg of one man’s jeans. With a cry, he dropped the pipe he’d been holding and smacked at the burning fabric.

            “Police! Drop your weapons!”

            Many voices made that demand as men rushed through the open doors, then came to a fast stop when Fire turned toward them.

            “They’re here to help, and we need help.”

            Hearing the quiet words, Simon glanced at Kowalski. The man’s face and clothes were bloody, but the hands holding a small gun were steady.

            Yes, they needed help, but he didn’t recognize any of these police officers.

            Then Captain Burke walked through the door. He didn’t say anything. He just looked at Simon and waited.

            Time to make a choice.

            <Fire,> Simon said. <These police humans will help us.>

            She turned back to him, and he realized it hadn’t been whim that had brought her and Air to the stall market to rescue him and the rest of the pack. The Elementals hadn’t even done it for him; they came here for Meg.

            <You trust them?> she asked.

            Not all of them. He didn’t want to think of what she might do if he answered her question that honestly, so he settled on, <Enough of them. I trust the humans that Meg trusts, and those humans trust the other police officers.>

            Sensing that she was too close to expressing her full fury and burning everything in sight, he said the one thing he thought might sway her. <Tell Meg I’ll be home soon.>

            He didn’t care if Fire charred the entire building and everything in it, but he wanted to get his pack away from here first, and there were still too many humans between him and the door.

            A heated silence. Then Air said, <Twister and I will remain to keep watch.>

            Simon nodded, relieved the Elementals would compromise that much.

            <Very well.> Fire tipped her head . . . and disappeared.