The Disappearing Fields

chapter thirty-three

~Haven~

The moment he mentioned Kaz, I felt a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders. I thought something had happened to him. I breathed a sigh of relief before looking up at the man who stood before me.

He was watching me. Studying me like a rat in a cage. "You don't look like your sisters' at all. Well, except for the eyebrows and eye shape. All three of you have that in common."

"That's not important right now. I need to help my friends."

"Those shifter outside." He nodded. "They're going to need help. Anyone else hiding here?"

"Just Niko and Elliot."

He nodded "go get them. More hunters are coming this way. A lot more."

"Right."

I raced back down stairs. When I got to Tabby's room, I saw Elliot getting out with Niko.

"Elliot, Kaz sent help. He wants us to evacuate the premises."

"Is it his brother?"

I shook my head thinking about the stranger. He doesn't have Kaz's accent or anything. "They didn't look or sound anything alike."

Footsteps echo off the stairwell and we both turn to see Kaden coming down.  He took in Elliot and Niko, who was climbing into my arms, before smiling. "Great everyone's accounted for. Change of plans, how well can you both fight?"

"I'm still learning, but with my bat, I can hold my own for few minutes."

"Good. How about you?"

I look at Elliot. I've never seen him fight but he's knowledgeable about essence and all sorts of things I'm curious to see him and in action.

"If we lure them into that park across the street, I'm a force to be reckoned with."

"Who says 'reckoned' anymore?" I snicker.

He smacks my forehead, hard. "Owww! That hurt"

"That's good, it was supposed to. Where's your bat?"

I stick my tongue out at him. "At the park."

Kaden nods. "The park is where you're both heading then. I'll cover you. Ready?"

I look at Niko whose staring at Kaden. "Niko. We're going to the park. So you're gonna have to be quiet and stay where I put you. Got it?"

He nods, his green eyes looking scared.  Of the hunters or of Kaden I couldn't tell.

I send him a smile to ease his nerves before standing by Kaden and Elliot at the front door.

Tension filled the air as Kaden counted to three. I've never been involved with hunters before. But judging from how everyone else was so tense, I can assume that they're scary.

I glance down at Niko whose sucking his thumb. They want to take this sweet little boy from me. Not gonna happen. I'll protect Niko not natter what.

With that thought, determination replaces fear. The tension in my shoulders eases up. The minute Kaden swing the door open I run.

Ignoring all the people in black, the wolves Zeik must have summoned,  and the giant tiger in my front yard, I sprint across the grass.

Something whizzes past my head and I glance back to see and arrow sticking out of the tree. I draw on my wind to summon wind barriers around my allies.

I run without using my wind to boost my speed. I should conserve it. But even without using my essence, I'm still the first one at the park. I put Niko in the hallow of the tree after digging my bat out.