cascade | kotlc

7. Ambush at the Paris Hideout

--- June POV ---

"This is not a good idea," she muttered as they leaped into the Paris rain.

"It's probably not," Sophie agreed. "Which makes it a great idea."

"Unfortunately, I cannot argue with that impeccable logic. I honestly don't even remember this hideout." She gazed around, taking in the scenery. "All I remember is pain, really."

Sophie winced, taking her hand. June clutched it tightly, shaking more than she'd like as she shivered under the rain.

Linh waved one arm back and forth, twisting the rain into thin, gurgling streams and weaving a weblike bubble around them. She pulled her other arm into her chest, drawing the moisture out of their hair and clothes.

"Seriously," Fitz told her. "You're amazing."

"Yeah," June agreed, though she still nudged Fitz. "You don't get to say that. Only I do."

"Possessive much?"

"This is normal for girls," she reminded Fitz. "You haven't seen my sister in action yet."

Linh's cheeks flushed a deeper pink. "My ability makes it easy."

"I wouldn't sell yourself short," Mr. Forkle corrected. "This is remarkable control."

"He's right," Fitz said, unable to take his eyes off Linh.

"Don't make me attack you," June warned. "I can override her power. And you won't like the rain."

"Sheesh. Can't I praise her?"

"Hmph."

"Shouldn't we keep moving?" Sophie asked, sounding quite grumpy.

"We should," Mr. Forkle said. "Just let me get my bearings."

They'd leaped to the edge of some sort of garden, where neat rows of trees led toward an extravagant palace surrounded by flowers and benches and statues and a lake-size fountain. The palace was probably a huge tourist trap on a clear day, but for the moment it was empty, save for one couple clinging to their cheap umbrellas as they scurried around looking for better shelter.

"This place is creepy," Biana muttered. "Why do people like coming here? Humans are weird."

June shrugged. "You have to admit, it's almost a strange kind of beauty, in a way. I'm sure this is impressive to the humans, and you can't deny it's still somewhat impressive to us."

"Relax," Mr. Forkle said as Sandor and Grizel clutched the handles of their swords. "The obscurer will do its job."

"You know what I'm more afraid of?" June muttered. "If there still are members of the Neverseen in this hideout..."

Linh kept the rain away as they headed toward a narrow gate in the iron and gold fence, but her legs were shaking from the strain by the time they reached the main street.

"I can handle this, you know," June told her. "You don't have to keep it up all by yourself. There's no shame in letting me help you hold the rain up. Besides, it's just a little rain anyways."

"I'm fine," she insisted. "I can hold back a tidal wave in Ravagog."

"I seem to remember us having to carry you while you did that," Tam reminded her. "And you almost drowned in the tidal wave. Thank god June saved you."

"I'll be fine. This time I've got it covered." She nearly tripped as they ran through the puddled crosswalk.

"I'm carrying you," June told her, scooping her up into her arms as Linh groaned. "You don't have to overextend yourself."