Aera-Kerr: Dusk of Desolation (Act 1 - free sample)

Chapter 10: Intervention

"Sir," an officers said to Marek, "this is a police investigation. You need to leave the area."

The cops shut the patrol car doors without getting inside, and began to walk towards Marek.

"Now, really, there's no need to be so rude," Marek said. "I am simply here to—"

"I'm not gonna ask you again!" The same officer cut him off. "Leave, or you will be arrested for obstruction!"

Tyrell, Aria, and Casey all began yelling to the officers to not confront Marek.

"Stop! Get away from him!" Tyrell called.

"He's dangerous! You don't know what you're doing!" Aria shouted.

"Seriously, this guy means business, man!" Casey added.

It was useless. Their shouting was muffled out by the car's closed windows and soundproofing.

Marek chuckled. "And just what, pray tell, am I obstructing?"

"Okay, y'know what? Down on your knees, hands behind your back!" The officer said, pulling out a spare set of handcuffs. "You're under arrest!"

Tyrell, Aria, and Casey continued their fruitless effort to warn the officers.

"No, don't!"

"Stop!"

"Get away, hurry!"

"You don't wanna mess with him!"

The officer pulled out his stun baton, and fired it up, producing a short shaft of blue light. "Turn around, and get down on your knees!"

Marek raised a brow and smiled as he stared at the baton. "You favor the electrical weapons?"

"Get on the ground, now!" The officer shouted, raising the baton and preparing to rush at Marek.

The self-righteous Daemon Hunter narrowed his eyes and raised his hands, palms facing the officers. The trio were still shouting in vain to warn the cops, louder and more desperately.

"Then, I shall return the favor!" Marek said.

Before the officer could give any kind of retaliation, a bright flash of white light enveloped the scene. Marek unleashed a field of lightning from his hands at the two officers approaching him. They fell to the ground, shaking uncontrollably as they were showered with static electricity. Tyrell, Aria, and Casey shrieked at the top of their lungs as they watched.

The remaining officer rushed for Marek, all the while trying to draw his service pistol. Before he could level the firearm, Marek angled his hand closest to the officer more towards him, causing said officer to be enveloped in the lightning field as well.

"Ngh, we gotta get the hell outta here!" Tyrell said. "I really don't want to be at the mercy of a guy who goes all Emperor Palpatine on some cops!"

"Okay, I can climb through a broken window, fair enough. But what are we gonna do about the cuffs?" Casey asked.

Tyrell pondered for a moment, before he remembered something Aria said earlier.

"Casey, you're a Conjurer, right?" He asked.

Casey nodded. "Yep! Ain't never gonna find one better than the Casey!"

"So, that means you can conjure physical things out of thin air?" Tyrell asked.

"You're two-for-two," Casey remarked.

Tyrell had a brilliant idea. "Do you think you could conjure a key, or key-like object in your handcuffs to open them, and then do the same for us?"