The Divine Twelve (Urban-Fantasy)

Chapter four: Ready or Not

"Honey, don't be too rough." John shook his head, looking at the baseball-sized rocks floating around his wife.

"I can't make any promises." Laura grinned.

"Lennox, do you mind going to get Aubrey and Sahir?" John asked.

Lennox looked between the woman and back at John silently.

"I guess I'll do that then." John shrugged. "I'm leaving them up to you then. Good luck."

"So, do you still think you can defend yourself from me?" Laura asked as John retreated up the stairs.

"All I have to do is not die, right?" Penelope frowned, "Not like that'll happen with some pebbles."

"Don't provoke her," Lennox warned.

"No, let her." Laura cackled. "She'll just have to learn the hard way."

"Earth signs." Lennox sighed as he sat on a nearby bench. "Don't push her too hard."

"I won't," Laura smirked. "All she has to do is lay a hand on me."

Lennox raised his eyebrow. "Just once?"

"Yup."

"Easy peasy." Penelope squatted. She squinted, her head already beginning to throb slightly. "Just get in and get a good hit before your head gets worse." She thought to herself.

"You ready?" Laura asked. "You look like you're already tired."

"I'm ready. I was waiting for you. You're not getting younger. I don't want you pulling your back out." Penelope played coy.

"Smartass," Laura grunted, hurling two rocks towards Penelope.

Penelope dodged one and rolled under the other. She continued scuffling around, closing the gap between her and Laura.

Lara laughed over the sound of each rock impacting the ground, shattering on the concrete. She watched as Penelope tried to get closer.

"You're gonna have to do more than that!" Laura shouted. She raised her arms above her head, and the ground beneath Penelope rose.

Penelope knelt on the floating chunk of rock as Laura shook it violently. She lost her grip and flew off the rock, tumbling to the ground.

"Oop, maybe I overdid it." Laura said, placing the ground back into place.

Penelope groaned and looked up, squinting through the haze in her vision. Her head was pounding, but she bit back the pain and got to her feet.

"Nel," Lennox called out, getting out of his seat. "Don't move."

"No." Penelope slurred. "I can do this."

"But you're still injured." Lennox walked over to her. "And now you're bleeding. Let's get you patched up."

"No." Penelope pushed past him and dashed towards Laura.

Laura raised another chunk of earth, lifting Penelope into the air again.

"Now is my chance." Penelope thought as she jumped off of the platform. Lennox threw his hands up and created an ice slide to catch her.

"Perfect," Penelope muttered as she slid down the ice, rolling to Laura's feet.

Laura's smile turned into a face of shock as Penelope snatched her arm and threw her over her shoulder.

Penelope yelled as she slammed Laura onto the ground, using the momentum to lift her without much strength. She let go as Laura hit the ground, her body slightly bouncing back up before she curled up in pain.