Chapter Fourteen

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        Water wrapped around her before the blow could connect. At first, she panicked, thinking the magician had done something. Then she saw what had been in his hand as he turned around. 

        It was a sword of some kind, constructed out of earth. As he had been turning, he had been raising the sword to slash at her. But the sword tip missed her, instead slicing through the bubble of water that had wrapped around her. The water, instead of flowing out at the tear in the bubble of water around her, only jiggled slightly at the impact, almost like gelatin. 

        Her supply of air sudden cut off, she clamped her mouth shut. Panic sparked wildly in her chest and a thousand thoughts of drowning and suffocating flashed through her mind in a matter of seconds. 

        Then it was over. The water was gone, splashing to the ground around her, and she gulped in large breaths of air. Drenched, a cold sting touched her skin as a night breeze danced by. She felt a shiver and then realized that someone was holding her. 

        Piers stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her. Her arms were pinned to her side by his grip. He chuckled lightly, his mouth close to her ear. "That wouldn't be very smart." 

        Her head snapped up and she saw that she was nearly fifty yards away from where she had been a moment ago. Al was still wrapped protectively around Reinard. They were both on their hands and knees. The Guard, she saw, blinked at them in surprise, no doubt shocked they had moved such a distance in a matter of seconds. 

        Then he began to move towards them, obviously believing them to be more of a threat than Reinard and Al. The earth quaked under each step he took. Massive boulders and huge chunks of earth rose up from the ground behind him, flanking him on either side. 

        "He can manipulate earth," Piers noticed, impressed. He still held her. "Not many magicians can manipulate the elements. That's more of a demon thing." 

        She squirmed against him. "We have to do something Piers!" 

        "Probably," he agreed halfheartedly. "He does seem to be coming this way now, doesn't he? Do you think he would go away if we asked nicely?" 

        Incredulous, Villette stopped squirming. "Doubtful." 

        Piers shrugged. "How sad. Oh well, it can't be helped. You were exceptional, by the way. Against the Guard. I thought for sure I would have needed to step in but you handled it remarkably. Using his partner's own magic against him? Genius." 

        The other Guard, Warren, was only twenty yards away now. And he still marched towards them, more boulders and dangerously large chunks of earth flying up in his wake. 

        Villette tried to pull out of his grasp again. Her eyes flickered to Reinard and Al. Al had pulled away from Reinard and was running towards them. The detective, she saw with horror, laid unconscious on the ground. 

        "Reinard!" Villette shouted the same time one of the boulders behind Warren detached and flew towards her and Piers.  

        She tried to pull free again but Piers' grip was like iron. The rock hurtled through the air towards them. Piers didn't move so she couldn't move either. It flew closer and she braced herself for the imminent impact and pain. 

        And then the boulder just stopped. It hung in midair, no more than two yards away from them. Beyond the boulder, Villette could see the confusion in the magician's face. Frowning, he lifted his hand up and waved but the boulder remained frozen in midair. 

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